Fate/Course Set

[LupineVolt]

​

Prologue: Three Magi​

When you join the guards of St. Peter's Basilica, the higher ups will tell you of the honor that comes with guarding the resting places of the greatest and holiest people in human history. Of the quiet strength that fills the halls of the church, the almost physical presence of the faith of humanity in God.
And for many, they do feel a sense of pride in being the guardians of one of the holiest sites in Vatican City. They watch the people come and go, and they are re-affirmed in their faith. However, these positive feelings generally only apply to those lucky enough to guard the church during the day.

Enrico had been a guard of the Basilica for over a month now. After the initial period of introducing him to their system during the day, he went where all the rookies went. Straight into the night watch. Some would say this was a test of the new executioner's strength of will and patience. Others would say that the people saying that are all on the day shift and have no intention of leaving.

So the young man walked the halls, twiddling a black key between his fingers. Every step he took echoed along the path, almost like a room filled with metronomes. He bobbed his head a little to the beat of his feet, starved for any sort of engagement.

"Excuse me" Enrico spun around, and looked right into the heart of the floating gemstone. A rectangular topaz spun gently in midair, glowing softly with golden light. The woman standing next to it gave Enrico a large smile as his muscles relaxed. "Thank you. Please, watch my jewelry for me?"

"Of course, miss!" Enrico's eyes flitted to her face for a brief instant, before being drawn back to the floating stone. "Just be sure to pick it up before you leave. We don't have a lost and found box here."

"Well, are you going to be here when I get back?" She asked, inching away from the gem.

"I should be. There's no real reason to keep patrolling. But if an emergency does happen, I'll leave it in the guards office for you to pick up. " Enrico could only manage a few glances at the woman before the gemstone drew his gaze back. What few details he did catch slowly drained away from his memory, like water through his fingers.

Her hair was brown, maybe. Or was it black? Or it could have been dark blond, but...no, no, it was definitely black. She looked asian, but...not? Maybe she was half-
maybe who was half what? Ooooh, pretty gem. Spinning! Hooray!

"Thank you so much!" She leaned in and gave the executioner a peck on the cheek. "Be back in a few minutes." She turned and walked away, adjusting her glasses. She rounded the corner and gave a nod to the shadows. The shadows nodded back, and broke off to walk with her.

"Are you actually going back for that?" Her companion matched her stride as they made their way through the twisting corridors. The soles of their shoes glowed with a faint, violet light from the gems that were embedded in them; a silencing spell she'd devised.

"Nope. We do this right, nobody will be moving for another hour.. The gem will be spent by then, and he won't remember a thing." Shizuku Tohsaka turned a handful of precious gems over in her hand. "And it'll slip into his pocket. If he gets in trouble, at least he'll get some spending money out of it."

"How considerate"

"If I have to break a few eggs to make this omelette, I'd rather not leave a mess for whoever has to clean up." She studied her companion as they passed by a window. He was older than her by at least twenty years, and his hair had started turning to salt and pepper. His face marred by three jagged scars, left behind by the claws of a Dead Apostle.

"Sentimental. Just like your mother." Petruchio tutted to his younger companion. "You will find little use for that trait in the war."

"Then its a good thing the war still hasn't begun. Shouldn't you be glad? He is one of yours." She glanced down at the black keys that were gripped between Petruchio's knuckles. "A man of god shouldn't look down upon an act of charity."

"A mere priest may agree with you. I am a soldier, Ms. Tohsaka. I do what must be done, and the men who use words over action to try to combat what I face every day will do what they must to justify it." The words were flat, like he'd said something to this effect so often he had a script. Which was disturbing even before being coupled with the context.

Shizuku was quiet for a long time after that, until another echoing footstep reached their ears. The pair pressed themselves against a corner and glanced down the hall at the next watchman. "Right, stay back here." She pressed her fingers against the amethysts embedded in the soles of her shoes, checking to make sure the silence enchantment was still intact.

As the next young man rounded the corner, he found himself staring at a rather pretty floating topaz, hovering just above the palm of a young woman.

"Excuse me, would you mind holding onto this for me?"

* * *

​

"That should be enough. Come out." Seimei's eyes cracked open to darkness. Then he brushed the worms from his eyes.

The floor of the pit rolled around Seimei as he shakily got to his feet. The crest worms skitted up his bare legs as he waded towards the stairway. The old man stood on the ledge, a black outline against the sickly green light. With a wave of his walking stick, he bid the worms part to let the younger man pass.

He had the look of a man who had once been comfortably plump, only to lose too much weight too fast. His hair was a greasy, powdery blue, wildly unkempt from his time down below. Scars stretched across his forearms, a memento from his first trip to the pit. He'd tried to claw the skin away that night.

"Hinami called. She's acquired the catalyst and will be back in the country tonight."

Seimei grunted as he scooped the bathrobe off of the top step and slipped it over himself. He shook a worm that had been caught in the fabric loose, kicking it back into the pit.

"You could stand to be a little more enthusiastic, boy." Zouken's stick scraped against the floor as he turned. "Your sister traveled halfway around the world to find you a servant."

"You're the one who put her on the plane." Seimei kept his eyes focused on the ground as he stepped into his shoes, grateful to have his feet off the cold stone. If he didn't engage, he'd be fine. He just had to make it up the stairs and that would be it.

"Yes, so you should really be thanking me then, shouldn't you? I've given you the crest, I've given you your servant...I've all but handed this war over to you." The cane tapped at the floor as Seimei made to leave. "But you think this is all beneath you, don't you, son?"

The worms chittered and clicked away in the pit, but the silence above seemed to drown them out as Seimei began up the staircase.

"Perhaps I shouldn't give you the catalyst after all." The man stopped mid step, and finally turned to face his elder. "Why, you've made it rather clear that you're not enthusiastic to participate. Perhaps I should finally just heed your wishes." For a moment, the old man sounded sincere. A fragile spark of hope ignited in Seimei's chest against his better judgement.

"But if I am quick, I can still implant the crest in Hinami after she gets back."

The bottom dropped out of the man's stomach.

"...No. I'll do it."

"Oh? But you're so unhappy. I wouldn't want to-"

"Just...what do you want?" he sat on the steps, head in his hands. A shape worked its way down his arm and vanished into his sleeves. "I've done everything you asked, grandfather. What more do you want?"

"Thats simple, Sei." Zouken's feet and cane shuffled into Sei's field of vision, directly at the bottom of the steps. "I want you to look me in the eye, and thank me for giving you everything you'll need to win the Grail." Sei could tell he was smiling. That serpent-like smile, ready to gobble up whatever it had cornered.

"Thank you, grandfather." He didn't raise his head, which meant he could see when the end of Zouken's cane smashed against his knee. He choked, reeling backwards and clutching at his leg. Worms scurried to and fro beneath his skin, agitated by the sudden movement. Sucking air in through his teeth, Seimei looked back up at Zouken.

"I couldn't quite hear you. You should speak up, Seimei, when you have something important to say to someone." The end of Zouken's cane came up to rest beneath Seimei's chin, forcing him to keep looking into the old man's black eyes. "Now. Once again, with feeling this time."

For a moment, Seimei pictured taking the cane and driving it into the old man's face. Watching the worms scatter from the wounds, and then just crushing and stomping as many of the hateful little vermin as he could. And then he'd just pour a trail of gasoline from this pit all the way to the front door, and light it off as he walked away. He'd intercept Hinami, throw whatever catalyst she'd found at the overseer, and-

and

Seimei simply held the old man's gaze and did what he was told.

"Thank you for all your hard work, grandfather" The cane dropped away, and Zouken's ugly smile threw dark shadows over his already horrible visage in the light of the lamps.

"Thats a good lad, then." He started up the stairs, cane tapping on the steps. "Rest, boy. Tonight, we'll perform the summoning down below. Can't have you passing out halfway through the incantation."

Seimei sat there for a long time, cradling his knee and resting his cheek against the cool stone of the step. But he couldn't let his sister see him like this. Though his knee screamed in protest, he stood up and headed back up to the house.

* * *

​

Isold felt the car pass through the bounded field around the castle, and her face broke into an enormous grin. She ran to her window and pressed her face against the glass, wiping away the fogged up bits with her sleeve.

A black shape was slowly making its way up the twisting, snowy path to the castle gate. Haydn was here.

Isold shoved a maid out of her way as she made for the door, moving as fast as her dress would allow her. Other staff homunculi watched her impassively as she made her way to the main stairwell, taking the steps two at a time. She wished they had a bannister, like in the movies Haydn had sent her. She would have loved to gracefully slide down into the main hall with a flourish.

Instead, her foot completely missed a step and she face planted on the ground floor landing. She stayed there for a few seconds, before cautiously bringing a hand to her face to make sure there was no blood.

"Mistress Isoldsviel, do you require assistance?" One of the maids leaned into the stairwell, regarding her mistress with dead eyes.

"Mirror"

"Very well, Mistress" The homunculus closed her eyes for a moment, and upon opening them, they had been replaced by two twinkling mirrors. "Will there be anything else Mistress?"

Isold drew the homunculus down to a crouching position to properly see herself in the mirror. Her forehead had taken a bit of a scrape, but at least she hadn't broken her nose on the way down. The mistress of the Einzberns ran a glowing finger along her wound, which sealed over with porcelain perfect skin. She yanked the mirrors and the face they were attached to downward, inspecting her dress and trying to smooth out any wrinkles.

"That will be all. Standby in case either of us have any requests."

"Of course, Mistress Isoldsviel." The young woman brushed past her artificial maid and took her place on the top of the foyer stairs. She pulled at her long hair with her fingers, nervously trying to straighten it just a little bit more before he arrived. The fact that it was currently smooth as silk just wasn't enough for her, at the moment.

When the door creaked, her hands shot down to her sides, and she stood, the image of a proper lady. With her long, silvery hair and her ruby-shaded eyes, she looked like something out of a fairy tale, a queen of another world.

Stepping in from the cold, her expected visitor peeled the touk from his head and shrugged out of his heavy coat. Without a second thought he threw the items over a waiting butler's head, while the homunculus stood impassively as a makeshift rack.

He locked eyes with Isold, at the top of the steps, and a grin broke out across his face.

"I'm home." The two of them met at the bottom of the foyer steps, and she couldn't hold it in anymore. Tears welling up in the corners of her eyes, she threw her arms around him and held on with all her might. Haydn staggered a bit under the unexpected pressure, but he held her close.

She pulled back, and rubbed away at the sparkle in her eyes. She looked into his, equally as dark and red as hers.

"Welcome home, brother."

 

[Zebrian]

Hmmm, interesting. Can't wait to see where this goes.

 

[ZerbanDaGreat]

God, RIP Seimei. RIP the entire Matou family. I really hope he summons someone cool. And/or someone who won't drain him so fast the Crest Worms are snacking on his balls by Night 2.

Shizuku and her pet Enforcer are pretty intriguing too. I mean sure Tokiomi cheated like no cheater had ever cheated before with Risei and Kirei, but this particular working relationship feels quite different. Hopefully not the 'giving her a ~Heaven's Feel~' kind of feel

Homunculus twins (I assume) raise some questions too! Such as 'has Old Man Acht finally stopped ruining everything forever?'. Having one homunculus to eat Servants and another to actually do the Master-ing would work a shitload better than... any other plan the Einzberns have ever had ever. I can't wait for them to summon Assassin by accident. ... or on purpose, on the orders of Acht.

EINZBEEEEEEEEEEEEEERNS.

But seriously though, looking forward to seeing more of this!

 

[TenfoldShields]

"If I have to break a few eggs to make this omelette, I'd rather not leave a mess for whoever has to clean up." She studied her companion as they passed by a window. He was older than her by at least twenty years, and his hair had started turning to salt and pepper. His face marred by three jagged scars, left behind by the claws of a Dead Apostle.

"Sentimental. Just like your mother." Petruchio tutted to his younger companion. "You will find little use for that trait in the war."

Click to shrink...

...I like the cut of his jib!

Scarred up aging Church Terminators who get tetchy about things like not being extra-double sure and murdering everyone you come across like High Chaos Corvo are the most trustworthy of people.

Zouken Intensifies

Click to shrink...

Jeez. Being a Matou is suffering even across alternate worldlines. But hey on the plus side at least the guy seems like he's getting the Sakura style treatment rather than what Kariya got aka "toss him in the pit and fish out whatever's left".

Also props to you for nailing Zouken's characterization. His cruel, sadistic, wormy characterization.

Isold shoved a maid out of her way as she made for the door, moving as fast as her dress would allow her. Other staff homunculi watched her impassively as she made her way to the main stairwell, taking the steps two at a time. She wished they had a bannister, like in the movies Haydn had sent her. She would have loved to gracefully slide down into the main hall with a flourish.

Instead, her foot completely missed a step and she face planted on the ground floor landing. She stayed there for a few seconds, before cautiously bringing a hand to her face to make sure there was no blood.

Click to shrink...

Oh honey. This isn't Disney.

You're in Fate. Princesses only exist here to get murdered horribly as a general rule .

Shizuku and her pet Enforcer are pretty intriguing too. I mean sure Tokiomi cheated like no cheater had ever cheated before with Risei and Kirei, but this particular working relationship feels quite different. Hopefully not the 'giving her a ~Heaven's Feel~' kind of feel

Click to shrink...

Something something probably not his type something something altarboys.

Homunculus twins (I assume) raise some questions too! Such as 'has Old Man Acht finally stopped ruining everything forever?'. Having one homunculus to eat Servants and another to actually do the Master-ing would work a shitload better than... any other plan the Einzberns have ever had ever. I can't wait for them to summon Assassin by accident. ... or on purpose, on the orders of Acht.

Click to shrink...

>Implying Acht will ever not ruin thingsAnd nah you see it's Lupine writing it so Assassin's actually going to be able to do shit. Therefore, obviously, the Einsbernz aren't going to summon him.

 

[LupineVolt]

Prologue: The Beckoning
​

Setsuna stood by as Gundam counted out the money in the envelope. Mrs. Ushiba glanced anxiously between the pair of them and the rest of her store. Waiting to hear the verdict.

"Everything seems to be accounted for." Gundam passed the envelope to his much larger, blockier companion, and leaned over the counter. "Ma'am, thank you for being so punctual with your payments. You aren't an idiot, like a certain Mr. Ito down the street. " He leaned over the counter and smiled. "Is there anything else, Mrs. Ushiba?"

The woman froze, unsure how to respond. This wasn't in the script. Gundam merely pointed to the fridges on the far wall.

"A complimentary drink, perhaps?"

Mrs. Ushiba nodded, all but happy to appease them.

"Tadasuke, please, get us some drinks." Gundam waved a hand in Setsuna's direction. With a grunt, the larger man obeyed.

He was a naturally wide man, which was only accentuated by a beer gut that he wasn't ready to admit was growing too large. The store's fluorescent lights reflected off of his shaved head, and as he walked, Mrs. Ushiba could see part of a tattoo design creeping over the back of his shirt.

"You'll forgive Tadasuke if he doesn't speak. He's not exactly a talker. Unless someone is offering seconds." Gundam stage whispered to Mrs. Ushiba, who gave him a shaky smile while making sure that the enforcer wasn't looking at her. He turned from the freezer, holding up two glass bottles, shifting them between his hands. They were a bit too cold for his liking. He pressed one into Gundam's hands and kept going, pushing his way out the front door.

He twisted the top off the bottle and took a drink while Gundam kept toying with the store owner. The drink felt good after a long, sweltering day. Fuyuki was going through a bit of a heat wave at the moment, and the forecast said it'd last at least the rest of the week. Leaning against the bike rack, Setsuna watched as the cars went by and the city slipped into twilight. A few minutes later, Gundam emerged.

"Well, big guy, I do believe that covers our work for today. How about you go find yourself a nice burger or three for a job well done, mkay?" Gundam poked at Setsuna's stomach with the end of his bottle. "Me? I'm gonna go hit the bar. Get away from Yuki squawking about fixing the A/C. Do I look like a repairman?"

Setsuna glanced at his companion, dressed in the nicest suit that grunt-money could buy, and stubbornly sweating his way through it. Gundam was a very firm believer in the philosphy of "Dress for the job you want" regardless of how practical that was for errand boys like them. Someone really should have told him he was making himself look like a fool.

Setsuna was not going to be that somebody, so he made a noncommital grunt and tossed the bottle at the trashcan. It bounced off the edge and rolled away.

"Smooth." Gundam stuck his hands in his pockets and turned to leave. "Seeya"

"Bye." Setsuna pulled out his phone as he walked back to the car, his big clumsy fingers tapping at the tiny keys.
​

He's going out to the club tonight<
I hear you need some help with the A/C?<
I could come over<
​

>Stay the night?
​

We'll see<

​

>Thank you. Dinner?

Please<
​

He waited for a few minutes for another message. When it didn't come, he flipped the phone closed, arranged himself in his car, and headed back to his apartment to pick up his toolbox and a change of clothes.

​

* * *
​

Cosette tapped at the counter, watching the IV bag slowly fill up with blood. At least the struggling had stopped. No, now the young man was too scared and worn out to thrash around. Now he simply sat and watched the old woman, trying to look brave. It wasn't exactly working, but on the plus side, it didn't exactly matter.

"I do apologize, once again." She drew a compact out of her purse and flipped it open, examining her makeup. It hadn't changed in the past twenty minutes, but at the very least it took several years off her face. "It is rather shady business, but I'm afraid that you and your family are the only ones who can provide me with what I need."

HIs eyes widened at that, and he began to struggle anew, weakly. She held up a hand.

"Oh, they've already had their blood taken. Not that much, everyone will simply be woozy for a few days. Do stop with your fussing." She ordered. The bonds weren't giving out, and she didn't really have any reason to lie about that, did she? So, instead, he tried to ask a question.

"Mmm?"

"What was that, dear?"

"Mmm!?"

"Why? Well, son, I will admit that this wasn't my first choice. I've spent the past twenty years searching for a perfect catalyst. But fame, unfortunately, brings scarcity to the things thata re left behind." She tutted. "So instead, I decided to follow the bloodlines."

"MmmMMmm?"

"Ah, I suppose you don't know. I need the connection that your family has to a certain someone. An ancestor of yours. I lack a proper catalyst, but if I can draw her spirit into the world by using blood like hers, I may be able to form a contract with her."

She paused, and then laughed a little at herself.

"Oh, I've probably simply confused you more."

He nodded a little.

"Well, it hardly matters. You won't remember a moment of this, Raymond. No, you'll wake up at home and you'll feel dizzy whenever you stand up for a few days. A strange bruise, and that willl fade quickly. Your life will go back to being so utterly mundane and meaningless. A public education that you're failing to take advantage of. A shame, though. With your pedigree, your family should be held in the highest regard. You should be preparing to enter École Normale Superieure instead of wasting your time with those silly choir competitions."

Things were beginning to get a little hazy around the edges of his vision. He worked at his mouth, trying to push the gag from between his lips. Cosette noticed, and moved to stand over him. He looked up at the woman with the iron-colored hair and the tight bun. He didn't know if he should be more or less worried about the smile she was giving him. She gently teased the makeshift gag from his mouth.

"Wh-who are you talking about?" He gasped, trying to focus on her. She shook her head a little.

"A shame. Children should really be taught their heritage, Raymond. Your parents have failed you, just like their parents before them failed to live up to the legacy left behind. True, you are not direct blood descendants, but merely having that woman as a part of your family tree should be enough." She reached into her purse, and pulled out a locket. She flipped it open, and showed Raymond the picture. The girl painted there was young, with short blond hair, a banner, and some sort of metal headpiece.

"Saint Joan, dear Raymond. Saint Joan of Arc."

And everything went dark.
​

* * *​

Bradley took in the wide, open scrublands around him. The red sand, the bushes, the occaisonal rustle of a distant animal. The outback stretched out to the horizon, where it met the clear, blue sky.

He didn't care for it. As the jeep rolled through the outback, he reached into the cooler in his passenger seat and pulled out another water bottle. He grabbed the old water bottle from the cup holder and tossed it out of the jeep. The GPS said that it'd still be another two hours before he reached the spot.

He should have just taken a helicopter. Maybe there would be a cute pilot that he'd get to spend some time with while they went. But then there'd be the whole thing with the hypnosis, which would basically just make her into a wind up toy. He made a note to start dating helicopter pilots once he was finished with this.

His mage's kit rumbled in the backseat as the car bumped over the landscape, its contents bouncing around inside of it. Thankfully, he'd had the presence of mind to take the kit of someone who thought ahead. His dad wasn't gonna miss it. And the seals chose him, after all. Not his old man, they had chosen him.

He looked at the pattern on the back of his hand. The crimson seals resembled old tribal paintings, in a way. A seal at the bottom, A large circle and a small circle, with the space between them filled by a firey looking ring. They looked beautiful. They looked powerful.

A particularly strong bump broke his concentration, and he refocused on the drive. He wondered how out of shape the jeep would be on the return trip. It wasn't his jeep, of course. He'd probably manage to at least get it back to its owners. Though how they'd get it to a mechanic was beyond him. But they made the choice to live out in the middle of nowhere, not him.

At least they had these gas cannisters. The two jugs would be perfect. One would get him back to their house, and one would be perfect to use in the ceremony. The texts hadn't said anything about introducing fire to the ritual, but...he had a feeling it would work out for the best. And if nothing else, it'd look cool as hell.

He mentally rehearsed the incantation in his head again, and double checked with the print out in his backpack. He looked at the design for the circle again. He briefly considered the C D that had been left in the car. He found it lacking. He played mental tic-tac-toe with himself. He made up stories for what was happening when everyone realized he was gone.

Y'know, the usual long trip things.

But finally, underneath a remote pair of red faced cliffs, Bradley parked.

First came the circle in the sand. That had to be drawn by hand, which was the biggest pain in the ass to do in the outback heat. He carefully carved it out with a stone, crouching low to the ground and double checking every line and curve. THe sun was threatening to punch directly through his SPF and burn him to ashes. Which would, if nothing else, be appropriate.

Then came the messy part. Grumbling and groaning, he set out the tarp and the bowl. And then he brought out the sculpture.

A silly mystic code that his mom's family had designed. It apparently had the power to repel animals away from it. The only problem with this was the fact that animal influence had stopped being a deciding factor in combat situations ages ago. Now it mostly got used to keep things from getting into the family garden.

But if you could reverse the field...

Bradley smiled as the first animal, a lone, old dingo approached, shuffling awkwardly along. Really, what he had to do next was probably a charity for the poor thing. As it knelt in place on the tarp, head directly above the bowl that Bradley had set out, he looked up at him. It had no comprehension of what it was doing here, what Bradley even was or why it felt so afraid. And then, when his knife slipped from one side of its neck to the other, it felt nothing at all.​

 

[Ridiculously Average Guy]

"Smooth." Gundam stuck his hands in his pockets and turned to leave. "Seeya"

"Bye." Setsuna pulled out his phone as he walked back to the car, his big clumsy fingers tapping at the tiny keys.
​

He's going out to the club tonight<
I hear you need some help with the A/C?<
I could come over<
​

>Stay the night?
​

We'll see<

​

>Thank you. Dinner?

Please<
​

He waited for a few minutes for another message. When it didn't come, he flipped the phone closed, arranged himself in his car, and headed back to his apartment to pick up his toolbox and a change of clothes.​

Click to shrink...

Well, I did not expect this level of NTR so quickly. Its like the 4th war up in here.

"Saint Joan, dear Raymond. Saint Joan of Arc."

And everything went dark.

Click to shrink...

Well damn, this is gonna be a Hard. Core. War isn't it?

Bradley​

Click to shrink...

Literally everything about him screams douchnozzle.

Is his Origin Massive Asshole?

 

[TenfoldShields]

It's an Angel!

It's an Angel!?

Setsuna stood by as Gundam counted out the money in the envelope. Mrs. Ushiba glanced anxiously between the pair of them and the rest of her store. Waiting to hear the verdict.

Click to shrink...

It's a Gundam!

(I'm so so sorry.)

"Well, big guy, I do believe that covers our work for today. How about you go find yourself a nice burger or three for a job well done, mkay?" Gundam poked at Setsuna's stomach with the end of his bottle. "Me? I'm gonna go hit the bar. Get away from Yuki squawking about fixing the A/C. Do I look like a repairman?"

Setsuna glanced at his companion, dressed in the nicest suit that grunt-money could buy, and stubbornly sweating his way through it. Gundam was a very firm believer in the philosphy of "Dress for the job you want" regardless of how practical that was for errand boys like them. Someone really should have told him he was making himself look like a fool.

Setsuna was not going to be that somebody, so he made a noncommital grunt and tossed the bottle at the trashcan. It bounced off the edge and rolled away.

"Smooth." Gundam stuck his hands in his pockets and turned to leave. "Seeya"

"Bye." Setsuna pulled out his phone as he walked back to the car, his big clumsy fingers tapping at the tiny keys.

Click to shrink...

So we have a sort of taciturn brute muscle Yakuza guy with approximately the same dimensions as a brick shithouse that ate a slightly smaller brick shithouse as one of our potential Masters. Promising enough! Doesn't have his command seals yet, wonder who he's going to summon.

HIs eyes widened at that, and he began to struggle anew, weakly. She held up a hand.

"Oh, they've already had their blood taken. Not that much, everyone will simply be woozy for a few days. Do stop with your fussing." She ordered.

Click to shrink...

She's already literally a thousand times nicer than 90% of the Mages in setting. They'd just be like "fuck it, help me hold them upsidedown so I can get all the blood out".

"Saint Joan, dear Raymond. Saint Joan of Arc."

Click to shrink...

Her summoning will be the most French thing to ever happen in or to France.

Giles will not be invited.

Bradley smiled as the first animal, a lone, old dingo approached, shuffling awkwardly along. Really, what he had to do next was probably a charity for the poor thing. As it knelt in place on the tarp, head directly above the bowl that Bradley had set out, he looked up at him. It had no comprehension of what it was doing here, what Bradley even was or why it felt so afraid. And then, when his knife slipped from one side of its neck to the other, it felt nothing at all.

Click to shrink...

Man somehow the trust fund brat mage seems immensely less likeable than "literal street thug" and Miss "I'm going to criticize all your life choices like you're my own grandson". I bet his full name has "The Fifth" in it or something. I bet he wears dockers and polos with the collar popped.

The fucker.

 

[toxinvictory]

So we have a Tohsaka and her allied enforcer, A matou determined to protect his sister, Einzerbern twins, A maybe yakuza enforcer, An affably evil female aristocrat and a friendly animal sacrificer. Well this is going to be a interesting grail war.

So Joan of Arc confirmed, you know she doesn't have to be Saber, her legend qualifies her for quite a few other roles. Rider and Lancer are possible and if memory serves didn't she get burned alive for practicing witchcraft. And its been stated that a servants affects the servant. Caster/Witch Joan would be interesting if only for the distinct possibility of Giles coming back from the dead out of shear rage over it.

And a dingo sacrifice, hmmm Australia has a pretty complex mythology lots of hero's to choose from this should be interesting. I'll defiantly be keeping my eye on this one.

 

[Bladestar123]

You named a dude Setsuna?
You named a dude Gundam?
Brooooo...

Well, I did not expect this level of NTR so quickly. Its like the 4th war up in here.

Click to shrink...

Burn.

But wait, Joan of Arc can be summoned as ruler. The prerequisite for Ruler is to possess no desire for the grail. That automatically should make Joan impossible to summon as a regular heroic spirit, simply because she has no interest in fighting in the war.

 

[LupineVolt]

Man somehow the trust fund brat mage seems immensely less likeable than "literal street thug" and Miss "I'm going to criticize all your life choices like you're my own grandson". I bet his full name has "The Fifth" in it or something. I bet he wears dockers and polos with the collar popped.

Click to shrink...

Literally everything about him screams douchnozzle.

Click to shrink...

Excellent. That was the plan!

So Joan of Arc confirmed, you know she doesn't have to be Saber, her legend qualifies her for quite a few other roles. Rider and Lancer are possible and if memory serves didn't she get burned alive for practicing witchcraft. And its been stated that a servants affects the servant. Caster/Witch Joan would be interesting if only for the distinct possibility of Giles coming back from the dead out of shear rage over it.

Click to shrink...

But wait, Joan of Arc can be summoned as ruler. The prerequisite for Ruler is to possess no desire for the grail. That automatically should make Joan impossible to summon as a regular heroic spirit, simply because she has no interest in fighting in the war.

Click to shrink...

You named a dude Setsuna?
You named a dude Gundam?
Brooooo...

Click to shrink...

I...actually just picked names at random. If I made any sort of reference it was entirely unintentional, I basically just name characters as I go along.

That and I may have been falsely led to believe Gundam is an actual japanese name.

 

[GingaNoTsurugi]

Excellent. That was the plan!






I...actually just picked names at random. If I made any sort of reference it was entirely unintentional, I basically just name characters as I go along.

That and I may have been falsely led to believe Gundam is an actual japanese name.

Click to shrink...

 

[Faraway-R]

You know, since Joan of Arc summoning was done through blood, I expect Joan to interrogate the summoner on what was used to summon her, and then - whether her descendants are still alive, in a very darkly promising manner.

The magus in question will be able to honestly reassure Saint Joan nothing undue and lasting happened, so it's a good thing for everyone involved.

 

[LupineVolt]

Prologue: Bonds​

Petruchio looked up at the statue. The floating opal provided just enough illumination to let Shizuku work, but threw the features of the carving into deep shadows. Still, he had been a member of the church long enough to remember whose tomb this was.

"Ms. Tohsaka, how are things proceeding?"

"Just fine!" Shizuku held a piece of red chalk in one hand and a neatly folded piece of paper in her other. She carefully copied the circle onto the side of the marble tomb. "Just a few more seconds."

"And you are certain that the remains will not be disturbed?"

"Of course. Everything will be just the way we left it...except for the catalyst." She conceded. A few final lines, and...there. It was done. Now she reached into her gem pouch, and brought out three emeralds and three diamonds. She carefully placed them against the edges of the circle, and they hung to the rock, practically magnetized. "We're set. You might want to avert your eyes."

Petruchio complied, turning around. He looked at the shimmering, illusory field from this side. A simple light and sound dampening field, maintained by an amethyst gently spinning in midair. For a few more minutes, they'd have absolute privacy.

Shizuku tapped the side of her glasses, tinting the lenses black. She pressed her hands against the sides of the circle, and closed her eyes. She pictured a clear, peaceful lake. And then she dropped a stone right in the center.

Power flared out from her, magic circuits lighting up down her arms and through her torso. The circle flared to life, and light passed between diamonds and emeralds in alternating order. Slowly at first, but then gaining speed, until there was a cyclone of light around the chalk circle. It was ready. Bracing one arm on the top of the tomb, Shizuku placed her other hand onto the circle proper. Her arm passed through it like it was water, until it was shoulder deep inside the box.

For a few moments, she groped around. She tried not to think too hard about what she was feeling in there. But eventually, she felt a series of small, round shapes. Gently, she teased them from the bones that held them, and slowly drew them out of the casket. As her arm left the circle, the lights from the gemstones died out all at once, and the spent jewels clattered to the floor. The chalk evaporated, fading into dust particles from the outside in.

"We're good!" Shizuku announced. She scooped up her gems and patted the coffin. "I'll see you soon!" She turned to Petruchio, grinning widely.

The sight of his usual scowl brought her right back down. He held out a hand. She placed the catalyst into his hands, and he examined it underneath the light of the floating opal. It was an ancient set of rosary beads, faded with age and obvious use during their day. The silver chain had gone without tarnish, however, all of these years. He handed them back.

"Your magecraft is as impressive as ever." He said, moving to pluck an amethyst out of the air. Shizuku tucked her many marvelous magical minerals into her pouch, removing what few traces there were that anyone had been there. "Now comes the easy part."

Shizuku studied the rosary beads for a second longer, before carefully tucking them into her pouch. As Petruchio led the way through the darkened halls of the church, she found herself lagging behind a little. The italian paused at the next turn, and looked back at his younger companion.

Most others would take a moment to ask their partners what was wrong. Maybe see if there was something that could be done. Instead, the executioner roughly grabbed Shizuku by the wrist and pulled her behind him. She bit down on her lip to keep from yelping.

"H-hey, ease up!" she hissed. She yanked at her hand, but Petruchio's grip only tightened.

"We can't afford to be complacant now." He didn't turn to look at her, even. He just kept walking, towing the japanese woman behind him. "You know as well as I do that your place in this war depends on this."

"I-I still feel like this is a little extr-"

"You believe that the church has forgotten or forgiven the Tohsaka family for the events of the fourth war?" Petruchio's voice had an uncharacteristic bite to it. Shizuku flinched. "The only involvement the church wishes to have in this war is as the Overseers. To ensure that the war for the Grail is handled properly, without mages running rampant."

"The thing with the-"

"There will be time for this conversation outside of this church." The man's grip tightened, and his pace increased. The pair were half running now, in a silent run. Shizuku, sufficiently cowed, simply tried to keep up the pace.

* * *
"Seeeeiiiiiiimeeeeeeeeeiiiiiiii"

He rolled over in his sleep, nudging his legs out from underneath the tangled sheets. He had simply fallen, bathrobe and all, back into bed.

"C'mon, Sei."

Conciousness was clawing its way into the peaceful oblivion of sleep. No matter how hard he fought, he'd lose out in the end. So the Matou champion opened his eyes and rolled over to survey his guest.

She was just edging her way out of her teens and awkwardly edging into adulthood. Her short, black hair was worn in a pixie cut, nearly permanently messy. She had gotten a tan in Europe, at least. There were dark circles under her eyes, but international flights would do that to anyone.

"Hey Sei." She grinned, and held out a hand. Seimei pulled himself up and into a hug. "You guys miss me?"

"Nah. It was nice to have some quiet around the place." He grinned as he broke off. "How was Greece?"

"It was incredible!" She beamed, pulling her purse onto her lap and rifling through it for a moment. An envelope full of pictures was retrieved and passed over for inspection and bragging rights. "The dealer didn't show up for a few days, so I just got to go around and see the sights! It was beautiful down on the beaches."

A lot of the pictures weren't great. Poorly focused, or overly bright, or just shot from a strange angle. Still, the man took a moment to consider every one. "I'm glad you got to go. It looks like you had a lot of fun."

"Maybe after the war is over, we'll be able to head back there! Or somewhere even nicer!" Hinami wrapped an arm around her brother and squeezed. For an unbearably long moment, there was nothing but silence. "...You are going to survive this, Sei. Okay?"

"Hina, this is-"

"This is nothing. You will make it through this war. After all. You've got me and your new best friend to watch your back." She turned him by his shoulders and forced him to meet her gaze. Those giant, sincere brown eyes were too much for him. He could reject the likely for a second. For her.

"...ugh, I'm a mess." He groaned, running a hand through his unwashed hair. "I-I came right back here after...after Grandfather and I were done-"

"I know about the pit, you know-"

"After we were done I just wanted to catch some sleep and then I was going to clean up for you're homecoming and...bleugh." He grunted. Hina giggled a little.

"Considering the jet lag, I'm looking like shit too. So I guess we just get to be slobs together!" She poked her hand into his side, where she knew he was ticklish.

There was no reaction.

After a second, they both looked down at where her hand was sticking, fingers still wiggling a little. Too late to be convincing, Seimei gave it his best shot, a jerk to the side and a quick, high pitched and very unmanly giggle. But the damage had already been done. The siblings sat there on the bed for a few seconds more.

"I'm just...gonna go shower."

"Alright. I'm..aaah...I'm gonna go catch up with Grandpa."

The Matou siblings parted ways, both trying to pretend that whatever had just happened hadn't happened, and failing. But they wouldn't have long to dwell on it. Soon, the ceremony would begin.

* * *

"I don't recall giving you permission to dye your hair." Jubstacheit von Einzbern looked down at his pair of progeny, sitting together on the sofa. Indeed, the years away had changed Haydn. The boy had once been as sleek looking as his sister. Now his hair was golden-blonde and seemed almost deliberately messy. He'd taken to speaking up more, or telling little jokes that his sister did not get. Were he a human boy, Old Man Acht would have been satisfied with this change as part of growing up.

But as a homunculus, he wasn't entirely sure how satified he was about the tampering with his design. Even if the tampering was the design's own choosing.

"My teacher, Lord El-Melloi, told me that I might have to socialize with other masters in the Grail War. And that gathering information in the city was important. So I decided that I'd change my hair to blend in more in Fuyuki. I've also obtained some contact lenses that will hide my eyes." Haydn explained, pointing at his own incredibly distinct red pupils. "I should have consulted with you first. I'm sorry, milord."

Acht grumbled into his tea and looked over at his sister. She was hanging on her brother's every word, though every once in a while she paused to rub at the new earrings Haydn had brought her.

"Very well. However, I trust that you'll speak to me before making any more of these decisions." The old man looked at the mahogony box that Haydn had placed on the table. "And this is your catalyst?"

"Yes sir." Haydn picked up the box and eased it open. Inside, laying in perfectly sized indentations, were a pair of clay bottles. Both were etched with now worn out symbols, save for one cresent shape at the lip of each vessel. Acht took the box and studied them for a while, before passing them back. "We are to begin the summoning tonight?"

"Yes. And tomorrow, the both of you will be departing for Fuyuki." Acht moved his gaze over to Isold. The girl was doing her best to keep her excitement in check, and rather well at that. She, at the very least, respected his authority. Acht rose and left without another word. There was no real need for them.

As the door closed behind him, Isold turned to her twin. "So do I get to dye my hair when we go to Fuyuki?" She pulled at her long, silvery hair. "Maybe blonde, like yours. We could match!"

"Izzy, I think that Old Man Acht would probably kill me if I let you dye your hair." Haydn gave her a weary smile. "I mean...I mostly did it so people would stop staring so much at the Clock Tower, honestly."

"You lied to him?"

"It did help me socialize more with other mages! Just...not in a...combat scenario." He thought back on those first few years in England for a moment. He pushed those thoughts aside. "But you shouldn't have to-"

"But I want to be able to get out and see things!" Isold grabbed his hands. "Haydn, you know this is my only chance to get to go outside of the castle...I want to make the most of it." When he didn't respond, she pressed on. "And as for Lord Jubstachteit, he'll never see me again after tomorrow. So what does it matter what he'd think?"

Haydn wouldn't meet her gaze for a long time. Isold pulled her hands back and moved away a little bit.

"...Haydn?"

"We'll see." he said, finally looking back at her. "But...this'll be our little secret, alright? Maybe we'll even get you some contacts, and we'll go walking around the city a little."

The light returned to her eyes immedietly, and she threw her arms around her twin.

"Can it be red?"

"...See, the point of this exercise is to draw less atte-" He stopped. "...We'll see what our options are. Okay?"

"Okay!" She stood up, and took the box from the table. "So, now we go do the summoning?" Haydn stood and took the box from her hands carefully and set it back down. He pulled out a phone from his pocket and checked the time.

"In a few hours. For now, I could just really use something to eat. Its been a long journey."

"Then Sir Haydnsviel von Einzbern, may I cordially invite you to lunch?" She adopted her best formal tone of voice, the very image of a proper young lady.

"Lady Isoldsviel, I would be honored to accept your invitation." He grinned, and held out an arm. She looped hers through it, and the twins made off for a long overdue luncheon.

 

[TenfoldShields]

For a few moments, she groped around. She tried not to think too hard about what she was feeling in there. But eventually, she felt a series of small, round shapes. Gently, she teased them from the bones that held them, and slowly drew them out of the casket. As her arm left the circle, the lights from the gemstones died out all at once, and the spent jewels clattered to the floor. The chalk evaporated, fading into dust particles from the outside in.

"We're good!" Shizuku announced. She scooped up her gems and patted the coffin. "I'll see you soon!" She turned to Petruchio, grinning widely.

Click to shrink...

Whooo! Grave robbing! Yeah!

...I'm 90% sure she's just committing sacrilege in front of an Inquisitor. All things considered he's surprisingly chill about it. I mean sure he's tugging her along but I can't really blame him for that, I mean having exposition in the middle of the Vatican isn't...well I'm sure there are worse places to do it.

"You believe that the church has forgotten or forgiven the Tohsaka family for the events of the fourth war?" Petruchio's voice had an uncharacteristic bite to it. Shizuku flinched. "The only involvement the church wishes to have in this war is as the Overseers. To ensure that the war for the Grail is handled properly, without mages running rampant."

"The thing with the-"

"There will be time for this conversation outside of this church." The man's grip tightened, and his pace increased. The pair were half running now, in a silent run. Shizuku, sufficiently cowed, simply tried to keep up the pace.

Click to shrink...

"I'm sure it wasn't entirely our fault! The Einzberns were probably involved someho-"

"NO TOHSAKA YOU ARE THE EINZBERNS NOW."

A lot of the pictures weren't great. Poorly focused, or overly bright, or just shot from a strange angle. Still, the man took a moment to consider every one. "I'm glad you got to go. It looks like you had a lot of fun."

"Maybe after the war is over, we'll be able to head back there! Or somewhere even nicer!" Hinami wrapped an arm around her brother and squeezed. For an unbearably long moment, there was nothing but silence. "...You are going to survive this, Sei. Okay?"

Click to shrink...

D'aaaaw. I love the little moments like that you know? They're really sweet and-

There was no reaction.

After a second, they both looked down at where her hand was sticking, fingers still wiggling a little. Too late to be convincing, Seimei gave it his best shot, a jerk to the side and a quick, high pitched and very unmanly giggle. But the damage had already been done. The siblings sat there on the bed for a few seconds more.

"I'm just...gonna go shower."

"Alright. I'm..aaah...I'm gonna go catch up with Grandpa."

Click to shrink...

Good feelings gone.

"Very well. However, I trust that you'll speak to me before making any more of these decisions." The old man looked at the mahogony box that Haydn had placed on the table. "And this is your catalyst?"

Click to shrink...

Huh, Acht's only cold and distant and aloof instead of throwing Haydn to the wolves for his frosted tips. Presumably because in this timeline his dad didn't literally fuck the entire Grail War over a barrel of steaming hot Evil Mud.

"Izzy, I think that Old Man Acht would probably kill me if I let you dye your hair." Haydn gave her a weary smile. "I mean...I mostly did it so people would stop staring so much at the Clock Tower, honestly."

"You lied to him?"

"It did help me socialize more with other mages! Just...not in a...combat scenario." He thought back on those first few years in England for a moment. He pushed those thoughts aside. "But you shouldn't have to-"

Click to shrink...

I wonder why he got sent to the Clock Tower? I mean Lord El-Melloi's mentioned (no clue as to which it is though) so presumably it was because Acht wanted his already bullshit homunculi to be even more bullshit (because that's never backfired on you has it Acht?) and was bribing Kayneth/Waver/Whoever with something for his trouble. But generally I thought the Einzberns like to keep things in house y'know? Interesting.

"Then Sir Haydnsviel on Einzbern, may I cordially invite you to lunch?" She adopted her best formal tone of voice, the very image of a proper young lady.

"Lady Isoldsviel, I would be honored to accept your invitation." He grinned, and held out an arm. She looped hers through it, and the twins made off for a long overdue luncheon.

Click to shrink...

D'aaaaw.

Horrible things are going to happen to them.

 

[LupineVolt]

Prologue: Circles
​

Shizuku knelt over the circle they had drawn in Petruchio's basement. Even, precise lines etched into the floor with a mixture of iron shavings, paint, and a small amount of her own blood. Just like the one in her workshop. She wished they could have been there, instead. But Petruchio had insisted they perform the summoning here. He was right that it would be quicker, at least.

But still, she missed her books and her equipment. The things her mother had left for her. Petruchio's basement was a far less welcoming place. A barren storage space with a few pieces of exercise equipment that had been moved into the corner to give the circle the room it needed.

Petruchio was sitting, watching as she finished her preparations.

" I still find it troubling that this ritual is so simple."

"My job as Master is to provide the invitation for the servant to enter our world, and anchor them to it with mana. Its simple in practice. The complicated stuff will come after I return home." She walked back over to her bag and withdrew the rosary beads from within. "Don't worry, I'll have this circle removed as soon as I'm finished here. Then we'll be on our way, and you can return the catalyst."

"Don't worry about it."

"Of course I will. You've been the only one standing by me all this time. The rest of the church won't even speak to us after...y'know." She placed the beads on a table at one edge of the summoning circle.

"They have good reason."

"I know they do. And...and it really wasn't anyone's fault. But people still died, and my mother went to her grave regretting that." She pulled a fistful of prepared gems from her pocket now, a small fortune sparkling in her hands. "Now...I'm ready to begin."
​

* * *​

"For the elements, silver and iron. For the cornerstone, stone and the archduke of contracts."

The worm pit had been emptied out. Seimei and Zouken stood on opposite sides of the circle, while Hina watched from the steps. Beneath his skin, he felt the crest worms grow excited as they fed mana back into his system. In the center of the circle sat an old and dented helmet.

"For the ancestor, my great master, Schweinorg. The alighted wind becomes a wall."

Jubstachteit and Isoldsviel sat in pews behind Haydn, watching as he conducted the ritual. The great raised circle of silver was beginning to glow, throwing shadows along the walls of the chapel.

"Close the gates of the cardinal directions. Come forth from the Crown, and follow the forked road leading to the Kingdom."

Cosette's workshop overlooked the city of Paris. As she looked out at the city at night, over the rising glow of the circle of borrowed blood and precious metals in her floor, she grinned and braced. More power would be needed for this next part. More energy would need to flow through her. She didn't even notice her bun had come undone, leaving her silver hair blown backwards.

"Fill. Fill. Fill. Fill. Fill. Repeat five times. But when each is filled, destroy it. Set"

Bradley pulled the lighter from his pocket with his seal-less hand, and flicked it open. The smell of gas and blood filled the air as the sun beat down on him from above. He lobbed the lighter into the circle, and the flame met the gasoline he had poured, along with the blood, into the grooves. He grinned as the circle erupted into flames, the heat making the skin on his face tighten.

"Heed my words. My will creates your body, and your sword creates my destiny."

Petruchio stood up as the circle's glow shifted from deep blue to bright red. He took a step towards the circle, his face cast in alternating light and shadow in the ruby glow. One hand dug into his pocket.

"If you heed the Grail's call and obey my will and reason, then answer me."

This was it. This was the moment Shizuku had spent her entire life building towards. As she pressed onwards, she spoke louder. More purposefully. This was the act of a real mage. She had made it. She would win the Holy Grail and restore the honor her family had lost. She would fulfill her dreams, and the dreams of her mother, and the dreams of her grandfather, and of all the mages of the Tohsaka clan.

"I hereby swear that I will be all the good in the world. That I will defeat all evil in the world."

She couldn't hear the sound of the black key deploying, like a blade being drawn from its scabbard.The executioner kept his pace. Even, quiet steps, as not to disturb her.

"You seven heavens, clad in the three great words of power, come forth from the circle of binding, Guardian of the Scale!"

The room erupted with light, becoming a void of blinding whiteness.

There was the sound of metal biting into flesh.

There was a woman's scream.

And then there was darkness.

"I ask you. Are you my Master?"​

 

[Bladestar123]

And history repeats itself once more...

 

[Guessmyname]

Welp. There's our Kirei analogue for the War...

(I mean, granted Petruchio almost certainly has differing motives, but still)

 

[Ridiculously Average Guy]

Well damn, that was depressing.

Also, was she the last of her line?

 

[ZerbanDaGreat]

She couldn't hear the sound of the black key deploying, like a blade being drawn from its scabbard.The executioner kept his pace. Even, quiet steps, as not to disturb her.

The room erupted with light, becoming a void of blinding whiteness.

There was the sound of metal biting into flesh.

There was a woman's scream.

And then there was darkness.

"I ask you. Are you my Master?"​

Click to shrink...

BACKSTABBU

I don't think you thought very far ahead with this Petruchio. A Servant whose catalyst is rosary beads might not be too thrilled about a random corpse bleeding all over everything when they appear. Also you're going to make them way weaker than they would be under Shizuku. inb4 it's an Assassin who was summoned to complete the trifecta of bad ideas.

 

[Tonaris]

You aren't an idiot, like a certain Mr. Ito down the street.

Click to shrink...

A store owner called Ito. I wonder if he is Zahak's employer.

 

[TenfoldShields]

​

Shizuku knelt over the circle they had drawn in Petruchio's basement. Even, precise lines etched into the floor with a mixture of iron shavings, paint, and a small amount of her own blood. Just like the one in her workshop. She wished they could have been there, instead. But Petruchio had insisted they perform the summoning here. He was right that it would be quicker, at least.

But still, she missed her books and her equipment. The things her mother had left for her. Petruchio's basement was a far less welcoming place. A barren storage space with a few pieces of exercise equipment that had been moved into the corner to give the circle the room it needed.​

Click to shrink...

There's something unaccountably hilarious about performing a summoning in an Executor's home gym.

"So where do I set up the blood circl-"

"Just move the bench press and the freeweights. It'll be fine."

"Aaaand the full length mirror?"

"...No, no that can stay."

"For the elements, silver and iron. For the cornerstone, stone and the archduke of contracts."

The worm pit had been emptied out. Seimei and Zouken stood on opposite sides of the circle, while Hina watched from the steps. Beneath his skin, he felt the crest worms grow excited as they fed mana back into his system. In the center of the circle sat an old and dented helmet.

"For the ancestor, my great master, Schweinorg. The alighted wind becomes a wall."

Jubstachteit and Isoldsviel sat in pews behind Haydn, watching as he conducted the ritual. The great raised circle of silver was beginning to glow, throwing shadows along the walls of the chapel.

"Close the gates of the cardinal directions. Come forth from the Crown, and follow the forked road leading to the Kingdom."

Cosette's workshop overlooked the city of Paris. As she looked out at the city at night, over the rising glow of the circle of borrowed blood and precious metals in her floor, she grinned and braced. More power would be needed for this next part. More energy would need to flow through her. She didn't even notice her bun had come undone, leaving her silver hair blown backwards.

"Fill. Fill. Fill. Fill. Fill. Repeat five times. But when each is filled, destroy it. Set"

Bradley pulled the lighter from his pocket with his seal-less hand, and flicked it open. The smell of gas and blood filled the air as the sun beat down on him from above. He lobbed the lighter into the circle, and the flame met the gasoline he had poured, along with the blood, into the grooves. He grinned as the circle erupted into flames, the heat making the skin on his face tighten.

"Heed my words. My will creates your body, and your sword creates my destiny."

Petruchio stood up as the circle's glow shifted from deep blue to bright red. He took a step towards the circle, his face cast in alternating light and shadow in the ruby glow. One hand dug into his pocket.

"If you heed the Grail's call and obey my will and reason, then answer me."

Click to shrink...

Hnnnnnng I really, really like this sequence. The way it naturally flows from one to the other and it's just dripping with personality and atmosphere and informs us a lot about the individual Masters and junk.

The room erupted with light, becoming a void of blinding whiteness.

There was the sound of metal biting into flesh.

There was a woman's scream.

And then there was darkness.

"I ask you. Are you my Master?"

Click to shrink...

...I still like the cut of his jib.

I don't think you thought very far ahead with this Petruchio. A Servant whose catalyst is rosary beads might not be too thrilled about a random corpse bleeding all over everything when they appear.

Click to shrink...

Well uh it sort of depends on what era she's from.



So there's still a chance Petruchio can clutch it out. Just say she's a filthy heathen, say she's probably a Muslim or something and it'll be fine.

"You killed my Master! How dare y-"

"She was a Protestant."

"THAT LUTHERAN WHORE."

 

[LupineVolt]

Affinities
​

"Yes." Cosette breathed the word as the glow faded from the penthouse workshop. She had made this room into the finest mage sanctuary that money could buy, as much of a status symbol as a a workshop, half laboratory and half sitting room. Raised above the rest of the room was her work space, outfitted with the best equipment she could procure and stocked with all the materials money could buy. And in the center of it was her summoning circle, painted on the linoleum flooring.

Standing in the center was a young woman. She was pale, with curly brown hair that reached her shoulders and deep brown eyes. She wore a dark blue cloak, fastened shut with jet black buttons. Underneath was a black waistcoat and trousers.

"Then the contract is sealed. Madame, I am honored to pledge my service to you." She gave a respectful bow to Cosette, and turned to examine her surroundings. Cosette couldn't help but grin as her servant's face lit up at the sight of the view of Paris. The young woman stepped to the windows and splayed her gloved hands against the glass, smiling like a schoolgirl.

"Nonsense, the honor is mine, your grace. To be able to work with one of the greatest figures in history...I have worked for so long to see this happen, Saint J-" Cosette studied her Servant now, confusion replacing adrenaline. Brown hair and brown eyes? Every credible account of Joan of Arc stated she had been blonde with violet eyes. Surely some accounts may have exaggerated for the sake of romanticizing her, but every single soldier's journal? As she looked closer, information began to filter into her mind, fed by her grail-granted clairvoyance.

What she was seeing couldn't be right. Such low strength and endurance. Her only high statistics worth anything were agility and luck. Which probably meant that...

"Which Servant are you?" Cosette asked, not entirely sure she wanted to hear the answer. The girl turned from the windows, caught off guard by the question.

"Assassin." The bottom dropped from Cosette's stomach. She lowered herself onto a stool, staring directly at her servant."Madame...are you alright?"The young woman looked confused.

"...You are not St. Joan of Arc?" She asked, doing her best to keep her voice composed. Assassin took a few steps towards her master, to examine her. Cosette held up a hand. "Answer my question." She spoke with the careful control of someone who was trying very hard not to yell.

"...Madame, I am sorry, but...no. I am not her." Assassin looked from her Master to the circle in the floor. "I...I do not understand. Did you possess a catalyst?"

"Blood." Cosette pointed to the still glistening liquid, simply painted over the seal that she had already branded into her workshop floor. "I spent a...incredibly...long time tracing the descendants of St. Joan's sibling's. Census records, births, deaths." She stood, and stepped down from the raise laboratory to the other half of her workshop. This portion was a mixture of sitting room and study.

Assassin followed her to her desk, where hundreds of years worth of men and women had been neatly sorted into several (labeled and color coded) stacks of paper. Cosette brought up a complete chart of her progress up on a computer screen. It stretched back hundreds of years, a great, criss-crossing trail. In several places, the lines would abruptly cut off. Eventually only half a dozen names remained.

"Six hundred years of d'Arcs, all the way back to her four siblings. Trying to find some sort of heirloom. A connection. Her sword looked promising until it vanished during the French Revolution." She pointed to a line of names listed in the 1700s. "After that...I began to read accounts from the previous grail wars. There was an account, from a Mage Association apprentice. His teacher participated in the second war, but lacked a catalyst. Instead of attempting to summon via affinity, he used his blood, and managed to summon one of his ancestors, a former king of Scotland."

"But...was he a direct descendant?"

"Blood is blood, Assassin. It is a combination of genes that are less random or unique than we'd like to think. And I believed that, if I could gather what remained in the world today..." The mage turned to face her servant. "And instead, I have you. I was to have a general. A warrior. The most legendary hero in all of France, known the world over!" Assassin stepped back as the old woman's voice rose. "But now I have a coward! I have a Servant who can only skulk in the shadows!"

"Madame, I-"

"Be. Silent."

Assassin oblidged. Cosette turned, rubbing at her temples as frustration's lifelong companion, migraines, came to visit. She made to leave, automatic doors sliding open for her. She called over her shoulder at the servant she did not expect.

"Remain here. I will decide what to do with you later." The doors slid shut behind her, leaving Assassin alone in the study. The young woman sat down in the desk chair, and rubbed at her eyes.

"Wonderful."
​

* * *​

"YEAH!" Bradley whooped, only to fall backwards onto the dusty plane as the circle erupted into a solid pillar of flame. It stretched higher than the cliffs, an inferno visible for miles and miles. And just as abruptly as it came, it died down. The flames from before ringed the circle, and in the center was his servant.

"Then the pact is set." The figure in the circle wore hooded robes that looked to be made of animal hides, roughly stitched together. Only his hands and the bottom of his face were visible, old and wrinkled flesh the color of wet earth. He smiled as he surveyed the outback, before regarding his new master.

He was in his early 20s, with pale skin (lathered in sunscreen) and curly red hair. For his rustic adventure he had chosen to wear designer jeans and a name brand polo shirt, both now caked with dust and arterial spray. Judging by the loopy grin on the boy's face, he didn't really give two shits about that at the moment.

"Fucking sweet!" Bradley pushed himself back off the ground and into his servant's face. "Okay, so...with that sort of get up, you're either Caster or Assassin. Please say Caster."

"I am Caster, yes. And I am as relieved as you about that, boy." The man raised one arm and snapped his fingers. From the circle behind them, a tongue of flame rose and curled into a tight ball in Caster's hand. He idly tossed it to his other hand and back, watching Brad's face as he did so. He looked like a boy at a magic show, struck dumb with wonder. "Give me a target."

Brad stepped aside and pointed to the amassed pile of dingo bodies and scavenger birds that had heeded the call of the statue. Caster raised his arm to throw the orb...and snapped his fingers instead. The gas fire behind the pair roared to life and streaked overhead, a solid sheet of flames that came crashing down around the pile, before reforming itself into a spinning vortex of heat and light.

Brad stood slack-jawed as the pillar rose to six feet in height and then vanished completely, leaving only the cooked carcasses behind. Caster smacked his lips and rubbed his hands together, squashing his fireball into nothingness. He walked up to the pile, sat down, and grabbed the seared leg of a dingo. With a tug, the flesh ripped from the rest of the animal's body.

"What are you doing?" Brad asked, staying as far as he could from the now rather strong-smelling pile. Caster brought the haunch to his lips and tore into it, ripping meat from the bone like an animal. With the first bite swallowed, he turned to his young partner.

"It has been thousands of years since I have roamed these lands, boy. I believe I am having what you call...breakfast." He grinned and licked his lips before turning back to his meal. Bradley rubbed at his eyes, half sure the fire was still throwing spots against his vision. Nobodies teeth could be that sharp. And his tongue almost looked...blue?​

 

[ZerbanDaGreat]

Try for Seiba, get Ashashin.

rip cosette

Just go to the Church and give up your Command Seals right now, you're fucked, it's done, game over.

 

[Bladestar123]

3 bucks says Assassin ends up being the one to kill Cosette.

Because it needs to happen.

For irony.

 

[Tonaris]

And I bet that Assassin is actually a really awesome hero that proves that designating a class as the 'strongest' is stupid when every Servant is literally a fate-defying super(wo)man.