Part 130: Week 4 (Rin Route) Information Matrix - Lancer
Information Matrix - Lancer (True Name Revealed)
Kazikli Bey: Fortress of Impalement posted:
This is this Servant's Noble Phantasm and is synonymous with the Servant himself, who in his previous life was known as Kazikli Voyvoda, or the Impaler Prince. The tortures and horrors released by the multitude of spears that this Noble Phantasm summons inflicts damage equivalent to the immorality and depravity found in the soul of the targeted opponent and can be seen as a form of divine punishment.
During the time of his reign as monarch of Wallachia, Vlad instituted a number of somewhat oppressive and punitive policies aimed at the lower levels of the nobility whom Vlad felt had seriously undermined and destabilized his country with their excessive corruption and political maneuverings. In addition to laws designed to curtail their excesses, he also carried out an unprecedented number of impalings amongst the noble classes.
While many believed he was simply trying to reduce the number of rivals and opponents to his rule, Vlad was shockingly ruthless in his approach to justice, targeting commoners and the upper-class with equal viciousness. His kingdom became a land of horrors, culminating with the 1459 impaling of an emissary from the Ottoman Empire, who survived on the stake for several days before finally succumbing.
According to Vatican records, the number of impalements during his mad reign is believed to have reached close to 100,000...not including the soldiers of defeated armies or other victims from outside of his country.
Vampire...? posted:
A demon said to feed on blood. A being some claim to be of the undead, and painted as evil and ungodly by those who hold to a certain religious view of the world. In addition to the need to feed on the blood of humans, creatures such as this also are seemingly imnortal and are able to control lesser demons.
Dracula posted:
Means "Son of the Dragon." His father was a member of the Order of the Dragon, an organization that originated during the rise of the Holy Roman Empire, and he took this name from his father's legacy.
Aegis of the Divine (A+++) posted:
An ability bestowed upon those who have sacrificed themselves for what they believe to be a greater good. Although obstinately a form of divine protection, it does not necessarily mean that that one has received the blessings of the gods. Instead, it is a manifestation of one's absolute faith and self-righteousness...
However, the more powerful this ability becomes, the more detrimental the effect it has on a person's sanity and personality.
Marshal (A) posted:
Gives one the strength and vitality to escape from even the most dire of situations. It also gives one the ability to successfully retreat to allied territory if defeated.
Seraphic Monstrosity (A) posted:
Dracula. Once the name of a proud family worthy of honor and respect, it is now a name given to a monster whose past has been grossly distorted as a result of his actions in his mortal life. The influence of perception has transformed both his abilities and appearance. Also, this skill cannot be altered or removed.
Character Background posted:
Considered a heroic figure in Romanian history, he was seen as a noble warrior who rebuilt and maintained the kingdom of Wallachia as well as the shield of Christendom against the threat of the Ottoman Empire.
The name Dracula was the most common appellate used when referring to Vlad III during his reign as King of Wallachia. Originally a duke appointed to his office under the auspices of the Eastern Roman Empire, he adopted many of the customs of that country's court, including signing all documents in the early Roman style. The name itself comes from his father's (Vlad II) enrollment into the Order of the Dragon, a monarchial chivalric order founded by Sigismund of Hungary, who later ascended to the throne of the Holy Roman Empire. His father took the surname Dracul and Vlad III appended the "a", signifying that he was "the son of Dracul."
The Order of the Dragon's primary purpose was to defend the Christian world from the increasing influence and might of the Islamic Ottoman Empire, a calling that Vlad III enthusiastically embraced. It is believed by some that he took the name Dracula not only in honor of his father, but as also as an announcement of his intentions of safeguarding all of Christendom against the Turks as the "Son of the Dragon."
In order to protect Wallachia from what he considered the ravaging Turkish hordes, he instituted a series of conscriptions and laws that almost destroyed the noble class and the stability of his realm, as well as resorted to measures considered to be beyond monstrous even by the somewhat barbaric standards of the time. His cruelty and savagery was such that at one point he had over 20,000 captured enemy soldiers impaled in an effort to intimidate his foes. In the end he was betrayed by the nobles he had turned his back on and was assassinated at the age of 46 years old.
Dracula posted:
Known as one of the greatest monsters of modern history, the inevitable distortions and exaggerations of scholars throughout the centuries cannot wholly cover the well-documented horrors and atrocities conmitted by his direct commands. Although he is seen as a hero and savior by some, the lengths he went to preserve the independence of Wallachia and to repel the Turks will forever paint him as an incarnation of satanic evil on Earth.
1462 AD
This was the year in which he first used impaling not only as punishment, but also as a form of psychological warfare in order to slow down the advances of the Turkish invasion into the western kingdoms. With a force of just 10,000 troops, Vlad III made extensive use of what are now known as guerilla and scorched-earth tactics to harass and weaken the enemy forces, which at one points consisted of over 150,000 soldiers. At one point, he drove his forces into the Carpathian Mountains after annihilating the Turkish forces surrounding the city of Bucharest.
The scene that the main Turkish force encountered when they finally arrived to help the city was one of nightmares. Surrounding the entire city was a vast forest comprised entirely of impaled soldiers, some 20,000 in total. It is said that the lines of impaled Turks stretched for kilometers in every direction. The sight of their comrades' bodies impaled on stakes in combination with the overpowering stench of decay broke the morale and spirit of the Turkish army. Even Mehmed II, son of the Turkish sultan and known as the Conqueror, was shaken and ordered his forces to withdraw, saying the following:
"I fear no man alive, but even I cannot hope to fight the devil."
In the end, Vlad III rationalized his brutality and his lack of remorse gave him a battle vision far superior to those he faced. However, his actions made him a pariah amongst even his supporters and his life came to a tragic end due to betrayal.
On an unrelated note, many military historians theorize that Vlad's actions against the Turks are the first time that guerilla warfare tactics made their appearance and that they were the reason for his many successes against a demonstratively superior force. If one is to have so much success defending something only to be repaid with treason and assassination, isn't it reasonable to assume that one would go insane from rage and disappointment?
Battle lines
Battle start
Now then, let the carnival begin.~
cAn'T waIt… cAn't WAiT!~~
Command Select
My wife, a sacrifice has arrived. dELiCIouS, dElIciOUs! (Random)~
Hahaha! We're invincible! My wife, I'll count on you for the seasoning for this feast. MusTArd? kETchUp? MArmAlADe? (High health)~
My wife, it's time for the banquet. (High health)~
thANkS fOr tHE FOoD!! (High health)~
Come at me! Not even your dismemberment will satisfy me now! MiNcEd mEat!! MiNcEd mEaT! MINcEd MeaT! MINCED MEAAAT! (Low health)~
Your vitality is good. Splendid, even. (Low health)~
uGh... i'M... HUngRy... (Low health)~
You immoral fiends! Do you truly believe in your baseless innocence? EveRYOnE's tHe sAme AFTeR aLL, iT's AlL BLACK inSiDe mY sTomACh. (NP ready)~
How could this be? God had mercy on you sinners? I mEaN, I'Ve neVeR SEEn a gOD bEfORe. (NP survived)~~
Commands confirmed
Let my bloodshed show you my love!~~
Normal attacks
Come! (Attack)~
Give praise! (Attack)~
Fool! (Guard)~
Blasphemer! (Break)~
3... StARs! (Extra turn)~
5... StARs! (Consecutive extra turn)~
I'll slaughter you! (Extra attack)~~
Hit reactions
How weak! (Damaged)~
tHE SpOOn... bENt. (Enemy Extra attack)~
Are you testing my faith? (Consecutive enemy Extra attack)~
Ahh, at last... The time to offer up my own body and soul... (Defeated)~~
Abilities
Your aggression will cost you! (Rebellious Intent)~
Thoroughly taste my spear of judgement! (Cursed Lance)~
I shall raise you up as an offering to the heavens! Now die! (Ceremonial Purge)~
My wife, wet your throat with the spilt blood of this sacrifice! Kazikli Bey! (Noble Phantasm)~
Hihihihi! thANkS fOr tHE FOoD!! (seal_break())~
gOtTA sAy GRaCE bEfORe A MeAL! (add_poison())