video ✨ seelie/unseelie

[gandere]

[ This isn't the first time she's discovered a powerful necklace capable of miracles beyond being a plot device, but as an experienced magus who is used to artifacts passing along messages over cell phones, it's no trouble to adjust to it. While she doesn't understand why it works the way it does (what's the purpose of keeping a conversation permanently), from what she gathers it is a primary tool used by many of the others here. Having met someone already from her world, there remains the possibility there may be others so she sits all prim and proper for her debut. ]

Good evening. I'm sure the lot of you are tired of hearing introductions, but it'd be poor manners to not announce myself. While it would be discreet to do this one by one, idle time is limited so I'll make this brief and as memorable as I can.

I'm Rin Tohsaka. [ Surname second only because she assumes Japanese mannerisms are frowned upon in this world. ] Though I've been called away from my studies in London to fight in a war, I must admit my experience in combat is limited. From what I've gathered, there are many like me here. What is there for us to do? How can we aid beyond training and letting our inexperienced manner add to the favor of the opposing side? Showing both intelligence and courage can only get you so far. It seems rather meaningless to have us younger adults throw ourselves into the fray.

So what is it that you do to be of use? Every person brought here must have some value to them and hearing of your experiences may be able to help guide me towards my own. Keep it brief and with as little bias as you can--I frankly don't care to hear about the war this or the war that. Thank you.

Comments

[oathshackledbird]

[Why is it so many magi seem to have issues with accepting their Servants as the partner they are suppose to be? Diarmuid realizes that Servants are dependent on their Master to remain in the world, but that doesn't change the fact that Master called them in to work with them...

Diarmuid is just about to ask her about this when her last words distract him completely...]

Wait a minute. Did you say the 5th Grail War? Not the 4th?

[gandere]

[ Well Lancer, it's because her partner kind of BETRAYED her trust a few times while lying about his identity and just was an ass overall. Wait until you meet the guy, he's a straight up asshole. It's one of the class requirements of being an Archer, you see. ]

Was I not clear? The Fifth comes after Fourth and I was too inexperienced back then to be of much help.

[milkdrinker]

[ It's a question that nobody's bothered to ask him before, really, and it's one that leaves his face scrunched in mild confusion as he considers his answer. ]

This one...wishes only to live simply once again, without any worry for the wars of men, or any responsibility towards the world and its troubles. That is all.

[gandere]

From what I've gathered, there's plenty of land to be found here. Couldn't you just pack up and travel outwards, perhaps find a small village you could call home to start anew again?

[ Not that she's trying to tell him to get lost, but no one's really being forced to fight here. Not that she's seen, at least. ]

[milkdrinker]

[ That hadn't occurred to him, and the thought makes him frown. After a moment or two of considering it, though, he shakes his head. ]

In this land, what this one wishes most of all is to be returned home to Elsweyr... And it does not seem to J'sairr that this homeward path is something to be found beyond the reach of this palace.

[oathshackledbird]

[Another asshole Archer? Somehow, Diarmuid won't be surprised. He might even punch Archer for Rin if she wants him to once he finds out...]

But you said that... Wait...

So your Archer isn't a blonde man in golden armor who seems to think the whole world is below him?

[gandere]

This feeling of homesickness will pass.

[ What a blunt, but true statement to be making. ] However our benefactors are denying us any way to return home other than to fight the opposing side. Will you do that just for the chance to leave?

[gandere]

I understand what's going on here.

[ Not exactly a path she wants to go down and for a moment there, her gaze is completely elsewhere. The distant look in her eyes is a painful one, but whatever it is that troubles her remains unspoken. ]

It's the name Tohsaka that gave it away, wasn't it? The Tohsaka you're thinking of was my father, the Master of Archer.

Ugh--the man you just described is known to me, but not intimately so.

[oathshackledbird]

I'm sorry...

[Really, knowing the Archer from the 4th War isn't something he would wish on anyone. The short meeting he has had with the man is already more than enough for Diarmuid.]

And yes, it was the name. It sounded familiar and considering I was only brought back for the war, it had to have something to do with that. When I saw him say you were a Master, I just assumed...

[Bad him for doing so. He knows better.]

But if you were alive during the 4th War, not much time must have passed between it and the 5th. That is not how things usually go. How strange...

[choreographics]

[At least he's not too offended by that. He's pretty used to people not getting what he's saying even though he's explaining it, in his opinion, perfectly clear.]

Yeah, that's basically what I'm saying. I mean, not all magic. They made it pretty specific but it's more than I've ever had before. [So no. He has zero experience but it's hard to be intimidated by water powers now that he's over the initial shock.]

[gandere]

That's correct. The oddity is a result of the end of the Fourth Holy Grail War.

[ And a bit too quickly she adds: ] Those details aren't known to me well so I'm afraid I'd be unable to tell you how it ends. Only that it does.

[ She could tell him that the Grail is a phoney, that there's something residing within it that's inhuman and that she eventually dismantles it with Waver Velvet of all people. She could do that.

But she won't. ] It is strange.

[oathshackledbird]

[Diarmuid nods in understanding, though, he does notice how quickly she answers.]

That is all right. The war is just starting for me and I have no real interest in knowing how it ended before it ends for me. I have sworn a promise to my lord and I will see it done no matter the cost.

[Diarmuid is confident in this. He needs no one to tell him he succeeds at his task. He knows he will.]

If you don't mind, I will ask my lord what might specifically cause such a thing. Perhaps he will know...

[gandere]

Your lord--is he here?

[ Can't blame a magus for being invested in that piece of information. ] Since you're aware that I'm a Master with my own Servant due to your eavesdropping, isn't it fair to return the favor?

[gandere]

Pretty specific? What do you mean?

[ Tilting her head curiously. ] Something like you can only conjure fire or a single element? It doesn't work that way in stories, but sometimes in games.

[milkdrinker]

[ His ears fall flat again, and J'sairr finds himself glancing away as he answers. ]

This one could hardly be called a warrior, not by any right... But this one can fight, as Skyrim has so demanded of J'sairr, and if that is what J'sairr must do to return to Elsweyr, then so it shall be.

[oathshackledbird]

It's hardly eavesdropping when the answer is right out there for anyone to see.

[But since he had tricked her into confirming the information...]

My Lord is here. Well, a version of my lord is here. It seems that because we are from different points in time, our contract has been severed. How I am remaining manifest is beyond me. Hopefully, we will figure that out soon.

[Not knowing makes Diarmuid justifiably uneasy.]

[gandere]

[ We can all thank Lancer's STUPID BIG MOUTH WITH HIS TONGUE HANGING OUT LIKE A STUPID DOG for that.]

I suspect it has to do with the shard within you. [ Seems she's already had this conversation with someone else since the answer comes to mind so quick. That or she's a really good magus. ] Serving as a catalyst to this world, it's as if you're something akin to the Counterforce of our world.

Will you be reforging your pact with your lord then? You seem loyal to him so it's odd that you haven't gone through the effort of doing so just yet.

[oathshackledbird]

[A sudden grin crosses Diarmuid's face.]

My lord actually suggested the same thing. It seems like a good possibility to me, and it's nice to speak to someone who agrees. I am hoping that if I find out more about the shard, I might be able to figure out exactly how it works. Perhaps it is as you say...

[Just as quickly as the smile comes, though, it shifts into something slightly uneasy.]

I would be glad to reforge our contracted if my lord wished it, but he has shown no interest in doing so.

[red_branch]

You've got no idea just how much a bad influence that woman was. I might have actually evened out if not for her, actually.

[By reputation alone, Scathach was terrifying. She faced gods many times stronger than her and killed them, fought off demon lords and secured her own country in an impossible magic barrier. Among 'magic users', Scathach was a terror.]

[gandere]

[ Which makes her a perfect role model for a teenager girl who uses magic. ]

You should be careful about what you say, Lancer. It'd be unfortunate if she were here and heard that little slip of your tongue. Blaming all of your faults on someone like that... geez, it's almost as if you're asking for a swift kick in the you-know-where.

[gandere]

[ That only further concerned her. Just what kind of arrogant jerk doesn't take advantage of a Servant this loyal? Rin would have given half her fortune away for a partner that didn't abandon her every time she turned her back away. ]

Is this because your lord is on the opposing faction? It's strange for a magus to not accept the benefits that come with having a Servant to fight for them and vice versa--especially if you're so willing.

[red_branch]

[Of course, Lancer grinned at that. Rin was beginning to endear herself to him.]

Well, so, you shouldn't slip and tell her. If anything, she'd probably make you suffer for not correctin' me!

[gandere]

[ Here she though she had him pegged in such a short amount of time. ]

Returning home is the thing you value most.

Are you sure of that or is it because that's what they've told you will happen after you win that you feel you have no other alternatives?

[gandere]

[ Just wait until he sees that ass in person to remind him just what was really endearing about her. ]

Jeez, we'd both be in real trouble then. Guess we should work together to avoid the wrath of a woman like that.

[oathshackledbird]

I know. I think it strange as well...

[A worried look crosses his face for a moment. Did something happened during the time that Kayneth has been through that Diarmuid hasn't to make his master doubt him?]

We are both in the same court, so I really don't know what the reason is, and he has never really liked having to explain his decisions...