FIRST ARCHITECT OF ROME
VITRUVIUS
General Information
Alias: King of Artillery, First Architect of Rome
Gender: Male
Pronouns: He/Him
H/W: 176 cm/60 kg
Alignment: Neutral Evil
Attribute: Man
Region: Rome
Source: Historical Fact
Armaments: Ballistae
Catalyst: A map detailing a siege
Parameters
STR: E
END: D
AGL: C
MAG: C
LUK: D
NP: C++
Class Skills
| Magic Resistance |
D |
This rank of Magic Resistance is only afforded to Archer due to his age and class. Although he is familiar with magecraft, it is not to such a degree that it affects this skill.
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| Independent Action |
C |
Similarly, this skill is possessed at this rank due simply to formality. Although Archer can operate as an exceptional sniper, he is rather reliant on orders from the ‘higher brass.’ To anyone who knows his history though, it seems as though he’s underselling his competence as a leader…
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Personal Skills
| Territory Creation |
A |
Archer’s experience in architecture and demonstrated mastery in its principles reflects on this skill. Beyond Workshops, it is possible to create a Temple. But if one were to ask why he didn’t manifest as Caster instead, he’d quickly shake off the question and get back to work. While within his Territory, Archer gains a bonus in the creation and operating of artillery weapons. |
| Aptitude for Slaughter |
C+ |
No matter one’s passions, this skill indicates the unfortunate leaning towards harming other humans. Archer would rather not speak of the circumstances regarding this skill, and yet accepts it all the same. All damage against those of human nature is increased, and is especially increased when invading another territory.
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| Siege Tactics |
B |
Military tactics specialized for siege warfare. Although an architect by trade, Archer was also an accomplished siege engineer and prefect. Not only do his Anti-Army Noble Phantasms gain a significant damage bonus, but his mana expenditure is highly efficient. Through a combination of this skill and Independent Action, Archer can operate at high effectiveness with very little support from the Master.
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| De Architectura |
A+ |
A unique skill belonging to Archer, named after his influential treatise on architecture. In lacking the qualifications for another class, it has manifested thus as a skill which informs the methods by which he makes war. In other words, his supreme knowledge on architecture and infrastructure is the basis of his effectiveness as a siege engineer, and as a weapon used by Rome.
But beyond representing his wide breadth of knowledge, this skill’s primary function is the retroactive understanding of all structures. After all, it isn’t as though Archer is a genius that innovated architecture, but held a talent for understanding the sciences of all those before him and elucidating meaning from them. In other words, there is no construction in all the world and history which Archer is incapable of understanding, magical or otherwise.
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Noble Phantasm
As is Man, So is War
Symmetria Vitruvius
Type: Anti-Unit (Self)
Range: 0-60
Max Targets: 1-10 People
“It’s a bit nasty, I admit.
But the truth is that conquest and architecture are the same thing.
Thus, so am I.”
A key principle of Virtruvius’ architecture is symmetry. He believed that the symmetry of a building should correspond with the inherent symmetry found in man’s bodies. Or rather, that the construction of the universe corresponds with the construction of people. Such a philosophy has been applied to his human weapons of war.
This Noble Phantasm has thus manifested, equating Vitruvius’ own body with the concept of ‘artillery weapons’ itself. When launching anything with his own body, what he launches gains the firepower of a low-ranked Noble Phantasm, as though he himself were a great ballista.
The firepower corresponds with the amount of magical energy spent, and much larger ammunition requires much more magical energy to effectively launch. As such, the most effective usage of this Noble Phantasm is with armaments he can hold with his own hands. However, it is not beyond him to construct bracing mechanisms that help boost his own effectiveness.
It goes without saying that, because Vitruvius is considered an artillery weapon, he gains a bonus in improving his own effectiveness throughout a Grail War.
A side effect of this is that the inverse effect is also applied: his artillery weapons are considered Vitruvius. He may fire his own constructions at his own will as though they were merely limbs of his body, as natural as one may breathe. Although he has no special ability for aim, his conceptual existence as ‘an artillery weapon’ is enough to shore up those weaknesses and qualify him as an Archer.
Noble Phantasm
Massacre of the Gauls
Obside Avaricum
Type: Anti-Army
Range: 0-80
Max Targets: 0-400 People
“That’s what you want? Heh. Alright.
Don’t blame me when you have to face the consequences, then.”
Vitruvius served as a siege engineer during many of the wars Rome waged, but so far as his career goes, there was no moment which describes his nature greater than the Avaricum Siege.
A long and brutal siege waged against what Julius Caesar believed to be the heart of the Gallic Revolt. If this place was crushed, then Vercingetorix would struggle to rally his forces and unite against Rome. Although that was the plan, the Avaricum stood for nearly a month, refusing to back down.
It ended in a turn of the weather, and a complete massacre of its inhabitants. Soldiers, civilians, and children alike led to blood running red in the streets.
Ultimately, it didn’t even achieve Caesar’s intent. The destruction of Avaricum only seemed to rally the Gauls further, uniting them now through the death of so many innocents.
One could consider this a Noble Phantasm discarded by Caesar due to its failure. But framed another way, it was a complete and utter success due to the Roman siege engines which were both created and managed by Vitruvius. The siege failed in the war, but as a battle it could only be described as a brilliant proof of concept. Such was the nature of Roman conquest, and the burden now carried by the man known as Vitruvius.
When Vitruvius activates this Noble Phantasm, the circumstances of that final day at Avaricum are recreated. Magical walls are constructed to lock the targets in, and ballistae are created on the high ground, making whatever environment his opponents are in a death trap of their own creation. Then, each of the ballistae fires at the center of the walls with the intent to slaughter all within it.
At the end of the day, it is only another slaughter. Its existence as a Noble Phantasm is not, ‘a feat claimed by Vitruvius’ but ‘the result of Vitruvius’ involvement.’
Personality
Overall, Vitruvius is a bitter man who seems to have something to say about anything, and at the same time has a hard time forming proper words when confronted.
To the layman, Vitruvius is certainly a genius. What else could explain his berth of knowledge, or his mindful attitude? Certainly he behaves in every single way like a genius should, so a genius he must be.
Truthfully, Vitruvius hates that idea down to the existence of the vocabulary itself. He insists that he is nothing special and is a sham of a Heroic Spirit. The only thing he’s good for is killing, he says. While some may say that is exactly the purpose of a Servant, there is nothing that can make Vitruvius budge from disagreeing. He is a man whose legacy has been both eaten up and spit out by the country he served. As a result, his opinions regarding heroism and warmaking are rather strict.
But when it comes to his scholarly side, he is always eager to explore new options. Perhaps it is that exact attitude, the willingness to delve into just about anything and not only the words of the well-regarded, which formed the identity of the ‘genius.’
Writing himself as a mere engineer, he will never disobey his Master. After all, he has been summoned to create and fire the weapons. He is certain that, when it comes to that designation, there is no Servant better to summon than him. He only asks that the Master not kid themselves and ask for more out of him than he has already laid out. In this, he is so harshly critical of himself that one may wonder if he was well-regarded among his peers outside of his work.
Also, do not question him about his designated class. It’s a sore spot for him. Even though he accepts the circumstances, he loathes that it is the only way he can be summoned.
Legend
Little is known about Vitruvius, the oft-named ‘First Architect.’
The simple truth, though, is that it doesn’t matter. Not even he will talk much about his own past, as he is far more interested in the realms of knowledge. All he will say to that effect is…
“I may have been an architect, but for Rome, I was a warmaker. That’s all there is to it.”
Despite the deep influence De Architectura left in the presence of Rome, that is not indicative of his deeds. It is merely a part of his Saint Graph, and the basis upon which his story is founded. Vitruvius’ true story is found in his involvement in Rome's many conquests. Not only did he revolutionize siege engines and tactics, but he actively took part in the suppression of rebelling peoples. If one wished to see the results of Vitruvius’ actions, one need only look to the results of the campaigns waged by Julius Caesar and Emperor Augustus.
Thus, the Vitruvius summoned is the one who was used as an extension of Rome’s warmaking. His innovation of siege and artillery weapons puts him at the forefront of the Roman Empire’s bloody legacy, which is to say nothing of his position as an engineer at the frontlines.
If all he did was create weapons of war, he could not be summoned at all, for that, like his architectural influence, would also have been swallowed by Emperor Augustus’ legacy. Instead, what Vitruvius has claimed is uniquely his own. The First Architect of Rome is one who builds the means for conquest first and foremost.
Originally Posted by RoydGolden
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