Pandemonium deck
This is a magic item for Pathfinder based on P.D. Magnus' Decktet. Though inspired by the deck of many things, it alters the whole concept of the deck (roughly) following the model used by Madness at Gardmore Abbey to make the deck a less destabilizing force (at least at first).
Aura strong (all schools); CL 20th; Slot none; Weight —
This worn fortune-teller's deck bears an evocative image upon each of its forty-five cards. The deck contains six suits (in order: moons, suns, waves, leaves, wyrms and knots) with a complex structure. For each suit, there is an Ace and a Crown. Ranked between them are other cards numbered 2 through 9, each with two suits. Four Crowns each have three suits and are ranked beneath Crowns. Four Pawns each have three suits as well, ranked below Courts. The Excuse has no suit or rank. Suit combinations do not occur with equal frequency. All cards also have a theme or meaning, written on the face of the card.
Individual Cards
Cards of this deck are almost never found assembled, as the deck has the ability to scatter itself at random under certain circumstances. Most who come across cards find them singly. Individual cards are no more or less durable than mundane cards, but should a card be destroyed, it disappears and reforms itself whole at some other random location in the world.
Individual cards make their presence known whenever combat begins. Whenever an initiative check is made, gather all of the cards possessed by any of the participants and draw one randomly. This card then exerts an influence on the battle. A spectral icon representing the card appears on the ground in a random square adjacent to the character who owns the selected card. Anyone standing in the square containing the icon gains the influence effect listed for that card so long as they remain in the same square as the icon.
At the start of each round, the icon moves 1d4-1 squares in a random direction (roll 1d8, with 1 indicating north and the other numbers indicating compass going clockwise). Any creatures standing in that square immediately gain the influence effect of the card.
Characters who own cards may spend a move action attempting to force a card they own to become the influencing card. Success on a Use Magic Item check (DC 18) causes any existing influence to vanish, and a new influence icon to appear at a random square adjacent to the card owner. Any character in that square immediately gains the influence effect of the new card.
The character who owns the influencing card may also spend a move action attempting to move its icon. Success on a Use Magic Item check (DC 20) allows the character to move the icon up to 15'. Any creatures standing in the destination immediately gain the influence effect of the card.
Cumulative Effects
As more of the cards come together, the deck gains potency. If a single character holds multiple cards, they bestow additional effects, depending on the number of cards and their suit combinations. All applicable effects from the following table apply if the character owns cards that qualify. All spell-like abilities function with a caster level equal to the character's level.
| card combination | effect |
|---|---|
| any 6 cards | You emit an aura of chaos as if you were a cleric of a chaotic deity. |
| any 12 cards | You are constantly protected from law. |
| any 18 cards | Your alignment shifts one step toward chaotic. You may cast magic circle of protection from law 3 times/day as a spell-like ability. |
| any 24 cards | You may cast chaos hammer 3 times/day as a spell-like ability. |
| any 30 cards | You may cast dispel law 3 times/day as a spell-like ability. |
| any 36 cards | You may cast word of chaos 3 times/day as a spell-like ability. |
| any 42 cards | You may cast cloak of chaos 3 times/day as a spell-like ability. |
| three moons + three suns | You may cast flare burst at will as a spell-like ability, as a swift action. |
| three waves + three leaves | You may cast endure elements at will as a spell-like ability, changing the range to medium. |
| three wyrms + three knots | You may detect chaos at will as a spell-like ability, as a free action. |
| three moons + three wyrms | You may cast deathwatch at will as a spell-like ability, as a swift action. |
| three suns + three leaves | You may cast defoliate at will as a spell-like ability. |
| three waves + three knots | You may detect law at will as a spell-like ability, as a free action. |
| four pawns | You may cast suggestion at will as a spell-like ability. |
| four courts | You may cast prayer at will as a spell-like ability. |
| six aces | You may cast true seeing on yourself at will as a spell-like ability. |
| six crowns | You may cast scrying at will as a spell-like ability. |
| one card of each rank + the excuse | Once per day, you may broadcast a sending which is heard by any creature who owns six or more cards. |
| moons of each rank | You may cast beast shape iv twice per day as a spell-like ability. |
| suns of each rank | You may cast sunbeam twice per day as a spell-like ability. |
| waves of each rank | You may cast seamantle twice per day as a spell-like ability. |
| leaves of each rank | You may cast plant shape iii twice per day as a spell-like ability. |
| wyrms of each rank | You may cast form of the dragon ii twice per day as a spell-like ability. |
| knots of each rank | You may cast maze once per day as a spell-like ability. |
Completing the deck
Should one character assemble the complete deck, the true power of the deck reveals itself. The owner of the deck may perform an hour long ritual culminating in the owner (or someone she designates) drawing one or more cards from the deck. If the one drawing is lawful, they may draw only one card. If the one drawing is chaotic, they may draw up to three cards. Otherwise the one drawing may draw up to two cards. Regardless of who draws, the owner of the deck chooses one of the drawn cards, and the major effect listed for that card activates (targeting the one who drew it, if applicable). Afterwards, each card drawn disintegrates and reforms at a random location (as mentioned above). The owner of the deck immediately becomes aware of the location of the card that was activated (but not the others, if any). No longer in possession of a complete deck, the owner must track down the lost cards in order to draw again.
Card Effects
The Author
Rank/Suits
Influence Effect
Major Effect
The Bard
Rank/Suits
Influence Effect
Major Effect
Battle
Rank/Suits
Influence Effect
Major Effect
Betrayal
Rank/Suits
Influence Effect
Major Effect
The Borderland
Rank/Suits
Influence Effect
Major Effect
Calamity
Rank/Suits
Influence Effect
Major Effect
The Castle
Rank/Suits
Influence Effect
Major Effect
The Cave
Rank/Suits
Influence Effect
Major Effect
Chance Meeting
Rank/Suits
Influence Effect
Major Effect
The Consul
Rank/Suits
Influence Effect
Major Effect
The Darkness
Rank/Suits
Influence Effect
Major Effect
The Desert
Rank/Suits
Influence Effect
Major Effect
The Diplomat
Rank/Suits
Influence Effect
Major Effect
Discovery
Rank/Suits
Influence Effect
Major Effect
The End
Rank/Suits
Influence Effect
Major Effect
The Excuse
Rank/Suits
Influence Effect
Major Effect the cards scatter.
The Forest
Rank/Suits
Influence Effect
Major Effect
The Harvest
Rank/Suits
Influence Effect
Major Effect
The Huntress
Rank/Suits
Influence Effect
Major Effect
The Island
Rank/Suits
Influence Effect
Major Effect
The Journey
Rank/Suits
Influence Effect
Major Effect
The Knot
Rank/Suits
Influence Effect
Major Effect
The Leaves
Rank/Suits
Influence Effect
Major Effect
The Light Keeper
Rank/Suits
Influence Effect
Major Effect
The Lunatic
Rank/Suits
Influence Effect
Major Effect
The Market
Rank/Suits
Influence Effect
Major Effect
The Merchant
Rank/Suits
Influence Effect
Major Effect
The Mill
Rank/Suits
Influence Effect
Major Effect
The Moon
Rank/Suits
Influence Effect Moonstruck
Major Effect
The Mountain
Rank/Suits
Influence Effect
Major Effect
The Origin
Rank/Suits
Influence Effect
Major Effect
The Pact
Rank/Suits
Influence Effect
Major Effect
The Painter
Rank/Suits
Influence Effect
Major Effect
The Penitent
Rank/Suits
Influence Effect
Major Effect
The Rite
Rank/Suits
Influence Effect
Major Effect
The Sailor
Rank/Suits
Influence Effect
Major Effect
The Savage
Rank/Suits
Influence Effect
Major Effect
The Sea
Rank/Suits
Influence Effect
Major Effect
The Soldier
Rank/Suits
Influence Effect
Major Effect
The Sun
Rank/Suits
Influence Effect
Major Effect
The Watchman
Rank/Suits
Influence Effect
Major Effect
The Wave
Rank/Suits
Influence Effect
Major Effect
Windfall
Rank/Suits
Influence Effect
Major Effect
The Window
Rank/Suits
Influence Effect
Major Effect
The Wyrm
Rank/Suits
Influence Effect
Major Effect
Destruction
If the entire deck is assembled and then the cards ordered by rank, then the first suit on the card, a dispel chaos spell will cause the deck to disintegrate without regenerating.