#the arcana character creation

[muriels-brainrot]

OC MC Survey:

What animal is your MC's Familiar?

Trying to decide on my MC's familiar, but I feel like my ideas are too similar to others'. So here's me trying to find out

Cheers y'all

[an-unraveling-unknown]

Hey y'know when you start playing a visual novel game for the funny-sillies and then it turns into a character-building exercise that has you in a hyperfixation chokehold. well

[ali3nboyfriend]

“hey bard can you—“

whatever it is you’re about to ask the answer is probably yes just don’t ask me to lift anything over roughly 70lbs

[bluehairperson]

Cursed thought but The Arcana getting new tales with Dorian is pretty much what happened to Homestuck with its sequels.

[mduluozz]

The Mandalorian Tarot

Alright! 4 cards done - I’ve already showed you The Fool buuuuut I kinda wanted to put it in here as well. I’m going to include @oonajaeadira’s descriptions from this post here:

0. The Fool:

The story of the tarot is the Fool’s journey, the arc of becoming. So it makes sense to me that Din would be the fool. Fits even better, since he has tremendous Fool energy in his himbo tendencies, just rushing forward into situations without a lot of planning--he’ll deal with it when he’s in it--ready to rely on others to show him the way or guide/help him to the next step.

1. The Magician:

The Magician is someone who is still learning to bend the laws of magic/the Universe, but very adept with their tools. Since Luke is only a few years into his Jedi training at this time, he makes a pretty good Magician.

2. The High Priestess:

High Priestess is further along the path of her magic than Magician, and her knowledge is more intuitive, her skills more effortless. Where the Magician is still learning the balance of light and dark, the High Priestess knows the value and pitfalls of both. It was always going to be Ahsoka.

3. The Empress:

The Empress is the mother figure, the energy in the universe that provides all that is needed and embodies the energy of creation. I can see the argument for Omera being the Empress--mostly because she is a mom and she’s soft and a lot of people see the Empress as a soft female figure, I get it. (And if I were to do a minor arcana, girl would show up as one of the Queens for sure.) But in the end, I gave it to Peli because she’s a recurring character, more relevant in his story, and if Din is the Fool, Peli is more an Empress to him. She’s able to be the provider of his particular needs; services to his ship to get him up flying, contact and location information, and she’s always willing to care for Grogu whenever she gets the chance.

[strautmaskreplica]

hey kid...

want a free ttrpg?

Dog and background by @b-marsollier

The demo version of A Fool's Errand is available for free on itch!

A Fool's Errand is a tarot-fueled science fantasy roleplaying game about playing the Fool, keeping the gods in check, flirting with godhood yourself, and preventing the next Big Oops.

4-6 Players (including GMs)

Play with a deck of tarot cards in lieu of dice

Session 0 mechanics heavily baked in

~2-4 hours per session

Great for campaigns (4+ sessions)

Modular and replayable with tons of GM support to pick up & play

Interested? A Fool's Errand is funding starting October 22nd. Pre-save so you don't miss it!

The Game

A Fool’s Errand uses tarot cards to tell an expansive science fantasy story over several phases.

First, the group collaborates on the Big Oops - the biggest calamity in this world’s history. Players pinpoint what the world lost when the previous Fools reached their journey’s zenith, and which Major Arcana consorted or clashed with each other along the way.

Then, players create their Fools - Android or Human characters who become intertwined with the Major Arcana gods (including those who had a hand in the Big Oops), and whose journeys are led by unique tarot decks built with choices made in character creation.

Finally, the player’s characters play in the post-calamity, exploring both the waking world, and the Dream & Digital Networks - the surrealistic subconscious realm of Humans & Androids, respectively. Both are places of heightened power and quantum knowledge accessible to the Fools.

Players’ unique decks determine success, failure, and when a Major Arcana can’t help itself but to intervene in the adventure. Characters always have the option to accept the obligations from the Gods, or deny them.

Can they keep the Gods in check, contend with calamity, and spare the world another Big Oops?

Character Creation

Players build their Fools by selecting three motivations, each tied to a different Major Arcana. Included among these choices are the key Major Arcana who involved themselves in the previous Big Oops.

Each Major Arcana has a list of motivations to choose from. These three selected motivations provide a springboard for players to conceptualize their character. The three chosen Major Arcana are then inserted into the player’s play decks.

Players then expand upon their character builds by selecting their Lineage (Human or Android), Archetypes (Influencer, Inquirer, Operator, Outlaw, Protector, and/or Virtuoso), Skills, and Power Trees (a list of abilities themed after the Minor Arcana and branching into either Magic or Tech).

Characters pursue their motivations by exploring both the post-calamitous waking world and the Dream and Digital Networks. All the while, the Major Arcana intervene, planting seeds for players to clarify and satisfy their requests, or “Obligations”. As the Obligation Tracks fill up, the Fools flirt with godhood and draw closer to the advent of their own Big Oops.

Get This Game!

Head here to help us fund a physical print of the game!

[misc-obeyme]

OBEY ME ZODIAC SIGNS

I mentioned in this post that I had opinions about this & @impish-ivy left a tag saying she’d like to know my thoughts on it. And as we all know, a single tag is all it takes! So here I am!

Lemme start by giving you my qualifications… I have none. Unless you count growing up with a hippie for a mom who was really into the zodiac & astrology so I spent all my life hearing about it. And I mean she’d read books to me on the topic. She also taught me quite a bit about the tarot and I could get into some symbolism there, too, but let's save that for a different post. (Not me assigning each character a card from the Major Arcana.)

Nowadays I mostly use it to help me remember the birthdays I choose for my OCs lol. It's fun to think about for character creation. But in the end, this is all just my opinion based on what I know of the zodiac! It's all just for fun~

For quick reference, I am going to list the zodiac signs, their symbols, their associated element, and their date ranges.

Aries | The Ram | Fire | March 21 - April 19

Taurus | The Bull | Earth | April 20 - May 20

Gemini | The Twins | Air | May 21 - June 20

Cancer | The Crab | Water | June 21 - July 22

Leo | The Lion | Fire | July 23 - August 22

Virgo | The Virgin | Earth | August 23 - September 22

Libra | The Scales | Air | September 23 - October 22

Scorpio | The Scorpion | Water | October 23 - November 21

Sagittarius | The Archer | Fire | November 22 - December 21

Capricorn | The Goat | Earth | December 22 - January 19

Aquarius | The Water Bearer | Air | January 20 - February 18

Pisces | The Fish | Water | February 19 - March 20

Please Note: I do take the cusp into consideration. When someone is born on the cusp, it means they were born on a day that is on the cusp of two signs. For example, someone born on April 19 would be considered on the cusp of Aries and Taurus. This means they can have some traits of the sign they're on the cusp of. I think of it as a date range. So in the above example, I would consider April 17 - April 22 the cusp range of Aries and Taurus. The Aries traits would be stronger on the Aries side and the Taurus traits are strong on the Taurus side. I will sometimes refer to this as being a "cuspie" because lol it's cute, right?

Okay let’s get into it because I can tell they did not consider the characters' astrological signs at all when they chose their birthdays.

LUCIFER: JUNE 6 - GEMINI

Now obviously his birthday was meant to be a reference to 666. Since it's 6/6 and all. But that cute little reference also makes him a Gemini. A GEMINI. (Hi hello, actual Gemini here, there is just no way.) Gemini is an air sign that's known for being good at communication, artistic, flighty, and easily bored. Does any of that sound like Lucifer to you? There is no way a Gemini would ever be caught dead at a factory tour, okay? (I would, but I'm also a cuspie so I got just enough Taurus in me to be interested in a factory tour lol.)

I say he should have been a Cancer. Now before you come at me and say what Lucifer as a weepy Cancer you can't be serious, don't you mean he should've been a prideful Leo? No. Because Leos also like being the center of attention. If Lucifer was a Leo, he would absolutely thrive on Diavolo's constant compliments. Lucifer is a crab and we all know it! Hard exterior, putting on that prideful and competent persona, but soft and squishy inside. Only weepy in private, but secretly longs to weep. LOL. Also? Intense mood swings because of overwhelming feelings. And also also? Family obsessed. Will kill for those they love.

MAMMON: SEPTEMBER 10 - VIRGO

As hilarious as it is to consider that Mammon is the Virgin, there is no way. Mammon as an earth sign at all is silly enough, but add in the fact that Virgos are practical and perfectionists and I'm just like… not this guy lol. I think Virgos can also be a bit shy at first too. And like you could say Mammon acts like he doesn't like you at first because he's secretly shy, but I think it's more about damaging his cool guy rep.

No, I think Mammon should've been a Gemini. Flighty air sign. Easily bored. But with a wild imagination that can come up with, you guessed it, schemes. In his case money making schemes. They also like to be aware of the trends, always looking at the new shiny things. Geminis are smart, but not always good at applying their smarts. The other thing about Geminis? They're deeply emotionally intelligent, but you can't always tell right away. This is why they're kinda known for the whole "two faced" thing (which is not really accurate tbh). They have a light and airy and fun personality on top, but underneath they can be serious and understand the needs of others. And once you befriend them, they are ride or die.

LEVIATHAN: APRIL 9 - ARIES

Absolutely not. An Aries is a bold fire sign, they're courageous, assertive, and a natural leader. That is like the exact opposite of Levi.

I honestly had a difficult time deciding what I think Levi's sign should be. But in the end, I settled on Virgo. Mostly because Virgos can be neurotic and end up worrying themselves into disorder and that sounds more like Levi than anything else. I also think the practicality and perfection can apply when considering how carefully Levi pursues his hobbies. He's always on top of when things are happening, displays his merch meticulously, and cares about all the little details.

SATAN: OCTOBER 20 - LIBRA

Uhhh sooooo I mean…. listen, the main thing about Libras, in my opinion, is that they are super friendly. They like having a large group of friends. And like Satan has connections, but I'm not sure if that's really the same thing. He's been known to isolate himself for days just to read without stopping. Like that does not seem like the social butterfly type to me. He's also a cuspie, so there could be elements of Scorpio mucking up those Libra sensibilities. But I still don't really think that makes a lot of sense.

I'm kinda feeling Capricorn for Satan. Someone who cares about rules and regulations. Someone who's willing to help family and friends at the drop of a hat. Ambitious and successful and willing to put in the work, including in relationships. Even better if you give him December 23 or 24, so he's juuuuust on the cusp of Sagittarius. Thus giving him the Sag's pursuit of knowledge quality and a lil dash of childlike wonder ('cause of how he is with cats lol).

ASMODEUS: MAY 16 - TAURUS

Truly an affront to all things astrological. Do you really expect me to believe that Asmo is a Bull? Please. Like yeah, a Taurus can be passionate, but they're also stubborn and stable and kiiinda set in their ways. And yo that ain't Asmo, friends.

Asmo should've been a Leo. The type of person who turns heads just by existing. They're unapologetically themselves and they know how enticing they are to others. A bright, bold, fire sign that'll blaze into a room, full of confidence and ready to start the party. Can be a little too into themselves, but they're also full of generosity and a warmth that attracts people. I would also have been okay with Libra, but I think Leo is more accurate.

BEELZEBUB & BELPHEGOR: MARCH 11 - PISCES

This one fits. Beel really is a Pisces. Emotional, caring, highly family oriented. Maybe a little weepy. Pisces is a good choice for the twins. Not only do you have the dual fish as their symbol, but I think Belphie is what you get when a sweet Pisces suffers from intense trauma. Zodiac signs only really take into consideration general characteristics. People change how they act from life experience, too, and no amount of being born under the fish is going to change that for Belphie. Inside, he's got that caring and emotional state that Beel wears on his sleeve. Belphie just had to build armor around it because that's how he has reacted to being hurt. So I actually think this sign works for both of them.

DIAVOLO: OCTOBER 31 - SCORPIO

Well, he's got the passion anyway. I dunno I feel like Scorpios are also overly dramatic, tend to hold grudges, and kinda do whatever they want. Like they give in to their emotions a lot. Diavolo just doesn't feel like a Scorpio to me. Maybe if he was a little more devious than he is.

I think Diavolo should have been an Aries. The fire symbolism is nice and the fact that it's a ram is also funny (MC being a sheep right), but straight up an Aries is a good leader, they're courageous and adventurous. They love new experiences, kinda like Dia being obsessed with human world stuff he's never experienced before. They rush into things sometimes - anyone remember a baby!Dia trapping Barbatos? This is like he gets an idea in his head and he's like that's the best solution! But it isn't always and I kinda think Barb's influence has mellowed that out over the years. So yeah, Aries for this guy. Though I would have accepted Leo, too, I just don't think Diavolo is as self-obsessed as a Leo usually is.

BARBATOS: AUGUST 22 - LEO

You know, in true CC fashion, I really spent a lot of time considering what would make the most sense for Barbatos. My initial reaction to him being a Leo was no fucking way. Leos like attention too much and we all know Barb is a lurker. However, he's also on the cusp with Virgo. And I kinda think that Virgo's practicality mixed with Leo's charisma could equal out to one Barbatos. Virgos are known for being proficient and efficient and always getting the job done right. They're also known for wanting to be of service to others. Leos, on the other hand, are magnetic and generous. However, they're also really flashy and tend to be hung up on what others think of them and that's not Barb at all.

So while I think the Virgo/Leo cusp could work, they'd need to put him on the other side of it. More Virgo less Leo. Like maybe August 25. That being said, I also initially gave Barb the sign of Capricorn. If I wasn't going with a cusp situation, this is what I'd choose. It's the restraint and meticulousness. Capricorns can be taskmasters, especially when it comes to themselves. In a human this leads to burnout. Since Barbatos is a demon he seems to be able to work hard all day every day and still be okay, but he's not exactly good at resting. A Capricorn is also someone other people come to for advice because they're known for being good at everything they do.

SIMEON: FEBRUARY 10 - AQUARIUS

Aquarius is a weird sign. Like no offense to Aquarians but the symbol here is literally called the Water Bearer and yet it's an air sign? What does it mean? It means that this sign is full of super unique individuals. And yeah okay Simeon is pretty unique. I'm not like there's absolutely no way. But I do think there's a better sign for him.

Should've been a Cancer. Yes, like Lucifer. Think about it: emotional, caring, family oriented, but where Lucifer has the armored crab shell, Simeon has learned to allow some of his soft squishy to show. Both can be very mothering, they just show it in different ways. Trust me on this. HOWEVER. I actually think Simeon should have been a cuspie. Like me, but on the other side. So on the cusp of Cancer and Gemini. Mostly mothering and emotional Cancer, but with the creativity and airiness of Gemini. You know what Geminis are good at? Writing. So I think Simeon has traits from both Cancer and Gemini and would be best on the cusp. (Give him June 21.)

SOLOMON: DECEMBER 9 - SAGITTARIUS

They got this one right. Solomon is absolutely a Sagittarius. The symbol of this sign is the Archer - a centaur with an extended bow. It represents the duality of a Sagittarian's personality. An old soul with childlike wonder. Able to get excited about new things, but also full of experience and wisdom. If that's not Solomon, I don't know what is. Someone who likes to be free, enjoys exploring the unknown, is dedicated to learning but also to teaching - yeah, this one is accurate.

LUKE: JULY 15 - CANCER

Due to the fact that Luke is supposed to be a child, it's important to consider how his sign manifests in someone younger. It can be different from how an adult would be described, but the general idea is usually still the same. I kinda think Luke could in fact be a Cancer. He cares a lot about his friends and family, he's dedicated to them in a way that causes him to defend them at any perceived insult. He can be emotional, but that's also kinda just… he's a kid, you know?

And I think Luke is a Libra. He cares about everybody as mentioned, but he also likes when people get along. If we looked at who he is when he's not worrying about a demon's questionable influence, such as how he is with MC, he's thoughtful and kind, friendly. See how he is with Barbatos and Simeon. He likes learning from them and spending time with them and I think that's the sort of social butterfly Libra quality. I see Luke growing up into someone who has a lot of friends, but also likes to keep things balanced as evidenced by the Libra scales.

MEPHISTOPHELES: NOVEMBER 11 - SCORPIO

It's kinda funny that Mephisto and Diavolo have the same zodiac sign. But it also doesn't mean anything, I just find it humorous. However, Mephisto could actually be a Scorpio, more so than Diavolo, in my opinion. We have seen mostly the negative traits of a Scorpio displayed in Mephisto - jealously, the tendency to hold a grudge, possessive and resentful. But a Scorpio can also be passionate and fearless and perceptive. Mephisto has the grudge thing going on with Lucifer. And he's a little closed off to MC at first. But his perception allows him to consider how MC feels and thus makes it easier for him to understand them. Not to mention how dedicated he becomes once he is friends with someone. While I think there are probably other signs that would work for him too, I don't have a problem with him being a Scorpio.

RAPHAEL: SEPTEMBER 29 - LIBRA

What. There is no way. NO. WAY. I refuse to accept Raphael as a Libra, I'm sorry. It's just not possible.

So what is he, then? A Taurus. The Bull. Quiet, stubborn, no nonsense. Patient, well grounded, likes to feel secure, determined. While a human Taurean would be interested in establishing their career, Raphael had a different goal due to being an angel. But I think we can equate the climb to the top, becoming the youngest angel ever to be a seraph, as obtaining financial stability. It's stability, but in a different way. Secured by the rank rather than the monetary value. Only investing time in what they believe is worth the effort, but once decided they become loyal to a fault. Good at standing up for their principles, but less likely to mess with things that threaten their stability. There might be others he could be, but this one feels right to me.

THIRTEEN: JANUARY 13 - CAPRICORN

Seeing as how I made Satan and Barbatos Capricorns, I don't really feel like Thirteen fits this sign all that well. She's not restrained at all and I don't think she's overly ambitious, either. Not a taskmaster for herself or anyone else.

Thirteen is an Aquarius. A rebel, someone who sets trends, someone who doesn't care about rules. Thirteen is a reaper who wears a school uniform that she completely modified because she likes it and she never even had any intention of attending said school. You gonna try to tell me that person isn't a rebel? Unique, quirky, and independent. That is so totally Thirteen. They also tend to fight for the collective good and while I haven't exactly seen Thirteen joining protests or anything, I don't know that I would discount this quality entirely. She's just definitely leaning more toward the quirky unique part as well as innovation (thinking up different traps for instance).

masterlist | Thank you for reading!

[vasito-de-leche]

Arcana is so trans to me but not the mtf trans but like eldritch horror being realized that she likes to be perceived as a mortal woman

nonnie we are holding hands, we share the same vision, the same dream, the same eldritch transgenderism <3

there was a tweet recently (I think it was a tweet?) about a very specific type of character design--non sexualized, nude humanoids presented as otherwordly and entirely alien, off kilter, merging monstruous characteristics and that's exactly what I love and think about when it comes to the thing Arcana summons, the Guiding One's Creation

Arcana is so transgender to me in a very specific way of using the feminine figure as a way of both luring and keeping everyone at bay <33333

[iliveforyouilongforyouvesuvia]

Arcana Brainrot: Blog Rules, Masterlists, Playlist, & Requests Guidelines

Come chat on the Discord server!

Current MC ask game

BLOG RULES:

My inbox is always open for anybody to share their thoughts or ideas! This blog is largely archival now, though, so prompts will likely not get written.

I don't think it needs to be said but hate isn't welcome here. Of any kind.

Please also keep in mind that this blog is PG-13, so whatever comments you make on it will likely be seen by minors. I take their safety seriously, so if there's anything grossly X rated in the comments (I don't see why there should be) I will delete it. If you continue to comment things like that you will be blocked :)

With my older brother rant out of the way, please enjoy the results of me trying to cope with a truly Vesuvian obsession :D

MASTERLISTS: oldest to newest, I'll do my best to update as I post.

All quotes for Arcana characters sent in have this tag: #arcana brainrot quote collection

Because of the link limit for posts, you can find the masterlist for all full headcanons below:

The Arcana HCs : Brainrot's Masterlist

The Arcana HCs : Brainrot's Masterlist, Pt 2

And here is the masterlist for all my mini-prompts, answered ask arcana style:

The Arcana Mini-HCs: Brainrot's Masterlist

The Arcana Mini-HCs: Brainrot’s Masterlist, Pt 2

The Arcana Mini-HCs: Brainrot's Masterlist, Pt 3

The Arcana Mini-HCs: Brainrot's Masterlist, Pt 4

The Arcana Mini-HCs: Brainrot's Masterlist, Pt 5

The Arcana Mini-HCs: Brainrot's Masterlist, Pt 6

A masterlist for drabbles, with an explanation at the top for how they work!

The Arcana Drabbles: Explanation and Masterlist

All the recipes posted by the originals devs from the Arcana universe, with pictures of my own creation attempts and descriptions of how it went!

The Arcana Food

Worldbuilding/character analysis essays ^.^ (not a comprehensive list atm, unfortunately)

The Arcana Essays: Brainrot's Masterlist

Finally got around to fleshing out my self-insert enough to make him a proper MC/ OC!

Bainrot's self-insert MC (Drue)

Vesuviella: my first fanfic. don't get your hopes up (updated sporadically)

Summary: Julian decided to write his own version of Cinderella to be performed in the Community Theatre, and then recruited MC to help him cast the rest of the M6 in the leading roles. Chaos ensues. (There is no determined love interest, MC is friends with the M6 and M6 are all thirsty for MC.)

Vesuviella: All Parts

Arcana Brainrot Playlist: a compilation of all character song suggestions in one Spotify playlist, kept up to date!

Arcana Brainrot Playlist (Spotify)

Arcana Brainrot Playlist (YouTube)

REQUEST GUIDELINES - NO LONGER TAKING REQUESTS

Generally, I pick from what's in my asks and write what sparks inspiration. If there's an idea you'd really like to see written, you're welcome to message me directly about it! ^.^

I don't write about toxic/abusive relationships or dynamics between MC and the M6 (I get the appeal, I'm not judging, but it's not for me)

I don't write for M6 x M6 ships - side character ships are on the table, though!

All of my work is PG-13. (yes to romantic/sensual themes and references to painful experiences, no to explicit matter or glorified violence/pain/death/toxicity)

I'm willing to do research for topics I'm not familiar with, but there are plenty of things I can't write about just because I haven't lived it and I know an hour of research wouldn't be enough to be accurate (and respecting other people's experiences is important)

I am unfortunately very familiar with what it's like to have trauma/mental illnesses. That said, while I'm very happy to explore how that impacts MC and their relationships, there are some prompts I may take a very long time to do or just not write at all because they would mess me up

In general, keeping the prompt relatively short (a sentence to a paragraph) helps me organize them better! The same goes for asks sent with a visible blog - if I have questions, I can reach out to you for more details! ^.^

Both my asks and messages are open because I love hearing from new people! If you abuse that you will be blocked :)

All of the above points have reasons for them, and are therefore subject to change. If you have an idea that you'd really like to see and you're not sure about, just message me! I can either tell you why I can't do it or I can make an exception depending on the case

RELEVANT FANDOM HAPPENINGS

(I don't do drama on my page, but these are some posts that provide transparency and accountability for some of the things I've been caught up in)

To the Arcana Fandom, From Brainrot

An update on Rai/Kip

[arsene-inc]

Sometimes you see things, illustrations, and you have ideas.

And it's terrible to have ideas for other games when you are supposed to finish one.

Anyway, recently I came across a Witch Knight illustration. My mind was primed because of a project *Insert whatever* Knight (like carrot knight, snail knight, pidgeon knight, party knight, everyone is the knight of something). And so my mind went, damn this is cool. I like witches. Some knights' armor are cool. Good combo. And what about a ttrpg of witch knights ?

And now I am stuck between two systems ideas for "The Witch Knights of Azulmar"

Well one is more a character creaion, and the other is more a system

For the character creation one, it is based on tarot cards (in part because in french you can say blade instead of arcana). Separate the deck between the four suits and the major arcana. Draw a card from each suits for infos on your character, and the major arcana would give you your special power/weapon ( inspired by arcana arms for this one) But right now i don't have ideas for ingame system with tarot card. (at least not tarot specific)

On the other hand, I though of a "oracle bones" system, with polls of d6. right now two stats : Witch and Knight, and the two must add to a 7. Roll you poll equal to you stats, and depending on you combinations ( like pairs, triplets, all the yahtzee figures, depending on numbers) you can activate different powers. Which one to choose ?

An other things, because of GilaRPGs Novaverse, i was thinking of this game being only a part of the world, develop in other games. And i thought of my haunted abandonned theme parks game in progress. Because I'm me, there is a fae equivalent in the game : The Fair, in part transplanar. The Fair could also be in this more medieval world. And developping the fair means i work again on the theme park game yeah

[witchthewriter]

𝐓𝐚𝐫𝐨𝐭 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐌𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝑀𝑎𝑗𝑜𝑟 𝐴𝑟𝑐𝑎𝑛𝑎

So, I’ve done a post about why I add a character’s moral alignment, so I thought I would do it for the Tarot cards. Maybe you’ve noticed it or not (it is something I’ve only started doing). 

Because there are 4 suits; Cups (Water), Wands (Fire), Swords (Air) & Pentacles (Earth). I decided this first post will be about the Major Arcana, to break up the Tarot - so it’s easier to digest, rather than have everything thrown at you. 

content warning: the titles have the photos of the cards, some show human anatomy 

Okay, so the Major Arcana is about a person going through different stages in their life. Starting off with The Fool - who is a curious innocent who wants to experience the world, to the end, ‘The World,’ meaning you’ve accomplished what was set before you. 

Great Resources:

One. 

Two.

Three. 

Each zodiac sign has their own tarot card that represents them. Here’s a free website that tells you. I’ll provide the sun signs equivalent to their tarot card. Although you have your own personal one!

I’ll make another post on how to read tarot cards, because there’s a lot that goes into it. But with the Major Arcana, their messages are much clearer (inn my experience) then the Minor Arcana (the suits; cups, wands, swords, pentacles). 

Also, when I read tarot, I include when a card comes out upside down. You don’t have to do this if you don’t want to. Do what feels right, it may seem silly or overstated, but your intuition is a superpower. Feel it in your gut. Listen to yourself. 

These cards will represent the deeper, more life-impacting matters. The Major arcana deal with the major moments in our lives. 

𝟎. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐨𝐨𝐥

This is a card of rebirth. It signifies new opportunities. Telling us that it’s never too late to start fresh and follow your heart’s desire. 

Zodiac Card: All signs

Keywords: Beginnings, Risks. 

Element: Air

Planet: Uranus

Upright: New beginnings, adventure ahead, innocence, a thirst for life, enthusiasm. Someone who lights up a room. Taking that leap of faith, starting something new, optimism, openness to the unknown, a free spirit. 

Reversed: Recklessness, risk, naievity, holding yourself back, stupidity, negligence. 

Yes/No: Yes (although usually when a card is in reversed, it means the opposite. Again, you don’t have to take into account when the card is upside down. It’s completely fine to read them as if they were upright)

Advice: Don’t be afraid to take chances, and go on new adventures. However, think before making too big of a leap. Change is inevitable, embrace it rather than fight it. You never know what could happen next. 

Quote: “I’m ready for the next chapter in my life.”

𝟏. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐧

The Magician represents creation and manifestation. This card is the inventor, the self-employed, the entrepreneur. It reminds us to step into our power. 

Zodiac Card: Gemini & Virgo

Keywords: Action, Ambition, Manifesting. 

Element: Air

Planet: Mercury

Upright: Power, skill, manifestation, resourcefullness, inspired action, concentration, desire, creation. 

Reversed: Trickery, deception, manipulation, poor planning, untapped talents, someone who doesn’t believe in themselves. 

Yes/No: Yes

Advice: This card encourages you to set your intention; in life, in your work, your family, your relationships etc. Don’t be flaky, or indecisive. Decide what you want and bloody go for it. 

Quote: “As above, so below.” / “Make your own magic.” 

𝟐. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐢𝐠𝐡 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐬

Simply, this card represent the subconscious mind. It’s all about inner wisdom, what we’ve learnt - both the good and the bad. And how we can combine that with our intuition and knowledge to move forward. 

Zodiac Card: Cancer

Keywords: Secrets, Intuition, Learning. 

Element: Water

Planet: Moon

Upright: Intuition, sacred knowledge, divine feminine, the subconscious mind, mystery.

Reversed: Secrets, disconnected from intuition, withdrawal, silence, hidden agendas. A need to listen to your inner voice, lack of self-trust. 

Yes/No: Maybe, listen to yourself. 

Advice: Slow down, stop listening to your intellect. Instead, reflect on what you’ve learnt, listen to your intuition and aquire more knowledge. 

Quote: “Explore your spiritual side.” / “Trust your own counsel first.” 

𝟑. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐄𝐦𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬

This card embodies growth, divinity, celebration and evolution. It represents abundance and material comfort, sensuality, security and emotional support. 

Zodiac Card: Taurus

Keywords: Creativity, Resources, Motherhood. 

Element: Earth

Planet: Venus

Upright: Femininity, beauty, nurturing, mother nature, abundance, love, possible pregnancy (not always you!)

Reversed: Creative block, dependence on others, insecurity, inferitlity, disharmony, smothering. 

Yes/No: Yes

Advice: This card calls on you to tap into your feminine side; think of creativity, elegance, sensuality, fertility, and nurturing. Be kind to yourself. Search for the beauty in all things. 

Quote: “Be your own fairy godmother.” / “The pleasure is all mine.” 

𝟒. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐄𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐨𝐫

This card represents responsibility, intimate power, authority, a bringer of balance. It could be about a man, or your masculine side. It’s a return to order. A reminder to trust yourself. 

Zodiac Card: Aries

Keywords: Order, Power, Boundaries. 

Element: Fire

Planet: Mars

Upright: Authority, estbalishedment, structure, father figure, rise to power, stable future, ambition. 

Reversed: Domination, excessive control, lack of discipline, inflexibility, patriarchal society, power struggles, cannot help yourself. 

Yes/No: Yes

Advice: Even though a ruler has a throne, a crown, and power; they still serve. 

Quote: “Don’t apologise for who you are.” / “Respect yourself.”

𝟓. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐢𝐞𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐭

This card represents an authority figure between the material and spirit. Someone who guides, and teaches. This card shows support, self-realisation, and expansion. Additionally, the Hierophant represents insitiutions, and traditional values. 

Zodiac Card: Taurus

Keywords: Unity, Marriage, Education. 

Element: Earth

Planet: Venus

Upright: Spiritual wisdom, religious beliefs, conformity, tradition, institiutions, knowledge sharing, blind faith. 

Reversed: Personal beliefs, freedom, challenging the status quo, rebellion.

Yes/No: Ask someone wise. 

Advice: Know your boundaries and stand strong in them. 

Quote: “Develop yourself emotionally and spiritually.”

𝟔. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬

This card represents relationships, connection and equality. You are being asked to make a mature decision that supports your true needs.

Zodiac Card: Gemini

Keywords: Love, Decisions. 

Element: Air

Planet: Mercury

Upright: Love, harmony, relationships, values, choices, soulmates, strong bond. 

Reversed: Self-love, disharmony, imbalance, misalignment of values, conflict, detachment, strife, lack of trust. 

Yes/No: Yes

Advice: There is reason for optimism and the potential for harmony. It’s all up to you. Don’t go for the easy road. 

Quote: “Follow your heart.” / “Be wary of temptation.”

𝟕. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐭

This card is a celebration of individuality, victory, transition and overcoming obstacles. You are ready to take control and learn. You’re expanding. This card is a sign of encouragement. 

Zodiac Card: Cancer

Keywords: Progress, Determination. 

Element: Water

Planet: Moon

Upright: Control, will-power, success, action, determination, fame and fortune, being a source of inspiration, two forces pulling in the opposite direction. 

Reversed: Self-discipline, opposition, lack of direction, desire for revenge, showing off, using others for your benefit. 

Yes/No: Yes

Advice: The journey is just as important as the destination. 

Quote: “Persevere against all odds.” / “Keep going.”

𝟖. 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐭𝐡

This card represents self-guidance and self-confidence. It’s a time to summon your courage and determination to get the situation under control. 

Zodiac Card: Leo

Keywords: Management, Endurance. 

Element: Fire

Planet: Sun

Upright: Control, courage, compassion, patience, focus, influence, caring for others, inner strength, strong sense of responsibility. 

Reversed: Self-doubt, weakness, insecurity, low energy, raw emotion, putting others before you, others trying to knock you down. 

Yes/No: Yes

Advice: Remember to act with grace and sensitivity rather than using brute force.

Quote: “You are capable.” / “Know yourself.” 

𝟗. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐭

This card represents forging your own path in the pursuit of knowledge and truth. It’s more so a state of mind rather than physically being on your own. This sage is ushering in a period of personal growth and exploration.

Zodiac Card: Virgo

Keywords: Analysis, Solitude.

Element: Earth

Planet: Mercury

Upright: Solitude, guidance, soul-searching, introspection, being alone, inner guindance, wisdom, learning, the pursuit of knowledge. Gaining independence. 

Reversed: Anti-social, restrictive, isolation, loneliness, withdrawal, paranoia, paralysed by fear, betrayal, hiding what you really think.

Yes/No: Maybe. 

Advice: Rely on yourself. You already have the answers you need. If you’re under pressure, the Hermit card will reveal itself to say that you need more time. 

Quote: “I am pure.” / “Withdraw and gather strength.”

𝟏𝟎. 𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐞𝐥 𝐨𝐟 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐧𝐞

This card represents the emracing of destiny, and the movement of the universe. Additionally, reveals psychic ability, so use it wisely to listen to your intuition and manifest your wishes. 

Zodiac Card: Capricorn

Keywords: Luck, Fate. 

Element: Fire

Planet: Jupiter 

Upright: Good luck, karma, life-cycle, destiny, a turning point, good change, upheaveal, chances, good things on repeat, positive results, lottery & gaming wins, destiny & fate in your favour

Reversed: Possible bad luck, lack of control, delays, unwanted change, going around in circles, not getting anywhere, not your time. 

Yes/No: Yes

Advice: While you can’t control the forces of the universe, you can certainly come to a better understanding of your role within it. 

Quote: “Anything is possible.” / “Go with the flow.” 

𝟏𝟏. 𝐉𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞

This is a card of empowerment, advising you to take a left-brain approach to take control. Be aware if you are holding on to any prejudice or bias that could sway your decision unfairly.

Zodiac Card: Libra

Keywords: Decisions, Balance, Legal Affairs. 

Element: Air

Planet: Venus

Upright: Justice, fairness, truth, cause and effect, the law, you’ll get what you deserve for the better, positive legal outcomes, good contracts.

Reversed: Unfairness, lack of accountability, dishonesty, corruption, prejudice,. you’ll get what you deserve for the worst, negative legal outcomes. 

Yes/No: Maybe/Neutral

Advice: Do not fear, your justice will come. If you have wronged someone, it’s best to take accountability and learn from your mistakes. 

Quote: “You can’t run from karma.” / “Do the right thing.”

𝟏𝟐. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐝 𝐌𝐚𝐧

This card represents a pause, inner reflection and patience. The obvious meaning is ... hanging around - that events aren’t moving forward and all you can do is wait. It can also mean you’ve made sacrifices and are waiting to see the rewards. 

Zodiac Card: Pisces

Keywords: Waiting, Sacrifice. 

Element: Water

Planet: Neptune

Upright: Restriction, letting go, sacrifice, paise, new perspective, playing “the waiting game.” forced to be still, cannot bloom all the time. 

Reversed: Martyrdom, indecision, delay, closed off, stuck in your mindset, not seeing the bigger picture. 

Yes/No: Maybe

Advice: Your project needs time to evolve. 

Quote: “Surrender.” / “Change your perspective.”

𝟏𝟑. 𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡

This card represents the natural cycles of life. Death brings endings and beginnings - sometimes all at once. This card is a time of quick and deep transformation. An opportunity to let go of what is no longer serving you. 

Zodiac Card: Scorpio 

Keywords: Transformation, Change, New Beginnings. 

Element: Water

Planet: Pluto

Upright: Ending of a cycle, transitions, powerful movement, transformation, endings, beginnings, sudden unexpected ‘death’ is not the end. 

Reversed: Resisiting change, fear of new beginnings, repeating the same negative patterns, another phase in our lives. 

Yes/No: Maybe

Advice: This card can be a release as well as a relief, leaving you with the bare bones...the truth. 

Quote: “Don’t fear the reaper.” / “Change.”

𝟏𝟒. 𝐓𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞

This card represents moderation and temptation. There is a balance in the universe and the need to set your own boundaries. Temperance shows you dealing with a potentially volatile situation, and you need to temper your thoughts and actions. 

Zodiac Card: Sagittarius

Keywords: Negotiation, Moderation. 

Element: Fire

Planet: Jupiter

Upright: Balance, moderation, patience, purpose, good health, finding solutions, cooperating with others, pure contentment, peaceful home life, end of arguments/conflict. 

Reversed: Imbalance, discord, hastiness, over-indulgence, risky behaviour, avoidance of conflict, being a pushover, overlooking obvious problems. 

Yes/No: Yes

Advice: Sometimes you cannot choose one side/perspective/person/problem, but accept both sides of the situation and reconcile what is out of balance. Once you’ve seen what is out of balance - take action!

Quote: “Find balance.” 

𝟏𝟓. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐥

This card represents insatability and power, exposing relationships to authority and loss. You may be stuck in a situation or relationship that demands too much of you, or you may be feeling controlled, or under a bad influence. This is a card of greed, temptation and materialism. 

Zodiac Card: Capricorn 

Keywords: Restriction, Manipulation.

Element: Earth

Planet: Saturn

Upright: Shadow self, attachment, addiction, temptations, material focus, negative thinking, betrayal, strong desire, the drive to make things happen, humanly pleasure, ability to influence others

Reversed: Releasing, exploring, dark thoughts, detachment, overcoming addiction, independence, reclaiming power, freedom

Yes/No: No

Advice: Walk away from temptation, however, you may need to use a little devilish cunning. 

Quote: “Kick negativity to the curb.” / “You’re only limited to what you believe is possible.” 

𝟏𝟔. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐓𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫

This card represents the imbalance and surprise disruption - always leadinng to new paths. It hits us with sudden change, a collapse of a dream, an organisation, or a relationship. It can also represent a shattered ego. 

Zodiac Card: Aries

Keywords: Breakdown, Illumination.

Element: Fire

Planet: Mars

Upright: Destruction, chaos, change, upheaval, awakening, crisis, unpleasant surprise, become stronger, release, painful loss, tragedy, revelation.

Reversed: Fear of change, refusal to let go, personal transformation, shock, avoiding tragedy, a narrow escape, delaying what is inevitable

Yes/No: No

Advice: Surrender to the power of change, release and let go. The walls will come tumbling down and what you build next will have more foundation. 

Quote: “Embrace the chaos.” / “Expect the unexpected.”

𝟏𝟕. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫

This card represents individuality, expression and creativity. The Star offers hope and guidance, have faith that  your luck is about to change for the better. This card show good health. It’s also the card of the healer. 

Zodiac Card: Aquarius 

Keywords: Hope, Guidance. 

Element: Air

Planet: Neptune

Upright: Hope, faith, purpose, renewal, spirituality, creativity, opportunities, wishes comming true, new romance, rebirth, fame, pleasant surprise, birth of a child or idea, coming out of darkness

Reversed: Lack of faith, despair, self-trust, disconnectiohn, doubt, insecurity, lost direction, loss, theft, jealousy. 

Yes/No: Yes

Advice: Share your love, gifts and talents, it will allow you to shine. 

Quote: “Go ahead and wish upon a star.” / “Have faith.”

𝟏𝟖. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐨𝐨𝐧

This card represents instinct and intuition, the power of dreams, ad the potential pitfalls of illusions. This is a warning card that all is not what it seems. 

Zodiac Card: Pisces

Keywords: Crisis of faith, Deep emotions. 

Element: Water

Planet: Neptune

Upright: Fear, anxiety, confusion, delusion, risk, illusion, subconscious, welcomed cycles, increased intuition, femininity, all isn’t as bad as you think it is. 

Reversed: Overcoming fear, finding the truth, conquering anxiety, gaining clarity, release, hidden truths that need to be uncovered. 

Yes/No: No

Advice: Take note of your intuitive messages and dreams. 

Quote: “Dig deeper.” / “Be careful your imagination doesn’t cause you to see things that aren’t there.”

𝟏𝟗. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐮𝐧

This card represents illumination and oppenness. It brings success and achievement. It’s one of the most positive cards. This card predicts recovery. 

Zodiac Card: Leo

Keywords: Growth, Recovery.

Element: Fire

Planet: Sun

Upright: Positivity, success, fertility, optimism, joy, confidence, happiness, truth, radiance, fun, marriage, happy relationships, happy family, adventures, help with health and fertility. 

Reversed: Blocked happiness, excessive enthusiasm, pessimism, unrealistic expectations, blind to the truth, overlooking certain situations. 

Yes/No: Yes

Advice: A card of energy and growth, all your projects will benefit now, as this card heralds a good time for creative projects, businesses and relationships. 

Quote: “Spread your wings and fly.” / “Shine on.”

𝟐𝟎. 𝐉𝐮𝐝𝐠𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭

This card represents both an end and a beginning. Great changes and opportunities are on the horizon, but you need to address past issues. As you accept yourself fully, you can blow your own horn. 

Zodiac Card: None

Keywords: The Past; Second Chances. 

Element: Fire

Planet: Pluto

Upright: Judgement, rebirth, inner calling, absolution, action, renewal, reflection, reckoning, a calling you cannot ignore, fresh start, great opportunities. 

Reversed: Feeling down, self-doubt, blame, destruction, ignoring the call, loss of opportunity, not meant to be, outcome that’s out of your control. 

Yes/No: Neutral

Advice: Own it all, then let it go. 

Quote: “Face yourself.” / “Be self-aware rather than self-critical.”

𝟐𝟏. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝

This card represents an open door, and the excitement of every potential action in the universe. This card is the conclusion of the Fool’s journey and a new beginning. A completion of one cycle, and now another begins. 

Zodiac Card: None. 

Keywords: Success, Completion. 

Element: Earth

Planet: Saturn

Upright: Completion, integration, accomplishment, travel, success, harmony, celebration, fulfillment, positive results, travelling around the world.  

Reversed: Seeking personal closure, short-cuts, delays, failure, unfulfilled, a change may not be welcome, but in time it will be. 

Yes/No: Yes

Advice: This is a time for celebration, so it is as great card for groups. 

Quote: “Feel your deserved success.” / “Everything you have worked for is coming together.”

[thephooka]

Might you share some of the major arcana cards that go with White Noise characters? I live for that stuff

I'M GLAD YOU ASKED!

Numair: The Hanged Man - confinement; uncertainty; but surrendering to circumstances with the knowledge that it's necessary for the greater good. (Reversed: pointless sacrifice; feeling blocked or stuck; resisting one's circumstances maybe fruitlessly)

Hawk: Death - change, transition, new beginnings, moving forward; an upheaval in all areas of life; severing ties, good or bad. (Reversed: resisting change; denial)

Yoshi: The Star - renewal; hope (esp. for the future); optimism; (re)connecting with oneself in any sense; creativity and ambition. (Reversed: loss of faith, despair, hopelessness)

Liya: Strength - I mean, obvious, but particularly where this card is talking about overcoming inner struggles/self-doubt. Courage, confidence. (Reversed: out of control emotions; listlessness; lashing out.)

Teige: The Chariot - charging forward (to the point of recklessness); determination and willpower; overcoming obstacles; endurance. (Reversed: hesitancy; lack of control or direction; powerlessness)

Vlad: Temperance - balance; moderation; tempering (as metals or glass--also a play on how Numair sees him); calm and even-handedness. This one's a little more obtuse bc we haven't seen too much of Vlad's inner life. (Reversed: self-indulgence, excess, ignoring the signals your body/brain is giving you)

Also just for the hell of it here's how the Empress shakes out for Michi and Shinobu. It's the card most associated with motherhood, which is very funny, but that's a limited interpretation.

Shinobu: Upright - Creation in all its aspects; intelligence; new ventures; a boost in career; material wealth and comfort (in Shinobu's case, the kind of stuff that humans get to enjoy, ie cooked food, textiles, city life, academia.)

Michi: Reversed - Negligence; hampered growth, or stagnation; a signal of dissatisfaction; a suppression of one's true self and a need to reconnect; could also concern wrath or punitive action. Also a theme of issues around motherhood, which is an aspect of Michi and Shinobu's relationship I didn't even get to--Michi did want children at some point, and Shinobu absolutely did not, which is just another one of those things that was going to come to a head eventually.

[deepredness]

I MADE A DND CHARACTER BASED ON VARIAN (TANGLED) & WYLAN VAN SUNSHINE (SIX OF CROWS)

The guys I play with don’t understand, but I had to share this beautiful creation. Everything just clicked. — I hope this finds the right people —

Scroll down for the full analysis of how they came to be ✨

So we’re trying out a new gaming system inspired by dnd called DC20 (The Dungeon Coach) and I was reading the playbook file and started building the character with their new steps. You have attributes, skills you can choose and trades you can master (and actually do smth with) and my eye landed on the trade ✨Alchemy✨ So naturally my mind went to my gay alchemists and the ball started rolling. After debriefing with my GM we landed on the wizard class but instead of casting a spell I would throw a bottled potion. This got me immediately excited to further build my alchemist child. (Bonus: the spell “find familiar” turned into throwing a fk pokeball and yelling “I CHOOSE YOU” GM approved)

Then for skills you could choose any of the knowledge skills such as arcana and recieve a free bonus skill, now I’m a sucker for free things so naturally I had too. Which led to the development of “lore slut” with latest hyperfixation “occultism” which led to the obvious conclusion of my child having both autism and ADHD.

Next up I had to choose 3 more Trades to spice up the flavor any further. First obvious choice was Sculpting, for bottle production and fidget hobby. Second became Illustration, for the alchemy diary (spellbook). Lastly I was skimming the trades and landed on Musician. You bet your ass I gave them A FLUTE! To honor my illiterate wonderkid Wylan and the ghost flute battle. I had to. I simply had no choice but to pick it solely for the reference.

So that’s how my human wizard alchemist Rhory Sallow came to exist. They are definitely not the best character regarding combat or whatever, but I truly do not care (I say fully aware I’ll decease if they’d die because of this, but delulu is the solulu✨ altho then I could do the ghost flute thing which is another win ig)

I’m just gonna lavish in this creation I made and play as the lore slut alchemist I was meant to be!

What do you guys think? Did I succeed? I think so :)

Also shoutout to DC20 for leading me towards this opportunity 🛐

[theoceanswaves0]

Opinion time!~ Spoilers for up to ch. 3 of Jewel Joker!

Just wanna start by saying I haven’t felt so invigorated to talk about something like this in so long. Like, Shugo Chara isn’t my first magical girl manga, but I think it’s the one that resonated with me the most. One of these days, I really need to write that Dia arc essay, because years after reading it, it’s resonated with me so much.

—> So we learn about the existence of Arc-eggs, which seem to be some sort of manufactured (?) egg made by the school? I have a few theories that pertain to them:

A. The X-Egg in chapter 1 was an Arc-egg, and the reason it couldn’t be healed was because it wasn’t anyone’s actual dream.

B. Kurumu (Amu’s roommate) will have an arc about rejecting the manufactured arc-egg and coming to accept her own dreams, even at risk of not actually being able to have her own guardian character

C. Erito will reject Rosetta in favor of an Arc-egg, with Amu trying to convince her to accept her own authentic self over seeking out power or whatever else tempts her.

—> Kinomi (the Spade dorm leader) is def a horse boy, that is the only explanation I will accept. Also, what are the chances he’s related to the Arcana academy director?

—> Niya is another character I suspect has deeper ties to the director. Also, he’s clearly meant to foil Ikuto. We know he’s into make up and content creation (just as Ikuto is a musician), and he’s got the cat thing going for him, but now we have Michaelangelo the Second (who insists on his full name), and interestingly, Niya’s egg isn’t an arc-egg (which isn’t entirely surprising).

—> Erito insisting that she will beat Amu at the games when Amu doesn’t even know what’s happening is funnier than it has any right to be.

—> It’s interesting to see Tadase and Amu no longer in positions of power, and now be on the outside as part of the student body. Of course, they’re not entirely normal, and still have targets on their back (especially from Erito) and it almost feels like it’s using what made them popular in elementary school and leveraging it against them.

[dailydemonspotlight]

dude i fucking love your series so much, every time you post i get so excited i love learning even more about the demons in smt rahhhhh. anyways can you do lilith? i love like loveeeee her new design in vengeance and think she looks so cool :3.

Lilith - Day 76

Race: Night/Qadištu

Arcana: Devil

Alignment: Neutral-Chaos

July 22nd, 2024

Abrahamic mythology has a lot of rather infamous figures who lay on the more... 'evil' side of things, so to speak. Of course, we have demons like none other than Lucifer himself, to the demons of the Ars Goetia, to even more morally gray figures like Mastema. However, a character that is among the most interesting (and confusing) in the several variations of Abrahamic myth has to be Adam's first wife, a woman who refused to be subservient to her husband- the powerful turned-demon, Lilith.

First off, I just wanna say that I ADORE her redesign as a Qadištu in Vengeance. As someone who just started playing Vengeance for the first time, I love all of the Qadištu almost equally, but Lilith's redesign hits incredibly hard for someone who was already a massive fan of her original design. Her joining this quartet of demonesses is an incredibly nice idea, and I'm, again, a major fan of her redesign. Even though all of the Qadištu originate from Abrahamic mythology, Lilith is a notably obvious example, though of course, this isn't the only design she's had throughout the series. She's had several redesigns, being one of the most recurring demons throughout the series- whether it be her full tits-out design in SMT I, to the most recurring design, her classic look originating from the Playstation port of SMT I, to even her incredibly alien design in SMT IV. Of course, like a lot of recurring demons, she's also one of the most iconic figures in Abrahamic mythology, so why don't we get into that?

Lilith's existence is somewhat contested in scholarly circles, being never actually mentioned in most translations of the Bible- in the original text, Lilith is used as a word for 'creature of the night,' literally translated to 'Night Monster,' though some translations also translate it as screech owl. Most knowledge of her as Adam's first wife appears to be based on extrapolations, as well as what can be seen almost as a plot hole in the Book of Genesis, as two differing creation myths seem to connect back to the idea that there was an 'Eve before Eve,' or 'first Eve.' In the story, while God was presenting animals to Adam, it's said that he may have presented another human to him due to contradictory accounts of the biblical text. This seems to be where Lilith comes into the Bible, being commonly believed to be a woman who refused to submit to Adam, and as such, left the Garden of Eden after failing to satisfy Adam and believing herself to be equal to him. This led to Eve coming into being, a subservient being to Adam. Don't look at me, sexism was just... a thing back in the day.

After her escape, Lilith bore several children, though she was threatened by an angel that they would kill those children. After said children were, well, slaughtered, she grew furious and began to birth demon children known as Lilim... who probably deserve their own spotlight somewhere down the line. It turns out that the demons who began to replace her children were powerful enough to go toe-to-toe with the angels, and joined the demonic ranks somewhere down the line... I think. As revenge on top of this, Lilith also began to ruthlessly target children, apparently being responsible for stillbirths, and if one wasn't to circumcise their child if they were born a boy, she would invoke her wrath unto them as well. How? I dunno! But I guess that's why people are circumcised. How do these always eventually come back to screwing with the genitals? Whatever.

However, where Lilith herself came from is actually an ancient Sumerian text, where she's depicted as a succubus and demoness who first appears in the text 'Gilgamesh and the Huluppu Tree.' In the text, she appears as a demon who builds a house in the domain of a goddess of eroticism, right under the titular Huluppu tree. Gilgamesh, a grand hero depicted in many Abrahamic texts, appears and strikes down the house and Lilith herself for sullying the garden. This story paints her as a sort-of symbol of feminine rebellion, something which would be convenient and easy to extrapolate into being Adam's first wife. Given the connections between Sumer and most Abrahamic religions, it was easy to see the purported first wife of Adam before Eve being, well, Lilith! Recently, the few sources we have on Lilith, however, have been heavily disputed, but as one of the only origins I can work off of, I have to take what I can get.

Her scant references as 'Lilit' in the original Hebrew bible seem to have been what gave her life in the extrapolations, as even though she was referred to exactly once, her role in Sumerian mythology seemed to make a perfect connection to make her into Adam's first wife. Another source we can work off of for Lilith, past the Mesopotamian text, however, is that of an indisputable reference to her in none other than the Dead Sea Scrolls, being as follows.

And I, the Instructor, proclaim His glorious splendour so as to frighten and to te[rrify] all the spirits of the destroying angels, spirits of the bastards, demons, Lilith, howlers, and [desert dwellers] ... and those which fall upon men without warning to lead them astray from a spirit of understanding and to make their heart and their ... desolate during the present dominion of wickedness and predetermined time of humiliations for the sons of lig[ht], by the guilt of the ages of [those] smitten by iniquity – not for eternal destruction, [bu]t for an era of humiliation for transgression.

This does seem to show that Lilith is a part of Abrahamic mythology, though some sources, such as several Rabbi, claim her not to be. It's a very complicated topic overall, as almost everything around Lilith tends to be- her murky stories seem to be based primarily off of educated guesses, unfortunately. However, with her being mentioned in one of the oldest surviving sources for Biblical study, she does appear to be, well, around, so to speak. While still vague and obscure, she's definitely a force that appears to exist.

Now, with all of that out of the way, her depictions in SMT are incredibly varied, but I'd like to specifically point to her in SMT IV, being a tempter who brings Walter to her side. A lot more can be said of her depictions, but this DDS is growing rather long, so I'll have to cut it short. However, given her calling to Flynn and Walter to partake in the apple of knowledge, I love the allusion she gives to her role as Adam's first wife, and perhaps even being the tempter of Adam himself to eat the apple.

[ihaveforgortoomany]

Random Thoughts on Vertin

Random speculation on Vertin, what potentially inspired her character and other lore bits on her.

(I like to think she stores the candy in her hat, the copious amounts of picarasma candy and toffees magically fit in her hat perfectly)

Experimented on?

Vertin mentions in her confronation with Arcana in Chapter Two she is the first successful experiment for storm immunity. This confirms the SPDM or the Foundation (maybe Laplace?) have been experimenting on the children of arcantists right?

So when was Vertin experimented on? Post breakaway event? This is the source of her scar (Three doors is our clearest depiction of it) or this is a birthmark of sorts? She says "only successful" implying others which is unnerving. Currently we don't know what happened within the four years of Vertin being the Timekeeper before the prologue other than the experiments with the suitcase and friends she had made in the past.

Inspirations?

Her suitcase being a non-euclidean space housing 60+ residents and counting sounds similiar to Doctor Who, a popular British TV series about a time-travelling doctor who owns a Tardis that appears as a phone box but inside is much large and expansive.

Another notable time traveller in British Literature is the Time Machine By H.G Wells, that explores a man who invents a time machine that sends him to a future where class disparity has lead to the creation of two separate human species. Given that one of the central motifs of the game deal with the prejudice/ struggle between humans and arcanists maybe she might be partially inspired by this novel?

(I don't mention the messianic imagery surrounding Vertin since this has been picked up by most people and just wanted to look at certain other oddities to her character)