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

[haremtrap]

[This psychic network thing is weird but let's roll with it.]

So I've heard people mention jaunts, I think, but not like.

What they are?

[leftbehindagain]

I don't know about keeping things from devolving into a catastrophe, but I do know that while reverting to whatever the place's status quo is would stop Tower, it wouldn't be good enough for Chariot.

Basically it'll need affecting a change without setting everything on fire. [No pressure.]

[professorwolf]

[Oh dear. This must be someone new.]

Jaunts are where we go when we aren't in this very odd sort of space, here. We're sent out to various worlds to solve problems, preferably in ways that encourage the ideal of one or another of the Arcana. Those are the... beings who send us out.

What have you heard so far?

[professorwolf]

Hmm. So keeping on keeping on isn't going to be enough for him? It has to be change, not just regular progress?

[haremtrap]

Not much. A lot of people talking about where they came from or stuff that doesn't make any sense out of context. I talked to a wolf named SAGE who told me to stand back and consider my situation before deciding what to do.

[Kohaku has had a weird time.]

[leftbehindagain]

Well, it probably could be regular progress. But returning to the old way isn't likely to be of any use. Chariot's about keeping things moving, as is... abundantly clear right now.

[butthemiracleneverhappen]

I agree that avoiding a more catastrophic World is in our best interests.

In this case, it means we must be the change we wish to see in the World, does it not?

[memoryandtheft]

Is it, though? Sometimes you need dramatic, sweeping change.

Unless you're looking at what's best for us, not necessarily for the world we land on.

[awitchdidit]

It's difficult to say what path to take without knowing anything about the particulars. That particular matchup seems extremely volatile, however. The best advice I could give is that we should probably decide on a course of action and stick to it as long as it's not obviously headed off a cliff. Hesitation and delay would surely be fatal in this case.

[awitchdidit]

Tower as an arcanum is useful for clearing away problems, brokenness, and bondage to the past. It's an important part of existence...but probably not something we want in charge of existence, lest nothing have a chance to be built in the first place before it's cleared away.

It's possible that Tower might have the more ethical objective in the Jaunt, but that becomes a question of whether we are concerned more with one world, or the entire universe that the Arcana are supposedly competing for.

[vorenado]

It is unfortunately difficult to devise any worthwhile plan before knowing the details of the battleground in question. Though it seems, between the two options available, one could very easily lead to the other. Too much persistence can lead to a catastrophe, though moving towards a dramatic change may not necessarily be a bad thing in the end.

[what_do_you_see]

Sometimes you need to sweep away the dead wood, start over.

[runawaystory]

...I don't think Tower wants catastrophe and change in charge, exactly. I think Tower just wants to see this whole -- system of jaunts, and the game between the Arcana -- wrecked.

Tower didn't seem entirely clear on what would happen after that.

[runawaystory]

It's going to be quite a balancing act... We'll have to work with what's already in motion. So start with gathering as much info on all sides as possible?

[professorwolf]

Yes, that's my concern here. Tower doesn't seem to have any plans for replacing what it tears down, and whether all he wants is to take down the Jaunts, from what I understand he will still be the one reflected throughout the universe. Change is all well and good, but there must be something to come afterwards.

[professorwolf]

Well, I mean, more along the lines of regular check-ins, plans for discovering the motivations of various infiltrators, and perhaps teams of people meant to keep track of each other, whether some of them are infiltrating or not?

[runawaystory]

He suggested asking 'SAGE' about what might come after... Does that name sound familiar? I'm guessing that's another Arcana but I haven't heard that name before.

[professorwolf]

You won't find me arguing that each Arcana's ideal doesn't have its time and place. In order to become the type of werewolf I am, for example, I had to die. That's quite a catastrophic change, but we had people lining up for the chance.

My concern is that whoever wins this particular engagement will be one step closer to affecting the whole of the universe, if they're to be believed. I don't know that a universe full of catastrophic change in most people's best interests.

[professorwolf]

Yes, I think so. I'm hoping to get more people willing to give me permission to read their thoughts and intentions if they're infiltrating, as well. We may need that edge of knowing who wants to do what.

[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.

[runawaystory]

[Rosalie sighs. She's not really comfortable with the network's more advanced capabilities, but she's also not really a mayhem kind of girl. She'd rather not get caught up in catastrophic change of any kind, thanks ever so.]

Well, if you see me, go ahead.

[professorwolf]

Ah, that would be the Hermit. He's the one we got out of the Grid, who had been trapped there by Devil and Lovers, as I recall. That was... my first Jaunt, actually.

[professorwolf]

I'm looking for what's best for the universe as a whole. Whoever wins this match is one rather large step closer to being reflected throughout all the worlds these Arcana touch, if they're to be believed. Whether a catastrophic change is what this particular world needs might be less important than the fact that not every world needs catastrophic change... particularly when I get the feeling Tower doesn't really care what happens afterwards.

[truerevelation]

I'm ... just gonna add a bit more on the symbolism stuff for now? Chariot's as much about 'control' and 'determination' and 'victory' as it is moving.
A big change can still happen if ... if that's the best thing, if that's what folks decide. It's just gotta be under control. No big disaster or ... burnin' the place down.

[Kanji privately adds to Lyall:]

Gonna come clean though. Chariot's mine. And I trust it a lot more than I trust Tower.

[professorwolf]

That would be the Hermit, one of the other Arcana like Tower and Chariot. That's a very him thing to say. Are you familiar with the Tarot?

[There's a pause, and he adds, sounding a bit amused,]

... so he really is a wolf still?