“It's about time, isn't it?” It was an empty church, one where the young man’s voice reverberated as if he was the singer of s great choir. He spoke to no one in particular, just the deaf ears of the saints that surrounded him.

He stood up from the pew that he was sitting in. Once his face was bathed in the moonlight, it became clear that he was beautiful, so ethereal in degree that any who looked at him would wonder if he was even real, or even if he was even a man at all- as young as he looked.

“Very well, then let this bloodsport begin.” He snapped his fingers, causing a sudden change in the atmosphere in the room. It seemed like the church was filled with several individuals, all directly facing the man.

The spell was granted to him by the grail, a testament to his authority as the overseer. The church’s unlit candles sparked with flames, and the rest of the building’s interior became clear.

A humble church was what it was, barely even worthy of being in the center of a grail war of this magnitude, but the house of God had many protections that made it nearly impossible to breach for modern mages, and in the case of servants, the Fujiwaras had agreed to the Holy Church bringing in some of the best in the organization to protect the humble building.

Once the spell was completed, the golden-haired figure of the overseer became clear, standing tall in front of the cross at the end of the church.

“This moment marks the beginning of the Holy Grail War, the first in Kyoto’s long history under the rule of the Fujiwaras.” He smiled, an expression that conveyed an unusual amount of anticipation from a neutral party.

“This is the last, desperate attempt of a family that gave in to the inevitable, a group that was so esteemed in the past, yet is nothing in the present. And so, with this epitaph, I declare: let the games begin.” All over Kyoto different masters and servants would feel the call of the Grail, some not even tuning in to listen to the priest’s words, yet all knew deep inside that the city would never be the same again.

@Letter Bee
@Creative Chaos
@Rezod92
@Double D
@King Cosmos
@GubGar
@Verjil
@Randomguy
@ManyThings
@Digmata

Ilse Heilwig von Grimmelshausen understood, perhaps more than anybody, just exactly what she was walking into.

As a free-lance magus, this was not her first dangerous mission, and with any luck, it wouldn't be her last. She had booked a cheap hotel room for the occasion, the type where the walls are stained yellow, everything spells like cigarettes, and nobody asks for ID. A German woman with stark white hair in the heart of Japan was sure to make a statement and while ordinarily Ilse wouldn't mind the attention, a grail war was not the time nor the place.

The TV flickered on and off in the corner, some news station discussing the weather for the upcoming week.

She sat on the edge of the bed with her legs crossed, a suitcase beside her. Seeing the pictures of suns, clouds, and rain she couldn't help but laugh. "They have no idea..." Soon after, the suitcase opened with a click. The remains of a winged saddle, falcon feathers frayed by time, and the leather peeled away. It belonged to one of the infamous Polish hussars, or at least that is what the salesman told her.

The ritual of summoning was a simple one, the bed was now pushed to the corner to make room for the magical diagram required. The words came easily to her, though remnants here and there were drowned out by the television's talk of weather.

"I hereby declare.
Your body shall serve under me.
My fate shall be your sword.
Submit to the beckoning of the Holy Grail
If you will submit to this will and this reason…Then answer!"

The catalyst, the chant, her hand stamped with the mark of a true master, now all she had to do was wait... wait to see what ancient servant she had dug up from the grave and hope that he or she was a reasonable being whom Ilse could get along with, and if they seemed completely crazy, irrational, or simply polar opposite...

"Well then, I guess we could talk about the weather."
@GubGar

---

The magic circle that the German mage stood over begins to spill over with golden light as the summoning ritual occurs. A sign of powerful magics being worked, of something being dragged through the veil into the realm of modern man. The light grows taller, forming a pillar from floor to ceiling, as a shape begins to gradually grow visible within the glow. The figure was tall, though not overly so, with a broad build that suggested a great musculature. But beyond that, they were too obscured to make out specifics.

The chant continues, as the link grows stronger. The magics pulling this figure into this world nearing their completion. Just as the spell nears its end, the figure begins to think once more. Not yet fully manifested, but just enough to take in that they once again existed as more than spirit. They did not hunger. They did not hear the voice of their wife. Which meant there was only one reason for them to breathe, think, be.

It must have been for War.

"-If you will submit to this will and this reason…Then answer!"

The chant is complete, as the figure grows more defined. Information rushes into their mind, granting them an understanding of where they were, and more importantly; why they were here. The Holy Grail War.. A chance to return to the battlefield once more, in the name of a Holy Artifact. Only one gift would be sweeter, but perhaps.. That could come later. The light reaches a fever pitch, and then vanishes all at once. Replaced with a now fully defined man standing in the center of the magic circle.

"I have heard your call, and it has been answered! Rejoice, my Master! For you have brought forth the Savior of Christendom! I, the servant who represents the class of Rider, accept your call to action!"

The booming voice of the Rider-class servant was of a deep octave, joyful and intense all at once. And with his words, the contract between Master and Servant was sealed.

Said servant was a large man with strong facial features, well-kept blond hair, and an extremely cared for mustache. His body was not that of a bodybuilder with zero body fat. It was far closer to a powerlifter, bulky, and clearly immensely muscular, but not without fat. He wore a strange mixture of half-plate and fine noble clothing (said clothing being red and white in its coloration), and had a six foot lance strapped to his back, making the lance only slightly shorter than he was.

Perhaps most notable about him, was that for a split second after he had fully manifested, before the light faded fully away, the large shadow that he cast had a pair of massive wings.. Only for them to vanish the next second.

"So.. This is the modern world. It is humble, I have to confess! Bwahahaha! But no matter, no matter! I am certain it can be improved upon. Well met, Master! Shall we exchange proper greetings, now that the formalities have been dealt with?"

---

Ilse eyed the goliath standing before her, curiously noticing the winged shadow and flightless bird of a man. It could've been the fluorescent lighting playing tricks on her, or some winged creature flying by the window... she shook it off and welcomed the warrior kings speech.

"Oh good, a religious zealot come to put the final nail in the von Grimmelshausen coffin." It was no secret that her family had been a victim of German witch hunts, playing a large role in her rather specialized craft. While she held no grudges, she found the irony to be amusing. Standing with her arms crossed, she looked her servant up and down. They looked like a couple attending a costume convention, Ilse in her black twin-tailed coat, bralette, and flared black pants alongside a pair of fashionable boots and he in... whatever one would expect a 16th-century ruler to wear.

"Rider, is it? Well, it is a pleasure to meet the man holding the hammer." She was referring to her earlier statement, not a girl willing to sacrifice her wit, even in the presence of a king. "I am Ilse Heilwig von Grimmelshausen and if we're to be working together, I must be honest. If I had known I'd be summoning a king I would've booked a much nicer room and aside from your name and title...." She scratched her head, feeling somewhat nervous about the words to come.

"I know almost nothing about you." It might've been hard to hear. A heroic servant who had permanently stained history, written about in books, told of in tall tales, and yet here his own master was! Completely ignorant of Polish history. It might've been a sword through one's heart, but the young magus meant no harm in her statement, it was more so urging him to fill in the gaps which in her case... was the entire story.

Lorenzo Calungsod Emiya

Even in Kyoto, the Holy Church had a foothold; a small stone church on its outskirts used by Japanese who found Western-style weddings to be cheap and yet charming/spectacular, and Filipino overseas workers hoping for spiritual solace. Lorenzo, being Half-Filipino himself, almost regretted using the cellar of the church for an occult ceremony, but alas, people needed to be saved from death or a fate worse than death from the Grail War - He had no strong wish; his parents were still alive, his grandfather's research was in the hands of the Clock Tower and he had no desire to go to war to get it back, and Humanity was slated to ascend anyway; either to Heaven or the Age of Will or the latter, then the former.

Either way, the young man carefully dusted the floor; it would not do to have the summoning disrupted by a sneeze. Once all the dust was swept onto a corner with a broom, Lorenzo drew the summoning circle and placed the Catalyst on it; a sash that once belonged to Gajah Mada. Then, he switched on his Magic Circuits and allowed the energy within them to flow.

"Let silver and steel be the essence. Let stone and the archduke of contracts be the foundation. Let red be the color I pay tribute to. Let rise a wall against the wind that shall fall. Let the four cardinal gates close. Let the three-forked road from the crown reaching unto the Kingdom rotate." "Let it be filled. Again. Again. Again. Again.

"Let it be filled fivefold for every turn, simply breaking asunder with every filling."

If Lorenzo had a wish, it was for people to stop seeking shortcuts to reach The Root/Save the World. Only wishes that saved people were legitimate, and not ones that bent to a utilitarian calculus of killing the few to save the many every dang time. Yes, sometimes, one had to do it; one had to choose. But that didn't mean that such choices were somehow sanctified, not when such logic eventually severed one from their humanity, and then where would they be?

In the light of his own Magical Energy Prayer Power, Lorenzo Emiya thought a silent prayer, God, we know you exist and are benevolent; may you not be judged by your scripture, nor by the actions of your Church. For the general direction you set is that of altruism and paradise, of effort not to ruin others' lives, but to promote happiness, fairness, and kindness. May those who use your name to commit atrocity one day weep.

As the Servant - Saber - made itself appear, Lorenzo opened his heart, to the burgeoning Servant bond; he had nothing to hide from this man or woman. He was Lorenzo; Lorenzo Calungsod Emiya, one who instinctively knew that he should not have existed, and yet he did.

He was thankful to God for that, and it was God who moved his heart to feel that he should, 'Put people above Humanity; Humanity will be saved.'

@Randomguy

---

An oath that went unfulfilled.

The Mahapatih of the Majapahit Empire once declared that until Nusantara was united, they would not taste spices or worldly pleasures. Sumpah Palapa..the oath of Palapa. To that end, the Mahapatih took up the banner of conquest as well as that of an effective statesman. Territories were absorbed into the Empire, and each time the Mahapatih did her utmost to ensure it flourished under her Empire. And so, she dedicated the rest of her life to the fulfilment of that oath. But despite all her sacrifices and effort, the oath went unfulfilled, as she died from poison given by her liege whom she had considered her own son, King Hayam Wuruk.

Such was the legend of Gajah Mada, Prime Minister of the mighty Majapahit Empire.

The unfulfilled oath of Sumpah Palapa by the time of her death was her greatest legacy, the very thing that was then picked up by Indonesia, the fledgling nation that claimed the seat of Majapahit's spiritual successor to galvanize their nationalism. And yet, even now, Nusantara as she envisioned in her oath had not been realized.

Gajah Mada realised that almost a thousand years had passed since her death, and surely Nusantara was not what it was. However, to someone whose life has largely been defined by that singular oath. Her duty and obligation to fulfil Sumpah Palapa transcended time. It was an oath she had made to the gods, an oath made to her lieges, Hayam Wuruk and his mother Tribhuwana Wijayatunggadewi. An oath made to Majapahit soldiers that their death and sacrifice would be honoured in the utopia of a united Nusantara under Majapahit...and an oath made to the enemies she cut down in her path, that their death would not be in vain, that their people and their children would enjoy prosperity under Majapahit.

It was not the conquest itself that was important to Gajah Mada in fulfilling the oath, it was the promise to realise a dream of a utopia in Nusantara and to honour those who have died and sacrificed themselves in pursuit of that dream.

And so, when she felt the summons of the Grail from the Thrones of Heroes, she answered the summon. Under the vessel of Saber, the Heroic Spirit Gajah Mada returned to the world, seeking the grail as the means to fulfil her oath.

As the light of the summoning subsided, Gajah Mada found herself in a church. It was different from the few churches that had been built during her time, but she recognized the Christian iconography.

Before her, is a black-haired young man. Through the mana that flows from the man to herself, Gajah Mada recognized him as her Master.

"Servant, Saber. I have come in response to your summon."

Interacting With: [@Digimata]
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Kyoto was a beautiful city.

It would be an amazing place to set down roots once she won.

Fragrant steam wafted up from her coffee cup, filling her nose with the smell of coffee, chocolate, and cream. There was an excellent view of the city from her spot on one of the hills surrounding Kyoto. Spread out in a tapestry of intersecting streets, it didn't have the skyscrapers that dominated the skyline of so many modern bustling cities. Yet it still glittered and glowed like so many of them.

A breeze flowed past her, turning the wisps of steam into a long ribbon. The trees around her rustled with the sound, mixing with the natural ambiance of the forest at night. It wasn't the wide open plains of her home. Yet that didn't matter in the end. There was nothing back in America for the Rainwrights, but stagnation and death. Their future was here in Kyoto, with her victory in this War.

She took a sip of the vibrant blend in her cup. Her eyes closed as she savored the taste. When she lived here, that coffee shop was to be a regular destination. To win this war, however, she needed a servant. Opening her eyes again, she put a hand against the step she had been sitting on and pushed herself up. Dusting the seat of her pants off, she turned to climb up the steps she'd sat down on.

All the preparation had been done before she had gone to get herself a coffee. Sneaking in at night was child's play. Setting up a simple bounded field to keep people away was a little more complicated. Luckily Shinto had spiritual beliefs that were at least somewhat in line with her magecraft. Reaching the top, she passed under the torii that marked the beginning of the shrine proper.

It was as if she had entered another world. The torii was meant to represent the transition from the mundane to the sacred. A distinct line that separated the inside and the outside. It was the perfect place to begin her bounded field. The faint smell of incense filled the, despite only a few sticks being lit along the outer edge of the field. Placed at the foot of the shrine itself, a bundle of rice cakes was made as an offering to the Kami.

It was inscribed into the stone tiles at the center of the shrine's courtyard. A circle drawn from specially prepared herbs, the finely ground leaves forming an intricate pattern on the ground. It didn't matter what she used to draw the circle, only that she used something of value. It wasn't entirely foreign to her, the base principles were something she was familiar with. The symbols, the layout, the manner, that was what was foreign to her; just like this land.

A small sigh escaped her as she took another sip of her coffee. Looking over the circle one last time, if there was a fault, she saw none. Even if she got something minor wrong, it wouldn't change the result. It was mostly handled by the Grail anyway. Stepping off to the side for a moment, she placed her coffee cup down on one of the stone benches that surrounded the courtyard. Reaching into one of her pockets, she dug out a small wooden box.

Flipping the top open, she'd pluck out a single hand-rolled cigarette. Moving back towards the circle, she dug out a small silver lighter. A flame lit up the shrine as she struck the ignition. Lighting the cigarette before closing the top, she brought the cigarette to her lips and breathed in deeply. The smoke filled her lungs. In her mind, a familiar mantra echoed.



As she exhaled, the prayer flowed out of her, and power flowed into its place.

The cores scattered throughout her body began to spin, and circuits raced through her to connect them. Od was converted into Magical Energy, and that small bit was sent into the tip of the cigarette in between her fingers. The faintly burning end ignited with a blue flame. Holding it out above the magic circle, she tapped it.

"Fill, Fill, Fill, Fill, Fill."

Five glowing blue embers fell. They landed on the bottom of the magical circle. For a second it seemed as if they would simply fade. Before the herbs ignited. Blue fire blazed along the lines of herbs, lighting the shrine in a brilliant cerulean blaze. Shifting her stance, she pointed her left hand towards the blaze. The faint smudges on the back of her hand showed her the path she had to walk.

"Let it be repeated five times, and each broken once filled."

"Let silver and steel be the essence. Let stone and the archduke of contracts be the foundation."

Mana was converted into Magical Energy as it flowed into the circle, a searing pain glowing on the back of her right hand. Yet the pain was something every Magus lived with. Every circuit burned through her body, and she ignored it. To practice Magecraft was to walk with death. She poured more magical energy into the circle, her voice echoing through the shrine.

"Let my people be my ancestors."

"Raise a wall, against the wind that shall fall."

"Close the four cardinal gates."

"Come out from the crown."

"Rotate the three-branched road reaching the Kingdom."

The blaze grew larger and brighter. Magical energy was gathered in the tornado of blue fire that had formed in the center of the shrine. Reaching higher and higher towards the sky. A call was sent out into the beyond. From both the Grail and the Magus, seeking out one who could answer the siren's call of a Grail War. One who would match the spirit of this particular Magus.

"I shall declare here."

"Your body shall serve under me."

"My fate shall be with your sword."

"Submit to the beckoning of the Holy Grail."

"If you will submit to this will and this reason…… then answer!"

It was no longer fire. Pure magical energy swirled in a vortex. Something forming in the heart. The Spirit that answered her call manifested into the world. The wind grew stronger, sending the trees rustling and incense smoke flying. Even her coffee cup shook on its bench across the courtyard. Shifting her foot for a better grip, she pressed onwards.

"I shall declare here."

"Your body shall serve under me."

"My fate shall be with your sword."

"Submit to the beckoning of the Holy Grail."

"If you will submit to this will and this reason…… then answer!"

There was no doubt in her heart. There was no second thoughts in her head. There was no option for her beyond one. She must win this war. She must succeed. The Rainwrights must claim Kyoto as their Spiritual Ground. If her family was to have a future, then they must make it here. She must make it here. Even as the wind sent her hair streaming behind her, she brought her cigarette to her lips. Breathing in again, another prayer escaped with the smoke.

Creator of All, Grant me Strength

"From the Seventh Heaven, attended to by three great words of power, come forth from the ring of restraint, Protector of the Balance!"

---

In front of Samira a golden light began to emerge, releasing golden orbs of light one of by one. Her summoning was successful, a servant is about to manifest and she needs to do is to wait.

Then some peculiar happened.

As if it was commanded by someone's hand, the orbs turned violet and they eventually turned into strings covering the figure in a glowing purple cocoon.

She must after all, capture the world with her brilliance.

Then slowly a string began entering the cocoon leading to its unraveling, finally revealing the woman manipulating the spectacle unseen.



"This must be what they call the Modern Era, I always wonder what the world would look like without the Gods."

She stared at the shrine with disgust. "We don't need them after all.

She then finally turned to her master with a smile of a merchant trying to please her potential customer.

"But where are my manners? My name is Arachne, the greatest weaver among humans and gods and the Caster of this War, who was the magnificent woman who called my service." she asked as the cocoon began turning into a pair of velvet spider themed gloves.

She failed to notice it but she was letting out a feral smile on her face, she only had few opportunities to stretch her legs after all. And after all, what was in front of her was a special patron.

---

In a world where money is money and power is power, royalty is an abominable mix of the two. It is for that reason that the archaic method of ruling has practically gone extinct. Unlike the dinosaurs, it was no meteor that squashed monarchy, but human greed. Riches, jewels, and lavish parties as their people starved. Those at the top are always criticized by the bottom, and vice versa. Yet the van Oranje-Nassau line survived the extinction, crawled out of the primordial soup that sought to dismember them, stronger... better.. faster.. richer... and thus, the crown is still in their possession today, even if it merely a symbol of what they once had.

But all they had sacrificed for their survival in the meaningless human realm, they gained twofold within the magical one. Fierce allies of the clocktower, there wasn't a van Oranje-Nassau in sight who hadn't mastered the family's respective craft; puppetry. The idea of creating others, or an extension of yourself, was very useful to a line of monarchs, who in many ways, lead two lives. One for the people, and one for themselves.

Viviene was no exception, though she was far from the family's frontrunner. A mere 99th in line for the throne, and yet chosen to participate in the Holy Grail War nonetheless.

A shadowy silhouette appeared before her, practically drooling over her delicate hand and the red mark of the grail that stained her porcelain skin. "What will be your wish, princess?" It was the voice of the current reigning monarch, a man so out of reach she couldn't even see his face. Just the shadow of his crown, hiding every feature before her.

"What is it that the family wishes for?" She asked politely.

"Good answer," He chuckled before it abruptly stopped, "The root."

That wasn't the only moment she recalled, but perhaps the most important. From then on, they funded everything, and that sequence of events led her to the door of a beautiful mansion. It was within the city, but ultimately private. A large plot of land containing what had to be the pinnacle of Japanese architecture, a modern-day palace with so many rooms even a princess wouldn't know what to do with them all. Unlike those ahead of her, she had never experienced life outside of the Netherlands, much less been allowed to travel to Japan to see the cherry blossoms bloom.



"It's smaller than I imagined." She scoffed, showing a completely different side of her than the woman who spoke to the king. It appeared three women were traveling with her, silent, but identical in appearance. Each one was carrying a tall pile of suitcases, making them almost impossible to see. "The war won't start itself ladies, hurry along, unpack." She shooed them in with a quick command, and they did as they were told. Her personal puppets doubled as her personal maids, for who would ever want to do grunt work?

For now, they were dressed appropriately according to their status. The French black and white attire everyone had grown accustomed to seeing. The girls were running around frantically, unpacking outfit after outfit, ensuring that every room was spick and span for their creator. The first room cleaned looked to be a family gathering room of sorts, accompanied by a fireplace. Viviene rolled her eyes, "Eastern architecture is such a bore, where's the ballroom, hand-painted tiles, custom French wallpaper, the chandelier! This hut is no place for a heroic servant... but nonetheless, it will have to do." She could only hope that who her relic called forth had no taste, that would save her the embarrassment.

Extending her arms, she chanted the words that would change her life forever, for better or worse.

"...
An oath shall be sworn here!

I shall attain all virtues of all of Heaven.

I shall have dominion over all evils of all of Hell!"

First Night

Van Oranje-Nassau spring vacation estate

---

The magical energy of the mansion began to warm and tremble at Vivienne's words, as noiseless pressure bore down on the air. An existence foreign to the current era stirred, and a faint golden light heralded the first signs of its approach. As she spoke on, the immense presence began to swell--

"Say no more."

--And rather than reaching some critical mass and rupturing into a cascade of ancient power, all that energy went out quicker than a lightbulb. Before the last syllables of the incantation had even left the magus' lips, something had arrived. Perhaps it was a testament to Vivienne's incredible talent, that the summoning spell had so readily spun her Servant into being. Or, perhaps it was a matter of this particular heroic spirit being eager to see some action.

On that matter, there stood the question of whether this was even a Servant at all. Palpable might, presence, and authority were nowhere to be found. Just a few feet from the fireplace, a common tabby stretched with satisfaction, as if recovering from a lengthy nap in a patch of sunlight. It radiated no magical energy, and in fact appeared rather delicate. The only real clue to its true nature was the fact that it had not been anywhere in sight until the moment of the summoning, appearing without notice in that spot.

Plus, it was talking.

"Hmmm... Pardon me. When I was alive, most women looked nothing like one another. How times change. I spy three or four of you scurrying around, so similar you could practically all be related!" Their ears twitched gleefully. It had only been a few moments since they had sprung into being, but Assassin felt plenty alert and awake, happy for the chance to learn new scents and trick new fools. "But you're the one marked with the Command Seal, so you're the one to ask:"

Even as a cat, there was a certain lively intelligence in Assassin's eyes as they looked the magus up and down. The lodgings may have been in an unusual style, but the woman herself was undoubtedly someone supremely fancy. With maids, too! So, probably loaded. The feline cogs were turning upstairs. Already there was the sweet, juicy, marrow-filled skeleton of a plan. This was going to be a good time.

"Are you ready to be my Nyaster?"

Interacting With: @Digmata
---------------------------------------------------------------------

A small sigh of relief escaped from Samira as the light shifted.

The pillar of blue light that stretched to the sky turned to a brilliant gold as it began to condense into the form her Servant would take. Only to suddenly turn violet and transform into strands. Taken aback, Samira took a single step back as it suddenly formed a cacoon where the circle lay.

Her mind began to race as she watched the cacoon begin to unravel. Whatever servant she summoned had to have some connection to insects. Perhaps a being who was insectile in their form? Her mind went back through all the legends and myths she could think of relating to insects. Several came to mind, from North America and the rest of the world. She couldn't say who exactly it was until they appeared.

Then they did appear, and she was at a loss again. Her servant's attire was surprisingly modern, and not what she expected. An eyebrow rose as she spoke of the modern world and the gods, which was the first solid clue she had to their identity.

Not that she had to wait long. At Arachne's name, her other eyebrow rose. There was a glimmer in her eyes as she activated her Master's Perception, reviewing the threads that made up her servant's abilities even as she spoke.



Not that she would complain about this result. Arachne was an incredibly famous figure, and that naturally came with a significant amount of power. Her abilities seemed far more nuanced than raw physical strength. A small burst of feeling came from one of the fossils that jangled at her hip, and she reached down to tap it gently.





That was going to be an interesting problem. Samira was frankly put, a religious woman. It was a religion that her people would understand partly, and only she fully understood herself. Yet she was religious in some way. When paired up with a woman who hated the gods... that could be a problem.

---

"How fitting of a familial black sheep to conjure up a common tabby." She crossed her arms in a huff, clearly angered by what the grail had dragged in. While she had deduced that he was indeed a heroic spirit, and a powerful one at that, her pride had wished for something greater. An Arthurian knight, a great ruler, not this... this nine-lived vagabond. The entire idea ruffled her feathers and birthed an interesting thought. Had her family intentionally sabotaged her? After all, they had given her the relic. Perhaps they knew this would anger her but that idea spun her in the opposite direction. They wanted her dead, surely! Certainly! Or had the Princess of Orange gone mad... she decided quickly that she would turn the situation in her favor, as she always had before. Short straw after short straw, stray cat after stray cat.

"They are extensions of me with just as much power over you as I. Command seal or not. Please tell me I'm not expected to play the lowly ailurophile reading from a children's book that starts with once upon a time, that this is some cruel twist of fate and my real servant is lying in wait behind a curtain somewhere... then again, perhaps a feline is what they will least expect, a pity you're Assassin." It was notoriously labeled the weakest of the classes and Vivi was not the type of princess who could keep opinions to herself, not outside the comfortable restraints of court.

The maids had stopped too ooh and awe, but only briefly before a snap of Vivi's fingers returned them to their duties. That was the downside of giving creations a personality, free will and all. Even if it was limited. His very last question had intrigued her, and she found herself circling back. "That depends, how can you help me? Do you have nine lives, and are you willing to take away ninety-eight?" The idea alone made her smile.

Yes.

Her family's cruelty would be returned to them. This joke they attempted to play on her, to make a mockery of her, she would have the last laugh, as they wouldn't be around to get it. "Vivienne van Oranje-Nassau, but you can may call me your highness." She extended an arm outward, expecting him to kiss her hand much like the people of her homeland would. Unfortunately, it looked more like a spinster summoning her favorite feline with catnip at the ready.

---

That.. was not the shock and awe he had expected. Jan's first impressions of his master were; sharp. Dangerously sharp! Both in wit and in observation. He had to confess, what little he knew of magecraft before his death was negligible. That lack of intel, filled in with information from the Grail made him wonder, was sharpness such as this commonplace among Magus? If so, it was perhaps for the best Jan had never walked down that particular path in life. He'd have struggled to match wits! He held no illusions about his life, he was a wise tactician, and a strong military leader. That was about it. Cleverness was better left to his lovely Marie. Ah, now she would have excelled as a Mage. As she excelled at all things, of course!

"You've no need to worry there. My faith is ingrained deep within me, it is true! But I have always had an open mind. Even against those who wished me ill! Besides, if an object as Holy as the Grail saw fit to permit you as master, it would be foolish for me to second guess."

Fortunately, afterwards more proper greetings followed. It seemed there was no true venom in her earlier statement, or if there was, it had been set aside. That was good, he did not wish for conflict to arise between allies! Especially not the one keeping him anchored in this land of the living.

"The pleasure is mine, Lady Grimmelshausen! And the shoddy dwellings can easily be remedied, so worry not. I am happy to once again walk the earth with great purpose. As I am certain you are aware, warfare happens to be my expertise-"

"I know almost nothing about you."

Most kings recorded within the Throne of Heroes would take great issue with this, that one dared call upon them without truly knowing them, without paying proper homage to royalty. It was, after all, the duty of a King to be the grandest possible. To be a beacon to their people. So to be unknown.. well, it was similar to a snuffed torch. Unable to shine light upon their subjects.

While not a legendary king on the same level as Arthur or Alexander, Jan was certainly not like most kings.

"Oh my! How embarrassing for me to brag as if my exploits were obvious. I hope you can forgive my boisterousness, I fear I let my excitement get the best of me. And Marie is not here to bend my ear about it!"

As a larger-than-life presence eager for battle, one would not expect humble to be a trait ascribed to this Rider. But after his greatest victory, he rather firmly directed the honor and praise away from himself, and towards God and the Hussars. A good trait for a hero, but an unfitting one for a king. It seemed instead of taking offense, he was instead chastened by the admission.

"I fear it is my own fault I am not as well known. To spare you a droning lecture I shall keep it brief; Whilst I was dominant on the battlefield in my era, and commanded a great company of cavalry, I was merely a passingly decent ruler. Poland suffered no losses while I was king, but it did not do much growing either."

He spoke with a sort of reluctance saved for long-past mistakes that, while no longer weighed heavily on the mind, were clearly still embarrassing. No deep sorrow for a failing, but more self-criticism for the lack of remarkability he showed in all facets other than the battlefield. He did not fail his people, after all. But he certainly believed he could have done more for them. Jan smiles wryly, and waves away the hesitance with practiced ease. No need to dwell on it now, it would not help anyone.

"Regardless, you needn't worry you've summoned a dullard or a lesser spirit. Whilst my sweet Marie was far better suited to the court, I find myself quite comfortable in battlefields such as this Grail War."

---

The Caster looked smugly she saw her master's lost face, that was hilarious especially when she fixated at her appearance. Admittedly her clothes are inspired by what was worn in the current day but what should she do wear the boring garbs her era made?

Not by her choice, she has standards and they only got higher when she died.

Her hands began moving as she answer to her patron.

"But those are not part of criteria to be victorious, am I right?"

As she listen to her patron, now named Samira introduce herself. At the same time, she masterfully manipulated her threads to create a dark cloak at first glance it appeared to be simplistic but magical detection would say that it was a Mystic Code for a lot of things.

"You don't need to worry about my thoughts on the gods, while I do desire my pound of flesh I do decide that such pettiness was not worth my time."

She tossed her cloak in the air, letting it land to Samira as it landed on her back perfectly.

Then Caster used the two two thread that remained attach to pull her into her face.

"As long as that faith of yours didn't bother me or my hard earned achievements. I can and will live in the same space as them."

Using her own hands, she made know to make sure that cloak will stay in its place before letting go.

"That Mystic Code can take various types of attack, adjust itself for your own comfort and even provide you a rank low ranked Presence Concealment, how's that for a demonstration dear patron."

[color=f7941d][/color][color=f26522][/color] Interacting With: @Digmata ---------------------------------------------------------------------

There was no need to answer the first comment about being victorious. There was no doubt that they would win this war. Their abilities were more unique, but that didn't make them less powerful. A servant as famous as Arachne meant that this war was as good as hers. She spoke disrespectfully, twisting one of her hands in a gesture.



One eyebrow raised as she saw the cloak masterfully woven out of seemingly thin air. Even without magical detection, she could tell it was something different from ordinary clothing. The Greatest Weaver of Greece didn't make something that was lacking. Her eyes followed it into the air as she tossed it up.

Only to suddenly get yanked forward as it landed on her shoulders. Stumbling forward a step and only barely managing to catch herself from falling directly into her servant, she found herself almost nose to nose. Staring into the bright violet eyes, she let a moment pass. Before her mouth decided to speak her brain could think better of it.



Mentally facepalming, she kept her face straight as she stared Caster down. After a few moments, they were apart again, leaving her to inspect the cloak further. She had to admit that it seemed exceptional work; especially for something created so quickly, and seemingly from nothing. There was only one problem she could see with it.



She kept her eyes on Caster as she raised one arm, holding the cloak. For dramatic effect, she wiggled the cloak in her hand; sending the material rustling back and forth as she tried to demonstrate how it didn't exactly mesh well with either of their modern styles.

---

The Greatest didn't show it in her face but she knew that this Holy Grail War is going to be a hard fought battle, she is no hero or magus that wield the mightiest of all magics. Her greatest advantage would be the age of her legend but if she faced an actual warrior she would be hard pressed to win.

Well she need to step up her game as the humans of time say, she already did one impossible thing what is another?

She decided to let the discussion about the gods end, her patron must have gotten the message. She doesn't care what she do just don't rope her into it.

Her stunt however ended in an unexpected outcome as her patron flirted with her. It appears that whatever the era of humanity she went, humans will remain mystified by her beauty. Her lips twisted into an alluring smile, not like she minded it. It doesn't care what form it is, she loves the attention.

"Maybe we can talk about that once we got to know each other." she teased before letting go of Samira who is definitely now turning red with embarrassment. She wasn't the first and if they won she won't likely be the last, can she make it would never be the case?

Nobody, absolutely nobody got her heart in her first life. She wants to see if this woman can up the Age of Gods in that regard.

The amusing distraction aside Samira was right at the cloak, it would be something difficult to wear in public with claiming attention.

"The fashion of Modern World is something I should learn at the end of this war." she concluded as she snapped her fingers. The thread began unravelling, multiplying, kneading once again at her commanding. The cloak is now a turned into coat of black laced with golden hexagonal pattern.



It would still attract attention of people but for an entirely different reason, she needs to show the world her once in a lifetime brilliance after all.

---

Evo Gospoda ustajte ljudi Here comes the Lord, arise people,

If someone were to venture upon the outskirts of Kyoto, into a lonely abandoned church forgotten by the people and destroyed by time, they woould surely be surprised at the spectacle taking place.

Evo Ga ide svetu da sudi here He comes to judge the world

The decaying façades and crumbling structures that once stood in place were no more. Instead, the church seemed felt made anew, as if gided by an unseen hand and remade anew in their image. The outward architecture was a weird almost unrecognizable amalgametion of styles and ideas. A christian, regardless of their country of origin or denomination, would intrinsecally recognize it as one of their own. They would find it beautiful and breathtaking, but they wouldn't be able to explain why.

Svetu da sudi, stado da luči To judge the world, to tend to His flock,

If the outside was a representation of worship, the inside was a representation of prayer. The walls were repaired, and carefully remade into murals representing stories and tales confering to the bible. On the left stood murals dedicated to the genesis, on the right stood paintings dedicated to the apocalypse. The altar had been moved to the center of the great room, a sleeping man set naked upon it. A man with a red mark on his hand. Seven candles were arranged around it, united by the painting of a seven pointed stars marked into the great mosaic of the floor.

Svetu da sudi, stado da luči To judge the world, to tend to His flock,

Around it a girl danced to her heart's content. A wide smile of unbridled joy was etched on her face. She was following rythms only she could hear, singing along in an hymn dedicated to entirely to herself. She was short, probably a little more than five feet in height, but no less striking because of it. Her hair long hair was let free to spin alongside her. It was long, reaching past her knees, and it carried a shining silver sheen which seemed to spark with all the colours of the rainbow. Her eyes were wide open, yet it was clear that she wasn't really paying much attention to seeing at the momennt.

Od stopa svemir tutnji i huči the universe rumbles and roars from His footsteps,

The material, that is.

All around her, Alice saw the concepts and strains of ideas twist and turn in the air. Narratives of love and fate, of damnation and hate, all calling as one and brought to the forefront by her ritual. She felt the Grail - oh that great and holy masterpiece - reach impotently to the cute sleeping master on the table. It was a thing of beauty, how it seemed to reach beyond the texture, connecting on the very registries of Alaya to call upon the strenghts of their heroes. She danced and sang and joyed in it, the feeling blissful and so very addicting.

Tutnji i huči zemlja i nebo Earth and sky rumble and roar,
Šta će nam sada zlato i srebro of what use are gold and silver to us now?

Alice saw the call of the grail grow stronger, and knew the time finally had come. She had been interested in the Fuyuki Grail for a long time, even if it was impossible for one such as her to approach the Yggdmillenia. Once she heard of the Fujiwara grail, she inmediately dropped everything in order to take part. All of that just to not be selected in the score of masters regardless of how many favours she pulled. Unacceptable, utterly unacceptable!

Well, it wasn't like such a minuscule thing was going to stop her.

Zlato i srebro neka počine Let gold and silver be put to rest,
A ti nam blistaj BOŽIJI SINE and may You shine for us, SON OF GOD!

It took months of time, the complete stop to all her other projects and a ridiculous invstment of resources, but she found a way to force herself into the system. The call of the Grail was a process that marked the soul of the master. Then, the system morphed them in order to condence the wish granting capabilities, granting them connection necessary to bring heroic spirits unto the world. She had wondered time and time again how to do this, and ultimately decided that she may as well just take it wholesale from the soul of one of the chosen and make it her own.

Alice positioned herself on front of the altar as the song was finishing, and prepared herself.

Maw of Dominion

She looked at the master, the canvas of her creation, and smiled. He was a sweet boy, wishing to bring about a better world and hoping to use the grail in order to achieve it. Fortunately, he was also way too unprepared for these kind of things. Getting him to willingly take her an in into his home and to recognise her as an ally was surprisingly simple.

Alice's hair and eyes exploded in colours. They melted into blinding crimson as her lips descended upon upon the master. She opened her mouth wide open, bit onto his troat, and drank his blood while her ringed hand pierced his chest and crushed his heart. The process of consuming a human was a very time consuming endeavour. So many concepts to embody! So many ideas to take! Sadly, Alice hadn't perfected her technique, and she wasn't an actual Death Apostle besides. Well, at that moment she didn't really care about proper manners, did she?. She reached deep into his being with her magic and started her work.

Live rejected. Death rejected. Fate rejected. Mind rejected. Being rejected. Self rejected.

She could feel the connection to the grail inmediately, like a grand constellation signalling the way to the fountain.

Take away the lies, take away the illusion, take away the sorrow.

She pushed into his body and soul, and began crushing everything besides his metaphysical position as a Master. She started extracting it, using the remains of his magic circuits as fuel to facilitate the process.

Let there be light upon the world, let there be genesis.

She called onto the grail, welcoming it as as it was transfered from the living body into herself. The sensations she felt as the almost undiluted concept of [Wish] entered her body was indiscribable. The pain was blinding and total. The pleasure was overwhelming.



The next thing Alice knew she was panting, face planted on the altar as her mind struggled to keep up. "Ouchie..." She felt pain in every single part of her body, and her 4 circuits were basically screaming at her in exhaustion. "I suppose I can take a small rest, but first..."

She struggled her way to a standing position. Dusting herself off the dust that the corpse had been reduced to, Alice raised her hand to inspect her newly earned command seals.

Or she would, if blinding light and a connection to the throne of heroes being forcibly open didn't stop her in her tracks.

Location: Kyoto Outskirts
Interacting with:@JosephBelz[/center]

---

The call had come. The tug on his soul, the sudden feeling of flesh, warmth, light, the first tantalizing taste of air. Something was wrong though, a weight ad twisting of his soul. The bright lights of his world turned a red heugh. Pain ripped the first breathes from his lungs, a pain so deep it nearly made the man, the Servant forget himself. Something was wrong. He formed, his body becoming more than a concept given form. the light faded.

"I am summoned, and have answered your call."

His voice ground out, showing the pain he was in. H stood, and regarded his master. Only he did he realize what had happened. His eyes narrowed on the girl before him, and the ash pile he sensed had been his master. Grusomt's barbed end slammed into the ground, cracking the written seal burned into the stone.

"You were not the one who summoned me," Lancer hissed.

His head swam with the memories not his own, a hatred in his chest that had never ben there before. he felt... wrong. He knew this.... thing had to be blamed. His summoning, his connection to the world was established with someone else. he had sworn his service, his life to another. Not the one who stood before him now.

"Answer me now, who are you?"

Location: Abandon building by kyoto

Shou sat on the ground pondering. He knew what he was getting into he was risking his life just to win a shitty trophy all for his brother. He wanted freedom but that was what he was doing even freedom risking his life just so his eldest brother could get over some sickness. Shou sighed before he pulled out his catalyst.

It was a smashed crown, it was meant to be ironic one little jab at his family but he didn't have time for irony, he chanted the summoning incantation.


I hereby declare.
Your body shall serve under me.
My fate shall be your sword.
Submit to the beckoning of the Holy Grail
If you will submit to this will and this reason…Then answer!

As the servant appeared Shou stared at them before putting out his hand I'm Shou Iwata nice to meet you.

First Night

Van Oranje-Nassau spring vacation estate

---

Assassin's ears flicked with amusement. Or was it respect? This was no ordinary Master, and the insinuation that she could take or leave them, that she didn't need their help, only made them all the more eager for the challenge. Stealing a castle and some fine clothes wouldn't be enough to impress this one. So, Puss would need to shoot a little higher. An omnipotent wish-granter would do the trick, perhaps.

In the instant Vivienne offered her hand, there was no barnyard tabby on the floor. "You'll see, your highness, what I can do for you." A young hero was there, clad in black, with a gleaming duelling sword at their hip and a pair of fine leather boots that pressed noiselessly to the floor as they knelt in front of the princess. "The Master Cat, Puss in Boots, is at your service."

All at once, the muted magical energy returned to the room in full force. Perhaps Assassin's power was indeed meagre among Servants, as Vivienne had guessed, but they were nonetheless a spirit that had no business existing in the modern day, with speed and grace that set them apart from any living creature.

Without missing a beat, they pressed their hat to their chest, exposing a pair feline ears, and planted the tiniest peck on their new Master's hand. In this performance, they were having a good bit of fun.

After scarcely two seconds of displaying their true abilities to their Master, Assassin was a cat once again. They idly eyed the floor for any sign of pests. They offered no real detail on what they were capable of, leaving their Master to better guess how they ought to be used in a Holy Grail War.

"Are some of the walls made of paper..? First off, I'll need to look into doing something about this place. Then, I'll make sure my Master is celebrated far and wide. You may be royalty already, but I'm about to bring a whole new meaning to the word." Even as a cat, they were practically grinning, eyes narrowed eagerly. They began to stalk out of the room, to begin their work.

"And if there are ninety-eight people who need to die, I'm sure I can clear some time in my busy schedule for that, too."