Doctor Michael

## Back Story

### History: Childhood

The man who would become Doctor Michael began his life in Arkham, MA, to a small Jewish family. His father was a factory worker at a local textile mill, and his mother owned a small (Largely unsuccessful) book store. Unfortunately, his birth brought misfortune with it. His mother fell into post-partum depression after his birth, though it wasn't a known condition at the time. This was the beginning of the misfortune in the family, as this depression caused a rift to form between Michael's mother and the children of the home. During his infant months, he was largely neglected or cared for by siblings. When he was 6 months old, his father disappeared suddenly. This was the worst of the family's misfortune, as they would never recover from the loss of their patriarch.

Obsessed with finding her husband, Michael's mother shut down her book store to research any possible avenue to explaining her husband's disappearance. Turning over every possible page in her collection of tomes for an explanation for a lead on her love's whereabouts, she found none. Even in the whispered myths of the shadowy things that haunt the dreams of Arkham, MA, there was no closure to be had for her loss. As the months grew into into a year, her behavior became increasingly erratic, and her children increasingly terrified of her. The bookshop, also the family home, fell into terrible disrepair. The neighborhood children would whisper about the house as they passed, saying an "Old witch" lived there. Before the third year had passed after the disappearance of his father, Michael's siblings had fled from their mother. Between the ages of 3 and 7, Michael's mother raised him as a girl. This is, was, and remains weird.

Left alone with his ever-more-psychotic mother, Michael was forced to adapt to the strangest of childhood circumstances. Faced with abuse, odd requests, and strange behaviors, he found a way to adapt to his mother's creeping insanity. In fact, he may have even adopted it. Or improved it. Perfected it.

### History: Young Adulthood

Doctor Michael eventually found a form of peaceful co-existence with his mother, though this speaks more about his own strangeness than his ability to navigate social situations. With his assistance, she reopened her bookstore, focusing on the popular local topics. However, over time, they found that most ordinary residents of Arkham found their book store disagreeable. Two very popular sections of the store, however, were the "Medical Manuals" and "Occult Hobbyist" sections. Michael was much more fond of the Medical Manuals, as they had more pictures and less Latin.

While his mother expanded the "Occult Hobbyist" section, Michael happily studied medical manuals and journals. Eventually, the desire to practice medicine was too great, and he felt a great calling. Wishing his mother and childhood home goodbye, Michael set off to Miskatonic University. He set off to become... **Doctor Michael (No last name).**

### Personal Description

At first glance, Doc Michael would appear to be an incredibly ordinary man in his middle-to-late fifties. Upon closer inspection, he is actually a quite unattractive man in his early thirties. Thoroughly lacking in charm and social decorum, his presence can be equally confusing and disturbing. Along with his already tenuous social skills, his likes and interests tend to be opposed to those of the average American citizen.

Doctor Michael claims to be married to a woman named Minerva, but does not allow anyone else to see her. Oddly, no one in the neighborhood talks about it. They either don't want to know, don't care, or may even believe that he lied about even having a wife in the first place. He's not exactly known for being the coolest guy, after all (Quite the opposite).

While not addicted to any particular drug, Doc Michael does use different chemicals and tonics frequently. He is a tobacco smoker, utilizing both a pipe and a preferred brand of cigarette. Sometimes, he utilizes them at the same time. He does not regularly drink alcohol, but will do so to blend in or seem normal. Doctor Michael is afflicted with minor brain degradation as a side effect of pharmaceutical self-experimentation. He also suffers from general mental illness as a result of his upbringing, and potentially his genetics.

### Ideology/Beliefs

Tied ideologically to the Jewish faith and culture, though distant from it due to his childhood circumstances. Doctor Michael is not currently practicing, but would ultimately fall back on a Judeo/Christian belief system in a moment of terror. However, this wouldn't influence his morality or actions.

Doc Michael has few virtuous beliefs, but among the most closely-held of them is politeness. Doctor Michael does not believe in being rude and rarely loses his temper, despite his complete willingness to compromise morally. The other of his virtuous beliefs is loyalty. Doc is always loyal to those that have stood by him as friends, but perceives the slightest betrayal as a breach of this loyalty.

Significant People

* Doctor Michael's Mother
* Minerva
* Estranged Brother
* Estranged Sister

### Meaningful Locations

* Michael's Potions and Portents
* Rumple's Tobacco Emporium
* St. Mary's Bulk Chemists

### Treasured Possessions

* Michael's Bag (Large Doctor's Bag). Contents: Mostly drugs, but also contains several scalpels, a bundle of bandage, and a bottle of medical alcohol.)
* Michael's Lighter (Despite his family being of Jewish faith, Michael's lighter is emblazoned with a catholic cross. Perhaps he hasn't yet realized.)

* Mother's Old Book (Before he left Arkham for the final time, Michael swiped an old tome from his mother's bedside. He's never been able to decipher it, but it reminds him of home. He assumes it must be Latin. He was never good at Latin.)
* Father's Service Revolver (Old Colt revolver, gunpowder.)

### Traits

* Polite
* Curious
* Creepy
* Neurotic/Erratic Behavior

### Injuries & Scars

Numerous small scars throughout his body as a result of childhood abuse, though these will likely never be seen due to Doctor Michael's phobia of nudity. He also has several self-surgery scars as a result of drug-induced, manic experimentation.

### Phobias & Manias

* Phobia of Being Discovered
* Phobia of Personal Nudity
* Phobia of Other People's Genitals (Not his own)
* Drug Mania

### Encounters with Strange Entities

* Doctor Michael encounters himself, almost every single day.