CampeadorEl (Mío) CidClass: Saber
Alignment: Lawful Neutral
Attribute: Earth
Likes: A (certain) pretty girl’s smile, victory, children’s fantasy
Dislikes: Lies, dishonor, his (former) children in law.
Talents: Warfare
STR: B | CON: B | AGI: B | MGI: C | LCK: B
Biographical
A national hero from the Iberian Peninsula.
His name was recorded in the most influential epic poem of Spain, the “Cantar de mío Cid”, engraving him as the grandest warlord of the Reconquista that defined the term “folk hero” for generations in his country.
A matchless warrior and general, victor of many great battles, whose personal charisma transcended the borders of faith and enraptured even the enemy — such is how the moniker of “El Cid” was gained.
...Indeed, such was the brilliant, hopeful fantasy created by people at war.
The man known as Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar definitely existed. But the songs — the tales attributed to him that were sung by minstrels far and wide — often exaggerated or outright painted over the truth of his person, replacing them with “something else”.
For that reason, rather than “Rodrigo”, Saber’s true name displays as “El Cid”. He is a fantasy that overwhelmed and crushed reality, but he will not take any more from that man than he already has.
And yet...
Even if it is a fantasy, it is the fantasy the people chose to believe in. For a hero, that is all that matters.
Furthermore, even if it was not real, there was no doubt that the real Rodrigo must’ve harbored such wishes within himself — his own heroic dream, the desires of a mercenary that understood the reality of war for what it was and still found it despicable. Ugly. Disappointing.
As a hero, he will answer that wish without hesitation, as well. After all he has done for him, afer all he took from him, then ensuring their fairy tale is a good one is the least he can do.
A lie, maybe. But glorious enough lies will make people willingly ignore the truth.
he approaches this second shot at life following a policy of "no attachments". Because he is a "hero of the people", answering someone's ask for help is nothing new to him, and taking on the duties of a knight to his lord (Master) comes naturally. However, his core loyalty belongs only to his beliefs.
...Regarding his current appearance and mannerisms: firstly, it appears that for one he considers the era of his youthful vigor when gallantly fighting for the hand of the woman that would become his wife the “golden times” of his life. Secondly, because he is fundamentally a fantasy of the people, he seems to have adjusted his look to what the “youngsters of today” think a “cool hero” should look like.
Class Skills
Magic Resistance: B
Ability to nullify the effects of magecraft — the hallmark of the Saber class.
Despite his relative modernity, he boasts a level of resistance that meets the standard set by his class. Rather than his own power, it perhaps owes to the succor and help promised by the apparition of Saint Lazarus that came to encourage him onward during his adventures.
Even when targeted by High Thaumaturgy or Greater Rituals, it is difficult for him to be affected.
Riding: B
Ability to pilot vehicles and ride mounts. At this rank, even contraptions that did not exist in his time of origin can be handled with expertise, though creatures on the level of Phantasmal Species remain out of reach.
His knightly figure riding the temperamental Babieca is thoroughly documented. It appears that he somewhat misses his dear horse when summoned as a Saber.
Personal Skills
Campeador: A
The ability of a knight who lived through many melees.
Though the word “Campeador” — El Cid’s title — shares its root with “champion”, in its original meaning it should be understood as “the Master of the Battlefield”. Such was the sobriquet given to him by his contemporaries.
It is an exemplification of both his skill at arms and his capacity to assess the conditions of battle for himself and the opponent so as to formulate winning strategies — an interlocking skillset where each ability builds off each other so as to reach a level they wouldn’t be able to on their lonesome. Perhaps in a different situation, it’d have emphasized the ability to “lead”, but as a Saber, he appears to prioritize his individual capacity as a hero to a greater extent.
At the end of the day, the skill could fundamentally be categorized as the embodiment of his “martial legend”.
Battle Continuation: B
Ability to continue the battle even after suffering damage to the Spirit Core.
While not truly “alive” by that point, the anecdote of his last stand on Babieca — terrorizing the opposing army into a retreat — is perhaps the most famous part of his legend.
Even if he should die, surely that battered body will move one final time in accordance to the hopes placed on him.
Lord’s Attitude: C++
Saber’s “disposition as a combatant”. The face he wears on the battlefield.
Legend tells of the time wherein a lion was cowed into submission with a single look. As it follows, it would be a tool of intimidation capable of bending the wills of lesser men — but nonetheless nothing more than a minor inconvenience to most Servants.
However, due to the anecdotes associated with his blades, on the condition that he is “wielding Tizona and Colada”, the skill is elevated beyond its normal limits, instilling a “heavy pressure” on all those chosen by Saber that lowers their performance accordingly. It is unlikely that normal individuals would be able to even remain conscious.
Because it is not magecraft, but rather Saber’s own “presence”, Magic Resistance and similar means do not protect against it — to stand against Saber, a suitably sharpened spirit is the entry requirement.
Noble Phantasm
Tizona
Explode, Mine Glorious Firebrand
Rank: B
Type: Anti-Unit (Self)
Range: 0
Maximum Number of Targets: 1
The famous sword of El Cid, a black blade with the name of “firebrand”.
According to tradition, it is a sword that can only show its true worth in the hands of an equally worthy wielder.
However, the sword itself never changes in “capacity” at any particular point — rather, it fundamentally works over “the wielder”, channeling their drive so as to heighten their ability.
So long as such a man sticks to their attitude as a “valorous knight” and never falters in their convictions, then the blade will stoke the flames in their hearts and use them as a furnace to elevate that person above all others. It is a “continuous buff” type of effect that only grows the longer the required circumstances are present.
Naturally, if the fight is one the wielder doesn’t believe in, the effect is negligible, but if it is for the sake of something “truly worth putting one’s life on the line for”, then amazing results can be achieved.
Surely, so long as they were served by a true knight wielding this sword, even the most petty of kings would be made “peer to emperors”.
Colada
Shine, Mine Heroic Dream
Rank: B
Type: Anti-Unit
Range: 1 - 2
Maximum Number of Targets: 1
The second of El Cid’s swords — a dazzling armament to contrast the dark Tizona, that shares its aspect and requirements for the one who would brandish it.
Oddly enough, it takes the form of a “handle” alone, perhaps due to the fact that no description of the blade proper was ever documented. It was said that only a worthy knight would be able to use it, and that the sword would grow in power accordingly with the wielder — such is the reason the first person Saber passed it on to, one of the unworthy men that became his sons-in-law, could not see any value in it, but it leapt to action when wielded by Martín Antolínez.
Rather than a physical blade, it can be said that the “sword” is the crystallization of a knight’s valor, given shape by their conviction and held together by their will. When properly utilized by a man of true worth, it will surely display the brilliance to illuminate entire battlefields, showcasing excessive cutting power as a brand of light.
In a way, it can be considered the offensive counterpart to Tizona.
The true crystallization of the “heroic ideal” sought by Saber. Surely, the truer one’s character, the greater one’s convictions, the brighter that sterling blade will shine upon their chosen path.
