| “ | Come on, kill me if you can. Before the Beast devours you all. | ” |
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Introduction
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The Beast of Gévaudan (ジェーヴォーダンの
One century would pass with neither sight nor sound of the Beast—until its sudden return. Several corpses who'd died in ways identical to those of the eighteenth century incidents were found, and word quickly spreads throughout the country. Vampires and the Church spur back into action, both factions harboring the same suspicion: that the Beast is a curse-bearing Vampire. These news being brought to them by the informant Dante, Vanitas and Noé decide to enter the fray as well and investigate the truth behind the Beast of Gévaudan—and, if possible, save whoever it is from their disease.[2]
This article contains plot and/or ending details for The Case Study of Vanitas.
Read at your own risk.
The Beast of Gévaudan has taken on many forms and definitions over the course of its life, but there is only one true origin behind the creation of the Beast—it was the Vampire hunts. The Catholic Church during the eighteenth century conducted Vampire hunts in which they would violently ravage the "heretical" Vampires in the name of their beliefs, despite the fact that such actions had been outlawed. To avoid persecution, these murders were blamed on a fictitious Beast that served as their proxy and mouthpiece to preach their anti-Vampire rhetoric.[3]
Chloé d'Apchier, member of the House d'Apchier, tried investigating the truth behind the Beast and its connection to the Church. She failed, resulting in her entire family being brutally silenced and the suspicion of being a Vampire being cast onto her. The common people of Gévaudan blamed her family for the Beast's presence and began to target her, making Chloé the scapegoat for these incidents. Jean-Jacques Chastel, a dear companion of Chloé, out of a desire to protect her, willingly contracted a Malnomen to become the Beast himself.[3] The existence of the Beast, the terror it reigned onto the people, and the way all of that violence eventually came to aim at her, drove Chloé to the brink. She herself then also willingly contracted a Malnomen, and promised to take "revenge" against this nightmare she lived in.[4]
Appearance[]
The Beast of Gévaudan is described as "[looking] like an enormous wolf. It had a hugely twisted mouth, pointed ears, and sharp claws. Its whole body was covered in red fur, with a black ridge running down its back."[2]
The Beast indeed primarily takes the shape of a wolf of gargantuan size, around the size of a small building. Its fur is a deep dark red resembling the color of blood, with a ridge of black fur running down its back to its tail. The Beast gives off an ominous, deadly aura that is visibly radiating off its body colored a brighter, more saturated red. The fur on its back stands up on ends from the force of this aura, and the Beast's tail is like a long ribbon of shapeless, smokey shadow trailing behind it.
The Beast's mouth is gnarled and twisted, more often than not its lips curled back to bare its sharp and deadly row of fangs. It has a pair of eyes on either side of its head, each one split into three separate pupils. They are beady and black, and when enraged or exerting its immense force, they will glow bright red with power. At the ends of each paw are huge, razor-sharp, savagely deadly claws. Atop its head are a pair of pointed furry ears.
Powers and Abilities[]
The Beast of Gévaudan in its most well-known and concentrated form is the Malnomen of Jean-Jacques Chastel. As the Beast, Jean-Jacques gains the form of a gigantic wolf-like creature that possesses power as monstrous as its looks and size. In seconds the Beast can rip apart multiple soldiers with one swipe of its claws, and its healing factor is so fast bullets barely affect it.[5] It has killed the countless people—the facsimiles of people created by Chloé's own Malnomen—who were aiming to kill Chloé hundreds and thousands of times, never letting up once.[6] With a howl, the Beast can summon swarms of other regular-sized wolves to attack its enemies as well.[5]
Jean-Jacques is able to freely shapeshift between his own regular body and the form of the Beast.[7] He is the only curse-bearer seen thus far who is able to freely change shape between their healthy Vampire form, and the form taken while infected with Malnomen.
Quotes[]
- “J… Jea… nne…?”[5]
- “It had a hugely twisted mouth, pointed ears, and sharp claws. Its whole body was covered in red fur—a Beast that looked like a wolf. That… is me.”[7]
Appearances[]
- Mémoire 22: Hurler — A Calling Voice (Mentioned only)
- Mémoire 23: Au Pas Camarade — Pace (Mentioned only)
- Mémoire 24: Forêt d'argent — Chance Encounter (First Appearance)
- Mémoire 25: Endroit Approprié — Melee
- Mémoire 26: Dissonance — Creaking Laughter
- Mémoire 27: Cage de Neige — Dregs*
- Mémoire 28: Dal Segno — Question Mark (Mentioned only)
- Mémoire 29: Château de Sorcière — The Witch and the Youth*
- Mémoire 30: Strascinando — Tremolo (Mentioned only)
- Mémoire 33: Cauchemar — Rumble (Mentioned only)
- Mémoire 34: Jean-Jacques — The Vampire of the Chastels (Part One)
- Mémoire 34.5: Jean-Jacques — The Vampire of the Chastels (Part Two)*
- Mémoire 35: Louisette — Pillar of Justice
- Mémoire 36: Chasse aux Vampires — The Beast*
- Mémoire 37: Vengeance — Hands That Touch a Nightmare
- Mémoire 38: Naenia — She Who Harbors Death (Part One)
- Mémoire 38.5: Naenia — She Who Harbors Death (Part Two)
- Mémoire 39: Poupée Fissurée — The Essence of the Witch (Mentioned only)
- Mémoire 40: Avec Toi — Alone Together*
- Mémoire 41: Canorus — Snow Flower (Mentioned only)
- Mémoire 43: Encens Restant — Lingering Scent of the Dream*
- Mémoire 12: Deux Ombres -Point of Departure- (Mentioned only)
- Mémoire 13: Forêt d'argent -Chance Encounter- (First Appearance)
- Mémoire 14: Château de Sorcière -The Witch and the Young Man- (Mentioned only)
- Mémoire 15: Oiseau et ciel -The d'Apchiers' Vampire- (Mentioned only)
- Mémoire 16: Chasse aux Vampires -The Beast-
- Mémoire 17: Vengeance -Hands Upon a Nightmare-
(*) - Denotes that the character did not appear physically, but as a part of another character's memories.
Trivia[]
- The Beast of Gévaudan was an actual beast which carried out over 200 attacks in the Gévaudan province of south-central France between 1764 and 1767.[8]
- The conversation Chloé overhears in Mémoire 33 regarding a girl named Jeanne killed in Les Hubacs is a direct reference to the real life Beast of Gévaudan incidents, with a 14-year-old girl named Jeanne Boulet being known as the first recorded victim of the Beast.[9]
References[]
- ↑ Mémoire 22: Hurler
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Mémoire 23: Au Pas Camarade
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Mémoire 36: Chasse aux Vampires
- ↑ Mémoire 37: Vengeance
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Mémoire 24: Forêt d'argent
- ↑ Mémoire 40: Avec Toi
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Mémoire 34: Jean-Jacques (Part One)
- ↑ Wikipedia: Beast of Gévaudan
- ↑ Tales of History and Imagination: The Beast of Gevaudan