While we're on the topic, has Odysseus (or indeed, Ulysses) done anything at all in any literature with a sword or spear or owned/used any notable weapons suitable for a Saber or Lancer role, if he were forced into the role?
I suppose there's the sword Euryalus gifted him as an apology, but I doubt it would be a very good NP. I did forget about tge spear used to blind Polyphemus, that would work well for a Lancer Ody.
So here we go. This was sort of just an exercise in theorycrafting and thought experiments, seeing if I could make a Servant to fit all seven classes. Hopefully he works out okay, though he's totally nuts powerful as a Servant. Not quite Herk OP but still pretty damn powerful.
Odysseus of Ithaca
King of Deception
Class: Berserker
(See Odyssey Noble Phantasm for more details) Parameters: STR: C END: C AGI: B MGI: B LCK: A-
Background
Background: It’s a big one, so let’s simplify it. Odysseus was king of Ithaca and he was well-regarded, ruling wisely, justly and positively. Then, thanks to a promise he’d foolishly talked a whole lot of great Greek men into swearing by, including himself, he and a whole bunch of other men suddenly found themselves stuck on the shores outside the heavily defended city of Troy for ten years. He was pretty unhappy about this because he would have preferred if he could head home to see his wife and son. He fought well, he fought intelligently and there are many little stories of the activities of Odysseus during those ten years, mostly focusing on how smart and cunning he was. Finally he got sick of the war and decided to build a giant wooden horse to give to the Trojans as a trophy, so he could head home to see his wife and son. They accepted and took it inside the city, at which point Odysseus and a handful of other good soldiers jumped from the horse and razed the city to the ground under the cover of darkness. Troy fell and everyone headed home, so Odysseus finally could head home to see his wife and son.
Unfortunately he pissed off Poseidon, the great god of the sea, so he got cursed to wander for ten years before he could head home to see his wife and son. His crew got eaten by giants, turned into pigs, got high on really tasty lotus plants, got their boats sunk and then got eaten by cannibals, killed by a sea monster, punished by the gods for eating sacred cows, all that sort of jazz. In addition, he totally banged a couple of hot women and produced any number of bastard children because hey, ten years is a long time without being able to head home to see his wife and son. Also, each time it seemed he could head home to see his wife and son during those ten years something went wrong and it was only through his cunning and some favours from the goddess Athena that he finally got a new boat and almost twenty years after he had left Ithaca he really finally could head home to see his wife and son.
When he got home he found that since it’d been twenty years everyone figured he was dead and a whole bunch of suitors were trying to get his wife to marry them instead. Odysseus found his son, now a young man, and the two of them conspired to kill all the suitors who’d been sniffing around before he could head home to see his wife and son. Odysseus pretended to be an old beggar and then shot an arrow through twelve axheads with his old bow, before he and his kid killed all the suitors. He proved he was definitely totes Odysseus by pointing out that his bed was a tree, and then he finally got to stay home to see his wife and son.
Appearance
Personal Skills:
Eye of the Mind (True) (B): A heightened capacity for observation, refined through experience. It allows the user to grasp at even the smallest of chances for victory.
Odysseus was not known as the most cunning and strategic of the entire Greek army during the Trojan War for no reason. His ability to make the most of tiny opportunities is exceptional. He is capable of calm analysis of battle conditions even when in danger and able to deduce an appropriate course of action after considering all possibilities to escape from a predicament. So long there is even a 1% chance of a comeback, this ability greatly improves the chances of winning.
Voyager of the Storm (B): A skillful talent to impel a ship and the crew which operates it through inspiring leadership and expert knowledge of the waters being sailed upon. This skill produces effects similar to Charisma and Military Tactics at a reduced rank, when such effects can be applied in a maritime scenario.
The Odyssey was a trip of ten years, leading the fleet of Ithaca back home. During these travels Odysseus expertly plotted courses through deadly obstacles and constantly encouraged the best out of his crews, so his skill is equivalent to Rank C Charisma or Military Tactics.
Prana Burst (Wind) (C): The ability to enhance a weapon’s performance by infusing it with magical energy of the wind element, simply by holding it.
Though only able to fully utilise the Bag of Winds gifted to him by Aeolus in the Caster Class, Odysseus always carries it with him and has over the years learned the basics of how to channel wind magic with his own od. At this level the winds which wrap around any weapon used by Odysseus enhance the speed at which the weapon strikes, as well as being able to launch small but powerful gusts of wind as ranged attacks from the swings of his weapons.
Divine Favour (B): A skill denoting that the Servant has the benefit of a Divine Spirit’s favour which may manifest in a variety of positive ways, though the Divine Spirit may also use this skill to apply restrictions to the Servant’s behaviour.
Odysseus was a man well-loved by Athena, the goddess of war and wisdom. Impressed by his tactical mind, talented weapon handling and most of all his cunning and devious mind, she will grant Odysseus the ability to take on a variety of skills he may not have access to normally at Rank C. When opposed by an enemy with Divinity equal to this skill’s Rank the LCK Parameter become Rank E-. If Athena’s favour is lost, then LCK permanently becomes Rank E- and this skill’s benefits become sealed until Athena is appeased.
Persuasive Orator (A): The skill to sway others not with magical compulsions but simply with powerful rhetoric. A valuable skill which circumvents Magic Resistance and other protections against mental or magical persuasion.
Having almost ended the events of the Trojan War before it could even take place through a powerful speech that almost defied the fate set by the gods, amongst many other successful pieces of oration, Odysseus has the highest rank in this skill. His words could calm a Berserker of its madness, incite a zealot to decry his faith or twist a scenario so that a loyal oathbound Servant might betray his Master if given enough of a chance to speak. As this is not magecraft, nor divine or psychic power, it is not something that listeners can make a check against to resist, rather only hope to use their own logic and mental faculties (or lack thereof) to resist against.
Odyssey
The Arduous Ordeals of the Homesick King
Rank: A+ Type: Anti-Unit Target: Self Range: 0
A conceptual realisation not just of the journey known as the Odyssey, but of the underlying concept of “events which prevent a man from returning to his family”, thus incorporating all the events of two decades away from home, including the Trojan War as well as the Odyssey.
The term Odyssey has become more famous than even Odysseus himself, so this is a powerful Phantasm that lasts beyond the death of Odysseus, granting him additional chances to complete his arduous journey. Not resurrection spells in the style of God Hand, this Phantasm ironically utilises transformation spells to recreate Odysseus into a new Servant Container upon the death of the previous one. All seven containers are available, and with each Odysseus gains access to the Class Skills and a unique Ersatz Phantasm based on a fragment of the legend of Odysseus’ exploits.
The first container Odysseus is summoned into is the Berserker class, as it was the threat of being pulled into the Trojan War and away from his family that first truly started Odysseus’ legend. The final class he is summoned into is the Archer container, as it was his demonstration of his superb bowmanship that proved he had finally returned to his family and ended his Odyssey. The five containers other than these are randomised, selected only upon death of Odysseus’ previous class container and representing the various feats he achieved and obstacles he encountered in his twenty years away from home.
In all classes Odysseus bears a bronze-and-ironwood buckler on one arm, and in the classes where he does not get a Phantasm weapon (Berserker, Rider and Caster) he also has a standard bronze sword of Naue II design, a fine weapon but nothing special or Phantasmal about it.
Berserker
Berserker: Mad Enhancement (False) (C): A false form of the standard Class Skill, as Odysseus has never truly been mad but has merely faked madness. This skill provides the appearance of a Rank Up to STR, END and AGI to everyone who is unaware that the skill is false. With the use of a Command Seal, Odysseus’ Master can enforce this as a real skill, operating exactly as Mad Enhancement at Rank C would. Additionally, this supposed madness makes Odysseus’ attacks harder to read for opponents who are not aware of his identity or that he is faking insanity. While active all of Berserker’s Personal Skills except Prana Burst (Wind) appear as Sealed to people unaware of the false nature of this skill.
Telemachus
False Madness of the Salted Fields
Rank: E Type: Anti-Unit Target: 1-2 Range: 1
In order to avoid having to fulfil the oath that he himself convinced all of Helen’s suitors to swear to and travel to Troy to participate in the war, Odysseus pretended to be mad by hooking his plough to an ox and a donkey and sowing his fields with salt. Though his plan was thwarted by Palamedes proving his sanity through use of his son Telemachus, the image of the madman plowing his fields serves as a striking start to the events of the Illiad and the start of his twenty years away from family, so it has manifested as his first Ersatz Phantasm.
When used, Telemachus manifests as an accelerated mad charge, zigzagging around erratically in a (seemingly) mad way as the ground gets torn up behind Odysseus as if a plough were being dragged through it. Though the charge doesn’t really enhance damage output at all the tearing up of the ground acts as a “salting of the earth”, destroying the ability for the environment to produce ambient mana for at least a few months. With good application this Phantasm can tear apart the magical foundations for rituals, land ownership or enchanted ateliers being used by powerful magi or Caster class Servants.
Saber
Saber:
Magic Resistance (C+): A low level of Magic Resistance granted to Odysseus thanks to his life of adventure in the Age of the Gods. Against oppositional Transformation Magic, the Rank C resistance gains the plus modifier, becoming stronger than Rank A resistance. Riding (C): Odysseus is capable of riding any normal animal or vehicle with a high level of skill, but cannot boost the attributes of the steed, nor handle Monstrous or Phantasmal Beasts.
Euryalas
The Gifted Sword of Apology
Rank: D Type: Anti-Unit Target: 1
Range: 1-2
Euryalas was a young Phaeacian who Odysseus encountered on his journey home, and the youth brutally disparaged Odysseus, disguised as he was at the time, calling him a greedy merchant man who was too soft to engage in manly games of wrestling and sport. The king of the Phaeacians, Alcinous, realised that Odysseus was not who he seemed and forced Euryalas to apologise to Odysseus. To make amends, the young man gave his sword, a fine blade of bronze with a silver hilt and an ivory sheath. It is a well-crafted and durable blade, but has only a low level concept infused in it, the concept of “apologetic offering”. If the owner of this weapon has been intentionally insulted and the person who rebuked the owner later comes to sincerely offer an apology then the bearer of Euryalasbecomes rejuvenated, restoring his prana and removing any penalties to his skills and parameters.
Lancer
Lancer:
Magic Resistance (C+): A low level of Magic Resistance granted to Odysseus thanks to his life of adventure in the Age of the Gods. Against oppositional Transformation Magic, the Rank C resistance gains the plus modifier, becoming stronger than Rank A resistance.
Polyphemus
Blinding Spear of Noman
Rank: D
Type: Anti-Unit
Target: 1
Range: 1-5
A spear named for the incident in which Odysseus and his crew landed on an island of cyclopes, where they were captured by the vicious Polyphemus. Though the giant consumed two of his men for each meal Odysseus was able to trick Polyphemus into becoming drunk. While he was sleeping off the effects of the alcohol Odysseus and his men were able to carve the trunk of a large olive tree into a rough-hewn stake which they heated over a fire for an hour before driving it into the lone eye of Polyphemus before escaping the next day. This spear is huge, an oversized rough weapon which literally looks more like the trunk of a slim tree than a weapon, simply bearing a sharpened point rather than a blade. It is hefty and unweildy for use in tight spaces as the spear is half again as tall as Odysseus himself, but serves as an acceptable weapon nonetheless. Strikes from this weapon cause a temporary flash of blindness as long as the target does not have a MGI Parameter of Rank C or greater, or any level of Magic Resistance above Rank E.
Assassin
Assassin: Presence Concealment (C):Ever crafty, Odysseus has many times had to disguise himself, sneak into a location undetected or mask his true intentions from those he is manipulating. At this level Odysseus is able to mask his presence as a Servant enough to operate well as a spy or infiltrator, and is skilled at disguise and masking his spiritual signature to feel different from how it should register.
Rhesus & Palamedes
Twin Deaths of Necessity and Vengeance
Rank: D
Type: Anti-Unit
Target: 1-2
Range: 1
During the Trojan War a prophecy came to light that the Greeks would become unable to win if the soldier Rhesus allowed his horses to drink from the nearby river. In order to prevent this from happening Odysseus and his good friend Diomedes snuck into his tent and killed Rhesus before stealing his horses away. This was the death of necessity. Also during the Trojan War, Odysseus was able to have his revenge on Palamedes, the man who had proved him to be faking his madness and thus forcing him to leave his family for the war in the first place. Once again with Diomedes, he engineered a situation which made Palamedes appear to be a traitor to the Greeks, so that the man was summarily executed by his peers. This was the death of vengeance. These two deaths engineered by Odysseus manifest in the form of a pair of wicked bronze daggers, which inflict aggravated damage if they manage to strike an unwary target. In this way they are perhaps the perfect tools of assassination, but they have very little use in straight combat.
Rider
Rider: Magic Resistance (C+):A low level of Magic Resistance granted to Odysseus thanks to his life of adventure in the Age of the Gods. Against oppositional Transformation Magic, the Rank C resistance gains the plus modifier, becoming stronger than Rank A resistance. Riding (C): Odysseus is capable of riding any normal animal or vehicle with a high level of skill, but cannot boost the attributes of the steed, nor handle Monstrous or Phantasmal Beasts.
Alcinous
Black Penteconter of Thoughts and Wishes
Rank: D
Type: Anti-Army
Target: 1-50
Range: 3-15
Over the course of the Odyssey the entire crew was lost to one great misfortune or another, until eventually even the flagship which Odysseus captained was destroyed by a bolt of lightning from Zeus. He ended up washed up in the kingdom of the Phaeacians, where the generous king Alcinous gifted him a fine black penteconter galley for the last leg of his journey home. The king described how Phaeacian ships had no men to guide them, nor any rudder or rower, but instead guided themselves expertly around dangers in the ocean, responding to the very thoughts and wishes of the captain. The goddess Athena also praised the ships for their ability to glide like perceptions through a man’s spirit. This fine craft fits these descriptions to a tee, sailing easily and expertly with an intelligence of its own, always towards the thing wished for most by the captain. it is a good sturdy boat and it generates roiling waves of dark black water beneath it to allow it to surge forward at great speeds even over land, crushing those caught in the waves under it as its method of attack. As an Ersatz Phantasm of particularly immense size and majesty Alcinous consumes prana at an absolutely alarming rate.
Caster
Caster:
Item Construction (D):Trained to an amateur level by Circe during his year on her island, Odysseus is able to make small trinkets of a magical nature, though these are really little more than party tricks or handy non-combat utility items. Additionally, his time spent handling the Great Winds of Aeolus has allowed him to imbue small magical artefacts with divine wind-elemental magic of a low level, which he can utilise in a variety of ways. He also has the ability to produce small brambles of the magical herb moly if given enough time, which when consumed will very briefly cause a Rank Up to Magic Resistance for whoever has consumed it. Territory Creation (E): Unable to truly make a territory for himself that could even be considered a Workshop, Odysseus is merely able to enhance his connection to a small area of land he designates as his own, greatly accelerating the rejuvenation of mana he is able to gain from that area of land.
Aeolus
Three Great Winds Constrained
Rank: B
Type: Anti-Army
Target: 1-100
Range: 1-55
Perhaps the only Ersatz Phantasm that would actually warrant its own form as a true Noble Phantasm, Aeolus is relatively highly ranked because of this. Named after the nature spirit who gave Odysseus a bag storing the North, South and East Winds in order to allow him to easily sail westwards to Ithaca, this Phantasm is the source of Odysseus’ wind-based talents. By unleashing the power of one of the Great Winds Odysseus is able to fire off powerful raging blasts of wind to blow enemies away or push great vehicles forwards. The North Wind possesses the dual element of wind and ice, causing a chilling effect to those caught in its icy grip, while the East Wind brings with it torrential rains and the dual element of Wind and Water. Finally, the South Wind bears tropical thunderstorms within it, lighting shooting out as the blasts of wind are released with the dual element of Wind and Lightning.
Degraded from their true strength by being a mere facsimile generated by another Phantasm, the Three Great Winds can be resisted to varying degrees by anyone with moderately high STR or MGI Parameters or those with acceptable Ranks in skills such as Magic Resistance or Protection Against Wind. It is possible for Odysseus to release all the winds at once in a powerful squalling storm of a far greater magnitude than his normal wind bursts, but in doing so the Three Great Winds are released back into the world, sealing away this Phantasm and permanently sealing off Prana Burst (Wind).
Archer
Archer:
Magic Resistance (C+):A low level of Magic Resistance granted to Odysseus thanks to his life of adventure in the Age of the Gods. Against oppositional Transformation Magic, the Rank C resistance gains the plus modifier, becoming stronger than Rank A resistance. Independent Action (A): Having endured decades away from home and travelling in small groups, Odysseus is very capable of efficient use of his prana. At this Rank he can survive without a Master for up to a week, even whilst utilising his Phantasms to a moderate degree, and he can survive for a good amount of time after critical damage has been dealt to his Spiritual Core.
Argos
Recognition of the Loyal Companion
Rank: E Type: Anti-Unit Target: 1 Range: 1-999
A manifestation of the loyal hound Argos, the only creature who was able to recognise Odysseus upon his return to Ithaca. Even after twenty years apart and under a divine disguise granted by Athena, the old hunting hound was still able to identify his master but was so old and uncared for that he was unable to stand to greet Odysseus. Odysseus was forced to ignore his loyal companion lest he reveal his true identity, so passed him by with a sorrowful tear, after which the dog died, happy to have seen his master return home safely. It is in this simple and pure recognition between two longtime companions that the concept of “absolute understanding between companions” is forged.
A simple and pure concept, this allows Odysseus to mark another person under Argos, allowing that person to be able to recognise Odysseus no matter the disguise he wears and to play along with his gambits, whilst also allowing Odysseus to know with absolute precision where that person is at any given time, overcoming any Phantasms or magecraft which may be used to mask the target in any way. This Phantasm thus has a variety of uses by marking either ally or foe as the target of Argos.
Trojan Horse
The Deceitful Gift of Guaranteed Destruction
Rank: A+ Type: Anti-Unit Target: 1 Range: 1-10
A concept on par with the famous concept of the Odyssey, this is the pinnacle demonstration of the crafty nature of Odysseus. Though the power of this Phantasm is not exceptional the infamy of the concept of the Trojan Horse grants it a high rank of Conceptual Weight. It does not call upon the actual Trojan Horse but rather employs the concept of “offering a gift to the enemy which is secretly a trap”. Other heroes have done such things before and after Odysseus, but it is he who made this concept so famed worldwide. When Odysseus deliberately exposes himself in combat, such as when he leaves an opening in his attacks or retreats falsely, and the opponent takes the bait by trying to capitalise on the seeming advantage that has materialised, the advantage will be reversed and actualised in the form of a powerful strike or an unexpected manoeuvre which places Odysseus in a more satisfactory position.
The greatest power of this sneak attack technique is that the Trojan Horse also bears the concept of “passing through the enemy’s defence without retaliation” so when Odysseus is able to activate his Trojan Horse technique his counterstrike bypasses all but the most extraordinary of defensive Noble Phantasms, spells or other metaphysical protective wards, requiring a Rank EX defence to prevent this attack from bypassing it entirely.
Opponents who are aware of Odysseus’ identity or have experienced the powerful defence-bypassing trick of this Phantasm once already are unable to be fooled by Trojan Horse as long as they are mentally capable of comprehending such tactics. In these cases it will never act any more or less successfully than a normal feint might, and those who are suspicious of the opportunity being a trap but still elect to try for the advantage it offers will suffer slightly reduced effects as opposed to somebody who attacks unaware of the possibility of the opportunities being deliberately left open to tempt them.
Bow of Ithaca
The Test of Twelve Axeheads
Rank: A Type: Anti-Unit Target: 1-3 Range: 1-99
Normally sealed in most of the Classes Odysseus can be summoned in, the Bow of Ithaca is only unsealed when Odysseus reaches the end of his Odyssey and is revived into the Archer Class container. Unlike the various Ersatz Phantasms generated by the Odyssey this is a true Noble Phantasm of exceptional power. The bow bears the concept of “passing through twelve targets” and as such Odysseus is able to designate twelve points within his range which the fired arrow must pass through along its path, these points manifesting as small glowing rings.
The arrows themselves are exceptionally powerful thanks to the immense strength of the bow, and using his Prana Burst (Wind) skill Odysseus is able to enhance their capabilities even more, as well as being able to fire arrows of pure wind if he desires, allowing for accurate and rapid sniping with non-lethal attacks if there is a need for it.
The bow is able to be disassembled with a flick of the wrist, transforming it into two blunt ironwood blades, to be used like swords but smashing and clubbing more like warstaves. This ability to transform into these ironwood “blades” grants Odysseus at least a modicum of defense and attacking capabilities in close quarters, but as attacking weapons the blades are only considered to be blunt-force Phantasms of Rank D, as this is a form not attributed in legend and modified purely through the Odyssey’s ability to craft Ersatz Phantasms.
Last edited by Vagrant; August 28th, 2013 at 01:08 PM.
This basic concept, of a Phantasm pushing the Servant through each class, was originally going to be for Scathach. I wanted to represent her Shadow Witch of War with it, but in the end I ended up mostly with made-up phantasms never even suggested in her legend so it got scrapped and put on the backburner until I decided to make a False Berserker. Original idea for False Berserker was Tristan de Lyonesse, but then I rolled together "false berserker" and "multiclassed over the duration of the legend" and ended up with Odysseus :V
I have it on good authority that holy wacka moly is not a thing. Spin and Petri claim as such. Thanks for the kind words though, after the effort put into something like that it's always heartening to hear good feedback.
I sort of think Odysseus is a bit OP. Does he really come off as a guy with a bunch of A rank NPs? I'd have considered him a polished Emiya more than anything else.
He is an upscaled EMIYA tthough. Until his last life he has pretty awful weapons and attacks since his Naue II is not phantasmal, his Wind Burst isn't exceptionally strong as a supplementing force and he has mediocre STR to back it up.
He basically has to rely on setting up feints and lures to capitalise on Trojan Horse to even hope to give his attacks very much punch, and it only works optionally once against any given foe so he's almost better off not using it until he gets to Archer anyway, to ensure he can get his most powerful attack in successfully.
Honestly, until he gets to Archer he's probably going to rely on a combination of Orator and wind manipulation as well as selective and strategic use of Divine Favour. I thought he was OP too at first but I've come to think the only really dangerous thing about him is his multiple lives and his power to talk people into bad situations.
Odyssey and Trojan Horse are Rank A+ for the huge amount of conceptual weight they've amassed in this world, as each concept is arguably much more famous than the man himself. I think they deserve to be pretty good. Bow of Ithaca could probably drop to B rank but he's already pretty not great at attacking thanks to low stats.
Last edited by Vagrant; August 30th, 2013 at 01:56 AM.
Its not an exact science and its kinda something you learn for seeing other sheets. Normally it has to do with the legend of the character like if they where known to be strong/have feats of strength they will have higher strength stat.
Just go with your gut at first if you making the sheet, we will tell you if anything is off to much.
Originally Posted by Arashi_Leonhart
Are you swearing by the root or are you just happy to see me?
Originally Posted by Arch-Magos Winter
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