Summary: It’s the same story you’ve come to know. But there’s always been some missing parts, hasn’t there?
Why do we know so little about the war waged by Chrom’s father? What does it mean to be a Ylissean tactician from Plegia? When…where are the children from? And, perhaps most importantly – who was Robin before waking up in the field?
Or: How Robin fills the pages of a life all his own.
Chapters: 20/55
Snippet:
Their options are to enter Plegia through Regna Ferox or Ylisse.
Put more simply: the better and the worse choice.
For the former, the Shepherds and Feroxi forces could travel along the Longfort until reaching the border sands crossing, benefitting from a flat, safe terrain along the way. Once at the junction between the two nations, they could easily restock their supplies before leaving the security of the Longfort, and once they set foot in Plegia, their path to the capital would be an almost straight shot south.
Entering Plegia through Ylisse would be much more difficult. First, they would require more supplies for their journey without the opportunity to restock partway. Second: the border would likely be heavily guarded by Plegian soldiers.
Knowing all of this, Robin hadn’t been surprised by the skepticism at his announcement that the Shepherds would take the Ylissean route, leaving the Feroxians to carry on to the border sands. Even up to the night before their departure, Basilio had asked if Robin was sure of his plan.
And, no, Robin hadn’t been sure. Even now, as he arrives at a town near the Ylisse-Plegia border, he remains unsure. But, as much as Robin is certain a trap awaits them no matter what, he also refuses to play directly into Gangrel’s hands.
As an (exceptionally) amateur tarot girly, I have been periodically thinking about what an Awakening tarot deck could look like, at least for the major arcana. Thus, this post has been born!
For those of you who have been reading my Awakening prequel fic Divine Intervention, this post probably won't be a surprise to you. That being said, this post also won't contain any spoilers for that fic.
For awareness, I'm using the descriptions/interpretations from a few different decks I have because this is my house and these are my rules.
Continued below the cut.
The Fool: Robin
Card meaning: Seeker, innocence, freedom, courage, adventure, travel, foolishness, new beginnings, all paths available, folly, instability.
How it relates: Due to his amnesia, Robin is essentially starting at the "beginning" in a lot of ways, where he is ignorant to the history of the world he exists in but also where every possibility is open to him.
Imagery: Robin laying in the field at the beginning of the game, still asleep.
How it relates: Aversa was kidnapped and brainwashed by Validar as a young child due to having a special magic ability.
Imagery: Aversa holding a tome, casting a dark magic spell. In the Raider Waite card, there are some flowers in the design -- perhaps these are flowers that represent deception (Black Dahlia?) to represent how her memories of Validar and her past have been fabricated.
How it relates: Naga is a divine being in the eyes of Ylisseans and some in Valm, as well. To those that follow her, she is seen as benevolent and a being with humanity's best in mind.
Imagery: Naga looking down upon the world from Mount Prism.
How it relates: Lissa is someone that deeply cares for others and looks to welcome all. Plus, I like that — despite not having the Mark of the Exalt — that she can be represented as the empress.
Imagery: As a way to represent how she encourages and inspires others around her due to her cheery and caring personality, Lissa is surrounded by bountiful fields of wheat and vegetables.
The Emperor: The previous exalt (Emmeryn/Chrom/Lissa's Father)
How it relates: The previous exalt leveraged his power and authority to wage a crusade on Plegia. In theory supported at the time, he is now looked upon with disdain.
Imagery: A man sitting upon a throne, a dour face, Falchion in his hand resting between his knees. His face is obscured — perhaps almost like a torn portrait.
How it relates: Both Tiki and Validar are representatives of their respective religions. Tiki is known to be "the mouth of Naga" — representing Naga on Earth — while Validar's actual role in the first half of the game is hierophant — someone who represents the Grimleal faith in service of Grima.
Imagery: Tiki "face up" on the card, Validar "reversed" in the other direction. Displays the differing views of the world through their respective religions, while also a nod to how tarot cards can be upright or reversed.
The Lovers: The Shepherds
Card meaning: Love, virtue, kindred spirits, harmony, triumph over trial, intuitive decisions, moral lapse, quarrel, inadequacy, shared values
How it relates: The Shepherds largely represent the importance of bonds throughout the game. Ultimately, it is likely these bonds that ensure Robin can return after sacrificing themselves at the end of the game.
Imagery: A posed group image, each member smiling/not paying attention/interacting with the people around them in ways that display their individual personalities. The whole card is filled up by them, with no space dedicated to anything other than the Shepherds.
The Chariot: Walhart
Card meaning: Victory, overcoming obstacles, conquest, greatness, triumph of reason and will, overwhelming odds, sudden defeat, ambition, control
How it relates: Within Awakening, Walhart represents a rejection of the religions of the world, instead believing in his own power. In his pursuits to conquer the world, he leads a powerful army that ultimately falls by the hands of the Ylissean and Chon'sin forces.
Imagery: Walhart upon a steed, his banners flying behind him, sword in hand — an image of a man heading into battle.
Strength: Lucina
Card meaning: Resilience, courage, resolve, bravery, confidence, integrity, moral victory, force, action, violence, abuse of power
How it relates: Lucina has already been through a hellish future. Despite this, she displays continued perseverance to change the future for the better, despite the bleak odds.
Imagery: Similar to the official art of Lucina holding her mask in her hands — gaze off into the distance as if looking to the future — and her hair and edges of her design fading by into butterflies.
The Hermit: Chrom
Card meaning: Spiritual enlightenment, inspiration from above or within, discretion, vigilance, introspection, contemplation, inner guidance, solitude.
How it relates: HEAR ME OUT. A lot of Chrom's character arc in Awakening is him reflecting on what makes someone a good leader of their people, and then evolving into what leader he would like to be. We see this first in how he has disdain for his father, is inspired by Emmeryn, struggles with his own anger, and ultimately comes into his own version of leadership when facing off against Walhart.
Imagery: Chrom looking upon a banner in Castle Ylisse that displays the Mark of the Exalt.
How it relates: The Outrealm Gate is how the children of Awakening travel to the past to challenge fate.
Imagery: Just straight up the Outrealm portal (the one that Lucina jumps out of in the beginning of the game).
Justice: The Rite of Awakening
Card meaning: Integrity, honour, fairness, karmic justice, consequences, truth, honesty, cause and effect, self-righteousness.
How it relates: The power granted by the Rite of Awakening can be used to enact justice against Grima. However, the one who performs the rite must also be deemed worthy/just.
Imagery: Chrom lifting Falchion into the air, a rainbow-hued glow shining from behind the blade (a nod to Mount Prism).
How it relates: Ylisse’s Hierarch betrays the royal family by siding with the Plegians — an act that also results in his being killed by Plegian soldiers.
Imagery: The Hierarch on his knees, looking like he could either be praying or begging for his life.
How it relates: PSYCH! Grima isn't the Devil card! Throughout Awakening, Grima is often referred to as a god of destruction. Grima is also the one who creates the Risen, warriors raised from death, and promises the end (death) of the world.
Imagery: The dragon Grima hanging in the sky above a burning Ylisstol.
How it relates: Emmeryn is seen as this shining beacon of morality and levelheadedness in the first half of the game, later on used as a point of inspiration for a leader who cares for her people.
Imagery: Emmeryn walking among the people of Ylisstol in a busy street, a gentle smile upon her face.
How it relates: The devil card felt appropriate in aligning with Gangrel’s nickname being the “Mad King.” For “misplaced loyalty”, perhaps his misplaced loyalty in Validar and Aversa, who had ulterior motives in following him. Additionally, Gangrel mentions he became the way he is following his time at war/in battle. In this way, the Gangrel as the Devil could also be seen as the corrupting power of war.
Imagery: Similar layout to typical Devil card, with Gangrel in their centre of the card, on either side of him is Validar and Aversa. Gangrel appears to be laughing hysterically.
How it relates: The Dragon’s Table is where Robin kills Chrom in the original timeline and where thousands of people are sacrificed to revive Grima in the current timeline. Both circumstances suggest future calamity.
Imagery: The shadow of the dragon Grima cast upon the surface of the Dragon’s Table.
How it relates: Morgan as a character has such a positive/youthful energy, and even despite not having their memories like Robin. They are recruited into the Shepherds relatively late into the game, but their introduction feels like it brings a new, renewed energy to the ensemble cast.
Imagery: Both male and female Morgan beside each other, reaching up to a star in an almost youthful/silly pose.
How it relates: Say'ri is committed to fighting against Walhart for the safety of her people. Also feels poetic to have Say'ri as The Sun to Yen'fay's The Moon.
Imagery: In a direct comparison to Yen’fey, Say’ri would be holding her sword in front of her and facing to the left (if you were to put the cards in order and side by side, this would have Yen’fey and Say’ri “facing off” in battle against each other). There is a sun behind her. Whereas Yen’fey’s eyes are closed, Say’ri’s are open.
How it relates: At the end of Awakening, it is either Chrom or Robin who strikes the final blow against Grima, laying their own judgement against the threat Grima represents against the world.
Imagery: Chrom and Robin standing side by side, Grima in the centre. However, the design is an almost inverse to the Devil card (as seen within the Rider Waite deck) — Chrom and Robin in the foreground, so appear larger/bigger than Grima who is in the background, giving the sense that the power in the moment lies with Chrom/Robin, rather than with Grima.
The World: The field outside Southtown
Card meaning: Long journey, achievement, conclusion, travel, completion, fulfilment, sense of belonging, wholeness.
How it relates: links to when Robin is found in the field again at the end of Awakening — the culmination of the game and thus the fool’s journey, the promise of a new future, and a sense of everything coming full circle.
Imagery: a singular tree along a curving path that cuts through the field and stretches into the distance.
There are a few cards I think could be swapped around a bit (in particular, I think Chrom and Lucina’s cards could easily be swapped), but would love to know your thoughts, as well! Maybe one day I’ll get into my thoughts on what the minor arcana could look like (one initial thought is that sword/axe/lance/magic represents swords/pentacles/cups/wands, respectively), but this is it for now!
Also I have very minimal illustration skills, so I cannot bring this vision to life. But if you feel so inclined, I would not stop you 👀
what character are you most excited to introduce in The Blank Man?
Without question, it's Grima.
Grima as a character/concept within the Awakening world is so so SO interesting. I see them as providing a lot of opportunity to delve into the world's religion and history (for example), but also an opportunity to further explore Robin's identity, the idea of fate, control, etc. etc. etc. Lots of interesting themes to be able to explore through Grima's character!
To be honest, we're not super close to this introduction, but I've been laying a lot of groundwork for this already. I won't tell you exactly what that groundwork has been, but with every chapter we are getting closer and closer.....the anticipation builds even for me lol.
If I had to pick a character who will be showing up sooner rather than later, it'd be Henry. Personally, I just think his character is fun. But I also have Plans.
What if post game, Chrom and Lissa do manage to find Robin again after defeating Grima, but... she doesn't remember anything about them? Their mariage? Their love?💜💙💔
Everything I read about recovering from burnout is like “it takes months or even years to fully recover” and it’s like okay…. I have a weekend before I gotta clock in on Monday
“How I’ve missed fighting with you, Chrom. Come – stand at my side like you used to! Nothing would pleasure me more than stabbing you in the back a second time!“
My life this calendar year has kinda imploded in terms of how much time I have had available to dedicate to writing (read: very little), but I am putting it out into the universe that I will be updating The Blank Man THIS WEEK. I AM PUBLICLY COMMITTING TO THIS TIME FRAME.
