Appendix E: The Tarokka Deck - Curse of Strahd

Appendix E: The Tarokka Deck

The Vistani have long been masters of fortune-telling. In the hands of a Vistani seer, a deck of tarokka cards can tell tales of the future and provide answers to many a dark and mysterious question.

Although the workmanship and artistic quality of the cards can vary from deck to deck, the ability of the cards to call forth information about the future is far more valuable than the monetary worth of a deck.

Anyone can craft a deck of tarokka cards, but only someone of Vistani blood can imbue the cards with the gift of prophecy. Once they are crafted and empowered, they must be stored in accordance with ancient tradition, or they lose their efficacy. When not in use, tarokka cards must be wrapped in silk and stored in a wooden box.

Composition

A tarokka deck has fifty-four cards, each of which has its own name. Forty of them comprise the common deck, which is divided into four suits: swords, coins, stars, and glyphs.

Each suit contains cards numbered one through nine, plus a tenth card that is called the master of that suit. A card can be referred to by its suit designation or by its name. For instance, the three of glyphs is also known as the healer, and the wizard card is also known as the master of stars.

The remaining fourteen cards make up the high deck, which symbolizes the natural forces of the multiverse. These cards are represented by a crown symbol and are the most powerful cards in the deck.

High Deck

The cards that compose the high deck aren't considered to be one suit, although they are often denoted with a crown icon to mark their importance. Rather, each card is an important power in its own right. If one of these cards comes out in a casting and seems to contradict the prediction of an earlier card, the Vistani always assume that this card takes precedence.

High Deck

Name	Represents
Artifact	The importance of some physical object that must be obtained, protected, or destroyed at all costs
Beast	Great rage or passion; something bestial or malevolent hiding in plain sight or lurking just below the surface
Broken One	Defeat, failure, and despair; the loss of something or someone important, without which one feels incomplete
Darklord	A single, powerful individual of an evil nature, one whose goals have enormous and far-reaching consequences
Donjon	Isolation and imprisonment; being so conservative in thinking as to be a prisoner of one's own beliefs
Ghost	The looming past; the return of an old enemy or the discovery of a secret buried long ago
Executioner	The imminent death of one rightly or wrongly convicted of a crime; false accusations and unjust prosecution
Horseman	Death; disaster in the form of the loss of wealth or property, a horrible defeat, or the end of a bloodline
Innocent	A being of great importance whose life is in danger (who might be helpless or simply unaware of the peril)
Marionette	The presence of a spy or a minion of some greater power; an encounter with a puppet or an underling
Mists	Something unexpected or mysterious that can't be avoided; a great quest or journey that will try one's spirit
Raven	A hidden source of information; a fortunate turn of events; a secret potential for good
Seer	Inspiration and keen intellect; a future event, the outcome of which will hinge on a clever mind
Tempter	One who has been compromised or led astray by temptation or foolishness; one who tempts others for evil ends

Common Deck

The four suits and their respective cards are described in more detail below.

Swords

This suit symbolizes aggression and violence. It is the suit of warriors, be they paladins, soldiers, mercenaries, or gladiators. It also symbolizes the power of governments and leaders, whether noble or corrupt.

Swords

Card	Name	Represents
Master of swords	Warrior	Strength and force personified; violence; those who use force to accomplish their goals
One of swords	Avenger	Justice and revenge for great wrongs; those on a quest to rid the world of great evil
Two of swords	Paladin	Just and noble warriors; those who live by a code of honor and integrity
Three of swords	Soldier	War and sacrifice; the stamina to endure great hardship
Four of swords	Mercenary	Inner strength and fortitude; those who fight for power or wealth
Five of swords	Myrmidon	Great heroes; a sudden reversal of fate; the triumph of the underdog over a mighty enemy
Six of swords	Berserker	The brutal and barbaric side of warfare; bloodlust; those with a bestial nature
Seven of swords	Hooded One	Bigotry, intolerance, and xenophobia; a mysterious presence or newcomer
Eight of swords	Dictator	All that is wrong with government and leadership; those who rule through fear and violence
Nine of swords	Torturer	The coming of suffering or merciless cruelty; one who is irredeemably evil or sadistic

Stars

This suit symbolizes the desire for personal power and control over things beyond the ken of mortals. It is the suit of arcane mages, sages, and intellectuals. It also represents the triumph of magic, science, and reason over religion, mysticism, and superstition.

Stars

Card	Name	Represents
Master of stars	Wizard	Mystery and riddles; the unknown; those who crave magical power and great knowledge
One of stars	Transmuter	A new discovery; the coming of unexpected things; unforeseen consequences and chaos
Two of stars	Diviner	The pursuit of knowledge tempered by wisdom; truth and honesty; sages and prophecy
Three of stars	Enchanter	Inner turmoil that comes from confusion, fear of failure, or false information
Four of stars	Abjurer	Those guided by logic and reasoning; warns of an overlooked clue or piece of information
Five of stars	Elementalist	The triumph of nature over civilization; natural disasters and bountiful harvests
Six of stars	Evoker	Magical or supernatural power that can't be controlled; magic for destructive ends
Seven of stars	Illusionist	Lies and deceit; grand conspiracies; secret societies; the presence of a dupe or a saboteur
Eight of stars	Necromancer	Unnatural events and unhealthy obsessions; those who follow a destructive path
Nine of stars	Conjurer	The coming of an unexpected supernatural threat; those who think of themselves as gods

Coins

This suit symbolizes avarice and the desire for personal and material gain. It is also symbolic of gluttony, lust, and obsession. On the side of good, this suit can suggest the accumulation of wealth for the benefit of a charity or a just cause. On the side of evil, it embodies the worst aspects of greed. It speaks to the power of gold, and how that power can build or destroy nations.

Coins

Card	Name	Represents
Master of coins	Rogue	Anyone for whom money is important; those who believe money is the key to their success
One of coins	Swashbuckler	Those who like money yet give it up freely; likable rogues and rapscallions
Two of coins	Philanthropist	Charity and giving on a grand scale; those who use wealth to fight evil and sickness
Three of coins	Trader	Commerce; smuggling and black markets; fair and equitable trades
Four of coins	Merchant	A rare commodity or business opportunity; deceitful or dangerous business transactions
Five of coins	Guild Member	Like-minded individuals joined together in a common goal; pride in one's work
Six of coins	Beggar	Sudden change in economic status or fortune
Seven of coins	Thief	Those who steal or burgle; a loss of property, beauty, innocence, friendship, or reputation
Eight of coins	Tax Collector	Corruption; honesty in an otherwise corrupt government or organization
Nine of coins	Miser	Hoarded wealth; those who are irreversibly unhappy or who think money is meaningless

Glyphs

This suit symbolizes faith, spirituality, and inner strength. It is the suit of priests and those who devote themselves to the service of a deity, a higher power, or a heightened philosophy. On the side of good, it represents willpower and dedication. On the side of evil, the suit signifies weakness of character, self-doubt, and betrayal of one's ideals or beliefs. It symbolizes health and healing, as well as illness and disease.

Glyphs

Card	Name	Represents
Master of glyphs	Priest	Enlightenment; those who follow a deity, a system of values, or a higher purpose
One of glyphs	Monk	Serenity; inner strength and self-reliance; supreme confidence bereft of arrogance
Two of glyphs	Missionary	Those who spread wisdom and faith to others; warnings of the spread of fear and ignorance
Three of glyphs	Healer	Healing; a contagious illness, disease, or curse; those who practice the healing arts
Four of glyphs	Shepherd	Those who protect others; one who bears a burden far too great to be shouldered alone
Five of glyphs	Druid	The ambivalence and cruelty of nature and those who feel drawn to it; inner turmoil
Six of glyphs	Anarchist	A fundamental change brought on by one whose beliefs are being put to the test
Seven of glyphs	Charlatan	Liars; those who profess to believe one thing but actually believe another
Eight of glyphs	Bishop	Strict adherence to a code or a belief; those who plot, plan, and scheme
Nine of glyphs	Traitor	Betrayal by someone close and trusted; a weakening or loss of faith

Tarokka Cards

High Deck

Swords

Stars

Coins

Glyphs