MUSES
Below are lore overviews for Julius, Simon, John, Sonia and Elizabeth. Listed from who you'll see most often to least often (generally!)
JULIUS BELMONT ✙ Heart of Fire
The last of the Belmonts, who was fated from birth to destroy Dracula once and for all. He accomplished such a feat, in 1999 during the Demon Castle War, not only through his superior martial arts abilities and holy magic prowess, but with connections culminated over the near thousand years of the battle between Good and Evil.
As fate would have it, the end of Dracula so too meant the end of the Belmonts; in a literal sense as much as a metaphorical one. When Julius parted with the Vampire Killer whip and his ancestors' memories within it to ensure the demon vampire's death, he lost memories of his own. For 36 years following that final sorrow, Julius took on the name 'J' and aimlessly wandered through life with only meagre support from the Church.
It was when one Soma Cruz reawakened his soul, the soul of Dracula reincarnate, that Julius began to see clearly again. Once more in the dreadful Castlevania, he found the Vampire Killer whip he'd left behind decades ago, and restored his purpose as a Belmont: to prevent Dracula's reawakening, no matter the cost.
FURTHER LORE
SIMON BELMONT ✙ Bloody Tears of a Vampire Killer
Simon is one of the most renowned Belmonts, but a man of mystery in historical records. His penchant for self-isolation, a byproduct of the Belmonts' strained relationship with the Church and a superstitious Wallachia, didn't lend itself well to keeping records. What was known of him within the pages of old grimoires, however, was that he was a determined man and a true hero. Despite being alone and shunned by those he was destined to protect, when Dracula's castle emerged from the inky dark of night in 1691 he departed at once to take care of its ghastly inhabitants. He believed then, like his great-grandfather Christopher before him, he'd succeeded in his duty and could move on to living a normal life, a peaceful one.
But fate had other plans, as seven years past the fall of Castlevania, the culmination of a mysterious chronic disease became too much for Simon to bear. Beyond that, over those seven years of pain Dracula's legion of undead became more prevalent the more Simon's body wore away. Written accounts state that Simon told the story thusly: Believing himself to be dying and in anguish that he might not be able to fulfill his role as a protector, he sought council in the graves of his ancestors before him. He broke down, questioning what he could possibly do, and it was then that a woman pale and bright despite the dark surrounding her told him that he'd been cursed by Dracula seven years prior. He would need to take up arms once more, to thrust himself against evil to end both his curse and that of the terrorised civillians. She said before disappearing: "Fear not, brave Simon, for if you have the courage to risk your life, you will find the strength to win again."
With the Vampire Killer at his side, now thrumming warmly with a life it had not had since last being in Castlevania, Simon travelled to each corner of Transylvania to find the relics of Dracula. By bringing them together in a foul ritual to resurrect the dark count, he might just have the chance to turn fate in his favour... and turn the tides, he did. Dracula was resurrected and then banished again, and Simon proceeded to live the last few years of his short life in the peace he sought.
JOHN MORRIS ✙ Reincarnated Soul
A man with more heart than any one person should know what to do with. He belongs to the Morris family, an offshoot of the Belmont family that moved to the Americas and became rich in prospecting.
When the Belmonts lost their ability to wield the Vampire Killer whip in 1797, the responsibility of it was handed down to the Morris line. 100 years after Dracula's last dispelling, Quincy Morris took up arms against him and landed the killing blow-- but it was not without sacrifice, and witness. He fell in the same moment that Dracula fell, fatally wounded. Watching fearfully from the sidelines was a 2-years-young Johnny, and with him his childhood friend, the 5-years-young Eric Lecarde. The mutual witnessing of such a horrific thing at their fragile ages only strengthened their bond, and while John would internalise the need to protect others, Eric would make it his duty to protect John.
Despite the trauma, John lead a remarkably spirited life. At home in Texas, he took care of his family and the ranch, and an idyllic relationship between him and his schoolyard sweetheart began to blossom. In Europe, he spent his days at Eric's side learning how to fight from the leagues of hunters there. He wasn't particularly disciplined or patient, but his deep hatred for all evil things of the night made up for what he lacked. It wasn't until he returned home and his ranch was attacked by that he was given a wake-up call. If it hadn't been for a group of Tonkawa monster hunters, his loved ones would have died. After this, he expressed his gratitude to the Tonkawa by allotting his family's land for their use, and eventually approaching them with the desire to hone his vampire hunting skill.
