Hassan's Relationship Chart
William wiped down the workbench, the acrid scent of gunpowder heavy in the air. He had slowly been pushed out of his original 'workshop' after Hassan had complained about the odor of his weapons and makeups getting soaked into her outfits. He was now positioned in what was once the supervisor's office, a small sequestered space overlooking the entirety of the factory floor. Looking down, he could see countless moving shapes in the darkness - spiders of all sizes and species, engorged on his Magical Energy and breeding faster than should be possible over the last week.
It didn't matter that he had been living alongside them since summoning Assassin - just seeing them still made his skin crawl.
He heard a knock behind him, and spun around, gun trained on the only window in the office. His barrel aimed at nothing. Sighing, the older man walked over and unlatched the window, opening it and letting the freezing, grimy London air in.
The young girl crawled inside within an instant, the window silently shutting behind her as she got to her feet. William could have sworn he saw too many limbs on the Assassin - but before he could get a better look, she was turning to face him, masked and bowing.
"Reporting. I've completed the reconnaissance you requested, Master."
"Would it kill ya to use the door? Going to give me a damn heart attack..."
"Confusion. I thought I was being courteous. I knocked, and even revealed myself before entering the room..."
William sighed, with Hassan simply continuing her monotone tirade.
"Persistent. My familiars have observed all participants in the war - or at least, all participants whose presence is of any note." Hassan's voice was as measured as always, though her hair coiled and shifted anxiously. "The information gathered is... concerning. We face multiple Dead Apostles, two of them being Ancestors, and several formidable Masters."
She pauses for several seconds, before continuing.
"Elaborating. That is very bad. An Ancestor is the highest level of Dead Apostle- or, you would call them Vampires. A single one could easily dispatch a group of average servants... Two being in one place is something I have never heard of. Dropping out of the war now would not be something to be ashamed of, Master."
William grimaced slightly, before speaking.
"Bit too late for that now, 'innit? I already got holes in the head, what's a few in the neck? 'Sides, doesn't matter as long as we get the grail first in the end."
Hassan sighed. He clearly didn't understand the gravity of the situation. But compared to the other participants in this Grail War, William and Hassan had a major advantage - they could hide. Hide very well, and very far.
She gestured, and dozens of tiny spiders descended from the ceiling, each carrying scraps of paper, drawings, and notes. They arranged themselves on the workbench in precise patterns, laying down lines of silk or scraps of paper to create an image of the various Masters and Servants - crude at best, but enough to let William identify them on the street.
"Proud. My familiars have been quite thorough. Shall we begin with our analysis?"
Masters:
William Dafoe
The spiders back away, and Hassan mutters a small Arabic phrase under her breath. Within a soft blue light, a small mirror manifests in her hands, which she holds aloft - Williams frowning face is reflected back to himself.
"Prideful. My Master. While ignorant in the ways of Magecraft, his skills are acceptable and his magical energy is unparalleled. Your wardrobe was quite dreadful before summoning me, however..."
"Redundant. I don't need to inform you of your weaknesses, Master. I believe there is only a single other Master in this war you could reliably defeat in combat. Your advantage is magical energy - don't forget that. I can fight far beyond my capabilities, and we need not stay in Oxford and receive support from the Grail. And it is not normal for my Zabaniya to be deployed so long and frequently..."
Ying Yue Aldrich
A small photograph of a noble woman smiling into the camera. She seems to be of Asian descent, and is dressed in the uniform of a Clocktower student.
"Sympathetic. Disregarded by both sides of her family. Yearning for approval that would never come. A melancholic story. But do not fret Master - I'll still kill her for you."
"Wary. At first glance an easy kill. Her magecraft is perceptive, however, and the most likely to detect assassination attempts. While her defenses are minimal, she could potentially buy enough time to sense me and call for her Servant."
Hassan's hair shifts restlessly as she speaks, occasionally forming patterns that mimic the complex magic circles she's observed in Ying's workshop.
"I'll leave her fate up to you, Master."
Griffith le Fay
An amateurish drawing of a man with blue hair in a cloak. Considering the crude details and harsh lining, it was clearly a rush job, in subpar conditions. Hassan retrieves it before insults to her abilities can be given.
"Complimentary. He is a respectable mage - circuits of high quality, strong Foundation and Element, and a representative of one of the three Founding Families. Hm? Teasing. Are you jealous, my Master? Fear not - You're still a superior battery."
"Calculating. On his own, an easy target. His Magecraft is potent, but not enough to combat even an Assassin like me - and he relies far too much on his Mystic Code. Stealing it should be devastating. The issue is his Servant. As long as he is within that territory, we cannot touch him. Even gathering as much information as I did was only possible through my Familiars."
Sabrina Sabanto
Intricate schematics and blueprints, detailing construction and function over any concrete appearance. It describes a female humanoid, with pale skin and hair, and high-grade magic circuits. A mage's signature is scrawled on the lower left hand corner, indicating it is their design.
"Pity. An artificial creature. Not one of God's creations, but one of man's pride and delusions. She chooses not her origins - but it doesn't save her from the consequences her creations brings her. And she was the one who chose to participate in this war - mercy is the last thing we can afford to spare."
"Laughable. She has as much skill in Magecraft as you do, but her circuits aren't nearly as impressive. She has more command Seals than usual, but her most notable aspect is her second Servant. Supporting two like that, they will either be starved for magical energy, or she is resorting to feeding them souls. Leaving the city is not an option. Killing her should be quite simple - something even you can accomplish with those strange weapons of yours, Master. Or, you could ally with her, and ease the issue of Magical Energy..."
Hassan pauses a second, her mask held by invisible hairs sliding back over her face as she looks away.
"...Embarrassed. Let's ignore that option. Killing her is best."
Jacob Davies
Another drawing - this one of substantially higher quality, most likely a result of less stressful conditions and more time to work. It shows a younger teenager, dressed in an overcoat, vest, trousers, and wearing a newsboy cap.
"Fascinated. An irregularity. A mundane human who happened to develop exceptionally potent capabilities, despite their pedigree. He is similar to you, Master - though it was God that blessed Davies, not a hole in his head."
"Pessimistic. A difficult opponent. He can assume the form of any other Servant he observes - giving him impressive versatility the longer the war goes on. Direct confrontation is likely impossible - we should simply wait for him to sleep or drop his guard, then remove his head from his neck. We cannot let him see me - if he does, you would be exceptionally vulnerable, Master. Letting him see Caster is just as bad - letting him establish a Territory is a worst case scenario."
The Herald of the New World
A photograph of a tall man in gaudy dark armor. He is holding a sword aloft and is surrounded by blurred shapes - presumably the beasts that he 'commands'.
"Disgusted! Do you see his armor!? If it wasn't for the wretched magical energy permeating from him, it would crumple like tissue paper! So poorly made... Hm? Disregarding. The man himself matters little - I doubt there's much of him left. At least, not much that hasn't been consumed by delusion."
"Contemplative. He floods the street with his beasts, and seems to display numerous odd abilities. My Familiars can overwhelm them temporarily, but our numbers don't replenish anywhere near as quick as his. Waiting for him to sleep or drop his guard should be enough to assure victory... Doubt. I do not know where his Servant is. And he is far stronger than any normal Master should be. Confrontation is ill-advised until they are located. But if we get the opportunity, securing his Mystic Code would be an incredible boon."
Kai Revan
A dossier, containing several photographs of a muscular man bearing countless scars and injuries. He seems unbothered, despite several wounds openly bleeding. He is lightly clothed in most of the pictures, as though he were on display for whoever was to receive the images.
"Dismissive. An infidel that doesn't even know how to stay dead. I'm surprised the infidels are willing to employ his services - during the crusades, the Chuch was even willing to work alongside the Hashashins if it meant killing Dead Apostles. I doubt you should worry about him - especially with his poor circuits. I can't even see his Command Seals..."
"Relaxed. He is uniquely disposed towards killing Heroic Spirits and Dead Apostles. If he can see a target and strike them, he will win. Luckily, I am a suitable counter. I recommend leaving him alive as long as possible, so he and Saber can remove our more difficult opponents."
Michele de Saint-Meran
Another dossier, this time holding pictures of a much frailer looking woman. She is dressed in a habit typical of a nun, with light makeup and a cross dangling from her neck.
"Confused. A priest, being a student to a member of the undead? I assumed the Infidels despised the undead with all of their hearts... It doesn't really matter though. Ignoring her is for the best, lest we incur the church's wrath."
"Conflicted. A powerful user of the Sacraments. On one hand, I should be aggressive towards an infidel like this. On the other, this is the master with the greatest chance against the Dead Apostles in this war. Luckily for us, it matters little - I can slaughter her quickly and from afar. Avoiding that until she can be played against the Ancestors would be wise, but if she is supplying Saber and her Master with Magical Energy, she is an even easier link to cut in that chain."
Abel
Several drawings, most in the same scratchy style that Griffith's was in. One is far, far older, and seems to show a black sphere surrounded by whispy, humanoid shades.
"Fear. An Ancestor? I didn't know they were still active. From what I know of him, he disappeared long before the Hashashin order was founded, and was only spoken about briefly during my interactions with the Dead Apostle Ancestor known as Einnashe. He was a controversial figure amongst their ranks, but I know little else..."
Hassan's expression doesn't change when the topic of combat comes up, but the tension in her body is notable - especially with her hair, wrapped like steel wire around the nearest pillar.
"Terror! I refuse, Master. The last Ancestor I fought required the assistance of a truly powerful knight, and victory was nigh-impossible. This creature possesses both the ability to field his own army of powerful minions, as well as revive automatically - both from his Curse of Restoration, as well as the Idea Blood he holds. Our best chance is to ally with other Servants, or hope the church and it's overseers take notice."
Judas Iscariot
An incredibly old drawing on aged papyrus, detailing the crucifixion. In the background, a hunched figure shrouded in blood-soaked thorns stares at the scene in anguish.
"Disgust. What is with all of these Dead Apostles? I fought an Ancestor when I was alive, but if you think that gives me an advantage, you're mistaken Master. This man killed the messiah of the infidels, and was punished by god. The fact he still stands and has chosen to participate in this war should prove the danger we're in."
Hassan lacked the rigidity she had when Abel was being discussed - despite talking about an arguably more intimidating Ancestor, she seems less worried.
"Confident. Killing him, like with most Ancestors, may as well be impossible. Even less so than Abel. Our best option is to bribe him. By stealing his Silver, we can simply command him to never harm us again. Or to go to the bottom of the ocean for a month. Or throw a hissy fit at the Clocktower - anything to get him away from the Grail. Of all the participants in this war, we are one of the most equipped for this task - second only to perhaps the Caster."
Giulietta di Rosa
Another dossier, containing countless drawings and photographs of a bound and mutilated figure. It is barely recognizable as human. The last two drawings show a woman in an incredibly revealing parody of a nun's habit, while the other shows a horned monster with long pink hair and some kind of oddly designed dress. Both drawings are slightly wet.
"Jealous! Master, we should avoid her. She is a harlot, and as soon as she senses your Magical Energy, she'll attempt to seduce you with her body. Uoohh... Dirty Fangers need to learn their place..."
Hassan paces back and forth, almost skittering. She is clearly deliberating something, before eventually speaking again.
"Reluctant... Of all the Masters, she would technically be one of the best to ally ourselves with. Her Origin and Magecraft style lend themselves well to our strategy, and a frontline fighter would round us out well..."
Servants:
Wayland the Smith
A drawing of a woman overlooking the river Thames from upon a small hill. She is holding a lantern aloft, and wears a pained expression. The scarred man sits beside her.
"Hostile. I cannot understand her plight. She wishes to forge a sword? Then work for it. A mere raiyat cannot hope to kill someone with the grace that a Hashashin that dedicates their life to refining their skill could - similarly, a smith that must rely on a wish-granting artifact to create something original is nothing of note."
"Annoyed. There is little hope in us defeating her directly, Master. She is too durable to be harmed by my Zabaniya. Even after enhancing myself, I doubt I would be able to keep up - especially if she deploys her Noble Phantasm... Optimistic. Her Master is the weak point, just like most Servants. We need only kill him - or remove his source of Magical Energy. And while Saber is a strong opponent, I remain confident that my speed is superior. Escape is always an option for us."
Maitreya
A drawing of a man in traditional Buddhist attire, ears stretched long and smiling peacefully. Next to it is a much more recent photo, showing a scantily clad woman with an aureole behind her head.
"Confused. I was never much for philosophy, Master. But when her religions main belief is one of peace and ending suffering, to engage in this ritual of death and destruction... It seems counter-intuitive, to say the least."
"Astonished-!? A Servant without a Noble Phantasm? I've never heard of such a thing. Regardless, she is a major threat to us - powerful physical capabilities, potent reflexes and battle prowess, and she lacks any clear weaknesses. She must require a high amount of magical energy to maintain, however - killing her Master can solve our issue, as overexerting her without a Noble Phantasm will prove difficult."
Cyrano
Several drawings, recorded from a distance. They all depict a woman wearing a cavalier hat and duelist attire, wielding a rapier. Most detail her chatting with others, though one shows her nose at a terribly unflattering angle - a small 'hahaha' is written in the corner.
"Fond. She seems amicable. She displays talent in what she does, and seeks to bring those around her happiness - at the cost of herself. Self-sacrifice is an important quality for Servants and Assassins alike. One that we may be able to take advantage of."
"Tired. The only person in the war who can approach my speed. With that and her physical capabilities, victory in a direct fight is unlikely. She lacks notable sensory abilities however, so assassination of her Master should be an option. Business as usual."
Charon
An ancient coin, bearing the image of a skeletal figure wielding an oar. He is laden with gold and gems, and seems to be frowning.
"Respectful. The Hashashin have provided a great deal of work for the ferryman of the dead. The only one as steeped in death as this man was The First himself - as such, proper respects should be given."
"Diplomatic. Allying with the ferryman is our best course of action, if possible. He is uniquely disposed towards killing the Dead, an enemy that is disturbingly common in this war. A direct confrontation should be possible if necessary, which is important since he has no need for a Master."
Raim
A demonic caricature, lifted straight from demonological texts. It illustrates a man that is a crude hybrid between a human and a raven, human face sprouting from the open beak of the raven's head. A second image shows a more typical human, though his expression is one of cruel indifference. Both are laden with jewelry, and hoards of treasures can be seen surrounding them.
"Concern. The only Servant in this war who compares to you in terms of Magical Energy, my Master. To be expected of the Caster of this Grail war. I can sense something else... he is the reason behind this war, despite what the Founding Families may claim."
"Aggravated. Killing him should be easy. But as long as he remains within his territory, he can sense and circumvent my Zabaniya. But if we ally with another, or capitalize during the attack of a servant like Berserker, then he will be too distracted - a spider caught in his own web."
Hassan is about to move on, but pauses, several dozen eyes looking at her Master from each corner of the room.
"Curious. Hm? What is that expression, Master?"
Commodus
A photograph of a woman dressed in scant armor - enough to preserve her modesty. Scars cover her muscular frame, and she seems to be beckoning for applause. She is in the middle of a crowded street, standing over a shredded monstrosity - presumably one of The Herald's spawn. Rather than screaming and fleeing, the audience appear to be enraptured.
"Shudder. So noisy... Her revelry in combat and bloodshed is somewhat uncouth. It is much more dignified to slaughter your opponents as quickly as possible, rather than engage in pointless showmanship for spectators that won't remember this."
"Grimace. Our worst opponent, Master. Assassins rely on stealth and subterfuge, so a powerful enemy that forces direct confrontations is almost impossible to surpass. And... my eyes might deceive me, but I thought I saw a Command Seal. If she can use it, that would be an 'instant kill' against nearly any Servant in the war. Avoid at all costs."
Baphomet
Another set of rough drawings, detailing a hermaphroditic humanoid with the head of a goat. Unlike Raim, no other photos accompany it.
"Unease... This creature reminds me of Shaytan - the demon that my predecessor sealed within his arm... Considering that beast was capable of combating with most of the Hashashin order all at once, I am fearful of what this creature can accomplish if it is even a fraction as powerful. Despite its claims for peace and self sacrifice, I can sense a deep blood lust under its words..."
"Yielding. Avoiding him is our best course of action. I cannot harm him directly, so only by killing his Master or luring him to a third party could we win. Perhaps lead him to a battle against the church, and have his conceptual weaknesses work against him? At worst, we could lead him to the Herald or the Undead Executor and they will solve our problems for us."
Michael Roa Valdamjong
The spiders flee from the workbench, dragging the scraps of paper and photographs with them. Hassan avoids eye contact with her Master, face hidden by her black mask.
"Embarrassment. I was unable to gather any information on this individual, Master - the Servant and his Master were slain by the Herald before I could learn much. Perhaps it is a trick of some kind? I can scarcely believe a Founding Family member and his Servant would be the first to perish in this Grail War..."