Every rye (Clan) of the Dasidia Tribes have their own unique form of fortune-telling cards, known as Tarot. The Baltrany Tarot, of the Baltrany Rye, is one of the most famous to outsiders, and can be found for sale in various cities throughout the eastern part of the Buchlayne and much of Buchlayne Minor. The Baltrany do not condone the sale of their decks of Tarot cards, and proclaim a curse upon any outside of their clan who use them.
The deck is made up of 82 cards, 66 of which are part of the Major Mysteries deck and 16 of which are part of the Minor Mysteries deck. Short descriptions of the cards follow.
The Major Mysteries
Within the Major Mysteries deck are 66 cards made up three groups of 22 cards. The three groups are the Shadows, the Mists, and the Radiance. The list of the other cards includes: The Fool, the Wyrd, the Prophetess, the Empress, the Emperor, the Holy Man, the Lovers, the Hermit, the Fiend, the Tower, the Wheel, the Stars, the Sun, the Moons, the World, Rebirth, Justice, Strength, Vengeance, Death, Temperance, and Judgment. Each of these 22 cards is represented three times (once each for Shadows, Mists, and Radiance).
The Minor Mysteries
Within the Minor Mysteries deck are 16 cards made up of four groups of four cards. The four groups are the Squire, the Knight, and Queen, and the King. The list of the other four cards includes the Staves, the Coins, the Cups, and the Swords. Each of these four cards is represented four times (once each for Squire, Knight, Queen, and King).
Reading the Cards
The fortune-teller, after having her palms crossed with silver (preferably with coins, but silver jewelry or even weapons will do) to ward away evil spirits, selects four cards from the Major Mysteries and six cards from the Minor Mysteries. She (fortune-tellers among the Dasidia are exclusively female) arranges the cards in a specific order and then "reads" the cards by studying the images that were drawn and the order in which they were drawn and arranged. Every Dasidia fortune-teller has a very specific process taught to her by her mentor and no two Dasidia fortunte-tellers arrange their cards in the same manner nor read the same fortune from the exact same set of cards.
Jeremi Udall
Major Mysteries: Wyrd of Radiance, Holy Man of Shadows, Wheel of Mists, World of Shadows
Minor Mysteries: Squire of Cups, Squire of Coins, Squire of Swords, Squire of Staves, Knight of Cups, King of Staves
The Fortune: "Your path will remain forever unclear, but walk it you must. Look for important news from those you least expect."
Usoruhihn Sonahuijf
Major Mysteries: Wyrd of Shadows, Prophetess of Mists, Death of Shadows, and Judgment of Radiance.
Minor Mysteries: Squire of Swords, Squire of Cups, Knight of Cups, Queen of Staves, King of Staves and Cups
The Fortune: "Never use your real name. You are a wielder of the secret power, and must never speak your true name lest the power consume you."
Sebastian di Befana Epifania
Major Mysteries: Fool of Shadows, Justice of Shadows, Moon of Shadows, Tower of Shadows
Minor Mysteries: Squire of Cups, Knight of Staves, Queen of Coins, Queen of Staves, Queen of Cups, King of Coins
The Fortune: "Sometimes, only by the way of shadow may you achieve your objective."
Rafael Sangrecabo de la Divina Senda
Major Mysteries: Hermit of Mists, Tower of Shadows, Temperance of Radiance, Stars of Mists
Minor Mysteries: Squire of Coins, Knight of Cups, Knight of Swords, Queen of Staves, King of Coins and Swords
The Fortune: "Do not be troubled with events that are beyond your control. Focus on the here and now."
Orongorg Jandriarg
Major Mysteries: Holy Man of Radiance, Holy Man of Mists, Wheel of Shadows, and Fiend of Shadows
Minor Mysteries: Squire of Coins, Knight of Swords, Knight of Staves, Knight of Cups, Queen of Swords, King of Swords
The Fortune: "I see great things for you in the future, but also terrible sadness. The cards reveal nothing more."
B'gokktem
Major Mysteries: Fool of Shadows, Lovers of Radiance, Strength of Mists, and Vengeance of Shadows
Minor Mysteries: Squire of Swords, Knight of Coins, Knight of Swords, Queen of Cups, King of Staves, King of Coins
The Fortune: "The spirits work against me. The cards are dark."
