Part 2: Flame Poem Arc - Sign

Sign


Memories of ancient days





A shooting star falls form the early dawn sky, a shining light streaming through the dark river of space. The earth's surface would be unfamiliar to modern-day eyes. All who dwell upon it look up. The people. The animals. Even the plants. The comet goes on soaring through the sky.

For all their great speed, most comets appear to hold still in the sky, from the planet's perspective. And so the people believe this one to be another harmless spectacle, a tear-shaped jewel among the stars.

They have no idea that their time on this planet has come to an end.



The surface of the earth is on fire. The planet is on fire.

The catastrophe destroys all civilizations, without clemency or judgment. The beasts of nature suffer horrible mutations, run amok, and ultimately fall to ash.

Prophets protest that the end has come too soon. Rulers call upon their people to fight. Scholars say only that it is too late. A few still cling to hope, believing that at least some of them will endure.



...Until the true threat makes its appearance.












Welcome to the tutorial bit. As expected of musou-style games, the gameplay is pretty hack-and-slash simple. Square launches your typical weak, fast attacks, whereas triangle throws out more powerful, but considerably slower attacks. By combining square and triangle, you can perform various combo moves, several of which I show off in this brief bit. X is your jump button. A Servant can jump up to three times, and can get considerable hangtime.

There's no particular goal to this tutorial. Just kill and kill and kill.



Circle will launch what are called Extella Maneuvers. When you've got at least one blue bar filled in that gauge beneath your Servant's life bar, you can press circle to begin the attack. While in the attack, you are impervious from attack, they will interrupt any enemy action, and, if you have more than one bar filled, you can press circle a bunch more to continue the attack and add on even more hits and damage. As you might expect, this is enormously helpful for dealing large amounts of damage to single targets or destroying large hordes of enemies. The gauge will charge with normal attacks.



...We'll get to this a bit later. For now, just enjoy the animation.




















That is all that remains of the ancients' final records. After the passing of 30 sunsets, or perhaps a few more, mankind's ancestors accept their end. Only one fleeting warning survives for future generations.







Fate/extella OP












The Master












...The darkness is colossal. Imagine a deep hole, growing and swelling, nothingness spreading out to blind your eyes and eat at your heart. The sheer scale of it all... It's difficult to put into words.



The stone monument of Altamira. The titan of Sephyr. This is...the magnitude of the being who can destroy even the Moon! We have no choice but to slay her. We are prisoners, and this is the only way to be free. You are the one. You have to do it! Don't you see?! This is why the Regalia exists. This is why the Moon Cell exists!



It's glaring at you. It's targeting you. You should realize that without being told. You can see that the glowing points of light are its "eyes". A giant shadow from the unknown. It's looking at you.

"That giant is shadow is not a Servant." That's what your nature, your Soul, screams. "But it's not an enemy program." Your Mind, your experiences, scream that out with conviction. All that comes from your Body, your instincts, is a cry of wordless terror on your quivering tongue.



It's coming. It's here. The giant shadow spreads out with overwhelming speed.

With that much mass and velocity...its kinetic energy is on par with a plane crash. How much damage could it do to SE.RA.PH? A thought runs through your head: "There's no way this ends well."

There is only an instant before the darkness engulfs all. Just as in the records, and the warnings, the Moon witnessed long ago.

So I'll ask you one last time. Someone with nothing to look back on. Someone who has nothing to flash in front of your eyes. An empty shell. Was that what you were?

...Are you...really that kind of creature?



"No, I'm not..." That's what my Soul screams out. "Something's there..." That's what my Mind screams out. "Something irreplaceable..." That's what my Body screams out.





In that moment, a voice illuminates the darkness. I see a gleaming light.

It's like daybreak. The titan disappears, and the darkness shatters. The voice and the light approach me...



My eyes become faint. Farewell to my righteous self. An old story that sent my consciousness drifting. ...The fond memories of the Moon end here.



The overload from the connection with the Moon Cell core -or should I say the Holy Grail- temporarily damaged your memory. On top of that, your data has been destroyed. Your condition is critical. We need to restore your data as quickly as possible. First, we need to scan your value. This may give you a slight shock, but please, try to hold still.

(Label) Victor of the Holy Grail War (Category) Exempt from Measurement Refusal Right: Y (Quality) E- Next, I'll need to confirm your identity. Please input your name.



This game does allow you to input your own name, but the weird thing is that even though she's (only in the most technical sense) a silent protagonist, Hakuno is a character with personality, and talks to other characters, so I'm pretty sure she's not a character you're supposed to project yourself onto. It's an odd situation.

Now, technically speaking, you could choose the MC's gender (they're both called Hakuno Kishinami) before the above prologue scenes, but I didn't want to break the flow. In addition, the title card for the first arc of this game also popped up before the prologue scenes, but again, flow.

As for why I went with a girl? No particular reason. Basically everything about the game is the same, but I'm of the opinion that several scenes in this game become more entertaining with a female protagonist. And I just like how she looks more than the male protagonist.

...Very good. No problems, then. Congratulations, Hakuno Kishinami. Champion of the Moon Cell Automaton. Let me clean up around here. Your throne awaits...




Eyes open

I'm sitting in a chair. Was I...sleeping sitting up? As I raise my head up, my joints ache. I must have been in this pose for a few hours, at least.





If so, allow me to welcome you back to your beautiful home.



A woman in red stands proudly in front of me. From the bottom of my heart, I feel a sigh of relief. Her golden hair. Her slender body. The name of this beloved woman, together with whom I have overcome so many battles, is...

..What is her name?

Hm? Is something the matter, Praetor? Does your head hurt? ...Hm. Perhaps you've been working too hard lately. I admire the diligent, but if you take ill, your work will suffer. And I'd rather not have to work alone. It's quite boring, you know.

Even in her formal demeanor, I can feel her warmth and affection...but something's wrong. I know her very well. She's the most important person in the world to me. But even so, I can't remember her name. Do I have amnesia?

Even if I do...I can at least remember what I first called her. Saber. She's known as the "Heroic Spirit of the Sword," and as the Servant of Hakuno Kishinami. Me.

Hm? All joking aside, is something the matter? Perhaps it would help you wake up if I reintroduced myself? ...Heh. Very well then. Then allow me to repeat my introduction.



Only one Heroic Spirit blossoms with the stars of her glittering sword. I am the Emperor of the Roses, she whose hands are as fair as they are talented. My sword sings with the melody of the Muses. My heart roars like Vulcan's forge to light your way.



And that is how one makes an introduction. If it fosters the bond between us, I'll say it again, as many times as you please.

When I see her smile, I can feel the enjoyment from deep within her heart. That feeling flows through me and starts to clear the fog from my head. I can vaguely remember awkward dreams, far removed from whatever my real memories are. But as long as she's by my side, I know I'll never have to fear or doubt a thing.

Of course, now that we've established my name, and my beauty, what about yourself?

As Saber says those words, I look around the room for the first time. ...What is this?





A throne? I knew I was sitting down, but this is no ordinary chair. All around me, I see...

A room befitting this throne. Complete with carpeted stairs to separate the ruler from his men. Did Saber prepare all this? I suppose it's no surprise if she did. But there's something else...

I feel like I'm missing something important... What exactly happened to me...?

What's the matter, Praetor? Why are you staring, and why haven't you moved? Hm. Had I known this would happen, I would have never let you go to the Moon Cell core by yourself... You slept an entire day upon your return. Something certainly happened there. My Praetor, please tell me everything.

Asleep? For a whole day? And what's the Moon Cell core?

...Do you not remember? Oh, this could be dire... You must have undergone quite a journey... Right. We should discuss this in a more comfortable setting. A place where we can both lie down... None other than "My Room."







...Do you like it? You may call it "My Room", as I do. It was built rather quickly, so pardon me if the amenities are still a bit lacking. For now, please rest yourself. We have much to prepare for. Or perhaps you have other interests. If so, please do not hesitate to ask. It would be my privilege to tell you a bedtime story.



This is the My Room menu, which you'll be seeing a lot. I'll describe each from left to right.

Talk: chat with your Servant. This will start a new scene if there's a green exclamation mark over it, where you can talk to your Servant about something. This is what we'll do whenever it comes up.

Settings: this is where you manage a number of gameplay aspects, though there's not much to do here at the moment. From here, you can change Hakuno's Mystic Code (I'll get to those when it's relevant), skills your Servant is equipped with, and a number of options. If you want, you can also change Hakuno's gender / name here, although I will not be doing that at any point.

Craft Item: you can use in-game currency, called QP, to craft new Mystic Codes, here. Not something we can even access at this point in the game.

Closet: if you have alternate outfits for your Servant, you can equip them here. Nero gets one in-game if you've fulfilled a certain condition, and has two DLC costumes. I have one of those two, and I'll wear it in the latter half of Nero's story. It's really quite nice.

Bed / Fight: basically exits out of the My Room menu. Doing so now will end this particular part of the game, but if the final icon is a pair of swords, that means you'll be taken to the pre-battle menu. To progress in the game, you need to rest. But for now, let's talk with Nero. Rest and explanation

What should I do now? At the very least, I know our names. I'm Hakuno Kishinami. She answers to Saber. We clearly have some kind of relationship, but I don't know the details.

And then there's this place. Where am I? And why does the word "SE.RA.PH" pop into my head when I ask myself that?

Heh... Then allow me to regale you. Lend an ear to the tale of our passionate victory here in the Moon Cell!



For those who are coming into this game without a particular depth of knowledge about the Extra subseries, which did include me the first time I played this game, this is a good option to pick, so we'll do that.



In 2032 A.D., mankind made a discovery on the Moon's surface, and named it the Moon Cell Automaton. It had the power to grant its owner's desires, reshaping reality with a single wish. For that reason, they called it the Holy Grail. It also created beings like me. I am an autonomous electronic life-form in the shape of a Heroic Spirit, also known as a Servant. And those who summon Servants and grant them their powers, in this technological context, are called Wizards. Like you. Servants are more than AI. We are genuine beings made manifest with SE.RA.PH. Put simply, we have souls, and we are alive. Your life force, meanwhile, is tied to the body of a Wizard back on Earth. If your mind dies within SE.RA.PH, the body will die as well. You were thrown into battle as a novice. But you, and the allies you earned, overcame mighty foes and uncovered vast revelations. You fought, and you fought, and you fought. And now... Now, here we are together, in our private lunar abode...

Got all that? Basically, the Moon Cell is a giant supercomputer located on the actual Moon, that sponsored a digital Holy Grail War, a battle between Masters (basically the same as the Wizards Nero just mentioned) and their powerful Servants (128 Masters in all). After many battles, Hakuno was the last Master standing. This Holy Grail War was the story of Fate/EXTRA, which goes a bit more into the backstory of how this all came to happen. It's not particularly important to this game's story.

SE.RA.PH (Serial Phantasm), on the other hand, is everything we see before us. It is the system which allows the summoning of the Servants, the creation of the digital environments, and basically everything else that happens within the Moon Cell. It also created the NPCs, which are referred to but never actually seen in this game. NPCs are those who are neither Masters / Wizards or Servants. There were many in EXTRA, however.

...My memories are still in fragments, but I do recall a few images here and there...

The Holy Grail War. Many Masters and their powerful Servants. NPCs running the war from behind the scenes. So many combatants, but only one winner at the end of it all. And was that winner truly...me?

You did indeed win. You proved your might and advanced to the Moon Cell core. There, you claimed the Holy Grail.

But, that's all she has to say for today. So let's go onto the next day... Or, as much as there IS a "next day" in a digital environment.

There is still much to tell you, but rest should be our first priority. Let us enjoy a bit of calm before the storm.

Sleep sounds good. Even if I am just starting to wake up... As I close my eyes...I realize I have one more question for now.



*giggle* Are you curious? You must be. Rejoice. This is a privilege given to the winner of the Holy Grail War... The Sovereign's Regalia, handed down by the Moon Cell! It symbolizes your Royal Authority within SE.RA.PH. A resplendent treasure, proving me to be the greatest Emperor of all tiiime!



Isn't it? I would have preferred more of rose motif, but it will suffice as it is. And it makes a fine reward for our teamwork! When the Moon Cell bequeathed it to me, I knew it understood the heart of a maiden.

Saber shows off her ring to me. Her joy is so infectious that I want to get up and give her a hug.

Now that we've finished the Holy Grail War, you and I have been given the reward of traveling all over SE.RA.PH... ...Hm? Oh forgive me, I should not overwhelm you all at once. All things in time. Please lie down and rest. Tomorrow, you and I will survey our domain. I look forward to fighting alongside you again, my valiant Master.

At those words, the lights in the room go down. ...As I start to fall asleep, it grows dark outside. Not because of the real sun, but because SE.RA.PH, a Serial Phantasm that mainfests as its own world, wants it to. All actions, even those of nature, have meaning. But human actions are in their own special category, and so Saber and I have taken human form in our digital selves.

...I'm thinking too much. I should take Saber's advice and sleep. I know that when I wake up, a new world will be waiting for me...


Gathering



As promised, I shall guide you through our lands today. We might encounter a few scraps, but consider them practice, if so. Oh, but before that, allow me to introduce our generals. The Regalia officially makes me the King - yes, King - of the Moon Cell. And what is a king without vassals? And so...





...His true name, Cu Chulainn.

Hey, long time no see, missy. We were enemies back in the Holy Grail War, but here we are now. I'm counting on you.

The second general, the Demon Fist Master, without shape or sound! An Assassin known for his first strike, which needs no second strike! ...His true name, Li Shuwen!



"Kaka" is just how the game writes his laughing sound, for the record.

I heard tell of an honest job. I had nowhere to go, so I welcome your hospitality. Take me to any battlefield. I won't complain.

Third, the personification of righteous invincibility! The Knight of the Sun, and a Saber class! ...His true name, Gawain!



...And Hakuno Kishinami, you were quite instructive to my former master Leo. I shall henceforth believe in your righteousness.

Ooh. He has been known to be rather indecisive. No matter. If we need another Saber, I am more than ready myself. And last but not least, the fourth general! The final... Wait. Are we sure this is the right man?

Of course. I'm on your side, aren't I? You chose me? New rules from SE.RA.PH. A certain someone came up, crossed swords a few times, made a pitch, and invited me here. So if you want to hire me, and if you can make it worth my time, I'll follow your contract. And you do have the Regalia, so for us Masterless Servants, your orders are just like Master's orders.

Well it was indeed I who selected the four of you... By the way, were you in the Holy Grail War? You look familiar.

Who knows? I was probably some low-level Heroic Spirit who died in the first round. Doesn't really matter now. By the way, do I not get an intro, Sovereign of the Moon Cell? I mean, as long as I'm pledging my loyalty and all.

O-Of course. Behold, the fourth general! A stranger who wields twin blades. Despite being an Archer class. His true name...is unknown! I...do not know his name. Please stop making that face, Praetor. For some reason, his spirit level cannot be replicated as a Servant. At least, according to his self-report. *ahem* Moving on! These four generals are now my vassals! The Holy Grail War is over, but still these lands grow and change each day. Only I, the King, the Emperor, am fit to possess them! So proclaims the Regalia's Royal Authority!

...I see. So that's what she was talking about. SE.RA.PH is building new lands, and Saber and I are going out to claim them.

Now, all of you, to your posts. The Praetor and I must depart on our outing together...er, our expedition, that is!

No problem. Time to swat down whatever rogue programs pop up. Oh, may I ask one question first, Your Majesty?

What is it? Speak quickly.

You're the one holding the Regalia, right? So shouldn't you be on the throne instead of that little missy there?

Ah, indeed, the throne is the seat of a King. But with all my obligations on the front lines, I have little time for anything else. That is why the one I trust and cherish more than anyone else will always sit there in my place. Besides, my Praetor is both the only remaining Master in SE.RA.PH and the victor of the Holy Grail War. Who else is more worthy? Without my Praetor, I would not be Sovereign. Keep in mind that I do not hold the fate of my domain; Hakuno Kishinami does.

I get it. So not just for show, then. All right, works for me. Well, if you need anything, just give me a call, Master. I can spear things like even the Emperor wouldn't believe.

On that note, if you'll excuse me too... SE.RA.PH's being decoded right now. I should be on the alert for any changes.

If there's any fighting, give me a call. Unlike other Servants, I'm suited for going against people. Just make sure it's a challenge.

I... Hmm, let me check on the AIs who are seeking refuge. They will be your citizens in the SE.RA.PH to come, after all. And a good King is always ready to hear the people's petitions. Now, by your leave...

Ooh. Subordinates or not, they lack cohesion as a unit. If only they could act as one... Well, we can discuss that later. For now, Praetor, let me guide you through the long-awaited new world!

So that cutscene will immediately lead into the first stage of the game, but as per the guidelines set about in the OP, we won't be covering that this update. I will give a brief rundown of the various Servant classes, some of which Nero mentioned. In the larger series, there are quite a few different classes, but in this game, you'll only need to remember 8.

Saber: Heroic Spirits of the Sword. These are famous individuals who were remembered for their peerless swordfighting ability. It is generally considered one of the most powerful Servant classes, as many famous and well-known heroes were known for their skill with a sword.

Archer: Heroic Spirits of the Bow. Now, in Nasu's works, an Archer does not necessarily need to be skilled with a bow. Several don't even use one. Instead, the definition of "Archer" seems to be spirits who are skilled with projectile weaponry. Nameless is skilled with both twin blades and a bow. An individual skilled in firearms would also qualify as an Archer. They are also generally well-known for superb eyesight and scouting ability.

Lancer: Heroic Spirits of the Spear. "Spear" can include both spears and long-bladed weapons like glaives. These are warriors, like Cu Chulainn, who were known as masterful spearmen / women and for their formidable agility. Individuals summoned as Lancers are generally very fast and deadly. Saber, Archer, and Lancer are collectively known as the Knight Classes.

Assassin: Heroic Spirits skilled in silent killing, and of course, assassination. One of the weaker classes, Assassins specialize in targeting Masters instead of Servants. Killing the Master will cut off the flow of mana to the Servant and lead to their disappearance. Early in the Fate series, the only individuals who could be summoned as Assassins were the leaders of the historical Hashashin. This rule has been...relaxed, a bit, as the series has evolved.

Rider: Heroic Spirits of the Mount. These heroes specialize in riding mechanical and mythological beasts, and using them to defeat their enemies. Heroes summoned as Riders are well-known for their ability to ride various mounts to achieve victory, and is one of the most versatile classes.

Caster: Heroic Spirits of Magecraft. These spirits specialize in using magic and spells to achieve victory. Perhaps the weakest of the seven classes, Casters use their considerable ability to change the circumstances, that is, give them more of an advantage over the other 6 classes, with magic.

Berserker: Heroic Spirits of Madness. Individuals known for their madness and ferocity, or even regular heroes who who experienced bouts of insanity, are eligible to be summoned as Berserkers. In exchange for giving up their sanity (and in a few special cases, their ability to speak coherently), they receive the class trait Mad Enhancement, which substantially increases their power. Berserkers, Riders, Caster, and Assassins are collectively known as the Cavalry Classes.

Ruler: one of the Extra Class Servants. Rulers are noble, pure-hearted warriors who, in the context of this game, are summoned by the Moon Cell to keep the Holy Grail War under control, and within certain parameters. Essentially a measure by the Moon Cell to protect itself if things got out of control. They're basically managers of the war.

As for the individual Servants above, Cu Chulainn, Li Shuwen, Gawain, and Nameless, overviews will come later. But that's all the time we have for today. Next time, we begin the first stage proper of the game.