#etienne plays the arcana

[meserach]

I need to talk about this I guess.

I'd been holding off talking about the Power Fantasy because Gillen's creator owned stuff in particular has a way of wrong-footing premature analysis, so I was waiting on a full trades' worth of storyline being available to be discussed so that I don't look like an idiot. But the specific combo of Tarot and Gillen absolutely demands my input.

As soon as you say to me "there's a bunch of characters and they have a one-one correspondence with the Major and Minor Arcana" I am busting out the whiteboards. I got like this over matching up sigils to gods in WicDiv, and emotional spectra to gods in DIE, and this has every possibility of putting me right back on my bullshit.

Except that it seems unlikely we'll end up characterising all 22 (let alone the other 56) of Jacky Magus' underlings in much depth so there wouldn't seem to be much weight to the game! But DOUBLE EXCEPT!

There's 23 Major Arcana. So one of the Arcana is for Jacky himself. But which one?

First thought best thought is clue is in the name: he's the Magus, card I is the Magician, job done right? But that seems to be the pat answer, and it's too easy, so I look for the lie.

And then Eliza here is presumably Eliza Hellbound, so she started out as a Jacky Magus underling before coming into her own power separately later. So she's gonna be The Devil, right? But again, too easy. (Also, what's going on with an apparently literal Heaven and Hell in this comic? It's going to be fun finding out.)

Gillen's said before that he doesn't want to run another long running comic with as many secret twists and reveals as WicDiv had, not least because keeping them all secret for years was stressful. So after the whammy reveal of issue 3 here I've been trying to assume Gillen's playing with a more open hand. But, well, we'll see what's in the cards.

Issue 5 hits in two days. I should spoiler cut this next bit, because I wanna speculate:

Okay here under the cut: does anyone else feel like Etienne Lux might straight up die at the end of this next issue? Or at least become heavily compromised, in some sort of Dr. Manhattan-esque character assassination and exile way?

This whole arc has been very much about showing just how much Etienne is balancing the entire world on his shoulders and it's all inches from going to hell without him at any given moment. And Magus has expressed concern he's getting more powerful and does NOT like Lux, and has already clearly been sponsoring efforts to try and at least inconvenience him. So his focus issue is a good place to reveal a real trap for him.

Plus removing Lux at least temporarily from the board clearly lights the dramatic touch paper for a fireworks second arc.

Of course a lot of effort has been expended on establishing him as a character merely to kill him now. And arguably this repeats the trick with Luci in WicDiv too much. But then speaking of: I have every faith that Etienne, who is Mr. Contingency, might survive an apparently lethal blow in some way. Which brings me to The Signal.

The Signal is some sort of psychic mind thing that Etienne was involved with in the backstory. It's mentioned a couple times, in the issue one interview and most prominently in the issue #3 timeline. And the explanation there is it's some kind of disembodied mind...

A disembodied mind, you say? A means for a mind to survive psychically outside of a body?

Hmm hmm hmm.

Oh, THE POWER FANTASY #5 is out next week, so we should lob the preview up here, right?

It's from a little after the start of the issue, as the opening spoils issue 4. Let's flash back to the late 1970s and get to know the arsehole that is Jacky Magus.

From Image comics, out Wednesday 18th December.

[prismatic-starstuff]

Actually no, you beautiful maniac, I was focusing on Julian's route mainly to get to this section so I could meet you ajejfjdjsjdjsjak

Valdemar bby my excitement has less to do with the dungeon and more to do with the fact I am a helpless monstersimp and you are an incredibly adorable monster--

[dailyvaldemarappreciation]

That's an odd way of saying 'squeal of delight,' Muirin!

...oh, Luci...

Aww, they're trying to be friendly! ...Kinda! ...Sorta?

Of course, Muirin knows exactly who this is. Can't forget a face-- uh, a maw-- er, several gaping maws full of razor sharp teeth like that!

Aww, Valdemar missed Muirin too; this ship is still sailing folks, this ship is still sailing 🥺

[dragons-bones]

etienne-bessette replied to your photo

This is almost completely off topic, but seeing this reminded me that a dating sim (sort of) game I first learned about on your blog finally got Kickstarted a while back: The Arcana. Not many chapters out yet but so far it's amazing. (Apologies if you're already well aware!)

I actually do have The Arcana installed on my phone and have seen it was launched on Android, I just still haven’t gotten around to playing it. ^^; Pretty much had my nose stuck in FFXIV for months on end, but I should give Arcana a try, I’ve heard very good things about it.

[prismatic-starstuff]

So I was redoing certain parts in The Arcana seeing as how it's an infinikey weekend, and I decided to have a look at Muriel's route because it has one of my favourite Valdemar scenes in it (I am a helpless simp do not judge me)

I chose the other option last time, so I went with the 'stay hidden' option this time, and...

...this probably says a lot about me, but this is just one of the cutest mental images??? I think it's the use of the words 'peeks' and 'gleefully,' or the 'hello,' or... maybe I'm just weird, but I do not apologise for that sjdbfbdjsjfnsk

(also Muirin, bby, literally they already told you they could smell you; this was not your brightest idea huh--)

[prismatic-starstuff]

My dear chamberlain, I refuse to believe this is the first time you've had to say these words in your time at the palace

Julian, how could you be so rude?! They said 'please!' D:

a-ancient... ancient and powerful... and... and... and e l d r i t c h . . . 😍

Quick lil' shoutout to Nazali for being iconic, I love them 😂

[prismatic-starstuff]

Daily Valdemar Appreciation Post:

You know what else is eternal and unchanging? My deep and profound love for you you beautiful maniac--

[dailyvaldemarappreciation]

V--

Va--

Valdemar darling I literally run the blog called dailyvaldemarappreciation dot tumblr dot com and you're really gonna do this to me?!? 😭

[prismatic-starstuff]

No specific reason for this post, they are just out here serving Looks and I appreciate it 👀

[prismatic-starstuff]

*cue gentle squealing coming from Muirin's general direction*

Now Playing In Muirin's Head: BodyRockersILikeTheWayYouMove.mp4

Seeing as how no-one actually gave them a 'yes,' I like to imagine Valdemar's just stalking after the guards and either A) needling and badgering them until they agree, or B) just being themself and therefore creeping the guards out so much that they're just like 'you know what it's fine just take him and don't hurt us--'

[dailyvaldemarappreciation]

Helpful Valdemar is helpful! We love to see it. 🙏🏻

...well, that raises a question or several, but--

--sadly, there's a limit to Valdemar's helpfulness, and it would seem we've hit it as far as this subject goes. Dammit doc, I just wanna get to know you better... 😭

Valdemar has joined the party! ...Sort of!

[prismatic-starstuff]

The moment I realised 'yep I definitely love him?' When he started crying and I was just like 'no please no don't do that noooooo--'

[dailyvaldemarappreciation]

[prismatic-starstuff]

Presented without context

[prismatic-starstuff]

Local Himbo Count Cannot Do Own Makeup, More At Six--

[prismatic-starstuff]

...okay I change my mind: I wasn't too excited about doing Asra's route but now that I'm finished, I love him 🥺