"The Witch and the Mage had a dance across Fate, Lovers and Rivals their whole lives long" \- [[The Witch and the Mage]], an old [[Fey]] poem --- # Introduction The Distrium is an old Major Arcanum belonging to the Tarot. It is a staple in traditional Tarot imagery. It was reorganized into its modern form during the **Golden Era**. Because of that, the deck is full of references to Aldbine culture. # List of Cards ## 0 - The Fool A young blonde elven traveler looks upward, with the smallest of sacks. The Sun shines on them, though they stand on the precipice of a cliff. They wear a fine tunic, but it is ragged from travel. The Fool represents the beauty of the simpleton, trust in fate, and the beginning and the end of each journey. ## 1 - The Mage A female elven magician stands in a simple red and white cloak, surrounded by Clovers, Spades, Hearts, Diamonds, Swords, Pentacles, Cups, Wands, and Eyes. In their hand, they hold the [[Scroll of Knowledge]]. They wear a silver headband marked with the symbol of infinity. They represent high levels of knowledge and power, and infinite possibilities. ## 2 - The Witch An elven woman robed in blue stands within a [[Cone of Power]], with a full moon on her left and a horned figure on her right. She holds a crystal ball in her hands, with white and black sand swirling within. This card represents balance, mystery, and latent power. ## 3 - The Crown The image shows the elderly form of [[Volundr Aldbine]] sitting upon a throne, in a field with a rich harvest. Volundr is dressed in purple robes, and holds a staff in vis right hand, which is firmly planted within a small broken tower. Ve wears a crown of stars and holds a golden orb in vis left hand, which has a heart inscribed upon it. The card represents power through growth. It also represents wise leadership and bountiful fortune through wise choices. ## 4 - The Snake The card depicts a Snake, shedding its skin as it twists around a sword, cutting itself and bleeding on the blade. In its right eye, the alchemical symbol for **Elysia** shines, and in their left, they have the alchemical symbol for **Miasma**. This card represents protection, righteous fury, karma, and revenge. ## 5 - The Angel The Angel depicts a green [[Dragons|dragon]] with leathery skin, rather than scales, and with a lion's mane. The wings are like a bat's, and the dragon spits fire from the peak of the mountain. The sun shines directly behind, creating a halo. In the chest of the dragon is an arrow, with blood pouring down. The dragon has its head back in fury and pain. The Dragon represents pride, an easy solution to a complex answer, and the rise of the new order over the old order. ## 6 - The Comet A flaming icositetrahedron plummeting to the earth, with a burning blue tail. Refers to the messenger, communication, significant changes, and dramatic differences. ## 7 - The Victor An elven crown with short, blond hair and dark skin sits in a chariot pulled by centaurs, one with a black coat, the other with a white coat. The elf holds a sword in one hand and a spade in the other. This card represents overcoming conflict and persistence. It encompasses moving on past the ill and the hardships. ## 8 - The Grisarch A young elven crown gazes into a mirror, and hooded figure in a red robe with gold trim looks back at them. The crown holds a staff in one hand, and the hooded figure in the mirror holds the same staff, but with an Eye on top. Even the power of the crown cannot stand alone without guidance. This card represents foresight, trust, and dependence. ## 9 - The Hermit The Hermit is a Tarot card that depicts an elderly figure with a deep blue robe in the mountains. They look down at their feet, and hold a lantern that contains [[The Star of Order]]. This card represents introspection, solitude, meditation, and withdrawal. ## 10 - The Fates The Fates card depicts multiple threads across the card, spread as a loom. These group of threads separate the card into thirds, each with a different hand. At the top, a child's hand guides the thread off the spinning wheel. A second hand, an adult hand, holds a needle, stretching the thread across the card. A final, elderly hand holds scissors to the bottommost thread, ready to cut. The card represents inevitability, destiny, and a reminder to fall back upon the fundamental. It calls for an end of frivolity and re-examination of what is truly important in life. ## 11 - The Flames The card depicts a room covered in red velvet. Towering pillars of fire fill either side. On a cot placed on the floor between the infernos, a horned figure sits on his knees, wrists slit with a dagger in his hand, head down. At his knees is a jewelry box with a key in the lock. Beside the box is an apple with a single bite. The card represents passion, raw power, corruption, self destruction, immolation. ## 12 - The Hanged The Hanged is a horned person with a halo of light shown to be suspended from the bough of a tree by his right leg with their left leg tucked behind and their hands bound behind their back. The card represents the tragedy of the well-meaning and the acceptance of unintended evil. The card reflects the individual surrendering oneself for the good of all. The card also displays atonement and rehabilitation. ## 13 - The Dreamer A fey child sleeps on a cliff, amongst some old runes. A moonbeam wrapped in a rainbow aura highlights their face. At the bottom of a cliff, the fey's parents are clearly searching. They hold a torch, bewildered and unaware. The card represents ancient power, lost ties, and separation. The card also refers to childhood, innocence, and history. ## 14 - The Key A simple Key tied with a beige ribbon, lying beside a chain with a thick lock, lined in red. The two objects lay on presumably a wooden table. The Key represents a binary choice, to lock or unlock. Usually this choice is irreversible and usually considerably important. ## 15 - The Demon A demonized satyr with horns, hooves, red scales, and an elongated dragon-like snout. The demon emerges from a gate, surrounded by lightening and fire. The Demon represents horror, unbound evil, and betrayal to nature. ## 16 - The Arms A spiraling tower stretches from a red sky that turns into the purple night sky, with stars twinkling above. The sea covers the bottom of the card, with the tower reflection, stretching towards the bottom. [[The Arms of Chaos]] surround the spire. The Arms represents danger, crisis, and peace before trouble. It also symbolizes the heights of accomplishment before the lows of pride. ## 17 - The Star The card depicts lanterns in the sky, overwhelmed with the white brightness they bear. Seven stars in particular stand out. The stars are all [[The Star of Order]]. The card is associated with the land of ancestors and of the dead. It represents astral guidance, faith, and resolution. ## 18 - The Moons The Moons card depicts the twin Moons, one blue and one red. The red Moon's rays shine on a scorpion's nest on the edge of the water and the wolf howling to the sky. The blue Moon illuminates a goat grazing on a mountain peak and a cat sitting on the waters edge, watching the wolf in silence. A path travels down the center of the scene snaking in between the blue and red. The Moon card represents intuition and the subconscious. It underlines the dichotomy of tranquility and passion that underlines each being. ## 19 - The Sun The Sun card depicts the Sun with elven features. It has 16 rays and is suspended in a clear blue sky. Underneath a red flag is borne by a smiling, nude elven child on the back of a centaur. The scene takes place in a grassy field, with a grasshopper and a butterfly in the background. The card represents positive outcomes, life, accomplishment, innocence, vitality, contentment, and success. It also celebrates with truth prevailing over falsehoods. ## 20 - The Jester The Jester shows an old kobold dressed in a suit of purple, gold, and green. Their arms are crossed, with their right hand they remove the smiling mask of comedy and their left hand holds up to replace the mask with the scowling face of tragedy. They wear a three pronged cap and bells. The Jester represents blind luck, uncaring chance, and the cheap thrall of entertainment. It is usually associated with the worst and lowest of society. While it usually has negative connotations, it can also have positive implications, which, while rare, are usually highly desirable. ## 21 - The Bird The depiction shows a flock of avis flying across the sky. They hold primitive spears, soaring past the sun with white clouds in the far background. Trees nearby are clearly affected by a battering wind, but the center avis has a bow knocked and ready, aiming at a stag running across a field. The Bird represents flexibility, adaptability. It also represents patience and loyalty. ## 22 - The Thief A forest in the middle of the night. A hooded inari dressed in purple, with a purse in one hand and a knife in the other runs down a dirt path. There are cobwebs covering the trees. The crescent red moon shines down. The Thief represents deception, sudden loss, unexpected visitor, or something close to you but unseen. ## 23 - The Realm The Realm is a card of a thick forest overgrowing a cityscape, with the sun shining through the treetops. A cat explores the ruins, while a deer stands in the distance, behind the trees. An eagle is perched in a tree near the top of the card, while a bear fishes in a stream nearby. The card is usually interpreted as completion, satisfaction, and the solution. It represents true desire. What is needed, rather than what is wanted.