Hunting the Moon Worm of Westminster (Part 1)
An Eleventh Beast actual play
Introduction
Welcome to Hunting the Moon Worm of Westminster! This is an actual play of the solo monster hunting journaling game Eleventh Beast, published by Exeunt Press.
The premise of Eleventh Beast is that the year is 1746, and you are a crown inquisitor in the Imprecatory Society of Salomon’s House, a secret order of demon hunters commissioned by King James to track down and kill monstrous beasts that arrive in the city of London every 13 years.
I wrote this actual play to coincide with my review and game design study of Eleventh Beast. Check out that post to read about my thoughts on the game.
Rules Overview
The rules and mechanics of Eleventh Beast are simple enough that I think you’ll be able to catch on just by reading the actual play.
Some useful things to know:
The game is played on a map of London that contains eight different locations (numbered I through VIII). These locations can house three types of tokens: the Inquisitor Token (representing the player), the Beast Token (representing the enemy Beast), and Rumor Tokens (representing rumors about the Beast).
Rumor Tokens can be converted into Unverified Rumors, which can then be converted into Learned Secrets. Learned Secrets about Wards or Weapons aid the player in their fights against the Beast. Learned Secrets about the Beast’s Behavior or physical Appearance are for adding flavor to the narrative.
The game ends when either the player or the Beast dies. During a Hunt, the Beast is killed if you roll a 1 or 2 in a pool of up to 5d6. Otherwise, the player takes one or two Wounds. If the player takes a third Wound, they die and are defeated.
Session Setup
The only thing we need to do before we start the game is roll 3d8 to generate a name for our Beast.
The Name of the Beast
<3> <5> <1>“The Moon Worm of Westminster”
Oof. I feel like “the Moon Worm of Westminster” is pretty much the least intimidating name for a demonic monster we could have rolled.
For what it’s worth, I played Eleventh Beast a couple more times after this playthrough, and the other Beast names I got were “the Marsh Goat of Moorgate” (also not very intimidating) and “the Bone Wolf of Blackfriars” (badass).
Gameplay
Day 1
II. All-Hallows-The-Great - INQUISITOR
Phase I: The Beast Approaches
<6>Add a Rumor Token to Coxes Wharf.
Phase II: Take Actions
Move to London Bridge.
Move to St. Thomas’ Hospital.
May 13, 1746
A quarter moon shines over All-Hallows-The-Great. It’s a good night for hunting demons.
Received word from the Society today that rumors about the Beast have been flying near Coxes Wharf. I’ll have to take a look for myself.
Quickest route would be to cross London Bridge and take the road that passes by St. Thomas’ Hospital, so that’s the way I’ll go. Can’t afford to waste any time.
Day 2
V. St. Thomas’ Hospital - INQUISITOR
VI. Coxes Wharf - RUMOR (1)
Phase I: The Beast Approaches
<3>Add a Rumor Token to Billingsgate Dock.
Phase II: Take Actions
Move to Coxes Wharf.
Investigate (remove a Rumor Token from Coxes Wharf).
[2] [1] [5], Jack of SpadesUnverified Rumor
At Coxes Wharf, Bartholomew Aldworth heard a rumor about a Ward (wolf bones).
May 14, 1746
Met a strange, gray-bearded, little man by the name of Bartholomew Aldworth at Coxes Wharf today. Said he had some vital information about the Beast I’m hunting. Claimed to know of a ward that would protect me from the demon.
“Wolf bones,” he said to me.
“Wolf bones?” I repeated back, barely able to keep the incredulity out of my voice.
“Aye,” he confirmed. “Take some sun-bleached bones of a dead wolf and lay them in a circle around you. The damned Beast won’t be able to cross the perimeter.”
“How did you learn of this?” I asked him, still in disbelief.
“Heard some rumors,” he said.
This job will be the death of me.
Day 3
III. Billingsgate Dock - RUMOR (1)
VI. Coxes Wharf - INQUISITOR
Phase I: The Beast Approaches
<2>Add a Rumor Token to All-Hallows-The-Great.
Phase II: Take Actions
Move to St. Thomas’ Hospital.
Move to London Bridge.
May 15, 1746
New leads have popped up near All-Hallows and Billingsgate Dock. Just my luck that they’d appear when I’ve already traipsed all the way to the other side of the Thames.
Well, back across the bridge I go.
Day 4
II. All-Hallows-The-Great - RUMOR (1)
III. Billingsgate Dock - RUMOR (1)
IV. London Bridge - INQUISITOR
Phase I: The Beast Approaches
<8>Add a Rumor Token to the Burying Ground.
Phase II: Take Actions
Move to Billingsgate Dock.
Investigate (remove a Rumor Token from Billingsgate Dock).
[5] [6] [2], 10 of ClubsUnverified Rumor
At Billingsgate Dock, Thomas Huxham left a mysterious note about a Weapon (bludgeoning).
May 16, 1746
Looked into the lead at Billingsgate Dock today. When I reached Thomas Huxham’s residence, there was nobody there, but a note had been left behind, describing a method for attacking the Beast using a bludgeon.
I’ve filed the note away for the Society’s records, though to be frank, I hardly needed a hint to realize that bludgeoning the Beast to death might be a reasonable tactic.
Day 5
II. All-Hallows-The-Great - RUMOR (1)
III. Billingsgate Dock - INQUISITOR
VIII. Burying Ground - RUMOR (1)
Phase I: The Beast Approaches
<5>Add a Rumor Token to St. Thomas’ Hospital.
Phase II: Take Actions
Move to The Royal Exchange.
Move to All-Hallows-The-Great.
May 17, 1746
Rumors all around, but nothing with much substance as of yet. Just received news of a potential lead at St. Thomas’ Hospital, but I’ll stop by All-Hallows first since it’s nearby.
Day 6
II. All-Hallows-The-Great - INQUISITOR, RUMOR (1)
V. St. Thomas’ Hospital - RUMOR (1)
VIII. Burying Ground - RUMOR (1)
Phase I: The Beast Approaches
<2>The Beast arrives at All-Hallows-The-Great. A Hunt is triggered.
No Learned Secrets. Take 1 Wound.
Phase II: Take Actions
Move to London Bridge.
Move to St. Thomas’ Hospital.
May 18, 1746
The damned Beast nearly killed me today! Such an oafish, dunderheaded mistake I made.
I arrived at All-Hallows-The-Great last evening and spent the night nearby in anticipation of meeting with a witness who claimed to hold crucial information regarding the Eleventh Beast.
I had planned to meet the witness at the church first thing in the morning, but when I arrived during the dark, early hours of dawn, there was nought there to greet me but the creature itself!
Terrible, it was—a great, hulking monstrosity but with a vile sinuousness that belied its sordid nature. “Moon Worm of Westminster,” indeed. And its head! Like the head of a filthy goat you would find at some ramshackle farm in the countryside, its disgusting mouth open and dripping with rabid slobber.
The demon lashed out at me, grazing my arm with its sharp teeth before I could jump away.
I ran, then. I ran for my life out of the church and into the London streets. I thought for sure that the creature would catch me, but when I turned around, it had gone. I know not where it went, but I thank God for my deliverance.
I had heard murmurs from the Society that the Beast might be drawn to All-Hallows due to the church’s association with our order, but I ignored all the warnings and charged ahead heedlessly with my plans.
My mentors at Salomon’s House always told me that my stubbornness and impatience would put me in peril, and at last I begin to see that they were right.
Day 7
II. All-Hallows-The-Great - BEAST, RUMOR (1)
V. St. Thomas’ Hospital - INQUISITOR (1 Wound), RUMOR (1)
VIII. Burying Ground - RUMOR (1)
Phase I: The Beast Approaches
<4>Add a Rumor Token to London Bridge.
[1]The Beast remains at All-Hallows-The-Great.
Phase II: Take Actions
Investigate (remove a Rumor Token from St. Thomas’ Hospital).
[6] [3] [4], 6 of HeartsUnverified Rumor
At St. Thomas’ Hospital, Isolde Clarke found an artifact related to the Beast’s Appearance (head like a goat).
Move to the Burying Ground.
May 19, 1746
I met with a witness at St. Thomas’ today, and it was just as well that we convened at a hospital since I desperately needed to recover from my frightful confrontation with the Beast.
A nurse, Isolde Clarke, wished to give me a statuette her grandmother (who had ties to the occult and could allegedly commune with spirits) had commissioned to be made 10 years ago. The figurine was made of bronze and depicted an unnatural, worm-like creature with the head of a goat that bore an unmistakeable resemblance to the monster I encountered yesterday.
Miss Clarke was very kind and offered to bandage up the wound I had received on my arm.
To Be Continued…
Since this post has gotten pretty long, I’ll save the rest of the adventure for part 2.
Hope you’re enjoying the story so far. We’re almost halfway through the session, and next time, we’ll find out whether we can gather the information we need to slay the dreaded Moon Worm of Westminster!
Awesome job on your play report and notes. I really enjoyed it. Looking forward to the second part.
Really enjoyed reading this. It seems like an interesting solo game. It seems perfect for writing a short story.