Archer of Black - Chiron (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
horsepowered) wrote2017-09-24 06:32 pm
horsepowered) wrote2017-09-24 06:32 pm
(no subject)
PLAYER
NAME: Dia
CONTACT: PM this account
ARE YOU 18 OR OLDER: Yes
CHARACTER
NAME: Archer of Black/ Chiron
CANON: Fate/apocrypha
AGE: Immortal, but appears in his early 30s
CANON POINT:
HISTORY:
Wiki
Please note that the final light novel has not been translated into English and so the information available on the wiki and to myself is incomplete. See “Role” with the sub-heading for “Fate/Apocrypha” for an exact history.
Tl;dr background: Sometimes you summon seven Heroic Spirits into D&D like classes to fight each other and their magical tethers for the Holy Grail which is a magical wish granting machine. Other times, you get fourteen into the whole thing and it goes pear shaped. Then you summon a centaur who elects to take lower stats so he doesn’t show up as a centaur and give his identity away immediately. Mythologically, Chiron’s backstory and history tracks to how he was presented in ancient Greece (taught Achilles and other heroes, gifted in medicine, skilled archer, killed by poison arrow, gave up his immortality to Prometheus etc.) The only addition is that in canon, this also means Chiron gave up his status as a divine being, which is why he can be summoned to fight in a Holy Grail War.
PERSONALITY:
Chiron's overall appearance reflects his personality: it is cool, calm, and gives off an ancient air. That’s no surprise, given that in mythology, he taught some of the greatest heroes (Achilles, Heracles, etc.) their arts. In Fate/apocrypha, that ancient personality is expanded upon.
The most important part of Chiron’ character is the fact that he’s caring, and that invites respect for his wisdom and desire for advice.
Chiron is a well-mannered centaur, which set him apart from the other centaurs in Greek mythology who were known for being rowdy and rough. He treats everyone with respect in canon, and that lays the groundwork for others to open up to him, which in turn allows for the other aspects of his personality to shine through.
The relationship between Chiron and his wheelchair bound master, Fiore, is the best insight into this. Chiron's personality is deeply caring, and the two are shown to get along very well initially, with Chiron immediately taking responsibility for her well-being. He does simple things like move her around in said wheelchair and help with medications, but in talking with her about the Holy Grail War and her own plans, hs praises her work. They quickly develop a student-teacher rapport with respect for each other, and are able to trust each other enough to talk about their own wishes in the Holy Grail War.
It is during this discussion that an element of selfishness show itself. While some could use an omnipotent wish granting device to fix all different worldly ills, Chiron's own goal is much more personal. He wants to regain the immortality he gave over to Prometheus. The reason he gives is a sentimental one: it connects him to his parents. While that relationship was strained to non-existent, Chiron's sentimentality colors his deepest desire. When Chiron learns that Fiore's own wish, to heal her legs, is similarly personal, he tells her that there's no shame in it at all.
Being caring and honest does also make for a blunt centaur from time-to-time. When Rider of Black (Astolfo) ends up rescuing a homunculus (Sieg), Chiron is there to provide medical support for a being that is essentially just a newborn. However, Chiron also asks what Astolfo and Sieg intend to do once Sieg leaves, as Sieg only has three years to live. The information is meant to ask how he intends to live his life, a more philosophical question, but there are also better ways to deliver delicate information. The other two goals in asking the question is to ensure that Astolfo takes responsibility for saving Sieg, and trying to counteract Astolfo’s tendency to dot and indulge Sieg.
This straightforward approach appears in a flashback featuring tiny Achilles and Chiron, with Chiron informing Achilles about his heel. It remains blunt and honest, and the caring element is immediately focused on, with Chiron encouraging Achilles in all things.
The previously mentioned incident with Astolfo and Sieg also highlights the fact that Chiron has a strong moral compass and will hide information for the sake of doing what he sees as the right thing. Astolfo rescue of his homunculus friend actually sets off alarms within the castle the black faction occupies, and Sieg’s departure forces a manhunt. While Astolfo seems to bring Sieg back, he then pretty much hides the homunculus away and has Chiron take a look at the homunculus for a greater understanding of Sieg’s health. Chiron doesn’t inform anyone that Astolfo has pretty much just hidden Sieg away with the intention to get him out of the castle entirely. He simply assists.
The same type of philosophical question posed to Sieg comes up again when Chiron learns that one of the opponents on the other side of the war is none other than his former student, Achilles. There's no bemoaning the fates or cursing the Holy Grail War itself for making such a thing happen. Instead, Chiron remarks that fortune is funny like this, and muses on the matter. While the softer philosophical side is expressed after realizing that it is Achilles his is facing, the fights between the two are far less musing. In their first face to face meeting on the battlefield, Chiron calls Achilles soft on the battlefield, and that because of the nature of war, this war in particular, there can be no compassion. It shows a colder side to Chiron, one of the few examples of it, but also allows for the part of him that is a warrior and is serious about combat to show.
That part of Chiron that takes combat and the Holy Grail War seriously also offers a window into the sense nobility and fairness he possesses. While this is often shown in Chiron’s interactions with other members in his faction, as discussed with regards this good manners and general likeability, it manifests on the battlefield too. In another fight featuring Achilles, the man is attacked by a vampire. Rather than let this be the end of Achilles and thus remove him from the battlefield, Chiron dives in and gives Achilles a solid kick to send the man flying. It gives Achilles distance and time to maneuver. Chiron makes it clear that he has no desire to see a student lose in a one-sided fight. That’s unfair, and in his heart, Chiron suspects that they’ll be each other’s undoing.
If there’s true rage at that, canon translation has yet to reveal that fact.
POWERS:
Powers, as far as Chiron goes, are pointedly overpowered, as that’s the point of canon. I’m absolutely happy to nerf what needs to be nerfed.
-Archery: Naturally. Especially good at sniping from afar.
-"Wisdom of Divine Gift": The canon wiki words this weirdly, but the basic summary is: the horse-man has skills other heroes wouldn't due to occupation. It is vaguely worded and proceeds to bring in his abilities at close combat (see pankration), swords, lances, and healing abilities (see expert healing.)
-"Antares Snipe"
Parsing the babble above: Chiron can essentially get a comet to land like an arrow, although this is limited to 1 use per night. This can and probably should be made impossible to use.
-Expert healing
As per mythology, Chiron is extremely skilled at medicine and healing, having even instructed the god of medicine, Asclepius. Canon presents this as him being able to perform a simple scan and checking a few data points before drawing a conclusion. Canon is vague about his knowledge of contemporary medicine.
- Pankration
The ancient Greek hybrid of boxing and wrestling among other techniques. Canon states that in particular, he tends to use legs for offense.
SAMPLES
1ST PERSON: Here | Here
3rd PERSON: With Achilles
MISC
PLANS: I'm interested in exploring what Chiron's experienced in his canon so far with regards to fighting and being on the opposite sides of individuals you like and generally approve of (oh Achilles), as well as having him experience a variety of different eras. Moreover, mythologically Chiron taught many heroes, but did not participate in wars himself. That detail offers an interesting way to explore what he taught some of his best known students to do, and this looks like an excellent way to probe into it.
CHARACTER @ID SUGGESTIONS:
@IPPOURIS, which translates as “horse tailed.”
HOW DID YOUR CHARACTER JOIN COST?
Arrival via data breach, as Chiron wouldn't willingly walk out of the Holy Grail War. The idea that he might have joined willingly at another point in time would be considered and entertained, and then the matter put aside. He'd like to get back to what he was in the middle of eventually, after things are taken care of.
NAME: Dia
CONTACT: PM this account
ARE YOU 18 OR OLDER: Yes
CHARACTER
NAME: Archer of Black/ Chiron
CANON: Fate/apocrypha
AGE: Immortal, but appears in his early 30s
CANON POINT:
HISTORY:
Wiki
Please note that the final light novel has not been translated into English and so the information available on the wiki and to myself is incomplete. See “Role” with the sub-heading for “Fate/Apocrypha” for an exact history.
Tl;dr background: Sometimes you summon seven Heroic Spirits into D&D like classes to fight each other and their magical tethers for the Holy Grail which is a magical wish granting machine. Other times, you get fourteen into the whole thing and it goes pear shaped. Then you summon a centaur who elects to take lower stats so he doesn’t show up as a centaur and give his identity away immediately. Mythologically, Chiron’s backstory and history tracks to how he was presented in ancient Greece (taught Achilles and other heroes, gifted in medicine, skilled archer, killed by poison arrow, gave up his immortality to Prometheus etc.) The only addition is that in canon, this also means Chiron gave up his status as a divine being, which is why he can be summoned to fight in a Holy Grail War.
PERSONALITY:
Chiron's overall appearance reflects his personality: it is cool, calm, and gives off an ancient air. That’s no surprise, given that in mythology, he taught some of the greatest heroes (Achilles, Heracles, etc.) their arts. In Fate/apocrypha, that ancient personality is expanded upon.
The most important part of Chiron’ character is the fact that he’s caring, and that invites respect for his wisdom and desire for advice.
Chiron is a well-mannered centaur, which set him apart from the other centaurs in Greek mythology who were known for being rowdy and rough. He treats everyone with respect in canon, and that lays the groundwork for others to open up to him, which in turn allows for the other aspects of his personality to shine through.
The relationship between Chiron and his wheelchair bound master, Fiore, is the best insight into this. Chiron's personality is deeply caring, and the two are shown to get along very well initially, with Chiron immediately taking responsibility for her well-being. He does simple things like move her around in said wheelchair and help with medications, but in talking with her about the Holy Grail War and her own plans, hs praises her work. They quickly develop a student-teacher rapport with respect for each other, and are able to trust each other enough to talk about their own wishes in the Holy Grail War.
It is during this discussion that an element of selfishness show itself. While some could use an omnipotent wish granting device to fix all different worldly ills, Chiron's own goal is much more personal. He wants to regain the immortality he gave over to Prometheus. The reason he gives is a sentimental one: it connects him to his parents. While that relationship was strained to non-existent, Chiron's sentimentality colors his deepest desire. When Chiron learns that Fiore's own wish, to heal her legs, is similarly personal, he tells her that there's no shame in it at all.
Being caring and honest does also make for a blunt centaur from time-to-time. When Rider of Black (Astolfo) ends up rescuing a homunculus (Sieg), Chiron is there to provide medical support for a being that is essentially just a newborn. However, Chiron also asks what Astolfo and Sieg intend to do once Sieg leaves, as Sieg only has three years to live. The information is meant to ask how he intends to live his life, a more philosophical question, but there are also better ways to deliver delicate information. The other two goals in asking the question is to ensure that Astolfo takes responsibility for saving Sieg, and trying to counteract Astolfo’s tendency to dot and indulge Sieg.
This straightforward approach appears in a flashback featuring tiny Achilles and Chiron, with Chiron informing Achilles about his heel. It remains blunt and honest, and the caring element is immediately focused on, with Chiron encouraging Achilles in all things.
The previously mentioned incident with Astolfo and Sieg also highlights the fact that Chiron has a strong moral compass and will hide information for the sake of doing what he sees as the right thing. Astolfo rescue of his homunculus friend actually sets off alarms within the castle the black faction occupies, and Sieg’s departure forces a manhunt. While Astolfo seems to bring Sieg back, he then pretty much hides the homunculus away and has Chiron take a look at the homunculus for a greater understanding of Sieg’s health. Chiron doesn’t inform anyone that Astolfo has pretty much just hidden Sieg away with the intention to get him out of the castle entirely. He simply assists.
The same type of philosophical question posed to Sieg comes up again when Chiron learns that one of the opponents on the other side of the war is none other than his former student, Achilles. There's no bemoaning the fates or cursing the Holy Grail War itself for making such a thing happen. Instead, Chiron remarks that fortune is funny like this, and muses on the matter. While the softer philosophical side is expressed after realizing that it is Achilles his is facing, the fights between the two are far less musing. In their first face to face meeting on the battlefield, Chiron calls Achilles soft on the battlefield, and that because of the nature of war, this war in particular, there can be no compassion. It shows a colder side to Chiron, one of the few examples of it, but also allows for the part of him that is a warrior and is serious about combat to show.
That part of Chiron that takes combat and the Holy Grail War seriously also offers a window into the sense nobility and fairness he possesses. While this is often shown in Chiron’s interactions with other members in his faction, as discussed with regards this good manners and general likeability, it manifests on the battlefield too. In another fight featuring Achilles, the man is attacked by a vampire. Rather than let this be the end of Achilles and thus remove him from the battlefield, Chiron dives in and gives Achilles a solid kick to send the man flying. It gives Achilles distance and time to maneuver. Chiron makes it clear that he has no desire to see a student lose in a one-sided fight. That’s unfair, and in his heart, Chiron suspects that they’ll be each other’s undoing.
If there’s true rage at that, canon translation has yet to reveal that fact.
POWERS:
Powers, as far as Chiron goes, are pointedly overpowered, as that’s the point of canon. I’m absolutely happy to nerf what needs to be nerfed.
-Archery: Naturally. Especially good at sniping from afar.
-"Wisdom of Divine Gift": The canon wiki words this weirdly, but the basic summary is: the horse-man has skills other heroes wouldn't due to occupation. It is vaguely worded and proceeds to bring in his abilities at close combat (see pankration), swords, lances, and healing abilities (see expert healing.)
-"Antares Snipe"
Parsing the babble above: Chiron can essentially get a comet to land like an arrow, although this is limited to 1 use per night. This can and probably should be made impossible to use.
-Expert healing
As per mythology, Chiron is extremely skilled at medicine and healing, having even instructed the god of medicine, Asclepius. Canon presents this as him being able to perform a simple scan and checking a few data points before drawing a conclusion. Canon is vague about his knowledge of contemporary medicine.
- Pankration
The ancient Greek hybrid of boxing and wrestling among other techniques. Canon states that in particular, he tends to use legs for offense.
SAMPLES
1ST PERSON: Here | Here
3rd PERSON: With Achilles
MISC
PLANS: I'm interested in exploring what Chiron's experienced in his canon so far with regards to fighting and being on the opposite sides of individuals you like and generally approve of (oh Achilles), as well as having him experience a variety of different eras. Moreover, mythologically Chiron taught many heroes, but did not participate in wars himself. That detail offers an interesting way to explore what he taught some of his best known students to do, and this looks like an excellent way to probe into it.
CHARACTER @ID SUGGESTIONS:
@IPPOURIS, which translates as “horse tailed.”
HOW DID YOUR CHARACTER JOIN COST?
Arrival via data breach, as Chiron wouldn't willingly walk out of the Holy Grail War. The idea that he might have joined willingly at another point in time would be considered and entertained, and then the matter put aside. He'd like to get back to what he was in the middle of eventually, after things are taken care of.
REVISIONS AS PER MODERATOR REQUEST
-I’m perfectly fine with the modification suggested to the Antares Snipe ability!
Flaws and personal failings
Please be aware that for some of this, the fallout of decisions made and paths taken haven’t been translated yet. When that has been the case, I have made a note.
Bluntness
Overall, Chiron’s tendency towards bluntness and the negative aspects of it is not well explored within canon, even though it is present.
Much of this is shown the first time that Chiron and Achilles face each other in a fight, moving beyond thoughtful considerations of fortune being a funny thing. Chiron gives his former student an all too honest assessment of the situation, saying that there’s no real room for mercy or compassion, especially for formerly close relationships. It takes Achilles by surprise, to say the least, and then the two begin to tear into each other. Seemingly there’s no ill effect and the two have an understanding about this simply being a part of the conflict they’ve been drawn into, but that ends up not being the case. (See section 3 which is devoted entirely to the fallout of these two being in the same place and fighting each other.)
Chiron’s questions also can backfire and cause the other person to assume. In speaking to his master’s (Fiore) brother, named Caules, Chiron asks Caules if he believes Fiore is capable of managing the family. Caules is naturally angry on behalf of his sister, and Chiron has to take a step back and explain that his actual point was that Fiore is far too kind and lacks the ruthlessness demanded for such a position. It’s a compliment to her personality in the end, and while there’s no lasting damage done, it does speak to Chiron’s bluntness being taken the wrong way and potentially alienating others.
Another aspect is present in volume 3 of the novel. Chiron is asked to do a spot of dream interpretation, as one does, by the homunculus Sieg. While he makes a point to remind everyone that Sieg is a completely unaccountable factor, he then proceeds to lay bare the fact that Sieg has managed to live thanks to a fallen servant on the black faction's side (Siegfried from the Ring Cycle), and the matter devolves into Sieg's straight up possession by Siegfried. Chiron notes that in no uncertain times, continuing this will shorten Sieg's own lifespan, and that any decision on having it happen again is a combination of Sieg's own choices, as well as command spells.
And then Chiron straight up excuses himself after that information to take another meeting, leaving everyone else in the room to deal with that absolute bombshell without him. It's emotionally a lot, and for someone who's generally well respected and gone to for advice, it is a rather bad look. Doubtlessly, this isn't the only time it has happened.
Selfishness
The selfish desire of Chiron’s wish for the Holy Grail is not explored in the translated text thus far. In addition, his focus on Achilles ends up offering insight into his thought that only he can defeat Achilles, which takes on an element of selfishness but also encompasses a lot more. So without further ado, section 3:
Please stop fixating on Achilles, you’re going to play yourself.
The matter of Achilles ends up being an expounding on Chiron’s selfishness, but also an example of how his certainty and own calmness can end up betraying him. By volume 4 of the light novel, there’s been a decision made by the Black faction to straight up get a bunch of airplanes and just go right for the Red faction’s fortress to try and attack it with aerial power. Practicality of the plan aside, Chiron anticipates facing off against his former student Achilles.
Having taught the man everything he knows, Chiron is shown that he can, overall, correctly account for what Achilles will do and is able to tailor his movements accordingly. However, that does not exclude the fact that Chiron and Achilles are fighting on top of airplanes (yes, really) and that if Chiron miscalculates and even one plane is lost, the Black faction’s plans can and will end up being destroyed.
The two exchange words first, with Achilles stating that he's sick of his path being decided by gods, and decisions accounted into the calculations of others, including Chiron's. The immediate question Chiron asks is if that particular motive is why Achilles has stuck it out with the opposing faction versus just wanting to fight for fighting's sake. When Achilles says that yes that is the case and Chiron begins to scold him and even gets as close to yelling as he does in the entire course of canon, Achilles points out that he is, in fact, wrong and has miscalculated.
And Chiron's realization of that error on his end is where volume four leaves him: with a potential massive screw up that could get himself killed at least, and possibly bring harm to the rest of his team too.