Thank you for visiting The Alter-Ego™!
Our site takes places in an original universe set within the realm of Shin Megami Tensei's "Persona" video game series. We are an English-literate roleplay that emphasizes detailed, story-driven character development with a pseudo-statistical format that seeks to emulate the experience of playing the games. Form bonds with characters and roleplayers alike in an interactive Persona experience unlike any other.
Events
PROLOGUE: The site is now open under beta circumstances. What
you are viewing is a fully playable version of the site that will
evolve and release more content as you role-play. Please, enjoy
this project as much as we have had making it.
- The Velvet Room Staff
Drawing their names from the Major Arcanas of a standard Tarot deck, they are represented as twenty-two distinctive archetypes that every human being will either embody or encounter at some point throughout their relatively short life on Earth; they are the endless multitude of possibilities dwelling within the sea of the soul.
The Arcana is the means by which all is revealed.
In the Persona games, a character's Arcana is intrinsic to their Persona, just as the latter exists as a fundamental facet of the former's identity. The Arcanas also play a small role in determining the types of skills a Persona may bear preference towards learning; a Persona classified under the Emperor Arcana, for example, is likely to learn a mix of strong physical skills and elemental magic, especially Electric attacks.
Arcana is determined by a number of factors: things such as the character's state of mind or their current position in life, as well as the Persona's background lore and any information relevant to it, will have a hand in revealing a character's assigned Arcana. A methodical individual who values fairness with a Persona bearing roots in Christian mythology, for example, will almost invariably be represented by the Justice Arcana.
something to consider
We feel that it should be known that the information provided below is best observed as a series of creative suggestions rather than empirical fact or law carved in stone; one may choose to represent their character as any Arcana they wish, provided one's interpretation of their chosen Arcana is sound enough.
Please, feel free to ask myself or one of my attendants for assistance if difficulties in this field persist.
It is expressly prohibited, however, for a character and their Persona to fall under two separate Arcanas.
Esoteric Meaning The Fool is a blank slate, as evidenced by its assignment of the number zero: completely without value of its own, but able to become whatever it wants as a direct result of this absence of impression. It is the innocent child, the naive person completely ignorant to the greater schema of the universe at large, and one who freely moves from place to place in their search for wisdom and understanding. In this sense, everyone is their own Fool on a journey toward self-discovery.
Common Themes New beginnings; spontaneity; innocence; possibilities; eccentricity; childlike wonder; purity of thought and action; absence of worldliness; living in the moment; endless capacity for growth; limitless potential.
Fool Personas Jacks-of-all-trades and masters of none, a Persona of the Fool Arcana is statistically well-rounded with a balanced set of combat parameters and bear an innate potential to learn almost any skill without holding a preference for specific types. They often manifest as literal fools or characters that evoke a similar image (e.g., clowns or harlequins), heroes and/or heroines, or characters that are portrayed as a protagonist or a central figure to their own stories or legends.
Examples of Characters – The entire collective of active Persona users. – Igor, the proprietor of the Velvet Room. – Your five-year-old sibling.
Additional Notes The unique nature of the Fool Arcana and its traditional connection to various protagonists of the Persona games cannot be accurately simulated on a text-by-post forum and must instead be applied to characters as if it were bereft of the "Wild Card" power.
Esoteric Meaning The Magician is a figure with access to knowledge and abilities beyond your own, perhaps even surpassing your understanding of that which you do know. Whether a mentor or a peer, they are impelled to achieve overwhelming success and possess the energy and the passion to do it. In this regard, they are excessively faithful in the pursuit of a goal that others may consider unrealistic, and are prone to fantastic thinking.
Common Themes Creativity; spontaneous action; passion; manifestation of will; communication; magic; career paths; self-employment; entrepreneurship; mastery of skills and/or resources; surpassing the plausible; sudden inspiration.
Shadow Aspects Deceitfulness; false appearances; con artistry; charlatans; communicative blocks; abuse of power or resources; procrastination; ill intentions; being out of depth; immaturity; liars; obsession.
Magician Personas As their name implies, Personas of the Magician Arcana have a natural inclination towards magical combat and are able to learn a diverse arsenal of skills in exchange for a more deliberate growth pattern by acquiring these skills in sequential sets. Aside from literal magicians and sorcerers, Magician Personas often manifest as mythical or legendary characters renowned for their brilliance, or deity figures associated with magic, fire, or light.
Examples of Characters – The resident class clown. – An aspiring amateur stage magician that wants to be an opening act. – Your crazy smart science teacher with the bushy grey mustache.
Esoteric Meaning The Priestess, sometimes called the High Priestess, is a person of secrets and mystery. Oftentimes, she holds a position of great authority and power, but her true role is that of an adviser who provides counsel from behind the scenes. In order to earn her spiritual insight, integrity of character must first be established, since only she can recognize that not everyone will be able to comprehend the full value of her special wisdom. In being selective with who she trusts, the Priestess quietly teaches us to trust ourselves.
Common Themes Intuition; mystery; psychic and/or spiritual insight; emotional stability; esoteric wisdom and/or knowledge; divination; things not easily understood; feminine energy; self-trust; discovering one's own truth.
Shadow Aspects Concealing wisdom from others; withholding knowledge; secrets; misusing spiritual gifts; self-deceit; refusing to listen; being lied to; submissiveness.
Priestess Personas Personas of the Priestess Arcana are the embodiment of youthful feminine energy, bearing a heavy preference for learning healing and support-based skills as a reflection of their impersonal approach to combat, but learn a fewer number of damage-dealing skills as an exchange for this dedication to sustaining the party's performance. Apart from actual priestesses, Priestess Personas often appear as oracles, witches, important maiden characters, or feminine deity figures associated with aspects such as intuition, secrets, guidance, prophecy, or truth.
Examples of Characters – The student council vice-president learning to take over the family business. – A kindly fortune-teller offering palm readings at an annual festival. – Your friend's nine-year-old sister that keeps a diary.
Esoteric Meaning The Empress represents the capacity for cultivation and growth, and thus serves as a symbol of material abundance. Much like our own mothers, she nurtures and cares for herself with the same protective devotion she commits to her children, be they the subjects under her authority or even her actual offspring. This fierceness may appear frigid and cold to those who do not understand the Empress, but this is only an attribute of her instinct to defend that which she cherishes.
Common Themes Womanhood; fertility; pregnancy; abundance; sexuality; aesthetics; motherhood; the five senses; elegance; multitasking; reaping the fruits of success; prosperity; protection; comfort.
Empress Personas Personas that fall under the Empress Arcana are the manifestation of womanhood and thus tend to be equally committed to learning skills of an offensive and defensive nature to better protect themselves and their allies. Empress Personas are almost exclusively feminine characters, namely significant female monarchs, fertility and nature goddesses, mother deities, or prominent cultural heroines.
Examples of Characters – The classroom teacher who knows how to keep her students in line. – The self-motivated babysitter holding two jobs down. – Your mother.
Esoteric Meaning The Emperor, in the broadest sense, represents authority and exertion of control. He commands respect through example, taking charge of his own affairs with precision and shaping his environment to suit his needs. He is masculine energy personified, the ideal father figure, and while this powerful atmosphere might intimidate those outside his sphere of influence, he teaches us to lead others — and ourselves — through a lens of virtuous integrity.
Shadow Aspects Autocracy; obsessive-compulsiveness; weakness disguised as cruelty; underachievement; withdrawing support; tyranny; abusing of privilege; lacking discipline; lawlessness; emasculation.
Emperor Personas Personas categorized under the Emperor Arcana are offensive powerhouses that dominate the battlefield with crushing strength and devastating magical attacks. This inclination for damage infliction is offset by their rather fragile defenses, a kind of "glass cannon" effect. Emperor Personas are almost exclusively masculine characters, namely significant male monarchs, prominent cultural heroes, father figures, or a being of theological authoritative significance, such as the chief of a pantheon.
Examples of Characters – The overly formal captain of the debate club. – The leader of a gang of street punks. – A politician looking to strengthen his home community.
Esoteric Meaning The Hierophant is a figure traditionally associated with religion and the esoteric divine, dressed in ceremonial robes and poised in a way that openly captures his role as a conduit between the material world and the spiritual realm. He is not proselytizing his own beliefs so much as he is encouraging us to analyze the value of comparing our own beliefs with others, and in doing so he acts as a medium for spiritual discourse, an educator to those willing to become a student of his teachings.
Common Themes Group identity; conformity; rules; seeking or providing moral guidance; religious and spiritual groups; education; maintaining the status quo; academic enthusiasm.
Shadow Aspects Cult mentality; false knowledge; preaching without practicing; moral extremism; political incorrectness; withholding education; dissolution of civic services; rejection of religion; ostracism; failed interventions.
Hierophant Personas Personas of the Hierophant Arcana are well-rounded and possess no outstanding strengths or weaknesses, as they are specifically tailored to account for the advantages brought about by the rest of the party, ensuring their repertoire of learned skills and affinities remain useful no matter the situation. Hierophant Personas often mirror Priestess Personas thematically from the opposite end of the gender spectrum, appearing as important male religious figures or masculine characters associated with knowledge, wisdom, tradition, education, or spirituality.
Examples of Characters – Your local minister at the neighborhood church. – The insightful grandparents of a motivational speaker. – A police officer with conservative views about politics.
Esoteric Meaning The Lovers represent the importance of choices and the implications of picking sides when faced with a crossroads. Do you err on the path of caution and take the option that yields the fewest risks, or do you follow your heart in spite of the possible dangers? It is this particular dichotomy of "needs-versus-wants" that perfectly captures the delicate nature of more general themes such as love, romance, relationships, and even impassioned sexual encounters.
Common Themes Choices; critical decisions; marriage; partnerships; romantic affections; obligations; commitment; love; ignited passion; union; harmony between desire and reason; establishing trust; newly kindled relationships; intimacy.
Shadow Aspects Divorce; fear of commitment; infidelity; fading affections; broken relationships; offers falling through; parting company; poor choices; unwanted attachments; ambivalence; indecisiveness; wearing rose-colored glasses; repeating past mistakes.
Lovers Personas Personas of the Lovers Arcana have an innate talent for learning potent support and healing skills, augmented by a predisposition towards either ranged or melee combat based on their owner's specific preferences, alluding to the importance of choice by prohibiting the acquisition of skill types with an inherent opposition to one another. Lovers Personas are often mystical creatures, historical figures, or mythological characters that embody concepts like love, romance, marriage, faithfulness, devotion, or union.
Examples of Characters – The very popular captain of the cheerleader squad. – A long-time bachelor with no applicable relationship experience that falls in love with a married woman. – A teenager of divorced parents who must choose between living with his mother or father.
Esoteric Meaning The Chariot is an expression of action against hardship, the desire to conquer adversity and the energy needed to rise above all obstacles and seize triumphant victory. The duality between the sphinxes' clashing colors denotes a need to assert control over one's latent potential and, most importantly, direct it towards a positive end. Only by assuming complete control of the reins will the driver succeed at becoming his own agent of immense personal change.
Common Themes Action; impetus; energy; exertion; hard control; ambition; confidence; effortless success; transportation; direction; achieving a sense of purpose; victory in the face of adversity; acting as a pillar of support.
Shadow Aspects Scattered energies; lacking direction; taking the hard way out; loss of momentum; no ambition or willpower; restlessness; codependency; conflicts of interest; domineering cruelty; warmongering.
Chariot Personas Personas belonging to the Chariot Arcana are renowned for their natural aptitude for physical attacks and support skills that aim to augment their damage inflicting potential, allowing them to efficiently sustain the flow of combat without losing traction. As representations of forward movement and power, Chariot Personas typically assume the images of war deities, conquerors, culturally significant heroes and heroines, or mythological figures associated with the aspects of travel, ambition, willpower, or victory.
Examples of Characters – The former star of the track team looking for a second chance. – A tomboy with six older brothers and a penchant for sports and horseback riding. – An aspiring stock car racer trying to pay his mother's hospital bills.
Esoteric Meaning The Justice Arcana is the codification of impartiality in pursuit of fairness, truth, and justice in the general sense of the term. From lawyers on opposite sides of the courtroom to divorced parents trying to raise a single child together, it represents the necessity for careful analysis and a rational approach to a situation that is otherwise emotionally detached from the people chosen to act as its participants — justice is, after all, depicted being blind.
Common Themes Justice; karma; equilibrium; truth; fairness; responsibility; accountability; integrity; dignity; agreements; legal or civic affairs; consultations; equity through impartiality.
Shadow Aspects Injustice; dishonesty; imbalance; hypocrisy and lies; being out-maneuvered; dismissal of ethics; truth is silenced; corruption; making or receiving the wrong decision; bias; prejudice; broken promises.
Justice Personas Avatars of righteousness and virtue, Personas of the Justice Arcana prominently display an inherent affinity for learning Bless attacks. Consequently, their frequent affiliation with attributes suggesting holiness or divinity tend to result in a polar weakness to Curse abilities. Further owing to these connections, Justice Personas commonly manifest as figures of Abrahamic lore, cultural heroes of public acclaim, or deities and characters associated with concepts like justice, law, duty, order, and regulation.
Examples of Characters – A newly appointed defense attorney that must win a case against a corrupt prosecutor. – The older sister of two younger twin brothers that always get into trouble with the law. – A district judge who must choose between two options that directly challenge his conscience.
THE ALTER EGO is the original work of IGOR and XIII. Any and all content is copyrighted to THE ALTER EGO.
Copying, altering, or stealing any of the site's content is prohibited.
All of THE ALTER EGO'S characters are the original work of their owners may not be replicated or stolen.
All images and graphics belong to their rightful owners and THE ALTER EGO does not claim to own any of them.
PERSONA and SHIN MEGAMI TENSEI are copyrighted works and concepts by ATLUS INC.
The skin was created by TIMELAPSE OF WICKED WONDERLAND and editted by SKYTHE.
