endwaar

Fate/Awakening World

Karen offered a tiny smile to Philia before her expression drifted back to neutrality. "Well, I am certain that I know very little of the actuality of these claims, but I have heard it said by some that they hold meetings in Hietzing - the 13. District."

She shrugged slightly. "But, little lambs, do be careful. It would be most troublesome if you caused some... difficulties for the ritual by your actions. Those who act carelessly will be dealt with." Her words were utterly serious for the first time since the duo had arrived in the great cathedral. "Now," she tilted her head with an abstract smile, "do the lost lambs seek anything else? Perhaps some spiritual guidance?" This offer was clearly facetious to Philia, given that the nun clearly knew something about the Einzbern clan.

Fate/Awakening World

"Ah, well..." Karen offered the pair a tiny, brief smile, though it seemed as though she were laughing silently at them, rather than being pleased at Philia's answer. "While tolerance of other faiths is very much embraced here in Austria, and rightly so, we have heard tell of a certain... cult. They prey on the populace's reverence for our Holy Lady Mary, and worship some sort of female figure. They are possibly associated with certain... abominations, and the Church has heard tell that they may interfere in the ritual."

She pursed her lips, apparently displeased with this. "Such a thing could not be tolerated, of course. While you are, of course, forbidden from doing any that do not participate in the ritual harm - as I warned the lost lambs before you - you may be able to learn things about them whilst you stay in this lovely city."

The offer was on the table. Now it was up to Philia and Archer to determine whether to accept it or not.

Fate/Awakening World

Karen looked at Phillia with something of a measuring gaze, her expression bland. "Perhaps the Church records would." Suddenly, Archer felt a slight tension in the air - akin to that of a battle. No, that was not quite right. This was more akin to the sense of tension that lingered at her court when her officials argued and debated what actions she should lead her people in.

The nun continued. "However, to offer such favor to one party in the Heaven's Feel and not the others might be considered a violation of the Church's neutrality, might it not?" She looked blandly at the pair for a moment before touching a finger lightly to her chin. "There are, however, certain issues that the Church would smile upon if they were resolved."

She let her hand fall, looking up towards the stained glass windows almost absently. "Of course, at the moment, any information I shared about the location of a 'vessel' would be purely speculation. They do hide themselves so well, do the not?"

Fate/Awakening World

The name meant nothing to Philia, at least for the moment. From the context, she could likely assume that not only was he a priest serving under the Cardinal at St. Steven's Cathedral, but also that he was more aware of the darker side of the world than most priests - most likely involved in some sort of supernatural business.

The homunculus' question, however, seemed to displease Karen, as for the first time since the pair arrived in the Cathedral her expression twisted into a minute frown, though the expression swiftly faded. When she spoke, however, there was a hint of tension in her voice. "Alas, Father Josef knows more about tending to the souls of lost lambs such as yourselves than about any such shadowy figures who would invite such dangerous individuals into our fair City of Dreams."

Well, that seemed to imply that Karen was not actually answering to this 'Father Josef' directly. But before either Servant or Master could consider that in more detail, the nun continued. "In any case, I had thought that the Einzbern clan was sure to be keeping tabs on all individuals who might be involved in such an endeavor." She adopted a tone of mock-surprise, though her expression remained as bland as usual.

"Perhaps you might consider seeking out your own clan's records - ah." She lifted her hands to her cheeks in a gesture of (likely false) embarrassment. "My apologies. I had forgotten." That was a clear lie, but it seemed rather pointless to challenge her on it.

Fate/Awakening World

The nun(?) took a moment to examine Archer with a careful eye, as though assessing her. A faint smile ghosted across her lips before she inclined her head. "What a confident time-lost lamb. A doll, is it?" She touched a hand to her cheek before arching a brow slightly. "Well. You aren't wrong, certainly. I wonder who you are, lost lamb, to be so... polite to your Master."

While Archer examined the cathedral, it did occur to her that her grandfather had almost seen the Temple of Solomon, and indeed, had taken as ransom much of that glorious structure's gold and decorations. That had been before her father and uncles had murdered him, of course, but there had been signs even at the time that some curse had struck her grandfather.

Karen's voice broke her out of her contemplation. "But to ask such a question would be most rude of me. As to your other question, well..." She lifted a finger to her lips, her now-characteristic small smile briefly hiding behind it. "You would ask a member of the Church to violate the confidence of those who seek her out?"

After a moment, she lowered her finger, shaking her head. "But then again, I am no priest, and cannot hear confessions. In answer to your question, the two lost lambs from earlier were not quite like you. They sought out answers, of course, but I could not offer them. I did refer them to Father Josef, though." The dissonantly matter-of-fact tone that she used made the pair wonder whether there was something more to her answer, but she seemed content to let them wonder, at least for the moment.

Fate/Awakening World

Der Stephansdom

"I see." The woman's tone was slightly amused, as though Philia was a child acting in a particularly precocious manner. "I suppose I shall introduce myself, then. I am Sister Karen Ortensia, and I am appointed as overseer to this 'ritual,' as you name it." Her introduction is accompanied by a sweeping gesture, intended to encompass the whole of Vienna - a gesture whose effectiveness was only mildly disrupted by the fact that her expression remained as bland as ever.

"So, lost lambs... What is it you seek here? You, of all people," she addressed Philia specifically, "should be familiar with the ritual you are engaged in, and you," she looked to Archer, "are still here. Do you seek to surrender already?" Karen's tone became slightly mocking, though her expression remained as polite and distant as ever. "I would not mind, of course, but it would seem somewhat... premature."

It was clear to Philia that she was being recognized for what she was - a homunculus of the Einzbern clan - but whether or not this 'Sister Karen' knew anything more of her than that was difficult to discern. For her part, Archer could not tell much about the woman - she wasn't a particular threat, for certain, at least for now.

Fate/Awakening World

Sister Karen Ortensia, Overseer of the Holy Grail War

A strange, somewhat sardonic nun(?) that has been assigned to oversee the Holy Grail War in Vienna. Her motives and desires are yet mysterious and unknown, but surely she will offer the traditional role the Church has in the Fuyuki Grail War... right?

She seems to take delight in mocking both Archer and Philia, though it is often difficult to tell with her eternally bland expression. Even as she (officially) refuses to take a side in the Heaven's Feel (as she represents the Catholic Church in this matter), she seems willing to deal with (and possibly even use the skills/resources of) Masters who come to her - or at least those of Philia and Archer.

Fate/Awakening World

Der Stephansdom

The sound of glass shattering was softer than might have been expected, and after repairing the window, the stairs down were entirely uninhabited. Several doors stood in their way, but the two easily bypassed the security that was, if not outdated, at least not quite advanced enough to stop a determined homunculus and her Servant.

Upon entering into the main basilica-structure, the two were given the privilege of seeing the beautiful interior of the cathedral, full of detailed sculpture and stained glass. Naturally, it would be more beautiful if the sun's bright rays shone through the glass, but even still it was quite charming... if somewhat foreign to Archer's senses.

The two were given several moments of silence before they heard soft footsteps from the aisle. When they turned to look, a woman was standing behind them, a brow arched in a mixture of skepticism and annoyance. When she spoke, it was in a tone just bland enough to be cutting. "My, my. Four unexpected guests in one night. More lost lambs seeking guidance?"

She sighed, seeming disappointed as she continued in something of a stage whisper. "Even though the last two were so stubborn..." She lifted her eyes back to look at Archer and Philia, her expression seeming more or less uninterested. "What is it you seek in this holy place, lost lambs? Should I call out to the guards that thieves have arrived to steal from the church? Or are you perhaps here for some other reason?"

Fate/Awakening World

Roof, der Stephansdom (St. Steven's Cathedral), Innere Stadt, Vienna

As Archer made a few flying leaps through die Innere Stadt, she felt a faint flicker on the edge of her senses - a Servant, she thought, perhaps a couple kilometers away - but it faded swiftly, perhaps moving out of range. It would not do to go haring off to hunt such a foe just yet, but she noted that it was to the east... where her Throne-granted knowledge told her both Leopoldstadt and Donaustadt lay.

As Archer approached the central square - Stephansplatz - she noticed that the roof of the Cathedral itself was far too slanted to easily land on, and that the taller of the two towers was covered in scaffolding. This would put the two women at risk of discovery, something that the Throne had informed her was not a good choice. As such, she deviated from her intended course, leaping to the shorter of the two towers, on the northern side.

The two had a chance to admire the mosaic design of the roof for several moments - Philia recalled that the tower had an old story associated with it - that when it's cap was being built, long after the south tower had been finished, it was said that one of the builders heard the voice of the Devil in the wind. She did not recall the specifics of what had happened, but it was something of mild interest. It was not likely that there would be a Heroic Spirit that could use that tale, but if there was, she might need to consider it more closely.

Regardless, the Church itself was below them. Perhaps it would be wise to go down the tower and meet with one of the representatives...?