SECRET THESAURUS

LOCATING LOST ITEMS USING PSYCHIC POWERS



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HELPFUL TIP:

Secrets represent a past your character wants to forget and a future they want to prevent, so give them something that will change everything if it gets out. Mine their emotional wounds, relationships, fears, or occupations for ideas, and consider how this secret could tie into your story's theme.
ABOUT THIS SECRET:
A psychic ability that allows the character to find lost items is a tremendous gift, but also a great risk, because if the wrong people take notice, the character's autonomy could be on the line. However, using their talent for good by aiding police in their investigations, recovering stolen goods, or locating missing persons could turn a curse into a blessing and set them apart as someone who can do something no one else can do.

CATEGORY:
Powers or Abilities (primary), Positive or Altruistic

SIMILAR OR RELATED SECRETS:

SPECIFIC FEARS THAT MAY DRIVE THE NEED FOR SECRECY:

HOW THIS SECRET COULD HOLD THE CHARACTER BACK:
Feeling shame or embarrassment about what makes them special and unique, leading to low self-esteem
Being unable to help others for fear of exposure
Worrying that their ability is evil or comes from a dark source
Resenting their gift, and feeling frustrated or bitter about it
Sustaining negative impacts associated with the use of their gift (because it steals years from their life when it's used, for each item found another is lost, etc.)

BEHAVIORS OR HABITS THAT HELP HIDE THIS SECRET:
Pretending to find items through superior observation and problem-solving skills
Using their gift to find things while they're alone, then making a public production of locating the item through a natural process 
Finding things and returning them anonymously, so no one knows they're responsible
Pretending to lose things themselves and be unable to find them

ACTIVITIES OR TENDENCIES THAT MAY RAISE SUSPICIONS:
Having knowledge the character shouldn't have about a missing object
Finding something under extraordinary circumstances that can't be explained away
Slipping up and finding an object too quickly or easily
Declining a request to help something locate something, but then it “turning up” without explanation
Never seeming to lose anything themselves
Demanding secrecy before taking on a case; never going public about it

SITUATIONS THAT MAKE KEEPING THIS SECRET A CHALLENGE:
Facing a crisis that forces them to reveal their gift, such as proving the location of a missing loved one to allies or law enforcement
Their ability being doubted, and the character wanting to prove their capabilities
Being put in a “test” scenario by a skeptic or someone who has grown suspicious
Unknowingly recovering something with major implications, such as a lost artifact, stolen goods, or evidence in a crime
Being secretly recorded or caught on camera using their ability
Being asked to explain, in detail, how the character found the item

SCENARIOS THAT MAY ENCOURAGE THEM TO LET THE SECRET GO:
Learning of an opportunity to use their ability for good or for money (as a paid service, for a government agency, etc.)
Learning about a high-stakes situation, such as a missing child or high-value item
Meeting someone the character suspects has a psychic power
Being confronted by someone who has figured out the truth
Gaining confidence in their ability and deciding to embrace it openly
Realizing that staying silent is allowing harm to occur

RESULTS OF THE SECRET BEING REVEALED OR DISCOVERED:
Being dismissed as a fraud or con artist
Being committed to a psychiatric facility
Being exploited by criminals who want to use the ability to locate valuables for extortion
Attracting unwanted attention from scientists, law enforcement, or paranormal investigators
Being ostracized, feared, or idolized by acquaintances and strangers
Becoming overwhelmed by requests for assistance
Being targeted or revered by extremist religious groups who see their gift as divine
Being recruited to use their power to help an agency or organization for good (finding missing people, locating rare archaeological finds for a museum, etc.)
Parlaying their ability into a career that supports the character financially
Gaining admiration or gratitude from those they help
The character's example changing a negative perception about people with psychic abilities
Finding community and acceptance among others with special gifts