"Well then," you begin, pocketing the folded paper as you rise to your feet, "I'll leave you to your rest, Adelheid. Thank you for the help you've given me thus far; I'll look forward to seeing the rest of the notebooks, once you've fought your way through the rotating ciphers." With that, you raise a hand in parting and head out the door. As you walk aimlessly through the corridor, feeling more pressured than motivated to leave and considering whether breakfast will be ready yet or you have any other pressing matters to attend to, one such idea bubbles up to the forefront your mind. Last night, when speaking to Ayaka, you made a mental note to discuss Kōrakuhime's apparent use of her book for divination with her. Now seems to be as good a time as any to find out the nature of the thing; and while you're at it, hopefully to convince her to explain just what her other Noble Phantasm is as well.

Thus resolved, you make your way back down the hall to Kōrakuhime's bedroom door. Standing outside, you raise your fist to knock when suddenly you're given pause by an odd shifting sound, something smooth and slippery. There it is again, is it... the sound of sheets moving against one another? Yes, you think so, and beneath that there's a noise of soft panting, as if someone within is breathing hard, in pain, wounded. Suddenly a chill of apprehension runs through you, and you call through the door, "Kōrakuhime? Are you alright?" From within, you hear a startled shriek and momentarily an intensified sound of movement. Now fully concerned that something dangerous is going on within, you slam the door open!

Only to find Kōrakuhime sitting up in bed, flushed, and with her thickly piled blankets pulled up to her neck. The book Ayaka mentioned, you notice, has been seemingly dropped face-down on the bed, as if she was reading late into the night.

"Ani-ue!" she gasps, apparently short of breath. "Yo-u-u woke me up! Oh, thank g-goodness..." Although her stutter returned for a moment in her agitation, Kōrakuhime now breathes a long sigh and seems to calm down, the heat fading from he cheeks, though you can still see beads of sweat on her face. "I was... in the midst of the most... vile nightmare," she explains, returning to her more customary mode of speech. "It's fortunate that... you woke me with your call, or I... should have slept longer, and seen... worse." Indeed, from the look of things Kōrakuhime has been thrashing in bed quite madly. Her blankets are all twisted around her body, and although they're too voluminous to leave much of the bed bare, its exposed corners and heavily rumpled surface tell a plain enough story.

"In that case, it's a stroke of luck my coming here when I did," you say warmly, sitting down on the side of the bed to more easily speak to your reclining sister. "I wouldn't want to leave you suffering for want of my presence, after all. Nightmares must be a strange thing, for a Servant with no Master. You don't have the human reason for them, or the dream connection to explain them. I'm sure it must have been quite something, though, to leave you in such a state. All the same," you continue, reaching out to pat her reassuringly on the shoulder, though your grin isn't quite caring "it was only a dream. Your big brother's here now, so you needn't fear any longer, Tsubaki-chan." Perhaps it is in poor taste to tease the girl with childish words so soon after her fright, but you just can't quite bring yourself to let the moment pass; it's too perfect an opportunity.

"Hmph!" Kōrakuhime pouts and reddens at your mockery, but doesn't knock away the semi-reassuring hand on her shoulder. "I see you remain... as overflowing with kindness as ever this... morning, Ani-ue," she retorts, managing to get some bite into her tone in spite of her obvious embarrassment and recent fright.

>[ ] Ask what Kōrakuhime's nightmare was about.

>[ ] Bring up the book lying on the bed, and what Ayaka told you. Ask again about Kōrakuhime's Noble Phantasms.

>[ ] Tell Kōrakuhime about the summoning of Hecate, and ask if she has any ideas of how the accident-prone goddess can be put to use.

>[ ] Say or ask something else. (Write in)

>>4082331
>[ ] Ask what Kōrakuhime's nightmare was about.
>[ ] Bring up the book lying on the bed, and what Ayaka told you. Ask again about Kōrakuhime's Noble Phantasms.

>little sister is reading porn
The punishment shall be swift and merciless.

>>4082344
What, don't you believe her? She just had a nightmare, that's all.

>>4082356
I have no faith in her. None at all. Everyone is suspicious

If Tsubaki was reading porn from her magic book this morning... and that book is the one that narrates what we do...
Oh no. Tsubaki this is not OK. She needs a lesson on privacy.

>>4082344
Support
It's time we taught her an important lesson.

>>4082330
>Now fully concerned that something dangerous is going on within, you slam the door open!
We need to work on this typical anime protagonist behaviour.
Have a little tact, would you, Alberich?

>>4082331
>[ ] Bring up the book lying on the bed, and what Ayaka told you. Ask again about Kōrakuhime's Noble Phantasms.

>>4082331
>[ ] Ask what Kōrakuhime's nightmare was about.
>[ ] Bring up the book lying on the bed, and what Ayaka told you. Ask again about Kōrakuhime's Noble Phantasms.

>>4082518
And that is?
>>4082548
>We need to work on this typical anime protagonist behaviour.
What, you don't want to amusingly walk in on people and surprise them when they weren't expecting to be observed?

>>4082873
>And that is?
"Books are for nerds, give me your lunch money, dweeb."

>you don't want to amusingly walk in on people and surprise them when they weren't expecting to be observed?
I want Alberich to stop dropping 80 points of IQ whenever he hears a loud noise and immediately assuming his allies are in danger like he's some sort of PSTD ridden 'nam vet.

>>4082889
>PSTD
>Post Stress Traumatic Disorder
dohoi.

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>>4082889
>"Books are for nerds, give me your lunch money, dweeb."

>>4082949
Oh, very nice edit, anon! This'll be a great one to look back on if there's an action scene during a fire.

>>4082971
Oops. Dropped my name.

>>4082889
>immediately assuming his allies are in danger
Didn't we sorta vote for him to do that back when we were deciding character traits in akeldama?

>>4083102
I guess, but I'm talking more running into situations without evaluating things first.
Why do we even have EotM if we're going to keep doing this.

>>4083276
>EotM
I thought that only worked in combat.

>>4083344
Then it should work for situations Alberich considers could be the start of a fight, no?
Charging into everythingisn't a good strategy.

>>4083352
This is interesting.
Supposing Alberich is feeling protective of Kōrakuhime as established, and is outside the door thinking she's in some danger or pain within, what do you suppose he should have done?

>>4083442
Good question.
With the defences the manor has in place, the only real threat to Tsubaki would be treachery from one of our other allies which other than Odin, who wouldn't need to bother with treachery or Saber, who physically cannot, we just spent the morning accounting for.

Or maybe he can think. "Oh, maybe it's a nightmare."
Or maybe the decision point should've been left to the players?

>>4083807
It could always be Assassin. You never know.
Never.

>>4084415
While it might excuse Alberich's current behaviour of barging into Tsubaki's room looking for an enemy, it wouldn't excuse his intended plan of taking a day off from the war.

See, if he, with EotM, considers Assassin to be a threat of such magnitude that he could sneak into his base and easily assassinate his enemy, then taking a day off should be the last thing he wants to do!

Regardless, he should realise that Tsubaki is a very frail servant, if anybody wished to dispose of her in her sleep, she would immediately die.
She would not survive any direct attack from an enemy Servant meant to kill her and would instead instantly perish.
An attack from Assassin especially.

>>4084432
I'm not saying it's out of character, neccessarily.
Just that Alberich kind of acts overly protective to Tsubaki at the risk of discarding his own intellect.
Which is hilarious because I don't think a single anon shares that protectiveness over her.
Some probably even have the sentiment that she's the Caster that deserves being beaten within an inch of her life. Not Circe.

>>4084432
Sometimes, anon, you just do something on impulse, you know?

>>4084440
Yes, I know.
I addressed it in my second post.

We should've been given Instinct instead of EotM if that was going to be the case to how Alberich reacts to potential danger.
>Saber is capable of calm analysis of battle conditions even when in danger and can deduce an appropriate course of action to triumph over a given predicament.
Not much is calm about acting on impulse.

>>4084439
>Some probably even have the sentiment that she's the Caster that deserves being beaten within an inch of her life.
WHY?
I do not get how you could feel that way, I honestly just don't grasp it at all.
Also, none of your Servants have been beaten within an inch of their lives.

>>4084453
>I addressed it in my second post.
Yeah, if you look at the timestamps that went up at the same time as my post, so I hadn't seen that.
As for Mind's Eye activating, you're not in 'battle conditions' every time you're worried about someone. It's a skill whereby he chooses to consciously analyze the situation when in combat, not something that dulls his emotions at all times.
It seems a little ridiculous to say that he should have Instinct instead, when his fighting style is completely consistent with Mind's Eye (True). The fact that he sometimes acts impulsively anyway doesn't invalidate that skill any more than Gilgamesh managing to make enemies invalidates his Charisma.

>>4084467
>I do not get how you could feel that way, I honestly just don't grasp it at all.
If I had to reveal my misgivings on her, it's that her place in the story, her power and her relevance feel completely unearned.
Also, first impressions of a character count, and hers was fairly horrible.
The ability to somehow just end up in a favourable situation for no reason is an unfortunate quality often perscribed to Mary Sues and it's one that you've effectively made integral to her character.

>Also, none of your Servants have been beaten within an inch of their lives.
Pfft, Saber begs to differ. Might want to add a "by you." qualifier on to that."

>Gilgamesh managing to make enemies invalidates his Charisma.
Saber's magic resistance can negate it and she's about the only person he would actually bother using it on. Charisma is less of a passive skill when you can choose to be a dickhead.
I suppose Alberich can choose not to analyse the conditions of something before charging in, but why would he?
When I say he should have Instinct, I meant since he became a Servant.
Not something that is possible to change now

Oh, just to let you folks know, I should have the next update done in no more than an hour.
I'm not planning on going on another unannounced hiatus, don't worry.

>>4084502
Another addendum: I'm not calling Tsubaki a Mary Sue. Just that she does share too many qualities with one for me to be comfortable with.
She treads a fine line.

"Oh, indeed," you reply, still smiling in spite of her weak riposte. "You, on the other hand, are hardly your ordinary self. What did you dream about, that it gave you such a fright?"

"You... want to hear about my dream?" Kōrakuhime seems to fidget under her blankets, though as heavily covered up as she is it's hard to be certain, and gives you a profoundly uncomfortable look. "I would truly... prefer not to speak of it," she continues. "The topic is not... one to be relished, or recounted; and surely... it cannot do you any good, Ani-ue."

"That's quite untrue," you reply, leaning towards her and growing serious. "You, more than anyone, ought to be well-aware that for spiritual beings such as ourselves, dreams must have some outward source. I'm sorry to make you repeat something you find unpleasant, but I really have to insist you tell me about this dream that you found so disturbing." Unfortunately, far from impressing on Kōrakuhime the importance you place on the situation, your proximity seems more to enhance her discomfort; she doesn't meet your eyes, the flush she had when you entered returns, and she retreats slightly from you; though with her back to the headboard of the bed she can move but little.

"If you... insist, then," she replies, in a low, wavering tone. "As is... the way with dreams, there were many images which have... already become hazy and unrecognizable, but... the core of the dream was this. You stood... upon a jeweled pedestal, rising out of a pool of darkness... and stretched out your hands to the Holy Grail, a golden goblet filled... with the blood of the slain, enough to sustain he who had won it perpetually. Yet there was a crack in the perfect goblet, a flaw... in the prize, and the contents had escaped... by the time you brought it to your lips. When you drank from... that emptiness, Ani-ue, it weakened you, hollowed you out... it drank from you. After that, there was... a confusion of too many foes... indescribable violence... I will not speak of the images I saw then, of what they did to you that made me scream when I awoke. There is... no meaning in it, I promise."

"I see," you answer soberly, now feeling unsettled in your turn by the dream. You yourself spoke of the importance of a Servant's dreams, since your mind has never produced them out of its own subconscious. A Servant's dreams must come from somewhere outside, you feel certain, but where could this vision of an empty Grail and some horrible fate for you have come from?

"You make too much of it," Kōrakuhime protests in a tone of reassurance, seeming to gain in spirit and composure as your own dwindles. "Your dreams may come from... your Master, but the cause may not necessarily be your nature. Perhaps it is the contract which causes you to have dreams from outside." She gives you one of her tiny smiles in token of reassurance, and this time you see no masked hostility there, as she continues, "This dream was no more than... the product of strange food, and too much consideration of the War in the moments before... sleep."

"Do you think so?" you ask, returning her smile though not really convinced. "Perhaps it was your choice of reading material that was to blame, though, and not the food. Why don't I take a look at what was disturbing your rest?" So saying, you reach out and snatch up the mysterious book your sister is in the habit of carrying from where it lies, face-down and open, on her comforter. Where your eyes settle on the page, you have just enough time to read, 'with superhuman vigor, Alberich' before an indignant squeal from Kōrakuhime is accompanied by the disappearance of the book from your hands.

"D-d-don't you dare!" she stammers, looking at you with a face at once frightened, furious, and embarrassed. "The H-Hitsuzen Rekishi is one of my Noble Phantasms, and no-one b-but I may read what it r-records!" Evidently you've touched a bit of a sore spot; there's not only Kōrakuhime's tone and expression to consider, but the fact that she once more lost her composure and manner of speaking, forcing out the words as quickly as possible through her impediment rather than carefully considering them as she ordinarily does. Still, while she's incensed that you've tried to handle her Noble Phantasm you certainly feel some of the same emotion. Was reading an account of your life last night? Going over some explanation of a battle she wasn't there to see? Whatever her reasons might have been, you can't help feeling your privacy to have been violated. In that case, you can have her repay you by doing away with her secrets.

"One of your Noble Phantasms, eh?" you muse. "I'm glad you're using the name. I recall you telling me before that you'd unveil the name and nature of your Noble Phantasms only when the time came that we needed them. Clearly you needed to use the Hitsuzen Rekishi last night, so now you can finally clarify the matter. What are your Noble Phantasms, Kōrakuhime, and what are they capable of?"

"I didn't n-need them," she begins to refuse, "it w-wasn't a pressing circumstance. It was j-just- I was just r-reviewing our battle strategy f-from the past, it does not matter."

"No, no, no," you insist, keeping your voice quiet, but firm. "I'll have no more secrets from you, Kōrakuhime." Seeing your sister remains resistant and continues staring away from you, you shift the hand from her shoulder and wrap it around her chin, turning her head and forcing her to look you in the eye. As you do so, her body shifts and a corner of her blankets slide down to reveal a bare white shoulder and narrow section of collarbone, but Kōrakuhime is too distracted to replace it. "And look me in the eye!" you continue, anger creeping into your voice. "Am I suddenly frightening to you, that you act this way? From your behavior, I should think I was your enemy."

"No," Kōrakuhime says between rapid, shallow breaths. You can feel her quickened pulse and the slight tremor running through her jaw, and wonder again at the change that's come over her. When she speaks, though, it's in a quiet, breathy tone that's managed to regain its usual pacing, if not its composure/ "My... apologies. If you are so... adamant on the subject," she sighs, "I will tell you. My first Noble Phantasm, Hitsuzen Rekishi, is a... powerful divining tool. From the moment it is first... used, it displays the complete record of... a certain individual's fate, including... both past and future. The person it follows is you, Ani-ue... I wanted to know what had become of you when I awoke, you see..."

"I do see," you echo, suddenly buoyed by the potent abilities of the artifact. You can leave the significance of Kōrakuhime's choice of target, if there is any, for later. Right now, there's one all-important question to be asked about the book. "Why didn't you think to tell me about this object before? A Noble Phantasm capable of predicting the future would be enormously useful!"

"I wish... you were correct about that," Kōrakuhime answers, downcast. "The fate recorded on... the pages of Hitsuzen Rekishi is utterly... immutable. Using it to predict the future is useless... you see."

"Is that so?" you mutter, remembering the detail for further consideration. "In that case, what of your second Noble Phantasm?"

"It is... Jigoku no Niwa," Kōrakuhime answers, "the most closely related to the Akeldama of any Noble Phantasm of ours. Jigoku no Niwa is... a gate, which transports all those nearby into the underworld... aside from myself. It would be a very potent Noble Phantasm, but... the drain on my energy is enormous, and I have never been in a circumstance where I... might have needed it, without some ally nearby to... prevent its use."

Status Updated

>[ ] Ask a question about Kōrakuhime's Noble Phantasms. (Write in your question{s})

>[ ] Interrogate Kōrakuhime about some other subject. (What?)

>[ ] Thank Kōrakuhime for finally explaining the matter, and invite her to go down to breakfast with you. It's getting to be about time.

>[ ] Do something else. (Write in)

>Clairvoyance EX Noble Phantasm
I give up.

I guess that's another player lost. Sorry to see you go, anon.

>>4084604
>[ ] Thank Kōrakuhime for finally explaining the matter, and invite her to go down to breakfast with you. It's getting to be about time.
Jigoku no Niwa, huh...
>>4084615
if it's any consolation the future she sees becomes immutable

>>4084626
That's actually less of a consolation.
Because it's lore-breaking too!

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>>4084615
Also, how come you didn't immediately leap to this?

>>4084633
Because Servants defy destined events all the time.
You know, like the FUCKING GAE BOLG HOLY SHIT.
Whatever.

>do absolutely nothing
>qualify for grand caster
I
Ahahaha
HAha.
I have no more words.

>>4084635
In order for a Servant to defy destiny, it has to first be established as destiny. You're only taking her word for it, and according Cu, it's impossible to dodge Gae Bolg.

>>4084644
Using a Noble Phantasm to survey the period of one specially selected person's life is massively, if not infinitely, inferior to a passive skill that allows one to observe all of time and space.

>>4084604
>[ ] Ask a question about Kōrakuhime's Noble Phantasms. (Write in your question{s})
What happens in this underworld?
>>4084654
Ignore the salt. She can only see our past present and future right? Only Alberich specifically? That's not that overpowered. I'm sure he's the guy who's always throwing a fit about something or other.

>>4084644
>I have no more words.
If only that was true. I'm sure you have a lot more whining to do.

>>4084654
The big problem is that even Clairvoyance: EX or the likes of Sha Naqba Imuru only allow for the users to see possibilites and the users typically don't use it to stare into the future too much because unlimited possibilities is a bad thing to look into.

The only thing that should be able to perfectly tell the future is the Root.
The fucking Akashic Records.
And even then it's kinda doubtful.
The implication that the destiny written on this stupid book is immutable implies it is beyond True Magic in that it can predict outcomes such as Zelretch popping into the timeline.

You can't have a perfect future-telling book when you're writing a story canonically set in a multiverse with alternate timelines.
For the love of God.

>>4084668
It's not that it's overpowered.
It's that it's nonsensical.
If she wasn't going to use the future reading aspect anyway, why give it to her?

>>4084676
>You can't have a perfect future-telling book when you're writing a story canonically set in a multiverse with alternate timelines.
This is the part where I gnash my teeth in frustration.
I worked out how something that functioned like the delphic oracle would work in this setting before I created the NP, but unless you go talking to Zelretch there's no way you're going to find out. All I can ask you to do is trust me.
This is why TM puts out material books, and why FGO has all-knowing exposition-bots, I suppose.

>>4084668
>Ignore the salt.
Thanks for the vote of confidence, anon. I wish that I could.

>>4084680
It still makes very little sense to have a book with such a function be given the ranking of "B"

If it's information that we have no way of finding out about, why not just reveal it here?
You can't just say "trust me, I thought this through." in the same sentence as basically saying "But you'll never find out exactly what I thought through though."

Gah.
Why does this character exist?

>>4084698
>You can't just say "trust me, I thought this through." in the same sentence as basically saying "But you'll never find out exactly what I thought through though."
See
>This is the part where I gnash my teeth in frustration.

>>4084698
In addition, a known future that is immutable is paradoxical.

>>4084702
>This is the part where I gnash my teeth in frustration.
See
>If it's information that we have no way of finding out about, why not just reveal it here?

>>4084707
Because you have no way of knowing about it in character, but the information might affect your choices. It's one thing to right an interlude to add to the story, and quite another to just feed you meta exposition.

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>>4084718
>right
Alright, that's it. I'm done. Time to die.

>>4084654
>Using a Noble Phantasm to survey the period of one specially selected person's life is massively, if not infinitely, inferior to a passive skill that allows one to observe all of time and space.
That's where you're wrong, by the way.
In observing a single person's entire life and comitting it to actually occur, you are in fact also affecting anyone he is destined to meet, and indeed anyone they are destined to meet ad nauseam.
Therefore this book effectively eradicates the notion of free will.
So uh, great.

>>4084719
Oh dear.

>>4084604
>[ ] Ask a question about Kōrakuhime's Noble Phantasms. (Write in your question{s})
I don't think that explanation for Jigoku no Niwa is sufficient

>>4084654
>You're only taking her word for it, and according Cu, it's impossible to dodge Gae Bolg.
And Cu is correct!
Saber makes a luck check to literally rewrite fate to avoid the fatal blow.
Meanwhile Bazett, who uses Fragarach to literally undo the actual thrust of Gae Bolg from ever occurring is still hit in the heart by it, because she DOESN'T have Servant-tier luck.

Goodness, what a horrible blatant misunderstanding of the setting.

>>4084757
If you're not here to play along with what the QM writes then why are you even here? I'm beyond tired of you shitting up every thread with your autistic screeching and smug self importance. You literally complain about every update like you know more about the quest than the QM. Just stop.

What do you think Korakuhime's dream means? I bet it means we get nerfed hard when we reach the grail, but still incarnate. Setting up the next chapter of the quest and writing Sweets out of the corner he's in regarding combat with our superior 1000x folded portal sword that can cut anything.

>>4084794
>You stood... upon a jeweled pedestal, rising out of a pool of darkness... and stretched out your hands to the Holy Grail, a golden goblet filled... with the blood of the slain, enough to sustain he who had won it perpetually."
OK, so this is us after we win the War. The "blood of the slain" is obviously the energy of the defeated Servants, which the Grail uses for its wishcraft.
>"Yet there was a crack in the perfect goblet, a flaw... in the prize, and the contents had escaped... by the time you brought it to your lips. When you drank from... that emptiness, Ani-ue, it weakened you, hollowed you out... it drank from you."
But the energy of those Servants will be lost somehow, and the Grail will compensate by stealing our own, leaving us weak.
>"After that, there was... a confusion of too many foes... indescribable violence... I will not speak of the images I saw then, of what they did to you that made me scream when I awoke."
Conclusion: IT'S A TRAP

>>4084799
Who are the foes though? That's the one thing that's unclear

>>4084847
Clocktower, the Church, Counter Guardians, the gods,Illuminati, manjew, aliens, etc. thing about our future enemies is we won't find out who they are until after we set off the grail nuke.

>>4084604
>>4084668
This.

>>4084727
>I don't think that explanation for Jigoku no Niwa is sufficient
What more would you like to know in particular? The same question as >>4084668, or anything further?

>>4084676
You know, what infuriates me most about this whole thing is the missed opportunity. You're presented with a character describing a situation that seems impossible according to your knowledge of the lore.
Now, do you speculate on why that could be? After all, if what Kōrakuhime claims is impossible there are a million different things that could be going on. Maybe the ability is weaker than she believes, and can be broken by a Luck check. Maybe it's actually something else entirely, like rewriting the memories of those who read it to make them think its predictions were accurate. Maybe she's just lying to you for some reason.
Do you try to determine what the situation might really be based on her behavior and the other information that's been presented by the quest?
No. You don't speculate. You go straight to "this breaks lore, QM is garbage."

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>he went crying to /qtg/ for the umpteenth time
Constantly mad anon is human filth. You're the only part of this quest I don't enjoy. Notice how he shares none of his "expertise" when people are genuinely discussing the update. Disgusting.

>Barely climb out of the spiral of depression and overwork to keep writing
>Yet another player quits over a lore conflict that hasn't even been confirmed, probably the one who made all of my edits
God, this is depressing.

>>4084626
>>4084668
>>4084727
>>4084857
>>4085011
Thank you for sticking around, anons. Sincerely. Next update will be tonight.

>>4085479
I get wanting to keep your players. But you shouldn't be sad about that guy leaving. He was not only a dick to you, he annoyed probably every other player that always had to see his tantrums. Really brought down the mood of the threads for a long time.

>>4085479
Now you've just made me feel bad.
I don't know, Sweets.
Maybe I'll just switch to lurking for a while.
I can see my presence isn't wanted anyway.

Maybe I did overreact, but No-Limits Fallacies as the book's ability was presented are a pet peeve.
Maybe I'll just take a break.

But first
>>4084847
Somebody did want me to share my "expertise" so I will say that this is pretty obviously the work of Angra Mainyu's curses, especially given that Rin, who isn't an imbecile that will happily doom the world just for the Third said the path to the root was still corrupted by Angra.
It is further backed up by the "too many foes" line, implying it's the billions of curses of Angra Mainyu tearing Alberich apart.

>>4085500
Or, I could simply remain playing out of spite for you.

>>4084604
>[ ] Ask a question about Kōrakuhime's Noble Phantasms.
Define Hell, please
>>4084857
You forgot about the Underground colony of magical cat vampire people that have laser beam eyes

If there is one positive quality about my inability to not sperge out angrily, it's that it gets the lurkers out, I guess.

>>4084604
>[ ] Thank Kōrakuhime for finally explaining the matter, and invite her to go down to breakfast with you. It's getting to be about time.

I don't care about her or her Noble Phantasm's enough to actually ask.
I do so love that Alberich doesn't seem to care that's he's being spied on at all times though.
What a stupid Noble Phantasm.

>>4085604
>Alberich doesn't seem to care that's he's being spied on at all times though
>while she's incensed that you've tried to handle her Noble Phantasm you certainly feel some of the same emotion. Was reading an account of your life last night? Going over some explanation of a battle she wasn't there to see? Whatever her reasons might have been, you can't help feeling your privacy to have been violated.
Try reading

>>4085627
He was quite a bit more incensed at the idea that she spied on him at the amusement park with her.
By all rights, he should be furious with her for doing what she did.
It doesn't take a genius to figure out.

On a somewhat more optimistic subject, would you folks be interested in some kind of Valentine's Day Special tomorrow? If so, do you have any suggestions?

>>4085703
I'll be honest, I'm really just wanting some more grail war action

>>4085631
>Implying Alberich will ever get over his protagonism

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>>4085754
I can only hope that one day he does manage it.
It's a little inconsistent how forgiving he is about being spied on now.
Especially in personal moments.
Tsubaki deserves a slap.

>>4085703
Alternate Timeline where Alberich/Judas is summoned by pic-related instead of Vaisset.


Also, what was the point of misreporting one of my posts earlier?
Are you really that butthurt.

>>4084604
>[ ] Ask a question about Kōrakuhime's Noble Phantasms. (Write in your question{s})

>When you say "to the underworld", what exactly do you mean? I recall the underworld was understood fairly differently among different mythologies.

>Any idea why Hitsuzen Rekishi just so happens to be my immutable biography? Was the target of its divination set as me at the time you became a Servant simply from an impulse you had upon spawning in the real world? And how are you so sure what it says is immutable fate?

[ ] Interrogate Kōrakuhime about some other subject. (What?)
>You said in your nightmare the golden goblet was cracked when I received it. Given how complex and shady Grail physics seem to be, I think we should bring this concern up with Lily.
>Speaking of, I think it's time you make some new frens. I told Adelheid about you in general terms and she seemed interested in making your acquaintance. DEW IT.

>>4085801
>Also, what was the point of misreporting one of my posts earlier?
Sorry, I don't know what you mean. Mind clarifying?

>>4085839
It wasn't directed at you because I know you aren't a bitch, but SOMEBODY decided to report one of my posts out of some impotent rage.

Probably >>4085752

So here's hoping this break from the war lasts as long as it possibly can.

>>4085847
>It wasn't directed at you because I know you aren't a bitch, but SOMEBODY decided to report one of my posts out of some impotent rage.
Oh, I see. I thought you were saying I'd misquoted you or something.

>>4085809
>Was the target of its divination set as me at the time you became a Servant simply from an impulse you had upon spawning in the real world?
Didn't she say it was?

>>4085853
Nope.
I swear, the only thing that gets anon to stop fucking lurking is when I do this.

>>4085847
Nah I didn't report anything. I'm used to salt in quests and have never considered reporting anyone. I prefer just openly calling out people being assholes like you.

>>4085885
I see.
Well whatever then, apologies for the unwarranted assumption.
I just wish we could discuss more positive things, but time and time again, it's been shown to me that attempting to initiate positive discussion basically does nothing anymore.

>>4085878
Wow so noble of you. Truly the hero we need.

>>4085919
Yes, aren't I just.

>>4085587
>A wild namefag appeared!
Did you just catch up from the archive?

>>4085918
Any of your attempts of positive discussion are overshadowed by your incessant unproductive complaining.
You could be a real positive impact on the quest with your Fate knowledge that obviously exceeds mine. If you choose to change your tone and promote positive discussion it would really help the quest as a whole. Why not try it?

>>4085918
For example, why not apply your knowledge to making a plan to defeat Odin? I can't get anyone to care about it and my knowledge is mediocre, but it seems like the method we used to neutralize Circe's magic could be improved to be used against Odin. What do you think?

>>4085941
I do attempt to quite a bit, honestly, anon.
I shouldn't be so prone to getting as upset about things in the story which aren't confirmed as true.
I guess I'll just have to work on the assumption that Kourakuhime is an imbecile or a liar instead of her actually being able to provide accurate information.

It doesn't really make much sense not to read the contents of the future anyway if it is truly accurate, it's not like the actions would change whether you knew or not.
Except if the future written within the book was immutable, it would account for you reading your own actions which would create an infinite amount of paradoxical feedback.
Let me put it another way
Assuming it's not just Giga Clairvoyance: EX...
The book would have to somehow account for the actions you take if you read what actions you would take if you read what actions you would take if you read what actions you would take infinitely.
It's possible that Kourakuhime won't read the immutable future as written in the book because the conscious decision to do so would in fact break the book unless the NP has the additional property that it takes the reader's ability to defy the written future away.
But hey, speculation.

>>4085966
Rune Magic has no verbal requirement for him to use, being purely somatic in nature it's the opposite of High Speed Divine Words which is purely verbal.
Simply applying continuous pressure to him and not allowing him to gain the distance he needs to trace the runes or using rift slashes to disrupt his attempts to do so might work.
The problem is that he can trace them very quickly, so the purely physical method would require A+ or A++ Agility to even hope to pull off.

While the method we used to take control of Circe's Magic might work if he uses binding magic, it's not going to work if he simply calls down lightning to continuously zap us.
Another thing we can't count on is him not simply using some sort of wind magic to blow away Kenotis to render it useless.
We could potentially try to create some sort of Anti-Magic field to prevent them, but we'll need to figure out if that's even possible first.

Seeing as it's looking more and more likely that Angra is still hanging about in the grail, we might end up being able to have Shirou help us defeat Odin, UBW could provide the constant pressure on him we would need to negate the issue brought about by Primordial Runes.
It really depends on what Odin considers a fair fight though, so I wouldn't really want to count on assistance.

Of course, the biggest problem is still Gungnir. We have no counter to it and it's a cheat weapon through and through.
We could try eating Harris and stealing his time alter bootleg magic from his Crest (if he has one). That would make us fast enough to be able to destroy Gungnir in physical combat.

>>4084604
>>4085703
>[ ] Ask a question about Kōrakuhime's Noble Phantasms. (Write in your question{s})
> Which underworld? How big would the portal be? How much manageable does it consumes?
A peek into the Titania Timeline would be cool for Valentine's. The whimsical Queen of the Fairies looking for her Oberon...

>>4086030
I can only imagine the absolute destruction that would be wrought should Manaka and Titania ever meet.

>>4086018
>We could potentially try to create some sort of Anti-Magic field to prevent them, but we'll need to figure out if that's even possible first.
I agree with this, but I disagree that what we did was Anti-Magic. It allowed us to take over the effects of the spell, at which point we decided to dispel it. If we could take over the effects of Odin's rune magic and redirect it back toward him that would be a gamechanger. We'd definitely need some outside input on this sort of training however. Who would be the best trainer? I'd like to focus all of our efforts on this, so having Circe, Hecate. and Tsubaki work on this with us would be interesting.
>we might end up being able to have Shirou help us defeat Odin
This is something I absolutely disagree with. Shirou would never help us gain access to the grail, and Odin would be our final barrier to that. And we decided long ago that we would defeat Shirou before we even faced Odin. Furthermore, our fight was agreed upon to be just Odin vs. Alberich, with no outside interference. Having outside help would not only be against the terms of the duel, but Alberich's pride wouldn't tolerate it.

>>4085870
Yes but I was hoping she might be able to give more information on how exactly that happened. Seemed a bit odd for one of her NP's to permanently lock onto us just because of a hasty impulse.

>>4086040
>Shirou would never help us gain access to the grail
Of course, I'm talking only if we get desperate enough to do so.
And this outcome is only if we go all in on the "The grail is actually corrupted, I'm making a terrible mistake." route. Alberich would be forced to swallow his pride anyway if we went this route. Because remaining alive but linked to Lily is a far more preferable alternative to the grail ending the world.
Which considering that dream of Tsubaki's, looks annoyingly likely

As for breaking the terms of the duel, it's unfortunate, but it's not like Alberich isn't pragmatic to just cheat if there's nothing binding him. Remember, he's the least knightliest knight around, his pride as a Saber is only something he has so long as it benefits him in achieving a victory.

>Who would be the best trainer?
Circe or Hecate.
Tsubaki's bounded field speciality would make her less likely to want to help us research bounded fields, which is what an anti-magic field would end up being.
Also, she's hardly the brightest ally we have... at all, so I doubt her teaching prowess is actually even close to being OK.
Also, after she acts smug about something Alberich is unaware of the dozenth time in one lesson, it would suddenly end due to her getting a table thrown at her.

Rin or Luvia would probably be better at teaching Alberich the modern magecraft principles he would be using though, but Rin is a big no and Luvia is an unknown right now.

>>4086072
>Of course, I'm talking only if we get desperate enough to do so.
That'd have to be extremely desperate. We already have several useful allies and Alberich wants revenge upon Shirou for almost killing him, even if the players can't bring themselves to roleplay enough to feel the same way.
>Tsubaki's bounded field speciality would make her less likely to want to help us research bounded fields, which is what an anti-magic field would end up being.
It would also make her the most qualified. I'm sure we could force her.

>>4086077
>It would also make her the most qualified. I'm sure we could force her.
I mean, if she refuses, there is one method I can think of to ensure she never does so again.
I wonder how Lily would feel about receiving another Servant.

But regardless, I have my doubts about the teaching prowess she has, she's an idiot with too much power.
Her plans are terrible despite being able to scry for everything.
She was actually stupid enough to organize it so that her first meeting with Alberich would be while she was eating a family and also knocked his Master out for good measure.

It would've been perfectly in character at the time for Alberich to have just killed her right there. What a dumbass.

>We already have several useful allies and Alberich wants revenge upon Shirou for almost killing him
Alberich needs to learn to forgive and forget. He should be thankful for Shirou mortally wounding him. It was because of that injury that his relationship with Lily really became a thing.

>>4086104
>He should be thankful for Shirou mortally wounding him.
If it were anyone else you would never say that. This is where extensive familiarity with the fate series becomes a problem, bias towards canon characters.

>>4086113
I mean, if it were literally any of the female characters that had wounded him, people would be saying the exact same thing.

Additionally, people are more than willing to forgive Matsuda for handing out a greater embarassment than a double KO, and Matsuda is a traitor too! With Shirou, we were the one doing the betrayal.

Hell, we've already forgiven Adelheid who attacked us with enough force that Alberich at the start of Awakening probably would've been severely injured.
Circe too, somewhat.

>>4085479
>Yet another player quits over a lore conflict that hasn't even been confirmed, probably the one who made all of my edits
I fucking wish, we'll never be rid of that whiny bastard.

>>4086117
>we were the one doing the betrayal
Odin forced our hand there, everyone spazzed out when they found out we were working with the Einzberns.
We haven't followed up on attacking them, and they haven't followed up on attacking us. Now that we're quite a bit stronger than we were when Shirou blew us away I imagine Alberich isn't too salty about it now.

On a related note, we do need to identify Assassin's master and I'm pretty sure it's going to be Rin, Luvia, or some Clocktower shenanigans that let them share him. Maybe Circe or Hecate can figure out a way to detect command seals at range or something? We just need to find the last set of command seals unaccounted for and Assassin is boned. The death-knell of just about any Assassin is when a Caster finds out who his master is and spreads the word. We should totally pull the Kikuko maneuver on whoever has him too, just to spite that irritating prick. No climactic battle, just betrayal by a mind-controlled master.

>>4086018
Unless sweets confirms otherwise all we have is speculation based on what we know.

If I had to make a guess to how the book works:
1. It only sees us because it locks to the first person its used on, I think she confirmed, vaguely, in last update. (Why us? Refer back to her post-recruitment sleep talking.)
2. Why not read it constantly? To prevent a route lock, what is read in the book is immutable but only to the depth that is read, anything in the blanks might be rewritten. There's a world of a difference between us losing some of our power vs all if it.

If its limitations are any less and i'd have to seriously doubt the B ranking.

>>4086171
>Odin forced our hand there, everyone spazzed out when they found out we were working with the Einzberns.
Yeah, we really didn't have much choice.
Alberich remaining pissed off against somebody that he begun attacking with the intention to kill would be silly though.

>We should totally pull the Kikuko maneuver on whoever has him too, just to spite that irritating prick.
Agreed.
Fuck Assassin.

>>4086180
Yeah, seems to be the case that she used it to search for us immediately after she became a Servant and it's now locked to us alone. How annoying. There's really no reason she needs it other than to spy on us and pry where she doesn't belong. And she can scry without using it.
Hell, if it locks our destiny to the one written within it's pages...
Why don't we just... destroy it?

I can't think of one good reason why she needs a book that is permanently locked to us that at the same time violates our privacy totally.
The reason she knew our Servant's names is because she read all of what we did in the Akeldama.

As for the not reading all of it, that's not really sensible either way.
If you've got an immutable record of something that defines actions taken in the future, then not reading it would be the same as reading it.

>>4086169
I will never be a memory.

>>4086117
Are you serious? This is why we're going to kill Emiya AND Matsuda, not an excuse for forgiving the ginger bomber.

>>4086278
I would be lying if I said a part of me didn't want to turn Matsuda into a power-up.
I wonder how much we'll be able to terrify him on the rematch if we go into it fully intending to use him to increase our own power.

>>4085631
>By all rights, he should be furious with her for doing what she did. It doesn't take a genius to figure out.
Why, whatever could you mean, anon? Surely there's nothing untoward about her reviewing the battle performance of someone she's trying to support.

>>4085752
Noted. I don't know how long this morning's peaceful time will last, but there will eventually be action again.

>>4086040
>Who would be the best trainer?
Not to tell you what to do, but if it's Odin's magic you're looking to counter there's one person who knows more about him than anyone else...

>>4086072
Do bear in mind that if Odin decides you're cheating he may well take his ball and go home.

>>4086117
Alberich certainly is a lot quicker to forgive (young) women than men, that's clear enough.

>>4086306
>if it's Odin's magic you're looking to counter there's one person who knows more about him than anyone else...
Yes, but what are the odds of us summoning Frigg on the Gacha?

>Why, whatever could you mean, anon?
I mean that as soon as she's not paying attention, I want to destroy her stupid book. There is literally no point in her having it.

>>4086219
Just my baseless speculation,

>not reading it would be the same as reading it.
It states 'it can show anything of our destiny beginning to end but she doesn't read much beyond the present' i'm assuming the record is only locked when its read not when its created, otherwise there would be no point to not read cover to cover.

>Why don't we just... destroy it?
Its probably one of those annoying 'what has been read cannot be unread; it happens regardless of its destruction', even then were still going to have problems regardless of a prophetic book, better to have something we might be able to control somewhat (so long as we don't read to deep) than nothing.

>>4086322
>Its probably one of those annoying 'what has been read cannot be unread; it happens regardless of its destruction'
If it's a curse, it will completely fade from the world at the moment of it's destruction, see Diarmuid with Gáe Buidhe. There would be no power to force it's outcome to occur.

As it stands though, it's an immutable book that is already filled with our complete record, there's no reason not to read cover to cover simply because by the nature of it being an immutable prediction of the future, it won't change regardless.

I still say we destroy it.
She doesn't deserve to look into Alberich's life on such a level anyway.
She hasn't earned that right.

>>4086314
He's talking about Fenrir, numbnuts.

>>4086349
Pfft, he's clearly referring to Shirou, he's seen Gungnir, so he should know quite a bit about Odin now.

>>4086040
>If we could take over the effects of Odin's rune magic and redirect it back toward him that would be a gamechanger.
I disagree. So far Odin has only used spells that resolved quickly against us, like the blast of force and the lightning bolt, but Absorption demands that we overwhelm the magical energy in the spell with our own. So you're saying we should not only try to match Odin's energy with our own, but also do that to a spell that lasts a few moments at the most.
Prevention is much more effective than subversion.

>>4086368
Maybe the Rejection-type magic would be more effective to that effect? Should ask Circe later I guess.

And we're telling K-hime to make frens with Adelheid, yes? She needs to branch out some.

inb4 shirou copies HGS

>>4086418
>he doesn't get the miracles because the gods don't favor him

Go down to breakfast
>>4084626
>>4085604

What happens in the underworld?
>>4084668
>>4085011

Insufficient data.
>>4084727

Define Hell.
>>4085587

Full-course stack of questions
>>4085809

Which underworld? Portal size? Energy consumption?
>>4086030

Looks like a bit of a variety, although most of you want to ask something about Jigoku no Niwa. Want to consolidate, folks?

In other news, I was thinking of updating the VA cast list to include Hecate... and I discovered that it was one of the very few files to be completely lost in my recent computer crash.
I know not a lot of you were very invested in that bit of trivia, but I can't help feeling that the loss is a real shame. It'd take forever to put it back together.

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>>4086592
>It'd take forever to put it back together
Just mill through the archive.

>>4086611
Ah, true. I can do that. Well then, here's the updated...

Fate Quest Voice Cast!

Fate/City Akeldama:
Yumigawa Rushorou: Kamiya Hiroshi
Matsuda Ryuuta: Ono Daisuke
Ogawara Yatsuhide: Ogata Megumi
Caster (Circe): Akaneya Himika
Cid Ajisartous (Caster): Nakata Jouji
Truvietianne Edelfelt: Horie Yui
Lancer (Perseus): Miyano Mamoru
Sean O'Mordha: Shiraishi Minoru
Saber (Justinian I): Morikawa Toshiyuki
Archer (The Man with No Name): Clint Eastwood
Munahara Kikuko: Ookubo Rumi
Keiseki Saburou: Miki Shinichiro
Rider (Blackbeard): Wakamoto Norio
Berserker ("Adelheid"): Yuuki Aoi
Assassin (Robin Hood): Toriumi Kousuke
Joe Ambrose: Takagi Wataru
Jack DeLancey: Kamiya Akira

Fate/Awakening Mirror:
Jean-Pierre Vaisset (Shijou Hirahide): Horikawa Ryo
Saber (Alberich): Narita Ken
Shijou Ayaka (Anne-Marie Vaisset): Hanazawa Kana
Emiya Shirou: Suwabe Junichi
Emiya Sakura: Shitaya Noriko
Emiya Kaori: Chihara Minori
Emiya Seiji: Kaji Yuki
Rider of Fuyuki: Asakawa Yuu
Liliesviel von Einzbern: Hidaka Rina
Otto Niemand (Odin): Utsumi Kenji
William Harris: Ōtsuka Akio
First Saber: Kawasumi Ayako
Rider (Roland): Fujita Yoshinori
Kajiwara Haruo: Takahashi Hiroki
Akagata Kyouka: Ohara Sayaka
Archer (Odysseus): Sugita Tomokazu
Stachel: Asakura Momo
Stengel: Inoue Marina
Judas Iscariot (Caster): Nakata Jouji
Tohsaka Rin: Ueda Kana
Giuliano di Lumenza: Koyasu Takehito
Berserker (Achilles): Furukawa Makoto
Yōjinshi-no-Kōrakuhime (Caster): Noto Mamiko
Luviagelita Edelfelt: Itou Shizuka
Futodoki: Hayami Show
Outer Assassin: Kosugi Juurouta
Hecate: Takahashi Karin

And now, since it's getting late and nobody's switched their vote to end the tie, I'm going to bed. Good luck with your planning!

>>4086590
Switch me to asking the full-course stack of questions.

>>4084668
I suppose I'll break the tie then.
Supporting this.

Why does angry anon always act like he does over the oddest of things and then immediately do an about-face?
Does his Nanaya blood kick in whenever he sees a potential lore contradiction or something?

>>4086904
The mind of angry anon is a mystery to surpass true magic.

>>4086590
Bruh everyone wanted to investigate further about her NP why would you consider that a tie and not write the update? You gotta learn what's mutually exclusive or not.

>>4086912
The mind of Sweets is a mystery to surpass the mind of angry anon.

>>4086915
This isn't a lore contradiction.

>>4086912
Sweets said she was going to bed so it was probably just an excuse to sleep.

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>>4086912
I suppose you may be right about that. Apologies for the delay; here's a new portrait of Liliesviel with messy hair in token of recompense.

You give Kōrakuhime a hard stare as she makes her short, disordered explanation of her second Noble Phantasm. There's little enough coherence to be expected, of course, from someone in the strangely nervous and confused state Kōrakuhime's dream seems to have left her in, with her symptoms of fever and aimless squirming, but even so she's rushed through the effects of this Jigoku no Niwa ability with irritating rapidity and vagueness. "Transports them into the underworld?" you ask. "Just what exactly does that mean? What happens in this 'underworld'? Have you the sort of control over it that Judas wielded over the Akeldama?"

"Oh, no... nothing like that," Kōrakuhime answers, with an attempt at shaking her head prevented by your hold on her chin. "I simply mean that it puts an end to their lives. Precisely, what Jigoku no Niwa does is... draw its victims into a tiny sealed reality, a traditional garden... in which their respective destinies continuously accelerate toward their ultimate end. Since all things are fated to die, it... becomes the antechamber to what awaits them after death." At this last statement, a flicker of a smile plays over Kōrakuhime's parted lips.

"But you have no control over what goes on in this world," you ask, frowning, "or of who is targeted? You can't release those who are brought into it?" For all its strange details, this makes the thing sound functionally no different from a bomb; similar to Akeldama in its form, perhaps, but certainly not in its function.

"No. The most I can do is to observe what goes on within... and to send insubstantial projections of myself to communicate with those captured," Kōrakuhime explains, spirits dwindling again. Then, hastily stumbling over her words as if rushing to contradict her admission of a moment before with a more positive answer, she continues, "B-but there is no need for anything e-else to be done! The garden... is a realm which becomes continuously more nightmarish as one remains within it, a-and I need take no action to enhance their suffering."

"And very meaningful that is, I'm sure," you answer, pasting a sarcastic smile onto your face. "Do you gain energy from those who die in your garden, as Judas did?"

"Since I am only hastening their natural deaths, the energy of their spirits passes... out of this world intact," Kōrakuhime concedes, further dismayed by the question. "The garden is not mine, as... the world of the Akeldama belonged to Judas," she adds.

"I suppose it's easy enough to see why you haven't found an opportunity to use it, then," you say, letting go of Kōrakuhime with a sigh. Her gaze no longer seems to tend away from you, though, for she remains fixedly staring into your eyes despite the release. "Perhaps we'll find some use for it, and perhaps not. The power of the Noble Phantasm certainly is a far cry from that of Akeldama, for all you may feel it similar."

>[ ] "But let us return to the subject of your other Noble Phantasm. Tell me..." (Write in your questions)

>[ ] "That aside, upon reflection I cannot help wondering more about that dream of yours..." (Write in your questions)

>[ ] "Enough of these practical matters. It's gotten to be rather late in the morning; let's go down to breakfast, shall we?"

>[ ] Say or do something else. (Write in)

>>4087500
I'll close voting and write the next update 8 hours from now.
To allay any concerns about the same thing happening as with the last vote, this time I'll merge any differing write-in-detail votes for the same choice.

>>4087500
>[ ] "That aside, upon reflection I cannot help wondering more about that dream of yours..." (Write in your questions)
Tell me what the innumerable foes did to me.

>>4087495
So it's a torture chamber? What a weird power. Guess the mass sacrifice plan is dead.

>>4086917
But your big complaint was that it broke lore.

>>4087500
>[ ] "Enough of these practical matters. It's gotten to be rather late in the morning; let's go down to breakfast, shall we?"

Not many of you folks around on a holiday, huh?
I hope you're all enjoying your Valentine's.

>>4087500
>[X] "Enough of these practical matters. It's gotten to be rather late in the morning; let's go down to breakfast, shall we?"
Let's get that Rejection working.

>>4087500
>[ ] Say or do something else
Two things
>Adelheid wants to meet you, so come out of your shell and introduce your real self to her soon. You'll probably get along great.
>Later we should bring up your dream to Lily as the cracked grail losing the energy has the potential to lead to my undoing. I'd like to see if we can make precautions to prevent that from coming to pass and Lily would be the one to consult on that front.

>>4087500
>[ ] "Enough of these practical matters. It's gotten to be rather late in the morning; let's go down to breakfast, shall we?"
I'd rather talk about this dream without worrying Tsubaki.

>>4087941
>I hope you're all enjoying your Valentine's.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-d4UJWQXaVw

>>4088082
Huh. That was quite good, if surprising; I kept expecting the holiday-themed lyrics to come in.

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>>4088037
Support this then breakfast
>>4087552
Ayaka and Hecate are teaming up, have some faith Anon

>>4087500
>>[ ] "Enough of these practical matters. It's gotten to be rather late in the morning; let's go down to breakfast, shall we?"

What a trash Noble Phantasm.
What happens if you just use a Reality Marble in it. "Oops looks like I win."
Go the fuck home, Tsubaki, both your Noble Phantasms are as worthless and annoying as you are.
Or Excalibur would just break the entire thing as it does to reality marbles

>>4087555
I meant that Sweets' mind being incomprehensible was a perfectly valid statement

>>4087495
>Since all things are fated to die
Also this isn't even accurate, but I guess we can throw Tiamat or Amaterasu at her later.
What an idiot she is.
Arcueid also has no concept of death, but she's in a different timeline.

>>4088378
Even better, as she can't release the people held within, she'd literally just die of mana loss if she tried to use it on somebody who could break her system.
Why do we even keep you around?

>>4088378
Angry anon when K-hime was introduced:
>Why is she so OP? This is bullshit.
Angry anon when we find out her NPs are actually weak:
>What a trash Noble Phantasm. She's an idiot. We should kill her.
Spergery at its finest.

>>4088440
Oh no, I was never mad that her NPs were strong or OP.
I was mad that they make no sense and as defined, are lorebreaking.
But apparently I'm just supposed to believe that Kourakuhime is mentally impaired and doesn't know how anything works, so that's that.
She's just a perfect bundle of worthlessness who we no longer have any reason to keep alive.

>I'm not going to tell you what my noble phantasms do even though one of them is an anti-army noble phantasm that targets the surroundings indiscriminately
>I'll tell you what it does when the time is right
>Gasp! for whatever reason, the time was never right!
She'd be more useful filling the grail.

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>>4088378
>Sweets' mind being incomprehensible was a perfectly valid statement
I don't even know what to say anymore, so here's Taiga summarizing my attempts at writing for you folks.

>>4087637
>>4087955
>>4088057
>>4088378
Looks like breakfast takes the vote. Writing now.

>>4088378
>What happens if you just use a Reality Marble in it. "Oops looks like I win."
What do you think would've happened if you used a Reality Marble in the Akeldama? As you know, the structure is the same.
>Excalibur would just break the entire thing as it does to reality marbles
See above.

>>4088475
It's not my fault that sometimes nobody can tell what the fuck you're thinking when you do something.
This is why Nasu needed Takeuchi, honestly.

>>4088477
>a Reality Marble in the Akeldama?
Literally the exact same thing that happens literally anywhere else you use a Reality Marble.
Unless you are trying to say that Judas' EX rank NP is more powerful than Gaia.
Or a fucking A+ NP is more powerful than Gaia's corrective nature too.

Give me a break, Sweets.

Reality Marbles can overwrite the fucking Moon Cell, and that's effectively just Akeldama, but the person in charge is ACTUALLY Omnipotent.

>>4088485
>>4088485
So, if you think reality marbles affect either one the same way, why are you only angry about it now? If your problem is with the situation with regards to lore, I'd expect you to be in favor of consistency.

>>4088479
>This is why Nasu needed Takeuchi, honestly
Alright, you want to collaborate and weigh in more heavily on story developments? Finish the second portrait for Liliesviel as well as the new portrait for Adelheid you said you'd make, and then we'll talk.

>>4088492
Because the problem wasn't an issue until now?
There was no chance of somebody using a reality marble in an Akeldama type space.

The real issue is that Kourakuhime is worthless and will remain as such for her entire stay in the story.
I would've preferred to have killed both her AND Saber for the power-up, before you bring up Saber Alter being an example as to how she's helped out.

>>4088498
Well, I say "worthless."
She's not worthless, it's just...
I don't know.
She doesn't feel like an actual character.
She has no real moments in the story of her own.

>>4088498
She isn't a very powerful Servant, no. Neither was Alberich when he was first summoned, and unlike you she hasn't had the opportunity to get repeatedly upgraded by her Master. I don't understand the desire to kill someone who cares about you and has consistently tried to help you just because she's not very useful, though. With Matsuda, or even Circe, you have some motivation to want to kill them. Where does the animosity toward Kōrakuhime come from?

>>4088502
>She has no real moments in the story of her own.
That has sort of been Ogawara's situation from day one. It comes with the 'withdrawn, antisocial otaku' origin. He (and now she) would prefer to watch events play out from the comfort of home than take part in them. Sometimes being a passive element is a core part of someone's character.
Still, you're one of the folks who'd like to have Kikuko and Kōrakuhime make friends, aren't you? Perhaps she'll a chance to have a bit more of her own story if that happens.

>>4088505
>Where does the animosity toward Kōrakuhime come from?
Sometimes, the most useful and helpful thing somebody can do to aid somebody else is to die.

I have never really liked Kourakuhime. There's a multitude of reasons I can give, but the most accurate one is that she's worst girl.
Nobody would really mourn her if she died.

>That has sort of been Ogawara's situation from day one.
He too was basically a non-character during Akeldama.
Writing non-characters and not even attempting to subvert the behaviour with at least some sort of interesting quality is bad.

She just feels so generic.

>>4088513
>masochist otaku oni
>not even attempting to give her any interesting quality, generic
Alright, now you're just trying to make me angry. We've had this exact conversation before, and it was just as nonsensical then. Accuse her of being non-independent if you want; take issue with her small role and lack of personal goals if you like; but to say I haven't tried to give her any interesting character traits is just spitting in my face.
Now I'm done arguing this. I'm going to try to make some progress on this update before I pass out like last night. Hate whomever you like, with or without sense.

>>4088521
Are you trying to make *me* angry?

You've just smashed two seperate characters together and called it an interesting development!

Kourakuhime hardly even acts like an Otaku anymore!
She went immediately from generic otaku self-insert character to bootleg sue Shuten-Douji!

On that note, I'm sorry to say that I'm giving up writing for tonight. I'm too tired to get this update more than half-done. Sorry to have missed the 13th and followed it up with only a short update on the 14th, everyone. Tomorrow's update will be longer, and then on Sunday I'm still planning on doing a rapid evening session.
In the meantime, I'll leave you folks with this bit of food for thought: although Assassin was summoned before you were, and his abilities seemed to be observed in town before your first battle with Harris, Rin and the Edelfelts both arrived in Tokyo well after that time.

>>4088527
Bootleg Shuten? Really?
Alright, you are messing with me. Sorry you don't like Kōrakuhime, anon. I hope you enjoy future developments more than you have the last couple of updates.

>>4088545
I would've preferred her to have not been an oni for no reason other than to fulfill some apparent monstergirl quota.

>>4088551
I mean, why does she even have the skill?
She fulfills none of the qualities of an oni!

>>4088551
You got something against Monstergirls, anon?
Because you should know you have shit taste if you do.

>>4088505
Somehow, it's always the characters a QM intends to be liked by the audience that end up drawing their hatred for completely unexpected reasons.

I've personally experienced this phenomenon too.
It's something you just can't wrap your head around.

>>4088599
>It's something you just can't wrap your head around.
It's cosmic contrarianism. Anyone you intend to be liked will be hated beyond rationality, while anyone you intend to be disliked will attract fujos.

>>4088602
That's certainly true enough.
I've found the only thing that can defeat the blessing of first girl is the curse of childhood friend.
And vampires.

>>4088599
>Somehow, it's always the characters a QM intends to be liked by the audience that end up drawing their hatred for completely unexpected reasons.
It's not even that I particularly want Kōrakuhime to be liked, you know. If I had to pick a character that I would really like to be beloved of the readers at this point, it's Liliesviel; and that's only because you've gotten into a relationship with her, and if nobody likes the foremost love interest that's sort of a problem.
Generally speaking, though, people can like or dislike any of the heroines, that's fine; it's just that I can't understand anon's reasons for disliking Kōrakuhime.

>>4088604
>the curse of childhood friend
Wait, now that I think of it, it could be that this explains it. Given that Alberich's 'childhood' was his time in the Akeldama, Kōrakuhime is technically a childhood friend!

>>4089043
No that can't be it, the little sister archetype should be immune to the Childhood Friend Curse.

I'm curious, why are some many of you anons voting to skip over trying to tie our social circles closer together? Do you want ACTION NAO even though there's so much more socializing we could do that would probably give a big payoff later? We can greatly augment our team's combat capability just by getting K-hime and Adelheid to talk to each other like we did with Ayaka and Hecate. And have Adelheid use her Charisma A to get people to get along better, which we haven't even tried doing yet.

It's not like Sweets set a deadline to drop the quest and we need to hurry to the conclusion or never get there.

>>4089468
The last time we had any form of combat in this quest was exactly one month ago anon. That shit ain't normal

>>4089562
Here's the thing, we're surrounded by catty women who each have interesting abilities to contribute but don't play well with others. We should fix that before getting into more fights because if we can get everyone to be cooperative we can get a massive buff-stack going.
I'm convinced that getting rid of Odin will require such a buff-stack, so we shouldn't put off getting it ready.

>>4089627
Before any of that we need a strategy based upon what we learn about his true capabilities. Which would have to come from Lily. If we talk to her first we can direct our efforts to get buffs more intelligently than just getting vague buffs.

>>4089661
We're not going to be wasting time by getting the gang more friendly with each other, it's a prereq to getting the optimal output of assistance from them. Getting the prereqs shouldn't be procrastinated just because we don't have everything together for planning the later stages.

>Which would have to come from Lily
On that topic I'm not sure she'd be a goldmine of intel because Odin's been holding his cards close to his chest the whole war; Circe would probably be better since she actually fought him at the Einzberns' tower (not opposed to checking with Lily though). Someone else mentioned that we'd also want to do some independent research (ourselves or K-hime) on his publicly-known weaknesses.

>>4089693
>his publicly-known weaknesses
Blind in one eye, huge wolves

>>4089821
hit spear with sword

>>4089881
dies when he's killed

>>4089821
>>4089881
>>4089954
The big brain strats are in, we're ready for Odin whenever Sweets.

...and I'm finally back online!
My apologies for the delay, folks. I've finished the update now, though I've had plenty of writer's block to work through today. I would've gotten it done much earlier, but I just can't seem to focus.

>>4089562
My, has it been that long?

>>4090227
Oh yes, I can see you have this battle all wrapped up, with a bow!

"Well... no," Kōrakuhime concedes, "but I am certain it could be useful in certain circumstances... against large groups of enemies, or... perhaps an isolated foe who could not be struck by any direct attack..." she trails off, fingers nervously playing with the edge of the blanket she's pulled over herself as she looks for another use her Noble Phantasm might have.

"Enough." You get to your feet, making for the door. A glance at your watch informs you that it's nearly ten, and your stomach confirms the surprising amount of time lost since you awoke. "As I said, we'll find some use for it. Now, we've spoken enough of practical things. It's gotten to be rather late in the morning. Let's go down to breakfast, shall we?"

"If you like," the girl replies, looking past you at the door with an unenthusiastic expression. "...but give me a moment to dress, please."

"Of course." With a nod, you step out of the room, to wait in the hall as Kōrakuhime composes herself once more and dresses in her human attire. You can hear movement downstairs more distinctly now than before. Good, the maids are well about their business, then. Stretching your attention further, you can hear or feel the presence of each of the manor's other occupants: Ayaka and Hecate, carrying on their soft-spoken discussion of magic; Adelheid, slumped in a recliner as she recaptures the previous night's missed sleep; Odin, keeping his own brooding counsel alone in his guest bedroom; Arturia, sullenly following her enforced coworkers about; all around you, the sounds and signs of a day's peaceful beginning in a house more accustomed to late nights than early mornings can be observed. For a moment, you can't help wishing that such prosaic lethargy could persist, and the War be put off indefinitely. For all the satisfaction there is to be had in battle, peace is not without its merits.

As you're musing on this, you're surprised to see Futodoki padding into view. With his customary hidden presence and silent motion, you hadn't noticed him until he was immediately before you; though your being lost in thought doubtless accounts for the lapse somewhat. "Ah, Futodoki," you say, greeting him cordially. "You slipped away from me earlier; pressing business to attend to?"

"Not so much," the nekomata answers through a yawn. "I saw enough, so I went for a nap on the roof. Morning sun is fine for that, you know. How'd your discussion with the airhead go, then? Did she make you champion of the world's rabbits?"

You let out a rueful chuckle, shaking your head as you say "Unfortunately, no. It seems I'll have to convince her of my innate nobility and worthiness before she gives me whatever sort of blessing it is she's able to provide. Even so," you continue, with an equanimous shrug, "she's now helping Ayaka with her magical studies, so I can't say she seems an entirely useless creature."

"Hmmm..." Futodoki's posture takes on a pensive look as he makes a contemplative noise. "Maybe so," he says at length, "but I wouldn't summon any more deities if I were you. That one's so weak she's not much trouble, but even as she is her being around puts me on edge. You get any bigger fish of that kind, and if you take my advice you'll throw them back straightaway."

"I'm sure that Gods and Goddesses can be difficult to handle, my experience with Hecate this morning has shown that," you agree, "but what sets you so against them? I should think you'd be used to living in their presence, being from the Realm of Imaginary Numbers."

"Oh, I certainly am," Futodoki agrees, a sardonic note in his voice. "That's why I say you shouldn't bring any more into your life. As a rule, Gods are arrogant, selfish, whimsical, petty, and above all powerful. Get under their feet, and you'll regret it. I avoid them as much as possible back home, and the best thing about this world is the lack of them."

"Indeed," you reply, musing on the topic. "I'll certainly bear your advice in mind, Futodoki. Thank you for the consideration."

"Sure," the cat replies laconically, before shifting the topic. "Say, did you give those maids of yours orders to get any food together for me? I'm getting pretty hungry."

Somehow it strikes you as comical that even as a phantasmal beast and summoned familiar, your housecat still wants feeding by the servants. You'd expected him to go out and hunt his food, somehow. Stifling your mirth, you reply, "I don't believe I have, no; but I'm sure no-one would be averse to your taking your breakfast at the same time we do."

Just then, the conversation is cut short by the emergence of Kōrakuhime, stepping out of her bedroom in the red dress and ponytail which make up her favored choice of human disguise, all traces of her former embarrassment gone. "Thank you for waiting, Saber-san," she says, discarding her archaic dialect and carefully spacing each word to give herself enough time to speak without the irregular pauses that ordinarily characterize her speech. "Shall we go and have our breakfast?" You nod, and in a moment the two of you fall into step, walking side-by-side down the corridor. After a few steps pass in a silence which seems to weigh on her, Kōrakuhime asks, "What will we be having for breakfast, then, Saber-san?"

"I'm afraid I can't say," you answer with a shrug. "I haven't spoken to the maids yet this morning, and I was just in conversation with Futodoki here while waiting for you. I'm sure they've prepared something delicious for us, however."

"Oh, assuredly," Kōrakuhime replies acidly. "Some fine German breakfast, I do not doubt."

"But I ought to ask you something," you interject, redirecting the topic from Kōrakuhime's culinary stiffness. "I recalled it when you stepped out looking that way. Would you like to reveal your identity, now that my nature is no longer a secret from Liliesviel?"

"Pardon me?" Kōrakuhime stops in her tracks and gives you a look of confusion so complete that you're almost inclined to think it a feigned exaggeration. Then, after a moment, she blinks and collects herself. "Ah, yes, of course, it did seem from your toast last night that the girl must have been aware," she continues. "If you have kept my identity a secret while revealing your own, I should thank you. Still, I think you're right; there's no more call for it to remain a secret now."

"Oh, good," Futodoki chimes in with satisfaction. "In that case, I won't have to resume that useless cat form." Indeed, though you've reached the entrance to the dining room he remains in his eight-limbed body. Kōrakuhime, by contrast, shows no particular desire to return to her inhuman form. Perhaps, you suppose, she intends to surprise your housemates with the revelation during breakfast.

These thoughts are cut off as you enter the dining room and discover, to your surprise, that Liliesviel is already seated at the table, enjoying a pre-breakfast cup of tea with Circe standing just behind. She must have been attended on again by her maids since you left her, since there's no sign in her clothing or hair of the disarray that should have been caused by sleeping in them. Circe's appearance, too, is remarkable. Liliesviel has compelled her to put on one of the conservative maid outfits Stachel and Stengel wear, and the order is evidently highly disagreeable to your former Servant; she wears an expression no more friendly to her Master than that which typically adorns Arturia's features.

"Alberich!" she exclaims warmly as you enter, "There you are! I was wondering when you'd decide to join us. If you'd waited much longer, Stachel would have collected you along with the others. Stengel is just putting the finishing touches on our breakfast now."

"In that case, my timing really is perfect," you agree, taking a seat.

As you do so, Liliesviel notices Futodoki, and her eyes widen in shock before gleaming with excitement. "Oh my goodness!" she exclaims, hopping out of her chair to rush over and get a closer look at the animal. "What sort of creature are you?" she asks him delightedly, reaching out without restraint to run her fingers through his fur.

"A nekomata," you answer, "my familiar, Futodoki. I believe you may have seen him before, when he took on the appearance of an ordinary cat; but if you wish to ask him more, you ought to do so in Japanese. I believe it's the only language he speaks."

"Eh?" Liliesviel lets out a startled cry, and whips her hand back as if stung. "It's intelligent?" Then, shifting to Japanese, she asks Futodoki, "Can you speak?"

"I can, yes," the cat answers dryly, "and throw understanding into the bargain, if you don't try to talk with me in a foreign tongue. Has Alberich told you what I am, then?"

Liliesviel purses her lips at this impertinent reply, drawing away from the cat and standing up to face you instead. "Now I know why you named him that," she comments, returning to her mother tongue. "You haven't trained him at all, have you?"

"No, I suppose not," you say. "I find his commentary amusing. Regard him as a piece of entertainment, and perhaps his words won't sting you as readily." As you speak, Circe pours a second cup of tea for you, never losing her sullen expression though the movements of her hands betray no sign of reluctance or difficulty. You pause for a moment to sample it, at which point Futodoki takes the opportunity to live up to his name by leaping up to stand on the seat of the chair next to you.

"While we're on the topic of my introduction, and breakfast," he says, addressing you from his new perch, "I think I'll call in that reward you promised me, Alberich. I'd like to try seeing what this world of yours is like for someone in a human body, since it seems so well set-up for you. Usually that's not something a summoner would want a yōkai doing, though. So, you mind letting me have my way and eat at your table?"

>[ ] Allow Futodoki to take on a human form.

>[ ] Ask that he request something else for his reward; to have another humanoid around the place might begin to strain its capacity, and his present form suits your purposes well.

>[ ] Say something else. (Write in)

>>4090293
>>[ ] Allow Futodoki to take on a human form.
Hmm...

>>4090293
>[ ] Allow Futodoki to take on a human form.

>>4090293
>[ ] Allow Futodoki to take on a human form.
inb4 girl form

>>4090293
>>[ ] Allow Futodoki to take on a human form.

>>4090319
>inb4 girl form
Inb4 loli form.

>>4090338
>Inb4 loli form.
inb4 futa lolibaba form

>>4090339
You go sit in a corner.

>>4090308
Oh? You're not angry about something in this update? What a wonderful surprise!

>>4090319
It's a mystery, isn't it? What could Futodoki's human form possibly be like?

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>>4090404
>What could Futodoki's human form possibly be like?
?

>>4090293
>[ ] Allow Futodoki to take on a human form.
Good stuff

>>4090293
>[X] Allow Futodoki to take on a human form.
What could pawsibly go wrong?

>>4090293
>[ ] Allow Futodoki to take on a human form.
cat eared person mode engage

>>4090293
>[ ] Allow Futodoki to take on a human form.
Damn. That guy who said we were surrounded by catty women is a prophet.

So is there any useful info in this update we can work with?
Futodoki being afraid of gods is interesting. Think there's anything to it? Should we stop with the summoning?

>>4091502
I think he will not appreciate in the slightest bringing back the AotG.
Personally, I say we keep summoning, its pretty cool and could be useful for upgrades like Sweets said once

"If you'd like to take on the form of a human, by all means do so," you say, nodding. For the most part it makes no difference to you what form Futodoki takes, though you can't deny that a part of you is curious what sort of person the nekomata would choose to emulate in his appearance.

"Great, I appreciate it. Well then." So saying, Futodoki leaps off the chair, his form running and shifting as he moves, becoming for a few moments a flat, amorphous shadow in the air. By the time his feet touch the ground, however, his transformation is complete, and an arrogant-looking man with black hair, red eyes with slitted pupils, cat-ears, delicately handsome features, and a truly bizarre costume stands before you. Futodoki's clothing can best be described as the most garish example of archaic dress you've ever seen. The outermost layer, which reaches to just below his waist, is a loose-fitting royal blue hosode, woven with with golden thread forming a the outlines of endless twisting clouds of smoke. Worn below this is a floor-length kimono of bright yellow silk, patterned with numerous multicolored flowers. The double-layered outfit is tied with an obi of a blue so deep as to be almost black, which color is divided by alternating diagonal stripes of red and gold.

Futodoki's bizarre appearance doesn't end with his clothing, however; he carries two swords, also. The longer, on which he rests his hand, is an overlong katana that reaches from the floor to his chest, with a hilt decorated in black and gold, a square tsuba of what appears to be red lacquered wood, and a sheath covered in diagonal black and gold stripes. The second blade, a wakizashi tucked into his obi, is just as strange, with a jade hilt and tsuba and a sheath of solid gold. The excessive patterning even seems to have extended to Futodoki's fur, for the two tails that now stretch down to his ankles now have assumed the ringed pattern of a tiger's tail, with red in place of the tiger's orange. For all this care put into the rest of his appearance, however, the hair atop Futodoki's head is unremarkable. It falls just past his ears, unstyled and messy in the way of a long-haired cat's fur.

"Well?" he asks, a smug tone in his voice. "What do you think?"

>[ ] "You certainly have taken on a human form," you answer flatly, ignoring the peculiarities of costume that you might move on to other matters.

>[ ] "Just how did you come to assemble that bizarre ensemble?" you ask, shock heavy in your voice.

>[ ] "Oh, it suits you very well," you reply with just a trace of sarcasm. "Your coat was rather too plain before."

>[ ] Say something else.

...and here is the first post of tonight's faster session! I'll be calling the vote in an hour.

>>4092116
>[ ] "Just how did you come to assemble that bizarre ensemble?" you ask, shock heavy in your voice.

>>4092116
>[ ] "Elaborate," you reply seriously, "but not excessive, although perhaps four colors are too many. I would have gone with blue, red and gold myself."

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>>4092116
>[X] "You certainly have taken on a human form," you answer flatly, ignoring the peculiarities of costume that you might move on to other matters.
Either the first or third options fit.

>>4092116
>[ ] Say something else.
>I hadn't taken you for a swordsman. Have you trained using both at once, by any chance?

>>4092116
>[ ] "You certainly have taken on a human form," you answer flatly, ignoring the peculiarities of costume that you might move on to other matters.

And some of you folks thought he was going to transform into a catgirl.
No, although this quest certainly is full of female characters (which I feel is somewhat justified considering the eroge source material) not everyone is going to become a heroine just because. Alberich needs some male company, right?
Plus, this way if Futodoki should happen to wind up fighting Matsuda it'll be a showdown between a Nobunaga's Ambition-style bishounen and a Romance of the Three Kingdoms-style bishounen!

>>4092116
>[ ] "You certainly have taken on a human form," you answer flatly, ignoring the peculiarities of costume that you might move on to other matters.

>>4092132
>reaction image
Not a fan of the kabukimono look, anon?

"You certainly have taken on a human form," you answer flatly, a slight quirk of one eyebrow your only reaction to the costume's peculiarities. Futodoki deflates a little at your blase response, but resumes his seat without pressing the issue. It's obvious to any observer you're not interested in discussing the details of his transformation, after all. The others at the table are more expressive, if less vocal. Liliesviel stares at Futodoki in unguarded shock, Circe appears to be fighting to restrain her mirth well enough to remain silent, and Kōrakuhime examines Futodoki's appearance with an expression of surprising approval. For a moment you expect her to follow his example and transform herself now, but her silence confirms the girl's lack of desire to do so.

After a few moments, Liliesviel overcomes her surprise and returns to you, remarking with a smile, "Your followers really do only become stranger and stranger, don't they, Alberich?"

"They certainly seem to," you agree with an ambivalent tone, "though one could hardly call a phantasmal beast mundane in the first place. But tell me, what's roused you again? I thought you might sleep for quite some time, after I left you dozing."

Liliesviel returns a tinkling giggle to your question, before saying, "I only needed a little more sleep, you know. Too much and I'd lose the chance to spend my day with you! I couldn't have that, especially since I've been hoping you'll take me out today."

"Indeed? Are you eager to make a return to the amusement park, then, or were there other sights in Tokyo calling to you?" you ask, smiling unconsciously at the memory of your former day-trip with the girl.

"Not that way," Liliesviel replies with a slight pout. "I'd like to go out and kill Emiya and his family with you today! With everyone in the city unconscious there's not much reason to maintain the requirement of battling at night, and I would love to show our enemies what you and I can do as a," for a moment she falters, blushing as she says in a quieter tone, "as a couple."

That's a very different kind of suggestion. In spite of the warmth you feel at Liliesviel's touching display of her affection for you, you find your face and tone growing more serious as your mind turns to the subject of battle. "You feel we should strike the Emiya family quickly, then? Is there any specific reason for this change in priorities?"

"I know you said you'd go after Emiya last for the sake of your revenge," Liliesviel replies in a concerned tone, carefully searching your expression for signs of displeasure, "but I truly don't like the way they've been drawing near the Grail. It's true that they haven't done anything yet, but I don't feel we should wait too long. No matter how much more powerful than they we may be, I don't think it's wise to leave a group cunning enough to survive the previous Heaven's Feel to their own devices."

>[ ] Agree with Liliesviel's plan. Whether they're a serious danger or it turns out that you're only humoring her to assuage concern, from your present standpoint the Emiyas are your most immediate enemies.

>[ ] Hold fast to your original plan. Only once Assassin and William Harris have been dealt with will you turn your eyes to the target of your revenge.

>[ ] Agree with Liliesviel that the Emiyas need to be dealt with, but put the task off until night.

>[ ] Say something else. (Write in)

>>4092392
>>[ ] Agree with Liliesviel's plan. Whether they're a serious danger or it turns out that you're only humoring her to assuage concern, from your present standpoint the Emiyas are your most immediate enemies.
Time to capture Medusa and beat up Shirou.

>>4092392
>[ ] Agree with Liliesviel's plan. Whether they're a serious danger or it turns out that you're only humoring her to assuage concern, from your present standpoint the Emiyas are your most immediate enemies.
Fuck yeah.

>>4092392
>[ ] Agree with Liliesviel's plan. Whether they're a serious danger or it turns out that you're only humoring her to assuage concern, from your present standpoint the Emiyas are your most immediate enemies.
nothing beats a slice-of-life, relaxing peaceful moments of your existence that has purely been that of constant war than swatting some flies around your golden cup

>>4092392
>[ ] Agree with Liliesviel's plan. Whether they're a serious danger or it turns out that you're only humoring her to assuage concern, from your present standpoint the Emiyas are your most immediate enemies.

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Sorry, folks. I just got a call and have to get offline to deal with a work issue. If I'm lucky I may be able to get back before midnight to do another update, but likely not.
If you don't here from me again tonight, the next update will be tomorrow as normal for the daily schedule.
Sorry again that my plan for hourly updates didn't work out, but I hope you did enjoy two back-to-back short updates at least a bit.

>>4092392
>While neutralizing them should be a good use of our time, they appeared to possibly have some kind of connection to Assassin that I’d like to investigate before we go after them. As Assassin seemed to have no issue ruining the Grail War’s outcome by sinking us the other day it’s quite plausible that he’s cooperating with Emiya in some form or another. And if he is one of their confederates it would be a nuisance to have to deal with him before discerning who his master is. But if we can identify his master then we’ll force him to either sit idly by as we kill them or stand and fight us openly.
>Fortunately the list of candidates who could be his master is rather short now, and I believe there’s a good chance it will be one of the meddlers sent from the Clocktower. Tohsaka Rin or one of the Edelfelts would be likely bets.

I wouldn’t rule out the overseer either but there are far fewer connections from what we know.
We could probably just nab Rin and Luvia via teleportation and search them for command seals if we wanted to.

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>>4092394
>Time to capture Medusa and beat up Shirou.
No, beat up Medusa and capture Shirou.

>>4092394
>wanting another crazy female servant in our posse
Can we please just stop the collectathon?

>>4092837
No.
This is an integral part of our plans.

>>4092842
Your plans, maybe. This character bloat is getting to be a problem already. There's what, 10 people living in one house? It's absurd.

>>4092846
We got Alberich who doesn't count due to being the main character.
Ayaka
Our Catboy
Tsubaki
Circe
Adelheid
Saber
Lily
Her Maids (barely count as one)
Odin (to be killed.)

It's fine.
It's a big house.
We can always have Circe build a sub-basement

>>4092858
I forgot Hecate, but oh well.

>>4092858
Too many people.
And Medusa, by the way, adds nothing. Cybele is irrelevant because we have so much raw power on one team; Pegasus is irrelevant because we have Excalibur Morgan; Bellerophon is better as our NP than as hers; her fighting skill is inferior to our own; even the convenience of an extra minion is unnecessary.

>>4092500
What about the time thing? How did Rin/Luvia have Assassin here while they were in Europe?

>>4092915
I'd have to go back and review when Assassin started showing up vs. when Rin and Luvia could have gotten to Tokyo because that was so long ago I got nothing in terms of memory of the finer details there. I would guess Rin got here first then lied about when she got here to cover for making preparations like summoning Assassin and having him set up his bad luck zone.
I can't get over how Assassin had no qualms with wrecking the Grail unless he's connected to the Clocktower faction that wants to do exactly that. Harris' bossman and Lumenza's bosslady both made sure their agents had Servants so it would seem a bit strange for Zelretch to assume his agents would get by fine without one.

>>4092912
>Medusa adds nothing
Neither does Tsubaki now.

Also you're underestimating Bloodfort, which actually CAN power us up.
And Breaker Gorgon.
And Cybele, strangely.

We can do what we did to Saber to her and get a copy of her skills we can take anyway.
Cybele is actually broken.

>>4092915
I mean, they could've sent Assassin ahead to reduce suspicion.
Not many people in Tokyo who wish to see Alberich suffer.
Because he is almost totally unknown.

Unless it's the ghost of Kirei Kotomine come to haunt us.
Doesn't affections of the holy grail give other people shitty luck?

>>4092929
Regardless, we know SOMEONE has Assassin's command seals, so identifying and capturing that person for "Kikuko maneuver 2: mind-control boogaloo" should be top priority.

>>4092929
You don't have to summon your servant in Japan.
In fact, you're normally better off not doing so and summoning them in a place where they are famous.

>>4092931
>Tsubaki adds nothing
>plan totally needs Tsubaki's magic
You fucking kidding me?

>>4092937
>you're normally better off not doing so and summoning them in a place where they are famous
So the fame-bonus comes from the location of the summon and not the location of the Grail Warzone? Fascinating, seems like an exploit people would want to always use but rarely do.
Thank god Luvia didn't summon Simo Hayha in Finland then. It'd be GG a long time ago.

>>4092940
I said *now*
You can't honestly believe that we couldn't just explain the basics to either Circe or Hecate and not have them replicate it in short order.

Oh wait, we don't have to do that either because Circe can forge command spells.

>>4092937
So why did everyone except the Einzberns summon in Japan last time then? Like Bazett came FROM IRELAND to summon her Irish hero onsite. Don't you have to break the rules or something?

>>4092947
>Circe can forge command spells
Wait, when? Big if true, I thought she just transplanted them from the masters she defeated.

>>4092953
I guess most people don't know you can do it. The founding families only know because of their experiments with Heroic Spirits, maybe?

>>4092947
>Have a girl who doesn't want us getting anyone new in our life or a girl who doesn't want to help us copy Tsubaki's magic
That's a fucking shitty idea. Circe steals command seals anyway and the CS option wouldn't let us take Medusa's skills or turn her into lolidusa.

>>4092953
I imagine only the Einzbern are aware of it.
Maybe the Matou too, but worms didn't care enough.
Tohsaka might also know, but Tokiomi considered things in the bag anyway thanks to Gil and Rin was a child.

>>4092957
Medea could do it, only makes sense for Circe being able to manage it too.

>>4092929
>Assassin had no qualms with wrecking the Grail
The earthquake wasn't real though. The grail wasn't at risk. Assassin uses illusions to fuck with us. Isn't that pretty obvious?

>>4092961
Medea specifically forges some spells for Kuzuki.
Not sure why she doesn't do the same for herself to use on Saber.
Too much fun abusing her I guess.

Here's something else to consider. We know that the grail is gonna steal a large part of our power,most likely the energy we've stolen from other servants. Shouldn't we try to absorb even more to hopefully not be as weak after the grail is filled?

>>4092974
That sounded like less us incarnating and more us getting a Bad End courtesy of Angra.

>>4092974
Just... don't use it. In the dream we were drinking from it when it stole our power.
If Sakura can support Medusa and Shirou by herself, Lily can support us and Circe with some help from the leylines. No need for the Grail

>>4092985
I have no idea why we'd even use it unless we knew it was safe.
Getting cucked by manjew was exactly why we didn't kill Seibah.

>>4092970
>Medea specifically forges some spells for Kuzuki.
Her own command spells, after her first Master died. Sounds like a special case to me.

>>4092985
Or it was just a dream, and we'd be losing our chance for the third magic for absolutely no reason. Also imagine what a lame ending that would be for Awakening Mirror. Have some balls anon.

>>4092985
>>4093000
So is any of us going to address the very likely possibility that Tsubaki was making all that dream shit up to cover for the fact that we walked in on her getting off to our H-scene and she was still scared embarrassed and turned on?
That's what that scene looked like to me.

>>4093004
I think it's likely that she did have the dream and used it as an excuse. I doubt she'd just make it up completely.

>>4093004
It was too detailed to be something she made up on the spot.

>>4093000
>Good goy! Fall for the ruse! Prepare Alberich for Inverse Moon!
t. Sweets

>>4093015
Is Inverse Moon even still happening? Sweets said recently that he's doing an OC quest next.

>>4093015
Anon, I never use ruses. What are you talking about?

>>4093018
When I say that my next quest will be OC, I mean my next quest after Alberich's story is over. That's true no matter how many names Alberich's story has while it happens.
That said, whether Inverse Moon ends up being written does depend on what ending you get in Awakening Mirror.

>>4093035
Oh great.
Time to enter paranoialand.

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>>4093047
Elaborate, please.

>>4093057
Well, now we need to figure out the "good" or "true" ending where it might all come down to a single choice otherwise the story simply ends in the least satisfying manner.
The opposite of fun.
I mean, I despise the idea of losing all our power at the end of this also. Hopefully that isn't actually your plan because fuck would that not just make it all for nothing.

We should probably see what the Emiyas have found out before killing them.

>>4093066
>We should probably see what the Emiyas have found out before killing them.

>Listen guys, before we come to blows believe me when I say your concerns about the Grail haven't fallen on deaf ears. So before we try to kill each other maybe we can behave like rational adults to get a better understanding of the situation.

>>4093066
>otherwise the story simply ends in the least satisfying manner
Well, that's a little pessimistic. I would've hoped you had some faith in my ability to write a satisfying conclusion without going on into another story arc, if things play out in such a way that one becomes impossible.

>>4093086
For me, I've been excited to see what Alberich could do outside of a Grail War since the start of Awakening Mirror. Not getting to see that would be pretty depressing.

>>4093086
Unless I'm incorrectly assuming that Inverse Moon wouldn't be a grail war

>>4093086
This war was always a means to an end unlike the Akeldama war where the goal was it's end.
To have it conclude here would inherently be disappointing.
It has always felt like the middle chapter to the story.

>>4093083
Nothing wrong with pre-fight banter.
We could kill them any time we wish.

>>4093083
We already know what will happen. They'll say that reaching the grail will be bad. Lily will disagree. We've already had that discussion.

>>4093134
Then we just get rid of Lily for a few minutes and ask again. I imagine they'll be able to give more information when they aren't panicking because Odin just effortlessly annihilated the previous big bad.

>>4093185
>just get rid of Lily for a few minutes and ask again
Yeah, that'd surely go over well.

>>4093083
Honestly do you think they have found anything out?
Seemed like their MO was to just assume the Grail was fucked because it went so bad last time.

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>>4093386
Lily said they've been poking about but haven't done anything yet. Here's the thing though, we didn't get much of an explanation beyond
>it's the path to the Root that's contaminated not the grail itself
with Lily immediately arguing
>no you fags it's gonna work this time for sure

We could have them show us their equations, measured data, and notes that support their hypothesis. If they haven't actually done their homework and have nothing to show us besides "muh angry manjew pls believe us" then I'm okay slaughtering them without further deliberation.

>>4093538
>If I show you the evidence, it would weaken my argument! B-Because of mystery, you know?

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>>4093543
>Very well then, your adherence to secrecy against all common sense has sealed your fate