video; un: jean

[rustyhonesty]

[It's a video of a young man (around 18) standing sitting on a couch. Somehow making this kind of a post had become a habit. But if they had yet another world to save, he supposed it was going to be useful to know.]

We get a lot of these kinds of posts, but since we're just starting I guess that's understandable. So one more, at least.

[He's not a stranger to the network, but it still felt pretty awkward to make a post, especially now that this was yet another group of mostly strangers.]

My name is Jean Kirstein and I'm a soldier deployed in a branch called Survey Corps, which is basically a combat unit meant to fight the monsters in our world and gain back the lands we lost.

[A simple enough introduction and also a lead into why he's making this post.]

I wanted to know many of us here have military experience? I figured it would be useful to know so we could either train together or teamup otherwise when needed. Especially if our experiences align well.

[He shrugs, then.]

Or if you're not in military, maybe you can tell about what it's like, if you know.

Comments

[rustyhonesty]

[It's alright, Jean wouldn't know what 1700's France Attire looks like.]

We did end up fighting humans, too, but killing monsters was what we were mainly trained to do. [Killing humans was never in the job describtion.] I'm guessing you've never heard of Titans?

[He could just explain straight away, but he's curious to see what his reply to 'titans' might be.

And even if he's not aware of Servants, he's also not gonna question 'my human life' because he's met enough of people who are something other than human and he's not surprised if someone used to be human. Not after home.]

I'd say being a commander is more than just some experience.

[triompheduhimbo]

So monsters were the bigger threat, huh? Doesn't sound like a fun world to live in. Humans at least you can reason with or make treaties with.

[ And... The mention of the word 'Titans'?

...Napoleon had no memories of the Scandinavian Lostbelt. He was a completely new manifestation of the Servant Napoleon Bonaparte. The only thing he carried over, the only thing, was a name- Ophelia. Down to the core of his being, he'd carry that name, along with Josephine's, probably for as long as he was summoned.

And yet, something about how the other man was talking brought on memories of what Maître had told him. What Scathach-Skadi had spoken of-- recalling the giants he had apparently fought. His own last stand there was against such a Giant, after all... or so he was told. ]

Oui, in a way. 'Titan' where I am from usually refer to a particular group of Greek Gods, who ruled before the current Olympian Generation of Gods took over. But that term has also been used to refer to 'Giants' in general. They don't exist in the time I've come from, normally, but I have fought them before due to... unusual circumstances.

[ Napoleon let out a laugh. He sounded ridiculous, trying to talk around his experience.]

Probably doesn't make much sense, huh? I had a pretty regular 'human' existence, commanding officer aside, but as I am now, I get to see a lot of strange shit.

[rustyhonesty]

You'd be surprised about that second part.

[Reasoning with some of the humans back home. Yeah, he doesn't see that very possible. They haven't been able to reason themselves out of almost anything.

Again with the Greek Gods. That seemed to be a rather normal use of the word. That and just giants.]

Titans in our world are giants that only attack humans in order to eat them. They smallest of them are four meters tall while largest go way past ten. They're only vulnerable in one place on their body and regenerate if you don't cut it.

[The most simple explanation without adding too much things like they're naked or they used to be human or anything... worse than that.]

Did you ascend from being a human to something bigger or something?

[triompheduhimbo]

Hmmm... nah, not really. Humans are awfully stubborn too, and can be worse than monsters if they give into their worst impulses. Guess it really depends on the situation, don't it?

[ A soft chuckle if slightly wry, tilting his head a bit at the camera. Though his face became more serious as the kid described what he'd been dealing with back home, whistling low. ]

Sounds like a hell of a time. Where was the weak spot, and if it was high up, how'd you get at it?

[ Because if they were that much trouble, it didn't sound like somewhere you could easily access. As for the kids question... ]

Sooort of. Long story short; I'm a magical familiar based on a man who was 100% human, but was a great military leader and 'First Emperor' of the country he ruled. When he kicked the bucket, his history got stored in something called the 'Throne of Heroes', and when shit hits the fan, or Mages really feel like fighting one another, I can get summoned out.

[ Napoleon shrugged a little, that thoughtful smile returning. ]

I'm not even really a historical version of the guy-- I don't really have his personality, though I know his life and history. I'm more an 'ideal' the people made up when they think about him given form. A man who makes the impossible, possible.

[ A pause, glancing back at the camera. ]

Make sense, or should I get into more detail?

[rustyhonesty]

Their weak spot is on the nape. We have some special equipment that lets us get there. It still usually takes quite a few soldiers to do it. Usually the battles have plenty of casualties.

[Unless you were very, very good at it.

The whole explanation is kind of weird and he really hopes that's not a common occurrence in other worlds and rather just wherever this guy comes from. Why would anyone need to be called anywhere after they died? Let the people rest in peace.]

I think I got the general idea. But basically you're still mostly human, even if you're a "familiar"?

[triompheduhimbo]

On their nape, of course. So you gotta get right close to the one place you really don't wanna go to take em out. I can imagine the causalities.

[ Or more so, he didn't wanna imagine. He had a pretty iron stomach but it was never pleasant to think about... but especially if the monsters just... ate humans whole. ]

And personality wise, yeah. We don't need to eat, drink or sleep to maintain ourselves but plenty of 'Servants'-- including yours truly-- do it for the mental stability it gives. And we tend to have super human strength or abilities based on stories about us.

[ An easy laugh-- ]

So at the very least, I'm a great meat shield! But other than that, we're mostly human.

[ We just won't talk about the Sakura 5, or Xiang Yu, or Thomas Edison, or Ivan the Terrible, or anyone in the Foreigner Class that isn't Mysterious Heroine XX or Voyager-- ]

[rustyhonesty]

At least their limbs can be cut off with our blades so that helps a lot. To get them down to our level. The regeneration isn't instant, at least.

[At least there's some hope in the hell.]

I don't exactly support using anyone as a meat shield, even if you'd be able to take hits. Anything could go wrong with that and I don't want people dying again on my watch.