Cipher Holy Grail War - Wave 5, Day 2 (Berserker vs Caster)
AGRAVAIN: "…There's enemies approaching."
MORGAN: "I can sense them, Agravain. It's that Berserker."
MORGAN: "Hm. Well, handle them. I'll provide magical support. Go on, show our Masters just how strong you are."
The Berserkers approached the base, stopping as a figure clad in black armor stepped out into the open.
BERSERKER: "You are not the witch… but I can sense it. Blood on your hands. Cruelty. You thrive on the suffering of others."
AGRAVAIN: "…Is that so? Is that your impression of me?"
AGRAVAIN: "Very well. Then these iron hands will rip you to shreds without further consideration."
A clash of blades! Caster versus Berserker! Masters, support your Servants!
CASTER (Morgan le Fay)
BERSERKER (The Unknown Soldier)
Voting ended onApr 18, 2025
Morgan le Fay is unharmed!
The Unknown Soldier has 2/4 Health!
The current boosts are:
Morgan le Fay: +8%
The Unknown Soldier: +14%
Berserker is surging! They're attacking two targets at once!
SKILLS:
MORGAN LE FAY
TRAIT: If the Caster decides to play defensively, and are attacked by another Servant, they get +4% to their combat poll results and do not suffer the ambush demerit.
TRAIT 2: If they pick a Servant that isn’t targeted by anyone else, they get +5% to their combat poll results, and cannot be ambushed when Playing Defensively.
Witch of the Lake (A Rank) - When 'Playing Defensively', the Caster-trait score boost is increased +5%, and you cannot be caught off guard. Demerits (including those from Noble Phantasms) against Morgan are reduced in effectiveness by 3%, and she gains a +3% boost in one-on-one battles.
Reciprocated Slaughter (Scheming) (EX Rank) - When involved in a Free-for-All, gain an immunity to non-Noble Phantasm demerits, and inflict a -5% demerit on opposing Servants.
If Morgan gains 1st place in the Free-for-All by a margin of 10% or more, inflict a -3% demerit to your foes for their next round and gain a +3% boost for your next combat round.
Lordless Camelot (EX) - …The total effect seems unclear, but the witch-queen seems satisfied with it. Right now, it adds an extra +1% to Playing Defensively, and she gains the 'Assassin'-Trait passive…!
THE UNKNOWN SOLDIER:
TRAIT: If engaged in a 1-on-1 fight with another Servant, they get +5% to their final combat poll results, and when engaged in a Free-for-All, they inflict a -2% demerit on their enemies as well.
True Name Discernment (Warlord) (D) - An aggression and awareness targeted towards those who commanded others to their deaths. When fighting against specific enemies, their boost changes.
The 'tier' a Servant falls into is revealed upon engaging with them the first time. In a Free-for-All, this does not stack- only the highest boost is applied.
The Berserkers seem to show aggravation towards both Caster and Archer, though Saber is not safe from their ire either…
Madness Enhancement (Distributed) (A) - Each time a body is lost (as in, when damage is taken), they gain a +3% boost to their damage. They also get 1 more 'health' than other Servants… however, they cannot use Command Spells to restore health. (Current Boost: +6%)
Oblivion Correction (False) (B) - War never ends. When directed to 'Play Defensively', they will instead refuse, and attack a random opponent. However, their constant battle-vigilance means that they are completely immune to the 'Ambush' demerit. There is also a chance that they can 'surge'- their four bodies splitting to attack four enemies at once, though this also means four chances of taking damage. This 'incessant assault' can even disrupt the natural order of things- even invading full Free-for-All battles!
The Summoning Circle hums with immense power-- you can call forth a RIDER! Who responds to your call?
Summoning Polls for the ’Cipher Holy Grail War’ close at the end of the week (3/21)! You decide who represents the Rider-Class!
Decide between the rags-to-riches princess Cinderella, the prince Captain Nemo, and the warrior-queen Boudica!
Vote HERE to join the Rider Crew!
Servant Details:
Cinderella:
A Phantom Spirit of the princess 'Cinderella', the main heroine a folk tale about an unfortunate girl who receives help from a fairy in order to fulfill her dreams and goes from being an ash-covered handmaiden to a beautiful princess. Kind-hearted, yet unwilling to yield in the face of seemingly impossible odds. Due to her nature as a Phantom Spirit, she's been fused with a Heroic Spirit, or more specifically, an Anti-Hero.
Captain Nemo:
The Phantom Spirit of Captain Nemo, the enigmatic captain of the novel 'Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Seas'. Resolute, quiet, stern-hearted, yet a bit more compassionate than one would expect. Due to his nature as a Phantom Spirit, he's been fused with an ancient sea god, increasing his command over the seas and nautical combat. As a remnant of an 'important summon' engraved in his Saint Graph, he can split his being into multiple, weaker essences that serve as his 'crew'.
Boudica:
The Heroic Spirit of the Iceni Queen, Boudica. As Rome conquered Britannia, Queen Boudica was one of the stalwart warriors that refused to lay down to imperial rule, and rebelled against the Roman Empire- rallying together Britannia to fight against the invading forces, and being dubbed the 'Queen of Victory'. Even though her rebellion ended in defeat, her bravery and valor earned her respect in the hearts and minds of the United Kingdom- a name synonymous with brilliant rebellion.
The Summoning Circle hums with immense power-- you can call forth a ASSASSIN! Who responds to your call?
Summoning Polls for the ’Cipher Holy Grail War’ close at the end of the week (3/21)! You decide who represents the Assassin-Class!
Decide between the poisoner Locusta, the yokai Osakabehime, and the divine weapon Enkidu!
Vote HERE to join the Assassin Crew!
Servant Details:
Locusta:
One of the world's most famous poisoners, serving under the Emperor Nero Claudius as a favored poison-maker. Found by Agrippina, Locusta was allegedly involved in the murders of several high-ranking Roman politicians, and was executed once Nero had been ousted from the Roman Empire. High-strung and eccentric, her interests are mushrooms, mushrooms, and more mushrooms… a topic that she can speak incessantly about, and she has such an odd demeanor that she can offer someone incredibly dangerous poison to consume with no ill intent at all.
Osakabehime:
The princess and enshrined deity of Himeji Castle, who haunts the castle as a mischievous spirit that scares away all those who try to enter. A powerful yokai who, for reasons unknown, is currently not manifesting as a 'fox spirit', but instead as a 'bat spirit'. She has a shut-in personality despite seeming like an elegant princess at first, preferring to be left alone rather than deal with other people, meaning that the majority of her effort comes regarding activities she can do inside- and activities that involve keeping people away from her so that she can continue to do what she likes inside.
Enkidu:
A being of clay created by the gods, and eternal friend to the King of Heroes, Gilgamesh. This is Enkidu taken from a period of their life when they proudly stood shoulder to shoulder with Gilgamesh, fighting massive beasts and cementing themselves and the demigod-king's role as a pair of mighty warriors-- before the tragedy of death's curse came to claim Enkidu. A bit more wild, a tad more brash, and a little bit more excitable by the idea of combat. A weapon of the gods, fine-tuned and sharpened despite their arrogance.
The Summoning Circle is preparing to beckon forth a RIDER-Class Servant. Which of these heroes seem to resonate with you?
Argos, Phantom fusion of Odysseus' trusted hound and Hera's guardian giant.
Huang Feihu, Prince of Wucheng and renowned military leader of the Shang Dynasty
Cinderella, fate-defying storybook heroine (with some help from faerie magic).
Red Hare... I mean, 'Lu Bu'. Fearsome military general and warlord.
Taigong Wang, mystical war tactician and divine rebellion leader.
Boudica, the brutal, warring Queen of the Iceni.
Captain Nemo, legendary seafaring captain of the Nautilus.
Voting ended onMar 20, 2025
The TOP 3 results of this poll will move on to the final round of Summoning Polls for the Rider Crew!
[ RIDER, the Heroic Spirit of the Mount. These Servants are generally famed for riding mounts, either for the purposes of conquest or exploration, during their lifetimes. This generally means that these are Servants who are captains, tacticians, generals, adventurers, and more- however, in some cases even the mounts themselves can manifest as Heroic Spirits. ]
The Summoning Circle is preparing to beckon forth a ASSASSIN-Class Servant. Which of these heroes seem to resonate with you?
Locusta, hedonistic poisoner of Emperor Nero Claudius.
Charles-Henri Sanson, royal executioner during the French Revolution.
Enkidu, wandering beast-man and great warrior of Mesopotamia.
Hassan of the Shining Star, esteemed member of the Hashshashin.
Hagen, the traitorous slayer of the hero Siegfried.
Osakabehime, the terrifying yokai princess of Himeji Castle.
Kiichi Hougen, divine tengu teacher and warrior monk.
Voting ended onMar 20, 2025
The TOP 3 results of this poll will move on to the final round of Summoning Polls for the Assassin Crew!
[ ASSASSIN, the Heroic Spirit of Assassination. Heroic Spirits that are most often defined by the trail of blood they left behind, intentionally or not. These Servants are more often defined by their agility and ability to act undetected, not faring well in direct confrontations without careful preparation. With the proper preparation however, they become incredibly deadly adversaries. ]
I hope you all are faring well. If you've recieved this message, that means that you've become a very special candidate for a very special ritual! The Cipher Holy Grail War! I am your Overseer, @lapithae, and I hope with my heart of hearts that this ritual proves both successful and enlightening.
Now, I understand you may be skeptical. Within magus society, the concept of the 'Holy Grail War' has been rather… controversial. A hoax, some would call it. Some strange esoteric ritual that promises an item that may or may not exist-- but I assure you, friends, this Holy Grail does exist! And you can win some of its immense magical power!
This ritual is simple. Easy. Back to basics. Seven Servants are to be summoned to fight for the Grail. Saber, Archer, Lancer, Berserker, Rider, Caster, Assassin. There will be an Extra-Class Servant presiding, but if things go smoothly it will be like they won't even exist, and they have no desire for the Grail itself. You will be in command of these familiars as they fight for your sake, and your splendid reward.
However, you may be asking… if multiple magi, much more than the standard seven, are participating… what is the reward? 'We cannot all share a Grail, that'd be ridiculous!'-- I can hear you saying. And I agree. The logistics don't add up in that sense. However, I've come up with a compromise.
Each member of the victorious team will receive a fragment of the Grail. Now, do not fear, that is a great reward in and of itself. The Grail itself possesses near-infinite magical energy, and thus even a piece of it should sate your greatest dreams or kickstart your magecraft research easily. Certainly it won't get you to the Root in a snap, but it will provide you with wisdom, power, and whatever else you could desire. And due to the nature of this War, no physical harm will befall you!
Now, if you wish to slay each other for the other fragments on your own time, that's fine as well. I am only your Overseer in the context of this war.
Regardless, the goal is simple. Participate, win, and gain an immensely powerful artifact. Certainly, even for the most skeptical of magi, you should be a little intrigued, no?
The magecraft of this ritual is driven by 'Approbation', or to put it more simply, your favor. Your favor is channeled into magical energy, which in turn is funneled into the ritual and your Servants. Forgive me if I don't go into much further detail about the inner workings, I'm not keen on giving my secrets away so freely. Of course, things aren't so cut and dry. Servants possess unique skills, traits, and Noble Phantasms.
You will also be in charge of deciding which of these warriors will be summoned. You will submit what servants you would like to see, and then a lucky few of them will make it onto the Summoning Polls, in which you will vote for which familiar is summoned.
Submit HERE! Submissions will close late Wednesday (3/19), so speak up and speak fast!
So please, rejoice! You stand on the precipice of a revolutionary magical ritual! You are the key to this ritual, so boldly step forward, as now you have a chance to make your greatest desires come true!
Love referring to characters who are never seen without each other as "bonded pairs" like yuuuup. if you put these two in separate cages they're gonna get real sad and anxious and possibly violent too, one of em is biting the bars as we speak. you gotta adopt both of them or none at all, it is encouraged that you take them both. they are most likely to thrive if they stick together. it is easier for them to get used to new environments and situations because they have each other. they do everything together because they love each other so so much. you COULD separate them but it's gonna do a lot of psychological damage and it's gonna lead to a lot of issues and there's a big possibility they'll never be the same again
dededos
prguitarman
kianamaiart
izzy806
tangentwithtanner
