Anonymous Loli

Email from 2D

Thu, 18 Oct 2007 02:18:36 GMT

Good to hear from you. Sounds like you're really beating yourself up over
this. Remember, there's so much we can't say yet. And we have almost a
month to go until we really get started. Patience is the watchword.

A thought about chaos and art: Pablo Picasso and John Coltrane are both
well-known for their chaotic, almost non-sensical art. But remember that
they were both absolute masters of their respective established forms
before they ventured out into their own territories.

For a Coltrane comparison, compare Miles Davis' All Blues with the
Coltrane quartet's Sun Ship or Coltrane's work with Rashied Ali on the
album Interstellar Space. He sounds like two or even three different
musicians, but in his mind, he knew exactly where he was headed, because
he knew all the basics. Feet on the ground, head in the clouds, if you
will.

Picasso you can find at the library. Look for a comprehensive biography,
not a cubism primer.

I suspect that by the time you get to designing the Kings and Queens, if
you so choose (love the roses card, by the way, I'm jealous), you will
yourself be straining against whatever standard form you may have stepped
into. That only comes through patience and practice. Chaos from the rote.
Innovation is the improvement of the existing. Otherwise, it's just a
mess.

-- 
2D

Thou hast also given me the necks of mine enemies; that I might destroy
them that hate me.
Psalm 18:40

On Tue, October 16, 2007 3:47 pm, Andrea Jones wrote:
> :D
>
>
> Okay so I'm really mad at myself for even thinking of the ALICE theory
> because it made it harder on me and is probably only even making you angry.
> I can understand why chaos and art are so hard to differentiate
> because artists are so STRANGE and chaos is just... designed to make it
> harder to see.
>
> I keep going back and forth and that's not fair. I think I'm just done
> putting you guys in these labels, and that's just not fair to you.
>
> So, you're not chaos or art or info or love. You're a person and I would
> really love to talk to you.
>
>

Sun, 14 Oct 2007 14:13:31 GMT

More card stuff.

The Next Step

Ace of Clubs

A- New Beginnings
Clubs-Ambition-Power
Aries-Self
Leo-Creativity
Sagittarius-Learning

Success

Ace of Hearts

A -new Love
hearts-emotions
Cancer-Home
Scorpio-Sex
Pisces-Dreams

New Love

Ace of Spades

A -new experience
spades-difficulty
Gemini-Mental
Libra-Choices
Aquarius- Disruptive

Death

Ace of Diamonds

A -potential
diamonds-stability
Tauras- Practical
Virgo- Logical
Capricorn -Methodical

Financial Aide

Two of Clubs

2- passive energy
Clubs-restlessness
Aries-Adventure
Mars-Aggressive

Cross Roads

Two of Hearts

2- cooperation
hearts-compassion
Cancer-Intuitive
Venus-Love

Devotion

Two of Spades

2-communicative
spades-constricted
Libra-Inconsistant
Moon-Reactive

Great Tension

Two of Diamonds

2-balance
diamonds-foundation
Capricorn-Determined
Jupiter-Over Expansion

Flexible

Three of Clubs

3- growth
clubs-drive
Aries-Aggressive
Sun-Drive

Next Step

Three of Hearts

3-teamwork
hearts-sharing
Cancer-Nuturing
Mercury-Messanger

Rejoyciing

Three of Spades

3-team building
spades-destructive
Libra-Inconsistant
Saturn-Cautious

Cheating

Three of Diamonds

3-growth
diamonds-foundation
Capricorn-Achieving
Mars-Motivation

Recognition

Four of Clubs

4-stability
Clubs-adventurous
Aries-Self
Venus-Indulgence

Time Out

Four of Hearts

4-walls
hearts- emotionalism
Cancer-The Past
Moon-Unaware

Devine Discontent

Four of Spades

4-rigidity
spades-stifling
Libra-Procrastanating
Jupiter-Expansivness

Time To Heal

Four of Diamonds

4-rigidity
diamonds-rigid
Capricorn-Materialistic
Sun-Prideful

Miser

Five of Clubs

5-assertive
Clubs-energetic
Leo-Glorification
Saturn-Restricted

Glitches

Five of Hearts

5-challenge
hearts-gentle
Scorpio-Paranoid
Mars-Aggression

Betrayal

Five of Spades

5-antisocial
spades-confrontational
Aquarius-Perverse
Venus-Superficial

Limitations

Five of Diamonds

5-adventure
diamonds-rooted
Taurus-Self Indulgent
Mercury-Messanger

Hardship

Six of Clubs

6-harmony
Clubs-take charge
Leo-Courageous
Jupiter-Principles

Advancement

Six of Hearts

6-transition
hearts-nurturing
Scorpio-Brooding
Sun-Consciousness

Hindsight

Six of Spades

6-peaceful transition
spades-disruption
Aquarius-Independent
Mercury-Travel

Moving On

Six of Diamonds

6-charity
diamonds-gifts
Taurus-Methodical
Moon-Visionary

Regaining Losses

Seven of Clubs

7-faceing obstacles
Clubs-power
Leo-Overbearing
Mars-Hostility

Determination

Seven of Hearts

7-self discovery
hearts-hopeful
Scorpio-Sexual
Venus-Romance

Careful Decisions

Seven of Spades

7-clarity
spades-blockage
Aquarius- Perverse
Moon-Deception

Evasion

Seven of Diamonds

7-self discovery
diamonds-need to build
Taurus-Possessive
Saturn-Cautious

Difficult Decision

Eight of Clubs

8-power & movement
clubs-quick moving
Saggittarius-Straight
Mercury-Adaptable

Moving Ahead

Eight of Hearts

8-progressive
hearts-desires
Pisces-Insensitive
Saturn-Burdens

Abandon Hope

Eight of Spades

8-movement
spades-repressive
Gemini-Spontanous
Jupiter-Unrealistic

No Win Situation

Eight of Diamonds

8-progress
diamonds-structure
Virgo-Work
Sun-Creative

New Profession

Nine of Clubs

9-culmination
clubs-challenges
Saggittarius-Careless
Sun-Vitality

Final Stages

Nine of Hearts

9-cumulative
hearts-thankful
Pisces-Visionary
Jupiter-Abundance

Dreams Come True

Nine of Spades

9-letting go
spades-restricted
Gemini-Mental
Mars-Hostility

Self Abuse

Nne of Diamonds

9-attainment
diamonds-security
Virgo-Analytical
Venus-Vanity

Sstisfaction

Ten of Clubs

10-too much energy
clubs-ambitious
Saggittarius-Phobia
Saturn-Struggle

Inability to Cope

Ten of Hearts

10-expansive
hearts-loving
Pisces-Sensitive
Mars-Self Projection

Permanence

Ten of Spades

10-finality
spades-elimination
Gemini-Insubstantial
Sun/Moon-Hidden

Realistic End

Ten of Diamonds

10-abundance
diamonds-stability
Virgo-Routine
Mercury-Adaptable

Permanence

Jack of Clubs

J-close friend
clubs-restless
Saggittarius-Judgemental
Mutable-Destructive
Fire-Cleansing

Opionated

Jack of Hearts

J-lover
hearts-sensitive
Pisces-Sensitive
Mutable-Changing
Water-Smooth

Moddiness

Jack of Spades

J-bad habit
spades-deceit or spite
Gemini-Distracted
Mutable-Destruction
Ice-Cold

Variety

Jack of Diamonds

J-money oriented
diamonds-Aquire
Virgo-Self Effacing
Mutable-Changeable
Earth-Slow

Indicisiviness

Queen of Clubs

Q-Goals & ambitions
clubs-passion
Leo-Dramatic
Fixed-Preservation
Fire-Haste

Limits

Queen of Hearts

Q-connection
hearts-emotional
Scorpio-Passionate
Fixed-Preservation
Water-Gentle

Jealousy

Queen of Spades

Q-worriers or widow
spades-problems
Aquarius-Perverse
Fixed-Preservation
Ice-Frozen

Friction

Queen of Diamonds

Q-juggles
diamonds
Taurus-Unimaginative
Fixed-Preservation
Earth-Slow

Inflexible

King of Clubs

K-in charge
clubs-power
Aries-Independant
Fixed-Preservation
Cardinal-Creation

Explosive Temper

King of Hearts

K-connection
hearts-emotional
Cancer-Tenacious
Water-Smooth
Cardinal-Creation

Posessive

King of Spades

K-judgment
spades-problems
Libra-Impartial
Ice-Stalled
Cardinal-Creation

Judgements

King of Diamonds

K-finances
diamonds-security
Capricorn-Responsible
Earth-Slow
Cardinal-Creation

Determined

Conversation with Porno Perfect Rob

Thu, 11 Oct 2007 21:38:22 GMT

Tears were never shed for me. And Athena? She's in good hands.

I love you, Rob. May the Korp treat you well.

----------------- Original Message -----------------
From: PoRnO pErFeCt ROB
Date: Oct 11, 2007 2:34 PM

Regret? Regret is a wasted emotion, why regret it when you can embrace it. I feel for you fallen soul child. No more tears will be shead on your behalf, or your prized Athena. I leave you, I have spread the word, you will come to conclusion sooner or later that that Monotone in the walls of the Korp will save your life. The Korp will live, rebellion will fall.

Long ... Live ... The ... Korp

----------------- Original Message -----------------
From: Anonymous Loli
Date: Oct 11, 2007 2:28 PM

They wouldn't take me anyway. When I was trying to infiltrate them they completely ignored me. So... whatever.

Burning corpses? Sounds delicious. Seeing as I'm going to hell, I'm sure I'll get used to it.

Do you regret joining up with Korp?

----------------- Original Message -----------------
From: PoRnO pErFeCt ROB
Date: Oct 11, 2007 2:25 PM

There are things deeper then what meets your eye child. I had no choice, once the walls come down on you there is no stopping them, no escape. I serve because I have no choice. There power is far greater then what some citizens see. Once they have their grip on you, its is less painful to give in, to give up. The smells of burnt corpses are far more sickening then the smell of burnt art. I am sorry child, but give in, become a Shadow, adandon your prophet. Live in the freedom of the walls of the Korp.

-The Shadow

----------------- Original Message -----------------
From: Anonymous Loli
Date: Oct 11, 2007 12:49 PM

alskjdlaksjdaksjd No. It's just not cool to burn down a warehouse with ART. Regardless of who owns it, it is absolutely despicable.
If they think it is right to destroy art, then they have a huge enemy in me and I'm not fun to deal with.

Tell me more about you. Why were you chosen as their messenger?

----------------- Original Message -----------------
From: PoRnO pErFeCt ROB
Date: Oct 11, 2007 12:46 PM

You are wise child. We find freedom in the walls we call home. To the topic you made of the Korp burning property. This is a very common misconception. For what you see as fires of hatred and scorn, they see as natural selection
----------------- Original Message -----------------
From: Anonymous Loli
Date: Oct 10, 2007 1:57 PM

I want to make my cause my own. I don't want my cause to be a search for power. I am charismatic, a natural born leader, I have power without working at it. I don't to be told how to talk or walk. The Korporation restricts me, while Athena allows a lot more freedom to learn and understand on my own.

Ask your Korporation why they burn down their buildings, if not out of fear? What do the cards hold that would cause such rage as to destroy property?

We always need a bad guy, Rob, and I commend you for playing it. I fell in love with the cards too fast to really experiment with sides. I suppose, in that, you are just a bit stronger than me.
----------------- Original Message -----------------
From: PoRnO pErFeCt ROB
Date: Oct 10, 2007 10:37 AM

How blinded can you be child, things CAN be more then they seem. You dont think that a prophet can be masked as a citizen. Watching you? Testing you? I hide in the comfort and serenity of the Korp. Why do you trust this Athena? Dont you understand, this is MUCH bigger then you or I. The times will change, the world will change. You cant imagine the answer to the "Secret". Please child, seek serenity, seek salvation, security, and a sense of false freedom. There is more to the things your mess in, a greater cause. . . Long live the Korp

-The Shadow
----------------- Original Message -----------------
From: Anonymous Loli
Date: Oct 9, 2007 1:03 PM

(Snip, I was just being an ass)

I believe all of what I hear, at all times, and judge whether or not it's BS later.

I'm on my feet. Whose are you stepping on?
----------------- Original Message -----------------
From: PoRnO pErFeCt ROB
Date: Oct 9, 2007 11:07 AM

The Korp is true, the one guide to the answers, its secrets are our blessings. I have been chosen as a speaker, a secretary for my loyalty. The Korp will never fail you, if you never fail it. Athena is a warped version of the Korps creatings, a copy cat, and a false one at that. Only believe half what you hear, there is a false prophet among us. Stay on your feet child, and keep your eyes open. Spread my message to your peers, the Korp is alive.
----------------- Original Message -----------------
From: Anonymous Loli
Date: Oct 8, 2007 3:27 PM

:) Thank you for your thoughts. However, I would think the time for judging would rather be 11/11, or at least a date closer than a month away from then?

What is it that you like most about the Korporation?
----------------- Original Message -----------------
From: PoRnO pErFeCt ROB
Date: Oct 8, 2007 11:13 AM

Dont follow Athena, or follow the ones who follow her. All of those associated are fake, take heed sister, the Korp is at hand, and the ladder is breaking. The time to judge has struck the hour.

-The Shadow

The last card we will meet

Tue, 09 Oct 2007 06:31:38 GMT

Will probably be the Ace of Spades.

http://www.psywarrior.com/DeathCardsAce.html

That card is known as a death card, so the death of the game.

Mon, 08 Oct 2007 09:21:48 GMT

Was anyone else really bothered by the anime image in 2S's page? I certainly was. Well, I think I finally figured whether she was art or chaos.

Because the original place to find the image, and the only place I could certainly, was found on DEVIANTART.

Deviantart, of course, being a well known art site.

Thu, 04 Oct 2007 09:29:58 GMT

The only question I have left about M:TA is, is that all this Silverladder business about? I see no Alice imagery in M:TA. I see no Snow Queen imagery. I see nothing about playing cards, or strange art websites. At first I felt triumphant, I felt as if I had the answer. I seem to have only found another question to replace it... Is this really it?

This is more based on M:TA than anything else we've seen it based on. The whole premise is based on the Silver Ladder group! But still, there IS other imagery.

I don't think this is viral marketing for the White Wolf (nice way to slip that in, by the way. When I saw the company, I instantly connected it with the bulletin) or M:TA. None of the players on the board seem to have known about it, because I seem to be the first one to post about it.

It seems our puppetmaster was a fan. I'm betting on that being all.

Thu, 04 Oct 2007 09:05:19 GMT

LOL at Old Testament

Thu, 04 Oct 2007 08:52:15 GMT

http://silverladder.cam-wiki.org/index.php?title=Main_Page

48 Silverladder M:TA related articles. Take a dip.

Also:
http://silverladder.cam-wiki.org/index.php?title=Jack_of_Diamonds

...

Thu, 04 Oct 2007 08:46:04 GMT

More confirmation:
Remember this image?

That's from here:
http://wiki.white-wolf.com/worldofdarkness/index.php/Notable_Boston_Characters

Silver Ladder
The Vox Draconis, the Voice of the Dragon: the advisors of Awakened society, wishing to rebuild a unified community of mages under their leadership.

Someone needs to guide and lead those who cannot lead themselves, and the Silver Ladder rises to the occasion. Basing themselves in the various groups of Atlantean priests and viziers collectively known as the Vox Draconis (the "Voice of the Dragon"), the Silver Ladder does not lead as kings but as the enlightened among the masses. They follow the Elemental Precepts which states that the Awakened must be united and that magic is the right of all humans who live.

The Silver Ladder hold a unique perspective on the Fall: it was a masterstroke on the part of the Exarchs, making it much more difficult for the Oracles to find new allies in the Supernal War, but the 'game' is by no means over. The Silver Ladder spend their days planning a counterstroke that will equal or exceed the Exarchs' in cunning and daring: turning the Lie of the Fallen Realm back upon itself, and storming the Supernal Realms with the entire human race united against the Exarchs. Naturally, the Guardians of the Veil dispute the value of the latter half of the strategy, which forms the basis of the two Orders' persistant rivalry, but the Silver Ladder accepts this as necessary 'review' of their plans.

The Silver Ladder also maintain an enduring rivalry with the Seers of the Throne, and not merely because the two Orders contest for the same weapon (all of mortal humanity).

http://mage.wikispaces.com/Order

More from M:TA

Thu, 04 Oct 2007 08:41:38 GMT

http://www.nocturnis.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=13164&st=0&p=244331&#entry244331

This is probably a player of the game. But I found some of his phrases interesting.

Mages once ruled. Never forget that. Do not believe that hubris felled Atlantis, that humanity deserved to be cast into the darkness. That is a subtle part of the Lie. The conquest of reality�the war for the Imperium Mysteriorum�proceeds as it should. Expand your perspective and see that the fall of the Awakened City was just a skirmish. A setback? Yes, but there are other battles to be fought�thrones to topple from the enemy's Supernal strongholds. Cast your lot with humanity and with Awakened destiny, and you will embrace the Silver Ladder.

It's a potent promise that has lasted through the ages, articulated even as the Fall forced the th�archs to gaze back at the ruins of Atlantis. They say it is fitting that such devastation should follow a struggle for the ultimate prize, but hardly discouraging, for the Silver Ladder has a potent weapon its enemies can never possess: the Sleepers.

The Silver Ladder claims that it supports unenlightened humanity and spreads the flame of Awakening as much as possible. The Quiescence makes doing so dangerous, so it is necessary to release a trickle of the truth, gradually, so that dedicated men and woman follow it to the flood of full Awakening. Mages must be prepared to accept these new apprentices. They must cooperate to expand Awakened influence and train themselves for the battle to come. The Silver Ladder wants nothing less than an army swelled by Sleepers and forged by conspiracy before it builds a tower to the gods once more.

The Silver Ladder is used to ruling mages. While they were not the official lords of Atlantis, its members were advisors who held the balance of power, the Vox Draconis, the Voice of the Dragon. As priests, viziers, and judges of old, the th�archs upheld the principles of law. To hold together an entire nation of mages is a feat that has never been matched since, and the order is rightly proud. When the Silver Ladder's judges ruled fairly, they maintained a balance of power between mages and an unenlightened humanity. As priests, they advocated a wise balance between material needs and spiritual desires. Of course, the th�archs had human weaknesses even then, and more than any other order, were swayed by the promises of the Celestial Ladder: To put gods and demons under the reign of humankind�what greater promise than that?

Other orders were humbled by the Fall, but not the Silver Ladder. Although some luminaries still speak of balance between the material and spiritual, others use these as words to justify their desire to wrest the Imperium Mysteriorum for all humanity. But their enemies are no longer the inhuman powers of the world. By trapping humanity in the Lie of Quiescence, they've shown the resurgent th�archs that they fear mortal men and women. If humanity is bound together to challenge them, they will lose. And so the order has bided its time, promoting the office of the sage advisor throughout the world, whispering their instructions to princes, generals, and ministers.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mage:_The_Awakening

Thu, 04 Oct 2007 08:05:36 GMT

Mage: The Awakening

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Mage: The Awakening
Mage: The Awakening cover
Designer:	Bill Bridges, Conrad Hubbard
Publisher:	White Wolf
Publication date:	August 29th, 2005
Genre(s):	Personal Horror

Mage: The Awakening is a role-playing game developed by White Wolf, Inc. and based in their World of Darkness setting. The characters portrayed in this game are individuals able to bend or break the commonly-accepted rules of reality to perform subtle or outlandish acts of magic. These characters are broadly referred to as ‘mages’. Mage: The Awakening is loosely based on a prior White Wolf product, Mage: The Ascension, which had similar game mechanics though the terminology differs. While the games both focus on magic, the setting and themes of Mage: The Ascension have been completely replaced.

Mage: The Awakening won the 2006 ENnie Award for Best Writing.

[hide]

[edit] Background and setting

As with the other games in the ‘new’ World of Darkness (nWoD), the history presented in the game provides for some ambiguity. However, the ‘origin story’ of magic and mages is less ambiguous (or at least more widely accepted) than that of the nWoD vampires or werewolves.

In the mythic past, a mysterious island existed with a single towering mountain encircled by dragons which lived upon its summit, and its image called to sleeping humanity. Over time, the dragons left, and the mountain continued to call. Some humans answered the call and sought out the island to see what it promised them. The humans who moved there discovered the first secrets of magic, and through magic they created a mighty city-state that is now called Atlantis, though its true name has been lost to time.

But mages were filled with hubris over what they could achieve, and created a Celestial Ladder to reach the heavens and attain greater mastery over the world. Once the ladder was finished and mages began to climb it, there was conflict over how best to lead the world. Over the course of the battle, the ladder shattered. This separated the Earth into the Fallen World and the Supernal Realm, with the chasm of the Abyss in between. The Fallen World is the world of the everyday, and mages have come to understand that it is a lie.

The Supernal Realm is the truth of reality and the origin of magic; it is ruled by the Exarchs, powerful mages who had successfully climbed the ladder and took control of the Supernal Realm. The Exarchs wish to snuff out the memory of Atlantis and knowledge of magic so they will remain the supreme masters of reality. The Exarchs are more like god-like forces than human beings now, and they act on the mortal world through servants.

Resistance against the Exarchs is possible because of the Oracles, a small number (probably five) of Atlantean mages who also climbed the ladder. They each created (or maybe are) one of the Towers, which are both locations in the Supernatural Realm and paths of magic. The Oracles use their Towers to call to humanity in the Fallen World. Each mage visits a Tower during their Awakening, and their magical abilities are forever affected by that journey.

Fragments of the organizations, artifacts and writings of Atlantis survive to the present day, and mages hope to use this knowledge to further their various causes, though as a whole they hope to gain a stronger connection to the Supernal and oppose the Exarchs' rule.

[edit] Characters

Mages ‘awaken’ to the ways of magic. The setting states that it is unclear whether this is mostly accidental or as a result of a person's nature or understanding. The process of awakening can be slow or fast, but there are two major ways in which the event may manifest: the Mystery Play and the Astral Journey. In both sorts of ‘awakenings’, the mage-to-be goes on a journey that culminates with them arriving at or in their respective Tower and inscribing their name upon it.

The Mystery Play is a waking dream, where the magical symbolism of their awakening is overlaid on top of the ‘real’ world. Other people, places and real world events mesh together until the Mage arrives at a skyscraper, a phone booth, a grove or some other place that represents their Tower and somehow write their name in both the physical and real setting, such as a hotel ledger or a statue's plaque.

Astral Journeys, which occur when the potential mage dreams, are common to those who deny or resist the ‘awakening’. Astral Journeys feature strange settings, objects and people, in a full sensory experience.

[edit] Paths

There are five Paths of Magic that have a sympathetic connection to one of the Five Watchtowers, each with a particular style and focusing on certain Arcana.

Acanthus (Fate, Time)	Enchanters on the Path of Thistle work with luck, intuition and destiny. Connected to the Watchtower of the Lunargent Thorn in the Realm of Arcadia.
Mastigos (Mind, Space)	Warlocks on the Path of Scourging work with perception and inner demons. Connected to the Watchtower of the Iron Gauntlet in the Realm of Pandemonium.
Moros (Death, Matter)	Necromancers on the Path of Doom work with death, mortality and material things. Connected to the Watchtower of the Lead Coin in the Realm of Stygia.
Obrimos (Prime, Forces)	Theurgists on the Path of the Mighty work with the divine energies infusing the world. Connected to the Watchtower of the Golden Key in the Realm of the Aether.
Thyrsus (Life, Spirit)	Shaman on the Path of Ecstasy work with all aspects of the natural world. Connected to the Watchtower of the Stone Book in the Realm of the Primal Wild.

[edit] Orders

After awakening, a mage typically joins one of the five Orders, although some choose to remain free of political connections, or remain outside of mage society due to ignorance, and are called apostates.

The Five Orders are united in their opposition to the Exarchs. Four of the Orders claim a heritage going back to Atlantis.

The Adamantine Arrow: spiritual warriors and masters of conflict, who claim a heritage going back to Atlantis' defenders. Currently, the Order of the Arrow could perhaps be described as something akin to a knightly sect, though bushido and other warrior codes find a place in The Arrow. These mages conduct intensive physical and mental training, honing the minds and bodies of order members into deadly weapons which magical society may then wield against its enemies (such as vampires, werewolves, Seers, and so on).
Guardians of the Veil: spies and conspirators who claim their descent from the intelligence officers and enforcers of Atlantis' laws. Currently, they bear a resemblance to a combination of many occult conspiracies, such as the Thule and others. Many obscure their activities and identities even from other mages, and act as a check on humanity's dangerous curiosity for "that which man was not meant to know". To this end they falsify and obfuscate information through an elaborate honeycomb of lies and mis-directions known as "the Labyrinth".
The Mysterium: dedicated to pursuit of magical lore and the acquisition, cataloguing, and study of mystical and occult knowledge and artifacts. They continue the ancient heritage of the scholarly and intellectual of Atlantean society. Their internal structure often resembles the academic structures of the part of the world in which they reside. The Mysterium gathers, catalogues and maintains items of all types of magical and historical significance. These are stored in museum-libraries known as "Athenaea", which vary in size from private collections to massive storehouses that must be physically hidden by magical means.
The Silver Ladder: dedicated to ruling and reshaping the world, the viziers and senators of Atlantis remain in force. Politicians and authoritarians, the Silver Ladder believes in creating a perfect hierarchy (with themselves at the top of course) which will seize control of reality, subjugating it to the will of mankind. Many would say (justifiably) that the Ladder is only interested in power, but this dream is not without its altruistic appeal. As a member of the Ladder might point out, control over reality could bring an end to human suffering in all its forms.
The Free Council: modernists who wish to create new forms of magic, a union of mages who have discovered ways of using magic that do not adhere to the Atlantean methods. According to Council members, mankind is subconsciously aware of metaphysical truths, and thus all of human society carries the potention for mystical wisdom. The 'Libertines' as they are also called, possess a strong belief in democratic process and anti-authoritarianism.

[edit] Legacies

Legacies are an optional third grouping, literally portrayed as refinements of one's soul that are passed on from master to student. These grant additional innate benefits called Attainments, and may also grant affinity towards a third Arcana. Furthermore, because they are based on shaping one's own soul rather than drawing down Supernal rules, Attainments do not risk Paradox. Legacies can be created, or learned based off of both Path and/or Order. Published Legacies include:

Bokor (Moros) - Voodoo necromancers
Clavicularus (Mastigos or Silver Ladder) - Demon summoners
Dream-Speakers (Thyrsus or Free Council) - Shaman
Orphans of Proteus (Thyrsus) - Shape-shifters
Perfected Adepts (Obrimos or Adamantine Arrows) - Warrior monks
Skald (Acanthus) - Bards, storytellers
Sphinx (Mastigos or Mysterium) - Geniuses
Subtle Ones (Mastigos or Guardians of the Veil) - Spies, assassins
Tamer of the Cave (Mastigos)
Tamer of Fire (Obrimos)
Tamer of Rivers (Thyrsus)
Tamer of Stone (Moros)
Tamer of Winds (Acanthus)
Thrice-Great (Obrimos or Silver Ladder) - High ritual magicians
Uncrowned Kings (Moros or Free Council) - Alchemists
Walker in Mists (Acanthus or Mysterium) - Druids

[edit] Left Handed Legacies

Left Handed Legacies work the same as regular Legacies, but suffer social stigma because of their beliefs or practices. Left Handed Legacies might practice infernalism, necromancy or other unwholesome arts. On the other hand, they may simply espouse political views that are unpopular amongst local mages. They are largely meant as antagonists rather than player characters.

Scelesti
Tremere Lich (Moros)

[edit] Magic

Magic is simply the ability of a mage (or "willworker") to impose her will onto reality. Mages are able to do this because of their sympathetic connection to the Watchtowers in the Supernal Realm, because their names are inscribed upon it, and because they realize the Fallen World is a lie.

A mage's power, or level of awakening and understanding the depths of the Supernal, is called Gnosis.

Arcana represent the understanding a mage has over particular facets of reality, and govern her ability to affect those aspects.

[edit] The 10 Arcana

Death: The Arcanum of decay and death, capable of removing souls and affecting or creating undead.
Fate: The Arcanum of luck and destiny, capable of defining the random and forcing the hand of Fate.
Forces: The Arcanum of energy and kinetics, capable of creating flames and stopping bullets.
Life: The Arcanum of creatures and plants, capable of healing wounds and creating impossible hybrid beasts.
Matter: The Arcanum of inanimate objects and inert elements, capable of transmuting materials and enhancing mundane objects.
Mind: The Arcanum of thoughts and dreams, capable of reading thoughts and controlling thoughts and emotions.
Prime: The Arcanum of pure magical force and structure, capable of enchanting items and manipulating pure Mana.
Space: The Arcanum of distance and separation, capable of creating overlapping dimensions and allowing teleportation.
Spirit: The Arcanum of Spirits and their Realm, capable of summoning spirits and forging links through the Gauntlet.
Time: The Arcanum of the passage of time and aging, capable of manipulating the flow of time and jumping over periods of time.

[edit] Ghosts and Spirits

This system makes a strong distinction between ghosts and spirits. Ghosts are summoned, communicated with and manipulated via Death magic. Spirits are summoned, communicated with and manipulated via Spirit magic. The two may interact, but have little relationship otherwise, and spirits are not the souls of deceased humans, but rather the native inhabitants of the realms beyond the Gauntlet.

[edit] Antagonists

Seers of the Throne: The Seers are Awakened who have sworn service to the Exarchs. They claim to follow the will of the Exarchs, and seek to remove magic from the world and strengthen the Lie. Seers believe that an Exarch is a man-made-god, and serve them in the hopes that once they succeed in destroying those that oppose them they will be rewarded by their distant masters. They also believe that, given their power, the Exarchs will inevitably triumph and reality will ultimately come into accordance with their desires. The inevitability of the Exarchs' victory is a major part of the Seers philosophy: the success of the Exarchs' agenda will permanently 'fix' reality, and once that happens, the only viable path to enlightenment will be to accept the sovereignty of the Exarchs' hierarchy. They are not traditionally evil in the sense of fantasy or horror antagonists, but they can be likened to Nazis or members of the KKK in that their philosophy is so at odds with that of mainstream society (in this case the mystical Atlantean Orders) that conflict is nearly inevitable.
The Banishers: Banishers are warped Mages who dedicate themselves to destroying other Mages. Generally speaking, their Awakening was traumatic, undesired, and misunderstood, and they do not accept their mystical powers. They exist outside of normal mage society, and are often obsessed with hunting and killing other mages, usually driven by a desire for repentance or a belief that doing so will cause their life to be returned to normal.
The Acamoth: They reside beyond the threshold of existence, in the Abyssal gulf between the Supernatural Realm and the Fallen World. Because of their nature, they are incapable of contacting or having any power in either the Supernal or Fallen World, and as such they require agents to grant them potency. Few knowingly or willingly serve them, and rather service their agendas by proxy, but those who do understand and submit are amongst the most feared and despised of beings.
The Scelesti: Mortal mages who serve/worship the Abyss are known as 'Scelestus', or simply "The Wicked". They serve the "Divine Purity" of the Abyss and seek the end of all things. They are hunted as heretics and abominations by all other Mages and are arguably the closest entity in the game to being 'pure evil'.
Tremere: – Liches who consume the souls of others in exchange for immortality and power. They were created when a group of Vampires and wizards (already called the Tremere) attempted to remove the curse of Vampirism by consuming the blood of the Awakened as part of magical rituals. The Vampires were destroyed and the mortal mages had their souls destroyed. Trapped in a state between life and death, these spiritual vampires must consume the souls of others to survive, and pass on a terrible dark "gift" to those they consider to be truly worthy of the secrets of eternal "life". The original Tremere appeared, in a very different form, in the old World of Darkness vampire game as one of the thirteen clans.
Witch Hunters: Mortals who seek out and destroy mages for ideological reasons.

[edit] Differences between Ascension and Awakening

This revision of the game is not simply an update to the rules. The differences between the old and new Mage games include:

[edit] Mechanics and terminology

"Traditions" have been replaced by five "Orders" and five "Paths", plus numerous "Legacies" which are extensions of the Orders or Paths.
"Arete" has been replaced by the more correct "Gnosis". As Gnosis suggests an intergration of wisdom while Arete implies only unspecified aptitude, this is considered a more accurate name. (As a note, the term "Gnosis" signified the spiritual power of the Garou in Werewolf: The Apocalypse.)
"Rotes", practiced spells, are a more established mechanic, and play a stronger role in the game.
"Paradox" has been codified and represents the Abyss striking back at a Mage for daring to alter reality via Supernatural power, rather than an error in the process of reality.
"Consensual Reality" and "Paradigm" are essentially gone. The Atlantean system of magic has been designated as true. Belief is no longer the driving force of Awakened Magic (though it does influence it). For instance, in Atlantean cosmology, shadows are more than just the absence of light; they are an active force that can be controlled with Death magic. There is no debate about it - that is simply the way it is, a metaphysical truth.
Starting characters have lower attribute scores by default.
"Spheres" have been replaced by "Arcana", which are not as inter-dependent (e.g. one dot of any Arcana can be used to detect the presence of magic). There are also 10 Arcana, where there were previously 9 known spheres (however, there were always rumors of a missing tenth sphere in the original storyline, which was later named during the Time of Judgement that ended the previous World of Darkness). In particular, the Entropy sphere has been separated into the Death and Fate Arcana, and all Arcana have been given a more mystical styling.
"Quintessence" has been replaced by "Mana".
Mages, like all characters in the new World of Darkness, are now subject to a morality system. The specific morality scale applicable to mages is called "Wisdom;" it measures how far a mage has fallen into hubris.

[edit] Background and setting

Almost all of the original Mage: The Ascension background has been replaced. The core concept behind magic in Ascension was that belief was reality; magic was a constant battle between the awakened soul and the crush of the multitudes of normals. In Awakening, mages are tapping into the Supernatural realm using the Truth and underlying or alternate reality.

Other aspects, such as the central conflict between the Traditions and the Technocracy, have been replaced by an alternate conflict between the Atlantean orders and the Exarchs who rule reality from the Supernal realm. Awakening’s origin story tells of a similar conflict for the ultimate control over reality through the race to build and ascend the Celestial Ladder. However, unlike Ascension where the war for control over reality was ongoing in the contemporary game time, a group of mages achieved that control and severed the world from magic in the distant past. Instead of centering on a battle over paradigms, Awakening shifts the conflict to returning magic back to its natural state, unified with the world of men.

Due to the differences in the setting themes and core concepts, critics question whether it is appropriate to call Awakening a successor to Ascension or a completely different game.^[1]

Thu, 04 Oct 2007 08:00:21 GMT

The Silver Ladder: dedicated to ruling and reshaping the world, the viziers and senators of Atlantis remain in force. Politicians and authoritarians, the Silver Ladder believes in creating a perfect hierarchy (with themselves at the top of course) which will seize control of reality, subjugating it to the will of mankind. Many would say (justifiably) that the Ladder is only interested in power, but this dream is not without its altruistic appeal. As a member of the Ladder might point out, control over reality could bring an end to human suffering in all its forms.

Wed, 03 Oct 2007 22:24:50 GMT

I guess they're turning us into Mages.

The numerology of the number 11

Wed, 03 Oct 2007 09:15:05 GMT

Currently just a copypasta dump. I'll add commentary once I get some sleep.

A lot of this is shit connected with 9/11 and let me just say to all of the cards that I DO NOT WANT a 9/11 tie in if it's not already there. askdfjhksfjh NO THANK YOU.

Okay. Rant over.

I'm also thinking about using this to work on the ALICE theory. Hmm.

The Number 11

Description: Eleven is energetic, perceptive and intuitive. It is an highly idealistic number, and because of this can appear unstable. Eleven has almost unlimited energy, and for this reason needs to be in touch with both sides of its nature - the physical and spiritual - the mental and emotional.

Eleven is not argumentative, neither is it jealous or possessive. The eleven can seem distant and detached, when in fact it is living in its own dreams.

Positive: Vision, energetic, moral courage, powerful, intuitive, inspired and even prophetic.

Negative: Unfeeling, uncaring, unstable, a seeker of revenge.

http://www.bcsupernet.com/users/path-with-heart/numerology/b-number-11.asp

There are 3 double-digit numbers that, while they are rooted in the single-digit numbers, require special emphasis and attention. These are 11, 22, and 33.

They are called Master numbers because they possess more potential than other numbers. They are highly charged, difficult to handle, and require time, maturity, and great effort to integrate into one's personality.

11 - IDEALIST

Traits:artist, celebrity, highly energized INSPIRATION, psychological, radical, sensitive

The number 11 symbolizes the principle of enlightenment. It colors everything with drama, a visionary outlook, artistic sensitivity, and a sparkling quality. It is not truly practical, but its contribution is its unique perspective and philosophy which instigates new consciousness. Its energy is very high-strung, intense, mercurial, polarized (off an on), and subtle.

Gifts: Revealing higher truths, transformation, poetic interpretation, romance

Challenges: Illusion, isolation, allergies, over-stimulation

Personal Goal: Living the dream

Fears: Drudgery, restriction, ugliness, boredom

Succeeds as: Media star, poet, inventor, psychologist, minister, designer, society figure, beauty queen, occultist

http://www.numerology-guide.com/numerology_number_meanings3.htm

11

Your Expression number is 11. The number 11 is the first of the master numbers. It is associated with idealistic concepts and rather spiritual issues. Accordingly, it is a number with potentials that are somewhat more difficult to live up to. You have the capacity to be inspirational, and the ability to lead merely by your own example. An inborn inner strength and awareness can make you an excellent teacher, social worker, philosopher, or advisor. No matter what area of work you pursue, you are very aware and sensitive to the highest sense of your environment. Your intuition is very strong; in fact, many psychic people and those involved in occult studies have the number 11 expression. You possess a good mind with keen analytical ability. Because of this you can probably succeed in most lines of work, however, you will do better and be happier outside of the business world. Oddly enough, even here you generally succeed, owing to your often original and unusual approach. Nonetheless, you are more content working with your ideals, rather than dollars and cents.

The positive aspect of the number 11 expression is an always idealistic attitude. Your thinking is long term, and you are able to grasp the far-reaching effects of actions and plans. You are disappointed by the shortsighted views of many of your contemporaries. You are deeply concerned and supportive of art, music, or of beauty in any form.

The negative attitudes associated with the number 11 expression include a continuous sense of nervous tension; you may be too sensitive and temperamental. You tend to dream a lot and may be more of a dreamer than a doer. Fantasy and reality sometimes become intermingled and you are sometimes very impractical. You tend to want to spread the illumination of your knowledge to others irrespective of their desire or need.

http://www.aryabhatt.com/numerology/expression.htm

Tue, 02 Oct 2007 22:26:48 GMT

Nikki found an interesting site everyone should take a look at in regards to card personalities and even, our own personalities as players.

In my opinion, the cards want as many Mercury players as possible.

It's also fun to see what card you are based on your birthday.

There is not finer material to be found anywhere than in the 8 of Clubs, but it must be guarded and guided. The mixture of mental strength, spiritual awareness, psychic power and powerful emotions are sometimes too much for these people to handle and dire confusion is the result. They should strive at all times for mental balance and not allow their emotions, their fixed ideas or tendency to temperament to dominate them.

When the 8 of Clubs are able to clarify their objectives, they always go straight towards them and attain them. Through the power of knowledge, which is their heritage, they can overcome all obstacle and attain any desire. Protection surrounds them in all departments of life.

The majority of these people have an avid desire for knowledge and allow nothing to interfere with its pursuit. They work better with large groups than with individuals or small circles. The greater numbers seem to generate additional power.

It is interesting to note that if they form an alliance or become attached to people who have the birth dates of the Jack of Hearts or the King of Spades, an expansive force is produced that is far-reaching and cannot be broken.

One the negative side, these people may never amount to much -- having no awareness of the extent of their influence of the power that is invested in them. On the destructive side, they can, if they choose, reverse this power and become black magicians. Unless very strong and sure of themselves, they should avoid psychic phenomena. Danger lies there for them and the possibility of invasion.

The 8 of Clubs have been given an important commission for their life spread and they must adhere to it.

D: I refuse to amount to nothing.

We're defining this

Tue, 02 Oct 2007 09:43:08 GMT

We're deciding what is what. What is up, what is down. The few absolutes we have, we don't know. Well, some we do.
-We will not be handed information on a silver platter
-The rabbit hole will open on 11:11 at 11:11 AM
-This had a beginning
-There will be an "end"
-There will be chaos

The puzzle is fluid, but even fluidity can be defined in loose terms. Sometimes, that's all you need to get in deep enough. Pull out more information, share it, grow smaller, fit deeper. The information is the liquid in the bottle we must drink to get in deeper, becoming smaller and smaller and finding out more.

I am overly tired and barely making sense to myself.

Be kind to reality, my friends, we don't want it all to come crashing down.

These cards are simply letting us take a peak through our looking glass. Some cards are holding it up longer than others.

What earth-shattering event that is out of our hands will define our reality next?

I'm tired of things that we can't controlling, changing our reality. We need to start impressing the cards more, being more creative. We need to stop shooting down ideas. It's not necessary to tell me we shouldn't do something that could expand the universe we are helping to create.

I don't think I've been sleeping or eating or moving enough. I'm getting cranky.

I'm absolutely horrid.

Wolf Graphics

Tue, 02 Oct 2007 09:26:28 GMT

:3 Yay for no sleep?

Use them where ever you want. :D

More semi-related symbol stuff

Tue, 02 Oct 2007 06:47:37 GMT

From one of my symbols books.

POLITICS AND REBELLION

With the relation of the cards and the Korporation as it currently is, it is likely that one group has rebelled against the other, though I'm quite sure I cannot say which. Here is the symbolism behind Politics and Rebellion:

Political groups, rebellions and revolutions have always been associated with particular symbols. At the end of the 15th century, German peasants rebelled under a white pennant with the emblem of a golden peasant shoe, the Bundschuh, which in contrast to the boots worn by the nobility was a symbol of peasantry.
Communism and fascism, two of the most influential political movements of the 20th century, also both made use of symbols. The symbol of communism was the hammer and sickle, representing the alliance between industrial and agricultural workers; for most of the 20th century, the hammer and sickle was the emblem of the Russian flag and the world's first communist state...

And so on. Basically, we need to keep an eye out for any symbols often used by either the cards or the Korp. So far, the Korp often uses the letter K. I will look into symbolism behind that, if there is any.

There is much talk about cars and so on by the Korporation, as well, so here is what my book has to say about car advertising:

Himself an icon of the industrial age, Henry Ford used mass-production methods to make cars that would not be restricted to a wealthy elite. General Motors overtook the success of Ford when their cars became symbols of the "Roaring Twenties", and were designed and sold as representing the new-found liberation, sexual freedom and self-expression of the "Jazz Age".
During the 1930s depression in the United States, closed cars or sedans conveyed a sober and puritanical image. But this period was soon followed by an explosion of car sales and competition, with the post-war car being sold as a symbol of the "American dream". Advertising now portrayed cars as dream-mobiles, inviting potential owners to fulfill their desires for sex, speed, power, wealth and status.
To this day, cars occupy what Arnold Mindell might call the timespirit of progressiveness and success. Modern car designs and advertising are beginning to play with less gender-stereotyped symbolism, in which androgyny, and the blurring of sexual roles, are explored. Where previously advertising for cars was directed only at men, it is now aimed at both men and women.

The Korporation sure does seem to embody everything Americans strives to have- sex, speed, power, wealth and status.

Neurocam

Tue, 02 Oct 2007 05:33:45 GMT

This is one of my more far fetched ideas, in that SL is somehow involved with Neurocam.

Here's the NC phase one interviews on Youtube:

The mask from the SL information video is at 0:33 seconds, and was the first thing I noticed. The mask is pretty obvious. However, I can not find where they would have found that image because there is no person leaning like that, or on a background like that, in the NC video. It may just be some random person wearing a mask, but not much about this is random is it?

It's just something I've been chewing on.

Eventful chat session

Tue, 02 Oct 2007 04:44:07 GMT

Here's my happy yay rainbows and flowers chat with (the real) 2 of Hearts:

> 2h, is rev really a card? i hope he is, i hope
twoofhearts> who is rev?
> Reverend, in the chat
> he says he is above the sixes
> but he has given no proof
twoofhearts> i know nothing of him. ask him to prove himself.
twoofhearts> false prophet.
> oh, hearts, this is sad news
> please tell 2c i love him, and miss him. tell all of the cards, please.
> thank you so much for clarifying.
> i love you, and wish you well.
twoofhearts> will pass that along, definitely.
twoofhearts> you stand out among the others
> oh! thank you.
> i feel much love for all of you.
> i want nothing but the best, for all of you.
> i will keep in touch with you, 2h.
twoofhearts> please do.
> :)
> will 2c be harmed at all, for saying too much?
twoofhearts> not whatsoever. nor will athena.
twoofhearts> it is just not her time.
> okay.
> i'm so relieved to hear that.
> take care of yourself, please. there are too many liars out there, too many people trying to cause harm
twoofhearts> i will
> QUESTION OMITTED FOR GOOD REASONS KTHX
> i hope you are not growing weary of my questions
> i just have so many
twoofhearts> that is still being discussed
> please get back to me when it has been decided
> i want to do it, so bad. i want to help you all.
> please tell 2c to sleep and eat enough! XD
> he has to keep up his strength

That's it!

I love 2h.

> 2h, you were the one who posted the AICL bulletin, right? if that was you, i want to thank you for helping me form the ALICE theory
twoofhearts> loli, where do you feel the e comes from?
> the website. it's honestly.. just a guess right now. "entertainment is a necessity" was posted twice on the site.
> maybe more.
twoofhearts> nothing to kill or die for...
> i love that song, 2h
Ludwig> the tv thing is what convinced me when you told me, loli.
twoofhearts> entertainment is necessary sounds like a korp mantra
twoofhearts> =)
> i agree, 2h. maybe korp is the e.
twoofhearts> loli, you are a tenacious thinker. we really appreciate you.
> i appreciate all of you, 2h.

The song she referenced was, I think, Imagine from A Perfect Circle's eMotive.

Lyrics:
Imagine there's no heaven
It's easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky
Imagine all the people
Living for today...
Imagine there's no countries
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people
Living life in peace...
You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will be as one
Imagine no possessions
I wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger
A brotherhood of man
Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world...
You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will live as one

I have some work to do, though, based on tonight's HUGE HUGE HUGE events.

:O

Mon, 01 Oct 2007 19:49:42 GMT

The Goddess Athene

Mon, 01 Oct 2007 18:33:40 GMT

(Also known as Pallas Athena)

From my Moon Goddess Tarot book.

Helmeted, a wild animal skin around her shoulders, the slim athletic figure of Athene carries the spear and shield of a warrior. Around her waist is the buckler given to her by her father Zeus. The stance of the goddess of war is defensive rather than aggressive. Her leading leg protected with armour, she looks back at her full quiver of arrows. Around her wrist a serpent twines. On her shield she raises to protect herself is the image of four winged horses. Athene was worshipped as the goddess of horses and oxen.
Beneath the image are the symbol for the Air sign Gemini and the Moondisk of the White goddess.

THE MYTH
Athene was one of the most revered goddesses in the Greek pantheon. In Roman mythology she was known as Pallas Athena. Athene sprang fully grown and armoured from the forehead of her father, the god Zeus, and was his favorite child. He gave her his shield, his buckler and his principal weapon, the thunderbolt. A virgin goddess, she was also named Pathenos ('maiden').
A warrior Goddess, she delighted in battle and took part in the war against the giants. She not only supported the Greeks in the Trojan War but physically joined them in their fight - a fearsome sight mounted on the chariot of Diomedes. She also protected heroes whom she deemed worthy of her esteem. She helped Hercules when he was engaged upon his twelve labours, aided Perseus in his fight with the terrible Gorgon, and protected Odysseus on his journey from Troy.
The most important temple devoted to her was the Parthenon at Athens, which was said to be built in honour of her gift of the olive tree to the Athenians. Athene protected cities as well as individuals. She was the goddess of architecture, of industry and the arts, and, in later mytholoogy, of wisdom - her emblem was the owl.
Athene was also a patron of the agricultural arts and of the crafts of women, especially spinning and weaving. Her ability in spinning was challenged by Arachne, who wove a beautiful tapestry depicting the life and loves of the gods. Angry, Athene transformed her into a spider condemned to go on spinning forever.
Among her many gifts to mankind were the plough, the flute, the potter's wheel, and the arts of taming wild animals, building ships and making shoes.

THE CARD MEANING
This goddess reveals that the questioner possesses a wealth of inherited talents and gifts. These can be used for self advancement or for the good of others. Athene suggests that solely looking after your own interests may not be the way to achieve the results you want. It may be that if you use your abilities in the service of others, you will gain your desires in a more positive and fulfilling way. The last of the young White goddesses sees each problem as a chance for creative thought.
The nature of Air in Gemini is versatile and broad minded. There is a danger of being too diverse in attitude for the current situation. If this goddess card is selected, then June will be a significant month with regard to the question.

Sound familiar to anyone? ;p
And man, I miss this tarot deck. I'll have to buy another set, soon.

The Judith Connection

Sun, 30 Sep 2007 19:44:25 GMT

Queen of Hearts: Judith (of the Book of Judith,
an Apocryphal Book of the Bible)

Athena therefore may have connections with Judith. Which, unsurprisingly, is the name of a song from A Perfect Circle.

You're such an inspiration
For the ways that I will
Never, ever choose to be
Oh so many ways for me to show you
How your savior has abandoned you

Fuck your God, your Lord, your Christ
He did this, took all you had and
Left you this way, still you pray, never stray, never
Taste of the fruit, never thought to question "why?"

It's not like you killed someone
It's not like you drove a hateful spear into his side
Praise the one who left you broken down and paralyzed

He did it all for you...
He did it all for you...

Oh so many ways for me to show you
How you dogma has abandoned you

Pray to your Christ, to your God
Never taste of the fruit, never stray, never break, never
Choke on a lie even though he's the one who
Did this to you, you never thought to question "why?"

It's not like you killed someone
It's not like you drove a spiteful spear into his side
Talk to Jesus Christ as if he knows the reasons why

He did it all for you...
He did it all for you...
He did it all for you

More on this after I read some of the Book of Judith.

People represented by playing cards:

Sun, 30 Sep 2007 19:22:18 GMT

From http://www.woodenhorsebooks.com/Playing-Card-Names.html

The People on the Playing Cards

by D. J. McAdam

Who are the figures on the court cards in a standard deck of playing cards supposed to represent?

It is a simple question, but one with two different answers. If we're speaking of English playing cards and their descendants (which would include American playing cards), the answer is "no one." This answer is the one most scholars would agree on, based on historical research. It is also the answer most people would be dissatisfied with, because most of us seem to have heard (or to think that we've heard) of a list of the people represented on the face cards, and just can't remember who's who. Isn't one of the kings Richard the Lion-Hearted? Isn't one of the Queens Cleopatra?

So then - now that we've tipped our hat to the scholars, let's get on with it. The traditional associations of persons with playing cards - the meanings of playing cards, if you will - are as follows:

Playing Card	Historical Personage
King of Hearts	Charlemagne
Queen of Hearts	Judith (of the Book of Judith, an Apocryphal Book of the Bible)
Jack of Hearts	"La Hire," a famous French warrior a.k.a. Etienne de Vignoles
King of Spades	King David
Queen of Spades	Pallas, a.k.a. Minerva
Jack of Spades	Hogier the Dane, one of Charlemagne's paladins
King of Diamonds	Julius Caesar
Queen of Diamonds	Rachel (of the Bible)
Jack of Diamonds	Hector of Troy alternately, Roland of France
King of Clubs	Alexander the Great
Queen of Clubs	Argine An anagram of Regina
Jack of Clubs	Lancelot

Bibliography

The only book to discuss this subject at length is the now out-of-print Playing Cards: History of the Pack and Explanations of Its Many Secrets, by W. Gurney Bentham. (London, Spring Books.)

Card Meanings

Sun, 30 Sep 2007 19:11:09 GMT

From here
Ace General: New beginnings
AD: Increase in possessions
AC: New endeavor
AH: New love (could be romance or birth of a child)
AS: Knowledge gained. Obstacles revealed.

Twos General: Opposition or balance, Choice to be made
2D: Practical choices to be made
2C: Intuition helps in decisions
2H: Romance in the air
2S: Torn between two choices, stalemate

Threes General: Creativity, Communication
3D: Reward for job well done, applied creativity
3C: Helpful people and events
3H: Cause for celebration or festivities
3S: Three's a crowd. Infidelities.

Fours General: Foundation
4D: Home established
4C: Personal values set
4H: Love and support brings security
4S: Rest and retreat. Decisions made in calm.

Fives General: Changes, Restlessness
5D: Change of scenery, financial struggles
5C: Petty arguments
5H: Sorrow, relationship breakdown.
5S: Change of opinion. Victory achieved at a cost.

Sixes General: Harmony, Adaptation
6D: Help given at opportune time
6C: Successful outcome
6H: Holding on to the past memories.Renewing an old friendship.
6S: Sorrows pass. Journey away from difficulties.

Sevens General: Surprises
7D: Consistent effort eventually pays off
7C: Competition,fending off one's adversaries.
7H: Daydreaming,unrealistic expectations.
7S: Stealth in dealings.Betrayal by someone you trust. Minor theft.

Eights General: Karma
8D: Skill or craft becomes profitable. Lost inheritance.
8C: Fortune is communicated (letter, fax, telephone, email)
8H: Love letter
8S: Fear of leaving a bad situation. Imprisonment military life

Nines General: Fortune
9D: Inheritance received. Material well-being achieved.
9C: Much is held in reserve, including strong will. Stubbornness.
9H: Wish may come true, especially about love. Could overindulge in food and drink.
9S: Losses and worries (money, health, sleep)

Tens General: Completion
10D: New or improved home, letter or document to come
10C: Burdens from work take their toll. Setbacks and losses.
10H: Happiness achieved at home.
10S: Weakened health, chronic illness (real and imagined)

Jacks General: Youth (Male or Female)
JD: Ambition without focus, sporty, lively youth.
JC: Sporty, non-academic, lucky and charming
JH: Impractical, immature, kind, but unrealistic
JS: Immature, cold, bossy, delinquent or gang leader

Queens General: Mature Female
QD: Organized, efficient woman, practical and ambitious
QC: Ambitious, good head for business, self interests come first
QH: Love and home oriented, supportive, not ambitious for self
QS: Calculating, disciplined, logical, craves power

Kings General: Mature Male
KD: Businessman, authoritative type, good protector and provider
KC: Entrepreneur, good instincts, spiritual later in life
KH: "Don Juan," sincere, loving philosophical later in life
KS: Authoritarian, cold, logical, stubborn, possibly ruthless

Jokers: The Joker is the only card remaining from the Tarot trumps. He corresponds to The Fool in the Tarot deck and has some of the same meanings in the regular deck of playing cards. His number is zero and he is truly a “wild card.” When the Joker appears in a reading, it means that something unexpected and uncontrolled can occur. If there are two Jokers with your deck of cards, and you choose to use the Joker in your readings, you need to add only one.

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The last card we will meet

More from M:TA

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mage:_The_Awakening

Mage: The Awakening

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Contents

[edit] Background and setting

[edit] Characters

[edit] Paths

[edit] Orders

[edit] Legacies

[edit] Left Handed Legacies

[edit] Magic

[edit] The 10 Arcana

[edit] Ghosts and Spirits

[edit] Antagonists

[edit] Differences between Ascension and Awakening

[edit] Mechanics and terminology

[edit] Background and setting

The numerology of the number 11

The Number 11

11

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Wolf Graphics

More semi-related symbol stuff

Neurocam

Eventful chat session

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The Goddess Athene

The Judith Connection

People represented by playing cards:

The People on the Playing Cards

Playing Card

Historical Personage

Bibliography

Card Meanings