Persona and Arcana

[Matheroc]

“I know who I was when I got up this morning, but I think I must have been changed several times since then.” - Alice, Through the Looking-Glass, and What Alice Found There by Lewis Carroll

Overview - Arcana:

In the universe of Persona every person is sorted into different categories based on their personality traits. Yes, even you and your character(s). Those categories correspond to the different Arcana in a tarot deck. There are twenty-two Major Arcana. We'll be using twenty-one for balance reasons:

• Fool
• Magician
• High Priestess
• Empress
• Emperor
• Hierophant
  
• Lovers
  
• Chariot
• Justice
• Hermit
• Wheel of Fortune
• Strength
• Hanged Man
• Death
• Temperance
• Devil
• Tower
• Star
• Moon
• Sun
• Judgement

In order to sort your newly made character into one of those wonderful groups, you need to take character’s history and personality and check which Arcana suits his/her/its true nature. In event that it would become apparent that character’s Arcana doesn’t reflect it (whereupon by character’s development or by “coming out in play”) you can change it into more appropriate one. Generally, when Arcana changes, Persona follows suit, but that isn't the hard rule.

Switching Arcana shall be dealt with case-by-case and as such, each and every instance will be dependent on circumstances following the change.

As written before, each Arcana represent kinds of personality. That means that whereupon two people with Hierophant Arcana can have similar traits, they are by no means identical.

You may observe that none of the Arcana are quite fitting to your character. If so, you may be willing to expand your boundaries. Look no further, for the Reverse Arcana is a possible solution. Reverse Arcana is represented by upside-down cards and represent opposite values than 'normal' Arcana, so if nothing else fits, try to check characteristics of the Reversed version of Arcana. For any more questions regarding Arcana check here, and when in doubt ask a staff member.

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Overview - Persona:

Going along with generalizations, every human thinks and those thoughts are positive, negative or neutral. The same thing occurs with emotions. Normally, it wouldn't be important. Of course, that means that now it is important. Shadows are manifestations of either human's or humans' negative thoughts and emotions. Personas (Or Personae, depends on language.) are manifestations of human's negative thoughts and emotions. Yes, they are personal.

So, what's the difference between Shadow of "Insert character's name here" and Persona of "Insert the same character's name here"? Control, mainly. Persona is "tamed", for lack of better word. One can use Persona to protect people from danger of murderous Shadow. Or to knock them down. Without Persona chance of someone surviving is function of luck. I recommend not trying your luck.

Remember what was said about homo sapiens falling into one of 22 Major Arcana? Same thing occurs with Personas(/e). However, while you get to pick your character's Arcana, the canon Persona (those that have appeared in the games) have already been pre-classified for you. In event that your chosen Persona had more than one Arcana throughout the games, you are free to pick Arcana from one of those. And, of course, in event your Persona didn't appear with any Arcana, you are more than welcome to choose Arcana. A character's Persona must always be of the same Arcana of the character, though that being said, we do deviate from canon allow members to change the Arcana of their Persona here and there, provided that it's a reasonable change.


Ultimate Persona:


Of course, development of oneself is important. Doubly so when your best partner/weapon/tool/shield is literally you. In event your character faced many hardships (with Persona, no starting with Ultimate Persona), growing up as character and person and takes up a resolution with all of their heart, obtaining Ultimate Persona can become a fine reward indeed.

An Ultimate Persona is akin to evolved form of the original Persona. Also, what is probably bad information for Shadows, much stronger. That being said, it is not enforced for Persona to change its shape or form in order to be Ultimate Persona.

How to obtain, summon and use Persona:


Let's start from the start - there are two common ways by which your character can become a character with Persona. Both involve brand new world and getting there or near it, willingness not required.

First way is simple: Confronting Shadow-self. A character's Shadow is a physical manifestation of that character's negative feelings. They typically take a form of whoever Shadow they are, though for some reason their eyes are golden. Once pressed far enough, they will transform and attack. Usually (Not always, feel free to add your own spin.) that happens when character rejects his Shadow or refuses to acknowledge those feelings from which Shadow is made from. Generally, when Shadow changes into more suitable form for fight, character will be unable to fight and feel weak. (Again, not always.) If/when Shadow-self is defeated, character is rewarded with Persona.

Right now some of you are thinking that either your character doesn't have that much negative feeling in them right now or that you would prefer to save Shadow-self for later. That's fine, for there is another way. Second way is easy and simple: Forcing awakening by forcing your character to fight for their life inside 'world behind glass' or Shadow-infested part of 'normal' world. Commonly referred by as "OH SHI-!" or "OH F---!" scenario, it leaves room for certain Shadow to appear.

So, monsters, eh? How to summon Persona? Well, that's easy, simple and not dangerious. We went with route of Persona 1 and Persona 2. No Evokers to shoot and no cards to crush, all that is needed to call forth Persona is to will it to come. That's it.

Everything that is good comes with limits, alas. The same principle applies to Persona. Those restrictions are:

• Using Persona's skills/attacks/abilities/whatever you would like to call them, both of physical and magical nature, will cost character some of their stamina and will tire them out sooner or later. The stronger attack, the more stamina goes into fueling it. The same thing goes for the range -- the more targets a skill can affect, the less stamina remains for use in future.
  
  
• A Persona's strengths and weaknesses won't apply to character in 'normal' world. Do not worry about being weak to water and not being able to bath.
  
  
• Personas(/e) do not work very well on Earth. Whatever allows them and Shadows to be, it is seemingly connected to another world, for Persona's powers will start fading away mere minutes after leaving it. After appropriately seven days they will be completely powerless.