[Bixir] The Old Man of the Mountain

Class: Assassin

Alias: Grand Assassin

True Name: Grand Assassin Hassan-i-Sabbah, Old Man of the Mountain

History:

Hassan-i-Sabbah has always been known as the Old Man in the Mountain, a long line of eighteen successors to the title. Hassan led the Hashashin brotherhood of assassins against the enemies of Allah, and chiefly the Crusaders in all the times they came crashing upon their world. The first Old Man in the Mountain, however, has ever remained a mystery, even to those that have taken his namesake. The only mention of his existence is in the creed itself, where a skull-faced swordsman will come for a Hassan that has faltered from greatness. Whether this meant that they have been corrupted, or have begun to decline, the swordsman and his coming bears no distinction between the two; to show weakness, physical or spiritual, is to spit on their cause, and deserving of a swift death.

This specter of the Hashashin remained a mystery, and for that reason remained unknown to the Holy Grail itself, protected from being summoned for what would ultimately have been a distraction from his purpose. This warrior’s legend was fated to remain in shadow until the destruction of the Hashashin itself, at which point the original Hassan would emerge at last, his duty fulfilled.

In the wake of the Fuyuki Cataclysm, however, something dark and twisted awakened within the Holy Grail threatened to unravel the very legends themselves. For a hero who had devoted his entire life to ensuring the fidelity of his order, this perversion could not stand. Calling out to a wayward Magus frequenting his temple in modern Babylon, he requested a favor to summon him into a world that had need of his services once more. Eager to so easily acquire a Servant for themselves, the Magus obliged the transient voice, and brought the Grand Assassin forth from the Throne of Heroes. However, to their dismay, the Magus discovered no Command Seals upon their hand, and through some divine insult, had not become a Master. Yet Hassan stood there just the same, in all his deathly glory, this person being the first aside from his victims to have laid eyes on this specter. Hassan thanked the Magus for their efforts, and took his leave shortly thereafter. The bell beckoned anew, and he would answer its call.

Personality:
Hassan is nothing if not bound by duty and courtesy. He is a harsh judicator, though not one that is overly unfair. He takes great care in providing courtesy, even if it is not returned. Even in the face of a Holy Grail War, the Old Man of the Mountain holds sacred value in his antiquated code of conduct, and will not hesitate to gravely correct others who do not respect that courtesy. He is not completely without mercy, however. Hassan is just, and will hear one out if they are courteous to him in turn, and are not his enemy.

When it comes to the Hassans that followed in the footsteps of the forgotten original, however, the Old Man of the Mountain is an enigma of justice for his successors. He is brutally critical, and suffers no weakness among any Hassan. Indeed, a Hassan that has come to rely on the strength of others has failed the order, and must pay the ultimate price. After all, it is for this duty that he has been summoned from the Throne of Heroes; until his duty is done, he may not, and will not rest until the bell has tolled its last.



Weapon of choice:
Hassan uses his ancestral greatsword, Azrael, which serves as his Noble Phantasm. Though impressive in being of ancient Iranian steel, the blade itself is not remarkable like the weapons of other Heroic Spirits, even those that are not Noble Phantasms. However, unimpressive though his greatsword may appear to be at first glance, it is incredibly resilient, and boasts the full extent of his power over death. Hassan also has a greatshield at his disposal, though he does not employ it unless it suits the engagement, as he prefers to keep to a direct approach rather than do battle like some loathsome crusader. Even more incredible is Hassan’s cape, which, despite not being a Noble Phantasm or an otherwise notable article, is capable of blocking direct strikes from weapons such as the Excalibur Galatine with little effort.

Noble Phantasm:

"Listen. The evening bell has tolled thy name.
"The feathers foreshadow your death, and behead--
"Azrael!"



Azrael: The Angel That Announces Death

Type: Anti-Unit
Rank: C

The sword that Hassan’s Noble Phantasm is ascribed to is an ordinary blade at a glance, with no apparent prestige or higher quality to it. However, it is imbued wholly with the faith of the user, something that for Hassan is absolute in purpose. The sword does not act as most swords do, cutting not flesh and iron but that of the “threads of fate” themselves, better understood as the similarly elusive “lines of death”. In being able to sever the invisible cords that tether one to life, Azrael is capable of killing a target with the slightest cut. Further, this Noble Phantasm can even affect immortal beings, only one so versed with the Valley of Death capable of transgressing such barriers. This familiarity with Death also applies to deathly resistances for the wielder of this Noble Phantasm (see At the Boundary).

Skills:

Class Skills

Independent Manifestation - C; As one who hunts Assassins, and with such vindication, Hassan is immune to time warping or instant death powers. While he still requires a Master to summon him from the Throne of Heroes to manifest in the material plane, Hassan does not require the sustenance of a Master’s prana to continue existing.

Presence Concealment - A; Though Hassan is not as pronounced or necessarily involved in the arts as his brethren, he has never forgotten their ways, and often remains unseen, save by his target. Even if he conceals himself perfectly, the nature of his identity compels them to know the identity of their executioner, and that their time has come.



Personal Skills

At the Boundary - A; As one who walks freely within the Valley of Death, Hassan is intimately familiar with the nature of death’s “instantaneous imposition”. As such, it is incredibly difficult to kill him outright without besting him in combat, and all but impossible to charm him or manipulate his unshakeable will.

Battle Continuation - EX; Hassan is the final messenger to those that have failed to uphold the tenets of the brotherhood, and those that threaten fate itself. He is a dogged warrior, who will never rest until his blade has wetted itself with the blood of the guilty.

Blue Flames - B; These flames have no known origin in whatever Hassan’s legend might have entailed as the first of his kind, though he wields them just the same. They follow in the wake of Hassan’s movements, emphasizing his persona as a ghastly specter of vengeance. These flames can be applied in a multitude of ways, most commonly associated with movement faster than the blink of an eye, allowing Hassan to teleport brief to great distances, as well as blitzing his opponents with multiple sword strikes in the span of a single swing, as well as causing blue-hued explosions. The flashiness of these techniques is unbecoming of an Assassin, though no less is expected for an Assassin of Assassins.

"...Canst thou hear this bell? It tolls for thy destiny's end. Accept it, and unbind thy soul, for this is thy last chance as a human to slumber in peace."
Evening Bell - A; The Evening Bell is no physical bell, but a spiritual manifestation of the announcement of the approach of the Death. As the swordsman of the Evening Bell, Hassan does not choose his victims, as they are determined by fate itself through the ringing of the bell. Though it diminishes his skill as an Assassin in announcing his arrival, it does not change the fact that the end will come to whomever the Bell has marked for its swordsman.

Independent Action - B; Normally, Hassan may persist in the world for two days without sustenance from his Master. However, given his status as the Grand Assassin, once he has been summoned into the world he no longer requires a Master’s prana in order to remain anchored from the Throne of Heroes.

Magic Resistance - B; Cancels spells with a chant below three verses. Even if targeted by High-Thaumaturgy and Greater Rituals, it is difficult for the Servant to be affected.

Protection of Faith - A+++; Hassan has dedicated his entire existence, and his legend itself, to the shadows, not even known at large to his many successors. This devotion protects Hassan to considerable degree, not unlike the holiest of knights and champions with their respective causes.

Sandstorms - A; Hassan can generate sandstorms at will, which, while certainly helpful in concealing the area in blinding dust, also holds the capability to disrupt any communications with gods that are not his own. If it is indicative of anything, it is the embodiment of Hassan’s devotion, and his rebuke of false entities and whatever power they may pretend to wield in his presence.

Physical appearance:


Hassan looms as large as the death he brings. Slightly over seven feet tall, he is an unnerving titan of macabre and stalwart character that cows most individuals on his appearance alone. Though seemingly nothing more than a skeletal humanoid, he boasts incredible strength, and is more than capable of keeping up with the most powerful of Heroic Spirits. He is not a mere skeleton either, as small though all too menacing horn can be seen coming out of his head, like a faux crown for this Assassin of Assassins.

Clothing and Armor: Hassan’s attire completes the image of not only an Assassin, but the very first to grace the legend of his namesake. Typically, his large form is enveloped in a massive black shroud, painting him very much as the grim reaper that he is. The shroud itself is arguably Hassan’s most powerful armor, as it is able to deflect blows from some of the most powerful Heroic Spirits. Underneath this great cloak is the raiment Hassan wore when he went into battle with Richard I against a vampire threat, and has retained this armor henceforth. While certainly unorthodox for an Assassin to bear heavy armor such as this, it is yet another exception for the first Hassan that sets him apart from all the others.