[x] Continue letting Mami lead your side of negotiations. It's her that you want convinced of Oriko and Kirika's intentions; you already know how this is going to end, one way or another.
[x] (telepathically to Archer) Ask if he knows of any
items that could require souls to power them that could be used as powerful superwitch-killing weapons. Alternatively, items in general that require souls as power, weapons or not. Or maybe items that require human sacrifices? (Reasoning: You're getting a bad feeling about this- you're not sure
what sort of killed those girls were, either only body killed or gem-shattered, but bringing out a mysterious artifact as part of an explanation justifying such murders... You've never heard of using magical girls to power other magic like this, but in this strange timeline, with its Servants and its more powerful enemies, you're reluctant to dismiss it.)
-[x] Also ask whether he can see any traps on the perimeter of the area; while you suspect that Oriko and Kirika do not intend to attack you during the meeting, on their property as it is, they may have something planned for when you exit. Anything that you can determine ahead of time would be to your advantage.
-[x] Keep him appraised of the meeting, particularly this mysterious
item when it's brought out.
[X] Otherwise, remain silent and listen intently while being aware of surroundings. And any potential side effects of the tea.
[X] Interject and speak when necessary (next vote after we know more)
[X] Be ready to timestop if necessary, and dodge Kirika even within timestop. Just because you
think they won't attack during the meeting proper doesn't mean you should let your guard down, as Kirika's little show of temper just now proves.
All of one vote - well, three votes, all from the same person - in a 24 hour period. But damn is it a big one, and I think I can work with this. Let's do it.
You don't like the way in which Mikuni Oriko asked for her
item, and you like even less that neither her servant nor the servant of Kure Kirika are visible. You have a very bad feeling about the way things are proceeding.
"Archer, how are things looking on your end?"
"About the same as before. I saw the almost-scuffle between Gilgamesh and Kure; I'm surprised you didn't give the order then."
"I was strongly considering it, but that's not why I've contacted you."
"Oh? Well, what's the real reason for this call, then?"
"Do you know of any... Items, which would require souls for power? Maybe a weapon of some kind; something that would be useful in fighting a witch?"
"I've run afoul of... Well, I hesitate to call them 'people', but they were using some pretty nasty magecraft that relied heavily on the use of souls; as well, servants can consume souls to gain energy, should they have no other means of obtaining energy. But neither of those things are items, per se. Why?"
"Mikuni Oriko's plan involves some kind of item; she's having Lancer bring it to her now. I was hoping you might be able to tell me what we were in for before it arrived."
"I'm afraid I can't help you there, master."
"What about human sacrifice? I'm not entirely sure that the dismembered bodies were done so haphazardly; it may have been intentional. Can you think of any items that would require a mangled body as a magical component?"
"There was a master in the Fifth Grail War who used the body of another servant as the catalyst to summon his own, and blood and human bodies can be used as components in magecraft, but I can't say I know of any item in particular that would require human sacrifice. Again, sorry."
"No, it's fine. Just keep your eyes open. If you see anything, let me know."
"Will do, master."
Lancer returns as you terminate your call to Archer, lugging a large, old wooden chest behind her. With a resounding
thud she plants the chest atop the table, stepping aside as her master takes center stage. "Tomoe-san, Akemi-san; allow me to demonstrate to you my commitment to the salvation of the world." She unhooks the latches, opening the chest up as you and Tomoe-san wait on baited breath.
Soul Gems.
There is no surprise item within the chest, no secret soul-powered anti-witch weapon. Rather, a collection of Soul Gems have been carefully arranged inside individual fabric-lined pockets. Most are intact and still possessed of a healthy glow -
they're still alive - but three have been drained of their colour and their jewelled facets marred with many hairline cracks.
"I... I don't understand, Mikuni-san. Why... Why save the Soul Gems of the girls that you've killed? What purpose could they serve?"
"Power," is Mikuni Oriko's reply. And then it dawns on you. "The Soul Gem of a
puella magi is a conduit of magical energy that burns brighter than even the sun. A single Soul Gem holds within it a vast amount of magical power. With it, a master can provide a tremendous boost to the fighting capacity of their servant."
Clearly, if the malevolent grin on Mikuni Oriko's face is any indication, that isn't all. "In addition, by stripping a Soul Gem of the unique properties by which a
puella magi can be made into a master..." Mikuni Oriko's left hand goes to the cuff of her right sleeve, and she pulls the fabric down to her elbow. The entirety of her right arm, from wrist to elbow, is covered in a jagged crisscross of crimson scars...
No, not scars. "... I can obtain a near-limitless supply of Command Seals, with which to provide additional power to Lancer."
"With these Soul Gems at my disposal, there is enough power at my fingertips for Lancer to defeat Walpurgisnacht with ease."
Tomoe-san slumps down in her chair, completely speechless. Her eyes have gone dark, as she frantically tries to blink away the forming tears. You doubt she will be of much more use to you in this dialogue.
"Archer, did you get all of that?"
"I wish I hadn't."
"The both of you seem in shock. Rest assured, though my methods seem inhumane, I am actually doing these girls a favour by using their souls in such a manner. Had I left them be, they would have perished, sooner or later, completely forgotten by an uncaring world. But, by serving as the source of power for the plan that will save the world, their names shall be remembered forever."
"Tamaki Iroha, Nanami Yachiyo, Yui Tsuruno, Futaba Sana, Mitsuki Felicia, Minami Rena, Togame Momoka," Mikuni Oriko rattles off a list of names, pointing to a Soul Gem as she recites the name of the
puella magi to whom it once belonged. "Momoe Nagisa, Akino Kaede, Tatsuki Asuka, Yayoi Kanoko, Utsuho Natsuki, Miyako Hinano, Yuuki Sasa, Asako Komaki, Hitomi Lina, Saki Minako, Akane Mai, Masumi Chihana."
"I remember the names of each and every
puella magi whose Soul Gem I have taken for my own, and their sacrifice shall not be forgotten."
"... That... That's only nineteen," Tomoe-san murmurs. You're surprised that she's even thinking straight right now, let alone that she was able to follow along and keep track of how many names were given. "That's only nineteen... But... But there were twenty girls that were murdered..."
"That is correct, Tomoe-san; I have the blood of nineteen
puella magi on my hands."
"But... But there were twenty murders..."
"Correct," comes a most unwelcome voice from beyond the shadows.
"Mikuni Oriko is only responsible for the dismemberment of nineteen puella magi. The body of Chitose Yuma was found three days ago dismembered in a back alley in Kazamino. I was not present to see what happened, but I believe that you humans would describe the aftermath as 'gruesome'. Her chest and ribcage had been surgically sliced open and her heart was missing, and her Soul Gem was shattered in several pieces on the ground beside her. I could overlook the broken Soul Gem; accidents do happen when one is so young, but I had been left to question the origin of the three crimson markings that adorned the back of her right hand."
Chitose Yuma... So, she had been a master too, for a short while at least. But how did she meet her end, if Mikuni Oriko wasn't the responsible party? Could it have been her own servant, turning against her?
"Archer, how likely is it that a servant would turn against their master?"
"It's... More common than I'd like to tell you. Servants often have their own agendas separate from those of their masters, and if those agendas come into conflict..."
"I see. Thank you."
So, now the Incubator has decided to join in the discussion. That is... Probably one of the worst possible things that could have happened, short of a fight breaking out.
"However, I believe that I now have the answer for which I have been searching." And he now knows about the servant system. This is bad.
[ ] Wat do?
