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.
Kenji-1
Yosuke-1
Morgana-1
Dhalsim-1
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.
Kenji-1
Yosuke-2
Morgana-2
Dhalsim-2
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.
Kenji-1
Yosuke-3
Morgana-3
Dhalsim-3
The winners are Yosuke, Morgana and Dhalsim
Join me next week when it's Ladies night. As we cover the Priestess and Empress Cards.
