Obelisk was an unaligned card in the Deck of Dragons that stood for the past, present, and future,[1] and had been referred to as the dolmen of time.[2] In a casting of the Deck, this card frequently represented an Ascendant, specifically one of the Unaligned.
The position was taken by Burn, the Sleeping Goddess.[3] In one reading, Bottle was Obelisk but it was not known whether he actually filled the position or was merely its local agent. Toc the Younger was touched by Obelisk when he lost his eye in the battle of Pale.[4]
Its precursor in the Tiles of the Holds, the Elder Deck, was known as Menhir.[4]
Kalam Mekhar claimed the appearance of the Obelisk during a reading of the Deck in Seven Cities was a sure sign the reader was a fake. True talents knew the card was inactive on that sub-continent.[5]
In Deadhouse Gates[]
Captain Keneb recalled how a Seer performing readings for the Orbal garrison had to give up because he could get no further than Obelisk on the first card. The Seer claimed it was due to the presence of Icarium in the Pan'potsun Odhan.[6]
In Memories of Ice[]
Spindle performed four readings of the Deck in a row where the Obelisk dominated and was active for the first time in decades.[2]
During the Siege of Capustan, Ganoes Paran, the Master of the Deck, saw a vision of the Obelisk transform into a monolith of jade in the desert. Without realising it, he witnessed Heboric, Baudin, and Felisin Paran standing in the monolith's shadow and the resulting fall of Fener.[7]
In Toll the Hounds[]
Tiserra performed a Deck reading that centred on Darujhistan. One of the first cards drawn was The Rope of High House Shadow, followed by three cards (Obelisk, Soldier of Death, and Crown) drawn together as a tightly woven nest with the Knight of Darkness serving as their frame. Another nest followed with King of High House Death, King in Chains, and Dessembrae, Lord of Tragedy. The Knight of Darkness served as the second nest's inside frame. The Rope and Knight of Darkness were in opposition and the final card was The Tyrant.[8]
Notes and references[]
- ↑ Deadhouse Gates, Chapter 6, UK MMPB p.252
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Memories of Ice, Chapter 5, UK MMPB p.212
- ↑ Deadhouse Gates, Glossary, UK MMPB p.942
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Memories of Ice, Chapter 7, UK MMPB p.311
- ↑ Deadhouse Gates, Chapter 4, US HC p.112
- ↑ Deadhouse Gates, Chapter 12, US HC p.334
- ↑ Memories of Ice, Chapter 17, US SFBC p.578
- ↑ Toll the Hounds, Chapter 15, US SFBC p.610-611
| 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 |