Temperance

- XIV -
"It is only through the balancing of extremes that the individual can grow."

Description

Rather than abstinence from extremes, Temperance is about drawing together those same extremes and synthesizing them. Though two respective forces might seem as in direct conflict with one another as fire and water, Temperance shows that with the right knowledge and right touch, even these can be drawn together and joined to form a greater whole without losing the qualities of either. Temperance may find themselves in possession of an inner peace, a center point of their own mixed extremes. Or perhaps they may disguise beneath the apparent calm an inner turmoil. But patience is key, as is care; a sloppy union, as Temperance may discover, is worse than no union at all. And some forces yet are too much even for Temperance's talents to bring together. But moderation, in the meantime, can serve themselves and others well.

Some things, as the reverse of Temperance shows, should not or cannot be joined together. What should have been a solution of a problem only makes matters worse, despite their best efforts otherwise. Chaos ensues. Or perhaps the effort or the will isn't present to mix things properly, or perhaps they have gotten themselves caught up in matters that are well beyond their efforts to change or bring together.

Sample Personae

• Mithra, deity of contracts who was the protector of truth and the enemy of error
• Xiezhai, a spirit of Chinese legend who punishes evildoers
• Seiryuu, the Azure Dragon of the East

Example Persona-Users/Shadow-Possessed

• None

Upright Traits

Harmony, Balance, Health, Moderation, Joining forces, Well-being, Recovery, Equilibrium, Transcendence, Unification, Synthesis, Bringing together opposites, Feeling secure. The skilled diplomat who gets the leaders of two warring nations to talk about how to make peace while on a safari.

Reversed Traits

OPPOSITE: Volatility, Negative escalation, Making things worse instead of better, Solutions that go horribly wrong, Attempting reconciliation and achieving war. Someone who tries to get two arguing friends to make up, and instead they break into a fistfight.
BLOCKED: Inability to mix, Inability to make things mix, Lack of effort or ability to get things just right, Saying the wrong thing. Someone who tries to get two arguing friends to make up, and they end up giving each other the silent treatment.
UPSIDE-DOWN: Groundless dreams, Pipe dreams, Attempting what will not work, Lack of drive, Inability to turn theory into reality. Someone who thinks about trying to get two arguing friends to make up, but either goes about it in completely the wrong way or never actually gets to it.