The First Grand Order: Prelude

January 12, 2015 AD, Chaldea Security Organization HQ (The Himalayas), 12:00 PM

Mess Hall: The Master Candidates Gather

Today. Today was the day that they would either save the world...or end it.

A background: The Chaldea Security Organization, an entity seperate from the Magus Association (yet allied with them, for convenience's sake), their one mission is to ensure the future of humanity. To this end, they combined both incredible Magecraft, and the latest in cutting edge technology.

Their projects are legendary. FATE, SHIVA, TRISMEGESTUS, LAPLACE. And many more. For years they have worked tirelessly, and it seemed that they were close to achieving their mission.

However.

Two years ago. The Near Future Observation Lens, SHIVA, detected an anomaly. It could not see beyond the year 2015. After that...extinction. The end of mankind.

Director Olga Marie Animusphere put all of her efforts into finding out why this came to be.

The answer? Seven anomalies, seven distortions in space-time, scattered throughout history. And in each of them...the unmistakable power signature of the Holy Grail.

From that point on, Chaldea began training its Master Candidates, those with the potential to be able to use the Heroic Spirit Summoning Device, FATE.

Their mission was simple. Jump through time. Find the distortions and eliminate them. Save humanity.

It had been two days since the Master Candidates received their Servants, and in merely an hour, they would be using Chaldea's machine to "leyshift" their souls to jump through time. They did not know what to expect. The weight of the world was on their shoulders.

At this moment, the Master Candidates were in Chaldea's mess hall, having what may be their last meal...or at least, that was what the higher-ups were saying.

Speaking of higher ups, Director Olga herself was in the mess hall, sitting on a table away from the others. Next to her was Chaldea's Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Roman.

An hour. They had an hour before they were leavibg 2015. How will they spend this last hour?

Despite the generally heavy atmosphere, Norman Conquest has kept his spirits high.

He kept his "last meal" - please, they would likely get to taste some local delicacies from the time beyond in an original version, no? - relatively light, but nutritious. All the while he focused on a rather unusual iteam - a toy car moving circles around his plate all of its own. Good ol' Dodge Charger from '70, as dashing as always. Despite the item whirling around his food he didn't seem to have trouble keeping it moving with just a fraction of mana.

It was a small training exercise. He has gotten a little rusty while adjusting for FATE system, having little of machinery to work with. Suffice to say, he was pleased to see he still has the thing in himself to move it around as well as he used to.

His Servant... well, he disliked the term. This whole Servant-Master relationship was something he always disliked any time he read things about Grail Wars. Arrogant Magi with no regard for others and subservient heroes now reduced to mere tools? That was nothing he approved of.

Anyway, Rider. Ching Shih. Chinese Pirate. Really, it was convenient he was assigned a Rider. The amount of things they could pull off with some Machina Magic and her ability to command vehicles... granted, she was a sailor rather than a racer, but it's not like he couldn't take a wheel himself. Really, a notion of smashing through, say, a dragon or a cordon of men-at-arms with a old Panzer III was too amusing to pass up.

...assuming he'd find something like this. Here was hoping one of the Grail signatures was during WW 2. If they could kick some Nazi's ass in the meantime, all the better.

...with such weird thoughts, Norman Conquest mentally readied himself for the biggest adventure of his life.

Winda Gusto is sitting at a table with a plate of salmon in front of her and her staff, La Grande Reeze, is leaning against the chair. It is fortunately deactivated for the time being.

The plate of salmon looked relatively untouched and was about to become lukewarm, as she was busy praying to various kamuy in various aspects of her life. These kamuy were part of the Gusto clan tradition from its formation in ages long gone.

She hoped that that the kamuy would give her the guidance and luck to see her through these missions, and allow her see Reeze and Kamui once again. If she bit the dust during these missions, she would let them down. After all, they gave her hope when things were looking very bleak.

After poking at her salmon with a fork a few times, she quietly looked at her Servant, the ever-trusty Archer, Hodr. Both of them worked together because they could use Gulldos as a way for Hodr to snipe his foes and to make a quick getaway before anyone could notice. Also, because they specialize in long distances.

"So, this is the big one. Even with my training, I still don't think I'm ready for this mission. What do you think, friend?"

edited 3rd Oct '15 6:39:10 AM by josh6243

Claire had finished eating within ten minutes, her mind not anywhere near the food she was mechanically shoveling into her mouth.

I'm going to change history. Or make it.

She snuck another glance at the Servant she had been assigned, trying to organize her rather extensive list of questions for Bradamante.

She's part of history, too. I wonder what it's like for her...

The magus swallowed the last bite of food, considered, then looked up, glancing around to see if Bradamante was in earshot. Or looked ready for questions - they only had an hour left, after all. Maybe the Lancer would want to meditate or something?

...maybe I should meditate.

edited 3rd Oct '15 12:50:31 PM by IchigoNeko

"I think you're out of your league, Gusto."

A redheaded magus in blue garb saunters into the cafeteria and takes a seat across from Winda, stroking the her stave.

A waiter came in behind her and place a silver dish in front of her. The cover was lifted to reveal a steaming steak dinner.

"Only the best for the best."

She cuts off a bit a chews it, savoring the taste and texture.

"I'm a bit surprised they admitted you here."

Winda looks over in the direction of the red-haired magus and glares at her. That spoiled brat is part of Chaldea, and she's casually eating good meat without a care in the world. That steak should have gone to a child in need.

If there's one thing that can set off a Gusto is the fact that they're sharing the same space as those greedy as hell water magicians. In fair and just world, those filthy water magicians should all be punished for their crimes of trespassing and vandalizing on sacred land.

"Gishki.... What are you doing here? First, your clan tries to take my clan's homeland, and then you make small talk with me as if nothing's wrong!"

edited 3rd Oct '15 4:41:47 PM by josh6243

"Oh is the upstart trying to upset the uneasy peace we've established?"

She pops another piece of meat in her mouth and chews it smugly.

"I'm here because you're here, Gusto. We simply can't let the likes of your clan take credit for saving the world, now can we?"

Mess Hall

Dullahan, or Rider, as he was currently classified as, looked around the room in astral form, taking care to remain close to where his Master's seat in case she called for him. When he heard voices being raised, Rider paused, and glided closer to the source.

Oh? Even after all these centuries, it seems that family feuds still exist... He thought in mild amusement. Some things don't really change, it seems.

Mess Hall

there came a strange growling sound from the area behind Emilia, or at least that's what it would sound like to everyone else. To Emilia it'd sound like normal words asking a simple question

"Is this person causing you trouble master?"

the black armored form of Berserker/ Lancelot stood behind his master, observing the situation as the effect of 'For Someone's Glory' continuously made him seem to be shrouded in a black aura.

Alba is leaning against the wall, writing inside a very large book. Although there is a table with a modest meal placed nearby for her, she hasn't even so much as touched it. She barely seems concerned with the other Masters there, as eccentric and regal as they are. The bookworm seems duty-bound to continue writing in this book despite the tension so thick in the air you could slice it with a steak knife and eat it with barbecue sauce.

"Family fueds are a historical constant." said Alba in an off-handed fashion to the Rider known as Dullahan. "Countless nations have fallen due to an altercation between families, and it seems mages are as determined to keep that tradition alive as long as possible. It's rather fascinating. You could trace the progress of history just through the way the bloodlines expand and fall if you had a mind to do it."

After writing one last note, Alba quietly shuts the book and tucks her pen behind her ear. With a bit of a wry smile, she adds "Although If it were me, I'd be doing it as a way of mentally preparing myself. There is a rather exciting event about to take place, and we might be one of the first people to ever witness it and come back intact from the experience."

Winda realized the Gishki dirtbag had made a good point. Despite joining Chaldea to bring honor to the Gusto clan and the Ainu as a whole, Winda had to share that glory with the others, which includes the wretched Gishki girl. She sighs and starts eating her lukewarm salmon dinner for once. The salmon is mediocre in comparison to the steak banquet next her.

"You're right," replies an irritated Winda. "This is a team effort. What's that common saying? 'Together, we stand. Divided we fall?'"

Winda briefly looked at the Ignoble Knight^note Lancelot as he appeared. Despite being the Servant of dishonest scum, Winda regards him as a guy who just does his job. A messy job, but a job is a job, regardless. She doesn't pay attention to the gibberish spoken by him, and finishes her salmon dinner.

"Oh don't mind her my Berserker, the Gusto's have never given us much trouble."

She happily finished her steak dinner.

"I'm glad you see things my way, Gusto. Hopefully we can put this little grudge behind us."

2 days ago

Valerie stood infront of the FATE system. In all honesty she couldn't believe what was happening right now. She had been given a rank, and was right now about to Summon a Servant in order to fight. Did she actually do so well in hiding who she was from Chaldea? Or did they know and simply wanted to get her on the front lines as soon as possible.

She didn't know and had no way of knowing at the moment, but even this thought couldn't supress the feeling of anticipation. The air felt charged, and so did she. It was time.

Valerie held out her hand.

“Vivifier”

That one word was the switch, the signal for her body to change from that of a human to a mage. For this moment she would destroy her human form, becoming something much more. Her magic circuts lit up as Prana coursed through them, heading for her arm.

From her fingers streaks of blue entered the magic circle before her, spooling up the FATE systems' mechanism, causing it to glow softly at first. It didn't take long for the light to become unbearable yet Valerie didn't dare look away.

Instead she began her chant.

The FATE system spun faster and faster, getting brighter and sending off palpable waves of force that nearly knocked Valerie off her feet. But she stood her ground until the last, when it all seemed to completely erupt into a pillar of light.

An invisible force burned into the back of her left hand, branding it with the proof of a contract with Servant. She knew instinctively what it was. The only thing left was to see just who or what she had summoned.

Mess Hall

“{You're thinking of doing something really pretentious aren't you?}” Came a voice from no particular direction. It resounded in Claire's mind for only her to hear. Bradamante had chosen to stay in spirit form for the time being.

“{Before you ask, no I can't read minds. But I know the look of someone heading into their first battle. Rookies often think they need to do something important or pay respects or whatever. You want my advice? Do something you would actually like. It may be the last time.}” Bradamante's words were somewhat grim but she didn't speak with malice. She only wished to provide some guidance to her young Master.

edited 3rd Oct '15 8:20:32 PM by Azure

Two Days Ago

As the blazing light of the FATE machine faded, a figure could be seen standing in the center of the magic circle. Julie d'Aubigny looked up, glancing about the room, as she took stock of her surroundings and the new knowledge deposited in her head. Hmm? Interesting. It looks as though I have an audience.

She drew her sword with a flourish, saluting her Master - and that was a new idea, she'd have to find out just how much this girl would let her get away with - and bowed with all the showmanship her theater career had given her. "At your command, I have come forth. Henceforth, my skills are entirely at your disposal, Master."

Many Summonings Later

Alinia tried not to show any of her stress as she walked up to the FATE machine. Was it really necessary for all the Masters to be present for all the summonings? Well, even if it wasn't she probably was required to attend anyways. Ugh, she had to focus.

She stood at the machine, wrinkling her nose at the smell of ozone, and held out her hand. She closed her eyes, imagining the trigger of her magic - a spark flaring up - as power flowed through her magic circuits. She had to do this right.

"Fill, fill, fill fill, fill. Repeat five times, but destroy each when filled. Let silver and steel be the core. Let stone and the Archduke of Contracts be the foundation. Let my great master Sieglinde be the ancestor."

"Raise a wall against the wind. Close the four cardinal gates. Come forth from the Crown, and follow the forked road leading to the Kingdom."

"Let it be known. Your body shall be under my will, and my fate shall be with your sword. If you will heed the call of the Grail and submit to my will and reason, answer me."

"I declare. I will be all the good in the world. I shall defeat all the evil in the world. From the Seventh Heaven, attended by three great words of power, come forth from the ring of restraint, Protector of the Balance!"

Alinia stared into the machine of the FATE system as the smell of ozone and heat filled the air. Three crackling rings of electric-blue energy burned around the machine, before a massive column of light exploded upwards. Alinia grabbed her wrist in pain as she felt something - her Command Seal, of course, she knew this was going to happen but it still hurt - burn into her wrist. She blinked hurriedly as the light began to fade, and she got a look at her Servant.

edited 3rd Oct '15 7:37:36 PM by KarrinBlue

Mess Hall

with a nod, Berserker faded back into his astral form. He felt his point had been made, that he'd always be around his master to offer his assistance.

still somewhere within him he did feel sympathy for the gusto girl, but for now he buried that feeling. Obeying his master would be his top priority.

Oren checked and re-checked his 1911. Even with the full might of a Servant behind him, he could never bring himself to fully trust anything but his own shit. He especially knew this coming from Sigurd. He'd brought along a textbook of Icelandic history, which among other things contained Sigurd's story, and a copy of The Lord of the Rings. Like everything else in his loadout save the 1911, it would probably offer some kind of weird utility to the situation. He flipped the safety off, made sure the chamber was cleared, then slotted it into the shoulder-holster and pulled out his pipe.

"Hey, guys, can you..." He began, holding up a hand and glaring at the grandstanding magic users. "Can you two chill out, please? I'm about to light up. Anyone want in on this?" Snapping his fingers together, he sent a few sparks flying at the marijuana packed into the end of the pipe. It was the only fire magic he really knew how to do, but damn if it wasn't useful. Sparking a flame on his fingers, he sent a curl of smoke lazily spiraling into the ceiling as he lit up.

"{Is this room well ventilated?}" Another Servant, also in spiritual form, spoke up. Assassin. The only one in this group, in fact. "{I do not mind should you choose to rot your brain with the stuff, but I will not have it disrupting my own thoughts. Given that is the reason I was brought on, you would perhaps be degrading the functionality of this operation by doing so.}"

Oren took a huge inhalation and held a hand up, held the smoke, then blew it out in a single thick cloud. "Hey, I'm still one puff in. Fuck off. There's vents."

"{Very well. Now, as I was saying. Berserker. Englishman. Your armor is positively archaic; you are certainly older than me. This is unfortunately not a particularly hefty cutoff date, but it is also certainly a start. Take care that I do not need to perform further research. We may be comrades, but that means next to nothing in the world of Mages. Please keep your voice down.}"

edited 3rd Oct '15 8:21:27 PM by Taco

Rider chuckled. Perhaps, Milady. I witnessed the beginnin' and end o' many a feud myself. He replied, referring to Alba with his own preferred term instead of the usual "Master".

A short pause in conversation followed as the squabble began to die down. ...I was wonderin', Milady, would ye happen to know where we'll be travelin' to first?

edited 3rd Oct '15 9:17:37 PM by svenorzokarkoff

Day of the Summoning

Then... from the massive wellspring of energy, the luminous crystallization of FATE's miracle a figure slowly came to be formed into the middle of the summoning circle... and as it did, a strange spread through the surroundings... a shift in the air that anyone about may sense... but specially ones so attuned to the mystical as the mages gathered at Chaldea. It was difficult to pin point exactly what was at foot... but those who dwelt in spiritism may feel the change more keenly.

Regardless of it, however... once the sparks and lights died down, standing upon the circle, with eyes closed and head thrown back to the 'heavens' there was a woman clad in violet garments farming her entire body in layers of different shades... making little patterns as they went around her form. Tiny, circular metal pieces afixed the different layers... and the only pieces of armor upon her body were found on her shoulders and armored boots. The woman's long, equally violet hair hung free, cascading down her back.

Upon first appearances, despite her coloring, there was little remarkable that came to mind about the woman before them... no aura of greatness, no larger than life charisma, no hint of divine potential. Just a mortal woman... and yet, there was shift in the air... that aura hanging thinly upon all of her surroundings. That and the fact that to all means of measuring it... this woman was a top tier Servant of a Five Star Ranking.

The violet woman slowly, deeply... took a long breath, parting her lips slightly as she finally opens her eyes... looking up at the roof of the summoning chamber before she shifts her posture, her gaze finally falling upon Alinia.

And it was at that moment that the young Master would see them... eyes red, deep crimson, like a demon's... eyes that saw far more than they should. She would feel, for just a second, as if those eyes saw it all... past her flesh, right into her soul... taking note of every shift of her body and spirit.

"Servant Lancer... Are you the one, my Master, who brought me back to the realm of humanity?" asks the violet woman in a voice full of calm, regal dignity.

"I am. My name is Alinia Teilenn. It's nice to meet you." Alinia paused. Wait, this was an ancient spirit of ridiculous power, that wasn't what you were supposed to say, was it. "I mean, I look forward to fighting with you."

Archer kept quiet in his spirit form as the noise in the meal hall continuously rose and fell. He never was the talkative one when he was alive, and that wasn't going to change now that he was a Heroic Spirit. Besides, he preferred not to make his presence known to anyone but his master.

Speaking of whom, Winda seemed to be arguing with another Mage. This Gishki person seemed eager to rub her superiority in his Master's face. He wasn't buying the act, though. If one tried to show how much better they were than anyone else, who could they be trying to prove this to but themselves?

Ignore her, Master, he said to Winda, still in spirit form. The very things people overlook or underestimate are the ones that can cause their downfall.

edited 3rd Oct '15 10:07:16 PM by Aquatica1000

The woman's gaze softened somewhat at such an introduction, a small smile appearing on her lips as she takes measure of the young woman before her "It is good to meet you as well, Alinia Teilenn. I am in your debt for this summoning... As I was called, I was made to know... this is for the future of mankind?"

Alinia nodded. "Yes. If we can remove the seven anomalies - the irregular Holy Grails - then humanity's future will be protected. It won't be easy, but, well. When is anything?"

Mess Hall

"Thanks for the advice, Archer. You're a real good pal. Maybe, she should mind her business next time."

Winda smiled at Archer before looking at the stoner magus. She had stopped arguing because Archer had calmed her down.

"Thanks for the offer," answers Winda. "But I'm not interested. I need to focus on the upcoming task."

"That is an interesting attitude to take... however, very well. For this quest and purpose, you may count with my spear" says the violet clad woman as she begins walking towards her... fading into spirit form as she does "Worry not, however... for nothing is impossible. Specially, for one such as myself"

The woman sitting apart from the other occupants twitched in annoyance. Then, with a great frown on her face, she stood up and spoke, calling for attention.

Her voice was heard all across the entire room, perhaps enhanced by sonic magecraft...or, probably, she had a mic on her collar.

"Enough meaningless chatter! You are Master Candidates, are you not? Why are you acting like children debating whose toys are better?!"

The woman who spoke was Olga Marie Animusphere, the Director of Chaldea. Her family had been lords of the Clock Tower for generations, and she herself was an excellent magus.

Director Olga held in her hand one of Chaldea's holographic communications device, and her eyes briefly scanned it before continuing to speak.

"In less than an hour, we will be using the leyshift to travel back in time. I have been informed by our technicians that our first jump will be relatively recent."

"Our first Grand Order will take place on this date: The 2nd of February, 1944 AD. During the conflict known as World War Two."

"However, we will not be involved much in that war, as our mission will take us to something else. We will be going to a city in Japan. Fuyuki."

"Yes, that name should sound familiar. We will be arriving right at the moment of the Third Holy Grail War."

The Director let that sink in for a moment, looking coldly at each of the Master Candidates.

"....I suggest you prepare yourselves."

With a final glare, the Lady Director marched away from the room.

edited 3rd Oct '15 11:25:16 PM by GrimHelm