Oedipus (Saber)

Class: Saber
Other Classes: Berserker
True Name: Oedipus
Alignment: Lawful Neutral
Place of Origin: Greece

STR: B+ (B++)
END: C
AGI: B
MGI: D-
LCK: E

Class Skills:
Magic Resistance D+: When a plague, sent down as a curse from the gods, ravaged the peoples of his city, Oedipus was powerless to halt its spread, yet was unaffected himself despite unknowingly being the source of the gods’ anger. Cancels single-action spells, and blunts the effects of any and all magic from divine sources.

Riding D: At this rank, some vehicles and most animals can be handled with above average skills, but the likes of phantasmal beasts and more technologically advanced vehicles are out of the question. Oedipus has no particular stories of riding any mount, but as a Greek king he could handle chariots and horses with some proficiency.

Personal Skills:
Independent Action (False) D: After stabbing out his own eyes in horror from the revelation of his great sin, a violation of two of the greatest taboos of mankind, the blinded king left the city that had once looked up to him as their greatest hero and ruler. During his self-imposed exile, Oedipus spent years wandering throughout Greece as a broken shadow of the man he once was, with only the help of his daughters to guide him. At this rank, Oedipus may continue to survive and fight without a mana supply for up to 12 hours. However, despite all of the pain he had gone through, Oedipus would never truly be free from the whims of destiny, and fate continued to act and guide his path until his eventual death.

Innocent Monster E: Oedipus had no sexual desire for who he believed was his mother, nor any murderous intent for who he believed was his father, yet his name became synonymous with the theoretical psychological complex developed to describe such incestuous feelings many years later. This warping, though seemingly minor, further tarnishes his reputation, casting Oedipus in the most despicable of lights. Inflicts the equivalent of Mental Pollution D+, slightly boosts strength against those considered “parental figures,” and wreathes Oedipus in a dark aura that is nearly imperceptible to the naked eye, yet marks him as one of the most reprehensible humanity has to offer. Those in close proximity will instinctively feel a slight sense of discomfort and disgust toward him, regardless of however nobly he may act.

Luminary Wit B+: As the great hero who vanquished the Sphinx and its riddle, Oedipus served as a generally wise ruler of his peoples, earning their respect and loyalty, even amidst tumultuous times. Even years later, blind, nearing the end of his life, and all but forgotten by the peoples who once adored him, he was able to discern his uncle’s attempts to use him and refuse to follow him blindly. With an innate understanding of the nature of man, Oedipus can discern the true base intentions of those he converses with up to a certain extent, even without having to see them physically, though more complex feelings are out of reach. In addition to this, Oedipus can continue to rationally plot a course of action while under duress, unless overcome with emotion. This skill also grants Oedipus full self-awareness of his own slight mental distortion, though granting no such power to resist it.

Noble Phantasm(s):

Oedipus Rex
The Blind King Cursed by Fate

Type: Anti-Unit
Rank: B
Range: 1-10
Max Targets: 1

The tale of Oedipus Rex has resonated throughout history as the tragic tale of a noble man unable to defy his fate, forced to his knees by a self-fulfilling prophecy. His legend has been sublimated into the sword that always hangs at his side, the Moirai, as a representation of the futility of free will before destiny. Named after the three Fates who allotted every mortal’s lifespan on this Earth, it takes the form of a simple xiphos, acting as a manifestation of the shears which cut the fragile threads of life when their time was due. As the ultimate representation of the all-encompassing power of fate, the sword remains at Oedipus’s side eternally and can never be taken or lost from him, just as Oedipus’s own fate could not be diverted.

When drawn, the blade grants Oedipus the Eyes of the Oracle, which allows him to see the threads of fate which run through his opponent and gain limited precognition of their next actions. This ability works even through complete darkness or blindness- even with his eyes closed, the opponent’s string of fate shines brightly to Oedipus. Only those with extremely high luck or skills which embody forging their own path against destiny cannot be seen clearly in Oedipus’s mind’s eye- though their thread exists, the opponent in question can move contrary to what their fate may show. In addition, only one opponent can be seen with the Eyes of the Oracle at a time. Though Oedipus may freely and quickly switch the focus of his gaze, seeing the destiny of multiple at once would overwhelm him- after all, he is but a mortal, obedient to fate’s law. However, this power comes at a price. While in use, Oedipus’s already low Luck further deteriorates, as he becomes more and more forced down the path of his own destiny. In addition, with extended use, Oedipus becomes a mere tool of fate, as his free will is sapped away and any frivolous or “useless” thoughts are eliminated. This condition can be reset upon sheathing the blade.

Despite normally being used as a secondary weapon in traditional Greek styles of fighting, Oedipus utilizes the xiphos primarily as his main weapon, due to the reprieve it grants him from his guilt.


Jocasta’s Lament
Rage of Desperation and Despair

Type: Anti-Unit (Self)
Rank: [Sealed]
Range: 0
Max Targets: 1

Driven to hopeless anger and despair from the horrendous crimes that he had unknowingly committed, Oedipus took the pins from the dress of the woman he had grown to love and plunged them into his own eyes, in an attempt to blind himself from the cruel reality of destiny’s culmination. A Noble Phantasm that represents the pinnacle of self-loathing and hate. When used, it can act as a final trump card in the most desperate of situations. At the cost of his vision, Oedipus’s desperate attempt to ignore fate and the reality of his situation is repeated once more, boosting all parameters by multiple ranks and eliminating his Luck stat for a short period of time. Any skill or Noble Phantasm which involves reversing causality or altering fate has no effect on Oedipus during this time, and any and all attempts at mental interference are nullified. However, Oedipus will remain blinded for the remainder of his summoning, and his eyes can never be healed. A last-ditch effort to ignore the inevitable fate which awaits him.

This Noble Phantasm is only available for use when summoned in the Berserker class. However, it remains present, though unusable, while in the Saber class for unknown reasons. Perhaps it serves as a constant reminder of his failure.

Lore:
Before he was even born, the gods had laid a curse on the son of King Laius and Queen Jocasta of Thebes. The Oracle of Delphi prophesied that their son was to commit two atrocities- he would murder his father, and sleep with his mother. When Jocasta indeed bore a son, Laius, frightened by what might come to pass, ordered that the child’s ankles were to be pierced together so that he could not crawl, and put to death in order that the prophecy would not be fulfilled. However, both Laius and Jocasta loved their son too much to destroy the life that they had created themselves, and gave him to a servant to leave out on a mountain to die. In so doing, they doomed themselves as victims of a self-fulfilling prophecy.

The infant was found by a shepherd who, seeing this as an act of providence, took him back to the childless king and queen of his country. They named the child Oedipus, after his swollen feet from his wounds, and raised him like their own child. When he grew into a young man, Oedipus eventually learned of his own prophecy from hearsay and rumors and decided to leave his “parents,” the ones who had raised him, in order to prevent it from ever coming to pass.

While wandering through Greece on the road to Thebes, he encountered an old man coming from the other direction. With an air of kingly arrogance, the man ordered Oedipus to move off the road, as it was only wide enough for one of them to pass. When he naturally refused, the two dueled, and Oedipus slew the prideful man. Oedipus continued on his journey until he was stopped by a Sphinx, who had been terrorizing the nearby city of Thebes. Oedipus managed to best the Sphinx’s riddle, saving the city, who began to herald him as their hero. Since their king had been found dead, they eagerly pushed for their savior to become their new king, and gave to him a prize- the hand of the recently widowed queen, Jocasta, who still looked as beautiful as she had years ago.

It wouldn’t be until many years later, after siring two daughters and two sons, that the truth of what Oedipus had unknowingly done would come to light, and by then, it was far too late.

Personality:
As a Saber, Oedipus is summoned as he was in the prime of his life, as the wise hero who defeated the Sphinx. However, he is summoned with the full knowledge and memories of what he would undergo in the future. A generally quiet and reflective man, Oedipus usually broods on the events of his life, ruminating on whether his fate was something he could have avoided. Though he presents a smile to those who greet him, inside, Oedipus constantly drowns in the guilt of what he had done. Oedipus generally masks his emotions when speaking to others in an attempt to put on a friendly and caring air, though he usually finds little enjoyment in participating in leisurely activities. At various moments in conversations, or when discussing certain topics, Oedipus’s mental distortion becomes painfully evident, and after the conversation has ended, he usually reflects with self-loathing on his actions. For this reason, Oedipus tries to avoid unnecessary conversations, for fear his mental pollution may rise to the fore once more. He usually enjoys listening to music and it serves as his only real distraction from the pain that continually aches him from within. Concerning his master, he attempts to care for them as he would his son or daughter, sometimes recommending a course of action to take, but ultimately keeps his distance for the fear he might one day lose himself or his self-awareness of his condition if he gets too close. He will ultimately follow most orders unless they are blatantly inhumane, even if he slightly disagrees with them, as he no longer places any trust on his own judgment.