The Deck of Many Things: Euryale and The Skull
Posted 30th June 2008 at 03:11 PM by arscott
Verdande wrote a post about using Tarot cards at the game table. Since my 4e game features a prominent astrologer (which I'll talk about more in my longest road entries), I decided to adopt his advice.
But instead of using Tarot cards, I'm using the Deck of Many Things. One of the goals in my game is to adhere fairly closely to the D&D fluff, and using the D&D version of Tarot seems to line up well with that.
But unlike Tarot, the deck of many things doesn't have any tradition of divinatory meaning, a deficit I've decided to correct.
(Note: most traditions of tarot card reading ascribe different meanings to cards that are dealt upside-down in a pattern, often the opposite meaning of a right-side-up card. So I'll be providing meanings for reversed cards as well.)
Euryale
Euryale was cursed by the gods for her vanity, tranformed into a hideous monster. The Euryale card signifies ill fortune brought on by pride, hubris, or ambition.
Reversed:
Eurayle's curse brought misfortune on those around her. Her card reversed represents ill fortune brought apon one person by the misdeeds of another.
The Skull
The skull signifies a right of passage, a challenge that must be faced and that will forever bear it's mark upon the one so challenged.
Reversed:
The skull reversed represents stagnation. It indicates a failure to adapt to new circumstances or an inability to rise to a challenge--A failure that may result in permanent loss or death.
The Vizier
The vizier sits at the side of the king or queen, dispensing his words of wisdom. This card represents aid offered by the learned and the wisdom of experience.
Reversed:
Though the vizier advises the monarch, a selfish vizier's advice may not be in the monarch's best interest. Reversed, this card represents the abuse of power and advice that benifits the advisor more than the advised.
More to come soon.
But instead of using Tarot cards, I'm using the Deck of Many Things. One of the goals in my game is to adhere fairly closely to the D&D fluff, and using the D&D version of Tarot seems to line up well with that.
But unlike Tarot, the deck of many things doesn't have any tradition of divinatory meaning, a deficit I've decided to correct.
(Note: most traditions of tarot card reading ascribe different meanings to cards that are dealt upside-down in a pattern, often the opposite meaning of a right-side-up card. So I'll be providing meanings for reversed cards as well.)
Euryale
Euryale was cursed by the gods for her vanity, tranformed into a hideous monster. The Euryale card signifies ill fortune brought on by pride, hubris, or ambition.
Reversed:
Eurayle's curse brought misfortune on those around her. Her card reversed represents ill fortune brought apon one person by the misdeeds of another.
The Skull
The skull signifies a right of passage, a challenge that must be faced and that will forever bear it's mark upon the one so challenged.
Reversed:
The skull reversed represents stagnation. It indicates a failure to adapt to new circumstances or an inability to rise to a challenge--A failure that may result in permanent loss or death.
The Vizier
The vizier sits at the side of the king or queen, dispensing his words of wisdom. This card represents aid offered by the learned and the wisdom of experience.
Reversed:
Though the vizier advises the monarch, a selfish vizier's advice may not be in the monarch's best interest. Reversed, this card represents the abuse of power and advice that benifits the advisor more than the advised.
More to come soon.
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