There is something deeply arresting about the sudden realization that something is so so taken for granted in a PC's abilities and you don't realize just how far beneath the surface this goes.
Take, for example, the ability to read in Fallen London. It's needed basically everywhere. And the backstory I crafted for Chelsea meant she wouldn't have opportunity to learn that before she came to the Neath. Which affects interfacing with many cards, as well as many people in the world due to how that would be perceived. The way of making acquaintance is Calling Cards (written word). So many communications and procedures are done in writing, contracts written that you understand even less and you have to trust what you are told the thing you can't read says. And with the professions. Licentiates' item is a Written List. The entire Journalist/Author/Correspondent line (unfortunately the one least unfitting for her character). And the Incandescent Bookseller. Getting the stat increase is finishing the book. Which is definitely difficult! I imagine reading and writing are still going to be slow processes for a good while after she learns. Maybe someone reading the same book would read aloud so she can access its contents while she's still figuring out how everything fits together (or before she finds a place to get started on that)?
