Listening

This is the ability to hear what’s going on around you.

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Listening is the skill of actively perceiving sounds in the environment rather than merely hearing them. It allows a character to focus on subtle or distant noises that others might ignore, such as soft footsteps, breathing, or the scrape of metal on stone.

A skilled listener can distinguish between meaningful sounds and background noise, identifying direction, distance, and sometimes intent. This makes the skill invaluable for detecting ambushes, hidden creatures, or overheard conversations.

Environmental factors such as wind, rain, crowds, or thick walls can affect the effectiveness of Listening. The skill represents patience, concentration, and experience rather than raw hearing ability alone.