Monthly Create-A-Servant Contest

[Dragolord09]

I think this train of thought is best saved for a thread dedicated towards Nasuverse lore, not a monthly contest thread.

[Kamera]

Yeah, give actual review to the sheets instead, etc

[Master of Chaos]

Class: Ruler (Rider, Caster)
True Name: Oedipus
Gender: Male
Alignment: Lawful Good
Attribute: Man

face claim

if his older self

if his younger self

STR: ＊＊＊＊＊ E
END: ＊＊＊＊＊ C
AGI: ＊＊＊＊＊ D
MGI: ＊＊＊＊＊ B
LCK: ＊＊＊＊＊ -
NP: ＊＊＊＊＊ A+

Keywords

KEYWORDS

Oracle of Delphi

Also known by the professional name “Pythia”. The title taken by the chief priestess of the Temple of Apollo at Delphi. Regarded as an expert of invocation magecraft, she would allow herself to be possessed by her patron god in order to deliver his prophetic predictions (oracles) to mortals. Said predictions were regarded as having great credibility, so there was a custom in Ancient Greece to seek her counsel in times of uncertainty. From the greatest of kings to the lowest of indigents, people would travel from all over Greece in other to receive her guidance.

Supposedly, this man's life was greatly impacted by a prediction made by the Oracle. Instead of a foretelling, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that she inadvertently ended up placing a curse upon him.

Gynosphinx

A mythical creature in the shape of a winged lion with a human head. Egyptian in origins, but its existence would spread and eventually be incorporated into the mythologies of other lands, from Europe to all the way the Far East. Its rank as a phantasmal species is high, second only to the draconic species.

The Egyptian sphinx is regarded as an incarnation of the Sky God Horus, thus classified as a divine beast, but this specimen lost that divine protection for some reason. Despite managing to hold back the decline of its spiritual rank by coming under the patronage of the Muses (the Greek goddesses of arts), it was still demoted to the rank of a mythical beast. Still, as a side effect of said religious conversion, it obtained an intellect surpassing that of its peers and became capable of speaking human language. Despite losing most of the powers related to the role as a guardian beast of the Pharaoh, the increased intellect allows it to employ magecraft to some extent.

By the way, although Oedipus can employ the gynosphinx as a familiar of sorts, she herself does not count as his Noble Phantasm. The ability to summon this member of the phantasmal species is just a minor ability that he possesses as a Heroic Spirit. His true trump card is something else entirely.

CLASS SKILLS

Magic Resistance: B+
The capacity to negate or abate the effects of magecraft. Negates magecraft invoked with an aria of three verses or less. It is difficult to injure him even with high-thaumaturgy.

True Name Exposure: A+
A special trait of the “Ruler” Class. Instantly grasps all the information – such as True Name・skills・Noble Phantasm – regarding a Servant one has directly encountered. While a LCK check is still required in regards to Servants with camouflage abilities, its chance of success is high thanks to the support of his Innate Discernment skill.

Divine Decision: -
This skill has been lost in exchange for the Noble Phantasm.

if a Rider

Riding: A+
The technical skill to mount on vehicles. It also displays its effects on mechanized vehicles. If it is an animal, then he can manage as far as mythical beasts and divine beasts. However, this does not apply to the draconic species.

if a Caster

Territory Creation: EX
The technical skill to build up an advantageous encampment to oneself as a magus. Thanks to this skill that allows to create in the shortest time a workshop that displays the very best effectiveness on any kind of terrain condition, Caster boasts the greatest advantage in regards to defensive fights among all Servants.

As a byproduct of the skill “Tragic Fate”, his immediate surroundings can be temporarily converted into a “stage setting for a tragedy”.

Item Construction: -
This skill has been lost in exchange of the Noble Phantasm.

PERSONAL SKILLS

Chilling Effect: -
A super rare minus skill. Heroic Spirits usually manifest in the figure of their golden age, but such a privilege has been forfeited for this man.

Incidentally, the reason for why one would be burdened by this differs from person to person, with the most common example being a byproduct of the image held by later people (something falsely similar to Innocent Monster). This man is an exceptional case, as his own feelings of self-condemnation are playing a greater role regarding this instead.

Innate Discernment: A
The ability to perceive the true nature of things. His sharp eyes for observations will not overlook any sort of information. Although their principles are completely different, this can read into the future in a way that is similar to the future prediction of Clairvoyance.

Presence Detection: C
By sensing their presence, one can perceive the circumstances・environment within the effective range. It also negates Presence Concealment of the same rank, provided that the target is at a short distance.

An ability that he obtained later in life. As a side effect of spending many years completely blind, all of his other senses (sixth sense・paranomal perception included) became extremely sharp. In addition, since he cannot see, his Innate Discernment and True Name Exposure skills work while employing this as a medium.

Tragic Fate: EX
A skill that sublimated Oedipus’ lot in life. At the occasion of his birth, a prophecy was delivered that he would bring a calamity to his homeland. Although Oedipus himself and many others endeavored to prevent this, several circumstances, coincidences, human deeds and even divine interventions ended up hindering those efforts. In a sense, it was almost like the universe itself conspired to fulfill that prophecy.

Something falsely similar to “Revelation”; Oedipus will receive an oracle regarding his future upon manifesting as a Servant. From that point on, he becomes effectively cursed to walk in the path that will lead to the predicted future. A jinx of the highest grade that can even twist destiny itself, but shouldering this means that one is also being protected from all factors that may cause him to stray from the path that has already been prepared for him.

Its effects as a skill is to provide complete immunity against curses and the likes (his Magic Resistance has also been greatly improved as a byproduct). Furthermore, this is effectively replacing his LCK parameter. “Plot armor” at its finest.

Vitrification: B
A calm state of mind. A mental protection that negates interference to one's mental health.

Remaining unperturbed even in face of death. While he may have lost the heroic qualities of his youth, Oedipus obtained a different kind of “strong heart” in his old age.

if his younger self

Bravery: B
The ability to negate mental interference such as pressure, confusion and fascination. There is also an effect of increasing the melee damage inflicted on the enemy.

Without a doubt, Oedipus has the disposition of a hero. However, this ended up working against him in his previous life: his lack of fear lead him to seriously believe that he could prevent the prophecy about his future from being fulfilled. The hubris of a mere mortal (human) opposing the will of heavens (god).

Charisma: B
The natural talent to command an army corps. Raises the abilities of one's own army on group battles. A rare talent. For the king of a country, B Rank is adequate.

NOTE: also, in this case, he loses the skills Chilling Effect, Presence Detection and Vitrification.

NOBLE PHANTASM

Oidipous Tragoidia – Headlong Rush of Calamity
Rank: B+
Type: Anti-Army
A chariot driven by a pair horses. At the same time, a Noble Phantasm that sublimated Oedipus’ way of life. Plundered from King Laius’ dead body, obtaining this chariot signaled the beginning of his tragedy. Consequentially, this became a Noble Phantasm while bearing the definition of a “carrier of calamity (Oedipus)” that brings misfortune to wherever it goes.

The two stallions that drive this chariot are purebreds whose lineage is related to the Theban royalty. Their overall performance is quite high for ordinary animals, comparable to low ranking magical beasts. Although they cannot run across the skies or in the sea, they have the capacity to perfectly evade all obstacles in the field.

A high-speed charge attack can be performed by releasing the True Name. Two separate attack rolls are performed: one for the horses’ hooves and one for the chariot’s wheels. Furthermore, even if a direct hit is avoided, those caught in the path of this charge must be successful on a LCK check in order to avoid being struck by the ominous aura emitted by the chariot. Those who fail will become cursed, suffering from all sorts of misfortunes so long as this chariot and its master remain in the world.

Frankly speaking, this chariot’s raw destructive power is not all that high for an Anti-Army Noble Phantasm. Its true worth lies in the lingering collateral damage caused by the curse. When you consider that said damage can spread way beyond the bounds of the original battlefield, this may even fit in the Anti-Fortress or Anti-Country classifications.

Sphingo Ainigma – Primordial Mystery Solving
Rank: A
Type: Anti-Unit
Oedipus’ Anti-Unit, Anti-Mystery Noble Phantasm. A right of absolute command over existences that live in mystery. The sublimation of the anecdotes about his encounter with the sphinx.

According to legends, Oedipus defeated the Theban Sphinx by correctly answering the riddle that it presented. However, there are diverging theories on the exact outcome of said confrontation. Some said that the Sphinx was greatly weakened when the riddle was solved, allowing for Oedipus to slay it by force of arms. Others say that it became ashamed in being outwitted by a human, committing suicide soon after. And some say it yielded to the hero's superior intellect, accepting him as its master.

The ability to establish one’s authority over existences such phantasmal species and spiritual beings by correctly disclosing their identity. His power over them increases in proportion to how well he manages to discern their disposition・nature. Depending on the circumstances, it might even be possible for him to employ them as his familiars; this is the main factor that allows him to manifest in the Caster Class even though he is not exactly a magus.

...in addition, due an influence from the special traits of the Ruler Class, he can also employ this against other Servants. Merely knowing their True Name is already enough to allow him to plunder the Master rights over them and bestow the average coercive force of a Command Spell to all of his orders. Should he come to fully understand their thoughts, ideologies and personal circumstances, he will be able to exert a mental interference akin to a type of brainwash. However, as an exception, this ability does not work on those endowed with high-ranking Divinity.

Eumenides Katharsis – Inherited Will of the Tragic Hero
Rank: EX
Type: Anti-Unit
The last resort of Heroic Spirit Oedipus. The sublimation of the anecdotes regarding his final moments. As such, activation only becomes possible when he is on the verge of disappearing.

A transference of power to the individual who attends to him at his deathbed. Both normal humans and other Servants can be made a target of this. Many conditions play a role in determining how much power will be inherited but, in extreme cases, a Servant might undergo a Class Change while a human may become a kind of Pseudo-Servant.

Background

BACKGROUND

Oedipus. One of the most famous heroes of Greek Mythology. A man born to a tragic fate. Also, the one whose story became the basis for the modern concept called "Oedipus complex".

According to legends, he was abandoned in the wilds as a baby. Coincidentally found by a passing shepherd, who then sought the advice of King Polybus of Corinth about what to do with the boy. Given that he and his wife Merope were having troubles giving birth to a child of their own, Polybus decided to adopt the baby. At this occasion, he named the boy Oedipus (swollen foot) due the striking wounds he bore in his feet. Although the wounds would heal eventually, they left characteristic scars.

King Polybus and Queen Merope loved Oedipus deeply, as if he was their true-born son, so they never told him that he was adopted. That small blunder would eventually invite great ruin. Raised as a prince, Oedipus grew into an upstanding young man, both brave and wise. He also revered the King and the Queen as much as they loved him. So he became understandably shaken upon hearing rumors that he was not in fact their child.

Although King Polybus and Queen Merope denied those rumors, Oedipus could not shake away his doubts. Eventually, he decided to seek the counsel of the Oracle of Delphi, said to have been bestowed with great wisdom and prophetic powers by the Sun God Apollo. To his surprise, the Oracle did not answer to his inquiries, but gave him a warning instead.

"Do not go back to your birthplace. You'll end up killing your father and bearing a child with your mother."

Determined to not allow that prophecy to be fulfilled, Oedipus gave a mental farewell to his old life and departed in a journey.

After some time on the road, Oedipus visited the city of Thebes while it was under siege: a monstrous sphinx had taken lair near the main road that lead to the city. It would ambush passing travelers and press them with a riddle, killing those who failed to answer correctly. Feeling pity for the plight of the Thebans, Oedipus took upon himself to subjugate the monster.

Promises made, promises kept. Thanks to his keen intellect, Oedipus was able to utterly defeat the monster. After being welcomed as a hero in Thebes, he was crowned king as a reward for his feat. But in the process of his ascension to the throne, he ended up marrying with Queen dowager Jocasta...

Incidentally, due some extenuating circumstances, Heroic Spirit Oedipus will most likely end manifesting in the figure of a blind old man of his final years. Still, there is a very small chance of summoning him as his younger self, from the time right after he became a king. Thanks to a strengthening of overall parameters and the recovery of his original heroic qualities, it will be possible for him to perform as a brave warrior that fights in the front lines. However, that also means he will lose the prudent disposition acquired only late in life, consequentially becoming more prone of committing the kind of careless mistakes that are typical of youth.

Greek Tragedy

Oedipus' reign was a relatively successful one. He enjoyed great popularity with the people due not only defeating the sphinx, but also thanks to his fair rulings and preservation of public order. His marriage to Jocasta was also fruitful, and the couple was blessed with four children throughout the years – two boys and two girls.

However, enduring plague among the citizens remained as a constant source of worry. At his wits end, he decided to once again seek the counsel of the Oracle. Only that this time, he received a straight answer: supposedly, the plague was a divine retribution over the fact that the murder of King Laius, Thebes previous ruler, remained unpunished.

Having learned the root of the issue, Oedipus immediately began to investigate the circumstances behind King Laius' death. A difficult task, considering that it was an years-old unsolved incident (cold case) with little to no leads to work on. Supposedly, Laius was traveling though the crossroads of Phocis when he was ambushed by bandits, who murdered him and stole his chariot. The sole witness of the incident was an old servant that was accompanying Laius at the time, who had miraculously escaped unharmed but ended up turning senile due the traumatic experience.

At this moment, for some reason Oedipus remembered about an encounter that he himself had on those same crossroads years before: while passing through a particular narrow portion of the highway, two men on a chariot suddenly approached from the opposite end. Clearly on a hurry, they ordered him to quickly move aside and then tried to run him over when he failed to comply with their demands. Oedipus managed to evade the chariot and attack the passengers in retaliation as it passed by, killing one in the process. Since the other passenger fearfully ran away on foot, leaving the body of his dead friend behind, he ended up giving the corpse a bare minimum amount of care demanded by etiquette before taking the abandoned chariot for himself as collateral for his troubles.

Focusing back on the matter at hand, Oedipus ordered the old servant to be found and brought to him. Even if he was an unreliable witness, a lead was a lead. Meanwhile, he approached his wife in order to learn more about King Laius himself; and she did not portray him in a good light.

The Laius of Jocasta’s stories was a vicious, power-hungry and self-serving man. After receiving an oracle that he would lose his life at the hands of his son, he vowed to remain childless despite the troubles this would bring to Thebes regarding the succession of the throne. And yet, he ended up forcing himself on Jocasta while drunk and fathering a baby anyway. When his son was born, Laius had him abandoned in the wilds – but not before wounding the child’s feet in order to ensure that he would die.

The first thing that crossed Oedipus mind’s upon hearing that story was the existence of the scars in his feet, which supposedly were a result of a wound received when he was a baby. After that, the scattered pieces began to fall in place one after the other. The encounter at the crossroads. The warning of the Oracle. The matter of his heritage. All hints pointed to one terrifying conclusion.

Now, it must be noted that Oedipus still had the choice to turn back at this point. Even if his deductions were correct, there was no need for him to actually ascertain the truth. Just by leaving the matter of Laius’ murder alone (which nobody else really cared about at this point), he would be able to move on with his life as if nothing had happened. In the worst of cases, he could even flee Thebes in order to escape punishment.

However, doing so would be going against his nature. Oedipus could not turn a blind eye to the suffering of the people that were victimized by the plague. If he indeed committed a crime, then his sense of responsibility dictated that he faced the consequences of his actions. And, more than anything, he himself wanted to know the whole story. As a pursuer of truth, his very core demanded that he solved the most important riddle of his life: the mystery of his origins.

Many things may have conspired in order to lead Oedipus towards a tragedy, but what ultimately sealed his fate was the very fact he was a hero that fought for justice.

What came next goes without saying. Once the old servant was found, he testified that Oedipus was indeed King Laius’ killer. From his part, Oedipus did not deny those accusations and instead confessed everything that he knew about the matter – including the issue of his parentage.

Supposedly, Queen Jocasta went mad upon learning the facts and ended up taking her own life. Stuck with grief over her death and ashamed that he was unable to see the truth until it was too late, Oedipus gouged out his own eyes, blinding himself. Then, in order to break the curse placed upon Thebes, he yielded the throne to his oldest son and departed in a self-imposed exile.

According to legends, Oedipus spent the rest of his days in a pilgrimage of penance. Although he ultimately managed to die on his own terms, he never stopped seeking to atone for his sins to the bitter end. That would not change even after being sublimated into a Heroic Spirit. Although it may seem somewhat akin to a martyr complex, that mentality that has forsaken any sort of self-interest was regarded as suited for the Ruler Class.

◆

This is a digression, but Oedipus is still in love with Jocasta even now. Despite everything that has happened, he considers that King Polybus and Queen Merope were his true parents, and Jocasta the woman that he chose as his wife. Also, when asked about his type of girl, his immediate answer is “someone overflowing with motherly qualities”...

...this bastard, he is a mother-con after all!

Feedback is welcome as always.

[the god of world-0]

"Oi! Down here! I am your Servant, Rider!... yes, i am very small. But that is not as big a handicap as it seems, i assure you."

Class: Rider
Alignment: Neutral/good
Region: Denmark
Height: 3cm
Weight: 1,9mg
Likes: flying, flowers, clear and blue skies
Dislikes: dark and wet places, forceful people, being grounded
Talent: exploration, nursing
Armaments: wings, needle
Natural Enemy: Frogs, moles

stats

Str: E
End: E
Agi: A
Mna: EX
Lck: E
NP: B

Skills

class skills

Magic resistence(A+): Rider can cancel spells of A-rank and bellow, even high-thaumaturgy. Additonaly, she is complety imune to fairy or fairy-related Magecraft.

Riding(A-): Because of her nature as a Nature spirit, Rider's affinity with animals allows her to Ride even Phantasmal and Divine Beast class mounts, with the exception of dragons. however, her diminutive size causes her problems when it comes to Machines, making her incapable of piloting more modern vehicles.

personal skills

Animal Dialogue(A+): Communication of intention with animals that do not speak a "language of words". Because of Rider's Position as a Fairy Princess, it is possible for her to command life forms of lower rank than her, excluding humans. Furthermore, a bonus is granted to Winged creatures under her command.

Happy Ending(A): A unusual skill for those who reached their wish after a long and arduous journey. It makes so, every set number of misfortunated happenings, her Luck Stat will change to EX for a brief period of time. A skill that rewards the efforts of those fight insurmountable odds, it is more likely to activate in life-or-death situatiations.

Child of Nature(B): A Skill that represents one as a children born in the Reverse Side of the World, that will eventually become one with the same. Due to the circustances of Rider's existence, she has receive blessings from the World.

Minuscule Lifeform(A): As a side effect of her size, it is quite hard to notice Rider's existance. Those without some form of Pressence Detection will only percive her as a bug or a small distorsion, if they even percive her at all. This also affects her Mana Consumption, making it almost negligible. The rank drops to B once she starts to actively interact with others.

Noble phantasm

Newlywed Princess of the Fairies

Maia

rank: Anti-unit(Self), C

A pair of butterfly wings that Rider received as a wedding gift from her husband, the fairy prince, together with a new name to cement her new place in the world.
They are a type of Magical Construct who, if scale to a the size of a regular person would reach rank A, but since they are on scale to Rider's size are instead only rank C.
The wings work by converting feelings into energy, meaning that complex thought is unnecessary for their utilization and even a complete novice would be able to operate then with maestry if their hearts were pure enough.
While any type of good feelings can be use to activate this Noble Phantasm, the speed and power will be the highest if Rider is currently in love. The reason for this being that, apparently, the sensation of being "in love" and the sensation of being "weightless" are virtually the same.

Heartbroken Eternal Admirator

Bluebird of Happiness

rank: Anti-unit, B

Rider's Trump card, a medium sized mountain Bluebird who is the main reason she is in this class to being with. While they only meet for a brief time in life, this bird is actually the major reason that Rider's legend is know world-wide, as he was the one to tell her story to a certain man in a small house in Denmark.
He is classified as a low level Phantasmal Beast and is extremely fast and acrobatic, but lacks any amount of deffensive power. His main attack is performed when his name as a Noble Phantasm is invoked, all the sorrow inside his heart is released as a blue aura around him as he dives in full speed into the enemy. While the damage value in not that high, the bluebird's small size and extreme speed gives him exelent piercing caracteristics, in a effect similar to a magical bullet.
While she does think of him as her best friend and most trusted companion, Rider seems incapable of realizing the Bird's true feeling for her. In the end, one may think of him as creature cursed to help her achieve happiness while never being happy himself.

Background

Rider's true identity is Tommelise, also know as Thumbelina or Oyayubihime in Japan. She is the titular main character of the fairy tale written by the Danish Writer, Hans Christian Andersen.
In the tale, a woman yearning for a child asks a witch for advice, and is presented with a barleycorn which she is told to go home and plant. After the barleycorn is planted and sprouts, a tiny girl, who is Rider, emerges from its flower. One night however, while sleeping in her walnut-shell cradle, she is carried off by a toad who wants her as a bride for her son. With the help of friendly fish and a butterfly, Rider escapes the toad and her son, and drifts on a lily pad until captured by a stag beetle who later discards her when his friends reject her company.
Ridef tries to protect herself from the elements, but when winter comes, she is in desperate straits. She is finally given shelter by an old field mouse and tends her dwelling in gratitude. The mouse suggests she marry her neighbour, a mole, but Rider finds the prospect of being married to such a creature repulsive because he spends all his days underground and never sees the sun or sky. The field mouse keeps pushing her into the marriage, saying the mole is a good match for her, and does not listen to her protests.
At the last minute, Rider escapes the situation by fleeing to a far land with a Bluebird she nursed back to health during the winter. In a sunny field of flowers, she meets a tiny flower-fairy prince just her size and to her liking, and they wed. She receives a pair of wings to accompany her husband on his travels from flower to flower, and a new name, Maia. In the end, the bird is heartbroken once she marries the flower-fairy prince, and flies off eventually arriving at a small house. There, he tells Rider's story to a man who is implied to be Andersen himself, who chronicles the story in a book.

personality

An active and explorative person, Rider does not like to sit around and insted prefers to do things herself. She is very strong minded and determined, so it isn't easy to stop her from doing whatever she wants.
Luckly, Rider is also good-hearted and grateful she will hardly do something to purposefully hurt or upset the ones she care about or has helped her in some way. The only fault in her personality is that she can be very dense, having a hard time understanding the feelings of other which can lead to accidentally harming them.
She doesn't really see her size as a problem and is hardly bothered by it. Or so she says, but that may not always be the case.

[AppleAlias]

Renegade of Passionate Love

Class: Saber
True Name: Julie d’Aubigny - La Maupin
Gender: Female
Alignment: Chaotic Neutral
Region: France
Source: Historical Fact

Parameters
Strength: D
Endurance: D
Agility: B
Mana: D
Luck: A
Noble Phantasm: B

Height: 158 cm
Weight: 34 kg
Likes: Men, Women, Gossip, Love
Dislikes: Being restricted, Being bored
Attribute: Man
Armament: Rapier
Talent: Duelling, Singing, Courting
Natural Enemy: Beast III/L, Beast III/R

Skills

Class Skills

Magic Resistance: E
Grants protection against magical effects. Differing from the Resistance effect that merely rejects Magical Energy, this ability cancels the spells altogether.
Having never encountered magecraft in life, Saber only gains this skill due to her class container.
Cannot cancel spells, but magic damage is reduced somewhat.

Riding: D
Denotes the ability to ride mounts and vehicles. It is said that dragon type mounts are an exception, requiring a different ability other than Riding.
Saber’s rank in this skill is average, lacking any particular anecdotes relating to riding.
She possesses adequate skill in handling horses and other basic vehicles, being capable of driving most without much difficulty.

Personal Skills

Charisma: C-
A composite Skill consisting of a person's charm as well as the natural talent to command or unify an army or country. In Saber’s case, she lacks any sort of leadership ability, so this skill is purely limited to charming. Her charisma was such that she could charm anyone who she took an interest in, as well as allowing her to persuade the authorities to overlook her illegal duelling.

Alluring Nightingale: B
A mesmerizing-kind of Skill possessed by those with a natural constitution of having a beautiful voice; it is also a declaration of the exercise of power by the royalty. It works as a fascination magecraft-like effect towards females, but evasion is possible with a Magic Resistance Skill.
A renowned opera singer, Saber’s singing was one of her greatest talents alongside her fencing. She used it to make a living later in life as a part of the Paris Opéra company and would go on to sing at the court of Versailles. Her voice was even said to be one of the most beautiful in the world.

Duellist of Passion: A
The talent of a duellist, a fighter who specialises in single combat. Though duelling had been outlawed in Saber’s time, she was a prodigious duellist who overcame a great number of foes. Notably, she would duel potential courters of women she took an interest in and defeating them with ease. Despite duelling being a crime, she was pardoned for it, after her skills impressed King Louis XIV.
Saber gains a rank-up to all parameters when fighting opponents in one-to-one battles. Should another foe (with the exception of the target’s Master if they are a Servant) enter the battle, this bonus will be lost. Likewise, it will be lost if Saber’s ally (including her Master) joins the fight.

Lore

Julie d’Aubigny, otherwise known as La Maupin, was a 17^th century opera singer/fencer whose flamboyant and flighty lifestyle became the talk of France in her time. Born to Gaston d’Aubigny, the secretary of King Louis XIV’s Master of Horse: Count d’Armagnac, Julie was taught dancing, reading, drawing and fencing alongside the court pages under her father’s tutelage. From a young age, it was clear that Julie was wild and untameable, an energetic young girl who could not be tied down. In an effort to do so, Julie was married to Sieur de Maupin at the Count’s behest. And, for a time, all was well.

But then, she grew bored.

In 1687, not long after her marriage, Julie became involved with an assistant fencing master named Sérannes. Sérannes was wanted by the police for the killing of a man in an illegal duel, prompting him and Julie (now calling herself La Maupin) to flee from Paris to Marseille. The two made a living for themselves with fencing exhibitions, as well as La Maupin’s singing at local fairs and in taverns. Her voice was a natural marvel, while her skill with a sword only grew sharper as she trained alongside Sérannes. Eventually, the two reached Marseilles. The two were successful in business together and loved each other a great deal.

But she grew bored.

She grew bored of Sérannes and left his side. She proclaimed that she was finished with men and turned to loving women instead. She seduced the daughter of a local merchant, angering the girl’s father. She was sent to a convent to separate them, but La Maupin followed after her, joining the convent alongside her. There, under the gaze of God, the two were free to love one and other. But convent’s rules were stifling, and, after the death of an elderly nun, La Maupin hatched a plan to leave. She disinterred the nun’s body and placed it in her lover’s room. Then she set the convent on fire, fleeing with the merchant’s daughter in the confusion. The two could be together, without the bonds of God or society weighing them down.

But she grew bored.

After only three months of being together, La Maupin returned the girl to her family and set off on another journey. For her crime of arson, however, she was apprehended and brought before the king. She appealed to Count d’Armagnac, whom she had had a fling with previously. The Count used his influence to convince King Louis XIV to pardon her, upon which she was free to pursue another fancy. Using her prodigious singing talent, she joined the Paris Opera Company and quickly soared to prominence as an opera singer.

Her time as an opera singer was the height of her wild nature. Like a Rockstar from the modern era, her everyday life was full of excitement and adventure – her romantic pursuits only increasing in frequency. She courted maidens, duelled their betrothed and made passionate love to them. Sometimes, she even loved those she duelled, if they earned her attention. She truly was a renegade, a notorious figure in the discourse of Paris. In time, however, her actions drew scrutiny, despite La Maupin having earned the king’s favour. She fled to Brussels to hide from the public eye. It is at that point where her ultimate fate becomes that of rumours and speculation.

Some say that she returned to the convent and spent the rest of her life quietly as a nun, seeking religious penitence for her wild ways. Others say that she changed her name and redoubled her acting career, becoming Madeleine de Maupin, as chronicled by Gautier. And others still say that she returned to her husband, to Sieur de Maupin, and lived the rest of her life as a simple housewife. They agree, however, that she died around 1707, living to her mid-thirties.

In truth, it is difficult to say how much of La Maupin’s life was real and how much had become exaggerated by the gossip and rumours of Parisian high society. If you asked Saber, she would say that the rumours are all true, even those that contradict each other. If you asked her why she lived the way that she did, she would say it was for love – even if that were not the truth. After all, love was the motivation of Madeleine de Maupin, a fictional character based on La Maupin from Mademoiselle de Maupin, not the woman herself. What she was thinking, as she went from woman to woman, from man to man, from love to love? Not even Saber knows.

Noble Phantasm

The Wandering of Mademoiselle de Maupin
Love As You Like It

Rank: B
Type: Anti-Conflict

“Anything is possible in the name of love.” – this Noble Phantasm is the materialisation of that concept. The idea that love can motivate one to magnificent heights, that it can push someone to achieve their goals or open them to all variety of possibilities. The romantic notion that love is the most powerful force in the world – that is what this Noble Phantasm represents.

Love As You Like It is derived from Théophile Gautier’s depiction of Saber in Mademoiselle de Maupin, a novel based off the events of her life. Though the character in Mademoiselle de Maupin is not actually Saber herself, she is still the character’s model – thus she has claimed it as a part of her legend. Madeleine de Maupin, the book’s protagonist, is depicted as a person who lives for the sake of love – an unparalleled romantic. That notion, combined with Saber’s own actions and philosophy, has given birth to this Noble Phantasm.

So long as Saber is fighting for love, she will overcome all conflict that stands in her path. This Noble Phantasm will enhance Saber’s parameters to be equivalent with whatever foe she is fighting against, allowing her to fight anyone on an equal level. Additionally, it enhances the effectiveness of her Alluring Nightingale mental attack to match the opponents rank of Magic Resistance. To an extent, she will also gain skills necessary to fight opponents, such as flight to fight an aerial enemy. It will enhance her to be exactly even with her foe, though Duellist of Passion will further improve her parameters if the fight is one-versus-one.

This effect has restrictions, however. It can only be activated if Saber is fighting for the sake of someone she loves. Ideally, she would love her Master to use this most effectively, though Saber’s flighty nature may cause this to prove difficult. Furthermore, Saber’s mana cost will also increase proportional to her parameters, making her as difficult to maintain as a Servant that is naturally that strong. Overuse of this may also strain Saber’s Saint Graph, causing her spiritual structure to collapse in on itself

Character Data

Personality:

A peppy, flirty girl who prances around chatting up people. She is someone who ‘loves for the sake of love’ – as defined by Mademoiselle de Maupin. To live freely and love openly is her objective, an undefined answer to life. Why does she do anything? For love, of course. It is as much a reason for her existence as it is an excuse for her behavior.

She believes in mutual love, however, and has no desire to pursue someone who does not want to be pursued. Likewise, she is liable to reject those who go after her that she lacks interest in – often rejecting them through fighting them off in a duel. Rather, she enjoys duelling people recreationally, heedless of any sort of safety or restraint.

She sees no obstacles in love between two people. She pays no mind to sex, gender or marital status – the only thing that matters is passion. Saber is very much a person who lives to her desires, a flighty sort who jumps from interest to interest haphazardly. A committed relationship is not something on her agenda – rather, the most important thing is the enjoyment of her and her partner and nothing more.

In her mind, love is both the idea of ‘loving someone’ and ‘being loved by someone’ – a pure, fairy tale-esque definition tainted with idealism. This puts her at odds with those defined by alternate reasoning, namely the existence(s) known as BEAST III. Even though she would surely be outmatched by them, she would be unable to avoid fighting against them. She would be forced to confront the idea that her own love is as selfish as theirs, given her flighty nature.

Her wish for the Holy Grail is simply for the chance to live again – to find another love. Perhaps she will find one that she wants to stay with forever, without getting bored. She could wish for ‘someone she can love forever’, but she hasn’t considered such a thing.

“Salut Master! Servant Saber, La Maupin, at your service. What do you say, shall we get to know each other over tea?”

Relationships:

Chevalier d’Eon: “Monsieur? Mademoiselle? Bah, no matter. Man or woman, love knows no boundaries. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, La Chevalier.”

Marie Antoinette: “Enchanté! Such a lovely princess! Truly, she is a jewel of France. Madame Antoinette, would you care for a dance?”

Bradamante: “A lovely female knight! Would you like to dance? Hm? You’re already married? What a coincidence, so am I! What obstacle does that pose to us? Love blooms regardless of legal status, does it not?”

Sasaki Kojirou: “What a serene swordsman. He reminds me of Sérannes. I shall challenge him to a duel, and whatever happens after that will be what it will be. En garde, good sir!”

Louis XIV: “Well, if it isn’t the king! Good to see you again, your Highness. Shall I regale you with more of my exploits? Or shall we have a duel? I’ve always wanted to see that Holy Sword in action. No? Well, I’m sure we can work out some way to enjoy each other’s company, non?”

Shakespeare: “Aha, Monsieur Shakespeare! Have you ever considered writing an opera? I would quite like to be a star of one your productions. Provided that it has romance, of course.”

Kama: “To love and to be loved… That is the greatest pleasure in the world. You are an overflowing font of love and yet you allow no love for yourself. How sad, Miss Kama. If you’ll let me, I can return your love. You only need to open your heart and let me in. Please?”

Kiara Sessyouin: “To love and to be loved… That is the greatest pleasure in the world. But it seems that all your love is constrained to yourself. How disappointing. The two of us could have been something magnificent – if only you would open your heart and let your love out.”

Creator Notes

Not totally satisfied by this, but I wanted to get something done for this month's contest. Maybe I'll do a second sheet. Maybe I won't, I don't know. I definitely think La Maupin will turn up in FGO at some point. Well, I hope so, anyway.

[the god of world-0]

Maupin's charm is so strong, it literally affects me

[TheLordOfAwesome]

That's an awesome Maupin sheet. Always considered doing Maupin but I'm not going to lie, this is probably one of the best versions of the character I have seen anyone do. So good job!

[Shiki-pon]

Faceclaim

Image Link

Class: Shielder
Other Classes: Saber, Lancer, Rider, Caster, Berserker
Alignment: Neutral Good
Origin: Norse Mythology

Parameters:
STR: C
END: B+
AGI: B
MGI: C
LCK: D
NP: C

Height: 163 cm
Weight: 47 kg
Likes: Strong and silent men, grand gestures
Dislikes: Cowardice in battle, Odin
Talent: Playing favorites, being overprotective
Natural Enemy: Helgi
Attribute: Heaven
Traits: Divine, Female, Servant
Armament: Spear, shield

Skills

Class Skills

Magic Resistance - Rank A: Grants protection against magical effects. Differing from the Resistance effect that merely rejects Magical Energy, this ability cancels the spells altogether.
Cancel spells of A-Rank or below, no matter what High-Thaumaturgy it is. The Servant is practically untouchably by modern magi. For the sake of meeting her lover again, she will withstand any trial.

Self-Field Defense - Rank D+: A Class Skill of the Shielder class. A power displayed when protecting allies or an allied camp.
Reduces damage that exceeds Shielder’s defensive limit value. However, she herself receives no benefit. At rank D, Shielder can bestow this defense onto around a dozen people or a range of 10 meters. However, if the benefits are received by a single target, the defensive value is doubled.

Riding - Rank C: A Class Skill typical of the Rider and Saber classes, denoting the ability to ride mounts and vehicles. Rider-class Servants will typically possess a high rank. It is said that dragon type mounts are an exception, requiring a different ability other than Riding.
Shielder possesses this Skill purely due to her reputation as a Valkyrie. Most vehicles and animals can be handled with above average skill. However, cannot ride the likes of Phantasmal Species such as Monstrous Beasts.

Personal Skills

Primordial Rune - Rank -: The possession of and knowledge about Runes that came from an older era. Those with possession and knowledge of Primordial Runes can also make use of the classic Rune Magic.
Possession of Runes hailing from Scandinavia, namely the 18 original Runes of the Great God Odin. However, Shielder cannot fully access their power due to her lowered Divinity. As such, she commonly uses them for simple augmentation or as a focus for curses or blessings.

Divinity - Rank C: The measure of whether one has Divine Spirit aptitude or not. At high levels, one is treated as a mixed race of a Divine Spirit, and the level declines when the Heroic Spirit's own rank as a Monster or Demonic Beast raises. It can also decrease due to one's dislike for the gods. Those who have A Rank Divinity or above have reached the Throne of Gods. It also has an effect which reduces special defensive values called "purge defense" in proportion to the Divinity's Rank. It can break through Skills such as Protection of the Faith and Enlightenment of the Sacred Fig.
Despite originally having possessed this Skill at rank A, Shielder’s association with human heroes in her current and future incarnations has lowered the rank of her Divinity in accordance with her role as a Valkyrie.

Declaration of the Great God (False) - Rank C: The spear Gungnir, or rather a degraded version of it. Though others of Shielder’s type possess it as a Noble Phantasm, her personal feelings toward her father have caused it to manifest as a Skill and at a reduced rank.
Grants a sure-hit function to attacks made with Shielder’s spear. Through manipulation with her Primordial Rune, Shielder can use this effect to create other functions, such as using her spear as a kind of compass needle for locating targets or causing the spear to fight by itself.

Noble Phantasms

Eternal Love

Reincarnation Valkyrie

Type: Anti-Unit (Self)
Rank: C+
Range: 0
Max Targets: 1

A Noble Phantasm materializing Shielder’s legend, allowing for reincarnation in order to reunite with her beloved. It is based on a trio of Valkyries, Sváfa, Sigrún and Kára, the latter two of whom are said to be reincarnations of the first. Each of them fell in love with a human named Helgi, and each couple eventually met a tragic end.
Reincarnation Valkyrie automatically activates at the point of Shielder’s death. It fully restabilizes her form as a Servant, even if her body had been reduced to nothing. However, Shielder’s reincarnated personality would be completely different from the one present during summoning, being essentially their own person. Under certain circumstances, even her class and Skills may undergo changes.
It is technically possible to activate Reincarnation Valkyrie without Shielder dying, though this kind of use would likely require the expenditure of a Command Spell. In such a case, the effect would amount to a “reshuffle” of her Class, Skills and personality.

No matter how it is used, Reincarnation Valkyrie can only ever activate thrice per summoning. Shielder also requires her Master to be alive in order for Reincarnation Valkyrie to be activated.

The Shield of My Beloved

Helgans Skjaldmær

Type: Barrier
Rank: B
Range: 10
Max Targets: 1

A Barrier Noble Phantasm activated for the sake of a single person. In legend, Shielder is said to have accompanied her beloved to battle, and with her shield at his side, he would receive no wounds. Naturally, Helgans Skjaldmær can only target a single person at a time.
When activated, a powerful Bounded Field is placed around the target, massively reducing incoming damage and nullifying all attacks of up to B rank. As a Bounded Field placed on a person is more fragile than something built on terrain, Shielder must be within range of the target for Helgans Skjaldmær to take effect. In addition, should the defensive value be exceeded, all incoming damage would be shunted off to Shielder rather than the target.
While Helgans Skjaldmær remains active, the target also gains the benefits of Shielder’s Magic Resistance.

Lore

Shielder’s true identity is Sváfa, the Lover of Helgi.
She was originally a Valkyrie serving her father, the Great God Odin. However, fate seemed to conspire her to one day meet with a sullen, silent young man. Though given the duty of leading a squad of Valkyries, Sváfa took an interest in the man. As the man had been nameless before their meeting, she gave him the name Helgi. As per tradition, the naming of a man should be accompanied by a gift, and so she gave him the location of a magic sword before going on her way. Helgi, however, wanted nothing more than to be with Sváfa once more.
With the sword Sváfa had guided him to, Helgi rose to become a great warrior. As he won fame in battle, it was natural that he would come to see the Valkyries once more. Sváfa, too, had been changed by her and Helgi’s encounter, and she eventually came to separate herself from the rest of the Valkyries. Upon meeting Helgi once more on the battlefield, she refused to leave him again. From then on, Sváfa lent Helgi her full aid, and acted as his shield in battle. Under her watchful eye, her beloved never suffered an injury. It is perhaps by Odin’s will that the two would eventually meet a tragic end, as his disobedient daughter continued to prevent the death of a great warrior.
After Sváfa and Helgi were eventually married, Helgi was challenged to a duel. Unable to interfere with the fight of his beloved, Sváfa could only watch as Helgi was felled. It is said in legend that Helgi’s doom came from a curse laid upon him by a troll woman, cast back in the days of adventure when he was still gathering fame.
As Helgi died, Sváfa did his duty as a Valkyrie and took him to Valhalla. From then on, Sváfa wasted away in grief, no longer fit to fulfil her duty. Like this, she eventually died.

However, Odin saw fit to remake Sváfa as a new Valkyrie, who came to be called Sigrún and was once again placed as a leader of the Valkyries. Somehow, Helgi too escaped his fate in Valhalla, and came to be reincarnated on earth. As though by fate, Sigrún and Helgi met once more, and fell in love. Once again, the pair also met a tragic end.
The cycle is recorded as repeating a third time in Kára and Helgi, where the two once again met and fell in love with each other. It is likely that many more repetitions of the same story exist unrecorded, as the Valkyrie and her beloved continue to spin their lives entwined throughout history.

Personality

On the surface, Sváfa seems a reserved, if slightly sweet girl. She doesn't talk much, and conducts herself both on the battlefield as well as outside it with a terse demeanour. Unfortunately for Sváfa, this sometimes makes her appear a bit dim and makes it seem that she isn’t really paying attention. Indeed, she seems unfocused in general, and even if she is being talked to, her eyes sometimes gain a faraway expression.
Inside, however, Sváfa is faithful to her fated love. Though lacking the memories of her reincarnations due to manifesting as Sváfa, she nevertheless feels a ‘promise’ of sorts that she will come to reunite with Helgi. It is this that drives her, and she will pursue this promise to the ends of the earth if necessary. Even if she should be reincarnated once more, her love for Helgi is the one thing that would not change.
Perhaps due to the intertwining of their fates, Sváfa only has eyes for Helgi. Unlike other Valkyries, she doesn’t care for other heroes or those with qualities she deems heroic. She is, however, aware of her nature and the draw of heroism, and as such has resolved to act as unresponsive as possible so as to ensure others pay no attention to her, nor she to them.
Naturally, Sváfa’s wish to the Holy Grail would be to live once and to find her beloved.
Sváfa is also something of a worrywart. She demands that everything be perfect for her reunion with Helgi, and as such fusses over things while otherwise unoccupied. For this, she tends to seek seclusion so as not to attract attention. However, her activities and demeanour mostly serve to invite suspicion and interest rather than deflect them.
Were she to open up to another, Sváfa would naturally come to talk on the topic of Helgi. Once she starts, it is quite difficult to get her to stop. She is likely to go on and on about the lovey-dovey plans she has for their reunion, much to the detriment of any listeners.

Relationships

Helgi (anyone under the name): Due to her fuzzy memory of her other lives, Sváfa is usually hopeful that anyone carrying the name Helgi might be her beloved. Though she expresses interest in them, her nature means that she won’t take overt action until she is certain of their identity.

Odin: Though respecting her father, Sváfa blames Odin for the death of Helgi and the couple’s tragic end. After all, no mere troll’s curse could fell her beloved, nor would Sváfa herself have been unable to detect or prevent such a curse.

Valkyries: Though she has distanced herself from them, Sváfa remembers her sisters with fondness. She jealously guards Helgi from them, however, as she feels her lover is hers and hers alone. Choosers of the Slain or not, Sváfa is violently protective of her love.

Brynhildr: A fellow breakaway from the ranks of the Valkyries. Sváfa deeply respects Brynhildr’s choices and wishes her the best.

Sigurd: Recorded in myth as Sváfa’s nephew, she would like to dote on him. She is, however, wary of how Brynhildr might feel about this.

Other heroes: Though there is a little spark of interest towards them, Sváfa does her best to ignore them as people.

Other women: Rather than being jealous about Helgi, Sváfa might come to them in private to ask for relationship advice. She is adamant, however, that this should not become a topic of gossip.

Master: As long as they are not named Helgi, Sváfa will likely remain impassive and distant, though she will generally follow orders. However, a Master that truly impresses her might arouse her curiosity. In such a case, Sváfa would likely come to the conclusion that they are Helgi reborn. In a million-to-one-chance, this might even be true.

Creator Notes

A half-assed sheet since I’m occupied with other stuff at the moment. I was originally considering finally making that Svipdagr sheet, but I think I entrusted that to Lambda at some point.

[RoydGolden]

Servant Caster:

Appearance:

Source

True Name: Laimdota

Alignment: Neutral Good

Strength- E
Agility- C
Endurance- D
Mana- A
Luck- C
NP- A

Personality

A sweet and innocent girl. Caster has a kind personality and goes out of her way to help people whenever possible. She dislikes violence and would rather talk through conflicts rather than fight. But since that isn't an option in most Grail Wars, she will reluctantly fight to defend herself.

While she seems naive at times, Caster is a very clever and intelligent girl. She's a voracious reader who believes passionately in uncovering the lost mysteries of the past. Conversely Caster despises who'd destroy or cover up knowledge for their own ends. She takes great joy in the advent of widespread literacy in the modern age, considering the plethora of knowledge to be proof of how far humanity has advanced since her era. In her free time Caster can often be found touring the nearest library, eagerly devouring all the books in sight.

From her father who was a wise old scholar Caster greatly respects the elderly, as they believes their age must mean they've amassed a lot of knowledge. Caster dislikes being seen only for her beauty rather than her intellect. Part of why she fell in love with Lacplesis was because he admired her passion for knowledge as well as her body...

Caster deeply loves Latvia. Its culture, its history, its people; she treasures all of it from the bottom of her heart. Of course she loves her husband too. When Lacplesis is brought up Caster shows a much more lovestruck demeanour, gladly singing his praises to anyone who'll listen. "He's cool, and strong, and kind... and his bear ears are super fluffy and cute! I just love stroking them so much... Erm, sorry if that was a little embarrassing Master. I just get carried away whenever I start talking about him..."

Even as a Heroic Spirit Caster still remains totally devoted to her husband, to the point where she wouldn't even conceive of falling in love with someone else. She secretly feels guilty that she couldn't save Lacplesis from his demise at the hands of Black Knight. But Caster represses that aspect most of the time, as she believes it's better to keep a positive attitude and doesn't want to worry her friends.

Unlike her husband Caster isn't hateful towards the Germans and Christianity for the crimes they committed to her people. She recognizes that those groups consist of good and bad people like any other and it isn't fair to judge the whole based on the actions of a few. But that said, Caster is still instinctively suspicious of them as they bring back painful memories of Lacplesis' death. It'd take some time for her to open her heart up enough to be friends with either a German or a Christian. Although she does recognize this as a prejudice and try to get past it...

Caster's wish on the Holy Grail is simply for the chance to meet her husband again. "At the very least, I want to say 'I love you' one more time."

Likes: writing, singing, Latvia, her husband, fluffy ears
Dislikes: violence, loss of knowledge, arrogant and self-righteous people
Talents: evoking mysteries of the past, to study ancient texts
Natural Enemy: Kangars

Class Skills:

Territory Creation- EX
The ability to formulate a territory advantageous to oneself as a Magus. Through Caster's Noble Phantasm, creation of a "Sunken Castle Burtnieku" superior to a "Temple" becomes possible.

Item Construction- B
The talent to craft magical items. By putting her old Paganistic knowledge to use Caster can craft various kinds of enchanted artifacts and Mystic Codes.

However it seems she favors making good-luck charms and other such trinkets to give her to her beloved.


Personal Skills:

Songs Of Creation- A
A power to evoke the effects of thaumaturgy through means other than orthodox incantation; in Caster's case, song. A composite Skill that includes the effects of High-Speed Divine Words and Alluring Nightingale at the same rank. At this rank, Caster's singing voice can evoke mysteries from close to the World's genesis, giving her nearly unrivalled power.

However since Caster needs to sing to cast spells, she can easily be interupted if the opponent attacks her in the middle of a verse. Several of Caster's spells/songs are listed below as follows:

Spells

Staburadze: A hymn entreating the Latvian sea goddess who saved the young hero Lacplesis from drowning by bringing him to her undersea palace and nursing him back to health. By singing it, Caster can surround her target in a torrent of swirling water, battering with the wrath of the sea anyone who means them harm. This can be used to protect an ally or imprison an enemy within a "cage" of rushing water that can shred iron like tissue paper. Additionally, within the whirlpool the target's injuries are slowly healed and they're purified of status ailments like curses and poisons, functioning somewhat like a magical detox chamber.

Lacplesis: By singing of the exploits of her beloved husband, the great hero Lacplesis, Caster can briefly channel some of his legendary strength. This song raises Caster's Strength stat to A+ rank for a single turn, letting her strike on par with the mightiest Heroic Spirits. However, since such strength eclipses the limits of her saint graph, Caster risks damaging herself if she uses this spell too often.

Kalapuisis: A song named after the terrifying giant that threatened Caster's homeland before being defeated by her husband Lacplesis. By reciting it, Caster can summon a monstrous giant made of earth as her familiar. She can command the giant as long as she keeps singing; stopping will make it crumble to dust. The giant itself is a high-tier Phantasmal Beast boasting prodigious strength and stamina. Additionally its rocky skin is impregnable to all ordinary (i.e non-Noble Phantasm) attacks ranked C or lower.

Saule: Caster's strongest song, evoking the Latvian sun goddess she prayed to in legend. Singing it allows Caster to conjure a sphere of heat and light comparable to a "mini-sun", which she then hurls at the opponent. Upon impact it explodes in a supernova-like blast, razing everything in the vicinity to ashes. Due to her compassionate nature and dislike for collateral damage Caster dislikes using this spell and will only do so as a last resort.

Wisdom Of

Burtnieki

Ancient Scholars

- B
A Skill that demonstrates the wisdom of the Burtnieki, the ancient scholars of Latvia. As the only ones who could read and write, the Burtnieki devoted themselves to preserving the knowledge and mysteries of the past. Caster's father was one of the last of the Burtnieki, before they were wiped out by invading Christianity, and he passed down his knowledge to her.

Attesting her status as one who inherited knowledge of mysteries from a previous era, this Skill bestows Caster advantage in all Magecraft and discernment-related checks.

Golden Rule (Body)- C
Connotes possession of a natural and perfect goddess-like body, preserving beauty. While her husband Lacplesis personified the soul of Latvia's people, Caster embodied the land itself, the fertile earth that nourished her people in abundance. As such Caster boasts a beautiful and voluptuous figure that exemplifies "the prosperity of the earth". Although she was never properly deified, in that sense Caster's existence is exceedingly close to a nature goddess.

Noble Phantasms

Gaismas Pils Burtnieku

Sunken Castle Of Primeval Lore

Rank: A

Type: Fortress



The legendary castle of Burtnieku that rested beneath the waves for untold centuries before being raised by Caster's magic. By reciting a grand song, that hearkens back to the old days of creation, Caster can call forth that magnificent fortress once more.
She can only summon the castle near a large (at least lake-sized) body of water, and upon invocation it rises up to the surface in its full majestic glory. True to its title of "

Castle of Light

Gaismas Pils

" the citadel's surface is gleaming like crystal. It has an ethereal and dreamlike appearance, giving the impression of a "fairy tale castle". But despite their seeming fragility, the walls are incredibly sturdy and can easily withstand up to B-ranked attacks unscathed.

The castle itself is a crystallization of the wishes of all Latvians to recover the lost knowledge and culture that had been stripped from them by foreign oppression. Within it lies an endless library that contains countless scrolls, scriptures and other ancient texts that testify to an earlier age of the World.

By drawing from that knowledge, Caster can perform any Magecraft rooted in the Latvian mythico-historical culture sphere. Even grand feats of thaumaturgy that would be impossible for her to cast individually become hers to wield. Supported by the collective unconscious prayer of an entire people to reclaim their past, there's very little she can't accomplish. While a talented spellcaster on her own, within her crystal sanctum Caster exercises thaumaturgic prowess on par with the greatest Mages from the Age of Gods. Functionally, her Songs Of Creation Skill is ranked up to EX.

Once Caster raises the castle, it remains in the World indefinitely and she doesn't have to expend any more Mana to sustain it. But it'll still fade away if she's killed. Caster can also use the castle's polished surface to reflect light around it, serving as a form of optical camouflage. This lets Caster freely summon it near populated areas without threatening the secrecy of the Grail War.

---

So I finally came up with an entry to the contest. This is intended as a compliment to my old Lacplesis sheet. Her legend is pretty sparse/obscure so I had to get creative coming up with interesting Skills and NPs for her, but I think I did pretty well. As usual comments and critiques would be welcome. Thanks for reading!

[cooldownnow]

Class: Lancer
Other Classes: Rider
True Name: Britomart
Alignment: Lawful Good
Place of Origin: Faire Queene

Parameters:

STR: C
END: C
AGI: B
MGI: E
LCK: B
NP: A++

Likes: Arthegall, Amoret, Honorable Combat
Dislikes: Evil, The Blatant Beast
Talent: Jousting
Natural Enemy: Radigund
Attribute: Earth/Sky
Armament: The Hebne Speare

Class Skills:

Spoiler:

Magic Resistance
Rank: B+
Cancel spells with a chant below three verses. Even if targeted by High-Thaumaturgy and Greater Rituals, it is difficult for them to be affected. Effectiveness increases when faced with illusion based magecraft.

Riding
Rank: B
A skill normally associated with the Rider class. A master of mounted combat Lancer was determined through contest as the strongest knight on horseback. As a result all vehicles and all creatures but those of Phantasmal Beast and Divine Beast-rank can be used as mounts. This rank is high enough to have an aptitude for the Rider Class.

Personal Skills:

Spoiler:

Knight of Chastity
Rank: C
Lancer is the knight who embodies Chastity. As such when defending someone’s ‘chastity’ Lancer’s parameters are increased. ‘Chastity’ is not only defined as virginity, but can also be interpreted as ‘innocence’ or ‘freedom’.

Charisma
Rank: B
Having B Rank in this Skill is sufficient to lead a nation as its King/Queen. The morale of military forces she commands is extremely high.

Champion on Horseback
Rank: B+
A skill declaring Lancer as the greatest mounted fighter of her time. During a competition of the strongest knights of her era she soundly defeated all challengers without being dealt a single hit. Whenever she was on her horse she was said to be invincible. As a result whenever she rides her horse Lancer’s melee damage and damage resistance increases.

Noble Phantasm(s):

Spoiler:

Hebne Speare
Bladud and Athena as One

Type: Anti-Unit
Rank: A++
Range: NA
Max Targets: 1

An enchanted spear Lancer received from there father. It was made by Bladud, a king of Briton. Bladud was a wise scientist and sorcerer who had connections to the Divine Spirit Athena. Using that knowledge he and Athena decided to make something unique, a connection to the realm of the Gods during the end of their Age. Made from the wood of the world’s oldest ebony tree it was crafted into a spear using the most advanced techniques of the time. Then it was layered with magecraft taught directly by Athena herself to increase the potency of the weapon. In the end Bladud and Athena had created Hebne Speare, a Mortal Divine Construct, a weapon that could channel the Divine without having to be from the Gods; able to exist even after they had long left the world.

When holding the spear Lancer is infused with Athena’s Divinity, giving her B ranked Divinity as a skill, increased mental capabilities, and the Sky Attribute. The weapon itself is perfectly balanced and even in the hands of a novice can be used with skill equal to the greatest of warriors. Depending on the situation Hebne Speare will change shape to best be wielded, growing and shrinking to best counter the opponent. As a weapon meant to retain mystery beyond the Age of Gods it is a ‘stealable’ Noble Phantasm, which means that if another Servant acquires it Hebne Speare can be used to its full capabilities and will not fade away when Lancer is killed.

As a side note the Hebne Speare itself was destroyed by Lancer at the end of her life alongside her husband’s own mystery retaining weapon Chrysaor, having been deemed too dangerous to continue existing without any weapons strong enough to counter them.

Lore:

Spoiler:

Britomart was a princess in the land of Briton raised by her father King Rycene, descendent of king Bladud, to be a knight since birth. She excelled at all things combat, however she had trouble relating to those around her. In fact the only person she ever spoke to was her nurse Glauce, clamping up whenever others approached. One day though she came across a magic mirror her father had received from the mage Merlin. The mirror was made as an extension of Merlin’s clairvoyance and could show any one anywhere in the world. In it she saw what she thought was the most beautiful man in the world, Arthegall the Knight of Justice.

For weeks she lamented that she could only see this man but not touch him, not knowing where he was only that she could see him through he mirror. Eventually Glauce noticed her even more withdrawn behavior and confronted her about it. When she figured out that Britomart had fallen in love with the man in the mirror she knew she had to do something about it. She and Britomart went off to find Merlin, who had given king Rycene the mirror to tell them where Arthegall was. The mage was all too happy to help as he had been stuck in the tower of Avalon for so long and told them how to get to Faerie Land, the world where the confines of time and space meant nothing and metaphor became reality. Disguising themselves as a male knight and his squire Britomart and Glauce went to find Arthegall.

In Faerie Land Britomart found herself meeting many famous knights and heroes; she dehorsed the Knight of Temperance Guyon, she assisted the Knight of Redcross Gregorios when he was outnumbered and the two became good friends, and she even briefly met the once and future king of Briton Artoria. Finally though she came across a man that would give her the quest that would change her life. Scudamore was a man who had fallen in love with Amoret, a priestess of Venus, and taken her from her temple. However as he was bringing her home he was attacked by the wicked Busirane. Scudamore had given up hope of rescuing Amoret before even trying as Busirane’s castle was surrounded by a moat of flame and so had decided to just die in the forest. Britomart however decided to save the maiden and leapt through a moat of flame to rescue her.

Inside the castle Britomart found out what true evil looked like. The walls of the castle were lined with images of rape, so lifelike that they seemed to move. Everywhere she turned there seemed to be a new horror for Britomart to discover. The most chilling part of it all though was that she did not see another living soul in the entire castle for over a day. Eventually after a sleepless night she heard the sounds of storms and trumpets and when she investigated it was the mad mage Busirane parading Amoret around like some sort of trophy. The maiden was strung up in a sick effigy of Prometheus, a pen stabbed into where her heart should have been, and her heart sitting near by in a silver bowl. Britomart was so shocked at the display, at the merry music and dancers that surrounded it that she couldn’t act before they ended the display and retreated behind locked doors.

Twice more Britomart stayed the night in the castle and twice more she was shocked into inaction by what she saw each night more profane and horrifying than the last. Eventually though she was able to bring herself out of her horror and charged into the room where the performance was to take place ready to fight. What she found though was not the macabre parade but something somehow worse. Busirane was standing infant of Amoret, still tied up, casting arcane spells with her blood to make her love him. Britomart flew into a frenzy beating Busirane within an inch of his life. However Amoret had Britomart spare the sorcerer in order to properly free her from her torment.

Having saved Amoret from captivity the two went out to where Scudamore was meant to meet them but he had left already having decided the two of them were already dead. Not knowing what to do as she had been told never to return to the temple of Venus Amoret decided to travel along side Britomart as she searched for Arthegall. The two grew closer along their travels and Britomart found that apparently she liked girls too. After some time they had come across an informal tournament where all the knights of the realm had gathered to see who the strongest was and their ladies came to decide who was the fairest. Deciding to enter the contest Britomart, still disguised as a man and calling herself the knight of Hebne Speare, entered and so did Amoret to try and be the fairest of the land.

During the tournament Britomart had defeated all the other knights who had come to fight including one covered in leaves and weeds known as the Salvage Knight. Unknown to Britomart however the Salvage Knight was actually her love Arthegall in disguise and had decided to track down the Knight of Hebne Speare to redeem himself for losing. Amoret on the other side of the competition had lost to the False Florimell(an entirely different story and one I cannot hope to summarize) but won a, literal, moral victory by being the only woman competing who was able to wear the golden girdle of chastity. Pleased with the results the two rode off in the sunset, followed by Arthegall who was ready to throw down.

After an adventure where Amoret was held captive by a savage man and rescued by Artoria she returned to Britmart just as Arthegall found them. He met the two and they fought a hard bloody battle that lasted the entire night, which only ended when Arthegall damaged her helmet and fell in love with the beautiful face that he saw inside. Britomart responded by breaking off his own helmet and realizing that she was about to impale the man she had been searching for. Britomart, Arthegall, and Amoret all laughed about the fun coincidence and spent time together in the woods talking, laughing, and falling in love. Eventually though Arthegall had to go complete the quest he had been given by the Faerie Queene and save queen Irena from the giant Grantorto who had taken over his kingdom.

Britomart had decided to not join her newly found beloved and instead take Amoret to Maidenhead, where all knights of the Faerie Queene and their loved ones were housed, so that she could be safe for the first time in years. However before Britomart could be comfortable in her new home news came from Arthegall’s metallic servant Talos; Arthegall had been captured by the Amazonian queen Radigund who captured knights and forced them to serve her as slaves. Britomart immediately went out to rescue her love.

Britomart had arrived at Radigund’s kingdom and faced off against the despotic ruler. The battle was probably the most difficult of her entire life, to the point where she had been severely wounded on her shoulder and couldn’t properly lift her spear, then she began to think about her loves, about what would happen if she fell there. She managed to lift her spear one more time and impaled Radigund before she could react. Britomart had defeated the despotic ruler and saved Arthegall. However Britomart needed time to recover, and Radigund’s kingdom needed a new ruler. It was decided between the two that Britomart would recover there and lead the kingdom to an era of equality and once Arthegall had completed his quest he and Amoret would join her and decide upon what to do next.

Unfortunately as far as the world is concerned that never happened. Britomart did manage to right the wrongs of queen Radigund but during Arthegall’s quest he was wounded by the Blatant Beast who’s wounds act like rumors destroying the reputation of the target. Arthegall had been banished from Maidenhead and despite the best efforts of Calidor the Knight of Curtesy the Beast eluded capture.

It is possible that the beast was recaptured at a later date, or that Arthegall had managed to repair his reputation and reunite with Britomat and Amoret; however as the one who transcribed these long lost tales, Edmund Spencer, passed on before he could finish his work. All we can do is hope those three got the happy ending they deserved.

Personality:

Spoiler:

Lancer is a brash and harsh woman, however contradictorily she is also shy and reserved. As the one who represents the ideals of chastity she has both sides of that coin in herself. First is the idea of viciously protecting ones chastity, preventing anyone from taking it. This is the warrior. However she is also the idea of shyness, of retreating from the world to protect oneself and your chastity. Neither of these two personality traits are inherently worse than the other, but Britomart wishes that she could have more moderation in how she acts.

Whenever she is around her loved ones and friends she will be wild and not hold anything back but the moment a stranger shows up she clamps up and refuses to speak. The only way that she was able to get through this in life was to completely conceal her identity while traveling and pretend she was somebody other than herself.

To her the ideal master is one that doesn’t mind her eccentricities

Bond:

Spoiler:

*Note on second ascension Britomart puts on her helmet and some dialogue will change

On Summoning:
“L-Lancer Britomart reporting for duty. P-please take care of me.”

About the Holy Grail:
“What would I wish for? Isn’t it obvious! To be with my sweethearts again!”

If you have summoned Arthegall:
“Sweetheart! It’s been too long! Come here come here come here! Tell all about your adventures!”

If you have summoned Amoret:
“I’m so sorry you had to be without me for a second! I swear I won’t leave you alone at all anymore!”

If you have summoned Saint George:
“Gregy! How have you been! Sorry that Bayard isn’t here. He was such a good horse!”

If you have summoned Fergus *First Ascension:
“U-um, if it’s alright with you I don’t want to be on the same team as Mr. Phallic Symbol. It sort of makes me uncomfortable.”

If you have summoned Fergus *Second Ascension:
“What! You want to fight!! I’ll take you on right here right now!”

About her Likes:
“What I like? Of course it’s my sweet little Amoret, just seeing her makes my day! Then of course if my brave Arthegall! Every time I see him fight I just swoon!!!”

About her Dislikes *First Ascension:
“U-um, probably people that are r-really pushy. S-seeing women being forced to do t-things they don’t want to is the w-worst.”

About her Dislikes *Second Ascension:
“Men who refuse to listen to women when they say no! People like that just piss me off!”

Bond 1 *First Ascension:
“L-let’s work together master. I, I hope I don’t disappoint.

Bond 1 *Second Ascension:
“Alright master let’s get rocking! I can tell this is the start of a beautiful friendship!”

Bond 2 *First Ascension:
This has been fun. I-I’m happy that I have served you well.”

Bond 2 *Second Ascension:
“Hell yeah! This is what I’m talking about! Deepening the bond between servant and master!

Bond 3*First Ascension:
“This has been fun master. I hope this time we have doesn’t end.”

Bond 3 *Second Ascension:
“What do you say we go out somewhere! We can do some questing and maybe save a town or two! That’s the sort of thing best friends do together right?”

Bond 4:
“Listen up master I’m only going to say this once! Anyone ever does anything to bother you let me know. I’ll stomp em down for you!”

Bond 5:
“I am a woman without an ending. My life is one that will perpetually be without any resolution. Me and my loves shall live forever in a moment of despair, of healing, of longing. You do not care about that though. You took this incomplete servant and allowed her to be a part of your life. Thank you master, you’re really freaking awesome you know!”

Valentines CE
Chocolate Spears


What do you think master? I know these aren’t the best chocolates in the world but I tried real hard with it! Even if I’m not as good a housewife as Amoret I still want to impress my loved ones! So as long as those who care most about me enjoy the fruits of my labor I am okay with my skills being subpar.

So what do you think? With Arthegall and Amoret like it?

Creator Notes:

So my first posted sheet in a few months and it’s a wanky one. I know I know but I’ve done worse before. I absolutely love the relationship between Britomart and Arthegall in the Faerie Queene and this was my first idea for the love contest.

Some justifications, Champion on Horseback is based not he fact that Britomart only ever really came close to defeat when Arthegall forced her off of horseback or fighting Radigund on the ground and all other times she basically one shots people from the back of her horse. I found some places that said her spear could magically unseat riders kind of like the trap of Argalia and was considering making her have just an older version of it (especially because she is based on Bradamante the same way Arthegall is Arthur) but when reading through the text I couldn’t find anything about that (although it is a dense text so I may have missed it.)

Instead I found that it was made by king Bladud and went in a rabbit hole about him. The final version of Hebne Speare was as a way to incorporate the theme of Britomart and Arthegall being mirror of each other, a big part of the text, by giving her a mystery defying Noble Phantasm like I gave to my Arthegall.

Lastly Britomart, Arthegall, and Amoret are a throuple because I want them to be and Scudamore is a jerk who doesn’t deserve Amoret.

[Dragolord09]

Say cooldownnow, will you be doing anymore characters from Faerie Queene in the near future?

[cooldownnow]

Say cooldownnow, will you be doing anymore characters from Faerie Queene in the near future?

I really want to try and make a Guyon or Calidore sheet since they have a really unique relationship to the ideas of heroism but I have a handful of other ideas that I’ve already started on so they’re a bit on the back burner. And of course I want to try to figure out how to make a good Amoret sheet but right now all I have for her is that she’s be a caster.

So not really any in the near future.

[sutaa]

Archer of Aesthetic Attraction

Title: A Boy Who Wrote Poetry
Class: Archer
Alternate Classes: Caster (adult), Shielder (adult)
Alignment: True Neutral

Attribute: Human
Nation of Origin: Japan
Likes: Vitality, Strength, Endurance, Japan, Masculinity, Dolls, Writing
Dislikes: Family, Weakness, Fragility, Illness, Crossdressers, Writing
Natural Enemy: Jeanne d'Arc
Image Song: Leave my Body
Summoning Catalyst: A discoloured, sullied book on European art

STR: E
AGI: D
END: C
MGI: B
LCK: E
NP: D+++


Class Skills:

Independent Action
The ability that allows for action even in the absence of a Master.

• B: It is possible for a Servant to stay in the world for two days without a Master. However, this is the ideal value achieved by maximally conserving mana and avoiding battle and Noble Phantasm usage. Despite his subdued distaste for overt individualism, Archer operates best when employing hit-and-run tactics at a distance from his Master, so this Skill proves a valuable boon.

Magic Resistance
Grants protection against magical effects.

• E: By the time of his birth, Mystery was already thin in Archer's time. Even low-rank spells have a chance of succeeding without being rejected. Really, it's a pittance provided by his class container.

Personal Skills

Personal Skills:

Chasing the Boundary
The tendency of a person to idealise their demise. Grants protection against death and charm effects.

• A-: The gift of a boy who loves his end. Since an early age, Archer has sat himself stooped in a mire of ideation on mankind's mortality. Spurred by the erratic and oft violent personality of his grandmother, an autocratic woman of fine lineage who crafted for her kin a childhood deprived of much human contact, Archer's compositions display an almost sensual preoccupation with death, particularly that promised end when brought about by a person's own hand, the sole salvation contemplated again and again by a boy with no escape from his cage. Differing distinct from the At the Boundary possessed by the greatest of Assassins, Chasing the Boundary does not denote one who walks in death, rather one who pursues it, and Archer chased that conclusion til the day he at last of himself made an end. It is the Skill of one who's grown accustomed to death, knowing its call holds no mystery. For he who too many a time pictured perfect how prettily the edge of a blade might paint rivulets of red across moonkissed skin, what lay beyond the veil of death has lost its luster, somewhat. As such, protection is provided against instant death effects of rank B or below, and even abilities that would forcibly impose suicidal urges are easily shaken off. Despite having actually taken his life much later, it is at this early age that Archer is at the stage in his life where he is embedded deepest in suicidal desires, thus his rank in this Skill sits beyond what his older self would possess. Where the elder Archer would be a fine wine, this boy finds the prospect of death still fresh, and thirsts for it still. Only on his own terms does he permit his demise.
• With regards to protection against charm effects, however, the effectiveness finds itself reduced somewhat on account of Archer's aesthetics. While his works as an adult better elaborate on his ideals, even as a youth Archer has developed the principle that will suffuse his writings: the syncretism he found between blood and manhood, and death with eroticism. Homoeroticism, to be more precise, for a writer so obsessed with masculinity. This is the author, after all, who in his own self-ascribed mythology, describes his first sexual awakening first and foremost as painful, couching even his first love wrapped thick in morbidity. The prospect of love, to Archer, is something felt in the throat, choking out reason, fitting then he fell for a nightsoil worker, a conveyer of filth. Because he draws the connection of erotic=death and sensual=tragedy, charm effects deriving from attractive men function without interference, affecting Archer even when he would not typically fall under their purview.
• Incidentally, if a good-looking man were to ask him to die together... There really is no telling if Archer would find it in himself to resist. Such is the young man who found soldiers so charming, knowing their greatest appeal was that they one day would die.

Lifeblood of the Nation
Benefits received from the selfless devotion to one's nation, usually on a conceptual or romanticised level. A resistance against mental or spiritual effects is automatically awarded, along with other benefits based upon the strength of the Servant's conviction.

• C: The gift of a boy who loves his culture. As a grown man, Archer will one day establish a community known as the Shield Society, a militia to maintain those traditional values most dear to his heart. Denouncing intellectualism, liberalism, the decay of morals and the spread of big business, they embodied the man Archer at his peak of patriotic fervour, and in a failed attempt at seizing political power would provide him with the perfect stage upon which to take his own life, exactly as planned. It is this organisation that becomes his Noble Phantasm when summoned as his older self in the Caster and Shielder classes. However well the older Archer calculated far in advance every detail of his suicide is of no relevance, regardless, to his young incarnation.
• No, for the young Archer, the nation as he surveys it is far more specific, far more vague, far more personal than the romanticised Imperial Japan of old he will later come to adore.It is the deliberate, adoring perception of 'Japanese masculinity' that found its way into all of his writings. It was at the age of twelve that Archer left his grandmother's imperious care behind for the home of his father, a man of discipline, who would subject Archer to such spartan treatment as to hold him against a rushing train when he earned his displeasure. Perhaps it was here he developed an obsession with traditional masculinity, figures suffused with a sense of vitality and strength a sickly, sensitive child like himself could only long for - certainly, throughout his life Archer always sought to become his antithesis, to forge himself through adversity into something that might transcend his life as a writer, as a child who spoke like a woman and sat meek like a boy.
• Archer's philosophy on strength - the strength a Japanese man should hold - is simple. Action creates muscle, and it is in muscle that there resides beauty. To build such a body requires pain, expenditure of effort, all taken with the spilling of blood. A man of action lives to die, for dying is the proof he is alive, ergo he must be filled with vitality. The surest way to affirm one's body holds vitality is in the feeling of pain, in bleeding, for only a man with a body built through training and self-inflicted suffering might endure it. To Archer, the body untrained is not a body. It is a symbol of unmanliness; it is dead from the start.
• Grants bonuses to Endurance when faced with those who oppose his own conception of masculine Yamato Damashii. The list is long, but includes writers, scientists, feminine men, women, merchants, politicians, pacifists, and so on. The effect is enhanced further when the opponent is of Japanese origin, for to Archer falls the task of punishing their falling short of his standards. As he suffers blows through battle, Archer's Endurance will continue to rise in accordance with the pain he suffers and the blood that is shed, as if it is through suffering he best recalls he's alive. This does not protect him from necessarily fatal blows; it is merely the guarantee that no matter the harm he endures, he will be able to endure it.

Persona - Mask's Confession
Distortion Skill created due to Servant's unique temperament.

• A: The gift of a boy who loves his craft. A combination of the Espionage wielded by spies and the Confessional Composition associated with a subset of noteworthy novelists. To best understand this Skill and its implications would be to situate in context, in the Japan Archer knew and the rise of the 'I novel.' Closer to memoirs than anything else, the I novel was a naturalist form of work that eschewed creation for truth and sought exposure over the establishing of fiction, where the novelist composed works portraying without reservation his own emotions, his own experiences, and his own perspective as a member of society, believing that in 'the path that turns inwards' there was some greater meaning that might be conveyed. Individualism and self-expression were key.
• Archer did not fall within this category. His own initial work that propelled him to fame, Confessions of a Mask, at first resembles the structure of the I-novel, until one observes the distance Archer cultivates between himself and the inscrutable 'I' who serves as his narrator. Where the I-novelist confesses so he might expose himself for the reader's judgement, Archer intentionally created a disconnect between protagonist and novelist, and so invites his reader to speculate as to where truth ends and fiction begins, for one comes conveyed through the other. Rather than directly expose the author's heart, here his history comes packaged with the prospect of falsehood and self-spun mythologising. It is the mask that confesses, not Archer himself, yet to concede the mask's exists at all is a confession itself. Where the I-novelist attempts to convey some truth about himself by curating anecdotes into a published piece, Archer concedes that to curate at all means any truth conveyed is itself merely fiction and, understanding this divide, confesses to his reader merely that he like all people deliberately curates and crafts a mask he might show to the world.
• As a Skill, Archer has the ability to create Masks that reflect the different 'hims' he displays, fitting for one who while shy among people still pursued side projects as both model and actor - not to show 'himself' but the different forms of 'himself' he had created and fictionalised for that very purpose. Rotating through Masks such as Kou, Yuichi, and Mizoguchi, Archer possesses a number of false identities he can swap through at will. These Masks are, while part of him, both imperceptible as being Servants and imperceptible as being linked; that is to say, even though his appearance does not change, no-one who sees one of Archer's Masks will identify him as Archer, or an enemy Servant, or that the various Masks are even the same individual. Even curses, or scrying attempts, or Noble Phantasms that specifically designate 'a person' as their target can be negated by swapping between Masks; the Mask will take the blow, be expended, and Archer himself will go unhurt. So long as he invests the time to create a new novel, Masks can be created without end.

Noble Phantasm

Sebastianus Eiaculor

The Beginnings of My Bad Habit

Rank: D+++
Type: Anti-Unit
There is, it must be said, a rather infamous anecdote taken from Confessions of a Mask, though as with all such claims in his work its veracity must be held to some scrutiny. Azusa Hiraoka, Archer's father, had in his travels through Europe on business come into contact with some number of books regarding Italian art. Fearing for his son's chastity, that the image of female eroticism might stir something within the child, he made an attempt at concealing the volumes in a dusty cupboard - right where, so Confessions of a Mask claims, they would found by Archer at the tender age of twelve while off from school. What those books of European art would awaken within him, he later describes, was an electrifying, unforgettable experience.

For it would not be the depictions of women that aroused his attention. Rather, what caught his eye was a painting by Guido Reni, a portrait of the martyr Saint Sebastian. A man laid almost completely bare, tied to a tree, flesh impaled by arrows. A man who earned - for his beautiful pale skin, firm body, and expression so utterly serene and at peace as if unknowing of an impending and terrible demise - Archer's immortal infatuation. A boy stimulated so utterly by sado-masochistic images of suicide and masculinity, falling in love at first sight.

Having had his imaginations so depravingly stirred by his image, perhaps it is no surprise Archer takes his inspiration from Sebastian for this Noble Phantasm. A rather simple ability on the surface, Sebastianus Eiaculor bestows on Archer the ability to create arrows in flight, fired at great speed - at himself. Arrows may appear at any point within twenty feet centered on Archer himself, are fired in a straight line, and dissipate the moment they would make contact with him. An ability that relies on creating an arrow while the opponent is between himself and its 'spawn point,' it is more a nuisance than anything else. For this is not its purpose.

Self-loathing, stimulation, eroticism, demise. These four notions take a centre stage in Archer's cognition, and it is these that best empower his Noble Phantasm. Whenever he experiences shame, whenever he learns he is despised, whenever he feels lust, whenever he is rejected, whenever he suffers, whenever he is known. Whenever Archer becomes the subject of shame or guilt or disgust, be it that of himself or others, a single arrow, invisible to all but himself and his Master, will harmlessly take root in his chest. Just as so many shafts were buried in the body of Sebastian, Archer can deliberately expose himself as he did in life through his masks to accrue more of these arrows, subject himself to ever greater levels of masochistic glee. The more he exposes himself, ashamed, the more arrows take root. The greater the exposure, the greater his suffering and the greater his suffering, the closer he feels to death. The closer he feels to death, the mightier his arousal, and so the mightier this Noble Phantasm when its true name is spoken. At any time, Archer may unleash every arrow he has collected at once, firing a barrage of Divine, saintly arrows, each one imbued with creative energy and the concepts of 'all that possesses love/lust or inspires love/lust must die.' A great spiritual ecstasy, to be sure. To give an idea of how this may appear, we turn to Archer's own description of that important event.

"That day, the instant I looked upon the picture, my entire being trembled with some pagan joy. My blood soared up; my loins swelled as though in wrath. The monstrous part of me that was on the point of bursting awaited my use of it with unprecedented ardour, upbraiding me for my ignorance, panting indignantly. My hands, completely unconsciously, began a motion they had never been taught. I felt a secret, radiant something rise swift-footed to the attack from inside me. Suddenly it burst forth, bringing with it a blinding intoxication . . ."

Spiritual ecstasy followed by spiritual orgasm, in short.

Lore

Mishima Yukio was a 20th century Japanese novelist, who also expanded his talents into poetry, plays, film, modeling and eventually, political activism. An aesthete to his core, his works are best remembered for their obsessive fusion of eroticism and beauty with death and suicide, all compacted by this own unique spin of right-wing nationalism. Having churned out over a hundred works across multiple mediums over the course of his life, his legacy remains marred by the manner of his death: ritual suicide following a failed attempt at overthrowing those in power.

Archer, however, is not that man. He is Hiraoka Kimitake, a boy who has yet to completely adopt the pen name by which he will later be known. A boy who embraces the knowledge he will one day die at his own hand in accordance in his own principles as a consequence of his own actions with some violent cheer; no greater masculinity can there be than a frail sickly boy assuming control absolute of his death and as such, his death. Called forth as a Servant, his personality is no less contradictory and impenetrable as that of his older self, at times reticent and moody yet at others joyous and outgoing, for to portray himself exactly as he wishes to be portrayed has always been his great calling.

da Vinci would call him an exhibitionist. He would not deny it.

While it's not quite a dark sense of humour, Archer does delight in mortality, beneficial when his best bet at combat in any Grail War is to constantly expose himself to danger in his various masks via hit-and-run tactics. He's likely to express a deep admiration if not attraction for any other participants he encounters, provided they in turn impress upon him the strength of their resolve. Having been denied the chance to see combat as a soldier in life, finally facing battle is a gift to him, one for which he's willing to overlook the cowardly means he must employ to keep himself alive long enough to achieve a glorious end.

A Master who meets his personal standards of valour and strength may be able to wrangle him into line. Any other poor sap will have to endure a boy who cares far more about his

love

aesthetics

than anything so base as actually winning.

To be a Servant is to receive a second chance at living - or dying, as the case may be - one Archer will not deny himself. With an alarming sensitivity, he observes his Master and other Servants for what little insight he can claim, that he might find something to reinvent himself once again. The masks he wears have always been aspirational; by setting himself a target in the form of a false personality, he forces himself to live it, understand it, and through this become it. Even after death, he wishes to live. He wishes to die. Living is to be in a state of growth, to undergo ordeals and emerge as more than he was, here being Archer's wish: To become a being distinct from the older 'Mishima Yukio,' and then die as a finished product. If the fate his older self achieved has already been decided, then there is nothing to be proud of in not making his own end, dying as the Hiraoka Kimitake only he as Archer can be.

His heart is always concealed behind one mask or another. He may never be understood. That is fine. He never wanted to be understood. He has only ever wanted to be believed.

To be loved.

Creator note.

Also known as Archer of WORDSWORDSWORDS. Do not know how that happened.

[asterism42]

Alright, submission time over, voting time is now

[Leftovers]

Alright, submission time over, voting time is now

Que?

[asterism42]

Febrorary is a shorter month than normal

T'was stated on the first page that today was the deadline

- - - Updated - - -

If this is such a massive and agonizing inconvenience for you, you can make a late submission

[Leftovers]

If this is such a massive and agonizing inconvenience for you

[Bird of Hermes]

I'll try and do a review for everyone but here's a list of the (on time) submissions):

Baron Münchhausen - Archer of Adventurous Love, by Bugs

Helgi - Thrice Born Hero, by NMR-3

Hou Yi - Defender of Earth, by Hermes

Queen Brunhild - The Mightiest Queen, by Zork Knight

Eric Bloodaxe Alter (Gunhild) - Possesive Caster, by pinetree

Clíodhna - The Faerie Queen, by WhiteFrenzy
Angéle de la Barthe - Lover of the Devil, by Gilgamesh King of Memes

Psyche - Archer of Valentines Day, by TheLordOfAwesome

Elpis - Beast III, by Kamerad

Oedipus - The Tragic Hero, by Master of Chaos

Tommelise - Rider of the Bluebird, by the god of world-0

Julie d'Aubingy - Renegade of Passionate Love, by AppleAlias

Svafa - The Lover of Helgi, by Shiki-pon

Lamidota - Caster of the Missing Lore Section, by RoydGolden

Britomarte - Faire Queene, by cooldownnow

Mishima Yukio - Archer of Aesthetic Attraction, by sutta

[Skull]

Gosh darn, I slipped into my old ways of not being able to finish in time. Oh well here' hoping it'll see the light of day in another contest prompt~

[RoydGolden]

3 points: Oedipus

2 points: Elpis

1 point: Cliodhina

Honorary Mentions: Baron Munchhausen, Mishima Yukio, Deianira