Lorcana (Realm)

Lorcana is the main setting of the trading card game of the same name. It is what is called "a realm of imagination."[7, 10.1.1. See Notes 1 & 8] This *realm* is being *powered* by "magical ink."[4, 8. See Note 2] At the middle of Lorcana lies the Great Illuminary,[1.1] which is filled with "ink columns."[14] It is from the Great Illuminary's "lower reaches" where Lorcana's own "power" comes from; being *full* with *magical ink.*[10.1.1. See Note 2] The Great Illuminary is an example of a "story-forge."[8.11] It is through the Great Illuminary that Illumineers are summoned from Earth, via a sigil[3], to Lorcana. The only currently known stars (it is not certain whether other stars [including suns] are or are not story stars) in Lorcana are called story stars [1.1. See Note 4] (it is known that these story stars are "fragments of Disney stories."[8] Since they are *fragments,* there is likely something that they had *fragmented* from.), which are small enough to land on & interact with the Great Illuminary's lorebook.[1.1, 3] Indeed, "The stories of each star were transcribed within the Great Illuminary."[17] Story stars reside in a space "above" the Great Illuminary or at least above its atrium[1.1]. The story stars appear to be collected through the use of a machine called *the starcatcher*.[18] Throughout Lorcana are "pieces of lore."[5]

Illumineers have been known to work with glimmers. At least one dreamborn glimmer (Elsa) was "Recreated by magical ink" and is implied to have come from a different "world"[See Note 1] altogether (It is possible that since Lorcana contains multiple worlds, she was just *recreated* from a different world in the same realm of Lorcana).[8.10]

There is a Mickey Mouse (Brave Little Tailor)[8.20] described as "a friendly face that everybody's knows."[17] He *shows* an unnamed person[See Note 5] "around Lorcana."[17] At the start of that person's trip, they "see the Great Illuminary," ("it's kinda the origin of the world of Lorcana") followed by a view of the "nebula of space" surrounding the Illuminary--giving them "a sense of the magic and wonder of the world."[17] They continue and see "an illumineer creating a glimmer of Mickey [Wayward Sorcerer]."[8.12, 17] They then continue, finding themselves "inside the Illuminary's workstation" where the lorebook is found.[17] They then go into "the portal room … [which] is the first room that illumineers appear in when they come to the Illuminary."[17] This person's *being* there is an *invitation* "into the story."[17. See Note 5] .

At some point in Lorcana's history, there was a event referred to as "the flood."[8.34]

#### The First Chapter Illumineer’s Trove Player’s Guide

“Welcome to Lorcana, an enchanted realm of imagination in a distant dimension. At the center of this realm is a wonder unto itself: the Great Illuminary. It is here Illumineers first wielded magical inks to create countless versions of Disney characters and items, which are summoned in this world as glimmers.

The Great Illuminary houses endless marvels. Enormous whirling contraptions capture colorful story stars-fragments of Disney stories. Glowing lines of color flow from room to room. And an immense reservoir of magical ink, the source of Lorcana's power, fills the lower reaches.

These wonders were created by a figure called the Curator, who sought to collect and reimagine stories by harnessing the power of story stars. By pairing their light with magical ink on the pages of a lorebook, he was able to create glimmers. He called a small group of imaginative apprentices to help him in this work, naming them Illumineers. Together they filled the halls with glimmers and the lorebooks they're inkcast out of—all especially valuable lore in Lorcana.

Ages passed. The Curator and original Illumineers are now gone, but a power deep within the Great Illuminary has awakened. Its call sounds throughout the world, summoning extraordinary and creative people to master the power of Lorcana. New Illumineers must resume the great work of the Curator to collect and preserve lore. Glimmers will then roam the Illuminary again.

Come discover the wonder and magic of Lorcana. This age is yours.”

- The First Chapter Player’s Guide [10.1.1. Redunant?]

#### Lorcana's Unclear Nature

As of this moment, much of Lorcana is "a mystery,"[7, 16] but it is likely not to be that way forever. It is strongly implied that Lorcana is "new"[7, 8.9, 14] for a realm and that its story is literally being created ("... to summon glimmers that add to the lore or Lorcana"[7]) by the Illumineers harnessing the power of this baby universe; shaping it with their imagination. [1.1, 7. citations needed]

But even for the things known to exist in this universe, many of their details are unclear. For instance, it is not clear whether the "inkcasting station"[6] is canonically part of this realm, but it seems to be the name for the actual station consisting of the lorebook and its accompanying "mechanism,"[1.1, 6] and is simply a place where inkcasting is done.

#### Rules of Villainy

The origin of the Rules of Villainy is as of now uncertain, but they seemed to be shared among multiple Disney villains. The known Rules (quoted word-for-word) include:

* The first Rule of Villainy: If you're going to be evil, you've got to have **style.**[8.19]
* The fourth Rule of Villainy: Do whatever it takes to get ahead.[8.60]
* The sixth Rule of Villainy: Keep your mind sharp and your claws sharper.[8.51]
* The ninth Rule of Villainy: When all else fails, turn into a dragon.[8.18]
* The twelfth Rule of Villainy: If you don't have a throne, take one.[8.46]

### Places

Notable places within Lorcana include:

* Great Illuminary[1.1]
	+ Great Illuminary's atrium [1.1]
		- Inkcasting station [6]
	+ "the halls"[10.1.1]
	+ Lower reaches [10.1.1]
		- "immense reservoir of magical ink"[10.1.1]
	+ Portal room[17]
* Halls of Lorcana[7]
* Inklands[7, 8.35, 8.38]
	+ Inklands' rivers [8.15]
* unnamed sea[8.47, 8.57]
* multiple worlds based on other Disney media [7]
	+ unnamed sea and/or ocean (Moana) [8.3, 8.21]
		- Motunui[8.3]
		- Te Fiti [8.3] / Te Kā[8.22]
	+ unnamed sea (The Little Mermaid) [8.7]
	+ Underworld [8.2, 8.41, 8.42]
		- Well of Souls [8.2]
		- Underworld's rivers [8.2]
	+ "THE SHADOWS"[8.9, 8.39]
		- Seemingly where glimmers go when they are "banished"[8.9] and where (Floodborn?) glimmers are from before they are summoned.[8.39. See Note 6]
	+ The Other Side [8.13]
	+ Dr. Facilier's "world" [8.40. See Note 7]
	+ unnamed "new world" [8.58]
	+ "the heavens" [8.27]
	+ Minnie Mouse's castle [8.1]
	+ Outer space [8.4]
	+ Hakuna Matata [8.6, 9]
	+ Pride Lands [8.25, 8.30]
		- "monolith ... reminiscent of Pride Rock"[8.30, 13. See Note 3]
	+ Arendelle [8.8]
	+ "the sky" [8.54]
	+ Second Star to the Right[12.2.1.1]
		- Never Land (Not directly mentioned, but implied) [8.16]
	+ Lady Tremaine's residence [8.17]
	+ Agrabah [8.24]
		- Jasmine's palace [8.23]
	+ Maleficent's castle [8.29]
	+ Beast's castle [8.31]
	+ Maurice's Workshop [8.56]
	+ Kumandra[8.49, 8.50]
	+ unnamed world [8.44]
	+ unnamed forest[8.32, 8.61]
	+ unnamed *wishing well*[8.33]
	+ England[8.36, 8.52]
	+ Wonderland[8.37]
		- "UP"[8.37]
		- "DOWN"[8.37]
		- "YONDER"[8.37]
		- "BACK"[8.37]
		- "THAT WAY"[8.37]
		- "THiS WAY"[8.37]
		- "Go BACK"[8.37]
	+ "the rabbit hole"[8.55]
	+ unnamed kingdom[8.43, 8.48]
	+ Baker Street[8.53]
	+ unnamed jungle[8.45]
	+ unnamed village[8.59]

## References

1. Official Website of Lorcana by Ravensburger (disneylorcana.com)
	1. Story --> Magic of Lorcana
2. The Story Begins (Disney Lorcana TCG Teaser) - YouTube
3. Disney Lorcana TCG: The Power of an Illumineer - YouTube
4. How to Play Disney Lorcana - Inks and Playing Cards - YouTube
5. quickstart-en (ravensburger.com)
6. Greetings from the team at Nuremberg International Toy Fair! (Facebook)
7. EXCLUSIVE: Disney Lorcana Narrative Lead Answers Our Biggest Story Questions (thegamer.com)
8. Disney Lorcana TCG Companion: Official Disney Lorcana App (Ravensburger Verlag GmbH)
	1. MINNIE MOUSE Beloved Princess ("The First Chapter," Card 13/204)
	2. HADES Lord of the Underworld ("The First Chapter," Card 6/204)
	3. MOANA Of Motunui ("The First Chapter," Card 14/204)
	4. STITCH Carefree Surfer ("The First Chapter," Card 21/204)
	5. STITCH Rock Star ("The First Chapter," Card 23/204)
	6. HAKUNA MATATA ("The First Chapter," Card 27/204)
	7. PART OF YOUR WORLD ("The First Chapter," Card 30/204)
	8. ANNA Heir to Arendelle ("The First Chapter," Card 35/204)
	9. DR. FACILIER Agent Provocateur ("The First Chapter," Card 37/204)
	10. ELSA Snow Queen ("The First Chapter," Card 41/204)
	11. MAGIC BROOM Bucket Brigade ("The First Chapter," Card 47/204)
	12. MICKEY MOUSE Wayward Sorcerer ("The First Chapter," Card 51/204)
	13. FRIENDS ON THE OTHER SIDE ("The First Chapter," Card 64/204)
	14. CRUELLA DE VIL Miserable as Usual ("The First Chapter," Card 72/204)
	15. MICKEY MOUSE Steamboat Pilot ("The First Chapter," Card 89/204)
	16. PETER PAN Never Landing ("The First Chapter," Card 91/204)
	17. DO IT AGAIN! ("The First Chapter," Card 94/204)
	18. MALEFICENT Monstrous Dragon ("The First Chapter," Card 113/204)
	19. URSULA Power Hungry ("The First Chapter," Card 59/204)
	20. MICKEY MOUSE Brave Little Tailor ("The First Chapter," Card 115/204)
	21. MOANA Chosen by the Ocean ("The First Chapter," Card 117/204)
	22. TE KĀ The Burning One ("The First Chapter," Card 126/204)
	23. JASMINE Disguised ("The First Chapter," Card 148/204)
	24. JASMINE Queen of Agrabah ("The First Chapter," Card 149/204)
	25. MUFASA King of the Pride Lands ("The First Chapter," Card 155/204)
	26. ROBIN HOOD Unrivaled Archer ("The First Chapter," Card 157/204)
	27. MAGIC GOLDEN FLOWER ("The First Chapter," Card 169/204)
	28. CAPTAIN HOOK Forceful Duelist ("The First Chapter," Card 174/204)
	29. GOONS Maleficent's Underlings ("The First Chapter," Card 179/204)
	30. SIMBA Future King ("The First Chapter," Card 188/204)
	31. BEAST'S MIRROR ("The First Chapter," Card 201/204)
	32. SNOW WHITE Lost in the Forest ("Rise of the Floodborn," Card 23/204)
	33. SNOW WHITE Well Wisher ("Rise of the Floodborn," Card 25/204)
	34. ELSA Gloves Off ("Rise of the Floodborn," Card 39/204)
	35. PINOCCHIO On the Run ("Rise of the Floodborn," Card 57/204)
	36. LEGEND OF THE SWORD IN THE STONE ("Rise of the Floodborn," Card 64/204)
	37. PERPLEXING SIGNPOSTS ("Rise of the Floodborn," Card 67/204)
	38. CHESHIRE CAT Always Grinning ("Rise of the Floodborn," Card 74/204)
	39. CHESHIRE CAT From the Shadows ("Rise of the Floodborn," Card 75/205)
	40. DR. FACILIER Fortune Teller ("Rise of the Floodborn," Card 79/204)
	41. PAIN Underworld Imp ("Rise of the Floodborn," Card 86/204)
	42. PANIC Underworld Imp ("Rise of the Floodborn," Card 87/204)
	43. RATIGAN Criminal Mastermind ("Rise of the Floodborn," Card 91/204)
	44. VIRANA Fang Chief ("Rise of the Floodborn," Card 95/204)
	45. PACK TACTICS ("Rise of the Floodborn," Card 100/204)
	46. LADY TREMAINE Imperious Queen ("Rise of the Floodborn," Card 110/204)
	47. MINNIE MOUSE Wide-Eyed Diver ("Rise of the Floodborn," Card 114/204)
	48. RATIGAN Very Large Mouse ("Rise of the Floodborn," Card 121/204)
	49. RAYA Leader of Heart ("Rise of the Floodborn," Card 123/204)
	50. RAYA Warrior of Kumandra ("Rise of the Floodborn," Card 124/204)
	51. SHERE KHAN Menacing Predator ("Rise of the Floodborn," Card 126/204)
	52. SWORD IN THE STONE ("Rise of the Floodborn," Card 136/204)
	53. BASIL Of Baker Street ("Rise of the Floodborn," Card 139/204)
	54. GRAND PABBIE Oldest and Wisest ("Rise of the Floodborn," Card 148/204)
	55. FALLING DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE ("Rise of the Floodborn," Card 162/204)
	56. MAURICE'S WORKSHOP ("Rise of the Floodborn," Card 168/204)
	57. DONALD DUCK Deep-Sea Diver ("Rise of the Floodborn," Card 178/204)
	58. LAWRENCE Jealous Manservant ("Rise of the Floodborn," Card 186/204)
	59. PACHA Village Leader ("Rise of the Floodborn," Card 190/204)
	60. QUEEN OF HEARTS Capricious Monarch ("Rise of the Floodborn," Card 192/204)
	61. THE HUNTSMAN Reluctant Enforcer ("Rise of the Floodborn," Card 194/204)
9. The Lion King 1 & 1/2
10. Lorcana: "The First Chapter," Illumineer's Trove (1st Edition)
	1. Player's Guide
		1. "The World of Lorcana," pp. 1-3
11. The Story Of Disney Lorcana! Revealing Lorcana's Lore With Designer Ryan Miller!
12. Disney's Lorcana downloads
	1. *Disney's Lorcana* Set Assets
		1. *Disney's Lorcana* Set 1 Fact Sheet
	2. *Disney Lorcana* Digital Downloads
		1. Organized Play Kit Instructions
			1. The First Chapter Organized Play Instructions
13. Interview: Disney Lorcana Artist Nicholas Cole (thelaughingplace.com)
14. WE GO BEHIND THE SCENES OF DISNEY LORCANA’S ART DESIGN (nerdist.com)
15. Ravensburger NA CEO Explains Why Now Is the Right Time for Disney Lorcana (comicbook.com)
16. EXCLUSIVE: Disney Lorcana Narrative Lead Answers Our Biggest Story Questions (thegamer.com)
17. Disney Lorcana on X: "Let's tour our Disney Lorcana booth together!
18. Ravensburger Throws a Lorcana Party! [Lorcana Prerelease Event]

## Notes

1. The *player's guide* of Lorcana: Illumineer's Trove adds the word *enchanted,* which makes the quote "an enchanted realm of imagination."[10.1.1] As of yet, it is not certain if there is any meaningful difference because of this addition. Also, Lorcana may not be a single realm. This is shown by *Disney's Lorcana* Set 1 Fact Sheet which refers to "the realms of Lorcana."[12.1.1] There have also been references to "the world of Lorcana."[10.1.1, 12.1] Again, it is not yet clear on what is the impact of such differing terminology.
2. Although *magical ink* is almost certainly an energy "source,"[10.1.1] it is not clear exactly how it operates. The out-of-universe Ravensburger's YouTube tutorial video "How to Play Disney Lorcana - Inks and Playing Cards" begins by saying "Magical ink is what powers Lorcana and is what you'll [The out-of-universe player] use to put your cards into play"[4] (The companion app supports this [8]). While, at a glance, the use of the word 'Lorcana' appears to be a reference to the realm itself, it could also be a reference to "Lorcana [that] is just the ability to use magic ink to summon glimmers of Disney characters off of the page."[11] At the least, whether or not the realm of Lorcana is being *powered* by "magical ink,"[4, 8] it can be observed with near-certainty that the ink within the *lower reaches* of the Great Illuminary is "the source of Lorcana's [the realm] power."[10.1.1] Indeed, it may be the case that the power *of* the realm Lorcana (rather than the realm itself) is the magical ability that is also called Lorcana. But it could also be that the magical ink in the Great Illuminary's lower reaches is *specifically* for the purpose of powering the realm, while magical ink in general can be used to power the magical ability.
3. As the "monolith" is merely "reminiscent," it cannot currently be said with certainty that this monolith is indeed found within the Pride Lands.[13]
4. There is some possible relevance to how the stars *alignment.*[15]
5. This unnamed person is simply referred to as "you."[17] This scene that "you" go through is the apparent (and possibly non-canon) in-universe equivalent of an official out-of-universe video tour of a booth at the D23 expo. [17] At the end of the "experience," there is "full-size" artwork of Robin Hood (Unrivaled Archer),[8.26] Captain Hook (Forceful Duelist),[8.28] Stitch (Rock Star),[8.5] Cruella De Vil (Miserable as Usual),[8.14] Elsa (Snow Queen),[8.10] and Maleficent (Monstruous Dragon)[8.18]; possibly indicating that the in-universe "you" encounters these glimmers.[17]
6. What the *shadows* are--and its relationship to glimmers--is mostly conjecture at this point, being based off of the out-of-universe instructions on the cards DR. FACILIER Agent Provocateur & CHESHIRE CAT From the Shadows.[8.9, 8.39]
7. Potentially not a real place, but a reference (i.e., "YOU'RE IN MY WORLD") to Dr. Facilier's (Fortune Teller) area of expertise.[8.40]
8. It is likely that the realm of Lorcana serves as a foundation of sorts for all of reality. Ryan Miller (out-of-universe) said, in apparent reference to the realm of Lorcana, that "…this world [is one] that underlies everything."[11]