The Hierachy
The Hierarchy is of great importance; it's the original layout the Personae created for themselves, showing their standing within their society and relationships with each other.
The Magus stands in the centre, as the creator, surrounded by the World, Justice, Strength, and Temperance, who each have a set of four Personae who respond to them. The Fool is not depicted in this, for he forever dances around the edges of the Hierarchy, never pinned down.
Character Requests
Congratulations! We've received your submission. Expect a response in your inbox, soon!
An error occurred. Ensure all fields are filled out, or try again later.
The Originals
While all of the characters are based on the Tarot, they've been changed and adjusted slightly for various reasons. After all, being Personae, gender and age are very irrelevant to them. Nothing stops the High Priestess from taking the form of a man, the Lovers being two women, or the Sovereign being non-binary. Any references to such are just the original authors' interpretation, and they've encouraged players to subvert them.
It's important to note that, just like in traditional tarot, these cards can (and will) be reversed, changing personality drastically.
A youth lightly steps or dances at the edge of a precipice. The Fool represents the power of innocence, unformed creation, laughter, and new beginnings. (The Fool is a character of spiritual and ceremonial importance.)
Someone in the prime of their life stands at a table. They wear flowing robes, and a belt shaped like a serpent is clasped around their waist. They represents the focused will, action upon the forces of nature, and disciplined knowledge. (The Magus is a character with significant political duties.)
A figure sits enthroned between a black pillar and a white pillar. They represents wisdom, creative knowledge, intuition, and the cyclic (“lunar”) side of the Universe.
A figure sits enthroned in a fertile garden. They represent creativity, the ability to create a productive environment, protectiveness, and practicality.
The Sovereign is power. Seated on their throne, they represent authority, strong leadership, dominance and discipline.
A figure wearing religious robes is seated with one hand raised in an attitude of benediction. They represent tradition and ritual, the keys to heaven and hell.
A couple stand embracing, entwined in each others arms and lives. Over their heads, an angelic being bestows blessings and protection. They represent love and devotion, but also choice, and decisions freely made. (The Lovers are played by two seperate players.)
The Chariot is in control of mind (driver), body (chariot) and spirit (sphinxes); they represent earned success over obstacles.
A person overcomes a lion, in an act of effortless control. It represents spiritual courage - the absolute confidence in ones own power that allows for gentleness.
A solitary wanderer who appears to be searching with a lamp, facing the past. They represent caution and prudence, stepping back to reevaluate goals, silent council and an open (but cautious) mind to new concepts.
A Wheel turns against a cloudy sky. Some people are riding happily upwards on it, others are dismayed as they are borne downwards. It represents fate, chance, destiny, and change that perpetuates an ongoing pattern.
A figure wearing a crown is seated on a throne, a two-edged sword in one hand, a balance in the other. It represents true understanding of what is fair. (Justice is a character with significant political duties.)
A simply-clad person hangs by one foot, serenely, from a cross-brace at the top of a leafy pole. They represent sacrifice for a noble purpose, inner peace, prophecy, and reversal.
A skeleton stands draped in a black robe wielding a scythe. It stands ready to harvest a black rose in full bloom.
An archangel stands with one foot on the ground (the physical world) and the other in the pool of the soul (the psyche), pouring the waters of life between two cups to balance the vessels.
A squat satyr with bat wings dances atop a pillar. Chained to the pillar are two naked figures; one is male, one female. The Devil represents lust, greed, blind impulse, carnality and materialism. (The Devil explicitly explores concepts involving sexuality and 'slut-shaming'.)
A tower struck by lightning, with flames issuing forth and people falling to their destruction. It represents traumatic change, growing beyond the confines of ones environment, overthrow of existing modes of life, and sudden inspiration and realization.
A young, nude figure kneels by a clear pool. Above them in the night sky is a blazing, glorious star; six lesser ones surround it. The Star represents hope, insight, and widening of spiritual horizons.
The full moon shines down upon a road which runs from a pond in the foreground into the hills in the distance. This is the world of dream and imagination.
A child on the back of a horse riding in the sunlight, this represents success, attainment and material happiness, innovation, warmth, and positive energy.
An Angel blows upon a trumpet and the dead rise from their graves. This quaint pictorial representation of a final judgment represents release, regeneration and awakening and fulfillment.
The spirit of the World dances at the center of four elements. The World is the final stage in the descent of spiritual essence into matter, represents completion and deserved reward for a finished cycle.
The Outsiders
Unlike The Originals, these Personae were left out of the Hierarchy. It might be because they didn't exist yet, or weren't noticed, or were intentionally existed. Like the other Personae, though, gender and age mean nothing to them. Nothing stops the Fanatic not having a gender or the heroes being two women. This is just the original authors' interpretation, and they've encouraged players to subvert that. Any references to such are just the original authors' interpretation, and they've encouraged players to subvert them.
It's important to note that, just like in traditional tarot, these cards can (and will) be reversed, changing personality drastically.
A hooded figure with wild eyes. They hold a book symbolizing the creed that they follow unhesitatingly, and a dagger slung over their back that represents their willingness to commit violence to support their cause. They represent extreme devotion to a cause or belief.
A shining city lies spread out foursquare, with roads, plazas, and buildings laid out in pleasant, meaningful order. The City represents the crossing of ways and the fostering of organized living. (The City is a character with significant political duties.)
New books with shining covers and dusty books with faded jackets, everywhere one looks. This is the archetype of the Library and represents the consolidation and gathering together of knowledge.
A pair of young warriors seem to merge with one another in a swirl of misty energy. The Heroes represent attainment of renewal through balance, the union of opposites, and the righting of wrongs.
Someone wretched stands bowed in the middle of nothingness. They are bound, hand and foot, with thick chains and mighty iron weights. The Prisoner represents bondage and unwilling servitude.
Someone is seated at a high, old-fashioned desk making notations in a tome. They wear long robes and a cap, a thoughtful expression on their face. The Scholar represents logic, reason, and the power of analysis.
Water falling from the sky across a dim landscape. It is rain, a deluge beating down from the sky. This is the relentless change wrought by outside influences like a river creates a canyon. (The Rains is a character of significant importance.)
A three-masted ship sails under a blue sky with few clouds. It represents voyage as a team effort, discovery, and advancement through cooperation with outside forces.
A man stands, swirled in thick and complex black robes. His expression is enigmatic. Interpretations tend toward an unknown influence about to enter one’s life, for better or worse; the revealing of the answer to a mystery, be the answer good or bad.
A tree is shown, in a stylized and hieroglyphic fashion. The Tree of Life represents the center point, the connection between the celestial, physical, and chthonic realms, and the life-energy of the Universe. (The Tree of Life has no friends or allies, and will start the game very isolated and alone.)
The color and texture of The Chameleon are identical to their surroundings, a wild, shifting landscape of faces indistinguishable from the person they mimic. The Chameleon represents the ultimate in adaptability. (The Chameleon's nature makes them a challenging character to roleplay.)