OOC Introduction to House Tarot
House Tarot is a heavy RP guild run by 15-year veteran table top and mmorpg Storytellers (that’s 15 years as Storytellers, not 15 years old!) While we encourage members of the guild to represent House Tarot in every aspect of gameplay, the primary goal of the guild leaders is to tell interesting stories starring your favorite characters. House Tarot will strive to work with other RP guilds, as well, to create even larger and deeper plots and events the entire Tarnished Coast server can enjoy.

House Tarot
The Tarot family was one of many whose holdings were largely decimated when Lion’s Arch was swallowed by the sea. While many noble families were outright destroyed, and others escaped further inland, the Tarots clung to the new coast and began rebuilding their wealth via management of the pirate lords who swept into the sunken ruins of Lion’s Arch.

While successor after successor battled over Divinity’s Reach for the next 150 years, House Tarot quietly slithered its tentacles into military orders, scholarly guilds, commercial interests and political action groups. While the full blooded Tarots still rule the House, they’ve aligned themselves with humans from every walk of life, and recently incorporated like-minded agents from other races, promising a future of security and justice for those who join the House.

House Tarot moves toward one purpose -- seizing control of the last human kingdom on Tyria. To do this they must dethrone Queen Jennah, undermine the Ministers, and destroy or take control of the Seraph. House Tarot has a number of resources at their disposal to accomplish their goals, as will be clear in the next sections.

[This goal is not In Character knowledge of anyone outside of the guild, but is stated here so interested players will not be surprised. While this will undoubtedly make House Tarot a “villain” guild to most other RPers, we will be mature and responsible villains. No Chaotic Evil characters!]

Hierarchy of House Tarot
The leadership of House Tarot is internally referred to as the Major Arcana. The current head of House Tarot is “Lord” Anton Tarot, though within the House he is referred to as “The Emperor.” His sister, Lady Kelsey Tarot, is referred to as the “The Chariot.”

[As players move up to officer roles in the guild and/or their characters advance to overall leadership positions, they can be promoted to the Major Arcana. This is a combination IC/OOC promotion, so both character and player competence are required.]

The bulk of the House is referred to as the Minor Arcana. The Minor Arcana is divided into four branches, each with its own leadership. Those leaders are beholden only to the members of the Major Arcana. The branches (or Suits) may work cooperatively, as many ventures cross two or more themes, but no Suit is considered more important than any other. Because the leadership of each branch is aware of the precarious nature of the overall goal of House Tarot, cooperation and mutual respect are required between the Suits of House Tarot.

Suit of Swords
The militant branch of House Tarot is comprised of guards, knights, warmages and anyone else whose martial prowess serves to further the goals of the House.

Suit of Wands
The scholarly branch of House Tarot is comprised of magic users and scholars of any topic. They keep safe the knowledge of the House and their advice furthers the House Tarot agenda.

Suit of Coins
The financial branch of House Tarot maintains the guild bank and supplies, engages with merchants all over Tyria and invests in endeavors to enrich the House.

Suit of Cups
The political branch of House Tarot engages in politics and propaganda in Divinity’s Reach and all over Tyria, forming secret alliances, digging up dirt to blackmail Ministers, and recruiting House members and spies.

Sample Joint Ventures
Often one or more Suits will work together to further a goal. Members of the Swords and Coins may come together to form a criminal syndicate to enrich House Tarot. The Cups may finance a pirate fleet and utilize Swords on the ships to ensure their interests are being served. Members of any Suit may come to the Wands for information or good judgment. The Wands may request the Coins finance an archeological dig, or make use of Swords to protect a particularly sensitive site from attack. The possibilities are endless.

Joining House Tarot
Introduction to the guild need not be IC, especially in these early days of the guild. However, each player should consider what Suit best “suits” his character, or create a character to fit the suit you’d like to play in. All races and professions are welcome as Kryta under the rule of House Tarot will need all types.

Currently, House Tarot needs:

… a webmaster!
… players!

If interested, send Anton Tarot an in-game mail with a very brief character concept.