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

[butthemiracleneverhappen]

Charmed, Lyall. I am Frederika Bernkastel, the Witch of Miracles.

The next... Jaunt, I believe the Travellers call it... will be my first time as a piece on the board. I confess I do not look forward to the experience, but I have won much worse games.

[professorwolf]

Just be aware of what "winning" entails. Whatever set of ideals in a particular Jaunt "wins", or reaches the end conditions, the Arcana associated with it moves on to the next round. Whichever Arcana's ideals wins in the end, they have the opportunity to change the whole of the universes that they can touch, the World-- capital W. So if a caring Arcana wins, the universes become more empathetic but potentially more smothering. If a cruel or deceitful Arcana wins, then the universes become more difficult to live in.

[butthemiracleneverhappen]

I had thought that winning involved either finding a player your goals aligned with, or else wresting control of the game from them. The first seems unlikely, and the latter... needs time and power we do not presently have.

In the meantime, knocking the Tower out of this tournament bracket seems prudent.

[professorwolf]

Winning in general, perhaps, but we aren't players in this game. We're game pieces. The winners are going to be the Arcana, and it looks like we're the only ones able to influence which one wins. Tower... is not the best option, yes.

[butthemiracleneverhappen]

It has been some time since I have been on the board rather than at it. The last time was... a deeply unpleasant experience.

So far I have not been impressed by the gamemaster's motives, merely their power. That's not a good position for a piece to be in.

[professorwolf]

It isn't going to necessarily pleasant this time around, either, I'll warn you.

And what you think of their motives... might vary depending on what you know of them, and vary from Arcana to Arcana, since most of them have different motives. One reason they play this game is to revive their dead companions, which I can understand. I would prefer it not include randomly kidnapping people and forcing them into situations like this, but at least I can understand it.

[butthemiracleneverhappen]

Ressurection. A motive I know well. There is little one could do to dissuade them from resurrecting those they love...

Or. Hmn. Preventing the same out of hatred for the fallen and spite for their beloved.

[professorwolf]

I'm not certain any of them except maybe Devil would be trying to win in order to prevent others from bringing the dead back. They simply all have their own agendas that are in many cases incompatible with the others'.