Essential Material: Cast Me Away (Patreon)

One of Nimue’s two most characteristic Noble Phantasms. An innate ability representing the legend of receiving Excalibur upon King Arthur’s death, bolstered by the practice of the ancient Celts of casting trinkets and armaments into sacred bodies of water as a form of sacrifice to life-sustaining lake and river goddesses. 

Embodying just such a practice, sublimated from the story of Sir Bedivere casting Excalibur back into the lake, this Noble Phantasm is the ability of Nimue that allows her to take ownership of any item, even the Noble Phantasms of other Heroic Spirits, that falls into a body of water within the area established as her territory. 

However, unlike a certain guardian, whose abilities also allow him to reproduce the skill with which a Noble Phantasm was wielded, this Noble Phantasm only bestows the title of “owner” upon Nimue. No additional skill in its use is given to her as such, and so she is limited to her own proficiencies. Furthermore, the size of the body of water must classify as a pond, at minimum, and therefore, Nimue does not automatically take ownership of every bar of soap her subjects drop in the bath.

According to the legend, written upon one side of Excalibur’s blade is the phrase, “Cast Me Away,” said in some stories to symbolize the wisdom of the king to know that his rule must one day end. In others, it is meant as a sign that King Arthur was only ever borrowing Excalibur, and that it must one day return to the hands of the Lady of the Lake. From this legend, this Noble Phantasm receives its name.