Castlevania Dungeon Forums
The Castlevania Dungeon Forums => General Castlevania Discussion => Topic started by: theplottwist on January 17, 2016, 01:04:04 PM
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I was writting a post about this (another of my hypothesises), but before I can finish, I must ask the Dungeon:
Do you think Vlad III existed on the Castlevania universe? What do you think Mathias did: Simply took the name for himself or usurped the real Vlad III?
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My head Canon is that the persona Vlad III is a church construct/conspiracy to hide the existence of Mathias/Dracula from the outside world.
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Oohhh, interesting one. Seeing as some of the dates given in the revised timeline and SotN give his name as Vlad Tepes, it could be entirely feasible that Mathias took the name on via posisbly kiling the real Vlad and taking his name, around the time that Vlad III was incarcerated by King Mathias Corvinus of Hungary.
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My head Canon is that the persona Vlad III is a church construct/conspiracy to hide the existence of Mathias/Dracula from the outside world.
Yep, right on the money of what I was going to post.
My hypohesis is that Vlad III never existed - only Dracula did. But I keep thinking about what would be the repercussions of this. The Church needs to be REALLY FRIKKIN POWERFUL to manipulate history in such a grand way,
I'll write better about this later here.
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They are that powerful, if they weren't Catholicism would be seen as one of the great evils throughout world history. I really liked the idea that the church would have to create a pretty dramatic lie to cover what was happening in Wallachia, and while the outside world would see bits of what was going on, only the people of the immediate area would have even close to the whole picture. The manipulation would not be too difficult.
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I would also say Vlad Tepes is a fabricated persona, but instead of the church, I think Dracula himself created it. I thought that would be good way to help make some sense out of his love story with Lisa as well.
In my head canon, going with IGA's comment about Mathias living peacefully between 1094 - 1476, in order to hide from the Belmonts, Mathias adopts the identity of a local count. His made-up personal name being Vlad. The logic being that if he would just loiter around a cemetery somewhere, stories about a vampire being present would inevitably spread, and would give away his location. Meanwhile, he continues his study into dark magic and grows more powerful. So basically, he would be familiar with the local population as a bit of an eccentric figure, there are all kinds of rumors, people could be afraid of him, and so on, but it's all just hearsay (for now). Isaac also mentioned he "protected the land" in the Curse of Darkness manga, so perhaps Dracula acted as a local authority? But I digress.
So given that Dracula now has a little connection to the human world, this makes his encounter with Lisa more believable, IMO. Later, when all the mysterious monsters show and start attacking people, there are rumors that this Count Dracula figure is behind it all, and he is attributed the nickname "Tepes". Hence, Mathias becomes known as Count Dracula Vlad Tepes.
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I would also say Vlad Tepes is a fabricated persona, but instead of the church, I think Dracula himself created it. I thought that would be good way to help make some sense out of his love story with Lisa as well.
In my head canon, going with IGA's comment about Mathias living peacefully between 1094 - 1476, in order to hide from the Belmonts, Mathias adopts the identity of a local count. His made-up personal name being Vlad. The logic being that if he would just loiter around a cemetery somewhere, stories about a vampire being present would inevitably spread, and would give away his location. Meanwhile, he continues his study into dark magic and grows more powerful. So basically, he would be familiar with the local population as a bit of an eccentric figure, there are all kinds of rumors, people could be afraid of him, and so on, but it's all just hearsay (for now). Isaac also mentioned he "protected the land" in the Curse of Darkness manga, so perhaps Dracula acted as a local authority? But I digress.
So given that Dracula now has a little connection to the human world, this makes his encounter with Lisa more believable, IMO. Later, when all the mysterious monsters show and start attacking people, there are rumors that this Count Dracula figure is behind it all, and he is attributed the nickname "Tepes". Hence, Mathias becomes known as Count Dracula Vlad Tepes.
Yeah, there is a big problem here.
Mathias most likely adopted "Dracula Vlad Tepes" as his name, and not "Vlad III". Yes, even the "Tepes".
Alucard received the "Tepes" as his name even BEFORE Dracula began his assault against mankind, or the presence of monsters became obvious. This would be indication that Mathias wore the "Tepes" as his name since ever.
But the rest makes sense. IGA has already comented that Mathias lived peacefully amongst humans as Dracula for some time, before going nuts. I can see him protecting the land from invaders and (why not?) even monsters to earn the trust of the people so he could conduct his dark arts without suspicion being cast upon him.
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To me, one of the biggest issues here is that the real Vlad III was the son of Vlad II Dracul. It's really easy to see why in LoS they ended up playing with this by having Gabriel address himself as Dracul, but to everyone else he was Dracula - the Dragon, or Son of the Dragon/Devil. In a way, it's Alucard who's actually 'Dracula'.
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What if Vlad III was a real figure, but when he died, Mathias hid his remains and just assumed his throne?
The issue would be his appearance, but is it far-fetched to assume Dracula can alter his appearance slightly..
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The real Vlad 3 was assassinated and Matthias just claimed the title. (bringing together my AC-CV head canon) Matthias could have adopted the Tepes surname by being aware that there is a Tepes clan. It would have been easy to assimilate as one of the clan members when you have the money. Matthias could have laid low at that point up until the real Vlad 3 died.
Either way, the Catholic Church had a huge role in the cover up. The Church knows everything. hahaha.
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Vlad III's death could have happened in secret/ without his enemies knowing with Mathias sliding into his throne which would explain his "erratic" behaviour and all the blood antics surrounding the "Tepes" myth. Presumably by the time of Vlad III, Dracula would have become very powerful given Iga's timeline states that during the 300 odd years between LOI>CVIII "Every slain Vampire adds to the power of Count Dracula". It would seem quite easy for a vampire who has amassed such power to have lived among the people and one day waltz into the take the throne, however this happens.
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Yeah, there is a big problem here.
Mathias most likely adopted "Dracula Vlad Tepes" as his name, and not "Vlad III". Yes, even the "Tepes".
Alucard received the "Tepes" as his name even BEFORE Dracula began his assault against mankind, or the presence of monsters became obvious. This would be indication that Mathias wore the "Tepes" as his name since ever.
Really, twist-kun? I don't remember that being apperent anywhere. Was it in the radio drama?
I think the idea of Tepes being a surname is a very silly idea for obvious reasons. I actually thought about why Alucard would be called "Tepes" and it worked perfectly in my mind. Since "Tepes" is basic calling someone "[insert name here] the Butcher" (I know it actually means "The Impaler"), and Alucard being Dracula's son, it's possible that he was given this nickname as well just because of his association with his father. That would after Lisa's death, but before meeting Trevor and friends, so 1475 - 1476.
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Really, twist-kun? I don't remember that being apperent anywhere. Was it in the radio drama?
I think the idea of Tepes being a surname is a very silly idea for obvious reasons. I actually thought about why Alucard would be called "Tepes" and it worked perfectly in my mind. Since "Tepes" is basic calling someone "[insert name here] the Butcher" (I know it actually means "The Impaler"), and Alucard being Dracula's son, it's possible that he was given this nickname as well just because of his association with his father. That would after Lisa's death, but before meeting Trevor and friends, so 1475 - 1476.
I'm assuming it's in reference to the Sotn Manual, both Dracula and Alucard have the last name "Tepes".
Iga's timeline starts calling Mathias by "Dracula" in the 300 year lapse between LOI>CVIII but I don't believe that Tepes is mentioned there.
doesn't say
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Technically, the family name if you will for Vlad III is 'Draculesti' (like my theory is that Grant's name, DaNasty, is a corruption of 'Danesti'), a branch of the House of Basarab (which the Danesti were also a branch of).
Another idea could also be that Matthias takes the name of Dracul, during his missing years, and then once it seemed unfeasible for hi to continue calling himself Vlad II Dracul, he makes himself Vlad III Dracula? He could also perhaps have been Vlad I, doing the whole pretending to be his own descendants thing.
This might be something to 'Ask Iga', perhaps?
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This might be something to 'Ask Iga', perhaps?
I don't think he'll be able to answer that due to legal reasons.
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Really, twist-kun? I don't remember that being apperent anywhere. Was it in the radio drama?
I think the idea of Tepes being a surname is a very silly idea for obvious reasons. I actually thought about why Alucard would be called "Tepes" and it worked perfectly in my mind. Since "Tepes" is basic calling someone "[insert name here] the Butcher" (I know it actually means "The Impaler"), and Alucard being Dracula's son, it's possible that he was given this nickname as well just because of his association with his father. That would after Lisa's death, but before meeting Trevor and friends, so 1475 - 1476.
As Zangetsu mentioned, the only source we have for his true name is the manual for SotN. Naming someone "Tepes" is kind of a weird thing to do, and we find it weird because we know "Tepes" is a nickname that was given to the real Vlad III. Thing is, does Castlevania work under the same logic?
I'm not really sure if it makes sense for Alucard to receive the "Tepes" name after Lisa's death. Perhaps it does, but this requires more variables and assumptions. I'm aware Alucard could've adopted the surname after his father's nickname, as Vlad III did with "Dracula" after his father's title of "Dracul". However, I'm *personally* not very keen about it because Alucard has also the "Fahrenheit" in his name. This name is presumably from his mother's side.
So, before Lisa's death, Adrian would go around carrying only his mother's real name, but not his father's? He was called "Adrian Fahrenheit" only? Only Lisa would get to name the child and Dracula would've no say in the matter? Now, If "Tepes" in this universe is really Dracula's name, then it makes sense for Adrian to inherit both his father AND mother surnames.
So bottom line: I don't think "Tepes" is merely a nickname in this universe because then, Alucard would have only his mother's surname. If I were to be more strict, I don't think "Tepes" is merely a nickname in this universe because the manuals specifically use it for Alucard and Dracula untranslated - that is, the word is not properly translated either in japanese or english as "The Impaler" which would be the correct thing to do.
I'll try looking for more evidence on Alucard's surname and see if we can make something more concrete out of this.
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I'm a bit skeptical about Lisa's surname being Fahrenheit. If that was the case, why doesn't the manual refer to her as Lisa Fahrenheit rather than just Lisa? I have no idea why out of all names they decided on Fahrenheit, but I always assumed it was Alucard's second name. No idea what his surname would be, but I personally don't think that much thought was ever put into the matter.
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The Church needs to be REALLY FRIKKIN POWERFUL to manipulate history in such a grand way
ThisactuallyhappenedIRLthough
Anyway, couple the aforementioned bits about Mathias chilling for 400 years and CoD stating he protected the land, and you have a pretty easy connection to Vlad III. That being said, there are some glaring inconsistencies.
For one Vlad fought for the Church, as the Order of the Dragon was a Christian sect. Mathias is pretty anti-God, so this wouldn't line up. One COULD theoretically argue him as pretending to fight for the Church's cause against the Ottomans, but given how vehement his hatred of God is in LoI, I don't see much feasibility there.
Secondly, there's the whole "head chopped off and displayed on a stake in Constantinople to prove he was dead" thing, but this can be easily fixed with the next bit.
Let's say Mathias did adopt the moniker of Wladislaus Dragwlya (which is how Vlad signed his name historically), and usurped the throne from Vladislav II as it's historically writ. He basically uses that period to grow his powers and knowledge of the black arts, and uses the neighboring countries' people as guinea pigs. At some point the Turks do something to piss him off (or perhaps they had something he wanted and they denied him) and he goes after them as we know Vlad III to have done. However, he still relied on the easier-access Wallachian people for his experiments and magical tests.
Eventually, he surmises that the area is no longer useful to him, so he creates a doppleganger through his magic and lets that thing take his place on the executioner's block. He then goes underground and the series canon continues as normal.
The Church later alters records and makes it so that Mathias was the son of Vlad II rather than a random usurper, fought on behalf of the Church and God (to rationalize the decimation and brutality towards the Turks, as well as demonize the Turks and shift blame to them as the cause of the violence against the Wallachian people), and was killed by his enemies after running out of money to pay his mercenaries.
Basically, the Church keeps most of the truth intact, but alters certain key details which rewrite Mathias into a warrior of the Church, so that his actions could be justified as acts in the name of God; in addition, rewriting things so that there wasn't an immensely powerful sorcerer and vampire running an entire country, but a member of a well-known Christian order who was the tragic victim of political kidnapping and murdering of his family, who rose up in righteous vengeance against his enemies and died fighting them.
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http://www.castlevaniacrypt.com/img/sotn/manual/ps/7.jpg (http://www.castlevaniacrypt.com/img/sotn/manual/ps/7.jpg)
http://www.castlevaniacrypt.com/img/sotn/manual/ps/6.jpg (http://www.castlevaniacrypt.com/img/sotn/manual/ps/6.jpg)
Dracula goes by the name Dracula Vlad Tepes
Alucard is Adrian Farenheights Tepes
Plottwist is right imo in that:
This says a couple of things to me. Whether by throne or otherwise Dracula adopted the surname of "Tepes"; which is not a nickname in the Castlevania universe. If it was why would he take "Vlad Tepes" which means Vlad The Impaler? Granted Sotn was made earlier than LOI but it still stands in context to 1797.
The fact Dracula took the name "Vlad Tepes" which is second to his name Dracula (who Mathias became and the name he adopted between 1094-CVIII) is telling me he took the throne at some stage. More than likely this was how he amassed all of his power by the time of CVIII.
Otherwise if Tepes was a title/ nickname or only name he adopted from association he would be Dracula Tepes. Nope, in CV Tepes IS their last name.
Farenheights is not in inverted commas, therefore I assume it to be Alucard's middle name, just as Adrian is his first and Tepes his last name. Nagumo is correct and it's not Lisa's last name imo. Otherwise the manual would have stated so.
Has anyone read the Japanese manual? I have SSOTN but I can't read Japanese.
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I always assumed "Tepes" was a name "earned" by the same reasons as Dracula's real life counterpart -- he got really zealous about defending the people. Even if Lisa was otherwise a paragon or virtue and morality, if you consider the times and culture she lived in, she likely would have had zero problem with her husband massacring Muslim Turks. Unless of course she's Female Jesus, which considering Iga's writing style is also a possibility.
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Personally I'm in belief that Dracula had the throne of Vlad by the time he met Lisa. He took the place of the then "Vlad Tepes" and adopted his name after the title of Dracula. Whether Lisa was a Countess or not is unclear.
If Alucard's Sword and Shield were handed from Lisa's family then it would scream bloodline of knights to me. But the shield just isn't really doing it for me being a hand me down, it's too indicative of his Vampiric abilities. I mean Lisa could have come from a bloodline of Blacksmiths or Mercenaries for all we know.
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I've always read it that it was only his sword handed down from Lisa, while his shield was from Dracula.
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Okay, so the Holy Bloodline of Lisa explains why Alucard can use holy weapons if I'm reading this correctly.
Does Holy Bloodline equate to descendant of a knight?
How is Lisa's attire, more like that of a peasant or a Countess?
She could have also been the descendant of a line of priests if her bloodline is considered holy.
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Okay, so the Holy Bloodline of Lisa explains why Alucard can use holy weapons if I'm reading this correctly.
Does Holy Bloodline equate to descendant of a knight?
How is Lisa's attire, more like that of a peasant or a Countess?
She could have also been the descendant of a line of priests if her bloodline is considered holy.
It is very Countess-like for the period, but actually, in keeping with Kojima's usual [lack of] standards, not actually accurate to 15th century Hungarian (of which Wallachia was a constituent province of the time) dress -- closer to 18th century Austrian, and much more drably colored.
The thing is that most nobles of the 15th century dressed very plainly unless they were at Court. Clothes were expensive, and opulent clothes even more so, and even a noble family would penny pinch when it came to wardrobe. None of Dracula's outfits, for comparison, would have EVER been in fashion among nobles in Hungary, or indeed elsewhere -- it's too dark, opulent, and expensive, and fit more for the Holy Roman Emperor than a Wallachian count; and even then he'd only wear something that dark at a funeral.
Alucard's Symphony of the Night garb is more in line with English fashions of the mid to late 1600's among nobility along with a dash of French influence, so it's a bit more accurate to the times, but still way off.
Richter's DXC outfit is more realistic (probably one of the most realistic in the series imo), looking like he adapted it from a military uniform of the period (likely Belgian or French, given the look and color).
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It is very Countess-like for the period, but actually, in keeping with Kojima's usual [lack of] standards, not actually accurate to 15th century Hungarian (of which Wallachia was a constituent province of the time) dress -- closer to 18th century Austrian, and much more drably colored.
The thing is that most nobles of the 15th century dressed very plainly unless they were at Court. Clothes were expensive, and opulent clothes even more so, and even a noble family would penny pinch when it came to wardrobe. None of Dracula's outfits, for comparison, would have EVER been in fashion among nobles in Hungary, or indeed elsewhere -- it's too dark, opulent, and expensive, and fit more for the Holy Roman Emperor than a Wallachian count; and even then he'd only wear something that dark at a funeral.
Alucard's Symphony of the Night garb is more in line with English fashions of the mid to late 1600's among nobility along with a dash of French influence, so it's a bit more accurate to the times, but still way off.
Richter's DXC outfit is more realistic (probably one of the most realistic in the series imo), looking like he adapted it from a military uniform of the period (likely Belgian or French, given the look and color).
Thanks for that detailed reply Blood Rayne.
I was googling some clothing from that era which probably doesn't help as most photo's were black and white.
Though it did occur to me that the 'puffy shoulders' and the low neck as well as the hair veil/ accessory seems more like a countess than a peasant to me. I'm not well versed in this era of clothing or any prior to this century, but it seems like a fair enough assumption.
Then again when you look at the sprite her outfit is not coloured the same which I'm assuming was done to break the fifty shades of grey that is "Nightmare". Honestly, Lisa also doesn't seem like she's dressed that differently to the woman on her left (by the man/ guard with the spear).
https://i.ytimg.com/vi/I5fGavPsQa8/hqdefault.jpg
https://i.ytimg.com/vi/NPoCNrnorIE/hqdefault.jpg
Also in context of artist and CV universe and not the era (or reality of any kind) Maria's outfit for example seems much more ornate and Lisa does look more like a peasant in comparison. I would say that from an artist's intention this reductive and less ornate appearance has more to do with appearing pious due to being likened to the Virgin Mary who remained "pure".
It's a tough one.
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Thanks for that detailed reply Blood Rayne.
I'm something of a self-educated semi-expert on the 1400's-1700's Germanic and Slavic culture and fashion. I used to research them heavily for a Soul Calibur-esque project back in high school, so I learned a lot about the Holy Roman Empire and the Ottoman Empire and how the two interacted.
History being history however, there is always something more to learn.
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History being history however, there is always something more to learn.
Surely history is such a fabric that it is woven from the actions of humanity, and cut from an even more ornate and splendiferous cloth.
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It is very Countess-like for the period, but actually, in keeping with Kojima's usual [lack of] standards, not actually accurate to 15th century Hungarian (of which Wallachia was a constituent province of the time) dress -- closer to 18th century Austrian, and much more drably colored.
The thing is that most nobles of the 15th century dressed very plainly unless they were at Court. Clothes were expensive, and opulent clothes even more so, and even a noble family would penny pinch when it came to wardrobe. None of Dracula's outfits, for comparison, would have EVER been in fashion among nobles in Hungary, or indeed elsewhere -- it's too dark, opulent, and expensive, and fit more for the Holy Roman Emperor than a Wallachian count; and even then he'd only wear something that dark at a funeral.
Alucard's Symphony of the Night garb is more in line with English fashions of the mid to late 1600's among nobility along with a dash of French influence, so it's a bit more accurate to the times, but still way off.
Richter's DXC outfit is more realistic (probably one of the most realistic in the series imo), looking like he adapted it from a military uniform of the period (likely Belgian or French, given the look and color).
I'd agree on Alucard's clothing. it's definitely more late 17th century/18th century than anything else. His over the knee boots and vest are feasibly earlier, but the frock coat is the big give-away.
All of the material I've read over the years seems contradictory on Lisa's background. Some places seemed to equate her with Ilona Szilagyi, the second wife of the real Vlad Tepes, which would have made her from noble stock. However, Lisa herself seems quite modest and willing to help all with her medicines. Even were of humble stock, Dracula would no doubt be of a mind to give her finer attire, so it's hard to base any conclusions on her background based purely on her dress. Her clothing would have more likely had a basis of a cotehardie/kirtle dress over a chemise.
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I have the Japanese SOTN manual and the names are the same with the English version.
Maybe the Japanese assumed that Tepes is an actual surname for Vlad and not a moniker. I thought that was the case as well when I first got the game and it still messes up my mind. Alright, maybe IGA's vania world is an AU of ours, similarly with what he is planning with Bloodstained. That would settle a lot of things. hahaha.
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What about the Alucard Sword. The official artwork:
1) http://vignette1.wikia.nocookie.net/castlevania/images/2/27/Alucard_002.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20150129003339 (http://vignette1.wikia.nocookie.net/castlevania/images/2/27/Alucard_002.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20150129003339)
2) http://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/castlevania/images/4/4d/Alucardgrey.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20080227202634 (http://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/castlevania/images/4/4d/Alucardgrey.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20080227202634)
This conflicts with the in game sprite:
3) https://sotnhacked.files.wordpress.com/2014/09/alucard-wolf-compare5.png (https://sotnhacked.files.wordpress.com/2014/09/alucard-wolf-compare5.png)
4) http://vignette1.wikia.nocookie.net/castlevania/images/c/c2/Alucard-Sword.gif/revision/latest?cb=20140410034400 (http://vignette1.wikia.nocookie.net/castlevania/images/c/c2/Alucard-Sword.gif/revision/latest?cb=20140410034400)
Image 1 looks more like a rapier with a normal hilt (?)
Image 2 looks more like a stereotypical sword but it clearly not the same as image 1, the hilt is different.
Image 3 looks like a basket hilted sword.
Image 4's hilt looks like a rapier or a walloon sword. (which according to wiki was used by military and civilians.)
Do we trust the art or the sprite? Of course the artwork is of the official artist but it isn't consistent, the swords don't even appear the same.
It doesn't seem the artist necessarily had this in mind while crafting the images.
The sprites on the other hand are consistent.
Ahh whatever, no sense stressing over it.
Thanks Shiroi for that tidbit.
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To add on the image on Alucard's sword: The HoD image shows that the hilt is silver instead of the gold in the SotN.
http://vignette4.wikia.nocookie.net/castlevania/images/1/18/Castlevania_Harmony_of_Despair_360_Wallpaper.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20110919170349&path-prefix=de (http://vignette4.wikia.nocookie.net/castlevania/images/1/18/Castlevania_Harmony_of_Despair_360_Wallpaper.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20110919170349&path-prefix=de)
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I own a re-enactment style heavy rapier. The Alucard sword isn't a rapier at all. The blade looks that narrow because of an element of perspective I would say. The hilt is also completely wrong, especially the hilt. Using the portrait picture, it looks more like a standard longsword. I wouldn't say that the in game sprites show a basket hilt sword either. I'd say it looks more like a hand guard, which did eventually evolve into the full basket.
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I own a re-enactment style heavy rapier. The Alucard sword isn't a rapier at all. The blade looks that narrow because of an element of perspective I would say. The hilt is also completely wrong, especially the hilt. Using the portrait picture, it looks more like a standard longsword. I wouldn't say that the in game sprites show a basket hilt sword either. I'd say it looks more like a hand guard, which did eventually evolve into the full basket.
Long sword with a not so long hilt imo. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Longsword
The closest thing I could find to the sprite https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Swiss_cavalry_sword.jpg
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Alucard's sword in the official arts resembles a Long sword or possibly a Bastard sword depending. The sprite image on the other hand seem to resemble a Cutless or Saber (Even a Cavalry sword) because of the way the hilt guard is in line with the handle.
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Something I think I should point out:
Even Alucard's sprite itself is quite different from his artwork. Hell, in the sprite he has what appears to be kneepads, something completelly inexistent on the artwork.
I'd say we should always favor the artwork for canon descriptions rather than sprites, because some things on the sprites are done to favor readability above accuracy with the concept art. Though, in Alucard's case, he appears with three different swords on art done by Kojima, with one more on art done for Judgment. The sword is not consistent.
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I have the Japanese SOTN manual and the names are the same with the English version.
Maybe the Japanese assumed that Tepes is an actual surname for Vlad and not a moniker. I thought that was the case as well when I first got the game and it still messes up my mind. Alright, maybe IGA's vania world is an AU of ours, similarly with what he is planning with Bloodstained. That would settle a lot of things. hahaha.
I always assumed this to be the case, because there are glaring historical inaccuracies in CV. Setting CV as an alternate universe solves almost every history issue.
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Something I think I should point out:
Even Alucard's sprite itself is quite different from his artwork. Hell, in the sprite he has what appears to be kneepads, something completelly inexistent on the artwork.
I'd say we should always favor the artwork for canon descriptions rather than sprites, because some things on the sprites are done to favor readability above accuracy with the concept art.
I think that the 'kneepads' are meant to represent in sprite-form the turn overs on the tops of his boots.
Long sword with a not so long hilt imo. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Longsword (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Longsword)
The closest thing I could find to the sprite https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Swiss_cavalry_sword.jpg (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Swiss_cavalry_sword.jpg)
I'm finding details on wikipedia that show something similarish to Al's sword called an 'Estoc': https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Estoc, (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Estoc,) http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l114/odingaard/Swords/MRL%20Old%20Gothic/IMG_20121004_142903.jpg. (http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l114/odingaard/Swords/MRL%20Old%20Gothic/IMG_20121004_142903.jpg.) I'd say that's pretty close to what's shown in the concept art.
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You get a separate Estoc in the game, though.
Let's also not forget that the sword changes size depending on the art piece in question.
http://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/castlevania/images/4/4d/Alucardgrey.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20080227202634 (http://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/castlevania/images/4/4d/Alucardgrey.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20080227202634)
http://vignette1.wikia.nocookie.net/castlevania/images/2/27/Alucard_002.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20150129003339 (http://vignette1.wikia.nocookie.net/castlevania/images/2/27/Alucard_002.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20150129003339)
http://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/castlevania/images/1/18/Alucard_HD.png/revision/latest?cb=20100901193911 (http://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/castlevania/images/1/18/Alucard_HD.png/revision/latest?cb=20100901193911)
http://cdn.horriblenight.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/alucard.jpg (http://cdn.horriblenight.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/alucard.jpg)
Pretty much a losing battle to try and identify what the Alucard Sword is based on concept art.
The method in which Alucard strikes with it (as well as most other swords) would be a better place to make inferences, methinks.
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Well he swings it one handed, which means it's balanced like a short sword, or a bastard sword at the very largest.
Examining the sword styles popular in Lisa's era would doubtless also prove enlightening.
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One of the reasons why I was looking at arming/knightly swords, and estocs, Rayne. The estoc idea based on Ayami Kojima's artwork could be feasible despite the estoc weapon in game being available, is that the Alucard sword is particularly special, with powers of its own (perhaps some of why it's sigificant as a hereditory blade?), as well as its wielder being of Dracula's blood.
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Well, the likely real life equivalent of the period was likely to be a Szabla (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Szabla), a sort of Polish-Hungarian saber. It doesn't resemble the art or sprites at all, but the wide, sweeping cuts Alucard makes with the weapon in his sprite animation are indicative of a saber type weapon.
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If we're basing on how fast the sword can be swung, the length of the blade and the weapon's design (in sprite) all combined, I'm saying a cutlass best fits the profile:
http://www.toledosword.com/pr/LARP_Pirate_Cutlass_Latex_Sword.html#938629 (http://www.toledosword.com/pr/LARP_Pirate_Cutlass_Latex_Sword.html#938629)
http://www.kaswords.com/browseproducts/Caribbean-Skull-Crossbones-Pirate-Cutlass-Sword.HTML (http://www.kaswords.com/browseproducts/Caribbean-Skull-Crossbones-Pirate-Cutlass-Sword.HTML)
Which correlates to both human, wolf and bat sword sprites:
http://castlevania.wikia.com/wiki/Alucard_Sword?file=Alucard_Sword_Icon.png (http://castlevania.wikia.com/wiki/Alucard_Sword?file=Alucard_Sword_Icon.png)
http://www.castlevaniacrypt.com/img/sotn/sprites/alucard-wolf.png (http://www.castlevaniacrypt.com/img/sotn/sprites/alucard-wolf.png)
http://www.castlevaniacrypt.com/img/sotn/sprites/alucard-bat.png (http://www.castlevaniacrypt.com/img/sotn/sprites/alucard-bat.png)
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I applaud your effort to match the sprite exactly, and a Cutlass does indeed seem to be the exact match, but I have a feeling they were going for the Szabla. Really, a saber and a cutlass are very similar weapons (a saber tends to be longer with a more pronounced curve, but other than that they are very similar weapons).
However, as the cutlass didn't emerge until 17th century, and was used almost exclusively by sailors, I fail to see how Lisa or Dracula would have owned one in the 14th century in order to pass it to Alucard. It's a weapon that simply doesn't fit the timeframe of the most likely forging of the Alucard Sword.
A Szabla or other saber weapon would however be a shoo-in, especially as the Szabla is region-appropriate, first entered wide use around that time, and is a weapon style associated with nobility in Poland and Hungary. It's highly probable that a Wallachian Count (or his wife) would have at least one to pass down to their heir. The Szabla is simply the most logical choice.
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Doesn't the idea of how the sword is swung relating to its weight kind of fly out the window, being that Alucard is a Dhampir, and thus has at least some level super strength. Couldn't Alucard probably wield a fricken zweihander one handed?
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Doesn't the idea of how the sword is swung relating to its weight kind of fly out the window, being that Alucard is a Dhampir, and thus has at least some level super strength. Couldn't Alucard probably wield a fricken zweihander one handed?
The balancing would still affect it heavily. Swinging a sword improperly according to how it is balanced can effectively destroy its cutting ability or power.
Western European blades that we associate with knights and myth today tend to spread the weight evenly along the blade with it concentrated slightly above the median of the blade's length to preserve the power in a slashing swing while keeping stabbing as an option.
Far Eastern blades such as Katanas are primarily stabbing weapons with a secondary purpose for rigorously controlled "cuts" as opposed to slashes (as made distinct by the Book of Five Rings by legendary swordsman Miyamoto Musashi) and as such keep much of the weight balance closer to the grip for better control.
The weapons Alucard would have been raised around would have been very Slavic and possibly Turkish depending on whether or not Dracula captured the weapons of his enemies. These were very different from the weapons used by Western Europe and the Far East. They would have had heavy blades curved such that weight is centered towards the tip of the blade with a generous pommel to counterbalance that -- these were unequivocally slashing weapons not meant for stabbing at all. As tested by Deadliest Warrior, the blades used by the army of the historic Vlad Dracula were among the deadliest they'd ever seen when used properly, capable of shearing through flesh and bone alike when swung with reasonable force.
Furthermore, a Zweihander/Bidenhander swung one handed by a supernaturally strong being would still be a giant rapidly moving iron or steel weight around the wielder's body -- being able to heft and swing the weapon does not equate control. It would easily throw Alucard off balance and leave him wide open for a counterattack, and possibly damage his spine regardless of how strong he is; because that strength plus the weight of the weapon and its momentum can make for very dangerous forces acting upon the user's body. Dhampir strength or not, there's no practical reason for it.
Add to that the fact that scholars cannot reach agreement on how a Zweihander would actually even be USED.
Swords are not cudgels -- they have very precise engineering involved and to use them in a manner that is not in accordance with such precision engineering makes the weapon less useful, if not more dangerous to the idiot trying to use it.
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Doesn't the idea of how the sword is swung relating to its weight kind of fly out the window, being that Alucard is a Dhampir, and thus has at least some level super strength. Couldn't Alucard probably wield a fricken zweihander one handed?
Except there are 2 handed swords in the game. It's only going to go out the window for the Osafune katana, Crissaegrim or heaven's sword and the like.
@Bloody Rayne, you mentioned not before the 17th century, noted.
From my understanding the sword is known as the pirate's sword rather than a sailor's sword.
It only states the sword was passed on from Lisa's family, perhaps it was passed to them from their predecessors upon first arriving in Wallachia, who knows.
The Szabla is too curved for my liking, it looks more like the in game sprite of the Badelaire...
There's an actual separate cutlass sword in game, which looks less like a cutlass and more like a slightly curved normal sword..
In fact the "Saber" and its in game sprite look closer to the Alucard Sword
If we're going to go down that road of disregarding the sprites - to which I'm hesitant - I would ditch the sprite altogether and look to the artwork... Problem, the swords in the official art don't match!
We can question the history, but obviously there's also the premise of this thread regarding Vlad III. Where was he? History is not in CVverse what it is in our universe.
Side note: If Alucard's sword was passed to him, he could've used a sword in CVIII, so why didn't he? Canonically the Alucard Sword was in his possession from before CVIII until SOTN.
I think I'm done trying to play connect 4 with this, it's obvious the people who made the game probably don't care as much as those of us in this thread.
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I think I'm done trying to play connect 4 with this, it's obvious the people who made the game probably don't care as much as those of us in this thread.
Likewise, for the same reasons. The simple fact is that Iga's crew didn't give half a shit about this topic and all this conjecture, fun though it is, will never be more than conjecture.
It's the same thing that sank my Hunter Whip topic in the end: everything is conjecture, nothing can be known as definitively true.
I'm sticking with my idea that the Alucard Sword is likely a Szabla because of reasons I already stated.
A Szabla or other saber weapon would however be a shoo-in, especially as the Szabla is region-appropriate, first entered wide use around that time, and is a weapon style associated with nobility in Poland and Hungary. It's highly probable that a Wallachian Count (or his wife) would have at least one to pass down to their heir. The Szabla is simply the most logical choice.
The fact remains that we as gamers will likely never know, short of asking Iga himself, and there's no guarantee he'd care to remember such a minuscule data point anyway.
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Gonna chime in one final time on the sword thing, just for the hell of it.
The Magyar sabre is also a strong contender.
Most likely, though - at least on a purely historical basis - it is most likely the sword is one of German descent, as Wallachia did most of its trade with Germany, which lends the probability of weapons and armor dealings (likely your standard German arming swords and knightly equipment, though specialized here because royal vampire power) from the same source. Byzantine Bulgarian blades are also in that running.
But that's neither here nor there as Castlevania's not exactly historically accurate.
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But that's neither here nor there as Castlevania's not exactly historically accurate.
Because: Castlevania