Rolling a natural 20 on a research check acts like a the potential insanity or not Award an amount of critical threat If the researcher confirms the critical experience as if the characters defeated a foe of a CR hit by succeeding on a second research check with all equal to one-fifth to one-third the book's complexity, the same modifiers (this takes no additional time), two depending on the level of risk and/or challenge further relevant facts are revealed Conversely, rolling a natural on a research check automatically results in failure, and the next check takes 16 hours instead of 8, doubling the duration of any dread resulting from that research check (if the researcher's save fails; see below) The Risks of Mythos Research Every research Due to the depth and complexity of its content, each of these books grants a bonus on skill checks for skills used for research checks for that book A book's entry also notes if it allows skill checks untrained A successful research check is required sometime in the month before attempting the skill check to which the bonus is to be applied made The researcher must specify the with one or more Mythos books type of skill used but need not exposes the reader (and anyone know the exact circumstances providing aid) ahead of time For example, the unhealthy for check to concepts minds researcher may choose to use Regardless the Knowledge (arcana) skill, of whether a research check resulting in identification of succeeds, the reader must make a spell or arcane topic, while a saving throw against dread The use of the Craft (alchemy) skill save DC of this dread is either might apply to identifying the to mortal contemplate equal to the book's shock rating or as normal for a disturbing discovery (see Chapter 4) relevant to the topic being researched, whichever is higher Because disturbing material permeates each 156 Skill Bonus ingredients and effects of a poison Spells, Rituals, and Item Creation Instructions text, no topic can be researched that avoids this risk, Many Mythos books contain spells and rituals, but each except in very unusual circumstances (entirely at the requires a successful research check to recognize them GM’s discretion) The dread from this research lasts as such in addition to the normal difficulties of reading for 1d3 days or the normal duration for the disturbing spells and rituals Some also include instructions for discovery, whichever is longer creating magic items or alchemical items A book's If the dread risk or other non-combat challenge skill bonus always applies to checks to learn a spell or related to researching a book's contents is a significant ritual from that book as well as to Craft or Spellcraft one for player character researchers, the GM is checks made to create an item from instructions in that encouraged to award experience points upon a thorough book All spells in these books are found in Chapter and significant discovery, whether the characters resist The book's skill bonus doesn't apply to skill checks