Lancer (Fate/Grand Order - Scáthach)

Lancer (ランサー) is a Lancer-class Servant able to be summoned by the Protagonist in the Grand Orders of Fate/Grand Order.

Identity
"Perhaps... I wanted to be killed by your hands. I give up. Better die before that happens. If only you were born a little earlier... Young, so young."

- Scáthach to Cú Chulainn Lancer's True Name is Sukasaha (スカサハ), a female warrior-queen from 's. The queen and gatekeeper of the foreign territory/haunted ground called the "Land of Shadows" (影の国), who is a prodigy of spearmanship and Rune magecraft. She possesses a power immense enough to obtain control over and close the gate of the "Land of Shadows", which is overflowing with countless ghosts, to ward off the dead. It has been said that she became the mentor of Cú Chulainn - who would later grow into the hero of Ulster - guiding him, teaching all sorts of techniques and even bestowing his favorite magic spear. She also instructed his son, Connla.

Legend
"Many things—

''Truly, I robbed many lives. A man. A wraith. A god.''

I've confronted many existences of a countless number, slaughtering all those near me.

''Fight. Fight. Fight. Kill, kill, kill kill kill. In the end, this body was wet with the blood of many victims, and became immortal. The territory under my rule, the "Land of Shadows", was ultimately forced out to the outside of the World, and I ended up being promoted into an existence no different than that of a Divine Spirit.''

I will not grow old.

I will not die.

I've changed into ' that' which is immortal.

''Sure enough, I can no longer remember exactly how much time have passed since the first time I picked up a spear in my hand. It is different from something good. I, who stood on the haunted ground and guarded the "gate", already since acquired the wisdom of the abyss, so I am able to measure the exact time.''

However, I simply do not feel like doing it.

''It is different from melancholy. It is also different from resignation.''

Regret?

''I do not understand. I can say that, but I am unable to affirm it.''

At least, during the interval where I slaughtered many things, there is certainly something that exists within the present me, something that did not exist within my feelings around the time where I was conducting my teachings towards the brave warriors of .

''Ah, indeed. Guiding the many brave warriors considerably.''

''Everything should have faded away at the end of the many passing months and years, but in the middle of my memories that is preserved in a condition that is intentionally kept obscure, one person. There is only one person, a man with his figure displayed clearly to me even up to now.''

Red eyes—

''His pair of eyes. Only in the time where that radiance passes by my mind, what's inside this chest calms down.''

Warmth dwells within myself, which is immutable for eternity.

A heart wishing for reunion?

''That, is not the way it is. That I can affirm.''

''If then, what is it there? To say firmly, as thus, to that man—''

—I want you to kill.

I want death as a person.

Of course, if that man who now became a 'Heroic Spirit' talks about having the strength to kill this person who is an existence that already parted with the glimmer of life and slaughtered even gods, then..."

Throughout her battles, Scáthach eventually ceased being human and started to be closed off from the World, unable to die as a human. She was known to be a woman "strong like a monster" who many sought out for apprenticeship. At the age of sixteen, Cú Chulainn traveled to the Land of Shadows in search of fame, and she became his mentor, guiding him in the "secrets of leaping", teaching him runic magecraft, and granting him his favorite demonic spear, Gáe Bolg.

With her serving as the master of many pupils at the same time, Cú Chulainn was close to his fellow pupil Ferdiad, his equal in arms, and both competed for the right to possess Gáe Bolg. During this period, they went to war with Aife from the neighbouring country, and although Scáthach argued with Cú Chulainn over not letting him into battle, she, Cú Chulainn and Ferdiad eventually "caused hell together." Cú Chulainn captured Aife alive and became involved with her afterward, earning Scáthach's punishment. Upon Cú Chulainn eventually receiving Gáe Bolg, she lamented over her inability to be killed by him since she had already ceased being able to die, wishing that he had been born earlier. Although still young and having arrived to the Land of Shadows by the shortest route, he could only apologize while lamenting the fate of the woman he loved. Cú Chulainn and Ferdiad eventually left the Land of Shadows on the same day, and Scáthach did not see them off due to having already passed down all her teachings to him. Using her foresight, she was able to predict her beloved pupil's final moments. She later taught Cú Chulainn and Aife's son, Connla, as well.

Due to her nature, the Land of Shadows itself eventually became completely sundered from the mortal world, fully becoming a land of the dead. Still existing unto modern times and unable to become a Heroic Spirit on the Throne of Heroes, Scáthach had not ventured outside of the Land of Shadows for two thousand years. Unable to die, she could only wait until the time the World and its outside finally disappear.

Appearance
Scáthach is an extremely beautiful woman. She has long purple hair and red eyes, and wears a full-body outfit that highlights her curvaceous body.

Personality
A beautiful young woman who possesses a light disposition, a queen and a teacher proven to be reliable, and for some reason or another, has the flavor of an elder sister that lives at the house next door. She can still go on.

Proud and not serving anyone. A member of the ruling class from birth. Possessing the traits of a monarch, Scáthach holds the ideal of reigning as a queen that bestows happiness to the people as self-evident. Overflowing with talent, she herself understands more than anyone else that she is different from the mediocre. "Because I am superior, I will dominate the masses." "Dominating the masses is the duty of the ruling classes." That being the case, rather than granting her own desires (happiness), "to rule for the sake of the masses" or some such appears to be the natural thing to do, something of which can be said her thought on this matter. Although her mind has no intention on becoming a servant for the masses, she has absolutely no hesitation to refine herself for the sake of the people under her rule and their happiness.

In the same way how she has an understanding about herself, Scáthach is also endowed with a reliable eye to see through the character and traits of others (in particular, whether they are mediocre or not). In other words, one can say that Cú Chulainn was a rare individual who possessed prodigious qualities that made him worthy of being guided by her.

Cú Chulainn says that "her warlust would be enough to make that Tohsaka girl run away on her bare feet." It has been said that her way of being and red-colored eyes are close to a certain individual that existed in Tokyo during the 20th Century.

A wise woman who grasps every incident and all origins, but does not speak of these understandings. To say why she doesn't talk about these, concerning her, she already moved on from this World. For example, even if the World falls into a crisis, it would be a discourtesy to "those who presently live in the World" to resolve the problem and stand out herself since it will result in their opportunity for growth to be taken away. So basically, Scáthach does not cooperate or participate in direct battle and refrains from giving advice... Although it can be said that, given that she has a genuine fondness for battle, she deceives herself by attaching a reason one way or another and participates in local battles, demonstrating some of her special moves. After taking away the turns of the other Servants like that, she returns to her room alone to reflect on her actions.

Concerning the Master, Scáthach recognizes their partnership as a temporary alliance. Sometimes, her habit comes out where she openly conduct herself as a teacher around the time when she was teaching lessons to her former child pupils. She would notice that and then say, "... no, I am not your teacher. Forget it."

The wish she would make on the Holy Grail is for "someone who can kill me to appear." Scáthach, having turned halfway into a Divine Spirit at the end of a long time, became an immortal existence. She can no longer die as a person. Neither a beautiful death. Nor even a hideous death. She must simply continue to exist, until the time when the world - and its outside - finally disappear. If something like the Holy Grail is truly almighty, then it is fine to hand it over to someone who is capable of killing her. Also, if possible, let that someone be the possessor of the spear she once bestowed with her own hand— Unable to die a normal death, Scáthach greatly wished that Cú Chulainn would have been the one to kill her.

Her death wish was granted when Grand Caster incinerated the Land of Shadows (along with the rest of the world) in 2016. This would allow her to be summoned as an actual Heroic Spirit.

Relationships
Cú Chulainn

Her former favorite pupil. She also thinks of him as the opposite sex. However, she maintains her appearance as a teacher. In truth, she wants to be killed = to be saved by him. Though she also thinks that he can't do it, it's not a serious thought.

Medb

"A helplessly mischievous child who likes men too much. But, I don't hate that frankness."

Fergus

"He likes women too much. But, I don't hate that frankness."

Chiron

Both of them are teacher of heroes. "Perhaps we might get along" — is what she thinks. In reality, they've never met even once. If their training plans differ, perhaps they might kill each other.

Scáthach Trial Quest
Scáthach is first introduced in this event. She encounters the Protagonist and Mash Kyrielight.

Boundary of Emptiness: Garden of Order
Scáthach assists the Protagonist against her pupil Cú Chulainn in the Ogawa Apartment Complex.

E Pluribus Unum: Grand Battle of Legends in North America
In the end, Scáthach spars against Li Shuwen.

Chaldea Summer Memories ~White Beach of Solace~
In this occasion, Scáthach carried out the reckless deed of changing herself and several other female Servants around into swimsuits, all under the guise of adapting to the environment. Scáthach's own testimony is "it is fine to act like this sometimes." She is no different from the usual Scáthach. She is adapting to the beach, and her tension is actually slightly higher than normal. While there is no conspicuous change, one should be able to notice this if one observes with care.

Other appearances
In Fate/GUDAGUDA Order, Scáthach is called Tits Tight master (おっぱいタイツ師匠). She is also called Thunder Thigh Teacher (サンダー太もも教師) by Cū Chulainn (Proto).

In Fate/hollow ataraxia, Scáthach is mentioned in Lancer's flashback. She is referred to as the witch of the Land of Shadows.

Scáthach is mentioned to be one of the ten Servants who can be summoned by the Player in Fate/strange fake.

Abilities
"Shall I show that, if you reach the extremes of a spear blow, it is possible to kill even gods."

- Scáthach Scáthach is known as a prodigy in both spearmanship and runic magecraft, a powerful individual who turned halfway into a Divine Spirit at the end of a long period of time. No longer human, she was an elite warrior, expert in magecraft, and slayer of people, wraiths, and gods. As the result of being a human standing too close to the realm of the gods, she incurred the "reward" of ascending to a plane that is neither part of the current World or the next, left behind in the outside of the World. Guarding the Land of Shadows, she fights off the dead, including powerful beings such as near-gods, with only the power of a human body. As a consequence of this state, Scáthach is no longer able to die as a person, neither beautifully or even hideously. She can only continue to exist until the World and the outside of the World finally disappear. Due to the Incineration of the World during the Grand Orders, the Land of Shadows has vanished, so she is able to be summoned as a Heroic Spirit despite not normally being present within the Throne of Heroes.

Scáthach is one of few in the group of immortal Servants. Even in this form's condition where she boasts the ability of a Top Servant sufficiently, she seems to have a Saint Graph one step higher than her current form. Although it is a popular tradition, there is a theory that says the origin of her name was transmitted from a —

Scáthach possesses the Skill Wisdom of the Haunted Ground, the intellect of the abyss, acquired as a consequence of surpassing humanity, killing gods and being left behind in the outside of the World. With the exception of those particular of certain heroes, almost all Skills can be displayed with a proficiency level of B~A Rank. Also, only towards those she has recognized as true heroes, it is also possible to teach such Skills. During combat, a Skill that she often employs is foresight of battle conditions by means of 'Clairvoyance'. Even in Ulster mythology, she often predicted the future with such foresight, even the final moments of her beloved pupil Cú Chulainn.

Scáthach has possession of and knowledge about the Primordial Runes that came from an older era. Those with possession and knowledge of Primordial Runes can also make use of the classic Rune Magic. She has Runes hailing from Scandinavia, almost known as Scandinavian Magic Crests. These runes are different from the Runes modern magi use. These are Primal Runes with the power of the Age of Gods. Because of the Norse chief god, they had spread through the world. She, who granted Cú Chulainn 18 Primal Runes, is as strong in magecraft as she is as a warrior.

As the demonic realm's, [The Shadow Realm's], gatekeeper, Scáthach's continual slaying of multitudes of Divine Spirits has become the God Slayer Skill. This Skill is super effective against Divine Spirits. A 'plus' modifer is gained when attacking Divine Spirits, wraiths, and Servants with the Divinity Skill.

Swimsuit
She is no different from the usual Scáthach... or so we thought, but from the point where she is adapting to the beach, her tension is actually slightly higher than normal. While there is no conspicuous change, one should be able to notice this if one observes with care.

"This is the long-awaited sea, we should enjoy ourselves."

- Such is the basic stance of Assassin Scáthach

Even in regards to the Master, she seems to think that they should have fun while they can.

The rune bracelet around her wrist is specialized for the sea and water.

A Skill that determines how much one "ends up gathering" public attention on a beach. Unlike Beach Flower, even gazes that deviates from the domain of yearning are gathered. There is a risk that the beach will fall into chaos just by Scáthach walking around.
 * Beach Crisis: A+

Creation and Conception
Hirokazu Koyama is the character illustrator for Scáthach. Scáthach was designed by Kinoko Nasu and Hikaru Sakurai is the scenario writer for her character in Fate/Grand Order.