"Yes," Justice says. "You are to be my Chosen in the game of Synodiporia. I believe that in your own idiom, you might call that my 'piece.' You may, in fact, meet Orlea, ROSE, and my many-named sister over the course of our game, but the World lies in wait for its mantle to be claimed. Those three could be considered each other's allies, but as of now they are neither ally nor foe to me. Should they become so depends on how well they do in the tournament. And," she adds, "how well I do too."
She can't help it: the idea that Justice, of all the possible Arcana, has claimed her amuses her enough that she cackles at the very thought.
"A Witch's Game with the World, metaphorically and literally, as the prize! I appreciate your faith in my abilities, but I imagine there are others among you with a stronger claim, surely? Or was my value as a piece hotly contested?"
"Abaddon, Lune, and Penuel also found you suitable," she says, "but when we divided out you and your fellows, you came under my auspices. You are more dispassionate than many of my other Chosen, but that is not a flaw. It is merely a part of my nature they reflect less. You will do well to reflect my harsher self."
"You would not have Chosen me if I was not inclined to, I don't think. Though I am grateful that I did not fall under Abbadon's tender mercies, although. Hmn. Would that be 15 or 16? The Moon and Judgement are easy enough to guess."
She is enjoying puzzling these out, she finds. Which, on reflection, means that Astraea chose well.
"I would ask you what your ultimate goal is, and what you offer me in return for helping you gain it, if you would answer, Astraea, Arcana of Justice."
"The sixteenth," she acknowledges. "And I would use the World to land a lasting blow against the Elder Gods who so callously murdered my sibling, Sinregado."
That raises an eyebrow. "Have you had a recent infestation of R'leyans? My... sincere condolences," she says. "On the death of your... sibling, as well. Ridding the world of creatures that would hasten its untimely end is a lofty goal."
Beatrice did tell her that four of them are regrettably deceased. Sin regado, without regard. "Temperance?" she asks. And, "Assume I am inclined to help you. Which Arcana are your allies? And what should I gain by being your Piece upon the myriad boards?"
"That would depend on what you deem as recent," Justice says. "But yes, Sinregado is the personal name of Temperance, fourteenth among the Arcana. I was fond of them."
Her expression, such as it is with her eyes covered, grows distant, but she shakes it off.
"I have made no formal alliances in this round," she says. "Nor do I particularly wish to. I have seen the result of alliances among my siblings. Alliances caused ROSE to behave in ways that have displeased more than a third of our remaining number--and they have not done any favors for Psyche either. I do not intend to follow in their paths. I will stand apart and win or lose without the aid of my siblings.
"For your service as my piece, I may grant you favors. Powers that will allow you to work with my other pieces to great effect. Powers over truth and falsehood and which will slow your perception of time."
Now that is truly interesting and useful information, that the Magician has alienated herself, as had the Lovers. "Thank you for your consideration," she says. "Let me rephrase the question - in the event you should lose, who in your opinion must not win?"
"The sixteenth," she says. "And... the fifteenth as well. I do not wish for reality to enter a state of constant disaster... and MALBOLGE is already unbearable now and would be moreso if zie won."
"I have ample examples of a world - many, many worlds, within more than one catbox - that I would imagine had either as their Ruling Arcana," she said.
Subtext: On that, Astraea, we are in perfect agreement.
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"A Witch's Game with the World, metaphorically and literally, as the prize! I appreciate your faith in my abilities, but I imagine there are others among you with a stronger claim, surely? Or was my value as a piece hotly contested?"
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She is enjoying puzzling these out, she finds. Which, on reflection, means that Astraea chose well.
"I would ask you what your ultimate goal is, and what you offer me in return for helping you gain it, if you would answer, Astraea, Arcana of Justice."
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Beatrice did tell her that four of them are regrettably deceased. Sin regado, without regard. "Temperance?" she asks. And, "Assume I am inclined to help you. Which Arcana are your allies? And what should I gain by being your Piece upon the myriad boards?"
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Her expression, such as it is with her eyes covered, grows distant, but she shakes it off.
"I have made no formal alliances in this round," she says. "Nor do I particularly wish to. I have seen the result of alliances among my siblings. Alliances caused ROSE to behave in ways that have displeased more than a third of our remaining number--and they have not done any favors for Psyche either. I do not intend to follow in their paths. I will stand apart and win or lose without the aid of my siblings.
"For your service as my piece, I may grant you favors. Powers that will allow you to work with my other pieces to great effect. Powers over truth and falsehood and which will slow your perception of time."
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"I have ample examples of a world - many, many worlds, within more than one catbox - that I would imagine had either as their Ruling Arcana," she said.
Subtext: On that, Astraea, we are in perfect agreement.
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