"LO AND BEHOLD! SERVANT FOREIGNER HAS FINALLY ARRIVED FOR HIS GRAND DEBUT! ...Ahem, my apologies, I've always had a flair for the dramatic. Now then! Shall we get the opening act started, Master?"
Source
Class: Foreigner
Other Classes: Caster, Berserker
True Name:
Alignment: Chaotic Good
Place of Origin: Ireland
Parameters:
STR: E
END: C
AGI: E
MGI: B
LCK: B
NP: EX
Likes: Theatrics, idealism, crowds
Dislikes: Hypocrisy, lies, isolation
Talent: Satirization, writing poetry, witty banter
Armament: A fountain pen, with seemingly otherworldly properties
Catalyst: His letter, written during his imprisonment
Class SkillsExistence Outside the Domain
Rank: EX
A skill of those under the Foreigner class, signifying contact with a being beyond human comprehension. During his imprisonment, Foreigner encountered a god known as "The Render of Veils". An incomprehensible being who dispels all hypocrisies and illusions, allowing one to see things as they really are. The god presented him with a glimpse of the future, and into the hearts of mankind. Yet while so much information would normally drive anyone mad, Foreigner resisted this madness. Instead, this vision reassured him that his cause was ultimately just. Knowing such, he was able to spend the rest of his life and pass on in peace.
Divinity
Rank: D
The encounter with the Outer God granted Foreigner a portion of its divinity. That said, its rank was severely diminished due to Foreigner's human body and relatively recent origins.
Personal SkillsAesthetic Appreciation
Rank: B
Foreigner was a renowned poet, playwright, and central character in the philosophy of aestheticism. If he happens to see a Noble Phantasm with artistic anecdotes, there is a high chance that he could figure out its true name.
Omniscient Eye
Rank: B+ (EX)
A composite skill consisting of Foreigner's Human Observation and the Outer God's Clairvoyance (Transcendent), both at roughly B-rank. A combination of Foreigner's own perceptiveness as a human and the Outer God's ability to discern the absolute "truth" from the past, present, and future. Grants Foreigner the ability to see through most lies and illusions, as well as a limited ability to see the future. Its range and duration can be temporarily increased by tapping into more of the Outer God's power, although this requires a significant mana cost.
The Happy Prince
Rank: C
A skill that would normally serve as Foreigner's primary Noble Phantasm if he's summoned under another class. As a skill, this is a spell similar to summoning, based on another one of his more famous works. With this, Foreigner is capable of summoning two things. The first is a swallow made of magical energy, suitable for reconnaissance. The second is a large automaton resembling a sword-wielding prince. Foreigner can control these summons remotely.
Satirization
Rank: A
Foreigner's greatest skill as a literary Heroic Spirit, coming from his frequent criticisms of social norms within the British society. The ability to turn anything he observes into a mocking, sarcastic, even comedic imitation of itself. As a skill, it gradually reduces the strength of any Noble Phantasm the longer Foreigner observes it. In maximum effect, legendary sacred swords would turn into flabby rubber swords, and laser beams would turn into harmless light shows. Of course, witnessing Noble Phantasms up close for long periods of time to increase the effectiveness of this skill without getting himself killed is a different challenge on its own.
Noble Phantasm(s)
De Profundis
Dear Bosie: Absolute Acceptance of Oneself
Type: Anti-Unit/Anti-Falsehood
Rank: EX
Range: 1
Max Targets: 1
"From the depths", a letter Foreigner addressed to his lover during the time of his imprisonment, near the end of his life. While his time of imprisonment was grueling, unexpectedly, the isolation also presented Foreigner with an opportunity for reflection, self-acceptance. and spiritual growth. In it, he acknowledged his flaws, refusing to accuse external forces for his predicament, instead embracing his hardships in order to improve himself.
This Noble Phantasm is a combination of Foreigner's mindset and the Outer God's ability of discerning the absolute "truth" within everything. A limited release of this Noble Phantasm is akin to granting his target a part of his Omniscient Eye skill, allowing the target to see through illusions and falsehoods within their vicinity. A more terrifying version of this Noble Phantasm can be unleashed using the Outer God's power, however...
Invoking the Outer God's authority allows Foreigner to effectively hack into the target's mind by touching their head. There, the Outer God brings out every event, regret, emotion, and belief that the target has ever possessed, no matter how heavily hidden or suppressed they are. Afterwards, the target is forced to unconditionally acknowledge every last one of these findings as "true". The massive influx of information and emotion, combined with all the cognitive dissonances would normally be enough to drive the target into an emotional wreck at best, or rob them of their sanity altogether at worst.
As "a function that brings hidden truths to light", this Noble Phantasm is more effective when the target has some emotional or cognitive aspects that they suppress or keep in denial. This makes it terrifyingly powerful against certain Berserkers whose entire existence was based solely on these aspects or memories. In addition to that, as this Noble Phantasm simply unearths "what was already there", it is not recognized as a mental attack, rendering most mental fortification skills useless. Conversely, this Noble Phantasm is deals little to no damage when used on those who has fully accepted themselves and have nothing else to hide.
DescriptionForeigner's True Name is none other than Oscar Wilde, a famous Irish poet and playwright. He has formed a contract of sorts with the Outer God Daoloth, the Render of the Veils.
Similar to how he was in life, Foreigner is a flamboyant, eccentric man with a charming wit and sense of humor. He enjoys a witty banter with others, often incorporating literature and theater euphemisms to his speech patterns. Even more so, he enjoys the attention he gets from the public, be it the thunderous sound of applause, cheers, or even mockery from the crowd. According to him, any kind of reaction from the crowd signifies that he has made an impact on their hearts, however minor. Conversely, he may begin to doubt himself and ruminate in his failures the moment he is left alone for a long period of time.
Foreigner possesses a nigh-boundless sense of idealism, a trait that would be further amplified if he were summoned as a Berserker. A man who persevered despite receiving a lot of backlash and controversial responses from society. Despite the negativity he would often receive, he continued to laugh as he mocked the lies and hypocrisies underneath the British society. As a Servant, he is prone to going off on dramatic rants on the flaws and injustice within society, and how the world would be a much better place if everyone can set aside their differences, assumptions, and personal biases and see each other as they truly are, namely as humans living in the same Earth.
It goes without saying, but Foreigner despises hypocrisy and double standards. The society who championed "peace" but conscripted their youngsters to war, one who championed "life" but scorned children born out of wedlock, and one who championed "love", but imprisoned him simply due to his definition of love being different than other people's... These were the ones Foreigner despises, both in life and as a Servant. Should he encounter someone with those beliefs, he would start by sarcastically mocking and deconstructing their beliefs, and if all else fails, he will unleash his Noble Phantasm.
Foreigner possesses no wish for the Grail, perhaps due to the Outer God letting him know of the "truth" of the Grail itself. Yet if one were to ask whether he has any wish at all, he would wish for a society where everyone is equal. One where discrimination and double standards does not exist and all humans can live in peace together. He is aware that this is a rather unrealistic dream, and many may consider him naive for it, yet as a man who possesses such massive ideals, he would do everything he can to realize his dream, no matter how insignificant his actions may seem...
...Yes, for the sake of his utopia, he will utilize everything in his power. While as an artist, he can appreciate the subjectivity of human thoughts and emotions, should he reach the conclusion that this subjectivity is the root of the conflicts he despises so much, he would not hesitate to erase the concept of "subjectivity" itself and establish his utopia by bringing about the coming of the Outer God. Whether he would remain "human" and slowly realize his dream from day to day by altruistically helping others and speaking out against injustice like he did in life, or resign himself to the Outer God and establish an absolute world without falsehood... The answer may entirely depend on his observations on the world and the time he spends with his master...
LoreOscar Wilde (1854-1900) was an Irish poet and playwright. He was best known as one of the leading figures in the philosophy of aestheticism and the constant criticisms he displayed towards the British society through his works of satire. Some of his most famous works include the novel "The Picture of Dorian Gray", the play "Salome", and a series of short stories such as "The Happy Prince". Known for his biting wit, flamboyant dress and glittering conversational skill, Wilde became one of the best-known personalities of his day. His satirical works often garnered controversy from the British society, yet unhinged by the negative responses, he continued in his work, ultimately becoming one of the most successful playwrights of late-Victorian London.
Yet his works was put to an end on May 1895, when he was imprisoned for "gross indecency" when his relationship with the young nobleman Alfred Douglas was uncovered. Two years under the harsh conditions of prison significantly worsened his health, and after his release, he never returned to UK. While his time in prison has brought him a newfound sense of spiritual fulfillment, he spent the last three years of his life impoverished and in exile, until his death due to meningitis in 1900.
De Profundis, the letters he wrote to his lover while in prison, was published posthumously in 1905.
Yet only the man himself knew of what really happened during his imprisonment, where he encountered a being not of this world.
The conditions in prison was unkind to Wilde. His health is worsening, his lover never replied to any of his letters, and for the first time, he genuinely felt alone. It was here that he started to doubt himself and question his actions. Was he truly right to pick a fight with the British society through his works? And even if he was right, in a few decades or centuries, would his works even leave any impact? Would anyone truly remember him..?
Yet one night, something appeared before him; the Outer God known as Daoloth. The Outer God possesses an indescribable shape, enough that anyone who witnesses his form would be driven to madness. Yet in a stroke of luck, the absolute darkness of Wilde's cell prevented him from gazing at the Outer God, allowing him to avoid insanity.
The Outer God manifested on Earth to observe humans and strike terror to their hearts, yet for the lonely, desperate Wilde, it was nothing more than another audience to entertain with his stories. And so for the next few nights, the two formed an odd sense of friendship. Every night, the Outer God would manifest under the pitch-black darkness, and Wilde would entertain it with stories of his observations as it listened with an otherworldly, almost childlike sense of curiosity.
It was a few weeks before his release that Wilde told the Outer God of his insecurities. He did not expect it to understand, yet it was then that an otherworldly fog enveloped him, perhaps the creature's way of showing its sympathy. Within the fog, the creature showed him a vision of the future. A vision showing how despite its ugliness, society gradually improved for the better. It also showed him the impact he made on the world, and how he was remembered even more than a century after his death.
Wilde was elated to witness this vision, yet when he asked if he could witness these changes himself, the Outer God simply remained silent with pity. It proceeded to show him a vision of his impending death just a few years after his release. It was then that the Outer God offered him a deal. By allowing it to possess his body, Wilde would be immortal, allowing him to witness the realization of his ideals himself, and perhaps even accelerate these changes with its powers.
Wilde briefly considered the offer, yet he ultimately refused. For him, the idea that he had made a lasting impact in society, and that his ideals are ultimately just and even plausible in the future was enough for him to truly accept himself and embrace his fate. Thus, the Outer God left, imparting him with a small portion of its power, and Wilde left prison with a newfound sense of self-acceptance and spiritual awakening. Ultimately, despite the Outer God's tempting offer, the man known as Oscar Wilde lived and died as a human, fully content with himself and the world.
...Yet in a timeline differing from our own, perhaps it would not be impossible to imagine him accepting the Outer God's deal. Perhaps if it had shown him a certain event in 1911, where his lover, Lord Alfred Douglas, openly expressed his hatred of Wilde, describing him as "the greatest force for evil that has appeared in Europe during the last three hundred and fifty years". Douglas also claimed that he intensely regretted meeting Wilde and helping him with the production of Salome, calling it "a most pernicious and abominable piece of work".
With a betrayal from someone he held dear, perhaps he might arrive at the conclusion that ultimately, his ideal society cannot go hand in hand with the "beauty" of human emotions. The peaceful, equal society he desired can never happen as long as humans have the capacity to hate anything they believe to be "different". Under such conditions, he may accept the Outer God's offer and bring about his ideal world, one without hypocrisy, secrets, lies, and falsehoods. One where everyone will be forced to live in absolute peace, all for his own humanity’s sake.
Alas, perhaps that is a story for another time...
RelationshipsKiyohime, Penthesilea, Hijikata Toshizo, a large number of other Berserkers:
"What fools, living in ignorance, clinging to some distant memory of God-knows-when... I must say, I have this morbid curiosity to see what would happen if I use my Noble Phantasm on them, but, well... I suppose the devotion they have towards such memories are rather admirable, in its own way..."
Emiya (Assassin):
"Aah, what tragedy! I must applaud your idealism, but as much as I despise it, I suppose a grand thing such as 'world peace' cannot arrive so easily from a golden cup like that... And so the so-called MacGuffin turned out to be nothing more than another conveniently-placed plot device..."
Shakespeare, Andersen, Murasaki Shikibu, Emma Orczy:
"Fellow masters of literature! It is truly a pleasure to be acquainted with you all. Perhaps we should bond over some tea and discuss our works together sometimes?"
Salome:
"How curious... Did my play affect your circumstances as a Servant, or did your circumstances in life affect my portrayal of you there..? Perhaps we may never know..."
Katsushika Hokusai:
"An esteemed painter from the orient, impressive! Your works can have some... obscene themes at times, but overall, I am quite a fan. Ahem, by the way, madam... aside from fellow artists, I sense another connection between us, although I cannot put my finger on it... Ah, w-wait, that's not what I meant! Don't take it the wrong way!"
Rangda:
"Good and evil exists in unison..? No, don't make me laugh. Just because the world isn't fair and just now doesn't mean it should remain that way. The suffering that people endure, all while the upper echelons of society laugh and drown in their hypocrisy... One should always strive to make the world a better place, no matter how insignificant their actions seemingly appear to be. If everyone does that, I'm sure the ideals I share with so many others can be realized! And if it's not enough, well, for everyone's sake... I will make it enough."
Shi Huang Di:
"While I cannot condone your methods, it appears that your people did live in a state of absolute peace for a time... Yet after the time I spent with master, I suppose human emotions, culture, and technology are truly inseparable from the growth of humanity. And so I have arrived at a similar conclusion to you. At least for the time being, I shall continue to observe the wonders and beauty of humanity."
ExtraIf Wilde is summoned under another class, he would be a relatively weak Servant with human observation and satirization as his specialties. The strongest thing he has would be his NP, The Happy Prince: Four Miracles for the Sake of Another. A slow-acting suicide attack which embodies his altruism and unrealistic wish, this NP allows him to fuse with the Happy Prince as some sort of battle armor that enhances his parameters. The armor cannot be taken off once used, and is adorned with four gemstones; two on the helmet, one on the hilt of its sword, and one on its chest.
Each of these gemstones are capable of performing small-scale "miracles" such as bringing someone from the brink of death, but causes Wilde great pain and significantly reduces his parameters whenever he takes one off his armor, with the fourth gemstone ultimately killing him once taken off. Yet the activation of this NP means surrendering to the story's narrative, and by the end of the war, Wilde would have given all four of them away purely out of altruism. These chain of events cannot be stopped by command seals, and can only be stopped if he were to come into contact with another NP that could "sever causality itself".
Ultimately, a weak Servant summoned not to win the Holy Grail War, but simply to help others.
Creator's NotesSure enough, for my first Foreigner, I had to take some liberties with his lore. Hopefully it doesn't come off as too forced. I originally planned for him to be just a slightly stronger Hans/Shakespeare thanks to the boost he got from the Outer God, but before I knew it, this man just became a living embodiment of "chaotic good" and someone who's just one step away from being a Lostbelt King. I may or may not develop that Lostbelt idea on his lore if I have the inspiration.
All in all, enjoy this flamboyant, majestic Foreigner, comments welcome.