King of Swords
The King sits authoritatively upon a solid stone throne adorned with butterflies and cherubs, holding a massive, naked steel blade upright in his right hand, angled slightly toward his mind. He wears a deep blue robe under a crimson mantle.
Unlike the other courts, his sword is fully drawn and completely exposed to the elements. His gaze is completely piercing and impartial—he represents the conscious mind fully integrated with universal law, cutting away all personal bias to execute absolute justice.
Upright
The King of Swords sits at the absolute peak of intellectual authority. Upright, he represents the master jurist, the scientist, or the strategist who rules through law, reason, and absolute objectivity. He calls you to judge a situation solely by its facts.
Reversed
Reversed, the King degrades into a cold tyrant, an unprincipled manipulator, or a cruel dogmatist who uses his brilliant mind to control and oppress others. It warns that logic completely divorced from compassion becomes a weapon of pure destruction.