[OOC] Fate/Sealed Phantasm

[Moonlit Sonata]

This is not a crossover. Let's make sure that's clear from the get-go. This is, first and foremost, a Fate/ roleplay in a world bound to the rules of TYPE-MOON's "Nasuverse" setting, even if the nature of this roleplay is heavily, heavily influenced by a different setting on the conceptual level.

That said, we're still calling captured Phantasmal Species "Pokémon", because, come on, we all know what we're going for here.

Words to explain how an absurd timeline like this happened could be thrown around. Phenomena designated for pruning. Tethering of the alien god’s tree. Lostbelt Depth. Simulation born by the bottomless Klein Cube. We will not bother with those justifications, however. They will not affect this story, so there's no point in dragging over them.

Let's just get to the explanation, instead.

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In the Age of Gods, under the rule of the Hero-King Gilgamesh, the greatest Divine Beast descended to plague the lands. It ruined crops, it devastated cities, it devoured lives.

In the Panhuman History of the Human Order, the Divine Beast was slain through the coordinated efforts of the Hero-King and his one true friend.

In this world, however…

“Capture successful! We’ve got it, Gil!”

“...hm. How interesting. This feeling...I would like to see the ends that it reaches.”

...the Hero-King and his friend, instead of slaying the greatest Divine Beast, wielded the chains of heaven to ‘capture’ it, for no other reason than to anger that temptress who had unleashed it. That grand monster was made tame, and the Hero-King developed a taste for such things. As he collected the treasures of man during his reign, then, he also sought out this feeling further. He traveled the world over, and captured all members of the Phantasmal Species that caught his eye. The hydras of Greece, the naga of India, the oni of Japan, all such beings were brought under his yoke.

In the modern day, he is known by many names. The King of Heroes. Gilgamesh. “Goldie”. But, different from the Panhuman History, there is one addition to this list which does not exist in any other timeline.

“The First Pokémon Master”.

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It is our pleasure to welcome you to the fifth official Japanese National Tournament for the Pokémon League, hosted by Fuyuki City. Whether by skill, guile, or dumb luck, you’ve managed to make it to this stage, so congratulations! The winner will get the opportunity to challenge our League’s very own Elite Four!

The rules are very similar to the Regionals. You and the other competitors are permitted to bring one Pokémon to the tournament with you, registering this choice in advance. During the tournament, you are free to roam the city as you see fit, and are to battle the other Trainers. Battles may occur either officially through announcing a challenge, or unofficially through such things as a ‘sneak attack’. You have all signed the appropriate waivers, so neither the Pokémon League, Fuyuki City, or your competitors are liable for damages that occur to you, your Pokémon, or your property during the tournament, including death.

The tournament will occur within Fuyuki City. We have released some Phantasmal Species within the city limits that you may attack or capture as you see fit. However, any trainer who has captured or contracted more than two Pokémon at any given time will be removed from the competition, due to safety concerns of brain stress from ESP overuse. In other words, you can capture one wild Phantasmal Species, but if you want to capture a second, you’ll need to release one of the two you already have.

Use of magecraft is permitted. Concealment of the tournament is encouraged so as to not disrupt the daily lives of Fuyuki residents, but is not mandated.

Property damage that you incur will be billed to your estate or removed from your prize winnings. A significant number of Fuyuki residents have chosen to disregard the evacuation notice, but damage to them is still to be avoided; excessive injury to Fuyuki residents is cause for termination from the tournament.

The tournament duration is 7+1 days. After seven days have passed in the standard manner, if more than one participant remains, remaining participants will be placed into a single-elimination series of tournament-style battles until one remains.

Good luck to all competitors!

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More Setting Information

Before the King of Heroes departed from this world, he set up conditions for the coming Age. Designing great pillars with an Authority of nation-building, he created a system that would change a fundamental rule of the world as it transitioned from the Age of Gods to the Age of Man. This was, of course, a manufacture of environmental pseudo-True Ether and an alteration of the shifting textures of the world, so that Phantasmal Species could still roam the world. Elementals and Divine Spirits were nonetheless ejected, but Phantasmal Species alone were permitted to coexist with the Age of Man. This has sent ripples through history, but a play-by-play of 4600 years of history will not be provided here.

Due to this, much of magecraft has long since died. As Phantasmal Species roam the land, concealing the existence of magecraft became impossible, and its mystery has gradually diminished since the end of the Age of Gods. Its vestiges have been collected and combined with human science, though, and has survived as a hollow shell of its former self.

The true magecraft of the modern day, then, is cast through Phantasmal Species. As beings which are natural mysteries themselves, they enact nature interference similar to magecraft merely by existing. A person who has the aptitude for the old form of magecraft (Magic Circuits), who has access to a certain abnormal channel of the brain (a specific form of ESP), and who contracts with such a being, then, can use the beast’s existence as a means to enact ‘something like magecraft’ based upon the nature and concept of their contracted partner.

These individuals are called Pokémon Trainers.

Pokéballs

Since the days of the King of Heroes, mankind has sought ways to capture the Phantasmal Species. In the Age of Gods, ropes of True Ether that borrowed the Chain of Heaven’s concept were used, and over the years, innovation after innovation has been made.

Currently, the common practice for capture is through what are called ‘Pokéballs’, constructs made of a pseudo-True Ether designed by the world’s foremost expert on binding familiars, Archmage Makiri, also known as Professor Z’Oak’En. The exact process by which they work is not known, but they are a combination of familiar binding, pseudo-True Ether, spatial quarantine imitation, and a litany of other things. This innovation has defined much of the modern day.

Pokémon League

The global organization that oversees all Pokémon-related activities, spanning countries, cultures, and religions. It possesses multiple subdivisions, for instance the Clock Tower and the Vatican. At its peak are the Elite Four, the greatest trainers of the modern day, and the goal for anyone seeking to reach the apex.

Staff Secretary: Zepia Atlasia
Tournament organizer. Head of logistics. A brilliant mathematician who plans everything down to the most minute detail. There are rumors that he can see the future.

Elite Four: Narbareck
The Church’s greatest. A descendant of one of the League’s founding members. A terrifying gatekeeper.

Elite Four: Lorelei Barthomeloi
Vice-director of the Clock Tower faction. Also known as the Queen. One who overwhelms the opposition with sheer force, she is often called the most supreme trainer of the modern day.

Elite Four: Jewel Killer
Director of the Sea of Estray faction. A shrewd genius who keeps his cards close to his chest, and a snake who conceals himself from the limelight.

Elite Four: Lady of Eternity
True name unknown. Appearance unknown. Aptitudes unknown.

Trainer Character Sheet

Name: Self-explanatory.

Title(s): Names they are known by. As a winner of one of the Japanese Regional Tournaments, they should be reasonably well-known.

Appearance: Yes, you can use a picture. Yes, you can put it at the top of the sheet with a little italicized quote centered under it.

Gender: Don't make this complicated.

Age: How old is your character? Depending on the nature of your Partner, it is possible to exceed standard age limits, but don't be excessive here.

Personality: Self-explanatory, I'd hope.

History: Their life up until this point. Remember that, while you have a lot of options here, your character must have competed in and won one of the Japanese Regional Tournaments. Including information on the family is recommended, but not required. Keep in mind that magecraft in this timeline has been dead for over a thousand years, and so having a family line that is related to magecraft is very, very unlikely. Individuals related to the Elite Four or Professor Z'Oak'En are prohibited.

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Magic Circuit Switch: What activates your magic circuit. For example, Tohsaka Rin activates hers through the sound of stabbing herself in her heart. Emotions and feelings such as pain or sexual arousal also work. Optional, as it's fluff for your character.

Number of Magic Circuits: Number of circuits. Ranked A-E. Modifiers allowed with scrutiny.

Quality of Magic Circuits: Amount of magical energy one circuit can safely hold. Ranked A-E. Modifiers allowed with scrutiny.

Origin: The core impulse of a character, from which their existence springs.

Elemental Affinity: Average Ones are acceptable, as well as dual elements. Valid elements are Fire, Water, Earth, Wind, Ether. Special elements beyond this or other elemental systems such as the Eastern system are acceptable, but are under scrutiny.

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Skills: Aptitudes and talents they have that the average joe does not.

Equipment: Mystic Codes, mundane equipment, and the like.

Exceptional Benefit: Meant to be a representation of the special situation inherent to a specific Trainer. You may pick one, and it must be justified for your character.

Exceptional Benefit Options

Legacy- Your family has a Phantasmal Species of particular renown that is passed down the family line as a pseudo-Finality. Starting Pokémon may be at the level of a Divine Beast, but one cannot take on a contract with a second beast due to the burden of such.

Superior Mystic Code- You may have an exceptional Mystic Code that channels the concept of either your Pokémon or another. This should only be used for extremely strong Codes at the highest tier, but is still not equivalent to a Phantasmal Beast in "combat value".

Two days preparation- Your trainer arrived a bit early. They took two days to prepare in advance of the tournament. Include the preparations they have made during this time, either in the sheet or in PM.

Supply Line- Due to support or contacts with an external organization, you will receive backup from that external organization. This can take the form of resources, Mystic Codes, information, and so on, depending on the nature of the organization. There may be consequences if this is discovered by the tournament organizers.

Concealed- You are an unknown factor who has managed to remain under the radar despite winning a Regional Tournament. Character sheets do not need to display full information and other characters will not know your character's information at the beginning of the roleplay, though full sheets must still be sent to the GM.

Pokémon Character Sheet

Name: Optional, depending on whether or not the trainer has granted them a name.

Species: Self-explanatory. Examples include pegasi, phoenixes, succubi, and so on.

Region: Area they originate from, for instance a specific country or culture sphere. For instance, for oni this would likely be Japan.

Rank: Class as a Phantasmal Species. These are Monstrous, Phantasmal, and Divine, in ascending order of strength.

Age: Self-explanatory. A measure of "power", as the Phantasmal Species store strength in their lifespan, and thus become stronger with age. Phantasmal Beasts may not be more than one thousand years old. A Monstrous Beast of a thousand years or older is a match for a younger Phantasmal Beast in 'power'.

Personality: Optional, depending on your goals.

History: Optional, if you wish to explain how they were captured by the trainer.

Abilities: Innate capabilities of the Phantasmal Species. All Phantasmal Species have superhuman physical might through the ability of 'Prana Burst' and are living mysteries, so those do not need to be mentioned here. For a hydra, for instance, this would consist of things like regeneration and poison.

Magecraft: Not true magecraft, but rather the aptitude that the Trainer acquires. By using the abnormal ESP that all Trainers possess in tandem with Magic Circuits and the familiar contract, it is possible to borrow part of the Phantasmal Species' power. This is similar to how, in the Age of Gods, magi received a shard of a god's Authority to cast magecraft. For instance, contracting with a hydra might allow one access to spells resembling self-healing curses, or the ability to wield magical energy like a poisonous flame. Creativity is encouraged.

[GreenGoat]

Hider

Name: Akira Hakuoki

Title(s): Fujin

Gender: Female

Age: 17

Personality: She wasn't one for speech normally, nor was she one to be boisterous. Her classmates would describe her as the silent, shy type, affable but not speaking much to anyone. When in battle however, she turned seemingly arrogant, smug, and rather... playful, making for an odd style of fighting.

History: Her family wasn't one that was extraordinary, nor was it one of any particular note; there were other families like hers as well, average, with strife between the members now and then, but ultimately sticking together. When she was very small however, she found an odd device that contained the Daitengu. With the Daitengu's help, she trained herself and ultimately took the Regional Champion title by surprise as an unknown newcomer. Even her family was surprised, considering she had never really told anyone as well. With her explosive rise as well as her fighting style and companion, Akira was given the title of Fujin.

Magic Circuit Switch: The sound of the wind.

Number of Magic Circuits: C

Quality of Magic Circuits: E

Origin: Severance

Elemental Affinity: Wind

Skills: Exceptional skill with the blade, as well as a well trained body, trained from very young. All thanks to the Daitengu.

Equipment: Springsteel katana, with a reinforced scabbard.

Exceptional Benefit:
Legacy
A Daitengu, older than even her lineage, strong and proud.

Daitengu

Name: Momiji

Species: Daitengu

Region: Japan

Rank: Phantasmal

Age: 765

Personality: Condescending, proud and regal, as befitting one who was a Daitengu. Her affection however, would be immediately apparent even through her arrogance if she likes you, like a warm bath of sunlight from an ever distant star. Belying her proud exterior however, was a trickster spirit, prone to playing any sort of pranks she can envision.

Abilities: Flight, wind manipulation, tengu martial arts, shugendo, Illusions and extreme speed.

Magecraft: A degree of the tengu's extreme speeds, as well as their wind manipulation.

[SSW]

The Master of Darkness

"Prepare for Trouble - and make it double."

Name: Kojiro Maruyama

Title: The Nobly Heroic Man of Our Times, The Master of Darkness Fighting Back Against a Tragic World

Gender: Male

Age: 25

Personality: An immature man still suffering from middle-school syndrome. The self proclaimed ‘Master of Darkness’ who considers himself a criminal genius. In truth, he’s little more than a petty thief who steals purely for his own entertainment.

A flamboyant and excessive idiot who considers himself a charming trickster, he at least has a talent with getting along well with ‘Pokemon’. Though he’s generally a selfish person who prioritises his own entertainment, he’ll stick by his partners with absolute loyalty.

History: The scion of a rich household who always felt constrained by the various formalities and expectations placed upon him. A prestigious family with enormous connections in the business world, they always considered him a disappointment. His constant acting-out caused them to continuously send him away from the household, an arrangement that suits both parties. It seems the only reason he hasn’t been disinherited is that the family doesn’t consider the controversy worth it.

Kojiro competed in various competitions across the country, failing to win most of them. Though, rather than simply losing, he was usually disqualified for cheating, often when he had a good chance of winning from competing normally.

Magic Circuit Switch: The feeling of being flung through the air at a dangerous velocity.

Quantity of Magic Circuits: B

Quality of Magic Circuits: C

Origin: Flight

Elemental Affinity: Air

Skills: Knowledge of rare and valuable Pokemon, Decent ability at building and maintaining machines.

Equipment: Credit Card, Various Clothes, Pokeballs.

Several mystic codes in the form of Koban coins.

Exceptional Benefit: Concealed: One who competed in regional tournaments under disguise for no reason other than a misguided sense of his own genius trickery.

Pokemon: