I was thinking of making a character based on, yes, the raven from The Raven. If the year of the setting allows, I was planning on making him a plague doctor (because, y'know, the beak and all) often followed by a flock of ominous birds. If not, just someone else fairly shady with occasional references to the story/character in question.

Also, how human should our characters be, and are they allowed any sort of supernatural powers? If so, to what extent?