Amber:Tarot
Stolen without any apology at all from the Amber game "What If..."
The Earth card game, tarrochi or modern day Tarot, finds it's roots in Amber prime. The mad sorcerer Dworkin, having devised a way to tie certain powers in with art. This itself is not unheard of in infinite Shadow. What came of Dworkins work was once again something beyond the typical. He created a system that linked his known family members (descendents of Oberon) together. In this fashion, he also (either by side effect or design) had created a system in which glimpses of the future could be interpreted.
I have represented various individuals from Corwin's Chronicles, as well as many new individuals. I realize there are many interpretations as to what a 'correct' Amber tarot should look like. This is just one possible alternative for use in a game. After almost 30 years of reading tarot, I speak with experience when I make the statement that the atout (major arcana) are the higher self cards. These represent the major archetypes of a persona or psyche, and are easily represented by the godlike beings of any Amber campaign. Further, the pips (minor arcana) are the more tangible events and actions associated with day to day existence. These can easily be substituted by shadow locations, sketches of new persona's or aspects a character wants to know more about. Specifically this has been created for the DeepShadow Amber DRPG.
I imagine any Standard Amber Tarot having the 56 pip cards based off the four suits without any characters. (Zelazny is purposely non-descriptive on how the deck is set up leaving a readers imagination to fill in the details). The 22 atout will be various amber personalities. Each of the cards will have the look and feel of a hand created set such as the Visconti, but will be more resistant to damage (such as a normal set of cards, and water resistant). How Dworkin had multiple sets made to be the same, without handcrafting them is a matter of much debate... as is Trump Artistry itself. Cards without a character persona's attached can easily be substituted at any time. For my game.
0 Fool: Random
Chosen because the fool trumps all other cards in the game of tarocchi. It is the unexpected card that none other can beat. Random is ruled out for having any chance at the succession from the start. In the end, this is what makes him the perfect choice, and he becomes King of Amber.
1 Magician: Brand
Chosen because: The magician has one hand reaching down to indicate his ties to artifice and subtlety in tricking his audience. The other hand reaches to the sky denoting a willingness to channel down awesome godly powers. Both of these are good representations of Brands desires and his capabilities.
2 High Priestess: Llewella
Chosen because: The high priestess represents a reserved knowledge. This individual seperates herself from the masses, and uses introspection to achieve a higher knowledge. She encourages others to walk their own path. Llewella seperates herself in Rebma and refuses to become entangled in the war in Amber, knowing it's chaos will be reflected in her own realm. Very wise, very separate… a wisdom others could learn from.
3 Empress: Fiona
Chosen because: The empress represents the ability to rule. Being able to understand all the aspects of a situation, and being welcoming on the home front. She is the gracious hostess at the door, and the competent leader, easily the widow queen. Fiona, who seems to strive for power, and is willing to play within the system at it's superficial level seeks her own goals, but will -on the surface anyway- seem very pleasing and welcoming.
4 Emperor: Eric
Chosen because: Eric's desire to rule and his ability to govern not only justly, but his willingness to "do what it takes," is not without compassion. He blinds corwin to make an example of him, but does not kill him outright. He strands him in Shadow, but does not kill him. He gives Corwin a beloved piece of art, but does not send assassins.
5 Heirophant: Delwin
The Heirophant gathers knowledge and uses it openly. He wears his knowledge like a robe for all to see. He calls others to himself, so that he can help them grow together in social brotherhood. Nothing is known of Delwin so his personality can easily have been this way before he was thought killed.
6 Lovers: Florimel
Living in the beauty of the moment, the choices before are much deeper than the shallow urgins lust promotes in the moment, and will have long term consequences. Florimel makes decisions of the heart, and her decisions while considered flighty by some are driven out of emotion. Each time she changes sides though, it drastically influences events to come, as witnessed by the way her seemingly small actions with Corwin directly drive his future ability to come to the throne.
7 Chariot: Corwin
The ability to observe the situation and take action. The Chariot isn't so much about force as it is about responding to a situation, and taking action to bring justice. Corwin's struggle against a usurping brother who left him for dead is a classic example of the chariots story.
8 Strength: Gerard
This shouldn't be confused with just external strength (which Gerard personifies). Gerard has an inner strength where he refuses to be twisted and manipulated by his siblings. His goal is easily witnessed, and it is through his gentle touch as a physician that we see his true strength to come to the rescue of any of his siblings. He loves unconditionally.
9 Hermit: Dworkin
Detached from society. A secret knowledge learned by the wisdom of doing, not studying. He carries a lantern to guide the way to a place only his journey has ever brought someonew. Could anyone else possibly be the Hermit?
10 Wheel of Fortune: Sand
Everything comes full circle, and we can easily see that life will have its pleasant moments and it's not-so-pleasant times. Whichever one befalls the individual, it will be sure to change, for without change we suffer stagnation and decay. Sand was easily one of the most unlucky folk in the Corwin Saga. She only received a mention in one sentence of the first chronicles! In true wheel of fortune fashion, she could be counted as lucky because at least she WAS mentioned!
11 Justice: Julian
True justice is anything but blind. It sees a wrong, and rights it. It is truly impartial and ruthless. Julian represents this by becoming the protector of Forest Arden, gateway to Amber. He defends that which he can never hold, the throne of Amber. He is a fierce defender, and what's more a dreaded foe. Do wrong in his eyes, and he will hunt you down until his measure of justice has been meted out.
12 Hanged Man: Caine
The hanged man represents life in suspension. Quite often this individual suffers for a crime. He could easily escape his situation, or he is awaiting a time when he can be removed from his purgatory. Which one is unclear. Caine's motives are often unclear, whether he is seen to be dead, and actually alive, or whether he is a defender merely waiting for his time to strike out.
13 Death: Finndo
Death is not always the physical death. Death represents the complete ending of one aspect of your life. For Finndo this was the ending of what he knew in Amber. He believed in the complete and proper succession forged through the honor of a Monarch. When Oberon betrayed that, and Finndo confronted him, Oberon sent him to his death on the front lines.
14 Temperance: Benedict
There is a balance to things, and if we wait patiently, the rain will fall, come to the river, and nourish us, only to return to the earth, evaporate, and become rain once more. Benedict has the patience of a single water drop, waiting for his enemies to act, and then changing to encompass them. He shows no signs of wanting the throne for himself, but wants only to be the rain, nourishing and refreshing all. Even rain can split stone through a freezing winter. Never underestimate the patience of Benedict to prevail.
15 Devil: Dalt
The devil represents an enslavement to ones passions. This individual has succumbed to a course of action in which they can not free themselves. Their tortured existence was voluntarily entered into. Dalt cannot free himself from his passion for vengeance on Amber. His every action focuses on it, and it rules his life. It is only when Merlin intercedes to steer him without choice in a new direction that he finds his own inner greatness.
16 Tower: Osric
The tower represents a shattering of all that was created. What has been built up is torn down, and people fall in peril. The crown (top of tower) is unstable and begins to topple. Osric was second born to King Oberon. He was the supportive younger brother, and set to have a regency at the least. When Oberon's infidelity shattered the monarchy, it was Osric who was sent, like his brother, to the front lines to die. All that he knew was torn down.
17 Star: Bleys
Hope is born, and seen in the sky. The star represents the lofty ideal that can be obtained. Bleys' fortuitous arrival into Corwin's saga gives him the hope of a chance to have victory taking over Amber. Each holds out hope for victory, and the crown. Each represents the unseen opportunity that the others unexpected arrival brings. The shooting star may be quick, but it is always memorable. Even Bleys' passing holds out hope as he grasps the deck Corwin throws to him in his final moments.
18 Moon: Deirdre
Deirdre is the epitome desires unrealized. She is the unseen force both at the onset of Corwin's saga, and in the final moments of the patternfall war. She represents the hidden and forbidden desires (of Corwin). Danger accompanies her, and she can easily be seen as a warning of what lay ahead, the unexpected, and the desirable, that is wrapped in danger.
19 Sun: Mirelle
Prosperity and joy. The sun represents the pleasure that comes from youth and prosperity. She is the ideal obtained. Mirelle being the last known born of Oberon, is not only Oberon's joy, but Random's. She is a master at finding the positive in the moment, and helping others to do likewise.
20 Judgement: Oberon
An individuals actions determine his afterlife. Right living, and right actions are rewarded. Atonement is often a necessary requirement for past actions. Oberon who had done so many things wrong, who had connived and schemed, who had been an absent father, and philanderer sacrificed himself to save his son and all of Amber. He chose willingly to give up everything for a greater good. In the end, he became what he was at the start, a King. As such, he was honored by both sides of the war with a magnificent funeral that marched through all of Shadow.
21 World: Amber's Courtyard
The ideal. All things in balance. A person is surrounded by all the elements, and they have complete harmony. Amber being the "Golden City" represents a completeness of perfection that all others are judged by. Amber itself encompasses all the elements from ideals to defense, to endless possibility. There can exist no more auspicious place or card.
