William Shakespeare

, also known as , is the Caster-class Servant of Jean Rum of the Red Faction in the Great Holy Grail War of Fate/Apocrypha. Shirou Kotomine assumes command over him before he even meets his Master, and through his machinations he later officially becomes Caster's Master. 
He is one of the Servants summoned by Ritsuka Fujimaru of the Grand Order conflicts of Fate/Grand Order.
==Profile==
===Identity===
A poet and playwright from the (1564-1616).
His father was an affluent man in , but it is uncertain if Shakespeare received a higher education. Half of his life is shrouded in mystery and there are many mysteries in his career, such as an undocumented gap of seven years. In his early days as a playwright, his productions revolved around comedy, then historical drama, before he changed his style for magnificent tragedy. At the same time, he also played as an actor in the underground, and he was the target of slander and derision from influential people. In any case, he just had to write a few works and his reputation didn't know where to stop. Considering how he was belittled by a senior playwright as a "upstart Crow" at the time, it seems that he was quite envied.
He is the only playwright whose fame has reached around the world, he is representative of authors of the western world. His name shines brilliantly on the history of English literature, his popularity as a great man from England is the highest possible. Still having a large influence over modern literature, it can be said that those with no knowledge of his works are to be disparaged as ignorant. It is also said that those looking to trace the source of any piece of modern literature will always find a Shakespearean creation. Having written too many masterpieces to list, his four greatest tragedies rising above all others are "", "", "" and "".
===Appearance===
Shakespeare is described as being foppishly dressed in refined, Medieval-esque clothing.
===Personality===
Shakespeare is a legendary playwright of England, gentlemanly and soft-spoken. Placing the importance of the Story above all else, he will lie and cheat and by any means conduct himself that he might witness the unfolding of a grand tale, beautiful beyond compare. Consequently, he tends to distance himself from mentality of the "participant," taking instead the perspective of an abstract, "Authorial" third person. His regard for others differs by individual, dependent on their qualification as a special existence, or "protagonist." He interacts with "normal humans" only in a shallow, dismissive manner, and expresses an extreme interest in "protagonists." In slight narcissism, he frequently drops such self-authored quotes as, "Things bad begun make strong themselves by ill." He's taken a liking to certain terminology from modern fiction, such as "Death-Flagging." With short and effective words, Shakespeare brings to light that what humans usually keep hidden. This is like suddenly being poked by rambling, incongruous words, so one would probably feel shocked.
In the Holy Grail War, the foremost Servant who "doesn't fight". The more interesting your choices are, more his writing brush freezes over and, conversely, he will probably toss about without showing any motivation the more mediocre things are. Even in the present condition, seems this has not changed.
Shakespeare clearly has a love for his own written works, and likes to be up to date on their status in the modern era, so much that he went to a local bookstore to simply buy a modern printed copy of his stories; from time to time, he would quote from his works, especially when he has the habit of doing so when making a grand entrance. It seems Shakespeare has also taken great concerns over the popularity of his legacy, so much that he became depressed when Shirou Kotomine, a person who had lived in the modern era, had never read any of his works. Shakespeare, after listening to Semiramis, becomes even more depressed as he learns that servants, as they are summoned into the modern world, receive very minimum info about him from the Grail, and nothing about his works.
As the world is the greatest story ever told to him, or so it ought to be in his eyes, he will willingly employ deception, provocation, or anything else for the sake of spinning the story. He greatly loves those who are out of the ordinary from the bottom of his heart, perusing the tales they spin. With greatly exaggerated outbursts of emotion, he acts as he wishes, gracefully admitting that it is suitable to call him a trickster.
====Relationships====
;Hans Christian Andersen
:Still has not decided the circle's name.Fate/Grand Order material I William Shakespeare's Profile, translated by Beast's Lair User castor212.
:“ Fellow Andersen, we are writ'r Servants. Th'ref're, our bodies and ages mean naught, yet nonetheless, are thou not too young? Alas, the deadline comes for all regardless of age.”
;Leonardo da Vinci
:Key animator.
;Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
:Music producer.
;Blackbeard
:Director. ...Director?
;Jeanne d'Arc
:“Well met, Maiden of Orleans. Uh? Wherefore the backstep? Wherefore the jabbing stance? Art thee p'rhaps bethinking of me as a sandbag?!”
;Mordred / Atalanta / Karna / Achilles / Semiramis / Spartacus
:“T'is been a long time, gentlemen. With thy present, I no longer have reason to take the front lines. Then I h're bid farewe- AH, stand ho, give me a moment. Drag not meeeee!”
;Sieg
:“Aha! A homunculus mixed of Siegfriend and Fafnir; and winn'r of a Holy Grail War? A tale as this wouldn't hurt from being embellished furth'r. Consider making thyself more of a Big Bad. "What is a Big Bad, thy asketh?" Sigh... I suppose t'is a profession.”
;Amakusa Shirou Tokisada
:“Holla, myst'rious Japanese mine own gut tells I've met bef're. Wouldst thee liketh a copy of this mine tragedy? Pardon, recommending thee a tragedy gave me chills.”
;Iskandar / Alexander / Ivan the Terrible / Murasaki Shikibu
:“OOOOH! T'is with the greatest joy that I thank thee for building this colossal library in h're Chaldea! On that, remindeth me of the library's official name. I remember only it being stupidly long.”
;Leonardo da Vinci / Katsushika Hokusai／Van Gogh
:“Cometh h're, painter! Are thou not, in modern terms, a novel illustrator? Hath thee any interest in w'rking for a storybook? Many nowadays buy books for their illustrations.”
==Role==
===Fate/Apocrypha===
====Beginning Stages of the War====
Fate apocrypha shirou caster assassin.png|Assassin, Caster and Shirou conversation
Red Faction.png|The Red Faction on top of Hanging Garden of Babylon.
Caster betrayed his Master after saying "Hmm, this Master seems still and uninteresting. Eh? Saving the entire world? My, that seems fun. I'll help, I'll help!" is essentially the impulsive and unpredictable action of a young man. Unlike the other Red Faction Servants who do not know the extent of what Shirou has done with the other Masters, he has taken to calling Shirou Kotomine his Master along with Assassin of Red. Normally dealing with Berserker of Red's rampages in searching for an oppressor to fight, he has annoyed Assassin quite a bit with his actions. After the meeting with Kairi Sisigou and Saber of Red, he makes an exaggerated entrance, quoting "A horse, a horse! My kingdom for a horse!" from . Keeping up the tone, he acts shocked when Shirou is unable to identify it, that someone from the current age would be unfamiliar with one of his greatest works. Having visited a bookshop searching for his own works, he hands Shirou "The Works of William Shakespeare".
Assassin too is ignorant of the quote, having only gained enough knowledge from the Grail to identify him as "a famous writer of history." Although he continues with his exaggerated manner citing that every line she speaks is a "refusal of my very individuality", Assassin's blunt question of his reason for being there stops his grievings. Telling of Berserker beginning to march on the Black Faction, Shirou plans to take action, while Caster only displays jovialness at the situation. This causes Shirou to realize that Caster is the one who spurred Berserker into action, but he only happily replies to Assassin's anger. He feels that Berserker is pitiful in his search for an adversary, so there would be no way for him to have stood by while he was in anguish. As he seems disheartened when Shirou asks him to stay out of trouble, Shirou tells him that the greatest of Holy Grail Wars will satisfy his love of stories.Fate/Apocrypha Volume 1: Apocrypha: Great Holy Grail War - Chapter 4
====Battle At Castle Yggdmillennia====
During the Red Faction's attack on the Black Faction using the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, Caster doesn't openly engage the other Servants in battle, instead using his Enchant to make Shirou's blade, Miike Tenta Mitsuyo, a C-Rank Noble Phantasm. He watches the battle between Shirou and Berserker of Black, using his Noble Phantasm, First Folio, to temporarily immobilize Berserker when he and Shirou flee.Fate/Apocrypha Volume 2: Round Dance of Black / Festival of Red - Chapter 3
====Shirou's Identity====
When Shirou's true identity as Amakusa Shirou Tokisada is revealed, the Red Faction Servants, apart from Caster and Assassin, are greatly shocked. When the other Servants question Caster, he confirms that he did indeed know about Shirou's identity and goal from the very beginning. When he is asked if Shirou is sane, Caster dismisses the question, saying that Shirou has overcome great difficulties to reach the current conclusion. He also tells that he helps Shirou simply due to his story interesting him.
====The Final Battle====
Later, when Shirou is about to enter the Greater Grail, he uses his Command Spells to order Caster, forbidding him from hindering his plan, as Shirou knows that Caster wants his story to be a tragedy. Although Caster is displeased by this order, he is forced to obey.
When the Black Faction and Ruler attack the Hanging Gardens, Caster confront Ruler. He uses First Folio to take Ruler through the events in her life, attempting to shake her morals and trust in herself. Ruler is initially unfazed by Caster's trickery, until she sees Sieg being burned in her place. This allows Caster to begin questioning her love for Sieg, something which Ruler doesn't want to admit. Finally, Ruler is also confronted by Gilles de Rais, her friend on life who was twisted and tormented due to her death, now summoned as a Servant, although one with only a small amount of mana. As Ruler lies on the floor, Shirou emerges from the Greater Grail, having activated his wish. Suddenly, Sieg and Rider of Red also enter the room intending to stop Shirou's plan. Caster witnesses Ruler using her Noble Phantasm, La Pucelle, to damage the Greater Grail and watches the battle between Sieg and Shirou. After Shirou is defeated and Assassin fades away, the Hanging Gardens begins to collapse. Caster is seen finishing his story as the floating fortress is destroyed around him, witnessing Sieg in the form of Fafnir carrying the Greater Grail to the Reverse Side of the World. He is astounded by the view, finishing his story and declaring it to be a masterpiece. As he falls down towards the ground and begins to fade away, he says that his only regret is not being able to play the part of the protagonist, instead of the writer.
The final words he said at the moment of his death are one of the few true and honest words said by this man who normally glosses everything over with beautiful lines of literary. Shakespeare actively worked as an actor alongside his career as a playwright. So he probably couldn't help but burn with the desire to act as the leading actor on the grand stage of the Great Holy Grail War.
===Fate/Grand Order===
====Fourth Singularity: London====
Shakespeare is a Servant that materialized from The Demonic Fog. Shortly after his summoning, he is confronted by both Ritsuka's party and Paracelsus von Hohenheim, who sought to recruit him for Project Demonic Fog. After Paracelsus is defeated, the group return to Henry Jekyll's apartment with Shakespeare.Fate/Grand Order - London: The Death World in the City of Demonic Fog, Section 6: London Night
Later, Hans Christian Andersen requests they retrieve data from the Clock Tower to prove his theory about the Holy Grail War. Mordred and Jekyll however reveal the Tower’s entrance, the British Museum, was destroyed by Project Demonic Fog to remove any opposition. Regardless, the group agrees with Andersen’s request. Shakespeare decides to accompany them, believing the Clock Tower’s ruin will serve as a font of inspiration.Fate/Grand Order - London: The Death World in the City of Demonic Fog, Section 7: One More Mystery
Arriving at the Museum, the group digs through its rubble to find the underground entrance to the Clock Tower. They find it and head down to find the mages were killed. They soon come across a warded library door, so Andersen and Jekyll investigate inside while the others guard the door. The spells on the books prevent them from leaving with them, so the others must defend them until Andersen gets the information he’s after. Jekyll turns into Hyde to help them fight. Andersen eventually finds the data he was after, so the group return to the apartment.Fate/Grand Order - London: The Death World in the City of Demonic Fog, Section 8: The Death of the Mage's Association
After Ritsuka’s party defeat Nikola Tesla and Artoria Alter, Shakespeare goes to the chamber of the fog’s source, Angrboda, with Andersen. He is surprised Mordred didn’t kill Mash for pitying her, having understood her to be the type that does so. Suddenly a mysterious figure emerges from a Rayshift-like distortion. He expresses disappointment in Gilles de Rais, Romulus, Jason, and Tesla for their failures. Shakespeare senses the figure’s magical energy is possibly greater than that of a demon or angel. He understands as a Caster that the magical energy is infinite, crushing its surroundings by merely existing. He and Andersen agree now is the time to flee. The figure then reveals he is the mastermind behind the Incineration of Humanity, Solomon. He reveals the ring of light seen in the skies of the Singularities is his third Noble Phantasm, Ars Almadel Salomonis. Out of his interest in Mash, he summons only four of the Demon Gods and attacks the group. The group kills one of the Demon Gods, however, Solomon kills Shakespeare, Kintoki, and Tamamo.Fate/Grand Order - London: The Death World in the City of Demonic Fog, Section 13: Beyond the Fog
====Valentine Event: Chocolate Lady's Commotion====
Shakespeare wakes up Ritsuka since Mash is busy making chocolates. Other female Servants are also busy making chocolate as well. Ritsuka asks if the Servants will be happy to receive chocolate from them. Shakespeare answers they'd work extra hard if they received chocolate from their Master. He, therefore, decides he and Ritsuka should make chocolate with the ladies.
Leaving their room, Ritsuka and Shakespeare see a hostile entity run into the simulator. After it is destroyed, Shakespeare sees it looks like a Shadow Servant. He then realizes something when Ritsuka notes it smells like chocolate. Mata Hari then arrives and asks Ritsuka if they saw a chocolate run by. Though she doesn't understand why, the chocolate she was melted in a bain-marie fused, took human form, and fled. Shakespeare decides to call these entities Choco-Servants. After Mata Hari leaves, Shakespeare informs Ritsuka that he called Servants with keen senses of smell to help track the Choco-Servants. He denies being the mastermind behind this incident, saying there'd be more drama and tragedy if he were.
Ritsuka and Shakespeare rayshift onto Blackbeard's ship and see him get hit with an explosion. He blames them, but Shakespeare assures him it wasn't them. The true culprit is quickly deduced to be Mephistopheles, who did so because Blackbeard said explode earlier. Shakespeare asks Blackbeard if he's hiding any chocolate on him, having noticed the smell. Ritsuka immediately sees through Blackbeard's attempts to act innocent. Blackbeard decides to fight for his freedom, with Mephistopheles joining. 
After the fight, Blackbeard calls upon Spartacus. Spartacus disappears following the ensuing fight. Shakespeare informs Ritsuka that there are still a few Choco-Servants missing.
Arriving next in Fuyuki, Ritsuka and Shakespeare meet EMIYA. EMIYA tries to convince Ritsuka that receiving chocolate made by Servants is potentially dangerous. Seeing they aren't convinced, he calls upon Diarmuid Ua Duibhne to talk about the dangers of chocolate. Diarmuid recounts his receiving of chocolate in a certain Grail War ended with two people killing each other and him with stomach ulcers. Ritsuka remains convinced, so EMIYA and Diarmuid decide to use brute force. 
After the fight, Shakespeare tells EMIYA that his idea was noble but tainted with evil thoughts. He explains that if Ritsuka were to receive no chocolate from anyone, EMIYA would give them chocolate. Knowing the feeling of not receiving anything all too well, EMIYA gives Ritsuka chocolate he made from leftover ingredients. He and Shakespeare then notice Julius Caesar. Caesar hints the mastermind behind this incident is a recent Servant, who he and Shakespeare both describe as a villain. He tells Ritsuka to chase after them but prompts EMIYA and Diarmuid to fight with him against Ritsuka after Ritsuka told him to stop eating chocolate.
After the fight, Ritsuka and Shakespeare see EMIYA take Caesar on a marathon run, with Diarmuid following. Shakespeare says there is still some chocolate missing.
Ritsuka and Shakespeare meet Paracelsus in London. Paracelsus tells them he will prevent a Holy Chocolate War, where people fight over chocolate, by destroying chocolate as an ingredient. He mentions wanting to grant a girl's wish in the process. He then fights Ritsuka and Shakespeare to prove his plan is just. 
After the fight, Paracelsus laments his loss and the thought of Ritsuka eating that idol's chocolate.  Shakespeare remembers it's the first time making chocolate for many Servants. He suggests getting stomach medicine from Leonardo da Vinci beforehand in that case. After Paracelsus disappears, Shakespeare notices a doll, a large candy, and a picture book.
Ritsuka and Shakespeare find Nursery Rhyme in a decorated room having a tea party with Choco-Servants. Shakespeare tries to convince her to return them by saying the female Servants need them to finish making their chocolates. Nursery Rhyme refuses though because she can't have a tea party any other way. Shakespeare asks Ritsuka what to do, describing a child's love to be fundamentally different from romance. Ritsuka decides to join Nursery Rhyme's tea party to get the chocolate back.
Nursery Rhyme transports them to a field for the tea party. Seeing it, Shakespeare gets the urge to write a bad ending and struggles to keep his right hand in control. Nursery Rhyme says they'll all stay until Valentine's Day is over to ensure the chocolate isn't eaten. Shakespeare reminds Ritsuka that the female Servants will be angry if that happens. He also says inevitability always leads to a bad ending, even for Nursery Rhyme. Nursery Rhyme realizes they want to fight and complies. 
Even after being defeated, she still refuses to return the Choco-Servants. But Shakespeare tells her she'll get cavities if she keeps eating sweets forever. Even though she's a Servant, Nursery Rhyme has a cavity. Shakespeare attributes this to her eating candy made from a Servant's power, but Nursery Rhyme calls it his imagination. He then has Fergus mac Róich summoned to act the part of a dentist. Nursery Rhyme flees when Fergus gets ready to destroy her "cavities" with Caladbolg. Fergus leaves satisfied that he could help fix the problem. With most of the chocolate collected, Shakespeare feels he has peace of mind now that he has the idea necessary for the manuscript of his Valentine Anthology.
====Final Singularity: Solomon====
Shakespeare is amongst the "London" Singularity Servant to aid Chaldea against Demon Gods Pillar.Fate/Grand Order - Salomon: The Grand Time Temple - Act 05: IV / Control Tower Barbatos
====Subspecies Singularity I: Shinjuku====
Shakespeare is imprisoned by the Phantom Demon Alliance, forced to create monsters from his own creations. 
Following a meeting between the Alliance’s members, he asks Baal if he’s going to be released once his formula is done. Baal answers he won’t be and asks Shakespeare if he feels honored to see his works actually existing. Shakespeare answers that, even half-altered, he doesn’t like the prospect of actual monsters escaping into reality. He’d normally spew lines from his own works, but he can only wail and repent now that he’s altered. Baal asks Shakespeare if he's truly a good person if that was the only part affected. Shakespeare answers that he only loves the patterns that humans produce. Even altered, his writer’s instinct remains,. Thus he and Baal will never reach an understanding. Baal never expected Shakespeare would cooperate of his own free will and expects he’ll betray him the moment something new interests him. He then leaves, telling Shakespeare to keep mass producing King Lears.Fate/Grand Order: Epic of Remnant - Shinjuku: Malignant Quarantined Demonic Realm, Chapter 2: Millenium Trap
Shakespeare meets Ritsuka when Yan Qing brings them to Barrel Tower. He warns them it’ll be difficult to escape, given the many Hornets and King Lears patrolling. He then suspects James Moriarty allowed Yan Qing to kidnap Ritsuka, knowing he disguised himself as Hassan of the Cursed Arm using his Doppelganger powers, and left a letter on Ritsuka’s person beforehand. Ritsuka finds the letter, and Shakespeare takes it to read. In the letter, Moriarty assures Ritsuka someone will come to rescue them, and they’ll explain everything. Edmond Dantès then arrives, having come at Moriarty’s behest. He rescues Ritsuka and regretfully tells Shakespeare he has to leave him behind. Shakespeare understands, saying Ritsuka’s safety is of the utmost importance right now. He requests to be rescued when the time comes.Fate/Grand Order: Epic of Remnant - Shinjuku: Malignant Quarantined Demonic Realm, Chapter 10: Prison Great Escape
The real Edmond and Jeanne Alter eventually free him, and he joins them and Hans Christian Andersen to confront Moriarty. He deduces Moriarty absorbed Sherlock Holmes to remain undefeated, so the writers combine their Noble Phantasms to summon the Great Detectives, a cavalcade of Phantom detectives. After Moriarty is defeated, Shakespeare assures him he’s already been recorded as a proper Servant when the former contemplates the possibility of him being summoned. After Moriarty disappears, Shakespeare contemplates staying in Shinjuku for research, but he and Andersen disappear.Fate/Grand Order: Epic of Remnant - Shinjuku: Malignant Quarantined Demonic Realm, Chapter 18: Great Detective's Great Deduction 
==== Subspecies Singularity IV: Salem ====
When Da Vinci learned the Singularity's interior was a recreation of 17th century Salem, she asked Shakespeare and Andersen to write a scenario for infiltrating it. The scenario they wrote was for Ritsuka's party to a troupe of traveling performers. Da Vinci chose Robin Hood, Mata Hari Charles-Henri Sanson, Nezha, and Medea (she refused) to accompany Ritsuka for this scenario, taking Shakespeare's opinion into account.Fate/Grand Order: Epic of Remnant - Salem: The Forbidden Advent Garden, Prologue
When the Salem Witch Trials are mentioned, Shakespeare dismisses witches as another creation of man’s fevered imagination and infinite capacity for self-delusion. While he used them in his play, he never once met an actual witch. He says those who claim witches are real to serve their own selfish ends are simply in denial of that delusion. The people of his time sensed the truth through skin and scent, and even if they rarely put their thoughts to paper, there is an uncollective unconsciousness that fears witches and their curses. Soon Shakespeare explains the scenario that he and Andersen wrote for Ritsuka’s party to follow to infiltrate Salem. He supports Mash’s request to accompany Ritsuka, saying she can be the troupe’s prompter, especially since she memorized the script. After Ritsuka’s party rayshift to Salem, he delighted to see that the Medea, who accompanied them, is a fake when the real one enters the room.
====Event: Inheritance of Glory====
Following the conclusion of the Great Holy Grail War, Darnic Prestone Yggdmillennia, still fused with Vlad III, remained in the Greater Grail. Stilling wishing to acquire the Grail, he manifested mindless replicas of the war’s participating Servants (except the Rulers) to fight endlessly in a recreation of the war inside a recreation of Trifas.Fate/Grand Order - Fate/Apocrypha: Inheritance of Glory, Section 7: Decisive Battle : Ever-Floating GardenFate/Grand Order - Fate/Apocrypha: Inheritance of Glory, Section 2: Castle Defense : Millennia Fortress
Shakespeare, Avicebron, and Jack the Ripper attack Yggdmillenia Fortress, where Ritsuka’s party is based, at night. They are defeated by the group and disappear with the morning light.Fate/Grand Order - Fate/Apocrypha: Inheritance of Glory, Section 3: "Are You Are Our Mommy?"
Due to Sieg’s influence, Shakespeare, Avicebron, and Jack manifest with a sense of self the following morning. The replica Servants attack the fortress again later that night. As the group prepares to defend it, Chiron tells Shakespeare to buff whichever side he finds the most entertaining. Shakespeare goes with Ritsuka. During the battle, however, the replica Shakespeare infiltrates the fortress and tries to kill Shakespeare. Fortunately, Shakespeare was able to defend himself and kill his counterpart. The others return come morning, having correctly realized that the fortress was infiltrated. But Ritsuka suspects that Shakespeare may have been replaced. Chiron, therefore, has Shakespeare stay close to him until new Servants arrive under the threat of death,Fate/Grand Order - Fate/Apocrypha: Inheritance of Glory, Section 4: Showdown : Twin Swords & A Cavalry
Atalanta, Spartacus, and Frankenstein later re-materialize and help defend the fortress that night. The next day, the group is joined by the re-materialized Astolfo, Siegfried, and Mordred. During a meeting in the garden, it is determined that the Hanging Gardens of Babylon is the enemy base. While agreeing with a direct assault, Chiron warns their chances of success will be low since twelve Servants will be guarding the Gardens. Avicebron advises against attacking the Gardens during the day like Atalanta proposed, as a flying golem he sent there on Chiron’s order was forcibly transported outside when night arrived. Chiron asks Sieg if he can move his main body, Fafnir, now. Sieg answers he can fly at a minimum but warns he’ll fall if hit by a Noble Phantasm, especially Balmung. Shakespeare initially decides not to participate in the coming battle until he realizes he'd be no match for the Dragon Tooth Warriors by himself. He then decides to write a song of bravery to help boost Sieg’s luck. Chiron tells him and Avicebron to ride on Fafnir with Ritsuka and Jack.Fate/Grand Order - Fate/Apocrypha: Inheritance of Glory, Section 5: Mr. Chiron's Combat Lessons The next day, before the assault, everyone eats strawberry sandwiches in the garden.Fate/Grand Order - Fate/Apocrypha: Inheritance of Glory, Section 6: A Dream-like Moment
Later that night, the group flies towards the Gardens. After Karna breaks his shield and blows away Jack's mist, Avicebron decides they have no choice but for him to fight directly. He tells Shakespeare that he'll be the next sacrifice. While he doesn't mind sacrificing himself if there are no alternatives, Shakespeare argues they should try something they haven't yet first. Avicebron concedes and supposes their would-be savior could come in like a shooting star. At that moment, Karna is struck into the Gardens by Mordred and Frankenstein, who launched themselves from the ground with an amplified Mana Burst. The group then enters the Gardens and defeats Karna and Semiramis , who rematerialize with a sense of will come morning. They are then guided by Semiramis to where the enemy resides, the Grail’s chamber.
At the Grail’s chamber, the group meets Darnic Prestone Yggdmillennia, the mastermind behind the recreated Great Grail War. Sieg explains who and what Darnic is. He tries to convince him to surrender, saying a broken Grail cannot reach the Root nor activate the Third Magic. Darnic refuses and reminds the group that he already controls 87% of the Grail. He declares that as long as he possesses the Grail, none of them will ever disappear, but they will once he’s gone. He then proposes using the Grail to incarnate them if they agree to join him. But they all refuse his proposal on their own principles as heroes. Expecting that to be their answer, Darnic connects to a replica of the Grail that emerges from within the Grail to Sieg’s shock. He then fights the group by having the replica Grail continually spawn replica Servants. The group struggle at first since the replica Grail is using their class affinities against them, so they decide to do the same.Fate/Grand Order - Fate/Apocrypha: Inheritance of Glory, Section 8: Golden Yggdmillennia: Tree of a Thousand Realms
After the replica Grail is destroyed, Darnic refuses to give up when he’s struck by Kazikli Bey from the supposedly sealed Vlad. Unlike the others though, he retained his memories of the Great Grail War due to Darnic fusing with him during it. He eventually convinces Darnic to accept that his broken dream can never be recovered. After Darnic and Vlad disappeared, Semiramis teleports the group back to the ground.Fate/Grand Order - Fate/Apocrypha: Inheritance of Glory, Section 9: Thus, It Went Into Hibernation Mode
On the ground, Shakespeare is disappointed there wasn't enough tragedy to please him, saying a great tragedy adds to a happy ending. He was satisfied by the way Darnic departed, though, feeling a bit envious that the mage pursued his dream even in death. He and Avicebron then disappear together.
====Interlude====
In his interlude Curtain Call, Shakespeare wants to perform an improv with Ritsuka and Mash to bring happiness to the townspeople. However before Shakespeare is able to convince Mash to participate in the play, monsters attack the town. After defeating the monsters, Shakespeare decides to make Ritsuka and Mash the protagonists of his new play where they defend the people from monsters. Mash then suspects that Shakespeare is the one who summoned the monsters, but he refutes her suspicions by saying he has no skill in magecraft to do such a thing. He claims that the antagonist is someone he refers to as "S", who has grown frustrated with the town's peace and turned the people into daemons. After defeating the daemons the town suddenly disappears, but Shakespeare subtly suggests that it was a illusion he constructed.
==Abilities==
Although he is a Caster, he can use almost no Magecraft. He has absolutely no fighting power. However, his fame has spread across almost the entire world, and the illusions created by the "theatrical troupe" are a form of magecraft. Though incapable of dealing direct damage, it is perfect for wreaking chaos and confusion, but he also sometimes sends his own allies into disorder. He's the best when it comes to powering up his Master. The more of a character that his Master is, the more his writing excels, or so he says. In other words, strengthening his Master and having him fight as an Assassin is Shakespeare’s style of fighting in a Holy Grail War. Naturally, no matter how much he strengthens his Master, the chances of them beating a Servant is extremely low—but it's said that he managed to bring about that unlikely possibility just once in one of the subspecies Holy Grail Wars.
===Skills===
====Class Skills ====
*Territory Creation (C Rank): He does not make a Workshop but rather a "Study", where he can spin stories.
*Item Construction (— Rank): He lost this Skill in favor of the Enchant Skill.
==== Personal Skills ====
* Enchant (A Rank): It is a skill that causes concept endowment towards weapons. It could also be called "Literary Masterpiece Endowment". For writers who have left their names in history, there is a good chance that they will possess such a skill or Noble Phantasm.
 Originally this indicate a magical concept endowment deed, but in Shakespeare this is carried out by drawing a composition. It drags out a power surpassing the limits of said weapon. Able to add powerful functions to other's important items. Basically an ability which strengths the Master's fighting abilities. He himself is the audience, spectating the battle, irritating his master by inquiring about the master's every state of mind. It consists of making a passionate poem that begins with the following preface: "I will now explain this person's amazingness in minute detail, so please listen without thinking it tedious, everyone." For Shakespeare with his extraordinary fame, he can produce even Noble Phantasms of C~E rank. For making an E rank Noble Phantasm, it would be at the level of turning a pebble lying anywhere on the road into a Noble Phantasm. For D rank, it would be a mass-producible manufactured item like a modern weapon. To reach C rank, it needs to be weapon with sufficient spiritual status for a literary master like him to express. It can raise the sharpness of a blade by saying "it can cut all things" and increase the sturdiness of the blade by saying "it can receive all attacks", but either way, it requires literary expression great enough to move the readers in order for it to take effect. In this war, he used Enchant on "Miike Tenta Mitsuyo", it became a C rank Noble Phantasm.
* Self-Preservation (B Rank): Though he possesses no combat capabilities, so long as he preserves his Master's safety to the lowest possible degree, he maintains the skill to escape from nearly all harm—meaning that he never engages any opponents himself. Shakespeare favors a "high risk, high return" tactic, where "returns" is related to the fruits of his observation.
* The Globe (C Rank): A miniature magecraft version of Shakespeare Noble Phantasm, First Folio. Unlike his Noble Phantasm, it does not consume a particularly big amount of mana. It summons and controls at will shadow actors without any combat capabilities. Shakespeare decides the phrases these shadow actors will say, but they automatically follow the target they are mimicking for all the details (like the normal intonation and addresses), so they will not be exposed with respect to that point. Even if you theoretically understand that they are impostors, a very strong will is needed to break out from this magecraft.
===Noble Phantasm===
His Noble Phantasm is First Folio. He was originally meant to possess a second Noble Phantasm, The Globe.
===Other===
During the events in the Shinjuku Singularity, it is shown that Shakespeare is capable of fabricating Phantoms.Fate/Grand Order - Shinjuku Phantom Spirit Incident: Malignant Quarantined Demonic Realm
==Development==
===Creation and Conception===
Shakespeare i.png|Original design
He was designed by and illustrated by Chinatsu Kurahana for the original canceled online game project.
William Shakespeare was illustrated by Ototsugu Konoe in Fate/Grand Order.
Yuuichirou Higashide says he has the lowest position among the masterminds. During the initial plot when Shakespeare was supposed to be an ally, there was a scenario where "just as the protagonist is about to die, his Servant Shakespeare activates his Noble Phantasm and somehow manages to find a way to survive", but the idea was quickly discarded.
==References==
vi:Caster Đỏ
Category:Servants
Category:Characters in Fate/Apocrypha
Category:Magi
Category:Humans
Category:Caster-class Servants
Category:Heroic Spirits
Category:English Servants
Category:True Neutral Servants
Category:Human Attribute Servants
Category:Characters in Fate/Grand Order (Part 1)
Category:Authors
Category:E rank Strength Servants
Category:E rank Endurance Servants
Category:D rank Agility Servants
Category:C++ rank Mana Servants
Category:B rank Luck Servants
Category:C+ rank Noble Phantasm Servants
Category:Introduced in 2012
Category:Voice - Tetsu Inada