Maine Mayhem!

Howard Lake arrived just before nightfall on a dreary Thursday evening, which was October 15, 1925. He was greeted by a solemn crowd in the stately hunting lodge. Well, more like a hunting mansion. The exception of was of course Jacqueline du Plessis, who launched herself at Howard in an outrageous display of extravagant gestures and champagne while attempting to look coy. This was her preferred style of big game hunting, and she was going to land a prize steer tonight, or so she hoped. To Howard Lake, the crowd, or to be more precise Ella B. Cocker, Bridget Duvall, the musician Henry Craig, and the banker Teddy Monroe as well as the Intrepid Investigators. They were all eager to share what had transpired over the course of these last couple of days, but they did so in hushed voices, as if the dark woods outside were eavesdropping. The guests did not seem to be able to figure out if they were going to stay and hunt whatever was causing the strange events, or if they should return to Arkham. Howard was already considering a game of spin the bottle with Jacqueline.

It was eventually decided to stay for another couple of days, but the Intrepid Investigators decided to shop for some additional supplies, such as ammunition and dynamite. They also paid a visit to Monsignor Philippe Bloch, hoping that he would be able to elaborate on some of the weird events and sightings that they all had experienced over the last couple of days. Monsignor Bloch was more than eager to talk. It seemed as if he was so glad that someone inquired about his special hobby. Folklore in rural Maine tended otherwise not to be in great demand. And yes, there were some strange tales about the hills, but such tales were exceedingly rare. The priest closed the door to the rectory and even pulled the curtains. He then produced a small key to tall bookshelf, which the Intrepid Investigators had assumed to be a closet or cupboard. He then took out a well-read copy of Nameless Cults, in this case the 1909 Golden Goblin Press Edition, but a second printing which included an addendum on North American cults. Monsignor Bloch had bookmarked several of the last pages in the book, which he gently opened. "Look, this a poor map of what seems to be Phillips. There's Sandy River, and over there you can see Daggett Rock. As you can see, the text summarizes several legends from this part of Maine, legends about strange beings in the mountains and how they are connected to moonless nights in particular. There are tales of abductions and doppelgangers, but most are simply fragments. And yet, there seems to be odd similarities to what you are telling me and some of these fragments. I wish you the best of luck, but do be careful!"

Next day it was decided to split up and have a final go at hunting before returning to Arkham during or after the weekend. The weather was gorgeous, and the guests had all enjoyed an uninterrupted night's sleep, which improved their moods. Jules, Franz Alter, and Felix decided to head up the hillside in the direction of Daggett Rock. It was quite a hike, and after an hour or so Jules, Franz, and Felix started noticing weird signs indicating that something disturbing was corrupting the very essence of nature: leaves that were misshapen, and colored in unnatural hues, strange and noxious lichens, insects that were far too big for the Maine forests, and carcasses with bizarre growths and mutations. Meanwhile, Howard had become separated from Henry Craig and Teddy Monroe. He was still enjoying the company of Jacqueline, though, with a hunting rifle in one hand and a bottle of champagne in the other. They suddenly heard first one, and then another gunshot, followed by horrifying shrieking. Howard was getting increasingly worried and frustrated by not being able to find his way in the dense forest, but Jacqueline assured Henry that she could find her way back to the house. Despite being quite buzzed, Jacqueline did find her way back to the house, albeit without Teddy and Henry.

Franz, Jules and Felix did almost make it all the way up to Daggett Rock, but the nature was almost devastated around the rock itself. Therer were also remnants of a sizeable camp site, perhaps for 20 or so individuals, and there were clear signs that the site had been evacuated in some haste.It was then decided to avoid this eerie desolation, and the Intrepid Investigators headed back towards the hunting lodge. Teddy was found some time later by the three gentlemen. He seemed to be in a state of shock, and he had clearly walked aimlessly through the forest. He was not violent, but he did not react to any stimuli. Felix decided to hitch a ride on the burly Teddy Monroe, and off they went towards the house, where they were met by tragedy. Henry Craig was dead, mutilated by some kind of fierce predator. There was a sense of urgency bordering on panic in the air, and it was decided to leave as soon as possible next morning. But where was Mackie?

"You must understand." Franz Alter looked at Jules in a most serious fashion. "You must understand that Mackie might very well die if we do not bring her back to civilization, Dr. Mackenzie MacNamara had spent a good 48 hours in her room while her friends had been trying to gain some level of understanding of the strange, strange events that had befallen the Maine countryside. She was now almost entirely covered by some strange orange jelly-like substance that seemed to be held together by nerves or webs that were slightly darker in their color. Mackie's skin was clammy, and to Franz it seemed as if the archaeologist was in a state of deep shock. The strange orange matter seemed to be particularly tightly attached to the wounds Mackie had suffered while fighting the giant rat several days ago. The intrepid investigators brought up a tarpaulin to transport Mackie to a car and subsequently to Phillips and whatever medical aid could be found in that little town.

Jules Pollack drove his automobile down the narrow country road as fast as the vehicle and the road would allow him. It was a jolty and unpleasant ride through what seemed to be an increasingly eerie landscape, or it might just have been the imagination of the muted passengers. The dreadful beast that all of a sudden attacked the vehicle was however not a figment of imagination. It seemed to be some form of infernal parody of a deer and a humanoid, or perhaps some other unholy and unknown mix of wildlife. The baying from the beast was ear-shattering, while it emitted a foul, unwholesome stench that rapidly permeated Jules's automobile. Gunfire erupted as the beast attacked the passengers in the back seat, and Jules Pollack had to struggle to keep the automobile on the road in between screaming, unnatural animal sounds, and clips being emptied at the beast. The intrepid investigators eventually managed to lose the dreadful beat after what seemed an eternity, but what only may have been a minute or two. The only things left were holes from gunfire, the lingering unwholesome stench, and splotches of garish orange ichor. Mackie survived the auto ride down to Phillips, but only barely.

From the diary of Franz Alter:

Heading back from Phillips together with county sheriff Carlton Stears. Mackie will recover. We had claimed that there was a wild bear in the vicinity. Plausible. It was around noon when we returned to the enormous hunting lodge, and I was carrying a Winchester carbine. And my medical bag. Must remember to send a telegram to mother. That cat is strange. 

We approached the building. The sheriff was first, followed by Lake. Sheriff Stears opened the door very, very carefully, but he was drawn into the lounge by some unwholesome abomination that simply tore him to shreds. Very fine shreds, I was told. The monstrosity was really quite strange and very unpleasant to look at. It was probably treif. I shot it in the head with two rounds. Then we set fire to the hunting lodge. We forgot to remove Mr. Theodore Munroe, called Teddy. Stupid. I wanted to go back to Arkham, but there was an investigation, which was tedious. Left for Arkham on Friday one week later. Must work on pharmacy. Soda fountain?

Saturday, October 25, 1925. Back in Arkham.

Dr, Emmett Brown looked up from his microscope. He was dressed in his ubiquitous lab coat, sturdy rubber gloves, pajama pants and a pair of very worn slippers. "Great Scott! The orange matter you have here is composed of a completely unknown matter! I have only noticed one familiar isotope: a trace of what seems to be Cobalttorium-G. But I have never heard of this exceedingly rare isotope occurring naturally. But then, the orange substance seems to be quite...err, unnatural in itself." He resumed looking into the microscope, goggles on his forehead and his hair, as usual, on end. "Fascinating, just fascinating..." Jules Pollack let himself out from Dr. Brown's laboratory. Dr. Brown was completely absorbed.

Sunday, October 26, 1925.

Dr. Henry Armitage, the head of the Miskatonic University Library as well as a Ph.D. in Early American history, received the Intrepid Investigators on a particularly dreary fall morning. He poured hot tea into small cups, and Jules Pollack could not help noticing that the cups were original Chinese, probably from the mid-Qing dynasty. Early 1800s, perhaps? Dr. Armitage took a sip from his cup before speaking: "My dear friends, I have two items to raise. First of all, let us talk about the increasingly long chain of very strange events that have befallen you all. You see, these events - I typically call them extradimensional activities - have been exceeding rare, with perhaps one or two cases per year world-wide that can be properly attributed to extradimensional activities. Most of these cases are also quite minor incidents, and they can easily be shrugged off as natural disasters or such. However, there has been a vast uptick since approximately June of 1923. You wouldn't have anything to do with that, would you? Please do ponder what might be behind this spate of the bizarre."

Now, I do also have a more pressing issue, an issue that is both tragic and, well, inconvenient. I know that you can act with utmost discretion, and that is what I need right now. The Arkham PD found a dead student in the Vogler Wildlife Park, early on Saturday morning. The body was found by Ms. Emma Cornelius, who was walking her dachshund early that morning in the northeast corner of the park, not far from East Saltonstall Street. The Arkham PD was immediately notified, and a Officer Walther McLean notified the Miskatonic University. The student's name was Picky Barnett, although this was only a pseudonym for her real name which happens to be Veronica Astor, as of the New York Astors. She was doing her undergraduate degree anonymously here at Miskatonic, and she was doing a double major in history and mathematics at Professor Ferdinand C. Ashley's Department of Ancient History. According to Professor Ashley, Ms. Barnett was a very good student, although rather quiet. I have also notified Major Barton the Head of Security and Inspections at the university. now, as you understand, poor "Picky Barnett's" parents will have one or two questions, and it would not benefit the Miskatonic University if the investigation would be botched in one way or the other. Would you kindly look into this matter, just to make sure that there aren't any oddities, and that miss Barnett's true identity isn't revealed? The tabloids would be all over campus if they found out that a millionaire heiress would have been found dead here in Arkham. Oh, and by the way, the contract between Miskatonic University and J. Pollack Fine Antiques was just extended through 1926.

Attched: Miskatonic Staff Roster.

Picky Barnett

Officer McLean

Henry Armitage

A conversation between Ella B. Cocker and Jules Pollack at 638 Elwood Lane, Phillips, Maine

 Thursday evening, October 15, 1925

"Jules, what is going on here?" Ella B. Cocker had cornered Jules Pollack in the empty kitchen as Jules was looking for yet another bottle of wine. Jules turned to Ella, looked guilty, and yet reached for a fine bottle of Bordeaux. "The birds, falling dead on the roof. The strange giant rodent that you performed an autopsy on just last afternoon, its innards consisting of such dreadful contents. The weird rabbit. Prentice's strange manners. I just wanted to have a fun and interesting week out here in the countryside, but everything seems like it's turning increasingly insane. Why can't we just write and tell stories, hunt a bit, and enjoy each other's good company?" Jules looked at the distraught author for just a bit before pulling out a corkscrew. She had clearly made a few passes at Jules, and he had not really made up his mind on how to proceed with the situation. "Jules, I know you've been around the block and a bit more, but do you have any idea what might be going on?" Jules Pollack had yet to reply to Ella's questions, and this time he decided to hand her a glass of the Bordeaux. He sniffed at the wine, found it most promising, and took a generous gulp before smiling towards Ella. He briefly thought about the information from that French farmer, Pierre Duvall, the one that lived up the road. The grumpy farmer had claimed that there'd been several dozen government men, including armed guards, digging for something up by the Soule Cabin, and whatever it was, was bad. Jules cleared his throat and looked firmly at Ella: "Listen, we - me and my esteemed friends - have had one or two odd experiences throughout recent years, and I can assure you that we have everything under control. There is no cause for concern whatsoever, even if the well-nigh primordial wood in here in Maine might hold a secret or two." Jules was, of course, mostly clueless. What about the crazy man in the cabin, Henri Chartier, that Sheriff Carlton Stears had warned Jules about? And then we had the son, Prentice. To Jules, the young man seemed like a full-blown psychopath, harassing his younger half-brother Tommy and maiming Biscuit the Cat, while talking to his imaginary friends "Dammie Culchon" and "Mr. Daviessss", the name always drawn out into a long, unpleasant hiss. However, Mackie was actually claiming that young Prentice Wilkes was simply a smart and misunderstood child, neglected by his father and never taking to his stepmother. 

The rat with the odd innards

Insane Henri Chartier

Farmer Duvall

Then we had the mother, Bridget Duvall, who happens to be Ella's sister. The poor woman was perhaps a victim of her own isolation and boredom. She seemed to be interested in, of all people, Franz Alter. "Alter!" Jules had said the name out loud, but Ella seemed unruffled. She clinked Jules' glass, looking at him seriously, and declaring "here's to all the wonderful freaks in the world!" before emptying her glass. She beckoned towards Jules for a refill, and Jules obliged.

"But Jules, you and your friends may be resolute and determined, just like you, but I worry about my other guests. Well, not Teddy Monroe, he is built for the great outdoors, but think of dear Henry Craig. He is a musician, for God's sake, and definitely not used to the forests of Maine. And poor, dear Jacqueline, my best friend in the world! Oh, Jules, did you see that she made a pass at Mackie last night?" Jules nodded and finished his wine. It was then he noticed that he's poured the wine in a beer glass, but he really didn't care. "Are you going upstairs to retire?" Ella looked at Jules with her head tilted to one side. 

The strange rabbit that Mackie saw

Main Street, Phillips

Prentice Wilkes

Henry Lake was driving up to join his friends up in Maine. He had left early that Friday morning, and he was looking forward to spending time in gorgeous Maine and simply enjoying himself. He had started off with his usual breakfast: a couple of slices of toast with grape jelly, coffee, and a cigarette, all accompanied by the morning edition of the Arkham Advisor. This morning, he had noticed something unusual, yet interesting. Miskatonic University reported that someone had stolen a experimental piece of equipment from the library, namely a so-called C-beam detector, a device invented by Dr. Emmett Brown of the physics department. He was going to pick up Moira Baker on his way to Maine, and they would definitely have to have a chat about this. 

 

 

 THE ARKHAM ADVERTISER

Friday, October 9, 1925

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DUNFORD DECEIVES DEMS

Con-man Candidate Flees Arkham

*

Mayoral Candidate Dunstan Dunford (D) attempted to make a hasty escape from Arkham early Thursday morning when he found his political plans thwarted. Paul "Country Breakfast" Cox, a member of a rag-tag carnival act from Tennessee confessed that he had been hired by Dunford together with Kurt "Ozzy the Clown" Wegener and Dorothy "Scheherazade" Fleur to terrorize Mayor Jonathan Bryce in an attempt to make the incumbent end his run for a fourth term as Mayor of Arkham. Dunford's real name was revealed to be Jebediah Oakley, a notorious local politician, carnival barker, and Klan member from Nashville, Tennessee, who fled the state five years ago after having shot and injured a Nashville police officer. Dunford was found in Kingsport later on Thursday morning after police stopped his automobile. His accomplice, Albert Moore, opened fire at the police officers and managed to escape the scene. Mr. Wegener and Ms. Fleur remain at large.

Mayor Jonathan Bryce will now face Democrat George Hinchliffe in the November 3 mayoral and town assembly election that Mayor Bryce is expected to win by a wide margin. 

Dunstan Dunford a. k. a. Jebediah Oakley

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Apothecary Apprehends Crook. Mayor Saved!

Following the harassment of Mayor Jonathan Bryce by Dunstan Dunford's travelling freaks, Manhattan apothecary Mr. Franz Alter volunteered to help Mayor Bryce protect the mayoral mansion and its inhabitants. Alter, with the assistance of celebrated Egyptologist Dr. MacKenzie MacNamara, fine antiques purveyor Mr. Jules Pollack, and renown antiquarian Mr. Howard Lake, did manage to disable and capture Paul "Country Breakfast" Cox by using a special knock-out syringe applied to the buttocks of Cox after the trio of carnival miscreants had been causing mayhem on and around the mayoral residence. Mayor Bryce expressed his sincere gratitude next day: "This is indeed a display of all the very best qualities of Arkham's citizenry. Bold, determined and resolute, Dunford and his menagerie of crooks did not stand a chance against fine Arkhamites such as Dr. MacNamara, Mr. Alter, Mr. Lake and Mr. Pollack. Independent candidate Mr. Felix Jeremiah took the opportunity to convey his gratitude that the mayor was safe and sound and that Dunford's shenanigans had been stopped.

Mr. Franz Alter

______________________________________________________

The news regarding Dunstan Dunford's bogus candidacy broke that Thursday morning. Jules Pollack could not help feeling rather good about himself, having helped the elderly mayor together with his friends, the Intrepid Investigators. However, things had to be taken care of. Burlington Jones was working his last week while Jules and friends visited Maine, and he had yet to find a decent replacement. That was when the little bell attached to the front door rang as young woman stepped into J. Pollack Fine Antiques. Jules recognized her as she folded her umbrella and placed it in an umbrella stand that was almost entirely filled with sword-canes, regular canes, a small crutch, a .22 rifle, a small taxidermied alligator and one or two umbrellas. The woman was Carrie Brown, the campaign aid of Dunstan Dunford. She walked up to Jules, who was standing behind the counter. "Mr. Pollack, I am in a bit of a pickle." Jules could not help smiling just a bit. The developing story was definitely a bit more than a pickle. Was Ms. Brown wanted by the Arkham Police? Carrie Brown continued. "You see, Mr. Pollack. Dunford's revolting campaign was my first serious employment opportunity after Harvard, and I was looking forward to adding significant, if local, political work to my CV. This turned out to backfire, as you noticed yesterday, and I am featured in newspapers all over the Eastern seaboard together with that despicable Dunford character. To be blunt, Mr. Pollack, I need a job until all of this blows over, perhaps longer. Would you have an open position? I did minor in fine arts in college, and I have been told that I have a keen eye for antiques." Jules Pollack smiled again and took out a small cigar from underneath the counter. "Ms. Brown, let's talk." 

Carrie Brown

Meanwhile, Felix Jeremiah was feeling frustrated. His own political campaign was getting decent coverage, but mainly due to Felix's stature. "The fools," Felix thought, "The voters are missing an opportunity to vote on the very best political campaign in Arkham. He really did not know what to do. Should he drop his campaign and support the mayor, or should he support one of the candidates running for town assembly? Questions, questions... 

______________________________________________________

Arkham, October 4, 1925.

Dear Jules,

I am sending you this note as an invitation to you and your dear friends to come up to Maine over the course of the week of October 12. My sister, Bridget Duvall, has together with her husband Edgar Wilkes recently acquired a small hunting lodge in the quaint old village of Phillips in northwestern Maine. I have invited an eclectic group of friends for the week or so, and they include Henry Craig, who's a wonderful musician, Teddy Monroe, and of course my inseparable companion, Jacqueline. We will swap stories, write stories, and even go out hunting for those who are so inclined. Bring suitable clothing for a real New England fall!

I am very much looking forward to seeing you all in a bit more than a week.

Sincerely, your friend, 

Ella     

_____________________________________________________

 THE ARKHAM ADVERTISER

Wednesday, October 7, 1925

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Tommy the Prize-winning Terrier Amputated; Leg found on Lawn

*

A brutal act of animal cruelty has left the mayoral dog Tommy without a left back leg. Arkham's favorite pooch was found whimpering on Mayor Bryce's front lawn early on Wednesday morning. The Arkham Police Department subsequently received a tip to search a neighbor's house for the cruel culprit. and a brutally severed canine leg was supposedly found. At least one suspect was arrested, but the Arkham PD has not shared any further details.

Tommy the Terrier

Daring Escape from the Arkham Sanitarium

Peter Maxwell, M.D. escaped from the High Security Ward of the Arkham Sanitarium just before midnight on Tuesday. Maxwell managed to strangle a warden, Paul Blakeley, after feigning to be securely immobilized in his cell, and he managed to break out of the sanatorium after securing some medical equipment and certain experimental chemicals. Maxwell was committed to the Arkham Sanitarium after the Topsfield Power Plant explosion in April this year, when he was found running around in then forests north of Arkham in a state of acute mental distress. He had no memories whatsoever, and he was dressed in a full surgeon's outfit, including facemask, gloves, goggles, and a scalpel.  

Dr. Maxwell graduated from the Miskatonic University Department of Medicine in 1924. He was a recipient of the Francis B. Peabody prize for Academic Achievement together with Mr. Herbert West that same year. Dr. Maxwell was subsequently left in the caring hands of Dr. Herbert DeVos and Head Nurse Abigail Dawson at the Arkham Sanitarium.  

Dr. Maxwell

Feds Close up Pleasantville - Population Relocated

Federal troops have closed the mining community of Pleasantville, located in the Halliburton Hills in northern Massachusetts. According to Federal representatives, the site is deemed too contaminated to be inhabited by humans, and the population has been relocated to Boston, Gloucester, and Arkham. Anton Szypczyk, one of the miners, told the Arkham Advertiser that he was glad to finally have a modern apartment and access to a good public school for his eleven children.

_______________________________________

Campaigns and Rallies

That Monday, October 5, was spent catching up on sleep after the ordeals of the weekend. The horrific events that occurred at Miskatonic University Library had been "taken care of" by Professor Armitage and some highly trained professionals. The only mention of the events was an article in the Arkham Advertiser that told a reader of a case of suspected arson in which a car exploded. The Arkham police, was, of course, investigating.

Next day the Intrepid Investigators assembled at Jules Pollack Fine Antiques for a hearty breakfast and to discuss the invitation from author Ella B. Cocker to got to Maine for a little vacation. As they were finishing up their delicious breakfast, Jules heard Burlington Jones arguing with someone out in the store. Jules, being curious, walked into the store only two find three individuals talking to Jones: a tall, handsome man, a very attractive woman, and a very heavy-set gentleman who seemed to be looking around while sweating profusely. The handsome man excused himself from Burlington Jones and extended his hand towards Jules. "Hey there, you must be Mr. Pollack. I am Dunstan Dunford and the next mayor of Arkham. These are my associates, Ms. Carrie Brown, and the big fella is Country Breakfast. Say, Mr. Pollack, are you a registered Democrat?" And then the political discussion was on, with heated arguments between Jules non-conformist viewpoint and Dunford's campaign. The discussion was only briefly interrupted when Mackie entered the store, wielding a cigarette holder and a cocktail while yelling "Fuck off!" 

That exclamation also led to Howard Lake sliding up to Ms. Carrie Brown. Howard was in pursuit of information about Dunford and his campaign, but also of any fringe benefits that might be the result of charming Ms. Brown. However, Ms. Brown turned out to be the commensurate professional, and Lake's advances were meat with leaflets and flyers proclaiming the virtues of Arkham's next mayor, while pointing out that the current mayor, Jonathan Bryce, really hadn't contributed anything to the betterment of Arkham. Meanwhile, the man simply referred to as Country Breakfast had a nice conversation with Mrs. O'Flaherty and some mincemeat pie. 

Dunstan Dunford

Ms. Carrie Brown

Country Breakfast

Dunford and his associated eventually left, and none of the Intrepid Investigators were too impressed. A Democrat? In Arkham? And what was so wrong with Mayor Bryce? Felix Jeremiah decided to share the medical journal that he had taken care of in Dr. Queeg's office during the weekend:

Some highlights from Dr. Queeg’s treatments of Mayor Jonathan Bryce

 

May 1, 1925

I am really feeling stressed, worn out and empty. I do not know if I even should run for another term. I have honestly really tried to be an honest and hard-working mayor, and I can point out all kinds of success stories, but it is so tiring to just go from one disaster to another. And now we had the power plant explosion, and I have been accused of causing it due to ineptitude!

 

July 17, 1925

I have tried the new medications you gave me, and although I feel less stressed, I have been suffering from some problems sleeping. I have occasionally been in a state where I am really not certain if I am awake or not, and sometimes I’ve seen strange things, often through the windows, like figments of dreams.

 

August 30, 1925

I am really so glad that you could see me at so short notice. My wife is sick, and I am so worried. You know, it runs in her family, and I have dreaded this moment for so long.

 

September 14, 1925

It feels as if these dreamlike visions are becoming more persistent, and recurring. I thought I was sleeping soundly and dreaming when I saw this grotesque naked woman leering at me through my bedroom window. It was terrifying, but as I turned on the light, she was gone.

 

September 22, 1925

Dr Queeg, I saw her again, in the middle of the night! This time I was returning from an excursion to the restroom, so I am almost entirely certain that I wasn’t sleeping. She has dark, wavy hair, and she is covered by grotesque patterns, like messages from an inmate at the Arkham Sanitarium! She smiled crazily at me again before disappearing, just like that! I am really stressed again, and I feel my heart pounding just as I think about it. How will I have the energy to meet my constituents tomorrow?

 

September 24, 1925

This time there was music, music that played all night, it seemed. My poor wife couldn’t hear it, but I heard it: repetitive, monotonous music. Am I losing it? Am I overworked? Should I just retire?

 

September 29, 1925

There were several of them this night. The grotesque woman, some form of really strange and frightening animal, and something that looks like a pierrot or something similar. I am so glad that you encourage me to remain in the mayoral race, but I am feeling so exhausted. 

Mayor of Arkham Jonathan D. Bryce

It was a strange read, and yet difficult to figure out what was going on. Lake pointed out that there were no indications that Dr. Queeg had tried to influence Mayor Bryce in the way the nefarious psychotherapist had experimented on Lake and perhaps even Moira Baker. Yet, the circumstances were starting to make the Intrepid Investigators more than a little curious.

As morning became afternoon, Felix Jeremiah went out to gather the signatures necessary for his mayoral candidacy, included knocking at the door of Psilander House, Dr. Queeg's luxurious mansion. The staff had no clue whatsoever as to where Dr. Queeg had disappeared to, but Felix had a nice chat with the butler and the head maid while explaining his candidacy and political program: "Standing Up for the Little Guy." He did manage to gather the required signatures for his candidacy just before City Hall closed, and as Felix handed in his immaculately completed paperwork, he could not help feel quite satisfied with himself. 

Howard Lake had managed to arrange a meeting with Ms. Carrie Brown. Unfortunately, the meeting was not as fruitful as Lake had hoped. Ms. Brown remained completely professional, and clearly a very dedicated campaign worker. So far, there seemed to be a potential campaign rally as part of the future for Lake and Ms. Brown.

Jules Pollack had to deal with the impending resignation of Burlington Jones, while Mackie took care of Karen as she pretended to grade some essays. Some further inquisitiveness on behalf of the Intrepid Investigators revealed that Dunstan Dunford was an attorney, and that he'd been in Arkham for five years. There was little information to be found on his background, so Jules and Mackie decided to place telephone calls to the Massachusetts Bar Association first thing Wednesday. They also decided to call a contact at Harvard to ensure that Ms. Carrie Brown was an actual graduate from the prestigious collage.

The following morning turned out to be rainy and windy, the first fall storm of 1925. Telephone calls were placed, and Harvard did have a graduate by the name of Carrie Brown, class of 1920. The Bar Association did have a Dunstan Dunford registered as having passed the bar exam, but apparently he had never practiced law, neither in Boston, nor in Arkham. There was one other thing though: all the records of Dunstan Dunford were registered as being copies of originals. There might be a perfectly plausible explanation to this, but it nevertheless seemed odd, and a further telephone call was placed by Mackie to Boston State College (BSC), where Dunford was claimed to have earnt his degree.

Mackie was apparently a known quantity on Campus, and a couple of undergraduate students had actually only recently transferred to the Miskatonic University archaeology program, so the registrar and bursar were more than happy to share some information. Bottom line, there was no Dunstan Dunford amongst the BSC alumni. A further telephone call to City Hall in Boston revealed that all of Dunstan Dunford's original documents had been destroyed just about five years ago. He was also the only child of deceased parents. Mackie nodded slowly to Jules as he hung up the receiver. This was indeed getting curious, and the clock was not even ten in the morning!

A Horrifying Comedy

Sunday, October 4.

From the diary of Mackenzie MacNamara:

There was research to be done that Sunday, and we headed out to the Miskatonic University Library to find information on the Charaka Samhita, the El-Mansuri, Die Behandlungen der Irren ohne mechanischen Zwang, and Über Sprachstörungen im Traume. The library is actually open for a couple of hours on Sundays, and as we entered the library I ran into one of my graduate students, Amanda Bowman. She whispered to me that the library has a new employee who rules over the checkout counter. She did in all likelihood have a name, but she was only known as "The Potato Chip Lady". To know her was to fear her, as the silence of the ancient library was interrupted by the recurring crunch of yet another chip being devoured by The Potato Chip Lady. Anyhow, the books turned out to be early texts on what we would call psychology and psychiatry, and they had all been checked out by Dr. Henrietta Queeg. A further conversation with Professor Armitage about the arcane contents of the closed stacks made clear that Dr. Queeg had been reading some of the more obscure books mentioned in Lake's note. Hm, it seemed as if Dr. Queeg had been experimenting with psychotherapy and eldritch unholy mysticism connected to primordial beings of alien origin. What could possibly go wrong?

From the diary of Jules Pollack:

I wasn't invited to the Sunday reception for Victor Ventura, but I was expected. Dr. Queeg's mansion, Psilander House, was indeed grand, and so was the reception itself. Moira was there, but she seemed, well, odd. More odd than usual. But, we had a plan! Felix was left behind upstairs, while we stayed as long as humanely possible. It turned out that Queeg, Ventura (or whatever his name might be), Henry O'Reilly, and another thug, Pete The Meat Brazzo, took off in an automobile. The left Arkham, with Mackie and myself in hot pursuit. As it were, they turned off after ten or so miles and parked outside small house north of the road between Arkham and Boston. I pulled out the ignition cables out of their car's engine just for fun after sneaking up to the house, and we took a quick peak in through the dusty windows. It seemed as if Queeg was preparing some kind of ritual, and after some time the entire party of goons, comedians, psychoanalysts and Moira Baker left for the car. Some cursing and quick repairs, and they started off on the road back to Arkham.

  

Pete The Meat Brazzo

From the diary of Felix Jeremiah:

https://open.spotify.com/track/6avV0X27a8FKFbX8JOdHbc?si=6f27b22d46474af5

The contents of Dr. Queeg's office were, well, quite interesting, and I just felt that I had to take care of certain parts of these contents. There is much to be read...

From the diary of Howard Lake:

Ther were explosion and a fire by Miskatonic University, so I ran into my car and drove straight to the university. A car was on fire, apparently after suffering a catastrophic explosion. A weird blueish pulsating light came from one of the side entrances to the library building, and I pulled out my trusty Luger and entered, perhaps foolhardily. I was met by a gruesome scene that clawed at my sanity and made my stomach heave. Brazzo and O'Reilly seemed to have been turned inside out to a gruesome mess of intestines, organs, bones and blood. Ventura was crouched over the Necronomicon together with Queeg, and Moira seemed to be lying lifeless next to them. Jules and Mackie had already entered the room, and they were trying to revive Moira as Ventura and Queeg stood up. I instantly noticed, to my utter horror, that the New York comedian had been hideously transformed into a garish parody of of human appearance. I could only stare helplessly as they ran out of the building, laughing maniacally. 

Brazzo?

O'Reilly?

Epilogue

He had really believed in Dr. Queeg and her increasingly odd occupation with occult forces beyond comprehension. He really thought that reading the ancient text would make him a whole human being, that his inner demons would be dispelled and leave him forever. He longed so much for peace, quiet and harmony, and perhaps a life more ordinary. The revelations from the text did nothing of that, nothing at all. Although he couldn't understand the meaning of the long and difficult syllables, he felt as if they explained things to him, down to a sub-molecular level, He saw things that no mortal man should be exposed to, things and circumstances that started to change him through contortions and convulsions as the unbearable horrors of vistas beyond our space-time revealed themselves in thoroughly soul-destroying glimpses of despair. After what seemed like aeons of torment, he felt thoroughly changed in in a physical way. His hair had morphed into chloride green, his skin was so pale that it was practically white, and his smile, the smile that had wooed audiences all over America, had turned his face into a permanent contortion, a parody of his stage persona. Worst of all, all that those ideas, principles and hopes that he'd held so dear turned out to be mere parts of a comedic mess. A joke.

A Confrontation - and Saturday Evening Vaudeville!

Lake woke up early, a man with a mission. He told his landlady, Mrs. Inez Rostankowski, that a locksmith would be visiting this morning, and he called the aforementioned locksmith promptly at nine o'clock. Having dealt with this pressing issue, he took a brisk walk to Jules Pollack Fine Antiques, hoping that Mrs. O'Flaherty might have some breakfast ready. Arkham was definitely showing signs of entering fall, with a bit of a wind and the leaves just turning in Independence Square. Oh, well, it would all be better after breakfast, and perhaps a chat with Dr. Queeg. This may be the right time to tell her about the issues with Violet.

The intrepid investigators were indeed having breakfast at together with Jules, although Moira was missing. They were about to finish up when Howard stepped into the dining room, and he instantly saw Violet. The lively conversation ended right away as the siblings stared at each other. Violet started yelling at Howard, tears welling up in her eyes, while her visibly shaken brother accused her of stalking him and hiding out in odd locations, spying upon him, and smiling weirdly all the time. Violet said that she needed to leave, but Mackie's steady hand and reassuring voice convinced her to stay. Mrs. O'Flaherty's fortified sherry settled the matter. The exchange was uneasy, not to say unnerving, but it was decided to not leave the siblings by themselves until it was sorted out what had really happened. Was Violet insane, or Howard, or both - or neither?

As it turned out, Moira was staying with Dr. Queeg, and Howard left to collect some things from his apartment, since he would be staying with Jules a couple of days until things were sorted out. Felix and Franz followed him to the apartment, which had a new lock. The odd list was still lying on Howard's desk, and Felix decided to discreetly place the note in his pocket to share it with Mackie.

• Cultes des Goules, 
• De Vermiis Mysteriis,
• The Seven Cryptical Books of Hsan, 
• Charaka Samhita, 
• El-Mansuri, 
• Die Behandlung der Irren ohne mechanischen Zwang, 
• Über Sprachstörungen im Traume,
• Al Azif 

Mackie and Jules looked over the note back at Jules Pollack Fine Antiques while Lake installed himself in an upstairs bedroom. It was indeed a strange concoction of texts, all penned in Lake's meticulous handwriting. Professor Armitage had talked to Mackie, Moira and Jules about the two first books, the Cultes des Goules by Comte d'Erlette, and De Vermis Mysteriis, as well as the Al Azif, the dreaded Necronomicon, written by the mad Arab Abdul Al-Hazred many centuries ago. The tome is said to hold clues to a dark and troubling past, and perhaps also to an equally disturbing future. The ancient text was supposedly very difficult to penetrate, and a real challenge to both mind and will. The remaining five titles were not known by either investigator. Something in Hindi, something in Arabic, and two German titles? And what was Hsan? They discussed the matter at some length until it was time to get ready for this evening's vaudeville show, which was conveniently located at  Myrtington House, just across Independence Square. The lineup seemed promising:

• The Moxies, America’s MOST Exciting Dance Troupe
• Little Miss Crusoe, a humorous take on the novel, performed by real Midgets
• Nimble Norman, A Yankee Acrobat and Real Rubber Man
• The Stunning Miss KitKat Le Noir and her Tame Cats
• Senorita Carmen LaFlor, The Latino Singer Extraordinaire
• Victor Vega, the Legendary New York Comedian
• The Pickle Sisters
• The Mysterious Dr. Z

And the Master of Ceremonies, Mr. Kyle Kelso.

The theater was fairly small, with a small reception area leading into the theater itself. The show was sold out in what promised to be an amazing evening. The intrepid investigators arrived just before Dr. Queeg and Moira, who were accompanied by Victor Ventura and a figure that Felix Jeremiah recognized: a certain Henry O'Reilly. But what was Henry O'Reilly doing in Arkham? Felix knew that there were all kinds of rumors surrounding O'Reilly. He had a reputation of being a real sadist, and he supposedly had a collection of various taxidermied body parts, especially ears. 

Henry O'Reilly

However, the evening started with a loud disagreement between Dr. Henrietta Queeg and local celebrity author Ella B. Cocker. Jules could not hear what the argument was about, but he made a mental note to self to inquire further during the intermission.

The first part of the show was most entertaining, and the crowd was loud and cheerful when it was time for intermission. Mackie went up to Moira, who was glad to see Mackie, although she seemed, well, drunk. She was distant, non-focused, and not attentive at all. Weird. Jules did spot Ella B. Cocker, and the author did recognize Jules Pollack. They had tun into each other on a couple of occasions, although they've never really had a lengthy conversation. Jules found her "Order of Taarna" to be quaint, as he considered the "secret society" to be a haven for dilettantes. Cocker, being a warm and engaging person, albeit a bit full of herself, was more than willing to discuss the argument with Dr. Queeg. Ella claimed that Dr. Queeg, a former member of the Order of Taarna, had attempted to convince two of the members of the Order to partake in strange psycho-occult experiments. Cocker saw this as potentially dangerous, and she had made sure that there'd be neither experiments, nor volunteers to be had. 

Ella B. Cocker

Howard Lake thought that Kit Kat Le Noir seemed more than a little bit interesting, and he wanted to make a move on her. Franz Alter was, as always, only a pace behind him, and irritating as that might have been, Howard nevertheless decided to approach the stunning beauty and her feline friend. Despite Howard's good looks and charming comments, Kit Kat Le Noir seemed less than interested, and as Howard changed his focus to one of the Moxies, Kit Kat Le Noir started engaging Franz Alter instead. The result was chemistry on several levels. It turned out that they shared similar interests regarding recreational drug use, and Franz Alter even got a bit excited, despite the cat draped over Ms. Le Noir's shoulder. Franz thought of the enormous cat that lived with his mother, and he suppressed a slight shudder before reengaging in the stunning Ms. Le Noir. What a pleasant woman, and now even more so on amphetamines! Meanwhile, Felix struck up a budding friendship with Nimble Norman, whose real name was James Tipton. Nimble Norman was rather eager to include Felix as a guest star in his show, and Felix promised he'd take this under consideration. 

Nimble Norman

Kit Kat Le Noir

The second act was equally amusing, and Victor Vega (or was it Ventura?) did put on quite the show. His stage persona was quite different from his shy and reserved private personality, and his witty puns and incredibly wide smile really captured the audience. He announced that this would be his last performance in Arkham, and that he would be heading back to New York City tomorrow, after a small cocktail gathering.

The evening had been interesting so far, and Lake had taken quite some interest in the young dancer he had flirted with during the intermission. The feelings were clearly mutual, and Lola followed Howard to the after-hours party at Jules's. There were cocktails to be had, and Jules rolled out the bar cart in front of a small crowd that consisted of Howard, Lola, Burlington Jones and a couple of Moxies who had introduced themselves as Trixie, Roxanne, and... Kunigunda.

Howard and Lola managed to extract themselves from the frivolities downstairs for some private and adult time, and as they closed the bedroom door behind them, Franz Alter took up, post outside the bedroom. After some time, Franz noted a strange sound, or perhaps an absence of sound. He entered the bedroom, only to find Lola fast asleep, and the window open. No Lake. Franz dashed up to the window, and he saw Lake marching down the street at a breakneck pace, heading towards the Miskatonic River. Climbing down the gutter presented little difficulty for Franz Alter, and he managed to alert Jules before pursuing Lake. Burlington Jones was left all alone with Trixie, Roxanne, and Kunigunda.

Lola

Mackie and Felix had already left for Violet's house after the Vaudeville show, and they were greeted by and anxious Violet. They searched the house, and Mackie placed an incantation on Violet's room to alert them if there were any intruders of human - or any other - kind. They had just settled in the living room when they heard a shriek from Violet: "He's here! He's coming for me! Howard!" Mackie took a peek through the window, and she clearly saw Lake marching up the old cobble-stoned street. He was followed by Franz Alter immediately behind him, with Jules Pollack running 50 or so feet behind. They decided to stand by the door to give Lake a proper greeting, whatever that might imply.

Howard was running as fast as he could, his heart thumping in his chest and his muscles aching, and yet it felt like he was running through molasses. The shadowy presence following him was just a pace behind, and no matter how hard Lake exerted himself, he did not gain on the dreadful shadow. It was a shocking and uncouth black thing with smooth, oily, whale-like surfaces, unpleasant horns that curved inward toward each other, bat wings whose beating made no sound, ugly prehensile paws, and a barbed tail that lashed needlessly and disquietingly. And worst of all, it never spoke or laughed, and never smiled because it had no faces at all to smile with, but only a suggestive blankness where a face ought to be. Lake ran in what seemed to be a thick forest, or perhaps a never-ending corridor in a lunatic asylum. The images changed at will, and just as he was about to collapse, he felt a hand on his shoulder. Lake woke up outside his mother's house, trembling and drenched in sweat. Franz Alter had placed his long and narrow hand on his shoulder, and for some reason Mackie and Felix were standing at the door. Lake was more than a little confused.

Howard was in a sad state. He had clearly left J. Pollack Fine Antiques without taking time to get dressed properly: no hat, no shoes or socks, no jacket and no collar with his shirt. He was drenched in sweat, and yet chill to the bone. His wide-eyed gazed clearly indicated that he had little idea of how he he got here. although it was comforting to be at his mother's house. But what if Violet was there? The issue of Violet's eerie stalking was still unresolved, and Howard felt both uneasy and confused. And cold. And miserable!

Mackie, being a caring human being in her own very special way, handed Howard a cigarette from her expensive sterling silver case, without offering him a light. At the same time, Felix picked up a blanket from a stool in the foyer, handing it to the much taller Howard. Franz considered various chemical options, but he had really never seen a case of such extreme somnambulism. Running all the way from J. Pollack Fine Antiques to the Lake House had also left him a bit short of breath, despite being reinforced with his own drugs. Meanwhile, Felix Jeremiah could not help thinking what a stunning photograph it would be if someone shot a picture of him handing a blanket to the frozen needy, a look of grave concern and compassion on his face. It could all be put into good political use in due time.