The Deck of Dragons, sometimes referred to as the Fatid[1], was the dominant oracular system in the majority of the world, with the exception of the Lether continent which used its predecessor, the Tiles. It is possible they will be succeeded by the Coins in the future.
The Deck was made up of a series of cards, depicting the various members of the pantheon. The deck accurately portrayed the pantheon, creating new cards as were necessary for new members. Most cards represented a specific roles within Houses, with a few non-aligned cards that were without a House.
During a reading, cards were dealt one at a time, with the resulting divination dependant on which cards came out. Different patterns could be used to lay down the Deck, e.g. in a spiral (showing what card would be the focus of attention) or in blocks (what way the local powers would oppose each other).
The look of a card would depend on the local conditions. It could change slightly of its own accord depending on where the reading was performed, showing how the world and pantheon were unfolding. For example, during the events of Gardens of the Moon, the card of Oponn would probably show the Twins no matter where the reading was performed; on Genabackis, however, the card would also show a spinning Coin next to the Twins.
However, not only the attributes or background of a card could change, but also the focus point of a card. Most positions in the Deck of Dragons were taken by only one person, usually an Ascendant. When this card showed up in a reading of the Deck, it did not have to refer to this Ascendant but most of the time refered to a person in the local area and who was close to the position portrayed. During one reading on Seven Cities, for example, the card of the Assassin of High House Shadow showed up, referring to Kalam Mekhar as the local Assassin as opposed to Cotillion, the actual Assassin. On another continent, the card would probably have a different look to it.
The Deck had a Master, Ganoes Paran, who could add cards and sanction new Houses.
Organization of the Deck of Dragons
Listed as per Glossary of Gardens of the Moon, UK MMPB p.707-709. Cards/titles not mentioned there are in brackets. For associated Ascendants please refer to the page of the individual houses.
- High House Life
- King
- Queen
- Champion
- Priest
- Herald
- Soldier
- Weaver
- Mason (Builder)
- Virgin
- High House Death
- King
- Queen
- Knight
- Magi
- Herald
- Soldier
- Spinner
- Mason
- Virgin
- High House Light
- King
- Queen
- Champion
- Priest
- Captain
- Soldier
- Seamstress
- Builder
- Maiden
- (Hounds)
- High House Dark
- King
- Queen
- Knight
- Magi
- (Herald)
- Captain
- Soldier
- Weaver
- Mason
- Wife
- High House Shadow
- King
- Queen
- Assassin
- Magi
- (Knight)
- Hound
- (Apprentice)
- (Mistress)
- ( High House Chains
- Ruler
- King
- Consort
- Reaver
- Knight
- The Seven of the Dead Fires
- Herald
- Magi
- Cripple
- Leper
- Fool )
- ( High House War
- Lord of Wolves/Lords of War
- Hunter
- Guardians of the Dead
- Mercenary
- Army-Soldier
- Lifeslayer
- Deathslayer
- Herald )
- Unaligned
- Oponn
- Obelisk
- Crown
- Sceptre
- Orb
- Throne
- (Chain)
- (Master of the Deck)
- (Lifeslayer)
- (Deathslayer)
- (Salvation)
- (The Apocalyptic)
- (The Shaved Knuckle in the Hole)
Known Users
Though anyone may have picked up and used a Deck of Dragons, not everyone had the capability to utilize its predictive powers. The following were known users within the Malazan Book of the Fallen series:
Readings
She was a skilled and experienced Adept and performed several readings during the events in Gardens of the Moon
The first reading was shortly after the Enfilade of Pale in the company of the newly soul-shifted Hairlock.
Her second was a few days later, at the behest of Tayschrenn who was blocked in his own efforts to read the Deck.
Her third reading was a complete layout of the Deck in an effort to sense the motivations of all the players surrounding the coming convergence in Darujhistan.
In Deadhouse Gates, Pust performed a reading of the Deck foreshadowing the renewal of Sha'ik.
The Ladro Keep Reading
In Deadhouse Gates, Kalam Mekhar tried to avoid a reading of the Deck by an unnamed woman who was also sheltering from a sandstorm in Ladro Keep.
Fiddler's readings of the Deck took a form similar to card games, with Fiddler as the dealer issuing cards to players.
The first such game to appear in the series was in Darujhistan during the events of Gardens of the Moon[2].
Later, in The Bonehunters, Fiddler dealt another game at the request of Adjunct Tavore before the Bonehunters returned to Malaz City.
He dealt another game at Tavore's behest in Letheras during Dust of Dreams, though it was dissimilar to his usual style and was more of a reading than a game.
Notes and References
- ↑ Gardens of the Moon, Glossary, UK MMPB p.707
- ↑ Gardens of the Moon, Chapter 20, UK MMPB p.582-584
| Deck of Dragons and Tiles of the Holds | |
|---|---|
| Cards | High House Chains • High House Dark • High House Death • High House Life • High House Light • High House Shadow • High House War • Unaligned |
| Tiles | Azath Hold • Beast Hold • Dragon Hold • Empty Hold • Ice Hold • Fulcra |