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Introduction
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Moreau (モロー, Morō) , also known as Doctor Moreau (ドクター・モロー, Dokutā Morō), is an antagonist from Jun Mochizuki's The Case Study of Vanitas. Originally employed by the Chasseurs, Moreau conducted experiments to research Vampires. However he grew obsessed with his research and was expelled from the Catholic Church due to his madness. When curse-bearing Vampires begin to get kidnapped en masse throughout Paris, Vanitas suspects it to be Moreau's doing. And so he and Noé venture into the catacombs beneath the city to track down and put a stop to the man.
This article contains plot and/or ending details for The Case Study of Vanitas.
Read at your own risk.
Moreau began as a renowned physiologist but was expelled from the academy after a scandal in which a skinned and multiply amputated dog escaped from his laboratory. After this he crossed over to France where he was welcomed into the Church's ranks, who wished for him to help conduct research on Vampires. However the more involved he was in said research the more maddened he became, coming to believe that Vampires were superior to humans. His fervor grew until he started dreaming of becoming a Vampire himself, whereupon he began secret experiments to turn humans into Vampires. Moreau would kidnap children rescued by the Chasseurs and use them as test subjects; two of these children included a young Vanitas and Mikhail, who in that inhumane environment would grow to regard one another as brothers.
As Moreau's ambition to turn humans into Vampires continued to fail with each attempt, he turned his attention elsewhere: he acquired two Books of Vanitas and aspired to open them and harness their power. To do so, he turned Vanitas and Mikhail into "pseudo-Kin" of the Vampire of the Blue Moon, steadily injecting their bodies with the Vampire's blood until they began transforming into beings somewhere beyond humanity. As one final step to the project, Moreau made to use a device to forcefully link the two children with the two Books, the shock of which would destroy their minds. But before the experiment could occur, the device exploded and the laboratory was destroyed. The Vampire of the Blue Moon came in to retrieve their two Books, taking the children along as well.
Due to the chaos of that attack, Moreau's secret research was discovered by the Church and he was subsequently expelled, very nearly killed in the process. After escaping, Moreau came into contact with Charlatan who went on to support his research entirely, including hiding him from the public and the officials who were hunting him down. With their help, Moreau sneaked back to his old laboratory beneath the Chasseurs' base to continue his experimentation. This would lead to him creating "reinforced humans" who had enhanced abilities but seemingly held no souls, and served to do his bidding. Using their manpower, Moreau would kidnap would-be test subjects to use in the next part of his experiments: that of curse-bearing Vampires.
Appearance[]
Moreau is a bald man with a small dark mustache. He has a large build and short stature compared to other researchers. His usual outfit consists of a light pink lab coat over a black shirt, black pants, and brown leather boots. He's always seen wearing his black goggles with red lenses, a yellow-pink checkered scarf, and a brown steampunk-style leather glove with gauges and meters on his left arm.
Personality[]
Moreau is an eerily cheerful man with a single goal— to become a vampire. He seems to have no moral compass and little understanding of how his actions might negatively impact others.
History[]
Moreau was originally hired by the Chasseurs to research Vampires, something which Moreau only went along with in pursuit of intellectual curiosity. However, as Moreau delved into his studies, he came to realize that Vampires were far superior to humans. Believing that the destruction of the Babel Incident was a necessary event for triggering a new branch of evolution, Moreau became a man obsessed - intent on one day becoming a Vampire himself.
Moreau then began undertaking gruesome experiments on the likes of children, often times creating soulless reinforced humans. Sometime after, Vanitas of the Blue Moon stormed Moreau's lab, destroying each of his test subjects save for two - No. 69, who would later come to be known as Vanitas, and No. 71 - both of whom he took with him to join the Blue Moon Clan. Due to the Blue Moon Vampire's raid on his lab, the Chasseurs discovered Moreau's intent and labelled him a lunatic and exiled him. Little did they know though, Moreau had set up a secret laboratory within the catacombs where the Chasseurs made their base. Thanks to the support of an unknown exalted personage who supported and encouraged Moreau's research, Moreau became associated with Charlatan and was allowed to return to his hidden laboratory in order to further his research on their behalf.
Plot[]
Hunters of the Dark Arc[]
As Moreau continues with his experiments, he sends some of his reinforced human projects out to kidnap Curse-Bearers. This attracts the attention of the Dhampir information brokers, Dante, Johann and Riche. While Johann has his arm broken by one of these creations, Dante and Riche track another Curse-Bearer and locate him as he is being kidnapped by No. 128. Riche recklessly engages No. 128 - though both she and Dante are quickly defeated. However, Dante successfully manages to rip a button off of No 128's cloak - delivering it to Vanitas later.
Vanitas recognizes the button as bearing the insignia of the Chasseurs, while also taking note of No. 128's name being scrawled into the back of the button. With this in mind, Vanitas proceeds to use his knowledge of the Chasseurs to infiltrate their headquarters in pursuit of Moreau alongside Noé Archiviste. As they navigate the catacombs and are confronted by Roland Fortis - a Chasseur paladin - Noé and Vanitas fail to realize that they are being watched by Moreau. Moreau quickly recognizes Vanitas as his No. 69 and, ecstatic, prepares to be reunited with the test subject he'd lost so long ago to Vanitas of the Blue Moon.
After clearing the air, Vanitas and Noé partner themselves with Roland and two other Chasseurs, Georges and Maria, and delve deeper into the catacombs. Following Vanitas' lead, the group arrive at Moreau's secret laboratory, shocked as Moreau happily celebrates Vanitas' return. Vanitas pretends to be have sought out Moreau in support of his research, introducing Noé, Roland, Georges and Maria as Chasseurs who had renounced their loyalty to the religious faction in support of Moreau's research. Moreau welcomes the group, relieved that he didn't have to order his test subjects to kill them; instead ordering them to prepare to entertain their guests. Moreau is unable to contain his emotions as his test subjects prepare the room, not realizing that Vanitas' true intent is to squeeze the information they seek out of Moreau, only to apprehend him on behalf of the Chasseurs or kill Moreu by his own hand.
After Moreau explains his aspirations to the group, he reveals that a certain exalted personage was the reason he was allowed to return to his lab and resume his research - though he refuses to reveal their identity. Moreau then shows the group a pair of eyeballs that he had extracted from a Vampire - revealing that he cuts away the pieces necessary for his research from the Curse-Bearers he has been kidnapping before they can revert to ash. When Roland asks the state in which the Curse-Bearers are in, Moreau admits that he'd gotten a little carried away and that almost all of them are now dead. It's at this point that Moreau realizes that Vanitas' eyes are a lighter shade of blue now - wondering if this was an affect of the power of the Blue Moon. Though he'd intended on asking about everything that Vanitas had experienced since he was taken away from him, Moreau instead insists that Vanitas allow him to remove his eyes so that they can be studied.
When Moreau reaches for Vanitas however, Noé stops him and instead throws him across the room - revealing himself to be a Vampire. Roland, Maria, and Georges then continue to attack Moreau's test subjects, while Vanitas and Noé attempt to threaten Moreau into revealing the identity of the exalted personage he'd mentioned earlier. Moreau outright refuses, instead asking to dissect Noé, however before the situation can escalate further, Noé and Vanitas are cast back by Monsieur Spider. Monsieur Spider reveals that he'd come to destroy Moreau's lab, as it had been compromised, though when Noé begins to question Moreau's connection to Charlatan, Monsieur Spider flees to an above elevator. The noise wakes Moreau's last Vampire test subject - a powerful curse-bearer who had killed all the other Vampires he'd captured. Monsieur Spider uses this as a cover, escaping with Moreau in the elevator and leaving the group to battle the beastly Curse-Bearer.
Powers & Abilities[]
- Vast knowledge of human and Vampire anatomy.
- Skilled with practitioner of vivisection and dissection.
Relationships[]
Vanitas[]
While a young Vanitas was training to become a Chasseur, he was kidnapped and given him the name “No. 69”. During his time as Moreau’s test subject Vanitas saw many vampires come in and get torturously experimented on by Moreau and his fellow researchers. Vanitas never escaped because he feared Moreau would kidnap another child and experiment on them in his place. Moreau decided to inject Vanitas and Mikhail with the blood of the Vampire of the Blue Moon in an attempt to make the boys into pseudo-kin of the blue moon and open the Books of Vanitas, leaving both boys traumatized for life.
When they meet again in the Catacombes years later, Vanitas puts on a fake smile and pretends to be delighted in seeing him again, claiming to be Moreau's supporter in order to get information out of him. Despite the torture he inflicted on Vanitas in the past, Moreau claims that Vanitas was an excellent test subject, complimenting him and even going as far as crying after the boy was taken away years ago. He also seems to somewhat coddle Vanitas when the latter apologizes, hugging him and saying he's not the least bit angry.
In spite of his misleadingly affectionate gestures, Moreau only cares about Vanitas' use as a test subject — only praising him for being a cooperative guinea pig — not caring if he was suffering or in pain, going as far as asking for one of Vanitas' eyeballs for research. All things considered, Moreau has always been more than willing to risk Vanitas' health and life to reach his goals. For Vanitas, Moreau is someone he only needed to gather information on Vampire disappearances at the time, and he had planned to kill the doctor as soon as he was done.
Mikhail[]
Mikhail was extremely traumatized by Moreau at a very young age. He was kidnapped by associates of Moreau, to be used for gruesome human experiments in pursuit of Moreau's goal of becoming a Vampire. After a variety of torturous experiments, Moreau decided to slowly inject him Vanitas with the blood of Vanitas of the Blue Moon, along with other drugs. On the last day of the experiment, Moreau was willing to risk Mikhail's life to unlock the Books of Vanitas, but was stopped by Vanitas of the Blue Moon. During his time in Moreau's lab, Mikhail received the name "No. 71".
Charlatan[]
After his exile from the Church, Moreau secretly resumed his research with the help of "an exalted personage" — a member of Charlatan — who helped him return to his old laboratory and carry on with his experiments safely hidden from the Chasseurs. A member of Charlatan mentions that, even if there are some risks, they must have Moreau continue his research, albeit the reason is yet unknown. In addition to that, Moreau is accompanied by Monsieur Spider, who serves as Moreau's bodyguard in the lab.
Quotes[]
- “You see… Someday, I want to become a Vampire myself!!”[1]
- “Vampires are far superior to us humans—a new mankind, created at the apex of evolution……!!”[1]
- “Creation and destruction go hand in hand. In other words, that disaster… ‘Babel’ was a necessary ritual in order for evolution to progress!”[1]
- “You were such an excellent subject, No. 69!! You gladly cooperated with any experiment. Even when we cut you up… even when you nearly died… you never cried or complained!”[1]
- “What’s No. 71 up to these days?”[1]
- “Together… let us draw one step nearer to the wisdom of the Vampires. The wisdom of this world!!”[2]
Appearances[]
- Mémoire 15: Chasseur — Those Who Hunt Crimson (First Appearance)
- Mémoire 16: Galop — At the End of the Riot*
- Mémoire 17: Cicatrice — No. 69
- Mémoire 18: Dos à Dos — The Shape of Salvation
- Mémoire 44: Mal d'Amour — The Incurable Illness (Part One) (Mentioned only)
- Mémoire 46: Un Autre — Scar*
- Mémoire 47: Hétérogène — Sneering Laughter*
- Mémoire 48: Rencontre — Blue Night*
- Mémoire 49: Douleur — Kind Child*
- Mémoire 9: Chasseur -Those Who Hunt Crimson- (First Appearance)
- Mémoire 10: Cicatrice -No. 29-
- Mémoire 21: Un Autre -Scars-*
- Mémoire 22: Rencontre -Blue Night-*
(*) - Denotes that the character did not appear physically, but as a part of another character's memories.
Trivia[]
- Moreau is based directly off the titular character of Herbert George Wells' science fiction novel The Island of Doctor Moreau,[3] in which the eponymous character is a mad scientist who engineers human-animal hybrids through cruel experimentation.