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by Rachel Carpenter

Welcome to another Mythic Monday! In today's post, I'm reporting on my continuing investigations with Elder Sign.

After-action report from confrontation with Abhoth in the Arkham Museum on Wednesday, June 3, 2026, Part the first:

Quick Situation Update
:d10-1: Darrell Simmons and William Yorick had successfully sealed Rhan-Tegoth away (again) in the Frozen North (Alaska).
:d10-2: Mark Harrigan was formally re-assigned to Arkham by the Guardians. Before settling in, he had arranged for a clean-up crew at the Arkham Museum. Things were a bit of a mess after Ghatanothoa's attack... A friend was expected to bring his dog (Buster) to Arkham.
:d10-3: Tommy Muldoon was back on duty.
:d10-4: Mandy Thompson was buried in her research.
:d10-5: Akachi was getting used to having an apprentice (Wendy). Living with a teenager was proving to be interesting...
:d10-6: Doctor Vincent Lee... was around.
:d10-7: Skids had gotten his illegal gambling empire back on track.
:d10-8: Dexter Drake was still working as a stage magician on The Spell of the Seas (cruise ship) while investigating elder threats for the Guardians.
:d10-9: Monterey Jack and Father Mateo had just contained Nyarlathotep and prevented the rise of the Dark Pharaoh in the sands of Egypt.
:d10-1::d10-0: Fallen Investigators: Patrice Hathaway, Kate Winthrop, Amanda Sharpe, Sister Mary, Rex Murphy, Gloria Goldberg, and Diana Stanley.
:d10-1::d10-1: Ongoing Effects: Permanent-1 Max Sanity on Mandy Thompson (penalty from Strange Lights over the Streets of Arkham)

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Last Night...
Tommy Muldoon's apartment

Mandy knocked on the door. No response. What good is a phone, if you don't answer the stupid thing? Mandy fumed. And knocked again. She didn't want to wake Tommy's neighbors... but come on, answer the d*mn door. Still no answer. She did have a key... assuming Tommy had never changed the locks... when they'd called it quits, Tommy had told her to keep it, "for emergencies" he'd said, back then. Was this an emergency? To h*ll with it, she made up her mind and dug around in her purse.

Finding the key, she let herself in. No Tommy. She shut and locked the door, kicked off her boots, and continued into his small kitchen/dining room. She turned on the lights. A dirty coffee mug was in the sink and Tommy's jacket was haphazardly slung across the back of a kitchen chair. His keys, wallet, and badge were on the table. She placed her purse, scarf, and coat on the other chair. Now further into Tommy's apartment, Mandy could hear water running... bathroom... She continued into his office/bedroom. Turning on the celling light she could see Tommy's uniform was hung carefully on the closet door. And bingo, the bathroom door was shut. Mandy knocked on it. Still no response.

"Tommy! I know you're in there," called the researcher. Water. She tried the door. It opened inwards, making the small bathroom seem even smaller. The lights were out. "Tommy?" she called more tentatively. She'd been angry before, but now, now she just couldn't shake the feeling that something was terribly wrong. She stepped into the bathroom and turned on the light. There was a pained gasp from the shower, "shut it off."

"Tommy, what the h*ll?" Mandy pulled the curtain back. Tommy was at the bottom of the shower.
"Shut it off. God, Mandy, please just shut it off."
Mandy pulled the curtain closed and turned off the light. "Migraine?" she whispered.
"Just go. I'm fine."
Mandy wanted to scream, but instead kept her voice low, "You are not fine," she put emphasis on the "not." "How long?" she asked.
"I came home. "
"And?"
"I got in the shower."
"Your water bill is going to be ridiculous this month."
"Don't care."
"Get up and dry off. I'll shut off the other lights."
"Not getting up just yet."
"Yes, you are."
"Mandy..."
"I'll be back." She didn't want to hear it. Mandy backed out of the bathroom, shut off the ceiling light and the kitchen light, and then made her way back to the bathroom. She couldn't hear water anymore and considered that to be a move in the right direction.
"Are you decent?"
"You've seen it before."
"Not what I asked."
Tommy opened the door. He was dressed in an old t-shirt and boxers, and he was holding onto the doorframe, hard.
"Dizzy?"
"Comes and goes."
"Did you eat anything?"
"No."
"Do you want to?"
"Mandy"
"Just answer the question."
"No."
"Nauseas?"
"Maybe."
"Do you want to lie down? Sleep?"
Tommy didn't move at first, then ducked back into the bathroom. She could hear him retching. Tommy had had a few migraines back when they were together. Well, the first time. They were kind of together again now. Life was complicated that way. Still, she had never seen Tommy quite this bad. Maybe she should call Dr. Lee... Mandy set a trash can next to the bed and then made her way back to the bathroom just as Tommy opened the door again. "Feel better?"
"Not really. Nothing left to come up though."
"Do you want me to call Dr. Lee?"
"No."
"Are you sure?"
"Mandy, I said no."
"Maybe he can prescribe something."
"I've tried meds before. They don't work. Not on this."
"Bed then?"
"I can try," Tommy was a bit wobbly as he made his way to the bed. Mandy wasn't quite sure how to help and was just glad he made it to the bed without falling.
"Can I get you anything?"
"No. I'll, I'll just sleep it off," Tommy fumbled with his alarm clock.
Mandy watched him set it for 4:30 AM. "You can't be serious."
Tommy looked up at her. His eyes were glassy.
"You are not going in tomorrow."
"Roll Call's at 5:30."
"You are calling off."
"I can't call off."
"Do you really think that Captain..."
"I am not calling off," Tommy emphasized each word.
Mandy fumed. "You're being ridiculous."
"I'll be fine," Tommy got under the covers and closed his eyes.
"You're not fine."
"But I will be," he mumbled as he pulled the comforter over his head.
Mandy snorted. Tommy was stubborn. And infuriating. And... she couldn't leave him alone like this. What if he got worse? She grabbed the spare blanket and sat down on the other side of the bed. Soft snores from under the comforter let her know that Tommy had miraculously already fallen asleep. She laid down and covered up. She'd just close her eyes for a few minutes... if Tommy needed something she was close enough to hear him...
...
Mandy woke to the sound of an ear-splitting alarm. Not her alarm... that was Tommy's... the thought jolted her awake. The blankets on his side of the bed were rolled back. No Tommy. She got up and turned off the stupid alarm clock. 7 AM. Tommy must've reset it... His uniform was gone. He wasn't in the bathroom or the kitchen. There! On the table, where Tommy's keys, badge, and wallet had been the night before was a note. It read:

Mandy,
Felt better. Went in. Didn't want to wake you. Alarm is set for 7.
Love,
Tommy

Mandy crumpled the note and tossed it in the trash. She wanted to scream. But there was no one to scream at... I might as well head over to the museum...

This morning...
Arkham Museum

Mandy was still furious. Her boots clacked loudly as she walked into the research office the Arkham Investigators shared. She flipped on the lights and threw her raincoat on the chair, not even caring that the coat was making her chair damp. The brisk walk over from Tommy's apartment had not cooled her temper. Instead, the light drizzle and gloomy clouds just annoyed her even more. Just as she was debating the merits of making a full pot of coffee when Akachi wasn't even scheduled to come in today... the phone rang. Grabbing the receiver, she growled "What!" into it instead of a more professional greeting.
"Well, hello to you too," the researcher could almost hear Monty's smile.
"Sorry, Monty," Mandy apologized.
"No worries, kid steal your favorite scarf again?" Wendy had "borrowed" Mandy's favorite pashmina not so long ago.
"No, it's, it's not Wendy."
"Ah, then it must be Tommy Boy," and now Mandy could definitely hear Monty's smirk.
"Men are stupid," said the researcher.
"The fairer sex aren't always as smart as they like to think they are," said Monty.
"Well, I'm certainly smart enough to ask for help when I need it. Unlike a certain jack*ss with a hero complex."
"But he's our jack*ss, lass."
"Hmpfh."
"What did he do now?"
Mandy sighed, "I think there's something wrong with him, Monty."
"He getting migraines again?"
"Yes! And honestly, I haven't seen him this bad. Ever! Last night he really scared me. And this morning Monty, he just woke up and went into the precinct like nothing even happened," Mandy vented.
"Alrighty, look, I was gonna stay in Cairo for a few days..."
"That's fine. I'll handle it." Mandy didn't want Monterey Jack to cut his trip short. After being possessed, he certainly deserved a bit of a break.
"I'll be on the first flight out tomorrow morning."
"Monty," Mandy started.
"I'll be back as soon as I can. If you say something's wrong, then something's wrong."
"Thanks Monty."
"See you soon, lass." Monty hung up and Mandy put the receiver back. Time for coffee.
...
Not long after she'd settled into her desk with a steaming mug and the latest acquisitions paperwork, Mark Harrigan walked in. "Good morning."
"Good morning," she returned his greeting.
"What's on today's agenda?"
Mandy set the paperwork aside and turned to face Mark. "I think we've got an Abhoth problem."
"Abhoth?"
"Elder god. Particularly nasty. Spawns monsters. Lots of them. It's like playing whack-a-mole in the museum," Mandy explained listlessly.
"You've done this before then."
"A few times," she said.
"Want a hand this time around?"
"Sure," Mandy smiled.

Yep, definitely an Abhoth problem.

A Deadly Gamble...Amid the Stillness paid off.

Mandy

knew exactly what she was looking for. Mark... not so much. "Stay AWAY from the windows!" she yelled at the retired solider.

She shot the monster with her Tommy Gun, then laid down a salt line on the window frame. Success earned our heroes their first 2 Elder Signs.

Yep, Abhoth. Mandy was right!

Mark was Haunted by a Shadowy Figure,

but managed to break free from the figure's hold.

Good job, Mark!

3rd Elder Sign. "This isn't so bad," said Mark. "Don't jinx it," Mandy warned.

Mandy was trapped in a Vision of Demise... ["See you jinxed it!"]

Mark came to her aid.

And freed them both from Abhoth's mind games. [4th Elder Sign]

[Alone] "Yep, definitely jinxed it."

[Ally Deck discarded for the rest of this play]
"Mark, the first rule of surviving here in Arkham is do not tempt fate!"
"I won't do it again."
"Hmpfh."

Mandy investigated Strange Robberies.

[+1 Elder Sign- #5]

Time continued to tick away... with 6 more Elder Signs needed to seal Abhoth away, will our team find them all in time? Will they complete the sealing ritual before Abhoth rises? Tune in next Monday to find out!

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Comments:
You can see the beginnings of the continuation of Tommy's playline/plotline. Something's wrong with our favorite boy in blue! That said, I liked having a Mark and Mandy team-up. Mark's not quite as dismissive of the Arkham team as Diana was, but he does think he's seen it all before and occasionally gets in over his head. Luckily, Mandy's there to remind him to take Arkham seriously. They make a good pair and I enjoyed the banter. It made for a fun play. Part 2 of this adventure will air next Monday. And after that: Monty's return from Egypt... Whatever's going on with Tommy... And eventually... a very special adventure at sea (Dexter Drake's return to the playline/plotline!). Stay tuned for all of the fun in-and-out of Arkham!

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Past Mythic Mondays:
Mythic Mondays- Arkham Adventures: Back to the Beginning
Mythic Mondays- Against Azathoth with some Grave Consequences
Mythic Mondays- Grave Consequences on the Streets of Arkham
Mythic Mondays- Grave Consequences in the frozen North
Mythic Mondays: Rhan-Tegoth Rematch, Part I
Mythic Mondays: Rhan-Tegoth Rematch, Part II
Mythic Mondays- Akachi returns to Arkham, Part I
Mythic Mondays- Akachi returns to Arkham, Part II
Mythic Mondays- Cthulhu calls
Mythic Mondays - Sisters in spirit take on Atlach-Nacha at the Gate, Part I
Mythic Mondays - Sisters in spirit take on Atlach-Nacha at the Gate, Part II
Mythic Mondays- My First Final Hour
Mythic Mondays: Uh-oh! Better hit Undo! aka First Impressions: Undo: Forbidden Knowledge
Mythic Mondays- First Impressions: Eldritch Horror
Mythic Mondays- The Killing Cold
Mythic Mondays- The Killing Cold: Redux
Mythic Mondays - Meanwhile with Mandy, Part I
Mythic Mondays - Meanwhile with Mandy, Part II
Mythic Mondays- Mandy and Akachi try to save the Museum, Part I
Mythic Mondays- Mandy and Akachi try to save the Museum, Part II
Mythic Mondays - An Arkham Nights 2023 Interlude
Mythic Mondays- The Cop and the (Ex)Convict, Part I
Mythic Mondays- The Cop and the (Ex)Convict, Part II
Mythic Mondays- Strange Lights over the Streets of Arkham, Part I
Mythic Mondays- Strange Lights over the Streets of Arkham, Part II
Mythic Mondays- Breaking News in Arkham
Mythic Mondays- Alaska's on its own, Part I
Mythic Mondays- Alaska's on its own, Part II
Mythic Mondays- Monterey Jack's back, Part I
Mythic Mondays- Monterey Jack's back, Part II
Mythic Mondays- Alone against Azathoth, Part I
Merry Christmas 2023: Mythic Mondays- Alone against Azathoth, Part II
Mythic Mondays- Lots to learn, Part I
Mythic Mondays- Lots to learn, Part II
Mythic Mondays- Three against Shudde M'ell, Part 1
Mythic Mondays- Three against Shudde M'ell, Part 2
Mythic Tuesdays- Three against Azathoth, Part 1
Mythic Mondays- Three against Azathoth, Part 2
Mythic Mondays (occasionally on Tuesdays) - The Shaman & The Rookie, Part 1
Mythic Mondays (occasionally on Tuesdays) - The Shaman & The Rookie, Part 2 & Happy Veterans Day
Mythic Mondays- Four against Arkham's darkness, Part 1
Mythic Mondays- Four against Arkham's darkness, Part 2
Mythic Mondays- The Rookie and the Soldier, Part 1
Mythic Mondays- The Rookie and the Soldier, Part 2
Mythic Mondays- Meanwhile up North... Part 1
Mythic Mondays- Meanwhile up North... Part 2
Mythic Mondays- Into the Sands, Part 1
Mythic Mondays- Into the Sands, Part 2


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Happy Monday and happy playing!
-Rachel

Thank you for reading my blog. If you liked it; then please click the green thumb [microbadge=23724] at the top of the page. If you really liked it; then please subscribe. And follow me across social media with my Linktree:
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Disclaimer:
Prydera and the Guardians are very much my creations. Charge the Circle, Read the Runes, and The Seventh Seal are also mine. Pythia belongs to the ages, though this particular version is very much mine. Mark Harrigan and Diana Stanley's backstories have been significantly warped to suit my universe.

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