Creator NotesFor the consideration of the council, in accordance with the rule of requiring one genderbend per X number of servant. I'm not doing another of these any time soon.
Rider huffed as he forced the wood of his ship to mend, causing the holes blown wide by cannon fire to shrink to nothing as the planks of the ship seemed to grow to replace the lost material. Despite the irritation, he couldn’t keep the grin off his face. Well, it seemed like one of the other racers had finally managed to catch up. “Oi ya lazy lards! Man those cannons, we’ve got some company!”
An echoing cry of ‘yes boss’ came from the sailors as they raced to their stations. It wasn’t long before he could hear the echoing booms of cannons firing from his own ship. “And the Lass said they’d be a waste of money, ha!” Rider laughed, before settling as new impacts shook the ship, shifting his focus from joy at being proved right, to focus as new problems needed dealing with.
This kept up for a while longer, before a blast of force, caused Rider to take a step back. Looking down at himself, he could see a number of scrapes and cuts. “Wild, take over the helm! Seems like the Lass is facing a problem!”
With the expected cry of ‘Ai boss’ from her second, Rider marched out to the main deck. It was still odd having to account for the different centre of gravity of his new body, but he’d grown adept enough at it. Marching to the point where he could sense the Lass. It wasn't long before he found her, crossbow to one side and slowly picking herself up off the deck. “Sorry about that Rider, seems like I got caught by that one. Thought I’d gotten clear.”
Rider laughed as he pulled the girl to her feet. He was almost a foot taller than the lass, and considering his weight, it was damn easy. “You’re good. Just thought they’d been an annoyance for long enough. So, anything to report to me, third?”
She nodded at that, grabbing her mystic code from the floor. “Yeah, the noisy guys on our port side aren’t the only ones who managed to get around the wreck other than us. We’ve got somebody in a sub to the starboard. Got anything for that?”
Rider frowned at that, considering for a second. “Yeah, I’ve got an answer for them. Give me a minute.” Turning on his heel, he marched back to the helm, the Lass following him closely. Reaching the bannister at the back of the ship, he took a breath, beginning to draw on that pool of freezing energy.
“For science, Scott. For the pole, Amundsen. But in your darkest hour, you prayed for me! For I am the Last Hero of Antarctica!” With those final words, the pool swelled to the brim, allowing Rider to throw forth a veritable tidal wave of mystery, freezing much of the sea behind his ship into a glacial plane.
“That ought to hold them. Now, let’s win this race!”
13th International Holy Grail War Festival
Week 3
Event 24
Nautical Race
:
First Ascension
Second Ascension
Final Ascension
Rider of Antarctica's Mystery
Class: Rider
Other Class: Avenger, Foreigner
True Name: Sir Ernest Shackleton
Titles: The Unconquerable Explorer, The True Endurance, Last Hero of Antarctica
Alignment: Chaotic Good
Region of Origin: United Kingdom
Height: 6'7
Weight: Variable
Gender: Physically Female-Identifies as Male
Birthday: 15 February
Likes: The Cold, Exploration, Singing, Board Games, Books
Dislikes: Cities, Strict Structures, Liars
Talents: Moral Boosting, Sailing, Entertaining
Armaments: Military Sabre
Catalyst: Piece of the Endurance or a Copy of South, His Account of the Voyage
Natural Enemy: Sir Robert Falcon Scott
Parameters:
Strength: B
Endurance: A
Agility: C+
Mana: D
Luck: D
Noble Phantasm: A
I was… not the best kid in school. Not to say I was dumb. I love reading, adventure novels were probably my favourite, and I’m not too uncomfortable to say I was a smart one. I just wasn't one for the structure, the droning dunces that made a good bit of Wilde make me want to staple my ears shut. When my dad got me signed up with North Western… I don’t think I’d ever been happier in my life. I got the fuck out a school, and I got to see the world like the characters in my favourite stories did.
I stuck my time out with them till 84, yes 1884, keep up, when I passed my second mate exam. Jumped to the Welsh Shire Line till I got my Master Mariner’s certification. Heh, should have been telling that the first time I got command of a ship of my own, I chose to work going as far south as Cape Town. Course, during my time with the UC line, I met Cedric. Good man, but didn’t expect much to come out of it. Never expected that I could use a few conversations to leverage a switch to Antarctic exploration, but eh, that’s history.
I left the UC, yeah they called it leave but everyone knew I wasn’t coming back, and joined up with the Discovery. First trip to the final continent, and the day I found my life calling. Also when I met that bastard Scott, but I’m not going to let him spoil good memories. Actually, no, I need a second. Bastard dare accuse me of trying to incite a mutiny? I went along with every fucking thing that man wanted, no matter how much it rode me the wrong way, and he tries to blame the fact the men licked me more than him on malicious intent!? Just because yer a dick doesn’t mean you can blame me for it!
Sorry… where was I…
Other than some people being unable to realise being a decent human isn’t some plot, a lot of the trip went well… until it didn’t. On the march south, a lot of things went wrong, and I’m not too proud to admit I broke down. I… I couldn’t sleep, and when I did it felt like I got no rest. I wasn’t getting carried in a fucking sledge though, Scott! Honestly, if I hadn’t known better, I would have thought he always planned to ship me off in the Morning. As it is, he definitely wasn’t uhappy to see me off.
Much as I didn’t like him though, I was happy to help with Terra Nova. No point to leave men to suffer cause of a grudge. I… I wanted to go back. Badly. But I still wasn’t sleeping right and I needed time to recover. So, I did some other things in the meantime. I’m so thankful I did. Emily… She was the love of my life, and I don’t want to think what it would have been like without her and the brats. Eventually though, I was well enough again that the call to return couldn’t be ignored a moment longer.
Nimrod, the march on the magnetic and true south pole’s. The original plan was to use the old Discovery base as the staging point, although somebody had thoughts on that. I was more than happy to accept Scott’s undertaking, even if I fought it for appearance sake. I’d only suggested that path to make sure I got the go ahead. Still pissed off that I had to break it in the end. Bless my boys, they held their heads high regardless of the extra pains that double back incurred. I’ll never understand why Wild fawned over that biscuit so much, just doing the right thing for a good mate.
I had every intention of hitting every major goal of the expedition, even adding some extra, like climbing Erebus and travelling the South Polar Plateau but… my sleep got bad again while I was there. I made sure it didn’t affect anyone else, and I made sure it got expunged from records. This time though, I know the reason. The dreams I had… they… they… doesn’t matter. All you… anyone needs to know is when I made that joke to Emily, it was because I really had feared for my life.
I think she knew that, because she pleaded with me not to go back. She knew how much I wanted to, but she cared more about how badly it affected me. So, I tried my hand at other ventures again. My heart wasn’t ever really in it, either time really, and I really shouldn’t have been surprised they flopped. But when Amundsen reached the pole and nothing happened… well the restraints on my desires shattered like a thin frosting.
I prepped for that expedition as best I could. Got good ships, good men… it shouldn’t have gone the way it did. But, there I was on Endurance when the ice trapped us. Months later when the hull was breached and waiting was no longer an option.
We were in a deadly situation, and I had to make sure they survived. I led them into this, and I’d get them out. It’s the reason I made sure the point of failure for everything was on me. Getting to Elephant Island, sailing the James Caird, even that hike, I was there for all of it. Well, me and a few pieces of the Endurance.
A lot of people told me to prioritise a lot of things, but the crew was my only concern. I… I’ll never be able to describe how happy, how relieved I was when I found out everyone was still alive. Nor how heartbroken to hear some of the Ross Sea Party weren’t. We returned in the middle of the Great War… or I guess World War one now. Probably wasn’t the best choice for my health, and Emily wasn't happy with me, but I couldn’t stand by and do nothing.
Didn’t do much in the end, and by that point I knew I hadn’t got much longer left. For all it hurt me, and caused my pains, for all it had terrified me… I couldn’t feel at rest outside Antarctica. It played with my mind, but my soul was at rest there, and so my soul would rest there.
I failed that, of course. I launched my last expedition, but I had that heart attack by Rio. I got the crew to continue to South Georgia. I called Alex to my cabin as soon as I was coherent, and it was a good call. Damn that man, ‘Chiefly alcohol, boss’ eh? He didn’t fix it so I could get what I wanted, but he certainly made it so I died laughing.
And so ends the tale of Sir Ernest Shackleton, and the Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration, as I now know.
In life, one could say that Shackleton felt as if he was a bit out of place, something that disappeared when at sea, and doubly so whilst in the Antarctic. However, due to the deep connections to the frozen continent within his Saint Graph, he lacks these times of disconnect, acting with the same vigour and confidence as when he was heading an expedition.
Shackleton himself is a very open man, and can quite easily be considered an eccentric. Whilst he can be quite happy with his own company for large stretches of time, he is also eager to jump into conversation to get to know people better, treating every encounter as one amongst equals, no matter how low or high their normal status is compared to his own. Furthermore, he's always eager to drag people into games or rounds of song, and often complains that things like karaoke machines and TRPG's were not around in his lifetime. Essentially, under normal circumstances he is the heart of the party.
However, just as easily as he can jubilant and seemingly carefree, he can become deadly serious. In a situation that calls for this serious side, such as when dealing with those who don't value human life, he is better described as an unstoppable force of brutal and precise action, even if his actions might haunt him later. Furthermore, he is normally quite private over his own concerns and afflictions.
At his heart though, Shackleton is convinced of the power of humanity, having seen firsthand their ability to surmount even the harshest of circumstances. Due to this, he is almost fearless, believing that, with enough effort, there is nothing the world can do to stop him. This also manifests as a tendency to push himself above and beyond, to become the best they can in the face of any challenge.
Shackleton cares deeply for those he surrounds himself with, trying his best to try to keep them in high spirits whilst trying to be the pillar that those around him can lean on. There are times where he will act under the impression that he knows what others need better than them, trying his best to fulfil this even if the person he is trying to help thinks otherwise. His care for others can oft cause him to prioritise them over himself, as, for example, he and a friend where suffering the same wounds, he would make sure that friend was taken care of and safe before he would tend to himself
Whilst Shackleton is a very tactical man, having served in the military and having planned three separate Antarctic expeditions, it is a common feature of his plans that the most difficult tasks will be left to him to deal with. Asking Rider if this intentional will be deflected, Shackleton often responding with ‘worry about what you can control, rather than what you can't’. However, considering he will manage to do it even when making a plan for a situation where he shouldn’t even be involved, it is thought to be somewhat unconscious.
His master is treated and cared for in much the same way, pushed to be their best and having their burdens picked up by Shackleton. It is without question that Rider will use the supportive aspects of his first Phantasm on his master, barring extreme circumstances. With time, as Rider and his master grow closer, he will treat them like a second in command, opening up and allowing some of his own burdens to be shared with his master. However, this increased trust will also mean that when planning, the load of work placed on their shoulders will become so great in scope in comparison to the project it is only second to Shackleton's own.Likes:
Hehe, I think my story outlines it pretty plainly, no? I love adventure, exploring, just… seeing something new. It's why I went to sea. And in the end, there was nothing more 'new' than Antarctica. Helps that I find the cold really comforting for some reason. I do love that place you know. I'm almost certain that if I didn't have other concerns, I would have never stopped back home longer than it took to fund the next trip.
Dislikes:
…not all that much, really. I met men from a lot of backgrounds on the sea, and I found that sometimes I liked the street kid far more than the promising heir and the other way around. If I really have to pin one down, I just really don't like people who treat people like currency. I learned a lot about my opinion on the value of human life, and let's just say I reached a conclusion pretty opposed to them.
Wish:
What do I want from the Grail you ask? Well, it's pretty simple. A few decades back I'd say it was to rip that smug bastard from his pedestal as the most famous of us. But, the world’s done that for me, so… I’ll settle with having completed the purpose of the Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition. It’s a little selfish, but I really want to have that extra feather in my cap. Plus, it wouldn't hurt that it means my crew wouldn’t have had to go through those horrific two years.
Gender:
Eh, I don’t care what ya call me. He, She, It, doesn’t matter in the end, after all, regardless how you slice it, I’m still me. Sir Ernest Shackleton stands before you, Antarctica’s last hero and a being with an unconquerable spirit! Fuck, if you ask me, I identify as a force of nature! And the pronouns? ‘Fuck’ and ‘Yeah’! Hahahaha!
Bond 5
Likes:
Other than that? Well… my family for one. Mom, dad, my siblings, and especially my wife and kids. I’d have been a very different man without them… other than that though? I suppose I did have an actual interest in some of the careers I tried my hand at, especially journalism and lecturing. I liked the chance to help shape people to be the best they can. Otherwise, got to love some shanties and games, eh?
Dislikes:
Okay, so maybe I was a little…shallow with the truth. I really, really don’t like liars, it’s half the reason I don’t have a fond opinion of Scott. I’m also not a big one for super firm structure. My crew ran like a well oiled machine, and I didn’t do it by pigeonholing people. You can’t learn new things if you never have the chance after all. But most of all… I don’t like to see people sad… it just brings back too many frozen memories.
Wish:
Yer asking me again? Well… to be honest, I wasn’t entirely truthful. I… I want to move my grave. I want to have been able to die where I aimed to. My dear Emily, my crew… they all knew me well enough that I wouldn’t have wanted to be in England. Heck, that lonely spot they chose was a great compromise. But… I wanted to die with my soul at rest. Little selfish, I know. But in the end, aren’t we all?
Gender:
It’s… it’s pretty easy to tell I wasn’t being straight with ya, isn’t it? I… I’m a man. Yet, this body is that of a woman. In the end, I just want to be what others are comfortable with me being but… I lived for almost half a century as a man, and even now, as the soul of an anthropomorphised ship, I still think of myself as a man. Strange, isn’t it. Ask any sailor and a ship’s female…and yet this ship is anything but.
Sir Francis Drake: Oh, you're a woman as well? Fuse with your ship too? Wait, you were a lady in life? Ha! Fair enough! Sad to see ya couldn’t get the respect you deserved, but if you're anything like my Emily, I’m not surprised nobody ever questioned that. Nothing bad meant by that, just saying you’re both bold.
Sir James Clark Ross(Foreigner): Heh, my counterpart. The alpha to my omega, as it were. I guess we have more in common than I thought though. I thought we were just both notable British blokes who ventured to the Antarctic cold, but to see him haunted in the same way, if not by the same thing… guess I understand why you stopped others from coming. Your self control is definitely better than mine.
Antarctic Explorers: My lazy comrades in arms. Don’t get me wrong, they aren’t bad people, but they could pick up a damn call once in a while! Seriously, with some of the shit I’ve done since being summoned, I could have used the help!
Sir Robert Falcon Scott: You! Oh thank god, I never wanted to see yer mug again in life, but that was cause I wouldn’t be allowed to bash it in! Oh, and how’d ya like that list, fifty four?! Oi, get back here ya git I’m not done!
Caenis: …I’ve seen some guys say that they’ve been fucked over by the sea, but I don’t think anyone had it quite so literally as him. He’d probably gut me for it, but I feel sorry for him. Doesn’t excuse his tyranny and stuff, but at least I’m not the only one around here a little off in their current body.
Yosano Akiko: Hmmm, I do appreciate my poetry, but I’ve never read much of the stuff from the east. Just didn’t have a huge chance for it, since people translating stuff for other languages wasn’t as wide scale in my day. Do you have a spare collection lying around? I’d love to give it a read.
Johannes Kepler: It’s a little narcissistic, don’t ya think? Placing yourself at the station of the sun with that Phantasm of yours? Although I guess ya could describe me much the same considering one of mine. Now, what’s your favourite music? I’m setting up a playlist for karaoke night!
Toriyama Sekien: Oi, that’s a pretty creepy aura you got going there. Reminds me of myself a bit! Come on, ya can’t be shut in 24/7! I’m just kicking off a new Call of Cthulhu campaign, so come on! I think the tone would be right down your alley.
Cope and Marsh: I mean, no judgement on the choice of field, and I can understand a rivalry, but come the fuck on! You caused almost as much damage to the field at times as you helped! I fucking hate Scott, and I wouldn’t have pulled any of this shit. And Cope, you open your mouth and I’ll put you in a glacier.
John Fitzgerald Kennedy: Jesus! Where's your face man! Honestly, I’ve seen some weird shit over the years, but a guy walking around unbothered without a third of their skull has got to be up there.
Heinrich Schliemann: …come near me with those explosives, and I’ll give you the same treatment as Cope. And you won’t have Marsh to help get you out.
Yoshitsugu Otani: At this rate, you're going to break my heart. Loyalty like that… It brings back too many bad memories of frozen days. Still, I applaud you for still fighting despite it all. People will do anything for those they care for eh? We’re both proof of that. Also' if you ever want, I've got a fairly large store of medicine.
Christian Caldwell: You… you monster. I’d feel sorry for you, if you hadn’t turned around and signed dozens of death warrants because of it. And to think, you claim any part of it was God's will! I’ve seen the guidance of providence in my life, and it wasn’t fucking that! Let’s see who’s right, a ‘perfect’ zealot, or a flawed explorer!
Comte de Saint-Germaine: An explorer too, are ya? Ha, well, true or not, I’d love to swap a few stories over drinks! I've never known much about this world of magic I find myself in, and I’d love to hear some more about it from one of its more adventurous practitioners!
Jenny Lind: That voice… I'm no singer myself, although I can hold a tune, but you… Beautiful voice matched with a sterling kindness that seems to be so rare at times. It really is lovely to meet you, and if I may ask, what's your opinion on Karaoke?
William Randolph Hearst: So… you like to display the truth without much care for the facts, eh? …I’ve got a certain prickish colleague of mine that I want to introduce you to. Now, where the hell did that glacier float off to.
Nostradamus: The famous diviner, huh? It really should not surprise me that you are here. Good to know that you don't think it's all for nothing. After all, with proper motivation, mankind can surmount any problem.
Felix von Luckner: …so I’m a madman for wanting to spear through an ice flow to save my men, and you get to chuck your ship at people! Come with me! I’m about to ram an ice flow, and you're going to help me! Vindication, here I come!
Unas: When I say that humans can do anything, I usually don't mean killing a pantheon. I mean, he gives me great campaign ideas… but in the end, I only feel pity for him. Life is meant to be more than your obsession, believe me, I dread what I would have been had I not realised that.
Sorghaghtani:Ah yes, the far less glamorous side of any exploration, conquest or otherwise. Never was one for it, so respect towards you for keeping it so balanced. If I may ask, got any stories of the area? Always love to hear about more adventures, since a good part of mine were all to one place.
Chevalier de Saint-Georges: People can overcome anything with enough motivation, social restrictions being no exception, as you prove. Would you like to join me for a drink, and perhaps, a song?
William Thomas Stead: …well, you’re better than the last ‘journalist’ I met. Honestly, what did the profession become after my death? I know I worked as a very different type of journalist, but still… Regardless, well done. People need a kick in the ass to improve at times, and you sure as hell gave the pricks in Westminster a good one.
William Topaz McGonagall: …when I say you should ignore difficulties and work past them, this is not what I meant. I’d never tell a man to call off his dream… but he really could use a half decent teacher to fix… that… worse than my teachers, honestly.
Empress Wei of Tang: You… you are a special type of twisted. The very thought of killing my wife, even in exchange for my darkest desires… you sicken me. Get out of my sight before I make sure I don't have to see you again.
The Mary Celeste: Shackleton just stands there, torn between shock that a ship would take a male form, and rage that hers wasn’t the same case.
Sugawara no Takasue no Musume: Hahahaha! I love it! If you ever need a hand bringing people to adventure and exploration, to help them out of the hum drum, give me a call!
Cacareco: …the…the…I'm wearing the corpse of my ships and I am still put off by this one. Nice girl though, and I'd love to chat with her a bit, sure she'd be a riot! But… need to comprehend this first.
Aristocles "Plato" of Athens: Oh my, now that is certainly a philosopher! Ha, I'm not exactly big on the discussion of theories, but hey, I'm up to talk over a round if you are!
Ismail al-Jazari: …holy shit.
Alfred Bernhard Nobel: I…I am so sorry. What was done should not have been, and the blame doesn't deserve to have ever rested on your shoulders. But take one more step on this path, and I will… can not stop myself from what must be done.
Si Pitung: Oh god there's two of them. And this one's actually sane, which makes it so much worse.
Vercingetorix: Hahahaha! One for all and all for one, eh? Might not be from the right country, but it damn well fits! Man united can do anything, even surmount reality, and you're a damn good example! Join me for a drink, will ya?
Aimo Allan Koivunen: Well, I did say you need some motivation to go above and beyond at times. Sure, an elephants worth of meth is a… strange motivator, but I can't argue with the results!
Gustavus Adolphus Rex Sueciae: You really did care for those under you, huh? A good leader and commander, if I ever did see one, and I really didn't think one so high up could get so stuck in with his men.
Sir Christopher Lee: Well, you certainly have an eclectic set of characters on your resume. Nice job, leaving your mark so thoroughly, and props on never stopping. There is never a time one can't improve, and you know that damn well!
Otavio Maeda: Yes! YES! YES! This is what I'm talking about! Drinks on me! Because damn, I need to hear a bit more about you!
Hard Urara: Shackleton picks her up and lets her ride on one of his shoulders. Hey there little lady! You'll always be a winner in my book! After all, you can only get somewhere by trying, and you never stop!
Marie-Juliette Olga Boulanger: Teaching your students that they can keep on trying if they fail the first time? Good.
Marie-Therese Charlotte: I’ll be honest to say I have no true opinion on the monarchy… to torture a little girl for just exsisting… now that is a crime that makes someone worthy to freeze.
Magdalena Solis: I have a few choice words about your ‘freedom’, you hedonistic monster. Adventure, love, happiness, those are forms of freedom! Crushing people under your heel for pleasure is little more than murder! Let’s see how you like being trapped in a frozen cage!
Riding: -
One of the class skills of the Rider class, and the one most necessary for their manifestation in this class. It is a skill that shows one's ability at controlling and riding various mounts, even of the divine rank at its highest ranks. However, those of the draconic species are beyond the bounds of this skill. Due to the presence of the Voyage of the Storm, it has been sealed.
Not much of a loss, considering it’d be pretty awkward to try to ride anything other than my… ship.
Yeah, it would be funny though. A man, piloting a ship, riding a motorcycle. Funny image, even if it wouldn’t turn out like I’m imaging.
Yeah, that is a funny image.
Magic Resistance: C++
The second of the normal class skills of the Rider class. It is a skill representing one’s ability to resist the influence of magecraft and other mystical effects. In this case, resist refers to the ability to cancel out the effect of magecraft at various levels, rather than simply reducing the level of impact.
At this rank, rider is capable of cancelling out effects of two verses and below. However, his defences falter in the face of magecraft at the level of greater magecrat and greater rituals. Due to the interaction with the mystery of Antarctica, rider possesses a greater resistance to cold and water based magecraft, and a complete immunity to spells that draw their power from the frozen continent.
It’s like a shroud, you know, the mystery of that place. It… clings to me, unwilling to let go no matter what. Even with the control of the mystery of that place that I have, I can’t get this stuff to loosen its grip. Not that it’s a bad thing, it’s tendency to just eat anything relating to it is extremely useful. Plus, it keeps me at ease, just like when I walked those lands.
Huh, so that’s why it looks like you have a cloak of ice at times when we get it. Good to know it’s not just my eyes playing tricks on me or something.
Independent Action: B
A skill not usually possessed by those of the Rider class. It represents the ability to remain in the world, even without the support of their master. Whether this means that one is acting without a master, or simply without an active mana flow from them doesn’t matter, as both fall within this skills domain. At the rank Shackleton possesses, he can last two days without a master. However, this is assuming minimum expenditure of magical energy during that time.
As an Antarctic explorer, Shackleton himself was usually the highest authority that he was beholden to for long stretches of time. Furthermore, during the time after the wreck of the Endurance, he was even more cut off from support than usual, and spent portions of the journey back to civilization with even less people for support than usual, only two others with him at its lowest.
I’m not one to call civilization bad, but the time away, in the untouched world was amazing. Where I was beholden to no man but myself. I guess, in the end having so little contact caused half the problems after the Endurance. However, I survived by myself then, and I’m happy I can do the same now. Plus, I’m used to having to watch my resources closely.
Well, putting the slightly disquieting statement to the side, you’re probably not going to need it anytime soon.
Voyage of the Storm: A+
A skill denoting one's talent to sail vessels widely recognised as ships. However, as being a captain requires skill as a group leader, the skill functions as Charisma and Tactics at the same level as the skill as well.
Shackleton was an experienced sailor even before being part of two successful Antarctic expeditions, one of which he led, and was fundamental in the salvation of the crew of the Endurance and Aurora. His level with this skill only increases within arctic conditions, as his exceeding experience with the terrain allow him to be even more effective at dealing with it, and inspiring others to keep up morale.
I was a sailor for the vast majority of my life. I know the average ship like the back of my hand. And I literally can’t have a stronger relationship with a ship than with my current one.
You're telling me! Ha, I’d go so far to say you're inseparable!
… you get a one minute head start.
Yes sir.
Indomitable: B
A skill that represents one's continuous ability to face difficult situations, and surmount them whilst showing their best side. Differing from Battle Continuation, Indomitable is purely based in the mentality of not knowing when to quit, and even causes the power needed to produce outcomes to lower when in full effect. At this rank, even mortal wounds can be shrugged off for a time, and the cost of the servant's abilities are reduced by a fifth.
Throughout his life, Shackleton always came back to Antarctica, despite the disastrous effects on his health. Furthermore, as displayed during the Endurance crisis, Shackleton never gave up, but instead went above and beyond, even putting the safety of his crew above his own. Through it all, he always believed that he could overcome, as providence and his men were on his side.
…this is not at all surprising. Honestly, I’d thought it'd be a bit higher.
Ha! I’ll call the things I did impressive. I’d even go so far as to say that some of them were a perfect example of what man can do with suitable motivation, but I’m no fool. Among servants there are those who surmounted the gods themselves, my conquest of a frozen hell falls a fair bit short of that!
Aegis of Antarctica: B
A skill that truly denotes one as an Antarctic explorer. Unlike with other exploratory journeys, where most of the truly major discoveries aren't truly being discovered for the first time, the discoveries in the Antarctic were truly the first claim. This claim would leave an impact on the mystery of the place, trying one as the true owner of it.
It functions similarly to Demonic Defender of the State, allowing one to lay claim to the ley lines in an area and, whilst in the area, operating as if under the benefits or Madness Enhancement at the same rank as Aegis of Antarctica, without the defects. The main difference is that the process also causes the area to start experiencing Antarctic weather patterns, acting to hinder the opponents of the skills owner.
Well, I guess I did get a few strong bonds to the place over my life. It’s comforting to see that my ob- relationship with Antarctica is at least partially reciprocated in a way. It’s comforting to have those howling winds around again, reminds me of the march over the plateau. Damn that was cold!
WHAT? CAN’T HEAR YOU OVER THE WIND!
Sunken Echoes: A
The echoes of tragedies past, and a skill almost unique to Rider. It represents the morale destroying events that surround the sinking of a ship, projected as a debuffing aura that attacks the motivation of those around them. As the wielder of the skill has experienced the same, they also receive protection from mental interferences.
The sinking of the Endurance was not the start of the hard times during Shackleton's last full expedition. However, it was a mark of how bad the situation was. The despair preceding, during, and after that event that the crew faced have sunk into the ship, multiplied by the many who experienced it, and compounding two years of dread and darkness into a single, constant aura, producing its impressive rank.
…well… that’s unsettling…
Ai, it is. There’s little that could cause more despair in a sailor to see a faithful ship sinking, not just because it almost always means hard times to come. You’re losing a comrade, a friend, the hardest working member of the crew. It’s like a shot to the heart.
It still doesn’t sit well with you, does it?
No, little lass, no they don’t.
Fulcrum of Survival: C
A skill that designates one as the person responsible for the continued survival of a connected group. The possessor of the skill takes up the burden of those around them, ensuring that if any are to fall, then they will be the first. Due to this, it allows them to share their Endurance with others, and take the damage that one they are protecting should have on their behalf. At this rank, Shackleton can apply this effect to a handful of others, enough to cover his crew.
Through every step of his life, Schakelton has put the needs of others over his own in various ways. However, no more readily was this shown after the wreck of the Endurance, where he continuously made the survival of his crew his first priority. Even once he reached his own salvation, he immediately turned around and rescued his crew.
Now that’s a bit too much credit! Every single one of my boys worked their backside off to keep each other alive! Hell, we had to use a guy to bait seals so we had some meat. If that doesn’t show a will to survive, I don’t know what does.
Rider, I know what you mean, but you have to admit, you cared a lot. You put yourself in the most risky of positions over and over for them! Doesn't that deserve a little acknowledgement?
Perhaps, lass, perhaps…
Form of Failure, Spirit of VictoryHMS Endurance-Aurora
Anti-Crew: B
Range: 400
Max Number of Targets: 54
A noble phantasm that is the very body of Rider. During the events of the International Trans-Antarctic Expedition, Endurance was meant to be the ship that facilitated the journey to the frozen continent. However, once disaster struck, its purpose changed from ferrying to protecting and housing. Even after it sunk, the true Endurance lost to the waves, its equipment and gear facilitated the harrowing journey that followed. In the end, that lost ship still helped to save her crew.
Despite this, the spirit of the Endurance was convinced of her failure, as without the ingenuity of her crew, and especially the drive of her captain, she would not have been able to do so. Therefore, her body has been surrendered for the use of Rider Ernest Shackleton, and she has convinced her sister, Aurora, to do the same. From these vessels, the physical body of Rider is constructed. Although it has taken on a female form due to the nature of ship spirits, it is wielded by the mind and soul of Ernest Shackleton.
The body of Rider is far more powerful than one of his recent age should have. It is stained white from the mystery of the Antarctic that has seeped into the Endurance due to its extensive time in the surrounding waters. The physical parameters displayed with this body, and cannot be compared to his other forms. Furthermore, it has all the abilities a ship should have, including storing things within and the ability to move over water, during which Rider is faster than normal.
However, its greatest ability is sourced from the ingenuity of its crew in using its parts to save themselves. Rider is capable of shedding part of his mass to construct various constructs, like houses, ships, and even weaponry like using a central mast as a staff. Whilst Shackleton cannot stray too far from a construct, he can make them far denser and smaller than they should be, without losing effect, using the same power that compresses two ships into a 6'7 woman. The largest construct he can make is on the scale of a ship only slightly smaller than the combined dimensions of the Endurance and Aurora. No matter what, some must be left over to make up Shackleton's body.
I appreciate every moment of her service to me, and her sisters to the rest of my men. If I hadn’t been able to use her parts I wouldn't have even got my boys to Elephant Island, let alone home. Just… COULD THEY NOT HAVE MADE ME A LADY!?!
…
God… well, at least it gives me a pretty versatile ‘ship’, and some decent armaments, get to use the mast as a bonk stick, but still…
…I regret showing you that meme. Actually, I regret showing you any meme… least he doesn’t know about shipgirls, or this would be bad…
What’s a shipgirl?
…damn, that was out loud, wasn’t it.
Epilogue of a Frozen Age of ChampionsLast Hero of Antarctica
Anti-Army/Anti-Mystery: A
Range: 600
Max Number of Targets: 250
With the death of Shackelton came the end of the Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration. The romance, mystery, and unknown that characterised the age heavily benefited its heroes, as they were able to interact with the innate mysteries of Antarctica in a way impossible anywhere else in the world at the time. However, with its cessation, as Antarctica was rapidly placed under the same scrutiny as the rest of the world, the remaining mystery fled.
This Noble Phantasm is this fled mystery, having latched on to the ending of the age in which it interacted with humanity. Had this Noble Phantasm been connected to an older existence, it would carry the very weight of the continent that it is sourced from. However, due to this not being the case, it is only an anti-army phantasm.
This Phantasm allows Rider to bring forth the mystery of Antarctica in shapes that marked the age in which he ended. Pelting winds, crushing ice, and freezing oceans are featured just as prominently as cold water sea creatures that make the frozen continent their home. Whilst his creations pull on a limited pool of mystery that refills with time, more long form uses can even create destructive landscapes and native phantasmal species However, this is all without enchanting the phantasm's true name.
Upon releasing the phantasm's true name, Schakelton's control of the mystery is boosted greatly, allowing him to pull the greater mysteries of Antarctica. Whilst this does serve to increase the available pool of mystery, on top of its recharge speed, meaning the more basic uses can be thrown out more rapidly and carelessly. However, there is a greater use.
The explorers of the age were each touched by Antarctica’s mystery, empowered by it and having it become engraved in their souls. Due to this, Shackelton would normally be able to pull on this connection, bringing forth his fellow explorers to fight and aid him as powerful mysteries. However, the operative word is normally.
To explain, it must be mentioned that the cost of producing things with mystery are based on body, soul, and mind. Whilst body and soul account for power and ability, mind is the willingness. Whilst a wind or a simple whale are easy to overcome any possible 'unwillingness', his fellow explorers are particularly difficult to coerce, due to strong personalities and… strained relations between some.
Whilst this doesn't stop Schakelton from doing it, it causes enough issues that he has found other methods of using the true name release. On top of the normal uses, Rider uses the sheer fine control to inject the mystery into things, vastly empowering them with powerful effects suitable for the Antarctic mystery to generate, and has even begun to test if he can use the basic ideas of magecraft to pull off grand Antarctic spells, although he lacks the knowledge at the moment.
Still can’t believe my death was big enough to end an age… or at least, mark it. Guess things were just too advanced afterwards to reconcile the two, huh? Still, it’s nice to have some of the energy of that place with me. Settles the soul, and lets me stick idiots in a block of ice. What I would have given to do that to that prick…
Do I need to worry about if we ever actually meet Scott as a servant? Because you make so many threats when the man’s name comes up that I’m fairly certain it’d count as pre-meditate assault, or murder, depending on what you act on.
Probably. Regardless, rough relations with some of the lazy bastards like that one is half the reason I’m trying to pioneer a few new methods to use the phantasm. Plus, I always love a new challenge!
Shackleton has two very distinctive ways of approaching a fight, much dependent on whether he is angry or not. When not angry, he will usually try to use the minimum required force, fighting maily using his first noble phantasm, and limiting application of the unreleased form of his second. Often he’ll couple this with trying to pass off as a different class, such as making it seem that ice comes from his sword, or that a crafted spear grants control of water.
He will also use subtle summoning aspects of his second phantasm that don’t draw direct links to the arctic, such as sleigh dogs and crew. He will use this to help orchestrate plans that require more hands or to give him additional forces in a fight. It is only when pressured will he show the true extent of his abilities, such as using the true name of his second phantasm, or revealing that any connections he made with items and his abilities were false flags.
When enraged however, Shackleton will go straight to full power, endeavouring to utterly crush his opponent, whether it be under the hull of his ship, or the weight of Antarctic mystery. In the end, an angry Shackleton has little to nothing in the way of restraint against a foe, although he will endeavour to incur non combatant casualties.
Regardless of his approach, there are some general tactics he will always employ. Shackleton will always prepare areas that are under the effect of Aegis of Antarctica, and will never enter battle without Sunken Echoes at full blast. However, he will not limit his efforts to only in the Aegis affected areas, but hold back inside them, whilst going full pelt outside, creating the idea that he is at the same level of power regardless.
This falls into his final aspect of operation. He will try to plan so that he draws his opponents into a trap, hitting them at full force, and trying to catch them off guard. In prep for this, Shackleton will try to orchestrate encounters to lead to a final confrontation in the best spot possible.
A black and white picture of five smiling figures, a cross of creases on it from where it had been folded. Three children stand in the foreground, two boys on either side of a slightly shorter girl. Behind them, a man and woman, the obvious parents. Written on the back are a set of names. Emily, Raymond, Cecily, Edward and Ernest Shackleton, never forget your anchor.
Lass, you’ve asked me once or twice why I put so much weight to my Wife’s name. Well, the reason is quite simple. She was my anchor to reality.
Sometimes, when you’ve found your calling in life, it becomes all you are. It eats away at everything you are until all that’s left is what is necessary for you to engage with it. I…I faced that cliff pretty early on.
I lied, you know? It wasn’t ever my decisions that kept me away from Antarctica. Other people always had to hold me back, stop me from diving head first into an early grave… well, an even earlier grave, as I adventured myself into a coffin. Most of that? It was her. She kept me grounded, made sure I had other things that were important to me other than adventure and a frozen wasteland.
I can pretty easily tell your question why I’m talking about this, eh? Well, I have always respected the magus path as you explained it to me. Always pushing forward, overcoming difficulty to get to a goal, but… I’ve seen what it does to you. You’ve burned bridges with friends, even wasted time on your work that could have been spent on siblings who worry about you.
If this is what the race to the root looks like, then perhaps you need to gain an anchor of your own. Ponder that one for an old sea dog, will ya?
Developer Notes
So, a fun thing with Shackleton, but each of his forms is meant to represent one of his big three expeditions. Foreigner is of course Nimrod, and we see Endurance, but Avenger is Discovery less because of the expedition and more for its leader. Scott. To elaborate, avenger is meant to be a reflection of Shackleton fading away while Scott rose, and is meant to be the representation of the forgotten in the Age of Antarctic Exploration. Really hard to summon Avenger these days.
Not sure if I'll ever have a servant discuss their own history again. It was fun, and let me do some more dramatic flairs, but I appreciate the more objective view I have with a narrator. Actually argued on including two versions. A 'biassed'(what we got) and 'unbiased'(the narrator). Probably try a narrator with inputs from the servant along the way next time.
His crew have definitely called him mom at least once since summoning, and he without a doubt was meant to give off some 'mom friend' energy.
The chaotic in his alignment comes mostly from his distaste for strict order. However, his line with von Luckner should tell it's also because he’s mildly crazy.
I'm slightly sad I couldn't go full shipgirl with rigging and all, but neither Endurance or Aurora were ever armed as far as I'm aware. So I did the best job I could. Being able to use his main mast as a bonk stick feels like it helps diminish the loss a bit.
I am aware that neither ship had the HMS status, as neither were Royal Navy. However, I thought it would add a very clear meaning to the NP. In this case therefore, HMS isn’t Her Majesty's Ship, but Her Majesty's Servant, as a reference to Shackleton's status as a knighted man.
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Originally Posted by NailsInYourFeet
