#uhlan's creativity

[masteraqua]

update on ffxii:

after Significant Hardship i was able to transfer my friend’s save data to my switch and have been playing his file for the last few weeks. thankfully this game was much easier to pick back up than type-0 was, though i did have to do some research on the zodiac license boards because those did not exist the last time i played the game.

speaking of which, my friend made some truly wild decisions about job distribution, like making fran shikari?? i don’t think it ever even occurred to me to give her a weapon that wasn’t a bow. maybe i’m just not very creative, but loading the game and seeing her with a dagger just felt wrong. balthier is also a white mage, which is....interesting! but he is basically my party’s god, so i’m not complaining. with that said, i did give him a gun back with the secondary license board lmao.

my job combos look like this: 

Vaan: black mage / red battlemage

Penelo: monk / bushi

Ashe: time battlemage / uhlan

Basch: knight / foebreaker

Balthier: white mage / machinist

Fran: shikari / archer

i know i could have overlapped some of the jobs, but i wanted to try them all out. my favorite combo so far is monk/bushi.

[liminal-storage]

Deck of the Spoken (Major Arcana)

I’ve been meaning to create this post for quite a while. Below are the major arcana I created for the deck which Tura uses ICly for readings.  Please keep in mind that all tarot decks are different, so the meanings here may not be what you think or feel they should be. They are merely my own creation.

The Spoken Cards

Based on the game’s various Jobs, these cards were created to fulfill the role of the major arcana in a typical tarot deck. 

0: The Uhlan- This card was designed with  a Lancer or Dragoon in mind. Aspects of the Chariot card were used in the card’s symbolism. The card depicts a foot soldier wielding a halberd.

Diurnal (upright): Control, willpower, victory, assertion, determination, confidence, discipline

Nocturnal (reversed): lack of control or direction, aggression, fear

I: The Erudite- Designed with a Scholar in mind, the Erudite depicts a student surrounded by books. For this card, I borrowed aspects of both the High Priestess and Hermit.

Diurnal: Intuition, mystery, the subconscious mind, introspection, a higher power, inner guidance

Nocturnal: Isolation, loneliness, hidden agendas, a need to heed one’s intuition

II: The Caller- For this card based on the Summoner job, I borrowed traits of the World card. It depicts and androgynous figure in flowing garb surrounded by all manner of fantastical beasts.

Diurnal: Completion, accomplishment, peace of mind, satisfaction, realized goals

Nocturnal: lack of closure, perturbed mental state, unfinished business

III: The Minstrel- A rather self-explanatory card name, the Minstrel is this deck’s version of The Fool. Depicting a Bard alight with song traversing a path in the woods, this card when drawn alongside an Arrow indicates especially good fortune.

Diurnal: new beginnings, innocent, spontaneity, a journey, a leap of faith

Nocturnal: Naivety, foolishness, recklessness, risk-taking, an ill-informed decision

IV: The Hierophant- While perhaps a bit uncreative in its naming, the card based on the White Mage actually has meanings borrowed from two Major Arcana; The Empress and The Hierophant. The card shows a white-robed figure clutching a staff and crystalline shard.

Diurnal: Abundance, tradition, conformity, ritual, ceremony

Nocturnal: creative block, restrictions, a need to challenge established norms

V: The Sorcerer- A card of power, the Sorcerer combines traits of The Moon and The Magician. This Black Mage-based card depicts a dark-robed figure alone facing a rolling storm.

Diurnal: Power, skill, concentration, illusion, resourcefulness, the subconscious

Nocturnal: Release of fear or unhappiness or confusion, latent talent

VI: The Bulwark- The Bulwark combines traits of the Strength and Emperor cards. Representing the Paladin job, this card shows an armored soldier holding aloft an arrow-riddled shield, the soldier himself untouched by harm.

Diurnal: strength, courage, patience, control, compassion, authority, unshakable resolve

Nocturnal: excessive control, rigidity, inflexibility, lack of discipline, self-doubt

VII: The Phalanx- Depicting a heroic sacrifice by a man to defend a group of innocents, the Phalanx represents a Warrior. This card borrows traits of The Hanged Man and the Wheel of Fortune.

Diurnal: sacrifice, destiny, a turning point, life cycles, fate, acceptance of fate

Nocturnal: negative external forces, martyrdom, delay, indecision, forces out of control

VIII: The Shadow- A card inspired by the Ninja job, The Shadow combines aspects of The Star and Death cards. The card depicts a dark-clothed figured holding a candle, flame glowing bright.

Diurnal: endings and beginnings, transitions, hope, inspiration, letting go

Nocturnal: despair, discouragement, resistance, inability to let go

IX: The Mendicant- Perhaps one of the more difficult cards to create, this representation of the Monk job combines traits from three cards: Judgment, The Devil (reversed), and The Tower. It depicts a man in chains forcefully breaking his shackles.

Diurnal: breaking free, power reclaimed, avoidance of disaster, absolution, a necessary judgment

Nocturnal: materialism, negative revelation, refusal to make a decision.

The Solar Cards

Cards X-XVI draw inspiration from the visible parts of the sun or events relating to the sun.

X: The Corona- The corona is the portion of the sun’s radiant form we see on the surface. Likewise, the card represents things which are readily apparent.

Diurnal: truth, hope, lack of deception

Nocturnal: something difficult to discern, inability to accept truth

XI: Solar Flare- A phenomenon which expels masses of radioactivity from the sun, a solar flare certainly catches attention. However, the card presents a need to pay attention elsewhere.

Diurnal: a brief but vibrant affair, rejection of tradition, a passion which fizzles over time

Nocturnal: a lasting relationship, creation of a new tradition, a slow burn

XII: Prominence- A prominence is a wild, extruding tendril of plasma which extends from the sun’s surface. The card representing them presents itself simply.

Diurnal: lingering feelings, memory, something which remains and may be “haunting”

Nocturnal: something ephemeral, easily changed feelings, forgetfulness

XIII: Eclipse- An eclipse occurs when the view of the sun is obscured by a shadow of another celestial body. The card depicts this solar event in radiant gold and silver.

Diurnal: an unexpected, uncontrollable change, fear of the unknown, apprehension

Nocturnal: a gradual change, lack of fear, acceptance of change

XIV: Aubade- An aubade is poem or a song about the morning, a tune to greet each new day. So too does the card represent the dawn, depicting a fiery sunrise.

Diurnal: warmth, comfort, daily renewal, second chances

Nocturnal: stagnancy, squandered opportunity, discontent in personal affairs

XV: The Dark Sun- In many legends, in many cultures, there are whispers of a day of darkness. Not like an eclipse, such an event lingers such that one cannot discern day from night. With the omen of a blackened sun, those with ill intent operate easily in the hazy shadows. The card depicts a sun symbol covered in black runes.

Diurnal: an event concealing something more, deception, bad luck, an omen

Nocturnal: a person who appears deceitful but holds only good, trustworthiness, fortune, a positive sign

Traditional Astrologian Cards

Since I wanted my deck to contain 22 Major Arcana like a traditional deck, the decision to include normal astrologian cards in Tura’s deck was made after realizing I’d only created 16 so far…They’re pretty self-explanatory, and only listed here for posterity and the sake of completion. 

XVI: The Bole

Diurnal: blessings, good fortune, protection, a protector, safety

Nocturnal: a need for critical thinking, disaster, danger, a need to reassess the situation

XVII: The Balance

Diurnal: justice, organization, a balance of life and death, good and bad, harmony

Nocturnal: a need for balance, disruption, disarray

XVIII: The Arrow

Diurnal: guidance, a journey, willpower to overcome difficulties, a clear path

Nocturnal: jealousy, loss of focus, struggle for control, uncertainty

XIX: The Spear

Diurnal: strong faith, conviction, trust, love, bonds beyond naming

Nocturnal: betrayal, lack of faith, end of a relationship

XX: The Ewer

Diurnal: wisdom, understanding, serenity, reflection, inner peace, abundance of emotion

Nocturnal: lack of feeling, scattered thought, discord, selfishness, turmoil

XXI: The Spire

Diurnal: a need for caution, desire for stability, a large and difficult endeavor, stubbornness

Nocturnal: patience, positive change

Again, these are just my own interpretations of the cards and their meanings. Please take them with a grain of salt. If you would like to use the cards I created, please feel free to do so!