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 Hoffman may recreate ‘modern’ technologies (circa 1970) with older or outdated materials, such as creating a blood synthesizer in the 19th century or the like.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

Penny Dreadful - Do you believe there is a demimonde?

 

Debuting in 2014, Penny Dreadful  represented a different sort of show and was a dark contrast to how horror and period shows were done to that point. Gritty and full of references to the gothic horror that spawned it, Penny Dreadful re-imagined both the characters that were drawn from classic literature as well as the well-known folklore around such creatures. To say it was probably my favorite show of the last several decades would be an understatement. I've attempted to capture the elements of the characters in these write-ups and have a few more down the road.

Ethan Chandler (Played by Josh Harnett) - An American gunfighter hiding a deadly secret

Frankenstein's Monster (Played by Rory Kinnear) - the first creation of Dr. Frankenstein 

Sir Malcolm Murray  (Played by Timothy Dalton) - An famed explorer and man of means

Vanessa Ives  (Played by Eva Green) - A family friend of Sir Malcolm's daughter, witch, and psychic.

Dr. Victor Frankenstein (Played by Harry Treadaway) - A physician and scientist obsessed with death.

Sembene (Played by Danny Sapani) - A mysterious figure and ally of the group tied to Sir Malcolm.

Dorian Gray (Played by Reeve Carney) - A youthful immortal who is ageless and sins without regret.

Lily Frankenstein (Played by Billie Piper) - The reanimated Brona Croft - powerful and dangerous

Frankenstein's Monster from 'I, Frankenstein'

 “God will surely damn you.”
“He already did.”

Adam

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

F: Rm (30)
A: Ex (20)
S: Rm (30)
E: Mn (75)
R: Gd (10)
I: Ex (20)
P: Rm (30)

Health: 155
Karma: 60
Resources: Pr (04)
Popularity: - 30 (In supernatural circles), 0 (Among humanity as the actual Frankenstein Monster), 30 (Frankenstein’s Monster)

Talents:
Adam has learned a considerable amount since his resurrection, such things including:
Occult Lore
Martial Arts B
Brawling
Weapons Specialist* - Staves
Sharp Weapons
Hunting
Survival
Multi-Lingual
Resist: Domination*
First Aid
Adam has probably 200+ years of skills he’s acquired over the centuries since his ‘awakening’.

Powers:
Adam of I, Frankenstein is very different than the Hollywood portrayals to date, and as such, has a far greater amount of durability and resistances than normally encountered. In addition to his physical fortitude, Adam had many unusual properties due to in large part how he was created:

Surgical Composite:
Adam was created from the part of dead-men and brought to life through electricity and bio-chemical means. As such, Adam is no longer considered ‘human’(If he ever was), and although has many features akin to the undead, is not undead nor can be affected by such things that would do so. Adam’s abilities as portrayed in the Kevin Grevioux graphic novel and movie include:

• Inhuman Endurance: Adam’s Endurance goes beyond the simple upper-limits of humanity, allowing him to stand toe-to-toe with both Gargoyles and demons without flinching. Several times in the movie both sides comment on Adam’s nearly limitless superhuman endurance. In addition, Adam doesn’t seem to need to rest in a traditional means, and ignores any damage under Ex (20) as it simply doesn’t faze him. Adam’s inhuman Endurance also allows him to recover Endurance Ranks at the rate of 1 per 3 rounds, including mystical effects. Adam also can only be stunned on an effective Red feat Vs. Rm (30) or higher intensity. Finally, Adam is able to regenerate health as if he had Rm (30) regeneration, although he must have the wounds closed and/or bones reset to fully recover use and such.
• Stubborn Willpower: Adam can push through most effects that would require a direct Psyche FEAT, ignoring their effects if they are Ex (20) or less. This does not mean that Adam is not affected by damage or such, it simply means he can ignore effects accordingly. Case in point: Adam can resist most illusions and attempts to sway his will through non-normal means, and does so to both an archangel appointed agent and an elder demon, to their face. Adam can mitigate certain damage akin to Iron Will through simply being stubborn about it. (Treat as Iron Will at Ex (20) in some cases, Judge’s call).
• Immunity: Adam is immune to making checks vs. Death. One of the reasons that Adam is sought after throughout the graphic novel and movie is that in effect, it is suggested that Adam is immortal.

Equipment:
Battle Staves:Adam utilizes two staves that were given to him early on by gargoyles to protect himself. These twin staves require Ex (20) strength or better to wield effectively, are made of blessed wood and have quiet magics upon them to do additional damage to demons and hell-spawn creatures. The staves are considered to be made of In (40) material, and do an additional +2cs damage to demons. Adam is incredibly versed in their use (Hence weapon specialist), and can conceal them on his person requiring a Gd (10) check or better to notice them.

Contacts:
Adam’s reputation is such that Adam has no real contacts. The few people that have attempted to help Adam in the past would perhaps do so, but not at Adam’s request – Adam is alone in the world for the most part and cannot draw on any contacts.

Limitations:
As Frankenstein’s creation, Adam was built to last…but he has several key limitations:

• Unnatural Presence: Adam is considered to be an unnatural creature, and as such, creates an aura of ‘wrongness’ about him. Those who encounter Adam may first ignore him, but will quickly feel something is wrong. Anyone with Intuition with Gd(10) or better will feel something uneasy at first, and something to avoided. Supernatural creatures and those with Intuitions above Gd(10) can ignore this feeling, but normal humans will not, and it will be difficult for them to shake it. This creates a -2cs for all social encounters with Adam that last more than a turn.
• Unusual Looks: Although his scars have faded with time, Adam is clearly scarred, creating a -1cs to social interaction (That makes it a -3cs with above limitation), as well as making him recognizable.
• Infamous: Nearly all supernatural creatures know about Adam, and as such, he is considered both infamous and highly sought after. Rumor of Adam’s location may create social shockwaves in the supernatural community, hence the negative popularity.
• Hunted: Adam is being sought actively by demons who seek to understand his creation in the hopes of recreating the process for their own ends. In addition, the forces of Heaven also want Adam to end the potential threat his existence could provide if his nature is uncovered.
• Soulless (No longer active): Prior to the events of the movie I, Frankenstein, Adam was considered to be without a soul and could be possessed by a free spirit (indeed, that was exactly what the demonic forces wanted). This limitation is no longer in effect after the events of the movie.

Daniel 'Doc' Torrance from 'Dr. Sleep'

Daniel 'Doc' Torrance'

 


"You still owe a debt. Pay it."

F:  Ex (20)

A: Gd (10)

S: Typ (06)

E: Rm (30)

R: Gd (10)

I:  Ex (20)

P: Am (50)

Health: 66

Karma: 80

Resources: Typ (06)

Popularity: 0*

Talents:

Medicine*

Psionic Combat

Mystic Lore: Ghosts/Shining*

Powers:

Psionic Prodigy:

Much older than last encountered, Daniel Torrance regains his ability to Shine during Dr. Sleep and maintains a great deal of his abilities and powers when last seen in The Shining. Daniel Torrance is considered to have a great deal of psionic abilities varying ability:

• Telepathy: Ex(20) ability to read thoughts and intentions. When attempting to do so with another psychic or psionic, Daniel’s ability is considered to be Rm (30) and decreases the target’s resistance (If they choose to resist) by -1cs.  
• Astral Perception: Daniel still has the ability to perceive astral presences with Rm (30) ability, and can see or sense ghosts with In (40) ability.
• Empathy: Daniel still has Empathic feelings with Ex (20) ability, his years of drinking and abuse have dulled his abilities somewhat and is distrustful of those impulses at times. Daniel has developed a power stunt which allows him to alleviate the suffer of terminal patients in the hospice he is working for at the time of death, allowing them to transition without pain. When working as ‘Doctor Sleep’, Daniel’s Empathy actually functions higher than his childhood levels, at In (40) ability.
• Postcognition*: Daniel’s ability to read objects and people has increased once he is no longer drinking to In (40) ability, being able to perceive events in order and in greater detail since growing up.
• Incarnation Awareness*: Daniel’s alter-ego Tony is able to act independently and ‘lead’ Daniel to different things once Daniel has given up drinking. Daniel and Tony also can manifest to relatives and others, as he did with Abra Stone.   
• Spirit Storage: After the events of The Shining, Daniel learned from his childhood mentor Dick Halloran to ‘Trap’ the spirits of the Overlook which were haunting him within his own mental consciousness with Am (50) abilities, and is able to maintain ‘lockboxes’ of those spirits for a near indefinite period of time. This spirit storage is used only to capture those spirits which attack Daniel or that allow him to. The only occasion that Daniel suffered while containing spirits was when he absorbed the spirit of a woman who was dying of cancer, which he too began to suffer until he released it.
• Precognition*: Daniel has flashes or ‘dreams’ of the future with In (40) ability. Daniel has only partial control over these moments, and cannot direct them or make sense of their meanings initially.
• Communicate w/ Dead: Daniel has reached out to speak with the dead on numerous occasions, such as summoning the spirit of his dead mentor Dick Halloran, and does so with In (40) ability and range. Daniel also can be the unwilling recipient of spiritual visits and must make an opposed Psyche FEAT at -2cs. Most of the time, the dead spirits act to warn or protect Daniel.
• Power Gestalt: Daniel and his niece Abra Stone can join their respective shines together to operate as an apparent single psychic entity while maintaining their different personas. The power gestalt allows Abra to operate her shining through Daniel with Un (100) ability and range, capable of Abra to remain on the East Coast while Daniel in Colorado undetected by psionic detection. In addition, Abra and Daniel share a psychic link which allows them to see and sense the other’s perceptions, memories, location, and even experiences as well as their powers.
• Psionic Manifestation*: Daniel rarely has problems with this ability anymore, but still can create objects and substance to his imagination or items with Am (50) ability. Daniel also probably the reason that the deceased spirit of his father Jack was able to manifest physically when Daniel needed his help the most.
• Death Sense: Daniel is able to perceive through the actions of Azzie, the cat that lives at the hospice where Daniel lives/works which patient is about to die. Azzie actually perceives the soon to be deceased, and Daniel (with most of the staff) understand the actions of the cat. Daniel is able to also determine something he calls ‘The red mist’ when a person dies, and can ease the burden of death around a patient (In conjunction with his empathy).

Contacts:

Dan has several contacts within his new life after he stopped drinking that have all been present at his psychic events or helped him in some way with the issue of the True Knot, such as Dr. John Dalton, Billy Freeman, and others in the township of Fraiser, New Hampshire. Daniel also can consider his niece Abra Stone a contact, and quite a number of dead people such as his father and Dick Halloran that would return to help him.

Limitations:

Daniel has developed several limitations stemming from both his shining ability and the events after the Overlook experience.

• Alcoholic: Daniel is a recovering alcoholic, being finally able to get sober and staying sober for fifteen years. Daniel’s alcoholism was severe and he was incredible violent during this time, mirroring his own father’s alcoholism. Daniel’s alcoholism also inhibits his shining abilities, ultimately suppressing them completely at his worst point. It’s only with sobriety that Daniel’s abilities return. If Daniel returns to drinking, his shining and psionic abilities drop -1cs every week. Daniel’s abilities return when he returns to sobriety and maintains it.
• Haunted: Figuratively and literally, Daniel is haunted by the experiences and ghosts of the Overlook hotel, who sought him out after the hotel’s destruction, forcing Daniel to ‘lockbox’ the spirits in his own being. Daniel’s experiences can affect him severely, causing him -2cs to his Psyche after such encounters.
• Dependent: Daniel is overprotective of his niece Abra, and will go to great lengths to help her (Such as uncovering a buried body, facing off against the True Knot not once by twice, and working to protect Abra from dangerous forces). Daniel will place Abra’s safety above his own, and would violate the law if necessary to help her.  
• Enemy: The Overlook: Daniel is considered an enemy of the Overlook’s ghosts (See haunted), and they will stop at nothing to find him.
• Enemy: The True Knot: If any of the True Knot survived, they would not doubt be angry with Daniel and would consider him an enemy.
• Responsibility: Since entering sobriety, Daniel feels his work as ‘Doctor Sleep’ and a hospice nurse to be a responsibility he takes very seriously and feels grateful for. Daniel takes his patient’s health and respect to be a serious responsibility, and will do whatever he can to help them.
• Regretful: Daniel is regretful for the times that he spent drunk, including the incident of his stealing money from a woman with a young song. Such regrets drive Daniel and weigh heavily upon 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.