Topic: What marks a person as a Dark Lord Candidate?

[Lumi Kløvstad]

Obviously Graham Jones believed that he was the true heir of Dracula because he was born on the day/moment of Dracula's demise; and let's be fair, he got pretty far along with his scheme; acquiring Dracula's power and the ability to Hulk Out, dark lord style is no small feat.

But what about Dario? Or Dmitri? Are there other candidates? Is the criteria really as simple as "be born when Dracula died"? If so, how specific does the timing have to be? By that criteria alone, there are potentially hundreds to thousands of dark lord candidates out there if Soma decides he's not up for the job.

Or, perhaps, this whole "criteria" notion is a load of crap, and anyone could be a potential replacement for Dracula -- all it takes is a suitable surrender to the darkness within and a willingness to go to any lengths to obtain the power (Graham didn't really exhibit any Dark Lord powers until after he stabbed Yoko, for instance).

Dracula himself surrendered to his own inner darkness and was certainly willing to do horrific things to obtain the power. Murder, deception, theft... pretty much the worst stuff in the Bible -- and all were sinful acts Mathias had to commit before he became the dark lord. And we don't know how Walter assumed that mantle either, but it probably wasn't something to do with how nice a guy he was and how many orphans he fed, unless he fed them to the Forgotten One.

I said you’d be fed. I never said who I’d be feeding you to.

BLAAAAARG OMNOMNOMNOM

Clearly Chaos (for whatever reason) views Soma as the ideal heir (having something to do with being the reincarnated soul of Mathias probably has something to do with it), but anyone willing to go the evil distance of evil is likely an acceptable substitute.

Maybe evil just can't afford to be choosy.

Thoughts?

[theplottwist]

OK, many points here. I'll respond to some, some I won't.

(Graham didn't really exhibit any Dark Lord powers until after he stabbed Yoko, for instance).

OK, this one is interesting.

In the game it is never explained what his powers are, but in the light novel, Graham is said to have had the power to "perform miracles" before even getting to the eclipse. With these powers and his charisma, people started following him, believing him to be some sort of messiah. And with this, he managed to build what is described to be a religion. It grew to such enormous numbers that these followers' bodies were used to compose an entire replica of Dracula's Castle, and there were still a lot of people left.

So, while the specific nature of his miracles is not mentioned, it is implied he was able to do things like curing the ill.

And we don't know how Walter assumed that mantle either

We don't know even if he DID assume that mantle at all. Walter is never referred to as Dark Lord in any way.

Clearly Chaos (for whatever reason) views Soma as the ideal heir (having something to do with being the reincarnated soul of Mathias probably has something to do with it) but anyone willing to go the evil distance of evil is likely an acceptable substitute.

This bit is true. The only TRUE requirement for one to become the Dark Lord is the willingness to take over the forces of evil - namely, conquering demons.

First, we see this in Aria. Graham clearly possessed control over the castle, but he was STILL intent on killing Soma because he had "control over HIS demons". Then, in Dawn, Dmitrii pretty much confirms this in all letters, saying that the true heir to the Dark Lord position is not one who inherited powers from Dracula, but one who actually takes control over demons - with or without Dracula's powers.

So, naturally, Soma has the advantage here because he has the power of Dominance, which is a very convenient thing on controlling demons.

Now, to respond the question: I think there is no requirement beyond being born at the same exact moment of Dracula's death to become a candidate "officially". And yes, this means that there could be hundreds of other Dark Lord Candidates over the world. But, ultimatelly, what makes the Dark Lord is the control he exerts over demons.

But, of course, when you have magical powers this task becomes so much easier.

I think the powers simply attached themselves to the candidates by pure dumb luck.

What makes them special is not that they were choosen by these dark powers, but what they do with them.

[zangetsu468]

And with this, he managed to build what is described to be a religion. It grew to such enormous numbers that these followers' bodies were used to compose an entire replica of Dracula's Castle, and there were still a lot of people left.

Constructed from living or dead followers? #legioncastledracula ?
This wouldn't happen to be the towering replica of Dracula's Castle from Dawn would it?

FYI I always thought Graham resembled a well-dressed televangelist.

This bit is true. The only TRUE requirement for one to become the Dark Lord is the willingness to take over the forces of evil - namely, conquering demons.

True, although "Dracula" has been shown to have dominance over beings who are also holy (Archers) or human and undead (zombie soldiers).

[theplottwist]

Constructed from living or dead followers? #legioncastledracula ?

This is exactly what the castle is called on the novel. I'm not even kidding.

This wouldn't happen to be the towering replica of Dracula's Castle from Dawn would it?

Nope. This is another replica.

[VladCT]

This is exactly what the castle is called on the novel. I'm not even kidding.

Does it sound any less ridiculous in Japanese? :V

[Lelygax]

This is exactly what the castle is called on the novel. I'm not even kidding.

Nope. This is another replica.

It happens on the novel? I still have to read it (and would appreciate a direct link )

(Graham didn't really exhibit any Dark Lord powers until after he stabbed Yoko, for instance).

He surely had some sort of power to survive in this castle full of demons alone, while being able to come close and stab a powerful spellcaster (surely he could've used some kind of deception to come closer and stab Yoko, like pretending to surrender, but the same kind can't be done with demons unless he did MGS tactics lol)

I always thought that he also had the power of dominance like Soma, but was unfortunate and didn't found Dracula's powers, maybe because of destiny.

And we don't know how Walter assumed that mantle either

He didn't. In fact Dracula only became a Dark Lord after they killed Lisa, before that he was only rebelling against God with his immortality and gaining power.

Clearly Chaos (for whatever reason) views Soma as the ideal heir (having something to do with being the reincarnated soul of Mathias probably has something to do with it), but anyone willing to go the evil distance of evil is likely an acceptable substitute.

As plottwist said, anyone willing to can become a Dark Lord. But IMO this person needs some kind of power to be able to. In fact if I'm remebering it right, in the novel Olrox tries to become a Dark Lord.

Does it sound any less ridiculous in Japanese? :V

Legion Akumajo Dracula? :V  (I use this emoticon daily with my friends, good to see another person that appreciate it)

[theplottwist]

Does it sound any less ridiculous in Japanese? :V

Oh well, I wasn't being literal with Zangetsu's hashtag.

In the novel, the castle itself is referred to as "Legion" AND as a replica of Dracula's castle (initially thought to be the true castle). Not only it is composed from the bodies of the many Graham followers, but it actually comes alive at a certain point to try to kill the protagonists.

There is a Legion inside who is fought by Julius Belmont, but thanks to the enormous amount of corpses and the fact that it is connected to the castle, it can attack in many places at once, if I remember correctly.

It happens on the novel? I still have to read it (and would appreciate a direct link )

You should thank Shiroi for that. This novel has very important information concerning the lore of the Sorrow saga. It even clarifies that monsters are born out of Chaos (including Death) - which is born from mankind. But beware - the way the story is told can get quite confusing sometimes, where you don't even know who is speaking or what do they mean by what they said. I had to stop translating this to portuguese at a certain point because I was simply not understanding specific sections (I did understand them later but I'm too lazy...).

http://castlevaniadungeon.net/forums/index.php/topic,6118.0.html

[Lelygax]

You should thank Shiroi for that. This novel has very important information concerning the lore of the Sorrow saga. It even clarifies that monsters are born out of Chaos (including Death) - which is born from mankind. But beware - the way the story is told can get quite confusing sometimes, where you don't even know who is speaking or what do they mean by what they said. I had to stop translating this to portuguese at a certain point because I was simply not understanding specific sections (I did understand them later but I'm too lazy...).

http://castlevaniadungeon.net/forums/index.php/topic,6118.0.html

Thanks for the link, I knew about this thread but was a little lazy to search for it, I was active on the forum at the time and maybe even posted in this thread, I don't remember. Anyway, IF you want to I can help you to translate it ( help, not translate it alone, my actual condition makes me prone to abandon projects if I don't have incentive, sadly). I'm part of a blog that translates AVGN episodes, but I've only worker on Board James if that serves as an example of what I can do

Its interesting that this iteration of Castlevania can move and attack, because I thought of doing almost the same thing in a if I was going to do a fangame someday, but it would be the original Castlevania doing that, maybe with Dracula's help. Sadly they already did it 2 times (novel and LoS2? I dont know if they did it on LoS2 for sure...) so my idea won't will be so original anymore haha.

[Dracula9]

I always thought it was a questionable fashion sense that made one a Candidate.

[Lumi Kløvstad]

He surely had some sort of power to survive in this castle full of demons alone

I think that "power" might have been a gun -- Aria itself demonstrates that firearms are effective weapons against the legions of Chaos, and I'm not just talking the game-breakingly uberpowered Positron Rifle either. That handgun that Soma can pick up (a 9 mil too!) can seriously dish out the hurt to even boss level characters when used properly.

I've actually beaten the game using nothing but the handgun (except for movement souls where absolutely required for progression). I will admit the Silver Gun is a better choice, however. This proves two things, in my mind.

1) It is HILARIOUS to see Soma Cruz walk into Dracula's Castle in his fluffy fur-trimmed white coat and Bell-Bottom-esque cut jeans and scream "NAH-UH! THIS IS HOW WE ROLL IN MAH NEIGHBORHOOD BITCH!!" and blow monsters away Projects-style, and 2) With some cleverness, Dracula's Castle (and almost anything in it) can be trumped by pitiful 9mm rounds, and Graham is nothing if not a clever man.

He doesn't need special powers to survive; he just needs to be armed.

I always thought it was a questionable fashion sense that made on a Candidate.

B-but Graham looks so fly, D9-san.

[Lelygax]

He doesn't need special powers to survive; he just needs to be armed.

Zombie Soldiers shows the opposite don't you think? They were well armed and still died on Castlevania. One thing that I always liked about Graham is that he is very charismatic but also seems to be a coward when notices real danger, I think that the most probably is that he was sneaking when strong monsters were nearby and absorbing power from weaker ones (or the castle itself).

[Dracula9]

B-but Graham looks so fly, D9-san.

Graham and Aria Soma are the ONLY exceptions.

Meanwhile we have this
and and whatever the hell Soma was wearing in Dawn.

Dmitrii alone tips the scales in the favor of shitty fashion sense, I mean have you seen the guy.

[zangetsu468]

Re: Dario, I think fairy floss and mustard don't mix

[theANdROId]

FYI I always thought Graham resembled a well-dressed televangelist.

Me too!!! 

It is HILARIOUS to see Soma Cruz walk into Dracula's Castle in his fluffy fur-trimmed white coat and Bell-Bottom-esque cut jeans and scream "NAH-UH! THIS IS HOW WE ROLL IN MAH NEIGHBORHOOD BITCH!!" and blow monsters away Projects-style.

This just makes me imagine Soma as some crappy 80s movie pimp. 

[X]

I always thought it was a questionable fashion sense that made on a Candidate.

And this is why Soma became the dark lord in AoS over Graham, because of that god-awful coat of his  He was better-dressed in DoS.