Scrollreader/TheFivefoldDeck
Cards in Creation
Created in the early first age, by an Eclipse Caste known as Clever Monkey, the Fivefold Method of Understanding Creation Deck is meant to both represent fundamental truths of Creation and to be an engaging and useful set of cards for games of all kinds.
Some, particularly those who believe deeply in the efficacy of the Fivefold Deck in Cartomancy believe that it is the equivalent of of the Salinian Working, an attempt to democratize the reading of Fate. Critics, particularly among the Fivescore Fellowship, point out that this is no more or less accurate than other mortal divinations, such as entrail reading or Varangian astrology, and that any claims to the contrary (such as the remarkable resemblance of the Empress card in First Age decks to the Scarlet Empress during her Creation-Wide address) are both conveniently made after the fact, and may even involve an intentional invocation of the qualities of the cards by the person in question, due to how widespread the deck has become. Even the crankiest of Sidereal Exalts will admit, however, that the deck is quite useful for gambling and manipulating mortals.
The Fivefold Method of Understanding Creation Deck
Commonly called the Fivefold Deck. Almost all decks of cards currently used in creation and the underworld are based on the Fivefold Deck. A Fivefold Deck consists of 67 cards when complete. There are five suits, each with 13 cards, and two additional cards.
The five suits are multifaceted. The original deck used general suits, each with their own five associations. This is now uncommon except in ancient decks that predate the Usurpation.
The Suit of the Warrior - Associated with The Dawn Caste, The Full Moon, Battles, Fire, and the Sword.
The Suit of the Holy - Associated with The Zenith Caste, The Waxing Moon, Endings, Wood, and the Soul.
The Suit of the Savant - Associated with The Twilight Caste, The New Moon, Secrets, Air, and the Ring.
The Suit of the Scoundrel - Associated with The Night Caste, The Waning Moon, Serenity, Water, and the Cup.
The Suit of the Envoy - Associated with the Eclipse Caste, The Half Moon, Journeys, Earth, and the Staff.
Each Suit consists of the following cards:
(Modern names are in parentheses where they differ)
Maiden (Ace)
2-10
The Court Cards: Knight, Exalt, and Ruler
There are also two additional cards. The Wyld, and the Void.
Gambling - Maidens (Aces) may be, depending on the game or even sometimes the order of play, either the servant of all other cards of their suit (the lowest), or the master of it (the highest). The Wyld and the Void are not used in many games, but when they are the Wyld may be treated as if it was any rank or suit for the purposes of sets. The Void, when played (or drawn in some variants) will instantly end a hand or game. Depending on the variation, this either returns all bets to owners, or puts all bets into the pot for the next hand.
Oracular - There are many means of laying out and reading the cards, with significance placed on their order and if they are Ascendant (upright), or Fallen (upside down). Almost all practices assign special meaning to the cards of the Five Courts, The Maidens, the Wyld and the Void, making the 22 Perfected & Divine Arcana. In some decks used primarily for making readings, these cards, while sharing some thematic links to their suits, are not even blazoned with the suit, but rather art which illustrates the oracular associations covers the cards. The 45 cards of the Humble & Earthly Arcana are assigned meanings based on their suit and number, and are often illustrated as well, usually in a numerative sense (ie a Four of Cups will usually have four cups somewhere prominent in the art, though the figure bearing them may also have illustrations important to the meaning of the card)
The Illustrative or Oracular names of the Perfected and Divine Arcana (Modern names are in parentheses where they differ)
Ruler of Warriors - Sol Invictus (Glory)
Ruler of the Holy - Gaia (Creation)
Ruler of Savants - Autochthon (The Maimed)
Ruler of Scoundrels - Luna (The Fool)
Ruler of Envoys - The Yozi (The Demon)
Exalt of Warriors - Prowess
Exalt of the Holy - The Highest Priest
Exalt of Savants - The Sorceror
Exalt of Scoundrels - The Advisor
Exalt of Envoys - The Empress
Knight of Warriors - Fire
Knight of the Holy - Wood
Knight of Savants - Air
Knight of Scoundrels - Water
Knight of Envoys - Earth
The Void - (Death)
The Wyld - (Mutation)
Modern Decks-
Deck of the Most Beneficent Dragons (Dragon Deck) - Dating from the Shogunate, this uses the element associations as the suits, so one would see a five of flames rather than a five of warriors. The Humble & Earthly array are usually not illustrated at all, simply bearing a number of clearly visible symbols of the appropriate suit in a pleasing geometric arrangement, and a number in the corner of an appropriate color. In the Realm & Lookshy, this is true of the Perfected & Divine Arcana as well, but older decks, heretical decks, and those designed for the Exalted have illustrations for the Court Cards and the Aces. The Dragon Deck is primarily used for gambling, as oracular use is heretical to the precepts of the Immaculate Order. Particularly popular in the Realm and the Scavenger Lands, though soldiers and the formerly vast reach of the Shogunate mean this is the most commonly used of the decks. Almost always uses the rank names, rather than the proper names of the Perfected and Divine Arcana.
Auspicious Deck of the Ascending Heavens (Yu-Shan deck) - In common use in Heaven (and also Great Forks) this deck refers to suits by the name of the appropriate maiden. Almost always illustrated as well as blazoned with a Maiden's Symbol and a number in the corner. Still uses the original card names. Employees of the Bureau of Destiny are not, despite rumors, required to play 'Maidens High'. But most of them do anyway, just in case.
Deck of Illustrated Virtue & Unsurpassed Wisdom (Wisdom Deck) - Common throughout the South of creation. Suits are Swords, Souls, Rings, Cups and Staves, and every card is illustrated. Primarily used for Oracular purposes, but sometimes to gamble (although it is generally considered safer to gamble with a Dragon deck in many places). The Fair Folk of every corner of creation also seem to prefer this set, gambling recklessly with it, though lacking souls they sometimes rename that suit. Uses the modern names.
Deck of the Unceasing Calendar of the Underworld (Deck of the Dead) - Considered by the superstitious to bring only bad luck and ill-fate, this deck uses the original suit names and can be used interchangeably for oracular play or gambling. It is used in Sijan (though it is considered somewhat uncouth for the living to gamble with this deck), Skullstone, and throughout the underworld. While it keeps the suits of the original deck, the illustrations are of a much darker cast, and interpretations tend to be more fatalistic. Generally uses the modern names, though a few very old grave good versions are originals.
Deck of the Dreaming Moon & Stars (Dreaming Deck) - This deck, primarily used by the Haslanti, though also found among shamans of the North and some No-Moons, uses the moon-signs as suits. When a rare reading takes place, it is almost always as a religious ritual, often to explain or puzzle through a particularly troubling or confusing dream. Haslanti also use the cards as a meditation focus, to try to steer their dreams, and sometimes carry a single card with them as an anchor or a totem if they find it particularly meaningful. Only the young and reckless gamble with a Dreaming Deck in the Haslanti League, or else those who are desperate to change their fate. Dreaming Decks use the modern names among the Haslanti, though barbarian shaman and No-Moon decks tend to be more individualized or even unique.
