fate/stay frosty

[renpy]

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.

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. Add other preferences if you would like. (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!

Comments

[sainthearted]

[ As a Ruler, it's Jeanne's job to remain impartial, to not side with any particular Master or Servant, to only ensure that the war is conducted fairly and that no innocents are drawn into a fight that was never theirs to begin with.

But of course, her being summoned meant that this wouldn't go smoothly. A small, sleepy town near the ocean, Caster luring the young townsfolk out of their beds to drain their lives and power an army of... golems? Monstrous rat creatures? Whatever they are, what they lack in intelligence, they make up for in numbers, and Jeanne's softly biting her lip as she flings her banner out to drive them back. She can't keep them at bay and find the townsfolk at the same time, and just as she's digging her heels in--

A Servant registers in her senses. Strong, silent-- if she wasn't a Servant herself, she wouldn't have even realized someone else was there.

... Saber. ]

If you're Caster's ally, I suggest you leave now. I won't allow any more innocents to become involved.

[ It's neither angry nor upset. It's soft, and level, but there's a clear warning. ]

[liveandforgive]

[ Since his summoning, not a day passed by where he didn't think of his wish upon the Holy Grail. It was an opportunity to rewrite his past, even if came at the price of his freedom. An enigma even in the channels of history- although he had a name, it was one that didn't lend itself to any noted weaknesses. And yet...it didn't lend to his strength either. All he had was the class he was summoned into, and the reliance upon his Master to draw out the potential needed to seize victory. Every Master and Heroic Spirit who participated within this war had their own reasons for why they sought the grail.

As for Cloud? One simply needed to see into the dreams his Master became privy to in order to understand. After all, there weren't many things more dangerous than a man who had nothing left to lose. During the Holy Grail War, Saber was quiet yet ruthless. His drive was very unbecoming of the container of a knight. It was no wonder other participants got the impression he was a wicked Servant who would seek any means necessary to win. And for the first half of this Holy Grail War, Cloud allowed them that very notion. So long as the other Servants fell at his feet, he'd get what he wanted.

That was...until he began to have his doubts behind his purpose. It was all he had, and yet beings that should have lived up to the title "Heroic Spirit" were betraying that very definition with inhumane acts. Innocent lives were being compromised. Children were powerless to resist the call of Caster... When he saw reports on the news of increasing reports of kidnappings, something deep within his memories was rekindled. A familiar sensation, dread and a hope that it wasn't too late to save them. Even for all of his attempts to maintain a cold heart...

Perhaps the fact he had nothing left to lose was a lie all along. ]

Guess that makes two of us. [ His voice cuts through the bustling hoard of monstrous beings Jeanne was faced with. Suddenly from above, crashing down from the sky, Cloud's sword slams before the army of golems as a bright blue light rips through a line of them. Tearing the golems apart with rapid cuts of energy from the crescent blade beam, Saber made his proper entrance onto the scene as he stands between Jeanne and Caster's hoard. ] Don't get the wrong idea, Ruler.

[ When it came to the Holy Grail War, he would continue to fight alone. ]

But... [ His mako-infused eyes glare out at the abominations manifest from Caster's actions while the grip on his sword tightens. Not as Saber the Servant. But as Cloud Strife the human who couldn't watch this anymore. ] This isn't about the war anymore.

[ Caster needed to be reigned in, or silenced. ]

I'll hold them off here. You find the townspeople before it's too late.

[sainthearted]

[ The mild tension running through her slips just enough at his admission; she's still refusing to let her guard down, though it's less due to his presence and more because this isn't a situation to relax in. Not if she wants to end this quickly.

... An undeniable fact remains that, with his aid, "quickly" ought to be attained, and Jeanne's sigh is an absolutely silent one. He'd clearly just proven that he could hold his own against the snarls and squeaks of bloodthirsty monsters, which is more than she can say for the innocents dragged into this. No one else is championing them, and her heart aches for their souls. ]

Understood.

[ It's a brisk enough reply, but he seems to favor a more succinct dialogue. ]

Then, I'll go on ahead. [ But as she turns to go, braid whipping back over her shoulder, she adds simply, ]

Thank you, Saber.

[liveandforgive]

[ Flashing her a fleeting glance over his shoulder, Saber simply nods to her thanks with a small "Mm." before she takes off. His attention is once again gained by the shuffling of steps from the beasts that stood before him. One attempted to lunge after Jeanne as she made her escape, jumping past the blond swordsman.

... Rather, it would have, if it wasn't for the deceivingly fast side swipe of Saber's blade as it cleaved the monster clean in two. The familiar dissipated in a cloud of bloody particles before being reduced to nothing, fading into the night. This seemed to cause the hoard to relent, hesitant to act or go after Ruler further. Jeanne d'Arc, the holy maiden who would see to this war being concluded justly. The fact that she was out on the battlefield to see this justice through herself...was all that Cloud needed.

The other six Servants were his enemy- but after tonight and until the very end, Jeanne would find herself an ally in Cloud. Her actions here had earned his trust, and his sword for such plights. ]

Too bad you can't feel regret. [ He readies himself, muscles tensing as the grip upon the Fusion Sword tightens. ] 'Cause this is gonna hurt.

!!! Haah—!!

——

[ Every minute- no... Every second counted as the ensuing confrontation between Ruler and Caster wasted precious time. Time that could have been used freeing the innocents being drained and manipulated by the Servant's poison. The bounded field that Caster had created using the mana they had amassed was absurd. If it were to be collected into a single attack, it would rival multiple Servant's Noble Phantasms. But more importantly, if this continued, their influence would leak throughout the entire town and cause further damage and loss of innocent lives.

Everything would rot in disease and death.

But they cared little about the means. For Caster, the ends (the Holy Grail, satisfying their Master) justified the means. Drunk off the accrued power they possessed, most other Servants would be hard set to defeat them now. Despite Jeanne's nigh-immunity to Caster's magic, it was the threat of killing off every single prisoner that made things difficult. Getting too close would simply corrupt and melt their bodies away from the potent and dense field of poison. The air would have been enough to choke any normal human within the vicinity in seconds.

Despite the Saber class' innate resistance to magic, Cloud's statistic in this area was surprisingly low. Which was why when he arrived and teamed up with Jeanne against Caster, his movement was slowed before being submitted to a lethal wave of poison. It was a mistake to come here. He should have left everything to Jeanne and risk the loss of further lives. ... and yet, ]

"Why...? Why, why, whywhywhyWHY?! Why are you still standing?! You should be less than bones by now!!" [ For the first time, Caster exuded fear as they screamed out for an answer. And amidst the thick haze of poison, Cloud's eyes seemingly pierced through the darkness as he remained standing alongside Jeanne. ]

That's easy... [ With one hand, he tears away his torn sleeve, revealing blotches of black that stained the flesh of his arm. All beneath a red ribbon wrapped around his bicep. This wasn't because of Caster's poison. No... The origin of this disease ran deeper. ] I'm already corrupt.

[ This battle was reaching its climax. If they couldn't directly attack Caster least they released their Noble Phantasm and killed everyone else, he would simply end this from a distance. A fiery blue aura envelopes Saber's body and sword as a sudden wind began to swirl around the blond. It grew stronger, billowing and blowing away the dense haze that filled the bounded field.

With a shout, he swung his giant sword in the direction of the mad Servant, unleashing a massive tornado that tore its way towards the enemy. ]

[sainthearted]

[ She'd meant to avoid this, dragging in another Servant who lacked the advantage that being a Ruler carried. She doesn't have the time or the luxury to keep an eye on Saber, either, forced to let him involve himself and partnering up with him in an attempt to protect the prisoners from further harm.

As Saber calls on a power that makes her very bones ache from the intensity of that aura, Jeanne swings an arm up into the air. ]

By my authority as Ruler, I hereby grant the use of a Command Spell to Saber! Let your attack be strengthened!!

[ Even she has to brace herself against the wind that whips up, forming into a shrieking tornado that has Jeanne plunging her banner into the ground for additional stability. There's a lot to focus on here, including Saber's unusual injury, but for now, Caster comes first.

A Caster who shrieks in despair and agony as the tornado slams into them, creating an explosion that makes the earth wail and tremble beneath their feet. ]

[liveandforgive]

[ His muscles strain under the pressure of his own attack. These were merely techniques, powerful though they may have been when bolstered as a Heroic Spirit. Initially believed to be a Servant with no true Noble Phantasm to call his own- if that fiery aura was what beget these powers, the embodiment of his legacy, let that be his Noble Phantasm. ]

Breaking my limits...

[ Limit Break. ]

"SAAAABEEEEER!!"

[ As Finishing Touch sweeps Caster into its unyielding cyclone, Saber wasn't finished yet. Powerful though that attack may have been, especially when backed by the authority of Ruler, he wouldn't be satisfied until the sadistic Servant was reduced to ash. And so, by the power of the Command Spell granted to him, the blond suddenly takes off, leaping sky high with nothing but pure determination in his eyes. Higher, higher...! His sword begins to take on a burning orange glow as his jump takes him straight above the tornado Caster was trapped in.

When Caster managed to look up through the eye of the storm, their eyes widen as Death's chill racks their spine. ]

Stars... [ He swings his sword from high above the tornado, conjuring up boulder-sized meteorites before pointing his sword straight down. ] Descend!!



[ Caster is pelted by explosive meteorites, sending the Servant careening towards the ground before being bombarded by the remaining hits. The wind drowns out their pained cries as the fire scorches their robes and body. When the final meteorite lands, Cloud descends through centre of the tornado as it begins to dissipate. The smoke clears and Caster's influence almost immediately vanishes. ]

. . .

[ Fading into the ether, their spiritual core scorched and crushed beyond repair, the battle was over. Caster was no more. Standing at the centre where Caster once lay fading was Saber, whose back was turned to Jeanne as he let his sword dematerialize with a sigh. ]

[sainthearted]

[ He's a Saber for a reason, Jeanne thinks, a little absentmindedly. That amount of destruction, tempered by a stern will, unlike the haphazard recklessness of a Berserker... from all that she's observed in this holy war, Saber remains a strong contender.

Not that it really matters at this point in time. They've defeated the evil here, and Jeanne breathes out softly in air that's no longer thickly stagnant with poison, moving over to the unconscious victims to check pulses and to begin lifting them up. She'll need to get them home, properly, but she glances in Saber's direction. ]

Thank you. For your aid, I'll reward you properly, though I'm afraid it will have to wait for a later time.

[liveandforgive]

[ The tension in his shoulders fades as he chances a glance back over his shoulder towards Jeanne- then towards the small group of motionless victims as she checks for their vital signs. He stands there for only a second or two, approaching even as she speaks to him of a reward. The way he closes the distance between them, it's almost like he didn't hear that last part. No, there was a far more pressing matter at hand now that Caster had been eliminated.

A frown mars the blond swordsman's lips as he kneels down beside a small child. But it seems like they weren't too late. Miraculously so as his gaze softens, pulling the young one into his arms and lifting them up. ]

You wanna lead the way? [ This wasn't the job of a Servant like him. But if Cloud simply walked away, he knew he wouldn't be able to forgive himself. He could care less about a reward, nor was he doing this to gain her further favor either. ]

[sainthearted]

[ Jeanne offers him a calmly quirked brow, her opinions going unstated when there's very important matters to attend to first. His assistance is at least acknowledged with a gentle nod and a softer smile, and Jeanne straightens up with one person slung over her shoulder, and two children, one on each hip. ]

This way.

[ It's a quick traipse, at least, back to the row of neat little houses and open windows, which is a simple enough matter when it comes to returning these people to their beds. ]

[liveandforgive]

[ Cloud shortly follows suit, taking the young child against his hip and the last older person over his shoulder. He could have sworn there were more... Unless Caster had already expended them. The blond Servant doesn't want to linger on those thoughts for long, whether he was just overthinking things or not. Now he was more intent on saving those in front of him as the two proceed to return everyone home.

At the end of their endeavour, past the backyard of the last house what appeared to be a community park, the two land on the open field. He breaths softly, relieved that they did what they could. If Cloud was lucky, his Master was still resting at their house, none the wiser to the blond's personal initiative to confront Caster. ]

Thanks, Ruler... [ A beat. As for his reward, ] I'll pass on the reward, by the way.

[ Knowing that Caster was gone and that innocent people were safe was what counted. ]

[sainthearted]

Are you certain? Though you've proven capable of acting on your own, most Servants would want an additional advantage in such a war.

[ Jeanne scrutinizes him now, a calmer, gentler breeze sending her braid waving past her. It's highly unusual for a Servant to turn down a reward, when they were already prepared to stake their everything on this war's prize. ]

Even if your actions were for the sake of the children, Cloud Strife.

[liveandforgive]

[ His name leaves her lips and he's reminded of his place in this war. Why he chose to forge a contract with the world to begin with. If he won the Holy Grail, he'd be able to rewind the damage that had been done back home. He could save everyone he cherished... Even if it cost him his own life with them. Some would call this the price of freedom, but he seemed to accept it all the same. And yet... ]

Maybe I should. [ It's not a full acceptance just yet, his gaze lifting to the moon shining bright in the sky amidst a sea of stars. Such a stark contrast to the hazy, almost corrupted look to the sky from early. Something was wrong... Deep in his heart, he can feel it. Yet, he wonders if his suspicions were true, or if it had something to do with his own ailment. His gaze stays on Jeanne as he feels that the time may be right to ask. ] Let me ask you...

What do you think of this Holy Grail War? [ It should be such a simple question for one such as Ruler. But the weight behind those words felt heavier. He wasn't sure that "iffy" was the right word, but...it's one he can't seem to shake. ]

[sainthearted]

[ Jeanne doesn't opt to reply for several long moments, though it's not as though she's ignoring him. Her gaze is distant, as though she's focusing on something past this time, this place, this moment.

Many, many years ago, she'd stood beneath a starry expanse like this. Younger, unpolished, uncertain but determined. Things have changed since then, but there's still a sense of unease when it comes to the future. ]

You should know, Saber. I wouldn't be here if things were unfolding as intended.

[liveandforgive]

[ It was true. A Ruler was called forth to mediate and ensure fairness and a just war was carried out. That seven legends would collide, the Holy Grail filled and a wish fulfilled. The purpose to this war changed between contestants. Some for a wish, others to reach the root and obtain further knowledge, and others...didn't even seek the Grail to begin with. Everyone's reasons for fighting was different. But even now as he shared this same sky with Jeanne, Saber began doubting his own reasons for fighting.

Or rather...if this war truly could take back everything he'd failed to protect. His thoughts continue to linger over his own words. Perhaps he should have been asking himself this version same question. Not Jeanne. And then she spoke once more, her words seemingly causing a resonance within him about this fight. As he replies back, his gaze drifts from her as he closes his eyes, the sleeve covering his blackened arm reforming from his spiritual energy. ]

Mm... It feels like I've been doing less fighting and more cleaning up messes as time goes on.