Researching a Text Comprehending the nuances of one of these texts is a challenging process of research that uses the following rules which have some similarities to the research rules f
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Books of the Cthulhu Mythos
Ancient tomes of lore and their various translations and
versions are a core theme and signature of the Mythos
These books are a major source of power, for both
heroes and villains alike, and even the grisly monsters
of the Mythos value them
These books teach not only the rituals and
summoning ceremonies for entities of the Mythos,
but also provide useful information about the history,
nature, and threat posed by them Knowing that dark
young of Shub-Niggurath are solely concerned with
serving their terrible Mother is useful information
when negotiating with one
These books also pose a threat The information
they provide may boost a person’s knowledge of
Yog-Sothothery, but it also tends to destroy the reader’s
sanity and grip on reality Reading one for the first
time is always at least a minor disturbing discovery,
and each book may contain multiple such discoveries
(see Chapter 4)
Each Mythos book is unique, even if multiple copies
are known to exist Different versions of the same text
may vary widely in structure and even content The
terrible truth is that all versions are true in their own
way, and seeking to reconcile even two copies of the
same text has driven many a researcher hopelessly mad
A few of the more famous Mythos books are listed
below with some of their traits and features Many
others exist, safely beyond the bounds of mortal
knowledge—for now
Researching a Text
Comprehending the nuances of one of these texts is a
challenging process of research that uses the following
rules (which have some similarities to the research rules
from Pathfinder Roleplaying Game: Ultimate Intrigue).
Every Mythos book has a complexity rating, which
represents the intricacy or confusing nature of the
book’s contents, and a shock rating, which reflects the dangers of investigating the topics in the books for a mortal mind
To research a specific topic or question within a book, a character must succeed at a research check, using one of the skills listed in the book’s entry A research check is akin to a Knowledge check, though each book’s stat block lists the specific skills that can
be used for research checks based on the nature of that book’s contents, which are sometimes not Knowledge-based A book’s complexity rating is the minimum DC for research checks using that book If a Knowledge check is for a topic with a higher DC, the higher DC
is used instead
Attempting a research check requires an uninterrupted 8-hour period of research, and a character cannot take 10 or 20 on a research check
Each 8-hour period of research on the same question grants a cumulative +1 bonus on research checks A character who stops researching a given topic in the same book for a month or more loses any relevant bonuses gained for researching in that book thus far
Up to two additional characters can use the aid another action to assist a primary researcher if they have their own copies of the text or another text on the same topic Though some research checks cannot normally
be attempted untrained unless the research check's DC
is 10 or lower (such as if the research check requires a skill that does not allow untrained skill checks), the research of many Mythos books is written specifically
to lure in the unwary, allowing untrained checks regardless of the relevant skill
Succeeding at a research check reveals facts as normal for a successful Knowledge skill check For every 5 points by which a research check exceeds the
DC, further details on the topic (if any) are revealed