Nathan Graves
From Castlevania Wiki - Forbidden Library
| Nathan Graves | |
|---|---|
| |
| Japanese name | |
| Appearance(s) | 1830:Castlevania: Circle of the Moon (non-canon) |
| Role(s) | Vampire Hunter Apprentice |
| Weapon of Choice | Hunter Whip, sub-weapons |
| Abilities | DSS Cards |
| Voice Actor(s) | |
| Seiyuu(s) | |
| Music Theme(s) | |
| Gender | Male |
Nathan Graves is the protagonist of Castlevania: Circle of the Moon for the Gameboy Advance, in which he is a vampire hunter apprentice from the 19th century. As Circle of the Moon was removed from Castlevania continuity by Koji Igarashi, Nathan Graves is a non-canonical character, and the events of his adventure are not part of Castlevania's timeline.
Contents |
Story
Before Castlevania
Nathan Graves was apprenticing under the hero Morris Baldwin to become a vampire hunter. Morris and Nathan's parents had an encounter with Dracula ten years before in 1820, and Nathan's parents were killed in the battle, though they succeeded in slaying the Count. Afterward, Morris took it upon himself to raise and train Nathan alongside his own son, Hugh Baldwin.
Nathan and Hugh trained together, and Nathan was never able to defeat Hugh in training. Despite that, Morris Baldwin chose Nathan as his true successor and bestowed upon him the Hunter Whip, an act which enraged Hugh, since his own father chose someone else, and someone who was seemingly not even as good. Hugh came to strongly resent Nathan.
Events of Circle of the Moon
When Morris Baldwin learned that Dracula's servant, Carmilla, was conducting the ritual to resurrect Count Dracula in her Austrian castle, he and his two trainees made haste to the castle to prevent the reawakening of the vampire lord. Upon arrival, they discovered they were too late. They entered to find Dracula awake and Carmilla at his side.
Morris proclaimed to the two vampires that he would see them banished again, but Count Dracula brushed the threat aside, and said that he planned to use the life force of Morris, his old nemesis, to fully rejuvenate himself. Dracula saw no worth in the apprentices, and shot a blast that destroyed the ground beneath their feet, plunging them deep within the basement in the castle's fortification and leaving Morris by himself.
Hugh and Nathan landed in the Catacomb after a long fall. Nathan proposed that the two set off to find Morris, but Hugh rejected Nathan's help, saying that he would do it alone since Morris is his father. Hugh didn't leave Nathan any time to reply, and left without his compatriot. Nathan wanted to find his master as much as Hugh did and began searching for a way to return to the top and reach Morris.
After working his way through the Catacomb and into the vast Audience Room, Nathan met a dark Necromancer that was impressed that the young hunter was able to survive the Catacombs. The Necromancer let Nathan know that Morris was within their power, and that Dracula would feed upon his soul. The only thing preventing the completion of the rite was the full circle of the moon, which would soon be upon them. Nathan knew he must hurry. He knew Morris was still alive and that he could still save him. He destroyed the Necromancer and continued into the Machine Tower where he found Hugh. Hugh hotly accused Nathan of trying to steal his glory, and told Nathan that he would defeat Dracula by himself. Nathan explained that it wasn't about glory, but about saving his master. Hugh did not listen to any of it, and stormed off, leaving Nathan alone again.
Nathan saw Hugh again in the Chapel Tower where Hugh was defeated by a powerful monster. He demanded that Nathan back off and that the monster would be his trophy to claim. However, Nathan was able to defeat the beast by himself. Hugh reasoned that it was not Nathan's power and skill that defeated the creature, but merely his possession of the Hunter Whip that allowed him his victory.
Hugh sent biting remarks at Nathan, claiming that Morris only gave Nathan the whip because of fond memories of Nathan's parents and nothing more. The two hunters separated again.
Deep within the castle's sewer, Nathan met Carmilla, the woman who had resurrected Count Dracula. Nathan asked her why she had summoned Dracula back to the world, and she replied that humans were dirty, self-centered mongrels that made the world a hellish place. She wanted to cast aside the façade that humans put up and have the world justly reflect the disgrace of the human race. Count Dracula would fulfill that for her. Carmilla said that Nathan would understand if he would only embrace the darkness and truth. She said that Hugh was more honest with himself and that even Dracula had approved of him.
Nathan was startled, and figured out that they had somehow gotten to Hugh. Nathan defeated Carmilla in battle, but she told him he was too late, and the rite was already prepared. The moon was almost full and when that happened, Dracula would be fully regenerated through Morris' sacrifice.
In the throne room of the castle, Nathan encountered Hugh. Hugh drew his sword and was ready to kill Nathan to finally prove himself to his father. Nathan saw that Carmilla and Dracula had preyed upon his feelings of inadequacy and influenced him, turning him to the point where he was ready to murder his comrade. Nathan defended himself against Hugh's attacks and defeated him, sparing his life.
Nathan knocked the dark influence from Hugh's mind causing the young man to finally come to his senses. He apologized to Nathan, stating that he felt worthless because his father had looked past him. He needed recognition to give himself worth, and to feel valued. He realized that was the weakness he had, and that was why he did not inherit the whip. He admitted that his father's decision was right, and he pleaded for Nathan to help Morris, admitting that the task was beyond him. Nathan accepted, and continued to finally confront Dracula in the Ceremonial Room.
Nathan entered the chamber where Dracula stood with Morris tied to a post. Dracula congratulated Nathan for making it that far, and explained how he had distorted Hugh's mind. The Count said that the rite was upon them, and he would use Nathan's soul to strengthen himself as well as Morris'. Nathan exploited Dracula's weakened state and defeated him with the Hunter Whip, but Dracula teleported away.
Hugh entered the room and took Morris to safety. Nathan followed Dracula into the teleportation beam, and was taken to a different dimension where Dracula had morphed into a more powerful form. After a trying battle, Nathan defeated him again.
The two returned to the regular dimension, and the Count told Nathan that the effort was wasted, because he would return again and again. Nathan informed the Count that every time he would return, a worthy Hunter would be there to meet him.
After the castle was destroyed and the evil banished from it, the three Hunters stood on a cliff. Hugh admitted his folly and agreed to train anew, and Morris declared that Nathan had become a vampire hunter in his own right.
Image Gallery
Nathan from the cover of Castlevania: Circle of the Moon (2001) |
 Nathan from Castlevania: Circle of the Moon (2001) |
 Nathan from Castlevania: Circle of the Moon (2001) |
 Nathan from Castlevania: Circle of the Moon (2001) |
 Nathan from Castlevania: Circle of the Moon (2001) |
 Nathan from Castlevania: Circle of the Moon (2001) |
Trivia
- Nathan's DSS Cards are based on the Roman Pantheon.
- With the Bear Ring accessory dropped by Skeleton Medalist, Nathan is able to transform into the character BearTank from the N64 fighting game Rakuga Kids.
- Nathan is one of the two whip-wielding protagonists (the other being Curtis Lang) who are not related to the Belmont family in any way.