Post by The Green Flame on Aug 23, 2023 22:37:05 GMT
Servants
Class: Berserker
Alias: Widow of Vengeance
True Name: Kriemhild
History:
The princess of Burgundy, younger sister of King Gunther and Siegfried’s wife, Kriemhild is the true protagonist of the Nibelungenlied.
The Dragon Slayer, Siegfried. Among Germany’s greatest heroes with a legend that spread through much of Europe with a long list of adventures and campaigns, culminating in the slaying of the dragon Fafnir and obtaining Das Rheingold, the nigh-infinite treasure as a reward. It was after completing the absurd task that he came to learn of the Burgundian princess’ beauty and would seek her hand in marriage. However, it would be the start of a tragedy that would take over twenty years to reach its final conclusion.
Despite having joined the swelling ranks of the Burgundians, a shadow would be cast over Siegfried’s glory and it all came back to Kriemhild’s brother, King Gunther. Gunther, having set his eye on the Queen of Iceland, Brunnhilde, would enlist Siegfried’s aid in a scheme to win for her affection. What that scheme entailed need not be said, only that it succeeded through trickery and, for all parties involved, it would bring dishonor to everyone involved. And, sure enough, it did.
A spat between Kriemhilde and Brunnhilde would ultimately reveal the nature of Gunther and Siegfried’s scheme and reveal the truth behind the Brunnhilde’s marriage. The matter had now become public knowledge, both of their reputations would be tarnished and, as tempers flared between the two, what had started as a rivalry threatened to spiral into something far more dangerous. War was a certainty unless the man at the center of the scandal had paid with his life. And so, he had, at the hands of his supposed best-friend, Hagen. A cowardly act that was carried out with a single crossbow shot to the knight’s weak spot, a leaf-shaped mark on his back that hadn’t been coated in Fafnir’s blood.
Were the Nibelungenlied a tale about Siegfried, the legend would’ve ended there. In truth, despite his sacrifice, Siegfried’s death did not put an end to the brewing tragedy but stoked it further as his now widowed wife, Kriemhild, had been set upon a path of vengeance in his name that would last over 20 years. With her hatred directed at those most responsible, Gunther and Hagen, the widowed Kriemhild would fulfill her ambitions by entering into a political marriage with Attila the Hun. That neither cared for the other suited them, with Kriemhild focusing her energies on luring her brother and Hagen both into a trap that would kill them both.
After years of planning, her moment finally came. Despite the obvious animosity simmering beneath the surface, Kriemhild convinced Gunther and Hagen both to visit Attila’s court for a feast. What followed was a nightmare for all involved: The Burgundians and Huns came to blows over repeated provocations from Hagen, the man himself slaying one of Kriemhild’s sons. The hall where everyone was gathered had been set ablaze on Kriemhild’s order with the Queen herself beheading her own brother in the chaos. And, most importantly, the final confrontation with the man who personally killed Siegfried, was at Kriemhild’s mercy. Her vengeance was finally at hand…
In the moments before Kriemhild beheaded her husband’s killer, he spoke the truth to her: That it was Siegfried himself arranged for his own death. For over twenty years she had planned and schemed and waited for this moment and it had been based on as much a lie as the one that started this mess in the first place. It was maddening, filling her with more hatred in that moment than the twenty years she spent on her brother and Hagen. So lost in madness she had become, it didn’t even care as an outraged survivor cut Kriemhild down over her actions. She could only wonder, just what was it even for in the end…
Personality: Cunning and vindictive as much as she is restrained and measured. As the woman who spent more than twenty years in a quest for her husband’s vengeance, Kriemhild has the capacity for an even-handed approach to situations as much as a brutal and unforgiving one. Where Siegfried is concerned, she finds herself at a crossroads. Despite everything that transpired what she learned moments before her demise, Kriemhild still holds a deep love for her husband and wants nothing more than to see him again. However, at the same time, the fact that her husband’s murder was premeditated by Siegfried himself is a source of endless frustration and anger. To claim love yet not even attempt communication, leading to the final tragedy at Atilla’s castle…
As a note, the mere mention of Gunther or Hagen is something of a red-button to be avoided at all costs. Not only because of the latter’s part in the murder of her husband and subsequent revelation that it was all planned by Siegfried himself but because, despite Dragon Knight’s inclinations, everything came about because of her brother’s scheming. If she could, she would decapitate him all over again…
Weapon of choice: The demonic sword, Balmung Kriemhild, is the only weapon at Krimehild’s disposal. In addition to its qualities as a demonic sword, it is capable of emitting its mana as a powerful cursed flame, capable of scorching and ensnaring foes through its aura alone.
Noble Phantasm:
Balmung Kriemhild: Exiled Demonic Sword – Felling of the Holy Queen – Rank A+, Anti-Unit – The same holy blade wielded by the hero, Siegfried, its properties change depending on who is wielding it. In the hands of the vengeful widow, Kriemhild, Balmung has become a demonic blade. Its entire being is drenched in a powerful cursed flame and, fittingly for a Berserker, does not discriminate between those caught in its path be they enemy, ally or even Kriemhild herself as she wields it. Still, it is this same curse that makes it exceptionally potent as an instrument for killing. For Kriemhild, who poured her entire being into achieving revenge for the slain Siegfried, it is all she needs. There is no need for what comes after her target is slain, only that they lay motionless before her.
As the same sword that brought down the mighty dragon, Fafnir, it possesses anti-Draconic properties in addition to its already cursed state. Still, it pales in comparison compared to its primary use as a tool for revenge. Notably, despite its power, Kriemhild is not a trained swordswoman so its potential in a proper fight against a true warrior is hampered somewhat. Perhaps that is what makes the Berserker so dangerous despite her shortcomings…
Hört Glut Rachegötter: Hear My Voice, O’ Burning and Vengeful Gods – Rank D+, Anti-Army – The embodiment of an anecdote about Kriemhild’s attempt to dispose of a group of warriors, including her own brother and Hagen, by setting them ablaze in revenge. Upon activation, a raging inferno will erupt that will threaten to consume everyone within it, be they ally or not. Because of Hagen’s advice during the attempt, those caught within the fire merely suffered minor casualties so proper advice and countermeasures can reduce its effectiveness.
However, this Noble Phantasm’s true worth comes from how Kriemhild, already consumed by revenge, cares nothing for a warrior’s pridee. “If I die, I’ll die on the battlefield.” Such ideals are worthless to her so, if this Phantasm is used as part of a plot, then its power will increase greatly.
Skills:
Madness Enhancement – Rank EX – A skill that strengthends physical abilities in exchange for the hindering of their sense of reason. Though Kriemhild’s reason and intellect are intact, the rage and anger that came about from Siegfried’s assassination as well as the truth behind it are always bubbling beneath the surface. It should be noted that, because her rage and fury stem from her quest for vengeance were unknowingly based on a lie, she does not qualify for the Avenger-class.
Class Skills
Revenge Plan (Rampage) – Rank B++ - The widowed Kriemhild not only mourned her husband, Siegfried, but became trapped in delusions of revenge. So consumed by her need for vengeance she was, Kriemhild went as far as entering a political marriage with the King of the Huns, Atilla, and purposely instigating a war with her brother, Gunther. For the widowed Kriemhild, anything and everything was on the table if it saw that wretched Hagen dead before her…
Reciprocated Slaughter – Rank A – A battle between factions will naturally intensify. The higher the rank and madness of its user, the greater the bloodshed and horrors that result from the war. At rank A, the possibility of keeping one’s hands clean in Kriemhild’s plot for revenge is near impossible. By the time the fighting has come to an end, their hands will be just as blood-soaked as Kriemhild’s…
Affection of the Court Lady – Rank EX – The love of a court lady is what a medieval knight pursues. Despite not being the original instigator in the Nibelungenlied, it can be said that the love of a court lady may be the root of Kriemdhild’s underlying madness.
Physical appearance:
Armor
Kriemhild is a woman whose icy personality is matched by her appearance. She stands at 5’5 and weighs 121lbs, possessing skin akin to snow, long platinum blonde hair and ice-like blue eyes with a pair of tear-like moles beneath her left eye. Her face often appears sullen, no doubt a result of the years grieving her husband and planning his revenge. Because her height is fairly average and she possesses no formal training as a swordswoman, Balmung’s large size makes her swordsmanship awkward in execution. Not that it stopped her from beheading her husband’s killers…
Clothing and Armor: Most often, Kriemhild appears as though she were dressed for a funeral, wearing an all-black dress, gloves, boots and hat. A fitting outfit considering her state of mind when she first set off on her plot for revenge but hardly appropriate for actual combat. For combat purposes, assuming she makes the effort to materialize it, she wears an armored dress that swaps much of the grim black for a more white and gray-colored palette. According to her, it was the same outfit she wore the day she beheaded her brother and Hagen both.
