Eh. You can't blame a guy for trying. I already said this would be shenanigans, because I just got diddly squat right now, and this one came up. I could make some edits, do the whole thing of connecting it to theme more with more blatant parallels being made like pine said, but it's day 6. I got time for if I find something that fits better.
So, you going to repost this in the main thread? As is it's just gone now.
Mana levels optimal…Catalyst in place…summon preparations are complete!
You sure about this, Da Vinci? This is kinda what got us in this mess in the first place…
Nonsense! Put some trust in Da Vinci-chan's impeccable calculations! This catalyst will work much better than what Bunyan tried, and has a 59.9% chance of getting the answer to our Rogue Rider problem~
…and the other 40 percent?
Trying to summon a divine spirit isn't a sure thing, even for one as brilliant as I! Even with proper Thunderstones like these, we might get another spirit, but certainly nothing as calamitous as Rider is!
…well I guess we just have to try. Not like much could make things worse.
No need to be such a downer, Gudako-chan! Beginning the summoning ritual!
Error. Servant Data Dangerously Unstable. Attempting To Abort Summoning.
Error. Summoning Ritual Could Not Be Stopped. Continuing Summon.
Error. Failure To Find Class Container—Class Container Stanger Located. Continuing Summon.
▅▂▃▃▂▂▃▂▂▃▂▅▅—
—Um. S-sorry 'bout that, don' know where tha' came from. Servant Stranger, I know I'm p-probably not wha' you wanted, but I h-hope I can help?
STRANGER OF THE PALEOZOIC
Alias: The Ancient Fossil, Trilobitomorpha True Name: "Trilobite" Gender: Unknown Source: Paleozoic Era Region: Ocean Alignment: Unaligned Armament: Fangs and Shell
Parameters Strength: E
Agility: D
Endurance: C+
Mana: D
Luck: C
Noble Phantasm: B+
Well…I’m gonna guess you aren’t a God of Thunder?
H-huh?! N-no, not a god. I j-just heard the little ones callin’ out for someone to help, and w-when no one else seemed to be answerin’ I thought that I might be able to help? M-maybe?...probably not but it woulda felt wrong not to try…
By ‘little ones’, you mean these?
Yeah!
Are those...Fossils?
Background
“Trilobite”
A group of ancient marine arthropods that came into being 521 million years ago, in the early stages of the Cambrian period, lived through a majority of the Paleozoic Period, but ended up wiped out during the Permian Extinction Event, long before humanity came into being. All that remained were their remains, fossilized deep below the ground, to be eventually discovered and become incredibly well known for their distinctive shell shape and how frequently the fossils could be found…
…is that it?
By all reasonable accounts, Stranger should not have been able to be summoned as a servant, due to being too minor and bland of an existence. But between a Catalyst that echoed perfectly towards his existence, a particularly odd ongoing situation, and, just maybe, a boost from something beyond his own powerless existence, Trilobite managed to manifest himself within the Stranger class container.
Personality
Likes: Humans, Long Baths, Tasty Fish Dislikes: Deserts, Loud Machinery, Public Speaking Natural Enemy: Tiamat
Stranger is a weakling. A very self-aware weakling. As such, Stranger could be charitably described as socially anxious—terrified of initiating or participating in conversations, and of the belief that he’s so useless that if the Master got angry at him he’d be gotten rid of. Stranger is also, despite his immense shyness, deeply curious about what the world became after his own species’s death so long ago…but also deeply ignorant of almost all technology, to a dangerous degree. As such, he’s very often found in a panic after accidentally making a machine go haywire.
I’M SO SORRY I DON’T KNOW HOW I DID THIS! H-HELP!
But, despite his unreliability, his panic, and his ignorance, Stranger wants to help, to fight despite the threat. It shows that under it all, Stranger just might have the heart of a hero.
‘If I’m so scared to fight, why did I answer the summon?’ Because you asked. I-I know I’m not who you wanted, and I’m a terrible choice for a fight, but I wouldn’t have been able to stand myself if I hadn’t tried… isn’t it the duty of the old to take care of the young, until they can stand on their own?
Wish: H-huh? A w-wish? No, no, t-there’s no way I’d ever earn one of those. ‘But what if you did?’ R-really funny master, but it’s not nice to p-pick on people!
Relationships
Charles Babbage
Wow, there’s a human over there who made himself a real shiny shell…H-huh! ‘Why don’t you go talk to him?’ N-no way! I’m just gonna w-watch from right here...
EMIYA
AH! T-the r-red s-swordsman is comin’ this way Master, let me h-hide behind y-you! Huh? What do you mean ‘I have nothing to fear’, every time I go near him my shell freaks out!
Tiamat
Um, M-Master…I keep feelin’ like s-someone's glarin’ at me but I can’t find where it’s comin’ from, please help.
Jack the Ripper
Hey, Master! The little one’s just showin’ me ‘round the place some, she’s been a great help on all sorts of things. She really seems to look up to you, you know? So you better be a good role model! ...p-please don’t be m-mad I said that.
Osakabehime
There’s a lady here who’s been real nice to me, and lettin’ me hide out with her when it all gets too much…I don’t really get what she’s talkin’ about most the time though.
Voyager
From the sea to the land, from the land to the stars…you humans sure are amazing, aren’t you?
Chicxulub
▂▅▂▅▂▅! *Stranger is visibly quivering but standing their ground*
S-so, c-cold…
You really don’t need to force yourself along if it’s making you so uncomfortable, Stranger…
O-of course I did! With the land all messed up like it is, I’m one of the few here who can cross it and not get hurt…
…Yeah, the poison all over the place is getting to be too dense for most of the servants…We’ve been chasing Rider for a week, hopefully we should catch up to them soon and we can fix things…
EEP!
Stranger, what is it—
▂▅▆▇!
More of these? Mash! Arash!
I’ll, um, stay here and guard you M-Master…I can’t really hurt some that big, but I can k-keep you safe!
…Thanks, Stranger.
Personal Skills
Shapeshift(Trilobite): D+
The ability to change between different physical bodies and forms at will. Due to Stranger’s origin being closer to a Personification of Trilobites as a collective, than a single notable member of the group, he is capable of changing his form between any of the types of Trilobite. However due to the fact Trilobites are largely similar in shape, this only really manifests in the altering of his size—able to shrink to as small as a Millimeter or grow to a little over 2 feet long. Additionally, this skill grants him a more anthropomorphic form, standing around 2.5 feet tall, that acts as his preferred form while conversing with humans.
I c-can't quite get the hold of talkin' unless I look like this, hope ya don' mind?
Animal Communication: A-
A skill granting the ability to speak with Animals who don't speak any human languages. In Stranger’s case this ability comes from their status as an animal themselves, with their high rank due to their status as an ancient ancestor to most animals. As such, animals respond to requests from Stranger similarly to the way a youngster does a beloved grandfather. However this skill is demerited as Stranger’s speech in his original tongue is incredibly archaic, leading to possible confusion and language barrier issues. In other words, he doesn't quite get the lingo of youngsters today.
H-hey! …N-not my fault everyone made talkin' so much more confusin' t-than it needs to be!
Scavenger of Ancient Seas: D+
A skill embodying the way of life of a creature that thrived millions of years before the birth of man. Trilobites survived in the depths of the Cambrian Oceans by consuming whatever their environment could provide, ranging from herbivorous diets to hunting, to scavenging remains. This manifests into an ability to metabolize food to convert it into small amounts of Mana, granting Stranger a level of independence from his Master. This skill acts most efficiently through the consumption of animals, alive or dead, with Stranger having a particular taste for fish and other seafood.
In addition, this skill grants Stranger a level of environmental protection fitting for one who could last despite the dangers of the primeval ocean. As such it allows Stranger to act normally in the face of harsh environments, so long as the source of the harshness could be considered ‘something Ancient’
We’re takin’ a break here Master?...c-can I go d-dive for a bit? Think I saw somethin’ tasty down there…
Exoskeleton of a Bygone Era: B
When a Trilobite is thought of, a shell is visualized.
Their exoskeleton, fossilized by millenia beneath the Earth, became the truest image of them in the minds of modern humanity, and as such, as a servant it became the main method of channeling the core of Stranger’s nature as an Ancient Animal. It acts as a powerful protection ability, granting Stranger an ‘Anti-Modernity’ nature to his natural armor. The closer an attack is to originating from the Modern Era, the less effective an attack would be, able to completely nullify B-Rank or below abilities his shell comes in contact with should they originate from the 20th Century and beyond. Bounded Fields would collapse, spells would fizzle, weapons would glance harmlessly off him. As such it grants Stranger an immense advantage in specific scenarios…but since Stranger is incredibly lacking in offensive prowess, he has issues utilizing this advantage for anything but trying to survive and escape.
D-Don’t worry Master, I can control myself, I won’t break anythin’ important…as long as it doesn’t make any sudden movements. If it d-does I’ll j-just be defendin’ myself from an attack, yeah?
…w-what do you mean, ‘That’s not how that works!’?
Noble Phantasm
▂▅▆▇!
▂▅▆▇!
▂▅▆▇!
▂▅▆▇!
A horde of towering giants blot out the sun above, forcing the formation of Chaldeas apart in order to not be trampled. The Master of Chaldeas separated from the group, and left with only Stranger at her side.
Dammit…there’s too many of them, we need to retreat and regroup!
▂▂▅▅▆▆▇▇!
An enraged monster swings a fist the size of a car, striking out towards the vulnerable master.
Senpai, look out!
Something strikes Gudako on her side, pushing her away from the attack at the last moment.
*THUD*
Oof—Stranger! Are you okay?
…
…
…h-heh.
Stranger?
This past week has been amazing, you k-know? I finally got to see what the future was like, and as broken as it is I can tell that it’ll be beautiful when you fix it…shame I w-won’t be around to see it.
What are you—
I finally got it. Why I was summoned, when I was so useless. Guess I was too much a c-coward to get what I was supposed to do. Let me blaze a path for you youngsters, one last time. Please, enjoy the future for me Master.
Let primordial waters bloom with life once more
Let me leave a final mark on the future of Man Cambrian Explosion!
Cambrian Explosion Origin Ocean of Ancient Records
Anti-Unit
B+
Alone, a measly Trilobite would never qualify as a Servant, no matter how famous its image is or how unusual the summoning was. It’d lack the weight, the power, presence,, necessary to manifest under its own merits. Which is why Stranger was given a helping hand. Stranger was summoned not solely as a Trilobite, but rather as “A Representative of Ancient Aquatic Life”, the wishes and desires of the millions of denizens of ancient oceans piled high on their back and crystalized into their sole Noble Phantasm.
Upon activation, Stranger sacrifices their physical form, their Saint Graph warping in function from manifesting “a single Trilobite '' to manifesting “the oceans of the Paleozoic Era” for the rest of their remaining time summoned. This takes the form of a hovering sphere of sea water, filled with all variety of ancient sea creatures, flowing quickly through the air towards the nearest enemies they sense, higher reasoning replaced with mindless predatory instincts. While the individual animals swarming within Stranger’s new form can be slain with moderate effort, though as each benefit from Stranger’s Exoskeleton of a Bygone Era it is not the simplest task, they rapidly replace themselves so long as Stranger’s watery form is still intact. In practice, just a Suicide Noble Phantasm allowing Stranger to, for a single rampage, fight on par with the average Servants…
…But that's not quite right, is it?
The Cambrian Explosion, when it happened, may have 'just' been an upsurge in life on Earth, but its impact afterwards could be seen in a simple source. Fossils. Fossils that humanity could trace back, millions of years later, in their search for knowledge of the Earth's History. Fossils like a simple Trilobite. And that is the true core of
Origin Ocean of Ancient Records
Cambrian Explosion
, "an ocean that confirms the facts of the World's history". And so, each drop of seawater that composes Stranger’s form also acts "to leave evidence of life's progress", or in other words— "to create fossils". When Stranger manages to engulf and kill a creature, even another Servant, they immediately fossilize into a pile of bones—trapping all remaining mana they held within the fossils. These fossils can be consumed by Stranger utilizing their Scavenger of Ancient Seas skill to quickly recover Mana, however due to Stranger’s reduced mental capacities, they are very likely to leave them carelessly scattered around a battlefield where others could take them for their own purposes. There is also a major caveat to the fossilization—only those "who exist in the Fossil Record"— humans modern humanity has proof existed, and creatures whose existence is publicly known fact—can be Fossilized by Cambrian Explosion.
However, those that "don't exist in the Fossil Record" are still affected, just in a vastly different matter. As "Unconfirmed Existences"— Servants born of legend rather than fact, monsters born via divine or arcane power rather than created by evolution—are the antithesis of "water that supports confirmed existences", when they come into contact they react violently. The Unconfirmed Existence melts and falls apart as though dumped are intense acid, while a fragment of Stranger’s water boils away in response, accelerating Stranger’s inevitable demise with each bit of contact. It’s Stranger’s greatest weapon, an incredibly sharp double-edged sword…
Bond CE
Legacy of the Ephemeral
If life is short, what makes it a life well lived? I think its when your final moments come to pass, and you know you've made an impact. That you've done all you can to prepare the next generation, so that they will be better than you are. Isn't that the best legacy you could ever leave?
...doubt I'll l-leave that big of a legacy when I go, but I can always hope, right Master?
...
...Mana levels optimal…Catalyst in place…Summon preparations are complete...Please let this work...
Error. Servant Data Dangerously Unstable. Attempting To Abort Summoning.
Error. Summoning Ritual Could Not Be Stopped. Continuing Summon.
Error. Failure To Find Class Container—Class Container Stanger Located. Continuing Summon.
▅▂▃▃▂▂▃▂▂▃▂▅▅—EEP! M-master, w-why are you hugging me?
...I'm just happy I summoned exactly who I wanted to.
Author's Notes
Tiny Socially Anxious Crab-Grampa...not what I expected my first ever posted sheet to be. Not much to say here tbh, when the contest was announced I got hit with the idea of "What if a spirit representing an ancient animal managed to be summoned as a Stranger" and it spiraled out of control from there, especially once I found out that Fossils were seen as symbols of Thor, which ties really well with...other ideas I have for Servants.
i'm mostly interested to see, by the end of the contest, who will have gone furthest back in history for their servant
I mean, at least there is a hard limit, so the oldest would probably be a Gaia or Theia sheet that goes back all the way into pre-Hadean when the planet was still in formation. That or Moon Cell creation's lore.
I mean, at least there is a hard limit, so the oldest would probably be a Gaia or Theia sheet that goes back all the way into pre-Hadean when the planet was still in formation. That or Moon Cell creation's lore.
What if I decided to do the Big Bang as a Servant, huh?
Wanna see some historical figures turned into cute anime girls? I got you
(If this doesn't fit into the spirit of the prompt, sorry!)
"Hear my lament...the song of the sea..."
Class: Rider
Alternate Class: Saber
True Name: Hafren
Alignment: Neutral Good
Source: Historia Regum Britanniae
Place of Origin: Britain
Attribute: Earth
Height: 2.1m
Weight: 70kg
Likes: Water, aquatic life, sleep
Dislikes: The affairs of land, getting worked up, Summer Servants
Talent: Weaving
Natural Enemy: Gwendolen, the hearts of man
Traits: Divinity, Fae, Female, Immune to Pigify, Non-Hominidae Servant, Riding, Servant, Weak to Enuma Elish
Armament: An ornamental sword
Catalyst: Not Possible
Parameters
STR: D
END: A
AGI: B (Underwater)
MGI: A+
LCK: C
NP: EX
Class Skills
Riding (B)
Most vehicles and animals can be handled with above-average skill, even vehicles that did not exist in the time period one was alive in, for they are no exception. Cannot ride the likes of Phantasmal Species such as Monstrous Beasts, but an exception to this rule is her own steed. The Scandinavian name for her, Sæferne, dubs her a seafarer, allowing her to be summoned into the Rider Class. How does this work with her fins? Don't ask, it just does.
Personal Skills
Divinity (C)
The rank achievable by Saints, forgotten gods, and gods worshipped by minor cults. A noble poet once attributed the name of goddess to her, and the river's steady presence acquired fierce emotions from the citizens of Britain.
Blessing of Aphrodite (C)
A boon given to those Aphrodite finds interesting in the realm of love. Rider's lineage traces back to Aeneas, Trojan hero and son of Aphrodite. Her beauty surpasses her own mother and was even said to approach the goddess. Gwendolen stayed her execution due to Rider's allure. Her form is charmed to always draw the eyes of those who notice her. Rider dislikes this Skill.
Nereid (A)
It is said the subaquatic deity Nereus transformed her into a nymph as a gesture of kindness. Her mermaiden form gained the ability of limited hydrokinesis. Rider mostly uses this to create currents for her to float through, but if needed, it can be used for transportation and self-propulsion above ground. It is also her primary method of combat.
Saint Graph Unlocked!Noble Phantasm
Tidal Augmentation
Severn Bore
Sorrow of the Matriarch
Type: Barrier
Rank: D
Range: 500-1000
The River Severn has historically provided a natural boundary for refuge. British warlord Caratacus used it to flee from Roman pursuits, and the river shielded Celtic culture from Saxon invaders. Perhaps a reasoning for such a lasting separation comes from the river's bore. This superlative wave travels the length of the Severn, turning calm waters into frothing rapids at the ocean's discretion. Depicted as a manifestation of the river's god, who holds the Roman war god Mars as an epithet, the surging waves hold a primordial power and strength to them.
This Noble Phantasm summons a 5m-tall wave that repels any attacks made towards it. The water functions more as wall than wave, pushing back what it runs into without care. This Noble Phantasm has extra effect on those with the Human Attribute. Due to Rider's natural compatibility with water, this Noble Phantasm can be used multiple times in quick succession without much drain on mana, but it requires a source of water to be present. Even if only a single drop can be found, Rider can use her Noble Phantasm from it.
Some say that the bore manifests from the anguish she feels. Those who chased her knew of her innocence but chose to murder a child regardless. The petty feuding of love alienated this poor girl and cast her into the depths.
Relationships
Amour
Your beauty makes me sick, uncle.
Altera
Hmm...did we know each other? No...you seem familiar.
Scheherazade
You're running from that shirtless man too? Oh...! Please, hide me with you!
Nemo
For the way you smell, you don't look like a merman.
Fionn mac Cumhaill
No! You can't eat him! Keep that frying pan away from me!
Saint Graph Unlocked!Noble Phantasm
Fintan Bradán
Llyn Llyw
Salmon of Wisdom
Type: Anti-Unit
Rank: A+
Range:
In The Mabinogion, the hero Culhwch was tasked by a giant with seemingly impossible deeds. One deed was to find the prisoner Mabon, though none knew how to approach such a task. It was only by asking the spirits of the nature, who took him to elder and elder Phantasmals, that Culhwch finally met the oldest of them all, the Salmon of Llyn Llyw. Possessing knowledge immemorial, it easily directed Culhwch to Mabon and allowed his entourage to embark there on its back.
This salmon was the mightiest Elemental of the region's waters for eons until Rider's coalescence. Its knowledge of the ways of the world easily trumps any repository of mankind. While it boasts supreme intellect and scales harder than steel, this Noble Phantasm is purely meant for riding and cannot be used offensively.
While Rider holds no legendary interaction with Llyn Llyw, due to it residing within the river holding her name, she is able to borrow its Spirit Origin as a familiar.
Lore
The River Severn, the longest river in Britain, holds a storied past. In the time of Brutus, refugee of Troy, a lovers' quarrel erupted between his successor Locrinus and who he would marry: the one he promised to, Gwendolen, or the one he loved, Estrildis. Estrildis birthed Rider in the bowels of the Earth, a subterranean home disguised as a temple for Locrinus' affair. After seven years, Locrinus cast aside his wife to marry Estrildis, but Gwendolen's fury burned bright enough to slaughter Rider's parents and jail the once-heiress. Only a short time later, she was powerless to fight Gwendolen's command she be drowned. The queen regnant christened the river after the drowned princess, so that the tragic actions and punishment of her adulterous parents would remain throughout time, even though she herself held no choice in the matter. Her body floate-
SANK.ERROR.SERVANT SPIRIT ORIGIN CRACKING CLASS CONTAINER.??? UNLOCKED
Long, long ago.
Six Great Mother Fae descended from the Inner Sea.
Working as one, it was their effort which forged the Strongest Holy Sword. Their names mattered not to the annals of history, for there is no recorded history left of their time.
These great Fae accomplished their duty when the White Titan felled. All but one were able to return to the Inner Sea.
The one who possessed a great honor from Gaea. To forge a sword, one requires a source of heat. No greater source can be found on the planet than in the fires of its core.
To her was bequeathed the organs of the waste heat of the planet. The heat that escaped could not return, so too was she barred from entry to Paradise. She would be the fire who blazed hot enough to melt mana and sauter sorcery.
With the blade forged, she, for only she could hold it in its burning state, brought it to the surface of the planet to cool. Plunging through a glacier, she reached the flow beneath the icesheet. The sword passed into the water for a hero to save the planet, and a king to claim millennia later.
The cooling water offered her a feeling of peace she had never felt prior. Her skin soothed, and the organ's heat chilled. Surrounded by cozy ice, she entered a dormant state.
By the time she awoke, the way home lay even further beyond her reach. She wailed. Thrashed. Mourned.
ERROR. ERROR. SAINT GRAPH ENTERING RETROGRADE. INFORMATION TRANSFER HALTED. REVERSING. OVERFLOWING. MANA QUALITY REACHING AGE OF GODS COLOR. MANA QUALITY ACHIEVED. SURPASSED.Class Revealed!
Pretender: ???
Noble Phantasm
Thermodynamic Sovereign
Perihelion
Grand Duchess of Waste Heat
Type: Anti-Planet
Rank: EX
Range: -
Pretender's power as a Heroic Spirit does not originate from the human girl who died in the river's bounds. She received posthumous veneration for becoming its namesake, but her name is only a parasite clinging to the Divided Spirit who rests in the Severn.
The faerie, name long since lost, grounded within Pretender's identity to keep from losing herself. At the cost of her strength, she expanded her humanity. Because one day, she still hopes to return to the Inner Sea. That is her wish.
This Noble Phantasm unleashes the Authority belonging to the ancient faerie. The Waste Heat of the Planet as it revolves through the galaxy is collected into her form, allowing for temperature manipulation on a gargantuan scale. It is suspected that its usage by a Great Mother Fae caused an ice age in the long-distant past.
Even an accidental usage of this Noble Phantasm is enough to boil the entirety of the Severn, so Pretender does not utilize it sparingly. Pretender is unable to use the Authority in such a way due to the human influence of her name on her Spirit Origin, but by bringing her emotions to a breaking point, there is potential for this Noble Phantasm to activate unconsciously. With her hatred for love, it is recommended that only non-romantic bachelors attempt to summon this Servant, at risk of mass destruction.
Last edited by Verse; October 8th, 2023 at 07:59 PM.
Stranger Trilobite: A cute little guy, you did a wonderful job with his personality. He has an array of interesting abilities that are suitably creative given I was doubting what kind of skill you could pull for a random species.
Can't say I love him though. I understand you're building to something here but his emotional journey is surrounded by incomplete information so I was more focused on that than his character arc. The NP is a bit convoluted thematically, the Cambrian Explosion is all about a massive diversification of species in a very short time (the Big Bang of life) but here it is an insta-kill with heavy focus on their death and preservation instead? It being a suicide NP also doesn't feel right.
Also, I think this is another point you're hoping to expand on later but I do think he needed a more thorough explanation on why he qualifies as a Heroic Spirit.
RiderPretender Hafren: It's a cool concept to throw the waste heat in the water to cool down both figuratively and literally, but I feel a bit more care could've gone into her personality. You said she only remembers in case her emotions reach a breaking point but there was little of it before the reveal. I would've liked more time spent on her hatred of love and her longing for her home before the reveal. Also while the idea is cool there's a bit of a disconnect with her being a mermaid while the waste heat is (presumably) a wolf.
Oh and I'd recomment reconsidering the color of the sheet, reading the whole thing in green is a bit too much.
She was born from the Inner Sea of the Planet, and yet God denied her prosperity and threw her off into the ocean of humanity.
In a dimly lit room, where the flickering light cast eerie shadows on the walls, a strange symphony of slurps, crunches, and the occasional murmur of satisfaction echoed through the air. As “something” feasted, it suddenly heard footsteps echoing through the room and temporally stopped eating to look at a middle-aged man with a meek smile.
“Eating at such an hour? Shouldn't you be preparing yourself Mr. Buckland?”
The apparently named Buckland smiled, revealing a set of razor-sharp teeth. But to be completely honest, that was far from surprising when his entire face was that of a strange and unrecognisable reptile.
“Oh but I am, Elahvek. I can’t possibly complete the ritual with an empty belly! Gah ha ha!”
Elahvek sighed.
“If you say so, just don’t make us late. You know the timing is primordial for our… trick.”
Buckland nodded before grabbing a living lizard from a jar, some sort of unknown magical beast, and gobbling it up. His colleague looked a little bothered by such an act of savagery, but Buckland couldn’t care less.
“Want to take a bite?”
On the table was an array of strange animals, creatures that most would hesitate to even glance at, let alone consider for a meal. Yet, it was the fossils that added a unique dimension to the buffet. Petrified relics of ancient life forms, carefully prepared to be not only a feast for the eyes but also for the palate. With a chisel in one hand and a fork in the other, Buckland unearthed flavours locked away for aeons, savouring the essence of a time long past with each succulent bite.
“I’ll pass. Anyway, let’s get going.”
“In a hurry, eh?”
The man glared at the reptilian.
“I hope you haven’t forgotten the contract. The Clock Tower did not recruit you just to fool around, you are expected to win the Holy Grail War of Fuyuki. It was because you accepted the mission that they let you use me.”
“Don’t worry, I haven’t forgotten. A job is a job, as long as I get to fight some interesting stuff then I’m satisfied.”
“Did you even listen to me? This is not a-”
Suddenly, Buckland stood, still with a smile on his face but somehow, the air seemed a bit more tense.
“I said," Don't worry”. Aren’t you the one who forgot? I’m not one of those crazy hitmen or Enforcers, I’m a magus. So I’ll take things seriously if it can help me test my hypotheses and further my research.”
…
“Right, then let’s start the summoning ritual.”
Elahvek began walking toward the summoning site, closely followed by Buckland.
“It’s a shame that I won’t be able to bring defeated heroic-spirits as trophies.”
Upon hearing the magus complaint, the man stayed silent. Lazariam Buckland, he was the current leader of “Dinner Party”, a group of eccentric magi who take pleasure in feasting upon magical beasts and ancient artefacts, they held a unique position in the magical community. Despite primarily consisting of members from the Department of Zoology, Dinner Party wasn't particularly well-liked by their peers. Still, they were deemed worthy of participating in the Holy Grail War. After all, because of their odd behaviour they were able to defeat high ranking phantasmal beasts just for the sake of eating them. For example, they were the one responsible for slaying the so-called “Loch Ness Monster” a few years ago. Remnants from the ancient Age of Gods, though Buckland said that it was a tough fight. Even so, if they could slay the beast then he could maybe do the same with Servants, at least he would be better suited than a talented magus with no fighting experience.
"Are you doubting my abilities?" asked Buckland.
"No, I'm not in a position to do so. Besides, with the Servant we plan on summoning… well, I doubt the others will be able to do anything against it."
"An older Mystery will always surpass a newer one; the most primordial of beings will not be defeated by a mere heroic spirit."
"Right, what we'll be summoning is not a heroic spirit… Honestly, when you asked me to help you summon that thing, I thought you were joking."
In his hand, Buckland held a broken staff, once possessed by Moses, a catalyst of the higher order.
"Now, what do you think of our chances of succeeding?"
Elahvek glanced at the catalyst.
"The Servant summoning system of Fuyuki is based on a function of Alaya’s Counter Force. That's why it summons heroic spirits—they are agents of humanity, born from humanity, and can only come from human history."
"But the world is far older than human history."
"... What you want to summon is more akin to an agent of Gaia, an Elemental. Some Ghost-Liners should fit in this category, though they would still be bound by human history. What we need to do is strip the Servant from its mythology, something opposite to deification. If gods were natural phenomena transformed into deities by human worship, we need to turn back those gods into natural phenomena. But… Well, we’re still using the summoning ritual of Fuyuki, so that’s quite a tricky thing to perform… The main problem is the Class system. Even if we can remove the heroic spirit’s legend, we’ll need to fit it into a class container specifically designed for Ghost-Liners—that is to say ideas born from human principles."
"And what about the Stranger designation?"
"Oh, so you’ve read Metanovae’s paper?"
"I came across it during my research."
"Right, well, it might be a good fit, but we just know too little about it. Even if it really existed, it could pose some sort of problem in the Holy Grail War system… But more importantly, we've already found a solution to our problem."
"We'll summon it under the Assassin Class. By distorting the form of the chassis, we will trick the summoning system into summoning an aspect of the spirit that is not recorded in human history. Though we might also completely screw up and summon a regular Servant. But eh! Life isn’t fun without a good gamble!"
"If you say so."
"Anyway, you haven’t answered my question. What’s your bet on the summoning?"
"Even if we fail, you’ll still end up with a top-tier Servant, probably far stronger than anything the other Masters could summon… But… Well, I must admit that all of this is very exciting, so I want to believe we’ll succeed. That’s why I say… that we’ll summon what we wished for."
Buckland’s smile widened.
"Ha! That’s the spirit! Then without further ado… let’s do this!"
Ancient Archetype Assassin of Predation
First Ascension Second Ascension Third Ascension
“Ah, I see. So a monkey ended up summoning me? Disgusting.”
Class: Assassin True Name: Leviathan Also known as: Lôtān, Ancient Archetype, Primordial Predator, Animalia Killer Alignment: True Neutral Qualified Servant classes: Lancer, Berserker, Avenger, Stranger Attribute: Earth Source: Hebrew Bible / Paleontology
Parameter
Strength: A++
Endurance: A+
Agility: A
Mana: A
Luck: D
Noble Phantasm: EX
Likes: The ocean, the cambrian era, killing other living beings Dislikes: Primates, extraterrestrial forces, True Ancestors, land Talent: Slaying animals
Identity
The Leviathan, a creature referenced in several books of the Hebrew Bible. In the Book of Job, Leviathan is the primordial sea monster created by God, a tyrant ruling over every living being of the ocean. Leviathan is depicted as a dragon residing over the Deep, and is foreseen to be part of an end-of-time feast for the righteous, alongside the land-monster Behemoth. Originally created as a pair, male and female, God, in concern for the world's well-being, preserved only one of the two for he feared they would reproduce and destroy this world. Leviathan serves as an image representing the devil, posing a dual threat by endangering both God's creatures through consumption and God's creation through chaos in the waters. Both the name and the mythological figure are a direct continuation of the Ugaritic sea monster Lôtān, one of the servants of the sea god Yammu defeated by Hadad in the Baal Cycle.
Yet all mythologies originate from something.
What was summoned was note the legendary creature, but the true primordial sea monster, the primordial ruler of the ocean.
During the Cambrian era, life was thriving. The rapid diversification of lifeforms in the Cambrian, known as the Cambrian explosion, produced the first representatives of all modern animal phyla. At that time, a creature was being created in the Inner Sea of the Planet, the Brain of the Planet known as Archetype: Earth. It was set to inherit the planet's memories and become its brain. As such, its appearance was based on the Primes Species of the time, animals known as “Anomalocaris”. The first known predator in the history of life, reigning over the oceans like tyrants, nothing was able to stand in their way.
The prototype of all predators.
As the Cambrian period continued to thrive, life on the planet started to
stagnate
stabilise
. Until suddenly, everything started dying out. The death of a distant star wiping out most of the biodiversity of Earth. From death came death, and Anomalocaris went extinct.
The stillborn Archetype was cast off, no longer fit to represent the Planet.
However, it was repurposed.
Even though it couldn't become the Brain of Earth, it could still be used. Its body was based on the first apex predator, it was born when organisms known as "animals" first appeared on the planet. Thus, it was decided that she would serve as an anti-animalia agent, with the absolute privilege of slaying them—the unparalleled beast of the waters.
Earth's personal apex predator.
Eventually, the beast would be known as the sea serpent Lôtān before being slain by Hadad. But even in death, it continued to serve as an agent of Gaia’s Counter Force.
“The devil huh? Good, if it means I can kill a bunch of monkeys then I’ll go with it. No really, I want to slaughter all of them.”
Class Skills
Presence Concealment: -
Presence Concealment denotes the ability to conceal one's presence as a Servant and is the inherent Class Skill of the Assassin class.
Despite being an Assassin-class Servant, it actually shouldn’t be the case. As she stands, she is an anomaly. A creature of the Earth employed by humanity for their own selfish reasons. Her nature defies confinement within the conventional bounds of her Class container, resulting in a distorted manifestation that deviates from the norm. If summoned under another class, as a creature from human myths first and firstmost, she would not be such an aberration. The constraints of her current classification fail to encapsulate the entirety of her being, leaving her as an intriguing deviation within the framework of Servant summoning.
“I don’t care, as long as I can slaughter something then I’ll answer the summoning.”
Dragon-kind: EX
Dragon-kind is a skill which proclaims the owner to be a Dragon, the pinnacle of Phantasmal Species.
The primaeval beast known as Anomalocaris was in fact a dragon for it was the apotheosis of life during the Cambrian period. It comes as no surprise, then, that the Leviathan is described as a colossal sea serpent, a dragon sometimes identified as the one that will rise from the sea on the day of the Last Judgement.
“Reptiles? You do know that dragons existed before reptiles, right?”
Primordial Predator: EX
Primordial Predator is a unique skill bestowed upon Leviathan by the World itself, designating her as the ultimate anti-animalia agent, tasked with safeguarding Earth from any of its inhabitants that pose a threat. This extraordinary skill dynamically adapts Leviathan's parameters and abilities in response to the capabilities of her target, ensuring the most efficient and lethal approach to neutralise the impending danger.
A creature sometimes equated to the devil, endangering God's creatures by attempting to eat them. Her body was conceived using as a basis the first apex predator of the Earth, as such her very being is defined as an “absolute predator”, something that created the concept of “absolute domination on the ecosystem”. However, that mostly applies to the aquatic world. While she is still at the peak of the food chain on land, her ability to destroy other animals truly reaches its absolute when fighting in water. It's worth noting that humans are an exception. Although closely aligned with the animal kingdom, Earth deems them distinct. While Leviathan holds an advantage over humanity, it stems from her exploitation of their animalistic traits, lacking any discernible edge against sapience. But ultimately, she is a being destined to be vanquished and offered to the Savior of Humankind. Humanity stands as her Achilles' heel.
Monkeys, too, are a hassle to deal with.
“The world used to be much better. I heard that Alaya calls it “stagnation”, but I call it “stability”.”
Personnal Skills
Envy of the Abyss: D
Envy of the Abyss is the lingering ache of longing, an echo of desire that dances in the shadows of unattainable dreams. She who used to rule the world is now remplace by humankind. She who had members of her species proliferating on Earth is now left as one of the last remnants of her era. In legends, it is said that God slayed her mate to stop her from proliferating her species. In Christianity she is seen as the demon of envy. Though in this form, the rank of this skill is lowered due to not being binded by human mythology. If summoned as a legend of humanity, this skill would be of higher rank and serve as replacement for Primordial Predator.
Leviathan is empty, she desires what others have. She craves for something. Her desires propel her to assert dominion over the ocean with the ferocity of a tyrant. It is this insatiable craving that compels her to consume voraciously, a ceaseless pursuit to fill the void within her existence. Envy, a silent force driving Leviathan, fuels her reign over the depths, transforming her into a relentless devourer of the world's offerings. This ability allows Leviathan to steal magical energy from other sentient beings. Somehow related to an Elemental's ability to drain the life force from the world, although in a twisted and perverted form.
Luminous Eyes: B
Job 41:18: "By his neesings a light doth shine, and his eyes are like the eyelids of the morning".
The Leviathan's eyes hold an extraordinary illuminating power, akin to the Clairvoyance skill. These eyes, reminiscent of suns, stand as beacons illuminating the depths, penetrating the world with their insightful gaze. Radiant and clear, they grant the sovereign of the seas unparalleled vision. Unlike ordinary eyes, her compound eyes boast an expansive field of view, capable of discerning swift movements and the nuances of polarised light. Utilising the radiant power within her eyes, Leviathan can also unleash a blinding flash of intense light. This flash not only disorients foes but has the potential to stun them momentarily, leaving them vulnerable to subsequent attacks.
The eyes of the Leviathan as described by certain accounts. It is actually based on the stalked eyes of Anomalocaris which were 30 times more powerful than those of trilobites, long thought to have had the most advanced eyes of any contemporary species. One specimen is recorded having over 24,000 lenses in one eye, the resolution of the 3-centimetre-wide eyes would have been rivalled only by that of the modern dragonfly, which has 28,000 lenses in each eye.
“You can’t escape me.”
Breath of the Dragon: EX
Breath of the Dragon is the ability to release a torrent of mana like the breath of Dragons, the strongest race of the Phantasmal Species.
This extraordinary power manifests as a potent ray of energy, capable of obliterating everything in its path. As described by Rabbi Dimi, the Leviathan, when consumed by hunger, exhales from its mighty jaws a searing heat of such intensity that it has the power to set the vast waters of the deep into a furious boil.
Noble Phantasm
Unleashed Predation Hellmouth Type: Anti-Animalia Rank: B
Hellmouth is one of the Noble Phantasm wielded by Leviathan, an extraordinary technique that taps into her authority as the unrivalled "ultimate predator" within the animal kingdom. This special attack showcases the pinnacle of her predatory prowess.
Upon activation, Hellmouth manifests as a grotesque transformation of Leviathan's head into a nightmarish and cavernous "jaw," concealing within it a disk-like mouth, recognized as an oral cone. Contrary to its appearance, this mouth is not designed for biting; rather, it serves as a crushing force aimed at obliterating its target. The distinct feature of Hellmouth lies in its unparalleled ability to transcend and bypass any form of defence—be it physical, magical, or metaphysical. This bestowed capability by the World positions Leviathan as the most efficient and ruthless slayer of animals.
Hellmouth defies conventional barriers, seamlessly passing through layers of armour, magical protections, and even the intangible defences of conceptual entities. It represents an assault that challenges the established rules of engagement, invoking the ancient mandate of the "ultimate predator" to impress upon the target the concept of "death." However, it is crucial to note that this capability is effective exclusively against animals, harnessing Leviathan's dominance within the natural order.
“To live is to crush. That is something that you cannot escape. I might not be as clever as humans, but even I understand that. This is the primordial truth. My truth. My world.”
Primordial Sea of Life Tehom Type: Anti-World Rank: EX
Tehom is the Noble Phantasm of Leviathan, the origin of the Perfect Fluid skill possessed by a certain variant of Meltryllis. Its name is derived from the biblical Hebrew word meaning "the deep". It was used to describe the primaeval ocean and the post-creation waters of the earth. A power that allows Leviathan to transform her own body into the ancient sea of the Cambrian period. For an apex predator to be at its best, it is necessary to bring its prey into a favourable environment, its hunting ground. When this Noble Phantasm is activated, the world is filled with seawater. Something akin to the inflation of the universe that resulted from the Big Bang, on an infinitely smaller scale, of course. As an entity that could have become the Archetype of Earth, she once possessed an ability called Event Storage, which allowed her to requisition and store Textures. Although she no longer has the right to use such a power, she has inherited the memory of the era in which she was active. Her body expands into a mass of True Ether in the form of water, rewriting the world into the Cambrian Sea. Due to the density of Ether present in the water, no human should be able to survive, as their lungs would burst from the sheer magnitude of the magical energy. Since the world is its own body, it can only be harmed by an anti-invulnerability or anti-world attack. But if it comes to that, there is a high chance that the energy stored in the body manifests as a retribution mechanism, to become a calamity that destroys human cities. Alternatively, an attack to the mind should be enough to dispel the Noble Phantasm, as it is essentially a form born of the mind, a soul that has left its chassis called the "body".
While Tehom is active, Leviathan attacks her enemies by morphing and manipulating the ocean. More precisely, by creating creatures from the Cambrian era. She also has a habit of manifesting a giant anomalocaris-like creature, which is actually her original form that she possessed in the past. A gargantuan monster that strikes fear into the hearts of any living creature that looks upon it. Although Leviathan is immortal in this form, it is possible to destroy the things it uses as a means of attack. It will not stop this world from existing, but it will temporarily protect the target from immediate damage. An alternative use of the Noble Phantasm is to transform directly into the Anomalocaris-like creature; while this does increase Leviathan's abilities due to the sudden burst of magical energy produced by the pseudo-inflation, it is far less lethal than her first form and therefore less likely to be used.
A powerful Noble Phantasm that should allow Leviathan to kill its targets without fail. Because she doesn’t receive the support of the World, she can only use it for a limited amount of time.
“Memories, that’s all there is of me. Just as water can carve landscapes, memories sculpt the contours of my identity.”
Personnality
Initially devoid of a "personality," intended solely as a receptacle, she evolved into an independent entity. Shaped by the influence of humanity, she forged her own distinct personality.
Beneath the veneer of regality lies a feral essence, driven by base instincts. Her actions are guided by a primal urge to dominate, to conquer, and to satiate the unquenchable thirst for power that courses through her monstrous form. Deep within Leviathan's heart, a visceral hatred for creation simmers. The vibrant life teeming in the oceans is a constant reminder of what was denied to her. This hatred fuels her every action, and her predatory pursuits are driven by a desire to reclaim what she perceives as rightfully hers.
Leviathan, though ancient and wise, isolates herself in the depths, not out of contemplation, but out of spite. She revels in the solitude, finding a perverse pleasure in distancing herself from the world she yearns to dominate once more. Her envy is not a mere grudge but a profound sense of loss and longing. Beneath the bloodthirsty exterior lies a wounded spirit, yearning for the vibrant life she once ruled. Denied the role of becoming the Brain of the Planet, she grapples with an inferiority complex and a profound feeling of emptiness. Is she nothing more than hastily repurposed refuse?
This struggle is notably less pronounced in her other Classes when summoned properly. Despite appearing highly envious in this form, it is, in fact, considerably more subdued compared to her mythological counterpart.
Additionally, don't anticipate engaging in lengthy and profound conversations with her; she’s very primitive.
Personnal Skills
Tiamat
“Ah mother, are you feeling unwell? Hmm? Ah, you got defeated by humanity. Well, you shouldn’t have loved them in the first place. Those things hardly know anything about life, they’re just a bunch of buffoons.”
While they have a strong connection, they are different individuals.
Meltryllis
“... and who said they could use a part of me to create… this?!”
Saint Martha
“W-WHAT?! HEY WHAT THE HELL ARE DOING TO TARASQUE?! AND YOU, DON’T LET HER DO AS SHE PLEASE!”
Cath Palug
“Primate Murder, so we finally meet. Perfect, now’s an occasion to kill you.”
Leviathan sees him as some sort of rival, and while she would normally have absolute authority over him, she is at disadvantage in a fight against him because of the ability he possesses. Though in her current form, her odds are stronger than if summoned under another Class.
Archetype: Earth
“Really? You look like a monkey. Well, anyway… I despise you. I sincerely despise you.”
On a side note, while Tehom is similar to Arcueid’s Luminary form, they are not quite the same thing.
“Really? How many times are space stuff going to destroy whole species?! That thing’s out of my jurisdiction but… well, I can stop wanting to crush it.”
“Oh, how nostalgic. We used to eat a bunch of those. Well, I’ll help myself!”
Some scientists believe the Anomalocaris was strong enough to break a Trilobite shell and eat it.
“And don’t you dare compare his Noble Phantasm to mine. His is clearly fake, really, couldn’t he have done better? Well, I guess it’s better than nothing.”
Author's Notes
I spent days searching for SOMEONE I could turn into the Anomalocaris. I just love them. Please scientists, I beg you to bring them back to life so I can have one as a pet.
I wish I had done better for her personality. Not that I think it’s bad. I did a good enough job. But for such a unique and wacky concept, I think it deserves a personality a little bit more unique and maybe a lot less humane. I might revisit this sheet later (in 10 years).
Thanks to my friend Akaten who knows a bunch of stuff about palaeontology and who helped me clear some information.
Also, I really want to write a Cambrian Lostbelt. The Cambrian extinction never happened and the world is populated by an Anomalocaris civilisation (truly the best timeline). By the way, while the Cambrian period was very prosperous, life ended becoming very stagnant (not much happening with evolution) so the big extinction event was actually a good thing (well for us at least).
Wanna see some historical figures turned into cute anime girls? I got you
Cambrian Explosion as an NP was...weird to write, and probably shaped a lot by the fact I've been taking a Geology class that touches on the Cambrian Explosion with a focus on the fact that it acted as a dividing line of when Fossil Evidence began becoming more more abundant due to the evolution of creatures with hard bodies and shells. I did have the diversification of life aspect in mind—via the swarms of Ancient Sea Creatures that swim in his Waters and attack those that are engulfed—but I kinda ended up focusing on explaining the more esoteric aspects of the NP, which makes it seem like it skews away from the "summons lots of life" part. The Suicide aspect was mostly formed by the fact Stranger wasn't a particularly strong or stable Servant, so it felt like it the activation would be too much for them to handle. As for the summoning...yeah, I'm planning to touch on it a bit more in entry 2 when that comes around. Its a bit of a combination of a fitting catalyst, a boost in spiritual strength via the collective of spirits behind him, and having just the right set of skills to be incredibly helpful in the situation they were faced with.
Last edited by ErrantGalantine; October 8th, 2023 at 08:11 PM.
Leviathan: One of the things I thought I could do with my weekend was write a contest sheet. Ultimately I prioritized other things and now I'm very glad that I did because our ideas were pretty much the same.
Originally Posted by Dullahan
Some pantheons are depicted as Tamamo, while others are only potentially Tamamo.
-still having trouble with what the fuck to do with her sheet-
-skims through Frigix's entry-
Originally Posted by Frigix
The prototype of all predators.
On one hand: fuck, I had a similar theme idea.
On the other hand: oh hey I can cast that aside and focus on a different theme then. if i can just fucking pick what figure to go with for my idea gaaaaaaahhhhhh i hate that this prompt is stumping me so hard ;-;
Author of: Persona 5: Refraction (SV link; FF.net link)
"You didn't have to fight for me, you know." "And you didn't have to curl your hair so we'll look even more alike." Ren stared before he softly chuckled, Akira joining him not long after. With one simple decision as a child, Ren Amamiya goes to Tokyo alongside his little sister, Akira. (P5R Sibling AU) (Ren/Ann, Akechi/Fem!Akira)
Next Update: Chapter 64 on April 30, 2025 (+8:00 GMT)
Leviathan: One of the things I thought I could do with my weekend was write a contest sheet. Ultimately I prioritized other things and now I'm very glad that I did because our ideas were pretty much the same.
Guys we missed a Comun sheet again
Originally Posted by ErrantGalantine
Cambrian Explosion as an NP was...weird to write, and probably shaped a lot by the fact I've been taking a Geology class that touches on the Cambrian Explosion with a focus on the fact that it acted as a dividing line of when Fossil Evidence began becoming more more abundant due to the evolution of creatures with hard bodies and shells. I did have the diversification of life aspect in mind—via the swarms of Ancient Sea Creatures that swim in his Waters and attack those that are engulfed—but I kinda ended up focusing on explaining the more esoteric aspects of the NP, which makes it seem like it skews away from the "summons lots of life" part. The Suicide aspect was mostly formed by the fact Stranger wasn't a particularly strong or stable Servant, so it felt like it the activation would be too much for them to handle. As for the summoning...yeah, I'm planning to touch on it a bit more in entry 2 when that comes around. Its a bit of a combination of a fitting catalyst, a boost in spiritual strength via the collective of spirits behind him, and having just the right set of skills to be incredibly helpful in the situation they were faced with.
Yeah I understand the thought process behind it, but maybe there should've been a tighter focus if you were going to have effects so opposite to the event itself. This is my own vision of the event but I think you could've forced me to go with yours if there was less room for thematic interpretation there.
I'm looking forward to your second entry!
Assassin Leviathan: Great choice of FC to start off, you said yourself that her personality could be better, and it is on the generic side, but the strong "savage ojou" vibes from the FC helped give way more flavor to her dialogue. The entire concept is very well thought out and I really like the choice of extinct creature to make into the Leviathan, there are so many cool parallels drawn, between the fire breath and underwater volcanoes to species extinction and God slaying its mate, it's great.
That said, this is a really tight fit in the Nasuverse. I don't now how convincing a "previous" Archetype Earth is, her role is too similar to Primate Murder to ignore and being non-divine Prime One amid the biggest Age of Gods (though the last one is lessed by her being a true dragon) also stretches belief a bit. I think it'd have been to your benefit to point out she only gets the role in worlds Fou doesn't develop into Primate Murder maybe? Just to take out one of the conflicts. Because as it is it's a weird contrast between the many exciting connections to real life and type-moon in a character I have a hard time believing would fit into the setting.
Also not a fan of the FGO-style Class Skills, they don't really add anything interesting mechanically and the information that's there could have been somewhere else. They just make her skill-set bloated, but that's my hate for FGO Class Skills talking. The Personal Skills and NPs are perfect, specially since you did what I just asked for before you posted. Despite my grievances with her placement in the lore, you still used it with excelency to contextualize each of her abilities, great stuff.
Last edited by pinetree; October 8th, 2023 at 08:49 PM.
Originally Posted by Morg van Destro
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