If you attended Gen Con or Pax Unplugged last year, you might have been lucky enough to pick up a copy of the Arkham Advertiser as a show giveaway. If you didn’t, well, fear not – the Arkham Advertiser‘s new and permanent home is right here on ArkhamHorror.com.

Read this issue’s chilling headline story below, or download the lavish PDF edition to read the whole issue. Observant readers will be aware that this issue’s headline story seems to presage the events of The Hungering Abyss. Don’t worry, it’s free of spoilers, but suffice to say, if you and your group are playing through the campaign, you’re going to want to read this first…

STRANGE ASSAILANTS STALK CEMETERY

Beasts Abroad?
Unholy Activity

By Minnie Klein

While Arkham’s cemeteries typically provide a place of quiet calm and contemplation for Arkham’s residents, recent incidents have begun to call security for parishioners, visitors, and employees into question. On the night of September 6, this reporter set out to investigate rumors of after-hours trespassers on cemetery grounds. However, after a harrowing encounter and subsequent assault, this reporter has confirmed that danger actually stalks those hallowed grounds, though its true cause remains unknown.

In the past, Arkham’s cemeteries have proven to be a place of potential peril. Most notably, a nun was assaulted by one Mr. Henri Dupont this past August in South Church churchyard. While Sister Mary did recover from her injuries, the case garnered particular notoriety due to her status within the Catholic community. Other alarming reports indicate that the graveyards in Arkham have not been safe. Due to these recent reports, this reporter initiated a new investigation starting at Christchurch Cemetery, which revealed strange going-ons dating back to earlier this year. On March 20, Arkham police deputies responded to a call for assistance put forward by a Ms. Hattie Naismith, who had claimed to see figures moving through the cemetery at night, as well as strange sounds emanating from the mausoleum in the northwest quarter of the cemetery. Arkham’s official police report states that the incident was a result of animal interference, noting evidence of digging, implying that a large dog or similar animal had attempted to dig underneath the wrought-iron fencing. 

Another distressing incident occurred on April 11, with Mr. James Gantree and Ms. Eliza Mantilluz calling for police, after having been accosted by a figure outside of Christchurch Cemetery earlier that evening. The pair were returning to Ms. Mantilluz’s apartment following a late dinner out, and the duo had elected to cross through the cemetery grounds to save time. As the pair exited the graveyard, Mr. Gantree claimed to have spotted a “hunched figure with long, lanky arms” who began staring at them from behind a copse of trees. When Mr. Gantree called out to the individual, Gantree claimed the figure “started growling” and appeared to attempt a reply, though Gantree stated that the voice was too low and bestial to hear a clear response. Gantree attempted to get clos­er to the figure, only for it to dash away to points unknown. At Ms. Mantilluz’s insistence, the pair contacted Arkham police and filed an official report. After a brief search of the cemetery grounds, the deputy on duty noted no unusual activity. While a follow-up visit was scheduled by Arkham police, no evidence exists to document such a visit.

Police records showed similar incidents—noise disturbances, aggravated menacing by unknown parties, and minor property damage to Christchurch’s grounds throughout the late spring and summer. However, Arkham’s police deputies have displayed an alarmingly lackadaisical approach in investigating any sort of disturbance at Christchurch Cemetery. Mandatory police documentation on these calls records a boilerplate response, stating that: “deputy patrolled the area in question, finding no evidence of continued disturbances.” These documents were identical, regardless of the responding deputy, leading this reporter to believe that the response was a measured, chosen response by administration, rather than an organic reporting of the facts.

Given these findings, this reporter began her own investigation of the Christchurch Cemetery. A planned interview with William Yorick, Christchurch Cemetery’s resident gravedigger, to discuss disturbances in the cemetery ended abruptly when this reporter caught sight of a mysterious figure – no doubt the person terrorizing the cemetery grounds. After chasing this mysterious figure, this reporter noticed new figures digging frantically in the graveyard, which aligns with previous reports. However, before investigating further, this reporter experienced a blow to the head, losing consciousness.

Thanks to the beneficence of Mr. Yorick, this reporter was discovered in an empty grave and was escorted to St. Mary’s Hospital for treatment and observation. Following initial triage, this reporter was quickly released from St. Mary’s hospital, having suffered a scalp laceration, a possible concussion, and blood loss. While this reporter did file a police report with Arkham’s deputies, no action appears to have been taken regarding this assault. Mr. Yorick has given no official statement, at this time. While this reporter has yet to return to Christchurch Cemetery following these incidents, investigation into these strange occurrences will continue until answers are revealed and perpetrators are brought to light. Until then, however, this reporter recommends avoiding Christchurch Cemetery by night and taking alternate routes when available.

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