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In Blades of Iron Roses: An Anime-Inspired Knight RP → 10 mos ago Forum: Casual Roleplay
After getting the information she needed from Lilette, Gertrude knocked on a few doors at the Mage's College and through rudeness and audacity found her mark hiding in an office. Lilette had warned that the woman had no affiliation with the Roses and was under no obligation to assist her, but if she refused, so what? Gertrude was mostly killing time anyways, and the appeal of summoning creatures to do stuff you don't want to do was at least a little enticing.

It wasn't in her normal wheelhouse of killing and self-preservation spells, but she had spells to make life easier as well. The methodology was a bit different, but she assumed the result would be favorable. It would be easy enough to pick up if the woman showed her how it was done.

Gertrude roughly knocked on the door.

"Hey, lady, I'm bored," she announced as if this was Gisela's problem, "teach me what you know about summoning. It would be any mage's pleasure to provide value to a beautiful young genius like me."

---

Meanwhile, Gretchen occupied herself with any tome that seemed rare or interesting. She was mostly concerned with magic, but knowledge was power too, and she had a feeling that a lot of the books in this Candaeln weren't exactly widely available back home. She figured she might as well partake while she was able. Normally she'd check out the library in the Mage's College, but that would put her at risk of being found out. Nosy bastards.

Well, she wanted to keep an eye on Florian from afar anyways, so it was no huge loss. Gretchen often read outside so that she wouldn't miss any of the training sessions he was conducting. He seemed mostly occupied with Fleuri, who Gretchen wasn't well-acquainted with.

She wanted to pick up the styles that Florian was keen on using so that she could confidently murder him if she got the chance.

As she watched, she added a myriad of techniques that she would never use to her knowledge base just so she'd be ready for any number of things. She doubted she was even really scratching the surface, given it was just training. However, even in the choices he made while sparring, she might be able to put together an accurate idea of what he could do.

So she could shut him down and humiliate him.
In Fate/Illuminate Histoire → 11 mos ago Forum: Casual Roleplay
Lucia watched Beatrice with some interest. All of her teasing scarcely seemed to phase the woman, which wasn't as fun as it could have been, but she had some interesting reactions nonetheless. At the very least, the woman was capable of biting back. There was something beneath that prim and proper shell, and Lucia wanted to see it.

This was not some strategic mind-game to give Lucia an edge, however. It was genuine curiosity and interest in their new guest. Aside from Nero, Beatrice was the first magus Lucia had ever met. An Association magus, at that, if the woman was truthful. Lucia knew the basics of their organization, but the old men at the Vatican didn't exactly have glowing praise for the Mage's Association. She was eager to discover a few things on her own, but that would have to wait.

When Beatrice mentioned the Tohsakas, Lucia visibly tilted her head. She'd heard the name, of course, and knew that they were one of the three founding families of the Grail Wars, but she wasn't privy to any sort of arrangement. Did they work together in the past? That seemed odd, but given Lucia's own involvement, she didn't exactly doubt the Church's eagerness to guide things where able. She frowned slightly before Nero showed up.

And my, what an outfit she showed up in. Of course, Lucia was already used to Nero dressing up in all sorts of outrageous things. She probably would have told Nero to dress as a nun or something, but she already had the woman on a leash. If someone else were her Master, she'd probably be strutting proudly about the city. Lucia certainly didn't want to step on Nero's spirit more than was required.

No, even Lucia didn't entirely understand why she cared about Nero's feelings so much. Why it felt nice to hang around with her. Why it had been fun to explore Rome together. She was the Antichrist, after all. Maybe it was all a trick...

Is what someone decidedly less trusting than Lucia would think.

"We're colleagues," Lucia answered Beatrice as the woman headed off to speak with the overseer, "hope you two have fun~"

Lucia regarded Nero with an odd fondness, gently taking the woman's hand in hers.

"Oh, your Leah impression is really good! I'm impressed," Lucia complimented with a short giggle, "how are you feeling tonight? Any special requests as far as food? Anything you'd like to do?"

---

Ludwig regarded the food she was splitting with her Master intently, before stabbing at it with a single chopstick. Truly, it was an interesting utensil! Like fighting one's food with a fang-sharp rapier to claim victory. Arthur did not, to her dismay, offer to take her shopping for something nice. Maybe he needed a more straightforward shove! That was Ludwig's specialty, after all.

Ludwig gave Arthur the smile that captured the hearts of her people, and placed her hand on her chest as if about to deliver a grand speech.

"Arthur, is it? A suitably heroic name, as expected of my Mast- of... you! As I explained, I am Ludwig II of Bavaria. Though perhaps you mean to ask my class name... which would be Saber, of course! Only the most heroic class would be suitable for the most heroic Servant, wouldn't you agree? You may call me Saber or Ludwig or even Ludie, if you'd like! After all, we are already friends."

Ludwig gazed upon her Master brightly. Somehow, the young man didn't seem completely impressed, but Ludwig's positive spirit was unassailable.

"Would you, perhaps, like to get kimonos together? I understand that my current garb, while gorgeous and jaw-dropping, may not fit with the eastern setting. Presentation is an important part of any adventure, so we should wear clothing suitable for the tale! If money is a concern, I will surely make enough on the way to cover our expenses and then some."
In Blades of Iron Roses: An Anime-Inspired Knight RP → 11 mos ago Forum: Casual Roleplay
Gertrude was feeling somewhat comfortable about her position. Amy didn't really have anything on her except vague suspicion, and as long as Gertrude didn't say anything, nothing could be confirmed. Sure the little Devil could spread rumors and tell everyone how untrustworthy Gertrude seemed, and the others were likely to believe her, but it was hardly actionable.

And as far as anyone was concerned, Merilia herself told the group of bozos to take good care of her.

But that relative certainty crumbled the moment Lilette stepped in and basically outed her whole schtick. She didn't say anything for certain, but it was enough for someone as reasonably intelligent as Amy to piece together. Maybe not the whole thing, but enough to know that it had to do with souls and was likely capital-w-Witchcraft. Gertrude's cheeks reddened ferociously as she was double-teamed by the two women, and not in the way she might have liked.

Of course Gertrude knew that plenty of people might be able to tell that Gretchen was off, which is why Gretchen generally stayed in one place and studied while Gertrude conducted business. She obviously had to come up with something when Merilia dumped them both here, however, and it was reasonable to think that the sister lie would go over easily enough that no one would look too close.

How was she to know that the Roses had a Demonic empath? Fuck.

And it hadn't really occurred to her that everyone here would probably be interested in newcomers. The mages were probably champing at the bit to examine every last one of them. Double fuck.

Logically, she knew she should be thankful to Lilette for giving her a warning, but screw that. Amy didn't have to know all of this.

And yet, in spite of having everything she needed, Amy still told Gertrude about her abilities. Gertrude would normally think that she was just lying, but everything fit neatly into place. How she knew about Gertrude's oddity, how she could make things appear and disappear, and how Gertrude couldn't parse her magic.

Gertrude obviously couldn't copy magic that came from a Demonic bloodline, which she'd imagined was the case, though she did not know the nature of it.

All of this, given willingly.

Was she stupid?

When Amy appeared behind her and touched her shoulders and adjusted her wreath, Gertrude's immediate response was anger. She didn't like being touched, and these morons kept doing it. Kept touching her and yanking her around and it reminded her of that asshole. She was furious, until she realized how gentle Amy's hand was. What was this girl? Amy was obviously trying to get Gertrude to like her so she could use her and then throw her away. Just pretending to be kind. Of course, no one could legitimately care for her. Gertrude brushed her shoulder off as Amy backed away, like the woman's touch carried some sort of disease.

"Let me be blunt. I don't trust anyone, and I don't have friends. I've been around long enough, and no one's gonna fool me again," Gertrude said flatly, oddly less angry than she thought she'd be, "I'll work with the Iron Roses for my own reasons, but I'm not interested in your stupid friendship and togetherness spiel. People use each other, and that's all. I have something you all need, and the Iron Roses... might have something I want. Do you think anyone would be friends with someone weak and useless? Love them? Care about them? They'll throw that person out with the rest of the garbage. Conversely, I'm strong. I'm a prodigy as far as magic is concerned, so even if you all hate my guts, you'll have to play along because you won't get better than me. That's the reality."

As Gertrude laid out her grim worldview, she closed in on Amy, her neutral expression becoming a frown.

"But if you're being real about this, or you think you are, then prove it by not telling anyone what you learned here. If you can do that, then maybe, just maybe you'll be able to trick me into trusting you."

It was about all Gertrude could do to keep the word from getting out. Normally, she'd just kill whoever got in her way, but she happened to be in one of few situations in which that was strictly not an option. Then, she rounded on Lilette.

"And I don't want you saying anything either, though I doubt you will. That said... know any mages around here good at summoning magic? I obviously don't need any training, but if I'm stuck here anyways, I might as well steal a few magic tricks. Preferably someone who won't care about my... situation."

Gertrude was tempted to call Lilette 'grandma' just out of habit, but the old lady really was keeping it together. Not hard for an Elf, but still.
In Fate/Illuminate Histoire → 11 mos ago Forum: Casual Roleplay
Ludwig smiled heroically as her Master fumbled his words, obviously awestruck by her beauty and/or handsomeness. It was a gift and a curse to be so gorgeous; to be so grossly incandescent as to shine brighter than any star. Though, indeed, a star is brightest just before it fades. Such was her fate in the past, but she had a good feeling about this Master. She knew in her heart that this damse- that this guy could bring her further than she had ever gone.

To the seat of the grail. To the object of her desire.

"Of course, Master," Ludwig agreed to the light chores enthusiastically, somewhat eager to try out the exotic fashions of this land, "I shall set the stage for your grand plans. I can't wait to hear what heroic acts of derring-do you have in mind!"

After Arthur retreated, Ludwig busied herself putting up the shoes. Apparently taking one's shoes off while indoors was custom in this country, and Ludwig did not wish to be rude. She wondered, briefly, why she should pretend to be her Master's cousin. Her plan, after all, was to loudly announce herself and wait for challengers. However, she would certainly have faith in her Master's plot.

For a villain, such duplicity would be deceit. For a hero such as she and her Master, however, it was cleverness.

Next, she was to put on the nemaki. It seemed an exciting new fashion, but upon witnessing it, she found the garb rather... drab. It wasn't at all exciting. She was hoping for something loud and floral. Lilies, maybe. With bright colors and intricate patterning.

Silk.

This was not that.

Ludwig cringed as she put the awful, borrowed thing on over her princely garb. She did not tie it, rather hoping that when her Master saw how drab it looked, he would have her discard it and then go shopping for something nicer. A kimono. That's what it was called! The beautiful ones. Ornate, hand-tailored to her breathtaking form.

Ludwig sat on the bed with her arms out to make certain her Master could see at a glance how ill-suited she was to something so plain-looking.

---

"Shan't? That's so cute," Lucia teased lightly, finding some adorable novelty in the woman's word choice, "well, you say that now, but I assure you that when you smell that bread baking, you shan't want to leave without trying a bite."

Lucia was, perhaps, still a little naïve in regards to the larger world. She was not, however, stupid. She knew what this woman was asking, no matter how innocuously she phrased it. But Lucia had only one thing to hide, and for everything else, she was capable of being entirely honest. Openness in every measure she could afford was her best chance at hiding that one lie, and so, she would be the one thing that might throw a magus off their game:

A genuine, kindhearted person.

"Well, I don't know when you visited last, but the first thing I did when I arrived was start planting a small garden," she replied honestly, "if you saw that, then I was probably here. We might have missed each other if I was out taking care of errands."

Lucia reached out to open the church doors.

"Oh, and you're definitely the first Master I've met thus far. Too bad you shan't be here long, because the inside of the church is probably the best place you'll find to scope out your competition, if any are due to arrive soon," Lucia said, sticking her tongue out playfully as she held open the doors. She gently ushered the woman inside, hoping that Nero would play along.

Yes, if Nero was quiet, and demure, and didn't draw too much attention to herself... it was possible that nobody would find out about her until much later.
In Fate/Illuminate Histoire → 12 mos ago Forum: Casual Roleplay
Ludie's expression fell, and she placed a hand over her mouth in genuine embarrassment.

"My apologies! I did not mean to offend, my la-, my la-, my l- hm."

Ludwig bit her lower lip and crossed her arms, an expression of excessive mental strain coming upon her face, before she snapped her fingers and said brightly:

"My la- Master. Force of habit."

But something was off. Her Master was getting awfully defensive, and looked confused, as if he hadn't been expecting any of this. The careening coal train that was Ludie's brain screeched and drifted onto a track parallel to the truth of the matter, and her expression brightened.

"Ah, a cautious Master! You wish to ascertain my knowledge... hmph~"

Ludie smiled smugly.

"Merely glance at your hand, and witness the bond we share in the form of your command seals. Ah, to be bonded by fate and mana to a beautiful young lady! ...Is not what happened, but damsel or no, you will be in distress without my assistance!"

Ludie grinned brightly, knowing in her heart that her clever Master would see in her wisdom... proof of their bond!

---

Lucia's first impression of Beatrice was 'wow, that is a very tall woman'. Her second was that this tall woman seemed very polite. Lucia's bright smile brightened even more, threatening to blind all those present. Could it be that this was a reasonable Magus? Most of the Church had told her that they were all pretty much scum, but she knew better. God made Humans, and Magi were Humans too.

Of course, she wasn't so naïve as to take everything at face value, but she liked to lean as positively as she could. Lucia beckoned Beatrice gently, like a shepherd to a timid lamb, and began leading her to the church.

"And a good evening to you, too," she replied with her usual radiance, "no, you're not interrupting at all. I was just picking some herbs from the garden... I'm about to put some focaccia in the oven, if you'd like to stay for dinner. I made extra dough, because... well, you're here, aren't you?"

Lucia turned over her shoulder, and threw Beatrice a playful wink.

"I was expecting we might be seeing a little company in the next few days. I'm sure the Overseer will be happy you've paid her a visit! She could use a bit more excitement, I think. As if I'm not enough, right? Ehee~"

She punctuated her comment with a downright angelic chortle, though for her saintly demeanor, a perceptive person might note multiple piercings on her ears. An exceptionally perceptive person might note one on her tongue. They were all, at this moment, unoccupied.
In Fate/Illuminate Histoire → 12 mos ago Forum: Casual Roleplay
Ludwig casually admired her old handkerchief. If nothing else, her Master must have excellent taste! Gorgeous embroidery: a beautiful swan spreading its wings, as if about to take magnificent flight! For that handkerchief to still be in such good shape was only natural. The finest quality for the finest king. This one was...

Matilda. She could tell, even at a glance. The peasant girl who had fallen and gotten mud all over her beautiful face. Well, Ludwig couldn't let that stand. Of course, she had helped the young woman up. Of course she had dabbed her cheeks, and of course she had left Matilda with a token of their fateful meeting.

She wondered if Matilda had sold it, or had kept it until her final days. Well, either way, it was a gift. Once it left Ludwig's hands, it was hers to do with as she desired. That was, perhaps, the way of-

Ludwig turned her gaze towards the confused-looking young... man? That called out to her. She had specifically wanted to be summoned only by damsels in distress. Well, maybe it was a woman? They had a cute face. Either way, they were addressing her, and it was almost certainly her Master. Regardless of gender, their grand adventure was about to begin! Ludwig smiled brightly, and with shamelessness and grace, approached her young Master.

"This dude does, indeed, have the right house," she announced grandiloquently, "for you are my Master, and I your knightly Servant, here to deliver you from the horrors of this Holy Grail War! Worry not, my lady, for the legendary knight-hero-king Ludwig II has arrived!"

---

It was... an odd feeling to have summoned the Antichrist.

A bevy of holy relics were present as catalyst for the ritual, which Lucia had been walked through by a bunch of scary-looking old men in Vatican City. They had expected a Saint. George, Martha, Jeanne... all equal to the task and paragons of faith. A spirit that even the church could respect.

All attendees were flabbergasted when Nero introduced herself.

That Nero.

But as the old men began discussing whether or not there was a way to send her back, Lucia stood firm. She didn't like it. Of course she didn't like it, but for Nero to appear in front of so many holy relics was nothing short of a miracle, and miracles were the domain of God. She saw this as a sign.

Lucia was meant to redeem Nero. If that woman could be redeemed in the eyes of the Lord... if the suspected Antichrist could be saved, then it would prove that anyone could be. It was an incredible task, but if Lucia was chosen to take it upon herself, then she knew it must be possible for her. God believed in her. God knew that she was kind and just and right. It was with this attitude that she initially engaged with Nero...

But that didn't last long.

As the two toured Rome, Lucia introducing the new and Nero introducing the old, it became remarkably clear that Nero wasn't quite the person the church had imagined she was. Lucia tried to be suspicious. She tried to notice the serpent through its honeyed words, but the woman was remarkably genuine and had an unimpeachable charm. Was this really Nero? Who was Nero?

Lucia was still figuring out her feelings as the Sako Holy Grail War was about to begin. On this beautiful evening, she was picking herbs from the garden she had recently started just outside the church. There was so much open land around, it would be a shame not to utilize it. She'd already finished the focaccia dough, and just needed to put together the toppings before it headed into the oven. As she knelt, humming happily while she snipped some rosemary, she noticed a woman approach out of the corner of her eye. She stood, and brushed off her habit.

"Lucia," she addressed Nero gently, like a mother or an older sister. The Emperor was a whimsical girl, and Lucia feared that if she didn't give her plenty to do, Nero would blow their cover faster than was strictly healthy. Of course, the rouse would likely not last the whole war regardless, but Lucia did have a boon. Most command seals appeared on the hand, but Lucia's was... elsewhere. It was an oddity among oddities, that most Masters probably wouldn't even consider.

A blessing from God.

"Could you please ask the overseer what she'd like on her focaccia, and inform her that we have a guest?" Lucia entreated, smiling gently. Nero was, at this moment, among the flowers she had also planted. Lucia's goal was to make the churchyard significantly less drab and significantly more beautiful before she left this place.

Whether or not Nero was keen to listen to her was another story, but Lucia greeted Beatrice with a friendly wave and her loveliest smile.
In Blades of Iron Roses: An Anime-Inspired Knight RP → 12 mos ago Forum: Casual Roleplay
Was this woman a jester? Her garish magic tricks were utterly ridiculous, and Gertrude's lips remained frozen in a frown the entire time she performed until that awful wreath appeared on her head. Her eye twitched, and she ripped the wreath off, glaring at Amy. Gertrude did not like being taken by surprise. She unceremoniously discarded the wreath as they continued on their way, not bothering to acknowledge Amy's little prank save for the daggers she glared.

At least the value of a pretty garden was one thing on which they could agree.

"I'd enjoy a little quiet, but I guess I can't get that," she jabbed, voice still sharp and venomous from that wreath prank, "but sure, maybe a few pretty flowers in bloom can help assuage my abject annoyance."

Though Gertrude downplayed it, taking naps among flowers was one of her favorite things. She was actually looking forward to it a little, but the nosy little Devil just couldn't leave her be. Her spine chilled slightly when Amy confronted her about Gretchen. What could she possibly know? How could she know it? Gertrude's story was fine, so she had to have some reason to be suspicious.

She had to know something that most people couldn't know. Gertrude just had to figure out what and how.

"Oh...?"

Gertrude smirked. It was her usual pompous, bratty accompaniment. She couldn't let Amy know that she was actually worried about being figured out.

"So that's what you are. I thought you were acting too nice, and I was on the mark. You're a hypocrite. Unsurprising for a 'religious' sort. A 'rules for thee but not for me' situation. You expect me to trust you with my secrets, if indeed there are any, but you won't do me the simple courtesy of telling me how you know this thing you apparently know. Well, trust is a two way street, and if you want something, you have to give something. But you won't, because you think that you're right and I'm not worth wasting basic decency on."

Gertrude let the Demon have it, blasting her with everything she could think to say to make Amy tell her what she knew and how she knew it. If Amy was half the kindhearted person she made herself out to be, she'd have to tell Gertrude. If she wasn't, well, that was one more person Gertrude could safely (pretend to) be better than.

Behind her smarmy, in-control facade, however, her emotions told a different story. She was, as always, a horrifying tempest of negativity. Her dark complexes and sick logic were likely enough to make most empaths retch. Tellingly, anger was at the forefront, but tempered with fear. Gertrude knew how capital-W-Witchcraft was looked at. Suspicion at best, a lynching at worst. If Amy were to learn, she could hold it over Gertrude's head or just tell everyone. Gertrude, as always, was constantly thinking about ways other people could hurt her.

The 'why' didn't matter. People wanted to hurt her. They couldn't be trusted. That was the truth of the world she had learned.

And sadly, her paranoia sometimes served her well.

---

Gretchen almost scoffed at Renar's statement. 'Clever' was, perhaps, one word for it. But the truth was, they were playing with two gigantic cheaters and one confused Hundi. The newcomers were on the obvious backfoot, to the point where schemes on their end would scarcely even the playing field. Gretchen went forward with her plan to mark the cards into unrecognizability for the experienced knights, which she did under the table, but it was going to be slow going.

If she was to play the long game, she'd have to take a bath the first few rounds.

Eventually, this might have worked. Might have given her an immense advantage.

But as a few hands went by, and Gertrude made her counts, it became immensely obvious.

These shits were using more than one deck, and what's more, they were hiding cards in a way that even the immensely observant Gretchen couldn't suss out. She needed a different strategy, but what could she do?

Then, Fanilly awkwardly stumbled into the room, and a possible avenue to victory revealed itself. Gretchen casually leaned back in her chair, and looked to the Captain.

"Ah, has the new Captain of the Iron Roses come to peep on our little game? I'm not doing so well, mistress."

Gretchen frowned.

"But I suppose that's to be expected. Can't outdo the famous traitor in duplicity. Don't worry about not knowing how to play the game, Captain, because someone here is playing by pretty different rules anyways."

Gretchen made a show of the fact that Fanilly was the new Captain of the old bastards' order, figuring she could play into a desire to act more chivalrous in front of the new generation. More specifically, she saw Edwin as the weaker link, and if he were needled about his nature as a traitor, he might be tempted to give up his brother's tricks to retain some honor.

Ironically betraying him once again, but of course, people didn't change. She just hoped someone else would pick up what she was tacitly suggesting, because she didn't have the magical backup to say anything too outrageous. To lay into Edwin the way she wanted to.

She hated that she was even sort of relying on anyone else, but Gretchen was painfully aware that she was barely even capable of walking on her own.
In Fate/Illuminate Histoire → 1 yr ago Forum: Casual Roleplay


In Blades of Iron Roses: An Anime-Inspired Knight RP → 1 yr ago Forum: Casual Roleplay
Goddesses, this girl got on her nerves.

Amy was just so bright and cheery and it was incredibly unnerving because Gertrude knew that no one was as nice as this Demon- this literal Demon- pretended to be. The way she just assumed she could trot up and boop Gertrude's nose made her nostrils flare. Her nose was not for booping, and she growled as the chatty little monster went on about how nice she was.

What a fraud, but at least Amy was preferable to the people who already wanted to physically harm her. For now. At the very least, the woman was easier on the eyes than the cavalcade of sweaty, musclebound dullards that made up most of the ranks of the Iron Roses. Like her dad, them. She almost couldn't wait for the opportunity to show them all how much stronger she was than anyone else.

Gertrude had honestly hoped to scare Amy a little by suggesting they depart alone, but it was almost as if it never even occurred to the Demon that Gertrude would hurt her. She annoyingly strutted off, happy as a peach, and left Gertrude clicking her tongue as she followed. Along the way to their first stop, Amy needled and prodded her with off-putting questions. The comment about Gretchen, especially, was concerning. Everyone else was ready to just accept her lies, and they were easy lies to swallow considering there really wasn't a feasible alternative story. Why would Amy pick on that? She had to know something. Gertrude scoffed.

"Who else would she be, if not my sister? Did Merilia drop a broom on your head, too? What manner of daft insinuation is that?"

Their steps slowed to a stop as they reached their destination. Apparently Amy meant to start with the most useless place in Candaeln. Gertrude rolled her eyes, and then snorted when Amy claimed to be a cleric. A Demon cleric? She'd never heard something so ridiculous. Then, Amy revealed that she at least knew some basic magic tricks and offered her a wreath. Did the woman think Gertrude was stupid? It was obviously a prank of some sort. The moment she took it, it would explode or scream or something. The finale to her dumb little show. Well Gertrude wouldn't be had so easily. She crossed her arms under her chest and frowned down at the Demon.

"Sure, I'll visit the chapel if I don't have anything more useful to do. But I doubt the castle will run out of wall to smack my head against any time soon," she said, not hiding an ounce of the disdain she had for Amy's supposed religion, "I probably have too many sins for those old hags to handle, anyways. I enjoyed the song and dance, it was cute, but I'm not taking that wreath. I know what happens when I touch it. It's a prank, right? You want to screw with me, just like the others. I'm not interested in looking like a fool, so I won't even bother to confirm it with a spell. Just take me elsewhere. A good place to nap, perhaps."

---

Gretchen did her best to hide the smug smile that wanted to creep up on her face as Renar and Gerard took a seat at the table. This would be like taking candy from babies. Even if an idiot plays a million games, he'll always be an idiot. They both seemed so confident, too. Did their foolishness know no bounds? Gretchen had rarely played before, herself, because gaming with the other apprentices rapidly devolved into a magical cheating contest. Not that she couldn't win such a competition, but it was so much more gratifying to completely trounce a person fair and square-

...And then she took a look at the deck they were playing with.

An addendum: Even if you're an idiot, if you play a million games with the same cards, you'll eventually learn what everything is by sight.

Gretchen frowned. There was no doubt that she could quickly learn all the cards as well. However, if other players also had perfect information, it was a solved game. Skill, probability, and deception didn't even enter into it. There was one remedy for it.

"Surely you'll extend the hospitality of allowing the newcomers to deal, yes?"

It didn't matter who else dealt, as long as they couldn't pick out the exact cards that everyone would have. From there, Gretchen would learn the cards, and mark up every card she could put her hands on to make sure that only she could tell what was what. In just a few hands, she could probably render half the deck unrecognizable to these old cheaters.
In Fate/Illuminate Histoire → 1 yr ago Forum: Casual Roleplay
  • Name: Ludwig II
  • Class: Berserker
  • Appearance:
  • Personality: I wish to remain an eternal enigma to myself and to others. The Swan Knight of legend, who adorned the walls of my family’s castle growing up, was much the same. What could be said about this mysterious knight-king, but that she is a true romantic? That much should be obvious. But my character is of such depth and intrigue that I could talk about myself for years, and one could scarcely scratch the surface. Not since Arthur has there been a king of such chivalry and brightness, a beacon for her people! Hope!

    Young, beautiful, and dashingly handsome! A bewitching swan sang its final song well before its time, and the entire world wept. Shall I wax poetic about the importance of dreams, no matter how impossible? Shall I weave a tragic tale of madness and betrayal? Shall I spin a story of great love, and even greater loss? All these epics I could recite from my heart, because I lived them all.

    Loneliness, too. I could tell you of that, my dear subject. But do not dwell on those thoughts. Instead, are there any damsels that need saving? Dragons that must be slain? Villains to be thwarted?
  • Stats:
    • Strength: E
    • Endurance: D
    • Agility: D
    • Mana: C
    • Luck: A
    • Noble Phantasm: A
  • Class Skills:
    Märchenkönig C++: Ludwig’s personalized version of Madness Enhancement. She believes herself to be like a knight from a fairy tale. Enhancement becomes stronger the more she buys into her own fantasy, which includes adhering strictly to a chivalrous code. If the necessity of pragmatism leaks into her fantasy identity, she may become more lucid and less powerful. Uniquely, this ability boosts her further against dragons, monsters, and villains of any stripe.
  • Personal Skills:
    Appreciation of the Arts D+: Chance of identifying the true name of a servant through seeing their noble phantasm. This chance is increased dramatically if the servant is related to fairy tales or Christian myth.
    Charisma B-: Ludwig was beloved by her people, as a king unlike any other. She has charisma enough to lead a nation, though those with power were wary of her lofty dreams. Ultimately, she was betrayed not by her people, but by her own ministers.
    The Perpetually Open Vaults of The Fairy Tale King B-: Ludwig always has enough funds to buy anything she’d like, as long as it is artistic or frivolous or whimsical. She won’t buy anything incredibly useful.
  • Noble Phantasm(s):
    • Name: Neuschwanstein Castle: The Nexus From Which Dreams Spring and Return
    • Rank: A
    • Type: Anti-Army
    • Appearance: That dreamlike fairy tale castle that never existed even in the days of legend. Contained within are various rooms and displays, each more entrancing than the last. Though unfinished, it was built from the dreams of many, and serves as the groundwork of many dreams to come.
    • Effects:Neuschwanstein Castle is a reality marble in which Ludwig can fully realize her ideal of a fairy tale knight. All of her stats increase significantly, and if she considers her opponent to be a villain, the villain gets weaker. A hero should win against a villain, after all. That is the knightly ideal. In addition, plans and strategies that should not normally work have a high likelihood of turning out favorably as long as they are conceptually possible. Neuschwanstein Castle is a place where imagination becomes as powerful a weapon as any sword. In truth, it is a place in which Ludwig can live out her fantasy of being the hero of a story to the fullest.
    • Name: Carmen Cygni: The Swan’s Last Performance Over Lake Starnberg
    • Rank: D
    • Type: Anti-Unit (Self)
    • Appearance: Takes the form of a blue pendant on Ludwig’s chest, but exists conceptually beyond that.
    • Effects:If Ludwig would die, her saint graph is instead applied to her master to form a demi-servant. Ludwig’s castle exists far beyond anything a Human could build. Long after her death, it continues to inspire imaginations the world over. Take your dreams in your hand, and build.
  • Alignment: Lawful Good
  • Changes: Ludwig II’s grandfather, and her namesake, asked that his son’s firstborn also be named Ludwig. Ludwig I, a fanciful man who enjoyed fairy tales as much as his granddaughter eventually would, found a fey sort of humor in the naming mishap when Ludwig II was born a girl, and so the name stayed. In early life, Ludwig II was somewhat reclusive, and so very few knew that she was a woman. Only that her name was undoubtedly male. The family assumed that Otto, her younger brother, would take the throne. As Otto grew, however, it became increasingly obvious that he was deeply disturbed even from a young age. With no other recourse, Ludwig II ascended the throne through a set of ridiculous circumstances that seemed almost like a fairy tale in itself. Upon her introduction to society, all those who looked upon Ludwig II would likely describe her as “a beautiful, delicate, and lovely king”.
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