> *“I can’t tell you why the cards do what they do, or how. If it is magical in nature, it is like no other magic…as old and potent as the Seals themselves. All I can tell you is what I see in them.” -Katalin Arana, herbalist and harrow-reader.* ### Overview No one really knows the origin of harrowing or the harrow cards that are used, but the earliest depictions and traditions are found amongst the exiled [[Elves]] known as “Dúath” and most people view as a dangerous, heretical practice or lesser [[Magic]] belonging to hedge-witches and others pushed onto the margins of society. Nonetheless, some mages in the tradition of [[Blood Magic]] are fascinated by the practice, and it is even mentioned in [[Istoría tís Mageías]] briefly as a form of “low” magic. Harrow decks are rare to come by, and those who read them with any degree of accuracy are even rarer. Most scholars insist that harrowings are the purview of charlatans and scam artists. Only a few have written detailed descriptions of the practice and its interpretations, most notably amongst the Dúath themselves: an unnamed elf’s text simply titled *The Harrowing*. The name itself seems to derive from the experience of a reading, which is considered always dangerous, as one is treading upon sacred and forbidden ground. Most religious schools of thoughts and all Five of the Eastern gods consider harrow cards to be borderline heresy if not absolutely so, as Fate is perceived by at least most [[Humans]] to be the realm of divinity. The practice continues, however, as an open secret for the desperate and superstitious. From a deck of 22 cards, a number of cards equal to the number of people receiving the reader are drawn, and then two special cards are placed at the center. Traditionally, a harrowing can be done for one or multiple people, but practitioners say it should only be done for people who are somehow connected by blood or purpose, as the very act of drawing and placing the cards can forge a connection. Fate, they say, is always watching. ### The Placement of Cards The arrangement of cards is relatively straightforward in a normal reading: a harrow card called a “crux” is placed in front of each participant in a circular fashion, with two special cards placed in the center of the table: “the keystone” and “the fool’s share”. Each crux card represents the essence of an individual’s struggle to overcome, but may interact with the card of anyone else at the table. Meanwhile, the keystone card represents the workings of Fate, usually in terms of a primary obstacle or antagonistic force in the lives of everyone at in the reading—but can also be a representation of a shared goal, value, or good. The fool’s share represents the uncertainty and twisting in Fate’s threads, modifying or clarifying the meaning of the keystone card and any other card on the table. There are two important facets to remember with the placement of cards: *orientation* and *intentionality*. The orientation refers to whether the card is inverted when it is flipped or if it stands right side up. Many harrow decks are strangely drawn, so that each card has a proper upright half and an inverted lower half while somehow giving the perception that the inverted image is right-side up. Practitioners know the deck well enough to realize which is which by the image displayed, but decks are also often marked with a white circle at the top of the cards and a black circle at the bottom for easier identification for beginners. Intentionality is exactly what it sounds like: whether the card was placed intentionally in a specific configuration or allowed to fall or flip as it wills. This is supposedly how one can tell a true practitioner from a false one: the genuine article always allows cards to flip and fall as they will, because that is considered the most accurate reading. Some even go so far as to say that a terrible fate can befall those who interfere with a harrowing by trying to cheat or manipulate the reading by placing the cards intentionally or changing their orientation. Traditionally, Fate, much like [[Nessa]], does not appear to appreciate tampering with the natural order of things. ### The Harrow Deck and its Meanings Comprised of 22 cards, each with an upright and an inverted form, the harrow deck has not changed significantly other than the drawn representations on the cards since [[Godfall]]. Their names and meanings remain the same in the practice, regardless of the art style of the cards. Traditionally, the cards are marked for orientation and they have a specific ordering in the texts, even though the deck is thoroughly shuffled before each reading. No card has a singular meaning, as they weave together and interplay, meaning two different people can look at the same Harrowing and draw wildly different conclusions. There is a definite art to deciphering the cards, especially when inversion and the fool's share come into play. Given the artwork varies from deck to deck, the more important thing is the card's identity and name. Much more attention here is paid to meanings, which appear far more uniform in the harrowing tradition, even across practitioners. It should be noted that in the Harrowing, there are no such thing as "good" or "bad" cards, though the messages they carry can be dire warnings of unpleasant things. The outcome depends often on what the individual who is "harrowed" (the person whose card it is) decides to do with their fortune. In addition to the list of the cards and both their upright and inverted meanings, there is a brief note of what it might mean as if it is pulled as the "fool's share" card instead of a "crux" or "keystone", both of which are far more straightforward: ###### The Blind Upright, the Blind signifies loss and foolishness, generally regarded as the opposite of the Wiseman. It speaks to fumbling through life and either failing miserably or barely succeeding, but one who pays attention will quickly learn that there is more to the Blind than that: it is a card that encourages unexpected avenues towards wisdom, even through the unfortunate parts of personal experience. Inverted, the Blind represents knowledge coming from an unexpected source and enlightenment specifically through sacrifice. One is reminded by the inverted Blind that the loss of one sense often means the sharpening of others, sometimes literally and sometimes figuratively. It is the favorite sign of scholars, and tradition holds that its harrowed often find wisdom beyond the norm a pearl of great price they pay much to obtain. In the fool's share, the Blind often represents failure or thwarting, much like a maze's many passages sometimes lead one back to where they started. Someone is going in circles and missing what is right in front of them, usually either the harrowed or their keystone. ###### The Collar In its upright form, the Collar represents both loyalty and obligation, the tight grip of duty upon one's fate for good and ill. It is the card that advises to follow faithfully for a reward, but warns that the weight may be heavy indeed to bear, a sign that Fate demands much of one for a just reward down the road. As a card of loyalty, it has some overlap with the Lovers, and is seen as a difficult but worthwhile investment of time and love. Inverted, the Collar is no longer a yoke of duty: it is a shackle, a prison. This may represent incarceration, being trapped or weighed down by the past, or even the consequences of one's own duty. It is also a card of endurance, reminding the harrowed that they are strong enough to either outlast or break their own chains if they dare. In the fool's share, the Collar represents an unbreakable bond between the harrowed and their keystone. The disposition of the bond has more to do with the alignment of the Collar, whether it is upright or inverted. ###### The Dragon Upright, the Dragon represents courage and honor. The path forward is through nobility and sacrifice, bravery and striving. It is a card of conflict, usually signifying opposition or battle of some kind, but serves as a reminder that the only way to deal with one's fate is to face it with a strong heart, no matter how dire things become. Inverted, the Dragon takes on a different meaning: freedom and escape, as if flying from one's problems. The message of the inverted Dragon is to find a way around the problem instead of bulling through it, or letting go of the problem itself and no longer permitting it to weigh the harrowed down. It can also be read as a sign of cowardice or frailty, though that is normally only when it is inverted and in the fool's share. In the fool's share, the Dragon means that conflict with the keystone is coming whether one likes it or not, loud and proud. It can represent devastation, or if inverted, the failure of courage and cowardice. ###### The Eye Upright, the Eye is the symbol of seeking and finding, usually knowledge, but not always. It is also the emblem of insight and clarity of mind, sometimes even the beginning of wisdom, but it usually represents a journey towards those things with the promise of discovery at the end. Inverted, the Eye is a sign of jealousy and envy, selfishness blinding one to what they're searching for. It can be a warning that someone is going astray, or a sign that they already have. If one takes the hint, however, an inverted Eye can point to the direction someone needs to go to leave that road behind. In the fool's share, the Eye usually means knowledge is intimately involved with the keystone, either obviously so if upright and secret if inverted. It usually means the answer can be found through the mind, rather than the direct confrontation of the Dragon. ###### The Flame In its upright form, the Flame represents hope and illumination. Perhaps the problem facing the harrowed is not as big or as dark as they feared, and the trick is merely turning on the light. It is also a sign of comfort and reassurance, a promise that all will be well, even if it takes time, as long as one keeps their faith close at hand. Inverted, the Flame becomes a sign of scorching hubris and cynical pain, no longer the illuminating torch but instead the suffering of the pyre. Unlike this reading would seem to suggest, however, the answer the Flame provides is still hope, albeit with a heavy dose of humility. It cautions against further suffering by offering its remedy, but those who embrace the arrogance the inverted Flame warns against often find themselves plunging to new lows and darknesses. In the fool's share, the Flame is a sign of rebirth and revitalization, though the orientation tends to suggest whether it is for the keystone or the harrowed. It is important, of course, to remember that everything is interconnected in a Harrowing, and the Flame in the fool's share might even be interacting with a crux card. ###### The Gate Upright, the Gate represents mystery and an invitation through the portals of life, as it were. Its appearance always means a sort of metamorphosis through experience, and often symbolizes the beginning of a journey. But where the Eye promises knowledge as a reward and the Jewel wealth, the Gate is more about a change of heart. Inverted, the Gate takes on a different meaning: instead of being open to the world, it is time to close off and protect oneself, like an army retreating into a keep. It warns that there are dangers all around that need firm boundaries and protections to keep safe. It can be the sign that it's time to break relationships for the greater good, or simply a retreat from the daily business of life for a time in order to sort out what's truly important. In the fool's share, the Gate can be thought of as a portal: it means there will come a point where a choice has to be made, and one cannot turn back from that. While the orientation can guide the harrowed in one direction or the other for an answer, the best bet is to understand that change is inevitable and even not making a decision is a decision. ###### The Hand Upright, the Hand is a reminder that hard work pays off and what the harrowed needs to achieve what they're setting out to do is right at their fingertips. It encourages people to take action when it appears and stop dreaming, putting actual work into what they want to see happen. It is generally regarded as a sign that the goal is achievable if the harrowed puts their back into it. Inverted, the Hand is a sign to stop and relax. Pushing is getting one nowhere, and it's time to be patient. This is considered a card of rest, a sign that good things come to those who wait and that trying to force things will only end in disaster. The inverted Hand is also sometimes read as a time for sensitivity and feeling, rather than doing. In the fool's share, the Hand speaks to the resolution of the matter represented by either the keystone or a crux card, its orientation pointing in the direction. Most importantly, it generally indicates that the answer will be pragmatic, not lofty and idealistic. ###### The Heart Upright, the Heart card is distinct from the Lovers in that it isn't necessarily about love or good fortune, but instead a reminder to be true to oneself and one's own instincts. When the Heart appears, the matter is close to the chest for the harrowed and can be overcome, faced, or solved by following their own most closely held beliefs and values. Inverted, the Heart is a sign of hardship coming from hasty decisions, impulsive judgments, and not stopping to consider the consequences before acting. It doesn't necessarily mean everything will end in tears, but serves as a reminder that sometimes the heart doesn't know best and following it complicates everything. In the fool's share, the appearance of the Heart means that whatever the matter at issue is, its solution and thorniness is deeply personal. ###### The Jackal In its upright form, the Jackal is a sign that not all is as it appears. It hints at machinations unseen, the shadows of the past dogging at the subject's heels and waiting for a moment of weakness. It is also a card that represents opportunity hidden in the unexpected, and invites those who find it their crux card (or their keystone) to take advantage of chaos or disruption to find fortune and fame. Inverted, the Jackal is often seen as the clever and the cunning caught in their own traps. It suggests honesty is the best policy, and good things come to those who wait, for there are dangers inherent in plots and schemes when the Jackal is upside down. It can also be a sign of misfortune lurking just around the corner and anyone who has it for their reading is usually advised against entering into any agreements or contracts. As the fool's share, the Jackal is a force of absolute chaos and speaks to schemes turning upon schemes. Most say that a Jackal in the fool's share means nothing is going to go according to plan, and only a fool would take anything at face value, including the keystone card. ###### The Jewel Upright, the Jewel represents good fortune in the form of material wealth, success, status, and reputation. It is one of the more positively regarded cards, and usually means a reward is waiting in one's future. When the Jewel appears, coin and prosperity are often sure to follow. Sometimes, of course, as the crux or keystone card, it might represent a problem with those things, but upright it promises a solution to those problems. Inverted, the Jewel is the card of rapacious greed. It cautions that love of material things is leading the harrowed or the keystone astray, or can be a sign of incoming impoverishment for one or the other. It warns not to sacrifice the eternal for the ephemeral and is often depicted in the jaws of a skull, reminding the harrowed that their wealth won't follow them into the grave. In the fool's share, the Jewel means a great fortune is most certainly involved, and depending on the orientation, that the money may not be worth it. Many an enterprising thief has walked away from a job with the Jewel in the fool's share and survived free of the hangman's noose as a consequence. ###### The Leviathan In its upright form, the Leviathan represents a great danger and its solution, dwelling beneath the surface. A force for destruction and guardian of knowledge alike, it is a card of introspection and represents internal conflict. It is never advisable to run from the Leviathan when it appears upright, as sooner or later the matter will always come to the surface and confront the harrowed. However, this contains the possibility for enrichment and learning. Inverted, the Leviathan takes on a somewhat different meaning: suffering that is unavoidable and drowning. Business ventures might be ruined, great wealth lost, beloved people perishing, or even kingdoms cracking under the tightening of Fate's coils. In this form, the Leviathan is not the revealer of knowledge, but the one who obscures it. An inverted Leviathan means secrets are dangerous and destructive, always drawing one deeper into the situation that brought them to the Harrowing, or perhaps their keystone card. The answer is not introspection, but an escape from it, and many say the answer to the inverted Leviathan is seeking connection...carefully. As the fool's share, the Leviathan speaks to the inexorable nature of the keystone card: it cannot be run from, cannot be changed, cannot be avoided. It absolutely must be faced, usually as directly as possible. ###### The Lovers Upright, the Lovers represent good fortune, love, and connection. Seen by most lay people as the most fortunate card in the Harrowing deck in this configuration, the Lovers often invite their harrowed to chase their passions and invest in the people around them. They mean good luck is just around the corner, reconciliation is possible, and maybe even true love is involved in the future. Inverted, however, the Lovers drastically shift character. When upside down, the card is considered the worst draw of the Harrowing deck, as it inevitably heralds some kind of betrayal from close at hand and a great grief or bereavement. Those who try to avoid the inverted Lovers often find themselves walking directly into their arms: a love affair gone sour, a relationship that turns bitter, or even a knife in the dark. However, with care, even the inverted Lovers offer reversal, for someone already in a bad spot may find themselves freed from the confines of that relationship. As the fool's share, the Lovers represent tension within relationships that could tip either way, a delicate balance between desire and risk, reward and punishment. After all, a card that is in the fool's share will favor its aligned meaning, but characteristics of both aspects often arise when in this position. ###### The Mirror Upright, not unlike the Jackal, the Mirror is a sign of obfuscation. However, where the Jackal points more towards people or events not being what they seem in their true intentions, the Mirror is more about appearances and the superficial. Much like a mask, the Mirror indicates someone is hiding their past, present, or future self. Inverted, the Mirror is usually represented as broken, just as the Tyrant has lost his crown in his own upside-down state. In this form, it speaks to truth shining through the cracks of the mask, or some form of revelation or inspiration that comes when falsehoods are stripped away. As the fool's share, the Mirror can either be a sign that even the keystone card may not be what it looks like, and cautions against assuming things are what they appear. Inverted, it is a card of revelation and transformation: something will be brought to light, changed, and perhaps even shattered. ###### The Monarch In its upright form, the Monarch represents order and stability, not necessarily in the form of government, but certainly in institutions and beliefs. It is a sign that the world is ordered as it should be, and one can take comfort in knowing that even their misfortunes will have a just outcome. At the same time, however, the Monarch means things are not likely to change and can be a sign of stagnation and stifling pressure depending on the person and the other cards. Inverted, the Monarch is a sign of corruption seething inside dearly held beliefs and represents a sundering or rebellion of some kind, much like the wars of a foolish king destroy the land and lead to pandemonium. It goes from a force of stagnation to radical and often violent change and upheaval, which has its benefits and its downsides. As the fool's share, the Monarch represents a fundamental change in the order of things in a person's life, either for better or worse. It can be the beginning of a bright, stable future...or the road to cacophonous ruin. ###### The Needle In its upright form, the Needle is the symbol of balance. It represents a fate poised in a precarious position and the importance of keeping a level head and moderation to find success. The Needle is a card that warns of extremes, both good and bad, as things that will lead one astray and those who receive it as their crux card can safely bet that temperance is the way through their problems. Inverted, the Needle is a sign of confusion and lack of clarity from pursuing extremes or simply the wrong desire. It speaks to someone who has leaned too far one way or another and is either plunging or about to. Again, though, even the inverted Needle offers an answer: to act with precision and seek out balance again. As the fool's share, the Needle usually can be taken to mean that the situation is particularly precarious and needs to be handled with care. It emphasizes the importance that actions be taken with intention and care. ###### The Obelisk In its upright form, the Obelisk represents power of the more unusual varieties, usually appearing when either magic or [[Sorcery]] are somehow involved in someone's fate. However, it does not necessarily mean that is the case, as it can also represent other forms of indirect power: influence, persuasion, or subtle coercion. It can be an aspirational card, meaning one is going to have that influence expressed in a positive way, or a warning of a threat beyond normal means. Inverted, the Obelisk represents the ruin of Time's passage and the decay of that same power. The adulation of crowds will grow silent, the influence and beauty of one will fade, and even magical or sorcerous power will diminish in the end. The inverted Obelisk reminds those in the Harrowing that nothing lasts forever. In the fool's share, the Obelisk is often taken to mean that supernatural and even divine forces are in play, or at the very least, invested in the outcome. ###### The Poison Upright, the Poison is seldom a card one wants to draw. It signifies suffering and poor health, usually either a calamity like sickness or famine, but can also be a sign of a creeping madness or something unhealthy within a situation or relationship. Sometimes called the "card of pestilence", the Poison can be either a physical malady or something deeper, contained within the soul. Inverted, the Poison's meaning shifts, but not truly as a reversal like some of the other cards. A favorite card for an assassin, the Poison inverted means the harnessing of that same pestilence into a weapon to be used to achieve an end, or a misfortune inflicted upon an enemy. In the fool's share, the Poison's meaning shifts radically, as every alchemist and herbalist will say, "What kills may also cure." In this position, either upright or inverted, the Poison represents a remedy, albeit one that may carry risks and unintended consequences. Its alignment usually is more about what card it will affect than the disposition of the outcome. ###### The Reaper Upright, much like the Tyrant, the Reaper is a straightforward card to pull. It symbolizes both death and the mysteries contained therein. Most perceive the card as a bad omen, as death usually is, but a select few see it as the goddess Nessa's influence and it may even be perceived as a blessing to someone suffering with a long, protracted illness. It also is a card of knowledge stemming directly from loss, and invites one to open their heart as well as grieve. Inverted, the Reaper becomes a sign of gentleness, comfort offered in the throes of a great suffering. It promises that whatever is weighing on the mind or ailing the body will not last forever, and always symbolizes the end of something painful or terrible, sometimes even a sign of plenty and reward just ahead after a long period of deprivation. In the fool's share, the Reaper becomes the stakes: the consequences are set as high as they can possibly go, making the relationship between cards (and associated fates) a matter of life and death. ###### The Sword Upright, the Sword is a card that symbolizes war and destruction, raised to swing. It is often a card associated with power and victory through combat, but can easily also mean defeat for the one who receives it, depending on how the strands of fate play out. Whether honorable conflict like the Dragon or straight butchery, the Sword makes no distinctions or claims to morality. It is perceived in this orientation as a "neutral" card, but those who consider it a positive one should probably consider whether or not they'd appreciate a war ravaging their home. Inverted, the Sword aligns itself with the Reaper as a symbol of mercy. But where the Reaper promises circumstances will change, the inverted Sword puts the onus of that change on its harrowed. After all, a sword is only a tool. Interestingly, in almost every deck, the inverted Sword is represented as broken, like the inverted Mirror. In the fool's share, much like the Dragon, the Sword means that conflict is coming. How it should be approached and resolved, however, is usually based on its orientation. ###### The Tower Upright, the Tower is a symbol of protection and safeguarding, promising security to those who fall under its flip. This protection might stem from something divine or mundane, but it is usually met with a sigh of relief. Unlike the Gate, the Tower is more a symbol of persistence in the status quo, and aligns itself more with the Monarch. Inverted, the Tower is a sign that what was once safe will be safe no longer. It encourages its harrowed to seek out a new refuge or to cultivate a new source of resilience within themselves, because what was working will become a prison or a death trap. It represents also the loss of protection, and is a card of vulnerability. It may, in this orientation, also suggests that someone is in need of protection and serve as a call to action. In the fool's share, the Tower speaks to the stability of the situation. Upright, things are likely to maintain themselves, but if it is inverted, the Tower heralds danger if something doesn't change. ###### The Tyrant Upright, the Tyrant is one of the most straightforward cards in the harrow deck. It represents power in its negative facet, usually a great injustice or wickedness that must be vanquished one way or another. It often represents an obstacle in the form of a person or entity and brings suffering wherever it goes. Inverted, the Tyrant has fallen and now comes the work of rebuilding and regrowth. Often the card of those who have surmounted difficulties only to find themselves surrounded by ashes, the inverted Tyrant is perseverance and inner strength to survive and calls the harrowed to their full potential through their own grit and determination. As the fool's share, the Tyrant is not quite as straightforward. It hints at the darkness that runs through the heart of every person, a dire warning that in the process of confronting the keystone, one might find themselves becoming the Tyrant themselves. ###### The Wiseman In the upright position, the Wiseman is a symbol of insight through reflection and placidity, a sign that things are calm and positive. It is one of the more sought-after readings, meaning that the harrowed's course is on the right track and they need only follow whatever strategem or instincts have carried them this far to find the answer they seek. Inverted, the Wiseman quickly becomes blinded by his own self-assurance and vanity. It symbolizes losing the path through overconfidence and warns to turn to those who are wiser for help, or risk losing everything through ill-considered plans. As the fool's share, the Wiseman's presence usually means that the answer comes through insight and inspiration, but may also warn that someone's hubris is catching up to them. ### Perception of the Harrow Deck and Harrowings Again, as stated before, many view harrowing as borderline heretical. The Church of [[Sol]] and [[The Kingdom of Ethilir]] tried to stomp out the practice in their areas of power, just as [[The Kingdom of Yssa]] and [[The Kingdom of Genev]] have. It is less popular with "true" [[Elves]], and [[Giants]] and [[Orcs]] both have their own different methods of fortune-telling besides harrowing. [[The High Kingdom of Leus]] has been known to allow it, and [[The Kingdom of Talin]] does not make many attempts to uproot the practice, both seeing it as basically harmless compared to "actual" magic. However, among those who believe in it and the normal population, the harrowing takes on a special significance. It is a glance into the web of Fate, people whisper, and should never be ignored. While many will write it off as the domain of charlatans and scoundrels trying to fleece people out of their coin, a true harrow-reader who follows the traditions to the letter will usually find themselves met with a mix of awe and dread.