TAROTOBER: PART 3: THE EMPEROR AND THE HIEROPHANT-REMASTERED

 Designated 4, the Fifth Card of the Major Arcana is the first of 12 Governed by the Zodiac. A Regal Man Sits on A throne, Dressed in Robes and a crown Holding a Sceptre which like the throne, is decorated with Ram's Heads to donate that the Card is Ruled by Aries.

The Emperor is the Ruler of the Material Plain. Knowledge, Influence and Society is his to command, while Inverted Bigotry, Tyranny and Paranoia is used instead.

When used to represent a single person, it's usually a person born under Aries. Or less broadly the Enquirer's Father.

Representing the Emperor are Hidetoshi Odagiri, the Student Council advisor In P3, Persona 4's Kanji Tatsumi "The Perfumed Brawler", Yusuke "Fox" Kitagawa from P5, and Urien, Street Fighter's Self Proclaimed Emperor of the Illuminati!

ROUND ONE-INSPIRATION FROM THE CARD'S CONTEXT!

Hidetoshi

In the first week of the new term,  All Students must Join an extra Curricular club. If you follow Mitsuru's lead, you can join the Student Council, of which she is President. Here you meet Hidetoshi, the advisor and the Treasurer, a bookish girl named Chihiro. (More on her in part 6)

A Stand-offish Jerk with an obsession with Rules, Hidetoshi is tasked with the investigation into who left a cigarette butt in the boy's Toilets. Hidetoshi's Steadfast Tunnel Vision for Canvassing for next year's Election for President, accuses everyone he doesn't like. (Even accusing Girls!) There is an excuse for his behaviour. His father was scapegoated in the accident and lost his job. This made him think, that Might makes Right! That was until the teachers increased the Punishment to expulsion.

 And they accused Minato, who Hidetoshi defended. Angry it looks like History might Repeat itself, Hidetoshi realised that Might Makes Right doesn't work, But Might FOR Right, Does! The next day Hidetoshi is more cooperative with the Council. Eventually, the Smoking Student turns himself in. But in Confidence, Since Hidetoshi realised that Expulsion would ruin him. So it ends with Hidetoshi telling Minato that he's helping the student give up smoking, so he gives him a Cheap Lighter for you to get rid of, but now it's proof of your bond and the way to unlock Odin!

Hidetoshi is both the Straight and Inverted Meanings. Hidetoshi wants the power because he demands respect without earning it. He looked down at people for their stupidity and selfishness, only to realize that more Stupid and Selfish People in charge look down on him.

Kanji

Kanji Tatsumi is a young man who hates the rumours about him.

He's a Bully, A gang leader, Thug and Delinquent.

But the one Rumour no-one ever guessed, would Almost LITERALLY be the death of him.

Filmed Beating up a Biker Gang and getting in the face of the camera crew. Kanji would be targeted As the Fourth Victim of the Midnight Channel, Broadcasting his true feelings, and it was the last thing anyone thought.

Wearing Nothing but a towel and Sandals. Shadow Kanji turned part of the TV World into a Bathhouse where he expressed his desires to do some cottaging in the Supernatural World.

With his reputation for being tough challenged, Kanji Denied his Shadow, Turning it into a more FABULOUS! Form!

The Reason for Kanji lashing out is unlike Yukiko who wants to leave town, Kanji wants to stay and inherit his family's business. A textile Business, something that caused a lot of teasing by Girls. So Kanji may not be gay, but just prefers being one of the guys. 

So he punches his Shadow self and tells it to get himself together, transforming it into Kanji's own Persona, the Skeletal lord of thunder Taka-Mikazuchi 

There have being many YouTube videos explaining the psychology of Kanji's character a lot better than I ever could, but this about the context of his character in relation to the Tarot.

The social Link is all about Kanji trying to make friends and serve at the shop to change his perception in others. Hard to do when you at 16, you are Mistaken as a 6 foot Man dressed as a biker! Worse when you are tailed and profiled by the police, it pisses him of....and makes his Mother Worry! He's told one day that his mother was at the hospital, but it turns out she was driving a young boy who was a victim of a hit and run. Kanji curses at his mother for her Blaise attitude for making him worry, after all we learn his father died in the very same hospital.

He becomes a Reluctant Senpai to the same boy, who was bullied for playing with a girl's knitted doll, which was thrown in the River. So Kanji uses his skills to knit a new one, inadvertently making a demand for dolls in town. But he feels like he's starting to understand what his father's last words of "Being A Man" is. 

Even though the Police still sees Him as a menace and doesn't believe he's selling dolls he gives the cops the best response ever!

"Yeah, I can sew! What, You want me to sew the button on ya Jacket? I'll sew the Shit out of it? make it look brand new, You Asshole!"

He went to his father's grave to resolve his feelings of loss and in the end he decides to make a living making dolls and make an effort Trusting people and excepting who he is. By the end of the game, we see the real Kanji Tatsumi, a man with his head held high, and making his mother proud!

Kanji's story is possibly the best example of all four contexts of the Emperor. A Physically strong brawler for Face Value. A man who learns Commerce for Straight Meaning. A character who is Bigoted towards women for inversion. And Subversion for him being "Queer". Though it's Canon by Arena that he has feelings for Naito, though given her appearance when they first met, it confused him further!

They really hit it on the head. Kanji deserves a point also.

Yusuke

It was a week after changing the heart of Mr Kamashida when the events of the Museum of Vanity started in strange fashion, when an odd young man reached out and tapped Ann on the shoulder.

This young man was Yusuke, a young portrait artist, who wanted to ask Ann to Model for a painting- A NUDE Painting as it turns out! Yusuke is the protégé of Madarame, a Hermatic Master of Various Art Styles who shuns material gain for the sake of Artistic Purity

.....Or so he says!

Requests from the Phansite Seemingly paints the master in a different light, as a Liar and a Plagiarist Who only keeps students as long as they make him money. For the longest time Yusuke would defend the Master who protected him for years, only to find out the truth, when he accidentally fell into the Cognitive World.

The Secret to Madarame's most famous painting the "Sayuri"

The enigmatic painting was in fact a picture of Yusuke's mother, a Self Portrait of her and her newborn son, a fact hidden with a coat of paint, A parting gift from a mother dying of a terminal illness and wanted to preserve her memory.

Only for Madarame to Alter the Painting and copy it over and over in "Robbery" Scams to increase its value. Angered  by this Yusuke transformed into a Phantom Thief and Summoned his own Persona, Goemon.

Defeating His Master, he babbled that "The Black mask" Will kill him if he said all he knows. Regaining the Sayuri, he instead gifted it to Joker where it now hangs over the counter of Leblanc Cafe!

Yusuke's Social Link is that of him Regaining An Art's Scholarship now that Madarame's name is mud. Hoping to branch into Abstract art he's using Inspiration from Mementos, until Joker and He are attacked by Slimes. defeat them and this will add Yusuke as a Social Link. Unveiling "Desire" into the art Circuit shows Madarame's teaching were terrible and poor Yusuke has no coping mechanism for Criticism, even Constructive criticism. So he vows to get better. After Joker picks the locks of Madarame's former studio, he meets the Curator of the exhibition for was trying to trace Yusuke since. He is also chairman of the National Arts Council. He offers him a scholarship....by Selling his Paintings as a cut for the foundation to pay for Supplies. seeing it as the same thing his master did, he refuses, though insulted they still give him a chance to exhibit a work. During a meeting with Joker, Ryuji and Ann, Yusuke realizes that he was trying to find Purity where there was none, so should focus on Raw Emotion. And he returns to Mementos to feel the twisted emotions of the demons there. Overcome he revises Desire into Desire and Hope, adding light and Colour to the Black and blood red landscape. The Curator offers Yusuke a place on the council,  But Yusuke respectfully declines, making money from art is just something he's not comfortable with, but he does look forward to having Future works exhibited.

Yusuke's Story is the Bigotry Aspect of the Inverted Emperor, more Specifically his Artistic Bias. What that means is he's using too much of his own experience to cloud his Art's Direction, even seeing the Council as every bit the leeches Madarame was. However it is a story of growth while staying true to his core beliefs of Art's Purity!

Urien

The Illuminati

This Shadowy Organization has being Referenced in many Media before, But In the world Of Street Fighter, They are a cult who want to level the Sinful Modern World and Return it to the Harmony of Ancient Times Under the Prophecy that a boy wielding the Elements would be Humanity's Salvation!

Born into the Cult were two Brothers, Gill and Urien. Under the Teachings of the Cult, they would Learn Ancient Arts like Metallurgy, Alchemy, War Strategy, Melee Weapons and Pancrace. Willingly Having Genetic and Magical Experimentation all their lives until the day one would lead the Illuminati on the Lord's Year. (2000)

Despite Urien's Tenacity as a fighter, It was Gill whose Altruistism (warped as it is) and Zeal to the cause Made him the New Emperor. Urien Was made President, But Urien's Jealously of his brother Spread like a cancer. Secretly fraternizing in the Sinful Modern world, Deals with Outsiders and Striking up a plan of his own to make a race of Cyborg Soldiers, Like 11, 12 And Necro

Years past and Urien is inspecting the G-Project aka 11, A robot soldier with Duplication skills, Which Urien Destroys. His New plan is to Revive Charlie Nash from the Dead (more on him later!) from the dead, using his revenge on Shadowloo to run interference while he steals Bison's Clones to use as Test subject for The G project Mark 12, Only to be defeated again. this time by Viper. it's only later when he pays off Balrog to betray Bison is when Urien gets some leeway. But Balrog wants more Money so Urien Defeats him in front of Ed, who intervenes using  Psycho Power. Urien, seeing Ed is the clone he was looking for backs off, but he is biding his time as Shadowloo falls during the Day of the Black Sun, only for the Illuminati to rise!

Urien is a Jealous Power Hungry man, who despite his own Skill and influence, wants the power his Brother he possesses. He is the Inverted Emperor Incarnate: Bigoted and Tyrannical. He does not care about the Illuminati's Goals, he just wants the power. His Bigotry comes out when addressing others, calling them Dirt and Commoner and various animals. Urien also Gains a point

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PART 2-PERKS

Hidetoshi gives you a Cheap Lighter  that can be used to fuse Odin. and access to start the Chihiro Social Link. Unlike the other School Clubs, you get no points for your Attributes.

Kanji Comes with all the Perks the Party Members of his game comes with. Follow up, Recovery, Calvary Attack, Endure, Second Awakening!, But he doesn't open up any new skills or New locations. It's his Cute Strap that is used as proof to fuse Odin.

Yusuke Like Kanji comes with all the Party Perks the other Thieves have, But his unique skill is Duplication which can be Modified twice! If you find Blank Cards, you can have Yusuke Duplicate a Skill Card, that can be used to teach Persona's Skills and Spells. He also Unlocks the Church Location where you can start the Hifumi Social link (More on her when we cover the Star Card!) and Confessionals where your Allies can relearn a Move. To do all this, you need Rank 3 Intelligence, Max Proficiency To pick Locks, and Blank Cards to make the Skill cards!

Urien is disliked by everyone, Given his Allegiance to The Illuminati. Even the Illuminati hates his guts! 

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ROUND 3 INFLUENCE ON THE HERO AND HIS WORLD

Hidetoshi has no other influence to Minato outside school. In fact, he's the only non party social link your age who doesn't call you after school!

Kanji sees You as the man who turned into what he always tried to prove to be...A Man

Yusuke adds his knowledge of aesthetics, and eye of beauty, which Morgana claimed to be useful. Sometimes the puzzles require placement and keen sight to solve. If it wasn't for Joker, he may have starved to death if he stopped making money.

Urien hates everyone, and they hate him back! Even Ryu, who Urien mocks as a a homeless "Commoner" feels like that Urien's attacks are as empty as his words.

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The Winner is Yusuke

THE HIEROPHANT

The Hierophant (Sometimes referred to as "The Pope") is the card designated 5 and is Ruled by Taurus.

An Elderly but Robust man sits on a throne between 2 pillars, Wearing the Vestiges of Christian Faith: White Robes, A Cross, and Rosary. Adorned on his head is either a triple crown to denote the Holy Trinity, or A horned Headdress for Taurus

While the Emperor is Master of the Material Plain, The Hierophant is the master of the Spiritual Plain. Like the Emperor, he gives off a "Fatherly" Presence, But Rather than it being Knowledge and Authority, it's Wisdom and Tradition. This Card means Wisdom, Forgiveness, Tradition and Morality, reversed It means Bad advice, Lack of Faith and Confusion

For a specific person, It Usually speaks of someone who  is a father figure, a Grandfather or a mentor or Priest. or someone born under Taurus.

Our 5 Contestants are Bunkichi and Mitsuko, a pair of Elderly Shopkeepers, Ryotaro Dojima, Yu's hard boiled detective uncle. Sojiro "Boss" Sakura and Lt. William Guile, the Soldier who dragged Bison back to hell!

Bunkichi and Mitsuko

While exploring the Strip Mall, Minato Entered Bookworms Used Bookshop. Seeing the Gekkokan High Uniform on Minato. The Husband asks if he's seen a Persimmon tree on the school ground. (Don't feel bad if you didn't notice it the first time, but it's indeed there) It turns out it's a memorial to their son, a teacher who died in a car accident, and they learn that the school plan on cutting the tree down. So you help them start a petition to save the tree.

Many Signatures where signed, But while Visiting the tree, Bunkichi learns why the tree is coming down, It's to start building new Classrooms in his honour. Overjoyed, Bunkichi sent a letter of approval to do so, knowing that it would be a better Monument to their Son.

The Elderly Social link Hits Hard because it feels true. We all know families, Directly or Indirectly, Who Lost Children. Even when The child is grown up even if he or she dies before the parents. You never really stop being your children's parents. With the school cutting down the tree, it felt like to Mitsuko that the last remnants of her son was fading away. Thankfully the new classrooms will a better legacy for a beloved teacher.

As for Context, The Elderly Couple Social Link Are the Wisdom and Forgiveness Aspects of the Pope.

Dojima

As Yu Nurakami's Uncle in the Town of Inaba, He offered his Nephew a place to stay, while his parents did Aid Work oversees. Having a Respectable Young Man like Yu to Babysit His daughter while on the beat as a detective seemed Reason enough to have him around.

But Noone Expected a Killer on the loose, the very next day his nephew arrived. and him Appearing close to every investigation Dojima is on.

He Doesn't want to Suspect Yu, especially how Impressible Nanako is. But it was hard to tell Dojima what is really happening.  After all, How do you explain things like Personas, and Shadows and Tv Worlds and Velvet Rooms?

The Serial Killings have knocked Ryotaro's home life with Nanako, Holidays cancelled, late night shifts and worse, the young girl had to see her father drunk, but failing to find his wife's killer maybe the reason he's throwing himself into his work. He gets really upset when the news reports Cyclists being ran over. Then there is the incident that Dojima chose work over treating Nanako's stomach pains. It's nothing major but calling him out makes him angry. He's been running his own investigation into Chisato's death himself on top of all that's being going on.

Dojima loves Yu and Nanako, but after the guilt of losing Chisato, he's afraid of losing family again. A pain that does happen when Nanako is the final victim of the midnight channel. Even Capturing the Crazed Politican Nadatame and rescuing her, the Dojima's end up in hospital after Dojima is caught in a car accident. If you choose to kill Nadatame, Nanako dies and if you don't suspect Detective Adachi, then you can't finish the game or the bond of this character. When you do it's a small family outing to the river at night. Dojima realising what is important, he's a detective sure, but he's protecting Inaba, because his family lives there! 

Dojima is the fatherly Aspect of the hierophant, but he's more suited to being an Emperor given as a detective, he's dealing with laws and facts, things of the Material Plain. I will give him a point for the forgiveness aspect He drops the investigation into Chisato's Death and doesn't kill his former underling for being the mastermind to the murders. He suspected Yu in the beginning as the killer or at the very least, a vigilante. But upon learning the truth, Strange as it is, he wanted nothing more than Adachi to face justice.

Sojiro Sakura

"Huh....why did it have to be me?"

The Question did Cross the Mind of Coffee shop owner Sojiro when asked to host the son of a family friend on Probation for Assault.

However Something wasn't right, this Kid, Ren Amamiya, didn't seem like the thug type, but the Victim of SOCIETY!

And Sojiro knows a thing or two about Hidden Depths.

Before Opening Leblanc Cafe, Sojiro was a Research Fellow of Psychology, under the Colleague, and later lover, a woman by the name of Wakaba. Wakaba's research had led to a discovery, The Existence of A Cognitive World. But Before her Research would become Public, Wakaba Died in a Murder that was made to look like an Accident and her Research Stolen (We will get to the full extent of the Murder, When we Cover Futaba in Strength and The Hermit) Learning the man who killed Wakaba and setup Joker is one and the same, Sojiro becomes an honourary Phantom Thief gaining his own Nickname "Boss".

Sojiro's Story is him giving you on the job training, while Futuba's family wants to regain custody of her, only because word has gotten out that Sojiro gets more Social Money because Futuba's Agoraphobia counts as a Disability as well as the money from being a Government Research Fellow. And an Uncle causes trouble by feigning injury and claiming to be assaulted. But before Futaba's request to change her uncle's heart can happen, Social Services arrive, but Futaba convinces them by calling Sojiro "Dad". But the Uncle is still a menace until the Change Of Heart is Made. And when it's made, Sojiro visits Wakaba's grave for the first time since her death. Noticing how much his and her daughter, reminds him of her mother!

Sojiro is the Wisdom Aspect as well as the fatherly Aspect, Done Straight since Sojiro is Futaba's Adopted Father. Also while not exactly Religion, Knowledge of Cognition counts as knowledge of the Spiritual Plain.

Guile

"Go Home and Be a Family Man!"

The familiar jeer from a man who would become a major in America's Air Force, ironically the Major himself has a family, himself, but revenge on the man who killed his best friend.

This friend was Guile's Former Superior officer, Charlie Nash, Who convinced his new sparring partner to undergo a military experiment to enter M Bison's Street Fighter Tournament. The Experiment? A legup on a certain Japanese Fighter, the two airmen would have Minaturized Engines, that, when given a certain verbal command, would vibrate the muscles in their arms to ignite the air Infront of them, However Guiles Operation was not as smooth as Charlie's. A malfunction in both engines made the engines each work at 50% capacity, meaning to avail of this power he had to swing both arms. Yes that's the canon reason Guile can use the sonic boom. Because as pilots..... They understand sound waves better?

Dubious Science Aside, William and Charlie became more than Soldiers, they became Friends, Soon the  two would enter the tournament incognito with an Interpol agent from China. However Charlie went missing after his qualifier, trailing a lead in the investigation.

Eventually, they find M.Bison's Base in Thailand and the source of his power. The Psycho Drive. A restoration chamber. When Ryu Destroyed Bison's Body, a new body regenerated inside the drive. Charlie tells his friends there is only one way to stop Bison; Blow up the Base while his body is still vulnerable.

Seeing the Flaming Ruins, Guile mourns his friends Sacrifice, but Chun Li is convinced that Charlie has Survived.

All hope is lost, when Bison In a new Body appears to re-announce the Street Fighter Tournament, Spurred on by Revenge, Guile became M.I.A to kill the Man who killed his friend. He would beat the Dictator senseless until his family pleaded with him. In the end killing Bison would not bring Charlie back, 

But the Illuminati did.

MI6, the Air Force and Interpol would team again, when Shadowloo unveiled it's new weapon the black sun space Station, but In the background the Illuminati made their play, and it involved a Revived Charlie, back from the dead and his body stitched together with Eleven's Technology and Necrotic Body Parts fighting everyone in his way. Once again Charlie sacrificed himself, since his body is in worse shape than expected, However the damage is more than Bison let on. As Guile lead the the heroes to destroy the Black sun as they rescue those kidnapped, as Ryu dealt the final blow with no Rose, No Dolls or Clones left, Guile returned home for the first time on years, mission truly accomplished! 

Guile is a seasoned Fighter and battle tested Soldier. He is the Wisdom In that regard. He's also a father, though his work doesn't let him see Julia and Amy too often. It's the same family who convinces him not to show Mercy to Bison. Playing the Forgiveness straight.

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ROUND 2-PERKS

Bunkichi, like most grandfatherly men would gift you treats. These are healing items namely 2 melon breads, a bottle of medicine and a fried bread. In the end of the link, You get a Persimmon, but you can't eat it. It's the key item to prove you can fuse for Kohryu.

To do any of this, you need a Persimmon tree leaf as proof. You can visit bookworms every day except Sunday, meaning that you can finish this link early on.

However that pales in comparison to Dojima and Sojiro, who owns the house/cafe you make into your base.

For Yu, the Dojima house lets him watch the Midnight hour, work at home,  eat stat changing food in the fridge, cook for his friends, order from the shopping channels, and unlock the social link for Nanako (who we will covering when we get to justice) his key item is a coffee mug that also unlock Kohryu, but to get pass rank 2, you must have a Persona that belongs to the Emperor Arcana.

But you can do more in Leblanc Cafe. Sojiro's training will increase your kindness stat. And he teaches you how to make coffee and curry. What's so special about this coffee and curry, you may ask? Well, they heal your Special points for your entire party and learning Coffee Master and Curry master makes this already Broken item More OP!

You can also do pull-ups on a support beam, Make Lockpicks, Check your Stats....by going to the toilet...and order from the shopping channels. The only downside is Sojiro starts the game not trusting you, even if you spend time, he'll only give you coffee trivia instead of maxing your Link.

It's implied that Guile pilots Ryu around the world, by putting him in custody of the Air force, But no official claim to how Ryu crosses the ocean has ever been made, Guile and Ryu have worked many times the other world warriors for years in defeating Shadowloo, SIN, and now the Illuminati.

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INFLUENCES ON THE HERO AND HIS WORLD

Bunkichi and Mitsuko are completely optional and bare no real consequences to the story.

The investigation into the Midnight Channel Murders, is the Main point of Persona 4. Dojima is one of the key figures, Being both a Guardian and a unintentional obstruction to the Investigation Team's own Endeavours

Like Dojima, Sojiro is Ren's guardian but he's not family in any way. Because being what Sojiro was told, he doesn't trust Ren/Joker in the beginning, If only when the bigger picture is revealed that everyone in the phantom thieves are connected back to Councilman Shido is when Sojiro trusts you.

He will still get angry with you if you date Futaba, Despite his warning.

Guile has fought Ryu before and respects him, but it seems he has no time for the more Mystical and Esoteric fighters he meets!

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The winners are Dojima and Sojiro.

Join me in February when we continue this program of essays. Next time we start getting all Emotional when we cover The Lovers and The Chariot!

Tarotober part 2 The High Priestess and the Empress

WARNING: THIS POST CONTAINS DISCUSSIONS OF THEMES THAT YOU MAY FIND OFFENSIVE, IT ALSO CONTAINS DISTURBING IMAGES. VIEWER DISCRETION IS ADVISED!

 The High Priestess

Designated Number 2, the 3rd card of the Major Arcana and the first of the "influences" and the first to represent Society. A young woman with long silver hair, dressed in blue robes and wearing a crown similar to the Moon God, Isis, stands I'm between two pillars holding a scroll that is marked "TORA"

The High Priestess Means Intuition, Memories, and the revealing of Secrets. Reversed, it means Secrets and been Stubborn. The allusion to Isis is not a coincidence, as this card is ruled by The Moon.

When used to Depict a specific person, it usually a female influence, a sister, aunt, or godmother or wife.....but never a mother! That card comes later!

The high Priestess is represented by Fuuka Yamagishi, the 1st Navigator of P3, Yukiko Amagi, the Snow Black, P5's Makato "Queen" Najima, and Rose, The Soul Powered Psychic of Street Fighter.

Fuuka

Small in Stature, Even for a Girl in the year below our heroes, Fuuka was prey for bullies in High school, So when she was locked in a changing room and left over night, the school changed into Tantalus, while not a fighter her unique Persona manifested naturally without causing the trauma of using a evoker to shoot herself. Using the signal from Lucia, Fuuka's Persona, they found the girl and found that Lucia's set of skills can be used in a new way, as a Navigator.

Fuuka is a small Mousey, Insecure Girl who feels inadequate In her own body, especially when sharing the dorm with 2 of the school's popular girls. 

In her social link, Fuuka has started cooking in an attempt to be more "Girly", at the expense of fixing and tinkering with Technology and Gadgets because of it, it's only when Minato tells her to truthful to herself, she realizes that gender roles are bullshit as long as you love yourself and are loved. In the end, Fuuka gifts Minato some Headphones she had being fixing. Unfortunately that does not change the headphones on Minato's costume in anyway, expect in the dancing game, which we are not acknowledging. It's purely a key item to prove we can fuse for the Most Powerful monster in the Priestess Arcana.

While Fuuka is an interesting Character, Her story does not fit the Motif of High Priestess, But if she was An Empress Social Link, It would Work.

Hear me out on this!

Her Doubt does not come from her powers not working, nor does it have her trying to prove she can fight and be something she's not! That's counter-intuitive. No It's about her perceived lack of Femininity. Just look at the design of Lucia!

She's a literal Safe zone shaped like a Pregnant lady. Given that The Empress is about Femininity and Nurturing, That argument can be made!

Yukiko Amagi

Inaba is like any small town in Japan. there are 2 schools, Acres of ricefields, A temple, a shopping district and an Inn.

But in this Inn, handed down for generations, resides a girl, a beauty adored by all the boys in school, soft and pure as the snow she was named after, Yukiko Amagi

As the receptionist of the Famous Amagi inn and Hot springs, It was here The Newscaster stayed before she was Murdered. When Yukiko was interviewed on tv and talked down to about boys, the murder and the responsibility at such a young age, Yukiko was kidnapped and thrown into the Tv world. the next night, A Shadow Yukiko appeared on the midnight channel, dressed as a fairytale princess. Yukiko's real feelings of been tied down by inheritance, and her own sexual awakening was broadcast bare for all to see. 

Yukiko denied her feelings about wanting to leave Inaba. Turning her Shadow into A Phoenixian Monstrosity of Burning wings and Hot lace! When the shadow is defeated. She realizes her feelings of Restriction are there, Turning her shadow into her own Persona, Kohana Sakura

Resolving to leave Inaba after Graduation and Applying for a Job Licence, She comes afoul of the producer of the tv show, "News of the Weird", who offers to pay Yukiko's college tuition, So he turn the Amagi Inn into a "Murder Mansion" and have customers come via morbid curiosity! Angered how the Murders and her own Attempted Murder would be trivialized to make a quick buck, he instead wants to make out the hot springs out to be a seedy Brothel. Insulted, Yukiko refuses. In the end, While she doesn't go through with leaving her town or the inn, she has being taking Hotelier Lessons via Correspondence Courses and Applying the Modern Style to her Families Inn. It may not be traditional Inn anymore, But in this way, at least Yukiko doesn't feel like a Princess trapped in a tower.

Yukiko....is a strange case to try to find any semblance of tarot Context to. As most of her decisions where not made via Intuition but via her Conscience and Morality, That's the Difference, The producer laid the fact he was Scum too thick, without being Tactful or Duplicitous! Sorry, I don't see any Mythos going back to any aspect of the card, at all.

Hopefully P5 does it Better.

Makoto

Since her Sister is A Chief Prosecutor (The very same who interrogates Joker during the story.) Makoto is the Studious Straitlaced Student Council President who turned a blind eye to the Suffering of the Sports teams by Mr Kamoshida. In her role as Student Council President, Makoto would later Notarize a loan from a Loanshark called Kaneshiro, Swallowing her pride when she discovered the identities of the Phantom Thieves, She entered the Cognitive world of the gangster's Bank, Now Imagined as an UFO. With the Thieves Surrounded, Kaneshiro would talk big to Makoto, calling her an useless Woman, and proposing to Sell her Body to pay off the debt! Angered by this, It Awakened her own Persona, A Living Motorcycle called Johana!

To befriend Makoto, you must Max out your intelligence, So Get your Quiz Answers From GameFaqs, as the school questions are 500 IQ trivia! When you do, Makoto will give you the time of day. And she'll ask you how to appear less unfriendly, after learning she goes to karaoke if you press it, you end up in the real answer anyway, the arcade. One Session of PWNING N00BS! And Makato is more relatable! 

Makoto's story starts when you are with her in the Red light district, when she notices a girl she knows  working in a club. Concerned, Makoto meets Eiko after school ands asks Eiko if she's ok at home, to which Eiko claims she doesn't need the money. Makoto tells us as such, but Eiko does have a younger more talented brother who gets all the attention. Eiko and Makoto hit it off over a shared love of a cartoon so Makoto has made a friend on her own, which makes her second guess if interfering with the relationship between Eiko and her Boyfriend, who is a serial con artist and pimp, it's only when she gives him her number out of concern, that Tsubaba calls Eiko, "Makoto" to her face, Eiko accusers Makoto of "stealing her man" when Makoto slaps the sense into her, which she does! 

Makoto's story succeeds where Yukiko's fails. A situation where someone must choose to do the right thing or do what is expected. And Makoto been doing the latter all her life, and it nearly got her killed. She holds her father's Memory very dear, who was a detective confronting the gang who murdered his wife, and was sadly ran down in the line of duty. She decides to join the family business, hoping one day to reach the title of Police Commissioner.

Not that it matters, Given the Resolution of Yukari and Rise Storylines, But Makoto may be the canon Romantic Interest! 

Rose

There are.....a lot of Strange fighters in The Street Fighter universe. From a Emerald skinned monkey man, to an Aztec clay statue come to life, to a Turkish Oil Wrestler with one hell of a sunburn!

But all pale in comparison to the Italian fighter Rose...Who is not a martial artist!

Rose is a tarot card reader who earned her place at ( and later runs)  La Palacia Maggica, a Grand House where the Wealthy and influential would seek guidance from Mystics. With Rose not only Gifted in Premonition, but ESP and Astral projection.

One Night, when asked about the Odds of the Street Fighter tournament, her vision showed her the end of the world. Concerned, but with no real formal training, Rose entered into the Tournament. As the days went on Her Vision became Clear, M. Bison was using the Tournament as a ploy to replace his dying body with that of winner, Ryu. When Ryu felled Bison, Rose Intervened and Bison's soul took her body instead, However turns out Bison's Psycho Power is the direct opposite to the source of Rose's abilities, the Soul Power, kind of like Yin and Yang, both cancel each other but one cannot survive if the other is destroyed.

Her Possession between the events of Alpha and SF2 scared Rose, even though she had no memory of what she did, the fact that her Body was used for evil and she resolved to stop Bison....even it means her death.

By the end of SFV,  Ryu killed Bison, one and for all, and with no body to replace it seemed like Rose could keep on living!

But She Couldn't get it out of her mind. Why is she still here?

Charming and Beautiful, Rose is a Mechanically Unusual Fighter, using a scarf imbued with Soul Power as a multipurpose tool, it's a bat for Projective, it's a taser, a shield, A drill Bit and Pole vault! It does it all!

She also has the disadvantage of being Anemic, so she would miss early morning matches.

Rose is very much the Priestess Card. Her Intuition guided her to a situation in plain sight that was more insidious than thought. However that Intuition, honed by mystic by Whatever training she obtained, has made her deal in absolutes. First by wanting to sacrifice her life to do so, to training Apprentices to finish her work if she dies, such as Maggio and Menat. However meaning G and feeling no Soul from him, she knows her fight is not over!

Fukka-0

Yukiko-0

Makoto-1

Rose-1

Round 2 Perks

Sadly, Fuuka gains her Abilities via level up and not by Social Links. So no points.

Yukiko comes with all the standard moves she learns with the others. But also unlocks the Amagi Family Inn and Hot Springs as a location.

Why is this important?

Well, there is a one time event during New Year's Day. Where you can invite one of your party Members for a dip and  to contemplate the year. Your guest will ask what you are thinking and you are given the choice of picking "The Past Year" or "The Future". Picking the past will make your guest remember a forgotten move, but picking the future will make you guest learn their final move early, and it's usually powerful!

Makoto comes with Follow up attack, talk, Harisen Recovery, and Endure as Standard, But comes with only 2 unique abilities. Shadow Calculus and Shadow Factorisation

Calculus shows all elemental weakness of an enemy while Factorisation shows the Enemy's Status Weaknesses.

Rose has being sought by Ryu for spiritual advice whenever he is in Europe. No official sources have claimed she can subdue the dark Hadou like Dhalsim can, however.

Fuuka-1

Yukiko-1

Makato-2

Rose-2

Influence on the hero and their world. 

Fuuka as your ally and roommate, is front and centre on your journey. As a voice in your ear, may seem a little detached.

Like all your Female Social Links, Yukiko can be romanced, She can eavesdrop during her shifts at the inn, but it's downplayed.

Makoto is the Strategist of the Phantom Thieves, with a black belt in Akido, so she can hold her own, But she's also a better Healer than Morgana who also has strong physical attacks, as opposed to Morgana's luck based attacks

Rose has an invested interest in the confrontation between Ryu and M.Bison. Her existence depended on it. She recognises that Ryu is the one that will save the world, and tries to help best she can, even if she believes that Sacrifice is the answer! 

Fuuka-2

Yukiko-2

Makoto-3

Rose-2

The winner is Makoto.

THE EMPRESS

Fourth in line is the Empress card, Designated as 3. And is Ruled by the planet Venus.

A Heavily Pregnant Woman Stands in a Wheat Field, Dressed In a Robe and Crown.

As Mentioned above, the Empress Means Femininity, Protection and Nurturing. If used to predict the future for a female enquirer, childbirth may be discussed.

For a single person the card means The Enquirer's Mother.

Our 4 new contestants are Mitsuru Kirijo, Head of S.E.E.S, Margaret, the Ruler of Power, Haru "Noir" Okumara, The Beauty Thief and Cammy White "The Killer Bee" 

Mitsuru

Mitsuru Kirijo, the heir of the powerful Kirijo Group of Investment Bankers had it all. Wealth, A Formal Education overseas, Enough Points to Graduate High school early and to attend any College she wanted.

However, the truth of The Kirijo's wealth in recent years during a period of crashes, was unforgivable for a long period of time, even by Yukari who lost her father

You see, The Kirijo Group is responsible for the Dark Hour.

Her Grandfather Discovered the existence of "The Mind Place" or properly the Cognitive World. Seeing that the minds of all reside in the same place at night. The Man had a idea for to expand his influence. Subliminal Advertising in People's dreams. But why stop there, when you can change a person's  mind and opinions to whatever you want. Better still the tidy profit of selling this power to the highest bidder?

That didn't happen.

What did happen was the Dark hour, and the attacks on humanity increasing over 10 years.

When she was just 7, Mitsuru and her father were involved in an incident that revealed Tantalus. And they were attacked by shadows. In her fear for her father, she cried for help.

And it came, freezing the Shadows in ice.

This was Pantescelia and from now on, Mitsuru had a way to fight back.

Via The power of Persona.

Remember that song by Pulp?

(I Wanna Live Like) Common People?

That's Mitzi's Social Link in a nutshell!

Sort of!

Being Rich all her life, she always had chef's make dinners. And still had some retainers cleaning the dorm on school hours, so you explaining to her that Burgers are eaten without cutlery is met with genuine surprise.

However, something is worrying Mitsuru, and you finally get it out that it's a Legal Issue. Due to the Recent Death of her Father, Mitsuru cannot inherit anything without Marriage, due to the fact he died before being of legal age.

Naturally, the Suitor is a Rich-Boy Douchebag who only wants her for money, and when he says that it's want her father wanted, Mitsuru snaps and finally remembers how powerful she is on her own, saying that she'll run the company despite her being (GASP!) A WOMAN! She tells him that she'll use all the Group's power to ruin his if he doesn't rescind the contract.

Mitsuru is two characters, the self assured fighter on Tantalus, and the sheltered rich girl who is served her every need all her life (in the Secret Surveillance tape after Spring Break. She reads a magazine on reviews for A bikini, and frowns that the company gives her clothes to wear In public.) Which is good, because it gives the character depth, especially one that comes of indefatigable. 

Mitsuru is both sides of the Empress. The Mature leader on the brink of adulthood, and the person who is overprotected herself and emotionally blackmailed up to the point she fights back.

Margaret

One day You enter the Velvet Room when Igor Is away. Margaret senses Yu feels different and surmises that it was faithed that you should mee...

MARGARET IS A FETCH QUEST!

THATS IT!

SHE WANTS RARE PERSONAS WITH MOVES THEY CAN'T USUALLY LEARN TO WHOOP YOUR ASS IN A OPTIONAL BOSS BATTLE!

THAT'S IT!

Haru

In Joker's class there is a polite, unassuming girl. she's seen going to your classes, sitting to one side, serving you in the Electronics Shop and watering the Flowers as the sole member of Shujin Academy Gardening Club.

All to prove her worth, Not her Wealth.

Haru is the heir to Okumara Foods, the Company that owns the Fast Food Chain, Big Bang Burger. After Complaints Online that Big Bang treats it's Employees Harshly, the Phantom Thieves had no idea how deep it truly went.

Mr Okumara had used his wealth to support Councilman Shido in his quest for Presidency, becoming bankrupt in the process. In doing so Cutting Corners on his Restaurants, this created a Palace in the Cognitive World Based on the the Sci-fi themes of his restaurants. He as an alien overlord and all his employees as disposal robots. But that's not all.

Seeing his daughter as just as Expendable, Mr Okumara....sold Haru into Marriage as collateral for a loan, from a retainer called Sugamara. When Morgana left the Phantom Thieves, he found Sugamara trying to force himself on Haru. Morgana in his cat form attacked him, and when Haru tended to the beast, she was surprised it spoke. It could only mean one thing, Haru had a persona.

When the duo introduced themselves at first, they thought Haru was the dreaded Black Mask, killing people with mental shutdowns.

Then they realized how out of her League she was.

When they Confronted Shadow Okumara, he told her that Children are no more than stock to be invested in before been sold. This angered her to betray her beliefs in reasoning with him, Freeing her Persona, M'Lady!

Sadly changing her father's heart to reveal who is responsible for the mental Breakdowns, was killed himself on television via Shutdown, as the Phantom Thieves celebrated in Disn..DESTINYLAND!

Poor Haru was caught in the scandalous headline, "Heiress eats Cotton Candy as Father Dies". So not only does she have her Duties in the phantom thieves but to play Kingmaker in the future of her company.

If you have Max Kindness, Haru will allow you to join the school's gardening club. Her social link is the fallout from the Big Bang Palace. As she tries to change Okumara Foods image, appoint a fair president who is not a crony for Shido, and the threat of Sugamara trying to still marry her, all this and growing her own coffee beans to sell in her own brand of cafés. The strain is too much at times as she nearly collapses from tiredness. Thankfully convinced by the homegrown coffee, and his appointment. The new President reveals her father and Sugamara only had a verbal agreement. So his threats are null and void.

Haru is the Nurturing aspect of the Empress. As seen in her hobby of gardening. Though Formal and Sweet Natured on the Surface, she has a lot of inner Strength. And maybe a crazy side!

Cammy White

The Operative from MI6 has had a chequered past, before fighting for Queen and Country, she killed her own Prime minister. As the Code Name: "Killer Bee"

Cammy was one of many of M.Bison's Dolls. Female Clones that are the Workforce of Shadowloo, From Secretaries, to Sleeper Agents, to Guard Duty to.... Bunny girls in his Casino Front in Vegas?

Of the 13 known Dolls, Cammy is special Genetically cloned from Bison's own DNA and conditioned as a cold hearted killer. Countless lives had being took, but when Bison ordered to kill Dhalsim for the Destruction of his damn, Dhalsim used his mystic powers to clear her mind of brainwashing. 

Returning to Shadowloo with a new sense of curiosity, she learned of her origins and of Bison's plan to marry her (taking the phrase "Love Yourself" to a new low!) Cammy defeated Bison and turned herself into the British Government, who decided Shadowloo was a bigger threat than they thought, to use Cammy as an operative in its top secret Delta Red, with the promise that if she can, she will free her "Sisters" the other dolls, as she topples Shadowloo

Cammy is our First Subversion of a card's Context: Femininity warped by Bison's ego, Young Women Brainwashed and Assigned Jobs In Stiff Gender Roles, Dressed in Catsuits and Leotards For his master's Viewing Pleasure. Of Course you can now Choose Different clothes for Cammy to wear but the Leotard is now like The Chun Li dress, It's too Iconic! In her Face Turn, She's Become the Protection Aspect of the card, acting after freeing some of the Dolls and helping them Acclimate to Lawful Society and Free Will. However she does feel Guilty about the crimes she committed, sometimes triggering Flashbacks, and she's had her share of Failures,like saving her Clone Decapre from being recaptured and reprogrammed by Shadaloo.

Mitsuru-1

Margaret-0

Haru-1

Cammy-1

ROUND 2-PERKS

Mitsuru gives you an Invoker and the key to her motorcycle, They are just Key Items and have no practical Use.

Margaret gives you a Brooch, A kiss, and 100 plus Asswhippings in a boss Battle with the Personas your stupid ass gave her! At least she kisses you! The other girls barely even hold your hand!

Haru comes with all the Party member bells and whistles. Follow up, Talk, Harisen Recovery, Endure and Second Awakening. But she comes in very late in the game, and requires Maxing out the one trait that has little ways of leveling up: Kindness!

So you Better early on Buy a plant and water it, Go to the Family restaurant and order a few Nostalgic Steak, Go to the maid Cafe and order anything. and with Level 1 Kindness, apply for a night job at the florists and complete orders to max it!

To Make Up for this High Requirement, The Unique Ability to Grow Vegetable for Curative Items is a godsend, Given the Moves in Persona are cast from your Own Health and since you will be hit a lot. you will die a lot. Cultivation can be upgraded to the mighty Bumper crop, and Miracle Soil Decreases the wait times between yields, a very Useful ability.

Cammy usually works with Chun-Li and Guile in dealing in the more grounded, criminal activity of Shadaloo and the Illuminati, while Ryu deals the more fantastical Baddies Head On!

Mitsuru-1

Margaret-0

Haru-2

Cammy-2

INFLUENCE ON THE HERO AND HIS WORLD

Mitsuru is the leader of S.E.E.S and Minato's Senpai, so she has final say on everything.

Margaret is the Velvet Room Attendant appointed by Igor for Yu's adventure, and as a Tarot card reader, it's her cards that are given to Yu in his Mind whenever he wins a battle, randomly Doling out experience, Money, Skill cards or New Personas, Other than that if you do succeed in a quest she will talk you, But it'll either be Innuendo or Quasi-Philosophical Advice. 

Haru appears too late in the game to Contribute anything significant after her arc. She's Upstaged by a  punk arguing with a cat! 

Cammy and Ryu had fought before with them Complementing each other after the other's loss. However, In 5, Cammy Now tells Ryu that "I'm a Soldier. Fighting is my Employment!" This is Significant Character Growth, as she use to be blaise about using the term "Killer" on herself!

Mitsuru-2

Margaret-1

Haru-2

Cammy-3

In the most contested 4-way to date, the Winner is Cammy.

and that will do it for part 2, I'm currently writing up the review for Avenger's Confidential: Black Widow/Punisher. So Once that's over, Part 3 The Emperor and The Hierophant will next.

Theme month: Tarotober Part 1 The Fool and The Magician (WARNING CONTAINS SPOILERS!)

 The Tarot has existed 100s of years. It's Mysterious imagery and broad meaning have Captivated and Scared people in equal measure for that long. We all have a story about how someone met their beloved via the cards or came into riches via an impossible stroke of luck. My Grandad once told a story that a friend of his drowned after a tarot reading was ignored!

One Franchise that Holds the tarot in its core storytelling is the RPG series, Persona and the social links that it introduced in Persona 3. But that is not the only series we will delving into.

To Celebrate 30 years of Street fighter. 22 card artworks were printed Depicting the warriors in gorgeous Artwork. But which characters depict the  cards meaning properly?

We have a few concessions.

1. The Cards are from the traditional Rider-Whaite Format. So no cards from the Thoth format. So no detailed rundown of Aegis Or Adachi.

2. Base games only! So any character who had their tarot changed will be reviewed as original card only. No Fes, no dancing games, No Marvel or Strikers.

3. If the fates of characters are made known in sequels, they will treated as canon!

Our 3 rounds are as follows

1. Backstory and Inspiration

2. Perks and benefits.

3. Lasting influence to the hero and story.

Card 0 The Fool

The First card is the fool Designated as 0. It's ruled by the Element of Air, and the Planet Uranus. It Depicts A medieval Fool, with a Bindle, on his shoulder standing over a cliff with a dog behind him.

The Fool is leaving on an adventure to find himself in the world. The Dog is a symbol of Safety, that the Fool is leaving behind.

The Fool Represents Potential and innocence. When used to represent a single person, it's usually a child or teenager. 

Our first 4-way sees 2 heroes, a Villain, and a wolf's in sheep's clothing.

Minato, The Door to Tantulus, Yu, the Silver Haired Hero with the Big Brother Complex, Igor, the Master of the Velvet Room and "G" the self proclaimed "President of Earth"

Round 1 Inspiration

The somewhat Apathetic and cold Hero of P3, is an orphan who arrives late at a dorm of the high school he transferred to. It's when the clock strikes midnight, he finds the world under the thrall of a secret conspiracy!

The Dark Hour, an extra hour of the day, which freezes time, turns the high school into a citadel, and turns all human life into coffins.

They are the lucky ones!

For those caught out moving, they are attacked by creatures called shadows, and even if they avoid death, they Contract an illness called apathy Syndrome, that removes the ability to function. Rescued by his housemates. And finds a gun, he is told by a voice inside him to shoot himself....and Summon An Essence of his spirit to fight the Shadows, A Persona.

Despite being cold and unfriendly, (There is literally an option to answer either, Whatever, or I don't care in every Dialogue tree!) Minato is A capable Fighter and Quick on his Feet. It's almost like he Knows how to fight the Shadows from Minute one. And here's why...

Minato is a Door between worlds.

On reaching the top of Tantulus there is a carved Statue of a Minato Blocking the way. Minato was freed when the seal was tampered with by Nyx. Resulting in a cold avatar who acted like that because he was unsure of Humanity was worth protecting. By living a human life, by experiencing friendship, hardship, Knowledge, Stupidity, Love and Hate. He realized that Humanity needed to saved and Protected. In the end, Minato gave up his life to reseal the Door, and As he died in  his Friends arms, he Smiled at the life he lived, a smile that was added to the door.

The Transition of the Fool to his death. Is the Narrative of the Tarot starting with the fool and ending with his Soul (The World) after experiencing all influences good and Bad. Minato gets 1 point for Inspiration.

Yu Nurakami 

Like Minato, Yu also left his town to enroll in high school. But unlike the hero before him, Yu moved from the city to the small farming town of Inaba  to stay with his Detective Uncle Dojima and his daughter, Nanako. Things looked like that Yu was going to have an uneventful year at school.

That is if it wasn't for a killer who dragged his victims into a world in the television and crucified there bodies on telephone wires in the cover of fog.

Yu would Discover the Connection Between the Murders, the TV World, and the Truth Behind the Urban Legend of the Midnight Channel. But when he found he could travel into the TV World himself. He needed his own Persona to do so.

Yu is a handsome young man, who is Charismatic, Witty, & Stylish. A great cook, an artist, with a great sense of humour.....And THE WORST EXAMPLE OF THE FOOL'S CONTEXT!

Don't get me wrong, Yu is a great Character, But These Qualities are not earned or Learned like the others, they are out of the Box. Ok he can Learn other things in his social links but he knows so much already. Yu would be a Shoe in for a Magician Arcana, But as a Fool, he's too Powerful! Yu gets no Points for Inspiration.

Igor

One of 2 recurring characters. Igor and the Velvet Room, a pocket dimension between the waking reality and The Cognitive world. Only available to those who has signed a contract, Igor has guided the hero in his understanding of personas since Persona 1. But it's Persona 5, where he becomes a social link in the progression of the story.

It's in the rank 10 event, where you fuse the twins back into Lavenza, where you learn the truth. The Igor you were in contact with is a fake. He is in fact the false God Yaldaboth , who Igor made a wager with, what would humanity do with the power to change hearts? Would they change society or use it to continue the stagnation of human life?  Yaldaboth TRICKED Joker, by stealing the desires of there targets, they unknowingly stole there free will! Turning down the false gods deal for power in exchange for Humanity free will with unlock the the battle.

Acting more like a flawed program than a god, Yaldaboth is the fool on face value. And not a good deep example of it's meaning!

"G"

One day, after the main events of Street Fighter V, the Tech Savvy Rashid was watching YouTube, when he came across the Live feed of a Strange Gentleman. Dressed as Abe Lincoln with a long Blonde Beard, and golden Tattoos, the man Preached of World Peace and Unity...with him as the unchallenged President of Earth! Rashid Challenges G in New York for Clout, with the idea of throwing the match for G to have more views. However unlike Failed Child Actor Vs Failed Rapper's "Completely Unscripted Double knockout" G didn't get the memo and wiped the floor with the Arab Street Fighter.

G is the president of Earth....and that's it! Being Defeated by the Illuminati leader, Gill, and interrogated afterwards, G Continues to spill his Rhetoric, Saying he will Unite Humanity, Not explaining How or Why. The Vagueness and his rumoured Identity as the Robotic Killer, Q, adds to the mystery and the potential of good or evil. Rose faced G and using her Clairvoyance, found no soul. Oro concludes that in the wake of Bison's death, that G is nothing more than The Concept of Tyranny given a new Form.

G's mysterious circumstances makes him a perfect fool.

Round 1 points

Minato-1

Yu-0

Igor-0

G-1

Round 2 Perks for the hero

Since Minato and Yu, are the heroes they hey no points. Igor has an invested interest in his charge's "rehabilitation" and as such, gifts Joker many powers. The power to fuse Personas into stronger monsters, to perceive hidden things with his minds eye. These skills are vital in the gameplay.

G does not help the heroes not does he join the villains, he is canvassing for presidency of the earth, and that is it.

Round 2 points

Minato-1

Yu-0

Igor-1

G-1

Round 3 influence on their world.

Minato is a being protecting humanity, but had to be reminded why. 

Yu Nurakami, while not a god, returns to Tokyo, after solving the killings, and killing his own false God. Saving his Cousin's life and making sure that the evil in the TV World never returns!

Since Ryu is the hero of Street Fighter, and the World Card's Representative, his interactions will be what is used for each character. which is hard when the context of the game is a tournament, meaning that they may or may not meet. And Ryu.... doesn't know what to make of the eccentric, saying just that if he beats him in-game. G if he defeats Ryu continues to be as obtuse, as he his to everyone.

Final points

Minato-2

Yu-1

Igor-2

G-1

The winners are Minato and Igor.

The Magician

The 2nd card of the Major Arcana, Is Designated as 1. A more Mature Fool is now dressed in a subdued fools uniform. Over a table lies Various Charms or props. Over his head the symbol for infinity. Like the way the fool went from freedom to employment, this card means Transference from one state to another, experience, Charisma, Adulthood, Initiative but reversed means naivety. It's Governed by the planet Mercury, God of Travelers, Thieves and Medicine, all those like our Magician here are treated with Fascination and Mistrust in equal measure!

Representing the Magician, we have P3's Kenji Tomochika, THAT ONE GUY, Yosuke Hamamura, P4's "Prince of Disappointment", Persona 5's Morgana, The Suave Hero of our times, and Dhalsim, The Yogi of Street fighter!

Round 1-Inspiration!

Kenji

Kenji is that one friend. You know that guy who Just turns up and is not really your friend and you can't get rid of? Kenji is that Guy, When you get Chinese for the first time in the Strip Mall, He becomes your friend as you are trying to eat, and it only gets worse as he goes to your school. As the story progresses, you learn he is convinced he's in a relationship with a female teacher, giving him extra classes after school. It's only when he learns of her Engagement and her transferring away to stop the embarrassing behaviour by Kenji is when he is talked out of proposing to her. When he realizes how stupid he has been, he gives you the Homemade Choker he made for her. This Item like many in the social links will be prove that you can fuse the most Powerful Persona of each Arcana.

Kenji is Plain, Annoying and Uninteresting....and that's the point! He is the Inversion of the Magician card. He's Naive, He cannot be that smart, if he's taking Grinds, he has no real friends bar yourself and his only window to the outside world is a sitcom, that may or may not be the root to his behaviour.

Yosuke

As the son of the Regional Manager of the Supermarket Chain Junes, Yosuke was Moved from the city to the small farming town. It looked like Yosuke was going to die of boredom in the Boonies, unless Something big were to happen.

So when a Newscaster was Murdered, and the girl he had a crush on who witnessed it was then killed, Yosuke along with Yu, discovered the Tv world.

Not knowing that the humans who enter the TV World, have their true feelings broadcast, Yosuke heard Saki's voice admitting that she was leading him on for a bigger payday, that as the daughter of a grocer, she thought it would be a great revenge on the Supermarket that ruined her family. This is when he Was Confronted by his own Inner Thoughts, A shadow of himself! As the shadow accused Yosuke of only wanting to solve the crime for his own ego. It turned into a Monster when it was denied. However it was quicky dispatched by Yu and when Yosuke resolved these Feelings, his shadow became his own Persona, Jirayah.

As the son of the manager of the Big Faceless Supermarket chain, Yosuke and his family are the brunt of hatred of the local shopkeepers. He is also getting death threats via text.

You are roped into working as a shelf stacker, after some female staff fail to turn up. The same students in earshot of Yosuke talk about how Saki had eloped but returned to raise money, and decided to string along the lovesick son of the man that "ruined" her family for more money than she deserved. This causes Yosuke to fire the 2 girls for speaking Ill of the dead, though he does realise that Saki hated him. Yosuke settles his feelings of rage and jealousy of Yu in a fist fight that comes to a draw, earning you the Buddy's Bandage, proof to that you can fuse the Magician's most powerful persona. He vows to live in Inaba, after gaining an appreciation for it, to live everyday, for the days Saki couldn't.

As the Confident and lovesick Teenager, Yosuke is a fun-loving boy who at first let's everyone walk all-over him. He feels trapped being stuck in a Boonie town, Despite the Money, this frustration is shown when you first meet him, when his bicycle's brakes fail and he drives headfirst into a bin. This want of freedom is why he convinces the others to invest in Scooters.

As the second in command of the Investigation Team, it was him who almost Killed Nadatame. Which was out of character for the cool and calm Yosuke. And if you let him, Nanako will die, ending the game!

Also In a strange note, the Arrival of the Supermarket, mirrors that of the Rise of Lidl on the late 90s. Which is treated with Wonder and Distrust, like our Tarot Magician

Morgana

When Joker and Ryuji are taken prisoner in the Castle of Lust, a 3rd prisoner helps them escape. Not a Man, but Claiming not to be a cat, The Creature called Morgana claims to be a cursed human, robbed of his Body and his memories. He does however, have knowledge and expertise of this Cognitive World. When the others return to reality, Morgana follows them, though he has indeed taken the form of a real cat, though he can still talk and be understood by those who have been to the Cognitive World. 

Morgana takes a Mentor role for Joker, under the guise of a pet cat. Teaching the Phantom Thieves, the way of Stealth, Combat, and the crafting of Infiltration Tools like lockpicks, even the knowledge that Shibuya is also a hidden palace called Memontos, used for the side Quests and grinding. Somewhat Sauve, Morgana tries to flatter Ann to get noticed.  He has a rivalry with Ryuji, who he sees as pig-headed. Morgana cannot control his animal urges when treasure is about. Until he has a prophetic dream, of him been created in the Sea of Souls, meaning he is a Shadow.

This sends him into a downward spiral. He leaves the Phantom Thieves to start anew with the then inexperienced Haru. When they Reconcile the Cat) Shadow makes piece with his identity. In the final battle to save Humanity from Yaldaboth, Morgana Learns that he was a Contingency plan set by Igor, before he was replaced by Yaldaboth. After the final battle, the Barriers between world seemingly send Morgana home to the Cognitive World. Only for him to reveal that he gets to stay in this world. Though he may not be the handsome man to sweep Ann off her feet he is glad to stay with this friends.

With his knowledge of the Cognitive World, but none of himself, Morgana is truly both sides of the cards inspiration. Having a courage and ego despite his small frame and Formless Origins, Morgana became the Wingman, Touchstone and Confidant, that more often than not, Steered Joker in the Right Direction.

Dhalsim

In the many crimes Caused by M.Bison's Shadaloo Syndicate, it was the building of a damn, that caused a peaceful man to go to war!

Seeing the Suffering of his village, Dhalsim, A devotee of the Fire God Agni, Meditated on the matter and came to a course of action.

So he wrote a strongly worded letter to his Government Official!

OF COURSE NOT!

He shaved his head bald, covered himself in Blood Red Paint, wore a Necklace made of the SKULLS OF DEAD BABIES! and ordered the temple's Elephants to knock the Damn down!

However, no matter how many times Dhalsim stopped Shadaloo's schemes, they would return, it was only when he teamed with the likes of Charlie Nash, Guile and Chun Li to deal with Shadaloo as a whole they could do what he cannot alone. Though not successful in facing Bison Himself, Dhalsim returned to India, thinking he was a failure, however in the months he was gone, his wife Sally had given birth to his son, Dhatta. Thinking of the future, Dhalsim"s focus became Different. From Avenger to Defender. To angry young man, to Father. From Devotee, to the mantle of Master, Gaining the Local Beat cop Mahesh as his Devotee.

Representing the Transference aspect of the Magician, Dhalsim is one the few characters who has aged. But also of the Tricks on face value. In Street fighter 4, He has claimed his yoga fire are illusions, it only hits those who hold some negatively In their hearts. Despite that Dhalsim takes his devotion to pacifism and detachment of material gain seriously, even leaving tournaments if dangerous foes or long travel cannot be avoided. Dhalsim has truly lived his life on the path given to him.

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Perks

You only gain the Homemade choker from Kenji. That's it. As one of the NPC confidants in P3 the depth of storytelling should make up for no item or stat gain....but Kenji is not that guy!

Yosuke gains abilities that are standard with other playable characters, so his unique abilities are giving food and grocery items to the hero, opening up the option for Calvary attacks when they get scooters.

Morgana is the same but he like the confidants in his base game, is more personable. While sharing moves with the other Phantom Thieves, Morgana teaches Joker how to make Infiltration Tools. To pickpocket his foes. Handy tools for a thief!

Dhalsim is sought out by Ryu for his Spiritual Advice to Control the Dark Hadou. He has beaten Ryu many times as Ryu and Evil Ryu so he has seen him at his best and worst. But more often than not, he has Kept Ryu on the straight path.

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Influence on the hero and his world.

Kenji seemingly has you as his friend, and the others in your class can't even remember his name!

Yosuke is the second in command of your team, and takes it seriously, though of course compared to Naito who is a professional Detective, is out of his league, so his theories don't hold water. It was taken out, but lost voice recordings show Yosuke could have being romanced by Yu.

Morgana is the Mascot of the game, funny given that Persona 5 is an 18 rated game containing themes of Child Brides and the Apocalypse! Morgana is your wingman, nothing Joker does passes without his approval, from training to missions, to making sure Joker goes to sleep.

Dhalsim is a kind hearted Altruistic Devotee and later Master, who takes his vows seriously, to the determent of his win loss record. However, he has used his powers to do good. He convinced Rose not to commit Suicide, he gave Cammy free will, and has controlled Ryu's soul from becoming evil many times, before Ryu could learn the power himself. The fact a new generation of Fighters seek him out to train in his story in 5, shows how much Dhalsim means to his world.

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The winners are Yosuke, Morgana and Dhalsim

Join me next week when it's Ladies night. As we cover the Priestess and Empress Cards.