Opprobium Thessalonica
Admonishment To The Emperor
: C++
Type: Anti-Unit, Anti-Mind, Anti-Sovereign
"Question yourself. Crawl through the mud and finally reach the light. God forgives all sins but first you must be judged. Opprobium Thessalonica."
A crystallization of Caster's rebuke to Emperor Theodosius following the Massacre of Thessalonica. Threatening excommunication from the Church unless he repented of his butchery Caster left the emperor hanging for eight months before finally granting him clemency in return for a public penance. The imagery of a humble bishop managing to bring the mightiest emperor in the ancient world to their knees in contrition was used to exemplify the Church's newfound dominance over State, and that concept is manifested through this Noble Phantasm.
Passively it grants Caster a limited employment of clairvoyance (signified by his right eye dying a supernatural shade of gold) allowing him to visualize the totality of "sins" a person has committed. Any actions in their past they harbor guilt or regret towards will certainly come to the surface as Caster's gaze plumbs their psyche. However as the relevant definition of "sin" here uses the subject's own judgment as basis evil deeds they indulged in without even a shred of shame will not show up. For those with a history replete in wickedness this approximates a
True Name Discernment Skill as Caster can piece together an individual's identity from their "mosaic of sin".
However this Noble Phantasm's true purpose isn't merely to observe but pronounce judgment. Upon invoking the true name Caster need merely begin to speak, dragging up past sins and transgressions the target committed to denounce them. His
God Whispering In The Emperor's Ear Skill reaches its culmination in this speech where every word is a potent mental attack, intended to make the opponent question their actions, agonize and finally repent. The mental damage escalates with each accusation Caster enumerates until when he finishes his lecture they are reduced to a pitiful shade of their former self groveling for forgiveness.
It's at this point that Caster delivers his final blow; smiling gently over the target, he promises that all their pain will go away if they only dedicate themselves to serving God. The despair and anguish they felt at his castigation melts away into a boundless relief and elation at the thought of being freed from their sin, looking up at Caster as if they were in the depths of Hell and he extending his hand down to them from Heaven. At this point the temptation to accept Caster's offer of "salvation" is nearly irresistible, a mental interference check that's harder to pass the more prior checks one failed during his speech. Upon doing so a binding mental contract is forged signified by a unique cruciform Command Seal appearing over his palm that renders them incapable of directly harming or defying Caster for the remainder of the Grail War.
As this Noble Phantasm's effects are purely psychologic in nature the opponent can defend themselves by simply refuting the accusations against them. Should they brush them off the mental interference will fail to take effect. However this extends to merely "admitting guilt in one's heart" as so long as the individual feels the slightest sliver of doubt over their actions they will still find themselves ensnared by his words even if they outwardly deny it. Furthermore through this Noble Phantasm's passive effect and his
God Whispering In The Emperor's Ear (False) Skill Caster may easily tailor his arguments to the target's mental vulnerabilities.
The only surefire means of defense is to have a mindset that absolutely refuses to acknowledge any guilt over one's actions such as a true psychopath, a religious fanatic or simply rejecting good and evil as alien concepts. As such possessing a
Mad Enhancement,
Mental Pollution or
Zealotry Skill at rank C or higher is usually enough to block out its effects. Of course there's also simply the option of attacking Caster without giving him the chance to speak or interrupting him before the effects can build up to debilitating levels.
If the opponent is a sovereign such as King or Emperor this Noble Phantasm obtains even greater power, as Caster may enforce the verdict "illegitimate in the eyes of God" upon them. Drawing on the concept that all authority comes from God, as ambassador of the Almighty on Earth Caster may freely "confiscate" Skills and Noble Phantasms signifying right to rule such as
Charisma,
Divinity and
Imperial Privilege provided he deems the target unworthy to possess them. This results in the Skill or Noble Phantasm dropping several ranks or even being sealed altogether depending on how much their character tarnishes the image of rulership in Caster's eyes. As a ruler's vigor is traditionally tied to their authority revoking it also weakens the target's physical parameters proportional to the extent of inequities Caster pins them with. Against an evil king who abused their sovereignty on the populace this Noble Phantasm might even reach lethal levels, revoking the "authority" to breath or beat one's own heart. These effects are all released should the target pledge themselves to God.
Damnatio Memoriae Serapeum
Blotting Of The Holy Library
: B+
Type: Anti-Record
"Truly, it pains my heart to rely on such barbaric methods. But when the heretics insist on denying the light what other option is left but to burn them up in it? Rejoice, oh piteous sinner, for your culture, your history and everything shall be embraced by the flames of God. Damnatio Memoriae Serapeum."
A Noble Phantam encapsulating the most infamous and spectacular event carried out under Caster's guidance, the razing of the magnificent temple-library Serapeum in Alexandria. While actually ordered by Emperor Theodosius, as part of the suppression of Paganism instrumented by Caster itself he fittingly possesses its culmination as a Noble Phantasm.
Upon invoking the true name Caster's hands blaze to life in ethereal white-gold flames that spread to anything he touches. These embody the concept of the Serapeum's destruction, an incineration of knowledge, history and culture born from narrowminded faith. Rather than burning physical objects they instead rapaciously consume 'records' and 'history'. For instance if used on a book they would only burn away the words on the page while leaving the paper and spine utterly unsinged. However that's just a glimpse of this Noble Phantasm's true terrifying versatility.
For normal humans this erases memories without damaging the physical body, beginning with the individual's most recent recollections and spreading backwards the longer they're immersed in the flames. Prolonged exposure could render the target a catatonic husk, though they can slowly regain their memories upon escaping from it provided enough surrounding context still exists. Caster can also use this Noble Phantasm more precisely to only sear away selective memories (provided he knows of them), making it ideal for mind-manipulation. To do this he usually clasps his hand over the target's face as if to offer them baptism before igniting it.
For Mages in addition to the former effects the flames damage their Circuits, impairing the target's ability to cast thaumaturgy separate from the Church's ritual foundation.
However this Noble Phantasm's greatest power is only shown against fellow Servants, who are the crystallizations of lore. By designating the records comprising their existence as "material for burning" Caster can impose a steadily intensifying debuff on the enemy Servant's parameters, Skills and Noble Phantasms as long as they're in contact with the flames. A feat ironically akin to the Human History Incineration a certain demon-king sought to carry out, albeit obviously at far weaker scope. Full immolation consigns the Servant to an ignominious fate; reduced to a hollow wraith lacking memories or even True Name, they will swiftly disappear from the World without mankind's belief to anchor their existence.
This only damages the records stored within a Heroic Spirit's
Saint Graph
temporal instantiation
rather than their "true self" on the Throne. Furthermore Servants of the Christian faith are unaffected by this ability (unless Caster personally deems them heresy). A truly dangerous Noble Phantasm that marks Caster an absolute nemesis of Pagan Heroic Spirits. Nevertheless given his (self-proclaimed) pacifist personality he will only use it when certain the opponent is unable to convinced by words. For heretics who continually deny the benevolent warmth of God, that very warmth shall become a merciless heat that scorches their existence utterly. Such is Caster's credo.
Originally Posted by NINE-lives
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