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Magus (魔術師, Majutsushi?, plural Magi) is the term for a human practitioner of Magecraft, the magical science, as opposed to a Magician, who is capable of bringing forth true miracles that are impossible to be reenacted at the current scientific stage. In ancient times, the term magus was used for both the users of Thaumaturgy and Magic, but with the advancement of science that made past miracles possible and the decline of the overall power of Magecraft, the differences between the two became clearer. At the modern age, there are only five Magicians left. A wizard, just like a magus, has a long life. If one uses life-prolonging magic, it wouldn't be impossible to live a few hundred, a few thousand years either.
Magi frequently, but not necessarily, descend from old magical families, as affinity to magecraft is something transmitted through blood relations.[1]
More than just a name, the term "Magus" defines a whole set of beliefs and lifestyle, the first of which is the desire to reach the "truth". A magus dedicates himself to the study and refinement of Thaumaturgy while driving himself apart of the values of common people in the process. He searches for the greater truths of the universe not to answer existential questions, but just for the sake of knowing. Ideally, a magus would render his own self transparent while still retaining his ego. In reality however, most magi, especially those of the Mage's Association, are often caught up on petty power struggles. On another hand, those who openly deviate from the way of magi, such as Kiritsugu Emiya and Shirou Emiya, are perceived as heretics that do not deserve to be called a magus.[2]
- Faker (複製者, Fukuseisha?) - Faker is used as a term for Shirou Emiya and Archer for their usage of Gradation Air. Rin Tohsaka uses it as a regular term, while Gilgamesh uses it as a term of derision. Faker is also a Servant class, but it has no known connection to this terminology.
- Houjutsushi (法術師, Hōjutsushi?) - Those who exorcise spirits through Sūtra, prayers and faith. The ones who achieved true enlightenment can draw upon the power of supernatural entities to perform miracles, but those with insufficient training have to fill the gap by adding their own power, just like the Western magi do. In Japan, there is a very secretive organization of Houjutsushi. Currently none of the monks of Ryuudou Temple are Houjutsushi, but there were a small number of them in the past.
- Shaman/Witch (呪術師, Jujutsushi?) - The practitioners of Witchcraft, through similar in concept they are seen as a different kind from the regular magus. Users include Alice Kuonji and, at first, Ayaka Sajyou.
- Spellcaster (魔術使い, Majutsu Tsukai?) - The name given to those who use Magecraft without following the way of the magus, such as Kiritsugu Emiya and Flueger who treated Magecraft as just a tool. Usually, their general skill with Thaumaturgy is low, but it is not uncommon for them to be highly proficient in a single field that they choose to specialize at. Also includes mages who lack formal training such as Shirou Emiya and Sakura Matou.
- Spiritual Doctor (霊媒医師, Reibai Ishi?) - A magus that uses Spiritual Invocation to perform medical operations, one who heals not through the flesh, but through the soul. Can also be found among the members of the Church, thus hinting that these procedures are not completely seen as Thaumaturgy. Kirei Kotomine was an excellent Spiritual Doctor who was capable of removing Command Spells from a Master without damaging his nervous system.
Depending on their craft, the appearance of magi may become distorted due to the chemicals with which they work or type of magecraft they practice. Rather than become ashamed over it as a mark of humiliation, it is normal for them to see it as a source of pride.[3]
Many magi look down on those like freelancers who use magecraft to earn a profit, believing it to be solely a field of research that should not be used in such a manner. Only those with more worldly experience or those practicing more controversial magecraft can look past the initial disdain and bewilderment other magi have for such people.[3]
It is possible for magi to obtain magical patents recognized by the Clock Tower, allowing them to obtain money from theories and rituals in the same manner as regular patents. The Tohsaka family earns tens of millions of yen annually from those that they own.[4]
Most magi of long lineages do not find convenience in using modern technology, believing that the comparable magical tools they have possessed since long before the technology was invented will never be inferior. Compared to communication tools that are susceptible to spying and that will stop working with power outages, they feel their own apparatuses like the Tokiomi Tohsaka's implements in place of fax machines and phones will remain superior due to not having such issues. It is rare for there to be magi who are not repulsed by the idea of using such technology, with Irisviel von Einzbern being hard pressed to understand how to properly use a phone and Jubstacheit von Einzbern fervently arguing against Kiritsugu Emiya having a telephone line and power generator installed at the Einzbern Castle. People like Kirei Kotomine cannot truly understand the train of thought, believing that a fax machine that can be used by anyone is more convenient, and Kiritsugu, a magus who frequently uses such technology, finds that the tendency of magi to ignore such technology as a legitimate threat, not understanding what a regular human can accomplish without magecraft, is a blind spot he can exploit in his work as a magus killer.[5] Those of families that do not follow such traditions like Waver Velvet are easily capable of using them to the degree of any ordinary person.[6]
The Association does not base its principals on normal morality, but rather the preservation of the secrets of magecraft. Magi may commit many horrendous crimes, but they will not be targeted so long as it does not become a threat to their secrecy. While many people may perish in the Holy Grail War rituals, the Association only seeks to make sure the media is properly manipulated as to avoid letting it become public and having the Einzbern cover any monetary damage.[7] When hunting those who have been given a Sealing Designation, their greatest priority is ensuring the safety of the results of the designated's research over all else. Competing with the Church in their goal of wiping out all heretical knowledge, they seek most of all to obtain the Magic Crests of the designated as the most precious of a magus' work. In the case of Norikata Emiya and his successor Kiritsugu Emiya, the Association keeps the majority of the crest, and only through negotiations of the one selling it to them, Natalia Kaminski, is Kiritsugu able to inherit a minor portion.
Magi BloodlinesEdit
The Animusphere (アニムスフィア, Animusufia?) family is one of the top ten families in the Clock Tower. They are responsible for the Astronomy Faculty.
- Known Members:
The Aozaki (蒼崎, Aozaki?) is the family who administers the greatest spiritual land in Japan. For magi of the Clock Tower, this name is a synonym for "trouble". Despite its age, it is not a renowned lineage. A bloodline with a history worth a total of six generations, the head of the third generation was a genius that discovered a path to the Root under his land. After creating the Fifth Magic, however, he sealed this path and decided to wait for someone who had the potential to comprehend the Root. He was the Fifth Magician until he passed on the Fifth Magic to his successor, and was a "magus infinitely close to being a magician" afterwards until his death. By using this path, the successive heads have a high chance of inheriting the Fifth Magic, but going further into touching the Root is forbidden.[8] The current family head is Aoko Aozaki.
In the present generation, the family had the misfortune of having siblings disputing over the position of family head, a tragedy for any clan of magi. The outcome of the conflict was that the younger of the two sisters, Aoko, emerged victorious and became a Magician. At a point of time, both sisters were part of the Mage's Association but eventually they withdrew from it. Aoko left on a whim and became a Freelancer. Meanwhile, the older sister, Touko, ran away after receiving a Sealing Designation after realizing that if she remained with the Association she would never be able to leave later, despite the great chance of her reaching the highest levels of the place.
The Aozaki family never had a history of producing heirs with many Magic Circuits and the numbers were decreasing even more with the passing of generations. By the time of the fifth generation, there were almost no Circuits left. Many though that was the end for the Aozaki lineage, but Touko of the sixth generation surprisingly turned out to be a prodigy with 20 Circuits.
Aoko and Touko's grandfather, the third generation head, used to be called a monster and, in Aoko's own words, is "a no-good old man who stubbornly lived too long". He raised Touko in the way of the magus in his Workshop on the mountains, while Aoko and her parents lived separately. However, when the two girls were 19 and 15 respectively, he suddenly changed the position of successor to Aoko. Eiri Fumizuka killed him during this opportunity. The third generation head still exists in spiritual form in his workshop, having dissolved his sense of self in order to exist longer; this is the reason that he fulfills the wishes of anyone visits his workshop. While he gave the title of family head to Aoko, he believes that his "true successor" who could touch the Root and understand it has yet to come. Soujuurou Shizuki believes that because his standards are infinitely high, a successor will never appear.
About the time of the 5th Holy Grail War, Touko was still hiding herself from the Association, while Aoko was touring around the country without a care in the world.
While Touko is a very versatile Magus, Aoko is good at nothing but destruction, being a user of the 5th True Magic, "Blue".
- Known Members:
The Archibald (アーチボルト, Āchiboruto?), a house of nobles from the Mage's Association considered to be elite among the elites and is one of the only families to possess close ties with the Barthomelois. The Archibald's rival family are the Trambelios, who espouse democracy. In command of the El-Melloi Lords faction within the Association, the house was almost ruined after the death of its ninth head, the prodigy Kayneth El-Melloi Archibald, but managed to recover itself thanks to the efforts of an unofficial apprentice, Waver Velvet. After the situation was cleared, Velvet was rewarded with the title of "Lord El-Melloi II" as a form of gratitude. But the true heir of the Archibald house is actually a little girl in the lowest seat of the clan. Reines El-Melloi Archisorte gave him the title while saying "I recognize your deeds to the Archibald family, but since you were only making up for what you caused in the first place, you better serve me for your entire life", thus literally binding him to her.[9]
- Known Members:
The Archisorte (アーチゾルテ, Āchizorute?) are a branch family of the Archibald family.
- Known Members:
- Reines El-Melloi Archisorte - The Princess of the El-Melloi family
The Barthomeloi (バルトメロイ, Barutomeroi?) is one of the most noted lines of magi within the Association, considered one of the Three Great Noble Families of the Clock Tower.[10]They are a family of rulers and lords that can be called embodiments of perfectionism and aristocracy. Their lineage is mysterious and old even for the standards of the other Association's magi, and it is uncertain when the name "Barthomeloi" was first written in the pages of history. They first appeared during the construction of the Clock Tower, and quickly became lords with their powerful Blue Blood Noble Magic Circuits and attribute of Almighty. They have reigned at the peak of the Association for centuries, and sought perfection in each generation of their magi. The head of their family does not appear in public until he or she becomes perfected as a magus according to their standards. They are raised only inside the Barthomeloi manor, as having them appear outside while inexperienced appears to be an embarrassment for them. Resulting from this, once the head first steps into the Association, they are immediately ready to act to act as a Department Head. They find great pride in the "Barthomeloi" name, considering it to represent everything they are, while their own given names are simply attachments. All of the Barthomeloi's have an almost obsessive hatred toward the Dead Apostles, possibly due to their dignity as humans or pride as aristocrats, and they spend their time hunting them as if it were completely natural. This obsession may go so far as neglecting any other responsibilities to participate in any vampire hunts available.
They can be considered aristocrats more intense than even the Twenty-seven Ancestors, who believe that even their fellow lords ought to be submissive to even more venerable and excellent blood. The only magus seen as the equal of the Barthomeloi Lord is the practitioner of the First Magic. The current head, Barthomeloi Lorelei, has some degree of friendly relations with the Archibald family, but other information concerning her succession and her background are unknown.
- Known Members:
The Borzak (ボルザーク, Boruzāku?) are a clan that specializes in the use of Bee familiars.
- Known Members:
The Caesarmunde (シザームンド, Shizāmundo?), also known as Sisimund, specialize in Butterfly Magic (蝶魔術?).
- Known Members:
The Dioland (ディオランド, Diorando?) are a family of magus that specialize in puppet making, and were involved in United States politics since the country's founding.
Among their members was Assassin's Master in the third Fuyuki Holy Grail War, who recorded mystic memories through the puppets he used in the War, and transmitted them to his family, even to distant relations. Eventually, Faldeus' grandfather joined hands with United States politicians and military leaders, and developed a plan to hold a Grail War on their own land within several centuries. When Faldeus' father inherited the project, Francesca proposed cultivating a stolen portion of the Fuyuki Grail, which allowed their Grail War to occur in less than a century.[11] Both known members have participated in a Holy Grail War.
- Known Members:
The Einzbern (アインツベルン, Aintsuberun?), a bloodline that once wielded the Third Magic but lost it at some point of time. For such an old lineage, they surprisingly have no branch families. Their Sorcery Trait is Wish-Granting – Spellcasting without possessing the knowledge of the spell itself. They skip the thaumaturgical process altogether and recreate miracles just through the use of magical energy but they are still bound to the limitations of the Magic Circuits.
About 1,000 years ago, the Einzberns started a quest to recover their lost miracle but eventually came to realize that they would never succeed by themselves and thus sought outside help. The result was the establishment of the Heaven's Feel ritual 200 years ago thanks to the help of the Makiri and the Tohsaka. They were the ones who built the Great Grail of Fuyuki and also the ones left in charge of producing a new vessel of the Holy Grail for each new Grail War.
The Magecraft of the Einzbern family, which follows the Thaumaturgical School of Alchemy, is based on the creation and refinement of substances and the focus of their studies lies solely in the structural manipulation of precious metals. They know healing magecraft, but as alchemists this is used not for the sake of recovering the flesh of injured people, but rather to lessen the great burden felt by a subject who received an organ that was tempered with magical power and help his body get used with the newly transplanted organ. Because with the craft of the Einzbern magical energy becomes easily dispersible, buildings that sealed off with soil or stone are the ones most desired by them to install a workshop.
The Einzberns are well known for being excellent producers of homunculus. Even the ones that are regarded as failures by their creators are still superior to even 100 magi. The Einzbern homunculi have their functions determined during the design stages and are born with bodies and minds optimized to perform their purposes.
The current head of the Einzbern family is called Jubstacheit von Einzbern (or simply "old man-Acht") and is the eighth person to rise to the position. He has been around ever since the time of Second Heaven's Feel thanks to methods of life prolonging and it has been said that under his leadership, the Einzbern changed its goals from "seeking the Holy Grail" to "winning the Grail War". He has a close relationship with the Talbot farm of early autumn Darjeeling and for years its tea has been only served to special guests.
Although their members can be dangerous when forced to fight, their single-minded specialization in Alchemy makes them ill-suited for battle. That is the reason why, up to the Third Heaven's Feel, the Masters of the Einzbern were eliminated early in the battle. For the Fourth Heaven's Feel, the family hired the services of an outsider, Kiritsugu Emiya, and presented him with the sheath of the holy sword which was excavated from Cornwall to serve as a catalyst to summon King Arthur. The whole family placed their expectations on him, but he ended up betraying them and destroying the Holy Grail.
The Einzbern family have a narrow view of Japan's culture.[12] They live in Germany, in a mountain district near a certain river.[13] The Einzbern castle at their homeland has a chapel and it was there that Kiritsugu summoned Saber. Since their dwelling is in a snowy mountain, the family does not have the custom of raising flowers. The climate of their territory is also not one suitable to produce liquor, but they nevertheless possess a brewery to supply alcohol, which is an ingredient necessary for their Magecraft.
As of the Fourth Holy Grail War, there are practically no true human members of the Einzbern Family, as a majority of the members who are accounted for are either Homunculi, Golems or some other form of Demi-Human or Artificial Human.
They at some point came to be in possession of the Das Rheingold, the great treasure obtained by Siegfried by slaying the dragon Fafnir.[14]
In the Apocrypha universe, they didn't become discouraged by the fact that the Greater Grail was stolen in the Third Holy Grail War. Rather, they don't seem to have that kind of mentality in the first place (if they gave up, it would only be when even their greatest creation, Illyasviel, would fail to attain the Third Sorcery), They are doing everything they can with the belief that they might be able to reproduce that miracle and the Einzberns apparently were trying to make a new one. Accordingly, they have come to reluctantly have relationships with other magi despite their insular and unsociable nature, and the Musik family took advantage of their confused state of affairs in order to receive a portion of their homunculi craft. However, what the Einzberns taught was merely the equivalent of giving a toy to a child, so it was not much of a problem for them. The Musik family concealed the fact that they were part of the Yggdmillennia clan, but naturally the Einzberns know about it. However, the Greater Grail was formed by taking apart the only successful Justeaze-model homunculus, so the Einzbern agreed to cooperate with them in case they should manage to activate one.[15] The Einzberns are in the midst of struggling to make a new Greater Grail under the excuse "It was stolen, so we'll just make a new Holy Grail". Fortunately, in the "Apocrypha" world, Kiritsugu Emiya won't end up becoming involved with the Einzberns, so their greatest work Illyasviel will never be born. As long as she isn't born, the Einzberns will never despair.[16]
- Known Members:
- Jubstacheit von Einzbern
- Justeaze Lizrich von Einzbern
- Einzbern Master
- Irisviel von Einzbern
- Illyasviel von Einzbern
The Eltnam (エルトナム, Erutonamu?), a fallen noble house of alchemists, they are scorned and feared due their creation and use of Etherlite. The cause of their ruin came when the family head of three generations past, Zepia Eltnam Oberon, became a Dead Apostle around 500 years ago.
- Known Members:
The Emiya (衛宮, Emiya?), a lineage dating back a few centuries that focused on 'Time Manipulation' in their quest for Akasha. Accelerating or slowing the flow of time inside a Reality Marble free from the world's interference is the thaumaturgy of the Emiya family. But after investigating it thoroughly, in a Bounded Field that was minimized until resistance was almost zero, the flow of time could be accelerated without limit, and reaching the Root would be possible, right before observing the universe's end. Although the theory itself was very promising, finishing the experiment would still require several hundreds of years. The fourth family head, Norikata Emiya, was a genius who was Sealing Designated, bringing ruin upon his family for researching into vampirism.[17] As a result, the Emiya family was wiped-out by the Church and Magus Association. His son and immediate successor, Kiritsugu Emiya, was a freelancer who did not care for the ways of the magi and his own lineage, and died without passing on the Emiya Crest.
Shirou Emiya is Kiritsugu's adopted son and apparently not considered a true successor.
- Known Members:
- Norikata Emiya
- Kiritsugu Emiya
- Shirou Emiya (Adopted)
Escardos Edit
The Escardos (エスカルドス, Esukarudosu?) is a particularly old lineage even within the Mediterranean Basin. It was rumored to have been active centuries following the dawn of the Common Era, along side the Magician Kischur Zelretch Schweinorg. No one at the Clock Tower believed it, nor did the descendants themselves--after all, although their family was old, they hadn't produced any worthwhile results. Even their Magic Crest had only age to recommend it. The greater portion of spells were indecipherable, even to the heirs themselves. The crest did, however, contain advanced life preservation capabilities so they managed to just barely cling to their dignity as an old family.
Mocked by the Clock Tower as "moldering antiques" their only wish was for their Magic Circuits to develop. While their circuits remained few down the generations, their Magic Crest had yet to show signs of reaching the end of its lifespan. The Escardos family found this preferable to dwindling like the Makiri and they worked hard to shore up their footing as mages to avoid that fate--even if other mages laughed at their wasted effort.
After a few centuries of that, an "anomaly," Flat Escardos,was born into the Escardos family. He had Magic Circuits unparalleled within his lineage, genius magical energy control, and the originality to combine spells from the past into a unique new magecraft. He was believed to have been the ideal heir, but as his talents began to bud, it became clear that he had entirely lacked the "mental attitude" that could be called a mage's most important attribute.
- Known Members:
The Fraga (フラガ, Furaga?), a family with a history that extends itself backs to the Age of Gods. Due to the faithful servitude they showed to the ancient deities in the past, the clan was rewarded with the knowledge of mystic runes and rights over the Noble Phantasm Fragarach. From the Magi's standards they are supposed to be the top-elite, but for some reason decided to remain isolated in a small coastline village. By bloodline alone, they should have been seen as high class, but in truth possess neither money nor fame and just live secretly while passing down their mystical knowledge to their descendants.
The parents of Bazett were against her entrance into the Association.
- Known Members:
The Frain (フレイン, Furein ?), are a family quite well known in the field of doll engineering. It is traditional for the children of the house to be left nursed by Golems from the moment of birth, and until they reach the age when the family crest can be transferred to them, their parents practically never leave the workshop to see them. It was the policy of the Frain family to be raised and not give any love from the beginning. The golems have complete responsibility even for their education. As such, every child of the clan becomes very familiar with golems. The acts and speech of these dolls modelled after human beings—the way they continue to work day and night—becomes what is common sense to them. Having been raised on such an eccentric upbringing, they become magi for whom golems rather than other humans are the norm. They may have forgotten even the faces of their own parents, but they remember the form of every single golem who has cared for them.
- Known Members:
Harwey Edit
The Harwey (ハーウェイ, Haawei?) are a magus family from the world of Fate/Extra. The family owns approximately sixty percent of the real world, whether this is through land ownership, monetary wealth or political influence is unclear. Regardless, the Harwey Conglomorate is a powerful organisation, possessing both great influence and its own team of assassins with which to do away with opposition. The heir to the family, Leo B. Harwey, was conceived between the former Harwey head and Leo's mother Alicia. While Leo is the younger brother of Julius B. Harwey, Julius is an illegitimate son, and after being harshly tested as a child, was discarded as a potential heir. Determining the Holy Grail to be a threat to their regime, the Harweys sent both brothers to the moon in order to claim it: Julius with the purpose of eliminating those that would oppose Leo, and Leo to take the Grail for the group.
- Known Members:
The Icecolle (アイスコル, Aisukoru?) family, were a fairly old bloodline of practitioners of the dark arts. The Icecolle were forced on the run by the devastating witch hunts of the Middle Ages. They escaped from western Europe all the way to Siberia, they lost the foundation of their thaumaturgy and eventually fell into decline. Celenike was the first child to be born of the decaying bloodline in a long time.
- Known Members:
The Iselma (イゼルマ?) family has pursued the creation of 'the most beautiful person' for generations as their path to「 」. Beauty is insuperable from humanity, so in Magi's view 'if one looks upon beauty, one becomes more beautiful'. Beauty is a sympathetic curse: as we appreciate art, the more it purifies our souls and spirits; the true nature of the feeling we express with the term 'beauty'. So if we were to witness something of extreme beauty, then we would be able to push our soul up into a higher plane of being all at once. The twin Princesses of Gold and Silver are a product of magecraft so beautiful that the term is referred to as ____ or 「 」, an effect they can produce on demand at anytime, which Reines says isn't exaggerating to say it's in the realm of True Magic since the term isn't used lightly by Magi yet they can only be described as such.
They are dependent on Lord Valuayeta of the Valuayeta family, of which Iselma is a branch family of, who are one of the Three Great Noble Families of the Clock Tower alongside the Barthomeloi and the Trambellio.
The Istari (イスタリ?) were a family well-noted for their alchemy.
- Known Members:
The Makiri (マキリ, Makiri?), later known as Matou (間桐, Matō?), a lineage that dates back over 500 years ago, were chased out of their homeland in Russia.[18] They eventually took refuge in Japan, where they changed their name to Matou. Around 200 years ago, the Makiri began to decline and their offspring started to lose their capacity to manifest Magic Circuits. Although they covered up with the excuse that they were incompatible with the spiritual land of Fuyuki, the true reason behind this sudden fall of their bloodline was never explained.[2]
Their fall finally culminated in their last heir, Shinji Matou, having no Magic Circuits at all; Shinji's paternal uncle Kariya Matou had been the last known member of the family to be naturally born with Magic Circuits, but had expressed such disgust towards the family's practices that he left the family before learning any of the Matou's Magecraft. With the practice of passing down their Magic Crest among the family members being ceased since generations before, everything that is now left of their mystic heritage is simply knowledge in the form of books of Magecraft. Their only choice to continue with their line would be to take in pupils from other families, but because of their history of being overly prideful, nobody would willingly go to them. That in mind, Zouken went to the Tohsaka while recalling the past pact of friendship between the two families. As a result, Sakura Tohsaka was adopted into the Matou.
The Magecraft of the Matou works around the concept of "absorbing" or, from another perspective, "to bind something to one's self". Their method of teaching of Thaumaturgy is not by letting the mind absorb the knowledge through study, but by literally carving it into the body through the use of Crest Worms. Despite the torture-like aspects of the process, it seems to be remarkably efficient.[1]
Among their accomplishments include the establishment the Servant system of the Heaven's Feel and created the Command Spells for the Masters. They possess a considerable amount of monetary resources, which were accumulated during the time that they researched Thaumaturgy.
In the Apocrypha universe, the Matou family was not blessed with a successor, so their future as magi has been completely shut.[16]
- Known Members:
- Zouken Matou
- Kariya Matou
- Byakuya Matou
- Shinji Matou
- Sakura Matou (Adopted from Tohsaka; Lacks formal education)
The Musik (ムジーク, Mujīku?) are an alchemy family and were once known to had rivaled the Einzbern in terms of skills in alchemy. As their thaumaturgical blood had already been in decay, the Musik family was absorbed into the Yggdmillennia, during in the Great Holy Grail War. Despite their insular and unsociable nature, the Einzbern reluctantly formed relationship with other magi, which the Musik family took advantage of in order to obtain a portion of their homunculi craft. However, what the Einzberns taught was merely the equivalent of giving a toy to a child, so it was not much of a problem for them. While Musik family concealed the fact that they were part of the Yggdmillennia clan, the Einzberns had already known the truth.[15] Gordes is currently the successor of the house.
- Known Members:
- Gordes Musik Yggdmillennia
- Gordes' unnamed son
- Gordes' unnamed wife
- Toole (Homunculus)
- Goldolf Musik
The Sakatsuki (朔月?) are an old family tracing back to the roots of Fuyuki with no apparent no ties with the magic world on the surface. In the age where the death rate of child birth is insanely high in Japan, children are revered as the entity that exist between the boundary of gods and humans. They are referred as Child of God (神稚児, Kami Chigo?), with the children possessing Divinity until the age of six. The tradition and culture has been lost in the age of modern medicine, but the Sakatsuki still continue the practice of revering children as divinities.
The Sakatsuki's Child of God can grant the power of wishes unconditionally, though it is uncertain if the Child of God wish granting abilities is based on the age or Fuyuki's magical leylines. The Sakatsuki are very secretive with their Child of God; no one witnesses the birth of the girl aged below six. They set up Bounded field inside their house to block out human thoughts. The Sakatsuki kept their children from other humans, with the children solely raised by their mothers and given limited education. After the girl has aged beyond six, the child of god would become human and would appear in society. To explain the child's appearance and lack of education, they are introduced as having recovered from a chronic illness and then adopted into a relative's family.
The Sakatsuki family was wiped out with the exception of Miyu in the Fourth Holy Grail War.
- Known Members:
- Miyu Sakatsuki (Temporarily Adopted by Luvia Edelfelt)
- Hiyoko Sakatsuki
The Sisigou (獅子劫, Shishigou?) family is already in its seventh generation of magi despite hailing from the Far East, where thaumaturgy can hardly be said to be flourishing. The ancestor of the Sisigou family head made a contract in the past which resulted the decline of producing children. Kairi is the last survivor of this extinct bloodline. They once adopted a girl who was compatible with their magecraft and hoped to pass down their legacy by implanting the Magic Crest to her but she died in the process. There is no successor to this bloodline.
- Known Members:
Sophia-Ri (ソフィアリ, Sofia-Ri?), a family related to the Nuada-Re (ヌァザレ, Nuaza-Re?) lineage, a prestigious clan that is proud of its latent potential as magi and the family of the current Department Head of the Eulyphis – Spiritual Summoning Department of Clock Tower. Around the time that Sola-Ui was born, a power struggle almost caused the family's successor to be assassinated.
- Known Members:
The Velvet (ベルベット?) is a three generation lineage. The first generation was his grandmother, who was the lover of a certain magus and picked up the very basics of magecraft from their pillow talk.
The second generation, Waver's mother, only dabbled as a way to honor her mother's memory. Waver was the first member of his family to seriously follow the path of magecraft.[19]
Waver Velvet later becomes Lord El-Melloi II after he restores the Archibald family.[9]
- Known Members:
The Yggdmillennia: Tree of a Thousand Realms (ユグドミレニア?) is a unique family of magi that takes in other families rather than continue a single bloodline. Though they have a long history, they are not a family of Lords. They are speculated to have lost a power struggle with the three royal families of the Association in the past or have been estranged from others due to the poor quality of their magic circuits. They neither belong to or have a connection to any other group, and they are often not recognized as a noble thamaturgical family.[20]
They abandoned the common method of thickening the blood of thaumaturgical potential over generations while mastering the thaumaturgical system chosen by the first generation. They instead took in all magi families with even the smallest connections to them from all over the world. They focused on taking in those with little history and weak Magic Circuits, those with their Magic Circuits on the decline with successive generations, those defeated in power struggles that were forced into ruin, and those with a price on their head as a punishment by the Association.
Though the families had strayed from the core of the Association, they had refused to give up the path to the Root, so Yggdmillennia gave them the chance to leave their blood's legacy and a mark upon history. Their family names are given as middle names to each member of the family, and the Magic Crests of each family are still passed down within each one rather than having a single unified crest for a single successor. This has caused them to develop a broad range of study with each member pursuing a different path, which include Western alchemy, dark arts, witchcraft, astrology, Kabbalah, runology, and the Onmyodo of Japan.
They are considered to be a loose alliance of the new, the weak, and the dying, so the Lords consider them to be trivial. Though they have many in number, average members can usually only reach second-class, and only a few rare case of first-class magi exist. They pose little threat, and only the elder's, Darnic Prestone Yggdmillennia, political finesse allows them to be left alone. It was thought that their only merit was quantity, but the revelation of the Grail has changed that evaluation. They would have had no chance to become Lords in one thousand years, so they instead opt to form a new Association of Magi around their own clan.
The clan came to Romania from Northern Europe, and have used the Fortress of Millennia in Trifas as their base since the middle ages[21], although they have relatives across the world.
In the world of Fate/Strange Fake, the Yggmillennia had withered more than fifty years before the start of the story, implying that the Yggmillennia clan had declined around the end of the Third Holy Grail War.
- Known Members:
- Darnic Prestone Yggdmillennia
- Fiore Forvedge Yggdmillennia (Heir)
- Caules Forvedge Yggdmillennia
- Gordes Musik Yggdmillennia
- Celenike Icecolle Yggdmillennia
- Roche Frain Yggdmillennia
- Hyouma Sagara
- Sieg (Homunculus/Cut Ties)
- Toole (Homunculus)
- Althea (Homunculus)
- Zugzwang (Assassins)
An extinct bloodline likely originating from Bavaria in southern Germany. They experimented with perfecting resurrection of the dead. Whilst they did succeed in restoring the body to a perfect semblance of life, even allowing bodies with missing parts to accept foreign organs with ease, they could never achieve perfect retrival of the soul. Having declined for several generations, their final head Heinrich Zepter became a heretic by creating monstrous fusions of man and beast in a fashion none too dissimilar to Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. After fleeing to Present Mountain, America, he was hunted down and killed by Natalia Kaminski and Kiritsugu Emiya. The Zepter family's Magic Crest was destroyed at this time, erasing the secrets of their Magecraft.
- Known Members:
Other Known MagiEdit
- Michael Roa Valdamjong
- Merlin
- Cornelius Alba
- Souren Araya
- May Riddell Archelot
- Gazamy
- Natalia Kaminski
- Azaka Kokutou
- Kirei Kotomine
- Alice Kuonji
- Rohngall
- Kischur Zelretch Schweinorg
- Ritsuka Suse
- Hishiri Adashino
- Jiroubou Seigen Tokitou
- Flueger
Related TermsEdit
- Archmagus (大魔道師, Dai Madōshi?)
- The title given to a great magus of the past, such as Justeaze Lizrich von Einzbern or Caubac Alcatraz.
- Designer Baby (デザインベビー?)
- A Designer Baby is a child created with artificially modified DNA. With this it is possible even for parents who have completely normal genetics to bear a child who possesses magic circuits. They are similar to a homunculus. Shinji Matou, Julius B. Harwey and Mash Kyrielight are designer babies.[22]
- Freelancer (フリーランサー, Furīransā?)
- A magus who is not affiliated to any magical organizations and take up jobs from others in exchange of remuneration. Due the nature of their profession, they are constantly at odds with the Enforcers of the Association and the Executors of the Church. Includes mages such as Aoko Aozaki and Natalia Kaminski.
- ↑ 1.0 1.1
[] Fate/complete material III: World Material - Theory of Magic - Magecraft: Family lineage of Magus, p.046
Family lineage of Magus
Great magic families
Family name or Representative
Tohsaka Conversion -
Makiri Absorption -
Einzbern Flow and transfer of power Magic attribute that Einzbern magi are skilled in. They are specialized at the transmutation and creation of materials, that is, alchemy, using this attribute, and are highly skilled in the production of homunculi. Ilya often uses magic, using the attribute of transferring, to move the consciousness of others to something else.
Edelfelt Conversion Family from Finland. Like Tohsaka, prefer jewels magic, which uses the attribute of conversion.
Barthomeloi Almighty Old line even in the Magic Association. One of the families of the rulers, the Lords. Embodiments of perfectionism and aristrocracy.
Milyonecalion Prosperity One of the top magi in the magic world, known also by the name "Giver of All Sealing Designations" (or other way around?). Details are unknown.
Jewel Killer Halting One of the remarkable magi in history, affiliated with the Sea of Estray, the mysterious prototype of the Magic Association.
Hermes Silis Atlasia Future Magus from one of the divisions of the Magic Association, the Atlas Institute, the association for the magi and alchemists of Egypt.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1
[] Fate/complete material III: World Material - Theory of Magic - Magecraft: Land and Thaumaturgy, p.043
Land and Thaumaturgy
To use magic, what is necessary is a sequence in which a magus, once establishing contact with a magic foundation engraved in the world, sends a command to the magic foundation and executes a premade function. At this time, the fuel used for executing the function is magic energy, and the magus will have to send the command at the same time as the magic energy.
Magic foundations are magic theories that magus schools have engraved in the world, and magic is started up in accordance with those rules and systems. For example, the magic theory with the largest foundation is the "Teaching of the Lord" of the Church. Magic foundations engraved in the form of academia and religions fuse intimately with the veins of the land, and the magus using that magic foundation can perform magic anywhere in the world. However, if the magus leaves the land where his magic foundation was engraved in, he loses the backup of his land, and the force is certain to deteriorate.
Note that the case is different with magic foundations that are not academia or religions but rather are passed down through personal orally transmitted teachings, the limited inheritance in clans, etc. As long as the rules of those foundations are met, it is possible to exhibit the same basic effect no matter where one is in the world.
Matou Zouken
The Makiri line moved from their homeland to Fuyuki and fell. For a magus to leave their land carries the meaning of departing from their own magic foundation and is extremely risky.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Fate/Apocrypha volume 1
- ↑
[] Fate/complete material III: World material - FAQ with Nasu: Characters, p.134
Q: How does Tohsaka Rin pay for her living expenses when she is performing sorcery using such valuable jewels? Is she eating up her parents' inheritance? Has she taken up a part-time job like Shirou? Or has she turned her hand to some other trade?
Q: How does Tohsaka Rin pay for her living expenses when she is performing sorcery using such valuable jewels? Is she eating up her parents' inheritance? Has she taken up a part-time job like Shirou? Or has she turned her hand to some other trade?
A: The Tohsaka family is still relatively wealthy because it receives royalties from magical patents (theories and rituals used at the Clock Tower. Like real-life patents.), and as a result their income is surprisingly high. Even without any additional revenue, annual income is roughly #0,000,000 yen. ...Although, Rin feels a bit ashamed of this since it's all thanks to the work of previous generations.
- ↑ Fate/Zero volume 1
- ↑ Fate/Zero volume 3
- ↑
[] Fate/complete material III: World material - FAQ with Nasu: Holy Grail War, p.131
Q: The Holy Grail War is unknown to the general population, but to what extent is it hidden from normal people? Are the Church people (supervisors) manipulating the media and police (or even the governmental level) to cover it up?
The Holy Grail War is unknown to the general population, but to what extent is it hidden from normal people? Are the Church people (supervisors) manipulating the media and police (or even the governmental level) to cover it up?
A: The Church manipulates information, while the Magic Association handles the media. Also, the Association has the Einzbern cover the cost of any collateral damage.
- ↑
[] Fate/side material - Encyclopedia: Aozaki [Person's name], p.054 [T]
Aozaki [Person's name]
The name that briefly appeared in this story. It was the name of the mage house that managed the greatest "Spiritual Land" in Japan.
In the mage world, the name had become synonymous with trouble.
The Aozakis were an ancient house, but were by no means prestigious. Because of the "Path" opened by the previous Heads, the current Head of the Aozakis had a greater chance of becoming a "Magician".
The current heirs were a pair of sisters whom were thought to be ominous. After a battle for the right of inheritance, the younger sister became heir of the "Magician" title.
The older sister traveled to London and made quite a name for herself, but quickly withdrew from the Association due to being problematic.
During the Fifth Holy Grail War in Fuyuki City, the older sister was busy hiding her tracks, while the younger sister was roaming around the country.
Although the younger sister was good at nothing but destroying things, the older sister was truly a polymath. Fate might had a little to do with the older sister.
アオザキ 【人名】
- ↑ 9.0 9.1
[] Character Material - Lord El-Melloi II, p.040-041
Introduction - Lord El-Melloi II
Professor Charisma.
Master V.
Great Big Ben Londonster.
The man that female students named as the #1 man they'd like to get laid by, and so on.
A famous lecturer in the Clock Tower with many nicknames.
He doesn't have any problems in declaring he's an archmagus, but he's hopelessly average as a magus.
But, his skill as a lecturer dominates the rest, and is the best person at detecting the hidden talent of others and training it.
There are no magi that were his students that hadn't obtained the rank of Grand, and it's even been said that if he gathered his students together, the power chart in the Clock Tower would change.
But he himself isn't the ambitious sort and has said,
"What a load of codswallop. Why should I, stuck at the 4th tier I still be, have to bloody look after other people?"
Well, so, in that sense, he doesn't really want to get involved with his students.
Back when he was an apprentice, he'd been the very embodiment of the "narcissist that doesn't doubt he's a genius", but an incident some ten years ago had led him to change his attitude, and since then, the result of persistent effort for a spoiled brat led him to be called the professor.
As far as being a talent production, his works are regarded as the greatest masterpieces of their time, but El-Melloi II doesn't really seem to care about that, probably because he's more interested in being a successful magus himself.
So anyhow, as a lecturer, he has zip interest in his mega popularity.
...Rather, he's irritated by that fact and so has for several years has been walking inside the institute with a constantly cranky look to him. Or so they say.
Speaking of which, El-Melloi II isn't his real name but a name given to him by the current head of the Archibald house.
Source: ???
The custodian (sponsor) of Rin after she went to study in London. The condition being "I will not give you one ounce of instruction. Eh well, I will at least send letters of recommendation to the other departments".
He really hates Japan and Japanese, but his sole pleasures are Japanese games. A petit bourgeois that you really can't hate.
And so, while being internally excited, he tried to bring this up to the complete game dunce Rin,
"Maybe you might..... You know, you should be familiar with that town. That place right between Ueno and Asakusa...."
Only to be given an instant answer from Rin that not only did she have no interest in Akihabara, but she had no interest in even Nihonbashi.
And so he got pissed off instead.
"Fuck! You're the worst Japanese in the world."
The person that took down the Fuyuki Holy Grail war.
Introduction - ロード・エルメロイⅡ世
Explanation -
Explanation 02 -
- ↑ Lord El-Melloi II Case Files - Chapter 2 translation by TwilightsCall
- ↑ Fate/strange fake Volume 2, Chapter 5: "The Shadown in the Dark"
- ↑
[] Fate/complete material III: World material - FAQ with Nasu: Characters, p.135
Q: Where did the Einzbern nobles get their narrow view of Japanese culture from? Did it come from their resentment of Kiritsugu?
Q: Where did the Einzbern nobles get their narrow view of Japanese culture from? (That Japanese people are a tribe of headhunters, and other terrible and weird prejudices...). Did it come from their resentment of Kiritsugu?
A: All foreigners are like that. (Secret Technique: Kinoko Reverse Discrimination)
- ↑
[] Fate/complete material III: World material - FAQ with Nasu: Characters, p.135
Q: Where does the main Einzbern family live? The "von" in the is supposed to be German, right?
Q: Where does the main Einzbern family live? The "von" in the is supposed to be German, right?
A: They live in Germany, in a mountain district near a certain river.
- ↑ Fate/Grand Order - Siegfried My Room voice lines - Das Rheingold... the accursed treasure. I had heard from a while ago, that now it is in the possession of alchemists hailing from Germany? If I am not mistaken, the name is.... Einzbern? It would be great if no curse had befallen to them, yet..."
- ↑ 15.0 15.1
[] Fate/Apocrypha material - Encyclopedia: Einzbern [Others], p.148 [T]
Einzbern [Others]
One of the Three Families that established the Fuyuki Holy Grail War. The family that lies at the center of events in "Fate/stay night" and "Fate/Zero" (Writer: Urobuchi Gen).
In "Apocrypha", they didn't become discouraged by the fact that the Greater Grail was stolen in the Third Holy Grail War… rather, they don't seem to have that kind of mentality in the first place (if they gave up, it would only be when even their greatest creation, Illyasviel, would fail to attain the Third Sorcery), and they are doing everything they can with the belief that they might be able to reproduce that miracle. Accordingly, they have come to reluctantly have relationships with other magi despite their insular and unsociable nature, and the Musik family took advantage of their confused state of affairs in order to receive a portion of their homunculi craft. However, what the Einzberns taught was merely the equivalent of giving a toy to a child, so it wasn't much of a problem for them.
The Musik family concealed the fact that they were part of the Yggdmillennia clan, but naturally the Einzberns know about it. However, the Greater Grail was formed by taking apart the only successful Justeaze-model homunculus, so the Einzbern agreed to cooperate with them in case they should manage to activate one.
- ↑ 16.0 16.1
[] Fate/Apocrypha material - Encyclopedia: The Three Families [Others], p.166 [T]
The Three Families [Others]
In "Apocrypha", the Three Families are the magi who constructed the Fuyuki Holy Grail War… in other words, the Einzberns, Tohsaka and Makiri.
Just as alluded in the light novels, Makiri (Matou) Zouken fought fiercely against Darnic during the Third Holy Grail War, but became practically crippled due to the shock of the Greater Grail being stolen. The family wasn't blessed with a successor either, so their future as magi has been completely shut.
The Tohsaka gave up on the Greater Grail, and now seek a new path in becoming one with the universe with Chinese Kenpou while learning magecraft. The twin-tail daughter of the family might also end up becoming the founder of a "completely new martial arts that combines magecraft and Chinse Kenpou" by the time she becomes a high school student. However, she never imagined that her younger sister who was adopted by distant relatives would come visit her in Japan after becoming a pro-wrestler with unimaginably nice proportions and forming a tag team with a drill-roll-haired girl…!
The Einzberns are in the midst of struggling to make a new Greater Grail under the excuse "It was stolen, so we'll just make a new Holy Grail". Fortunately, in the "Apocrypha" world, a certain dead fish-eyed mercenary won't end up becoming involved with the Einzberns, so their greatest work Illyasviel will never be born—therefore, as long as she isn't born, the Einzberns will never despair… Is that really fortunate?
- ↑
[] Fate/Zero material - Encyclopedia: Emiya Norikata [Person's name], p.093
Norikata Emiya [Person's name]
Kiritsugu's father. His family thaumaturgy involved time manipulation inside the body or possibly small cause-and-effect, and he was a genius who in only the fourth generation, a relatively shallow generation, rose to the rank of gaining a Sealing Designation.
Spent more than 20 years hiding from the pursuit of the Magic Association, and finally hid himself on a small southern island. Though Norikata's wife died at the hands of the Magic Association's hunters, Kiritsugu, who had just been born at the time, has no memory of the incident.
Accelerating or slowing the flow of time inside a Reality Marble free from the world's interference is the thaumaturgy of the Emiya family. But after investigating it thoroughly, Norikata found that, in a Bounded Field that was minimized until resistance was almost zero, the flow of time could be accelerated without limit, and reaching the Root would be possible, right before observing the universe's end. Although the theory itself was very promising, finishing the experiment would still require several hundreds of years. In order to resolve the issue of life span, he decided to explore the methods of becoming a Dead Apostle.
The tragedy that arose as a result was the story narrated at the beginning of Volume 4 of Zero.
- ↑
[] Fate/complete material III: World material - FAQ with Nasu: Characters, p.134-135
Q: Where did the Makiri clan originally emigrate from?
Q: Where did the Makiri clan originally emigrate from?
A: It's said that they came from somewhere around Russia.
- ↑
[] Fate/Zero material - Encyclopedia: Waver Velvet [Person's name], p.091
Waver Velvet [Person's name]
Third generation magus of the Velvet household. Though to put that in perspective, the first generation was his grandmother, who was the lover of a certain magus and picked up the very basics of magecraft from their pillow talk. The second generation, Waver's mother, only dabbled as a way to honor her mother's memory. Waver was the first member of his family to seriously follow the path of magecraft, which is why his circuit count and crest quality are both the lowest of the low.
Though his mother found the Association's hierarchical system annoying and disapproved of her son seeking out tutelage from a proper mentor, Waver himself was strongly drawn to magecraft. As soon as both his parents died of illness, he gave away all of his family's possessions, scraped together enough to cover tuition, and entered the Clock Tower without a penny to his name. ――As a result, nothing but hardship and failure awaited him, and he resorted to gambling everything on the Holy Grail War.
Though he doesn't possess the prerequisites to actually practice magecraft, his power of observation and insight give him remarkable talent as a researcher. In fact, had he insisted that "Magecraft is a subculture!" and started a business as a critic, he could have taken the world by storm. But of course, he would have been obliterated by the Association, so his inborn talents took another form.
To use running as metaphor, though his leg strength is just the absolute worst, he is capable of imagining the perfect running form. While he can never be an athlete, his talent shines as a coach.
In the initial setting stage of Zero, before the writing started, he was a Nobita-like "King of Cowards", an oasis of zero. By the end, his character had grown to the point you might mistake him as the protagonist.
- ↑
[] Fate/Apocrypha material - Encyclopedia: Yggdmillenia [Others], p.185 [T]
Yggdmillenia [Others]
Otherwise known as the "Tree of a Thousand Realms". It is a clan of magi that originates from Northern Europe. The clan's notable characteristic is that its Magic Crest is extremely diluted. Or, rather than diluted, it's more like it hardly exists at all. Generally, a Crest is proof of a magus being the successor of their family and is passed down from generation to generation. There are also cases where the Crest is divided up, but it is fundamentally limited to close relatives.
However, just as its name implies, Yggdmillennia has thinly spread out its roots over a long time—in other words, the clan has lost most of the functions of its Crest and has chosen the method of increasing its members with families who are "Yggdmillennia" in name only. The important point is that the clan's Crest is capable of being simply transplanted like a seal pasted onto an arm, even if the person is a complete stranger or they already have another Crest.
This Crest's functions only allow for some slight sympathy between their spells and for determining whether or not someone is connected to "Yggdmillennia". It is has lost any special characteristics it once had, but it is precisely this last remaining universal function that aid the abnormal increase in Yggdmillennia clan members.
Yggdmillennia swelled up in size by gathering up families who have been forced out of the world of magi, such as families whose Magic Circuits are gradually deteriorating away, families who have lost their Magic Crests in accidents or families who lost in political conflicts.
Of course, even if any of them attain Sorcery or reach the Root, it will never turn into praise for Yggdmillennia itself, but—just having their desire to "have their name remembered in history" investigated by others may be the proof of this diluted clan known as Yggdmillennia having existed.
In truth, quite a number of magi are included in Yggdmillennia under the table in the world of "Fate/Apocrypha". Many of the magi who cause subspecies Holy Grail Wars are connected to Yggdmillennia. It goes without saying that it was for the sake of collecting data on the Holy Grail War.
The current leader is Darnic Prestone Yggdmillennia. The leader after the end of the novels is Caules Forvedge Yggdmillennia.
- ↑ Fate/Apocrypha Volume 1, Prologue
- ↑
[] Fate/EXTRA material - Encyclopedia: Design baby [Circumstances], p.199 [T]
Design baby [Circumstances]
A Designer Baby is a child created with artificially modified DNA.
With this it is possible even for parents who have completely normal genetics to bear a child who possesses magic circuits.
Within the world of EXTRA, Shinji and Julius (among others) are designer babies.
Contrary to what people often think, Leo is in fact not a designer baby. His great knowledge, intellect and experience were instilled through a hypnosis learning method, and his body does not contain a single speck of artificially created parts. His existence is not something that was realized through human intervention, he is just a "Born King."
|Bounded Field • Conceptual Weapon • Gradation Air • Magic • (Second Magic • Third Magic • Fifth Magic) • Magical Spells • Marble Phantasm • Mystic Code • Mystic Eyes • Mystic Eyes of Death Perception • Psychic • Reality Marble
|Daemon • Demon • Divine Spirit • Doll • Dragon • Familiar • Golem • Homunculus • Humans • Magician • Magus • Phantasmal Species • Spirits • Vampire
|Holy Grail War
|Command Spells • Great Grail • Heroic Spirit • Holy Grail • Master • Noble Phantasm • Parameter Rules • Servant • Servant classes • Skill
|Church • Chaldea Security Organization • Demon Hunter Organization • Mage's Association • The Twenty-seven Dead Apostle Ancestors
|Akasha • Chants and Incantations • Elements • World • Magic Circuit • Magical Energy • Soul • Magic Crest


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LAN, created by Benoît Jallon and Umberto Napolitano in 2002, is short for Local Architectural Network, for its discourse is situated at the intersection of several disciplines. LAN works towards exploring new territories and addressing social, urban, functional and formal questions, in an attempt to find elegant, contemporary answers to creative and pragmatic concerns.
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Photos & Words: Ned Cremin
20 dollar lift tickets and bluebird skies gave riders plenty to holla' about as they descended upon powder town U.S.A for Steamboat's opening day. With nearly a foot of snow in the past four days and a 17 inch base, boards shimmered in the sun and the boxes shined as crowds of shred heads threw down on 14 flawless features and other new design improvements to Steamboat's lineup. Also, the lucky first 100 early birds in line received free opening day t-shirts. Sweet!
With the acquisition of veteran Nick Roma as new Terrain Park Manager (Sunday River) the 'boat continues to show their commitment to park building in the seasons ahead. Little rodeo takes center stage on lower mountain base area featuring a choice of tasty, green candy-coated line ups including a smooth flow of 6 – 8ft rainbow- 8ft flat-12ft flat-12ft C and 20 ft down rail and parallel line of a 20 ft flat box going into 20 ft rainbow with a 36 ft trap a 20 foot booter and clean mailbox feature with wood posts.
This year will continue it's call for more all-natural features, taking full advantage of beetle-kill timber cuts opening up more terrain and earthy features, something for jib heads and tree-huggers alike. Stay tuned as Rabbitt Ears, Bashor and the Mavericks Superpipe are expected to be fully open by Christmas. Steamboat is stepping it up. Gear up, steez up and come rock the boat!


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So How often do you bathe your dogs?
What do you use?
Are tehre any good product review websites? we all know about the food review websites..but what about shampoo?
Oliver..had a never ending skin itch. even vet after vet, he never really found relief.
With maggie..shes been doing really good. she had had just a few baths (or runs under the water in the sink to clean her up.) but i noticed her skin was getting itchy..looked dry and i wanted to go find a good shampoo (she hadnt used shampoo before ..and this might be part of the issue)
so i took her to the park yesterday..she was a mud monster. i went to petsmart and asked them to recomend a shampoo, told them a bit of her dry itchy skin.
and they recomended GNC's moisurizing oatmeal dog shampoo.
I used it with her yesterday, and today she feels AMAZING.. soooo soft and oh just like when she was a baby. she isnt itching as much i notice..
so i think its good..but ive only found one review online..and it wasnt all that good..said she bathed her dogs a few times a week and they still stunk. lol so i was thinking maybe her dogs just stink? lol
but a few times a week.. is that too much? or how often do you guys bathe yours?


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TICKETS ARE ALSO AVAILABLE AT THE DOOR This event is perfect for listeners of ALL ages who love tales of the heart, wisdom, and adventure. ********************************************************************************************** EVENING STORYTELLING PERFORMANCE (Saturday / Aug 24th / 7-10pm) We invite you to picnic on the grassy meadow beside the labyrinth. Bring beverages, bring cheese, bring dinner to share with friends. This is an opportunity to dine al fresco as we gear up for the evening's tales. Between 6:00 and 7:00 is your magic window. Box office opens at 6:00pm. The evening program will begin at 7pm on the Outdoor Redwood Stage with live music and will include the following magical performers: Leolani Lowry: dances, sings and chants Erica Lann-Clark: blends traditional folklore & original stories Sirena Andrea: believes Fairy Tales, Myths, and Legends hold hidden wisdom Michael Katz: weaves together the comic and the profound Sage Lavine: believes life is meant to be full of magic Glenn Kazmierski: brings tales brewing in the forests This event is held completely outdoors so we encourage everyone to bring blankets or pillows if you would like to sit close to the stage. Chairs will be provided in the general seating area. The event will close with Fire Dancing in the meadow. ********************************************************************************************** FAMILY SHOW (Sunday / Aug 25th /11am-12pm) Family Show ideal for families with aged children, will include performances by: Cathleen Avalon (a puppet show) Sirena Andrea: awakens the compassionate hearts of all who listen Wendolyn Bird: delightful version of Humpty Dumpty Ester Frances: composes her own songs and weaves them into stories Poet Pistachio: brings a message of inspiration, creativity, and positivity .....and a Special Guest ********************************************************************************************** COMMUNITY STORY SWAP (Sunday / Aug 25th /12-1pm) The Swap will be hosted by Daniel Bittleston. Any person of any age who is inspired to give one's own story can sign up to tell it! Each participant will be given 5-10 minutes to tell. ********************************************************************************************** PLAYSHOP (Sunday / Aug 25th /1:30-3:30) An exciting PLAYSHOP featuring 'take home' skills in the realm of storytelling. Lead by Sirena Andrea Storyteller and Artistic Director of the Storytelling Festival. For Parents, Teachers, Public speakers and anyone who loves to tell Stories (limited space, early registration encouraged) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- We do encourage families to bring only those children who are excited about listening to stories seated audience style. The meadow will be available at any time for children to live out their own playful adventures. This is a CASH ONLY event. Parking by Donation of $5. Free Parking for 3+ guests in a car. Refreshments will be available at all performances. NOTE: If would be very helpful, if you would bring exact bills. Thank you.
Cost: 10.00 to 25.00
Categories: Festivals | Performing Arts
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Nonprofit organizations abound in Howard County, and Howard Magazine highlights who they are, what they do and how you can help.
Name: American Heart Association
Who: Annette Fisher, senior director, marketing and communications, Mid-Atlantic region
What is your mission?
The American Heart Association's mission is building healthier lives, free of cardiovascular diseases and stroke. Our 2020 impact goal is to improve the cardiovascular health of all Americans by 20 percent, while reducing deaths from cardiovascular disease and stroke by 20 percent.
What kinds of programs and services do you provide?
We have an extraordinary impact through our wide range of lifesaving activities and programs.
• Improving patient care -- We're improving the quality of health care by creating best practices for treating heart disease and stroke. Our Get With The Guidelines hospital-based quality improvement program helps heart and stroke patients get the best treatment consistently. Mission: Lifeline helps patients with the most severe kind of heart attack get the specialized emergency services they need to survive.
• Advocating for better health -- Our nationwide volunteer network, You're The Cure, advocates for key issues at the national, state and local levels such as requiring physical education in schools, clean air legislation and making AEDs mandatory in public buildings.
• Reaching out to populations at risk -- Blacks have higher risk and higher death rates from stroke than whites. Our Power To End Stroke education/awareness initiative helps African Americans share information to reduce their risk of stroke. More than 23,000 key opinion leaders, including mayors, professors, ministers and celebrities, have been recruited to be ambassadors working within their communities with our Power to End Stroke program.
• Raising awareness -- Heart disease is the No. 1 killer of women over age 25, but many women don't make their own health a priority. Through Go Red For Women, we're raising awareness among women about their risks and empowering them to protect their heart health. www.goredforwomen.org
• Protecting the future -- Nearly one in three children and teens in the United States is overweight or obese. As a result, more kids than ever before are developing high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol and type 2 diabetes. We are helping kids establish lifelong healthy habits and working to make sure that today's children can grow up to be tomorrow's healthy adults. Our program Recess Baltimore is designed to offer fitness and nutrition education to students 5 to 12 years old.
• Educating Americans -- We save lives every day by offering information and education. We pioneered CPR and millions of Americans use our patient education materials and online tools to help themselves and their loved ones live longer, healthier lives. Also, the American Heart Association is working to improve Americans' health by changing the way they eat. A community kitchen is scheduled to open in April 2013. The goal is to help families learn about nutrition and cooking healthy meals at home.
How many volunteers are part of your organization, and what types of roles do they play?
We have thousands of volunteers in all facets of the organization from administration, medical and survivor spokespeople to fundraising. Their roles include volunteering for the mission and helping to raise awareness about heart disease prevention.
Any important dates or events coming up?
February is heart month, and we encourage supporters to "Go Red." Friday, Feb. 1 is National Wear Red Day. Find more information about the 10th anniversary of Go Red for Women at goredforwomen.org/wearredday.
The 2013 Howard County Heart Ball fundraiser is scheduled for Saturday, May 4 at Turf Valley in Ellicott City. For details about the formal affair, go to heart.org/howardmdheartball.


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Thanks for reminding folks. My spent hops go from boil kettle to a bag to a place dogs can't reach. I will also be cautious at harvest time if I ever get enough to harvest lol
I haven't ever heard of a dog who was the least bit interested unused hops.
My first batch was Irish Red and my son's puppy was roaming around.
Quote from: butchlfb on June 01, 2013, 02:28:30 AMMy first batch was Irish Red and my son's puppy was roaming around. I'm no prude, dog's can enjoy a bit of beer if they like. But a puppy? If alcohol hurts a human brains development, it should also hurt a puppies brain. So I am on the record that dogs under the age of one should not drink beer.
a puppies brain.
AFAIC, dogs should never have beer.


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January 31, 2013
It was hard to write out the recipe for this. I want (always) to give you exact measurements and clear instructions so that you can count on me to create good food in your family kitchen, but this is not meant to be an exact kind of recipe. It's a galette. (Or, if you're in Italy, a crostata.)
These rustic, open face pies are meant to be thrown together. Roll out some dough, pile on roughly cut fruit or veg, fold the edges, bake and eat. There's nothing precious about putting them together or the way that they look when you pull them out of the oven. This is pie without fuss. Something you can bake on the spur of the moment, at least during these long winter days when you're hiding inside from the cold or rain for hours at a time.
I love making galettes with the kids. The hungry boy is getting big enough to peel apples and even cut them with my oversight. I remember making this blueberry crostata; he couldn't help nearly as well. Even when measured by galette, time is passing too fast.
And both boys can roll the dough, pinch it this way and that and fold it in twisted ways. Everything they do just makes the galette more perfect.
If you make my simple, perfect pie dough as directed, you'll end up with double the dough you need to make a galette. Freeze half and making another one will be really easy the second time around. You'll see that when they say, "Easier than pie!" they are talking about making a galette.
Apple Galette
(can be shared with kids 12+ mos)*
Serves 6-8
1 round of my simple, perfect pie dough (you need 1/2 the recipe)
5 apples, mixed variety
1/2 cup light brown sugar
1 tablespoon flour
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg, preferably freshly grated
Pinch ground ginger
Pinch ground cardamom
1 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Juice of 1 lemon
1 tablespoon of butter, cut into small pieces
Granulated sugar, to sprinkle
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. On a floured surface, roll pie dough into a circle about 9″ in diameter; don't get hung up on making this perfect. Fold the circle in half, and then in half again. Carefully transfer the folded dough to a cookie sheet, placing the point in the center of the sheet. Carefully unfold the dough. (Check out these step-by-step pictures for how to transfer the dough this way.) Set the cookie sheet in the refrigerator while you prep the apples.
2. Peel and core the apples. (Older kids can help!) Cut the apples into very thin slices about 1/8-inch thick; again, don't worry about being exact.
3. In a large bowl, combine apple slices with sugar, flour, spices, vanilla and lemon juice. Toss to coat well.
4. Remove dough from the refrigerator and dump the apples on top, piling them any which way, leaving a 1 1/2-inch border around the edge. Fold the edge of the dough up and over the fruit, pleating it as necessary. Dot the exposed apples with pieces of butter and sprinkle granulated sugar around the apples and dough. Place in the oven and bake for 60-65 minutes, until the apples are cooked through and the crust is golden brown. Remove from oven and allow to cool before serving.
*Note: While there is nothing in this that cannot be shared with younger children, I recommend this beginning at 12-months-old due to the relatively high sugar content. No matter how old your eaters, be sure to serve age appropriate servings. A little of this treat goes a long way!
This looks like a fun one!
OMG, your boys are so cute!!! And I bet they're so proud when the galette comes out of the oven! Cooking with kids is the best and makes everything taste better.
Wow. That's great one. And such cute ones. 😀
This looks simple and elegant all at the same time. I love apples. They always remind me of fall. Of course, at the moment we are all awaiting spring, but I do love a good dessert with apples. Can't wait to try this with my son!


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Four years after reorganising the party structure by bifurcating and trifurcating the district units, the DMK high-command has decided to launch a yet another revamping exercise by constituting a committee headed by former Union Minister T.R. Baalu to make recommendations.
Former MP and spokesperson T.K.S. Elangovan and sitting MLA S. Austin are other members of the committee, which will submit its report by March 20. The objective is to simplify the administration of the district units and revamp them so that they are in alignment with the Assembly constituencies.
"In many places, the Assembly constituencies are spread across many party district units and it has become very difficult for the high-command to decide who among the district secretaries should be given the responsibility. The (redrawing) exercise will address the issue," said Mr. Elangovan.
Though the next Assembly elections are due only in 2021, the DMK feels that the longevity of the government led by Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami would be dependent on the Madras High Court's order on the disqualification of 18 MLAs belonging to the T.T.V. Dhinakaran faction.
Whatever may be the outcome, the DMK and its working president M.K. Stalin, more than any other political party and leader, are under tremendous pressure to keep the house in order and vibrant as the Dravidian major is heading towards a situation that existed during the lifetime of former Chief Minister M.G. Ramachandran. The DMK had to sit in the opposition for 13 years when MGR was alive, and after 1996, this is the first time the party has lost two successive Assembly elections. Moreover, the political foray of popular actors like Kamal Haasan and Rajinikanth has clouded the prospects of the DMK.
Mr. Baalu, however, was sceptical about the success of the two actors in politics. "They are popular faces. But I am not sure whether they have the tenacity to face the ebb and flow of the political current of Tamil Nadu. On the other hand, we have a time-tested leadership and district secretaries capable of navigating the party during times of trouble and achieve success," he told The Hindu.
The Dhinakaran factor
To drive home the point that the DMK has the resilience, he cited the 13-year-period when the party had to sit out of the government.
He also dismissed as non-issue the victory of Mr. Dhinakaran in the Dr. Radhakrishnan Nagar constituency which had created the impression that the DMK was not looked at as an alternative to the ruling AIADMK. Another problem peculiar to the DMK is the strong and powerful district secretaries. Though Mr. Stalin created new districts, introduced new faces in 2014 and substantially reduced the clout of district secretaries, the failure to address the weakness of the organisation in the western belt of the State led to its drubbing in the last Assembly elections.
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|From 2011-12 (Dec)
I talk about this later in the post, but I wanted to let everyone know right at the top that this will, probably, be the last post until 2012. I am taking a break. It's been a heck of a year, and I'll be back, fresh and ready, after Winter Break!
This includes the Photo of the Day on Rubble. One sign of my burnout is that the Photo of the Day has become the photo of every now and then. Daily posts will return in 2012.
Winter Solstice today, thank the Gods! Now the days start getting longer. Happy day. It was also my birthday yesterday. These days, though, other anniversaries feel like bigger deals than just making another trip around the sun… It was a nice day, though.
The sun is out and The Big One and I are going to take the dog out for a long walk. Hopefully I can take some pictures and keep on getting to know the new camera I received for said birthday and for the upcoming holidays.
Yes. Burnout. I am very burned out. It has been a long year. The new year is not here yet, but I am a year older and the days are getting longer, so this seems as good of a time as any for a 2011 wrap up post.
This is the last task I am knocking down before stepping away from the computers for a couple weeks. No Photos of the Day (or of the every few days, as it has been going recently), no posts to any blogs, little to no activity anywhere else. Stick a fork in me, I am done. Break time.
For the next couple weeks it is about the kids, books, cameras, watching some movies and catching up with some Breaking Bad, Rescue Me, and some other badly neglected shows.
It is going to be some time to get some perspective, to get some rest, and to get ready for 2012.
This past year was a strange one and not an easy one. 2012 looks to be very different. No less easy, but definitely more stable.
2011 was a year when my life was on hold. I started in California helping my mother with several issues, and ended in Gresham helping my children through several issues. Those tasks took up the whole year.
But that leaves me in a strange place where my plans for my life in 2012 look exactly like my plans for my life in 2011. This is not to say that I did not accomplish anything in 2011, far from it. The work with my family has been tremendously productive and rewarding. But in 2012, the main goal is to resume work on my own career and to start earning some damn money.
This also not to say that the work with my family is done, of course it is not. The boys have come a long way, but there is still a long way to go, a lot of healing left. Their wounds are no longer bleeding, but they are far from being back to normal. The Big One still has a long ways to go before he is back up to speed with school. The Little One, well, he has a long way to go before he's back up to speed with life.
However, the progress they have made since April and May is amazing. Some solid foundations are now in place and they are both further along than I would have guessed they would be at this point. They are far enough along where I am feeling pretty good about heading back to work.
There will be challenges, of course, with this transition, but I think they are part of the growing process now, challenges encouraging growth, not obstacles hindering it.
Time to get out in the sun for a few. More later.
|From 2011-12 (Dec)
|From 2011-12 (Dec)
|From 2011-12 (Dec)
|From 2011-12 (Dec)
Dog walked, boy walked, errand ran, dinner cooked and served…
I've been putting a lot of work in on the RubbleSites for the last couple months, a lot of posts, but even more time spent behind the scenes getting this and that set up. I feel, for the most part, this work is coming to a close and that, after a few small projects that will be completed after winter break when the boys are back in school, that I am at a point where I can pretty much just focus on content creation.
And that is a good thing, because once I am back to work, there is going to be little time for anything else. Posts may get shorter, and fewer and further between… I think my goal at that point will be one decent post for each blog per week, with some other, smaller "feature" type stuff thrown in here and there too.
Of course, I'll be keeping up with my photo of the day and throwing music I like up on Retrovirus Lab, too.
So, the plan is, after the break, to take two weeks to finish the construction of these sites and to put a new portfolio together. Then my full time work and only major project will be landing a new writing contract.
One of the things that has been a little rough the last month or so is that I've fallen into a strange schedule with life. Since most of the uninterrupted work time I have these days is at night, after everyone is in bed, I've become rather nocturnal these days. I get a few chores done during the day, then the afternoon and evening has been spent working with The Big One and his homework, cooking dinner, usually more work with The Big One and his the homework (let's face it, it has been more homeschooling than helping with homework), then getting everyone to bed.
Only then have I found the time to get the serious work done on the bigger projects I've been working on, like the One Day on Earth video, the Occupation photos and videos, etc. Since The Ex One gets up early, she's been handling the mornings, getting the boys out the door to school. Through the end of November and up until the last few days, I've been going to bed about the same time she's been getting up to get her and the boys' day started.
This schedule actually worked pretty well for that period, for the most part. The Ex One was fresh for the mornings, and I was fresh for the afternoon and evenings, and the boys were spared dealing with a tired and grumpy parent!
Now that the boys are home, though, this schedule is terrible! Today we hardly got anything done. I have a few chores I need to complete before I start my break, the day is almost done and I feel like I haven't accomplished anything. Of course, on the old schedule, my real work wouldn't have even started yet, but I am done with the nocturnal thing.
Once I start the job hunt, I will need to be on a normal schedule. Since it would be murder on me to swing back and forth between day and night schedules every two weeks for the next month or so, I am not. I am just going to switch to a days only schedule and keep it there.
After break, my days will be compressed into what I can get done while the boys are in school. That means I will probably be a lot less productive, but there are no big projects, just a few small ones and wrapping up some big ones, so that should be fine. The challenge will be not getting sucked into any new big projects.
So, for the rest of break, I am taking some time for me. I might get caught up editing a few pictures here and there, but that is pretty much it. I have a small project, also, that I need to complete for my mother's Christmas gift, but that is a small project. I might also finish the One Day video, but probably not until the boys are back in school.
That is the project, the One Day On Earth video, that was really burning me out, and it is still not done. I put a lot of time into that video and, at this point, I am not crazy about the results. With the limitations of the camera I shot the video well, there's not much more I can really do with it.
I took a break from the video for the last 10 days or so, once the deadline was extended for a month, to get some distance from it and to make some decisions about it.
Pretty much, I needed to decide if it was something that I wanted to put another 40 to 80 hours in to or was it something I wanted to just wrap up and move on from. The break was good. It is time to put a few final touches on it and to move on. I was thinking about recording new music for it, nope. I was thinking about re-cutting the whole thing in Lightworks, nope.
I do need to put a couple more hours into it, but that is all. Upload it and move on. But it took several days of distance from it to realize that this was the best thing to do here.
The other big project I still need to finish is editing and posting all the Occupy Portland material. Of course, that stuff was sort of time sensitive, so the longer I go without posting it, the less relevant it becomes, the less of a priority... Still, I do want to get it up while it is still something of a current event and before it becomes history. But at this point, January is fine.
And that is about it. All that stuff, in a nutshell, was 2011. And since I am putting everything not done at this point off until 2012, that means my year is done. And I am tired. It is time for a long break and a lot of rest.
See you next year. It should be an interesting one!