Gwynevere's House

[tiki]

SPOILER: Click to show

Sense Motive
Rank: "E"
Skill: Skill
Effect: User is skilled at detecting falsehoods and true intentions.
Special: ---
Drawback: ---
Description: A successful check lets you avoid being bluffed (see the Acting skill). The user can also use this skill to determine when "something is up" (that is, something odd is going on) or to assess someone's trustworthiness. Sense Motive does not, however, allow a character to determine whether a given statement is a lie. In addition, a character can use this skill to make an assessment of a social situation. With a successful check (Very Difficult Difficulty), the character can get the feeling from another's behavior that something is wrong. Also, the character can get the feeling that someone is trustworthy and honorable. A Sense Motive check may be made as a reaction to another character's Acting check. Try Again: No, though user may make a Sense Motive Check for each Acting check made against the user. Look in Task Skills thread found in the Skills and Traits Index for more information. If user has 25 or more Ranks in Evidence Analysis user gains a Synergy Bonus +10 to Sense Motive. If user has 25 or more Ranks in Cultures user gains a Synergy Bonus +10 to Sense Motive when interacting with someone of said Culture. If user has 25 or more Ranks in Cultures user gains a Synergy Bonus +10 to Sense Motive when interacting with someone of said Culture. Each time learned user gets 1 die roll to increase the skill.
Limit: ---

[Post 3]
[?? SP, +1 per roll, 1 die per learn]
[0|5]

Alright, it was time to go for a walk. And not through the forest like most days. I had to go deeper into Kusagakure, see some people, try to see if I couldn't piece together a thing or two about the human condition. I pulled my vest back on, left my bedroom, slid back into my boots, and began to walk towards the center of town. Perhaps I could visit that tea shop I'd done a shift at the other day? Hopefully they weren't too busy.

I did so, and when I arrived at the Green Teashop, I was planning on sitting down, but I saw the manager looking at me. He was smiling, like he did at customers, but I wondered if he didn't have something else hiding, some ulterior motive? After all, he'd been a little bit weird to me towards the end of my mission. So I decided to walk up to the counter and see what he looked like. Strange behavior like his little joke at my expense was definitely a clue when it came down to things like this.

When I walked up to the counter, I noticed that his smile was a bit wider than I would have expected. His cheeks were rippled with the effects of it. It was almost too wide to be attractive. Is that a sign of genuinity?

[tiki]

SPOILER: Click to show

Sense Motive
Rank: "E"
Skill: Skill
Effect: User is skilled at detecting falsehoods and true intentions.
Special: ---
Drawback: ---
Description: A successful check lets you avoid being bluffed (see the Acting skill). The user can also use this skill to determine when "something is up" (that is, something odd is going on) or to assess someone's trustworthiness. Sense Motive does not, however, allow a character to determine whether a given statement is a lie. In addition, a character can use this skill to make an assessment of a social situation. With a successful check (Very Difficult Difficulty), the character can get the feeling from another's behavior that something is wrong. Also, the character can get the feeling that someone is trustworthy and honorable. A Sense Motive check may be made as a reaction to another character's Acting check. Try Again: No, though user may make a Sense Motive Check for each Acting check made against the user. Look in Task Skills thread found in the Skills and Traits Index for more information. If user has 25 or more Ranks in Evidence Analysis user gains a Synergy Bonus +10 to Sense Motive. If user has 25 or more Ranks in Cultures user gains a Synergy Bonus +10 to Sense Motive when interacting with someone of said Culture. If user has 25 or more Ranks in Cultures user gains a Synergy Bonus +10 to Sense Motive when interacting with someone of said Culture. Each time learned user gets 1 die roll to increase the skill.
Limit: ---

[Post 4]
[?? SP, +1 per roll, 1 die per learn]
[0|5]

"Ahh! Gwynevere. Might I get you something to drink?" The manager said to me. I smiled back at him, and realised that he doesn't normally greet customers - even regular customers like I'd met the other day - in that way. He normally asks them what he can interest them in, or what they would like or want, not if he can get them something. With somebody like a retail employee like him, I imagine scripts and common phrases would be heavily ingrained. To break a script down that, I can only assume he's being extra aware of what it is he's saying.

"Could I get an iced chai?" I asked, leaning my head to the side and trying my best to show my genuine interest in what was going on. I wondered if that would intensify or weaken his attention to what was going on. If it intensified it, I would assume whatever was going through his head had something specific to me.

Perhaps it did, because he broke script again. "But of course! On the house, too, for my greatest fill-in of all time!" He grabbed a cup rather hastily and took it over to the container where the ice was....

[tiki]

SPOILER: Click to show

Sense Motive
Rank: "E"
Skill: Skill
Effect: User is skilled at detecting falsehoods and true intentions.
Special: ---
Drawback: ---
Description: A successful check lets you avoid being bluffed (see the Acting skill). The user can also use this skill to determine when "something is up" (that is, something odd is going on) or to assess someone's trustworthiness. Sense Motive does not, however, allow a character to determine whether a given statement is a lie. In addition, a character can use this skill to make an assessment of a social situation. With a successful check (Very Difficult Difficulty), the character can get the feeling from another's behavior that something is wrong. Also, the character can get the feeling that someone is trustworthy and honorable. A Sense Motive check may be made as a reaction to another character's Acting check. Try Again: No, though user may make a Sense Motive Check for each Acting check made against the user. Look in Task Skills thread found in the Skills and Traits Index for more information. If user has 25 or more Ranks in Evidence Analysis user gains a Synergy Bonus +10 to Sense Motive. If user has 25 or more Ranks in Cultures user gains a Synergy Bonus +10 to Sense Motive when interacting with someone of said Culture. If user has 25 or more Ranks in Cultures user gains a Synergy Bonus +10 to Sense Motive when interacting with someone of said Culture. Each time learned user gets 1 die roll to increase the skill.
Limit: ---

[Post 5]
[?? SP, +1 per roll, 1 die per learn]
[0|5]

Alright. The manager is definitely being a little bit fishy. I'm not sure exactly what it is he has going on. A free drink would directly hurt his business. I mean, it isn't a huge financial loss, but certainly giving out things for free has to be out of the ordinary for him. Otherwise he wouldn't be in business. Unless he's got some kind of money laundering or illegal activity going on in secret. But wouldn't it be awful hard to get away with that in a ninja village? Wouldn't the ninjas notice?

It took him handing me the tea and smiling again, saying "Enjoy, and let me know if you need anything!" to realise the obvious. I am a ninja. And I hadn't noticed anything fishy about the place. But I was beginning to get some weird vibes off of the whole thing. So I sat down and watched the manager for a little bit, trying to sip my chai so he wouldn't think I'm watching. Being observed by me would obvious alter his habits. By leaving him unobserved I might be able to see a different frame of his mind, and piece together what exactly it is that's going on.

[tiki]

SPOILER: Click to show

Sense Motive
Rank: "E"
Skill: Skill
Effect: User is skilled at detecting falsehoods and true intentions.
Special: ---
Drawback: ---
Description: A successful check lets you avoid being bluffed (see the Acting skill). The user can also use this skill to determine when "something is up" (that is, something odd is going on) or to assess someone's trustworthiness. Sense Motive does not, however, allow a character to determine whether a given statement is a lie. In addition, a character can use this skill to make an assessment of a social situation. With a successful check (Very Difficult Difficulty), the character can get the feeling from another's behavior that something is wrong. Also, the character can get the feeling that someone is trustworthy and honorable. A Sense Motive check may be made as a reaction to another character's Acting check. Try Again: No, though user may make a Sense Motive Check for each Acting check made against the user. Look in Task Skills thread found in the Skills and Traits Index for more information. If user has 25 or more Ranks in Evidence Analysis user gains a Synergy Bonus +10 to Sense Motive. If user has 25 or more Ranks in Cultures user gains a Synergy Bonus +10 to Sense Motive when interacting with someone of said Culture. If user has 25 or more Ranks in Cultures user gains a Synergy Bonus +10 to Sense Motive when interacting with someone of said Culture. Each time learned user gets 1 die roll to increase the skill.
Limit: ---

[Post 6]
[?? SP, +1 per roll, 1 die per learn]
[0|5]

So I sat, sipping on my chai, trying to see if the manager would switch behavioral patterns as soon as he wasn't ostensibly being watched by me. Sure enough, as another customer came in, the manager was back to his usual demeanor. His smile was smaller than the one he gave me, a far more attractive smile, if I'm being totally honest. Was it more natural though? That was hard to tell. I didn't have that great of a sense for natural vs. artificial smiles just yet. I was only beginning to piece it together.

So, why was he back to his usual demeanor now? His strange attitude being only when I was around meant that whatever was eating at him was somehow conditional to that moment. It could have been time based, and the passage of time could have alleviated it. It could have been because I'm a ninja - I could see how authority, especially an authority that was now familiar with him, could cause an additional stress. It could also have been specific to me. Delving into the manager's mind was a strange activity, but it was a little bit fascinating. I gave my drink about ten minutes before I began to experiment.

[tiki]

SPOILER: Click to show

Sense Motive
Rank: "E"
Skill: Skill
Effect: User is skilled at detecting falsehoods and true intentions.
Special: ---
Drawback: ---
Description: A successful check lets you avoid being bluffed (see the Acting skill). The user can also use this skill to determine when "something is up" (that is, something odd is going on) or to assess someone's trustworthiness. Sense Motive does not, however, allow a character to determine whether a given statement is a lie. In addition, a character can use this skill to make an assessment of a social situation. With a successful check (Very Difficult Difficulty), the character can get the feeling from another's behavior that something is wrong. Also, the character can get the feeling that someone is trustworthy and honorable. A Sense Motive check may be made as a reaction to another character's Acting check. Try Again: No, though user may make a Sense Motive Check for each Acting check made against the user. Look in Task Skills thread found in the Skills and Traits Index for more information. If user has 25 or more Ranks in Evidence Analysis user gains a Synergy Bonus +10 to Sense Motive. If user has 25 or more Ranks in Cultures user gains a Synergy Bonus +10 to Sense Motive when interacting with someone of said Culture. If user has 25 or more Ranks in Cultures user gains a Synergy Bonus +10 to Sense Motive when interacting with someone of said Culture. Each time learned user gets 1 die roll to increase the skill.
Limit: ---

[Post 7]
[?? SP, +1 per roll, 1 die per learn]
[0|5]

My chai was mostly empty now, perhaps a sixth of it was still left, and that was watered down mostly with ice. To be completely honest, I kinda wanted another one. It was a good drink - one of my favorites since childhood - but I wondered how the manager would react to me asking for another one. He seemed content to give me this one for free, but would he give another? That was an intriguing psychological point. If he was willing to give me a free drink on my terms, i.e. one that I expected rather than was pleasantly surprised by, perhaps I could reasonably conclude there was something fishier. As it stood, it seemed more reasonable to just assume he was being kind to because of what I did for him.

I looked up from my drink, and caught his attention quickly. He was clearly paying extra attention to me if he noticed me so quickly - especially since he had a waitress to look for people needed additional drinks. Since there was nobody ordering, he put down the cup he was holding and walked right over. "Sir, is there a way I could get some more chai?" I smiled up at him, and was being honest in my smile. A drink sounded lovely. He touched my arm gently and replied "Of course, Gwynevere. It'll be right out." I sat back waiting for my drink and contemplating that.

[tiki]

SPOILER: Click to show

Sense Motive
Rank: "E"
Skill: Skill
Effect: User is skilled at detecting falsehoods and true intentions.
Special: ---
Drawback: ---
Description: A successful check lets you avoid being bluffed (see the Acting skill). The user can also use this skill to determine when "something is up" (that is, something odd is going on) or to assess someone's trustworthiness. Sense Motive does not, however, allow a character to determine whether a given statement is a lie. In addition, a character can use this skill to make an assessment of a social situation. With a successful check (Very Difficult Difficulty), the character can get the feeling from another's behavior that something is wrong. Also, the character can get the feeling that someone is trustworthy and honorable. A Sense Motive check may be made as a reaction to another character's Acting check. Try Again: No, though user may make a Sense Motive Check for each Acting check made against the user. Look in Task Skills thread found in the Skills and Traits Index for more information. If user has 25 or more Ranks in Evidence Analysis user gains a Synergy Bonus +10 to Sense Motive. If user has 25 or more Ranks in Cultures user gains a Synergy Bonus +10 to Sense Motive when interacting with someone of said Culture. If user has 25 or more Ranks in Cultures user gains a Synergy Bonus +10 to Sense Motive when interacting with someone of said Culture. Each time learned user gets 1 die roll to increase the skill.
Limit: ---

[Post 8]
[?? SP, +1 per roll, 1 die per learn]
[0|5]

So, he wasn't just trying to surprise me with the gift of a free chai. If he had been, I would have seen a hint of reluctance, maybe in a slumped shoulder, or maybe somewhere else. He seemed totally unreserved in giving me a second free drink. That, to me at least, raises two possibilities. He genuinely is enjoying giving these things to me, or, the somewhat more diabolical, a second iced chai is a small price to pay for whatever he hopes to achieve by buttering me up. I tried not to get too hardened and cynical, but I did kinda feel like there was something to uncover here. Smiling, I made eye contact with the man as he returned with my second drink.

Then, I began to think it over further. The way he emphasized my name, and touched my arm. He definitely seemed fixated on me. Yes, I was almost sure of it. Why else would he put so much emphasis on my end of the interaction. Unless that was misdirection. What if he wanted me to think this was about me, so I wouldn't notice the more nefarious details? Hmm. I didn't think he was that much of a manipulator, but it was interesting to see what details appealed to me, and try to eliminate my own blind spots.

[tiki]

SPOILER: Click to show

Sense Motive
Rank: "E"
Skill: Skill
Effect: User is skilled at detecting falsehoods and true intentions.
Special: ---
Drawback: ---
Description: A successful check lets you avoid being bluffed (see the Acting skill). The user can also use this skill to determine when "something is up" (that is, something odd is going on) or to assess someone's trustworthiness. Sense Motive does not, however, allow a character to determine whether a given statement is a lie. In addition, a character can use this skill to make an assessment of a social situation. With a successful check (Very Difficult Difficulty), the character can get the feeling from another's behavior that something is wrong. Also, the character can get the feeling that someone is trustworthy and honorable. A Sense Motive check may be made as a reaction to another character's Acting check. Try Again: No, though user may make a Sense Motive Check for each Acting check made against the user. Look in Task Skills thread found in the Skills and Traits Index for more information. If user has 25 or more Ranks in Evidence Analysis user gains a Synergy Bonus +10 to Sense Motive. If user has 25 or more Ranks in Cultures user gains a Synergy Bonus +10 to Sense Motive when interacting with someone of said Culture. If user has 25 or more Ranks in Cultures user gains a Synergy Bonus +10 to Sense Motive when interacting with someone of said Culture. Each time learned user gets 1 die roll to increase the skill.
Limit: ---

[Post 9]
[?? SP, +1 per roll, 1 die per learn]
[0|5]

Well, I sat and sipped a while longer. When I realised that my drink was more water than chai, I brought my cups up to the manager and asked him what I owed him.

He laughed a somewhat forced sounding laugh - finally I seemed to be getting to the bottom of whatever it was . "Oh, don't worry about it Gwyn! I really appreciate all that you and your comrades do for the village." He seemed genuine, but I remember him charging other ninja for their tea when I worked for him, so I knew there was something a little bit fishy. This definitely was about me, and his misdirection was definitely aimed to lead me away from tht conclusion, not to it. So I deemed that I genuinely was the cause of his strange behavior.

As I turned to leave, he spoke one more time. "Oh, Gwyn. By the way, I was thinking maybe you could help me with some more missions some time. Wouldn't have to be a big deal. Escorting tea shipments. Maybe helping me make bank runs?" I smiled, and said that we would see, and maybe I would see him again some day. That confirmed it to me. Whether it was genuinely about missions, or just about getting me to like him more, I was the cause of the odd behavior. Case closed. Well. Somewhat. Regardless, I had other people to investigate.

[tiki]

SPOILER: Click to show

Sense Motive
Rank: "E"
Skill: Skill
Effect: User is skilled at detecting falsehoods and true intentions.
Special: ---
Drawback: ---
Description: A successful check lets you avoid being bluffed (see the Acting skill). The user can also use this skill to determine when "something is up" (that is, something odd is going on) or to assess someone's trustworthiness. Sense Motive does not, however, allow a character to determine whether a given statement is a lie. In addition, a character can use this skill to make an assessment of a social situation. With a successful check (Very Difficult Difficulty), the character can get the feeling from another's behavior that something is wrong. Also, the character can get the feeling that someone is trustworthy and honorable. A Sense Motive check may be made as a reaction to another character's Acting check. Try Again: No, though user may make a Sense Motive Check for each Acting check made against the user. Look in Task Skills thread found in the Skills and Traits Index for more information. If user has 25 or more Ranks in Evidence Analysis user gains a Synergy Bonus +10 to Sense Motive. If user has 25 or more Ranks in Cultures user gains a Synergy Bonus +10 to Sense Motive when interacting with someone of said Culture. If user has 25 or more Ranks in Cultures user gains a Synergy Bonus +10 to Sense Motive when interacting with someone of said Culture. Each time learned user gets 1 die roll to increase the skill.
Limit: ---

[Post 10]
[?? SP, +1 per roll, 1 die per learn]
[0|5]

I walked down the street a little distance after I left the tea shop, and noticed a juggler in the street. A few people had gathered around to watch the show, so I joined them, intent on watching the way they interacted and felt.

The juggler had a big smile on his face, and several people had looks similar to his. But I noticed a couple who had stopped to watch the juggler. The woman in the pair seemed to be genuinely enjoying the spectacle, clutching onto her boyfriend's sleeve. The boyfriend had a taciturn look on his face - as if it was only his significant other that was keeping him here. That was my initial sizing up, but I knew that sometimes there was more depth to it, so, when I could, I looked away from the juggler and towards them to see if I could catch any developments.

As I watched, I noticed that her eyes weren't very expressive. Her face was still, she barely made an effort to keep up with the pins as the tumbled through the air. And her more taciturn partner actually seemed a bit more expressive in his eyes. He watched each movement with care, and he seemed to anticipate each trick, locking his eyes onto the next object the juggler would add, or the one that he was going to catch in his mouth. Despite the difference in emotion and ostensible motive, he seemed far more engaged than her. I watched on, wondering if I could find out why.

[tiki]

SPOILER: Click to show

Sense Motive
Rank: "E"
Skill: Skill
Effect: User is skilled at detecting falsehoods and true intentions.
Special: ---
Drawback: ---
Description: A successful check lets you avoid being bluffed (see the Acting skill). The user can also use this skill to determine when "something is up" (that is, something odd is going on) or to assess someone's trustworthiness. Sense Motive does not, however, allow a character to determine whether a given statement is a lie. In addition, a character can use this skill to make an assessment of a social situation. With a successful check (Very Difficult Difficulty), the character can get the feeling from another's behavior that something is wrong. Also, the character can get the feeling that someone is trustworthy and honorable. A Sense Motive check may be made as a reaction to another character's Acting check. Try Again: No, though user may make a Sense Motive Check for each Acting check made against the user. Look in Task Skills thread found in the Skills and Traits Index for more information. If user has 25 or more Ranks in Evidence Analysis user gains a Synergy Bonus +10 to Sense Motive. If user has 25 or more Ranks in Cultures user gains a Synergy Bonus +10 to Sense Motive when interacting with someone of said Culture. If user has 25 or more Ranks in Cultures user gains a Synergy Bonus +10 to Sense Motive when interacting with someone of said Culture. Each time learned user gets 1 die roll to increase the skill.
Limit: ---

[Post 1]
[?? SP, +1 per roll, 1 die per learn]
[0|5]

So, why was the smiling woman totally engaged with the performance itself, and the stoic man totally engrossed by the action of the juggler? I began to theorycraft in anticipation. If I had a couple of reasonable models, I could compare any new revelations to them, and dismiss, modify or accept them as the situation permitted. I can't just be reactive all the time. So I put forth a couple of basic ideas on what could cause this odd date situation to occur.

Perhaps the man was just generally stoic? If that was the case, the woman could be so excited to watch the juggler because she knows somebody she loves is being made happy by it. That would explain her disconnected joy. Another valid theory was that there was something heavy weighing on the man, and he was trying to engage in the moment so he didn't think about it too hard. The woman might even know he has something heavy weighing on him, and is trying to adopt general happiness for the sake of comforting him. I sighed quietly to myself. I felt like my slight envy towards the couple made it a little bit harder to think objectively. I guess that's part of what makes people so hard to work with.

[tiki]

SPOILER: Click to show

Sense Motive
Rank: "E"
Skill: Skill
Effect: User is skilled at detecting falsehoods and true intentions.
Special: ---
Drawback: ---
Description: A successful check lets you avoid being bluffed (see the Acting skill). The user can also use this skill to determine when "something is up" (that is, something odd is going on) or to assess someone's trustworthiness. Sense Motive does not, however, allow a character to determine whether a given statement is a lie. In addition, a character can use this skill to make an assessment of a social situation. With a successful check (Very Difficult Difficulty), the character can get the feeling from another's behavior that something is wrong. Also, the character can get the feeling that someone is trustworthy and honorable. A Sense Motive check may be made as a reaction to another character's Acting check. Try Again: No, though user may make a Sense Motive Check for each Acting check made against the user. Look in Task Skills thread found in the Skills and Traits Index for more information. If user has 25 or more Ranks in Evidence Analysis user gains a Synergy Bonus +10 to Sense Motive. If user has 25 or more Ranks in Cultures user gains a Synergy Bonus +10 to Sense Motive when interacting with someone of said Culture. If user has 25 or more Ranks in Cultures user gains a Synergy Bonus +10 to Sense Motive when interacting with someone of said Culture. Each time learned user gets 1 die roll to increase the skill.
Limit: ---

[Post 12]
[?? SP, +1 per roll, 1 die per learn]
[0|5]

Just then, an interesting moment of 'passion' and emotion occurred, and I, albeit somewhat creepily, was able to observe it and make some conclusions based upon it. The details I noted to work with were as follows; the woman initiated the kiss by turning her head in front of the man, the man's eyes remained open during the kiss, although not trained as artfully on the juggler as before, the woman reached out and touched the man's side, but the man remained relatively motionless.

It was an odd thing. I kinda doubted I'd ever really get inside of their heads, but it didn't seem like the man was doing all that good a job if being engrossed in the moment was his goal. A halfhearted kiss like that would imply distance. On the other hand, the woman's desire the kiss the man did seem to be out of desire to make him happy. She didn't seem too upset by his unresponsive affection, as if she knew it was going to happen but was glad she did it anyways. I really began to suspect that they were seeing the juggler for him, but the moment just wasn't doing it for him. The way he went back to watching the performance, reluctantly took her hand to hold - that was just how it struck me.

[tiki]

SPOILER: Click to show

Sense Motive
Rank: "E"
Skill: Skill
Effect: User is skilled at detecting falsehoods and true intentions.
Special: ---
Drawback: ---
Description: A successful check lets you avoid being bluffed (see the Acting skill). The user can also use this skill to determine when "something is up" (that is, something odd is going on) or to assess someone's trustworthiness. Sense Motive does not, however, allow a character to determine whether a given statement is a lie. In addition, a character can use this skill to make an assessment of a social situation. With a successful check (Very Difficult Difficulty), the character can get the feeling from another's behavior that something is wrong. Also, the character can get the feeling that someone is trustworthy and honorable. A Sense Motive check may be made as a reaction to another character's Acting check. Try Again: No, though user may make a Sense Motive Check for each Acting check made against the user. Look in Task Skills thread found in the Skills and Traits Index for more information. If user has 25 or more Ranks in Evidence Analysis user gains a Synergy Bonus +10 to Sense Motive. If user has 25 or more Ranks in Cultures user gains a Synergy Bonus +10 to Sense Motive when interacting with someone of said Culture. If user has 25 or more Ranks in Cultures user gains a Synergy Bonus +10 to Sense Motive when interacting with someone of said Culture. Each time learned user gets 1 die roll to increase the skill.
Limit: ---

[Post 13]
[?? SP, +1 per roll, 1 die per learn]
[0|5]

I finished up with the juggler performance, walking away before it was really over. I felt a little bit bad doing so, but I was on a mission of sorts, and I wanted to see as much as I could today. I settled down in a park, sitting on a bench in the cool autumn air. I resolved to make snappy judgements about the people around me as they walked by, see if I couldn't learn some more.

The first man I saw walking by was walking quickly. That could be many things, I tried to think of them as soon as they came to me. He could be in an emergency, he could be stressed, he could be a health-seeker, or he could be in a really good mood, perhaps. Maybe the exact shape of his stride would help as he got closer? I watched him coming up and realized how much of a spring there was in his step. Yes, it was a good pace, but he was tall, and there was a lot of wasted energy. He was bouncing with each pace, ever-so-slightly. I ruled out anger and emergency - those would call for a pace of ruthless efficiency.

When he walked closer I caught the hint of a smirk on his face. Under normal circumstances that may not cue me into pure happiness, but the fellow certainly thought he was not being observed. Considering he wasn't trying to express anything in particular, it was reasonable to assume that the smug little grin I saw was the part of happiness that was leeching through what would be a neutral demeanor.

[tiki]

SPOILER: Click to show

Sense Motive
Rank: "E"
Skill: Skill
Effect: User is skilled at detecting falsehoods and true intentions.
Special: ---
Drawback: ---
Description: A successful check lets you avoid being bluffed (see the Acting skill). The user can also use this skill to determine when "something is up" (that is, something odd is going on) or to assess someone's trustworthiness. Sense Motive does not, however, allow a character to determine whether a given statement is a lie. In addition, a character can use this skill to make an assessment of a social situation. With a successful check (Very Difficult Difficulty), the character can get the feeling from another's behavior that something is wrong. Also, the character can get the feeling that someone is trustworthy and honorable. A Sense Motive check may be made as a reaction to another character's Acting check. Try Again: No, though user may make a Sense Motive Check for each Acting check made against the user. Look in Task Skills thread found in the Skills and Traits Index for more information. If user has 25 or more Ranks in Evidence Analysis user gains a Synergy Bonus +10 to Sense Motive. If user has 25 or more Ranks in Cultures user gains a Synergy Bonus +10 to Sense Motive when interacting with someone of said Culture. If user has 25 or more Ranks in Cultures user gains a Synergy Bonus +10 to Sense Motive when interacting with someone of said Culture. Each time learned user gets 1 die roll to increase the skill.
Limit: ---

[Post 14]
[?? SP, +1 per roll, 1 die per learn]
[0|5]

The bench was proving a fun place for human observation.

The next person who walked by was a woman, perhaps three or four years older than I was, so a young one. Despite the cold, she kind of swaggered a little bit. She was wearing a tight dress, and her hair looked like it had been styled, but was a little bit messed up. There was a lazy, tired, yet content grin across her face, and I wondered exactly what sort of things would be going through her head. What would give her such a feeling of content despite the general appearance she doesn't exactly have her shit together?

As she got close to me, she turned towards me a little bit and smiled, gave me a strange nod, and continued on her way. That threw me off quite a bit. What was with that? It seemed so random to notice me like that, to acknowledge me for no real reason. I wasn't doing anything particularly interesting. The two motives I could come up with for her were pride and intoxication. But I didn't really have much information to conclude which of those was more persuasive. I guessed that was the danger of snap judgements.

[tiki]

SPOILER: Click to show

Sense Motive
Rank: "E"
Skill: Skill
Effect: User is skilled at detecting falsehoods and true intentions.
Special: ---
Drawback: ---
Description: A successful check lets you avoid being bluffed (see the Acting skill). The user can also use this skill to determine when "something is up" (that is, something odd is going on) or to assess someone's trustworthiness. Sense Motive does not, however, allow a character to determine whether a given statement is a lie. In addition, a character can use this skill to make an assessment of a social situation. With a successful check (Very Difficult Difficulty), the character can get the feeling from another's behavior that something is wrong. Also, the character can get the feeling that someone is trustworthy and honorable. A Sense Motive check may be made as a reaction to another character's Acting check. Try Again: No, though user may make a Sense Motive Check for each Acting check made against the user. Look in Task Skills thread found in the Skills and Traits Index for more information. If user has 25 or more Ranks in Evidence Analysis user gains a Synergy Bonus +10 to Sense Motive. If user has 25 or more Ranks in Cultures user gains a Synergy Bonus +10 to Sense Motive when interacting with someone of said Culture. If user has 25 or more Ranks in Cultures user gains a Synergy Bonus +10 to Sense Motive when interacting with someone of said Culture. Each time learned user gets 1 die roll to increase the skill.
Limit: ---

[Post 15]
[?? SP, +1 per roll, 1 die per learn]
[0|5]

The next passerby was a bit more interesting, a ninja, fully outfitted, sprinted by at full speed. I noted that they reached behind them, tapped their rucksack, and tapped the hilt of the sword. Certainly this behavior made a fair amount of sense. They obviously had something violent in mind, if they were so anxious about the presence of their sword. Of course, a very put-together ninja wouldn't doubt for a second they'd forgotten something so vital as a sword or their entire bag, so I questioned whether or not they were particularly professional about the whole thing. Perhaps this was a sudden emergency?

Additionally, they'd been focused on touching their equipment when they ran by me - they didn't even spare me a glance. Obviously they were far more anxious about what they had than who saw them. Maybe that meant they knew what they were doing was in the right, or maybe it was just carelessness. Perhaps they felt very safe in the village. It would be odd for somebody running somewhere with a sword to feel safe, but I supposed a professional ninja with confidence in their training might feel that way. I concluded that it was a hardened ninja, the person I saw.

[tiki]

SPOILER: Click to show

Sense Motive
Rank: "E"
Skill: Skill
Effect: User is skilled at detecting falsehoods and true intentions.
Special: ---
Drawback: ---
Description: A successful check lets you avoid being bluffed (see the Acting skill). The user can also use this skill to determine when "something is up" (that is, something odd is going on) or to assess someone's trustworthiness. Sense Motive does not, however, allow a character to determine whether a given statement is a lie. In addition, a character can use this skill to make an assessment of a social situation. With a successful check (Very Difficult Difficulty), the character can get the feeling from another's behavior that something is wrong. Also, the character can get the feeling that someone is trustworthy and honorable. A Sense Motive check may be made as a reaction to another character's Acting check. Try Again: No, though user may make a Sense Motive Check for each Acting check made against the user. Look in Task Skills thread found in the Skills and Traits Index for more information. If user has 25 or more Ranks in Evidence Analysis user gains a Synergy Bonus +10 to Sense Motive. If user has 25 or more Ranks in Cultures user gains a Synergy Bonus +10 to Sense Motive when interacting with someone of said Culture. If user has 25 or more Ranks in Cultures user gains a Synergy Bonus +10 to Sense Motive when interacting with someone of said Culture. Each time learned user gets 1 die roll to increase the skill.
Limit: ---

[Post 16]
[?? SP, +1 per roll, 1 die per learn]
[0|5]

Not long after the man of military purpose sprinted by, a man with wings flew by rather quickly. I imagined that they were off to the same place, to deal with the same situation. Response time is amazing, when you're leaving in a military dictatorship the size of a large city. I noted that there wasn't as much raw confidence in the movements of this winged fellow. Even though they glided above the ground, I still sensed that there was something wrong. Their face seemed neutral, but I noticed a tight jaw muscle, maybe clenching, maybe grinding their teeth.

I didn't know too much about the anatomy and physiology of winged humans, but I did notice they were flapping pretty often, especially fro a bird of comparable size. It could be the feeling of frenzy. Maybe they weren't totally used to combat, and they were accompanying the other fellow? Maybe they were questioning the morality of what they were doing? Snap judgements are hard, but I got the feeling that this flying fellow didn't have their heart in whatever it was that they were doing.

[Skulking Shinzu]

Rolls

+80 TP. Learned 16 times.
+75 SP.

[tiki]

SPOILER: Click to show

Sense Motive
Rank: "E"
Skill: Skill
Effect: User is skilled at detecting falsehoods and true intentions.
Special: ---
Drawback: ---
Description: A successful check lets you avoid being bluffed (see the Acting skill). The user can also use this skill to determine when "something is up" (that is, something odd is going on) or to assess someone's trustworthiness. Sense Motive does not, however, allow a character to determine whether a given statement is a lie. In addition, a character can use this skill to make an assessment of a social situation. With a successful check (Very Difficult Difficulty), the character can get the feeling from another's behavior that something is wrong. Also, the character can get the feeling that someone is trustworthy and honorable. A Sense Motive check may be made as a reaction to another character's Acting check. Try Again: No, though user may make a Sense Motive Check for each Acting check made against the user. Look in Task Skills thread found in the Skills and Traits Index for more information. If user has 25 or more Ranks in Evidence Analysis user gains a Synergy Bonus +10 to Sense Motive. If user has 25 or more Ranks in Cultures user gains a Synergy Bonus +10 to Sense Motive when interacting with someone of said Culture. If user has 25 or more Ranks in Cultures user gains a Synergy Bonus +10 to Sense Motive when interacting with someone of said Culture. Each time learned user gets 1 die roll to increase the skill.
Limit: ---

[Post 1]
[75 SP, +1 per roll, 1 die per learn]
[0|5]
I began to feel relatively confident of my abilities at understanding people. I rose from the park seat and began to walk. The sun, as it does, was beginning to set and I walked, looking for places of deeper human psychology to ponder. I was just in luck! A prominent casino was holding a poker match tonight. I paid a nominal cover fee, and walked in, intent on spectating a little bit.

The competitors were as follows; a gruff, older man wearing a bowler hat, a young blonde woman (was she a clanswoman?) with a beautiful floral shawl, and a man of middle age, whose receding hairline he left bare. I began to size them up and try to understand the tactics they were using. The woman was smiling already, how could she expect to old her hand? The gruff old man looked stoic, but I wondered if that raw lack of emotion would let his true emotions seek through. The balding man seemed a little bit of a compromise. I wondered what they would look like once the cards were dealt. I began to formulate a model for their poker playing performance. Let's see how the data aligned with the hypothesis.

[tiki]

SPOILER: Click to show

Sense Motive
Rank: "E"
Skill: Skill
Effect: User is skilled at detecting falsehoods and true intentions.
Special: ---
Drawback: ---
Description: A successful check lets you avoid being bluffed (see the Acting skill). The user can also use this skill to determine when "something is up" (that is, something odd is going on) or to assess someone's trustworthiness. Sense Motive does not, however, allow a character to determine whether a given statement is a lie. In addition, a character can use this skill to make an assessment of a social situation. With a successful check (Very Difficult Difficulty), the character can get the feeling from another's behavior that something is wrong. Also, the character can get the feeling that someone is trustworthy and honorable. A Sense Motive check may be made as a reaction to another character's Acting check. Try Again: No, though user may make a Sense Motive Check for each Acting check made against the user. Look in Task Skills thread found in the Skills and Traits Index for more information. If user has 25 or more Ranks in Evidence Analysis user gains a Synergy Bonus +10 to Sense Motive. If user has 25 or more Ranks in Cultures user gains a Synergy Bonus +10 to Sense Motive when interacting with someone of said Culture. If user has 25 or more Ranks in Cultures user gains a Synergy Bonus +10 to Sense Motive when interacting with someone of said Culture. Each time learned user gets 1 die roll to increase the skill.
Limit: ---

[Post 2]
[75 SP, +1 per roll, 1 die per learn]
[0|5]

The cards were dealt, and our humble contestants began to play the game. It was exciting, and all the audience watched with bated breath. I realised quickly that the stresses and risk of tonight would cause these people to behave strangely, but also that they were trained for this sort of thing. I was watching the actions of trained liars with strong grasps over human psychology. The results would be fascinating, true, but at times they may be inscrutable. That was definitely worth keeping in mind.

I watched them look at their hands. All of them did little more than peek. I guess I understood why. People tend to have a reaction when they look at something that emotionally affects them. By minimizing exposure to the stimulus altering their emotional state, they could most likely minimize the apparent affect. So all of them peeked at their cards, and I took note that, in the moment of peeking they were simultaneously the most vulnerable and the most aware of their vulnerabilities.

[tiki]

SPOILER: Click to show

Sense Motive
Rank: "E"
Skill: Skill
Effect: User is skilled at detecting falsehoods and true intentions.
Special: ---
Drawback: ---
Description: A successful check lets you avoid being bluffed (see the Acting skill). The user can also use this skill to determine when "something is up" (that is, something odd is going on) or to assess someone's trustworthiness. Sense Motive does not, however, allow a character to determine whether a given statement is a lie. In addition, a character can use this skill to make an assessment of a social situation. With a successful check (Very Difficult Difficulty), the character can get the feeling from another's behavior that something is wrong. Also, the character can get the feeling that someone is trustworthy and honorable. A Sense Motive check may be made as a reaction to another character's Acting check. Try Again: No, though user may make a Sense Motive Check for each Acting check made against the user. Look in Task Skills thread found in the Skills and Traits Index for more information. If user has 25 or more Ranks in Evidence Analysis user gains a Synergy Bonus +10 to Sense Motive. If user has 25 or more Ranks in Cultures user gains a Synergy Bonus +10 to Sense Motive when interacting with someone of said Culture. If user has 25 or more Ranks in Cultures user gains a Synergy Bonus +10 to Sense Motive when interacting with someone of said Culture. Each time learned user gets 1 die roll to increase the skill.
Limit: ---

[Post 3]
[75 SP, +1 per roll, 1 die per learn]
[0|5]
Now, the girl, who I had suspected would be perhaps the weakest of the bunch, let off what I thought to be a little show. The left corner of her mouth turned up ever so slightly, as if she was suppressing a smile well, but not completely. I wondered if that was a weakness - these were professionals, but not world class poker players. She was an emotional person, it made sense for some of her emotions to slide out in the open.

The other two made no real shows, the grim man maintaining his constantly downwards demeanor, and the other maintaining neutrality. As play advanced I suspected that those two would fold our out relatively quickly, but the grim man stayed in the whole hand. I wondered if I would see more emotions from the woman, but she seemed not to show anything. Was that a hint that she was faking? Was one isolated incident of emotional expression absurd? Or was that a reasonable thing for a person attempting to remain stoic to do? I wondered... 

[tiki]

SPOILER: Click to show

Sense Motive
Rank: "E"
Skill: Skill
Effect: User is skilled at detecting falsehoods and true intentions.
Special: ---
Drawback: ---
Description: A successful check lets you avoid being bluffed (see the Acting skill). The user can also use this skill to determine when "something is up" (that is, something odd is going on) or to assess someone's trustworthiness. Sense Motive does not, however, allow a character to determine whether a given statement is a lie. In addition, a character can use this skill to make an assessment of a social situation. With a successful check (Very Difficult Difficulty), the character can get the feeling from another's behavior that something is wrong. Also, the character can get the feeling that someone is trustworthy and honorable. A Sense Motive check may be made as a reaction to another character's Acting check. Try Again: No, though user may make a Sense Motive Check for each Acting check made against the user. Look in Task Skills thread found in the Skills and Traits Index for more information. If user has 25 or more Ranks in Evidence Analysis user gains a Synergy Bonus +10 to Sense Motive. If user has 25 or more Ranks in Cultures user gains a Synergy Bonus +10 to Sense Motive when interacting with someone of said Culture. If user has 25 or more Ranks in Cultures user gains a Synergy Bonus +10 to Sense Motive when interacting with someone of said Culture. Each time learned user gets 1 die roll to increase the skill.
Limit: ---

[Post 4]
[75 SP, +1 per roll, 1 die per learn]
[0|5]

As a result of the rules of poker, the man remaining in forced the woman to show her hands. I was shocked to see her keep a straight face as she revealed a 2 and a 7. I don't know much about poker, but I do know that is a particularly horrible hand. The man swept the pot easily, and the whole thing was revealed to be a bluff. But I began to wonder if it was a good one or not. Was that one isolated smile enough to deter the balding man? Or did the balding man know that the gruff man had a decent hand - a ten and a jack in suit- and therefore pull out, ignoring the gambit of the woman?

Liars really complicate things like this. But I couldn't help but wonder what made the man confident enough to stay in. Did he see through her because she displayed emotion only once? Was it because her timing was all wrong, so long after she viewed her hand, at the right moment to make her opponents question betting against her? Or was it the actual qualities of her face, the way she half-smiled, that gave the whole thing away? All of these were good clues.