I can appreciate FGO's ending, highlighting the simple moral lesson is "humans do good things without expecting reward, and fight evil" if the setting didn't make humanity system ouright evil that feeds on the sacrifice of others to maintain their status quo of the so-called "winners." A point I criticized and why I preferred the Crypters who were at least critical of this (or Pepe and Kirschtaria were).
A true gutsy writer who is familiar with meta would make the protagonists dismantle that system for good, even if the previously established universe had to be trashed because it was a cancer that grew from that (all the previous Fate works) should disappear as a consequence. It would be truly going into the unknown and unfamiliar rather than protecting nostalgia that tecnically failed to protect itself (as much as one likes it).
They can die and lose their world too, but a new, better one would have been born. So no more worlds had to be sacrificed for others to live. What a better way to pass their torch and wishes unto that one?
Arghhh I legitimately don't know how to feel about the Perseus comments from Nasu cause on the one hand, it's nice to hear that the interest in Perseus has gone up since Andromeda and people do want him in the game now as a result. And there is now an acknowledgement of Prototype.
On the other hand. Gosh I wish Prototype getting any content wasn't tied to FGO. God I wish they could just ask Sakurai to write Prototype so I can actually see the dynamics unfold. I wish that we didn't have to wait until after part 2 when some of the Prototype servants have been on the leaked list for years. Esp since Perseus has two forms on the leaked list and they may both be stuck behind FGO's whims.
Arghh. It's nice to see he's wanted by the fandom. Worse when they acknowledge that yeah, it isn't a priority.
This is a little long. There is discussion of Nasu, xenophobia, racism, and some weirdo thoughts. under the cut contains all of this, so if you are looking for thoughts on lostbelt 7’s whiteness, here you go. also spoilers.
No introduction needed—just look at this thing.
This is what will destroy the planet; a big, foreign, jet-black alien. On the flip-side is that thing’s heart:
Now, for good measure, here’s Camazotz:
These are the two major antagonists of the Lostbelt, besides Daybit and Tezcatlipoca. The one thing in common is that they’re both black, blood-sucking vampires. The story slowly codes specific characters as darker skinned to depict their motifs and their role in the story, and weirdly, it begins with clothes. I made a list:
U-Olga Marie and her tacky ass weird ass design. She is promptly turned into a good guy.
Rasputin, or Kirei Kotomine. He wears a black-ish robe with blue. He’s basically sort of on the side of the heroes.
Daybit and Tezcatlipoca, who both are insanely pasty people, are the bad guys here. They both wear clothing that is jet-black and modern—an allegiance to ORT.
The Black Panther Guy. His army is faceless and has masks, setting up the motif of mask = faceless enemy. You can’t see their emotions.
Kingprotea Alter, who wears latex. She is white, but the latex makes it near impossible. When she dons the mask, she becomes a faceless hostile enemy. When it’s off, she is the gentle white woman.
Nitocris Alter, who serves as “the token dark skin” of Chaldea. She becomes an Alter solely to fight against the evil, destructive Camazotz who goes berserk. At this point, alter is coded as “dark” in the Fate series, so the clear distinction is made that Alter here literally notes a character’s melanin.
Ereshkigal Alter, who is another dark skin. After Nitocris goes, she fills this role.
Camazotz, who is a blood-sucking vampire. He’s the only character who remains fully antagonistic throughout (besides ORT), and transforms into his beast state out of grief and rage. He is literally the de-facto dark-skin here.
ORT, who is jet-black. While without his heart, he is white, ORT progressively advances color after color, reaching a state of brown / bronze before being eliminated. He has no face (repeating the masks as a faceless), and serves as the hostile, Chaldea hating wall.
This escalation is important—it depicts an increasing level of hostility through melanin until we reach the level of blackness. ORT unironically shares fears of destruction from an outsider (he’s an alien) destroying the beautiful nation (which is nahui mictlan), a common conspiracy pointed towards immigrants and other minorities (especially blacks), and ORT steals powers to get stronger and stronger to kill his enemies faster and more efficiently. By the time you reach the Beast Class of Camazotz, you are used to the usual trope of sympathizing with the Beast; they’re people, after all, and they want to change the world in their own stagnant, awful ways. ORT, however, is different. ORT is literally not from here, and ORT doesn’t care.
Veering off this topic, for a moment, which does relate, Nasu depicts America as having the worst magecraft.
TYPE-MOON wiki summarizes here: “[…] but it is also known to be aiming for the complete degradation of Magic into Magecraft through the advancement of human technology. On bad terms with the Clock Tower due to its apparent hostility to the concealment of Mystery as enforced by the Assocation.”
I am bringing this up specifically because primarily, America has been given a bad rap in the Nasuverse. Yes, america sucky doodoo it’s racist and borderline fascist. But it’s mostly because it’s *outside* Japan. What I am positing sounds weird, but Nasu has been known for not really liking his international audience. Authors tend to insert their beliefs into their works, and so Nasu is literally shitting on America. He has always not liked the place. And the thing is that this is easily connected to Nasu’s fear of space — he’s afraid of the damn solar system! He’s afraid of what’s out there! America and his foreign audience can be scary, it can be insane! Hence, his reluctance to get official TLs of Mahoyo, Tsukihime, and other Fate works until very recently.
Veering back to ORT, the reason why I am saying all of this is because ORT is representative of the unknown. The Nasuverse has been known for it’s antiblackness and sometimes flagrant disrespect of deities outside of Britain and Japan (The Australia debacle, for one), and ORT serves as like, this weird “colonizer” metaphor. The black alien monster is going to destroy this beautiful culture, this beautiful world, and I have to stop it, because if I don’t, I can’t get back home. It’s impossible to reason or talk to it or do anything except fight it. It’s not a leftist thing at all. It’s more like James Cameron’s Avatar where it’s a conservative film, fighting off the “globalist” humans in the name of nationalistic interest. And it doesn’t help that ORT is basically the face of blackness here, as far as a reach it may sound. He is the culmination of these themes in Lostbelt 7 surrounding these characters.
Kukulkan also is a major factor in this—when ORT lost his heart, it became *white*. Weak. Kukulkan is white, though, and she’s really nice… she’s strong… she wants to have sex with you…
And really, that’s ORT’s heart! It’s beating, living heart! ORT without it is just an angry angry shell that raves and roars for bloodlust (like it already wasn’t), and ultimately Nasu creates no avenues to talk to ORT. It’s not the point. ORT is the enemy. But we can romance a piece of ORT—the piece that is kind, the piece that loves, the piece that is a whitey, and the rest is trying to attain it’s blackness again so it can finish everyone off.
See, historical accuracy is something I ignore for Fate. It’s impossible. But ORT is not real—and is conducive to a strange reading of antiblackness. This fear that this foreigner, the most powerful thing in existence, is a giant black spider monster who is faceless and can’t talk, and hates you, wants you, your family, your nation dead, and it’s coming, and it will kill you.
Maybe I’m just overthinking this. Maybe ORT being jet-black was just the nightmare vision.
The thing I really dislike about raita's art the most isn't the fat titties but rather the noodle limbs that make the characters look genuinely underweight in addition to having only fat in the absolute ideal places. Some of his art on twitter of "lolis" look genuinely malnourished and it just makes me feel uncomfortable. I don't mind the occasional pair of fat titties or fanservice, it's the lack of diversity that's the issue.
What the FGO team needs to do is cool their jets for a year and do event reruns that haven’t gotten reruns because of the road to LB7. Give the writers and team a break for a little bit so the next section of LB7 doesn’t suffer
I wouldn't MIND more trans characters in fate it's just other one of those 'I really don't know if they can be normal about it' kind of things given how they've been before
Seeing yet another hindu goddess getting the sakura face treatment makes me think "at least Rin faces arent that many" but then it dawns me that if they add another mesopotamian goddess it will FOR SURE be a rin face because fuck creativity and trying to represent another culture with even an ounce of respect
I've been displeased with the representation of Aztec mythology in FGO since Quetzalcoatl, and it was clear that Tezcatlipoca was going to be demonized, so I made a fan servant concept for him well before LB7 was being teased. Wanted to show how Aztec gods fit Fate perfectly if you actually do your research.
Now that LB7 happened and I'm on tumblr, figured I'd share it.
Name: Tezcatlipoca
Class: Avenger
Skills
Independent Action: A
World Destroyer: A
Protection of the Faith: EX
Oblivion Correction: EX
Noble Phantasm: The Victorious Night
Ascensions:
First form’s art sticks close to depictions of Tezcatlipoca’s ixiptla. He has an enraged look on his face, standing in a bloodstained temple while holding a weapon.
Second form’s art has Tezcatlipoca dress as a jaguar warrior, weapons raised and covered in blood. The background is outside on a dark night.
Ascension Quote: The crimes of the enemy cannot be forgiven. My punishment will be without mercy.
Third form’s art is mostly the same as the second, just with more signs of damage.
Ascension Quote: Stand back, I don’t want you to get hurt, but clearly more of my power is needed.
Final form’s art shows Tezcatlipoca sitting in a field at night, with flowers in his hair. Weapons are strewn across the field. Tezcatlipoca is playing a flute.
Ascension Quote: You’ve done well handling my power. Perhaps you have earned the right to see more of my nature.
Profile
Entry 1: A major Aztec god associated with smoke and mirrors. He both destroys and creates, his destruction of the past worlds paving the way for the creation of the current world, which he gave up his own foot to create. Because he loves humans, he is willing to be harsh and even kill some in order to ensure they continue growing as a whole, like a farmer tending to his crops.
Entry 2: Humans known as ixiptla would be chosen to embody gods. Tezcatlipoca’s ixiptla had a long list of requirements, and was sacrificed to himself at the festival of Toxcatl every year. Every human that has been Tezcatlipoca is part of him. Because of this, he can be summoned as a servant through his ixiptla with a minimal loss of power and authority. The one here is the one who bore witness to the Toxcatl massacre.
Entry 3: The Toxcatl Massacre was a turning point in the conquest of Mexico, where worshipers were massacred by the conquistadors. Tezcatlipoca carries with him not just the vengeance of a profaned sacred rite, but the vengeance of those who saw their way of life trampled upon by the Spanish.
Because he carries the rage of an entire culture, Tezcatlipoca’s Oblivion Correction surpasses the scale of any one individual. His is the grudge of one culture against the other, thus it could be said that he embodies prejudice rather than merely being prejudiced. To him Christians and Spaniards are monsters, not humans. All monsters must be slain.
Entry 4: Protection of the Faith EX: The ixiptla blend the line between man and god, Tezcatlipoca is both the worshiped and the worshiper. He believes in himself and his fellow gods as a human who revered them. As an existence bound in religious practice this manifestation of Tezcatlipoca is an aspect of religion itself. Therefore, it is impossible to place his version of Protection of the Faith on a scale.
Entry 5: The Victorious Night: Tezcatlipoca’s Noble Phantasm, a reality marble that forms a recreation of the Aztec retaliation against the Spainards after the Toxcatl Massacre, casting Tezcatlipoca’s enemies as the Spainards.
Since it is a recreation those cast as the Spanish will always lose, unless they can escape the reality marble. Additionally, the activation of this Noble Phantasm summons every ixiptla of Tezcatlipoca from across time to slay the monsters in the name of humanity.
Bonus Entry (requires start of Cosmos in Lostbelt): World Destroyer A: Tezcatlipoca is one associated with the end of worlds, clearing the way for Pan Human History. This skill facilitates the destruction of things that must be removed for the current world to exist. Tezcatlipoca destroyed many timelines like the Lostbelts.
“You have no need to bear the responsibility of destroying a world. A human can’t act on such a broad scale. I will destroy these stagnant worlds to plant the seeds of one where you can grow. That is a god’s love of humanity.”
My Room Lines
Random Line: Every manifestation of mine is different in some way, but they are all ‘me.’ If you are seeking a true Tezcatlipoca, you seek what does not exist.
Random Line: An evil god? That’s nonsensical propaganda spread by the monsters. Quetzalcoatl and I are opposing forces, do not simplify us into ‘good’ or ‘evil.’
Random Line: Avengers can’t forgive, it is in our nature. The monsters were the ones who refused to coexist, do not insult me by implying peace with them is possible.
Bond 1: The energy needed to maintain this form is enough of an offering to me, you need not give more.
Bond 2: Say, do you have any interest in ballgames? Perhaps I’ll show you the great game of my people. It is far superior to any that those monsters play.
Bond 3: If you have any relationship troubles, feel free to request my help. I had four wives, we would renew our marriage every year a little before… apologies, I need to go unleash my rage on one of the monsters who deserve it, rather than you.
Bond 4: Why did I appear as a corpse with its heart showing in your room last night? That was a test, you passed it, so don’t worry. As the last hope of humanity, I can’t let you be weak. Now, do you have a wish for me to grant?
Bond 5: You don’t meet every one of my requirements, but I wouldn’t complain if you became the next ixiptla of mine. Perhaps you will become a me who is not an Avenger, who is free of this hatred.
Thoughts on Master-Servant relationship: I dislike both the terms master and servant for our relationship. My identity is no secret, call me by name, contractor.
Thoughts on Holy Grail: The world is movement, it is always changing. So rather than undo their crimes I will destroy the monsters, so something new can be made from their remains.
Birthday: Happy birthday. Now, what was the precise date of your birth? I hope it was a day that I govern, it’ll make protecting you from the monsters easier.
During Events: Oh, something lively is going on? It’s no Toxcatl, but perhaps it will do. Toxcatl… if only those monsters hadn’t appeared.
To John Dee: You have something that is mine. Return it, and your death will be swift and painless rather than the slow painful one you’d otherwise deserve.
To Cortez: I won’t let you tarnish this place. Your death will bring much joy, I’ll make sure you die again and again until I bore of killing you. Then it will be Quetzalcoatl’s turn to kill you.
To Chistian servants: Monster, invader, your day of judgment has come.
To Quetzalcoatl: Brother we should keep our distance, for the sake of our contractor. Call upon me if you’re fighting a monster or Beast however.
To Jaguar Warrior: Quit slacking off. Go back to your training or be punished. Humanity itself is on the line you idiot.
To Spartacus: Forced to fight to the death for mere entertainment? Mistreated slaves like you have my protection, continue your rebellion. Destroy the empire that will become a center of that detestable religion.
To Geronimo: You suffered at the hands of the monsters as well. Normally I don’t have allies, but I will always side with humans against monsters. We march together.
To King Hassan: Kill for the sake of killing? You must mean someone else. Every death has meaning, each act of destruction makes the path to an act of creation. What have you created through your death dealing, assassin?
To Ozymandias: Pharaoh? That’s the first I’ve been called that. Certainly not the worst title foreigners have given me, but it still does not suit me.
NP Chant
“A sad night for monsters is a joyful one for humanity. Your defeat has already happened. VICTORIOUS NIGHT!”
Gameplay/Interludes
I don’t care enough about FGO gameplay for a full kit theory craft, but Tezcatlipoca would have a specific anti Christian niche like Boudicca for the Romans. To make this not suck he’d be able to stick that trait on all enemies, either with a normal skill or as part of his NP before the damage part. His NP would be an AOE attack.
Tezcatlipoca’s interlude would have him talk about the story of the five suns as it relates to the Lostbelts. He and Quetzalcoatl would bicker over whose fault the first four worlds being destroyed really was, but they both agree that they can’t afford any real infighting while the Lostbelts remain.
Max Bond Craft Essence
Obsidian Mirror (art is of a handheld mirror): An item sacred to Tezcatlipoca. With these one could see and be seen by him. So long as this is kept close, Tezcatlipoca will always be near. For the last master of humanity, for the sake of humanity, just this once he will only be the enemy of one side.
Valentine’s Craft Essence
A Lost Song (art is of a flute): Not all knowledge is preserved, some is destroyed. There are many songs that will never be heard again. To cause such circumstances is unforgivable, but for this night that does not matter. For this night one of those songs is remembered, it is played to you. More than a song, it is a sign of trust, and as you listen, the avenger of the night wind smiles in a way avengers rarely do.
