Guardian's Athenaeum Rules

## **Learning Something from the Athenaeum**

Most topics, mundane or supernatural, can be found in the reliquary of information. The following will be the rules for acquiring a new Knowledge, Lore, Sphere, Art, Realm, Hedge Magic, or Discipline via use of the Athenaeum.

Other factors such as merits and flaws can be factored into the of rolls difficulty as well as your Intelligence score. If you’re not sure if your merit or flaw would be a factor, ask us (I will include a list of possible merits and flaws that can factor in below).

The number of successes needed is based on the level of knowledge you wish to attain.

Successes Needed Per Dot
 2nd Dot
 3rd Dot
 4th Dot
 5 Dot

These successes are not cumulative, in other words, the five successes for the first dot, do not count toward the ten needed for the second dot, etc. These rolls may be made a number of times per week equal to your Intelligence score. All of these rolls may be made on Sunday if you would prefer, versus making them throughout the week.

Only one book may be borrowed at a given time. If you finish the required successes early in the week, you may return the book. Keep note of the successes in your Bluebook, and request another book from the Librarian (though it may not be the same topic at a higher level). if you make all of your rolls on the same day, you will still have to do a scene of returning the first book and getting another before you can complete your remaining weekly rolls.

### **Knowledges and Lores:**

If you are learning a new knowledge or lore (aka your first dot in something), you make an Intelligence roll (only your Intelligence dice apply). If you're building up a lore or knowledge that you already have (aka you have one dot in it already) then it is Intelligence+Knowledge or Lore Rating. All of these rolls are a base Difficulty of 10 minus your Intelligence Score.

### **Spheres:**

This is for Mages only. As they are the only ones with access to Sphere related magics. Your roll is Intelligence+Research, base difficulty 10, minus your Intelligence score. For any Dot beyond the first, it becomes Intelligence+Sphere Rating. Same difficulty as above.

### **Art or Realm:**

This is for Changelings only. The roll will be your Intelligence+Graymare. Base difficulty 10, minus your Intelligence score. For dots beyond the first, it becomes Intelligence+Art or Realm Rating. Same difficulty as above.

### **Disciplines:**

This is for Ghouls only. The roll for any Discipline at the first dot, will be your Intelligence+Occult. Base Difficulty 10, minus your Intelligence score. For dots beyond the first, it becomes Intelligence+Discipline Rating (or Path Rating for Blood Sorcery). Same difficulty as above.

### **Hedge Magic:**

Anyone can learn Hedge Magic, but most Awakened Mages will see a mage learning “unawakened” magics as beneath them (the Bata’a and Thunder Society being exceptions). Many Garou will look at another Garou learning Hedge Magic with some level of suspicion (but much less so at Heart of Aeolus). The roll is Intelligence+ Occult (Greymare for Changelings), base difficulty 10 minus your Intelligence score. Once your first dot is achieved the roll becomes Intelligence+Path Rating. Same base difficulty.

### **Requirements:**

Make your roll in one of the scene rollers, bluebook your start and progress.

Rather than making rolls every week (which I know can be a bit of a hassle to remember) you may make all of your rolls for the month during DT. Anything that is read "during downtime" may be bought during that DT as it symbolizes the things you have read during the previous month. All other rules remain the same (number of successes, what can be found in the Athenaeum, etc.). We also no longer require the scene of getting the book.

## **Botches and Failures**

Things are bound to go awry when dice are involved. The following are the consequences for Failures and Botches.

### **Failure:**

A failure does not take away successes. It simply means you do not grasp the material you are trying to understand that day. You may proceed with the roll again the next at a +1 Difficulty.

### **Botches:**

This topic is so far out of your realm of understanding that you must wait a month before you may attempt to learn this topic again. You do not lose your weekly rolls for that month, but you may not attempt to learn the topic on which you botched again during that month. The wait time (regardless of sphere rating, knowledge level, etc.) will be based on the level of botch. A single botch is 1 month, double botch 2 months, triple botch 3 months, etc.

**The best way to avoid either one of these, is to spend a Willpower.**