Cu Chulainn

Windfall ☄ A Character-driven Fantasy

Derrick Lowborn

Scourge of the Great Swamp

Derrick Lowborn ● 24 ● He/Him

^{______________________________________}

^Appearance:

5'8, slender but athletic build, dark brown hair, pale skin, and sullen amber eyes. Wears a mixed set of armor emphasizing mobility and an assortment of dark, natural colors, perfect for skulking around wooded lands and underbrush as well as protecting against the rain. Also carries an assortment of different smaller weapons such as a hatchet, an arming sword, and a light pick. He most notably sports a black mask when hunting, made to protect himself from fungal spores and other inhaled threats common to his homeland. Image for reference. Dos.

^Reputation:

A roaming, "ranger"-type mercenary. When one would ask about the "Scourge of the Great Swamp," one would receive a variety of different accounts, many of which are heavily exaggerated. One common theme is that he is a monster slayer of no small renown, a local legend to those living in the more remote regions of the Lowlands and a folk tale to others nearby. All of these accounts are unreliable, however, as he leaves just as fast as he arrives. Those who have traveled with him would describe him as rather reserved and quiet, a soft-spoken expert when consulted in matters he specializes in, and turning into "something else" in the throes of battle.

^{Reason for Traveling:}

Simply put, Derrick wishes to become a hero. His mother, a powerful and infamous enchantress, had raised him for such a purpose, sending him off as soon as he came of age, having ingrained the young man with that aimless goal in mind. However, Derrick's opinion of "becoming a hero" is incomplete, as he believes this equates to seeking out stronger monsters and slaying them in battle. His current goals are to find such a monster, having grown unsatisfied with the "smaller" threats he normally faces.

^Skills:

As expected of someone raised in the wilder regions of the Lowlands, Derrick is a skilled survivalist, with proficiency in hunting, tracking, gathering, and other skills expected of a Ranger. Derrick is also gifted in more clandestine acts, taking advantage of his smaller frame and his conformity with the woodlands of his home to hone his skills at hiding and moving silently. Derrick is also a skilled trapper, able to make rudimentary snares out of sticks and vines alone, and more deadly traps if given the proper time and resources. Due to being raised in the Indiga Great Swamp, he has a familiarity with many of its flora and fauna, taught to him by his mother.

That said, while Derrick is trained in many practical skills, his weakness is in magic, as he is incapable of using his mana or casting any spells due to a curse placed on him at a young age. To compensate, Derrick has honed his skills with weapons to a degree that rivals that of a trained knight, specializing in smaller arms to complement his role as a skirmisher. However, when compared to a warrior that has received formal training, Derrick's fighting style seems to be more vicious and destructive in nature. While a knight of similar skill would fight in order to "defeat" their opponent, Derrick fights in order to "annihilate" his opponent. In other words, a professional slaughterer. This method of combat shines fully when up against supernatural beings.

^Meta:

For Derrick, I was looking to do something of a deconstruction of a folk hero, as well as the classic Hero's Journey story, using elements from different classic legends (such as being raised by a powerful magic being, slaying monsters, etc.) and hopefully turning all of it over its head. The conclusion was an aloof young man who was raised with high expectations in mind and doing his best to accomplish them without really knowing the meaning behind them. That said, I do have a desire for Derrick to grow out his shell and hopefully learn that there is more to being a hero than slaying every single monster he comes across. Hopefully in the end, Derrick would have received proper rehabilitation from his dubious upbringing. Of course, I'm a fan of tragic endings as much as I am of happy ones, so we'll see what the story has in store in the future~

There are other, more secretive elements to Derrick's growth I already discussed with Yankee previously for the sake of narrative such as the curse that doesn't allow him to cast spells, but I can say that they may involve Derrick's witchy mother making an appearance, among other things. Hopefully the twists and turns I have planned aren't too obvious from the get-go... And of course, I do also want to have cool monster fights every now and then, as expected from those who know me.

^Extra:

Art Source

Cacophony Concord

_{HP 103/110 SP 56/80 MP 10/10}

---

Seeing Klein leap into the fray took Lew by surprised. He assumed that most of his allies were busy dealing with the other kappa, and that he was prepared to face off with this one... Not that Lew was complaining about the help, anyway. It seemed as if it weren't for Klein doing what he did, Lew would have lost his opportunity, somehow. Still, things looked ugly for his larger ally, making it obvious to Lew that now is a perfect time to release his Power Attack! Before he could move in to do it however, Klein's unorthodox method of stopping the kappa from biting into his face caught Lew just a bit off-guard. Kappa fisting was one thing he was too familiar with, but he wasn't expecting it to go both ways!

Still, Klein seemed hellbent on sacrificing his arm in order to ensure the kappa's demise, and between that as well as Raymond charging in, Lew knew that if he didn't act now, he would only be dishonoring his friends.

Lew charged forward, holding his wakizashi close to his waist before leaping upward. As he made his descent, his eyes met Klein's for but a brief moment, conveying the emotion that he accepted his companion's sacrifice. Raising his blade in the air as he neared the kappa, Lew finally released the deep breath he was holding in for all this time for the most cool weeaboo fightan sword technique line he could think of at the moment.

"Water Skipping Stone: Two-Strokes!"

And so, Lew's blade sliced into the kappa's neck with his charged Power Attack, striking in the direction opposite of where Raymond was striking it towards so that their momentum would add on together. Rather than completing his slash with one attack, Lew twisted his body as he raised his blade once more, striking the same exact place his blade had sunk into before with a second Power Attack, adding onto the devastation from his first strike. He tried his best to make the movements flow like water, but without any actual experience with swords or the aid of any automatic combat functions, Lew's actions seemed overly dramatic and a bit sloppy...

Oh well. Style points mean nothing if there are no true beauties to impress.

Windfall ☄ A Character-driven Fantasy

<sub>Where have all the good men gone
And where are all the gods?
Where's the streetwise Hercules
To fight the rising odds?
Isn't there a white knight upon a fiery steed?
Late at night I toss and I turn
And I dream of what I need

I need a hero
I'm holding out for a hero till the end of the night
He's gotta be strong, and he's gotta be fast
And he's gotta be fresh from the fight
I need a hero
I'm holding out for a hero till the morning light
He's gotta be sure, and it's gotta be soon
And he's gotta be larger than life
Larger than life</sub>

Hero (Murderer)

Scourge of the Great Swamp

Derrick Lowborn ● 24 ● He/Him

^{______________________________________}

^Appearance:

5'8, slender but athletic build, dark brown hair, pale skin, and sullen amber eyes. Wears a mixed set of armor emphasizing mobility and an assortment of dark, natural colors, perfect for skulking around wooded lands and underbrush as well as protecting against the rain. Also carries an assortment of different smaller weapons such as a hatchet, an arming sword, and a light pick. He most notably sports a black mask when hunting, made to protect himself from fungal spores and other inhaled threats common to his homeland. Image for reference. Dos.

^Reputation:

A roaming, "ranger"-type mercenary. When one would ask about the "Scourge of the Great Swamp," one would receive a variety of different accounts, many of which are heavily exaggerated. One common theme is that he is a monster slayer of no small renown, a local legend to those living in the more remote regions of the Lowlands and a folk tale to others nearby. All of these accounts are unreliable, however, as he leaves just as fast as he arrives. Those who have traveled with him would describe him as rather reserved and quiet, a soft-spoken expert when consulted in matters he specializes in, and turning into "something else" in the throes of battle.

^{Reason for Traveling:}

Simply put, Derrick wishes to become a hero. His mother, a powerful and infamous enchantress, had raised him for such a purpose, sending him off as soon as he came of age, having ingrained the young man with that aimless goal in mind. However, Derrick's opinion of "becoming a hero" is incomplete, as he believes this equates to seeking out stronger monsters and slaying them in battle. His current goals are to find such a monster, having grown unsatisfied with the "smaller" threats he normally faces.

^Skills:

As expected of someone raised in the wilder regions of the Lowlands, Derrick is a skilled survivalist, with proficiency in hunting, tracking, gathering, and other skills expected of a Ranger. Derrick is also gifted in more clandestine acts, taking advantage of his smaller frame and his conformity with the woodlands of his home to hone his skills at hiding and moving silently. Derrick is also a skilled trapper, able to make rudimentary snares out of sticks and vines alone, and more deadly traps if given the proper time and resources. Due to being raised in the Indiga Great Swamp, he has a familiarity with many of its flora and fauna, taught to him by his mother.

That said, while Derrick is trained in many practical skills, his weakness is in magic, as he is incapable of using his mana or casting any spells due to a curse placed on him at a young age. To compensate, Derrick has honed his skills with weapons to a degree that rivals that of a trained knight, specializing in smaller arms to complement his role as a skirmisher. However, when compared to a warrior that has received formal training, Derrick's fighting style seems to be more vicious and destructive in nature. While a knight of similar skill would fight in order to "defeat" their opponent, Derrick fights in order to "annihilate" his opponent. In other words, a professional slaughterer. This method of combat shines fully when up against supernatural beings.

^Meta:

For Derrick, I was looking to do something of a deconstruction of a folk hero, as well as the classic Hero's Journey story, using elements from different classic legends (such as being raised by a powerful magic being, slaying monsters, etc.) and hopefully turning all of it over its head. The conclusion was an aloof young man who was raised with high expectations in mind and doing his best to accomplish them without really knowing the meaning behind them. That said, I do have a desire for Derrick to grow out his shell and hopefully learn that there is more to being a hero than slaying every single monster he comes across. Hopefully in the end, Derrick would have received proper rehabilitation from his dubious upbringing. Of course, I'm a fan of tragic endings as much as I am of happy ones, so we'll see what the story has in store in the future~

There are other, more secretive elements to Derrick's growth I already discussed with Yankee previously for the sake of narrative such as the curse that doesn't allow him to cast spells, but I can say that they may involve Derrick's witchy mother making an appearance, among other things. Hopefully the twists and turns I have planned aren't too obvious from the get-go... And of course, I do also want to have cool monster fights every now and then, as expected from those who know me.

^Extra:

Art Source

Fate/Glimmering Oasis

???, Equipment Room, Chaldea

---

@Letter Bee

Those with a high IQ would likely surmise that Assassin had used his ability to change his form in order to assume the shape of a pickle. While that may be one of the funniest things one would see in their life, that was sadly not the case. There was no silly face on the other side of the pickle, for it was a normal pickle. It felt pickly, smelled pickly, and would likely taste pickly should Daniel decide to eat it. Rather than being a silly harmless prank involving a brined cucumber, what instead happened was something Daniel could possibly not foresee as the feeling of cold, sharp steel pressed against his neck.

Assassin appeared behind his Master, holding the flat end of one of his many knives against his neck. It wasn't enough to cut for sure, but it was definitely threatening. Before Daniel could react, Assassin moved with his superior speed, pulling one of his arms behind his back as he held him tightly.

"You shouldn't have come alone, kid. If you still had your command spells, you could possibly stop me from slicing your throat right now. You wouldn't have to use them to command us, either... the mere threat of them would have kept me at bay from gutting ya. How can you save the world if ya can't save yourself?"

Assassin continued to hold his blade against Daniel's neck for only a few more seconds before finally letting go, slinking back with a yawn. The knife had disappeared, and all that was left was Assassin's sly, shit-eating grin.

"When we go on the field, your best bet is to stick near one of the other Servants, unless you want another Assassin to cut you down like I would have done. You're only a liability to us now that you don't have your command spells on ya! Consider this a lesson from the man who taught the big guy how to throw down! Hah!"

With that laugh, Assassin took the pickle from Daniel's hands, taking a bite from it while walking off.

"Well, would you look at that! Those girlies Saber brought to his room last night were right! Pickles are delicious..."

And so, Assassin went off to enjoy his breakfast, paying no heed to the child he likely scarred for life. Those scars will make him tough, after all...

Fate/Glimmering Oasis

???, Equipment Room, Chaldea

---

@Letter Bee

Assassin chuckled to himself at the request of his bewildered Master. To think he allowed himself to be summoned by the most idealistic child in Chaldea... Well, it made some amount of sense given the mission, but to waste all his Command Spells for such an inconsequential reason? Assassin felt like whatever strategy they'd discuss would likely fall flat. Not like he could go up and join the conversation if he wanted to, either. After all, it seems Assassin was in quite the pickle.

Sorry kid, but that's a 'no' on both your questions. Like I said when I was summoned, I'll help Chaldea restore Human Order and all that, but I'm playing by my own rules. Ya lost the authority to tell me otherwise, anyway! Hah!

Assassin's words were as harsh as the tone of his voice, which was that of an almost comical exaggeration of a crotchety old man. However, Assassin once again spoke to Daniel, but in hushed whispers this time, ignoring the fact that the tone of his mentally projected voice would hide nothing as no one else would hear their conversation regardless.

To tell ya the truth, kid, I'm... having a bit of trouble where I'm at. Mind if you sneak on over here in the equipment room and help an old man out? You'll know it when you see it.

Windfall: A Character Driven Fantasy

I'll stir up the pot and vote casual!

The Epic of Beginnings - Fragments of a weathered scroll

Malphas
Second Floor, ???

@Rune_Alchemist@Crusader Lord@Guy0fV4lor

As Malphas drifted between the realm of life and death, he seemed overall content with the outcome bestowed upon him. Rolling with the punches was something he became accustomed to in his later years, after all. Mistakes were made, judgement was issued, and now he must live with this strange goal he has been tasked to accomplish in this new world. It wasn't something Malphas was against, either. After all, he was given a powerful blessing formed out of his wishes, a love letter to his own way of life. This Goddess wasn't half bad, either. Not exactly what he envisioned what a higher power would look like, but she was cute enough that if Malphas was otherwise unmotivated to proceed with her whims, he'd possibly solicit pictures of her feet in exchange for his service. It was a good thing Malphas already had his own goals in mind, however...

Of course, a second chance at reaching transcendence.

As the feeling of comfort was slowly replaced with the sensation of being submerged in water, Malphas did not once budge. He was, after all, used to holding his breath. There were many things Malphas had done in his life to curry on the favors of others, and... yes, exactly what you think. Mandatory swimming lessons were an important thing in his country if he wished to procure a boating license. That yacht was a fine investment, overall. Of course, it also helped that Malphas's own physique had become comparable to an Olympic athlete, so he wasn't overall bothered by the strange liquid surrounding him. That said, being released from this strange chamber was still a large relief on Malphas's part.

Making his way out of his tube, Malphas had on a soft grin, his eyes scanning the various parts of the large room they had found themselves in. He looked down at his rather drab looking clothes before noticing his pale skin. While he never was exactly concerned with getting a tan in his past life, Malphas found it strange that his skin had seemed just too flawlessly vibrant. Perhaps it's just the liquid's sheen left over on his skin? It didn't matter, either way. Malphas was confident that he was as beautiful and androgynous as he was in his past life.

Before he could completely regain his bearings, he was interrupted by two things. First, the sound of another chamber opening followed by coarse coughing. As Malphas looked towards that direction, he noticed a much larger man than him, one who had seemingly emerged from the same sort of pod he had. As he had began to speak, the second interruption had occurred. A catty woman appearing before them, almost... too catty. She had cat ears and a little cat tail waving behind her. Wait, what the fuck?

As she began to explain her situation to himself and the other man, Malphas grinned in response. There were others given similar gifts that he has! This was good, very good... It meant he had powerful allies to help him accomplish his dreams and, more importantly, leverage against them should they go against his beliefs. Clearing his throat, Malphas gestured his arm outwards in a welcoming matter.

"Rejoice, my fellow primates, for we have... Oh, my." Malphas was taken aback slightly by his new voice. It had a harmonious rhythm that he enjoyed. Malphas chuckled to himself, placing a hand over his mouth bashfully at this. "Ah, as I was saying... You both should have no fear in the coming Guardian, for I, Malphas, have been blessed with a powerful ability that should be able to protect us all. Perhaps we should introduce ourselves firsthand and go over our gifts with each other at the very least before we proceed onward, no?"

Malphas did not want to rush things. For one, learning about everyone else's divine gifts would help in figure out how they'll operate from hereon. Perhaps they were all given the same things, or maybe a few differences? Another reason why Malphas wished to halt before they proceeded towards the doorway with the weapons scattered about specifically. It seemed like there was some sort of dangerous hazard lurking near that path, and making their way immediately towards the weapons would potentially alert that presence to their location. At the very least, it would be best they all knew what they were capable of before a mistake would get them all killed.

Lastly, Malphas wanted to try something, himself. He closed his eyes, and focused on both the connection between himself and the Goddess as well as the connection between himself and the other two gifted in the room with him. He then opened his eyes, attempting to will his magical gifts towards his eyes. It was an attempt to see if he could see anything regarding the nature of his allies using their connection to the Goddess as a focus. Malphas wondered if the things he could perceive included his allies' statistics, which was an important thing to know before he made his next move.

Windfall: A Character Driven Fantasy

Ya know I'm up for it, Dankee. If things are getting full tho, I'll
keep an eye out.

The Epic of Beginnings - Fragments of a weathered scroll

The Kool-Aid Man

Name: "Malphas" _{totally not a false name.}

Gender: Male

Appearance: 5'8", slender build, with steel blue eyes and shimmering silver hair. Malphas's most notable feature, however, is his pale skin, glimmering like gold when light shines upon him.

Goals: "To transcend, of course." Or at least, this is what Malphas would answer if asked. It's not completely far from the truth, either. Malphas's desire is to seek out transcendence not for himself, but for mankind as a whole. To create a utopia where all humans are united as one to end all strife and suffering. It is a wish carried on from the end of his past life.

Past Life: There is no tragic backstory here. Simply put, "Malphas" was born in a standard, middle-class household living a completely average life. Of course, even in his past life, he was gifted with both unnatural beauty and a silver tongue. And of course, he used this to his advantage, easily getting whatever he wanted in life. This narcissistic lifestyle soon lead to him becoming a leader of his community, more specifically a new religious movement manufactured by him with the promise of transcendence to those who devote their lives, and their wallets, to his cause. In other words, a cult of personality, centered on himself.

The longer "Malphas" lived the life of an enigmatic messiah, the more he came to believe in his own flowery rhetoric. The doctrines he had originally set to entrap others soon become those that he himself believed. At some point, "Malphas" came to believe that he could truly share all his blessings to his devout followers, truly believing that he, too, could transcend. While this wasn't enough to fully dissuade him from following through on his con, it did result in his future actions becoming more sloppy. It was because of this increasing fanaticism that forced him to act fast as the local authorities soon began to catch on that his religion's activities were less than lawful. It was because of this pressure that he was forced to enact his "ceremony of ascendance" months earlier than he had planned. And it was because of this rushed preparations that even "Malphas" himself had partaken in the communion meant only for his followers, fruit punch laced with crushed Belladonna.

At his last moments, Malphas did not cry, nor did he curse the world for his fatal mistake. He simply smiled, believing that in the next life, he would be reunited with his followers once more. In the end, he lived as a god and died as a believer.

Abilities:
Physical Conditioning: Peak human.
Your body is naturally tough, durable, and strong. The pinnacle of human physical strength, endurance, and agility. Keep training, and surely you can surpass even stronger beings.

Soul Flare: The ability to turn one's soul into a weapon itself. Needed for most basic magical feats. Channel the mana present in the air through your body to achieve great feats. Allows one to interact with supernatural things, and perceive things others may not.

Wings of Faith: Your unshakeable faith in something is admirable. You may not know how exactly you did it, but you succeeded just as those humans who first achieved flight did. Concentrate on your goal, what you desire with unwavering faith, and the wings shall come to your aid to carry you to victory. They currently appear as small, translucent wings upon your back and will aid with acrobatic feats. Perhaps with further training you could do more with them.

Humanities Scion: You truly love humanity, don't you? Rather than being naturally charming, you can instead bring out the best in others. Those who follow your orders, and those who truly believe in your path will find themselves filled with strength and determination to see it through. Encourage your followers to slay a beast? They will become stronger, faster, and determined to see it through. Encourage them to learn something? They'll have a clarity of purpose while they learn. But be warned - this only will work on humans and their kin that follow you and your beliefs. The more they believe, the stronger they will be. Surround yourself with like-minded individuals, and perhaps finally reach your supposed ascension.

Inventory: Clothes, Ancient Bow, Ancient Dagger

The Epic of Beginnings - Fragments of a weathered scroll

The Kool-Aid Man

Name: "Malphas" _{totally not a false name.}

Gender: Male

Appearance: 5'8", slender build, with steel blue eyes and shimmering silver hair. Malphas's most notable feature, however, is his pale skin, glimmering like gold when light is shines upon it.

Goals: "To transcend, of course." Or at least, this is what Malphas would answer if asked. It's not completely far from the truth, either. Malphas's desire is to seek out transcendence not for himself, but for mankind as a whole. To create a utopia where all humans are united as one to end all strife and suffering. It is a wish carried on from the end of his past life.

Past Life: There is no tragic backstory here. Simply put, "Malphas" was born in a standard, middle-class household living a completely average life. Of course, even in his past life, he was gifted with both unnatural beauty and a silver tongue. And of course, he used this to his advantage, easily getting whatever he wanted in life. This narcissistic lifestyle soon lead to him becoming a leader of his community, more specifically a new religious movement manufactured by him with the promise of transcendence to those who devote their lives, and their wallets, to his cause. In other words, a cult of personality, centered on himself.

The longer "Malphas" lived the life of an enigmatic messiah, the more he came to believe in his own flowery rhetoric. The doctrines he had originally set to entrap others soon become those that he himself believed. At some point, "Malphas" came to believe that he could truly share all his blessings to his devout followers, truly believing that he, too, could transcend. While this wasn't enough to fully dissuade him from following through on his con, it did result in his future actions becoming more sloppy. It was because of this increasing fanaticism that forced him to act fast as the local authorities soon began to catch on that his religion's activities were less than lawful. It was because of this pressure that he was forced to enact his "ceremony of ascendance" months earlier than he had planned. And it was because of this rushed preparations that even "Malphas" himself had partaken in the communion meant only for his followers, fruit punch laced with crushed Belladonna.

At his last moments, Malphas did not cry, nor did he curse the world for his fatal mistake. He simply smiled, believing that in the next life, he would be reunited with his followers once more. In the end, he lived as a god and died as a believer.

Abilities:
Physical Conditioning: Peak human.
Your body is naturally tough, durable, and strong. The pinnacle of human physical strength, endurance, and agility. Keep training, and surely you can surpass even stronger beings.

Soul Flare: The ability to turn one's soul into a weapon itself. Needed for most basic magical feats. Channel the mana present in the air through your body to achieve great feats. Allows one to interact with supernatural things, and perceive things others may not.

Humanities Scion: You truly love humanity, don't you? Rather than being naturally charming, you can instead bring out the best in others. Those who follow your orders, and those who truly believe in your path will find themselves filled with strength and determination to see it through. Encourage your followers to slay a beast? They will become stronger, faster, and determined to see it through. Encourage them to learn something? They'll have a clarity of purpose while they learn. But be warned - this only will work on humans and their kin that follow you and your beliefs. The more they believe, the stronger they will be. Surround yourself with like-minded individuals, and perhaps finally reach your supposed ascension.

Inventory: Clothes, probably.