Over Illusion

Let's Rob a Magic Museum [Urban Fantasy] [Party of Thieves]

Welcome aboard! If we get 1-2 more people then I'll get up an OOC and a character sheet shortly afterwards.

Let's Rob a Magic Museum [Urban Fantasy] [Party of Thieves]

Self-bump.

Let's Rob a Magic Museum [Urban Fantasy] [Party of Thieves]

Official roleplay is name under consideration, so I'm welcoming suggestions. The current candidate is "Night at the Museum".

---

The year is 2017, and the setting is best called modern fantasy. While similar to contemporary society in most ways, there are two core differences with far-reaching implications: the existence of “magic”, and the existence of non-human sapient races, such as the elves, the goblins, and the fae. Obviously, the history of the world and the like is very different, but let's leave that aside for now to keep from getting bogged down in the minutae.

While magic exists, it is seen as dangerous, and magic-users are viewed as suspect in the public eye. As such, countless lines of international and local bureaucratic red tape have been laid down, and government regulation of magic users is at an absurd high. Magic users must obtain a permit from the state for the use of magic or magical reagents on a per-usage basis, which must ordinarily be issued no less than two weeks in advance. There are countless international laws governing the use of magic in war, and since a rather bloody affair involving the summoning of an eldritch horror which nearly ended the world, these rules have been enforced by even the most self-destructive madmen. For now, at least.

This roleplay takes place in Meade, one of the largest cities in the country of Azir. Azir itself, like the world in general, is a predominantly human society, and Meade is no different, though a goblin was actually recently elected to the city council in a stunning turnaround. Nonhuman sapients are generally monitored more stringently than humans, though, especially in the case of ones that have innate magical ability.

An international airport, the prestigious Meade University, and some of the best restaurants in all of Azir make it a reasonably well-known city. The city’s newest attraction, the Meade Museum of Art and Arcanum, will be opening this week.

That’s where you come in.

You’re not a resident of Meade. Instead, you’re here on business. While you have a respectable day job, your true profession is essentially that of a thief, a member of a national crime syndicate composed of white collar criminals, undercover magic users, and a handful of international fugitives. You’ve been assigned to a team for the aims of infiltrating the museum before it opens, and pilfering all the magical artifacts and priceless paintings you can from it. For the purposes of this, the higher-ups have given each of you some funding to buy supplies and illicitly get a magical item or two from their supply.

As with any Arcanum museum, security is expected to be deadly. Good luck, and for everyone’s sake, don’t get caught.

The roleplay itself will involve a fair amount of tabletop elements and GM dice rolling behind the scenes, though it won’t be a tabletop roleplay properly and knowledge/experience with those sorts of things is by no means required. Characters can be from all walks of life, but if you’re submitting a nonhuman race, let me know ahead of time so we can speak about racial abilities and the like.

I’m looking for at least 3-4 players for this, and may be alright with more if that doesn’t lead to a drop in standards. If you have further questions, feel free to ask.

TL;DR: A dungeon crawling adventure, except the dungeon is a magic museum you're trying to loot, and instead of monsters there are security guards and other strange museum things.

Fate/Moribund Swarm

Matou Zouken (?)

Matou Mansion

@Breo @Yukitamas

"Ahaha, no, I can't imagine your family remembers this old man. That was quite some time ago, after all, when even I was a youth venturing out into the world. I would be rather surprised if there was anyone in your family who could recognize me face to face. I am no longer that young man of years past, after all. Nonetheless, it is good to see that even the wolves aren't so ravenous that they'll vie for every last scrap."

The voice continued to emanate through the halls of the mansion, an amused lilt to its tone, as though the unseen magus were telling a joke that only he knew the punchline to. "I must wonder, though, what it says of your allies if you have such disagreement with them. To hear that the Edelfelts were descending on this town of mine with the military of Germany at their side was something of a surprise. I of course understand the theory behind it, but I do question the rationale."

"If you came to this place for a reason besides that most obvious of goals, then you will be disappointed. The Tohsaka and the Matou have created nothing of note save for our shared triumph, and while I'm sure the Einzbern's research would be valuable to you, I must wonder if you'd be able to decipher it. Since that's the case, surely you don't believe that, while the dog of the Chancellor and the hound of those regressive fools draw breath, you will be able to reach victory. Perhaps you believe that after obtaining your goal, you and your other half can strike them down?"

Another laugh flowed through the air to punctuate the magus's statement, as if his grin was widening with each word. "Ah well, perhaps you are no longer the wolves I knew, or perhaps I'm merely misreading the situation. Such is the problem with aging; once you've been around for so long, everything seems to move so quickly, but all you can do is slow." He continued on, a trace of bemusement entering his tone at Janika's later comment.

"Acquainted with the system? But of course, it's these three families of Fuyuki that designed it, after all. Surely you are aware of that much, given that you are attempting to pillage what we created."

An abrupt change. The previously amicable, if chiding, tone of Zouken grew harsh for a moment. As if that grin etched across his unseen face had sharpened into a leer. One neither had to be a magus nor a Servant to feel it, that brief flare of killing intent that laced his tone, something that held the weight of a human's grudge. Just as quickly as it appeared, though, it vanished.

"...ah, forgive me. My blood came to a boil for a moment. It seems that senility has done an excellent job at sinking its claws into me. If there is nothing else, I would advise you take your leave. It would be problematic if that were to happen again, but if I were too slow to restrain myself that next time."

---

Raiga Fujimura

Fujimura Group Headquarters, Living Room

@Art of Fun

Several seconds of silence endured before Raiga let out a tense sigh, lifting the cup before him to his lips before setting it down. His eyes glinted, evaluating the boy before him with a trace of skepticism, as though trying to feel out his intentions.

"...if what you're saying is true, then I'd be happy to hand you my eyes, and I'm sure the others would feel the same. But, you'll understand my hesitance." He began, resting a hand on the table and drumming his fingers lightly. "A group of Europeans came to Fuyuki to steal something from it, something related to the Tohsakas, and whatever this is has enough importance that the Emperor himself took action? It's a lot to take in. You're no imposter, we checked that much when you contacted us, and I don't see why you'd lie about this. Even if you were lying, it doesn't make sense that you'd say something like that as opposed to a simpler story."

"I can't even think about what we have in this city that's important enough for this sort of operation on the Emperor's side. I'm guessing, though, that since you didn't mention what it was, that's supposed to be confidential. Easier to guard something if as few people as possible know about it, after all. Still, from our perspective, the more information you can give me on this, the better." He sighed, shaking his head a bit before he looked back over to Saizou. "Well, either way, you don't seem like you're trying to trick me, and even if you aren't, it's not like we lose anything by monitoring some suspicious foreigners.

A grin flashed across Raiga's face as he straightened up slightly. "So sure, the Fujimura Group will stand behind you on this."

Fate/Moribund Swarm

Raiga Fujimura

Fujimura Group Headquarters, Living Room

@Art of Fun

Kneeling before the table was a young man who looked scarcely older than Saizou himself. If one were to try a pin an age to his face, they likely wouldn't pick one any higher than the early twenties. In spite of that, though, the man opposite Saizou had a sort of presence and energy about him beyond his years, which was almost in the opposite direction of Saizou's own nature. Put simply, if the lad of the Nanaya was a mind within a weapon, then Raiga was a weapon within a body.

"The honor is all mine, sergeant. I'm not sure if you drink, but feel free to, if you like." He replied, a simple grin emblazoned across his face as he gestured to the sake that had been arranged for the two's meeting.

He analyzed the member of the military with a keen eye. A youth younger than even Raiga himself, but one who emanated a nature that it seemed ridiculous for one who had not yet reached their eighteenth birthday to possess. Had this become the standard for the military all of a sudden? Certainly not.

While the notion that Saizou was, at the current time, peering through the eyes of someone on the opposite end of the city never entered Raiga's mind, there was nonetheless something a touch odd about the look of the boy's eyes. That thought, "his eyes look like they're somewhere else", couldn't enter his mind with such precision, but there seemed to be something off.

"I must say, though, we were all rather surprised when you reached out. We haven't done much with the military in the past. Fuyuki's a fairly calm place, not a lot happens here that's worth your time...or, at least, that's what I would say normally."

Rumors of something strange happening at the foreign church across the city, an explosive set off at the residence of the Tohsaka family with the Tohsakas themselves nowhere to be found, and on the same day as these two occurrences, a member of the military police approaches his group. These events couldn't be mere coincidence, that much was certain.

"My associates and I are admittedly usually a bit lax in our actions, but it seems that something's happening in this sleepy town of ours. I won't ask you to confirm this much, but I'd guess that whoever was responsible for blowing up the Tohsaka place has some relation to why you're here. Never dealt with the Tohsaka much, myself, but they're genuine people. Whether someone decided to target them, or whether they just decided to hit one of the nicer places in the city, that's the sort of thing we can't exactly let slide as Fuyuki residents."

A dry laugh left him, the young man shrugging haplessly. "Of course, maybe I'm reading into things too much. I can do that every so often." He remarked offhandedly, though they were clearly empty words. "Enough of my yammering, I'm sure you'd rather we focused on the matter at hand: what brings someone of your position to my humble association?"

Fate/Moribund Swarm

Matou Zouken (?)

Matou Mansion

An entertained laugh washed through the dark halls in response to the Master and Servant.

"Edelfelt? Ah, it's been quite some time since I've spoken with one of you. To see that regality, and to see that you've separated from your other half to come here, times have indeed changed." The unseen magus remarked, a droplet of self-deprecation embedded in his tone. "It is wrong for me to not name myself when you have done so. Matou Zouken. It has been long since I retired, so you can consider me a groundskeeper of sorts. As you no doubt are aware, I am not one of the seven Masters. Or rather, I suppose it's eight, given that the Edelfelts are here. It's actually quite gratifying, the system was never actually built with the consideration of 'two Masters as one' in mind, but it seems to have adapted rather well."

"At any rate, my aged self can no longer fight, so I've left the stage to my descendants." He admitted, though in spite of his words, there was not an ounce of fear in his voice. Rather than someone facing down a member of one of the most notorious magus families in the world, and two beings who could match the strongest humans lurking in the modern day, he sounded more akin to a man ordering a breakfast pastry at his local bakery.

"If you simply would like to converse, then I will of course oblige as a host. As you've said, your enemy is Youzai; while I have a fondness for my children, it is not the place of the old to interfere in the squabbles of the young. Even I was willing to, though, it is not as though these brittle bones of mine could stand up to a Servant, much less two." Another laugh laced his tone, though this time it sounded almost mocking. Whether that notion was meant to be leveled at himself or the intruders, though, was up for debate. However, when he spoke next, that mirth seemed to abate slightly; it was still present, his tone never becoming truly "tense", but there was a new steel in it.

"There is nothing in this home for you. There are no resources to plunder, no Servants to defeat, no fallen leylines to leech off of. I thus hope we do not come to hostilities, as they would be pointless. This is not my fight, after all."

Abruptly, the air of the mansion seemed to change. It was not merely some semantic shift, but rather it truly felt like the space of the mansion had grown more abrasive to exist in, as if the workshop itself was little more than an extension of this "Zouken's" body.

"...with that said, I am the groundskeeper nonetheless. If you seek to do to this home of mine what your allies did to the manor of Tohsaka, if you seek to try and plant your flag into this soil, then you will be forcing my hand to mark you as an enemy. For the sake of all those here, I hope that this does not happen. This old man might not have much fight left in him, but he's been around for quite some time. You pick up a few tricks after so long."

Fate/Moribund Swarm

Frederica Edelfelt

Inside a U.F.O., Church on the Hill

Regrettably, they had lost a Servant. Perhaps most frustrating, though, was what they had gotten in exchange. They had not harmed the enemy, their plundering of the Tohsaka Manor with a couple of potential exceptions was fruitless, and perhaps most annoyingly, they came away with no knowledge of Rider's killer besides "Burial Agent, strong, big hammer, summoned a horned girl".

Needless to say, Frederica was more than a little miffed, but managed to keep it from showing in her interaction with Emmerich after returning. The poor bastard had just lost his Servant, after all, no need to lash out at him when he was doing plenty of that on his own already.

This had only further affirmed her prior plans. They had lost a Servant, in addition to the structural disadvantages they had entering this war. Sure, she and her sister could always defect to the other faction, but where was the fun in that? Instead, it was much more interesting to think about how to improve what they had.

And that was precisely why she now sat inside of a golden ship that lay on the Church's land under the cover of night, surrounded by her ever-wonderful golem guards as she worked. She was the only one who could do something like this, after all, who could improve the device that Thule had given them in this particular way. And so, she worked, blocking out the other members of her team as she did. It was likely that only her sister would be able to get her attention at this point, though perhaps her partner would have a chance as well.

Hopefully the Burial Agent wouldn't smash this too right after she finished improving it.

---

---

---

It was entertaining, one could say, that a lion had been the one to stroll into the lion's den.

---

I will make a more beautiful world.

I will make a world where nobody has to cry.

I will eradicate All The World's Evil.

I will create a utopia.

To create a utopia, I must live.

I want to live.

I don't want to die.

It's painful. It's painful. It's painful.

I don't want to die.

Grant. Grant. Grant. Grant. Grant.

I don't want to die.

"Justeaze."

"Holy Grail."

"I will save the world."

"I will transcend death."

This time, it shall be fulfilled.

This time, the pursuit will end.

This time, a miracle will occur.

Such is the declaration of a man who loves humanity.

Such is the declaration of the hero of this world.

Such is the declaration of the last king of Fuyuki.

Such is the declaration of-

---

Makiri Zolgen / Matou Zouken (?)

Matou Mansion

@Yukitamas @Breo @Shioban

"Ahh, a magus and a Servant, with another lurking outside. Welcome, welcome. What a nostalgic feeling for these old bones. But, surely you should know better than to so brazenly charge into a magus's workshop?"

A voice cut through the darkness. A voice that reeked of age and power, a voice that did not seem even slightly perturbed in the presence of two beings at the class of Ghost Liners. A sharp, piercing laugh flowed through the halls of the house. One could visualize its owner shaking his head, a bemused grin playing at the edges of his lips.

"After all, is a magus's workshop not where they are at their strongest?"

Shapes moved outside of view, undulating within the darkness. Black, an impenetrable black stretched out before Janika and Cocles, the light sounds of a chittering few insects and the oppressive feeling of wrongness being their only company besides the voice. Neither Janika throwing out threads of consciousness nor the Servants using their senses would avail the darkness; there was the presence of "something" interspersed throughout the walls of the manor, but beyond that it was blank. And yet, the voice did not seem concerned in the slightest. So then, why, what gave this unseen magus that level of confidence?

"You will have to excuse my rudeness for the lack of decoration. If I had known you were coming, I would have at least rolled out a rug. Regardless, come in, come in. I will attempt to be a gracious host. I am afraid it is merely the two of you and myself, though, unless your friend outside would care to join us as well. I apologize if you were expecting a proper banquet, but I'm certain we can make do."

"If you're looking for that young boy, Youzai, I apologize for that as well. You are merely met with my aged self. Do not worry, though; it has been quite some time, but I'm sure my ability to entertain guests hasn't diminished."

Fate/Moribund Swarm

The final phase of Day One has begun.

Non-interaction locations

Servant Caster, Servant Ruler, Servant Berserker, Matou Youzai, Uva von Einzbern, and Tohsaka Syone are positioned at the Ryuudouji Temple.

Servant Saber (P), Servant Archer, and Janika Edelfelt are positioned at the Matou Mansion. The alarm Bounded Field around the Matou Mansion has been triggered. Matou Youzai is aware that three individuals are on the premises.

Nanaya Saizou is positioned at the Fujimura Group Headquarters.

Gavel is positioned at Homurahara Academy (Lost).

Interaction locations

-Servant Saber (S), Brauer Herstelle, Emmerich Lisztmayer-Anschütz von Sabern, and Frederica Edelfelt are positioned at the Church.
-Servant Assassin is positioned at the Church.
-Servant Assassin feels the presence of a Servant, and is capable of locating that presence.

Fate/Moribund Swarm

Heinrich Himmler, ■■■■ ■■■■■■

Location Unavailable

"And you're sure it's stable? It will work properly? If it winds up damaging the land-"

"-For the last time, I'm sure. It's been tested since we remodeled it, there are no adverse effects. Granted, we haven't tested it over an entire city's area, so you might expect diminishing returns in performance. The difference between deploying twenty as opposed to thirty will probably be well less than ten versus twenty."

"Noted, I'll mention that in the handoff."

"Don't forget your end of the deal."

"...I'll make sure you get it."

"Good. If you weren't able to get me what you promised, I'd hate to squeeze appropriate payment out by force. Say, for instance, that little Eastern Mystic Code you're putting so much effort into getting."

"You don't need to threaten me. You'll get it."

"Lovely. A pleasure working with you as always."

---

"Dammit!"

A pale fist strikes a wall, a sharp pain jolting through it as it does. He acknowledges with a mental mutter that it will probably bruise.

"Himmler, damned Himmler. Damned Ahnenerbe, damned Yggdrasil, damned Japanese, damned Einzberns."

A shaky glance is given to the results of his trade, a shaky exhale leaving him. That tool he has acquired is the only way for him to reach his goal.

The other directors are too foolish, they don't understand that the Fuyuki project has the highest potential out of all of Thule's current projects. Because, after all, if that name of Einzbern is involved, it cannot be a fruitless endeavor. The weight that name carries, the Einzberns, the Einzberns...

He will need to send this to the force at Fuyuki immediately. Every second they waste weakens their chances.

Calm. In, out. In, out.

"Glory to the Thule Society."

---

Day One, Phase Four

Fate/Moribund Swarm

Tohsaka Manor, Premises Outskirts

As his fallen opponent's enemy dissipated into motes of light, the Burial Agent simply nodded in reply.

"Well met, then, Sigurd. Thank you for breaking my monotony."

Simply saying this as the Servant faded from this world, the monster of God turned to the Elemental at his side, as if waiting for her to speak.

"The destruction of his spiritual foundation's confirmed." The Elemental, the spirit of the Fourth Holy Scripture, chirped out. As she spoke, she stepped towards her contractor, seeming to be in an excellent mood as she handed the hammer in her hand over. After all, while Radah inhabited the weapon, it was Gavel who was more compatible with wielding it. "You know, if your body wouldn't have purged it out on account of the way it is now, I'd have told you to eat that heart or drink some of his blood or something. Even if it's diluted, some draconic blood never hurts."

At this, Gavel let out a sharp laugh, rolling his eyes. In comparison to the manic, battle-crazed man he had been mere moments earlier, his posture was more akin to what it had been prior to combat by now. "Absolutely not. It doesn't matter how strong it'd make me, I wouldn't let demon blood in my veins." He replied, sounding almost amused by the comment. Radah in reply shot him the trace of a glare, a feigned huff leaving her. "You know I'm half 'demon' too, right?" She chided. Gavel blandly shrugged in response, hefting the Scripture over his shoulder. "You're an exception. Anyway, those guys were trying to redirect me into that house before we started, got any readings?"

"Would've told you even if you didn't ask." Radah replied, rocking back onto her heels as she spoke. "You've got one magus and one of those Servant things in there, from what I can tell. So, if you want to go for another round, we can-"

The Elemental cut herself off, though, as an abrupt flare of magical energy formed within the manor. Her head snapped, around, eyes widening. "What...that's not the Servant, is...is that from the magus? Is that the fucking Clock Tower's Director or something? How is a magus in this age able to..." She muttered out incredulously, Gavel simply looking at her in confusion as she spoke.

"...well, change of plans. They just teleported out of there. They can apparently teleport. We need to find out how they can teleport, so once I'm dematerialized, we're going to try and find that Executor girl. We're supposed to contact her when we've cleaned out the Church anyway, so that'll be pretty easy."

"...we're supposed to contact her? How, exactly?"

"What do you mean? They said during dispatch tha-...they didn't give us any way of communicating with her."

"Nope."

"And we don't know what she looks like."

"Nope."

"And neither of us know the language here."

"Nope."

"..."

"..."

"We're killing Crown when we see him, right?"

"Absolutely."

"Well, on another note, I can recharge one of the charges a bit at the cost of making this materialization a good amount shorter, so you have two and a half of 'em left instead of just two. You want to do that and find a hotel near here?"

"We were just discussing how to deal with this mess, why are you shifting gears that quickly?"

"The time I'm materialized for is ticking down pretty damn fast, and on average I've only been able to get materialized once every couple centuries since I was born. If there's nobody to kill immediately around, we have nothing to do but aimlessly wander, and I'm materialized, then we'd better be doing this."

"Alright, alright. Let's try and find a hotel and...see if we can get a room somehow, I guess. Do you know what hotels look like here?"

"If we can't find one then we'll just go under the bridge, I don't fucking care, start walking."

---

Frederica Edelfelt

The Fancy Shop, Shinto

All things considered, the day had been a touch grating.

She hadn't expected to like the people they were cooperating with. They were Nazis, after all. Or at least one of them was a Nazi and the other was a half-Nazi half-just-weird-guy. Still though, she hadn't expected this level of irritation.

This feeling stemmed from one simple event: when she had been trying to find a stuffed animal to buy earlier in the day, and had been snatched up by her Servant to respond to a distress call, and when they got there, there was nothing to be distressed about.

Her "official role" or some garbage like that was to set up a Bounded Field around a swath of Shinto. Really, she didn't get the point of that, but if she was at least able to divert some time to her interrupted stuffed animal search, it would have to be begrudgingly allowed.

With this mindset, she continued on up until she received a very panicked communication.

"...oh?"

A Burial Agent? Not just a Burial Agent, but their number four, here? Fighting one of their Servants? No, not just one of their Servants, but their offensive juggernaut?

"...hm, pity. There's a good chance we're about to lose poor Rider." She remarked aloud to her partner, briefly examining a stuffed cat and bear side by side for direct comparison, before settling on the cat. Heading to the register and leaving the store with her new purchase in hand, she shook her head with a slight sigh. "I wonder if this is related to taking over the Church? Nah, no way that's enough reason to send a Burier. Maybe there's a strong vampire nearby and he's just passing through? That'd make sense." She spoke aloud as she walked the streets, stretching a bit as she did.

'Well, Saber, looks like we'll have to take this a bit more seriously. The other two don't properly understand how this works, even if they claim to live in this world. We're in a foreign land against four other magi and Servants, little information on the Masters, no information on the Servants, and we might be about to lose our strongest attacker. I'll just have to show these country bumpkins what the power of an Edelfelt means.'