Well, to explain the connection between Rika and Bernkastel is kindof hard without using spoilers for the story, it also doesn't help when lots of people have different interpretations of it. So I'll just post a warning for everybody.

*LIKE OMG THERE ARE TOTALLY SPOILERS AHEAD FOR UMINEKO NO NAKU KORO NI AND HIGURASHI NO NAKU KORO NI! YEE BE WARNED!!!!!!*

So, to start off the explanation, I am asuming you have finished Higurashi Kai whether it have been in the visual novel, manga form, or anime form.

Here it goes.

Okay, so if you have finished Higurashi Kai, you found out that Rika is a girl who, once she dies, is sent to a separate kakera, a different "world" so to speak where she has the chance to save everyone in Hinamizawa and her friends. Well, she eventually succeeds in doing so, but not before feeling like giving up, breaking down, or just flat out losing her will to live in the hundreds of other worlds she has visited. In my interpretation, those negative feelings manifested themselves into the hateful, ruthless, and downright sadistic Witch Of Miracles named Bernkastel. (Fun fact: Bernkastel is the name of the wine that we occasionally see Rika drinking.) Therefore, it transcribes that Rika is the one "true" being between her, Erika Furudo, and Bernkastel, in my understanding. This also explains why Lambdadelta, who resembles a young Miyo Takano. And the reason being that Lambdadelta is so happy and carefree all the time, is due to the fact that in every single world Rika visited, Takano's childhod consisted of death, abuse, and everyone seemingly being out to get her. The exact opposite for Rika, who only had one villain in her story and many people who cared for and loved her.

This also explain they're imediate rivalry/love of eachother in Umineko. Higurashi isn't the game that Bernkastel and Lambdadelta played with multiple "pieces" at they're disposal. They were simply created out of Rika's losing her will to fight and Takano's many victories and the pride she felt in finally getting what she always wanted. So when Bernkastel and Lambdadelta arrive to enitially spectate the games between Battler and Beatrice, it's not because they are bored, it's because there is no place else for them to go, it is the only other place where they can exist, endlessly battleing one another over which side will win. Though this is not made apparent until episode 8 of Umineko when the showdown between Bern and Lambda finally takes place.

AND THAT'S THE SHORT VERSION. I didn't even touch Featherine Augustus Aurora and her relationship with Bernkastel and Lambdadelta or much of the story of Umineko. XD

This is, however, one of many interpretations that people have.

Even though the anime representation is indeed "Okay." I highly reccomend that if you find the Visual novels of Umineko, pick them up. There is a translation patch for them on a website called Witch-hunt.com and I do believe that there are even patches out there now where you can get the new Ps3 version sprites and backgrounds for the characters, and even the voices from the PS3 version. :3 It is an eccelent series and if you are into stories with a huge mystery to solve with a few dabs of horror mixed in with it, you'll love it.

^__^ I hope this helped. Have a good day!

OMG! i wasent expecting umineko art from u! my fav anime/series i would love to see how you would draw beatrice

actually if youve watched umineko by now you should know what a piece is in the games of the withces , rika was a piece from bernkastell in higurashi wich was another game played by the witches (haha bernkastell even does an appereance in higurashi as a full grown blue haired woman talking about umineko things) if you ever read the visual novel wich is better by tons more tha the anime you will notice lots of simillar characters in umineko wich tells who were the other witches who played the game of higurashi along bernkastell , hope it helps to solve your doubt bye!!.

by the way wonderfull art , haha if you see my gallery i havent uploaded things in ages i just watch people on da with that account ....

The anime is okay, it only gets through the question arcs and I dunno the original games are much better. Her super moves are from her climactic battle against Battler in the Final episode of Umineko. Each snake represented a logic puzzle for him to solve and there were thousands of them, and it was epic. Other than that I like your use of soft pastel colors in contrast to the harsh dark colors that Bernkastel herself wears, the cats are adorable too.

Lovely, just lovely done

Bernkastel is one of my favourite trolls ever xD Also, I must know something....where did you get the CROSS expansion ? I only have the normal Ougon Musou Kyoku game D:

awesome work !!!