The topic of games ending has come up in this webspace before (here, if not also elsewhere). I always experience some sense of sadness when I have a game conclude (as opposed to simply stopping, which happens, unfortunately, and has its own issues), and this is certainly true for the most recent game in which I've played: Nakahama.

Not much less than a week ago, I noted wrapping up my local library's pilot program of running a game of Dungeons & Dragons for middle schoolers. I continue to think it was a good experience for them and for me, and I continue to think that what the game taught us is worth having learned or having been brought back to mind.

Read the previous entry in the series here.Read the next entry in the series soon. Unsigned comments seemingly from Fitz about Chade precede "Belief," which begins with Brashen asking Fitz what Tintaglia wants from him amid a short break from the tasks setting out aboard the Paragon for Clerres demands of all who will sail thither. Those tasks are glossed, and the irritations felt at continued delays are rehearsed.

Yesterday, as this piece makes its way into the world, I presided over the final session of the initial Dungeons & Dragons for middle schoolers program at my local library. (It's discussed here, here, here, and here.) In it, the party sought to make its way back to Hanlon, its objective achieved; they were sidetracked by player actions and the will of the dice into an unexpected, ultimately successful encounter.

Since I've been going on for some weeks now about the work I'm doing running Dungeons & Dragons for middle schoolers at my local library (see here, here, here, and here), and because I'm in the middle of another play-by-post forum game, I've been motivated to look back at some of the older materials I've kept on file these many years.

Read the previous entry in the series here.Read the next entry in the series soon. The chapter discusses genital mutilation and other objectionables. A "Report to the Four" regarding the Fool precedes "Another Ship, Another Journey." The chapter proper begins with Bee rehearsing her situation and the changes to the same as she is forced to accompany Dwalia and Vindeliar towards Clerres aboard ship.

For a few years, now, I've made a point of making some comment or another at this point in the year, remarking about the USian practice of engaging in a lot of buying on the day following Thanksgiving. The comments have varied in length and form, ranging from pompous prose to some alliterative verse I think I did decently. In that, I suppose they're representative of my writing.

In a piece last week, I make the comment that "At my tables, XP also result from making things better for the other people at the table, something I’ll talk about in more detail later on (but probably not today)." This, being a different day (although today on whatever day you read it), seems a good one for talking about one of the "making things better for other people at the table" I have tended to reward with additional XP; I have often had players vote for the player…

Read the previous entry in the series here.Read the next entry in the series soon. An old letter from Shrewd to Desire regarding the Fool precedes "Silver Ships and Dragons," which opens with Fitz ruminating on the comparison between meetings of his family and the assemblage of the intertwined Vestrits and rulers of the Pirate Isles. Fitz assesses and describes those present at the meeting, and conversation about events and the coming changes to the liveships ensues.

To continue on from three weeks ago, the week before last and last week, in which I discuss running a Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) role-playing game (RPG) for some middle schoolers at my local public library (for pay!), I'll note that the party in question continued its work against the thief that had stolen a particular ceremonial object from the town from which the members hailed.

The echoes of old acquaintances ring in The hollows left behind by their absence My absence And the insuperable Planck gap between What we were And what we now are One wonders what might have been...Photo by Paul Basel on Pexels.com Melancholy or otherwise, I'm happy to write to your order; place yours below!

Read the previous entry in the series here.Read the next entry in the series soon. After a report from Rosemary to Dutiful, Elliania, and Kettricken that follows up on Fitz's work in Kelsingra, "Serpent Spit" returns to Bee in her captivity. The effort of Dwalia and her followers, with Bee still captive, to depart from Sewelsby is reported, and Bee begins to be taken by her dream-visions.

I've mentioned, most recently at about this time last week, that I'm running a Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) game for middle schoolers at my local public library--for pay. The game is progressing well enough; the third 90-minute session was yesterday, with _ players in attendance. The party continued along the path I'd laid before them, making headway towards their assigned objective (some social structures within the game have emerged from play and improvisation, which makes some things easier than others).

My head is fullLess now of wordsThan of allergies'Lin'gring curseOr of some illness--It were worseWere it thus--So I am terse Yep. It's that time of year, here.Photo by Pavel Danilyuk on Pexels.com Even with a runny nose, I can write for you!

Read the previous entry in the series here.Read the next entry in the series soon. Following an excerpt from Symphe's papers, "The Pirate Isles" begins with Fitz mulling over his continued voyage aboard the Paragon as the liveship obliges Althea, Brashen, and the crew to proceed past their intended and agreed-upon destination towards Clerres. The ill regard in which the crew holds him and his company is noted, and the routines into which Fitz and his company settle further are described.

At around this time last week, I noted the start of my work as a contract programs teacher at my local library, running a Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) game for a group of middle-school-aged students. As reported, the first session went pretty well, so I spent some time in the following days developing materials for the next session, scheduled to take place yesterday afternoon into early evening as this reaches the internet.

Again, I want to take up pen and writeAgainst the horror of the growing nightThat creeps upon the world. The fading lightOf hope that lingers yet is growing dimAmid a flood, and I can barely swimIn calmest waters. I grow yet more grimAs I stare through my dirty windows' panesAnd see the world, see its increasing pains…

Read the previous entry in the series here.Read the next entry in the series soon. A brief excerpt from Bee's dream journals precedes "Trader Akriel." The chapter opens with Bee dickering with a merchant aboard the ship where she has been captive. Bee offers to indenture herself to the merchant, her situation rehearsed, and the merchant lays out some of her own situation before agreeing to take her on.

Among the many things of which I have made no secret is my long time playing, running, and studying tabletop roleplaying games (TTRPGs). I've got a whole tag about them for this webspace, for example, and the subject has popped up in other writing I've done, such as the piece linked here. It should be clear at this point, with my having been involved TTRPGs for more than twenty-five years, that I'm fond of them, and it makes sense that, being thus fond, I would want to share with others and bring more people into the hobby.

I've not made a secret of volunteering with the band programs at my local school district. Even before my daughter, Ms. 8, enrolled in them, I started doing what I could to help them out, announcing their halftime shows, hauling pit equipment, and performing occasional patch-work on instruments so that they could be taken out onto the field one more time.

Read the previous entry in the series here.Read the next entry in the series soon. After a somewhat extended commentary from the Servant Symphe regarding the Fool, "Paragon's Bargain" begins with Fitz trying to fill his days aboard the liveship with useful tasks, only to find himself wracked with regrets regarding Bee. Fitz does learn some details about the Rain Wild river and how the liveship operates upon it, and the patterns of his days aboard and of his company's are related.

While it is the case that no few marching bands have had their contest seasons end, it is also the case that many are moving ahead to higher-level contests; Bandtober is far from done, and so I will have more to say about it yet than the one or two comments I've made about it in the past few weeks. One part of that "more" is that I have continued to work with the marching band at my local high school, not only because my daughter is in the band program and I want her to have the best possible program as she moves ahead, and not only because my being out in the community and helping with such groups is good for me and for the business I manage, but also because I have long benefited from strong band programs, and I believe in them as Good Things (yes, the capitals are on purpose).

There are some times I find that IAm up to my elbows or to my eyesIn work; it's always a surpriseDespite how often it happens. Closer than many things to the truth...Photo by Josh Sorenson on Pexels.com Alas that this is such a dayWhen I would rather be at play,But I'm at work, and so I prayFor strength, as often happens. Like my little bit of verse? Want some of your own? I can help with that!

Read the previous entry in the series here.Read the next entry in the series soon. This is another chapter that discusses sexual assault and torture. After an excerpt from Bee's dream journals, "Full Sails" begins with a return to Bee as she remains Dwalia's captive. She assesses her situation aboard ship and her confinement, noting overheard conversations and plotting to escape Dwalia and her company.

Read the previous entry in the series here.Read the next entry in the series soon. Following some commentary by a Bingtown Trader about the origins of the liveships, "The Liveship Paragon" begins with Fitz considering his own image on the figurehead of the eponymous vessel. The Fool as Amber claims to be able to explain, something about which Fitz expresses doubt before returning to his contemplation of…