 |
This Article Contains Spoilers -
WARNING: This article contains major spoilers. If you do not wish to know vital information on plot / character elements in a story, you may not wish to read beyond this warning: We hold no responsibility for any negative effects these facts may have on your enjoyment of said media should you continue. That is all. |
| “ | Stand up for subhuman scum and you sink even lower. | „ |
| ~ Figarland's supremacist views. |
| “ | The world is heading for turmoil... An unprecedented level of rebellion is imminent. Let us work together to better the world... my fellow Elders! | „ |
| ~ Garling to the Five Elders, as he is appointed as the new Warrior God of Science and Defense. |
Saint Figarland Garling is a major antagonist in the One Piece franchise. He is a high ranking Celestial Dragon that serves as the Supreme Commander of the Knights of God, as well as the biological father of Figarland Shamrock and Shanks. Prior to this, 38 years ago, he was the commander of Holy Knights who instigated the God Valley Incident by recommending the island for the next Native Hunting Competition upon finding it to be rich in various resources and the home of Davy Clan. Subsequently, for the amount of natives he's killed during the competition and for ultimately killing Rocks D. Xebec, Garling had been dubbed a champion of the competition.
Following the events that transpired on Egghead and Jaygarcia Saturn's death, Garling became a new member of the Five Elders, assuming the role as the Warrior God of Science and Defense, taking York under his supervision.
He was voiced by Kazuhiro Yamaji (who also voiced Señor Pink and Gild Tesoro in the same series, and Kenny Ackerman in Attack on Titan) in Japanese and Neil Kaplan (who voiced Madara Uchiha in Naruto) and Sean Letourneau as a young man in English.
Appearance[]
Garling is a very tall and elderly man with long gray hair and beard, shaped in a way that is similar to the moon. He wore a dark blue trench coat with the golden badges of the World Government symbol. He has a red collar and black boots and red sunglasses. Unlike his fellows, he chooses not to wear a resin bubble.
After becoming a part of the Five Elders, Garling wore a suit and cape jacket.
When he was younger, he had blonde hair and wore a knight's outfit with a fur red cape attached to it. Overall, he heavily resembled both his sons in terms of his facial features, only possessing stubbles around his chin and different colored hair.
Personality[]
Garling appears to behave in the same egotistical manner as with all other Celestial Dragons, believing himself to be a god above "trash". He is fiercely devoted to his role as supreme commander and judge, as he is very strict when enforcing his rules. His views of the Celestial Dragons are held in high regard that if one of their own so much as even assists a lesser being, he deems their actions to be an inexcusable offense that makes them even worse than "trash". For this reason, he has no issues with executing Saint Mjosgard, due to his actions of defending Princess Shirahoshi and pirates.
On God Valley, Garling was something of a competitive combatant that enjoyed a good challenge, as he felt that the handicap placed on his points made things all the more challenging for him. He also demonstrated himself to be a completely fanatical servant to Imu, as he organized the Native Hunting Competition on God Valley after discovering a couple of valuable resources there, including members of the Davy Clan. Garling would ensure the act carried on by slaughtering the protesting King of God Valley.
Garling ruthlessly stabs his children's mother.
Outside of his devotion to the World Government, Garling has shown to be extremely apathetic and uncaring towards the people around him, to the point that he is willing to murder them without a second thought. Most notably, he stabbed his own lover in front of their children with no hesitation and left to her die by herself, even after she voiced how she was happy to reunite with him and introduce his children. Beforehand, he calmly told her that her homeland will disappear and that he will claim a new wife in her place.
He is overconfident in his ability, as he had believed a handicap could make his participation interesting. He later had the Knights ready themselves for battle, after hearing that the Rocks and Roger Pirates had arrived on the island even telling the Marines to fall back. However, it is clearly shown that he and the rest of the Holy Knights are completely ill-prepared to face opponents who can seriously fight back in particularly those that have access to Advanced Conqueror's Haki. Having spent years picking on the weak and defenseless for too long have created a false image of invincibility in Garling's mind, causing him to be easily decimated by Rocks D. Xebec in combat as he is far too cocky and ignorant to even realize just how powerful Xebec can be. To make matters worse, he seems to be completely ignorant of Xebec's exploits in fighting his way to face Imu and killed an Admiral, showcasing that unlike the Admirals, he and the rest of the God Knights never actually picking on someone their own sizes. When defeated, Garling was reduced to being angry at his mistake.
His supremacist also makes him incredibly naive as he wholeheartedly believed Shank's blatant lies when he pretended to submit to the God Knights and shared their views on the "lowly" world. He also totally assumed that Shanks had suffered tons of hardships from the world outside Mariejoia, which is the primary reason for Shank to come back to rejoin his father and Shamrock while completely ignorant of Shank's closed affiliation with the Roger Pirate. This is clearly shown that very much like the rest of the Celestial Dragons, he has absolutely no clues what going on outside Mariejoia and most of all his humiliating defeats by the hands of Xebec teaches him nothing.
Upon becoming one of the Five Elders, Garling was quick to establish himself as an equal to the other four, immediately speaking to them in a non-deferential tone, despite being a newcomer. He also believed their joint pursuit to establish order in the face of the global chaos and rebellion.
Abilities and Powers[]
As a Celestial Dragon, he has the authority to do as he pleased, even contacting an Admiral. With his promotion to an elder, Garling commands the highest authority over the World Government, secretly surpassed only by Imu. As an Elder, he has now taken Saturn's former position as God of Science and Defense but whether he has any scientific knowledge is unknown.
As a Knight of God, he is most likely powerful individual, as Monkey D. Dragon, the World's most infamous criminal showed wary at the possibility of fighting them. The fact that he is the Supreme commander also supports this notion, since he has the ability to order his squad. While his skill has yet to be seen, he was confident that he could hold his own in a battle against the powerful crews of the Rocks and Roger Pirates had arrived on the island. The fact that he survived the battle further shows Garling is powerful. Despite his abilities, Garling was no match for Rocks D. Xebec.
Former Marine Vice Admiral Jaguar D. Saul later revealed Garling and most of the Knights of God were immortal. This is confirmed, as he complained about having trouble regenerating during his fight with Xebec.
History[]
Past[]
40 years ago, Garling was already one of the Knights of God visited God Valley and requested that they join the World Government but was refused. When meeting the elders, Garling requested they hold the next Native Hunting Competition there and revealed the island had something that would interest the great one. A year later on the island, he was involved with a red-haired woman and became the father of twin sons Shamrock and Shanks.
The following year, he returned to the island and was greeted by his lover who introduced him to his children. Garling was amused to see she had twins, calling it adorable. When his lover suggested he stay and help her raise the children as a family. Garling casually told her that the island would not be around anymore and if he wins the tournament he will get a new wife. He then proceeded to stab his lover while ordering the Marines to begin the raid. Garling took his infant sons away while leaving their wounded mother to die.
Garling participating in the Native Hunting Competition.
He was one of the few known combatants in the Native Hunting Competition on God Valley. He had his eyes set on making Shakky his wife, telling Shepherd Sommers to stop dreaming of having a chance with her. During this, he had killed the king of God Valley, due to his protests. He was given a handicap of -10,000 points as a starting point, which he wasn't bothered by and instead believed it offered him a better competition. Garling participated in the competition, telling his children watch him carefully.
Garling is utterly defeated easily by Rocks D. Xebec without being able to put up much of a fight.
When members of the Davy Clan were presented, the World Nobles jeered at them and threw things at them. As this occurred, Elder Jaygarcia Saturn praised Garling for his discovery of their enemies but Garling only responded it was mere act of fate. The games commenced and Garling took an early lead in the game, despite his early penalty and bantered with Shepherd Sommers on who would claim Shakky as a wife.
The game did not last long, as Rocks D. Xebec and his crew arrived, followed by the Roger Pirates, various other pirate crews and the Marines, leading to an all-out battle. The Celestial Dragons were soon protected by the Knights of God. Garling engaged Rocks, who made off with his wife and son. While chasing them, Garling noted that the pirate was strong, and his body was taking longer to regenerate, having taken a powerful slash to his head. However, Garling voiced how it was fortuitous to learn that Rocks was a part of the Davy family too. He soon witnessed the family separate and went for a rematch with the pirate. Too cocky for his own good, he was easily decimated by Rock D. Xebec alongside another God Knight and a group of Domi-Reversi Demons made of Xebec's relatives and enslaved people. While laying on the ground, a wounded Garling cursed his failure.
Although he managed to heal these wounds and regrouped with Sommers and Satchels Maffey, to find a nearly dead Xebec. Garling proceeded to take the opportunity to kill him and was declared a "Champion" of God Valley soon after. During the chaos caused by Xebec's earlier arrival, Shakky was able to escape with the Roger Pirates' help while one of Garling's sons Shanks ended up separated from the family, due to Dragon and fell into the care of the Roger Pirates. His remaining son Shamrock went with him back to Mary Geiose and later followed in his footsteps in joining the Knights of God, later becoming a Commander.
About 24 years ago, Garling met Harald, King Of Elbaph after he was inducted by the Elders into their ranks. Garling bestowed upon the king a transponder snail that will activate when he is called on. He also told him not to mention his activities to his people.
Nine years later, his youngest Shanks discovered his true heritage, and returned to the Holy Land. Garling was pleased with this, especially by his son joining the ranks of Knights and showing the same promise as Shamrock. The Supreme commander will introduce his son to Harald while explaining he is the same rank as him.
Not much is known about what happened in between that time span but his son Shanks would renounce his heritage and return to piracy.
Egghead Arc[]
Following the events of Levely, Garling carried out judgement on Mjosgard for his actions against Saint Charloss and his collaboration with Sai and Leo. He proceeded to have him executed in front of a crowd of other Celestial Dragons. Garling voiced disgust at how far Msjosgard had fallen.
He is shown listening to Dr. Vegapunk's worldwide broadcast when the latter states that whoever gets the One Piece holds the fate of the world in their hands. His exact reaction to the broadcast is unknown.
After the Egghead Incident, Garling arrives in the Room of Authority with the remaining four Elders, who questioned his sudden arrival. He informs them that he was given new orders and explained to the shocked Elders that York will be under his supervision, as the position of the Warrior God of Science and Defense was recently passed onto him, while Saturn was killed by Imu for his failure in letting "Joy Boy" escape. As he takes his seat, Garling remarks on how the world is undergoing chaos and hopes that he and his fellow elders can correct it.
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- As of now, Figarland Garling is currently the only member of the Five Elders who has not shown to acquire or own a Devil Fruit ability. He is also the only member of the Five Elders who is not named after a planet, although his hair and beard is shaped like a crescent moon.
- Figarland Garling is the first of the Five Elders to have any confirmed living relatives (alongside Shepherd Ju Peter) and the only one confirmed to have children.
- Figarland Garling's name is likely a reference to Ernest Garlington, a US Army brigadier general. Much like Garling who became a "champion" during the God Valley Incident, Garlington participated in the Wounded Knee Massacre of 1890 and was awarded a Medal of Honor.
- His title of Champion of God Valley is absolutely fraudulent since he did not actually win anything at God Valley to have that kinds of title aside from massacring innocent and defenseless people and most of all executing a nearly dead Xebec. Finally, he technically did not even have Shakky, which is the ultimate pride of the hunting competition at God Valley.
External Links[]
- Figarland Garling on the One Piece Wiki
