Forum Thread: https://storium.com/forums#/category/lfp/thread/z95zg9
NPC List: http://is.gd/QJDlpa
Welcome to The Elizabeth Arkham Asylum for the Criminally Insane. The premier psychiatric hospital of Gotham City. Located on the outskirts of the city, Arkham Asylum serves as home to numerous criminals considered to be either legally insane or that have unusual medical conditions which prevent them from staying in a regular prison. In the past, Arkham has not had the best record. Escapes were frequent and those who are ‘cured’ and released tended to re-offend. Several staff members, including at least one director, have ended up as residents. However under the direction of the latest Warden, Quincy Sharp, things are about to change…
History of the Bat
Ten years ago, Gotham City was changed forever when a masked vigilante started showing up in the night. No one knew if he was a friend or foe at first but, after one particularly long Halloween, Gotham City began to trust him. Over time, Gotham became synonymous with the Batman. His family of crime fighters has grown over the years and his presence has attracted other vigilantes to the city. The city has come to depend on his watchful protection.
There is a darker element, for which some claim, the Batman is responsible. These odd psychotic villains were unheard of before Batman’s arrival. Ten years ago greed, corruption, and vice flooded the streets but it was run by street gangs or organized crime syndicates. These insane costumed adversaries of the Batman are a plague that many trace to Batman’s arrival in Gotham City. Cause or effect, the role that these villains and vigilantes have had on Gotham City is immeasurable.
Arkham History
On February 7, 1852, Cyrus Pinkney gave Amadeus Arkham plans to build the “greatest asylum the world has ever known”. Amadeus Arkham named the Elizabeth Arkham Asylum for the Criminally Insane after his mother, whom he euthanized as treatment for her dementia. Building it on the old grounds of his family’s historic mansion on the outskirts of Gotham City, Amadeus personally treated its first inmate — Martin “Mad Dog” Hawkins, who had killed Arkham’s wife and daughter. After administering fatal electroshock therapy to Hawkins, Amadeus lost all grip on sanity and was admitted into his own institution. This started a trend that would continue well into the asylum’s future.
Ownership of the institution passed to Amadeus’s nephew, Jeremiah Arkham, who ran the Asylum until last year. A massive breakout, unlike anything in Gotham’s past, tore apart the island, killed Jeremiah, and resulted in the whole facility being condemned. The Blackgate Penitentiary became the defacto penal facility in Gotham City, hosting sane and insane patients alike.
Riots were common before but after the closure of Arkham the overcrowding caused them to became far too regular. Discussions based on the idea of reopening the facility cropped up only days after Arkham was closed down. A month later Quincy Sharp, a political activist, revealed his intentions to reopen Arkham Asylum. His goal was to create a facility for Gotham’s most insane criminals unlike any that came before.
Arkham Asylum has been up and running for eight months now and the patient listing is already intimidating. Over a dozen of Gotham’s worst are now housed in Arkham Asylum. Most of them are what Jack Ryder calls ‘Batman’s B-Listers’ but there are a couple notable inmates in the asylum. Victor Fries and Pamela Isley were among the first to be relocated due to their special containment requirements and Sharp’s willingness to build personalized cells.
Game Overview
This is a Medical Drama set in the fictional Arkham Asylum of the Batman franchise. The story will take place in a collaboratively built version of the Batman Mythos, starting around ten years into Batman’s time in Gotham City. The narrative will mix elements from the comics and Arkham video games, along with some custom ideas from the narrator and players.
Players assume the role of Arkham Asylum staff members and face the challenges, treating the worst criminally insane patients imaginable, dealing with the madness of the Asylum itself, and the interference of The Batman himself.
Character Creation Notes
Portraits are required. No picture, no entry. I’d prefer comic book styled art for characters. Also keep in mind that characters are modern day medical professionals.
Treat the Backstory as a writing sample. I need to evaluate what kind of writer you are to get a feel for what your moves will be like.
Card Art is also required and it is intentionally not included. I’m evaluating what kinds of imagery you’ll be using for Wild cards. I prefer comic book art to live action art.
Gameplay Notes
Tense (Past, Present, or Future) and Perspective (First or Third Person) can be move dependent. I’m not concerned with keeping a cohesive narrative, just an interesting one.
Speed is set to Casual (1 Scene/week); I’m not active on weekends. I try to keep things at a steady pace, I will end scenes even if challenges aren’t completed, I will respond mid-scene to keep things moving, I will respond to challenges when they are completed, and I will wrap up scenes if everything has moved on in the narrative without everyone posting. I’m never going to wait on one or two at the expensive of the group. Players that go silent (No Moves, No Comments, No E-Mails) for a week will be written out of the game.
Communication is very important to me. You don’t have to move every day, but at least drop a note in the comments regularly so everyone knows what’s going on. I understand that Real Life happens, but if I don’t know that you’re going to be away I don’t know how to plan for your character.
Further Questions
If you have any other questions feel free to e-mail me ArkhamAsylum@RobJustice.net
Hosted and narrated by:
Rob Justice (RobJustice)
Completed 08/06/15.
Scenes played: 11
License: Community License
