The Asylum
Tamara Bircham’s “Institute”

Originally used as a military hospital and built in the earlier part of the 1900’s, Tamara Bircham bought the plot of land and the abandoned structure in the 1940’s before it could be re-acquired by the government to controll the influx of patients from the destruction of WWII.

An excerpt from the NPC files:
Mrs. Bircham owns and operates a mental institution devoted to the study of traumatic psychosis, and the advanced treatment thereof. Of course many assume that the real research done on site is far more… relevant.

The institute has suffered a series of outbreaks of hysteria over the years, from unconfirmed causes. The latest, and most devastating of these, has been a violent, self destructive psychotic rage that has swept the patients and the staff, violence and death ensued. The "unholy" destruction ceased after a lone man in a gray suit, was caught on camera sweeping the asylum, and coolly and cleanly executing all those he felt were tainted… or left alive.

Due to some unknown occurrence, the institute has become haunted. Ghosts, entities, both sentient and not (among other, more unspeakable things) have taken up residence in this blood stained prison. Some of the cell doors are still locked from the inside, their viewing windows stained with blood. One can only imagine what has happened… or is happening inside. Reports from the shroud of death being tangible, to corpses reanimating to deliver threats or warnings have come forth. Only Tamara and Juan know why the institute was not leveled to make way for something less dangerous, like a rust metal scrap yard.

Several sojourns have been made for research purposes into the asylum since the disaster. No patients have been taken in, and the vegetation ahs been allowed to creep its way though the powder coated iron gates.

Bircham will not allow any rude questioning to be done in her domain about the asylum in Poolesville, but if asked politely, will only smile and say she has "plans for the building and its inhabitants."

- May 2007