Dracula: The Dark Lord (Done) [APPROVED 0-4]

Name: Dracula Vlad Tepes
Original Name: Mathias Cronqvist
Title: Dark Lord
True Age: 1351 (1319 as a Sueki)
Gender: Male
Personality: When it comes to a personality, do you really need anything more to go off of than the name “Dracula”? As it turns out, yes, because this man is not the simple “Count Dracula” of monster movies and popular culture. Reborn out of hatred and mourning, Dracula is a very dark individual, holding little love in his heart for any being; mortal or otherwise. In fact, it was these dark feelings that led to his rebirth as a Sueki; grieving and cursing all that is holy for the death of his first wife. Because of this, Dracula seems to have a certain level of disdain towards spiritual beings, as well as humanity as a whole (though this is for slightly different reasons). When it comes to others of his own race, while Dracula does not seem to hold any in disdain, there is still no true loyalty to the race as a whole. Oddly enough, despite his disdain for most, many humans and dark individuals seem to idolize Dracula; even going so far as to worship him. In fact, because of the causes surrounding his rebirth, as well as the powers granted him by the Crimson Stone, many cults view Dracula as a sort of “savior”; believing that he will cleanse the world of its sullied state and bring around a new order born of darkness. While this may not necessarily be Dracula’s ultimate goal, he does not attempt to curb such fanatics; and given his hatred of all that is holy, it is not hard to see where such ideas could have been born. That, and given his powers over darkness, it seems that Dracula is almost fated to rebel against the forces of light.

Overall, Dracula seems to be a rather arrogant individual; not only holding disdain for most other beings, but also believing himself to be superior to most. Of course, there are some merits to such a belief, as the powers granted him through the Crimson Stone are quite immense, and he has obtained the title of the “Dark Lord”. However, unlike many other arrogant individuals, Dracula is, oddly enough, not as vocal about it. Now, while this does not mean that he will deny his belief of being superior, he does not take every opportunity to pronounce how much greater than everyone else he is. To Dracula, his superiority is simply fact, and as such, there is no need of him to go around proclaiming it; all should already know this fact. Granted, because of his disdain, he also does not really enjoy “socializing” most of the time, so in some instances this could simply be because he does not wish to talk to an individual. Still, no matter what he does or does not say, it can still be evident to some that Dracula is an arrogant individual given his airs; the general manner in which he holds himself. While not so much intentional as it is natural, anyone versed in reading body language can easily tell that he is arrogant. Then again, seeing as Dracula exudes a sense of… not quite arrogance, but a dark, heavy feeling, even those who cannot read body language might still pick up on this fact. However, as Dracula does not usually flaunt said arrogance he can ironically be much easier to put up with than other arrogant individuals.

When it comes to combat, Dracula’s arrogance remains in full force, and unlike normal, he is more prone to flaunt it than normal. Of course, unlike one might expect, Dracula actually takes pleasure to a degree from combat; enjoying not only watching it but also participating in it. While he does believe that none can beat him, there is a certain thrill to combat; crushing those who believe themselves able to stand against him. However, given his nature, Dracula does not actively go out seeking combat, reserving it mainly for those who would dare to stand against him. While there may be some exceptions, his pleasure from combat comes from defeating others, and more importantly dashing their hopes of being able to beat him. Basically, an opponent has to want to fight Dracula, or have an important reason to fight him for Dracula to truly enjoy combat. Of course, because of this, Dracula never really has any stakes to fight for, believing himself to always be superior and not really holding any bonds worth mentioning; so many times a victory for Dracula can feel quite hollow, and he never quite has a driving purpose. The only two exceptions to this, however, would be after the death of his first and second wives; both instances filling him with an unparalleled rage towards those he saw as responsible. So, while he may have no current goals when fighting, the memory of both their passing can fuel Dracula to greater heights, and greater rage.

As for Dracula’s interactions with others… well, there’s really not much to elaborate. As stated before, Dracula hold disdain for most other beings; blaming all that is holy and later spiritual beings for the death of his first wife, Elisabetha Cronqvist, and blaming humanity for the death of his second wife, Lisa. As such, he has sworn revenge against both, so it would be quite difficult to get along. However, it should be noted that his hatred is directed towards both groups more as a whole, and while he may dislike most other beings, there are a few exceptions. Of course, even then Dracula’s aura of arrogance does well to keep most from seeking his “company”.

Appearance:



Appearance Age: 40's-50's
Height: 6’6”
Weight: 165 lbs

The Crimson Stone: Created back when he was still the human known as Mathias Cronqvist, The Crimson Stone is an immensely powerful magical item that serves as the true source of Dracula’s great power. Through the study of the forbidden art of alchemy, the then Mathias Cronqvist was able to create this artifact; fueled by the mourning and rage brought on by the death of his wife Elisabetha. Once created, the stone fuses to the soul of the creator, merging to the point where the soul and stone are indistinguishable from one another. The only way to destroy the stone would be to destroy Dracula, and as long as he lives, another one cannot be made. Because of this, when Mathias became a Sueki, the stone too was able to benefit from his newfound energy. Of course, because the stone is so powerful, before he was turned, Mathias had to endure great and agonizing pain; the stone sapping away at his life as he did not have enough energy yet to sustain it. While this process would not have killed him instantly, Mathias needed a way to sustain the power of the Crimson Stone; otherwise his plan and rejection of all that is holy would have been for naught. However, because of this ordeal, Mathias was left severely drained before being changed; resulting in his physical appearance altering and causing him to visibly age. While he does no longer age, these initial effects of the Crimson Stone cannot be undone.

As for the abilities granted through possession of the Crimson Stone, while they range quite a bit, they are all bound together by a certain concept. All of Dracula’s powers, no matter what form they may take, are tied to darkness, evil, and the visage of hell. While there may be no full direct link to hell, it is at the very least tangential; signifying the rejection of the holy. Because of this, many of Dracula’s spells take on a fiery appearance, and while those hit by them seem to burn in the demonic fire, none of them are actually fire element spells. No, instead they are all based upon one binding element; the element of chaos. Because of their chaotic nature, all of Dracula’s spells are immensely powerful, and very hard to combat. Dracula’s magic, the power granted through the crimson stone, is truly an awesome sight to behold; as it is surely the last thing you shall ever behold. It is this stone that grants him the title of Dark Lord.

Magical Resistance: One of the unique passive abilities granted Dracula through not only the Crimson Stone, but also through his mastery over magic, he has a very high resistance to all other forms of magic. Though he may still be harmed by them, he takes far less damage, and given enough time he can even begin to cancel out weaker forms of magic completely. Though he cannot completely cancel out high magic, he is still able to lessen its effects on himself; sometimes even gaining access to use them as his own. While he does not actually "learn" the exact spells used against him, because of his great skill in magic, he is able to quite easily determine the nature and structures of said spells. Using that, Dracula can then use his own energy along with the Crimson Stone, and esentially synthesize his own variant of the spell; its mechanics closely mirroring that of the original. In general, “magic” is considered to be abilities such as the Shinigami’s Kido or Demon’s spells; racial abilities such as these that require some form of spiritual energy to cast and would affect Dracula. While this ability does not normally provide Dracula with any resistance to a person’s own spiritual powers (such as a Shikai or Bankai ability) there are some exceptions. Oddly enough, this ability does give Dracula some protection over high level powers that would affect aspects of reality (i.e. time and space), as such powers are considered to be akin to miracles, and thus are similar in structure and mechanics to magic. However, while he is able to lessen the effects of such “miracles”, Dracula is unable to cancel them out or learn them to use as his own; it only goes as far as a resistance to them.

Castlevania: A bonus granted Dracula through his possession of the Crimson Stone, and subsequent title of Dark Lord, Castlevania can be thought of as more of an inheritance; a right by Dracula to its ownership. Castlevania is, in fact, the castle Dracula is entitled to; directly tied to his own life. While the castle is currently located on Mount Izvorul Călimanului, however Dracula has the ability to move its location at will, should such a need arise. The castle itself is brimming with magical power, and so long as he is within its chambers, Dracula gains a great boost to his own magical powers.

Eternal Night: An ability most notorious for its effects around Castlevania, Eternal Night is both a passive ability for the castle as well as Dracula himself. In the forests surrounding the castle, as well as within Castlevania itself, it is always night time; the land covered in eternal darkness. As long as the castle stands so too will this ability; fueled by the castles own magical power. It is because of this ability as well that Dracula proposed the usage of Castlevania to Lilith. As the Sueki were creatures of the night, what better place for them to gather than where the night was eternal? As for Dracula’s personal version of this ability, it works slightly differently. Instead of causing it to be eternally night time in a location, the version that Dracula uses for himself simply blocks out or dims all light for Dracula; meaning that even in the middle of the day he cannot be harmed by sunlight. When used at night time, as well as not in Castlevania, this ability is also able to increase his strength by a small amount. This ability is also able to help protect other Sueki vulnerable to the sun, provided they stay relatively close to Dracula. Of course, this is not immunity to light, it is actually blocking out light. Whenever Dracula goes out during the day, he is accompanied by an imposing “dark shadow”, making the area surrounding him seem like it is night. However, as this is not an immunity, should a powerful opponent have an ability that creates light, it may still be able to break through the dark mist and manage to harm Dracula; though it must be very powerful to have a chance.

Instant Army: The second ability of Dracula’s that is connected to Castlevania, this Instant Army serves as the guardians of the castle. The army consists of several magical constructs, such as skeletons and golems, as well as inanimate objects that have been “brought to life”, such as suits of armor. Though their strength may vary, none of these creatures are technically “alive”, only being able to exist because of the vast amount of magical energy held by Castlevania. Of course, because of this, none of these creatures can survive outside of Castlevania (or the forests surrounding it, depending on the creature), unless Dracula were to use his own energy to sustain them. As such, this so called “army” cannot exists outside of Castlevania en mass, and Dracula rarely ever uses his own energy to sustain them; meaning that their primary usage is to protect Castlevania from any unwanted invaders. These creatures are also used to find any Sueki that is lost within the castle, as well as keeping them out of rooms that would either be too dangerous to them, or ones that are for Dracula’s own personal uses.

Power of Dominance: A very unique power of Dracula’s, linked directly to the Crimson Stone, the “Power of Dominance” has become associated with Dracula’s very being by those cults that worship him. To put this power simply, it allows Dracula to “absorb” the soul of any “monster” he defeats. For example, say Dracula were fighting a Hollow. Once he had killed the Hollow, instead of simply allowing it to disappear, Dracula could absorb the hollows soul; gaining its strength on top of his own as well as any powers it may have had. While this is definitely a very powerful ability in Dracula’s arsenal, it does suffer from a few drawbacks. For starters, this power only affects those beings that can be described as “monsters”. So far, it is only known that he is able to use this power on Hollows and lesser Demons, though it is speculated that he would be able to use it on other creatures such as Guardian Beasts and greater Demons; and it would beg to reason that he may be able to use it on a Vizard’s Inner Hollow. Secondly, Dracula must actually defeat said target of this power for him to use it, meaning that he cannot use it on a being that is still alive or that he himself has not beaten. Because of this, the only way he has to actually “spam” this power is to use it against many weak-level Hollows, as anything stronger would require much more effort to fully defeat. Finally, Dracula does not gain control of the soul or its powers forever; each one has a finite amount of time for him to utilize it. This aspect of the power is so that Dracula will not end up completely wreaking havoc on the Soul Cycle; though multiple usages of it within a short time will produce a noticeable effect in the cycle. Once Dracula absorbs a soul, he can use its power and abilities for a single thread; either choosing to use it right away after absorbing it for an instant power boot, or choosing to save it within a special room in Castlevania which only he has access to. For those souls that Dracula chooses to save, the one thread usage still applies, and he can only choose to use one of these stored souls per thread. Once a soul has been used, it returns to the soul cycle; returning to whichever path it would have been sent upon at death. Because of this ability, many of the cult followers of Dracula assume that he has control over death, and while this is not necessarily true, it is easy to see where such a belief could have come from. Also, under special circumstances, should one of these cult members choose to sacrifice themselves to him, Dracula will gain a small increase in power from them, but as most of them are not in possession of great spiritual powers, he will not normally gain any abilities from this, and the small boost will still only last for one thread. Currently, Dracula does not have any souls stored within Castlevania. Also, so long as Dracula is in Castlevania, he can use this ability to absorb any one of his created minions, gaining a small boost of power as well as any ability it might have had; though this can only be used within Castlevania, once per thread, and the minion cannot be brought back unless Dracula gives up everything he gained through absorbing the soul.

Shape Shifting: Having inherited this ability, Dracula can change his shape at will; usually relying upon three main forms. These three forms are a bat, a wolf, and a cloud of mist; though he can use others if needed. When turning into a bat, Dracula actually turns into a group of many bats, and is quite useful not only for dodging, but also allowing him much faster and evasive movement. While in this form, Dracula gains access to the ability “Bat Moon”, in which the many bats will slam into the opponent to cause major damage, before he reforms directly after. For every bat that manages to hit his opponent with this attack, Dracula will also drain a small amount of their blood. The second form Dracula can change into, the wolf, is useful for both stealth and land attacks; granting him great speed and strength. While it is awkward to fight fully while in this form, Dracula is able to charge headlong into an opponent in this form to cause a great amount of damage before returning to his normal form. Finally, Dracula’s third transformation, the cloud of mist, is his most evasive and arguable useful form. While the cloud of mist, Dracula becomes intangible, able to pass through (or more accurately round) attacks and solid objects, and cannot be harmed for the short while he is in this form. If he so chooses, Dracula can also become a cloud of poisonous mist to harm anyone within the cloud for as long as they remain in it.

Regeneration: Dracula’s final inherited ability, his regeneration also becomes more powerful because of the Crimson Stone. Not only does he has the ability to regenerate any lost limb and recover from much damage, but while being stabbed through the heart does prevent this ability, it does not weaken him in any other form; perhaps since Dracula’s heart has long been lost. Most notably, however, Dracula is much harder to kill than any other Sueki. Not only must one tear him limb from limb and burn his remains to ashes, but, thanks to the Crimson Stone, this process must also be done during a solar eclipse. Otherwise, though it may take many hundreds of years, Dracula will eventually be able to revive; brought back not only by the hatred and evils of the world, but also because of the will of those humans who see him as a dark savior. This process, however, has not yet been tested, so it is unknown if he can truly survive such unless it is done during a solar eclipse.

Hypnotism: With little effort, Dracula is easily able to drive the weak minded/willed mad, sending them into a murderous rage. When actually focusing, Dracula can even manage to strip a target of their will and force them to do his bidding, though it will eventually wear off. While this ability can be fought against, it requires a great deal of concentration to fully fight off its effects, and when needed, Dracula can use this as a distraction to deal with any insubordination. This ability stems from the view that Dracula is some sort of "Dark Savior" in the hearts of wicked men, and it draws heavily from the Crimson Stone's powers. Because of this, the only time that the hypnotism can work perfectly is upon those who already worship Dracula; allowing him to directly control their motives. Basically, Dracula works to override the target's will temporarily; overpowering them with the chaotic energies of the Crimson Stone. Of course, should the hypnosis be fought off, then the target will gain an immunity to it for the rest of the thread; meaning that even if he attempts to use it this ability will do nothing. Without consent, this ability can only be used on NPC's and those with Adept or below Willpower; and only on one non-NPC at a time. This ability cannot be used on those who have a Grand Master in Willpower.

Teleportation: Dracula’s main form of movement during combat, his teleportation ability comes in two different forms. The first and arguably simplest is the ability to summon a runic circle beneath his feet that allows him to float just above the ground. While the speed of this movement is not that fast, being that of about a normal walking pace, it does mean that Dracula does not have to put any effort into moving; as well as being a symbol of his arrogance. While he normally only uses this runic circle while in combat, there are certain times when outside of combat that he will use this ability for movement. The second and probably most useful form of this ability is for Dracula to simply teleport. Unlike some others with teleportation powers, however, Dracula’s is not quite “instant”. Upon using this, a black light will shoot forth from the runic circle beneath Dracula, completely obscuring his form as he begins to disappear. While the process of disappearing only takes a second or two, this is still more time than an instant teleportation. Then, instead of simply reappearing right away, Dracula will actually remain disappeared for a short amount of time; usually between five to ten seconds. After this, Dracula will then reappear wherever he so chooses, the process of reappearing taking the same amount of time as disappearing. While this teleportation may be quite slow, it does have a few benefits that make it quite useful. For starters, while Dracula is surrounded by the black light, he is near invulnerable to any attack; meaning that while it is slow, he cannot be harmed while using it. Even if the black light is broken, the attack that did so will still not harm Dracula; only a consecutive attack will. Along with this, as soon as Dracula begins to reappear, he is able to attack; even if his whole body hasn’t reappeared yet. Because of this, Dracula’s teleportation ability can be quite useful for confusing an opponent, and given that because of his combat style Dracula does not move around too much, this is his usual method of movement in battle. It should be noted that, while he can use this ability for dodging, it is not that effective at dodging close range attacks, as once again, the teleportation is really not all that fast. To use it right, Dracula needs at least one second before its usage to activate it.

Demonic Wings: A rather odd yet simple ability, “Demonic Wings” is still powered by Dracula’s Crimson Stone, but it is used through a main staple of his attire; his cape. Using this ability, Dracula is able to morph his cape into a pair of large, demonic-looking bat wings that give him the ability to fly. Unlike his other movement abilities, these wings allow Dracula to both move and fly very fast; seemingly changing his combat style from a tanking mage to a nimble attacker. Not only does this ability allow for flight and fast movement, but the wings themselves can actually be used for combat. The wings themselves are very strong, being fueled by the Crimson Stone, and not only can they deal a great amount of damage, but they can also block just as much. Yes, unlike the rest of his spells and magical abilities, the Demonic Wings seem to be strictly physical combat orientated; giving Dracula an even greater range in battle. Of course, while the wings provide Dracula with a powerful form of physical combat, he rarely seems to rely on them; instead choosing to use his magic most of the time. As one might guess, this preference is born mainly from his arrogance, as he normally believes that no opponent should be able to touch him. However, as Dracula is in no way an idiot, even he realizes that there will be times that he has to rely on physical combat, especially when pitted against extremely mobile opponents. Granted, should an opponent be strong enough to push Dracula this far, chances are he would show more excitement than arrogance at the prospect of being able to crush such a strong foe. Also, because of their strength, Dracula is able to shield himself from intense sources of light by wrapping the wings around himself, should there be any source of light strong enough to penetrate his Eternal Night.

Dark Metamorphosis: Unlike the rest of Dracula’s spells, “Dark Metamorphosis” is a little unique, in that directly linked with him being a Sueki, not just aided by the gained power. Using this ability, Dracula is able to drain the blood of an opponent, but not through the already acquired method of biting, through simple touch as well. Yes, using this ability, Dracula is able to drain the blood of a target through mere touch alone; making him one of the most dangerous of the Blood Affinity Sueki in existence. Of course, as the draining is done through touch, it does not drain quite as much blood as through a bite, and using Dark Metamorphosis will not reset his affinity resistance to physical damage back up to 70%. However, despite these drawbacks, Dark Metamorphosis also has quite a few strengths; the most obvious being that it is a quick and easy way to regain lost energy during combat. Not only that, but after a successful usage of this ability, the strength of his Eternal Night ability is doubled during this period. In fact, for the next post following the usage of this ability (one post each from Dracula and any opponent) the strength of his Eternal Night ability becomes so strong that it immediately becomes pitch black in the thread; allowing no light to shine. Of course, because of the powerful potential of this ability, Dracula must intentionally activate it before performing the contact with his opponent; as not all contact with Dracula will drain blood from the target. This ability can also only be used once every five posts and it is unable to restore Dracula to full energy.

Hellfire: The first spell of Dracula’s offensive magic, “Hellfire” is probably his most often used attack. Of course, despite the name, and the fact that the attack seems to take on the form of fire, neither this spell nor any of his others are truly fire-based magic; all being born from darkness and evil, and belonging instead to the chaos element. Because of this, no matter how they appear, Dracula’s spells are able to affect anyone, even those with a resistance to fire (because as stated, they are not fire). As for the usages of this ability, there are two main ways in which Dracula activates it. The first and most commonly used is for Draula to lift either of his arms to fire a wave of these chaos element fireballs at his opponent. The fireballs are a mixture of red and black energy, and when they hit a target they will burn it with their dark power. Normally, Dracula will fire off three to five of them at a time, though if needed he can fire off a constant wave of them for a short amount of time. The second way in which Dracula uses this spell is a little sneakier and can be used to catch an enemy off guard. Raising either one of his arms again, it would appear to an opponent that he is about to fire off another wave of fireballs. This assumption, however, would be wrong, as instead Dracula will summon the chaos element flames to appear beneath the opponent, before erupting in a tall inferno pillar. However, while an unwary opponent can be caught off guard by this, anyone who is paying attention should at the very least be able to notice that something is different that when Dracula used the fireballs, and if they can time it just right this usage of the spell can be dodged.

Dark Inferno: The second of Dracula’s offensive spells, “Dark Inferno” functions much the same as the first usage of his Hellfire spell; though much more effective. As with Hellfire, Dracula will raise either of his hands to fire this spell seemingly from his cape, though this time the projectiles are much stronger. Not only is each blast of Dark Inferno much larger than Hellfire’s fireballs, they also seem to be composed of a slightly different form of Dracula’s chaos element energy; appearing to be more magma-like than fire-like. Because of their greater size, being about as large as an average adult, as well as having a small amount of a homing ability, each shot fired of Dark Inferno is much harder to dodge than his standard Hellfire. Of course, this strength comes at a slight cost, as Dark Inferno takes slightly longer for Dracula to cast (roughly between one to three seconds longer), and can only be fired off one at a time; though he is still able to this spell for consecutive attacks. Finally, there is one last added perk to Dark Inferno. Should Dracula begin to cast this spell, he is able to “interrupt it” in a sense with his teleportation ability; allowing him not only to dodge an enemy attack, but also allowing him to instantly launch this spell as soon as he begins to reappear. This combined usage, however, can only be used once per post.

Blood Hydro Storm: One of Dracula’s more interesting and unique offensive spells, “Blood Hydro Storm” is seemingly intended to mock those whom he has fed off of, as well as those whose wish to challenge him. Raising both of his hands towards the sky, Dracula begins to not only channel his energy through his palms, but also some of the blood that he has either drank from others or drained through the usage of Dark Metamorphosis. By doing so, in only a matter of seconds Dracula causes it to rain down what can only be described as acidic blood; being able to damage any caught within its downpour. However, unlike the rest of his spells, Blood Hydro Storm is also seemingly able to harm Dracula himself, causing there to be a small area around Dracula himself where the bloody rain does not fall. Of course, needless to say, anyone caught in this downpour will suffer massive damage, as the blood rains down with incredible speed and can last for up to thirty seconds. While not his strongest spell (though it is still one of his strongest), Dracula seems to prefer using this one as opposed to his strongest spells as not only does it have a shorter casting time than his strongest spells, but once the energy and blood has begun to channel out through his palms, this spell's casting cannot be stopped; its duration can only be shortened. Of course, this spell is also a great show of his arrogance, as it shows that any blood that he drains from an opponent is meaningless to him; only to be used to further his own goals. This spell is most dangerous when used directly after Dark Metamorphosis, and it can only be used once every three posts.

Demonic Megiddo: Dracula’s Ultimate and most powerful spell, “Demonic Megiddo” serves as the pinnacle of his hatred and rage towards Humanity, Spiritual Beings, and all that is holy. Of course, like many of his other spells and abilities, Dracula has two different ways in which he can use his ultimate spell. The first, and more common version, as it has a shorter charging and casting time, is for Dracula to summon a gigantic sphere of the dark, chaos elemental energy; looking similar to the projectiles used for his Dark Inferno spell, save for being roughly as large as a medium sized house. After it is formed, Dracula will then proceed to fire the dark sphere at his enemy, it moving surprisingly fast for how large it is. Once launched, this spell seems unstoppable, incinerating anything that comes in its path with its dark energy. Of course, its range is not unlimited, and after traveling for roughly fifty meters the spell will stop and the giant sphere will disappear. Also, after fully charging this spell, Dracula is able to use his teleportation once before firing it, allowing him to occasionally catch an opponent off guard. Of course, while this first use of Demonic Megiddo might be very powerful, it is the second use that truly makes this a spell to be reckoned with. Out of all Dracula’s spells, this second version of Demonic Megiddo is not only his most powerful, but also takes the longest amount of time to charge. Unlike the first version of this spell, the second is not a projectile attack, but instead is a truly enormous explosion of the dark, chaos elemental energy with Dracula as its nucleus; forming a giant pillar of the energy that reaches high into the heavens. In total, the size of this pillar is roughly that of some of the largest skyscrapers, possibly being a bit larger. Anyone caught within the energy will be severely damaged; being incinerated by the chaotic energy. However, not only is this spell extremely dangerous to anyone caught within its range, but even those who manage to dodge the initial blast are still in danger; for so long as the pillar remains, anyone within a few meters radius of the explosion will begin to be dragged into the explosion. Because of the extreme amounts of energy, this spell is able to “drag in” other sources of energy; including opponents with spiritual energy. While an opponent can resist this effect by essentially fighting back against it, trying to do so is very draining, so even if an opponent is not drawn into the energy, they will be severely fatigued by the ordeal; sometimes even passing out afterwards. Finally, this second version of Demonic Megiddo will last for an entire post (beginning as soon as Dracula uses it and not ending until the beginning of Dracula’s next post). The first version of this spell can be used once every three posts and the second version can be used once per thread.

Racial Powers:
Kumitsu: The ability to cover oneself in an artificial veil of shadow that blocks of Reitsu from the outside and world and from within. This allows any Sueki that has covered themselves in shadows to become undetectable. Also, if used at night or in very dark places, the Sueki becomes invisible to the naked eye.

Kumotabi: Sueki latch onto the darkness of shadows and of the night all around them, churning darkness around their feet. After a few seconds of this, the churning becomes an enveloping whirlpool of shadows around their feet that can expand and contract to hold multiple people depending on the reitsu levels of the Sueki using the ability. Once everyone has been highlighted by this ability, the user stops channelling it. The darkness sucks the Sueki into it and disperses. This ability can suck in other races so long as the user allows it. Anybody that stands on the swirling darkness that isn't granted permission to travel by the user will not move at all. During travelling, the Sueki fall through what seems to be an endless chasm of darkness lit by candles on strands of dark material that sway to and fro. The distance required to make it to the other world is about a mile of falling. At the bottom is another swirling vortex that spits Sueki out at the other end.

Child of the Night: When outside in the light of the moon or covered in natural darkness and shadow, the Sueki's body begins to react faster, move quicker, think rapidly and generally become much more aware and agile than if the sun was out. This also means, training and fighting in the moonlight or dark places enhances their potential, increasing their general power by around 10% giving them a small advantage over others that are not one with the night in combat. It's also no surprise that some Sexual activities are held on balconies or in the nearby forest due to the moonlight and darkness that envelops them. It is said to enhance them in the youthing process.

Night Watcher: Most Sueki have the ability to generate a veil of shadows around their eyes, thus granting them night vision. Everything becomes brighter as if somebody had flicked the brightness switch on a video game to the max. This can be stopped by removing the shadows from your eyes. Visually, the Sueki's whites in their eyes turn gray then black.

Solar Frailty: Sueki have a very big weakness: The sun. They cannot come into contact with solar energy or sunlight otherwise the ageing process within their body’s starts to rapidly react and they will die within ten minutes. This makes it difficult for Sueki to fight or do anything while the sun is out and have a disadvantage against solar based characters. Fire, electricity and other non-sunlight abilities do not cause this effect. Thus, candles, light-bulbs etc do not age them.

Blood Sucking Nymphs: Unlike all other Sueki, Dracula is very unique in this regard. While he does survive off of blood, because of the tragedies of his past, the deaths of both his wives, and finally the influence of the Crimson Stone, Dracula does not actually require sexual intercourse to maintain his youth or remain “living”. While he still gains boosts from the act, it is not necessary for his survival, and because of the deaths of his wives, it seems that Dracula rarely even partakes in the act. Of course, because of this, Dracula isn’t able to make himself look any younger than his overall appearance, save through shape shifting; though that can only last for a limited amount of time. Also, because of the Crimson Stone, Dracula is able to survive even without blood for much longer than seven days; though this rarely comes into play as he has a very generous stock of blood in Castlevania. While some of the other Sueki may resent him for his seeming distance from what defines them… well, as one of the original none have had the nerve to say such to his face.

Umbra State: Throne of the Dark Lord
Umbra State Appearance:

Umbra State Abilities: Unlike many other Sueki who undergo little to no change for their final form, Dracula’s Seimei no Honō, “Throne of the Dark Lord” changes his appearance quite drastically. Actually, it would be more accurate to say that it adds to his appearance than truly changes it, as Dracula himself still looks the same; it is only his cape which has changed drastically; taking the form of his true form. The reason for this difference, as well as many of this forms powers, are once again thanks to the Crimson Stone. Of course, appearances aren’t the only thing that changes, as while he is using his Throne of the Dark Lord, Dracula’s entire fighting style seems to change as well. Instead of working as a stationary (for the most part) mage, with his throne, Dracula now essentially becomes a true tank. Instead of having to fight either with his magic or physically with Demonic Wings, in this form, the throne is able to attack physically using its large, powerful arms or any of its demonic heads; allowing Dracula the freedom to use his spells even when having the throne attack. While this may seem like a very unorthodox method of fight (though it really is), it is actually very effective; given the immense physical power of the throne, as well as the fact that, while the throne and Dracula technically fight separately (though the throne is technically connected to Dracula as it grew out of his cape), Dracula is in complete control of the throne; able to move it and have it attack at his will. Of course, because of its size, Dracula does become easier to hit in that this form is rather large compared to an average human; though this is easily counteracted by the fact that the throne takes almost all of the battle damage dealt to him. The only way to harm Dracula himself in this form is to actually hit Dracula and not the throne. While the throne is born from him, Dracula takes no damage from attacks dealt to the throne; only the throne is damaged. Of course, because of this, it is actually possible to defeat the throne and not Dracula, causing him to be unable to use his Umbra State again in the same thread; though even this can take quite some time as the throne is very durable. Not only that, but because Dracula himself does not take any damage dealt to the throne, none of his spells can have their charging or casting interrupted unless the opponent is able to hit Dracula himself. Finally, were an opponent to attempt to attack Dracula himself, the throne is able to fold its large wings to shield Dracula from the attack; either allowing Dracula to catch his opponent off guard with a close range spell, or having the wings themselves violently throw the opponent back with a powerful gust of wind as they unfurl. It is because of these factors, as well as the increase in his magical power, that Throne of the Dark Lord truly is a powerful form, and turns Dracula into an even more powerful foe. (Note: aside from the new abilities and spells that Dracula gains through this form, he is also able to use any of his normal abilities or spells, save for Demonic Wings and Teleportation, as they become redundant/unusable in this form.)

Chaotic Realm: A rather unique ability of Dracula’s Umbra State, “Chaotic Realm” is best thought of as a sort of extension to Castlevania, at least for the sake of ease. Essentially, the Chaotic Realm is a special room within Castlevania only accessible to Dracula; with no actual physical “doors” or entrances to it. Entering this room is done in a similar method to how most would need to enter the main halls of Castlevania, through a portal, though the one used in this ability is slightly different in that it will only lead to this certain room, for anyone else to enter it they must be accompanied by Dracula at the time he enters, and should Dracula so choose, he can block access to anyone who is trying to use this portal at the same time as him. Of course there is more to the Chaotic Realm than just being a “room”, and unlike Castlevania, this is a true combat-focused ability. The room, being large enough to fight in, does not exist as a normal room would; i.e. having four walls and a ceiling. Instead, it is a seemingly empty space, its borders marked off by a vortex of chaotic energy that extend into the sky, well past anyone’s vision. While there is no actual ceiling, at least not one that is reachable, there is a limit to how high up in the Chaotic Realm one is able to get; though more so in an intangible sense, as once that height is reached one simply stops ascending. However, what actually makes this a combat ability is, well… the fact that Dracula uses it in combat. When opening the portal to this room, Dracula is able to have the portal “pull in” as many opponents as he chooses in the immediate vicinity (though he normally only picks one at a time). By doing this, both parties will be transported to the Chaotic Realm; a battlefield with no obstructions and limited space. Of course, this can be quite advantageous for Dracula, as the lack of any true cover means that it is harder for an opponent to block or dodge his spells, and the limited space means that not only will his throne have an easier time attacking the opponent, but that they also do not have as far to run from his spells. Also, because of the dense concentration of “chaos” within this room, all of Dracula’s spells receive a slight (roughly 15-20%) boost in their strength. While this may not be a major enhancement, given Dracula’s already potent magical powers along with the advantages of fighting within this realm and it really does become very dangerous for any opponent. Of course, as powerful as this realm may be, it is unable to hold an opponent within it forever, and after a set amount of time (three posts), both Dracula and any opponent’s taken to the Chaotic Realm will returned back to their locations before being transported. After this ability ends, there is a three post cooldown until it can be used again.

Bloody Nails: One of a new set of abilities granted Dracula through the Throne of the Dark Lord, “Bloody Nails” functions similarly to both a spell and an ability. To begin with, this ability is a type of attack Dracula gains that the throne is able to use; specifically the two large arms protruding from the front. The initial usage of this ability seems very similar to a previous spell, Blood Hydro Storm; save that Dracula will only raise one of his hands to the sky before beginning to channel some of the blood that he has drained. This time, however, instead of being sent up into the sky, the blood is transferred to all five claws on both of the throne’s hands. By doing this, the claws begin to glow red, being infused with the blood that they have absorbed. Once this happens, all the throne must do is slash with its claws to actually use this ability. This ability can be used as either a close or medium range attack, either slashing the opponent directly with the blood still absorbed by the claws, or by firing off the energy as the hands slash, firing off five claw-shaped blades of blood and energy. Of course, no matter which way this ability is used, once it actually hits the opponent, both effects are the same. In addition to doing more damage than a normal physical attack would, the blood absorbed by the claws takes on a corrosive quality, melting through all defenses; both physical and spiritual. Not only does this make an opponent easier to damage, but said defenses (whether they be physical armor or like an Arrancar’s Hierro) will remained damaged for the duration of the fight; unable to be fixed or restored until the battle has ended. This effect, however, only affects the locations hit by Bloody Nails, and to affect any other parts, they must be hit as well. This ability can only be used once (though this includes both hands using the absorbed blood) every two posts.

Devour: Another one of the new set of abilities that Dracula gains access to through his Throne of the Dark Lord, “Devour” is actually one of the more odd abilities to actually witness. Unlike Bloody Nails, this ability is used through the three demonic-looking skulls located on the front of the throne. Also, unlike any of Dracula’s other abilities or spells, Devour takes almost no time to charge and prepare, and is activated simply through Dracula snapping his fingers; meaning that it can be used at the same time he is casting a spell such as Hellfire or Dark Inferno. As soon as Dracula snaps his fingers, the eyes of all three skulls begin to glow red, and to any opponent able to see them, it would appear that each of the skulls is looking directly at them. Of course, this is no mere coincidence, as the actual purpose of their eyes lighting up is for each of the skulls to acquire a target; meaning that this ability can hit up to three opponents. Once a target has been selected, each of the skulls will shoot out from the throne and literally attempt to devour their target. While each of the skulls is still tethered to the throne through tentacle-like appendages, their range is actually quite long being able to go a good twenty to thirty meters before having to return to the throne. Of course, until that distance is reached, each of the skulls is able to freely chase its target; being able to move rather fast for a disembodied skull. Should one of the skulls catch an opponent, it will immediately bite down on the opponent, causing large amount of both stabbing and crushing damage to wherever it bites, before returning to the throne. Should a skull be unable to catch an opponent by the time that it reaches its limit, it will also return to the throne. This ability lasts for an entire opponent’s post when used, and cannot be used again in the very next post.

Harvest: The third of the new type of ability granted Dracula through his Throne of the Dark Lord, “Harvest” is rather unique in how it works; even in comparison to Bloody Nails and Devour. At this point, it would help to explain that, not only are the names of these three abilities used for classification, but they can also be thought of as the name of the part of the throne that uses them (i.e. the arms being named Bloody Nails and the skulls being called Devour). So, not only is the name of this ability Harvest, but so too is the part of the throne that uses it; the demonic-looking female form sitting above Dracula’s right shoulder. Unlike the rest of the throne which does exactly as Dracula wishes, Harvest is unique in that it is seemingly able to act independent of Dracula, though only at times. For starters, for Harvest to act independently, Dracula must activate it; channeling both blood and energy to it similar to Bloody Nails. Once this is complete, Harvest begins to “wake up”; being able to act on its own and gaining a rather impressive, large scythe to use as a weapon. Of course, while Harvest is able to act relatively on its own, it is unable to actually separate from the throne like Devour; instead focusing on more of a close range support for Dracula. Well, “close range” might not be the best word for it, as with the Scythe Harvest is actually able to hit an opponent within the range of the throne’s arms. Of course, what makes Harvest truly valuable is that it is able to attack opponents that are behind Dracula; allowing it to both block and counter sneak attacks. Along with this very useful ability to protect Dracula’s back, Harvest also has two sub-abilities that it can use; one on its own and one in tandem with Dracula.

• Reap: The first of Harvest’s sub-abilities, “Reap” is a relatively straight forward ability that can be used without any input from Dracula. To use this ability, however, Harvest must give up its scythe; meaning that it cannot protect Dracula’s back while this ability is active. For starters, Harvest will activate this ability by throwing its scythe away, only to have it disappear in a swirl of dark energy. Once this has been accomplished, Reap will truly begin to take effect; and for the next two posts, this power will summon multiple sickles from the same black energy to bombard the opponent. Essentially, this ability gives up Harvest’s ability to defend Dracula in order to gain a greater attack advantage. After its usage, this ability cannot be used again for one post.
  
• Hellfire Reap: The second of Harvest’s sub-abilities, “Hellfire Reap” requires both Harvest and Dracula to use. Of course, given its name, it is quite obvious that this ability is essentially an upgraded version of Reap, taking advantage of Dracula’s chaos element. To use this ability, the same procedures apply, though this time, Dracula must also cast his Hellfire spell at the scythe; hitting it as they both disappear in a swirl of dark energy. As with before, the opponent will be bombarded with the torrent of sickles for two posts; however this time, each and every sickle will fire out three of Dracula’s “Hellfire” fireballs, essentially quadrupling this abilities possibly Damage output. Given how many sickles were already being used by Reap, this is a very dangerous ability, and should not be taken lightly. After its usage, this ability cannot be used again for two posts.
  

Let Darkness Rain: One of a few new and very powerful spells that Dracula gains access to in his Umbra State, “Let Darkness Rain” has a very high potential for clearing the field. The best way to imagine this spell is to think of it in much similar terms to a previous ability, Blood Hydro Storm, as the two seem to serve very similar purposes. With this spell, however, Dracula does not use any of the blood he has gathered to fuel it, instead offering up only full chaotic energy. Along with that, not only does Dracula raise both of his hands to the sky to use this spell, but so too does his throne; helping to channel the chaotic energy into the heavens. After doing so, the skies will immediately begin to darken; a phenomenon that can even be witnessed in the dead of night. Suddenly, large blasts of chaotic energy will begin to shoot down from the heavens; almost resembling lightning bolts but black. Though still not as powerful as Demonic Megiddo, each of these blasts is able to cause immense damage, and they will leave the earth completely scorched and barren wherever they strike. Of course, unlike Hydro Blood Storm, the actual “downpour” of these energy blasts is timed out slightly; not as many happening in tandem and slightly more spaced out. This is cause by the fact that each strike of this attack is able to cause so much damage, and therefore is requiring a lot more energy to produce. Also, depending on how much energy Dracula is able to use in casting this spell, it is able to last between one to three posts. Finally, to deliver a truly devastating blow, Dracula is able to use this spell in tandem with Blood Hydro Storm, creating the most powerful version of the two; “Armageddon”. This combined version of the two spells takes slightly more energy and time to cast than either of the two separate spells, but once used, it will last for two whole posts, and the opponent will be caught in storm so violent, it could split the earth in twain. The normal usage of this spell can be used once every three posts and the combined “Armageddon” can only be used twice per thread.

Final Demonic Megiddo – Pentagonal: Though technically still classified under Demonic Megiddo, “Final Demonic Megiddo – Pentagonal” is a third and final usage of that spell that Dracula can only use with the help of his Throne of the Dark Lord. To use this spell, Dracula must first actually begin to split up his Umbra State into five separate pieces; himself and Bloody Nails, Harvest, and the three skulls of Devour, to form the five points of a pentagram. By embracing his hatred and building up the true potential of his Crimson Stone and chaotic element, Dracula solidifies the pentagram formed by himself and the four other “points” by connecting them through strands of his dark energy. Once this has been completed, Dracula’s chaotic energy will flow through all five points, triggering a monstrous detonation at each point to create a swirling pillar of chaos that reaches beyond the heavens as used in Demonic Megiddo’s second usage. Like there, being caught in any one of these pillars will cause immense damage to anyone, and anyone not caught in the blasts will be “dragged in” to any of the five pillars if they are anywhere near this ability (though the effect does begin to weaken with greater distance); and while both the damage and strength of being “dragged in” have been increased greatly, this final spell has one more surprise. While getting caught in one of these pillars could spell certain doom for any unprepared opponent, it is the center of this ability, in the center of the pentagram that is the most dangerous place to be. Any opponent caught here will be unable to leave as soon as the strands of dark energy begin to connect Dracula and the four other “points”; left only to watch as their fate comes to an end. As each of the five pillars exerts great force in pulling in anyone within reach, in the center of the pentagram, these effects overlap; meaning that anything caught in the center will experience the full force of each pillar dragging them into their chaos. Because of the immense power of this spell, anyone caught by this effect in the center of the pentagram can literally be ripped apart into five pieces, before each piece is incinerated in a separate pillar. Of course, should an opponent be able to withstand being ripped apart by such a tremendous force, there is one final threat that they must face. Instead of simply “ending”, this spell has become so powerful that it actually collapses in upon itself; all five of the pillars collapsing together towards the center of the pentagram until their energies collide and create a singularity. Basically, because of the force each pillar was exerting upon each other, their energy becomes compressed as they collapse in upon themselves, and form what could be called a black hole, though only for a few moments. Needless to say, anyone trapped in the center of this pentagram who has survived being pulled apart will be hit by a power beyond compare, and should they survive, there is no guarantee that what comes out could even be considered “alive”. Of course, because of the massive power of this spell, Dracula himself also suffers a few setbacks from using it. Upon this spells completion, his Throne of the Dark Lord will break and he will be unable to use it again for the rest of that battle; ending his final form. Not only that, but until he returns to Castlevania to regenerate his lost energy, all of Dracula’s spells will suffer a 30% loss of power, as well as being unable to cast Demonic Megiddo until his energy is restored. The initial pentagram portion of this spell lasts for one whole post (ending when it is Dracula’s post again) and the collapse and subsequent singularity also last for one post (once again ending on Dracula’s next post). Needless to say, this ability can only be used once per thread.

Family:

• Elisabetha Cronqvist – First Wife (deceased)
  
• Lisa – Second Wife (deceased)

Character Background: The story of Dracula is no light tale, filled with mourning, regret, and above all else… hatred. Born as Mathias Cronqvist in the middle of the eleventh century, his life was unique from the start. In a time when most true education was viewed as heresy, Mathias was fortunate enough to be born to a family who prided their intelligence; possessing one of the vastest libraries in the land. Needless to say, with such surroundings, the young Mathias took quick interest in reading, especially some of the more… unique books in their collection. Hidden among the more scholarly tomes, the Cronqvist family had acquired many books about the secret forbidden art of alchemy; a science that experimented with the arcane. Little did Mathias know then that such knowledge would shape his future, and ultimately lead to the downfall of his life. Of course, aside from an interest in the arcane and a greater intelligence than a good majority of the population, most of Mathias’ early life continued undisturbed.

In a world run by the church and king, there really was little choice for the path of an intelligent man, and as he came of age, Mathias had only two options; swear fealty to church and king, or face persecution. The choice was obvious, and soon Mathias became an agent for king and God, serving as counselor and tactician for the knights who lacked intelligence. It was through this duty that Mathias gained the title of “Cronqvist the Wise”, as well as two persons who would ultimately change his life as a human altogether; Leon Belmont his closest friend and Elisabetha, the woman who would one day soon become his bride. Of course, Mathias and Leon’s friendship seemed almost natural; both coming from nonstandard families and both being more intelligent than their fellow man, though neither one argued the fact that Mathias was the brightest among them. As for Elisabetha… well, as clichéd as it may seem, it was true love at first sight. Elisabetha was a noble, beautiful, caring woman, and the instant Mathias laid eyes on her, he knew that she was to be his. Being drawn to his charm and intelligence, Elisabetha quickly fell for Mathias, and before long the two were betrothed. Needless to say Leon was more than glad to see his friend happily married, hoping that it would help bring the both of them closer to God.

Yes, while Mathias did serve the church, he was never as devout as most. Given that his “choice” to join their order really was out of his hands, Mathias never held any great love for the religion; though through his friend Leon and his wife, now Elisabetha Cronqvist, he came to accept his place. Of course, with all great tales, tragedy was looming around the corner, and these happy, pious days were not long for this world. After a few years of their marriage, it would seem that Elisabetha and Mathias would have to be apart from one another; Mathias being assigned to go with Leon (now a leader of the holy knights) to “fight in God’s name” in the holy land. While Pope Urban had not yet officially declared the First Holy Crusade, the church was still eager to get a foothold in the holy land, and they saw no better method than sending in their greatest assets. Thus, with a long and tear-filled goodbye, the two lovers parted; assured in the fact that the good lord would bring them back together. Unfortunately for them, the lord had not heard their request, and this was to be the last time that Mathias ever saw his dear Elisabetha.

Once in the holy land, Leon and Mathias’ “pre-crusade” went much better than any later one to follow; though this could simply be attributed to their much simpler goals. They were not here to win any wars, merely to gain a foothold for the Catholic Church, an essential staging point for their operations to come in the future. However, just as their mission seemed a success, Mathias received urgent news. Apparently, his wife Elisabetha had fallen ill shortly after their departure, and because of the dangerous nature of their mission, the news had not reached Mathias until a year after the fact. Distraught, Mathias could not remain away from his love for a single second longer than it would take him to return, and Leon being his closest friend knew that there was nothing he could do to stop Mathias. Wishing him all the luck in the world, Leon saw his friend back to their homeland, though even now he had begun to witness a darkness growing behind his friend’s eyes. Although Mathias made it back to England as fast as was possible of the time, his efforts were ultimately be in vain, as Elisabetha had died well before her letter had ever reached him. Not only that, but as he returned to a desolate home, he too received the news that the campaign he had left Leon with had soured; his friend being forced to admit defeat and withdraw. Filled with grief at the loss of his wife, Mathias spent the next many months bedridden; apparently weakened by his sadness. Little known to anyone though, not even Leon, his closest friend, Mathias was planning something… planning his revenge.

As Elisabetha had not only died while Mathias was out fighting in God’s name, but also after they had prayed to him for them to be reunited, Mathias had developed a deep-seated hatred for the lord he had once served. He was already never fond of his circumstances, but Elisabetha’s death drove him over the edge. Using his vast knowledge of the forbidden art of Alchemy, Mathias had a plan to seek his revenge against God; and alchemically crafted artifact known as the Crimson Stone. Known also as the Philosophers Stone and the Gem of Blood, the Crimson Stone was a legendary alchemical artifact, rumored to grant one immortality and power beyond the grasp of even the heavens. Knowing the path he had to choose, Mathias set out towards Mount Izvorul Călimanului, a desolate mountain in the Transylvanian Alps. Rumored to hold enough magic to create an artifact as powerful as the Crimson Stone, Mathias began his long trek, telling none of his goal; save for his closest friend Leon. Needless to say, Leon was greatly distressed by the letter he had received from Mathias; it simply reading where he was headed and that should he still follow the same ideas that Leon should come and find him. Setting off in hopes to stop his friend, Leon managed to catch up to Mathias in a small town at the very edge of the mountain range.

While Mathias knew of his friend’s deep devotion to the church, he had hoped that recent events, as well as their long friendship, would be enough to convince Leon to join his side. Unfortunately, Mathias was wrong, and after failed attempts to persuade the other, the situation eventually led to the two friends being forced to fight; Mathias killing Leon in the end. As Leon died, Mathias held his friend close; mourning the fact that he had been forced to kill his closest friend, and further cursing God for his cruel sense of humor in turning Leon against him. Of course, by now, Mathias’ judgment was severely clouded, and the only thought in his head was to complete his revenge and create the Crimson stone.

After the long climb to the top of Mount Izvorul Călimanului, Mathias quickly began the ritual to both summon and create the Crimson Stone. At first everything seemed to be going according to plan, and after many long and arduous days, Mathias finally crafted the gem he had been seeking. As soon as he laid claim to his prize, however, something rather unexpected began; the Crimson Stone began to fuse with Mathias, quickly becoming a part of his very soul. Needless to say, this process was agonizingly painful, and for many long hours, Mathias was simply forced to endure the pain of having one’s soul irrevocably stained; not allowed to pass out and ease his suffering. Of course, while this was the correct function of the Crimson Stone, Mathias himself had not been fully prepared to receive it, and as it stood, his body did not have enough energy to sustain the stone’s full power. While he had been granted immense power, it had been at the cost of his life and soul, and in less than a year he would have aged through his whole life. Defeated, Mathias sank to his knees, his mind numbed to the pain, as it was as nothing next to his utter failure to take revenge. Crying out into the cold night, he cursed all that had led him down this path; the death of his dear Elisabetha, the “betrayal” of his friend Leon, and above all else the heavens who had forsaken him and all he held dear.

Believing that this was to be his end, Mathias simply sank to his knees, looking out upon the cold, dark world before him. And yet, as he refused to resign himself to begging for forgiveness, Mathias saw… something; a strange figure approaching him in the night. Not knowing who could be strong or bold enough to climb a desolate mountain, nor being able to even care because of all the pain, Mathias simply looked on as the figure came towards him. As this figure began to talk, many of its words were lost on Mathias, the pain of his soul drowning it out. However… there was something that caught his attention, lifting his mind above the pain. What it offered, what this ghostly apparition was offering was… a change, a second chance, and most importantly… immortality. Ignoring his pain, Mathias reached out to the spirit, holding on with all the strength that his body could muster. “I beg of you… take away this miserable existence… allow me true peace” he asked of it, actually begging to be changed. Thankfully, the apparition listened to his request, and he soon felt a new essence… a new life entering into his being. By now, there was no comparable amount of pain to what Mathias had gone through; the death of his wife, his best friend, and the ruination of his soul. As he had experienced so much of it, the pain of simply becoming a new being was as nothing next to Mathias; it simply mixing together with the pain that had become his very life. Nevertheless, he still requested that Lilith remain with him through this change, as solitude had become all too familiar a companion to him by now.

After a full twenty four hours, the change had been completed, and standing upon the mountain was a different man than Mathias Cronqvist. Visibly aged not just by the process of becoming this new race but also because of his ordeal with the Crimson Stone, the “Mathias” that stood there did not know whom he had become; knowing only the grief and hate that had led him there. Not knowing what he even was anymore, let alone who, “Mathias” chose to roam the earth after this rebirth; looking for both a purpose and a name. After years of searching, “Mathias” finally found his purpose; to rebel against this so called “God” that had taken away his life. He also knew what he would call this new self of his, and from that day forward, he became known as Dracula. Of course, Dracula knew exactly where he needed to go to begin his thoughts; back to the top of Mount Izvorul Călimanului. This time, however, there was something… drawing him back to the heights. Upon his return, Dracula learned of his “inheritance” through the dominion of the Crimson Stone; Castlevania.

For the next number of years, Dracula simply remained within Castlevania, observing the surrounding world cautiously. One day, however, Dracula saw something that, well, reminded him of the old Mathias Cronqvist. In one of the towns upon the edges of the mountains (ironically the same one which Mathias had killed Leon in) Dracula spotted… a woman; Lisa. From the moment he laid eyes on her, Dracula felt the exact same emotions he had about Elisabetha. Though he had resigned himself to solitude to fully plan out the revenge he had become immortal to carry out, Dracula was unable to resist the temptations of Lisa, and soon he returned to that small village, and as with Elisabetha, the two knew that they had been destined to meet. Almost immediately Dracula began to fall for her; Lisa being a kindhearted healer who put the thoughts and feelings of others ahead of herself. While one might find it strange to believe, Dracula found this “light” of Lisa’s alluring despite the own darkness of his corrupted soul. Through the time the two spent together, Dracula found himself almost forgetting about his hatred, and after a romantic relationship over many years, the two were finally wed. Of course, Dracula had not yet told Lisa of his immortality or the Sueki, but even then she knew that he was different. Even on their honeymoon, she told Dracula “My darling, I may not know what you are, but that does not change my love for you, however… there are still those who need me, so please… allow me to see out my duties”. Of course Dracula, deeply in love with Lisa, was more than willing to honor her request, and he had decided to tell and turn Lisa once she could live for just the two of them. Unfortunately, it was Lisa’s love for others that would ultimately be her downfall.

One day, she was summoned to the village, as apparently a young boy had fallen ill. Not wishing to bother Dracula, she decided to go out to the village, attempt to treat the young boy, and be back in time to cook supper. However, as she arrived at the village, Lisa was quickly ambushed by an angry mob; accusing her of “witchcraft” as her healing as obviously the “work of the devil”. While these claims were all false, Lisa did not fight back against the crowd, unable to bring herself to hurt her fellow man that she had worked so hard to heal. Thus, by the end of the day, the mob had decided upon her punishment, and within the following hours the wife of Dracula was burned to death as a witch. As she burned, Lisa’s final words were to Dracula… though they would never have the chance to reach his ears. "I would love you for all of eternity my dear Dracula. Do not hate humans. If you cannot live with them, then at least do them no harm. For theirs is already a hard lot."

Upon learning of his wife’s death, Dracula was sent into a rage; going out to the village that had killed Lisa and completely eradicating it. By the end of the day there was not a single living soul left to tell the horrible tales of Dracula’s rage, and all traces of it were wiped from the records of history. From this day forward, Dracula truly grew to hate humanity, blaming their sum total for the death of Lisa, and swearing his revenge against them. With all that he loved taken from him once again, Dracula returned to Castlevania, and after many months of consideration went out to his friends to inform them of his castle, and to offer them refuge within its walls. Because of the events with Lisa, Dracula became quite reclusive after her death; secluding himself from the rest of the world until his revenge would be fulfilled.