Shiji: Records of the Grand Historian
(Support/Anti-Magic, A++)
Caster's greatest work, a historical record stretching from mythological time to the Han Dynasty. In addition to contributing greatly to the legends of Confucius and Qin Shihuang, it also set the pattern for subsequent histories to come. It has been called a foundational text of Chinese civilization.
The Noble Phantasm takes the form of the complete manuscript of the Shiji -- seven-hundred bamboo scrolls in total. The effect alternates between two functions: boosting Mystery and killing Mystery. Which function it fulfills depends on what percentage of scrolls are open or closed. How strong and far-reaching the effect is depends on how many scrolls are physically summoned.
When closed, it will function as a Mystery booster. Any object or individual possessing even the slightest trace of Mystery will have it doubled. Caster's own astrological thaumaturgy while become immense and scope; in the same manner, his Master will need not worry of struggling to support Caster so long as they hold onto at least one closed scroll. This effect goes both ways, however. Enemy Servants who rely on Mystery and who are caught in the field projected by the closed scrolls will suddenly become overwhelmingly powerful.
When the scrolls open, its power will invert, and rather than boosting Mystery, it will destroy it. When enough scrolls are open, thaumaturgy will become useless. Even more, and enemy Noble Phantasms will become useless. If all seven-hundred scrolls are open at the same time, it can disrupt the flow of local leylines, and perhaps even the connection between the Lesser and Greater Grails. And woe betide any Servant who stares upon all its pages at once, for their bodies will be dissolved and their essence returned to whence it came (read: if all 700 scrolls are open and facing an enemy Servant, said Servant will be rapidly depleted of magical energy, to the point where their spiritual core can be utterly destroyed if they look for more than several seconds). Like the former effect, this Mystery killing power applies to Caster as well; he must take care to not read his own work for too long lest find himself suddenly fading. His Master is also advised not to read too many of the scrolls at once, lest they cut off the mana supply to Caster.
Both of these effects can be used at the same time, but the open and closed scrolls must be kept separate from each other or they'll cancel each other out. The rule of thumb is that closed scrolls have a radius of influence but open scrolls can only affect things in the direction their text is facing.
Additionally, summoning the scrolls and levitating them all in the air consumes mana. It is possible to summon them and leave them all on the ground to preserve mana, but that just leaves a huge mess. As such, Caster usually only summons up to fifty at a time.
On an aside note, both of these effects are doubled in power if the targeted individual hails from China or has Chinese heritage. It is tripled if the target was from the same time period or before when Caster lived and quadrupled if the target had a mention of their name and life in the Shiji.
Yange: Emperor Wu's Judgement
(Anti-Unit, C)
To put it as bluntly as possible, this Noble Phantasm is a knife that specifically targets the opponent's genitals. Representing the punishment of castration brought down upon Caster for daring to even speak contrary to the Emperor, it has become a Noble Phantasm of its own -- of course, the positions have been reversed.
When the name of the Noble Phantasm is invoked, it will seek out the opponent's groin and attempt mutilation. Against male targets, it will seek to cut the penis and testes from the body, while against females, it will attempt to sever the Fallopian Tubes and scar the womb. Either way, it will render the target infertile if it connects. Don't dwell on it too long.
Caster's own version of it is merely a homing missile; an Emperor famous for ordering castrations would have a version that could reverse cause and effect (for if the Emperor wills it, it is already done). The knife will relentlessly pursue its target until Caster either recalls it or runs out of mana. Caster dislikes this Noble Phantasm, as he can still remember the pain it brought upon him - both physically and emotionally.
Originally Posted by Constructman
