VI Mythos Items and Artifacts Books of the Cthulhu Mythos Ancient tomes of lore and their various translations and book’s contents, and a shock rating, which reflects the versions are a core theme and signature of the Mythos dangers of investigating the topics in the books for a These books are a major source of power, for both mortal mind heroes and villains alike, and even the grisly monsters of the Mythos value them To research a specific topic or question within a book, a character must succeed at a research check, These books teach not only the rituals and using one of the skills listed in the book’s entry A summoning ceremonies for entities of the Mythos, research check is akin to a Knowledge check, though but also provide useful information about the history, each book’s stat block lists the specific skills that can nature, and threat posed by them Knowing that dark be used for research checks based on the nature of that young of Shub-Niggurath are solely concerned with book’s contents, which are sometimes not Knowledge- serving their terrible Mother is useful information based A book’s complexity rating is the minimum DC when negotiating with one for research checks using that book If a Knowledge These books also pose a threat The information check is for a topic with a higher DC, the higher DC they provide may boost a person’s knowledge of Yog- is used instead Sothothery, but it also tends to destroy the reader’s Attempting a research check requires an sanity and grip on reality Reading one for the first uninterrupted 8-hour period of research, and a time is always at least a minor disturbing discovery, character cannot take 10 or 20 on a research check and each book may contain multiple such discoveries Each 8-hour period of research on the same question (see Chapter 4) grants a cumulative +1 bonus on research checks A Each Mythos book is unique, even if multiple copies character who stops researching a given topic in the are known to exist Different versions of the same text same book for a month or more loses any relevant may vary widely in structure and even content The bonuses gained for researching in that book thus far terrible truth is that all versions are true in their own Up to two additional characters can use the aid another way, and seeking to reconcile even two copies of the action to assist a primary researcher if they have their same text has driven many a researcher hopelessly mad own copies of the text or another text on the same A few of the more famous Mythos books are listed topic Though some research checks cannot normally below with some of their traits and features Many be attempted untrained unless the research check's DC others exist, safely beyond the bounds of mortal is 10 or lower (such as if the research check requires a knowledge—for now skill that does not allow untrained skill checks), the 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 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 points by which a research check exceeds the DC, further details on the topic (if any) are revealed 155