• RobertJohnson

Robert Johnson

Born 9th June 1887 in Washington DC

Occupation History professor

Address 401 Washington Street, Unity, RI

Significant skills (i.e. any with variable default or with non-starting level)

Cthulhu Mythos points

<<< Wasn't there another 10 from TheBurkeLabJournal and 5 from DieTeufelworte? -- sgb >>>

• <<< I was meaning to ask about that; I didn't write them down, and the details on the pages for those books don't include Mythos cost -- Steve McIntyre >>> <<< Additionally, DieTeufelworte was burnt before Robert could read it in any detail -- Steve McIntyre >>>

Mental disorders

Background -- Public

Robert was born 9th June 1887 in Washington DC to well-to-do parents and was the youngest of 6 children (3 surviving).

Robert contracted tuberculosis at the age of 8, passed on from one of the maids in the house. He was very ill for a long period of time before overcoming it, and the effects will last his lifetime.

He was the very definition of a swot through school - he was never going to be good at sport and was ostracised throughout school and then college. He did find one physical activity which he could do - swimming. But that wasn't enough for the jocks in college and he was mercilessly abused when they got the chance.

Robert was always interested in History. He exhausted all that the local library and his school could tell him about American History, so by the time he got to college he was delving deeply into older European history.

Robert graduated top in his year in Harvard in 1908, which was no mean feat. He started a doctorate. His natural flair for languages helped a huge amount here, particularly on a long field trip round Britain, France, Belgium and Germany in the summer of 1909. Robert had been hoping to find a research post in France, but that was not to be - he was forced to head back to the US to attend his father's funeral in August 1909 and has never found the time or money since to return to Europe.

Robert was destined for great things in Boston - he was tipped as a possible future Faculty Head. However, something happened (see below again) and he left quietly.

In April 1911 Robert turned up in Unity with his very young wife Suzanna and their 2-month old son AndrewJohnson. He took a professorial position at the History Department in a newly-endowed chair of Medieval European History. He joined TheUnitySociety in May and has been a regular attendee ever since. Oddly, his wife almost never joins him, preferring to "socialise with her own friends" instead.

In September 1913 ElizabethJohnson was born.

Robert published his first book Plague - the Black Death in Europe in October 1915. It earned him some acclaim but very little money; history textbooks just don't sell that well. He followed up with England and France - The Hundred Years War in June 1919, but it did not sell at all well, probably due to bad timing. He's been working on a third book about 14th century Bavaria ever since, with little sign of finishing any time soon.

Background - private

(Many people will know some of the later bits, but not all of this)

SuzannaLowell was the 15-year old youngest daughter of the new President of Harvard in Robert's final PhD year. He was besotted with her, and they had a dangerous affair. She became pregnant and this was obvious to her family by June 1910. To avoid the horrendous publicity that would have been attached to the University, it was decided that the young couple should marry and leave Harvard for good. To ensure this, Prof Lowell pulled strings and had the chair in Unity created for Robert.

Once the baby was born, the two were sent off to Rhode Island with a large amount of money to set up a home for Suzanna and the baby. Robert was told in no uncertain terms that he was never to set foot in Boston again. More money would be forthcoming, but only so long as he kept Suzanna happy.

Unfortunately, SuzannaJohnson didn't stay happy for long. There are strong rumours that Elizabeth was not Robert's child. Suzanna is bored with life as the wife of a small-town University professor and spends a lot of her time partying and socialising with friends in Boston, New York and Washington. She torments Robert with very public affairs, while threatening him that she'll get daddy to take his job away and kill his career if he does anything in return. That would be very bad for Robert - the large house they have in the best part of town and the brand new Cadillac he drives are both paid for out of Lowell money, for example.

Robert keeps a small revolver in the house and another in the glovebox of the car "for self defence". He spends a lot of his time at TheUnitySociety trying to stay away from his wife. He often drinks heavily, mainly scotch or at a push JackDaniels.

In the events of WordsWillNeverHurtMe, Robert was feeling very attracted to SarahCarpenter. Until they both started feeling the effects of reading DieTeufelworte and she was committed, anyway. Suzanna was actually shocked into silence a few days later when she started to taunt Robert about the fate of his girlfriend. He told her to shut up and he meant it. Maybe he does have a backbone somewhere.

Later on during PrimumNonNocere Sarah returned to Unity society, under the treatment of the mysterious Dr LeonardGalen. She and Robert continued to get closer while Suzanna was out of town; eventually Robert professed his love for Sarah and she responded in kind.

Robert and Suzanna's relationship is starting to fall apart. He's having an increasingly public affair with Sarah, and trouble must be coming. Robert is trying to ignore that, but it's hard.

During the events of DammitImMad, Robert ended up killing EricColigny while trying to destroy the white demon they had found. Even though it looked like Eric was dead already, Robert will probably never forgive himself for that: he ran and condemned a friend.

Relationships

<<< Any comments? -- Steve McIntyre >>>

Robert is Steve McIntyre's PC.