Survival - Getting Your Bearings

A voyage through a storm or a wrong turn on a mountain pass can put a group of travelers in a location they do no recognize. Being stranded in the wilderness of Alwaus is a dangerous situation as the threat of starvation or attack is highest the further you travel from civilized centers.
One can find one's position by observing the stars and studying star charts. While this is a survival check it is used with the intelligence characteristic instead of the cunning characteristic. Without proper equipment that can observe the heavens, it is a formidable task to analyze stars and find constellations.
EXAMPLE OF A GETTING YOUR BEARINGS CHECK
Hothom's merchant ship just escaped a skirmish with pirates, taking a risky detour through a storm to love his foe in the weather. When the storm finally calmed, Captain Hothom and Periwinkle found themselves in the middle of the open ocean, with no clue as to their actual position. As night falls, Captain Hothom attempts to get his bearings. The GM calls for an Average (d d ) Survival check since it is a clear night and he has a star chart at hand. The result of the roll is f a a . Hothom cannot find their exact position but spends the a to have a nearby colonized island within spotting distance the following morning. The island will provide the information Hothomneeds to set sail again and reach their intended destination. Meanwhile, this island could also offer the crew new adventures and contacts.