======================= ARCANA GUIDE ======================= - chapters one to eleven - the council and the rogue queen - - additions? subtractions? tell Erin at ee970@hotmail.com - ======================== TABLE of CONTENTS ======================== 1. Abbreviations used in this guide 2. Chapter Summaries 3. Some common powers of the Arcana 4. Character bios, to date a. Trumps b. the Minor Arcana c. other characters d. incidental characters ======================= ABBREVIATIONS USED ======================= P - Page o - Of P - Pentacles Kn - Knight B - Blades Q - Queen C - Cups K - King W - Wands A - Ace TRA - Tower Reversed Arcana (Miyuki's group) ======================= CHAPTER SUMMARIES ======================= Chapter One: Luck of the Draw / Scott Schimmel Average first year student Komatane Hotaru finds she is finally unique when a mysterious boy, Joker, attempts to kill her. After wounding Hotaru's best friend, Natsu Forrester, he is stopped by upperclassman Yasuragi Sumire, who, along with Sokana Miyuki and Shirosawa Keisuke, reveals that she is really one of the Arcana, humans endowed with the power of tarot cards. The Arcana of the Tower Reversed (TRA) work according to letters from the 'Council Arcana' (a shadowy, non-specific organization), who is working to protect the world against the other Arcana, who would conquer it. Elsewhere, Maki (QoP) and Joker's uneasy alliance are introed. He is to kill Hotaru, who they believe to be the Empress -- Maki aims to become the Empress herself; Joker just wants to foil the efforts of the "Council Arcana". Chapter Two: 48 Card Pick-Up / Kimberli McClanahan + Hotaru finds that she is aligned with The Magician, one of the most masculine cards in the tarot deck. She dreams of the old Magician, who begins to teach her how to use her powers. The next day she meets TRA Koishikawa Tetsuya, her appointed "protector" for the evening. They are accosted by a young thief... who could be Arcana. Chapter Three: A Gathering of Omens / Raye Johnsen + A mysterious shadowed figure is keeping track of the Fool and Magician. + Joker visits Natsu in the hospital, encouraging her to stay away from Hotaru. + Hotaru and Tetsuya catch the young thief, a 10 year old named Hanako. She is the Page of Pentacles. Chapter Four: Magic Tricks / Cactus + Miyuki has a vision of the QoP and Joker killing Hotaru. + Hotaru, Tetsuya and Hanako tell Natsu about the Arcana. Natsu is mildly disturbed by the story, but unimpressed by Tetsuya's attempts at charming her. + Police Sgts. Nakamura and Sagara are introduced, doing the writeup for Natsu's stabbing. They have obtained Joker's tarot cards. + Tetsuya is against having told Natsu, worried of spilling the secret. Hotaru reassures him of Natsu's loyalty, then leaves him to take care of Hanako. She finds Joker in her house, trying to kill her again. As he is about to land the final blow, she sends a blast of fire at him, knocking him out of her window. Chapter Five: Just Breathe / Delfina + Sgt. Sagara investigates Hotaru's attack, uneasily believing her claim of pushing him out the window, and takes Joker to the hospital under police surveillance. + Maki visits Joker in the hospital, and is not pleased at his failure. Joker tells her Hotaru is not the Empress. Chapter Six: Bid and Call / Scott Jamison + Frustrated with Joker's performance, Maki begins looking for more followers. She takes on Sgt. Sagara in exchange for money to pay for his wife's cancer treatments + Hotaru is seriously tempted to use her flame powers on a group of girls who are jealous of her interaction with Keisuke and Tetsuya. She feels uncharacteristically angered, as if under a past Magician's influence. One of the girls, Shiho, apologizes, but Hotaru is reluctant to listen. + Hanako joins the TRA; moves into the Tower Reversed. + The mysterious shadowed figure watches Maki's actions, and urges her to prosper so he can take the power from her. Chapter Seven: One Less to Infinity, The Number of The Sabbath / Signus Megido + Joker is visited by Harlequin, a past Fool. He threatens to kill Hotaru himself, but Joker is oddly possessive of her. Harlequin reveals himself to have Joker's same face. He wakes, screaming. + Harlequin? Joker? attacks Hotaru in her dreams. She burns him, sending real-life Joker to the intensive care unit. Chapter Eight: A Plague of Angels / Scott Schimmel + Joker escapes the hospital, meets with Miyuki (to her surprise) to warn her away from Hotaru. Later, he meets with Hotaru, to warn her not to trust Miyuki. + Natsu, back from the hospital, refuses Hotaru's offer to leave her alone for safety. Shiho gives Natsu flowers. + Hotaru considers taking kendo lessons from Sumire (for self-defense); Natsu is quite opposed, citing her lack of friends + Maki visits Sagara as his "niece", increasing the value of his stock in exchange for information on Joker's case. Later, she tells this to Keisuke in exchange for what is happening with the TRA. She wants him to get Hotaru out of the picture; he waffles, but believes each Arcana should choose what side they want to be on themselves. She offers him a position at her side, which he defers at present. + Sumire muses over a disastrously lost friend named Arisa. Chapter Nine: A Marionette's Tears / Brett Schimmel + Girl with a scar, working for Maki, kills an unknown Arcana named Akio. + Tetsuya takes Hotaru and Hanako to an amusement park. Hanako is kidnapped. Tetsuya and Hotaru find her held by the girl with a scar. She is Sumire's lost friend Arisa. Sumire shows up and they fight; Sumire reluctant, and trying to regain their lost friendship; Arisa with relish, longing for revenge. After a fierce battle, Sumire defeats Arisa, leaving her in the theme park. Chapter Ten: Moonlit Destiny / Laura Knill + Sumire is uneasy over killing Arisa. She begins Hotaru's kendo lessons. She is quite fierce during the lesson, and an attack that may have seriously hurt Hotaru is stopped by none other than Joker. He puts up a field and tells Hotaru that her Magician powers will kill her, and implies that the TRA are bad. He walks her home. + Exhausted from the effort of keeping up the field, Joker collapses, allowing Harlequin reign. + Maki tells Sagara to find Joker. Later, the station gets a call that Joker has turned up at the hospital. Chapter Eleven: Cassandra's Curse / Phoebe + Miyuki is distressed that her second sight is becoming faulty. + She comforts/admonishes Sumire over her loss of control with Hotaru. + Hotaru confronts Miyuki about her impending death. Miyuki says she does not forsee the Magician's death, which means either that she stays the Magician forever, or she ceases to be Arcana. This brings about the disturbing question of what might happen should other Arcana cease to be -- and what might they do to maintain their powers. + Miyuki gets a letter from the Council, finally prompting her to question their authority -- "Kill the Magician" ======================== COMMON POWERS of ARCANA ======================== + Arcana can create a "field" -- a mirror dimension. A small bubble just outside of normal space and time. Normal people can get out, but not in; we can get in, but not out. Nothing that happens there affects anything in the real world, except for living beings and objects closely associated with them (clothes, etc). Time does not stop, but timepieces do. They can be moved, if everyone within the field wills it so. + Arcana can use certain decks of tarot cards to determine what card they are aligned with + Arcana can identify other Arcana by a tingling feeling by touch and sometimes in the air ======================== CHARACTERS ======================== (Japanese names written Japanese-style; Surname Given name) (Trumps)---------------- Usono Ishido CARD/ALIAS: The Fool, Joker INTRODUCED IN: chapter one RELATIONSHIPS: tries to kill Hotaru; used by Maki (QoP); past Fools APPEARANCE: Tall and thin, sharp, angular features, unkempt blue-black hair, bright black eyes. Red uniform, cloak. DESCRIPTION: Sardonic, insolent. First year?, Shoshin High POWERS: Blind luck in every situation. Uses a silver knife. Maintains the knowledge of all previous Fools (voices in his head) The Harlequin CARD/ALIAS: The Fool INTRODUCED IN: chapter seven RELATIONSHIPS: Joker, Healer APPEARANCE: looks like Joker, but with red hair, glowing red eyes, painted white face with black around eyes; multicolored patchwork suit; belled jester's hat (dream appearance) DESCRIPTION: A previous Fool; more evil, violent and twisted than Joker. When Joker is drained, will take over as his dominant personality. (No physical manifestation) POWERS: Can invade/affect others' dreams Komatane Hotaru CARD/ALIAS: The Magician, Firefly (Joker only) INTRODUCED IN: Chapter one RELATIONSHIPS: Mother, Father. Best friend of Natsu. Wary detente with Joker. Learns from the memory of the old Magician. APPEARANCE: shoulder-length curly brown hair DESCRIPTION: Unassuming manner. Oversleeps often. Powder blue and pale yellow sailor uniform. First year, Hataraku High. POWERS: As the Magician, controls the elements Sokana Miyuki CARD/ALIAS: Fortune (the Fourth) INTRODUCED IN: chapter one RELATIONSHIPS: parents (never seen). Leader of Tower Reversed Arcana. Contact with Council. APPEARANCE: small and fragile. Straight, waist-length hair. Brown and yellow uniform. Pale silver-white eyes. Mirrored sunglasses. Age 12-13. DESCRIPTION: serious for her age. Does not reveal all she knows. POWERS: can see possible futures (this Sight extends to the real world, so she can 'see' even though blind) The Tower Reversed CARD/ALIAS: Tower INTRODUCED IN: chapter one RELATIONSHIPS: APPEARANCE: an upside-down tower deep within the earth; linked through a storage room in the school basement. The meeting room for the Council Arcana. U-shaped table, several chairs (one specifically for each Arcana) DESCRIPTION: POWERS: reversed, so as not to stand for destruction (Minor Arcana)---------- Shinjo Arisa CARD/ALIAS: Knight of Blades INTRODUCED IN: chapter nine RELATIONSHIPS: former best friend of Sumire (AoB), contracts for Maki APPEARANCE: waist-length black hair, blue eyes, scar down right cheek DESCRIPTION: Sumire's former best friend; after being scarred in a confrontation that ended in Sumire realizing her powers, gains a deep hatred for her. Works for Maki in exchange for the chance to kill Sumire. [9] POWERS: Can use arms as bladed weapons Yasuragi Sumire CARD/ALIAS: Ace of Blades, Yasuragi-sempai INTRODUCED IN: Chapter one RELATIONSHIPS: former best friend of Arisa (KnoB); respects Miyuki APPEARANCE: tall, athletic, severe DESCRIPTION: Cold, closed, stoic, formal; logical at the expense of emotion. Second year?, Hataraku High. Kendo team captain. POWERS: Can control any bladed weapon upon touch; anyone wielding a blade is at disadvantage against her Kurayami Maki CARD/ALIAS: Queen of Pentacles INTRODUCED IN: Chapter one RELATIONSHIPS: frustrated by insolence of Joker; wishes to destroy Hotaru, Council to become The Empress. Parents, never around APPEARANCE: well-dressed, tailored DESCRIPTION: sweet exterior, in reality manipulative, cunning, arrogant, self-controlled. Rich. Shoshin High POWERS: monetary fortune Hanako CARD/ALIAS: Page of Pentacles INTRODUCED IN: chapter three RELATIONSHIPS: little sister-figure to Tetsuya (KnoC); unnerved by memory of her Queen APPEARANCE: blonde, blue-eyed? A lovely young girl living on the streets; usually covers self in dirt to seem boyish and be left alone. DESCRIPTION: Logical, blunt, street-smart. Always hungry. Age 10. POWERS: Shirosawa Keisuke CARD/ALIAS: Knight of Wands (the 10th), Shirosawa-sempai INTRODUCED IN: chapter one RELATIONSHIPS: Working with Maki [8]. APPEARANCE: very tall & broad; green eyes. DESCRIPTION: Good-natured, jovial, slightly awkward. Adored by girls; has a fan club. Third year (12th grade), Hataraku High. Baseball team captain (& star) POWERS: Koishikawa Tetsuya CARD/ALIAS: Knight of Cups INTRODUCED IN: chapter two RELATIONSHIPS: relatively close with Hanako; enamoured(?) of Natsu APPEARANCE: aquamarine eyes, long blue hair. DESCRIPTION: A playboy. Smooth, calm, collected. Fun-loving. Second year?, ?? school. POWERS: uses a vajra (small golden cylinder w/ three prongs on each side) [9] Akio CARD/ALIAS: ? INTRODUCED IN: chapter nine RELATIONSHIPS: Arisa, Maki APPEARANCE: ? DESCRIPTION: killed by Arisa on orders from Maki. [9] POWERS: ? (Others)---------------- Natsu Forrester ALIAS: none INTRODUCED IN: chapter one RELATIONSHIPS: Parents (off-screen). Best friend of Hotaru. Dislikes Sumire, annoyed by Tetsuya APPEARANCE: Short blonde hair, tall. Wears a boy's uniform. DESCRIPTION: Self-assured, athletic, friendly, honest. First year (10th grade), Hataraku High Sgt. Nakamura ALIAS: none INTRODUCED IN: chapter four RELATIONSHIPS: Sgt. Sagara, partner APPEARANCE: DESCRIPTION: a detective at the Shinjuku police station, does most of the paperwork. Becomes intrigued with the cases of Joker/Natsu and the tarot cards confiscated from Joker's arrest. Serious. Could be Justice (but probably isn't). Sergeant Sagara ALIAS: Uncle Sagara (Maki only) INTRODUCED IN: chapter four RELATIONSHIPS: Sagara Aoi, wife; Sgt. Nakamura, partner; Maki (QoP), on the take APPEARANCE: DESCRIPTION: a detective at the Shinjuku police station. His wife has cancer, but he doesn't have the money to afford treatment. Began recieving money from Maki (QoP) in exchange for favors. [6] Unaware of all Maki is capable of, but still wary of her. Shiho ALIAS: none INTRODUCED IN: chapter six RELATIONSHIPS: member of Shirosawa Keisuke fan club; attempts to be a friend to Hotaru and Natsu; friend Mariko APPEARANCE: short, mousy brown hair, hair ribbon DESCRIPTION: often speaks before thinking, then must apologize. Promised to befriend Natsu, after calling her a "freak". Hataraku High Dr. Takasakura ALIAS: none INTRODUCED IN: chapter seven RELATIONSHIPS: Joker's doctor APPEARANCE: petite, brunette, thick horn-rimmed glasses DESCRIPTION: (Incidentals)----------- Akiyama-sensei - Chemistry teacher Mochida & Takahata(-sempai) - on girls soccer team Hayashi - baseball team pitcher Takajima - police officer who arrested Joker [4] Kyoko - friendly girl from Natsu's class [10]