Eisenhorn

RWBY - New Beacon (Alternate)

Hmm, seems fascinating, consider me interested.

Fire Emblem: The Eternal War [ENDED]

Jerod Staudinger

---

Felling an armored warrior with well placed thrust to the joints in the armor was always a satisfying endeavor, proved the validity of his general lack of armor despite being in the field of battle constantly. Of course, another sucker punch reminded him that Varjans had no concept of fair play, which suited him fine as he spotted that the offender wasn't some random warrior, but the mouthy, loud gladiator fellow. His name wasn't worth remembering, which was a greater insult then death for someone who made their living by gladiatorial combat, if one was honest. Catching that barbed sword against his own, he tested the man's strength and, unsurprisingly, it was a losing contest for the Elibean sellsword. It was about time to fight to his strengths rather than his...

That thought was cut off by the hurtling sound and explosion of a fireball, and a quick glance confirmed that a dragon had joined the fray on their side. Or it was just attacking the most obvious targets, burn that bridge later. Using the distraction that was made, the fool Gladiator taking his eyes off the foe, he turned his blade to the side, putting the Varjan's sword arm between Jerod and the other sword and aiming a swift kick upwards at the gladiator's family jewels, kicking up to avoid the armor on the man's waist. Rather than waste anymore time with low blows, he rolled back and onto his feet, off hand catching a handful of loose dirt and dust off the ground while he took a low stance, blade's tip pointed at the Gladiator and making an off hand remark in regards to his rather irksome ranting on about death. "Die for Varjo, mmh? By all means then, savage, lead by example!"

Fate / Collide

Ansgar took in this most recent bout of information with a curious look in his eyes. If her regeneration was limited by his mana reserves, he would have to limit active spell casting whenever she was engaged in battle, which meant relying on runes that were previously charged. It did give him a theory he could test later, once he was back in his quarters here, if he could craft a runeword that let him store mana, he could use them like expendable batteries and vastly extend how long he could support her, and he was confident that, as the war dragged on, his reserves would grow both naturally and in his artificially planned manner. Constantly taxing them would act much like strengthening his muscles, and he remarked on the matter, the thoughtful tones in his voice indicating he had plans to circumvent those draining needs once he had some time to plan. "Taxing indeed, it sounds like we would wish to end fights quickly. Though I have some ideas for...emergencies if mana supplies wane."

He couldn't help but raise an eyebrow in surprise as the uniform began talking of its own accord, introducing itself as Senketsu and it was a Kamui, and promptly explained what that meant. Life fiber filled uniform, sentient being that interfaced with Ms. Matoi, almost like a parasite and a host maintaining a beneficial relationship between each other. Though he made sure to keep his thoughts private, and chuckled after it dawned on him the uniform was trying to be formal and polite. "A pleasure to make your acquaintance, Senketsu. No need to be so formal with me, we are allies in this endeavor after all."

Ansgar couldn't help but laugh readily at being questioned on whether or not he was a perv, even if the explanation did give credence to that outlook. He did pause to reassure her before she took a curious stance on his remark on not recognizing who she was at all. "Rest assured, if I were of a perverse nature, I would already be staring. I am not one of those to question the means to an ends, and if that means having your power misunderstood as, how did you say it, a 'slut suit', then so be it."

Coupling what Ms. Matoi had said thus far, alongside what he had learned from reports and talk he had gathered from the others that arrived before him to supervise and observe the Grail War, he could put two and two together. With a smirk that could be described as the little brother to the shit eating grin, he elaborated on his realization, all thanks to her remark on saving the entire world. "Saved your entire world, not mine. Oh that clever cup really threw a wrench into things this time. It isn't drawing from our legends and history, its drawing from alternate timelines, possibly completely different realities. Normally those that prepare greatly for the Grail Wars study history in depth, to recognize hostile and allied Servants and their potential weaknesses. But now? Now all bets are off, as they say, and there won't be any predicting our foes until we see them act first hand. We may even run into other figures you would recognize, so this puts us in a rather unique position, as far as Grail Wars go..."

Fire Emblem: The Eternal War [ENDED]

Jerod Staudinger

---

"Quibble over details later indeed, let us go about our grim business." It was growing increasingly plain that the Varjans were up to something, but that was neither here nor there for now. Joining the assault against the Varjans, he moved to intercept the Warrior that brandished an axe in a vaugely menacing way in his direction. Jerod smirked, rapier in hand as he ducked the first swing, ducking right into an uppercut which sent him reeling. Finding his footing unsound in the impact, he was on his back as the Warrior tried and bring the axe down to a swift end. Rolling to his side, he was on his feet and distance reset as the snarling Warrior raised in a swing. Too telegraphed, far too telegraphed, and Jerod acted as the Warrior charged forward. The sellsword lunged forward, deftly fast, intercepting the man well before he would have been prepared with a precise thrust for the throat. This time he minded his footing though, because the mass of a Warrior moving forward wouldn't stop just because his throat had been pierced, and he would have to move on a moment's notice.

Fire Emblem: The Eternal War [ENDED]

Jerod Staudinger

---

Jerod had little to say as he followed the group that was attempting to flee, a nod to the Dwarf was all he felt necessary as he departed. Unlike them, he had no stake in this fight, and as much as he did enjoy a good fight, there was no pay in it right now. Business before pleasure, as they said, and unless the circumstances demanded it? No sense providing a service for free, and if that meant the Dwarfs fighting a battle they were going to be fighting anyways let them slip off, all the more power to the lot of them. However, what was rather curious was when they were confronted with, out of all people, Varjan warriors. They weren't supposed to be here, and a part of his mind wanted to blame them for the explosion, however, he did no such thing. That would take a level of cunning above the average, blood crazed warrior that made up this lot. So either there was an unseen hand guiding them, or there was no answer to be found with them. Either way, he muttered lowly, sizing up them as he heard the Archanean's rallying behind the group. "Typical, a fight breaks out, and the buzzards arive. Curious, that they would be here at just the right time though..."

A plan was quickly forming which, while Jerod was not a fan of splitting forces, knew full well was necessary. One group to handle the Archaneans, the other, the Varjans, then escape off to the wilds and regroup. Archanean's he'd fought with plenty of times, but Varjans were a rarer fight, usually only finding the remains of one of their raids as he was rarely hired onto guard duties, and finding a town or garrison sacked and looted by such fiends spoke of their savagery in a fight, and he had to admit, it was as fine a time as any to test that evidence with a fight against them. He spoke up casually, drawing his rapier with a practiced, clean motion, announcing his intent to spill blood with a flourish of his blade. "An Archanean I could pick a fight with readily on any given day, but Varjans? A rare treat indeed, let us test this savage reputation of theirs, in a manner they would understand all too well..."

Fate / Collide

"Psychic too, or good at reading people? Never was much of one for putting up a false front, I suppose." Ansgar rested his hands on his umbrella while letting her speak to her fill, considering her rather blunt and forward approach to the explanation and response to his skepticism as rather refreshing really. He could appreciate the lack of round about games and cloak and dagger that seemed to plague interactions with his peers, when they came up. Though he was certainly taken aback, figuratively, when she quite literally tore her heart out of her own chest and held it out for him to see, an eyebrow raised in surprise at the fact she was currently holding her heart out. A younger him would have freaked out, but he kept his composure for now. Freaking out could be done in his own privacy. "I suppose that brings a whole new meaning to getting to the heart of the matter, eh?"

"While I cannot say I have ever heard of a 'Life Fiber' before, I must admit it sounds quite potent indeed. Considering their apparent strength if attempted removal of the heart is hardly an inconvenience, coupled with the strengthening of becoming a Servant..." He had this curiously thoughtful look on his face, one that would quickly be known as one that resided whenever he was in deep thought, planning and considering what he knew so far as she continued on speaking about her Noble Phantasm being little more than a massive spike in power, if the turn of phrase 'little more' could be fairly applied to that sort of thing. The downsides of mana drain and potential loss of control were noted, the former he could plan for, the latter a consequence of dealing with a Berserker class Servant. "Your willingness to cooperate in the face of discomfort is certainly a pleasant surprise and appreciated all the same. Needs must when the devil drives, but we shall hope he does not drive too hard, yes?" He would be saving her Noble Phantasm as an ace in the hole, especially if pulling her out of it would take a Command Seal, something he only had a very finite supply of and could not afford to be spending willy nilly. They both had a reason to be here, wishes to see fulfilled, and cooperating would see that done as smoothly as a Grail War would allow.

"Rest assured though, Ms. Matoi, I much prefer an up front list of need to knows over unnecessary surprises. I'm afraid that I am hardly anywhere close to as interesting though, rather mundane when it comes to Masters really, if you look at the history of Grail Wars." He chuckled, and whether he was deliberately underselling himself or just joking at his rather tame appearance compared to the other two he had spotted coming in remained to be seen. For a Berserker from a time or place he had absolutely zero clue about, she was a rather refreshing amount of bluntness. Whether that meant she was exceptionally good at keeping the skeletons chained in the closet, or there was little else to see, he could not discern, but he would keep an eye on such things just in case. "I must confess my confusion was not just at the classification you bore, but the fact you were not drawn from History. Leave it to the Grail to throw a wrench in the plans of its participants."

Fire Emblem: The Eternal War [ENDED]

I was gonna give someone else a chance to post first (Jerod ain't usually one for leading the way) but looks like I'll be posting within the next day anyways. Not gonna let him sit idly that long.

WARHAMMER 40K: THE TARSON INCURSION

The presence of the allied psyker and Arbites was rather sudden, though none of the Tech Guard or Skitarii even turned to acknowledge their presence, leveling focused firepower while the four tech guard formed ranks in front of the Rangers, forming a firing line that was protected by the shielded and well armored Guards. They left a position for the Arbites to be able to fire at will while Malig calmly noted the malfunctioning Turret brought down and the sparking shield that was being worn by the Weird Boy. The tutting that she made as she rested the symbol of her office, an Omnissian Power Axe, while pulling the curious chamber clear of her Archaeotech Pistol and slapping a purple one into its place instead, the weapon emitting, to anyone not part of the Mechanicus, a disconcerting and unpleasant whining noise as it charged and she trained the pistol on the Ork Weird Boy. "I predicted Inquisitorial Forces would be better equipped, disappointing. We will stop by the armory and better equip your forces, and access what you couldn't the first time."

Discharging the Archaeotech Pistol, as the Astartes and Sororitas arrived and lended their firepower, the bright blue round literally screaming through the air as it impacted the shield and, for a second, nothing seemed to happen. Then the shield promptly failed, and the generator on the Weird Boy's back exploded, engulfing the Boy in a warp induced hole and tore apart the Weird Boy to pieces, and knocked the surrounding Boyz onto their arses, and Malig calmly replaced the green chamber. The Skitarii advanced behind the Tech Guard, pouring focused and unyielding fire into the remaining Orks, scattered first by the Inquisition and second by the Tech Priestess removing the Weird Boy threat. Speaking to the two Inquisitorial agents, she kept speaking while performing rites over the Archaeotech Pistol. "Uncorrupted sensors report increasing vox failures inside the Forge, unable to raise Staudinger on vox. A pleasure to finally meet most of the Inquisitorial forces assisting."

---

Ansgar glanced at the shifting pressure in the room, the vanishing bodies of the Psyker and Arbites creating momentary vacuums where they had been, alerting him of their departure. Cycling vox channels, he couldn't even raise anyone else on his comms, and he sighed, having continued going over the map and figuring out a point where they could bring down the Titan if need be. There wasn't much else they could do here at this point, and he glanced at the tech heretic as she kept working, going to sling the flamer back on when he saw the destruction of the turret had ruptured the tank, a caustic hole in the ground where the chemical and promethium mix had been leaking. Or the tanks had finally gave out from the mixture eating away at metal, either way, his impromptu modifications had finally given through. "Hmm..."

With perhaps a bit too much relish, he drew his backup las pistol and broke out his entrenching tool, with every intent of caving the skulls of every Ork between them and meeting back up with the rest of the retinue. "There is nothing else to do here, mercenary, and my vox just gave out. Raise the Psyker, and inform them to meet us..." He paused, shifting maps and finding that the nearest way to exit the Forge was a hanger on the ground level, still had vehicles to use if the notes were accurate. "Hanger Twelve. Meet at Hanger Twelve, we will appropriate vehicles and depart to make preparations to bring down that Titan once its finally moving." Waiting for the tech heretic as he stood by the elevator, the commotion caused by the Tech Priestess and others would have cleared their path, coupled with the heavy Turrets still non hostile to the Imperial forces.

Fate / Collide

With the bright flash of light and wave of energy, Ansgar still had to shield his eyes from the flash, though once he was looking properly, his first thought was confusion, though he kept himself with an even expression. He knew full well that the incantation should have been correct, let alone the fact that, even if he had not gotten a Berserker, the problem was simply he could not place the school girl at all. Perhaps the fact she was a school girl was adding to the general confusion right now, but he guarded his tongue on teh matter. The yawning was also not expected, and she was extremely level headed so far for a potential Berserker, considering yawning and rubbing her eyes was not what he expected out of someone who should not be level headed in the slightest.

"So it would seem. Not nearly as old as some, but I like to think its a balanced middle ground for now." Ansgar let his hands rest on top of his umbrella, retrieved now that the summoning itself had been completed, his hands no longer needed to be occupied with channeling mana into the ritual circle. Not his preferred approach anyways, but he certainly would not call into question such things, not now at any rate. Upon confirmation she was indeed a Berserker, and introducing herself as Ryuko Matoi, one thing was clear. That name meant literally nothing to him, which meant the studies on history were, as it was sounding, completely useless with these Heroic Spirits. But, no sense in not being civil, and he extended his hand in greeting none the less. "As intended, then. A pleasure to make your acquaintance, Ms. Matoi. Ansgar Staudinger, Alchemist and Runecaster."

Fire Emblem: The Eternal War [ENDED]

Jerod Staudinger

---

Jerod was on his feet when the explosion from the main tent went off, eyes scanning as the screaming and fighting that had sparked off. Well, the sellsword decided, that likely meant his original contract was very much up in flames, so he was now on his own. Which meant either take off and find his way out of this mess on his own, but that was foolhardy at best, considering he would either be assaulted by the warring sides, or otherwise injured or incapacitated, which meant he wasn't turning a profit. The Dwarf Kazador stormed over, demanding answers and others answered better than he would have anyways, but he saw the fear on this folk hero's face briefly. That would not do at all, not if they were being lumped into the same group right now, he didn't need some jumpy, spooked woman potentially being a liability. He spoke directly towards her, and spoke darkly, grim in tone as he addressed her after she spoke to the Dwarf on not knowing anything of what was going on. "Steady yourself, spearwoman, actions taken in terror are often regretted once looked at through calmer eyes."

Turning his eyes to her actions next, she was attempting to rally the local nobles and, likely with Kazador, withdraw and figure out what the hell happened. Still holding his, albeit empty, mug he found himself standing by the General's side while she spoke more clearly and explained they had no idea what was happening. Her plan was more sound than the jump to action the spearwoman made, he could see the Archanean soldiers marching their way, and he narrowed his gaze, analyzing them while others spoke and debated. Soldiers, Mercenaries, several Heroes who likely served as direct subordinates to the Paladin in charge. More importantly, he was gauging their intent, and as they brandished weapons, he exhaled and knew damn well that there would be no reasoning with them. A glance at the General confirmed she was eying the group, and part of his brain expected her to pull rank.

"General, if you're thinking of pulling rank on them, consider that your call to reason will likely fall on deaf ears. They've already drawn weapons and I suspect murder is already in their eyes. You'll also be labelled traitor for sheltering the dwarves, no matter the truth of things. Is that a stand your willing to take?" Whether that was the right course of action, or indeed what the right course of action was, he left unaddressed. All he did was point out that this was going to end in blood, and though he didn't say it, someone was getting what they wanted. Kazador surviving this was suspicious, beyond so, but it was also possible he was not the leader of the Dwarves that had arrived here. Well, he might be now, but that would rely on figuring out how many ranking officials died. Really wasn't his business, right now, he was acting in self preservation, which meant working together with this lot. Siding with the Dwarves and fleeing seemed the plan, which worked for Jerod, their gold was as good as anyone else's would be.

No matter what was chosen, Jerod still stood there, one hand resting on the hilt of his Rapier and the other holding his mug, acting as if it was still filled enough to warrant holding. People underestimated someone who hadn't gone for his weapon yet, and that played right into his hands. Besides, he could nail one of them with a well thrown mug, which would get their attention or distract them long enough to strike first. He hadn't been keen to tilt his hand right now, that he had been paying a closer eye than he had appeared, but the explosion left little choice in that regard. Right now it was survive, then worry about finding his next source of coin, after all, collecting coin couldn't be done by a dead man.