Danny Torrance
Context
The Shining was Stephen King’s third novel, and a key step in establishing him as the biggest horror writer there is. It was adapted as a very successful, highly regarded movie in 1980 (though King himself was apparently lukewarm about the changes to the story).
The Shining is essentially a haunted house story. The title refers to the psychic ability possessed by Danny Torrance, a little boy who’s the son of the main character. Oh, and this profile constitutes S P O I L E R S for a classic horror story.
Background
- Real Name: Daniel Anthony Torrance.
- Marital Status: Single.
- Known Relatives: Jack Torrance (father, deceased), Winnifred (Wendy) Torrance, mother.
- Group Affiliation: None.
- Base Of Operations: Overlook Hotel, Sidewinder, Colorado.
- Height: 4’ 2” Weight: 53 lbs. Age: 06
- Eyes: Blue Hair: Sandy
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Powers and Abilities
Danny is a powerful psi . However he’s still a little child, and thus cannot make conscious use of most of his powers.
Said powers seem to include most of the telempathic/ESP spectrum, including post/precognition, empathy, and telepathy. His telepathic projections are so “loud” that he can cause incredible bursts of pain when he “speaks” too loud to other sensitives.
History
Very, very briefly…
Danny and his parents went to the haunted Overlook Hotel in Colorado, where his father was to be the winter caretaker. Jack Torrance, a recovering alcoholic, hoped to finish writing a play he had been working on, and to get his life back together.
The Hotel, which was at first merely a psychic “sounding board” reflecting what had taken place within its walls, seemed to come to life with Danny nearby. The hauntings quickly became more and more horrifying and real.
The Hotel ultimately desired to absorb Danny, and add his formidable psychic ability to itself, thus becoming permanently aware.
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Things go rather bad, all told
Jack was quickly seduced by the Hotel’s corrupting influence. He turned on his family while they were snowbound. Danny psychically cried out for help. Danny’s friend, the Hotel’s cook, Dick Halloran, rushed back to the Hotel from Florida.
He attempted to get into the Hotel through the blizzard to rescue Wendy and Danny. He was severely injured by Jack with a croquet mallet. Wendy was also hurt trying to prevent Jack from killing Danny.
At the end, Danny, trapped in an upstairs hallway with nowhere to run, appealed to his father to throw off the Hotel’s influence. Jack nearly succeeded, but the Hotel finally possessed him fully, destroying his mind in the process. However, at the moment it was about to kill Danny, the Hotel’s boiler, an outdated and overstressed antique, ruptured, sending the Hotel sky-high.
Danny, his mother, and Dick Halloran managed to escape on a snowmobile. But Jack’s body with the Hotel’s consciousness inside was destroyed.
Video
The more visually interesting trailer for the 1980 movie adaptation.
Description
Danny is a perfectly normal six year old with sandy hair and blue eyes.
Personality
Danny is a typical five year old in most respects, with a huge imagination, but he is incredibly aware of the world in ways that no five-year old should be (“Why did the fur lady want the car-man’s pants, mommy ? Is she cold ?”).
When Danny finally sees what has to be done, he is determinedly stubborn, seeing things through to their bitter conclusion. For instance this happened when he tried to help his father break the Hotel’s control, even though he knew that if he failed, he would die.
Quotes
“You’re not my daddy !”
DC Universe History
Unknown currently, but it would almost certainly be in a Vertigo title. Suggestions ?
Game Stats — DC Heroes RPG
Tell me more about the game stats
Danny Torrance
A 338 Point Character
| Dex: 02 | Str: 01 | Bod: 01 | Motivation: Responsibility of Power |
| Int: 03 | Wil: 03 | Min: 03 | Occupation: Student |
| Inf: 02 | Aur: 02 | Spi: 03 | Resources {or Wealth}: 001 |
| Init: 007 | HP: 010 |
Powers:
Telepathy: 16, Mind Blast: 06, Mind Probe: 3, Empathy: 06, Acuity: 12
Bonuses and Limitations:
- Telepathy can only be used to speak to other Telepathically Sensitive people.
- Mind Blast Is a Telepathic “shout”, and can only be used against targets he is Telepathically communicating with (-1). Range is equal to Telepathic Range (+2).
- Empathy Can be used on Places and Things, showing him the psychic vibrations left there (+1).
- Acuity is Seriously Marginal, and typically mimics Precognition and Postcognition. Acuity is currently not subject to Danny’s control, and should be used like a Plot Device more than a Power. It is not included in his point total.
Advantages:
Buddy (Tony. Tony has been likened to an imaginary friend, but it is later revealed that Tony is actually a part of Danny’s psyche which can react to the things Danny sees and feels with a more grown-up perspective. Tony often tries to show Danny things he cannot understand on his own, and will try to help guide him through bad situations, but cannot take any active hand in things)
Drawbacks:
Age (Young), Innocent, Family, Uncertainty, Misc.: body mass is 1 AP.
Source of Character: Stephen King Universe (SKU), The Shining.
Helper(s): Jobe.