Laura Collins from 'Dark Shadows'

And from these ashes the Phoenix is reborn. Reborn to live on and spend the next hundred years in Paradise.

The mysterious mother of David Collins whose origins and life were the first real insight into the occult on Dark Shadows, Laura Collins appeared many times within the intricate timeline of the series, always connected in death, life, and rebirth within the Collins line. As a phoenix, Laura lived for hundreds if not thousands of years, always dying in fire and returning nearly exactly the same, always searching for something…or someone. In many incarnations, Laura’s death and renewal consumed her children, and always connected to the Collins line.

 Laura Collins

 

F: Typ (06)

A: Typ (06)

S: Pr (04)

E: Rm (30)

R: Gd (10)

I:  Rm (30)

P: Am (50)

Health: 46

Karma: 90

Resources: variable, from Typ (06) to Rm (30)

Popularity:  0* (when recognized as what she is, 10/-10 in occult circles)

Talents:

Laura Collins has the following talents:

Mystic Origin*

- Occult Lore

Knowledge: History

Knowledge: Culture across the ages

Knowledge: Collins Family

Knowledge: Human Nature

Powers:

Born to fire

Laura Collins is a near immortal being dubbed a phoenix, whose life and death follow a cycle of usually 100 years. Laura Collins has existed since the ancient days of Egypt and through to the modern day, where she has become involved many times with the Collins family as both a matriarch and associated member over the centuries. Laura’s abilities include:

• Pyrokinesis: Laura has set fires but with a though, created flames at will with Rm (30) intensity. Laura is not necessarily immune to flames, but she is drawn to them and has shown her ability to set them by staring.
• Serial Immortality: Either through fire or at the end of 100 years in flames, Laura Collins immolates and is reborn again. It is believed that Laura returns fully grown and only slightly different in appearance each time she is reborn. In later Dark Shadows
• episodes it is suggested that Laura can bring about her rebirth sooner than 100 years or if killed beforehand. Laura will live exactly 100 years, aging as she does until reborn.
• Incarnation Awareness: Laura is aware of all of her past lives even if she acts if she does not. Laura can draw upon her experiences and knowledge with a simple Reason FEAT, although some information may not be readily apparent.
• Psychic abilities: Laura can mesmerize people with Rm (30) ability, erasing or changing memories of those around her, including altering her own appearance to reflect a more desirable or younger one.

Contacts:

Depending on what identity Laura has, she may have contacts within the Collins family and surrounding communities.

Limitations:

Laura has many limitations despite her nature, they include:

• Secret: Laura works hard to ensure her identity as a phoenix is kept a secret until such time that she is willing to reveal it. Laura has plotted murder and uses her powers to ensure her secret and goals are kept.
• Obsession: The Collins bloodline: Laura is obsessed with her family, specifically her children. Although not expressly stated in the series, subsequent official works have suggested that Laura is obsessed with maintaining her connection to the Collins bloodline and often reappears within it.
• Obsession: Laura’s Children:  Each time that Laura has been encountered she has attempted to sway her children to join her in the flame…although it means their deaths. Laura will stop at nothing to have her children die beside her in the flames, even if it means that they will not return.
• Hidden Appearance: Laura’s true appearance is kept hidden and never shown, implied to be either an ancient hag (as she gets closer to the 100-year mark) or something otherworldly. When her children saw her true appearance, they were appalled and recoiled in horror.
• Affinity with fire: Laura is fascinated by fire and will always be drawn to it. In many situations, Laura will position herself near an open flame or take a seat near a hearth, behaving at times obsessively towards flame.
• Enemies: Laura has enemies within the Collins family (such as her nephew Barnabus, her ex-husband Roger Collins, Quentin Collins, and Josette Collins) as well as the witch Angelique who actually ally themselves to thwart her.
• Vengeful: Laura remembers the slights against her and works within the scope of long-term plans to seek revenge. Laura is not above using her immortality to her advantage in those situations. It is implied that once someone has made an enemy out of Laura, Laura will wait them out to a point of her choosing.
• Solitary Creature: Laura is the only one of her kind, as there can only be one Phoenix at any given moment in time.