Night had fallen over the city, casting a veil of darkness over the streets and alleys. Jezebel, adorned in her provocative gothic attire, walked through the shadows with a purposeful stride. She had heard whispers of the Holy Grail War, a conflict between Mages where the victor would be granted a single wish. It was an opportunity she could not ignore, for the chance to prove herself and explore the limits of her newfound powers.
As Jezebel navigated the maze of dimly lit streets, she found herself outside a decrepit building, the rumored gathering place for those seeking entry into the war. She steeled herself and pushed open the door, stepping into the murky interior.
"Ah, welcome," a voice called out from the shadows. A figure emerged, clad in an elegant robe, the intensity of his gaze piercing through the darkness from beneath his hood.
"You must be here to join the Holy Grail War."
Jezebel hesitated for a moment, her confident demeanor momentarily faltering. "Yes, that's right. I've come to compete, to test my abilities and see how far they can take me."
The robed figure, seemingly satisfied with her response, gestured to a circle etched into the floor. "Very well. To join the war, you must first summon a Servant, a powerful spirit to aid you in your battles. Stand within the circle and concentrate on your desire for a companion."
Jezebel stepped into the circle, her heart pounding in her chest, giddy at the thought of the mere word 'spirit'! She focused her thoughts, her mind filled with the image of a powerful and mysterious ally, her Magecraft working overtime to give her the best possible phantom familiar she could hope for, a thousand and one different possibilities for just what it would turn out to be rolling through her overeager mind.
As the circle began to glow, a torrent of magical energy surged through the room, and a figure began to materialize before her.
"Hmm?" The robed figure to her side chirped out, breaking the silence of her concentration.
"Wait, what is-"
Before either knew it, the summoning circle took on a frightful new visage, a swirling black formless mass at it's center, scarlet crimson energy wreathing around it with explosive force great enough to knock both Lysander and Jezebel across the room.
"Master," it spoke, its voice echoing through the chamber, "I am that which you have called forth, the spirit destined to serve you in this war."
Jezebel's fogged eyes widened with excitement, struggling to see her new comrade in the now dismally darkened room. It didn't matter though, she could hardly contain her enthusiasm. "Fantastic! Together, we'll take on this war and prove ourselves to the world!"
As Jezebel stood beside her newly-summoned Servant, eye's continuing to adjust, it's silhouette seemed to continually to flicker and shift. The figure seemed to be attempting to stabilize from it's unusually violent summoning...
Something was different about this Servant...
The air around them grew heavy, and the atmosphere seemed to darken. Jezebel felt a shiver run down her spine.
"What Did You Do!" Lysander said calmly, rushing over to Jezebel.
"I don't-"
"Did you alter the summoning ritual!? What Servant did you summon?! Tell me, now!" He asked with all the restraint he could muster, pain intonating in every syllable and ragged breath.
"Ummm, I'm not sure..."
She could feel the Supervisor seething beneath his robe.
"Attacking a Supervisor, meddling with the mechanics of the summoning systems intentionally, both of those acts violate the rules of the Grail War! I need an explanation, immediately, or I will take action here and now!"
"...W-what Class are you..." she called out to her Servant from across the room, stuttering a bit in the heat of the moment.
"..."
Silence was it's only reply.
"Oh, come on, I'm sure I got someone good. Like a ghost, or a vampire, or a grim reaper or revenant or something like that! A Heroic Spirit straight out of Edgar Allen Poe, or a Steven King book, or a Jamesian style spooky story"
"...Jamesian..."
A chill filled the room, cold ghosts swirling around the empty desolate building. Both Supervisor and Master turned around to the Servant then, revealing a well dressed man in gentlemanly attire.
"...M.R. James..." he muttered to himself.
"...The Heroic Spirit... M.R. James..." he continued to mutter.
"Wait... soooooo... I summoned M.R. James?"
"Were you not trying to?" Lysander probed.
"I was trying to vibe out a spooky Heroic Spirit..."
Lysander took a deep sigh.
"You sound a bit upset, Miss, so I can only imagine you weren't expecting this turn of events any more than I was. Nor are you necessarily happy with them either. In light of that, and seeing as how, technically speaking, the war has yet to start, I'll overlook this. Just keep an eye on your Servant and follow the rules to the letter from here on out."
Without another world Lysander stormed out, leaving Jezebel and M.R. James standing alone in the dark, empty chamber, an awkward silence emerging between the both of them.
"M.R. James, a renowned author and scholar of supernatural phenomena. So... I guess you're my Servant..." Jezebel said.
"So it would seem" he said back, "The knowledge and expertise I possess will be invaluable to us as we navigate the treacherous paths ahead."
Jezebel stared at her Servant, momentarily taken aback by the sudden change in his demeanor. Before, he sounded almost... inconvenienced... to speak a word. Confused, unaware, disorientated himself just as much as Jezebel and Lysander had been. Now? He intoned with the gravity and wisdom one would expect from a scholarly gentleman of the early 20th century.
Her eyes sparkled with intrigue. "M.R. James, huh? I've always been a fan of ghost stories. Though, I never really got around to yours. Still, I'm sure your knowledge of the supernatural will prove useful in the War!"
M.R. James, nodded in agreement. "Indeed, Master. We shall face many foes, both of this world and beyond. But together, we shall overcome any obstacle and claim victory in the Holy Grail War."
Jezebel smiled, her confidence returning. "That's the spirit M.R. James! Let's prepare ourselves for the challenges to come."
As they left the decrepit building and ventured into the night, Jezebel felt a renewed sense of purpose. With her Servant by her side, she was determined to prove herself in the Holy Grail War, no matter what trials awaited them. Little did she know, however, the true extent of the dangers that lay in wait for her and her newfound ally.
In the days leading up to the Holy Grail War, Jezebel and M.R. James spent their time getting to know one another. They explored the city together, discussing their shared interests in the supernatural and exchanging stories of their respective experiences.
As they walked along the riverbank, Jezebel marveled at the way her Servant's knowledge of the paranormal seemed to blend seamlessly with the persona he had adopted. "You really do know a lot, don't you, Mr. James?" she commented, impressed.
He smiled, his eyes twinkling behind his glasses. "It is essential that I fully understand the essence of the phenomenon and individuals I have chosen to emulate, Master. This way, I can make the best use of my abilities and knowledge for our cause."
Jezebel nodded, appreciating her Servant's dedication. "Well, I must say, I feel very fortunate to have you by my side. Your abilities and expertise will be a great asset in the battles to come."
As the sun began to set, the two made their way back to their temporary base, a small apartment hidden within the city. Jezebel couldn't help but feel a sense of camaraderie with her Servant, despite their brief time together. She felt confident that, together, they could face whatever the Holy Grail War had in store for them.
The night before the pre-battle meeting, Jezebel and M.R. James sat together in the dimly lit apartment, discussing their plans and strategies for the upcoming conflict. They knew that they would soon be facing formidable opponents, and their bond would be tested in ways they couldn't yet anticipate.
As they prepared to depart for the pre-battle meeting grounds, Jezebel looked into her Servant's eyes and spoke with determination. "Whatever happens Mr. James, I'm glad we're in this together."
M.R. James, smiled warmly. "As am I, Master. We shall face the trials ahead with courage and resolve, and together, we shall claim the Holy Grail."
With that, the two set off into the night, their hearts filled with determination and hope, ready to face the challenges of the Holy Grail War.
Addendum: Character Profile
Master: Elizabeth Miller, A.K.A Jezebel
Appearance: Jezebel tends to draw attention wherever she goes. Standing slightly above average for a woman at 175cm and with a full figure, dressed all in black, and usually wearing satanist iconography. Attempting to be equal parts provocative and offensive to those uptight types. She has been training to be a vampire her whole life... fashion wise at least. Hopefully, black fishnets are allowed at formal mage functions.
Personality: Jezebel is, first and foremost, a very friendly person. Bubbly and perky which is somewhat offputting with her style of dress and magic. In most circumstances, she is happy to meet someone new. She is supremely confident of her abilities even as she dives into the unknown world of mages and a Holy Grail War. Her Command Seal are in the shape of the Alchemical Symbol for Sulfer.
Backstory: Elizabeth Miller was the only child of two perfectly average Londoners. She enjoyed a middle-class life in the early 2000's, somewhat uninterested in academic pursuits at school but enamored with her drama classes and stage productions. This passion developed when, after graduating, she explored radio broadcasting and later podcasting on the subject of true crime and news reports. Eventually, her interest was drawn to the occult, creating supernatural-themed podcasts and videos on old English lore and folk tales, and eventually to exploring abandoned manors and performing seances in the English countryside. She quickly amassed a following under the stage name 'Jezebel X Raven', for which she adopted an aesthetic to match: a provocative presentation of gothic and religious iconography. She soon joined a collection of fellow podcasters, clickbait reporters, occult enthusiasts, Satanists, and streamers called Spook Pods, honing her craft. While diving into the occult and exploring a supposedly haunted mansion she discovered real honest magic. Able to commune with the spirits.
Abilities: She is a subpar Mage without a crest to draw upon. She places herself at the center of a nexus of poltergeists, echoes, and omens. She channels echoes and immaterial things to become a nexus of those same powers or associated emotions and ideas, often hard to be around. She does have some practice with a knife for self-defense, her parents made her take some self defenses classes. Not a master knife fighter, but she is certainly not defenseless. Has a group of friends and contacts she can lean on for some basic research.
Origin: Undeath