Kayneth El-Melloi Archibald[Note 1] (ケイネス・エルメロイ・アーチボルト, Keinesu Erumeroi Āchiboruto?), also known as Lord El-Melloi (ロード・エルメロイ, Rōdo Erumeroi?), is the Master of Lancer in the Fourth Holy Grail War of Fate/Zero. He is the Lord of the Department of Mineralogy of the Clock Tower in the early 1990s.
Profile[]
Background[]
Kayneth is a very wealthy and successful nobleman, a renowned Magus from the Mage's Association, the Lord of the Department of Mineralogy at the Clock Tower, and a lecturer in the Department of Spiritual Evocation.[5] Kayneth demonstrated genius level talent during his time as a student. He was the youngest lecturer to grace the podium of the Department of Evocation in its history.[6] He has an ancient magical lineage that goes back for over nine generations.[7] He was born with immense talent and rarely, if ever, encountered any hurdles in life. Due to his great lineage, he had extensive connections. He was expected to form the greatest faction in the Clock Tower.[6] He obtained the rank of Pride in his teens,[8] and was the youngest person to ever reach the rank of Brand.[9] Although the El-Melloi faction has many powerful branch families besides the Archibalds, Kayneth swept aside the competition and inherited the El-Melloi Magic Crest.[8]
He is an old friend of Feend vor Sembren.[10]
Waver Velvet is one of his students, but Kayneth cares little for him, especially after reading Waver's radical thesis, "An Inquiry of Magecraft's Path In the New Century”, concerning increasing magical potential. He tossed it out after casually reading through it just once, telling him in a condescending manner, "A man who gives in to delusions such as yourself is not suited for research, Waver", without a shred of pity in his voice (In the anime adaptation, Kayneth decided to tear up his student's manuscript after publicly humiliating him during a lecture). Waver, in retaliation, stole Kayneth's artifact and entered the Fourth Holy Grail War. Kayneth originally intended to summon Iskander, but with his artifact, a piece of the torn mantle of Alexander, stolen by Waver, he instead summoned the Lancer-class Servant, Diarmuid Ua Duibhne.
He is engaged to Sola-Ui Nuada-Re Sophia-Ri, the daughter of the head of the Spiritual Evocation division, through an arranged marriage. They apparently do not get along and Sola-Ui considers Kayneth a coward for not going and attacking the opposing Masters face to face. While he loves her, she does not appear to share the same sentiments.
Appearance[]
Kayneth is referred to as a handsome adult who looks slightly older than Sola-Ui,[11] with swift back light blond hair and bright green eyes. He wears a navy scholar coat with white gloves, black pants, and black shoes. While his coat seems simple, its stiffly structured decorations show individualism.[4]
 Kayneth El-Melloi portrayed by Junichi Ito in Musical Fate/Zero ~The Sword of Promised Victory~ stage adaptation.  Kayneth in Fate/Grand Order, illustrated by pako.  Kayneth in Capsule Servant, illustrated by Medori.  Kayneth in Fate/Zero Cafe, illustrated by Ufotable.   Lord of the Department of Mineralogy (鉱石科の君主, Kōseki-ka no Kunshu?) in Fate/Grand Order, illustrated by Nekono Kedama. |
Personality[]
Kayneth is the epitome of how someone who believes themselves to be entitled at birth will never be happy.[4] He is a cruel man with a selfish and arrogant personality. He holds a great amount of hatred towards anyone who wrongs him, wishing to torture and kill them if at all possible. He holds an especially great disdain for Waver's impunity in stealing his artifact and entering the War.[6] Kayneth's reason for participating in the Holy Grail War is much like that of his student. He did not participate in the Holy Grail War due to necessity or duress, it was merely to add a splash of "martial prowess" to his life's story. That was it. Although he did not severely underestimate the Three Founding Houses, he did boast that Lord El-Melloi could overwhelm them by skills alone. The reason Kayneth brought many dangerous Mystic Codes had nothing to do with research, but for entertainment value.[6] Thus, he saw the Holy Grail War as merely a fun game with little risk. He desires to attain fame by fighting other Masters of great skill, talent and caliber, and the legendary heroes of the past that have been called forth. He is more cautious compared to those like Waver Velvet and Irisviel von Einzbern, who both openly stand on the battlefield of the Servants. He prefers to hide himself during the fighting, and while technically practical, the action earns the scorn of both Rider and Sola-Ui.
He holds that all participants of the War will wish to fight honorably as Magi, so he feels perfectly safe while inside his stronghold in the Fuyuki Hyatt Hotel. The existence of Kiritsugu Emiya, which goes against such principles to the point where he completely destroys the building rather than facing him in a battle of their magical prowess, greatly angers him. Upon the destruction of his Magic Circuits at Kiritsugu's hands, making it so that he can never utilize Magecraft again, his goal shifts to claiming the Holy Grail to repair his Magic Circuits and recover his Magecraft.
Kayneth cares for, and has genuine feelings for Sola-Ui, despite her loathing and disdain towards him. He even still displays love for her even after she blackmails and betrays him for his Servant Lancer.
Kayneth even considered the Heroic Spirits or Servants, to be part of his stock of Mystic Code. Because he never acknowledged the humanity of Servants, he did not understand Diarmuid's loyalty even until the very end. As a result, he effectively lost through self-destruction. If Diarmuid really appreciated Kayneth's talents and experience, then Kayneth would have treated him with a much softer attitude.[6]
Role[]
Fate/Zero[]
Kayneth is the Master of Lancer in the Fourth Holy Grail War and the most active Master at the beginning of the War. His participation in the War was merely to increase his own prominence within the Mage's Association. His base of operations at the Fuyuki Hyatt Hotel is on the hotel's thirty-second floor and protected by twenty-four layers of bounded barriers, a countless amount of summoned monsters, various traps, and mystical spatial alterations in the lobby.
While Lancer and Saber fought, he hid behind his invisibility spell and observed the battle. Thanks to Lancer's clever tactic, the battle was turning out to be in his favor until Rider's interruption. When he found out that Waver's participation in the War as well, he revealed his identity to his former pupil and made a deadly threat. Soon after the three-way battle transformed into four then five-way with the sudden introduction of Archer and Berserker. In the middle of chaos when Berserker attacked Saber, Kayneth ordered Lancer to attack her as well. He initially refused but Kayneth forced him with a Command Spell. Thanks to Rider siding with Saber against Lancer and Berserker, and Kiritsugu finding Kayneth via infrared binoculars, he had to retreat.
After Lancer's battle with Saber, Kayneth criticized his Servant for not attacking Saber with all his strength. He winds up arguing with Sola-Ui who calls him a coward for hiding himself from the other Masters and criticizes him for his poor strategy and not thinking of having Lancer work with Saber to finish off Berserker. Their argument ended with Lancer standing up for his Master. Lancer convinces her to stop arguing with Kayneth, her immediate submission to the Servant leads Kayneth to suspect Sola-Ui is developing affections for Lancer and would became a source of strife as Sola-Ui developed feelings for the Irish hero. Before he can address the issue, the lower levels of the hotel are attacked by Kiritsugu Emiya and Maiya Hisau. While Kayneth and Sola-Ui interpret the attack as one of the Masters driving people out of the hotel in order to attack Kayneth without any civilian casualties getting in the way and anticipated how to counter accordingly, Kiritsugu and Maiya had actually aimed to destroy the hotel's foundation. Kayneth, Sola-Ui, and Lancer all managed to survive the attack. Kayneth, who made his base the Hyatt Hotel, booked the top 24 floors and transformed it into a magical fortress with various magic barriers, traps and summoned creatures. But he didn't expect that someone would just choose to blow up the basement to collapse the entire building. Kiritsugu did exactly that with several C4 charges. With the protection of Volumen Hydrargyrum, Kayneth, Sola-Ui and Lancer just barely managed to survive the building's collapse. In one night he lost all the special equipment and Mystic Codes (aside from Volumen Hydrargyrum) he prepared for the War alongside his base.
Kayneth lies defeated
He moved to an abandoned warehouse and made it his new base. His relation to his fiance worsened with every failure. In revenge, Kayneth assaulted the Einzberns. In the first battle with Caster, which was before his defeat, while Saber and Lancer held off Caster, Kayneth set out to defeat Kiritsugu. Using his Mystic Code "Volumen Hydrargyrum" that manipulates mercury, he sent it out to search for Kiritsugu. As Kiritsugu observed the Mystic Code's abilities he sees a sliver of mercury "look" through the keyhole of his room. Kayneth then sends his mercury to attack Kiritsugu, the whips of mercury slash through the roof and attack the Magus Killer. Using his internal Reality Marble of Time Manipulation, Kiritsugu escapes and after which he proceeds to hunt Kayneth. In his ignorance, Kayneth mocks Kiritsugu for his wielding of "useless" modern weaponry. After using a gun to set the mercury's defense to a certain degree, he then used a more powerful gun that managed to pierce the mercury's old defense, managing to hit Kayneth in the shoulder. Kayneth "corners" Kiritsugu and believes his opponent is going to use the same tactic and prepares to block another attack by maximizing his mercury's defense. Kiritsugu, using his Mystic Code pistol, then shoots his special Origin Bullet at his opponent, causing Kayneth's Magic Circuits to go berserk when he blocked it with "Volumen Hydrargyrum" at full power. The bullet's destructive special effect depends on how many Magic Circuits are currently active in the target, and unfortunately for Kayneth, all of his were active for maximum defense. As a result, all of his organs were critically injured and his nerves were damaged beyond hope. Kayneth was subsequently rescued by Lancer right before he was about to be killed.
When he regains consciousness, Kayneth finds himself strapped to a bed. Sola-Ui then comes to tell Kayneth that Kiritsugu had destroyed all of his Magic Circuits and that he can no longer use Magecraft ever again. Kayneth weeps in despair upon discovering that all of his Magic Circuits were destroyed and that his life and career as a Mage is over. Sola-Ui pretends to sympathize and feel sad for him. She then suggests to continue in the war, as the Holy Grail could help in repairing Kayneth's Magic Circuits, and requests that Kayneth to hand over his Command Seals to her, so that she would take his place as Master. But Kayneth realizes that Sola-Ui has gone nearly insane from her love for Lancer. He tries to convince her that it was to dangerous and they should get help first, but Sola-Ui then abused the situation to blackmail him, and proceeds to break off Kayneth's fingers one by one, forcing him to also give her his Command Spells. He eventually gives her his Command Seals, allowing her to become the Master of Lancer.[12] As a Mage, his career is ruined. He was a cripple that could not even use Magecraft anymore. The loneliness, frustration and jealousy almost drove him mad. He called a famous puppet maker in secret. With first-class magical prostheses, Kayneth could finally move once again.[13]
After the battle to defeat Caster, Kayneth approaches Risei Kotomine to obtain the one Command Spell promised as a prize to the Master who manages to defeat Caster. After forcing the reluctant Risei to comply based on Kayneth's assertion of Lancer's role in defeating Caster, Kayneth shoots Risei to prevent the regulator of the war from giving out any more Command Spells and to implicate Kiritsugu as the murderer.[13] He discovers later that Sola-Ui was abducted during the battle against Caster.
Though furious at Lancer, who was also unaware of Sola-Ui's capture, they are forced to fight against Saber and Irisviel von Einzbern. Watching the duel from a hidden location, Kiritsugu appears before Kayneth with Sola-Ui at gunpoint and offers a Mage's contract in the form of a Self-Geis Scroll, an absolute agreement which will render a Mage permanently unable to perform sorcery if broken. This means that if Kiritsugu, as the target of the contract's curse, ever breaks the agreement, Kiritsugu will be unable to use sorcery ever again, which helps convince Kayneth to agree. Kiritsugu offers in the contract that Kayneth and Sola-Ui will not be harmed by him should Kayneth force Lancer to kill himself. After examining the contract to determine its authenticity and considering leaving the country with Sola-Ui alive, Kayneth agrees and orders Lancer to kill himself.
Lancer could not do anything but curse his former Master, Sola-Ui, and the Grail as he was forced to pierce his own heart by order of his Master's Command Spell. Guilt stricken and in despair, Kayneth asked Kiritsugu if he and his wife-to-be were free to go. Kiritsugu assures them that he will not harm them, giving him a brief moment of relief. However, the contract had a loophole - Kiritsugu only swore not to kill them personally. It said nothing about his assistant, Maiya or anyone else in association with him harming them. From a distance, Maiya snipes both Kayneth and Sola-Ui, gravely injuring the Mage and instantly killing his wife-to-be. The dying Kayneth who realized that the Magus Killer never intended to spare him or his wife, again pleaded for a swift death; but Kiritsugu refused due to the contract. Seeing this, Saber finally puts Kayneth out of his misery and kills him (decapitating him in the original novel and simply stabbing him in the heart through the back in the anime adaptation), disgusted with her own Master's dishonorable methods.
Because of Kayneth's sudden death, most of his valuable research accumulated in the Clock Tower was unorganized and left unattended. Although they were almost lost, Waver eventually compiled a tome named "Lord Kayneth's Encyclopedia of Arcane Secrets", which laid the foundation for the flourishing of House El-Melloi and its descendants.[6]
Fate/Grand Order[]
Fate/Accel Zero Order[]
After Ritsuka's party interrupt what should have been Diarmuid Ua Duibhne's duel with Artoria Pendragon, El-Melloi II tells Kayneth that they've come to support him. He gives Reines El-Melloi Archisorte as his guarantor since he can’t divulge his name now. Kayneth is convinced to leave the group alone when El-Melloi II says he’ll reveal more and Gilles de Rais’s current location later tonight.[14]
Kayneth contacts the Archisorte and learns that El-Melloi II doesn't work on Reines' behalf. He confronts El-Melloi II about this fact, but he agreed to meet due to El-Melloi II knowing about the Church’s actions toward Gilles beforehand. El-Melloi II then reveals information that should be privy only to the war's participants and Kayneth himself. He also wasn't lying about working for Reines, but he wouldn’t officially receive that duty until four years later.[15] Therefore, everything he just said are memories of his past. When Kayneth asks how such a thing is possible, El-Melloi II explains it is Chaldea’s technology. He then lies to Kayneth that the Archibalds were responsible for such achievements through his leadership. Kayneth believes all this and agrees to help kill Gilles to earn a fourth Command Spell from Risei. The group then heads for Gilles's hideout in the sewers.[16]
There El-Melloi II explains to Kayneth that they must be careful about discussing things not observed by anyone on the current temporal axis. Otherwise, the ripples from the changes in history will grow strong enough to possibly activate the Counter Force. El-Melloi II further adds that their intervention has made the future uncertain.[17] Eventually, the group confronts Gilles in his workshop and kills him. Afterward, Kayneth leaves with Diarmuid for the church to retrieve his prize.[17]
As El-Melloi II suggested, Kayneth sends a familiar to the Matou mansion and negotiates with Kariya. Kariya agrees to join on the condition Ritsuka's paty provides an opportunity to fight Gilgamesh. When Ritsuka's party meet with him again, he informs El-Melloi II of Kariya's condition. Thanking Kayneth for the information, El-Melloi II convinces him that the Grail War is a false one set up by his family's enemies, the Trambelios, in collusion with the Tohsakas to lure him away from the Clock Tower and increase their influence over the Association. Intervening with the conspiracy is why Ritsuka's party came to the past, but they couldn't warn Kayneth until they observed evidence in the past that a conspiracy existed. El-Melloi II tells Kayneth to hurry to London to stop the Trambelios’ plot. Diarmuid is ready to accompany his Master, but Kayneth orders him with a Command Spell to stay and continue the Grail War for his family’s reputation. He then lends Diarmuid to the group for that purpose. He asks El-Melloi II about the love letter draft he left in his study, though he’d never let anyone in his study while something so embarrassing is still there. He assumes the study that El-Melloi II is referring to is one whose master never returned to. El-Melloi II confirms such and feels honored by Kayneth’s thanks. He calls him the Lord he wished to be and his talents as the greatest treasure in the Clock Tower.[18]
Fate/kaleid Liner Prisma Illya Drei![]
- Main article: Kayneth El-Melloi Archibald (Fate/kaleid)
Kayneth appears as one of the Dolls, used by Julian Ainsworth, to fight against Shirou Emiya as he uses the Lancer Class Card, Cú Chulainn, and was defeated.
Lord El-Melloi II Case Files[]
Throughout the novels, Kayneth is referenced by multiple characters in the different cases that Lord El-Melloi II solves, mostly in relation to Waver and the Holy Grail War or the El-Melloi's debt.
Grace note[]
In the anime adaptation of Lord El-Melloi II Case Files, Kayneth appears in a dream Lord El-Melloi II has while injured and unconscious from a fight with Hephaestion. He furiously questions the new Lord, again Waver Velvet in his dream, serving as a reflection of Waver's doubts about his desire to participate in the Fifth Holy Grail War.
Abilities[]
Kayneth is renowned for his prowess as a Magus, known as the greatest prodigy of Rufleus Nuada-Re Eulyphis,[19] a First-class lecturer, and the most noted Magus of the Association as of the Fourth Holy Grail War.[2] His skills were not only in research, but also politics.[6] With both the nine generation Archibald Magic Crest[7] and his acknowledged talent, the inheritance of the prestigious El-Melloi title was a given to him. Kiritsugu Emiya initially regards him as one of the three most threatening Magi involved in the war in terms of magical power and control, ranking second ahead of Tokiomi Tohsaka and behind Kirei Kotomine. He is one of the few Magi Kiritsugu calls a "formidable enemy", whose strength is a great enough threat to make him utilize his Thompson Contender.[20] Cornelius Alba has a bad compatibility against Kayneth.[21] Compared to a novice like Waver Velvet, who could be said to have "5 MP" in RPG terms, Kayneth would have "3,000 MP."[22]
After the destruction of his Magic Circuits due to Kiritsugu's Origin Bullet, he becomes incapable of performing Magecraft again. Simply surviving in his state is only due to receiving quick attention from Sola-Ui, and while she restores his internal organs, his muscles and nerves are irrevocably damaged. He is initially left completely paralyzed, and he cannot hope to be able to walk again.[12] It takes a great sum of money and a puppet maker to return his hands to working order, and that only allows him to move within the confines of a wheelchair; Kayneth was then forced to rely on firearms where he used a pistol to kill an unguarded Risei Kotomine.[13] He still has the right to be Lancer's Master because the Command Spells are a different system of Magecraft than Magic Circuits, but Sola-Ui forces him to allow her to have them.[12]
Kayneth was the Lord of the Department of Mineralogy at the Clock Tower and achieved the rank of Brand within the Mage's Association, the second-highest rank and the highest practical rank.[1] He reached the rank of Pride in his teens,[23] and is estimated to have possibly been able to reach the level of Grand had he not died.[1]
Magecraft[]
Kayneth possesses the dual Elemental Affinity of water and wind, considered rare even among Magi,[24] allowing him to make poisonous gas harmless using both of them.[25] He is an expert in Summoning, Necromancy, Alchemy, and Spiritual Evocation,[24] displays the ability to create a Bounded Field to keep regular humans from entering the battlefield of Servants, and can hide his presence and voice through either illusions or other presence-concealing Magecraft.[26] Though his position cannot be determined with human eyes and the location and gender of his voice are concealed by an unnatural echo, he is not hidden from a heat scope.[27] He is proficient in Healing Magecraft, allowing him to quickly attend to Lancer's wound without being close or leaving any trace.[28] He was really a man of many talents like Hiraga GennaiWP or Cao CaoWP.[6]
While only the members of the Three Founding Families normally have any influence over the system of the Holy Grail War, Kayneth displays his abilities in adding his own designs to the contract system to alter the cause and effect line between Servant and Master. He was able to overwrite the original rules with a secret technique that allowed him to separate the right of the Command Spells and the right of supplying magical energy to the Servant between two separate summoners. Along with Sola-Ui, they are a "two-person team" Master, with Kayneth taking control of the Command Spells and Sola-Ui providing the energy for Lancer. This allows Kayneth to have a great advantage in battle over Masters who must fight while also supplying energy for their Servant.[11]
He creates a Magical Workshop within the Fuyuki City Hyatt Hotel's top floor, fortified with a twenty-four layer Bounded Field. Much like a "castle of Magecraft", he supplies it with three magical furnaces for his personal use and numerous Mystic Codes, some ten-odd Evil Spirit and Apparitions acting as guard dogs, various traps, and parts of the hallways that open into other worlds. While such an obstacle would be taken as a challenge for normal Magi, Kiritsugu demolishes it in its entirety, and even the strength of the Bounded Fields would be unable to save the occupants from an one hundred fifty meter fall with the debris.[11] He is saved by Volumen Hydrargyrum[29] and loses all his wares, relegating him to an abandoned factory afterward.[24]
Volumen Hydrargyrum[]
Kayneth utilizing the Volumen Hydrargyrum.
Volumen Hydrargyrum: Marrow of the Moon Spirit (月霊髄液, Getsurei Zuieki?) is a unique Supreme Mystic Code created from mercury filled with Magecraft. The term "Supreme Mystic Code" refers to a Mystic Code that is sufficient to be called symbolic of the family of a Lord of the Clock Tower. Kayneth created Volumen Hydrargyrum in his early twenties, a clear demonstration of the Lord’s exceptional talent.[30]
Kayneth excels in the art of manipulating flow, and the ability is shared between his rare dual elemental attributes. The shapeless mercury can be sculpted into any shape and controlled at will. It is his strongest trump card out of all the Mystic Codes he brought from England, and it always remains at his side as that in which he takes the most pride. Despite the loss of his wares in the destruction of the Hyatt Hotel, having Volumen Hydrargyrum makes him feel no overall loss in his battle strength. Uniting both attack and defense, it is a "perfect weapon" that acts as both his sword and shield.[24]
He is able to easily transport it despite its normal weight being close to 140kg with a spell of weight reduction,[24] normally keeping it in a large porcelain vase in the novels[24] and a small test tube in the anime.[31] It takes on its true weight upon leaving his hand, and it is activated with the spell Fervor, mei sanguis. (沸き立て、我が血潮, Boil, my blood.?). Ten liters of mercury oozes from the mouth of the vase as if a disciplined primeval creature,[24] or congeals on the ground from the test tube,[31] becoming a large ball showing the mirror-like metal sheen of the substance. It begins to follow his commands upon forming, with a myriad of different applications. His initial command, Automatoportum defensio：Automatoportum quaerere：Dilectus incrisio (自律防御：自動索敵：指定攻撃, Automated Defense: Automated Search: Attack on command?), causes it to start following him and defend automatically.[24]
Made to freely interchange between forms, it can be called the "epitome of the Magecraft of fluidics"[32] controlled with Kayneth's immaculate skill to perfection. Its regular form is a large ball three meters in diameter that follows and protects Kayneth. It responds to his movements and commands, shifting between forms for different tasks. It can take on a shape like a jellyfish with a flat platform for Kayneth to ride, and it can uses its tentacles to climb, attack, and defend with ease. Once he steps off, it quickly reverts to its ball form.[32]
Though it wouldn’t be wrong to call it an almighty weapon due to its versatility, in the end it is still just an automaton, and once you see through its movement patterns it’s fairly easy to handle. Also, since the Magical Energy required to operate it is directly proportional to the complexity of its shape, it is necessary to keep it in its basic form as much as possible—switching to a more complex form drastically reduces its reaction speed and power. The final “sea urchin” transformation used in the battle against Kiritsugu was a form that combined both raw defensive ability and cunning, but accordingly the drain on Kayneth’s Magical Energy was immense.[33] Upon losing its Magical Energy source, it reverts to being only a puddle of mercury.[32]
Upon being passed onto Waver Velvet, he modifies it into the Maid Golem, Trimmau.[33]
Attack[]
Kayneth destroying the front door of the Einzbern castle.
Mercury is a heavy liquid in room temperature, and it posses great kinetic energy when moving rapidly under high pressure. It can be manipulated into shapes like whips, spears, and blades at will, and its sharpness can even overwhelm laser rays. Nothing can be said to be unbreakable before it, allowing it to destroy the most solid defense. Compressing itself into a thin edge a few millimeters thick before striking, its blade rivals pressurized water jet cutters. The mercury blade can cut through any solid defense as if cutting through tofu, even should it be titanium alloy or diamond. His command of Scalp (斬, Cut?) against a barrier causes it to change into a long and thin ribbon in the shape of a whip that strikes out at the target with a whipping motion, and against a living target, two whips can strike in a pincer motion to cut at the target from both sides. It also acts according to his state of mind, such as randomly attacking everything in sight while he is agitated.[32]
The weakness of the attacks is that controlling mercury with pressure means only parts with large mass can exert their full power. The whip shape has the greatest power at its base to control the extremely quick attacks, but the tip has no power behind it. It cuts with the power of centrifugal force, causing the attack to become weaker towards the tip. Though the attacks are so fast that only Innate Time Control allows Kiritsugu to initially dodge, being experienced in melee combat allows him to use that weakness to easily predict its path and dodge even without enhanced speed. It is also possible to detect its maximum range, its speed and power being most fatal within a seven-and-a-half meter radius and still potent up to just over ten meters, to keep from being a target at all.[32]
Defense[]
Upon activating Volumen Hydrargyrum's automated defense mode, it instantly responds to anything that can threaten Kayneth and defends appropriately. While it is meant to be able to absorb Gandr shots, deflect magic swords, and break through supernatural fire, ice, and lightning, it can also protect against modern weaponry with ease. It creates a protective membrane when infused with his Magical Energy, with surface tension that is comparable to steel even when barely a millimeter thick. It can react in a split second to defend against magical flames and mist, gunfire, mines, and even the immediate destruction of the Hyatt Hotel and the fall from the top floor. Projectiles are reflected and rendered ineffective no matter if he is attacked from the front, surprised from behind, or surrounded on all sides.[32]
Though the protection is potent, it is possible to get past it at least once by observing its nature. The speed of its defense comes from hydraulic pressure, allowing it to spread the membrane faster than a bullet. The limits of hydrodynamics make it impossible to return as quickly from the protective membrane to its blob form through only pressure, so, after adapting to the best physical shape to protect against the current threat, an immediate attack of greater destructive power can pierce it before it has time to react and form a more powerful defense. It is impossible to properly aim at Kayneth behind the wall, and the tactic only works once, as Kayneth will then keep the defensive power firm enough to always block the stronger attack with all his available Magical Energy.[32]
There is another form of defense used against Kiritsugu, activated with Fervor, mei sanguis. (滾れ、我が血潮, Boil, my blood.?), that creates a large number of spikes in front of Kayneth that reach from the floor to the ceiling, resembling a bamboo forest. The membrane is useful against magical attacks, but bullets only need to be stopped from proceeding in a straight line to render them harmless. Creating the columns requires a much greater energy expenditure than the membrane, as each spike that has been twirled to be as thin as steel wire must be given the strength and malleability to deflect bullets. This action pushes him to the limit to create an impregnable fortress that easily causes bullets to ricochet within the gaps of the spikes while not allowing them to reach Kayneth. Their defense against a stronger bullet like that of the Thompson Contender is much greater than the membrane, and they can quickly close around the bullet to become a single column that closes the attack off completely.[32]
Despite the strength of its defense, according to Faldeus Dioland, the Volumen Hydrargyrum has no defense against more powerful modern weaponry such as an Anti-tank rifleWP.[34]
Searching[]
Volumen Hydrargyrum's search function.
Its automated search function causes it to reach out with numerous tentacles of mercury around the area to search for targets. It takes its time to slowly create a web in order to seal off exits and search rooms. It can easily search the entire first floor and second floor of the large Einzbern Castle in a short amount of time, easily slipping its tentacles into spaces as small as keyholes to search rooms. Kayneth can then follow its trail to the target. Due to being far from the main body of mercury, they are not as agile in attacking as the main whipping attacks. The specific command Ire: Sanctio. (追跡抹殺, Track and kill?) brings another immediate search of the area.[32]
Mercury has flaws as a sensory tool in that it is limited in its ability to communicate information back to Kayneth. He can control it easily due to lacking specialized senses such as sight, smell, and taste, so he cannot rely on it to be able to sense targets in that manner. He uses its extremely sensitive sense of touch to make judgements based on vibrations in the air, sense differences in air temperature, and locate heat sources. This makes it possible to fool if the target can alter their heart beat, breathing, and body temperature to a minimum as to make their existence transparent before it. It cannot differentiate between the normal sounds of the world and a human body in that state, so it does not process it as a human target.[32]
Development[]
Creation and Conception[]
Takashi Takeuchi thinks he is a very human character because of the ease with which he could design Kayneth and draw his expressions as he breaks down. Gen Urobuchi wished to show his intellectual side more, and as Kayneth's role was only to be defeated, Urobuchi feels a strange affection for him.[4]
Atsuhi Ikariya was in charge of the character design for the anime version.[5]
Reception[]
- In the Type-Moon's 10th Anniversary Character Poll, Kayneth was ranked 41st.
Notes[]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Lord El-Melloi II Case Files Volume 2: case. Twin Towers of Iselma (Upper) - Chapter 1 Part 3
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Fate/Zero Volume 1: The Untold Story of the Fourth Holy Grail War - Act 1 Part 2 -282:14:28
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Fate/Zero Anime Visual Guide I - Kayneth El-Melloi Archibald entry, p.018
- ↑ 4.00 4.01 4.02 4.03 4.04 4.05 4.06 4.07 4.08 4.09 4.10
[] Fate/Zero material - Characters: Kayneth El-Melloi Archibald, p.050-051, 085 Kayneth El-Melloi Archibald
Height: 181 cm
Weight: 62 kg
Blood type: B
Birthday: April 11
Image color: Brass
Talents: Drawing, sculptures, crafts
Things he likes: Himself
Things he hates: Idiots
Worst enemy: Kiritsugu Emiya
Urobuchi's comment
While seeming simple, the coat with stiffly structured decorations shows individualism. [Gen Urobuchi]
Comment for Kayneth
Takeuchi: I got a clear image for him from Urobuchi-san, so he was a character designed without much difficulty. I had way too much fun drawing his expressions when he's breaking down. In a way, he's a very human character.
Urobuchi: He is the epitome of how someone who believes themselves to be entitled from birth will never by happy. He's a person whose intellectual side I wanted to show a little bit more.
Takeuchi: You'd think he's only there to be defeated, huh? Speaking of that, I was one of those people too.
Urobuchi: In truth, his role was to be defeated, but. Because he's that sort of character, I have a strange affection for him.
Takeuchi's comment
Urobuchi's comment
Comment for Kayneth
武内：
虚淵：
武内：
虚淵：
Takeuchi's comment
3巻挿絵の波素。ぼろぼろのケイネス。鬼気迫る表情は描いていて楽しかったんですが、時間的に没に。【武内】 - ↑ 5.0 5.1
[] Fate/Zero Blu-ray Disc Box II English Translation booklet: Master Session 002 - Lancer Side, p.007-010 Master Session 002 - Lancer Side
Midorikawa: Lancer had quite a few of scenes, but I was struck by the scene where he curses them as he dies (episode 16), and by the way he's shown as being so vigorous in the first half of the episode. He was so lively that when he's forced to kill himself, you feel sorrier for him. I thought his suicide scene was handled delicately. There's an illustration for that scene in the original (the TYPE-MOON VERSION). But they presented it differently in the anime. I was really impressed at how well they pulled it off.
Yamazaki: I bet that if we'd applied ourselves, we would've been the favorite to win the Holy Grail War.
Midorikawa wished that they allow Lancer and Saber to go on fighting forever as Lancer seemed to be enjoying himself.
Animation Material
Kayneth El-Melloi Archibald
Lancer's Master. Lecturer at the Clocktower, the Mages's Association's headquarters.
Eldest son of the Archibald family. Taking part in the Holy Grail War as a feather in his professional cap.
A holy relic in his possession was stolen by Waver, his student.
He makes use of a mana-infused orb mercury, the Volumen Hydragram, to attack and defend. Atsushi Ikariya was in charge of the character design for the anime version. - ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 6.6 6.7
[] Fate/Zero material - Encyclopedia: Kayneth El-Melloi Archibald [Person's name], p.095 Kayneth El-Melloi Archibald [Person's name]
Kayneth demonstrated genius level talent during his time as a student. He was the youngest lecturer to grace the podium of the Department of Evocation in its history. His skills were not only in research, but also politics. Due to his great lineage, he had extensive connections. He was expected to form the greatest faction in the Clock Tower.
He did not participate in the Holy Grail War due to necessity or duress, it was merely to add a splash of "martial prowess" to his life's story. That was it. Although he did not severely underestimate the Three Founding Houses, he did boast that Lord El-Melloi could overwhelm them by skills alone.
The reason Kayneth brought many dangerous Mystic Code had nothing to do with research, but for entertainment value. Kayneth had talents not only in Spirit Evocation, but also in many fields of magecraft. He was really a man of many talents like Gennai Hiraga or Cao Cao.
Kayneth even considered the Heroic Spirits ---- Servants, to be part of his stock of Mystic Codes. Because he never acknowledged the humanity of Servants, he did not understand Diarmuid's loyalty even until the very end. As a result, he effectively lost through self-destruction.
However, Diarmuid was not choosey of his Master, he would acknowledge anyone who would accept his loyalty. As a result, he did not understand Kayneth as a person either. If Diarmuid really appreciated Kayneth's talents and experience, then Kayneth would have treated him with a much softer attitude.
To Kayneth, unable to bond with his Servant was the second most unfortunate event at the worst. The most unfortunate event by far was encountering Emiya Kiritsugu. Although as a mage, Kayneth won by an enormous margin, as a killer, he was miles behind Kiritsugu. It was inevitable that Kayneth would lose in a melee such as the Holy Grail War. Because of Kayneth's sudden death, his many valuable research accumulated in the Clock Tower was unorganized and left unattended. Although they were almost lost, the most useless formal student suddenly appeared to save the day. He had an unusual talent of "could not put magecraft to practice, but ingenious in the reinterpretation of theories and classification of systems". This student eventually compiled a tome named "Lord Kayneth's Encyclopedia of Arcane Secrets", which laid the foundation for the flourishing of House El-Melloi and its descendants.
By the way, in the Fourth Holy Grail War, the following strategy would insure the absolute victory of Team Lancer:
- Kayneth must not let his Servant recognize such things as honour on the battle field or knights' pride. He must let Diarmuid realize that the Holy Grail War was merely dirty chores that needed to be done.
- In order to fulfill the previous item, Kayneth must avoid any contact between Diarmuid and Saber with his best effort.
- In combat, Kayneth must prioritize securing an exit. In a battle, missions would be considered accomplished if Diarmuid scored one hit with Gae Buidhe. Repeat this tactic, and exhaust all hostile teams.
- Capitalize on Team Berserker. Team Berserker was a powerful enemy against all other teams, but Lancer had an advantage due to compatibility. It would be optimal to let Berserker destroy the other teams and reach the finale. He could then be defeated at that point.
ケイネス・エルメロイ・アーチボルト【人名】
学生時代から神童と謳われるほどの才能の閃きを見せ、降霊学科では最年少で講師の座に着く。学究の才能ばかりでなく政治的手腕も巧みで、家門の良さ故に有力なコネも大勢。ゆくゆくは時計塔内の最大派閥を形成するものと嘱望されていた。
彼が聖杯戦争に参加する理由には必ずしも切迫したものがあったわはではなく、自らの経歴の中に「武功」として評価される逸話も欲しくなった、という程度のものでしかない。『始まりの御三家』の必死ぶりを侮っていたわはではなかろうが、それを才覚のみて圧倒できてこそのロード・エルメロイ、という自負があったのだろう。
どちらかといえば研究畑の人間だったにもかかわらず、おそろしく剣呑な礼装を準備していたのは、単純に趣味の産物である。彼は降霊術のみなら、ず様々なジャンルの魔術で才能を見せ、その出鱈目な多才ぶりは平賀源内か曹操か、という有様であった。
英霊を使役するサーヴァントという存在すらも、彼にとっては数ある礼装の一つ、程度の認識でしかなかったのだろう。英霊の人格というものを認める気が毛頭なかったが故に、ディルムッドの忠義に打しても最後まで理解を示すことができず、結果として自滅も同然の敗退を遂げる。
とはいえ実のところディルムッドも、マスターとして自分の忠義を受け正めてくれる相手なら誰でも良かった節があり、ケイネスその人の人柄と向き合っての相互埋解を怠っていたのは事実である。もし板にディルムッドが、ケイネスの才能と経歴にメロメロになるほど感服した上で忠誠を誓っていたならば、ケイネスとてもうちょっと柔らかい接し方をしたんじゃなかろうか。
まあ、サーヴァントと信頼関係を築けなかったことは、ケイネスにとって二番目の不運に過ぎず、ブッチギリに一番の不運は、衛宮切嗣と巡り会ってしまったことに尽きる。魔術師としての位階は切嗣よりはるかに勝りながらも、殺人者としては切嗣に及ぶべくもなく、聖杯戦争という殺し合いにおいての敗退は必定であった。ケイネスの突然の死によって、彼が時計塔において積み重ねてきた多くの貴重な研究は未整理のまま放置され、あやうくその成果は散逸してしまうところだったのだが、いちばん無能だった一人の元弟子が、『魔術の実践はからきしなのに、理論の再解釈と系統分類は天才的』という妙な才覚を持ち合わせていたことで、最終的には『ロード・ケイネス秘術大全』という一冊の魔道書として編纂され、すべての秘術はアーチボルト家の管理上へと戻されて、後の家門の繁栄を盤石のものとした。
ちなみに第4次聖杯戦争におけるランサーチームの必勝パターンは……
• サーブァントに戦場の誉れとか騎士の誇りだとかを意識させない。聖杯戦争は汚れ仕事の処理業務だと常に諦観させておく。
• 前述の条件を満たすために、セィバーとの接触は極力避けること。
• 戦闘においては常に退路の碓保を最優先し、ゲイボウを一撃当てたら目的達成とみなし撤退する。これを繰り返し、各敵対チームの消耗を待つ。
• バーサーカーチームを活用する。他サーヴァントに対しては強敵でありながらランサーだけが相性関係で優位に立てる相手なので、可能であればバーサーカーを最終局面まで生存させて他チームの殲滅を任せ、しかる後に討ち取るのが望ましい。 - Kayneth must not let his Servant recognize such things as honour on the battle field or knights' pride. He must let Diarmuid realize that the Holy Grail War was merely dirty chores that needed to be done.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Fate/Zero Volume 1: The Untold Story of the Fourth Holy Grail War - Act 1 Part 1 -285:42:56
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Lord El-Melloi II's Case Files Volume 4: case. Mystic Eyes Collection Train (Upper) - Prologue
- ↑ Fate/strange Fake Volume 7 - Bridge Chapter: "Beginning of the End"
- ↑ Fate/Apocrypha Manga - Chapter 2: "Night Before the Curtain Rises -Red-"
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 Fate/Zero Volume 2: The Mad Feast of Kings - Act 5 Part 2 -149:47:12
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 Fate/Zero Volume 2: The Mad Feast of Kings - Act 8 Part 1 -122:18:42
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 Fate/Zero Volume 3: The Scattered Ones - Act 11 Part 2 -82:09:51
- ↑ Fate/Grand Order - Fate/Accel Zero Order, ACT-2: Military Intervention
- ↑ Fate/Grand Order - Fate/Accel Zero Order, ACT-5: The Meeting of El-Melloi
- ↑ Fate/Grand Order - Fate/Accel Zero Order, ACT-6: United Battlefront
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 Fate/Grand Order - Fate/Accel Zero Order, ACT-7: Hunting for Bluebeard
- ↑ Fate/Grand Order - Fate/Accel Zero Order, ACT-11: Strategist's Trap
- ↑ Fate/Zero Volume 1: The Untold Story of the Fourth Holy Grail War - Act 1 Part 3 -282:14:41
- ↑ Fate/Zero Volume 1: The Untold Story of the Fourth Holy Grail War - Act 3 Part 1 -162:26:39
- ↑
[] Kara no Kyoukai - Chapter 5: “Paradox Spiral” Movies Q & A Pamphlets
Q: Alba was finished off without a climax in the movie, in terms of pure ability as a magus, how strong is he?Q: Alba was finished off without a climax in the movie, in terms of pure ability as a magus, how strong is he? <FEN>
Nasu: In terms of pure attacking power, Alba is at the high end amongst the magi to ever appear in the stories of Type Moon. Well... his compatibility with Kayneth is kind of bad. To put in terms of fighting games, it is kind of like spamming Super Moves at will.
Takeuchi: Whoa, what an annoying power.Q. 結局見せ場無しでやられてしまったアルバですが、純粋に魔術師として見るなら、彼はどれぐ らい強かったのでしょうか？
奈：単純な攻撃力でいうと、実のところ、タイプムーン伝奇で出てきた魔術師の中でも上位です。 ケイネスとは相性悪いですが……そうですね、格闘ゲームでいうなら超必殺技打ち放題、みたい な性能でしょうか。
武：うわぁ、超嫌われそうな性能。 - ↑
Fate/Zero Anime Visual Guide I - Commentary: Episode 08 "The Magus Killer", p.131 Nasu: To use an RPG analogy, the Origin Round is like an attack that converts the opponent's MP into damage. For example, Kayneth with his 3000 MP would receive 3000 damage against his mere 100 HP. For someone like Waver with 5 MP, he would only receive 5 damage against his 50 HP. - ↑ Lord El-Melloi II's Case Files Volume 4: case. Mystic Eyes Collection Train (Upper) - Prologue
- ↑ 24.0 24.1 24.2 24.3 24.4 24.5 24.6 24.7 Fate/Zero Volume 2: The Mad Feast of Kings - Act 6 Part 4 -130:45:08
- ↑ Fate/Zero Animation Visual Guide I - Commentary:#7, p.130
- ↑ Fate/Zero Volume 1: The Untold Story of the Fourth Holy Grail War - Act 3 Part 5 -154:03:11
- ↑ Fate/Zero Volume 1: The Untold Story of the Fourth Holy Grail War - Act 3 Part 4 -154:09:25
- ↑ Fate/Zero Volume 1: The Untold Story of the Fourth Holy Grail War - Act 4 Part 1 -153:59:42
- ↑ Fate/Zero Volume 2: The Mad Feast of Kings - Act 5 Part 4 -140:41:54
- ↑
[] Lord El-Melloi II Case Files material - Encyclopedia: Volumen Hydrargyrum [Mystic Code], p.099 Moon Spirit’s Spinal Fluid [Mystic Code]
Supreme Mystic Code of the El-Melloi family.
The term Supreme Mystic Code refers to a Mystic Code sufficient to be called symbolic of a family of similar level to one of the Twelve Lords of the Clock Tower. In Volumen Hydrargyrum’s case, it was created by Lord Kayneth in his early twenties, a clear demonstration of the once-Lord’s exceptional talent.
Ever changing in form, it is a Mystic Code capable of performing both offensively and defensively without showing any openings. Its true nature however is that of a remote processor.
Upon inheriting it, Reines followed the advice of El-Melloi II and created a familiar out of it, endowing it with an elementary kind of artificial intelligence. It was the best advice for Reines who, rather than having the exceptional Magic Circuits of her predecessor, instead boasted a talent for precise control.
By forcing it to remember Reines’ precise control, the artificial intelligence is able to imitate it perfectly. The newly christened Trimmau being capable of taking so many various forms is primarily a result of this advice she received.
In addition, because of Trimmau’s nature, it has also learned a great many things from Flat’s magical hacking. Though that has included a large amount of unnecessary wit and famous sayings, Reines has thus far turned a blind eye to it for the sake of the other merits it brings.月霊髄液【礼装】
エルメロイ家の至上礼装。
至上礼装とは、君主を輩出する十二家やそれに匹敵する名家の蔵する中でも、その家系を象徴するに足ると認められた特別な礼装である。月霊髄液の場合、いまだ二十代前半であった君主ケイネスがつくったというのだから、先代がいかに優秀だったかが窺いしれる。
変幻自在、攻守に隙のない魔術礼装でありつつ、その本来の性能は隔絶した演算機であった。
ライネスが受け継いだ際、エルメロイII世の助言を受けて、初歩的な人工知性を付与された使い魔に加工される。これはケイネスほどの優れた魔術回路は持たないものの、精密操作においては特筆すべき才能を持ったライネスに、ベストなアドバイスだった。
ライネスの精密操作を人工知性に覚えさせれば、その通りに模倣してくれるためだ。新たにトリムマウと名付けられた月霊髄液が、さまざまな変形パターンを見せるのは、このアドバイスによるところが大きい。
なお、その性質上、フラットの魔術ハッキングから（人工知性が）学ぶところも多い。余計な知恵や名言を大量に詰め込まれつつも、フラットとの行動をライネスが黙認しているのは、このメリットのためである。 - ↑ 31.0 31.1 Fate/Zero Anime - Episode 7: "Evil Forest"
- ↑ 32.0 32.1 32.2 32.3 32.4 32.5 32.6 32.7 32.8 32.9 Fate/Zero Volume 2: The Mad Feast of Kings - Act 7 Part 3 -130:32:31
- ↑ 33.0 33.1
[] Fate/Zero material - Encyclopedia: Volumen Hydrargyrum [Magecraft], p.092 Volumen Hydrargyrum [Magecraft]
One of the mystic codes employed by Lord El-Melloi. Essentially, it is a mass of magically-infused mercury that has been filled with a large variety of movement patterns and programmed to respond appropriately depending on the situation. I guess you could call it a kind of battle golem? Out of all of Kayneth's armaments, it has the greatest capacity for physical destruction. He had prepared many other mystic codes designed for battles with curses and conjurations, but the vast majority of them were lost when his hotel was blown up by Kiritsugu.
Though it wouldn't be wrong to call it an almighty weapon due to its versatility, in the end it is still just an automaton, and once you see through its movement patterns it's fairly easy to handle. Also, since the magical energy required to operate it is directly proportional to the complexity of its shape, it is necessary to keep it in its basic form as much as possible – switching to a more complex form drastically reduces its reaction speed and power. The final "sea urchin" transformation used in the battle against Kiritsugu was a form that combined both raw defensive ability and cunning, but accordingly the drain on Kayneth's magical energy was immense.
By the way, after the war ended Lord El-Melloi II may or may not have reprogrammed this mystic code and employed it as a multi-purpose maid golem. Though it has enough intellectual capacity to perform simple household chores, it seems there's a troublesome bug that pops up every now and then that causes it to rampage around insisting that it's a killer robot from the future. Maybe it was shown a detrimental movie just when it was on the verge of completing its education in good taste…?月霊髄液（ヴォールメン・ハイドラグラム）【魔術】
ロード・エルメロイが駆使する礼装の一つ。魔力を充填した水銀に多鍾多様な行動パターンを記憶させ、状況に応じた最善の反応をとるよう設定したもの。戦闘用ゴーレムの一種と言えなくもない。こと物理エネルギーとしての破壊力においてはケイネスの武装の中でも最強。彼はこれ以外にも呪術戦、幻術戦に特化した礼装を多数用意していたが、切嗣によるホテル爆破によって大多数が失われた。月霊髄液の多機能性は万能兵器と呼ぶに相応しいものの、所詮は自動機械であり、ひとたび行動パターンを見切られてしまうと対処されやすい。また操作に費やす魔力は形態の複雑さに比例するため、なるべく単純な形態を維持する必要があるが、いったん液圧をかけにくい形態に変形してしまうと、次の動作は反応速度、パワーともに著しく劣化する。最後のウニ型変形は防御力と機敏さを両立させうる形態だったが、それに費やすケイネスの魔力負担は相当なものだっただろう。
ちなみに後のエルメロイⅡ世は、この目霊髄液を改良進化させて多機能メイドゴーレムとして使役しているとかいないとか。簡単な家事雑役をこなせる程度の思考力を持つものの、時々自分のことを未来から来た殺人兵器だと主張して暴走する困ったバグがあるらしい。よほど情操教育に有害な映画でも見せたんでしょうか。 - ↑ Fate/strange Fake Volume 1 - Extra Chapter: "Betrayer"