Walking the Streets of Arkham

11 July, 2025: At least their pimp, Michael Bailey, operated on the northside of the Miskatonic River, in the nicer parts of Arkham. Which meant their residency in the Jenkin Hotel wasn’t some rundown, flea-ridden rat hole! Not that that made Michael a nice guy; like any pimp, he ruled with a fist. Take for example, 3 weeks ago, when he beat the living crap out of Talanda Hughes and dangled her one-year-old girl (Patti) over the 2^nd floor railing as added threat to keep her in line. Except, that only encouraged Talanda to run away and seek shelter from his abuse and this prostitution lifestyle.

Diana (Dave): 20yo Bostonian studying medicine before she became pregnant and turned to prostitution in a desperate bid to support her 1yo child (Billy).

Lucy (Brian): 28yo who tried to find success as a dancer. Her looks (APP85) were better than her dancing (25), which meant she was a better pole-dancer in the clubs where Michael found her and brought her into the business.

Barbra (Tony): 21yo failed actress in Chicago who moved to Arkham in hopes of finally breaking into the business. But the only business she found was on her back. She tried to escape once, but Michael found her and drug her back. And made her work despite the many bruises he left on her back.

Kayna (Duane): 22yo head cheerleader at MU before pregnancy put her in a desperate situation, trying to raise her 2yo (Sarah). If only she’d stuck to “head”, she wouldn’t have gotten in her pre-dick-ament.

Melissa (Bill): 35yo madam of the house managing the books. Sadly, her looks (APP45) were natural versus results of Michael’s beatings. At least she’s tried to help others escape the lifestyle.

7am: Lucy’s phone rang. Really?! Michael arranging a trick THIS early in the morning? It was a fellow streetwalker (Vicki Shoals), “You gotta get down here to the southside foot of the Peabody Bridge. Ya ain’t gonna believe what I’m looking at.” Melissa drove. They saw Vicki at the base of the bridge, nervously smoking as they approached. She pointed at the backside of a small pier, “There’s Michael; think he found Talanda? She shot him in the crotch!”

Diana stepped closer and confirmed it was Michael, “Good riddance but SHIT! We’re outa business and I ain’t got enough cash to make a living on my own.” Vicki added a worse scenario, “Once Dustin learns Michael is dead, he’s going to pressure us to work for him. He’s a sadist!!” Everyone knew Michael’s rival pimp, Dustin, worked south of the river and catered to junkies and worse for tricks.

And that’s when they noticed the homeless man, Josiah, standing near the river washing his hands. His cardboard hut and sleeping bag tucked under the bridge abutment. One too many bottles of cheap hooch; probably pure ethanol fried his brains. “I seen it all last night. Like that movie [Terminator] with the bare-ass German guy who stepped out that blue orb on the bridge and almost got runover. No, it weren’t no red and blue cop lights flashing. Just ask Sasquatch when he gets back. Or those women I heard talking from inside the orb.”

Diana looked closer at the body: bloody knuckles, vomit around his mouth, and his bloody crotch. Where something moved! Diana quickly pulled down his pants to discover [Sanity check], “It’s a fucking Ass-fish with a lamprey mouth full of teeth crawling out of his bunghole!” Diana courageously retrieved Michael’s wallet and phone from the pants. She pocketed the $200 cash but displayed the dead phone and a business card, “Why the hell would he be seeking aid from an architect?” Evan McDaniel of The Society for Traditional Arkham Building. Barbra used her own phone to google the society, “Established in 2001 with a charter to rebuild the blighted sectors of the city, restoring Arkham to its Glory Days.”

Melissa handed over her external battery charger to plug in Michael’s phone, “Give it a few minutes. Maybe we can find recent emails and texts to discover what the hell he was doing. In the meantime, we need to get the hell out of here before the police arrive. [In an effort to keep him from talking to the police and mentioning them] Josiah, how would you like a nice room and board? We have AC.”

[Luck] Lucy looked at the sky and predicted, “Clouds are rolling in. It’s going to rain soon and wash away our tracks. And maybe wash the body into the river.”

Michael’s phone lit up. Barbra realized it needed facial recognition; so, she squeamishly placed it in from of Michael’s face. Once opened, she quickly changed the password settings. “Nothing unusual with his call log. And his texts bounce around to all of us workers.”  Melissa suggested his google search history: the Arkham Society which listed its address. Diana suggested his Map app: recently drove to the address 197 E. Pickman St (east/southeast of MU, in the French Hill district).

Melissa googled the address on her phone and zoomed into a street view that showed a 3-story building. Further research revealed it was a late 1800 design but was renovated 10 years ago. “I wonder if it was one of the Society’s rebuilds?” Barbra confirmed the Society bought the property via back-taxes payment. Efforts to open its blueprints only found the file was corrupted. “Their website says they restore buildings for community programs such as drug rehabs, women’s shelters, and low-income housing. Maybe Michael contacted this Evan architect to find which buildings were shelters.”

To Michael’s Apartment: After dumping Josiah at their hotel, they drove on to Michael’s place. Like a bloodhound, Kayna quickly found a shoebox in his closet with 2-grand inside. Barbra focused on his desk where she found a map laid out with a notepad to the side. “Looks like he was marking off churches and other empty buildings were abused women might hide.” Lucy remembered Talanda bragging about her scholarship to a Fort Wayne, Indiana college. “Maybe she caught a bus ride home to her family to help care for her little girl.”

197 E Pickman St: While the 3-story house had 1920s architecture, there was a modern Ring camera at the front door. Diana rang the bell, “I’m looking for my boyfriend.” A female voice replied, “There are no men here.” Melissa almost sighed with relief as she added, “I hate to bother you, but we are seeking new lifestyles now that our ‘boss’ is deceased.” The door opened to reveal a woman (Amanda) in her mid-30s with a black eye, “How did you get our address? We try not to reveal our purpose else abusers come looking for their women. Such as that man who came yesterday and threatened us. Why, yes, his name was Michael and he was looking for Talanda.”

Kayna couldn’t help but notice the other woman sitting at a desk with her hand beneath the top, as if holding a gun. Amanda noticed the glance, “You’ll have to excuse Kristin. Michael isn’t the first to come threatening our household. You have to understand we only house you women for a few days as we try to arrange permanent residency elsewhere, preferable out of the city and state. For your protection as well as ours.” Amanda pointed to her black eye, “I gather you know Michael? Thank God Talanda already left with her baby girl when he arrived. As for yourselves, we have rooms available. The attic offers more space for those with children.” Diana explained how Billy was at the sitter’s house until 5pm. Kayna mentioned her own 2yo Patti. Amanda offered another room, “Not as spacious as the attic but I’m sure we can squeeze in a crib.”

With tensions relaxed, they sat in the foyer to chat. Another worker, Sarah, entered with a tray of drinks and cookies. The girls inquired, “So, how does this work?” Amanda explained, “Normally the Society will direct battered women to St Michael’s Church where they will meet up with Evan McDaniel. Yes, the architect who actually designed and rebuilt this house per its original blueprints. Anyway, Evan would interview the candidates about their needs before bringing them to this shelter. Meanwhile, Evan would arrange bus transportation for the women to their final destination they mentioned in their interviews. Yes, Evan is a very religious and philanthropic gentleman; he buys the tickets with his own money. He was the one who took Talanda and her little girl to the Greyhound bus station last week.” When Diana and Kayna excused themselves to go pick up their kids, Kristin warned them to not be followed, “We don’t want another Michael showing up at our doorsteps.”

Once the girls returned with their kids, Sarah offered to watch the kids as Kristin guided the girls on a tour of the house. The first floor included a Livingroom, kitchen, library, and office space. They climbed the grand staircase to the 2^nd floor where they found three bedrooms and a communal bathroom. Kristin pointed out the larger room for Kayna and her girl. Melissa claimed another room to avoid having to deal with extra steps. The other room was apparently already occupied.

As they climbed the stairs to the 3^rd floor, and looked into the first room, Diana squealed at the sight of 2 beady red eyes in the dark. She quickly flicked the light switch but barely saw the small furry creature slip under a closet door. Kristin apologized, “I’ll call the exterminator in the morning. Don’t want to set out rat-traps for fear of the kids setting them off and getting hurt.” Kristin excused herself into a room labeled “Staff Only” to make the call. The girls continued the tour alone. Lucy and Barbra each claimed rooms bracketing the communal bathroom.

All continued up a narrow set of stairs that led to the attic. Diana complained about the faint smell of ammonia wafting from the room, “No windows to open to air it out. I’m not bringing Billy in here.” All entered the attic to find a bed, crib, wardrobe closet, and even a walk-in closet. Lucy and Melissa noticed discoloration splotches on the floorboards in from of the walk-in. Obviously, the source of the ammonia cleanup smell. And that’s when Kristin entered, “Sorry about that. Kids. Talanda’s little Patti threw-up. I can bring some box fans in to air out the room. And good news; the exterminator will be here late tomorrow.” She left.

Lucy and Melissa opened the walk-in closet and immediately were puzzled by several beams that seemed out of place. They didn’t follow the slant of the roofline, weren’t perpendicular to anything, definitely didn’t align to be shelf support. With an accounting and thus mathematical background, Melissa became obsessed trying to figure it out. [failed skill check, failed Push] To the point she passed out from her deep concentration. Diana pulled her out of the closet and splashed water on her face, “Easy girl. It’s not that big a deal. Carpenters adding extra to jack up their charges. Let it go.”

Everyone was startled by Kayna’s shriek as she looked under the bed. [Spot-extreme; 4 pt Sanity loss] “That’s no fucking rat…it had Talanda’s face!!” She grappled with the bed to turn it over, yet no rat was found. “I’m telling you, THAT RAT WAS TALANDA!! I’d recognize her face anywhere.” Yeah, the ammonia smell was getting to everyone. Vertigo, hallucinations. “Let’s go downstairs for dinner and fresh air. The fans should air out the attic in no time.” When Kayna mentioned Talanda the rat, Kristin suggested, “We do offer drug rehab programs.”

[When Melissa passed out in the closet, she actually failed a POW check. And after dinner and then retiring to her room, she failed another POW check.]

Midnight: Diana woke to the sound of floorboards creaking. Light from the stairwell outside the attic silhouetted Melissa sleepwalking…over to the crib to pick up Billy…and carried him into the walk-in closet. Diana slipped out of bed to confront the madam, placing her hand on her shoulder to wake her. Melissa turned her head to face Diana and revealed a disturbing smile of rotting teeth. “What the FUCK?!” Melissa’s face turned normal before she shoved Diana one-handed into the far wall. Melissa? That old weakling [STR 30]?! It wasn’t Melissa’s voice that replied, “I’ll deal with you once I take care of your child.” Diana screamed at the top of her voice for the others.

Melissa touched the back wall of the closet to open a panel that revealed an obsidian black void. When Diana jumped to her feet to pull Melissa back, the possessed madam reached into the void and pulled out a ceremonial dagger.

And that’s when the others arrived, in time to see Diana flying out of the closet, once again propelled by a push. “She’s got Billy!” Lucy shined her phone-light into the void and saw nothing. Barbra raised her 22cal pistol and fired (missed). Kayna charged in with her axe [extreme]; she cleaved the hand holding the dagger and managed to catch Billy (still sleeping) before he fell to the floor. And that’s when Melissa woke: [failed Sanity: lost 5 pts, passed her INT check = Bout of Madness: hysteria] She screamed more in fright than pain as she raised her bloody stump that pulsed blood across the room. Barbra rushed forward to immediately apply a tourniquet.

Kayna ran to the door cradling Billy. Amanda stood just outside the door. [failed POW save] Kayna dropped Billy as she clutched her stomach as severe pain wracked her insides. She screamed at the realization she could feel something wriggling inside, “IT’S AN ASS-FISH!!”

Melissa was already hysterical viewing her bloody stump. When an old crone materialized overhead in a blue vastness, she bolted out the door, past Kayna squirming on the floor in pain, past Amanda who sneered, down the steps, …

[worst Luck- POWsave +Luck to get an extreme] Diana resisted the blue vortex and the tentacled things with flutes that descended into the closet. She had no idea she was staring into the ‘Court of Azothoth’. All she knew was it was time to leave! But not before snapping a picture with her phone.

Lucy picked up the severed hand still clutching the ceremonial dagger and ran out the door. When she saw Amanda, she struck with the dagger: [+Luck for an extreme] Amanda collapsed dead.

Barbra picked up Billy (still sleeping- a spell) and ran from the room. She heard Kayna’s dying plea and thus stopped in the 2^nd floor room to gather baby Sarah, leaving the house with both babies in tow.

EPILOGUE

Diana made her way to the Greyhound bus station and never looked back.

Barbra commandeered Melissa’s car left at the house and sped away with the two babies on the backseat floor. She smiled when Billy finally woke and added his cry to the sound of the racing engine as she left Arkham and drove westward.

Lucy also left Arkham, returning to her family’s home in Indiana.

Melissa didn’t make it far. The invasion of Keziah Mason in her brain was too much. She walked into the Miskatonic University Orne Library with a Rat-Thing in her purse that cast a spell on the Chief Librarian (Rachel Hays) who gave her access to the Restricted Section. There, Melissa added her signature to The Book of Azathoth to become bound to the witch. She returned to 179 East Pickman St as Amanda’s replacement in the witches’ Coven.

BACKGROUND

Lovecraftian lore: Although physically dead, Keziah Mason’s spirit still inhabited the old Witch House on Pickman street. So, when Evan McDaniel began rebuilding, she guided his hands in attention to details. Such as the disjointed beams (and their inconceivable mathematic formulas in construct) in the attic closet: angles that opened a void unto the Court of Azathoth and her spiritual realm. With the house opened as a women’s shelter, Keziah slowly enthralled the 3 employees. Soon Amanda, Sarah, and Kristin fell under her influence and entered the Orne library to add their names to the Black Book. Thus, becoming witches in Keziah’s coven.

The coven would ensure prostitutes with babies were housed in the attic, thus allowing Keziah to have a child sacrifice in her foul rites to increase her power. After disposing of the child’s body in the pocket dimension (the black void), Keziah (thru her coven) would kill the mother and transform her into a Rat-Thing to serve as a thrall for her.

Talanda was one such poor soul that stepped into the house with her baby. When Michael came looking for Talanda, and physically attacked the witches, Amanda cast “Worms” upon him. They used a gate spell to dump his body under the bridge. Thus, poor homeless Josiah DID witness an orb that opened and dumped the body. He heard the 3 witches on the other side of the gate casting to close it.

As for those spots in front of the closet: yeah, blood from Talanda being killed!