Dr. Hawley Griffin

Dr. Hawley George Griffin is a disapparative biochemist, or in his words, an optical fragmenter. His primarily field is in that of optics, focusing on invisibility.

He currently resides in the former billiards room of the Society of Arcane Sciences, attempting to create a perfected serum to turn humans invisible.

Biography
Born somewhere in Sussex during the mid-1850s, Hawley Griffin had an early fascination with optical illusions, and often visited the county fair with his mother to see the many wonders that magicians created.

In his early twenties during university years, Griffin met Arthur Kemp, a young student and acquaintance of Griffin's father. Becoming friends, the two decided to make a name for themselves. Both studying optics, Kemp came up with a bizarre idea to turn something invisible. Griffin was initially hesitant, but eventually agreed when Kemp mentioned having unassailable resources at their disposal.

Soon after, the two had a heated argument, leading Griffin to steal the pair's research, and left his university to study on his own. Over the next twenty years, Griffin became secluded in a rented house in Iping, West Sussex, to continue his research on his own.

Jekyll's Letter
In early 1895, Griffin received a letter from Dr. Henry Jekyll, proposing for Griffin to be a part of the Society for Arcane Sciences, which Griffin initially refused. Seeing that Jekyll had intimate knowledge of his work, Griffin decided to conduct some research of his own. Heading to the University of Edinburgh, Griffin found that Jekyll was performing unusual experiments with potions and serums. He also found out that Jekyll was nearly charged with sexual harassment, but the charges were dropped, and soon afterwards a fire had destroyed part of the library. Griffin wrote back to Jekyll, declining the proposal.

Jekyll's Visit
Griffin continued with his experiments, but later found that he was being watched, and found a strand of blonde hair from his observer. Griffin then received a letter from Jekyll, proposing that they should meet face-to-face. Though refusing, Griffin acknowledged that it would allow him to find out the incident at the University. Griffin sent an acceptance letter, and Jekyll went to Sussex.

Arriving at Griffin's secluded home, Jekyll explained the basics of the Society, and that Griffin would be allowed plenty of funding for his research, recognizing Griffin's monetary strains. Griffin agreed.

Settling In at the Society
Arriving in London, Griffin employed Thomas Marvel, a petty thief, to follow Jekyll wherever he goes, as a precaution. Marvel was also employed by another scientists, "some bearded man with a sickly face". Arriving at the Society, Griffin was given a tour by Jekyll, showing him his rooms: a former billiards room, neighboring Dr. Maijabi and Mr. Luckett. At one point, Griffin intentionally insulted the Lodgers, but was firmly reprimanded by Jekyll.

“I’d prefer it Dr. Griffin, if you didn’t insult your fellow colleagues. A lot of these people had to be pulled right off the street, and I would appreciate if you didn’t take that fact as a negative. No one here will try to copy, extort or steal your research. Privacy is adamant here, but I can’t stop everyone from showing others what they’ve created.”

As Jekyll walked away, Griffin attempted to ask what Jekyll's research was, but was rejected.

Marvel's Break In
After Griffin's luggage was brought in, he met up with Marvel to see what he had found. Marvel found nothing of significance. When Marvel asked for pay, Griffin refused, as he had brought nothing of interest. Though Marvel agreed, Griffin could sense that Marvel would soon become a threat. Griffin then suggested that Marvel break into Jekyll's private quarters at the Society to see what he could find.

After a week of silence, Griffin woke up one morning to find Jekyll on a "tirade" and claiming that his papers were stolen. Meeting up with Marvel, Griffin found that Jekyll was in financial strains as well, but it didn't concern him. Marvel reveals he also stole some documents relating to Jekyll's work, but demands an extra sum for the valuable documents. Griffin buys them off him.

The Cipher and the Cryptographer
After making a rat permanently invisible, Griffin found that Jekyll's documents were in a cipher, and able to crack with a five-letter keyword. Consulting a cryptographer, Professor Edward Prendick, Griffin claims to him that he found the documents when asked for an explanation.

Soon after, Prendick contacts Griffin to announce that he managed to crack the code with the keyword "Louis". Visiting him, Griffin discovered that Prendick had burned the translation in horror. Angry by Prendick's foolishness, Griffin took back Jekyll's documents and eventually decides to give back the documents to Jekyll when discovering that "Louis" was not the keyword, and that Prendick has seemingly fled.

Asking Marvel to stage another break-in, Griffin is asked for a hefty sum, which he gives without question. Jekyll also demands that Griffin show what he has done with his time at the Society. Jekyll seemed impressed with the results, asking Griffin as to how the rats turn visible. Griffin replies that the rats have to die first to become visible.

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