Thanks for the review! I really appreciate you like my game (my first design). I’m going to clarify – if I can – your doubts.
The Tarot stuff, in fact, before benefitted from an image near the description of the Aspect Tarots. At last I removed it since I had no rights over it and moreover, as you said, the Protagonist sheet seems clear enough (maybe I should have put a reference to the sheet in the Aspect Tarots’ section).
The lack of clarity about the Elements/suits ranking is my fault at all. The basic system is: Elements rank after your Main Element (you propose, Playwright decides) according to the table. The Antagonist’s Element is decided by the Playwright. Antagonisms have only one (abstract) Element, since the number of cards it deals is established according to the rhythm of the game. If you and your Antagonist have the same card value as highest card (i.e. a King) then the victory is of the one who has the suit/Element ranking nearer to his Main Element (according to the table).
Ultimately, the risk you fear, that is the game never reaches its end, in my humble opinion, is warded off by several mechanics. First, the Antagonism is fixed by the Playwright: if you keep winning Conflicts, he should raise it (since Antagonism is only a measure of the game rhythm flowing – as in “Don’t Rest Your Head”). Second, the Cartomancer can raise the Antagonism by 2 calling on Cold Iron: in this way is easier you fail (even if your Fate increases your Elements drop down). Third, if you fail a Conflict, you get Harm; if you get Harm you fail easier (since your Elements drops down). Fourth, if you Call the Wyrld Fate drops automatically (even if you win). Fifth, if you don’t respect an Honour Bound your Fate drops.
As you see you have several instruments to slow down and to accelerate the Finale. I let the Players free to manage them because one game is different from another, one Protagonist from another, and one Player from another. Everyone can reach the Finale whenever is appropriate, according to his judgment and the one of the Troupe.
I hope you now understand my intents or at least I clarified some nebulous parts of my game.