Unmasking the Sinister New Villain in Castlevania Nocturne: A Shocking Revelation!
Unveiling the Dark Secrets: Unravel the identities of two enigmatic characters in Castlevania Nocturne - the infamous Erzsébet Bathory and the mysterious Drolta Tzuentes
Netflix's animated series adaptation of Castlevania is considered the best among all video game adaptations so far. Fans of the classic horror/action franchise have been disappointed by Konami's inability or unwillingness to create new content. However, the show successfully deviates from the established canon to deliver a more satisfying narrative. Castlevania: Nocturne, the upcoming spin-off, will explore more recent elements of the storyline with a fresh set of villains.
The early Castlevania games relied mainly on instructional booklets, brief text snippets, and scattered contextual clues to present the story. Although voice acting enhanced the characterization in Symphony of the Night, the gameplay still took precedence in driving the narrative. Hence, the series has had to extract new details in order to craft an entirely new plotline.
Who is Erzsébet Bathory in Castlevania?
The antagonist in Castlevania: Nocturne is Erzsébet Báthory, who is inspired by the historical figure Countess Elizabeth Báthory de Ecsed. Countess Elizabeth was a wealthy noblewoman in the Kingdom of Hungary. In 1602, rumors began circulating that she and four of her servants were killing young women who were sent to her palace to learn etiquette. It was rumored that needles were used in the killings, and she was suspected of various forms of torture. However, these accusations were based on rumors and many scholars now believe that Báthory was a victim of a witch hunt. Her servants were tortured and executed, and she was imprisoned in her castle, where she died after three years. Local folklore created lurid tales of Báthory bathing in blood to maintain her youth, which has had an impact on vampire fiction.
Erzsébet Báthory made her first appearance in the Castlevania series in the 1994 game Castlevania: Bloodlines. In the American translation, she was named Elizabeth Bartley. She serves as one of the final bosses in the game, fighting against the heroes John Morris and Eric Lecarde by either summoning or transforming into Medusa. After defeating her Medusa form, she attacks with a barrage of elemental spheres. The game incorporates historical details and folklore, giving a new dimension to her lore. In Bloodlines, Bartley is depicted as a killer who sacrificed thousands of victims and drank their blood. The game also introduces a familial connection between Bartley and the Tepes family, who were the ancestors of Dracula. After being imprisoned, Bartley remains in slumber for 300 years until she is awakened by an old ally, seeking revenge against the royal family of Austria by killing a young noble and indirectly sparking World War I. Although the game mentions the wrong Austrian assassination victim, it confirms Bartley's role in the conflict. She ultimately dies in Bloodlines and has not been mentioned since.
Who is Drolta Tzuentes in Castlevania?
The portrayal of Erzsébet Báthory in Castlevania: Nocturne is expected to be different from her previous versions. Unlike Elizabeth Bartley, the character's appearance in the Netflix series demonstrates a significant visual departure. In Bloodlines, she was depicted wearing a vibrant, multicolored dress with striking green hair. However, the glimpses of the character in the trailers reveal a more refined choice: an elegant blue gown and a modest white hairstyle. This led many viewers to assume that the character might actually be Marie Antoinette, the final queen of France prior to the French Revolution. Set in 1792, just before Antoinette's execution, the series features its own iteration of Marie Antoinette, who also appeared as a boss in Bloodlines. In the game, she was known as the Princess of Moss, although it was a mistranslation of the intended term, Princess of Moths. This ghostly version of the French monarch would transform into a creature reminiscent of Mothra. With these elements in mind, it is possible that Castlevania: Nocturne might combine the two boss characters to suit the historical and supernatural setting.
A new vampire named Drolta Tzuentes has caught the attention of fans in the Castlevania: Nocturne trailer. In a brief action scene, she is seen facing off against the young sorceress Annette alongside the Blood Countess. Despite her different appearance compared to the game, Drolta has become the subject of fascination for many fans. In the game, she is the witch responsible for resurrecting Elizabeth Bartley after her 300-year slumber in the grave. Drolta takes inspiration from and is named after Dorotya Semtész, one of Erzsébet Báthory's executed servants who were involved in her murders. In Castlevania: Bloodlines, Drolta is portrayed as an elderly hag wearing a cloak. Her demise occurs when Bartley is killed, and she has not been seen since. Nocturnes seems to have transformed Drolta into the formidable force behind Erzsébet Báthory's apocalyptic plan, making her a highly upgraded character that fans have quickly grown fond of.
The series, Castlevania: Nocturne, has showcased remarkable creativity by exploring new characters from the source material. Erzsébet Báthory and Drolta Tzuentes, who were not prominent adversaries in the Castlevania series before, could now become significant foes for Richter Belmont. In a refreshing twist, the upcoming series will introduce a different historical figure known for their history of violence to assume the dominion of the dark throne, moving away from Dracula and his vampire court. Erzsébet and Drolta may just be the perfect creatures of the night that this series requires.
