Servant/Project Idea Thread, "The Womb"

[NINE-lives]

Thanks Hux and Vididii! Probably as best a starting point as any for this idea. Now, to find a good FC for them.

Maybe you should ask on the fc thread? They could help with finding a good face for them

[Legendary Hero of the Chain]

So... I got an idea and I'd like some input. I was working on a sheet that I'm thinking of pulling some inspiration from the Umbral Star for. However, I am having a minor problem with one part. Most specifically, I was thinking of connecting the person to Velber-01(I know I'm legally required to do a genderbend eventually, but not with this one... I think). However, I'm having a bit of a hard time coming up with a good system for him. I have an idea of making the Velbers a trinity with each going for a different aspect, but I am having trouble with the aspects.

My current ideas are:
Preservation-Destruction-Creation(A trinity inspired by Hindu myth, showing the specific data collection methods of each)
Air-Earth-Water(The area they would be instructed to destroy)
Human/Beast-Divinity-Beast/Human(Designation of life to destroy)
Simply splitting up the world into sections, with 01 going after Asia, Oceana and Antarctica, 02 taking Europe, Africa and the Artic and 03 taking the Americas.

Of the three, which would you think would be most interesting to see executed. As for why it's split this way, the sheet is a Rider Laozi.

[NINE-lives]

Preservation-creation-destruction definitely is the most interesting for me.

[Desdinova Incarnate]

So, I've been inspired to make Mage sheets for the main antagonists of my Horizon of Strange Stars Story event project on the Singularity/Lostbelt thread. Any thoughts or advice on this sheet for the manager of Xanadu before I spruce it up and put it out on the Create-a-Mage thread? I was going for a sort of rebellious brute strength hippie who knows various skills from different places, like the vibe I got from Boris the Animal during that one scene in during Men In Black 3 where he's dressed as a hippie. His abilities follow a weird theme of "being what you eat" and "survival" imo. I kinda wish I had made these earlier, since Xanadu, the event Libera makes an appearance in, is already posted and he barely did anything there T_T

Libera Echter Vandegren

Name: Libera Echter Vandegren
Aliases: Free Bird (self styled), Revolution by Night, Super Adapter, Cockroach
Age: 46
Country of Origin: Finland
Element: Earth (Cause he's "immovable" and just sort of molds himself to survive whatever is thrown at him)
Origin: Survival

(Not sure how to decide. I imagined Libera as a machine with a few but big power batteries wherever he needs to do the most bodily modification, if you were to visualize mages and circuits like a literal machine. Quantity- D/C and Quality: B/A?)
Circuit Quality: ???
Circuit Quantity: ???

Affiliation: Botany Department (Former), Various small, shortlived Cults (Former), Elysium Society
Horizon Gate: Xanadu
Servant: Sun Wukong

Background:
The Vandegren family was a northern European Family whose magecraft centered around Druidic arts mixed with the warrior culture of Scandinavian berzerkers and in a way, ascetic monks from the middle ages who suffered as a way of attaining penance. In an effort to reach the root, they wished to understand the place where life and the truths of the world run abundant and self-evident: nature. They believed that living life without the conveniences of modern technology would let them understand the root of all life and thus the root of all magic as well. Of course, they took this in a very tough, warrior like manner, chosing survive in the harshest environments they can, building homes using nothing but the trees and rocks around them, using nothing but the simplest tools or their bare hands, and going only the bare minimum when it came to modern civility. For years the family lived in a large, secluded, wooden manor in the mountains of Scandinavia. Unfortunately, as their arts became older and older, and became more refined and defined, their intentionally chaotic way of life became more rigid, structured, and ironically, less ascetic over time. While their overall aesthetic has remained the same, they have succumbed to so called “modern vice” all the same.
In his youth, Libera was forced to overcome various structured trials and planned obstacles intended to imitate the lifestyle of his ancestors. Of course, these trials are temporary, unlike the constant survival experienced by the first Vandegrens. Thus, instead of feeling liberated by a feeling of self-reliance, Libera felt hindered by an antiquated false asceticism that focused more on looking ascetic than going through any actual hardship. Eventually, Libera began training himself both physically and mentally in the family’s ironically modern gym until he could easily lash out and do whatever he wanted, indulging himself whenever he wanted because no one was able to keep him down. This made him feel truly free, and upon reaching the age of a proper heir, he declined the family’s Magic Crest and ran away from home.
Ever since, Libera would persue a reckless, indulgent lifestyle. In doing so, he believed he was reliving his ancestor’s lifestyle in its most honest by surviving his way through modern life’s consequences through sheer force of will. He does what he wants with little after thought and powers through whatever comes of it with everything he can, letting nothing stop him until he should fizzle out and die. He’s spent his time travelling the world, learning whatever magecraft caught his eye and throwing all his efforts into becoming one who can survive anything and be the freest man on Earth. He aims to help others to this mindset as well, and has become a revolutionary for hire, helping people others “stick it to the man” with little afterthought for the most part. He is infinitely reckless and whimsical, so even this isn’t a job he does with diligent honesty. He could just as easily backstab his client and leave things be. He has garnered attention from the Clocktower for his reckless use of magecraft and the occasions where he has tried to start small cults.
Recently, he met Lou Rgisgaia while on a trip to Greece and was recruited into Elysium with the promise of being able to forge the future, and society itself in its image. Ironically, for such a carefree person, the chance of creating a society that follows his way of thought is a temptation he could not resist. Ironically, his ideal world would be one where people need not go through such lengths as his to be as carefree as he is. Thus, he created Xanadu, a bountiful future where all can live in opulence in a carefree manner or live in the wild choosing to take of this garden however they please. It doesn’t matter, Xanadu remains plentiful. Or so, this is how he envisions it.
Magecraft:
•

Physiology of the Saint

Nirvana

An application of Libera’s Origin of Survival which gives his body a sort of “super adaption” to environmental changes and chemical hazards. Using his knowledge of Eastern Alchemy and Druidic arts, Libera has turned his own body into a miniature alchemical factory. Over the years, he has consumed various drugs, plants, and materials with deep mystical connotations in order turn himself “superhuman”. Jumping incredible heights, incredible physical strength, improved vision and mental capacity, and more. Libera has even been seen breathing fire and healing wounds. Simply put, at least physically, his body is difficult to destroy.
•

Self Metallurgy

Metallica

A defensive application of his first ability. Using alchemy with the substances inside his body as the materials and his own body as the catalyst, he can change the chemical composition of his skin, usually into different metals. He can, with enough concentration, turn into different elements as well, but only parts of his body, lest he lose his form all together.
•

New-Age Ghost Parade

Black Sabbath

Libera's application of the Malagasy concept of "Tromba", similar to spirit mediums, where one either allows themselves or is forced to be possessed by ancestral spirits. People caught in a "Tromba" usually move in a certain manner, like in a trancelike dance, so it fits Libera's physical modification type of fighting. In combination with his origin of Survival, he can temporarily take on the properties of a spirit, adapting his body to its new cohabitant. Maybe has to drink some concotion to activate this state, cause from what I've interpreted from what family members have said, alot or a good number of folk practices involve alcohol at one point or another. (Does that make sense? I'm not 100% confident, but I like Libera's theme of "being what he eats" and "survival" so I guess.)
Miscellaneous Skills:
Libera is a skilled martial artist and has a good knowledge of biology and herbology. He also has an acute understanding of how Social Hierarchies work. Despite all this knowledge and intellect, he is also care-free and a not very proactive once he’s satisfied, content to wait and let life take him by the reigns so he can learn to survive surprise situations. As smart as he is and as versatile as his skill set is, Libera is slothful and self-assured. He regresses to a simple minded, reactionary mind set once his schemes have been set. This, combined with his mind set of “going with the flow” also means that his plans tend to be vague, disorganized, and usually only consist of a very simple plan with situational back-up plans that rarely come into play. He works best when supported by the other members of Elysium or someone more organized, unfortunately.

[Areop-Enap]

Simply splitting up the world into sections, with 01 going after Americas 02 taking Europe, Africa and asia and 03 taking the Oceana

[NINE-lives]

I wonder if any of you are working on any Jewish servants currently.

[Skull]

Kind of...

[NINE-lives]

You're working on Jesus right?

[Skull]

You're working on Jesus right?

Perish the thought. I would never do such a thing.

[NINE-lives]

If you are then you should make him a ridiculously OP cheat code servant that could probably take on a Beast in a straight fight. Worth noting that christ holds the threefold office of prophet, priest and king. So you could have Jesus manifesting in either aspect.

[Skull]

If you are then ...

Perish the thought. I would never do such a thing.

[Comun]

It’s okay to tell Nine to make his own sheet, Skull.

[NINE-lives]

I’m sorry I just thought skull was being sarcastic.

[NINE-lives]

Are any of you working on Egyptian or Mesopotamian servants?

[Vididii]

Are any of you working on Egyptian or Mesopotamian servants?

No, do it yourself.

[Legendary Hero of the Chain]

So, after a large amount of research, the most difficult sections of Rider Laozi have been completed. Whilst I finish off the much, much easier parts, I was hoping to see if anyone had and feedback on these parts.

Lore

The existence of Laozi is a confusing question, as there are numerous contradicting tales surrounding the great master. In some, he was a normal, if long lived, man who helped consolidate the teachings of Taoism before dying. In others, he is an incarnation of the supreme deity of Taoism who helped spread the teachings across Asia. And yet in others he is entirely fictional, existing as a conglomerate of authors distilled into a single entity.

To truly understand the life of Laozi, one must look at the man’s base origins. Not his birth, because in truth, Laozi was never born. Instead, one must cast their gaze to the year 12,000 BC and the arrival of the Umbral Star and its Arks. The Ark that contained the unit that would later be referred to as Velber-01 landed in the Antarctic. From there it would move through Oceana and to Asia, where it would be stopped by the champion of an Alien Presence who could alter the fundamental concepts of something, without altering that which is built on that foundation. In essence, it was stopped through interaction with its direct antithesis.

To expand, Velber-01 could be said to exist as a unit that specialised in preservation, compared to the destructive power of 02 or the paired evolution and creation of 03. It carried out its role of destroying civilization by warping the physical laws of the world around it, stripping them so that it can take in the base nature of the world, its origin, which it takes in and uses to grow itself.

This process was even mirrored in its design, a mutable biomechanical outside that contained an immutable energy being within. These features would lead to the titles it gained, specifically, the God Machine and the Black Mechanism. However, its true name would actually later be attributed to a god created through the corruption of the oral traditions of the humans who survived it. That name was Dyeus.

Whilst the corpse of Velber-01 was not within China, parts of it would be taken to ancient China by members of the Summit Court, so as to help in the creation of the Philosophy Foundation. This is how the Cerebral Corpus that would become Laozi would come to his homeland.

Before this Cerebral Corpus could truly form its own ego, the Pure One known as Daode Tianzun, one of the three supreme deities of the Taoist pantheon, chose to use it as a shell for one of his incarnations. Notifying a devout follower of his to the location of the child through a vision of a falling star, the follower would go on to raise Laozi for sixty two years before introducing him to society. From this event comes the story of Laozi’s sixty two year long virginal birth.

During this time, Laozi had been extensively instructed in the beliefs of Taoism, as well as in philosophy magecraft. This training allowed him to quickly ascend the ranks of the Zhou court, eventually becoming a keeper of records. He would come into contact with a number of other great philosophers, such as Confucius, who he advised as a senior contemporary.

All the while, he would continue to spread the idea of Taoism. He did this without pride or happiness, feeling it was duty assigned to his existence. It is notable that, just like his younger sisters, he was granted a role in life that mirrored the one he had as an anti-cell. The tenants of Taoism, to follow the Tao, or flow, of the natural world to improve on oneself, regardless of the constraints of society mirroring his method of destroying civilization.

To extend the time available to carry out this task, Laozi would work upon his own magecraft, eventually becoming a Xian. However, as the restrictions upon his philosophy key were removed in accordance with this ascension, his nature as the Cerebral Corpus of Velber-01 would synergise with the pieces of Dyeus inside the philosophical foundation. This synergy would grant Laozi memories of his original existence, both as the Black Mechanism, and before becoming an incarnation of Daode Tianzun.

This knowledge wore on the great master's mind, and eventually, he would decide to depart from China and reunify with his true boddy. This plan was concocted in an attempt to ascend to the status of Shenxian, separating himself from the existence of Daode Tianzun and finally allowing him to be his own person, outside the whims of any other but the Tao.

Disguising this venture as a disgust to the fallen state of the Zhou court and taking with him the Paopei he had created, he left for the border. He would be stopped by the official in charge, Yin Xi, and would create the Tao Te Ching at the man’s request to put his teachings into writing.

Whilst his venture was not simple, and he had a number of disastrous encounters along the way, including losing an arm to Zhenren who had not yet achieved self-consciousness, although he would cause her eventual settling in china. In the end, Laozi would succeed in his quest and reunite with his first body. Yet, an unexpected development occurred.

Laozi was correct in thinking the process of once more taking the body of the God Machine would elevate him to the status of a Shenxian. But, a Shenxian is not strong enough to separate themselves from a Tianxian, let alone one on the level of Daode Tianzun. Instead, a completely unexpected outcome was reached.

As Laozi was still an incarnation of Daode Tianzun, their existences were connected. With the addition of Dyeus to Laozi, the numerical value of the great master's power became greater than the Pure One. This led to Laozi subsuming Daode Tianzun. Such an event occurring with beings of such an incomprehensible level of power caused it to ripple throughout history. In both directions.

Throughout time, the consciousness of Daode Tianzun was replaced with that of Laozi, up to the pure one's very origin. And so, Laozi received teachings from Hongjun Laozu. Now being his own person, alongside his new master's teachings, he would settle the concerns he had during his life. Laozi would go on to participate in the conflicts depicted within the Investiture of the Gods, fighting alongside Yuanshi, and by extension his student Taigong Wang.

As he once more approached the time of his own mortal life, Laozi realised he would have to create himself, so as to avoid Quantum Time Lock. The life he led as Laozi the man, and later Xian, had too much of an effect on history to be sidestepped. And so, he would sequester himself within his celestial body, allowing Daode Tianzun to rise to the surface. For a century beforehand, and during the life of Laozi, Daode Tianzun existed, and at all other times the third Pure One was Laozi the Tianxian.

This is why the switch of control had no impact on history, as it was always fated to happen.

And so, this is the full story of Laozi… well, except for the events concerning a certain darling in distress buddhist monk and her three students, but that is for another time.

Skills

Class Skills

Magic Resistance: –

The skill that shows one's ability to nullify magecraft. Whilst this is a skill normally featured within the saint graph of a rider like Laozi, it is sealed thanks to the presence of one of his Noble Phantasms, and by extension his Wuji skill.

Riding: A+
The skill that denotes one's ability to ride things, ranging from horses and chariots to motorcycles and star fairing ships. Laozi is adept at riding a vast number of beasts, including those of the Phantasmal Species up to the rank of Divine Beast, such as his Noble Phantasm. However, even at this rank, Laozi would not be able to ride an entity of the dragon kind.

Whilst direct stories of his riding are limited, Laozi gains this skill at the displayed rank due to the fact that, to ride one as great as BanJiao Qingniu, one must have extraordinary power, and more importantly for this situation, skill.

Divinity: B-

An ability that shows one's aptitude as a divine spirit, to the point that those with a rank of A or above only fall short of the Throne of Gods due to lacking a Divine Core. Laozi, as an Incarnation of a deity on the level of Daode Tianzun/Tianxian Laozi, would usually reside in this category.

However, due to his distaste for this fact, and rejecting his connection to said deity, he has decreased this skill from its original A rank to its current level.

Civilization Erosion: C

A subconscious skill of Laozi and other heroic spirits who were the Cerebral Corpi of Anti-Cells in life. It breaks down the form of objects he possesses so that they become the best form currently suited for him.

This skill is one that is only used to facilitate Taoist arts, as he will always end up forming them into materials best suited to facilitate his Philosophy Magecraft or Three Treasures Cultivation.

Personal Skills:

Philosophy Magecraft: A+

Laozi was a lifelong practitioner of the Magecraft of the far east, mainly thanks to the devotee that would become his mother. Due to this, he is in possession of a philosophy key. Although he favours Xian arts and Taoist mysteries, he is capable of utilising spells of other categories.

Whilst his access is expansive, he is not able to access the privileged domains in this form. However, due to synchronisation with the parts of Velber-01 within the philosophy foundation, his spells have been boosted in power. This renders the greatest of his mysteries as existing beyond the boundary of power between the magecraft of the privileged domains and the regular magecraft available.

In summation, Laozi’s strongest spells are privileged domain level, without being privileged domain magecraft.

Crest of the Star(Tao): EX

An expansive set of markings that are present on Laozi’s body that do not stem from China but from a source alien to this world, Velber. However, it has been slightly modified from its base form, both by the nature of Velber-01 and Laozi.

By running mana through it, Laozi is able to enhance his body's ability to interact with the primordial forces that embody the Tao. This boosted interaction allows some of his other abilities, such as Taiji Tu and Three Treasures Cultivation, to function at enhanced levels.

Wuji: B

Wuji, that which represents the Primordial Universe in Taoism. Through this skill a person draws connection to the foundations that make them up as they return to infinity. Laozi possesses this skill almost entirely due to the presence of his Taiji Tu Noble Phantasm. Whilst Laozi is not fully returning to the primordial form of all things, he is taking a step towards the artificial root of the philosophy foundation. Towards Velber-01.

Thanks to this step towards the Black Mechanism, parts of it have begun to form on him. Mainly, this takes the form of the malleable biomechanical shell of Dyeus and the Magical Energy Absorption skill. Why the shell adds only a rank increase in durability, the Magical Energy Absorption skill is more impactful.

Magical Energy Absorption works as an inverse of the Magic Resistance skill, where the more intelligent design is present in the spell, the easier it is to break it down and absorb it. At the rank Laozi possesses, the same rank as his Wuji skill, only spells with the complexity of a single action or below will affect him. This skill has no effect on Noble Phantasms.

Three Treasures Cultivation: C

The skill shows one's utilisation of the internal alchemical practices noted within Taoism and ancient Chinese medicine. During his life, Laozi used these methods to achieve his status as a Xian. A more martial manifestation of Taoist mysteries, these techniques are widely shown in the genres of Wuxia and Xianxia fiction. Fundamentally, it is separated from magecraft not only because of ite martial arts basis, but also due to its usage of the three Taoist treasures, Jing; Qi and Shen, rather than magic circuits.

Due to the level of Xian that Laozi attained in his current incarnation, he has this skill at a middling rank. Whilst this level of ability is fearsome, the gap in ranks is significant in application. However, due to the effects of another skill, he can function with the power of the next rank, if not the breadth of ability.

Noble Phantasms

BanJiao Qingniu: Mount of the Master, First and Greatest of the Si
Anti-Army: A
Range: 1~100
Max Number of Targets: 314

BanJiao Qingniu is the mount of Laozi, upon which he would leave China to embark upon his journey to find the body of Velber-01. It would later become an opponent of the Great Sage Equaling Heaven, however that possibility is a long time in its future. BanJiao Qingniu is a Si, a type of phantasmal beast that is similar to a mundane rhino or buffalo. In fact, he is the very first Si, progenitor of all others. This leaves him as a powerful entity of the Divine Beast class.

As a Si, BanJiao Qingniu has incredible defensive statistics, being more comparable to a walking fortress than a living creature. Due to their innate connection to the Phase of Wood in the five phases, it has control over the growth of plant life and the movement of the wind. Under both his own wisdom, and the commands of Laozi, BanJiao Qingniu will use these powers to trap and restrain opponents to be dealt with by Laozi or crushed by his own immense weight.

Whilst BanJiao Qingniu was a mount used to cover immense distances, it was through endurance and not speed that this was accomplished. Therefore, when it needs to deal with enemies who are exceedingly far away, it will use plantlife to crush him in place of his own bulk, uncaring of the fact this consumes more magical energy.

Furthermore, as the Si are furred beasts, and his nature as a Divine Beast gives BanJiao Qingniu an attribute of heaven, he has a minor connection to the Phase of Metal. This only serves to increase his defenses and grant a few natural weapons which the beast can cleave and stab with.

Finally, when performing a true name release, BanJiao Qingniu’s control over wind and plants is massively boosted for a time, allowing him much greater control and more expansive utilisations. However, BanJiao Qingniu is a simple soul, and if left to his own devices, will only use this boost to send egregiously large waves of these elements forth to crush his masters opponents, and usually anything relatively close by as well.

Taiji Tu: Diagram of the Progression of the Singular to the Multiple, Version: Incomplete
Anti-Treasure: B
Range: 1
Number of Targets: 1

The Taiji Tu, a part of Taoist philosophy, and a legendary Paopei wielded by Laozi at almost all times of his life. At this point of his life, Laozi was still creating the diagram, and had not yet connected the Wuji, that which would symbolise the distilled existence of infinity. This was because Laozi did not yet fully comprehend what such a thing was. Therefore, to fill this gap in the Noble Phantasm, an immutable singularity that Laozi did understand has been substituted. The energy being at the centre of Velber-01.

This has somewhat changed how the diagram works, but that concerns the true name release. Its basic features, whilst suffering a reduction in range and change in aesthetic, retains its effects. These effects can be summarised as the ability to suppress and control the world around Laozi. These effects only occur at a contact level, and are accompanied by a veil of energy covering the part of Laozi that is currently using the ability. Above all, the effects must be consciously activated and cannot effect that which is separate from the world.

In other words, the passive effect of this Phantasm grants Laozi a point blank Marble Phantasm, which can only affect the world directly interacting with Laozi’s body. Due to this, Laozi has expanded the area of his body to best utilise this.

The true name release of the Noble Phantasm is used in response to the activation of enemy Noble Phantasms. When this is done, a large diagram is spread across the body of Laozi and the area beneath his feat. When the other Noble Phantasm comes in contact with the area, it is immediately deactivated and a copy is made. This copy is then connected to the energy being core, and from then on the passive effect of the Noble Phantasm will have an altered attribute in line with the Trapped Phantasm's abilities. This attribute is able to bypass the usual restrictions of the passive effect, affecting beings separate from the world and having greater range.

This is due to Velber-01’s trait of taking in the truest form of something else to empower itself. However, doing so alters the base trait of the Noble Phantasm, meaning that it cannot be used to deactivate another Noble Phantasm and gain a new effect until the currently Trapped Phantasm is released. This is done with no harmful effect, other than engaging a short cooldown period in which the phantasm cannot be used.

Finally, this imperfect form is not without its weaknesses. Apart from the above one trait at a time rule, it has three other restrictions:

1. It cannot work on Noble Phantasms that lack a true name release or some variety.
2. Whilst it forcefully deactivates the current true name release, it doesn’t prevent another one, even while that release is the Trapped Phantasm.
3. It cannot affect Noble Phantasms whose release is overwhelmingly beyond the scale, or better said, Noble Phantasms of the EX rank.

[NINE-lives]

It honestly feels a little underpowered given that it’s laozi. Laozi is literally the founder of Daoism. You’d expect him to be a bigger deal.

[Vididii]

So, after a large amount of research, the most difficult sections of Rider Laozi have been completed. Whilst I finish off the much, much easier parts, I was hoping to see if anyone had and feedback on these parts

Yo this is fucking cool dude- I fucking love seeing the velber-related concepts, I think that direction of tthe lore is mad freaky, and rife with potential. I understand Nine's qualms on power, but I actually like the level you put him at due to the preservation specialty- he's not going to be some up-front power, as much as he is subtly

[NINE-lives]

How’s your armstrong coming along by the way?

[Legendary Hero of the Chain]

It honestly feels a little underpowered given that it’s laozi. Laozi is literally the founder of Daoism. You’d expect him to be a bigger deal.

You do have a point, and I'm considering boosting the power of Taiji Tu to help compensate. However, making him a bit less powerful was part of the idea. In a combination of a bad servant class like Caesar and too early in his life like David, many traits he'd have at much higher levels are lowered. Also, TTC is a skill exclusive to Xian, and part of the reason in my headcanon of why Xian are wat to powerful for normal grail wars, even with its lowest ranks.

Yo this is fucking cool dude- I fucking love seeing the velber-related concepts, I think that direction of tthe lore is mad freaky, and rife with potential. I understand Nine's qualms on power, but I actually like the level you put him at due to the preservation specialty- he's not going to be some up-front power, as much as he is subtly

Thanks Vididii. You aren't wrong that he operates as a more subtle participant of the war, but that concept wasn't the reason for his lower abilities, more an artefact of his class.