Not to be confused with the Hanged Man
The number seventeen card in the deck.
A dashing young man stands proudly in full military regalia, his hand clutched his weapon in a symbolic pose.
Authors note:This card cannot be interpreted without first noting the difference between The Hanged Man of the standard deck and The Drowned Man. Obviously the Dishonored creative team had reason to name this card such, I would suspect that the character is drowned at some point (but as I noted earlier, I have not played the game as I do not want to base these interpretations on the game board but rather the images depicted on the card). The Hanged Man is a card of personal , physical or mental suffering to attain a higher goal. Students in their intense final years of study often see The Hanged Man show up on a spread. The imagery of The Drowned Man suggest no such suffering but has obviously achieved at least a modicum of success.
The card has it's most valuable interpretation when inverted. The Drowned Man inverted indicates a man (or woman) of some stature in business or other social construct who has for whatever reasons been subjected to intense work or personal overload. This person is drowning in sorrow, drowning in debt, drowning in loss ... The Drowned Man is a symbol of suffocation. Yet for whatever reasons The Drowned Man struggles to maintain the outward appearance of success and dashing. The serious implication of this, is this:
The need to keep up appearances is causing much of the struggle. In a past and present position The Drowned Man is trying hard to maintain an image but in failing to do so, causes failure which causes more stress...the vicious circle continues ad infinitum. Depending on it's position in a past or present mode the indications are so severe that immediate action is probably justified.
In an upright position The Drowned Man is a null card. The only such card in any deck. Upright the person or situation has achieved what they wish in life, maintain their appearances and are probably quite happy with where they are at or a situation is functioning normally with no problems nor grand flourishes . Upright , The Drowned Man is a card of grand banality .
The High Overseer
Possibly inspired by The Hierophant
The number sixteen card in the deck.
A fascinating representation which demands tenacious thought. The most complex card of the deck.The card is split along the diagonal showing two very distinct men but with only one name : The High Overseer. This calls into play more questions than answers and the reader will be forced to determine which of these answers is best suited to the spread.
In any position, in any aspect The Overseer is to be noted to be a watcher, one who observes.
On the top the Blue Overseer. A younger man , arms folded in defiant resolution looking to the left of the card ( in standard tarot readings, looking to the left is equal to looking at the past). He is in his "dress blues".
On the bottom The Red Overseer. A slightly older man again his arms folded looks to the right (and likewise a right looking card is said to look towards the future. The red Overseer has a weapon at his side.
Both are men of victory and as the name suggest both oversee a community or other group, perhaps even a city or country. Both have similar qualities but each are different.
The reader must ask:
Is this the same man? As per the spread is this card representing two aspects of the same person and if so what aspects are to be dealt with:
Is the Blue Overseer a man dealing with or obsessed with the past or his past accomplishments?
Is the Red Overseer a man disregarding the past and focusing on the future?
Is the Blue Overseer more concerned with conventionality and the Red Overseer more aggressive and determined?
Are these two different men? Are these actually two people involved in the same struggle ? Is it a partnership or is it an adversarial relationship?
The High Overseer is a card which cannot be thrown into a spread without very serious contemplation. For the person who is being read it indicates a serious use or misuse of power. This card has no true reverse aspect.
When reading a spread with the High Overseer present, ask questions! It will be the only way to determine which meaning the card has to the real world or the questions at hand.
The number sixteen card in the deck.
A fascinating representation which demands tenacious thought. The most complex card of the deck.The card is split along the diagonal showing two very distinct men but with only one name : The High Overseer. This calls into play more questions than answers and the reader will be forced to determine which of these answers is best suited to the spread.
In any position, in any aspect The Overseer is to be noted to be a watcher, one who observes.
On the top the Blue Overseer. A younger man , arms folded in defiant resolution looking to the left of the card ( in standard tarot readings, looking to the left is equal to looking at the past). He is in his "dress blues".
On the bottom The Red Overseer. A slightly older man again his arms folded looks to the right (and likewise a right looking card is said to look towards the future. The red Overseer has a weapon at his side.
Both are men of victory and as the name suggest both oversee a community or other group, perhaps even a city or country. Both have similar qualities but each are different.
The reader must ask:
Is this the same man? As per the spread is this card representing two aspects of the same person and if so what aspects are to be dealt with:
Is the Blue Overseer a man dealing with or obsessed with the past or his past accomplishments?
Is the Red Overseer a man disregarding the past and focusing on the future?
Is the Blue Overseer more concerned with conventionality and the Red Overseer more aggressive and determined?
Are these two different men? Are these actually two people involved in the same struggle ? Is it a partnership or is it an adversarial relationship?
The High Overseer is a card which cannot be thrown into a spread without very serious contemplation. For the person who is being read it indicates a serious use or misuse of power. This card has no true reverse aspect.
When reading a spread with the High Overseer present, ask questions! It will be the only way to determine which meaning the card has to the real world or the questions at hand.
Nobility
Possible alignment to Temperance
The number fifteen card in the deck.
A well tailored nobel man adjust his cuff for a better fit.
In the upright aspect, in the past or present positions this is a card of balance of power. The person is probably born into nobility by linage or perhaps has earned their titles through education or service . The Nobel man knows that his position is one which carries responsibility and weight and must be used with all due respect to his position. The position will probably be handed down to future generations. The Nobel man understands the force of yin and yang and strives to create balance for his household and his subjects. In a future position the need for these qualities must be examined or called upon.
In a reverse aspect the card represents the abuse of power and a life thrown out of balance. The reverse Nobel man is the antithesis of strength. He is self satisfying and will abuse his authority to gain self worth. He is worthless to his household or community and generations will suffer for his attitude and actions.
The number fifteen card in the deck.
A well tailored nobel man adjust his cuff for a better fit.
In the upright aspect, in the past or present positions this is a card of balance of power. The person is probably born into nobility by linage or perhaps has earned their titles through education or service . The Nobel man knows that his position is one which carries responsibility and weight and must be used with all due respect to his position. The position will probably be handed down to future generations. The Nobel man understands the force of yin and yang and strives to create balance for his household and his subjects. In a future position the need for these qualities must be examined or called upon.
In a reverse aspect the card represents the abuse of power and a life thrown out of balance. The reverse Nobel man is the antithesis of strength. He is self satisfying and will abuse his authority to gain self worth. He is worthless to his household or community and generations will suffer for his attitude and actions.
The Governess
Possible alignment to The High Priestess
The number fourteen card in the deck.
A prim and proper , well groomed lady stands akimbo. Her costume is somewhat suggestive of a housekeeper, also suggestive of an authoritarian.
The Governess is a strong female figure who oversees the well being and education of others. She is a mother figure and a teacher. Her knowledge is vast. She employees common sense in every aspect of her life. Her personal life is possibly very limited choosing to stand for the good of others as opposed to self indulgence.
In a present or past position the card is indicative of these qualities. In a future position these qualities must be earned or utilised for an optimum outcome or the spread is showing the need for someone with these qualities to come into play.
In an reversed position she would represent a female figure of frailty and excess. A woman who plays ignorance and weakness to garner the attention of others. In the reverse, this is an extremely negative connotation . One who has these negative qualities will be taken advantage of without recourse.
The number fourteen card in the deck.
A prim and proper , well groomed lady stands akimbo. Her costume is somewhat suggestive of a housekeeper, also suggestive of an authoritarian.
The Governess is a strong female figure who oversees the well being and education of others. She is a mother figure and a teacher. Her knowledge is vast. She employees common sense in every aspect of her life. Her personal life is possibly very limited choosing to stand for the good of others as opposed to self indulgence.
In a present or past position the card is indicative of these qualities. In a future position these qualities must be earned or utilised for an optimum outcome or the spread is showing the need for someone with these qualities to come into play.
In an reversed position she would represent a female figure of frailty and excess. A woman who plays ignorance and weakness to garner the attention of others. In the reverse, this is an extremely negative connotation . One who has these negative qualities will be taken advantage of without recourse.
Cruelty
No signifcant alignments in the standard deck.
The number thirteen card in the deck.
A military leader secures his gloved hand in preparation for torture, he wears a blood red arm band (one of the most significant uses of color in this deck) and bears a grim , stern look on his face.
Almost no description is needed. In a past or present position this person represents the intense cruelty of man. A person (or perhaps situation) who (which) is hurtful for the sake of causing harm .
Reversed- more of the same with intensity leading to death .
The number thirteen card in the deck.
A military leader secures his gloved hand in preparation for torture, he wears a blood red arm band (one of the most significant uses of color in this deck) and bears a grim , stern look on his face.
Almost no description is needed. In a past or present position this person represents the intense cruelty of man. A person (or perhaps situation) who (which) is hurtful for the sake of causing harm .
Reversed- more of the same with intensity leading to death .
The Artist
Probable alignment with The Magician
The number twelve card in the deck.
A heavily bearded and disheveled looking man stands posed staring straight from the canvas.
In the past and present positions on the spread this card probably indicates a person who is philosophical and introverted. Quite possibly an artist or musician. He is clearly the sort of individual with disregard for outward appearance or social conventions, choosing rather to focus on creative forces and their implementation in real world scenarios. The Artist is a creative force and could be a "go-to" guy for complex situational problems which require thinking and action outside the paradigm of the everyday.
In a future position the need to rely on these abilities or to find a person who possess them is indicated.
In a reversed aspect the artist would be the kind of person described above but who uses his prowess for darker purposes. One who puts self before the community. One who cherishes his own fame above his actual contribution to society. A poser.
The number twelve card in the deck.
A heavily bearded and disheveled looking man stands posed staring straight from the canvas.
In the past and present positions on the spread this card probably indicates a person who is philosophical and introverted. Quite possibly an artist or musician. He is clearly the sort of individual with disregard for outward appearance or social conventions, choosing rather to focus on creative forces and their implementation in real world scenarios. The Artist is a creative force and could be a "go-to" guy for complex situational problems which require thinking and action outside the paradigm of the everyday.
In a future position the need to rely on these abilities or to find a person who possess them is indicated.
In a reversed aspect the artist would be the kind of person described above but who uses his prowess for darker purposes. One who puts self before the community. One who cherishes his own fame above his actual contribution to society. A poser.
The Hermit
Definitely aligned with The Hermit
The number 11 card in the deck.
A bespectacled well dressed man carries a book under one arm.
In the standard tarot the Hermit is most universally depicted as carrying a lantern to light the way for others. This hermit is the modern light bringer, his lantern is a book. He is most definitely a teacher and is probably respected by his students.
In present and future aspects he represents one who will educate and enlighten others. In the past aspect, one who has already done so. It may also indicate a simpler version of this as one who would rather read a good book than socialize with others, a hermit or recluse.
Inverted it would take the connotation of a bad teacher, one who dispensed poor information or withheld facts. One who likes to keep people "in the dark".
The number 11 card in the deck.
A bespectacled well dressed man carries a book under one arm.
In the standard tarot the Hermit is most universally depicted as carrying a lantern to light the way for others. This hermit is the modern light bringer, his lantern is a book. He is most definitely a teacher and is probably respected by his students.
In present and future aspects he represents one who will educate and enlighten others. In the past aspect, one who has already done so. It may also indicate a simpler version of this as one who would rather read a good book than socialize with others, a hermit or recluse.
Inverted it would take the connotation of a bad teacher, one who dispensed poor information or withheld facts. One who likes to keep people "in the dark".
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