"Magnussen"



John Smith (true name unknown) was one of the many inmates housed in Bishopgate Asylum. He was found catatonic in Portsmouth in 1872, and was subsequently interred into the asylum. His name, past history and family background was never verified, as nobody came to claim him, and the inmate never talked. Unbeknownst to the staff, Smith was a latent psychic and his catatonic state was brought on by his inability to handle his growing telepathic powers. However, due to a string of inexplicable violence by the staff attending the patient, Smith was transferred to the underground Criminally Insane Ward. In truth, Professor Maxwell sought to unravel the mystery behind the inmate, but he never managed to, due to the 1873 events at the Windham Estate.

After Professor Maxwell's device was activated, John Smith was affected by it in an unique manner as a result of his telepathic talents. His empty mind was filled by the Promised Child's memories of Magnussen, and he convinced himself that he was that man, based on the Child's limited understanding of who Magnussen was.

Buoyed by his psychic powers, "Magnussen" proclaimed himself the prophet of the serpent (in reference to the Serpent Brotherhood) and after the inmates broke out, founded an impromptu cult among them, based on the practice of human sacrifice through the removal of brains. The cult soon took over the Criminally Insane Ward, but their reign was extremely short-lived. In less than a day, the Krewe arrived and exterminated "Magnussen" and his demented followers in the process of investigating the asylum.