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Silat

Silat (シラット Shiratto?) is a highly skilled and agile Kushan fighter first encountered by Guts during a tournament.[5] He is the son of the Bakiraka clan leader.[6] He worked for Emperor Ganishka during a bid to capture "the falcon of oracle" in order to gain the clan's restoration.[7] For the duration of his scouting missions, he was protected by a tapasa group.[1] Silat claimed that relying on their bodies and skills alone was done so that their clan could survive and claim a land in which to live peacefully. Though he says that his clan abandoned pride when they chose to be assassins,[8] he is shown to be proud of his abilities and also of his clan.

Quick Answers

What is the significance of Silat's role? toggle section
Silat is the Bakiraka clan leader's son. As a Bakiraka, he worked under Emperor Ganishka, seeking to capture 'the falcon of oracle' for his clan's restoration. Shortly before Ganishka's defeat, he expressed that the Bakiraka had caught glimpses of an "inescrutable current", leading him to wonder whether it was right to yield themselves to something inescrutable.
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Who is Silat's father? toggle section
Silat is the offspring of the Bakiraka clan leader.
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What is the purpose of Silat's scouting missions in Berserk? toggle section
Silat conducts a scouting mission to locate 'the falcon of oracle' predicted to be at Albion. The mission involves overseeing and leading ambush attacks and raids, aided by his Bakiraka guards, the tapasa, and Kushan scouts. The mission leads him to the collapsed Tower of Conviction, affirming the oracle's foresight.
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What is the relationship between Silat and the tapasa group? toggle section
Silat, a Bakiraka clansman, is consistently accompanied by the tapasa, a group of fellow Bakiraka. The Tapasa, who refer to Silat as 'young master', are always present with him, providing defense when needed. They have been observed discussing strategic decisions, seen when Silat informed Ganishka of Griffith's movements.
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What weapons does Silat use in his battles? toggle section
Silat is often seen using of unique weapons. He primarily uses katars, chakrams, and urumi in combat.
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Appearance

Silat bears the appearance of a typical Kushan with dark skin, long dark hair and wears a mouth cover most of the time. He has thin face lines and angular eyes and a somewhat pointed nose and chin. He has lanky limbs and a longilineal body.[5]

Personality

During his first appearance, Silat appears to be very arrogant and looks down on fighters from Midland as he thought that they were poorly trained compared to him.[5] He holds this attitude until being defeated by Guts twice, which makes him become more cautious and observant, which manifests years later when he tells his soldiers not to pursue Guts as Guts had just killed five Kushan scouts in one swing.[1] Silat wishes to bring his clan back its honor and glory that it once had.[9][7][8]

He loathes Rakshas -who was formerly a Bākiraka clansman- because of his hedonistic attitude toward killing.[6] According to Silat, the Bākiraka have caught glimpses of an "inescrutable current", leading him to wonder whether it was right to yield themselves to something inescrutable.[8]

Abilities

Guts has referred to him as a circus performer due to Silat's exotic appearance, acrobatics and his almost theatrical tendency to call out his attacks. His weapons of choice are the katars,[5][10] chakrams and urumi.[11]

Despite Guts' mockery, Silat is one of the strongest human warriors in Midland and Kushan, as he defeated many knights in the tournament[5] and overpowered Casca later as well as killing a few trained Band of the Falcon members.[10] Silat's skill only fell short when facing Guts.[5][11] Silat was also able to fight off Rakshas twice,[2][6] though it was Rickert who seemingly finished him off with a forged bazooka.[4]

Story

Golden Age Arc

Silat is first shown as a showy, but competent fighter in a tournament. Having easily defeated every opponent so far up until Guts, he has come to view warriors from the land that is not the one he hails from as poorly trained and mocked them.[5] He later attacks the Band of the Falcon under cover of night, killing the guards silently and effectively. He assaults Casca, keeping her on the defensive and informing her that he will not hold back simply because she is a woman. Casca appears to have lost when Guts interrupts their fight and challenges Silat a second time.[10] Silat is alarmed by the extent of Guts' abilities, watching him casually catch chakrams and use air physics to counter the ten ribbon-like urumi blades he used. Guts gets underneath his urumi and nearly lands a killing blow, but Silat switches to his katar blades and blocks Guts' sword and, in less than a second, realizes they are going to break and dodges. He concedes and flees, but swears he'll remember Guts' name.[11]

Conviction Arc

Silat is seen again as he is accompanied by tapasa in order to look for the "land of oracle". Having been humbled since his defeat by Guts, he does not intervene when he witnesses the man fighting (this time against Kushan scouts), telling a tapasa member that they might be able to beat him, but not without suffering loses.[1] After the incarnation ceremony at the Tower of Conviction, the Bākiraka arrive and surround Guts and the others, noticing that, just as the oracle proclaimed, something happened in what they perceive as a "pagan land". Silat then orders a group of Kushan scouts to seize the survivors.[12] Silat sees Griffith and orders his men to capture him, but they're all repelled by Nosferatu Zodd and Griffith escapes.[9]

Millennium Falcon Arc

Some time later, the Midland city of Shet is under siege by the Kushan. The general responsible for the invasion chastises the Bākiraka for being unable to capture Griffith. Silat has explained that Griffith flew off on the back of an evil beast, but the general is disbelieving. Silat tries to contextualize the situation, but the general interrupts by forcing his foot down on the unflinching Silat's forehead. Suddenly, Silat catches an arrow meant to strike the general's face. Silat excuses himself and his guards from the amazed general's presence, saying that they will continue the search for Griffith. A moment later, this becomes unnecessary: Griffith has entered Shet on horse.[13] Silat is so stunned at seeing Griffith that he barely notices the Falcon of Light move past him and right up to the Kushan general, killing him.[14] As more apostles show up, Silat tells the tapasa they should take advantage of the chaos to capture the Falcon, but their efforts are thwarted by Rakshas, a Kushan exile.[14]. Silat is later seen alongside two tapasa in the castle of a decrepit Wyndham, being chastised by Emperor Ganishka, who relegates the Bākiraka to only scouting for Griffith and leaving his capture to his army. Silat isn't disheartened by the demotion since he doesn't want to squander his clan's chance of finally being able to return to their homeland, but he has his reservations about the Emperor from seeing his needless displays of cruelty everywhere.[7] Whilst leaving, Rakshas appears before the three men, dodging their attacks. As Griffith's plan to rescue Charlotte under the guise of an all-out attack on Wyndham begins,[15] Rakshas lures the clansmen to where the daka were being created. Once Silat witnesses the birth of a daka, Rakshas reveals that Ganishka is not human.[16] Taking their leave, Silat ponders on what the Emperor has done. As the fight between War Demons and daka goes on, Silat is shocked to see the Emperor's apostle form, likening him to a demon god.[17]

Silat and four tapasa accompany the Kushan Empire army as it arrives in Vritannis. As the tapasa discuss whether or not to inform Ganishka of the movements made by the Band of the Falcon, Silat just stares off into the distance.[18] The group then witnesses the arrival of the Band of the Falcon, turning the tide of the fight against the Holy See alliance armies.[19][20] Silat and the tapasa stealthily infiltrate Ganishka's mobile palace and watch the confrontation between Griffith and Ganishka from a window.[21] Griffith taunts Ganishka, who angrily causes a burst of energy which knocks away the pillars holding up the ceiling. Before the structure can collapse on Griffith and Zodd, Grunbeld and his units catch the ceiling, acting as new supports. This throws the ceiling clear off the palace, forcing the Bākiraka to find new perches. From there, Silat observes the stalemate between the two leaders. When the Kushan army clears away from Vritannis. Silat goes with them, but turns to watch as the Band of the Falcon surrounds and cheer for Griffith's victory.[22]

Silat, the tapasa and a retinue of Kushan scouts intervene when Laban and his Arklow Knights lead a massive rescue effort of all the captured female prisoners of Ganishka out of Midland's capital as well as the rest of city inhabitants. Silat reveals that he is aware that Laban and the Kushan regiment behind him are really disguised Midlanders, and he derides Jarif (a Kushan Band of the Falcon's espionage division who had helped the exodus pass through a garrison) for turning traitor. Aware of the clan history, Jarif extends an offer to the Bākiraka clansmen to serve the Falcon. Jarif adds that there's some inescrutable, tremendous current, with the Falcon guiding them to a new world and the war being a single event within that current. Though intrigued, Silat ultimately dismisses it and decides to leave. The tapasa object, but Silat points out the simple fact that they can't capture so many people on their own. Though aknowledging he might have caught glimpses of it and the Bākiraka have been at the mercy of an undeniable fate, Silat explains that the Bākiraka have come to ponder whether it is right to yield oneself to something inescrutable, so Silat will instead watch events unfold and see whether this "new world" comes calling or not. With that, the Bākiraka take their leave.[8]

Shortly afterwards, Silat, the tapasa and some scouts observe the final battle against a twice-transmigrated Ganishka and Griffith's forces.[23][24][25] They liken Ganishka to Shiva, the God of Destruction, and Silat wonders whether Griffith intends to challenge the "demon god".[23] The Bākiraka also bear witness to the Great Wave of the Astral World.[26][27]

Fantasia Arc

After Griffith establishes Falconia, Silat is next seen spying on the meeting between Rickert and Griffith. Silat and two tapasa save Rickert from Rakshas' assassination attempt, announcing that the boy must remain alive because he holds valuable information about Griffith.[28]. They fight the assassin evenly until Silat cuts his mask in half which demoralizes Rakshas and causes him to retreat, claiming that he will return with a new mask once the moon is risen.[2]

Silat again begins to speak to Rickert, who panics after recognizing him from the night the latter led a host of mercenaries against the Band of the Falcon. Silat threatens to torture Rickert for information should he not divulge what knowledge he has of Griffith, but Rickert sobers up and strikes a deal with the Bākiraka. Rickert returns to Luca's inn with the cloaked Silat and tapasa in tow. Silat commands the tapasa to hide in the stables lest their builds garner unwanted attention. Rickert then explains to Luca, Erica, Pepe, Fouquet and Lucie that an assassin had just attacked him and that he means to leave Falconia that night. Luca asks where Rickert means to go once he leaves. Silat reveals that the Bākiraka clan built a hidden village whose inhabitants are trained warriors. Once forbidden for people outside the clan, it is so secure that even spirits cannot approach it. He then admits that after Ganishka had been killed, he'd considered swearing fealty to Griffith, but ultimately decided against allying himself with another inhuman being.[2]

True to his word, Rakshas resumes his hunt with a new mask, but falls into a trap set by Rickert and Silat. Although he manages to fight off Rickert and Silat, Rakshas is doused in flame by the tapasa using Rickert's modified water-spraying machine. This forces Rakshas to assume his true form, taking to the air while using the blood of a horse he killed to put out the fire and then capture Erica.[6] Erica is rescued by Daiba, who manages to distract Rakshas. He then proposes the Bākiraka to accompany them. Rakshas tries to fly after Rickert and the others as they escape using Daiba's garudas. However, Rickert fires a rocket at Rakshas from point-blank range when he pursued, allowing them to escape.[4]

Continuation-specific information begins.

Silat is accompanied by four tapasa as Kushan galleases surround the Seahorse.[29] He has a mental conversation with Daiba, who had anticipated the sudden arrival of the ship and acted accordingly to take precautions against Guts. Once Daiba returns to the capital, the warrior ponders about the wizard being more than meets the eye and Guts' situation.[30] Once in the capital, Silat is urged by Rickert to release Guts from the dungeon he was taken to, with the Bakiraka man explaining it was done for his safety and their own. After being taken by Daiba to the room in which Schierke is being kept until she returns from the Astral World, he talks to Roderick about the disappearance of Skellig and how his clan knows what aimlessly roaming after losing a home is like. After agreeing with Daiba to entrust the island mages to him, he tells a confounded Roderick about the Kushan custom of having refugees serve in their military, especially now that Kushans are about to do war against Griffith and Falconia, having surmised that the White Falcon suppresses which lies beyond his reason.[31] Silat then introduces Roderick and his men to the current Kushan emperor's parade explaining that politics behind the Kushan empire before the Kurultai meeting begins. During the meeting Silat's presence is rejected by many of the clan's heads but the emperor rebukes the complaints. After Daiba explains the events leading up to Ganishka's death, Silat kneels before the emperor and asks to be made the general and supreme commander of the Kushan forces. At the same time, Silat and the clan heads are interrupted by Rakshas' arrival.[32]

Before Rakshas can harm the clan heads further, Silat and his Bakiraka followers counter his attack, though to his surprise the apostle summons an astral wave that opens a Qliphoth, with trolls coming from it. An angered Silat readies himself to fight Rakshas and leaps at the apostle.[33] With Rakshas taunting him as the magical beasts startle, and the Kushan noblemen displaying fear at the troll invasion, Silat urges Daiba to use his powers to convey his thoughts to the city. Seeing it as a joke at first, Daiba acquiesces when his pride as a great sorcerer is addressed. Once able, the Bakiraka prince addresses the people in the Kushan capital. Announcing they are under an attack of the Falcon of Light, he reminds them of how Kushan are warring folk. Once the magical beasts are under control, Silat resumes his fight against Rakshas, eventually breaking his second mask. Swiftly, the apostle blends into the shadows and leaves the place. Alarmed, the Bakiraka member realizes where Rakshas is heading to-the jail in which Guts lies.[34] There, he ambushes the apostle. Once the exiled Bakiraka clansman seemingly gets liquified, Silat urges Guts to tell him why he did not react to Rakshas' attack even after being taken to safety by two tapasa per Daiba's request.[35]

Continuation-specific information ends.

Gallery

Portrayal

Japanese Voice Actor(s)

English Voice Actor(s)

Notes

  • The Berserk Official Guidebook states that circa the Fantasia Arc, Silat is 182 cm (6'0"), and 75 kg (165 lbs).(NOTE: The Berserk Official Guidebook is highly questionable in its veracity.)
  • The word silat is a collective word for indigenous martial arts throughout Malaysia and Indonesia, countries from Southeast Asia.
  • His combat style is similar to Kalarippayattu (a martial arts form existing in South India) and uses many Indian weapons used by Rajput warriors, such as the chakram, the urumi and the katar.

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Berserk :: Volume 18, "Kushan Scouts (2)"
  2. ^ a b c d Berserk :: Volume 38, "Capital City in the Moonlight"
  3. ^ Berserk Official Guidebook
  4. ^ a b c Berserk :: Volume 38, "Soaring Escape"
  5. ^ a b c d e f g Berserk :: Volume 9, "Tournament"
  6. ^ a b c d Berserk :: Volume 38, "Night Battle"
  7. ^ a b c Berserk :: Volume 27, "Dread Emperor"
  8. ^ a b c d Berserk :: Volume 33, "Exodus"
  9. ^ a b Berserk :: Volume 21, "Arrival"
  10. ^ a b c Berserk :: Volume 9, "Fugitives"
  11. ^ a b c Berserk :: Volume 9, "Fighter"
  12. ^ Berserk :: Volume 21, "Dawn"
  13. ^ Berserk :: Volume 22, "War Cry of the Wind (1)"
  14. ^ a b Berserk :: Volume 22, "War Cry of the Wind (2)"
  15. ^ Berserk :: Volume 27, "Daka"
  16. ^ Berserk :: Volume 27, "Demon Knight"
  17. ^ Berserk :: Volume 27, "Demon God"
  18. ^ Berserk :: Volume 32, "Great Invasion (1)"
  19. ^ Berserk :: Volume 32, "Great Invasion (2)"
  20. ^ Berserk :: Volume 32, "Advance by Flight"
  21. ^ Berserk :: Volume 32, "Torn Battlefield"
  22. ^ Berserk :: Volume 32, "Gust of Wind"
  23. ^ a b Berserk :: Volume 33, "End God"
  24. ^ Berserk :: Volume 34, "Inhuman Battlefield"
  25. ^ Berserk :: Volume 34, "Soaring"
  26. ^ Berserk :: Volume 34, "Fissure"
  27. ^ Berserk :: Volume 35, "Falconia"
  28. ^ Berserk :: Volume 38, "Twilight Assassin"
  29. ^ Berserk :: Volume TBA, "Is the Sleeping Dark Beast Just Standing Quietly?"
  30. ^ Berserk :: Volume TBA, "Morning After a Steady Foggy Night"
  31. ^ Berserk :: Volume TBA, "Water's Wavering Surface and War's Shadow"
  32. ^ Berserk :: Volume TBA, "A Viper in the Bosom"
  33. ^ Berserk :: Volume TBA, "Uninvited Assassin"
  34. ^ Berserk :: Volume TBA, "Those Who Dance Through the Depths of Hell"
  35. ^ Berserk :: Volume TBA, "Shadows Die Twice"