ABOUT

In the beginning, there was nothing, and then the twenty-two beings of the Major Arcana came to the galaxy. They molded four planets, settling three of them with their creations. When they were done, they carried out their days on Tarocco, their favorite of them all. Tarocco was a lush planet with three large continents and two prominent islands. It had two suns, called Le Te and Ze Jo, that chased each other through the sky and one moon, called Illargia, always bright and often full. The beings they created to live there were the most beautiful of all, from mermaids to centaurs, hybrids to dragons, elves and dark and light, and those made in their own image. Each of the species pleased the Major Arcana and matched them in temperament and consciousness.

 

The Gods of Tarot, as the Major Arcana would come to be called, based on the cards they introduced to their creation, provided guidance and hope, temptation and justice for the masses. Their creation worshiped and idolized them. They made sacrifices to the Gods, and in return the beings would give their magic.

 

Though frowned upon by a few of the Major Arcana, sometimes the Gods of Tarot mixed with their creations, resulting in Demigods of all kinds. Immortal and carrying traces of their sires' power, the people revered them too, and afforded them special treatment.

 

After several centuries on their favorite planet, the Gods of Tarot grew tired of mentoring the people and left for the fourth planet, Cheskaya, where they still live to this day. They took some of their progeny with them, finding them worthy of the honor. They deemed those left behind dishonored, losing their once prominent status and becoming shunned by the inhabitants of Tarocco.

 

Not wanting to leave their creation unattended and lost, the Gods of Tarot chose twenty-two beings to act as their proxies and embody the wisdom of the Major Arcana. In order to avoid complacency, the Gods gifted the Majors, as they would come to be called, one hundred years of service. For a century, the chosen would wield the full magic of the Gods and take over the duties of they had once seen to. At the end of the century, on the first of Lura, new candidates were chosen and put through a series of four tasks. Only those successful in the tasks would Ascend to the role of Major.

 

How they chose their replacements would be up to each of the Majors. Majors could select a candidate publicly, or in secret, ‌hiding their choice from the candidate themselves. The inhabitants of Tarocco would also volunteer to compete for the role, though the success of that has been questioned. Once they passed the powers of the Major Arcana on, the previous Majors would join the Gods of Tarot on Cheskaya, where they would enjoy immortality.

 

Over the centuries, countries formed and advanced at their own pace. Places like Akenosot and Nipyct advanced slowly, keeping themselves away from the rest of the world. Whereas countries like Brathlief and R’lachek embraced technology and science, often in competition with each other.

 

The most notable evolution was the loss of belief in the Gods of Tarot and the Ascension of the Majors. All around the world, temples lay in disrepair after centuries of neglect. While not everyone had given up belief, enough did that truths were lost and misinformation was rampant.

 

Luckily, each Ascension year, many individuals took up the mantle and continued the cycle of the Majors, and the year of 1300 was no different.