ManyThings

Fate/Edelweiss

Please, be careful. This town will shatter if it's disturbed.

But if we're quiet, we'll get to see something hideous bloom.

Fate/Edelweiss

Since the disappearance of Fuyuki's Holy Grail at the conclusion of the Third Holy Grail War, numerous Imitation Grail Wars have been attempted around the world. Most have ended in failure or disaster. Despite this, it seemed there was always someone remaining to try once again.

In 2016, the renowned Nadelkiss family of Switzerland claims to have finally perfected a Holy Grail that will surpass even Fuyuki's. No matter how many times that claim has been made before, it still turns some heads in this day and age. Once again, the curious and the desperate will come flocking.

Soon enough, Command Spells begin to appear on the bodies of those whose hearts are stirred by the prospect of the Holy Grail. The quiet town of Sion awaits its Masters.

Perhaps it is mankind's curse, to never be able to free themselves from this thing called wishing.

* *

The IC will be starting this week. More applicants are welcome during the first day/night, but GM posts will take priority over sheet reviews.

This is a PvP battle royale in the style of Fate/Stay Night. Advanced knowledge of the Fate franchise or the broader Nasuverse is definitely not needed. I'm aiming to keep things nice and casual in that regard. Even if you've just seen a bit of any one anime from the franchise, that should be plenty of context.

Our story will cover a Holy Grail War, this time in a small town in Switzerland. Seven mages, branded as "Masters" by the Command Spells on their bodies, will each summon a "Servant" in a tag-team Battle Royale to claim a wish from the Holy Grail. The Servants are figures from human history, real or mythical, and their powers are great enough that their battles may turn this little town into dust by the war's climax.

This is nominally a PvP roleplay, although our true focus should be on collaborative storytelling, exciting battles, rivalries, alliances, and conflicts, rather than on trying to rapidly kill off your fellow players. There may also be certain NPCs to deal with beyond the seven pairs. Grail Wars are rarely straightforward, after all!

* *

Rules

General Conduct

- Be polite, respectful, and cool. This game involves PvP, but don't let any of that conflict bleed out into your interactions with your fellow players.
- Abide by the rulings of the GM (me). Do feel free to debate and argue with me, but don't fight with me once the decision has been made.
- No godmodding. Be reasonable in combat. I'll step in if I feel you've pushed the limits of your character's capabilities too far.
- Do your best to post promptly, within about 7 days of your last post, or else inform us if there's a delay.
- Feel free to come to me with any issues, particularly if there is a conflict with another player.
- The franchise has NSFW roots, but this is not an NSFW RP. Keep it classy.
- Since this RP features mythical and historical figures, please be tactful and respectful when making reference to any sensitive historical subjects or issues.

Gameplay Rules

- You may start the game by summoning your Servant, or with your Servant already recently summoned. The game will start in the day, so there will be no immediate need for combat.
- A Servant can detect the presence of another Servant in their general vicinity. A skilled mage can generally detect the presence of magecraft and identify another mage. A contract with a Servant is especially noticeable due to the amount of magical energy involved.
- Masters possess "Master's Clairvoyance", allowing them to read the status of a Servant by looking at them. At base, this allows the Master to know a Servant's parameters. If the Master sees a Class Skill or Personal Skill being used, they can identify that Skill and learn its rank. If the Master hears the True Name of a Noble Phantasm or otherwise identifies it, they can most likely discern the True Name of the Servant and know the capabilities of their Noble Phantasm.
- A Master who knows the basics of magecraft can communicate mentally with their Servant through the karmic link.
- The RP will cycle between day and night periodically. During each timeskip you'll have the opportunity to send me secret downtime actions you wish to take. This can be anything from preparing defences, to scouting an area, to sending mail, as long as it doesn't directly involve dealing with an enemy character.

* *

Character Creation

Character Guidelines

Masters
- A player may create up to one Master and one Servant.
- I recommend pairing with another player, but you may self-pair your characters if you prefer.
- I will not be capping the number of Masters/Servants at Seven. Please feel welcome to apply even once the War is underway! However, I'd like to see one Servant in each normal class before stacking more than 2 Servants on a single class.
- Original characters only.
- Dead Apostle Ancestors, True Sorcerers, and other beings that could defeat a Servant are not allowed.
- In general, the highest possible power level for a Master is someone who could defend themselves and potentially survive an encounter with a weaker Servant, but could likely not defeat them.
- Masters cannot be more than 200 years old by any means.

Servants
- Both original characters and canon Servants are acceptable.
- Top-grade Servants at the level of King Arthur, Heracles, Gilgamesh, etc. are too powerful for this War, but high-grade Servants at the level of Mordred, Beowulf, and Atalanta would be acceptable.
- Heroes must be born after Gilgamesh but before 1901.
- Divine Spirits, elementals, and similar are not allowed. Humans, animals, monsters, mixed bloods, and machines are acceptable.

Master Character Sheet Template

Appearance: (An anime style faceclaim is ideal.)

Name
Titles:
Gender:
Age:
Alignment: (As D&D alignments.)
Affiliation: (If the Master is deeply involved with an organization or simply working for one currently, note it here, especially if they are representing that group in the Holy Grail War.)
Clock Tower Rank: (Frame, Count, Cause, Fes, Pride, Brand, or Grand. This can be decided by a mage's talents, but also by the reputation of their bloodline, by politics, and so on. A mage totally disconnected from the Mage's Association may have no rank. If you're uncertain, leave this blank and it will be assigned to you.)
Command Spell: (Briefly describe the appearance of the Command Spell and its location on the body. An image is also good.)

Background
(Give us a sense of the Master's life up to this point.)

Personality
(What do they believe? How do they conduct themselves as a Magus? This may be a good place to mention their wish for the Grail.)

Magecraft Information
Elemental Affinity: (Earth, Wind, Fire, Water, or Ether. Multiple affinities are allowed. You can also list an Origin here if it is relevant.)

Number of Magic Circuits: (Ranked E-A)
Quality of Magic Circuits: (Ranked E-A)

Magecraft: (Describe the fields of magecraft your Master is studied in, ideally with examples of spells they tend to use. Feel free to include "the basics", which would include things like setting up a workshop, detecting magical energy, and contracting a familiar.)

Magic Crest: (If your Master has a family Magic Crest, note its approximate age and any other relevant details.)

Mystic Codes
(List any magical items the Master has brought with them to the War.)

Nonmagical Assets
(This section is for items, resources, skills, etc., that fall outside of magecraft. Money, henchmen, martial arts expertise... List anything here that may be a boon to your Master in the War. Since we're talking about Mages, things like a Cell Phone are not a guarantee, so note down basic equipment as well.)

Servant Character Sheet Template

Appearance: (An anime style faceclaim is ideal.)

Name
Titles:
Class:
Gender:
Era: (The period of the hero's life and exploits. A century is fine if it is known.)
Alignment: (As D&D alignments.)
Attribute: (Man, Earth, Sky, or Star. If you are uncertain, leave this blank and it will be assigned to you.)

History
(Give us a sense of the hero's legend. No Wikipedia links. Any creative changes should be noted here.)

Personality
(What do they believe? How did they conduct themselves in life, and what is their disposition towards their role as a Servant? This may be a good place to mention their wish for the Grail.)

Parameters
(Each ranked E-A. A plus modifier indicates the capacity for a brief momentary doubling of the rank. A minus modifier indicates the stat falls just a touch below the rank. The EX rank represents something truly special, beyond our ability to quantify.)
Strength: (Lifting, striking power.)
Endurance: (Constitution, hit points.)
Agility: (Dexterity, evasion.)
Mana: (Magical energy capacity, the size of your "gas tank".)
Luck: (Defiance of fate.)

Class Skills
(Name of Skill) (Rank E-A): (Provide a brief explanation of why this Servant has this skill at this rank, then list its effects.)

Personal Skills
(Name of Skill) (Rank E-A): (Provide a brief explanation of why this Servant has this skill at this rank, then list its effects.)

Noble Phantasms
Name
Title:
Rank: (E-A. Plus and minus modifiers are also allowed here. EX in special cases.)
NP Type: (Anti-Unit, Anti-Army, Barrier, etc.)
Range: (The minimum and maximum range in meters. For example, range 2~50 indicates an NP that can be used on a target within 50 meters, but can't be used at point blank range.)
Maximum Number of Targets: (A number of people from 0-1000)
Description: (Explain the reasoning behind the existence of the Noble Phantasm and describe its capabilities.)

* *

The Battleground

Sion, Switzerland

An ancient town on the River Rhône that has been settled by various groups since prehistoric times. The land on which Sion is built possesses an exceedingly rich spiritual nature. Moreover, it is rather beautiful and boasts a respectable tourism industry, as well as a number of manufacturing businesses in town, vineyards on the hills, and plentiful farms throughout the valley. Sion is accessible by highway, train station, or the small airstrip available for civilian and military use. The town itself is dominated by the twin fortress hills at its heart.

Broadly, we can divide the town into the following sections:
Old Town, Industrial District, Residential District, Commercial District, Farmland, and Mountains. The town is rather small, so Grail War participants are also welcome to venture some distance out of town, along the East-West highway that runs through the valley or up the Northern and Southern mountains to the various hiking trails and ski resorts that stand high above Sion. They are even permitted to visit the quiet neighbouring village of Saint-Léonard, just 3km to the East.

It is a lovely, quiet little town nestled among the mountains in the south of Switzerland. The worst sort of place for bloodshed, but what can we do?

Notable Features
- Valère Basilica (Neutral Ground): A heavily fortified Catholic church located atop the steep Valère Hill in the Old Town. One of Sion's main visible landmarks, standing just opposite the ruins of Tourbillon. Surrounded by thick walls and harsh terrain, access to the Basilica is only possible by climbing the path on the Northeastern side of the hill. A representative of the Holy Church has been stationed here to oversee the events of Sion's Grail War. Combat is not permitted here, and Masters are welcome to seek shelter here in the case that they wish to withdraw from the War.
- Tourbillon Castle (Fallen Leyline): A ruined castle situated on top of the rocky Tourbillon Hill in the Old Town. Putting aside the mountains that surround the valley, this is the highest point in Sion, standing about 50 meters above the Valère Basilica, which sits on the neighbouring hill about 300 meters away. Much like its twin, Tourbillon Hill is rocky and steep, making it difficult to reach the castle without climbing the road and passing through the guardhouses. The castle ruins themselves are built on a spot overflowing with magical energy. The Nadelkiss family has been known to host social events and rituals here in years past, but it is mostly used for tourism. However, both those practices seem to have been put on hold in preparation for the Grail War, and the ruins currently sit empty.
- Rhône River: The river that runs through Sion, dividing Old Town and the Industrial District from the Residential District. The Rhône is crossed by a large highway bridge a handful of smaller, local bridges.
- Nadelkiss Estate (Fallen Leyline) (Off Limits): The Nadelkiss family, caretakers of Sion's spiritual land, reside in a secluded manor at the foot of the mountains North of town, surrounded by a small vineyard. One can only assume that this is where the Sion Grail War was devised, and that the mechanisms of the War are being operated from this location. As the Nadelkiss have chosen to abstain from the War and merely play the role of hosts, their estate is off limits to participants.
- Majorie Chateau: A smaller castle sitting in the shadow of Valère Hill in Old Town. It has little spiritual significance and remains unoccupied, used only as a tourist attraction. It is nonetheless quite beautiful!
- Town Hall: A government building in Old Town. Features Sion's famous Astronomical Clock.
- Sorcerer's Tower: A tourist attraction in Old Town, although outsiders are only permitted to gaze upon this tower from the outside. During the Inquisition, individuals accused of witchcraft were subjected to vile torture within this small tower. The place is allegedly quite cursed, radiating an ominous energy.
- Hotel Élite: A rather classy hotel situated in Sion's Commercial District.
- Tourbillon Stadium (Fallen Leyline): A large football stadium at the East end of the Residential District. While weaker than the other two fallen leylines in town, this place still possesses the impression of strong magical energy.
- Sion Hospital: A high-class hospital East of town, featuring a world-class medical center for Olympic athletes.
- Saint-Léonard: A very small and very quiet village just East of Sion. Popular among retirees, its only tourist attraction is an underground lake, available for boat rides.

The House of Nadelkiss

The Nadelkiss have been the caretakers of Sion's land since the previous Second Owner perished during Witch Trials in the 15th century. They hold a prestigious reputation for spiritual evocation, healing, and the creation of Mystic Codes. At one time, they maintained a strong relationship with the Clock Tower and frequently had family members teaching classes there. However, they have been quiet for decades. The reason, it would seem, is that they have been working to bring about a Holy Grail War superior to the original.

Not seen since her education in London as a young girl, the current head of the family, Mattea Sweyn Nadelkiss, has recently returned and been making the rounds at the Clock Tower, speaking with anyone and everyone about the exciting potential of her Grail War project. With the sacrifice of seven Servants, it should be possible to reach the Root, or so she says.

The family's heir, Valdemar Magnus Nadelkiss, was expected by many to be a Master, representing the family in the War. He is known to be a rather talented and innovative young man, said to have been involved in an imitation Holy Grail War in the past. The fact that he even survived such a thing should speak to his capabilities. However, the family has announced that they will not be fighting in this War. Instead, they will simply be collaborating with the Holy Church to ensure that the Nadelkiss Holy Grail functions as intended.

* *

Click here to join the game's Discord server.

Or here to go back to the Interest Check.

Fate/Edelweiss: A Holy Grail War in Switzerland

Happy Easter!

@GOATPlumber I'm aiming for today. Still putting together information about the location for the War.

In the meantime, I've created the game's Discord server!

Fate/Edelweiss: A Holy Grail War in Switzerland

At this point, we have enough interest that I can confirm the RP will be happening.

Also, character sheets and character creation guidelines have been added to the Interest Check!

Fate/Edelweiss: A Holy Grail War in Switzerland

Awesome, tomorrow I'll start putting things together for the OOC and Discord server.

@Crusader Lord Good to see you back! I'm doing pretty good, hope you're alright too.

Fate/Edelweiss: A Holy Grail War in Switzerland

Great, we have a couple people already. I'd say 4 players is my minimum number to commit to running the game.

@Letter Bee Yes, if I see a bit more interest for this, I'll create a Discord server, character creation rules, and sheets. All that will come with the OOC or maybe a bit earlier.

Fate/Edelweiss: A Holy Grail War in Switzerland

Please, be careful. This town will shatter if it's disturbed.

But if we're quiet, we'll get to see something hideous bloom.

Fate/Edelweiss

Since the disappearance of Fuyuki's Holy Grail at the conclusion of the Third Holy Grail War, numerous Imitation Grail Wars have been attempted around the world. Most have ended in failure or disaster. Despite this, it seemed there was always someone remaining to try once again.

In 2016, a Swiss mage family of some renown claims to have finally perfected a Holy Grail that will surpass even Fuyuki's. No matter how many times that claim has been made before, it still turns some heads in this day and age. Once again, the curious and the desperate will come flocking. Perhaps it is mankind's curse, to never be able to free themselves from this thing called wishing.

* *

Here's something I've been hankering for lately: a Holy Grail War RP. That is, a PvP game set in a slightly varied timeline of the Nasuverse, based on Fate/Stay Night. I don't know how many of the old Fate RP enjoyers still use this site, but anyone is welcome to express interest. Advanced knowledge of the Fate franchise or the broader Nasuverse is definitely not needed. I'm aiming to keep things nice and casual in that regard. Even if you've just seen a bit of any one anime from the franchise, that should be plenty of context.

Our story will cover a Holy Grail War, this time in a small town in Switzerland. Seven mages, branded as "Masters" by the Command Spells on their bodies, will each summon a "Servant" in a tag-team Battle Royale to claim a wish from the Holy Grail. The Servants are figures from human history, real or mythical, and their powers are great enough that their battles may turn this little town into dust by the war's climax.

This is nominally a PvP roleplay, although our true focus should be on collaborative storytelling, exciting battles, rivalries, alliances, and conflicts, rather than on trying to rapidly kill off your fellow players. There may also be certain NPCs to deal with beyond the seven pairs. Grail Wars are rarely straightforward, after all!

Each player will be allowed to create two characters: one Servant and one Master. Ideally, each of your characters will be paired with a different player, although you are also welcome to pair your characters together or simply to create only one character.

I'd like at least a handful of people to run this game for. If we don't have enough to fill a full roster of 7 pairs, that's fine. I'll just create some NPCs to fill the ranks. If we end up with more than enough people, I'll simply bend the rules to allow more than seven pairs to be summoned.

Lemme know if there's any interest!

* *

Character Creation

Character Guidelines (WIP pending the creation of the OOC thread)

Masters
- Original characters only.
- Dead Apostle Ancestors, True Sorcerers, and other beings that could defeat a Servant are not allowed.
- In general, the highest possible power level for a Master is someone who could defend themselves and potentially survive an encounter with a weaker Servant, but could likely not defeat them.
- Masters cannot be more than 200 years old by any means.

Servants
- Both original characters and canon Servants are acceptable.
- Top-grade Servants at the level of King Arthur, Heracles, Gilgamesh, etc. are too powerful for this War, but high-grade Servants at the level of Mordred, Beowulf, and Atalanta would be acceptable.
- Heroes must be born after Gilgamesh but before 1901.
- Divine Spirits, elementals, and similar are not allowed. Humans, animals, monsters, mixed bloods, and machines are acceptable.
- A Servant generally has one Noble Phantasm, and sometimes a second, weaker Noble Phantasm. The greatest legends might have three Noble Phantasms. Four or more Noble Phantasms are reserved only for those heroes who are not only legendary, but who are specifically known for possessing many different armaments or achievements.
- In a similar vein, try to shoot for three personal skills. Four or five personal skills are acceptable if having such a diverse set of skills is the hero's main gimmick.

Master Character Sheet Template

Appearance: (An anime style faceclaim is ideal.)

Name
Titles:
Gender:
Age:
Alignment: (As D&D alignments.)
Affiliation: (If the Master is deeply involved with an organization or simply working for one currently, note it here, especially if they are representing that group in the Holy Grail War.)
Clock Tower Rank: (Frame, Count, Cause, Fes, Pride, Brand, or Grand. This can be decided by a mage's talents, but also by the reputation of their bloodline, by politics, and so on. A mage totally disconnected from the Mage's Association may have no rank. If you're uncertain, leave this blank and it will be assigned to you.)
Command Spell: (Briefly describe the appearance of the Command Spell and its location on the body. An image is also good.)

Background
(Give us a sense of the Master's life up to this point.)

Personality
(What do they believe? How do they conduct themselves as a Magus? This may be a good place to mention their wish for the Grail.)

Magecraft Information
Elemental Affinity: (Earth, Wind, Fire, Water, or Ether. Multiple affinities are allowed. You can also list an Origin here if it is relevant.)

Number of Magic Circuits: (Ranked E-A)
Quality of Magic Circuits: (Ranked E-A)

Magecraft: (Describe the fields of magecraft your Master is studied in, ideally with examples of spells they tend to use. Feel free to include "the basics", which would include things like setting up a workshop, detecting magical energy, and contracting a familiar.)

Magic Crest: (If your Master has a family Magic Crest, note its approximate age and any other relevant details.)

Mystic Codes
(List any magical items the Master has brought with them to the War.)

Nonmagical Assets
(This section is for items, resources, skills, etc., that fall outside of magecraft. Money, henchmen, martial arts expertise... List anything here that may be a boon to your Master in the War. Since we're talking about Mages, things like a Cell Phone are not a guarantee, so note down basic equipment as well.)

Servant Character Sheet Template

Appearance: (An anime style faceclaim is ideal.)

Name
Titles:
Class:
Gender:
Era: (The period of the hero's life and exploits. A century is fine if it is known.)
Alignment: (As D&D alignments.)
Attribute: (Man, Earth, Sky, or Star. If you are uncertain, leave this blank and it will be assigned to you.)

History
(Give us a sense of the hero's legend. No Wikipedia links. Any creative changes should be noted here.)

Personality
(What do they believe? How did they conduct themselves in life, and what is their disposition towards their role as a Servant? This may be a good place to mention their wish for the Grail.)

Parameters
(Each ranked E-A. A plus modifier indicates the capacity for a brief momentary doubling of the rank. A minus modifier indicates the stat falls just a touch below the rank. The EX rank represents something truly special, beyond our ability to quantify.)
Strength: (Lifting, striking power.)
Endurance: (Constitution, hit points.)
Agility: (Dexterity, evasion.)
Mana: (Magical energy capacity, the size of your "gas tank".)
Luck: (Defiance of fate.)

Class Skills
(Name of Skill) (Rank E-A): (Provide a brief explanation of why this Servant has this skill at this rank, then list its effects.)

Personal Skills
(Name of Skill) (Rank E-A): (Provide a brief explanation of why this Servant has this skill at this rank, then list its effects.)

Noble Phantasms
Name
Title:
Rank: (E-A. Plus and minus modifiers are also allowed here. EX in special cases.)
NP Type: (Anti-Unit, Anti-Army, Barrier, etc.)
Range: (The minimum and maximum range in meters. For example, range 2~50 indicates an NP that can be used on a target within 50 meters, but can't be used at point blank range.)
Maximum Number of Targets: (A number of people from 0-1000)
Description: (Explain the reasoning behind the existence of the Noble Phantasm and describe its capabilities.)

* *

Click here to join the game's Discord server.

Or here to head to the OOC thread.

Calling All Heroes and Villains!

❆ SIR ARCTICUS ❆

^{The Gold Pavilion, 48th Floor}

^{@Estylwen@Rekkuza@Silver Carrot}

---

Ah, not just a paramedic-themed hero, but a true doctor.

"Pardon. I've insulted thee, it seemeth." The massive knight bowed his head slightly before the sitting doctor. "If thou'rt come to save lives in the coming battles, we shall relish thine aid. Even should you furnish our enemies with the same. I swear to thee, no life shall be neglected by Sir Arcticus."

An icy knight, a prickly doctor, a young corporate hero, and their enigmatic leader. Objectively, it was probably not an ideal team for interjecting into a power struggle in the city's criminal underworld. In terms of numbers and combat power, more would have been ideal for such a crusade. Nevertheless, Sir Arcticus found himself nodding along as Auri began to rally the group for their first task. His armour creaked faintly as he settled into one of the chairs surrounding the lavish feast.

There was a Dragon that needed slaying, or so he gathered. He had come to Nova City to handle a number of smaller matters, but he had lacked any awareness of the crime syndicate that rapidly taking root in the city. Moreover, it seemed that certain villains of interest would be making an appearance, whether to oppose or aid the Dragon. Perhaps the silent hands of fate were at work in bringing him here.

There was only one aspect of Auri's plan that gave the knight pause.

"Skullduggery..."

Sir Arcticus was no stranger to occasionally using tactics in battle to confuse or mislead his enemy, but wearing a disguise like this and infiltrating an event unnoticed was somewhat outside of his normal practice. His helm turned to face in Wireframe's direction.

"I am loath to make use of such deceit, but with our numbers so meagre, we cannot send thee to the auction alone. I shall follow thine lead, hero of shining iron-cord."

Keeping his helm on, the frozen knight touched neither food nor drink. Indeed, he had never been seen without his helm. The matter of his secret identity had been frequently speculated over in recent months, but not even the shadiest online forums had any blurry photo of his face. He did hold a champagne glass, however, letting a faint layer of frost creep up its surface as the conversation continued.

"Compatriots, if you please, this knight hath two requests regarding the coming eve." He leaned forward. "Firstly, that the police department of this fair city should not be apprised of our actions until the first blows have already been struck."

Sir Arcticus may have not spent much time in Nova City, but the workings of corruption were quite familiar to him. If the Dragon was as powerful as his impact suggested, he would definitely have access to certain people in public and private sectors, including law enforcement. Whether or not that fact was confirmed in his file, it was a worthy assumption to make.

"There are many who ought to be arrested, including the many affluent brutes who would dare to attend an event that peddles prisoners as merchandise... I would see them all in irons. Yet, if we call on the town guard now, the Dragon shall doubtless become aware of our movements and cancel the event, or his confederates may use their dark influence to prevent any action from being taken. Thus, Lady Auri, I request that you contact the police only once Dame Wireframe and myself have been noticed by the enemy."

He raised an armoured finger knowingly, casting a glance at their organizer.

"If thou make'st a most urgent report in the wee hours, speaking of chaos unfolding and flesh traffickers running amok, the response from officers on duty should be so hasty that nary a mote of corruption will waylay it. Attendees shall flee in terror from our righteous power, and into the waiting arms of the law outside the auction house doors!"

He seemed to get a little excited at the mention of that last part, though it was difficult for anyone to get a sense of his body language when he scarcely moved while sitting in his armour. Even the smaller design he had created for this event was rather bulky, and it might've been possible to mistake him for a sculpture if he hadn't been actively speaking in such a booming voice.

"...That is the first of my requests." He continued. "The second is far more plain, but also of greater importance."

There was weight in his words, now. More than before. He spoke to everyone in the room with equal attention and severity.

"Thou must be willing to abandon all other goals for the sake of the auction's innocent prisoners. This is paramount, for there shall always be a later day to do battle against evil, but the freedom of those good people must come tonight."

He stood up. He had not touched his food. The frost on his glass had nearly vanished. The liquid still fizzed quietly, accompanied by a faint crackling of ice. A gauntleted hand rested still on the table. "If all this is agreeable, then I remain at thine disposal, and eager to follow Dame Wireframe into yonder den of shadows. Supposing these guises that we've obtained include some manner of mask, it will take me not but a few moments to prepare myself."

Calling All Heroes and Villains!

❆ SIR ARCTICUS ❆

^{The Gold Pavilion}

^{@Estylwen@Rekkuza}

---

"Hey, boss. We delivered all the food and extra tables to floor forty-eight, and we moved the projector and folding chairs to floor twelve like you wanted, but..."

The pavilion employee scratched the back of his head lazily, holding his phone with his other hand. For all the chaos that had been unfolding in the city streets lately, his work remained pretty much the same. A few duffel bags of party supplies rested at his feet as he rode the elevator upwards, chatting with his manager all the while. He had brought those bags into the elevator, and he knew he needed to take them to the 50th floor before he could go on his break. As for the thing at the back of the elevator, though, he had no idea.

"...Where am I supposed to put the big ice sculpture?"

The frozen form of a large, armoured warrior, standing with its arms crossed, took up the back half of the rather lavish elevator. To the workman, the design looked very familiar, but he couldn't quite place it. Was the sculpture for some sort of really classy anime convention? As the elevator continued its quiet ascent, the statue remained unmoving, casting its gaze downward. Even thought it lacked a face, having only a stylized helmet, it gave off the impression of being deep in contemplation.

"Who left it here? It's kind of creeping me out."

Before the man could hear any reply from his boss, the quiet chime of the elevator alerted him to the opening of the doors. He picked up the duffel bags in one hand and stepped forwards, before stopping himself. The tiny number above the doors displayed 48.

He needed to get off at 50. Had he pressed the wrong button?

"Excuse me." The employee nearly jumped out of his skin as the deep voice sounded out softly from behind him.

In the same moment, a massive shadow fell over him, as the overbearing form of the ice sculpture circled politely around him. The crystalline ringing noise of its footsteps was muffled by the fine carpets as it ducked down to fit out of the elevator door. Without another glance back at the terrified workman, it turned down the hallway and moved out of sight.

Too shocked to let out a sound, the pavilion employee stood completely frozen as the doors slid closed once more, and the elevator continued upwards.

Sir Arcticus stalked down the hall towards the meeting place, his mind still turning over the events of the previous weekend. The day before, the local villains had claimed a victory over the heroes and vigilantes, and had made off with an obscene amount of cash. Moreover, it seemed clear that Sir Arcticus had been lied to by that girl on the street as part of the villains' comprehensive plan to make their escape.

Though he had arrived at the correct bank only moments after the getaway of Solaris and his associates, he had been unable to track down any of the fleeing evildoers in the unfamiliar streets of Nova City. In the end, all that the knight had to offer the innocent and the injured were apologies and promises to continue the fight against evil.

If he wanted to make good on those promises, he couldn't do it alone. Fortune had smiled on him in that department, as not long after the end of his search, word had reached him that an old hero was taking action to turn the city's situation around.

Just as he was about to step into the meeting space, Sir Arcticus' armour changed shape. The largest spikes of the helm and pauldrons vaporized, and his entire form shrunk a bit, down to just over seven feet tall. Into the surfaces of his arms, legs, and chest, shallow embossment formed in shapes that resembled trailing Celtic knots. He had become more presentable to suit the situation, or so it seemed.

He had been prepared to fight an uphill battle against evil, but even so, the turnout at the event was unexpectedly small. The host was there, and a hero with a paramedic-like appearance was arguing with her.

"If thou lack'st the will to oppose the serpents which suffocate the people of this land, there are none here who can force thee to take up the sword." Clinking softly against the floor with each footfall, the ice knight approached the pair. "And yet, thou hast come. If naught else, this proves thine acknowledgment of the existence of a problem. Someone must fight."

The knight stood over the table where the folders on the city's villains lay. Glancing at the label of each one. Some of them had been involved in the bank robbery, he knew, but who were the others?

"I am Sir Arcticus of Skyline." He introduced himself to Doc, putting one hand to his chest and offering a slight bow. "It seemeth my presence in this city is already known to hero and villain alike."

Even as his armour was kept entirely frozen by his power, there was still the slightest amount of moisture continuously present on its surface. It was only about as much as the condensation on a cold glass of water, but it was conceivably still enough to damage paper. The knight picked up a napkin before he reached for one of the files, using the cloth to protect the paper from his frozen fingers.

The particular file Sir Arcticus had chosen to peruse was one whose name had struck him as somehow familiar. The memory of a bitter fall from grace stirred in his mind. Anathema.

In contrast to the physician who scarcely seemed to want to be here, the knight stood resolute, in complete support of the heroes' operation. Although his way of speaking was a bit absurd, there was something in his voice and manner that firmly communicated a sense of courage and reliability.

"Lady Aurealis... As long as you are pursuing a brighter future for this city, I shall aid you in any way that you request. You have my word."

Calling All Heroes and Villains!

@Estylwen are there meant to be other NPC heroes at the pavilion? I don't think there are too many actual ones left.

Calling All Heroes and Villains!

Still kicking.