"If you could have anything..."
My father often asked me what I would wish for. The question was rhetorical, of course. Even with magic, such a thing isn't possible. But I was never able to answer that. It was so enormous. What would I have a use for? I'm a mage. Young and in his prime, studying magic. My family is a young one - only two generations - but we are strong nonetheless. The element of cold, of darkness. Black. Entropy is our magic. I still remember the day the Crest burned on my forehead, a design like claws grasping at my eyes. Tattoos that blend with my skin when the Crest is not active.
But that's not the point of this Familiar. It is not a simple repository of memory. It is an advisor. While it has no form, it still exists - a Legion-Type familiar, with goals like mine, powers like mine, but of a seperate mind. Advice. It cannot scout like most familiars or complete tasks, but... In a way, you are greater than other familiars, and at the least, you cannot be destroyed.
Respond, Familiar. If you can hear my voice, or read my thoughts, or anything of the like. Respond!
[BEER BEER BEER BEER]
Oh god, what have I done?
Well, I guess a few wouldn't hurt.
I should explain why I summoned you, before we go, though. It's called the Holy Grail War. Masters from all the world over come to compete for a relic that can grant wishes.
Oh, it's raining today. At least the bar is downhill.
To this end, to make the contest more interesting, I think, the Grail summons for these seven participants a Servant. The Servant is a being from a myth or legend of great power, a Heroic Spirit. There are seven classes, Saber, Archer, Lancer, Caster, Rider, Assassin, Berserker. My family owns this land, where the Grail is forming - so I am naturally one of the participants. And yet I can't bring myself to care. A few days ago I was granted the Command Spell, a Crest upon the back of my hand that looks like a whirlpool of red ink.
The bar is quiet. It's Tuesday, the middle of winter. It's no surprise there's only a few people here.
The question stands - what should I get? I mean, rather...
How drunk, exactly, are we talking? I still have a few more days to go until the actual summoning for the Servant needs to take place, and when that happens, I might as well have jumped into a kill or be killed arena.
[Lightly toasted seems to be a good amount, maybe 3-4 beers as an appetizer]
[Since you have a 1/7 chance of being dead by the end of the week, how about using the command spell on the bartender for a couple free rounds of the cold stuff?]
Let's start with a White Russian.
I suppose now's as good a time as any to explain how command spells work.
See, Servants are strong. I mean, crazy powerful. The greatest warriors of the modern age would probably fall to a Servant even of middling caliber. So, in order to keep them from just doing whatever the fuck they want, the masters are given Command Spells. They grant you control over the servant. In times of trouble, you may burn one, and the command given is ALWAYS followed - even if it's outside of the Servant's normal abilities. However, loss of all three invalidates me as a Master.
Father wouldn't like that. Losing after putting forth the land ourselves? We'd look like fools.
[Research our possible Servants]
I've actually got a few prepared. An oar from a Greek vessel. It's said to belong to Odysseus. I have a sword, from Spain, very old. And an old animal horn from Ireland, even older. Collected at the behest of the Alexander estate. We use some computer companies as a front.
[It's Seattle, get a good Northwestern beer. Pyramid Super Snow Cap]
After cleansing my palate, I move onto a more local drink, continually looking over my options. There's no way to tell what or who these artefacts will summon, in all honesty. Nor any way to tell yet who or what's BEEN summoned.
[The OAR! THE OAR!!]
I flip open my phone and confirm that the horn is the Artifact I require. They confirm the order. It shall be at my place... before I arrive. Ordering another round, I think on my tactics. Oh, and I have to meet the Church, after I summon. To confirm... and all that.
[Hey, you said I have powers like yours. What can I do?]
My mastery over Entropy and darkness allows me to manifest a single miracle - Dark Luck, the family spell. Our only spell. It reduces 'luck' on an opponent, or a series of opponents. It is especially good at ruining the true bane of mages, that is, modern weaponry. You can manifest a limited version.
[Search for the book 'journey to the west' or 'stories of the mid-Autumn festival']
A mere storybook is not enough for a reliable summoning. Specific summons require very precious artifacts - such as the first snakeskin ever shed - that are related to the Servant.
With this knowledge, is there anything else to do here? Or elsewhere? Or should I just stay and get drunk. Er. Drunker. More drunk?
[Make sure our web of contacts is in place to identify new arrivals to the city who are moving into somewhere luxurious or reserving large amounts of room or a whole mansion or something like that]
[We won't catch all of the mages but we'll get the locations of the rich ones this way]
A swift series of calls ensures I will recieve an email in the morning regarding the topic. The agent asks if I have any further inquiries, and I ask him to keep an eye on any nearby museums or internet trade websites, in case anything shows up at the last moment.
The other two artifacts will be handled discreetly by trusted employees, to hide them from other masters during the time of the War.
[Go back home, keep drinking]
A few bottles bought, and I wander home. There is a large box secured in one corner, out of the way. Good. They know my habits.
[Jewels]
Who do you think I am, Tohsaka? I do know rudimentary rune placement, however, and decide this is as good a time as ever to excercise it. Soon, the house is warded from intruders with my Luck. Good. I slump heavily onto the large couch, finishing off one bottle and tossing it aside. Something shatters, I don't really care, staring at the ceiling which seems to slowly rotate.
Another bottle opens easily, and the fluids slide down my throat with burning ease.
[CHUG CHUG CHUG CHUG]
Goddamn, it always tastes better when it hits the back of the tongue. So you HAVE to chug it, really, with this cheap shit.
There's another one.
[Talk to our familiar a bit, see if we can learn its origins and who else it has advised in the past]
A Familiar only appens once, a soltary existnce. You'v nevr assisted anyone else.
Man. It's amazing how fast a six-pack goes.
[Make a shake before you pass out. You will need the calories and electrolites waking up][Bananas and apples should be enough]
I stumble into the kitchen, mumbling about a shake. I get some ice and fruit into the pitchr-thn and hit the butn.
[Fuck those baubles and Artifacts from whoever and whatever! We'll draw a summoning circle while we're still drunk and summon the bestest and most awesome servant on a whim]
Yeah, fck thse fckers! I'mma... Imma summn... Smmon...
[DISCONTINUITY]
Why does it feel like my head's covered in tiny pins, each coated in acid?
[THAT'S HOW YOU KNOW THE BOOZE WORKS]
Great...
[Brain hurt causes unreliable counsel. Drag brain to freezer]
I stumble into the kitchen. My head is wracked with pain, and I drink deeply the orange juice I keep there while sticking my head in the freezer.
[Wake up. Keep our contacts gathering information on people and odd artifacts and packages entering as well]
I check in with my contacts - and, yep. There's a hit already. Someone from the Einzbern family has bought the whole top four floors of a hotel near the convention center.
I keep them working.
And that's about when I notice two things.
Someone broke in through the windows while I was drunk asleep. They cut themselves on the glass. There's also rubber material on the frame - did they slice open their shoes as well? There's blood on the floor, too, where the shards from my bottles landed.
And someone stole my horn. Or at least, it's not where it was before.
[Do we recognize the effects of Dark Luck? If so, the culprit is probably having one hell of a very noticeable bad day. Get to tracking him or his clues]
Seems the vandal was hit as soon as he got inside. The fact that their shoes were ruined along with a goodly amount of flesh is pretty damn telling of that.
And yes, it's theirs. And it's not a magus. You'd know magus blood right away, it carries a lot of mana. More than a normal person's anyway.
[Summon without a Catalyst]
If I do this, I might deprive the theif of a use of the Servant the catalyst pertains to, by virtue of filling the class. It's actually a viable idea. But then, so is attempting a scry with their blood. You know the basics, but the person hiring this theif might be able to obscure them.
I quickly call the main house and ask them to send a replacement, just in case. They say only one is left. I say send it anyway, I don't give a damn.
Immediately, I begin the small ritual of seeking someone using their Od. It is time consuming, but not utterly. Within a few minutes I can sense him - an intangible link between us, like a string. I grin. He's not a magus, so I open my Circuits, and let the good times roll as I step outside. Well, good times for me.
This is the most efficient method of attack in my arsenal. It's not the most stable, as the link could be severed by anyone with a degree of competence, but soon enough I cannot push in any more bad luck - and the first manifestation's a biggie. A huge white, blue, and green bus slams into him, crushing him beneath the wheel. The compressed dark luck explodes from his body - Oh fuck, that was a mistake.
And strikes about half the passengers on the bus. Well, it's not enough to kill them, but...
Eh. Any magus on that bus could have easily defended themselves from something of that magnitude. But now I have to get to the scene before the cops arrive.
I beat feet - it's only a few blocks away!
I get there, but sirens wail in the near distance.
"Excuse me, I'm a doctor." I say, loudly, pushing through. They part for me easily. I don't need magic to lie, done it plenty in the past. It's a simple skill.
The man was horribly ruined by his encounter. Ignoring the guts, I grasp the case - a padded briefcase. I know it's in there already as soon as I lift it up, the weight is the same.
I might be able to divine more info if I search the body - But then, I think I should hurry home...
... The seal's broken on the case. The catalyst may be compromised in a number of ways, further, they may know what it was.
I have only a few minutes before police arrive.
[Leave it, mark it somehow?]
I think for a moment, then open the case and place another rune carrying dark luck on the catalyst. Too much more of this in such a short time and it might effect my abilities. I tap his wrist, check ankle, mutter something about ID and take the wallet - leaving the suitcase as I leave.
Too much a chance that they've already learned who is behind that catalyst.
And then I notice something, walking away from the scene. One of the cars that passes me is absent a passenger - and the one riding it is leaking prana.
As if fueling a Servant. But before I can get a good look at it, it continues on. A magus in the police? I'll have to run a check on that. Arriving home, I find a long, slender item has replaced the horn's former position. An oar.
I run my fingers through my hair in thought.
I could summon randomly. But then, Odysseus was a planner and a scemer - a known teller of lies like myself. I might get him either way.
[Summon!]
All fucking right. Let's do this. The circle is easy to inscribe.
"Silver and iron to the origin. Gem and the archduke of contracts to the cornerstone. The ancestor is my great master Schweinorg.
The alighted wind becomes a wall. The gates in the four directions close, coming from the crown, the three-forked road that leads to the kingdom circulate.
Shut (fill). Shut (fill). Shut (fill). Shut (fill). Shut (fill).
Repeat every five times.
Simply, shatter once filled.
――――I announce.
Your self is under me, my fate(doom) is in your sword.
In accordance with the resort of the Holy Grail, if you abide by this feeling, this reason, then answer.
Here is my oath. I am the one who becomes all the good of the world of the dead, I am the one who lays out all the evil of the world of the dead.
You, seven heavens clad in three words of power, arrive from the ring of deterrence, O keeper of the balance!"
The ring shines, and a man stands before me. His head is like a mane, hair curling like water in a storm. His skin is rough with callous, his eyes, tired. In his hand he holds the largest bow I've ever seen, simple, yet strong looking, unstrung. And in his other hand, the oar.
He looks down at me, wearing not a toga as I had expected, but the rough leathers and clothes of a man at sea. His eyes stare into my soul, it seems, and he speaks, his words resounding through the room.
"I ask. Are you my Master?"
[No!]
"Yes. I am your master." I say, and he relaxes - but just slightly. His eyes seem ever-fearful, as if the world itself is ready to throw him about. I gesture to the couch. "Can I get you a drink?"
"That would be excellent." Odysseus states, seating himself. "It seems there has been unrest within your home." he remarks as I pull the best drinks I have from my personal stash.
"Yes, someone intruded and was punished rightfully." I reply, placing the drinks before him with glasses. He grunts in affirmation and picks up the wine glass, pulling the cork free with his hand and pouring himself and me a glass. As he sets down the bottle he nods, almost to himself.
"Before you start asking questions." he said. "I am of the Archer class. My bow and my ship are my noble phantasms - the bow will always strike true, regardless of defensive mechanisms - and the boat can move through any waters without trouble. Now that that is clear - have you any other questions?"
He leans back drinking indulgently, patiently awaiting my response.
[I would like to know about his other Abilities and Stats]
To get that information...
I just look at him, and envision the best way for me to see information.
Odysseus
Archer-class
STR: B
END: C
AGI: B
MAN: C
LUK: F (Below human standard)
Skills -
Independent Action (EX) : Odysseus can function without mana from a Master for as many as ten years before dispersing.
Tongue of the Cunning (B) : Odysseus's words ring true, regardless of context. Anything he says is taken as the truth, unless evidence is brought forth against it within a few minutes.
Eye of the Mind (True) (B) : Heightened insight that was refined through experience.Capable of calm analysis of battle conditions even when in danger and deduce an appropriate course of action after considering all possibilities to escape from a predicament. So long there is even a 1% chance of a comeback, this ability greatly improves the chances of winning.
... It seems some things are not visible at the moment.
"Did Homer get anything wrong?" I decide to ask.
"A difficult question." he says, his fingers steepled. "There are some matters that were downplayed, and some that were exaggerated. But on the whole, he was accurate." he said. "Minor things, like the number of axe-heads? Maybe more, maybe less."
"How far are you willing to go to win?"
"You have read my tale. What do you think?"
I raise an eyebrow at that. "Any questions of your own?"
"What of your capabilities?"
I explain in short what my magic can do as he goes into thought, adding in what my range of allies can do.
"It seems we have three clear enemies at present." he concludes. "At the least. The rest, occluded."
"Would you lie to me?"
"Only in the event such a thing would bring benefit to you." he replies. "Such as a gambit where your ignorance is a necessary part. But such plans turn to folly easily.." he grumbles.
"And the foes you mentioned?"
"Magus do not like to involve those untrained in magic. So your thief, vandal, assassin, that you punished, who was most likely mundane, since his blood lays upon the floor, was not hired by the Einzbern. They are a traditional magus family, yes?"
"How do you know that?"
"The Throne of Heroes supplies some necessary information. Otherwise, many servants would be troubled upon summoning. At any rate, nor is the one who hired him the magus among the police you spoke of -"
"Wait, I didn't speak of any."
He blinks at me, then sighs.
"Troublesome..." he mutters. "As I said, it could not be him - for if it were, he would have come here - pretending to be a responder to a robbery would have been an excellent chance to end you."
That's true.
[We know, that someone knows we live here. This means we fucked up and should probably look up for a new place to set up our new workshop instead of staying here and fortyfing it]
"Should we relocate?"
"... I thought we were drinking this because it was too much trouble to move it. By all means, yes. We must find another location immediately. We have some time before we must act - " he displays this with another long sip, "- But not a great deal."
[Noble Phantasms tend to be relatively mana intensive. His may be an exception, though]
"...Your boat. Is it mana intensive? Draining?"
"... I can see where you are going with this. Not exactly. Calling it can be labourous, but once summoned, it is simple enough to maintain. However, it is a very distinct vessel."
"What about another boat?"
"... Possible. Very much so. Can you acquire one?"
"We could just steal one."
He nods. "Yes, that will do nicely. Where is the water?"
I pull out a map. "It's northwest of here." I say, unrolling it on the table. "My familiar also suggest burning out."
"Excellent. That should work perfectly. From the water, an attack will have to be clear and present, unless they move underwater. Not many heroes were known for that, however."
"What about a disguise?"
"All I need is a hat and a coat. Until then, I can remain in this form." he says, and I feel a presence on the other side of the room. But I don't see anything.
I nod.
"A shame." he says, eyeing the alcohol.
"Save the wine. We're using the rest." I say, picking up the bottles of hit proof and shattering them around the already-messy area. I can't pack clothing, only grab a few necessary things. I move outside, light a rak in the last bottle, and toss it in.
Time to move. I bring my coat in tight, and move downhill, towards the docks. The flickering fire lights up the darkening night.
[When it comes to stealing, I would actually say we look for a boat /yacht that isn't deserted][It's better to charm/hypnotize the people then outright stealing them. If we think that one of the other Mages works with the police a stolen Boat after the Fire will be a somewhat obvious hint. So either let Archer use his Tongue to charm the people on the boat, or charm/hypnotize them into thinking you're part of their familiy that they waited for]
As we approach the docks, I feel something on me. Attention. I turn, and something shines in the distance. "Archer!" I call, and he appears behind me, bow string, pulling it back. His muscles ripple until he finally releases... But no arrow is notched.
Instead, the arrow simply comes into existence and flies out, the man leaning out the window clutching at the arrow in his chest as he falls out. We both mutely watch him fall.
"This is what it feels like to be a wanted man."
A strong hand pats my shoulder, then fades, and we continue moving, onto a boat where a party is taking place. It feels like Odysseus is tugging me there, and we eventually move to the cabin, where the apparent birthday boy is.
Oddysseus laughs as we convince him to leave the port.
"There." he says, later, as we sit belowdecks. "They cannot chase us here - to do so would be to attract attention from normal folk. All we must do is wait for the revelry to end. There is an isle I saw not far off - it is where our wonderful captain 'bro' is taking us. It should be an excellent location to set up 'shop'." he smiles. "I will admit, I had not looked forward to being on the water again... But it is comfortable, in its own way."
[Island fortress? I like. But what do we know about it? Inhabited? Also what shall be done with Captain Bro and his revelers? We do need to move back and forth from the isle to the main land without him]
"What shall we do about returning?" I ask. "Surely the captain..."
"I will have him circle around behind the isle. I assured him it was an excellent location for revelry, for the wind is still, but the night is warm. When he awakens and drives back, we hail him, and then hire him as a ferryman - convincing everyone onboard to pay their proper dues as well to him."
"Isn't that getting others involved?"
"Just as much as using the world at large as a weapon." he says simply. I look at my watch as it ticks towards midnight, then pull out my phone and call the church.
"This is - ah. The mage from the Alexander family. You have completed your summoning?"
"Yes."
"Excellent. It shall be recorded."
"Is everyone else finished with their summoning?"
"As of your call, all other six masters have completed their summoning ritual."
He hangs up. as the clock strikes midnight. Those above us celebrate a young man turning twenty one.
"I'm sorry for the rush." I manage. He chuckles.
"Ah, well. There are some things one cannot prevent. We should spend this time to compare notes and rest. It is unlikely we will be attacked for some time."
I nod, and we begin to talk more extensively about the matters of the time before his summons, while we head towards our future base of operations.
[END OF DAY ONE]