Dr. Julia Hoffman from 'Dark Shadows'

 “Today I shall attempt to find the truth of what my intellect refuses to accept. At sunset, I shall confront the monster in his lair.”

Dr. Julia Hoffman 

 

 




 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

F: Typ (06)
A: Typ (06)
S: Typ (06)
E: Ex (20)
R: Rm (30)
I: Rm (30)
P: Rm (30)

Health: 38
Karma: 90
Resources: Ex (20)
Popularity: 2 (as leading expert in Hematology and blood diseases)

Talents:
Julia Hoffman is very experienced and learned, possessing the following talents:

• Medicine*
• Psychology
• Hypnotism
• Pathology
• History
• Detective*
• Multi-Lingual
• Occult Lore* (While Julia doesn’t study the occult, her experiences and investigations with the Collins family have granted her knowledge)
• Chemistry
• Engineering

Powers:
A remarkable woman
Although human, Julia Hoffman is a very remarkable woman who has mastered multiple scientific fields, experienced first hand the occult, time travel, and parallel time, and has even managed to cure uncurable mystical diseases. Julia Hoffman’s natural attributes and reasoning make her a foil for most of the adversaries encountered and have given her a unique place in Dark Shadows, a protagonist who is equally dangerous and respected by her enemies. Julia’s power-like effects include:

• Resolve: Dr. Hoffman posses a great deal of resolve in her dealings, and although terrified at times of her enemies remains dedicated and steadfast in her activities and action. In situations in which Dr. Hoffman must make fear checks vs. Intuition and Psyche, Dr. Hoffman may roll on Am (50) intensity to continue with her actions. Dr. Hoffman will suffer damage and effects but may ignore attempts to prevent her from acting and/or possession attempts by making a successful FEAT.
• Enhanced Invention: Dr. Hoffman may recreate ‘modern’ technologies (circa 1970) with older or outdated materials, such as creating a blood synthesizer in the 19th century or the like. Dr. Hoffman has shown great skill at recreating modern technologies linked her talents during many of the periods that she has been transported to. Dr. Hoffman uses her Reason rank to make such technologies and must have the appropriate resources and materials to do so.
• Immunity: Leviathan Cult Corruption: Dr. Hoffman is one of the humans that cannot be converted or corrupted by the Leviathan Cult and is completely immune to their attempts to control or convert her to their efforts. Dr. Hoffman may have similar immunities to other similar groups and their efforts but it is not tested.
• Karma Awarding: Dr. Hoffman gains Karma through efforts that are villainous – such as brainwashing/hypnosis, covering up murders, lying and deceiving the Collins family, etc. Dr. Hoffman’s goals have always been ultimately to help people and will cross a moral line if it was to save them, often doing so without regret.
• Vampirism Cure: Dr. Hoffman has worked on curing vampirism and was mostly successful on Barnabas Collins, ultimately proving that she could cure a curse through science. In the later canon material, it was revealed ultimately that Dr. Hoffman was capable and successful of creating a cure for Vampirism using new plasma. Dr. Hoffman also was expert in attempting to cure Lycanthropy and the degenerative condition that affected the Leviathan heir.
• Time Travel: Dr. Hoffman has traveled time as often as Barnabus Collins, often being able to find or summon the methods through the mysterious stairs or through other methods. While Dr. Hoffman cannot consciously use this ability, Dr. Hoffman suffers no ill-effect from time travel and when faced with terrible results seemingly is spirited away to a period in which such things can be changed.

Contacts:
Dr. Hoffman has a variety of contacts in the medical and psychological fields, as well as have deep contacts with all of the Collins family. Dr. Hoffman has a superior contact in Barnabus Collins, Quentin Collins, and even old enemies and can call upon them when necessary.

Limitations:
Dr. Hoffman has many limitations that evolve over the course the series. For the purposes of this write-up, I am focusing only on the limitations that seem to be the most enduring and prevalent:

• Driven by goals: Dr. Hoffman is driven by her goals and ultimately will put her goals ahead of everything except her loyalty to the Collins family. Dr. Hoffman concealed Maggie Evans’s ordeal, lied to the Collins family at different points including Barnabus, made deals to see her goals move forward with enemies, and many other events. Hoffman must make a Psyche FEAT vs. her Psyche rank when faced with countering her own goals unless it is a matter of necessity, greater good, or loyalty.
• Loyalty: Dr. Hoffman is incredibly loyal to her friends and colleagues as well as the Collins family whom she grows to love as her own. Dr. Hoffman will sacrifice herself to ensure that those she is loyal to are kept safe and secure and will work against her better instincts to ensure to ensure such.
• Enemies: From Angelique to the Leviathan Cult to Judah Zachery Dr. Hoffman has made many more powerful enemies that do not forget her role in stopping/thwarting them. As such, Dr. Hoffman is often in danger or at risk due to her enemies – although her enemies seem to have a healthy respect for her. 

Originally published on Classicmarvelforever.com on 3rd October 2020

Dark Shadows

 

 

Begun in 1966 and continuing until 1971, Dark Shadows was a gothic soap opera that introduced the Collins family and their history that included among things lycanthrope, vampirism, witchcraft, cults, and skullduggery. Dark Shadows established itself as a cult favorite show and remains very much  a part of fandom's history spawning three movies to date and several attempted reboots.

The Dark Shadows Wiki is the definitive source online for all things Dark Shadows and has been an excellent resource on the show and the other versions.

So far I've written up the following:

Angelique Brochard - A powerful witch and occasional enemy/ally to Barnabus and the Collins family.

Barnabus Collins - An ancestor of the current family, cursed with vampirism 

Collinwood - the Collins family home as well as the concept of 'Parallel Time'

Count Andreas Petrofi (and his hand) - An enemy of the Collins family and powerful warlock

David Collins - the youngest of the Collins family with strong psychic powers

Laura Collins  - The presumed dead wife of Roger Collins and mother of David - also a powerful creature called a 'Phoenix'

The Leviathan Cult - an ancient cult that serves primordial masters who seek to control the Collins family, especially Barnabus Collins.

Doctor Julia Hoffman - Physician and scientist who is an ally to Barnabus Collins and the Collins family.

Quentin Collins - An amnesiac member of the Collins family who was both enemy and ally.

 

Barbabus Collins from 'Dark Shadows'

Barnabas Collins

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

F: Ex (20)
A: Rm (30)
S: Rm (30)
E: In (40)
R: Gd (10)
I: Rm (30)
P: In (40)


Health: 120
Karma: 80
Popularity: -5 (As the mysterious killer)/ 10 in Collinsport
Resources: Rm (30)

Talents:
Mystic Origin*
Martial Arts A
Occult Lore: Demonology
Resist: Domination
Occult Lore: I-Ching
Multi-Lingual
Mystic Potential*

Powers:
Vampire: Barnabas Collins is a vampire of the traditional Hollywood sort, displaying many of them both in the show in the comics. As a vampire, Barnabas has the following powers:

• Bio-Vampirism: Barnabas requires blood to survive, and can pass his curse onto others.
• Hyper-Speed: Barnabas can move with Good (10) speed (As seen in the Gold Key comic)
• Hypnotism: Ex (20) ability to hypnotise individuals who make eye contact with individuals.
• Natural Weaponry: Fangs: Ex (20) damage when biting
• Animal transformation: Bat: While not often seen in the show, Barnabas often changed into a bat in the Gold Key Comic.
• Invisibility: Ex (20): Barnabas can disappear and reappear at will.

Sorcery: Barnabas is a talented sorcerer, capable of using a variety of spells but shown to be able to perform several key spells:

• Exorcism: Ex (20)
• Mystic Detection: Ex (20)
• Time Travel: Through using the I-Ching, Barnabas can send his spirit back in time to occupy his own body in the past. Barnabas can only travel to periods he exists in.

Contacts:
The Collins Family
Dr. Julia Hoffman
Willy Loomis


Limitations:
Barnabas has the following limitations:

Vampire: Barnabas has the traditional limitations of a Hollywood vampire, such as crosses, garlic, and requiring an invitation to enter among others

Dark Secret: Barnabas is posing as his own descendant, and as such, his vampiric nature is not widely known outside of a small circle of contacts

Enemies: Barnabas has many enemies, from the Leviathan cult to his most famous adversary, Angelique. As such, all of enemies of Barnabas know to use his allies against him.

David Collins from 'Dark Shadows'

 David Collins



Maybe there's something in there he doesn't want anyone to see-maybe something... horrible!

F:  Pr (04)

A: Typ (06)

S: Pr (04)

E: Typ (06)

R: Gd (10)

I:  Ex (20)

P: Rm (30)

Health: 20

Karma: 60

Resources: Pr (04)/Rm (30) – Personal/Trust

Popularity: 0*

Talents:

David currently has the student* talent.

Powers:

Medium Prodigy: David Collins is a medium prodigy, able to tune into the weirdness of Collinport and the Collinwood estate. David can pick up on ghostly and supernatural activities. David is considered to have the following abilities;

• Communicate with Dead: David can see and speak with the dead with Rm (30) ability, although he is not always aware that the spirits are not living beings, and is more a receptive medium than a projective/broadcast medium.
• Precognition*: David has had flashes into the future, occasionally dreams and/or nightmares revealing the future or aspects of the present with Ex (20) ability. David cannot control these dreams, and often they make little sense to him or anyone else.
• Postcognition: Occasionally, David can gain knowledge from objects he comes into contact with Ex (20). David has been overwhelmed on numerous occasions, requiring a Psyche FEAT at -2cs when such occurs (See Limitations).

Contacts:

David Collins has contacts within the Collins family, specifically ancestors such as Barnabas Collins or Quentin Collins.

Limitations:

David has a few limitations related to his ability and background:

• 
  
• Possession Target: David has been possessed on numerous occasions by hostile entities. As such, David has at this age a -1cs to any Psyche FEAT against possession attempts. As David gets older, he loses this vulnerability.
• Target of Obsession: David is the target of obsession from his real mother, Laura Collins, who seeks to immolate both of them during her rebirth as a phoenix (See last year’s write-up on Laura Collins).
• Curious: David’s curiosity leads him into trouble on more than one occasion. David is drawn to mysteries and secrets easily, and suffers an initial -1cs to his Intuition in such affairs.

Dr. Richard Malcolm from 'The Night Strangler' (1973)

What's a few lives compared to immortality, Mr. Kolchak?

An near-immortal doctor who preys upon victims every 21 years, Richard Malcolm is dangerous, deranged, and perhaps beyond the capability of most men. Discovered by the intrepid Carl Kolchak as the person responsible for a series of Seattle murders in 1973, Kolchak uncovers a carefully hidden history of a man whose existence defies understanding.

Dr. Richard Malcolm

Richard Malcolm,MD

 

F: Ex (20)

A: Gd (10)

S: Ex (20)

E: Ex (20)*/Am (50)*

R: Gd (10)

I:  Ex (20)

P: Ex (20)

Health: 70/90

Karma:  50

Resources: Ex (20) *

Popularity:  0 (As Malcolm), -5 (as the Seattle Strangler)

Talents:

Malcolm has several talents he’s perfected over the century+ he’s been alive. These talents include:

Military

• Doctor*
• Alchemy*
• Occult Lore*
• Chemistry
• Knowledge: Seattle Underground areas
• Knowledge: Seattle
• Knowledge: Current Events
  Knowledge: Cultural History 19^th – 20^th Century
• Brawling

Powers:

Alchemical Immortality and Physiology: Malcolm has nearly mastered a alchemical formula which grants improved health, vigor, strength, and longevity. Malcolm’s formula is not perfect (See Limitations), and he must administer a certain amount during a certain period or beginning aging in an accelerated pace to his true age. While under the effects of the formula, Malcolm has the following abilities:

•  Increased FASE: Malcolm has greater strength and vigor than a man of his build and size, being able to snap a person’s neck or power through a group of police officers in ambush. It is assumed that Malcolm’s FASE would be more akin to a normal man of his build and age if he had not started the formula.
• Longevity: Malcolm’s formula preserves his youth at the age he began treatments while not actually granting him immortality. Malcolm is considered to have Longevity.
• Recovery: Malcolm’s statement to Carl Kolchak when discovered suggested that while in the ‘bloom’ of the treatment he was able to recover from fatigue and wounds easily, granting him Ex (20) recovery.
• Resist: Disease: Malcolm also suggested that the formula played some hand in his ability to resist the outbreaks of disease that plagued his family in the 19^th century, as such it is suggested Malcolm also has Ex (20) resistance to disease.

Equipment:

Underground Lair:
Malcolm maintains a residence in the unused and un-reclaimed parts of Seattle, including his primary residence, an extensive chemistry lab, library, and the mummified corpses of his dead family around a table. The area is extensively damaged and requires an Intuition FEAT of Gd (10) or better to navigate. Entrances to the surface are still marked on original city maps, but for the most part Malcolm is left alone.

Contacts:

Under the assumed identity of his great-grandson, Malcolm maintains some connection within the city with the charity that bears his name, but for the most part Malcolm has no current contacts.

Limitations:

Dependency on the Forumla: While the formula works to keep Malcolm young, it is not perfected and must be administered with fresh material (blood and such) every 21 years. Without the formula or its doses Malcolm begins to deteriorate and the following occurs:

• Loss of Endurance ranks: Within six weeks of the 21^st anniversary Malcolm begins to physically deteriorate, requiring hire doses of the remaining stock to simply remain. Malcolm loses an Endurance rank ever five days until he is able to rejuvenate with a new batch.
• Hideous Appearance: Malcolm begins to ‘rot’ as he deteriorates, appearing as a corpse-like man while requiring the formula. Malcolm’s body seems to suffer a degree of decomposition as the formula wears off, which is reversible with another dose.
• Dependency: Malcolm is dependent on the formula to remain alive, and as such, has justified its methods in creation.

Richard Malcolm as he begins to decompose

The Zuni Fetish Doll from 'Triology of Terror'

He who Kills

F: Ex (20)
A: Gd (10)
S: Pr (4)
E: Ex (20)
R: Gd (10)
I: Rm (30)
P: Rm (30)

Health: 54
Karma: 70
Popularity: - 5
Resources: Fe (2)

Talents:

Sharp Weapons
Hunting
Mystic Origin*
Thrown Weapons


Powers:

He who Kills: The Zuni Fetish Doll is simply the latest incarnation of the powerful spirit He who Kills. As such, the Doll is merely the vessel, having being bound into the doll is necessary.

• Body Armor: Fe (2) protection. As a spirit possessed doll, the Zuni Fetish Doll does not need to eat, breath, or sleep.
• Possession: He who Kills is capable of possessing hosts when its current body is destroyed or reduced to 0 Health. When someone is possessed by He who Kills, they gain the same razor sharp teeth and bloodlust, and are completely under the full possession of He who Kills. While in doll form, He who Kills apparently has a lesser psyche, its true power as a spirit is Mn (75), which is the intensity one must make to avoid being possessed. He who Kills will seek to possess the nearest host, preferably the one who delivered the killing blow to its new host. He who Kills can voluntarily leave a host.

Contacts:
None


Limitations:

• Binding: He who Kills can be bound into its current form with a prepared chain, which keeps the spirit in a form until the chain is removed, as it was in the movie.
• Unusual Looks: He who Kills can always be identified by its teeth.
• BloodLust: He who Kills is driven by bloodlust, and suffers a -1cs in attempting to prevent itself from murdering a chosen victim.