Another in our continuing series! In the below picture there is a Realmsie-shaped black hole. Can you figure out who it is based only on the profile? Tell us on social media if you think you know who it is! The answer will be revealed later in the day.
Got your morning cup of coffee and a few minutes? Great! Time for our continuing feature at the View - we're going to be asking a series of questions and we want to know your answers! The question is posted below. So while you sip your morning beverage of choice, ruminate on this one:
There sure has been a chill in the air lately. What's the coldest you have ever been at a Realms event?
Now head on over to social media and give us your answer!
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 results, so paste them in to social media to let us know how you did. But no spoilers!
Editor's note:
We're back with another installment of The Cry of Midgard. There is something quite dangerous going on in these barely settled wilds. Are these the random acts of a cruel and uncaring natural order? Is this the whim of the gods visiting terror for some unforeseen end? Or is it the work of something even more devastating than either of those... the evils of mankind? Let's find out!
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All of us at the View would like to wish you a safe, warm, and delicious Thanksgiving!
Our regularly scheduled content returns tomorrow.
After Action Report Expedition Omega Events of 18 November 1023 B.M.R.
The morning was cool and dry when I left the city to board Revenge. A perfect day for sticking it to the Risen Kingdom.
Quite a lot of work had gone into preparing for this Expedition. Research from the Subtle Thread and individual adventurers poured in as soon as I set foot on the recently expanded Dreamliner. Magus Prime James Swift was already preparing what he called a “mass silvering” ritual, so that our party would be well-equipped to defeat Void-infused creatures. And perhaps most importantly, Cap’n Cimone needed to load all of her provisions into the galley. That’s right, Revenge has a galley now. I’m always impressed by the modifications that the artificers make to this vessel.
The most crucial upgrade to the Dreamliner for this mission was the ability to navigate into lesser-Known parts of the Dreaming, allowing us to access far more enemy-occupied demiplanes than ever before. Ever since we pushed them out of our Realms, the Risen Kingdom has established resource harvesting operations in numerous other planes to sustain their ravenous regime. We have previously attacked four of these outposts (three during Expedition Alfa last year and a fourth this past October), but this accounts for only a third of the total number of successful attacks we need to make against the enemy’s infrastructure in order to trigger Total Void Cascade. And with signs that the Risen Kingdom was imminently reinforcing their harvest portals, we needed to move against them with urgency.
Unfortunately, the complex systems of a vehicle which travels physically through the Dreaming are rather laborious to start up. But as always, the individuals who controlled these systems soon fell into an efficient rhythm. I passed the captain’s chair to the Baron Diamond soon after getting underway (though come to think of it, I doubt he ever stopped moving long enough to sit in it) as he had a natural intuition for piloting the Dreamliner and the Reforged Iron blades on my belt were keen to lay into the enemy.
The briefing for Expedition Omega was straightforward: navigate Revenge to a demiplane and send in a strike force to attack the Void portal in that world while the vessel moved on to the next one. Once our forces reached the portal, they were to flip its attunement and recall back to the Dreamliner. And we needed to do this at least eight times during the six-hour mission.
Following a recommendation from Sir Saka, we organized into two “away teams” so that we would be able to attack multiple portals simultaneously. This strategy yielded mixed results, as our divided efforts were defeated on several demiplanes. With time working against us, the decision was made to throw our full strength at one target at a time, with the hope that the increased likelihood of success would outweigh the cost of moving more slowly.
Attacking each demiplane in force did in fact significantly increase our success rate. And incredibly, we were achieving these successes faster than we had before. Both Dreamliner crew and the away team became orchestras of war, each moving more and more efficiently with every beat. Our final attacks were so rapid that we would recall to the Revenge after flipping a portal and immediately teleport out to attack another one. The Risen Kingdom must think that we attacked them with a force threefold larger than we actually were.
I am deeply grateful to every single person who came on this Expedition. The many hands, minds, swords, and spells that we brought to bear against the enemy made our mission a clear victory! Of the ten portals we flipped in this attack, nine still remain active. This suggests to me that the Risen Kingdom is still unaware of the full extent of the damage we have inflicted upon them. The tenth portal—according to reports—no longer exists, and neither does the world it had been built in. Even before we set out on Expedition Omega, we had heard rumors of a deadly new superweapon in the hands of the enemy; I fear that the lost world might be confirmation of its existence.
In the light of these successes and in the face of the dangers ahead of us, I bid you—remember these words from the old Gidan Resistance:
We shall not yield
We shall not fear
In service to all who oppose the Risen Kingdom,
Commander Sir Orion
This week we have an interview with Owen, who plays Kalashai (both they/he)!
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| Photo by Kersten/Ypnn |
I learned about the realms through SMAS fight practices at WPI. I joined the club because I heard it was a chance to do sword fighting for PE credit, and that sounded like a lot of fun! Over the course of the term I made a lot of friends and decided to stick around and try out the more "LARP" side of the club.
Fourteen! Which feels like a lot for just a first year, but they were all really fun events!
Not really. I had played DnD once for a class (game design major), but that's about it.
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| Photo by Kersten/Ypnn |
Kalashai is a normal human* who comes from Alifon, far to the west. They came to the Realms trying to get away from some problems in their hometown, and pretty quickly found friends among the Chimeron Militia, which they later joined. They've developed some strong feelings about protecting people who are new or often forgotten by others, and have recently gained some magical abilities to help them do that better.
My first event was Black and White 2022, where Cecil and Fern did a ritual to merge two times into one. I was part of the group assigned by Orion to guard the circle and not let anyone pass. That meant that for all of court I was standing at guard as the only line of defense between Cecil and soullessness.
Everyone is always willing to help. If I ever have questions or need some advice on something, I can just find the closest person and even if they don't know the answer, they can usually point me to someone who does.
Finding good garb has been difficult for me. It doesn't help that I don't have a clear idea of what I want, but I just keep finding stuff that isn't quite what I'm looking for.
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| Photo by Kai Kaufman |
I finally get to do lots of crafting and other creative stuff that I could never find a good enough reason to do before. Chainmail, leather work, and various prop making stuff has always been something I've wanted to do and never been able to convince myself to actually start.
Don't be afraid to get involved in stuff! It took me a while to figure out that I could join plots and participate without being invited, and I wish I had gotten a little more involved sooner. But also, don't overwhelm yourself. There are lots of things happening, and trying to understand them all might overwhelm you quick.
Getting an excuse to hang out with friends and do something fun (even if it's just hanging out in a feast hall) has been great.
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| Photo by Kai Kaufman |
The following text is spells from our Ominbus that have been translated into several other languages before they are again translated into English through a combination of Google Translate, ChatGPT, and translate.com.
Fighter's Intuition
Translated to Nepali then to Old English then to French then back to English
This spell should be cast on the person who cannot be bewitched by placing a piece of clothing over the boxer and explaining how it works. That doesn't make boxers a dream. This boxer can now invoke "Boxer's Mental" once. When a boxer does this, he doesn't learn or know anything about the monster he can see. It is up to the pole of the event to decide whether or not to provide this information. The information can be anything: a weakness, a way to lose, or what an NPC likes to eat. If the event pole does not provide any information about the monster, the spell is not spent and the boxer can attempt to use it again.
Heartiness
Translated to Polish then to Tagalog then to Latin then back to English
The connection-one spell makes it harder to wreck the spell caster's body. The next time, if the body of the spell caster gets wrecked, effectively destroying their body will require an additional 200 hits. If only 200 hits happen instead of the full 400, the spell caster must inform the individuals wrecking their body, "the job is not yet done." The spell caster can be under the sway of only one Resilience cast at a time. The use is considered complete when the spell caster receives at least 200 hits wrecking the body, but the effect lasts until the destruction of their body or its resurrection.
Intervention
Translated to Greek then to Sorani Kurdish then to Ukrainian then back to English
This spell allows the mage to go to EH or MM and ask for protection from the forces that possess his magic. Works only if it is pronounced in the presence of EH or MM. Used for questions like, "Oh please, great huge god/Spirit of Fire/Earl Navel, grant me a quest to find the lost soul of my master, Ser Biff of Bonged Ridge." This spell does not guarantee that EH or MM will simply not hear the request and say "No". This spell cannot create an effect that lasts beyond the end of the event, except for healing purposes. A magician who uses drama and theater has a better chance of success, and simple, small questions also have a better chance of success. Any request that might unbalance the game will likely be rejected outright or assigned an unsolvable problem.
Séance
Translated to Japanese then to Norwegian then to Hindi then back to English
This spell allows the wizard to engage in an extended conversation with a light, whether from another planet or a soulless entity. When the wizard notifies the EH or MM of his intention to cast this spell, the wizard must begin the ritual by turning the hourglass. If no light appears in the first three candles, the spell remains uncast. If light appears, allow the hourglass to empty, then turn it again. The wizard and the light are then free to talk until all the sand falls away. If the light remains for more than three minutes, the wizard can continue talking to him. Keep in mind that this spell does not change the behavior of the light, and you have the choice not to speak.
Whether a soulless entity can respond is entirely at the discretion of the EH or MM who must be present during the dance. This spell does not in any way provide knowledge about the issues surrounding the soulless character's death. If allowed to communicate, a soulless PC can still refuse to answer, is not required to speak, is free to lie or tell the truth, and can end the call of light at any time. The PC bound by the light summons must leave after three minutes.
Shapeshifting
Translated to Korean then to Sanskrit then to Italian then back to English
By this, a spellcaster can generally change the appearance of a humanoid into a demonic form, mostly of their upward proportions. The time required for this transformation is as long as it takes for the player to change into the appropriate demonic attire. The types of demons, especially those above the player, can be chosen. Once the transformation is complete, if a player assumes a new demonic form, the spell Perception will provide a response to this new type of demon. This spell will mimic a miscellaneous demon type, and cannot accurately impersonate a named or unique demon, nor appear to be another PC. However, you are free to try to convince your targe that you are more significant than you actually are.
The altered form does not guarantee any combat advantage or other NPC facility, but it can make it seem like you are wearing sheathing or wielding a large weapon to complete the disguise. You cannot tell NPCs that you are NPCing. The transformation ends when you die or when any part of the disguise is not enchanted.
In addition, at the entrance of the event, players can take the appropriate face from EH or MM to complete the event's illusion. It is not guaranteed that they will be able to provide the ingredients, so you may want to bring them from home.
By Hannah Boucher and Ryu Goldscale
Why I Want to Go:
OOC:
This is the Penultimate event in the 10 year long Risen Kingdom plot by the Chimeronian Subnation Rua Thar Cinn (RTC). I have only been interacting with this plot for a year or two, but I have had a blast! These events are challenging, but in a very fun and satisfying way. Now that this questing series is coming to an end, I’m excited to see where the story will go. I am personally very invested in seeing the Risen Kingdom fall. I would like to invite everyone, and I do mean everyone, to join us for this event. It will likely be the most challenging one yet due to its strict time limit and everyone who can come will contribute greatly to our chances of success.
NOTE: Please be on site BY 10:00AM! The event staff has informed us that there is a very strict very hard start at 11:00AM. Any on site prep, including ritual casting and pre-cast spells, should be completed before 11:00AM.
IC:
We have spent the last year preparing for this confrontation and I believe we have a very good chance of winning. Our end goal is to flip 8 portals in 6 hours. It of course won’t be easy, but we are opting for speed over stealth. I have compiled some information to help people get up to speed ahead of time, but please feel free to ask me further questions. I appreciate each and every one of you who has helped us get this far. Lets go kick some Risen Kingdom ass!
Helpful Knowledge for Fighting the Risen Kingdom:
Hi! Do you like fighting? Good! I’ve got a great event for you!
First things first, heres the TL;DR:
Risen Kingdom (RK) is a bunch of bad guys who are currently occupying a plane called Gi (hard g). They invade other planes and drain them of resources… all of their resources. They tried to do this to the Realms and even built a cold iron road through Faerie but we managed to repel them for a time. We are now working with a research group called the Subtle Thread to make a final push against the RK and destroy them once and for all.
What’s going on at this event?
We are attempting to weaken the RK by reversing their planar portals. The RK uses these portals to pull resources from various planes into their home base on Gi. Reversing a portal is extremely easy and Sir Orion has been hard at work preparing the proper tools. All that is needed is to touch the tool to the portal itself and it gets reversed. If we reverse enough individual portals, we will induce what is known as a Total Void Cascade and reverse every single portal the RK has and completely drain them of their resources. A research organization known as the Subtle Thread has informed us we must reverse at least 8 individual portals to trigger this. More is better. Unfortunately we have only 6 hours to accomplish this. The RK does not know this is possible, and it will take them approximately that long to find out what we are doing and stop it.
What enemies will we face?
Write up provided by Griffin Hurana
Void Corrupted Beings - Have void growths on various hit locations, means it has Void Armor
How to kill void growth things in 4 easy steps:
That’s really all we know of. Be prepared for new enemies to appear and be different. Sorry I wish I could give you more.
FAQ:
What is Reforged Iron?
This is a material made from the remnants of the Iron Road the RK built through Fae. It has been worked so that it is no longer harmful to Fae and extremely harmful to RK. All current members of the Cerulean Company have Reforged Iron so seek us out if that material is needed. We will be able to loan out a few extras as well.
What is Void Magic?
Void Magic is a type of magic that uses the Void to alter reality. It is extremely powerful and extremely dangerous. Please do not seek out or use void magic unless you are a qualified individual.
How do I reverse a portal?
Poke it with one of the specially prepared sticks that Sir Orion has made.
Do I need to go through a portal to reverse it?
No. DO NOT GO THROUGH ANY OF THE PORTALS!
What the heck is a Dreamliner?
The Dreamliner Revenge is an advanced ship that can safely carry people Bodily through the Dreaming. It was captured from the RK by Sir Orion and now serves as our method of transportation to other planes.
Can I bring my horse on the Dreamliner? (You know who you are)
No.
Who should I contact for further information?
Sir Orion has been at the forefront of the war against the RK and has the most up to date information about them. You can also reach out to me (Ryu) with questions or any of the other members of Cerulean Company (Bogen, Griffin, and Alias).
Got your morning cup of coffee and a few minutes? Great! Time for our continuing feature at the View - we're going to be asking a series of questions and we want to know your answers! The question is posted below. So while you sip your morning beverage of choice, ruminate on this one:
If your character was a member of the Justice League what would be their super power and super hero name?
Now head on over to social media and give us your answer!
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:
What's this blaster do? Head back to social media and let us know!
[Ashenmark]
While the cuisine in Goldenhall has always been *chef's kiss* excellent, there has been a marked increase in exotic and luxury ingredients available in the marketplaces over the past couple of months.
Long hours getting the Dreamliner Revenge into tip-top shape have required a steady stream of workers pouring into Bluetown, from technicians confirming all systems are functional, to cooks bringing food round-the-clock, to Dreaming acolytes confirming the stability of its metaphysical hull. Rumors insist variously that Commander Orion has personally inspected every inch of the ship, that no-one in Chimeron actually understands how it works, that everyone involved has been replaced by Dream Demons, and that His Majesty had a special crystal ball installed so that he can take over and fly it from a sanctum next to the throne room, among other things. ~~~ Chimeron Militia activity has noticeably increased in the areas around the captured Void portals in the last few days. Despite assurances from the officers at each post, some locals have packed belongings in case an attack makes evacuation necessary. ~~~ With the winter months approaching, the Chimeron Militia has begun an informational campaign reminding travelers to stay on Waystone roads in snowy and stormy conditions. While patrols will be prepared for winter rescues, they make no guarantee on age, gender, or species continuity if they have to bring you back from Fae. ~~~ With the breaking news of a big military push against the Risen Kingdom, general ire against the extraplanar foe is on the rise again. While it's often been the case that upticks in anti-RK sentiment resulted in aggression toward the many beneficiaries of Commander Orion's swords-to-plowshares program, this week has seen very little of that pattern.
While the borders remain quiet, there's talk that some foreign adventurers made it in and out of the beleaguered nation safely a few weekends back. Those with friends and family on the inside hope this might mean an approaching end to Eagle's Rooks lockdown.
As the weather turns colder merchant traffic through the Vanfrost has slowed but some industrious entrepreneurs continue to make weekly treks to Norlund bringing goods and acquiring rarities to sell in the Realms. Lately they have been hearing tales that give them pause, stories of whole villages being wiped out mysteriously, the population vanishing overnight.
~~~
For the past week or so, folks have noticed Lord Sir Aeston seeming a bit distracted, as though ruminating on some momentous concern. One merchant says they heard him muttering something like, "air support, hmph" as he paced past their market stall two days ago.
Construction materials, fabrics, and paints of any blue or orange hue have been in high demand lately. A small port city that had been ransacked by undead just under two years ago is celebrating the conclusion of a long recovery by opening The Blingasaurus Flex Casino & Cheese Lounge. Story goes, anyone who attends during its first year of operation gets a tree thee-friddy - I mean, a free tree-fiddy.
Another in our continuing series! In the below picture there is a Realmsie-shaped black hole. Can you figure out who it is based only on the profile? Tell us on social media if you think you know who it is! The answer will be revealed later in the day.
Editor's note:
We're back with another installment of The Cry of Midgard. We've certainly learned that something troubling is happening in Midgard based on the very small amount of wandering we've done so far. The question is, are you going to be part of the solution or part of the problem?
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There you go. I hope that was enough "support" for you.
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This week we have an interview with Greg Falconer, who plays Daekara (both he/him)!
9ish years now. I started practicing at UConn in Fall of 2014 and went to my first event shortly after that.
The game has put a lot more effort into making great quests, when I started it was a very tournament focused game. The culture has also changed into a much more open place which I think has been great for the community. I see the new players given an environment they feel comfortable stepping up in and its wonderful.
The people I've learned the most from would have to be King Shandar, Sir Trent, and Sir Gwen. King Shandar has taught me a lot of my fighting skills and how to organize and work with groups, Sir Trent taught me discipline and scheduling, and Sir Gwen taught me a lot about running a kitchen and budgeting out food for an event.
My best in-character moment would have to have been at an Ashen Bounty a few years back. It was one of the first quests for which I had done the research to figure out how to kill most of the types of enemies we were facing. Instructing people how to fight creatures while leading the front of the line all day culminated in getting to kill the enemies' champion at the end of the night. Taking the scale mail off him to claim as my own made me feel like a big damn hero.
So my best out of character moment would have to be the at the Coronation of King Shandar. Running my first event as a feastocrat was a huge undertaking, especially with how important the event was to my King and the amount of work that went into it and having a great let us pull through. Hearing the praise and what people loved about the food had me glowing.
I would like to see individual tournaments and war maneuvers come back more. I miss the thrill of those fights and the adrenaline from the competition.
7) What advice would you give to new players?
Explore how you can bring what you love into the game. Chances are there are other people here who share your interests, and you can do something together that you never would have thought possible before. I've built lifelong friendships this way - doing things I never would have expected before coming to the Realms, and now those side projects have become a huge part of my life.
The people, Realms has become a found family for me and outside the game everyone is still friends with each other. The best moments of my life have all been tied to people I met in the game in some way.
I would like to see Ben Lacasse's, Ryan Welch's, or Adam Blaisdell's answers. (Editor's note: Here's a link to Adam's 10 Questions interview.)
This community has done a ton with charities and helping each other throughout the years but especially since we came back from the pandemic. I'm proud of all the good work we do and that we came back and endure.
We hope you've enjoyed getting to know a little more about Greg and his thoughts about the Realms! If you'd like to do one of these interviews, just send Pat Bobell (emeraldsaka on Discord) a message to let him know.
Fresh Faces has been on a bit of a hiatus, and it's about time we get it spun up again! To kick us off, this week we bring you Bri Meisser (they/them), who plays Margaret August (she/her)!
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| (Photo by Brookelyn Gingras) |
1) How did you learn about the Realms?
I learned about the realms through WPI’s SMAS club. My sister suggested that I hit people with foam sticks for PE credit, so I said why not. Eventually, I ended up falling in love with the game.
2) How many events have you been to so far?
41 (editor's note: Holy mackerel!)
3) Had you LARPed or done other types of improv or roleplaying games before coming to the Realms? If so, please tell us about it!
Not really. I did some musical theater and a very very short D&D campaign, but never really done something like LARPing before.
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| (Photo by Matt Brenner) |
Her name is Margaret August. She’s from a demi-plane called Sanctuary, which is a save haven for refugees. Her family has lived there for many generations. She identifies as Hope Light Human. In Sanctuary, there are 12 Guardians people can be aligned to who look after the citizens. She is aligned to the Guardian of Hope, and her family is blessed by the Guardian of Light, which is where the Hope Light comes from. Aside from those influences, she’s a normal human which is where the human comes from. Margaret is generally pretty kind and passionate. As well as an embodiment of Hope and Light. She is an extremely dedicated servant of the goddess Aurora. She is also an Oathsworn member of the nation Voraniss, earning the name Lightbringer. Margaret is a Squire to Sir Laika en’Naur of the Knights of the Crown. All of these things are very important to her, helping to shape who she is.
5) What do you remember most about your first event?
My first event was actually really overwhelming for me. It was Black and White in 1021, and it was the largest group of people who I’d interacted with in one place since the quiet years began. I felt really intimidated, and like I didn’t really know anyone or that I’d fit in. The amount of growth and change that I saw between my first Black and White and my second is something that really sticks out to me.
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| (Photo credit unknown) |
6) What things have helped you feel more welcome in the Realms?
There are a lot of things which have helped me to feel more welcome. The realms community can be incredibly kind and compassionate, particularly to people who are neurodivergent like me. Finding groups where I feel comfortable and at home has done a lot to help me in this. But to be treated like I belong even when I’m not officially part of a group can be really humbling, and many people from many different groups have opened their homes and their lives to me and I am eternally grateful. As for groups I am a part of. The Church of Aurora really helped me to find my footing, and being made a Page and then a Squire by Sir Laika only reinforced that. And even before I began petitioning, Voraniss made me feel like one of their own, from defending me in battle, to helping me find armor and garb, and just being kind.
7) What parts of the game do you find most challenging?
I find knowing my limits and pacing myself to be really challenging. I get very excited and want to do everything, and sometimes I just can’t. And that’s okay. But learning to accept that it’s okay has been a difficult journey. I also have a lot of health issues, so despite my desires to go hardcore questing until 2am every weekend, knowing when to step back and take breaks is an important skill for my long term enjoyment of the game.
8) What Realms-related goals (IC or OOC) have you gotten excited to pursue?
I have a lot of goals I’ve been really excited about. I think I’ll do one IC goal and one OOC goal. IC, I was given a task by my goddess to help find her new Mortal Avatar. This is a huge responsibility and also a privilege, especially for someone as young and new as me, and one I intend to take very seriously. I am also working hard on the quest for her to get a new Champion. So really just working to rebuild and grow the Church, and to ensure all of the positions are filled before the second ascension war. OOC, I’ve been working on a plotline about Margaret’s home plane called Sanctuary plot. I’ve thrown several e-quests, as well as two in-person quests, one unofficial and one as part of Storytellers. It has been an incredibly fulfilling experience and it is a story I am passionate about telling. I hope to throw more in-person content in the near future, and am excited to see where it goes.
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| (Photo by Bri Meisser) |
9) What advice would you give to other new players?
Learn what you’re passionate about and get involved. Talk to people. Make friends. Make enemies. Do *something*. Always strive for growth and improvement, and have fun. Remember to prioritize your real life, and that the game will still be there when you’re done. Ask for help when you need it, and provide help when you can give it. Tell stories, become apart of stories, whether it’s as a player or an event holder, because that’s what this is. A game of stories. And they’re going to be amazing.
10) What have you enjoyed most about the game so far?
I’ve enjoyed so many aspects of the game. I enjoy getting to meet new people. I enjoy fighting and combat. I enjoy being a spellcaster, and really diving deep into plots. I enjoy telling stories. Being involved. It has been an amazing experience so far and I can’t wait to see where it takes me.
We hope you've enjoyed getting to know a little more about Bri and their character Margaret! If you'd like to do one of these interviews and have been playing for less than a couple of years, just send Pat Bobell (emeraldsaka on Discord) a message to let him know.
