I was thinking about a mission I’m working on (see Mission: Investigation & Diplomacy) and decided the patrol’s first obstacle would be to locate an individual. The mouse in question, Digory Farnham, is locked in a cellar beneath the house of a well-off merchant. I envisioned the patrol testing Streetwise to pick up rumors and information leading them to Tamsin Outerbridge who knows where Digory is kept and can give the patrol a key to the cellar. Then I remembered there is no Streetwise skill, leaving me a bit unsure about what skill to test.
I looked at Circles but it states it is a special ability for the players that allows them to try and find allies. Can the GM call on the players to test Circles in the GM Turn, or should I call for another skill? If so, which one?
They could test a wise, like rumor-wise, Ivydale-wise, or family secret-wise. Having them test scout–with help from an appropriate wise–wouldn’t be ridiculous though.
Perhaps you need to frame the situation so that the players can leverage a social skill (e.g. Persuader) to overcome the obstacle. Don’t make locating Tamsin the issue–make securing Tamsin’s help the issue.
Also, I think the answer to why this character has 3 traits is that the version in the book is after a Winter Session. I don’t think he started with Suspicious.