Caster (キャスター, Kyasutā?) is a Caster-class Servant able to be summoned by Ritsuka Fujimaru in the Grand Orders of Fate/Grand Order. He takes up the position of Grand Caster (グランドキャスター, Gurando Kyasutā?) after Solomon utilizes Ars Nova.
Profile
Identity
Caster's True Name is Merlin, the Magus of Flowers (花の魔術師, Hana no Majutsu-shi?). The vagrant of the paradise.[2] A prophet and advisor who made his entry into Arthurian LegendsWP as the court magus. He would at times guide, at times torment, and at times help King Arthur as a king so that she could overcome many enemies and hardships. Still, even as a wise man, he is fundamentally inhuman. For as one can see, he is a mixed-blood of an incubus and a human.[2][1] With illusions as his forte, he can transform into various shapes——there was a case where he had changed into the shape of a beast whose insides are not human——and his true form is not certain.[1]
Legend
Merlin's life is steeped with mystery.[1] It is said that his mother was a princess of Wales, but it is also said that his father was supposedly a supernatural incubus who lived in the gap between the Earth and the moon.[2][1][3]
It has been said that Merlin had performed many prophecies at a young age. Among the many prophecies that caused Merlin's name to become widely known, there was one in which, after correctly guessing about the existence of two dragons, one red and one white, sleeping beneath Mount EmrysWP, he spoke of how, at the time of having that vision, those red and white dragons would fight against each other upon waking up. Merlin's words, which were transmitted in posterity as prophecies, indicated the red dragon as Britain and the white dragon as the SaxonsWP, and under a great king would Britain finally gather their forces and surely reign over both GaulWP and Rome. He also left behind many other prophecies, and amongst them were those concerning wars and even the king's death.[2][1]
Merlin served King Uther PendragonWP.[4] Uther loved IgraineWP, the wife of Duke Cornwall, so he secured Merlin's assistance in winning her love at the price of leaving his child in Merlin's care.[5] Thus, after he rised up as a magus, Merlin helped arrange the marriage between King Arthur’s father - Uther Pendragon - and princess Igraine, and watched over King Arthur since before her birth.[2][1] Merlin told Uther a prophecy about his child, who would become his appointed successor during their war-torn times.[6] Under an arrangement from Uther, Merlin helped produce an heir bearing the "essence of a dragon", so Artoria was born as a human infused with a dragon's magical energy.[7] Although the child was a girl who could not officially become the successor, Merlin was delighted all the same, believing that her sex never mattered. Confident that having her separated from the castle until the prophecy was fulfilled was proof that she would become king, he entrusted her to the king's vassal, Sir EctorWP, and had her raised as the child of a knight. Merlin visited at some point during Artoria's upbringing and swore Sir Kay to secrecy about the matter of her gender.[8] According to anecdotes, Merlin taught many things to the young Arthur and ascertained the child's growth akin to that of a foster father-like existence.[2][1]
Merlin prepared Caliburn for the selection of the next king, but none could pull it out of the stone. As the other participants prepared a jousting match to decide the kingship, Artoria neared the sword and prepared to pull it without hesitation. Merlin appeared before her then, telling her she should think it through and described that to become "king" is to no longer be "human". Warning her that she should stop because she is fated to die a miserable death while resented by all of humanity, he showed her the end she would face.[9] Having prepared for that day since her birth and firmly believing in the smiling people she saw in Merlin's vision, Artoria pulled it without hesitation and became king.[6][9] As he left her, Merlin said that in exchange for that miracle, she will lose that which is most important to her.[9]
Due to Artoria having issues with discussing her gender and producing an heir, Merlin's magecraft was used to solve those issues by making her a pseudo-male for some duration of time, which allowed for the creation of Mordred from her sperm.[7] Artoria lost Caliburn at a later point and obtained Excalibur and Avalon from the Lady of the Lake. It is said that in legends, Merlin asked Artoria about which implement was better, chiding her for choosing the sword since the sheath will protect her.[4]
Possessing outstanding Clairvoyance, in spite of having foreseen all about the collapse of the Round Table and the crises within Britain, Merlin left Britain without telling anything to King Arthur.[2] Merlin had left King Arthur before her last battle with Mordred due to his love affairs problem. He claims that the cold-mannered woman had been trying to murder him so he has taken refuge in the Reverse Side of the World where he'd crossed the boundary and stumbled into a foreign land known as Avalon.[2][3] Merlin had thought that the evil witch could not reach him anymore. But he encountered a gate that was built with rough stones, resembling the stone circles. The gate was inscribed with "Only the innocent may pass." Merlin realized that the gate was a trap and he was imprisoned when he had walked into it. Massive walls of stone emerged from the ground in front of him. The walls seem to vertically extend forever, effectively trapping the visiting magus inside. The place is like a tower without a roof.[3]
There are many theories as for why Merlin never told King Arthur about the fate that awaits her, but it is often said that it was because he is not biased towards individuals, instead caring only about fate, or so the story goes. Afterwards, Merlin went to the utopia Avalon and then confined himself within a prison “tower”, called the Garden of Avalon, for all eternity, having transcended death. To ascertain the world of humans until the end of the universe, without being able to even die... as if to say that this is the fate of a foolish man, who playfully meddled with the fate of a single girl.[2][1]
This also means that there is no possibility of him becoming a Heroic Spirit even if he is worshipped by the masses since he is unable to die in order to have his soul recorded in the Throne of Heroes.
The one who declared Arthur, who pulled out the Sword of Selection, Caliburn, as the "mark of the King of Britain", and later on guided him to the lake and gave him Excalibur as a substitute for the lost Caliburn, is none other than Merlin. He guided, helped, and numerously prophesized for Arthur, who started walking on the path of a king who dreamt of ideals—————[1]
However, Merlin himself cannot continue on walking side by side with his beloved king. Due to the dreadful magic of Vivian, the Fairy of the Lake——some said that it was Merlin himself who had taught Vivian——Merlin was caught within the "tower". And so, even Merlin, who possesses the powerful ability of foresight, in spite of having foreseen all about the collapse of the Round Table and the dangers within Britain, was unable to convey his regrets as King Arthur had approached "that moment." It is said that Merlin, just like that, lost his life as he was trapped within the "tower". A life born in mystery, and died in mystery. However, there is an anecdote that says he is still alive even now, watching over the people... Accordingly, it is said that as Merlin stepped down from the era of King Arthur, he then helped the twelve heroes of the era of King Charlemagne, known as the Paladins.[1]
A hunk of a magus, no matter how one puts it. Just by being there, Merlin exudes a fresh aura, as if flowers fills the surroundings. He was not a really major character in the legend, but all the Knights of the Round Table agrees on this: "Good grief. There's no helping it." He is that kind of character. Even Saber (Artoria) ended up behaving just like a girl her own age. A girl who is at lost when facing his mischievous father.[1]
Merlin's role is the same as Gandalf from The Lord of the RingsWP, no matter how one cuts it. Add that with a feeling of a fresh young prince. Now we have the gallant entry of a pretty boy of Middle EarthWP![1]
Appearance
Merlin wears a robe woven with the finest fabrics, though he still looks modest, his long hair appearing with the colours of the rainbow under sunlight.[3]
  Caster Stage 1 in Fate/Grand Order, illustrated by Taiki.  Caster Stage 2 in Fate/Grand Order, illustrated by Taiki.  Caster Stage 3 in Fate/Grand Order, illustrated by Taiki.  Caster Stage 4 in Fate/Grand Order, illustrated by Taiki.  Caster Stage 1 in Fate/Grand Order, illustrated by Taiki.  Caster Stage 2 in Fate/Grand Order, illustrated by Taiki.  Caster Stage 3 in Fate/Grand Order, illustrated by Taiki.    Our Round Table (ウチの円卓 ) in Fate/Grand Order, illustrated by Haruno Tomoya  Merlin's Winter Theme, illustrated by Taiki.  Heroic Spirit Traveling Outfit: Merlin in Fate Grand Order; Illustrator: Taiki CloverWorksWP character visual of Merlin for the Fate/Grand Order -The Absolute Demon Battlefront Babylonia- anime. |
Personality
|
« I like the world of humans very much, but when it comes to each of them individually, I’m relatively, look, well, yeah! Very well, I suddenly feel that some things are better left unsaid! » |
| (Merlin) |
Just like this, it is not like he is an ally of humans.[2]
A young man who is like a wind blowing on the grasslands. Before him, anyone would end up letting the tension out of their shoulders - a refreshingly righteous person. Still, due to seemingly being quite lacking in terms of seriousness and such together with a lack of the sense of responsibility, one can see that Merlin may also appear as a shady con man. A rhetorician who, even while perceiving things in an objective manner and accepting the cruelty of the world of humans, turns it into something bright by saying things like: “But, it wouldn’t be fun otherwise, right?”[2][1]
Despite being a hybrid being, Merlin has never hated humans. Rather, he is fond of them to such a degree that it is beyond natural.[3] He loves the world of humans, loves mischief, and loves girls. Generally, he is the Magus of Flowers who retorts at most things with a refreshing smile and a calm expression such as “now, now.”[2][1]
Openly like this, he tends to appear as having a perfectly happy personality, a perfectly happy guy, without a single worry, but since Merlin himself is self-aware about the fact that he is a foreign body in regards to human society, he never crosses that last step... the wall called friendship. Ultimately, (just like a child who enjoys tasty food,) he is always watching over and protecting the world so that mankind can reach a happy outcome.[2][1]
... So, if one is looking only at the end result, Merlin is a good man, and a wise one. But inside, he is an incubus, a being very far apart from humans. He, a being that consume dreams, can essentially understand human emotions, but cannot truly sympathize with it. He is an alien-like, inhuman being, who only rationally excuses himself inside a dream (dream = a human mind activity) and consumes it, and then leaves just like an insect. Due to this macroscopic evaluation criteria, perhaps he just cannot understand the human heart, unable to even know the actions of a person or to sympathize with it. Normally, he would be an identical being with the Beasts, an adolescent life form of a higher order that is certified as an enemy of humanity.[1]
Merlin is very boastful about his abilities as a mage, claiming that he inflicts jealousy and envy on all other Servants, especially Casters, since they are second-rate to him.
It's a given that Merlin could see through the identity of the ringleader behind the Grand Orders incident. It's also a given that he stays silent about it. The human protagonist must struggle with his own power; it is only fate, for otherwise, they would only perceive their enemy as one they cannot defeat. Not even Merlin can surpass the last boss (the King of Magic) this time. Actually, on this basis, no Heroic Spirit can surpass him. The one who is destined to be able to surpass him is not a Heroic Spirit, but only a human who lives (now) in the present. Therefore, he shall watch over the Master, just as he had once watched over many kings in the past.[1]
Merlin shall believe in the Master, the hope of human history; he shall lend his power to the utmost; and then he shall entertain himself relaxingly. Merlin's desire is to carve open a path for the protagonist's own destiny, to watch him off as he walks towards the future, to gaze at that kind of "beautiful view".[1]
"After that, I'll just do as I always do; disappearing completely from everybody's memory. Most other things, I can do without much of a fuss. But this alone, I can never get used to."[1]
Relationships
Merlin boasts of her, his prided girl (king), Artoria, to everybody. However, since he essentially brought misfortune upon her, he is feeling a sense of responsibility now.[1]
To Artoria: "Until the very end, you did nothing but endure and persevere. I should think that it's fine for you to be rewarded now, no?" he said in an obvious tone.[1]
To the group of troublesome oddballs: "Hahahaha. Really, you guys just never change! Until when were you all planning to keep on troubling Artoria? Well, I can't really stop it either because it's so amusing to watch, so I guess I'm not one to talk either!"[1]
- Solomon
Merlin is antagonistic to Solomon, a "magus of the crown position who gazed at both past and future" on the same level as him. If Solomon is the King of Magic who regards a high importance of the past, then Merlin is a magus who dreams of the future.[1]
- Magi☆Mari
A net idol who, even as the Incineration of the Human Order proceeded and the Earth's network system was gone, is still active for some reason. She supports Solomon, who had turned into a human, from the Internet. Solomon was like "Hey, is Merlin in the backstage or something? I don't feel like helping but I do feel a lot of complaining. Get a ride over here too" as he started a lonesome conversation with Magi☆Mari, although this had become a daily therapy for him. Solomon had never thought that perhaps it was Merlin himself who played as Magi☆Mari.[1]
Role
Fate/stay night
In the Fate route, Merlin was mentioned when Shirou Emiya was dreaming about Saber's past.[6][9][10] Rin Tohsaka briefly mentions Merlin when they discuss about King Arthur's legend.[4]
In the Unlimited Blade Works route, Saber describes Merlin as being still active in the present times even when she is summoned as a Servant. Saber reveals that she shares a common trait with Shirou as they were fond of an immature magus. Saber describes Merlin to Shirou, that he has the bearing of someone unlike a magus, much to the point where it would be hard to believe him when he claimed to be one. Noted to be a "troublesome adult", he is spaced out and clumsy, freely enjoying his pastimes and playing around like a child. More immature than Artoria, he was somebody she "couldn't leave alone", but she respected him greatly as a magus. Despite that, she describes him as the cause of every trouble and mentions that the age would have been better off had he been less mischievous. Agreeing with Shirou that he could be described as a "real bad guy", she describes his worst trait as being "weak against love affairs", or more aptly, "full of love." Although it led to his downfall, she believes he is "still casually talking about love."[11]
In the Last Episode, Merlin explains to Saber that her dream to reunite Shirou is difficult and near impossible. He informs Saber that two miracles must occur in order for them to meet again as normal people. One must wait continuously, while the other must pursue endlessly. They must realize that it is impossible to succeed, yet at the same time, be capable of enduring patiently.[12]
Garden of Avalon
One half of the story is narrated by Merlin as he was imprisoned in the stone tower within Avalon.[3] The other half resembles the conversations between Merlin and various Knights of the Round Table. The story tells the Fate version of King Arthur's legend from the day she pulls out Caliburn to her demise.
After Merlin witnesses Saber's last moments in the Fifth Holy Grail War, he is pleased with the outcome. He releases Cath Palug from the Garden of Avalon in the Reverse Side of the World. He insists Cath Palug to seek freedom and to play into something really beautiful.[13]
Fate/Grand Order
E Pluribus Unum: Grand Battle of Legends in North America
Merlin makes a brief appearance during the Grand Orders in the North America Singularity, wandering through as Cú Chulainn Alter prepares to destroy Ritsuka Fujimaru. Remarking that he cannot truly intervene due to him still daydreaming, he declares that he shall meet Ritsuka properly at the designated future, and requests that they take care of his familiar, Cath Palug, for him.
Babylonia: The Absolute Frontline in the War Against the Demonic Beasts
Utilizing Independent Manifestation, Merlin arranged for Gilgamesh to summon him as an enfleshed Caster-class Servant, supporting Uruk in the war against the Three Goddess Alliance and Tiamat. However, a part of his existence was actually insinuated within the dreams of Tiamat, holding her in a state of slumber. When Tiamat's avatar, the Conglomerate Divinity Gorgon, was defeated, the awakening Tiamat destroyed Merlin's Servant iteration. Subsequently, Merlin temporarily escaped Avalon, appearing in Babylonia during the final confrontation with Tiamat and neutralizing the Divine Authority of the Sea of Life with his flowers.[14]
Other appearances
Merlin made a cameo in the Fate/Apocrypha anime along with the Knights of the Round Table in Kairi Sisigou's dream.[15] Merlin later appears in Mordred's dream of Artoria Pendragon pulling the sword out of the stone.[16]
In the Prototype Universe, Merlin's gender is female.
Abilities
|
« Why I don’t use incantations, you ask? |
| (Merlin) |
Merlin is a Caster, but he fights using a sword too. Or rather, he thoughtlessly put up a Caliburn-like sword.[1]
Protagonist: "Wait, you're not using magic?!"
Merlin: "Depends on the time and place! I mean, you know. I tend to bite my tongue if I panic on the incantation. If you just need to beat up the enemy, a sword is enough, no?"[1]
Merlin is one among the top-ranking Casters, but he himself does not treat magecraft as his forte. The reason being that he stumbles during incantations.[2]
Merlin is a formidable magus, said to be the most feared in the country of Britain.[6][17] He qualifies to be a Grand Caster and he is a top tier Servant on the level of Solomon. Bolstered by his incubus heritage, Rin Tohsaka describes that being able to disguise Artoria's gender or "arrange for a child that should never have been born" should be extremely easy tasks.[4] The creation of Invisible Air is attributed to something he could have thought up for Artoria.[18]
Merlin is a half-blood born from the union of a human and an incubus, and he possesses the proof of the Highest Mage; Clairvoyance: "The Eyes Which See through the World". Eyes that are able to see beyond while the person stands in place. From time immemorial, it is the power entrusted to the lands by the gods and the power shamans needed to guard lives. However profound and capable one's magic circuits may be in performing the strongest forms of magecraft, a mage who does not possess these "Eyes" shall not be given the title of the most supreme.[3] While most uses of Clairvoyance allow one to see the Future, or even the past as well, Merlin's can only see the Present.
Merlin is proficient in swordplay and is allegedly Artoria's swordsmanship instructor. He was shown in possession of Excalibur, saying that he prefers using it in combat over magic because he bites his tongue during long incantations and that "it's a lot easier to smack things around with a Holy Sword, you know?"
Skills
Independent Manifestation
Merlin possesses Independent Manifestation, A Skill that permits unsupported manifestation into reality. Originally, Merlin should not be summonable in the capacity of a Heroic Spirit; for, irrelevant of the future that comes to pass, his death shall not occur. Ergo, to serve a Master in the capacity of a Servant is in essence a fulfillment of his personal desires. To put it in other words, he acts as a Servant merely as a part of his hobby. For the purpose of making his fantasies as reality, he has by personal effort obtained this Skill, even though it would be normally restricted to a certain unique Class (Beast)——making use of it to the end of pretending to be summoned as a Servant.[2][1]
By use of this Skill, Merlin was able to be summoned by Gilgamesh in the 7th Singularity of Fate/Grand Order as an irregular Caster. When questioned as to how this was possible when he wasn't yet deceased, he claimed that it may have something to do with his connection with the Singularity; or the fact that the era of the summoning lies prior to his birth——allowing for him to qualify as "not being alive."
In Chapter 16, after Merlin apparently dies following the defeat of the Conglomerate Divinity, Gorgon, Doctor Roman indicates that the Merlin that was travelling at your side was merely a projection, and that his primary manifestation within the era was occupied with the task of restraining the Goddess Tiamat within her slumber. He suggests that Merlin may have been killed in the process of Tiamat's awakening.[19]
However, as of the end of the 7th Singularity, Merlin is revealed to be still alive——taking advantage of the Incineration of the Human Order to bypass his confinement within Avalon and physically travelling to Babylonia to take part in the final battle against Tiamat.[14]
Illusionism
Merlin excels in the thaumaturgical discipline of Illusionism (幻術, Genjutsu?), a Skill related to Mental Interference and a magecraft for the use of beguilement. It refers to interference with the psyche, and the projection of illusions into reality. At A Rank, the introduction of nightmares unto the realm of the psyche is a matter of course; and even within reality, an illusion on the scale of a single village may be manifested with ease, to the end of successfully beguiling humans.[2][1]
Hero Creation
The techniques and arts to artificially give birth to and raise a "King". Merlin, who can be described as the true father of King Arthur, is known as the most prominent kingmaker in the world.[2][1]
Development
Creation and Conception
Taiki is the character illustrator for Merlin.[2][1] Kinoko Nasu is the scenario writer for his character.[1]
Comment from Illustrator
"The feeling of a completely unknown age, and the impression of someone inhuman. For the sake of expressing that, I have him wear a white kimono. There is a sword set all hidden weapon-like in his staff, but the man himself doesn't really use it as a weapon, but more like playing it around as a toy-like gadget. That is what the image I'm going for."[1]
References
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 1.15 1.16 1.17 1.18 1.19 1.20 1.21 1.22 1.23 1.24 1.25 1.26 1.27 1.28 1.29 1.30 1.31 1.32 1.33 1.34 1.35 1.36 1.37 1.38 1.39 1.40 1.41 1.42 1.43 1.44 1.45 1.46 1.47 1.48 1.49 1.50 1.51 1.52 1.53 1.54 Fate/Grand Order material IV - Merlin, p.396-409, translated by castor212 at Beast's Lair.
- ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 2.14 2.15 2.16 2.17 2.18 2.19 2.20 2.21 2.22 2.23 2.24 2.25 2.26 2.27 2.28 2.29 2.30 2.31 2.32 2.33 2.34 2.35 2.36 2.37 2.38
Fate/Grand Order - Merlin Profile <poem>o Illusionism : A
A magecraft for the use of beguilement.
Refers to interference with the psyche, and the projection of illusions into reality.
At a Rank of "A," the introduction of nightmares unto the realm of the psyche is a matter of course; and even within reality, an illusion on the scale of a single village may be manifested with ease, to the end of successfully beguiling humans.
o Independent Manifestation : A
A Skill that permits unsupported manifestation into reality.
Originally, Merlin should not be summonable in the capacity of a Heroic Spirit; for, irrelevant of the future that comes to pass, his death shall not occur.
Ergo, to serve a Master in the capacity of a Servant is in essence a fulfillment of his personal desires. To put it in other words, he acts as a Servant merely as a part of his hobby.
For the purpose of making his fantasies as reality, he has by personal effort obtained this Skill, even though it would be normally restricted to a certain unique Class -- making use of it to the end of pretending to be summoned as a Servant.
幻術：Ａ
人を惑わす魔術。精神への介入、現実世界への
虚像投影などを指す。
Ａランクともなると精神世界における悪夢は
もちろん、現実においても一つの村程度の
虚像を軽く作りあげ、人々を欺く事ができる。
○単独顕現：Ａ
単体で現世に現れるスキル。
本来、マーリンは英霊として召喚されない。
どのような未来においても死亡していない為だ。
彼がサーヴァントとしてマスターに仕えるのは個人的な欲望の発散、ありていにいえば趣味である。
彼はその趣味を実現させるため、ある特殊クラスしか持ち得ないこのスキルを自力で獲得し、サーヴァントとして召喚されるフリをしている。 - ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 Garden of Avalon - Chapter 00: In the Flower Garden, p.004-013
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Fate/stay night - Fate: Day 13 - Saber's contradiction
- ↑ Fate/stay night - Saber's Status Profile
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Fate/stay night - Fate: Day 11 - The king's memories
- ↑ 7.0 7.1
[] Fate/side material - Encyclopedia: Saber [Servant], p.063-064 [T] Saber [Servant]
Heroic Spirit of the sword. One could not qualify for this Class if all his parameters except MGI did not meet a certain threshold.
The true heroine of this story. She was the young girl knight who forged a contract with Emiya Shirou and fought in the Holy Grail War.
She was loyal, faithful, and diligent. The knight's pride covered her femininity.
If we were to remove this facade, then we could recognize that she was no different from a young girl her age.
Saber was peevish and tenacious. She loved games of chance and would focus to the extent of ignoring her surroundings. Saber loved to eat and would be energized by the prospect of having good food. She worried about being defeated in front of her favorite partner. Mmm, Saber was truly a fastidious heroine.
Her true identity was King Arthur.
She disguised herself as male and ruled as the king, but had the misfortune of dying in the subsequent civil war after establishing peace in her empire.
The King Arthur in the story of Fate was an amalgamation of historical facts and legends. Saber's name before becoming king was Artoria.
It must be tough to live in a palace while disguising her gender.
The greatest problem was probably producing an heir, but that was solved by Merlin through magecraft.
In the story, the line "I know how to please a man" was from experience.
Saber's aging process was halted the moment she pulled out the Sword of Selection. The age of her body was probably a year younger than Shirou.
By the way, King Arthur was the Crimson Dragon that guarded Britannia.
Saber's father Uther Pendragon produced an heir with the Dragon Factor according to Merlin's plan. As a result, Artoria was born human but carried the magical power of Dragons.
Magic Circuits were unnecessary, Artoria generated mana just by breathing in harmony with the coursing of her blood. It could be called a "Magical Furnace" that was worlds beyond what mages had to offer.
---Fate/Stay Night was originally her story.
The main theme during early development of Fate was "a story about the Holy Grail and King Arthur", and it had remained unchanged until now.
A young girl knight fighting in the Holy Grail War.
I wanted to believe that the dream at the very end would befit her life.セイバー【サーヴアント】
剣士の英霊。 魔力を除いた能力値が水準以上でなければ该当しないサーヴァントタイプ。
本騙の正ヒロイン。衛宮士郎と契約し、聖杯戦争を戦い抜いていく少女騎士。
実直かっとことん真面目な性格で、少女らしさを騎士としての誇りで覆っている。
が、一皮剥けば年相応の少女らしい一面を見せる。
拗ねると中々許してくれなかったり、勝負事には熱中するあまり周りが見えなくなったり、美味しいものが大好きという元気溌刺さだったり、好きな相手の前では失敗したくない臆病さがあったり、実に気難しいヒロインである、うむ。
正体はアーサー王。
性别を男と偽って王を続け、祖国に平和を取り戻し た後、内乱によって命を落とす運命を持っている。
「Fate」本騙でのアーサー王の扱いは史実と伝説を融合したもので、彼女が王になる前の名をアルトリアとしている。
性别を偽つての王宮生活は気苦労の連続であったろう。なかでも困ったのが世継ぎの問題だが、マーリンの魔術で事なきを得られたそうだ。本騙での、「殿方の喜ばせ方は知っています」という台詞は、実経験から来たものだったり。
選定の剣を抜いた時から年をとっておらず、肉体年齢的には土郎より一才ほど下だとか。
また、アーサー王はブリテンを守る赤い竜である。
父王ウーサー・ぺンドラゴンはマーリンの計らいで竜の因子を持った後継者を作り、アルトリアは人でありながら竜そのものの魔力を帯びるに至った。
魔術回路を必要とせず、ただ血液を巡らせ息をするだけで魔力を生成するアルトリアは、魔術師たちとは次元の違う「魔術炉心」と言えるだろう。
————「Fate」は元々彼女の物語である。
聖杯とアーサー王を巡る物語が初期段階における「Fate」のメインテーマであり、それは今も変わっていない。
聖杯戦争を駆け抜けた少女騎士。
その果てに見た夢は、彼女の一生に相応しいものだったと信じたい。 - ↑ Fate/hollow ataraxia - Sisters' crisis
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 Fate/stay night - Fate: Day 13 - The king's memories
- ↑ Fate/stay night - Fate: Day 12 - The king's memories
- ↑ Fate/stay night - Unlimited Blade Works: Day 10 - Night training
- ↑ Fate/stay night - Last Episode
- ↑ Garden of Avalon - Chapter 06: In the Flower Garden, p.103
- ↑ 14.0 14.1
Fate/Grand Order, 7th Singularity, Chapter 21 - Prelude to the Final Stand Gudako:
1: We're falling~!
Mashu:
Indeed, we're falling ... ! Below is -- I can't see it very clearly!
At this rate, we'll die to the plummet before the Goddess Tiamat!
Ereshkigal grants floatation.
Ereshkigal:
I won't permit any such thing.
I hereby bestow to you the privilege to buoy yourself afloat (浮遊権, Fuyuu-ken?, lit. "Privelege of Floatation") within the Underworld (冥界, Meikai?).
Gather your mana (魔力, maryoku?, lit. "magical energy") at the base of your feet, and imagine a surface.
This should grant you a bit of capacity for flight.
Mashu:
That's Ereshkigal-san!
Alright, I'll give it a try!
Crash landing.
Ereshkigal:
Well met!
But I'm afraid that salutations will have to wait.
Look over there!
The Underworld is lit with lightning.
Mashu:
That's ... the Goddess Tiamat!?
We've successfully lured her into the Underworld!?
Ereshkigal:
Indeed. Glance upwards. You can glimpse Uruk from here, can you not?
That Ishtar shattered the foundations of Uruk, causing it to collapse into the Underworld (here).
Dr. Roman:
It's over 2000 meters to the surface ...
The Underworld of the Age of Divinities is amazing as expected -- though I'm not sure whether this place would be considered deep or shallow ...
No, more importantly -- what the hell is that!?
A heat source comparable in magnitude to Ishtar's Noble Phantasm is steadily consuming Tiamat!?
Ereshkigal:
It's a defense mechanism (防衛機構, bouei kikou?) of the Underworld.
Any of the Living who trespass in this domain against my permissions are so afflicted.
This is a rule established by the World itself.
And once the process is begun, the end is certain -- even for the Goddess Tiamat.
In any case, what of Lord Gilgamesh (ギルガメッシュ王, Girugamesshu-Ou?, lit. "King Gilgamesh")?
Is it time yet to deliver the final blow?
The man ordered that we stand by until all parties arrive at their stations, but is that truly necessary?
Now would be the time to act, if our purpose is to secure a victory.
Mashu:
That's ... I definitely agree.
But Ereshkigal-san, Lord Gilgamesh is already ...
Gudako:
1: ... even so, if we don't fight
2: ...
Mashu:
... yeah, I get it. Even if it's just us, we have to do this.
Ereshkigal:
If you're ready, then let's begin!
Leave it to my disgression, for neither Lord Gilgamesh nor Ishtar are needed here and now!
Ereshkigal gathers energy.
Ereshkigal:
I shall settle this alone ... !
O Gallu (ガルラ霊, Garura-rei?, lit. "Gallu Spirits") of the Underworld -- the Spears of Rot (腐敗の槍, Fuhai no Yari?, lit. "Spears of Putrefaction / Degeneration") arrayed before me!
Against that which trespasses, let us bring down the Iron Hammer of the Underworld (冥界の鉄槌, Meikai no Tettsui?)!
All hands, engage!
Destruction rains upon Tiamat.
Ereshkigal:
What say you? I believe it's good as finished. Even the Goddess Tiamat is within the Underworld merely a goddess.
Before the combined onslaught of myself and the Gallu, not a single being -- a single --
Chaos Tide manifests.
Ereshkigal:
Wha -- what --
Dr. Roman:
Chaos Tide (ケイオスタイド, Keiosu Taido?), compromising (侵食, Shinshoku?, lit. "eroding / encroaching") the Underworld!
This is bad! If we leave it alone, the Underworld will be overtaken!
And that's not all ... what is this?
Beast II Saint Graph (霊基, Reiki?, lit. "Spiritual Foundation") signature -- rapidly dilating (膨張, bouchou?, lit. "expanding / swelling")!
The Divine Regression (神代回帰, Jindai Kaiki?, lit. "Regression to the Age of Divinities") of the Saint Graph has advanced unto the Jurassic Era (ジュラ紀, Jura-Ki?).
That's no longer a Divinity (神性, Jinsei?, lit. "Divine Nature")! Unmistakably, it's the very Corpus of a God (神の体, Kami no Karada?, lit. "Flesh of God")!
Ereshkigal:
Eh, eh, eh -- !?
Wh- what's happened!?
Is it something that I've done -- !?
Dr. Roman:
Saint Graph Dilation Operations (霊基膨張工程, Reiki Bouchou Koutei?) has ceased. Continuous reactivation (連続再起動, Renzoku Saikidou?) of Mana Reactor (魔力炉心, Maryoku Roshin?) confirmed ... !
Injuries incurred by the plummet into the Underworld are regenerating!
-- it's come ... ! This is --
This is the true appearance of Beast II!
Tiamat emerges from the Mud.
Tiamat
Aaaaaaa、AAAAAAAAAA――LaAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA――
Clouds of Lahmu spill forth.
Mashu:
The Goddess Tiamat is releasing Lahmu (ラフム, Rahumu?) from her flesh!
They're spreading across the Underworld!
Ereshkigal:
It's impossible, right!? No matter how I look at it, it's impossible!
If it's only us, there's no way we can defeat something like that!
More than that, the tide is upon us!
The Underworld will be taken from me -- !
Lahmu arrives.
???:
Don't be sayin' sad things, Sukapon-ta~n! Ain'tcha the Goddess of the Land of Death, nya~!?
Lahmu killed by a spear.
Mashu:
You're --
Jaguar Man appears.
Jaguar Man:
That's right! It's a bird; it's a balloon -- no, it's merely your imagination!
I am the Tiger that dashes across the Underworld -- the one that they call JAGUAR MAAAAN!!
--
Gudako:
1: You're kinda burnt!?
Jaguar Man:
A whole buncha stuff happened, so I'll explain later!
In any case, you did well getting this far, Gudako-san!
--
Gudako:
2: You came dashing to me!
Jaguar Man:
Yeah, uh-huh. And I totally don't mind the fact that you didn't give me a shout when you got back to Uruk, so don't worry about that.
In any case, you did well getting this far, Gudako-san!
--
Ereshkigal:
A tiger! A tiger has appeared in the Underworld!
Inconcievable! Is such a thing commonplace in the lands afar!?
Jaguar Man:
It's a thing alright, little girly!
And less chitterin' already! Get back to blastin' away with that awesome attack o' yours!
Ereshkigal:
B- but, it's completely without effect ... !
And the total energy output of the Underworld is dropping off!
Jaguar Man:
Has to be done, even if it's without effect!
Listen up. No matter what it looks like, that right there is the Goddess Tiamat in her very weakest state!
Us! Right here, right now! If we don't do somethin' about this, it ain't just Humanity that's gonna be done for. It'll be bye-bye for the Earth itself!
If she gets back ta the surface in that state she's in right now?
In less than a day, the whole planet's gonna be swimmin' in Black Mud (黒泥, Kokutei?).
Mashu:
That can't be ... Doctor, what she said just now ...
Dr. Roman:
It's the truth!
As of right now, the Chaos Tide has already subsumed the majority of the Underworld!
It can't be permitted to reach the surface! By some means or another, we have to put an end to it right here!
Thankfully, the Chaos Tide and the Lahmu are both of the same existence as Tiamat, and don't actually qualify as "seperate organisms."
So long as she remains within the Underworld, the act of killing Tiamat shouldn't be negated by way of Paradox Restoration (逆説的復元, Gyakusetsu-teki Fukugen?)!
Ereshkigal:
But, there's already so much Mud!
In such circumstances, how precisely are we to properly engage --
What in the world -- !?
Flowers cover the Black Mud.
Gudako:
1: Flowers are blooming ...
2: These flowers. It can't be ... !
Dr. Roman:
The Divine Authority (権能, Kennou?) invested within the Chaos Tide has ceased operation!?
No -- the function (機能, Kinou?) of the Authority's run its course, and the Tide's become nothing more than normal mud!
It sounds impossible, but --
These flowers -- they're somehow depleting (枯渇, kokatsu?, lit. "becoming drained / exhausted") the Goddess Tiamat of her power (力, chikara?, lit. "power, in the sense of an ability possessed")!
???:
Good! Seems that I've made it in time -- !
And to Archaman of the uninspired imagination, I have only this to say!
If you desire to neutralize the Sea From Which Life Itself is Sprung (命を産む海, Inochi wo Umu Umi?), you need only make use of the Life that it births -- investing it within creatures small and innocuous!
This is of course where I come in!
The Magician of the Flowers (花の魔術師, Hana no Majutsu-shi?) arrives, come to make true upon his appellation (二つ名, Futatsu-Na?)!
Merlin drops to the ground before the protagonists.
Dr. Roman:
Geeeh, Merlin!?
How are you here!? It can't be that you were resummoned (再召喚, sai-shoukan?)!? No-no-no!
Merlin:
Hahaha, of course not.
It's impossible that I would be resummoned.
This is something a lot less complicated.
I'm the actual Merlin -- the authentic article.
In a rush, I've run here all the way from Avalon (アヴァロン, Avaron?)!
Fou-kun:
Fouuuu!
Gudako:
1: This man got here on foot!
2: So, you could actually run here!
Merlin:
Yeah. Seeing as the World's been reduced to a tabula rasa (白紙状態, Hakushi Joutai?, lit. "state of being white paper") by the Incineration of the Common Sense of Man (人理焼却, Jinri Shoukyaku?), I was able to sneak here by way of the Faerielands (妖精郷, Yousei-Kyou?)!
I absolutely despise sad farewells. No matter what, I wouldn't permit a parting by death.
Consequently, I've bent my principles (信条, shinjou?) a bit, and escaped the tower of my imprisonment (幽閉塔, Yuuhei Tou?, lit. "Prison Tower").
Of course, it was for the sake of meeting you all.
Mashu:
Yes! We were waiting for you, Merlin-san!
It's a happy thing that we were able to meet each other again!
Tiamat sings.
Dr. Roman:
Beast II -- dorsal Wing-Horns (角翼, Kakuyoku?) deployed!
See that? With Merlin's provocations, she's decided to get serious on us!
Even if we've prevented Beast II from subsuming the Underworld, her Primary Corpus is still free to act!
She's ascending to Uruk -- to the surface!
Gudako:
1: Her wings have regenerated ... !
2: Merlin, isn't there something you can do!?
Merlin:
... hm. It took the labors of two goddesses to slow the advance of the Primary Corpus (真体, Shintai?, lit. "True Body").
Using the city of Uruk itself as bait, we've lured her to entrapment within the depths of the Underworld.
We've restricted (拘束, Kousoku?) her with the Chain of Heaven (天の鎖, Ten no Kusari?); with the Sanctions of the Underworld (冥界の刑罰, Meikai no Keibatsu?) --
and with my flowers, which are merely beautiful.
Gudako-kun -- and Heroic Spirits all.
For the purpose of reaching this juncture, we have indeed played many a hand.
However, it still isn't enough.
That is a being that is yet to to know Fear (恐怖, Kyoufu?) -- yet to know the meaning of Predation (天敵, Tenteki?, lit. "natural enemy / predator").
She is yet to know the Death (死, Shi?) that He Is Become.
Mashu:
He ... ?
Is there somebody else coming to help?
Merlin:
Oh, indeed there is.
One final trump, held in reserve.
And so, who was it that called Him here, do you suppose?
It wasn't Lord Gilgamesh. It certainly wasn't the Grail of the King of Magecraft (魔術王の聖杯, Majutsu-Ou no Seihai?).
... It shouldn't be necessary to explain it, really.
It was you, Gudako-kun.
He mentioned that it was to repay a favor owed to you that he abandoned (捨てる, suteru?) the Station of the Crown (冠位, Kan'i?, lit. "Crown Position").
And the enemy that stands before us is an Evil of Man (人類悪, Jinrui-Aku?) -- a Beast (ビースト, Bi-suto?).
From the very start, the requisite conditions for his manifestation in this land were met.
The battles that you've fought until now have not been without meaning.
Dr. Roman:
-- It can't be.
You mean, the one that suppressed Gudako's vital signature (生命反応, Seimei Han'ou?, lit. "Life Reaction") when she entered the Underworld was ... !
Merlin:
Indeed.
Glance heavensward, O Sea of Genesis (原初の海, Genshou no Umi?, lit. "Primordial Ocean")!
For there, your Death (死神, Shinigami?, lit. "Death God") awaits!
Ziusudra overlooks the Underworld from Uruk.
Ziusudra:
... That which cannot die, cannot be said to have lived -- for a life absent of mortality cannot be life.
Yours is an eternity without advance -- a stagnation of endless slumber.
O Beast of Calamity (災害の獣, Saigai no Juu?) -- Evil born of Man.
Your rejection (排斥, Haiseki?) is in the end founded (根底, Kontei?, lit. "foundation") in the very benevolence (慈愛, Jiai?, lit. "love / affection") by which you sought to impose Regression (回帰, Kaiki?).
Tiamat
Aaaaaaaa――AaAa、AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA――！
Ziusudra:
Though the Station of the Crown is to me unnecessary, there dwells within this blade the Proof of the Strongest (最強の証, Saikyou no Akashi?).
Ziusudra reveals himself as the Old Man of the Mountain.
Old Man of the Mountain:
A Goddess fallen unto beasthood you may be, but being that you are indeed the Mother of Genesis (原初の母, Genshou no Haha?), it is only proper that I give my name.
-- of the Abyss of the Shadowed Valley (幽谷の淵, Yuukoku no Fuchi?), I come to entreat (馳走, chisou?) you with the darkness of Death (暗き死, Anki Shi?).
I am Hassan-i-Sabbah (ハサン・サッバーハ, Hasan Sabba-ha?) -- the Old Man of the Mountain (山の翁, Yama no Okina?).
The Old Man of the Mountain leaps into the crevice of the Underworld.
Old Man of the Mountain:
The Evening Bell (晩鐘, Banshou?) tolls with your name.
Unto the Will of the Heavens (天命, Tenmei?), I consign those wings -- !
The Old Man of the Mountain cuts at Tiamat's wings, eliciting a cry.
Dr. Roman:
-- Beast II Saint Graph Pattern (霊基パターン, Reiki Pata-n?), undergoing reorganization (変化, henka?, lit. "Change") ...
This is incredible ... He didn't merely cut away the Wing-Horns of the Goddess Tiamat; he imposed upon her "the Concept of Death" (死の概念, Shi no Gainen?)!
The physical scale (規模, kibo?) of the Goddess Tiamat remains unchanged, but the underlying Saint Graph has conformed to the standard pattern of a Servant!
She can be defeated!
As of this moment, the complete annihilation of Beast II has become a possibility!
Da Vinci:
Romani! I've got a read (特定, tokutei?, lit. "identification") on the Saint Graph Core (霊基核, Reiki-Kaku?)!
A bit stereotypical, but it's inside the head! The Saint Graph Core lies not within the heart, but within the brain of the Goddess Tiamat!
Dr. Roman:
Nice, Leonardo!
-- You hear that, Gudako!?
Target the head of the Beast II.
This is the true and final battle of attrition!
Tiamat sings, releasing a new wave of Lahmu.
Merlin:
Indeed -- and as expected of the Beast II.
In coming finally to appreciate the worth of a life, she has begun to resist in earnest!
Maximizing the birthing of the Lahmu, the Primary Corpus approaches the Walls of the Underworld (冥界の壁, Meikai no Kabe?)!
She intends to climb to the surface!
Gudako:
1: I'm not going to let you escape!
2: But before that, we're definitely going to ... !
Merlin:
Yes, that is indeed the case!
This is well and truly our last chance!
Mashu, Gudako-kun. The salutations of our reuniting can wait until later!
We come now to face the storm itself! Are you ready to make a stand?
Mashu:
-- Yes! Of course we are, Magician of the Flowers!
And Sempai -- I judge that this is the final confrontation (最後の局面, Saigo no Kyokumen?) of the Seventh Singularity (第七特異点, Dai-Shichi Tokuiten?)!
Please --
Though I'm weak of heart, please give me my orders, Master!
In order to repay the trust of all of those who have invested their faith in us up until this point --
I'll do everything within my power to shatter that Calamity (災害, Saigai?)!
Gudako:
1: Yeah, let's get to it, Mashu!
Ereshkigal:
This is amazing ... ! My Underworld is filled with so many flowers!
-- no, that isn't right. This isn't the time or place for that.
Now that I've reestablished Jurisdiction (支配権, Shihai-ken?) over the Underworld --
I suppose it's fine. Consider this a one-time service.
I hereby bestow to you all the Privelege of Mobility (行動権利, Koudou Kenri?) within the Underworld, and the reinforcement of all strengths and capabilities (全強化, Zen-Kyouka?, lit. "complete reinforcement")!
As the Mistress of the Underworld (冥界の女主人, Meikai no Onna-Shujin?), I, Ereshkigal, so beseech!
O Heroes of the Surface (地上の勇者, Chijou no Yuusha?), let fall the Iron Hammer (鉄槌, Tettsui?) upon that Wyrm (魔竜, Maryuu?, lit. "Demonic Dragon")!
By the hands of you Humans who have unto the distant future marched, let Heaven and Earth by a linchpin (楔, kusabi?) be joined!ぐだ子:
1: 落――ち――る――！
マシュ:
はい、落ちています……！下は――よく見えません！
このままだと、ティアマト神より先に我々が転落死です！
エレシュキガル:
そんな事にはさせないわよ。はい、アナタたちに冥界での浮遊権を許可します。
魔力を足先に集めて、地面をイメージしなさい。それで少しは飛べる筈よ。
マシュ:
その声はエレシュキガルさん！はい、やってみます！
エレシュキガル:
良く来たわね二人とも。でも挨拶は後。あれを見なさい！
マシュ:
あれは……ティアマト神ですか！？冥界への誘導に成功したのですね！？
エレシュキガル:
ええ、上を見なさい。ウルクが見えるでしょ。
イシュタルのヤツ、ウルクの足場ごと壊して冥界に落としたのよ。
Dr.ロマン:
地上まで、距離にして2000メートル以上……さすが神代の冥界、深いと言うべきか近いと言うべきか……
いや、それより！なんだいアレは！？
先ほどのイシュタルの宝具級の熱量が、絶え間なくティアマトを焼いているけど！？
エレシュキガル:
冥界の防衛機構よ。私の許しなく入ってきた生者はああなるの。
これは世界そのものが定めたルール。ティアマト神と言えど、ああなってはもうお終いよ。
それで、ギルガメッシュ王は？最後のトドメ、始めちゃっていいの？
アイツ、全員が到着するまで待てって言ってたけど、その必要はあるかしら。
たたみかけるのは今しかないと思うのだけど？
マシュ:
それは……そうだと思います。でもエレシュキガルさん、ギルガメッシュ王は、もう……
ぐだ子:
1: ……でも、戦わないと
2: ………………
マシュ:
……はい。そうですよね。わたしたちだけでもやらないと。
エレシュキガル:
いいのね？ なら始めるわ！任せて、ギルガメッシュ王もイシュタルも必要ないから！
エレシュキガル:
この私だけで決めてあげます……！冥界のガルラ霊よ、立ち並ぶ腐敗の槍よ！
あれなる侵入者に我らが冥界の鉄槌を！総員、最大攻撃――！
どう？ ざっとこんなものよ。ティアマト神といえど、冥界ではただの神。
私とガルラ霊たちの総攻撃の前にはひとたまりも――たまり、も――
な――な――
Dr.ロマン:
ケイオスタイド、冥界に侵食！まずいぞ！ このままだと冥界を乗っ取られる！
それだけじゃない……なんだこの反応は！？ビーストIIの霊基反応、さらに膨張！
霊基の神代回帰、ジュラ紀まで進行！これはもう神性じゃない、紛れもない神の体だ！
エレシュキガル:
え、え、え――！？ななな、なに、何が起きるのだわ！？
私が何かしてしまったのかしら――！？
Dr.ロマン:
霊基膨張工程停止、魔力炉心、連続再起動を確認……！冥界に落ちた際の損傷も復元していく！
――出るぞ……！ あれが――
あれが、本当のビーストIIの姿だ！
ティアマト:
Aaaaaaa、AAAAAAAAAA――LaAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA――
マシュ:
ティアマト神、体内からラフムを排出！冥界中にラフムが広がっていきます！
エレシュキガル:
ムリね！ どう見てもムリ！あれを私たちだけで倒すのとかムリ！
っていうか、波が来るのだわ！冥界が乗っ取られちゃう――！
???:
泣きゴト言うなスカポンタ――ン！それでも死の国の神さまニャのか――！
マシュ:
アナタは――
@ ジャガーマン
そう！ 鳥だ、バルーンだ、いや目の錯覚だ！私こそ冥界を駆ける虎、人呼んでジャガーマンッッッ！
---
ぐだ子:
1: ちょっと焦げてる！？
@ ジャガーマン
そこはいろいろ事情があるのでまた後で！とにかくここまでよくやったわ、ぐだ子サン！
---
ぐだ子:
2: 駆けつけてくれたんだ！
@ ジャガーマン
ええ、そうね。ウルクに戻る時に声をかけてもらえなかったのは気にしていませんので気になさらず。
とにかく、ここまでよくやったわねぐだ子サン！
---
エレシュキガル:
虎！ 虎が冥界に来たわ！うそ、他の土地だとそういうのアリなの！？
@ ジャガーマン
ありだとも小娘！つべこべ言わず、さっきの凄い攻撃を続けなさい！
エレシュキガル:
で、でも、ぜんぜん効かなくて……！それに冥界全体の出力も落ちてきてるし！
@ ジャガーマン
効かなくてもやるしかないの！いい、あれでもティアマト神は今が一番弱い状態なの！
ここで！ 私たちが！ なんとかしないと人類終了どころか地球終了のお知らせよ！
あの状態で地上に出してごらんなさい！一日もせず地球上がぜんぶ黒泥に覆われるから！
マシュ:
そんな……ドクター、今の話は、
Dr.ロマン:
事実だ！現に冥界はほぼケイオスタイドに覆われた！
あれを地上に出しちゃいけない！ここで、なんとしても消滅させるんだ！
幸いケイオスタイドもラフムもティアマトそのものだ、“他の命”にカウントされない！
冥界にいる今なら、ティアマトを殺せさえすれば逆説的復元はしない筈だ！
エレシュキガル:
でも、もう泥がいっぱいなんですけど！？こんな状態で、どうやってマトモに戦――
なんだありゃあ――！？
ぐだ子:
1: 花が咲いていく……
2: この花、まさか……！
Dr.ロマン:
ケイオスタイドの権能が軒並み停止した！？いや、もう機能を使い切って、ただの泥になった！？
信じられないが――その花が、ティアマト神の力を枯渇させている！
???:
いよぅし、間に合った――！そして発想が貧困だなアーキマン！
命を産む海なら、その命を無害でささやかなものに使わせてしまえばいい！
そういう事なら私の出番だ！花の魔術師、その二つ名の面目躍如というワケさ！
Dr.ロマン:
げぇぇぇ、マ――リン！？なんでキミが！？ まさか再召喚！？ いやいやいや！
マーリン:
ははは、そんなワケないだろう。再召喚とか有り得ない。これはもっと単純な話だ。
私は本物、正真正銘のマーリンだ。あわててアヴァロンから走ってきたのさ！
フォウくん:
フォ――ウ！
ぐだ子:
1: この男、徒歩で来やがった！
2: 走って来られるものなんだ！
マーリン:
ああ、人理焼却によって白紙状態の地球なら、妖精郷を使ってこっそりとね！
ボクは悲しい別れとか大嫌いだ。意地でも死に別れなんかするものか。
だからちょっと信条を曲げて、幽閉塔から飛び出してきた。無論、キミたちに会うためにね。
マシュ:
はい！ お待ちしていました、マーリンさん！再会できて、わたしたちも嬉しいです！
Dr.ロマン:
ビーストII、背部の角翼を展開！ほら見ろ、マーリンが煽るから本気になった！
冥界への侵食は止められてもビーストII本体は止められない！ウルクに――地上目指して飛ぼうとしている！
ぐだ子:
1: 翼が復元したのか……！
2: マーリン、何か[&ないのか:ないの]！？
マーリン:
……ふむ。二柱の女神による真体の足止め、ウルクを餌にした冥界の落とし穴、
「天の鎖」による拘束、冥界の刑罰、そして私の綺麗なだけの花。
ぐだ子君。そして英霊たちよ。ここに至るまで、実に多くの手を尽くしてきた。
だが、まだ足りない。
あれはまだ恐怖を知らない。天敵を知らない。彼という死を知らない。
マシュ:
彼……？他にまだ、助っ人さんがいるのですか？
マーリン:
ああ、いるとも。とっておきの凄いのがね。
では、彼はいったい誰に呼ばれたか？ギルガメッシュ王でもない。魔術王の聖杯にでもない。
……言うまでもない。キミだ、ぐだ子君。
彼はキミに礼を返すためにその冠位を捨てると言った。そして敵は人類悪、ビースト。
初めから、彼がこの地に現れる条件は整っていたんだよ。キミたちの戦いは、全てに意味があったのさ。
Dr.ロマン:
――まさか。
以前、この冥界でぐだ子君の生命反応が消えていたのは、もしかして……！
マーリン:
その通り。
さあ、天を見上げるがいい原初の海よ！そこに、貴様の死神が立っているぞ！
ジウスドゥラ:
……死なくして命はなく、死あってこそ生きるに能う。そなたの言う永劫とは、歩みではなく眠りそのもの。
災害の獣、人類より生じた悪よ。回帰を望んだその慈愛こそ、汝を排斥した根底なり。
ティアマト:
Aaaaaaaa――AaAa、AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA――！
ジウスドゥラ:
冠位など我には不要なれど、今この一刀に最強の証を宿さん。
山の翁:
獣に堕ちた神と言えど、原初の母であれば名乗らねばなるまい。
――幽谷の淵より、暗き死を馳走しに参った。山の翁、ハサン・サッバーハである。
晩鐘は汝の名を指し示した。その翼、天命のもとに剥奪せん――！
Dr.ロマン:
――ビーストIIの霊基パターンが変化した……
なんて事だ……ティアマト神の角翼が切断されたばかりか、「死の概念」まで付加されたぞ！
ティアマト神の規模は変わらず膨大だが、これは通常の、サーヴァントの霊基パターンだ！
倒せる！今ならビーストIIを完全に消滅させられる！
ダ・ヴィンチ:
ロマニ！ 霊基核の特定、できたぞ！
定番だが頭部だね！ 心臓ではなく頭部がティアマト神の霊基核だ！
Dr.ロマン:
ナイス、レオナルド！――ぐだ子君、話は聞いたね！？
ビーストIIの頭部を叩け！これが本当の、最後の総力戦になる！
マーリン:
ああ。そしてさすがビーストII、命を実感した瞬間に全力の抵抗を見せ始めたぞ！
ラフムを最大生産しつつ、本体は冥界の壁に向かっている！
壁を這い上がって地上に逃げる気だ！
ぐだ子:
1: 逃がしません！
2: その前に、今度こそ……！
マーリン:
ああ、そうだとも！これが正真正銘のラストチャンスだ！
マシュ、ぐだ子君、再会の挨拶はまた後で！嵐に向かうぞ！ 立ち向かう準備はいいかい？
マシュ:
――はい！もちろんです、花の魔術師マーリン！
そして先輩、これは第七特異点、最後の局面だと判断します！
どうか、弱気になっていたわたしに指示を、マスター！
今までわたしたちを信じてくれた人たちに応えるために――
何としても、あの災害を打ち破ります！
ぐだ子:
1: ああ、やるぞ、マシュ！
エレシュキガル:
すごい……！ 私の冥界にこんなにいっぱいの花が！
――いいえ、違うわ、そうじゃないわ。冥界の支配権が私に戻ってきたわ、今！
いいでしょう。今回は特別です。皆さんに冥界での行動権利、及び全強化を与えます！
冥界の女主人、エレシュキガルが願い請う！地上の勇者よ、あの魔竜に鉄槌を！
遥か未来まで続いた貴方たち人間の手で、天と地に楔を穿つのです！ - ↑ Fate/Apocrypha - Episode 06: Knight of Rebellion
- ↑ Fate/Apocrypha - Episode 23: Going Beyond
- ↑
[] Fate/complete material III: World Material - The Servants of the Fifth Holy Grail War: Saber, p.020-021 [T] Artoria
Class: Saber
Master: Emiya Shirou
Alignment: Lawful Good
Sex: Female
Height: 154cm
Weight: 42kg
Armament: Armour, Sword
STR: B
CON: C
AGI: C
MGI: B
LCK: B
Noble Phantasm: C
Legend
Once up on a time, there was a king in England named Arthur Pendragon. He was the legendary king who staunchly defended the land from the invading Saxons for a long period of time.
The name Arthur, written in the fashion of Romans is “Artorius”. Its feminine form is “Artoria”, which is the true name of Saber.
Artoria was born between Uther Pendragon and a Queen hailed from the rival kingdom. She grew up under the guidance of the True Magician Merlin, and became the king after pulling out the Sword of Selection. Later, she led Lacenlot, Gawain, and other famed knights to achieve innumerable deeds. They engaged the King of Saxons at the Battle of Badon Hill and brought peace to the land of Britain. Because the Scabbard of the Holy Sword stopped her from aging, Artoria continued to reign as the ideal king. It was ironic that Queen Guinevere and the serving knights grew more distant from Artoria precisely because she was too ideal. In the civil war that raged at the end of her reign, she crossed blade with her very own son, Mordred. At that instant, she pledged her service as a Heroic Spirit after death in exchange for striking a pact with the World. The one wish she hoped the Holy Grail could realise was “redo the selection of the king”. In legend, the body of King Arthur was transported to the Fairyland – Avalon, where he is healing his wounds in serenity.
Tactics
Saber’s ability is maximally unleashed while engaging in an honourable face-to-face single combat. It is a method of battle that is full of chivalric honour, and it is also one that suits Saber's sense of aesthetics. However, this does not mean she dislikes strategising. Because she is also a capable military commander, she tends to loath fabricated strategies that have no concrete basis. She fine-tunes her strategy meticulously. While on the battlefield, she further adapts her actions in response to the ever-changing dynamics of combat. Naturally, Saber despises cowardly actions, strategies or not. For this reason, in the Fourth Holy Grail War, her compatibility with the cool-headed, achieving-his-goal-at-all-cost Master Emiya Kiritsugu was the worst.
Class Abilities
Magic Resistance: A
Artoria boasts the highest rank of resistance to magic amongst the Servants. She is capable of completely neutralising grand sorceries involving magic arrays and instant contracts. Even modern magi of the highest level cannot wound her directly with sorcery. Artoria is able to resist an action force onto her powered by one stroke of the Command Spell. Such is the extraordinary rank of Artoria’s Magic Resistance, sufficient to shake the very foundation of the Servant System. If the opponent is someone who attacks with sorcery, Artoria will charge without fear and determine the outcome of the battle with a slash.
Also, as her “Pendragon” name shows, Artoria is the holder of the Element of the Red Dragon, charged with the task of protecting the kingdom. She carries the very magical power of the Dragon. This humongous magical power is also the source of Artoria’s Magic Resistance. Due to the characteristics of Dragon, Artoria has much trouble with existences such as Siegfried, who is associated with tales of “Dragon extermination”. If she is targeted by “Dragon-slaying Sorceries”, it is possible that Magic Resistance will not function to its fullest extent.
In the story, Artoria retained her Magic Resistance of A while having Emiya Shirou and Rin as Masters, regardless the two’s differences in power and characteristics. On the other hand, while having Matou Sakura as her Master, her Magic Resistance decreased to B as a result of Blackening.
Riding: B
Since “knights” are soldiers who are proficient in mounted warfare, Saber’s rank in Riding is very high. Chariots can be ridden the same way. Motorcycles and automobiles are treated as “modern mounts”, thus a high rank in Riding is also applicable. It is unclear if Riding is applicable to aircrafts. Saber’s Riding was elevated to A while having Emiya Kiritsugu as Master. However, Artoria can ultimately only control normal mounts. She cannot control Pegasi, Griffons, Dragons, and other Magical Beast, Divine Beast Ranked Phantasmal Species. This is due to her Class not being Rider, as well as the fact that she was a King in the Age of Man, thus did not have the fortune of having “Legends of Riding Phantasmal Species”.
Artoria rode a motorcycle in the Fourth Holy Grail War, but did not have the opportunity to demonstrate her Riding ability in the Fifth Holy Grail War. Provided with the appropriate mount, the battles might have developed differently.
Personal Skills
Instinct: A
Instinct is the ability to instantly identify “the best personal course of action” during combat. Because this skill allows for the prediction of trajectory, it is possible to avoid attacks from firearms. At rank A, it is essentially in the realm of predicting the future. Through this ability, it is possible to negate the penalties inflicted by visual and auditory interference to a certain extend.
Being able to discern Cú Chulainn’s ultimate technique certainly reflects her skills, but having exceptional Instinct also helped her immensely.
Mana Burst: A
The ability to reinforce one’s weapon and body through the infusion of magical energy. By reinforcing the ability of the body to a great extend using magical energy, the physically fragile Artoria was able to fight head on with monsters such as Berserker. At rank A, even a stick can become a weapon of great power.
Executing large-scale body reinforcement through Mana Burst is only possible with Artoria’s immense magical power.
(Translator's Note: This is basically analogous to Strengthening/Reinforcement Sorcery.)
Charisma: B
Artoria possessed high Charisma, and reigned as the king of England. The morale of military forces she commands is extremely high. However, this strong influence is still insufficient to build a vast empire spanning the world, so it remains at rank B (enough to rule a country).
Caption: Artoria, the protector of the British Isles. Even with her Charisma, she could not avert the fall of her kingdom.
Noble Phantasms
Invisible Air
Rank: C
Type: Anti-Unit
Range: 1~2
Maximum Targets: 1 Object
A barrier that renders the blade hidden by entangling it with layers of wind, and altering the light refraction rate. It is closer to a sorcery than a Noble Phantasm. By using this barrier, Artoria can attack without the opponent recognising the sword’s reach and trajectory. Since concealing one’s Noble Phantasm also conceals one’s true identity, Invisible Air was highly effective at the early stages of the Holy Grail War. It also has other advantages such as increasing attack power and accuracy. Entangling the sword with wind and using the wind as the blade enhances the attack power, while having an “invisible weapon” provides an advantage in accuracy. (Translator’s Note: It is probably more “decreasing opponent's evasion” in RPG terms.) Since the advantage of Invisible Air lies in “invisibility”, the accuracy increase will not occur while engaging opponents who possess Eye of the Mind or do not depend on vision.
In the Fourth Holy Grail War, Artoria unleashed the condensed air and used it as a long-range weapon that mauls down groups of enemies --- “The Iron Mallet of the Wind King”.
Excalibur
Rank: A++
Type: Anti-Fortress
Range: 1~99
Maximum Targets: 1000 Persons
The greatest and most powerful Noble Phantasm of Artoria (Translator’s Note: Not Avalon?). It is the strongest and most majestic holy sword that symbolises King Arthur. The pinnacle of holy swords. Excalibur was not forged by mankind, but crystallised within the Earth, using the wishes of mankind as the basis. It is one of the ultimate God-forged weapons, a Last Phantasm. Originally cared for by the Faeries of the Planet, it was passed into the hands of King Arthur through the Lady of the Lake.
Excalibur converts the mana of the wielder into light, and as the sword is swung, the light is released from the tip of the blade like a laser beam and destroys everything in its path. Of course, the mana consumption is extreme, thus it cannot be fired consecutively. In the Fourth Holy Grail War, the beastly giant sea monster summoned by Caster was completely incinerated by this Noble Phantasm. Excalibur is classified as an ‘Anti-Fortress Noble Phantasm” due to its magnitude and destructive power.
Avalon
Rank: EX
Type: Bound Field
Maximum Targets: 1 Person
The sheath of Excalibur, a Noble Phantasm with its origin in the Fairyland Avalon where King Arthur rests. The wielder will heal from any wound, and the aging process will cease. Unleashing the true name of Avalon will deploy a Bound Field that provides the greatest defence. A Noble Phantasm that annuls the interference of True Magic; its existence is equivalent to True Magic.
In legend, losing this sheath casted an ominous shadow onto the life of King Arthur, eventually cascading to the collapse of the kingdom. In modern times, the Einzberns excavated Avalon at Cornwall and passed it into the hands of Emiya Kiritsugu. Afterward, it was planted into the body of Emiya Shirou to save his life, eventually becoming the link that led to his bond with Artoria. In Fate Route, Artoria learned that Shirou was her “sheath”, which led the duo to emerge victorious in the Holy Grail War.対魔力: A
また、アーサー王の父ウーサーは、マーリンの計らいで竜の因子を持った後継者を造り、アルトリアは人であり ながら竜そのものの魔力を帯びるに至った。 - ↑
[] Fate/complete material III: World material - FAQ with Nasu: Noble Phantasms, p.134
Q: What did you have in mind when you created these original Noble Phantasms (“Bounded Field of the Wind King: Invisible Air”, “All-Violating Talisman: Rule Breaker”)?
Q: Though many Servants possess Noble Phantasms that appear in their actual myths and legends, there were some that felt like original creations for the game. What did you have in mind when you created these original Noble Phantasms (“Bounded Field of the Wind King: Invisible Air”, “All-Violating Talisman: Rule Breaker”)?
A: Invisible Air was simply a form of sorcery meant to conceal a Noble Phantasm. I thought that surely Merlin could have managed that somehow! Heroic Spirits that possess overly famous Noble Phantasms have a trick or two to hide their true identities.
[As for Rule Breaker,] I created it from her image as a treacherous archmage. I figured she would be too weak with only her Dragon’s Teeth soldiers.Q：サーヴァントが持つ宝具は、実際の神話や伝説に登場しているものが多数ですが、なかにはゲームオリジナルだと思われるものもあります。このオリジナル系の宝具（"風王結界"や"破戒すべき全ての符など"）は、どのようなイメージで作られたのでしょうか？
A：風王結界は単純に宝具隠しのための魔術として。マーリンさんならあれぐらいなんとかしてくれる......！と。有名すぎる宝具を持つ英霊は、正体を隠す工夫のひとつやふたつはしているのです。
キャスターは裏切り、大魔術師、のイメージから。竜牙兵だけじゃ弱いな、と。 - ↑
Fate/Grand Order, 7th Singularity, Chapter 16 - the Awakening of Tiamat Gudako:
2) Merlin ...... What happened to him ...... ?
Dr. Roman:
Merlin was eliminated.
It's likely that his actual body was killed.
He was an Incubus (夢魔, Muma, lit. "Dream Demon") -- one of the few magi with the capacity to insinuate himself within the Shared Unconscious (集合無意識, Shuugou Muishiki) constructed by Sapients (知性体, Chisei-tai, lit. "Intelligent Corpus") in the state of sleep.
Taking advantage of his nature, Merlin was all this time inculcated within the slumber of a certain Divinity -- sealing the actions of the Divinity by the perpetuation of her sleep.
The Merlin that walked at Gudako's side was merely a shadow.
However, as of now, his physical body has probably been killed.
Acting within the deepest depths of slumber, the Incubi are said to be virtually invincible -- but they do possess a critical weakness. That is to say, REM sleep.
As the sleeper's mind comes halfway into consciousness, the Incubus attracts the enmity of all that exists within the world of the dream.
Roused to a state of light sleep by the death of the Gorgon, the mind of the divinity has entrapped Merlin -- killing him.
Mashu:
...... Merlin-san ......ぐだ子:
2) マーリンは……どうなったのかな……
Dr.ロマン:
マーリンは消滅した。
おそらく本体を殺されたんだ。
彼は夢魔、知性体が睡眠状態に構築する集合無意識に介入できる数少ない魔術師だ。
その特性を利用して、マーリンはずっとある神の眠りの中にいたんだろう。
その神を眠らせ続ける事で行動を封じていた。
ぐだ子君と一緒にいたのはその影だ。
だが、その本体はたったいま殺された。
夢魔は深度の深い夢ではおおよそ無敵だが、致命的な弱点がある。レム睡眠だ。
眠っている本人の意識が半ば覚醒してしまうと、夢の世界すべてが夢魔の敵に回る。
ゴルゴーンの死によって意識を起こしたソレは 微睡(まどろ) みの中でマーリンを捕らえ、抹殺した。
マシュ:
......マーリンさん......