Shirou's endgame objectives... may not be entirely congruent with ours, combined with ambiguity as to who his target is. We don't know if he's aiming for Archer, or for someone else. Only time will tell.
 
Shirou's endgame objectives... may not be entirely congruent with ours, combined with ambiguity as to who his target is. We don't know if he's aiming for Archer, or for someone else. Only time will tell.

He'll be saving Ruler, that's not even a question at the moment, like, anything else would be entirely out of character for him. And not voting for him won't make him magically disappear, so if he messes with us in the future, he's going to mess with us independent of what he does here.
 
When we got dunked on by Minerva I was a little salty, not at the QM but because we got screwed and it seemed like it was just about over. Now we have a whole new world of possibilities and it isn't close to over yet. So I'm chill with the current goings on for that reason.

I think we played the hero of justice angle too hard, I know that I did, and this is a good opportunity to make good decisions and salvage what we have left. I dunno if we should speculate on anything and one of the things we should do as Brie is access the information inside the current body. If transferring back is a wash (note: Medb literally does not care what we look like) then we can go full scorched earth later.

Otherwise I'm not worried about us getting blindsided since the story has been pretty fair to us, and high pressure situations are usually where failure happens and salt is generated. It happens. As long as we can still fight, I'm in. Simply for making me care, this story has been great.
 
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Actually, why doesn't anyone vote for Shirou to help Ruler? Seems completely in-character for him, she even looks like his waifu, and it's not like he's a pushover.

He could always die, but that's, like, always a given, the guy participates in Grail Wars for a living, he knows what he signed up for.
I mean I did >.>

Also if we're airing our salt woes out I'll put out there that the crux of my earlier statement about not knowing how well our choices are compared to other choices was more-so that there's little indication how choices will work out in general. In combat, even when we're winning it feels like we're just scraping by, pre-body swap we were down to one command seal, and only Caster had been knocked out of the running. Narratively it's difficult to tell what will lead where. Like if we don't do X event with Medb or Ruler, does that mean they've got deathflags now? Was the doll with the cats the only other area we could've gotten Brie-doll info from?

My main salt is how..arbitrary the "most important choice" was. I mean we're told that one of the choices will lead to Heaven's Feel route and our options are: Shoot, stab, magic, Super Magic. None of those tell us anything about what the end result would be. Guns have been proven to do jack-all except when they sometimes do and destroy magic arrows?? so probably not great results but maybe Minerva is so suprised by mundane weapons in a Magi fight we win.

Magic against a Caster doll seems like a bad idea but as we just found out apparently we're super good we just didn't have training?

Super magic vs Caster's Super Magic seems like a 50/50 but Minerva wasn't even the real boss fight, we still had to survive against Carmilla after this and the box or or last command seal were the only things I could see working.

And lastly, spear. Putting aside that "Heaven's Feel route" definitely brings to mind super magics rather than pointy artifacts, or the fact that we ended up on Heavens Feel wasn't because of one of our spell clashes or something, but beacuse this was the only choice that brought us into melee range of Minerva who has an insta-body swap skill that I'm trying Real Hard to not just call a Diablos Ex Machina. There's..so many layers here. A. Touko sends a masterpiece into the war without DRM. B. She's now stronger then we were Because Reasons. C. Minerva's super spell doesn't destroy the thing she wants. D. Despite Brie being an overlay personality or whatever that developed naturally and Robo-Brie being the base personality, when Robo-Brie dies and Brie is the only one left the system still works perfectly, and E.Hans, despite poking around in our systems with admin level control and being like "yeah, we'll fight each other at the end of the war" decides not to mention that "hey btw Minerva has next level bs hacks".

But yeah, this didn't feel like something that was a result of our actions or choices. This felt like picking from slightly different boxes labels A B C and D and then the host is like "by the way because that particular box was red that means we're cutting of one of your limbs!" despite that never being implied and the fact we're on family feud. I love your writing Rabbit, it's great, but one of the most important choices of the quest and it's a borderline blind vote?

Anyways, rant over, salt aired, looking forward to finding Shirou and calling him Dad again, but this time we do it while he's on a call with Edelfelt. We look young enough that it might even work for a few seconds!
 
Votes closed
Adhoc vote count started by AnonymousRabbit on Feb 17, 2020 at 8:37 AM, finished with 47 posts and 15 votes.
 
We might be missing something. I suspect that there's a reason the extra doll was so wide open. After all we only got a snippet of the conversation with the founder and him thinking he won. If not, whatever.

Anyways, Rider is the key to all of this. If we can get her working...
 
Split
[] Ruler shouted from the bottom of her heart, "Rider, please wake up!"

The orb in Archer's hand burned deep orange, the color of fire which threatened to swallow the world. It was the same fire that was in Archer's hand that was one of his weapons he utilized in his legend. The orb burned and burned as Archer sought to stop it with his dying breath but the compulsion of the Command Seal he was under was too much.

Ruler held against Gae Bolg as she watched flames dance like a chaotic spirit shrouded with the power of the Divine. She can't move, she can't stop him and Saber was busy holding Berserker back with his own strength. Ruler tried to think and think until she shut her eyes and cried out.

She shouted with her final command, not amplified by a seal, but it was a call for help. One that would be heard by everyone in the lake.

"Rider, please wake up!" Ruler screamed as her barrier began to crack from Gae Bolg's power.

.....
....
...

From the day she was born, she had always been special. Loved by her servants, by her people and by her parents. As a child, she was loved and cared for and anything she wanted was given to her.

She was ultimately a greedy child, a spoiled girl who only knew love, she knew not of hardship or suffering but merely... Boredom.

Lessons were not fun, work was not fun, living was not fun so she sought greater stimuli. She sought entertainment until her tastes gradually twisted and turned, becoming perverse as she soon was drawn to the pleasures of violence and of the flesh.

She was beautiful and her loveliness was her greatest asset, that and her guile. So she used both to lure Kings and Princes... And so she had her first marriage, her second... Her third, kings, Heroes, generals, merchants, she tasted every fruit she could get her hands on and sent them all to heaven with her body. And so she acquired wealth, power and love.

Heroes would kill for her, Kings would wage wars for her, good men and son would do the unthinkable for her smile. She had it all and she relished in it. The cries of pain and suffering were music to her ears. She wanted more, more stimulation, more entertainment until she was bored of it all.

She was the Eternal Lady, beautiful, young and without flaws. But as she looked down from her castle of gold and silver, she found herself simply warming the beds of Kings, looking to embrace the bodies of Heroes and partaking in the love of the powerful. Ultimately, she was alone...

Until that man defeated her.

Red eyes. Beautiful red eyes that saw through her.

He rejected her. He was different. She sought to conquer him but he was dumb as a rock, only sought fights to entertain himself, like a mad dog that wagged his tail whenever he saw something exciting. He had a brilliant soul. Shining... As if made of light.

She wanted to conquer him but she couldn't. He was too bright, too strong, too brave but he didn't give the time of day. He was the first person she could not grasp with her hands. The first person to see her not as a Queen but as just another woman, a human being... His red eyes didn't eye her with lust or longing or love...

The Queen found that charming. It was something new for her... But at the same time she hated losing. She hated that he rejected her and struggled to make him pay for that. In the end she orchestrated his death but that man died standing up. Till the end he defied her until his last breath.

And then years went by... Until she was ultimately killed.

She was called into the world once more somehow to serve in a Holy Grail War. A War where she met a young girl, lost and confused with no way to run or turn to... And just like that man, the girl... The poor sweet Doll didn't worship her beauty or long for her love. The girl treated her as a person.

A friend, confidant, ally, partner, support and finally, one by bound their soul. A retainer that would stand by her side no matter how dreadful their days would become. It had been a thrilling adventure from start to finish. The girl indeed loved her but the girl loved her as another girl.

Just Medb. Not the Eternal Lady or the Queen of Connacht. The girl loved her as Medb, a selfish young woman with numerous flaws.

The girl cherished her, loved her and cared for her... And it was one of the most beautiful things she ever laid eyes upon. It was so pure, so precious that it changed her, slowly but surely. She wanted to live... She wanted to get up.

And if it's for that girl she would have no need for her crown or status! What she wanted... As Medb and as the Queen of Connacht was for that girl to be happy. She toppled down kingdoms for her wants and there was nothing, not even death that would stop her!

So get up, Rider!

.....
....
...

Archer watched as the fallen Queen's eyes opened as Caladbolg returned to her hands. Her eyes shined brilliant Gold, a testament of one of her Noble Phantasms at play. She was wounded from being struck by the barbed demonic spear but she rose above the pain and agony.

Rising up to Ruler's call, Rider grit her teeth. The rainbow sword spun as the flames of Brahmastra filled the air. Archer moved and stepped forward as Rider dragged the sword along the ground and swung it.

Before Archer's Noble Phantasm could be activated in full, Medb drove Caladbolg straight through his heart. The rainbow sword spun once to deal the finishing blow as the Archer gasped for air from being hit. Medb watched him as the flaming orb faded as he held on to her blade.

"You've come far from our battle at the church," Arjuna commended as he cracked a smile, "How wonderful..."

Rider pulled her sword out and caught the man as he began to fade. Jeanne held off Gae Bolg some more as she cried out from exertion. Archer held on to Rider as he resisted his own death.

"One... Last gift," Arjuna declared as he steadied himself and drew his bow. He aimed for the crimson spear and fired, "Fly, Gandiva!"

His blue arrow streaked through the air and smashed into Gae Bolg, dispelling it and freeing Ruler from her labor. Ruler fell down on her knees as Rider supported Archer on his final moments.

"A shame... I could not do battle with you. Perhaps... In the next life," Arjuna said as he slowly began to fade.

Medb looked down on him and said, "Truly, it is a loss for the world to lose you. Here. Drink. It'll ease the pain."

She held a cup on her hand but Arjuna shook his head. He gently pushed it away before placing a hand over where Gae Bolg struck her. Medb blinked as she realized what he was doing. What last strength he had was used to heal the mark Gae Bolg had left on her person...

The White Bowman passed a moment later.

.....
....
...

Rider... She was okay. But Archer's gone.

You returned to your thoughts as you sent a mental signal out, "Is this true? All of it?"

"I had hundreds of eyeballs. Some of them were on Saber, others on that little scene. Graceful exits like that aren't my style. So anyway, I beat up Saber and then Scathach drove her Gae Bolg into my arse."

"Stop. No. Stop. I don't want to hear it,"
you growled internally as you ended up on a highway.

You noticed that there were no cars passing by but there was someone there. A man clad in an armor of thorns. Your eyes widened before Carmilla snarled as she got between you and the man.

Lancer. Then that means...

"That's as far as you can go, Assassin," Hans' voice said as he deactivated a rune which hid him from the naked eye. He limped forward with his cane and held out his hand, "Leave the Doll behind and we'll let you go."

"You have no idea what I'm going to use her for. Just let me be on my way and I can hand you her body parts later," Carmilla said as she wrinkled her nose, "The others back there were breaking their backs fighting Berserker, and here I thought you were a big man, Lancer. Has your manhood shriveled up and turned to thorns as well?"

"Your words have no use, woman. We all know this will end either way," Lancer growled as he cracked his knuckles.

"If you're going to destroy Archer's base then you would have no need for Berserker's Master. Archer's dead, killed by Rider. You should have no fear running amok alone," Hans stated as he narrowed his gaze, "Give us the girl."

Carmilla grabbed your shoulder and brought her claws upon your neck, "Then I have little use for her... Or I can get her to sic Berserker on you two. Don't think I forgot what you did."

"Every moment you waste here is a moment your Master is in trouble. Do you really want to waste time here?" Hans snarled as he tapped his cane, "The girl, if you would please."

"Ah..." You choked as you shut your eyes.

Hans looked at you with a narrowed look before Lancer tensed up.

"Ah... A... Ae..." You mustered your courage as you clenched your right fist, "Aegis!"

Your shield of light expanded and you felt Carmilla's claws draw a line on your neck. She only cut your skin but she didn't hit your artery as you pushed her away, Lancer darted forward and struck Carmilla straight on her stomach and sending her flying back.

Lancer then turned his gaze towards you, green light escaping his helmet. You raised your shield and smacked his hand away as you reinforced your legs and jumped away.

"Wait!" Hans cried out before you screamed.

"BERSERKER!" You cried out before a blue blur landed in front of you.

Lancer froze as Cu Chulainn appeared before you with his spear... Two spears in his grasp. The red eyes Frenzied Hero grinned with a bloodthirsty look as he met his fellow Hero's gaze. Berserker split the ground by dragging one Gae Bolg through it, letting the debris fly and strike at Lancer and his Master.

Carmilla recovered from her shock and got up to launch a bolt of blood at you. Berserker smacked it aside with one of his spears.

"Berserker..." You gasped as you fell forward straight into one of his muscled arms. The bleeding, it was only Carmilla's power that stopped you from dying outright.

Berserker didn't waste any time and jumped away taking to the sky. You... You wanted Rider back.

"You're a handful but you're light. Hey, don't pass out now," Berserker growled as he carried you in his arms, "I even got your spear. I can't fucking believe that hag is just handing these out like candy."

"Rider... Rider..." You mewled as tears flowed down your cheeks, you were blacking out.

"Stop crying or I'll kill you. Shit," Berserker growled as he moved through the trees, "Fucking Ferdiad's on our tail. Son of bitch is so stubborn."

You were... Blacking out. No more. Everything was fading away. Away...

Away...

"Hey! At least tell me where to go!" Berserker barked at you from somewhere far away, "Hey!"

Split
[] "Prioritize my survival... Somewhere safe. Suburban homes. Break in. Medical. Much closer."
[] "Bring me to Rider. Find... Rider. Please. I want to see her."
[] "Need prana. Dragon Vein. Caster's old base. Self repair. Bring me there. Guaranteed recovery."
 
[X] "Need prana. Dragon Vein. Caster's old base. Self repair. Bring me there. Guaranteed recovery."
 
Our luck might be bad enough that -she- fucked off to the base too. But we need juice to properly survive. Doubt regular aid is going to cut.

ripip Archer. You were a bro to the end. Waifu and Jannu are safe at least. Emiya is running around and if he finds us, it'll be an easy enough sell.

[X] "Need prana. Dragon Vein. Caster's old base. Self repair. Bring me there. Guaranteed recovery."

We in this bitch. Let's go.

p.s PRAISE BE TO BASED JANNU
 
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Hans knows something's up. I think the difference between the first and the third option is whether he fully realizes it's Brie stuck in Minerva's body or not.
Maybe not.
Besides, Minerva's old digs could be trapped or some shit.
[X] "Prioritize my survival... Somewhere safe. Suburban homes. Break in. Medical. Much closer."
 
[X] "Need prana. Dragon Vein. Caster's old base. Self repair. Bring me there. Guaranteed recovery."

More practical option, but bleh, it means Rider is in so much trouble now.
 
Archer watched as the fallen Queen's eyes opened as Caladbolg returned to her hands. Her eyes shined brilliant Gold, a testament of one of her Noble Phantasms at play. She was wounded from being struck by the barbed demonic spear but she rose above the pain and agony.

Rising up to Ruler's call, Rider grit her teeth. The rainbow sword spun as the flames of Brahmastra filled the air. Archer moved and stepped forward as Rider dragged the sword along the ground and swung it.

Before Archer's Noble Phantasm could be activated in full, Medb drove Caladbolg straight through his heart. The rainbow sword spun once to deal the finishing blow as the Archer gasped for air from being hit. Medb watched him as the flaming orb faded as he held on to her blade.
Shame it ended bad for Arjuna, but Medb got her moment of glory.
"One... Last gift," Arjuna declared as he steadied himself and drew his bow. He aimed for the crimson spear and fired, "Fly, Gandiva!"

His blue arrow streaked through the air and smashed into Gae Bolg, dispelling it and freeing Ruler from her labor. Ruler fell down on her knees as Rider supported Archer on his final moments.

"A shame... I could not do battle with you. Perhaps... In the next life," Arjuna said as he slowly began to fade.

Medb looked down on him and said, "Truly, it is a loss for the world to lose you. Here. Drink. It'll ease the pain."

She held a cup on her hand but Arjuna shook his head. He gently pushed it away before placing a hand over where Gae Bolg struck her. Medb blinked as she realized what he was doing. What last strength he had was used to heal the mark Gae Bolg had left on her person...

The White Bowman passed a moment later.
Heh. Medb offered her gifts in true comfort, and Arjuna acted the man he wanted to be in not only rejecting it but healing her.

Karna Approves.
"That's as far as you can go, Assassin," Hans' voice said as he deactivated a rune which hid him from the naked eye. He limped forward with his cane and held out his hand, "Leave the Doll behind and we'll let you go."
Oh what the hell do you want?
"If you're going to destroy Archer's base then you would have no need for Berserker's Master. Archer's dead, killed by Rider. You should have no fear running amok alone," Hans stated as he narrowed his gaze, "Give us the girl."

Carmilla grabbed your shoulder and brought her claws upon your neck, "Then I have little use for her... Or I can get her to sic Berserker on you two. Don't think I forgot what you did."
So Hans still wants his puppet. Likley as a body for his sister's soul. So what if we're younger.
Berserker didn't waste any time and jumped away taking to the sky. You... You wanted Rider back.

"You're a handful but you're light. Hey, don't pass out now," Berserker growled as he carried you in his arms, "I even got your spear. I can't fucking believe that hag is just handing these out like candy."

"Rider... Rider..." You mewled as tears flowed down your cheeks, you were blacking out.

"Stop crying or I'll kill you. Shit," Berserker growled as he moved through the trees, "Fucking Ferdiad's on our tail. Son of bitch is so stubborn."
Oh quit your bitching, you lunatic. You've never had a Freaky Friday From Hell.

[X] "Need prana. Dragon Vein. Caster's old base. Self repair. Bring me there. Guaranteed recovery."
Time to take a page from Medea's book.
 
Pour one out for Arjuna, going out like a boss

[X] "Need prana. Dragon Vein. Caster's old base. Self repair. Bring me there. Guaranteed recovery."
 
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