Showing posts with label fiction. Show all posts
Showing posts with label fiction. Show all posts

Sunday, April 26, 2015

In Their Own Words

I posted previously about my sandbox style Call of Cthulhu game, the Arkham Chronicles.  We've just completed our eighth session, and things have gone as well as I'd hoped.  The characters have all developed nicely, and had a tense time of things surviving challenges both Mythos and mundane.  Rather than spending time describing the game from my perspective, I thought I'd post some excerpts of character fiction the players have been creating to fill in missing players on events.  So here is a snapshot of my game in the words of the characters:

From the personal records of Frank Cutter P.I.:
"Baby, its been a rough week...

They say guys came back like that from the war, in pieces that nobody can see, nobody can put together again.  I’m like that. Or maybe not.  Maybe I’m the guy that breaks people into pieces and beats his friends wit a b-club because a mushroom is growin’ happily in his thick skull.  Who the hell knows anymore.

I felt fine in the hospital.  Better than fine, better than a cold beer on a hot day. I skipped out before I shoulda, I see that now. The docs were right. But hindsight is useless when you have dead children to step over on your way to the office. Its not like I’ll make that mistake twice."


From the diary of Sebastian Gilbert (engineer and radio salesman):
"It started out as a bit of a laugh really.  The desire to read those blasphemous, forbidden books a way of getting at Father and his God.  It was like watching a road crash, voyeuristic really, looking at someone’s private insanity.  Deep down I think I always knew some of it made some twisted sense that I was too afraid to admit to myself, but lately it is more real.  Those words that evil man tortured from that poor woman, or beast if Frank is to be believed, they eat into your mind, maggots eating at the necrotic flesh of my sanity.  I’m repulsed at the evil horror those words spell out on the page yet somehow hungry to know more.  The mundane life I live seems more and more insignificant.  I’m losing hope, I must understand."

A journal entry by sergeant Lorenzo Gatti (army recruiter):
"I should never have saved that lowlife Sticky Frank from those Irish thugs. Saving him set off a chain reaction of horror and violence. After the Irish Mob came into my hospital room and smashed my broken leg’s cast with a hammer, I needed to find the S O B..."

A letter from Louis Jarvie (medical student) to Dr McIlvoy:
"Anyway, my wallet got lifted, we chased after the bastard, with the help of the unfeasably
large and dextrous Conrad- the man is as fast as a greased weasle, I swear! We caught the disreputable filcher called Greasy, I know it will seem farfetched but I actually brought him down with the old Litmanns stethoscope you gave me, I swung it like an Argentine ranchero might use a bola, incredibly they wrapped around his lower legs and he dropped like the great clot he was. Then, in exchange for my fabulous whistle from Seb, Greasy gave away where his friend Sticky Frank was holed up, we went there as a group which in the end saved our bacon, though in honestly I couldn't help but feel if we'd had Frank around we would have had an easier time of it.
 
At the tenements we were shown inside by a kindly seeming old Russian lady and, it shames me to say but like any ninny minded chuckta, despite the business at hand, I felt at ease and took a seat alongside the handsomely put together Bessie, enjoying our close proximity perhaps more than is proper. 
 
My hand trembles as I write, but the elderly lady turned truely nasty and scalded poor Bessie with a coffee pot before stabbing her, I feel I was guided by a force greater than myself, which bid me rise, staunch Bessies bleeding, thereby saving her life, then returned me to myself, I turned and grasping a handy crucifix, for the whole room was cluttered with relegious imagery and icons, I attempted to strike the auld bag and instead found my sen sat on the floor with a deep cut to my thigh, but I know you will not be surprised, my ability with bareknuckle fighting is just as poor as it ever was. My auld form master would have had my guts for garters if he could've seen me."

A statement by Conad Black (photographer and army reservist):
"The fourth floor had two rooms, I think. The first one was horrible, it was like something was trying to burst through the walls, the sound. I can remember the sound of artillery hitting trees and the splintering noise.

The other door. I, I admit I lost it here.
 
There was something in that other room. It was horrible. I can still see it when my eyes are closed, the way it moves, undulating. The Sarge saved us. He shot at it and closed the door.
 
We somehow made it to the top floor. There was a noise, a weird music it tugged at the senses..."

From the diary of Bessie Steele (researcher at the Miskatonic University):
"I almost died today.  

Strange, it is to see those words on paper.  It all happened so quickly, I've not time to process.  
 
 Louis thinks I should be resting, rather than writing in my journal - I can sense him hovering outside.  The idea of sleep is somewhat terrifying, the fear of closing my eyes and them not opening again.  If not for Louis..."
 
 

Saturday, July 7, 2012

On Ice (with monsters)


I’ve been enjoying running Beyond the Mountains of Madness again.  It’s a very different campaign to Masks, and I’ve tried to really encourage the players to invest some time in their characters, making them as rich as possible, as this is an essential element of Mountains.  Where Masks presented Indiana Jones style encounters replete with a diverse cast of unlikely villains, and players could easily walk the path of a caricature of a character, Mountains is a slow burn, with very little in the way of actual horror and only sparse action after 8 full sessions, and I’ve tried to encourage more realistic characters, although I’m not sure they’re all as fully fleshed out as I’d like yet.

The challenges of Mountains for the GM are numerous.  There is a massive cast of NPC’s and scant information about many of these, to allow any deep exploration upon subsequent character encounters– nor does the scenario attempt to predict how many of these will react to the major events of the campaign (to this point).  In addition, adequately conveying the difficulties and arduousness of ocean travel, pack ice, and the inhospitable Antarctic climate is significantly difficult.

Running this campaign initially more than a decade ago, I was left with some powerful memories of the way the characters faced the climax of the campaign.  I only hope that I can ensure there is significant player attachment to this group of characters to come close to emulating some of those achievements over the next couple of months.

Next, a shout-out to the venerable Mike Sands who has just published his Monster of the Week, action-horror roleplaying game.

There are monsters out there. Most people don't believe in them, but they're real. Mostly, when someone finds out that monsters are real, that's just before they die.

But some people are mean enough, smart enough, crazy enough, or hurt enough, that they live. And some of those people go and hunt down more.

That's who you are – someone who decided to go on a crusade against the evil critters that are scurrying around out there.
  • It could be that you make a stand and defend your hometown from everything evil that comes there. 
  • It could be you take to the road and go find them. 
  •  It could be you have magic powers that help out.  
  • It could be that your name came up in prophecies thousands of years ago. 
The one sure thing is you aren't gonna go back to your old, safe life...

 Finally, I’d like to point you in the direction of Matt and Debbie Cowens new book Mansfield with Monsters.  Matt and Debbie have been working hard at their craft, and I’m sure this new book is just as awesome as it sounds, my congratulations to these two 'true pioneers of the macabre':

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Out Now

I’m pleased to say that ‘The Year’s Best Australian Fantasy & Horror 2010’ has now shipped and is available in glorious hardback and tradepaper editions. Inside you will find 33 stories and poems collected from Australia and New Zealand, as well as a genre overview for the year, including awards, novels, anthologies, industry news and a recommended reading list. I'm looking forward to reading the other contributions - you can buy a copy here.

Monday, April 18, 2011

Year's Best

Back in late 2009, I was invited to submit a short story for "A Foreign Country" a collection of speculative fiction by Random Static Press which was published last year. I hadn't written a short story since high-school, but I'm always up for a challenge, particularly if solicited directly, so I decided to give it a shot. I'm pleased to say my piece -Night Shift - has subsequently been included in 'The Year's Best Australian Fantasy and Horror 2010' anthology by Ticenderoga Publications. Their press release follows below:

"Ticonderoga Publications is walking on sunshine to announce the contents for its inaugural Year's Best Australian Fantasy and Horror anthology. Editors Liz Grzyb and Talie Helene have produced a list of 33 excellent tales by some of Australia's biggest names as well as some emerging writers. The anthology collects 150,000 words of the best stories published last year from the Antipodes.

"We're pleased with the number of fabulous stories that were published in 2010 that we had to choose from,” Liz Grzyb said.

"You could hold this anthology up against any international collection - Australians rock for diverse voices, imagination, and compelling writing," Talie Helene added.

The stories are (alphabetically by writer):


  • RJ Astruc: "Johnny and Babushka"

  • Peter M Ball: "L'esprit de L'escalier"

  • Alan Baxter: "The King's Accord"

  • Jenny Blackford: "Mirror"

  • Gitte Christensen: "A Sweet Story"

  • Matthew Chrulew: "Schubert By Candlelight"

  • Bill Congreve: "Ghia Likes Food"

  • Rjurik Davidson: "Lovers In Caeli-Amur"

  • Felicity Dowker: "After the Jump"

  • Dale Elvy: "Night Shift"

  • Jason Fischer: "The School Bus"

  • Dirk Flinthart: "Walker"

  • Bob Franklin: "Children's Story"

  • Christopher Green: "Where We Go To Be Made Lighter"

  • Paul Haines: "High Tide At Hot Water Beach"

  • Lisa L. Hannett: "Soil From My Fingers"

  • Stephen Irwin: "Hive"

  • Gary Kemble: "Feast Or Famine"

  • Pete Kempshall: "Brave Face"

  • Tessa Kum: "Acception"

  • Martin Livings: "Home"

  • Maxine McArthur: "A Pearling Tale"

  • Kirstyn McDermott: "She Said"

  • Andrew McKiernan: "The Memory Of Water"

  • Ben Peek: "White Crocodile Jazz"

  • Simon Petrie: "Dark Rendezvous"

  • Lezli Robyn: "Anne-droid of Green Gables"

  • Angela Rega: "Slow Cookin' "

  • Angela Slatter: "The Bone Mother"

  • Angela Slatter & Lisa L Hannett: "The February Dragon"

  • Grant Stone: "Wood"

  • Kaaron Warren: "That Girl"

  • Janeen Webb: "Manifest Destiny"

In addition to the above incredible tales, the volume will include a review of 2010 and a list of recommended stories. The anthology is scheduled for publication in June 2011. The anthology will be available in hardcover, ebook and trade editions and may be pre-ordered at indie books online."

Thursday, July 1, 2010

Visit a Foreign Country

Okay, it's not about roleplaying, but it does feature the work of roleplayers.

A Foreign Country is a new, New Zealand Speculative Fiction anthology being released shortly, featuring a story by yours truly, and work by Wellington roleplayer, Kapcon don, and award-winning scenario designer Matt Cowens. It's open for pre-orders now, and for a small press, these kind of orders are pretty important. I'd sure like to see more of these kind of ventures in the future so that other writers can spin tales, so please support New Zealand fiction:



"The future is here! A Foreign Country, Random Static's new anthology of New Zealand Speculative Fiction, is now available for pre-order. Featuring work by best-selling author Juliet Marillier, poet, musician, and writer Bill Direen, several Sir Julius Vogel Award winners, prominent writers, and talented newcomers, this is an unmissable volume of imaginative and compelling short stories.

Strange creatures are loose in Miramar, desperate survivors cling to the remains of a submerged country, humanity’s descendants seek to regain what they’ve lost, and the residents of Gisborne reluctantly serve alien masters. The visions of New Zealand - and beyond - painted in this collection of short stories are both instantly recognisable, and nothing like the place we know.

A Foreign Country brings together the work of established authors and fresh voices to showcase the range of stories produced by New Zealand's growing community of speculative fiction writers. Humorous, disturbing, intriguing, cautionary, and ultimately hopeful, these tales tell of worlds where the boundaries between human and animal are blurred, babies are not what they seem, desperate measures are in place to ward off disaster, and flying standby can be a big mistake.

The anthology includes stories by:

•Philip Armstrong
•Richard Barnes
•Claire Brunette
•Anna Caro
•Matt Cowens
•Bill Direen
•Dale Elvy
•J.C. Hart
•Paul Haines
•Miriam Hurst
•Tim Jones
•Susan Kornfeld
•Juliet Marillier
•Lee Murray
•James Norcliffe
•Ripley Patton
•Simon Petrie
•Brian Priestley
•Marama Salsano
•Lee Sentes
•Janine Sowerby
•Douglas A. Van Belle"