The Holy Grail Clusterfuck

Fran looked down at the combatants near the gate--it was starting to get crowded down there. Instead, she focused on the Lancer still perched on the building opposite the mansion. Lancer smiled and turned to meet her, but was startled by her strength as she swung the mace about with unnatural deftness. He wasn't quick enough to block the mace as it bashed him backwards several feet.

Blue Lancer
HP: 370/400
MP: 500/500

The new Berserker immediately focused on Rider when he appeared and rode by, seeming to totally forget about Astolfo and Asterion.

Once Rider landed, Berserker lifted his axes, swelling with a strange mix of anger and excitement. "ISKAANDAAAARR!!!!!" The bellowing roar rattled the windows of the mansion and nearly deafened everyone nearby. Berserker exhaled a sudden flame from his mouth and prepared to engage.

"Goodness. So many reunions." A-san struggled to keep track of all the emerging opponents, scanning and memorizing their stats. Did they have two Berserkers?

"That Minotaur. Strength and Endurance both exceed A-Rank. He's gonna be a problem."

"Damn, what about the purple stabby one? She doesn't look like an assassin..."

"Indeed." He scratched the chin of his mask. "She looks a dead ringer for Lancer, but she hid her presence somehow. We've got a special one there."

Aaron nodded, "I'm pretty sure there are more than this. I think we have to draw them out somehow..." He looked out over the masters. Carlotta stood out. With a smirk, he began concentrating wind energy into an A rank compressed beam, about the circumference of a pea, and started to aim.

[[Carlotta egg thing: Line 2/5]]

[[Wind beam thing A-Rank: Line 1/5]]

[[Yui reflection shield: Line 4/5]]

Turn 1

Servant Initiative

A: Atalanta, Scathach, Blue Lancer, Avenger
B: Astolfo, Red Saber, Blue Berserker, Blue Caster
C: Paracelsus, Asterios, Medea, Blue Saber
D: Fran, Iskander

Master Initiative

A: Kirei, Bazett, Shiki
B: Yui, Illya, Avalon, Carlotta, A-san, Touko
C: Mari, Daichi, Manaka
D: Lazarus, Aaron

Scathach feinted a swing with her spear, but brought her arm forward, casting the rune Ansuz on him instead: 
Kittenboxxing carried out 1 launched of one (CLASH.) :

Lancer moved to intercept with the spear, but saw her hand move away at the last moment.

Damascus carried out 1 launched of one (CLASH.) :

At the same time, moving his body out of the way of Scathach's spellcasting, he lunged forward with his spear.

Damascus carried out 1 launched of one (CLASH.) :

She easily avoided the blow. This would be a delightful fight.

"And spellcasting too?" A-san gasped. "Just what kind of Servant is this?"

Turn 2

Servant Initiative

A: Atalanta, Scathach, Blue Lancer, Avenger
B: Astolfo, Red Saber, Blue Berserker, Blue Caster
C: Paracelsus, Asterios, Medea, Blue Saber
D: Fran, Iskander

Master Initiative

A: Kirei, Bazett, Shiki
B: Yui, Illya, Avalon, Carlotta, A-san, Touko
C: Mari, Daichi, Manaka
D: Lazarus, Aaron

The voice from the white horned helmet was collected, but only just. "It is so, Your Highness." Saber stood and slowly moved Excalibur away with their own blade. Gracefully, they fell to one knee.

"I would beseech you, King of Avalon, grant me audience. I will not fight you, but we cannot speak as long as my comrades are in danger." They stood upright and pointed to where Asterion and Fran were poised previously. "Over there, if not a proper meeting inside. I will await you." They took a moment, looking around the battlefield, Clarent more steady in their hand.

"Astolfo! On the rooftop!" Saber pointed to the far building, Astolfo snapping a salute. "Hippogryff!!" The noble beast appeared underneath him and streaked towards the Masters and their Caster, Astolfo tucking his lance like a jouster. After stretching their wrist, Saber jumped to land behind Lancer Blue, ready to offer Scathach support.

Caster sucked in his breath, watching the confident knight rush toward them.

[[Skill: Revelation Rank C]]

"A magic breaker," Caster grumbled. "Might be wise to call a retreat."

Manaka giggled and stepped forward. "Don't be silly! I can handle him!"

A-san and Caster both looked down at her incredulously. Caster began chanting to himself, preparing to teleport the quartet away from the battlefield [[Rank A: Turn 1/3]]

Darius howled and charged in, ready to meet his eternal enemy on the battlefield once more.

Damascus carried out 1 launched of one (CLASH.) :

Alexander turned his chariot, bringing his spatha forward to parry.

azetidine carried out 1 launched of one (CLASH.) :

[/quote]

Darius' axe blasted past the spatha, slicing Alexander deep across the shoulder.

Alexander
HP: 450/500
MP: 300/300

Turn 2

Servant Initiative

A: Atalanta, Scathach, Blue Lancer, Avenger
B: Astolfo, Red Saber, Blue Berserker, Blue Caster
C: Paracelsus, Asterios, Medea, Blue Saber
D: Fran, Iskander

Master Initiative

A: Kirei, Bazett, Shiki
B: Yui, Illya, Avalon, Carlotta, A-san, Touko
C: Mari, Daichi, Manaka
D: Lazarus, Aaron

Making some quite unladylike noises, Medea whisked back to Daichi. "I'll be right back. Ideally." In a blink she was gone, her energy hovering over the mansion in a second. She pointed her wand towards Berserker Blue. Playtime was over.

"Machia Hecatia Graea!!" Rays of light came raining down from the sky, streaking towards Darius.

fuyumin carried out 5 launched of one (CLASH.) :

, , , ,

Berserker looked over his shoulder at the rays of light streaking toward them, and made a mad dash to jump out of the way.

Damascus carried out 5 launched of one (CLASH.) :

, , , ,

Aaron winced at the damage Berserker took, "Fuck! Well that's good to know I guess!"

Two of the rays struck him hard, rocking him backward.

Medea
HP: 200/200
MP: 750/1,000

Blue Berserker
HP: 900/1,000
MP: 100/100

Asterion came in behind him then, mana surging through his arms. His axes glowed with a deadly light, and he raised them both together, and leaped forward.

He barely missed Darius, but the wind caused by his passing was enough to make Darius stumble a step.

Asterion
HP: 1,500/1,500
MP: 170/200

Blue Saber hesitated as Red Saber leaped away. They were on opposite sides, but it was hard to deny an earnest request from a Knight of the Round Table. Even one with the history they had.

Then Astolfo streaked off in her Master's direction. Her path was clear now. She jumped up onto the rooftops and pursued Astolfo, hoping to make it in time to protect Manaka.

Turn 2

Servant Initiative

A: Atalanta, Scathach, Blue Lancer, Avenger
B: Astolfo, Red Saber, Blue Berserker, Blue Caster
C: Paracelsus, Asterios, Medea, Blue Saber
D: Fran, Iskander

Master Initiative

A: Kirei, Bazett, Shiki
B: Yui, Illya, Avalon, Carlotta, A-san, Touko
C: Mari, Daichi, Manaka
D: Lazarus, Aaron

Iskandar takes the hit in stride, trusting someone on his team to be ready to heal. "No, then?" he asks Darius. "I'll just have to trample you, like I did the first time!" He whipped his bulls into motion again, activating Via Expugnatio.

(Front hooves, back hooves, wheels)
azetidine carried out 3 launched of one (CLASH.) :

, ,

Damascus carried out 3 launched of one (CLASH.) :

, ,

(And strength checks for the ones that hit:)
Damascus carried out 3 launched of one (Saving throw.) :

, ,

Though Darius managed to duck out of the way of the hooves, one of the wheels hit him hard across the abdomen, laying him out on the ground and sending him rolling several feet.

Blue Berserker
HP: 700/1,000
MP: 100/100

Darius struggled back to his feet, now starting to look quite worn out.

Meanwhile, Fran took advantage of Blue Lancer being distracted by Scathach's wild jabs. She ducked behind him and swung hard, catching him in the midsection and sending him reeling back.

Blue Lancer
HP: 340/400
MP: 500/500

"Urgh!" Lancer grunted. "Not bad for a young lady of your stature..."

Fran puffed out her cheeks in annoyance.

[[MASTERS' TURNS]]

Yui, Azoth now at hand, skipped down the stairs, heading for the front door just as she was finishing the last line of her spell. [[Line 5/5]]

A-san relaxed somewhat when he saw their Saber crest the roof in the distance and come their way, but she still wouldn't make it in time to stop Astolfo. Whatever Manaka had up her sleeve had better be good.

Avalon began twisting the wind shield around her and sending it forward. It began twisting rapidly, kicking up dust. As it made it's way to the enemy line, it became more powerful, forming into a tornado. (Twister: Rank B) 

Though he couldn't tussle with the servants, Aaron didn't seem to be afraid at all of the other masters. Making sure to keep concentration on his spell, he stood in front of Manaka, ready to guard her if necessary. He did however want to see how they responded to an attack. He winced, dipping into his mana reserves to cast his spell early. 

Air bullet, rank A 


Carlotta took the hit, gasping and holding her shoulder. She dropped the eggs she was holding, and fell to the ground, limp, and extremely close to death.

Seeing her fall, Lazarus rushed to Kirei, "Go and heal her immediately! Paracelsus, assist him!" He followed the two outside. Though he was hesitant to use it, he would activate the pocketwatch if necessary.

Carlotta Quinlan
HP: 0/30
MP: 500/500
Command Spells: 3

Aaron DiSorvin
HP: 50/50
MP: 400/500
Command Spells: 3

Kirei was stunned to see the enemy mage cast such a powerful spell at high speed. He nodded and hurried toward the back doors.

"Please cover me," Kirei said to Atalanta as he went, then began to chant a healing spell just powerful enough to stabilize her. If he took too much longer to chant, it might be too late. [[Stabilize Rank D: Line 1/1]]

"Ho ho! Impressive!" A-san nodded approvingly. Even Ayaka looked somewhat surprised.

Blue Lancer gritted his teeth, pushed back by Hachi and Fran's double attack. He was tempted to use his Noble Phantasm, but it was too early for that.

"Tch." He jumped back, going to regroup with Saber, while still keeping his lance up in defense.

Turn 3

Servant Initiative

A: Atalanta, Scathach, Blue Lancer, Avenger
B: Astolfo, Red Saber, Blue Berserker, Blue Caster
C: Paracelsus, Asterios, Medea, Blue Saber
D: Fran, Iskander

Master Initiative

A: Kirei, Bazett, Shiki
B: Yui, Illya, Avalon, Carlotta, A-san, Touko
C: Mari, Daichi, Manaka
D: Lazarus, Aaron