Andy "Aethan" French
@aethan.bsky.social
Lefty and queer writer, traveler, adventurer, Disnerd, Woke-ie, Samyang Buldak aficionado, silvermuzzle furry, Superman Fan, & D&D fanatic from Boston. Welcomes hullos! NSFW at times. He/him. Profile art by @artmutt.bsky.social
Despite the name, there's no level on which it is transparent. But it is absolutely delicious.
February 13, 2026 at 8:24 PM
Despite the name, there's no level on which it is transparent. But it is absolutely delicious.
So many! But I've made the Kentucky Transparent Pie three times in 3 months, so let's go with that!
youtu.be/KwqFDE0jxTo?...
youtu.be/KwqFDE0jxTo?...
A Kentucky Pie You’ve Never Heard Of — and Won’t Forget
YouTube video by Kitchen in the Shire
youtu.be
February 13, 2026 at 7:14 PM
So many! But I've made the Kentucky Transparent Pie three times in 3 months, so let's go with that!
youtu.be/KwqFDE0jxTo?...
youtu.be/KwqFDE0jxTo?...
Honestly, I don't read that enough to do justice to this question. Sorry, my friend.
February 13, 2026 at 7:03 PM
Honestly, I don't read that enough to do justice to this question. Sorry, my friend.
He has a lot of survivor's guilt, a strong streak of Breland patriotism that's tainted by the fact that they hung him out to dry, a complete hatred for Karnnathi ("Emerald Claws and Zombie Fuckers"), and an utter terror of ever having to return to the Mournlands.
February 13, 2026 at 7:02 PM
He has a lot of survivor's guilt, a strong streak of Breland patriotism that's tainted by the fact that they hung him out to dry, a complete hatred for Karnnathi ("Emerald Claws and Zombie Fuckers"), and an utter terror of ever having to return to the Mournlands.
Ooo. Rough chuckles indeed. My PC was a human fighter from Breland. He was a veteran of the last war, and he was dishonorably discharged for defying his superior officer and getting his squad out of Cyre as the Day of Mourning was happening. Only a handful survived, but the ones who stayed died.
February 13, 2026 at 7:02 PM
Ooo. Rough chuckles indeed. My PC was a human fighter from Breland. He was a veteran of the last war, and he was dishonorably discharged for defying his superior officer and getting his squad out of Cyre as the Day of Mourning was happening. Only a handful survived, but the ones who stayed died.
Hmmm. Well, random stranger who looks an awful lot like a bugbear in Groucho glasses, you've given me much to think about...
February 13, 2026 at 6:51 PM
Hmmm. Well, random stranger who looks an awful lot like a bugbear in Groucho glasses, you've given me much to think about...
Yeah the "in between wars" tension is a great hook. Political intrigue, secret missions, and so on. And boy did we lean into "the Emerald Claws are Nazis".
February 13, 2026 at 6:45 PM
Yeah the "in between wars" tension is a great hook. Political intrigue, secret missions, and so on. And boy did we lean into "the Emerald Claws are Nazis".
Or we take some existing fact that we've already established about one of the characters and then write something developing that further...finding a way to add conflict and/or story to it.
February 13, 2026 at 6:42 PM
Or we take some existing fact that we've already established about one of the characters and then write something developing that further...finding a way to add conflict and/or story to it.
... what I had suggested to him. And so that stayed with me.
Other times, for example, with the Pigpen, the comic strip I write, sometimes it's as simple as thinking of something it would be fun or funny to have the characters doing, and then to figure out how we get there...would it make sense?
Other times, for example, with the Pigpen, the comic strip I write, sometimes it's as simple as thinking of something it would be fun or funny to have the characters doing, and then to figure out how we get there...would it make sense?
February 13, 2026 at 6:42 PM
... what I had suggested to him. And so that stayed with me.
Other times, for example, with the Pigpen, the comic strip I write, sometimes it's as simple as thinking of something it would be fun or funny to have the characters doing, and then to figure out how we get there...would it make sense?
Other times, for example, with the Pigpen, the comic strip I write, sometimes it's as simple as thinking of something it would be fun or funny to have the characters doing, and then to figure out how we get there...would it make sense?
You almost always just hear of solitary Cryptids, not groups or communities of them.
It also partially came out of something that another writer asked me for advice on. I offered some thoughts, and ultimately decided to go in a different direction with what he was working on, but I really liked...
It also partially came out of something that another writer asked me for advice on. I offered some thoughts, and ultimately decided to go in a different direction with what he was working on, but I really liked...
February 13, 2026 at 6:42 PM
You almost always just hear of solitary Cryptids, not groups or communities of them.
It also partially came out of something that another writer asked me for advice on. I offered some thoughts, and ultimately decided to go in a different direction with what he was working on, but I really liked...
It also partially came out of something that another writer asked me for advice on. I offered some thoughts, and ultimately decided to go in a different direction with what he was working on, but I really liked...
Oh yeah. That's the $16 million question for writers, isn't it?
It really depends. Some of it is just me thinking about things that interest me. Lonely, the comic book that I'm writing at the moment, came out of me, thinking about Cryptids and thinking "that must be a really lonely existence."
It really depends. Some of it is just me thinking about things that interest me. Lonely, the comic book that I'm writing at the moment, came out of me, thinking about Cryptids and thinking "that must be a really lonely existence."
February 13, 2026 at 6:42 PM
Oh yeah. That's the $16 million question for writers, isn't it?
It really depends. Some of it is just me thinking about things that interest me. Lonely, the comic book that I'm writing at the moment, came out of me, thinking about Cryptids and thinking "that must be a really lonely existence."
It really depends. Some of it is just me thinking about things that interest me. Lonely, the comic book that I'm writing at the moment, came out of me, thinking about Cryptids and thinking "that must be a really lonely existence."
sees the Lady of the Lake reclaim it, and then sees Arthur being rowed to Avalon.
I once worked on a short story where Bedwyr is given a choice by Merlin to either be Arthur's greatest Knight, and to betray him or to remain true to Arthur, and be diminished in his legend.
I once worked on a short story where Bedwyr is given a choice by Merlin to either be Arthur's greatest Knight, and to betray him or to remain true to Arthur, and be diminished in his legend.
February 13, 2026 at 6:34 PM
sees the Lady of the Lake reclaim it, and then sees Arthur being rowed to Avalon.
I once worked on a short story where Bedwyr is given a choice by Merlin to either be Arthur's greatest Knight, and to betray him or to remain true to Arthur, and be diminished in his legend.
I once worked on a short story where Bedwyr is given a choice by Merlin to either be Arthur's greatest Knight, and to betray him or to remain true to Arthur, and be diminished in his legend.
loses his position as Arthur's best friend, but he also stops being the betrayer character. In fact, I've often wondered if Mallory deliberately kind of apologized to him by making him the last knight at Arthur's side after the Battle of Camlann. He's the night who throws Excalibur into the water...
February 13, 2026 at 6:34 PM
loses his position as Arthur's best friend, but he also stops being the betrayer character. In fact, I've often wondered if Mallory deliberately kind of apologized to him by making him the last knight at Arthur's side after the Battle of Camlann. He's the night who throws Excalibur into the water...
I love Gawain.
I have a lot of affection for Bedwyr/Bedevere. In some versions of the story, he's the Lancelot character. But when Mallory wrote La Morte d'Arthur, he was such a huge fan of the French romances that he essentially installed Lancelot in that role, and Bedevere (the French spelling)..
I have a lot of affection for Bedwyr/Bedevere. In some versions of the story, he's the Lancelot character. But when Mallory wrote La Morte d'Arthur, he was such a huge fan of the French romances that he essentially installed Lancelot in that role, and Bedevere (the French spelling)..
February 13, 2026 at 6:34 PM
I love Gawain.
I have a lot of affection for Bedwyr/Bedevere. In some versions of the story, he's the Lancelot character. But when Mallory wrote La Morte d'Arthur, he was such a huge fan of the French romances that he essentially installed Lancelot in that role, and Bedevere (the French spelling)..
I have a lot of affection for Bedwyr/Bedevere. In some versions of the story, he's the Lancelot character. But when Mallory wrote La Morte d'Arthur, he was such a huge fan of the French romances that he essentially installed Lancelot in that role, and Bedevere (the French spelling)..
Just make sure you also like spicy. They are not tame generally speaking.
February 13, 2026 at 6:28 PM
Just make sure you also like spicy. They are not tame generally speaking.
I love the philosophy that everything in the game has a potential home in the world. I use that same philosophy in my own campaign.
February 13, 2026 at 6:16 PM
I love the philosophy that everything in the game has a potential home in the world. I use that same philosophy in my own campaign.
I have set games in Eberron back in the days of 3/3.5, but most of my games now take place in the world that I created for 4th/5th edition. Since I steal from everyone, all of the Eberron species appear in my world, as does the philosophy that any monster can be any alignment.
February 13, 2026 at 6:15 PM
I have set games in Eberron back in the days of 3/3.5, but most of my games now take place in the world that I created for 4th/5th edition. Since I steal from everyone, all of the Eberron species appear in my world, as does the philosophy that any monster can be any alignment.
Oh, I love Eberron. After years of pretty much generic fantasy worlds, that one really jumped out and excited me.
February 13, 2026 at 6:08 PM
Oh, I love Eberron. After years of pretty much generic fantasy worlds, that one really jumped out and excited me.
If it's a specific campaign world, then Eberron hands down. But I am a huge Spelljammer fan from day one...I just think of that as more of a meta-setting.
February 13, 2026 at 5:56 PM
If it's a specific campaign world, then Eberron hands down. But I am a huge Spelljammer fan from day one...I just think of that as more of a meta-setting.
I'm so glad you asked! Buldak noodles are a type of Korean noodles, where Buldak translates more of less to "fire chicken". I specially am a huge fan of Samyang brand Buldak ramen...spicy instant noodles ramen with all kinds of flavors like Cream Carbonara, Tom Yum, Rosé, and Habanero Lime.
February 13, 2026 at 5:55 PM
I'm so glad you asked! Buldak noodles are a type of Korean noodles, where Buldak translates more of less to "fire chicken". I specially am a huge fan of Samyang brand Buldak ramen...spicy instant noodles ramen with all kinds of flavors like Cream Carbonara, Tom Yum, Rosé, and Habanero Lime.
You're clearly playing a very different game of D&D than I am…
February 13, 2026 at 5:46 PM
You're clearly playing a very different game of D&D than I am…
My mind is utterly not on my work as I'm leaving on vacation tomorrow. So… Help distract me! Is there anything people wanna ask about the stuff I write, my travels, TTRPG's, Disney, cooking, chocolate making,
Buldak noodles, Lovecraft, Arthurian legends, or anything else?
Buldak noodles, Lovecraft, Arthurian legends, or anything else?
February 13, 2026 at 5:44 PM
My mind is utterly not on my work as I'm leaving on vacation tomorrow. So… Help distract me! Is there anything people wanna ask about the stuff I write, my travels, TTRPG's, Disney, cooking, chocolate making,
Buldak noodles, Lovecraft, Arthurian legends, or anything else?
Buldak noodles, Lovecraft, Arthurian legends, or anything else?
Well, that's why it didn't digest them, and it gave them back their boat and everything!
They actually had a contract to be able to take a locket they were seeking and one item each out of the tons of treasures inside it...unless it successfully digested them before they got out.
They actually had a contract to be able to take a locket they were seeking and one item each out of the tons of treasures inside it...unless it successfully digested them before they got out.
February 13, 2026 at 5:22 PM
Well, that's why it didn't digest them, and it gave them back their boat and everything!
They actually had a contract to be able to take a locket they were seeking and one item each out of the tons of treasures inside it...unless it successfully digested them before they got out.
They actually had a contract to be able to take a locket they were seeking and one item each out of the tons of treasures inside it...unless it successfully digested them before they got out.
I'm sure this absolutely, positively won't have any long, reaching repercussions through the campaign. I mean, just because they live in a coastal city when they're not at summer camp… And, I mean, what are the odds that any important Fey in the area will have noticed?
February 13, 2026 at 5:09 PM
I'm sure this absolutely, positively won't have any long, reaching repercussions through the campaign. I mean, just because they live in a coastal city when they're not at summer camp… And, I mean, what are the odds that any important Fey in the area will have noticed?
And return to the ocean instead. Given that in its various boasting, it claimed that it had once swallowed Atlantis, and that they also found the wreckage of the USS Cyclops (a ship lost in the Bermuda Triangle) inside of it, they were like, "uh oh"...
Leviathan has returned.
Leviathan has returned.
February 13, 2026 at 5:09 PM
And return to the ocean instead. Given that in its various boasting, it claimed that it had once swallowed Atlantis, and that they also found the wreckage of the USS Cyclops (a ship lost in the Bermuda Triangle) inside of it, they were like, "uh oh"...
Leviathan has returned.
Leviathan has returned.