Images of Doom

An investigator is in an unfamiliar shopping district. The usual hubbub of shoppers seems slightly more restrained than one would expect. It is then that the investigator sees an old woman approach a young lady with a pram. The old woman coos delightedly at the baby in the pram. The mothers proprietary grin changes to a look of shock, then horror as the old woman reaches inside the pram, grabs the baby by its foot and swings it out of the pram dashing its brains open on a lamppost.

Stunned silence is followed by havoc as people rush to restrain the old lady. The mother is crouched on the floor with the remains of her baby cradled in her arms, humming a lullaby to herself as she rocks to and fro. The crowd loses all restraint as it rips the old woman apart, literally limb from limb. After this the crowd dissipates leaving the young mother swathed in blood and still singing quietly to her dead child. Of the mutilated old woman there is no sign except for masses of blood.

Possibilities

1 The investigator is experiencing horrific nightmares. It’s all a dream. As the week continues the investigator dreams of the old woman time and time again. Every time he sees her, she is committing an atrocity: mutilating animals, setting fire to people, torturing children, sexual perversions, and so on.

There seems to be no way out of this ever-deepening spiral of depravity – Is this the first sign of madness?

2 A worshipper of Nyarlathotep, Jackson Richards, has been having problems with a local woman with great experience of fighting cultists. Aware of the investigator’s previous experiences with cults, he has inflicted him with horrific images of this woman’s “activities”.

None of the events are real – they are all in the investigator’s mind. That doesn’t make them any less disturbing. When the investigator bumps into the old woman he “saw” earlier, his fear and repulsion should propel him into precipitous action against her.

To push him further along that path, Richards sends further images: the mint she pops into her mouth is a human eyeball; the sly looks she throws the investigator’s way; the strangely shaped, almost cloven, foot she hides beneath her dress. All these images should convince the investigator that action is required against this woman immediately.

If the woman is dealt with, Richards puts the second phase of his plan into action . . .

3 A nerve toxin has been released into the air by followers of Y’golonac. This toxin removes peoples’ inhibitions against violence. It takes some time to take effect and was released over a week ago in the town. The investigator, having only just arrived, is so far unaffected. The toxic effects get stronger and stronger until the town becomes a war zone.

Even if the investigator leaves town he will feel the effects of the toxin pretty soon.

© Simon Taylor