And just like that, she was gone. For the second time. Forever.
The cavern was cold and empty, but he could feel the winds blowing on his face, and the gentle rays of the sun just ahead.
He was so very close. Just one step away from escaping Tartarus with his beloved.
...But now, he was alone.
Aah, what... what have I done..?
No, no, no, this can't be happening! Eurydice, my love, I-!
The man looked down to his hand.
It was still warm.
He could still feel her hand gripping his as they made their way out, just moments prior.
But now, there was nothing, save for the empty air.
Lord Apollo! Gods! Anyone, PLEASE!
Give me one more chance!
I won't fail next time!
I'll do everything right!
I'll pass any trial Lord Hades has in store for me! Anything!
Just... please... one more time...
And yet, despite his desperate pleas, the gods were silent.
If I could see her just one more time, I swear...
"...I won't ever let her go."
Lover of Reunited Melodies
-- Musician's Reprise, Towards Our Happy End --
~ ♬ ~
"Ah, apologies for the improper introduction. Those visions... even now, they continue to come and go. Not as bad as how it was in my youth, but still... An echo of a past life. One that felt so familiar, yet ended in a way so very different from my own. Ahem, allow me to start from the beginning... Salutations, Master! I am Sir Orfeo, former Lord of Winchestreshire and ever-so-faithful husband to the fair Lady Heurodis. It appears I have manifested under the Class of Lover. Fufufu... as expected! Come then, Master! Let us weave new melodies in the name of love!"
Source
Spiritron Dress: Modern Entertainer
Source
"Something more modern, huh? Is this how bards in this day and age normally dress? I've always felt a certain connection with my armor- as if something about it just calls out to me somehow- but this attire isn't so bad. Ooh, I feel like a brand new me! I can feel my artistic senses tingling! Yes, yes, I think this attire just gave me a burst of inspiration! I should write this next piece down!"
"Hmm, it appears my beloved isn't here... so be it. Don't get me wrong, Master, I am certainly disappointed. It's just that... I'm sure we'll meet again, one day. It could be tomorrow, or a thousand years from now, but I'm sure I'll see her again. After all, we already reunited once. Regardless of distance, even if the entire world conspires to drive us apart, even if I must cross another foreign realm to reach her side... I'll get her back."
...
"Now, now, don't look at me with those sad eyes, Master. There is nothing sad about this! If anything, my premature appearance here only gave me a much-needed opportunity to hone my musical skills even further! She always did love to listen to my performances, so I'd like to present her with something new the next time we meet..."
Class: Lover
Other Classes:Caster
True Name: Sir Orfeo
Alignment: Chaotic Good
Origin: Middle English literature,Greek mythology
Parameters:
STR: D
END: B
AGI: C
MGI: C
LCK: B
NP: A
Likes: His wife, music, art, romantic gossip, overcoming the impossible
Dislikes: The fae, nightmares about his "past life", letting go, silence
Talent: Playing his lyre, bettering himself, giving love advice
Natural Enemy: Oberon
Armament: Lyre
Catalyst: Remnants of an ancient Grecian lyre buried somewhere in Winchester
Class SkillsDevotion (A+)Class Skill of the Lover Class. A skill which corresponds to the strength of the Servant's feelings towards those they love. With the skill increasing in rank the more people they loved and the more impressive their 'acts of love' towards those people were. Lover's brand of "love" is one that transcends lifetimes and otherworldly planes. He may not fully comprehend his "past life" beyond the occasional nightmares and flashes of vague memories, but one thing is clear: he loves Heurodis. Despite his initial attempts to escape his fate back then, his heart prevailed, eradicating all doubts he may have had about his feelings. It was this same single-minded love that allowed him to escape the fairy realm, succeeding where his "predecessor" failed.
"I was already aware of the fate that met my namesake when I first met my wife. For a time, I tried to distance myself from her. I feared the terrible fate that would befell her, and the tragic loneliness that would befell me should I follow my heart. And yet, despite my best efforts, I fell for her regardless. Back then, I considered myself weak for succumbing to the 'script'. For dooming both of us to that fate. But later on... I realized something; to love is to be vulnerable. To open your heart to the chance of hurt and sorrow. And that same love which I considered a weakness once? Oh, it became a source of power I never even knew I had."
Object of Desire (C)Class Skill of the Lover Class. A skill connected to the feelings of love and obsession which this Servant inspires in someone else. It functions as a passive charm skill on the level of a mental attack. So much as being in the same place as a Lover Servant can incite feelings of affection, obsession, protectiveness and lust. Lover is no stranger to being an object of praise and admiration thanks to his musical talents. His skill with the lyre even earned him the affection of the fae folk. That said, this "affection" is strictly different from the romantic kind. If anything, there's a chance his "fans" could get dangerously attached to his playing, doing everything in their power to keep the music going.
"Perhaps it wouldn't be hard for me to receive all the love in the world upon the moment I strum my lyre, but that's not the sort of love I desire. Not then, and not now. Listen here, Master; people with talent will often find themselves loved for their talent. There is nothing surprising about that. You may love a musician for a song they produced, or an author for a book they wrote. That's all well and good, but if you ever find someone capable of looking past your 'talent' and seeing you for who you truly are... that sort of person is special. Don't ever let them go."
Personal SkillsBlessing of the Forgotten God (C+)Vestiges of Lover's "past life". Boons received from an ancient deity who had long retired to the Reverse Side by the time Lover faced his trials. As a Servant, Lover is naturally skilled in most music-based magecraft. That said, this Skill- despite seemingly being nothing more than a small fragment of a greater whole- seems to amplify his talents even more. Each note he strums on his lyre carries a powerful mental interference effect, causing fascination, trance-like states, as well as amplifying and/or manipulating the listener's emotions to an extreme degree. Combined with Lover's own legend, this effect surpasses the boundaries of "humanity", as even otherworldly species such as fairies and phantasmal beasts would soon find themselves succumbing to this music. Aside from his magecraft, it is also possible for Lover to attack using sound waves, and conjure strings from his lyre to bind and trip up enemies. As another effect of this Skill, it is also possible for him to infuse these strings with an intense heat, though he doesn't seem to have much control over this specific ability. He simply considers this odd heat-manipulation ability as another vague remnant of his past life.
"I've always found respite in music ever since I was young. I cannot remember how or when, but the lyre had always called out to me, and the moment I first strummed its strings, the notes just... flowed so naturally from my mind, down my fingers. So imagine my surprise when I first learned of my namesake! Hahaha, no wonder that very same musical talent also became a significant source of my problems throughout my life! Still, with the benefit of hindsight, I wouldn't have it any other way. Without the lyre, I never would have met Heurodis. I wouldn't have married her, and perhaps the fairies wouldn't bring her to their world. Without her, I'd never know pain, but at the same time... I don't think I'd ever know true happiness either. And what's life without a mix of both?"
Fate-Breaker (Resolve) (EX)A rare Skill bestowed upon those who avoided the unavoidable and triumphed over fate itself. The ability to forcibly overturn a "scripted bad end" not through supernatural ability or otherworldly blessings, but through human resolve alone.
1) Or___ will fall in love with __di_
2) __di_ will get spirited away into an otherworldly realm.
3) In search of his love, Or___ will pursue her.
4) Or___ will play his music before the lord of that foreign realm, earning their favor and allowing him to leave the realm with __di_ under one condition.
5) Or___ will fail that condition at the final moment, permanently separating the lovers and dooming them to tragedy.
Such were the core tenets of "their" legend, and whether he realized it or not, Lover spent most of his life following them. Any attempt to deviate from the "script" (distancing himself from Heurodis, sending guards to prevent her kidnapping, not pursuing her to drown in misery as a wild man, and so on) were seemingly remedied by the world itself. From birth, it was as though his life was fated to become a reenactment of that very same tragedy that befell his "predecessor". And yet, at that crucial, final moment... he defied the "script", in a way his predecessor could not.
He refused to let go.
There is nothing inherently special about that action. He received no divine blessing or superhuman ability. It was simply the resolve of one man who refused to lose the love of his life a second time. And that resolve was powerful enough to triumph over the world's "corrections". This manifests as a composite Skill with effects similar to Unyielding Will and a more limited version of Pioneer of the Stars. Should Lover find himself confronted by the inevitable- whether it be an unconquerable foe or certain death- so long as he still possesses the resolve to defy that fate, a new possibility will be open to him, even if it means temporarily rewriting the laws of the world itself. Due to the inherently subjective nature of this Skill, Lover prefers not to rely on it too much. Still, it might provide him with an unexpected trump card when all seems lost.
"I know my circumstances aren't exactly common when you think about it, but history really does have a funny way of repeating itself. Still, at the end of the day, I'd still like to think the choice remains ours to make. Whether to succumb before the path laid before you, or to fight against it with all your might... I chose the latter, but in such situations, I don't think there is always a right answer. Should you ever find yourself in a similar predicament, I want you to properly consider your options. Your principles, what you wish to protect, whether they're worth the pain... think long and hard before you embark on your chosen path. Well, Heurodis will always be the right answer for me, of course! If it means seeing her again, I'll make as many trips to the fairy realm as necessary, hahaha!"
King's Return (Performance) (A)
A Skill belonging to the legendary king returned to his kingdom with his loving wife after ten long years of self-imposed exile. Initially, there was nothing glorious nor triumphant about his return. Due to his haggard appearance and not having a single penny to his name, no one even recognized him. Many treated him as just another beggar on the street, and it took considerable effort for the couple to make their long way home. When the two finally arrived before the castle, the castle's residents refused to grant him entry. That was, until he took out his lyre. The moment the first note resounded across the castle halls, the truth became clear as day; the king had returned at last.
A Skill similar to Powerless Shell that serves to conceal Lover's presence. Furthermore, the first music-based magecraft performed with his lyre after discarding this disguise will have their effectiveness (range, damage, support effects, etc.) greatly enhanced.
"Oh yes, I retired almost immediately following that episode, after trusting the kingdom to a steward I trusted most. Irresponsible? Perhaps. But I also realized something after my journey. Between all that trouble caused by the fae, those overbearing fans of mine, my political obligations as lord, and whatever was going in the neighboring kingdom of Camelot, which I thought was likely to impact Wessex sooner or later... life is too short for you to spend it doing things you do not love! Even if I were to stay as Lord of Winchestre- and Lord of Wessex by extension-, I would not be able to execute my duties well, simply because my heart was not in it. In that case, wouldn't it be better to leave the kingdom in the hands of someone who truly possessed the passion and competence required to protect it?"
...
"What happened next? Well... my story ended rather uneventfully, I'm afraid. I retired to the countryside with my wife. We built a simple hut, and spent the rest of our days savoring that happy ending, which felt so long overdue. Haha, after returning from that realm, nothing else feels impossible for the two of us! As for what happened to Wessex... Last I heard they entrusted the crown to this up-and-coming rebel leader named Cerdic. He did quite well for himself, I think."
Noble Phantasm(s)A Melody of Love Resounds Across the Land of Fairies
Canticum Prędictas
"Now, be silent, please. It is time for my next performance. Open your hearts and ears to the tune that pacified the otherworldly fairy realm... Canticum Prędictas."
Type: Anti-Army
Rank: D+
Range: 1-200
Max Targets: -
A testament to Lover's brilliant skills with the lyre. Despite popular belief, the fae are generally considered dangerous beings. Chaotic and unrestrained, most of them can be considered inhuman. Their whims are unpredictable, using their supernatural capabilities to help humans in one tale and hurt them in the next. This sheer unpredictability, combined with their incomprehensible moral compass, places most of them as an existence beyond the scope of what humanity can understand. And yet, the moment Lover strummed his lyre before their court... it was as though something fundamentally changed inside them.
The fae wept before his performance. Those who had previously laughed at him and considered him a source of entertainment, those who threatened to tear him limb to limb, livid that a mere human dared to enter their domain... they all wept, touched by his performance. The fae- chaotic, unpredictable creatures that do not adhere to human sensibilities- wept and gave an applause at the end of Lover's performance... much like humans do. If just for a moment, Lover effectively introduced them to the human concept of "beauty".
A passive Noble Phantasm ingrained to Lover's music. Aside from the usual magecraft he is able to perform, Lover's music is also capable of "applying human qualities to inhuman beings", while gradually eroding their "inhumanity" in the process. Unlike his "predecessor", this music lacks both mystery and sorrow to force absolute obedience upon its listeners. Even so, the emotions contained within them, expressed so skillfully through Lover's fingers, are still powerful enough to pierce any mental, metaphorical, and metaphysical barriers and touching the listeners' hearts without fail. This translates into weakening or outright sealing abilities that stem from one's "inhumanity" (divine blessings, fae blood, eldritch influences, and so on). It's worth noting that this effect will only continue to transpire so long as Lover is playing his lyre. The moment he stops- whether it be due to exhaustion, distraction, or simply being separated from his lyre- this entire "humanizing" effect would be instantly reset. While this presents a fairly obvious weak point for enemies to target in combat, following up on this weakness is much easier said than done, considering a plethora of other spells Lover is able to perform simultaneously with his music, as well as the general fascination effect brought about by his performance.
Source
Orphic Reprise: With Her Hands in Mine, I...
Lai d'Orphey
"I see we are in quite the predicament... So it's come to that. By my name, I vow to get you out of here alive, Master, no matter the cost. Now hold my hand. Noble Phantasm True Name release... Lai d'Orphey. Whatever you do... don't look back, and don't ever let go."
Type: Anti-Unit (Self)
Rank: A
Range: 1-200
Max Targets: 2
Lover's absolute last resort. A reenactment of his return from the otherworld. He was not the first to make this journey alongside a loved one. Even so, he is the only one capable of using this journey as a Noble Phantasm. After all, a Noble Phantasm is a cornerstone of a Heroic Spirit's legend, and (generally) a manifestation of their most brilliant feat. For both him and his "predecessor", the journey was a turning point in their respective legends. However, while Orpheus failed his trial and his tale spiraled into tragedy, in complete defiance of fate, Lover succeeded in rescuing his love from the otherworld. Thus, it is only natural that he would be able to recall this past triumph of his.
If Lover's first Noble Phantasm is a recollection of him playing his lyre, this one is a recollection of what happened the moment he stopped. To activate it, Lover has to designate an "end point" reachable in standard human walking distance, before holding the hand of one person he would like to take with him to this "end point". From there, the world seemingly begins to twist, and textures are temporarily overwritten to replicate the condition of the fairy realm as its denizens attempted to stop the couple from escaping through any means necessary. Strong winds would blow, assailing Lover and his partner. Plants and animals in their surroundings would gain minds of their own, using roots, vines, and claws to impede their movement. Illusions would scatter across the land, taking the form of voices and shadows of loved ones demanding them to go back. In time, even the very air grows thick with mana, causing breathing and movement difficulties for beings born in the Age of Man.
These numerous interferences primarily target Lover and his partner... though they are both rendered completely immune to physical damage so long as this Noble Phantasm is active (though he is also equally incapable of performing any offensive action while this Noble Phantasm is active). The same cannot be said for others caught in its range, as they would experience what is practically a full-blown natural disaster brewing all around them. Ultimately, the purpose of these interferences aren't to harm Lover and the partner. It simply tempts them to turn back. The longer they walk, and the further the distance required to reach the end point, the more severe these interferences become. The illusions grow increasingly more difficult to ignore, the winds stronger, and the air more suffocating (though they still won't be fatal).
Should the two reach their destination, these disasters would instantly cease, and all damage to nature magically undone (though injuries and death inflicted throughout this Noble Phantasm would still remain). That said, should the two fail this trial by either of them looking back at any moment while this Noble Phantasm is active, or one letting go of the other's hand, Lover's Saint Graph would be struck with a fatal curse, putting him in a near-death state and permanently sealing this Noble Phantasm.
Lover generally dislikes using this Noble Phantasm, fearing the risks and collateral damage. In order to make it through this trial unscathed, Lover and his partner (not necessarily romantic in nature) must possess both immense resolve and the utmost trust in one another. Only then will their "bond" be rewarded with safe passage through the storm.
"Keep walking, Master. Just a little further. The voices, the shadows... It's terrible, I know. Even so, they are not real. Difficult as it may them no mind. Close your eyes, if you must. Just trust me, hold on, and keep moving forward... one step at a time. Yes, just like that..."
Lore (long)Aha, my dedicated lore section! I've prepared a ballad just for this moment! Ahem, allow me to begin with one, two...
ooooooohh~♪
-Eh? You'd rather take the usual narrative format. Aww...
Then, where to begin... most of your sources seem to paint me as a simple retelling or adaptation of that one Greek tragedy, so you might think it's best if we jump straight to the end, where my story truly diverged from his, but you would be mistaken. See, even if that assessment is not entirely false, despite all our similarities, I like to think my life is unique enough to truly call my own. So... ah, this should work fine as a prelude.
Act 1Have you ever woken up with this heavy, sinking feeling in your chest? As though you just dreamed of a very sad dream, but you failed to recall what that dream was about?
Such occurrence was rather common in my childhood. Oftentimes, I would wake up in tears, feeling as though I just made a terrible mistake, one that could never be undone. My heart was filled with a flurry of emotions; anger, panic, sorrow, despair... and yet, I could not for the life of me recall any of those childhood dreams. And so those feelings would just rampage in my heart with no place to go, causing me no small amount of heartache. One that I could not even pinpoint the cause.
Perhaps I should tell you a bit about my parents. Pluto and Juno... ah, no, I am not talking about the Roman deities. They are devout Christians, though... they just happen to admire those ancient mythologies, to the point they named themselves, as well as their son after characters from those tales of old. Supposedly they had their fair share of adventures in their youth, to the point some people regaled them as gods, but I never inquired much further about their past exploits. In any case, I was born as a prince of Thrace... no, not that region near ancient Greece. This is an area that would later be called Wincestreshire, or Winchester, England in your time.
I learned to play the lyre before I could walk. This lyre I am holding now... it is a family heirloom, partially constructed with materials hailing from distant lands... or so my parents used to say. I do not share much of their passion for history and mythology, but I do admit that there is something... unique about the design, even if I cannot speak much on the matter. Whatever the case, music soon became my respite whenever my royal obligations and the occasional odd nightmares started to overwhelm me.
Act 2I came to learn of my namesake through my father's books at some point during my teenage years. Out of all the legendary heroes and demigods of old, they chose to name me after a tragedy. All the while, the nightmares... they never stopped. If anything, they only seemed to grow more vivid as I grew older. The entire thing had not completely "clicked" yet for me, but I grew increasingly wary of these "prophecies" all the same. It was at around the same time that I first met Heurodis.
Ahem, allow me to ask you another question, Master. Have you ever met someone for the first time, and something deep inside of you just gave out the feeling that someday, somehow, you will fall in love with this person? You're not sure how or why, but something in the back of your mind just tells you that it will happen? Back then, I did not know if those feelings were truly mine, or if they were born of those "prophecies" that had tormented me for so long. Whatever the case, I did not welcome these feelings. Much unlike the romantic, perpetually-lovestruck bard you see before you now, I regarded them not with warmth, but fear. Even her name sounded very familiar, and if those old legends I read were to be believed... I feared for both our fates. As time went on, I grew increasingly convinced that something supernatural was at play, forcing my life to follow a certain "script" of sorts.
And so I resisted those feelings. If they called them "fate", then I fought "fate" with all I had. I ran away, distanced myself, and rejected her time and time again. Ironically, perhaps my fear came on too strong. I did not know if Heurodis felt the same during those early days, but she grew concerned for my well-being. She continued to seek me out, not out of romantic interest, but out of genuine concern. For me, who enjoyed her company deep down, but still feared the tragic fate that awaited us should I succumb to these feelings... that was practically the worst possible scenario. When all my other methods failed, I confided in her about the nightmares, the "prophecy", and my deepest fears. I fully expected her to consider me a madman. Perhaps my ramblings would finally drive her away for good. Should that happen, well... I might feel a little sad afterwards, but at least she would be spared from that tragedy. Once that sadness concluded, I was sure I could be content with that.
...As you know, that did not come to pass. She accepted me despite all my troubles. Ironically, my attempts to push her away only solidified these feelings I tried so hard to deny. Thus, in a self-fulfilling prophecy reminiscent of those classical tragedies, I fell for her, and the two of us married sometime later. I remembered feeling especially anxious as the day of my wedding approached. I was especially wary of snakes, and surveyed the venue repeatedly just to ensure there were no hidden serpent dens in the area. Luckily, there were no such thing, and my wedding went off without a hitch. Of course, I was not foolish enough to believe that the "prophecy" would just conclude itself in such an uneventful manner. Even so, just for that day... I felt as though I could disregard those foreboding omens and truly enjoy myself, not as a man desperately running away from his own fate, but simply as a groom about to marry the love of his life. Haha, even now, that was still the second-happiest day of my life. Eh? Second? Well, the first comes later...
Act 3Nothing especially of note happened during the first few years of our marriage. Well, I was undeniably happy during those days, and my wife gradually taught me to let go of my fears. Deep down, I still felt as though the worst had yet to come, but should the day ever arrive... rather than running away, I promised that we would confront it together. I suppose that's just the power of love for you; even if your opponent is the metaphysical concept of fate itself, and a legendary hero of the past had tried and failed when he attempted such a trial, love gives you the strength to move forward despite it all.
Then one day, my fate caught up to me at last. That day, my wife had been sleeping under a cherry tree when she was visited by a certain Fairy King. Even the mere sight of him was enough to drive her mad. She was inconsolable, wailing and scratching at her own face all night long. I tried my best to help her, of course. I stationed dozens of guards to watch her every move, and tried to spend as much time with her as I could, but the moment I turned my eyes away from her, in just a second... she vanished.
I was devastated, to say the least. There was no way any human being could have gotten past the guards, and I personally ensured that the castle's security was foolproof. Thus, I arrived at the conclusion that the fae must be responsible for her disappearance, following her dream just a day prior. Then I sought to look for her myself. After entrusting the kingdom to a steward I trusted the most, I exiled myself indefinitely to search for Heurodis, with nothing but my trusty lyre in my hands.
...Well, that was the plan, originally. I started out earnestly searching for my wife, studying about the fae, and following incidents where they might have been involved, but before I knew it, weeks turned into months, and months into years. As my attempts all ended in vain, despair gradually began to consume. In my sorrow, I left civilization entirely, living as a wild man in the forest. My old fears started to resurface to the forefront of my mind, accompanied with regret and anger at myself, for leading her into that fate.
It was the tenth year of my exile, and I was at rock bottom back then. I briefly contemplated taking my own life, thinking it would help me "atone" and whatnot, but just before I did it... I saw them. A parade of fairies, marching through the forest in the dead of night. I thought I had finally gone mad from grief then, but thinking I had nothing left to lose, I ignored my better judgment and secretly tailed them from behind.
I was not sure just how long I had been following them, but at some point I felt it. An odd feeling, as though I... slipped into a different realm.
Act 4As I stood before this otherworldly realm, I felt as though I had finally woken up from a long dream. Those years I spent in the forest, drowning in anguish... I almost forgot the time I spent with my wife. The reason I embarked on that quest to begin with. I recalled our promise back then, to confront my fate together... and I finally knew what must be done.
I loudly declared my presence and demanded an audience with the Fae King. The denizens of this strange world pointed me a way to the palace, but I could feel their gazes piercing my soul wherever I went. They looked at me like a predator ready to pounce on their prey, or a child who just found a new toy. Along the way, I came across several disturbing sights, a stark contrast to the seemingly serene exterior of the land. People many thought to have died or went missing, tortured or taken by the fae as playthings. Really, despite whatever image may come to your head when you hear "the land of fairies", the place actually bore some resemblance to classical depictions of the underworld. A part of me feared that I would share the same fate as these captives, but I steeled myself as I made my way to the palace.
And there she was. Heurodis, my love. Asleep in a glass coffin displayed in the Fae King's throne. The King welcomed me, as if he had fully anticipated my arrival. Even now I cannot understand the motive behind my wife's abduction. I know it's a fool's errand to theorize about the fae's reasons for doing things, but... could it be they heard of my musical talent, and used her to lure me to their realm? Not that there is any way to know for sure now...
In any case, I demanded the Fae King to give my wife back. He smiled, no doubt planning some cruel trick to deceive me. He agreed, under the condition I offer a gift equal to her life. Unfortunately, I had nothing but my lyre. Fortunately, I am ever so confident in my skills with it. And so I played like I had never played before. I poured the full extent of my feelings into every note, to the point I stopped caring about the audience. The Fae King, his subjects eyeing my every move, whatever terrible fate that could have awaited me after my performance... none of those mattered to me anymore. I simply wanted to have my wife back, and I channeled all that feeling into my piece.
After a few minutes that felt like hours... the performance was finished, and I gave a humble bow before the fae court. Knowing the Fae, I fully expected the King to deny me my reward, or for his subjects to tear me to shreds then and there. Instead... the entire palace erupted into tears and applause. Still in tears, the king allowed me to choose any reward I desire for my performance. Blessings, wealth, sacred treasures belonging to the fae... none of those were out of my reach. So naturally, I ignored their pathetic attempts at distracting me from my main goal and chose my wife. He did say any reward I desire, after all. Admittedly, it did feel good to turn the fae's penchant for vague wording and deception on themselves.
Realizing he had driven himself into a corner... the king relented. He applauded my ingenuity, before releasing Heurodis from her sleeping spell and allowing the two of us to leave his realm... with one condition; the two of us should leave from where we came from, without ever looking back.
Act 5...If only it was that easy.
I briefly wondered why the king issued that very specific rule. My past nightmares, the tale of Orpheus and Eurydice, came to mind. I thought it was the curse of the land, which the fae king held absolute authority over. Instead... it was something else entirely. The fae weren't too happy that I stopped playing, and that I was about to leave their realm once and for all. To say they went absolutely berserk would be an understatement. This whole time, they held back their more terrifying aspects since I was considered a guest of honor to their king, but that was no longer the case now. Since looking at them directly was enough to drive my wife mad the last time around, I had no doubt that should either of us look back, right into their eyes, we would suffer the same fate... if not worse. And so I grabbed her hand and ran as fast as our legs could carry us.
What happened afterwards was... not easy. The fae did everything they could to stop us, assailing us with magecraft, disasters, illusions, and more. Anything to separate us and hopefully entrap me forever in their realm. I did not know if the following was an effect of their magecraft, but... it was also at that time that foreign memories flooded my brain. Memories of a life that was not my own, yet felt so familiar to mine. A powerful compulsion to turn my head around, the hoarse voices of old hags- possibly the furies I read about in those legends- screaming my name, the feeling of my hand grasping air, a heavy, sinking feeling in my chest as I realized what I had done...
In my youth, I read the tale of Orpheus many, many times in an attempt to avoid my fate. I knew how his life went, chapter by chapter. But it was at that moment that I truly felt as though I had walked in his shoes and lived his tragic path. And then...
Say, do you believe that every life has a certain "decisive moment" associated with them? A single, ephemeral moment in time that would define your life for years to come, if not longer? It's not easy to describe, but for me, that moment amidst the chaos, with my hand still intertwined with my love's, as the entire realm itself seemingly tore itself apart just to stop us from leaving... that was my decisive moment. I had a feeling that whatever I did next will stay with me for the rest of my life. And so, in that fleeting moment that felt like an eternity, bolstered by memories of my past life, I...
Fufu, do you even have to ask?
I held on even tighter to her hand, and we continued to move, one step at a time. All without ever looking back.
EpilogueAnd so... that was it. The two of us defied the very fate laid out before us. Thus concludes the tale of Sir Orfeo; the man who refused to let go. The two of us returned to Wincestreshire, convincing everyone that we really were the missing king and queen through my musical performance. After a brief test, I entrusted that steward from back then to choose my successor, before leaving the kingdom in their hands. As for what happened to me and my wife next... hahaha, suffice to say, we had our entire lives ahead of us, free for us to spend it however we see fit.
...And so, we lived happily ever after. The end.
Creator's note (extra lore)Hello, BnEl15 here. This is the part where I really explain where the syncretism(?) comes in, in a way I can't do in the first-person lore section. The following explanation may ruin any semblance of seriousness left in the sheet, so it might be best to save this part for last. No, seriously. You're going to see my brain emitting smoke and making unholy noises as it struggled to complete this sheet. Unless you're absolutely fine with seeing that now, turn back and save this section for last.
...
...
...Okay, you have been warned. Here goes nothing. :gudako:
So, irl, Sir Orfeo is practically the Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice, adapted into a British/Celtic context. In-universe, however, I wrote Orfeo as a "reincarnation" of Orpheus. This is how this "reincarnation" came to be...
So, it was said that the entirety of the underworld wept during Orpheus' performance, and that his head continued to sing mournful songs even after he was decapitated. That part was not an exaggeration. Unfortunately, that also wasn't the only thing brought upon by his sorrow. His deep regret over his failure to save Eurydice was so strong, that it birthed a curse upon the land. Call it the... Orphe-juice (I did say this section would throw all semblance of seriousness out of the window). This curse caused the entire world to be very sad for a while, sure, but more than that, since the curse contained Orpheus' regrets, it also contained the earnest desire to do things differently if he ever gets a second chance. This desire was so strong that it ensured that in the future, "another Orpheus" would arrive, and he would definitely rescue his Eurydice without fail. Unfortunately, the tale of Orpheus was soon immortalized as a tragedy, and the fact that "Orpheus fails at the end" became cemented into the very textures of the world itself, ensuring that any subsequent Orpheuses would fail at rescuing their loved one. Between the Orphe-juice that would ensure the rise of new Orpheuses in the future, and the world that would guarantee their failure no matter the cost, this created something of a recurring minor quantum time-locked event; there will be another Orpheus one day, but they will fail much like the first one.
On a related note, it was said that Orpheus' lyre was carried to heaven by the muses, forming the Lyra constellation. This was wrong. The muse did create the constellation to honor him, but the actual lyre was lost when his body reached the ocean. A fragment of it somehow found its way to the shores of Britain, and was taken by some noble family of the time (before you ask how the lyre could end up there, it was some kind of mecha-lyre who received blessings from Apollo, I'm sure it's durable enough to make the journey, even if it's only a fragment of the original thing).
Fast forward to the 500's AD. The Orphe-juice had spread far and wide, eventually reaching Britain. Naturally, most of the juice converged in a place that held remnants of the actual Orpheus. In this case, Thrace/Winchester, England, where remnants of his lyre- which had been fashioned into a family heirloom- could be found. This led to the birth of Sir Orfeo.
And then there was the whole legend, which you've read above. Everything seemed to fit the established "script" until Orfeo miraculously broke through a time-locked event through sheer willpower, nullifying both the Orphe-juice curse and the world's "scripted bad end" simultaneously (wait does that make sense lorewise? Is it possible to break a freakin' quantum time-lock event through the power of love? Eh, I dunno, but let's just say it is for this particular story. Besides, this is a minor QTL event, nowhere as major as the fall of Camelot for example, where preventing it could really screw up the Human Order, so the world might be more lenient in letting Orfeo "break" it... at least, that's my justification). In any case, had Orfeo failed, the Orpheus motif (people getting separated from their romantic partners, pursuing them to some other world and almost succeeding in getting them back, only to fail at the last moment) would have been a more universal thing, possibly as common as the flood myths you can find in almost every culture. Fortunately Orfeo put a stop to that cycle before things came to that.
So there you have it! The syncretism is totally there if you squint! Definitely! Hahahahahaha I'm tired, send help pls
DescriptionLikes:
"My wife, naturally. I can spend an entire day regaling you with tales of her many virtues, but I'm afraid time is not on our side at the moment. Be sure to keep your schedule open tomorrow if you are interested, though. I am quite proud of the ballad I've composed to her name. Ahem, Heurodis aside... music. You can consider them a 'universal language' of sorts. Regardless of culture, value, and upbringing, a string of expertly-played melodies will find a way to touch our hearts without fail. If that incident with the fae is to be believed, you don't even have to be human to appreciate its beauty! Isn't that just wonderful?"
Dislikes:
"Here is something I learned from living most of my life under that 'prophecy'... most humans only have one life to live, so make it count. Spend it with those you hold dearest. Make the most of every day, so that when the time of parting inevitably arrives, you can say with absolute confidence that you have no regrets. Do not let fear chain you down to a boring life of following the 'script' laid out before you, and I'm not strictly talking about the supernatural kind. As much as I despise the fae, even I have to admire their outlook on 'freedom'... er, within reason, of course."
Wish:
"A chance to reunite with my wife once again sounds nice, but I don't think you should use that wish-granting artifact for my own personal whims, Master. My story had concluded long ago, and I'm certain that I'll see her again once this whole thing is over. Your story, on the other hand, is still in the middle of being written. This is not something you necessarily need a Grail for either, but... I wish you may one day find a love as wonderful as the one I have. It doesn't have to be the romantic kind, as I am aware as there are many kinds of love. Still, that feeling of loving and being loved in turn... it's a feeling like no other. One that I think every human should experience at least once in their lives."
A loud, free-spirited young man obsessed with love. Lover wears his heart on his sleeves and marches to the beat of his own drum, never missing any chance to seek romantic gossip as "inspiration" for his next piece and offering (unwarranted, borderline cliched) love advice such as "the power of love can overcome anything if you believe hard enough!" to anyone interested in hearing him out. Advice that might sound vague, unrealistic, or just all-around extreme to his audience. It's not that he is naive in the ways of love. Rather, it just so happened that his actions back in the day- single-mindedly reckless and nonsensical as they may be- were continuously rewarded, which shaped his rather simple-minded yet extreme outlook on romance. Upon being summoned in the modern day, he seems somewhat disappointed at the fact that the lessons he learned at the very end of his journey, after risking everything to save his wife, had become such a commonplace message repeated ad-nauseam in popular culture. He would never wish for anyone else to face the trials he did, but a part of him believes that these constant repetition makes these lessons feel less "special" somehow.
Laid-back and carefree, Lover picks up new interests as easily as he drops them. Save for his constant interest in music, he's quick to abandon recent hobbies the moment he grows bored of them. While this may give him the impression of a chaotic, irresponsible person, none of these actions come from a place of malice or arrogance. Rather, after breaking free from the ruinous fate that awaited him and earning his happy ending, he genuinely believes in making the most of every day, whether by spending them with loved ones or doing things that bring you happiness. The notion that someone would willingly spend years slaving away at a job they do not even enjoy when they could be doing something more worthwhile puzzles him to no end.
Despite how different his tale turned out, there is no denying that Lover displays some similar characteristics to his "predecessor" beyond their shared love for music. Occasionally, he may reveal a more melancholic side to himself underneath his usual loud, outspoken persona. While his views on love might be somewhat problematic under certain contexts, he is also perfectly capable of giving sound advice. One that mostly highlights the importance of protecting your loved ones no matter what, as he knows full well just how painful partings and separation can be. All in all, he is most definitely sharper and more emotionally-aware than how he normally presents himself. On another note, once the music stops and no one is looking, he might also find himself missing his wife in silence. Even so, different from Orpheus, he does not let this sorrow consume him. He acknowledges these feelings, yet he continues to look forward to tomorrow, certain that one day, they will be reunited once again.
RelationshipsTristan:
"Your Failnaught... I have to admire its craftsmanship. Combining the bow and the harp, offense and aesthetics like that... ah, but I'm more interested in your musical skills! Care to give me a demonstration?"
Oberon-Vortigern:
"...No, you're not him. I mean, Vortigern, really? A doomsday device tasked with destroying Britain? No fairy I know had such a powerful sense of purpose. Still, I'm absolutely certain that I met a fae king back then, so I don't think your existence is purely fictional either. How curious..."
Loki=Rod:
"Family, hmm? It's truly wonderful how the simplest things in life can grant you so much joy, more than any crown or jewelry could ever give. After realizing just how easily they could all be taken from me, I grew to appreciate them even more."
Lleu Llaw Gyfess:
"Ah, I certainly know a thing or two about following another's footsteps..."
*Despite this initial similarity, Lover is somewhat hesitant to approach the king after learning just how differently their respective legends ended*
Agape & Chione:
"Naturally, love is almost inseparable from sex. What? Do you consider a bard like me too much of a prude to speak of such 'crass' affairs? Nay! If anything, we bards have simply mastered the art of addressing such matters out in the open through the use of flowery language!"
Ciabhįn:
"A man who loved the fae queen... fufu, to think such a thing was possible... Oh, don't get me wrong, I have nothing against your relationship. If anything, I'm happy that your feelings managed to reach her. As for you, however... something tells me no amount of soulful ballad or romantic advice from me could get you out of that slump you're in. That is something only you can overcome, so I wish you the best of luck."
St. Richardis, Charles the Fat:
"There is nothing to be concerned about here, Master. It may not be an easy path to follow, but... so long as the Saint over there continues to reach out her hand, and the so-called 'mad king' could still muster up enough resolve to accept her... I believe things will turn out all right for them."
Hans Axel von Fersen, Robert Dudley:
"Come now, you truly believe you failed? That you couldn't protect the person most precious to you? Then you try again. You protect her again. You do so until the day you die. ...Ahem, maybe that's not entirely accurate to our current circumstances. You do so until this second life comes to its end. And you do the same on your third, and fourth, should the opportunity arrive. That is the burden you decide to carry the moment you fall in love. Wonderful, is it not?"
Pedro I of Portugal, Carl Tanzler:
"I see, so you are... no, it is not my place to judge. I am self-aware enough to admit that my definition of love is not without its problems. Let us leave it at that."
Savitri & Satyavan:
"Oh my, so you had an audience with the king of the underworld, and successfully brought your spouse back? I am... having another deja vu moment here. Still, to think you could have him by your side now... N-No, I am not the slightest bit envious, I swear it! I bring you nothing but well wishes for the future! For now... I will continue to pray for a Christmas or Summer miracle where Heurodis can finally make her appearance! Just you wait!"
Cerdic:
"My successor who created a united Wessex, whose descendants managed to unite most of the British Isles even in the far future... well, I seem to have left the kingdom in good hands following my retirement. It's good to see my favorite steward appointing the right person for the job. Truly, you have my thanks for all you've done."
Orpheus:
"So it's you... I read about you countless times throughout my youth, and those nightmares tormented me to no end for many years. Seeing you now... ahem, it may be of little comfort to hear this from me, but for what it's worth... things will be okay. Perhaps not today or tomorrow, but one day... I'm sure you'll see her again."
Bond CE
...And just like that, everything stopped.
The winds, the lightning and thunder, the ground shaking beneath them, the screams of a thousand raging fae...
Everything was silent.
The man continued to hold his beloved's hand tightly, fearing it was all another trick to deceive him.
He closed his eyes, and slowly, he turned to face his wife, fearing what he might see the moment he opens them.
...She was still there.
He immediately embraced her. Ten years. Ten long years, and his efforts were rewarded at last.
He refused to let go, a part of them still fearing that she would disappear the moment he does so.
And yet... she was still there.
---
The man took one last look at the forest.
The forest was quiet, serene.
There was not a single fae, no gate that led to that other realm, and no trace of that terrible calamities that had befallen the two of them just moments prior.
Still, he could have sworn he saw another man there. A pale-skinned man with unkempt hair, holding a lyre similar to his own.
He smiled, and he could have sworn the man returned his smile, if just for a second.
The moment he blinked, the man was gone, leaving him to wonder if the figure was ever there to begin with.
---
"So... what's next?"
"First things first, we make our way back to Wincestreshire. We've been away for far too long."
"And then?"
The man laughed. He laughed, like he had never laughed before. Like a huge weight had finally been lifted from his shoulders.
"My love, we have an entire life to find out!"
Something tells him he was finally going to get a good night's sleep after so long, free from those nightmares.
Thus concluded the tale of Sir Orfeo.
And yet, in a way... perhaps it could be said that his life had only just truly begun.
Creator's notesCan't believe Orpheus was so sad they made Orpheus 2 :isntitsad:
- Another supposedly simple sheet that somehow became much more complicated than I initially expected... or maybe I overcomplicated this sheet myself. Not my best work, but here he is. I think he's a decent enough sheet on his own, but I dunno just how well he fits into the prompt. Pine said he counts (even if he may not fit syncretism in the strictest sense of the word), but I'm still feeling iffy about this one.
- For a while, I was a little torn on whether to post him to the contest thread or to the standard thread. I know Pine said he counts, but I'm still feeling pretty meh over the quality of this sheet. Feels like I really could've done better, though I'm not sure how specifically. Still, in the end, I decided to post him here anyways. Go on, then. Rip me to shreds.
- There's a lot of blanks I had to fill in his legend, cuz' most of it just feels so bare-bones, to the point this guy feels like 30-40% OC. Unfortunately, this also caused a very long lore section as you can see above. Imo it still adds to his character, but it's perfectly understandable if some might see it as just bloating the sheet.
- The "hoarse voices of old hags" mentioned in the lore section, act 5? Yeah, those aren't the furies. It's an easter egg about a legend involving this other guy who went to the underworld to get his wife back, looked back, and got chased by his zombified wife and a bunch of old ladies from hell. Unfortunately, I'm not brave or crazy enough to fully commit to integrating that guy to this sheet, so that easter egg is the only thing you'll get. I can neither confirm or deny anything else about his involvement. :umu:
- Okay, hypothetically speaking, if I had been crazy enough to do that, this is how the timeline would've looked like:
Mysterious Japanese god "I" (Japanese AoG) --- (centuries of mythology spreading, mystery weakening, and divine authorities diluting) ---> Orpheus (Greek AoG) --- (a few more centuries of the same thing) ---> Sir Orfeo (500's AD). Now how did "I" end up in ancient Greece? Was there a similar curse going around? That's a giant can of worms I'm not ready to touch with a 20-foot pole.
- Any references, explicit or otherwise, to Pine's Orpheus is merely a homage, and is definitely, totally, absolutely not an attempt to get extra points from him. Nothing of the sort, I tell you. :umu:All in all, this prompt is the death of me, and I think I'm going on a Katabasis experience of my own after this. Fare thee well.