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Crossing the Rose - story notes
Attempt at premise
Main character: Mallory Tailor – 12/13 – changes gender at random, has been happening since birth, so has underdeveloped chest, boyish build and decidedly androgynous face (body only changes slightly in form). Female at the beginning of the story. Precocious reader/writer and has the gift of written persuasion, automatic coercion through anything she pens by hand.
Guided by Aina (name: Scandinavian, means ‘forever’), the last to have this gift and gather the Tarot (very blonde, very curly hair, messy artist type). She used to work for Death after her own Gathering, was awarded eternal life and now absolutely hates it (is sekritly working with Gaia to end the world).
The Majar Arcana of the Tarot hold the spiritual balance of the world, but the balance gets gradually more skewed and once every few generations it has to be realigned by bringing them all together (intervals between Gatherings are smaller than ever before because of humans’ cynicism and violence). All in different parts of the world, have to be awoken by doing a particular thing or going to a particular spot.
This time, The World (Gaia) is suicidal and trying to take away the power of the Tarot – this effectively slows down time, then makes it go backwards (reversing the effects of humanity, and basically ending the world). Traps the Arcana using strictly institutionalized religion (halting progress and opposition to the pagan symbolism) by getting Mallory to gather them in Rome.
And then there's, you know, running around saving the world and indulging the author's love of Tarot symbolism. But I haven't worked that bit out. If anyone wants to hand me a plot, that'd be nice.
Locations
0 Fool - London
1 Magician - Brazil
2 High Priestess - Egypt
3 Empress/4 Emperor - China
5 Heirophant - Moscow
6 Lovers - Paris
7 Chariot/8 Strength - Greece
9 Hermit - Tibet
10 Wheel of Fortune - Hong Kong
11 Justice - Iraq
12 Hanged Man - Australia
13 Death - Botswana
14 Temperance - New York
15 Devil - Atlanta
16 Tower - Tokyo
17 Star - Antarctica
18 Moon/19 Sun - Rome
(20 World is everywhere, technically, and can be summoned from anywhere)
Written so far...
“First lesson!” the Fool said gleefully. “Clothes don’t make the man. Or woman.” He winked outrageously.
“But…you said the other lesson was the first lesson.” Mallory frowned.
“So it is! And so is this one! And so will the next be after that!” The Fool turned a cartwheel, righted himself, and pointed at her again, sharp as an arrow. “Can you tell me why?”
Mallory hesitated. If this was the test…
The greatest mistake you humans make is overthinking things.
Mallory closed her eyes and thought like the child she had never been. The ideas unfolded shyly, one after the other, like the wrapping paper coming off a present in meticulous layers.
“Because,” she said slowly, “when you learn something for the first time, it is always a first lesson. The second lesson is when you apply it.”
“Well done!” The Fool looked at her appraisingly.
“Mallory…” Aina said, soft but insistent.
“All right.” Mallory squared her shoulders and held out the card.
Attempt at premise
Main character: Mallory Tailor – 12/13 – changes gender at random, has been happening since birth, so has underdeveloped chest, boyish build and decidedly androgynous face (body only changes slightly in form). Female at the beginning of the story. Precocious reader/writer and has the gift of written persuasion, automatic coercion through anything she pens by hand.
Guided by Aina (name: Scandinavian, means ‘forever’), the last to have this gift and gather the Tarot (very blonde, very curly hair, messy artist type). She used to work for Death after her own Gathering, was awarded eternal life and now absolutely hates it (is sekritly working with Gaia to end the world).
The Majar Arcana of the Tarot hold the spiritual balance of the world, but the balance gets gradually more skewed and once every few generations it has to be realigned by bringing them all together (intervals between Gatherings are smaller than ever before because of humans’ cynicism and violence). All in different parts of the world, have to be awoken by doing a particular thing or going to a particular spot.
This time, The World (Gaia) is suicidal and trying to take away the power of the Tarot – this effectively slows down time, then makes it go backwards (reversing the effects of humanity, and basically ending the world). Traps the Arcana using strictly institutionalized religion (halting progress and opposition to the pagan symbolism) by getting Mallory to gather them in Rome.
And then there's, you know, running around saving the world and indulging the author's love of Tarot symbolism. But I haven't worked that bit out. If anyone wants to hand me a plot, that'd be nice.
Locations
0 Fool - London
1 Magician - Brazil
2 High Priestess - Egypt
3 Empress/4 Emperor - China
5 Heirophant - Moscow
6 Lovers - Paris
7 Chariot/8 Strength - Greece
9 Hermit - Tibet
10 Wheel of Fortune - Hong Kong
11 Justice - Iraq
12 Hanged Man - Australia
13 Death - Botswana
14 Temperance - New York
15 Devil - Atlanta
16 Tower - Tokyo
17 Star - Antarctica
18 Moon/19 Sun - Rome
(20 World is everywhere, technically, and can be summoned from anywhere)
Written so far...
“First lesson!” the Fool said gleefully. “Clothes don’t make the man. Or woman.” He winked outrageously.
“But…you said the other lesson was the first lesson.” Mallory frowned.
“So it is! And so is this one! And so will the next be after that!” The Fool turned a cartwheel, righted himself, and pointed at her again, sharp as an arrow. “Can you tell me why?”
Mallory hesitated. If this was the test…
The greatest mistake you humans make is overthinking things.
Mallory closed her eyes and thought like the child she had never been. The ideas unfolded shyly, one after the other, like the wrapping paper coming off a present in meticulous layers.
“Because,” she said slowly, “when you learn something for the first time, it is always a first lesson. The second lesson is when you apply it.”
“Well done!” The Fool looked at her appraisingly.
“Mallory…” Aina said, soft but insistent.
“All right.” Mallory squared her shoulders and held out the card.