#drakill

[heliotrope-journey]

A Lucky New Year's Eve

Good evening, vampire hunters.

As 2024 ends on another dark note and we follow the rainbow road again, we have released new versions of the first two pilot episodes of Treyton’s story complete with a weapon attack sound effect and new illustrations by Chubbo. The sound effect that made playing Passion of Rancor a more interactive experience will carry over to subsequent installments, including the next two pilot episodes, in the coming days as Son of a Hustler Episode 4 and Episode 3 The Flower That Blooms in Red (Westley’s Version) begin development. It’s only pertinent that this addition should start with the games that were developed in a period of my education where I was taking that road without a compass to guide me. Now that I have found it, this update should express my renewed resolve to change the world around me. To download the latest version of these episodes, look for Version 2 on the executable files on their respective pages.

Idyia and her new friend, Joerrelt, have bumped into a dilly of pickle on Friday the 13th when they ran afoul of DraKILL and Lilith in a decrepit courtyard on the west wing of Dracula’s castle. Rumors of golden holy weapons hidden in this hill of crosses compelled the two heroes to risk their lives to search the area. DraKILL is aware that his old friend, Frederick, is looking for an edge against the Veiled Nocturne and seeks to torment him for his personal amusement. He does not serve the Son of the Dragon in spite of his consort’s allegiance to him, but the misery of those whose life’s mission to slay his kind brings him nothing but entertainment. He follows Idyia in the hope that his friend has accompanied her and ambushes her. He is disgruntled to find Joerrelt in his place, but his disappointment turns to enthusiasm when he boasts that he can capture the duo and use them as bait to lure Frederick to the castle. A fearful Joerrelt shivers and hides behind a dumbstruck Idyia. She warned him ahead of time that they’d bump into danger and doesn’t understand why he’d still be too feeble to stand up to it. DraKILL laughed evilly and proclaimed this will be an easy battle. Lilith approaches Joerrett at an uncomfortably close distance and blows him a kiss to confuse him.

At that moment, Idyia didn’t care if the odds were against her. If she were to be taken prisoner, she was going to make that difficult for DraKILL. She called forth a water wave to smack the armed vampire in the face and charged toward him. Joerrett picked up a dagger and a sword, both of which contained dormant dark magic, and tried to stand his ground against an amused Lilith. She grabbed a hold of a staff bearing that same power before winking at him. Joerrett looked up and screamed. A rancorous zealot had drawn its machete toward the frightened nurse and prepared to slash at him. The two heroes had not realized how fortunate they were to be surrounded by crosses. DraKILL and Lilith are so certain that they will have Idyia and Joerrett on their knees that they forgot their abilities were weakened. Why the Dark Lord would construct a field of crosses remains a mystery to most of the castle’s inhabitants, but the vampiric warriors that stayed loyal to him even after he traded his humanity know that he keeps a collection of belongings once owned by intruders that made attempts on his life over the years. Each cross represents a fallen individual that fought Dracula directly and failed. It would be too kind of him to give them a dignified burial so he binds their souls to a cross and places them in the courtyard below his throne room for him to mock when he is in need of a good laugh. It was bad luck to lose to Dracula and suffer such a fate, but it is good luck for Idyia and Joerrett for the souls can transform their anguish into holy energy needed to strengthen the heroes and lead them to victory. All they need to do is listen to them whisper their names… if DraKILL and Lilith don’t cause much of a racket during the confrontation. Photo by Tom Podmore on Unsplash.

Thank you for playing the Heliotrope Journey series as always and we’ll see you in the New Year!

Sincerely,

WN

[koustavmalick2019-blog]

WHEN I IMAGINE TO CREATE DRAKILL I THOUGHT TO HIDE HIS REAL IDENTITY . I DECIDE NOT TO DISCLOSE IT TO OTHERS . HIS IDENTITY WILL BE A SECRET FOR FOREVER .

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A post shared by Koustav Malick (@malick_koustav_mega_universe)

[blobee]

Mhm, you would never do such thing, because you're so cool and nice and funky, my mutuals fellas would never steal my clefls and drakils

U_U

Hey friend of mine

Hey what's up how are you

Totally not stealing your clef and kondraki right now

Well of course you're not, I believe you

Nod nod

🤠👍

[drakenlvr]

AWOOGA

[nevidimochka]

i find the juxtaposition and parallels between sergei/oleg and altan/vadim in plague doctor so fascinating 

the attention to subordination and the power balance between altan and vadim only highlights the relative lack of that between sergei and oleg--they have always been friends, and subordination/hierarchy has always been out of question despite the nominal imbalance of sergei having the wealth and resources and oleg working for him. it was never about money or about power--their relationship has always been built on friendship and genuine care for each other, which is why every betrayal has hurt so much more and why another bodyguard/powerful character dynamic is so useful for highlighting that

on the other hand, though we haven’t learned that much about altan and vadim’s backstory yet, their constant power struggle is fascinating! but i think what’s more interesting is that the power struggle on vadim’s part doesn’t seem to be malicious, and from the personal way he jokes around with his boss, it’s pretty clear that there’s something beneath those interactions, whether it’s earnest or not. and there’s a strange kind of loyalty that we’ve seen so far too--a loyalty that extends to altan only, not his enterprise.

but anyway i’m just obsessed with the fact that both oleg and vadim text their bfs bloody pics of their targets like cats boasting about the mouse they caught

[snowywalls]

Welcome to the Asylum.

This is the banner I made for my redbubble, the characters are my own. The one on the left is Dr. Allen Drakill, and the one on the right is Carson Mandrake. They’re the main characters of a story I’ve been working on for like years now. Once it’s fully developed I think I might do that sick ass webcomic thing idk.

--

DeviantART: https://www.deviantart.com/snowywalls Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/snowywalls/?hl=en Redbubble: https://www.redbubble.com/people/snowywalls?ref=account-nav-dropdown&asc=u (this piece is offered as a design!)

[muffins1928-blog]

Idiot doctor with idiot stock photos in the background.

Just kidding

He is best doctor

-

Also funny story.

This was supposed to have four or five different characters (Including Drakill). Because I need to practice drawing more than one character in a drawing at a time. Then I drew Drakill, loved his pose, and tried to make more good poses with the other three/four characters. None of them looked as good. So what ended up happening was I cut them out of the picture, and I instead ended up practicing putting real photos in the background.

Stock photos, of course.

Also heck.

The hands look really bad, but that’s just because I can’t trace around organic objects apparently :T

-

I still kinda like it tho.

This is a long description, I know.

W H O O P S I E S

[koustavmalick2019-blog]

DRAKILL A NEW EVIL VILLAIN COMIC CHARACTER CREATED BY ME TODAY. DRAKILL IS AN EVIL ALTERNATE VERSIONS OF MOON LIGHT . WHO COMES FROM DARK DIMENSION TO GAIN POWER TO DESTROY THE WHOLE SUPERHERO VERSE . NOBODY KNOWS HOW DRAKILL LOOKS LIKE . BUT EVERYONE KNOW THIS THAT DRAKILL IS LIKE A TENTACLES VAMPIRE . WHO SUCK ENERGY AND BLOOD FROM HIS PREY . DRAKILL COMES TO REAL WORLD TO ELIMINATE ALL SUPERVILLAINS AND SUPERHEROES WHO ARE IN HIS PREY LIST . THIS IS DRAKILL. HE CAN ALSO FLY . HE CAN BECOME SHADOW . HE ALSO FIGHT HIS PREY WITH HIS SWORD .

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A post shared by Koustav Malick (@malick_koustav_mega_universe)

[drakenlvr]

Happy birthday to this man !! 🫶🏻

He deserves to be happy frfr 🤞🏻 Give me him !

[drakenlvr]

[heliotrope-journey]

Good evening, vampire hunters.

We are pleased to announce that Jay and Lilith, the characters that embody love and lust respectively, are now available on Society6 for purchase. These two have been fighting each other alongside their alliances since DraKILL's fateful encounter with the charismatic beauty. She has every physical quality that Jay lacks, but what he has that she doesn't is his benevolence. Spoiler alert for the next ad; Frederick and co. may lose DraKILL's humanity to Lilith, but will they gain something from their encounter or will their quest ultimately be all for naught? The second crossover ad's release date will unmask that long-awaited answer.

https://society6.com/product/jay-the-protector_mask

https://society6.com/product/lilith-the-seductress_sham

And now, I present you with the bios for each character;

Jay the Protector:

Far too many people in this nasty society misinterpret gentleness as vulnerability, but doing so to the wrong person will one day be their last mistake. Gentle to the people he cares deeply for but can rip defalcators to shreds if he is wronged, Jay is a driven young man whose character embodies both a lover's chivalry and their wrath. His audacity to speak his mind and boxer-styled punches are why he can come off as scary to strangers, yet he is not rash. He is wise to choose his battles carefully and only get involved if threatened directly or if the people he cares about are in danger. Jay's fear of being left behind causes him to feel self-doubt, but in the end, he never lets it break his confidence.

Lilith the Seductress:

Every man's desire and every woman's role model due to her eternal youth and exploits throughout history, Lilith upholds a conflicting legacy. Even when in a committed union, she refuses to submit to her partner but instead declares herself as an equal which is not a difficult request for sensible couples to commit to. Lilith did not receive such a blessing for her wish stirred up trouble in her marriage to Adam, the first man to ever walk the Earth. According to ancient Hebrew scripture, her agitation with him caused her to spitefully curse Jehovah’s name and fled from the sacred Garden of Eden. Three angels sent to hunt her down declared that every day she does not return to apologize to her former husband, one hundred of her spawn will perish. Lilith, on the other hand, did not want her punishment to go unrewarded and at the same time, she longed to be a devoted mother to her spawn. This led her to promise that children not protected by a special amulet enchanted with white magic will die seconds after they’re born. In the magical sector, new parents and women going into labor prayed to Hera for protection. Assuming that Zeus isn’t the father, just maybe she will be divine enough to grant their wish. Unfortunately for Lilith, her revenge on newborn babies is not enough to get even with the deity that punished her. Currently, she is forced to embark on an everlasting conquest to win over as many men as possible, be it in their dreams or in reality, in the hope that some of her own children’s inevitable deaths would be delayed for an indefinite period. Regardless of how she is perceived by modern-day youth, one thing's for sure is that she never has trouble getting what she wants.

With the Valentine's Day/St. Patrick's Day crossover close to wrapping up, the team can finally return to the fourth prototype episode's development process. The scenic sunset view that Cronix designed has been implemented in every background that was missing it and boy, is it breathtaking. :D

Have a good weekend and as usual, thank you for your support!

Sincerely,

WN

[heliotrope-journey]

Good afternoon, vampire hunters.

We want to take a moment to wish HorrorKid, also known as DraKILL from our promotional ads, a happy 18th birthday. He may not be part of the team, but he's been a remarkable friend to me since my second-to-last semester in college and I can never thank him enough for his loyalty. :D

The scene depicts DraKILL's detour through a lightstone refinery in Snowdenburg where he ran afoul of a couple of Umbra Spectres. They were sent by Lilith to pick him up because a few months before Frederick and co. infiltrated Dracula's castle, she took notice of him while he stopped by the notorious city while impersonating a herpetologist. The boy did not formally interact with her for he intended to pick up a round of silver bullets to refill one of his guns at a magical weapons store enchanted to look like an Aulin's on the building's exterior. The street where the town hall is located was under heavy construction at the time so DraKILL had to take a route through the refinery to reach the store. In addition to the skies to being particularly cloudy, the refinery's abuse of its lightstones have drained them of their color and their light magic is close to vanishing, allowing Lilith to stalk him without detection. She did not wish to reveal herself to DraKILL until he is in a state of exhaustion so she summoned the Umbra Spectres to orchestrate her plan. Weaker lightstones can do little to harm spirits of the dead so she was in luck for now. DraKILL has not realized that the spectres are delivering Lilith's invitation on her behalf so naturally, he's not going to come quietly nor is he going to tire out so easily. The boy emerged triumphant after a half-hour of fighting, but unfortunately, if you've been following our current campaign, all the battle did was delay the inevitable. O_O

Meanwhile, Cronix has been keeping busy this month. He took the time to introduce a novice gunman to Frederick's group.

He is a university student that grew up in present-day southern Iran and is a dual-elemental sorcerer. He primary practices earth magic, but can resort to fire magic whenever he is on the defensive. He is more of a crafter than a fighter due to his knowledge in metallurgy, though he can still hold his own against a creature of the night. His fire magic allows him to put a spell on his skin that can make physical contact with him seem like touching hot metal. If a creature of the night laid its hands on this dude, it turns to dust within seconds.

Expect new merch on Society6 and development updates for the fourth prototype episode midway through next week. Have a good weekend and thank you for your support! :)

Sincerely,

WN

[heliotrope-journey]

Throwback Thursday and DraKILL Gets a Girlfriend (sort of...)

Good evening, vampire hunters.

My hands have been incredibly full this past month, but I'm at a good stopping point to post a sneak peek and a short detour through the past so you don't think we've stopped working on the games.

First, we'll cover our Valentine's Day/St. Patrick's Day crossover campaign. Have you been wondering why DraKill wasn't with Frederick and the others in the castle hall on my birthday? Welllll, this is the part where it gets unnerving. He ended up getting lost and his curiosity led him to Bathory Wing. There, the morally ambiguous Lilith and her clique of tempting sirens were waiting for him. DraKill immediately fell head-over-heels for Lilith and given her desire to be in control, she'll do whatever she can to keep him begging to stay.

Do you wish to find out what happens next?

Then you'll have to sit tight for the next update on the team's progress. Keep in mind the fourth prototype episode is still in the works. ;)

Meanwhile, I found a photo of these poison dart frogs I snapped from six years during a trip to the Berkshire Museum. Colorful, aren't they? :O

Make no mistake. The poison dart frogs have such exotic and bright colors to warn predators not to consume them lest the toxins on their skin will kill them after ten minutes of physical contact. For those who know me in real life, I love to catch frogs in the summers and release them before I go for a swim. Handling these creatures cause me to feel like that I have a higher purpose so I'm gentle with them, but I wouldn't be foolish enough to catch a poison dart frog with bare hands. I'd be safer handling them with protective gloves. ^_^

A bit of trivia about the world of Heliotrope Journey that is related to that throwback photo is that witches and wizards that practice poison magic at a beginner's level are capable of enchanting their skin to be just as toxic as these frogs. That spell is intended to deter harassment and it serves as a protective measure against assault. Michaela, several scholars that study the Dark Lord, Countess Carmilla Karnstein, Philoctetes Dinu, handfuls of Dracul Cultists, and countless sorcerers in the Anura Duchy are notable practitioners of this spell. Unlike poison dart frogs, they can kill you when you least expect it if their skin touches yours, but look on the bright side. A poison dart frog is honest about notifying their predators that they may be their last meal if they're naïve enough to take a bite.

Sincerely,

WN

[heliotrope-journey]

Good evening, vampire hunters.

The following poem was intercepted in the snow banks that blanket the nearest peak to the abandoned citadel; (Disclaimer: It contains explicit language. Viewer discretion is advised.)

The Essence of My Thoughts

I don’t know you!

I don’t want to know you!

But I have to if I need to know why you loathe strangers like no tomorrow.

I’m a curious boy so I can’t stop poking my nose into the mess you made.

There’s a girl who lives in the British Isles.

She doesn’t know you!

You don’t want to know her!

Yet, you cut her open and call the cops on her so they can cure her wounds.

That is no accident. You fractured her soul on purpose and pretend it’s her fault.

Where is your humanity? Are you even human at all?

Who are you to call yourself an advocate for world peace?

So I say fuck your agenda. Your stupidity can't trick me into turning against the girl.

Just because the fire you started ain’t my business doesn’t mean I can’t chime in.

When a maiden as kind and sweet as she is in danger, it is everyone’s business.

Why do you claim to be in favor of equal rights when you have blood on your hands?

A good activist must always be a good pacifist. Never are their words used to perpetrate murder.

Who’s going to stand by you when the gravity of your actions come crashing down on you?

Who’s going to shelter you when the people you speak up for want nothing to do with you?

Who’s going to survive when your puppet shows concludes?

When you drop the mic that’s rigged with a bomb that blew up the city?

Look what you’ve done!! Look what you’ve done!! Look what you’ve done!!

You didn’t wake up to smell the roses that were painted by the blood spilt from your casualties.

The lone survivor is the girl who came close to death and there you are, continuing to break her.

You’d rather be comforted by your ego than brace yourself for the consequences of your miscalculation.

You don’t know the people you’re hurting as well as you think you do.

I pray now that the girl who survived the bombing buys an enchanted shield to keep you away from her.

My hypothesis is that nobody important in your life taught you that karma is a vindictive boomerang.

I’m not known for being a social butterfly, but I know an incredibly deadly viper when I see one.

_____________________________________________________________

This scene introduces us to Nizu, Treyton's adoptive older brother who has a history with Professor Onionhead. Their relationship is okayish because their common goals are reason enough for them to tolerate each other. More importantly, his knowledge of Treyton's condition convinced the young researcher not to turn away this defector from the Dark Lord's mission when he pleaded to her for asylum. His demise may have severely weakened the Veiled Nocturne, but his ideology lives on through his son and the chain of command. For whatever city to harbor a single traitor poses a significant risk for its survival. Norsdale, on the other hand, is no stranger to such invasions as we've seen from the second prototype episode so taking in Nizu is one it is willing to take...for now.

Here's a link to the aforementioned installment in case you want to give it another go. Once in a while, we'll leave links to our older installments in case they are relevant to the current plot or if you simply need help looking for them. ;) https://darkinfern0crystal1.itch.io/heliotrope-journey-pilot-episode-2-rancorous-attack-on-norsdale

Meanwhile, in the year 2044, in an alternate reality where Dracula lives on when our heroes of this story perished during the global anarchy, Nizu encounters the recently turned DraKILL where both sport wicked smiles upon gazing at one another.

This should be an interesting encounter. What kind of words would they mince and would their weapons be involved? The armored vampire with orange hair has quite a "fuzzy" background so your guess is as good as ours.

Sincerely,

WN

[heliotrope-journey]

A High Price to Pay for Desire

Good evening, vampire hunters.

We're going to kick off June with the second and final* part of the epic Valentine’s Day battle between love and lust that started in Báthory Wing and ends in the Intihar Biome. Enjoy the story behind it, but be warned; read at your own risk. D: Photo by Biel Morro on Unsplash.

*will become a recurring storyline during down time. When or if remains to be seen.

The battle was long. While Jay restrained Frederick and gave him the antidote needed to return his flesh and blood, Lilith and DraKILL were given plenty of time alone. The intoxicating rose garden outside the succubi's quarters is the perfect getaway for creatures of the night when they are looking to mate. This moment is no different. DraKILL has willingly submitted to her. Lilith is in her element. She licks her lips and opens her mouth. Her fangs inch closer to his neck, but her lover sees no danger for they bring out her eyes. He drops his coat to the ground and exposes his neck as if he has just finished preparing dessert. It’s DraKILL’s last chance to break free from Lilith’s charms. He has the willpower to say no and kill her like she’s just another obstacle standing between him and the Prince of Darkness. She has made herself vulnerable so her attraction to him is her perfect undoing. Will he take back control? If one would say that the answer is no, it is an obvious fib. DraKILL may not hesitate to gun down a random devotee to the Veiled Nocturne, but who is he to harm one who’s beauty defies time? The hands on the clock strike 12. The flock of bats that take off from the gnarly trees is the only indicator from afar DraKILL has been pronounced dead, yet he has never felt so alive. Frederick and co. were in for a surprise.

Only one succubus in Lilith’s sorority remains after our heroes have slain the rest. Jay felt pride protecting what he saw was his and that alone was an accomplishment to him. Unfortunately, Eforie disagreed. Idyia and Sidiyq Qadim arrived in Bathory’s Wing several minutes after the trio have noticed that something was fishy about their victory. They have unintentionally let Lilith get away and turn their fallen friend, but she has not gotten far. The only clue linked to her whereabouts rests with a peculiar bouquet of roses that are identical to those blossoming at the height of midnight. They frantically jump out the nearest window leading them to Intihar Biome.

Vlad Tepes has created this garden within the castle walls to mimic the infamous Wood of the Suicides deep below the Inferno, but the Dark Lord perceives their imprisonment as an honor for they have joined the brides and children they invaded the castle walls to rescue. Fallen souls were indeed once seventeenth to eighteenth century vampire hunters that made the attempts time and time again. Though he had only been vanquished once before 1750, Vlad was in a generous mood. The deaths of his enemies provided more than enough food for his coven and the creatures they share their space with. It is a shame that the leftovers decay to the point where even the inhabitants find them inedible. One day, when the daughter of a visiting aristocrat from neighboring Bulgaria was abducted by an occultist, her fiancé came to her rescue, but he walked in on Vlad while he was in the middle of a feast to celebrate her impending transformation. Though the nobleman bravely challenged him immediately after seeing his beloved in distress, he failed to claim victory. Mortally wounded, the prince’s bloodthirsty guests were ready to kill him, but they were ordered to save their appetite. There was plenty to eat already and Vlad’s twisted mind came up with a clever reward. He decided that his challenger shall literally bear fruit for his harpies in a vacated enclosure so he worked his black magic on the anxious man and watched sadistically as he watched him bite his bride on the neck while his body painfully shifted into a gnarly tree. It was an unusual form of torture that will be used on multiple knights after him for the next century. When enough of them filled the enclosure, secret gardens made up to roses bushes and captivating shrubbery were planted to hide them from plain sight and the Intihar Biome was born. If one were to listen closely, they can hear one tree call out of the name of his kidnapped bride all of which now share the wing with Lilith.

Unfortunately, there was little time for Frederick and co. to drink it in and find out. By the time they reached the enchantress to confront her, DraKILL was delighted by their presence. Lilith smirked out of curiosity. If she can now use him to produce more spawn, why are her enemies still determined to steal the father? This time around, she is not going to flee. She desires to relish in their loss. Our heroes are no longer at the castle to rescue their friend. Instead, they are forced to save themselves. The remaining succubus and an undead sorcerer arrive to aid the lovers just as our heroes readied their weapons to fight for their lives. They will be lucky enough to survive the night and escape. Likewise, DraKILL is lucky enough to have someone to love. Even if he has surrendered his dignity to be with her.

With that, my friend, the Valentine’s Day/St. Patrick’s Day campaign is drawn to a close, but it does mean this storyline will end. We really hope you enjoyed it while it lasted because I’ve had so fun roleplaying with HorrorKid that this idea came to me over time. Social distancing has opened up new possibilities for the Heliotrope Journey team so once the fourth prototype episode is released, we plan to shift to a newer version of Game Maker. The stories we are yet to tell aren’t big enough for the old dinosaur the prototypes currently run on so expect some new changes when we cross that bridge. ;)

Enjoy your week.

Sincerely,

WN