Beast Lore is a special ability which is purchased and improved like any other skill, yes.<br/><br/>+++<br/><br/>To clarify Adjia's attitude, permit me to quote from Sir Pterry's Pyramids.<br/><br/><div class="quoteheader"><div class="topslice_quote">Quote</div></div><blockquote class="bbc_standard_quote">A thumb pressed against two fingers, and the lean figure of Dr. Cruces, head tutor, loomed over the startled boys.<br/><br/>"We do not <em>murder</em>," he said.  It was a soft voice; the doctor never raised his voice, but he had a way of giving it the pitch and spin that could make it heard through a hurricane.<br/><br/>"We do not <em>execute</em>.  We do not <em>massacre</em>.  We never, you may be very certain, we never <em>torture</em>.  We have no truck with crimes of passion or hatred or pointless gain.  We do not do it for a delight in inhumation, or to feed some secret inner need, or for petty advantage, or for some cause or belief.  I tell you, gentlemen, that all these reasons are in the highest degree suspect.  Look into the face of a man who will kill you for a belief and your nostrils will snuff up the scent of abomination.  Hear a speech declaring a holy war and, I assure you, your ears should catch the clink of evil's scales and the dragging of it's monstrous tail over the purity of the language."<br/><br/>"No, we do it for the money.  And because we above all must know the value of a human life, we do it for a great deal of money.  There can be few cleaner motives, so shorn of all pretense.  <em>Nil mortifi sine lucre</em>.  Remember: no killing without payment."<br/><br/>He paused for a moment.<br/><br/>"And always give a receipt."</blockquote><div class="quotefooter"><div class="botslice_quote"></div></div><br/>Not quite accurate for Talislanta, but you get the idea, I'm sure  >:) >:)