Arcana-talk time [A day or two into the new liminal]

[professorwolf]

We're still assuming that the liminal space before a Jaunt represents the Arcana competing in it, yes? I know someone's mentioned this earlier, but it definitely needs to be highlighted-- I think it's pretty obvious this time that the contest will be between Chariot and Tower. The giant wooden horse running through a thunderstorm really couldn't be more blatant. For once.

[He's not great at understanding symbolism, but damn if this wasn't an easy one.]

So if that's right, it'll be a contest of motion and persistence, versus dramatic change and catastrophe. I think it's easy enough to decide who we want to support, in this case. We'll just have to find ways to make sure we see what sort of conditions make for a win for each ideal.

Any ideas for what to look for and how to keep things from devolving into a catastrophe? Those seem to happen a lot when we're around, unfortunately.

Comments

[professorwolf]

I don't think that persistence is the only trait to look at here, either. We may wind up diverting a dramatic change through some other kind of motion or determination. And even if dramatic change might be a good idea for one world... think of all the other worlds that might be affected if Tower winds up winning this whole thing.

Regardless, we need some sort of game plan going in. Regular check-ins, plans for discerning what the various infiltrators want, that sort of thing.

[vorenado]

Given the coalition between cause and effect in this case, it would be difficult to predict just who would win. We still do not know what constitutes a win. Is it merely the result or a culmination of factors. I do not feel comfortable sacrificing the good of a world and it's people if it is not an absolute final resort.

It would be difficult given that we do not know who will infiltrate and who will not until when we arive, but perhaps we should assign a leader, or a hierarchy of leaders who will attempt to keep the investigators organized.

[professorwolf]

Oh, I don't mean to say we don't help the people we're visiting. I have a hard time imagining how a Tower win would really help anyone, anyhow. Chariot has enough factors of Change involved that so long as things don't wind up on fire or a complete disorderly mess, we should hopefully be all right.

I... don't think any kind of hierarchy will go over well here, though, Gale. We just have too many people who prefer to do their own thing, or who have problems with authority and who will probably do the exact opposite of the thing a leader suggests. I was going to suggest teams where we all check on each other, instead, based on already-existing groups, and have whoever isn't infiltrating from that group check in for everyone. Rather like what already happens, only more intentionally, and with more information and detail.

[vorenado]

I understand, but I worry that with a continued lack of cohesion, the percentage chances of our failure will only increase. Not only for this jaunt but as we move forward. I'm not suggesting we should be run like a military installation, but a combined effort could only benefit everyone, especially if there is a growing consensus on who we should help win or not.

[professorwolf]

I agree that we need a combined effort, but a combined effort doesn't require specific leadership. It just requires all the disparate groups of us coming to at least something of a consensus on what we want to do. Though I don't think we'll ever get all of us working towards the same goal. The most we can hope for is most of us, I think.

[If they can't get everyone to agree that Tower shouldn't win... they'll definitely never get everyone on the same page.]

[vorenado]

-=he feels like an attempt should be made regardless of unsurities of allegiance, but there is still enough programming going through his head that keeps him from stepping up himself. he struggles enough carrying the moniker of leader for the embryon.=-

Something is better than nothing, I suppose.

[professorwolf]

[That's pretty much what Lyall is trying to do, here: set up the attempt. He's having mixed results.]

It is. It's also why I think we need to stay in better touch with each other during the Jaunt, and keep track of options. I'm hoping we'll be better organized this time.

[vorenado]

I will do all I can to help.

Given I have the ability.