by Alexandre Correia

Day 3257. December 1, 2025. Offline...

Hello, Dear Reader.

It's that time of the year again, December Offline. The month when I try to unplug the laptop from the power socket, turn off mobile data from the phone to make it dumber, and try to remember what it was like to live without a screen on my face for most of the day.

Bye bye 2025... and yes, I know it's misspelled and I don't care.
The last trip down south has delayed my preparations for December Offline, so you might "see" me around the Geek during the first week or so as I finish things in the backstage. And there's an ongoing PbF RPG session I'm playing that doesn't deserve to go mute for a month, so I'll try to pitch in once a week.

Besides those trickles of digital residues, I have great plans for this month. Maybe too great, we'll see.

A trip down south to play games in Lagos with the folk from Até à Lua. A few quiet mornings in Tavira, reading some book with a coffee nearby and the sound of a winter river in the background. I'll run my first 10k race in two weeks, and Christmas will likely be next to the in-laws' fireplace. All this, of course, if the greatest of plans, taking over at least one third of the month, pans out as I expect. A place I've been meaning to "visit" for the last decade, a return, even if momentarily, to a travel lifestyle that infused me with tremendous energy and inspiration.

Too cryptic? It's on purpose. Like that life-changing first time, I will carry writing tools with me to snap a snapshot of the present lest it escapes memory. And in due course, I'll share those snapshots, literally and in literary form, with you.

Just not here, though. And you'll probably have to wait more than usual to find out. But I will share it. What's the purpose of life if not to share it with others anyway?

The lure of the road, by Santander.
In the meantime, I leave you with the usual fare of Browsing Games entertainment. Lost session reports with friends and family. Solo wanderings. Several unboxing riddles and Archival posts from long ago. The latter have served me well this year when I had to travel to more remote areas. They will serve me again this month. In a way, I'm also going to a remote place.

See you soon, Dear Reader. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. I love all of you and already miss you.

⭐⭐⭐
One year ago: ...late bethlehem...One year later: N/A

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by Rachel

Welcome to another Mythic Monday! In today's post, I'm reporting on my continuing investigations with Elder Sign.

After-action report from confrontation with Ghatanothoa in the Streets of Arkham on Sunday, November 16, 2025, Part the second:

Previously...

Mark took his chances in Ancient Sarnath.

2 more Elder Signs

and he lived to tell the tale!

"Tommy, that's 5! We just need 5 more!"

Will Tommy Muldoon and Mark Harrigan find 5 more Elder Signs in time to blind Ghatanothoa's Annihilating Gaze? Or will Arkham fall to the Elder Gods? Read on for the exciting continuation!
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Tommy got caught up in a Turf War.

But found

a nice Hunting Rifle for his trouble.

Mark paid a visit to the Silver Twilight Lodge.

He earned their trust and joined their ranks.

His initiation into their Mysteries

added to his resources.

Tommy popped into Velma's Diner,

where a warm meal gave him a much-needed energy boost.

Midnight

Dark Times brought forth entropy

Doom

Time was running short...

Things weren't looking good for Arkham...

Mark took a brief break to recover. Tommy continued to take it easy.

Then Mark finally used his Holy Water (OOC: Gained Blessed) and followed the Lure of the Unknown (OOC: I need that Yellow Die back!!)

Whew.

"That's Elder Sign #6!"

Tommy was surrounded by monsters!

He managed to escape

with the 7th Elder Sign.

But time was running out...

Grave Danger lurked around every corner of Arkham.

For the cost of 2 trophies

Roughed Up was revealed.

Not liking his chances, he chose to spend A Night in the Museum instead.

But A Foolish Mistake cost him an Old Journal

and his failure added

to the growing Doom!

Gah! Arkham's reality was fracturing...

With time really running out, Tommy

chanced a visit to Unknown Kadath,

escaping with a 9th Elder Sign.

Last Words earned Mark 2 Clues.

Midnight brought

taxes.

Phooey!

Tommy had a Fruitless Struggle in the Museum

Dun...dun...dun...

leaving Mark to bet everything on a last minute jaunt to Yuggoth!

"Come on, Mark!"

Things were getting hairy.

Tommy lent Mark his strength. (OOC: Tommy's Skill, discarded on Mark's Turn to make the difference.)

In the end, it was enough!

And Mark survived Ghatanothoa's Annihilating Gaze!!!

11 Elder Signs! The 10 needed and a spare! Time to begin the sealing ritual!

Mark and Tommy raced back to the Arkham Museum, which for some reason always seemed to be the epicenter of Arkham's latest eldritch crisis...

The atrium was still a mess from the confrontation with Yibb-Tstll... Tommy set 5 of the Elder Signs in a rough half-circle along the outer wall of the atrium, starting from the main entrance and going to the left. Mark did the same to the right. He held the 11th Elder Sign in his hand, "what do we do with the extra?" he asked the rookie.

"I've got an idea, toss it here," said Tommy. Mark pitched the sign. Tommy caught it carefully.

The few lights in closed-for-the-night museum winked out as the breaker blew. Mark cursed softly.

A sudden and unnatural breeze picked up and toyed with the plastic sheeting covering the still-broken windows and display cases.

In the center of the atrium, a gateway formed, tearing the fabric between realities.

A tentacle shot through the opening and grabbed Mark without warning. The soldier fought free and dropped to the floor with a thud.

"Hey!" Tommy called. "Over here!" The tentacle made to grab him, but the rookie evaded the eldritch being and threw the 11th Elder Sign into the portal. "Go fetch!" he yellowed. The remaining Elder Signs began to glow, burning red, then green, and finally fading to a pale blue. The portal flared brightly as the 11th Elder Sign exploded within. A shrill scream pierced the air. Then the remaining Elder Signs all flared brighter, the blue giving way to a white so bright it left Tommy seeing spots. The scream rose to a fever pitch, a shrill shriek. The circle lit up. The signs flared even brighter (if that was possible) before burning out. The portal sealed itself. There was no sign of Ghatanothoa. It was over. Mark got up and dusted himself off, "good throw."

"Thanks," said Tommy, turning on his flashlight and giving the museum atrium a once over. He whistled, "Akachi is not going to be happy. Mandy either."

"I'll make a few calls, it looks bad, but we can help with the repairs," said Mark.

"Really?"

"Really. We've got people for this sort of thing," said Mark with a smile

"You know, I think the Arkham Investigators and the Guardians are gonna get along just fine," said Tommy.

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Comments:

And that's the end of another chapter! It was a fun adventure and I'm really happy with Mark as a new character.

Work continues on the Custom Campaign. It's slow going, but I think I'm on target for Spring 2026, it's hard to tell just yet. What I could really use is a sense of how the stages Mythos Deck works in Elder Sign: Omens of the Deep... for those of you that have it, can you tell me if the Stage II Mythos Cards are harder or if they have special interactions with the Stage II Special Adventure Cards? I'm just trying to figure out how what makes the Stage I and Stage II Mythos Cards different. Do both decks offer choices (like in Elder Sign: Omens of Ice?). Anyway, that's where I'm at right now. I'm also working on my own Charge the Circle/Read the RunesThe Seventh Seal. Shared world-building, setting elements, and some tricky art. Some things from there may continue to show up on Mythic Mondays as it gives me a unique way to test things out. Sorry for treating you like lab rats from time to time... :D

As for my continuing Elder Sign adventures... I'm thinking 1-2 more plays in the Streets of Arkham and then it's been far too long since I've ventured into the Frozen North :whistle:...

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Quick Summary:
Investigators: Tommy Muldoon and Mark Harrigan
Old One: Ghatanothoa
Elder Signs Collected: 11/10
Expansions: Elder Sign, Elder Sign: Gates of Arkham, Elder Sign: Unseen Forces, Elder Sign: Omens of Ice (items), and Elder Sign: Grave Consequences.
Mode: Streets of Arkham
Time: About an hour
Victory!

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Past Mythic Mondays:
Mythic Mondays- Arkham Adventures: Back to the Beginning
Mythic Mondays- Against Azathoth with some Grave Consequences
Mythic Mondays- Grave Consequences on the Streets of Arkham
Mythic Mondays- Grave Consequences in the frozen North
Mythic Mondays: Rhan-Tegoth Rematch, Part I
Mythic Mondays: Rhan-Tegoth Rematch, Part II
Mythic Mondays- Akachi returns to Arkham, Part I
Mythic Mondays- Akachi returns to Arkham, Part II
Mythic Mondays- Cthulhu calls
Mythic Mondays - Sisters in spirit take on Atlach-Nacha at the Gate, Part I
Mythic Mondays - Sisters in spirit take on Atlach-Nacha at the Gate, Part II
Mythic Mondays- My First Final Hour
Mythic Mondays: Uh-oh! Better hit Undo! aka First Impressions: Undo: Forbidden Knowledge
Mythic Mondays- First Impressions: Eldritch Horror
Mythic Mondays- The Killing Cold
Mythic Mondays- The Killing Cold: Redux
Mythic Mondays - Meanwhile with Mandy, Part I
Mythic Mondays - Meanwhile with Mandy, Part II
Mythic Mondays- Mandy and Akachi try to save the Museum, Part I
Mythic Mondays- Mandy and Akachi try to save the Museum, Part II
Mythic Mondays - An Arkham Nights 2023 Interlude
Mythic Mondays- The Cop and the (Ex)Convict, Part I
Mythic Mondays- The Cop and the (Ex)Convict, Part II
Mythic Mondays- Strange Lights over the Streets of Arkham, Part I
Mythic Mondays- Strange Lights over the Streets of Arkham, Part II
Mythic Mondays- Breaking News in Arkham
Mythic Mondays- Alaska's on its own, Part I
Mythic Mondays- Alaska's on its own, Part II
Mythic Mondays- Monterey Jack's back, Part I
Mythic Mondays- Monterey Jack's back, Part II
Mythic Mondays- Alone against Azathoth, Part I
Merry Christmas 2023: Mythic Mondays- Alone against Azathoth, Part II
Mythic Mondays- Lots to learn, Part I
Mythic Mondays- Lots to learn, Part II
Mythic Mondays- Three against Shudde M'ell, Part 1
Mythic Mondays- Three against Shudde M'ell, Part 2
Mythic Tuesdays- Three against Azathoth, Part 1
Mythic Mondays- Three against Azathoth, Part 2
Mythic Mondays (occasionally on Tuesdays) - The Shaman & The Rookie, Part 1
Mythic Mondays (occasionally on Tuesdays) - The Shaman & The Rookie, Part 2 & Happy Veterans Day
Mythic Mondays- Four against Arkham's darkness, Part 1
Mythic Mondays- Four against Arkham's darkness, Part 2
Mythic Mondays- The Rookie and the Soldier, Part 1

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Game Over On borrowed time...

Happy Monday and happy playing!
-Rachel

Thank you for reading my blog. If you liked it; then please click the green thumb [microbadge=23724] at the top of the page. If you really liked it; then please subscribe.

Disclaimer:
Prydera and the Guardians are very much my creations. Charge the Circle, Read the Runes, and The Seventh Seal are also mine.

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