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The Chariot

Trump #: 7
Power: Conflict
Name: Edgar (Manda)
Height: 6'1
Journal:
Servants: 3

Skills:
Combat: Sword
Charioteering
Sensuality (aka...expert hitting on women.)

Class: Gladiator

Card Meaning: A need to be in control of competing forces, or else taking the middle road. Also can be the means to triumph over obstacles and acheive your desires.

History: Much of a philanderer, The Chariot was perhaps one of the most travelled of the Court. He visited raceways and tournaments in all the four kingdoms, and was notably one of the fastest to ever grace an Arena. Beyond that, he knew how to fight, and could give Death a run for her money when he so felt inclined.

But as the years passed and he failed to age, people began to suspect and he was driven back to the castle. It was said he never quite got over it, but the only noted change was an occasional wish to stir up trouble.

In the early days, he had been a military man...first for the Kingdom of Cups, and then for the Castle. He had been on many conquests...supressing rebellions and keeping the peace, bringing the reign of the new empire to all corners of the globe. Not that that was a bad thing. Yet he was disturbed, at the end. The world was his...in a way. He had suffered no defeats. And it was at that time he turned to Arena fighting, seeking out someone...anyone...that could beat him. Was he infallible? He had to know.

Strangely it was only in the other residents of the castle that he could find a challenge. But that still left him with the question....what now?

-- Sitting Room
Upon going through the door, the first thing that greets your eyes is a table, slightly offset from the center of the room. The table isn't really very large but it is impressive, simply because of its design. The top of it is square, and inset with different woods. First, the outer edges are of a light wood - then a circle of a darker wood. Next, two different woods (light and dark) form a somewhat faded checkerboard in the center - a chess board. The legs curve outward from each corner, thick and yet graceful - ending in lion's paw feet. Drawers set in the sides of the table presumably hold the chess pieces themselves.

The two chairs on either side of the table match it in style, dark opulent cushioning covering them. Two more matching chairs flank a small "fainting couch" set off to one side - the upholstery on the couch a slightly lighter color than that on the chairs.

Along that same wall, there is a sideboard, glasses and decanters organized neatly along its surface and ready to serve whatever guests may come to these chambers. A massive fireplace takes up most the opposite wall - the mantle above it holds various trophies, commemorating past victories of one sort or another. Above it all, there are several mounted swords - and were one to look closely, it could be seen that these swords are not mere decorative pieces. Each one is razor-sharp and well cared for - as if the owner of them wishes to be able to take them off to wall to use at any given moment.

-- Alcove
Through a door opposite the one that leads into the tower, there is a small alcove with various doors leading off in different directions. This space is a sort of oval shape - but one could be fooled into thinking it perfectly round were they not observant.

-- Right Door - Stairs
To the right, the door leads to a short hallway, with a narrow spiral staircase at the end, leading up into darkness.

-- Left Door - Trophy Room
Upon going through the door to the left, you enter a large room, three walls of which are lined with shelves. This is no library, however, for all the shelves are filled with trophies. The designs of some of them are strange - and they seem to be from all different countries, all different time periods. Several of the largest are in a case by themselves, glass doors closed over the front. Along the one bare wall, there are paintings, a familiar figure appearing somewhere in nearly every one. It's clear that these trophies are not thought of as very important though, as nearly all of them are tarnished and dust covers the shelves. It appears someone is trying to clean the room now, one of the shelves closest to the door half-dusted, the trophies that were on it having been moved to the foor.

-- Door Ahead - Bedroom
The bedroom is the largest of all the rooms on the lower floor - the far wall rounded and housing several windows that look out on the castle grounds. This particular tower provides views of both the Garden and the Arena, windows facing north and east. To one side of these windows is a very large bed, piled high with a down comforter and several pillows. There is a canopy above the bed, thick curtains drawn back with twisted silken cords. The colors of the room match those in the sitting room - mostly dark, rich reds and burgundies. To offset this, the walls are painted a sort of taupe tan color - providing a welcome rest for the eyes.

Somewhat offset from the center of the room is a full-length mirror on a stand, canted slightly to one side - as if shoved out of place. The feel of it is that it is necessary for the owner of the room to have it, but that it is not a particularly well-liked object.

Across from the bed is a low dresser - those same woods from the sitting room used in varying places throughout its design. The top of the dresser is mostly clean, though sometimes various personal objects are scattered here and there across it. At the moment, there is a half-open envelope, with the corner of a piece of paper sticking out - the invitation to the upcoming Masquerade. Two more doors flank the dresser, the left leading back toward the center of the tower and the right more toward the outer wall.

A final door is set to one side of the right one, smaller, leading to a walk-in closet. The closet is filled with various equipment - everything from normal clothing to formal wear, to armor on racks. There was also a wall devoted to yet more swords and other weapons - all much less "pretty" than the swords in the sitting room and obviously used often. A single wooden bar in the section with clothes is filled with women's clothing in various sizes and styles - as if ready for any female visitor who may visit.

-- Sept. 29, 2006
Edgar receives the Chariot card

--Oct. 8, 2006
A meeting with The World

--Nov. 11, 2006
The Chariot Runs the Gauntlet