"There are lots of things the Luminaries could be. I find it most useful to think of them as stories that sort of, insist on themselves until they become true."
―Tales from Spéir: The LuminariesLuminaries are two things at once. They are best known as powerful cards in the Illimat deck, but they are also legends (legends that might just be true, if you believe the old salts). Everyone has heard the stories of these entities, but no one is sure what they actually are: gods, fates, spirits, or something far more complicated. They are known throughout Spéir, though not always by the same names from language to language.[1]
Out of universe, they are used as a mechanic in play. They do not replace story points,[2] but are also used to influence the story when the odds do not look good for a player.[3] They are assigned tarot-like meanings; when a player chooses to draw a Luminary, these meanings are applied to the situation at hand and the GM and players work together to decide the outcome of the Luminary's influence.[3]
List of Luminaries
The Butcher[4]
- Views humanity only as prey.[1]
The Changeling[4]
- In tales, died for his love.[1]
The Children[4]
- "The Children themes are consequence, inevitability, and eternity. This can favor the PCs by suggesting they will bring judgement. It can also threaten the PCs by suggesting that their crimes have been noticed.”[3]
The Forest Queen[4]
- "Has all the power and wrath of an ancient god."[1]
The Island[4]
- Views humanity only as prey.[1]
- Potentially the same island which draws in sailors and birthed the strange being known as The Mariner[5]...in which case it is a hungry, pitiless thing indeed.
The Maiden[4]
The Soldiers[4]
- Fit the description of "spirits or shades of folk that once lived."[1]
"The poor fellow who married a bird and chased her away"[1]
- Since this is presented in the list of stories related to the Luminaries, it is likely this is a Luminary; however, the present writer cannot match this description up to an existing Luminary.
"The lad who chased revenge into the belly of a whale"[1]
- Since this is presented in the list of stories related to the Luminaries, it is likely this is a Luminary; however, the present writer cannot match this description up to an existing Luminary.
Unconfirmed Luminaries
These are Luminaries which exist in the Illimat card game but which have not yet shown up in Sky Jacks material.
- The River[4]
- The Rake[4]
- The Union[4]
- The Newborn[4]
- The Loom[4]
- The Perfect Crime[4]
- The Boat[4]
- The Audience[4]
- The Rusalka[4]
