Investigation

You look for clues and draw deductions from them: where a hidden object might be, what kind of weapon left a wound, the weakest point of a tunnel that could bring it down. It also covers poring through old scrolls for a lost fragment of knowledge, or canvassing an area and interviewing people about a specific person, place or thing.

Sample Gather Information Tasks

• Standard: talk of the town.
• Difficult: a common rumor.
• Challenging: an obscure rumor, a poorly kept secret.
• Formidable: well-guarded or esoteric information.
• Legendary: something known only to a very select few, or only to extraordinary beings.

Actions

Search (Concentrate, Exploration, Secret)

You use all your senses to pick out fine details, find clues and see past the obvious. You usually need to be within 10 feet of the object or surface. Searching usually takes 10 minutes, though the GM can make it longer or shorter for the surroundings. The GM sets the DC and rolls your check in secret, telling you whether you found anything.

Critical Success: Depending on the situation and the DC, the GM may give you a free Lore question about what you find.

Success: If there's something to find, you find it, though you may not know what you're looking at.

Gather Information (Exploration, Secret)

You work the local markets, taverns and gathering places to learn about a particular person or topic. The GM sets the DC and how long it takes (usually 2 hours, sometimes more), and any benefit from spending coin on bribes, drinks or gifts. Typical difficulty: talk of the town (standard); a common rumor (difficult); an obscure rumor or poorly kept secret (challenging); well-guarded or esoteric information (formidable); something only a select few or extraordinary beings know (legendary).

Success: You learn about the person or topic; the GM decides the details.

Critical Failure: You pick up false information about the person or topic.