Dioscuri (ディオスクーロイ, Diosukūroi?), Class Name Saber (セイバー, Seibā?), is a Saber/Avenger-class Servant summoned by Ritsuka Fujimaru in the Grand Orders of Fate/Grand Order.
Profile
Identity
Two siblings from Greek mythology, Dioscuri CastorWP (ディオスクーロイ ・ カストル, Diosukūroi Kasutoru?) the elder twin brother and Dioscuri PolluxWP (ディオスクーロイ ・ ポルクス, Diosukūroi Porukusu?), the younger twin sister. Castor was trained by Chiron, noted among fellow "shining stars" students like Heracles, Achilles, Jason, and Asclepius.[4] He and his sister were later sublimated as the GeminiWP constellation.[5]
Legend
Once there were two twins who ascended to the heavens above, becoming the shining constellation of Gemini.
The name Dioscuri holds the meaning of “child of Zeus”. Within the 3rd century BC book “Catasterismi” it is said that the constellation of Gemini is the Dioscuri, and that the twins were respectively called Castor and Pollux. It is in Laconia (the southeastern part of the Peloponnese peninsula) where not long after being witnessed together they ascended to the heavens. A love surpassing what was held between this brother and sister was never to be seen again. Out of wanting to forever remember the close relationship the two held, Zeus created a constellation using the stars of two independent formations, thus naming the constellation Gemini.
Originally the twins were worshiped as “nimble horsemen”. Also, Having been thought to be the stars that light up the night skies after a passing storm they were worshiped by people. However, as time passed people ended up believing that St. Elmo’s Fire which would appear on a ship’s mast in the middle of a storm was the true manifestation of these divine twins.
The divine twins were the Patrons of sailors. In the beginning they were worshiped for swiftly saving people from danger, however, from their role in “The Argonautica” as part of the Argo’s crew they have come to strongly carry the personification of being Gods that rescue sailors. Known by many names such as “The Two of Royalty”, “The Two Pillars”, and many others the twins never actually held their own true names. Leaning on their ancestors, it is thought that they ended up taking on the names and history of “Castor (Kastōr)” and “Pollux (Polydeuces)”. Within the stories of “The Argonautica”, “The Iliás”, “The Myths of Hyginus”, “The Metamorphoses”, “Bibliotheca” and many others while one of them is the child of Zeus they are not actually gods. Rather, they are shown as human beings prior to them becoming a constellation.
Appearance
As twins, the Dioscuri share the same hair, eyes, and skin color. Castor wears a short haircut, while Pollux wears pig tails. They wear white fabrics with black undergarments, gold accessories, golden colored sandals for Castor and golden colored heels for Pollux, and teal headdresses that become blue in their 2nd and 3rd Ascensions.
Castor wields a small three-layered golden shield[1] with black accents and a transparent blue sigil, Pollux wields a golden sword with black accents.
The Dioscuri are always together without ever being a moment apart, the inseparable twins. “They are unable to be apart.” could be said to be an understatement as the two of them are “One Heroic Spirit that is formed by two.”
 Castor in Fate/Grand Order, illustrated by Taiki.  Pollux in Fate/Grand Order, illustrated by Taiki.  Saber Stage 1 in Fate/Grand Order, illustrated by Taiki.  Saber Stage 2 in Fate/Grand Order, illustrated by Taiki.  Saber Stage 3 in Fate/Grand Order, illustrated by Taiki.  Saber Stage 4 in Fate/Grand Order, illustrated by Taiki.    |
Personality
As they are already ancient Divine Spirits, the Gemini possess a unique characteristic upon their manifestation: while being a single entity, they retain two separate bodies, and each of their bodies retains the attributes of a different class.
The elder brother, Castor, who was not the child of Zeus, harbors bitter resentment for the gods who led humans to ruin. He possesses the characteristics of an Avenger… However, as he has materialized alongside his sister, who he cherishes above all others, he continues to admonish himself away from unleashing all of his rage[1]
The younger sister, Pollux, Zeus's immortal daughter, is a Saber who leverages her invincible physique to facilitate her indefatigable application of her masterful sword work. Manifested as a Servant, that immortality is expressed in the form of her supreme rank in the Endurance parameter.[1] In both word and deed, she is relatively blunt with her older brother, but truthfully, she loves and respects him profoundly. According to legend, when her brother died, Pollux’s grief was so profound that she prayed to the heavens to never again be parted from her brother.[1]
While the Gemini's Spirit Origin is registered as a Saber because of their nature as a single entity, they function as a dual-class Servant. This unique characteristic was likely allowed because they are a Divine Spirit Servant.
Unlike their Lostbelt counterparts, the Dioscuri from Proper Human History are much less hostile to humanity. While Castor has a nature and history sufficient to manifest with an Avenger Spirit Origin, his sister Pollux has a much gentler personality compared to her Lostbelt self. Because his sister is present to chide him, it is alright, to some extent, to let him loose.[1]
The brother will never trust a human Master. The sister acknowledges that their Master continues on an arduous journey, not dissimilar to a voyage through a storm, and vows to safeguard that journey. “I suppose it can’t be avoided, then” says the reluctant brother, respecting his sister’s principles.[1]
Relationships
- Roman Servants
- "Castor: “Gemini” you say?"
- "Pollux: Ah, I’m sure it’s how they call us in Rome, Brother."
- "Castor: Is that so? The ring of it isn’t quite that bad."
- "Pollux: Do you like it?"
- "Castor: I didn’t say I like it, did I?"[3]
- Argonauts Servants
- "Castor: Sister, we had adventures on that ship, didn’t we?"
- "Pollux: Yes, Brother. We had them. Heracles was a really good warrior."
- "Castor: Absolutely. ...No wait, Sister. Did you, without me knowing, with Heracles...?!"
- "Pollux: No, I did not. I’ll kill you, Brother."[3]
- Ship Related Servants
- "Castor: As if we’d protect humans."
- "Pollux: No, we’ll protect them. They need our protection."
- "Castor: I don’t care what happens to humans."
- "Pollux: We’ll protect them."
- "Castor: What happens to humans———!"
- "Pollux: I’ll be sad if humans die."
- "Castor: Why?!"
- "Pollux: Because you too were human once, Brother."
- "Castor: ..."[3]
- Child Servants
- "Castor: Infants? What’s the meaning of these humans?"
- "Pollux: I think they’re all really quite fond of you. After all, you take such good care of them, brother."
- "Castor: Pollux!"[1]
- Voyager
- The twin stars can’t help but laud that tiny traveler sailing through the Sea of Stars. While blessings and praise flow from their mouths… The truth is that their thoughts are filled with hopes and prayers.[1]
Role
Fate/Grand Order
Farewell to Kamakura ~Little Big Tengu~
Interlude
Searching For The Star of Guidance
Other appearances
Fate/Apocrypha manga
In chapter 52 of the Fate/Apocrypha manga adaptation, Castor appears in Achilles' flashback when he remembers other students of Chiron.[7]
Abilities
Being at their core an ancient Divine Spirit they manifested with special traits at the time of their summoning. They exist as one while residing in two separate physical bodies in which can be found the traits of different classes. The humiliation the older brother Castor, who became the child of a mortal without the blood of Zeus in later legends, felt falling from the gods to the Human World turned into hatred, resulting in his manifestation as an Avenger. Living a life with a body that cannot be hurt and doing battle with fierce swordsmanship, the immortal one who bears the bloodline of Zeus, Pollux has appeared as a Saber. Recorded in their Saint Graph is that of the Saber class, however, to be more accurate the two of them are what is considered a double class servant. Though what could be thought to be the case of an exception, the special traits the two possess are that of a Divine Spirit servant.[citation needed]
When the Dioscuri unlock their Final Ascension, their Magical Energy increases tenfold. According to Mash Kyrielight, they are too powerful to be considered Heroic Spirits anymore. She claims that they have reached a Divine Spirit status. Even Oda Nobunaga admits she stands a bit out of place next to Mystics like them. They claim that in this state they can obliterate Kiichi Hougen and Summer Medb.[6]
Combat
Pollux is said to be skilled at boxing.
Skills
Class Skills
- Magic Resistance (A Rank): As a Saber, it’s natural that Pollux has a high Magic Resistance rank.[1]
- Mad Enhancement (B- Rank): A skill possessed by the sister, Pollux. Mutual communication is possible, but the parameter-increasing effect has been limited. However, if her brother is severely wounded, she will fly into a frenzy and be almost impossible to communicate with, becoming the very incarnation of aggression.[1]
- Avenger (B Rank): As Castor, the brother, is an Avenger, he has this Avenger skill naturally. It is a skill that symbolizes his vengeful desires against humans.[1]
- Self-Replenishment (Mana) (D Rank): As an Avenger, it’s natural that Castor holds the skill of Self-Replenishment.[1]
- Oblivion Correction (B Rank): In later legends, the divine blood of Zeus the twins had was forgotten, however it was recorded in Castor's Saint Graph, and not Pollux's, who was recorded as a Saber. Being summoned together under the Saber Class, Dioscuri is the only non-Avenger Class Servant with this skill. Castor will never forget that he is, himself, a fallen god.[1]
Personal Skills
- Divine Core of the Twin Gods (B Rank): A skill that both possess. As ancient divine twins it should have possessed the power of A rank. However, from being affected by the growing legends within Greek Mythology as time passed the skill ended up at the power of B rank. In particular, it is thought that a major effect came from the legend of the brother Castor being "one without the blood of the Gods".[1]
- Stars of the Chief God (A Rank): Displaying the way of Divine Twins through them existing together as one and becoming a constellation.[1]
- Guardians of Navigation (B Rank): Calling forth protection for those who sail the waters. The existence of Divine Twins brings forth hope for those in danger and energizes them from their very Souls. It is a skill that resembles the Voyager of the Storm skill, and is intrinsically a composite skill that contains Charisma and Tactics.[1]
- Mana Burst (Light/Ancient) (A Rank): A skill that displays their being the light which illuminates the ocean way, “St. Elmo’s fireWP”. In many ways similar to the subspecies Mana Burst that some Saint type Servants possess, it is able to release Magical Energy in the form of strength increasing light.[1]
Noble Phantasms
The Dioscuri's main Noble Phantasm is Dioscures Tyndaridae.
In combat, they wield the weapons Alpha Castor, Beta Pollux.[1] The sword Pollux wields and the shield Castor wields are made out of invincible Adamant, the so-called divine steel, was used as the vessel for the materials, with Odysseus's Aigis armor being made out of it, as well as Achilles' shield and armor.[8]
Development
Creation and Conception
Dioscuri was designed by Taiki in Fate/Grand Order.[1]
Their scenario writer is Hikaru Sakurai in Fate/Grand Order.[1]
Part of the profile in Fate/Grand Order was revealed to have been directly copied from a Japanese research source, leading to a change in the text and apology from TYPE-MOON staff and DELiGHTWORKS.[9]
Comment from Illustrator
"They’re a Servant composed of both a man and a woman, so I have a strong memory of how hard it was to draw two people in their Standing Art and in their Final Ascension. The motif was the legends of the Gemini from Greek mythology, so the image that came to mind for their clothes was a chiton (giving the impression of the cloth drooping down). The laurel-like ornament originated on Pollux’s design, but because of the image of her brandishing her sword as a vanguard, I intuitively wanted to make it look like the visor on the front of a cap or a helmet, so I added that." (Taiki)[1]
References
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 1.15 1.16 1.17 1.18 1.19 1.20 1.21 1.22 1.23 1.24 1.25 1.26 1.27 1.28 1.29 1.30 1.31 1.32 1.33 1.34 1.35 1.36 1.37 1.38 1.39 1.40 1.41 1.42 1.43 1.44 1.45 1.46 1.47 1.48 1.49 1.50 1.51 1.52 1.53 1.54 Fate/Grand Order material X - Dioscuri profile translated by Justicar Jyggalag at Reddit.
- ↑ Fate/Grand Order - Re:Discover Movie Lostbelt No.5 -Olympus-
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 Fate/Grand Order Lines
- ↑ Fate/Apocrypha volume 2
- ↑
[] Fate/Apocrypha material - Encyclopedia: Archer of “Black” [Servant], p.159-160 [T] Archer of “Black” [Servant]
One of the Servants of the Black camp. His true name is Chiron. He is a centaur—a half-human-half-horse race, and he is a famous great sage in Greek myth.
He has a calm and gentle personality, but though he treats his Master with respect, he won’t hold back on advice if it’s for the sake of his Master. He never scorns or despises others regardless of whether they are enemy or ally, and he is exceptionally calm among the intense and passionate heroes of Greek myth. He acted as the strategist of the Black camp and continued to support his camp day and night right until he took part in the final battle.
Usually, centaurs are considered both as great huntsmen who effortlessly use bows and arrows while running with their horse legs and as savage monsters who would steal anything and everything. It seems Chiron alone is regarded as a “sage” that stands out as an exception among them.
Chiron was born from Cronus, father of the head god Zeus, and Philyra, the goddess of a certain island. However, because Cronus had copulated with her while she was turned her into a horse, Chiron was born as a half-human-half-horse centaur. (There is also the theory that they were attacked by Cronus’ wife Rhea while they were in the middle of copulating and Philyra turned into a stallion in order to run away.) Balking at the idea of giving milk to a monster like Chiron, Philyra changed her form into that of a linden tree.
Though he was never loved by his mother and father, Chiron became a sage that excelled in all forms of knowledge as he grew up. This is not necessarily unrelated to the fact that his mother’s name “Philyra” means linden tree. The leaves of linden trees can be used as restoratives, and the tree bark can be used in divination or as written boards.
After becoming an adult, Chiron began to rear the “future heroes” who implored for his tutelage from all over Greece. Besides Heracles and Achilles, the heroes who received his teaching include those like Asclepius, who later became the god of medicine, and Castor, who was sublimated as the Gemini constellation. Jason, the leader of the Argonauts who enticed Medea, is also one of his students.
On a certain day, someone shot a poison arrow at him while trying to stop a dispute between centaurs, and the poison continued to endlessly make him suffer due to his immortality, until he became the Sagittarius constellation by returning his immortality to the gods and finally received salvation. His wish for the Holy Grail while participating in the Holy Grail War is to regain his immortality. To him, it is the only gift he received from his parents.
As a Servant, his stats have received a slight rank down due to giving up his immortality and transforming his legs into those of a human, but even then he boasts of specks high enough for him to be called a first-rate Servant—to an extremely abnormal extent in a certain sense. In the first place, it appears that he taught not only swordsmanship, archery and horse-riding, but also wrestling techniques, so he is relatively experienced in moving with human feet.
With the combined effects of his skills, he can even utilize a pseudo-form of future sight, making him truly all-purpose in his abilities. If he has a weakness, it is that he lacks a decisive trump card. Against the brute force approach that throws away all wisdom or intelligence, his strong points fade away.
He deeply loves how weak and insufficient humans struggle despite their insufficiency and still try to move forward, so even if he was summoned as part of the Red camp, he would have definitely rebelled against them with the resolve to die.
Though if he were to describe it himself, he would merely answer, “This is my arrogance as a teacher, as embarrassing as it is”.
In the novels, he was mainly focused on his fight with Achilles outside of his light skirmish with Mordred. After all, Chiron was the only one capable of harming Achilles. That battle was such a great joy to him that he even forgot his true nature as a Servant, but he stood back up as a Servant again at the moment of his death and accurately dealt a fatal wound to Achilles.“黒”のアーチャー【サーヴァント】
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Fate/Grand Order - Little Big Tengu: Farewell to Kamakura, Section Five: To the Heavens? (2/2)
- ↑ Fate/Apocrypha Manga - Episode 52: The Final Night
- ↑ Fate/Grand Order - Dioscuri's Craft Essence
- ↑ Twitter apology and Fate/Grand Order website apology