Boring. Boring boring boring, everything in this building was so boring! It was just his luck to get an absolute coward of a Master who wouldn't leave their room after summoning him, leaving him to wander around and wait for something to do or someone to talk to. There were plenty of pretty girls on his team, but they were all locked up in their rooms with their Masters, most likely talking about actual strategies and plans. So this left two people who he knew were out and about for sure. A very self serious Rider who was brooding up on the rooftop, and a Berserker. Berserkers weren't much for conversation, and there was no way Meleager was going to associate with someone who was trying that hard to look serious so soon into the hunt (also he kind of reminded him of his uncle), so that left Meleager with only one viable option!
He would go to the other team's base and see if any of their cute girls were up for a date! The war hadn't actually started yet, so there was a solid chance one of them might be down to hang out for the day right? That's what Meleager would tell himself anyways as he threw on his Sunday best and headed for the hotel entrance. There was a certain pep in his step as he walked straight for the front door, passing by Berserker and throwing him a wave as he left the building entirely. He'd maintain a civilian pace as he walked towards the Blue Team's base, though he had to ask some cute girls for directions more than once on the way. Was he flirting with them? Absolutely not! Yes, his words could be construed as flirtatious as he made them blush and swoon over himself, but he never spent that long with them! Ten minutes, tops!
Ok yes, now he was hanging out with them at a coffee shop! But really he was just doing his duty as a hero, you never know what might happen to a group of innocent young ladies when you're out on the town! Meleager was keeping them safe, and if he happened to have a good time while he did so then that was nobody's business but his own! Man it sure would suck if one of his teammates left to drag him back to base for a proper strategy meeting. It would really suck if he happened to run into one of the other Servants from the Blue Team, and they had to have a tense standoff while Meleager hung out with these cute girls. It would really really suck if that Servant was also a cute girl!
"I want to see the farthest reaches of the heavens and the deepest depths of hell. I would say it's nothing personal, but it is."
Plutonis Othonos Barsillius Dweller of the Abyssal Sky
Team: Blue
Sex: Female
Alignment: True Neutral
The Barsillius families have always had a strange relationship with one another. Yes, that is families, as in plural. During the height of the Roman Empire, there were 6 families specializing in Chaldean Astrology in the city of Rome, each one worshipping a different god. To go over each of their names and histories would be a waste of time for all involved, so for now we can simply say that each family was named after a different planet that had been discovered thus far. Originally they had all been one family, the Barsillius family, however the family had made the decision that it would be most efficient to split into different families to support the Roman Empire in their own ways.
The times change, empires fall, the Roman Empire fell particularly hard, yet the Barsillius families did not choose to simply roll over and die with their empire. Instead they would split up and travel to different countries to implant themselves in their governments, seeking to maintain control from the shadows. Kind of like the illuminati. They all retained a sense of camaraderie through it all, they would stick by each other through thick and thin no matter what happened.
Time passes, a new heliocentric model of the universe radically changed astrology for all families, plus their various crests are becoming volatile, it's difficult to keep them stable due to their age. A breakthrough in modern science occurs, a new planet is discovered on the edge of the solar system! The families take this opportunity and run with it, each family "donating" a few of their less valuable members and parts of their crests to make a new crest and a new family, the Caelum Barsillius family. It takes time for the family to get on their feet, but soon enough they are thriving, inserting themselves into the Clocktower in the Astrology department and giving the Barsillius a foothold within Britain.
A little more time passes, another new planet is discovered! Ok wow, that was really fast mankind, can you slow it down some? The family already had a little scare with Ceres before absorbing them back into the other families, was Neptune going to stick around? The Barsillius are a little uncomfortable about splitting up their Crest again so soon, but having another family is hardly the worst thing right? Worst comes to worst, they can just reabsorb the family if astrology changes again. And so the Lymphae Barsillius family is born, they're sent to the developing country of America to keep tabs on them for the time being, see if they amount to anything in the world.
Ok wow, really mankind? It's hasn't even been a hundred years and you're discovering another new planet? The Barsillius families reconvene, everyone is pretty stressed out to be honest. Making another new family based on a new planet is a hard gamble considering how Ceres went, there's no guarantee that Pluto is gonna work out. But at the same time, it got named after one of the big three gods! They grumbled and griped about it, but in the end it was inevitable that they would make just one last family, for real this time, no take backsies. The Othonos Barsillius are created and sent to Russia to keep an eye on the emerging power from behind the scenes.
The year is 1979, the Cold War is just wrapping up, the world breathes a sigh of relief. The second heir of the Othonos Barsillius family is born, she is named Plutonis, both in honor of the God they worshipped and as a cold reminder of the nuclear winter narrowly escaped.
However the environment she is raised in remains tense, there's no guarantee that their little family will continue given the ever changing landscape of the astrological field. The Mystery of the Stars is fading, mankind's attention turns to what lies outside of our limited solar system. Plutonis too looks to the stars, wondering what lies beyond her namesake. The universe is so much more vast than she could have possibly imagined.
The year is 2004, the Holy Grail has been rediscovered. The Barsillius family convenes to discuss the implications of this Holy Grail War, if perhaps they should send a representative to claim the Holy Grail for themselves, or at least ensure that it doesn't fall into the wrong hands. Plutonis looks down to her right hand and sighs, tracing her thumb over the sign of Pluto that has engraced itself into her flesh. They will not be able to come to a conclusion, thus it will be up to her to carry her family to greatness. It will all be up to her.
It would not be inaccurate to call Plutonis, "stilted" in a manner, having very little interaction with people outside of her own family and Russian government officials. Many would take a look at her and call her cold, which isn't totally inaccurate in regards to how she views others. The amount of value she places on the human life is rather miniscule, but this doesn't mean she is a stone cold killer who would do anything to reach her goals. It's more along the lines of, she doesn't understand how to talk to people in a casual manner, thus she doesn't understand the importance of a human life outside of how they could be useful to her family. Her hobbies include studying the stars, reading books on Plutonic theory, and collecting unique soda bottles.
Magecraft
Quality of Circuits: C
Quantity of Circuits: A
Elemental Affinity: Water
Attribute: Conversion
Magecraft:
Necromancy: Something only recently picked up during this generation, Plutonis has learned the basics of Necromancy to use body parts for various minor rituals and making familiars like zombies.
Plutonic Astrology: An incredibly young magecraft based around the planet Pluto, this spiritual evocation and astrology hybrid focuses on using the celestial body as a "gate to the Underworld" and then passing wraiths through it to establish them as subjects under Plutonis's rule. Using the family attribute of "Conversion", these spirits are then converted into jewels to be used as power sources/materials for spells and rituals, subbing in different kinds of gems for different planets. This is rather weak on it's own, however Plutonis has looked beyond the newly discovered planet to the stars, using Pluto's position as the ruler of Scorpio to tap into the Mystery of...
Scorpius Epíklisi: Scorpio, the Astral Scorpion. Known as one of the many causes of death of Orion, Scorpio has great power when invoked by Plutonis, who has designated herself as Pluto in his absence. Plutonis uses Scorpio's tail as a lance to strike at the outermost reaches of space, drawing on the Mystery of the Abyss Beyond Human Comprehension to empower the spirits of Hades. Additionally, when combined with her Plutonic Astrology, she can further draw on Scorpio's powers by performing rituals powered by wraith infused gems, arranging each gem in different ways to simulate different astrological alignments.
Mystic Codes:
Charon: Invoking the legend of Charon, the ferryman of the river Styx, Plutonis created this Mystic Code to protect herself from whatever dangers may come. Taking the form of an onyx black platform floating through the air, so long as Plutonis stands on this platform she is caught between the boundaries of life and death, a conceptual Styx forms around the platform to draw in the souls of the damned towards this river of death. The black "water" of the Styx inevitably draws in wraiths as they seek to cross the river, which Plutonis then commands for whatever purposes she needs, usually stuffing them into gems for spells.
Upsilon Scorpii: The tip of Scorpio's tail, the deadly stinger which struck dead even mighty Orion. Plutonis commissioned a bident made of only the finest obsidian, however it's purpose is not as a weapon but rather it is instead used as a rod, signifying her authority as "Pluto." She can invoke her status as "Pluto" to call upon Scorpio, pointing her bident at a target and firing lasers at them from the sky above.
Starless Night: A simple cloak of invisibility, drawing upon the Mystery of the starless abyss beyond our Solar System, that which is unobserved. Hides Plutonis from conventional senses such as sight and sound, however her Magical Presence can still be felt in the area.
Underworld Treasury: As the ruler of Hades, Plutonis is of course entitled to all the gems that lay under the earth. While this is not strictly a Magecraft related ability, the Othonos family has been naturally predisposed to gathering massive amounts of wealth in only the short span of 70 years, a perfect fit for their family. Plutonis has brought a massive hoard of gems with her to the Grail War, each one suitable for various types of astrological rituals and holding wraiths for quick spells and deployment.
"Heh heh, I always did have a weakness for the ones I had no hope of getting. Alright, let's get this hunt started!"
Lancer of Calydon Meleager
Alignment: Chaotic Good
Attribute: Earth
When Meleager was born the Fates spoke thusly. "The boy shall live, but only until the last piece of wood in the hearth fully burns." His mother, Althaea, paled as she heard this, running to the fireplace and immediately dousing it. She took the last piece of wood from the fire and hid it away, vowing to protect it so that her son could live a long and glorious life as the next King of Calydon.
Calydon would live a full life as the Prince of Calydon, spending much of it hunting wild beasts for sport and flirting with fair maidens without regard for their heart. But there came a time when his heart longed for adventure, thus through a series of events that aren't truly known, he ended up on the Argonaut to journey with your favorite Greek characters. You had fan favorites like Heracles, fair maidens like Princess Medea of Colchis, spooky doctors like Asclepius. But there was one who truly caught his heart when he lay eyes on her, the virgin huntress Atalanta.
Oh how misfortunate was he, to fall in love with the one woman he could never hope to obtain. One could fill epics with the many attempts Meleager made to court Atalanta, only to get shot down with no mercy. Eventually such attempts stopped being really serious, more of a fun routine the two had built to fill their time on the Argonaut, though Meleager never really let go of how he felt even so.
Time passed and Meleager returned home, his heart still longing for Atalanta even as he continued his playboy ways. It was around this time that King Oeneus held a festival to honor the gods, making great sacrifices to all those who resided on Mount Olympus. All those except Artemis, because apparently King Oeneus is a major dunce. You all know how it goes, you offend a god, the god gets pissy and summons a Divine Beast to destroy the kingdom in a heated moment of passion. The Calydonian Boar toar apart the land in it's rage, no warrior could stand against it or even touch the damn thing. So Meleager did what he had to do, calling up his old comrades from the Argonauts to save his kingdom from certain doom. Well more specifically he called up Atalanta, who just so happened to bring everyone else as well much to his displeasure.
The hunt was long, not a single hero could manage to touch the Calydonian Boar even still, as it would constantly flee whenever anyone could draw close enough to strike. It was only Atalanta with her impeccable archery who could draw first blood from afar, giving Meleager the opening to strike at it's heart with his spear and end it's menace once and for all. He took the pelt of the Boar as a trophy, yet even now his heart longed for Atalanta. What was once a silly infatuation for that which he could not have grew into a true love and respect for someone he considered to be his equal, if not better him.
"You did most of the work in all honesty, I just came in to finish the job. It's only fair you take the trophy Atalanta."
Meleager tossed her the pelt as he turned away, throwing his hands behind his head and laughing even as everyone stared at him in shock. Word spread throughout the kingdom fast, the crown prince had given away his trophy to a mere woman. To say all hell broke loose at that moment would be a dramatic understatement.
"You would dare disrespect your country by giving away the pelt to a mere harlot!?"
His eyes turned to steel as he struck Toxeus through the heart with his spear, instantly killing him for insulting Atalanta. By the end of the day four men lay dead for the crime of insulting the one he loved, sending the kingdom into an absolute panic. When his mother found out of his crimes, her heart was tainted with grief and hatred, procuring that final piece of wood from so long ago and throwing it into the fire. Meleager's body burst into flames before Atalanta, yet even when suffering such agony he never stopped smiling.
"Before I die, I just want you to know... I really do love you."
What she said in response was enough to make him laugh as he died, his head raised high till the very last. And thus ends the tale of Meleager, aside from a small cameo in Tartarus where he acts as the worst matchmaker in history.
Personality:
A true hero of justice, Meleager is a man with an unflinching moral compass and the desire to help others no matter great the danger. A surprisingly upbeat guy to be around despite how most heroes of justice are, though he's capable of playing the "cool edgy loner" if it means getting a cutie's attention.
Speaking on that, Meleager is absolutely hopeless when it comes to the ladies, flirting with anything with a pulse with not a hint of shame. If you were to ask him what his favorite type of woman was, he'd probably respond with something like "Oh you can't just make me decide like that Master. They've all got their own charms you know? But I guess if I had to pick, I'd say I love a woman who could kick my ass. Bonus points if she's got cat ears." And he'd say it with a wink too, as if he was some kind of cool protagonist.
When asked about her thoughts on Meleager's relentless courting by Medea, Atalanta had this to say.
"Ugh, what a shameless flirt. He's the type of guy who doesn't know how to take no for an answer, it's really infuriating. But... I suppose he can be pretty reliable when he needs to be."
Parameters:
Strength: B Agility: B Endurance: C Mana: C Luck: D
Class Skills:
Magic Resistance: C Cancel spells with a chant below two verses. Cannot defend against magecraft on the level of High-Thaumaturgy and Greater Rituals.
Personal Skills: Calydonian Hunt: B A skill denoting Meleager's status as the leader of the hunt for the Calydonian Boar. Coordination and synergy between teammates is raised when Meleager is participating in a fight, as well as acting as Charisma of B rank for the purposes of resisting mental effects.
Hunter's Mark: B The ability to lead a hunting party to track down their prey. Meleager can mark a creature as "prey", allowing him to pursue them and reveal their weaknesses to everyone in the party. The mark can only be applied to one creature at a time and it cannot change until the target is killed.
While he could not singlehandedly kill the Calydonian Boar, it was only through his leadership and coordination that Atalanta could draw first blood against it and open the opportunity for him to strike it down.
Projectiles (Javelin): C The expertise for throwing projectile weapons, in this case, javelins. At this rank the javelins have the destructive power necessary to pierce through steel.
Noble Phantasms:
Name: Skotóno Klévo Title: Strike That Finishes The Job Rank: B+ Type: Anti-Unit Range: 1-50 Targets: 1 Description: What some might consider to be the first kill steal in history, Skotóno Klévo is the crystallization of Meleager's killing of the Calydonian Boar. After Atalanta weakened the beast with her arrow, Meleager finished it off with one fell strike from his spear, cutting clean through it's heart and ending it's life once and for all.
Skotóno Klévo can only be activated after another has drawn first blood from the opponent, however upon True Name Release the target must pass a Luck check against Meleager. If they fail and Meleager is able to strike a blow against the opponent, his spear will instantly pierce their spiritual core and kill them, no questions asked. In addition, if the foe has the attribute of "Monstrous" or "Beast" than a + modifier is added to the check, almost ensuring their demise.
Name: Flegómeni Kardiá Title: My Burning Passion Rank: B Type: Anti-Unit (Self) Range: 0 Targets: N/A Description: What at first appears to be a simple scrap of wood about the size and thickness of one's hand, is actually Meleager's greatest strength and weakness. When born, the Fates prophesized that his life would be tied to the last piece of wood in his family's hearth. Once that had burnt, his life would surely end.
When summoned Meleager is likely to hand over this piece of wood to his Master, asking them to keep it safe somewhere and to never let it get near fire. For in truth, that piece of wood is Meleager. The log is his spiritual core, kept separate from the familiar acting as his body. So long as the log exists, his familiar can be created over and over with sufficient time and mana, but should the wood be burned then his body would simultaneously be engulfed in flames as he perishes. There are no nodes connecting his body and the log, however it is worth noting that the log and his body are inherently linked via karmic lines, with all the repercussions that entails.
Name: Agrius Metamorphosis Title: My Gift To My Love Rank: B+ Type: Anti-Unit Range: 0 Targets: 1 Description: The pelt of the Calydonian Boar, Meleager's acknowledgement of Atalanta and the cursed item that would plunge his kingdom into chaos. When donning it, all parameters except Luck rise and the wearer gains Madness Enhancement and Shapeshifting at a rank of A. Due to Meleager's status however, he cannot don this Noble Phantasm, as it is meant for another. Should Meleager come to truly respect someone as he did Atalanta, then perhaps he could give this Noble Phantasm to them, however that does not seem likely.
"I want to see the farthest reaches of the heavens and the deepest depths of hell. I would say it's nothing personal, but it is."
Plutonis Othonos Barsillius Dweller of the Abyssal Sky
Team: Blue
Sex: Female
Alignment: True Neutral
The Barsillius families have always had a strange relationship with one another. Yes, that is families, as in plural. During the height of the Roman Empire, there were 6 families specializing in Chaldean Astrology in the city of Rome, each one worshipping a different god. To go over each of their names and histories would be a waste of time for all involved, so for now we can simply say that each family was named after a different planet that had been discovered thus far. Originally they had all been one family, the Barsillius family, however the family had made the decision that it would be most efficient to split into different families to support the Roman Empire in their own ways.
The times change, empires fall, the Roman Empire fell particularly hard, yet the Barsillius families did not choose to simply roll over and die with their empire. Instead they would split up and travel to different countries to implant themselves in their governments, seeking to maintain control from the shadows. Kind of like the illuminati. They all retained a sense of camaraderie through it all, they would stick by each other through thick and thin no matter what happened.
Time passes, a new heliocentric model of the universe radically changed astrology for all families, plus their various crests are becoming volatile, it's difficult to keep them stable due to their age. A breakthrough in modern science occurs, a new planet is discovered on the edge of the solar system! The families take this opportunity and run with it, each family "donating" a few of their less valuable members and parts of their crests to make a new crest and a new family, the Caelum Barsillius family. It takes time for the family to get on their feet, but soon enough they are thriving, inserting themselves into the Clocktower in the Astrology department and giving the Barsillius a foothold within Britain.
A little more time passes, another new planet is discovered! Ok wow, that was really fast mankind, can you slow it down some? The family already had a little scare with Ceres before absorbing them back into the other families, was Neptune going to stick around? The Barsillius are a little uncomfortable about splitting up their Crest again so soon, but having another family is hardly the worst thing right? Worst comes to worst, they can just reabsorb the family if astrology changes again. And so the Lymphae Barsillius family is born, they're sent to the developing country of America to keep tabs on them for the time being, see if they amount to anything in the world.
Ok wow, really mankind? It's hasn't even been a hundred years and you're discovering another new planet? The Barsillius families reconvene, everyone is pretty stressed out to be honest. Making another new family based on a new planet is a hard gamble considering how Ceres went, there's no guarantee that Pluto is gonna work out. But at the same time, it got named after one of the big three gods! They grumbled and griped about it, but in the end it was inevitable that they would make just one last family, for real this time, no take backsies. The Othonos Barsillius are created and sent to Russia to keep an eye on the emerging power from behind the scenes.
The year is 1979, the Cold War is just wrapping up, the world breathes a sigh of relief. The second heir of the Othonos Barsillius family is born, she is named Plutonis, both in honor of the God they worshipped and as a cold reminder of the nuclear winter narrowly escaped.
However the environment she is raised in remains tense, there's no guarantee that their little family will continue given the ever changing landscape of the astrological field. The Mystery of the Stars is fading, mankind's attention turns to what lies outside of our limited solar system. Plutonis too looks to the stars, wondering what lies beyond her namesake. The universe is so much more vast than she could have possibly imagined.
The year is 2004, the Holy Grail has been rediscovered. The Barsillius family convenes to discuss the implications of this Holy Grail War, if perhaps they should send a representative to claim the Holy Grail for themselves, or at least ensure that it doesn't fall into the wrong hands. Plutonis looks down to her right hand and sighs, tracing her thumb over the sign of Pluto that has engraced itself into her flesh. They will not be able to come to a conclusion, thus it will be up to her to carry her family to greatness. It will all be up to her.
It would not be inaccurate to call Plutonis, "stilted" in a manner, having very little interaction with people outside of her own family and Russian government officials. Many would take a look at her and call her cold, which isn't totally inaccurate in regards to how she views others. The amount of value she places on the human life is rather miniscule, but this doesn't mean she is a stone cold killer who would do anything to reach her goals. It's more along the lines of, she doesn't understand how to talk to people in a casual manner, thus she doesn't understand the importance of a human life outside of how they could be useful to her family. Her hobbies include studying the stars, reading books on Plutonic theory, and collecting unique soda bottles.
Magecraft
Quality of Circuits: C
Quantity of Circuits: A
Elemental Affinity: Water
Attribute: Conversion
Magecraft:
Necromancy: Something only recently picked up during this generation, Plutonis has learned the basics of Necromancy to use body parts for various minor rituals and making familiars like zombies.
Plutonic Astrology: An incredibly young magecraft based around the planet Pluto, this spiritual evocation and astrology hybrid focuses on using the celestial body as a "gate to the Underworld" and then passing wraiths through it to establish them as subjects under Plutonis's rule. Using the family attribute of "Conversion", these spirits are then converted into jewels to be used as power sources/materials for spells and rituals, subbing in different kinds of gems for different planets. This is rather weak on it's own, however Plutonis has looked beyond the newly discovered planet to the stars, using Pluto's position as the ruler of Scorpio to tap into the Mystery of...
Scorpius Epíklisi: Scorpio, the Astral Scorpion. Known as one of the many causes of death of Orion, Scorpio has great power when invoked by Plutonis, who has designated herself as Pluto in his absence. Plutonis uses Scorpio's tail as a lance to strike at the outermost reaches of space, drawing on the Mystery of the Abyss Beyond Human Comprehension to empower the spirits of Hades. Additionally, when combined with her Plutonic Astrology, she can further draw on Scorpio's powers by performing rituals powered by wraith infused gems, arranging each gem in different ways to simulate different astrological alignments.
Mystic Codes:
Charon: Invoking the legend of Charon, the ferryman of the river Styx, Plutonis created this Mystic Code to protect herself from whatever dangers may come. Taking the form of an onyx black platform floating through the air, so long as Plutonis stands on this platform she is caught between the boundaries of life and death, a conceptual Styx forms around the platform to draw in the souls of the damned towards this river of death. The black "water" of the Styx inevitably draws in wraiths as they seek to cross the river, which Plutonis then commands for whatever purposes she needs, usually stuffing them into gems for spells.
Upsilon Scorpii: The tip of Scorpio's tail, the deadly stinger which struck dead even mighty Orion. Plutonis commissioned a bident made of only the finest obsidian, however it's purpose is not as a weapon but rather it is instead used as a rod, signifying her authority as "Pluto." She can invoke her status as "Pluto" to call upon Scorpio, pointing her bident at a target and firing lasers at them from the sky above.
Starless Night: A simple cloak of invisibility, drawing upon the Mystery of the starless abyss beyond our Solar System, that which is unobserved. Hides Plutonis from conventional senses such as sight and sound, however her Magical Presence can still be felt in the area.
Underworld Treasury: As the ruler of Hades, Plutonis is of course entitled to all the gems that lay under the earth. While this is not strictly a Magecraft related ability, the Othonos family has been naturally predisposed to gathering massive amounts of wealth in only the short span of 70 years, a perfect fit for their family. Plutonis has brought a massive hoard of gems with her to the Grail War, each one suitable for various types of astrological rituals and holding wraiths for quick spells and deployment. Currently holds 2 A rank gems, 3 B rank gems, 3 C rank gems, 2 D rank gems, and enough sub E rank gems to not be worth counting.
Utena's smile faded a little as Yeshua laughed awkwardly, was she coming on to her too hard? She had never actually been in this kind of relationship before, flirting was all very new to her. Or maybe it was the fact that she was currently handcuffed to a hospital bed and a prisoner. "Sorry, I think I might still be a little woozy from the whole, gunshot thing." Utena backpedaled smoothly with an embarrassed laugh, leaning forward as much as she could to take the cute little bendy straw between her lips and suck up some water. Oh released the straw with a satisfied sigh as she leaned back into the bed, that already made her feel so much better.
Suddenly a harsh alarm began sounding throughout the ship, Utena reflexively attempting to get out of bed to get suited up only to pull at the handcuffs holding her as they dug into her limbs. "OW OW OW!" She fell back into bed with a loud cry of pain, eyes tearing up as her bullet wound was aggravated once more. Another new girl entered the room, this one carrying a fox, before looking at Utena and declaring she might have a chance to redeem herself. "As much as I'd love to help out with whatever you guys are about to do, I don't think I'm really combat ready..." Utena motioned to her injured leg with her head as she said this, still very much wounded and in the process of healing.
And then the little fox jumped out of Tomoko's arms and turned into another cute girl! Man, if she wasn't literally being held down by chains she'd be giving all these girls so many hugs! "I'd clap for your entrance, but you're gonna have to settle for an appreciative rattle of chains." Rattle rattle.
"Heh heh, I always did have a weakness for the ones I had no hope of getting. Alright, let's get this hunt started!"
Lancer of Calydon Meleager
Alignment: Chaotic Good
Attribute: Earth
When Meleager was born the Fates spoke thusly. "The boy shall live, but only until the last piece of wood in the hearth fully burns." His mother, Althaea, paled as she heard this, running to the fireplace and immediately dousing it. She took the last piece of wood from the fire and hid it away, vowing to protect it so that her son could live a long and glorious life as the next King of Calydon.
Calydon would live a full life as the Prince of Calydon, spending much of it hunting wild beasts for sport and flirting with fair maidens without regard for their heart. But there came a time when his heart longed for adventure, thus through a series of events that aren't truly known, he ended up on the Argonaut to journey with your favorite Greek characters. You had fan favorites like Heracles, fair maidens like Princess Medea of Colchis, spooky doctors like Asclepius. But there was one who truly caught his heart when he lay eyes on her, the virgin huntress Atalanta.
Oh how misfortunate was he, to fall in love with the one woman he could never hope to obtain. One could fill epics with the many attempts Meleager made to court Atalanta, only to get shot down with no mercy. Eventually such attempts stopped being really serious, more of a fun routine the two had built to fill their time on the Argonaut, though Meleager never really let go of how he felt even so.
Time passed and Meleager returned home, his heart still longing for Atalanta even as he continued his playboy ways. It was around this time that King Oeneus held a festival to honor the gods, making great sacrifices to all those who resided on Mount Olympus. All those except Artemis, because apparently King Oeneus is a major dunce. You all know how it goes, you offend a god, the god gets pissy and summons a Divine Beast to destroy the kingdom in a heated moment of passion. The Calydonian Boar toar apart the land in it's rage, no warrior could stand against it or even touch the damn thing. So Meleager did what he had to do, calling up his old comrades from the Argonauts to save his kingdom from certain doom. Well more specifically he called up Atalanta, who just so happened to bring everyone else as well much to his displeasure.
The hunt was long, not a single hero could manage to touch the Calydonian Boar even still, as it would constantly flee whenever anyone could draw close enough to strike. It was only Atalanta with her impeccable archery who could draw first blood from afar, giving Meleager the opening to strike at it's heart with his spear and end it's menace once and for all. He took the pelt of the Boar as a trophy, yet even now his heart longed for Atalanta. What was once a silly infatuation for that which he could not have grew into a true love and respect for someone he considered to be his equal, if not better him.
"You did most of the work in all honesty, I just came in to finish the job. It's only fair you take the trophy Atalanta."
Meleager tossed her the pelt as he turned away, throwing his hands behind his head and laughing even as everyone stared at him in shock. Word spread throughout the kingdom fast, the crown prince had given away his trophy to a mere woman. To say all hell broke loose at that moment would be a dramatic understatement.
"You would dare disrespect your country by giving away the pelt to a mere harlot!?"
His eyes turned to steel as he struck Toxeus through the heart with his spear, instantly killing him for insulting Atalanta. By the end of the day four men lay dead for the crime of insulting the one he loved, sending the kingdom into an absolute panic. When his mother found out of his crimes, her heart was tainted with grief and hatred, procuring that final piece of wood from so long ago and throwing it into the fire. Meleager's body burst into flames before Atalanta, yet even when suffering such agony he never stopped smiling.
"Before I die, I just want you to know... I really do love you."
What she said in response was enough to make him laugh as he died, his head raised high till the very last. And thus ends the tale of Meleager, aside from a small cameo in Tartarus where he acts as the worst matchmaker in history.
Personality:
A true hero of justice, Meleager is a man with an unflinching moral compass and the desire to help others no matter great the danger. A surprisingly upbeat guy to be around despite how most heroes of justice are, though he's capable of playing the "cool edgy loner" if it means getting a cutie's attention.
Speaking on that, Meleager is absolutely hopeless when it comes to the ladies, flirting with anything with a pulse with not a hint of shame. If you were to ask him what his favorite type of woman was, he'd probably respond with something like "Oh you can't just make me decide like that Master. They've all got their own charms you know? But I guess if I had to pick, I'd say I love a woman who could kick my ass. Bonus points if she's got cat ears." And he'd say it with a wink too, as if he was some kind of cool protagonist.
When asked about her thoughts on Meleager's relentless courting by Medea, Atalanta had this to say.
"Ugh, what a shameless flirt. He's the type of guy who doesn't know how to take no for an answer, it's really infuriating. But... I suppose he can be pretty reliable when he needs to be."
Parameters:
Strength: B Agility: B Endurance: C Mana: C Luck: D
Class Skills:
Magic Resistance: C Cancel spells with a chant below two verses. Cannot defend against magecraft on the level of High-Thaumaturgy and Greater Rituals.
Personal Skills: Calydonian Hunt: B A skill denoting Meleager's status as the leader of the hunt for the Calydonian Boar. Coordination and synergy between teammates is raised when Meleager is participating in a fight, as well as acting as Charisma of B rank for the purposes of resisting mental effects.
Hunter's Mark: B The ability to lead a hunting party to track down their prey. Meleager can mark a creature as "prey", allowing him to pursue them and reveal their weaknesses to everyone in the party. The mark can only be applied to one creature at a time and it cannot change until the target is killed.
While he could not singlehandedly kill the Calydonian Boar, it was only through his leadership and coordination that Atalanta could draw first blood against it and open the opportunity for him to strike it down.
Projectiles (Javelin): C The expertise for throwing projectile weapons, in this case, javelins. At this rank the javelins have the destructive power necessary to pierce through steel.
Noble Phantasms:
Name: Skotóno Klévo Title: Strike That Finishes The Job Rank: B+ Type: Anti-Unit Range: 1-50 Targets: 1 Description: What some might consider to be the first kill steal in history, Skotóno Klévo is the crystallization of Meleager's killing of the Calydonian Boar. After Atalanta weakened the beast with her arrow, Meleager finished it off with one fell strike from his spear, cutting clean through it's heart and ending it's life once and for all.
Skotóno Klévo can only be activated after another has drawn first blood from the opponent, however upon True Name Release the target must pass a Luck check against Meleager. If they fail and Meleager is able to strike a blow against the opponent, his spear will instantly pierce their spiritual core and kill them, no questions asked. In addition, if the foe has the attribute of "Monstrous" or "Beast" than a + modifier is added to the check, almost ensuring their demise.
Name: Flegómeni Kardiá Title: My Burning Passion Rank: B Type: Anti-Unit (Self) Range: 0 Targets: N/A Description: What at first appears to be a simple scrap of wood about the size and thickness of one's hand, is actually Meleager's greatest strength and weakness. When born, the Fates prophesized that his life would be tied to the last piece of wood in his family's hearth. Once that had burnt, his life would surely end.
When summoned Meleager is likely to hand over this piece of wood to his Master, asking them to keep it safe somewhere and to never let it get near fire. For in truth, that piece of wood is Meleager. The log is his spiritual core, kept separate from the familiar acting as his body. So long as the log exists, his familiar can be created over and over with sufficient time and mana, but should the wood be burned then his body would simultaneously be engulfed in flames as he perishes. There are no nodes connecting his body and the log, however it is worth noting that the log and his body are inherently linked via karmic lines, with all the repercussions that entails.
Name: Agrius Metamorphosis Title: My Gift To My Love Rank: B+ Type: Anti-Unit Range: 0 Targets: 1 Description: The pelt of the Calydonian Boar, Meleager's acknowledgement of Atalanta and the cursed item that would plunge his kingdom into chaos. When donning it, all parameters except Luck rise and the wearer gains Madness Enhancement and Shapeshifting at a rank of A. Due to Meleager's status however, he cannot don this Noble Phantasm, as it is meant for another. Should Meleager come to truly respect someone as he did Atalanta, then perhaps he could give this Noble Phantasm to them, however that does not seem likely.
"Oh hey, new guy! Welcome to the crew kid, we have lots of fun around here!" Rose called out as Akiko stabbed herself in the shoulder in the background, leaning against a table casually and watching the kid try to puzzle everything out amidst the chaos. The range of emotions crossing his face in the span of a minute, now that is some amusing shit. Nobody really gave him a good explanation, but he was smart enough to puzzle things out based on what little info he was given, good quality to have around here. Nobody ever told you shit flat out, everything was always wrapped in some kind of riddle or mystery.
Meanwhile Ami had finally gotten a hold of Noire's card after she returned to it in a flash, a sigh of relief escaping her lips as she handed it off to Rose. That damn cat was never coming out again if they had anything to say about it. "We're in a big ass tower in the sky kid, it's pretty easy shit." Ami called out to Thomas as she passed by him and slapped him on the back, straight and to the point as ever. "Friendly word of advice, look out for Kanbaru. You're the only guy around these parts and she's a real man eater if you know what I mean." She continued as she walked away, shoving her hands in her pockets and rolling her neck. Ominous stuff.
But hey, who cares about that, time to get to the next floor! Rose followed behind the rest of the group as they stepped through the door and into the next world, these ruined halls familiar to some among their group but entirely new to both Rose and Ami! "Tch, you have experience. No need to undersell yourself Kanbaru, aside from me I'd say you were the best when it came to slaughtering those nightmares." Ami chuckled as she stopped beside Kanbaru and looked to the distance, her ears twitching a little at some unknown noise. "We've got company by the way."
Company indeed, a group of demonic bushes shaped like dogs charged them from around the corner as everyone snapped into battle mode. Everyone aside from Rose, who looked strangely relaxed as she hung back and watched Thomas. She knew she could handle herself in a scrap when worst came to worst, but she was curious to see how the newbie would react to mortal peril. The captain leaned against the wall idly as she pulled out her favorite card, twirling on her finger before disappearing in a flash of light and reappearing on top of Thomas's shoulder. As a fair of course, she wasn't trying to crush the kid. "Alright kid, time to prove your worth. Go fuck up those wolves and help me decide whether or not you're entertaining enough to keep around. Eyes forwards, sword out, stick em with the pointy end." Rose smiled as she patted the kid on the cheek, lazing about on his shoulder as if she was watching a movie.
And Ami? Oh man, Ami was in her element. While Kanbaru dashed forwards with a water powered swing of her whale plush, Ami was the exact opposite as she raised her clenched fist in the air and encased it in a dark inferno. In that clenched fist manifested a great sword of flames, pointed downwards as she slammed it into the ground with malicious glee. "Stay out of my fucking way if you don't wanna get burned!" Was the only warning the rest of the party would receive before several gouts of flame burst from the ground around Ami, grabbing a wolf that was pouncing towards her and instantly reducing it to ash. Looks like these puppies didn't know that fire beats grass.
An unfamiliar voice called to Utena from the other side of the room, most notably calling her "human" rather than something more generic like "lady" or "bitch." Her hopes rose a little, but it wasn't until Terrorkeat pulled back the curtain that she finally let out a sign of relief. They were safe. They being the GMGs of course, she was still very much in danger. "Actually about that..." Utena smiled sheepishly as she rattled around the handcuff holding her right arm to the bed, showing how she was very much being kept as a prisoner. But hey! On the bright side, she finally got to learn these gal's names rather than the codenames she had assigned to them! "Awesome! This means I can finally say, it's a pleasure to meet you two cuties~" Utena winked at Yeshua and Setsuna, pretty much the best she could do considering the restraints. "I'm Utena Soriyu, MFF-" She paused, her smile shrinking a bit before she shook her head. "Former, MFF Captain. All I am now is just another girl I guess!" Utena laughed as she said this, a way to cover up the hurt.
She had really joined the MFF with the best of intentions, everyone did. Everyone wanted to defend their homes, save lives, stop the giant monsters. Utena may have had the added incentive of really liking the GMGs, but she did still wanna do her best for the people too. But now she was just a prisoner of war, a war between the race she betrayed and the giant "monsters". "You don't need to thank me or anything, I was just doing the right thing... Unless you wanna thank me with a date~" Gotta take your shot when you can. A new voice entered the room, grabbing Utena's attention as she did her best to peer around Yeshua at the new GMG. Was everyone here a GMG? Oh that would be heaven~
"No need to worry about me miss. I'm probably wanted all over the city by now, don't really have anywhere to run away to even if I wasn't completely bedridden." She responded with a shrug, before asking another question. "I know it's a bit much to ask considering I'm a prisoner and all, but could I get some water? My mouth feels like it's stuffed with cotton."
It was a slow awakening, as they tend to be. People didn't really awake with a start, not unless it was from a nightmare or they had been poked with something particularly sharp. Utena blinked the sleep out of her eyes and groaned as she tried to move her arm to block the sunlight streaming into her face. Tried being the keyword. The sound of metal on metal rattling accompanied her attempted movement as her arm jerked to a halt, cold metal pressing into her wrist tightly and restricting her. She blinked once, twice more as she tried to move her arm again. Rattle rattle.
This definitely woke her up as she looked over at her arm, firmly handcuffed to the frame of the bed she lay on. It was at this moment she noticed the dull ache of her leg, covered by blankets and definitely surrounded by something firm. She kicked her other leg, thankfully free for the moment, and removed the sheets, revealing her firmly bandaged right leg. Right. Gunshot wound.
Ok, time to get thoughts in order. She was definitely in a hospital, or at least a medical area of some sort. She was handcuffed to prevent movement, both arms too. So she was being detained. However it was unclear who by. There was a more than zero chance that the police had caught them, Terrorkeat and Schrodinger were both back in cages, and Utena was about to be charged for treason and several other fabricated crimes. However there was also the chance that maybe Schrodinger had managed to get Utena and Terrorkeat back to their mysterious GMG benefactors, who had also decided to cuff her and try her for whatever crimes they deigned to charge her with. Hopefully her punishment would be light considering she committed treason to get the GMGs out of captivity, but Utena wouldn't complain. She was fully capable of recognizing how she had been complicit with these things for a long time, so she deserved at least some kind of punishment.
"Hey! Hello!? Anyone in the room!?" Utena called out, rattling her handcuffs to try and get some kind of attention. If she strained her ears than she could hear someone calling out "Setsu" waaaaaaaay on the other side of the room, but that could be anyone.
A disgruntled looking Rose and Ami soon emerged from behind Kanbaru and Noire, both looking like they had been through hell and back as they grumbled and talked to each other about something unheard. Ironic how just half an hour prior they were practically at each others throats, yet now the two looked thick as thieves. Looks like they really bonded over their shared nightmare. The conversation faded as they went to their respective seats, close to Kanbaru yet making sure to keep her in between them and Noire. "Hey Kanbaru. Nice outfit change." Rose tried to make herself sound perky as usual, but it was really hard to appear friendly in conversation when you were constantly glaring at another person.
"I'm voting for Crimson Pact. I like the color red and trust the instincts of my First Mate here." Rose motioned to Kanbaru, lightening up slightly as she looked to Cait. Only slightly though. She was a catgirl too, can't trust em.
Ami just grunted noncommittally, looking around on the floor for... something. A familiar voice called out from above, bringing everyone's attention to the floor above. "Yeah, it would be pretty nice to get some nice new armaments for my vessel. Maybe some furniture and decor for captain's quarters, things like that." Rose commented as she pulled out the card storing her ship from her sleeve, spinning it on the tip of her finger before flicking her hand and watching it disappear into her sleeve once more.
Member
Sho Minazuki
