[hider=NebuCHADnezzar II] [center] [h3][i]"To be a King is to conquer, to lead, to flaunt your power to those who oppose you, to bring and maintain order to this chaotic cesspool we inhabit, but most importantly... it is to protect the image of those who serve under you."[/i][/h3] [img]https://i.imgur.com/xDkajN2.png[/img] [h1]Nebuchadnezzar II[/h1] [h3]King of Babylon, Šar Šarrāni, Greatest King of Mesopotamia, The Original Chad[/h3] [/center] [hr] [hr] [center][b]Class:[/b] Rider [b]Gender: [/b] Male [b]Attribute:[/b] Man [b]Alignment:[/b] Chaotic Good [b]Objective for the Grail:[/b] To be reincarnated so he can fix Iraq. [hider=Personality] To dream an impossible dream is normal, but to actively pursue it is the mark of a fool But also the mark of a hero. An arrogant tyrant who burnt down a temple and enslaved the population, but also a regal king who brought order to this world of chaos. A servant to the gods, but would also disobey one (YHWH) at almost every opportunity. A king whose goal it is to protect the world, but one who would conquer what he could. A contradicting fool until the end, but one who can accept this fact, and still chase after what he desired. The modern world is both beautiful and disgraceful to Nebuchadnezzar. While humanity has strayed even further from the gods, they have managed to reach heights never before achieved. Plus, it means that the gods (YHWH) couldn’t meddle in the affairs of humans. Still, the gods brought a power to humanity that could never be recreated. This was fitting of course, as the Age of Gods was on its last legs by his own time. If this truly was the Age of Man, then there was no other era greater for Nebuchadnezzar to be reborn. There was no one to interfere with his dream. If an illusion was to become reality by his own hands, this was the ideal time. Also he wants to rebuild Iraq considering the current state of it. [/hider] [hider=Biography] The people have sinned and there must be restitution. When the golden calf was erected, they were punished. When they rebelled against Moses, they were punished. For every grave sin they were punished, did they expect something different? Instead of a plague or opening the Earth, Nebuchadnezzar was created. Nebuchadnezzar was intended to be God’s servant on Earth and would punish the wicked sinners who had corrupted Israel. A living punishment was forged and became the child of Nabopolassar, the first king of the Neo-Babylonian Empire. Little is known about the early life of Nebuchadnezzar and it truly isn’t relevant. The only thing worth noting is that he was competent military commander, and when his father overthrow Assyria, Nebuchadnezzar was given complete control over the military. His first campaign was into Egypt to reclaim Syria and Phoenicia. Unfortunately, this would be his only campaign as just the commander of the military, as his father would die during this conflict. Now the king of Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar set his sights on the world. Of course, as a being constructed by YHWH to punish the Jews, Nebuchadnezzar felt a desire to conquer Judah. Well, that and the constant nagging of the aforementioned god. Nebuchadnezzar worshipped mainly Marduk and Ishtar and while he would never deny the existence of YHWH, his loyalty was elsewhere. Still, in order to get YHWH out of his head, Nebuchadnezzar invaded Judah. He besieged Jerusalem, put in a new king, and figured his work was done. YHWH thought otherwise. For 10 years, amidst Nebuchadnezzar's great building projects, YHWH continued to tell him to punish the Hebrews once more. He finally gave in, and decided to do so. He took over Jerusalem a second time, and enslaved the Hebrews. Finally, a punishment that would make the god content. Of course, until Nebuchadnezzar went and burned down Solomon’s Temple. In Ancient Times, main temples towards gods were literally where they resided. Nebuchadnezzar believed that destroying this temple would, at the very least, keep YHWH away. It didn’t, and YHWH would spend the rest of Nebuchadnezzar’s life tormenting time, usually in the form of a dream. Despite the many dreams that YHWH sent to Nebuchadnezzar, there was only one that he was truly thankful for. For this dream put everything into perspective. A large tree that covers the world. From every corner of the world it can be seen. There was food and shelter for every man and animal. Never before had Nebuchadnezzar seen such a beautiful image. This dream ended with an angel ordering the tree to be cut. Nebuchadnezzar had the dream interpreted by his court magician Daniel. The tree was Nebuchadnezzar. It was him who shielded and nurtured everything, but he was not meant to last. Nebuchadnezzar would surely die, and the results of that would spell the end of Babylon, as well as this image. While this image was never the reality, this is the dream he will fight to make real. A man created to punish, but became someone to protect others. That is the truth behind Nebuchadnezzar II. There was also that time YHWH made him go insane and act like a savage for years, but lets not talk about it. [/hider] [b]Weapon:[/b] A Spear [b]Parameters: [/b] [b]STR:[/b] C [b]CON:[/b] C [b]AGI:[/b] B [b]MAG:[/b] A [b]LUK:[/b] - [b]Class Skills: [/b] [i]Magic Resistance:[/i] B Grants protection against magical effects. Differing from the Resistance effect that merely rejects Magical Energy, this ability cancels the spells altogether. At this rank it cancels spells with a chant below three verses. Even if targeted by High-Thaumaturgy and Greater Rituals, it is difficult for them to be affected. [i]Riding:[/i] A+ A Class Skill of Rider and Saber class Servants, denoting the ability to ride mounts and vehicles. All vehicles and all creatures up to the level of Phantasmal Beast and Divine Beast can be used as mounts. However, that does not apply to members of the Dragon Kind [b]Personal Skills: [/b] [i]Kareth:[/i] - A skill that denotes one as a living punishment from the gods. A hebrew term that means “cut off,” it was used in the Talmud as a spiritual cut off. It was the denial of the soul, and exclusion from the world after life. Forged by the God of the Hebrews in order to punish them, Nebuchadnezzar would be how their God would smite them. He would capture all of the Hebrews, loot and burn their temple to the ground, and would rename individual hebrews to akkadian names. As a punishment from God meant to “cut off” the Hebrews from their homeland, it could be said that Nebuchadnezzar’s body is a curse meant to destroy. This manifests as a blessing. In practice, Rider’s body is a “divine punishment” in itself. Ironically, instead of it being destructive, it makes him more resistant. His body is truly just a divine protection which nulls both status and curse effects. [i]Revelation:[/i] B A Skill to "hear the voice of heavens" and take optimum action; a Skill equivalent to Instinct, a sixth sense regarding battles. However, 'Revelation' accommodates all matters related to the achievement of a goal (for instance, choosing the most suitable path while traveling). Rider had several dreams throughout his life that were messages from the God of the Hebrews, as well as messages from his own gods, most notably, Marduk. [i]Šar Šarrāni:[/i] A+ A title given to the great kings of Assyria and Babylon. Kings, especially those of Babylon, were believed to be the living representations of the god Marduk. He was the King of Gods, so of course the King of Men would be his representative. However, the real importance comes from Marduk bringing order to the world. The chaotic Primeval Sea, the “Monster” which rampaged indiscriminately, and the beasts which roamed. All was corrected and put into order by Marduk. The King of Babylon is not only the leader of the people, but the one who creates and maintains order. Its main use is towards bringing order. Effectively, this skill acts to make sure things occur as fate has intended (as things should be), and as things are designed (as things are directed to be ). There is a bonus effect toward people, events, and so forth that are already in that direction. It can also function as a powerful type of mental attack. [hr] [h3][b]Mušḫuššu[/b][/h3] [i]Marduk, Calm the Rampaging Chaos[/i] Rank: B Type: Anti-Army Range: 1~40 Maximum Number of Targets: 500 Description: One of the second set of children birthed by Tiamat that were created to bring order to her current rebelling children. Despite ultimately being defeated by Marduk, he was spared from the same fate as his siblings. While the rest were sealed away with their Mother, Mušḫuššu was allowed to remain as the mount of Marduk. It was fitting, seeing as Mušḫuššu was created to bring order, and Marduk created order by sealing away the Chaos. Mušḫuššu and Marduk would become so intertwined that Mušḫuššu became not only a symbol of Marduk, but also a form of Marduk himself. As the living form of Marduk, it is only fit for Mušḫuššu to be Rider's mount. Of course, the two are connected in other ways. Rider adorned many of his buildings, especially the Ishtar Gate, with images of Mušḫuššu. In one of the later edition pieces added onto the Story of David, Nebuchadnezzar was shown with a “dragon” that they worshipped like a god. This “dragon” was Mušḫuššu, as he was a representation of Marduk, the Christians believed that they worshipped him as if he was Marduk. Mušḫuššu is of the highest class of Divine Beasts, being birthed by Tiamat as part of a new set of gods. While he is a great beast in power, Mušḫuššu’s true strength comes from his ability to “enforce order.” The reason he was created, the reason he served Marduk, and why he would become one with Marduk later on is because of this. The area around Mušḫuššu and everything in it will conform to the proper order of things, or rather, how things “should be.” It effectively stabilizes the world No matter how chaotic something may be, it is Mušḫuššu’s job to force it back into line. Ultimately, it is something which only truly serves Marduk, so Nebuchadnezzar doesn’t have complete control over Mušḫuššu. [hr] [h3][b]Etemenanki[/b][/h3] [i] Great Punishment of Heaven[/i] Rank: A++ Type: Anti-Fortress Range: 1~99 Maximum Number of Targets: 900 Description: “Man may not last forever, but his legacy shall live on.” The parting message from the Epic of Gilgamesh, but a lie nonetheless. The rock where stories are carved erode over time. Buildings are made to fall, whether through erosion or natural disasters. Legacies are not always built to last, but that does not mean they were not worth happening This Noble Phantasm is not his own, but would become his from his reconstruction of it. The Etemenanki was a large ziggurat that was 91 meters high. It was built by a king whose name was lost, even during the time of Nebuchadnezzar. It is theorized that it might have been constructed by the gods as the ziggurat created in Enuma Elish. It had fallen into ruin by Nebuchadnezzar’s reign, destroyed through earthquakes, lightning, and a lack of maintenance. The most relevant part of this Noble Phantasm is that it would become the inspiration for the Tower of Babel, the tower which challenged God. The true name activation of Etemenanki turns it into a homing device. As it would become the tower that was destroyed by God as it challenged the heavens, it will be targeted for the same destruction once more. While the tower was never destroyed in the original biblical texts, later additions would add it. Similar to certain avatar of destruction, Nebuchadnezzar can redirect the ray of destruction towards another target. A smiting which destroyed the tower and shattered humanity is awaiting them .It is the combination of both the tower and Nebuchadnezzar being affronts to YHWH that creates this result. As this is the case, there is a chance of being properly noticed. This event never happened during the life of Nebuchadnezzar, and if Etemenanki was the basis of the Tower of Babel, it would have most likely been the first version that was destroyed through lightning and earthquakes. Still, Rider will accept whatever the Hebrews want to associate him with. Nebuchadnezzar can summon individual parts of the tower, but can not use the true name activation without summoning the entire structure. The Rank of this Noble Phantasm corresponds to the True Name Activation, not to the tower itself. [/center] [/hider] [hider=Praise Allah] [center] [img]https://i.imgur.com/5D8WBAl.png[/img] [h1]Amara bint Mahmud ibn Hāshim Seif[/h1] [h3]Maalik, Zabaniya, Ringer of the Evening Bell[/h3] [hr] [b]Gender:[/b] Female [b]Age: [/b] 24 [b]Alignment: [/b] Chaotic Good [b]Rank:[/b] Fes [b]Objective for the Grail:[/b] Utopia [hider=Personality] Suffering is core to the human experience. To live is pain and to die is pain. But why must it be that way? To free humanity of pain is all anyone should wish for. Amara has placed the burden of this wish onto herself. While has family has stepped off the path of true magi, Amara still holds it close. Despite her lofty goal, she realistically isn’t anywhere near mature enough to hold it up. Amara might feign a serious and focused demeanor, but in reality, she’s a bit of an excited ditz who is just happy to be outside of her family’s estate. Oh and there is probably something fundamentally wrong with her, but that is better left undiscussed. [/hider] [hider=Biography] The Seif family began in the 900’s in Eastern Arabia, though they’d soon migrate to Iraq. They seemed to have had some sort of relationship with the Qarmatians, though they were never quite part of their group despite being Shia themselves. The family would base their initial work on the writings of Aristotle and Abu Ma'shar, making then incredibly close to Greek Astrology magi. This connection brought them into the fold of the Association. In the following centuries, as the Clock Tower would become the center of the magus world, the Seif would join and align themselves within the Astromancy Department. As a family of 300 years at that point, they had some clout, and their reputation would only continue to grow over the centuries. During their peak in the 1400’s, the family would have successive heads be acclaimed duelists as well as lecturers. One would even rise to the rank of Brand, however the following generation would spell their ruin. After an altercation with the Animusphere, the family would leave the Association. The head at the time, as the eccentric he was, became consumed with the world of the Middle Eastern mysticism. This changed the family’s path going forward. While they initially used angels to assist with their Astrology, their new interest in curses would change their use as well. Their name has become somewhat of an insult within the Astromancy Department, though younger families aren't exactly sure why that is. The constant shifting state of the Middle East made it fairly difficult for them to keep some sort of political power, but as long as they remained on some path as magi they’d be fine. After all, the proper life of a magus is one of solitary. You lock yourself in your library and either reach your goal or die trying. This was a seemingly simple task, yet, something went awry somewhere along the line. During the 1800’s, the family would begin to move away from the path of pure magecraft and move into the politics of the real world. Whether it was the obvious decline of the Ottomans, or a decline in good heirs, the family changed course. They’d bring a member of the ‘Ahl al-Bayt into their bloodline, an important core to gaining political power in the Shia world. The Seif would continue these political marriages, eventually being able to marry a daughter of the Ottoman Sultan. The family’s luck would quickly turn south, as World War I would kill off the Ottoman Empire, harming a solid amount of political power they gained. Their fortune would turn come the 1960’s, where a newly independent Iraq was ripe for corruption. The family’s moves would be slow, but come the 1990’s, they’d end up becoming good friends with the leader of Iraq. Of course, while his recent passing last year was tragic, this interregnum left a gaping hole for the Seif family to attempt to fill. The only reason Amara was the heir in the family’s current state is because she has little political value. Political marriages have lost their value in recent years and women don’t exactly hold political power on their own in this part of the world. She’d be given the crest with little protest. Her reason for being one was simple, it was a path to save others. To exist is to suffer, so it was her goal to end such suffering. To exist in a Utopia would be ideal, therefore, it is the path worth taking. Basically, she became a magus because the idea of a painless world was appealing to her. Her great-grandfather did her training, teaching her magecraft, life skills, and even Pahlevani. Amara’s mindset still wasn’t ideal for a magus, but her raw talent made up for this fact. Truly, she was the best prodigy the family had seen in generations. Once she caught wind of this Holy Grail War, she instantly began to prepare herself for it. While her family would definitely object to her desire (something about how a family can’t have their child murdered in Japan), she would press through it. She would raid her family for their valuables and make her way to Japan, family be damned. She wrote a nice apology letter though. [/hider] --- [b]Magic Circuit Switch:[/b] The mental image of being engulfed in flames. [b]Number of Magic Circuits:[/b] C [b]Quality of Magic Circuits:[/b] C --- [b]Origin:[/b] Dissimilitude [b]Elemental Affinity:[/b] Fire, Water [b]Magecraft:[/b] [i]Association Basics:[/i] The basics anyone who calls themselves a magus would know. Actually a relic of her family from when they were aligned with the Association. [i]Angel Creation (Zabaniya):[/i] The Creation of Angels is nothing new or surprising for Magi. They’re merely vague vessels that have been labeled as such thanks to the flanderization of the concept. The specific types of angelic form the spirits (grudges) take are that of the Zabaniya. While they are connected to the techniques of a certain Hash smoking order, the actual purpose of the Zabaniya is to guard hell and punish sinners. Zabaniya punish those who have sinned, and their punishment is increased the more someone has sinned. They’re the basis for Amara’s magecraft and act as carriers for her curses. [i]Cursecraft:[/i] The manifestation of ill will, grudges, desire to harm, and forsaken wishes. Curses are a school of magecraft ignored and underutilized by the Western Magecraft world, but is the core of Middle Eastern studies. While they fall behind in most things when compared to the West, when it comes to Curses, they fly miles above the rest of the world. As a family from the Middle East, they specialize in curses akin to the Evil Eye, sympathetic magecraft with puppets (effigies), curses caused by celestial alignment, and things of this nature. Hexes play an incredibly large part in the use of curses in the region. Of course, curses which twist fate, and alter the mind and body are the foundation. As one would expect, there are also the generic curses such as make someone feel sick, make this cute girl fall in love with me, what you inflict on me is inflicted on you, and so on. Typical stuff you would expect from a curse user. Amara can materialize curses with little effort, and the speed and skill she displays in the field is absurd. Her work would look completely alien to those from the West. [i]Astrology:[/i] While Christians would spend a millenia in the Dark Age turning away from the works of the Greeks, Muslims would embrace the works of the Greeks and make further improvements in Astrology. The “Formation of the Heavens” would play a major part in Islamic culture, making it an incredibly popular foundation for the area. This was the initial focus of the Seif family, As a family from the Middle East, the Seif specialized in "The Formation of the Heavens." The influence the celestial bodies have on the Earth, their movements, and their relations to angels are what the family especially studied. [b]Magic Crest:[/b] Over 1000 years in age, with the knowledge contained being greater than that, considering the absolute focus the family dedicated to it for well over 800 years. The sheer quality some of their previous heads had contributed to it as well. Sadly, it has taken some damages over the millennia. It was once damaged in a duel during the family’s Association days, as well as the natural decay of a Crest of this age. [b]Equipment: [/b] [i]Devil Fruits:[/i] In Islamic Hell, Jahannam, there is a tree that grows known as the Zaqqum. The Zaqqum is a tree which collects all the sins in hell and sprouts fruits which look like devil heads. These heads are filled to the brim with the sins, and consuming one will twist a body apart. Amara’s estate has one of these trees located within her house, so she plucked off some of the fruits and took them with her. [i]Orrery Watch:[/i] A miniature orrery which takes the form of a wristwatch. The movements of the celestial bodies on the Orrery symbolize the movements of the ones present in the sky. Obviously, as the family uses Classical Astrology, they have none of the more modern planets within it. [i]Heavenly Jambiya: [/i] A series of 8 Jambiya which are symbolic of the celestial bodies in the sky. Each dagger is made out of the metals associated with each celestial body and the symbols associated with each one are engraved in them. When activated, the Jambiya follow the movements of the Orrery. An effigy of herself meant to take the brunt of curses, made out of her hair, a baby tooth, and some dead skin. The right hand is opened and has the symbol of an eye on it, recreating the Hamsa. Needless to say, it is a powerful anti-cursing object capable of working on even some of the strongest Middle Eastern curses. Lots of money, both in cash and in cards. Spare clothing. Dangerous chemicals. [b]Exceptional Benefit:[/b] Superior Magic Crest [/center] [/hider]