Harold Polk’s Linguistic Espionage Mastery is a unique fusion of his perfect memory and deep understanding of Speech Act Theory, allowing him to communicate in any language with native fluency and cultural precision. Through his flawless recall, Harold has accumulated vast stores of linguistic patterns, dialects, and subtleties, giving him an intuitive grasp of each language’s nuances. He doesn’t merely translate words; he understands their intent, context, and hidden meaning, slipping into conversations as though he were born to each language he speaks.
With Speech Act Theory, Harold imbues his words with layers of meaning and influence, embedding subtle cues to guide others’ perceptions or actions. Every word he speaks carries intent, carefully crafted to either blend into the conversation or gently steer it, as if he were weaving an invisible thread through every interaction. This mastery makes him a linguistic ghost, an agent who can infiltrate through language alone, understanding and subtly shaping discussions to achieve his aims without ever raising suspicion.
You gain the following benefits at all times.
You may understand and communicate to humans as if you are fluent in a relevant language.
Processing a gallon of water through his body; he's able to produce a special speech-granting liquid which while temporary, if absorbed into the body, allows the victims to speak in his language for about an hour before their body processes it.
"Totally radical!"
Spend one minute. Select a human, Creature, or Dead target within 50 feet. Dead targets must have died within the past week, and you must have their remains in your possession. You must use up a gallon of water in order to activate this Effect.
The target can communicate in your language for the next hour.
After this Effect ends, you cannot move quicker than a walk (15 feet per Round) for one minute and suffer a -1 dice penalty for an hour.
Luna closes her eyes, and reaches past this layer of reality.
Thankfully, whatever operating system reality runs on keeps excellent snapshots, and she's able to, if she can find the index, recover a personality from it, just for a short time.
Spend one minute. Select a Dead target within 50 feet. For dead targets, you must possess their true name.
The target can communicate in your language for the next hour.
Communicating with a being cannot directly damage your Mind or cause Injury. All rolls to resist Effects that rely on communicating with you are made at -1 Difficulty.
The metal choker emanated a loud, attention grabbing voice when the 6ft sewn together human turned to them. he said in a intimidatingly deep tone "Where is the suitcase" as he trudged over to the guards, his knuckles crackling menacingly.
You gain the following benefits as long as you are wearing this Artifact.
You may understand and communicate to Creatures and humans as if you are fluent in a relevant language.
This also includes understanding any recorded communications from the relevant targets, including writings, scent trails, etc.
Grace brings Sally out from her designated satchel and sets her in front of the dead body (or token for it). Grace’s eyes flashing red, then Sally’s, then the targets- like a chain- means the connection is successful.
Expend a point of Battery and spend an Action to activate. Select a Dead target of which you have a Fetter that was important to them.
The target can communicate in your language for the next hour.
There is an ancient Chinese saying about how the humans do not have their backs turned against the sun and that’s why they’re human, you’re not really sure what that’s all about. But your enlightenment will one day let you communicate with anything under the sun… and beyond. Like a cultivated being, you can speak normally and be understood.
You gain the following benefits at all times.
You may understand and communicate to humans as if you are fluent in a relevant language.
The beastmaster can speak to and understand any animal.
You gain the following benefits at all times.
You may understand and communicate to terrestrial animal as if you are fluent in a relevant language.
The Necromancer spits into the mouth of a recently deceased corpse. For the few minutes, the corpse's head comes back to life and speaks to the Necromancer.
Exert your Mind and spend an Action. Select a Dead target within 50 feet. Dead targets must have died within the past week, and you must have their remains in your possession.
The target can communicate in your language for the next hour.