Gypsies are non-playable characters appearing in Castlevania II: Simon's Quest. Their role in the game generally consists of being town merchants, while others will provide special services such as allowing the the player to reach hidden areas. A few others lurk in the various graveyards scattered throughout the Transylvanian countryside and will present the player with powerful items if one knows how to make them come out from their hiding places.
Origins
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Many fictional depictions of Romani people (or gypsies) in literature and art present romanticized narratives of their supposed mystical powers of fortune-telling or their passionate temper, paired with an indomitable love of freedom and a habit of criminality. The Romani ethnicity is often portrayed in contemporary fantasy literature as possessing archaic occult knowledge passed down through the ages.
A group of gypsies appeared in the 1897 novel Dracula by Bram Stoker. In the book, they were faithful servants of Count Dracula, which probably served partly as inspiration for the characters appearing in Simon's Quest.
Types of gypsies
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Town merchants
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Gypsy merchants can be found in most towns, where they sell a variety of items. Hearts serve as currency to make any transactions with them.
Jova
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Item Data: Jova | ||||||||
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Image | Name - Game Description | Type / Users | Attributes / Consume | Statistics / Sell | Found | Notes | ||
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The Thorn Whip is stronger than the Leather Whip. | Simon Belmont | Buy: 100 Hearts Find: Jova | ||||||
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Holy Water disintegrates walls and floors which conceal weapons and items. | Sub-Weapon Simon Belmont | Consume: None | Attack equal to Leather Whip | Buy: 50 Hearts Find: Jova | ||||
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The White Crystal offers a weakened source of magic power. | Simon Belmont | Buy: 50 Hearts Find: Jova |
Veros
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Item Data: Veros | ||||||||
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Image | Name - Game Description | Type / Users | Attributes / Consume | Statistics / Sell | Found | Notes | ||
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The Chain Whip is stronger than the Thorn Whip. | Simon Belmont | Buy: 150 Hearts Find: Veros | ||||||
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The dagger can be thrown to kill distant enemy creatures. | Simon Belmont | Consume: none | Buy: 50 Hearts Find: Veros |
Aljiba
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Item Data: Aljiba | ||||||||
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Image | Name - Game Description | Type / Users | Attributes / Consume | Statistics / Sell | Found | Notes | ||
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Place the Garlic in front of enemies, and it will weaken them significantly. | Simon Belmont | Buy: 50 Hearts (×2) Find: Aljiba | Effect: Paralyzes and inflicts continuous minor damage to enemies Special: Summons hidden Gypsies at certain graveyards | |||||
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Laurel helps make you invincible against enemy attacks. You can purchase Laurel from town merchants. | Simon Belmont | Buy: 50 Hearts (×2) Find: Aljiba, Fetra, Laruba Mansion (...) | Effect: Renders the player invincible for a certain period of time |
Oldon
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Item Data: Oldon | ||||||||
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Image | Name - Game Description | Type / Users | Attributes / Consume | Statistics / Sell | Found | Notes | ||
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The Morning Star is stronger than the Chain Whip. | Permanent upgrade Simon Belmont | Attrib: 8 Attack Consume: Current whip | Buy: 200 Hearts Find: Oldon | Evolve: Flame Whip |
Fetra
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Item Data: Fetra | ||||||||
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Image | Name - Game Description | Type / Users | Attributes / Consume | Statistics / Sell | Found | Notes | ||
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Laurel helps make you invincible against enemy attacks. You can purchase Laurel from town merchants. | Simon Belmont | Buy: 50 Hearts (×2) Find: Aljiba, Fetra, Laruba Mansion (...) | Effect: Renders the player invincible for a certain period of time |
Ferryman
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- Main article: Ferryman
The Ferryman will generally offer Simon passage down the Dead River to the town of Aldra. However, if he is presented with Dracula's heart, he will take him via a secret path to Brahm's Mansion instead.
Oak Stake merchant
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Residing somewhere inside each mansion is a gypsy merchant who offers to sell an Oak Stake for 50 Hearts. This stake is mandatory for obtaining the relic housed inside.
Item Data: Oak Stake merchant | ||||||||
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Image | Name - Game Description | Type / Users | Attributes / Consume | Statistics / Sell | Found | Notes | ||
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You'll need the Oak Stake to collect Dracula's corpse at the mansions. | Simon Belmont | Buy: 50 Hearts Find: Berkeley, Bodley, Brahm's, Laruba and Rover Mansions (...) |
Graveyard gypsies
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The graveyard gypsies appear in two of the many graveyards found in the game. They love Garlic and will manifest to Simon if he places a clove in the correct location of the graveyard. Once found, they will present Simon with special and powerful items:
- The one in Camilla Cemetery can be summoned at the westernmost point and will present Simon with a Silver Knife.
- The one in Storigoi Graveyard can be summoned at the dead-end of the westernmost point of that cemetery. He will present Simon with a Silk Bag, which will increase his capacity for holding Laurels.
Item Data: Graveyard gypsies | ||||||||
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Image | Name - Game Description | Type / Users | Attributes / Consume | Statistics / Sell | Found | Notes | ||
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The Silver Knife can be thrown farther than the dagger. | Simon Belmont | Consume: 1 Heart | Find: Camilla Cemetery Drop: Gypsy | |||||
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If you have the Silk Bag you can carry a larger supply of medicinal herbs. | Simon Belmont | Find: Storigoi Graveyard (...) |
Traveling gypsies
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There are certain gypsies that can be found in the Transylvanian wilds, outside of towns. They will present Simon with special items to help him destroy the curse, asking nothing in return. There is one who gives him a Diamond to fight off enemies, one in Laruba Mansion who provides him with a full supply of Laurels, and one who upgrades his Morning Star to a Flame Whip, the most powerful whip in the game.
Item Data: Graveyard gypsies | ||||||||
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Image | Name - Game Description | Type / Users | Attributes / Consume | Statistics / Sell | Found | Notes | ||
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Toss it and see what happens. | Sub-Weapon Simon Belmont | Find: Jam Wasteland (...) | Effect: Bounces on any surface it strikes, inflicting medium damage to enemies until it leaves the screen | |||||
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Laurel helps make you invincible against enemy attacks. You can purchase Laurel from town merchants. | Simon Belmont | Buy: 50 Hearts (×2) Find: Aljiba, Fetra, Laruba Mansion (...) | Effect: Renders the player invincible for a certain period of time | |||||
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Magic changes the Morning Star into the Flame Whip and gives it mysterious powers. | Permanent upgrade Simon Belmont | Attrib: 16 Attack Consume: Morning Star | Find: Uta Lower Road (...) |