Chapter Text
[ Foreword ]
This story, a work of fiction centering around the game IdentityV, is a long term project and my first literary publication. I probably couldn’t even have published it without any help - despite my dear helper wishing to stay uncredited. But enough of that! Since as a reader, I usually don't feel like diving right in all blind, I invite you take a moment and get to know what to expect from it:
This story's focal point will be IdentityV's events of “Castle banquet mystery” (Halloween 2019) and the bloodline essence (S9 E1), as well as some characters / costume themes that I thought would fit into its setting. For several characters, I also took inspiration from the bloodline lore analysis by Ma Yi Jia (overview of english translation: https://www.reddit.com/r/IdentityV/comments/hewnks/halloween_bloodline_story_fifth_and_final_layer/ )
But fret not - to understand the premise of this story, you won't need to read any analysis or catch up on the lore behind the events that inspired it! However, I will offer some background information that explains the basic exposition as well as some important terms that will pop up frequently.
Overall, please note that this is just a fan-made interpretation of the game's lore, I am in no way associated with NetEase nor am I trying to explain any yet unpublished revelations. Furthermore, I do not intend to promote any non-canon (romantic) character pairings, although some may be implied throughout the storyline - read it as you may, I simply like to explore some possible character interactions in the given setting!
Enjoy and stay hydrated – but take it easy on the red juice... -- kyomaru_ko
[ Background ]
The story takes place in a time where humans and vampires co-exist under the rule of the “Covenant ”. This covenant was forged hundreds of years ago after the fall and subsequent banishment of the fierce arch-vampire Mary, the widely feared “Queen of Blood”, which ended an era of harsh, blood-soaked conflict known as the time of bloodshed . From then on, the Covenant was established to secure a peaceful co-existence of humans, clergymen and vampires. It is primarily regulated by church officials, who declared that the villages surrounding vampiric residences were to provide “blood sacrifices”, mostly in the form of plasma donations, for the undead on a regular basis – and, in turn, should not have to fear being attacked by hungry beasts. The covenant also serves as a contract of armistice between the remaining arch-vampires and the church. As long as the living provide enough for the undead to “live” their dreadful existence, they will stay to themselves and not expand their ranks. While this created an ever-lasting sense of dismay in both fractions, the regulations of the covenant have proved to be effective for centuries, and no major fights have broken out ever since. However, there still are those deeply dissatisfied with such binding rules, leading to the formation of several new sub-fractions around influential vampire elders as well as non-vampiric rebels, demanding to find a different approach – which is why minor transgressions still came to happen on both sides of the pact. Thus, the job of “exorcists” was implemented, people chosen by the church and approved by a high-ranking vampire, who would keep watch over the pact and punish any violations respectably. Their line of work also included the collection of blood-sacrifices offered by their village, which would then be handed over to an emissary of the Vampires, who'd deliver the offerings to their Count's castle.
The title of “Count ” is the highest rank in the current vampire hierarchy, but rather than being a title of nobility, it is one of great responsibility. For the one appointed Count by the ancient tome of prophecies , from which all vampiric power is said to originate, is expected to unite his kind, take them under his wing and care for their needs, even down to the lowest ranks. In times of the Covenant, this includes serving as a mediator as well as making sure that the vampires under his control keep their distance from the human villages surrounding his residence – all while maintaining a non-hostile connection to the church. The acting Count after the banishment of Queen Mary has been Count Jack, the “Crimson Reaper”, who personally played a significant part in the establishment of the Covenant. Meanwhile, the “Primeval”, the presumed author of the tome of prophecies and the first of all Vampires, has not been seen ever since.