Count Dracula genderflipped

I'm writing a genderflipped composite version of the historical Vlad III Dracula and Bram Stoker's Count Dracula (drawing upon various incarnations of the character), modelled as an ersatz of Evangeline A.K. McDowell from Magical Teacher Negima!, with influences from Arcueid Brunestud from Tsukihime, Moka Akashiya, Akasha Bloodriver and Alucard from Rosario + Vampire, Mina Tepes from Dance in the Vampire Bund, Alucard from Hellsing, and Dracula from Castlevania; some elements of the vampire race in the story's setting also draw upon World of Darkness's vampires. I also admit that a certain Kim Possible fanfic (itself based on a series of images) that put Shego in the shoes of Dracula (as both Vlad III and the Count) has considerable influence as well.

Right now, I'm stuck on a few points. First point to discuss is her backstory, whose brief summary I submit below for critique. Do note that as far as public history is concerned, the genderflip is completely unknown (yes, just like a few certain genderflips in a certain visual novel franchise about mythological/historical figures fighting to the death).

In hindsight, I've realized that a Christian ruler knowingly having an actual mage for his advisor would be very strange, given that the Church back then saw all magic as the Devil's work and thus deserving utmost condemnation, but I have no idea how to remedy the problem.

edited 7th Dec '13 11:44:59 PM by MarqFJA

You dont have to, at times the edicts against the practice of magic were hardly enforced, and even some of the Popes were known to dabble in astrology and whatnot. As long as the wizard can present himself as remaining within the constraints of "white magic", it shouldn't have been too hard to get away with it. Esp. on a border march, in the face of supernatural enemies of Christendom, like vampires.

It's going to be harder to explain how so many people were fooled for so long.

edited 8th Dec '13 8:23:23 AM by MarqFJA

I'm taking it that Vlad has no brothers in this version of the story? Vlad had an older brother Mircea who was murdered along with their father by the Hungarians; Vlad was not the intended heir and did not become Voivode until after their deaths. His younger brother Radu was also sent into exile with him to the Ottomans; he ended up joining them which earned his brother's eternal hatred.

How does the rival Danesti clan figure into the story?

Dunno on all points. I'm open to suggestions.

edited 9th Dec '13 1:55:27 AM by MarqFJA

Not disguised from birth then? Perhaps glamoured when she and her brother were sent as hostages to protect her from...you know...and never deglamoured. Because by that point father and older brother were dead, and brother Radu had defected to the Ottomans, and the homeland desperately needed a strong "male" leader.

edited 9th Dec '13 8:28:47 AM by SKJAM

I assume you suggest that Dracula's pre-hostage history be addressed with a wide-scale memory-altering spell?

Or bald-faced lies. "Vladia? She passed away. This is my son Vlad." And then she has to fight rumors within her country once she takes over, which is partially why Vlad(ia) is so cruel, because of having to keep up the "not a weak-kneed woman" act,

Interesting suggestion. I like it.

On a side note, I was considering the alternative idea of giving Vladia a backstory that is more similar to Castlevania's Dracula — that is, she lived in a much earlier period, but her life in general follows a similar track to what I outlined. The only stumbling block is how to have her assume the identity of "Vlad Tepes Dracula, Voivode of Wallachia" in the 15th century; Castlevania!Dracula's history seems to imply that either the historical Vlad Tepes simply did not exist at all, or Count Dracula had assumed his name and title for his own use while they were contemporaries, and both of these "explanations" still raise unanswered questions.