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The Holy Grail Thing

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. 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!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Seth makes a good fit for master or servant and could fit into Caster or Berserker quite well. His explicit goal would be to end the grail war forever because it's kind of fucked up, right?

[ Master, or a Pseudo Servant AU. ]

[ most likely a homunculus master or a demi-servant/pseudo-servant host. alternatively, she works well as a saber, ruler or foreigner in her own right. ]

( works well as both a master and a servant! for the former, she’s from a relatively illustrious family and has been prepping for this for basically forever, and for the latter she’s a saber. )

[ The overpowered Servant (Archer, but Saber or Berserker works too) who can definitely win the war for her Master, but is not the most obedient team-player and is too lazy to bother sometimes. Not helped that she's a black hole for mana.

More interested in Master-Servant interactions than actual fighting though. But an alliance between her Master and another would be good too, so she can interact with another Servant. ]

[An Archer servant with a penchant for using guns. Feel free to reenact Young Gun or this and this. Or literally any other western that involves magic~]

Edited 2021-10-01 06:02 (UTC)

[ The face of the franchise herself... as a Saber, obviously. Though I suppose there's also the potential Master!Saber AU ]

I am very tempted to bring in Jessica to bounce off Artoria as a master, since she's simultaneously really dumb, really hotheaded, really naive, and has a Shirou-esque compulsion to Get Herself Involved (except when it involves facing ugly truths about her family)... or I could bring in her actual factual Saberface sibling, voiced by Ayako Kawasumi and all, as a Master... who despite everything is Too Normal and Too Tired for this bullshit and could have some interesting discussions on gender as well. Either way works if you're down!

[ SORRY FOR THE LATENESS... I'm down for this! Any Master/Servant prompts you interested in? ]

[I'M ALSO LATE SO IT'S NO PROB and that'd depend on who you want! With Jessica I think after-battle would be good since she's the kind of dumbass who would absolutely run in and nearly get her ass handed to her on a silver platter, but with Lion I think finding out Saber's identity would be a really interesting option, so it depends!]

[Probably a servant as, well, Theseus, but can be a Master as a mage scion way over his head.]

[Asterios is not Theseus' BFF minotaur, but I think they could be interesting as rival or allied servants or as a master/servant pair if you're interested.]

[I love this. I'm partial to the idea to the idea of Theseus being a proud and doting Master to Fate Asterios.]

[Asterios understands many things, thanks to the knowledge imparted by the Holy Grail to summoned servants. He understands that this Theseus is, and is not, the hero who slayed him. The concept of heroic roles and alternate histories has been neatly placed in his mind.

He knows he is a Berserker, and a weak one at that. While he lacks the madness that afflicts most of his class, he is no true Heroic Spirit. He is something more monstrous, fated to be defeated by a real Hero.

He comprehends the rules of the Holy Grail War, and that his presence means he has a wish that could be granted, if he serves well.

Standing in the glowing summoning circle, towering over his new master, Asterios looks down through the narrow holes of his bull mask. His twin labryses scrape against the stone as he moves to kneel.]

Master... I am... Asterios.

[Most servants are cautious about announcing their names, but Asterios' tenuous grip on humanity relies on that identity. Not much use in trying to hide who he is, anyways. He is over nine feet tall with bull horns.]

[Theseus shows no fear at the Servant who towers above him even on his knees. Instead he walks up to Asterios with a giddy sort of excitement, like this has been a long anticipated meeting. When he's close he spreads out his arms wide to either side of him, whether to hug him or simply to express his jubilation is unclear.]

The Bull of Minos! The Last Prince of Crete! I, Theseus Vasilax Aeternition, am the one to have summoned you! Oh the Fates themselves must be at work to have designed our meeting, the nemesis of my namesake!

[Where Asterios is lacking in words, Theseus compensates for in full.]

[This Theseus is much louder than the one he knew, but also... friendlier? Behind his mask, the title 'Bull of Minos' has him wrinkling his nose, but 'Price' shakes him in a different way. Not even his 'father', the king, had thought him a prince. Princes are... human.

He stands, letting his weapons dissolve into spirit form until he has need of them.]

I will... protect Master. Fight for Master. Mmmmm!

[When words fail, he gives a growl. The Fates have never been kind to him, but if he can fight beside Theseus, rather than against him, maybe he can help atone for the crimes of the Minotaur.]

[Theseus gives a mirthful laugh at that wordless growl. He gives Asterios a strong pat on the arm, which is almost as thick as him on its own.]

Soon, Asterios! And we will win victory for ourselves.

[There is no hoping or wishing in what he just said. His faith in himself (and his Servant) is absolute, just like how he has never questioned himself for anything before this day.]

[The sound of his name, his human name, on Theseus' lips cements his resolve. So long as Theseus acknowledges him as Asterios, not as the mindless, monstrous minotaur, Asterios can restrain the berserker madness and think. He can choose his path.

He nods.]

Fight. Kill. Win. I will... not fail... Theseus.

[He returns the pat with exaggerated gentleness, knowing the strength of his arms but having no experience using them for a purpose other than harm. He tests out calling the hero by his name, rather than his title, wondering if such will be permitted.]

[Theseus receives Asterios gingerly made touches with no protest, and neither does he bristle at his name. The semblance of familiarity supports Theseus' aspirations of the two taking on the Grail as a fated team, equals in might. Partners.]

That's the spirit! But for now, all we can do is prepare for the battles and opponents to come.

[Theseus looks Asterios up and down, craning his neck to get all of him. After a pass he makes a face.]

Do you have any particular fondness for that mask? [It's just so unfashionable.]

[He gives his head a shake, sending mane of hair into motion. He has the mask, as well as manacles and chains, because of the legend of the Minotaur. He has no attachment to any of the trappings of his past.]

I can... take off...?

[He would like to take it off and feel fresh air on his face, but it doesn't occur to him to remove it on his own.]

It's unacceptable! How is anyone to recognize our achievements when they can't see their victor's face?

[It's not even made out of solid gold either. Theseus impatiently takes things into his own hands, reaching to the clasps on either side of Asterios' head (with a lot of stretching and standing on the tips of his toes). Even outside of bombastic introductions he chatters constantly, seemingly regardless of whether Asterios is listening or understands.]

We must get you properly dressed... but you would have to be sized first... everything will have to be commissioned...

[Asterios bends, letting his master take charge. In battle, he charges forth, reckless and bloodthirsty, but outside of a fight, he's hesitant, out of place.]

Supposed to be... unknown. Better... for fighting...

[Most servants hide their identities to avoid giving their opponents any advantage or foreknowledge of their weaknesses. But Theseus doesn't seem worried about that. He'll let Asterios be Asterios, not 'Berserker'.

As the mask slips off, Asterios makes his first attempt at a smile. It is too wide and toothy, but he's trying.]

Don't need armor. The labyrinth... protects me. [He's never worn real clothes before, just rags and chains, so he assumes 'properly dressed' means armor like heroes wear.]

It's not a matter of protection but presentation!

[The volume spikes sharply from the biting emphasis of Theseus places on the word.]

A superior magus such as myself can only be accompanied by a Servant also worthy, wouldn't you agree? [Theseus asks rhetorically whether or not Asterios is capable of weighing in on such things.]

[ Slight preference for Servant, but I can play Master, too! Probably an Assassin. ]

[A Saber for all your Servant needs. Feel free to mistake her as a he at the start.]

[A berserker servant. Just don't get her to love you...]

( a master! also tentatively open to playing her as an assassin. )

[How about a Servant very much drawn to the darker side of her and who would just love to help Kohaku with her revenge?]

[ master or caster.

for caster, available in gou/sotsu versions, if you'd like. ]

[ the sharp tinge of mana flows through the air. all the conditions are correct; the ritual goes without flaw, the leylines coalesce, the natural ebb and flow of magecraft comes at its finest hour. rika furude has prepared well, and she will be rewarded for her efforts. surely a great knight will come for such a great family, no? or perhaps one that shares her blood, which the old magic still flows through?

...that's what should have happened. and yet, the throne of heroes has seen fit to provide her with someone else. a blonde girl, fanged and short, hardly any older than rika herself. she wears a garment of rich colors; she carries a roll of papyrus, sealed tight and tucked under one arm.

when she speaks, there is a distinct lisp to her voice - and a distinct boredom, as well. ]

Servant, Caster. [ a brief look around the room rika's chosen to summon her in; she clicks her tongue disapprovingly. ] Well? I suppose you're my Master, then?

[This... certainly wasn't what she expected when she was to summon a Servant. Rika's eyes widen at the sight - before she shuts her emotions out, like the revered magus of the Furude family that she was.

If she's bored, that doesn't matter to her.

She's not doing this for someone's entertainment, naturally.]

That's right. [Cold, clear cut.] This is proof enough, is it not?

[She raises her right hand with the command seals in the shape of a pear blossom - the meaning of her name.]

I know your class, but isn't it only right to also reveal your True Name to your Master?

[ one hand falls to the servant's hip. she hardly gives a thought before answering- ]

And lay a most elegant trap for any listeners to string the both of us up? I should think not! If one has a basic axiom to begin with, it's hardly difficult to reach a point of certainty, you know.

[ she doesn't even bother to face rika, turning to the left and walking to one of the room's walls. such niceties as polite conversation and social etiquette are clearly not her forte. ]

If you must know, you've got three perfectly good seals there. Yes?

[ she taps the wall - once, twice - then lays her hand atop it, clearly thinking about something. it's just anyone's guess as to what. ]

Edited 2021-10-02 21:19 (UTC)

You think I don't know that? The Furude Shrine is protected with a Bounded Field, that's why I summoned you here in the first place!

[At the very least, she had the common courtesy to not summon her Servant in the saiguden of all, but there's no hiding the slightest bit of frustration in her voice. Isn't she supposed to be the Master here?]

But if I must reinforce the field, then...

[She can at least do that much. Although as to what Satoko seems to be planning... that's anyone's guess. Rika isn't the one who knows, however.]

Obviously, you erected a field. But it could certainly be protected better, wouldn't you agree? [ a small, terse sigh. she takes her hand off the wall, shaking it as if to clear off some dust. ] Well, at least you chose a half-decent location. I'd half expected the mages these days to be the kind of idiots that prepare a grand parlor instead. All grandstanding and appearances, not a single lick of common sense...

[ congratulations, rika. your new servant is simply the worst. ]

Get started reinforcing the bounded field's structure, if you would. I wouldn't bother with the individual sigils - I'll be throwing all of them out anyway.

[ and with that, she squats and raps her knuckles against the ground. and for all rika's servant might be a real jerk, her power is undeniable: the moment her hand touches the ground, an intricate series of concentric circles outlines itself on the ground. circles within circles, squares circumscribing triangles bisecting perpendicular lines, greek letters forming and disappearing in rapid succession - all appear and fade. and just like that, the field feels different. sharper. more dangerous. ]

There. At least we can talk now. [ and she... plops back, sitting down on the rugged ground without the slightest hesitation. ] Well? You have questions, do you not?

It would be nice if you were to explain what you mean by 'better', don't you think?

[If there's something terse in the way Rika answers her own Servant, she certainly ignores it, opting to take a few steps in the area as she closes her eyes, pulls a hand towards herself and refocuses her mana--given the tragedy that befell her parents, a lot of her magic is self-taught and imperfect as she quietly chants under her breath the words she was taught to reinforce.

While she can't say she's the best magus - far from it, in spite of being the head of one of the three Great Families in Hinamizawa. Not that she'd ever admit to that.]

Of course I have questions. I need to know your True Name now that we're protected -- after all, we're going to win, right?

Better means better!

[ phenomenally unhelpful though it may be, it doesn't seem like she intends to chastise rika for getting anything wrong. far from it, in fact - as she listens to rika chant, she nods approvingly. then she goes about her own business, walking to two more locations and creating those same sigils of her own. they might be a bit complex to unravel at first glance, but if rika should look closely enough, it's clear what purpose they serve: traps, intended to ensnare and suspend any beings that should enter the area. living, nonliving, familiar or animal... all will be caught, with rika as a singular exception.

they're brutal. they're arcane. they're remarkably efficient. ]

Hmm... I suppose that'll do, for now. [ from her spot, she falls back onto her rear, kicking her legs up into an undignified sitting position. ] Very well. True Name, Euclid.

[ and just like that, her nature becomes clear to her master. a servant of territory creation- no, territory enforcement. the founder of geometry; the creator of the stoikheîon. all that exists within the space of reality, she can measure; and all that she can measure, she can reproduce, reframe, reduce down to a solved problem.

a truly terrifying servant, as long as she is met on her own battlefield. ]

As long as you're capable of working under simple constraints, I can lead us to victory with certainty. [ she looks rika over, still not bothering to hide her judgment. ] Well? Is that all you needed?

[Definitely unhelpful.

Rika's frown deepens for a moment once her spell is done, if only because that explanation served literally no purpose. It didn't explain how, and it's perhaps for that sole reason that she finds herself irritated.

If only because it makes her Servant look like some sort of genius.]

Well, we don't know if there are simple constraints to this war. But - yes. For now. I suppose I should return the favor, then. My name is Furude Rika, head of the Furude family.

[Servant: probably a lancer, or potentially an archer. For those of you that want a Neolithic servant.]

[Caster. Canon, crosscanon and AUs welcome]

[ ooc: Servant Assassin or Avenger. OTA for gen, M/F for ship. ]

[Ishtar shrugged and looked around the narrow alley she and Athrun were standing in (or, in her case, floating in). Here, just a few minutes earlier, she faced an enemy Servant, an Assassin who tried to take advantage of the reduced visibility and ambushed them. Possibly on their Master’s orders? Ishtar couldn’t tell and she didn’t care that much anyway.]

They barely put up any fight at all. Looks like our opponents really are way below my level… Not that this is any surprise, won’t you agree, Master?

[ She finally found what she was looking for, a bracelet that fell to the ground as the Assassin’s surprise attack struck her forearm earlier. As she leaned down to pick the accessory up, some blood trickled down her arm all the way to the extended fingers. Damn. Did the other Servant manage to harm her after all?]

They got away tonight but it’s only a matter of time until we get rid of that Servant and their Master. Let’s call it a day, Master.

[ Ishtar quickly wiped off the blood off her hand. It’s better if Athrun doesn’t see how easily she got injured and by such a weak opponent… How embarrassing.]

[Athrun could feel goosebumps all over his body. So that was what combat with a Servant is like, huh? And an Assassin... So it was no wonder that his senses had been telling him he was in danger. It was just unfortunate for them that Ishtar -- or, since they were in public, Archer -- happened to be in their path.]

Hmm...I'm not sure. That seemed almost too easy. I can't help but be suspicious.

[Was there anything off about the way their assailant moved? He's revisiting his memories trying to figure it out. Surely their opponents couldn't be that weak...right?]

I could be overthinking it, but...

[He trails off.]

But I agree, we've done enough for one day. Let's go home, Archer. We'll need to rest up for tomorrow.

[Between Ishtar's attempts to hide it and the dim light, Athrun didn't quite catch sight of the blood on her forearm.]

I hope that's it for tonight. I'd rather not get ambushed while getting back to the car twice in one night.

It doesn’t matter. If they show up again, I will just defeat them again. Not a problem.

[ That’s what she claims but… Ishtar’s wound should already be closing on its own. After all, she still had sufficient amount of magical energy stored, she barely had to use any in the fight against Assassin. But something seemed to be off. Blood was still flowing out of the cut. The wound itself wasn’t that serious but Ishtar was concerned that it was still open. Was there more to enemy Servant’s attack than it seemed at first glance?

Oh well, she should be able to regenerate more efficiently once she switches into her spirit form. However, that will have to wait. She shouldn’t be leaving Athrun alone until they are in a safe place, especially not now, when there was no telling when the Assassin could return. ]

I barely had to lift a finger this time as well.

[She grabs her Master’s arm with her own and attempts to drag him out of the alley and to the well lit street. The sooner they get home, the better. ]

Whoa!

[Athrun isn't used to being dragged along by his arm like this, so it catches him off-guard when Ishtar latches onto his arm. He regains his balance quickly, though, and walks along with her.]

Let's hope the street is still quiet. I'd hate to imagine what would happen if someone spotted us like this at night.

[A war hero in the company of a pretty, scantily-clad girl who was presently leading him along by the arm? The tabloids would have an absolute field day with such information.]

[ It’s a good thing she can use Athrun’s arm for support because damn, the wound was getting to her. The pain is bearable, she is a Servant after all, but in addition to the cut itself, she started to feel a new kind of weakness, as if her energy was being drained. Athrun could probably notice. Damn. He’ll think she is weak.

Yeah, there definitely was something wrong here. The Assassin’s attack definitely had some nasty side effects. ]

If someone sees us? Let them envy you the company of a goddess, they wish it was them in your place. [ She grins. ] But I suppose… I could change into my spirit form if you would prefer that. Not yet though. We are still not completely safe.

Edited 2021-11-05 23:12 (UTC)

Remind me to introduce you to the tabloid industry when I get the chance.

[He says this in a deadpan tone. As a war hero, appearing in the tabloids is always something that Athrun has to consider. Fortunately, there didn't seem to be any paparazzi around at the moment.

But as he pays closer attention to his senses, he also manages to pick up on Ishtar's flagging strength. Something is wrong here. He's got no idea why this is happening, but something isn't right.]

Wait a minute. Are you all right? I can feel your hold on my arm weakening. And not like you're trying to let go, either.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

The Holy Grail Thing

Seth 🐐 Radiant

kirschtaria wodime ♔ fate/go

byleth eisner | fire emblem: three houses

keqing | genshin impact

Sofia Sinclair | OC | OTA

Billy the Kid | FGO

Saber (Artoria Pendragon) | Fate/Stay Night

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Theseus | Hades

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starting out with a summoning

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Killua Zoldyck | Hunter x Hunter | OTA

Fa Mulan | Mulan

Salome | FGO

kohaku | tsukihime

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rika furude / higurashi no naku koro ni

1 to start?

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Takkar | Far Cry Primal

Merlin | Fate/

BISHOP | Original

for infinitejustice

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