Mollymauk Tealeaf's tarot deck

Mollymauk Tealeaf's tarot deck is a set of Moonweaver cards, a specific tradition of tarot or oracle card deck. Like all Moonweaver cards, the cards are created personally by the owner, and each deck is thus unique. After Molly's death, his deck passed into the ownership of Beauregard Lionett. She kept it for a while before giving it to Jester Lavorre, who began to illustrate new cards and use it to read fortunes.

Description
Molly's tarot deck is a Moonweaver deck, a tradition that differs from other tarot or oracle card deck systems in Exandria. As the Moonweaver fosters creativity and deceit in their followers, Moonweaver decks tend to be wildly varied. These decks do always include a Moon card, and each card is designed so that there is a word at the top and bottom of each face, so that the card is different when reversed; the name of the card is the word at the bottom. Each card is also numbered.

Molly's deck included cards that are damaged and difficult to read due to age, with unfinished or abruptly stopped sketches, and have blank faces in anticipation of new additions. The deck was described as "an ongoing art project" that evoked a distinct sense that it was created, not purchased.

Cards created by Molly

 * The Moon and Mirror, Catha in the night sky over a lake that reflects Catha and Ruidus, which is absent from the actual sky
 * The Judge, also called the Silver Dragon, possibly a depiction of the Platinum Dragon
 * The Anvil
 * The Serpent
 * The Eye and the Hand, an eye held above a restless sea by two hands forming a triangle, presumably resembling the Eye of Providence
 * The Shadow
 * The Chariot
 * Home and Traveler, a covered carnival wagon on a road with a cottage in the distance
 * The Magician and the Tinkerer, Caleb Widogast sitting in a room surrounded by orbiting magical lights, presumably the Dancing Lights cantrip, and Veth Brenatto as the goblin Nott the Brave
 * History and the Dream, a massive creature destroys a city during the Calamity, illustrating the "history of the world before the world" and to "dream the world to come"
 * The Tyrant, two fighting dragons in a figure-eight with the red dragon upright, presumably a depiction of the Scaled Tyrant and her sworn enemy the Platinum Dragon
 * Love, a depiction of Yasha Nydoorin
 * Joy, a depiction of Jester Lavorre
 * Sea, a depiction of Fjord
 * Rumor, a depiction of Beauregard Lionett
 * unidentified card depicting Mollymauk Tealeaf
 * possibly Death

Cards created by Jester

 * The Hag and the Maiden, an optical illusion of an old woman, presumably resembling Isharnai, and a young woman, whose coloring is suggestive of Jester, the design is reminiscent of the "My Wife and My Mother-in-Law" ambiguous image
 * The Jewel and the Thief, a brilliantly shining ruby and a man lurking in the shadows reaching to take it, likely a reference to the Ruby of the Sea Marion Lavorre and the Gentleman
 * The Spark and Blaze, a small spark from one side and a flame that consumed the bottom of the card from the other
 * Death and Dawn, a grave with the sun behind it
 * Growth and Rot, Caduceus Clay surrounded by beautiful growing trees to one side and by the blighted trees of the Savalirwood and Aeorian aboretum to the other

Mechanics of use
Fortunes were typically told using a three card spread: the first to represent the past of the querent (the one whose fortune is being read), the second to represent the present, and the third to represent the future.

When Molly "read" fortunes, he did so through an Insight check to cold read the subject and a Sleight of Hand check to force an appropriate card. Molly would also stack the deck beforehand to facilitate this.

When Jester read fortunes, Laura and Taliesin developed a system where the querent rolled a d20 to select a card, then a d6 to determine which side was upright; though this was the intended process, the d6 roll was often forgotten. When used in this manner, the following rolls produced these cards:
 * 1: The Tyrant
 * 8: The Eye and the Hand, a 2 on the d6 places the Eye upright
 * 9: History and the Dream
 * 11: Home and Traveler
 * 18, then 1: Death

The deck was also sometimes used to play games. One such game, which Molly and Beau played, involved each participant drawing a card and whoever drew the higher or lower card, as decided before the draw, must answer a question. Drawing a card was simulated by rolling a d20.

History

 * Molly enticed Jester into paying two copper pieces to have her fortune "read". For her reading, Molly drew the Judge, the Anvil, and the Serpent and informed her that she already found that which she sought. He later entertained a crowd outside the tent of the Fletching and Moondrop Traveling Carnival of Curiosities with fortune reading. Seeing Jester entering the tent, he pulled the Shadow and the Moon from a stacked deck and asked her if they meant anything to her. She said yes, and he instructed her to think about it.
 * Molly enticed Jester into paying two copper pieces to have her fortune "read". For her reading, Molly drew the Judge, the Anvil, and the Serpent and informed her that she already found that which she sought. He later entertained a crowd outside the tent of the Fletching and Moondrop Traveling Carnival of Curiosities with fortune reading. Seeing Jester entering the tent, he pulled the Shadow and the Moon from a stacked deck and asked her if they meant anything to her. She said yes, and he instructed her to think about it.


 * As part of casting Vicious Mockery, Molly drew and presented the unidentified card drawn from the bottom of the deck, warning in Infernal: "There is only death here."
 * As part of casting Vicious Mockery, Molly drew and presented the unidentified card drawn from the bottom of the deck, warning in Infernal: "There is only death here."


 * Molly attempted to entice children on another cart to encourage their parents to stop for a fortune reading. Though the children were enthusiastic, they did not alert their parents, and the cart continued past. Molly allowed Jester to draw a card from the deck instead. She drew the Chariot, which Molly remarked tongue-in-cheek meant she was in a cart.
 * Molly attempted to entice children on another cart to encourage their parents to stop for a fortune reading. Though the children were enthusiastic, they did not alert their parents, and the cart continued past. Molly allowed Jester to draw a card from the deck instead. She drew the Chariot, which Molly remarked tongue-in-cheek meant she was in a cart.


 * Molly read Jester's fortune, claiming she came from a "primordial chaos magic" and was heading down a new path toward a destiny she was not expecting.
 * Molly read Jester's fortune, claiming she came from a "primordial chaos magic" and was heading down a new path toward a destiny she was not expecting.


 * Molly used his cards as a prop and offered fortunes to passing Crownsguard to deflect suspicion while standing watch during an infiltration of the Sutan residence.
 * Molly used his cards as a prop and offered fortunes to passing Crownsguard to deflect suspicion while standing watch during an infiltration of the Sutan residence.


 * Caleb asked Molly if his cards were "bullshit", to which Beau agreed and Jester protested. Molly responded that they were not but smiled smugly at Caleb behind Jester's back, suggesting Caleb's suspicion correct.
 * Caleb asked Molly if his cards were "bullshit", to which Beau agreed and Jester protested. Molly responded that they were not but smiled smugly at Caleb behind Jester's back, suggesting Caleb's suspicion correct.


 * Molly unsuccessfully attempted to perform a new sleight of hand trick to exchange the Moon in his hand with a moon-themed trinket to amuse Ombo. He and Beau later play a game: whichever of them drew a lower numbered card must answer the question "what's the best lie you've ever told?"
 * Molly unsuccessfully attempted to perform a new sleight of hand trick to exchange the Moon in his hand with a moon-themed trinket to amuse Ombo. He and Beau later play a game: whichever of them drew a lower numbered card must answer the question "what's the best lie you've ever told?"


 * With Molly dead, Beau took the deck from his jacket before she, Caleb, and Veth bury him.
 * With Molly dead, Beau took the deck from his jacket before she, Caleb, and Veth bury him.


 * At Molly's grave, Beau offered Jester Molly's deck to draw from. Jester drew the Moon and, feeling that it is Molly's card, she leaves it at his grave.
 * At Molly's grave, Beau offered Jester Molly's deck to draw from. Jester drew the Moon and, feeling that it is Molly's card, she leaves it at his grave.


 * Beau searched the deck for the card illustrated with the All-Seeing Eye to provide Orly Skiffback a reference for her gemstone tattoo. The tattoo incorporated both the eye and a filigree design from the cards.
 * Beau searched the deck for the card illustrated with the All-Seeing Eye to provide Orly Skiffback a reference for her gemstone tattoo. The tattoo incorporated both the eye and a filigree design from the cards.


 * Beau and Jester had a dispute over the authenticity of Molly's tarot card readings: Beau pointed out that Molly was aiming a vague wide spread to seem correct while Jester believed that his readings were genuine. Beau gave Jester the deck, and Jester spent the rest of the day attempting to learn to read fortunes. She attempted this by looking at the cards to discern their meaning intuitively by looking at them.
 * Beau and Jester had a dispute over the authenticity of Molly's tarot card readings: Beau pointed out that Molly was aiming a vague wide spread to seem correct while Jester believed that his readings were genuine. Beau gave Jester the deck, and Jester spent the rest of the day attempting to learn to read fortunes. She attempted this by looking at the cards to discern their meaning intuitively by looking at them.


 * Jester researched tarot decks at the Cobalt Soul Library in Rexxentrum. She learned that Molly's deck is a Moonweaver deck and the traditions surrounding this specific type of deck. However, she learned little in the way of using the deck to read fortunes. Veth later purchased card stock for to use Jester to add to the deck.
 * Jester researched tarot decks at the Cobalt Soul Library in Rexxentrum. She learned that Molly's deck is a Moonweaver deck and the traditions surrounding this specific type of deck. However, she learned little in the way of using the deck to read fortunes. Veth later purchased card stock for to use Jester to add to the deck.


 * Jester created the Hag and the Maiden.
 * Jester created the Hag and the Maiden.


 * Jester created the Jewel and the Thief, the Spark and Blaze, and Death and Dawn.
 * Jester created the Jewel and the Thief, the Spark and Blaze, and Death and Dawn.


 * Jester read Fjord's fortune, drawing the Eye for his present and Home and Traveler for his future. Though Jester and Nott were enthusiastic about the fortune, Fjord was unconvinced and bewildered.
 * Jester read Fjord's fortune, drawing the Eye for his present and Home and Traveler for his future. Though Jester and Nott were enthusiastic about the fortune, Fjord was unconvinced and bewildered.


 * as the Nein debate how to proceed through Eiselcross, Jester drew a card from the deck for a sign. She drew the Magician, and she told the group that, before he died, Molly created cards depicting each of the Nein at the time.
 * as the Nein debate how to proceed through Eiselcross, Jester drew a card from the deck for a sign. She drew the Magician, and she told the group that, before he died, Molly created cards depicting each of the Nein at the time.


 * Jester created Growth and Rot.
 * Jester created Growth and Rot.


 * Jester offered to read Lucien's fortune. Though he initially agreed in good humor, the reading unsettled him. She drew the History for his past, the Tyrant for his present, and Death for his future. When he reacted to Death, she attempted to offer a reading that Death refers to a transformation of the self and a rebirth rather than a literal death.
 * Jester offered to read Lucien's fortune. Though he initially agreed in good humor, the reading unsettled him. She drew the History for his past, the Tyrant for his present, and Death for his future. When he reacted to Death, she attempted to offer a reading that Death refers to a transformation of the self and a rebirth rather than a literal death.


 * Calling out to Molly, Jester referenced the fortune she read for Lucien, particularly the connotation of Death meaning to be reborn. Lucien scoffed, saying that the deck was always stacked and the fortunes were only storytelling to say what one wanted to hear.
 * Calling out to Molly, Jester referenced the fortune she read for Lucien, particularly the connotation of Death meaning to be reborn. Lucien scoffed, saying that the deck was always stacked and the fortunes were only storytelling to say what one wanted to hear.


 * Using her connection with Cognouza, Veth apparated a spread of three cards from Molly's deck before Lucien, showing him the Judge and attempting to remind him that he was "a good person". After Lucien's death, Jester used the deck to make an offering during a Raise Dead resurrection ritual for Molly. She informed him that she added new cards, believing that he will be impressed with her work, and asked him to come back so that she could learn how to read fortunes, adding furtively that she was making it all up. The soul returned to the body identified the Nein by the names of the cards depicting them: Love, Magician, Tinkerer, Joy, Sea, and Rumor.
 * Using her connection with Cognouza, Veth apparated a spread of three cards from Molly's deck before Lucien, showing him the Judge and attempting to remind him that he was "a good person". After Lucien's death, Jester used the deck to make an offering during a Raise Dead resurrection ritual for Molly. She informed him that she added new cards, believing that he will be impressed with her work, and asked him to come back so that she could learn how to read fortunes, adding furtively that she was making it all up. The soul returned to the body identified the Nein by the names of the cards depicting them: Love, Magician, Tinkerer, Joy, Sea, and Rumor.


 * Jester attempted to communicate to the newly raised soul using the cards depicting Molly and the other members of the Nein. Later, when the soul, identifying now as Kingsley Tealeaf, did not recognize the Nein, Jester showed him these cards again. Kingsley did not recognize the cards.
 * Jester attempted to communicate to the newly raised soul using the cards depicting Molly and the other members of the Nein. Later, when the soul, identifying now as Kingsley Tealeaf, did not recognize the Nein, Jester showed him these cards again. Kingsley did not recognize the cards.

Trivia

 * The name of the card depicting Molly is never given. Following the pattern that each of the Nein were called by the names of the cards depicting them in, Molly possibly depicted himself on a card named Empty, in reference to his origins.
 * Four of the cards share names with real-world Major Arcana cards: the Moon, the Chariot, the Magician, and Death.
 * Jester drew the Chariot from Molly's deck because Taliesin held out a physical tarot deck as a prop at the table for Laura to do so. The deck Taliesin used, with intricately detailed blue-and-white card backs and the Chariot depicting a figure dressed in red and brown over a blue triangle, appears to be the Aquarian Tarot by David Palladini.
 * Though Jester illustrated a Death card very different from that of the real-world Death, the connotation she explained to Lucien matches the connotation of the real-world Death: it heralds transformation of the self and a rebirth, of something ending to make way for something new.