Hidden Lore

This skill represents knowledge
that is lost, deliberately hidden, or
simply neglected. Whatever the rea-
son, the general public is unaware of
it. It is only available to those who
study it specifically.
You must specialize in a particular
body of secret knowledge. If you wish
to enter play with Hidden Lore skills,
you must account for this specific
knowledge in your character story.
The GM might even require you to
purchase an Unusual Background
before you can learn Hidden Lore
skills. Of course, the GM is also free to
forbid Hidden Lore skills to starting
characters . . . or to PCs in general!
To acquire Hidden Lore in play,
you must find a reliable source of rel-
evant information. The GM may
choose to tie skill increases in Hidden
Lore to specific acts – such as reading
moldy tomes – instead of allowing you
to spend points freely. For instance, an
ancient manuscript might let you
spend up to eight points (and no
more) on a specific Hidden Lore skill.
Remember that most Hidden Lore
is secret because somebody powerful
wants it kept that way. Thus, dis-
cussing or revealing your knowledge
can be extremely hazardous.
Possible Hidden Lore specialties
include:
Conspiracies: You know details
about the conspiracies that underlie
every aspect of society. This is factual
knowledge (e.g., truths about the
Illuminati), not the ability to analyze
conspiracies. Only available in set-
tings where vast conspiracies really do
exist.
Demon Lore: You know the secrets
of Hell, the goals of demons in the
mortal world, and possibly even the
names of specific demons.
Faerie Lore: You have detailed
knowledge of the faeries and their
secret kingdom(s).
Spirit Lore: You know about ghosts
and other spirit entities – names,
motivations, etc.