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Natural world (Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition)

Skills

Definition

Natural World represents your knowledge of the natural environment—flora, fauna, weather patterns, geology, and ecology. In Call of Cthulhu, where investigations often lead to remote locations, this skill helps you understand and survive in the wilderness. This skill covers identifying plants and animals, predicting weather, understanding terrain, and recognizing when something in nature is wrong. In Lovecraftian horror, the natural world itself can be corrupted—mutated animals, blighted vegetation, and unnatural weather patterns are telltale signs of Mythos activity. An investigator with Natural World knowledge can spot these anomalies and understand what normal ecology should look like.

How it works

**Base Value**: 10% **Key Uses**: - Identifying plants, animals, and fungi - Predicting weather patterns - Recognizing unnatural ecological anomalies - Understanding terrain and geological features **Special Rules**: Natural World covers general biological and ecological knowledge. For specialized topics, Science (Biology, Botany, Zoology) may provide more depth. Natural World is broader but less technically detailed.

Tips

**Build Advice**: Very useful for campaigns with wilderness segments, remote locations, or rural settings. Helps identify when nature itself has been corrupted. **Occupation Synergies**: Pairs with Survival for wilderness competence, Navigate for overland travel, and Track for following trails through natural terrain. **Character Concepts**: Naturalist, park ranger, farmer, biologist, hunter, explorer, veterinarian.

Frequently asked questions

Can Natural World detect Mythos corruption?

Natural World tells you when something is ecologically wrong—mutated animals, plants growing where they shouldn't, unnatural silence. You recognize the anomaly even if you can't explain the Mythos cause behind it.

What's the difference between Natural World and Science (Biology)?

Natural World is broad practical knowledge of nature—a farmer or hunter's understanding. Science (Biology) is formal academic knowledge with technical depth. They overlap but approach nature from different angles.