Octo

Blades of Iron Roses: An Anime-Inspired Knight RP

Was this woman a jester? Her garish magic tricks were utterly ridiculous, and Gertrude's lips remained frozen in a frown the entire time she performed until that awful wreath appeared on her head. Her eye twitched, and she ripped the wreath off, glaring at Amy. Gertrude did not like being taken by surprise. She unceremoniously discarded the wreath as they continued on their way, not bothering to acknowledge Amy's little prank save for the daggers she glared.

At least the value of a pretty garden was one thing on which they could agree.

"I'd enjoy a little quiet, but I guess I can't get that," she jabbed, voice still sharp and venomous from that wreath prank, "but sure, maybe a few pretty flowers in bloom can help assuage my abject annoyance."

Though Gertrude downplayed it, taking naps among flowers was one of her favorite things. She was actually looking forward to it a little, but the nosy little Devil just couldn't leave her be. Her spine chilled slightly when Amy confronted her about Gretchen. What could she possibly know? How could she know it? Gertrude's story was fine, so she had to have some reason to be suspicious.

She had to know something that most people couldn't know. Gertrude just had to figure out what and how.

"Oh...?"

Gertrude smirked. It was her usual pompous, bratty accompaniment. She couldn't let Amy know that she was actually worried about being figured out.

"So that's what you are. I thought you were acting too nice, and I was on the mark. You're a hypocrite. Unsurprising for a 'religious' sort. A 'rules for thee but not for me' situation. You expect me to trust you with my secrets, if indeed there are any, but you won't do me the simple courtesy of telling me how you know this thing you apparently know. Well, trust is a two way street, and if you want something, you have to give something. But you won't, because you think that you're right and I'm not worth wasting basic decency on."

Gertrude let the Demon have it, blasting her with everything she could think to say to make Amy tell her what she knew and how she knew it. If Amy was half the kindhearted person she made herself out to be, she'd have to tell Gertrude. If she wasn't, well, that was one more person Gertrude could safely (pretend to) be better than.

Behind her smarmy, in-control facade, however, her emotions told a different story. She was, as always, a horrifying tempest of negativity. Her dark complexes and sick logic were likely enough to make most empaths retch. Tellingly, anger was at the forefront, but tempered with fear. Gertrude knew how capital-W-Witchcraft was looked at. Suspicion at best, a lynching at worst. If Amy were to learn, she could hold it over Gertrude's head or just tell everyone. Gertrude, as always, was constantly thinking about ways other people could hurt her.

The 'why' didn't matter. People wanted to hurt her. They couldn't be trusted. That was the truth of the world she had learned.

And sadly, her paranoia sometimes served her well.

---

Gretchen almost scoffed at Renar's statement. 'Clever' was, perhaps, one word for it. But the truth was, they were playing with two gigantic cheaters and one confused Hundi. The newcomers were on the obvious backfoot, to the point where schemes on their end would scarcely even the playing field. Gretchen went forward with her plan to mark the cards into unrecognizability for the experienced knights, which she did under the table, but it was going to be slow going.

If she was to play the long game, she'd have to take a bath the first few rounds.

Eventually, this might have worked. Might have given her an immense advantage.

But as a few hands went by, and Gertrude made her counts, it became immensely obvious.

These shits were using more than one deck, and what's more, they were hiding cards in a way that even the immensely observant Gretchen couldn't suss out. She needed a different strategy, but what could she do?

Then, Fanilly awkwardly stumbled into the room, and a possible avenue to victory revealed itself. Gretchen casually leaned back in her chair, and looked to the Captain.

"Ah, has the new Captain of the Iron Roses come to peep on our little game? I'm not doing so well, mistress."

Gretchen frowned.

"But I suppose that's to be expected. Can't outdo the famous traitor in duplicity. Don't worry about not knowing how to play the game, Captain, because someone here is playing by pretty different rules anyways."

Gretchen made a show of the fact that Fanilly was the new Captain of the old bastards' order, figuring she could play into a desire to act more chivalrous in front of the new generation. More specifically, she saw Edwin as the weaker link, and if he were needled about his nature as a traitor, he might be tempted to give up his brother's tricks to retain some honor.

Ironically betraying him once again, but of course, people didn't change. She just hoped someone else would pick up what she was tacitly suggesting, because she didn't have the magical backup to say anything too outrageous. To lay into Edwin the way she wanted to.

She hated that she was even sort of relying on anyone else, but Gretchen was painfully aware that she was barely even capable of walking on her own.

Fate/Illuminate Histoire

Lucia Lombardi

Name: Lucia Lombardi

Age: 18

Gender: Female

Appearance:

God's Sweetest Soldier

Personality: A beacon even in the darkest abyss. Graceful, gentle, and kind like a mother or an older sister, with a maturity that belies her age. She believes that everyone deserves a second chance, that all can be saved. Though she has been told that magi are heretics that pervert the natural world, she does not hate them. In fact, she’d much rather understand them than hurt them. As much as many magi believe themselves to be above Humanity, they are Human. They are God’s creation, so they must also serve God’s purpose in some way. Her love is endless, though it is true that some lambs need the crook to teach them the way they should go.

Skills:

Homemaker- Lucia is very skilled at a variety of household tasks, such as cleaning, cooking, and sewing. She finds peace and comfort in daily chores, and actually enjoys them to some extent. Her jota triestina is absolutely amazing.

Technologically Literate- While she’s no genius super hacker, she can put “computer skills” on a resume and set up a gaming console. Her aptitude in technology is not particularly notable except in comparison to many magi, especially older ones, who have no interest in such things. She has Bible.com bookmarked.

Lamb’s Demeanor- Lucia’s natural allure and gentle spirit are enchanting. Most are inclined to under-estimate her, or to believe the best in her even at first meeting. She’s very easy to talk to, and even easier to listen to.

Abilities:
Quality of Circuits: A
Quantity of Circuits: E
Elemental Affinity: Aether
Attribute: Natural Order (Returning things to how they should be)

Baptism Rite: A 10-count ritual (reciting parts of Psalm 91) that disperses spiritual bodies. This is the only Sacrament allowed to members of the Church, at least in the public eye. Lucia’s aptitude for sending spiritual bodies back where they belong is exceptional due to her attribute and circuit quality, though even she cannot harm Servants as they are bound to a Master via Command Seal. Even at such a young age, she is a top quality exorcist.

Conceptual Weapon (Natural State): By holding a folded page of Psalm 104 in between her middle and forefinger, she pours her Prayer Power into the excerpt to create a short, thin black blade like a scalpel. This Conceptual Weapon returns things to their natural state as dictated by Lucia, or rather, what Lucia believes that thing’s natural state should be as defined by God. In the simplest sense, it can heal sick and injured bodies and destroy curses. Hypothetically, she could also use this weapon to damage magical circuits or dispel magecraft, as she believes they are perversions of God’s will. However, she can always choose to cut around some things, meaning she is entirely capable of healing Magi without also damaging their circuits or dispeling their abilities.

Assets:

Backing From the Holy Church- If not win, the Church would like Lucia to last long enough to inform them about the other contestants. They will furnish her with enough to facilitate her survival for a while, hoping they’ll be able to assess who might have a wish that will not be a blight on God’s Earth. Her participation is a close-kept secret, and she has sanctuary at Sako City’s church. Her cover is that she is an apprentice to the overseer.

Fragment of the Jug of Saint Moses the Black- A minor holy item that Lucia carries inside her rosary, which secretly serves as a reliquary. The carrier of this relic will be gifted with superhuman physical ability, which can only be used offensively as long as they are protecting themselves or another. The carrier may never be the aggressor, and even in self defense, may not kill a living Human. Aberrations, however, may be destroyed with impunity.

Brief Backstory: Lucia was given up to a small convent in Italy shortly after she was born. She never knew her biological mother or father, but the Sisters and Mother Superior treated her like family. For a while, it was an idyllic life in the Italian countryside, where everyone was nice and generally got along. All the Sisters loved each other, broke bread together, told stories, shared secrets…

Then, one day, a strange heart-shaped mark appeared below Lucia’s bellybutton. Not knowing if it was the work of God or Satan, they contacted the Vatican, which sent a priest to inspect the phenomenon. He was a strange, dour man. Not like the jolly and kindly priests in the village. The man proclaimed that Lucia had been selected by God for a mission that only she could do, and quickly whisked her away to Vatican City. In only a couple of weeks, her entire utopian life had been uprooted.

Lucia was briefed on the world of Magi, the Holy Grail War, and what her mark meant. It was so far from anything she had known that she could scarcely wrap her head around it, but they were short on time. She would need to learn the Church’s holy Sacraments if she was to fulfill her mission: to win the Holy Grail War, or at least prevent the more sick and depraved Magi from succeeding.

To give her an edge, Lucia was given a holy relic and taught the Baptism Rite. She took to this Sacrament remarkably quickly, and seemed to have an innate talent for performing miracles. Since Lucia seemed to be particularly gifted, they took a gamble trying to teach her about conceptual weapons before the next War. Despite how long it takes most individuals to learn this secret Sacrament, Lucia was able to create her own conceptual weapon in only a year. Hers, however, had different effects from the Black Keys that she had used as a jumping-off point.

With her talent, Lucia’s trainers eagerly suggested that she create a weapon that could easily kill Magi as well. They were only blights, after all, and it would give her a great advantage in the upcoming conflict. This is where Lucia put her foot down.

“God did not give me this gift to hurt people.”

To Lucia, the idea of killing a Human, even a Magus, was unacceptable. If she had to kill a person to reach her goal, then it was not a goal worth reaching. If God wanted her to succeed, it would be through kindness and perseverance. Though the Vatican filled her head with dehumanizing ideas about Magi, they were still Human. This, she knew.

Her stalwart beliefs stymied even the Church’s most influential men. They had to accept that she would participate in the War on her own terms, which even they could not dictate. Her life until then, although humble and ignorant, bred a beast inside her that was horrible in its conviction.

What Lucia believed the world should be, God believed the world should be.

Lucia was shipped off to Japan a few months ahead of the War to get comfortable at the local church and build rapport with the overseer, with one last thing nagging at the back of her mind:

“What would my wish be, I wonder?”

Ludwig II

• Name: Ludwig II
• Class: Berserker
• Appearance:
  The World’s Most Handsome and Valiant Knight-King

  
• Personality: I wish to remain an eternal enigma to myself and to others. The Swan Knight of legend, who adorned the walls of my family’s castle growing up, was much the same. What could be said about this mysterious knight-king, but that she is a true romantic? That much should be obvious. But my character is of such depth and intrigue that I could talk about myself for years, and one could scarcely scratch the surface. Not since Arthur has there been a king of such chivalry and brightness, a beacon for her people! Hope!
  
  Young, beautiful, and dashingly handsome! A bewitching swan sang its final song well before its time, and the entire world wept. Shall I wax poetic about the importance of dreams, no matter how impossible? Shall I weave a tragic tale of madness and betrayal? Shall I spin a story of great love, and even greater loss? All these epics I could recite from my heart, because I lived them all.
  
  Loneliness, too. I could tell you of that, my dear subject. But do not dwell on those thoughts. Instead, are there any damsels that need saving? Dragons that must be slain? Villains to be thwarted?
• Stats:
  
  • Strength: E
  • Endurance: D
  • Agility: D
  • Mana: C
  • Luck: A
  • Noble Phantasm: A
• Class Skills:
  Märchenkönig C++: Ludwig’s personalized version of Madness Enhancement. She believes herself to be like a knight from a fairy tale. Enhancement becomes stronger the more she buys into her own fantasy, which includes adhering strictly to a chivalrous code. If the necessity of pragmatism leaks into her fantasy identity, she may become more lucid and less powerful. Uniquely, this ability boosts her further against dragons, monsters, and villains of any stripe.
• Personal Skills:
  Appreciation of the Arts D+: Chance of identifying the true name of a servant through seeing their noble phantasm. This chance is increased dramatically if the servant is related to fairy tales or Christian myth.
  Charisma B-: Ludwig was beloved by her people, as a king unlike any other. She has charisma enough to lead a nation, though those with power were wary of her lofty dreams. Ultimately, she was betrayed not by her people, but by her own ministers.
  The Perpetually Open Vaults of The Fairy Tale King B-: Ludwig always has enough funds to buy anything she’d like, as long as it is artistic or frivolous or whimsical. She won’t buy anything incredibly useful.
• Noble Phantasm(s):
  
  • Name: Neuschwanstein Castle: The Nexus From Which Dreams Spring and Return
  • Rank: A
  • Type: Anti-Army
  • Appearance: That dreamlike fairy tale castle that never existed even in the days of legend. Contained within are various rooms and displays, each more entrancing than the last. Though unfinished, it was built from the dreams of many, and serves as the groundwork of many dreams to come.
  • Effects:Neuschwanstein Castle is a reality marble in which Ludwig can fully realize her ideal of a fairy tale knight. All of her stats increase significantly, and if she considers her opponent to be a villain, the villain gets weaker. A hero should win against a villain, after all. That is the knightly ideal. In addition, plans and strategies that should not normally work have a high likelihood of turning out favorably as long as they are conceptually possible. Neuschwanstein Castle is a place where imagination becomes as powerful a weapon as any sword. In truth, it is a place in which Ludwig can live out her fantasy of being the hero of a story to the fullest.
  • Name: Carmen Cygni: The Swan’s Last Performance Over Lake Starnberg
  • Rank: D
  • Type: Anti-Unit (Self)
  • Appearance: Takes the form of a blue pendant on Ludwig’s chest, but exists conceptually beyond that.
  • Effects:If Ludwig would die, her saint graph is instead applied to her master to form a demi-servant. Ludwig’s castle exists far beyond anything a Human could build. Long after her death, it continues to inspire imaginations the world over. Take your dreams in your hand, and build.
• Alignment: Lawful Good
• Changes: Ludwig II’s grandfather, and her namesake, asked that his son’s firstborn also be named Ludwig. Ludwig I, a fanciful man who enjoyed fairy tales as much as his granddaughter eventually would, found a fey sort of humor in the naming mishap when Ludwig II was born a girl, and so the name stayed. In early life, Ludwig II was somewhat reclusive, and so very few knew that she was a woman. Only that her name was undoubtedly male. The family assumed that Otto, her younger brother, would take the throne. As Otto grew, however, it became increasingly obvious that he was deeply disturbed even from a young age. With no other recourse, Ludwig II ascended the throne through a set of ridiculous circumstances that seemed almost like a fairy tale in itself. Upon her introduction to society, all those who looked upon Ludwig II would likely describe her as “a beautiful, delicate, and lovely king”.

Blades of Iron Roses: An Anime-Inspired Knight RP

Goddesses, this girl got on her nerves.

Amy was just so bright and cheery and it was incredibly unnerving because Gertrude knew that no one was as nice as this Demon- this literal Demon- pretended to be. The way she just assumed she could trot up and boop Gertrude's nose made her nostrils flare. Her nose was not for booping, and she growled as the chatty little monster went on about how nice she was.

What a fraud, but at least Amy was preferable to the people who already wanted to physically harm her. For now. At the very least, the woman was easier on the eyes than the cavalcade of sweaty, musclebound dullards that made up most of the ranks of the Iron Roses. Like her dad, them. She almost couldn't wait for the opportunity to show them all how much stronger she was than anyone else.

Gertrude had honestly hoped to scare Amy a little by suggesting they depart alone, but it was almost as if it never even occurred to the Demon that Gertrude would hurt her. She annoyingly strutted off, happy as a peach, and left Gertrude clicking her tongue as she followed. Along the way to their first stop, Amy needled and prodded her with off-putting questions. The comment about Gretchen, especially, was concerning. Everyone else was ready to just accept her lies, and they were easy lies to swallow considering there really wasn't a feasible alternative story. Why would Amy pick on that? She had to know something. Gertrude scoffed.

"Who else would she be, if not my sister? Did Merilia drop a broom on your head, too? What manner of daft insinuation is that?"

Their steps slowed to a stop as they reached their destination. Apparently Amy meant to start with the most useless place in Candaeln. Gertrude rolled her eyes, and then snorted when Amy claimed to be a cleric. A Demon cleric? She'd never heard something so ridiculous. Then, Amy revealed that she at least knew some basic magic tricks and offered her a wreath. Did the woman think Gertrude was stupid? It was obviously a prank of some sort. The moment she took it, it would explode or scream or something. The finale to her dumb little show. Well Gertrude wouldn't be had so easily. She crossed her arms under her chest and frowned down at the Demon.

"Sure, I'll visit the chapel if I don't have anything more useful to do. But I doubt the castle will run out of wall to smack my head against any time soon," she said, not hiding an ounce of the disdain she had for Amy's supposed religion, "I probably have too many sins for those old hags to handle, anyways. I enjoyed the song and dance, it was cute, but I'm not taking that wreath. I know what happens when I touch it. It's a prank, right? You want to screw with me, just like the others. I'm not interested in looking like a fool, so I won't even bother to confirm it with a spell. Just take me elsewhere. A good place to nap, perhaps."

---

Gretchen did her best to hide the smug smile that wanted to creep up on her face as Renar and Gerard took a seat at the table. This would be like taking candy from babies. Even if an idiot plays a million games, he'll always be an idiot. They both seemed so confident, too. Did their foolishness know no bounds? Gretchen had rarely played before, herself, because gaming with the other apprentices rapidly devolved into a magical cheating contest. Not that she couldn't win such a competition, but it was so much more gratifying to completely trounce a person fair and square-

...And then she took a look at the deck they were playing with.

An addendum: Even if you're an idiot, if you play a million games with the same cards, you'll eventually learn what everything is by sight.

Gretchen frowned. There was no doubt that she could quickly learn all the cards as well. However, if other players also had perfect information, it was a solved game. Skill, probability, and deception didn't even enter into it. There was one remedy for it.

"Surely you'll extend the hospitality of allowing the newcomers to deal, yes?"

It didn't matter who else dealt, as long as they couldn't pick out the exact cards that everyone would have. From there, Gretchen would learn the cards, and mark up every card she could put her hands on to make sure that only she could tell what was what. In just a few hands, she could probably render half the deck unrecognizable to these old cheaters.

Fate/Illuminate Histoire

• Name: Ludwig II
• Class: Berserker
• Appearance:
  The World’s Most Handsome and Valiant Knight-King

  
• Personality: I wish to remain an eternal enigma to myself and to others. The Swan Knight of legend, who adorned the walls of my family’s castle growing up, was much the same. What could be said about this mysterious knight-king, but that she is a true romantic? That much should be obvious. But my character is of such depth and intrigue that I could talk about myself for years, and one could scarcely scratch the surface. Not since Arthur has there been a king of such chivalry and brightness, a beacon for her people! Hope!
  
  Young, beautiful, and dashingly handsome! A bewitching swan sang its final song well before its time, and the entire world wept. Shall I wax poetic about the importance of dreams, no matter how impossible? Shall I weave a tragic tale of madness and betrayal? Shall I spin a story of great love, and even greater loss? All these epics I could recite from my heart, because I lived them all.
  
  Loneliness, too. I could tell you of that, my dear subject. But do not dwell on those thoughts. Instead, are there any damsels that need saving? Dragons that must be slain? Villains to be thwarted?
• Stats:
  
  • Strength: E
  • Endurance: D
  • Agility: D
  • Mana: C
  • Luck: A
  • Noble Phantasm: A
• Class Skills:
  Märchenkönig C++: Ludwig’s personalized version of Madness Enhancement. She believes herself to be like a knight from a fairy tale. Enhancement becomes stronger the more she buys into her own fantasy, which includes adhering strictly to a chivalrous code. If the necessity of pragmatism leaks into her fantasy identity, she may become more lucid and less powerful. Uniquely, this ability boosts her further against dragons, monsters, and villains of any stripe.
• Personal Skills:
  Appreciation of the Arts D+: Chance of identifying the true name of a servant through seeing their noble phantasm. This chance is increased dramatically if the servant is related to fairy tales or Christian myth.
  Charisma B-: Ludwig was beloved by her people, as a king unlike any other. She has charisma enough to lead a nation, though those with power were wary of her lofty dreams. Ultimately, she was betrayed not by her people, but by her own ministers.
  The Perpetually Open Vaults of The Fairy Tale King B-: Ludwig always has enough funds to buy anything she’d like, as long as it is artistic or frivolous or whimsical. She won’t buy anything incredibly useful.
• Noble Phantasm(s):
  
  • Name: Neuschwanstein Castle: The Nexus From Which Dreams Spring and Return
  • Rank: A
  • Type: Anti-Army
  • Appearance: That dreamlike fairy tale castle that never existed even in the days of legend. Contained within are various rooms and displays, each more entrancing than the last. Though unfinished, it was built from the dreams of many, and serves as the groundwork of many dreams to come.
  • Effects:Neuschwanstein Castle is a reality marble in which Ludwig can fully realize her ideal of a fairy tale knight. All of her stats increase significantly, and if she considers her opponent to be a villain, the villain gets weaker. A hero should win against a villain, after all. That is the knightly ideal. In addition, plans and strategies that should not normally work have a high likelihood of turning out favorably as long as they are conceptually possible. Neuschwanstein Castle is a place where imagination becomes as powerful a weapon as any sword. In truth, it is a place in which Ludwig can live out her fantasy of being the hero of a story to the fullest.
  • Name: Carmen Cygni: The Swan’s Last Performance Over Lake Starnberg
  • Rank: D
  • Type: Anti-Unit (Self)
  • Appearance: Takes the form of a blue pendant on Ludwig’s chest, but exists conceptually beyond that.
  • Effects:If Ludwig would die, her saint graph is instead applied to her master to form a demi-servant. Ludwig’s castle exists far beyond anything a Human could build. Long after her death, it continues to inspire imaginations the world over. Take your dreams in your hand, and build.
• Alignment: Lawful Good
• Changes: Ludwig II’s grandfather, and her namesake, asked that his son’s firstborn also be named Ludwig. Ludwig I, a fanciful man who enjoyed fairy tales as much as his granddaughter eventually would, found a fey sort of humor in the naming mishap when Ludwig II was born a girl, and so the name stayed. In early life, Ludwig II was somewhat reclusive, and so very few knew that she was a woman. Only that her name was undoubtedly male. The family assumed that Otto, her younger brother, would take the throne. As Otto grew, however, it became increasingly obvious that he was deeply disturbed even from a young age. With no other recourse, Ludwig II ascended the throne through a set of ridiculous circumstances that seemed almost like a fairy tale in itself. Upon her introduction to society, all those who looked upon Ludwig II would likely describe her as “a beautiful, delicate, and lovely king”.

Blades of Iron Roses: An Anime-Inspired Knight RP

Gertrude was feeling pretty smug as a new person... a Demon? In a religious knightly order? As Amy interjected. It seemed the lunk needed to be bailed out. Well, it only figured. He was in way over his head. But as he departed, he got one final shot in. The only one that stung.

Gertrude was here of her own accord. She was ready and willing to use these fools as much as she needed to reach her goals. Merilia didn't force her to be here, but Renar's words managed to cut all the same. The simple truth was, if Merilia wanted her here, she would be here whether she wanted to or not. There was nothing she could do about it. She could protest that it was her choice, but the fact remained.

As long as she wasn't the most powerful, she wasn't really free. That old envy simmered, even though it was a fool's errand to compare oneself to a full-fledged Witch.

She managed to grumble one last "fuck you" as Renar departed, before turning to Amy. The Demon was a little taller than the Captain, but Gertrude still towered over her.

Gertrude hid her bitterness at that last remark in a faux-friendly grin, and crouched slightly to come to eye level with Amy. She could have just regarded the woman like a normal person, but Gertrude wanted to make her feel small.

This one was apparently canny enough to put together the context clues and guess at Gertrude's role as a mage. She wouldn't let her expression betray whether Amy was right or wrong, but as long as no one knew she was also a Witch's apprentice, it would be fine.

"Well, Amy, would you call it 'spite' or 'hostility' to be manhandled by an oaf, glowered at by a boor, and threatened with a lynching if you speak out of turn by a scoundrel? Either way, it's hardly knightly behavior, I should think. At least you pretend to be pleasant. Good on you, the most knightly of the bunch," she said pointedly, drawing herself back up to her full height.

"But, well, far be it from me to look a gift Demon in the mouth. I may be spending some time here, and it would be stupid of me to not get a lay of the land. I hope we'll be going alone, though, because I'm not really in the mood to deal with the rest of these jackanapes."

---

Gretchen was remarkably quiet as they made their way to the kitchens. She didn't even snap at Gerard for offering to help her. She didn't shoot her mouth off at every little thing, knowing that no one could hurt her.

Because they could.

The broom gave her enough mana to defend herself, but she was hardly safe. When separated from Gertrude and her ability to protect the both of them, she largely returned to the meek girl she was long ago. Without power, she was a shadow. She could only get away with so much, because there was no way for her to back it up.

Gretchen and Gertrude were the same person, only Gretchen didn't have the strength she had always coveted, and it felt terrible. She'd just have to deal with it for now. There was very little that either of them could do about it.

Gretchen took the first seat she could grab, which just so happened to be across from yet two more of the original Roses, as revealed by the current. She wanted to rag on Edwin alongside Renar (who she was still pissed at) for being the one that nobody liked, but what if he tried to hurt her? There wasn't much she could say except...

Those pastries looked good.

"Alright, deal me in," Gretchen said, taking Parvan up on his offer, "I'm just here to make sure no one messes with our food, anyways. Might as well have a little fun while I'm at it."

Her skills in adaptability and memorization made her particularly suited for gambling, anyways. The pastries would be hers.

Blades of Iron Roses: An Anime-Inspired Knight RP

Gertrude smirked at Fionn.

"Finally got up the courage to say something to my face, huh? Well, while my tongue is skilled and I do look amazing in this uniform, that doesn't even nip at the ankles of my prowess. But given what I've seen so far from you blackguards, my uniform alone clears the lot of you anyways."

And with that rude and self-aggrandizing comment hanging in the air like a series of aggressive coughs at a funeral, she humored Renar by lending him her ear, and was actually quite pleased by what he had to say. Finally, someone who was borderline straightforward in their threats. She nodded, oddly politely for her, and whispered back.

"Yes, your captain seems... sweet," she started, her choice of words very conspicuous, "and you're right. I could use the Roses. But I have no intention of heeling like a dog. I'll play along as it benefits me, but I am not fond of leashes."

Gertrude smiled wider. It was her turn to return threats with threats.

"But you and me... we're on the same page when it comes to Merilia's magical deathless playland. Though when the fighting inevitably comes about, I'll let you decide who should be scared of whom."

As Gertrude was having fun with Renar, Gretchen got to her feet shakily, like a newborn fawn. The walk had worn on her far worse than Gertrude, so she propped herself up with the broomstick. Gertrude and Gretchen had silently decided to let her take the broom for now, in case she needed to protect herself. She'd need the extra mana.

With a displeased expression that was only a shadow of Gertrude's, she hiked over to the Nicomede and Gerard group. She addressed Nicomede, rolling her eyes.

"No death doesn't mean no pain, and some poisons aren't quick. That's something we should all keep in mind, going forward," she said oddly helpfully, "anyways, you two lead the way."

...Because if there were any traps, those two would be the ones getting blown up.

Fate/Illuminate Histoire

Name: Lucia Lombardi

Age: 18

Gender: Female

Appearance:

God's Sweetest Soldier

Personality: A beacon even in the darkest abyss. Graceful, gentle, and kind like a mother or an older sister, with a maturity that belies her age. She believes that everyone deserves a second chance, that all can be saved. Though she has been told that magi are heretics that pervert the natural world, she does not hate them. In fact, she’d much rather understand them than hurt them. As much as many magi believe themselves to be above Humanity, they are Human. They are God’s creation, so they must also serve God’s purpose in some way. Her love is endless, though it is true that some lambs need the crook to teach them the way they should go.

Skills:

Homemaker- Lucia is very skilled at a variety of household tasks, such as cleaning, cooking, and sewing. She finds peace and comfort in daily chores, and actually enjoys them to some extent. Her jota triestina is absolutely amazing.

Technologically Literate- While she’s no genius super hacker, she can put “computer skills” on a resume and set up a gaming console. Her aptitude in technology is not particularly notable except in comparison to many magi, especially older ones, who have no interest in such things. She has Bible.com bookmarked.

Lamb’s Demeanor- Lucia’s natural allure and gentle spirit are enchanting. Most are inclined to under-estimate her, or to believe the best in her even at first meeting. She’s very easy to talk to, and even easier to listen to.

Abilities:
Quality of Circuits: A
Quantity of Circuits: E
Elemental Affinity: Aether
Attribute: Natural Order (Returning things to how they should be)

Baptism Rite: A 10-count ritual (reciting parts of Psalm 91) that disperses spiritual bodies. This is the only Sacrament allowed to members of the Church, at least in the public eye. Lucia’s aptitude for sending spiritual bodies back where they belong is exceptional due to her attribute and circuit quality, though even she cannot harm Servants as they are bound to a Master via Command Seal. Even at such a young age, she is a top quality exorcist.

Conceptual Weapon (Natural State): By holding a folded page of Psalm 104 in between her middle and forefinger, she pours her Prayer Power into the excerpt to create a short, thin black blade like a scalpel. This Conceptual Weapon returns things to their natural state as dictated by Lucia, or rather, what Lucia believes that thing’s natural state should be as defined by God. In the simplest sense, it can heal sick and injured bodies and destroy curses. Hypothetically, she could also use this weapon to damage magical circuits or dispel magecraft, as she believes they are perversions of God’s will. However, she can always choose to cut around some things, meaning she is entirely capable of healing Magi without also damaging their circuits or dispeling their abilities.

Assets:

Backing From the Holy Church- If not win, the Church would like Lucia to last long enough to inform them about the other contestants. They will furnish her with enough to facilitate her survival for a while, hoping they’ll be able to assess who might have a wish that will not be a blight on God’s Earth. Her participation is a close-kept secret, and she has sanctuary at Sako City’s church. Her cover is that she is an apprentice to the overseer.

Fragment of the Jug of Saint Moses the Black- A minor holy item that Lucia carries inside her rosary, which secretly serves as a reliquary. The carrier of this relic will be gifted with superhuman physical ability, which can only be used offensively as long as they are protecting themselves or another. The carrier may never be the aggressor, and even in self defense, may not kill a living Human. Aberrations, however, may be destroyed with impunity.

Brief Backstory: Lucia was given up to a small convent in Italy shortly after she was born. She never knew her biological mother or father, but the Sisters and Mother Superior treated her like family. For a while, it was an idyllic life in the Italian countryside, where everyone was nice and generally got along. All the Sisters loved each other, broke bread together, told stories, shared secrets…

Then, one day, a strange heart-shaped mark appeared below Lucia’s bellybutton. Not knowing if it was the work of God or Satan, they contacted the Vatican, which sent a priest to inspect the phenomenon. He was a strange, dour man. Not like the jolly and kindly priests in the village. The man proclaimed that Lucia had been selected by God for a mission that only she could do, and quickly whisked her away to Vatican City. In only a couple of weeks, her entire utopian life had been uprooted.

Lucia was briefed on the world of Magi, the Holy Grail War, and what her mark meant. It was so far from anything she had known that she could scarcely wrap her head around it, but they were short on time. She would need to learn the Church’s holy Sacraments if she was to fulfill her mission: to win the Holy Grail War, or at least prevent the more sick and depraved Magi from succeeding.

To give her an edge, Lucia was given a holy relic and taught the Baptism Rite. She took to this Sacrament remarkably quickly, and seemed to have an innate talent for performing miracles. Since Lucia seemed to be particularly gifted, they took a gamble trying to teach her about conceptual weapons before the next War. Despite how long it takes most individuals to learn this secret Sacrament, Lucia was able to create her own conceptual weapon in only a year. Hers, however, had different effects from the Black Keys that she had used as a jumping-off point.

With her talent, Lucia’s trainers eagerly suggested that she create a weapon that could easily kill Magi as well. They were only blights, after all, and it would give her a great advantage in the upcoming conflict. This is where Lucia put her foot down.

“God did not give me this gift to hurt people.”

To Lucia, the idea of killing a Human, even a Magus, was unacceptable. If she had to kill a person to reach her goal, then it was not a goal worth reaching. If God wanted her to succeed, it would be through kindness and perseverance. Though the Vatican filled her head with dehumanizing ideas about Magi, they were still Human. This, she knew.

Her stalwart beliefs stymied even the Church’s most influential men. They had to accept that she would participate in the War on her own terms, which even they could not dictate. Her life until then, although humble and ignorant, bred a beast inside her that was horrible in its conviction.

What Lucia believed the world should be, God believed the world should be.

Lucia was shipped off to Japan a few months ahead of the War to get comfortable at the local church and build rapport with the overseer, with one last thing nagging at the back of her mind:

“What would my wish be, I wonder?”

Blades of Iron Roses: An Anime-Inspired Knight RP

That was the look Gertrude wanted.

The way Fanilly recoiled, the way she couldn't summon up words, the way she tried to put space between them.

The way her cheeks colored as Gertrude closed in.

This was the reality of the Captain of the Iron Rose Knights. Any confidence or authority she could affect was just a façade. This woman was a weakling at the core, and someone Gertrude could feel good looking down upon. She would give Fanilly no quarter. As the Knight-captain backed away, Gertrude-

"Tch."

Gertrude clicked her tongue as the man who had 'helped' her up earlier grabbed her collar to keep her away from Fanilly. If he had known who she was, he wouldn't have dared to grab her again. She wanted to teach him a lesson, but she was outnumbered.

Not outmatched, of course, but outnumbered. Theoretically infinitely. And all the spells she was interested in were for killing, and not subduing. Gertrude kills, and they come back. Over and over. Until she runs out of mana, if they were stubborn enough, and then she dies. Gertrude didn't like pain. It had been years since she'd had to deal with it, and she wasn't about to have to deal with it now.

"I'm glad you agree with me, Gerald," she practically growled, "but that's twice you've grabbed me without my say so. Not very knightly, is it? Next time, I may not be in such good spirits. I'd be absolutely ecstatic if you'd get me my damn food as recompense."

With Gerard grabbing her, Fionn glaring daggers at her, and now Nicomede stancing up next to her, it made her almost sick how quickly they jumped to Fanilly's defense in different ways.

Weaklings shouldn't be able to get the amount of devotion these knights obviously had towards their Captain. Weaklings get beat down and humiliated. Weaklings don't get to have affection. It was infuriating, and now she couldn't even kill her problem away. She regarded Nicomede.

"Hmph. As knights, you could stand to learn a little patience," she said as she side-eyed Fionn, her attitude having turned from volatile anger to simmering antagonism through her own contemplation of the current situation, "and while I won't be tricked into getting my own food, Gretchen will go along to make sure that whatever you all get for me isn't poisoned or spat in."

She turned, once more, to Fanilly.

"So, you've gone from scolding me to showing at least a little concern," she said, the barest hint of a smile creeping back up on her lips, "I'll take it, mistress."

The way she said 'mistress' was anything but sincere, but she was at least not spitting venom at the moment.

"Well, you've heard it already, but whatever. I'm Gertrude, and we're in the same boat. I don't really know what I'm doing here, either. I don't need to train or grow or anything, since I'm already great. I was just supposed to be a consultant, but I guess that's not enough for the old-"

Gertrude frowned. Could Merilia hear her here?

"For Merilia. But don't even try to get in her head. Witches don't think like people do. All you can really do is take her at face value, if you wanna get out of here sane."

Gertrude smugged and crossed her arms underneath her chest as she followed some relatively good advice with profoundly bad advice:

"And she said to look after me, so that's probably part of the package."

Blades of Iron Roses: An Anime-Inspired Knight RP

Gertrude frowned, and stood up from her chair. At her full stature, the young apparent Knight-Captain only came up to her chest. She walked closer, and leaned in so that she'd be eye-level with Fanilly, plastering her face with a mockingly cloying smile. She heard Fionn in the background, complaining about her to the big guy like she couldn't hear him. She wouldn't acknowledge cowardice. She had thought that maybe he'd find it funny, because he obviously didn't respect Cyrus' prestige anyways, but whatever.

"So sorry, Knight-Captain. See, I didn't know. I might have expected, after all, for the Captain to introduce herself, given that I've just been dropped right into your midst. All scared and alone-"

"With me," the homunculus chimed in.

"With only my... sister. But you just ran off without even checking on me. That had me confused, I suppose, but I guess I get it. Why should someone of your station even bother with a maid? I suppose that's the knightly thing, even though Merilia requested that I be taken care of."

Then, something terribly funny occurred to Gertrude in her twisted head.

"After all, I'm sure I'm not part of the test in any way."

Blades of Iron Roses: An Anime-Inspired Knight RP

• Name: Gertrude Jäger, the Delinquent Mage
• Age: 19
• Gender: Female
• Race: Human
• Appearance:
  The Delinquent Mage

  
• Personality: Willful, arrogant, and fickle. Like a Human version of a cat, she does what she wants when she wants to do it. She’s languid and abrasive and sadistic, but she wasn’t always like that. She still longs for connections even though all of her relationships have ended badly. Though she’s incredibly knowledgeable and powerful, she is emotionally immature due to neglect, abuse, and lack of socialization. Her physical frailty has always engendered a monstrous sort of envy inside of her, which continues to grow even after becoming a top-class mage. Her biggest weakness is her desperate need for validation.
• Brief Backstory:
  
  TL;DR: Her dad is mean and a Witch took her in

  As a descendent of Mirror Knight Florian, and as the greatest hunter in Marburg, it was a foregone conclusion that herr Gunther Jäger should have a strong son. It came as a disappointment, then, that his first-born child was a girl, and a weak one at that. Even as a baby, Gertrude was often sick, and required many visits from the local healer growing up. Gunther would just as soon have nothing to do with it, but Helga, the girl’s mother, was keen on reminding him that Gertrude was his blood.
  
  Florian’s blood.
  
  If Gunther paid attention to anything, it was how he was perceived, and spitting on the blood of one of the founding members of the Iron Rose Knights would tarnish the grand image of importance that he tried to affect. However, as grand as his image was, he was only a hunter, and to anyone’s knowledge Florian didn’t exactly leave him much. The need for medicines was constant and grew expensive, and as the price grew, so too did his resentment of his daughter.
  
  When Gertrude was finally well enough to get by without a weekly visit, Gunther took her out into the woods. “You owe me a lot of money,” he said, “and you’re going to pay it back. If you can walk, you can hunt.”
  
  He trained her however he could, and she had a surprising talent for learning things quickly, but her body just couldn’t keep up. Even drawing a bowstring was too difficult for her weak arms. Frustrated, Gunther smacked the weapon out of her hands.
  
  “Useless.”
  
  Though Helga treated Gertrude kindly, there really wasn’t much she could do to dissuade Gunther’s crusade. He was determined to turn a profit from his daughter. To create something he could show off, something he could be proud of. So every day, he took her out into the woods, and every day he made his disappointment known. Gertrude was pushed constantly to her limit, and had nothing to show for it. “Useless, Useless, Useless”. This is how she also began to perceive herself.
  
  Then one day, the arrival of an Orcish warband was heralded by Helga’s mangled corpse. It was no longer safe to go out, and the villagers had to start paying tribute. Gunther was called upon to drive the band off, but he suddenly had more excuses than availability. Gertrude grieved, and wallowed in her own powerlessness. She was useless, and because she was useless, the only person that ever truly cared for her was gone.
  
  Eventually, the village was dragged out of the depths of despair by the Iron Rose Knights. The group was cheered ecstatically when they arrived to relay news of the warband’s routing. They were celebrated. They were loved. Gunther was nowhere in sight, and all Gertrude could do was look on as Tyaethe, a girl even smaller than her, was congratulated on saving Marburg.
  
  Something inside her broke.
  
  If a girl that small could do it, why couldn’t she? She couldn’t blame it on being born a girl. She couldn’t blame it on her size. The only thing left was the echoing of her father’s words, blaring more true than they had ever been. There was no excuse for her weakness. She was just useless.
  
  Gertrude didn’t understand that Tyaethe was a vampire, older and stronger than anyone in the village. She didn’t understand that Tyaethe had troubles too, that some saw her as a monster, not to be trusted. All Gertrude saw was a girl smaller than she was being lauded, and years of barely-contained vitriol boiled up. She grabbed a nearby rock, and chucked it at the knight with all of her strength.
  
  And it fell just short.
  
  Gertrude ran away, cursing under her breath.
  
  When Gertrude got back home, her father was not happy to see her. He never was, but this was different. He had unmitigated hate and frustration in his eyes.
  
  “Get out. Don’t come back unless you bring me a kill. You either die in that forest, or you bring me a damn carcass.”
  
  Gertrude finally understood. If she couldn’t do that much, if she couldn’t kill, then she should just die. Death, or kill. That was what stood in the way of her happiness. Even her mother, if she hadn’t been so useless… death or kill. The village… everyone suffering… death or kill.
  
  But even with her emotions running high, even with a truly monstrous envy and determination, her body had not grown any stronger. As she tried and failed to hunt, over and over, it became ever more certain that she would die in the woods. Then, she heard the sweetest voice in her ear. It said something that made her spine tingle.
  
  “My, but you’re strong.”
  
  The words she had always longed to hear, from anyone. It didn’t sound patronizing or sarcastic. Even with her massive victim complex, she could tell that the voice meant it. She was strong. This girl thought she was strong.
  
  And it was a girl. Again, just about her size. But there was a cool maturity in her voice. A depth when Gertrude looked into her eyes that told of experience and complexity.
  
  “Who are you?”
  
  “I am a Witch.”
  
  And somehow, Gertrude knew this to be true. She was so cute… but with an undercurrent of danger. A danger that Gertrude knew instinctively, and yet…
  
  “You’re not scared?” the Witch asked.
  
  “I think… all my fear went away,” Gertrude answered flatly, “but what do you mean? Saying I’m strong… but I’m so weak. I can’t do anything.”
  
  “Your soul is strong,” the Witch answered, smiling tenderly, “one of the strongest I’ve seen.”
  
  “But what’s a strong soul good for? Without a strong body, you-”
  
  “A strong soul is the best of all. It means you have the potential to accomplish truly great things. It means that you could become the strongest mage of an era. Only, you have to know how to draw out its power… and none of those foolish villagers could have given you that,” the Witch replied, patting Gertrude’s head. Gertrude became strangely docile, the things boiling inside her coming to a simmer as the Witch told her all the things she wanted to hear.
  
  Gertrude hugged her, and the Witch held her close.
  
  “Only a few people can tell how special you are. Lucky for you, I am one of those people. And I’m looking to take on more apprentices.”
  
  Gertrude was taken to Aleksiya’s Wandering Mansion, and given a maid uniform to represent her apprenticeship. As she grew, so too did her skill in magic. The Witch quickly discovered one of Gertrude’s greatest strengths: her incredible ability to learn by watching. If she could watch someone do a certain kind of magic, she was quickly able to understand the underlying mechanics and adapt different spells into her own lexicon. It still took practice, but her mind made her especially suited to spellcasting.
  
  Even the advanced rule-breaking magic of soul partitioning was Gertrude’s to take, though such a magic was so unique to each person that it was no easy feat, even if she watched someone do it a hundred times. She pushed her body to the limit studying, desperately wanting to please Aleksiya. Desperately wanting to hear her words of praise, over and over again. Aleksiya, for her part, didn’t exactly dissuade Gertrude’s growing obsession.
  
  When Aleksiya had felt Gertrude had learned enough, she gave the girl one more task.
  
  “I want you to take the powerful magic you have learned, and kill your father.”
  
  Gertrude was speechless.
  
  “You tell me all the time, how awful he was. It’s taking up an unhealthy amount of space in your heart. If you kill him, you free yourself from your past. It’s shackling your soul. Do this, and your power will soon grow beyond your wildest dreams.”
  
  “I… I can’t,” Gertrude answered. Her heart had grown hard over the years. She had ripped her soul apart so many times, she didn’t even know if she was Human any more. And yet, killing her most hated person was somehow something she could not do.
  
  Maybe it was the only thing standing in the way of her potential.
  
  Maybe it was the only thing keeping her from becoming a total monster. She felt that familiar ichor begin to boil inside her again.
  
  “That’s boring. You don’t want to bore me, do you? If you do it, I’ll reward you well.”
  
  “Anything but that. I’ll do anything else, but I don’t want to go back there. I don’t want-”
  
  “Which is exactly why you have to do it! I’ve praised and pampered you this long, I’ve been following this drama from the start, and I’m ready to see the climax. But this? This is boring. I don’t want to see you until you do as I say. Leave, and don’t come back until you’ve shown me something fun.”
  
  How many times can a person break?
  
  Aleksiya’s words were just like her father’s. She was just a tool for both of them, only the Witch knew how to work her better. It started boiling over. Repressed feelings, raging hormones, buried complexes…
  
  “Fuck you! I did everything you wanted up until now, and I haven’t earned even an ounce of your respect?”
  
  “Doormats don’t get respect, they get my heel.”
  
  How quickly love turns into hate.
  
  “I did everything… I needed you! I wanted… and you can’t listen to a single request of mine? Well, screw it! I don’t need you. Everything can burn! When I come back… you’d better watch out!”
  
  Gertrude stormed away, and Aleksiya smiled.
  
  “This could be fun too.”
  
  Aleksiya contacted Merilia soon after, and requested that she look out for a rogue apprentice of hers.
  
  “If the Iron Roses had another magic expert, they’d bother you less.”
  
  The Delinquent Mage, an abrasive woman in a maid outfit, soon began harassing students at the Mage College. Humiliating them with their own favored magic, and gloating over them. She was notable for her lack of recorded education, thus the title.
  
  Merilia correctly guessed that this was the apprentice in question and, for a true Witch, apprehending Gertrude was like lifting an unruly child and setting them in a corner. After a short conversation in which Gertrude incessantly teased Merilia and patted her head, the Witch offered her a job, making a quiet note of Gertrude’s transgressions. Gertrude was to become a member of the Iron Rose Knights.
  
  The stuffiness of knighthood left a sour taste in her mouth. She didn’t want to take orders from anyone else. She’d only just broken free from her former mistress. And yet, the Iron Roses would make for useful allies if she ever got the chance to turn around on Aleksiya. Gertrude determined that she would join their ranks, but retain her willful demeanor and bask in her new freedom. For Merilia, this was deemed ‘good enough’.
• Equipment: Gertrude carries a broom, which also functions as a staff through which she focuses her spells. It’s been imbued with a small portion of her soul and carved with a runic enchantment that allows it to store mana. She can use this stored mana to power her own spells, or to activate another runic enchantment that allows her to use the broom to fly. By using her soul in her spell focus, she can more easily regulate mana usage and even recall excess mana from her own spells.
  
  Gertrude also has a pendant she keeps tucked in her blouse. It’s the one thing that Florian apparently left her family, and she stole it from her father before she went into the woods. It wasn’t particularly special on its own, but Gertrude eventually put a portion of her soul into it and gave it a runic enchantment for physical reinforcement. Since she’s naturally very weak, this enchantment functionally allows her to be about as strong and durable as an average woman her age.
  
  Gertrude has also placed a portion of her soul into a homunculus that is physically identical to her. This homunculus helps her to do research and accomplish tasks effectively twice as fast. Because it only has a small portion of her soul, its magic power is much lower.
• Skills: Gertrude is an incredibly quick learner, especially when she can watch someone do the thing she wants to do. This is not just limited to magic, she’s also adept at picking up practical skills and weapon techniques. However, she finds a lot of those things either boring or unusable due to her poor physical aptitudes. Thus, her main field of study is magic, which she is quite knowledgeable in.
  
  Gertrude also knows soul partitioning, and most of its nuances. She’s studied and practiced it extensively, and routinely experiments with its limits. She can currently partition ~35% of her own soul, and even entrap the souls of others if vulnerable.
  
  Gertrude is an exceptional mage, though her main fields of interest are magic that can keep her alive and magic that can kill people. Generally, if it can’t help you stay alive or help you kill someone, it’s not really worth the brain space. She’s especially fond of fire and barrier magic, though her familiarity with mages of great power has also given her an appreciation of counter magic. She’s particularly adept at self-healing, self-buff, and self-restoration spells, which are powerful and mana-efficient, but can’t be used on other people. Who cares about them?
  
  Gertrude also has an interest in homunculi creation. Her current homunculus is basically a 1:1 physical recreation of herself, including her physical flaws. She hopes to one day be good enough at homunculi creation and soul partitioning to create a much stronger body and move to it completely. She hopes that being strong will help her get over her complexes.
  
  Gertrude is adept at runic enchantments, having engraved her broom and pendant herself. Since she likes experimenting with magic, runes and how they interact with one another was an obvious interest for her.