All living (and most formerly living) entities possess an aura which may be read for clues concerning the nature of the entity. Objects made of formerly living matter will also possess an aura, but one which is much weaker. The following categories of auras are listed in order of strength (weakest to strongest):
1. Formerly living matter as part of an object.
2. A formerly living entity (not including Undead)
3. Living plants
4. Lower orders of living animals
5. Undead types
6. Higher orders of living animals
7. Humans and humanoids
8. Elves and other long-lived sentient
Whenever confronted by an object or being whose nature is unknown to him, the Mage’s player may tell the DM that he is attempting to detect the aura of the being or object. The DM rolls a D100. If the resulting roll indicates success (PER, +5 per rank), the aura is detected. The roll is modified by -1 per 10 feet of distance between the mage and the target. The mage may ask one question about the being or object. If the dice roll falls within the possible results necessary to achieve double or triple effects when casting a spell, the mage may ask 2 (for double effect) or 3 (for triple effects) questions. The DM may be as vague or as specific as he desires.
A being may actively resist (but not passively) having his aura read in which case the being's willpower is subtracted from the base chance of success of reading the aura. |