No, it's...far more complex and yet more simple than that.
Humans can not control Servants. They can cooperate, they can agree, even forge friendships and alliances...but they can not truly control heroes of myth and legend. Look at one such as Gilgamesh; does he seem like he would take orders from anyone?
So the makings of a Servant and Master contract is sealed with Command Seals. A symbol in three parts, most commonly inscribed on the back of a Master's hand. It represents three absolute orders; for example, Gilgamesh's Master used it to command 'withdraw from battle and return to base' when he was fighting another Servant.
Three orders. As long as they are within a Servant's physical limits and specific enough, they will absolutely be followed independent of the Servant's will.
[Diarmuid took off his glasses, looking physically and emotionally exhausted.]
In cases such as Gilgamesh's, they are necessary. But...when circumstances grew dire, when Kayneth was cornered in a position where he either needed to abandon the Holy Grail War or die...
He used a Command Spell in the worst possible way. And the next thing I knew-...
[Diarmuid raised a hand to his shirt collar and pulled it aside just enough to show a sizable scar over his heart.]
-...my own lance was through my chest. I died screaming, hating him, cursing the Grail--
[His voice cracked, and the former Servant lowered his hand before speaking again.]
All I wanted...was to win the Holy Grail in his name. He never trusted me. I was just a puppet to him.
[Video; filtered]
Humans can not control Servants. They can cooperate, they can agree, even forge friendships and alliances...but they can not truly control heroes of myth and legend. Look at one such as Gilgamesh; does he seem like he would take orders from anyone?
So the makings of a Servant and Master contract is sealed with Command Seals. A symbol in three parts, most commonly inscribed on the back of a Master's hand. It represents three absolute orders; for example, Gilgamesh's Master used it to command 'withdraw from battle and return to base' when he was fighting another Servant.
Three orders. As long as they are within a Servant's physical limits and specific enough, they will absolutely be followed independent of the Servant's will.
[Diarmuid took off his glasses, looking physically and emotionally exhausted.]
In cases such as Gilgamesh's, they are necessary. But...when circumstances grew dire, when Kayneth was cornered in a position where he either needed to abandon the Holy Grail War or die...
He used a Command Spell in the worst possible way. And the next thing I knew-...
[Diarmuid raised a hand to his shirt collar and pulled it aside just enough to show a sizable scar over his heart.]
-...my own lance was through my chest. I died screaming, hating him, cursing the Grail--
[His voice cracked, and the former Servant lowered his hand before speaking again.]
All I wanted...was to win the Holy Grail in his name. He never trusted me. I was just a puppet to him.