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TIPS
Topic Started: Sep 8 2010, 12:24 AM (130 Views)
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Try hard, camp harder
TIP #1:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pyzV_zgmT50

Suddenly, I woke up in a far distant world. "Huh... what's going on? I was just--"

You are greeted by none other than the Witch of Truth, Erika Furudo. A large grin encroaches upon her face, glad that you have requested her aid.

"Ah, <good>! I was hoping I'd have some visitors. Well, hello there. I am Erika Furudo, the Witch of Truth. <Pleased to meet you>!"

Who the hell is this kid? Witch of Truth? Well... I guess it makes as much sense as competing a war among Magi. I guess I'll lend an ear to her, I'm stuck here anyways...

"Yes, well. First, would you care for some tea? No? Fine then. Ronove!"
A middle aged man with a monocle appeared from the golden butterflies. Pouring tea into the elegant lady's cup, he begins to chuckle.
"Pu ku ku ku! Oh, Lady Erika, you realize I don't actually serve you? Be thankful you're just so interesting!"
"Quiet, Ronove. I didn't ask for your banter. We're about to embark on some intellectual affairs, you see?"
"Ah, well, I'll excuse myself. Enjoy yourselves, pu ku ku ku!"

Adjusting her chair to face me, she sips her tea in a refined manner. All of her elegance feels like such a drawn out play, but I'll keep that to myself.
"Alright. You say you're a Witch. So, tell me. Why am I here?"
"Ah, well, you see... you wanted to be here. And my role is to...figure out this mystery."
"Huh, what mystery?" I have no clue what this girl is talking about any more.
"There's definitely a mystery around here. I'm not sure what it is, but there is one. Your presence here all but confirms my theory. With this, I do believe we can start brainstorming. You see, there's a reason for everything happening in this world. What, where, when, why, how, and who?, specifically. Let's start from there, shall we?"
"Alright. Go on, I'm ready."

Nodding as if she already knew my response, she continues.
"Very well. Let's start with what. What is your current goal?"
Ah. That's simple. "Well, I aim to win the Holy Grail War."
"Right, right. And the where? Well, I know this. Ikebukuro. And the when is September, 2010. Simple, right?"
Nodding, Erika continues on. This seems like such a simple reiteration of the facts.
"Fine. Then tell me the why? Why are you competing in such a competition? You aren't exactly a true Magus, are you? The best of the best enter these wars, you're telling me that an amateur entered this easily?"
"That's... right. I'm nothing more than an apprentice magus. I hadn't exactly thought of that..."
"Right. Doesn't that strike you as odd? But let's continue on. Now tell me the how?"
"Eh... I don't know. This was all out of the blue. I did the summoning and was promised a wish according to my victory. I didn't really ask any questions."

Erika's face changed to a relatively peeved look, clearly not pleased about my lack of questioning things.
"You have a brain, use that gray matter! Fine, fine. Finally... the last question. Who are you?"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ANVw8l0VLfA&feature=related

... Who am I? That's simple. I'm...

Blank. My memory escapes me. Who am I? I haven't really thought on that lately, now have I? I... really don't remember. I'm a master in the Holy Grail War. But...my name? I can't remember that for the life of me...

"So, who are you? I don't have all day--well, actually, I guess I do. That's a moot point!"
My confidence wavering, I finally speak up. "I... don't remember who I am. All I remember is that I am a Master in the 13th Holy Grail War."
"Ah, amnesia? Interesting. It seems my intuition is never wrong! Yes, well, I'm afraid I've run out of time. Til next we meet, my friend!"

The lights went out, and I faded from existence.

Till next we meet...
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Try hard, camp harder
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zyf3Tps0gWE&feature=related

Once again, I had returned to this room. The now familiar looking girl sat around bored at her accustomed table. Her face had a certain look to it—as if she were disappointed at her lack of activity. However, my sudden appearance made the witch grin sadistically. Inviting me to take a seat, I pulled out the chair and sat down.

“<Hello>! I’ve missed your company! So, have you remembered your name?”

I shake my head. The witch seems oddly pleased in my failure to remember my name. Those blessed with the gift of immortality—quite the despicable beings. Her eyes invite me to inquire further, but I decide not to for the time being. She begins to tap her fingers on the ornate table, in attempts to get me to speak up once again.

“Argh, now you’re just annoying me. Fine, if you won’t ask for help, then I’ll forcefully explain everything for you. I hope you’re glad.”

I knew that her intentions weren’t pure. Her insatiable hunger for a mystery has brought us two together. I guess it would be interesting to learn about her findings…

“Alright, Miss Erika, can you tell me of your findings from the last week?”
“I thought you’d never ask!”

Erika’s cheery mood immediately disappears from her face, once again being supplanted by a scowl. Sipping her tea, she continues her line of thinking.

“I’ve just about figured out the mystery. It’s pretty simple, really. But I’d like to return to our last discussion. Do you remember what exactly you’ve been doing?”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GsxbhGuKE4k&feature=related

Once again sipping her tea, I ponder my circumstances. While it is true that I am in the Holy Grail War… that’s very vague. Focusing hard, memories begin to form. Is this it? Breaking this so called ‘seal’, memories begin to flood quickly deluging my brain. Is this… the answer? No… no it isn’t. I can’t make anything out of this. None of the events correlate. My memories greatly differ, none of them having a single point of continuality. I remember love, hate, regret, sorrow, and fear. It quickly consumes me, I can’t take it anymore. Yet, this girl, she continues to grin. Does she find my suffering enjoyable?
___

I’m walking down a street. A passerby shoots me a quick glance, truly petrified of my appearance.
I’m inside a school building. My money has been stolen from the class bully, and I’m in tears.
I’m staring at the night sky, the vast plains mocking my continuous failures.
I return to my house, a tired and empty look on my face. I retire to my bed, to repeat the process.
I curse at the world, tired of the petty restrictions that are placed upon us.
I look at myself in the mirror …
____

It all clicks. Everything. It all... truly makes sense.

“So? Any answers?”
“…Yes, I do believe I have an idea as to what’s going on, Erika Furudooooo!”
“Heh. Hehehe. I haven’t heard those words since… him. So, you don’t want my help after all? Would you like to test your knowledge head-to-head against my theories?”
“Hmm, I don’t see why not. It doesn’t look like I have much better to do, anyways.”
“<Good>! I’ll pull no punches, I assure you!” Erika says, enthusiastically.

And thus, our fight begins in earnest.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jmi2rLZ81uo
Edited by gravy, Sep 16 2010, 02:35 AM.
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tICKoZ18zHk&feature=related

Across the table is my opponent: the Witch of Truth, Erika Furudo. In the center of the table is an elaborate chess set, a symbol of the duel we’re about to have. The rules are fairly simple—force the opposing party into checkmate by presenting a better argument. The arbiter for this duel is Ronove, the butler of the Ushiromiya family.

My heart is racing. When I said I “had a clue as to what’s going on,” it was more bravado than anything. Yet, here I am, about to face a venerable witch in the ultimate game of wits. Erika’s face is composed, certainly plotting my own demise. Erika takes the initiative, however.

“Let’s begin with the ground rules, shall we? You, being the human side, only has blue to combat with. You will state your theories in blue, and I will answer in kind.”
“Very well, Erika. I’ll make the first move. There are only three people in this room! When I said, ‘three people’, I obviously mean myself, you, and Ronove.
Wrong! More than three people are in this room.

…The fuck? I definitely see no one else in this room right now… Biting my lip, I continue on.

There is someone hiding in this room, out of sight! I am not the detective, thus I may have not noticed someone hiding.
Hahaha! There are no concealed people in this room! Only you, myself, and Ronove exist here!

Damnit! Damnit! Why am I being stuck on such an easy problem…? Let’s try another approach.

You said early on in the game that this isn’t an ordinary mystery. By that, it isn’t a murder mystery, right?
You’re so dimwitted! I was expecting a battle! While murder is a central theme of the story, it is not the mystery to solve.

Damnit… let’s get my thoughts straight here. What am I trying to prove besides that I ‘know everything’? First and foremost: my identity. Who am I? I’m remembering such varied memories…ugh. None of these even match. Hated, loved, happy, sad, one location, another…it was too disjointed. I looked down. Whose hands were these? Whose feet? Were they mine? Of course they were…but I felt like I’d stolen them. Wait…wait…that’s it!!

“Alright! Try this on for size! I am a conglomeration of souls, because I’m dead. My consciousness has merged with those of other victims of the 'mystery'!

Erika twitches. Sweat begins to build on her face. “What’s your basis? I refuse to answer a stab in the dark…”

Her hesitance is all that I needed. Her lack of willingness must mean something. It all started coming to me…a flood of thoughts…

We have been murdered by the culprit. We are the victims of the culprit's insanity.
B-but, if you were dead, then your game piece would be dead as well! And I just said that the mystery doesn't revolve around murders. Explain that!” Erika seems jarred. Perhaps her theory was once again debunked.

We are not in control of the players, Erika. We are a separate existence. Murder has been perpetrated by the culprit's ulterior motives.” I slammed my fist onto the table. I finally remembered my true purpose.
“R-red!? But… but… you’re just a human!”
“Not anymore!”

The tables have finally turned. It’s obvious that we aren’t just an ordinary human… we’re something more. It’s making sense… little by little.

Erika Furudo, you are the detective, right?
Well…of course I am! I said that myself!

A brilliant light of gold is drawn, slicing the table in half. It would have cleaved Erika's head off clean if not for her last minute evasion. This power… where is it coming from?

We are the true detective of this tale, Erika. Your detective rights have been revoked as of now.
“Whaaaaaaaaat!? What the hell is going on!? Ronove! Explain! Not this shit again!”
“Pu ku ku ku… it seems our friend over here is right. There is no explanation. It’s merely…how it is.”

I won? We… won? But… how did we win? Why do we exist? That… I still don’t understand. However, this is a start. These powers are tremendous. I can definitely solve this tale, I know it!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jmi2rLZ81uo
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