Ah Toy

Retired madam

### Arts/Crafts

(Forgery) 1% (total novice; complete amateur); (everything else) 5% (talented novice; complete amateur)

### Charm

60% (professional who could make a living)

### Climb

20% (amateur with the smallest talent; hobby level)

### Cthulhu Mythos

64% (professional who can make a living; bachelor's degree)

### Dodge

30% (amateur with some talent or training; hobby level)

### Drive Auto

20% (amateur with the smallest talent; hobby level)

### Electronic Repair

10% (neophyte; beginner with a small amount of knowledge)

### Fighting

(Brawl) 55% (professional who could eke out a living); (Axe) 15%; (Chainsaw) 10%; (Flail) 10%; (Garrote) 15%; (Spear) 20%; (Sword) 20%; (Whip) 5%

### Firearms

(Bow) 15%; (Flamethrower) 10%; (Handgun) 20%; (Heavy Weapons) 10%; (Machine Gun) 10%; (Rifle/Shotgun) 25%; (Submachine Gun) 15%

### First Aid

30% (amateur with some talent or rudimentary training; hobby level)

### Intimidate

30% (amateur with some talent or rudimentary training; hobby level)

### Jump

20% (amateur with the smallest bit of talent; hobby level)

### Other Language

(English) 65% (fluent with only slight accent); (Mandarin) 60% (fluent with only slight accent); (all others) 1%

### Library Use

20% (amateur with the smallest bit of talent; hobby level)

### Listen

60% (professional who could make a living)

### Mechanical Repair

10% (neophyte; beginner with a small amount of knowledge)

### Natural World

10% (neophyte; beginner with a small amount of knowledge)

### Navigate

10% (neophyte; beginner with a small amount of knowledge)

### Persuade

10% (neophyte; beginner with a small amount of knowledge)

### Stealth

62% (professional who could make a living)

### Survival

(everything) 10% (neophyte with a small amount of knowledge)

### Science

(Botany) 55% (focuses on poisons, hallucinogens, and aphrodisiacs); (everything else) 1% (total novice; complete amateur)

### Swim

20% (amateur with the smallest bit of talent; hobby level)

### Throw

20% (amateur with the smallest bit of talent; hobby level)

### Track

10% (neophyte; beginner with a small amount of knowledge)

## Background

### Arcane Tomes, Spells, & Artifacts

Armor, Contact Cthulhu, Open Gate, Summon Deep One (need not bind)

Born May 18, 1829, 亞彩 (Ah Toy) was brought over from Hong Kong in 1848, purportedly the first Chinese prostitute in San Francisco. When Ah Toy left China for the United States, she originally traveled with her husband, who died during the voyage. Ah Toy became the mistress of the ship's captain, who showered gold upon her, so much so that by the time she arrived in San Francisco, Ah Toy had a fair bit of money. Before 1851, there were only seven Chinese women known to be in the city, and noticing the looks she drew from the men in her new town, she figured they would pay for a closer look. Her peep shows became quite successful, and she was known to charge an ounce of gold (sixteen dollars) for a "lookee". She quickly became the most famous Chinese prostitute, and one of the highest paid and most famous in San Francisco.

The best-known Asian woman in the Old West, she was brought to trial for her profession during the time when California courtrooms were relatively informal. She defended herself by pointing out many prominent customers in the room and asking why she was on trial and they were not. She won her case. Later in her career, the determined and intelligent woman had the foresight to retain corrupt but City Hall-connected lawyers associated with Abe Ruef as “business advisors”, frequently using the San Francisco Recorder's Court to protect herself and her business from exploitation. Ah Toy proceeded to open a chain of new brothels in 1852 and 1853, importing girls from China in their teens, 20s and 30s to work in them, and some as young as eleven. By 1854, however, Ah Toy was no longer able to take her grievances to court. In the case *People v. Hall*, the California Supreme Court reversed the conviction of George Hall, who had murdered a Chinese man, extending a California law that African Americans and Native Americans could not testify in court to include the Chinese. While this law was not directed at prostitutes, it severely handicapped Ah Toy's ability to protect herself from the domineering Chinese tongs that had for so long sought to control her and her business. Coupled with the anti-prostitution law of 1854, which was carried out mainly against the Chinese, the pressure to stay in business became too great, and Ah Toy withdrew from San Francisco's prostitution business in 1856.

In 1857, she supposedly returned to China a wealthy woman to live the rest of her days in comfort, but she returned to California a decade afterwards. Since 1868, she's lived a mostly quiet life in Santa Clara County, often living with her numerous different partners over the decades, many of whom she has been unable to marry because of anti-miscegenation laws in California that prevent people of East Asian descent from marrying white people. She visits Chinatown as much as necessary discretion allows and is rumored to have a great deal of money hidden away somewhere. The truth is probably that she owns a building or two among her old haunts, enough to live on the rental income.

She might have background information or be able to effect an introduction if someone can find a way to persuade her.

Those with some experience in the occult realms, simply say that it would lessen one such as her to not possess arcane or magical secrets and otherworldly connections.