Deck of Fate

The Deck of Fate is a legendary relic of the Playful Pantheon. It was slowly discovered, card by card, in the Vault dimension and is now the most sacred object of the most widespread religion in Flimflam.
The deck consists of five suits (leaves, cups, bells, swords, and hearts) with fourteen cards in each suit (fool, two through ten, jack, queen, king, ace).

Mechanics & Inner Workings

"HERETIC! How dare you demand knowledge of such a mystery from me? Guards!"

-The Chief Hierophant of Meisou in a rare bout of anger to a scholar who subsequently met with grave misfortune

It is unwise to look too closely into the precise workings of divine relics. Scholars (cautiously) debate whether the deck is itself a magical object or whether its powers stem more from its ritual significance. The ordained claim not to see a distinction.
Nevertheless, careful accumulation of knowledge tells us that the Deck of Fate's cards are of the standard size but not the standard material of heavy card. The cards appear to be made of a strange substance akin to porcelain but extremely strong, which lends the deck its weight (roughly twice that of a traditional deck). Card details are engraved into the surface as well as colored in with deep, saturated hues. It is believed that at least one of the face cards in each suit depicts the visage of the associated God (Agon, Ilinx), Goddess (Alea, Meisou), or Deity (Huri).

History

Early expeditions into the Vaults saw adventurers (not yet calling themselves Vault Hunters) returning with treasures heretofore unseen in Flimflam. Among the more obviously precious gems, metals, and magical items were single playing cards like those used by the (then) obscure followers of the Playful Pantheon. Successive trips found yet more cards--though never a repeat--and the nascent Hunter's Guild collected them out of both curiosity and growing superstition.
It is said that when all of the cards in each deity's suit were brought together, each of their followers felt an empty place in their hearts grow full. It is verifiable that miracles, such as blazing beams of light, spontaneous rainbows, and ethereal music, manifested at those times. This was the beginning of the Playful Pantheon cults rapidly ascending in prominence to become the most widely practiced religions across Flimflam.
Each of the suits is held by the appropriate Hierophant in the divine city of Hierophany. Once every seven years, the Hierophants gather together and play a game called The Wonder. The outcome of the game determines the order of precedence between the different deities' Hierophants in the city's government, as well as (supposedly) predicts events in the coming years, which radiates out to the branches of each order across Flimflam.

Significance

The Deck of Fate's significance cannot be overstated, as suggested by the rather grandiose name it has acquired among the lay people. (Hierophants themselves only refer to "the cards") It is crucial to running Hierophany's government and determining religious policies followed by the many faithful.

Item type

Unique Artifact

Related ethnicities

• Playful Pantheon

Rarity

There is only one Deck of Fate, blessed by the deities. Many, many, many normal decks of cards have been created in its image, however.

Weight

10 oz

Dimensions

2.5 in x 3.5 in per card, full deck is 70 cards