COMPREHEND (SENSORY)
| Name | Type | Action | Range | Duration | Resistance | Base Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Comprehend | Sensory | None | Personal | Permanent | - | 2 per rank |
You can comprehend different sorts of communication. Each rank in this effect allows you to choose one of the following options.
ANIMALS
You can either speak to or comprehend animals. You can ask questions and receive answers, although animals are not any more friendly or cooperative than normal. Furthermore, wary and cunning animals are likely to be terse and evasive, while especially stupid ones make inane comments. If an animal is friendly toward you, it may do some favor or service for you. For 2 ranks you can both speak to and understand the “speech” of animals.
LANGUAGES
You can either speak or understand the language of any intelligent creature. You can speak only one language at a time, although you can comprehend multiple languages at once. This effect does not enable you to speak with creatures that don’t possess a language. For 2 ranks you can both speak and understand all languages. For 3 ranks anyone able to hear you can understand what you’re saying, regardless of language. Being able to also read any language you comprehend requires 1 additional rank.
DEVICES OR CONSTRUCTS
You can communicate with devices or constructs of a chosen shared descriptor or power source, asking questions and understanding their replies. This requires two Comprehend ranks. Most are limited by their nature in terms of what they “know,” and may not be able to answer some inquiries with anything other than an “unknown” or “not sure.” At the GM’s discretion, you can use the Build or appropriate Lore Proficiency as an interaction skill when communicating with devices or constructs.
ELEMENTS
You can communicate with one of the elements of earth, wind, fire, or water, and elemental creatures of the same element. This requires two Comprehend ranks. An element’s sense of its surroundings is limited, so it won’t be able to give (or recognize) detailed descriptions or answer questions about events outside its immediate vicinity. For four ranks you can communicate with all of the elements.
HORRORS
You can communicate with Horrors, both unintelligent Horrors and intelligent Horrors regardless of shared languages. This requires two Comprehend ranks. You can ask questions and receive answers, although Horrors are not any more friendly or cooperative than normal. Furthermore, wary and cunning Horrors are likely to be terse and evasive, while especially stupid ones make inane comments. If a Horror is friendly toward you, it may do some favor or service for you.
OBJECTS
You can communicate with inanimate objects, granting them the ability to speak to you or simply “reading” impressions from them. This requires two Comprehend ranks. Objects only “know” about events directly affecting them or occurring in their immediate area. Gamemasters can apply the guidelines for Postcognition to this effect.
PLANTS
You can communicate with plants, both normal plants and plant creatures. This requires two Comprehend ranks. A plant’s sense of its surroundings is limited, so it won’t be able to give (or recognize) detailed descriptions or answer questions about events outside its immediate vicinity.
SOULS
You can perceive Souls that are in the Spirit World and even communicate with the Souls of creatures you share a common language with, even though they would normally be invisible and inaudible to you. Rank 1 essentially allows you to function as a “medium” of sorts, able to perceive souls and relay what you see and hear. Rank 2 allows you to be clearly under-stood by denizens of the spirit world, as well.
FLAWS
Type: You can only comprehend a broad type of subject (only elves, canines, avians, or sea creatures, for example). For an additional flaw, you can only comprehend a narrow type of subject (dogs, falcons, or dolphins, for example). Broad –1 cost per rank. Narrow –2 cost per rank
