Souyaku Toaru Majutsu no Index SS (創約 とある魔術の
Synopsis[]
Characters[]
By order of appearance:
- Mina Mathers
- Annie Horniman
- William Wynn Westcott
- Lady of the Masquerade Ball
- Arthur Edward Waite
- Samuel Liddell MacGregor Mathers
- Edward Berridge
Abilities[]
New Abilities[]
- Tarot Reading - Mina Mathers (with assistance from Arthur Edward Waite)
- Golden-style Curse - Lady of the Masquerade Ball
- Baal Zebul Evocation - Samuel Liddell MacGregor Mathers
Locations[]
New Locations[]
Trivia[]
This section requires expansion Dates (Mathers' meeting, marriage and move to Paris), others |
- This short story shares its title with the short story in the previous artbook CROSS, both lacking a unique subtitle to differentiate them.[1][2]
- The short story takes place in the late 19th century, during the time of the Golden Dawn and before Aleister Crowley entered the cabal, though the exact time is not stated. However, a number of contemporary events are referenced for which the real-life dates are known (though the possibility of time differences with their Toaru equivalents remains):
- Mina Mathers (then Mina Bergson) met her future husband, Samuel Liddell MacGregor Mathers, in 1887 while studying at the British Museum. Mina was admitted into the Golden Dawn in March 1888, as one of its first initiates.
- The 'canonical five' of the Whitechapel Murders, commonly considered to be the victims of Jack the Ripper, occurred between August 31st and November 9th 1888. The "Dear Boss" letter and "Saucy Jack" postcard, claiming to be from Jack the Ripper and responsible for the killer's name, were received by the Central News Agency on September 27th and October 1st, and publicized after the "double event" of September 30th.
- The real-life Annie Horniman was admitted to the Golden Dawn in 1890. Her friend Mina would marry Mathers in the same year.
- The Mathers moved to Paris in 1892.
- Florence Farr (the suspected identity of the Lady of the Masquerade Ball) created the Sphere group in 1896, with an invocation of Taphthartharath apparently attempted in May of that year.
- Aleister Crowley's initiation into the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn occurred on November 18th 1898.
Referbacks[]
No referbacks currently recorded for this chapter/episode.
Cultural References[]
This section requires expansion Jack the Ripper (potential expansion), Tarot/Major Arcana (Waite - Magician, High Priestess, Hanged Man, Tower), Catacombs of Paris, Bergsons/Hornimans, 'code book', four elements and qualities, octagram, seven deadly sins, Beelzebub/Baal Zebul, astral projection, 6-5 robe/Egyptian role, Gevurah, CRC's tomb |
- "Jack the Ripper" is the name given to the notorious, unnamed serial killer responsible for the murder of five prostitutes in the Whitechapel district of London's East End between August 31st and November 9th 1888.
- Several cards of the Tarot's Major Arcana are featured in this chapter, with one used by the Lady of the Masquerade Ball and the others appearing in the reading that Mina Mathers performs under Arthur Edward Waite's supervision.
- Waite mentions pence, shillings and pounds, while talking with Westcott about shame over not being able to separate his public life and the thought of making money from the pursuit of magic. The three are coins in Britain's pre-decimal currency (used prior to 1971), with 12 pence in a shilling and 20 shillings or 240 pence in a pound at the time.
- A couple of the Golden Dawn's grades (from the cabal's Second Order) are referenced in numerical form. The paired numbers are associated with positions on the Sephiroth, with the first being the number of steps up from the bottom and the second being the number of steps down from the top.
- Mathers and Westcott are both 7=4. Also known as Adeptus Exemptus, 7=4 is the highest of the three grades in the Second Order, associated with the fourth sephirah Chesed.
- The Lady invokes the "6=5 robe of the Egyptian role" in an incantation. Also known as Adeptus Major, 6=5 is the middle of the three grades in the Second Order, associated with the fifth sephirah Gevurah (also mentioned in the chant).
- While on a late-night walk, Mathers thinks how grimoires borrowing the name of "that king" had been more common lately - this is likely referring to the biblical king Solomon, whose name was used for grimoires such as The Greater Key of Solomon and The Lesser Key of Solomon (which were translated by Mathers, including a supposed English translation of King Solomon's magic circle).[3][4]
- Annie Horniman's Jachin and Boaz are derived from the pillars at the entrance of Solomon's Temple.
Unanswered Questions[]
- Did Mathers look into the assassination attempt any further or learn of the culprit otherwise?
Quotes[]
References[]
- ↑ CROSS
- ↑ REBIRTH
- ↑ Shinyaku Toaru Majutsu no Index Light Novel Volume 21 Between the Lines 1
- ↑ Toaru Majutsu no Index SS: Agnese's Magic Side Work Experience Chapter 2 Part 6