The Laruba Mansion (ラルバの館 Raruba no Yakata?, lit. "House of Laruba") is a location in Castlevania II: Simon's Quest. It is the fifth and last accessible mansion in the game.
Overview[]
Laruba Mansion is just to the east of the Camilla Cemetery and is guarded by Camilla's spirit, but an impossible jump makes it impossible to reach from the cemetery coming from the west. Instead, to reach it from the west side of the cemetery, the player must travel across the Dead River to the western most part of the game, Deborah's Cliff, use the Red Crystal to take a whirl-wind to transport the player to the east side of the map at Bodley Mansion, continue heading west, using the Red Crystal again at the base of some water, continue heading west, cross the treacherous Joma Marsh and to reach it. Joma Marsh is on the other side of it as well, which leads back to Camilla Cemetery.
Laruba Mansion is notable as it is the only one that contains traps that move (boulders fall down on the player in a dead end room, ground spikes or arrows shoot upward at them while they're on a moving platform). It also is characterized by a large number of fake walls (some of which the player will have to jump in order to get through) and breakable blocks. It also the only mansion that has Spiders in it. There is a Gypsy hidden within the mansion that will beg the player to take his Laurels, which is very useful getting across the Joma Marsh again. The entrance to the area that holds this mansion's relic, Dracula's Ring, is guarded by a giant mask referred to as Vampira in the manual, which generally thought to be the mask of Carmilla. While it is possible to skip fighting this boss in order to obtain the relic, it must be defeated in order to obtain the Magic Cross, which is also needed to enter Dracula's Castle.
When exiting the mansion, heading left takes the player toward Camilla Cemetery (requires at least one Laurel), while heading right takes them toward the Devious Woods.
Enemy Data[]
| Enemy Data: Laruba Mansion | |||||
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| Image | Name - Game Description |
Statistics | Items | Location | Notes |
    
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| Japanese Description: (*) They carry a shield and throw bones at Simon. Quite formidable! |
HP: 2/4/8/16/32 |
Drop: Half Heart |
Berkeley Mansion / Rover Mansion / Brahm's Mansion / Bodley Mansion / Laruba Mansion |
Abil: some Throw Bones (arc, explode) | |
    
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| Japanese Description: (*) They ready their spear and charge at Simon. |
HP: 2/4/8/16/32 |
Drop: Half Heart |
Berkeley Mansion / Rover Mansion / Brahm's Mansion / Bodley Mansion / Laruba Mansion |
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| Japanese Description: (*) Watch out for the threads they spit. |
HP: 2/32 |
Drop: Small Heart (day), Half Heart (night) |
Denis Woods, Aljiba Woods / Laruba Mansion |
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| Japanese Description: (*) Be careful of the blood tears they shed while moving! |
HP: 256 |
Drop: Magic Cross Guard: Dracula's Ring |
Laruba Mansion |
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Item Data[]
| Item Data: Laruba Mansion | ||||||||
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| Image | Name - Game Type - Users Description |
Attributes / Consume | Statistics / Sell | Found | Notes | |||
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| It's been in the Count's family for hundreds of years. Then again, the Count's also been in his family for hundreds of years. | Find: Laruba Mansion |
Effect: Opens the entrance to Dracula's Castle (along with the Cross) | ||||||
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| You must have the Cross to seal Dracula's fate. | Find: Laruba Mansion Drop: Camilla |
Effect: Opens the entrance to Dracula's Castle (along with the Ring) | ||||||
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| Laurel helps make you invincible against enemy attacks. You can purchase Laurel from town merchants. | Buy: 50 Hearts (×2) Find: Aljiba, Fetra, Laruba Mansion (...) |
Effect: Renders the player invincible for a certain period of time | ||||||
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| You'll need the Oak Stake to collect Dracula's corpse at the mansions. | Buy: 50 Hearts Find: Berkeley, Bodley, Brahm's, Laruba and Rover Mansions (...) |
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Gallery[]
Maps[]
- See also: Simon's Quest World Map
Trivia[]
- Its name might be a far reference to Orava Castle, a castle in Slovakia where the 1922 Gothic horror film, Nosferatu, was filmed.
Other appearances[]
Super Castlevania IV[]
- Main article: Super Castlevania IV Stage 2
The path taken in Super Castlevania IV to Dracula's Castle generally aligns with the optimal path that can be taken in Simon's Quest to the castle. Laruba Mansion corresponds with Medusa's lair found in the second stage.
References[]
- ↑ A wandering Gypsy can be found on the bottom-leftmost corner of the mansion. She will present the player with a full supply of Laurels free of charge when spoken to (default 4 Laurels, 8 Laurels if in possession of the Silk Bag). The player can resupply their stock of Laurels with her as many times as desired.
External links[]
- NES Game Atlas hints: Scan of pages 156-157 hosted on the Castlevania Dungeon.
- YouTube - NES Game Atlas
- YouTube - Gameplay video starting at Bodley Mansion, and traveling through Wicked Ditch, Uta Lower Road, Devious Woods, Joma Marsh, to Laruba Mansion.
- NesMaps.com - Laruba Mansion Interior Labeled Map