Thursday, July 23, 2026

What You Missed - Makhta's Lucid Nightmare ...and the Dream Shards Pt. 1

 VICTORY! THE HEROES OF THE REALMS SAVED MAKHTA!..... and I totally didn't have surprise children and I am NOT a deadbeat dad.......  Ok ok, I'll talk about what happened.  So night one is a little hazy. You see, we made a point to explain to everyone who showed up to venture out to find the dream forge. Unfortunately I was almost immediately left for dead as my friends ventured forth. It was at this point I remembered why I love the spell Death Watch, thinking how they were going to move the dream forge or do much of anything without the one person that could pick it up as per Morpheus. This amused me.

 **This is where we shift into a semi IC role as staff was kind enough to turn Aiden into a thrall that wouldn't retain any of his memory once fixed and return him to the class at some point down the path as we giggled as the players just kept on going joyously.**  So as my friends found me I wanted to show them the path ahead was clear and somehow I got so far ahead of them they were really slacking. To which about half of them wandered down to where I said I came from, and died. I really don't know how to explain it. People were saying there was a vampire or something and they just couldn't affect it but they had to have been pulling my leg. We found the dream forge and returned to life this smith.  Adventure over night one. 

Day two was a bit of an odd time. I awoke early as I was making stuff at a table. There were a bunch of little squid creatures- some smiling and I did not ask questions. As people woke and joined me I simply repeated- "Welcome to the dreaming we must have screwed up ‘cause things are weird around here..." This answer seemed to more than satisfy most everyone to the delight of everyone. Many took one as a new friend, for science.  So almost immediately I heard my name being called…. A very familiar scolding from my former wife Belle of Blackwood. But it wasn't quite her. It was a full sized raccoon carrying two children. It's important to note Belle was a fae when there was a marriage she had become a raccoon after the divorce and that's a whole other matter.  “TAKE YOUR KIDS YOU BASTARD! YOU RAN OFF AND I NEED A BREAK!” she yelled, shoving two raccoon children into my arms and stormed off. Well damn this is not ok. It was at this moment I realized the year before the fae took notice and I was experiencing my own personal nightmare and everyone was going to learn some things about me today. 

Venturing out, everyone seemed to have woken in a maze. Everything on me that was stealable including both my dream trash pandas (lets see how many funny names I can make up about them). This was bad because I figured I should keep an eye on them. Also being unarmed was not my idea of a chill day and the fae were having a grand old time with me. Apparently this was par for the course for everyone. As we linked up with each other there were some people with all the weapons, some people were running from beings because they were unarmed. It was pretty much bedlam. Vuel and I attempted to work together but I kept seeing bubbles and couldn't focus. Aelias and Liselle were with us and somehow she had been turned into a necromancer. Aelias was really not ok with it and at this point I was doing my best to help but not totally against this cool different version of my friend. Belle also kept popping up to crack comments and be a general distraction while refusing to take our nightmare children back. 

(OOC note: it was at this point the staff where openly joking with me that the PCs were a bigger hazard to me than the staff were and the regular joke was that Aiden is a deadbeat dad that abandons his kids by the PCs at this point) 

Along the path we noticed a demon with a guitar, I questioned a lot at this point. Like why did Lupa have a trombone (OOC: I’m not kidding, it's amazing what people keep in the trunks of their car at events). I’m not sure who was dreaming about ice cream but that happened and I got a solid 20 minutes of ice cream, an interesting being named Joy as well as no baby mama drama. This was not the case for long. 

SO here we are folks and chained to the dungeon walls. Kids on the other side with guards preparing to torture them WHILE I WATCHED! Oh wait, here comes Vuel and Lupa who will totally help me out. Nope…. He emasculated the guards and basically pushed them aside and tortured my kids in front of me. (OOC: At this time I would like to apologize to any player not into curse words but you tell me how to play THAT out)  After Vuel has finished eating the last eyeball we were back outside. My dream bastards were back and Vuel was smiling because now everything had been fixed and the three of us had a fun bonding moment of sorts. 

It was at this point we joined with everyone and apparently they were figuring out why they couldn't find a thrall all day that needed to be fixed for some reason. Now everyone remembers I'm a thrall from the night before and fixes the issue. 

**From here I am explaining in full IC perspective because I rolled with it that I had little to no memory of my time as thrall** 

So why do I have raccoon children now? Vuel only told me he was going to eat them…. And why is Belle here? And a fae again? And why does she think she’s an Idarin and Dark is alive and very much bullshit with me? Also what the name of holy hell has happened to Ryu? Then a name from the past returned. A friend named Shartie with an uncanny ability to pop in at random. We made a deal to end the nightmare I was having and the fog had lifted. Everyone was fighting with Makhta and Dark Ryu.

After a long bitter fight that drained everyone, I was in a room with locks with others attempting to help pick locks. Eventually I was back with everyone and Makhta was saved. Someone had accidentally set off a wayland bomb that had messed up about half of us fairly bad. Omri found me and we forged a weapon with help of those that remained. From here was the end of things for me but on a plus I was informed the weapon was in Makhta’s hands. So pretty good ending overall. 


Wednesday, July 22, 2026

What's it do? What's it do?

 In this continuing View feature, we show you a picture of a theoretical magic item. Then you go back to Facebook and in the comments, invent your idea for the powers that this item would have.



Here is this week's item:



Tuesday, July 21, 2026

What You Missed: Blackwood Tournaments XIII [Court Edition]

Transcribed

First matter of business, Laika made Violet his page.


Fern was made a full member of Eagle's Rook after a period of petitioning, and given a personal heraldry belt favor of Adara's.


Captain Sayeh called up the Knights of Blackwood [present: Trent, Nos, Torolf, Matthias, Tao, Saegan, Elizah, Matiya, Bones], and spoke of her work in the East. She spoke of the assistance of Sir Dagger, who helped grow their numbers in East Blackwood. He helped translate german and english documents. And that he wanted to share, though he could not be there in person, how honored he is to be a knight amongst the folks of Blackwood.

The Knights of Blackwood's business continued with these squirings:

  • Tao squired Tempest.
  • Nos squired Cronin.

Saegan squired Luke John but as a personal squire.

Saegan called up Cheri/ Taya and put a petitioner tabard on her, welcoming her as a potential future member of Blackwood.


As court herald Elizah called up Irri of Blackwood. Irri shared she was handed a scale for "getting shit done", and wished to now hand it off to someone who also embodied that. She called up Bones and handed off the Blackwood North Star.

Tao was called up, and spoke of receiving a similar scale, this one for combat, the Mark of the Harvester. He called up Hedda and Elizah, and gave one to each due to their performances in Pressure Point.

Tao also gave Saegan a scale for running his quest.

Saegan called up Sayeh and explained the scale of "Voice of Night", about the historical relevance of Blackwood. He noted he noticed Sayeh was sharing the history of Blackwood to people the night before, which he appreciates, and her duties in East Blackwood.


Final word goes to Saegan: "Thanks for joining us, enduring the heat. Enjoy the food."


Then we ate.


Editor's note on the scales: "Blackwood has four tokens that are represented by scales, The Blackwood North Star; represents general excellence in leadership, The Mark of the Harvester; represents excellent in combat, The Voice of Night; represents furthering Blackwood's cultural and historical presence, and The Tree of Eroewan; representing cultural furtherment of Backwood. 


They're meant to be passed on from member to member. "

Monday, July 20, 2026

Meme Monday

 by the Meme Team



Friday, July 17, 2026

Realmsle #35

 

                       


This custom Wordle-adjacent-puzzle features a 5-letter word that is particularly relevant to the Realms.

If the embedded page isn't working below you can click this link to get to the puzzle.

Like regular Wordle you can copy your result's (but only if you follow the link), so paste them or a screenshot onto social media to let us know how you did. But no spoilers!


Thursday, July 16, 2026

Why I Want To Go - Makhta's Lucid Nightmare ...and the Dream Shards Pt. 2

 IC (Aiden Penclaw)

The sound of the anvil had begun to make Aiden's ears ring. It had been one year since he hid the dream forge and escaped being fae touched again. A bead of sweat ran down his cheek as he could feel it calling again. Word had traveled of Makhta's plight between all corners of the realm. Things were getting worse and even the fires of the forge showed Aiden visions of a terrible possibility at hand. If action wasn't taken soon the friend he had made the last two years would burn in a gristly death saved for those of vampiric blood. Weapons of silver and every magic trick and trap packed, he looked back at his forbidden traps in the corner. Various supplies that once deterred fae were being left behind to make room for what comes ahead. With a long breath Aiden mounts his horse for the trip from Tarngire within Invictus. Making his way back towards the forge to meet up with Omri, Ryu, and several more to find what can be done to prevent fate. He whispers under his breath- "If not for our friends then why else-" Aiden begins his trip.


OOC (Arthur Granger)

Do you enjoy questing events? Looking for an event that could lead to changes that affect your character for years to come? Maybe you're a newbie looking to learn more about the travelers and groups of the realm you run into along the path. Come along and join this weekend in a plot that heavily features a friend we all know at this point and be a part of seeing this story's progression. Maybe a few curveballs might be thrown our way as those new to adventuring will learn. Dreams can turn into nightmares in a world where logic might not be the only answer. All in all a fun weekend and I look forward to it!


Wednesday, July 15, 2026

Why I Want To Go - Makhta's Lucid Nightmare ...and the Dream Shards Pt. 1

by: Sky "Raindrop" Rubenstein


IC:

Friends, Heroes of the Realms, Comrades in Arms,

One of our own is in danger. I don’t know about you, but I grew up hearing tales of Makhta’s heroism and prowess. And my experience is that she lives up to her reputation. I have been honored and delighted to get to know her these past few years, and fight at her side. Now, she is in danger. Cursed by vampirism that has been getting worse and worse, I have watched her struggle with her own darkness, and to find her path. Now her life, fate, and heart lie in our hands. To save her or lose her forever. I am proud I get to fight for my friend. My warlord. I will not let her lose herself to the Darkness forever. Please, I encourage those who are able to join us in this fight. Help us keep our friend safe, and find peace with herself, and harmony.


Dame Magus Raindrop Storm

Knight Protector of Faerie

Magus of the Realms


OOC:

I had the pleasure to play with Randy at Intercon this past year, and he is an incredible storyteller. I have heard some of what he has planned for mechanics this year, and I think that this event is going to be a phenomenal one with some innovative storytelling techniques. Beth Tozier is an incredible storyteller and friend as well, and I always enjoy getting to play with her, both player-to-player and player-to-npc. And then you bring Sean V into the mix, one of the minds that brought us Bedlam, and an amazing storyteller and NPC, one of the best out there, and someone who always plays an excellent villain. Then adding in Kelly Bonci, one of my good friends and a delightful person who has always played incredible characters, and done a great job bringing characters to life, and Kathy Fey’s experience, storytelling, and roleplaying acumen, this is shaping up to be an incredible event. They’ve really worked hard to weave in character stories, as well as personal plots and storylines, and I am so thrilled to see what this brings.

Come prepared to roll with the punches, improv, and play hard. I think this is going to be a good one.


Sky Rubenstein