Arcana

All sapient inhabitants of Abraxas have a major arcanum under which they fall, commonly referred to as a "sign". These signs are not readily apparent: a magician can divine an individual’s arcanum if they are given enough time, with a novice requiring a few hours and a master able to tell within seconds. They are not fixed at birth and divining the arcanum of children is difficult and unreliable, with readings just a few days apart producing different signs. A professional reading is a common birthday gift upon reaching adulthood. Newly summoned characters are the exception and all of them, even children, have a fixed sign.

The sign generally suits one’s personality, ambitions, or desires in some way. Signs do not determine one’s job or future standing (not all magicians are under the sign of The Magician, for example), nor do they have any correlation with morality. A diverse umbrella of individuals - good and evil and everywhere in between - exists under every sign. Most individuals could fit multiple signs, and the reason why they reside under one and not the others is not understood even by the most knowledgeable scholars of magic.

The magic users and nobles of Abraxas place a lot of importance on signs, while the common folk (who only rarely encounter complex magic) think they're fun to know and have certain superstitions around them, but overall don't take them too seriously. Magic (both beneficial and harmful) is more effective when a tarot card matching the target’s sign is incorporated. For certain spells - such as the summoning ritual and necromancy - it is absolutely essential.

## The Fool

**The Fool** is the sign of adventurers and free spirits. Fools tend to be willing to take risks, try new things, and push ahead without a plan, map, or guide to follow. They might be explorers, entrepreneurs, reckless adrenaline junkies, or anything else under that general umbrella. They may get bored easily and have trouble sticking to a routine, but will generally have some ideas for new things to try.

## The Magician

People with the sign of **The Magician** are devoted to the mastery of their craft, no matter what that craft may be. Master magicians often fall under this sign, but so do skilled blacksmiths, chefs, tailors, and masters of any other skill. They tend to concentrate on a few areas of expertise and may come off as hyper-focused or perfectionistic, but if you’re looking for the best of the best, look for a Magician.

## The High Priestess

**The High Priestess** is the sign of knowledge-seekers. They tend to want to learn everything they can rather than focusing on a few areas of interest or on what is immediately useful. This sign suits the type of person that would often be perceived as wise: they like to consider all of their options and gather as much information as possible before acting.

## The Empress

**The Empress** is the sign of care-givers and nurturers. Anyone who is focused on helping others and prefers to concentrate on the emotional, physical, and mental health of the communities they live in and people they care about may fall under this sign. If you need a helping hand, look for an Empress.

## The Emperor

**The Emperor** is the sign of leaders and authority figures. Emperors tend to be strong-willed and responsible, the sort of person that would be seen leading a charge rather than giving orders and then hanging back. They may be captains, military leaders, or elected officials - or they might be the head of a household, or the sort of person who keeps their friend group together.

## The Hierophant

People with the sign of **The Hierophant** have a strong set of moral values. These values are not necessarily based in religion; their values may come from their family, religion, or society but may also be a completely personal code they follow for their own reasons. They may stick to their values so strongly that they are unwilling to break them, even to help themselves or others.

## The Lovers

People with the sign of **The Lovers** are defined by their loyalty. This sign is not necessarily romantic, although that may be what motivates some individual Lovers. People with this sign form strong bonds with one other person or a group of people, and are willing to do almost anything for “their” people, whether they’re romantic partners, family, friends, or teammates.

## The Chariot

**The Chariot** is the sign of the assertive and competitive. People with this sign will not be pushed around, and can be quite spirited and opinionated. Like Magicians they often strive to better themselves and their skills, but Chariots thrive on competition and victory more than personal mastery. If you’re looking for someone who won’t give up easily, or is willing to take on a problem way out of their league, look for a Chariot.

## Strength

People who fall under the sign of **Strength** tend to be protective and (as the name suggests) strong. This is not necessarily in a physical sense: someone who is physically frail but emotionally hard to shake may fall under this sign as much as a physical powerhouse. Strength signs are often looked upon as defenders of those in need, and someone to lean on in difficult times. Someone with this sign is likely to put themselves between a threat and their loved ones, even if they are unlikely to survive.

## The Hermit

**The Hermit** is the sign of loners. The defining characteristic of The Hermit is that they choose their own solitude; they may or may not be outcasts but would choose their station in life even if they’d be welcomed into a group. Hermits may have some close friends and family they value, but tend to be independent and prefer not to rely on anyone but themselves. If you want to befriend a Hermit, give them space!

## The Wheel of Fortune

**The Wheel of Fortune** is the sign of opportunists. People with this sign live in the moment and seize the day; unlike Fools they prefer to look for opportunity where they already are and will venture into the unknown as a last resort when it’s all used up. They tend to be quick-witted and skilled improvisers, and gamblers and schemers are common among the ranks of the Wheel as well. Many locals believe people with this sign are also exceptionally lucky, but that’s just superstition (or is it?).

## Justice

People with the sign of **Justice** are devoted to order. They are the people you might see breaking up fights, making sure everything is running smoothly, and ensuring that everyone in a particular group is getting their needs met. This sign shares some similarities with The Hierophant, but Justices tend to be more concerned with fairness and social cohesion than their personal codes.

## The Hanged Man

**The Hanged Man** is the sign of outsiders and outcasts, whether they have chosen that fate for themselves or not. They may be unwilling to change themselves to fit the society in which they live, or they may be unable to, but whatever the reason may be these people tend to live at the margins of society. However, they also tend to be resilient and aware of the hard truths about themselves and others. Often the ones to survive a catastrophe, or the sorts of people who would someday be described as “ahead of their time”.

## Death

**Death** is the sign of the patient and persistent. This sign has nothing to do with dying or killing and is not regarded as a bad omen (on the contrary, people with this sign are often prized at festivals that involve new life or the harvest). People with this sign are conscious of the future and will work diligently towards a goal even if it won’t offer immediate reward. They are the folks who will stick with you through the hard times, and who will plant trees they will never get to sit under.

## Temperance

**Temperance** is the sign of the balanced and the peaceful. These folks strive to be well-rounded even if they are not the best at anything they do - the classic jack of all trades. They almost always have something to offer in any given situation, and tend to seek harmony internally and externally. They’re often skilled diplomats, able to see both sides of a conflict and come to a desirable outcome, but can sometimes be willing to compromise too much.

## The Devil

**The Devil** is the sign of individualism and self-expression. These people have a very strong sense of identity and may pride themselves on being unique or not conforming. They tend to be open-minded to new ideas and would rather stand out in a crowd than blend in. Devils often have a flair for the dramatic and can take perceived slights or insults very personally, but can also be very encouraging and accepting of others.

## The Tower

**The Tower** is the sign of chaos and upheaval. People with this sign are often the first to challenge the status quo, and thrive on change and conflict. Be careful of crossing someone with this sign because they can be prone to seeking revenge, but they can also be rebels and revolutionaries against unjust systems. Towers are also often skilled at providing thoughtful critiques or finding flaws most other people weren’t aware of, and can be valuable advisors.

## The Star

**The Star** is the sign of creativity. Artists of any kind often fall under this sign, but creativity of any sort can be expressed here (inventors and architects are often Stars, for example). Unlike the more dreamy and conceptual Moons, Stars tend to prioritize expression and having something to show off or perform once they’re finished with it. Even if a Star isn’t particularly gifted, their work can brighten up a home, and very talented Stars can attract some degree of fame.

## The Moon

**The Moon** is the sign of dreamers. Often contemplative and philosophical, these people can get lost in their own thoughts and are prone to having their heads in the clouds. They can be visionaries and sources of great intuition, often coming up with new and strange insights no one else had thought of yet, whether those insights are valuable or off-the-wall. Moons tend to be perceived as mysterious or quirky.

## The Sun

**The Sun** is the sign of passion and warmth. Often beacons of optimism and hope, people with this sign can keep on smiling even in the darkest hours. They give their all in everything they do and are less concerned with perfection than they are with enjoying the experience. They can be seen as flighty and may be accused of not taking things seriously enough, but if you want to have a good time, find a Sun.

## Judgement

**Judgement** is the sign of the conquerors. Not just in the military sense of the word, people with this sign tend to be charismatic and awe-inspiring and good at playing to a crowd, winning over hearts and minds as easily as someone of this sign with more political inclinations might win territory. While some Judgements make good leaders, they tend to be less interested in social good and responsibility than Emperors. Nonetheless, a Judgement is someone you might want as the face of an organization regardless of whether or not they’re the real leader.

## The World

**The World** is the sign of guides and teachers. People with this sign are often quite knowledgeable and skilled like Magicians or High Priestesses, but they excel at passing their knowledge and skills on to others. Whether it’s their ability to inspire a desire to learn in others, an ability to translate difficult concepts into something easy to understand, or a tendency to be patient and encouraging with new learners, Worlds are often valued mentors who inspire others to pursue their dreams.