Storytelling

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 09 Sep 2004, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Emiac	09 Sep 2004
Hi people! Hey, I've got this new game that I think we can all play. I don't know if it's been done before, but I might as well give it a try.- so ok, here goes: First I start off by drawing a card from my deck, then using this card I start to build up a story, when the story gets exciting, I draw another card and leave it there for someone else to pick up. After they've made up part of the story, they draw a card for the next player. Sound interesting? If anyone wants me to start, or if you want me give me a link to a similar thread, just give us a reply thanks! If you thiink it's a stupid idea, tell me also...

telcontar	09 Sep 2004
I like the idea. But I'd prefer for everyone to draw the cards for their own part of the story. I think you have a more personal relation to it then. Either way- I'm with you :D

anubis	09 Sep 2004
nice idea, u may begin...

xviiirkna	09 Sep 2004
I'll play too - I like Tarot stories. Blessings, Sally Anne

blackroseivy	09 Sep 2004
Eeeeeeee! :D

contrascarpe	09 Sep 2004
This sounds like a nice exercise to keep my writing skills in tune. Count me in. Dan

Kit	09 Sep 2004
I'll play too~ storytelling and tarot, two of my favourite things. Raeven:)

Rain	09 Sep 2004
Okay...so are we all gonna just waiting for someone with enough ballz to start?

kryztyna	11 Sep 2004
Emlac, it would seem you're the starter:) We're all waiting.....sitting on them ballz that Rian refers to, hehe

Mystic_Blue_Jay	11 Sep 2004
Where is Emiac? Oh bother! I'm impatient, so I'll start: (picks out 5 of pentacles from World Spirit Tarot deck) Once upon a time, Bill Gates lost all of his money in the stock market. Broke, he wandered aimlessly until he could travel no more. Thinking that there was no one at this particular home, Bill huddled against the door. Meanwhile, the family inside heard something brushing up against the door.....

kryztyna	12 Sep 2004
Draws Temptation(Devil) (rx) The Father opens the door and seeing the sorry state of the traveller, opens the door wide and allows Bill to enter his humble abode and introduces his 4 wives, 16 children, 3 maternal Grandmothers, 4 paternal Grandfathers, ! Great grandmother and an Elder of the Church on a mission saving lost souls...

littlehermit	12 Sep 2004
Draws the Four of Cups Bill and his host sit down to dinner and some wine. (Only the cheap stuff, though. The Father actually has a barrel of some really, really good wine, but it's hidden in the Elder's closet.) Bill finds himself becoming bored with the subjects of conversation at the table, and begins to feel sleepy...

kryztyna	12 Sep 2004
draws Queen of Swords The stern faced oldest wife has been keeping a careful eye on Bill, she feels he is not all that he seems and is determined to make the most of this unexpected guest. She draws her cloak around her and invites Bill to follow her into the dancing,sininter shadows that lurk just beyond the firelight..

Rain	12 Sep 2004
The only deck I have is the Universal Waite...The story went right over my head:( Anyone else care to finish it off?

Rain	12 Sep 2004
The Moon After a long and drawn out conversation which seemed to go on for hours, Bill wonders into the guest room. Sleep inadvertantly takes over (must've been the turkey) And he is thrown into a deep sleepy vortex of psychic visions about his host overthrowing his company. Bill awakens in a cold sweat and his guilty conscience begins to speak to him...after all, his host was the brains behind this whloe internet operation (which bill, needless to say, stole the idea from his secret journal the last time he was invited as the dinner guest)...

kryztyna	12 Sep 2004
Draws Knight of Rods (old Path) Bill's psychic dreams have left him on edge. It was a night of disturbed images of burning in hell's fire. He decides that the best course of action is to hot it out of there very quickly or....

littlehermit	12 Sep 2004
Draws Four of Pentacles (Spiral) ... or be imprisoned in this house indefinitely and face the stony judgement of his host, who will not easily be won over with words in the face of the financial evidence. Bill sees a small window. He kicks out the bars, squeezes through, and escapes into the Father's garden. The sun is beginning to rise, and he blinks his eyes in the fresh light.

kryztyna	12 Sep 2004
Draws 4 of Swords (Old Path) Bill rememers the words in his dream"In Quietness and confidence shall be thy strength: * Feeling the brightness behind his eyes he lifts his head in wonder for the peaceful surroundings bring emotional rejuvenation. Bill was never one to dwell on the rights or wrongs, with determination he... *The Artist for this card was shown this inscription on her Family Tomb

Alta	12 Sep 2004
7 of Swords (Futility) Rohrig (this shows an enormous snake/dragon's head menacing a tiny figure with a briefcase... no kidding.) ... sets out. But the his past evils will not just fall quietly behind and allow him to walk away from them. While he slept his host has examined the contents the Bill's briefcase and realizes that he is the host's old nemesis who has defrauded him. Angrily he confronts Gates and...

littlehermit	12 Sep 2004
draws The Hanged Man ...and the two are halted, attacker and defender, before the first angry word can be spoken or blow can be laid. An unseen force prevents them from leaving this stasis until a lesson is learned by each.

Alta	12 Sep 2004
Knight of Disks Rohrig A large man with whiskers and strange garb comes towards the two slowly. He, above all people on the planet, truly understands both the power and futility of money. What it is and what it isn't. Slowly he begins to speak to the two of them and they begin to look ashamed. But suddenly....

littlehermit	12 Sep 2004
Knight of Cups Spiral (this literally fell right out of the deck as soon as I picked it up!) But suddenly another man appears as well, leading his horse behind him. His eyes are gentle and sad, and he speaks softly to Bill and his host of needing to understand each other, to accept emotions instead of suppressing them, and to value friendships and the soul's nourishment far more than any money or resentment. He offers them a drink from his cup. When they take a sip...

Alta	12 Sep 2004
5 of pentacles Rohrig: shows one tiny man holding 5 very large spheres. ...suddenly they understand, deeply, emotionally, what true suffering is. The weight that ordinary folks carry on their shoulders. They feel the sadness and suffering of the world wash over them. Bill quickly becomes bored with this. "Enough of thinking aout the masses" he mutters and scuttles off. He doesn't get far when......

littlehermit	12 Sep 2004
Six of Swords rx Spiral (I don't usually reverse this deck, but I found out when I pulled my card that my deck was upside down) ... the man with the cup stops Bill before he can retreat from this situation. Bill is made to turn around and return to where he was; he is powerless to resist.

tmgrl2	12 Sep 2004
"I have an idea, " says the Knight of Cups. "He stole MY ideas and built an empire upon them, " says the Father of many who had followed Bill to the glen where they were made to Hang out. "I stole nothing. Actually, that fellow over at Mac is the one who did the stealing. I merely 'patterned' my Windows concept on some of his ideas. He's the one you should visit for payback." The Knight hops off his horse. He separates the two men who are approaching each other, fists raised. "All right, you two. We'll take this issue to the Queen of Coins. She's holds the answers to all things earthly that deal with monetary gain. She is a wise mediator." With that, the Knight throws a lassoed rope around the body of each of these two sorry fellows and with a single rope attached to each one that encircles these men of dispute, he hops on his horse and slowly walks forward. Behind him, he hears the raised voices of the two men each making a point about who really owns Microsoft. As he walks forward the Knight hears them say to each other.....

Alta	12 Sep 2004
"Wow, look at that Princess of Cups (Rohrig), now that is one hot chick." The Knight glares at them and and pulls them along. The situation suddenly changes though, because....

littlehermit	12 Sep 2004
because the Emperor himself, Steve Jobs, who pioneered Apple Computers, has appeared on the scene. He says "So who says who's been stealing from whom now?"

tmgrl2	12 Sep 2004
Suddenly, all three stop. Well the horse stops first. The Knight lurches forward. The rope jerks the two jer...errr...ah.....men..... forward. They both fall in the mud. As they slither to their feet, wiping mud from their faces and hands, yelling some untoward words at their captor, they notice the reason for the sudden stop. There, in the middle of the road, stands Le Basteleur. At first, he looked like he might be an Emperor. It is clear though that this figure is no Emperor. They three men look at each other. They look back at the man standing at a table with three legs. (It's a Tarot de Marseille deck, so only three legs visible on the table). In his left hand he holds what appears to be a personal magic wand. In his right hand, he holds a ball? a coin? What is it? On the table rests a host of objects. "Oh great, says Bill. We go to get the facts sorted out and now we are presented with what? Riddles? Journeys into our souls? Get real. " The wise Father, who claims to be the originator of all things computable, sighs. "I'm afraid we must take what this 'trickster, ' this Magician offers us. There is no short route to our answers. " The Knight, seeing that his role in this tale is over, releases the two men, gallops off into the dusk calling over his shoulder, "I'm outta here, now. This matter is way over the Royne de Desnier's head. You two are on your own for this one..." With that, the two men slowly walk toward the table and.....

littlehermit	12 Sep 2004
Three of Swords ... and Bill promptly gets his fingers cut trying to pick up an Epée from the table. "M****t c*****d d'un Bateleur!" he snarls, because he doesn't want the Father to know how much he swears, and doesn't think the Father knows French. "Who forged this for you, anyway?"

tmgrl2	12 Sep 2004
Of course, Bill doesn't know French. Certainly, if he were to know what he had said, he would never have used such a foul expression in the presence of so many who do. Alas, his cursing of the offspring whose parents failed to tie the knot, brings forth... Le Pape. "Excuse me, messieurs. This journey you are on is being read by many across the World. Must I set guidelines for discussions and epithets? " Bill, now wondering, what he has done wrong, turns to this obviously holy and wise man and humbly begs an apology. His tone is soft, but arrogant. To Bill, it is humble. But that's another story. Bill, recognizes he is in the presence of one who may possibly have great wisdom to offer. Le Pape turns to Le Basteleur ... "Have you further need of my services at the moment?" "Mais, non. Pas maintenant. Not now at least. Let's see if I can set these two upon a path of true wisdom." With that.....

littlehermit	12 Sep 2004
Eight of Cups With that, Bill finally starts to look within himself and consider the possibility that he isn't all he thought he was. He begins to understand, with the help of the Bateleur, that there is something more precious than the goods and accolades to which he has clung in his life as a CEO. He turns to the Father, and to the Bâteleur. "Mes amis, I have to go on a journey before I can properly face either of you." With as much honestly humble entreatment as he can manage, he begs the Bateleur for one word, one item from the table, one image, that can guide him on his way...

tmgrl2	13 Sep 2004
Suddenly, standing before Bill is the Vaslet d'Epees. "Ah, mon ami," says the Valet of Swords. "It is the Sword of Air that tells me you are a very deep and complex person who is quite bright and intelligent. Although I am young, I am to be your apprentice guide through this journey, since I will help you learn from experience what you need to know. Perhaps one day, you shall return to the Father of this family who says you have 'stolen' his ideas. Then you shall bring all you have learned to the table. Then you shall need no mediation for you shall have learned your role in this dispute and resolution will be made clear." So, off go Bill and the Page of Swords, a young, energetic, bright youth and a middle- aged gent who, up until this moment was pretty sure of all he knew and not sure of what he didn't know. Alas, he didn't know what he didn't know. So with the sword as their guide, they walk off side by side deep in conversation, when suddenly....

littlehermit	13 Sep 2004
Ten of Swords (Spiral) ... when suddenly a swarm of hornets engulfs Bill and his Vâlet. They try to escape and fend off the inexplicably angry insects, but both are stung ten times before the swarm moves on. When the air is clear again, the Bâteleur and the Father, and the table, are gone. Bill grimaces as he feels welts rise on his back and legs. But before he can grumble about them, or, indeed, question the disappearance of the Bâteleur, his attention is drawn to the Vâlet. Ten stings on a middle-aged man who has gone a bit to paunch is one thing; ten stings on a frame that probably weighs 120lbs soaking wet is another, and the Vâlet looks miserable. He had flailed about with his Épée to try to fend off the swarm, and now his arms are shaking from the effort. He is still relatively new to carrying this sword, which is almost the size and heft of the one he will carry when he grows up to be a Chevalier. He is too old to cry, but perhaps he wishes he could get away with it. With an almost paternal kindness, Bill looks about him for some way to remedy the stings. He kneels by the edge of a stream, and scoops up some rich red mud. He applies the stuff to the Vâlet's stings first, and then to his own, and it provides coolness to keep the swelling down and take away some of the ache. With the swarm long gone and the stings seen to as best they can for now (and Bill learning more and more, without realizing it, of compassion), it is time to proceed. Bill asks his young companion where they might find someone to better tend to their wounds. The Vâlet says...

wildchilde	14 Sep 2004
Draws VIII of Wands (Gendron) “I have Faith that All will be provided, let us walk on…you still have much to learn” Having not walked far (thankfully for the Page as he is still suffering greatly from the hornets’ stings), the companions approach a castle and are bid enter from a fair maiden watching their approach from the turret. Breathlessly she rushes down the stairs to greet them with important news...

tmgrl2	14 Sep 2004
Four of Swords (Hadar) .........".Hurry. You still have time to sit at the discussion table with our town mediators. " "Whoopee!!!" says Bill. "I love a good sub-rosa round-table discussion. That should help us sort out this mess." The maiden looks puzzled. "It's square. "The table I mean. " It's square...you know.... Four of Air....It's a square-table discussion. We have to have one that covers at least the four basic elements here. So we have one person to represent each element." Bill looks somwhat disappointed. Vaslet looks somwhat in pain. "Do you have anyone who can cast a spell or help me with these burning, itchy sting marks?" "Absolutely, " responds the fair maiden. "And the discussion isn't sub-rosa...well there are roses in the room, but this is an open discussion. The townspeople are all welcome to sit in and listen to the mediation process. No secrets here. Just solutions." With that........

littlehermit	15 Sep 2004
Seven of Cups (Spiral) With that, a light rain begins to fall and quickly thickens, making the going a little slippery as Bill and his Vaslet take the last several steps into the castle. The maiden guides them down a hallway with seven doors, each of which is slightly ajar; Bill is able to just glimpse what may be in them, and he does not know which he wants more. But the maiden continues past all of them, and as the last few drops of rain drip from Bill and the Vaslet, she leads them into a large and well-lit room, with a square table at the centre, and seats surrounding it. If Bill were a dramatic person, he would call this setting "theatre in the round". But he isn't. The maiden leads Bill and his Vaslet to the central table. The first person to whom she introduces them is...

kryztyna	16 Sep 2004
Draws Strength (Old Path) Love triumphant, moral force Dr Ruth.. sitting center of the futherest edge of the table. Her bright eyes seem to glow in the lights from the wall sconces. She has a odd little smile on her round deceptive baby-like face.Bill feels his stomach begin to churn... he has seen those eyes once before, when......

Mystic_Blue_Jay	17 Sep 2004
(Draws 7 of Swords): ... Bill decides to make off with Dr. Ruth's sconces(nice ones too). 'They ought to fetch a pretty penny at the "Antiques Roadshow"!' he thinks as he runs off for the door. All of a sudden...

kryztyna	18 Sep 2004
knight of Rods (impulsive opportunist) Dr. Ruth, now making a awful noise and clutching at the empty place where her sconces once hung, had everyone staring at her in amazement. The impudent young fellow sitting next to her decided that now is his chance and dived under the table and very rapidly crawled to where he knew....

The Storytelling thread was originally posted on 09 Sep 2004 in the Tarot Games & Fun board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Tarot Games & Fun, or read more archived threads.