Gilgamesh

King Of Heroes

Archer Form

Lore

How much do you really know about Gilgamesh? I mean really, besides his egomaniacal personality, that screams, get on your knees mortal. Gilgamesh is based off the lore from the Epic Of Gilgamesh. I’m going to skip his Grand Order appearance. His dad was Ulgabanda, an his mom was the Goddess Rimat-Ninsun. His mom would later help Gilgamesh in his adventures, explaining the meaning behind his dreams. Gilgamesh birth was to signal the end of the Age of The Gods, an rise of Humans. His path was to dispose of the Gods, an loath humanity.

History

Epic of Gilgamesh

Epic Of Gilgamesh

First thing first, Gilgamesh was a historical king of the Sumerian City, Uruk. During the Epic of Gilgamesh, he would become known as a diety. There are as a now, 5 well known legends of his exploits. Gilgamesh, a demigod, befriends Enkidu, who would eventually go on adventures with him. He battles Enkidu when they first met, an realizing he met his equal, Gilgamesh uses his Gate Of Babylon, for the first time. He hated the idea, but he would eventually turn to enjoy the idea of using his treasures in such a way. Around here, is when it start to split from his Fate Counterpart. Enkidu was created to rid Gilgamesh of his arrogance by the Gods. After befriending the King, Enkidu would defy his very creation an side with Gilgamesh. Enkidu saw no wrong with Gilgamesh, only that he didn’t bow to the Gods, although he profusely admired them. Ishtar, The Queen of Heaven, fell deeply in love with Gilgamesh, an wants nothing more than to marry an have children with. He formly mocks, an rejects her invitation, calling her an unfaithful witch who corrupt men. She would than beg her father Anu to send Humbaba, the Bull Of Heaven, to spite them. This Beast would cause 7 years of starvation an destruction, which contradicts Ishtar authority, as the God of Fertility. Enkidu using the Chain Of Heaven, would allow them to destroy the beast. Ishtar being Ishtar, begged the Gods to put them to death. Shamesh, the Sun God of Justice, would plee with the Gods to spare both Gilgamesh, an Enkidu after the Bull destruction, which Ishtar demanded they pay. After of which Enkidu would later die due to an unknown illness. In Fate lore, he was returned to clay in Gilgamesh arms. This would be the first an only time he cried, in which he states, “Enkidu on this day, you are my one an only friend. Not for all of Eternity shall this change. This would send Gilgamesh, on a long adventure to obtain Godly Immortality. Enkidu death greatly affects him, making him terrified of his own mortality, so he visits the Sage of Utnapishtim, formly knowns as Ea. Unfortunately Gilgamesh fails every trial, an failed to obtain immortality.


Fate Lore

Ea

Nasuverse lore compared to his actual lore has many similarities, but is ultimately vastly different, in many ways. I’m assuming to make his story more interesting, appealing, an able to build more off of it. One of the oldest poems speak of Enkidu going to the underworld for Gilgamesh. Type Moon takes a different approach.

Immortality

Gilgamesh quest for immortality in the Fate Lore is one of my favorite backstories. That could become it’s own series, along with King Arthur Round Table, Jeanne D’Arc, and Elizabeth Bathory history. (She’s shoved down our throats in the game, as that annoying dragon idol who won’t go away, so I did a little digging on her, an I’ve been obsessed since. It’s not the best, but it’s a reason why she appears as much as she does.) Back on topic, Gilgamesh from here diverge off route from his Epic Counterpart. After seeing the death of Enkidu, who he viewed as his equal, his view on his own mortality hit him hard. Til than his only motive was obtain all of the world’s riches, have sex with every women he can get his hands on, an watch over humanity. So he sought out the Herb of Immortality.


Underworld

He sought out Ereshkigal, to find the sage Ziusudra, a widely known immortal sage. This adventure would lasted for as many years he had already lived, thus he called it the greatest farce of his life. He would wander around for decades begging not to die. He loathe the idea of death, he loathed himself for forsaking his role, an most of all he loathed the Gods. Once he finally reached the underworld, he met Utnapishtim, who he describes as a waste of a immortality. Utnapishtim became a God, to gain longevity, becoming a halve plant in the process. Gilgamesh rejected the idea of becoming an immortal only to forsake his human desires. Gilgamesh told Utnapishtim, that there’s no point in immortality with no appeition. As Gilgamesh decided to leave so he finish his vault of treasures, Utnapishtim who was now full of doubt, decided to tell Gilgamesh a secret. This secret would be a way for him to obtain immortality without the God’s Mercy. Which would be the root of a herb that grew deep within the underworld. Instead of consuming this herb an becoming a plant, he would instead Jarred the herb, an used it to decorate his vault. Once he returned from the underworld he believed he could overthrow death itself, an finally avenge his only friend. Once he returned, before he could go back to his Kingdom of Uruk, he decided to rest at a Spring, in which Grand Order claims it to be “The Fountain of Youth.” It was at this moment Gilgamesh was truely happy to have been born. Finally obtaining immortality he could finally say he was free from his humanity, an declared himself Omnipotent.


Gilgamesh Death

At the moment he declared himself omnipotent, this would be his fatal undoing. A simple serpent that had a empty belly, followed the strong scene of the herb, an snatched it away from a bathing Gilgamesh. Once he realized what happened it was to late, the snake stole his supposedly immortality, an gained the ability to shed it’s skin. Instead of being medicine for immortality, it ended up being youth restoration instead. This would send Gilgamesh into a frenzied laughter, since the pride he just took in his accomplishments was all for naught. He would live as a human, an die as a human. He would finally return to Uruk, an rule as a quiet King, completing his vault of treasures. Well almost complete, he returned to the Deep Underworld, to obtain another herb just to finally complete his collection. He became humanities first an ancient hero, an first story to ever be created. The skin of the snake who stole his immortality would later become fossilized, being an immortal existence that Tohsaka Tokiomi, would use as a catalyst to summon Gilgamesh as Archer in the Fourth Holy Grail War.


Holy Grail

Fate Routes

Fate/Zero

Archer Form

Gilgamesh has a great disdain for the modern society, during the Forth Grail War, deeming everyone as to weak for his ruling. Gilgamesh had no wish per say, but he would rather exterminate humanity than see them touch his treasures. He decides to use the Grail to exterminate a great portion of humanity, an only leave a fraction alive, who he deems as worthy for him to rule over. He deemed Ishkander as worthy of him ruling over, an offered him a cup of the Grail if he would bow before him. He also became obsessed with Artoria (Saber) an declared she becomes his wife, an possession. In response he has no interest in Saber Alter, because he believes she lost sight of herself. When he witnesses Excalibur for the first time, he was reminded of Enkidu, an began to cry. Kirei, Tohsaka disciple disclose that Tokiomi, would use a Command Seal, to force Gilgamesh to commit suicide to obtain to the grail. He concludes they should form a new contract. Gilgamesh would soon let Kirei murder his former master. Gilgamesh would go on to defeat Rider, an than Saber, while now under Kirei. Kiritsuga would than force Saber to destroy the Grail with a Command Seal. With Gilgamesh being directly under it, he gets drenched in it’s after effects, which gives him a flesh body again. Now that he has a physical body, he believes it’s time to remake humanity into his perfect image. He would continue to serve under Kirei for 10 years, until the next war. Gilgamesh would use energy from Orphans from the great fire to sustain himself, after which he uses temporary youth from his vault to blend in with humanity for the time being.


Fate/Stay Night

Gilgamesh vs Hercules

Gilgamesh suddenly appears as an antagonist in this route, he appeared on top of a highrise, looking only at Saber, while Caster, and Shirou all stare at him confusingly. He than reminds her of his marriage proposal, after he immediately kills Caster. Rin, & Iilya, becomes confuse with his mere existence, an attacks him without remorse. Of course they failed, an laughed as he left, claiming Shirou residence was to shabby of a household. By now Gilgamesh personality greatly changed, an he wants is Saber hand in marriage. The author of the series, describes Gilgamesh change as a transformation, from self proclaimed arrogant king, to a horny teen. In spite of this, Gilgamesh only sees her as an unobtainable flower. Once he finally acquired her affection, he would immediately grow bored of her. Being he only loves her as she rejects him, a treasure he can chase for eternity. Can you imagine having a Overpowered Stalker, that can crush dimensions. Gilgamesh would soon ambush Shirou, and Saber, an strike down Shirou. Claiming he only haven’t killed him because Saber would disappear. He starts to basically beg Saber to be his, an leave Shirou to join him an Kirei, explaining he had excess to mana for her to use. Gilgamesh decides at this point, that he would reincarnate Saber the same way he was. Fate/Stay Night route, ends with Saber, and Gilgamesh trading the final blow between each other. Not really my favorite route, considering Gilgamesh was chasing Saber until the bitter end, saying Goodbye with a Smile on his face.


Unlimited Blade Works

I’m gonna try my best not sound pretty biased, but this was absolutely my favorite route. This would be mainly because Gilgamesh was more of an antagonist in this route. He was given to Shinji after his Rider servant was killed, soon after he kills Ilya and Berserker, ripping her heart out. In this route instead of Ilya being used for the Grail, Rin was to be used instead. Because of this Archer, who Gilgamesh refers to as his Fake, kidnaps Rin. Once Shinji failed to acquire Rin to use as the Grail core, he planned to use Shinji instead, with Ilya heart. Once the grail began to enact Gilgamesh wish to end humanity Rin, Saber, and Shirou appeared for one final showdown. In the Climactic Battle between Shirou and Gilgamesh, Shirou overwhelmed him inside his Unlimited Bladeworks. Becoming desperate after he killed Shinji, so he couldn’t replenish his mana, he went as far as to even use the Chain Of Heaven. Oblivious, Archer fired an arrow at Gilgamesh, which ended up killing him, ending this route.


Heaven’s Feel

Just Before Being Devoured

Gilgamesh role in this route was severally minor, compared to his other appearances, even his Prisma route. Gilgamesh main, an last appearance was him appearing before Sakura Matou. He planned to dispose of Sakura, who have been infected by Angra Mainyu, became Dark Sakura, an Avenger, an master of the Grail. Unfortunately even after impaling her with The Gate Of Babylon, she was able to regenerate. She immediately devoured him with her shadow’s, although his ego makes him immune to mental pollution. He was instantly digested, an turned into mana for her. The King of Heroes turned into a full course meal, must’ve tasted heavenly.


Fate/Hollow

Caster Form

Gilgamesh spent the majority of his time in this route in his childlike form. In this form Gilgamesh personality does a complete 180°. He even states that if his childhood self could realize what he was to turn into in the future, he would stop his growth altogether to remain a child forever. As a child Gilgamesh wasn’t what the Gods expected, even when they created Enkidu. This would confuse Enkidu also, torn as to why the Gods would want to kill someone so beloved. As he grew older, his personality twisted also, with him becoming the very person the Gods despised. He avoided contact with previous Masters or Servants. It wasn’t until the Fuyuki Eclipse, that he returned back into his adult form, to slay the endless hordes of Shadow Wolf Beast. This would give Angra Mainyu a opportunity to make his way to Heaven’s Feel. So if your wondering, than yes, this incident is what started the Heavens Feel route. Which takes place 6 Months after the events of Fate/Stay Night. Fate/Hollow is the combination of all the routes in 1 story, as everyone is stuck in a never ending loop. Fun fact, Rin, who was in London, appears in this story with a Kaleidostick. You know them Magical Girl Wands, that appears in Fate/Kaleid Liner.


Carnival Phantasm

Teasing Saber

If your tired of the endless fighting, deaths, an obvious plot twist, than I highly recommend you start Carnival Phantasm. Who doesn’t love a good parody. In this series Gilgamesh appears as a “friend nobody likes” or really even wants to be around. His appearance is that of a non stop rule breaker, who in the very first episode used his Noble Phantasm to kill Lancer. (Who dies endlessly in this series, he’s like Kenny off South Park.) Gilgamesh runs into Saber Alter in this series, although in the original Routes he has no interest in her, saying she lost her dignity. Here he develops a school boy crush on her, after a verbal backlash he received after taunting Saber. “The original Saber”


Relationships

  • Artoria Pendragon

Gilgamesh has a one sided love for Saber, while she view him as nothing more than her nemesis.

  • Altera

Altera decided not to kill Gilgamesh’s father before he was born. She was later killed by Excalibur. Thanks to this, he decided to aid her in her battle for the Moon Cell. (FATE/EXTELLA)

  • Emiya

To Gilgamesh, Emiya is no more than a faker pretending to be him.

  • Ozymandias

Although Gilgamesh personality prevents from him getting along with anyone. He apparently gets along with Ozymandias as much as he did with Enkidu.

  • Kirei Kotomine

After getting to know Kirei he decided to betray his original master, an form a contract with him. He found Kirei to more interesting, an found him to be a keen spirit, who both didn’t desire a wish. Their both hopelessly sadistic.

  • Ishtar

Gilgamesh hates Ishtar’s very being, as such if he were to ever see again, he would more than likely erase the planet itself. Ishtar being the reason why Enkidu died after he refused her marriage. He believed Ishtar merging with Rin Tohsaka to an improvement on her personality.

  • Enkidu

To Gilgamesh, Enkidu was his one an only friend, who he would never replace, even as a servant. Enkidu’s death, is what ultimately spurred Gilgamesh on his great Journey.

  • Cú Chulainn

This duo has never gotten along, an never will. Gilgamesh see’s him as a dog whose only worth is his lance. Even after Fate/Stay Night, they continued to bicker during Fate/Hollow.

King Solomon

King Of Magic

King Solomon

Lore

Solomon really takes many people by surprise, especially anime only watchers. Since all that’s really made clear is that he’s the end boss. Not really any foregoings on when, or how he appears. You just get random scenes with him on the throne. Unless you played the game, Fate/Grand Order, you don’t really know much about him. Well he’s easily the top servant in all of the series, even the Divine Gods or Top 7 Servants (each class has a representative servant that surpass the others) pale in comparison. Though the anime only shows Goetia, his Demonic Counterpart.


History

Solomon Wisdom

Solomon actual history predates to 990 BCE, son of King David, Fun Fact: Star of David is named after him. Solomon would eventually take over an become the next King of Israel. With over 700 Royal wives, an 300 concubines, he only manages to have 3 children. Many of his concubines were foreigners, who would later split his kingdom in two. Solomon was the head of 48 Prophets, and 7 prophetesses of Judaism. Once the 1st century Apocryphal is established, The Testament of Solomon would later become the subject of many anime lore. Even appearing in the New Testament of Jesus. In fact, major series that involves magicians would use this Testament as the beginning of how magic started.

Legends

Solomon legends reaches deep within the community, one of my favorites being Magi: The Labyrinth of Magic. Which is based on the story, One Thousand and One Nights. Which speaks of a Genie who angered Solomon, so he locked in a bottle with his seal. Who would later be freed by a fisherman, an was forced to travel the world looking for other Seals of Solomon. Most of his medallions are still talked about, an used as lore material, as items that carries vast potential.

Other Legends

  • Angels & Magic
  • Seal of Solomon
  • Solomon & Asmodeus
  • Angels
  • Book of Deadly Names
  • The Palace without Entrance
  • Throne Legends
  • Free Mason

Fate Lore

Most legends has a Dark version to it, Solomon Apocryphal is no exception. Solomon sent out an army of demons to find a virgin who fled from him. Majority of his legends speaks of him controlling demons, others him being a demon himself. Type Moon, uses the Old Testament as their source material.


Grand Order

Fate/Grand Order Anime

Ars Nova

Solomon is a Grand Caster summoned by Marisbury Animusphere, during the First Fuyuki Holy Grail War. Who would later win, an use his first Noble Phantasm, Ars Nova. This Phantasm is the Legend of which Solomon’s, first an only act as a human hero. He returned his 10 rings back to the heavens. This Phantasm is in short, him letting go, an getting rid of every medallion, magecraft, miracle, and accomplishment he ever obtained. Which is extremely vast amount that surpasses even Gilgamesh. He returns God’s Gift, and losses his Clairvoyance, resulting in his death. As described Solomon legend is the very birth of magic. So in case magic was to ever become evil, his death would mean the end of the 72 Demon Gods, an even the erasure of the Throne of Heroes. Every miracle, mention, or even concept he brought forth would have never existed. Although this didn’t particularly erase him from existence, it erased the need to involve him any farther. There was no longer any need to defeat him, to seek him, his death was no longer the sought out, his accomplishments was no longer the pinnacle of magic. With this even the Throne Of Heroes was no longer needed. Every Hero was released from Duty. Solomon would send his last actual ring to the future, so Goetia was unable to know the True Name of his Noble Phantasm, thus making him unable to cancel it’s effect, when he would eventually use it.


Goetia

Origin

Goetia Human Form

Goetia is the personification form of Solomon’s 72 Demons he released, due to his Noble Phantasm. Contrary to their name, these demons were actually a system created by Solomon. This system was to promote proper reason with humans. They were to properly look after mankind after his death. But like all systems created with benevolence, they start to despise humans because of their relationship with their creator. Similar to Lucifer, they began to rage effectively becoming a curse to conquer humans instead. The system would eventually gain it’s own will due to the imperfections of humans, an turn into a Incineration Ritual. It’s goal is to obtain True Enlightenment, an reach the Origin, using human history as a stepping stone.

Purpose In Life

After Solomon uses Ars Nova, these demons awakened from within his corpse, with their own ideology, took his name, took on adventure to turn mankind into energy. Thus Goetia turned Solomon’s corpse into it’s nest, an resumed activity as Solomon. Similar to Obito pretending to be Madara, after his death. Without the whole, you know, living inside his corpse. Each demon has their own personality, so when talking to someone a specific demon comes forth to converse. That’s 72 different personalities in a single body. Goetia is indeed almighty, so mighty he forces the universe’s logic to obey him. Goetia feels nothing but animosity towards Solomon. Solely because he feels Solomon pointlessly created them to watch over mankind. He believed mankind can only suffer until their deaths. Since Solomon failed to correct humans, they felt it was necessary to call forth the extinction of mankind, since they had no value to life. Although being omnipotent, Goetia still couldn’t exist without humans. the sole and greatest “waste of resources” in this universe – despite being life forms of a higher dimension. Goetia could not accept these contradictions and unfaithfulness, and set out on a quest of reach the apex. This apex would be a quest that Solomon himself couldn’t reach, becoming the sole existence of the universe. Reset their existence to serve humans, an for instead all life serve them. In short, becoming the One True God.

Awakening

Goetia would eventually ultimately take on the name, Solomon, after becoming a single form. This form would label themselves as the King Of Magecraft. He would began to create Holy Grails, an turn them into Singularities, that distorts human history. Which makes him the sole reason Mash, embarks on her journey with her Master/Senpai. He would than create mages with the purpose of turning into Demons. (Lev Flauros being one) These mages would detonate at 7 cornerstone points, an end mankind in 2016. Fun Fact: Zouken Matou grandfather of Shinji, and Sakura, serves him.

Appearance

Once Fugimaru defeat Nicola Tesla, and Altoria Alter (Alter form of King Arthur) Solomon appears with 4 Demon Gods. He immediately defeats, Shakespeare, Kintoki, Tamamo no Mae, (Hurts my heart to even say) an nearly killed Mordred just before she was saved by Anderson. Who would later also be killed. After this he withdrew from battle seeing Chaldea as just a pebble with no real threat. Goetia would later confront Fujimaru, at the Time Temple, in which he attempts to Kill him, but is blocked by Mash. She would eventually defeat his Grand Caster Solomon form, in which he than turns into his Demonic Form, Goetia. Goetia tries to convince Mash to join him, since he sympathizes with her, but she firmly rejects his offer, seeing that she saw great potential in humans, while he only saw them as inferior beings. He uses his Noble Phantasm: Ars Almadel Salomonis on Fujimaru. Mash in turns blocks it with her Phantasm: Lord Camelot, but the price of this was her own life.

Ending

Warning

Huge Spoiler Ahead, on top of the bombshell that was just dropped

After Mash death, Goetia sympathizes with Fujimaru, an allows him to punch him, though he explains that both of them would he destroyed when that happens. Just before he can Romani Archaman interferes. An reveal that he’s the real Solomon, which disgusts Goetia. Goetia prepares to kill Romani, expressing that he’s to late to stop him, just before he can, Romani uses Ars Nova, removing Goetia immortality. This enrages Goetia, an he attempts to finally kill everyone. He was dealt the final blow by Fujimaru command spells, thanks to Romani sacrifice. With that the collapse of the Demon God Pillars, & Time Temple began. During Fujimaru escape, Goetia appeared again in front of him in human form, to stop his escape so they could perish together. Goetia, now mortal finally comes to an understanding with humans, saying he now understands why Romani sacrificed himself. Goetia uses the last spark of his life he has to finally kill Fugimaru. Stating as he vanishes “That brief life of humans is actually surprisingly interesting.”

Abilities

  • Staring in his eyes sends your soul to a purgatory that he created.
  • His gaze forces Servants to drown in sorrow about their failes past.
  • Immortality
  • All of Solomon Skills & Phantasm, besides revelation.
  • Territory Creation
  • High Speed Incantation
  • Item Creation
  • Able to Summon 72 Demon Gods
  • Nega-Summon that cancels all Phantasms except Ars Nova.
  • 9 Solomon Rings, because the 10th one is mia in the future.
  • Clairvoyance

Enako

Enako only been cosplaying for a few years, but she quickly gained success as a voice actress from Nagoya. This 25 year old cosplayers, began at a 2007 anime convention, that didn’t pick up until 2015. Once she dissolved her idol group “Panache!” Afterwards landing various Tv roles, an video game appearances. This is just the start of her career.

Alodia Gosiengfiao

When it comes to cosplaying who haven’t heard of Alodia. This Filipina does everything that you can name in the industry from singing to even being a Tv Presenter. Her name is so well known that that she’s even a regular judge at anime conventions. This Celebrity Endorser is an ambassador, an co-host of ABS-CBN’s Prank Show “Laugh Out Loud” Born in 1988, this Model earned her role in the Otaku community.