Castlevania II (NES): Simon's Quest: Part 8: Flame Whipping in Laruba Mansion (Dracula's Ring)
2After finishing up in Bodley Mansion, go west from it to reach Bodley Lake.
Yup, another lake puzzle. This time, if you have the Red Crystal before you crouch for a few seconds, the screen will raise from under the water again. That'll take you through a path called Uta Lower Road.
Stay on the lower roads of this Lower Road, and then either use Holy Water or a Dracula's Nail-enhanced whip against the wall past the moving blocks and you'll eventually find another robed man. If you have the Morning Star Whip on you, he'll automatically upgrade it to the Flame Whip.
The Flame Whip is the most powerful whip in the game, so congratulations to you if you managed to gain it! It looks pretty cool to lash!
It's a rather long way towards Laruba Mansion. After getting through the Uta Lower Road, you then have to move and jump through the Devious Woods, and then cross Joma Marsh East. You'll need a good amount of Laurels here, because you'll need to cross a couple long poisonous paths.
Get through Joma Marsh West, and you will make it to Laruba Mansion.
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There are no fake floors in Laruba Mansion, but there are more spikes.
There are two robed men, here. One of them will sell you the Oak Stake, as usual, but the other one...
He will max out your Laurel capacity. He practically begs you to take a max stock of 8 of them. You might use a couple of them now, but save them for later.
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Before the room that contains the sealed Dracula's Ring, there's another boss room that contains the floating mask named Carmilla!
Unlike with Death before her, you MUST defeat her to get another important item. If you have the Gold Knife from Death, USE IT! Use it on Carmilla as much as possible until she's gone!
You will then posses the Magic Cross, which is one of the other things you need to reach Dracula's Castle. Then you can go into the next room and "prosess" the final Vlad item: Dracula's Ring.
Now it's time get out of this mansion and find that castle!