You place a hand on the object, gloved or not, and glare into its figurative or literal soul. You may even sniff or lick it depending on how confident you are that it won't kill you right away. Observers to this act may feel a mild to intense discomfort depending on what item it is (pray that it's not someone's clothing, cough cough) but you can insist that this is all for the sake of science.
On testing:
Delphyrion has always wanted to know everything. However, no matter how strong one's background is in chemistry, you'd usually need equipment and time to study an object's composition. Not to mention the amount of harm it could do to the item.
On alien origins:
Whatever it is that they encounter on their contracts, Delphyrion would very much like to know when something is out of this world so they don't have to waste time trying to apply human logic to it. Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar, but sometimes a cigar is very much not a cigar.
On chemistry:
This gift could be groundbreaking, but only if you know what you're looking at. Initially Delphyrion wanted to use it for finding the chemical makeup of an item, though they realize they should already know as long as it's recognizable. Chemistry is all about using what you have, and what's the use of a weapon that you know nothing about?
On questionable acts:
Look, living creatures are born with five senses for a reason. Delphyrion will use all five senses if it means new knowledge can be found. Sure, they've gotten sick from licking stuff for no reason, and they've licked a frozen pole (you can imagine how that went down), but at least now there is a reason to do so. This will do wonders for their immune system.
Spend a minute. Select a target Object within arm's reach. At the end of your investigation, roll Intellect + Science at Difficulty 6.
You learn all the following information about your target:
This Gift cannot have more than 3 Drawbacks, and its Gift Cost is capped at 2.
You cannot investigate the same target more than once per day.
Kita is Very good at her job. She's been obsessively attuned to every sound and motion of the ships she's been in charge of and can easily pick up on when something is amiss.
Spend 2 Actions. Select a personal transport within arm's reach. You must actively and obviously use mechanics tools to activate this Effect. At the end of your investigation, roll Perception + Investigation at Difficulty 6.
You learn all the following information about your target:
This Gift cannot have more than 3 Drawbacks, and its Gift Cost is capped at 2.
You cannot investigate the same target more than once per day.
Marie carefully brushes the dust and grit from an object, deeply examining it to determine a variety of historical markers. So familiar with the various types of sediment, dust, and wear on a given object, she is easily able to determine the environment an object would have recently been. With a few more deductions and close observations, she begins to understand the strange, unworldly qualities of the given item. With each fact, she quickly runs to a journal to write down what she has learned.
Exert your Mind and spend a minute to activate. Select a target Object within arm's reach. You must actively and obviously use a brush to activate this Effect. At the end of your investigation, roll Perception + Investigation at Difficulty 6.
You learn all the following information about your target:
The detective looks briefly to the corpse, taking in the finer details of the scene as he removes a folder from his bag. Over the course of a minute or two, the papers within begin to fill with various details about the perp. Most pressingly: their full legal name and a number of photos detailing their current appearance.
Exert your Mind and spend a minute. Select a target Object within 25 feet. You must actively and obviously use a manila folder to activate this Effect. At the end of your investigation, roll Perception + Investigation at Difficulty 6.
You learn all the following information about your target:
You cannot investigate the same target more than once per day.
Crow peaks at the shinny and finds its secrets
Exert your Mind and spend a minute. Select a Shinny within arm's reach. You cannot investigate the same target more than once per hour. At the end of your investigation, roll Perception + Influence at Difficulty 6.
You learn a single specific piece of information, chosen from the following list, about your target:
This Effect is not obvious, and the only sign you are using an Effect is A faint glow of the eye. If someone suspects that an Effect was used, they must roll Perception + Alertness, Difficulty 8 to pick up on your Tell.
You cannot investigate the same target more than once per day.
By focusing on an object for a minute, you're able to ascertain who exactly care about the object and whether or not someone holds an influence on it. Warning: this increased awareness comes at a terrible cost; the hyper-awareness of everyone's investment leads to anti-social tendencies.
Exert your Mind and spend a minute to activate. Select a target Object . At the end of your investigation, roll Perception + Influence at Difficulty 6.
You learn all the following information about your target:
Possession of this Power grants the following Trauma at all times: Shy.
The Thief examines an object closely for a minute to appraise its value. As their eyes dance across the subject, their pupils split vertically, and their irises fade to gold. If it is a particularly valuable item, the Thief may greedily lick their lips, revealing a forked tongue.
Within a minute, they have determined how materially valuable the object is and why.
Exert your Mind and spend a minute. Select a target Object within arm's reach. At the end of your investigation, roll Charisma + Culture at Difficulty 6.
You learn all the following information about your target:
You cannot investigate the same target more than once per day.