Author's Note:
In addition to the usual disclaimers about not owning C.S. Lewis's universe, I must acknowledge Hajo Banzhaf's book Tarot and the Journey of the Hero, on which I relied heavily in selecting the themes and characters to illustrate. This book is the source of the quotes which can be found at the end of each card.
0: The Fool
The forward bulwark is his favorite part of the ship. Here he can sit with his whiskers to the east, nothing but ocean between him and fate. Sometimes, when the water is glassy, he feels he might be able to walk across it himself, and he edges further out until the lookout cautions him about falling. He wishes he could climb still further, perch on the dragon's head, for as swift as Dawn Treader is, she's never fast enough to satisfy him. He settles for being the first one to greet each mile, the first to see each new sight.
Some of the sailors have spoken of turning back after the Lone Islands, where the charts end. He lets it be known very loudly that he will hear none of this cowardice. They shame the king, the quest, and the whole company with such talk, for had not each man among them promised to sail east for the full year and day of the quest? And how should any man -- or mouse -- of honor turn away from the mystery offered by the true unknown, whatever its dangers?
Indeed, what sort of quest would it be if they faced no danger greater than that of being over-feasted or thrown in a tournament? A knight makes no name for himself by staying home in safety. This company will be spoken of until the end of Narnia, even if they should never return. And if they do return, what stories they will have! The blank edges of the maps filled in with their courage as parchment and the blood of their foes as ink. No terror of the seas can stand against a knight of Narnia! Let come what may, he will teach them to fear the sword of a valiant mouse!
That idiot boy grabs his tail, and he snatches for his sword.
"[The Fool] joyfully tries new things, without the fear of embarrassment or failure, or of making itself look ridiculous." - Banzhaf, 30.