Lancer (Fate/Crossover - Estinien Varlineau)

**Lancer** (ランサー, *Ransā*) is the servant of ??? in the ??? Holy Grail War.

*"Spare us the hyperbole. 'Tis not for praise that we fight."* - Estinien Varlineau

## Profile

### Identity

Lancer's true identity is **Estinien Varlineau**, also known by the epithet Estinien Wyrmblood. born in the town of Ferndale, Estinien lost his family to the dragon Nidhogg's flames and resolved to become an Azure Dragoon to avenge them. At the age of twelve, Estinien was taken in by Alberic Bale, then holder of the title of Azure Dragoon. When his training was complete, Estinien joined the Temple Knights. So focused was he on the fight against the Dravanian Horde that he scarcely remembered the names of his companions. His sole friendship was with Aymeric de Borel, a knight of similar age who shared Estinien's passion for the cause. Estinien's prowess saw him rise through the ranks, first becoming a dragoon, and later inheriting the title of Azure Dragoon once held by his foster father.

He is one of the Warrior of Light's rivals, traveling companions, and later turned official member of the Scions of the Seventh Dawn. A legendary figure amongst both Ishgard and even the people of Thavnair. Due in part to his contributions during both the Dragonsong War and the Final Days and the events that followed.

### Appearance

Estinien is a male Elezen wearing a full set of black Drachen scale armor with golden details. Though his helmet usually obscures his facial features, he has gray eyes. He has shoulder-length white hair, which was first mentioned in Tales from the Dragonsong War, and later shown in-game following the end of the Dragonsong War.

During the battle with Nidhogg in the Aery, Estinien's armor is severely scratched up and loses a horn before it is stained crimson in a shower of the dragon's spilled blood. This is a catalyst of blood magic, completed when Estinien takes hold of both of Nidhogg's eyes, where his most "human" form shows red glowing veins on his face and the two eyes fused to his mail. Parts of his lance become blood red, and its blade becomes jagged and claw-like. He later names his weapon after his late arch-nemesis.

During Final Fantasy XIV: Stormblood, Estinien discards the red mail for a red and blue colored Trueblood Armor set with gold trimmings, and forgoes any headwear. The "From Azure Ashes" chapter of Tales from the Storm reveals that he named his armor Iceheart, in honor of Ysayle Dangoulain. In Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker, Estinien began tying his hair back upon arrival in Thavnair, as a means to contend with the region's heat.

As a Trust party member, Estinien's alternate outfit that he wore when infiltrating Garlemald is unlocked immediately.

### Personality

Estinien is stoic and speaks in a brusque manner. He has little respect for those he sees as weak, and barely conceals his disdain when speaking to them. Estinien has a reputation for scorning social gatherings in Ishgard and detests the notion of keeping up appearances. He has spent the majority of his life being driven by his desire of vengeance against Nidhogg, and thus sees little need for companionship or hobbies. He has little respect for Ishgard's zealous leadership, criticizing their decisions and lack of care for the citizens. For the most part he keeps these opinions to himself, but is more open about it with his friends and companions.

His personality softens after traveling with the Warrior of Light and their companions. Though his rude manner of speaking never changes, Estinien admits that he has moved past revenge being his sole motivation. Though often insulting toward him, Estinien befriends Alphinaud Leveilleur. Aymeric de Borel suggests that Estinien sees Alphinaud as a reflection of the younger sibling he lost to Nidhogg's flames, while Alphinaud views Estinien as the older brother he wishes he had. Estinien respects the Warrior of Light as a trusted comrade and speaks highly of Ser Aymeric, believing him to be Ishgard's best hope for a new future.

In contrast, Estinien often argues with Ysayle due to her leading the Heretics and her idealistic desire for peace conflicting with his grim views and desire for retribution against Nidhogg. He is yet willing to work with Lady Iceheart for Ishgard's sake, and over time, the two come to an understanding if even a friendship, he even named his armor after her.

Later on, Estinien develops a respectful camaraderie and partnership with former Legatus Gaius Baelsar, working together during their shared mission in Garlemald. He would, however, get on the wrong foot with Alphinaud's twin sister, Alisaie, after the Dragoon mistook her for her brother, much to her immense annoyance.

As his vengeance against Nidhogg drove him for the majority of his life, Estinien originally felt little else. Upon learning the full history of Nidhogg and the founding of Ishgard, he realized what he was becoming: a creature like Nidhogg, what he was hunting, a beast who knows nothing but hate and revenge. Unlike Nidhogg, Estinien has friends who care for him and guide him to see beyond his vengeance. He foregoes any grudges he had with dragonkinds, as he befriends the dragonlet Orn Khai. In Endwalker, he suggests Vrtra reveal himself to the population of Thavnair and is proud after the dragon does so.

After joining the Scions, Estinien keeps his aloof behavior among his peers, only opening a little to the Warrior of Light and Alphinaud. He doesn't quite understand all the business about Ascians and the elder primals, but is prepared to fight for the future of Hydaelyn and is not above helping civilians, even laying his life for his comrades. He has a dry sense of humor, and often teases his fellow Scions good-heartedly.

According to Krile, Estinien is "very bad with coin", which is proven to be as he did not bother to haggle with Thavnair's merchants upon arriving with his fellow Scions. He would later buy a treasure map leading to Alzadaal's Legacy from a conman in Radz-at-Han in hopes that his impoverished accomplice would get his share of the profits, while being fully aware that it was a potentially a scam. His doubts about the map's authenticity would be alleviated upon learning that it was real from the accomplice, who lost both his parents during the Final Days. Additionally, Estinien has shown to be a poor liar, as when the Scions were first entering Old Sharlayan through immigration, the dragoon could not come up with a believable cover story and would have been caught had not Krile covered for him.

During his stay in Kugane, Estinien develops a taste for dried squid and makes references of it throughout the story, eventually becoming a Thavnairian local legend for purchasing an enormous supply of dried squid to keep him satiated during the journey to Ultima Thule.

## Abilities

Estinien was faced alongside a Greywine in "Into the Dragon's Maw". The Greywine periodically glowed purple and the player should stop attacking it and move away from it to avoid counter attack damage. Estinien would count down and perform a dragoon maneuver. Estinien also used Dragonfire jump and his attacks had the effect of en-bind and en-stun.

### Skills

#### Class Skills

* Magic Resistance (A Rank): Cancel spells of A-Rank or below, no matter what greater magecraft it is. In practice, the Servant is untouchable to modern magi. Lancer has effectively fought all manner of beings from drakes, and wyrms to even great wyrms along with having faced godlike beings. To the very concept of despair itself, along with this, he possesses finely crafted armor named after a fallen comrade, gifted to him by the Great Wyrm Hraesvelgr, he also is imbued with the essence of the Great Wyrm 'Nidhogg'.

#### Personal Skills

* Mind's Eye (True) (A Rank): Capable of calm analysis of the abilities of the opponent as well as the battle conditions even when in danger and deducing an appropriate course of action after considering all possibilities to escape from a predicament. He has fought in the Dragonsong War for the majority of his life and underwent rigorous training to become a Dragoon to the point he possesses the very power of one of the Great Wyrms.

* Dragon Slayer (A++ Rank): Grants significantly improved attack power and defense power against members of the Dragon Kind. Much of his life was spent fighting in the Dragonsong War he even struck down the Great Wyrm 'Nidhogg' in battle. He is at the very pinnacle of what can be called a 'Slayer of Dragons' even carrying the title 'Dragonslayer'. It is ironic for one that has the very essence of a Dragon within him and also has garnered such great respect amongst Dragon Kind as well.

* Mana Burst (Jump) (A Rank): Having been rigorously trained as a Dragoon, Lancer has acquired superhuman jumping power to the point that he can ride the very winds themselves. It is said the Dragoons of Ishgard are at their most terrifying not when they engage you from the ground but when they leap into the skies and come crashing down upon their foes.

* Essence of Nidhogg (EX Rank): Lancer is no mere Dragoon even for an Azure Dragoon his talent is vastly above those besides 'one'. During his life he made use of one of the Great Wyrm 'Nidhogs' eyes which in turn provided him with great power, as a trade-off his very essence became imbued with the Great Wyrm itself enough that when he garnered possession of both of the Wyrm's eyes he was effectively possessed by a mere Shade of Nidhogg, further imbuing the Elezen. This can be seen as a form of 'Dragon-Kind Modification' where he effectively possesses a Dragon Mana Reactor, however, it also grants him such abilities that he can effectively call on this essence to imbue himself or even his spear with the very powers of a Dragon. This nature also allows him to resist things such as mind control or mental interference and can even sense the presence of other Dragons or those who bear the 'blood or essence of a dragon'.

### Noble Phantasm

#### **Nidhogg; "Spear of the Wicked Dragon"**

Named after his Arch-Nemesis, 'Nidhogg' is a spear that embodies the very Dragon nature that Estinien has within him it is said that the very 'Life-Force' of a Dragon. While a dragoon allows the Blood of the Dragon to burn within their veins, Lancer is able to use abilities that use the very same process that Dragonkind employs to infuse their breath with arcane destruction. This can range from devastating attacks comparable to that of an 'Anti-Unit' Noble Phantasm from imbuing the very user with the strength to bring down a towering metal structure. Or to create vivid mirages of a 'Wyrm' that can come crashing down on their foes.

The epitome of this is known as 'Dragonsong Dive' By unleashing the power of the dragon within, Lancer leaps upon an enemy with primal savagery. The mana expended during this attack burns with a fierce light, appearing as nothing less than a colossal wyrm of mana descending from the heavens and causing untold devastation to those caught within the blast. In essence, the spear is a reflection of what it means to both be a Dragoon and to be infused with the very essence of a Dragon itself.​

### Gallery

#### Fate/???

1st Ascension2nd Ascension3rd AscensionFinal Ascension
## References

https://finalfantasy.fandom.com/wiki/Estinien\_Varlineau

https://sexypedia.fandom.com/wiki/Estinien\_Varlineau

https://forums.spacebattles.com/threads/summon-a-servant-mark-vi-the-dark-six-fate-fiction-servants-read-the-threadmarks-please.370875/post-96664643