[Grysar] Kyon finds the initial research slow going. He eventually has a break through when he realizes that the design of the ritual circle is somewhat obfuscated. Given that challenge, he tries starting by looking at the purpose rather than the specific design. After looking through a catalog of initiation rituals, this would appear to be one with purpose: taking formal claim of a site of power but also inculcating self-knowledge. Based on the numerology of the candles, this may be more oriented towards the five of pentacles than the ten. This is a long dark night of the soul. It seems unlikely that was exactly what Hideo was looking for. That said, based on the letter and what Kyon has heard of his character, whatever agent was working to set this up on Hideo's behalf may have had a secondary purpose. Not one of sabotage, but instead attempting to inculcate the wisdom necessary to proper fulfill the roles of judgment. It's often in the subtext of Kyon's book, but whether Arcane, divine, or philosophical, such elements in rituals of power is considered a feature rather than a bug. Once ownership is transferred, the recipient is beyond the control of the ritualist. This sort of thing is hardly uncommon, looking at things thematically Kyon faced similar challenges becoming an author, a baseball player, and a manager. [The diagram: http://bacon.sandwich.net/ardweden/neoarcana/other/BangorReversedDiagram1.png ] Such rituals are often frightening and troubling, but should be no real threat to the worthy. Are there benefits to delaying the ritual? Well, having a second there to help and a field would probably make it easier for Satoshi at the cost of making it harder for someone else. There are things Satoshi could do to emotionally prepare himself and really grapple with his legacy and his role as judgment, but if he hasn't done that yet, running away for another few months seems unlikely to change matters. According to one of his book, the biggest advantage to allowing students additional time and space to prepare themselves is the chance that someone more worthy would come along. Are their costs to delaying the ritual? Kyon thinks that with the proper resources and time, he probably could have figured out an initiation ritual on his own to take ownership. The World probably has said resources available and it would be a lot easier to do in the months when Satoshi wasn't nearby. Self-knowledge hardly seems like Temperance's strong point, so if she was the one sent to do it, it would probably be hard for her. That said, she might have field producing backup or perhaps another more appropriate surrogate might be sent. Regardless, someone with knowledge of the site, time, personnel, resources, and ambitions could probably reverse engineer a way to claim it for themselves. The question is how much do they want it and how long will they take? ***** <@Grysar> [Date: April 27th.] <@Grysar> [Kyon follows up his research with a tarot reading on the level of risk the Bangor Tower Reversed is facing.] <@Grysar> [The first card, the problem, is Temperance.] * Kyon nods to the card curtly, unsurprised. He takes a deep breath, and draws the next card. <@Grysar> [The second card, positive influence, is the Hanged Man.] * Kyon cocks his head somewhat, looking at that one for an extra beat before he goes for the next card. <@Grysar> [The third card, negative influence, is the World.] * Kyon frowns at the card, but still doesn't look incredibly surprised. He readies himself for the next one. <@Grysar> [The fourth card, the past influence, is the Emperor. Reversed. Domination, rigidity, a need for control. A ray of that had been resting on that portion of the table falls on the Emperor's armored leggings and the red of his robe. With the dust in the air, the circle of light captures the swirl of blue and red...] <@Grysar> [The ray of sunlight slowly moves across the card, and the circle of light moves on to the bright red of the emperor reversed robes before moving off the card entirely. The card does not necessarily have the feel of anyone Arcana, but it is weighty nonetheless. An old debt may be coming due.] * Kyon watches as the light plays over the card, his hand hovering over the pile and pausing. He scowls, and waits to think a bit before he moves for another card. <@Grysar> [The present. Seven of wands, upright, it means having the confidence to face all comers, competition. Reversed it means being overwhelmed, giving up. In answer to Kyon's question, it is reversed.] * Kyon considers the card, his scowl deepening, and he concentrates on the spread as he reaches for the last card. <@Grysar> [The future. A familiar mournful figure. The five of cups. As Kyon sets the card down it bites into his finger, drawing a paper cut and a thin line of blood.] * Kyon swears in Chinese, and draws the finger to his mouth, licking the wound, and looking over the spread with a furrowed brow. <@Grysar> [The card never felt that sharp before. In the fading light, the river behind the dark figure stands out, flowing blue and white. It almost looks like chunks of ice in the channel. The meaning of the card is simple. Loss, regret. Sometimes if one person passes on an opportunity, another will take their place.] * Kyon taps the card with his other hand, and blows out a breath past his finger, <@Grysar> [The cut was not deep and even Kyon's minimal ministrations were sufficient to close it.] * Kyon looks over the spread once more, and checks the time to see around when it would be in Maine just now. <@Grysar> [Given daylight saving time, about 5:27.] * Kyon goes to his computer and composes a terse email to Satoshi asking him to get in touch when he wakes up, then. <@Grysar> [So Kyon could call now, although he doesn't get the feeling from the reading that "the future" is on a scale of hours, days, or necessarily weeks. That said, Kyon and Satoshi are athelete bros, so he may be up to see that already.] * @Satoshi sends Kyon an e-mail about an hour and a half later (7AM Orono/8PM Tokyo). "Got your e-mail. What's going on?" * Kyon hears the chime go off, and just types back, "We should talk. Can sign on now if it's safe for you now." And sends that off. * @Satoshi answers: "Sure. Just give me a few minutes to move to the dorm lounge." And a few minutes later, Kyon gets the following chat message: <@Watanabe9> Okay, should be all set here. Right. So it's about what you found. The other Bangor, and the markings. <@Watanabe9> Okay. Been doing some research, and I just did a reading on it, too. What the point is, how much time we have to deal with it. <@Watanabe9> How much time? Do you know anything about it already? <@Watanabe9> Some things. There's the information I passed on to you - the letter and the things Kaede and I found - and then I've talked about it some with Wataru. <@Watanabe9> I didn't realize time was a factor, though. Just did a reading. From my research, the only real probem with waiting is if someone else shows up to take it. But the reading suggests someone might, if we wait too long. <@Watanabe9> ...what? <@Watanabe9> That can happen? Yeah. Learned that from the research. Went through my books before I did the reading. <@Watanabe9> Did your reading say how long we've got? Or who's coming? It said the problem is Temperance. With negative influence from the World. Doesn't mean it's specifically her. But performing a ritual to take over the place of power, and to face oneself to prepare? Maybe with someone with a field to provide backup? There are enough people who could try that. It doesn't have to be you. It just needs to be someone worthy and strong enough to take it on. <@Watanabe9> And Temperance - or her agent - has been there. I don't think she found the diagram. It was still covered over by boxes when we found it. But if she came back, it'd be much easier to get to now. At the very least I could move the boxes back easily. <@Watanabe9> ...do I need to get down there *today*? * AceOfLions ponders this for a moment, and then replies, "Doesn't have to be immediate. The cards for those positions aren't immediate. But the reading was for what'd happen if we waited. And the present card is for being overwhelmed. Past suggests old debts coming due. And the future is regret. Should move on it soon." Still. Need to be prepared for it. Going in and failing won't help us. <@Watanabe9> Well, I mean... I'm supposed to come home in a few weeks. If I don't act on it before that, then it becomes a lot harder for me to do something and a lot easier for someone else to come in. Right. We should do it before then. And keep an eye on it in the meantime, get a sense if someone else is trying to act. <@Watanabe9> I'll go move boxes today, then. Did your reading say anything about what to do to prepare, aside from what we know from the letter? <@Watanabe9> Actually, if you don't mind my asking, what were the cards in your reading? * AceOfLions rattles them off, along with their positions. <@Watanabe9> I am willing to bet that the Emperor Reversed is metaphorical Hideo. Also. There was a circle of light on that card. Brought the colors off the board more, blue and red, and the robes. Felt meaningful in the moment. <@Watanabe9> I'm not sure what that would mean, though. * AceOfLions rolls his shoulders. "Not sure either. But could be relevant. Maybe you'll see something." Any Yakult Swallows fans there? <@Watanabe9> Not to my knowledge. Right. So let me tell you about what I can tell about the ritual so far. <@Watanabe9> All right. Couldn't find the specific circle design, but I worked back to the purpose of that format, with that candle layout. Mostly it's for taking hold and transfering power. But it takes having to face down your past, your shortcomings. A reckoning with yourself. But if you're worthy, you'll be able to work through it. <@Watanabe9> Did you happen across anything involving similar diagrams in your research? Yeah, it looks like some initiation rituals I ran across. Not an exact match, but close to a couple. <@Watanabe9> Huh, okay. Is it all right if I share this with the rest of the group, with the current exception? Sure. The sooner we deal with it and prepare, the safer we'll be. <@Watanabe9> Thank you. Also, thank you again for doing the research. Sure. We're on the same team. <@Watanabe9> This is true. Is there anything else? Think that's it. Just wanted to get the ball rolling. So you can get things ready there. <@Watanabe9> Right. You let me know if there's anything you need. Might not be there, but I can provide resources if you need them. <@Watanabe9> I will. I appreciate it. Thank you. Sure. Anything else from your end? <@Watanabe9> Going to gather things together and get a situation summary out to all of you sometime today, along with doing the check on the building. Good plan. <@Watanabe9> Okay. Talk with you later. Right. Later. * @Satoshi closes the chat program, then his laptop, then buries his head in his hands. "'Overwhelmed' is a very accurate reading," he mutters. <@Grysar> [End!]