Fate/Stay Night

[Rayne]

Yeah not extremely well done but very interesting nontheless.

I found King Arthur being portrayed as a woman a bit confusing though. Didn't really like the animation either.

A did enjoy a few things about it, liked most Rider scenes, Saber vs Berserker, Saber vs Assassin, Archer vs Berserker was very good etc. Gilgamesh also made the plot quite interesting.

Good moments for me was Saber's first summoning / appearance, and of course, the part where Emiya summoned her after his fatal standoff against Rider.

It was however, obvious to me that their teacher was a master, they should have concealed that better.

[Kher-za]

I thought archer was a very good character, the fight scenes were awesome. Invisible sword, something to ponder hey.

Archer vs Berserker was awesome action sequence.

[ZeroS]

I particularly liked Saber. She had a really awesome aura to herself.
The animation was above average IMO but the animation I really liked was FMP TSR. The fight scense in there was just brilliant.

The ending of FSN could've been better.

I like the usage for famous character names. Berserk, Arthur, Gilgamesh (the mystery man). Too bad Enkidu wasn't there unless you picture Saber as Enkidu since Gilgamesh did want Saber for himself. But Enkidu wasn't hostile. Then again Arthur was a male. Ah so much allusions. Love anime!

But then who's Saber? The name seems vaguely familiar...

[Rayne]

What do you mean who's Saber ZeroS?

EDIT :

Btw how true does Berserker's tale ring to the ancient Greek mythology?

[ZeroS]

I mean I don't think i've encountered the name before. In games, books, etc. The only place I remember Saber from was as a sword. But that's pretty obvious. So I'ld like to know why they chose the name Saber.

[Rayne]

Oh, I don't know...

[ZeroS]

I don't know about Berserk in Greek myth but in some asian legend it was about some guy who (long story on how he ended up in perdition) when in combat would go nuts. his body would become stronger, eye's red and he would become unstoppable. Even the Berserk anime and game, Gats is similar to that.

Read it a long time ago.

Most anime have allsusions like this.
I've seen insinuations from Persian to Christianity and Judaism too. But I don't know much of those. -___-

[larch]

Sorry its lots of reading but very informing if you are a fan like me

Saber:

Her full name is Arturia Pendragon, and she is the inspiration for the legends of King Arthur. Arturia is the daughter of British King Uther Pendragon and Igraine, a former Duchess of Cornwall. At her nativity, Uther realizes his subjects will never accept a female as a legitimate ruler, and decides to not publicly announce Arturia's birth or gender. She is entrusted by Merlin to a loyal knight, Sir Ector, who raises her as a surrogate son. When Arturia is fifteen, King Uther dies, and with no known eligible heir to the throne, Britain enters a period of turmoil following the growing threat of invasion by the Saxons. Merlin soon approaches her, explaining that the British people will recognize her as a destined ruler if she withdraws Caliburn, a ceremonial sword embedded in a large slab of stone. However, pulling this sword is symbolic of accepting the hardships of a monarch, and Arturia will be responsible for preserving the welfare of her people. Without hesitation, and despite her gender, she draws Caliburn and shoulders Britain's mantle of leadership.

Arturia rules Britain from her stronghold in Camelot, and earns the reputation of a just, yet distant king. Under the guidance of Merlin and with the aid of her Knights of the Round Table, she guides Britain into an era of prosperity and tranquillity. Caliburn is destroyed, but Arturia soon acquires her holy sword, Excalibur, and Avalon, Excalibur's blessed sheath, from Vivian. While Avalon is in her possession, Arturia never ages and is immortal in battle.

Throughout her reign, Arturia is plagued by feelings of guilt and inferiority; she sacrifices her emotions for the good of Britain, yet many of her subjects become critical of her lack of humanity. Excalibur's scabbard is stolen while she repels an assault along her country's borders; when Arturia returns inland, she discovers Britain is being torn asunder by civil unrest. Despite her valiant efforts to placate the dissent, Arturia is mortally wounded by a traitorous knight, a homunculus born of her blood named Mordred, during the Battle of Camlann. Her dying body is escorted to a holy isle by Morgan le Fay and Sir Bedivere. Arturia orders a grieving Bedivere to dispose of Excalibur by throwing it back to Vivian; in her absence, she reflects on her personal failures, regretting her life as king. Before her last breath, she appeals to the world; in exchange for services as an Epic Spirit, she asks to be given an opportunity to relive her life, where someone more suitable and effective would lead Britain in her stead.

Archer:

Archer is actually an adult Shirō Emiya, the main character of Fate/stay night. He is ultimately the winner of the 5th Holy Grail War, and is a living incarnation of the "Hero of Justice". The Throne of Heroes, which preserves the souls of all Epic Spirits, exists outside of any conventional timeline, so Archer can be called from any point in history. The amulet Rin used as a catalyst in Archer's summoning was the same jewel she used to save Shirō's life.

His history differs from the Shirō in any particular storyline, although he is most similar to the version who progressed through the Fate scenario. Archer remains the former Master of Saber, but there is a strong possibility that Avalon, one of Saber's Noble Phantasms, was never removed from his body. He cares deeply for Illyasviel von Einzbern, and his inability to prevent her death one year after the war's end is his greatest regret. At one point in his future life, Archer finds himself incapable of saving the lives of several hundred people; to change the course of their destinies, he forges a pact with the world, whereby in exchange for a miracle he is obligated to posthumously and indefinitely serve humanity as an Epic Spirit. Later, one of those spared hundred uses him as a political scapegoat, executing Archer under the accusations of war crimes for wanton violence and destruction.

Throughout his heroic career, Archer struggles with the same doubt his father, Kiritsugu, acknowledged many years before; when the life of one person is saved, another person must be left to die. After fighting in many future battles, he is horrified to discover himself needlessly slaughtering countless numbers of the nefarious and innocent alike. In time, the once idealistic Shirō comes to the pessimistic conclusion that attempting to preserve all human life is futile, for the few must be sacrificed for the survival of the many. Accepting this concept frustrates Archer, for it betrays his life's conviction and renders his selfless dedication to defending mankind worthless.

Broken, bitter, and angry, Archer gracefully accepts his death, gambling his afterlife on the small hope of being summoned as a Servant back in the 5th Holy Grail War. His rationale is to kill his younger self and cause a time paradox, which Archer hopes will spare Shirō the anguish of realizing his ideals are a sham, even at a cost of ripping the fabric of reality asunder.

Rider:

Her real name is Medusa, the Gorgon from Greek mythology. Medusa, along with her sisters, Stheno and Euryale, were born from the wishes of mankind for ideal goddesses, contrasting the flawed gods of Olympus. All three Gorgons were blessed with beauty, but unlike her sisters, Medusa was mortal, and fated to grow older and taller over time. Medusa was also cursed with Mystic Eyes, which transmute all living flesh under her gaze into stone, requiring her to wear a blindfold. Because of these differences, she was bullied by her older sisters. At one point, Medusa was given her Pegasus as a gift from Poseidon.

Jealous of the sister's allure, Athena goaded the Gorgon's worshippers into attacking them, forcing the sisters to take refuge on the Shapeless Isle. This disgrace left Medusa bitter and spiteful of humans, her resent intensifying as she killed invading men who lusted after her sisters. Over the years, Medusa became eager to slaughter and ingesting humans, which spread infamy about her as an icon of terror. These fears, like the desires that gave birth to the Gorgons, distorted Medusa's appearance and incarnated her into the atrocious Gorgon of legend. Despite their teasing, Stheno and Euryale deeply loved their sister, and upon realizing they were responsible for her savagery, allowed Medusa to devour them. Eventually, the demigod Perseus, equipped with five Noble Phantasms, proved capable enough to decapitate Medusa, ending her tortured and dismal life. As she died, Medusa realized that however poorly Stheno and Euryale treated her, she had treasured the time she spent with them, and would later consider those experiences as her fondest memories.

Berserker:

Illya introduces Berserker as Heracles, the demigod from Greek mythology. He was born of a coupling between Zeus and a mortal woman, Alcmene. Although named in honor of Hera, the goddess was jealous of her husband's affair and outraged by Heracles' birth. As a boy, Heracles had a volatile temper, but he pacified his anger by living peacefully as a shepherd. During adulthood, in a bout of madness induced by Hera, he murdered his wife, Megara, and her children. In a penance for his gruesome deed, Heracles undertook the Twelve Labours of King Eurystheus, which earned him his Noble Phantasms and solidified his legendary status. Heracles is most famous for his wide range of skills, cunning, and incredible physical strength.

Gilgamesh:

Gilgamesh makes no effort to conceal his identity as the legendary Sumerian King. He is the son of Lugalbanda, the 3rd King of Uruk, and of a goddess, Ninsun. Born into great wealth with more divinity than most demigods, Gilgamesh grows into a conceited and tyrannical ruler. His subjects, feeling this reign too harsh, pray to Anu, the King of Sumerian gods, for assistance. Anu, recognizing Gilgamesh's cruelty as a consequence of boredom, creates a wild-man, Enkidu, as a diversion and rival for The King of Heroes.

Enkidu becomes a lord of beasts, fiercely attacking those who would hunt his animals. A trapper, irritated with the troublesome Enkidu, seeks the advice of Gilgamesh, who recommends the aid of a priestess, Shamhat. Enkidu is "civilized" through Shamhat's seduction, and becomes forever shunned from the beasts he once protected. He then lives a quiet life aiding trappers and shepherds, but his wanderlust drives him to the Sumerian capital of Uruk. He is attracted to a wedding, where he overhears a boastful Gilgamesh exclaim his right to sleep with the new virgin bride. As Gilgamesh approaches the lover's bedroom, a furious Enkidu bars his entry, and the two men engage in a wrestling competition.

Gilgamesh and Enkidu are evenly matched, but Gilgamesh briefly attains an advantageous position and manages to pin Enkidu. Impressed by his opponent's prowess, Enkidu compliments Gilgamesh, and the two swear an oath of friendship. Gilgamesh proposes an adventure into the Cedar Forest to slay the demigod Humbaba, a guardian of gods. Following a tremendous battle, Humbaba is beguiled by Gilgamesh into lowering his defenses, allowing Gilgamesh to quickly restrain the brute. Although Enkidu was initially averse to killing the giant, he realizes Gilgamesh will become world famous for Humbaba's death, and despite Humbaba's pleas for mercy, Gilgamesh decapitates him. They then cut down the tallest Cedar trees and, using the lumber, build a raft on which they sail down the Euphrates back and back to Uruk.

Impressed by his heroic feat, the goddess Ishtar appears to Gilgamesh and offers him the opportunity to become her mortal consort. Gilgamesh rebuffs her advances, citing a host of mortal men who have romanced the goddess and met grisly ends. Flustered at her rejection, Ishtar asks her father, Anu, to send the Bull of Heaven to kill Gilgamesh and destroy Uruk. The bull rampages around Sumeria for several years, but with Enkidu's aid, Gilgamesh proves capable enough to restrain and butcher it.

Outraged by the death of a divine beast, Ishtar demands either Gilgamesh or Enkidu be killed as retribution. The god Shamash appeals for their lives; Gilgamesh is spared, but the unfortunate Enkidu is condemned to die for meddling with divine will. Shortly after this trial, Enkidu is striken with a dire illness and suffers for twelve days. During his last moments, he forsees a grim afterlife in a dream, and curses those who originally cultivated him. Gilgamesh mourns Enkidu's lifeless body for many days, and fearful of meeting the same fate, embarks on a quest for immortality.

Gilgamesh seeks out Utnapishtim, a former King of Shuruppak who survived The Deluge by constructing an Ark as advised by the god Ea. In repentance for the genocide of mankind, the Sumerian Gods gift Utnapishtim with immortality and spirit him away to Dilmun, the End of the World. After journeying over Mount Mashu and through a Garden of Gems, Gilgamesh crosses the River of Death and meets Utnapishtim.

Utnapishtim explains that immortality can be achieved if Gilgamesh remains awake for six days and seven nights; Gilgamesh makes the attempt, but soon succumbs to fatigue. Gilgamesh is frustrated with his failure, but Utnapishtim offers an alternative; a magical herb, which only grows on the ocean floor surrounding Dilmun, will bestow eternal youth onto whoever consumes it. Gilgamesh successfully retrieves the plant, but doubtful the shrub's properties, decides to test his prize on the elders of Uruk.

On the journey back, a serpent consumes the precious ambrosia while Gilgamesh bathes; horrified, he weeps at his loss. Upon arrival in Uruk, Gilgamesh stares at the imposing city walls he built and realizes mortal men cannot escape destiny, for true immortality can only be achieved through the legends dead men leave behind.

Lancer:

Lancer is really Cú Chulainn, a hero from the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology. He is a demigod, the offspring of a mortal woman, Dechtire, and the deity, Lugh. Although born with the name Sétanta, he adopted Cú Chulainn after killing the hound of a smith, Culann, and promising to replace the slain canine while another was reared. Cú is the Irish Gaelic word for "hound." During Cú Chulainn's expedition to the Land of Shadows in Scotland, he trained under a sorceress named Scáthach and acquired his signature weapon, the cursed javelin, Gáe Bolg. With his heroic exploits, Cú Chulainn acquired a reputation of savagery in battle, though he was a well-meaning and courageous young man. However, above all, he is best known for keeping his word. He once tells Shirou that he also could have been summoned as a Berserker class because of his savagery.

Assassin:

Assassin has no identity, though he masquerades as the mythical Japanese swordsman, Sasaki Kojirō. The historical Kojirō was trained in the Chūjō-Ryū style of fencing, and also founded Ganryū, a school of kenjutsu. His weapon, Monohoshi Zao, is a sharp-edged and heavy katana called a nodachi, measuring at 150cm, an unusual length for such a blade.

Despite renown for his nimble footwork and mastery of kendo, Kojirō is most famous for his death at the hands of Musashi Miyamoto, although some historians question whether Kojirō existed at all. Although he is mentioned in government records, there is discrepancy about his age, and Musashi does not mention a swordsman named Kojirō in any of his writings. In Fate/stay night, the profile of Kojirō in the modern era is an invention, a blend of details from the lives of many nameless and forgotten historical swordsmen. Assassin, a nameless wraith who shared similarities with the legend, assumed the appearance and skills of Kojirō upon his summoning.

Castor:

In her lifetime, Caster is better known as Medea, an archetype for witches from Greek mythology. She is a princess, the daughter King Aeëtes of Colchis and a niece of Circe, both of whom were distinguished spellcasters. Under the tutelage of her father, Medea herself becomes a skilled sorceress, living a quiet, peaceful life until the arrival of Jason and the Argonauts.

Jason, the legitimate heir to the throne of Iolcos in Thessaly, sails to Colchis on a quest for the Golden Fleece. His uncle, King Pelias, imprisons Jason's father and assumes the crown. Fearful of being deposed, Pelias consults an Oracle who tells him to shun any approaching man wearing one sandal. Fatefully, this man would be Jason, who loses a sandal escorting a disguised Hera across the Anauros river. To avoid a disgraceful murder, and upon Jason's suggestion, Pelias requests Jason obtain the Golden Fleece, which he considers to be a suicidal mission.

Upon his arrival in Colchis, Jason reaches an agreement with King Aeëtes, whereby he can take the Golden Fleece if he proves capable of accomplishing three impossible tasks. As a favor to Hera, Aphrodite orders her son Eros to beguile Medea into falling madly in love with Jason. With her aid, Jason is able to acquire the Golden Fleece, forcing the Argonauts to flee Colchis. Aeëtes, not expecting Jason to actually win the prize, values the skin enough to give chase. As a distraction, Medea kills her brother, Apsyrtus, and scatters his diced flesh into the ocean brine. Aeëtes, horrified at the murder, delays his vessel to retrieve the pieces of his son.

Fatigued from the taxing voyage, the Argonauts seek temporary asylum in Crete, but they are waylaid by Talos, a giant bronze automaton originally gifted to Europa, by Zeus. As sentinel of the isle, Talos heaves large boulders at the Argo, tossing the ship about like a cork. Medea hypnotizes him with her sorcery, and in a bout of insanity, Talos removes a thick bronze nail from his heel. Without this nail, the ichor from within Talos' body gushes out, poisoning and killing him. With Talos' death, the Argo safetly docks on the isle.

At the end of their extensive journey, the Argonauts return to Iolcos, but Pelias refuses to yield his throne to Jason. Hera, angry with Pelias, manipulates Medea into murdering him; Medea approaches Pelias' daughters and offers to restore their father's youth and vitality. As a demonstration, Medea asks that Jason's father, the ailing Aeson, be summoned from Pelias' dungeon; when he arrives, Medea slits his throat and submerges his lifeless body in a hydria of boiling water. After Medea adds several magical herbs, Aeson emerges alive and rejuvenated. Captivated by Medea's sorcery, Pelias' daughters butcher their father and dump his body parts into the frothing cauldron; however, Medea withholds her herbs and Pelias remained dead.

Acastus, a fellow Argonaut and son of Pelias, is outraged by the murder of his father; Jason and Medea are driven from Iolcos and claim sanctuary in Corinth. While there, King Creon urges Jason to forsake Medea and marry his daughter, Glauce; although Medea bears Jason two children, he concedes wedding Glauce to strengthen his political connections. Stunned and aching from Jason's betrayal, Medea presents Glauce with bewitched clothing as wedding gifts. When Glauce dons these garments, they cling to her body and spontaneously combust; she is soon consumed by the flames, as is Creon, who embraces his dying daughter. To spite Jason, Medea murders her own children and takes their dead bodies with her as she flees Corinth atop the chariot of her grandfather, Hêlios.

Medea makes her way to Athens, where she marries King Aegeus and gives birth to a son, Medus. The two live a blissful and serene life until Theseus, a son of both Aegeus and Aethra, arrives in Athens. Medea immediately identifies who he is; wishing to ensure Medus' inheritance of the Athenian throne, she plots to kill Theseus. Playing on Aegeus' suspicions of the newcomer, she orders Theseus to prove his valor by capturing the Marathonian Bull. After he succeeds, Medea offers him a skyphos of poisoned wine. Before Theseus can sip the poison, Aegeus recognizes the equipment he is wearing and realizes Theseus is his son. Aegeus knocks the cup out of Medea's hand; the reunited father and son embrace.

Upset over the attempted murder, Aegeus angrily forces Medea and Medus out of Athens; they return to Colchis, where they discover Aeëtes has been killed by his brother, Perses. As a precaution to protect his seat on the throne, Perses imprisons Medus; furious, Medea impersonates a priestess and calls down a plague upon Colchis. When Perses seeks his priestess' council, Medea advises that she be sacrificed as a tribute to the gods. Perses concedes, but amidst the sacrificial ceremony, Medea grabs the ritual knife and uses it to kill her uncle. Medus is freed and becomes the new King; he later annexes a nearby country and renames it in honor of his mother.

[ZeroS]

This looks like a wiki source. Is it from wikipedia?

Saber (I still have no idea why the name saber) is IMO a take towards the feminine. The legendary role of Arthur was given teo a female. In many anime this stance of promoting the feminine is quite potent. Too bad I'm no symbologist to extract out any proofs.

Well, according to Malory (just remember he's one of the dudes that relate the authentic story of King Arthur), Uther had a son and not a daughter. The story is the same as before but the scabbard was given no name. Also the holder would lose blood but very little as King Arthur was nearly slain many times, against Joure (forgot his name) and Sir Mordred too dealt him a lethal blow. It cleft his helmet apart and dug into his head.

Nevertheless Arthur was an amazing character but 'he' was portrayed as a 'she' in the anime hence my theory of the feminine but.... I don't get the Holy Grail part.

In lore after the quest of the grail Brittain fell apart but the grail was portrayed as a goblet covered by white samite and the light that shone from it, no eye could bear. All that beheld it felt inner peace and comfort. But take the anime. It was shown as some weird balck gooey stuff. Like evil. I wonder.....

[larch]

This looks like a wiki source. Is it from wikipedia?

Saber (I still have no idea why the name saber) is IMO a take towards the feminine. The legendary role of Arthur was given teo a female. In many anime this stance of promoting the feminine is quite potent. Too bad I'm no symbologist to extract out any proofs.

Well, according to Malory (just remember he's one of the dudes that relate the authentic story of King Arthur), Uther had a son and not a daughter. The story is the same as before but the scabbard was given no name. Also the holder would lose blood but very little as King Arthur was nearly slain many times, against Joure (forgot his name) and Sir Mordred too dealt him a lethal blow. It cleft his helmet apart and dug into his head.

Nevertheless Arthur was an amazing character but 'he' was portrayed as a 'she' in the anime hence my theory of the feminine but.... I don't get the Holy Grail part.

In lore after the quest of the grail Brittain fell apart but the grail was portrayed as a goblet covered by white samite and the light that shone from it, no eye could bear. All that beheld it felt inner peace and comfort. But take the anime. It was shown as some weird balck gooey stuff. Like evil. I wonder.....

No its actually from the game i played both for the ps2

[ZeroS]

Oh I see. I thought it was factual references.

One of the major reasons why I watch anime. It's full of these stuff. Symbols, allegories, insinuations, etc. The greatest of which I have seen, no, rather, noticed was Chrno Crusade. NGE is probably loaded with the stuff but I can't make it out...

BTW what game is that? Beat em up?

[larch]

Oh I see. I thought it was factual references.

One of the major reasons why I watch anime. It's full of these stuff. Symbols, allegories, insinuations, etc. The greatest of which I have seen, no, rather, noticed was Chrno Crusade. NGE is probably loaded with the stuff but I can't make it out...

BTW what game is that? Beat em up?

Its actualy a fighter/rpg game 1st game was called "Fate Stay Night" 2nd game "Fate Stay Night: Hollow Antharaxia"

[Nuke]

urmm no FSN is not a fighting game, its a visual novel. Both it and Hollow Atheraxia is adult games.

http://mirrormoon.org/Fatestaynight

[ZeroS]

Hmph I see. I was hoping it was one of those PS2 games....

[larch]

urmm no FSN is not a fighting game, its a visual novel. Both it and Hollow Atheraxia is adult games.

http://mirrormoon.org/Fatestaynight

Not a fighting as per se but there is fighting involved and there is a series of fighting games called "melty blood"

[Nuke]

Fate route english patch out.
Mirrormoon

I know what I'm doing tonight

[ZeroS]

There was a tsukihime on the drive. Was that perhaps the prequel to this?

I installed Narcissus. The story was intriguing yet it felt somewhat emo.
Also, there were no character sprites.
How about tsukihime?