Monthly Create-A-Servant Contest

**Baron Magnus** · June 8th, 2022, 06:23 AM

The Olympics are a time-honored tradition.

Yet there are ancient roots in greece to them

AN

Spoiler:

**pinetree** · June 8th, 2022, 10:43 AM

The country for everyone, Brazil. A beautiful land, blessed by God to be full of nature and joy. A multi-cultural hotpot of ethnicities, joined together as one.

A beautiful description, full of truths but shackled by its past. Brazil was not built by these groups as their new haven, rather, it was built by the orders of their opressors. It is the result of a humanity's greed, full of crime and sin. The cultural mix that defines Brazil was only possible because of this cycle of opression.

And yet, how did such a joyous people emerge from that corrupted cradle?

It's June and the country is once again coming together in widespread festivity, a mere 4 months after the Carnaval. Festa Junina — the june festival — is not a single party at all, but a collection of celebrations that span the latter half of the month, meant to honor popular saints. A christian celebration... but that's because it was brought by the Portuguese only after it had morphed from its origins as a celebration of fertility and nature gods. Not only that, but it has evolved further after being influenced by so many other traditions that were brought to this land.

How did these people manage to become one? Portuguese, natives, numerous African ethnicities... and then Italians, Spanish, Japanese, German, and so many others... such diversity. Their meeting alone brought about tensions that last to this day, not to mention the suffering their descendants went through, living in a nation plagued by corruption and tragedy, how can it be called beautiful?

"It's just how they are. It's what they inherited from those who built the country. To turn suffering into joy! To create beauty out of harship! Oh it's pure poetry!!"

What festival could be more emblematic of that nature than the Boi-Bumbá? June 30^th is its official day, but this celebration, part of the Festas Juninas, happens over many of the last days of Saint John's month. A dance and ritual protagonized by the titular Boi-Bumbá — the dancing bull — whose death and ressurrection are depicted through song and dance.
A practice that unites Portuguese, Indigenous and African traditions and iconography, but nonetheless varies from region to region.

Boi-Bumbá

Dancing Bull

;

Bumba meu Boi

Dance, my Bull

;

Cavalo Marinho

Sea Horse

;

Boi Pintadinho

Speckled Bull

;

Boi de Mamão

Papaya Bull

;

Boi de Reis

Bull of Kings

...
Even beyond those, there are uncountable styles within each tradition. Can it even be called a single practice at all?

"Of course it can! It's Brazilian isn't it?"

Indeed, others have said that religion and tradition are the best windows into how a people think. Rituals are the essence of a culture, externalized in song and dance. When talking about a people that is a mix of so many others, it might be the only way to understand them.

"So it's no surprise that we are who we are. You could call us Boi-Bumbá, but excluding all the other names is no good at all! How about you call us..."

Brasil-Bumbá
Rival saints of syncretism.

Aliases: O Jeitinho Brasileiro.
Class: Ruler
Height: 171 cm/153 cm
Likes: River/Sea bathing.
Dislikes: Cold people.
Attribute: Earth.
Alignment: Chaotic Good.
Origin: Brazil, folklore.
Natural Enemy: Each other.

STR		C
END		A
AGI		C
MGI		A
LUC		B
NP		EX

Bumbá is a word derived from the verb bumbar, which can mean either 'to dance', 'to act quickly and decisively' or 'to hit someone'. A perfect name for these two who represent the Brazilians, these people who have to fight against adversity daily and yet exude enough warmth and joy to be seen as one of the happiest people in the world.

"Hm, individual names? Oh dear, I guess there was no point in getting one name to include everyone."
"This dunce was just wasting time, as always. Master, you can call me Caprichosa and he is the opposite."
"Oh my, not even mentioning my name? We're taking this seriously I see! Call me Garantido, Master."

Character

The legend starts with a couple of slaves, Ma Catirina and Pa Francisco. Catirina is expecting and desperately wants to eat ox tongue, not any ox though, she wants it from the favorite bull of the farm owner. Francisco tries to get her to ask for something else, but she convinces him to abide her wishes by reminding him that if a pregnant woman doesn't get her desired food, the baby will come out looking like it.
Not wanting a son who looks like an ox, Francisco cuts off the tongue of the beloved animal and hides its body from the farm owner. The man eventually notices his favorite bull is absent and sends his cowboy to find it.
They find the bull dead and immediately begin searching for the culprit. Pa Francisco eventually confesses, but the owner continues despairing the death of his favorite bull and decides to call in an Indigenous pajé, an African healer and a Catholic priest. The three do their respective rituals and the bull is ressurected with new hide. The owner then forgives Pa Francisco and the entire town celebrates the miracle with song and dance.

The tale can vary between the different traditions, sometimes bringind in new characters, such as the Little Lady, who loves to play with her Boi-Bumbá toy and represents the way this tradition is passed down not as a ritual, but as a game people start playing as children. Even experienced participants of the biggest Boi-Bumbá events call it "playing bull".

The legend is an idealized representation of the cultural and ethnical mixing that'd lead to modern Brazil. Despite the cruelty of the time still being present in the slavery Ma and Pa suffer, the story ends with the owner also appealing to all main religious influences of the time, allowing them to work together to achieve a miracle that is celebrated by all, regardless of belief or social standing.

It is the Brazilian spirit.

Brasil-Bumbá are the idealized version of Brazil's national identiy. A country for everyone that manages to bring them together despite the adversity they have to face, ultimately achieving great things.

Class Skills

God's Resolution A.

The priviledge of the class that is presiding over a Holy Grail War: The ability to use Command Spells against Servants. If summoned in the regular role of a Ruler, they'll each gain a single Command Spell for each Servant summoned.

Even if they are not summoned in a regular Grail War, and therefore gain no Command Spells, they still wield authority over the Brazilian Heroic Spirits. It's not that their voice acts as a Command Spell on its own, they just have a deep understanding of how Brazilians think and act, so they know exactly what to say to convince them to do their bidding.

"This is a scam dude. I want my tattos!"
"Can you imagine if we could command each other, toots? Even I can see how that wouldn't work out."

True Name Discernment D+.

Status information such as one's identity, skills and parameters are automatically revealed to the owner of this skill when directly encountering a Servant.

The Brazilian national identity that forms Brasil-Bumbá encompasses their deep reverence for religion and tradition, which includes figures who were syncretized into their culture and into festivities such as Boi-Bumbá. Consequently, they possess a massive amount of priviledged information on a variety of culture heroes and other foreign figures.
While Rulers are supposed to be impartial, this duo finds it very difficult to not reveal the identity of Servants that are famous in Brazil. Brasil-Bumbá is essentially a manifestation of the Brazilian people, so it makes sense that they'd freak out.

"Toooooots! You won't believe who I just met while you weren't there... I met Dandara, bitch!"
"WHAT? And you didn't call me? Well screw you, I'm not telling you where to find the guy I just met."
"Suuuure... and who was it?"
"I GOT A SELFIE WITH SAINT GEORGE YOU FUCK!!"
"Don't you lie to m— OH MY GOD!"

Personal Skills

Combination EX.

Usually, a skill that displays how much one's combat power increases when on a united front with a specific person. An essential skill for Servants that only have fame as a group and the reason they qualify for the Ruler class. Putting aside saintly traits gained from the festival, what could be more impartial than two people who almost never agree with each other?

In the case of Brasil-Bumbá, this skill represent the simultaneous summoning of the components necessary to manifest the Boi-Bumbá. In other words, this Servant is the legendary bull but also the celebration itself, since they are synonimous with each other. This means that their Saint Graph should include all the different practices and characters utilized in different traditions around the country.
To manage this huge amount of information, their Saint Graph has taken the Paratins Folkloric Festival as its main facet, successfully splitting the information management needs into two entities.

The Folkloric Festival is special even among the many Boi-Bumbá traditions. It is a contest that has expanded the celebration to include many other themes and rituals, specially relating to the Amazonian people. It's not a game like the others, but a competition. The contest between

Boi Garantido

Assured Bull

and

Boi Caprichado

Neat Bull

is so fierce that it literally splits the city in half, with the communities, divided between the north and south of the city, refusing to even mention the other's name or to use their colors.

Fittingly, Boi-Bumbá continues to encapsulate the Brazilian reality. Even if everything is in good faith and fun, that a celebration of unity and rebirth would transform into such a fierce competition is representative of the struggles Brazil still suffers today: unable to solve the tensions brought about by the mix and cooperation that are at the core of the country.

In short, Brasil-Bumbá's combat power raises when fighting on a united front, but also when fighting each other.

Affection of the Many Powers D.

A skill indicating one who has gained favor with the entities of many different faiths. In the case of Brasil-Bumbá, they were granted the miracle of ressurrection by the union of (at least) three different powers: The grace of God through his Saints as well as the powers of an African faith and Indigenous spritual traditions. The specifics of the latter two vary depending on the region, so it is possible that the invoked deities actually come from more than three sources.

Before playing Bumba Meu Boi, the bull costume is taken to a ritual in which it is blessed by the saints of the month of June such as Saint Anthony, Saint John and Saint Peter. This moment sometimes goes beyond Christianity and includes Umbandan rituals, in which the three saints are equated with orixás such as Exú and Xangô.
This skill is a representation of all the blessings they receive from these divinities every year, as well as the veneration directed towards the bull itself during the game, and finally, the miracle performed by ressurrecting.

As these blessings have been split between the two due to Combination EX, they don't possess a ressurrection effect, but rather a very strong regeneration skill capable of curing even major injuries in a short time. Something that is still in line with the versions of the tale in which the bull is cured before dying.

Also, due to the aforementioned associations, it seems elemental attributes have been added to their Saint Graph. Garantido can use fire, while Caprichosa uses lightning.

"Master. You have to control the dunce okay? He just tried to trip me on our way here."
"Oh please, are you really going to cry to Master about that?"
"I was carrying boiling hot coffee! This shit burns!"
"You literally electrocuted me yesterday!"

Gambiarra —.

A Brazilian term that refers to a quick improvised solution to a problem, usually involving the construction of effective but unstable contraptions with household items. This skill's effectiveness varies wildly from situation to situation, so it goes unranked.

Language is representative of the people who use it, and new words only come about when a concept is important enough to a community to be codified as a separate term. That Brazil has terms such as "gambiarra" and "

jeitinho brazileiro

Brazilian knack

" to codify their specific brand of ingenuity is proof of how widespread and important it is to them.

It's nearly impossible to predict how Garantido and Caprichosa will act at any given moment, and they seem to always find a different solution than the one most people would come up with. In battle, this translates to a style that seems to be a haphazard mixture of typical dances and fighting styles that is impossible to become used to. One cannot predict what they'll do next because they themselves don't know, and only come up with it right before acting.
There is also the interpretation that the jeitinho brasileiro is an unethical trait, describing how they always want to go around the rules.

"Aw, it depends on how you use it, is all. Not everyone is a rascal."
"Found you, Master! They're giving out these snacks at the cafeteria but it's only one per person, think you can convince Yan Qing to turn into a few people for me? Hey dunce, you get one for me too!"
"Sweety, I got three already. No way I can get past the kitchen team a fourth time."

Noble Phantasm

Toada Fantástica
May this dance be the future they described

Type: Broadcasting
Rank EX

Mystical Boi-Bumbá Song. The realization of the wishes brought forward by the celebration of a people that chooses to laugh in the face of adversity. A song meant to reduce the friction between reality and ideals.

One of Brazil's titles is 'The Country of the Future', referring to its unique position as a place free of natural disasters, blessed with wealth and formed by a variety of peoples. Coined during its economic emergence, it singles out the country as the one capable of reaching an ideal future of prosperity and joy.
Sadly, these wishes often don't live up to reality, and people have taken to resignify that title. "Brazil is the country of the future, never of the present." This desired prosperity is reserved to that unreachable destinty, a future that'll never be.
Brasil-Bumbá denies that. It brings the future to now by utilizing the past.

Toada Fantástica manifests as a song and dance that invites everyone around it to participate. This is not a magical effect, their celebration is simply contagious, and anyone watching would want to take part.
The real effect of this Noble Phantasm is the dissemination of the massive amount of information that has been condensed into their Saint Graphs. Since time immemorial, tradition is the way through which older generations are able to push their wishes and their experiences forward in the hope that it'll be useful to the new ones. It's what we call folklore.

Their boi-bumbá game is a tool for broadcasting the wishes of those past. The information contained within them is not just a registry of practices and history, but a corpus of harmonious moments that proves to the world and to all around them that the future that is so talked about has already arrived, starting a celebration of culture and diversty.
This is a wish that can only be made real if the people around them join in on the Boi-Bumbá. The information that shapes them is not infinite, and it is what they are made of, meaning that they're spending their own selves to send this message. If others participate in the celebration, then this Noble Phantasm can continue indefinitely as information from people past is replenished by people present.

However, no matter how much they work to make these ideals into reality, the chances of enough people joining them to sustain this Noble Phantasm continuously is almost null. They'll inevitably spend their selves to the last, disappearing among the wishes of those left behind.

But this is not a farewell. These ideals will never die.

As people pray for this unreachable future to arrive, the boi-bumbá will eventually be revived by their faiths once again.

Interactions

Dewi Sri

"Oh, it warms my heart that there are other places out in the world who appreciate rice as much as we do. This woman could be a Brazilian goddess and no one would bat an eye!"
"Yeah, she needs to chill out a bit though. Rice on pizza?"
"Really? You two had spaghetti with rice and beans yesterday..."
"Hm? But that's great!"

King Momo

"What a man! I'm glad to have someone else sharing their joy with our country."
"Our party is better bitch."
"Toots, it's Carnaval! You can't say that."
"This is our month Momo! Meet me in Paratins and let's see who makes more noise!"

Bento Gonçalvez

"This guy is the best."
"He is cool, I suppose..."
"He's modernizing! He has to inspire a new generation!"
"I'm just saying he's basically a different person now, okay? Hard to see the Bento Golçalvez under the helmet."
"You got shit taste, dunce. I'm out. Bento! Can you give this gal a ride?!"

Saint Walpurga

"Poor thing. I just want to tell her it's possible you know? Her two sides can coexist."
"Let's not push things, okay? See, the gal's all happy now. No need to stirr up trouble."
"What trouble? I'm sure she'll take it in good stride."
"Just trust me, big boy. Hey, maybe seeing a happy end — or happy attempt, I guess — will help her out. C'mon, let's join her party, we have time until our own!"

Image Sources:
https://twitter.com/kenji82/status/1...687360/photo/1
Granblue Fantasy

**BnEl15** · June 8th, 2022, 10:54 AM

We were expecting a summer/santa alt contest. Then it turned out to be a Germans vs. Brazillians contest instead. Not complaining though. I love learning about all these new cultures I've never heard of before.

**Wyvern** · June 8th, 2022, 11:41 AM

Brasil Bumba: I don't know what to say, really.

Like, I love this. Absolutely love it to bits and think I have found my favorite for this month's contest. But at the same time just let me say again how much I appreciate the thought and character put into them and just how much joy and hope they carry as a representative of all peoples. Never mind the fact that their Noble Phantasm is the perfect complement to Momo's own Noble Phantasm. One creates the party, another leads the dance. I can't help but wonder whether its because they are both Party-Time servants. Or whether they are reaching for the same end result. Again, I love it. I absolutely love it!

They are also funny as all get out.

Indeed the conceptual manifestation of the Gambiarra!

**Random** · June 8th, 2022, 12:26 PM

Prelude

**Vance** · June 8th, 2022, 03:11 PM

"It looks like more guests have arrived, odd-looking ones at that."

"As ironic as your words are, It matters little as long as they act like guests. The celebration shall go on."

"Hmph, things may get rough for you, Therese."

"Things have always been rough for me. But it shall not be like that for everyone else. Not at this time."
…

…
"Oktoberfest shall continue unimpeded."
…
True Name: [Queen] Therese of Bavaria
Class: Watcher
Alignment: Lawful Good
Source: Historical Fact
Region: Bavaria

Parameters:
Strength: D
Endurance: D
Agility: D
Mana: B
Luck: B

Class Skills:

Territory Creation A
A Caster-class Skill. It is the Skill to build a special terrain that is advantageous to oneself as a magus, such as for the purpose of collecting mana. Given enough time, she can recreate the field that was named Theresienwiese in her honor. A grand space like that is the perfect stage for her celebration.

"The celebrations look like they're going well. If you'd go out and enjoy it too, it'd be better."

"...No."

Independent Action (Celeb) C
A personalized version of Independent Action. It is currently suppressed due to the wishes of the holder.

"This…is not for me."

Personal Skills:

Beautiful Waitress A
The bombastic beer maiden of Oktoberfest, who delivers with haste when called for. Indomitable and stoic like a pillar, one would believe that it is she who oversees the entire event.

"Cease those thoughts, I simply work here."

"..Right."

Appreciation of Drinks C++
A skill that denotes the owner as a consumer of alcohol. It allows the identification of any beverage, drink or cocktail. She holds a moderate amount of knowledge of general drinks like wine and spirits, and as such, can produce them. However, the specialty of Oktoberfest has always been its special beer. She can produce the many types of beer produced without any shift in her focus, and consume it down just as well.

Celebration Continuation A+
A further alteration of the Battle Continuation skill, originating from Performance Continuation. Taking the will to keep moving, to keep entertaining, to a bigger scale, Oktoberfest will not, shall not, end. No matter the damage to the world around her, the festivities will never die out easily.

"Oktoberfest is for everyone's fortune."

"That surely must include you as well?"

"...I."

Noble Phantasm

Personality

Relationships

Creator's Note: And another one goes to the German bros though I'm not sure why I even decided to make this sheet.

**pinetree** · June 8th, 2022, 04:53 PM

Originally Posted by Random

...By the way, is "arco-íris" or "irisado" a more natural-sounding word to put in that title? My gut sent me toward the former, since I wanted to give an impression of shape as well, but, like, imagine speaking Portuguese.

I hadn't even heard of irisado until now, but it seems like it's just for color.
If you're trying to say that there's a constellation shaped and colored like a rainbow then I think Constelação Arco-Íris sound better. Take out the 'do'.

**kiwi** · June 8th, 2022, 08:24 PM

Dammit Vance, Oktoberfest was my backup plan after Walpurgisnacht got tooken!

Guess I need to go even sillier!

**DelRey** · June 8th, 2022, 08:28 PM

There are penis festivals across the globe~

**SimpleScribe** · June 9th, 2022, 02:31 AM

Originally Posted by Mycielhasbroken

"Well hello there... What are you doing here in my monastery, little one?"
The Saint looked around her surrounding for the white rabbit's potential owner and found none. Her gaze looked towards the nearby forest.
"Did you find yourself lost? Oh my, you're shivering. Come into my arms."
The Saint scooped up the animal into her cradling arms.
"Warm food and bed will fix you in a jiffy. Maybe... we could afford to keep you if you're willing to stay."

"Hey there little guy! I'm adopting you and no one can stop me! Aw... you're so adorable... Come here..."
The Witch wrapped her arms around the boy like the delicate grasping of tree vines. Her hands patted down his ears and scuffled his hair.
"You're always welcome to stay, my little bunny. It's always Springtime here in the Walpurgisnacht. And it's always Easter too! Any holiday and festival you can think of, it's that time of the year all the time here! Christian or not, it doesn't really matter to me anymore. What matters is that I can fill in that Eostre-shaped hole in your heart. I'm pretty sure we can find her if we looked at a right point in Time!"

Originally Posted by Morg van Destro

']

"Are... are my eyes deceiving me?"
The Saint could not believe her eyes. Could it be? The beast that carried the Holy Mother?
"But... this should not be possible. Could it be a miracle of the Lord?"
A chill coursed through the Saint. A revelation.
"An offering. A tithe. Yes. They must be awaiting the tithe."

"Is it Yule Hour already? It must be with all the snow and tinsel everywhere."
The Witch then noticed the rest of the Witches surrounding a single figure, held at arm's length by spectral familiars while more minor familiars played the ambiance. Songs upon songs can be heard in place of regular conversation
"Oh, it's just Mari again. I guess it's her turn to entertain the crowd. Now that I think about it... She always seems to be at the Great Pillars that are all spent of Spring's Blessings. That's just what a Witch of Winter does, I guess. I should give thanks to her for doing her part in taking care of the Irminsuls during Wintertime."

Originally Posted by Menwearpink

"Welcome to my monas..."
The Saint saw who stood at her gates. A whirlpool of emotions swirled within her. A count. One. Two. Three. And she regained her composure.
"Welcome dear traveler. Are you here for a moment of respite? I can assure you that you are safe here. Though if I may impose... how long do you intend to stay? Payment? Oh no no. There is no need, but a story or two will suffice if you are to insist."
The Saint grew quiet at the end of the Witch's story.
"You may stay for as long as you'd like, sister."

"It's Samhain hour! You know what that means! Pumpkins! Skeletons! Jack-O-Lanterns! Candy! So so much candy! Tlachtga, you made a beautiful holiday is what you did! A time for talking to the dead and saying goodbye to the departed! It's a shame about what it took for it to become what it is. But look at the bright side! The Heart's beating better than ever before! And hey, if you're up for it, how about a special concert at your hill? A little help with your big ritual! Sounds like a great idea, am I right? You're all for it? Awesome! We'll start the preparations right away! Starting with the Maypole! "

Originally Posted by Baron Magnus

"Ahem... Would you... please clothe yourself? Your... presence makes it difficult to focus on my duties."
The Saint saw enough. She has seen everything and secretly... she enjoyed it.

"Oh hey! It's the dude that got gobbled up by a tree! Hey man, how's it going? So uh about that. Demeter got a little finicky with Hades that year. Persephone and Spring and Winter and yadda yadda yadda. Wouldn't you know it, Persephone went back to Demeter early at the time! I couldn't really tell you what convinced the Shadow Lord to let his wife go early, but Demeter made Spring super green that year! And uh... made everything grow super quick too... So uh... Speaking as the Spring Maiden... Sorry about that! I'm pretty sure we can find the tree that ate you up so the two of you can talk it out- Or you can just punch them again. That works too! Aye! Frau! Get your dogs away from him! Ack!"

Originally Posted by pinetree

"D-dance? Me? I-I shouldn't. I-wha!?"
The Saint found herself being dragged along by the arms into the crowd. The sheer energy that came from the Brazilian people was contagious. The Saint couldn't help but smile as her legs moved against her will. Soon, laughter escaped from her lips. She was enjoying herself so much that she didn't notice the rest of her sisters joining the festivities. For the Boi-Bumbá is always a celebration worth dancing for! The Rival Saints looked on in smug satisfaction before jumping in also.

"I was wondering when the two of you were going to show up! Already started the party, huh? Guess you couldn't resist! The Heart's been beating the Brazilian beat ever since y'all arrived. It reminds me of the New World. I should visit there whenever I have the time and show your people what it means to Party in the Old World! In fact, why not let you two be my guides? It'll be great! Eh? Wait, don't argue over who's going to be the main guide! It's cool! It's cool! We have the time to go everywhere! Honest! I'll even throw in this bull I found in Iberia!"
The Rival Saints wondered in the midst of their bickering. Both aspects of the woman before them share the common interest for the beautiful dance and thus a reasoning for syncretism. Perhaps an idea began to form, perhaps not. Either way, it is still party time!

Originally Posted by Random

"It is... no consequence of the... Pagan origins of your festivals. I understand the necessity of treasuring a culture's origins, but... Ah... never you mind. As long as there is no burning involved, then you can do as you wish. To Live for the sake of living is an admirable goal. That I cannot dispute. Though..."
To Live for the sake of the Lord is the reason the Saint couldn't say. She has done her fair share of travelling and remembers her missionary work in Francia. She saw the many Pagan cultures of the tribesmen she and her brothers bore witness to and then tried to replace with the Love of God. Perhaps... just this once, she will decline from spreading the Word of God.

"Alriiiight! A party with a good fire going! The Walpurgisnacht is also a celebration with a huge bonfire, don't you know! Fireworks! We need more fireworks too! Hey Thaïs! I'll fix us up some more flair and excitement in a jiffy! What's that? You want to see everything the World has to offer across all Time? Well of course you can do that! Just where do you think you are!? The Heart beats in every point in Time! Just open up the door and step on through to every party across space and time! Heck! We can even spend the rest of time at the same party at the same point in time in the same point in History! Not even Death can stop this Party!"

Originally Posted by Vance

"Do you require assistance in handling the orders, Queen Therese? If only to lighten your burdens."
While not approving at the sheer amount of alcohol present, the Saint shall still endeavor to provide assistance wherever she can.
"Hm? A statue...? It talks!"
The Saint learns of the Queen's story.
"Oh... I see..."

The Saint and Statue looked on at the former Queen in silence. The former then rolled up her sleeves and thanked the statue for opening her eyes.

"Oktoberfest is here? ALCOHOLLLLL! Set up the keg stands and pop open all the champagne bottles! We got a lot of party goers looking to get utterly sloshed!"
The Witch then proceeded to chug a mug the size of her head down in a single gulp.
"Pwah! That hits the spot!"
The cup began to fill up by itself with more beer. The Witch almost began once again before a shadow laid over her.

"Wha-? Ayyyy! Bavaria! How's my favorite colossus doing! Where's the Queen of the hour? Is she still hung up on that marriage? She is? Well that's no good! If she really wants to make this Oktoberfest last forever, she shouldn't be spending it all down in the dumps like a handmaid fretting over bedsheets blown away by the wind! I know you keep telling her, but by Flora's flower crown! She'll end up killing the atmosphere at this rate! Well, if it's an endless Oktoberfest she wants, then it's an endless Oktoberfest she'll get!"

AN

**pinetree** · June 9th, 2022, 07:44 AM

I actually found a solution only yesterday, do tables within tables.

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**pinetree** · June 9th, 2022, 12:19 PM

Alright, managed to sit down and write comments on some of the Servants.

Stranger Taïs: She is great. Like I said before, the prospect of Stranger being used to justify minor figures being made into Servants is still the part I like the least about you Class concept, but building her character around her appreciating the chance brought about by the weird class is a wonderful idea and immediately sold the sheet to me.
Giving her Self-Replenishment (Mana) is a great idea (did you do it because of my suggestion to Volündr?

), specially because you managed to still tie it to the Avenger class while giving it a very fun use.
The other skill choices are also really good, but I will say that for a nobody you had difficulty in coming up with skills for, having all A and B ranks is bizarre, Charisma especially feels wrong. She's a rank higher than Arthur and Carlos Magno. Iskandar is her boss and his entire character is his Charisma, yet you're giving her the same rank!
Expert of Many Specializations also feels too high. There's a huge gap between B and A+, sure, but Hassan still split themselves up into dozens of different people to be able to achieve that.
I also wasn't impressed by the Noble Phantasm. Shooting projectiles that can get stronger with allies make me feel like she should just have been an Archer. You start the NP by describing how the arson was in the name of celebrating their victory, full of music and laughter, so how come it's just an attack and not connected to the joy of being alive that you wrote to be a core of her character back then? Specially when you also included a sigularity solely for the sake of celebration at the start of the sheet.

Also, speaking of the singularity and that introduction story... is that getting a follow up? I feel teased.

Mari Lwyd: The presentation alone deserves a vote, just wonderful. The choice of skills is great and I really like how sinergistic her entire kit feels, but it did make her Noble Phantasm redundant at the end. Just doesn't feel like an ultimate move when it's something that's both already done by Territory Infringement and dependant on Pwngco.
Still, great sheet. Manages to bring in a lot of character and story despite the shorter lore and character sections compared to others, and this type of conciseness is something I always look up to.

Saint Walpurga: Like I said before, you're quickly becoming one of my favorites. You're a great writer, first of all, and the descriptions flow very well. The formattign with the invisible words is also appreciated, and manages to keep the reader on the edge through what would be a decent Servant sheet anyway. I also like how you then use the Crone to keep this aspect of the sheet going into its second half.
The music choice is wonderful. The song is perfect for her and really enhances the reading experience a ton.
The skills are fine, though I expected more out of the second half, but the descriptions make up for the choices. The constant mention of the old gods and of pagan practices matches the frantic tempo of the song and gives a feeling of desperation that fits really well with the erasure she suffered.

Originally Posted by Wyvern

Brasil Bumba

Glad to know you enjoyed them! The fact that they fit so well with King Momo is fate.

**sutaa** · June 9th, 2022, 04:48 PM

s h i e l d e r
KARL HEINRICH ULRICHS
advocate of heavenly love

First Ascension

source: 1qAki
“It is a remarkable experience for me: the more proof I discover for my system and the more certain and clearer I become about it, all the more all my former bitterness about the wrongs done me melt away.” (Vier Briefe)

"An honour and a privilege to be summoned here, Master. In life, I cannot claim to have succeeded in protecting my fellow man - but if that is how the people recall me, then I shall bear the name of Servant Shielder with pride. That is the theme of the celebration I've been called to watch over, no? The proud? Then let me assure you, yes indeed. If you are looking for pride... I have it."

Alternate Class: Ruler
Alignment: Lawful Good
Image Song: So Be It & Born This Way & Somewhere Over the Rainbow
Natural Enemy: EMIYA, Mishima Yukio Lily

Stats

Skills
Magic Resistance, Self-Field Defence, Riding (X)
The typical class skills of Shielders, suppressed. Due to the effects of the Personal Skill Child of Uranus, Magic Resistance and Self-Field Defence have been determined redundant. The skill Riding, useless to Shielder, has been forcibly swapped with the Life Eater skill of another class.

Life Eater (E+)
“He embraced the boy with cold arms, kissed his cheeks and mouth, and laid his head on the soft breast. Har trembled. His heart began to pound at this intimate embrace, and Manor laid his head directly over the pounding heart. His lips sought the smoothly filled-out mound over the heart, which had been set into motion by its pounding.” (Matrosengeschichten)

Class skill of Funny Vamp Servants, the power to drain vitality and the like from others, be it via blood or some other medium. Ulrichs is not of the Dead Apostle classification, therefore that he has a form of vampirism to begin with shouldn’t be possible. Only the flimsiest justification allows him to be acquire this skill, a short story titled Manor Ulrichs composed as part of a collection of sailor’s tales; a vampire narrative, Manor portrays the attraction between a fisherman's son and a boy named Manor, wherein the latter dies at sea only to be resurrected as a creature dependent on blood, that he might return to his beloved once more. Eventually the reborn Manor is slain, the fisherman’s son dies of heartbreak, and the two are buried side by side in the same grave. While hardly the first homoerotic depiction of vampirism, it was yet another story that cast the vampire as symbolic of the transgressor, shunned by society on account of his nature. By following the logic, then, that “vampire = representative of transgression” and “Ulrichs = representative of transgressors,” Life Eater is awkwardly integrated into his Saint Graph. As the vampire Manor only ever acted with the consent of his lover, Shielder is bound by the same restriction, able to take in minute amounts of life force from a willing target, preferably through drinking their blood. On a side note, as Ulrichs is able to manifest this skill by dint of his association with transgression and taboo, his rank is directly proportional to it; that is to say, the more Shielder and those like him are seen as reprehensible in the environment to which he’s summoned, the higher his rank in Life Eater becomes, and the more likely he is to develop additional vampiric traits.

“Distasteful, isn’t it? I can hardly say I liked the idea of integrating this into myself, but all the same… given the occasion, l thought I should make an attempt to be at my strongest for it. But more importantly, to think the rank is so low! It moves my heart, Master, truly. Seeing that alone makes this all worthwhile… Ah, while we’re on this subject, is it true the subjects of Stoker’s and le Fanu’s writings are in Chaldea? I’d much prefer to meet the authors themselves, but this does sound like an opportunity to speak to them and– You’d advise against it? Well, if you’re certain.”

Mannmännlichen Liebe (A)
“There is no such thing as an unnatural love. Where true love is, there nature is also.” (Inclusa)

Prior to Shielder’s work regarding the subject, scholarship rarely explored in depth love between men, typically dismissed merely as aberrant behaviour, deviancy to be punished within the full extent of the law. There were not men who experienced attraction to other men; rather, these were men who experienced attraction to women, only somehow distorted, perverted, by some mystery twisted from their natural state as God had ordained. Here entered Ulrichs with his writings covering “the riddle of manly-male love,” as he so put it, an attempt at classifying the man who loves men as a distinct existence from those born with a love of women, manly-male love not as behaviour, but as identity. As, effectively, an early pioneer of the very concept of a gay man, this skill bestows on Ulrichs recognition of his groundbreaking work in the formative field of sexology. Allies who fall under the category of “homosexual male” receive a boost to all parameters while in his presence. Furthermore, Shielder himself benefits as if under the effects of A-level Mad Enhancement when facing his two greatest foes: the prejudiced, afflicted with whatever sickness it is that drives one person to persecute another, and examples of the “depraved homosexual,” so great a barrier to Ulrichs’ efforts, whose depravity, he argued, is distinct from homosexual leanings……….. However, as Servants in the aforementioned categories are not exceptionally common to begin with, Shielder’s parameters are hardly impressive even when fortified, and to begin with he has a general distaste for combat, this skill provides little in the way of practical use. Perhaps as a pittance, then, Mannmännlichen Liebe furthermore incorporates a key element of Ulrichs’ work, the mindset that went into creating his theories; while his contributions to the study of sexuality are best remembered, Shielder was in his time both a capable orator and a man of great learning, well-educated on matters of history, archaeology, law, mathematics, astronomy, botany, classical languages, and biology. His interest in the natural world, if anything, is what laid the groundwork for his later writings. Squared right at the centre of Ulrichs’ writings on homoerotic love is a opposition to the idea such a man must be unnatural, for the unnatural does not exist. Provides protection against mental effects associated with ‘forbidden knowledge,’ through sheer stalwart belief that anything that exists, through an open mind, can be understood.

“Immorality is not native to the world. It is but a contrivance, conjured by the fearful and the ignorant, perpetuated by passivity and inertia. Still, I can hardly hide my surprise that this is all I have to show of my studies. While I only speculate, were I to be summoned as a Ruler… Well, I can only hope my efforts at restoring the Latin language to prominence would be represented somehow. Do not mistake me, however; it moves my heart to know that any part of my work was remembered by later generations. It's just as I'd hoped when I first put pen to paper. The greatest wealth a dead man can carry is knowing his life was worth something.”

Child of Uranus
Blessings from Aphrodite (False) (EX)

“That when temple and gems are gone, and marble statues, Still a shining sign looks down from the heights of heaven: For our race a speech that tells of an earlier rapture, Longing relieves and awakes, Uranian love’s new witness, Till the earth dissolves and till the stars are fading.” (ara Spei)

The other component of Shielder’s contribution to sexology. The term “urning,” or Uranian, referring to the homosexual male – the word homosexual itself would not enter popular use until some time later – invoking mythological imagery as its etymology. Even when establishing his scientific framework for the existence of the homosexual, Ulrichs complemented the search for a biological component with a spiritual touch. The Greek goddess Aphrodite comprises two aspects; the first, Aphrodite Pandemos, is the Aphrodite of the people, her earthly aspect, symbolic of carnal and physical affection. The second, Aphrodite Urania, is the Aphrodite who transcends, her heavenly aspect, symbolic of a higher, spiritual love. Which is not to imply the distinction Ulrichs drew was that homosexual love was in any way purer – the earthly Aphrodite was born of Zeus and Dione, while the heavenly Aphrodite sprung from the cast-off flesh of Uranus in the sea. Those touched by the first Aphrodite – the Dionaer – are imbued with the love of women. But the soul touched by heavenly Aphrodite – the Uranier, the urning – who lacks a feminine aspect from her mother, instead are imparted with the love of men. It was merely rhetoric, an addition to an otherwise scientific enquiry meant to properly ground the urning as a natural existence… And yet, it is enough. The terms “child of Uranus” or “Uranian love” or “touched by Urania” spread out, into arts, into culture, sufficient that even though a German writer of the 19th century has no business connecting himself with a Hellenic goddess, the link remains. When summoned as Shielder, then, as part of the June festivity, Ulrichs receives gift from his patron.

That is,

the Large-Scale Sapients Education Terminal’s atmospheric interference-type nanoprobes

the heavenly sea foam from which Aphrodite Urania first arose

. Even if it is but an old bauble bearing only a touch of divinity, and the EX rank more indicative of just how absurd it is Ulrichs can wield it than its actual strength. Appearing as a mass of sparkling dust under Shielder’s command, the foam can arrange itself into any number of shapes, tightly pack its own density, and most importantly, alter the properties of energy that passes through it. Physical attacks, then, can be deflected by what appear to be floating bubbles or jewels, while magical attacks are endlessly refracted back and forth in the mass of foam before losing all power. It is also possible to manipulate light as it passes through, creating imagery (which was, after all, the nanoprobes’ intended purpose as a sapients educational tool) and illusions. This skill compensates for the absence of Magic Resistance and Self-Field Defense that would be expected from a Shielder, while also allowing the use of what amounts to Mana Burst (Ancient Light) and Mana Burst (Sea).

“I… must admit, to be blessed by an actual goddess, even unknowingly is… Not at all what I might have expected, I suppose. I will consider this but another honour placed upon me, as defender of the celebration. All the more reason that everyone enjoys the festivities! Make merry friends, strangers, oh peoples of remote posterity. You’ve all more than earned it.”

Determination of Steel (B)
“Only he gains his freedom and life, who must daily conquer them.” (Inclusa)

The dynamism and overpowering force of will that propelled a man forward through the scorn of his peers, never abandoning the pursuit of justice, never once wavering from the path he had chosen. In an account of his great speech at the Odeon in 1867, Ulrichs once outlined all the doubts running through his mind; this was still early, when much of his writings had been published under another name, and the possibility of holding his tongue, backing out, and retaining some modicum of a peaceful life hung over him. Yet for all that hesitation and the sensation of his heart pounding in his chest, Ulrichs had already decided he could not retreat now. Not for himself, but others like him, for future generations, for the sake of what was right, he could not abandon so many innocent men to a life of misery, to persecution, to the threat of an early grave – his own well-being be damned. Ever in trouble and constantly on the move, Ulrichs traveled his German home campaigning for sexual reform, through it all staying firm to his ideals. Even as he retreated later in life to a self-imposed exile, living as a pauper, still he retained possession of his mind, of the knowledge he lived true to himself, of having accepted himself for who he was, and so even dying quietly from illness, his only regret was having not accomplished more. Having resolved himself already in life, Shielder remains unyielding as a Servant, guarded against all mental effects to the rank of B. Pain cannot deter him, nor fear take his heart, not when he has conquered both. Even more, as a man who covered a continent in his fight against injustice, Determination of Steel grants Shielder the power to move at incredible speeds, crossing the battlefield in an instant. As the appointed protector of the month’s festivities, he will permit no disturbance. Nothing will trample upon something so precious as this, a chance to celebrate all he never could while alive.

“Struggle, were I to boil it down to one word, is a process. A process without an end, at that; regardless of a man’s achievements, the weight of what he hasn’t achieved is the hangman’s noose round his neck. It is easier, then, not to struggle at all. Nobler, even, perhaps. But I knew in life, as I still do in death… There are far many more than me struggling, against enemies I had the privilege not to face. There are far too many who don’t struggle, letting injustice pass them by. I won’t claim that I couldn’t be one of them, Master. What makes it so terrifying is knowing how easily I could.”

Noble Phantasm“Now is the time! The culmination of what all who came after me fought for! As one among the first links in this great chain, let me give myself once more to the cause! For all who deserve to love, to be loved, to love themselves for who they truly are! You all have that right, and I’ll not allow nary a soul to deny it! Engrave the mark of my protection to the very skies, now….”

Aphrodisia der Stolz
Casting Hopes to the Sky, in Anticipation of what may Take Flight
Rank C
Anti-Army

“My efforts were for naught. There’s one thing I can say, though: I spread the seeds. They fell on stones or under thorns, but one fell on a human heart. This has brought forth a sprout that bloomed and now grows with full force. This man’s fight will not be for naught. The ice is broken.” (Alaudae)

Shielder’s ultimate technique, the symbol of the celebration, and his gift to the celebrants. Pouring every last inch of his mana into his foam, he scatters it across the surrounding atmosphere, refracting light broken down into seven colours until eventually, the entire horizon is transformed into the pattern of a rainbow.

Truly the perfect backdrop to the annual

Pride Parade

procession of acceptance.

With the capabilities pushed to the limit, Shielder’s nanoprobes will protect all who march under the heavens. Given they were intended for use in educating sapient life, it should come as no surprise that their sensors are able to detect hostile intent; when this happens, the probes immediately swarm the offender, increasing their density to the point they will feel as though they are moving through deep water, harshly dampening their potential for harm. Likewise will the probes attempt to disperse any magical attack made within the perimeter. For a Servant so close to the modern day with little in the way of legends about him, the scale of this wide-area defensive force truly beggars belief.

But more than that, this seven-shaded banner is the mark of Ulrichs’ hope, his belief that his fight against social inequality would in turn inspire others to shake off the shackle of self-doubt. The faith he placed in future generations to liberate themelves of their crueller urges, where a man or a woman would be free to live and love as they choose. For as long as Shielder can maintain this Noble Phantasm, all who look up to the sky may feel assured that they are loved, that they are cared for. That they might carry themselves with pride, not just for the month of June, but all their lives.

ProfileA 19th century lawyer, journalist, and a writer, Karl Heinrich Ulrichs is still best remembered today for his work in sexology, and for having pioneered the first modern gay rights movement in his home of Germany. For this reason, he is at times dubiously referred to as “the world’s first gay man.” Knowing he was different from other men at a young age, Ulrichs at first wrote under the name Numa Numantius, detailing his belief that far from an act of degeneracy, the practice of homosexuality was a natural, unique identity that could be explained biologically. Although much of his initial groundwork – such as the idea heterosexual and homosexual individuals were literally of different sexes – has not persisted to the modern day, his arguments against discrimination carved out a path for later reform, and his speech at the Odeon in Munich against anti-sodomy legislations remained a subject of much discussion in the following years, even as many among the audience called for his crucifixion. So ended any hope of a normal life for Ulrichs. Facing constant legal trouble and prejudice, he stayed true to his cause, eventually entering into a self-imposed exile when he felt he could accomplish no more. Even then, he became known as a man of strong character, passionate in his beliefs, and perhaps overly optimistic in his hope that world peace was within man’s ability to achieve.

Though appearing calm and jovial at all times, there is at times the sense he may be suppressing the wilder elements of himself for the sake of the festivities, the fury that propelled him in the fight against discrimination. Shielder is an idealist at heart, assured beyond measure of his belief that all peoples are entitled to the pursuit of happiness, to love and be loved. That utopia is achievable if men are willing to build it, and knowing that, happy to offer himself to lead the way. Someone must bear the burden of improving the lot of the downtrodden and the discriminated-against. Rather it be him than have the duty forced on another. Despite the injustice he committed himself against, Ulrichs still wishes to see the best in mankind; man, he reasons, is fundamentally good. Only the poison of public opinion passed down through generations eventually twists him into enacting evil on his fellows.

Incidentally, he also championed additional causes, notably the liberation of women, and the elevation of Latin to widespread use. The reality is that Ulrichs was mostly forgotten in the years following his death, only returning to prominence in the later years of the 20th century, where he was integrated into the growing LGBT movement. Perhaps this association is why he stands here now, as Shielder. Ready to protect something so precious, the celebration he would never have dreamed possible in his lifetime.

Notes

**Drangle** · June 9th, 2022, 05:16 PM

Hell yes.

**NittyGritty** · June 9th, 2022, 08:26 PM

seems kinda gay if you ask me

**Morg van Destro** · June 9th, 2022, 08:29 PM

Pine: Yeah. I almost gave her one relating more to her original goddess form mixed with Mari, but I couldn't. Not because it wasn't possible or wouldn't have been interesting, but because I really wanted the sheet to be more about Mari than who she was before. A celebration of the goofy yet disturbing singing horse rather than the twice degraded goddess I tied her to. Would've been a wave of horse-shaped shadows that ignore physical boundaries and attack a target's soul directly, seeking a grip to drag it to the afterlife. While still working, I just felt like it placed greater emphasis on the goddess rather than Mari, so I just gave her the ability to rampage and cause a scene in a more brutal fashion than the people that play her do.
Still, I'm glad you enjoyed it. Writing things in cywydd was actually a lot of fun and gave the sheet a slight air of mystery like Mari herself.

**jishara** · June 9th, 2022, 08:59 PM

OOH I love it, you did amazingly.

**TYPE-Lune** · June 9th, 2022, 10:45 PM

OwO? What's this? Notices your contest

How pretty...

Those lights in the sky, they're kongmíng lanterns, for the Mid-Autumn Festival. Even now, I'm always surprised by how many there are...

...Oh? Are you not familiar? The Mid-Autumn Festival is a big deal here, you know! Ehe, I'm guessing that means you also haven't had a chance to try the mooncakes. If you don't hurry, there won't be any left for you!

Why "mooncake"? The moon is what this festival is all about...!

It's actually based on a legend. I'm honestly shocked you didn't know.

This festival is dedicated to the lunar goddess ██████.

Although... I've always thought that story was a̴̦̅ ̶̋͜l̸̺̚ỉ̶͍̗̀ť̴̩t̶̲̂͊l̵͕̮̎͋ë̷̡͇́̽ ̷̲̀͐s̶̝͚͠͝ā̶̗͖̀d̵̻̮͊...

**Vance** · June 9th, 2022, 11:10 PM

Fengmeng: Huh, I actually rather like her, a lot more than the other Fengmeng at least. Wait the Hou Yi situation is that he was good then became evil but she couldn't easily accept the idea that she once loved someone who was evil?

**TYPE-Lune** · June 10th, 2022, 04:05 PM

Originally Posted by Vance

Fengmeng: Huh, I actually rather like her, a lot more than the other Fengmeng at least. Wait the Hou Yi situation is that he was good then became evil but she couldn't easily accept the idea that she once loved someone who was evil?

I waffled on this part of the lore a little bit because ~~I was falling asleep~~ Hou Yi is his own entire thing that will probably show up somewhere eventually, so it's a little more complicated than "becoming evil" as I put it. He was a benevolent hero who eventually become a tyrant, as per some versions of the Hou Yi legend. Archer is basically just trying to act like she never loved him as a coping mechanism. She thinks it's better than having to come to terms with the fact that she killed someone she actually cared about. Basically, she prefers to simpler, black and white "Hou Yi was killed because Fengmeng was a rat bastard and simply evil" over the messy grey area of "doing what needed to be done even if she once cared about that person."

It's... not exactly healthy, as you can imagine!

Str: C	End: C	Agi: C
Mna: D	Lck: D	NP: B

Alias:	Queen of Egypt	Classes:	none
True Name:	Thaïs	Source:	Historical fact, Eunuchus
Gender:	Female	Region:	Greece
Height/Weight:	160cm/59kg	Attribute:	Man
Image colour:	Pink	Armament:	Explosives

STR E	████ ████
END D	████████ ████████
AGL C	████████████ ████████████
MAG B	████████████████ ████████████████
LUK A++	████████████████████████████████████████████████████████████ ████████████████████████████████████████████████████████████
N.P B	████████████████ ████████████████

King:	According to the histories, after marrying Ptolemy I Soter, Thaïs became the first to hold the title of Queen of Egypt. Although it is not recorded what precisely happened during that time, she was clearly a greatly respected member of the court.
Ionioi Hetairoi:	Famously a companion of Iskandar during his conquests, although she has very low combat ability. There is more to life - even the life of a soldier - than battle, naturally!

Likes:	Everything!
Dislikes:	Death
Talents:	Conversation on all kinds of topics, public speaking
Alignment:	Neutral Good

Thread: Monthly Create-A-Servant Contest

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True Name: Fengmeng	Classes: Archer, Berserker
Gender: Female	Region: China
Height: 172cm	Source: Mythology
Weight: 63kg	Attribute: Earth