Castlevania on Netflix

One of the greatest challenges in War of Nytefall is going to be having Clyde grow throughout the series.  He’s already a physical powerhouse and has an intimidating reputation.  There’s very little that will change there because any stronger and it would get fairly obscene.  It can’t stay that way since this isn’t a one-shot.  After all, a main hero who stays the same isn’t that interesting and could harm the story.  So, one has to wonder where I can go with him.

One focus is that while I can’t increase Clyde’s power, but I can have him struggle to control his abilities.  There’s a savage blood lust that is unique to Clyde, which he runs the risk of succumbing to if you pushes himself too far.  Imagine a creature built for destruction trying to create something and you’ll get an idea of how he is going to be fighting part of his nature.  This brings in the possibility of him falling completely too, which changes him from a hero to a villain.  The other Dawn Fangs wouldn’t go on a world domination or destruction campaign with Clyde, which means he stands at the edge of an abyss that he will fall into alone.  Control is all he can do and that’s not going to be an easy thing as the pressure of his war mounts.

Another evolution/development area for a character like Clyde would be on the social side of things.  His growth can ebb and flow depending on his relationships.  This makes the supporting cast even more important because they can direct him in some fashions.  The biggest example is Mab, who has the closest bond with Clyde.  He will change depending on how they are getting along since she acts as an anchor for his dwindling humanity.  If they’re fighting then he’ll be more on edge and start getting closer to that abyss.  This isn’t to say the other Dawn Fangs and his enemies aren’t important.  Each one will have a connection in some fashion that Clyde will take some strength from.  You might think that’s strange for the villains, but consider the he’s so powerful that he runs the risk of getting bored.  Having opponents, even weak ones, gives him something to battle and entertain himself.  Not wanting things to end quickly, he can restrain himself and this will help his progression as well.  For Clyde, this would teach him how to hold back whether he realizes it or not.

The final area that Clyde can evolve in is his personality and outlook on life.  He began rather carefree and wanting only to have fun with his gang.  Now, he’s responsible for an entire species and worries that exposure will get them killed.  Considering he was a thief for centuries, you can understand why he’d want all the Dawn Fangs to stay in the shadows.  He’s also a character who has spotted the pattern of destiny in Windemere where a great evil appears and Gabriel the Destiny God sends heroes to wipe the threat out.  Clyde wants to avoid this, but it also means being a different type of leader than he used to be.  So, you’re going to see him try to grow into what he thinks he should be, which isn’t going to go smoothly.  He has warlord instincts, but lacks the real desire to rule with an iron fist.  That doesn’t mean he won’t try.

All three areas are going to be touched in War of Nytefall: Lost. Clyde is going to run into a problem that can’t be solved with the tools that he has developed.  His self-control, relationships, and personality are going to come into question to some level.  It all has to do with an unexpected Dawn Fang named Lost.