West Marches - Daughter

West Marches - Daughter

“Mistress, we are finished, would you like to observe?” The handmaiden’s sotto voice cut through Ceridwen’s contemplations. She had been far away, daydreaming of...something.

Back to awareness, an image of herself most resplendent greets her through the mirror. The three handmaidens stand around, fidgeting slightly. Her hair has been brushed and decorated like flowing waves, her makeup expertly done in the fashion of the court, and her stormy ocean evening gown accents her form perfectly.

Politics - Student Climate Change Protest

Politics - Student Climate Change Protest

Listen.

That millions of children around the world have taken it upon themselves to leave school for a day and protest the complete failing of adults to defend the environment, should be a source of everlasting societal, social, intellectual, and personal shame.

Period.

West Marches - Losing

West Marches - Losing

It had all gone sideways.

It wasn’t that surprising. Tirondian army tactics were hardly inspired. Form ranks, march forwards, eliminate things that stand in the way. Oh, bring siege weapons if necessary.

Works great when you fight opposing armies. Less so when your enemies are giant horrors of paint, or the corrupted twisted versions of your own soldiers. Fat lot of good a siege tower does against a painted horde.

Now, Sedriks ran through the woods, they’d lost touch with the cavalry a few hours back, horses spooked and the Captain had ordered them rounded up. Sedriks, and his command knew better. Three dozen was all that was left of their outrider wing, what should’ve been close to two hundred light and medium infantry. Harried at every turn, they’d retreated into a guerilla skirmish through the night.

Games - Language

Games - Language

I was asked during a game of Wire Run about how a player might instantly learn a language. There are provisos for it before. In Shadowrun, a player could download a langsoft, that is, a digital encyclopedic knowledge of a language (they are expensive) and in Matrix-esque "I know Kung Fu", simply immediately be aware. Heck, even in basic D&D a sorcerer or wizard can cast Comprehend Languages and simply be done with it.

Life - Frustrations

Life - Frustrations

I am getting increasingly tired of the amount of communicative labour my friends unconsciously demand of me. The pressure to be the one who organizes people, who get them in contact, who finds information, who works at being helpful.

It's gotten to the point where the perception that having been a 'stage manager' means that I somehow like being the one who has to pull teeth to get emails or phone numbers, event starts, locations, maps, or even just check in constantly with people so they will arrive on time to a gathering, is beginning to make me furious.

You're grown adults. Take notes. Text a heads up if you're going to be late. Let someone know where you're at. Google maps the best route. Remember the information I LITERALLY SPELLED OUT. Why am I the one who has to do all this work as though you're still first-year acting students?

Please. Grow. Up.

Condolences - Laura McAlpine

Condolences - Laura McAlpine

Rest in Peace, Laura. I shall never forget our laughs, hugs, your relentless, hilarious, teasing, and such an awesome summer of adventures. Goodnight, sweet friend.

Go, I bid the stars to fall quiet in her name, for surely she was bright to be well counted among them.

Quotes - Iron Weights

Quotes - Iron Weights

"My friend, Magda, tells me every time I say something bad about myself, I am putting iron weights in my pockets. Sooner or later, you’ll drag yourself down and not be able to get up. Be kind to yourself, Mr. Caleb. I don’t want your pockets to get too heavy." -Calianna, to Caleb on Critical Role