B. J. Winters

Scenario

Young Mikal Cameresco tries to follow in his father's footsteps as head of a gypsy clan, with business interests in fortune telling and horse trading. But mysteries from the past reveal the promise of treasure. The prize could be a set of mystical stones, or it just might be his cousin Navah.

The Tarot begins with The Fool. This is because there are only two human stories worth retelling 1) a Stranger comes to town and 2) the Quest. And yet, some say there is only one story because a stranger, like a gypsy traveler, is always on a quest.

If you knew the future – How would you use that knowledge?

If you knew the terms of your own death – Would you follow the chosen path?

If you had a choice to be part of and thus protect family – What would you sacrifice?

Characters

Name: Mikal Cameresco

Gender: Male

Age: 22

Zodiac Sign: Aries
Current Residence: Ohrid, Macedonia

Height: 5' 9"
Weight: 160lbs
Body type: Lean
Hair: brown.
Eyes: amber

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Personality: A free thinking, and incredibly stubborn

Quote: "Today belongs to my father. Tomorrow does not."

Biography/Family: Eldest son of Dulin Cameresco

Education: Some college

Attire: more western than traditional

Strengths/Likes: Adaptable - enjoys change

Theme Song: Bon Jovi: Have a Nice Day (and) I Wanna Be Loved

Name: Navah Faas

Gender: Female

Age: 21

Zodiac Sign: Sagitarius

Nationality: Romo
Current Residence: Struga, Macedonia
Height: 5' 8"
Weight: 140lbs
Body type: Lean
Hair: shoulder length, brown.
Eyes: green
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Personality: Interested in upholding tradition, she does not agree with Mikal's more modern approach to business.

Quote: "No."

Biography/Family: Great Grand daughter of Stephano Faas, Cousin to the Cameresco's and Tzigane family

Education: Nothing past highschool - home schooled

Attire: European, traditional. long skirts and flowing blouses

Strengths/Likes: Honorable, although truthful is sometimes not an option.

Theme Song: Is this the game? - Marti Jones

Name: Luca Manush

Gender: Male

Age: 40

Zodiac Sign: Capricorn

Nationality: Romo
Current Residence: Ohrid, Macedonia
Height: 5' 11"
Weight: 170lbs
Body type: Athletic
Hair: short, brown.
Eyes: brown
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Personality: Scholarly, but with banked passion

Quote: "What can I do for you, my dear."

Biography/Family: The Manush family is linked with the gypsy clan, but they are not the natural leaders. Their numbers are also fewer, so they hold a "fringe" role in the business culture with a few key figures in supporting roles.

Education: Law school

Attire: Traditional, modern

Strengths/Likes: Fantastic memory and intellect

Theme Song:

MINOR CHARACTERS:

Name: Chal Tzigane

Name: Syera Camerescro

Name: Stephano Faas

Settings

Ohrid, Macedonia

Pictures of Ohrid (click as link)

Key locations pictured in Ohrid (click as link)

Navah's Tarrot Deck

Courtesy of tarrotgoddess.net

Relevant Historic Facts (and some not so relevant but set mood)

The history of the Roma is one of continuous struggle and persecution. The world's great wanderers, the Roma have been outlawed, enslaved, hunted, tortured, and murdered.

But all that is about to change....

Before AD 400. Some Indians become nomadic craftsmen and entertainers.

c.1000. Roma reach the Byzantine Empire (modern Greece and Turkey).

1496-1498. The Reichstag (parliament) in Landau and Freiburg declares Roma traitors to the Christian countries, spies in the pay of the Turks, and carriers of the plague.

1498. Four Gypsies accompany Christopher Columbus on his third voyage to the New World.

1554. In the English reign of Mary I, an Act is passed which decrees that the death penalty shall be imposed for being a Gypsy, or anyone who "shall become of the fellowship or company of Egyptians."

1560. The Archbishop of the Swedish Lutheran Church forbids priests to have any dealings with Roma. Their children are not to be christened and their dead not to be buried.

1620. Spanish legislation becomes harsher, forbidding Gitanos from dealing in horses. The local populace is given permission to form armed groups to pursue Gitanos. Outright murder permitted.

1733. Empress Anna Ioannovna of Russia decrees Roma are forbidden to travel and must settle down as serfs of the land.

1782. Joseph II of Hungary, son of Empress Maria Theresa, issues a 59-point edict reiterating his policy: schooling for children and compulsory attendance at religious services; Romani language, clothing and music are forbidden.

1803. Napolean Bonaparte prohibits residence of Roma in France. Children, women and the aged are sentenced to the poor house. Young men are given their choice of joining the navy or army. Adult men are sent to forced labour.

1830s. First wooden horse-drawn covered waggons for Gypsies are developed in England.

1848. Emancipation of serfs (including Roma) in Transylvania.

1890. Stefano Faas is born in Macedonia to a band of "story telling, thieving gypsies". The group establishes a clan and a fortunetelling empire turning the label into profit.

1926. The Swiss Pro Juventute Foundation begins, "in keeping with the theories of eugenics and progress," to take children away from Roma without their consent, to change their names, and to put them into foster homes. This program continues until 1973, and is not brought to light until the 1980s. Switzerland has apologized to the Roma, but adamantly refuses to allow them access to the records which will help them locate the children taken from them.

1934. Django Reinhardt forms "The Quintet Hot Club de France" and introduces French "swing jazz" to the world, influencing American jazz entertainers.

1933-45. O Porraimos, the Great Devouring. Up to 1,500,000 Sinti and Roma are killed in Europe by the Nazi regime and its puppet states.

1976. The first Roma Festival is held at Chandigarh, India. Mrs. Indira Gandhi pledges support for the demand that Roma be recognised as a national minority of Indian origin. While at the same time - The Czechoslovakian newspaper Vychodoslovenske Noviny publishes the official text of government plans for compulsory sterilisation of Roma as an act of "socialistic humanity."

1990. The Fourth World Romani Congress held in Serock, Poland. In attendance are some 250 delegates. Among the programmes discussed are reparations from World War II, education, culture, public relations, language, and a Romani encyclopedia, written in Romanes, not about Roma, but for Roma. d States immigration policy; many are returned to Europe.