Historical, Novel and Movie characters of Gothic Earth

[Olly]

Hmm... That depends. Technically, a dread revenant could work, but you could argue that the saltwater kept his body preserved enough to have a mummifying effect. Or something...

[Glances round nervously]

[ScS of the Fraternity]

Don't forget that when a body was strung up in a gibbet it was bathed in tar. The whole point was so that the body would be preserved and last longer as a display.

[Malus Black]

Hmm... That depends. Technically, a dread revenant could work, but you could argue that the saltwater kept his body preserved enough to have a mummifying effect. Or something...

[Glances round nervously]

Actually, I was thinking more along the lines of how Ancient Dead are typically revered both in life and death and given extravagant ritual burials (there are exceptions, but they are rare). Pirates, as a rule, are not. And then there's the whole vengeance thing, which is very Dread Revenant-ish.

[Olly]

Well, I suppose that's true in certain cases, but, personally, I've always thought of such rituals as being merely windowdressing, and not really affecting the ressurection process in any way. Most Ancient Egyptians were mummified after death, and only the nobles were treated to such elaborate rituals and death preparation rites.

Besides, bodies can be mummified in several different ways, including the 'ice mummies' which are left preserved in frozen caverns and 'bog mummies' which are kept safe from the harming elements of the air by being entirely submerged in mire, ooze and muck.

As far as I'm aware, on Gothic Earth, the method by which a body is mummified has little effect on whether it rises as an ancient dead or not. As long as the Red Death wills it, it will rise, regardless of how it was buried...

However, I can see the dread revenant angle working, and Silver's lust for vengeance on the descendants of the Hispaniola's crew does seem very revenant-like. Plus, revenants, as creatures, are considerably more 'piratey'!

Personally, the reason I favour the ancient dead idea is because, basically, it seems like the last thing most players would be expecting. I think most people seem to associate the ancient dead with Egyptian mummies, and so, giving Long John Silver the abilities of an ancient dead creature (a creature which is very 'un-piratey') would, I believe, catch them quite unawares.

[Olly]

This is my new favourite thread, by the way!

Here's my own submissions...

Fagin
Criminal - Lawful evil

Despite being captured by the constabulary and sentenced to death by hanging, somehow, Fagin managed to escape his captors and made a break for it. Shaving off his bristly beard and donning a cunning disguise, the wily old Jew was able to evade re-capture, and after a few years living a vagabond's existence, sleeping in abandoned warehouses and keeping a low profile, London's police force have decided that they have fatter fish to fry. Many assume that Fagin is dead.

However, Fagin is very much alive and continuing his criminal activities, albeit on a much smaller scale than he once enjoyed. His vagabond gang of child pickpockets roam the city of London, bringing back their ill-gotten wealth to their master. Because people seldom notice the activities of scruffy street urchins, some of Fagin’s gang witness many strange and macabre events in the city, and as such, it may be worth the PCs while to interview a few of them.

The Cheshire Cat
Chaotic neutral.
(Stats for the Cheshire Cat can be found on the WoTC official website)

The Cheshire Cat is a strange, fey creature from the demiplane of Wonderland.

He appears to be a larger-than-ordinary house cat weighing between twenty and forty pounds with a rather unnerving smile frozen on it’s face. He often lurks in trees, waiting for the gullible and unwary to pass by so that he can tease them. The Cheshire cat enjoys using his controlled invisibility ability and spells to create mischief. Bravery and the Cheshire cat are not on intimate terms; his natural curiosity is tempered with caution, thus, he’s lived long. The Cheshire cat usually endeavours to avoid physical combat, preferring to solve conflicts diplomatically or through the judicious use of his spells.

PCs are advised to keep a vigilant eye on the resourceful cat, for, despite a taste for display, he is discreet and clever. Sometimes his advice will be helpful, if cryptic, but sometimes his madness makes for nonsensical quandaries that have no solution.

[Jester of the FoS]

Going an alternate route from Drinnik

Peter
Vampire – CN

He is known by many names over the years: the Pan, Puck, and even Goodfellow Peter (Pitor or Pieter depending on the culture) is an immortal youth, a child vampire. Unlike other vampires turned at a young age, Peter embraces his eternal youth failing to see the benefits of growing up and becoming old. He lives where he pleases in forgotten places with his band of cohorts (thralls) where they play endless games for his amusement. When he grows tired of the current batch he sends them out into the real world and finds new recruits.
Every few generations he desires a girl, someone to play the role of mother. And so he finds one. They never last as long as the rest of his playmates. The current playmate is a young French girl and is beginning to grow tiring, Peter is thinking of trying London next time.
The only thing Peter fears is Hook, another immortal and presumably the vampire that created Peter although their relationship has been forgotten by all. Hook stalks Peter throughout the world hoping to one day extract his revenge for the loss of his hand.

[Olly]

Elizabeth Bathory, a.k.a. “The Blood Countess”
Dandy/ Unique Vampiress
Background: Born 1560 as Erzsebet Bathory, this Hungarian countess became infamous for murdering over 600 vigins just because she wanted to bath in their blood. She was counceled by witches that the girls blood would grant her youth. She supposedly died 1614 after being imprisoned for her crimes.
Forbidden Lore: Just before her death, the Red Death transformed Elizabeth into a vampire. To retain her dark beauty she must still drink/ or bath in the blood of virgin girls. She now often disguises as a minor noble named Elizabeth von Baden or Elisa Nadasdy (her husband family name). Recently she visited Istanbul, Vienna, Berlin and London.

(History/Legend)

Alternatively, if you fancied a creature a little more obscure than a vampire, you could make Elizabeth Bathory a porcelain lady, as seen in Van Richten's Guide To The Walking Dead. The only problem with that is that porcelain ladies are, as far as I'm aware, incapable of speech.

[Drinnik Shoehorn]

The Cheshire Cat
Chaotic neutral.
(Stats for the Cheshire Cat can be found on the WoTC official website)

The Cheshire Cat is a strange, fey creature from the demiplane of Wonderland.

He appears to be a larger-than-ordinary house cat weighing between twenty and forty pounds with a rather unnerving smile frozen on it’s face. He often lurks in trees, waiting for the gullible and unwary to pass by so that he can tease them. The Cheshire cat enjoys using his controlled invisibility ability and spells to create mischief. Bravery and the Cheshire cat are not on intimate terms; his natural curiosity is tempered with caution, thus, he’s lived long. The Cheshire cat usually endeavours to avoid physical combat, preferring to solve conflicts diplomatically or through the judicious use of his spells.

PCs are advised to keep a vigilant eye on the resourceful cat, for, despite a taste for display, he is discreet and clever. Sometimes his advice will be helpful, if cryptic, but sometimes his madness makes for nonsensical quandaries that have no solution.

How about for a twist:

"The Cheshire Cat works against the Red Death, often aiding investigators more often than working against them. The Cheshire Cat is on good terms with Dr Abraham Van Helsing.

It is bound to Wonderland and Britain. The Cat can appear in one or the other, but no where else. It is unusual, then, as sightings of a similar animal have been reported in Germany and France."

[Olly]

How about for a twist:

"The Cheshire Cat works against the Red Death, often aiding investigators more often than working against them. The Cheshire Cat is on good terms with Dr Abraham Van Helsing.

That, my friend, is a brilliant idea!

I modelled my interpretation of the Cheshire Cat primarily on his portrayal in the excellent video game, American McGee's Alice, in which he has a role as Alice's sidekick, and serves as a cryptic advisor of sorts, so having him as an informant/ally to Van Helsing and other investigators would fit perfectly.

However, I feel that if the Cheshire Cat ever does help an investigator, he wouldn't phrase things precisely and his advice should always be cryptic and ambiguous. As Wonderland's trickster, it would suit his character better.

It is bound to Wonderland and Britain. The Cat can appear in one or the other, but no where else. It is unusual, then, as sightings of a similar animal have been reported in Germany and France

Hmm... [Strokes chin contemplatively] Who or, for that matter, what could this 'similar animal' be, then? Most interesting...

[Gemathustra]

It is bound to Wonderland and Britain. The Cat can appear in one or the other, but no where else. It is unusual, then, as sightings of a similar animal have been reported in Germany and France

Hmm... [Strokes chin contemplatively] Who or, for that matter, what could this 'similar animal' be, then? Most interesting...

A "copycat," of course.

[Olly]

A "copycat," of course.

D'oh! What a terrible pun!

I've had ideas about adding The Elephant Man and Sweeney Todd to this thread, but I don't think I know enough about either to fully do them justice.

[Drinnik Shoehorn]

Sweeney Todd: Odem

Hanged in 1802, the Demon Barber of Fleet Street cheated death. The many people he murdered caused the Red Death to take Todd into its fold, turning him into an Odem. Todd still haunts Fleet Street, now home to some of Britian's most famous newspapers, stalking victims and possessing them, then using the bodies to kill. On each corpse he carves an S and a T. So far Scotland Yard has no clue to what these letters mean.

[ScS of the Fraternity]

John Merrik - the elephantman
Expert - scholar 7
Str 15 Dex 7 Con 6 Int 18 Wiz 18 Cha 7

A mad cabal (led by dr. Moreau? the White Legion? Fredrik Niche?) is obsessed with creating the perfect human and has developed a method of "moulding" human development. By making injections of hormones into specific areas, the surgeons hoped to sculpt the body of street-waifs into superhumans. However, these attempts have failed miserably, creating a massive collection of maniacle brutes, physically perfect idiots, and sociopathic genius.

As a child, John Merrik was considered a failure by the qabal and left in the streets to die. Though his body is hideously warped, his mind was well developed. Indeed, his faculties are so developed that even his horrible state (physical and social) has not driven him mad. Merrik has found friends in London society and lives on the charity of the wealthy. In the meantime, he busies himself with a pet hobby of architecture - to which his vastly superior mind is well suited.

Sadly, not all of the other products of the qabal have been as benign. The cabal has created a numer of their ideal supermen, embodying the ideal of the Angolo-saxon race. These men and women, though physically perfect, are psychotic megalomaniacs. They have eliminated any of their creators who could not be intimidated. Slowly they martial their forces - preparing for the moment when they will seize power in London.

Several of these supermen have approached Merrik. Sympathetic to their deformed sibling, they have offered him a place in the new Order. Though afraid, Merrick seeks out brave adventurers to help stop the attack of these warped ubermensh. Though possessed of a gentle soul and a fragile body, Merrick is a genius, with an encycolpedic knowledge that rivals the mind of Sherlock Holmes. Perhaps with his help, some stalwart investigators may be able to root out the supermen and save the Empire.

[William Blackmoor]

Alternatively, if you fancied a creature a little more obscure than a vampire, you could make Elizabeth Bathory a porcelain lady, as seen in Van Richten's Guide To The Walking Dead. The only problem with that is that porcelain ladies are, as far as I'm aware, incapable of speech.

That's why I decided against a porcelain lady
But instead of unique vampiress she might as well be a unique porcelain lady, capable of speech.

[Drinnik Shoehorn]

The Cheshire Cat
Chaotic neutral.
(Stats for the Cheshire Cat can be found on the WoTC official website)

The Cheshire Cat is a strange, fey creature from the demiplane of Wonderland.

He appears to be a larger-than-ordinary house cat weighing between twenty and forty pounds with a rather unnerving smile frozen on it’s face. He often lurks in trees, waiting for the gullible and unwary to pass by so that he can tease them. The Cheshire cat enjoys using his controlled invisibility ability and spells to create mischief. Bravery and the Cheshire cat are not on intimate terms; his natural curiosity is tempered with caution, thus, he’s lived long. The Cheshire cat usually endeavours to avoid physical combat, preferring to solve conflicts diplomatically or through the judicious use of his spells.

PCs are advised to keep a vigilant eye on the resourceful cat, for, despite a taste for display, he is discreet and clever. Sometimes his advice will be helpful, if cryptic, but sometimes his madness makes for nonsensical quandaries that have no solution.

How about for a twist:

"The Cheshire Cat works against the Red Death, often aiding investigators more often than working against them. The Cheshire Cat is on good terms with Dr Abraham Van Helsing.

It is bound to Wonderland and Britain. The Cat can appear in one or the other, but no where else. It is unusual, then, as sightings of a similar animal have been reported in Germany and France."

More ideas for the Kitty-Cat:

"Currently, the Cheshire Cat is exploring the feasiblity of a mass exodus from Wonderland. The Queen of Hearts has become even more maniacal of late, and her behaviour is beginning to affect others. The Cat loves Wonderland, but he prefares abstract whimsy to the Queen's chaotic terror. Only the Mad Hatter supports the Cat's plan, and only then on certain days, depending on the time and the colour of the sky.

The Cat knows he is more stable than most of Wonderland's inhabitants, but even he is bizarre by any normal "human" standards.