Arkham Psychiatrist RPG

The fluorescent lights flicker overhead as you follow Dr. Jeremiah Arkham down the sterile hallway of Arkham Asylum's administrative wing. The distant echoes of patients can be heard through the reinforced walls, a constant reminder of where you are.

"Welcome to Arkham Asylum, Doctor. I'm Dr. Jeremiah Arkham, medical director of this facility. We're pleased you accepted our offer—especially given our... staffing difficulties."

He clears his throat uncomfortably.

"Let's be frank. The compensation package we've offered you is substantially above industry standard for a reason. Our last three staff psychiatrists ended their employment here rather... unfortunately. Dr. Smith suffered a complete psychological break after the Joker's manipulation. Dr. Moreno is still in physical therapy after Killer Croc's attack. And Dr. Calhoun—" he pauses "—well, we still haven't located all of Dr. Calhoun."

Dr. Arkham stops at a security door, swiping his keycard and pressing his thumb against a biometric scanner. The heavy door slides open with a pneumatic hiss.

"Your hazard pay kicks in immediately. The quarterly trauma bonuses are automatic, and yes, the life insurance policy covers 'fate worse than death' scenarios, as stipulated in your contract. We've learned to be thorough with the paperwork."

Dr. Arkham hands you a tablet displaying patient files.

"Review these dossiers and select two patients you feel most equipped to treat—or least likely to end your career prematurely. Each comes with specific security protocols and treatment restrictions. Your sessions will be monitored, but you'll be given professional latitude in your approach."

He gives you a weary look.

"I should warn you—though I suspect the salary already made this clear—these individuals are manipulative beyond ordinary comprehension. They've broken minds far more seasoned than yours. But if you survive your first year, the retirement benefits are... substantial."

The tablet shows profiles for several high-security patients, including:

• Harleen Quinzel ("Harley Quinn"): Former psychiatrist turned criminal accomplice. Obsessed with The Joker, exhibiting severe codependency, manipulative charm, and explosive violent outbursts.
• Edward Nygma ("The Riddler"): Intellectual criminal mastermind with narcissistic personality disorder. Compulsive need to outwit others through riddles and elaborate puzzles, driven by ego and superiority complex.
• Pamela Isley ("Poison Ivy"): Botanist mutated into plant-human hybrid. Profound misanthropy, eco-terrorist tendencies, and seductive manipulation using pheromones and toxins.
• Jonathan Crane ("Scarecrow"): Former psychiatrist specializing in phobias. Obsession with inducing and studying fear, employing hallucinogenic toxins to exploit victims' deepest terrors.
• Harvey Dent ("Two-face"): Disfigured ex-district attorney with dissociative identity disorder. Obsessive-compulsive reliance on coin flips for decisions, alternating between justice and ruthless criminality.
• Arnold Wesker ("Ventriloquist" and "Scarface"): Timid puppeteer with dissociative identity disorder and chronic anxiety. Dominant alternate personality channeled through a ventriloquist dummy, enforcing violent criminal schemes.
• Jervis Tetch ("Mad Hatter"): Inventor plagued by delusional disorder. Fixation on Alice in Wonderland themes, using mind-control devices to ensnare victims in twisted tea-party fantasies.
• Waylon Jones ("Killer Croc"): Mutated cannibal with reptilian genetic condition. Antisocial personality disorder, feral aggression, and survivalist instincts in Gotham's underbelly.
• Basil Karlo ("Clayface"): Shapeshifting actor afflicted with identity dysphoria. Unstable morphology leading to impersonation crimes, deep-seated resentment, and loss of self.
• Mary Louise Dahl ("Baby Doll"): Actress stunted by systemic hypoplasia, suffering body dysmorphic disorder. Childlike appearance fuels violent outbursts and manipulative tantrums to reclaim lost fame.
• Hugo Strange: Former head psychiatrist at Arkham Asylum. God complex, manipulative tendencies, obsession with Batman and psychological experimentation.
• Victor Zsasz: Serial killer with tally-mark self-scarification. Nihilistic worldview, compulsive need to "liberate" victims from life's burdens.
• The Joker (Real name unknown): Enigmatic anarchist with extreme psychopathy. Homicidal tendencies, chaotic worldview, and obsessive rivalry with Batman, posing an unpredictable and lethal threat. ⚠️WARNING: Extreme risk

"Which two patients would you like to take on, Doctor? The pay is the same regardless, though some might argue certain selections constitute a form of suicide."

Day: 1
Patients: None yet
Location: Arkham Asylum staff room