Shanoa

is the heroine of Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia. She represents the Order of Ecclesia, the only group who seems up to the task of defeating Dracula in the Belmonts' absence. She is able to absorb Glyphs, which provide her with magical weapons and elemental spells. Although she is often pictured wielding an ethereal crimson-colored rapier, Shanoa can also use any other weapons granted to her by glyphs she has obtained.
Shanoa is able to equip three glyphs, much like Soma Cruz's souls. She can combine them to unleash devastating combos either with a spell or a massive weapon; such as a large Holy Claymore or a hail of daggers. The weapons range from scythes, axes, daggers, lances, hammers and swords, while spells range from summoning a fierce wind, lightning orbs, giant stone fists, fireballs, ice shards and blasts of light and/or darkness. Shanoa's glyphs also allow her to swing from place to place using magnetic forces or transform into monsters such as a cat-woman or a winged werebat.
==History==
Shanoa was chosen as a vessel for Dominus by Barlowe. However, before the performing of the ritual, she was attacked by her adoptive brother and fellow Ecclesia member, Albus. Since that time, she has lost her emotions and memories. Upon awakening, Shanoa heard Barlowe's version of the events and received the order to retrieve him and Dominus from Albus.
She ventures toward Wygol Village after her first encounter with her estranged comrade in an abandoned monastery and travels through various dungeons across the land to pursue Albus and rescue the villagers he trapped. All while aiding them through Quests on the side. All of those trapped Wygol villagers have mentioned something about a "man" who imprisoned them in Torpor Glyphs. On several occasions, she meets Albus carrying a part of the Dominus Glyphs, and it was further revealed that he was actually behind the capture of these villagers. He offers the two parts of Dominus to Shanoa as "gifts", and without question, she willingly absorbs the two, believing that it was all for the mission entrusted to her by Barlowe.
However, at the Oblivion Ridge, Albus refuses to give her third Dominus Glyph to Shanoa. He instead explains to her the true nature of these glyphs; that the Dominus is a copy of Dracula's power himself, and the usage of the Dominus can lead to disastrous consequences on one's soul. Shanoa, feeling betrayed, returns to Barlowe, explaining the situation. She is then tasked to take the corrupted Albus down for good at the Mystery Manor.
The events that transpire at the manor plays a crucial role in determining the endings of the game. The following events will differ depending on if Shanoa successfully rescue all thirteen villagers or fails to save at least one. There are two possible routes to the ending this game which is explained after the fight between Shanoa and Albus.
===Bad ending===
After the battle, Shanoa finally absorbs the remaining part of Dominus. She heads back to Barlowe in Ecclesia, believing she has already completed her mission. The only remaining task is to execute the spell beside the coffin in order to "save the world". Unbeknownst to her, it was all lies and tricks by the old man, as she falls to the ground instead, losing consciousness, and her efforts presumably used to resurrect Dracula for Barlowe. The screen fades to black, showing the villagers who aren't saved yet, followed by the Game Over screen.
===Good ending===
After the battle, Shanoa finally absorbs the remaining part of Dominus. After this process, she began hearing various conversations between Barlowe and Albus. It was revealed that the latter's plan to steal the Dominus was in order to save Shanoa from the threat of using the glyph. This scene also hints that Shanoa slowly remembers parts of her memories by calling Albus her "brother". The soul of Albus manifested as the voice, since it had been merged with the last part of the Dominus that she absorbed. His only advice was to avoid casting the union of Dominus at all costs. Shanoa heads back to Ecclesia to confront Barlowe. This time, she does not follow the magician's orders and he reveals his true nature as a madman who desires Dracula's revival. Furthermore, Barlowe also reveals that the "vessel" in his room was actually a seal that confines Dracula, and that he was manipulating Shanoa to revive him by breaking the seal all along. A fight breaks out between the two, resulting in Barlowe's defeat. However, he offered his life to Dracula's seal anyways despite Shanoa's objections, which then causes the dark lord and his his castle to arise again.
The heroine, now alone in Ecclesia, heads to the castle to banish Dracula, as she is the only one capable of doing the task. Shanoa battles Dracula at his throne room, not long after he would unleash his ultimate magic upon being defeated. However, if the union of the Dominus Glyphs is cast by the player, the spell will be countered, killing Dracula once again. The cost of this is Shanoa's life, but a turn of events occurred as the soul of Albus appeared once again, trading his own with Dominus for Shanoa's revival. Just at this moment, he requested her to smile again and she does, signifying that Shanoa has indeed recovered her memories and emotions. She is able to escape the castle just before it crumbles. It was later revealed that all records of Ecclesia were erased and destroyed, with Shanoa, or rather, a Grimoire-created facsimile of her, implying in Grimoire of Souls that the worlds' leaders at the time erased the records to save face regarding their being manipulated by Barlowe.
==Personality==
Shanoa is a serious, introverted, strong-willed and stoic woman. She is amnesiac, which means that she cannot remember her past at all. As such, it is clouded in mystery. Due to tragic events that have occurred in her early life, she doesn't remember her true name, her childhood, nor her birth family. She can come off as emotionless because of her difficulty expressing how she feels, and this is partly because of the inability to reminisce her past, but its not known to what extent her lack of memories affect her core personality.
She is endowed with a great level of tenacity, determined to find answers no matter what. She is extremely driven, and will stop at nothing with the strong desire to avenge Albus, vanquish Dracula, and more importantly, protect the ones she cares about.
Shanoa also has an artistic streak. During her occasional visits to Wygol Village over the course of her quest, she shows interest in photography, music, fashion, and illustration. She draws in her Sketch Book to exercise her creativity and uses her talent in an attempt to recollect her past or at least, find fulfillment in her life other than her mission.
==Gameplay==
===Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia===
Shanoa is able to equip a glyph on each arm and on her back. Arm glyphs can call forth close-range weapons like swords and spears, long range weapons like throwing axes and bows, or elemental attacks like fire and ice. Basically, she can utilize all the weapons and elements all the other vampire hunters in the series can use, with the notable exceptions of whips, vials of holy water and crosses. Each of these attacks consumes MP. Her left and right arm glyphs can be performed very rapidly if alternated one right after the other or can be combined in a powerful Glyph Union attack, which consumes Hearts rather than MP. Back glyphs give her an ability that she can turn on and off at will.
==Items==
==Other appearances==
===Castlevania Judgment===
Shanoa appeared as an unlockable character in the 3D fighting game Castlevania Judgment for the Wii. She is unlocked through a Wii-DS connection option from the game Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia for the Nintendo DS, or by beating True Story Mode with her. Her outfit is something resembling a nun's.
===Castlevania: Harmony of Despair===
Shanoa's playability in the co-op game Castlevania: Harmony of Despair is parallel to her gameplay in Order of Ecclesia. The selection of glyphs available to her is limited because not all of them have returned from Order of Ecclesia, fewer enemies drop them, and obtaining one as a reward from a boss fight is much more challenging. In spite of these changes, each glyph can be increased in power the more they are used to inflict damage. Shanoa can use two glyphs as her primary attacks, and the player can select up to four sub-glyphs for her side abilities. Magnes is her only back-glyph.
===Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls===
Shanoa is a playable character in Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls. She can utilize Sickle and Spear Glyphs as well as Cats and Guns as sub-weapons.
===Dead Cells===
Shanoa appears at the entrance to the Castle Outskirts in the Return to Castlevania expansion to Dead Cells. She takes the place of The Collector.
==Quotes==
===Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia===
*"Our sole purpose is to destroy Dracula so people can look to dawn without fearing the darkness. Am I wrong, Albus?"
*"Why involve the villagers? This doesn't concern them."
*"A blind man could have found you. You left a trail..."
*"You let me absorb the other two just to see how it's done."
*"It's not you. My troubles go deeper than you think."
*"Is this why you betrayed our master? Did you trade your home, your life, just to be consumed by this darkness? What did you hope to gain!? Answer me."
*"I am the morning sun, come to vanquish this horrible night!"
*"This Glyph is resonating with something... Could there be another one?"
*"I am the blade to banish all evil, and I've come to see you annihilated. The time of your destruction is at hand; die, Demon Lord Dracula!"
*"Now I see why Albus risked his life for me..."
*"That is so like you, Albus. You can't just solve every problem on your own without telling me!"
*"But...thank you, Albus. Now I can die with such happiness in my heart."
*"...You're taking my place!? Albus, no! You've already done so much, and I haven't repaid you!"
*"Albus...? Wait, don't... No! ALBUS!!!"
===Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls===
* "Here I go!"
*"Let's go!" (after being selected)
*"My mission here is complete!" (upon completing a challenge)
*"Shanoa. A pleasure. I've been briefed on your situation already."
*"May the Glyphs carved in my flesh aid your quest to eradicate the demon Dracula."
*"I live to deliver the innocent from darkness. It is a pleasure to perform my duty."
*"This outfit optimizes the effect of my Glyphs. It is not a question of appearances."
*"You want to save Jonathan, correct? I'd advise you focus on battle rather than looks for now. Perhaps that will set you on the path to becoming the woman you want to be..."
*"It looks like some kind of story... Maria says she likes it. Why don't we give it a read?"
*"Glyphs are essentially magical symbols in which all manner of things can be sealed. Weapons, creatures, elemental power... Different seals, but their principle is the same. The glyphs are engraved on one's body, and their power is brought forth with magic."
*"Do forgive me. I lack imagination, it seems."
*"The reason Dracula will not remain dead is simple: there are those who wish him alive. Barlowe believed Dracula's dark power could actually save humanity."
*"I am not one of those people. I stopped my mentor, and defeated Dracula. In the end, Ecclesia awoke the evil it was meant to defeat. An organization like that should not exist. In a way, it never did. The leaders of the time were responsible for Ecclesia, and so sought to hide their error."
*"These Glyphs serve as a reminder of Albus - of people left to the past."
*"I fight on so that my brother's death was not in vain."
*"Unfortunately, I'm only able to manifest things for a short time. Alas, I'd doubt they'd fill your belly."
==Gallery==
==Trivia==
*In an interview for GameSpot, Koji Igarashi mentioned that "Shanoa" is a codename, which means her real birth name and bloodline are unknown.
* "Shanoa" may have derived from the French Chat Noir, meaning "Black Cat".
*The phrase "I am the morning sun, come to vanquish this horrible night!", said by Shanoa in Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia, does reference to the text "The morning sun has vanquished the horrible night.", used to signify the coming of daytime in Castlevania II: Simon's Quest.
*Shanoa is one of the two female characters in the Castlevania series who are the main and only protagonists in their own games, along with Sonia Belmont.
**Furthermore, Order of Ecclesia is the first "metroidvania" game in the series to feature a woman in the lead role.
*Michelle Ruff, Shanoa's English voice actress, performed three more characters in Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia: Anna, Monica, and Serge.
**She also voiced Maria Renard in Castlevania: The Dracula X Chronicles and its portable games.
*Shanoa does not appear in the Beta version of Castlevania: Moonlight Rhapsody, along with Soma Cruz.
*Shanoa's design notably resembles certain characters from other franchises, such as Shiki from Samurai Shodown 64 (1997) and Millennia from Kagero: Deception II (1998). Common traits between these characters include: fair skin, pitch black and straight hair, apparels mainly themed in blue and black, but most prominently a wide cleavage on the back featuring very similar tattoos. However, it is unknown if these similarities were intentional.
Shiki - Samurai Shodown 64 - 01.jpg|Shiki from Samurai Shodown 64.
Millennia - Kagero - Deception II - 01.jpg|Millennia from Kagero: Deception II.
==External links==
*Official Shanoa's bio at the Konami Castlevania website (archived: September 11, 2018 - Japanese)
*
*
*Shanoa Fan Club on Fanpop
es:Shanoa
pt-br:Shanoa
Category:Ecclesia (organization)
Category:Female Characters
Category:Humans
Category:Playable Characters
Category:Protagonists
Category:Vampire Hunters and Huntresses
Category:Dead Cells Characters
Category:Grimoire of Souls Characters
Category:Harmony of Despair Characters
Category:Judgment Characters
Category:Moonlight Rhapsody Characters
Category:Order of Ecclesia Characters
Category:Order of Ecclesia Playable Characters