Historical, Novel and Movie characters of Gothic Earth

Discussing Masque of the Red Death
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Historical, Novel and Movie characters of Gothic Earth

Post by William Blackmoor »

Similar to the Historical Events thread I would like to start collecting NPC ideas for Gothic Earth

Lord Byron
Nosferatu-Dandy
Forbidden Lore: Byron and Polidori never told anyone, but the vampire Lord Ruthven was no invention. Ruthven, a great admirerer of Byrons work “immortalized” him while he fought in Greece. He returned to London and is espescially fond of the Spaniard’s Inn, where he met with his friends when still alive.
He supposedly died on 19 April 1824

(History)

Gabriel „Van Helsing“
Fallen Celestial
Forbidden Lore: When the Red Death entered the world he more or less severed Gothic Earth from the planes of the gods, but some of their messangers stayed on earth to battle the malign entity and it’s servants. One of the mightiest of this “fallen celestrials” was Gabriel.
Gabriel appears to be human, but displays some powers (like detect evil and virtual immortality) that give away his supernatural connection. When Gabriel battled a fearsome minion of the Red Death, the son of Dracula, Mircea Dragulia, he lost his memory. By instinct he dragged himself to the Vatican where he was seen as an agent sent by the Lord.

(From "Van Helsing")
Last edited by William Blackmoor on Tue Mar 15, 2005 3:13 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Dorian Grey- Immortal Dandy NE
Grey narrated his tale to Oscar Wilde, rumours stirred that Grey was really one of Wilde's lovers, but truth is Grey desired Wilde, but Oscar cared more for Bosie, the son of the Lord Queensbury. It was Grey who made Queensbury slander Wilde, then from behind the scenes orchestrated the details of Wilde's private life to become public. Currently, Grey is hiding in Edinburgh under the pseudonym Douglas Blake.

Lucy Snowe- corrupted Dandy LE
Snowe, who's life in the French village of Villette, is a rather plain and unassuming woman to look at, but she is emotionally distant and a drain on all who know her. It seems she sucks all the life and warmth from any room she is in.

Tess Durbyfield- Rank 2 Ghost CG
Tess haunts Stonehenge, the most recent ghost to manifest there. After her murder, Tess rose as a ghost. She appears at dawn, crying in the centre, mouring the loss of her child Sorrow. Tess doesn't seem to know she is dead, but she knows that she murdered Lord D'Urbaville and she expects judgement at any time.

Kurtz- Soldier Zombie Lord CE
Kurtz haunts the swamps of Africa. His last words, "The Horror, The horror," have often been mistaken for him seeing the futility of his life in the Heart of Darkness, but in actuality, it was him comprehending the scope of the Red Death for the first time. Kurtz now stalks the jungles, adding to his army of the dead.

Long John Silver- Rank 3 Ancient dead Criminal NE
After being abandoned by Captain Smollett, Silver was offered eternal life by the Red Death. Silver agreed and after 200 years alone on his island, a ship arrived. Silver slew the crew and they rose as zombies. Silver now has the crew he has always wanted, and he stalks the seas, hunting down the desendants of those who marooned him on Treasure Island.

Bill Sykes- Rank 4 Ghost, Criminal CE
Sykes haunts the seedy underbelly of London. He stalks alleyways and areas of low moral fibre. He is searching for the boy once known as Oliver Twist, but he is anchored to the areas of London that he stalked when he was alive. Oliver now lives in peace, but Sykes still cries out for the boy's death.

Tinkerbell- Pixie CN
Tinkerbell is ancient. She was alive before the Red Death entered the world, and she remembers those days with joy. In 1500's she found an abandoned child. She knew that with the Red Death in the world, no innocent was safe. Using more power than she ever had, Tink created the demiplane of Neverland. She took the boy there and raised him until he was 11. Neverland was a place of safety and peace in the turbulent Gothic Earth. In 1690 the Red Death finally penetrated Neverland with one of it's minions, Captain James T. Hook. Hook and the boy faught, and Hook lost his right hand. A dire Crocodile, called by the mystic energies of Neverland, ate the severed member as well as an Alarm Clock. Tink sealed Neverland from further invasion, that is until Peter began to get curious of the outside world. After Peter brought Wendy and her brothers to the demiplane, Tinkerbell felt jealousy for the first time. The Red Death has discovered the pixie's flaw, and now seeks to exploit it and destroy one of the last places of innocence on Gothic Earth.

Sources: "The Picture of Dorian Grey" by Oscar Wilde, "Villette" by Charlotte Bronte, "Tess of the D'Urbevilles" by Thomas Hardy, "Heart of Darkness" by Joseph Conrad, "Treasure Island" by Robert Louis Stevenson, "Oliver Twist" by Charles Dickens, "Peter Pan" by J. M. Barrie.

More to follow...
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Post by William Blackmoor »

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)
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Bridget Cleary
Rank 2-3 Ghost (Commoner 1) -- LN
One of the last women murdered as a witch, Bridget was killed by her husband, Michael, in March 1895. She was beaten, stabbed and finally burnt at the couple's home near Clonmel, Ireland. She still haunts the valley where her house lay.
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Carmilla, a.k.a. Countess Mircalla von Karnstein
Dandy/Ghost (former Nosferatu)
Background: The etherealy beautiful vampiress Carmilla was staked and beheaded at Schloss Karnstein (Steiermark/Austria) in 1868 by the retired Generals Spielsdorf and Sheridan* in defense of the laters daughter, Laura.
Forbidden Lore: Carmillas ghost still haunts her beloved Laura, eternally bound to her. As she is in love with Laura, she will try to keep her from harm and attack those who pose a threat to Laura or herself. Laura Sheridan has left Austria for her father’s homeland England, because for reasons unknown to her she doesn’t seem to age.

(From Carmilla, by Sheridan LeFanu)
*I couldn’t find a family name for Laura in the text, only that it was an English name. So I chose to adopt the surename of Sheridan LeFanu, the author.

Henry Jones
Human / Intellectual
Background: Soon to be Dr. Jones, the young history student at Oxford University, has already become a quite competent scholar of grails lore.
Forbidden Lore: Some agents of the Red Death already took notice of the young man who collects every piece of grail-lore he can get. Little do they suspect that Henry and his girlfriend Anna will have a son who will grow up to become one of the Red Death’s most annoying enemies.

(From Indiana Jones)

Anne Kerke
Ghost (Witch)
Background: Anne Kerke was hanged for witchcraft in 1599 (London)
Forbidden Lore: Anne still haunts her place of death, Tyburn, today’s Marble Arch, looking for someone to take her place as a mystic.

(History)

Queen Anne Boleyn
Ghost
Background: Queen, wife of Henry VIII It was rumored that Anne was a witch. Henry attributed this to the fact that Anne had a sixth finger, Anne would eventually be charged with adultery, including of having an incestuous relationship with her brother George. Many have argued, however, that these charges were probably false. The only thing Anne was probably guilty of was being a flirtous woman. Queen Anne was beheaded on May 19, 1533
Forbidden Lore: Sometimes , the shade of Anne Boleyn is carried in a Thames barge crewed by faded grey figures to the Tower of London where she died. The palace itself sometimes echoes with Anne's voice, pleading and crying for her life to be saved.
She also appears at Durham House and Queen Anne's Gate, Westminster.

(History)

Father Randolf Giles
Human (Britan) / Intellectual/ Parson
Background: A priest of St. George’s Cathedral /London.
Forbidden Lore: Father Randolf is a member of “Die Wächter”. He is known to aide especially young heros in their fight against evil.
(From Buffy. Sorry couldn’t resist :wink: )

The „Knife”
Background: A serial killer, thought by many to be Jack the Ripper.
Forbidden Lore: In truth the “Knife” is what it’s name suggestes: an ancient knife, made by St.Patrick himself from the tip of a fairy sword that was used to slay a treacherous female. The saint had good intentions, when he gifted a doctor with the knife, but the blade still thirsted for the blood of females. Ever since humans who keep it are cursed to slay females. A mysterious adventurer from Ireland, Michael Dirgestone seems eager to track down the "killer" for reasons of his own.

(Inspired by an episode of "The Lost World" the original Sword of Arak and the background for my own MotRD character :) )

Dorian Grey (2)
I chose the anagram Ian Gerdroy as the immortal dandys name and placed him in London (as in the movie LXG)

The Princess of Amen-Ra
Ghost /Curse
Background: A Mummy Case in the British museum, that bears the traditional curse, the casket in question is accompanied by acts of poltergeist like behaviour and the manifestation of a female figure. Thirteen mysterious deaths and suicides have been connected to the Case.
Forbidden Lore: It will be on board and survive the sinking of the Titanic.

(History/Legend)

Selenites
Dromites
Unknowingly brought to earth by Professor Carvor's secret moon-expedition, the insectmen follow agendas to alien to comprehend. Probably they serve the Red Death, who influenced them trough their psychic abilities.

(From Jules Verne)
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Gustave Eiffel
Human / Intellectual
Background: After placing a bid to build the center piece for the International Exhibition of Paris in 1889 Gustave was awarded the rights to build what was then the tallest building in the world. Dispite a petetion of over 300 names calling for the "belmish on French soil' the tower will rise over 300 meters and will weight in at 7,000 tons.

Forbidden Lore: When fisnished the tower will become in infact a huge mystical cage built to contain the form of the egyptian storm demon
Aldinach. Plagued by this demon ever since he inadvertanly reliesed it from its tomb under the holy city of Abydos during his wild youth, Gustave has scowered the many libaries in paris for some way to reimprison the fiend. His prayers were answered when he found a burnt barely legable copy of Van Richtens Guide of Fiends that somehow fell through the mists. All Gustave needs now is a group of heroes to lure Aldinach into the trap and keep it there while Gustave finishes the incantations.
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Post by William Blackmoor »

I always knew there was something "fishy" about that tower... :wink:

Margareth Trelawny (Queen Tera)
Human / Dandy (Adept)
Background: Margareth Trelwany was born at the same time her father, Prof. Abel Trelawny discovered the tomb of Tera and promised to do everything to enable her to complete the Ritual of the 7 Stars leading to her rebirth. Unknown to himself , when in 1904 the time was right he succseded and the spirit of Queen Tera merged with Margareth. After the ritual Margareth married Malcome Ross, with whom she resides in London
Forbidden Lore: Margareth/Tera still bears the Juwel of the 7 Stars and other magical talismans, but she is quite aware of the danger of using magic. But as a trained magician she feals the pull of temptation every day.
(From: Juwel of the Seven Stars, Bram Stoker)

Inspektor Jason Riley (Talos)
Human/ Sleuth (police officer)/ Ancient Dead (Adept)
Background: Centuries after Tera, a greek philosopher and magican corrupted by the Red Death named Talos fled to Egypt. There he started a similar cult, like the one that led to his exile from Greece. He even seduced Pharao’s daughter. When the Pharao finally decided to destroy the cult, Talos reinvented acorrupted form of Tera’s ritual, for his ritual included that cultist devoured the importend parts of his body, serving as canoptic jars. Pharao arrived just to see his daughter swallow the heart and kill herself. Pharao tried to entomb Talos remains in a virtual deathtrap, but Professor Turkel unearthed him nonetheless.
Forbidden Lore: Talos remains (only his burial linens were left) were kept at the British Museum until the day the correct stars aligned and the reincarnated cultist got drawn to him.
Ironically the Inspector trying to stop him was the reborn daughter of the Pharao. As Talos stole his heart, he inhabited the body of Riley.

(Gothic-Victorian Version of "Talos the Mummy")
Last edited by William Blackmoor on Wed Mar 16, 2005 1:55 pm, edited 2 times in total.
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Post by Blake_Alexander »

Lady Blanche (Ghost)

On April 17 1264 Rochester Castle in Kent, England (a royalist held fortification under the command of Ralph de Capo) was beseiged by Gilbert de Clare. De Clare held a person gruge against De Capo since he had been the a rejected suitor of de Capo's wife to be the Lady Blanche. During a lull in the battle that maked the Easter Holiday, de Clare manged to sneak into the fortification while a sallying party rode out. Due to similarities in the armors between the two knights de Clare was able to seach the castle for Lady Blanche without arousing suspicion. de Clare eventually cornered Lady Blanche atop the keep. As she struggled to free herself from de Clare, de Capo noticed her plight. Being an excellent archer he fired a single arrow at de Clare. Although de Capo's aim was true, the arrow glanced off of de Clare's breastplate and plunged through the heart of Lady Blanche, killing her instantly.

Forbidden Lore: It is said that Lady Blanche's ghost wanders the battlement of Rochester Castle every Easter, endlessly reenacting the scene.

Gilbert de Clare (Ancient Dead)

Gilbert de Clare was killed shortly after the events mentioned above. Being of noble birth he was layed to rest among his ancestors at his family's holding.

Forbidden Lore: Recently archelological students from London University have taken several items from the de Clare vault for study including Gilbert's Shield, Helmet and the scarf that Lady Blanche had given him when he was still her suitor. Gilbert de Clare has now risen as one of the Ancient Dead, seeking his lost items.

Ralph de Capo (Ghost)

Ralph de Capo never truely got over the death of Lady Blanche. Until his dying day he still bore the guilt of her death.

Forbidden Lore: Upon de Clare's return as one of the Ancient Dead, de Capo's restless spirit as returned to the realm of the living in an attempt to lay claim to long lost love.

In the campaign I was planning to run with these historical characters I gave de Capo the possessing ability. During the corse of play de Cape would use this ability to give him a corporal body to work from.

In addition, the items taken from de Clare's vault were ladened with psychic residue from their previous owners. Thus, anyone possessing these items would eventually be overcome and "become" Lady Blanche and de Clare.

The adventure was to climax with the "possessed" individuals coming together at the ruined castle on Easter to reinact the fateful encounter from 1264.

This was complicated by the presence of the actual de Clare, who was at appear at the castle should at reinactment be stopped.
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Post by Blake_Alexander »

Lady Blanche's full name was Lady Blanche de Warenne
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Post by Dr Bloodworth »

William Blackmoor wrote:Margareth Trelawny (Queen Tera)
Human / Dandy (Adept)
Just FYI, the story you have is based on the later ending, written by Stoker during the reprint of Jewel of Seven Stars. The original ending had the ritual interrupted, and all the others dying. Only Ross escaped alive.
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Post by Olly »

Drinnik Shoehorn wrote:Long John Silver- Rank 3 Ancient dead Criminal NE
After being abandoned by Captain Smollett, Silver was offered eternal life by the Red Death. Silver agreed and after 200 years alone on his island, a ship arrived. Silver slew the crew and they rose as zombies. Silver now has the crew he has always wanted, and he stalks the seas, hunting down the desendants of those who marooned him on Treasure Island.
You sir, have inspired me! :wink:

Would you mind awfully if I went about statting up Long John Silver? I'll PM you the stats for you to critique them, if you like.
Home is behind,
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Through shadow,
To the edge of night,
Until the stars are all alight.

Mist and shadow,
Cloud and shade,
Hope shall fail,
All shall fade.
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Post by Quinn »

General Charles "Chinese" Gordon
Rank 4-5 Ghost -- CE

Charles "Chinese" Gordon (1833-85) was a British general in the nineteenth century. He earned his nickname during the Taiping rebellion in which Gordon took command of the "Ever Victorious Army" and crushed the rebellion in 1864. Later he was stationed in Egypt, and was eventually appointed governor of the Sudan, and worked diligently towards ending slavery in the country. Eventually Gordon returned to England, but in 1884 returned to confront the Mahdi, an Islamic fundamentalist calling himself the "expected one," who was allied with the slave raiders. Gordon held the city of Khartoum for several months, surrounded by the Mahdi's numberless hordes. However, Britian's government were more eager to evacuate people from the embattled city, considering the Sudan lost, and refused to send military aid to defend it.

When ordered to leave Khartoum and return to England, Gordon replied, "I am in honor bound to the people."

The British government finally gave in and sent an army to raise the seige; but when help arrived, they found the city fallen and Gordon murdered two days before.

The Red Death saw in Chinese Gordon an opportunity to turn a hero into a force of hateful vengenance, and made certain that Gordon's spirit would never rest until he had exacted revenge upon Britain for abandoning him and his company to the Mahdi's army.
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Post by Drinnik Shoehorn »

Gentleman wrote:
Drinnik Shoehorn wrote:Long John Silver- Rank 3 Ancient dead Criminal NE
After being abandoned by Captain Smollett, Silver was offered eternal life by the Red Death. Silver agreed and after 200 years alone on his island, a ship arrived. Silver slew the crew and they rose as zombies. Silver now has the crew he has always wanted, and he stalks the seas, hunting down the desendants of those who marooned him on Treasure Island.
You sir, have inspired me! :wink:

Would you mind awfully if I went about statting up Long John Silver? I'll PM you the stats for you to critique them, if you like.
Feel free.
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Post by William Blackmoor »

Orang Santu wrote:
William Blackmoor wrote:Margareth Trelawny (Queen Tera)
Human / Dandy (Adept)
Just FYI, the story you have is based on the later ending, written by Stoker during the reprint of Jewel of Seven Stars. The original ending had the ritual interrupted, and all the others dying. Only Ross escaped alive.
I know, but i liked the other ending better :D
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Post by Malus Black »

Drinnik Shoehorn wrote:Long John Silver- Rank 3 Ancient dead Criminal NE
Wouldn't Dread Revenant be a better fit than Ancient Dead?
All that we see or seem
Is but a dream within a dream

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