The Arkham 100

It's been a long time since I've done anything with this blog! I just got so distracted and busy with other things. 

I'm coming back with a big new idea. I read about a board game challenge in which you place a game 100 times and keep a record. My favorite board game is Arkham Horror, which is different every time you play, so I decided I wanted to play it 100 times.

The idea evolved into not just recording the results, but keeping detailed noted of the game and turning it into a story. 

I have the results and the story ready from my first game. It's very rough because I'm not quite sure where I want to go with these stories. I have this one written in a sort of first-person, diary-entry way. I tried doing a sort of "accent", or way of speaking, but it's not throughout the entry. I'd really like some feedback on the style and such, so that I can improve the next entry. I might consider taking pictures of set up and stuff as well.

For some background, Arkham Horror is a board game set in Arkham, Massachusetts, which was a small town created by H. P. Lovecraft. Lovecraft was an author of horror along the same lines as Edgar Allen Poe; the horror that Lovecraft created is also known as the Cthulu Mythos. The premise of the board game is that it is the roaring 20's and an ancient monster is about to awake and destroy the world. It is the job of the investigators to stop this from happening. 

So, without further ado, here's Arkham Tale 1, from the perspective of "Ashcan" Pete, a drifter:

I spent many years driftin' 'round this country. I don't have no place to call home. I'm a man of the streets, but I've got Duke, my dog, and my rifle, which keep me safe. I've seen many a strange happenin' as I've roamed the streets, but somethin' stranger has been hauntin' me at night. And it's leadin' me to Massachusetts.

I've finally come to this place... Arkham... after weeks of nightmares drivin' me here. It seems to be a small town, very quiet. There's somethin' strange 'bout this place, can't put my finger on it. Seems I arrived during some sort o' festival, 'n' it's bein' held by some strange lookin' folks, not quite like the rest of the people here. I'll have to poke around and find out what's goin' on in this little town. Maybe then I can sleep soundly at night.

I went to the Science Buildin' up at the University to ask some questions today, thinkin' one o' them smart teachers could answer me. I stopped in the Department o' Alchemy first. One o' the professors looked at me with somethin' like fear in his eyes. He started to chantin' and wavin' some odd-lookin' trinket in my face. Once he were done, he told me I was blessed. I don't know 'bout any blessin' that could come on me, but we'll see if there's anythin' different. He also told me there's been strange goin's-on up at the Woods. 

I didn't want to go straight up to the Woods without knowin' what I was gettin' myself into, so I decided to head over to a place called the Silver Twilight Lodge. I was told the people there think they know magic. When I was pokin' around, the head "wizard", Carl Sanford, wanted to speak with me. He pulled me into his study for a lil' chat. This man had a terrible, powerful air about him that just about scared me right outa that place, but I stood my ground and learned much more. He said somethin' about a... Nightgaunt... that were flyin' round the Woods. He also talked about some kind of gate and a place I never heard of afore, somethin' bout a Great Hall. Afore I left, he mentioned a ritual they were goin' ta begin that night, and that gave me tha shivers. I also heard 'bout more strange trouble near a bar downtown, I think it were called Hibb's...

I decided ta stop by the Historical Society on ma way towards the Woods. I was able to glean more information from some town folk. They were talkin' more 'bout that bar downtown. They was sayin' it's gone to the Abyss and some kind of Spawn is roamin' the streets. It seems that these strange things is happenin' all over town...

When I woke this mornin', I saw somethin' strange shamblin' around. I took my stuff and went after it. I was scared nearly to death by this creature, and I'm a street man who's used to seein' strange things! After I got over ma fear, I shot tha thing and killed it. Now I feel blessed, even though there's a great storm ragin'.

I finally made it ta tha Woods this mornin'. Then somethin' happened! I felt a peculiar sensation, and tha world around me seemed ta change. Now I'm in a strange place and I don't recognize a thang. This must be that Great Hall them wizards was talkin' 'bout. While wanderin' around, I did stumble upon a small gun. I added it to my stash of items.

I took some time this morning to exercise my body, seein' as I don't know what I may encounter here. I did learn from observing the strange people here. This is another world that I'm in! Those rituals and festivals bein' held in Arkham are intended to call some great and powerful being. Now I know that I must stop it.

I spent more time trainin' today, but I don't feel blessed like I were before. I found my way back to Arkham and managed to use all the information I'd gained to make sure that the Woods are safe again. However, as I was beddin' down a great monster attacked the Woods. I was injured slightly, but mostly I'm mighty anxious.

I braced my mind for what I may find in Arkham today. I snuck out of the woods and went to South Church, hopin' to find comfort there. Father Michael merely convinced me that there are others in greater need, so I gave him my only dollar. The ritual that was goin' on when I left has been completed, I feel that hope is gone...

I went to the Witch House near by that Lodge with the wizards. I was taken through another one o' them gates. This place feels almost like Arkham, but there's somethin' different... I got so lost in the town that I didn't make much progress, it was almost as if it weren't the town, but a maze instead.

I felt I finally got out of that maze, but it took me another day. I had to sneak past many monsters that were a-lurkin' around.

The Ancient One awoke! He is a great reptilian being by the name of Yig. As soon as he appeared, I felt his curse settle upon me. I intend to fight until I have no strength within me, though. I lost Duke in the scramble, but I'll fight to honor him and his loyalty!

During my first encounter with Yig, I used a magical powder I had been given during my travels. I could see the damage I did to that great monster! He got a hit on me, though... I didn't get away fast enough.

I took some time to prepare myself before going after Yig again. I missed my shot, but he couldn't catch me either.

I got him this time! And I'm still too fast!

Got him again! But he caught me one, too.

I shook off that curse before I went for him one last time. I knew this had to be the end for one of us. I managed to get off enough shots to destroy that great monster!

After the commotion cleared, the people of Arkham named me First Citizen. Maybe I have me a home now.

And here are the technical details for anyone interested:

Arkham Game 1

Played with Base Game. Ancient One was Yig. Character was "Ashcan" Pete.

Starting Possessions: $1, 3 Clue Tokens, Duke, Rifle, Powder of Ibn-Ghazi, +1 Luck

Play: Took 15 turns, Yig woke up the 12th round because of too many open gates.

Score: 11

Please let me know what you think! I need some good critique!