A Touch of Madness

( In which our hero is the mini-me )

PCs:
August Rey, male Cavalrydwarf
Fredi Dram, female Dwarf Cavalyrwoman
Jaen'val'Jael 'Jael' Savre, male Elf Beastmaster
Jik'escala, female T'Skrang Swordmaster

NPCs:
Sergeant Brandel Corey, Dwarf Supremacist
Hedbut, a goat
Nightstalker, a Troajin
Su, a Troajin
Zoomy, a mutant

( In which our hero sees her friend drained of his blood in a single round )

PCs:
Aerick Privista, male Elf Air Sailor
Bobitanthalnasatrythomoloso, Obsid Warrior
Dainwennan Niebo, male Windling Swordmaster
Gromdarkobarmitsarunloco, Obsid Purifier
Yotra, female Troll Illusionist

NPCs:
Avalandohamagannahnieventhallailmar, Obsid Elementalist/Purifier
Lyorn, a Huttawa
Yendi, a monkey

( In which our hero is kinda useless and everyone else gets a chance to shine )

PCs:
Ceadda, male Human Warrior
Gronk Longtusk, male Ork Archer/Liberator
Romari Savre, male Elf Wizard/Traveled Scholar
Thane Cawdor, male Troll Sky Raider

NPCs:
Miriam, Questor of Garlen
Several comatose children
Silvano, Questor of Floranuus

( In which our hero does not wish to play )

PCs:
Ceadda, male Human Warrior
Gronk Longtusk, male Ork Archer/Liberator
Pethrytholilanista, female Elf Nethermancer
Romari Savre, male Elf Wizard/Traveled Scholar
Thane Cawdor, male Troll Sky Raider

NPCs:
James, Borgan's Rest Guard
Several comatose children

( In which our asses are saved from a late entry )

PCs:
Avalandohamagannahnieventhallailmar, Obsidiman Elementalist
Fredi Dram, female Dwarf Cavalyrwoman
Fenrir, male Windling Shaman
Jik'escala, female T'Skrang Swordmaster
Quis'Tan, Obsidiman Spirit Rider

NPCs:
Sergeant Brandel Corey, Dwarf Supremacist
Krothu, Ork Merchant
Rugorim, Ork Warrior, Champion of Dormu
Callisto, a Bear
Su, a Troajin

( In which our hero gets attractive men to throw things at her )

PCs:
Avalandohamagannahnieventhallailmar, Obsidiman Elementalist
Blaethynn, male Windling Weaponsmith
Pethrytholilanista, female Elf Nethermancer
Ursula von Knucklebreaker, female Dwarf Beastmaster

NPCs:
Mr. Livé, male Elf Speculator
Elanthriel, male Elf Warrior
Damkina, a Bear
Zimbu, a Monkey

( In which our hero returns to the site of his greatest failure )

PCs:
Aegharan, male Elf Illusionist/Thief
Ceadda, male Human Warrior
Gronk Longtusk, male Ork Archer/Liberator
Romari Savre, male Elf Wizard
Thane Cawdor, male Troll Sky Raider

NPCs:
Cimabu, male Human Warrior of the Ect'shlutu

( In which our hero has not used Riposte )

PCs:
Fenrir, male Windling Shaman
Jik'escala, female T'Skrang Swordmaster
Ludvikt Yun "Teddy" Ruddermun, male Troll Air Sailor
Quis'Tan, Obsidiman Spirit Rider

NPCs:
Plume Cloudytwirls, Windling Elder
Ouroboros, a snake

( In which our hero stares into the abyss, and the abyss stares back )

PCs:
Blaethynn, male Windling Weaponsmith
Dubhan Goronich, male Dwarf Wizard
Durgin Trotter, male Dwarf Troubadour
Jik'escala, female T'Skrang Swordmaster

NPCs:
Alsya, female Human Troubadour
Rikund, male ork Nethermancer

From the collected letters of Ursula von Knucklebreaker:

( In which our hero ends one adventure and discovers another )

PCs:
Dubhan Goronich, male Dwarf Wizard
Durgin Trotter, male Dwarf Troubadour
Osahar, male Elf Archer
Pethrytholilanista, female Elf Nethermancer
Ursula von Knucklebreaker, female Dwarf Beastmaster

NPCs:
Lowtaun, male Elf Power Broker
Watson, male Elf Archer
Sevaughan, male Elf Nethermancer
Damkina, a Bear
Zimbu, a Monkey

Parched, a Wormskull

( In which our hero builds a new home )

PCs:
Avalandohamagannahnieventhallailmar, Obsidiman Elementalist
Blaethynn, male Windling Weaponsmith
Fredi Dram, female Dwarf Cavalyrwoman
Jik'escala, female T'Skrang Swordmaster
Lasairfhíona Aul’ef, female Human Swordmaster

NPCs:
Ixta, female Troll Elder
Lentera, male Elf Merchant
Su, a Troajin

( In which our hero is set upon by bees )

PCs:
Dubhan Goronich, male Dwarf Wizard
Jik'escala, female T'Skrang Swordmaster
Whyr'wyndyl, male Windling Warrior
Zhuran, male Troll Warrior

NPCs:
Ixta, female Troll Elder
Wonjin, male Troll Warrior

( In which our hero chooses not to get his feet wet )

PCs:
Ceadda, male Human Warrior
Gronk Longtusk, make Ork Archer/Liberator
Romari Savre, male Elf Wizard
Thane Cawdor, male Troll Sky Raider

NPCs:
Neville Barney, male Human Questor of Garlen

( In which our hero gets up close and personal )

PCs:
Aegharan, male Elf Illusionist
Ceadda, male Human Warrior
Gronk Longtusk, make Ork Archer/Liberator
Irwin Ernest Hopperton III, male Human Elementalist
Romari Savre, male Elf Wizard

NPCs:
???

( In which our hero kicks Brithan and takes Names )

PCs:
Avalandohamagannahnieventhallailmar, Obsidiman Elementalist
Pethrytholilanista, female Elf Nethermancer
Thane Cawdor, male Troll Sky Raider
Ursula von Knucklebreaker, female Dwarf Beastmaster

NPCs:
Tedri, a curmudgeon
Lingo, an itinerant
Damkina, a Bear
Zimbu, a Monkey

( In which our hero liquifies some magic moles )

PCs:
Maxim, male Windling Thief
Thane Cawdor, male Troll Sky Raider
Romari, male Elf Wizard
Ursula, female Dwarf Beastmaster

NPCs:
Brimbli Elwick Bizzspanner by Rock Nibbler the III, a Tinkerer
Zimbu, a Monkey
Zinj, an Ape

( In which our hero is a free Ork )

PCs:
August Rey, male Dwarf Cavalryman
Ceadda, male Human Warrior
Gronk, male Ork Archer/Liberator
Varis, male Dwarf Elementalist

NPCs:
Nurfec Greathood, male Dwarf Scribe
Piabach, mischievous entity

( In which our hero goes legit for about a week )

Other PCs:
Bortruk, male Dwarf Air Sailor
Ceadda, male Human Warrior
Gronk, male Ork Archer/Liberator
Varis, male Dwarf Elementalist

NPCs:
L'Krusk the Infamous, female T'Skrang Swordmaster
The Emerald Roses, a gang

( In which our Hero is a mud-covered failure )

Other PCs:
August Rey, male Dwarf Cavalryman
Ceadda, male Human Warrior
Varis, male Dwarf Elementalist

NPCs:
Gordad Treasureborn, male Dwarf Merchant, head of the Cubrews Trading Alliance (Newly Formed)

Note: This post is actually out of order due to a computer crash that wiped the initial draft and the extra impetus required to compose a journal entry from scratch for a failed mission.

( In which Our Hero dies for the first time )

Other PCs:
Bortruk, male Dwarf Air Sailor
Ceadda, male Human Warrior
Felsic, Obsidiman Scout
Jexel'thalas, male Elf Thief

NPCs:
Celembrian Dawnmist, male Elf Redneck
Piabach, scary shadow monster
Vah, male Human Undead Monstrosity Thing

( In which our hero is a-salted )

Other PCs:
August Rey, male Dwarf Cavalryman
Ceadda, male Human Warrior
Varis, male Dwarf Elementalist

( I think this one's ape flavored )

Other PCs:
Alari Fleetfin, male T'Skrang Swordmaster
August Rey, male Dwarf Cavalryman
Ceadda, male Human Warrior
Ibontu, Obsidiman Warrior

NPCs:
The Wolf Father

( In which our hero fails to mention whether we saved the day )

Other PCs:
Ibontu, Obsidiman Warrior
Krel Tor, male Troll Nethermancer
Thane Cawdor, male Troll Sky Raider

NPCs:
Lareth, large Human blacksmith, leader
Anfalon, small Human tailor, his wife
Zot, general store owner
Several Bog Gobs, names unintelligible

When I read about Chris Cornell's death last month, I was suddenly reminded I had money in my discretionary fund and hadn't bought music in a long time. In no particular order, here's what I've bought since then:

the entire Discography of blink-192: I've been a big fan of Tom DeLonge's other act, Angels & Airwaves, for some time. He was interviewed in an episode of Ernie Ball: The Pursuit of Tone, a documentary series about guitarists and I loved the way he described blink-182: lullabies for stoned exhibitionists. I'd originally discounted blink-182 as a raunchy sexed up Green Day, but lately I've been working on writing my own raunchy sexed up punk songs, so I don't really have that excuse anymore...

Revelations by Audioslave, King Animal by Soundgarden, and Temple of the Dog: These are the remaining band albums by Cornell that I didn't have, with reason it seems. These don't strike a chord with me, unfortunately. It's nice to finally put a name to the sound of some of the Temple of the Dog songs I was already familiar with, though.

180/365 by okgo: I've been following this group for 16 years and they're fantastic live but this album...they chose the wrong songs for it. Most of these performances are overwrought, not the straightforward four piece band they're best at. And it's got no ELO covers...

Some Nights by Fun. Ugh. I wish I hadn't bought this. Should have been titled "Entitled White Boy Feelings". Essentially confirms my theory that "We Are Young" is about how inconvenient it is keeping together the cover story for your abusive relationship.

One More Light by Linkin Park. While not as bad as Living Things, there's nothing to write home about here, either. I suspect the band peaked with Minutes to Midnight.

Gone Now by Bleachers. A typical sophomore release. Neither the writing nor the tone are as good as the original. I had high hopes for this one.

Information by Eliot Sumner. Buy this album. Now. You will understand what it felt like being a music fan at the beginning of the new wave. Part of the allure of this particular album is that Eliot is Sting's genderqueer offspring and, well, she sounds just like him.

Steven Universe, Vol. 1 by Rebecca Sugar, et al. The soundtrack of the first four seasons of Steven Universe. I have much love for this album. Especially lovely is finally having the full versions of "Big Fat Zucchini", "Haven't You Noticed (I'm a Star)", and "Love Like You" (though it would have been nice to include all three versions of "Haven't You Noticed"). Upon listening to "Tower of Mistakes" by itself, I kinda like the way Michaela Dietz has a weak singing voice (in that song anyway). It lends some interesting depth into Amethyst and her self confidence and difficulties fitting in with the Crystal Gems.

I love things. I love taking my things out of their boxes, holding them, fiddling with them, recalling previous times I'd played with them, worked with them, fiddled with them. I love making things, assembling things, disassembling things, and buying things. I think that's why I gravitate toward board and card games over computer games. It's certainly why my discretionary spending account is always empty.

Last month I backed a Kickstarter for a miniatures wargame called Burrows & Badgers, with the intent of just getting the terrain piece. My mind seized upon the wargame, though, and is obsessing over the details of how to build and play a campaign for this particular wargame. Something about the cross between Redwall, Disney's Robin Hood, and Dark Sword & Sorcery roleplay is really scratching my imagination, and thinking of all the painting, the statbuilding, the moving minis, the measuring of distances, the rolling of dice...it's filling up the parts of my brain that love things. I want to thing the hell out of this game, but my attempts at finding other people interested in playing it have not met with significant results.

I'm sure this feeling will pass, but for now, I just want to buy all these figures and paint them and move them about on the table and twang their bows and pew-pew their slingstones and come up with funny pun-based furry names and medievaloid backstories for them. The brainweasels are busy, only this time they're wearing gauntlets and leather tunics.