❛Maria Magdalena❜ (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
treks) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
bakerstreet2024-06-20 07:44 pm
treks) wrote in bakerstreet2024-06-20 07:44 pm
Entry tags:
I DECLARE GRAIL WAR
The HOLY GRAIL WAR Meme
Who will it be?
For those unfamiliar with Fate/Stay Night or Fate/Zero, you can find a better explanation of the Holy Grail War here. (Note: The Holy Grail War in Fate/EXTRA functions in a dramatically different way, and one not followed for purposes of this meme.)
Instructions
1. Comment with your character. In the subject line, put that character's name, canon, and which role (Master, Servant, or either) you would like them to fulfill. Though not mandatory, it would be preferred that you give a brief summary of your character as they will (most likely) be AU'd into the setting. (NOTE: If your character can fill the role of Servant, I suggest you state which class(es) -- Saber, Lancer, Archer, Rider, Caster, Assassin, or Berserker -- they fall into.)
2. Reply to others' comments. Pick your character's role (and the other character's if they list "Either" as their preference), then use the RNG to pick a scenario that fits the two characters' roles.
3. Enjoy! Though there might be triggers, depending on how the prompts are interpreted.
TWO MASTERS
1. Battle. Who says that Servants get to have all the fun? After all, most Masters try to kill each other, too. Whatever the circumstances, the two of you are locked in a fight. Neither of you are willing to use your Command Spells just yet, so no Servants here. Just two magi duking it out.
2. Alliance. There's a bigger threat out there. Either one Servant is exceptionally powerful, or the situation has changed and the participants need to take action against it. One way or another, you're teamed up with one of your rivals for the Holy Grail. How long will this last before you try to stab each other in the back? Or, will something more develop?
3. Protection. Uh-oh! One of you has lost your Servant! Unfortunately, there's no way you'd get to the church safely on your own, so the other one will help you get there! Or maybe you don't trust the priest presiding over the Holy Grail War and are giving shelter to them yourself? Given their track record, no one would blame you.
4. Death. One or both of you lay dying. It might have been by the other's hand, or by someone else's entirely. How will you spend your last moments in the presence of one of your rivals?
5. You, Too? Surprise! You may have been friends before, but you've just discovered that you're both Masters! How will you handle this revelation?
6. Wild Card. Roll again, pick one of the previous options, or make one up!
1. Are You My Master? The summoning is complete. Whether intentional or not, catalyst or not, a magus has summoned a Servant. What kind of meeting was it? Was everything totally under control, or did a hitch occur? Or maybe it happened in the middle of a life-or-death situation!
2. Identity. Either the Servant has flat out told the Master their identity, or they unleashed their Noble Phantasm. Either way, the cat is out of the bag. How will the Master react, now that they know their Servant's name and legend? Will anything change between the two?
3. Battle Aftermath. A battle has just ended. Who participated? Are either of you hurt? Did the Master have to use a Command Spell? Any number of things could have happened here.
4. Discord. Uh-oh. It looks like the Master and the Servant don't get along. Here come the arguments! Don't do something stupid, like waste a Command Spell over a triviality...
5. Love. And then, there's the opposite. Sometimes Masters and Servants fall in love with each other. How will this affect things?
6. Wild Card. Roll again, pick one of the previous options, or make one up!
1. Battle. This is what usually happens when two Servants meet -- they duke it out. This probably says enough as it is.
2. Alliance. There's a bigger threat out there. Either one Servant is exceptionally powerful, or the situation has changed and the participants need to take action aginst it. One way or another, you're teamed up with one of your rivals for the Holy Grail. How long will this last before you try to stab each other in the back? Or, will something more develop?
3. The Grail Dialogues. Maybe you're not interested in fighting just yet. Maybe you just want to sit down and talk with the other Servant. Find out what they want, what makes them tick. Get some wine while you're at it -- nothing like good wine to go with good talk!
4. Death. One or both of you lay dying...again. It might have been by the other's hand, or by someone else's entirely. How will you spend your last moments in this War in the presence of one of your rivals?
5. Identity. Congratulations, you've just learned each other's identities! Will this change the situation, or will you press onward?
6. Wild Card. Roll again, pick one of the previous options, or make one up!
rudbeckia de borgia • htwmho ( ota )
in summary: the sweet, cheerful, slightly dim-witted princess of the Borgia family – actually a manipulative liar who is always putting on a performance to please others, terrified that they'll harm her. Ruby has spent her whole life being controlled, abused, and shunned as an outsider; as a result she's a bitter but helpless victim, deeply distrustful of people and resigned to her endless cycle of suffering.
can play her as either role! feel free to throw ideas at me, but the thoughts I have are:
1. forced into the Master role by her family while her oldest brother Cesare is the Overseer, relies heavily on her Servant.
2. civilian, and either Cesare or her current husband is a Master, so she's dragged into the War and spends a lot of time with their Servant.
3. real historical figure, Rider class Servant. absolutely useless in a fight, she relies solely on the monsters she summons.
4. transmigrator, Pretender class Servant. comes from a Lostbelt where she has to play the role of the "real" Rudbeckia, haughty and cruel.
extremely down for shipping and emotional turmoil, not interested in combat threads! )
no subject
[I have a FFXIV/WoL OC here and I was wondering if it would be cool to toss her at Rudbeckia?]
[Rose is well-meaning but a little on the tsun side. She’s kind deep down, though, and would absolutely go to bat for Ruby if it came to it.]
[For scenarios, I was thinking 1 or 2?]
no subject
no subject
[Absolutely, this sounds like a lot of fun! Rose would hate working for Cesare, even if she was bound to serve him. She's absolutely someone that would want to help his little sister instead of /waves hands/ whatever monstrosity he's trying to pull off.]
no subject
[ the Borgia family are the rightful owners of the Holy Grail. that's the line Father always feeds her, at least, as though she should be satisfied with being dragged into this war for that reason alone. which she is, of course. Rudbeckia is a good, obedient daughter who would accept anything Father tells her without question. not once does she speak a word of complaint. not even to Cesare, who makes kinder assurances than Father, strokes her hair and speaks promises of her safety in this conflict; more than that, promises of a bright future. she doesn't understand, but she's happy regardless, because he's her beloved brother and she trusts him more than anyone.
that's the story that Ruby is performing in. it's a role she's well-accustomed to, having played it her entire life. none of this – the Holy Grail, a war between mages, long-dead heroes brought to life – is anything more than a backdrop to the same play she'll be stuck in until she dies. why should she give a damn what happens? it won't be any good to her. even if Cesare gets killed, and that particular leash around her neck goes slack, Father won't let her go either.
the only thing that does matter to her about this whole affair is that it puts her safety in more danger than usual. by the rules of the Grail War, she should be an innocent bystander, and therefore considered off-limits; she also isn't an idiot. targeting the family of an enemy Master is an obvious strategy. ]
Signorina Caster!
[ which is why it's a good idea to have a little insurance, isn't it?
honestly, Cesare couldn't have ended up with a Servant that suits him less. if Ruby were to guess, from what she's learnt about the Grail War, her brother would have been better off with Assassin; someone quietly obedient, underhanded, and efficient. he might have even wanted Saber, still nostalgic for those days when he wished for knighthood. but Caster is neither. Caster is headstrong and assertive, prone to giving the kind of attitude that Cesare would never tolerate under other circumstances. she doesn't enjoy battle, and she isn't sadistic, or sly, or any of the other traits he usually seeks in his minions.
she's a good person. the type of hero that only exists in stories. which is frightening, because Ruby knows perfectly well that someone like that will find her repulsive if they look too closely, if they're allowed to see past the veneer of a kind-hearted, innocent princess. but it also makes Caster someone she can use. if the Servant takes pity on her, then Ruby can feel assured that, at least, Caster would put a little effort into keeping her safe from the war. ]
Are you busy right now? [ there's a skip in her step as she approaches Caster in the halls of the Borgia manor, her smile bright and sweet. ] I don't want to interrupt if my brother needs you for anything, but I thought maybe you could use a break...
[ there's not much she can think of to appeal to Caster, so this is how she's been going about it – a sympathetic face, someone uninvolved in the conflict to distract her from the stress, providing her a space to breathe. she brings gifts of flowers, invites her to tea in the gardens, asks curious questions about her life. Cesare hasn't punished Ruby for it yet, so she persists. ]
tifa lockhart, final fantasy vii
Blair Astor | OC | OTA
Maedhros | the Silmarillion | OTA
"acheron" / honkai star rail
preference here for acheron being the servant; canon and cross-canon absolutely welcomed. also especially interested in hi3 interactions in general. mistaking acheron for someone else is also... great, honestly.
in terms of class, i like the potential idea of her being a pretender who people believe is a berserker, but if you want to play it straight, i can play her as a berserker or saber if you'd like. alternate types of grail wars that aren't necessarily the standard would also be fun to play, too.
feel free to ask if you have any questions re: plotting. open to shipping, but would like to discuss dynamics first. )
lapis de fiore | original | ota
As a Master, she's a powerful magus from a family that tends to lean more towards unsavoury activities. Grandmother is questionably human, and Lapis is basically taking part in the war to help fulfil some plan of hers. Which are likely very sketch. Her magecraft tends to focus on having spirits/demons assist her both in and out of fighting - she also gets stronger when there's a full/new moon as well. Is very ambiguously human, but is a mana powerhouse at least.
As a servant, she would be either a Caster or Foreigner. Her myth would be related to a young woman who surrounded herself with death and demons and something beyond that, who saved the world from being forcefully reset. As a Foreigner, there would be more focus on how her family are basically weird eldritch beings from the stars and her powers would reflect that. Especially the moon - the moon is haunted af due to her family. Either way, she would be loyal to her Master, but she personally has no interest in the Grail - she knows that shit nasty.
More info in journal! ]
Edogawa Ranpo | Bungo Stray Dogs
Lun | Suikoden V
dusts off this journal because aaaaaa
Lyon here could be a Master, a Saber, a Caster, or an Assassin. Do you have anything in particular you’d like to play?
I’m rusty but how often do you see Suikoden V, I just had to.
omggggg hello!!
I feel like the easy call here would be for both of them to be Servants--either finding themselves as enemies or maybe in some kind of uneasy alliance. Either way, some tense situation that's made all the more awkward by the fact that they were comrades back when they were alive.]
Let’s go with a short battle into some character drama
It is amid this setting that an early skirmish occurs between a Lancer class Servant named Lun and the former guardian of the royal family, Lyon. However, this is not the Lyon Lun is used to, but rather a cold-hearted Assassin drawn from her time in Nether Gate. Leaping out from the shadows with a mask covering her mouth and the light in her eyes dimmed, Lyon - or more accurately, Mismar - levels a surprise strike that is just barely blocked by Lun’s trusty harpoon.]
Tch.
[It’s a brief and quiet sound of frustration. She had hoped to end this battle in a single stroke. Now it’s likely to turn into a protracted battle. Taking a short step back, she adopts a defensive posture, the fingers on her free hand tentatively tracing a line down the small bottle attached to her belt.]
love it!
Unfortunately, her current predicament wasn't leaving her a whole lot of room for that. Turning that deadly blow aside had been almost as much a matter of luck as it had been of skill. She immediately takes a leap back of her own, wide eyes locked on her assailant.]
Nice try, sister, but you'll need a little more than that if you're aimin' to take my head!
[There's anger in those brown eyes, but--for now--no recognition. Between the mask and that cold gaze, so different from the Lyon she knew, Lun hasn't quiiiite clocked who her opponent is. Which makes it easy for her to go aggressive, charging with her harpoon at the ready, not wanting to give Assassin the chance for another attack.]
I figure we'll have them trade blows for a bit and then Lun can knock her mask off or smth
Don't underestimate Nether Gate.
[The Assassin class' best asset is its ability to strike from the shadows, but a strong second place is their ability to dodge. Lun's weapon is powerful but also large, and it's not hard for Lyon to read the arc of her swing. Ducking out of the way, she changes the grip on her blade in an attempt to both close the distance and deliver a precision strike.]
sounds like a plan!
Nngh! You're...one a'those killers, huh...figures. You know your way around a blade...
[She shifts her grip on her harpoon, tightening up her stance, willing herself not to notice the pain.]
But I'd be a laughin'stock if I got sent packin' back to the other side by some sneaky little rat! I'll pay you back for that one Raftfleet style--more than double!
[And with that she's back on the attack. This time, she doesn't just lunge forward--keeping her grip on the far end of her weapon's shaft, she thrusts it towards Lyon like an arrow, taking full advantage of her reach to attack without closing the distance.]
no subject
[A trained assassin she may be, but Lyon didn’t spend nearly as long in Nether Gate as Dolph or Childerich. Against a Lancer, she’s expecting broad swings and lunges - so it’s a genuine surprise when Lun sends her spear forward with such speed and precision.]
Ngh…!
[Sparks fly from steel on steel as Lyon brings her blade up to attempt to slow Lun’s momentum. There’ll be no dodging this, but at least she can turn it into a glancing blow.]
Impressive. I can see I’ll need to bring my all to bear.
[Now sporting a wound to match her opponent, Lyon moves with the remaining momentum of the spear to fall back a step. Moving to throw her mask aside, revealing a familiar face, she draws the bottle from her side.]
Raging Nostrum: Shadow Berserker.
[Better move fast before she juices up, Lun.]
no subject
[Here's another twist that might be a surprise to Lyon's Assassin self: Lun thrusting out her left hand to reveal the red glow of a fire rune. Her magecraft isn't too terribly powerful--she was never good enough with magic to qualify as a Caster--but it can come in handy in a pinch. Right now, for instance, her little barrage of fire projectiles is meant more to create an opening than strike a decisive blow.]
Pinocchio/P | Lies of P | OTA
Miyamoto Musashi | Fate/Samurai Remnant
Dr. Veritas Ratio | Honkai Star Rail | OTA
As Master, probably a teacher at the Clock Tower who hates the politics and probably tries to ignore them as much as possible. (I'm also down for doing an OU style AU, where he's still the grump from HSR.)
As Servant, he's a caster. With way too many pieces of chalk.
PS: I'm up to date on story, no worries on spoilers here.]
no subject
no subject
no subject
Barghest, Tam Lin Gawain | Fate/Grand Order | OTA
no subject
But today was a break from the violent affairs they were thrust into. He had planned on cooking once more, only to find his Servant in the kitchen.]
...oh? I wasn't aware you had culinary skills too.
Navia | Genshin Impact | OTA
Master: pls give me an AU where she's some sort of mafia mage. I'm also down for Teyvat chaos, lbr.
Servant: ooo, Berserker class. :3]
no subject
no subject
Nora/Sole Survivor | Fallout 4 | OTA
Rose (WoL OC) | FFXIV | OTA
Learning With Manga Rider | Fate Grand Order | OTA
Reeve Tuesti | FF7R | OTA
Meteion | FFXIV | OTA
no subject
Kabru | Dungeon Meshi
no subject
she can hardly be called a Mage at all. it isn't a surprise that when the day arrives at last, the Servant she calls upon is an Assassin. a weak Servant in the weakest Class, someone who wouldn't survive in a battle, whose only strengths are subterfuge and reconnaissance.
not that Ruby cares. the only feeling she could spare was relief that Cesare hadn't been angry with the result. she was fortunate: Assassin suits the Borgia family perfectly, in the end, with Cesare busy playing the role of Overseer and her own status as a Master kept secret. Assassin himself is polite and obedient, but clever, able to act independently where he sees fit. what he lacks in combat prowess, he makes up for with good instincts and an analytical mind. he's reliable.
she still lies to him. Assassin is only her Servant in the most technical sense. if he realises how pathetic she truly is, maybe he won't bother protecting her; maybe he'll find a better Master. maybe nothing would change at all. he'd notice how she's treated in the Borgia family, he'd see her cowering at Cesare's feet and just—ignore it. if that's the case, she doesn't want to find out. she's sweet and eager to please Assassin, instead; defers to Cesare for giving orders, playing up the role of an unfortunate innocent dragged into the War by her loyalty to her family. concerned for her Servant's well-being, effusive with praise, accommodating him in any way she can.
the longer the War goes on, though, the more she feels anxious that she isn't doing enough. ]
... Are you there, Assassin?
[ it's late at night, in the safety of her bedroom – as much as anything in this damn house can be considered safe for her. Ruby is sitting cross-legged in the middle of her four-poster bed, dressed in a nightgown, curtains drawn shut with only a crack left open as an invitation. ]
no subject
It did, besides, serve a second purpose to observe her: there was still a lot he didn't know about his Master, Cesare, and the dynamics of the Borgia family as a whole. If she forgot he was there, lowered her guard on her own, or perhaps came to trust him enough to take into her confidence, he might yet learn more. Knowing one's allies, of course, is just as vital as knowing the enemy... though he'll admit personal curiosity is a major factor, too. Outwardly he was happy to smile and play along with taking orders from Cesare, and there was an advantage to aligning his goals with the Overseer of the war, but even so...
When she asks after him, he's as attentive as ever, materialising in the room without missing a beat.]
I'm here, Master. What do you need?
[He peeks through the slight gap in the curtains, but doesn't draw them open, not seeking to intrude on her space.]
saber lily ; fgo : ota
As Servant for a proper grail war, she's an irregular/potential failed summoning for King Arthur. As a Master, either an homunculus fashioned after the real Artoria meant to power up the Grail, or a late-bloomer klutz magus who may or may not be related to King Arthur. ]
Valentino | Hazbin Hotel | Either role! | OTA
He would make the WORST Master but you get what you pay for, no? Standard Valentino warnings will apply in this case. You can have human flavor if you wanna go this route. ]
no subject
Alastor | Hazbin Hotel | OTA