[X] I didn't want a Berserker! Whatever chose this class for you it wasn't me!
"I-I didn't want a Berserker!" The words are almost impossible to work past the constricting hand digging into your throat. They come out in a strangled hiss and you meet Berserker's eyes squarely, he is the Servant not the Master here. You must maintain control.
Berserker snarls, an animal sound that sets the hairs on the back of your neck prickle upright. "Whatever chose this class for you it wasn't me!" This is the truth, he has to see that. What use would anyone have for a Berserker rather than a Knight class? From the spear he was summoned with he has to be eligible as lancer. You would much prefer Lancer to this.
"And why should I believe you, girl?" Berserker asks. Your eyes are drawn to the small fangs, longer than average canine teeth really, that flash in the orange light of the street lamps with each word. There's no avoiding what you've done, however accidently.
"Why would anyone choose Berserker over Lancer?" The words almost don't make it out. You can barely breathe but there's no question of letting him see it. Showing any Berserker weakness is suicide, this one doubly so.
Berserker's fingers loosen a little. Keeping your breathing controlled and not gasping for air is next to impossible. Without warning he lets go completely. Landing on the ground with an undignified squeak and a jarring impact to your backside is not a brilliant first impression to give any Servant.
"Your intent was for Lancer?" Berserker asks, staring down his nose with the intensity of a hawk regarding its prey. Instinct clamours that he's a predator of the highest order and that you should be running. Instinct in this case is wrong, running wouldn't help.
"Naturally, the knight classes are far superior to the cavalry classes." You answer a little stiffly, standing and brushing dirt off your clothes. At least there are no grass stains, or worse, to deal with. Berserker's hawkish regard morphs into a slight frown, mouth turning down a degree and eyebrows furrowing. He's not looking at you anymore, gazing off towards the docks with that thoughtful expression.
"I accept your intent was not for the monster." His gaze snaps back to yours. "Use those spells to make me more of one and I will kill you. So long as you refrain I will deign to work with you in this event." Right, this Servant was once a king and probably still expects to be treated as such. That's fine, if you can be polite to Alistair then Vlad Tepes/Dracula shouldn't be a problem. At least he's not an unrepentant git like the Enforcer.
"Thank you for offering your help, highness." You bow rather than curtsey to him and only as much as you would to foreign dignitary. "I shall do my best not to disappoint." Mostly because crossing the lines he's just set have a good chance of ending with Berserker draining your blood. Definitely something that should be avoided.
Berserker's lips curl into a half smile. "So long as you do not disappoint me I shall regard your council in a fair light...." Ah, he probably doesn't want to admit that he has a Master in this war.
"Lady Ia'Nuoch, Myrna Blackbourne." Berserker nods in acknowledgement.
"Then our contract is sealed, Lady Ia'Nuoch." That's a reasonable form of address, you doubt that you could ask more from him. "What were your plans for this first night of the War?" He really must have meant what he said about regarding your council in a fair light if he's asking for what you planned before this.
"I was planning on going to the Catholic Cathedral and formalising my participation in this contest with the Overseer." This war is going to go by the book, anything else and the Clocktower's Enforcers will swarm over everything and mess it all up.
"I agree and shall guard your journey there." Berserker fades into spirit form in a shower of strangely dark particles, like a rain of droplets of shadow. You raise a hand to your throat, it's sore and smarts at a touch. That's probably going to bruise, hopefully there's something with a high collar back at home. Until then flipping up the collar of your coat will have to do, even if does look rather odd.
The cathedral in question is, roughly, a mile to the north of where you currently are, in Portsea. There's an Anglican Cathedral much closer in Old Portsmouth but, well, the Church of England is hardly the place for a representative from Rome. Better each keeps to their own place and exchange whatever friendly pleasantries they want or feel they must.
Wilfred, to your surprise and slight relief, is sitting in the idling car, pulled up half on the pavement. He didn't have to wait, indeed it may have better that he didn't, but it will save your legs the ache of a mile or more walk to the cathedral.
"Were you successful ma'am?" Wilfred asks after the door slams shut and you settle into the leather seat comfortably.
"Naturally, once you've taken me to the Cathedral go back to the house. You shouldn't be out here while the War is on." There's no reason for him to risk himself chaperoning you through the War. Walking is no real hardship and if the worst comes to the worst there's always a train or bus. Not they'll be timely methods of transport but they will serve.
"Ma'am I wouldn't feel comfortable leaving you...." He stops talking when he catches your hard glare in the rear-view mirror.
"I shall be fine. Worst comes to worst I have a Servant to protect me." Wilfred grimaces, new lines drawing themselves out harshly from the edges of his mouth. Valuable and dear to you as Wilfred is he's taking this a little far. He has a talent for fire magecraft but he is old and slower than he used to be. He's no use to anyone dead.
"If you aren't minding the house how can I be sure that I'm coming home to somewhere safe and secure? Or that everything will be just so?" Wilfred's grimace deepens but he nods slowly. It's like just the thought of not being at your beck and call is physically hurting him.
"Yes ma'am, as you say." His answer is almost inaudible.
Your manservant is very devoted to you Berserker comments. It feels like he's sitting in the seat beside yours, still in spirit form naturally.
I know, if he was younger.... Dismissing the thought and the answer to Berserker you focus on the city passing by outside the car. The stones of Old Portsmouth are passing into red brick houses and other, more modern buildings. The cathedral must be close now.
Five minutes later Wilfred pulls up outside the red bricked walls and pale stone detailing of the Catholic cathedral. The doors are slightly ajar to let a chink of warm golden light out wide stone steps in front of the cathedral.
"I expect to arrive back early in the morning." Wilfred nods reluctantly and you get out of the car, closing the door with a gentle click. Naturally Berserker will be staying here, outside the neutral area around the Overseer's location.
You walk up to the doors alone and slip inside, barely touch the rich dark wood of the already open doors. The interior is precisely what you would expect of a Catholic cathedral, stained glass windows depicting various saints, richly decorated altar and a truly massive ornate crucifix suspended over the altar. If this was day time there would be flowers flanking the altar, at least, and the memorial candles would still have some lit rather than all of them recently guttered out.
You're halfway up the aisle between the two rows of pews leading to the altar when a voice with a slight Italian accent breaks the silence of the empty cathedral. "Child, what brings you this Cathedral so late?"
The priest enters from the west wing of the cathedral, black robe whispering over the stones as he walks. Russet hair has been cropped rather close to his head, the dog collar at his throat stands out starkly against the black robe and there's a small wooden crucifix hanging from a chain around his neck.
You raise your marked hand, showing him the trio of red marks on your skin. "I am here to confirm my participation in the Grail War, father."
"Your Servant?" The priest asks. He reached the aisle and you can finally examine his face. He's about in his late forties you think, laugh lines around his eyes but deep frown lines etched into his forehead. His features are somewhat blunt, like an apprentice sculptor tried to finish a master's work, but you get an impression of kindness from him.
"Berserker is waiting outside." You answer and the priest's eyebrows rise a little. "Are there any announcements that I missed while completing my summoning?"
"No, you are the fourth Master to come to announce their participation and all but two Servants have been summoned." That is surprising news. You expected to be one of the last two Master's to arrive at the Cathedral.
"So the War hasn't yet started." Not properly at least, not when two of the seven Servants are missing.
"I have every confidence that the final Servants will be summoned tonight." The priest answers with calm confidence and a smile.
"I see. If that's all then I'll be on my way." There are matters to attend to, familiars to organise and other Master's to scout out. Not to mention working out a strategy that will use Berserker to his strengths.
"That is all Lady Ia'Nuoch, remember that the Church will take in any Master's who lose their command spells or Servant." With a nod you turn and leave. You aren't entirely sure if the priest is to be trusted, or if that kind manner of his is just for show, but it's not likely you'll ever interact with him again.
Berserker materialises the moment you step beyond the boundary area around the cathedral. "We will take a tour of the city." He declares imperiously. "Now your business with the Church is concluded it is an excellent time to get a lay of the land, Lady Ia'Nuoch."
"An excellent plan, highness, may I suggest an area of note to see first?" This was not how you anticipated tonight going but Berserker does have a point, the more you both know about the layout of the city the better off you will be.
"You may." Berserker allows. The next weeks are going to be hell.
[ ] Portsmouth Historic Dockyard
[ ] Gunwharf Quays
[ ] Southsea Pier
[ ] Fratton Park
I'll be sticking Berserker's stat sheet up on the information page soon-ish and I am not using his canon sheet. I've looked at it, drawn some inspiration from it and altered it to be a slightly better fit for Vlad's reluctant monster status in this Quest. Incidentally if you force his ME high enough he's easily one of the most powerful Servants around, just something to bear in mind.
