Hector

is the protagonist of Castlevania: Curse of Darkness. He is a former general of Dracula who had decided he had enough of killing and fled. A woman Hector had later found contentment with was killed by his old comrade Isaac and he enters Dracula's domain in the game with the intent of avenging his wife and himself upon Isaac.
Official background: The game's protagonist. A former Devil Forgemaster who betrayed Dracula three years ago, allowing his fall by the hand of Trevor Belmont. After renouncing his powers, Hector had been leading a normal life when his beloved was executed as a witch. He has vowed to exact vengeance upon Isaac, who cleverly manipulated the witch trial.
==History==
===Events of Castlevania: Curse of Darkness manga===
====Childhood====
Hector had a difficult childhood. He was born as the son of an alchemist. At an early age, he found that animals gravitated toward him, both animals of the day and animals of the night. Other children and adults thought that this was unnatural and did not accept him. This caused his mother grief and she exclaimed to him that she wished he was never born.
The only things his father was interested in was wealth, honor, control, and protection by those in power and barely noticed that Hector existed. One day, the animals that had witnessed the cruelty of his fellow humans and decided to help him "escape" his predicament. They caused the church to catch on fire and perhaps cost the lives of his family and neighbors. They told him that he was free now and should be happy that they got what they deserved. They told him to go to the one place in the world where he would be allowed to live and led him to Dracula's Castle.
====At Dracula's Castle====
Hector entered into the care of Dracula's Castle two years after another aspiring Devil Forgemaster had entered there, Isaac. There he was recognized as perhaps the most promising human resident there. Hector believed that power was what mattered in the world and that it did not matter if the power was "evil", for power was truly neither evil nor good. He mastered the arts of devil alchemy that enabled him to create living creatures using base materials. Isaac respected him but became jealous of his position of Dracula's favorite. Hector and Isaac's power grew and they soon became Dracula's generals and were considered equals to Death himself. Dracula sent them to ravage the countryside and turned his domain of Wallachia, which he had once protected, into a wasteland for betraying him. Hector did not wish to use his power to do this and did not want to kill humans even though they had never loved him because he himself was one. He obeyed his master though for many months. He pleaded his lord to not make him kill them anymore, but his concerns were brushed aside.
====Defection====
When Dracula received word that a Belmont was on his way to destroy him, he sent Hector to kill him. However, Hector took this opportunity to flee the castle for good. He likely killed the demons Dracula had sent with him to help him in his task and was wounded in the process. He apparently lost the will to live and decided to just lay on the ground until he was dead. He was eventually found by Rosaly, who was the sister in charge of the church while the father was away. She convinced him to stay there and recover from his injuries. Hector was able to hide his presence thanks to being inside of a church. 
When Dracula sensed his power disappear, he was concerned at the possible loss of his most powerful general. Since the Belmont had not entered Valachia yet at this point, it could not have been him who killed him. He decided to send Isaac to find out what happened to him. If he was dead, then that was fine, though a regrettable loss. But if he was alive and had betrayed him, he was to bring him back to Dracula for punishment. He sent Isaac with several of his human compatriots and a werewolf. Though they could not track him by his power, the werewolf was able to find him by his scent. After pleading from a village boy named Ted, Hector decided to save Rosaly from the werewolf (an act he was unaccustomed to), which had decided to snack on some humans while on his mission. Since he was found already, he unmasked his power, destroyed the werewolf, and Isaac was alerted to his general whereabouts. Isaac later found him and decided to kill him rather than bring him back to Dracula as he was ordered. This was so that Dracula would stop thinking about Hector and avail himself to Isaac's services alone. During their battle, they sensed that Dracula's Castle had been destroyed and Dracula had perished. Trevor Belmont had breached Dracula's defenses much sooner than Dracula had anticipated and had the help of powerful allies, including Dracula's son Alucard. Isaac was enraged and blamed Hector's defection for Dracula's death. He was defeated however and left for dead.
====Village life====
Rosaly insisted that Hector remain with them until his wounds had healed. He was reluctant to do so because there may be others after him and he would put them in danger. She insisted that the castle and all the demons had faded away. The most dangerous threats now were from humans (who were slowly behaving more wicked due to a curse Dracula had placed on the land upon his death). The children had apparently taken a liking to Hector as well. Rosaly made it clear that she liked him and he decided to stay and enjoyed three years of acceptance, though he did not venture into largely populated areas due to prejudice. Isaac however, had not died and spied on Hector's progress. Driven mad by the curse seeping into his being, he decided to allow Hector a time of happiness and contentment so that it would be all that more painful for him when it was taken away from him.
One day, three years later, Rosaly headed into town in order to sell apples. This was the moment Isaac decided to strike at Hector's heart. He spread rumors that the apples that she was selling were poisonous and that she was a witch. Hector, who had went into town to pick her up in case there was any trouble from the townsfolk, found her burned on a stake.
===Events of Curse of Darkness (game)===
Enraged, Hector followed Isaac's trail to an abandoned castle. There, Isaac challenged him to follow if he wished to regain his Devil Forgemaster powers. Hector follows Isaac into the castle and shortly finds a strange tomb, which is a site for forging innocent devils. Against his better judgment, Hector gives in and regains his old powers in devil forgery. He then meets Zead, a mysterious priest who informs him of Isaac's whereabouts.
As he chases Isaac through the Baljhet Mountains to a temple, Hector comes across Julia, a witch who offers her assistance by selling various items to him. He comments that she is the very image of Rosaly. Arriving at the temple, Hector encounters St. Germain, a mysterious man who requests that he pursues Isaac no further. Inside, Hector battles a man who wields a whip and is searching for the Devil Forgemaster that is causing chaos throughout Wallachia. Because Hector's powers are still weak, he is easily defeated, leading his opponent to question who he is because the one he is seeking has power rivaling those of Death. Hector realizes that he is pursuing Isaac and confirms that he is Trevor Belmont, the man who defeated Dracula three years ago. After Hector tells Trevor his name, the two part ways.
Making his way through an aqueduct, Hectors encounters Zead again, who tells him that Isaac is heading for a nearby village on the other side of the forest. Suddenly, Zead leaves in a hurry and St. Germain appears. The man tells Hector not to listen to anything the priest tells him, but Hector angrily declares that he will have his revenge no matter what. St. Germain then leaves to pursue Zead. Arriving at the forest, Hector spies on Zead and St. Germain, watching as they fight for a small time. As they leave, Hector concludes that they are enemies.
In the nearby town of Cordova, Hector finds Isaac again and battles him. But their battle is stopped by Julia, and Hector learns that she and Isaac are siblings. After Isaac escapes, Hector angrily confronts Julia, who pleads with him to save her brother from the insanity brought upon him by the curse. Calming down, Hector complies with her request. At the clock tower, Hector fights St. Germain, who has walked into a trap set by Zead. Realizing that the Devil Forgemaster was able to pass through the barrier, the man draws his sword, wishing to test Hector. As Hector is victorious, St. Germain promises not to interfere again and encourages him to continue on his journey. The man then leaves, telling Hector to give his regard to Zead.
In the Aiolon Ruins, Hector comes across Isaac and Trevor battling each other. As Isaac flees at the site of Hector, Trevor realizes that they are enemies but declares that he will be the one to slay Isaac. As the hunter leaves, Zead appears and tells Hector that Isaac is heading back to the abandoned castle where there is a secret chamber. Hector gives Zead St. Germain's regards, causing the priest to panic and leave in a hurry. Back at the abandoned castle, Hector encounters Trevor again, who fights him to test his strength. Seeing that the Devil Forgemaster is stronger than before, Trevor helps Hector in his pursuit of Isaac by opening a gate to the hidden chamber below. Eventually, Hector battles and defeats the guardian Dullahan, but the battle created enough black magic to undo the seal and Dracula's castle is risen.
Arriving at the castle, Hector is met by Julia, who tells him that Dracula might have risen again. Hector suggests that they call on Trevor for help, but Julia informs him that the hunter was severely wounded by Isaac and she barely saved his life. Hector resolves to defeat Dracula and put an end to the curse that plagues the land, and Julia tells him not to let the curse take control of him. Hector enters the castle and battles Isaac for the final time. Emerging victorious and killing Isaac, Hector prepares to deliver another blow but stops himself when he remembers Julia's advice, and he realizes that his desire for vengeance was the work of the curse. Zead then appears and reveals that he was behind everything. He originally had planned on using Hector as a vessel for his lord when he succumbs to the curse, but he is forced to settle with Isaac, taking his corpse to be the host. As the priest draws a scythe, Hector realizes that he is Death, Dracula's right-hand man. After defeating Death, Hector confronts the resurrected Dracula, resolving not to flee as he did before. He defeats the vampire because the resurrection was incomplete, and brushes aside his former lord's notion that the curse will not be lifted. After Dracula's death, Hector contemplates that both Rosaly's death and Isaac's descent into madness was the work of the curse, and he successfully uses his power to nullify it. As the castle starts to crumble and fall, Hector decides to die in peace. But he is rescued by Julia, who urges for him to live out his life, and they escape together. When he contemplates on where to go to protect his innocent devils, Julia offers to let Hector stay at her home, which he gladly accepts.
==Battle==
===Devil Forging===
Since Devil Forgemasters are imbued with Dracula's magic, Hector is able to create and command beings known as Innocent Devils to aid him. They play a major role in the game, by helping Hector fighting enemies and help him past obstacles, as well as boosting Hector's stats.
Innocent Devils level up alongside Hector and eventually gain new skills. Enemies drop items called Evolution Shards when an Innocent Devil is active. When enough of these Shards are collected, an Innocent Devil evolves into a new form. This results in new abilities coming available, and better stat increases.The form that the Innocent Devil will evolve into is determined by the weapon type that Hector uses while collecting Evolution Shards.
There are six types of Innocent Devils that are obtainable in the game: Fairy-Type, Battle-Type, Bird-Type, Mage-Type, Devil-Type, and the hidden Pumpkin-Type. Each Type has their own unique abilities.
====Fairy-Type====
The first Innocent Devil is summoned in the Abandoned Castle. Fairy Devils don't attack (except for a few Evolutions that possess attacks, but quite harmless). They can cast spells that can heal Hector or cure him from poison or curse. They can also open chests, and certain higher levels of fairy-types can translate messages. Enemies can't attack Fairy Innocent Devils.
====Battle-Type====
The second Innocent Devil is summoned in the Baljhet Mountains. As the name suggests, Battle Devils are pure killing machines, with great melee abilities, created to attack enemies and protect Hector. They can open metal doors that bar Hector's passage (for example, the one blocking the Mortvia Aqueduct in the mountains). Hector can perform Chain Attacks with them. They are one of three types also seen used by Isaac, who uses an Iytei and a Rasetz.
====Bird-Type====
The third Innocent Devil is summoned in the Mortvia Aqueduct. Bird Devils are good in air battle and can help Hector for jumping over large holes that cannot ordinarily be passed by lifting Hector and flying for a short amount of time, the ability of which can be upgraded to access the Tower of Evermore. They can juggle light enemies, allowing Hector to air combo easily. This is one of three types also seen used by Isaac, who uses a Crimson.
====Mage-Type====
The fourth Innocent Devil is summoned in Cordova Town. Mage Devils are physically weak, being not very good at fighting enemies physically, but can cast powerful spells which inflict heavy area damage. They can also help Hector by using a "stop time" spell, which, for a limited time, freezes time for everything but Hector and bosses, who can immediately break the spell.
====Devil-Type====
The final mandatory Innocent Devil is summoned in the Eneomaos Machine Tower. Devil-Type Devils are considered a balance between Battle and Bird-Types: they're good at melee and air battle, with high mobility and attack power, being very aggressive whenever an enemy is spotted. They can also take Hector underground, with a spell that converts both Hector and the Devil into a magic circle. There is only one evolutionary path for this ID, and its final form can only be created by collecting Evo crystals using the Chauve-souris spear. Hector can perform Chain Attacks with them. This is one of three types seen used by Isaac, who uses a The End, named Abel.
====Pumpkin-Type====
An optional Innocent Devil Hector can summon in Dracula's Castle. In order to actually unlock it, it's necessary to forge a weapon called Pumpkin Mace. Pumpkin Devils are really bad at fighting enemies and have a low heart gauge. They however give high stat boosts to Hector, increasing his strength, constitution and luck. They're often considered as the Joke Innocent Devil, or just as a challenge to players who like to solo as Hector while retaining stat bonuses.
===Weapon Combining===
There are a limited amount of weapons available for purchase in the game, making it necessary for Hector to create them himself. He can accomplish this by collecting materials that can be found in certain places or are dropped by enemies. By combining these materials, Hector can create armor and several types of weapons. As more equipment is created more recipes become available. Recipes are unlocked when all necessary materials where at one point in Hector's inventory.
===Stealing===
At a certain point in the game, Hector gains the ability to steal items from enemies. Each item has a window during which Hector is able to steal from that enemy. Usually a certain requirement should be met for this window to be opened, such as an enemy performing a special attack, or performing a perfect guard when attacked.
===Equipment list===
==Other appearances==
===Castlevania: Valiant Guardian, Castlevania: Ring of the Heavens, Castlevania: Warrior of Darkness===
Hector appeared as the protagonist in three Castlevania: Curse of Darkness spinoff slot games that Konami released for overseas markets around 2018, including Castlevania: Valiant Guardian and its sequel Castlevania: Ring of the Heavens for North American territories and Castlevania: Warrior of Darkness released for the Australian territory. These games document Hector's battle against Dracula, sometimes accompanied by his Infant Fairy Innocent Devil. He engages in combat with Dracula and his minions during jackpot bonus rounds. An alternate version of each game was released which starred Trevor Belmont.
===Castlevania (animated series)===
Hector appears as one of Dracula's two human generals in the animated series. He, along with Isaac, is a Forgemaster; although instead of summoning demons, their main occupation is to bring people and animals back from the dead by drawing lost souls from Hell and then inserting them into their bodies, transforming them into night creatures that are then enlisted in Dracula's army. 
Unlike the belligerent demeanor he displays in the game and manga, in the animated series Hector is portrayed as a more calm and introverted, yet still optimistic person.
===Non-Castlevania appearances===
====Dead Cells====
It is possible to make the playable Beheaded appear like Hector by equipping the Hector Outfit that can be found in the Return to Castlevania expansion.
==Gallery==
==Trivia==
*Hector shares some common traits with Alucard: Both of them can have familiars fighting alongside them, skills with multiple weapons and magic, and the attitude of defection from Dracula's grasp.
*Hector's name is most famously known for being that of one noble but unfortunate Trojan general, whom Achilles dispatched. The name itself is Greek in origin and means "holding fast" - appropriate for the steadfast forgemaster. It is Hector's strength, will and perseverance that saved him from becoming Dracula's next host.
*His blue eyes, like Isaac's red hair, are a trait associated with vampirism in Balkan mythology and in folklore from some parts of Greece. These stories held that a blue-eyed person would become a vampire after death, or that they were already vampiric in nature. It is speculated that Hector and Isaac are no longer mortal men - although Dracula considers them still to be human, and thus lesser.
*It's worth pointing out the contrast between Isaac and Hector physical appearance; their dressing style is very different, as is the color of their hair. Isaac's fiery red hair may be taken as a symbol of hatred and anger, while Hector's white hair may be thought of as a symbol of purity, wisdom and nobility. In short, Hector is the opposite of everything Isaac has become.
*In the game's cinematics, Hector is almost never seen wielding weapons, he simply fights with his bare fists instead. The only cinematic where he's seen holding a weapon is in the introductory trailer, where he uses the Laser Blade against Isaac.
*Hector is one of the only Castlevania protagonists without a known last name.
**Devil Forgemasters are known to go only by their first name. While the reason for this has never been explained, it is probable that the dropping of their family name is part of the requirements while studying the black arts, as a way to symbolize their renunciation to any bonds that may still tie them with their past normal lives.
*Hector shares his English voice actor, Crispin Freeman, with Mathias Cronqvist from Castlevania: Lament of Innocence, the latter of whom would ultimately become his master, Dracula.
*The manner in which Isaac tries to get Hector to pursue him, having his wife Rosaly executed at the stake, is very similar to how his master Dracula's wife Lisa ended up dying.
*In the series' chronological history, he is the first hero to defeat Dracula without being a member of the Belmont Clan.
==References==
==External links==
*
*Hector (Castlevania) at the Heroes Wiki
es:Hector
pt-br:Hector
Category:Devil Forgemasters
Category:Humans
Category:Male Characters
Category:Protagonists
Category:Curse of Darkness Characters
Category:Curse of Darkness Manga Characters
Category:Curse of Darkness Playable Characters