P A S T ?
Like so many other fans, I've got my own take on Joachim's annoyingly elusive backstory. Keep in mind that the following
are my (and my sister's) personal ideas on who and what he may have been before the story of LoI. They are primarily
based on tiny hints and consistencies present in this game, as well as a few of the others. Enjoy.
JOACHIM ARMSTER ~ THE FALLEN KNIGHT?
I tend to believe most strongly in the notion that Joachim was of noble lineage, particularly that of a knight. The fact that
when Leon asks him his name and he adds his surname suggests that he has the pride of an aristocrat, and quite possibly that
he thought Leon may have heard of his family. Case in point, Leon Belmont's family name was famous in the knights' circle even
before his war with Darkness began. With that same thought, it's interesting to ponder what Joachim might have said or done
differently had Leon told him his last name in addition to his first.
As the game's introduction says, this was a time of feudalism, and the power and status of Lords and their knights were
codependent. I would not reject the idea that Walter was actually one of those Lords, ruling over his lands with a great castle
and, no doubt, great knights.
The official strategy guide also states that Joachim was imprisoned for rebelling, a fact that is incidentally absent from the
game itself. Now, if this is to be taken as truth, then bets are good that this happened shortly after Walter became a
vampire.
Why? Well, here's what I envision:
THE REBELLION
Walter was a feudal lord with much wealth and many subjects. After all, if you remember the House of Sacred Remains, it was one
big chapel, full of old, rotting churches and pulpits, and endless religious imagery within. But, do you also recall the number
of broken demon statues inside as well? Why would demons destroy demonic icons? This is where our vampire knight comes in.
I see Walter becoming the un-holiest of un-holies...a vampire. I also see Joachim, as one of Walter's divine knights, becoming
uneasy and slowly angered by his bloodlust and evil ways. Keeping to what we know or take as fact, Joachim's rebellion probably
centered around either stopping or killing Walter, and freeing all within the castle of hell. Rallying a group of religious officials
from the castle's churches and perhaps even serfs from the outside, Joachim ascends the stairs to the throne room, prepared to
kill Walter, sword in hand...
As we know happened, this rebellion ended tragically for Joachim. He was of
course imprisoned in the Dark Palace; I think though that it was at this moment
that Walter made him a vampire, so that he would suffer for all eternity in his
water prison with the knowledge that he could not beat the one who betrayed him.
And as for the others who helped him? Well, do you recall the bottom level of
the House of Sacred Remains? Remember all of those monks/serfs' skeletons in the
walls? Yes. I think that was their punishment, as cruel and unforgiving as it
was. He could have made them all vampires, but as we know, not one vampire besides
Walter and Joachim did Leon ever encounter there.
Alternatively, Walter could have turned Joachim sometime before the actual rebellion; this might explain why he lamented about not
having the Crimson Stone while Walter had his Ebony counterpart. It could have been more of a personal fight with Walter for having
made him a demon against his will.
THE MELANCHOLIC VAMPIRE IS BORN
With the knowledge of an eternity in a dark, dank prison, as well as with memories of a failed holy rebellion, and the nightmares
of those buried most likely alive in the walls of the chapel, it is entirely clear and understandable that Joachim is an image
of profound sorrow and festering anger.
