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The mechanical answer is "because that's what the rules say to do".
If you want a more lore-based approach, its because its not based on studied wisdom and research, its based on collections of folk tales, stories, peoples experiences and the like.
Its rumours and folk wisdom.
Which is why the class has Dubious Knowledge built into it.
I think that's the best explanation available Old_ManBot
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I think it has something to do with using one's essence/presence to poke into the universe/cosmos and get direct knowledge of the target much in the way that True Names operate. Not intellectual or wise, kinda channeled in an occult way (albeit without the tag so not).
I think it represents poetic knowledge, like what a bard uses to create stories.
Because it is actually just a highly technical deception check. It is just that the thaumaturge may or may not be subject to the same deception.
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You could think of it as the Thaumaturge convincing the universe that this particular enemy does in fact have a weakness to daffodils and you just happen to have some handy that you've infused into your weapon.
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I think some people in this thread are conflating Esoteric Lore and Exploit Vulnerability.
While the two are linked through Exploit Vulnerability, Esoteric Lore is a much smaller scale, and discrete, ability.
Your experience with the unknown, as well as the tales you've exchanged with other thaumaturges, has taught you about strange phenomena of every kind. You become trained in Esoteric Lore, a special lore skill that can be used to Recall Knowledge regarding haunts, curses, and creatures of any type, but that can't be used to Recall Knowledge of other topics. Unlike a normal Lore skill, you use Charisma as your modifier on Esoteric Lore checks. You also gain the Dubious Knowledge skill feat.
At 3rd level, you become an expert in Esoteric Lore; at 7th level, you become a master in Esoteric Lore; and at 15th level, you become legendary in Esoteric Lore.
The bolded portion is the only flavour text the ability really provides, and is relatively mundane in nature. You've seen some things and heard other stories of the same type.
There is a lot of ways to flavour EV and there are some really cool ways to do it. I just feel that Esoteric Lore is just a rather simple, folk knowledge effect.
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I think some people in this thread are conflating Esoteric Lore and Exploit Vulnerability.
While the two are linked through Exploit Vulnerability, Esoteric Lore is a much smaller scale, and discrete, ability.
Your experience with the unknown, as well as the tales you've exchanged with other thaumaturges, has taught you about strange phenomena of every kind. You become trained in Esoteric Lore, a special lore skill that can be used to Recall Knowledge regarding haunts, curses, and creatures of any type, but that can't be used to Recall Knowledge of other topics. Unlike a normal Lore skill, you use Charisma as your modifier on Esoteric Lore checks. You also gain the Dubious Knowledge skill feat.
At 3rd level, you become an expert in Esoteric Lore; at 7th level, you become a master in Esoteric Lore; and at 15th level, you become legendary in Esoteric Lore.
The bolded portion is the only flavour text the ability really provides, and is relatively mundane in nature. You've seen some things and heard other stories of the same type.
There is a lot of ways to flavour EV and there are some really cool ways to do it. I just feel that Esoteric Lore is just a rather simple, folk knowledge effect.
Exploit vulnerability's result depends on your Esoteric Lore check, and thus your CHA.
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Well, yeah, I mentioned that. It doesn't impact what I was saying though.
Trying to meld the mechanical expression of Charisma through the flavour Exploit Vulnerability doesn't need to happen. The Esoteric Lore portion is all the rumours and stories stuff, if you need to wed mechanic and flavour through an expression of an ability score, it happens at the Esoteric Lore level.
Your flavour expression of Exploit vulnerability need not be so bound.
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Because it is actually just a highly technical deception check. It is just that the thaumaturge may or may not be subject to the same deception.
To truly know the esoteric and uncanny, you have to put your very identity on the line. A thaumaturges knowledge is oftentimes completely useless to anyone but them. Their willpower makes it useful. They simply "know" harder.
You could think of it as the Thaumaturge convincing the universe that this particular enemy does in fact have a weakness to daffodils and you just happen to have some handy that you've infused into your weapon.
OP's asking about esoteric lore, not exploit vulnerability. Esoteric Lore is a Lore skill that functions like any other lore skill and therefore gives you real knowledge when you successful use it, because you're Recalling Knowledge with it. So none of these answers really apply.
