Unoedipal

Fate/Blind Logos

Ruler

City of Science and Industry Building, Canal District
@Froppy@Player 2@KoL@Floodtalon

---

As Madhisi exited the building, the Servant's head shifted slightly. The sword in his hand raised up, tip poised a hair's breadth away from the magus's throat.

"You were warned."

They were not words of reprimand or threat, but mere statement of fact. The words were flat, empty. His gaze lifted up, looking to the building where the other Master still resided as his sword fell down.

"...however, this time, the blame is not yours. The King assumes the burden of their subjects. At the point where one takes up the seat of a ruler, at the point where one has the gall to call the city 'theirs', one assumes that weight. If you are not capable of that barest minimum, you have blemished the title of King, and with it, all those who rightfully earned its name."

He began to walk once again, moving past Madhisi as though he no longer had eyes for her. His pace was simply that of a normal human's as he moved towards the center, but in spite of that, there was a 'weight' to his movements, like a castle wall that was somehow advancing forwards.

"I will not cripple a beggar, so consider this the second warning. The next time, there will not be a chance for salvation."

These were the last words before he entered the building, treading past the preparations that the Easterners had made with rank indifference, until he came upon the immobile Master and her Servant.

He had prepared words in that short walk over. He had prepared to order the magus to confess her sins. He had prepared to evaluate the weight of her sins. Heretic and murderer though she may be, this was her first offense as a King, and while unforgivable, it was not a sentence for death. Perhaps a limb would be severed, a weakness inflicted upon the Servant, or a Command Spell confiscated.

However, that thought process ground to a screeching halt once he laid eyes upon the Servant. Ruler's presence immediately changed, any trace of regality wiped away, replaced with a wholehearted, primal bloodlust.

"A demon of the Orient. Betrayer, kinslayer, black coat among white. A better view I could not ask for."

Behind that helmet, he was certainly smiling.

The Caster looked on in silence. He could of course tell, the pressure bearing down upon this place by will of that formless shape had functionally crippled him, sealing him off from his magic foundation. It was, certainly, the 'worst possible enemy' for a being such as him. And yet...

Inexplicably, magical energy began to flow.

Ruler's bestial gait snapped back to attention, concealed eyes glinting as he processed what was occurring, as he realized that the Caster was accomplishing what, by all accounts, should have been impossible, for the purposes of striking him down.

Thoughts of mere punishment were gone. To take one who showed hostile intent lightly was a fool's errand.

-A curse, woven from a world of stars.

-A sword, gleaming like clear crystal.

It was a cataclysm that began and ended in a single breath.

"...refabricating it on the spot. The same talent as that witch."

And when it ended, its sole victor let out a murmur that danced between disgusted and impressed. He looked upon the magus as her Command Spells grew grey.

"The penalty has been handed down. You may continue, or you may retreat. The choice is yours."

The shape that could not be seen left the material world, along with its weight.

And so Ruler left.

Fate/Blind Logos

???

City of Science and Industry Building, Canal District
@Froppy@Player 2@KoL@Floodtalon

---

Twenty-four dead on the first night.

Fifty-five dead on the second night.

Unforgivable. Utterly unforgivable.

The warning had already been doled out, and yet they had not listened. The innocents had cried out, and yet they had not listened.

As he approached the structure, following the return of the Berserker, an armored hand swung through the air haphazardly.

"'The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.' Amen."

Something 'other' appeared, lurking beyond the thin glass of the world. A nightmarish weight pressed down upon the surroundings with its arrival. An eyeless gaze was cast upon the structure. There was disgust in its gaze. There was enmity in its gaze. There was love in its gaze.

And the Bounded Field which surrounded the building...no, not merely that, but every ensorcelled effect upon the premises-

Shattered. Came apart. Fell away. Bounded Fields were broken. Magic foundations became inaccessible. Rogue spirits were sublimated. Karakuri familiars and Mirai's own limbs shut down, refusing to move. Even the foremost Caster of the East and the draconic Berserker felt it, their spiritual foundations shaking under that oppressive weight.

The shape that could not be seen looked on in sorrow.

He, however, never once stopped moving. A blade appeared in his right hand. Hidden eyes glinted, a hunter before prey. When he finally came to a halt outside of the building, his voice tore through the air. The upright pride of a man of faith. The bestial growl of a man of war.

"Mirai Kurojishi, Madhisi, in the name of God, come forth and be judged for the men and women slain by your hands. Failure to comply will be considered a declaration of war."

Such was the declaration of the war's true overseer.

Such was the first appearance of the Servant, Ruler.

Fate/Blind Logos

Cerzelium Orchelas

Outside Apartment Workshop, Core District
@Phonic@ManyThings@Sunglass

---

"My Servant will come down there to kill yours, and then you'll be free from all this stress. You'll have no more reason to tremble."

"Ah..."

How fortunate. They had said it, rather than him. They had expressed the desire to commit evil.

Was he absolved? No, of course not. Even in self-defense, even if it was another who acted to kill and you merely killed them out of retaliation or self-preservation, killing was undoubtedly evil. However, it softened the blow. It made those harsh lines smoother. He would still commit evil if he killed this man's Servant, but it would be slightly less. The burden hoisted onto those shoulders would be just a hair lighter.

Moreover, the man himself did not need to die, so long as he did not interfere. So long as he did as was requested, there was no reason to take his life. This, too, was fortunate, for killing a living human with the capacity to evolve was surely a greater evil than taking the life of one who already knew death, even if both were certainly evil.

While his Magic Circuits had opened as a precautionary measure, there was no sign of action on the Master's part. His eyes simply remained fixed on the sight before him, watching as his Servant battled the enemy.

'Show me, Rider.'

'Show me the strength you gained from rejecting the king of evils.'

Fate/Blind Logos

Cerzelium Orchelas

Outside Apartment Workshop, Core District
@Phonic@ManyThings@Sunglass

---

"This looks to be the place, Rider."

His pulse quickened as he looked upon the workshop from the outside, or more specifically, for what it represented. Yes, he could not obtain victory in this war merely by standing at the side and praying for the other competitors to kill one another off. He had to take action, had to seize his victory with his own two hands.

An Orchelas cannot be evil. But, if he must commit evil to fulfill the family's dreams, if he must stain his hands in the hopes that his descendants might cast off all evils, then there cannot be hesitation.

A soft exhale left him. No doubt, even though he had yet to cross the boundary line, the Master and Servant within the workshop would certainly have noticed his presence as well as that of Rider by now. In that sense, there could not be hesitation. Even though he was not a true magus, he knew that to attack a magus within their workshop was an act of foolishness; after all, a workshop was where a magus was at their most powerful. Yes, even if both he and his partners had developed countermeasures to such things, it would not do to be overconfident about such things. Every response would need to be measured. Every action would need to be prepared. He did not know if this would become 'a battle to the death', but had to plan for the worst.

The right hand of the elderly man disappeared. Not as if it had simply been hidden away in a pocket, but rather, it seemed to suddenly blink out of place, as through it had been cleanly severed at the wrist.

"My opposition, I ask that you please avoid from contributing to the battle to come, and that your Servant comes forward to engage my own, without risk of damage to either of us."

A voice tinged with melancholy called out, unsure if the magus within would even be able to hear him. What was the person within like? What were their aspirations, their dreams? Had they also never killed before, or were they seasoned, numb to it? Who cared for them? Who would mourn their death? Why did they fight? What did they love?

"If they do not oblige within a reasonable time..."

His heart pounded in his skull, veins on his right wrist bulging out slightly as he resolved himself.

"...Rider, go."

Fate/Blind Logos

Cerzelium Orchelas

Near the Seine, Business District -> Restaurant Outdoor Patio, Business District West Edge
@Phonic

At his partner's words, Cerzelium could only nod in response; he was pleased, to say the least, to have summoned a man who aligned so well with him. "Of course, Rider. I am of the same mind, after all; if we could attain victory without shedding a drop of blood, that would be ideal." There was a somber note to his tone. Yes, fundamentally, Cerzelium was an Orchelas, and the Orchelas possessed a family creed, a rule that they had pledged themselves to: an Orchelas cannot be evil.

...and yet, he would have to commit evil in this city, in all likelihood. The thought alone made his pulse quicken.

His expression tightened, just slightly, as he let out a soft exhale. "It's a pity that, the next time we meet that young lady, we will have to fight; at the very least, if a tragedy does occur and she meets an end here, I hope it is after she overcomes whatever struggles she currently faces."

"-Still, we shall not waver. You have given me your word, and I have given you mine. The hopes of my family have been set to me, and for my loved ones, my resolve will be iron."

Sight was called upon, and the not-quite-a-magus began to walk forwards. As the topic of conversation changed, he felt a laugh bubble out of him at the words exchanged between the Pope and the succubus. "Very well, I will attempt to keep from disappointing you in my selection." The husband and wife's relationship was certainly unorthodox, but they complemented one another astoundingly well. He supposed that was another thing he admired about his partner, or more accurately, about Meridiana. A being born of 'evil' who had sloughed off those chains...yes, in a way, she would be more impressive in the eyes of the Orchelas than either Rider or Cerzelium. To reject that evil that she should have been steeped in, to find earnest love with a man such as Rider, it was nothing short of admirable.

Assuming they went undisturbed, Cerzelium moved with purpose, as though he already had a place in mind. It was a bit of a walk, putting them near the High-Rise District though not quite within it, but the trio eventually arrived at what looked to be a small restaurant with an outdoor patio. It was not especially bustling, but felt at least 'authentic', a bit of a rarer thing than one would think, in this part of the city.

"I discovered this place during my survey of the city in the daytime. A glass of wine for each of you?"

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Just Four Guys

Remains of the Golden Shangri-La Hotel's Penthouse, High-Rise District
@Crusader Lord@Reflection

The barrage of gunfire that had devastated part of a hotel had been nothing if not noticeable. It was only reasonable, then, that these four men who had been in the general vicinity and had heard such noises, had come to visit.

While they were all thoroughly middle-aged by now, they had been daredevils in their youth. Perhaps this was the result of those childish impulses rearing their heads once again. It seemed odd, though. After all, they had reached the ruined penthouse with little to no difficulty, and were now examining the premises as if searching for something. One dragged a finger across the charred floor, unknowingly grazing the line of where a magic circle had once been. One peered out of a shattered window, the sound of police sirens echoing through the streets below. The other two seemed to be conversing with one another, like amateur detectives trying to reach some conclusion about what had happened here.

"What could have done this? It seems like gunfire, but why would someone do that to destroy a hotel room?"

"There aren't any traces of blood, either. It's very odd. You'd think there'd be some traces of injury around."

"Did you hear? There was some sort of accident at a McDonalds, a building exploded."

"Crazy. The times really are moving too fast for us."

"Oh, the tap still works! Who wants a glass of water? Running up here left me parched."

"Drinking glasses survived whatever happened here?"

"I'm not sure drinking out of anything you find here is entirely safe, but sure."

The four men chattered and searched away, fully aware that they'd probably be kicked out of the room by law enforcement at any moment now. For now, though, they seemed to be having a grand old time playing detective.

Fate/Blind Logos

Cerzelium Orchelas

Near the Seine, Business District
@Phonic

After the conversation with Yazhu and her Servant had come to a close and the pairs had gone their separate ways, Cerzelium nodded slightly. "She seems to be struggling with something. I hope that she is able to work through it, whatever it may be. Ah, it's probably poor form to wish good fortune on our enemies, my apologies, Rider." He seemed to be initially speaking to himself under his breath for a few sparse moments, before turning to face his Servant for the later comment. A touch of embarrassment showed in his face as he realized his own slight faux-pas.

"I'll see to it that you have the chance to stretch your limbs. You'll have to forgive me, though; for now, I think it's better to keep a calmer approach. Alliances are dangerous, and breaking promises is undoubtedly 'evil'. Temporary nonaggression pacts, though, are an excellent thing if they are made with like-minded individuals, rather than remorseless killers. I believe that should be our focus for now, along with perhaps a light skirmish if possible, to get a grasp of the opposition."

"...although, it was tempting to play our hand, just a bit, during that talk. I must thank you for that idea, Lady 'M'. I look forward to the time when we are able to make use of it."

Letting out a slight laugh at that comment, a trace of light entering his eyes like a child with a new present, he then let out a sharp exhale, releasing the tension he'd been carrying during their most recent interaction.

"Well, for now, I think it would be fair to enjoy the city. What do you say, Rider? A glass of wine on an outdoor patio sounds quite nice, if you like; consider it my treat for both you and your wife."

Fate/Blind Logos

Canio

Palais Omnisports de Paris, Bercy, Residential District
@Player 2

Put simply, he was unstable. More than the standard, even. That was only to be expected, though- no sooner had he been summoned than was he forced to recall the most hellish point of his life.

Then again, that was only suitable. He was a man made into a story, so of course he could not ignore the story.

Forget everything before it. Forget your childhood fancies, forget your tired woes, those are mere dust. Yes, for the role being played is not "Canio, the man", but "Canio, the story".

"Information, is it? Learn where they are, learn how they walk, and eat, and sleep, and love, like setting up so many dominoes. How very like him, Master. But, but- let us bind to that story, nonetheless. Very well, I shall play my part. The paint comes on once again, as I once more become a tool to kill hated things."

Laugh, clown, Assassin, man-cum-story, for you have exceeded your limits! Paintless, powderless, even as nothing more than yourself, you have a role to play! Laugh at the absurdity, laugh at the tragedy!

"Yes, how very like him, but I do not hate it. Not yet, not yet. So I will agree, let us learn of those we will kill. Let us see, let us see..."

The form once again rippled, the presence of a Servant faded entirely, and a broad-shouldered Parisian man stood where the clown once had. Were it not for the fact that there was a witness to the change, to identify that new shape as a Servant would have been virtually impossible. Even the cadence of his voice had changed, that manic timbre lost in favor of a gruff bluntness.

"This'll work, unless you were thinking of something inanimate. Where to?"

Fate/Blind Logos

Cerzelium Orchelas

Near the Seine, Business District
@Phonic@KoL@SubjectVision

At the other Master's appearance, Cerzelium simply nodded in reply, once again looking to his partner in confirmation before stepping forwards. He came to a stop perhaps a bit more than twenty meters from the building that the other pair stood atop; measuring exact distances based off of mere eyeshot was, understandably, not a skill the average man possessed, so it was better to err on the side of caution than risk offending the other party. "A pleasure to meet you." He said simply, that warm smile carved into his face not abating even as the Servant so casually leapt off a building and moved himself and Yazhu to the same plane as Cerzelium himself.

Truth be told, he was a bit taken aback; the physical abilities of these Servants was still something he hadn't fully grasped, but he supposed that was only natural for ones who had been deified by mankind. Just what he'd learned by observing them could be invaluable to the learnings of his family, as well. He'd have to try and send word to them when he had a chance, as insurance for the likely scenario that he lost his life in the coming day.

"A park sounds lovely." He responded in kind, looking to the Archer and Master with simple respect. His eyes dwelled on the former for just a moment, smile going wistful for the briefest of moments before returning to its prior state. "I confess, I am glad that you are not the bloodthirsty type. As much as I care for my family, they are inclined to...exaggerate regarding the negative traits of those not of the family. As an optimist, it's pleasing to see that, so far, much of that fear has been baseless. Even if we will be enemies at some point, there's no reason to be cruel about it, yes?"

"By all means, Yazhu of the Hua family, lead the way. My partner and I will be happy to accompany you."

Fate/Blind Logos

Cerzelium Orchelas

Near the Seine, Business District
@Phonic@KoL@SubjectVision

---

After a lengthy but not insurmountable walk, the pair (trio?) was finally met with company. Cerzelium's eyes narrowed into a squint as he attempted to make out the details of the red-haired man who had revealed himself. For a moment, he considered a quick bout of magus detection magecraft, but decided against it; opening his Magic Circuits here could be taken as a preparation to attack, after all.

His decision was validated when that man spoke up, voice thankfully carrying the distance between the two pairs. Cerzelium couldn't help the slight laugh that left him as a result; how fortunate. He had been concerned that he was treading into a den of killers, that everyone he met in this place would be a coldblooded egotist who would stop at nothing, but so far, he was happily surprised by just how reasonable those he'd met had been.

Well, that or they were just being pragmatic and waiting for an ideal opportunity to strike, but he liked to give them the benefit of the doubt.

"Good evening." He called out simply in reply, giving Rider a quick glance as if to affirm that there were no issues with him speaking, before continuing on. "My partner and I would be happy to speak with you. It's a beautiful evening, after all, and surely the battles can come later. I am Cerzelium, representing the Orchelas family. May we approach?"