SchreckNet Data File
- Real/Birth Name: Dorian Gray
- Known Identity/Mortal Alias: Lord Henry Villamont
- Place of Origin: London, England, UK
- Height: 6'0"
- Occupation: Nighclub Owner
- Apparent Age: Late-20s
- Embraced: 1890
- Kindred Status: Ancilla
- Sire: Lord Henry Villamont
- Clan: Toreador
- Clan Status: Respected Poseur
- Sect: Camarilla
- Sect Status: Harpy
- Player/Type: NPC
Appearance
Dorian is a radiantly handsome man who looks physically in his mid-late 20s, though gives the appearance of being younger. In his natural look he has medium-length hair of style common in 1800s Britain, or among the upper class, which curls slightly around his neck. He has piercing eyes and clean-shaved features which has captured the heart of many women (and more than a few men). He is tall and physically in good shape, not particularly muscular but in good physical form from an active lifestyle.
He is always found wearing striking clothing, almost inevitably of renown fashion makes, though the style varies on circumstances. He is most commonly encountered wearing designer lounge suits, although he will more business/high-etiquette suits when appropriate, or more casual clothing if the situation calls for it. Still, whilst you may see him wearing Hollister, Ralph Lauren or Tommy Hilfiger shirts and Dolce and Gabbana or Jacob Cohen shorts, you will almost certainly never see him in Primark clothing.
His haircuts change regularly - when amongst kindred company it can easily change daily depending on mood, fashion and to match his clothing; although amongst the kine he is frustrated to have to wait for reasonable periods of time for those who see him regularly to believe that his hair has regrown (he is too vain to attempt the excuse of using hair extensions). He has learnt to hold and body modifications he makes to himself, so it is not uncommon to see him fashion specific lengths of hair or piercings for extended periods, whilst most kindred would need to re-style their hair nightly to do the same.
In addition to being fashionable, his choice of attire is always carefully selected to enhance his presence - either to make him more imposing or, typically, more sexually appealing.
Background
Dorian was gifted in being both smart and handsome as well as being born to a wealthy family. He became a successful lawyer because he enjoyed the challenge and it was both prestigious and beneficial, but it was just a means to an end. He only really lived for his hobbies, social life and other forms of self-gratification. He was a hedonist, womaniser and heart breaker even as a mortal and had no mortal equal.
Until he met Lord Henry Villamont, who he impressed after seducing Villamont's ghoul into betraying her master (he did not know about kindred or ghouls, merely that she was in love and loyal to Lord Villamont and, as such, a perfect challenge to make her break her loyalty), bedding him and revealing some secrets. Villamont got revenge by showing the young man how small-sighted and insignificant he was, introducing him to a world of hedonism and pleasure such as he could never have possible imagined until Dorian himself broke and begged to be made like Villamont. A request that, once he began to bore of him, Villamont granted.
Dorian will admit his soul was lost well before he ever realised Villamont was an Albigensian Toreador and made him his progeny. Dorian is rare that he is a follower of the Path of Cathari, which is a common Sabbat path - but he is fanatically loyal to the Camarilla (though his detractors say it's only because in the Camarilla he's unique, but he'd be common in the Sabbat). He doesn't just enjoy his hedonism, and corrupting others - he sees it as a divinely-appointed role. He's not fanatical enough to feel that he has to stick to every tenet of the path like glue, but he does believe that God cursed him to be this corruptor of the innocent and as such, if that is his pre-ordained role in God's divine plan, then who is he to challenge it? (not that he has any intention to do so).
Mortal Society
Dorian enjoys flirting with the Masquerade. Many people have read the famous story The Picture of Dorian Gray (or more likely, seen a movie based on it) which is named after him and, whilst he does not openly admit to being that Dorian Gray ("if I were he, I could not surely still be around… unless the story is true? But surely that could not be?") but he finds it useful as a conversation starter. Most people just assume he has taken the name by choice like a fan might name their child after a celebrity. Anyone (uninteresting) getting too nosey usually gets sent away with dominate (or a few choice words to some of his entourage may result in unfortunate accidents) - but the more interesting ones he promises eternal youth to (via being ghouls) if they give him his adoration. Dorian usually has an entourage of ghouls and herd which he takes and leaves as his whims desire (the herd and ghoul retainers are often mixed and indistinguishable, even to him - many of his ghouls become desperate and broken from vitae withdrawal due to Dorian forgetting they were ghouls; typically resulting in him disposing of their inconvenience if it remotely endangers the Masquerade or his entertainment).
Whilst he is a hedonist, it isn't simply for his gratification, he believes it is a divine duty for him to corrupt the innocent. He is known to be the owner of the nightclub "Indulgence" which has been under police scrutiny for years due to the amount of prostitution, drugs (and rumoured, far worse activities) that occur on the premises - but investigators, especially undercover vice officers, always seem to always end up either dead, missing, discredited in some scandal, or being corrupted to Dorian's cause and becoming his informants and allies.
Personality
Unlike many Toreadors and despite being a Harpy, Dorian is rarely involved in Politics beyond that naturally carried out by the social exchanges of the Harpies. Politics is meaningless to Dorian, except as a means to an end. Only two things matter to him - his own hedonistic indulgences, and corrupting others to indulge in their hedonism. This used to be more of a challenge during the repressed era when he was embraced, with social values and morals expecting ladies to be virginal and innocent until marriage, then faithful thereafter, but there are still challenges these days - especially with all the silly #metoo movement. He believes that ultimately anyone and everyone can be pushed a little further into depravity and sin and against their better natures. Regarding consent, he believes the fun part is doing whatever necessary to get the consent. Whether someone becomes his lover because of his charms, or out of anger against her husband after a revelation of a secret affair (which may not have actually occurred, but by the time they learn that the deeds have been done), or simply essentially made to consent against their desire because they need something Dorian wants, and that is the only way to pay his price, is just semantics to him. He is a social predator and a sociopath of the highest degree.
On the surface, Dorian is the ultimate gentleman - urbane, polite, friendly, helpful and always charming to both ladies and men, as long as they are attractive (or at least not unattractive, every woman has their charms, after all). He looks at women (and men) like hunting trophies and is an exceedingly patient hunter. He will take time to pick his next conquest, spend time getting to know them and analyse their personality, determine an appropriate "hunting strategy" to seduce them, and then go for the proverbial kill. Once the target has been seduced, used and (typically) abused and their innocence (or entertainment appeal) gone, he loses interest and moves on, and to hell with the consequences or the broken hearts and marriages he leaves in his wake. The more damaging his interference to a blissful union, the greater the scandal caused by the corruption, the better.
Dorian enjoys any conquest - it's not really about the sexual gratification, as kindred are typically beyond that base desire, taking more pleasure in the act of The Kiss - it's about power, pride, and emotional satisfaction. The knowledge that he CAN turn a "No" into a "Yes" by using his charm and intellect. The sexual act is more of a form of physical evidence of his success than an act for his pleasure - although he does get psychological pleasure from the act. He is equally content to seduce people of any gender or sex, or in any number. He has on multiple occasions seduced a man into the bedroom to be "accidentally" caught by his wife, as a means to emotionally prime her to join in to a threesome or be seduced at a later stage to take vengeance for being cuckolded. Threesome, foursomes and orgies are as normal to him as bread to a baker. But of particular interest to him is not simply making people cuckold their partners, but corrupting the innocent. This need not be sexual innocence, but an innocent soul. There is little more enticing to him than getting a pure soul and turning them into a debased and immoral mortal reflection of himself.
The only difference with the kindred is that they are a little more of a challenge. With greater difficulty, comes a greater reward.
Other Notes
It is believed that Dorian was considering embracing a young street musician commonly known as "AJ" and had begun grooming (ie corrupting) him in preparation, but that Helen Quinzel, the Malkavian Primogen "stole AJ from under him" - although the reasons are unknown. Dorian, of course, denies ever having any intention in Embracing AJ, and Helen will state that any interest of Dorian's was unknown to her and unlucky coincidence. Nevertheless, others have noticed a coldness between Helen and Dorian at Elysium and between Dorian and AJ. Not that the relationship between Helen and Dorian was every anything more than polite coldness and borderline hostility.
Combat Style
To most people's opinion, Dorian is a coward. He will not get into any fight unless he believes he can win. All kindred who have encountered him (especially Brujah and Gangrel) well know that if they go "Boo" Dorian will flinch (if not outright scream like a banshee and flee). If anything is a credible threat to him, he will make a hasty exit by any means necessary - including throwing mortals into his path or Dominating/Entrancing them to slow down his antagonists to give him time to flee.
Dorian isn't even particularly renown for being very advanced (for an ancilla) in the Clan Discipline of Celerity. A neonate of a more martial clan such as the Brujah or Gangrel would likely overpower him. He has just enough physicality to be able to defeat any mortal, or small group. He was in good physical shape at the time of his embrace and a mortal life (and unlife to follow) of regular duels and brawls with jealous husbands and suitors have made him surprisingly competent at boxing and he is an expert in Bartitsu, a martial art developed and somewhat popular during certain social circles during his mortal days. Bartitsu is a style intended to use the walking stick/baton popular with gentlemen of his mortal days, but easily adaptable with duelling swords. He commonly walks around with an elegant walking cane, obviously for pomp and show rather than as an aid, but this can become quite a deadly weapon in his hands. If needed, he can surprise others by unlocking the handle and revealing it is a cane sword and, therefore, a more deadly weapon with which he is equally proficient. He has just high enough Celerity, and the basics of both Potence and Fortitude, that he can easily defeat any mortal or small group without real risk to himself; something he frequently uses to rescue innocents in need (often from thugs that he has employed to trouble them) so he can play the hero as part of a seduction or simply to bolster his common reputation as a noble, heroic, brave and gallant gentleman. Although not physically powerful enough to endanger anything more than a Brujah/Gangrel fledgling, he is still powerful enough to not be underestimated.
Although Dorian prefers to seduce, tempt and corrupt based on his charms, he can apply them via Disciplines when needed. He is a master with Presence and very competent with Dominate, and has sufficient ability with Auspex to read minds. And he is cunning. When facing trouble although he may not be a great physical threat, he can quickly use his abilities to turn turn allies into enemies by revealing secrets gathered through Auspex and sowing discord, or using his Presence to entrance others into defending him, or Dominate to coerce others to attack his enemies. He cares nothing about the fates of those he conscripts in this manner and sees any possible deaths that occur as a fitting sacrifice for his continuing existence (or removal of the current inconvenience). If his conscripts overpower or weaken his antagonist, only then might Dorian actually step in and end the fight, like the hero that he is.
Social Style
Dorian is a social chameleon, sociopath, and predator. He cares for little beyond his own gratification and ego, but can play any role he needs to get this done. And he has a level of patience that only the Kindred can gave. His default persona is charming, seductive and urbane; a great friend and amiable companion to men, and a perfect gentleman and charmer to the ladies. But then ladies will discover there's somewhat of a bad boy under the skin - just enough to entice them in, with the ladies thinking they are coaxing the bad boy out of Dorian whilst not realising they are merely flies going deeper into his spider's web until it is too late for them to escape.
If he has no interest in others, especially kindred (as kine always have SOME minimal value to him - dinner), his apathy and dismissiveness will be obvious. Polite, but obvious. He will simply not want to waste his time with them and politely (or not-so-politely if they don't get the hint) send them on their way. If they have any utility/interest to him, then he is charming and pleasant and easy to get along. In fairness to him, he is willing to listen to almost anyone who approaches him (barring the nosferatu, who he will only entertain if they at least make the effort to use Obfuscate to mask their looks - and unfortunately most Nosferatu are not powerful enough for their Obfuscate to mask them from his Auspex) - he may not have any interest in them, but he accepts that they may reveal something that may actually raise his interest.
Some have stated that the honey trap methodology works well against him. He is far more likely to be persuaded to aid an attractive and/or innocent-seeming kindred (which he believes he can tempt and corrupt), than one he thinks is not worth his effort. The danger is that all too often the honey traps end up becoming his latest conquests, giving up more than they wanted to and with Dorian coming out on top. He cannot be trusted to keep his word beyond the bare minimum needed to maintain his good reputation and status, especially in the eyes of the Harpies. The only thing Dorian can reliably be predicted on is to do whatever is in his own self-interest at that moment and the near future (he is not renown to be a long-term strategist; in fact, many use the expression not as smart as he thinks he is to describe him). If he can be approached with an offer, or challenge, that tempts him - he may be willing to help. Or he may accept just to lure them into an embarrassing trap that will be the amusement and talk in Elysium for the next week.
Signature Equipment
Signature Quotes
- "You will always be fond of me. I represent to you all the sins you never had the courage to commit."
- "There is only one thing in the world worse than being talked about, and that is not being talked about."
- "The only way to get rid of temptation is to yield to it."
- "Some things are more precious because they don't last long."
Gallery
Dorian Gray