Possible Characters in the “Dread & Decadence” Category:

• The Cursed Countess or Baron in Black

• Gothic Heiress or Tormented Bride

• Mad Poet or Disgraced Novelist

• Phantom Musician or Silent Composer

• Morbid Medium or Séance Host

• Gravekeeper, Undertaker, or Crypt Curator

• Reclusive Vampire or Charming Ghoul

• Abandoned Ward or Forgotten Orphan

• Alchemist, Occultist, or Scholar of Forbidden Knowledge

• Ghost Bride or Phantom Groom

• Decaying Noble or Portrait-Come-to-Life

 

What You Might Already Have in Your Closet:

• Long black dress, turtleneck, or flowy skirt

• Black blazer, waistcoat, or floor-length coat

• Lace, velvet, satin, or leather pieces

• Corset, shawl, cloak, or cape

• Gloves (lace, leather, or opera-length)

• Dark boots or Victorian-style shoes

• Fishnets, layered skirts, or old formalwear

• Anything with antique detailing — ruffles, high collars, puffed sleeves

 

Hair & Makeup Tips:

• Pale foundation, hollowed cheeks, and dark brows

• Smoky eyes, deep plum or black lipstick, and eyeliner that could kill

• Hair in low buns, elaborate updos, or long and unbrushed

• Add streaks of gray, fake blood at the corner of the mouth, or a black veil

• Dust your skin with powder for that “eternally indoors” look

• Tear-streaked mascara or bloodshot contacts for more drama

 

Accessories & Props:

• Candelabra, vintage key, or cracked locket

• A book of poetry, old diary, or forbidden grimoire

• Small mirror, antique hand fan, or rosary

• Wedding veil, engagement ring, or funeral wreath

• Raven feather, quill pen, or sealed envelope with wax stamp

• “Bottle of laudanum” (repurposed perfume or apothecary bottle)

• Gloves with blood stains or a black lace parasol

• Faux (puh-leez) skull, hourglass, or mini portrait of a long-lost love

 

Behaviors, Voice, and Quirks:

• Speak slowly and dramatically — as if every word could be your last

• Use poetic language: “The darkness knows me well,” or “He was the echo of a forgotten scream.”

• Pause to stare at paintings, candles, or seemingly nothing at all

• Mourn constantly — whether it’s your lost fortune, twin, or soul

• Refer to people by full name and title — “Lady Evangeline of Hollowmoor”

• Glide instead of walk, flinch at bright light, or clutch your chest for invisible pain

• Quirks: Write obsessive notes, quote tragic verse, talk to ghosts, or faint just a little too dramatically

 

Gothic characters bring drama, decadence, and death with a sense of grim beauty. Whether you're the host of the haunted estate or the haunted soul trapped inside it, you're part of a mystery soaked in candlewax, roses, and very suspicious silence. Will you be the cursed... or the curse?