Destiny & Free Will, Week VII [Monday, Period 2]

[atreideslioness]

The students should have gotten a handwaved notice to dress nicely and meet at the Danger Shop, where they were met by a Ghanima waiting just outside the door.

"Right."  Reaching inside her coat, Ghanima retrieved a deck of the Dune Tarot and fanned the cards at them.  "Step right up, and ask me what today holds for you.  Through there -" she gestured at the portal with the cards,  " - is Monaco.  Home to some of the most wonderful casinos this Earth holds.  Your mission is to take the future I forsee, and try to beat it.  If I tell you that you are destined to win big, sit outside and give away money.  If I say you fail, go cheat the casino by whatever means you choose.  The one rule is not to get caught, because I am not paying for bail.  I want to see how many of you manage to flaunt destiny." 

"After all," she grinned humorlessly, flipping up the Hanged Man with ease.  "Navigating the future is a family talent.  Who wants to try and beat the oracular Atreides?"

[ooc: ocd up!]

Comments

Re: Activity: Get Your Future!

[forhisfriends.livejournal.com]

Simon looked a little uncomfortable, not that that was out of the ordinary. Predictions just made him jumpy for personal reasons, even if the reasons were the very same ones that had made him pick this class.

"Professor Atreides," he said with a nod as he approached Ghanima.

Re: Activity: Get Your Future!

[atreideslioness]

"Mr. Bellamy," she replied, inclining her head slightly. "Let us see if the cards are willing to hint at two of your possible futures, shall we?"

She quickly flipped out the five cards. "The top left card represents the first possible outcome," she explained. "Knight of Swords: The essence of air behaving as fire, such as a tornado: A fearless and skillful warrior, unfettered by emotion or material concerns. One able to boldly take on challenges that others consider terrifying or insurmountable. A person who inspires fear and awe through the purity of their purpose and the intensity of their intellect. Speaking frankly, in an outspoken manner, and with great influence. May portend the swift initiation or conclusion of a conflict, through the decisive invocation of force. What pulls you toward this end is the card beneath it."

"Death," she continued, touching the card. "Although not necessarily the grim reaper your Western culture often pictures. For us, it is a major change or transformation, possibly traumatic and unexpected. Freedom from the shackles of the past. A new beginning. Death coupled with rebirth, usually related to consciousness and lifestyle."

"Now, the top right card represents the second possible outcome. Ten of Wands, the card of Oppression." Not Ghanima's favorite card, but one she was familiar with. "Success and gain, leading you to take on a burden greater than you can carry. Noble leadership transformed, through lack of restraint, into tyranny. The crushing weight of ultimate responsibility. Pulling you there is the King of Swords, reversed. Excessive use of force, and mastery of language as a tool for deception. One who, like a great tyrant, inspires not love or devotion, but fear, respect, and obedience."

"Finally, the bottom card represents the critical factor that decides what will come to pass. Page of Pentacles, also reversed, Irrationality and failure to recognize obvious facts. Wastefulness, lack of focus, and loss." She let the cards linger there for a moment before starting to collect them. "If you maintain your composure, and keep your eyes open, you should be able to choose the direction in which you walk."