genessia | [Voice, Open] Trump Talk: The Tower of Destruction

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[Voice, Open] Trump Talk: The Tower of Destruction

[Seclusion's not a good fit for Ted. If it keeps up, he's worried he'll withdraw to the point of disappearance, as it seemed so many others had. Better make at least the occasional effort at socializing, and what better than geeking out about one of his favorite subjects? It starts with a single image before his usual discursion.]

"Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it." Another good epigram springs to mind: "Whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased, and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted." Here, in the sixteenth Trump, one can see that terrible topsy-turvydom of Heaven.

Of all of the Major Arcana it's certainly the most dramatic. The lightning, the flames, the ruin, the dual plunging figures! Goodness, a man could faint to look at it. The meaning looks very obvious too, doesn't it? The astonishing suddenness of catastrophe. But why? What deed merited decisive divine fire?

Well, one much like the Tower of Babel. If you haven't heard that story, it goes something like this: In ages past, men all spoke the same language, yet were very puffed up. They thought they might collaborate and build their way into Heaven. So proud and vulgar, God couldn't help but to blast their edifice to bits, and confuse the languages of men for good measure so they wouldn't repeat that mistake. In Genessia, of course, our languages have been reconciled, but I fear the world still wants for humility. It would surprise me not at all if our current circumstance is the result of a lot of clever, powerful people who got it into their heads that their works were a match for heaven. Heaven tested their works, and...heh, well, the latter tends to win those comparisons. Brutally.

And yet...is it strange, is it morbid to look at this and be very happy? All the Trumps communicate love, in their way. Even The Devil, if you're charitable enough. But love is a wild thing; I've heard legends that if one were to ever look on a countenance full of love, it would seem, to earthly minds, indistinguishable from hatred. It would look that ferocious. Perhaps it's down to preference. Some take pleasure in meticulously building complicated arrangements of dominoes or houses of cards. Other, simpler minds like myself, rather like knocking them down better. Doubtless, if one spent a long time building something and then lived in it, having its top blown off in a fit of pious pique would be inconvenient.

Even so, doesn't it look as though love is seen here, at its most severe? It's as though the card communicates that no matter how elaborate or stony one's artificiality, they shall not be allowed to go on forever. There is a limit, and it comes good and hard. Much to our chagrin; much to our charity.

I'm interested in other voices than my own, believe it or not. Well, how does number sixteen strike you?

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"Well then, I'm so lucky that I live beneath the ground, rather than above it. I suppose every being, human or no, enjoys looking down from their ivory towers of perception and grandstanding about their position. I'm guilty of much the same thing, I suppose you'd say. And in your own way, so are you. But while the nail that stands up is often knocked down for the good of the rest around it, their fall need not be from growing so tall from their peers out of wickedness. Perhaps those who build such walls and towers around themselves had good intentions, but their separation between their ideals and the people they speak to has become tenuous. Much like your own faith, don't you agree?"

Oh Ted, don't try and sneak your philosophizing past the hundreds-year old youkai, now. She lets out a little wry smirk as she continues, eager to have another debate with this most interesting human.

"And why did your God see fit to make humans forget their shared language. Was that because they grew too proud and thought of themselves as Gods in their own right, or was it merely because he felt as if these people being unified presented some threat to his authority? After all, if your God is impossible to defeat, infalliable and all-knowing, why on Earth or below it would he consider striking down a civilization all because his plans were slighted in some way he could have prevented before it even began? Could he not have done what he desired without such punishment, or seen such a thing before it occurred?"

Satori's tone changes a little as she shifts to a little more of a conciliatory tone as she changes the subject...

"Then again, I suppose it's a habit of mine, when you show yourself, for me to debate theology with you. I hope my questions leave you with plenty to chew on, Ted, and I look forward to your responses. But I've one more thing to tell you: I agree very much that those who are prideful are likely the first to be defeated. Gilgamesh, who sought to take things over some time ago was soundly put down. Others have come and gone with designs to gain control of this place or simply harm and assault its people. And even the most arrogant of pundits and leaders in Genessia have softened themselves so that the public has long-since forgotten their unwise comments, darkened hearts and inflammatory viewpoints. But I hardly think this place is a means to prompt some great retribution. On the contrary, I'm starting to believe Genessia itself is something of a safeguard against such a thing - or, more likely, a contingency for some disaster that has already occurred. I do not know for certain, but it's been a thought I'd had for a while."

"In that case...I'll append a little a thought experiment to this." she posits. "Supposing Genessia, in trying to gather us all here was struck with some disaster like the Spirit Incursion incident or the like, again. Suppose further that some higher being like your God was the one that brought this on: Would you consider that justified retribution for wanting to live our lives in this relatively tenuous peace? Or would you rise against it to protect those that matter most to you, in the face of such a disaster? You may have your beliefs, but when it comes down to faith or kin, many people sacrifice the former in favour of the latter."

Edited 2018-09-29 21:05 (UTC)

He laughed for Satori's almost innocent distinction.

"Dear Satori, I daresay you're too old to separate wickedness from good intentions. The two are eternally wed. Ordo Amoris is the state of virtue, wherein one loves everything according to its just measure. It's when people become inordinate about those loves that Towers are made. Malice is rarely the culprit. It is the Ordo, and rarely the Amoris, that's wanting. As Aquinas said, all act from a motive of love. Alas, left to their own insufficient devices, the motive goes awry.

Oh, I disagree vehemently. My faith is for all; God ever does woo and approach. It's we who make distance. There's nothing gassy about it whatsoever. I fear, however, that only two types would approach back: Jews and pagans.

By which I mean those who seek virtue, and those enchanted by far-off beauty. It seems one must have either a fastidious heart, or a very large one. But if small things satisfy; if one's horribly content with one's own designs, then...heh, well, Towers are built."

Alas, Ted's not subtle enough to sneak much of anything. His philosophy is transparent, if a little wordy.

"The Omnipotence's authority is never in jeopardy. Those he'd fain guide often are. That's the trouble in strategizing with free-willed creatures; the plan must be continually amended. For a reason, two come readily to mind. As I said, the Tower of Babel was a hideous thing. A purely punitive motive is perfectly justifiable. Who would willingly suffer something so awful?

For another, there's some good in scattering a heretofore unified group. In situations like that, the lowest common denominator tends to prevail and drag the rest along. But if things are broken up, there's a better chance that some might avoid sweeping wickedness. God has often worked wonders with those on the fringe He may not have done with majorities."

Speaking as a weirdo, Ted rings with authority.

"Ah, now there we're agreed. It seems clear as crystal that Genessia's calamity has already happened. Ours is a mission of repentance."

He'd liked to have ended on such an invigorating note, but Satori, per her wont, just had to make things bitter.

"'Like' God? If it were him, it'd be vain to fight against. The thing to do in situations like that is flee with whomever you can, like Lot's family. He's been known to provide means of escape to those whose hearts aren't entangled in what someone as patient as Him would destroy.

Still, you raise an interesting point. Is the desire to live in a staid, prosaic peace really so innocent? I recall reading the antidote for an unjust peace is a just war. Thunderbolts are meant, perhaps, to shock people out of such stupors."

Edited 2018-10-01 04:02 (UTC)

Your insight is masterful and in-depth, young scholar. It would make sense if all the cards had the same theme of love, including this one. Love is at the core of culture, life, and what makes us who we are and ought to become.

Personally, I have never thought of such things with tarot cards, but from the card alone, I can see how it can mean so many things depending on others. It could mean a loss of love, a battle, or something unexpected happening. As a Prince it would be..unnerving to be stricken down in such a violent manner, but that's just how life is.

Sudden. And you have to prepare for the worst..even if it seems improbably or impossible.

Haha, you flatter so well, Ryoma. Long time no see! Alas, I'll have to pick at your breezy claims. Each Trump displays an utterly different facet of love, life, and so on. This one perhaps most striking of all.

Ah, no. The hopeful thought of the Tower is that it must, it ought to be laid low, and so it is. Thus, it'd only apply to your case if you were the type of prince worthy of assassination. Not the case, I hope?

[*tease tease*]

Let me clarify then. This card, while portraying the destruction of a tower full of royalty is a sign of love because it strikes those who deem themselves higher and more privileged than those below?

[He thought about it, thinking some more. His chest and stomach hurt in unison at that comment, though. Why?

Nobody knows. Except the mun who's crying]

I wouldn't know. What I do know that as Prince, I am a leader to my people. It is my sole duty to keep them, the Kingdom, the legacy of the Dawn Dragon, and so forth safe and protected.

[That...is a very specific reading. Ted wonders if Ryoma hasn't applied it personally, or saw some special meaning associated with himself. Well, he won't pry.]

Aheh, it doesn't spurn royalty as such. An American like myself would, but that's another kettle of fish. Just, you know, the vainglorious and the hollow. I trust you meant more than that.

More than what I say? Of course. As a ruler I will do anything to ensure my people's safety at all costs.

Regardless, I believe it is all up to interpretation. You certainly have that skill, young man. Such insight.

Uh oh, careful with that! What if their liberty and security conflict, eh?

Goodness, you flatter so well, prince. Did you learn that from your subjects, perhaps?

[This man was..strange. It almost sounded like he wants to badger him. This whole thing was interesting, but Ryoma spoke]

We learned that as proper curtsy to state what is obvious to us about others. Explain yourself with what you mean in their liberty and security conflict.

[Sorry Ryoma, Ted's a teaser. It's in his clown-blood.]

Oh, only teasing about an age-old dilemma. You see, in some civilizations, when things grow too decadent and the people too slothful, they entrust the safekeeping of their liberties to others than themselves. Worse yet, they may give up certain freedoms solely for the purpose of safety, as they lack the vigor to defend them. You can appreciate, I hope, the viciousness of that civilized cycle.

[Was..that really..? No. Not for his kingdom at least]

I see. Perhaps I can, but I have never seen such a cycle, nor do I ever see it happening in my Kingdom. Either now, or in the Future.

You must forgive me of my skepticism and how people can give up their freedoms so easily.

[Although this was reminding in of the talk with Vlad. Especially in such a case that could happen in this realm]

[If only Ted, bleeding-heart American that he is, could respect kingdoms. They're fine in fairy tales, but in reality that backstabbing and in-fighting and sheer arrogance of those in them leads to to ruin.]

Well, it's something you can only see by looking at history; things going on a while, I mean. As wealth accumulates, people take things for granted. They grow fatigued at the prospect of keeping watch over it; far easier to pay another. The center grows soft, then...

Ahaha, I'm sorry, I'm being morbid when you've had naught but nice things to say. Forgive me. You've been doing decently, I hope.

[That was..a strange turn to this. Especially with Ted's confidence.]

I see. Well. If you are from the future, and have witnessed such tragedy or perhaps a turn of a civilization, then perhaps one day it will happen.

There is nothing to forgive, young man. For you have done nothing wrong. [Ryoma smiled, as if he were seeing this person face-to-face]

Thank you for saying and sharing your knowledge. What is your name?

Aheh, it's hardly something to look forward to! Well, there have, astonishingly, been kingdoms where the nobility weren't practically screaming for revolt.

[That's a joke. And a compliment; a jokliment.]

Oh, you don't...?

[Apparently not; they'd gotten into one teensy swordfight before, but this seems to be another Ryoma. It would explain the less prickly attitude. Well, naught to do but roll with it.]

It's Ted; good afternoon.

Never got the point of them cards. Fortune telling's all bollocks, anyway, readin' cues, coaxin' out answers that people wanna hear from you with vague non-statements.

You don't say. Ever tried it yourself?

[His sourpuss powers are no match for his obnoxious cheer!]

Well, for one, they're nice for game-playing. For more esoteric edification, they're archetypes. Pleasing universals to meditate on; everlasting truths that show up with eternal rhythm.

[Deep]

Any that pique your interest in particular?

A few times when I was really high, back when people were really gettin' into that shite in the 60's.

I mean, I guess I get the appeal? I just don't get it.

My interest? What.. like which card do I like best? Dunno. Never really looked at 'em.

Goodness, you look so young for your age. Well, you might enjoy it more sober and less seriously.

[Assuming he was a teenager around then, he'd be around seventy or so. Yikes!]

Haha, so you do or don't get the appeal? You've said both so close together; it's hard to tell.

You should! Easy enough to find in any search engine. Just look up the "Major Arcana"; there's twenty-two. Or twenty-one; it's not clear which is the correct view. One may speak to you.

[ There's some rude laughter on Cassidy's end. ]

Trust me, I'd be lookin' much younger if only I'd stayed away from engine coolant. All them things they tell you about what drugs do to your body is no joke.

Well.. I guess I understand why people are attracted to it... the idea of it, anyway, but stickin' with it is what I don't understand. Don't make any bloody sense.

Hm... all right. Bloody hell, there's so many. I don't know. This Devil one is kind of cool-lookin', I suppose.

[Ted wonders if engine coolant is a euphemism for something, and whether he should be amused or concerned.

He likes the former.]

Truly? Conventional wisdom proved correct? You've my thanks for the information. I'll try to overcome any temptations that way.

Well, there are subtle relations among all things. Not as many as quack astrologers suppose, granted, but there's a certain sense to it. In the main we're agreed; fortune telling is frivolous. But if it's taken that way, you might have more fun than you've had.

Speaking of temptation...goodness, that one caught your eye? With the demonic goat creature shackling a naked man and woman by their necks as horns sprout of their heads?

I fear for your sense of aesthetics, Cassidy.

That's an interesting story. And an interesting way to look at it too.

If you add the digits that composes number sixteen, you get a seven. Seven is a magical number. Does that mean sixteen is too?

It's hard to imagine a number that is not significant, so long as one stays within double digits.

Oh, seven's better than magic. It's perfect! Represents spiritual completion, like the days of the week. I doubt there is any number at all that could match its majesty, except maybe forty-nine.

As for sixteen, it's tempting to say it's one infinity meeting another. Eight and eight, I mean. The infinity of terrestrial folly--to paraphrase Einstein--and the limitlessness of God. But that runs clean against the best meaning of the Tower: that such foolish evils have a limit; they can't possibly go on forever. They're too artificial; not solid enough to do otherwise.

Rather--goodness, how provident of you to bring numerology into it--sixteen is the number of love. The Hebrew letters for it are yod-vav, which signifies a hand joining two hearts together. There's John 3:16, the most famous verse of the Bible. Speaking of which, Paul, the Bible's greatest prophet, lists sixteen characteristics of love.

Yes, that settles it. It can't mean much else, terrible as the Tower looks. Love too is terrible.

[The man is beaming; clearly the L-word is among his favorites.]

Edited 2018-10-09 18:15 (UTC)

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[Voice, Open] Trump Talk: The Tower of Destruction

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