Welcome Distant...

The Throne welcomes you Distant…

[SEARCHING FOR SUITABLE LEGENDS…]

[CANDIDATE FOUND!]

[INITIALISING RECRUITMENT OF LEGEND..]

Under normal circumstances one might admire the clear night sky in this small clearing away from the sounds of villages and cities. Sadly she found herself in compromising circumstances, with blood flowing down her right side and warmth escaping her. For while she was a renowned mercenary something's tend to fell even the most experienced of fighters. Be it old age, old wounds from younger days, the wrath of nature itself or in her case a friend who fulfilled a promise made to her.

"Cough! How ironic for me to die alone and yet it's just as I wished all along" a strained smile crept on her bloody features. "I fought, killed countless enemies in the name of money but the most cherished times where still when I paid back that debt."

"What was it that Rhea always said? Oh right! May the Goddess smile upon you. What a funny thing to say to someone like me." she said as her last words.

She raised her clouded vision skywards towards the full moon and with a weak chuckle left this war-ridden world forever.

Decades and even millennia later there were still stories about the woman who fought besides the goddess's messenger. The woman whose arrows never failed to hit true, the woman whose ruthlessness was almost unmatched in battle yet was remembered fondly of by her few friends.

While her consciousness drifted towards the afterlife, she found herself in a strange room with a blue hue sitting on a rather comfortable chair on one side of a table. Opposite her sat a man with a half mask.

"Welcome to the Velvet Throne" the man greeted with a bow. "I heard you were a mercenary in life so I took the liberty to invite you here for some work"

"Work? I'm pretty sure the dead mercenaries don't work any more" she answered with a wry smile.

"While that may be true for those ordinary ones the same cannot be said about you. From humble beginnings to being one of the trusted officers of the Archbishop to being the right hand woman of the goddess's messenger. That is quite the career path for a mercenary if you ask me"

"I only repaid my debts that's all" she countered.

"Maybe that's how you saw it my dear marksman, but for the people of Fódlan you were a legend while living. And after your death the few friends you made never forgot you and one even told stories of your aim and devotion to those who earned your loyalty. So much so that even the goddess acknowledges you, if that isn't something to be proud of I don't know what is" he said with a snicker.

Smiling she said: "Ugh! Of course they would" afterwards her face resumed her passive state. "Fine. So tell me what kind of work would you have for someone dead?"

He pushed the contract towards her side of the table and said: "What I want is for your legend to be recorded in this Throne of Heroes and to grant it a new life with a new chance to have one wish. It will participate in the Holy Grail War for the chance to grant one wish – whatever that may be."

She took her time to think about that proposal because if her legend-self was to be anything like her, she would be anything but pleased at the prospect of another war. On the other hand how many mercenaries could claim to be recorded in this Throne of Heroes? How many will die for this war?

With a sigh she signed the contract. "Alright, fine one last job. Just don't tell Rhea or Catherine about this."

"Hahaha! If that is what you wish of me sure! Once more welcome to the Velvet Throne and may this new opportunity bring you new fortunes, Distant Archer – Shamir Nevrand!"