Gypsy

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

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 as inspiration for their appearance in Simon's Quest.

Types of gypsies

Town merchants

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

Item Data: Jova
Image	Name - Game Description	Type / Users	Attributes / Consume	Statistics / Sell	Found	Notes
	The Thorn Whip (jpn) - Simon's Quest					[edit]
	The Thorn Whip is stronger than the Leather Whip.	Simon Belmont			Buy: 100 Hearts Find: Jova
	Holy Water (jpn) - Simon's Quest					[edit]
	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
	White Crystal (Crystal ball (white)) - Simon's Quest					[edit]
	The White Crystal offers a weakened source of magic power.	Simon Belmont			Buy: 50 Hearts Find: Jova

Veros

Item Data: Veros
Image	Name - Game Description	Type / Users	Attributes / Consume	Statistics / Sell	Found	Notes
	The Chain Whip (jpn) - Simon's Quest					[edit]
	The Chain Whip is stronger than the Thorn Whip.	Simon Belmont			Buy: 150 Hearts Find: Veros
	The Dagger (jpn) - Simon's Quest					[edit]
	The dagger can be thrown to kill distant enemy creatures.	Simon Belmont	Consume: none		Buy: 50 Hearts Find: Veros

Aljiba

Item Data: Aljiba
Image	Name - Game Description	Type / Users	Attributes / Consume	Statistics / Sell	Found	Notes
	Garlic (jpn) - Simon's Quest					[edit]
	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
	The Laurel (Bay Leaves) - Simon's Quest					[edit]
	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

Item Data: Oldon
Image	Name - Game Description	Type / Users	Attributes / Consume	Statistics / Sell	Found	Notes
	The Morning Star (Fundo Whip) - Simon's Quest					[edit]
	The Morning Star is stronger than the Chain Whip.	Simon Belmont	Attrib: 8 Attack Consume: Current whip		Buy: 200 Hearts Find: Oldon	Evolve: Flame Whip

Fetra

Item Data: Fetra
Image	Name - Game Description	Type / Users	Attributes / Consume	Statistics / Sell	Found	Notes
	The Laurel (Bay Leaves) - Simon's Quest					[edit]
	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

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

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
Image	Name - Game Description	Type / Users	Attributes / Consume	Statistics / Sell	Found	Notes
	The Oak Stake (jpn) - Simon's Quest					[edit]
	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

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
Image	Name - Game Description	Type / Users	Attributes / Consume	Statistics / Sell	Found	Notes
	The Silver Knife (jpn) - Simon's Quest					[edit]
	The Silver Knife can be thrown farther than the dagger.	Simon Belmont	Consume: 1 Heart		Find: Camilla Cemetery Drop: Gypsy
	Silk Bag (jpn) - Simon's Quest					[edit]
	If you have the Silk Bag you can carry a larger supply of medicinal herbs.	Simon Belmont			Find: Storigoi Graveyard (...)

Traveling gypsies

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
Image	Name - Game Description	Type / Users	Attributes / Consume	Statistics / Sell	Found	Notes
	The Diamond (Bouncing Ore) - Simon's Quest					[edit]
	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
	The Laurel (Bay Leaves) - Simon's Quest					[edit]
	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
	The Flame Whip (jpn) - Simon's Quest					[edit]
	Magic changes the Morning Star into the Flame Whip and gives it mysterious powers.	Simon Belmont	Attrib: 16 Attack Consume: Morning Star		Find: Uta Lower Road (...)

Other appearances

Laura, a character appearing in Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia, is possibly a gypsy; implied by her characteristic apparel, as well as her heavy use and crafting of jewelry.

Trivia

Certain characters appearing in following installments, as well as other related media, appear to be inspired by the Gypsies from Simon's Quest, such as the Flute Player from Castlevania Chronicles and Miranda from the Castlevania animated series.