Deception

Deception is a Common skill, and is modified by your Charisma.

Deception is a cornerstone of intrigue and manipulation, granting characters the ability to weave believable lies, disguise their intentions, and outwit their adversaries. Deception is more than simply telling falsehoods—it’s about convincing others to see the world in a way that aligns with the deceiver’s desires. Whether you’re negotiating with a rival merchant to gain a better deal, fabricating a backstory to infiltrate a noble’s court, or bluffing your way out of a tense standoff with a bloodthirsty bandit, this skill can mean the difference between success and failure. For those who thrive in the shadows of society, such as spies, thieves, or politicians, Deception is a lifeline and a weapon. Even for the average adventurer, knowing when and how to twist the truth can open doors, delay danger, or create opportunities that brute force cannot achieve.

The applications of Deception are as varied as the challenges adventurers face in The Land. In social encounters, it can be used to manipulate the perception of NPCs, forging alliances or undermining trust between enemies. In combat scenarios, Deception might enable a character to feign weakness, baiting an opponent into a trap, or create a distraction to give allies the upper hand. However, the use of Deception carries risks—an unconvincing lie or poorly constructed ruse can expose the deceiver, leading to suspicion, hostility, or worse. 

As your skill in Deception grows, you will gain additional benefits from it.

Increased Affinity: When you first attain a new title in Deception (Initiate or Apprentice), you gain a 25% Affinity increase in either the Bluff, Deception, Disguise, or Forgery Skills. You can gain this affinity even if you did not have a previous Affinity Bonus or Ranks in the chosen skill.

Initiate (Ranks 10-19):
“That’s not entirely true…”: Once per game, when you or an ally makes a Deception or Persuasion check and dislikes the result, you may roll a Deception check and substitute it for the result of that roll. All of the targets of the origional check must be able to communicate with you to use it. 

Apprentice (Ranks 20-34):
Deceptive Strike: You are a paragon of doing the unexpected. Your first attack in any combat gains a bonus to its accuracy checks equal to your ranks in Deception.

All of these bonuses are cumulative.