The Duke (Resident Evil)

The Duke is a supporting character in the 2021 video game Resident Evil Village. He is mysterious travelling merchant who rides around in a horse carriage and offers to provide Ethan Winters supplies throughout the game, while also giving him advice and telling him what to do next. His role is similar to The Merchant from , who he even reveals is an old friend.
He was voiced by in the English version, and by in the Japanese version.
==Biography==
===Resident Evil Village===
The Duke is first encountered in front of Castle Dimitrescu where he introduces himself to Ethan, claiming to have heard that he was searching for his daughter Rose and offers to sell weapons and supplies to assist him. He is next found inside the castle where he had business with the Dimitrescu family and suggests that Ethan look for Rose in Alcina Dimitrescu's private quarters. When asked why he was at the castle, The Duke replied that he would likely be found "where there is coin to be made". It also appears he does business with the other Villagers and House Dimitrescu. 
The Duke later reappears in his carriage at the alter after Ethan killed Alcina Dimitrescu and obtained a flask from an underground cave. He informs Winters realise that the flask contained the head of his daughter, though informed the horrified father on how to save her. He tells Ethan he had to kill the other three lords and take their individual flasks. and informs him of a way to save her by collecting the remaining three flasks from the family houses who served under Mother Miranda. 
The Duke makes his final in-game appearance after finding Ethan unconscious and takes him to confront Miranda on his carriage. Ethan asks the Duke what he was, as he'd figured out his ally was not just human, to which the Duke replied that even he didn't know. After Ethan buys from him one last time, they share their farewells and part ways. What happens to the Duke after Ethan defeats Miranda and saves Rose but sacrifices himself to do so, is unclear.
===Shadows of Rose===
Masked Duke, a villainous version of The Duke created by Mother Miranda, appears as a major antagonist of the 2022 Resident Evil Village DLC Shadows of Rose, no one knows what happens to him after Rose defeated one of his champion monsters, while escaping, he was never to be seen or heard again.
==Trivia==
*The Duke implies that The Merchant from Resident Evil 4 is an old friend of his and will sometimes say The Merchant's famous line "What are ya buyin'?" while the player is browsing his shop.
**Unlike The Merchant who only sells and upgrades, The Duke cooks food for Ethan that upgrades his stamina.
***Also, The Duke acts like a guide throughout Ethan's adventure.
*The Duke makes special comments for being sold the remains of the four lords.
**Lady Dimitrescu: "Oh, Lady Dimitrescu! Beautiful even in death. That waistline...yes!"
**Donna Beneviento: "Ah, Miss Angie! Just adorable. Porcelain dolls are very popular, you know." 
**Salvatore Moreau: "This is Lord Moreau's? I suppose it's what they call "the beauty of the grotesque"?"
**Karl Heisenberg: "Oho, the assemblage of life and machine! I can feel Lord Heisenberg's essence through it."
*Despite helping Ethan Winters find his daughter, The Duke also does business with the Dimitrescu family who oppose Ethan in his search. However, the Duke seems to be more on Ethan's side as he supports him to find and defeat the four lords and saves him in order for Ethan to save his daughter from Miranda.
*The Duke's appearance resembles Mr Creosote from Monty Python's The Meaning of Life.
*Miranda refers to him as an old friend in her notes on the Masked Duke.
*Despite his villain-like appearance and tone, he is one of the fewest loyal characters in the video games world, even most of the players liked him.
==External links==
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