40k Roleplay - The Emperors Tarot supplement v1.30.pdf - Dark Reign

The Emperor’s TarotA supplement detailing psychic divination using theEmperor’s Tarot

Copyright © 2013 by Green KnightAll Rights Reserved. This book or any portion thereof may freely be reproduced or used inany manner by fellow gamers and Warhammer 40k fans, but do provide me with due credit.This is a role-playing supplement. All characters and events and whatnot portrayed in thisbook are fictitious. Any resemblance to persons living, dead or not born yet is strictlycoincidental. Same goes for places, events and anything else you can think of.This is a fan-made Warhammer 40,000 Roleplay supplement. It is in no way associated with orendorsed by Games Workshop, Black Library and/or Fantasy Flight Games. As a fan-madesupplement it is non-profit; I’ve done it in my free time, without desire for compensation.Available for digital download at: http://twilightpeaks.net and http://darkreign.orgContact information: games@twilightpeaks.netDesigned and written byGreen KnightEditing and proofreading (such as is)Green KnightLayoutGreen Knight w/help from MessiahcideCover ArtValentina KalliasInterior ArtThe Unknown HereticTarot card designRoddyhood30TWILIGHTPEAKS PUBLISHINGwww.twilightpeaks.net

It is the 41 st Millennium of Man.For more than a hundred centuries the God-Emperor has sat immobile on the Golden Throne of Terra.He is the master of mankind by right of his own indomitable will, the lord of a million worlds by themight of his inexhaustible armies, and guardian of humanity's future by virtue of his unfailing wisdomand foresight. He is a God to whom trillions of prayers are uttered every second. He is a rotting carcasswrithing invisibly with power from the Dark Age of Technology. He is the Carrion Lord of theImperium to whom a thousand souls are sacrificed every day, so that he may never truly die. Yet even inhis deathless state, the Emperor continues his eternal vigilance. Mighty Imperial battlefleets cross thedreadful miasma of the Immaterium, the only route between distant stars, their way lit by theAstronomican, the psychic manifestation of the Emperor's will. Vast armies give battle in his name onuncounted worlds. Greatest amongst his soldiers are the Adeptus Astartes, the Space Marines, bioengineeredsuper-warriors. Their comrades in arms are legion; the inexhaustible armies of the ImperialGuard and countless planetary defence forces, the unflinching enforcers of the Adeptus Arbites, the evervigilantInquisition, and the tech-priests of the Adeptus Mechanicus to name but a few. But for alltheir multitudes, they are barely enough to hold off the ever-present threat from aliens, heretics,mutants, witches – and worse. To be a man in such times is to be one amongst untold billions. It is tolive in the cruellest and most bloody regime imaginable. Forget the power of technology and science, for somuch has been forgotten, never to be re-learned. Forget the promise of progress and understanding, forthere is no peace amongst the stars, only an eternity of carnage and slaughter, and the laughter ofthirsting gods.

IntroductionIntroductionFirst things first – I’m not a Tarot reader myself. Actually Ithink Tarot belongs there on the Periodic Table of IrrationalNonsense along with stuff like Psychics, Alien Abductions,and Astral Projection.The Emperor’s Tarot is another matter entirely. In the distantdark future they’ve managed to come up with something thatactually works the way a RL Tarot is supposed to function(incidentally Psychics also work, the Ordo Xenos battleAliens, and Astral Projection IS possible). If on our own Tarotwas like that – I would be taking classes!I’ve been fascinated by the Emperor’s Tarot since that timewhen I first read the Black Library novel Draco. Only it wascalled Inquisitor back then, which was around the time therewas a novel called Space Marine where the Astartesadmitted to using las-weapons sometimes. Of course squatsexisted as well, so it was a mad era really; must have beenback in M40 or something.But I digress. I’ve been fascinated with the Emperor’s Tarotfor many years. And while there has been mentions of it invarious novels and RPG books there hasn’t been anythingdefinite; no list of cards, nor rules. Neither have I seen acomplete set of fan-made stuff. Bits and pieces only. A fewcards here, some rules there (quite a bit of it in Frenchactually – seems there is quite the French 40k communityout there).So I decided to write something up. Based on the real worldTarot to make things more recognizable. I also tried to workwith whatever suits and major arcana had already beennamed. Ultimately, however, it didn’t quite fit, so I had to fillin a lot of holes (and remove a few bumps). I think the endresult is pretty good.Now, on the off chance that YMMV you can always reconcileany differences between my version of the Tarot and anyother versions out there by applying the GW stance on whatis canon and not. See? That wasn’t so hard at all!Puns aside; with millions of worlds over ten thousandyears…there is bound to be a huge variation on Tarotdesign. Just look at RL Tarot on Earth. And 40k is everchaotic and mutable. So there is room for many Tarotversions in 40k. Mine just happens to be the unofficial officialM41 Calixian version of the Tarot.Special thanks to Deviantart and FFF-board memberroddyhood30 for making the actual Tarot cards based uponmy descriptions. Also thanks to messiahcide over atdarkreign.org (yes they still exist, but with a new URL) forproviding the document template.Enjoy!B.

The Emperor’sTarotReading the Tarot•Major Arcana•Minor Arcana

Chapter I: The Emperor’s TarotChapter I:The Emperor’s TarotThe Emperor's Tarot (also known as the Imperial Tarot) is apack of seventy-eight psychoactive liquid-crystal wafers thatare linked to the will of the Emperor.The Tarot, commonly believed to have been designed by theEmperor himself, is used throughout the Imperium as a formof divination. Other forms of divination are also practiced –but none have the universal application of tarot reading orthe implicit blessing of the God-Emperor.New decks are crafted by Scholastica Psykana-trainedpsykers all over the Imperium, but they are quite rare andtend to be expensive, especially for high-end models madeby master craftsmen utilizing only the best of materials.Decks are also thought to become more attuned over theyears, so that older and well-used decks are much soughtafter – especially if they have been in the possession of adiviner of some skill.It is not normally advisable to mix cards from different setsas the cards of a set are attuned to one another. Beware theperson who tries to make a reading with a mixed set,especially one that’s recently been put together. Such a deckcan give wildly misleading reading or refuse to give anymeaningful readings at all. Consequently decks with missing,damaged or defect cards can sometimes be had for lowerprices.This common devotional prayer is found embedded in many41st Millennium decks:Adore the Immortal EmperorFor He is our ProtectorAdmire the Immortal EmperorFor His Sacrifice to MankindExalt the Immortal EmperorFor His Strict GuidanceRevere the Immortal EmperorFor His Undying GuardVenerate the Immortal EmperorFor His Holy WisdomHonour the Immortal EmperorFor His Eternal StrengthGlorify the Immortal EmperorFor His All-seeing VisionPraise the Immortal EmperorFor His Enduring RuleHail the Immortal EmperorFor He is the Lord and MasterWorship the Immortal EmperorFor without Him we are NothingThere are rumours that rogue psykers can find unwardedTarot decks on the black market. But given the fact that suchwretched heretics cannot feel the guiding light of theEmperor their ability to read the future is much diminished.Finally there are those dark-hearted and soulless villainswho have embraced sorcery. These cretins are known tohave their own ways of peering into the future – some haveeven been revealed to use corrupted versions of the Tarot!Xenos psykers may have their own methods of divination.These alternate methods are all greatly inferior to a properlyhandled Imperial Tarot!Since the Tarot is made from psychoactive materials, it ismeant to be used by psykers. Any psyker could potentiallyuse the Tarot, but training in its use is a prerequisite forgetting consistent readings and long experience is requiredto arrive at meaningful interpretations. Imperial astropathsare often skilled operators: They are psychically powerful,are attuned to the Emperor's will through their Soul-bonding,and possess the Psykana-taught skills needed to utilize theTarot to full effect.A number of tarots can be found in private collections,museums and such (frowned upon by the Adeptus AstraTelepathica, but not exactly illegal). There is also a trade innon-psychic copies of the Emperor’s – tarot reading issomething of a national pastime in the Imperium. Such setsrange from cheap polymer sheets printed with static images,to elaborate set of holo-cards that try to duplicate a real tarotset. Whatever their appearances such card have no powerto foretell the future, but that doesn’t prevent people frombelieving in such readings. There is also no shortage ofpeople willing to pose as true readers of the Emperor’sTarot, when in reality they are nothing but charlatans. TheMinistorum has been known to come down hard on repeatoffenders.To help a sanctioned user focus on the future and protecthim from malefic influences and to prevent abuse by nonsanctionedpsykers, the Tarot cards usually has a form ofbuilt-in defence: Each card contains within the crystal matrixone or more devotional prayers (or something similar), whichrepeats over and over in the mind of whomever holds thecard. Needless to say there are very few rogue psykers – letalone Chaos sorcerers – that can endure this.

Chapter I: The Emperor’s TarotReading the TarotThe Emperor’s Tarot can be used to make many differenttypes of readings, ranging from making a reading of aparticular person, thing or place, to making readingspertaining to future events. Having an astropath read youusing an astrological spread is quite popular in M41. Noblesand other rich folks will sometimes pay handsomely to beread by a particularly renowned diviner. Diviners in Imperialservice are often called upon to make reading regardingmomentous decisions or to foretell future dangers.The psychoactive nature of the cards allows them to respondto psychic currents; meaning that the cards do not alwaysdepict exactly the same scene every time a card is drawn.Usually there are only slight variations, but sometimes greatchanges to the basic scene are uncovered, indicating thatthe card in question has a slightly different meaning than itusually does. The most drastic such variation is the reversal;wherein the Major Arcanum has the opposite meaning. Thereversal is either seen as the original scene inversed in arecognizable way or replaced altogether by an alternateimage (only in certain decks).The cards are laid up-side down in one of several differentpatterns (called spreads), and are then turned in a specificorder. As they are turned they are read and interpreted bythe reader. The absolute and relative positions of the cardsare taken into account, as are their values and whether theyare upright or reversed. Spreads used vary tremendously,from the single card draw to elaborate patterns involving thewhole deck.Each reader seems to have his own preferences andinterpretations, so making a complete list of spreads isimpossible. A number of spreads are nearly universalthough: The classic three-card Imperator spread, the sevencardThrone of Terra spread, ten-card Haloed Rosette, andthe twenty-four card Astro-Horoscope spread.More general questions regarding the future are possible.What will happen if we enter the heretics’ den? Could forexample be replied to with either ‘woe’ or ‘weal’. If thereading is weal Acolytes could still die and the main villaincould get away, but by and large the reading suggestsuccess. Just remember that the future is always in motion –and that reading your future utilizing the Warp is alwaysgoing to involve a margin of error.Major ArcanaThe Major Arcana (plural) of the Imperial Tarot consists oftwenty two cards. Each Major Arcanum (singular) depicts ascene, mostly featuring a person (but some cards – such asthe Immaterium – does not have any persons in the image),plus multiple symbolic elements.In most decks, each major arcana card has a number(usually in High Gothic numerals) and a name, though not alldecks have both, and some have only a picture. The earliestdecks bore unnamed and unnumbered pictures on theMajors and the order of cards was not standardized.Differences in appearances and card numbering/naming hasno bearing on the Tarot’s function or the accuracy ofreadings.How accurate a reading is depends on many factors: Theskill and psychic abilities of the reader (skill is not the sameas strength, and not all kinds of psykers are equally adeptwith the tarot), the quality of the tarot deck, and anuninterrupted view of the Astronomican (the will of theEmperor manifest) are all important. Most important,however, is the object of the reading. The more specific thequestion, the easier the reading (generally speaking).Complexity is also a factor, but so is the relative greatness ofthe event in question. Proximity in time and space can alsomatter. Finally the reading of the future is particularly difficult.Is my wife cheating? Is a simple, specific question that doesnot require any reading of the future. A good diviner shouldbe able to answer this one. If the wife is present during thereading it should be very simple. Will my wife cheat on me?Is more difficult as it involves a reading of the future. Havingthe wife present at the reading could help (but she mightalso divorce you that very same day for being such a jerk).Will my wife cheat on me with Jeb the Baker? Still the future,but if the wife and Jeb was present at the reading it shouldbe manageable. What are the lottery numbers next week?This is almost impossible: There are too many factors to betaken into account.

Chapter I: The Emperor’s TarotNo. M41 card Interpretation0 The Pilgrim1The Astropath(the Sorcerer)2 The Prophet3 Holy Terra4 The God-Emperor5 The Ecclesiarch6Unity(Compliance)7 The CrusaderPicture of a humble pilgrim, about to set out on his journey.Represents the new-born man, about to begin his journey in the service of the God-Emperor. ThePilgrim is considered one of the most momentous of cards.Standard: Beginnings, possibilitiesVariations: Passion, thoughtlessness, rashnessReverse: Indecision, apathy, hesitationPicture of a blind robed Adept, lost in inner communion with the God-Emperor.Represents man’s ability to transform the galaxy, overcome any difficulty and master the universe.In some older decks this card is called the Sorcerer. It has opposite upright/reversed meanings.Upright: Willpower, self-confidence, masteryVariations: Transformation, ingenuity, improvisationReverse: Weakness, insecurity, delayPicture of a holy man (or woman), preaching before a crowd.Represents the wisdom of the God-Emperor and the infallible nature of the Adeptus Terra. Thereversed card is considered especially ominousUpright: Holy wisdom, sacred lore, absolute truthVariations: Intuition, purity, virtueReverse: Education, selfishness, shallownessPicture of Holy Terra, a dark orb of a million lights.Represents the mother that gave birth to mankind. The Holy Terra card is held by many readers toappear with uncommon frequency.Upright: Fertility, abundance, homeVariations: Mother/sister/wife themesReverse: Vacillation, infidelityPicture of the Emperor in his mortal guise (his face is never shown).Represents the master and saviour of mankind. Consistently getting the God-Emperor reversed ina personal reading is often thought to be a sign of hidden moral weakness.Upright: Accomplishment, confidence, stability, leadershipVariations: Father/brother/husband, great achievements, a capable personReverse: Immaturity, feebleness, petty emotions, lack of characterPicture of a church elder (Sebastian Thor is a common figure in many decks, Goge Vandire lessso), the symbols of his office clearly visible.Represents the ultimate truth of the Imperial Creed, and the absolute spiritual authority of theAdeptus Ministorum.Upright: Orthodoxy, tradition, dogmaVariations: Faith, selflessness, obedienceReverse: Unconventionality, unorthodoxy, inventionPicture of a lordly figure abasing himself before the feet of another. The image is thought to be theEmperor receiving the surrender of the ‘final world’ during the Great Crusade.Older cards have a scene of a burning world, ringed with metal leviathans bristling with guns.These cards are called Compliance (if named). The meaning is largely the same.Upright: Union, love, harmony, trustVariations: Romance, optimism, a lasting relationshipReverse: Unreliability, separation, fickleness, untrustworthyPicture of a holy warrior with his armour and weapons displayed before him (very old decks mayhave the Emperor or one of the Primarchs as the Crusader). Sometimes there are enemy dead orprisoners in the image.Represents the men and women who fight every day to protect the Imperium of Man.Upright: War, conquest, conviction, command, braveryVariations: Pride, adversity, turmoil, vengeanceReverse: Unsuccessful, defeat, failure

Chapter I: The Emperor’s TarotNo. M41 card Interpretation8 The Saint9 The Seer/Diviner10 Man11 The Titan12 The Martyr13 The Reaper14 The Imperium15 The DaemonPicture of an angelic figure, sometimes haloed and/or winged. The Saint can be both male andfemale, but more commonly it has a sexless quality to it.Represents the holy union between man and the God-Emperor.Upright: Righteousness, intolerance, virtue, honourVariations: Harmony, balance, adviceReverse: Impiety, falsehood, relativismPicture of an Adept reading the Emperor’s Tarot.Representative of the God-Emperor’s will made manifest, as well as His eternal vigilance andlimitless patience.Upright: Divine guidance, vigilance, patienceVariations: Withdrawal, a loner, inner strength, prudence, cautionReverse: Imprudence, hastiness, rashness, foolish acts, immaturityPicture of a man (or sometimes a woman). Some cards have man/woman as nudes, but mostsets are more sombre.Representative of mankind and mankind’s manifest destiny to rule the galaxy. Interpreting thiscard correctly is seen as difficult by many diviners.Upright: Destiny, good fortune, a special gainVariations: End of a problem, unexpected eventsReverse: Failure, an unusual loss, outside influencesPicture of an unusually large God-Machine (battle Titan) striding across the battlefield, smitingall.The card doesn’t really represent war or war machines, but inner and outer strength.Upright: Strength, courage, convictionVariations: Self-control, patience, determination, discipline, inner strengthReverse: Weakness, pettiness, sickness, self-gratification , abuse of officePicture of a human whose body has been broken, but whose mind is still at peace with theEmperor.Represents sacrifice and duty.Upright: Perseverance, acceptance, sacrifice, duty,Variations: Contemplation, inner harmonyReverse: Unwillingness to make an effort, useless sacrifice, selfishnessEither a picture of a classic reaper figure or the God-Emperor standing in judgment over thedead (common in modern decks).The reaper is not necessarily a bad sign. Death is commonplace in the Imperium. All men musteventually die and face the judgment of the God-Emperor. But the card also represents change,and change is seldom good.Upright: Transformation, making way for the new, change, deathVariations: Bad luck, loss, failure, illnessReverse: Stagnation, immobility, a narrow escape, cheating deathThere are several alternate images for this card: The Regent of Terra, another High Lords ofTerra, the Master of the Administratum, or Goge Vandire (only found in a few decks from hisreign). The common dominator if the symbols of the Reign of Man being prominently displayed.Represents the unity of the Imperium, its strength, protection, and ever-lasting nature.Upright: Moderation, temperance, patience, harmonyVariations: Good influence, confidenceReverse: Discord, conflict, disunion, hostility, frustration, impatienceThis card is always ill-omened. The image is of a monstrous shape where the viewer cannotquite make out any details.The Daemon represents all that is wicked and foul. Even its reverse meanings are no good.Upright: Ravage, weird, downfall, violence, disasterVariations: Controversy, conflicting dutiesReverse: Revelations, release, enlightenment

Chapter I: The Emperor’s TarotNo. M41 card Interpretation16 The Hulk17 The Astronomican18 The ImmateriumImage of a space hulk (or more rarely a wreck of some other kind).Like the Reaper it represents change, but the Hulk represents sudden or unexpected events,whereas the reaper signifies the unavoidable or inevitable. The reverse often (but not always)has a more positive side than the upright.Upright: A sudden change, abandonment of past, unexpected events,Variations: Disruption, bankruptcy, downfall, loss of money or securityReverse: Following the old ways, learning by rote, following procedure, imprisonment,entrapmentImage of a bright light, alternatively a ray of light or a beacon of some sort. More rarely an imageof a psyker, one among mange, hooked into the Chamber of the Astronomican.Represents hope, faith and inspiration. The Astronomican is one of the most positive majorcards.Upright: Hope, faith, inspirationVariations: Optimism, insight, loveReverse: Unfulfilled hopes, disappointment, crushed dreamsImage of a swirling mass of nothingness. Something half-seen things can be glimpsed within.The Immaterium is an ill-omened care, generally signifying something bad regardless oforientation and position.Upright: Deception, trickery, error, dangerVariations: Travel, timeReverse: Saved in the nick of time, trifling mistakesImage of the Golden Throne of Terra. The Throne is always unchanging, but the symbolism andlesser details many vary from reading to reading.Symbolises the Pax Imperialis and the supremacy of the God-Emperor of Mankind.19 The Golden ThroneUpright: Splendour, brilliance, majestyVariations: Joy, assurance, accomplishment, success,Reverse: Unhappiness, loneliness, cancelled plans, broken allegiances, a lack of friends, aclouded futureImage of an authority figure, often taken to be the God-Emperor. In his left hand he carries abook of law, in the other a weapon of some sort.20 The JudgeSymbolizes the rule of law, the absolute authority of the Adeptus Terra in life, and the finaljudgement of the God-Emperor in death.Upright: Authority, submission, judgmentVariations: Awakening, renewal, salvationReverse: Fear of death, a hidden failure, possible lossThe swirling disk of the Galaxy of Man, as seen from Terra or whatever world the deck wasmade or the reader is currently on.21 The GalaxySymbolizes the ultimate and inevitable triumph of the human race.Upright: Completion, perfectionVariations: recognition, success, fulfilment, triumphReverse: Imperfection, lack of vision, disappointment, failure

Chapter I: The Emperor’s TarotMinor ArcanaThe Minor Arcana of the Imperial Tarot consist of fifty sixcards. It comprises four suits, most commonly namedChalices, Batons, Swords and Thrones, although there are awide variety of different names and suit symbols used indifferent decks. Learned adepts, for example, tend to use theHigh Gothic names for the suits – Adeptio (Eagles),Discordia (Batons), Excuteria (Swords), and Mandatio(Thrones). The suits are sometimes associated with one ofthe four classical, or alternatively the four 'modern' Imperialelements (Immaterium instead of Fire, Quintessence insteadof Water, Aether instead of Air, and Materium instead ofEarth).Each suit has 14 cards, made up from ten Common Cardsand four Court Cards. The Common Cards being the Ace(1), 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10. The four Court Cards areServant, Champion, Lord, and Master. One commonvariation in some decks is the replacement of some of theCourt Cards, or even the inclusion of more Court Cards (atthe expense of the higher numbered Common Cards). Thehigher the card, the greater is its significance – generallyspeaking. The exception is the Ace, which is something of awild card – it can be of either great or small significance, andcan also alter the relative value of the other suit cards.Decks made in the 41st Millennium often have the minorarcana cards named and numbered (the Ace of Discordia isnamed the Harlequin, for example), but older decks oftenhave no titles or numbers on the cards. The numbered minorarcana cards usually have the appropriate number ofsymbols for the suit depicted, and the court cards usuallyhave the corresponding person depicted holding the symbolof their suit. Such modern decks will also often have asymbolic scene depicted on the numbered Minors, althoughthis was generally not the case before the Age of Apostasy.Before this, with only the exception of a handful of decks, thenumbered cards of the Minors showed merely a geometricarrangement of the appropriate number of suit symbols.Adeptio (Eagles): The suit of Adeptio is associated withdestiny, emotions and love (primarily taken to mean love forthe Divine Emperor and the endless devotion of theImperium's citizens). It is symbolized either by the oldelement of Water (or Blood in some traditions), or by theslow tides of Quintessence that dominate the nearer parts ofthe Immaterium. The suit is often taken to represent themembers of the Adeptus Terra and their blessed works, aswell as the warrior-heroes, prophets and saints of theImperium (and the sacrifices they have made). The Eagle(Aquila) symbol is also a common sight all over theImperium. It also symbolizes the Holy Communion betweenthe Emperor and his subjects, his unfailing wisdom andultimate authority over all humans.Discordia (Batons): The suit of Discordia is stronglyassociated with change and conflict, but also with energyand growth. It is symbolized either by the ancient element offire or the raging chaos of the deep Immaterium. Discordia isdifferent from the other minor suits in that the uprightmeaning of the card is mostly negative, while the reversemeaning of the cards is usually positive (similar to theDaemon, the Hulk, and the Immaterium major arcana). Sincea card is more likely to be drawn upright it means that theappearance of Discordia cards in a spread is usually a signof trouble. The suit is also a representation of the masses,the unguided voices of the many, and the dangers offreedom and free will. The Baton symbol used for the suit iseerily reminiscent of the Adeptus Arbites power maul;symbolizing the need for control to be exerted over themasses and for energy to be harnessed and given direction.Excuteria (Swords): The suit of Excuteria is associated withephemeral things like the future and the unknown – and howit can be overcome by persistence and sacrifice. It isrepresented by Air, or the Aethry as scholars call it – thatairless space that exists between the stars which separatesthe Terrestrial and the Immaterial. The suit also symbolizesthe martial prowess of the Imperium and the unflinchingguidance of its leaders; its warriors, scholars, explorers, andTech-priests – people with the drive and determination toface both enemies and the unknown. The sword brings forthmartial images of war and duels, but is equally intended toimply that these classes stand between the Imperium andoblivion.Mandatio (Thrones): The suit of Mandatio is oftenassociated with wealth and material possessions, as wellsas procedure, tradition and obedience (often taken to meanthat service and loyalty to the Imperium is worth more thanall the gold of the galaxy). Symbolized by unyielding earth. Amore modern representation is all of the Materium (asopposed to the Immaterium). This suit covers all of mankind– from the High Lords of Terra to the savages that liveoutside the Imperium – and its manifest destiny to rule thegalaxy. The Throne can be taken both as a symbol of theGolden Throne, from which the power of the Adepta flows, oras a symbol of wealth – ‘Thrones’ is a common name forImperial currency.

Chapter I: The Emperor’s TarotOverview of the Minor ArcanaOverview of the four Suits of the Minor Arcana.HighGothicImperialElementLowGothicClassicalElementAssociationSignificanceAdeptio Quintessence Eagles Water Adepts and holy men Destiny, love, obedience, sacrificeDiscordia Immaterium Batons Fire Enemies and conflict Energy, growth, creativity, individuality,conflict, chaosExcuteria Aether Swords Air Warriors and leaders Force, ambition, persistence,explorationMandatio Materium Thrones Earth Citizens and rulers Government, wealth, stability, tradition,devotionCards of the Minor ArcanaThe following cards make up the four Suits of the Minor Arcana.No. Adeptio Discordia Excuteria Mandatio1 (Ace) The Inquisitor The Harlequin The Stranger The Savage2 The Scribe The Heretic The Soldier The Citizen3 The Administrator The Mutant The Sergeant The Artisan4 The Arbitrator The Xeno The Commander The Guilder5 The Sanctioned Psyker The Rogue Psyker The Captain The Noble6 The Tech-priest The Vile Serpent The General The Fabricator7 The Sister of Battle (theTemplar)The Unclean One The Navigator The Speaker8 The Assassin The Lord of Blood The Explorator The Collector9 The Preacher The Great Deceiver The Missionary The Bishop10 The Angel of Death The Eye of Terror The Arch-Magos The ConsulServant The Custodian The Soulless The Paternova The SenatorChampion The Primarch The Renegade The Rogue Trader The CardinalLord The Regent The Usurper The Chapter Master The GovernorMaster The Warmaster The Traitor The Lord Militant The High Lord

Chapter I: The Emperor’s TarotSuit of AdeptioThis suit is represented by images of the adepts and heroes of the Imperium.No. M41 card InterpretationAce(1)The InquisitorImage of an Inquisitor of the Holy Ordos, his Rosette clearly displayed. His mien is fearsomeand his authority absolute.Symbolizes: Authority, fear, secrecy, false appearances, agents of the Throne, Exterminatus2 The Scribe3 The Administrator4 The ArbitratorImage of a lowly Administratum scribe, bent over his work.Symbolizes: Duty, diligence, repetitionImage of an Adept of Terra of intermediate rank, usually seen presiding over lesser adeptsand/or managing some task.Symbolizes: Management, control, advancementImage of an Arbitrator in full riot gear.Symbolizes: Discipline, order, submission to authority, imprisonment, execution5The SanctionedPsykerImage of a pentacle of robed psykers with clearly visible sanctioning marks.Symbolizes: Psykers, psychic power, control, official approval6 The Tech-priestImage of one of the Tech-priests of Mars.Symbolizes: Technology, machines, sins of the past, ritual, procedure7The Sister of Battle(the Templar)Image of a Sister of Battle, usually in full battle gear. Vanquished foes or objects under theirprotection may be displayed. Prior to the Age of Apostasy this card was called the Templar,but this terminology fell out of favour.Symbolizes: Faith, devotion, love, righteous wrath, singularity of purpose8 The Assassin9 The Preacher10 The Angel of Death11 The Custodian12 The PrimarchImage of a black-clad Imperial Assassin.Symbolizes: Unseen danger, something hidden, sudden death, termination, a simple solution,cleanlinessImage of a steadfast cleric of the Ministorum. Always preaching, sometimes chastising orsmiting.Symbolizes: Faith, prayer, community, protection (especially from the Warp or psychicpowers), destruction of the unfaithfulImage of a Space Marine engaged in the work of an Angel of Death – destroying the enemiesof man.Symbolizes: War, crusade, heroes of old, death in battle, excellence, dutyImage of one of the hallowed members of the Adeptus Custodes– the Emperor’s personalguardians.Symbolizes: Protection, duty, serving a greater purposeImage of one of the Primarchs. Most decks contain the image of one Primarch, but some cyclethrough more than one (even all). Some Primarchs appear but rarely.Symbolizes: The ultimate warrior, victory against all odds, action, vitality, perfection13The Regent(the Sigillite)Image of Malcador the Sigillite, the first Regent of Terra. This card has many, varied and oftenhard-to-understand meanings. This card is sometimes called the Sigillite.Symbolizes: Ceaseless service in the shadow of one greater, great sacrifice, ability over birth,the evolution of Man, rising in rank, rulership14 The WarmasterImage of the Emperor’s Warmaster (Horus) at the height of the Great Crusade.Symbolizes: Unflinching loyalty, dominance of lesser men, a favoured son or servant,boundless pride

Chapter I: The Emperor’s TarotSuit of DiscordiaThis suit is represented by images of the enemies of the Imperium.No. M41 card InterpretationAce(1)The HarlequinImage for a (presumably) xenos warrior in strange attire. The Harlequin card is said to beparticularly difficult to interpret if it appears in a large spread, for it alters the meaning of many cardsmost subtly.Symbolizes: A hidden enemy, the enemy of my enemy is my ally, unforeseen consequences2 The Xeno3 The Heretic4 The MutantImage of a heinous xenos creature. Usually a ‘sentient’ variety, but sometimes a fierce xenos beast.Symbolizes: Danger from without, invasion, attack, something unknownImage of a human heretic. He appears much like an ordinary man, but his mien and his symbols arethose of an enemy.Symbolizes: Danger from within, sedition, attack, traitors, treasonImage of an inhuman mutant. The mutant is easy to identify, for his inner moral weakness hasmanifested monstrously on the outside.Symbolizes: Weakness of character, moral corruption, bodily corruption, outcast5TheWitch/WarlockImage of a rogue psyker. There are usually overt displays of psychic might.Symbolizes: The dangers of freedom, unbridled ambition, forbidden knowledge6 The Vile Serpent7 The Unclean One8 The Lord of BloodImage of a figure that is either a woman or a man or both – it is hard to tell exactly which.Symbolizes: Depravity, corruption, forbidden knowledge, secrets revealedImage of a man, riddles with diseases and covered in sores.Symbolizes: Sickness, disease, corruption, immortalityImage of a man, drenched in blood, standing upon a heap of bodies or skulls.Symbolizes: Blood, death, carnage, suffering, pain, murder, torture9The GreatDeceiverImage of a man, usually nearly naked, except for a loincloth and/or headdress of coloured feathers.Symbolizes: Ruin, misfortune, plots, wheels within wheels, confusion, madness10 The Eye of Terror11 The Soulless12 The Renegade13 The Usurper14 The TraitorImage of the Eye of Terror. Usually as seen from Cadia, but different views are possible. Somedecks depict other lesser-known warp anomalies instead.Symbolizes: The darkness beyond the Imperium, downfall of man, criminal organizations, darkconspiracies, organized corruptionImage of a mechanical monstrosity. A reminder that only humans have souls and that machineintelligences may ape humans, but forever be denied true humanity.Symbolizes: Superficial, unstable, unnatural, faithless, bad news to comeImage of Abaddon the Despoiler. Abaddon is an infamous Chaos reaver that has plagued theImperium since time immemorial.Symbolizes: Discord, sudden anger, jealousy, narrow-mindedness, suspicion, the journey isdelayed, work interruptedImage of Goge Vandire. Goge was a Master of the Administratum who also became Ecclesiarch.He proved less than faithful and a usurper of power.Symbolizes: Strict, domineering, a jealous and revengeful nature, deceit, infidelityImage of Horus, the First Traitor. Horus was an important commander during the Great Crusadewho rebelled against the Emperor when the Master of Mankind called him to account for his selfishand corrupt ways.Symbolizes: Severe, unyielding, strict, intolerance, prejudice, quarrels

Chapter I: The Emperor’s TarotSuit of ExcuteriaRepresented by images of the military, leaders, explorers and guides of the Imperium.No. M41 card InterpretationAce(1)The StrangerImage of a perfectly normal person. He’s either turned away so you can’t see who he is or you cansee his face but you’re sure you’ve never met.Symbolizes: Force, ambition, persistence, exploration2 The Soldier3 The Sergeant4 The Officer5 The Captain6 The General7 The Explorator8 The Navigator9 The Missionary10 The Arch-Magos11 The Paternova12 The Rogue TraderImage of one of the many soldiers of the Imperium of Man. Perhaps a Guardsman, perhaps aCommissar Cadet, or maybe one of the voidsmen of the Navy.Symbolizes: Service, duty, sacrifice, the greater goodImage of a non-commissioned officer or equivalent. A veteran Guardsman sergeant for example.Symbolizes: Lifelong service, resolute action, execution of ordersImage of a commissioned officer.Symbolizes: Command, giving orders, an intermediaryImage of the Captain of an Imperial Naval vessel. Alternatively it could be another ranking officer,such as a regimental commander of Guards (the meaning of Captain is leader of men).Symbolizes: Ultimate mastery over a limited area, a means to an end, loss is acceptable, failureis notImage of a ranking officer, such as a General of Guards or Admiral of the Navy.Symbolizes: Planning, intelligence, the greater pictureImage of one of the Adeptus Mechanicus Explorators (or more rarely another kind of Imperialexplorer, surveyor or scout).Symbolizes: The unknown, expansion, mysteriesImage of one of the Navis Nobilite. He appears human, save for the third eye in his forehead.Symbolizes: Leadership, decisions, authorityImage of a member of the Missionaria Galaxia, spreading the faith to the heathen.Symbolizes: The holy word, the supremacy of man, the Imperial truthImage of an Arch-Magos of Mars.Symbolizes: Mastery of a craft, machines, old waysImage of a Paternova of the Navis Nobilite.Symbolizes: Diplomacy, negotiation, a breed apartImage of a Rogue Trader in all his splendour. This card has many meanings. It has no reverseimage, but many variations.Symbolizes: A headlong rush into life, a strong man, bravery, a skilful and clever person, anunexpected coming or going of a matter, a troublemaker, a crafty and secretive person13The ChapterMasterImage of a Chapter Master of Adeptus Astartes.Symbolizes: A quick and confident decision, cruelty out of necessity, one who can bear theirsorrow, narrow-mindedness, an obstinate person14 The Lord MilitantImage of a Lord Militant of the Imperium.Symbolizes: A judge, a powerful commander, a firm friendship, some who is cautious butconfident, a wise counsellor, willingness to sacrifice the lives of others, to do what must be done

Chapter I: The Emperor’s TarotSuit of MandatioRepresented by images related to Mankind's divine mandate to rule the galaxy.No. M41 card InterpretationAce(1)The SavageImage of a savage man: A savage is a human who is not part of the Imperium or have heard of theGod-Emperor. Those who reject him or oppose him are heretics instead.Symbolizes: Outsiders, something different, loneliness, loss, lack of respect, lack of civilization2 The Citizen3 The Artisan4 The Guilder5 The Noble6 The Fabricator7 The Speaker8 The Collector9 The Bishop10 The Consul11 The Senator12 The Cardinal13 The Governor14 The High LordImage of a ‘typical’ Imperial citizens – can vary a lot, but the symbology is mostly the same.Symbolizes: Balance, foundation, stability, infinity/something largeImage of a craftsman. The type of craft displayed has a bearing on the exact meaning of the card.Symbolizes: Learning a trade or profession, employment is coming soon, skill, handiwork, smallmoney gainImage of a member of one of the great commercial houses, the Guilds Commercia.Symbolizes: Hoarding, gratification, wealth, trade, social mobilityImage of a member of the ruling class; he/she need not be noble in the absolute sense, but is worldsapart from lesser citizens in terms of power and wealth.Symbolizes: Good fortune, well-being, head of the family, head of the household, someone to beobeyed, the way of thingsImage of an Adeptus Mechanicus Fabricator (factory manager).Symbolizes: Efficiency, transformation, vigilance, a stern master, no room for errorImage a Speaker for the Chartist Captains. The speaker represents the commercial vessels that bindthe Imperium together.Symbolizes: Travel, strength through unity, interdependencyImage of an Imperial Auditor (tax collector responsible for setting the tithe).Symbolizes: Effort and hard work will cause growth, a pause during development, re-evaluationsImage of a church elder, such as a bishop of the Imperial Creed.Symbolizes: The wisdom of your elders, the Imperial truth, the sanctity of manImage of a Consul of the Administratum.Symbolizes: Height of professionalism, difficult choices, numerous tasks to be completedImage of a Senator of the Imperium.Symbolizes: Legislation, consensus through debateImage of a Cardinal of the Adeptus Ministorum.Symbolizes: The importance of faith, dogma and ritualImage of an Imperial GovernorSymbolizes: Mother/father figure, stern but fair, between the rock and hard placeImage of one of the High Lords of Terra.Symbolizes: A wise ruler, guidance, planning for the future, council, closeness to the Emperor

Using theTarotRole-playing the Tarot•Gaming the Tarot•Common Spreads

Chapter II: Using the TarotChapter II:Using the TarotIf you want to use the Tarot in your 40k role-playing gamesyou need to decide upon something important:Are your players going to be able to use the Tarot or is itstrictly a plot device?The latter solution is quite simple. You can use the infoprovided here to help describe the use of the Tarot: How theplayers’ Inquisitor uses it for divination from time to time.How the players are warned by the old astropath about greatdangers to come. Or use it to highlight the variant cardsfound in a confiscated deck – a plot hook to get theminvolved in a ring specializing in the distribution of corruptedTarot decks.The former solution requires a little more though. If you aregoing to allow your player to actually use the Tarot you needto consider a number of things: How accurate are readingsgoing to be? Are there any particular prerequisites involved?Can the Tarot be used in any place, at any time, to answerany question? Or must the player enter a séance trance inhis sanctum, requiring hours of preparation and leaving himmentally and physically exhausted? Should the use of theTarot tie into the skill system? Perhaps the Psyniscience skillwill be used? What about talents? Not every psyker shouldbe an accomplished Tarot reader. Should there be talentsthat govern the use of the Tarot? Perhaps in conjunction withthe Psyniscience skill?Personally I use the Tarot primarily as a plot device like Idescribed above. But if one of my players wanted to play aDH sanctioned psyker or a RT astropath then I’d work withthem to bring the tarot into my games mechanically speaking– if they wanted to. If the player wanted to keep things vagueI wouldn’t force game mechanics upon him. More likely boththe player and the GM would like to have something a littlemore concrete, so I’ve written up a set of relatively simplerules that cover the use of the Tarot within the context ofDark heresy games.Role-playing theTarotRegardless of how you want to do it you should probably dosome reading on the subject of the Tarot on internet: Thereare much info on the real life tarot out there. Or you couldbuy a book or two if you’re really into using Tarot in yourgames. All of it is complete hogwash of course, but it can stillgive you great input as to how the tarot is read. I suggestyou learn the basics of the Celtic Cross, then describe IChow the mysterious seer makes the ‘ten-card HaloedRosette’ spread and interprets the future for the PCs. It’svery effective in setting a good 40k atmosphere.You can take it one step further: Get hold of a real Tarotdeck. Make a spread and then interpret the result for theplayers, staying in character all the time. And yes, the GM isallowed to ‘cheat’ by arranging cards as desired behind hisscreen before he dose the spread. Alternatively the GM canjust make the spread and then interpret it normally; sinceyou already know the setting and the scenario it shouldn’t betoo hard to get things to fit. Some interesting permutationsmight even crop up, giving you some fresh ideas for how theadventure can play out.For your physical Tarot you can use any commerciallyavailable set. Personally I’ve use an old tarot set from Mage:The Ascension (White Wolf). It works quite well, even if noneof the images are 40k-related. Or you can print out the 40kinspired Tarot cards provided with this supplement; theywere made by another 40k fan, based upon these rules (seecredits section). The quickest way to use them is to print onrelatively thick high-quality paper, cut out the cards and thenuse them directly. If the paper is sufficiently sturdy the cardswill last for a while. Laminate them and they will last until the41 st Millennium. Alternatively you can print out the cards andthen glue them to an existing set of Tarot card 8and thenlaminate).Gaming the TarotThe following rules are intended to help GMs with the gamemechanicalaspects of Tarot reading. In the most basicinterpretation Tarot use is a Psyniscience skill check. I’veadded some permutations to make things easier toadjudicate and more interesting to use.Psychic potentialTo properly use the Tarot you have to have a Psy rating of atleast 1. For every point of Psy rating used for the readingyou gain a +5% bonus to you skill check; the more power thebetter!Normal people can take a Tarot and make a spread, but itwon’t have any particular effect (though they are of coursefree to try to pretend that it works for them).Blanks (or even worse, Pariahs) shouldn’t touch a Tarot atall. They will leave the deck scrambled and hard to use for aperiod of time determined by the GM.PsynisciencePsyniscience - This is the skill the diviner uses to make theactual reading. The psyker connects psychically to the Warp,using the Tarot deck as a sort of warded gateway. Morespecifically the reader tries to interpret the Will of theEmperor as it manifests across the galaxy. Needless to saythis isn't an exact science.

Chapter II: Using the TarotTime takenLaying an actual spread can be done in mere seconds (1round) for a very quick and simple 3-card spread (providedyou already have the cards in hand). A more typical rushedspread would require at least a minute, giving the readermore time to interpret the cards’ meaning. A quick spreadcan be done in about 5 minutes; including retrieving yourdeck, unpacking it, laying the spread on a suitable surface,turning the card, and making the assessment. Any seriousreading of a larger spread will require from 10 minutes to halfan hour. A full séance would take at least 1 hour, plus somepreparations beforehand or the use of a consecratedsanctum.DifficultyThe base difficulty for Tarot reading is Challenging (+0%).+1 The reading is vague, but you feel confident enough togive some general advice based on the outcome.+2 You get a strong and clear return, but the cards indicateseveral possible outcomes and you cannot be entirely surewhich is correct.+3 You get a strong and clear return, only this time you’repretty sure what the cards are trying to tell you.+4 Doesn't get much better than this. You get unusuallyaccurate and detailed information. So accurate is the readingthat you might start to doubt its authenticity.No matter how many decrees of success you get the answeris never entirely accurate. If the question was at all complexor ambiguous the reply will be even more so. The accuracyof your readings is also influenced by the time you take; arushed spread will always be more ambiguous than a fullséance, even if the since success chance was similar.The following modifiers apply (the list is not exhaustive):Scrap deck (made from several sets) -10 to -20%Poor quality or slightly damaged deck -5%Typical Tarot deck +0%Superior deck +5% to +10%Ancient and revered deck +20%Chaos sorcerer -30%Corrupt individual (40+ CP) -20%Rogue psyker -10%Sanctioned psyker +0%Soul-bonded +10%Rushed (1+ rounds) -30%Quick (1+ minutes) -20%Normal (10+ minutes) -10%Séance (1+ hour) +0%Extended (several connected séances) +10% or moreVague questions -10% or moreDealing with the future -10% or moreDecrees of SuccessIf the GM trusts his players to not use meta-gameinformation like the result of a dice roll the skill check can bemade openly. If not the GM should make this roll in secret;make sure you tell the player, in general terms, howconfident he is with the result.Fumble If you fumble the GM will do his best to give youfalse information or otherwise trick you.Failure You get nothing; the spread is there, but you knowthat you didn’t properly connect to the Will of the God-Emperor.+0 The reading is vague. You’re not really comfortable withproviding anything but the most general of answers basedon this outcome.FatigueReading the Tarot is taxing. Any reading, no matter theduration, causes 1 point of Fatigue.Psychic PhenomenaBecause of the nature of the Tarot cards there is a risk ofPsychic Phenomena (and by extension Perils of the Warp). Ifyou use the Rogue Trader rules of psychics thePsyniscience roll determines the outcome. If using the olderDark heresy rules you must roll 1D10 per Psy rating usedand count the 9s.TalentsPsykana-trained Reader (200XP, Elite advance): Tarotreading is rather safe compared to ordinary psychics – if youknow what you’re doing. If you have this talent you candisregard one ‘9’ rolled when using the Tarot (if using RTrules you can use your Unfettered Psy rating w/o risk ofPsychic Phenomena).Light of the Astronomican (300 XP, Elite advance): Onlyapplicable for Astropaths (or other beings with theAstrotelepathy ability). Being able to sense the distant will ofthe Emperor as it shines forth across the warp is beneficialto Tarot reading; you gain a +10% bonus to all Tarot checks.Meditation (New effect): You can enter a deep meditativedivination trance. For a reading of normal or longer durationyou get a +10% bonus to readings, but take twice as long asnormal.

Chapter II: Using the TarotCommon SpreadsHere are several spreads used in the 41 st Millennium; theyare just examples, there are many, many more out there!The ImperatorThis quick spread is best used to answer quite simple andspecific questions. To begin the reader typically focuses on aspecific problem or question put before him. He then lays outthree cards next to each other in a neat row. He then flipsthe card, starting on the left and going right.The second card represents the nature of the problem, theessence of the matter, the current state of events. The cardto the left tells you something about the past, how theproblem came to be. The right-hand card (called theImperator, after which the spread is named) suggests thesolution to the quandary or a possible outcome of the eventbeing divined.The Branch (Traitor or True)This is a variant of the Imperator. The idea is that the readercan introduce a second variable into the question, or explorewhich of two possible choices is the better.Legend has it that each of the Primarchs of old was in turnvisited by an old crone that did a reading for each of them,based upon a simple question: Should I remain loyal to theEmperor or turn Traitor. The crone would tell them what fateawaited them down each road, based upon her readings.The first two cards are laid down next to each other as in theImperator (and have the same meaning in this spread). Thenext two cards go into a single column next to the first twocards (describing the forces at work and the optionspresent). The final two cards going into a second column,but are separated a bit (representing the branching future,how your choices can point you in either of two directions).The ImperatorThe Branch

Chapter II: Using the TarotThe Throne of TerraThe Throne of Terra (‘the Throne’ for short) spread is closelyrelated to the Imperator spread. Its main purpose is to addadditional detail and depth by utilizing additional cards. Thereason for the spread’s name is lost to history.The cards are laid out in an inverted ‘V’ or alternatively asemi-circle. The first two cards have the same meaning as inthe Imperator/Branch (past/present). The third card is muchthe same as the corresponding Branch card; it reveals whatis hidden, the things/influences/events the querent or subjectcannot see or has overlooked. The same applies to thefourth card; it tells of obstacles or challenges that will presentthemselves. The fifth card adds additional details about thesurroundings; the environment, people, influences, etc. thatcan come into play. The sixth cards present advice; the bestcourse of action to follow. The seventh and final card tells ofthe outcome; what will happen if the advice is heeded.The Astro-HoroscopeThe Astro-Horoscope is a very complex spreadfavoured mostly by those who understand the Tarot butpoorly. It is used for complex readings of individuals, ormore specifically of their potential futures. This is asclose as you get to a 40k version of a horoscope.There are many ways of laying the cards; rows andcolumns, a great circle, concentric circles, a star, etc.The shape of the spread isn’t what is important; it’s theTarot and the reader and his subject.If the GM wishes to include the spread just find apattern that looks nice and describe the reading asdesired.The Throne of Terra

Chapter II: Using the TarotThe Haloed RosetteThis is the 40k variety of the Celtic Cross, except thatinstead of the column of cards to the right they are laid out ina row over the cross (the ‘Halo’ over the ‘Rosette’). Of all thespreads of the Emperor’s Tarot this one is perhaps the most‘serious’ and widely used one.Card 1: The present situation revealed.Card 2: The immediate challenge facing the querent. Whenyou pull a "good" card here, examine it carefully because itwill still represent a challenge.Card 3: Distant past, foundation. This card should indicatethe root of the subject matter of the questionCard 4: More recent past, including events. This will indicateevents taking place, even if only indirectly connected.Card 5: The best outcome that can be hoped for.Card 6: The likely state of the immediate future.Card 7: Factors or inner feelings: Compare this against Card1 in order to understand underlying forces/trends.Card 8: External influences. People, energies or eventsbeyond the querent’s control which will affect the outcome.Card 9: Hopes or fears around the situation; often indicatessomething the confuses the situationCard 10: Final outcome. Fairly self-explanatory.

Chapter II: Using the TarotExample of playYou wake early as always. You feel rested, if a little stiff and weary after all those hours standing nearlymotionless in front of the tome. Some limbering exercises and martial arts katas leave you warm andsupple. You eat a quick improvised breakfast in your cubicle – you’ll grab a larger meal on the way to thelibrarium. No need to repeat yesterday’s hungry spells; an empty stomach is not optimal when you knowyou’ll be psychically and mentally exerting yourself for most of the day.Between mouthfuls of some sort of artificial cereal, eaten right out of the box, you pull out your Tarot deck.The leather-covered adamantium case is a familiar weight in your hand. It’s been with you for many years,ever since your Master granted it to you when you entered his service. The case itself is nigh indestructibleand the lock responds only to your unique psychic imprint. Inside lies seventy-eight psychoactive liquidcrystalwafers worked into the shape of cards. The cards of the Tarot are linked to the will of the God-Emperor. With a full deck at his disposal a skilled reader can foretell the future, see into the distant past, andreveal secrets great and small.You’ve never been a terribly proficient reader. Mastery of the Tarot requires endless practice and infinitepatience. You’ve never had the time – or the patience. They say that the Tarot is an old man’s tool. Perhapsyou will become more skilled with crabbed age. Probably not. Leave it to the wizened Astropaths that haveoutlived their usefulness as transmitters, but retained enough sensitivity to still read the Tarot. You’ll settlefor being a casual user.You call upon the power you normally keep locked away in the deep crevasses of your waking mind. Thepower that only a psyker knows. Born of the warp, but harnessed by the evolved mind into a tool for thebetterment of Mankind. The power that sets you apart for the vast bulk of the human race. You and yourkind are the future. Humanity will continue to evolve into a fully psychic race. It is the only route that leads tosurvival, to ultimate victory.The difference between your kind and the rest of Mankind is not simply one of genes. Yes, there are geneticdifferences, but there are other deeper, more fundamental differences as well. Differences even thescientists of the Dark Age of Technology could not full understand. Not so strange perhaps; things that areconnected to the Warp can rarely be quantified or catalogued.You will there to be flame and there is. It burns bright and warm, without consuming any fuel or air. Theflame is the psychic manifestation of your will, and your will is what sustains it. You let the flame engulf theTarot case and the lid swings open.You dismiss the flame and take the cards into your hand. They are cool to the touch. And heavy; they arealways heavier in the hand than in the case. That’s how it is for you anyway. Two psykers rarely experiencehandling the Tarot in exactly the same way.You shuffle the deck while chewing down two additional mouthfuls. In your experience is doesn’t help to beare serene and focused. What works best for you is not focusing at all.You stop shuffling and focus on the query: What manner of unexpected or hidden events will this day holdfor you?Keeping the query clear in your mind you draw seven cards, one at a time, laying them face down in afamiliar pattern. Starting from the left and going right you make the sort of vide inverted ‘V’ that gives thespread its name – The Throne of Terra. The card backs stare up at you – seven stylized ‘I’s of theInquisition.

Chapter II: Using the TarotAccording to Imperial folklore the presence of the God-Emperor is supposed to be hovering over the Throne,just as the real Him presides over the Golden Throne. Which is why this spread is supposed to be extraaccurate. You don’t buy into that explanation. Such tales are for the unilluminated. You know that as long asthe spread is consistent and familiar it will do the trick. The exact number of cards and the pattern they are laidout in doesn’t matter all that much.For you own part the Throne is just the spread you’re the most familiar with. Barring perhaps the Imperator,which hardly tells you anything since it’s made up of only three draws. You’ve been using the Throne sinceyou first had a deck thrust into your hands during Psykana training. Consistent and familiar; the Throne doesthe trick for you.The query is burning beautiful and bright inside those parts of your mind that are the most imaginative andpsychically sensitive. You lean forward a fraction and place three fingers of your right hand upon the back ofthe leftmost card. The card goes from cold to searing hot in an instant. Pain lances up through the nerves ofyour arm and bores into your waiting mind. Never was pain so sweet as when interpreting the Will of the God-Emperor of Mankind.The fiery pain mingles with your own inner flames. Knowing the connection to be stable and strong you letdown your customary wards and let the power of the Warp flow into you. This is what makes the Emperor’sTarot so unique; as long as you keep your heart filled with unconditional love for the God-Emperor the cards ofthe deck will ward your from Warp-corruption and other unpleasantness. Without the protection of the Tarotdivinations such as this would be hazardous at best.The first card is indicative of the past. It can potentially reveal something which has transpired that is relevantfor the query. You turn over the card. The Inquisitor, the Ace of Adeptio, stares up at you. You’ve gotten thesame card as yesterday in the first position. Unusual, but hardly unique. Besides, yesterday’s query was thesame one as today and the situation hasn’t changed much. You peer intently at the card. The image is slightlydifferent from yesterday. The Inquisitor is more of an adept today and less of a warrior, but it could well be thesame person judging by his height and build. Hard to be sure, because he’s wearing a long cloak with thehood pulled up. The cloak is an almost exact match of the one Haxtes was wearing during yesterday’ssession. But the man wearing it cannot be Haxtes, for he is much too tall and heavyset.You’re pretty sure that the Inquisitor is none other than Melbinious, the original master of the tome. Given hispenchant for secrecy and your lack of concrete information about him the Tarot and your mind is filling out theblanks. His face hasn’t been revealed to you yet, but you now have his measure in terms of size.Barring the actual image the Ace of Adeptio is, like all aces, a potent card that can have multipleinterpretations, even within one reading. With all that is going on, with all that has transpired to lead up to thispoint there is really no telling what its significance is.You move to the second card. Another jolt of burning pain, mingling with the inferno building inside your mind.The second card represents the nature of the problem, the essence of the matter, the current state of events.You turn it over. The Pilgrim stares up at you. The Pilgrim is the only unnumbered Major Arcanum, somethingof the odd man out. Its appearance is always momentous, for it represents new beginnings and possibilities. Itis also the same card that you drew for second position yesterday. The only difference is that today the Pilgrimis you, appearing as you did in your formal robes upon your promotion to Interrogator.You take it to mean that yesterday you started your journey into the tome’s secrets with a few baby steps. Buttoday you will come into your own and plunge ever deeper into its mysteries. That’s why you can clearly seeyourself in the place of the Pilgrim, you’re fully committed now. If you draw the same card tomorrow you willknow for certain.

Chapter II: Using the TarotThe third card. By now the pain is just the ache after a long bout of physical exertion. It hurts, but in a goodway, promising to leave your invigorated and calm afterwards. The third position is an important one as itreveals what is hidden, the things, influences, or events the querent cannot see or has overlooked. TheStranger, the Ace of Excuteria. For the third time you’ve pulled the same card as yesterday. The Stranger inthe image is wearing the same robe as the Inquisitor, but his back is turned to you and his surroundings failto give any clues as to his identity. For a moment you think he is Haxtes, but the next he’s someone elseentirely.You try to fine-tune your psychic senses to try and pick up some detail you’ve missed, but the harder you trythe less you learn. As if sensing your discomfort the Stranger raises his right hand. He’s wearing bodyarmour, black gloves included, the much you can see. In his hand is a bottle of cheap amasec of a kind youimagine Haxtes would not touch even if his life depended on it.The card that is supposed to reveal secrets tells you that an unseen force is at work. No shit! This gives younothing to work with. Completely useless.The fourth position. The apex of the Throne. It tells of obstacles or challenges that will present themselves.You’re not particularly surprised when it comes out as the Assassin, the Eight of Adeptio. The image isclearly of Haxtes. Haxtes as a kid, a little older than you’ve seen him thus far. Twelve maybe? You arecertain that it means you’ll have to wrestle some more with the Gatekeeper today. Not much of a surprisereally.The fifth card. Indicative of other factors that might come into play. Not secret influences like the thirdposition, but something else. Could be the presence and actions of the mystery team, some trait of yourown, or something else entirely. The fifth position you find easy to interpret – if you can discern what itrelates to. The Titan. So is this how is going to be; the exact same reading as yesterday? So far five out offive.The imagery is completely different though. A huge angelic statue of red Protasian stone lies shattered inthe Plaza of Loremasters just outside the Librarium. You ponder upon the fallen giant for a moment andconclude the card is reversed. Unlike yesterday it doesn’t represent strength, but weakens. You notice ninetiny figures standing or sitting on top of the statue. Focusing on them you can make out their features insome detail. A wide grin keeps onto your face; you now have the measure of the mystery team. You offer abrief prayer of thanks to Him on Earth before moving your hand one more position to the right.The sixth cards present advice; the best course of action to follow. You flip it over, revealing the Martyr,another Major Arcanum. And the same card as yesterday. The Martyr is you. There is no doubt. You as youappear today. You can clearly see your own face, slight upturned as if looking intently as some figure justbeyond the edge of the card. Your mien is one of bliss and absolute adoration.Cold grips your heart, threatening to choke your inner fire. You know it is your own death you’re witnessing.And by the look of it you go willingly. An involuntary shiver rushes through your body, upsetting yourequilibrium and threatening to sever your connection to the Tarot.You’ve always know that you would die in the service. Death has breathed you down the neck more thanonce out in the field. You’ve never let that stop you. Your duty, the service to the God-Emperor and Mankindis far more important to you than your life.But you’ve never had that Tarot tell you that today is the day you die. Or is there another sacrifice you willbe called upon to make? No, that’s not it. The Martyr foretells your death, today. You are absolutely certain.

Chapter II: Using the TarotYou flip over the last card before the session is prematurely ended. Gone is the pure maiden of yesterday’sreading. It is not the Unclean One reversed, but the Reaper staring up at you. Again it is your own face staring upat you. The dead are heaped around your feet. You recognize some of them as being members of the mysteryteam; the others are too badly mangled and burned to be certain.You know what to do. Your watchers must die before the end of the day or you will be the one claimed by thereaper. A pity that such extreme measures must be taken, but you’ve been given a glimpse of the future and theGod-Emperor’s will – who are you to argue with it?Thirty minutes later you’re long gone. Carefully applied psychic fire has cleared away any physical indication ofyour stay; you’ve purged any traces of your comings and goings from the memory stacks, and made sure noneof the guards or adepts remember you. You won’t be coming back.(example is taken from my Warhammer 40,000 novel ‘Dark Omega’)

Chapter III: Printable cardsPrintableCardsMajor Arcana•Adeptio•Discordia•Excuteria•Mandatio•Backs

Chapter III: Printable CardsMajor Arcana

Chapter III: Printable Cards

Chapter III: Printable Cards

Chapter III: Printable Cards

Chapter III: Printable Cards

Chapter III: Printable Cards

Chapter III: Printable CardsAdeptio

Chapter III: Printable Cards

Chapter III: Printable Cards

Chapter III: Printable Cards

Chapter III: Printable CardsDiscordia

Chapter III: Printable Cards

Chapter III: Printable Cards

Chapter III: Printable Cards

Chapter III: Printable CardsExcuteria

Chapter III: Printable Cards

Chapter III: Printable Cards

Chapter III: Printable Cards

Chapter III: Printable CardsMandatio

Chapter III: Printable Cards

Chapter III: Printable Cards

Chapter III: Printable Cards

Chapter III: Printable CardsBacks

Chapter III: Printable Cards