A slow-rolling series of how the Deck of Many Things works in my homebrew world of Ironguard. (Part 1, Part 2, Part 4)
There is a temptation to tie Knight in with Throne, but for now, they will fall under two separate posts.
When Ser James 'Jamie' Blackthorn cut a deal for immortality and travel, this was not his intent, but it is what he has. Over the centuries, he has served dozens of masters and mistresses, primarily adventuring sorts, and has visited cities before they were ruins, tombs and dungeons when they were new, and mountains before they were rolling hills.
So he is a jaded bastard who has been everywhere and seen everything. This makes him a sarcastic font of information, who may or may not volunteer knowledge, depending on how well he likes his current master or mistress.
Despite his vast experience, Ser Jamie never mechanically proceeds past the fourth level.
When active, he makes it a point to check up on his known and suspected heirs while traveling, going so far as to steer his master/mistress in their direction. On the rare occasion that an heir draws his card, Ser Jamie is overjoyed, and has been known to shower that lucky soul with locations of hidden treasures (that Ser Jamie may have hidden away himself), as well as useful advice. There is a reason that certain upstart kingdoms lasted as long as they did - Ser Jamie was the voice in the ear of the King.
If slain, dismissed, or the current master/mistress is slain, Ser Jamie awakens/appears in his chambers at the Keep of the Throne, holding and wearing whatever he had when he left. Once there he passes time playing chess with Steward, drinking wine, and writing his never-ending memoirs until the card is drawn again.
At that point, Ser Jamie is whisked away, wearing and carrying whatever he had at the time the card was drawn. Tales note that several times, he has arrived naked, the Card having been drawn while he was bathing.
Rogue: one of your friends turns against you. Nothing less than a wish or divine intervention can turn the traitor back - which suggests that if the Rogue is slain, they will rise as undead or otherwise return to haunt the Card drawer.
DM Note: at no point will Rogue turn Ser Jamie of the Knight card, STEWARD of the Throne card, nor any PC against the card drawer. This leaves a wide range of meek and mighty NPCs at the DM's disposal, however. That said, the Card prefers to turn those with some measure of power against the PC, if only to ensure grief. It will not hesitate to use family, if that is the best choice.
This card is powered by the unnamed deity of lies and treachery and narcissism, sometimes referred to in whispers as the forty-fifth. When drawn, a cold chill and mild electric shock passes through the drawer as the magic of the Rogue card examines the drawer's being to decide who best to turn against them.
At this point, the Rogue realizes that it is card drawer who is the cause of ALL the Rogue's woes. The magic bound within the card nurses the fears and suspicions until what begins as a smear campaign becomes outright attempts at assassination. If confronted, the Rogue attacks the card drawer in a blind rage.
On occasion, the Rogue falls in league with the Fiend of the Flames card, and then life turns ugly for the poor fool that drew both cards.
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