REMEMBER THAT PROMISED EPICA DMC EDITION LORE YEAH ITS HERE HAHA ENJOY!!!
Epica Southwind, first and foremost, is an OC of mine that I can stick into whatever universe I please. Do we still use the term AU?? Anyone remember that or am I old now? Anyways, with that out of the way, this is the first and most certainly NOT the last rendition of Epica you will see as I put her everywhere. I will have these little preludes at the top to explain who you are seeing based on what I am writing, and today’s version is Epica - DMC 4 / 5 edition! Enjoy!
Epica’s story begins in Fortuna. As a devout follower of the Order of the Sword she worshiped Sparda and his devil-hunting teachings. So-much-so, that she ended up joining the ranks as one of the knights of the order, helping hunt what would become known as “false demons” from hell gates. After the successful ascension ritual with Sanctus, His Holiness began to ascend more followers who knew about the inner workings of the Order. Epica knew that the ascension caused those who succeeded to grow stronger, but did not put together the pieces that a failed ritual meant becoming a false demon.
One by one, each of the knights were taken to be ascended and Epica came in line one day. When the ascension failed it was usually for an indeterminate cause; however, there was one in Epica’s case. Unbeknownst to her, the Order, or anyone else for that matter, she had a faint line of priestess blood within her. Just a generation more and it wouldn’t have had an effect on what was about to happen. The ritual failed, Epica falling unconscious and under suspicion that the demon writhing within her would soon burst free and fully transform her, they dumped her to the streets as they did with the rest. She was different when she woke up. Most of her remained fine, yet her back experienced pain she didn’t think possible. Two sets of eyes opened, a mouth tore through her skin, and wings of flesh and sinew ripped out of her body. The small amount of relation to an old, forgotten priestess saved her body from a full take-over. What remained of the demon within was now confined to her entire back. As the pain subsided, the voice began. The cruel, wicked thing would taunt her, try to get her to give into those demonic urges. Any little step towards an evil path had the back monster singing praises, and any attempt to do good was ruined by it all the same.
This betrayal set deep feelings of shame and confusion. Epica wailed by night in the streets. With nowhere to go she was being driven slowly insane, she couldn’t hold out much longer. She fell to her knees, covering her ears and howling into the night as the demon cackled, tormenting her every waking moment. A sharp kick to the back knocked her off, the demon finally shut up. Epica looked up to see one of the council members of the Order. Rage filled her as she looked up at this white haired vixen, she staggered to a stand and cursed at her. Cursing her name, cursing the order, cursing this hell of a life she lives now. Then she changed. The woman known as “Gloria” before her eyes in a puff of smoke became a blonde haired woman instead in leather biker attire. Epica blinked as she now introduced herself as “Trishe.” While not one to usually dose out pity to others, she felt this was a different case. The demon on Epica’s back recognized what Trishe was and called out to her. Epica’s tears began to flow again as she began to explain to Trishe everything that had occurred. Trishe’s blunt manner wasn’t appreciated at the moment, but in her short time with Epica, she taught her what she needed to know to keep the demon in check.
“Stay in tune with your humanity. The more depraved and savage you become, the less control you have.”
“Fight for others, not yourself. Selfishness feeds demonic energy."
“Keep going. Do not stop. It hurts, it’s painful, it never stops. That’s what separates those who have humanity from real monsters. You have. To keep. Going.”
These three mantras would be on repeat in Epica’s mind for the foreseeable future. Upon Trishe’s departure, Epica promised she would help in the fight against the Order. Whilst keeping true to herself, she learned she could harness the hatred and anger stemming from her demon to the false demons she fought against and the other corrupt members of the order. Somehow, someway, they reached a common ground. Epica found herself actively communicating with the demon. They found themselves making a deal: The demon would hide itself away when violence was not around, but the moment Epica’s fight or flight sense activates, he would burst free. This did have its consequences; but so long as Epica was on top of her emotions and connected to herself, it was a deal she could live with. When the demon was actively out on her back, it empowered her strength far beyond what she used to be capable of. She may not have been with Dante and Nero on the front lines, but she and Trishe remained on the ground, re-uniting and fighting side by side as the final battle above prevailed.
In the end, as Nero returned to Kyrie, Trishe took the time to introduce Epica to Dante. Dante, now thoroughly done with the Order and its shenanigans, suggested that she get rid of her old armor. Since it had now been destroyed by her demon, she agreed it was time for a change in outfit and career. She asked if she could join them in Devil-Hunting, where Dante agreed to let her kick back at his office for a while to get her back on her feet again.
