bakerstreet | so, i ask of thee, are you my master?

so, i ask of thee, are you my master?

The HOLY GRAIL WAR Meme

Seven Masters, magi of the present day. Seven Servants, heroes of days past.One Holy Grail, granting whomever claims it a wish. Only one team of Master and Servant may claim it.
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 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. 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!

MASTER AND SERVANT

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!

TWO SERVANTS

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!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only | Expand All

[Saber silently nods and response waits until he leaves at a safe distance. She stares at the labyrinth direction, eyes burning while she hears its shadow growing. It is like it wants to expand to swallow them once more. Of course, escape was not going to be so easy, or so Caster has probably assumed. The children and Rider are further, so the place heads to her direction.

Her invisible blade materializes once more and gripping it tightly she releases the surge of wind to the ground. Earth cracks around her to stop the maze advance with a pit she has made. And, once the typhoon clears, it reveals the true appearance of her sword. It is time to finish this.

Gripping the hilt between her hands, she lifts it above her head. Golden radiance starts to gather and flowed toward its blade. The brilliance of the timeless ideals of men crystallized by the light it collects. The dreams and illusions of glory and victory she grasps and powers with her prana. She opens her eyes and gazes at the labyrinth again, this time calmer than before. She advances toward it, giving a slash with her Noble Phantasm to release its power, while she calls out its true name.]

EX—[The flash of golden light is blinding.] —CALIBUR!

[Standing where he is, Rider can only see that golden flash of light. What name Saber calls out, what the source of the light he's seeing actually is, he can't say. To stand there beside her, to see this in action, well. He glances back at the pile of sleeping children and sighs. Being robbed of the opportunity to see the impossible is a small price for fourteen lives, and so Rider lets the light fade, and focuses on undoing the bindings.

The labyrinth itself shakes as Saber says that first syllable, and is swallowed by that golden light when the last one leaves her lips. Stones fly backwards as the beam meets each wall, but before they land, they become gold dust. Then nothing. They're only a part of Caster's makeup, and his prana is draining.

When the dust settles, the labyrinth is gone, replaced by a bare patch of earth. A great rectangle, and where the entrance was, Caster lies, his body beginning to fade. His feet are the same gold dust that the laybrinth's stones turned into, as are his finger tips.]

[The explosion of light consumes the labyrinth wholly and the few rocks, bushes and trees of the surrounding areas. Everything she looks at seems reduced to nothingness devoured by the golden pillar that rises above the night. As the radiance starts to fade, she notices what is left from the battle. An agonizing Servant who has begun to fade; she remains close, seeing him off until the last of his body crumbles into golden dust and then disappears like smoke, carrying by the gust of wind.

She turns around and heads north where Rider has indicated he will wait for her. She still carries her sword, visible and with a faint glow on her right hand. He has called for his Noble Phantasm. It is only fair he knew about hers. She is moved by her chivalry to reveal this to make it fair.

As she joins them, the children begin to stir. None of them are awake yet, but the parlor has left their faces that have regained their color. The spell over them is finally broken. Some shift in their slumber, feeling the winter chill and seeking the warmth of their peers.]

It is over. [She says and stops when she sees Rider. Saber does not need to fill him in with the details.] We should take these children to the Church. The overseer should take care of returning them to their families.

[Rider's eyes go right to Excalibur when Saber reappears. Most of it is born of honest curiosity, of seeing what Invisible Air had hidden for his time in the labyrinth. The rest is for the sake of his Master, who will doubtlessly ask him about it the second Rider returns.]

It is. And thank you for dealing the final blow.

[Finally, he lifts his gaze to meet Saber's again.] I think the church is about what, a five minute walk from here? If that? [Rider actually didn't know the area was so close to the church. How fortunate, given his miserable luck rank.]

Can you carry seven kids over your shoulders?

[She dismisses it after Rider sees it, because she has granted him that as respect for his conduct as Heroic Spirit. She has seen his trumpcard to aid those children and the situation warranted her reveal.]

Hm. You do not need to thank me, it was my duty to finally destroy Caster and his labyrinth.

[She couldn't forgive his transgressions, not just because they are rivals who competed for the Holy Grail.]

You are correct. It is not too far. [She confirms, glancing toward the city that has ignored their struggle a moment ago. Everyone must be sleeping peacefully.] I do not think my shoulders are too wide to carry more than two.

Look, duty or not? Take the gratitude.

[It's genuinely meant. But no matter, and not as Rider walks over to two of the boys. It's probably not the wisest idea to try and stack children on his broad shoulders, but he's going to try.

--And discover that he can fit two over each shoulder with ease. He stands with four of the boys slowly, and offers Saber a grin.]

I can pick up that slack.

[He is strangely friendly, so she assents as answer. She is accepting his gratitude in an unspoken 'let us not speak of this again' way.

She might want to forget her fleeting experience as Rider's mount.

She considers what he is doing and how many children are there. Some show sign of beginning to stir, despite how drained and pale they look.]

Perhaps it is wiser to take turns. You could carry a pair while I guard the rest, then it will be my turn.

[Or one could call the Overseer to pick them up with the Church resources. That chapel is unfriendly ground to Servants.]

Do you suppose one of them has one of those mobile phone thingies that we could use to call the Overseer instead?

[Rider had seen his own Master with one, a large brick of a thing with the words Nokia slapped somewhere, and a murmuring that even the most technologically inept mage couldn't break this piece of communication.]

I could search in their pockets.

[She will let the Holy Grail supply information of how to utilize one if she finds it. She palms at he children's pocket and she finds one encased one a glistening rainbow cover inside the remains of one of the older girls' jacket. She inspects it closley and tries to turn it on without success.

The battery is dead, but she does not know it.]

It does not seem to be functional.

Well, original plan it is then.

[So much for modern technology.]

Can you load the kids on my shoulders?

Are you certain you can carry this many of them?

[She asks, picking the nearest boy close to her. He does not seem to be older than twelve to place him on his shoulders. She knows they can but would the children be comfortable?]

I've carried much heavier between myself and a friend in days past.

[Rider's pretty sure that after the bull, he's a far more comfortable way to get around. But he's careful to crouch down so that Saber isn't lifting the children so high, and that any falls are from lower heights.

I do not doubt your Strength, Rider. It is theirs what concerns me.

[If they start to pile them above the other, it might cause discomfort.

She gives him a silent look of gratitude when he crouched. He's too tall and she is short. It'd have been certainly shameful to tip-toe and jump to place the children on his shoulders.]

I trust em to hold on for a five minute walk. They've proven their strength already.

You are correct. They survived Caster's labyrinth.

[Although they are not completely unscathed. They have been depleted of prana.]

Should I place the girls as well?

Why don't we do two of the boys on one shoulder, then two girls on the other, and I"ll make seven trip total.

Hm, I could assist you in the last one. You would only need to make six trips and conclude this at last.

[She hopes that the streets were empty because if somebody spotted a half-nude man carrying the children who are reported as missing, they might get in trouble.]

[Rider could argue that a giant bull just leaped over half the city, these people have seen weirder, but it is a fair enough point. A scene like this is far more suspicious.]

Then we're agreed. I'll run quick.

[Saber prefers to avoid to explain to her Master and the Church overseer why she had to go to bail Rider out of the jail, if he's spotted.]

Please do not take long. It is almost daybreak.

[She glances at the fading stars.]

[So summoning the Bull of Heaven for a jail break is right out then?]

I won't be long at all.

[Rider's off like a shot, arms curled back around his shoulders to hold the kids in place. The truth is, there's another idea in his mind, one that simply wonders if the overseer has a car that they can pile the kids into. Of course that's still suspicious, but ah. Technicalities are a funny thing, especially in this war business.

It takes Rider all of three minutes to get back to the church, and a frantic extra minute to explain to the poor (just woken up from a much needed nap) overseer what's gone on, and that there's more kids to come. With explanation delivered, it's another two minutes back, and Rider skids across the grass when he comes back to Saber.]

I filled the guy at the church in on what's happening. He's waiting, and is gonna call all the parents when we're done.

[That would probably draw too much attention and her Lawful Good alignment cannot approve of jailbreak.]

I will stay alert.

[Saber says and stands by the remaining children, watching them turn in their deep slumber to seek each other’s heat. Both, Rider and she, utilized their Noble Phantasms tonight and she has no doubt other Masters and Servants have been following and spying their situation. She hopes none of them will challenge them right now. They would put these children in grave danger when they must be taken to be healed from their prana-depleted state and it is too near dawn to risk a new battle.

When she senses a Servant approaching after less than then minutes, she is relieved to see it is just Rider. The Holy Church has the means to deliver a convincing explanation for their appearance, so she nods finding that arrangement acceptable.]

Very well. Thank you for informing me this. It gladdens me a solution was found. [A pause is made to consider the remaining children.] Will you take three remaining three boys and a girl next?

[Gilgamesh woul-- wait no, that's proof not to do the thing.]

Pile the kiddos on.

[Again, Rider bends down, making it easier for Saber to reach his broad shoulders.]

Honestly, I don't know if I really want to meet you again in a fight, or if it's best avoided now.

[Not just because they had worked well together, but because of what he suspects that sword can do. It'd be too easy to take the Bull out.]

[Gilgamesh is Chaotic ~~Jerkass~~ Good. He has no respect for anyone's laws except the ones he establishes by his whims.]

That is not our decision to make, Rider.

[She reminds him, chiding him almost gently when he has forgotten they are Servants and they must obey and respect what their Master wishes. As long it is not against their principles.]

However, I would not be opposed to call a ceasefire until all our other opponents are defeated.

[She admits, placing the children on his shoulders as she speaks. Because if it is a Servant like Rider, she would not be dishonored if she is defeated and the wish he might ask of the Grail could be worthy.]

May I know [She makes a short pause. An uncharacteristic shyness in asking this.] why do you seek the Holy Grail?

Edited 2015-08-09 18:42 (UTC)

I'll try my best for that ceasefire, but if higher powers demand it otherwise, I apologize Try not to hold it against me, mm?

[He grins over his shoulder, although the likelihood of her catching it is probably slim to none.]

It'll sound really simple and selfish, truth be told.

I will not hold the decision of your Master against you.

[She does not want to have regrets and fight honourably when the times come.]

What is your wish?

[It is rare for a Servant to have one, she finds that fairly strange.]

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