Cath PalugWP (キャスパリーグWP, Kyasu Parīgu?), also known as Fou-kun (フォウくん, sometimes translated as "Four"?), is a character that appears in Fate/Grand Order.
He is an alternate iteration of Primate Murder -- inhabiting those timelines wherein the Common Sense of Man pulses with life, and the Twenty-Seven Dead Apostle Ancestors do not exist as an organization. He is known as Beast IV.
Profile
Background
Cath Palug is a member of a species of organism known as the Breed of Calamity (災害の種, Saigai no Shuu?), which preside over the principle of "Comparison" (比較, Hikaku?)[1]
Originally a Beast of the Planet that became Merlin's familiar, Cath Palug was at some point subsequent to Merlin's sealing driven from the Isle of Avalon.[2] In those worlds where the Common Sense of Man is insufficiently prominent, he came eventually to be known as Primate Murder -- the pet of Altrouge Brunestud.
In the timeline of Fate/Grand Order, he came to reside within the Chaldea Security Organization, journeying across the assorted eras of human history in the company of Ritsuka Fujimaru and Mash Kyrielight.
Cath Palug describes himself as the Beast of Calamity (災厄の獣, Saiyaku no Juu?) that bears the Characteristic (特徴, tokuchou?, lit. "distinct feature") of "ever exceeding the strength of an opponent" (相手より強くなる, aite yori tsuyokunaru?) -- growing unto maturation by the conflict that arises amongst Men, feeding upon their Envies (妬み, Netami?) and Regrets (悔しさ, Kuyashisa?).[1]
Cath Palug is an entity of the Beast class, holding the title of Beast IV.
Appearance
Mash Kyrielight describes the Cath Palug as a squirrel-like creature[3] -- "a cute animal," according to his official profile.[4] However, he states that if he were let to normally mature, he would eventually degenerate into a "unsightly monstrosity."[1]Status up cards depict him as having horns, a possible hint at his identity as a beast of man.
 Fou illustrated by Riyo. Fou's Beast appearance in "Chaldea Beach Volley in OCEANUS" doujin by Hiroshi Hiroyama  Stuffed Lion (ライオンのぬいぐるみ, Raion no Nuigurumi?) in Fate/Grand Order.   Peacefulness of 2016 (2016年の平穏, 2016-nen no Heion?) in Fate/Grand Order, illustrated by Shirotsumekusa.     CloverWorksWP character visual of Mash Kyrielight and Fou for the Fate/Grand Order -The Absolute Demon Battlefront Babylonia- anime. |
Personality
Removed of the Civilization of Man, Cath Palug would be nothing more than a harmless animal.[1]
He considers Merlin to be a "loathsome wretch," claiming that the man forced him from comfort of the Tower of Imprisonment (幽閉塔, Yuuhei-Tou?) in Avalon against his will.[1] As such, he frequently attacks Merlin on sight (illustrated in Merlin's card for the April Fool's 2017 event, giving Merlin a flying kick to the face). However, some of his former masters perversion may have rubbed off on him as he has demonstrated making some suggestive remarks on Mashu Kyrielite.
Role
Garden of Avalon
While Merlin was imprisoned within the Garden of Avalon, he went through the drafts and sketches he had made in life and started telling Cath Palug the events of the life of King Arthur.[5]
Upon witnessing Arthur's final moments, Merlin releases Cath Palug from the Garden of Avalon, insisting that he seek out "that which is beautiful."[2]
Fate/Grand Order
Cath Palug is found by the Chaldea Security Organization and given the nickname of "Fou-kun" (フォウくん?).[1] During his stay with the organization, he is permitted to freely wander their facilities.[3]
Fuyuki: Contaminated City in Flames
Cath Palug is met by Ritsuka Fujimaru alongside Mash Kyrielight.[3]
E Pluribus Unum: Grand Battle of Legends in North America
Merlin uses Cath Palug as a conduit through which to temporarily reveal himself, so to lend aid to the protagonists in the battle against Cú Chulainn Alter.
Babylonia: The Absolute Frontline in the War Against the Demonic Beasts
Cath Palug attacks Merlin
Cath Palug here, interacting with Merlin and the others, with even his identity as a beast being revealed by Ishtar.
Cath Palug smacks Ishtar
Salomon: The Grand Time Temple
In the aftermath of Mash Kyrielight's sacrifice, Cath Palug locates her soul in the place beyond life -- revealing his true name and his nature as a Beast. He then expends the majority of the Magical Energy that he's collected across the centuries of his life to transplant his Force of Providence into Mashu's soul, perfectly resurrecting her. However, the act deprives him of both his Sapience (知性, Chisei?) and Characteristic (特性, Tokusei?), leaving him as nothing more than a common animal. In the end, he congratulates Mashu and the people of Chaldea for defeating the Beast IV without violence.[1]
Abilities
Cath Palug transplanting his Force of Providence to Mash Kyrielight.
Under certain circumstances, Cath Palug is capable of enacting a miracle that exceeds the scope of Magic -- "the Complete Revocation of Death" (死者の完全な蘇生, Shisha no Kanzen-na Sosei?). More specifically, he was able to resuscitate Mash Kyrielight, but this was possible only due to the extra-temporal nature of the context of her death, the interior of Ars Paulina. So to facilitate the process, Cath Palug consumed the majority of the Magical Energy he had accumulated across the centuries of his lifetime, using it to fuel the transference of his Force of Providence to Mash, and overwriting the limitations of her remaining lifespan (3 days). However, as he wasn't yet an adult of his species, he was capable only of granting Mashu a lifespan comparable to that of a normal human -- at the cost of his own
Sapience (知性, Chisei?) and his Characteristic (特性, Tokusei?) as a Beast of Calamity.[1]
He has even demonstrated the ability to escape the Chains of Heaven.
Development
Taiki is the illustrator for Cath Palug.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7
[] Fate/Grand Order, Final Singularity, Chapter 15 - Beast IV Mashu:
――――――。
――――――。
???:
――――――。
――――――。
――――――。
-- a relief. It's good that you haven't yet departed, Mashu.
Your annihilation was absolute.
You'd reached the termination of your life.
Even so, your consciousness yet lingers within this Void (虚無, Kyomu?).
Even so, you have labors yet to complete.
And therefore, I shan't tell you that "you've done a good job, and earned your rest."
The time, however, has come for me to bid you "bye-bye."
Mashu:
――――――。
???:
There isn't time to dally, and so I'll say it bluntly: I intend to bring you back to life.
I am that which presides over the principle of "Comparison" (比較, Hikaku?).
I am the Beast borne of the Characteristic (特徴, tokuchou?, lit. "distinct feature") of "ever exceeding the strength of an opponent" (相手より強くなる, aite yori tsuyokunaru?) which comes unto maturation by the conflict that arises amongst Men, supping upon their Envies (妬み, Netami?) and Regrets (悔しさ, Kuyashisa?).
The Beast of Calamity, Cath Palug (災厄の獣キャスパリーグ, Saiyaku no Juu Kyasu Pari-gu?).
In a different world, I am the one that would be called the Slayer of the Primates (霊長の殺人者, Reichou no Satsujinsha?).
Removed of the Civilization of Man, I would be a harmless animal.
And thus, I was once confined to a solitary isle, uninhabited by humans.
However, the Magus charged with the duty of caring for me was a loathsome wretch.
Forcing me from the comfort of the Tower of Imprisonment (幽閉塔, Yuuhei-Tou?), he released me unto the world without.
... but, it was thanks to that that I arrived upon Chaldea.
And there, I discovered you and Gudako.
Mashu:
-- y-you are --
???:
Perhaps you find this troubling?
But, well, the Magus did once claim that goodwill is fundamentally something to be forced upon others.
Let that my actions be an emulation of that.
Expending the stores of Mana (魔力, Maryoku?, lit. "Magical Energy") that I've collected to myself across the centuries, I shall here enact a Miracle (奇蹟, Kiseki?) irreplicable even by way of the True Magics (魔法?).
"The Complete Revocation of Death" (死者の完全な蘇生, Shisha no Kanzen-na Sosei?).
Or rather, any deaths that come to pass within the Temple of Time (時間神殿, Jikan Shinden?) aren't in fact counted as applicable within reality.
I shall now be conducting a transference of my Force of Providence (運命力, Unmei-Ryoku?).
It shall persist to the extent that your remaining lifespan -- less than three days in duration -- will be entirely overwritten.
However, as I am yet to fully mature, I can grant you only a lifespan comparable to that of the Humans (人並, hitonami?).
And by the consummation of this act, I shall be as merely a beast.
Neither Sapience (知性, Chisei?) nor Characteristic (特性, Tokusei?) shall remain.
Until now, my responses to you in conversation have indeed held meaning, but henceforth, they may be little more than the cries of an animal.
But this isn't something you should unnecessarily concern yourself with.
From your perspective, after all, nothing will have changed.
But, I suppose I can't help but feel a bit of loneliness in that.
For this reason, I desired that my final act would be to bid you alone a personal farewell.
Goodbye, Mashu Kyrielight.
This journey that I've undertaken at your side was to me a refreshment.
It is owing to that that I was able to retain this form until the end, even as I might have normally degenerated unto an unsightly monstrosity.
Mashu:
W- wait --
Fou, -san -- Fou-san -- !
???:
... Once, a certain Magus uttered these words on unleashing the Cath Palug upon the world.
"Go forth and seek beauty," he said.
-- Yes.
I have indeed witnessed a beautiful thing.
There exist evils that may be defeated without the crossing of blades, and answers that be reached only absent of the spilling of blood.
I congratulate you, good folk of Chaldea.
By your efforts, the 4th Beast (第四の獣, Dai-Yon no Juu?) is here defeated.マシュ:
――――――。
――――――。
？？？:
――――――。
――――――。
――――――。
――――――良かった。まだ残っていたね、マシュ。
君は完全に消滅した。
命の終わりに辿り着いた。
それでも、意思がこの虚無に残っている。
それでも、君が成すべき事がまだ残っている。
だから「お疲れ様」とは言わないよ。
「バイバイ」と、お別れは言うけどね。
マシュ:
――――――。
？？？:
時間もないし率直に言うと、君を生き返らせようと思う。
ボクは「比較」の理を受け持っていた。
人間同士の競争と成長、妬みや悔しさを糧とし、「相手より強くなる」特徴を持つ獣だ。
災厄の獣キャスパリーグ。
違う世界では霊長の殺人者、とも呼ばれたね。
ボクは人間社会にいなければ無害な動物だ。
だから人のいない孤島に閉じこもっていた。
けれど、ボクの世話をしていた魔術師は酷いヤツでね。
快適だった幽閉塔からボクを追い出して、外に放ってしまったんだよ。
……でも、そのおかげでボクはカルデアに辿り着いた。
そこで君と、ぐだ子を発見した。
マシュ:
―――あな、たは―――
？？？:
君は迷惑に思うかな。
でもまあ、善意とは基本、押し売りするものだと魔術師は言っていた。それに[#倣:なら]うとしよう。
数百年溜め込んだ魔力を使って、魔法ですら到達しえない奇蹟をここに起こす。
『死者の完全な蘇生』。
とはいえ、時間神殿での死は現実ではカウントされない。
ボクがこれからする事は運命力の譲渡だ。
君のわずかな、あと三日とない寿命を塗りつぶすほどの。
ただし、ボクはまだ成長していなかったから。
君の寿命を人並のものにしかできない。
これによってボクはただの獣になる。
知性も特性もなくなるからね。
今までは君たちの会話に意味のある合いの手をいれていたけど、これから先はただの鳴き声になるだろう。
別に気にした事でもないさ。
君たちにとっては何も変わらないんだから。
でもまあ、寂しい気持ちも本当だ。
だから最後に、君にだけはお別れを言いたかった。
さようなら、マシュ・キリエライト。
君たちとの旅は、ボクにとって清々しいものだった。
たいてい醜悪な姿に変わっていたボクが、最後までずっと、この姿のままでいられた程に。
マシュ:
待っ、て―――
フォウ、さん―――フォウさん―――！
？？？:
……かつて魔術師はこう言ってキャスパリーグを送り出した。
「美しいものに触れてきなさい」と。
―――そうだ。
私は本当に、美しいものを見た。
刃を交えずとも倒せる悪はあり、血を流さなかったからこそ、辿り着ける答えがあった。
おめでとう、カルデアの善き人々。
第四の獣は、君たちによって倒された。 - ↑ 2.0 2.1 Garden of Avalon - Chapter 06: In the Flower Garden, p.103
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Fate/Grand Order - Fuyuki: Contaminated City in Flames - Prologue
- ↑ Fate/Grand Order website: Fou: A cute animal who the protagonist meets alongside Mashu. It seems to walk around Chaldea freely.
- ↑ Garden of Avalon - Chapter 00: At the Garden, p.013