[h1][center][b][color=9e0b0f]The Headless Horseman[/color][/b][/center][/h1]
[sup][center][color=9e0b0f]Faction: White | Class: Rider | Master: Jäger Schrodinger[/color][/center][/sup]

Rider followed a few steps behind as his Master engaged with the others. He could see the occupants of the room from any angle, but chose to meet their gazes with his stolen eyes simply because it was pleasurable for him, even after having the head for months, to exercise such a basic function. Jäger had supplied him with [url=https://pre00.deviantart.net/5f4e/th/pre/i/2013/009/8/8/nazi_germany_and__aaa_by_nallaw-d5qzael.jpg]a uniform similar to his own, and together they had sought out a head[/url] providing both appearance and functionality. The hermit cooped up with his research had refused to support the regime, and so Rider had found another use for the mage, at which point Jäger had gone to the trouble of arranging a shave and haircut to free him from the appearance of an especially haggard librarian. He could reach through his "wound" and, seeing the mage's entire being laid bare before him, grab hold of those abilities which benefited him. The spells of that mage were far from exceptional even by modern standards, but such things did provide excellent utility.

The other Masters present were of little interest to Rider. As he understood it from his Master, there would be those in support of Germany and those simply here out of personal desire. Those who could not be trusted would have their Servants sacrificed in the early stages to weaken the enemy and reveal their abilities. Perhaps it was Jäger's intent in summoning Rider, then, that even if unruly teammates had to be cast aside their abilities might still be available to the faction through his Noble Phantasm. Of course, he was one of those here for personal desire, so beyond the success of Germany he had to ensure it was their own pair who reached the final goal and had their wishes granted.

He had little interest in the two other Masters present. They would support his allies, but never join him against a real threat. No, Rider only sought the source of the unmistakable aura of another Servant which pervaded the building, and as the old woman uttered the name of the supreme Servant class, his attention focused on the point where magical energy began to gather. He remembered himself and turned his physical eyes in that direction in time to see the man himself appear. One who was truly significant in this conflict, one he would fight beside. [color=9e0b0f]"Good evening. Even if I don't quite look the part, I'm the Rider for our side."[/color] He spoke up, as Saber's Master had seemingly done so on his part. He might have said something more formal, but the reclusive researcher's anti-social nature had rubbed off on him somewhat. 

He gave a slight bow, clearly towards the Servant and not the Master, before joining Jäger at the table. As was often the case during the quiet moments in the last few months, Rider watched. He watched the doors, the tables, the old woman sitting with authority, the, oddly dressed Saber brimming with power, the timid boy without a Servant, and of course his own Master, putting on a show of enthusiasm for the coming death-match. His eyes, however, remained on the spread in front of him. His Master had usually been busy with preparations, and it seemed like such an unimpressive request, but he greatly enjoyed using his new tongue. He pulled a single grape from a bowl in front of him and brought it to his mouth.

Delicious.

[h1][center][color=0072bc][b]Nori Tohsaka[/b][/color][/center][/h1]
[color=0072bc][sup][center]Faction: White | Servant: Unsummoned[/center][/sup][/color]

Obviously the jab at his family was meant as one at him, but it was too early for a show of weakness even if he had little desire to defend those people. [color=0072bc]"Nice to meet you, Frau Weber. And please don't worry about affairs in my homeland. My father is guaranteed victory this year, so you can just think of me as an ally who would never personally make for this Grail."[/color] Even calling it a bold-faced lie would be too generous. Of course every Master had their own goals in mind, even among those straight from the heart of Germany, Nori suspected. Still, had he overcompensated with boldness? He sunk just a little deeper into his chair, even as it weakened his stand from a moment ago. He dreaded that Weber might instigate a drawn-out conversation, but was saved by the arrival of another Master and the Rider-Class Servant he had already summoned, both dressed as soldiers of the country. As the Master introduced himself, Frau Weber's own Servant appeared. [color=0072bc][i]Please don't let me be the only one unprepared.[/i][/color]

Seemingly such a problem would never come to pass, as Frau Weber directed Nori to a location prepared for just such a purpose. He rose from his seat and slung his bag over one shoulder as he made his way to the other room. [color=0072bc]"Sorry to disappear just after meeting you, Leutnant Schrodinger, but I really should prepare myself for the incoming conflict."[/color]

Nori closed the door to the storeroom behind him, switched on the light, and immediately identified the summoning circle at the centre. There was no point in wasting time, but even as a mage there was a certain mystic air to what he was about to do. From his bag he produced a sizeable chunk of wood with a bit of iron stuck on one corner. Although dull-coloured and generally unimpressive, it was a piece of the gates of the great city Troy. There were a variety of Trojan defenders who might be summoned from this, and if the Greek heroes who fought and deceived in order to pass through could also be counted, then this unassuming chunk of wood was a veritable fountain of Heroic Spirits, if an unpredictable one.

[color=0072bc][i]If I spend too long thinking about it, I'll get myself worked up and make a mistake.[/i][/color]

Nori placed the gate-shard at the edge of the summoning circle, spent a moment running energy through his circuits, as if to flex or stretch them, and began reciting the words he had carefully memorized.

[center][color=0072bc][b]"Fill. Fill. Fill. Fill. Fill."
"Do so five times, but when each is filled, annihilate it."[/b][/color]

The sigil on the ground reacted, and the connection was formed through which mana could flow.

[color=0072bc][b]"The elements of silver and iron make up the essence."
"The foundation is stone and the archduke of pacts."
"White is the color I pay tribute to."[/b][/color]

White embers burned among the circle, now.

[color=0072bc][b]"Raise a barrier against the wind and close the gates of four directions."
"Be drawn from the crown and follow the forked road that leads to the kingdom."[/b][/color]

Those embers grew until the circle itself became composed of light.

[color=0072bc][b]"Heed my words, my heart forges your body, and your power creates my destiny."
"If you heed the Grail's call and obey my will and reason, then answer my summoning."[/b][/color]

The light, having enveloped the circle began to pour forth, bringing with it a tangible force.

[color=0072bc][b]"Henceforth I pledge to embody all the good of this world."
"And to bring crumbling down all the evils of this world."[/b][/color]

The intricate patters were gone, and now a bright white spot on the ground overwhelmed the entire room.

[color=0072bc][b]"Seventh heaven clad in the great words of power!"
"Come forth from the circle of binding,"
"Guardian of the sacred balance!"[/b][/color]

There was nothing but white, for a moment.

And then, someone arrived.[/center]