TAROTOBER PART 11: JUDGEMENT

 

Judgement is the 21st and Penultimate card in the Major Arcana of the Traditional Tarot. Designated 20 and Ruled By Both the Then Planet Pluto, named after the God of Death and the Destructive Power of Fire.

The Day of Judgement has Arrived!

On the Sounding of Archangel Michael's Trumpet the Dead Rise Again, Naked to Have nothing to hide or to bargain with, for the day will come for all, that day where we will be Judged!

Judgement is a powerful card! Something in your life is coming and it cannot be ignored! A doctor's appointment, A Birth, A job Interview for some examples! This Card Means a new Potential and a Sense of Initiative to finish what You started or Start a New Chapter completely. Reversed It means Wasted Opportunities, Ennui, Lack of new Ideas and Blaming others for your failures!

Judgement is an Abstract concept, but Persona and Street fighter made them represent their characters anyway!

We are Doing Something a little different! For you see for whatever reason, 6 of Persona 3's Party Members did not have Social links and were only given them in a non-canon game! Before we judge the S.E.E.S as a whole, we will go through the remaining members: Junpei Iori, DA MAN, Akihiko Sanada, HE'S BEING WAITING FOR THIS!, Koromaru, the Goodest of Good Boys, Ken Amada, The Pretentious Tenderfoot, Shinjiro Aragaki, The Brooding Former and returning S.E.E.S member, and Aigis, The Heartless Armed Angel.

After that, we go through the S.E.E.S And their Rebranding as the Nyx Annihilation Squad, We will then cover the heroes of P4's  rebranding into the Seekers of Truth, Persona 5 Sae Nijima, the House Rigging Jealous Prosecutor and Master Bison, The Psycho Powered Dictator of Street Fighter.

ROUND ONE -INSPIRATION

Junpei Iori (Magician)

Kouhai. Wingman. Benchwarmer. "Male Friend".

What if you lived on a world, where you wielded Supernatural powers....but not only are they kept secret, but your insecurities leave you in your supposed "Place" as some new kid gets all the attention, becomes the leader from out of nowhere.

But it's not Entirely everyone else's fault, Iori for all his good humour and Easy-goingness, deep down it's a front to deal with his drunk father constantly calling him good for nothing, it has lead to him being book dumb, half decent in baseball, Slacks off in missions, and has Personal Hygiene so bad, Mitsuru thought he was on drugs!

He took it all in stride, that is, until Minato saved a Runaway Monorail, after Junpei was put in a Position where he needed Rescuing, after saying how he felt, Junpei ran off so he could cool down.

Having a Breather in the Shopping Centre, he saw Something would  cheer him up, or someone that would bring him back to his Alleged "Ultimate Ladies Man" Moniker.

A Beautiful yet Strangely Dressed Girl Drawing Away into a Sketchbook, he tries on the old Iori charm and it ends with this Girl, Chidori thinking he is an Idiot!

However, She is soon Smitten by his Complete Brass Balls of Junpei to even attempt to talk to her.

But Quicker than you can say  "Capulets and Montagues" it doesn't end well. Not just Romeo and Juliet, but Pirates of Penzance too, as in an attempt to impress Chidori, told her he is the leader of S.E.E.S and Since Chidori is a member of the Evil Persona users Strega, Chidori Uses herself, though Reluctantly, as a bait for a kidnapping.

But Tayaka and Jin abandon Chidori when her Persona, Medea Backfires on her, S.E.E.S prisoner is sent to a Hospital being choked by a Force unseen, However to those with Personas, they see the Drug induced Persona Trying to Kill Chidori, the Price Almost paid for summoning Persona's without a means of Invocation!

Despite Chidori trying end her life herself, and not wanting to Cooperate, Junpei Never left her side.

Until her end.

When Takaya Invaded the Hospital to kill Chidori for her treason, Junpei sacrificed himself, taking the Self-Styled Anti-Christ's Bullet and falling to the ground, dead! So Moved was Chidori She Used  Medea's Spell, Spring of Life, to Sacrifices her life force to revive Junpei. Not Only healing his wounds, but Junpei became the only person Not a Guest of the Velvet Room to retrieve a Fusion Persona, as His persona Hermes and Medea became Tri Majestus.

While Losing Chidori Hurt Him, Seeing her Artbook Full of Drawings of him, Softened the Blow that she did care about him, Defeating Strega in her Memory!

After Preventing the Fall Of Man, Junpei Graduated and became a second String Baseball player. Not the life he expected, but at least the life of a secret hero, is better than letting Earth become a world of Death.

As a Magician Rep, Junpei embodies the Transference from Slacker to hero, As well as from Teenager chasing every bit of tail, to Losing the only women who may truly love him.

Junpei gets an Honorary Point.

Akihiko (Emperor), Ken (Justice) and Shinjiro (Moon)

You meet Akihiko at School in your first week of the new Term, but you briefly see him wounded on that first Horrendous Night the Shadows Attacked the Dorm. But it's not like he is a pushover. If you fight Shadows, Demons and even Gods with just your fists, you better be tough as hell!

He does have one Weakness-Talking to G-G-G-G-GIRLS!

Akihiko and Misturu are part of the original S.E.E.S, Make sense since Both are older that Minato, But you hear whispers of other Members. It's Only when a 12 year old Boy named Ken Amada enrols into Gekkokan High. Akihiko knows the last name, in fact the young man asks the Boxer if he knows a Shinjiro Aragaki.

It Just so happens that Shinji would make himself known saving Minato, Junpei and Yukari from a gang mugging. Shinji when bought to S.E.E.S Wants nothing to do with them Anymore, until Akihiko tells his friend "Miki Amada's Child has Joined S.E.E.S" So Shinji returns to meet the boy.

Ken Believes that Shinjiro killed his mother 2 years ago. Though it did happen, it was an accident, Shinjiro's persona, Castor, went berserk. And it didn't Help That Shinji Joined Strega to procure Persona Suppressing Pills to Control Castor. However Learning about Chidori's Demise Shinji would sacrifice himself using his unstable persona and though Takaya and Jin were killed so was Shinjiro, Paying the ultimate Price saving both Aki and Ken, even when the latter Swore Revenge on him!

The Next day, the Principal at Gekkokan high makes the announcement that one of his former students, one involved in gangs, was found dead, so a tribute was held in school. That's when Akihiko and Ken made separate Vows to finish the fight, which Resulted in Their Personas gain second awakenings. 

After the Defeat of Nyx, the Boxer and the young boy Would go on separate but similar journeys, spending the next 4 years as Vigilantes at Night.

Akihiko has had his Arcana changed to Chariot in the NON-CANON GAME!, So I'm still counting him as an Emperor Representative. And while it would be just as simple as Saying "Akihiko's an Emperor, cause his Persona becomes one called Caesar!" But there is more to that! Emperors are Rulers of the Material Plain, and Akihiko is that in its primal form: Boxing.

He is also the Father Figure to Minato, in a sense, as he is his Upperclassman or Senpai. He also the Honour Aspect, as his boxing prowess has given him a high level of respect in Inter-School Boxing Competitions.

Ken is the Reversed Justice Aspect-a Revenge seeker who reasons come from misguidance and  Misinformation to that point, this is the reason his default persona is Nemesis. For him to continue to moonlight as a Vigilante is one of those rare Reversals from Inverted to Straight meaning

Shinjiro is the Dishonesty and Illusion Aspects of the Moon. Dishonesty, as Shinjiro fallen on hard times to the point he was a High School dropout, with his life Entangled in gangs and Drugs. And  Illusion, as Despite looking like a Thug and Acting tough Shinjo had a hidden Depth and a secret talent: Cooking!

A Skill that he tried to hide, if only Aigis couldn't speak Dog!

Bringing us Nicely to....

Koromaru (Strength)

Mascots.

You love them, You want them! And Computer games? They gonna give em to ya!

And persona has 3 of them.

But before the Cat that told you when to go to bed, Before the Bear and his Awful puns, came ....a Dog!

And I know what you're Thinking!

Wait, he's just a Dog?

Well given whose next, a normal dog is not the strangest thing in this party!

Based on the True Story of Hachiko, Koromaru is a White Shiba Inu who once belonged to the Monk who lived in the temple not far from the Dorm.

One Morning after the Dark Hour, Those going to Morning Prayer found the Monk Murdered and the Loyal Dog, Pining for its Owner  with nowhere to go and refusing to leave his home forever, Yukari, and Mitsuru adopts the Dog.

The Next Night Koromaru runs back to the temple where he confronts his Owner's killer-A Shadow. Grabbing his Master's sword in his mouth, Koro got a measure of revenge for his Master.

Koromaru is the Strength Representative- the aspects in question being Courage and Fairplay. His Arc Finishes early but at least it gets finished. Koromaru gets his revenge, but even he knows that these shadows will keep coming!

Aigis (Aeon)

Before we get to the Review, it's only fair we learn the Context of the Aeon Card, the 21th card of Alister Crowley's Thoth Tarot, Designated 20.

In the Foreground a Transparent naked God, Hoor, puts his fingers to his mouth to Hush in the Silence Gesture In front of him ( or behind) is his brother Ra, holding a Staff of Rebirth, over them is the Goddess of the night sky, Tefnut, as the Eygptians believed what the sky was. Below all 3 is the Sun. Burnt into the Sun Disc, is Shin, The Hebrew for Rebirth.

This is far more surreal than any card we have looked at!

Created to replace the Judgement card in the Occultist's Thoth Deck, This card like many others he created was used to be side pieces to teach the values of his Thelmatic Church, and his Book, the Book of Thoth, an off shoot of Egyptian God Worship.

This cards artwork is that a Situation requires Analytical Thinking and being Emphatic to the thoughts of others in their eyes. Plans on a global scale.

The Card's meaning is that of a situation that require Analysis. 

This card also means Growth, and the Maturity that comes with it! "Death" and "Resurrection" not literal, but " Death of one Ego"...the Cleansing of Vices and the Rebirth of a new person.

Reversed, It means Arrogance, Immaturity and painful Experiences.

So let's get into the Toaster Waifu.

It was Spring Break, and S.E.E.S were Invited to Stay on the Kirijo Compound on the Beautiful Tropical Island of Yakushima. Junpei Ropes Minato and Akihiko to Pickup Girls on the Island. After Attempts with Varying rates at comedy, They see in a long dress, A Single girl staring out to sea. Both Junpei and Aki make Attempts, only for the Girl to tell them Bluntly "YOU ARE NOT THE ONE!" Minato  tries his luck and this causes the girl to react that he is "THE ONE!" Returning to the compound, S.E.E.S Handler, Shuji Ikutsuki lets them know that an "Asset" has reactivated itself only to see Aigis and reveals that she is not a girl, she is an Android: An Anti-Shadow weapon, that was used 10 years ago to Destroy Nyx the first time. Aigis is powered by the Papillon Heart, Digitised Data of a killed and recorded Palladium which Aigis can summon without using an Evoker. 

The reason for her obsession with Minato, one that leads to her watching Minato in his sleep to  enrolling in Gekkokan High, comes from what we learned in The Essay Part 8, Aigis Did not kill Nyx outright, she instead ripped Nyx into 2 weaker Shadows-Orpheus and Tanatos.

Learning the Truth that killing 12 Great Shadows unseal Nyx via a Ritual. Aigis did the only thing she could do to before Ikutsuki betrayed everyone : make out she completed her programming. Hiding the shadows in the Body of a boy, who was caught in a car crash caused by the battle, Bonding Orpheus to Minato and turning Tanatos into a second Personality called Pharos, that would only manifest only when Orpheus got Stronger. Before deactivating for a decade, Ikutsuki made sure to delete the Truth about the Great Shadows from her memory.

Despite celebrating the death of all twelve Great Shadows, and thinking the Dark Hour had ended. Imagine the shock that when the clock struck midnight, Mr Kirijo and everyone in the world still turned into Coffins! 

After Pharos freed himself from Minato and transformed into Ryoji Mochizuki a transfer student, Aigis in a sudden Change in personality, showed visible hatred for the new student. It wasn't until Ryoji showed Aggression getting worse and sleepwalking towards the moonlight bridge he remember, he was Once Nyx, and he needed to be destroyed before he was caused the Fall of man. However that's when Ikutsuki reveals his true colours, As Leader of Strega! He also reprogrammed Aigis to ambush S.E.E.S. Knocking them out and propping them on crosses as Sacrifices.

Ikutsuki ordered Aigis to kill Minato First, but her own Subroutine to Protect "The One" overrid her the programming, causing her to reboot, remembering everything and gaining her second awakening, the Goddess of Wisdom: Athena.

Leaving Ikutsuki to die, there is only one thing left to do Climb the Final Floors of Tartarus and slay Nyx. And when all is said and Done, they see what they can't believe carved into a Door is an Effigy of Minato. To seal Nyx forever, Minato sacrifices his life and humanity to become the seal. As the door shuts closed, Minato dies In Yukari's Arms, a smile on his face that is now mirrored on the door. As the  heroes go to leave, Aigis refuses to Take orders. If Nyx returns, there is only one of them who can give up there life to wait and protect from Nyx's return: The one who doesn't have a life! And so Persona 3 ends for Aigis the way it started:

Staring into the void, waiting for "The One"

Aigis, being an Android, Fits the Analytical Aspect of the Aeon, and Ironically, by enrolling into school shows Maturity and Growth and Soon Aigis goes from Mimicking Emotions and  her lack of social graces, to Understanding weakness and grief in herself when Minato pays the Ultimate Price to save Everyone on Earth.

Aigis Gains a point for the Aeon's Context.

Nyx Annihilation Squad 

So it has come to this.

After lies and Betrayal, the Host of Tantalus, Ryoji Mochizuki, begged the heroes to kill him, before he would go insane. Instead you no longer take the easy route, you will complete your mission to kill Nyx. As such This steels the Resolve of S.E.E.S to one linear goal, Annihilating Nyx, Ryoji will try to hold off his Murderous Urges, but you have only til the end of the month. 

With every step you finally get to the 254th floor of the Tower to defeat Nyx in the time given.

Nyx is a long Gruelling fight who changes his Arcana from Fool Rotating all the way to Death, meaning he changes Thirteen times for a boss battle that had fourteen stages. Each stage has 1500 health points. When becomes a Death Arcana Shadow, that's when he becomes serious. His spell Moonless Gown makes him impervious to all kinds of damage for 3 turns. Like Kumino Sagiri a Game later Nyx attempts Brainwashing your party with the the move Night Queen. So have your Anti charm heals or Accessories Ready.

With Nyx sealed and Aigis Making her Sacrifice, The others return through the teleporters to see Tartarus reconfigure into Gekkokan High School and the Coffins back into people. They decide to continue the fight against the supernatural until they graduate and have lives of their own.

AND FUCK THE ANSWER!

Judgement was indeed served upon Nyx and the Fall of Man, thus being the face value as well as the straight meaning of an event that could not be Ignored. (I mean, it IS the end of the World!) And the Empowerment to change things, to save the world, with School Sports Equipment, No less.

The Seekers of Truth

It Could not get Any worse for Yu Nurakami and his investigation team.

They Defeated Taro Nanatame, The Disgraced Councilman, who had kidnapped and killed his own wife and the witness to it and Attempted to kill many of your friends, but he had just killed Yu's Seven year old cousin Nanako, and the anger caused Nanako's father to crash his car, ending up in the same Hospital, also there to be Psychoanalyzed was Taro. Learning that's his Room had a TV in it should he try to escape, the Team barge into the room, seeing a distraught Nanatame, seeing himself on the TV, this shadow claiming his breakdown on claiming in believing in a Utopia in the cognitive world is a lie, that he's a cold blooded killer. Yosuke wants to just throw "The Bastard" into the TV world and let the shadows kill him. But that's when, Yu pauses and thinks about it. There was letters warning him not to interfere or he'll be "put in next and killed". Now knowing that Taro only thought he was "saving" people,  he would not say he was going to kill them by putting him in the TV world. As shocking as it sounds to Yosuke, the Truth is the Truth.

Nanatame is only a kidnapper-Someone was pulling the Strings. On top of that, Teddie, feeling sorry over the Apparent death of Nanako, (Sparring Nanatame, causes her to revive) had returned to the TV world, and the Fog from there was making those weak enough to fall sick and others to turn uncaring. 

It's only when Teddie Is told about Nanako's Miracle recovery, is when he returns and not a moment too soon, the fog is messing up Rise's Navigator Skills, So Maybe Teddie's Bloodhound-like Nose can smell out Adachi.

They find him-or rather his shadow in the Noose Room and he admits having a hand in everything, killing Mayumi, as her police Escort, after an attempted rape on his obsession piece, using Nanatame job as a delivery man to get close to the victims that had retails jobs (Saki, Yukiko and Kanji) and when Mitsuo Kubo did his copycat killing, Adachi made sure that after his televised outburst to have a fall guy, but Nanatame kept "Saving" people, Seeing Nanako's presence turn part of the TV world into Heaven only sent the madman over the edge.

For one last time, you watched the midnight channel and saw no one person but the entire town of Inaba covered in fog and desolate. Said fog was now so thick that noone could enter or exit. 

Venturing into the final part of the TV world, the destroyed Inaba. At its peak, they found the real Adachi. Confronting him they found out his motive for his crimes beyond a sexual attack that went wrong was out of pure Boredom. But not as shocked to find out he had a Persona also, but not just any Persona, an Evil version of Yu's Persona, Izanagi.

Despite the Shock of this "Magatsu Izanagi" , it was Not enough to match our heroes, until Adachi had a second awakening, and Izanagi and Tohru merged into the Eternal Watcher, a Giant Technicolour Eyeball called Ameno-Sagiri.

But that's a Story for Another day.

Much Like the Heroes before them, The seekers of Truth go through an Empowerment that changes them, against another false god who threatens all humanity. There is also some Reversed Aspects here like fear of Illness and death, Since the Fog from the the TV World started to roll into Inaba. 

The reason I didn't finish the story is that Technically, there is no World Representative in Persona 4, Until Yu has his second Awakening and Izunagi becomes a World Arcana Persona called Izunagi-Oh-Kami. So the final battle will be covered in the next essay!

THE SEEKERS OF TRUTH GET A POINT!

Sae Nijima

We Begin at the End.

That is how Persona 5's story starts!

After Eluding the Police for a year, The Leader of the Phantom Thieves, Ren Amamiya, was Captured and Arrested, But not before one of the Swat Officers rubbed it in his face that They had a Man on the inside that Sold Him Out! Roughed Up, Injected with Truth Serum and Thrown into an Interrogation Room, The Prosecutor for your case comes in, One of Japan's Top Lawyers, Sae Nijima, who just happens to be the Sister of Phantom Thief Member (and Canon Love Interest) Makoto Nijima.

With No Choice you recant your tale, Of how You saved a women from a Rape, Only for the man who was a wealthy Councilman called Shido, to pay off the Woman to say it was an unprovoked Assault, How it lead to His parents shipping him out to Shibuya, wild stories about Apps that send you to other worlds, Velvet Rooms, Palaces, Talking Cats, demons, Art Forgery and Killers in Black Masks! All this is readily Accepted, Until she learns her Sister is a Phantom Thief, that's when Sae becomes your final Social Link in the timeline of the story!

From the Tomb of Sloth onward, Sae in Cutscenes will interject after boss battles and key moments, adding her remarks about the Tomb of Sloth, The fall of Medjed, The Black Mask, Spaceship Gluttony, the Death of Mr Okumura, the Mental Shutdown of the Principal of Shujin by The Black Mask and the Framing of his murder, implicating the Phantom Thieves.

But there is a Personal Reason Sae took this case, Far Beyond her Sister's involvement. But because She was targeted to get Off the Phantom Thieves trail. For in the Cognitive World, Sae had a palace. After watching her win a case with false evidence in the Male led Law industry to keep up her Profile, Her Palace turned into a Casino, where as a pit boss Sae sees Justice as a game that can rigged in her favour every time. And the House Always Wins!

Spurred On that Putting Ren Amamiya Away will Grant her a Promotion and the Respect She feels she Deserves, the Casino is a Place full of Gambling Machines themed traps, Slot Machines that decide Bail bonds, A pitch-black Maze through your Arraignment and her Boss battle is on a Roulette Wheel rigged in her Favour. it's only when you cheat yourself by shooting the ball into an adjacent Slot in your favour, that sets her off that Turns her into a monster, a Fallen Angel of Injustice. Upon her Defeat, Makoto Reaches out to her and tells her she forgives her (Sae Before this, claimed Raising Makoto was Weighing her down professionally) But not before the Police came in and Arrested Joker after he was sold out by Akechi.

Convinced that it was all a set-up to either kill her of at least give her a leave of absence, so she would be taken off all her cases, including ones involving Councilman Shido-Akechi's father!-No investigation would impede his presidential Campaign.

But she still has a Job to do- Convict Someone But the Phantom Thieves Suspected Akechi from the word Go (As written in Part 6) They presented Evidence to Implicate Akechi, they even went so far to Fake Joker's Death in the Cognitive World., A world neither party had truly left.

BUT THIS IS ALSO A STORY FOR ANOTHER TIME!

Telling the Story of the Judgement card as a flashback, recalling all the other cards before it, before the final level where the World card is revealed is Genius!

As for Card Meaning-it's Straight meaning! She is a prosecutor going against you in court! Underneath she is reversed Aspects too, all the way! A fear of Change, one that warrants her to cheat to keep her high profile Win-Loss Record, it even effects her Home life with her Sister Makoto, leading to get to have an Inferiority complex she seem dealing with throughout the game. She does change provided you don't rat out the others and Defeat Yaldaboath. On the last day  before Ren returns home, Sae gives you her Business card, one that claims she is now a Defence Lawyer, finally on the side of Justice, exactly what her late father would want!

Sae gets a point

Master (M) Bison

Even after his death, Noone is even sure who, or what M.Bison was.

Some say he was just a low-key Drug Dealer, before he was exposed to mass Quantities of an Illicit Superpower giving Substance, that warped his mind.

Some say he was an artificial lifeform Created in an attempt to use Psycho Power as an Energy source.

And Some people say he's a Crooked Realtor with a terrible Irish accent who roars like a lion every time he throws a punch!

Well, whatever he was, he was Evil Incarnate, Manning a Criminal Organisation that rivalled Many Countries Armies. Weapon manufacturing, Kidnapping, Political Assassinations, human trafficking, Human experimentations-There was nothing Bison and his Shadaloo Organisation wouldn't do for World Domination but for what Purpose? Did he have a Childhood that lead to this state of mind, or was he Just Evil for Evil's Sake?

The World May Never Truly Know!

The wheels of the Shadaloo Machine started to turn when 2 Similar Murders Happened in China and South Korea, two detectives were killed in front of their respective daughters on their birthdays. While the Chinese girl was too traumatized to do anything, the Korean girl had some Tae Kwon do training and for her continued troubles...

Bison tore her Left Eye out!

Then the First Street fighter tournament happened in Auspicious Fashion with a Shadowy "Benefactor" Footing the Bill. When Sagat won against Ryu, The Japanese fighter lost control. And as Sagat was helping him up, Ryu in a rage, countered with a Satsui No Hadou powered Shoryuken, scarring Sagat's Chest Forever, as his gang left Sagat for dead, the Former king of Muai Thai crawled for help. He found it....For a price!

Years pass and Shadaloo becomes A  Formidable and Feared Criminal Empire. Sequestered in Thailand, With Sagat, Balrog and Vega, All out in the World Roughing up Dojos and Building Dams to power factories, Bison would give the World a Proclamation!

"Defeat me in the finals of my tournament...Or watch me set the world on fire!"

However, despite his power, it was a Double Edged Sword, Psycho Power was too Much Even for Bison to Hold On to. The Alpha Tournament was a front to Steal the Winner's Body while the Psycho Drive, a regeneration pod was creating his new Body. But he did have a first choice, the body of the Young man who bested his Number 1 Sagat; Ryu!

Not Counting On their Power they possess Attracting Akuma and having him One shot the Dictator with Raging Demon, Akuma revealed he Murdered Ryu's Master, Gouken. Defeating Akuma after losing his Composure and tapping into the "Wave of Murderous Intent" Bison came to and imparted Some Psycho power into Ryu, turning him into a Mindless Slave to his Anger, while Charlie went to destroy the Shadaloo base and the Drive inside, The Other World warriors tried to Quell the rage in Ryu and failing. It was only when Sakura's words reached him at the very last Minute, that he redirected his Metsu Hadoken into Bison, Destroying his Body for the first time!

Then the Events that led to the Second Tournament, Bison Whose Soul Entered Rose's Body, ordered his Shadaloo Cohorts to Increase their Efforts in Creating Clone Bodies from Factories Worldwide, Discarding Rose when his new Body was finished or Rose breaking free of her own accord (It's Never Disclosed Which!) the Idea of a Female Body gave him a twisted Idea a leader for his Dolls, a Clone created from his own DNA.

Though Decapre was a failed Attempt, the second was not, Project Killer Bee. While the Mentally Unstable Decapre was Brainwashed into a Mindless Thrall like the other Dolls, Killer Bee later known as Cammy White, was given some Autonomy and Intelligence was created to be his Bride and Empress of Shadaloo. However after the defeat by Ryu a second time, Shadaloo was Starting to Crack.

Ryu Won the Second tournament, Chun Li (Supposedly) killed Vega, Cammy broke free from his control during the Alpha Tournament and all the defeats only caused Bison to overclock himself causing his Psycho Power to Burn up his Body so fast, Cloning a new One that would not die of exposure of his now vast power took too long to create, in fact by this time, Balrog was made Shadaloo Leader and Gambled away their Ill-gotten Gains, The Shadaloo Intelligence Network (S.I.N) Had Splintered under the leader of their Cache of Advanced Clones called Seth and it didn't help that the Illuminati tried their hand at conquest.

Come the Events of Street Fighter 4, Bison's New Body is Ready, and even with Sagat now walking the Straight and Narrow. Bison makes quick work of traitors from S.I.N. And his past, defeating Sagat, Viper and Facing Seth, And While Bison would not be the once to destroy Seth, Seth for all his Bluster, did not fantom that the Girl Bison Blinded, the one he gave an artificial eye that grants her a fraction of his power, only used Seth to get close to Getting revenge on Bison. Juri blindsided Seth, and would defect to Shadaloo, only for her Fung Shui Engine eye to be Stolen, Only to steal it back when she defected again to Illuminati. Without A leader. S.I.N Operatives came grovelling back, and with the acquisition of the Assassins, The Poison Hand, Shadaloo were a Peril to the World once more.

To Street fighter 5 and Bison unveiled his Most Ambitious and Grandiose Plan Ever. The Black Moon-A Super Weapon that Required the Kidnappings of Programmers, including Chun Li's daughter, Li-Fen. Next to goad the World Warriors into one place, Activation keys, Disguised as Chess Pieces were sent to them only to be stolen or used for bartering for Kidnapped Victims' Safety.

As well as the Dark Sun being a death laser, it was also going to used as a Crucible to Siphon the Misery it caused into Psycho Power. It seems for once, Master Bison was finally going to Commit to his mission.

However....

A Combination of Infighting between the other 3 Kings, An Oversight of not having Clones or Dolls on standby, and A Combined Effort from every one of the World Warriors, they got Ryu into Space and with his newly acquired Power Of Nothingness. Ryu Obliterated Bison Entire Being Body and Soul. The Nightmare was over.

Which Brings Us to Now.

5 years have Passed, Metro City had rebuilt Finally, and is one of the 2 Sites of a legitimate Street fighter tournament. The Dolls have being freed of Brainwashing, Guile retired from the Air Force, Chun Li moved to Metro City to open a dojo, Balrog is on the run, Vega and F.A.N.G are presumed dead and it seems that the world could finally know Peace.

But under the Surface, without a Vessel, the World was permeated with Psycho power enough for G to convince some he was a Prophet proclaiming Human Unity, and a new Nebulous Threat, A Terrorist cell called Amnesia lead by J.P, Bison's Former Accountant No less, Who Also Wields Psycho Power, had Implicated Ken Masters as a Terrorist, Solely becoming the financial backer for the tournament, but there is more to it-The Masters Foundation would no doubt in supplying Aid to the "Country" of Nayshal, would probably uncover the them harbouring the Illuminati, if the Familiar Colour Scheme is anything to go by.

Bison is the Subversion of the Empowerment Aspect, A Self-Serving Dictator who had used his power and Potential to Change the lives of those innocent Victims, he killed Charlie Nash, the fathers of Chun Li and Juri and turned innocent children into teen Soldiers and Potential Vessels for his Dark Soul, to Quote Davros from doctor who:

But these are not weapons for his use, those effected became Daggers that softened the blow for Ryu to finish the job. 

Bison is also the Negative Aspects. Fear is a two way street, he is feared and yet the fear of death is What Drives him to his most Despicable actions-To Target Children, to erase their own lives and identities to prolong his own life. In the end his Ambition and refusal to change, to surrender is what done more harm more than Ryu ever Could!

Bison gains a point.

Junpei-1 Honourary Point for Being a Magician rep, 1 for Judgement.

Akihiko-1 for Emperor, 1 for Judgement

Koromaru-1 for Strength, 1 for Judgement

Ken-1 for Justice, 1 for Judgement

Shinjiro-1 for Moon, 0 for Judgement, since he died before the rebrand.

Aigis: 1 for Aeon, 1 for Judgement

Nyx Annihilation Squad-1 (Some of it's parts)

Seekers of Truth-1

Sae-1

Bison-1

ROUND 2-PERKS

It's Junpei who shows you Around the Shopping District and Paulownia Hall, providing Minato with, but not limited to, A Chemists for healing items, a police station for weapons, Access to the Velvet Room, Restaurants, Arcades, and Nightclubs for increasing your stats and other locales to Start Social Links. He also gave you a Cd ROM of Innocent Sin to unlock the "Maya" Social link.

At School it's Akihiko who Convinces You to join a Sport Club, joining one (Swim, Track or Kendo!) Will raise your Diligence Stat will open up 3 of your Social Links.

Ken does not attend school yet and has Joined the S.E.E.S far too late and doesn't unlock or add anything special

Koromaru's Social interaction is that he needs to be walked which is a two person job, which usually ends with you and the random member having a chat. Sometimes the Dog would run off and come back with a random item, this is how players found out they can Talk to Akinari to start his Social Links when Koromaru stole his Pen.

Shinjo dies after you meet him, he's the Moon Social Link in the NON-CANON GAME, So any gains from him don't count. 

Aigis adds Nothing in terms of Perks in her initial game. 

 The Social Link Unlocks The Fusion for Messiah.

As 2 groups that are consisted of all your Playable characters. All the perks that unlock Separately Don't count and neither group get no new perks. This Unlocks Lucifer.

Confiding in Sae to Setup Akechi requires you to not sell out the others, or its Game over. This leads to your Death Being Faked so you can be freed to Stop Shido and Yaldaboath, prior to Rank 7, Ranking up Same progressed Automatically. On Rank 10. You unlock the only perk, True Justice-Unlocking the final 2 levels, The Ark of Pride and Qlipoth World. He key item is the Business card to Unlock Satan as well the Ability to high level Personas in New Game Plus.

Bison is Ryu's Enemy who wished the Death of him and everyone Ryu cares about.

Junpei-1 Magician, 2 Judgement

Akihiko-1 Emporer, 2 Judgement

Koromaru-1 Strength, 2 Judgement

Ken-1 Justice, 1 Judgement

Shinjiro-1 Moon, 0 Judgement

Aigis-1 Aeon, 1 Judgement

Nyx Annihilation Squad-2

Seekers of Truth-1

Sae-2

Bison-1

ROUND 3 INFLUENCE ON THE HERO AND HIS WORLD

Despite his ego stepped on, Junpei becomes Minato's Best Friend.

The sad thing about Aki, Ken and Shinji as Social Links in F.E.S, is that their feelings towards Minato is never discussed.

After his master died, Koromaru is very loving to his new owners.

Aigis' Actions to postpone the end of the World by Ten years by Sealing Personas into a random Child's Body and Reactivate herself to wait for him is Aigis' Purpose. When Nyx is sealed, Needing Minato to give up his life force to do so. Aigis being the only one that won't age or die or forget opts to wait for Minato, Even of it never Happens.

Under the Sudden leadership of Minato, The Dynamic of S.E.E.S Changed Drastically, Gaining A Full-Time Navigator rather than having Mitsuru choose which role to play, you also gain 3 new Fighters. Slowly but surely, your Motley crew becomes the Only line of defence against the Destruction of all Mankind. And all of them take Minato's Martyrdom and death to heart, so even after Sealing Away Nyx, 3 continue to become heroes investigating Supernatural phenomenon.

Yu had a lasting Effect on the lives of Others, Beyond saving the World, Young Nurakami-san  practically altered the lives of the others for the better. In the Good Ending, you return to Inaba a year later. And you can't believe how much your friends have changed, the Toyboys have their grown hair out, Rise and Yukiko Are sporting mature looks and Kanji is Dahm near unrecognisable with his natural black hair and dressed like an office worker, but most of all Teddie can convince people he's a human better.

Sae Doesn't Believe You at First, But It's Only when she doubts if Akechi has the right interests in mind. Still not believing a word, it was only when Yaldaboath appeared after Shido lost the election. After Yaldaboath's defeat, Same Became a Defence Lawyer after Seeing that Society Needs Justice, not more Victims.

Bison had been the main antagonist for the Street Fighter Series since it's introduction to the West in 1991. Bison is the Source of all Evil in his Universe, that no other even dared to invade unless it seems Bison had perished. Seeing Ryu Nearly Murder his Second in Command with one Punch fuelled by Supernatural powers, A lifelong pursuit to take his body as his vessel. Ryu sees Bison as the Unnatural Monster he is, An Aberration that steals life away from others to add to his own. In Street fighter 6, Ryu now a Master himself, Contemplates what's next now that it's being five Years since the Black Sun. It's only When Luke challenges him to a fight to prove his strength, Ryu starts his world Journey anew.

Junpei-1 Magician, 3 Judgement

Akihiko-1 Emporer, 3 Judgement

Koromaru-1 Strength, 3 Judgement

Ken-1 Justice, 3 Judgement

Shinjiro-1 Moon, 0 Judgement

Aigis-1 Aeon, 2 Judgement

Nyx Annihilation Squad-2

Seekers of Truth-2

Sae-3

Bison-2

THE WINNER IS SAE.

Well that's it!

Next week I will have the Schedule for The Rest of the Year. Join me over on my film review blog Boggerboxoffice.blogspot.com, on August the 1st for the review of Bluestory! 

You can Follow me on Mastodon World @RealEnli, and while you still can follow me on Twitter under the same name, before it implodes!

Thanks for reading! The next TAROTOBER essay, the last one, will be in November! 

TAROTOBER EPISODE 7- THE HANGED MAN AND DEATH

 

The Hanged Man is the 13th card of the Tarot's Major Arcana. Designated 12 and is both powered by the Planet Neptune and the element of water, Symbolising the collective pool of Conscious Thought and Emotions.

The Hanged Man is the most Bizarre card in the deck and despite it's name and the connotations it brings, this figure is hanging by his ankle, tied to a branch of a tree, over a river.

In the narrative of the Fool's Journey, the former Fool now Hermit comes across a man hanging from a branch of a fruit tree on the bank of a river. The Hermit approaches to attempt to rescue the man only to be told not to.

The Hanged Man explains that he is living a Perfect Simple Life, he has food, he has water, he has shade and when he's tired he can easily pull himself up and rest in the canopy.

He has everything he needs. There is one thing he doesn't have being suspended by his leg to a Tree Branch: Privacy, from the countless people trying to "Rescue" him.

Like the Upside down view of the Hanged Man, you may want to change the perspective of your life. This card means Sacrificing something to gain someone greater, but you must be patient. Inverted, it means Manipulation, Selfishness, and Acting the Martyr.

Showing us their World view, are Maiko Oohashi, a grade Schooler caught in the middle of her parent's divorce, Naoki Konishi, the Brother of the second victim, Saki, Muneshisa Iwai, the Gruff Owner Airsoft Owner and Rolento Sugerg, Final Fight's Perfect Soldier.

Maiko Oohashi

On the Grounds of the local temple, there is a playground, where a girl playing there asks Minato Yuki to get her something to eat. So you help her out, as she asks for Takoyaki and a "Big Kid Drink"

Understanding that meant a drink from the vending machine in your dorm, you get her some food and you have a little lunch with your new little friend, the Girl calls herself Meiko and she wants to be friends with you.

Meiko explains that she asked for food because her parents were late because they are constantly arguing about getting Divorced and argue the odds about everything. When she asks why, they blow her off saying it's a grown-up thing "You wouldn't understand!"

She also introduces you to another friend of her's, a Sickly Looking thin man she calls Striped Shirt(more on him when we Cover The Sun.)

Meiko is worried her Father won't come to her birthday, So you comfort her. The next time you Meet she tells you her party went great her parents never argued once, So naively she she going to ask why they are getting a divorce and if she can get rid of the reason , they can stay forever, which leads to her father Hitting her for pressing the issue and her mother saying that it's "Her Fault", So the poor girl thinks she is the reason for their divorce and Runs away

When she Does, Meiko's Parents Try looking for her, You Suggest the Takoyaki Stand and sure enough, there she is, The Parents are Relieved That their Daughter is safe, But she still wants her Parents Not to Divorce, So they Bring her home and they finally explain it to her. But there is something else: Custody! As much as Meiko wants to stay in Tokyo with her Father, Her Mother and Her is moving away, So she wants one more time to play on everything in the playground with Minato. She doesn't want him to forget her.....Because when she come back when she's all grown up, she wants to marry him! So she gives him a home made ring now, because when she comes back She'll have the real thing!

The Story is both sides of the Hanged Man's interpretation. The Perspective of a Child in midst of a divorce and the Manipulation, Selfishness and Martyrdom  Aspects of the Inversion. A short Story but one that i'm sure hits home for a lot of People. Meiko gets a Point.

Naoki Konishi

The Shadow of the Midnight Channel Murders Weighed Heavy on the minds of people of Inaba, Especially on the Family of Second Victim, Saki Konishi

To Keep it Brief, since we covered her Murder when we covered Yosuke in the Magician (See Tarotober Part 1-The Fool and The Magician) The Kanishi Family owns the local Liquor Store, Until the supermarket chain Junes came to town and drove Local Trade down. Saki using the fact The manager's Son, Yosuke's Crush on her, and by her own Volition, Got a job at Junes, to Manipulate Money out of Yosuke and use that Money to skip town and Elope with her Boyfriend, and not inherit a failing business, a plan she nearly got away with if she didn't find the body of a newscaster hanging telephone wires! And ending up sharing the same fate!

One day after School you and a Boy you never met are asked/forced to clean the Homeroom. They work silently until the blond boy asks his partner if he knows Yosuke, you tell him yes, and he responds that he hates him, and By Association, Hates You! That's when he tells you who he is, Naoki Konishi, the brother of the Murdered Saki Konishi, who shares the view that Yosuke's Family ruined his! As he leaves, he drops a scarf that Yu returns, to start the social link proper, the scarf was his sister's and after her demise, it's the only thing he had left. Naoki realizes that he overreacted and hopes to move on as friends.

Naoki's story is the Aftermath of his Sister's Murder and what was learned from it, because of the same Morbid Curiosity that Almost plagued the Amagi Family Inn, Ironically his Family's Liquor store is getting more Business, But in the Midst of all of it, he now has Well-wishers tell him he should "Live an Admirable Life!" A backhanded way of saying Saki died for attempting to abandon her Family! However any attempt to move on and have a laugh, is met with Disgust from neighbours, all these so called Well-wishers make a point to remind him not to be a Sinful Runaway like his Sister, which Ironically only makes him want to Runaway even more! It gets worse at school, he is now exempt from everything as if anything he does has no consequences. The next time they meet,  Naoki tells a story that Saki would eat his Creampuffs if he put them in the fridge. Only to see them expire, uneaten finally cementing in his mind, that his sister will never come home. He is stuck with this grief and doesn't know what to do!

He decides to take action! To make up his opinion on Junes, by going there with you to meet Yosuke. He tells Naoki how much he looks like his Sister which annoys him to no end....he's more than the Dead Girl's Brother. 

So the next stage of his grief is going to where they found her body, the telephone pole. He wants to know why he hasn't really cried yet. Is that why everyone is looking at him Strangely because he hasn't cried yet? He just wants to live more and when it happens, he cries!

Naoki's Story is the Perspective of the Hanged Man, the  family of a fallen Victim. Death is a hard thing to handle especially when well-wishers overstep their boundaries to tell the Bereaved how to Act, Think or Feel. Naoki was in such a state, he felt that crying was the worst thing he could have done. He felt like in his words that he was standing on the bank of a river, waiting for Saki to turn up on the other side, but now he wants to live more even if it means inheriting a dying business, because living means not giving up on life!

Muneshisa Iwai

Before I start I would like to address the Elephant in the room, in regards to the terrible timing that was this post's production.

Despite Japan's stringent Gun laws, to the point only police and army can carry firearms, This year Former Prime Minister of Japan,  Shinzo Abe was Shot dead during a public Rally. 

Since this essay I will  be talking about Gun-Running, Modding Airsoft guns and the Yazuka-it would be in bad taste not to say something.

So with that, on to Iwai's Story.

The idea that Ren and his new friend Ryuji to go into another world to settle the score with a Pervy Teacher and him not know, excited Ryuji, but they needed Supplies, Thankfully Ryuji knew two places a clinic for cheap meds, (more on that later!) And an Airsoft Shop owned by a Grizzled Unfriendly looking man called Iwai, 

Ren asked why come here, and Ryuji In a bit of cleverness, reckoned that in a world of  Pure Cognition, Iwai's Realistic Models would shoot real Bullets because they look like the real deal, Iwai would pay no mind to the Customers, as long as they pay and don't ask about the bag hanging above the counter. 

Gaining the Courage to actually ask about the bag, Iwai hires Joker to be his assistant, but in reality he has let Ren into the secret Life of The Yazuka. I'm sure Ren was like "Well, In For A Penny!...." If Ren keeps his pie-hole Shut, he'll Give him discounts on his Wares and Under the table Special Menu items.

Iwai's Social is his attempts on going Straight, and keeping alive the Yazuka's Code of honour that drew him into the gang world years ago. But it's hard to go straight when the Mafia and the Triads are about to go to war over a Cache of 1000 Million Yen of Guns is about to Happen.

One day a Bespectacled Boy named Kaoru Visited His Shop, he is Iwai's Adopted son, the result of a Druggie Mother, who tried to sell the baby for more Blow! Though To protect him, Iwai has told him a lie, his parents died in a car crash. It's a lie, but he wants Kaoru to continue to be a respectable man, something Mune wants to keep that way! Despite the Gang Leader Tsuda wanting  him back into the fold, Iwai refuses, but Tsuda pulls a gun and threatens Kaoru's life! Ren asked Iwai for Tsuda's  Full name so he can change his heart in Mementos.

Despite Changing Tsuda's Heart, Kaoru is still Kidnapped by another gang leader, Muda! Holding a knife to Kaoru's throat, he make Muneshisa spill his guts about his son's true Parentage, but Kaoru doesn't care, Iwai IS his father no matter what, Muda enjoying what he is doing is about to kill Kaoru, until Tsusa arrives with Backup, and without blood spilt, Muda stands Down. Later Iwai thanks Joker for what he had Done, figuring out who he is, and he's glad his custom jobs are used for Good.

Iwai's Story is one of Redemption and like the others a Story of Self Sacrifice as Both a gang Member and later Father, but also inverted aspects of manipulation, Due to the Blackmail.

His life was not perfect, he's not completely straight, but he's Trying!

Rolento Sugerg

Street fighter shares an Universe with other Capcom Games, including the arcade side scrolling beatem up Final Fight, whose original name in Japan is Street Fighter 89,

The game follows the Denizens of Metro City, A crime infested Slum teaming with Hulking Thugs, Deranged Killers, Corrupt Cops and whatever the hell Sodom is supposed to be!

Planning to Clean up the city of the Mad Gear Gang, one Broken Face at a time, were The trio of Wrestler turned Mayor Mike Hagger, who's daughter Jessica was kidnapped by the Mad Gears, Cody Travers the Fiance of Jessica and Guy, a wandering Ninja, (As You Do!)

But before they cleaned up the the streets themselves, the prior Mayor had a similar plan: send a Battalion of Red Beret Soldiers, the Best most Perfect, Incorruptible Soldiers. They will succeed where the police did not! After all they had the guidance of a Seasoned Soldier, Colonel Rolento Surgerg.

But rather than Clean Up Metro City of the Mad Gear, the PTSD-laden Soldier JOINED them, Somehow seeing in Metro City a vision of a Utopia filled with Ready Made Soldiers, all they need was Discipline and a quick Cash flow, Like maybe...Cocaine?

Yes in the Original Final Fight, Rolento was the Boss Guarding a Huge Shipment of Product! Upon the Defeat of the Mad Gear, some of them went Separate Ways, Some went Straight and help Rebuild, some remained Crooks and Rolento?

He saw Bison, and Told Sodom to hold his Beer!

And so, we find Rolento in the Alpha Series, making his Debut in the Street fighter Universe, Joining the Tournament to Conscript Fighters into his army, and he has two Candidates in mind,  His Former Subordinate, Sodom, and Cody Travers, the Hero who defeated the Mad Gear.

The thing is Sodom, only wanted a life of Peace, he wanted to win the tournament so he could open, Of all things, A Kabuki Theatre in the Florida Everglades!

That Actually Happened!

 And Cody before becoming Mayor Had Fallen off the Deep end and was serving time in Prison. 

The Hero who Got the Girl, became the Man who Just Wouldn't Stop and Now he's incarcerated for Assault. Rolento Felt Sorry for the former hero who left Cody to be rearrested.

Rolento would Face Bison But his confidence was Misplaced, Bison would have killed him, if Sodom didn't Drove in with his Truck and rescued him.

Years Later Rolento would finally Amass an Army of his own, all they needed was land for their "Utopia" Rolento got Intel that the Shadaloo Intelligence Network "S.I.N."-Has announced a street fighter Tournament that is a front to field-test their creation, a Perfect Soldier. A Boast Rolento takes Offence to, After all a Soldier isn't made in a Lab in months, but by years in the battlefield,

It may Shock you to learn, But Ryu only defeated Seth, it was Rolento who destroyed Seth  Body with his grenades, the reason Seth is in a new Body in 5. the last time we see in Rolento's ending is his eyes shutting down.

As of Street Fighter 6 announcement, Rolento has yet to be Confirmed, But with the tournament Held in Metro City, expect a Cameo at least!

Despite Twisted by Madness, Rolento is Ironically the most Earnest Example of the Hanged Man Here!

His "Sacrifice" is his Dignity, selling drugs to fund his "Utopia". Even Sodom Call him out on his greed when it blinds his ideals. However his Moral Compass is not Completely Out of Whack, he feels sorry for Cody for losing his way and given the chance to steal the Psycho Drive, he instead destroys the machine with Mind control Properties it citing that Ruling without Free Will is Bad M'Kay! And before you ask, would Teaming with Ibuki in Street fighter X Tekken count as Self Sacrifice, Since the Ninja Clans are Rolento's Enemies? Sorry, but that Game is Not Canon!

Maiko-1

Naoki-1

Iwai-1

Rolento-1

ROUND 2-PERKS

To start Meiko's Social Link, You must give her the Weird Takoyaki and a can of Mad Bull from the Dorm's Vending Machine. She plays everyday except Sunday. Her Gift is the Bead Ring Prove that you can fuse for Attis. All the Maxing out gift do this! So assume it I said that they all do. She also Introduces you to Akinari- The Striped Shirt-another Social Link

Meeting Naoki is an Automatic Event, But you must Speak to him twice before he opens up but you also need level 3 Understanding to understand Grief and it to be 5 to finish, he can be found in school Monday to friday and in the Shopping District on the Weekends. His Gift is The Junes Receipt, also used to earn Attis!

After you ask about the Bag hanging from the Rafters (Provided your Guts is level 3,) Iwai hires you and teaches you how to Customize, increasing through 3 levels of the Skill and your Proficiency level increases each time and you are given a Discount, all it all starts with a bag, containing a gun you now own. His proof to earn Attis is the Gecko Pin.

If Ryu and Rolento had Officially met, I doubt the conversation would go beyond "Join My Army"

Meiko-2

Naoki-1

Iwai-2

Rolento-1

ROUND 3- INFLUENCE ON THE HERO AND THEIR WORLD

Maiko has no real bearing on Minato's Story At Large.

For the sake of Brevity both Naoki and Hisano add their words of Encouragement to Yu, during the cinematic final turn against Izanami.

Iwai is the only reliable source of weapons, that is if you go through the whole game without fixing the Laptop. So he and Tae are the more useful side characters who add their cheers in Joker's Cinematic final Turn against Yaldabaoth.

Rolento wants Ryu to join his army, just like everyone else, and Ryu has no real idea who Rolento is and what he had done Previously!

Meiko-2

Naoki-1

Iwai-3

Rolento-1

The winner is Iwai.

DEATH

Death is 14th Card of the Major Arcana, Designated 13 and powered by the Star sign Scorpio.

Equally the most well known and Most Misunderstood Card in all the Tarot.

The Grim Reaper, As Depicted In The Book of Revelation on a white horse, Rides towards a group of 3,  A rich Dark Skinned Old man, a fair skinned Young Girl in Rags and a dog, all of begging, pleading or showing anger that death is Approaching. This shows the enviably of Death: Man, Woman or Beast, young or old, Rich or Poor, whatever Race or Creed, Death comes for everyone!

The Death Card DOES NOT MEAN DEATH! (Ironic since death plays a role in the stories I'm reviewing!)

The Death Card is the Counterpart to the Magician, But while the Magician card is a change from Within, the death card means a change being forced upon, one that seems hard at first, But it will be a hardship that makes you Stronger  after it. Inverted it means an enforced change, one that makes one into a martyr, vices, heartbreak, the denial of problems to others.

For a single Person, it's usually someone older than the enquirer, or someone born under Scorpio.

Sitting Glumly in the Funeral parlour, Are Pharos, A boy who visits Minato's Dreams, Hisano Kuroda, Death Herself, Dr Tae "Plague" Tameki, and Sagat, The King of Muai Thai.

Pharos

WARNING- MAJOR SPOILERS INBOUND!

When Minato Yuki first Arrived to The Gekkokan High Boarding House, At the desk a Frightengly pale Child hands you a clipboard for you to sign, thinking it's the terms For living here, the contract only has 7 words printed.

I TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR MY OWN ACTIONS.

Minato signs the Contract, but When Junpei asks you who are you talking to, he tells you there is never anyone working the desk!

Then the shadows attack during Minato's first dark hour and when Yukari's Evoker fell at his feet, a vision of The boy tells him to point it at his temple and to "Go On!", Yuki would point the  gun to his temple, fire and Summon a Persona, Orpheus, the master of Strings, but that's not all was summoned as from inside Orpheus, something ripped out of his jaws to crawl out.

Thanatos-The God Of Death

Every full moon, The Dark Hour would send a powerful Greater Shadow to kill and learn of Humanity and it's weaknesses. And every time one is Destroyed, Minato would be visited in his dream , while still in his Bed, the boy would tell Minato in riddles what will happen next but he couldn't tell you his past, he gives himself the name Pharos.

Pharos wants to be your Friend... because how else would you know your Enemies? Pharos warned about Straga, the Evil Persona users, as well as him questioning his own existence. On the defeat of the "Final" Boss, Pharos says goodbye during the next morning, something is changing, he knows who he is, or Rather who we will be, he tells Minato that they are Friends and their link to each other can never be severed- Remember that!

That day at school, you are introduced to a New Student in your Class: Ryoji Mochizuki, Pharos' "Cooler Daniel" Form, Flirty and Extroverted he is like a better version of Minato, Everyone likes Ryoji...except Aigis who knows who he is!

It's during the next Dark Hour Aigis Confronts Ryoji on the Moonlight Bridge, with him not remembering how he got here. He Remembers with some coaxing, that he fought Aigis 10 years ago during the incident Yukari's father, and Minato's Parents Died, breaking the Seal of the Door to death saw Death himself in his fight with the Robotic Aigis, ripped the shadow into two beings- Orpheus and Thanatos, and in her desperation, sealed the 2 shadows into a young boy whose parents just died being caught in the battle- Minato Yuki!- Thanatos was weakened into a Second personality called Pharos, that gained Power with the felling of each Greater Shadow, inadvertently completing a ritual to summon The Fall of Mankind via the entity Ryoji would become the vessel to, Nyx. But like the Door to Mankind becoming a human, the God of death likes his life, but he is going mad, so he wants Minato to kill Him out of kindness.

Doing so will rewrite History, stripping Personas away and giving the player the bad ending, with you and your friends Blissfully unaware during A Night out, killed by the Fall without them realising

Pharos is Death, a God of Death going through a Enforced change beyond his control-Ironically, A life! Thus also the Transformation Aspect of the Death Card. He want to be killed, is also the Martyrdom Aspect of the Inverted Card. 

Pharos gets a point.

Hisano Kuroda

The Next 4 Social Links are obtained via after school Jobs, All based on your attributes- Diligence,  Academics and Understanding. If you have enough Diligence and wish to max it out, then take the Job as a night janitor in a seemingly haunted hospital.

We will speak about the Nurse you work under next time, but for now we will speak of the Elderly Widow, you mistake as a ghost, of who stares a hole into you when you first meet, she introduced herself as Death, the Recently Bereaved, Hisano Kuroda.

Hisano has lived in Inaba all her life, so she never meet Yu Til now. She takes a shining to him, who according to her, Yu has more than just a passing resemblance to her late husband.

Meetings in her Social Link is her memories of her husband, of her own fears of her own Morality. Having a friend really helps....but you look too much like him, so she doesn't want to see you again, though she is in two minds when you see Her again, so she gives you a story about how he use to send her love letters but forgotten where she kept them, 

You find the Letters but she has plans on burning them, you read some and she exclaimed the man who wrote that is not the man she buried, You ask her what she meant, she explains why she is going to Hell when she dies.

Recently, her Husband Got what I assume is Either Alzheimer's or Parkinson's (it's never directly named), how Bedridden, the husband would complain and not Recognize her and attack her only for her to cry and him to Comfort her in Moments of Clarity. But got worse when he forgot who she was completely! Heartbroken, Hisano would spend All that time til now wishing his death.

And now that guilt won't go away!

Her Guilt is so Great She Doesn't want to see the letters ever again. So you convince her that look at the Letters SHE sent HIM. Reading them again she realizes that she didn't want him dead, she was just sad that he had forgotten all about her and her love she gave him over the years.

In the end she tells you she is moving away to live with her children, she was Reluctant to leave her town after a long life, but he she would spend the rest of her life mourning. So she is leaving for good, But before she leaves, she give you a Fountain pen, for you to write love letters to your beloved and some advice- live a long life, it is the greatest you gift you can grant your loved ones.

This Story hits Hard and it resounds with other people who played it first hand or saw it on a let's play. I don't like to talk about my personal life, and I won't name her or divulge any thing I don't want to, but someone dear to me went through the same thing and before she died, she lost the ability to speak, and it lead to her having a complete change of her personality. 

Anyway to the story once more, Hisano gets a point for face Value like they all do for mentioning Death, but if we dig deeper, we find that Hisano is almost every aspect of the straight and inverted meanings. Her husband's illness is transformation, the burning letters is the Enforced change. And refusal of her family's help is no doubt the denial aspect.

With a Bit of Bias, due to my experience Hisano gets a point.

Tae Tameki

Ryuji, in his Excitement on buying weapons to take down a Pervy Teacher without him even knowing. Went over budget in buying weapons, so when the time came to buy Medicine and healing items. They only had 100 Yen to buy a box of bandaids.

As Morgana calls Ryuji an idiot. He fought back. I mean, there is no way a means for you to make money and get Medicine at knock down prices is going to walk into The café.

And then she did!

This was your Local GP, Who in Goth Makeup and Alt Style and Flirty Demeanor, had that sense of Danger. As Ren Served the Doctor her Morning Joe, She tells Sojiro she is working on making a new Drug to help in Focusing! Morgana suggests inquiring about the Drug. After Insisting it's just a Study Aid, Tae tells you it's not for Sale, But then tells you there is an Alternative as she locks herself with the naive Student.

She won't Sell you this Medicine, but she will use your body....For Field tests! She attempts to frighten you off by giving you a cup of medicine, which Ren Chugs with no fear! When Ren Comes to It's now Evening and Tae thinks you are either brave or Stupid, but one thing you are also is hired!

Tae's Story is that she was Blacklisted as A Surgeon after a Medical Mistake Put a Child called Miwa in A Coma, She was Not Sued or completely written off, but she was Demoted to General Practitioner, her lack of Clientele giving her free time to create her original Medicines. But the Truth is that the University Hospital only Treat the Very Rich, Case in Point when a Father desperate for care, Comes to Tae with his Daughter's Bronchitis , when she Examines the girl, she tells Joker to get her the contents of drawer and Hurry. The Girl was Misdiagnosed and given Medicine to Alleviate her Symptoms, when She Learns the same Doctor who treated them in the same Doctor who Bares the Grudge against her, she waives her fee.

Later You learn The Girl Tae and Oyamada were operating on was Suffering from a Muscular Distrophy Condition. and Tae's Experimental Medicine she was given put her in the coma, Because of which, Tae was Scapegoated and Blacklisted, for simply following Orders.

One Day doing the Rounds. Tae tells you ever since Saving that girl, the town has learned of her Original Medicines, that they ask Ridiculous things from her but at least she has earned their trust and that's when Dr Oyamada turns up about Tameki stealing his patients. He wants Tae to leave or he will tell everyone that Tae is a Child-killer, because he just learned that Miwa Died in her Coma. Tae is devastated, But Joker feels that something is up. So he asks what Oyamuda's full name is, Hoping to find his Shadow In Mementos, which he does.

Defeating it, Oyamuda gives a press Conference, taking blame for Miwa's Coma and explaining he LIED about her Death. Tae is Now Vindicated.

But she feels that she can't cure Miwa's Illness herself so she gives her Research to a Fellow Doctor to find a cure, Which she is recruited into, She accepts but it means she will have to close her Clinic. But she has Met the Townspeople and finished her Studies and it wouldn't happened without "Her Phantom Guinea Pig"! Yes She works Out who he is too!

Because of her past life, Tae like all of our contestants will Gain a point for just Face Value alone, But once Again lets Dig Deeper.

Her Striking of the Register is the Transformation ascept, a Harsh fate that doesn't spare Feelings or Ego, Ending with Lost Friendship.

Also the Whole Goth Aesthetic is a Reference to Death itself!

Sagat

His Name means Guardian or Protector in Thai. As Champion Of his Village, His Might as a warrior has made him Like A King to his people.

Ironic that it didn't start Like that!

Let's Go all the way Back to the very first Tournament, were Sagat was the Unstoppable Juggernaut Of the Underworld fight scene. A simpler time where Street fighter was Gritty and not Bankrolled by Bored Millionaires and or Cults! 

Growing Up Poor, and leaving his Village for the Slums of Bangkok At the age of 15, The boy born with Gigantism was already 7 ft at this age. Sagat made his money in Illegal Streetfights, For years after Sagat Reigned Undefeated and Unchallenged Until the Day the Master of a Karate Dojo came to avenge his School being Vandalised 

Go Hibiki.

Despite the Size Disadvantage, Go, a Skilled Master was too Much for a Brutish Amateur, However an accidental palm strike Gouged Sagat's Right Eye and in his Rage, Sagat felt Something Burning inside him, Chi Energy, That Manifested into an Attack called Tiger Shot, that Burned Go's chest with A fiery blast before being Pummeled to Death with Strikes and Clinches, as Go's Son Dan watched on in horror, vowing vengeance, as his father's corpse was lifted by his limp neck!

Then Came the Final battle against Sagat and a young Japanese Fighter named Ryu.

The Tiger and the Dragon had there first Legendary Fight, Matching blow to Blow. When it was all said and done.....

RYU LOST!

Despite what he had done Previously, Sagat was a good Sport to try and help Ryu up, But that's when it happened. The Urge to be Strong, twisted itself in Ryu at that Moment, and with a cry and a surge of Flame, Ryu had Uppercutted Sagat's Chest so hard...IT CAUGHT FIRE! Leaving him with the Scar we see in his Design to this day!

This is the true Untamed power Ryu had in him.

The Satsui No Hadou

"THE WAVE OF MURDEROUS INTENT!"

Shaking with Fear, Ryu ran off, thinking He had Just Killed Sagat.

Only he wasn't dead, but the Injury was so Gruesome all his gang members ran off. Only a New Benefactor was left and offered the Fallen King a new life.

A life of greater power as his Bodyguard for his "Good Samaritan"

M.Bison.

Soon, Combined with the Disgraced Boxing Champion, Balrog and the Spanish Ninja Vega, Sagat and Bison were the Four Kings of Shadaloo, the Four most Dangerous Men on the planet, But Sagat wanted one thing, Revenge on Ryu.

However Something Turned Up that Made Sagat Change his Outlook

Or should i say, Someone

Dan Hibiki, the Son of Go Hibiki

After Seeing Ryu Body Sagat, Dan Wanted To learn Ryu's Style So he could get his revenge, however Gouken would Dismiss Dan as he would not teach the Art of Fighting Solely For Revenge or Profit, more on that later.

Whacked With Guilt, Sagat's Own Bracket saw him Paired Against the Pink Gi Wearing Simpleton! With all the Taunting by Dan, with his weak one handed fireball, his Short hop uppercut, his moves that make him stumble and Trip like an Buffoon, when the Match was over....

Dan...WON?

Actually

Sagat threw the Fight!

Emboldened and Unaware that Sagat felt pity for the idiot, Dan Quit the Tournament to teach his Fake Martial Art to the Masses, Sagat also left, but this was not a Victory, But a Penance as he Returned to his Village and asked the Elders for Forgiveness.

A Forgiveness as the Village's Protector he had to earn, And many times Shadaloo had sent Soldiers to take out the "King", Undaunted, he Joined the Fourth Tournament to fight Ryu Again, But this time, as rivals, not enemies.

In 5, Sagat learns that his scar had inadvertently transferred the Satsui No Hadou to his body, making him hear his voice telling him to kill and see his servants and villagers as Demons taunting him to kill them. He controls himself but in the process, but gains a greater understanding and Respect to Ryu, not only fighting strong opponents, but only The Monster Within.

Shockingly, Sagat has not being Confirmed for 6. And in a game that's about a world without Shadaloo. Who knows? He's maybe dlc.

Sagat's 2 Disfigurements and His fall from Grace, are the Transformation Aspect, on top of gaining the Wave of Murderous Intent. The Transformation from Rival to friend also counts as his change from Evil to the side of Justice!

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ROUND 2-PERKS

As your enemy, Pharos' Social Link Progresses, Automatically, As it Skips Rank 2, 4,7 and 10

To Start Hisano's Social link you must Reach Sayoko's Social Link to 4 (more on Her on the next Essay!), But to do so, you MUST have Chosen the Janitorial Job at the Hospital, which requires level 3 Diligence to be there in the First place, after that you can visit her on the riverbank every Sunday, except holidays. To Progress past Rank 6, you must obtain the Husband's Letters after visiting the Metalworks, which as your go to for selling loot and buying Weapons you will be going there regardless. And again for Hisano's letters to get past Rank 7. You Gain the Aforementioned Fountain Pen, Your Proof to Fuse for Mahakala.

As your other Social Link Shopkeeper, Tae Comes with a lot of Perks, Working as your Guinea Pig, increase your Guts stat each time, Increasing Social links will add Certain medicines of a certain Property, starting with the healing Rejuvenation, the Status removing Sterilisation, at 3, The Fortifying Immunization at 5, a Discount at Rank 7 and finally Resuscitation. Her key item in her dog tag, that lets you fuse for Alice.

After Leaving Shadaloo, Sagat and Ryu Spare whenever, Ken or Gouken is not Available.

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ROUND 3 INFLUENCE ON THE HERO AND THEIR WORLD

Pharos is a form taken by the Main Antagonist, so of course he plays a huge part in this Story.

As mentioned Before, Hisano if you finish her Social Link adds her thoughts to Yu during the Cinematic Last Turn against Izanami.

Tae is the other Shopkeeper who is the only other useful character to add her cheers During Joker's Cinematic Last Turn against Yaldabaoth. You can also Romance her too, in fact Despite, having reservations, Of the girls, Tae actively takes Joker's Virginity!

Sagat's life was irrevocably Changed when he met Ryu. His life went down a further down slide, after their first fight. And as Bison's Stalwart Bodyguard, Shadoloo may have not been the force for so many years. Once he left, they didn't really recover, leading to the death Of Bison, free from his guilt,Sagat seeks only legitimate fights for the good of his village. When Sagat and Ryu meet eachother they will complement how strong the other is.

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Join me in November when we cover the next two cards, Temperance and The Devil.