Dorian Gray as portrayed in 'Penny Dreadful'

You think you're bold? You think you know sin? You're still learning the language. I wrote the bloody book.

The immortal Dorian Gray as featured in the series Penny Dreadful is both mysterious and corrupted. Although moments of the young man who he was can be seen in fleeting interactions with Vanessa Ives, the end series version of Gray shows someone who will discard those around him when he becomes bored or simply when he’s taken all he needs. Unlike other version of the character, the Penny Dreadful version is dangerous outwardly and does everything without consideration, considerably older than the other versions of the character and certainly far more devious.

Why Dorian Gray (again)?

There are three primary reasons why I wanted to feature this version of Dorian Gray. First, I think that this version draws inspiration from the original, but at the same time portrays Gray as less conflicted with what happens and more on a growing impatience when he does not gain what he seeks.

All of that being said, Dorian Gray is a compelling take on a famous character that is in direct alignment with Oscar Wilde’s version, while at the same time showing the darker paths that the character might have descended on.

Dorian Gray

F: Ex (20)

A:  Ex (20)

S:  Typ (06)

E:  Am (50)

R: Gd (10)

I:  Rm (30)

P: Rm (30)

Health: 96

Karma: 70

Resources: Ex (20)

Popularity: 0/2 (Within British Society, specifically the lower upper class).

Talents:

Gray has many talents gathered from an unknown period of time. These talents include but are not limited to:

• Knowledge: History
• Knowledge: British Society
• Knowledge: British Underworld
• Knowledge: Botany
• Knowledge: Hedonism and practices of the time
• Knowledge: Fashion and style
• Knowledge: Zoology
• Knowledge: Poisons
• Knowledge: Human Nature
• Knowledge: Observant
• Knowledge: Photography
• Artist: Musician
• Artist: Portraits and painting
• Firearms
• Sharp Weapons
• Occult Lore
• First Aid

Powers:

Immortality: As seen with the other versions of Dorian Gray, Dorian Gray has somehow sold his soul to maintain immortality through a portrait. The portrait of Gray is kept in a sealed chamber in Gray’s primary residence shows his true age and the afflictions he has suffered. Gray often looks at the portrait as a means of healing the superficial wounds, but for the most part Gray is rendered truly immortal. As such, Gray has the following abilities from that immortality:

• Immortality: Gray cannot be killed through any conventional or unconventional means.
• Immunity: Gray is completely immune to toxins, aging, and diseases.
• of Gray does not need to wait for the damage to transfer to his portrait to begin recovering from such. Gray only looks at the portrait at his leisure, and does not require it to heal from wounds. Gray is considered to have Mn (75) regenerative capabilities, and can recover Endurance ranks at one per every ten rounds. Physical damage is healed accordingly, but Increases in the presence of the portrait.
• Revival and Regeneration: Unlike other versions of the Dorian Gray story, the Penny Dreadful
• Several lifetimes: It is clear that Gray is far older than the traditional presentation of Gray, having stated he was present at several historical events (The fall of Byzantine is the one that could be interpreted as just hyperbole, but still…). Gray is at least 100+ years old in the Penny Dreadful canon.

Contacts:

Gray has several contacts throughout British society, but tires of them quickly and often simply cuts contact. Gray usually has large hedonistic parties, but it’s assumed he has no real contacts (He kills his friends as often as not).

Limitations:

Gray shares several limitations with the other versions of the character, most notably:

• Tied to the portrait: Gray is tied to his portrait, although perhaps not as stringently as other versions. Gray’s portrait reveals his true nature and the weight of his sins…but unlike other versions, Gray is actually mostly unbothered by them. It is assumed although not stated that if the portrait were to be destroyed, Gray’s immortality would immediately cease…but…. it’s not confirmed.
• Boredom: Gray is worn down and bored with his eternal life, and will go to great lengths if something or someone catches his eye to assist or thwart them. Gray will have dedicated great energy and resources to these ends, but will become bored by them within a short time (1 week to a year at most) and simply cut them off…or kill them.
• Casual Killer: Gray has no compunctions about killing, he simply has no value for life. Beauty yes, but life no.

• Karma Standard: Like other versions of the character, Gray cannot gain karma through traditional means. The Penny Dreadful version of the character cannot gain karma even through acts of sheer debauchery, instead only gaining karma when it benefits a particular relief for his boredom. Gray cannot spend karma to affect any dice rolls which benefit anyone else, and instead must spend any gained karma solely for his own actions. Gray gains karma as awarded when related to activities that have his interest and only for the period his interest is held.

• Portraits – Gray maintains a large collection of portraits and photographs of his lovers, and seems possessed by a need to keep those images intact and to grow the collection.