A harrow deck contains 54 cards. Each card has one of six symbols corresponding to six abilities—this is the card’s suit. The suit’s symbol is located along the card’s edge in one of eight positions corresponding to the eight non-neutral alignments. The suit’s symbol also appears at the bottom of the card.

The Paladin, for example, has a hammer (the symbol for Strength) in the upper left corner (the position for lawful good), so it’s the lawful good Strength card. Similarly, The Liar has a crown (Charisma) in the lower right corner (chaotic evil), so it’s the chaotic evil Charisma card.

Note that cards that are entirely neutral (The Bear, The Trader, The Owl, The Peacock, The Teamster, and The Twin) do not have any symbols for the card suit along the card edges—true neutral cards only show their suit’s symbol at the bottom of the card.

The following pages detail how to conduct a harrow reading, explaining the general meaning of each card and details of its placement. These factors all influence a prediction, but it’s up to the individual harrow reader to tie together and interpret the cards’ suggestions with their target’s fate. Interpretations are often vague and metaphorical, and harrowers shouldn’t feel obligated to craft specific meanings into their interpretations of the cards—vagaries and multiple interpretations are all part of a harrower’s mystical art. Ultimately, the purpose of the harrow deck is to help facilitate a mystical encounter, not to force the harrower to accurately read a specific message from a pattern of cards to determine a specific future. So long as the reader can use the deck as a springboard to make broad predictions, destiny and other players’ interpretations can fill in the gaps.

*Cards that are entirely neutral have none of the border symbols highlighted.

Many people claim to know how to read the ancient cards, but most of them are just out to fleece a few townies. Others waste their time gambling with the cards. A select few actually know the art of reading the harrow deck. And for those who do have the knack, the harrow deck can reveal crucial threads in the tapestry of anyone’s life—past, present, and future.

—Riana, Varisian harrower