One thing I've worked on occasionally is a 19th Century/Victorian era world, where the characters and stories of various authors co-exist. There were so many ghost and horror stories published in the 19th and early 20th centuries, you could have a "monster manual" of Gaslight Encounters: monsters, spirits, and villains that might appear in a tale set in the era.
Here is a sample entry from one of the most basic stories of one of the most famous authors:
BLACK CAT (PLUTO)
Pluto began life as a housecat, “a remarkably large and beautiful animal, entirely black, and sagacious to an astonishing degree.” His owner, unfortunately, was a sadistic drunkard who blamed alcohol for his rages, during one of which he cut out one of the animal’s eyes. Later the violent owner killed Pluto by hanging him from a tree in his back yard. Soon thereafter the man’s house burned down, except for a wall on which was, “as if graven in bas-relief upon the white surface, the figure of a gigantic cat.”
The cruel man and his wife lived in the basement of the burnt house, unable to afford better lodgings. He drank even more and beat his wife frequently. A stray cat appeared in their impoverished lives, to the delight of the woman and the horror of the man – a black cat with one eye missing. This cat, however, bore a white patch on its breast that slowly resolved into a gibbet.
During one drunken rage, the man attempted to slay the cat. His wife intervened only to die in its stead. The killer walled her corpse up in the cellar of the burnt-out house. Like the killer of “The Tell-tale Heart,” he was rather pleased when the police came to search for the missing woman. Suddenly, however, a mournful howl rose from within the walls. The bricks were torn down to reveal that the killer had entombed the second black cat with the dead woman.
Pluto became a spirit of vengeance due to the sadistic nature of his death. His haunting presence can cause misfortune to strike (such as a house fire), as in the traditional view of black cats being “bad luck.” He can possess, influence, or become reincarnated as a similar black cat, missing an eye, and possibly displaying some sort of disturbing symbol made of white fur on his breast. In this form he re-enters the physical world and allies himself with a new master. Although not powerful physically, he can judge circumstances with near human intelligence, especially those that will ruin or destroy people who maltreat him. A kind owner may allay his anger, perhaps even let him know peace at last, but he seems drawn to cruel and sadistic people.
When/Where: Circa 1843 onward; place unknown, possibly New England.
“Black Cat,” Poe
Pluto began life as a housecat, “a remarkably large and beautiful animal, entirely black, and sagacious to an astonishing degree.” His owner, unfortunately, was a sadistic drunkard who blamed alcohol for his rages, during one of which he cut out one of the animal’s eyes. Later the violent owner killed Pluto by hanging him from a tree in his back yard. Soon thereafter the man’s house burned down, except for a wall on which was, “as if graven in bas-relief upon the white surface, the figure of a gigantic cat.”
The cruel man and his wife lived in the basement of the burnt house, unable to afford better lodgings. He drank even more and beat his wife frequently. A stray cat appeared in their impoverished lives, to the delight of the woman and the horror of the man – a black cat with one eye missing. This cat, however, bore a white patch on its breast that slowly resolved into a gibbet.
During one drunken rage, the man attempted to slay the cat. His wife intervened only to die in its stead. The killer walled her corpse up in the cellar of the burnt-out house. Like the killer of “The Tell-tale Heart,” he was rather pleased when the police came to search for the missing woman. Suddenly, however, a mournful howl rose from within the walls. The bricks were torn down to reveal that the killer had entombed the second black cat with the dead woman.
Pluto became a spirit of vengeance due to the sadistic nature of his death. His haunting presence can cause misfortune to strike (such as a house fire), as in the traditional view of black cats being “bad luck.” He can possess, influence, or become reincarnated as a similar black cat, missing an eye, and possibly displaying some sort of disturbing symbol made of white fur on his breast. In this form he re-enters the physical world and allies himself with a new master. Although not powerful physically, he can judge circumstances with near human intelligence, especially those that will ruin or destroy people who maltreat him. A kind owner may allay his anger, perhaps even let him know peace at last, but he seems drawn to cruel and sadistic people.
When/Where: Circa 1843 onward; place unknown, possibly New England.
“Black Cat,” Poe
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