Lore

AX.GHW.04.01.02

The Lore Talent governs supernatural knowledge, identification, behavioral patterns, weaknesses, destruction methods, historical context, and field application of that knowledge. Wit + Lore is the standard roll for threat research, identification from evidence, and recalling operational information under pressure.

Core Talent: A character with Lore and no Focus has general hidden-world awareness; they know the basics across threat categories, can recognize major supernatural phenomena, and can conduct research effectively. They are not specialists.

Focus Effect: Each Lore Focus provides +1D for knowledge specifically within that category. Lore (Vampires) at 1D gives a strong researcher a +1D advantage when their specific area is directly relevant.

Focus: Vampires and Undead

Scope: Vampires (all tiers from Thrall through Master), undead of all types (zombies, revenants, spirits, poltergeists), vampire bloodline history and social structures, destruction and banishment methods for the undead category.

Mechanical Effects:

+1D to Wit + Lore rolls involving undead identification, behavioral analysis, and destruction planning
The character knows the standard weakness and destruction method for all entries in the undead category without a roll
With 2D+ in this Focus: the character can identify a vampire's approximate tier (Thrall, Standard, Elder, Master) by observing their behavior and physical presentation, without direct interaction

Practical Notes: The most commonly relevant Lore Focus given the undead category's breadth and the frequency of vampire-adjacent encounters in urban horror campaigns.

Focus: Shadow Entities

Scope: Shadow entities (all tiers), hellhounds, shadow-touched entities, shadow compacts and their mechanics, possession by Shadow entities, exorcism of Shadow possessors, the Crossroads Shadow and similar compact entities.

Mechanical Effects:

+1D to Wit + Lore rolls involving Shadow entity identification, compact analysis, possession assessment, and exorcism planning
The character knows the standard weakness and exorcism method for all entries in the Shadow entity category without a roll
With 2D+ in this Focus: the character can assess a shadow compact's approximate terms and binding strength from observable behavior of the compacted party (Wit + Lore vs Threshold 2, no active compact examination required)

Practical Notes: Pairs well with the Hollow Pact tradition. Characters who investigate shadow compact networks benefit significantly from the compact-reading ability at Focus 2D.

Focus: Shapeshifters

Scope: Werewolves (all tiers), Alpha Werewolves, skinwalkers, doppelgangers, wendigos, any transformation-based entity. Includes silver bane applications, identification of shapeshifter activity from physical evidence, and behavioral pattern analysis.

Mechanical Effects:

+1D to Wit + Lore rolls involving shapeshifter identification, territorial behavior analysis, and silver-counter planning
The character knows the standard weakness (silver), destruction method, and behavioral markers for all entries in the shapeshifter category without a roll
With 2D+ in this Focus: the character can identify whether a shapeshifter is a true lineage shifter (Skinchanger PC-type) versus an infected or entity-type shifter from behavioral and physical observation, a distinction with significant social and ethical implications

Practical Notes: The distinction ability at Focus 2D directly addresses the Skinchanger lineage overlap noted in 04-shapeshifter.md, a character with this Focus will not misidentify a Skinchanger PC as a threat.

Focus: Fae

Scope: All fae entity types (Fetches, wisps, Redcaps, Kelpies, Banshees, Tricksters, Fae Lords), fae court politics and structure, true name research methodology, cold iron and rowan applications, bargain mechanics and their dangers, Liminal geography relevant to fae activity.

Mechanical Effects:

+1D to Wit + Lore rolls involving fae identification, court structure analysis, true name research, and counter-planning
The character knows the standard weakness (cold iron), rowan applications, and true-name leverage for all entries in the fae category without a roll
With 2D+ in this Focus: true name research rolls gain +1D (the character knows which sources are reliable and which are folklore noise). The character also knows when a fae is giving a false name (Wit + Lore vs the fae's Deceive, no separate roll required; this is automatic if the Focus is at 2D)

Practical Notes: True name access is the highest-leverage tool in fae encounters; Focus 2D makes a character genuinely dangerous to fae of all tiers in a non-combat mode.

Focus: Cryptids

Scope: All cryptid entity types (Black Dog, Chupacabra, Bigfoot/Sasquatch, Jersey Devil, Mothman, Thunderbird, and regional variants), territorial behavior, Veil risk assessment, evidence management for cryptid incidents, deterrence approaches.

Mechanical Effects:

+1D to Wit + Lore rolls involving cryptid identification, territorial analysis, and deterrence planning
The character knows the behavioral patterns, territorial needs, and deterrence approaches for all entries in the cryptid category without a roll
With 2D+ in this Focus: the character can read cryptid territorial markers in the environment (track patterns, environmental modification, acoustic signatures) without a roll, and can estimate how long a cryptid has been in an area and why it may have moved from its normal territory

Practical Notes: Cryptids have no tradition-based weaknesses; Lore knowledge is the primary operational tool. The territorial reading at Focus 2D makes investigation of cryptid incidents significantly faster.

Focus: Aberrations

Scope: All aberration entity types (Dimensional Spawns, Stalkers, Reality Fractures, Mind Feeders, The Hollow, Voidwalkers), Breach identification and characterization, Veil Fracture effects and recovery, dimensional geography, containment approaches.

Mechanical Effects:

+1D to Wit + Lore rolls involving aberration identification, Breach assessment, and containment planning
The character knows the standard behavior patterns and conventional limitations of all entries in the aberration category without a roll
With 2D+ in this Focus: the character can assess a Breach's approximate scale and closure difficulty without a Mediumship roll (Wit + Lore vs Threshold 2). They also know when Veil Fracture damage is approaching dangerous thresholds for specific characters; they can identify cognitive deterioration patterns before the affected character does

Practical Notes: This is a research-support Focus more than a combat-support Focus. Characters pairing this with a Mediumship tradition practitioner on the team create a highly effective aberration response unit.

Focus: Cursed and Possessed

Scope: Possession mechanics (all entity types), curse identification and typing, exorcism ritual methods, the Bound and shadow compact structure from a victim-identification perspective, Witch and Necromancer threat patterns.

Mechanical Effects:

+1D to Wit + Lore rolls involving possession assessment, curse identification, and exorcism planning
The character knows the standard exorcism method for the major entity types and the standard counter approaches for the main curse types without a roll
With 2D+ in this Focus: the character can assess whether a possessed individual's host is likely to survive a given exorcism method before attempting it (Wit + Lore vs Threshold 2 to assess host viability). They also automatically recognize behavioral signatures of possession in social interaction; they do not need a Notice roll to detect that something is wrong with a possessed individual

Practical Notes: The automatic possession detection is extremely practical; it converts a potential ambush by a Possessed Operative into forewarned engagement.