Nothing really to say on this – so on immediately with our latest reading for Vulpes Vulpes’ prospects over the summer. As I said, I don’t think Cameron has so far shown he has much strategic resources to be the Vodalian Mage – the surprise twist in the tail of this long hot Parliament. He may surprise me, but given that the VM needs the element of substance and surprise – and Foxy’s interventions have been at best wholly predictable and wholly superficial – I’m not 100% sure that he can be at all.
READING: DAVID CAMERON – PROGNOSIS OVER THE SUMMER
Situation
Moonglove Winnower – Black – Elf Rogue
Winnowers live to eliminate eyeblights, creatures the elves deem too ugly to exist.
This to me encapsulates Cameron’s whole period of leadership – the elimination of anything he personally deems doesn’t fit. While this can sometimes be a tactic and strategy that is necessary to bring together a disparate and divided coalition into an efficient machine capable of government, the element of black in Cameron’s first card suggests this is not actually what is right for this situation, nor does it bode well for the situation Cameron is in. If this card was white, I would say he was going the right way to unite the party, but his conception of unity is trying to destroy or persecute those that don’t fit and warping the concept of party discipline into something that drives his personal beliefs – ugly as they are – into a position for personal gain. The “Deathtouch” is still deadly, but for how much longer Cameron can act this way after the events of the spring depends largely on how long he can go without revealing any depth or substance of what he wants to do. His own business affairs were shaky in the run-up to the European elections, and his tactics now have not changed – he will say anything, do anything, pledge anything purely to gain a short-term advantage. I don’t believe this can sustain him in government and after the surprises of this spring I think Cameron is on the rampage – but losing the control needed to govern properly. Time will tell what happens but Black does often speak for itself.
Public Appearance
Fertile Ground – Green – Enchantment/Aura
Pretty, vulnerable, and delicious – a boggart [or goblin] thief’s trifecta.
The bloom and cornucopia on the card is belied by the flavour text – Cameron is still marginally on top but he is also vulnerable – as vulnerable as Brown – to events and predators. My overall belief is that this situation has no real victor currently in place; the events of the spring confirmed to me that both parties would suffer from what was to come if what Owlperson has been trying to tell me for two years or so would be able to come about. So here the public still seem fairly well-disposed to Foxy, with the caveat that he is also vulnerable from the threats lurking ahead during the summer and his success or failure is still dependent on the whims of a thirsty press and public.
Media appearance
Nameless Inversion – Black – Tribal Instant/Shapeshifter
Just as a changeling’s influence can have dramatic effects, so too can its sudden withdrawal.
This points to a waning in Foxy’s influence over the press as the judgements are made on expenses – Vulpes Vulpes initially profited from the scandal by being seen to do something about it, proposing some vapidly promising ways of diverting the public’s attention from his own affairs and those of his comrades, and trying to persuade people he was better equipped to deal with things after an immediate election. Then he crashed in the polls and failed to radically better Michael Howard’s results at the European elections. I haven’t seen many polls since then – trying to de-tox enough to get on with my own life – but I would imagine the media no longer sees him as their great white – or even reddish-brown – hope. The situation is in flux, and can change rapidly. And it’s another black card. All is not well in Foxy-land either, we just may not yet see it. What a surprise.
Inner reality – personal
Stonybrook Angler – Blue – Merfolk Wizard
“Water is in the air, the trees, and the earth. Understand its motion, speak its language, and the subtle currents that flow through all living things will fall under your command.”
Foxy is not stupid. He does know how to act, in the same way Tony Blair did. He does understand the currents and tries to swim with them, and knows – like a good magician – how to fool the public, and how at times to genuinely impress without giving them too many ideas as to how he does it. But this changeability might be useful in opposition; he may need to solidify and build on this to make sure he is ready for his desired election. Again, a Merfolk Wizard, but not our Vodalian Mage, who frightens and impresses – and kills – with surprise and direct action. If Foxy can come up with something from this introspection (I feel this card means he is always looking for ways to present himself as bigger and better than Brown without having to come up with the goods; and this is a particular issue at the moment), then he can actually be the VM. If not, then not.
Inner reality – party
Gilt-Leaf Seer – Green – Elf Shaman
Desmera blinded her seers so that her beauty would be the last image burned in their memories. The act only deepened their insight.
The damage done to the Conservatives only makes them stronger and wiser. If this power can be controlled by Foxy, so much the better (for him at least). But if he has blinded them in some way, then the party knows who did it, and what they need to restore their sight. By manipulating and breaking his party in to their communal harness, Foxy may think he has made sure of their loyalty; but I’m not sure that the party does not at the same time resent this imposition. Peter Oborne took a stand against the sleazebags in Cameron’s Shadow Cabinet – but no-one save Andrew Mackay has been sacked, unlike the mass destruction of Brown’s own Cabinet. This may be an issue Foxy has to face at some point. The party is still blind – but this produces a way of viewing the world which relies on feelings rather than conscious vision. The dangers here are latent, but could surprise if things get too bad later on.
Roots of his situation
Scarred Vinebreeder – Black – Elf Shaman
For disfigured elves, there are few choices beyond death or nettlevine.
Another Black card. Cameron has to work harder now, is what I’m getting from “Deep Throat”, because he has produced a legion of disaffected Tories beneath the parapet of public view. If the Nameless Inversion becomes too great, they could cause problems; they already in effect have, but I’m getting from Deep Throat as well that there is still too much holding the party together which needs to be loosened before things can really get going. Nevertheless, he adds that this blackness in Foxy’s cards – where Gordon had mostly red (chaos) and green (deeper power and solidity), Vulpes Vulpes has too much black, even so far, to be really confident of anything greater than current output. While the disaffected have not made their move, Foxy is safe. But when they do, he’s toast.
Seeds sown by his situation
Thieving Sprite – Black – Faerie Rogue
Deep Throat, who has made himself audible because he says I am more relaxed, more switched off to external influences (the barrage of press information or other people’s opinions, mainly, but also non-political personal issues such as worrying about indigestion, gastric flu or my boss from hell) and more receptive to information from above, says that this represents that more difficulties for the Tories over their money matters are on the way; and he says the issue of second jobs that I saw plastered over Page 2 in the Sun on Monday was not a red herring by any means. Thievery was not just confined to Labour, and Cameron’s refusal to clear out the dead-wood in the Shadow Cabinet may still plague him. He is unable to resist more meddling and more intransigent reluctance to give up the perks of the job. DT also says that the sacrificial backbenchers were not enough for Cameron to really fill the electorate with confidence that he is the one to sort things out. Nevertheless, for the time being, DT says, I should not get excited about the ultimate defenestration yet.
Advice
Runed Stalactite – Artifact/Equipment
When a changeling adopts a form no other changeling has taken, a rune appears in the caverns of Velis Vel to mark the events.
The key to this card is innovation and ingenuity, particularly in the area of policy. It is something the Tories just lack, and what will win them the election and distance themselves from sleaze. We’ve been asking the same question for three and a half years, we get a different answer every time, and nothing seems to add up, but we might as well keep asking him while he is around to answer us. The advice, in other words, is the same as it always has been – stop relying on tactics and start thinking long-term, governmental strategy.
Warning
Wren’s Run Packmaster – Green – Elf Warrior
This is the gathering of forces, and in an ill-dignified aspect, it is the gathering of momentum against rather than for the leader as he currently leads. The disaffection of the Vinebreeder above can and will gather momentum if the advice is not taken and innovation is not made in policy terms to match Labour’s ability to come up with a new initiative every day and add more elements to its overgrown state. Without a coherent answer, the pack will gain new members, and since the wolves’ bite will be deadly, I would advise Fox to start running, fast, in the opposite direction.
Direction
Skittering Monstrosity – Black – Horror
Most living things were weakened and stunted in the ruinous aftermath of the Phyrexian invasion, but a few grew more horrid than ever.
As with last night’s reading for the Conservatives as a whole, the only way for the moment is down – the intensification of the corruption, the short-term tactics that only lead to winning the election rather than governing decently, the arrogance and sleight of hand which I have come to expect from Foxy. If he is the Vodalian Mage, then he will know how to deal with this Monstrosity. But since it came up in the Party’s cards, and is now in his cards, I think he is connected with the degeneration rather than the regeneration.
Solution
Smokebraider – Red – Elemental Shaman
“Be silent and listen to your inner fire. Only then can you walk the Path of Flame.”
Cameron needs to be able to grasp the flaming nettle here – mixing my metaphors to keep in with the cards rather than the English language – and do what no Tory leader has yet done – prove himself to be skilled at governing rather than winning. He does have the capability – his inner fire – but he doesn’t have the skills to launch a better strategy than just keeping quiet and hoping he can manipulate press and public to get into the driving seat. The expenses scandal and his reaction suggests to me he needs to promise something solid and substantial – but his inner fire is currently spent trying to manipulate and plot against a new Speaker chosen by Parliament. What is alien to him seems to be acceptance of the neutral elements of government because they don’t work in his direct personal or political favour. It’s his loss if he doesn’t learn to harness the inner fire, and it eventually guts him as a result.
Outcome
Elvish Promenade – Green – Tribal Sorcery/Elf
The faultless and immaculate castes form the lower tiers of elvish society, with the exquisite caste above them. At the pinnacle is the perfect, a consummate blend of aristocrat and predator.
Deep Throat counsels that this card means something different to when it came up for Gordon in the context of preening but over-ambitious juniors lining up to replace him. Foxy has no such problem; there are no contenders seriously vying for his job. However it does represent leadership issues, with personalities not so much clashing as conspiring in the event of difficulties to come. The depth of the cold malice inherent in this card is chilling. When it comes, it will come swiftly and coherently; but the weight of personal issues here means that as with the Cabinet, the corruption will be cleansed away (perhaps unwittingly) and the best can come out of this seemingly evil situation.
Significant events: June/July
Boggart Sprite-Chaser – Red – Goblin Warrior
“Auntie pointed out to the faerie how much mischief a flying boggart could wreak, and a beautiful new friendship was born.” – A Tale of Auntie Grub
The card shows a union of disparate interests in such a way as to make the Tories the ones to watch over the summer. Again the colour is red and the element of chaos is inserted into the situation; wild abandon trumps cool, clearheaded thought. It is this loss of control that shows the Tories to be just as bad as the government when it comes to internal politics; it is born not perhaps of frustration (although there is enough of that about) but also of high spirits leading to too much frivolity rather than too little. Something that seems innocent can turn deadly, and because this is Cameron’s cards in particular we are looking at rather than his party’s, it erodes his authority.
Significant events: August/September
Mournwhelk – Black – Elemental
It hoards Lorwyn’s rare sorrows.
An ending on a black card again does not sit well with Tory plans. “Rare” sorrows suggests that what no longer seems to fit with Tory success develops into something rather unfortunate; and discarding in the mechanics suggests an ending rather than a beginning.
Poor Vulpes Vulpes. Amen.
