Fate

The Fate series is an urban fantasy media franchise centered on the Holy Grail War, a secretive battle royale where seven mages (called Masters) summon powerful spirits of legendary heroes (called Servants) to fight for a wish-granting artifact. The series famously began as a visual novel with three distinct story paths (routes) that branch from the same beginning but lead to completely different endings.

Core Premise

The core premise of the Fate series centers on a ritualistic death-match known as the Holy Grail War, an urban fantasy battle royale where secret mages fight for an omnipotent wish-granting artifact. 

At the heart of every conflict is a specialized summoning system that pairs modern-day practitioners with legendary figures: 

• Masters: Generally seven chosen mages who provide magical energy (prana) to their warriors through "Magic Circuits" in their bodies.

• Servants: Reincarnated "Heroic Spirits" from history, mythology, or folklore (such as King Arthur or Gilgamesh) summoned into one of seven standard classes: Saber, Lancer, Archer, Rider, Caster, Assassin, or Berserker.

• Command Spells: Each Master is granted three absolute orders they can use to force their Servant to perform impossible feats or obey commands against their will. 

The franchise is famous for its "multiverse" approach, where different entries explore parallel timelines or alternate versions of the same event: 

• Alternate Routes: The original Fate/stay night visual novel features three distinct storylines—Fate, Unlimited Blade Works, and Heaven’s Feel—which start with the same premise but branch into completely different outcomes based on the protagonist's choices.

• Spin-offs: Other series like Fate/Apocrypha (a 7v7 team battle) or Fate/Extra (set on a virtual moon) take place in entirely different universes where the rules of the Grail War have been fundamentally altered. 

Much of the series, particularly the original Stay Night, focuses on the friction between one's ideals and the harsh reality of the world. Characters often subvert their historical legends, revealing personal struggles or secret identities that differ from how they are remembered in human history.

Key Themes

The core theme of the Fate series, particularly within the foundational Fate/stay night visual novel, is "conquering oneself". This exploration is conducted through three distinct routes, each focusing on different facets of personal ideals and the nature of heroism. 

Each route serves as a deep dive into the protagonist Emiya Shirou’s development and his "slanted" or "twisted" perspective on heroism: 

• Fate Route: "Oneself as an Ideal" — Focuses on the beauty of an ideal and the initial belief in a "superhero" dream. It highlights the relationship between Shirou and Saber, where they both learn to accept their past trauma and move forward.

• Unlimited Blade Works: "Struggling with Oneself as an Ideal" — This route is more critical, challenging whether Shirou’s selfless goal is realistic or even healthy. It explores the conflict between Shirou and his "ideal self".

• Heaven's Feel: "The Friction Between Real and Ideal" — Often considered the final destination for Shirou's growth, this route explores the consequences of applying ideals to a messy, real-world context. It forces the protagonist to choose between his broad ideal of "saving everyone" and the specific happiness of a loved one. 

Beyond the core visual novel, other entries in the Type-Moon universe expand on these concepts:

• Heroism and Humanity: The series explores what it truly means to be a hero in a modern context, often contrasting legendary figures from history with modern people. A recurring motto in the works is that "mankind is strong", emphasizing human potential and perseverance.

• Tragedy and Idealization: Works like Fate/Zero are structured as Greek tragedies, warning against the dangers of naive idealism and the harsh realities of war.

• Existentialism: Many fans and critics view the routes as different existentialist answers to dealing with a chaotic and often absurd world.

• Stagnancy vs. Progress: Especially in Fate/Grand Order, a major theme is humanity's need to keep pushing forward and avoiding stagnancy. 

The "Three Routes" of Fate/stay night

• Fate Route: Focuses on the relationship between the protagonist, Shirou Emiya, and his Servant, Saber. It is the most straightforward introduction to the world.

• Unlimited Blade Works Route: Focuses on Shirou’s ideals of becoming a "hero of justice" and his relationship with classmate Rin Tohsaka and her Servant, Archer.

• Heaven's Feel Route: The darkest path, focusing on Sakura Matou and revealing the hidden, darker truths behind the Grail War.

Major Spin-Off Series

The Fate series has expanded into a massive multiverse of spin-offs that range from alternate Holy Grail Wars to comedic slice-of-life stories.

• Fate/Zero: A prequel to the original Fate/stay night, following the Fourth Holy Grail War. It is highly regarded for its darker, more mature tone.

• Fate/Grand Order: Originally a mobile RPG, this is now one of the largest branches of the franchise. It has multiple anime adaptations, including First Order, Babylonia, Camelot, and Solomon.

• Fate/Apocrypha: Set in a parallel world where the Grail was stolen during the Third War. It features a "Great Holy Grail War" between two factions, each with seven Servants.

• Fate/EXTRA: Set in a virtual world called SE.RA.PH on the moon. This branch includes games like Fate/EXTRA CCC and Fate/EXTELLA, as well as the anime Fate/Extra Last Encore.

• Fate/kaleid liner PRISMA☆ILLYA: A magical girl reimagining of the character Illya. It has spanned multiple anime seasons and several films, such as Oath Under Snow.

• Lord El-Melloi II Case Files: Follows Waver Velvet (from Fate/Zero) as a professor at the Clock Tower, solving magical mysteries rather than fighting in a Grail War.

• Fate/strange Fake: An ongoing series (novels, manga, and anime) set in the United States, involving a "False Holy Grail War" with a massive cast of unique Servants.

• Today's Menu for the Emiya Family: A non-violent, food-centric slice-of-life series where the characters from Fate/stay night cook and enjoy meals together.

• Carnival Phantasm: A parody crossover series featuring characters from Fate and other Type-Moon works like Tsukihime in comedic sketches.

Characters

The Fate series features a vast cast primarily split between Masters (humans who command magic) and Servants (Heroic Spirits summoned from history or legend). Characters are often defined by their roles in the Holy Grail War, a battle royale for a wish-granting artifact.

Core Characters (Fate/stay night & Fate/Zero)

Shirou Emiya: The idealistic protagonist of Fate/stay night. Orphaned by the Great Fire of Fuyuki ten years prior, he was saved and adopted by Kiritsugu Emiya. He struggles with survivor's guilt and an obsessive need to be a "hero of justice".

Rin Tohsaka: A talented and pragmatic mage from a prestigious family who acts as a mentor and rival to Shirou. Following her father Tokiomi's death in the previous war, she was raised to eventually represent the Tohsaka line and win the Grail.

Sakura Matou: A tragic heroine whose dark past is central to the Heaven's Feel route. Born as Rin’s younger sister, she was adopted into the Matou family as part of a political arrangement between magi families. She endured years of horrific magical "training" under Zouken Matou.

Illyasviel von Einzbern: A young girl with immense magical power. The biological daughter of Kiritsugu Emiya and Irisviel, she is an advanced homunculus designed by the Einzbern family to serve as the vessel for the Holy Grail

Kiritsugu Emiya: The protagonist of Fate/Zero and Shirou's adoptive father, known as the "Mage Slayer". He was a ruthless pragmatist who uses modern weaponry to kill magi. After a childhood tragedy on Alimango Island involving his father's experiments, he dedicated his life to minimizing human suffering through any means necessary. He was hired by the Einzberns to be their Master.

Kirei Kotomine: A priest and primary antagonist who finds joy only in the suffering of others. Originally training as a priest to follow his father, he discovers his true, sadistic nature during the 4th Holy Grail War after being mentored by Tokiomi Tohsaka and influenced by Gilgamesh. 

Major Servants (Fate/stay night & Fate/Zero)

Saber - Artoria Pendragon (King Arthur): A woman who disguised herself as a man to lead Britain as the King of Knights. She seeks the Grail to rewrite her past and save her failing kingdom.

Archer - EMIYA (Shirou Emiya from the future): A version of the protagonist who made a contract to become a "Counter Guardian" after death to save humanity, only to grow cynical after being forced to endlessly clean up human atrocities.

Lancer - Cú Chulainn: An Irish demigod, the "Child of Light," who gained his name after accidentally killing a fierce guard dog and vowing to protect its master in its place.

Rider - Medusa: A once-beautiful Gorgon cursed by the gods. In Fate, she is portrayed as a victim of her sisters and divinity rather than a mindless monster.

Caster - Medea: A princess and witch of Colchis from Greek myth. Branded a "witch" after being betrayed by her lover, Jason, she now seeks the Grail to find a home for herself.

Assassin - Sasaki Kojirou: An "irregular" servant who didn't actually exist as a historical figure; he is a nameless wraith who fits the legend of a swordsman who once fought Miyamoto Musashi.

Berserker - Heracles (Hercules): The strongest Greek hero who completed Twelve Labors. In this war, he is summoned as a mindless beast to protect his young Master, Illyasviel. 

Rider - Iskandar (Alexander the Great): The King of Conquerors who seeks to be reincarnated so he can conquer the modern world. He values the bonds with his soldiers, which manifest as his ultimate weapon.

Lancer - Diarmuid Ua Duibhne: A knight of the Fianna who was cursed with a "Love Spot" that made women fall for him instantly. He seeks only to serve his Master with the chivalry he was denied in life.

Archer - Gilgamesh: The ancient King of Heroes from Mesopotamia. He believes all the world's treasures already belong to him and views the Grail War as a game against thieves.

Berserker - Lancelot du Lac: The greatest of King Arthur's knights who fell into madness due to his forbidden love for Queen Guinevere and his subsequent betrayal of Arthur.

Caster - Gilles de Rais: A French nobleman and comrade of Jeanne d'Arc who turned into a serial killer after her death. He confuses Saber for Jeanne.

Assassin - Hassan-i-Sabbah (Hassan of the Hundred Faces): One of many leaders of the Hashashin. This version suffers from a split personality, allowing him to manifest as dozens of different bodies.

Other Characters (Fate/stay night & Fate/Zero)

Shinji Matou: Sakura's older brother who lacks magical talent and uses a "Book of the False Attendant" to control Rider. He is arrogant and often acts as a minor antagonist.

Kuzuki Souichirou: An ordinary high school teacher who becomes the Master of Caster through a chance encounter. Despite being a non-magus, he is a lethal hand-to-hand combatant.

Zouken Matou: One of the overarching antagonists of the Fate franchise and the true head of the Matou family. He is an ancient, sadistic magus who has extended his life for over 500 years using parasitic "Crest Worms". He is the abusive "grandfather" of Shinji and Sakura Matou. He adopted Sakura from the Tohsaka family specifically to use her as a vessel for his experiments.

Irisviel von Einzbern: The wife of Kiritsugu Emiya and a homunculus who serves as the vessel for the Holy Grail.

Tokiomi Tohsaka: Rin's father and a traditional, aristocratic magus who values elegance and heritage. He is the initial Master of Archer (Gilgamesh).

Waver Velvet: A young, insecure student from the Clock Tower who enters the war to prove his worth as a magus. He forms a deep bond with his Servant, Rider (Iskandar).

Kayneth El-Melloi Archibald: A brilliant and arrogant professor from the Clock Tower and Waver's teacher. He is the Master of Lancer (Diarmuid).

Kariya Matou: A man who abandoned his mage family but returned to participate in the war to save Sakura from the Matou family's torture. He is the Master of Berserker (Lancelot).

Ryuunosuke Uryuu: A serial killer who accidentally summons Caster (Gilles de Rais) after finding a ritual book. He participates in the war solely for the thrill of killing.