ZerbanDaGreat
Daemon Noble of D E M O G R A P H I C S
- Pronouns
- They/them
I typed that update on my iPhone. So, apologies for the various mistakes, but there's a certain amount of mistakes that are going to come through.
Fate/Hollow Order
[X] Revlid.
Revlid
blob of bugs
- Location
- England
That's entirely the point of my write-in, though. Rostam doesn't understand what protecting the world would entail. He doesn't understand what protecting anything entails. He's seeking that answer.
When the call went out that Uncle Zeltrech Wants YOU! He leapt at it, not because he has some deep attachment to the world, but precisely because he doesn't. His family are driven enough that he has no time for cultivating mundane friends or many hobbies. As an unremarkable mongrel, he's nowhere near pure and austere enough to court the Barthomeloi, and as a fourth-generation magus with no real accomplishments, he's not quite young and burgeoning enough to have allies or friends among the Trampoli faction. As magi, his parents have adopted a fairly workmanlike attitude toward raising him, not without affection, certainly, but...
He's supposed to be advancing the development of a magecraft based around protecting things - but how is he supposed to do that, when he's never particularly needed - or even wanted - to protect anything from anything? What does it mean if he just sits at a desk and shaves decimal percentages off the inefficiency of his ward-equations? Is that something he can be proud of, as a magus or a human being? Is that something he can pass down?
He's aiming to save the world, largely on the basis that "the world" is a pretty comprehensive set from which to gather data.
As far as being a traditional magus goes - I might agree if he was a second child. The second child of a magus family should have absolutely no problem managing the family affairs, selling their services for political favour, volunteering for the Enforcers to earn credit and salvage, and so on. Their duty is to stay out of the way and advance their family as much as possible by doing so. The same could be said for the current head of the family, once they've established an heir with a functioning, inherited Magic Crest.
The actual heir, the bearer of the Magic Crest, putting himself forward for dangerous and poorly-explained world-saving duties is another matter entirely. Kayneth dying with his Crest in Japan all but destroyed the El-Melloi. Tokiomi very deliberately completed the Crest transplant to Rin before he ventured into the Grail War - and his forefathers did the same, judging by the fact that there's a Tohsaka family at all.
That we are heading into the clutches of a foreign magical group, one focused on practical uses rather than pure research, to place ourselves in probable danger, is a dreadful risk. If we die, our family goes with us. That outweighs any prestige we could expect to earn from an organization that is, by the account of its own representative, not exactly reeling in the magi.
For reference - Kayneth Archibald El-Melloi was a Ninth Generation magus, and his family were (and remain, to Waver's chagrin as the new [figure]head) proud, staunch members of the Barthemeloi faction, which promote the importance of breeding, heritage, ancient bloodlines and natural aptitude. It's likely that their founder was already a magus of some repute, and initially received their Magic Crest as a branch family, extending their history even further.
Waver himself was a Third Generation magus, though his founder was a hedge-witch and the second generation only existed to pass down the Magic Crest, rather than actually adding to it. Rin, meanwhile, sits between them as a Sixth Generation magus. Her family was founded by Tohsaka Nagato under the tutelage of Zeltrech, some time in the mid-late 1700s. This comes out to about one generation every fifty years - perfectly plausible with magical anagathics.
Assuming the Tohsaka have a slightly higher heir-turnover rate than normal magi thanks to their proximity to the Holy Grail War, we could pin the El-Melloi at roughly 500 years old, founded on the wave of wealth and knowledge that John Dee's excursions brought to the Clocktower - and, given their political inclinations, likely one of his enemies (if not the ones who actually sabotaged him). So that's about where our understanding for an "old" family exists - though the Barthemeloi are clearly older, and pretty much every magus is going to claim that even if their Magic Crest is only X Generations old, they themselves can claim a bloodline stretching back to Solomon/Trismestigus/Zoroaster, etc, because that's what all nobles do.
We're a Fourth Generation magus - but not a low-generation outlier like Waver, someone with True Magic homework like Rin, or someone bound up in the politics and heritage of the Clocktower like Kayneth. That means our Magic Crest is probably either an original - in which case it'll be even less bearable than Rin's - or something we bought as a scrap from the Clocktower's Enforcers. We're effectively on the threshold between the Hogwarts Establishment and the Young Angry Wizards, and too weak to be actually courted by either of them. Insofar as we're involved in politics, we're probably nominally aligned with the Maliastaire, whose political agenda can be summed as Shut The Fuck Up I'm Reading.
Hyacinthium
Writing about sad cannibals as we speak.
- Location
- Bedroom
- Pronouns
- He/Him
I only understand some of that, which has won me over completely.
[X] Revlid
[X] Revlid
Nidhoggr
Suletta Permetta
- Pronouns
- He/Him
[X] You wanted to get away from London.
Honestly I like this one the most. There are so many reasons why we could want to get away from London, it doesn't necessarily have to be family troubles, maybe there are people we want to avoid, maybe there are goals we can accomplish that we can't accomplish at home, or maybe we're just bored out of our minds.
Plus, if we leave London, we can get away from the Clocktower and those dirty conniving magi, and their dirty conniving magi society. Now that I think about it, that could be a reason too.
Honestly I like this one the most. There are so many reasons why we could want to get away from London, it doesn't necessarily have to be family troubles, maybe there are people we want to avoid, maybe there are goals we can accomplish that we can't accomplish at home, or maybe we're just bored out of our minds.
Plus, if we leave London, we can get away from the Clocktower and those dirty conniving magi, and their dirty conniving magi society. Now that I think about it, that could be a reason too.
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Hyacinthium
Writing about sad cannibals as we speak.
- Location
- Bedroom
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Man. Poor MC. His family fucking sucks.
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Azrael
Sakura Saber
- Location
- Throne of Heroes
...Shorter. He finished sooner than normal.
5:45 as opposed to the usual 6:00.
Hyacinthium
Writing about sad cannibals as we speak.
- Location
- Bedroom
- Pronouns
- He/Him
No one saw that, it doesn't exist. I don't post while half asleep.
Chapter Two: Disoriented
ZerbanDaGreat
Daemon Noble of D E M O G R A P H I C S
- Pronouns
- They/them
"I..."
You glance away, briefly, wondering if it's the exhaustion talking. The view out the window doesn't have any answers.
"I don't know what tradition of magecraft you descend from... or if you even are magi at all, without meaning offense. Regardless of that, you're probably familiar with how families like mine behave. Our magecraft is everything. We exist to refine it, to expand it, to build upon it, and then pass it down to the next generation to do the same. Anything which doesn't contribute to that goal is... frivolous. A hobby, at best."
"The Hargrave magecraft specialises in protection. Wards, defences, and so on. But... what are we protecting, and what are we defending against? As a magus, I feel our craft can't advance in a vacuum. It needs to be exposed to new ideas, new environments, new dangers... It must have started that way, surely? There must have been some exigency, not just curiosity. Call it fanciful, like I'm going on a quest, but that's how I feel. As a magus."
As a magus, that's how you feel. You're not lying. As a person, though, you can't help but feel a certain pressure looming around you. A lifetime of building better walls, so that your children can build even better walls, and their children can do the same, and on and on and on. A treacherous thought worms its way through those defences, past the solid stone of tradition and cunning traps of filial guilt.
What's the point?
What are you protecting, and what are you defending against? It all seems so directionless, so limp without a charge or at the very least an enemy. Perhaps your parents are content to hope that on some distant day, one of their descendants will build a wall tall enough to overshadow Babel. You're certain there's something out there worth protecting, and you're sure as hell not going to find it in London. In the meantime, well... "the entire world" seems like a pretty good first try. If nothing else, [p ∈ W] where World=W and Worthwhile Charges=p.
"And I suppose, if we're all volunteers... I rather hope I'll find some people of like mind."
As a magus. As a person.
"I see," the woman replies. There's a pregnant pause, as if she were listening to an earpiece. She has none. "You were correct. None of us are magi. In order to leave the premises we submitted to hypnosis, a latent trigger that will wipe all memory of our employment if we go off-mission."
Your eyes widen. Chaldea are employing ordinary humans? Either they're far ahead of their time or unspeakably desperate.
"Why so surprised?" she asks. "It's our planet too."
"Well... true," you admit. "But I have to question what you can really... do for a magus-run organisation?"
"What we can," she replies. "Same as you."
You give a vaguely assenting motion of your head to avoid saying anything rude by mistake. It seems to satisfy her. She pushes her umbrella further along the seat, out of the way, and reaches into her jacket. Her hand comes out cradling a syringe full of clear liquid. The next moment your arms are immobilised, held fast in the iron grips of the men flanking you.
"What-!?" you start.
"I repeat, Mr. Hargrave; the location of Chaldea is a secret that is known to only a handful of people. It would defeat the purpose if we simply took you there."
You eye the needle, your pulse racing. A glistening bead of fluid slowly wells from the top. You could toughen your skin enough to stop it penetrating. You think. But that would just leave you alone in a car with two men much tougher than you, and an angry would-be employer with a bent syringe.
You sigh slowly, and turn your head to expose your neck.
"Thank you for your cooperation, Mr. Hargrave." She passes the syringe to the man on your right, now that he doesn't have to focus on keeping you still. You try not to look. You have no idea how it'll feel, but you doubt it'll be pleasant.
The sting is sharp and cold, the metal driving into your vein. Chemicals cooked up in some science lab or another pollute your blood, racing through your body with every beat of your heart. You'd already been without sleep for a night. In seconds it feels as if you've gone without for a week. You blink stupidly, eyes darting this way and that, swaying in your seat as the drugs take hold. The man on your left steadies you so that you don't fall headfirst into the woman's lap.
Darkness eats at the edges of your vision. You slump back, head resting on the top of the seat, staring straight up. You see a little of the rear window, the droplets of rain rolling down the glass. Your last glimpse of London. You don't know for how long.
At least you'll get some rest now.
***
"Master!"
Your eyes snap open. A thousand things assault your senses at once. You stand in a meadow, rolling green fields stretching all around you as far as the eye can see. The sky above is brilliantly blue and almost completely devoid of clouds. Your clothes have changed. You're wearing some kind of belted white leather jacket with black slacks. A Mystic Code. You can feel the power in it, easily comprehended. Magecraft with training wheels, like your Azoth Sword.
A massive golem looms across the field, a humanoid mass of rough rock and broken stone. Its eyes are twin yellow pinpricks of dull hatred, like those of a wild animal. It rips at the earth, tearing furrows with its passage as it charges.
But you aren't alone. There's a woman in front of you, glancing back over her shoulder. She wields a longsword that glows bright gold, far brighter than her hair. Her eyes are a green as the fields, sharp and focused. Her half-plate lacks any fastening or latches, yet remains affixed to her blue dress as if stitched on. She's the one who spoke. She seems to be winded - has she already taken a strike?
"If you want me to just kill this thing all by myself, that's fine. Just tell me, you know?" Another one on your side. Blue hair and red eyes, a hell of an unnatural combo. And only half a bodysuit to cover up his muscular frame - it looks like it's been cut in half just to expose his chest and the curling Celtic tattoos in scarlet ink on it. The barbed red spear in his hands is longer than you are tall.
"I think he'd prefer not to risk it," the third ally replies. He's by your side, so close you're astonished you didn't notice him sooner. He looks almost like you, his skin darkened by the sun and his hair and eyes dark all on their own. An archer, his breastplate a stark teal, his great bow the colour of blood.
"Well he'd better decide fairly soon," the spearman says idly, balancing the spear across his shoulders.
"Orders, Master?" the swordswoman asks. It finally clicks. You've heard of these. The system was dismantled nine years ago yet here it is, happening around you. Servants of the Holy Grail War. But... how come you have three-?
"Master!"
No time for that. Have to direct these three. Have to destroy some kind of incredibly powerful rampaging golem before it can set to work turning you into paste.
Order Saber to:
[ ] Attack head-on.
[ ] Dart in and out, harrying the golem.
[ ] Stand her ground and hold the line.
[ ] Hang back and wait for the right moment to strike.
[ ] Unleash her Noble Phantasm.
Order Lancer to:
[ ] Attack head-on.
[ ] Dart in and out, harrying the golem.
[ ] Stand his ground and hold the line.
[ ] Hang back and wait for the right moment to strike.
[ ] Unleash his Noble Phantasm.
Order Archer to:
[ ] Fire at will.
[ ] Fire to wound and cripple if possible.
[ ] Wait and fire only if a weakness presents itself.
[ ] Unleash his Noble Phantasm.
You can cast a spell, using your new Mystic Code or otherwise, but you only have time for one. You...
[ ] Heal Saber.
[ ] Cast an offensive Reinforcement spell on...
--[ ] Saber
--[ ] Lancer
--[ ] Archer
[ ] Cast a defensive Reinforcement spell on...
--[ ] Saber
--[ ] Lancer
--[ ] Archer
[ ] Cast a force field around...
--[ ] Saber
--[ ] Lancer
--[ ] Archer
[ ] Cast a force field in front of the golem to try and slow it down.
[Vote by plan]
DimensionalGuy
Lazy Bastard
- Location
- Sweden
Order Archer to:
[] Unleash his Noble Phantasm.
I am REALLY tempted right now
[] Unleash his Noble Phantasm.
I am REALLY tempted right now
- Location
- England, unfortunately.
- Pronouns
- She/They
WELL OUTTA THE FRYING PAN AND INTO THE FIRE!
Vanargand
So tired.....
TUTORIAL TIME Yeah
Probably some illusion Chaldea had in that chemical that puts the person under a test or something
Yo this stuff needs to threadmark I guess
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Ahhhhhhhh, a Zerban Fate Quest that I only found out about today! I enjoyed Hollow Fake a lot, so consider this quite firmly watched.
I don't think we need to heal Saber quite yet. Maybe cast a Defensive Reinforcement instead?
I don't think we need to heal Saber quite yet. Maybe cast a Defensive Reinforcement instead?
- Location
- England, unfortunately.
- Pronouns
- She/They
Lancer looks like he needs heals more as well. Then again, Battle continuation...
Omegahugger
Inattentive Idiot
[X] Saber: Attack head-on.
[X] Lancer: Attack head-on.
[X] Archer: Fire at will.
The longer this thing stay alive, the more damage it can inflict on us. Plus, Buster Chains are awesome.
[X] Cast an offensive Reinforcement spell on...
--[X] Saber
MORE POWAH!
[X] Lancer: Attack head-on.
[X] Archer: Fire at will.
The longer this thing stay alive, the more damage it can inflict on us. Plus, Buster Chains are awesome.
[X] Cast an offensive Reinforcement spell on...
--[X] Saber
MORE POWAH!
- Location
- New York
[X] Plan B
-[X] Saber: Dart in and out, harrying the golem.
-[X] Lancer: Dart in and out, harrying the golem.
-[X] Archer: Fire at will.
-[X] Cast a force field in front of the golem to try and slow it down.
-[X] Saber: Dart in and out, harrying the golem.
-[X] Lancer: Dart in and out, harrying the golem.
-[X] Archer: Fire at will.
-[X] Cast a force field in front of the golem to try and slow it down.
Wade Garrett
Just trying to do the right thing
- Pronouns
- He/His/Him
[X] Plan Garrett
-[X] Saber: Hang back and wait for the right moment to strike
-[X] Lancer: Stand his ground and hold the line
-[X] Archer: Fire at will
-[X] Cast a defensive reinforcement spell on: Lancer
Saber's either exhausted or hurt, let's get her off the front line. Lancer can tank for her and Archer, who will be providing DPS. And we give Lancer a boost in his role as Party Meatshield.
I vote to hold off on using any NPs, if I've learned anything from Araki-sensei, it's that busting out your trump card at the beginning of a fight means you're going to lose.
Also, IC Rostam has no earthly idea what any of the three Servant's Noble Phantams does, "Okay bust out the super powerful trump card that I don't even know what it is" is not sound tactical thinking.
-[X] Saber: Hang back and wait for the right moment to strike
-[X] Lancer: Stand his ground and hold the line
-[X] Archer: Fire at will
-[X] Cast a defensive reinforcement spell on: Lancer
Saber's either exhausted or hurt, let's get her off the front line. Lancer can tank for her and Archer, who will be providing DPS. And we give Lancer a boost in his role as Party Meatshield.
I vote to hold off on using any NPs, if I've learned anything from Araki-sensei, it's that busting out your trump card at the beginning of a fight means you're going to lose.
Also, IC Rostam has no earthly idea what any of the three Servant's Noble Phantams does, "Okay bust out the super powerful trump card that I don't even know what it is" is not sound tactical thinking.
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MiracleGrow
Miracles for only $19.99 [They/Them]
- Location
- DOOR STUCK DOOR STUCK PLEASE I BEG U
[X] Plan Garrett
-[X] Saber: Hang back and wait for the right moment to strike
-[X] Lancer: Stand his ground and hold the line
-[X] Archer: Fire at
-[X] Cast a defensive reinforcement spell on: Lancer
B,Q,A
-[X] Saber: Hang back and wait for the right moment to strike
-[X] Lancer: Stand his ground and hold the line
-[X] Archer: Fire at
-[X] Cast a defensive reinforcement spell on: Lancer
B,Q,A
- Location
- England, unfortunately.
- Pronouns
- She/They
[X] Plan Garrett
Slightly too defensive perhaps, but hey, First fight, lets be cautious and see how this system will work for us.
Slightly too defensive perhaps, but hey, First fight, lets be cautious and see how this system will work for us.
TenfoldShields
Lounging on a Hoard of Words
- Pronouns
- He/Him
"Oh my god let you dress yourselves?"
"Except you (you look good)."
Plan: Tenfold
[X] Saber: Hang back and wait for the right moment to strike.
[X] Lancer: Stand his ground and hold the line.
[X] Archer: Fire to wound and cripple if possible.
[X] Cast a force field in front of the golem to try and slow it down.
The main thing I think is that the assumption "big therefore slow" doesn't exactly hold true in Nasuverse. Big generally just means strong generally just means worryingly fast. See exhibit a: sick Greek flash kicks. And it's charging and building up a fair bit of speed too which is pretty bad as well. Mostly because if it's smart enough to angle for us, or even just notice that we're the weakest and therefore the best target we're sort of fucked. We'll be a digital smear in the database (woah-oh). And even if it's not we probably shouldn't make a habit of assuming our enemies are dumb as a general rule. We're squishy and fragile. The Servants aren't. All that's really needed is a near miss to take us out of commission or badly hurt us, our margin of error is pretty thin. So...in light of that:
@Wade Garrett's right, Saber seems winded and Cu's a significantly better choice to hold the line. Dude's the Literal Definition of "able to take a hit". And worst case he can brace that spear and jam it in something tender (lewd) while he's sliding back. But we should be significantly more aggressive I think. This frees Saber up for harrying duty which isn't exactly her strength but the golem can probably only really focus on one enemy at a time so that's a lot of damage that's not getting ablated. And do we need that. It's covered in rock and charging. We don't exactly have terribly long to delay.
Archer and the force field are sorta self explanatory: "slow it down, kill the charge so we, the Master, don't end up crushed beneath it's girthy granite penis". Once it's momentum is gone it'll be a lot easier to break apart.
Plus we had that write-in all about how we want to build walls and test them. Would be a bit remiss to have a golden opportunity to try a wall and not take it.
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