Lostbelt No. 3: SIN, Pre-Release Information and Speculation

The pre-release livestream for Lostbelt No.3 is tomorrow and the Intro has been released, and with it quite a bit of information and material to speculate from, with more to follow.

Given the situation with the previous pages and external circumstances, initial construction will likely take some time, as will subsequent compilation and referencing - it may well not be done in time for release. If there's anything to add, amend or reference, please say so in the comments below - it'd be much appreciated and I need as much help as I can get (particularly as I already have my hands full with a major project elsewhere).

WARNING: Spoilers below for those not following the Japanese release of Fate/Grand Order

Primary Compilation and Referencing incomplete as of 26/11/2018

Pre-CM

Background

Current Situation

Following the events of the Norse Lostbelt, the Shadow Border arrived at the Wandering Sea. Two weeks after meeting with Sion Eltnam Sokaris, the remnants of Chaldea are settling into their new base when an assassination attempt by Koyanskaya leaves Fujimaru and Goldolf poisoned (with the latter having only 10 days to live). The poison's base (needed for the antidote) is not found in the present era, but records indicate its usage in ancient China, so the Shadow Border is setting sail for the Chinese Lostbelt.

Setting

Lostbelt No. 3

SIN: Land of Unified Knowledge (人智統合真国 SIN^?), alternatively Crimson Beauty Under the Moon (紅の月下美人^?) and Lostbelt No. 3 (ロストベルト No. 3^?), is the third of the seven known Lostbelts. It's Lost Depth is E and it's associated Crypter is Akuta Hinako. The date of divergence is 210 BC.

Opening and PV Information

The background in the PV appears to have a large luminous dome with multiple moving lights shining out from it. The opening features oriental-style buildings.

Previous Speculation

Subject(s) of Speculation

Notes concerning Speculation

China 210 BC

The appearance of the buildings have led many to suspect that the setting for this one will be early Imperial China. If so, there is a notable event in 210 BC which might be featured. In that year, the first emperor of a unified China, Qin Shi Huang died, leading to a period of civil unrest (there are also a couple of interesting little bits concerning events just before his death which could be used, namely his search for an elixir of life and a meteorite that fell the year before, on which someone inscribed a prophecy that the emperor would die and his land would be divided (apparently when no one would confess, all living nearby were put to death and the stone pulverised)). This was also when the Terracotta ArmyWP was made.

Post-Lostbelt No.1 & No.2 Information

According to Hinako, her Lostbelt is not suited for territorial expansion, though that statement may be due to her disposition. Its king has tendencies towards exploration and domination, leading her to worrying what he might do if she doesn't keep an eye on him.

Subject(s) of Speculation	Notes concerning Speculation
Lostbelt No.3's Divergence Point
Impact Divergences	Another possibility which has been considered given the cause of the Russian Lostbelt's divergence as well as the events of the Prologue and the first chapter, are that other Lostbelts may also have points of divergence connected to the impacts of extraterrestrial objects. Three of the Lostbelts have settings and speculation concerning them which could be linked to this theory, including No. 3. A meteorite is said to have fallen in China during the last year of Qin Shi Huang's reign (his death is in the year of divergence and it has been suspected that he is involved). Someone apparently inscribed a prophecy that the emperor would die and his land would be divided, and when no one would confess to having done the deed, all living nearby were put to death and the stone was pulverised.
Lostbelt No.3 - SIN, Name	Following the second Lostbelt, the blank part of the third Lostbelt's title has been revealed - SIN. This has prompted a number of speculations concerning the nature and implications of the name. Though 'Sin' was one of the names used for ChinaWP in the past, by the Arabs - other names seem more fitting given the context, such as Qin (the state of the First Emperor who would unify the other states into China). Therefore, a fair number of people think that there must be a reason why it is SIN rather than QIN. Others have considered the possibility of it being an acronym, with Synchronized Intellect Nation being put forward based on the subtitle. Others have considered the possibility that it refers to something other than the country. The fact that the hidden part of the title is in Roman rather than Japanese characters has been noted to have opened up new possibilities for the blank parts of the remaining Lostbelt titles.
Lostbelt No.3 - SIN, Dystopia	With regards to the third Lostbelt, going from the subtitle, a number of people suspect a dystopia and prevalent information control. LegalistWP background aside, though there had been a number of SE.RA.PH-related speculations connected with the fourth Lostbelt, a number of other people have thought about a dystopia connected to cyberspace, computers or cyberpunk-related stuff, referring to the MatrixWP and SkynetWP. Many believe that this civilization will have become stagnant as a result of events arising from the emperor becoming immortal (and the reason why it was to be pruned), strictly managed with fear discouraging rebellion. Others suspect that the emperor's enforcers (following on from Ivan's Oprichniki and Skadi's Valkyries) might be animated terracotta warriors - if the emperor achieved immortality, he'd no longer need the Terracotta ArmyWP to protect him in the afterlife, so he would probably find another use for them.

Announcement and Post-Intro Information

In the chapter's intro, it was confirmed that Lostbelt No.3 is indeed in China.

Subject(s) of Speculation	Notes concerning Speculation
Lost Depth: E	In the intro, it was revealed that the Lost Depths, ranks assigned to the Lostbelts, indicate how much their Human Order denies the Greater History of Man. Given the low rank of the Chinese Lostbelt, it is speculated that there won't be as much of a difference as with the previous two Lostbelts.

Figures

Crypter: Akuta Hinako

Akuta Hinako

The Crypter associated with this Lostbelt is Akuta Hinako. As with the others, she is a former member of Chaldea's A-Team, who now stands against the survivors as a Master working with the forces of the Lostbelts and the Alien God to remake the world.

Originating from the Clock Tower's Botany Faculty (aka Witch Studies), she was originally a technician at Chaldea but became a Master candidate after her talent was discovered. She is described as being silent, having an odd vibe and being happy to just read a book all day in the shade. She has also been described as being good at getting along with people even though she is quiet and dislikes humans. She apparently wouldn't show up to medical exams. She was assigned Rider and strongly wished for it.

She has told the other Crypters that she won't be competing, stating that her Lostbelt is unsuitable for expansion, though she wishes to see things through to the end this time. She has been acting to curb her Lostbelt's king's desires for exploration and domination. As a result of this and other problems, she has been under considerable stress.

Subject(s) of Speculation	Notes concerning Speculation
Something to hide?	Given Hinako's tendency to avoid medical examinations and her bulky outfit, a few have wondered if it isn't just due to finding them tiresome and she has something to hide.

Crypter Servant

Previous Speculation

Subject(s) of Speculation	Notes concerning Speculation

New Speculation

Subject(s) of Speculation	Notes concerning Speculation

King of the Lostbelt

Previous Speculation

Subject(s) of Speculation	Notes concerning Speculation
The Kings of the Lostbelts	Given Ivan's role and form, many suspect that at least some of the other Kings of the Lostbelts will be of a similar nature and divergence. There has also been speculation, given that the playable Ivan and Scathach-Skadi are in their Lostbelt forms, that most if not all of the kings will be in their Lostbelt forms.
Qin Shi Huang	Given what has been revealed concerning the Kings of the Lostbelts and what has previously been speculated about Lostbelt No.3 (and certain individuals who might appear in it), various people suspect that the third Lostbelt's King will be Qin Shi Huang, the first emperor of a unified China, who died in the year of divergence. Given his search for immortality, a fair number suspect that the Lostbelt's divergence might be connected to it, and given Ivan's form in the first Lostbelt, some suspect that if Qin Shi Huang has also undergone a transformation, it will somehow be connected to Terracotta ArmyWP, which was made in the same year for his tomb.
King of Lostbelt No.3	The description in the Lostroom Material of a millennial empire ruled by an emperor granted the immortality he desired, matches previous speculation about the third Lostbelt and all but confirms that its King is the First Emperor of China, Qin Shi Huang, who sought immortality and in proper history, died in the year the Lostbelt diverged from the Greater History of Man.
King of Lostbelt No.3 - Immortality	With the signs of Qin Shi Huang being the King of the third Lostbelt and having acquired the immortality he desired, there has been speculation as to the exact nature of that immortality. The first possibility that has been considered is him obtaining the proper elixir of lifeWP or immortality medicine which he sought in his later years. Some have even wondered if he might have found a mercury treatment which isn't counterproductive (unlike his real-life counterpart). One notable event which occurred close to his death has also been considered - in the last year of his reign, there was a minor meteor impact. Someone apparently inscribed a prophecy on the meteorite that the emperor would die and his land would be divided, and when no one would confess to having done the deed, all living nearby were put to death and the stone was pulverised. Some have wondered if, had he not done so, he might have found the secret within the meteorite itself. From details of a previous short story involving Jing Ke, some have wondered if the 'meat blocks' (apparently of TaoistWP origin) and tumors which were featured in it will be play a role, though others have also considered the possibility that the short story will be disregarded due to poor reception. Similarly, another idea which has been put forward, based on a description and sketches of him with dragon-like features, is that his immortality may be of draconic origin. Another one is that it might be rooted in XianWP methods or perhaps linked to the Four SymbolsWP. Another possibility which has been considered is immortality in the form of undeath, with Dead Apostles and JiangshiWP being put forward. Others have wondered if the method may have involved binding the soul to an object (such as a terracotta figure) or a new body constructed for the purpose (possibly even from mercury).

Koyanskaya

Tamamovitch Koyanskaya

Previous Speculation

Subject(s) of Speculation	Notes concerning Speculation
'Beast'	Caenis calling Koyanskaya a beast (獣, Kemono, not a capital-B Beast yet) with an associated trait (愛玩, caring/treasuring/petting...), appeared to support strong speculation that Koyanskaya was an alter ego derived from Tamamo-no-Mae (likely Tamamo Vitch), herself a bunreiWP of Amaterasu in the form of Beast candidate Hakumen Konmou Kyuubi no Kitsune, and some speculation that she might end up manifesting as a Beast herself. Edit (Post-LB3 Intro): As of the intro for Lostbelt No.3, the reveal of Koyanskaya's full assumed name has confirmed that she is indeed Tamamo Vitch. In addition, she has also been confirmed to possess Presence Concealment (the Assassin Class Skill) and Independent Manifestation (associated with the Beasts).
Attire	There was speculation that Koyanskaya would change her attire depending on the Lostbelt. She hasn't so far, but it has been noted that the two Lostbelts so far have had similar environments.
Lostbelt No.3	Though Koyanskaya has appeared in all of the Lostbelts so far, many people are fairly certain that she will appear, if not play a slightly larger role, in the third Lostbelt, given the likely Chinese setting and the matter of foxesWP in China. Edit (Post-LB3 Intro): During the Crypters' meeting, following provocation from Koyanskaya, Hinako has stated she doesn't want her anywhere near her Lostbelt. Given Koyanskaya, this doesn't rule out an appearance in the Lostbelt in any way. She has already played a key role in the events of the chapter due to her use of an ancient Chinese poison in the assassination attempt, ensuring that the Shadow Border would head to the Chinese Lostbelt next.
Downfall?	Following her conversation with Caenis, a few people have wondered if the latter's comments might be foreshadowing her downfall in the near-future, perhaps sooner than expected by most, while others are doubtful of this.

Other

Subject(s) of Speculation	Notes concerning Speculation
Figures connected to speculation	Considering speculation concerning the Lostbelt's likely subject matter, a number of figures (some which have been featured before and some which have not) which are connected to them have been listed in various places and considered for potential appearances. One particular list has included the following: Connected to China (Yet to appear): First Emperor Qin Shi Huang (most expect he will appear), Gao ChanggongWP and Di QingWP (suspected candidates for the masked Saber), Li SiWP, Zhao GaoWP, Wang JianWP, Chen ShengWP, Xiang YuWP, Liu BangWP, Yu MiaoyiWP, Chen GongWP, DajiWP, Wong Fei-hungWP, Lê LợiWP Connected to China (Previously featured): Yan Qing, Wu Zetian, Xuanzang, Nezha, Zhuge Liang (El-Melloi II), Li Shuwen (Assassin/Lancer), Jing Ke, Lü Bu Fengxian While the Servants appearing in the Russian Lostbelt cast doubt on the idea that most of the Servants featured in the story will be connected to their respective settings, the appearance of Brynhildr in the Norse Lostbelt shows that the connected figures can be among the Servants summoned to the Lostbelts on behalf of the Greater History of Man. On a minor side-note, it has been noted that Qin Shi Huang's reign apparently overlapped with the last years of Long MuWP, though the possibility of an appearance by the Dragon Mother hasn't been considered as a particularly strong one.
Figures connected to the old datamine	Given the appearances of Ivan, Sigurd and Valkyrie in the first two Lostbelts, various people expect more figures from the old datamine, who have yet to be featured, to appear in the future Lostbelts, and three figures among them have been connected to the likely Chinese background of the third Lostbelt; the old Li Shuwen, Qin LiangyuWP and Red HareWP.

Other

Subject(s) of Speculation	Notes concerning Speculation
Bunker Bolt Upgrade	Sion was planning to upgrade Mash's Bunker Bolt with a research project of hers which was suspended because of Trismegistus's development, a conceptual weapon of 'natural lifespan'. Given the description and Sion's background, it has been speculated that the addition is the Barrel Replica.

Post-CM

Lostbelt No.3 人智統合真国 シン 紅の月下美人 TVCM

To be compiled

As the chapter release occurred immediately after the livestream and the CM, there was a very small window for speculation from the information provided. Even so, it might take a little while to get it together, given the circumstances.

Setting

Subject(s) of Speculation	Notes concerning Speculation
Story	Given that it has been revealed that Urobuchi is writing this chapter, many expect a dark story, with a high body count.

Figures

Servants:

• Jing Ke, Spartacus, Mordred
• Saber, Lancer, Berserker

Crypter: Akuta Hinako

Subject(s) of Speculation	Notes concerning Speculation

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! scope="col"|Subject(s) of Speculation ! scope="col"|Notes concerning Speculation |- | | |}

Other

Subject(s) of Speculation	Notes concerning Speculation

References

External Links

• Fate/Grand Order (Official Site, Japanese), SIN, Intro

Speculative References

Cosmos in the Lostbelt - Information & Speculation Compilations
Main Story	Post-Prologue, Pre-Anastasia • Lostbelt No. 1: Anastasia • Lostbelt No.2: Götterdämmerung (Pre-Release/Post-Release) • Lostbelt No.3: SIN (Pre-Release/Post-Release)
Unrelated Items of Possible Interest	Lists for analysis of Skills • Epic of Remnant Keywords, Review and Speculation