This is far too dangerous. Intervening in a battle between a Servant as dangerous as Shielder and a completely unknown foe - a Berserker at that - is asking for trouble. There’s also no guarantee that you’d find the Einzbern Master or that of Berserker should you start looking. Worse yet, if your previous encounter with Shielder was any indication, he’s not in any real danger right now. He could probably afford to focus on killing you if he really wanted to.

You pull back from your cover and run back the way you came, leaving behind the brawl in the street. Surprised, your Servant follows in her spirit form.

Master, why are we fleeing? Saber asks with a mix of exasperation and confusion. This is the perfect opportunity to attack! With my Noble Phantasm, we could kill either or both as we please!

You don’t know that, you fire back. It’s a slugfest between Shielder and a Berserker. I’m not going to lose you by tossing you into a meat grinder!

You need not fear for my safety, Saber retorts, it is my duty to-

NO, Saber! That’s an order!

Your Servant immediately ceases arguing. She doesn’t speak up again during your retreat. After a few minutes of running, she delivers the message you expected.

Master… I can no longer sense our enemies. Her telepathic message is in her fearful and apprehensive tone, sadly familiar to you at this stage.

Once you’ve halted your flight, you take stock of your surroundings to ensure your safety. Like the rest of the district, darkened shops line the streets, illumination nowhere to be found save a traffic signal at an intersection down the road. It’s a bit hard to see, but a glint in the distance is most certainly visible thanks to the rotating trio of colors.

Since it’s the weekend and you haven’t been out too long yet, you can afford to go to another location tonight. It’s late enough that you can’t walk too far, though, and if you do travel elsewhere, you’ll probably sleep through the morning.

>>Go downtown. Perhaps you can stake out the hotel to see if the Einzbern girl returns to it?
>>Head to suburbs; specifically, the residence of Alceste Lucroy. Try to draw out his Servant.
>>Investigate the glinting object.
>>Return to school to sleep and be ready for the morning.
>>(Write-in)

>>3756927
>>Investigate the glinting object
What could shiny be?

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>>3756927
>>>Investigate the glinting object.
SHINY
...this can't possibly kill us, can it?

>>3756927
>>Investigate the glinting object.
I'm just waiting for us to end up like a fly drawn to a bug zapper.

>>3756927
>>>Investigate the glinting object.

I get the feeling we will be with the priest again soon

>>3757412
>>3757656
Hopefully we'll learn a valuable lesson.
...that won't be repeated by about 40% of players immediately after this time.

Calling it now, it's a gun barrel.

>>3757765
Eh, we've got Saber next to us, we'll be fine.

>>3757765
Short of Archer using a gun and NPing us it won't matter.

>>3758197
Oh no, You're giving me bad Clint Eastwood flashbacks.

>>3758214
The heart! Aim for the heart!

>>3756927
>Investigate the glinting object.

>>3756927
>Investigate the glinting object.
>>3758214
Aw, he wasn't so bad. At least he kept things interesting, right?

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>>3756927
>>Investigate the glinting object.

>>3756967
>Someone saved my shitty Altered/Type edit
COME BACK CASTER WE NEED MORE TITTY SEIBA

Whatever is gleaming, it has a firm grasp your attention. What is shining in the intersection at this time of night, and why is it there? You’ve no need to sleep yet, so you can allow yourself a distraction such as this, and it’s not that far off anyway. You decide to satisfy your curiosity.

Saber, I’d like to investigate that object in the distance, you say.

Master, though I cannot sense a Servant, it could be a trap, Saber warns. Please remain here. I will go in your stead.

No, it could just as easily be an attempt to draw you away from me, you counter. We should go together. We’ll be ready for anything that way.

You start in the direction of the glimmering light with a fair bit more stealth than your earlier sprint. Sticking to the shadows, you approach cautiously. Black Keys are drawn in one hand, but you keep them sheathed to prevent an unfortunate reflection from revealing your presence. Once you’re about a block away, the glint you’re tracking moves left behind a building and vanishes. None too keen on losing your target, you quicken your movement slightly, pressing against the wall the light disappeared behind. At the intersection now, you peek around the corner…

...And see nothing. Has it traveled beyond your vision already? But maybe you can still catch up. You round the corner and take a single step before a flash of silver drops into your vision from above. Damn! It’s too close to react! The wire bird begins to change shape almost immediately, wrapping around your neck and wrists. A glimmering thread entangles your forearms, draws them together and yanks them up towards your chest. Your fists now press against your chin, Black Keys still in hand, as the thin bindings squeeze the life from your throat. Breathing and speaking are impossible.

Out from the other side of the establishment steps the Einzbern Master, ruby eyes and silver hair glistening in the night while her black dress blends with the darkness. Her countenance is cold and disinterested, yet her eyes fix you with an intense stare. A meteor of white and red bolts into existence beside you to cleave the girl’s head from her shoulders.

“Shielder!”

A brilliant flash eclipses the Einzbern as her Servant fires out of thin air like a cannonball. A shockwave even stronger than their first clash washes into you and the Einzbern girl, but she hardly flinches. A fell shriek, more hellish than any you’ve heard yet, pierces your eardrums as Saber brings her full fury to bear on Shielder. Your metal noose grows ever tighter. The silver girl's glare watches you unblinkingly. If you don’t act now, you’ll die!

>>Charge the Einzbern while bound!
>>Use your magic to break free and attack the girl!
>>Use your Black Keys to break free and attack the girl!
>>Telepathically order Saber to unleash her Noble Phantasm!
>>Telepathically order Saber to unleash her dangerous hidden power, consequences be damned!
>>(Write-in)

>>3760368
>>Use your Black Keys to break free and attack the girl!

>>3760368
>>>Use your magic to break free and attack the girl!
This asshole again.

>>3760368
>Use your Black Keys to break free and attack the girl!

>>3760368
Can we use our magic if we can't speak? The wires are around our throat, and if the Einzbern girl sees us trying to chant, she might just choke us faster.

>>3760417
Oh, would our amulet maybe help disable the wires?

>>3760417
That's a good question. We ma be able to just brute force a burst of ice or something. What actual magic does Edgar know?

>Lay an incredibly obvious trap
>Each and every vote is to fall for it
Never change.

>>3760417
>>3760422
Edgar can use magic, but with the qualification that the spell will be something simple that doesn't require a chant. You won't know if it will be enough to break free until you try. As for the wires, there's a reason the amulet hasn't disabled them, but it's not something that Edgar would know in-character.

>>3760441
As described in the first thread, Edgar only knows elemental magic. His magical education has been hindered by a lack of emphasis on magecraft compared to his other training and his resulting inability to understand why his Water-aligned elemental magecraft only manifests as ice.

>>3760368
> Telepathically order Saber to return to us and cut the wires with her sword, then release her Noble Phantasm to hold off Shielder.

>>3760478
I mean yeah, pretty sure we all knew it was a trap. Just not that it would be Shielder crawling up our butt again.

>>3760368
Going to change my vote to
>>Telepathically order Saber to unleash her dangerous hidden power, consequences be damned!
Reading over how we're bound I doubt Edgar can get the wires himself without taking his own head off. Might as well go balls to the wall.

>>3760368
>>Use your magic to break free and attack the girl!
It's a long shot, but maybe we could embrittle the string?

>>3760606
I don't feel like either of the options for Edgar to free himself are viable. The wires are made of metal, whatever magic we are capable of isn't likely to destroy them or weaken them enough to break, and considering how he's bound it seems really unlikely that he has enough mobility to sever the wires with the black keys. I was thinking Saber could cut the wires for us, though Shielder might interfere.

>>3760620
I think at best we could freeze it so it stops tightening but that doesn't really solve the problem, just stops it from getting worse.

Switching from >>3760495 to
>>Telepathically order Saber to unleash her dangerous hidden power, consequences be damned!

For now I guess.

>>3760368
>>Telepathically order Saber to unleash her dangerous hidden power, consequences be damned!
Not this fag again.

>>3760368
>>Telepathically order Saber to unleash her dangerous hidden power, consequences be damned!

If this kills us we at least get to go to the last checkpoint knowing what it does.

>>3760368
>Use your magic to break the girl's concentration and escape
Are we able freeze the area around us? Might work better doing a mass freeze to throw her off balance than to try something as intricate as freezing the wire.

>>3760478
>Being smart
>In Fate
Doing the sane rational thing always gets you killed Integer, we have to go full SEIGI NO MIKATA

This is bad. You can’t attack the Einzbern while you’re wrapped up like this. Shielder only needs to keep Saber occupied until the wire ends your life. Both of you have been shut down. This is a well-designed trap, you must admit. But there’s something the Einzbern girl couldn’t account for. The true power of Saber, a potential so terrible that it must remain locked away, only to be released at your command!

‘Saber!’ you order, ‘unleash your hidden power and destroy these two!’

‘No!’

...What?

Her reply is curt and infected with the wild venom of her frenzy. As she is now, she ought to follow your directions in battle. Hell, she might even need your commands to execute complicated strategies. Worry seeps into your bones. Why won't she listen to you, now of all times?

‘Saber, my hands are tied! I need you to use your full strength and crush them!’

‘No!’

Again, your order is refused. Her rebuff is more forceful than the last. Clangs of Saber’s blade ring out without end. Wire pierces your skin, drawing blood and cutting into your flesh. The Einzbern girl remains focused on you, as though willing you to die. Fear now permeates what remains of your being as you struggle against your restraints, oxygen loss overcoming your senses.

‘Saber, please! I’m dying!’ you issue a final, panicked, desperate prayer.

‘NO!’

A third time, she denies you. Blood seeps down your neck, and you’re no longer able to cling to consciousness. A pair of shimmering red eyes are the last thing you see as you fall to the cold concrete.

DEAD END

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>>3763953

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>>3763965
Gotta raise that Affection Score first, boy.

>>3763953
Ah goddammit

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>>3763953
Ok then. So we need to avoid any more encounters with other masters until this bullshit is handled.

>>3763996
We can also stop being retarded.

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“What a shame,” the priest says in a jovial voice. “Your Servant was not willing to use her full power to save you. That betrayal must sting.”

No shit. Your partner chose to fail you at a critical moment. What the hell went wrong?

“You were right not to trust your own power to be sufficient. However, you know that Saber is heavily reluctant to draw from the forbidden well within her; enough so to conceal its existence from even you, her Master. Saber will not choose to save you that way unless she has grown very fond of you.”

In other words, she didn’t save you because she just doesn’t like you enough. That knowledge is painful after the conversation you had earlier today.

“If you could speak, a Command Spell could force her easily.” The priest smiles. “I’d quite like to witness that.”

This man has some strange tastes.

“Tread carefully, boy. Not all poor choices will kill you.”

~~~

>>Charge the Einzbern while bound!
>>Use your magic to break free and attack the girl!
>>Use your Black Keys to break free and attack the girl!
>>Telepathically order Saber to unleash her Noble Phantasm!
>>(Write-in)

>Please do thing you specifically requested me not to ask you
>"no."
>oh no how could this happpppennnnn!
Dumber than the sword autist.

>>3764027
We clearly need to start doing high jumps.

>>3764026
>>Charge the Einzbern while bound!
SURPRISE MOTHERFUCKER, NEVER UNDERESTIMATE MY AUTISTICALLY BAD PLANS.

>>3764027
We were going to dead end regardless, because before the Secret Power vote won, trying to free ourselves with black keys was the majority. I personally wanted to do >>3760495
but noone else was going for it.

>>3764021
It was so blatant it's kinda dissapointing that it was a trap.
>>3764027
Well we now know that she's so ashamed of it that she's willing to let us die and lose the war. That's something.
>>3764033
Could she have freed us before Shielder could get her or us though?
>>3764026
I don't even know what to pick. Can we go back to a previous save?

>>3764026
>>Telepathically order Saber to unleash her Noble Phantasm!

My guess is that this is our next best option, maybe with the addition that Saber should free us as soon as her NP distracts Shielder.

>>3764026
>>Charge the Einzbern while bound!
"It's not a red string but I'll take what I can get."

>Telepathically order Saber to unleash her Noble Phantasm!
It's an aoe right? Fiery tornado or something. Could drive them off, could catch the enemy master, could also get us maybe.

>Charge the Einzbern while bound!
Might spook her again. Maybe we even tackle her.

>Use your magic to break free and attack the girl!
Maybe our magic is super interesting to the Einzburn and she spares us or something.

Anyone else got any thoughts on our possible actions?

>>3764195
Let's charge her.
It's the last thing she'd expect.

>>3764026
>>>Telepathically order Saber to unleash her Noble Phantasm!

Going with this, as we will still have one other trick obscured for later.

>>3764026
>>>Telepathically order Saber to unleash her Noble Phantasm!

>>3764026
>Use your Black Keys to break free and attack the girl!

>>3764026
>>Use your magic to break free and attack the girl!
I feel that Saber's NP won't work. Remember that everything Cu had was useless against Ferdiad, and that included his runes and his spergout powers.

>>3765122
I'm more hoping the Einzbern gets caught in it, or panics and bails. I wonder how well just ordering Saber to go for her would work now.

>>3764026
>>Charge the Einzbern while bound!
Kill her faster than she can kill us!

>>3765210
>I'm more hoping the Einzbern gets caught in it, or panics and bails.
A good plan, except Ferdiad can just stand in front of her and take the whole thing.
>I wonder how well just ordering Saber to go for her would work now.
For the same reason, not very well.

Ferdiad really was a great choice for her.

>>3765043
>>3765122
Kotomine just told us we couldn't rely on our own power to get out of this.

>>3765596
Well then.
>>3764026
switching from >>3765122 to
>>Telepathically order Saber to unleash her Noble Phantasm!

>>3765534
Was that thing that lets you protect others better a class skill or individual one?
He could be a shielder thanks to his amazing defensive ability without anything that lets him protect others better

>>3765534
If he's protecting her then Saber is open to get to us maybe.
>>3765596
He also said not all poor choices will kill us which has me wondering if trying our magic will cause some unforeseen effect.

Maybe we cut the wire with our key and if it wounds us freeze it shut? But that leaves us open for a followup attack i suppose.

This is bad. You can’t attack the Einzbern while you’re wrapped up like this. Shielder only needs to keep Saber occupied until the wire ends your life. Both of you have been shut down. This is a well-designed trap, you must admit. But you’re not about to give up. With your back to the wall, you have no choice but to rely on a Servant’s ultimate weapon!

‘Saber!’ you command telepathically, ‘Unleash your Noble Phantasm!’

‘Understood,’ comes the feverish reply. ‘Witness your Servant’s glory!’

In accordance with the Noble Phantasm’s requirements, you break eye contact with the Einzbern girl and turn your gaze to Saber.

“I dedicate your death to Master!” Saber speaks aloud while striking at Shielder, her voice frenzied. A rush of magical energy courses through your Servant. Her hair fans out as though blown by the wind. Power surges into her black tresses, becoming a crimson mane. Shielder’s eyes widen with realization and focus, and he crosses his arms protectively before his face.

“Onda no-”

“Congancnes!”

“-Hachiro Moroshige~!”

The True Name becomes a drawn-out yell. A deep, metallic groan resounds as the world bends before Saber. Twisting magical energy ignites, and a tornado of flame engulfs Shielder from the torso up as the axis within rotates. This is the Noble Phantasm of your Servant.

The flames fade, and Saber thrusts at Shielder’s face, but he’s already gone. Much like the end to your first encounter, he moves directly for his Master. His shirt is ash now, but his skin shows no sign of burns. However, in the brief moment he stops to collect the girl, you see his arms; his rough skin cannot hide the addition of several new joints to his right, which hangs useless at his side, and the hand of the left is gnarled like an old tree from part way up his forearm. He’s only able to hold the Einzbern by squeezing her between his single intact upper arm and what remains of the lower. Fighting is certainly impossible in that state. The pain must be excruciating. He dashes from your sight with the grace - or, rather, lack thereof - of a beast running for its life.

As you watch your retreating enemies, a swish meets your ears and the force binding you loses all its strength. The tendrils fall to the ground, severed by Saber's blade. Your attention returns to the Servant standing before you. Locks of hair, now carmine, slowly fall as they fade to their usual inky hue. Her eyes shine with the afterglow of power.

“The enemy is in flight, Master. Shall we pursue?”

>>”Of course.” (Give chase to Shielder and the Einzbern)
>>”No, you’ve done enough.” (Return to school and sleep)
>>(Write-in)

>>3765737
>Maybe we cut the wire with our key and if it wounds us freeze it shut?
As metal as Iggy vs Pet Shop is, I'm fairly sure that freezing a wound does far more harm than good.

>>3766654
>>”Of course.” (Give chase to Shielder and the Einzbern)
It worked!
What a twist.

>>3766654
>>>”Of course.” (Give chase to Shielder and the Einzbern)

>No mentions of fatigue from Saber using her NP
So it's one of these efficient ones
She should be able to use it again after we catch up

>>3766654
>>”Of course.” (Give chase to Shielder and the Einzbern)

Awesome! So, we have 'Onda no Hachiro Moroshige' for Saber, not sure what that means or if it tells us anything about her identity. And I assume Congancnes was Shielder's Noble Phantasm?

>>3766742
Ah, hmm. Looks like Onda no Hachiro Moroshige was a warrior beheaded in battle by Tomoe Gozen.

>>3766742
It means she's Tomoe Gozen

>>3766742
>Congancnes
And then there's this https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conganchnes_mac_Dedad

>>3766654
>>>”Of course.” (Give chase to Shielder and the Einzbern)
We seem to be doing ok so let's give it the ol' college try.
>>3766692
Noted! I suppose a special spell would have to be developed to do that.
>>3766742
Seems to be Saber Tomoe Gozen. Which means her deep shame is likely tied to her demonic nature. She mentioned that there's something else within the flames of her strike, that must be what let her do damage to Shielder. Or he has a weakness to fire/demonic fire or something, not sure if it works that way.

>>3766816
>She mentioned that there's something else within the flames of her strike, that must be what let her do damage to Shielder. Or he has a weakness to fire/demonic fire or something, not sure if it works that way.
Seems possible, If he turns out be this 'Conganchnes mac Dedad' rather than Ferdiad as was assumed before, he was killed by having red hot skewers stabbed up into his legs from the soles of his feet.

>>3766654

>>”Of course.” (Give chase to Shielder and the Einzbern)

We seem to have the advantage and we know from prior experience the Einzbern can be made vulnerable and put on the back foot. I do recommend extreme caution once we arrive.

>>3766654
>>”Of course.” (Give chase to Shielder and the Einzbern)
So we were wrong about Shielder.

>>3766654
>”Of course.” (Give chase to Shielder and the Einzbern)

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Just remembered we were considering that there is more than one Einzbern in this and they seem to be really good at traps. Should we really push our luck? We've gained some valuable intel but also dies twice in the last 20 in game minutes, maybe it's time to withdraw and get stronger/ form a strategy? Not to mention who else may have been drawn out by the multiple battles and NPs used in the area.

Also I can't seem to find it, what city are we in? Is this Fuyuki?

>>3769783
Shielder knows Saber's identity, which makes it critical that we kill him now while we have the opportunity. If we let them go now they'll know who she is and you can bet that Shielder won't leave himself open next time. This is our best and likely only chance to get him out of the way.

“Of course,” you reply. With Shielder injured to the point where he can no longer fight, you’d be a fool to let him escape. He is far too powerful an opponent to allow him to recuperate and formulate a counter to Saber’s Noble Phantasm. You should eliminate him now, while the opportunity presents itself.

Saber quickly grabs your waist and charges after Shielder, carrying you like a barrel under her arm. The position is quite uncomfortable, since the force of her movement causes her arm to dig into your gut a bit, but at least you can look ahead.

Shielder darts through the shadowy streets at a phenomenal pace. He appears to have recovered from the stagger with which he began running and now bounds ahead with a practiced agility. How he can move like that despite his injuries is beyond you. His Master faces you in his arms, hair partially obscuring her view as it whips in the wind of Shielder’s dash. Saber hurries, but is unable to overtake them. Her breath is haggard, as when she is in battle.

Suddenly, Saber accelerates, tearing towards Shielder, respiration straining further, arm grinding deeper into your belly. She’s pushing herself to the limit in a desperate attempt to reach her target. Her motive soon becomes clear. A few blocks later, you round a corner behind Shielder, and the focal point of his desperate gambit issues a guttural roar. He’s charging directly at Berserker!

The mad warrior raises his axe to murder both the man and the girl in his arm. With Saber behind him, Shielder cannot afford to slow down. The Einzbern’s tenacious defender pulls his ward to his chest and somersaults under Berserker’s attack, the weapon’s blade glancing off his back as harmlessly as any other. Knocked slightly off-course by the strike, Shielder wobbles when he returns to his feet, but is soon back to running. Is there nothing that can stop this bastard?

Saber is on a collision course with Berserker, who now stands between you and Shielder. The madman changes his focus from the fleeing enemy to the one charging him. Buildings to either side will make circumventing Berserker difficult, if not impossible. Between her skirmish with Shielder and the subsequent chase, you’re not sure how much longer Saber can continue. Damn it! Is Shielder is going to get away again?!

>>Direct Saber to attack Berserker!
>>Order Saber to use her Noble Phantasm a second time!
>>Try to evade Berserker! Shielder is the one you’re after!
>>Withdraw! Shielder is one thing, but Berserker is too much of an unknown!

>>3770251
>>Try to evade Berserker! Shielder is the one you’re after!

>>3769783
>Also I can't seem to find it, what city are we in? Is this Fuyuki?
The setting is a fictional American city called Gethsemane, Pennsylvania. I haven't given too many details about the city beyond what seemed immediately important to the quest, so I just never mentioned the name.

>>3770251
>Try to evade Berserker! Shielder is the one you’re after!

>>3770251
Whoops, forgot the write-in option.
>>(Write-in)

>>3770251
>>Direct Saber to attack Berserker!

>>3770251
>Saber hurries, but is unable to overtake them. Her breath is haggard, as when she is in battle.
>Suddenly, Saber accelerates, tearing towards Shielder, respiration straining further, arm grinding deeper into your belly.
She's running out of steam. We would probably die even if we catch up.

>>3770355
I had forgotten Saber has little stamina.
>>3770251
>>>Withdraw! Shielder is one thing, but Berserker is too much of an unknown!

>>3770251
Switch to
>>Withdraw! Shielder is one thing, but Berserker is too much of an unknown!

>>3770373
I'm >>3770258 I think.

Hmm... Maybe we could give up on chasing Shielder directly, run away from Berserker, and try to head to that Hotel the Einzbern is supposedly staying at on our own. Maybe we'll end up heading them off.

>>3770251
>Use command seal to refill Saber's stamina

>>3770382
That leads us closer to the theoretical other Einzbern and their base.It would be bad for Saber going into that running on empty.

>>3770251
>Withdraw! Shielder is one thing, but Berserker is too much of an unknown!

This stings but I think it's the right call.

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>>3770273
>Amish Holy Grail War

This can’t go on; Saber is too exhausted. Between how little you know about Berserker and her current stamina, your Servant might not survive this clash. Even if she wins, chasing down and killing Shielder immediately after is out of the question. Saber’s Noble Phantasm has almost certainly given away her identity, but at least she’s still alive. You should cut your losses and deal with Shielder and the Einzbern another time.

“Saber, retreat!” you call out through the pressure around your abdomen. Saber grinds to a halt, churning up asphalt with both feet until finally stopping some distance from Berserker. She turns around and blasts off, taking you in the exact opposite direction of Shielder. Berserker does not follow, sending only a deep groan in pursuit. Saber will tire out soon, and you’ll have nothing left to do but walk back to campus and get a good night’s sleep.

Eventually, Saber can no longer run, and puts you down on the sidewalk. You straighten your clothes a bit, all articles displaced by the rushing air to which Saber subjected them, and begin the long trek back to school grounds with Saber behind you. Shielder’s escape is a sour note to end on. Rather than stew about your failures before bed, you try to focus on the positives. That should allow rest to come more easily.

While it may have been a bumpy ride, Saber managed to drive off the most dangerous foe you’ve met and deliver you from another. To add icing on the cake, you’ve learned two important pieces of information about the Noble Phantasm of Shielder - its name and its weakness. Saber deserves thanks for the effort she’s put in tonight. You turn, but by the time you complete the maneuver she’s already vanished from view.

“Thanks, Saber,” you say. “You did well tonight.” But you receive no reply. Your Servant does not speak nor show herself to you for the rest of your journey home.

~~~

This is not a scene from Saber’s life. Tonight, you are elsewhere. It is a forest of spruce and fir trees, but all are somehow unlike any you’ve seen before. Before you is someone; or perhaps, something. A thick mist obscures your view in all directions, but there is undeniably a presence aside from you here. Your instincts tell you not to speak, not to make contact with this being, but your curiosity demands that you know who, or what, it is.

“Who are you?” you call into the fog.

“I am not of your kind.” The answer is carried on a whisper from the forest. It surrounds you.

“Are you your own being?” you inquire of the hidden presence. It may seem a silly question, but it strikes you as relevant. Are you speaking with an individual, a collective, or some part of a larger whole?

“Yes.”

“Are you my enemy?” A third question vanishes into the woods.

“I do not know,” the wind replies. “If I am to learn, then I must ask: who are you?”

~~~

The sun is high by the time you rise from your slumber. You’ve slept right through Mass. That’s not a surprise - you were up pretty late last night. The more conservative staff at school will be worried about the effect missing Mass has now had on your spiritual well-being and your odds of getting into Heaven. You, however, are more concerned about the refectory’s schedule; you’ve missed breakfast for sure.

Nothing to be done about it except find somewhere else to eat, you suppose. As you move to the exit of your building, you’re met with the surprising noise of a crowd outside. Upon leaving, you find that some number of students have gathered into a crowd some distance in front of your residence hall. A conglomeration of students in itself isn’t unusual in the aftermath of Mass, but the fact that they’ve chosen this as their meeting place isn’t normal. They seem to have gathered around something that’s captured all of their attention, as well. You move to investigate.

Using your size and strength to push into the crowd, you find that a ring has formed in its center. Students marvel at - and a few even try to talk to - a stunning blonde girl in a white blouse, a red skirt, and familiar blue sneakers. Bored, pale eyes scanning the crowd light up when they spot you.

“Edgar!” Charlotte exclaims, shoving people out of the way to make a beeline to you, “There you are! I’ve been looking all over for you!” Rather than ‘looking all over’ to locate her target, you suspect she’d found your residence some time ago and has since been lying in ambush, thus allowing this crowd to form. Once she reaches you, your arm is clamped by a warm vise you didn’t know you missed until now. The pair of you become the target of a number of jealous stares from boys and girls alike.

“So, what brings you here?” you ask, doing your best to ignore the audience and keep your discomfort out of your voice.

“You, silly!” she says, playfully putting her weight on you for a moment. “We have so much to discuss! Be a gentleman and take me somewhere, will you? Then we can talk aaaall about it!”

Charlotte smiles up at you vibrantly and expectantly. The pressure from your schoolmates’ eyes threatens to crush you. Eager to escape this situation, you swiftly weigh your options for how to spend the afternoon.

You can...
>>Take Charlotte to eat somewhere. Whether you learn about her or the War, this rendezvous could be a valuable source of information.
Or turn Charlotte down and…
>>Visit Father McManus to ask about the name of Shielder's Noble Phantasm, and see if he has any work for you.
>>Visit Damien for the latest scoop.
>>Investigate the hotel downtown. If it’s the Einzbern’s base, she’s almost certainly there in the daytime.
>>See if there’s something you can do to build your relationship with Rider.
>>(Write-in)

>>3773895
>>Take Charlotte to eat somewhere. Whether you learn about her or the War, this rendezvous could be a valuable source of information.

>>3773895
>Take Charlotte to eat somewhere. Whether you learn about her or the War, this rendezvous could be a valuable source of information.

>>3773895
>>Visit Father McManus to ask about the name of Shielder's Noble Phantasm, and see if he has any work for you.
Goddamn you two, have you no respect for Father McManus?

>>3773917
Fuck him.
We need to acquire a wife.

>>3773922
What's Saber to you, chopped liver?

>>3773945
A faithful married woman.

>>3773959
till death do us part

>>3773895
>>Take Charlotte to eat somewhere. Whether you learn about her or the War, this rendezvous could be a valuable source of information.
She got assassin but I feel meeting with her probably won't kill us
We will probably spill Saber's identity
>>3773945
Ask again once she releases her demon blood and tells us to stop meeting other girls
Edgar isn't interested in submissive women

>>3773895
>>Take Charlotte to eat somewhere. Whether you learn about her or the War, this rendezvous could be a valuable source of information.

>>3773895
>Take Charlotte to eat somewhere. Whether you learn about her or the War, this rendezvous could be a valuable source of information.

Edgar's dick aside Id like to know what she wants at least.

>>3773895
>>>Take Charlotte to eat somewhere. Whether you learn about her or the War, this rendezvous could be a valuable source of information.
If we let her know what Shielder's deal is she may take care of that for us.
>>3773945
A subordinate and a disobedient one at that. Not one-and-only tier yet.

>>3774630
We at least know her sealed skill is her Oni power.
Which would make her pretty fucking strong considering how many skills it counts as.

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>>3774645
Oh hell yes she will be crazy strong when she actually starts taking things seriously. We really need to devote more time to straightening her out.

On that note changing my vote to
>>3773895
>>>(Write-in)
>>See if there’s something you can do to build your relationship with Saber.
Teach us to sword better.

>>3774692
Why waste the opportunity that's right in front of us? Saber isn't going anywhere, but the chance to get information out of Charlotte is going to pass us by if we don't jump on it.

“Alright, let’s go,” you say. If nothing else, you may as well hear Charlotte out. There are questions you’d like to ask her as well, and this is the perfect chance to learn what you can. It’s also the response that will allow you to flee from all these prying eyes as soon as possible.

“Yay! You’re so good to me, Edgar!” Charlotte nuzzles your arm, much to the internal torment of the other students. You can’t tell what she’s enjoying the most: the envy of your schoolmates, your discomfort, or your assent to her request. The scene now over, you hastily lead Charlotte away from the stage.

~~~

The two of you now sit in a booth inside an off-campus eatery Misty Delights Cafe. Light shades of various colors adorn the walls and cutely decorated foods are served alongside trendy spins on common types of coffee. Supposedly, it’s quite popular among the girls at school. Given your background and interests, your knowledge of this place seems an aberration. Only by the meddling of Damien and Father McManus do you have knowledge of and experience at this location.

Dizzied by the many options on the menu, you settled for a reliable stack of buttermilk pancakes. They’re quite filling and delicious, but the experience is marred because someone thought it would be a good idea to cook them all in the shape of a heart. Valentine’s Day was over a month ago, but apparently this establishment has yet to drop the gimmick. Charlotte ordered a drink with a goofy complicated name that, seeing it now, strikes you as little more than coffee with whipped cream on top. She didn’t get anything to eat, but has been more than happy to poke fun at you for your ‘hearty pancakes’.

“So why did you seek me out?” you ask. Your conversation thus far has been little more than shooting the breeze. With the relative privacy of this booth and disinterest of other customers, however, you should have enough safety to discuss the Holy Grail War.

“A few things,” Charlotte replies. “First, I wanted to see you!” Smiling, she reaches across the table and squeezes one of your hands with hers. “Second, I realized that I hadn’t given you any way to contact me! How are you supposed to ask me out if you can’t call me or even text?”

Charlotte pulls out a flip phone and puts it on the table in front of you.

“If you ever want to reach me, call the only number in that phone’s contacts,” Charlotte instructs you. “I’ll only answer if you call from that phone, though.”

...Now this is a surprise. Charlotte is giving you a burner phone to contact her with? Just who is she? You take the phone and pocket it for later use.

“And third,” Charlotte continues, “Rider disappeared last night.”

Your blood freezes. Rider is gone? You managed a truce with her, and probably could have allied with her if you tried!

“You mean she’s dead?” you confirm.

“I’m not sure,” Charlotte replies. “She was battling Archer in the state park last night and she just… vanished.” You’re pretty sure you can see where this is going.

“And you want my help to bring Archer down, right?”

“You’re so smart!” The golden girl puts her hands together happily. “It would be great if you could take him down for me!”

“Hang on. You expect me to do all the legwork for this?” You, alone, against Archer? That’s a terrible plan. Archer’s not stupid, and he’s anything but weak. His range advantage gives him a serious edge over Saber, too.

“Don’t worry, I’ve already set the gears in motion.” The smile on Charlotte’s face changes. It’s still enchanting, but her eyes betray something dark beneath. “Normally, you might not be able to beat him, but you should stand a chance by tonight. He and his Master have taken to prowling the state park recently; that terrain should be more favorable for you and Saber.”

“I’ll consider it,” you say. It’s best not to make any promises here. It’s a dangerous errand for which Charlotte didn’t provide a time limit. You’ll decide what to do with her request later.

“You’re such a good listener!” Whatever was lurking below the surface of Charlotte’s grin has retreated to the depths. “As a reward, I’ll let you ask me some questions. Anything you’d like! What do you want to know?”

Charlotte is volunteering information? This is a rare opportunity. You’d best take advantage of it.

>>(Write-in anything you’d like to ask Charlotte. Up to 3 questions.)

Surprise! Two updates in a day! This probably won't happen again any time soon, but I wanted to see if I could pull it off since I had some free time.

>>3774793
There will only be time if we make time who knows what other distractions will keep popping up. I guess I am a little worried that blowing Charlotte off will cause some trouble though.

>>3774802
Interesting. Just brainstorming questions here for the time being.

> What, if anything, have you learned of the other Servants and Masters in the Holy Grail War?
> Why are you specifically interested in dealing with Archer and his master?
> Has she heard or seen anything that might be related to the entity Lancer warned us about?

>>3774802
Well I'm glad I didn't get my vote this is some serious business.Charlotte was getting rid of her competition with Edgar. She has Assassin of course she knew.

Questions
>What does she know about the other masters and servants?
With a Shielder we can't know if this war is sticking with the "normal" seven. If she offers anything we will of course tell her what we know about Shielder.
>Have you heard about any strange murders?
Not just our mysterious ghoul, servants can feed on souls too so anyone trying for a quick powerboost should be targeted.
>Have you had any visions of a mysterious priest?
For shits.

>>3774887
>Have you had any visions of a mysterious priest?

Supporting this.

Also:

> Why the special interest in me? You could have approached any master.

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Alright so next time we get the chance(if we get the chance, I suppose we should also focus on making the time) what should we focus on improving?

Martial abilities?
Magic?
Social links?

>Have you had any visions of a mysterious priest?
I get that it's supposed to be fun, but I'm going to have to veto this one. Edgar isn't aware of his conversations with Kotomine outside of when he's died and gone to the church, so he has no substantial in-character reason to ask this question.

Looks like your first two questions are to ask what she knows about other Grail War participants and what she knows about the mystery killer, and the third is caught between
> Why are you specifically interested in dealing with Archer and his master?
and
> Why the special interest in me? You could have approached any master.
unless other suggestions pop up.

>>3776209
Let's ask about her interest in us for the third.

>>3776099
Either trying to convince Saber to unlock her real power and dominate us or trying to seduce our mom
Either is fine, really
>>3776209
Ask her if she has any advice on making Saber more proactive

>>3774802
>What have you learnt about the other Masters and Servants?
>Why are you focusing on Archer?
>Have you heard of any mysterious murders recently?
>>3776099
Mostly magic and social links. An Executor-in-training is probably in the top 3-5% of humans physically.

>>3776272
Honestly, getting Saber to like us enough to become a Demon for us would be great.
And dangerous for our purity.

>>3776213
>>3776296
>Anons used Tie!
>Integer is paralyzed! It can't move!

>>3776296
Change your vote nerd

>>3776209
>> Why the special interest in me? You could have approached any master.
I'll vote for this as the third.

>>3775143
>Why the special interest in me? You could have approached any master.
There are only two possible answers, neither of which is particularly relevant. It's either
1. "It was coincidence!" or
2. "Your mom is the overseer."
Neither gives us any additional information. I vote for our third question to be
> Why are you specifically interested in dealing with Archer and his master?
>>3776209

>>3778478
Don't tie us again you 1 post by this ID faggot.

>>3778489
It's not my fault I'm moving and disagree with you. My ID should settle out when I move into my new digs at week's end.

>>3778478
Or she will flirt harder, giving us the chance to counter-flirt and up our social link.

>>3778499
Oh fuck off.
It's pretty obvious you're samefagging, and when we were just out of being tied.

>>3778501
We already have Saber, and I've been firmly McManusian from the beginning. Charlotte is bad news.
>her eyes betray something dark beneath.
How the hell can you think she's good for us?

Int could probably just break ties via coinflip, or lock the vote in once a single person has broken a tie. It'd make this go faster and might lead to less shitflinging.

>>3778511
Also, to break the tie,I'll switch to asking about us instead of Archer. My IP has changed, but I was this anon >>3774860

>>3778508
Some flirting won't necessarily lead to romance. A friendship is more likely. Also Saber is hardly better what with being an actual bloodthirsty demon whose hangups have caused our death and likely will again.

Also her heart belongs to another.

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>>3778519
And this is to prove my claim

>>3778520
Saber absolutely is better. Saber is totally loyal to us (except for that one mishap, and that's fixable). But she doesn't like Charlotte, and so if we continue to run head-first into the thot parade then we sabotage our teamwork with our Servant. If we show her that we trust her and believe in her -- which includes her distrust of Charlotte -- then we can get to the point where she will use her power if need be.

>>3778547
Saber is a married woman who loves her husband.

>>3778565
She is also our Servant, whose opinions we should strongly consider.

>>3778547
We do need to build trust between us and Saber but isolating our self from a potential ally isn't the correct course. I'll admit that is it stands yeah Charlotte is likely a hairs breathe from betraying us but we can build trust with her too. Both of these girls have a darkness in them that we can make friends with and utilize.
personally I don't care for her, or anyone so far, as waifu bait. But she can be useful and is kinda fun.

>>3778511
I wasn't going to be able to post an update until tonight anyway, so I chose to let the tie play itself out. Ties do tend to be an obstruction in this quest, though, so I'll probably take measures to avoid that in the future.

In other news, the two weeks are up and my schedule should be fairly regular again, at least for the next week or so.

One of your greatest weaknesses in regards to the War is intelligence gathering. You have no means of reconnaissance beyond taking to the field yourself. As such, your knowledge of your enemies is severely limited, consisting only of what you’ve seen and the files Brigante compiled. Since Charlotte is offering, you ought to get as much of her information as she’s willing to give.

“What have you learned about the other Masters and Servants?” Your voice, previously upbeat as you enjoyed your outing with Charlotte, now turns cold. You focus on gaining a crucial edge in a life-or-death struggle.

“Hmm… alright, I’ll tell you some of what I know,” Charlotte frames her face with her hands. “I’ll start with the one you’ve met. Shielder’s Master is good with transference of power; you’ve probably seen her wires by now. As an Einzbern, there’s no doubt she’s rolling in cash. She’s staying in the most expensive hotel in town! Although, she doesn’t give her name as proper mage types usually do. Maybe she’s not interested in keeping up appearances or something. As for Shielder himself… well, you probably know more than I do.”

You frown. Charlotte has confirmed that hotel is indeed the base of the Einzbern girl. That’s good, but it is overshadowed by the revelation that Charlotte has been watching you at least some of the time, during battles no less. Given Assassin’s specialty, it’s not surprising you were unaware of his presence, but you find it nonetheless troubling that your movements are so easily tracked while you remain effectively blind.

“Caster’s a mystery. I don’t even have a gender to work with!” Your eyes widen at her words, but you don’t interrupt. Caster. Saber, Archer, Lancer, Assassin, Rider, Shielder, Berserker, and now Caster. That means there are no less than eight participants in a ritual you had been lead to believe capped out at seven participants. You’re not given an opportunity to dwell on that knowledge as your guest continues her report. “All I know is that the temple set up at the Marshall estate is deadly. There’s a ridiculous amount of magical energy and modified terrain in there, and all of it is hidden from the outside! Whatever you do, don’t attack it.”

Currently, you lack the means to reach the Marshall estate in any reasonable amount of time - you’ll probably need a vehicle for that, unless you want to walk there during the weekend when you can sleep in. Charlotte’s warning is good to have before you decide to make the journey, though.

“Lastly, Lancer and his Master are working on something, but I don’t have a clue what it is. He’s spent a night or two bringing dead animals back to his base. Some creepy ritual, I guess? Don’t have anything else on those two, though. The Master doesn’t come out much, and Lancer has been intentionally avoiding combat.”

That reminds you. The mysterious deer corpse! Charlotte just said Lancer had been dragging animal carcasses back to his Master’s place. Does that mean Lancer is connected after all?

“I have another question,” you continue. “Two nights ago, I located a deer corpse that appears to have been slain and mostly consumed by a humanoid. What can you tell me about that? Do you think Lancer is related?”

“Oh, those,” the golden girl’s hands shift, and assumes a more thoughtful posture. “I’ve seen… three total, I think. One the night we met, and two last night. Two of the three were a day old, but the second one yesterday was fresh. I don’t think Lancer is involved, though. His kills are too small and intact to be the same culprit.”

In that case, you’re no closer to finding the killer. Moving to the next topic, you consider a thought that has been nagging at the back of your mind for most of today, though you’ve largely ignored it in favor of having a good time with Charlotte.

“Last question,” you begin. “You could approach any of the other Masters and work with them. Surely at least one would make a stronger ally. So why me?” You can’t fully trust Charlotte until you know.

“Why you?” she echoes your question. “Well… as you probably guessed, there’s something I want out of this war.” Her face fills with resentment, and the playfulness drains from her voice. “I’m not ready to tell you what my wish is yet, but the Grail alone might not be enough. I need someone like you to help me get what I’m after. The night we met, you did everything in your power to protect me from Archer. You convinced me that you’re worth trusting. So I came back to you.”

You’re not quite sure what answer you were expecting, but… that certainly wasn’t it. While you try to process the unforeseen shift in Charlotte, her usual cheery, teasing demeanor returns.

“Besides, you’re cuter than the rest!” She giggles and drinks down the last sip of her beverage. It’s just about time for you to leave. If there’s anything you’d like to say to Charlotte, you should speak now.

>>Tell Charlotte that there are eight Servants.
>>Tell Charlotte about Shielder’s powers and Noble Phantasm.
>>Tell Charlotte about both Shielder and the eight Servants.
>>Say nothing of what you know and part ways.
>>(Write-in)

>>3779622
>>Tell Charlotte about both Shielder and the eight Servants.

>>3779622
>>>Tell Charlotte about both Shielder and the eight Servants.

>>3779622
>>Tell Charlotte about both Shielder and the eight Servants.


Im sure this will bite us but I feel inclined as I feel she actually was being sincere at least for once there.

>>3779622
>>Tell Charlotte about both Shielder and the eight Servants.

I'm concerned about something. Saber has been awfully quiet, surely she would have at least tried to warn ys off from interacting with Charlotte. Is she still there? I'm just wondering if she 'disappeared' in the same way Rider seems to have. On that note, maybe we can search for Rider's Master while she's out of the picture.

>>3779784
She seemed to be pissed of the night before and might be sulking or something. We need to have a little sit down with her.

We should inquire with mother if Rider's master sought asylum.

>>3780216
>>Saber’s been unusually quiet today, especially when taking Charlotte into account. You should talk to her and find out if something is wrong.
What's up, Seibah?

“Before we depart, there are a couple of things I should tell you,” you say.

“Shoot!” Charlotte says, leaning forward to listen with a smile.

“First, I’d like to tell you about Shielder’s abilities. His skin is impenetrable, and he seems proficient in rune magic as well. Even among Servants, he’s exceptionally strong, fast, durable and skilled; he’s first-rate, for sure. His Noble Phantasm’s name is Congancnes.”

“Congancnes, huh?” she replies. “Well, I’m not quite sure what that means, but it shouldn’t be too hard to find out. Thanks for telling me!”

“Second, and more important, is that you’ve mentioned a Caster,” you continue with an increased gravity. “We both already know Saber, Assassin, Archer, Lancer, Rider, and Shielder, but I ran into Berserker just last night. If there’s a Caster too, that makes eight Servants total instead of the supposed seven.”

“...Crap!” Charlotte sighs, leaning back into the booth wall behind her. “Eight Servants! Did someone break the rules, or were we lied to from the start?”

Silence falls over the booth for a few seconds as the two of you stew, confused and frustrated. Neither of you have any idea what it means, and it’s irritating. Charlotte soon speaks up again.

“Well, sitting around moping about it won’t do us any good,” she says jovially, exiting the booth. “I’ll look into the expanded roster. Regardless of how many Servants there are, they need to die!”

The two of you leave the eatery, and just before you split up, the blonde tugs on your sleeve with one hand.

“Hey. Thanks for not keeping secrets.” Her golden head darts quicker than you can react to plant a kiss on your cheek. “Ciao~” The breathy farewell morphs into blowing that tickles your ear at close range. As swiftly as she lunged, she withdraws, turns and walks away, leaving you to recover from the chill that just shot down your spine. You crack your neck, rub your ear, and refocus your mind on choosing your next task.

>>Visit Father McManus to ask about the name of Shielder's Noble Phantasm, and see if he has any work for you.
>>Visit Damien for the latest scoop.
>>Head to the Einzbern’s base. She’s almost certainly there in the daytime. (For what purpose?)
>>Saber’s been unusually quiet today, especially when taking Charlotte into account. You should talk to her and find out if something is wrong.
>>Spend the afternoon some other way. (Write-in)

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>>3780223
>>>Saber’s been unusually quiet today, especially when taking Charlotte into account. You should talk to her and find out if something is wrong.
Yo gurl.

>>3780223
>>>Saber’s been unusually quiet today, especially when taking Charlotte into account. You should talk to her and find out if something is wrong.

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>>3780223
>>Saber’s been unusually quiet today, especially when taking Charlotte into account. You should talk to her and find out if something is wrong.

>>3780223
>Saber’s been unusually quiet today, especially when taking Charlotte into account. You should talk to her and find out if something is wrong.

>>3773893
>But you receive no reply. Your Servant does not speak nor show herself to you for the rest of your journey home.

Between this and the refusal to use her powerup, I can't help but feel we're on the road to the equivalent of that one ending were Seiba decapitates Shirou.

>>3780338
Surely our Affection Score isn't THAT low...?

>>3780338
She's probably just brooding about being unable to finish off Shielder and letting us be put in danger last night.
The refusal to use her power up is because it would require her to embrace her nature as an Oni, which she understandably doesn't really want to.
Command spelling her into doing that is easily a Dead End, too.

>>3780223
>>Saber’s been unusually quiet today, especially when taking Charlotte into account. You should talk to her and find out if something is wrong.
>>Check if there's anyway to detect if Charlotte has put a spell on us, she drained our power last time with a kiss as well.

>>3780703
Shouldn't our amulet protect us from that? Wait, double check we still have it and didn't get robbed at any point with her.

>>3780703
Does a kiss need to be mouth to mouth for mana transfer to work? Pretty sure that's what she did to us last time.

You’re worried about Saber. She didn’t object to Charlotte herself or your decision to go with her at any point during your outing. In fact, you don’t think she’s said anything to you since last night’s battle. If something is wrong, you need to sort it out before it becomes a life-threatening obstruction. You return to your room for some privacy during your conversation.

~~~

The residence is arranged the same way as the last time you conversed with Saber. You sit on your bed, and the office chair that Saber refuses to occupy is turned to face you. The only significant difference between then and now is Saber herself. Rather than stand at attention, she kneels, and her head hangs.

“Saber,” you say, “you haven’t said anything to me all day. Not even Charlotte could get you talking. This isn’t like you. What’s wrong?”

A long silence follows. You decide not to press the issue and let Saber answer when she’s ready. It would be wise to tread carefully; just because your last conversation with Saber went well doesn’t mean that this one will too. You’ve learned some pretty harsh lessons about how volatile people’s feelings can be. One time you pissed someone off so badly that you received your first taste of Gandr shot. Despite the old adage about hindsight being 20/20, you’re still not sure exactly what you did wrong that time.

“I am disheartened by my own inefficacy,” Saber eventually replies. “Twice have I failed to kill Shielder. Even with the use of my Noble Phantasm’s full strength, I was only able to injure him.” The longer she speaks, the more her face and voice fill with anger. You’ve seen her frenzied before, but never genuinely furious. “If I could only get my hands around his neck, it would be over in an instant! Oh, how I hate him! As your Servant, it is my duty to slay those who would make themselves your enemies, and yet-”

Saber suddenly stops and realizes she’s been ranting. She relaxes hands that had formed tight fists, as though acting out the imagined grappling scenario, and stares at them in disbelief. Her shocked face snaps upward, frightened eyes meeting yours.

“Are you okay?” you ask, the sudden shift in her attitude worrying you somewhat. This is different from the way she enters and exits her battle frenzy.

“M-Master!” Saber desperately tries to address you, stuttering uncontrollably. “I-I did not intend t-to allow myself to- I mean, I d-did not mean to show you-”

Unable to find the words she’s looking for, Saber throws her upper half down over her knees, pressing her hands and forehead to the floor in the deepest bow she’s ever given you. In a panicked voice, she pleads with you.

“I beg you! Please forgive your weak, unruly Servant!”

Since you’re not as focused on decorum as Saber is, her outburst doesn’t really bother you. That is, aside from the rapidity and severity of the change in her emotional state partway through. You'd like to investigate that alteration further, but now isn’t the time for that. Saber thinks she is insufficient in ability and in violation of proper conduct, even if you don't agree with either. For her peace of mind, you should offer forgiveness.

>>”I forgive you. Everybody makes mistakes. Just be sure to do better next time.”
>>”I forgive you. I’ve already told you that I’m fond of your wild side.”
>>”I’ll forgive you, but only if you show me your school uniform.”
>>(Write-in)

>>3781123
>>”I’ll forgive you, but only if you show me your school uniform.”

>>3780929
>Does a kiss need to be mouth to mouth for mana transfer to work?
Yes. Human bodily fluids contain magical energy, and transfer of those fluids allows for the transfer of the energy within. Since a kiss on the cheek can't facilitate spit-swapping, it can't be used for mana transfer.

>>3781123
>>”I forgive you. I’ve already told you that I’m fond of your wild side.”

>>3781123
>>”I forgive you. I’ve already told you that I’m fond of your wild side.”

I have a question for you all: should I begin providing status pages for Servants? I don't think they're strictly necessary for the quest, but they could help you make more informed decisions both in regular combat and in terms of overall strategy. If you guys think they would be sufficiently useful, I'll either create a pastebin for easy access or start posting them directly into the thread with subsequent updated versions being posted as necessary for the sake of archive readers. Maybe both.

>>3781208
I think we could use a status page, yes.
It may be best to keep it in a pastebin

>>3781123
>>>”I forgive you. I’ve already told you that I’m fond of your wild side.”

>>3781208
I think that'd be cool

>>3781123
>”I forgive you. I’ve already told you that I’m fond of your wild side.”

>>3781123
>>>”I forgive you. Everybody makes mistakes. Just be sure to do better next time.”
She wants a firm hand to lead her.
Must... wait for... uniform.
>>3781208
That's be pretty cool.

>>3781208
Shit man, thats not needed, but I would love it. That was one of my favorite things the VN did.

>>3781123
>(Write-in)
>"I forgive you. Now we have a much stronger understanding of Shielder's powers, and I believe that you will defeat him next time."
What we need to do is be upbuilding. The first option places an under pressure on her to perform and doesn't really fit our personality. The second option doesn't give her a reason to improve, and in fact seems faker than the other options. The third one is just fetish bait, but it may actually be good if it gets her to laugh.

>>3781545
I'll change my vote to this. Not as disingenuous as the first but also gives her the push she needs.

>>3781545
Sounds nice, seconding

Sorry, everyone, but unexpected complications preclude me from updating tonight. I'll try to get one out tomorrow, as well as set up the pastebin for the Servant statuses.

”I forgive you,” you say. “I’ve already told you that I’m fond of your wild side.” You find it strange that she would worry about exposing it to you, given what you admitted during your first conversation.

“Is it right that you should forgive me so easily?” Saber asks, not moving from her position. “I have acted in a manner most inappropriate-”

“Saber, I said it’s fine,” you insist, “you ought to stop fretting over it. I don’t mind if you let loose every now and again.”

“...Then, it is your wish for me to unleash my ‘wild side’ as you call it?” Saber asks ominously.

“I never said that,” you say. If Saber interprets what you’re saying as a command of some kind, then you’ve failed to get your point across. “What I’m trying to tell you is that it’s okay if you don’t adhere to your strict etiquette all the time. There’s no need to apologize for any violations of the rules since I don’t know what those rules are, and even if I did, I still wouldn’t care.”

“And what of my failure to bring down Shielder?” Saber persists.

“It's unfortunate, but manageable,” you reassure her. “We learned that we can hurt him, as well as the limit of his Master’s abilities. If she could do more than strangle me with wire, she would have. Our odds of winning greatly improved thanks to last night. All we need to do is prevent him from fleeing next time and he’s finished.” Finally, Saber raises her head from the floor.

“If that is your view on the matter, Master, then I shall forgive myself as well.” A soft smile appears on your Servant’s face, and, unlike the other times she’s smiled in your presence, she makes no attempt to direct it away from you. “If civility is not an issue, then you will allow me the indulgence of this expression, will you not?”

It's not long before her smiling countenance morphs into a mask of steely focus. Saber lunges forward, her large sword materializing to be thrust not an inch to the side of your arm. You react, far too late to avoid the attack had it been intended for you, by leaning to the side and twisting around to see what the true target is. Your Servant’s blade has stopped just before penetrating the glass of your window. On the other side is a bird - a real bird, rather than the wire imitations you’ve come to know. It’s an oriole, and it has now landed on your windowsill holding a piece of paper in its beak. The bird looks at you, as if to confirm that you’re paying attention, and taps the window with the folded sheet. Sticking to the glass, the note begins to unfurl, which you assume to be the work of magecraft. Mission completed, the avian flies off.

The letter is small, so it doesn’t take long for the message to completely reveal itself. Prominently displayed is an address you recognize - the residence of Alceste Lucroy. Below is a single brief instruction, reading ‘COME AT 9:07PM’. Beyond that, however, you haven't a clue what to make of the delivery. You don’t know who sent the message or what their intentions are; it could be a meeting, or a trap, or even an attempt by one Master to generate conflict between two others. There’s not much time to think about the communication you just received, either. It’s almost dinner at the dining hall, which means it’s time for you to select tonight’s activity.

>>Seek out Archer in the state park. You may find clues about what happened to Rider.
>>Hurry to the Einzbern’s hotel and set up a final battle between Saber and Shielder. It's time to be rid of him.
>>Patrol the western half of town again tonight. Perhaps you will encounter someone else.
>>Answer the summons and go to the house of Alceste Lucroy at the appointed time. You can always retreat if it's too dangerous.
>>Remain on school grounds and do something you haven’t today. (What?)
>>(Write-in)

>>3783850
>>Answer the summons and go to the house of Alceste Lucroy at the appointed time. You can always retreat if it's too dangerous
Obvious trap is obvious.

>>3783850
>Answer the summons and go to the house of Alceste Lucroy at the appointed time. You can always retreat if it's too dangerous.
I like it raw, Saber.

>>3783850
>>Answer the summons and go to the house of Alceste Lucroy at the appointed time. You can always retreat if it's too dangerous.

>>3783850
>>Answer the summons and go to the house of Alceste Lucroy at the appointed time. You can always retreat if it's too dangerous.

What a very specific time-frame. Could 9:07 be when this guy's magical power is at its peek? Not sure if this Alceste guy is going to be a Master or not, we know he doesn't have Saber, Assassin, Shielder, Caster, or most likely Rider, so that leaves Berserker, Lancer, or Archer.

>>3783850
>>Answer the summons and go to the house of Alceste Lucroy at the appointed time. You can always retreat if it's too dangerous.
The fact that he steals stuff from other mages is probably bad news, but let's go anyway. Hope he doesn't take our magic amulet.

Here's what was mentioned about Alceste Lucroy when we first heard about him in the previous thread, for reference.

>The documents concern a local man named Alceste Lucroy. He appears to be a figure of great interest to Brigante, as this file is by far the most detailed of the four you’ve read. The Lucroy family is of French origin, but their magical ability began to decline some time ago and they emigrated in a desperate bid to reverse the process. No such luck - they’ve been floundering while living under the Marshall family’s jurisdiction for decades now. Given his weak magical lineage, Alceste has developed a preference for rituals and traps that do not require quick, powerful bursts of magical energy and can instead be built or powered over a period of time. His home is a relatively isolated structure in the suburbs, but due to his specialties, the entire property is something of a deathtrap. Most interesting is a page towards the end. It warns that the Lucroy family is notorious for stealing from other magi families, but the details have been heavily redacted.

Just theorizing here, but maybe he is actually Archer's Master, and he did something to somehow steal control of Rider when the two fought last night? Since this guy relies on magical traps, hopefully our amulet will be enough to keep us protected from him.

The status menu is now available!
https://pastebin.com/BRiG8Dkw

>>3784162
>Ferdia is basically Cú Chulainn
>Not bound by a "don't win" command spell
>Not a jobber
Shit lads, it was fun while it lasted. Much appreciated Integer.

>>3784205
Saber just needs to use her -------- (totally not demonic master pls) power to actually become powerful.

File: Tomoe.png (382 KB, 512x724)

382 KB PNG

I can finally post again! Oh no we're walking right into trouble again!
>>3783850
>>Seek out Archer in the state park. You may find clues about what happened to Rider.
>>3784162
>irish
>luck E
Never fails to amuse.
Also our saber needs us to watch her for her NP to go off at full power huh?Cute!

>>3784162
>Tomoe has all Cs without her -------- power
>Ferdiad confirmed
fug

>>3784807
Oh right. Don't we need to talk to Father McManus to learn that IC?

>>3784913
I think so, yeah.

>>3784913
>Oh right. Don't we need to talk to Father McManus to learn that IC?
Before I decided to add a status menu, I was going to require that, but with the status page now extant there's no reason to hide it anymore. You guys probably would have figured his identity out due to the similarity between his and Cú Chulainn's stats and skills. While Edgar wouldn't know Cú's kit, Conganchnes mac Dedad shouldn't be a valid candidate in Edgar's mind anyway since Conganchnes wouldn't know runes. As such, I've decided that Edgar ought to be certain of Ferdiad's identity from here on out.

Going to Father McManus about Shielder's NP would have been to learn what the NP is. The word "congancnes" is just a centuries-old Irish word meaning "horn skin" (though nobody knows what a "horn skin" is, exactly; the calloused skin Shielder has in this quest is just an interpretation on my part). It struck me as wasteful to require you guys to spend a chunk of in-world time to learn that one word when Edgar should already know that Shielder is Ferdiad, so I've removed that necessity from the quest.

After a few moments, the paper turns to dust and is scattered by the wind. Figures; the sender probably didn’t want anyone else to see that letter. You want to know why you were chosen as the recipient. For now, you’ll play along.

~~~

The suburbs are as devoid of contact with others as your first visit. The last rays of sunshine vanished a while ago, your journey is now illuminated primarily by the occasional streetside lamp. The chill of tonight’s air would normally force you to keep your hoodie zipped, but the houses shelter you from most wind as you travel to the Lucroy household. You look at your watch; at your current pace, you’ll arrive a few minutes early. You’ve planned it that way in case it takes you longer to find Alceste’s place than you thought.

You turn onto the road on which Mr. Lucroy supposedly lives. Houses are only present on one side of the street, and the other is home to a patch of woods. On its own, that’s not strange; as you’ve previously observed, neighborhoods in this area are separated by parks, and this is likely one such block. However, the addresses of the homes on this particular lane are all even-numbered, while the Lucroy residence has an odd-numbered address. Such odd-numbered homes should be on the other side of the road, but obviously are nowhere to be found.

As you walk further in the hopes of locating your seemingly nonexistent destination, you notice a break in the trees on the opposite side of the road. The gap houses a curiously placed stretch of asphalt where one can drive into the forest. Drawing nearer, you find that the curb is marked with the number of the home you’re looking for - this, you must surmise, is the driveway. Looking straight down the path, it strikes you as more of a backroad than a driveway, softly winding like a snake so the woods obscure the rest of the property from the street’s view. Seeing no other entrance, you take this road.

Woodland stretches out all around you on the approach to the home. You can feel yourself crossing a bounded field, but you press on. You knew that this place was isolated, but now that you’re physically present, you’re awed by how remarkably oversized the plot of land is. It seems the Lucroy family purchased one of the parks that separate neighborhoods and built their house within it.

You come around the driveway’s last bend and are met with a vast clearing, featuring a large stone house in the center. Though the family’s magical state may be poor, it must be hard to apply that label to their financials. You check your watch again - 9:07. You’re right on time. As you reach the mouth of the glade, you notice that the front door of the building is open, and a window on the first floor has been smashed.

“Master, I sense three other Servants!” Saber warns, materializing protectively in front of you.

True to Saber’s report, a tree across the clearing falls, accompanied by a familiar groan echoing throughout the premises. In the distance, a dark figure dexterously cartwheels into view past the right side of the home. Several colorful spells fly out of the treeline in pursuit. Lancer regains his footing, heels digging into the dirt as his momentum carries him along, and slashes at any projectile that strays too close. Each one vanishes after being cut by his spear.

Berserker now charges out from the woods. Currently defending and without enough time to evade, Lancer can only block the incoming attack head-on. The axe slams into the shaft of the spear, sending the spearman careening back into the darkness of the forest. Unsurprisingly, Berserker follows. You catch a brief glimpse of another figure wearing a dark red color moving in between the trees before your attention is drawn to the house itself by a muffled explosion and a flash of turquoise light from a second-story window. Another noise and an identically-colored flare occur in an adjacent room. There’s another battle occurring inside, it seems.

“Your orders, Master!” Saber says, her gaze focused to the right. You presume she’s tracking the Servant battle as best as she can.

Order Saber to...
>>Attack Berserker.
>>Attack Lancer.
>>Attack whoever fired spells from the trees.
>>Stay with you.
At the same time, you will…
>>Enter the house.
>>Stay outside.
Or...
>>Retreat from the estate with Saber. It's not worth getting entangled in this.

>>3785900
>Stay with you.
>Enter the house.
Entering houses has never been a bad decision.
Besides, we were asked to arrive at 9:07, and it would be rude to be late.

>>3785905
Forgot the write-in again.
>>(Write-in)

>>3785908
Support. It's even possible the Frenchman could be non hostile in this fight.

>>3785905
>>Stay with you.
>>Enter the house.

>>3785905
>Each one vanishes after being cut by his spear.
So his spear nullifies spells.
That's a common enough property that it won't be easy to figure out.

Voting for:
>>Stay with you.
>>Enter the house.

>>3785905
>Attack Berserker.
>Enter the house.
Lancer's cool, and it looks like he's in a 2-on-1. Let's even the odds and make a friend. Also, don't bring Saber into the house, she won't have room to maneuver effectively since there's already at least two people in there. She can retreat to us if need be, but I think she can do more good with Lancer.

>>3785905
>Stay with you.
>Enter the house.

>Stay with you, forever.
>Enter the Saber.

This is gonna be a Dead End, isn't it.

>>3785905
>>Attack whoever fired spells from the trees.
>>Stay outside.
This shit is whack. Let's give Lancer an assist and hope he doesn't use his superior mobility to gut us or lead Berzerker our way like Shielder did.

>>3786936
Join me in attacking Bahsahkah. If we can aggro him and kite a little, then Lancer can stab him in the back

>>3786954
That would leave us to contend with whoever is in the forest though. If it's a master we may be fine but it might be Shielder or Caster, and I suspect it is Shielder pulling the same shit he tried on us.

>>3786965
The description doesn't sound like Rune magic, though, which is what Ferdia uses. So I think that means it's Caster, since Lancer is still alive (ergo his master isn't dead, because he's fighting someone on his level)

>>3787006
Not sure what you mean, he used a projectile spell on Edgar when we first encountered him. Still that leave us with Caster who will for sure target us if left alone.

Or Berzerker's master was dumb enough to waste mana attacking Lancer.

>>3787006
If it was Ferdiad he might very well have recognized Lancer, in which case he'd be using bigger blasts or not using runes at all.
If it IS Ferdiad, we need to stay well away because Saber will have to use the crossfire hurricaneOnda no Hachiro Moroshige to kill him, which will reveal her identity to every Servant watching.
If it's not, we still have Berserker to worry about. Enough brute force can overcome any amount of skill on Saber's part.

>>3787018
>>3787024
That's fair, I was under the assumption that Runes were his only option, which we haven't determined yet.

>>3787024
>>3787030
Well we don't know how much rune magic he has access to in this class, he may very well not be able to use his bigger stuff like Cu can only use basics as Lancer. He did resort to physically killing Edgar after his first attempt with magic didn't work. If he does recognize this lancer that may be why he's hanging back and harrying him, Lancer may be able to bypass his defence.

“Stay close, Saber,” you command. “We’re going in.”

You take off towards the open door of the house to assess the situation inside. Saber stays to your right, keeping a watchful eye on the superhuman struggle that could barrel towards you at any moment. You hear another tree become severed from its base, crashing through a neighboring trunk on its way down. A third flash, the same color as the other two, appears in yet another window.

Saber speeds up to enter the house just before you. The front door leads to a foyer, larger than the one in Sister Gloria’s house, but not grandiose. Much of what must have been a finely decorated entrance to the home is now in ruins; tile is cracked, walls have holes, and a thin table to the side lies splintered and scorched. By comparison, the staircase opposite the table is remarkably intact, with only a small section of the banister missing.

At the top of the stairs, you receive your first glimpse of the battle in progress. A man sporting a dark and damaged suit zips from one side of the staircase to the other, turning a painting on the wall as he passes. A turquoise wall of light cuts off the rest of the hall just in time to intercept his pursuer. The impact causes the partition to glow brightly, accompanied by a deep, loud thud and an electrical crackling sound.

As the glow fades, you get a clear look at the now-stationary hunter. It’s a young woman, perhaps a year or two older than you. She wears a simple two-tone outfit, consisting of a black skirt, black stockings and tall black boots, topped with a white hoodie that’s been darkened by ash in a few places. Short, silver hair is accented by an adorning black ribbon. Her skin is the color of delicate porcelain, though you doubt this girl is as fragile as china. She’s posed like a martial artist, and her fist has slammed into the barrier blocking her path, severely cracking its surface. She must have been punching magical defenses like this quite a bit; part of her sleeve has been burned away, revealing the Command Spell that crawls up her arm.

The girl rotates her head, crystalline blue eyes quickly taking account of you and moving on to Saber. Before your Servant can close the distance and kill her, a telling red light blazes on her limb, and a monotonous voice issues a command.

“Berserker, to me.”

With a maddened howl, the hulking warrior appears at the top of the stairs, his large frame nearly eclipsing his Master from view. Saber jumps to the foot of the staircase and rockets up as her opponent steps forward to meet her. With space so limited, Saber’s shorter weapon has the advantage. But Berserker is not constrained to his axe. His large weapon heaves horizontally and collides with Saber’s sword, deflecting both weapons into the wall. Berserker capitalizes on this by kicking your Servant backwards and moving into her space. Saber recovers with a flip; the tile floor craters as she lands on her feet and counterattacks. Her approach this time is less zealous, securing her footing as she presses her assault. The massive Servant’s axe rips through the ceiling, wall, banister and even the stairs as he fends off his more nimble enemy.

On the second floor, Berserker’s Master bashes the magical blockade into pieces with just one more strike. She takes off after her quarry with incredible speed. If you want to get to the upper floor and join the fray, you need to find another route.

>>Look for another set of stairs inside the house.
>>Use a second-story window to enter from outside.
>>Remain downstairs and wait out the battle between Saber and Berserker.
>>(Write-in)

File: Master of Berserker.jpg (67 KB, 780x1101)

67 KB JPG

The status screen has been updated.

Also, I have the quest's first character portrait, featuring the Master of Berserker! I may post more for other characters if the process doesn't become obstructive to my writing.

>>3787930
Looks cool! So you made that yourself?

Also, is our ice magic powerful enough to create a pillar or platform or something beneath ourselves and raise us up to the next floor?

>>3787891
>>Look for another set of stairs inside the house.
Black keys out and ready to rumble.
>>3787930
Way to hit me right in the strike zone.

>>3787891
>>>Look for another set of stairs inside the house.

Going outside opens us up to attack from elsewhere. Its a mansion, it should have plenty of ways upstairs.

>>3787994
Goodness no, I can't possibly take credit for the image. I should have been explicit that it isn't my doing; I have no drawing skill (yet, at least). What takes time on my end is finding portraits that meet my mental image of characters closely enough that I'm willing to use them.

As for your question about magic; Edgar's magic is strong enough to do so, but here that would mean moving within weapon range of the ongoing Servant battle.

>>3788116
Can we cut a hole through the ceiling with our black keys after using a pillar to lift us up?

>>3788142
The second floor doesn't extend to where you currently are in the foyer. You could do it from another room, but there's no guarantee that there won't be furniture or some other form of obstruction/hazard right above wherever you cut a hole in the floor.

>>3787891
>>Look for another set of stairs inside the house.

>>3787891
>Order Saber to use her Noble Phantasm
Guys, remember that Saber stops being useful after thirty seconds of fighting and that there's noone that can hear us there outside of berserker

>>3787891
>Look for another set of stairs inside the house.

>>3788701
We actually have incomplete information on the full amount of servants in this fight. Also spamming the NP is how you die, play the VN.

>>3788701
I've been trying to figure out a way we could help Saber but can't think of anything. We have more possible enemies outside that could come in and who knows how Lancer would react to us firing off our NP in his master's home.

Maybe we can get at Berzerker's master or just force a withdraw.

>>3787891
>>Look for another set of stairs inside the house.

>>3787930
>Kauto's OC is a Master
Excellent taste Integer.

>>3787891
If I'm not wrong, Berseker's Master and the Einzbern have each burned a Command Seal at this point.

>>3787891
>>>Look for another set of stairs inside the house.

It’s impossible to say who will win between Saber and Berserker. Not eager to leave victory to chance, you decide to reach the upper floor and settle it yourself. Your way is blocked, but this house is massive. There has to be another staircase. But how to find it?

The answer comes to you quickly. Looking through the nearest door, you see a couch that’s had a hole blasted into it. Evidently, the battle began at the front door and has moved through the house from there. You can simply follow the trail of destruction and use the stairs the combatants took to get there! You run, passing first through a living room, then a long hallway, then turning into a dining room and moving across to another hall from there. The din of the Servants fades behind you.

The end of this latest corridor opens into a circular room containing an ornate spiral staircase. It’s in terrible condition compared to the stairs of the front hall. You waste no time in climbing the stairwell, taking care not to step into the holes that have been left behind. The upper floor is no less disfigured than the lower, if not moreso. Doors to rooms have been reduced to splinters, cushions and pillows are torn, furniture is tipped over and whole sections of the hall have been charred black every few meters. You sprint through the floor’s main artery, no longer needing to follow the battle’s footsteps exactly. It’s smooth sailing; your trail has the added bonus of pre-triggered and therefore harmless traps.

Then, a rising sound alerts you of an issue you originally failed to consider. By tracing the path of the conflict, you must pass the place you first saw Berserker’s Master, and by extension, travel directly behind Berserker himself. Rounding a corner, the painting the dark-suited man turned appears several meters in front of you. Rapid flashes of Berserker’s axe are all that can be seen from here of the Servants’ mortal struggle. Should you really risk being so near that whirlwind of violence?

A loud smash resounds in the room next to you, followed by the cracking of wood and shattering of glass. You turn back, thankful to have been spared running Berserker’s gauntlet, and draw Black Keys from your hoodie. Pressing against the wall next to the portal, you twist the knob and lightly push in the door. Clamor from within easily drowns out the quiet creak you make. The entrance is conveniently located in the corner of the room and swings to the adjoining wall, giving you an excellent angle with which to observe the room.

You peek through just in time to see a chair sail across the chamber, violet sparks erupting from the seat upon collision with the wall. It barely cleared the bed being used for cover by the man in dark clothes. Blood drips from somewhere within his black hair, past his blue eyes, all the way down over his arm; he’s badly injured, and probably tired given the distance his flight has covered. The snow-colored girl, however, does not seem at all exhausted despite the damage sustained by her clothes. She grabs another piece of furniture - a nightstand this time - to hurl at her target, while the man reaches for one of the bed’s feet, no doubt to activate another trap. With those two focused on each other, you have the element of surprise.

>>Attack the girl and protect the man.
>>Join the girl in her assault on the man.
>>Strike down both combatants. (Who first?)
>>Stand back and watch it play out.
>>Pull back from the room and locate the survivor afterward.
>>(Write-in)

>>3790318

>>Attack the girl and protect the man.
>>Create a wall of ice between the man and the girl.

>>3790318
>>Attack the girl and protect the man.
>>Create a wall of ice between the girl and the man.

>>3790318
>Join the girl in her assault on the man.

>>3790318
>>Attack the girl and protect the man.

He at least had the decency to offer an invitation!

>>3790318
>>>Attack the girl and protect the man.
Long distance black keys. Don't block off the guy he may still be able to help.

>>3790318
>Attack the girl and protect the man.
I'm honestly only doing this for the chance at a Lancer bro-op.

>>3790318
>>Join the girl in her assault on the man

>>3790318
>>Attack the girl and protect the man.

I just realized Lucroy knew who we were, where our room was and what time we were in it. Even though we haven't exactly been quiet fucker knows too much.

Saber and Berserker are still fighting. The elimination of Berserker’s Master must take priority. You can decide what to do with the man afterward.

You’ve drawn six Black Keys, three in each hand. A well-placed throw, quite easy at this range, will pierce several vital organs and sever her spinal cord. You can use another to pierce her brain after the fact to end her life as swiftly as possible. In one motion, you kick the door all the way in and put all your arm’s strength into hurling your blades!

What happens next comes as an unpleasant surprise. At blinding speed, the girl in white crouches down to one knee as soon as your foot meets the door, dropping chest, head and all completely out of harm’s way. Either she noticed you before or her reflexes are inhuman. The nightstand, originally intended for her other opponent, swivels in a wide circle with her arm and torso like a discus throw. Her magnificent form fires the table at you like a cannonball as your Keys soar harmlessly over cloud-colored hair. You barely manage to raise your other arm defensively before the projectile pounds you and carries you into the wall on the opposite side of the corridor.

Your life might have ended then if the dark-suited man hadn’t been reaching for that trap. Four purple magic circles, two on the ceiling and two on the floor, fill the space between the bed and the wall on the woman’s side. The same violet thunder the chair exuded earlier discharges from all of them, electrocuting the girl terribly. She groans in pain, forcing herself to move so she can escape. For a brief moment, you realize just how much of a shame it will be to kill this girl; her strength, speed, and mechanical violence are exotic.

You brush the thoughts from your mind. This is no time to get distracted. Your enemy was exceptionally quick before, but now she’s too slow. While she fights to stand, you push the impromptu wooden shot off of your lap, rise to a kneeling position, and… feel the damage you’ve been dealt.

Cracked drywall falls from your hoodie to the floor. Your chest and back are in agony after such an intense sandwiching, and your left arm can hardly move. It might be broken. But stopping now isn’t an option; you won’t get anywhere if you can’t fight through the pain. You transfer one of the blades to your good arm and lob it at the Master of Berserker. As you do, your muscles shriek, throwing your aim off even worse than when Shielder blasted you. Regardless, at this range you score a hit. The sword stabs down to its hilt through your target’s gut, and she drops back to her knees with a harsh cry.

The snow-haired woman is answered by a booming roar. You have no choice but to watch as the wall of the bedroom bursts into pieces and Berserker, covered in bleeding cuts, snatches his Master from the arcing snare. He pivots on one foot to the side as Saber rockets past him mid-swing, cleaving the bed in two. The threat avoided, Berserker launches back through the hole he made. Saber dashes after them, unaffected by the lightning.

As you finish getting up, a horrendously sharp ache causes you to wonder whether you or the girl had it worse while trying to stand. Suddenly, the other wounded man stumbles into the door you opened.

“Prompt, aren’t you…” he says, obviously out of breath. “Much appreciated. Alceste… Lucroy. Pleasure.”

You would greet him in return, but it’s a tad hard to speak at the moment.

“Those four are… retreating now, I’m sure,” Alceste wheezes.. “I was... hoping to take at least... one of them down, but... that’s out of the... cards. Our Servants will be... repelled shortly.”

With Berserker’s Master severely injured, the Servant situation will sort itself out, but yours still needs resolution. You're not yet sure that you want to kill Lucroy, but if you do it now, you'll have time to search his home. Of course, then you won't be able to ask him anything...

>>Kill Alceste and search his home. You're still looking to reduce the number of enemies you have.
>>Talk to Alceste. Why did he call you here in the first place?
>>Leave and return to your room. You’ve seen enough action for one night.
>>(Write-in)

>>3791878
>>Talk to Alceste. Why did he call you here in the first place?
Your Rent-a-Trainee-Executor has arrived, what the fuck do you want?

>you realize just how much of a shame it will be to kill this girl; her strength, speed, and mechanical violence are exotic.
Damn it, Edgar. Now is not the time. You can't attempt to seduce people who are frantically trying to murder you. Yet.

>>3791878
>>>Talk to Alceste. Why did he call you here in the first place?
The other answers show weakness.
Edgar Madness Enhancement(bad girls) increased to rank C for his near death boner.

>>3791878
>Talk to Alceste. Why did he call you here in the first place?
Shoot first, ask questions later is not a good policy in this scenario.
>>3791855
>her strength, speed, and mechanical violence are exotic.
'r', not 'x'.

>>3791878
>>Talk to Alceste. Why did he call you here in the first place?

The albino chick fucked us up good, even if we did the same to her. Attacking him in this situation would probably get us killed.

>>3791878
>Talk to Alceste. Why did he call you here in the first place?

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>>3791878
>>Talk to Alceste. Why did he call you here in the first place?

Oh hey, looks like my guess last thread for our seibah was right. Let's get her to play Sekiro.

Once we've resolved things here, what should our strategy be in the short term?

We just dealt Berserker's Master a grievous injury, maybe we should try to track them down and eliminate them before they have a chance to recover their strength in the coming days. There's also Shielder and the Einzbern girl, we've clashed with them three times at this point and we've each exposed our Noble Phantasms to the other, so we need to deal with them sooner rather than later.

Charlotte did ask us to take down Archer, but that didn't exactly sound like an immediate concern. I'm not sure how much we want to dance to her tune, but she seems like a strong candidate for an ally if we do this for her. At the very least for the moment, I think we are nominally safe from being atracked by Assassin. Assuming Alceste is Lancer's Master, we might have just earned some major points with him after pulling his ass out of the fire.

We should probably look into the missing Rider when we have time, too. I'm not convinced she's dead yet, and we haven't looked into her Master being on our school campus. We also have the mysterious animal killings to investigate, and perhaps we should report the eight Servants thing to the Overseer.

>>3792717
>track them down and eliminate them
What a waste. She ticks all of Edgar's boxes. Perhaps if we track her down we can make a deal with her to get her healed in exchange for her assistance against Archer

>>3792729
I mean, we just threw a sword into her gut. If we see her again, she'll probably want to break every bone Edgar's body and pop his head like a grape with her bare hands.

>>3792752
Even better!
What's some casual extreme violence between friends?

>>3791878
>>Talk to Alceste. Why did he call you here in the first place?

I doubt hes so prescient as to know hed need the back up just then.

New thread is up!
>>3793027