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Simple question: can you change the topic you're seeking when using seek thoughts? This came up in a PFS game trying to get info on a cult from an asylum manager. The GM ruled my wizard could not, and I accepted it, but the spell doesn't seem clear to me.
Similar to detect thoughts, seek thoughts allows you to sift through the surface thoughts of those around you. You may scan for either the answer to a simple question (such as “Where is the hidden lair of the wererats?”) or for information on a general topic (such as the beliefs of an evil cult). You detect the number of creatures who are thinking about this question or topic within range, as well as their location if they are visible to you. Seek thoughts does not let you read actual surface thoughts, only if a given creature is thinking about the topic you are concentrating on. A successful Will save prevents you from sensing a creature's thoughts for the duration of the spell.
You can maintain concentration on seek thoughts while you engage in normal conversation, allowing you to ask leading questions about topics of interest. A creature conversing with you while you concentrate can notice that you are distracted with a successful DC 25 Sense Motive check.
The spell seems to contradict itself on that account. In the first bold section it looks like you can only look for the answer to a single question/topic while later is says "topics" of interest.
I would go with the first and rule as your GM did: One question/topic in PFS.
I read the first bolded section as a single topic at a time, though I can't support that at all. I checked detect thoughts as well (since it references the spell) but it didn't seem to be relevant.
Thanks for the input. The spell still works with one topic, just be sure to be very general!