In this example The Party has stumbled into a bizarre dawn ritual as they cross the barrier mountains in their search for the fabled burial mound of the real St. Robert of Lazarus. Abraham and Thaugo have gone ahead to scout as the party rogues.
GM: The women seem to be combing the beards of the goats while conversing with two children in red clothing.
Kim (Thaugo): Are they red caps?
GM: How would you tell?
Guy (Sir Vancierge): I have the Faerie Lore skill
GM: That is perfect and would let you know!
Guy (Sir Vancierge): Cool!
a moment passes
Guy (Sir Vancierge): but I am not there.
GM: Correct
Chuck (Abraham): I have the Folk Religion skill, would that let me know?
The GM thinks about it, the role of the children and/or redcaps is Secret information (capital S), and whether they are red caps or not would be Hidden information. Using the folk religion skill would lower the role they have to Hidden, but its not about Faeries specifically so it wouldn't help with lowering the information about if they are Red Caps to Obvious.
GM: Its definitely a religious practice, and those figures in red are definitely core to it, but you'd need some more to go off of to have a better idea.
Julia (Brother Cadmus): I have a religious rites skill! Ooh! and a witchcraft skill!
a moment passes
Julia (Brother Cadmus): but I am not there.
GM: Do you two want to sneak closer to see if you can get a better view, or talk to them or anything?
Kim (Thaugo): I have the cleaning skill and they are cleaning goats.
GM: Well, they are not cleaning them to a normal level..
Tom (Jack): Yes, of course, the normal level of cleanliness one cleans one's goats to.
GM: yes, it seems like they are being given the level of grooming a human at a major event or celebration would.
Chuck (Abraham): can I sneak closer among the rocks to get a better view
GM: Sure, but the rocks don't get close enough that you would be in among them.
Chuck (Abraham): still, I'll sneak forward
GM: Ok, the group makes a detection roll of 11 as a mob.
Chuck (Abraham): I am still calm so my evasion is higher at 15.
GM: So you slip closer among the boulders, two areas away.
Chuck (Abraham): Can I get a better indication of what this ritual is now that I am closer?
The GM thinks, Abraham's skill in Folk Religion lowers this from Secret to Hidden. Secret information requires a check and taking an action. Hidden information requires either a check or taking an action. Does moving closer count as that action? The GM mulls it over and thinks 'not really'. Abraham is looking for clues in the minutiae of ritual preparation and moving closer is the bare minimum to be able to tell at all.
GM: Its hard to see exactly what they are doing as the nuances of their ritual are small detail work. But you might be able to, you could also try to somehow get a piece of what they are working on and just look it over.
Chuck (Abraham): If it's hard to see that would be Perception and a -5 penalty for being a hard task right?
GM: Yes, but you are also 2 areas away for an extra -2 and its the low light of sunrise for another -2 due to darkness.
Chuck (Abraham): So I'd have to roll to try to succeed the check, but I think I'd prefer to stay calm as that means I'll likely stay hidden.
GM: Fair enough, so you can't make out what they are doing in the distance in the low light.
Chuck (Abraham): I don't suppose its a Funeral Rite as I have that skill?
GM: You know it is not a funeral right
Kim (Thaugo): Rite
GM: Right, sorry
Guy (Sir Vancierge): Anyway... I am going to try to sneak up
GM: Their detection roll is 10
Guy (Sir Vancierge): with the penalties for my armour I have to roll, I become reckless and get a 14.
GM: You are able to sneak over the crest of the grassy knoll to get a better view of the scene.
Guy (Sir Vancierge): So using my Faerie Lore skill, are those Red Caps?
GM: Oh not at all, those are human children.
Guy (Sir Vancierge): Do I have any idea what this ritual is?
GM: You know its not related to the Faerie Folk.
Guy (Sir Vancierge): Well that is something.
Julia (Brother Cadmus): Fuck it, I sneak over the grassy knoll too.
GM: The detection roll is 10.
Julia (Brother Cadmus): I have a stealth bonus, but I have the Loose Canon trait so I have to become reckless in conflicts. I roll a 2, I assume that is a critical success for them?
GM: Correct, you take 14 suspicion.
Julia (Brother Cadmus): Fuck it, I am seen. More importantly, what do I see? I have both the religious rites skill and the witchcraft skill.
The GM mulls this over. What the ritual is, is considered Secret information. Either one of those skills would lower it from Secret to Hidden. Two related skills will lower it from Secret to Obvious.
GM: This is a black rite to appease the Dark One. Those two children are demoniacs, possessed by a single demonic entity. Those are witches and evil spirits in goat form.
Julia (Brother Cadmus): Well, here I go killing again
Chuck (Abraham): I draw my holy symbol and sign quietly to myself.
Kim (Thaugo): Probably can't convince you to let me watch the ritual play out right? fine.
Tom (Jack): I guard the rear in case of reinforcements.
Guy (Sir Vancierge): Why did I bother trying to hide