Cardiff Castle of Crossed Destinies

John Stuart Crichton lays down cards he has cut from the Marseilles pack. He lays down the nine of coins and wonders who this rich person might be. The nine of coins is followed by The Wheel of Fortune and the ace of swords; is this person from old money? There are suggestions here of the seasons changing and a coats of arms in the ace of swords. Strength, the following card, could be the family motto. Then he sees the two of wands followed by the seven of wands and he sees that this is a railway builder. When he sees the two of swords he believes he knows who this is. The two of swords is followed by Temperance and then the six of swords. By the time that John Stuart Crichton had reached his majority and taken over the businesses and Cardiff Castle, David Davies had sunk his first pit. One of nine children of a West Wales farmer he had earned enough money as a sawyer to buy a second farm. Then by organising rail gangs, building bridges and digging cuttings he had earned enough to lease his first mine. His strength and temperance impressed the men he employed and through their support he made the mines pay, despite unprofitable beginnings. 

What is to come is of interest to Bute, Davies's path is crossing his in a way he feels threatens his interests. David Davies's power base is in Ceredigion far from Bute's sphere of influence. Davies is a Calvinist, Bute a Catholic, both are at odds with the establishment. Bute sees Davies feeding his power base by funding Aberystwyth University, The Hermit, bringing light and education. This last card and Judgement suggest he has a desire to be elected to Parliament. The seven of wands shows Davies's use of his railways to transport his skilled workers back home to Cardigan to vote for him. The ten of swords shows further consolidation of his mines. The cards suggest that Davies will need to build influence in Parliament to have an act passed to further develop his railways. The Star suggests that Davies wants to build a dock, the thing that would most undermine Bute's monopoly. The World, suggests that David Davies will achieve his goal. Crichton-Stuart believes that he can defeat him and that the next time that he lays out David Davies's cards the pattern will be different. A different outcome brought about through marshalling his  political influence and burgeoning magic powers.

Marseilles pack