Description
The Occult Skill is a character’s knowledge of myth, folktales, and urban legends about the strange things that exist in the dark corners of the world.
- Occult can help a character separate fiction and myth from fact and determine which stories are likely to be actual supernatural events and which are just rumours.
- That said, there are a lot of strange things out there, and many of them defy easy categorization.
- The Occult Skill doesn’t necessarily give a character a line on the absolute “truth” about what’s going on, but instead represents an array of knowledge about encounters and theories that others have had, and the ability to build on those theories herself.
Examples
Sample Actions
- Debunk a fake (Intelligence + Occult)
- Identify a sliver of truth (Wits + Occult)
- Relate similar myths (Intelligence + Occult)
Sample Specialties
- Eastern European Folktales
- Ghosts
- Cryptid Sightings
- Psychic Phenomena
- Urban Legends
Sample Contacts
- Anthropology Professor
- Neo-Pagan Author
- Weird Hermit Down the Street
Levels
Examples and descriptions of someone at each level
Novice (1 dot)
- This character is scratching the surface of the strange and creepy stories out there
- She has heard of many different phenomena
- They are aware of many obvious fakes and debunked stories, as well as some of the more plausible tales.
Professional (2 dot)
- Someone who has done a great deal of research into folklore, myth, and urban legends
- Can find slivers of truth in largely untrue books one has read.
- Has a solid understanding of major stories, and can identify and disregard many false claims.
Experienced (3 dot)
- They have been working with weird things for a while, and is very good at sifting actual facts and useful information from rumours and stories
- She may have seen a variety of strange things herself, or she may simply be very good at recognizing common patterns in various legends.
Expert (4 dot)
- A character with this level is very tuned into the Strange, and can remember a number of obscure and useful pieces of information about just about any odd occurrence
- They may well have pieces of the truth about various supernatural creatures, and is very good at putting those pieces together.
Master (5 dot)
- The character is able to almost unfailingly identify actual supernatural events and creatures
- Even when running into a completely new phenomenon, her instincts are impeccable.