- If a character attempts to pick a lock or pocket,
he often uses Skulduggery. Some electronic locks
could require Computers or Skulduggery, or both. - Once an imprisoned character slipped his bonds
using Coordination, escaping from a cell depends
upon Skulduggery for picking locks and avoiding
security. - Identifying the most vulnerable aspects of a secu-
rity scheme can be nearly intuitive for a character
that has become practiced in Skulduggery.
Skulduggery is often opposed by a target's Percep-
tion. In instances where another character is not di-
rectly involved, the quality of the object being over-
come should determine the degree of difficulty.
One or more ^ on a Skulduggery check should
indicate additional insights that the acting character
gained about the nature of his opposition. This might
suggest that the thief could better plan his strategy
against the current foe to avoid future complications.
A character may spend O earned on a Skuldug-
gery check to identify an additional potential target,
or gain additional items. Perhaps as the characters
make good their escape, they discover their oppo-
nent's cache of antique weapons. A ($) may be spent
to earn the character a boon he had not expected. In
such cases, the value of the item stolen might exceed
his expectations, and might also provide vital infor-
mation. When using Skulduggery to pick a lock, the
character might devise a near permanent means of
overcoming the lock, perhaps by crafting a makeshift
key or by getting access to the actual key itself.
By generating <§) during a Skulduggery check, a char-
acter gives the CM the opportunity to catch him imme-
diately after the act. Depending on the amount of Threat
spent by the CM, the character will be in varying degrees
of danger; the more Threat, the more immediate the dis-
covery and ensuing danger. The CM may spend ^ to
cause the character to leave behind some evidence of
his larceny. Perhaps a recognizable piece of adornment,
such as the character's heirloom ring, slips off into the
target's pocket as the character attempts to pick it.STEALTH (AGILITY)
Often, a character may have business to conduct uKat
is best completed with a certain degree of privacy.Ik
might be that there are powerful individuals—eithe*
legal or criminal authorities—who are directly op
posed to his choice of actions. Other times, a char
acter might either be collecting or avoiding a bounty.
Under such conditions, a successful endeavor may
depend entirely upon how talented the character is
at not being noticed. The Stealth skill reflects this
ability under virtually all situations.Any criminal that depends upon physical inset
tion must be a master of this trade. Similarly, anyone
whose skills include espionage needs to be able to
avoid notice. Stealth also encompasses wilderness
camouflage skills, which may be crucial to any hunter.