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Merlin Prismriver
| メルラン・プリズムリバー Merlin Prismriver (♫) Marlin Prismriver More Alternative Spellings | |
|---|---|
 Merlin Prismriver in Phantasmagoria of Flower View Poltergeist TrumpeterMore Character Titles | |
| Species |
Phantom (Poltergeist) (not native to Gensokyo) |
| Abilities |
Performing on musical instruments without hands or feet, performing maniac notes |
| Occupation |
Trumpeter of a musical performance ensemble |
| Location | |
Music Themes | |
| |
Appearances | |
| Official Games | |
| |
| Print Works | |
| |
"Alright, then.
My good friend, would you kindly open this door?""Won't you listen to just one song first, my good friend?" — Marisa Kirisame and Merlin Prismriver (Perfect Cherry Blossom Stage 4)
Merlin Prismriver (メルラン・プリズムリバー Meruran Purizumuribaa) is a member of the Prismriver Sisters who performs magnificent music as part of the "Prismriver Ensemble" along with Lunasa Prismriver and Lyrica Prismriver.
General Information
Merlin first made her debut on as the stage 4 boss of Perfect Cherry Blossom and appeared as a playable character in Phantasmagoria of Flower View, although she didn't have her own scenario. She also made a cameo in Hopeless Masquerade.
Personality
Merlin overflows with happiness and has a very good rhythm, she was never seen depressed. When she gets interested in something, she gets obsessed with it until becoming almost a maniac [1]
Abilities
- Performing on musical instruments without hands or feet
In Perfect Cherry Blossom, this is the ability that all three sisters have been specified to have. This probably derives from the ability poltergeists have, put to specific use in performing with musical instruments. By manipulating the spirits of instruments, they're able to manipulate the spirits of notes to create sounds. Since they need not have direct contact with the instruments, they are able to play music impossible to play by hand.
Since the three sisters' musical performance is something that they have learned themselves after Layla's death, their previous ability was probably along the lines of "moving things without hands or feet" or "performing notes without hands or feet". The former is because poltergeists in general can move things and made them float. The latter is because in the general phenomena of poltergeists, they can be heard from anywhere, like a rapping noise for example.
- Performing maniac notes
Maniac notes are notes that enhance people's feelings. Upon hearing her performance and receiving too much influence, a listener's feelings become abnormally good so as not to be able to speak, and would induce a feeling of wanting to do a spontaneous dance. Also, since the sound of trumpets resound far away, it may have an effect on the mind and spirit even if heard from afar.
Species
Although strictly speaking, poltergeists and phantoms seem different, upon some principle in Perfect Memento in Strict Sense, they have been categorised as phantoms. They're not what has become of living people and animals after death, but rather have an existence created by Layla Prismriver. Generally, it may be more proper to call them magic beings or spirits. It is known based on their official profiles and from comments by Eiki that none of the original four sisters are still alive today, though it is unknown how long ago the events were that spawned these three poltergeists occurred.
Character Design
Name
Her full name is Merlin Prismriver (メルラン・プリズムリバー). "Merlin" is actually a male name, but there is the variant spelling "Merlyn" from Middle English (pronounced same) for a female. The name may refer to a wizard from the Arthurian legend that involves King Arthur. "Merlin" is also the name of the bird falco columbarius. There is also Mag Mell, a mythical realm in Irish mythology, where it's a pleasurable land of the dead. In the data files for Hopeless Masquerade, her name was romanised as "meruran", rather than an actual translation.
Sometimes "Prismriver" is translated as niji-kawa (虹川), which means "rainbow river", even though "rainbow" does not mean "prism". Thus, she and her sisters are sometimes referred to as the "niji-kawa sisters" (虹川三姉妹). The middle dot (・) in the middle of her name is used in foreign names to show where the next word begins.
Design
Merlin wears white clothing, is a trumpeter, and is the second sister. She has blue eyes, wavy light-blue hair, and is always seen with her trumpet floating nearby. Her band uniform is pink, with blue and black trim. Her hat has a blue sun decoration at the peak. Her alternative outfit in Phantasmagoria of Flower View is same as her normal outfit, except her dress is cyan, and her trumpet is silver. She is a similar height to Lunasa and is taller than Lyrica.
Appearances
Games
- Perfect Cherry Blossom
During the events of Perfect Cherry Blossom, the three Prismriver sisters are preparing to play a concert for the flower viewing at Hakugyokurou. They attempt to stop the player from entering the Netherworld together, and the progression of the battle is affected by which sister the player decides to focus on attacking during their first spell card. The dialogue they bounce back and forth between each other and the player is actually quite comical, and shows their very individual personalities. Lunasa is mature and mellow, Merlin is happy-go-lucky and clueless, and Lyrica is a sly smart-alack.
- Phantasmagoria of Flower View
In Phantasmagoria of Flower View, Merlin, with Lunasa, follows Lyrica as she battle various characters. The two reveal themselves to her as she encounters Eiki Shiki, Yamaxanadu and Eiki indication that she's not alone. They were following her throughout her scenario because they were interested on what she was doing and to come out when things got dangerous. If Eiki Shiki, Yamaxanadu's Extra scenario is completed, then Merlin becomes a selectable character, although she can only appear in Match Mode and has no scenario.
Spin-offs
- Hopeless Masquerade
Merlin made a background cameo appearance in Hopeless Masquerade on the Palanquin Ship and Divine Spirit Mausoleum stage. She is seen floating happily with her sisters.
- Antinomy of Common Flowers
Merlin made a cameo in Antinomy of Common Flowers in the Concert Stage of the Sun. She is seen playing her trumpet with her sisters and Raiko Horikawa.
Relationships
Merlin has two other sisters, Lunasa Prismriver and Lyrica Prismriver, who all three were created by their fourth sister Layla Prismriver, who is now deceased. They perform music and festivals as a trio. Because these three sisters are created Poltergeists who were made by Layla to have the appearance and personalities of her three older sisters from whom she had been separated, they're technically all the same age since they were presumably created at the same time. They only act out the roles of oldest, middle, and youngest sister based on whichever one they were made to resemble.
Raiko is now a member of the Prismriver band, and she performs with the Prismriver sisters at festivals. It's unknown what exact relationship Raiko has with the sisters.
Yuyuko Saigyouji was their employer during the events of Perfect Cherry Blossom.
Gallery
Artworks
Merlin artwork from Perfect Cherry Blossom
Merlin artwork from Phantasmagoria of Flower View
Alternate outfit from Phantasmagoria of Flower View
Merlin's Cameo from Antinomy of Common Flowers
Illustrations
Illustration of Merlin in Bohemian Archive in Japanese Red
Another illustration of Merlin from BAiJR
Merlin with Lunasa and Lyrica from Who's Who of Humans & Youkai - Dusk Edition
Screenshots
Merlin, Lyrica, Lunasa and Raiko in Visionary Fairies in Shrine
Others
Merlin's Sigil in The Grimoire of Marisa
Skills
Spell Cards
Merlin Prismriver
| Name | Translated | Comments | Games | Stage | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total: 4 | ||||||
| 管霊「ヒノファンタズム」 | Trumpet Spirit "Hino Phantasm" | PCB GoM |
St. 4: E/N — | |||
| 冥管「ゴーストクリフォード」 管霊「ゴーストクリフォード」 |
Nether Trumpet "Ghost Clifford" Trumpet Spirit "Ghost Clifford" |
PCB | St. 4: H/L | |||
| 騒符「ソウルゴーハッピー」 | Noise Sign "Soul Go Happy" | PoFV | Use | |||
| 騒符「メルラン・ハッピーライブ」 | Noise Sign "Merlin Happy Live" | PoFV | Use | |||
Prismriver Sisters
| Name | Translated | Comments | Games | Stage | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total: 7 | ||||||
| 騒符「ファントムディニング」 | Noisy Sign "Phantom Dinning" | PCB | St. 4: E/N | |||
| 騒符「ライブポルターガイスト」 | Noisy Sign "Live Poltergeist" | PCB GoM |
St. 4: H/L — | |||
| 合葬「プリズムコンチェルト」 | Funeral Concert "Prism Concerto" | PCB | St. 4: E/N | |||
| 騒葬「スティジャンリバーサイド」 | Noisy Funeral "Stygian Riverside" | PCB | St. 4: H/L | |||
| 大合葬「霊車コンチェルトグロッソ」 | Great Funeral Concert "Spirit Wheel Concerto Grosso" | PCB | St. 4: E/N | |||
| 大合葬「霊車コンチェルトグロッソ改」 | Great Funeral Concert "Spirit Wheel Concerto Grosso: Revised" | PCB | St. 4: H | |||
| 大合葬「霊車コンチェルトグロッソ怪」 | Great Funeral Concert "Spirit Wheel Concerto Grosso: Wonderous" | PCB | St. 4: L | |||
Additional Information
- Her spell card background has an image of a score for Last Spring, from Two Elegiac Melodies by Edvard Grieg.
- Because these three sisters are created poltergeists who were made by Layla Prismriver to have the appearance and personalities of her three older sisters from whom she had been separated, they are technically all the same age since they were presumably created at the same time. They only act out the roles of oldest, middle, and youngest sister based on whichever one they were made to resemble.
- There's a glitch in Perfect Cherry Blossom where, under very specific conditions, Merlin won't team up with her sisters during the final Spell Card, "Burial Concerto", and instead continues her behaviour from the previous Spell Card. This results in a rather asymmetrical bullet pattern. Additionally, if the final Spell Card is ended with specific timing, Merlin will continue to fire her laser during the end dialogue and the Clear Bonus tally. Amusingly, it's possible to graze and get hit during this period.
- Merlin, along with the other Prismriver Sisters, Mystia Lorelei and Yuuka Kazami, are the only frist-Windows-era-spell card-capable characters not to appear in Shoot the Bullet.
Fandom
Official Profiles
|
|
○騒霊トランペッター メルラン・プリズムリバー |
Poltergeist Trumpeter Merlin Prismriver |
Official Sources
- 2003/08/17 Perfect Cherry Blossom - Stage 4 dialogue; キャラ設定.txt
- 2005/08/11 Bohemian Archive in Japanese Red - Lunasa, Merlin, Lyrica
- 2005/08/14 Phantasmagoria of Flower View - キャラ設定.txt
- 2006/12/27 Perfect Memento in Strict Sense - Lunasa Prismriver, Merlin Prismriver, Lyrica Prismriver
- 2009/07/28 The Grimoire of Marisa - The Prismriver Sisters' Spell Cards
- Silent Sinner in Blue - Prologue (cameo); Chapter 9 (cameo)
- Alternative Facts in Eastern Utopia - From break-up to reformation in just three days. The Prismriver Ensemble 2.0!, The Prismriver Ensemble's break-up!, Raiko's Interview
References
- ↑ Merlin's article in Perfect Memento in Strict Sense
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