[CC] Radiant Training \ Emiya Shirou - Imperfect
- Thread starter Drackos
- Start date
He recognized the first-aid applied to the victim; it was enough to stop the dire critical condition so he could survive without being contained within the Throne. It was certainly Galahad's handiwork - it was unmistakable. Fumbling with the golden ring on his hand, he gazed out into the Reality Marble the two rested in. He did not know the young man's name, in fact he didn't ask many questions before practically kidnapping him from Galahad's care and custody. But that did not stop him from stealing the boy away to the legendary sanctuary they now remained in...although he wasn't quite sure of its name. It was a fascinating place lost in the annals of history, few Radiants would know of its existence to this day.
"Perhaps in an old dusty repository in the ancient sections of Avalon's archives would even a mention of this place be found." He rested Shirou's unconscious body on the Throne of Light, located at the center of the tranquil sanctuary they rested in. He would wait for the young man to wake from his slumber, and would gaze out into the void until he did so. In the distance he could see the mega clusters of galaxies shining through the great void known as space; his vision only occasionally obstructed by the floating boulder or two that passed harmlessly by. The amount of power that had gone into creating such a space, and then preserving it in the single golden ring on his finger, must have rivaled even his own. Once again he fumbled with the ring, twisting it around on his index finger. Before him, on the Throne, Shirou stirred. "Oh...are you awake?"
"Perhaps in an old dusty repository in the ancient sections of Avalon's archives would even a mention of this place be found." He rested Shirou's unconscious body on the Throne of Light, located at the center of the tranquil sanctuary they rested in. He would wait for the young man to wake from his slumber, and would gaze out into the void until he did so. In the distance he could see the mega clusters of galaxies shining through the great void known as space; his vision only occasionally obstructed by the floating boulder or two that passed harmlessly by. The amount of power that had gone into creating such a space, and then preserving it in the single golden ring on his finger, must have rivaled even his own. Once again he fumbled with the ring, twisting it around on his index finger. Before him, on the Throne, Shirou stirred. "Oh...are you awake?"
You must be registered for see images
[SUP]
You must be registered for see links
[/SUP]Visions of battle and endless pain flash in a horrifying cacophony of images as the faker indolently rested on a vacant, hollow throne. His body swathed in bandages from the numerous, fresh wounds from his all too recent encounter with death, and a crimson-eyed monster in the skin of a man. As his mind played it's torturous trick, replaying these images of injury over and over, his body would ache and twitch instinctively, mimicking his movements and actions within the endlessly repeating recollections of his struggle, until the slightest external stimuli snapped him out of it.
"Oh... Are you awake?"
Startled, Shirō immediately leaped out of the big, fancy chair, instinctively tightening his grip around thin air, expecting to find a matched pair of short blades, or perhaps a colossal heap of metal, but instead felt the cold, surprising nip of cold in the presumably non-existent air, on what appeared to be the floating ruins of some structure, and the boundless expanse of space around them. From his vantage point upon the altar where the throne resided, he could see as far as he wished, all the way to the presumed edge of whatever this "structure" was, and clearly, it simply came to an abrupt stop. Looking back at the Throne, he noticed the faintest trace of blood, where his spasms had opened his wounds, and began to bleed through his bandages ever so faintly. It wasn't until now, when Shirō had a grasp of the situation, and realized he was, presumably, no longer in immediate danger, that he noticed the silhouette of an unknown figure, most likely the one who woke him from his torturous slumber as he stirred. Looking around, Shirō noticed the various forms and sizes of debris that hung in the air around them, as though there were no gravity to tether it to whatever this structure was, but that begged the question of why he wasn't subject to this lack of gravity. He pondered why neither he, nor the figure before him, were not suffocating, as it indeed appear as though they were suspended in the vacuum of space, meaning there should be no air. And despite the debris hanging in the air, there were parts of this structure that appeared pristine, as though once it's creation was complete, it's magnificence was not despoiled by another step, nor besmirched by the presence of another being... Until now, evidently... But the more he tried to analyze, break down, or comprehend the nature of his current predicament, for every answer he recieved, there were twice as many questions raised, and it was beginning to hurt his head even trying to answer them. If he wasn't able to discern the nature of this place on his own, then he would do the next best thing.
"Where-..." As he uttered the makings of his first question, he immediately realized the futility of this line of questioning. They were clearly in space, and not on any landmass back on the planet. They were in neither a Nation, nor a Land of any shape or form. They were, currently, denizens of the endless void that is space. Taking a moment to compose himself, and think of a more direct line of approach, Shirō soon asked, what he gathered would be the right kind of question; "What... Is this place?" As he finished, he could hear the faintest sounds of an echo, repeating back to him the same question he just posed multiple times, each one fainter than the last. As he waited for a response from the figure, he thought about his last conscious moments, after his battle with the Uchiha, and the man who introduced himself as Galahad. Was this man a companion, or acquaintance of his? Shirō was unsure, so he raised his guard ever so slightly in the slight off chance that this man was not, as Shirō hoped, an ally... In a bout of self-preservation, he attempted to channel Chakra into his hand, once more tightening his grip, this time with conscious purpose, but to no avail. Either he lacked the Chakra to trace a weapon, or this place, whatever it was, was preventing him from performing a Summoning. So he simply stood silently upon the raised dais, mere steps from the throne, awaiting some form of answer.
The cloaked man briefly turned his head toward Shirou as he stirred, briefly making eye contact and then reverting his gaze back out onto the stars in the distance. "Where? What? Difficult questions to answer!" He begins scratching his head over his cloak as a starstruck and awe inspired grin forms across his face. "Truly a peculiar and unusual place. I've spent numerous years studying it, longer than many humans even draw breath. But I've never really discerned its true nature." He once again turned toward Shirou, except this time the two would face for much longer. The cloak the man wore was imbued with some measure of enchantments; the shroud formed a perfect shroud across most of his notable body features bar his physical traits like height and weight. The only unique trait that truly stood out in the shroud was his eyes: dark magenta eyes happily glaring down on Shirou. "The man who created this sanctuary entrusted it, among other things, to me before he moved on. Although I think I failed, hah!" He struggled with an apparent guilt, although it was unclear exactly how he failed.
Sensing Shirou attempt to mold chakra, the shrouded stranger approached. From the sleeves of his cloak two hands emerged, fair in complexion. Without warning he rested his hands just above Shirou's forearms; moments later a green, tranquil shroud of chakra manifested around the man's hands. It was an unmistakable classic shroud of healing chakra, some special of technique employed to restore Shirou's abilities. But this was far more potent than generic healing. "Don't panic. Galahad was never particularly good with his medical skills. He always belonged on the front lines where the medics and priests would need to heal him!" He fell silent again, bringing his head closer to Shirou's body to inspect his work. Tilting his head slightly as the last of the wounds sealed and the bleeding ceased, he smiled. "You must have so many questions. It's certainly all so sudden, especially given how long you were kept in stasis in the Throne." Terms that Shirou would no doubt fail to understand. But unbeknownst to Shirou, his body had already undergone a profound change that was clear to his steward. Whether intentional or not, likely the former, the man could sense the change in his body: Shirou had become attuned to the Throne.
Sensing Shirou attempt to mold chakra, the shrouded stranger approached. From the sleeves of his cloak two hands emerged, fair in complexion. Without warning he rested his hands just above Shirou's forearms; moments later a green, tranquil shroud of chakra manifested around the man's hands. It was an unmistakable classic shroud of healing chakra, some special of technique employed to restore Shirou's abilities. But this was far more potent than generic healing. "Don't panic. Galahad was never particularly good with his medical skills. He always belonged on the front lines where the medics and priests would need to heal him!" He fell silent again, bringing his head closer to Shirou's body to inspect his work. Tilting his head slightly as the last of the wounds sealed and the bleeding ceased, he smiled. "You must have so many questions. It's certainly all so sudden, especially given how long you were kept in stasis in the Throne." Terms that Shirou would no doubt fail to understand. But unbeknownst to Shirou, his body had already undergone a profound change that was clear to his steward. Whether intentional or not, likely the former, the man could sense the change in his body: Shirou had become attuned to the Throne.
As the unknown, shrouded figure explained how this place was beyond even their understanding, Shirō wished to understand how he even arrived here then, but a more pressing question was poised and ready to strike forth; the fact that this figure seemed to indicate that they were not human. If they weren't, then what were they? He seemed to, at least, imply a prolonged, or extended lifespan as he off-handedly stated that he has been attempting to understand this structure, and perhaps the extended area around it, longer than most live their entire lives. But as he moved to question the identity of this stranger, he instead found himself catching a glimpse of their person, a pair of glimmering purple eyes shone through the veil that enclosed this person's entire identity. And for the briefest moment, Shirō could have sworn he saw a kind-hearted smile reflected in those eyes, the kind only someone who was truly "human" knew how to produce. As the figure further elaborated, explaining how this "place" was entrusted to him by another, among other things, and felt as though he had failed in some way. Shirō couldn't help but speak up.
Shirō subconsciously tried to do as he always does, and help those he feels are in need, whether they welcome this help or not. If even his words could comfort this person, even slightly, then he could at least be content in the knowledge he had tried, even if he wouldn't stop there. Catching himself acting the hero, Shirō turned his head,
slightly embarrassed after feeling like he had butted in on a matter that didn't concern him, awkwardly rubbing the back of his neck, seemingly unaware as the figure approached, eventually recoiling slightly as he felt the touch of the figure's hand upon his wounds. His first instinct was to pull away, but as a relieving feeling worked it's way through his body, mitigating, and eventually neutralizing the pain entirely. A Medical Shinobi? Looking down at his aching wounds they were indeed closing, at both an alarming, and reassuring rate. Once the stranger was finished, Shirō held his arm out once more, this time easily producing a small, curved short blade. Feeling rather invigorated, he continued, tossing the blade into the air, testing his agility and reflexes, seeming to juggle the blade multiple times in a rapid, consecutive display, before catching it by the handle, and releasing his grip once more, causing the blade to vanish into the aether it seemed to appear from. Looking back to the figure, completely forgetting his manners, Shirō caught himself and immediately expressed his gratitude with a respectful bow.
Upon raising his head, likewise Shirō's attention shifted from his healed injuries to the one who had healed them. Just like with the surrounding structure, and space around them, the more questions Shirō was presented with. Who was this person? Why did they seem to hint that they were something other than a human? Where did they learn the Healing Arts? Why were they entrusted with this "sanctuary"? And who was the one who built it, and just how powerful and wise would they have to be if it's nature seemed to be beyond the one it was entrusted to? All these questions and more flooded the young man's head, but they would have to wait, for one last piece of information, that Shirō did not quite understand, was made apparent to him.
Looking back at the throne had had awoken upon, Shirō returned with a very concerned, and equally confused look.
Shirō's mind raced with questions, so much so that he couldn't simply think of one to ask. Looking down at his own body, he didn't seem to feel, or look any older, though upon closer inspection of his left arm, and the left portion of his hair, he noticed that the irregularities that had grown wildly out of control during his fight with the Uchiha, namely the darkening skin and whitening hair, were completely gone. Was this a result of the healing employed by this unknown figure? Were they that proficient at healing they could even remove self-inflicted backlash from forcefully pushing the body past it's own limits? Or was this something else...? Cosmetics aside, there were even more pressing matters, namely the apparent duration Shirō was kept in suspension being long enough to warrant mention. How long was he removed from the rest of the world? Had it been days? Weeks? Months? This was almost too much to handle. Unable to simply choose a single question, for which he would likely receive another vague, cryptic response, Shirō simply composed himself, looked the shrouded figure in the lack of face, and asked in a steely tone;
"Well, this place still stands, doesn't it? If it was entrusted to you, so long as it endures, how can you say you've failed?"
Shirō subconsciously tried to do as he always does, and help those he feels are in need, whether they welcome this help or not. If even his words could comfort this person, even slightly, then he could at least be content in the knowledge he had tried, even if he wouldn't stop there. Catching himself acting the hero, Shirō turned his head,
slightly embarrassed after feeling like he had butted in on a matter that didn't concern him, awkwardly rubbing the back of his neck, seemingly unaware as the figure approached, eventually recoiling slightly as he felt the touch of the figure's hand upon his wounds. His first instinct was to pull away, but as a relieving feeling worked it's way through his body, mitigating, and eventually neutralizing the pain entirely. A Medical Shinobi? Looking down at his aching wounds they were indeed closing, at both an alarming, and reassuring rate. Once the stranger was finished, Shirō held his arm out once more, this time easily producing a small, curved short blade. Feeling rather invigorated, he continued, tossing the blade into the air, testing his agility and reflexes, seeming to juggle the blade multiple times in a rapid, consecutive display, before catching it by the handle, and releasing his grip once more, causing the blade to vanish into the aether it seemed to appear from. Looking back to the figure, completely forgetting his manners, Shirō caught himself and immediately expressed his gratitude with a respectful bow."I guess it should have been obvious why that didn't work before... Anyway, thank you."
Upon raising his head, likewise Shirō's attention shifted from his healed injuries to the one who had healed them. Just like with the surrounding structure, and space around them, the more questions Shirō was presented with. Who was this person? Why did they seem to hint that they were something other than a human? Where did they learn the Healing Arts? Why were they entrusted with this "sanctuary"? And who was the one who built it, and just how powerful and wise would they have to be if it's nature seemed to be beyond the one it was entrusted to? All these questions and more flooded the young man's head, but they would have to wait, for one last piece of information, that Shirō did not quite understand, was made apparent to him.
"S-stasis? Throne? You mean that throne-"
Looking back at the throne had had awoken upon, Shirō returned with a very concerned, and equally confused look.
"That thing can freeze people?! Just how long was I out?!"
Shirō's mind raced with questions, so much so that he couldn't simply think of one to ask. Looking down at his own body, he didn't seem to feel, or look any older, though upon closer inspection of his left arm, and the left portion of his hair, he noticed that the irregularities that had grown wildly out of control during his fight with the Uchiha, namely the darkening skin and whitening hair, were completely gone. Was this a result of the healing employed by this unknown figure? Were they that proficient at healing they could even remove self-inflicted backlash from forcefully pushing the body past it's own limits? Or was this something else...? Cosmetics aside, there were even more pressing matters, namely the apparent duration Shirō was kept in suspension being long enough to warrant mention. How long was he removed from the rest of the world? Had it been days? Weeks? Months? This was almost too much to handle. Unable to simply choose a single question, for which he would likely receive another vague, cryptic response, Shirō simply composed himself, looked the shrouded figure in the lack of face, and asked in a steely tone;
"Tell me everything..."
He hadn't the slightest idea where to begin; so much knowledge to share, so much wisdom to pass on to the future generations of the Knights Radiant. But it wasn't his place. "I am but a mere observer in a struggle that is far older than modern memory can recall." He began pacing back and forth slowly near the Throne, averting his gaze from Shirou's and redirecting it toward the stars. "You must bear with me...it is not my place to interfere. And so what I will tell you will be rather limited. My appearance is by chance, a move made in desperation, and one that I wish your Grandmaster only have limited knowledge of." Taking the golden ring off his finger, he turned toward Shirou and held it before him. "This is a Reality Marble. Well, rather this ring is what contains the Reality Marble - this place. It is rather simple to understand. A shard of the Greater Throne, a separate dimension that is intimately connected to the Holy Grail, and Prana. This shard, contained in this ring, was built by a close companion of mine. To some it was known as the Grand Time Temple, while to others it was known as the Throne of Light. To it's creator, it was his simple sanctuary; a temple to gaze upon the cosmos and observe the passing of time." He turned his back toward Shirou again and resumed gazing out toward the stars and galaxies in the distance. "It's existence, as well as his other Noble Phantasms, have been washed from history; even the Knight's Radiant has little recollection of the grand scale that was the Heroic Spirit who built this place. His name was Solomon." He fell silent after speaking the name, and tilted his cloaked head down slightly. He gripped the ring tightly in his hand, almost squeezing it to keep it safe.
"Solomon became somewhat of a mythological figure in the Radiant histories. He was Galahad's most successful student; the ideal image of a Radiant Heroic Spirit - he refrained from fighting whenever possible, desiring to forge a world of peace and prosperity. Aside from his morals and ethical code, he also became one of the most powerful Radiant Knights in history. His strength came to rival even that of Galahad, obtaining so much of the timeless Prana that he became able to live for decades longer than normal humans. But his most notable achievement was his own Noble Phantasms, forged into ten rings. Collectively they became known as the Seal of Solomon, but they compose ten distinct Noble Phantasms. This place, the Time Temple, is one of them. Ars Paulina." He had rambled for long enough, figuring it would be a good chance to let Shirou catch up on the brief history lesson that the Stargazer had shared with him.
"Solomon became somewhat of a mythological figure in the Radiant histories. He was Galahad's most successful student; the ideal image of a Radiant Heroic Spirit - he refrained from fighting whenever possible, desiring to forge a world of peace and prosperity. Aside from his morals and ethical code, he also became one of the most powerful Radiant Knights in history. His strength came to rival even that of Galahad, obtaining so much of the timeless Prana that he became able to live for decades longer than normal humans. But his most notable achievement was his own Noble Phantasms, forged into ten rings. Collectively they became known as the Seal of Solomon, but they compose ten distinct Noble Phantasms. This place, the Time Temple, is one of them. Ars Paulina." He had rambled for long enough, figuring it would be a good chance to let Shirou catch up on the brief history lesson that the Stargazer had shared with him.
Shirō listened intently as the stranger divulged a number of details that meant little to him, for now, but would surely become clearer once he fully understood the grasp of Galahad's world. As the figure explained he was but a mere observer, Shirō wished to ask why. If things were as bad as the grandiosity of his words implied, why would he merely watch? If he could save people by tipping the balance, why wouldn't he? That's what a "hero" would do... But perhaps this person's definition of victory didn't align with Shirō's... Where the young man quantified victory in the lives he saved, this stargazing stranger saw victory as something beyond the scale of individuals, but on a scale Shirō couldn't bear to comprehend, as it meant abandoning his ideals? As with most things the figure told him, the more he thought, the more confused, or perhaps frustrated, Shirō became, so he remained ever silent, simply listening. Shirō's perception of this individual became more confusing when he mentioned that his "interference" was something that the Grandmaster, the one Shirō knew as Galahad, should be told as little as possible of. That begged the question then... What situation must have occurred to force a mere observer to act? For one sworn to merely watch, to intervene when he would, presumably, otherwise not? Shirō had almost nothing to go off of, but whatever it was, he felt a looming sense of dread...
The stranger switched topics rather quickly however, removing the ring from his hand, and revealing it's exquisite form to the young crafter of pale imitations. Just by looking at it, Shirō could tell it was unique. Shirō had spent quite a bit of his life admiring weapons, and understanding how both simple and complex systems function, but that ring... He couldn't tell a single thing about it. Not the materials it was made of, nor it's purpose, or the process used to create it. It was unfathomable to him, but nothing about the Ring was fathomable... And Shirō came to recognize very quickly why he couldn't understand anything about it, for it dealt in realms beyond his own comprehension. If he understood it correctly, the way the stranger described it, it was like the Ring itself was "container", "key" and "door" for the very dimension they were stood within, which was but a mere fragment of a much larger dimension, which shared a bond with a mysterious energy that transcended the laws of reality itself. Shirō also realized that the Throne before them was just that, a seat. The "Throne" the figure mentioned before in relation to the time Shirō had spent asleep was actually time spent within this "larger" dimension.
As he began to create a general understanding of how things worked here, Shirō then recieved the first part of a history lesson of the Knights Radiant. Though they have little knowledge of it any longer, there was once a Radiant known as Solomon who rivalled the strength of Galahad himself, and yet, even with such power, his goal was equally virtuous. To create a world where people knew no war or strife. A role model of the highest calibre, who equalled, or perhaps even succeeded Galahad himself. Shirō couldn't help but feel a certain kinship, despite never meeting the man, as he strived to be just as morally just, and virtuous, though, Shirō knew he still had quite the journey ahead of him before he became even half the man either Solomon or Galahad were. Shirō's next revelation came in the knowledge that the energy the Reality Marble and Throne were forged out of, or consisted of, was "timeless". That then explained how Shirō lived, despite his injuries. He was "frozen" in time upon being saved by Galahad, probably until this figure stepped in, and, as Shirō already witnessed, healed him. After all, being kept in stasis wasn't exactly "repairing" him, merely preventing his condition from worsening. That meant that, despite the apparent kidnapping, Shirō owed this stranger his life even more than he already did. The last piece of information related to Solomon's creations themselves, the tightly clutched Ring being one of them, the "Ars Paulina". Though he felt like he had no right to comment, he thought the name perfectly reflected the beauty of the world around them. "Time Temple" simply did not do this place justice... The final piece of knowledge Shirō recieved was the extent pf Solomon's power, to manage to create 10 rings, each containing just as much effort, and surely more strength than the observatory Ars Paulina constituted. That then begged the question, where were the rest? But it was a question that had to wait, for among all of the information Shirō had front-loaded upon him, two questions stood out among the sea of potential avenues of questioning. Shirō then took into careful consideration how he even phrased the following questions, as despite their potentially offensive nature, Shirō was truly glad this person acted in the way he did... He felt as though he were missing key pieces of information and events the Stargazer hadn't yet omitted.
Though his tone almost screamed of an accusatory one, Shirō didn't believe for even a second that the stargazer had done anything himself, in fact, he convinced that it was the opposite, which he made clear in his second question.
Shirō had answered the final part of his own question before he had even finished uttering it. It was almost assuredly because the alternative, to continue to only observe, meant something far worse would happen... But the specifics were unknown to the virtual outsider. Before he awoke from his stasis induced coma, Shirō knew nothing of Radiants or Prana, Noble Phantasms or Reality Marbles, Solomon, or even Galahad. The Stargazer seemed desperate if he was including a Radiant Neophyte in this tale of ancient, powerful relics, alternate realities, a dream of universal peace and prosperity, and struggle as old as humanity and time itself... Unfortunately, perhaps for both of them, Shirō was more than ready and willing to step in and do his part, without so much as a second thought.
The stranger switched topics rather quickly however, removing the ring from his hand, and revealing it's exquisite form to the young crafter of pale imitations. Just by looking at it, Shirō could tell it was unique. Shirō had spent quite a bit of his life admiring weapons, and understanding how both simple and complex systems function, but that ring... He couldn't tell a single thing about it. Not the materials it was made of, nor it's purpose, or the process used to create it. It was unfathomable to him, but nothing about the Ring was fathomable... And Shirō came to recognize very quickly why he couldn't understand anything about it, for it dealt in realms beyond his own comprehension. If he understood it correctly, the way the stranger described it, it was like the Ring itself was "container", "key" and "door" for the very dimension they were stood within, which was but a mere fragment of a much larger dimension, which shared a bond with a mysterious energy that transcended the laws of reality itself. Shirō also realized that the Throne before them was just that, a seat. The "Throne" the figure mentioned before in relation to the time Shirō had spent asleep was actually time spent within this "larger" dimension.
As he began to create a general understanding of how things worked here, Shirō then recieved the first part of a history lesson of the Knights Radiant. Though they have little knowledge of it any longer, there was once a Radiant known as Solomon who rivalled the strength of Galahad himself, and yet, even with such power, his goal was equally virtuous. To create a world where people knew no war or strife. A role model of the highest calibre, who equalled, or perhaps even succeeded Galahad himself. Shirō couldn't help but feel a certain kinship, despite never meeting the man, as he strived to be just as morally just, and virtuous, though, Shirō knew he still had quite the journey ahead of him before he became even half the man either Solomon or Galahad were. Shirō's next revelation came in the knowledge that the energy the Reality Marble and Throne were forged out of, or consisted of, was "timeless". That then explained how Shirō lived, despite his injuries. He was "frozen" in time upon being saved by Galahad, probably until this figure stepped in, and, as Shirō already witnessed, healed him. After all, being kept in stasis wasn't exactly "repairing" him, merely preventing his condition from worsening. That meant that, despite the apparent kidnapping, Shirō owed this stranger his life even more than he already did. The last piece of information related to Solomon's creations themselves, the tightly clutched Ring being one of them, the "Ars Paulina". Though he felt like he had no right to comment, he thought the name perfectly reflected the beauty of the world around them. "Time Temple" simply did not do this place justice... The final piece of knowledge Shirō recieved was the extent pf Solomon's power, to manage to create 10 rings, each containing just as much effort, and surely more strength than the observatory Ars Paulina constituted. That then begged the question, where were the rest? But it was a question that had to wait, for among all of the information Shirō had front-loaded upon him, two questions stood out among the sea of potential avenues of questioning. Shirō then took into careful consideration how he even phrased the following questions, as despite their potentially offensive nature, Shirō was truly glad this person acted in the way he did... He felt as though he were missing key pieces of information and events the Stargazer hadn't yet omitted.
"I've just got one issue, or two really, about all of this... First, if he was as strong and just as you say, how could the Radiants forget someone like Solomon? You said he even rivalled Galahad, didn't you? That he was his best student? Surely at least he remembers Solomon then? But then... You also said his existence was 'washed' from memory... Well, nothing's ever washed if no one cleans it. So, in that case...Who was the one doing the cleaning?"
Though his tone almost screamed of an accusatory one, Shirō didn't believe for even a second that the stargazer had done anything himself, in fact, he convinced that it was the opposite, which he made clear in his second question.
"Secondly... What's happened now that's forced you to break your oath as an observer, and interact directly like this? Why tell me about Solomon, or his Noble Phantasms, especially when it sounds like you let their existence fade from memory in the first place? The way you sound... It's almost like doing this could have serious ramifications, not just for yourself as a holder of one of his Noble Phantasms, but for the Radiants, or even the world itself... So why then? What could possibly be worth that risk?"
Shirō had answered the final part of his own question before he had even finished uttering it. It was almost assuredly because the alternative, to continue to only observe, meant something far worse would happen... But the specifics were unknown to the virtual outsider. Before he awoke from his stasis induced coma, Shirō knew nothing of Radiants or Prana, Noble Phantasms or Reality Marbles, Solomon, or even Galahad. The Stargazer seemed desperate if he was including a Radiant Neophyte in this tale of ancient, powerful relics, alternate realities, a dream of universal peace and prosperity, and struggle as old as humanity and time itself... Unfortunately, perhaps for both of them, Shirō was more than ready and willing to step in and do his part, without so much as a second thought.
An inquisitive one, armed with fair questions. He decided he would answer honestly, but with particular reservations. "While Galahad preserved his memory, he does not steer historical memory toward it, nor does he set it as the standard for the Knight's Radiant. It is a nigh impossible standard to compete with. On top of that, nearly three hundred years have passed since Solomon's age. Twelve generations of Knights have grown up and passed away. Perhaps the biggest reason is me. Before his death, Solomon entrusted his Seal with me. He felt that such power should not remain in the hands of humanity, fearing that the endless cycle of strife would eventually claim his Noble Phantasms." Merlin's face turned sullen, almost guilty. He fumbled around with the single ring in his hands before responding to Shiro's second, and arguably more important, question.
"Like I said, I was not the holder of only one - but all ten. I've brought you here, without your Grandmaster's knowledge, because this generation of Knight's Radiant, no, of all Surgebinders, face an unprecedented crisis. A crisis that could engulf the entire world in fire and fury, and destroy the very foundations of humanity." Solomon's face turned grim, his eyes fixated on Shirou's, a stony and serious gaze overtook the once joyous and carefree Stargazer. "Someone has stolen nine of the ten Rings of Solomon." The words were spoken so bluntly, yet to Merlin they carried the force of meteors.
While Shiro would not understand the true depth of the potential disaster that loomed with the Seal of Solomon in the hands of an outsider, Merlin's voice itself would echo the grave threat. "The terminology will escape you, but please bear with me. This is information that must be carried to Galahad. Like I said before, the Time Temple is a shard of the Throne; a mere portion of an entirely separate dimension. As someone who is no Surgebinder, I am able to move to and from Ars Paulina with this ring. A week ago, an intruder attempted to force their way into Ars Paulina. Something that I thought was normally impossible. Ars Paulina had been largely forgotten in Radiant history because the Seal of Solomon was hidden away. The attempt to brute force their way into the Time Temple failed...but their persistence had not. Moments after the disruption occurred, the entire Temple momentarily ceased to function as a Reality Marble. Even my knowledge fails me, a rare moment indeed..." He laughed and scratched the back of his head. In a time of dire crisis, the self-deprecating laugh at his own failure seemed to be the only comfort he could derive from himself given the circumstances. "To this day, and after countless hours of attempting to bring meaning to what I formerly thought of as impossible, I still only have one theory as to what happened. The Reality Marble itself, Ars Paulina, temporarily ceased to function because it was interfered with from the outside...from within the Greater Throne itself. It likely means, almost certainly, that the intruder is a Surgebinder themselves. But...even I have no knowledge of who this could possibly be. Only Galahad and his sister could perform such a feat, navigating the nigh infinite ethereal sea of Prana. Because Ars Paulina ceased to function...I was left in stasis in the Greater Throne. I can only imagine that in this defenseless time, the intruder stole nine of the ten rings. They were likely unable to find Ars Paulina. But the other nine...." By now, Shirou's body would have adjusted to the Prana in the Throne. He would be, unknown to himself, attuned to the Throne and Prana allowing his body to become a doorway to the Throne.
So at this point in the training, Shirou's body has become attuned to the Throne. This enables you access to Surgebinder's basic passive skill. This skill allows Prana to exist in Shirou's body at all times, causing any foreign energy or chakra inserted into him to be transported to the Throne. This means illusions cannot take effect before they are transported as well. It is a potent passive ability. Additionally, it also becomes latent in all of your skills.
So of course you'll also be able to pick your Prana color. I'll leave that to you (see clan submission for details on colors depending on your faction, in your case Radiant). This passive coloration is also introduced into all of your techniques to have a passive cosmetic effect on them.
So now for the training portion of this post. Now that Shirou is attuned to the Throne, it will soon be possible for you to use the Era of Gods - our most basic technique. But before then, it is important to understand what Prana is and how it works. So, we'll start with a basic question. What even is Prana and how does it work?
"Like I said, I was not the holder of only one - but all ten. I've brought you here, without your Grandmaster's knowledge, because this generation of Knight's Radiant, no, of all Surgebinders, face an unprecedented crisis. A crisis that could engulf the entire world in fire and fury, and destroy the very foundations of humanity." Solomon's face turned grim, his eyes fixated on Shirou's, a stony and serious gaze overtook the once joyous and carefree Stargazer. "Someone has stolen nine of the ten Rings of Solomon." The words were spoken so bluntly, yet to Merlin they carried the force of meteors.
While Shiro would not understand the true depth of the potential disaster that loomed with the Seal of Solomon in the hands of an outsider, Merlin's voice itself would echo the grave threat. "The terminology will escape you, but please bear with me. This is information that must be carried to Galahad. Like I said before, the Time Temple is a shard of the Throne; a mere portion of an entirely separate dimension. As someone who is no Surgebinder, I am able to move to and from Ars Paulina with this ring. A week ago, an intruder attempted to force their way into Ars Paulina. Something that I thought was normally impossible. Ars Paulina had been largely forgotten in Radiant history because the Seal of Solomon was hidden away. The attempt to brute force their way into the Time Temple failed...but their persistence had not. Moments after the disruption occurred, the entire Temple momentarily ceased to function as a Reality Marble. Even my knowledge fails me, a rare moment indeed..." He laughed and scratched the back of his head. In a time of dire crisis, the self-deprecating laugh at his own failure seemed to be the only comfort he could derive from himself given the circumstances. "To this day, and after countless hours of attempting to bring meaning to what I formerly thought of as impossible, I still only have one theory as to what happened. The Reality Marble itself, Ars Paulina, temporarily ceased to function because it was interfered with from the outside...from within the Greater Throne itself. It likely means, almost certainly, that the intruder is a Surgebinder themselves. But...even I have no knowledge of who this could possibly be. Only Galahad and his sister could perform such a feat, navigating the nigh infinite ethereal sea of Prana. Because Ars Paulina ceased to function...I was left in stasis in the Greater Throne. I can only imagine that in this defenseless time, the intruder stole nine of the ten rings. They were likely unable to find Ars Paulina. But the other nine...." By now, Shirou's body would have adjusted to the Prana in the Throne. He would be, unknown to himself, attuned to the Throne and Prana allowing his body to become a doorway to the Throne.
So at this point in the training, Shirou's body has become attuned to the Throne. This enables you access to Surgebinder's basic passive skill. This skill allows Prana to exist in Shirou's body at all times, causing any foreign energy or chakra inserted into him to be transported to the Throne. This means illusions cannot take effect before they are transported as well. It is a potent passive ability. Additionally, it also becomes latent in all of your skills.
So of course you'll also be able to pick your Prana color. I'll leave that to you (see clan submission for details on colors depending on your faction, in your case Radiant). This passive coloration is also introduced into all of your techniques to have a passive cosmetic effect on them.
So now for the training portion of this post. Now that Shirou is attuned to the Throne, it will soon be possible for you to use the Era of Gods - our most basic technique. But before then, it is important to understand what Prana is and how it works. So, we'll start with a basic question. What even is Prana and how does it work?
Up until the moment the Stargazer revealed his reason for interfering, as per Shirō's request, the Radiant in training had kept a level head, and intrigued expression on his face, as though he cared for nothing else at the time. But when the stranger informed Shirō he was once the holder of all ten rings, and that all others, save for the sanctuary they stood within, had been stolen, Shirō understood the gravity of the situation. While he knew nothing about them, for just one of the Rings to possess the ability to bend reality to the extent it could create it's own pocket dimension, that no one else could enter without access to the Phantasm itself, along with the assumption that not all of the Noble Phantasms would be the equivalent of an "observatory", Shirō could see why one sworn to merely gaze over humanity as though they were a distant constellation would be forced to act. Additionally, the request to tell Galahad the barest minimum of this encounter also made sense, to a degree. But Shirō took another, seemingly more personal, piece of information to heart. As the stranger mentioned that the world would be engulfed in flame, Shirō's eyes widened as his fists began to instinctively shake, and uttered whispers beneath his breath.
"The world would be... Engulfed by that... That Hell?"
As the Stargazer continued, stating that the majority of his words would go over Shirō's head, the latter endeavoured to make a liar out of the seemingly reluctant saviour of humanity. As he gave the stranger his undivided, driven attention, Shirō did all he could to hold back even the faintest traces of fear. As Merlin recounted the failed assault to infiltrate Ars Paulina, and the successful, yet inadvertent disruption of the Reality Marble's "pocket dimension" state, seemingly temporarily merging it with the "Throne", Shirō was provided another subtle hint as to this figures identity. For if he wasn't a Surgebinder, who could apparently live forever, and if not, at least live extremely long lives as was apparently the case with Solomon, then how could the Stargazer live as long as he apparently had? Did Ars Paulina provide the aforementioned stasis/ timeless qualities of Prana, or was he something else entirely? A question that temporarily took the back seat however, as the revelation that Galahad has a sister was, somehow, more interesting. If a mere student of Galahad's was as strong as Shirō was being led to believe, then just imagining how someone with the same blood as the Grandmaster compared to Solomon was enough to give him chills. With everything in mind, once it seemed as though he was done explaining the extent of the danger, Shirō presented yet more questions...
Once he finished, a pause filled the air, before Shirō continued.
Shirō knew the man did not have to answer that question, as it was a personal one that was only brought up out of the personal curiosity. But with the opportunity to satiate it given, Shirō continued.
Unable to even fathom the inner machinations of someone he didn't even really know, Shirō instead inquired about their second line of questioning, though as he knew about as much about as his sister as he did Galahad, the questioning remained speculative and hypothetical, rather than accusatory.
I'll do my best to do the CC justice, but Prana is, essentially, a unique form of ethereal energy that has numerous properties/ applications, the most prevalent, and probably coolest, is it's ability to convert and transfer just about anything it comes into contact with into the Throne, the dimension it exists in/ comes from. Another property of Prana is it's ability to affect a Surgebinder specifically. Once they are taken to the Throne, and their bodies acclimatize to the Prana (as you stated I have at the end of your RP in the last post), a Surgebinder's body becomes both a beacon and a doorway for Prana to enter the material/ real world. This, along with the fact that Prana converts anything it touches into Prana, then transports it to the Throne, means that the user becomes immune to influence from external forms of Chakra, like taking in Natural Energy, being affected by Genjutsu, being healed by Medical Ninjutsu from other Shinobi, etc. Another benefit, though purely cosmetic, is that Prana's presence within the Chakra Network makes the user's Chakra, and their techniques, change colour to reflect their emotions, goals, convictions, etc, or more specifically, their alignment within the Surgebinders, with Radiants being brighter colours like blue, yellow, etc, while Fallen are much darker, like blacks, reds, etc, and Divergent being somewhere in-between. I already chose my Prana colour on my bio, so I don't need to worry about that here, **winky face**. There are more advanced properties/ applications of Prana, but they involve the Surges, which I'm a bit too early for at the moment, so I hope that's enough to show my understanding of Prana for the moment.
You must be registered for see images
"The world would be... Engulfed by that... That Hell?"
As the Stargazer continued, stating that the majority of his words would go over Shirō's head, the latter endeavoured to make a liar out of the seemingly reluctant saviour of humanity. As he gave the stranger his undivided, driven attention, Shirō did all he could to hold back even the faintest traces of fear. As Merlin recounted the failed assault to infiltrate Ars Paulina, and the successful, yet inadvertent disruption of the Reality Marble's "pocket dimension" state, seemingly temporarily merging it with the "Throne", Shirō was provided another subtle hint as to this figures identity. For if he wasn't a Surgebinder, who could apparently live forever, and if not, at least live extremely long lives as was apparently the case with Solomon, then how could the Stargazer live as long as he apparently had? Did Ars Paulina provide the aforementioned stasis/ timeless qualities of Prana, or was he something else entirely? A question that temporarily took the back seat however, as the revelation that Galahad has a sister was, somehow, more interesting. If a mere student of Galahad's was as strong as Shirō was being led to believe, then just imagining how someone with the same blood as the Grandmaster compared to Solomon was enough to give him chills. With everything in mind, once it seemed as though he was done explaining the extent of the danger, Shirō presented yet more questions...
"So if I'm understanding you right... Someone with considerable strength, and control over Prana, attempted to "enter" this place, and failed. But, for some reason, as a result of this attempt, Ars Paulina was somehow disrupted, forcing it to become a part of the Throne itself, and you, not being a Radiant, were left in the same state I was, frozen in place, while whoever was responsible stole the other Rings, Ars Paulina being the only exception as you seem to have it on you at all times. Do I have that all right?"
Once he finished, a pause filled the air, before Shirō continued.
"If so... Then, if you're not a Radiant, what are you? If you've lived as long as you claim, I doubt you're a regular human... Does this have something to do with the Time Temple? Is it because it's made out of the same timeless energy the Throne is, that it keeps you in a state of stasis, or something?"
Shirō knew the man did not have to answer that question, as it was a personal one that was only brought up out of the personal curiosity. But with the opportunity to satiate it given, Shirō continued.
"If you're convinced it could only be Galahad, or his sister, why not just ask them? You said that even though he doesn't live according to the past, he does remember Solomon, so he'd probably know about his Rings, yeah? Being the Grandmaster of the Radiants, and the one with the most control over Prana, it wouldn't be impossible for him to try and access this Reality Marble, would it? So if he has the prior knowledge and the means, the only question then would be why...?"
Unable to even fathom the inner machinations of someone he didn't even really know, Shirō instead inquired about their second line of questioning, though as he knew about as much about as his sister as he did Galahad, the questioning remained speculative and hypothetical, rather than accusatory.
"What about Galahad's sister? What kind of person is she, and more importantly, where is she? Surely she doesn't have a motive for stealing powerful Noble Phantasms?"
I'll do my best to do the CC justice, but Prana is, essentially, a unique form of ethereal energy that has numerous properties/ applications, the most prevalent, and probably coolest, is it's ability to convert and transfer just about anything it comes into contact with into the Throne, the dimension it exists in/ comes from. Another property of Prana is it's ability to affect a Surgebinder specifically. Once they are taken to the Throne, and their bodies acclimatize to the Prana (as you stated I have at the end of your RP in the last post), a Surgebinder's body becomes both a beacon and a doorway for Prana to enter the material/ real world. This, along with the fact that Prana converts anything it touches into Prana, then transports it to the Throne, means that the user becomes immune to influence from external forms of Chakra, like taking in Natural Energy, being affected by Genjutsu, being healed by Medical Ninjutsu from other Shinobi, etc. Another benefit, though purely cosmetic, is that Prana's presence within the Chakra Network makes the user's Chakra, and their techniques, change colour to reflect their emotions, goals, convictions, etc, or more specifically, their alignment within the Surgebinders, with Radiants being brighter colours like blue, yellow, etc, while Fallen are much darker, like blacks, reds, etc, and Divergent being somewhere in-between. I already chose my Prana colour on my bio, so I don't need to worry about that here, **winky face**. There are more advanced properties/ applications of Prana, but they involve the Surges, which I'm a bit too early for at the moment, so I hope that's enough to show my understanding of Prana for the moment.
Merlin let Shirou fire off his questions without interruption, waiting for him to finish speaking. He simply stood and observed the inquisitive boy's nature, it reminded him of some of his past students in the centuries before Camelot's collapse. "It was certainly a good guess. The Time Temple can be used to halt aging, but that is not this case. It is what is in my blood that separates me from humanity." His answer was intentionally vague, leaving much to be considered from such a brief statement.
"Like I said, I'm but a mere observer. The burden of this trespassing will fall to your generation of knights, both Radiant and Fallen. Since Camelot's collapse, I have remained on the outside of humanity; and that includes Galahad and his family's lives. It is not my place to intervene. But...." He paused, clearly taking a moment to pick his words carefully. "Centuries ago I once promised a young woman that these eyes could see all. She was my student, perhaps one of my greatest. But this time, not even I can see the truth behind this intrusion and theft. So while I believe that the only two capable of such feats are Galahad's family, I never can rule out that of which I cannot see.
Mostly good. So starting with the basics, Prana comes from the Throne and it is an energy that acts as the door to the Throne as well. This is where its ability to transfer non-living objects it comes into contact with to the Throne. Against living targets, the result depends on whether or not they are a Surgebinder or not. Those who aren't are merely frozen solid, either externally or internally depending on how they came in contact with the Prana. Sealing and absorbing directly into the body causes an internal freezing, while just touching it will cause external. As for Surgebinders, living targets will be transported to the Throne.
Now the basis for Prana interactions between techniques is very simple, and leads us into the Surge of Evocation. The Surge of Evocation, the first one you will learn, deals with Prana in its unrefined, raw form. The energy is called forth from the Throne and used for a vast number of purposes like you said, all of which involve taking stuff to the Throne and returning stuff from there. But rather than damage, it relies on Chakra. So Prana is neutral to all elements in its raw form and will interact based only on chakra levels. Anything that is equal to or weaker than it in chakra will be transported to the Throne. While anything higher will just disperse the Prana harmlessly. It's important to note that Prana, while it interacts with Chakra, also respects size and scale. So this means it is a 1:1 ratio between the size of objects Prana can transport. You can't transport a mountain of earth with a small ball of Prana, even if that small ball is S-Rank. You have to use an equally sized mountain of Prana to do that. So let's start with the first technique: the Era of Gods. We'll go section by section, so ask questions as they come up. So start by simply explaining Gates of Babylon, and asking your questions.
(Kanki: Kigen no Kamigami) – Surge of Evocation: Era of Gods
"Like I said, I'm but a mere observer. The burden of this trespassing will fall to your generation of knights, both Radiant and Fallen. Since Camelot's collapse, I have remained on the outside of humanity; and that includes Galahad and his family's lives. It is not my place to intervene. But...." He paused, clearly taking a moment to pick his words carefully. "Centuries ago I once promised a young woman that these eyes could see all. She was my student, perhaps one of my greatest. But this time, not even I can see the truth behind this intrusion and theft. So while I believe that the only two capable of such feats are Galahad's family, I never can rule out that of which I cannot see.
Mostly good. So starting with the basics, Prana comes from the Throne and it is an energy that acts as the door to the Throne as well. This is where its ability to transfer non-living objects it comes into contact with to the Throne. Against living targets, the result depends on whether or not they are a Surgebinder or not. Those who aren't are merely frozen solid, either externally or internally depending on how they came in contact with the Prana. Sealing and absorbing directly into the body causes an internal freezing, while just touching it will cause external. As for Surgebinders, living targets will be transported to the Throne.
Now the basis for Prana interactions between techniques is very simple, and leads us into the Surge of Evocation. The Surge of Evocation, the first one you will learn, deals with Prana in its unrefined, raw form. The energy is called forth from the Throne and used for a vast number of purposes like you said, all of which involve taking stuff to the Throne and returning stuff from there. But rather than damage, it relies on Chakra. So Prana is neutral to all elements in its raw form and will interact based only on chakra levels. Anything that is equal to or weaker than it in chakra will be transported to the Throne. While anything higher will just disperse the Prana harmlessly. It's important to note that Prana, while it interacts with Chakra, also respects size and scale. So this means it is a 1:1 ratio between the size of objects Prana can transport. You can't transport a mountain of earth with a small ball of Prana, even if that small ball is S-Rank. You have to use an equally sized mountain of Prana to do that. So let's start with the first technique: the Era of Gods. We'll go section by section, so ask questions as they come up. So start by simply explaining Gates of Babylon, and asking your questions.
(Kanki: Kigen no Kamigami) – Surge of Evocation: Era of Gods
Type: Offensive/Defensive/Supplementary
Rank: D-S
Range: Short-Long
Chakra Cost: 10-40
Damage Points: N/A
Description: This technique encompasses the basic applications of the Surge of Evocation. The Surge of Evocation is the usage of Prana in its raw and unrefined form; whatever this Prana touches is transformed into ethereal energy and transported to the Throne. Prana will neutralize and be neutralized by techniques that possess the same amount of chakra. Similarly it will be useless against attacks of greater chakra and will not be weakened by techniques of lower chakra. However when used on living targets this ambient energy will feel extremely frigid to the touch and induce cold burns on contact or even freeze a target solid for higher ranked applications. D to B-Rank uses will inflict cold burns as well as all of the effects of frostbite. A-Rank uses will cause necrosis of the afflicted parts of the body, making them appear dark purple and bruised to signify the death of cells. Affected appendages and organs will cease to function, becoming completely immobile in the case of limbs. S rank uses will freeze the struck targets solid. In the case of Surgebinders, who are immune to all of the above effects, they will be transported to the Throne when struck by the prana of another member of their clan. Era of Gods can be split into three separate applications, all based on the same principle: constructs, armors, and familiars made of prana energy.
Pride of Gilgamesh – Gates of Babylon
The Pride of Gilgamesh allows the user to produce Prana either from the user’s body or on the battlefield. The Prana can only be manifested within short-range of the opponent if the user is also within that range, in which it must be created a minimum of one meter away. This restriction does not apply if the user chooses to release the Prana from their body, rather than manifest it away from themselves. The energy can be released from the body via various hand signs depending on the user's rank in the clan. This can be done to generate constructs bound only by the rank of technique used and one’s imagination; alternatively the user can simplify the application by creating streams, waves, and constructs of Prana. Manifested Prana is capable of taking solid form, granting tangibility at the user’s volition. Non-projectile uses of this technique are capable of levitating and can be governed through mental commands and a sustained chakra cost. B-Ranks and below are sustained through 5 chakra per turn, A-Ranks and above require 10 chakra per turn. Created constructs will last three turns per usage unless they are prematurely cancelled. S-Rank applications can only be used once every three turns and no Prana in the user’s next turn.
Embrace of Ishtar – Armory of Akkadia
This variant allows the user to manifest armors, auras, and coatings of Prana around their body. This can be used to enshroud a single or multiple body parts in a layer of colored energy. These defenses can be made to fit the body like conventional armors or enveloping it in a formless manner. The first type can be created with additional limbs and appendages such as wings which enable flight. The user can also constantly reshape it and create small-scale weapons from the body of the armor, though at the cost of one of the user's three moves. It should be noted that these constructs remain attached to the main body of the armor and so act as an extension of it. The second type generates a “flowing aura” that appears to flicker like an open flame. This aura is often made as an upwards column that is streamed into the sky with its base remaining around the user. It should be noted that its power is not split or divided as all of the Prana energy is part of one whole. The armors can exhibit tangibility, although this does not hinder the user’s techniques and their passing which can freely move in and out of the armor per the user’s will. B-Rank and below applications require being sustained with 5 chakra per turn while A and S Ranks require 10 chakra per turn. This technique can last a maximum of three turns. S-Rank applications can be used twice per battle. After an S-Rank application expires the user is unable to utilize Prana single turn.
Divinity of Merlin – Garden of Avalon
The Divinity of Merlin allows the user to produce Prana in the same way as the Pride of Gilgamesh and can be shaped in the same way, limited by rank and imagination. However, unlike the Pride of Gilgamesh which creates static constructs the Divinity of Merlin creates constructs imbued with a limited form of sentience – familiars. These familiars can be created anywhere on the battlefield, with the exception of short-range of the opponent unless the user is also within that range; in this case the familiar cannot be created within two meters of the opponent. This restriction does not apply if the user chooses to release the Prana from their body. Familiars are capable of taking numerous shapes, not simply limited to animals. These familiars are also capable of taking solid form at the user’s volition. Familiars are capable of remaining on the battlefield for four turns. B-Ranks and below are sustained through 5 chakra per turn, A-Ranks and above require 10 chakra per turn. S-Rank applications can only be used twice times per battle and no Prana in the user’s next turn.
Note: The upper echelon of the clan (Servants and above) are capable of using this technique without hand signs for B-rank and below. A-rank will require two hand signs and S-rank requires three.
Note: The lower tier clan members (Phantasms to Guardians) will require 5 to 3 hand seals for all ranks, decreasing as they they ascend in rank.
Rank: D-S
Range: Short-Long
Chakra Cost: 10-40
Damage Points: N/A
Description: This technique encompasses the basic applications of the Surge of Evocation. The Surge of Evocation is the usage of Prana in its raw and unrefined form; whatever this Prana touches is transformed into ethereal energy and transported to the Throne. Prana will neutralize and be neutralized by techniques that possess the same amount of chakra. Similarly it will be useless against attacks of greater chakra and will not be weakened by techniques of lower chakra. However when used on living targets this ambient energy will feel extremely frigid to the touch and induce cold burns on contact or even freeze a target solid for higher ranked applications. D to B-Rank uses will inflict cold burns as well as all of the effects of frostbite. A-Rank uses will cause necrosis of the afflicted parts of the body, making them appear dark purple and bruised to signify the death of cells. Affected appendages and organs will cease to function, becoming completely immobile in the case of limbs. S rank uses will freeze the struck targets solid. In the case of Surgebinders, who are immune to all of the above effects, they will be transported to the Throne when struck by the prana of another member of their clan. Era of Gods can be split into three separate applications, all based on the same principle: constructs, armors, and familiars made of prana energy.
Pride of Gilgamesh – Gates of Babylon
The Pride of Gilgamesh allows the user to produce Prana either from the user’s body or on the battlefield. The Prana can only be manifested within short-range of the opponent if the user is also within that range, in which it must be created a minimum of one meter away. This restriction does not apply if the user chooses to release the Prana from their body, rather than manifest it away from themselves. The energy can be released from the body via various hand signs depending on the user's rank in the clan. This can be done to generate constructs bound only by the rank of technique used and one’s imagination; alternatively the user can simplify the application by creating streams, waves, and constructs of Prana. Manifested Prana is capable of taking solid form, granting tangibility at the user’s volition. Non-projectile uses of this technique are capable of levitating and can be governed through mental commands and a sustained chakra cost. B-Ranks and below are sustained through 5 chakra per turn, A-Ranks and above require 10 chakra per turn. Created constructs will last three turns per usage unless they are prematurely cancelled. S-Rank applications can only be used once every three turns and no Prana in the user’s next turn.
Embrace of Ishtar – Armory of Akkadia
This variant allows the user to manifest armors, auras, and coatings of Prana around their body. This can be used to enshroud a single or multiple body parts in a layer of colored energy. These defenses can be made to fit the body like conventional armors or enveloping it in a formless manner. The first type can be created with additional limbs and appendages such as wings which enable flight. The user can also constantly reshape it and create small-scale weapons from the body of the armor, though at the cost of one of the user's three moves. It should be noted that these constructs remain attached to the main body of the armor and so act as an extension of it. The second type generates a “flowing aura” that appears to flicker like an open flame. This aura is often made as an upwards column that is streamed into the sky with its base remaining around the user. It should be noted that its power is not split or divided as all of the Prana energy is part of one whole. The armors can exhibit tangibility, although this does not hinder the user’s techniques and their passing which can freely move in and out of the armor per the user’s will. B-Rank and below applications require being sustained with 5 chakra per turn while A and S Ranks require 10 chakra per turn. This technique can last a maximum of three turns. S-Rank applications can be used twice per battle. After an S-Rank application expires the user is unable to utilize Prana single turn.
Divinity of Merlin – Garden of Avalon
The Divinity of Merlin allows the user to produce Prana in the same way as the Pride of Gilgamesh and can be shaped in the same way, limited by rank and imagination. However, unlike the Pride of Gilgamesh which creates static constructs the Divinity of Merlin creates constructs imbued with a limited form of sentience – familiars. These familiars can be created anywhere on the battlefield, with the exception of short-range of the opponent unless the user is also within that range; in this case the familiar cannot be created within two meters of the opponent. This restriction does not apply if the user chooses to release the Prana from their body. Familiars are capable of taking numerous shapes, not simply limited to animals. These familiars are also capable of taking solid form at the user’s volition. Familiars are capable of remaining on the battlefield for four turns. B-Ranks and below are sustained through 5 chakra per turn, A-Ranks and above require 10 chakra per turn. S-Rank applications can only be used twice times per battle and no Prana in the user’s next turn.
Note: The upper echelon of the clan (Servants and above) are capable of using this technique without hand signs for B-rank and below. A-rank will require two hand signs and S-rank requires three.
Note: The lower tier clan members (Phantasms to Guardians) will require 5 to 3 hand seals for all ranks, decreasing as they they ascend in rank.
Since it's been literally almost a year, and a lot of things have changed in the clan, story elements, my retconning my bio, etc, I think it's probably best if we put the Roleplay aside for the moment. Cause, if we go off of what's to my knowledge atm, we're training inside your Solomon bio's subconscious, which is not only all kinds of trippy, but also super inaccurate. Not a single, lewd mental image of Sheba to be found anywhere, smh... Anyway, if you're still game, I'll follow your lead, but at this point I'm a bit lost, since I'm in the middle of rewriting my SB bio's history and stuff, and don't know how to reconcile this training with that. Plus, honestly, I just want to get my hands on the damn CCJ and give them a try. ( '-')
So, reading through Era of God's own description at the top of the tech, it basically explains how raw Prana interacts with different things in it's various ways, and how that affects the interacted thing. From frostbite to freezing on regular people, to conversion for objects and other Jutsu, and transportation for other Surgebinders, there's not much to note about that section itself. Very self explanatory, and the same goes for the Chakra and size interactions, as you noted earlier. If you have a boulder the size of a person thrown at you, even if your attack has the same amount of Chakra/ Prana, if you use an attack the size of a baseball, it wouldn't work, as Prana only works through direct interaction, and not everything related to what it's touching. Though that does beg the question if it could be considered valid to use Prana to erase part of a technique, and let it bypass you? Sort of like that old game show where people would have to fit through holes in a wall. Would that be a viable move/ counter?
As for Gates of Babylon, this is fundamental stuff. If Prana was a Custom Element, GoB would be the standard "Release" technique, allowing the user to create constructs and projectiles of varying natures, based on their imagination. Not much to add as it's a very simplistic, but open application.
So, reading through Era of God's own description at the top of the tech, it basically explains how raw Prana interacts with different things in it's various ways, and how that affects the interacted thing. From frostbite to freezing on regular people, to conversion for objects and other Jutsu, and transportation for other Surgebinders, there's not much to note about that section itself. Very self explanatory, and the same goes for the Chakra and size interactions, as you noted earlier. If you have a boulder the size of a person thrown at you, even if your attack has the same amount of Chakra/ Prana, if you use an attack the size of a baseball, it wouldn't work, as Prana only works through direct interaction, and not everything related to what it's touching. Though that does beg the question if it could be considered valid to use Prana to erase part of a technique, and let it bypass you? Sort of like that old game show where people would have to fit through holes in a wall. Would that be a viable move/ counter?
As for Gates of Babylon, this is fundamental stuff. If Prana was a Custom Element, GoB would be the standard "Release" technique, allowing the user to create constructs and projectiles of varying natures, based on their imagination. Not much to add as it's a very simplistic, but open application.
Goetia
Active member
Awards
We'll put off in-character training for the time being then, and if you feel up to it we can resume.
I think that it's possible, but I'd have to double check to be sure.
Now, break down Embrace of Ishtar for me, as you did Pride of Gilgamesh. Ask questions if you have any.
I think that it's possible, but I'd have to double check to be sure.
Now, break down Embrace of Ishtar for me, as you did Pride of Gilgamesh. Ask questions if you have any.
I don't mind. Like I mentioned in the last post, this situation, in terms of the Clan's lore, is kind of implausible. I'm being taught within Solomon's mind, via that CFS he utilizes to achieve Ars Paulina (Spirits of Balance I think). It'd be easier to just get the training out of the way, and save the roleplay stuff for Ninja World, and other more "official" forums.
So Embrace of Ishtar takes the same imagination-based aspect of Pride of Gilgamesh, and utilizes it within a more defensive context, allowing the user to choose between an armor of their choosing, which can be manipulated to provide additional benefits, such as weapons to fight with, or more utilitarian usages, like the given example of wings allowing flight, and additional limbs. Alternatively it can be used to "shroud" the user with a simple cloak, which I imagine would look similar to a Nen shroud from HxH, if a suit of armor isn't your thing. The mentioning of exhibiting properties of tangibility is especially nice when you take the creation of tools and additional parts into consideration. Again, another simple, but very diverse technique. No questions this time.
So Embrace of Ishtar takes the same imagination-based aspect of Pride of Gilgamesh, and utilizes it within a more defensive context, allowing the user to choose between an armor of their choosing, which can be manipulated to provide additional benefits, such as weapons to fight with, or more utilitarian usages, like the given example of wings allowing flight, and additional limbs. Alternatively it can be used to "shroud" the user with a simple cloak, which I imagine would look similar to a Nen shroud from HxH, if a suit of armor isn't your thing. The mentioning of exhibiting properties of tangibility is especially nice when you take the creation of tools and additional parts into consideration. Again, another simple, but very diverse technique. No questions this time.
Goetia
Active member
Awards
Good, do the same for Divinity of Merlin. If you've got any questions, I'll answer them. After that, I'll ask some of my own to make sure your knowledge is up to scratch before we learn the next technique.
Okay, so, Divinity of Merlin is interesting to me, simply because I don't know it's intended purpose. You can create a familiar, with the same imaginative qualities as Gilgamesh and Ishtar, but in this case, it only states they can be given solid form. Unless them performing an attack deals damage equivalent to the Rank their given, I don't see as big of a benefit to using this one, at least when compared to the clearly battle-oriented applications of Gil and Ishtar. It's not a bad application in any sense, I think it would be great for aesthetics, roleplay, etc, but in terms of combat, am I correct in assuming they deal damage equivalent to the Rank you make them? That's the only real question I have for Merlin. Beyond that, I think I understand everything with Era of Gods.
Goetia
Active member
Awards
None of these applications of Prana deal any damage, they each have the absorptive capabilities of Prana when they interact with opposing techniques. Whether its the constructs from Pride of Gilgamesh, the auras/armours of Embrace of Ishtar, or the familiars of Divinity of Merlin, they're all identical in that the Prana can absorb other techniques of equal or less chakra, accounting for size, and they will deal miscellaneous effects should it come into contact with a living person. They don't deal damage in the conventional sense.
The familiars serve the same purpose as other familiar techniques, there's nothing special about them other than being made of Prana.
The familiars serve the same purpose as other familiar techniques, there's nothing special about them other than being made of Prana.
I dunno why I thought these did damage. I think cause I saw the word "weapons" in Ishtar, I just forgot everything else, including the fact "Offensive" isn't part of the template, lol. Anyway, I understand now. Apologies for the loss of intelligence momentarily. I'm ready to answer those questions you have that prove I'm not a colossal idiot.
Goetia
Active member
Awards
1. How much chakra is left in an A-Rank (30 chakra) application of Era of Gods when it interacts with a B-Rank (20 chakra) technique?
2. What happens when an sealing technique capable of sealing S-Rank energy interacts with S-Rank Prana?
3. If I split a single S-Rank (40 chakra) application of Era of Gods into two pieces, how much chakra is in each piece?
2. What happens when an sealing technique capable of sealing S-Rank energy interacts with S-Rank Prana?
3. If I split a single S-Rank (40 chakra) application of Era of Gods into two pieces, how much chakra is in each piece?