Editing Unwritten: System Reference Document/Discovery and Investigation (section)

====Uncovering Aspects====

Generally speaking, we assume that most of the aspects in play are public knowledge for the players. The PCs’ character sheets are sitting on the table, and probably the main and supporting NPCs are as well. That doesn’t always mean the characters know about those aspects, but that’s one of the reasons why the create an advantage action exists—to help you justify how a character learns about other characters.

However, GMs, we know that sometimes you’re going to want to keep an NPC’s aspects secret, or not reveal certain situation aspects right away, because you’re trying to build tension in the story. Questions can reveal aspects as answers reveal information. 

Known aspects can change as a result of the questions you ask as well. If there is an aspect on the scene of Signs of Forced Entry, for example, and questions reveal that the doors bear the marks of D’ni stone sculpting devices, change the aspect to Telltale Marks of D’ni Sculpting Devices or something similar.

You should never have to use a question to ask “Is this an aspect?”; the GM should just tell you.