Historical, Novel and Movie characters of Gothic Earth

Discussing Masque of the Red Death
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Sherlock Holmes, aka "The Great Detective"
NG Sleuth

Little is known of Sherlock Holmes' youth, save that he comes from a
background of some wealth and extensive education. Without doubt, however, he is one of the foremost innovators in criminal investigation in the world. His articles on various methods of crime scene investigation, psychology, and other subjects have appeared in journals all over the world. He is based in London, England, where he consults with Scotland Yard's inspectors on a regular basis, and is rarely seen on a case without his associate Doctor John Watson. Holmes' reputation as a keen and
skeptical observer are well known.

For all this, however, Holmes can be extremely whimsical at times. He
maintains a Bohemian lifestyle on Baker Street, is known to have a drug
habit, and performs chemical experiments in his own living quarters. He
disdains some sensational cases as 'uninteresting' and takes on others
that seem trivial. For a man of calculating intellect and cool scientific method he can be dreadfully unpredicable--a quirk that the criminal world views with deep dread.

Holmes is a tall man of lean build with black hair and penetrating grey eyes, and when not in disguise dresses impeccably in black or grey suits of excellent make. He posseses unusual physical strength for one so slim, and alternates between languid lethargy and near-hyperactive tension, depending upon his employment at the time. He is in his early thirties. He can be critical and demanding, but under the right circumstances is also compassionate, even kind. He is a man of unshakeable integrity and dedication to justice.

Forbidden Lore: Although Holmes is represented in his associate's writings as a man disdainful of the supernatural and wholly an acolyte of science, in reality Holmes is perfectly aware of the existence of the monsters of Gothic Earth, and has done more than his share of hunting them. Sherlock Holmes, together with his brother Mycroft and his associate Doctor Watson, belong to a cabal called the Lantern Bearers, a group of intellectuals, mystics, and scientists dedicated to fighting the Red Death. Mycroft's unique position in the British Government enables him to provide his younger brother with much valuable information to aid in the fight, and allows Sherlock Holmes to operate even in the highest levels of society.

Holmes greatest talent--beyond his remarkable intellectual capabilites--is his ability to make the best use of others' potential, and he has built up an extensive network of agents both within the cabal and outside of it. At the moment, he is focused heavily--almost to the point of obesession--with hunting down and defeating Professor Moriarty. He has only recently learned the diabolical mastermind's true nature, and is eager to find any advantage that will allow him to topple such a fiend. His activities have earned him the rakshasha's enmity--for Holmes has proven time and again that he is more than a match for the creature on an intellectual level--and Moriarty is even now seeking the best way to eliminate his nemesis once and for all.

Major John Hamish Watson, M.D.
LG Physician

Known to most as the Great Detective's loyal associate, Doctor John Watson, formerly of Her Majesty's Army, is a man of deep compassion, patience, and sheer nerve. He first met Sherlock Holmes upon his return to England after being discharged from the Army following a serious injury. The two have since become close friends, although Watson's recent marriage has taken him out of the rooms at 221b Baker Street.

In addition to his medical practice, Watson also supplements his income by publishing fictionalized accounts of Sherlock Holmes' exploits through his literary agent, Arthur Conan Doyle. These serve the dual purpose of spreading Holmes' reputation (and therefore his clientele) and also to disguise certain key elements about the detective's methods, motives, and personality.

Watson is a man of medium height and somewhat stocky build. He has sandy hair and wears a mustache, and has kindly dark eyes. He is not as dapper a dresser as Holmes, since his frequent occupation in the surgery and patient consultations result in a somewhat rumpled appearance. Watson is about thirty-five years old.

Sherlock Holmes relies heavily on Watson in his investigations, both as physical and moral backup and as a catalyst. Watson is not a stupid man, by any stretch of the imagination. He is a highly talented medical doctor, whose abilities are held in the highest esteem by Holmes. He does not, however, have Holmes' keenly trained insight into the workings of human nature, and provides something of a whetstone and sounding board for his brilliant and erratic associate's brainstorms.

Forbidden Lore: It was, in fact, Watson who recruited Holmes--and later his brother Mycroft--to the Lantern Bearers, having been recruited himself while in Afghanistan. His membership, together with the Holmes brothers, has proven a great boon to the cabal. Though he is a dedicated healer and a truly compassionate man, John Watson is a fierce warrior in the cause of Light, and he provides a steadying influence for the mercurial Holmes.

Inspector George Lestrade
LG Sleuth

Inspector Lestrade is relatively young for his position in Scotland Yard, but he is known to have achieved his rank through sheer determination and no small amount of investigative talent. He is not the most diplomatic of men, quick of temper and often impatient with others' failings, but there is little doubt about his dedication to justice.

Lestrade is the unofficial liason between the Yard and Sherlock Holmes. The Yard often hires Holmes as a consultant, particularly in bizarre or baffling cases, and are quite proud of the "amateur" detective's success. Lestrade, though a competent detective, is perfectly aware of his own shortcomings, and rarely hesitates to call Holmes in when lives and reputations are on the line. For his part, Holmes often makes sure that Lestrade receives the credit, an arrangement that Lestrade is uncomfortably grateful for.

George Lestrade is a short, wiry man with sharp features, unruly brown hair, and constantly moving dark eyes. He is a careful dresser, buying the best clothes he can afford on his meagre salary, but when in the midst of a case often forgets to maintain a neat appearance. He can be hot-tempered and impulsive, but he is also a practical man and usually knows when he's in over his head. Lestrade is in his late twenties.

Forbidden Lore: Very few people know that George Lestrade is, in fact, a clairvoyant. His talent is erratic at best, and frequently leaves him victim to dreadful headaches or other physical ailments. He dares not make it known to his superiors at Scotland Yard, for fear he will be thought mad. Frightened by his visions' growing frequency and intensity, Lestrade finally turned to Sherlock Holmes for help, trusting that his friend would give him good advice. Holmes, who had already marked Lestrade as a potential cabal recruit, put him into contact with an adept of his acquaintance, and Lestrade had slowly been gaining a measure of control over his abilities. Both investigators have now benefited from this talent, as Lestrade can sometimes see things even Holmes cannot.

Mary Watson
NG Medium

Mary Morstan met Doctor Watson during the dreadful events later known in Watson's memoirs as "The Sign of Four." The pair quickly formed a deep affection for one another and have now been married for about two years.

Mrs. Watson is not a woman with classically beautiful features or flawless complexion. However, her blue eyes are large and compelling and very intense. She is in her late twenties. Her dainty figure and unassuming countenance, however, conceal a soul of steel.

Forbidden Lore: Mary Watson is a powerful medium, and a member of the same cabal as Watson and the Holmes brothers. It was Mary who approached Holmes about the Sign of Four case--not as a frightened, endangered young woman (as the 'official' story states) but as a concerned cabal member hunting out a dark conspiracy. The treasure being sought so ardently by the Scholto brothers and others was in fact a sinister artifact of great power, known as the Eye of Kali. Mary's own father had disappeared some ten years earlier while seeking the same jewel, intending to destroy it. After much difficulty, his ghost at last contacted Mary, and charged her with the same task. Unfortunately, although her father's murderers were brought to justice the artifact vanished once more, leaving Mary's quest unfinished. She still seeks information concerning the artifact's whereabouts, using her talents as a medium and Sherlock Holmes' network of agents. So far she has met with little success.




There you have it. I may do a write-up later for Mary Russel, though she would of course have to appear in a campaign set much later than the 1890s, since I don't believe she was born until 1899 or 1900. (For those unfamiliar with Russel, she is a magnificent creation of Laurie R. King who became a retired Holmes' protegee and later his wife.)[/i]
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Post by The Wannabe »

You might also want to take a look at the BoS series, hosted on the defunct Kargatane website. Two of them contain articles dealing with Sherlock Holmes in Gothic Earth.

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Post by The Wannabe »

Having just come from a showing of Pirates o'th Carribbean 2, why not Davy Jones as a character? The version in the movie, whilst kick-ass, was a bit overboard for my MotRD taste, but the concept is coolness personified.

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Post by The Lesser Evil »

Blows the dust off this thread

Richard Swift
aka The Shade, Dr. Shade

Richard Swift is a mysterious English gentleman who has an uncanny connection with darkness. Mr. Swift seems to have been around almost forever, though nobody seems to notice his aging or lack thereof. He seems interested in researching the physical properties of light, shadow, and darkness and how they are perceived by human eyes. He has kept in regular correspondence with many English authors. He seems to have a close connection with Oscar Wilde. The mysterious gentleman also seems to have several enemies, most notable another mysterious gentleman Dorian Grey as well as the corrupt Ludlow family. Mr. Swift's motives, agenda, and true talents are unknown.

Forbidden Lore: Richard Swift is actually a mysterious and immortal man known as the Shade. He seems to exert control over the forces of darkness itself. He can darken an area, summon shadow minions, or even form objects forged out of darkness itself. How Dr. Shade gots these powers exactly is unknown, but it is known among the occutlist community that Dr. Shade was once a normal man who feel victim to a mysterious accident. This accident linked Dr. Shade to another dimension (perhaps a demiplane?) of shadow called the Shadowlands. Since then, the Shade has wandered about carrying the power (and perhaps the agenda) of this mysterious domain.

Source: The Shade is from DC Comic books. Wikipedia link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Shade
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Post by jules »

Has anyone done the monster from the "leprechaun" series of horror movies yet?
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Post by RShini »

Sorry for bringing up a dead thread - there's some ideas:


The Brothers Grimm
LG Archivists

Brothers Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm were Folklorists who set out to collect fairytales mostly for a linguistic project when they noticed an alarming similarity in stories from all corners of the country - too much to be dismissed as mere coincidence. While stopping by - they noticed a rash of childish disappearances that was a little too close to a lore they were collecting on.

Out of desperation, the brothers retraced the story steps and found the Gingerbread house of a Bogeyman. Wilhelm scooped the children out of the cages while Jacob pushed the Bogeyman into the oven. The two realized that as real as these horrors, no adult would believe them.

So Wilhelm took his gift for storytelling and picked over the tales, bending them for a child's consumption - knowing that children, the most likely victims of these strange horrors will believe the stories and take the precautions needed. The Brother are guarded, knowing that there are creatures out there who are angered by their work.

They are an excellent source of stories for any PCs in the area

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
CN 1st Magnitude Ghost

Mozart, the brilliant and eccentric composer had unfortunately passed on before he could finish the Requiem, and was buried in a commoner's grave. Since then, every night on December 5th - the composer could be found wandering up and down his former workplace, unable to rest until he could somehow finish The Requiem, futility searching for his lost compositional notes, reworking it from memory when the search turns up nothing. Inevitably being frustrated by the short time he has. Anyone that interrupts him is attacked by childish, poltergeist pranks - intending to drive them away unless they could somehow prove they are a talented composer or musician. Then Mozart's shade will demand that they stay with him to help.

Olimpia
from Der Sandmann
NE Unique Porcelain Lady

Olimpia is a breathtakingly beautiful woman with hypnotic eyes and strangely mechanical movements. Though she could play the harpsichord like an expert and can dance - she is rather stiff in composition and she is unable to keep time with music. The girl could only say 'Ah, ah!'. Ten years ago, there's a rumor that she was indirectly involved in the death of a local student but no one could really give evidence. For most people, they see her as a pretty, but stupid woman - the average person seems unable to consider the thought that she is essentially a 'living doll'.

Her Withering Gaze drains WIS instead of CON and has a telepathic suggestion spell-like ability, convincing her chosen victim that she is the most beautiful woman in the world, the only one who could understand her victims' pain and suffering. It only works on one person at a time, and she can only use this telepathic ability to plant the suggestion, leaving her still incapable of meaningful communication.

The Sandman
NE Bogeyman

The Sandman is a terrifying bird-like man who has a nest on the moon. Every night he goes into the homes of children, looking for one that's wide awake. If they are awake, the Sandman plucks out their eyes (causing bleeding damage and naturally permanent blindness) to carry back to his monstrous children. It is thought that the Sandman could not see under a blanket, so weary children who are unable to sleep will try to keep their heads under the blankets for the entire night.

As part of the lore, anyone attacked by the Sandman could throw a cloth over their eyes - effectively turning themselves invisible to the Bogeyman's senses.

Quincey Morris
CG Nosferatu

Quincey Morris was frankly surprised, and quite angry when he woke up as a Nosferatu several days after his apparent demise. Quincey suspects that perhaps they had not killed Dracula like they had assumed. He stumbled through learning the skills of a Nosferatu, remembering what he had seen in his battle against Dracula. The man tries to drink only the blood of animals but found sometimes he is forced to attack humans. When he has to harm a human, he tries to feed exclusively off on criminals, even then being careful not to actually kill them. So far he has not contacted his former companions, afraid that they will fear and hate him for what he has become. Currently, he's going from one city to another, on a trail for any rumors of a cure to his condition, but more importantly if Dracula had indeed survived their encounter and is out there somewhere, still plotting.

So far... Quincey has managed to resist the darker impulses of his nature, but he isn't sure how long he can hold out.

(P.N Elrod's Quincey Morris, Vampire gave this idea.)

Donner Party
Several CE 3rd magnitude Ghosts and Ghouls

The infamous Donner Party was quickly the word uttered to any Wagon Party that is going too slowly for the speaker's liking. The party was inexperienced in trailblazing and entered the newly found Hastings cutoff hoping to make up for lost time. Unfortunately, the winter snows kept them trapped. Supplies ran low, and the residents turned to cannibalism before they were rescued.

Now in Sierra Nevada, the cannibalized members could not rest easily, remembering either being hurried to dying so they could fill the bellies of others, or having learned to like the taste of flesh before the cold had claimed their lives.

Adventurers using the Hastings Cutoff will find themselves surrounded by several ghosts, clamoring at them for their rations - their salient ability is to putrefy food and drink, which could easily wipe out the party's food supply if they don't escape in a hurry.

And if the ghosts weren't bad enough, they have to contend with the ravenous ghouls that hungered for their tasty flesh.
"When they open the door and see a ten foot cockroach, they sigh in relief and mutter 'glad it's not a twenty-foot tall cockroach" - or something like that, Stephen King, Danse Macabre
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Post by jules »

Anyone do dr. marou yet?
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Post by Rotipher of the FoS »

New cabals, here.

The Openers and The Closers

Malign as the Red Death's influence may be, at least one does not need to contend with its physical presence. Nor does it transcend utterly, nor act with a fathomless inscrutability that some suspect might be better viewed as childishness. But what of those which do?

On certain Halloween nights, only as the full moon rises and only from certain arcane locales, the Way can be opened for the Great Old Ones to enter and lay claim upon Gothic Earth. For millennia, alliances of adepts have gathered from the far corners of that world, some seeking to open the way and others to bar the door. For millennia, the Closers have won, often by the slimmest of margins. Now, another lonesome October night draws near, and the fate of all will pivot upon the Great Game of opening and closing.

The Openers are nearly always Evil, though an occasional CN outraged by the strictures and injustices of human society might join them in the futile hope that the Great Old Ones' oncoming will overthrow that social order. The Closers, despite their role as saviors of the world, are seldom truly Good, as both sides' preparatory rituals require the commission of crimes no moralist would stomach. Indeed, down through the ages, the Closers' ranks have included some of Gothic Earth's most legendary villains, determined to preserve the human race as a herdsman would preserve his livestock. Threats to cosmic order can make for strange bedfellows, and any port in a storm.

From Zelazny's A Night In The Lonesome October
"Who [u]cares[/u] what the Dark Powers are? They're [i]bastards![/i] That's all I need to know of them." -- Crow
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Post by Nathan of the FoS »

Rotipher of the FoS wrote:New cabals, here.

The Openers and The Closers

Malign as the Red Death's influence may be, at least one does not need to contend with its physical presence. Nor does it transcend utterly, nor act with a fathomless inscrutability that some suspect might be better viewed as childishness. But what of those which do?

On certain Halloween nights, only as the full moon rises and only from certain arcane locales, the Way can be opened for the Great Old Ones to enter and lay claim upon Gothic Earth. For millennia, alliances of adepts have gathered from the far corners of that world, some seeking to open the way and others to bar the door. For millennia, the Closers have won, often by the slimmest of margins. Now, another lonesome October night draws near, and the fate of all will pivot upon the Great Game of opening and closing.

The Openers are nearly always Evil, though an occasional CN outraged by the strictures and injustices of human society might join them in the futile hope that the Great Old Ones' oncoming will overthrow that social order. The Closers, despite their role as saviors of the world, are seldom truly Good, as both sides' preparatory rituals require the commission of crimes no moralist would stomach. Indeed, down through the ages, the Closers' ranks have included some of Gothic Earth's most legendary villains, determined to preserve the human race as a herdsman would preserve his livestock. Threats to cosmic order can make for strange bedfellows, and any port in a storm.

From Zelazny's A Night In The Lonesome October
*cheers* Man, I love that book.
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Re: Historical, Novel and Movie characters of Gothic Earth

Post by jules »

anybody ever do st. nicholous aka santa claus?
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Re: Historical, Novel and Movie characters of Gothic Earth

Post by HuManBing »

Minor cursed NPC: The Sleighmaster

Starting about 5 years ago, an unsettling event began to occur every winter in the frozen wastes of Vorostokhov and occasionally spilling over into Sanguinia. One bright and cloudless morning, the residents of Saratomsk village went about their business and found somehow during the night a track of strange hoof marks had been laid down.

The trail of hoofmarks appeared to be U-shaped, and travelled in a straight line, never deviating. At first, the villagers thought this was a trick played by some mischievous soul in the middle of the night, but further investigation showed an uneasy side to the tracks: whenever they encountered a building, the tracks went straight up the wall, over the rooftops, and down the other side of the building.

Furthermore, the tracks went straight across the domain - unbroken - for hundreds of miles. When travellers made it to other villages to ask, the villagers there all agreed they had appeared during the same night - somehow covering a journey of several days by fastest mortal means... in just a single evening.

Nobody much wanted to follow the tracks to their destination, afraid of what they might find there. As the snow thawed, the U-shaped hoofmarks tightened and transformed into V-shaped hoofmarks, which garnered them the sobriquet "Old Nick's Footprints"...

Every year, they have reappeared on the same day - the day of longest night - and villagers have attempted to follow them to their source. Every year they draw slightly closer, not knowing what awaits them at the other end.

... The Sleigmaster, a.k.a. Saint Nick (perhaps related to Old Nick?) is a bearded, rotund man with a red face of wrathful choler, and who is never seen without his red military uniform with a belt buckle, and clomping the grounds in heavy black military boots. In his domain, he wields absolute despotic power over a small tribe of hapless elves (although some illustrated manuscripts show them to be closer to gnomes).

The Sleighmaster allegedly shares an empathic link with all the children in the realm, as he knows instantly when they're awake or asleep and also if they are Innocents or whether they've triggered one or more Powers Checks. He glides across the sky in his mystical vehicle, known only as the Slay, for its silent flight, and is said to alight on building rooftops. He gains entrance to the houses below and is said to leave little gifts and toys and knick knacks for good children.

For bad children, it is said that the toys and gifts are poisoned, and for really bad children he is said to throttle them with a jewelled garrotte and then devour them.

His vehicle is drawn by nine ghostly skeletons of an unidentifiable species of quadruped, and the one in front has a deep hellish red light that glows just in front of its fleshless skull. Whenever the Snowfather comes with the intent to kill a child, the jewelled garrotte sings with every shake of the vehicle - some onlookers have said it sounds like the tinkling of fairy bells. The very sound itself is enough to send parents and children running for the houses to board up the windows.
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Re: Historical, Novel and Movie characters of Gothic Earth

Post by High Priest Mikhal »

Is this thread strictly history, movies, and novels? Or can we go into video games and comics? I say it's all fair game.
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Re: Historical, Novel and Movie characters of Gothic Earth

Post by The Lesser Evil »

High Priest Mikhal wrote:Is this thread strictly history, movies, and novels? Or can we go into video games and comics? I say it's all fair game.
Sure, why not? I and I think a few others have posted some from other media and nobody objected. Seems like we could use some things to keep this thread going!.
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Re: Historical, Novel and Movie characters of Gothic Earth

Post by Manofevil »

How about television? I'd like to see someone do Kwai Chang Cain from 'Kung Fu'.
Do us a favor Luv, Stick yer 'ead in a bucket a kick it!

So, gentlemen, that's how it is. Until Grissome.... resurfaces, I'm the acting president, and I say starting with this... anniversary festival, we run this city into the ground! :D
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Re: Historical, Novel and Movie characters of Gothic Earth

Post by jules »

how about the smurfs?
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