The War to come

[greyerrant]

Who: Garviel, Medea, any creepers that can justify watching them
Where: The reflecting pool of Hirawyr
What: Garviel wishes to end the Grail Wars. Once and for all
When: After Garviel's briefing with the daughter of 20 faces.

The last Knight of Belka stands in the shadows of ruined columns, older than the Roman style which prevails throughout most of the place, standing over a rectangular pool of clear water, staring down at the faint reflection of the new moon.

He waits for the witch of Colchis, one hand poised on the hilt of his chainsword, the other hand resting near the handle of his bolter. He will never trust her, despite her protestations of loyalty to Nero, because it is without limit or morality, as far as he can tell.

And yet.... Medea is now the only person he can tell about what he has been told, and what he seeks. He has sent ahead some information to her, and now waits for her to return from research to inform him of the results.

Comments

[lovelesswitch]

"Have you been waiting long?"

Medea, who appeared in better spirits than usual, appears before Garviel. It wasn't too surprising to see the man wanting her to do some research. The motives aside, Medea does it if only to satiate his curiosity. Her smile that she's wearing at the moment seems more sincere than days prior.

[greyerrant]

"Long enough, Medea."

He shifts slightly as he looks down at her noting her cheerfulness. He suspects he knows the cause, but dismisses that from his mind as utterly immaterial.

"I have ascertained the class of the Servant I encountered before, the Knight of Belka. She is an Archer."

He pauses, considering how to explain the rest, "And her master did not use a ritual to summon her... the book I had you research was somehow the mechanism for Archer's arrival."

[lovelesswitch]

"Her Master used it as the catalyst for the summoning ritual, I would presume. But what sort of cursed being that would be summoned with the aid of the Book of Darkness is beyond me."

Medea speaks the name of the book Garviel mentioned. She seems more amused about this whole affair than anything else. If there was any woman that could truly appreciate irony, it was her.

[greyerrant]

"A knight of Belka was summoned."

He shrugs his shoulders, "Perhaps our whole Imperium was cursed, and that was why it fell. We stand in one of the last remnants, near this pool. These pillars are of Belkan make, after all."

He clenches a fist, briefly, flexing his hand, and continues, "We have agreed to duel each other. I believe I shall speak to her about the facts you brought to my attention some days ago. And... I intend to explain to her my intentions. To end the grail wars forever."

[lovelesswitch]

"... Belka. That's becoming quite the popular choice of era."

Irony indeed. It would seem that the Archer of the Grail War is a Belkan. This could work to her advantage if Garviel manages to befriend her. Then again, that would depend on the intentions of the other Master.


"Then as a Belkan, she may be able to understand. She should be able to share some of your feelings."

[greyerrant]

"I think she is more concerned about victory in the war than protecting humanity. It will take work to convince her. I am.... unsure if I can match her on the open field. The Astartes are but pale emulations of our Primarchs, and the Primarchs, while demigods in their own right, were emulations of the Wolkenritter. Depending on how old she is, and her identity, she may be able to outfight me in terms of sheer strength, even if my skill with bolter and blade is similar."

He taps the side of his head. "I'll need to think on this fight carefully."

[lovelesswitch]

"The Wolkenritter...?"

She expresses some surprise. Does the history of the Book of Darkness have some significance with that particular time period of Belka? Indeed, this may be something to keep in mind. It is said that the Book of Darkness travels through time, finding new owners to curse. Why serve as the catalyst for Wolkenritter and Belka specifically, though?

Medea smiles, though.

"You should be more confident in your victory. The class of Berserker is not easily outmatched no matter which era the hero is chosen from. She's skilled, but not immortal. Since when is it a rule that heroes of greater age must always defeat those of the younger generation?"

[greyerrant]

"I don't intend to use mad enhancement. If I'm to win this battle, it must be done with precision. If I slay her, all the work I've done up for now will be as nothing, I'll have become what I hate, a traitor."

His fists clench at the very idea, ceramite grinding against ceramite.

[lovelesswitch]

Perhaps not, but in time you will have to. Medea patiently waits for that day. She walks over closer to Garviel and puts a gloved hand on his.

"Loyalty was always your greatest virtue, Garviel."

Indeed. There were other issues in choosing Garviel as a Servant, but ultimately, that's the key point that Medea needs. Otherwise, she would have been content to enter the Grail War herself rather than use Garviel to protect Nero.

"And in ways, I doubt that she's any different. A fight may be unavoidable. But don't you think real victory would come from appealing to that?"

[greyerrant]

"Perhaps. But she says that Belka is gone, the bonds of our brotherhood are dissolved. She intends for us to fight, and one of us to die. Convincing her will be extremely difficult. And.... I've no idea what she fights for."