Grey

Fate/stay Night - War of the Fourteen Magi - High Casual

Do note that spatial transference also requires burning a Command Seal.

Unless you're a top-tier Caster in your HQ's Bounded Field, or you've got a skill or NP that facilitates that. But nobody in our team has anything like that as far as I'm aware.

Fate/stay Night - War of the Fourteen Magi - High Casual

the professor is trying his best ok

Fate/stay Night - War of the Fourteen Magi - High Casual

Prof. Sosthenes Antaeoi Kanakaris
Fuyuki Streets, 12:42AM
Interacting with: @Eklispe Cu Chulainn

---

Once they’d entered sleepy Miyama and took the public transit (not as disgusting as the ones he’d experienced in other countries, that was for sure) over to the more bustling midday Shinto, Sosthenes led the charge across the Fuyuki shopping district, until the vague condescension of the clerks irked him enough to seek out more simple horizons.

In the end, Sosthenes bought Lancer a few bright, Hawaiian-patterned shirts and dark pants from a local thrift shop. A strange combination, but somehow, they perfectly fit the style of the Servant he’d summoned. Besides, he’d asked for something colorful, and everything else in the store was either too small, too big, or too dark.

As he walked through the streets following his wise purchase, he withdrew his smartphone to map out an efficient path for their outing, and quickly realized that for the past ten-or-so-odd hours he’d been in Fuyuki, he never switched his phone off of its “Airplane Mode”. As he was no longer on that flying deathtrap, he went to his settings, and switched it off, allowing him to access the internet through cellular data. Fortunately, he had international coverage, being the constant traveller that he was. Finally, having bought all their casual clothes, pulled up Google Maps and plugged in their destination, they went on their way for their promised luncheon.

---

Berserker
Internet Cafe, 2:01PM
Interacting with: @Turboshitter Albert Prelati, @VanceXentan Lancelot, Leon Winchester

---

“I agree. Contracts are a fool’s game, and bush beating is only good for getting the fairies to kill you,” Berserker agreed, having spent the past period of time watching the two magi discussing the matter of a possible alliance without actually discussing anything significant at all when it came down to it. It was actually a bit grating to her; it was practically an insult even, suggesting that she and her Master would need an enchanted binding or other such nonsense to follow a simple code of conduct. She didn’t know how the inscrutable Saber felt about such a thing, but she had a hard time believing that he was completely content with it.

She leaned forward, arms crossed. “There is nothing you can do to cement this deal in the way I predict either of you are searching for,” Berserker stated without a single hint of humor or reservation, “Anything short of an almighty binding invites duplicity, and even those can be surmounted with a little guile. Alliances are supposed to be built on trust; one built on obligation is like a house on sand. Fragile, and easily swept away.” Her eyes scanned across the group, locking on to the two guests.

“You two strike me as trustworthy enough folk, and as you’ve said earlier: you would stake both your pride and your head on an honest offer of coalition,” she remarked, “So allow me to echo such a sentiment.” With her index and middle fingers she tapped the wrist of Albert’s hand and the bottom of his jaw. Unsettlingly, she was able to do this both with extraordinary speed and without even looking at the poor French teen. “To sever a tongue or an arm would be a simple thing for a Heroic Spirit, and without either the Command of a treacherous Master becomes nothing more than the whining of a scolded child. Apologies, Master.” She withdrew her hand from Albert’s chin and steepled her fingers, wearing a knowing smile. “You’ve both summoned knights, non? Then you should both know the honor of a Servant is nothing to fool around with. Make your decision knowing thus, for further requests for good faith are simply insulting to both of us.”

“Anyway.” Berserker pushed herself out of her seat, and stood, looking at Saber and Leon. “I’m getting refreshments, do either of you have anything you-” Immediately the paladin turned her head out the window, spiritual senses detecting the presence of another powerful entity somewhere outside the cafe. After a few moments, she tilted her head. “Huh, the presence is gone. Oh well, I'm sure they're just fleeing from us.” She shrugged. "As I was saying: drinks of choice?"

---

Prof. Sosthenes Antaeoi Kanakaris
Fuyuki Streets, 2:01PM
Interacting with: @Eklispe Cu Chulainn, @Turboshitter Ren Mizushima

---

“What a truly dreadful day to postpone lunch, and what an even worse day to leave all my best Mystic Codes with my apprentice,” Sosthenes groaned as he hurriedly made his way towards the bus stop, holding his carry-on suitcase and a shopping bag full of Lancer’s extra clothes. ’Lancer, keep a look out for Servants and other familiars looking to follow us,’ he commanded mentally, stepping on the bus leading to the Miyama residential district, ‘We’re heading to our hideout, so this is of utmost importance.’

While he trusted the other competitors to have enough presence of mind to not break out into pitched melee in such a crowded city in broad daylight, he did not put it below them to send off scouts so they could have a more “personal” visit later in the night. To be caught off guard was a terrible and often times deadly experience, and he would not have his debut in this war being subject to an ambush by even one team, not to mention the multiple teams that appeared to have been arrayed there.

Sosthenes stared at his gloved hand, where his Command Seal was engraved. A marvelous thing it was, capable of reacting in the presence of its thirteen counterparts. That said, it went both ways, so perhaps he’d be regretting such a function later on. He slipped the glove off of his unmarked hand, and began composing a text message to Ren:

Yo. Going to your house family. Prepare some mealios.
Sincerely, the Pro-fessor

He pocketed the phone, and rested his hands on the bags resting atop his lap. ’Apologies Lancer, but you wouldn’t have gotten to fight them anyway so it is no great loss,’ Sosthenes transmitted through their mental link as the bus travelled across the red bridge connecting both sides of the river. ’Besides I’m sure my apprentice’s home cooking far surpasses whatever cuisine that overpriced cafe would have offered. Regardless, what a truly odd coincidence that was! But surely, there should be no more surprises waiting for us once we reach friendly ground. That aside, what do you think of this modern age so far? Everything you ever imagined it to be?‘

Fate/stay Night - War of the Fourteen Magi - High Casual

He was written into the Matter of Britain by the French, and his last name is "du Lac"

Fate/stay Night - War of the Fourteen Magi - High Casual

Berserker
Internet Cafe, 1:53PM
Interacting with: @Turboshitter Albert Prelati, @VanceXentan Lancelot, Leon Winchester

---

“I was indeed!” Berserker declared, proudly puffing her chest out. “I had made a point last night of catching up with recent developments in the arts,” she lifted up her notepad and flipped through the pages. Each page was a well-organized list with space for review under each tick and a heading designating the type of content therein. From what Albert could read, there was quite an eclectic selection of genres and mediums from the 20th century onward. “The young lady manning the front counter was quite helpful in that regard; she directed me towards resources for ‘modern classics’, as she called them. The “googling” covered the rest.”

Berserker reengaged the pen with a distinct click, before speaking again on the film series she’d just completed. “I very much enjoyed it, actually. The overarching redemption story of the Skywalker family was quite...” She patted her heart, almost about to cry again, it seemed. ”A-And the Jedi are remarkably similar to my own order - though bigger. And we do not worship microscopic bugs or preach stoicism. But a story of faith is a story of faith, I suppose….The quality of their swordplay and effects seems to have degraded by the fourth film, hmm…” At some point she had stopped talking to Albert and was now simply speaking her thoughts as she recorded them on the pad.

This monologue went on until she felt a sudden surge of prana. Berserker stopped dead in her tracks and suddenly turned her head in the direction of the prana radiator. Moments of dead silence passed, before the rat familiar brought back the perpetrator: a Master and his Servant, as expected.

She recognized none of them, until the Saber class introduced himself as the guardsman of last night. Clearly this was indicative of some shapeshifting capacity, whether through skill or Noble Phantasm, rather than the concealment one she had believed the night before. Berserker nodded. “Likewise. It is a pleasure to meet you again, Saber,” Berserker greeted, slipping out of her chair and bowing in kind.

“Ah yes. Assassin,” Berserker snarled, hearing mention of the Servant’s name, “Well, that rat will be flushed out sooner or later, especially if this burgeoning alliance and most everyone else will be out ensuring he won’t be a continuing threat. But the sooner we all unite to take him out of the picture, the sooner we can all get to warring like proper heroes.”

---

Prof. Sosthenes Antaeoi Kanakaris
Ryuudou Temple, 10:44AM
Interacting with: @Eklispe Cu Chulainn

---

Sosthenes gave the summoned entity two once-overs, a twice-over if you will. One look with his eyes, and one look with his Master’s Clairvoyance. The first examination yielded not much of note: he was tall, built like a panther, and wearing a full bodysuit which was not at all what he had been expecting of an ancient Celt, but that was hardly anything to make a fuss over. He was also swinging a 2 meter spear around with impunity, which was a good sign that this was at least a Lancer Class, if not Cu Chulainn. His second assessment was far more fruitful: above-average parameters well-suited for a skirmisher, and a versatile, focused supporting skillset. This was a good draw, well-rounded but still capable of excelling.

“Yep. That’s me,” Sosthenes answered, reaching into his pocket for a carton of cigarettes. “I presume you’re the Child of Light?” he asked rhetorically, biting down on the cig to keep it still as he replaced the carton in his pocket. His other hand reached down and plucked the catalyst off the floor before unceremoniously depositing it in its case, which too was placed in a pocket - his breast one this time.

“As for what’s coming first...” the professor shrugged, “Who knows? I’m certainly quite hungry though. Long rituals and even longer plane rides will do that to a gent.” He patted his empty belly with an absent look on his face that quickly vanished. “Of course, that means we’ll have to enter the city. Apologies, but you might want to enter spirit form soon - I’m about to take down this censure barrier.”

Sosthenes paused and scrutinized Lancer for a few more moments before nodding to himself like a fashion designer verifying a particular outfit - which proved to be quite the accurate comparison with his next words: “We’ll also have to get you street clothes, I reckon. Being in spirit form all sounds to me as something quite droll, and regardless of this land’s interest in “super senpai” drama and cartoons, I don’t believe your attire is what passes for acceptable among the laity. So we shall make a point of solving this particular issue first and foremost, then we can make each others’ acquaintance over food and drink, and not standing in the cold in a temple courtyard.” He inwardly nodded, then outwardly scratched out the boundary anchor with his heel, removing the area of ignorance.

After this, Sosthenes, made his way towards the exit of the temple, down the innumerable steps, and into the city with his Servant to get clothes before their planned meal. Based on the guidebooks he’d read, and the anecdotes of his apprentice, Sosthenes believed that he had settled upon the best location for their luncheon:

A place called Ahnenerbe.

Fate/stay Night - War of the Fourteen Magi - High Casual

Lance is French too doe

Fate/stay Night - War of the Fourteen Magi - High Casual

Berserker
Internet Cafe, 1:44PM
Interacting with: @Turboshitter Albert Prelati, @VanceXentan Kurosaki Akabane

---

Last night’s inquisition unfortunately ended without incident. A great disappointment, definitely, but in a way, it suited a Saracen snake to slither off into some cold, dank hole somewhere to worship their false prophet. She would have to have faith that divine justice would be wrought, whether by her hands or by another hero of great honor. Fortunately, great faith was the core making of a paladin. And thus, with the night wasted, they returned to the hotel - now clean due to the heroic efforts of the room-service workers and their armory of cleaning supplies. Even the shattered window had been resealed once more, which was unexpected, but it seemed that a penthouse came with a suitably valuable work ethic.

Yet even as the night wound down and her Master lay still, Berserker upheld her vigil, watching and waiting, but not for Assassin. A Servant required no rest, so such a thing would be a waste of time, and wasting time invited time to waste her. More literally in this case; the Grail War typically came with a two-week timer. Perhaps it would be extended with the involvement of a far greater quantity of heroes? Still, it was not a chance Berserker was willing to take.

But what Berserker, left to her own volition in the middle of the city’s most vibrant district, was unknown to all but herself. What was known, was simply what was observed after the fact.

Seated at the computer next to her Master, Berserker stared intently at the screen. To her side was a notepad and pencil - both courteously provided by the Hyatt. On the pad was a titled list, most of its important identifying qualities obscured by Berserker’s elbow and peculiar shorthand notation.

Green and red flashes were reflected in the woman’s eyes as she watched the figures and streaks on the screen’s darkened backdrop. “Mm yes, he did show up and now they’re dueling, but as equals this time. Quite interesting indeed...” she answered absent-mindedly, not at all paying attention to Ahnenerbe. Her Master’s legion of insects could deal with that sufficiently enough, and engaging her spiritual senses would cover the rest. Her physical senses were unnecessary, and so turned towards her own purpose.

For a few moments, the figure of the newcomer lay in Berserker’s peripheral, but she paid him no mind. Clearly he would be more interested in her Master, or so she assumed. That is, until she saw him awkwardly smiling at her. “Oh, apologies. I hadn’t noticed you,” Berserker admitted, taking off her headphones and revealing the muffled sound of an orchestra and electric humming. She turned back to the screen, moved the mouse, and clicked. This put a stop to the sound for the moment.

“A pleasure to make your acquaintance, sir.” She didn’t hear his name, so that was what she defaulted on. “Anyway, I’m sure you boys have important things to speak of so...” She placed the headphones back on, and resumed her vigilant watching.

At the same moment Albert mentioned something about “‘eazens”, Berserker gasped. Not because of Albert’s suggestion that she’d willingly step foot into the pit, but apparently because she was taken aback by what was unfolding on her screen. This time red on green was replaced by arcs of blue. Getting over her own shock, she leaned forward in the seat, completely and utterly engrossed.

A time passed, until suddenly she cast off the headphones, iconic credits music playing at full volume. She looked almost about to sob as she sat there, staring into the ascending credits. She sniffled, lifted her elbow, and scribbled off the title of the series from her list. “I need a moment,” she mumbled, reflecting on what she’d seen before sobbing grossly into her arms.

“L-Like his father before him… I can’t believe... Even...”

A few more moments passed until she composed herself once more. “What... What were we doing again?” she said, getting out the last few sniffles out of her system. She looked at Kuro’s hand, pointed at it, and looked to Albert. “Something about blood testing right? Are we cutting it off or?” She looked at the crowd watching them, her addendum to that comment unspoken, but obvious. "...Did anyone important show up at the cafe?"

Fate/stay Night - War of the Fourteen Magi - High Casual

<Snipped quote by Grey>

Grey pls.

@Turboshitter

@Grey

@vancexentan

AND YET STILL

my words fall on ears as deaf as the man's one - and thus the triad who turns the wheel of fate, overturns mine own fortune in kind. The chain of being hast shattered, the beasts and the men roam the same plain. What is divine, and what is devilish hast become indistinguishable! Old evils in the newest of ways! It casts its shadow upon my heart - a deception more dastardly than the boar usurper and green-eyed monster's, a sorrow greater than that of the blind king and the lovers of Verona, and a sting more vorpal than the blade of the dagger I see before me. But is the handle towards mine hand? Or is the blade at my heart?

As Stephano, in the Bard Shakespeare's great work The Tempest once said: "He that dies pays all debts." (Tempest 3.2.126) But even the great Bard of Avon fails to ponder the nature of the fate that befalls those those of whom others are indebted to! And so I say: they shall be showered with glory from on high, just as the tears of their passion, their rage, their sorrow, showered upon the merciless earth.

But these tears... They shall turn to fire in the hearts of the many.

And so with a heart heavier than even the shoulders of mighty Atlas and heroic Heracles can carry

I die.

Fin.

Fate/stay Night - War of the Fourteen Magi - High Casual

<Snipped quote by Grey>

@vancexentan

ALAS like the Van Gogh of Writing that I am, the profound and sublime meta-genius of my artistic form goes unheeded by my peers, and unrecognized in my time.

And like Van Gogh, I have sacrificed of myself to attain this peak. To lose an ear simply strengthened the man's capacity for visual appeal, and thus my sacrifice upon the altar of artistry shall propel me to great heights - but like the words of praise ear-loss had deprived the aforementioned Dutch post-Impressionist painter of, I too shall be left behind, a time capsule to be enshrined in a time later to come.

Fate/stay Night - War of the Fourteen Magi - High Casual

@EklispeAlright well Eklipse do what you can when you get the chance to post. I know Grey isn't the fastest poster out of all of us but we still need to attempt to keep the engines going.

@vancexentan

I like to liken myself to a majestic stallion: not as fast as a car, but not as slow as walking. Just a nice, steady gallop, leaving behind remnants of my path to ignite the viewer's imagination and create suspense through mystery.

"What kind of person is this character?", "Where could this be going?", "I wonder what is happening?" - such questions and more are the ethereal gifts of my progressive journey into unknown horizons.