I HAD A BIG LONG META SPIEL HERE but I don't think it's true any more so I'm just going to leave the bits I translated:
(These are mostly my translations. [Brackets] are a more literal translation while stuff outside of brackets is closer to a localization.)
F/A, EP 14
Avicebron: But I hate humans, and I am a pessimist. I wear this mask because even seeing eye-to-eye to another person [meeting another person's gaze] is troublesome. So, why did you believe I would never make arrangements to abandon you?
Mashu: Avicebron-san, you must really like golems. Avicebron: No, it's simply that I hate humans. Mashu: Eh Guda: Eh Avicebron: ... aah, that is not to say I abhor them. I see, saying it that way might give the wrong impression. I find being around other people troublesome, and want to avoid it. That is simply my nature [personality]. Guda: But you're speaking with us now ... ? Avicebron: Upon becoming a servant, I've seen it as something I should try to rectify. I wish to continue conversing, even though it may be troublesome. Mashu: But if it makes you uncomfortable, we should also refrain -- Avicebron: No, that would not do [is not good]. That would absolutely not do, Mashu. I hate humans. Even so, I strived to save humans. Both during my life, and afterwards. ... it would not do, if my reasons for doing so were to remain ambiguous. It would not do for the giant, which should be indestructible, to be fellable. If, despite that, it became fellable, then it is my fault [I am in the wrong]. Mashu: Avicebron-san? Avicebron: ... excuse me. I spoke too much. [I lost control of myself.] Regardless, I feel I'm close to grasping something. For that reason, I should continue to converse with you. So, do not worry about my feelings. I wish for you to speak as you always do.
Avicebron: Allow me to confess. I once killed a child. Atlante Alter: ... Musashi: ... I see, a child. Beowulf: ... huh. Avicebron:
Because I was summoned as a Servant, I've killed people.
... there are Servants of that sort, aren't there. Ones who dirty their hands despite having never commited such acts while alive.
It is impossible to avoid acts of violence, once one is summoned. The Holy Grail War has always been a ritual [event] for fulfilling the desires of Mages, after all.
Thus, it was inevitable [it could not be helped]. And during that Holy Grail War, I was truly despicable [最悪].
My dearest wish is the recreation of 'The Original Man' and the salvation of my people.
And in order to reach that goal, I trampled over my own dignity and morals.
I killed my own master, a child.
... ultimately, these are records. I can remember neither a name nor a face.
Despite having done something so wretched, I cannot remember anything.
But the records torment me. Each time I am summoned, they carve into me --
As if telling me, "You are no different from those mages, who are driven only by their desires."
Guda: But that's ... ! Beowulf:
... you'd be wrong to say that's not always true. Well, I've got nothing on that front, myself.
Whether something is written in the records or not is probably influenced by the Servant's personality and ideology. Or maybe the contents of the memories themselves.
You wouldn't remember a battle where nothing out of the ordinary happened, though you might want to remember that you saved the world.
... the fact that you're ashamed of your records of killing a child already makes you respectable.
But you're here right now in order to save the Human Order, aren't you.
I won't forgive you for just making yourself a sacrifice.
Avicebron:
... I suppose so ... perhaps this is nothing more than an excuse ...
But ...
What you require now ... is not a Servant, but a giant ... A powerful force ... that can stand up to the Thunder Emperor ...
Kadoc Zemlupus ...
You would do well not to underestimate him [think of him as mediocre], he will catch you off guard [trip you up] ...
Guda: Avicebron ... ! Avicebron:
Master ... I apologize.
But, for me -- this moment will probably be the only one in which I can be of use to the Human Order.
I will transfer authority over the 'Giant' to you. May good fortune be with you.
A long road and difficult [inhumane] choices await you. But I believe in you.
-- fight, young one. I believe humanity has the strength to carry out its duties!
People die. Elders die. Adults die. Babies also die. Children also die. Death visits all equally, with neither hesitation nor mercy in its gait.
... that, I could not forgive. I cannot forgive those who would kill and injure the innocent. But I found myself far more unforgivable, for merely watching such violence from afar.
Aah -- you made your fatal mistake then and there. In doing nothing, you lost your right to be a savior. And yet, you declare you will save the world.
A doll made by a child's clumsy hands. I felt as if it were quietly watching and accusing me.
Even so. Even so, I
The above text is the description for Avicebron's Bond CE, and seems to be a reference to a flashback scene from Fate/Apocrypha where Avicebron (in life) is seen picking up an abandoned doll after seeing a town(?) pillaged and razed. However, I'm not really sure what historical event this is referencing, if any. It seems the 10th and 11th centuries were actually periods of relative peace for the Jewish population in Spain, sometimes called the Golden Age of Jewish culture in Spain, with Jews being relatively tolerated and allowed to integrate into society. However, others state that this coexistence was uneasy at best; notably, the 1066 Granada massacre occurred during the tail end of this period. (Is it possibly the F/A writers subscribe to the theory that Avicebron died in 1069, and this is the massacre he witnessed?)
Historical inconsistencies aside, I do like the implication that Avicebron's guilt complex isn't something that was solely spurred by the events of F/A and is instead is something he'd also been struggling with in life, and was exacerbated by the events of F/A.
I don't know how much the Fate/ writers take historical accuracy into mind (not very much, I'm assuming), but given the historical Gabirol was consistently described as something of a jerk, the worsening guilt complex would go some ways in explaining his more even temperament come F/A and then F/GO. Though he does show traces of still being kind of a deadpan jerk (especially towards Shakespeare), he's largely just kind of aloof and quiet. It would make sense if, within the Fate/-verse, the arrogance he'd held in his youth was mellowed out with age by a stronger sense of guilt and responsibility, of perhaps knowing that he has no right to be so haughty when he was so powerless and futile in life and so weak compared to the others in the Throne of Heroes.
I do think this also gives a slightly stronger suggestion of what he was thinking when he decided to sacrifice Roche during F/A. While there's always the possibility that he just saw the chance and decided to take it, I do think it's more consistent with the rest of his characterization if he was spurred on by a twisted sense of responsibility and guilt -- the desire to do something to bring peace and salvation to the world, even at a horrific cost. If he'd previously hated himself for having only watched as people died, then it would make sense that he'd equally loathe the prospect of just being on the losing end of a war, and would never be able to pass up the perfect chance to complete Adam.
- Father was a prominent figure in Cordoba, but was forced to relocate to Malaga due to a political crisis in 1013. - Born in Malaga, Spain around 1021. - Parents died when he was very young. Presumably survived off his father's wealth and prestige. - Was befriended, supported and protected by Yekutiel ibn Hassan al-Mutawakkil ibn Qabrun and moved to Saragossa. - Began studying the Talmud, Hebrew and Arabic, and astronomy, geometry and philosophy, and began writing poetry in his teens. - Unfortunately, was also inflicted by a severe skin condition in his teens, which plagued him for the rest of his life. - When Gabirol was 17 (~1038), Yekuthiel was killed in a political assassination. Wrote a great deal of poetry mourning this loss. - Lost a great deal of his financial backing and political standing after Yekuthiel's death. - Around age 20, wrote Anak. - Wrote a significant amount of critical poetry about prominent members of the Jewish community, particularly for their neglect of the Hebrew tongue, and made many enemies. - Left Saragossa sometime around 1045 (~age 24), possibly banished. - Spent several years wandering. - Traveled to Granada and found a new patron, Samuel ibn Nagdela, though they had a falling out before long. - Probably wrote Fons Vitae during this time (~late 20's). - Spent the remainder of his life wandering. - Most likely died around 1058 (~age 37) in Valencia. The story of his death seems to be considered a legend, rather than fact, IRL, but given the nature of Fate, I'm going to assume that it's the reality of what Avicebron remembers.
Sensei servant. A masked professor who leads an army of robots. His dream is to create the strongest giant robot. He has a gentle personality, but also seems to have a psychopathic side where he's willing to make some sacrifices to achieve his goals.
Thank you to whoever grabbed this so I don't have to actually play a DQ-alike. I mostly just find it funny that they used nyuuwa (柔和) to describe his personality, which feels ... awfully generous, even knowing that these profiles are tongue-in-cheek.
Where's the non-pixelated April Fool's version. :(
So there's a bit in the Type Moon wiki that says Avicebron's Numerology is due to use of notarikon. (Although wouldn't it technically fit better as High-Speed Incantation ... ?) Notarikon is a method of shortening words in Hebrew, used by Kabbalists. Makes sense, I suppose.
The spells and incantations he uses in FGO are as following. Like the incantation for his Noble Phantasm, they incorporate the names of different sephirah (spheres) from the Kabbalistic Tree of Life. Other than these spells, he's also capable of using golemancy to manipulate the masonry of buildings to eavesdrop on conversations happening inside buildings.
- "Mine eyes see from infinite horizons" [我が目は無限なる視野を持つ] (Chokhmah bel infinite) -- simultaneously activates the numerous golems he'd prepared beforehand. "Chokhmah" (wisdom) is the second sephirah.
- "Mine hand be metal wrought from blue ice" [我が手は蒼氷の錫] (Chesed saphiro) -- creates a golem made of snow. "Chesed" (compassion) is the fourth sephirah.
- "Mine body be a crimson shield" [我が体は赤き盾] (Gevurah armadulah) -- creates a golem to act as a shield. "Gevurah" (strength) is the fifth sephirah.
“Born of mother Earth, let thee take in the Wind of wisdom, drink deep of the Water of life…”
It was a prayer to Heaven to breath life into the earth.
“A brand of Fire shalt rest in thy hand, removing thee from the Devil of disease. Thy rancor shalt sunder thee, yet thy love shalt cleanse thy blood…”
Earth, wood, and his own flesh: he offered them all to his Lord. It was the apex of esotericae possible only for this man who desired neither power nor fame.
“Let thee be a colossus, soaring amongst the highest peaks. Let thee be stone, unyielding and firm. Let thy form befit thine office… our guardian, our leader, our great foundation…”
It was the crystallization of a miracle, the scale of which could no longer be defined as a Noble Phantasm.
“Thou art of earth yet not of earth, of man yet not of man. Thou shalt rest in paradise. Thou shalt rule it, for we would be led to its gates by thee. Thou art Dream. Thou art Hope. Thou art Love.”
It was the realization of the faith of those who had suffered through history, a recreation of His divine will – a pawn that would take up the task of recreating the world.
“Thou art the First Man, bearing the Holy Spirit… thy name be Adam.”
I mostly like this passage because it shows some of Avicebron's mentality that the anime version totally failed to show. Also, this bit that Amakusa says a little earlier in the same chapter:
“No, Assassin… he only wants to demonstrate that the existence he will soon bring to is the greatest to ever be. There is no self-interest in his actions – only the purest faith.”
A tradesman was one who devoted his spirit into his creations – his cause, his pride, and his technique. Avicebron was decisively different, for he offered his faith – his heart of worship. He worked for neither a cause nor the spirit of self, but simply continued to create more of his one focus. That was the sole reason why the Caster of Black joined the Red camp, to continue his pursuit of the ‘pinnacle’: the Anti-Army Noble Phantasm he was attempting to create… that transgression, the golem Keter Malkuth.
Mostly, these just help contextualize his probably mindset when it came to sacrificing Roche.
Fate is the fucking dumbest and I had a low-grade aneurysm when Lottie asked Avicebron why he looks the way he does because why does he look the way he does.
I know Servants are supposed to take the appearance that represents the pinnacle of their history/legend, but Avicebron is so fucking divorced from any possible image of the historical Solomon ibn Gabirol that his appearance has to be caused by something other than just being a Heroic Spirit. (Interestingly, his first draft design might have been closer to what a purely Heroic Spirit-ified version of him might have looked like. Ototsugu Konoe notes 'Avicebron-sensei's design lacked impact, so I remade his design to be more aggressive.' Also lmao look at beta Achilles' shorts.)
Then, it's probably safe to assume that Avicebron looks like a mostly-regular (scarred, limbless???) person under his armor, and all the tacky bling-blang is of his own design.
His mask, at least, is confirmed to be worn by choice, given what he says in Fate/Apocrypha vol. 3:
“I despise humanity. I weary of this world. I abhor seeing eye to eye with anyone to the point of donning a mask. I cover my entire self in all my sickness. How did you possibly reach the conclusion that I would not plot to betray you?”
It's probably by design that his mask has no features, since (before his F/GO incarnation, at least) he loathed the prospect of having to meet another person's gaze and the mask's featurelessness makes it easier for him to be aloof. Of course, there's also the base assumption that he doesn't particularly like being stared at for his skin condition. I can't identify if the engravings/pins(?) on the mask are actual symbols for anything, but they're visually similar to the simplified versions of the Tree of Life often used in Kabbalah, so that seems close enough.
Which leaves ... the rest of that hot fucking mess. And honestly, I have to assume that it's a combination of utility, aesthetics, and deliberately wanting to distance people.
Assuming his limbs are all artificial, there are certain aspects that seem at least mostly practical. The metal ring around his shoulder, the peg/circular joint at the exterior of his shoulder and the metal plate at the exterior of his elbow seem mostly protective, and possibly positioned to hold the limb together. I have to assume the metallic circle at his palm is some sort of magical conduit. The plate/rock(?) outer portion of his thighs seems to protect the inner portion and his pelvis joints, while the weird baggy kneesocks(???) leave the knee joint exposed so it doesn't snag the fabric. I assume the gear-looking portions of metal at his pelvis and just above the knee are where the limbs can be pulled apart for repairs or whatever.
Aesthetics-wise, all the gaudy gold bullshit is probably just because it looks 'good'??? The triple-eye symbol at his chest, at least, seems to be building off the evil eye/hamsa symbolism. The additional metal bands across his arms don't seem to serve much purpose? And I ... I've got fucking nothing for why he has random metal rings hanging off the back of his cloak and the back of his 'feet.' What a fucking disaster.
Which leaves aspects of his design that I'm going to assume were deliberately crafted to ward people off. Most obvious would be the shoulder-spikes, which serve as a physical barrier to force most people to keep a bit of distance. Additional pointy bits like his knife-feet and the pointy claw-gloves further enforce the image of being untouchable. (Though arguably, the knife-feet do add a few inches to his height. Who knows, maybe he wanted to at least be above 160cm.)
Even if his F/GO incarnation is actively trying to be less aloof and misanthropic, he never does fully get over his hatred for people, so I think it never occurs to him to change his appearances (if it's even possible). That said, he's shown wearing other outfits sometimes: Apocrypha epilogue event, Burning Live Seat CE, Escape from the Pyramid. I guess he favors more billow-y clothes (esp. taking his usual voluminous cloak into consideration), and always covers himself as much as possible.
ANYWAY IN CONCLUSION: PLEASE GOD SOMEBODY GIVE HIM A MAKEOVER.
Rambly bullshit aside, here's my assumptions for how his outfit breaks down on a practical level
- Base: a skin-tight bodysuit, with holes for the 'ports' for his prosthetics, mostly protective and/or a safety measure to make sure his skin's all completely covered
- On top of that, a sort of weird corset/chest-plate??? thing. Some people seem to assume the striped portion of his trunk is just covered in fabric, but (EXASPERATED SIGH) the way his hips are drawn seems too flared-out and structured for that, I think. This would also explain the weird ... lewd, sharp angle at the small of his back. Goes from high up on his throat down to his groin, fastens in the front with the buttons.
- Leg prosthetics attach at the pelvis with something that looks similar to a ball-joint. The outer casing to his thighs and the 'kneesocks' are removable. The leg can come apart just above the knee for repairs at such. Cold to touch. As for how he walks on his knife-feet ... I guess he just has really good core strength???
- Arm prosthetics attach at the shoulder. They're covered in the same material as his bodysuit, but are cold to touch beneath it. I assume they're more intricately made and don't come apart modularly like the legs do since they need to channel his magic.
- He has ports in his back he can materialize/dematerialize at will to attach his extra arms. Only used when necessary since it uses extra mana/Chroma.
- His cloak doesn't have any physical fastenings. It stays on by magic. I fucking hate it. He can make it appear/disappear at will.
- The fabric portion of his body armor(???) is pulled up all the way to his chin, sort of hooks above the ear, and circles around the back to just below the hairline.
- The mask doesn't actually seem to circle all the way around his head??? Presumably it's a package deal with his hat/helmet, or else how the fuck would this thing stay on. Regardless, the mask itself sort of has two parts: a lower/inner portion that covers from the chin up to just below the mouth, then an upper/outer portion that covers the full face. The upper portion is on a hinge that can swivel upwards, so he doesn't need to pull the full mask off if he wants to eat. (The F/GO Apo collab event seems to imply he can just ... eat through the mask somehow??? But that's so fucking stupid, please don't make me play that seriously.) His hat is just very stiff fabric. It's puffy to make room for his stupid fluffy unruly hair or something I guess.
- I think I actually lost more than a few braincells trying to figure this out.
Edited 2019-05-15 17:40 (UTC)
avicebron losing his fucking mind for a hot second
Avicebron: And then, golems will be made. And as an extra, the tunnel shall also be dug.
Yaga: Digging the tunnel should be the main objective, masked sir.
Mashu: Demonic boar, incoming!
Mashu: Avicebron-san, please summon your combat golems!
---
Avicebron: Then, I will also use this demonic boar's bones to create my golems. Or perhaps they should be called Spartoi [竜牙兵]* instead?
Mashu: Amazing.
Mashu: To think that Avicebron-san would be telling jokes. It's unbelievable.
Avicebron: ... I apologize, I'm fine now. Mm, I've calmed down [cooled my head].
* Spartoi are mythical Greek warriors created by sowing dragon's teeth. The Spartoi bit seems to be because the kanji for Spartoi is 竜牙兵 (dragon, fang/tusk, warrior). And since he's considering using the bones/tusks of the boar, it sort of fits. Avi-sensei, your jokes are so obtuse ...............
Yaga: Ooh, they're back! Open the gates! Yaga child: Welcome back! Yaga child: Mister Golem, make a golem for us, too! Avicebron: They say that one should learn from suffering while young, but ... given the circumstances, that seems inappropriate. [ Avicebron makes a small golem ] Avicebron: A mini-golem. It should be able to help out with your work. Yaga child: Yaay! Let's boss it around! Avicebron: I didn't make it for that purpose ...
Wait I'm gonna mumble meta about this because nobody's here to tell me to shut the fuck up.
Basically I think it's incredibly telling that, even back in Apo when Avicebron was entirely dedicated to his goal of completing Adam and creating Paradise, he never actually intended to be part of that Paradise himself.
The reason he was pierced by Archer of Black’s arrow with practically no resistance is partly due to his weak physical strength, but also he had already resolved himself to become nourishment for “Adam”. Fighting alongside a Master who respected him didn’t feel bad to him at all, but even so, he couldn’t defy the temptation of to have his wish, which he had devoted his entire life to, finally within reach. And he simply thought that he should pay reparations for that choice. For Avicebron, his own life was worthless in his eyes. To put it more accurately, the moment his Noble Phantasm was completed, he logically concluded that his value had become zero.
In other words, though he desperately wanted salvation for his people and for humanity in general, he never really considered himself worthy of that same salvation. Given his wording and description of Adam, I feel like Keter Malkuth's ultimate goal wouldn't have been the complete annihilation of mankind, but rather a selective pruning -- it's hard to tell what exactly the standards would be for which people are spared, but maybe anyone who doesn't make (aggressive?) contact with Adam in the first place would have been deemed worthy of remaining in peaceful Paradise?
Also, maybe before he carried out the actual step of reducing Roche to mulch, he might have considered himself worthy? Though I feel like that's not the case, either ... Even before taking that final step, he must have been aware of his own desires to betray Roche, and I think for someone as misanthropic and hateful of humanity's follies as him, he would have disqualified himself from Adam's salvation. It's not like Avicebron is a particularly disloyal person in the first place; the material book describes him as "basically loyal to his Master," and his relatively good relationship with Roche is described in fairly genuine terms. Which means he always would have been aware of how despicable the thought of betraying Roche would have been, and it's hard to imagine him making excuses to save himself.
So, though one can argue that his sacrifice of Roche was selfish (on top of obviously being incredibly callous and cruel), it's hard to really call it self-serving.
The contradiction between Avicebron's misanthropy and his devotion towards paradise is kind of ... sad, in the first place. His hatred of humanity seems like one that stems from experience and knowledge, rather than a fundamental one -- he's Seen Some Shit, he's always been at conflict with the people around him, his illness made it difficult for him to forge easy connections with people around him, and his murder was spurred by really petty motives, etc. If historical events are also included, he lost his innocent patron/benefactor to a greedy political assassination and spent much of his life wandering aimlessly. In which case, his general distaste for people is almost understandable. But he still values humanity's potential above all else (because he's deeply religious and considers humanity to be His creation, ultimately to be loved and respected) and would sacrifice anything, including his own life and morals, towards that end ... but not really counting himself among the people worth saving. In general, he seems to have always disliked honor and recognition and attention, and found no value in his own life beyond what he could do in service towards the salvation of humanity.
Chocolate mini-golems that cutely waddle around. The wonderful smell of chocolate fills the air around them, so they're popular with children ... But unfortunately, they're not fit for consumption. Regardless, they show up with bitemarks now and again, but the felonious* criminal has yet to be found.
???: "N-no ... It wasn't me ..."
* 'Fel-oni-ous criminal' is a rather clumsy attempt at translating 犯鬼 (literally "criminal-oni") in a clever way. For the record, the ??? uses the same personal pronoun as Ibaraki Douji.
Mashu: This is Chaldea's only Master, Guda. And ... Avicebron: Avicebron. Salieri, are you that Salieri? Salieri: ... your tone of voice is ripe for a misunderstanding. But I will confirm that I am that Salieri. Mashu: ... what does that mean? Avicebron: Salieri is ... Guda: > Is? > He, um, Amadeus ... Salieri: You needn't finish that sentence. 'The one who killed that prodigy, Amadeus,' correct? ... I am those rumors, given physical form. Wait a moment. I will remove this Mystic Code. Mashu: Mystic Code? Salieri: Fh ... This is my true form. Take note of my ranks as a Servant. Mashu: Oh, this is ... Avicebron: Hm. You're weak. To think that there would be a Servant here with stats even lower than myself or Shakespeare. You would rival Andersen, perhaps. Salieri: Of course. I was just a musician. One that didn't even compose any songs that remained famous throughout history. Ordinary, and about as useful as a blunted sword [鈍刀]. Hmph, it doesn't matter. Only one factor -- the belief that I killed Amadeus placed me in the Throne of Heroes. Regardless of whether I actually killed him or not. "I killed him." That is what is believed. Avicebron: In other words ... you are an 'Innocent Monster.' Salieri: ... most likely. Holmes: Certainly. Such rumors were whispered even during Salieri's life. Mashu: Yes, there was even a movie made about it.
I like this little snippet for multiple reasons.
1) The Lostbest 1 3-star combi is cute and I like seeming them interact :) 2) hey Avicebron stop being mean, leave Salieri alone :( 3) Avicebron sucks ass at being tactful 4) at least he's equally blunt about dunking on his own shit stats and weakness, a common trend by this point 5) he aligns himself alongside Shakespeare and Andersen, which makes sense given that they're the garbage stat team, but I just like that his main point of reference is other writers, as opposed to other conventional mage-type Casters
Edited 2019-06-18 19:28 (UTC)
short comic from 'fate/grand order comic a la carte plus! volume 3'
Salieri: Th ... this is ... Guda: Ah, Salieri! Wait, this is ... !
Salieri: Thou art a piano ... [ 'Piano' status applied ] Guda: Is that a new skill?!
P3
Guda: Well, I guess it's fine as long as Salieri is happy ... Mashu: Oh, I've never seen a piano like this before! (I had no idea!)
Guda: Yeah, you only see them at arcades. Mashu: Arcades?
Mashu: Does this also have those bits for the feet? Avicebron: Aah.
Avicebron: For the feet. Guda: I KNEW IT!!
Avicebron: Each key is a seperate golem. Guda: Well, setting aside whether those buttons count as keys, they really do play different notes if you hit'em.
Avicebron: A donut for the 'do.'* Guda: A lemon for the 're'?!
* Corresponds to the JP version of the Do Re Mi song. Do = donut, re = remon (lemon), mi = minna (everyone), fa = faito (a cheer), so = aoi sora (blue skies), la = rappa (bugle), ti/shi = shiawase (happiness)
Avicebron: For 'mi,' instead of using "minna (everyone)", I used a mikan (tangerine). Guda: No, a mikan works just fine! Guda: What would you have done if you were using 'minna'?
Guda: SAY SOMETHING!! THAT'S REALLY SCARY!!
Salieri: The note for 'fa' sounds a little off, I think ... Avicebron: Hm ... I suppose a substitute doesn't work as well. Mashu: What did you use as the core for 'fa'?
P5
Avicebron: Fou. Guda: WHA -- !!
Avicebron: Rest assured, I say Fou, but it was just the Fou you gave me to strengthen myself. Guda: Aw geez, don't scare me like that! [ phew ]
Guda: Anyway, you shouldn't be using those like this! [ hahaha ] Guda: You should be using those to strength yourself! You silly!
Avicebron: But for me ... You're better off if I'm defeated quickly, aren't you? [ Skill: Grants damage immunity to allies when defeated ] Guda: I'M REALLY SORRY!
Guda: Do re mi fa ... then it's 'aoi sora (blue skies)' for so ... but I guess that's kind of hard, huh. [ harsh winds ]
Miscellaneous stuff I want to get to play eventually:
- talk about his childhood - talk about the circumstances of his death - talk about Yekutiel ibn Hasan and his assassination - get physically thrown (optional: out a window) - gets his mask removed abruptly while out in public - carry someone much bigger with surprising ease - use/discuss Fig Tree of Tranquility
The golem could then be deactivated by removing the aleph (א) in emet,[7] thus changing the inscription from "truth" to "death" (met מת, meaning "dead")
oh wait i think it was related to this (also on my desktop)
So volume 6 of the Fate/Apo manga came with an official write-up about Avicebron, and while I'm absolutely not translating the whole thing because it's all dry formal academic language and I'll fucking die squinting at all the low-res kanji, I'm going to pull out the key bits. Most of it's pretty standard information, but I think it's good to know what the writers had in mind as "canon."
- Born sometime in late 1021 to early 1022 in Malaga. - Father was a powerful figure in Cordoba but fled to Malaga due to violence. - Single child. - Lost both parents at a young age and had no other relatives. - Was thankfully protected by Yekutiel ibn Hassan. - Living in Saragosa, studied the Talmud, philosophy, mathematics, astronomy and other subjects, and was quickly acknowledged as a young genius among the other scholars. - However, due to his headstrong and cynical nature, he made a lot of enemies and caused some commotion within the Jewish community. - Started suffering from his illness in his teens, no doubt contributing to his surly personality. The illness caused lesions to appear on his face, arms and legs, and would probably be classified as a skin disease in modern terms. - When he was 17, Yekutiel was assassinated by an enemy and his lost his comfortable standing in Saragosa. - In 1045 (~age 24) finally ended up leaving Saragosa. - After that, never stayed long in one place and drifted between Jewish communities.
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(These are mostly my translations. [Brackets] are a more literal translation while stuff outside of brackets is closer to a localization.)
F/A, EP 14
F/GO, Lostbelt 1, chapter 13.2
lostbelt 1, chapter 21.1 translation
Avicebron: Allow me to confess. I once killed a child.
Atlante Alter: ...
Musashi: ... I see, a child.
Beowulf: ... huh.
Avicebron:
Guda: But that's ... !
Beowulf:
Avicebron:
Guda: Avicebron ... !
Avicebron:
fate/apo materials translation
Height: 161 cm
Weight: 52 kg
Blood type: Unknown
Birthdate: Unknown
Specialty: Poetry
Likes: Solitude
Dislikes: Attention
Image color: Violet
Natural enemy: Sieg
unsourced design notes
Mostly just trivia. Seems to be largely pulling from the Fate/Apo materials book?
bond CE notes
The above text is the description for Avicebron's Bond CE, and seems to be a reference to a flashback scene from Fate/Apocrypha where Avicebron (in life) is seen picking up an abandoned doll after seeing a town(?) pillaged and razed. However, I'm not really sure what historical event this is referencing, if any. It seems the 10th and 11th centuries were actually periods of relative peace for the Jewish population in Spain, sometimes called the Golden Age of Jewish culture in Spain, with Jews being relatively tolerated and allowed to integrate into society. However, others state that this coexistence was uneasy at best; notably, the 1066 Granada massacre occurred during the tail end of this period. (Is it possibly the F/A writers subscribe to the theory that Avicebron died in 1069, and this is the massacre he witnessed?)
Historical inconsistencies aside, I do like the implication that Avicebron's guilt complex isn't something that was solely spurred by the events of F/A and is instead is something he'd also been struggling with in life, and was exacerbated by the events of F/A.
I don't know how much the Fate/ writers take historical accuracy into mind (not very much, I'm assuming), but given the historical Gabirol was consistently described as something of a jerk, the worsening guilt complex would go some ways in explaining his more even temperament come F/A and then F/GO. Though he does show traces of still being kind of a deadpan jerk (especially towards Shakespeare), he's largely just kind of aloof and quiet. It would make sense if, within the Fate/-verse, the arrogance he'd held in his youth was mellowed out with age by a stronger sense of guilt and responsibility, of perhaps knowing that he has no right to be so haughty when he was so powerless and futile in life and so weak compared to the others in the Throne of Heroes.
I do think this also gives a slightly stronger suggestion of what he was thinking when he decided to sacrifice Roche during F/A. While there's always the possibility that he just saw the chance and decided to take it, I do think it's more consistent with the rest of his characterization if he was spurred on by a twisted sense of responsibility and guilt -- the desire to do something to bring peace and salvation to the world, even at a horrific cost. If he'd previously hated himself for having only watched as people died, then it would make sense that he'd equally loathe the prospect of just being on the losing end of a war, and would never be able to pass up the perfect chance to complete Adam.
probable life history
- Born in Malaga, Spain around 1021.
- Parents died when he was very young. Presumably survived off his father's wealth and prestige.
- Was befriended, supported and protected by Yekutiel ibn Hassan al-Mutawakkil ibn Qabrun and moved to Saragossa.
- Began studying the Talmud, Hebrew and Arabic, and astronomy, geometry and philosophy, and began writing poetry in his teens.
- Unfortunately, was also inflicted by a severe skin condition in his teens, which plagued him for the rest of his life.
- When Gabirol was 17 (~1038), Yekuthiel was killed in a political assassination. Wrote a great deal of poetry mourning this loss.
- Lost a great deal of his financial backing and political standing after Yekuthiel's death.
- Around age 20, wrote Anak.
- Wrote a significant amount of critical poetry about prominent members of the Jewish community, particularly for their neglect of the Hebrew tongue, and made many enemies.
- Left Saragossa sometime around 1045 (~age 24), possibly banished.
- Spent several years wandering.
- Traveled to Granada and found a new patron, Samuel ibn Nagdela, though they had a falling out before long.
- Probably wrote Fons Vitae during this time (~late 20's).
- Spent the remainder of his life wandering.
- Most likely died around 1058 (~age 37) in Valencia. The story of his death seems to be considered a legend, rather than fact, IRL, but given the nature of Fate, I'm going to assume that it's the reality of what Avicebron remembers.
Sources:
JewishEncyclopedia, Standford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Encyclopedia Britannica
fgo quest
Thank you to whoever grabbed this so I don't have to actually play a DQ-alike.I mostly just find it funny that they used nyuuwa (柔和) to describe his personality, which feels ... awfully generous, even knowing that these profiles are tongue-in-cheek.Where's the non-pixelated April Fool's version. :(
numerology
incantations
Incantations:
The spells and incantations he uses in FGO are as following. Like the incantation for his Noble Phantasm, they incorporate the names of different sephirah (spheres) from the Kabbalistic Tree of Life. Other than these spells, he's also capable of using golemancy to manipulate the masonry of buildings to eavesdrop on conversations happening inside buildings.
- "Mine eyes see from infinite horizons" [我が目は無限なる視野を持つ] (Chokhmah bel infinite) -- simultaneously activates the numerous golems he'd prepared beforehand. "Chokhmah" (wisdom) is the second sephirah.
- "Mine hand be metal wrought from blue ice" [我が手は蒼氷の錫] (Chesed saphiro) -- creates a golem made of snow. "Chesed" (compassion) is the fourth sephirah.
- "Mine body be a crimson shield" [我が体は赤き盾] (Gevurah armadulah) -- creates a golem to act as a shield. "Gevurah" (strength) is the fifth sephirah.
adam's summoning
I mostly like this passage because it shows some of Avicebron's mentality that the anime version totally failed to show. Also, this bit that Amakusa says a little earlier in the same chapter:
Mostly, these just help contextualize his probably mindset when it came to sacrificing Roche.
Re: Avi's appearances
I know Servants are supposed to take the appearance that represents the pinnacle of their history/legend, but Avicebron is so fucking divorced from any possible image of the historical Solomon ibn Gabirol that his appearance has to be caused by something other than just being a Heroic Spirit. (Interestingly, his first draft design might have been closer to what a purely Heroic Spirit-ified version of him might have looked like. Ototsugu Konoe notes 'Avicebron-sensei's design lacked impact, so I remade his design to be more aggressive.' Also lmao look at beta Achilles' shorts.)
Then, it's probably safe to assume that Avicebron looks like a mostly-regular (scarred, limbless???) person under his armor, and all the tacky bling-blang is of his own design.
His mask, at least, is confirmed to be worn by choice, given what he says in Fate/Apocrypha vol. 3:
It's probably by design that his mask has no features, since (before his F/GO incarnation, at least) he loathed the prospect of having to meet another person's gaze and the mask's featurelessness makes it easier for him to be aloof. Of course, there's also the base assumption that he doesn't particularly like being stared at for his skin condition. I can't identify if the engravings/pins(?) on the mask are actual symbols for anything, but they're visually similar to the simplified versions of the Tree of Life often used in Kabbalah, so that seems close enough.
Which leaves ... the rest of that hot fucking mess. And honestly, I have to assume that it's a combination of utility, aesthetics, and deliberately wanting to distance people.
Assuming his limbs are all artificial, there are certain aspects that seem at least mostly practical. The metal ring around his shoulder, the peg/circular joint at the exterior of his shoulder and the metal plate at the exterior of his elbow seem mostly protective, and possibly positioned to hold the limb together. I have to assume the metallic circle at his palm is some sort of magical conduit. The plate/rock(?) outer portion of his thighs seems to protect the inner portion and his pelvis joints, while the weird baggy kneesocks(???) leave the knee joint exposed so it doesn't snag the fabric. I assume the gear-looking portions of metal at his pelvis and just above the knee are where the limbs can be pulled apart for repairs or whatever.
Aesthetics-wise, all the gaudy gold bullshit is probably just because it looks 'good'??? The triple-eye symbol at his chest, at least, seems to be building off the evil eye/hamsa symbolism. The additional metal bands across his arms don't seem to serve much purpose? And I ... I've got fucking nothing for why he has random metal rings hanging off the back of his cloak and the back of his 'feet.' What a fucking disaster.
Which leaves aspects of his design that I'm going to assume were deliberately crafted to ward people off. Most obvious would be the shoulder-spikes, which serve as a physical barrier to force most people to keep a bit of distance. Additional pointy bits like his knife-feet and the pointy claw-gloves further enforce the image of being untouchable. (Though arguably, the knife-feet do add a few inches to his height. Who knows, maybe he wanted to at least be above 160cm.)
Even if his F/GO incarnation is actively trying to be less aloof and misanthropic, he never does fully get over his hatred for people, so I think it never occurs to him to change his appearances (if it's even possible). That said, he's shown wearing other outfits sometimes: Apocrypha epilogue event, Burning Live Seat CE, Escape from the Pyramid. I guess he favors more billow-y clothes (esp. taking his usual voluminous cloak into consideration), and always covers himself as much as possible.
ANYWAY IN CONCLUSION: PLEASE GOD SOMEBODY GIVE HIM A MAKEOVER.
Rambly bullshit aside, here's my assumptions for how his outfit breaks down on a practical level
- Base: a skin-tight bodysuit, with holes for the 'ports' for his prosthetics, mostly protective and/or a safety measure to make sure his skin's all completely covered
- On top of that, a sort of weird corset/chest-plate??? thing. Some people seem to assume the striped portion of his trunk is just covered in fabric, but (EXASPERATED SIGH) the way his hips are drawn seems too flared-out and structured for that, I think. This would also explain the weird ... lewd, sharp angle at the small of his back. Goes from high up on his throat down to his groin, fastens in the front with the buttons.
- Leg prosthetics attach at the pelvis with something that looks similar to a ball-joint. The outer casing to his thighs and the 'kneesocks' are removable. The leg can come apart just above the knee for repairs at such. Cold to touch. As for how he walks on his knife-feet ... I guess he just has really good core strength???
- Arm prosthetics attach at the shoulder. They're covered in the same material as his bodysuit, but are cold to touch beneath it. I assume they're more intricately made and don't come apart modularly like the legs do since they need to channel his magic.
- He has ports in his back he can materialize/dematerialize at will to attach his extra arms. Only used when necessary since it uses extra mana/Chroma.
- His cloak doesn't have any physical fastenings. It stays on by magic. I fucking hate it. He can make it appear/disappear at will.
- The fabric portion of his body armor(???) is pulled up all the way to his chin, sort of hooks above the ear, and circles around the back to just below the hairline.
- The mask doesn't actually seem to circle all the way around his head??? Presumably it's a package deal with his hat/helmet, or else how the fuck would this thing stay on. Regardless, the mask itself sort of has two parts: a lower/inner portion that covers from the chin up to just below the mouth, then an upper/outer portion that covers the full face. The upper portion is on a hinge that can swivel upwards, so he doesn't need to pull the full mask off if he wants to eat. (The F/GO Apo collab event seems to imply he can just ... eat through the mask somehow??? But that's so fucking stupid, please don't make me play that seriously.) His hat is just very stiff fabric. It's puffy to make room for his stupid fluffy unruly hair or something I guess.
- I think I actually lost more than a few braincells trying to figure this out.
avicebron losing his fucking mind for a hot second
Choices:
> Clearing the forest
> Digging the tunnel
Atalanta: Understood. Then, Salieri and I will keep an eye on the forest.
Avicebron: Then, I'll take the tunnel. Our destination is the cavern in the mountain range that cuts through the forest.
Avicebron: We can get there quickly using golems. Yes. Now, let's go, let's go immediately.
Choices:
> You're really excited, huh?
> Avicebron, is something the matter?
Avicebron: In order to quell this hype, as well, let us head to the cavern without a moment's delay.
Avicebron: GO -- !
Mashu: W-wait! Master, we need to follow him so nobody gets lost!
---
Avicebron: THIS SHALL BE MY WORKSHOP!
Mashu: Avicebron-san?!
Da Vinci: Oh dear. Surrounded by so much material, he's gotten hyped up out of control!
Gordolf: So, um. Can something be done for the Shadow Border's armor?
Avicebron: SOMETHING?!
Gordolf: Ah, yes. That!
Avicebron: Of course something can be done!
Avicebron: Now, let us use the high-speed golems to transport these materials. Let's make haste.
Avicebron: Aah, I forgot to mention. There seems to be a giant demonic boar here, so please do something about it.
Mashu: ... that's kind of a big problem!
Choice:
> Avicebron, you help too!
Avicebron: ................................ understood.
Mashu: (Senpai, he sounds incredibly reluctant!)
Avicebron: Now, let us take care of this.
Avicebron: And then, golems will be made. And as an extra, the tunnel shall also be dug.
Yaga: Digging the tunnel should be the main objective, masked sir.
Mashu: Demonic boar, incoming!
Mashu: Avicebron-san, please summon your combat golems!
---
Avicebron: Then, I will also use this demonic boar's bones to create my golems. Or perhaps they should be called Spartoi [竜牙兵]* instead?
Mashu: Amazing.
Mashu: To think that Avicebron-san would be telling jokes. It's unbelievable.
Avicebron: ... I apologize, I'm fine now. Mm, I've calmed down [cooled my head].
* Spartoi are mythical Greek warriors created by sowing dragon's teeth. The Spartoi bit seems to be because the kanji for Spartoi is 竜牙兵 (dragon, fang/tusk, warrior). And since he's considering using the bones/tusks of the boar, it sort of fits. Avi-sensei, your jokes are so obtuse ...............
no subject
Yaga: Ooh, they're back! Open the gates!
Yaga child: Welcome back!
Yaga child: Mister Golem, make a golem for us, too!
Avicebron: They say that one should learn from suffering while young, but ... given the circumstances, that seems inappropriate.
[ Avicebron makes a small golem ]
Avicebron: A mini-golem. It should be able to help out with your work.
Yaga child: Yaay! Let's boss it around!
Avicebron: I didn't make it for that purpose ...
no subject
Basically I think it's incredibly telling that, even back in Apo when Avicebron was entirely dedicated to his goal of completing Adam and creating Paradise, he never actually intended to be part of that Paradise himself.
From the Fate/Apo materials book:
In other words, though he desperately wanted salvation for his people and for humanity in general, he never really considered himself worthy of that same salvation. Given his wording and description of Adam, I feel like Keter Malkuth's ultimate goal wouldn't have been the complete annihilation of mankind, but rather a selective pruning -- it's hard to tell what exactly the standards would be for which people are spared, but maybe anyone who doesn't make (aggressive?) contact with Adam in the first place would have been deemed worthy of remaining in peaceful Paradise?
Also, maybe before he carried out the actual step of reducing Roche to mulch, he might have considered himself worthy? Though I feel like that's not the case, either ... Even before taking that final step, he must have been aware of his own desires to betray Roche, and I think for someone as misanthropic and hateful of humanity's follies as him, he would have disqualified himself from Adam's salvation. It's not like Avicebron is a particularly disloyal person in the first place; the material book describes him as "basically loyal to his Master," and his relatively good relationship with Roche is described in fairly genuine terms. Which means he always would have been aware of how despicable the thought of betraying Roche would have been, and it's hard to imagine him making excuses to save himself.
So, though one can argue that his sacrifice of Roche was selfish (on top of obviously being incredibly callous and cruel), it's hard to really call it self-serving.
The contradiction between Avicebron's misanthropy and his devotion towards paradise is kind of ... sad, in the first place. His hatred of humanity seems like one that stems from experience and knowledge, rather than a fundamental one -- he's Seen Some Shit, he's always been at conflict with the people around him, his illness made it difficult for him to forge easy connections with people around him, and his murder was spurred by really petty motives, etc. If historical events are also included, he lost his innocent patron/benefactor to a greedy political assassination and spent much of his life wandering aimlessly. In which case, his general distaste for people is almost understandable. But he still values humanity's potential above all else (because he's deeply religious and considers humanity to be His creation, ultimately to be loved and respected) and would sacrifice anything, including his own life and morals, towards that end ... but not really counting himself among the people worth saving. In general, he seems to have always disliked honor and recognition and attention, and found no value in his own life beyond what he could do in service towards the salvation of humanity.
Pathetic. :')
valentine's CE
アヴィケブロンからのバレンタインの贈り物。
ちょこちょこと歩く様が可愛いチョコ式ミニゴーレム。あたりを歩くだけでチョコの良い匂いが漂い、お子様たちには大人気なのだが……。食べられない、という重要な欠点がある。にもかかわらず、たまに噛み跡がついているが犯鬼はいまだに明らかにされていない。
？？？「ち、違うし……吾ではないし……」
---
A Valentine's Day present from Avicebron.
Chocolate mini-golems that cutely waddle around. The wonderful smell of chocolate fills the air around them, so they're popular with children ... But unfortunately, they're not fit for consumption. Regardless, they show up with bitemarks now and again, but the felonious* criminal has yet to be found.
???: "N-no ... It wasn't me ..."
* 'Fel-oni-ous criminal' is a rather clumsy attempt at translating 犯鬼 (literally "criminal-oni") in a clever way. For the record, the ??? uses the same personal pronoun as Ibaraki Douji.
no subject
I like this little snippet for multiple reasons.
1) The Lostbest 1 3-star combi is cute and I like seeming them interact :)
2) hey Avicebron stop being mean, leave Salieri alone :(
3) Avicebron sucks ass at being tactful
4) at least he's equally blunt about dunking on his own shit stats and weakness, a common trend by this point
5) he aligns himself alongside Shakespeare and Andersen, which makes sense given that they're the garbage stat team, but I just like that his main point of reference is other writers, as opposed to other conventional mage-type Casters
short comic from 'fate/grand order comic a la carte plus! volume 3'
P1
Avicebron & Salieri: Master.
Salieri: I want to play the piano.
Avicebron: I'd like to make a golem.
[ GRIP ]
Guda: What kind of alliance is that?!
Avicebron: And so, I tried making something
Guda: Well, that was fast
[ snap ]
P2
Avicebron: A piano golem.
Guda: Pi ................... ?
Salieri: Th ... this is ...
Guda: Ah, Salieri! Wait, this is ... !
Salieri: Thou art a piano ...
[ 'Piano' status applied ]
Guda: Is that a new skill?!
P3
Guda: Well, I guess it's fine as long as Salieri is happy ...
Mashu: Oh, I've never seen a piano like this before! (I had no idea!)
Guda: Yeah, you only see them at arcades.
Mashu: Arcades?
Mashu: Does this also have those bits for the feet?
Avicebron: Aah.
Avicebron: For the feet.
Guda: I KNEW IT!!
Avicebron: Each key is a seperate golem.
Guda: Well, setting aside whether those buttons count as keys, they really do play different notes if you hit'em.
Guda: What did you use for the cores?
P4
Avicebron: A donut for the 'do.'*
Guda: A lemon for the 're'?!
* Corresponds to the JP version of the Do Re Mi song. Do = donut, re = remon (lemon), mi = minna (everyone), fa = faito (a cheer), so = aoi sora (blue skies), la = rappa (bugle), ti/shi = shiawase (happiness)
Avicebron: For 'mi,' instead of using "minna (everyone)", I used a mikan (tangerine).
Guda: No, a mikan works just fine!
Guda: What would you have done if you were using 'minna'?
Guda: SAY SOMETHING!! THAT'S REALLY SCARY!!
Salieri: The note for 'fa' sounds a little off, I think ...
Avicebron: Hm ... I suppose a substitute doesn't work as well.
Mashu: What did you use as the core for 'fa'?
P5
Avicebron: Fou.
Guda: WHA -- !!
Avicebron: Rest assured, I say Fou, but it was just the Fou you gave me to strengthen myself.
Guda: Aw geez, don't scare me like that!
[ phew ]
Guda: Anyway, you shouldn't be using those like this!
[ hahaha ]
Guda: You should be using those to strength yourself! You silly!
Avicebron: But for me ... You're better off if I'm defeated quickly, aren't you?
[ Skill: Grants damage immunity to allies when defeated ]
Guda: I'M REALLY SORRY!
Guda: Do re mi fa ... then it's 'aoi sora (blue skies)' for so ... but I guess that's kind of hard, huh.
[ harsh winds ]
P6
Avicebron: For 'so', I used 'sozai (mats)'.
Guda: WHAT?!
Avicebron: A lamp for 'la', shinzou (heart) for 'shi', dokubari (poison needle) for 'do'.
Guda: Is this the Mats Song?!
Avicebron, Mashu, Salieri: When you know which mats to farm, you can farm most anything~
Guda: Stop that, don't sing that.
Salieri: Hmm ....
Salieri: It's difficult getting a higher score ...
Guda: Did you forget that's supposed to be a piano? You still okay?
Avicebron: Can I also try?
Guda: Woah!
Guda: It's like you have four arms!
P7
Guda: YOU DO HAVE FOUR ARMS!!
Salieri: Then, I'll also try.
[ cramped ]
Guda: ISN'T THAT EVEN HARDER?!
Avicebron: Hmph, then I'll just make more arms for myself.
Guda: This isn't a competition.
Muniere: Oh, what's going on here?
Guda: Muniere
Mashu: And everyone
Muniere: That looks fun, can I join in?
Muniere: Mashu, have you tried this before? We can play with two players, too.
Mashu: Oh, so like a duet!
P8
[ yay yay hahaha ]
Guda: Thanks Avicebron.
Avicebron: Master.
Guda: Everyone looks like they're having fun.
Guda: The staff,
Guda: Mashu,
Guda: And me, too.
P9
Avicebron: Master
Avicebron: I'd also like to give you my thanks.
Avicebron: I find being around people troublesome, but.
Avicebron: Being around others gives me ideas that I could never come up with by myself.
Avicebron: It's wonderful.
Guda: I see.
Guda: Yeah, that makes sense.
P10
Guda: I'm looking forward to working with you more.
Guda: Golem master.
[ heh ]
[ shff ]
Avicebron: On that note, I tried making a new golem-don.
Guda: TAIKO MASTER!!!
wishlist
- talk about his childhood
- talk about the circumstances of his death
- talk about Yekutiel ibn Hasan and his assassination
- get physically thrown (optional: out a window)
- gets his mask removed abruptly while out in public
- carry someone much bigger with surprising ease
- use/discuss Fig Tree of Tranquility
VERY IMPORTANT
Lostbelt 1, chapter 9.4. Gordolf called Avicebron "Avicebron-kun"
AVICEBRON-KUN
GORDOLF IS ONLY 28, WHY THE -KUN
i think about this a lot
i don't remember what this was for but it was on my desktop???
Mazref la-Chokhmah
hamor golim (ハーモル ゴーリム)
Albertus Magnus
Merkaba
Sefer Yetzirah
Shem HaMephorash
emet (אמת, "truth" in Hebrew)
The golem could then be deactivated by removing the aleph (א) in emet,[7] thus changing the inscription from "truth" to "death" (met מת, meaning "dead")
oh wait i think it was related to this (also on my desktop)
- Born sometime in late 1021 to early 1022 in Malaga.
- Father was a powerful figure in Cordoba but fled to Malaga due to violence.
- Single child.
- Lost both parents at a young age and had no other relatives.
- Was thankfully protected by Yekutiel ibn Hassan.
- Living in Saragosa, studied the Talmud, philosophy, mathematics, astronomy and other subjects, and was quickly acknowledged as a young genius among the other scholars.
- However, due to his headstrong and cynical nature, he made a lot of enemies and caused some commotion within the Jewish community.
- Started suffering from his illness in his teens, no doubt contributing to his surly personality. The illness caused lesions to appear on his face, arms and legs, and would probably be classified as a skin disease in modern terms.
- When he was 17, Yekutiel was assassinated by an enemy and his lost his comfortable standing in Saragosa.
- In 1045 (~age 24) finally ended up leaving Saragosa.
- After that, never stayed long in one place and drifted between Jewish communities.