Asgard Application
OOC Information;
Name; Christy
Personal Journal; carnivalization
Contact; veracitatem @ Plurk, evybay[at]gmail[dot]com
Other Characters; No one! Obviously.
IC Information;
Character Name; Rider (Alexander the Great)
Canon; Fate/Zero
Canon Point; Shortly after the Kings' Feast while Waver and Rider wait to make a move
Age; 2,364: Appears to be in his late twenties/early thirties.
House; There's no better fit than Thor.
Power; Strength
Personality;
"Let the good times roll."
This short phrase sums up Alexander's ambitions, and his general temperment. Alexander as a historical figure is controversial because opinions of the man's character are divided between a tyrant and a fundamentally good ruler. However, in public opinion, Alexander the Great is considered no less than a hero, and perhaps the first foreign diplomat despite his aggressive campains.
As a character, the first thing that shines about Rider's character is that he's a even tempered and good natured person. Rider is so bold to declare that he has little interest in the grail itself, but when asked about his wish for the grail, Rider says that he would wish to have a true body once again, and to be human. Rider's ambitions have not changed in the two millenia of rest in Akasha, for he still has such high ambitions as to conquer the entire world, which has grown in his absence. The fact that his wish is to be human rather than to simply have the world just like that, though, demonstrates an important part of his personality. Rider does not want what he has not rightfully earned, through battle or otherwise. He does not wish to take what is not rightfully his, or what he has not earned. Rider would rather relive the glory of his conquests and take the world with his own hands rather than have it with just a wish.
His general attitude towards the Grail War and other Servants is what demonstrates that phrase most clearly. If there were one world to describe Rider, it would simply be "bold". In his first meeting with the other Servants of the 4th Grail War, he proudly declares his name, which is considered a near taboo for the war. He is bold enough to not only storm into Saber's castle for hope of drinking with her, but to even invite the dangerous and haughty Gilgamesh, known to everyone but Rider as Archer. It's a demonstration of Rider's pure intentions of good will, and something that he considers very important. Rider isn't the type of person to strike a weakened enemy, but would rather face them honorably and have a fair fight.
Now, the one thing you wouldn't want is to make Rider mad. I mean, he's seven feet tall and could crush you with a finger, probably. Still, it's rather hard to do. Rider is a patient guy, despite being loud and haughty, and puts up with others much more than they put up with him. When he is angry, though, it's something to be feared. So don't try it.
In his free time while Waver works tirelessly to gain an advantage, Rider simply lazes around, watching military videos and reading books of conquest. While the inaction annoys Waver, Rider strongly disagrees, calling it important for conquering this new world. In fact, no matter where Rider goes, he carries an atlas with him at all times. Well, that and something else. Rider always carries a copy of The Illiad as well. Even the historic Alexander loved this book, so Rider holds the epic poem in high regard. It also shows a less recognized aspect of his personality. Rider appears more than anything to be a brute, loud, boisterous, and excitable, but he is a wise person, and an intellectual person, though he rarely demonstrates it. The fact that he hasn't been present for the past 2,000 years, though, makes him seem ignorant or naive.
But speaking of that, Rider, unlike Gilgamesh, is fascinated with the modern world and excited by all its wonders. He is especially fond of airplanes (he says that to conquer the world, he'll need 9 stealth bombers, for example) but is fascinated by everyday aspects such as television. He knows of them because of the fact Servants are provided with minimal information when summoned, but he likes to try them out himself. Though, some modern marvels are not so welcome. Like trousers and underwear. A mighty warrior does not need trousers.
Rider is indeed a mighty warrior, after all. Though unlike other kings of his time, Alexander valued all of his subjects, even those from foreign lands. Even more so, he valued his soldiers, and was known for not separating himself from them. He slept, ate, and laughed with his army, and because of that, his soldiers followed him loyaly, even in death. Rider is a social person, as such, and is willing to drink and joke with anyone willing to bear his presence. Not that it's a bad thing! Rider is an agreeable fellow, and probably the kind of person that you would want to rule your country, really. He thinks of his people and seeks prestige and prosperity for all of them, and even to his newest subjects, he is accepting of their cultures.
It's another thing that Alexander was well known for. He is an accepting person who has a strong interest in other cultures, rather than trying to force his own. Especially with his residence in Akasha, there is little that is strange to Rider, for since he has realized the potency of magic, he believes that nothing is truly impossible.
Samples;
Network Sample;
from betenoire_rp
[The feed is at first filled with static and the sounds of the device being knocked around. But eventually, words start to filter through.]
―nteresting. Hou, ――something that Waver may k―Ah!
[And the person seems to figure it out, so the deep, resonant voice laughs jovially]
Aha, here we go! What an odd little thing indeed... It is like those, hm, "phones," isn't it? The thing is far too small, though. Ha, I feel as if I may crush it without meaning to!
[He laughs again. Cheerful guy, for just getting re-summoned to a strange city.] But! Hello, those of you that may hear me! I confess that I do not know to whom I speak, but I suppose it matters little! I am Alexander III of Macedon, participating in this War in the class of Rider. I seek the one who has summoned me to this city.
This may be a bit too forward, but all the secrecy of this War is a bother anyways! Perhaps I should just devote myself to conquering this city, if my Master is too devoted to such a thing. It is not to my tastes now, that much is clear, but with effort, surely it could become as fine a city as Tyre...
[His voice quiets to...a normal level] Now, how to turn―[There's a crack, then the feed cuts to static]
Log Sample;
It was only a matter of keeping his promise.
King Darius was not a king that Alexander necessarily admired. Darius commanded a great empire, yet with half their numbers, Alexander's armies had beaten him again and again. This, he took pride in. When Darius had fled every time, it had annoyed Alexander, seeing cowardice in his actions, but the annoyance had turned into pity as Alexander's scouts had reported to him the growing unrest with the Persian nobles as Darius continued to fail. As discretely as he could, Alexander had offered Darius help in the form of a mercenary to protect the king from his own advisers, but politics prevented him from accepting.
He had finally come to the end of perusing Darius when those advisers could no longer wait. Alexander had arrived in a rush, but one of his soldiers only shook his head. Alexander approached and saw the king dying in his wagon, wounded by his own people, and it had hurt Alexander greatly. He had no intentions of killing the king of Persia, yet the fates had deemed otherwise.
So Alexander had gripped the dying king's hands and promised as a fellow man, not as enemies, that he would hunt down those that had killed Darius and avenge him for their betrayal.
And, now, there was only one person left to keep that promise.
Satibarzanes and Barsaentes had already been killed, beheaded to the roaring cheers of his army, but Bessus the traitor would not receive such an honor. Alexander stood before the man that had declared himself the king with a grim expression. There were fresh wounds and bruises all over the man, but that was from his fellow Persians. Alexander's army had yet to touch him.
Alexander drew his sword, and Bessus shuddered and squirmed, but the ropes that bound him to a stake in the ground did not move. Alexander only crouched in front of him so that their eyes were even.
"False King Artaxerxes," Alexander said in Greek, "I have followed you from the spot where you killed your leader and selfishly took the throne. If you had not acted out of cowardice, perhaps our own people would not have surrendered you to me."
Bessus grimaced, and spoke in heavily accented Greek, "My claim was rightful, Dhul-Qarnayn. My people only surrender out of fear of you, for you have committed such atrocities against us!"
"And yours against mine, Bessus. Your Darius the Great killed and tortured many Greeks, for which we cannot forgive you. In comparison, I think I've been quite merciful, haven't I?"
Bessus' reply was to spit in the Alexander's face, which he only laughed at as he stood again. "Ha, there we go! I appreciate such spirit, though it will not help you, I am afraid! Darius I would have spared, but there is no worse disgrace than betrayal."
Alexander pointed his sword at Bessus' face with a grin. But most surprising to Bessus was the Persian that he spoke, better than Bessus had spoken Greek. "I have heard something interesting, though, from your people who have decided to follow me. They said that it is customary for Persians to mar traitors in a way that all will know their sin. You will not live long, I assure you, but I love Persia far more than you, False King."
Bessus' eyes widened, but Alexander waved over one of his soldiers. The soldier had no job but to tie and hold Bessus' head as still as possible. It would be a shame to go through all this effort only to have the sword pierce right through his skull.
The screams did not bother him in the slightest, but he did not take pleasure in them. Alexander took his time as he sliced of each ear, and took special care when cutting off his nose. He would not die, but what a sight! He surely must have wished himself dead every time Alexander began to slice.
Once Alexander finished, he grabbed the bloody mar of a face and leaned close, speaking again in Persian. "I could crucify you now, Bessus, or cut off your head for my army to see, but I will not do that."
He let go roughly, his tone full of harsh disgust as he spoke to the soldier. "You. Gather a unit to take this traitor to Bactria. We are civil Greeks. This traitor must be put to trial."
Alexander wiped his bloody sword on the royal clothing that Bessus war.
"I will meet you there soon. We must finish claiming the spoils of this battle and sort out what we must do next."
The soldier began to untie the sobbing Bessus, clutching his face in agony as soon as he was able, but Alexander did not spare him another glance.
But at the end of the week, Alexander watched coldly as the traitor was torn apart. After all, the only was to have a Macedonian trial was with citizens of Macedon. The man was guilty, regardless of his crime.
It was remarked in a later memoir that Alexander had sighed as the last gurgling scream came out of Bessus' body. Mistakenly, it was taken as a sigh of pleasure at defeating the Persians yet again, but it was much more somber than that.
Alexander gave a prayer to King Darius, telling him that their promise had been kept.