The following pages describe the meanings of the sixty-six cards in The Deck of Many Things card set. For each card, there's an illustration and a description of the symbols depicted, a summary of the card's overall meaning, and explanations of what the card might signify in both upright and reversed (upside-down) positions. Each position includes five possible signifiers to choose from based on the situation:
- A person, with suggestions regarding personality traits or the situation the person is in. A person can be any kind of Humanoid, but might also be a Giant, a Dragon, or any other creature with a personality and the ability to interact with characters. This signifier might also describe something about the person for whom a card reading is being done.
- A creature or trap characters might encounter.
- A place, which can suggest a specific location or a kind of location.
- A treasure, either something of monetary value or a magic item.
- A situation—an interaction or circumstance that characters might be asked to help address.
When using the cards for divinatory readings, you can use cards' overall meaning or draw on any signifiers that make sense for your game. The adventure spreads typically draw on all five kinds of signifiers to build the skeleton of an adventure.
Aberration
A beholder hovers in a cluttered laboratory. The Aberration card embodies things contrary to nature.
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Balance
A set of scales holds day and night in balance. This card deals with many aspects of balance, or with things being out of balance.
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Beast
The Beast card points to creatures of the animal kingdom and foul, cruel, or bad-tempered behavior in people.
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Book
An enormous book rests among scrolls and parchment, with a quill and ink nearby. The Book card embodies written information.
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Bridge
A stone bridge arcs across a waterway. A shadowy figure lurks under the bridge, only its gleaming eyes clearly visible. This card reflects the effort required to overcome obstacles.
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Campfire
A large campfire offers safety and comfort in the night. This card suggests a need for rest.
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Cavern
A vast cavern is adorned with glowing fungi and striking stone formations. The Cavern card suggests exploration and delving into hidden secrets.
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Celestial
A beautiful couatl twines through the clouds. This card suggests the involvement of celestial beings and service to the divine.
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Comet
A comet with an enormous tail streaks across the winter sky at night, outshining the stars. The Comet card brings dire warnings or devastation.
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Construct
A modron wields a wrench in the interior of a clockwork machine. This card signifies things made by hand, including Constructs.
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Corpse
An adventurer lies dead in a dungeon hallway, pierced by arrows. The Corpse card embodies decay and corruption.
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Crossroads
A signpost points in many directions at a crossroads. The Crossroads cards warns of a difficult but necessary decision.
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Donjon
Underground stairs lead to a heavy door made of iron bars. This card represents both imprisonment and freedom.
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Door
A large wooden door bars the path ahead. The card offers an opportunity to change.
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Dragon
A menacing red dragon perches atop its treasure hoard inside a cave. This card can point to things connected to Dragons, but it also suggests hoarding, reed, and places rich in magical energy.
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Elemental
A hungry Xorn feeds in an Underdark cavern. This card suggests an Elemental creature or reducing a thing to its essence.
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Euryale
A female medusa with a serpentine tail instead of legs is surrounded by flowers and herbs. The Euryale card points to vision, insight, and observation,
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Expert
A bard plays a musical instrument. This card implies expertise, rightly or wrongly applied.
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Fates
Three sisters weave, measure, and cut the threads of fate. This card explores the repercussions of decisions and reflects on the past.
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Fey
A blink dog runs through the wild. When upright; this card can refer to a Fey creature or a sense of whimsy; reversed, it points to the gloomy Shadowfell.
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Fiend
A balor strikes from the depths of the Abyss. This card alludes to an actual Fiend or the forces of the Lower Planes.
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Flames
A chain devil, wreathed in flames, looks menacing and angry. The Flames card brings enemies and vengeance.
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Fool
A person walks down a path, unwittingly dropping items along the way. The Fool card represents innocence.
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Gem
A large, faceted gemstone set in intricate filigree gleams invitingly. The Gem card brings vast wealth.
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Giant
A hungry troll lurks in a forest clearing. The Giant card indicates something very large or that looms large in one's perception.
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Humanoid
Kobolds set a trap in their cave lair. This card points to the importance of empathy in relationships with other people.
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Jester
A person wearing jester's motley and holding a staff rests his foot on a skull. This card deals with the relationship between humor and misfortune.
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Key
This large metal key is bizarrely complicated. The Key card represents the perfect solution to a problem or having the right tool for the job.
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Knight
A knight formed of folded cards offers a sword also made from cards. The Knight card signifies trust and loyalty.
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Lance
An ornate dragonlance shines among more ordinary weapons on a rack. The Lance card warns that healing sometimes requires additional injury, as when infection must be cut away.
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Mage
A warlock holds a black crystalline staff. This card suggests both mental acuity and arcane magic.
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Map
X marks the spot on an elaborate treasure map. The Map card provides guidance that leads to the goal of the quest.
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Maze
Unfortunate souls are trapped in an elaborate and impossible maze of cards. Those who draw the Maze card are lost.
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Mine
A well-crafted pick leans against a wall at the entrance to a mine. The Mine card represents something valuable underground or buried in the earth.
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Monstrosity
An owlbear sits in a sunny glade. This card represents something monstrous, including familiar things that turn strange and threatening.
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Moon
A crescent moon looms large in the autumn sky. The Moon card points to hidden potential.
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Ooze
A gelatinous cube with various items suspended inside it creeps through a vaulted sewer. The Ooze card indicates the importance of something that seems lowly or innocuous.
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Path
A well-worn path twists through the wilderness, with hidden dangers lurking in the shadows to both sides. This card suggests the importance of sticking with a plan and remaining focused on the destination.
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Pit
A deep hole studded with spikes gapes in the earth. The Pit card represents a literal or metaphorical fall—losing status, wealth, or position.
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Plant
A myconid emits a cloud of spores. The Plant card reflects growth and natural life.
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Priest
A cleric holds a heavy mace. The Priest card represents wisdom, insight, closeness to the divine, and divine magic.
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Prisoner
A rogue begs for release from a dank prison cell. The Prisoner card represents someone or something locked and hidden away.
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Puzzle
An elaborate puzzle box floats in the air, glowing from within. The Puzzle card speaks to intelligence and strategic thinking.
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Ring
An emerald ring glows within a decorative jewelry box. The Ring card suggests both a promise and the honor involved in keeping it.
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Rogue
A roguish kenku lurking in the shadows holds a dagger, poised to strike. This card suggests treachery and deception.
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Ruin
An elegant sword and crown disintegrate into eddies of ash. The Ruin card warns of the inevitability of decay and the danger of material attachments.
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Sage
The mind of a sage is filled with obscure lore gained through exhaustive research. This card represents well-intentioned advice.
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Shield
A circular shield is close at hand in a military barrack. The Shield card is a reminder of the need for protection.
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Ship
A three-masted ship with a couatl figurehead sails across the open sea. The Ship card indicates a long journey, not necessarily by sea.
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Skull
A skeletal figure is shrouded in a swirling robe, though its skull is clearly visible. The Skull card is a reminder of the universality of death—and the fact that everyone must confront death alone.s
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Staff
An elegant black staff leans against a wall, waiting for its owner to return. The Staff card represents support or assistance.
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Stairway
A spiral stairway leads both up and down, but the downward stairs are cluttered and dark. This card points to a change in difficulty, either increasing or decreasing.
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Star
A brilliant star shines in the spring sky at twilight. The Star card represents inherent ability and training working in concert—nature allied with nurture.
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Statue
A statue depicts the god Istus offering the original {@item Deck of Many Things
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Sun
A sun blazes brightly in the summer sky. The Sun card brings hope—either well-founded or deluded.
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Talons
A clawed hand reaches to grab an emerald ring which disintegrates at the claw's approach. The Talons card indicates greed or the rapacious hunger of a predator.
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Tavern
An adventuring party eats and laughs in a busy tavern. The Tavern card points to the pleasure of spending time with friends.
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Temple
A temple invites worshipers into the serene space within. The Temple card suggests the comfort found in ritual and communion with the divine.
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Throne
An ostentatious throne stands on a dais, with a crown on the seat and a ceremonial sword leaning against one armrest. This card represents the authority of worldly rulers.
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Tomb
A burial chamber holds a plain stone casket. The Tomb card suggests buried secrets and things long forgotten.
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Tower
A tall, ornate tower made of black stone looms over a desolate landscape. The Tower card represents isolation.
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Tree
A tree has broken through a fortress wall and reclaimed part of the keep. This card suggests perseverance in difficult circumstances.
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Undead
A lich beckons souls of the dead. This card can point to anything that refuses to die, from old grudges and unresolved issues to Undead creatures.
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Void
An endless void seems to spiral toward a central hole that devours all. This card spells disaster.
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Warrior
A barbarian holds a greataxe, The Warrior card embodies physical strength and fighting acumen.
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Well
A stone well stands in a peaceful meadow, surrounded by wildflowers. The Well card speaks of drawing resources from familiar places.