The Hermit
Outlining the tenth major arcana card.
Keith Hiscox
3/15/20261 min read
Designing a roleplaying game can sometimes be a lonely task, fortunately I have a supportive partner and some wonderful collaborators backing me up, including artists, play-testers, and of course the esteemed Carol Berg herself. The Hermit, however, stands alone.
Card Meaning
The Hermit is a creature of Introspection and Solitude, living in Separation from society - and these are the key correspondences for this card.
In a Yes/No Query the card usually represents a No or a Not Now answer. Of course, should you draw it in response to a question about whether there are any rough sleepers in the area, or whether the pretty barmaid wants to be left alone, then the card can be read as a resounding “Yes”. As with all things Tarot context is key.
Setting Specific Design
We've stuck closely to the standard Rider-Waite design of the Hermit card here. This card most closely aligns with the Sabrian concept of a Tangle-Cursed individual choosing to live apart from society in order to avoid the oppressive "mind storm".
Stars feature heavily here, usually read as representing the guiding light of knowledge. In the novels the stars are important to the Arothi shepherds and their proto-religious view of the world.
Mechanical Impact
During character generation the card represents the Exiles, Outlanders and Itinerant Folk within the Renaissance world, and the desire to live apart from society. All of this should inform your character-making decisions.
Mechanically this card is wild for mundane characters and doubles the face value of all other cards in the meld when played to hide, conceal or move stealthily.
We are already excited to be near the halfway mark with the major arcana explanations and, after some time alone with our thoughts, we'll be back soon to explain the the Wheel of Fortune.
