Archangel Xiron Chaos God: Thank you very much
DeathUser: To be honest, point 1) was not supposed to be humoristic... probably a problem in translation.
"I find the meet up of Lancelot and Arthur a little tame however, I thought it is going to ve explosive or whatnot."
In fact, this is not an error on my part. It must be understood that the chapter was already full of combat scenes. Another fight between Artoria and Lancelot would have been "diluted" in the midst of other clashes and... how can I put it?... It would have taken the fight to the level of a secondary event. I intend - on the contrary - to put at the center of history a clash between Lancelot and King Arthur. The ease with which the Lady and the Green Knight were able to end the fight... especially for all those who saw Fate/Zero... was also a message, a way to show the importance of Nimue as a "cure" for Lancelot's madness.
"Since Hakuno captured Marienburg and was the new Duke of it, then does it mean it is their new base?"
Her new base, yes, but that doesn't mean she's going to stay in a palace and give orders... after all, she already refused that role when the King of Bretonnia imposed it on her.
"Come to think of it, how fast can she view all the happenings into her floating screens? It seems she can see all of it with just a blink of an eye and provide support to others in a way. How fast is her reaction time, to see the attacks of her Servants and predict all to counter? It's like Hakuno is a little computer or something."
That's pretty much it... In Fate/ Extra, Hakuno is able to predict the movements of enemy Servants, to find flaws in their defense, and pinpoint them to her Servant... so simultaneously follow ten screens at a time is easy... at least for her.
ATP: We'll have a chance to see Selar again.
Stratos263: Thank you for your interest.
Guest: So I am often asked this question, and my answer has not changed since the beginning. Hakuno will only invoke Servants from the Arthurian legend... However, I take this opportunity to give information that I have not given until now... there will be other Masters and other Servants will be invoked... Nevertheless, Order ab Chaos is a story centered on Hakuno and her Servants... the other Masters and the other Servants will only have a very secondary importance.
Boyzilla: Yes, "Today Marienburg, tomorrow the Old World", Hakuno will convert everyone to the sacred church of the Head Tilt! In fact, we must remember the objective of the Moon Cell Automaton, the megacomputer experiments on the Old World the fighting techniques of Hakuno to protect the Earth in the future. So the goal is to secure the entire Old World...
Me too, I still have Extra Missions to do in Fate Extella Link.
Author's Note: For those who would ask the question... I did not invent the content of the military-trade agreements between Marienburg and Ulthuan. Yes, this is a perfectly unbalanced treaty... well a "just" treaty... at least from the perspective of the High Elves, since they consider that an agreement of this kind must necessarily favor the Elves, after all the humans are such inferiors beings and despicable barbarians. Conclude an agreement with them is already much concede.
Et verbum erat et cogitatio
(The verb and the thought)
The Demagogues are the most popular agitators, speakers so gifted that they are able to shake whole nations with the help of their verb. They are still among the leaders of the cause they champion. As extremely persuasive public speakers, Demagogues can inspire rage or grief, create an angry crowd, or cause an angry crowd to shed tears of shame. The authorities are always wary of them because they are likely to sow the wind of revolt and discord against the government or the Church, and Magistrates are well aware of the prevalence of public opinion and are sometimes influenced in their decisions when a Demagogue has raised the public against the plausible judgment of the courts. However, when properly guided, they are useful in rallying the people against Chaos and any other threat. The authorities, therefore, treat the Popular Demagogues with caution and sometimes try to win their graces, so wise leaders will ensure that the particularly effective Demagogues are at their service and that they are well satisfied.
Anyone who has something to complain about can hire a Demagogue to speak to the crowds on his behalf, but not all Demagogues are mercenaries: some really believe in their cause, whether it be the fate of the peasants, abuses of the rich, or support for the state apparatus. These men and women will work tirelessly for their cause and endure hardship and hardship in the hope of making the world a better place. Such crusaders can be dangerous to the status quo, especially if their interests run counter to those of those in power. The Demagogues can expect to spend at least part of their life in prison, and they have every interest in having few possessions to be able to leave the city without delay, in the face and in the beard of the Guards of the city. Rivalries often occur between Demagogues who support opposing factions in a conflict, each trying to build up the angry crowd against the other.
Warhammer RPG: Career Compendium (section: the demagogues)
Hakuno Kishinami awoke and rose slowly. She rubbed her eyes and turned her head, a moment surprised by the sumptuous room where she was. The bed of the Duke of Vasteland was a real monument capable of accommodating four sleepers... the last duke sharing his bed with his mistresses. Rare furs covered it and the sheets were made of silk.
It's been a long time since the Sovereign of the Moon Cell slept so well. It must be said that she had collapsed from exhaustion as soon as she touched the bed, the last two weeks had been very stressful.
With the collapse of the Directorate, the city ravaged by the armies of Slaanesh, the death of one in ten inhabitants during the fall of the city, the disappearance of the Black Hat, Marienburg threatened to sink into mayhem. There was no police, no army, and no government. Only her Servants and the Enemy_programs of the Moon Cell prevented the city from sinking into anarchy.
The first days, the presence of Louen Leoncoeur and the armies of Bretonnia had calmed the crowd of Marienburgers but... the king of Bretonnia had been forced to return to Couronne with all his men because Norses in arms had landed near the capital. The longship plundered the coasts, going up the rivers... burning the villages... killing the peasants... abducting the children to sacrifice them to the gods of Chaos. It was a simple Viking expedition and not a true invasion, but King Louen (also Duke of Couronne) had to defend his people against this attack.
Kishinami's Servants had mixed views on the departure of the Bretonnians. Sir Key was the most bitter. Hakuno frowned as she remembered his remark: "At least, that way, we are certain that Louen Leoncoeur will not hurry to have all kinds of documents signed that would transform the Little Mouse, into a figurehead with no real power... Bretonnians love Marienburg very much, too much to want to leave."
Artoria was more nuanced, but she had partly approved her foster-brother: "King Louen is considered a paragon of chivalry. He would never behave so dishonorably. Nevertheless, the presence of so many Bretonnian lords at Marienburg would soon become a bone of contention between the Marienburgers and Master."
Hakuno shook her head and fought the urge to go back to bed... only to get up three days later, hoping that the population had meanwhile forgotten its idea of making her the "Duchess of the Vasteland"!
Unfortunately...
The doors opened to let in a troop of servants in aprons, their hair covered with a headdress. Under the direction of a wrinkled and authoritarian duenna, they brought clean clothes, a bathtub, towels, soap... finally everything that was necessary for the morning toilet. Through the open door, the Sovereign of the Moon Cell saw Sir Gawain motionless, his hands resting on the knob of Galatine.
Hakuno will sigh...
Unfortunately, the Marienburgers didn't seem to want to let her go... and her Servants even less.
Once her toilet was finished, dressed in a red dress of a simple couple but of princely cloth, Hakuno was able to have her breakfast.
The room where she settled was heated by a faience stove (which was a "modern" refinement in the Old World) and by a wide fireplace. The walls were painted white and decorated with drawings of bouquets of flowers that were also found on the ceiling decorated with thick beams.
A large wooden table surrounded by armchairs hosted the "private" meals of the duke. The "New Palace" obviously had a banquet hall for ceremonial receptions.
Besides Kishinami, Artoria Pendragon was at the other end of the table. She was not wearing her armor, but a black doublet decorated with gold wire on a red silk shirt. She had undone her usual braid and wore her hair into a ponytail. Thus dressed, Artoria looked more like a delicate young man than a woman.
Usually, Saber was rather quiet during meals. She tasted good food with almost... religious respect. However, her presence at breakfast was just an excuse for taking Hakuno aside.
There was an urgent problem that she had to submit to the Sovereign of the Moon:
"Master, we must organize a transitional government."
Hakuno placed her cup of Cathay tea on its saucer and made a head tilt.
Artoria, who opened her mouth to continue her explanation, had the impression that all her thoughts were blurring as if a sudden wind had blown them away. To give herself a countenance, King Arthur coughed in her fist.
"Master, the Duke of Vasteland must be sacred by the high priest Manann, the god of the ocean."
Hakuno nods to that. The subject had already been mentioned, but Tempelwijk (the district of temples) was undoubtedly the district of Marienburg which had suffered the most. The Moon Cell had repaired the physical damages, but the priests had been massacred:
"He is dead."
"Yes, Master. There are no more priests of Manaan of sufficient rank to consecrate you duchess. On leaving, King Louen assured us that he would ask the priest of Manann at Bordeleau to join Marienburg. Nevertheless, while awaiting his arrival we must make arrangements to organize a provisional government. Marienburg also needs a police force..."
"The Ennemy_Programs?"
Artoria shook her head in response to Hakuno's proposal:
"No, Master. Effigies cannot speak and are not intelligent enough. We need a real police force that can ask questions, make reports and respond to the demands of your new subjects."
After swallowing a sip of tea, Hakuno nodded her head. King Arthur moved on to organizing the provisional government:
"Sir Key would make a worthy army chief, he was the seneschal of Camelot throughout my reign and has experience. Sir Bedivere could take over the internal organization of Marienburg and Sir Gawain could take over relations with neighboring countries."
"Gawain?"
The Sovereign of the Moon Cell seemed rather surprised. During the first weeks of the Moon Cell Grail War, her relationship with the Knight of the Sun had been... let's say delicate. Sir Gawain divided the world into two parts: the brave knights and the fair maidens on one side and... everything else on the other. And the rest was not worthy of the attention of a knight. As a result, Hakuno Kishinami had a little trouble imagining Gawain as a diplomat.
Artoria smiles briefly:
"My nephew was the 'chief of peace' of Camelot, the chief of diplomacy. Whenever he wants, Gawain is able to seduce his interlocutors with beautiful sentences and his great knowledge of court practices. Gawain was the one who reconciled Sir Tristan and King Mark (1). We must also associate with this government the survivors of the Directorate, Clotilde de Roelef, and Arkat Fooger. This will allow us to build on the previous government, and additionally, we will gain the support of the Roelef and Fooger's houses. Madame de Roelef represents what remains of the traditional aristocracy of Vasteland. Patriarch Fooger represents Marienburg's Dwarves, dock workers, miners, and Halflings."
Hakuno Kishinami blinked:
"And you?"
"Master, I will stay close to you to advise you. I have some experience in governing a nation..."
Her smile disappeared:
"Although in the end, I destroyed the island of Britain."
The morning always started the same way. After breakfast, the Sovereign of the Moon was to go to the throne room to receive ambassadors, prominent members of the city, and other supplicants and lobbyists.
This room was splendid. The ceiling was covered with plaster moldings. The walls were made of red marble and lined with consoles supporting delicate statuettes and other art objects. The throne was a fairly simple armchair with red cushions and gold-leaf armrests. But it was on a red velvet platform at the top of three steps. A red cloth canopy dominated it. At its center was the Marienburg's coat of arms: a shield adorned with a mermaid between two seahorses, all under a knight helmet.
A herald in purple and yellow doublet stood at the door. Striking the black and white paved floor with his halberd, he announced the first appointment of the day:
"His Excellency Tarmonagh din-Ciobahn, Lord of the Ulliogtha Clan and grandson of Sullandie, exarch of Sith Rionnacs'namishathir by the will of His Most Excellent Majesty the Phoenix-King Finnubar the Traveler."
The exarch was the representative of the Phoenix-King of Ulthuan in the Old World and Sith Rionnacs'namishathir, the elven name of Marienburg. The exarch title had probably been a very important function at the time when the Old World was a colony of the High Elves. However, the real power of Tarmonagh din-Ciobahn hardly extended beyond Elfville, the elven quarter of the city... even though the High Elves enjoyed many privileges in Marienburg.
The male elf that came in was tall, slender, and elegant. His hair was ash-blond. His eyes have a very light blue tone. He was dressed in a white silk dress that went down to his ankles, and he had on his forehead a golden band adorned with an emerald and a blue feather.
Although Tarmonagh din-Ciobahn was smiling, his face betrayed haughtiness almost as tangible as a physical object. As he bowed, just enough not to be insulting, a flash of cunning lightning flashed through his gaze.
While he was waving greetings and salutations, Sir Key contacted his Master through their Mental link:
[Careful, Little Mouse, he's not a friend! He thinks you're just a moronic little girl with the ears still wet that he can manipulate as he likes. He is sure of himself, of his power, and sees humans only as filthy barbarians who should thank on their knees the High Elves for the puffs of air (properties of the Elves) that are generously granted to them].
Tarmonagh din-Ciobahn began by reminding the new leader of Marienburg of all that the Vasteland owed to the High Elves. He stated loudly that Ulthuan was the city-state's largest trading partner. This was true, the Marienburgers benefited from commercial exclusivity thanks to this, and even import from Lustria. But as Sir Bedivere pointed out through their mental bond, this trade agreement was not a generous gift from Ulthuan. In exchange, the port of Marienburg spread the Elven commercial goods to Kislev and the Sigmar Empire. So it was a win-win exchange.
As the exarch seemed to wait for an answer, Hakuno nodded without saying a word. This seemed to trouble Tarmonagh din-Ciobahn who discovered what "discussing" with the Sovereign of the Moon meant.
After a brief pause, the High Elf began to talk about the military alliance between Ulthuan and Marienburg. He recalled the defeat of the Imperial Army of the Lower Reik. At the time, Count Zelt had to hand over his sword to a High Elf Sorcerer who commanded a force combining Marienburger militia and Elf navy infantry. The kingdom of Ulthuan was clearly defending Marienburg against all its enemies.
Once again Hakuno nodded and the trouble of the young elf began to become obvious. He had planned arguments and examples, had prepared responses to remarks of the new overlord. Before entering, he had more or less expected an opposition. After all, Hakuno Kishinami was supposed to be close to the Bretonnians or came from Yamato... some even said that she came from another world (the Idiots, if the Elves could not travel to other worlds no other race could, it was obvious!). But for him, such a young human must have been easy to impress. The High Elves were after all the real masters of the world!
Hakuno's lack of response gave him no information on how to continue the negotiations.
He hesitated:
"I hope that Your Highness is aware of the importance of the military and economic alliance between the Duchy of Vasteland and the kingdom of Ulthuan?"
She nodded without a word.
Tarmonagh din-Ciobahn tried to get a reaction from the future duchess, to have at least one indication of her official position:
"For four hundred years, the Marienburg-Ulthuan Treaty has been the basis of Vasteland's foreign relations. All other nations fear Ulthuan's intervention alongside its loyal ally of Marienburg."
Hakuno made a head tilt:
"You weren't there against Hearthbreaker."
Although troubled by the head tilt, even the Elves were not immunized, Tarmonagh din-Ciobahn quickly recovered, especially because he had foreseen this answer:
"Unfortunately, Lady Kishinami, our intervention has been delayed by the increasing activity of the Dark Elves, as the Druchi assail the northern coasts of Ulthuan as I speak. While it pains me to confess our... present problem, I want to assure you that we will return these monsters to their stinking cities. One day, we will erase them from the face of the world. They are the cancer of the elven race and annihilating them is a sacred crusade!"
The Sovereign of the Moon nodded... again.
Tarmonagh din-Ciobahn did not know what to do. The basis of diplomacy was "small talk". Diplomats pretended to be interested in each other's business, asked questions, and pretended to ask the other side for opinions on their own problems. And this exchange made it possible to discover what the other wanted and therefore what to negotiate. How to negotiate with Hakuno Kishinami? Since the beginning of these "negotiations", she had spoken once and nodded her head three times! In fact, with the perfect poker face of the Japanese teen girl, the exarch was unable to guess whether he is facing a perfect idiot or a true genius!
He completely changed tactics, doing what a diplomat would never do... spontaneously talk about his side's problems:
"Lady Kishinami. I have come to ask you to renew the treaty of alliance with Ulthuan."
Hakuno remained silent for a moment, listening to the inaudible voices of Sir Gawain, Sir Bedivere, Sir Key, and especially Artoria. She finally nodded her head:
"No changes to the trade agreement. Some points to renegotiate in the military alliance and the autonomy of the Sith Rionnacs'namishathir exarchate".
The exarch Tarmonagh din-Ciobahn took a polite and attentive attitude, but in fact, he was worried:
"Could Your Highness tell us what points of the agreement are to be renegotiated?"
The Master blinked:
"Adapting to the new military situation in Marienburg. Rebalancing judicial agreements between Ulthuan and Vasteland. Changes the customs' regulations and warehousing of goods."
The last two points were so far largely against Marienburg. Thus, the Elven criminals could not be prosecuted by the Marienburg authorities. They had to "respectfully" request extradition even if the criminal in question was already in prison in Marienburg. Conversely, the Manniocs-quinsh (the High Elf police) were free to go all over the Vasteland to arrest a person who had violated a law in Elfville (in theory... in practice, the Manniocs-quinsh had renounced to intervene outside Marienburg after several policemen were stoned by the angry mob).
As for customs practices, a ship from Marienburg going to Lothern -the only elven port open to trade with humans- had to pay for customs and storage of goods in docks belonging to elven merchants. However, the elven ships that went to Marienburg landed at Elfville which was... an independent High-Elf city, at least on paper! They used their own warehouses (held by Elven traders) and paid only the Elfville customs. But if the Elves claimed the status of an independent city to their neighborhood, they forgot this claim as soon as it was a matter of charging a right of entry to their goods. With striking illogicality, the High-Elven traders refused the installation of customs between Elfville and the rest of Marienburg arguing that the merchants of the city did not pay taxes to move their goods from one neighborhood to another! Except, of course, the merchants of Marienburg paid customs at the entrance of the city and the unloading of their goods.
The worst was that Elfville had its own shipyards and that the ships manufactured on-site enjoyed the same rights and advantages as the Marienburgers (Including house Fooger's cargo insurance (2))! The Elfville's merchant ships, therefore, had all the rights and benefits guaranteed to the Elven by the Alliance Treaty... and all those of the Marienburgers ships. The inequality of treatment between the merchants of Elfville and those of the rest of Marienburg fed a strong enmity for four centuries.
The exarch Tarmonagh din-Ciobahn reflects quickly:
"Lady Kishinami, these benefits were offered to the merchants in exchange for Ulthuan's military aid against your enemies."
Hakuno blinked... once again:
"Like you helped us against Hearthbreaker?"
Nervously, the elf tried to explain that it was an unfortunate impediment and that it did not change the basis of the treaty and that the guarantee of... but the exarch speech was cut by a seriously angered Sir Key:
"Yeah... I understand. Your military aid is subject to the circumstances and if you can't assure it... Well, that's too bad for us. On the other hand, your benefits are to be paid out of the pocket of the Marienburger's taxpayer (our taxpayer!). And if he does not agree... well, too bad for him!"
Although Artoria and Gawain looked at Key with a warning gaze, he was far too irritated to pay attention:
"We have a new alliance agreement with Bretonnia. A military and economic alliance... So we need you much less now. You better get used to it and think about what you're willing to sacrifice to keep your market share."
Shocked that a "lower human" could speak to him in that tone, Tarmonagh din-Ciobahn blushed and opened his mouth to respond with even more virulence..
Sir Bedivere cleared his throat:
"Master, may I intervene?"
As the teen girl nodded, all turned to the one-armed man who bowed politely to the exarch:
"Sir Key is a noble and loyal knight... he's just a little... let's say he needs to learn diplomacy."
Tarmonagh din-Ciobahn calmed down a little, but Bedivere had not finished:
"I think everyone is aware that the economic partnership with Bretonnia will never replace trade with Ulthuan. You have much more to offer. Nevertheless, the share of trade with Ulthuan in Marienburg's trade balance will fall. Moreover, recent events have shown that the military alliance with Ulthuan may not give us complete satisfaction. As we contacted another alliance with a closer and more... involved partner in the affairs of the Old World, the military alliance with Ulthuan is now less important to us. Therefore, I can only approve the content (if not the form) of Sir Key's remark. If you can't provide us with military support when we really need it, I don't see why the Duchy of Vasteland should give you commercial privileges in exchange for... well, in exchange for nothing."
Tarmonagh din-Ciobahn came out of the throne room completely defeated and humiliated, without having been able to snatch a single concession and having to announce to the Phoenix-King that their commercial contracts and their military alliance with Marienburg would have to be renegotiated... favorably to the human vermin.
The exarch swore that they would pay, that he would have his revenge, and that humans would drag themselves at his feet so that he would agree to help them. In his mind, it was obviously impossible for humans to be okay without the help of the Elves.
The next appointment was Patriarch Arkat Fooger, a strong dwarf still alert despite his 177 years. The white beard still strewn with black threads, corpulent and obviously small, the Dwarf was dressed in leather and brown canvas. His wide belt held several bags. He bowed slightly:
"Noble lady, your appearance, when the demon Hearthbreaker was about to devour the city, is surely a blessing from the gods! Grace be to you."
The discussion that followed was much shorter than that which had preceded it. After some compliments and thanks, the Dwarf Patriarch got to the heart of the matter. The guild of dockers suffered greatly from the unfair competition of the High Elves of Elfville. The Fooger house, which owned and maintained the docks, paid the guards who guarded them, and the cargo handlers who were employed there, was the guarantor of social peace in the hard workers, cheap seats, of the port district. As such, the Patriarch requested that the privileges of the High Elves be revoked so that the poorest may profit from the importation of Elven products.
Hakuno nodded:
"This is a point I want to renegotiate with the Phoenix-King."
Artoria bowed with one hand over her heart:
"Master, may I speak to Patriarch Fooger about the point we raised this morning?"
The sovereign of the Moon replied with a new nod and Artoria turned to the old Dwarf:
"Lady Kishinami offers you to join the government. Because you have been one of the Directors and have experience in managing Marienburg, your help would be invaluable."
The old Dwarf bowed:
"It would be an honor for me, Lady Kishinami."
The third appointment scheduled on the morning agenda was the only other survivor of the Directorate, Lady Clotilde de Roelef. This woman of forty years was a stereotypical "mature beauty", moreover she was very rich. There was therefore no surprise that she was the most courted widow in Marienburg. But, until then, she had rejected all the candidates. Her house had made its fortune by trading luxury goods from Tilea, Estallia, and Araby.
Ironically, Clotilde de Roelef's ascension to the Directorate had taken place fifteen years earlier, when the leaders of the house Akkermann had perished at the stake, condemned to death for secretly worshiping Slaanesh. And once again, Slaneesh had rid her of most of her competitors.
Lady Roelef's only weakness was her only daughter, Clara. As part of the old nobility of Marienburg, she had been their spokesperson in the previous government.
Clotilde de Roelef had come to plead the cause of the local aristocracy. Since the death of the last duke, the nobles had no more employment in the army, nor in the government.
Artoria asked permission to speak and renewed the proposal she had made to Arkat Fooger. Lady de Roelef gave a reverence worthy of the ducal court returned to the "New Palace":
"It would be a joy and an honor to contribute to the restoration of Marienburg in all its past glory."
The person that the herald then introduced was Nieut Gyngrijk, the President of the Burgerhof (the lower chamber of parliament), an incendiary demagogue particularly popular among the working classes:
"Great Overlord, Hakuno Kishinami, I greet in you the beneficent ruler who has restored to the people its legitimate rights..."
Nieut Gyngrijk seems to contemplate the young teen girl with adoration then he leaps suddenly on his feet and pursues with an air of excitement:
"... This city can become one of the most beautiful human cities, a city to be celebrated by all the races of the Old World. With the support of the population, everything will be possible for you: new housing, new wealth, health, and happiness for all. With the help of the citizens of this city, you can be inscribed in the annals of history as the Century of Enlightenment, that of an Enlightened and Magnanimous Despot. I follow the key of this help, lady Kishinami, I, your humble servant and one of these people, who are the blood and life of Marienburg..."
After which the demagogue embarked on an elegiac description of the ideal society that Hakuno would establish through his advice. Except that not one of the Servants of the Sovereign of the Moon would bet a copper coin on the survival of Marienburg beyond a week if Hakuno sought to impose the insane reforms of the demagogue. If the population did not revolt, the bankruptcy or simultaneous invasion of all their neighbors would put an end to this risky social experiment.
With a small crisp smile, Artoria replied that the government of Marienburg could make good use of the memorandum of 770 pages, written by the enthusiastic Nieut Gyngrijk... and by "good use" Saber meant to "light the fire in the morning" (even if she does not say it out loud).
Most people lived only to satisfy their ambitions. They dreamed of reaching a high position... in short, they dreamed of being king.
Today - an ordinary day for the future Duchess of Marienburg- had confirmed one thing to Hakuno. She was not "most people". In fact, she did not understand people who would want a position like her... Who could voluntarily want to sit on a throne to listen to the whining or the more or less disguised insults of dozens of people who thought your role was to solve THEIR problems and mocking the claims of those who preceded them?
Author's note: that's all folk. Not much action, but it's a transition chapter where we set the stage for the new Arc.
And as a special bonus, two short omakes.
Omake 1
Nimue the Lady of the Lake resided in a castle that had two peculiarities. First, the castle was under a lake. Fortunately, its inhabitants knew how to breathe underwater, which avoided some small problems... Then it was a bit of a unique location. It was actually a Marble Phantasm. The castle, and indeed the entire domain of the Lady, appeared where she desired it.
The meal was about to begin and Nimue called the two people who shared the table with her:
"Lancelot, Gilles, wash your hands and come to the table!"
"RRrrRRRNi... muerrRrrr!" Roared a black armor colossus entering the room.
"Yes, I have prepared meat and wine. I know my carnivore son."
A spectral knight dressed in green entered in his turn:
"No one gets through!"
The voice seemed to sound from a distant place.
"Yes, I thought about that too, my darling"
As the trio sat down, the two knights continued to "speak" in their strange way. Berserker Lancelot roared with sometimes one or two comprehensible words. As for the Green Knight, he repeated: ""No one gets through!"... and yet Nimue replied as if it were perfectly understandable!
"But how do you do this?" asked Celian Cogitore.
Nimue smiled and raised a sign on which he was writing "Skill: Language Comprehension Ex-Rank"
"... Ah... Okay!"
Omake 2
Hakuno Kishinami went around the "New Palace" to meet her Servants in their bedroom and discuss with them. It was a way to deepen relationships with the Heroic Spirits
She knocked on the door of Artoria Pendragon, but the legendary King Arthur was depressed. As often, she remembered her reign over Britain and sighed: "I was a bad king, I destroyed my kingdom because I did not understand the inhabitants."
Unable to do much to help Saber, the sovereign of the Moon went to see Gawain. Alas, he too was depressed: "I was unable to protect, my brothers and my sister and in wanting to avenge them, I destroyed the kingdom of Britain".
Hakuno left Sir Gawain's room sighing and shaking her head. How could she help him?
She then went to visit Lancelot. But the Berserker was not in a better mood.
"ParRRRrr... don... ArrrrrrRrthurrrRrr!"
Now as depressed as her Servants, the teen girl returned to the great hall where she met Bedivere, he had just reunited the other Knights of the Round:
"It's time to summon a new Servant, Master."
Hakuno nodded, and the often-repeated process was renewed. The Moon Cell Automaton traced a circle of invocation and particles and crystal cubes came out of it forming a very beautiful young woman with long braided blond hair and very white skin, dressed in a magnificent bliaud whose long sleeves and her ornamented belt fell down to the ground.
With one voice the knights exclaimed: "The queen Guinevere!"
Barely materialized, Guinevere of Carmelide tapped her foot on the marble floor, looking at the Grand Hall of the "New Palace" with an annoyed and contemptuous expression:
"But what is this garden shed? These places are unworthy of the most beautiful queen of all time."
Then she turned to Hakuno: "Is that my Master? ... What a horrible figure, you have. You are... a commoner?! My God, I have been invocated by a farm girl! It is appalling, I was approached by a commoner... I feel dirty, I have to wash!"
Another look of contempt stuck Artoria:
"Here you are... You little girl still pretending to be a king? Go back to sewing, you're better at that than sword and government. My father Leodegrance, here's a real king."
Then Berserker Lancelot threw himself at her feet, crying, she kicked him:
"Are you here too?! This pathetic knight unable to save me? I am dead because of you! This is your entire fault!"
She then turned to Sir Gawain and stared even more contemptuously at him:
"Ah, and to complete the whole thing, there's this clumsy idiot. Not even able to beat Lancelot? I promised you my favors if you succeeded. But I have always been surrounded by incompetent people, idiots, gelding, where do I find men, real manly men, capable of satisfying me?"
While Guinevere insulted the knights, Hakuno had opened a virtual window where she consulted the file of the Queen of Britain... Two pieces of information summed up Guinevere well. Her alignment: "Chaotic Evil" and her class: "Assassin."
Hakuno Kishinami raised her left hand:
"By my first Mark of Command, Assassin, I command you to return to Seraph."
And as the queen disappeared, everyone sighed with relief.
And that's how Hakuno saved the New Round Table from its greatest enemy.
(1) Father of Iseult. Unless I am mistaken, the sending of Gawain to King Mark takes place in The Book of Sir Tristam of Lyoness, a part of Thomas Malory's La Morte d'Arthur.
(2) Remember that Patriarch Fooger is a Dwarf... and that the Dwarves and the High Elves do not love each other. Moreover, the patriarch Fooler has a more personal reason to hate the elven merchants of Elfville... He owned the dockers' warehouses where the merchants unloaded their cargo. And the Elves are exempted from the legal obligation to unload in his warehouses... which obligation is, by the way, also one of those typical abuses of the Marienburg law that favors the wallet of the Directors! Anyway, elves' cargo unloaded in Elfville, deprives the patriarch Fooger of hefty profits.