The only thing worse than gossiping in New England is people catching you gossiping. People value their privacy, but at the same time the news of the day is more than what gets printed in the papers. It’s about what the neighbors were fighting about, who hasn’t been coming to church as regularly and what new fads are ruining the youth of the day.

When you combine these very natural human impulses with the riotous changes in technology, world politics and a string of constant major events that took place in the 1920s, it’s easy to see how some of the particularly strange happenings going on in and around Arkham, Massachusetts might, well, slip through the cracks a bit.

Whether your game takes you onto the campus of Miskatonic University itself, into the surrounding neighborhoods or even down into the speakeasies and hidden taprooms that lurk somewhere in the town, these are the kinds of rumors your investigators are likely to hear. Keep in mind, however, that these whispers and rumors are geared for the classic decade, and that games set before 1920 or after 1930 may find some of these to be dated, or even outright useless.

To use the list, either roll d100 for random results or select appropriate ones manually.

Here are some sample results:

51. While the country is dry in a legal sense, it’s not currently illegal to actually consume alcohol… technically, at least. For many of Arkham’s wealthier families, it’s possible their full wine cellars and personal bars might last for years. However, there are rumors that most in the upper echelons of society have received “prescriptions” for their spirits of choice. It’s impolite to discuss such matters in the public square, of course, but there is plenty of speculation about which individuals from which families paid for a script to ensure they didn’t have to follow the rules like the common folk do when it comes to their libations.

52. There are rumblings after the massacre in Tulsa, Oklahoma. While most people in Arkham believe that incidents like this don’t happen where good New Englanders are concerned, there are some who very much believe it could happen… even here. Between the syndicates on the docks, those who have fallen on hard times and agitators with extreme political views, there is a chance that things could go quite wrong if those whose job it is to steer Arkham’s direction aren’t diligent in their duties.

53. The existence of widely available credit has changed the nation, and Arkham is no different in this respect. While businesses and wealthy families have always had access to this financial tool, now common folk are able to do things they weren’t before. However, while many people are opening lines of credit with local stores and bank branches, there are rumors that the need for fast cash has actually led to many of the city’s criminal gangs making deals with individuals that legitimate lending organizations won’t deal with. However, there are some people who claim it’s the banks and businesses, overwhelmed by demand, who are making backroom deals with gangsters, who are the ones actually providing the necessary liquid capital.

Released: 18th October 2025 Pages: 23

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