The Obsidian Archive: Cartomancies

Compiled by Silas Blackwood, Archivist of the Veiled Currents

Last Revised: 17th of Frostmoon, 1788

The Language of the Serpent’s Coil

The Serpent’s Coil, a deck crafted from obsidian and whispers, deals primarily with cycles – the ebb and flow of fortune, the shedding of skin, the inevitable return to the source. Each card isn’t merely a representation of a symbol, but a resonance, a vibrating chord within the fabric of time. To read it requires not just an eye, but a listening ear, attuned to the subtle shifts in the air, the phantom scent of rain on stone.

  • The Obsidian Serpent: Represents transformation, hidden knowledge, and the dangers of clinging to the past.
  • The Moonlit Pool: Symbolizes intuition, dreams, and the subconscious.
  • The Scattered Scales: Indicate disruption, loss, and the need for radical change.

The Cartomancer’s Lexicon

A foundational text, this compendium details the myriad interpretations of the cards. It’s crucial to understand that a single card can hold dozens of meanings, dependent on the question asked, the position of the card, and the reader’s own resonance. The true art lies not in memorizing definitions, but in cultivating a sensitivity to the unseen currents.

  • Aspects of Interpretation: The cards are considered within three primary ‘Veils’: the Veil of Potential, the Veil of Manifestation, and the Veil of Closure.
  • The Ritual of Attunement: Prior to any reading, a ritual is performed – a cleansing of the space, a centering of the mind, and a silent invocation to the spirits of the cards.
  • Common Misinterpretations: Beware the scholar who seeks to quantify the cards. Their rigid adherence to theoretical frameworks will only obscure the truth.

The Deck of Aethelred

Forged during the twilight of the Old Kingdom, this deck, comprised of bone and polished amber, specializes in charting the lineage of souls, the echoes of ancestors, and the karmic debts that bind generations. It is a deck of reckoning, demanding honesty and a willingness to confront uncomfortable truths.

  • The Bone Weaver: Represents ancestry, inherited traits, and the weight of the past.
  • The Amber Eye: A symbol of foresight, but also of potential delusion.
  • The Shattered Throne: Signifies broken legacies, lost kingdoms, and the cyclical nature of power.

The Cartomancer’s Codex: Supplement VI – The Paradoxical Cards

This section details the interpretation of cards that defy conventional logic – the cards that shimmer with an unsettling ambiguity, the cards that seem to shift and change before your very eyes. These are the most dangerous, and the most rewarding, to read. They demand absolute stillness, unwavering focus, and a willingness to accept that the universe operates on principles beyond human comprehension.

  • The Mirror’s Reflection: Represents duality, choices, and the potential for self-destruction.
  • The Empty Vessel: Symbolizes emptiness, potential, and the acceptance of the unknown.
  • The Silent Hand: Indicates inaction, missed opportunities, and the consequences of apathy.