Fire, Ice, and the Kraken (Fate X ASOIAF, Jalter quest)

[Mathen57]

SouthMarket Pacification
---[X] Adario
Rat Towne and Warrens Pacification
---[X] Vogys
Guild District Escort
---[X] Sallo
No. of Votes —> 6
[X] "Are you warriors or gossiping wives at the market?" Ignore the whole thing after that.
No. of Votes ——> 3

"Forgive me but a quick question." Adario speaks abruptly, "Are you two...siblings? " He points at the two of you "Twins perhaps? I must say, the resemblance is uncanny..."

"I've been wondering that too..." Vogys speaks inquisitively, while Sallo cups his chin and "hmms."

Ughhh, couldn't they have chosen an even worse time to ask this? Can't they just wait until after the battle? Was this what Saber meant when she spoke of being questioned still, even after satiating their curiosities, are the two of you so enigmatic as to invoke questions no matter the circumstance? Bah, idiots the lot of them.

You raise your eyebrows and look at them condescendingly, "Are you warriors or gossiping wives at the market?"

The men are somewhat taken aback, while Sallo rubs his chin, "Is it a yes or no?"

Arturia ends the line of questioning with an authoritative voice, "There's a time and place for this." The three captains nod and listen attentively, " Now, for your assignments." The pale-faced ex-king turns to the shortest of the captains, Vogys, " You will pacify Rat Towne and the districts around it."

Vogys stirs in confusion and frustration, "But sir---"

Saber interrupts him with a no-nonsense tone, " Shush, my word is final. You will take a hundred men into the area, and you will fulfil your orders to the best of your ability, am I understood?"

Vogys nods meekly, "Yes sir..."

Arturia nod, her face betraying no emotion, "Good. She turns the Sallo to give the order, but it's him that speaks first.

He speaks excitedly and assuredly, "Thank you, commander! I knew you and I would see eye to eye. By the time I'm done, the South Market will be----" Arturia interrupts him abruptly.

"Will be looted, razed, and its people violated." Sallo adopts a surprised look upon his face, "Don't jest with me, monkey, your assignment is to escort me and dynamite here" She points at you, as you raise your eyebrow in confusion. Dynamite? Did she misspeak? It seems the men too cannot comprehend what she had just said. She continues, "To the Guild District and rid the area of the cultist's presence. Am I understood?"

Sallo stews in anger as you could feel the murderous intent coming from him. After a long pause, he speaks in a low voice, "Understood" before turning around and proceeding to walk to his regiment, Vogys follows after him.

But before Sallo could even get some distance between him and Saber, she dashes towards him and kicks the back of his knees. With a yelp of pain, Sallo falls on his back as Saber brings her sword near his neck. The air cloys with tension and murderous intent coming from the fallen black knight of England. Arturia looks down him as if he were a bug and spoke lowly, "You are dismissed when I say you are dismissed, Sallo Laernaris." The man nods, half defiant and half petrified. "I didn't even get to tell you how many men you're in charged with."

Sallo gulps before asking, "How many?" Already a small crowd of soldiers have formed around the two.

"Bring me a hundred, and make sure they're in their best behaviour, or it's your head that'll be rolling rather than these fanatic freaks were fighting."

Sallo nods before Saber grabs him by the collar and lifts him with one arm; her clawed gauntlet scratches as parts of his skin as he winces. A part of you feels satisfied at seeing him in pain, though another part just wants to burn him at this very moment. Now standing, Sallo stands taller than Saber. The Tyrant releases him from her grasp and shoos him away with her hand until his form disappears into the crowd.

The mass of soldiers around them breaks apart after Sallo leaves, as Saber turns to Adario. "Adario" She calls, and he nods "Ever since I took the reigns of the shitshow that is the Volantene guards, there are only a few men that caught my attention. You are one of them, and there is no one more qualified than you to take back the South Market." Adario nods and salutes to express his thanks, "I give you three hundred men for this endeavour, now go and wipe the stain on the Guard Division's honour."

Adario gives another enthusiastic salute and walks away, back straight and chests high.

It's at this point you chime in, grinning in satisfaction, " You know..." you say teasingly, "The incompetence of the soldiers reflects poorly on those responsible for them."

The Ice Bitch Queen grimaces, "Tch." In the corner of your eye, you see Adario stop and look back. He looks at you with a tinge of fear and concern, mainly fear for your wellbeing. "As if you know what competence is, farmgirl. And don't go talking to me about responsibility," Arturia shoots back, looking at you with narrowed eyes and a stoic look. "Witch" She calls you, spitting the word out like acid.

You come near her and lower your voice until it is but a whisper, "Your subordinates openly disobey you, they don't respect you, and the ones I've met care more about themselves than their own men. For a former king, you're quite the lousy commander to let this happen."

"Listen here, bitch." Arturia shortens the distance between the two of you, her face still stoic and her nose barely reaches up to yours. "In the first two days of my tenure as head captain, I made these rabbles into a proper unit. In two weeks, I've prevented each guard captain from backstabbing each other and gave them a singular purpose. Give me two months, and they'll be the most disciplined and skilled regiment on this planet. The fault is on them for being incompetent in the first place, before I reformed them." She pokes an index finger on your shoulder, "And call me incapable one more time, and I won't guarantee your safety from Excalibur's blade."

You restrain the urge to smile even wider now; it's nice to know how easily riled up she gets if you question her capability. An insecurity of hers perhaps? How fun. Saber's face grimaces even more, she knows she's been baited, and that fact fills you up with more joy. You'd test her patience even more, but you've got a revolt to finish.

You create some distance between her, and after a few moments of silence, you motion her to come with you. "Well, commander, we've got a revolt to destroy." You notice as you walk that Ardario seems to have disappeared...

Arturia nods, accepting the change of discussion and catches up to you before leading you to the main camp, the both of you jog at a light pace. "Let's go collect the troops before everything comes crashing down."

"It already has," You quip, the soldiers separate to make way for the both of you, your armour clinking with the sounds of individual metal plates hitting each other. "what a mess...say, what do you think made these cultists revolt in the first place?"

Saber looks towards the camp, her face adopts a focused expression, "I'm not too sure, one could say it's either to overthrow the religion or the ruling government of this city, but that doesn't make sense. There's no figurehead for the citizens to rally for, or to recognise as their new ruler, just a mass of faceless men and women. Also, The areas they attack don't seem to fit a pattern, it's all random, and coupled with the fact that they're summoning these beasts in insignificant areas of control..."

You chime in your thoughts, "It's all gratuitous, isn't it? Almost like these people just suddenly felt like rebelling. Have you captured any of them yet?"

"Gratuitos? A fancy word for a peasant," You roll your eyes at that," and yes we've captured many, but they all become unconscious during questioning. The prisoners we've interrogated had their eyes roll back, and their body slumps spinelessly." Saber narrows her eyes, "Very convenient."

What does Jeanne say about all of this?
[] "This reeks of a Caster Servant"
[] "Could this be the doing of a native magi?"
[] Write in...

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You're nearing the central part of Bridgeton's camp where you see five hundred men assembled in front of the three captains. Saber holds you by the shoulder to stop you and whispers, "Jeanne, before we go, a question. It's a good thing you didn't answer the captain's inquiries of our relations; it gives us time to make for a solid cover story."

"Why do we need to answer them anyway?" You ask petulantly.

"Because these men here will start speculating, and rumours will spread, and sometimes, without an official statement, these rumours will hold the same weight as the truth."

"So...What? What's your suggestion?" You cross your arms, annoyed.

"That we pose as siblings, it would justify the previous interactions we had in front of them and explain why we associate closely with each other."

[] No, I won't play a facade just to satiate their curiosities
[] Sure, whats our cover story?
[] Something else, (write-in on what should your relation with Saber be known as to the guards and why?)
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You and Saber have collected the hundred or so men and have marched towards the Guild District. Now you and Arturia's men are situated at the crossroads east of South Market and west of the Guild District. There are four paths, three leads to the South Market while the fourth one leads directly to the Guild District. Sallo comes up from behind you and Arturia, looking quite restrained and broody.

"Say," He asks the both of you, "How're we gonna secure this?"

[] Pacification Plan
-[] The forces move as a cohesive whole to the centre of the Guild District.
--[] Their objectives are to
---[] Search and kill any Cultist
---[] The safety of the Civilians
---[] Investigate for any ongoing Cultist rituals
---[] Search for their centre of operations
---[] Write-in

-[] The forces will split up and spread around town
--[] How will you divide up the hundred men escorting you?
---[] Template: Force 1: Number of men
----[] Lead by X and/or Y
-----[] Objectives are Z
---[] Template: Force 2 (and so on): Number of men
----[] Lead by X and/or Y
-----[] Objectives are Z
-[] Write-in

QM note: Another week another update, if there's any questions on the voting system do ask and I'll clarify. Hope you guys don't mind that there isn't that much happening in this update, its all set up for later, and even then there will be more setups after this "Arc". Also, I'm really fascinated with the polls recently, I never expected to be a tug of war battle between Nightingale and Nobu, just wow!

Anyways see you guys next time, and do point out any errors and inconsitencies so I'll fix em after I sleep.

 

[Mathen57]

Votes will be locked in 12-24 hours.

I've been making some changes to the overall story of the premise and that lead to some retconning on my part which I don't do lightly.

As a result, this quote is obsolete to the story.

"
At night I coax him
from sleep
rousing him
with my mouth
By day
we build high brick walls
around us
our Babylon"

Click to shrink...

For those wondering, the Servant this poem signified was Semiramis, and her whole schtick involved building the Hanging Gardens from the rubble of Ozymandias's pyramids. It would've been a very weak version as the materials she would've procured from the rubble didn't have that much of a connection to Baghdad or Babylon, just that it came from the same region, and she would've been missing some materials anyways. The reason I cut her out was because there wasn't much I could do to make her story interesting or exciting to write about, and that her presence would've drastically changed the Arcs of the other servants in this setting and would've created to many disruptions/butterfly effect that I could not handle or convey in the Quest. I've tried fitting her in different ways and tried making some changes to her characters and Arc, but those mostly resulted in her being a water-downed Abigail with henchmen of her own, or she would've disrupted the politics of the kingdoms too much if I wanted her actions to make sense.

So I've replaced her with another servant located in Braavos who will meet Ereshkigal sometime in the future, which I believe that she would be much more exciting and interesting to write about and would complement Ereshkigal's arc. Sorry if this inconvenienced anyone, so to compensate, I'll allow you guys to vote for which Servant's name you want revealed.

So far the 4 unnamed servants are
[] Ruler
[] Mooncancer
[] The new Assassin
[] Caster

Also, I feel like I should address that there is no "UST" between Jeanne and Arturia at all. Nada, Zilch, zero The only tension there is, is the lethal kind.
Nah I'm just bullshitting, there's a modicum of unresolved *** tension there. Though come to think of it...Saber is "romanceable" if you guys are inclined to go for that route, though it's quite difficult to gain her affections or for her to see you in that light. Like, unless you have some heart-to-heart moment with her, she'll only see you as an annoyance who's good at killing, but even then she'd just reluctantly call you a friend, maybe try bribing her food and we'll see. It wouldn't make sense any other way considering that this is Saber Alter, who's one hell of a cold SOB. Though keep in mind that I'm not very good in writing romances nor is romance a central focus of this quest, so that sort of pairing is a long ways away, unless you guys pull off a miracle, either in the dices or in the votes. Also yes, Yuri is good Civ

 

[Mathen57]

[X] "This reeks of a Caster Servant"
[X] Something else, annoying as this is you better give it some thought so as to avoid even more questions. Thinking on it, siblings don't explain your interactions well at all. A half-sister, with Saber as the legitimate child and you as the bastard daughter would fit, but you have no desire to play the bastard. "Cousins, your aunt eloped with a bard of common birth. That should explain why I'm a 'peasant' while you are obviously of noble birth." Annoying, but less annoying than other options, and it would explain both the hostility and the trust you've shown in each other.
[X] Let Saber decide on the plan, that's her job after all. You'll just hit stuff, and maybe burn it when she's not looking.


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You chime in your thoughts, "It's all gratuitous, isn't it? Almost like these people just suddenly felt like rebelling. Have you captured any of them yet?"

"Gratuitos? A fancy word for a peasant," You roll your eyes at that," and yes we've captured many, but they all become unconscious during questioning. The prisoners we've interrogated had their eyes roll back, and their body slumps spinelessly." Saber narrows her eyes, "Very convenient."

[X] "This reeks of a Caster Servant"

hmmmm...An ancient city thrown asunder by sudden rebellion, one with no cause nor reason. As if its citizen succumbed to madness, no matter if they were noble, peasant, or slave.

Could they have been influenced? By some outside force hiding in the shadows, implanting suggestion or straight up ordering them to do their bidding. It'd explain why you felt like you're being watched ever since you came back for your helmet... the monsters too...

"This reeks of a caster servant." You spit out the words like bile, the thought of some arrogant, cowardly caster servant creating this mess for whatever intricate plan they had fills you with rage. But you reign it in it... (weird... were you ever so restrained?)

Saber hmms before speaking, "Interesting claim...It'd explain the squidmen and the behaviour of the cultists..." She cups her chin, "that just leaves us with why? Why would a caster servant have anything to do with this place? Even if they're searching for the Grail, clearly there must be other methods than...this. Even if this caster were stupid or arrogant, It still wouldn't make sense..."

Both of you stew in contemplation.

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"Because these men here will start speculating, and rumours will spread, and sometimes, without an official statement, these rumours will hold the same weight as the truth."

"So...What? What's your suggestion?" You cross your arms, annoyed.

"That we pose as siblings, it would justify the previous interactions we had in front of them and explain why we associate closely with each other."

[X] Something else. Annoying as this is you better give it some thought so as to avoid even more questions. Thinking on it, siblings don't explain your interactions well at all. A half-sister, with Saber as the legitimate child and you as the bastard daughter would fit, but you have no desire to play the bastard. "Cousins, your aunt eloped with a bard of common birth. That should explain why I'm a 'peasant' while you are obviously of noble birth." Annoying, but less annoying than other options, and it would explain both the hostility and the trust you've shown in each other.

"Cousins." you say, "Cousins sounds way better. Siblings wouldn't even be close to explaining how we've interacted with each other"

"Oh?" Saber tilts her head in askance

"Well first of all, how do we justify you calling me a "witch" or "peasant" or "farmgirl" in front of your men?"

Saber nods, "Easy, you're the bastard daughter, and I'm the legitimate 'son'. Father had relations outside of marriage and you were left to be raised by his mistress. From then on till his deathbed, Father never reconciled with the guilt of leaving you there, whilst I just wanted you to disappear, being the embarrassment to the family name that you are. A perfect cover is it not? "

Someday, you'll find a way to cave in that smug face of hers, speaking with gritted teeth, you say, " I will not play the bastard."

Saber "hmphs" at that, " Fine. If it stops your incessant barking, I'm willing to listen to your plan."

You relay to Saber you cover story, she nods as she listens.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

You and Saber have collected the hundred or so men and have marched towards the Guild District. Now you and Arturia's men are situated at the crossroads east of South Market and west of the Guild District. There are four paths, three leads to the South Market while the fourth one leads directly to the Guild District. Sallo comes up from behind you and Arturia, looking quite restrained and broody.

"Say," He asks the both of you, "How're we gonna secure this?"

[X] Let Saber decide on the plan, that's her job after all. You'll just hit stuff, and maybe burn it when she's not looking.

An Aura of command envelopes Saber, compelling the otherwise rowdy regiment to stand at attention. "Sallo, I want you and twenty of your men with us."

The men behind Sallo begin to stir as they murmur with one another. You could barely make out what they're saying.

"yeesh, looks hae se jentys issare iā ȳrda ȳrgos hubon. "
"did ziry gaomagon bisa jēda?"
" bartos captain vestragon morghon paktot sir, ao pendagon ziry's ribazmoqitta?"

Sallo nods, a seemingly civil gesture, you wonder if he's raging inside that lanky exterior of his. "I shall come, but why go South?"

Saber looks back at him, "Just my intuition."

Ha? Intuition? Bullshit, She doesn't have that skill anymore.

The Ex-King speaks with her booming voice, "Other than my escort, this regiment will split into four groups of twenty, one group handles escorting the civilians at the south-west, while the rest of you..." Saber pauses, searching for a word, "The rest of you handle the stragglers at the edges of this district."

Sallo voices his concern, " You mean to just have us deal with the main force? Do you have a deathwi--"

"I am sure that we will succeed against any danger we face. Sallo."

"I don't care how tough you think you are, but--"

"But you will follow orders to the fullest, also..." Saber turns to you, "A request, dear cousin."

The men, including Sallo, look back at you with wide eyes. You look towards Saber in askance.

"If Sallo ever decides to talk back, Maim him. If he decides to disobey, Kill him. If he decides to desert us, burn him."

You nod and look towards at Sallo's guarded form, "It'd be a pleasure." You say. He stares at you back, his eyes narrowed, challenging you, goading you.

The march to the destination was a tense one.
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Two of Sallo's men find themselves in an empty house, they were ordered to hunt for stragglers, but they couldn't help themselves with the thought of all that loot left behind.

One of them, broad-shouldered and with a braided beard, immediately goes for a cupboard in the living room. His hands groping for any valuables to sell or keep.

The other, a long-nosed stick of a man leans on the wall, grumbling, "Who does that whoreson think he is? Commanding us like we're pigs, Someday that smug face is gonna get caved in; hah! I'll pay big money to see that."

His partner responds, still groping for any valuables, "You and every Tiger Cloak in this city."

"What the hell was Maegyr thinking?! Signing that boy up as captain, who treats everyone around him like trash! "

"uh-huh", his partner nods, moving on to another cupboard.

"Maybe it's cause he's prettier than his own wife, yeah that's gotta be it."

"Hmm"

The man sighs in resignation, shaking his head, " Novoros would've been a better alternative, even if he does have a stick up his ass." The Tiger Cloak looks back at his partner to find him gone.

"Jaegel?" He asks, "You there? I don't want you playing no games with me!"

A figure appears at the corner of his eye before he succumbs to oblivion.
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You arrive at an abandoned street and are greeted with the usual sight of ransacked stores, fallen carts, and the like. It's a weird feeling but, the air...you think it feels heavier here, somehow.

Saber half raises her hand, and everyone stops marching.

Sallo fidgets as his eyes dart around, "What do we now, commander? Just standing here makes us ripe for an ambush." He holds the hilt of his dagger tightly, his posture bent and ready to pounce...or run.

"That's the point." Saber says, drawing weird looks from the men. She points at a distant figure.

You hear the distant jingle of dangling ornaments and trinkets, the sound originating from the figure, inching closer and closer. You feel the air getting denser and denser, it's starting to take some effort standing up. Then there's that buzz in your head, like TV static, saturating your ears with its discordant sound.

You look at Saber and she nods, she hears it too. You grip St.Catherine and she grips Excalibur, both weapons humming with power, fueled by your tainted strength.

This feeling, it's just like before...Could the figure be a Caster servant? Have you entered it's territory? You hope whatever foolhardy plan Saber has will actually work.

The figure stops fifteen feet ahead of you, and you get a better look at it. A man, dressed just like the cultist, complete with helm and robes. Only, medal like necklaces hang on his neck, the amount so numerous so dense, like a waterfall of trinkets and decorations. You spot the visage of tentacles and a woman's face on some of the medals, their iconography perhaps? You'll ask Saber about it later, though you doubt she'll say anything useful.

The Man Draped in Black speaks, his voice so sharp it cuts through the silence with ease. Speaking with a reverent tone, he says, "So come the sheep, lost and seeking guidance. I shall be the Shepard to guide your way and to comfort you with divine providence."

"huh...so there is one that can talk." You hear Sallo murmur at the back. You sense the men behind him point their spears to the man with a guarded stance.

Saber moves a step forward and plants Excalibur into the bricked road, looking absolutely regal with both hands on the hilt, "Spare me the flowery words fanatic. Is this revolt your doing?"

The man sighs and shakes his head, "I should've known the futility of presenting diamonds to pigs. You philistines will never understand the salvation our cause bring."

"Get to the point. Lest you find yourself a gaping hole in your chest." Saber

"Barbarians...I have no need to enlighten you of our grand design if you are not willing to open your minds to the hidden truth." He deliberately raises his wrist and snaps his fingers. The doors from the houses around you are kicked open, row after row after row of cultist march out to surround you, "Besides, you will find your peace in the Great Beyond after your passing from this mortal plane. Rejoice, this is our mercy."

Saber Brandishes Excalibur to intimidate the growing number of enemies, while you ready yourself to burn them all. On the rooftops you notice those squidlike horrors, staring at only the two of you.

"This part of the plan Arturia?" You whisper to Saber

She nods, "Yep, but the number of squidmen they brought is quite the pleasant surprise."

"Our men will not survive this at all."

"I know, thats why I brought Sallo here."

You look back to the Captain behind you, shaking with petrified fear. The men under him shares his expression too. huh...How surprisingly petty of Saber...

Sallo could barely let out a single word "Orders?"

"We charge."

The number of squidmen on the rooftops nears two digits. You're surrounded by countless cannon fodder, maybe numbered up to around 50 to 60

How do you break them?
[] Full throttle! Fires and Noble Phantasms all they way, You've got the Magical energy for it. Besides, anyone who witnesses you will probably die during this battle. (Chances of everyone other than Saber just dying)

[] Aim for the Kraken's head, it seems like you've finally found the leader of this fanatic group.
--[] Kill him, that should do the trick.
--[] Cripple him, you need to find more about what's going on.

[] Prioritize the lives of Sallo and his men. Will confuse Saber greatly.

[] Write in...

QM Note: Hey long time no see! Sorry for the late update, school's been really busy and it's hard to find the time to write. Also do note that the votes I set up are merely suggestions and may not be the most optimal choice of each situation, which is why Write ins are a thing. Hope you guys enjoyed this one and feedback is appreciated.

See ya.

 

[Mathen57]

The sound of marching boots fills the streets of Trader Town, breaking the quiet morning ambience. Curious onlookers open up their windows to see the endless columns of men in their Lemallar armour, their pointy helms, and their weird iron-plated stave looking weapons. The Oda banners are held up high; it's sigil, a golden chrysanthemum with sixteen petals overlooks the city.

At the head of the column is a single man, dressed in robes and an ornamental hat. He walks with grace and dignity, hands behind his back and head held up high. Behind him, an entourage of officers and adjutants, and a few grunts carrying finely decorated chests.

Spoiler: Tai Wu

The crowd around them grows in number as the murmurs turn into excited conversations, their curiosity ever-deepening. The man at the head of the column, Tai Wu, stops his march and the column grinds to a halt. A wide gate stands in front of the general, it leads to the grand palace. In front of the entrance, lay a single man, a fellow general.

Lightly armoured and sporting a goatee, he walks up to Tai Wu.

"You're late for the gathering Tai Wu."

Tai Wu makes a shooing motion with his hands, his tone dismissive, "We had a detour along the way, but we are here, are we not? No need to be so aggressive Zheng."

Zheng Yating, a man known for his strict moral code and firm command. Tai admires the man's capability and blunt honesty, it's just a shame he has quite the stick up his butt.

Spoiler: Zheng Yating

Zheng ignores Tai's comment and looks at the grunts behind him, "What's in those chests?"

"Rare gifts, its the reason why there was such a delay in the first play?"

Zheng raises an eyebrow, "Our empress does not care for such things, you think you could sway her heart with such useless trinkets? She only cares for success, Tai, nothing more."

There's a glint in Tai Wu's eye as he adopts a grin, "Oh, I know."

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Deep in the palace of the demon lord, past the throne room and into the back door, you'll hear the giggles of maids and former concubines. In there you'll find the demon lord herself; dressed in a towel, a petulant look on her face, as the ladies around her brush her hair, paint her nails, and all matter of things to make her look good.

Nobunaga lets out a groan ill-fitting of a demon that terrorizes all of Yi Ti. She finds all of... well... whatever these women are doing to be a bit of a waste of time, but a pleasant distraction from the tedium that is being an empress. Besides, these maids were quite insistent on dolling her up today, and she thought she might indulge in their request, who knows, maybe she'll like it. Though she feels a tinge of unease at how fussy they can be.

"Oooh, your hair is just so silky!" one of them exclaims
"How do you keep such smooth skin?"
"You're so pretty for someone so butch!"

Nobunaga let out a sigh, maybe she wouldn't like this sort of feminine thing after all. The fourth woman, who was silent for the entire time moves to grab some face powder. She walks daintily towards a nearby bowl.

"There will be no powder." Nobunaga commands. There's a line she will not cross, and looking like a ghost is one of them.

"O-o-of course your majesty." The woman replies, her voice small and quiet. She takes small steps towards Nobunaga.

"I've noticed this all day, but I haven't bothered to ask," Nobunaga says, eyeing the woman's leg. "are you limping?" The empress inquires.

The other three ladies speak before the girl herself could respond, "She's got tiny feet."
"She walks so gracefully, so angelically."
"It's all thanks to Chánzú."

"Chánzú?" The empress asks?

Finally, the fourth girl speaks, "It's old Yitish for footbinding." Nobunaga tilts her head in askance. "Tight bindings for the feet, to-to-to make them smaller."

Nobunaga's eyes widen, "Is it painful?"

"ye-ye-yes" The girl looks down on the ground, must've touched a nerve. Nobunaga stands up to ask some more before her thoughts are interrupted by a knock.

A voice comes through the door, "Heavenly Empress!", must be one of the eunuchs, "General Tai Wu has arrived, all forces mustered. He seeks your audience."

Took him long enough, She'll need to find a way to punish him some time. He comes late to the mustering and now demands her audience, who does he think he is?

"Allow him entrance to the Palace district, open the gates."
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"Why do you follow her so fervently Zheng? Out of all of her subordinates, you are the most obedient. Why is that? I thought you despised leaders like her. Like me. Why now do you choose to support such a warlike empress? The thought has always perplexed me."

Zheng's face remains stoic save for the raised eyebrow, "I could ask you the same thing."

"Evading the question are we? But I'll bite." Tai Wu pauses to collect his thoughts, "There is something deeply rotten in Yi Ti, and it's not just the lust and greed of the aristocracy...Something at the core of this Celestial Empire is twisted, and now ever since the day's of the Sea-Green Emperors, Yi Ti is decaying. Our borders shrink, our prosperity lessens by the day, and our people are losing faith in this Kingdom. You see the lines being drawn in the sand do you not? Mu Zhou greedily holds the capital while that bastard Cao Jian marches against him with a formidable host. Death, War, Famine and Disease, the apocalypse. " Tai Wu looks down despondently, before adopting a determined look, "Yi Ti will not survive this war, I have accepted that, but its people can still be united. Not under the tyrants to the south, " Tai Wu's sight wanders to the gate barring his entrance to the palace, " but her. Under the old system, Yi Ti will suffer, and its people will be separated. But with Nobunaga...I do not believe that will be the case. That woman will bring about a new order, her rule will burn away the rotten core of this nation and replace with something better, something 'modern' as she likes to call it. It must be divine providence, the Lion of the Night has grace us this mysterious leader in such trying times."

"Burn away the old to bring about the new..."

"Exactly."

The gate opens to reveal the grand palace of Trader's Town, the symbol of the demon empress's power.

"Seems like you're allowed entry brother Tai, pray that whatever gifts you bring is enough to avoid her fury."

"Oh, it will...We should continue this talk next time. I'm dying to hear your reason."

Tai Wu walks with dignity towards the steps of the palace, his entourage follows him, holding the chests as if they were fragile eggs, where any misstep would lead to cracks. He passes the eunuchs and the assembled Royal Guards of the palace, decked out with full armour.

Spoiler: Palace

The sky is cloudy, and the mists have settled in. Tai Wu stops as he reaches the steps towards the palace, and descending towards him is the Demon Empress herself. The Emperess looks a bit different than the previous times he saw her, though he can't really put his finger on it. He bows in supplication, not daring to look up in fear of offending Nobunaga.

A silence settles in until Oda Nobunaga breaks it, "Look up, Tai Wu."

He does so and stands straight with his chest puffed up.

"My Empress..."

Her voice is low, like a storm brewing, "Two weeks...That's how long everyone's been waiting for your men to arrive...Three days of my soldiers doing nothing but eat away at our supplies and standing idly by."

"In our journey towards the capital, there were distractions..."

Nobunaga crosses her arms, "distractions?".

Tai Wu claps his hands and the grunts move forward and kneel, presenting the chests to their Empress. Tai Wu opens one of the three chests presented and reaches inside, his hand grasps at something before pulling out ahead. Pointy and large with a yellowish-brown complexion, it's expression at peace. What Tai Wu holds is the head of a Jhogos Nai.

"Cao Jian's campaign to the south has left the east unguarded, its villages and cities ripe for pillaging. We found a sizeable force of Jhogos Zorse riders southeast of the Sinking Sea. My men battled then, and when we killed their leaders, the rest retreated northwards. We only won thanks to your suggestion to mix up Pikemen and 'Muskets' into the same unit, very effective my liege." He bows reverently.

"Dispense with the flattery Tai Wu, why didn't you notify me through messenger eagles in the first place? And was this force part of the main army coming from north or an entirely separate tribe?"

"It is unclear, their language makes interrogation difficult, but from what I've heard, I feel that this was a force that broke off from the main army after some disagreements. As for the matter of the eagles...well, it's better to put one's cards down at the same time during a negotiation."

"You're in no position to make demands."

"Which is why this is a negotiation, I'm merely making requests, not demands." He reaches towards the second chests to open it and conjures up an emerald scroll. "A request for vassalage from the people of the Ti province. They regarded me as their saviour after I drove the Jhogos Nai out, and is willing to be under my rule if I continue to protect them." He bows and presents the scroll to Nobunaga, " I gift you this province my liege."

Nobunaga's face momentarily breaks out in grin before coming back to it's stoic expression, "I thank you, Tai Wu, you have been very productive these past two weeks. Now I will just need some men to enforce my rule after we beat back the Jhogos Nai. Though, for a province to lost that much faith in its ruler, Cao Jian must be weaker than I first thought. And so what of the third chest Tai Wu? An ancient weapon, the secrets of our enemies? Maybe even a new gun? Your achievements merit some reward despite your lateness."

"It's none of those my Empress, rather..." He opens the third and final chest and conjures up a ring, on it a gem that shines an incandescent green with small rubies around it. " Here, the purpose of this negotiation, I request that you take my son's hand in marriage."

Nobunaga's guffaws came abrupt and loud, and could be heard from the palace itself to its gate.

 

[Mathen57]

1. [X] Focus on eliminating the squid men and cannon fodder, leaving the leader for Saber
2. -[X] Make a reasonable effort to protect the lives of Sallo's men (though not Sallo himself)
3. --[X] Follow Saber's advice on backtalk, disobedience, and desertion
4. -[X] Use Fires and Noble Phantasms where tactically beneficial, but don't tire yourself out. Who knows what additional threats we might have to deal with.

Sallo could barely let out a single word "Orders?"

"We charge."

There's a pause, and the air is tense, choking Sallo's men with fear and trepidation. They shake like pigs in the gaze a butcher's eye, as primal instincts override reason. Their intuition, a product of their ancestors, honed for millennia, acknowledges the apex predators standing on the rooftops. Saber's words goes from one ear and out the next, as these supposed veterans contemplate between fight or flight. How quickly their discipline crumbles, how pathetically they shirk at real danger.

The crunching sound of bricks giving way to Saber's boot brings everything into action. Sallo's men grasp at their daggers as the fanatic freaks envelop them in a charge. Saber disappears into the air as she charges in, suddenly appearing in the middle of the enemy's lines. She effortlessly cleaves through rows and rows of men, making a fast advance to the leader, leaving a trail of dead at her wake. The ex-king's face betrays no emotion, nor remorse. Here, she is a machine with one directive: Kill. There are no servants to tip the balance, not even their abominations would make a dent. So she butchers the cultists left and right with impunity. The tainted Excalibur at hand, cutting them down like paper. Her form is impeccable, begrudgingly so, no energy is wasted on unnecessary movements. Each cut, each swing, is purposeful and calculated, she truly is a technical fighter through and through. Though you notice traces of a dark flame emanating from the tainted sword of hers, Saber must be expending some of her mana reserves for this.

You, on the other hand, become a blur as St.Catherine cuts through the surrounding mass of humanity. A man halts your momentum with an iron shield, but a quick kick sends him and the shield flying. To your right you see Sallo's men dispatch the cultists with ease despite their nervousness, Sallo himself cut through the fanatics like a knife on butter; his two daggers frantically hitting the enemy's vitals as men after men fall to the ground like ragdolls.

A squidman lands right in front of Saber and sends out a hook, Saber takes it without being budged. The ex-king punches back with her gauntlet, creating a large gaping hole in the squid's torso, there's a moment of pause before it falls and melts into black ichor. Strange, they didn't do that the last time you killed one of em, You'll need to check the body later.

Another squidman land besides Sallo's men and sweeps its arms around, breaking the bones of the guardsmen. Some survive and stand back up after being pushed away by the monstrosity, while some lay still, body surrounded by cultists mutilating them with whatever tools they've found.

The abomination is too far from you, and you've got a whole group of cultists coming at you, so you throw St.Catherine at the beast and manifest your lance. By the time you deflect an oncoming blow, St.Catherine is already embedded into the beast's hide. It writhes and spasms as fire manifest around the dark blade, melting its innards. Its eye burst into flames as it falls to the ground with a thud. It too melts into black ichor, though it is burnt away by St.Catherine's flame.

Your focus is redirected to the enemies around you and with a sweep of your lance they disperse. Bones broken and limbs severed. You glide through the broken bodies, noticing how diminished their numbers are after your assault. In the corner of your eye you see one of the fanatics impale Sallo's calf with a spear as you begin to notice how small the guards numbers are, dropping from twenty to a meagre four. A knife stabs the head of Sallo's opponents as he is dragged by one of his men, limping and bleeding, he prepares to make his last stand as the cultists get ever closer. The guardsmen are getting tired, making more openings and taking in more wounds than they usually do. The men are at a breaking point, the edge of death.

You launch yourself towards them but are too late. By the time you land near the guardsmen, tens of spears, pitchforks, polearms, and other manner of weapons have already impaled the standing guardsmen. The weapons are retracted and the guardsmen fall where the stood. Sallo lays still, covered by the bodies of his comrades as he clutches his wound to staunch the bleeding.

Their deaths are regrettable and your face cringes at your lateness, but no matter. At least there won't be many friendlies around for the collateral damage you'll be bringing.

You hold your lance high up, and the flag wrapped around it unfurls itself. You feel empowered by it, a rush of energy into your system as you feel the heat in your chest rise up. You stoke the fire within you, and rises and rises, ready and waiting to engulf its prey. But you restrain it, as the fire rages within you, seeking a way out of its cage that is your corporeal body. It thrashes and flails, tempting you into a frenzy as old memories bubble up to the surface. This goes on until you release it to its prey, St.Catherine acting as the funnel of your vengeful flames. Though you make doubly sure that your fire doesn't end up being taller than the buildings itself, so as not to arouse awe and suspicion. The cultist however feel a different kind of awe. A flame that burns hotter than wildfire, one that could burn even a dragon. Is it no wonder that under all of that, the cultists do not merely burn but disintegrate, as you point St.Catherine's firey blade to them, the tip of it spewing hot fire without end.

Sallo curls up underneath the bodies, attempting to avoid the heat from around him. But it is futile, as he suffers under the scorching flames, blanketing his senses with the boiling sensation of heat. He lives through it, though more injured than before.

In due time the flames sputter out, an act that reserves what energy you have left. Around you are the ashes of what used to be a legion of cultists, brought down by your fire alone. Sallo is still curled up but peeks out of the dead bodies, slowly rising to sitting position while overviewing the massacre. The captain who saw many a gory scene lays breathless at the sight around you. He sneaks a glance at you before resolutely looking at the remains of his soldiers, arms crossed as if to fight off some cold. Weird...considering the heat.

The ashes and gore fill you with that nice indescribable feeling you get from seeing others die the same death as you once did. Though, under all that jubilation, there is this hollowness in your heart, a regret, enhanced by feelings of inadequacy. It all comes down to the fact that you weren't able to save Sallo's men. Sure they seemed like the scum of the Earth, but you intended to keep them alive. But the things is... you didn't. That fact alone puts a small stain on your victory, like a fly floating on an otherwise perfect wine. Why is that? You're an Avenger, you shouldn't FEEL this feeling.

You notice the crunch of Saber's boot on the bricked ground, leaving its mark on the solid road. She is drenched head to toe in blood, with a hand on Excalibur and the other pulling the leader himself by the helm. The leader's chest rises and falls, he's still alive.

Saber stops and drops the leader to the ground, his head lands with a thud but lays unmoving.

"Report", a curt voice

A nod, " all dead Arturia. Nothing left of em, might be more."

"Good. We'll face the others should they come."

Your lively conversation is interrupted by a mad muttering from Sallo, "W-w-w-warlocks, the both of you."

Saber stares at him, impassively, "Ah, I've almost forgotten about this vermin." The tyrant walks up to Sallo, and inspects him as one would inspect an insect.

Sallo still mutters all the same, though he becomes more and more accusatory and suspicious, " Wait no...Valyrian Bloodmages maybe? Like in the stories? Would explain all the fire...but no blood. Just what the hell are you! Demons?! Or is all of this a farce of your own doing?!"

Troublesome, he's already jumping into conclusions. How the hell are you gonna explain your unique nature to him without compromising magic's secrecy? Should you even tell him at all? Well, you can always just ---

schkkrrchh!!

-- kill him...

Sallo's head turns to mush from the weight of Saber's gauntlet and the pressure of her grasp. The headless body falls back to the pile of his former guard, while the bits of gore and blood creates a puddle of red.

"What a shame, for such a man to be mauled by his enemies. Let's hope his successor does a better job than he ever did." The former king speaks without sincerity as she gives you the cover story.

Saber shakes off the splatter of red from her gauntlet and her armour, "Come, we've got scum to interrogate." She walks towards the prone leader, and with a glance you notice his fingers bent in unnatural ways.

"Huh? Don't all the cultists become catatonic when captured?" You ask, still a bit miffed at Saber's killing of Sallo. Hmph! It's as if she thought you had no say in the matter!

"All the other fanatics were hypnotised, this one's not, just delusional." Saber reaches into his robe and procures a book, "and its all thanks to this dirty looking tome." She displays to you, a black book with a title etched with blood, and in a language you can't comprehend.

"So he's our mage huh?" You put a hand on your hips, "the one behind all of this."

"Yes and no. Rather, someone else commanded him to set up the revolt. Gave him this book and out came the monsters it seems, as for the hypnosis spell..." as if sensing something Saber looks up to the sky, staring intensely at what it appears to be nothing. She shakes her head and looks back at you"...the man doesn't think the book could do that, so it must've come from somewhere else. "

"Can he still talk now?" you ask

"No, passed out from shock, come help me wake him up."

You do just that, prompting the man up as Saber loots a flask of water from one of the dead. "To think he would pass out from the pain, you're a clumsy torturer you know that?" You ask with a smirk.

Saber uncaps the flask and looks into it, deeming the amount of water sufficient for her purposes, "I usually leave such work to Agravain, it was the only thing he was ever good at, other than organising that is."

"I recall seeing that secretary of yours back in that Camelot singularity." Saber tenses suddenly, the flask starts crack under her grip, "What an utter doormat that man was to you. Though come to think of it...I have to ask... are all your followers such pathetic, brow-nosing, bootlicking vermin. Even your traitorous "son" had-sorry- has starry eyes for you."

"We. Do. Not. Talk. Of. It." She declares like a king would announce a law. There is a tense, pregnant silence before you break it.

"Of what?"

"Camelot. And the servants there" She speaks, no, she warns. Her tone promising pain to any criminal that would break her law...her word. But dragons are not bound by such inane concepts, such dull figments of man's imagination. Lies they tell themselves to keep their petty lives in order, and shackled too.

When presented with a chink in the once impenetrable armour, a dragon cannot help but stab at it. " Why not? Don't tell me you're ashamed of that Lion King too."

"She held a dream more childish than that archer Emiya. To deny all of man's evils, man's individuality, all for the purpose to reach an impossible ideal world. That is the pinnacle of childishness, even for a god. Her rule brings stagnation, not prosperity, and its all because of her ignorance, her weakness. So yes Jeanne, I am ashamed of her, for such a version of me to exist, whose ignorance dwarfs my counterpart, why wouldn't I feel ashamed?." Her flasks breaks, water splatters all over her and the cult leader. A wave of killing intent washes over you "Also...I suggest you refrain from such questions, lest you want to face my Excalibur" . The mentioned tainted blade hums with power while St.Catherine rumbles with vicious excitement, fire, ready to manifest at a moments notice.

Then the cult leader gasps for air, the killing intent and the tenseness of the air wakes him up. He shakes and curls up at the sight of Saber's baleful glare, bracing for pain.

"You're awake," Saber says tonelessly. "Good," she brings up her sword towards his neck, "We're not finished with you yet, rat."

Spoiler: Teaser

Oberyn breaks the dinner's quiet atmosphere with a question, "So, Miss Nightingale, how did a woman like you become such a good healer?"

Nightingale examines her drink, in its unsanitary gaudy cup, she looks back to Oberyn with her strange stare, one that puts him at unease. "It's a long story, the debriefing would take too long, and I must attend to my patient. So I will tell you what you only need to know, my qualifications."

[] Write-in Questions for the leader? ( So far he seems like he has outside help, though he may not be in the right state of mind to answer coherently. If left blank Saber would do her own thing)

[] What Jeanne think of Saber's killing of Sallo?
--[] Indifferent, he was just scum, so what?
--[] Angry, she didn't even ask you if she could kill him.
--[] Disdain, How petty is this king?
--[] Write-in

[] Your next course of action?
--[] Examine the tome
--[] Get back to Midtown, your job is done
--[] Ask Saber something
--[] Write-in...

Spoiler: Teaser

Oberyn breaks the dinner's quiet atmosphere with a question, "So, Miss Nightingale, how did a woman like you become such a good healer?"

Nightingale examines her drink, in its unsanitary gaudy cup, she looks back to Oberyn with her strange stare, one that puts him at unease. "It's a long story, the debriefing would take too long, and I must attend to my patient. So I will tell you what you only need to know, my qualifications."

QM Note: Back at it again!

 

[Mathen57]

Interlude - Nightingale

In the grand bedroom of Dorne's crippled prince, the sun shines through the slits and open windows, showering its occupants with reinvigorating light. And one occupant of that stately room stands under the brightest spot, a natural spotlight.

Nightingale weathers the curious stares of two of Dorne's most influential persons and appraises them with clinical precision. To her left, a fit male, approximately a hundred and eighty centimetres tall, and slender for a man his age. His build is one of a warrior, and those kinds of men make for terribly uncooperative patients.

To her right, a woman of hourglass proportions, with clothing that shows it off. She seems fit for a noble of this world, where one can easily slip into a sedentary life thanks to the privileges given, especially one of royalty. The woman must be doing something active in some way, which Nightingale applauds, though she cringes at the sight of her bust. She's going to need a customizable bra if she wants to avoid back pain. Maybe a reduction surgery if the patient is willing?

The Head Nurse dismisses the thought as Oberyn looks back at his brother, " I didn't know you were in the business of dressing courtesans up in formal wear, nor that you kept them here."

Doran's eyes twitch at that, " I assure you, this woman is different from the Nightingale in Braavos. Besides, It would be cruel of me to deprive the Braavosi men of their favourite courtesan, think of how many of them would come to water gardens just duel me and bring her back? So no Oberyn, you're looking at the real deal. The woman who has alleviated my gout."

Oberyn looks back at Nightingale's perpetually blank face and bows slightly, " And for that, you have my sincere thanks. I'm sure we can provide with anything you ask for to show our gratitude. Oh, forgive my manners for I have not introduced myself. Oberyn Martell, this man's brother, and this is Arianne, the jewel of Dorne."

Nightingale replies in her clinical, stale tole, her voice speaks unceasingly in one note, "A pleasure to meet you all, I am sure, but there's is nothing to give, sir. Your brother has promised me enough gold to build a school and acquire the relevant equipment."

"A school that teaches what, pray tell?"

"To train nurses like me and save lives, for this continent requires proper sanitation. The Citadel in Oldtown would've been ideal, but they refused my presence; thus I am here. Healing Dorne's prince for monetary compensation needed to set up the school in Sunspear."

"How blunt." Oberyn remarks, but he feels that the woman herself is omitting something important. It makes sense a woman of her skills would want to teach it to others and leave a legacy, but are her intentions so pure? What has she done under the shadows while her brother was too busy marvelling at his improved health? Oberyn has seen too much of the world to believe in concepts such as pure intentions.

"Say, where does an amazing woman such as you hail from exactly?" The Viper inquires.

"A land far from Westeros and Essos." A land far away, eh? How convenient, yet how peculiar. Why shroud one's place of origin when it is simpler to lie for malicious purposes, it doesn't need to be a good one too. Though it doesn't change the fact that it makes her story all the more suspicious. A woman who happened be from an unknown land far from Westeros, who happened to have the skills to alleviate his brother's chronic gout, one who's cure eluded many a master; That woman just happens to want gold to build a school in this part of the Seven Kingdoms? How preposterous, miracles like just doesn't happen, not in this land, or else Ellia would still be here, and the Mountain killed, by his spear.

"How'd you do it?" Arianne asks

"I wouldn't ask if I were you." Areo Hotah warns, gaining curious looks from both Oberyn and Arianne. "She won't be--"

"Simple" Nightingale interrupts, while Areo Hotah looks on defeated, "the main objective was to reduce inflammation of the patient's foot. Gout comes from the crystallization of uric acid in the joints of the human body, particularly at the hallux. Movement becomes a pain for patients and in fact, worsens it, so he was confined to his bed for two weeks, with the inflicted foot elevated by pillows." Oberyn looks on intrigued, while Arianne's face transforms into disbelief, finding the woman ridiculous, as Doran looks down in exasperation. "The patient was administered Ibuprofen, though one must note it was synthesized by me and not by a professional of the field. Nevertheless, with a seafood centred nutrition and five litres water a day the gout has abated but isn't entirely gone. I will stay for the next five months, to work on preventative measures if the gout gets better, and if not, I will begin work on draining the toe of crystallized Uric Acid in the joint."

Oberyn, for all his education in the Citadel just could not comprehend what in the Seven Hells this woman said, in fact he would think her some sort of liar if not for the fact of his brother's improved health. Arianne, on the other hand, thought she was listening to gibberish, while Doran trembles at the idea of "drainage".

Nightingale looks back at Areo Hotah, "The patient's relatives seem to be confused, do they need another debrief?"

Before the tsunami of jargons came upon the Martells, Doran saves them all by stopping it before it reached shore, "How about dinner Lady Nightingale? Surely it is time for healthy nutrition to make this all go away?"

Nightingale views through the slits and the windows, and looks upon a darkening sky, "I am not aversed to that." she says, "Everyone may go ahead, I'll check with the cooks to ensure the food is of acceptable nutritional value for the patient and his relatives," Nightingale narrows her eyes at Doran Martell as he freezes under that terrible stare he is so used to, "And to remove any red meats in the dish." Without an utterance of goodbye, Nightingale walks herself out, her mind so narrowed at the task at hand, giving the Dornishmen and woman some relief. Though a part of them feels a sense of pity for the men in the kitchen downstairs.

QM Note: Here's a post thats shorter than usual, but I wanted to get it out before I get too busy with other obligations. There will be more glimpses of Nightingale (since she appears to be so popular) until Jeanne's departure from Volantis, in which we can start her sidequest in earnest.

Cya guys next time!

 

[Mathen57]

Final Vote
Questions:
[X] "What are your goal here, beyond chaos?"
[X] "Tell us all you can about the one that gave you this book."
[X] "When did you meet them, and where?"
[X] "What did they want in exchange for the book?"

[X] What does Jeanne think of Saber's killing of Sallo?
--[X] Indifferent, he was just scum, so what?

[X] Your next course of action?
--[X] Examine the tome



"You're awake," Saber says tonelessly. "Good," she brings up her sword towards his neck, "We're not finished with you yet, rat."

The man's former bluster and fanatic zeal evaporate, replaced by that of a squirming coward. He tries crawling away from Saber, before her boot crushes his ankle. He spasms in response before steadying his breath.

"You've haven't answered all my queries yet, are you willing to cooperate?" She tortuously grinds her boot onto his robed-covered ankle.

He trembles as he speaks, trying to regain his composure "Damnation to you all, the true monsters! You demons who hide in human skin, wolves among the sheep! Our God will bring down a thousand curses upon yo--AHHHHH" The Ex-king is thin of patience as she adds pressure upon the man's ankle. "YIELD, YIELD" He beseeches, "I'LL TELL YOU ANYTHING! ANYTHING!"

Satisfied, Saber removes her boot and crouches to him, her gauntlet holds him down. His breaths are rapid, a total contrast to Saber's calm ones. "You said someone gave you this tome to do "God's will", who is this someone?"

"Man" The cultist leader speaks rapidly, "A man, short, wore a helm, called himself "Romner" or the like. Gave me the book, said it will bring the Gods unto the world."

Saber nears closer to him, her indifferent stare and her yellow irises intimidate him further. "Tell. Me. Everything. You. Know. Of. Him."

There's a pause as the man slows his rapid breathing," Came to my studies one night, two other men flanked him, said he was responsible for the coming of a new dawn. I was unenlightened at the time you see, so I resisted, but he showed me the light."

"what was it you saw?"

"Mere words wouldn't do it justice…A hundred different dawns, I saw, and a hundred other stars. I saw the past, the present, and the future all at once; I saw the lines of fate intertwining into one; I saw visions of a world made barren by fire and another encased in ice. Then he spoke to me, the God amongst the stars, told me of the lies that held Man back, of the insignificance of Man's conflicts, of their worries. He told me to ascend, one must descend, and that our answers lay in the depths."

Worrisome, you think, that if what he says is true, a god is interfering with mortal affairs. If it's one of Goetia's demons, that would explain the presence of servants in this world. Or it could just be another divine spirit, but considering what its minions look like, it must be an evil one. You think back to that eerie feeling you had back in your room, the sense of your mind being probed. Could that have been the God the man had described, considering that it was able to grant him visions and led him to his path of madness. If that's true, then you'll have to stay alert of this deity from now on. It has shown that it knows you're here and has attempted to manipulate your mind. You're going to have to inform Saber of this later.

The Tyrant's inquiries continue, "Was that all your god told you?" The leader nods and Saber asks again, "I assume this "Romner" gave you your objectives?" He nods again, "What were they?"

"To drown this city so it may ascend. To use the book to command God's followers and bring a new dawn in Volantis by way of sacrifice and slaughter. And that the sacrifice would summon the Apostles that would finish our most holy design. The Apostles would've called to the sea and summon a wave to wash the city all away."

So he calls these Squidmen Apostles? How unsurprising, for religious fanatics to describe the monstrous as holy. The fact that a group of them can call down a tsunami worries you a bit. "How many of these Apostles are there in this city?"

The leader looks down, stricken by a thought, "None…" he says somberly, "you've killed them all."

Saber nod's satisfied, and she notices you come closer to him, now it's your turn to speak, "Why do these "Apostles" melt after death? The ones I killed before did not, they burned instead."

He shakes his head, "I do not know why, but it could be related to their proximity to the book."

"Idiot" Saber chastises, "To use a weapon before knowing it's full capabilities, how negligent, but that is to be expected of trash."

You continue asking, "So in exchange for the book, you were commanded to lead this revolt." He nods, "And when did you meet this man exactly?"

"Some days ago. I started preparing the moment I was given the Holy Text."

Saber nods, "That coincides with what I gathered from my investigations. I noticed four days ago of your cult's abrupt stop of their public preaching, and the fact that fewer Volanteans were roaming the street lately. Good, you're not lying."

"Did he give you specific targets?" You ask him

"Only one, the Red Temple. Romner told me that cult is an affront to our God, and must be drowned" You ask him why, but he shakes his head, unable to answer. For a devoted follower, he seems ignorant of the motivations of his deity, he follows it blindly. It appears that every devoted believer, whether they believe in a tentacled god or one of fire, are blind in some form. Allowing for their delusions to skew their view of reality.

"No matter, it explains why there were summoning circles near the Temple District." You remark, "To turn the tide of the battle with these abominations, no doubt."

This seems to get a rise out of him, "They're Apostles, holy creatures gifted to us by He Who Knows All."

Saber's Excalibur inches closer to his neck, "You're in no position to make demands, scum. Now calm yourself, or I'll kill you."

The man cowers at Saber's threat and breathes calmly.

"What're we gonna do to him?" You ask Saber.

"Bring him to our rooms for further interrogation, just don't let him be seen. The supernatural is involved in this, so it becomes our matter now, which means that the mundanes of this city must not know of the magecraft that took place here." She looks at the tome and to its former wielder, "Besides, we need to examine this tome first before planning on a course of action."

The man freezes and stares at Saber, gone are the nervous mannerism he once had, replaced by a man ready to pounce. Both you and Saber notice it, the change in the man reminds the two of you of a possession occurring, you've seen enough to know. Sensing the newfound killing intent, Saber readies to stab at him, but he lunges first towards the tome, embedding Excalibur into his sternum by his own volition. With a swing, St.Catherine cuts his approaching arm off, but the dismembered limb flies towards the tome and grasps it as if having a mind of its own. You can barely notice a thin line of mauve light connecting the dismembered limb to his newly formed stump.

The man now missing a limb and a sword in his chest perform a quick chant now that the separated arm grips at the book. "cahf ot hh' ah, ah mg ahog" he speaks in his garbled tongue as a purple light envelops the tome. Both you and the Ex-king share a look of comprehension and surprise. Inwardly you wince, you should've burned him sooner!

Saber lifts her Excalibur up, cutting the man from his sternum to his head, splitting apart his helmed face and thorax. The chanting leader falls like a puppet without its strings, yet the light enveloping the book increases in intensity. The King of Knights quickly throws the tome away but is too late. The book, now mere inches away from its thrower, becomes blindingly bright as it readies to explode. You don't know how big the blast will be, but its best not to underestimate.

You know you have the agility to outrun it, but not Saber. The Ex-King has to face the brunt of the blast, which can be manageable considering her A rank strength and Endurance. Hell, her legend has her survive Vortigern's flame for crying out loud, but you don't want to take your chances. This is an explosion powered by a Divine Spirit if your suspicions are correct, and Saber's stats might not matter at all against it.

You can push her out of the way, and face the brunt of the explosion with Ephemeral Dream A. You just have to hope there aren't any unique properties in that blast that could nullify your invincibility. Or you could carry Saber with you and hope she doesn't slow you down so much as to prevent the both of you from escaping the blast, though it might mitigate its damage. You wince, what to do…

Votes
[] Let Saber face the brunt of the attack while you find a safer spot, she can handle it.
[] Push her away, use all your might to push her away as far as you can and face the blast with Ephemeral Dream A.
[] Pick her up and RUN
[] Write in...(Course of action, skills to use?)

 

[Mathen57]

Hard, red sand surrounds the face of a prone knight as the scorching sun heats the black armour, sizzling the woman underneath it. Her golden eyes open gradually, slowly waking up after a deep slumber. Saber's senses return to her, prompting the King of Knights to clench her fists in curiosity, wondering what led to her newly revitalized state. Her calculating gaze is set upon the sight of endless desert, full of dunes that rise up and down. It is a sea of sand obscured by a haze of heat.

The memories come without prompt nor warning, the sight of a grand temple in the sky assault her mind. They are unbidden memories, memories The Black Knight did not realize she had. The haze increases in intensity as the desert morphs into that accursed temple.

She remembers so vividly now, of that faraway throne that dwarfs her own, and the Demon Gods that littered the world.

The searing blast misses mear inches away from Saber as it leaves a trail of devastation, breaking the Servant formation. Waver retreats to recover as Medea Lily heals Saber and Nero's wounds.

"That damn cunni!" The Roman Empress exclaims, her hand now crisp and charred by the heat. The arm slowly regains its vitality as Medea's healing skill goes into effect. "Charring my flawless skin! My beauty is sacred I have you know! Not for the likes of you verpa to despoil."

Saber breathes a sigh of exasperation, how typical of that Empress to have such skewed priorities.

The Ex-king chances a quick look back at that far away throne, wondering what's taking her master so long. Another blast from the pillar comes forth and both frontline servants deftly dodge it. Medea, on the other hand, holds her staff with trembling arms, before gaining back her composure. The blast had nearly reached Medea's position, and the poor child was almost knocked out cold by the shock. The Caster repositions herself as both Saber servants ready themselves for another charge.

Nero goes first, fully healed and ready to exact revenge with Aestus Estus on hand. She slashes at the tentacle, cleansing the abomination.

Saber, the true Saber that is, powers up another blast from Excalibur, now revitalized by Medea's ministrations. Now fully charged and with the Demon God's full attention on Nero, Saber raises her sword to obliterate the oversized tentacle. But it was not to be. Their plans were shattered by that hole in the sky.

Ars Almadel Salomonis
The Mage King's noble phantasm, one that could incinerate the world. Every servant was briefed of Solomon's true plan, and how he'll go about burning humanity, which meant that time was against Chaldea since they started this fight. For the Mage King's noble phantasm to activate now could mean only one thing. Ritsuka, Mash, and Merlin...they were too late, the Grand Order is finished. Saber's last memories was of that blinding light and the Time Temple's destruction. She saw two lone figures enveloped by the light, still standing, still defiant, hiding behind a shield to the noble phantasm to end all noble phantasms. The sight of it brings forth a chuckle out of the cold King. Even in her final moments, Galahad's successor, Kyrelight, would protect her master to the bitter end, no matter what. Saber meets oblivion with grudging acceptance, waiting for her body to dissipate into dust.

Only...she didn't disappear, didn't she? Saber sits on the scorching sand in contemplation, tapping her foot as the gears within her apathetic mind begin to turn.

She didn't remember turning into dust, that would've meant that she would be at the Throne of Heroes at this very moment, not some red wasteland of a desert. Though, could this be the Throne of Heroes? Turned to a wasteland after Solomon's grand plan... hmph, nonsense. No, the former King concludes, she remembers falling, she doesn't remember for long, but the former King definitely knows she was falling rather than dissipate into dust.

Could that mean she was transported somehow, either intentionally or not? Maybe she fell out of the singularity and was led to this world by way of Imaginary Numbers Space? No... that too wouldn't make sense, Saber realizes that she's just grasping at straws now, ignorant of the cause that brought her here.

Unsatisfied with this lack of knowledge, Saber thought that she might as well start exploring now. Feeling the wind graze her right cheek, the Black Knight turns left and proceeds to walk, following the direction of the wind.

She ignores the malicious whispers that take root at the corners of her mind. The voices jeer at her and strike at the impenetrable wall that is her composure. "Weak", the whispers call her, "weak and a failure. Humanity's gone, dead. You have nothing left, you empty, hollow, shadow. Why persist? You've already reached the end, and this is your reward. Why do you investigate how you got here? To keep your mind off what happened in that temple? Face it, don't shirk away from it.". Saber's impeccable control of herself keeps these self-destructive thoughts at bay, knowing these voices to be wrong in every way.

...

The howling gales accompany the King's dark thoughts as she observes the twinkling stars of an alien sky, filled with constellations that she's never seen before. The night has come, and so has the cold winds of the desert.

It's been two days of walking, contemplating, thinking, while the endlessness of the desert erodes the King's will. Two days of being alone with her thoughts, the bad company they are, being the only thing interesting as opposed to the monotony of the desert.

It's been two days and she's gotten nowhere in investigating the gaps in her memory and the reason why she's able to exist here. There's must assuredly be a Grail here to maintain her existence, there just has to be. But where's the usual hole in the sky that is indicative of Solomon's tampering, where are the signs of servant activity?. Saber gives up, realizing she's just being impatient and escapes into reminiscence, the stars slowly moulding into a single image.

It was time for festivities in Chaldea. That warm place full of comradery and heart, coupled with equal amounts of grudge and conflict. Civility is only maintained here by the grudging acceptance to work with one another for a common goal, to save the world, which brushes aside all other goals. Yet even then, Chaldea was a place of comfort despite all the issues that come with having scores of heroic spirits living in the same building, a testament to the skills of Chaldea's master.

The timing for Christmas was perfect seeing that the Singularity in London had just finished and the servants all wanted a good cheer. It's a smart move on Ritsuka's and Roman's part, Solomon's appearance had shaken everyone, and this festivity would do wonders for everyone's stress.

The Black Knight herself wanted to spend it resting and enjoying Emiya's cooking in her room, being the glutton that she was. Her mind entirely focused on tasting that savoury taste of a hamburger, complemented by stacks of pancakes covered in maple syrup and whip cream, a kingly feast. She walks out in her casual clothes, passing by Okita hefting up a large wrapped gift box. Both sabers nod at each other, while the King restrains herself from staring at Okita. Saber never did get why so many heroic spirits look just like her, the fact unnerves in ways she never realized she could be.

The Tyrant enters the formerly bare and small dining area, now made massive by the increasing number of servants. The dining area has been refurbished to a point where it has become unrecognizable when compared to its previous look. The walls have been given a nice brownish wallpaper adorned with regal patterns, while the floor is littered with carpets. A chandelier hangs above the lounge area that overlooks the fireplace and next to it is a large pane of glass overlooking the Arctic mountains. There's a small stage by the fire with a grand piano and a mic placed on it, though it is left empty at the moment with the usual performers: Jeanne, Mozart, and Marie being quite busy with decorations.

Waver and Iskandar sits at a table by the Christmas tree, the latter boisterously going about...something... all that matters was that Iskandar was his boisterous, obnoxious self while Waver deals with it in exasperation. The Romans: Nero, Romulus, Ceaser, and Caligula sit by a grand circular table with Nero dramatically recalling the events of the previous singularity while the rest listened in rapt attention.

Saber walks past the Knights of Camelot seated by a roundtable of their own, ignoring the stares the Tyrant illicits from them. Lancelot observes Arturia's shadow with a tinge of guilt, while Mordred's eyes are captivated by the sight of her "father's" counterpart, feelings of fascination and fear clash in the mind of Morgan's "son". Arturia, her original self, acknowledges her with a nod, seemingly less troubled than the other knights. Saber alter nods back while proceeding towards Emiya's kitchen, used to those stares that ostracize her, for a hero must be strong enough to destroy their enemies, not to be loved, so she moves on, cold and uncaring.
They're the inferior ones so give them no thought. They are beneath you.
...

Saber nears the door to her room as she sees the sight of Chacha riding atop of Hijikata's shoulders whizz by. A surprise, The Tyrant didn't expect for that Demon Lieutenant to warm up to Chacha so quickly.

As their figures disappear into the distance, she could barely hear Chacha's shouts of, "Faster reindeer! We mustn't let Okita steal Auntie's heart!"

Followed by Hijikata's bellowing response, "I'll make sure the captain doesn't do any shameful acts while wearing the haori!".

Shrugging to herself, Saber enters her room while holding the tray. It was when the door to her immaculate room opens that she saw a sizeable mound on her bed, seems like someone's under the blankets.

With a sigh, Saber places the tray on her desk and proceeds to her bed, the smell of greasy meat and pancakes call to her like a siren's song, but she wouldn't be a King if she gave in to those temptations too easily. Her hand reaches for the blanket as the figure underneath trembles in fear. She pulls the sheet out fast as the intruder falls out of the bed in shock.

"Eek!" A childlike squeak erupts from a ball of white as it tumbles down and crashes onto the King's drawers, bringing forth a tsunami of clothing. Covered by Saber's collection of black jackets, jeans, and the occasional sweater, Jeanne Alter Lily rubs her forehead to expel her dizziness. Seeing the recently summoned Avenger's childlike form is something Saber thinks she will never get used to and vows to avoid Gilgamesh's youth potion at all times, lest she will endure the embarrassment Jeanne alter will have when she turns back to normal.

Saber speaks, her warning tone stills the air, "Intruding a king's domain can be punishable by death, child."

Foolishly disregarding the King's warning, Jeanne Alter Lily sticks her tongue out in defiance, " Whatever, stupid Queen, you're not even half as scary as Jackie, so don't even try."

"You playing Hide and Seek with her?" Saber inquires as a germ of an idea grows in her head.

"Yep, you know missy, your room is the perfect place to hide! It's near the end of the hallway, and the walk from Atalanta's place to here would've taken hours! I'd give you a gift for this spot if you weren't such a sourpuss."

Saber nods absently as she goes to the computer at the corner of her room. It took a while for Saber to get used to the intricacies of the machine. The Grail had not filled her head with instructions of its use, but once she got the hang of it, and it didn't take her long mind you, she found it a pleasant and versatile tool. One use of this "Computer" she realized, was the ability to contact a servant's communicator, a device made standard for every heroic spirit ever since the Orleans singularity. And it just so happens that the King had dialled up a certain ripper's phone number...

"Jack?" Saber asks, Jeanne Alter Lily's face becomes much paler than usual, "its Arturia Alter."

A childlike voice comes out of the computer, "Hai hai."

"Jeanne's here in my room, you can come and pick her up."

Both Jeanne and Jack let out a gasp, the former shocked while the latter is full of joyful, jubilant surprise.

"Coming!!"
"nonononoonottheknives!"

With a smirk Saber hangs up the call and crouches down to Jeanne, "You were defiant, and rebellion must be met with excessive force."

She trembles in fear, her eyes frantically searching for a place to hide. A futile act. "Don't you remember how many cuts I got the last time she found me!? You know she can't restrain herself when it comes to games!"

"Then I hope you've learned a valuable lesson, brat. If you intrude upon my domain without my say, the punishment would be worse by some magnitudes. And besides, I have a strong belief that our Head Nurse would patch up any wounds you gain from your games with Jack."

"Eeek! I don't want to see Nightingale again! She's scarier than Jack!"

"Too bad", Saber holds Jeanne by the scruff of her neck as she struggles to get out of her grip. But the child only has rank C strength and fails to free herself.

Jeanne realized that if she's can't get out of the Tyrant's grip physically, she'll just have to resort to threats and insults, "You're the meanest, ugliest, stupidest, Queen ever! When I come back to normal I'm burning you first! Then you're going to the Demon Nurse's room, and then she'll turn you to a scaredy-cat. Then I'll burn you again! Which means you're gonna have to come back to her again! Once I'm done with you, you'd be so scared you wouldn't leave your room!". How very threatening.

Walking out of the room with Jeanne in hand, the King's keen eyes spot the black dot of an approaching Jack the Ripper. Jeanne sees her too and redoubles her effort to free herself, her flailing and tirades gaining a second wind. Eventually, the girl gets her wish, but not in the way she wants, considering that she finds herself flying towards Jack all thanks to that Tyrant.

Jack's eyes follow the falling Jeanne and utter two words that fill the latter with a deep, deep fear. "Found you!"

Jeanne's agonizing scream was music to Arturia's ears as she munched on Emiya's delicious cooking.

And now there's a hole in your cold, dead heart that can never be filled...

...

Arturia spots the shining pyramid across the horizon, and this time it's intact. The first ruin she encountered had risen her hopes up of reaching an actual settlement, but the second had nearly dashed it. To see actual civilization rather than signs of it is a welcome change from the dullness of the desert, and now she can finally get somewhere with her investigation.

There's a group of buildings huddled around the grand pyramid, and a closer look shows her the small silhouettes of workers and soldiers. Thanking her luck, Saber increases her pace, speeding across the dunes and getting closer to the city.
Idiot
A fatal and stupid mistake, especially for one such as her, to rush into a town without careful observation. But her desire to see civilization had overruled her good sense and judgement, and the moment Arturia realized she had just stepped into some sort of quasi-reality marble the sphinxes had already surrounded her.

QM Note: Here's a sidestory that fleshes out Saber a bit more. Might write some more of it depending on the reception, or I might write her journey to Volantis anyway since she's such a fun character to play with. So here it is!

Again, any feedback on grammar, continuity and lore is greatly appreciated.

 

[Mathen57]

[X] Push her away, use all your might to push her away as far as you can and face the blast with Ephemeral Dream A.


You know you have the agility to outrun it, but not Saber. The Ex-King has to face the brunt of the blast, which can be manageable considering her A rank strength and Endurance. Hell, her legend has her survive Vortigern's flame for crying out loud, but you don't want to take your chances. This is an explosion powered by a Divine Spirit if your suspicions are correct, and Saber's stats might not matter at all against it.

You can push her out of the way, and face the brunt of the explosion with Ephemeral Dream A. You just have to hope there aren't any unique properties in that blast that could nullify your invincibility. Or you could carry Saber with you and hope she doesn't slow you down so much as to prevent the both of you from escaping the blast, though it might mitigate its damage. You wince, what to do…


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You never thought you'd do it, to make the sacrifice play, to take the hit for someone else. But here you are, hands holding onto Saber's arms, her wide yellow eyes look at you with surprise and incomprehension as you heave her away. Though to be fair, you've got a skill to make you invincible against all kinds of damage, a skill that comes from the very essence of your existence.

You're a ghost, no worse than that, you're a fictional character. A shadow of someone greater, and the only reason why you're still here is through your resolve and the alteration of your counterpart's wish. Every use of Ephemeral Dream A reminds you of that, and you're filled with the gnawing sense that sooner or late, you're going to have to wake up. That you would return to being a concept once gain. Your defiance against the order of the world, or at least the world you've originated from, is temporary. Sooner or later, you will become immaterial yet again, where beings like you belong. But that is neither here nor there, and you've got a king to hurl.
This life is but a dream, an ephemeral one. Your time here is short.

"Mad do--" Is all the words Saber could utter before she is launched out of the way. Crashing and going through several buildings, some of them fall, and some of them stand. You smirk to yourself, now we're even.

You turn your head back to brightening tome and try calculating if you could dash out in time too. During that split second of planning the book erupts into a furious, purple blast, with you right at the centre of it.

Well so much for dashing out, Ephemeral Dream A takes effect as you feel your body border between existence and non-existence. You let the purple blast wash over you, feeling the scorching heat envelop your body. You're invincible against it, the blast cannot hurt you now obviously, but that burning sensation is still there.

The world around you becomes saturated in bright purple. You're blinded by the light but can't bring yourself to close your eyes, it's just so captivating.

Eventually the light dissipates, and you momentarily see flashes of stars, nebulas, and galaxies. You're eyes widen as you take all of it in, transfixed on the images assaulting your mind. You don't understand what you're seeing, as the celestial bodies appear without order and reason. But one image sticks out from the rest despite seeing just a glimpse of it, a world with a white throne at its centre.

The Time Temple...

It's not really something you'd forget. Though why it would appear before you, as one of many other flashing images, you don't really know. Saber needs to know of this, and Lera too, once you've briefed her on your nature.

You feel a tug at your arm but you can't bring yourself to look back, unable to tear yourself away from the bright light. You feel a presence at the edge of your before something pulls you physically, making you fall on your butt as you escape the trance.

The visions disappear and all you see is the Tyrant looking down on you. Her eyes meet yours as her face remains impassive, unreadable. She brings out her hand towards you and you grasp it, bringing yourself up with Sabers help.

You glance around and realize the both of you are in a deep crater, with the flat unaffected ground located two heads above you. The area you're on shines a sickly purple, charred by the blast, it radiates with malevolent energy. With a nod Saber jumps out as you follow her. You notice that the many corpses from the previous battle have been disintegrated. Now, all that's left is just a crater, the only physical reminder of a fight taking place.

"What?" You say indignantly, "Not even a thank you?"

Saber looks back, " There was no need to save me, I've survived explosions ten times that size. But if you wanted to waste your prana then go-ahead."

"There was no way you would've known how strong the blast would be. What if it was one you couldn't handle? Better I take it than you do. "

"An explosion that could overpower my endurance and magical resistance is a rare thing. The chances are slim, and from what I've seen of this world, which is exponentially more than you have, it should not be possible. The natives here simply lack the capability for it, whether they are Qarthian warlocks or Red Priestesses, their magic cannot harm me no matter how esoteric they are."

This is beginning to test your already thin patience, what's her deal anyway? Is this from some kind of insecurity? That'd be really pathetic. Though what's more pathetic is her arrogance, so blindingly absolute and ironclad.

"Then how do you explain these cultists---You know what nevermind, it's a waste of breath trying to convince you. Hmph, as if I needed your gratitude, should've left you for dead. " you pinch your nose to ease your bubbling anger and keep it from rising to the surface. This isn't the time for a discussion like this, and you've got a city to clean up. Maybe later, but now, there is only one objective.

You breathe slowly in an effort to calm yourself. You speak after a pause, "I'm sure you would be very interested in the things I saw in that explosion."

Saber raises an eyebrow at your abrupt change of subject, "Do tell."

"I saw images of worlds different from our own. I didn't notice any subliminal messages, so I'm confident I was not brainwashed or something of the sort."

"The point, please."

"In one of the images I saw Solomon's throne, it was just a glimpse, but I'm sure of it. The sight of it isn't something I would forget that easily."

Saber's eyes widen momentarily before she looks up to the sky in contemplation. "This has worrisome implications, Jeanne. But it definitely adds credence to my suspicions. The whole revolt must be the work of a caster or a being with ties to our world, yet the reasons still elude me."

"All we know is that the leaders of these cultists are doing this to bring about" You speak mockingly and with air-quotes, ""the new dawn" or some nonsense like that. Which hints that whoever is behind them wants to uproot this world's order, it's just the specifics and the "who" that we're missing."

Saber nods, " Whichever the case, we need perspective, lest we keep flailing in the dark like this. Let's continue this discussion for another time, now we must go back to our camp and plan out our course of action."

"hm" You nod and follow Saber's lead back to camp.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Both you and Saber return to an overcrowded camp with three regiments resting in it. You and Saber are accompanied by the remnants of Sallo's regiment, the rest killed by the cultists or executed by Saber when they told her of the squidmen. "Those men are liabilities." Saber would say, as she impaled them in hidden areas, out of sight, out of mind. The remaining few that are with you are ignorant of how their comrade's death and of the squidmen. Luckily, there's a slim chance of any civilian witnesses, to your relief. Many of the residents have either fled out before any squidmen were summoned, or were used as sacrifice.

Either way, the supernatural element of this revolt has been, for the most part, successfully covered up thanks to your actions and Saber's thoroughness.

The walk back to the central tent was arduous, the casualties, both wounded and dead, lay at the ground with teams of two to three men attending to them. Soldiers circulate around the camp, fulfilling their individual orders and obstructing your path from time to time.

You eventually reach the tent with Saber and enter while the remnants of Sallo's regiment wait outside. The room you enter is, for lack of a better word, messy. A large table at the center with the city's map on top of it is littered by scrolls and other pieces of paper, concealing the map. There are helmets, armour pieces, and even swords laying about on the ground accompanied by empty flasks. Overall, the tent is a step dirtier than the French tents you've been, certainly doesn't compare to Chaldea's pre-fabricated tents. You wonder how it compares to the tents of Arturia's armies though, is it a world of difference or not?...you shake those thoughts away as you focus on the residents of this command tent.

Vogys stands next to Adario as the latter appears to be lecturing the former, though you can't comprehend it since they're speaking in Valyrian. To your surprise you see Araquo sitting in the corner of the tent, balancing a knife on the tip of his fingers. He spots you, and you see a look of excitement and apprehension on his face. The feral man becomes more apprehensive when he sees Saber next to you, and straightens up, giving her a salute.

Both Adario and Vogys notices the two of you and gives off crisps salutes.

Adario is the first to speak, "Head Captain, it's good to see you. I trust that the Guild District has been rid of Cultists?"

"Yes. Their leader was stationed there too, he's dead now and the cultists have scattered, but I've gained some useful knowledge out of him. But first, report."

Araquo walks closer to the table at the centre of the tent and stops at the side nearest to you. Adario meanwhile looks at Vogys in exasperation.

Vogys sighs and proceeds to explain, "Fine, I'll start, bloody prick" Vogys composes himself before reporting, "The cancerous elements of this city--" Adario interrupts Vogys with a cough, making the latter sigh yet again. "The Rat Towne and Warren districts have been successfully pacified, but my forces have sustained massive casualties."

Araquo winces while Saber raises her eyebrow, Vogys continues, speaking more slowly and with a hint of embarrassment seeping into his tone "The residents were resistant to my...methods, and I was soon faced against not just the common thief, but organized mercenaries and the like. Even had some civilians join in to throw rocks at my men and me."

"Why is that so?" Saber asks. "Your mission was by far the easiest to accomplish. Simple enforcement of the law and the reassurance of security to the civilians would've sufficed. But instead, you were faced with escalation. What happened?"

"I..."

At this point it is a frustrated Adario and not Vogys that reports the situation in the impoverished districts. "I'll take it from here. Guard Captain Vogys didn't adhere to the objectives of his mission. Instead of keeping order in the streets, Vogys instead diverted his manpower to destroying the source of the criminals. His men ransacked taverns, gambling halls, and other sources of vice in an attempt to clean up the slums. The "owners" of such centers of vice were backed into a corner and took drastic measures. Thus the mercenaries, the civilians, however, took part due to the "thoroughness" of Vogys's clean-up operation."

"Define thoroughness" Saber commands.

"Execution of anyone with ties to criminal organizations without trial, the confiscation of properties, and general disruption. Thus, Vogys's forces were enveloped by angry mobs and organized sellswords. Luckily I was there to prevent his death."

"I see" Saber remarks as silence settles in. She looks towards Adario while Vogys tries to hide away from Saber's sights, instead her eyes locks on to his, making the man sweat. "I'll deal with you later. Now," Saber looks towards Adario, "What of the South Market? How were you able to support Vogys despite the revolt?"

"I realized you wanted to end this revolt quickly, so I called their leaders forth to parley, and being the desperate lot that they are, they came. We discussed terms, and I promised them their freedom, and soon enough I had them following me to Bridgeton to ratify our agreement. That's when I met Araquo's forces, and our numbers against the slaves begin to even out. Both our forces enveloped them and subsequently slaughtered the slaves to the man."

Saber nods, her face betraying no emotion, "Good, but I find it unfortunate that you have broken your word for such results. Enemies from now on will fight you with more tenacity, knowing you wouldn't keep a promise."

"Oath, word, promises. They have their uses, but to be wholly devoted to those ideals will only get me killed. Forgive me, but it had to be done, and besides, this stain can be easily covered up. Dishonour can be washed away with success after all, and the results speak for themselves. With the slaves at the South Market gone, I was able to save Vogys's regiment from annihilation. Which is a fate that I assume Sallo has met."

Saber nods, "You'd be correct. Our "fellow" guard captain fell in defense of this city. His body was burnt away by fanatics."

"What of his regiment?"

"Destroyed, the few that survived will be absorbed to your regiment, I expect you to retrain and discipline them."

Adario makes a sound of affirmation as Saber briefs the three captains of the situation at hand and a course of action. Thus, you and the other captains disperse to fulfil your missions, with you doing some search and rescue while the rest are responsible for the clean-up operation. Nothing much really happens, and you spend the remainder of the day killing stragglers and directing civilians to Bridgeton.

You come back to the camp after a successful mission and see a messenger bearing news. Saber beckons him to the command tent as she enters with the messenger in tow. Naturally, you follow them. "The city is secure," you hear the messenger say, "the enemy has been routed, they've been driven out of the city. All captains are to leave their second-in-command with their regiments and return to the palace to debrief."

And thus, you march out of Bridgeton with Saber and the other captains towards Volantis's seat of power.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

The grand palace looms ahead your procession of Officers and Captains, commoners in the land owned only by ancient noble blood. You look back to the black walls that sections off the aristocrats from the rabble of Volantis, thick two hundred feet high slabs of black stone stand tall in the city slaves. You've never had the time to appreciate the scale of this city, even the "grand" castles back in France are dwarfed by the height of this wall of ebony, manned by scores of archers and charioteers. Hell, even the fact that this city could maintain and field over ten thousand men as garrison still astounds you. You've seen bigger, of course, the Lion King's castle is measured in miles, but that was built by a god, what you see is created by men.

The towering gates to the palace open to allow you and your group entrance. You enter the esteemed "Hall of the Triarchs", though its less of a hall and more of an amphitheatre. There's a pit surrounded by steps meant for the magistrates and people of political import to sit on. On the northside of the pit is a platform with three seats of equal height, while the southside is mainly a flat path leading towards the pit. A select few captains, including Arturia and Adario, enter from the south side of the pit with the Triarchs seated overhead, looking down from their platform. The chairs the three are on is so high that their feet are not even close to the ground.

You and the rest of the captains are redirected to the main dining hall instead. You ponder on the fact that only a select few captains have the ear of the Triarchs to debrief to, which indicates some sort of hierarchy among the guard captains. This is new, you had thought that every captain had equal authority save for the head captain who is a "first among equals." You shrug, just something to look deeper into for later.

You observe the dining hall around you, noting the high ceilings and the paintings it adorns. There are many pillars fashioned to look like men carrying said pillars, they are white and made of marble. The west side of the dining hall is filled with depictions of the city's history, with one notable thing you see is the image of a tiger approaching a dark, malevolent fog. The east side of the hall has tall and imposing doors that are open and leads to the gardens. You spot the setting sun while you're looking through those doors.

You see the tables slowly getting filled in by the guard captains, and you notice some distinct groups among the captains. The general mood of the captains are celebratory though with a tinge of suspicion and unease.

There are three tables before you, one is filled by Vogys and that fool from before, Vogoros. The two are accompanied by some stoic-looking men and are having a polite and formal chat, though you do notice a tenseness within Vogoros. The other table is occupied by Araquo and some other captains with the same attire and demeanour as he, rowdy and vulgar. The final table hosts that barrel-chested man from before, what was his name again? Vera? Varar? Anyways, the rather tall man seems to be having a lively conversation with some other captains who are noticeably shorter than him.

Which table do you go to?
[] Vogys and Vogoros's
[] Araquo's
[] Varar's
[] Alone
--[] On an empty table
---[] Wait for Saber to finish
---[] Explore
---[] Remember the events leading to your summoning here.
---[] Write-in...
--[] In the courtyard
---[] Wait for Saber to finish
---[] Explore
---[] Remember the events leading to your summoning here.
---[] Write-in...

If an occupied table is chosen do you contribute to the conversation?
[] No, you'll generally stay quiet, though how you'll respond to whatever comments or questions thrown at you will be determined later
[] Yes
--[] Questions to ask? (I.E Is the city truly in order? How was the revolt? You think there's something shady with this whole gathering?)
--[] Comments or something to say to any of the tablemates?
--[] Write in...


QM Note: Again, feedback is appreciated, and if there are any questions, I'll do my best to answer them.

I'll be rereading and making revisions whenever I have the time to.

 

[Mathen57]

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[X] Alone

--[X] On an empty table

---[X] Remember the events leading to your summoning here.

You observe the dining hall around you, noting the high ceilings and the paintings it adorns. Flanking you, are sculpted statues of men holding up pillars of white and marble. The west side of the dining hall has depictions of the city's history, with one notable thing you see being a painting of a tiger approaching a dark, malevolent fog. The tall and imposing doors leading to the gardens on the east side of the hall are open, allowing you to look through them. You spot the setting sun while you're looking through those doors.

You see the tables getting filled in by the guard captains and notice some distinct groups among them. The general mood is celebratory, though with a tinge of suspicion and unease.

There are three tables before you, one occupied by Vogys and that fool from before, Vogoros. The two are accompanied by some stoic men and are having a polite and formal chat, though you do notice a tenseness within Vogoros. The other table is occupied by Araquo and some other captains with the same attire and demeanour as he, rowdy and vulgar. The final table hosts that barrel-chested man from before, what was his name again? Vera? Varar? Anyways, the rather tall man seems to be having a lively conversation with some other captains who are shorter than him.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

You find a table sequestered away near one of the doors leading to the courtyard. A small circular table with a few chairs placed beside it, each of them decorated with the fineries expected of a chair belonging in the noblest of buildings. It is adorned by candles that light up the area, a beacon under the sunset. You sit down and wait for food to come.

In the meantime, you look out and see the sunset, the sky darkening to a bluish orange hue. You feel a sort of déjà vu when you look out, as if the setting sun prompts your mind to dig up a long-forgotten memory. Like a child nudging you for attention, this buried memory of yours is trying to make itself known. It's...actually strange, the more you think about it. You don't seem to remember several things at the moment. Right now, you could recall a scant few instants of your childhood and your time as a saint. Hell, even your moments in Chaldea are starting to blur, and that concerns and confuses you.

You concentrate on that ever-distant ball of fire, dropping down to the horizon, in an attempt to dig up this memory. Impressions and vague images sprout up in your mind, coalescing into a singular picture. A picture that had been buried under the mud of hate that is the core of what you are.

You sit atop the walls and observe the Urukian sky, counting the innumerable stars that popped up now that the sun has set. Your watch on Uruk's wall had ended, and some other servant patrols it in your place, looking out for any demonic beasts hungry enough to attack. With a hand on your cheek and your back slouched, boredom settles in as your thoughts stray. The rustling of the grass and trees makes for a relaxing ambience. You like it, you think...

Your eyes dart from star to star until it stops and stares at a singularly bright one. Your ears pick out the distant click-clack of boots on the brick that comprises this wall. The sound nears you and stops right behind you.

Tch, just when you thought you would have the night to yourself, "Look whatever it is you want to say to me, save em for tomorrow. Beat it before I turn you to ash. "

A melodious voice replies to your threat, "Now that's no way to speak to your older sister. "

You wince, heavily, in disgust. Whirling towards the source of that voice, you see the holy maiden herself sitting next to you. Your counterpart, your killer. Her amethyst eyes stare deeply into your golden ones, while her blonde hair shines under the moonlight, making yours pale in comparison. The saviour of Orléans holds a small smile while she sits next to the one that defiled it. You.

"I didn't know you to stargaze Alter, how very ignorant of me."

"I'm bored is all. I bet you thought I'd busy myself burning some trees and bushes to pass the time. "

Jeanne nods at that which prompts you to sigh.

"Yeah well, Master wouldn't allow it." you say, "Said it would anger King Gilga-"All-the-world' s-treasure-is-mine-mesh. Bah! As if he'd care if a few trees are gone, that stuck-up bitch is too busy with everything else. "

The Saint covers her mouth and chuckles, the sound of her voice grates your ears. "Wait," she says, recovering from her laughter, "did you actually ask Ritsuka if you could burn some trees? "

"No..." You deny, "I...uh...-"

"Got caught in the act?"

You cough exaggeratedly and attempt to steer the conversation someplace else. "Anyways, what are you doing here? Don't you have somebody else to bother? "You ask your counterpart, trying to hide the annoyance in your voice while her knowing smile makes it much harder to do so.

"Aww," You're too late to respond when she wraps her arm around your shoulders and pulls you close, making her cheeks crash into yours. "can't I have a moment with my sister all to myself? "

You push her off in an attempt to free yourself, but her grip tightens, and she stays adamantly atop of you. "Get off! Who do you think you are trying to get all buddy-buddy with me? ", finally you extricate yourself from Jeanne's hold and put some distance between her. "Besides," you say, "I'm you, not your sister dammit! How many times do I have to remind you of that?! "

Jeanne brings her palms up to placate your bubbling anger, "alright, alright," she says "I'll stop. Hmph, you're no fun at all. "

"And you've been around Astolfo for far too long." You say spitefully, spitting the Rider's name out as if it was poison.

"That's fair," She chuckles lightly before her expression turns serious, "but believe it or not, I'm not here just to jest." Jeanne fidgets. She's quite nervous, it's almost pathetic. "There's something...important to tell you and ask of you. You see, um... "a pause settles in as Jeanne searches for the right words to say. She hesitates.

It's a sorry sight to your eyes. For the Holy Maiden of France to be so incapable of expressing whatever it is she wants to say. If it's so urgent, she should be able to say it outright rather than beat around the bush. You're becoming increasingly unamused and tempted to shoo her away. Your eyes are getting sore just looking at her. Hell, the longer she takes, the more you wish to throw her to that demon beast ridden forest and see how long she lasts. Maybe burning her would be a good idea too. The catharsis would undoubtedly improve your already ruined night.

"Speak up," you say, crossing your arms, "You're wasting my time."

Your annoyance seems to have gotten Jeanne out of her stuttering stupor, as a sombre expression replaces her previously flustered one.

She takes a breath that's neither deep nor shallow but a breath all the same before she speaks.

"You know...since this is the Seventh Singularity, the Grand Order will end soon. Once we deal with Solomon, it's over, we all come back to the Throne of Heroes, never to see each other again unless we're summoned to fight. Well… It's made me think back on my time in Chaldea, and how fleeting this dreamlike existence is no matter how beautiful it is. The people I've met, the servants, the staff, and the masters...I love them all, and they give me so much joy in return. But now that our journey's about to finish…I look back on the things we've done as a team, and all of the goodness that we did, and yet… I still feel that there's more to do, even when the end draws near. "

"Just get to the point "You grumble. It's hard not to roll your eyes at her.

"Fine. Remember when I asked you if you could recall those peaceful days, the days before we become the saviour of Orléans? "

"How could I not? You said it right before you jabbed your lance right into me. "You say, perhaps a tad too spitefully.

"Well, those sorts of memories..." Jeanne's voice faltered.

She pauses. Another restless moment goes by as her eyes dart everywhere before finally, hesitantly, they rest upon yours. "Those sorts of memories... I want to help you make your own. "

You stare, eyes go wide, and breath halted. You struggle to process the words you've just heard. "You're not making any sense "You began to say "…the hell do you mean by that? "

"What I mean is that I want to help you create those peaceful memories here, now, while there's still time. I...I want us to be closer, is what I'm trying to say. "

"That's impossible. I'm the witch, and you're the Saint, Avenger and Ruler. We couldn't be any more different. You should know this especially. We're incompatible Jeanne. We're the antithesis to each other's beliefs, we'll never find common ground. "

"Look, when I killed you back in Orléans, my heart ached for you. To see you, an aspect of me born from hatred and to have died still hateful...it hurt, but I did my duty all the same. "She's closer now, uncomfortably close and you find two of her hands grasping one of yours. You're mildly annoyed at her presumptuousness and contemplate whether or not you'd want to listen to her piece or just walk away.

"You were born as somebody else's mirror," she continues "to validate that man's belief of us and our betrayal. And look how you acted back in Orléans, committing atrocity after atrocity for a cause you never truly believed in. An unthinking idol of a madman, never wondering why you hate. A being of instinct and anger. "You shake her hands off and walk a few steps away. The other you seem momentarily stricken before schooling her features. Your heart blazes with indignation. Who does she think she is? To pretend that she knows you and knows what's wrong with you. "Even this anger you hold is meaningless, and it's not even yours either, but still, you act like it's all you are."

"All this stupid talk of making memories" You cover your forehead with one of your palms, "and you're off with a good start. Call me less than human while you're at it, I'll be sure to remember that. "

"Look--- "

"No, you look, you hypocrite. I don't care if you feel guilt over me, I'm Gilles's mistake, not yours. And I especially don't care for this mad scheme of yours to get closer. But since your naivete has gotten the better of you, which really shouldn't surprise me, I'll make it clear to you. "You step towards her in a domineering way, but she doesn't cave-in to your threatening stance.

You begin to berate her, while pointing a finger at her to stress your point, "I hate you, I can't stand you. You forgive yo--our killers, and go about your day wishing them good health. Then you go about preaching that the voice in your head was God, so it justifies everything you did during the war. At least I don't sugar coat my actions with faith and false virtue, but embrace it. "You grab the scruff of her battle attire, and she looks on to you steadily. "And what the hell do you care about me? The only reason why you feel pity and guilt over me is that I've got the same face as you do. "Your voice is getting louder now, and you could barely hear the rustling of the grass, too focused on the sound of your own voice.

Jeanne tries to speak up "No I-"

"Don't even deny it. You said it yourself; Gilles made me based on his wishes. There's no aspect of you in me, none at all. So give your pity and your guilt, and your "love "for someone else. You're an eyesore, a pain, and I want nothing to do with you. "A pause settles in the both of you are breathing heavily.

You search her face, looking for any changes in her expression, but she still just stares at you steadily. You barely sense Nobunaga standing on the nearby rooftops by the wall, aiming her many guns at you and contemplating whether or not to shoot you. Great, more people trying to ruin your night. You hope you haven't made that loud of a commotion, it'd be troublesome to hear all about it tomorrow. You release Jeanne and Nobunaga's guns disappear, but the Warlord herself still observes your every move.

"Well..." Jeanne finally says, "I just...wanted you to live a life of more than just hatred. You know... Before it all ends. "The Saint smiles a sad smile, but no tears appear.

"I'll live this second chance of mine on my own terms." You say assertively and proceed to----

You blink as the world freezes around you, the wind stopping and the bushes cease to rustle.

Wait, you scrunch your eyebrows, munching on the Volantean dish upon your table. You could barely recall such a memory, almost as if you've forgotten it completely. Images shift and transform as if the things that you remember begin to merge into a blurry image. You concentrate, and it becomes a slight bit clearer, Jeanne's smile can barely be seen, though you notice slender rivers of blood trailing down her cheeks. This memory that you have no recollection of, this paradox, it confuses you and throws you off-balance, until---

The image transforms into a blindingly white star. Ah, you think you remember now. This hidden, unbidden memory... You lay there, fading, in Solomon's Temple. The world is a haze, just as you remember it. Barely conscious and with three jagged spears jutting out of your stomach, you lay there dying, a failure and a witch. You never noticed before but you see Jeanne at the corner of your eye. With that same damnable smile on her face.

Something happened there, something you can't recall for the life of you.

You hear that same boom from before, and the world erupts into light. Jeanne kneels next to you and prays, holding her sword to her chest and closing her eyes. The flower-shaped hilt of St.Catherine, the true, untainted one, blooms, enveloped in holy light.

You make out the contents of her prayer,

"Oh lord I entrust this body to you

The heavens tell of God's Glory
The skies proclaim His handiwork
Speeches poured forth during the day and knowledge during the night
A fire has ignited within my heart and continuously burn to remind me

This is where I meet my end
My destiny now runs its course
My life's dream has reached its conclusion
Utilizing the last thing I have left at my disposal
I fight to protect the path He must walk
Lord, accept my sacrifice.

La Pucelle"

Fire.

Unchained, unimpeded, unlimited fire.

Spreading and dancing with impunity

Roaring all around you.

It envelopes you but doesn't burn you.

It wraps around you, but doesn't consume you.

Your missing arm grows back, but you barely register it in your dazed state.

La Pucelle...she died for you. For what? Why? What did that idiot seek to do? She should've left you to die.

This particular memory ends with you entering oblivion, as you close your eyes for what you thought would be for the last time.

My, what a peculiar state of affairs. An unreliable memory? What could've possibly made this happen?

[] Sift through more of your memories, what else is hidden inside your head? (Chances of being interrupted by one of the captains)

• [] The Saviour of Domrèmy
• [] The Witch and the Tyrant
• [] Reunion
• [] The Demon's Niece
• [] The shy Goddess
• [] The Ripper and The Nurse

[] Engage in a conversation
---[] name of who to talk to
---[] Your approach and demeanour
---[] Questions to ask? Points to make?

[] Write in...

QM Note: Heyo! senior year's been hell but I've finally managed to get this one update out. It's been a longtime coming.

First I want to thank @Macros for beta reading this update and helping me polish it, you're a saint.

Anyways, whoa, I've totally underestimated the difficulty of writing emotional scenes, as it gets really easy to make my characters do something contrived without even knowing it. But that's been fun and enlightening in its own way, sort a like a test of how well I know my characters and the direction of this quest. Hopefully, both Jeannes don't come across as OOC, or at least, the OOC elements in the two are well justified, and that the whole "memory" thing doesn't come too far from left field.

As always, I welcome any feedback you guys have on this update and see you later.