![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
atreideslioness) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
fandomhigh2025-08-18 12:19 pm
Destiny & Free Will [Monday, Period 4]
The students should have gotten a handwaved notice to dress nicely and meet outside the school, where they would find Ghanima and Trebor waiting for them next to a portal.
"Right." Reaching in her coat pocket, 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. I am giving each of you fifty dollars. 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?"
Sign-In
During the Lecture
Activity: Get Your Future!
Activity: The Floors of the Casino
If you get arrested, she will actually pay your bail. Please, don't get arrested.
Talk to Ghanima & Trebor
OOC
Re: Sign-In
Re: Activity: Get Your Future!
Or losing, she supposed.
...Really, Liliana was dressed in order to maximize her ability to cheat.
Re: Sign-In
Re: Activity: Get Your Future!
Don't worry. The Casino de Monte-Carlo would still let him in. Probably. Depending on whether or not Castor was currently banned from it, which was something he was rapidly trying to ascertain via text.
Re: Activity: Get Your Future!
"You came prepared for battle," Ghanima said approvingly, as she let the cards fly through her hands. "Let us see what weapons fate would give you."
The first card snapped to her hands. "Your first possible future: Abundance, reversed," she said, looking at the upside-down card. "A time of shallow overindulgence, followed depletion. The successful but utterly unfulfilling conclusion of a matter. May indicate problems prematurely dismissed or a victory claimed before it is certain."
"The second road is the King of Swords." She held up the card. "The essence of air, such as a clear blue sky. Unwavering ethics and indisputable authority. An incorruptible judge, whose devotion to the law cannot be swayed by emotion or material concerns. Perfect clarity of thought, directness of action, and eloquence of speech."
Hrm. Interesting. For someone who came prepared to cheat."Now, let's see what draws you to that first future," she continued, setting the second card aside to pull the third. "Ruin, also reversed. The darkness before the dawn. An end to suffering, leading to spiritual transformation. A crushing and seemingly total defeat that hides within it the seeds of final victory. Ultimate knowledge gained through ultimate sacrifice." She set it down atop the Abundance card. "An interesting combination."
Ghanima pulled the next card, humming thoughtfully as she looked at it. "The Moon, reversed, leads you towards the second road," she mused. "Clarity, control and peace in troublesome times. Increased psychic abilities. Temptations, small problems and minor setbacks overcome. The dawning of a new day."
She tapped it with her fingers for a moment before setting it down on the King of Swords. "I would say you should pay special attention to your intuition. If your inner voice speaks unexpectedly, listen."
"Finally, we have the critical factor -- pivot point that will close the gate of the crossroads behind you, once you have chosen a road. Page of Wands -- the essence of fire behaving as earth, such as wood or coal. The surprising appearance of a new passion, or an adventurer who blazes through life, acting as a catalyst that others may harness. The intense enthusiasm and childlike imagination that fuels any new venture, needing only the application of mind and material to make it a success. Inner fire that can drive away fear and replace it with fury." Ghanima raised an eyebrow at Liliana. "Last time I pulled that one for myself was right before I had Trebor, but that is not quite right...something is here, but not that."
Ghani closed her eyes, letting her mind empty and listening to the Other Voices moving within her as Reverend Mother upon Reverend Mother spoke through her. "Watch those around you," she said absently, her blue-on-blue eyes unfocused when she reopened them. "Inner fire can drive to new heights, or burn to cinders, or both. Watch for the catalyst."
She blinked a few times, coming back to herself, before smiling at the other woman. "There you go. Two paths, two driving motivations, one swinging gate. Chose one and make it your destiny, or flaunt both." Ghanima gestured towards the portal. "Whichever you decide, go forth to victory."
Re: Activity: Get Your Future!
Though, that would be quite an easy destiny to flaunt, considering.
"So, to thwart, I need simply assure myself of abundance or waver some ethics?" She smiled. "I look forward to doing both."
Re: Activity: Get Your Future!
Her hands stilled, and Ghanima turned over the first card. "Your first future is foretold by Strength, reversed. Weakness in the face of obstacles and adversity. Tremendous power released at the wrong moment. Inability to defend oneself. Confusion, and lack of preparedness. Illness, hardship, distress and the failing of physical force. Dominant behavior, abusiveness and a possible loss of reputation." She raised an eyebrow. "Remember what I said about not getting arrested."
She set it aside and flipped over the next card. "The second road open to you is represented by Assessment. A pause to check on the progress of your labors. Making difficult financial decisions. Exercising patience and perseverance. Evaluating the status of your work and your options for the future." Ghanima smiled at him brightly as she laid it down next to the first card. "The sort of fortune one normally wants for an event like this."
"Now, drawing you towards the first possible outcome..." she flipped up the next card. "Ah. Wealth, reversed. Material prosperity and riches squandered through slothfulness, gambling, or family problems. The loss of reputation or inheritance. However, calling you to the second path--" she turned over the fourth card. "Power, also reversed. Using your power freely for your own enjoyment and the betterment of others. Coming to grips with progress and using your position to help it along. Finding security and identity someplace other than in the possession of material things. Letting go and encouraging others to find their own path. Being magnanimous and generous with your success."
Ghanima set each of the cards on top of their respective futures. "Now, for the deciding factor," she said, closing her eyes to draw the final card.
"Temptation," she said, looking at it after she had set it down between the two piles. "Daydreams and things seen in the glass of contemplation. The scattering of energies by strong desires and unrealistic goals. The pursuit of illusions and the dissipation of energy on false choices. Intoxication, delirium, and hallucination, leading to the negation of effort. Under rare and extreme circumstances, may indicate the revelation of transcendental spiritual truth."
Ghanima looked at Gray, bemused. "It would seem you have two very clear destinies to choose from," she said. "Or, you can chose to flaunt both, and aim for a middle path."
She gestured towards the portal. "The choice is yours. Or is it?"
Re: Sign-In
Re: Activity: Get Your Future!
Re: Activity: Get Your Future!
Re: Activity: Get Your Future!
She suddenly paused, laying out five cards quickly before opening her eyes.
"Let's see what we have here," she mused. "The first possible outcome. Queen of Cups, reversed: The dark essence of water, such as a deep and foreboding lake. The embrace of negative relationships, driven by the desperate fear of being alone. Devotion to fantasies and daydreams, to the exclusion of practical skills or the pursuit of knowledge. Insecurity leading to dishonor, vice, and undue susceptibility to outside influences. Ironically, the force drawing you towards the first possible outcome, is the Hierophant: Faith in tradition and the old school. A justified and ancient source of power. Being supportive, sympathetic and loyal. Receiving instructions, learning, guidance or inspiration. The ability to hear a higher or inner voice."
"Now, the second route," she continued, tapping the card. "Ace of Wands: The seed of a new venture - perhaps as yet unseen. An opportunity to be met with boldness, vigor, and enthusiasm. The herald of birth, invention, or entrepreneurship. An innate and primal force released. May suggest a surge of vitality or creativity that can set things in motion. Pulling you in this direction is the Knight of Pentacles: The essence of earth behaving as fire, such as molten magma: One slow to action, but decisive and unrelenting once set in motion. A force of nature whose methods are as predictable and dependable as they are unstoppable. The voice of duty, honor, and responsibility. The will to the change the world."
"Your pivot point, the deciding factor, will be The Star: New hopes and splendid revelations of the future. Insight, inspiration, courage and enlightenment of the spiritual self. Body and mind and converging towards the light at the end of a dark time."
Ghanima considered the cards. "To avoid the first, I would suggest letting yourself be comfortable at tables that have fewer people. Do not give in to the pressure of the 'traditional' full table full of noise and people, instead, embrace the courage to pick something unconventional. Be creative but determined. To avoid the second, go with the flow rather than set your own path, and let the people around you guide you, rather than your inner voice."