For as long as anyone can remember, Death has been a strange thing in Circadia. For the vast majority of citizenry, Death is quite mundane, if frightening: most people live out a life of normal age (generally up to 100 years), fall ill, fall unlucky, and die. Once dead, there is no resurrection unless they are attended by a very powerful Devout healer.

However, for some, resurrection is (almost) always possible. The Devout, due to their special connection to the Gods, are able to draw upon the Book of Deeds and the Deck of Fate in order to restore themselves to life after what should have been certain death.

The Book of Deeds and the Deck of Fate have been supplied to Mortals since the reign of Zyr’Zane and T’Myrim, more than a thousand years ago. Initially, the The Old Gods, when they first alighted to Circadia, provided the two items to Mortals. Zyr’Zane, presenting the Book of Deeds, instructed that Mortals write into it the Deeds which most honestly represent their Devotion. T’Myrim, offering the Deck of Fate, suggested that, by drawing upon the Deck, the Mortals enter into a sustained relationship with the Gods.

Over time, and as the formal Pantheon was established, the Book and Deck became inherently tied to the Devout’s ability to return from certain Death. The histories of this process are unknown. What is known, however, is the function of the items.

Devout who have called upon the Book and Deck generally agree upon the following. Into the Book, they scribe a single deed that represents their Devotion to a God, Gods, or the Pantheon itself. This is an offering to show that they are worthy, in the context of their Devotion, of return. After this, they then draw a card from the Deck of Fate–this card shows them the God that has agreed to resurrect them. 

Of course, the relationship between the Gods and Mortals is rarely simple. The Deck represents the Gods who actively offer power to Mortals–currently, there are 22 cards in total representing the dual aspects of the various Gods. All Gods, in returning Mortals to life, offer either a Blessing or a Favor. To receive a Blessing is to be looked upon favorably; to receive a Favor is to be held in often contemptuous debt by the God offering it. While such things can be reconciled, the Deck of Fate is nevertheless an artifact that causes many trepidation.

Currently, the Book and Deck are housed at the God Road Shrine. They are available for use by all Devout.

Read more about Death and out-of-game Mechanics here.

What does the Deck of Fate look like, however? Read the below guide to see the possible cards and their meanings.