Dorian Gray from 'The Portrait of Dorian Gray' (1945)

If only it was the picture who was to grow old, and I remain young. There's nothing in the world I wouldn't give for that. Yes, I would give even my soul for it.

Most everyone knows the story – the young man who indulges in the vices of the world, unchanged and un-aging while a portrait hangs taking on the rigors of debauchery and age in his place. Written by Oscar Wilde and adapted multiple times, Dorian Gray remains a character that seems to epitomize vanity.

Why Dorian Gray?

The Hurd Hatfield1945 version of The Picture of Dorian Gray has nearly made my list on four separate occasions. I think I saw the original movie sometime when I was under 10 during a Halloween marathon and have just included him within the genre since then. There is a tragedy to Dorian Gray that is also something that is monstrous….and I think that the character’s adaptions have slanted at least my view to include it. That being said, I should forewarn you – This version of Gray isn’t a typical horror figure – and I plan to do another version as part of my Penny Dreadful write-ups that is much more…menacing.

Dorian Gray

F:  Typ (06)

A:  Typ (06)

S:  Typ (06)

E: Rm (30)

R: Typ (06)

I:  Gd (10)

P: Rm (30)

Health: 48

Karma: 46

Resources: Rm (30)

Popularity: 0*

Talents:

Knowledge: British Society and Gentlemanly pursuits

Knowledge: British Nobility

Knowledge: Home area

Educated*

Knowledge: Human Debauchery

Firearms

Powers:

Immortality and Youth: Either through accident or simply by willing it with a phrase, Dorian Gray has become immortal and youthful while the portrait painted of him ages in his place. Gray’s immortality does not just extend to eternal youth, it has rendered Gray effectively immune from the ravages of the body and spirit. Gray is considered to be completely immune to disease and toxins, and does not lose Endurance ranks even through the ‘dying’ process of being reduced to 0 health. The portrait of gray however shows all effects, ranging from disease to even the casual cruelty that Gray begins to exhibit as he continues to descend into debauchery. The portrait of Gray radiates magic, and a clear mystical link between the two exists. Any damage Gray suffers is transferred to the portrait which serves as a reserve of mystical energy tied to a dimensional source (either to Mephisto or similar figures). These figures do not appear to Gray, nor does Gray know magic, Gray simply has the experiences in which he has lived through and the knowledge he has gained.

Gray can be reduced to 0 health and rendered immobile, but only for the time it would take him to recover his basic health or 1d10 rounds. When Gray is restored, any damage is transferred to the portrait and thus to his ‘benefactor’, and Gray returns at full health, vigor, and status. The portrait takes on the appearance of the damage and/or ‘sin’ that Gray has committed.

Gray is either unaware or uninterested as to how his immortality works, either suggestively an aspect of selling his soul or through the errant wish made in front of a weird Egyptian statue. Gray never really looks into the source of his immortality, but hides his portrait and is willing to kill to keep his secret.

Contacts:

Gray has many contacts in society, but they either die or become disgusted with his actions as he spirals into debauchery. When encountered, Gray is still well-placed within London society, but does not (with one notable exception) hide the fact he is the same person.

Limitations:

The Portrait: Gray’s biggest limitation is the portrait that absorbs his sins, aging, and such. The portrait remains hidden in a school room used by Gray in his youth, and only Gray, the artist, and a few others have ever seen it….and then only when it was finished. If the portrait is damaged (heavily hinted that Gray is the only one who might), Gray is afflicted directly. If Gray strikes or destroys the portrait, he immediately takes all damage, is inflicted with all disease, and ages to his true age forcing an immediate Endurance FEAT at -4cs vs. Death. Anything less than a Red FEAT means Gray is immediately killed.

Debauchery: Gray has embraced debauchery and hedonism to their extremes, and as such, Gray cannot gain karma through traditional means. Gray can only gain karma through doing truly selfless actions, which require a Psyche FEAT in order to recognize and perform. Gray also cannot spend Karma to benefit anyone else or in situations where the portrait of himself forces a roll vs. death. Gray’s inability to empathize, accept, or understand compassion and/or charity works against him at all times.

Dark Secret: Gray keeps his portrait safe and is almost obsessive to ensure it should never be seen. Gray has gone as far as killing a childhood friend to ensure his secret is kept and has no compunction about murder.

Notes:

Dorian Gray is not a physical threat, or perhaps even a direct one. I think this version of Gray is one that shares more with the original Wilde version than most others – Gray doesn’t really know why he’s immortal (Although in this version, he has an idea) and doesn’t really care. Gray is shaped by the drive to embrace hedonism. Gray is almost tragic, and while not outwardly threatening, is responsible either directly or indirectly for the deaths of nearly half a dozen people. 

I placed his FASERIP as I did with the idea of Gray being fairly normal with better endurance and Psyche, as benefitted by the portrait. If Gray received immortality for his soul, I worked out how that might work and went back to the movie and even book to work out their versions of it. At no point does the supernatural appear to Gray nor do anything other mysterious powers work around Gray – He’s just immortal, and that’s the extent of it. I tried very hard to filter out the more action oriented versions of Gray, as I wanted this version to be more traditional. Gray has considerable resources even for a gentleman in Victorian/Pre-Edwardian period, and such was never a concern for Gray. I could have gone Ex (20) and been happy. I defaulted to Rm (30) resources as it was stated several times how wealthy Gray was. I’m still on the fence that it could go either way. 

The actual portraits of the movie are real and in a private collection. As I did research I think that one of them came up for auction and was purchased by the University of Chicago, but I could not confirm which one and if that was true.