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This is a gorgeous commission I got from the incredibly talented CabbageArtss (whose commission information is here WINK WINK NUDGE NUDGE. No seriously please go get art from them, you won’t regret it)

What does this commission depict, might you ask? Well…

I have actually been continually writing/updating an Inscryption fanfic since September, and am just now posting about it here. 

Details under the cut!

Keep reading

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Session 1: Part B-

TW: Mild drinking

Session 1: Part B-

The introduction to Wylder was satisfactory. Not precisely as he would have introduced the character, but he was not the one who was running this particular game. The only one who looked completely unengaged was P03, but it rarely seemed engaged in anything but it’s own attempts to gather attention. If Leshy was less charitable, he would say it was childish.

Turning his head, the scrybe of beasts tried to gather the other’s opinions of the moment. Magnificus was obviously attempting not to fall into what he would like to do in these situations. Instead, he was attempting to keep in mind what the young lady he was playing would rather do.

Leshy could understand that struggle. It was never easy stepping outside of one’s self and pouring your thoughts into the mind of another.

Of course Grimora was entirely enthralled by all of it. Some part of him wondered why she seemed to be so willing to escape life. A partially humorous statement on it’s own considering she was a walking greeting to the great end awaiting them all.

And yes. The new game master that sat before them. Undaunted by all of them, she showed her best in attempting to reach out to them. Mercedes. The young woman appeared to have a sense of humor about the situation as she had donned a mask with suggestions of Hermes.

So was she to be a messenger between the gods? What’s more is that instead of wielding that same rod, she leaned the Rod of Asclepius against the table. A healer as well, then. Perhaps her intentions were a little heavy handed in suggestion, but something about that wasn’t discouraging.

—

Wylder bowed stiffly at the hip. He looked towards Dylan, keeping his distance from the others. He wasn’t sure if he trusted this ridiculous group of travelers. Dylan, on the other hand, had proven himself as trustworthy. Ah, well, at least it’s only for a night. “I’m certain they understand your meaning, Dylan.”

Gunther nodded agreeably and raised a mug of ale to the two. “So, is this job really just to babysit you for the night? Sounds like easy pay to me.”

—

“Could I check to see if Dylan looks like he’s hiding anything?” P03 addressed Mercedes with it’s pensive look, but there seemed to be electricity around it. “Grimora said something that caught my attention.”

Grimora looked delighted by the call out and beamed at it. “Well, dear, I’m glad you took notice. I was about to ask the same myself.” She turned to the DM and watched expectantly for an answer.

Mercedes turned to the side and placed two more boxes of dice on the table. A metal set for P03 with blue painted numbers that glowed in this dimmer light and a granet set for the scrybe of the dead, small purple flowers etched into them lightly, the numbers reflecting in gold.

“That would be a perception check. You can both do one.” She gestured to the appropriate dice and then waved her hand at the map enthusiastically. “I take it you know which modifier to add.”

[P03= 13+2 Modifier]

[Grimora= 3+1 Modifier]

—

Ermin pinned Dylan with a firm look and waved their hand, gesturing at the merchant suspiciously. “Are you sure you’re not hiding anything? I’m up for easy money, but what kind of night watch needs four people, one of them a lord of the area, to babysit?”

The Goliath shrugged his shoulders and looked at Ermin with a grin. “Maybe it’s a one time incident?” He drew from his ale until the cup was almost empty. “I doubt it’s much to worry about with all of us here.”

“Wylder, please inform our new friends of the issue.” Dylan turned to the faun, gesturing for him to speak up.

The lord of the forest looked at Dylan with some concern. A look that was rather shocking on such a reserved man, but he nodded after some reassurance from his friend. “We’re worried that a strike will happen against us tonight. Dylan had received a letter that stated he was on some sort of list that needed to be crossed off.”

—

“An assassination?” The robot seemed to perk up at that. “You mean we’re guarding this old man because someone wants him dead?”

Magnificus seemed to ponder the revelation, taking in the information they had. “I believe that’s correct. And from the sound of it, they aren’t exactly being too clear about what’s going on.” The wizard’s eye fixed on him as he observed him right back.

Let the man stare, he was only following the instructions that the young woman had set for him. “I told you as much as I know.” He reclined in the chair, taking a glance at the bar room drawn on the page before them. “Dylan needed our help, and we all chose to aid him.”

P03 rolled it’s eyes and gave a sound suspiciously like a snort. “Oh yeaaaaaaah, you’re really telling us all you know.” It paused and when no one made any motion to say anything, it groaned. “Oh, come on! That was sarcasm.”

“I hadn’t noticed.” The scrybe of magic stared at P03 dryly. If Leshy didn’t know any better, he’d think the foolish wizard was smiling. How often did that happen, even in impression?

Mercedes smiled at P03 and laughed. “It’ll be alright. Now, where were we?”

—

After some conversation, the group headed to their posts for the evening. Althea guarded the entrance to the room, sitting outside the door while strumming her instrument very lightly, so as not to disturb too many people as she kept watch.

Gunther and Ermin guarded the outside, Ermin on the roof and Gunther leaning against the side of the tavern. Ermin was toying with their knife, twirling it over the back of their hand and catching it repeatedly, while Gunther whistled to himself.

And Wylder stayed in the room with Dylan.

—

“I know it seems a little unfair, but you all rolled for it and he did get an 18.” Mercedes nodded, eyes closing. “Also, he does have immunity to magical sleep.”

Concern seeped into him as he heard those words. “Why the emphasis on magic?” He looked at the configuration in the room and tensed. Was she planning something?

“Um, hey, Magnificus, would you please make a saving throw? This is kind of a house rules thing.” The DM smiled politely, nudging the dice over.

[Magnificus= 4+1 Modifier]

—

Althea hears the thump of a bottle clinking to the floor, but when she looks, she notices all too late the haze of a purple smoke filling the hallway. Her vision becomes blurry, and she loses consciousness.

As the smoke flows, Wylder notices the plumes start to fill the room.

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Don't mind me laughing...

What's funny is that this roll was done with my spouse watching. Nat 1 really did happen. I love it. Sorry, man, but I guess not only were you the first roll, but you were the first nat 1.

(￣y▽￣)╭ Ohohoho.....

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Session 1: Part A-

An introduction to the characters and a small hint to the set up. This is my longest one yet. I'll be uploading some art for it as I can/when I'm feeling well enough.

TW: Mild drinking, cursing, exceedingly mild violence (a single slap)

Mercedes slid her mask on and sat in the chair across from the scrybes. It was almost humorous seeing their imposing forms slid into chairs around one table. It was crowded enough with Grimora and P03 sharing one end of the table, but the DM was almost in awe when she was reminded how large Leshy and Magnificus were with how they each completely took up their own sides.

Magnificus, humorously, looked the most out of place of them all. She had to suppose that it was probably because he was so used to distancing himself when it came to his own games. To be perfectly honest, he didn’t seem to be entirely comfortable with mere social situations either. He awkwardly sat with his hand in his lap, looking expectantly as she laid a map down of a tavern, and 4 game pieces.

The woman flushed a little as P03 gave her an entirely unenthusiastic stare at her map and the pieces. He made the flicker of a disgusted face, before correcting it to his neutral expression. She was about to say something, but she shook her head. “I’m going to make each of you unique pieces later. I thought for today we should start giving our characters life, after all, and I didn’t want to hold it up with a bit of crafting.”

Grimora smiled politely and waved a hand in her direction. Although her pupils were hidden in a radiant yellow cast, Mercedes could tell she was looking to P03 and Leshy in part. “Some of us have very little imagination if we cant see what we’re working with, dear. No harm on your part.”

A small huff came from Magnificus. If the young woman didn't know any better, she'd think he was laughing, but it could have been something of a sound of agreement. She smiled gratefully at the two of them, earning an annoyed look from P03, though Leshy seemed to be keeping to himself.

The scrybe of beasts was being all too quiet. She was wondering if he was displeased, but after looking at him and examining his leaned forward posture, she realized it was probably taking him everything to keep quiet. A smile bloomed on her features before she sat down and nodded to all of them.

“Let’s start, shall we?” Clearing her throat, she blew out the candle next to her in a single puff. The room slid into darkness for a moment, the only light being P03’s screen, by her own design for now. “Welcome to Aetheryth.” She looked at all of them, catching their eyes, even cast in shadows. “I’d give you a history lesson, but to be honest, the oldest parts of this story have been forgotten, and would not be known anyway.” She gave a wry smile at the look of discomfort from both Leshy and Magnificus. “We start instead in a small town that’s pressed between a forest and mountains. It’s thriving, despite the location. The name of it is simply Blackthorne, named for the wood settlement that had been there when this area was merely used to pass through the dangerous mountains.” Reaching forward, she picked up a red game piece and placed it in the tavern. “Our adventure begins in the Tavern, the Broken Barrel. Like the name implies, most of their product is generously given, if a bit low quality. Here we find our first hero.” She nodded patiently to P03. “P03, can you please tell us what your character is doing?”

The scrybe of technology looked an odd combination of distressed and disgusted. “‘What’s my character doing?’ I thought you were the person telling the story.” He looked at the piece on the map and poked it, questioningly, the look going to smug. “I don’t know. Standing around? Work with that.”

Oh? So he was going to play tough? Alright. Maybe some honey could catch this fly. She cleared her throat and gestured. “Standing about 6 foot tall, an individual named Ermin is standing next to a window, draining the drags of their alcohol from their cup. Long, curved ram-like horns frame a devilish face, making those around them eye them nervously. It’s obvious they’re waiting for someone. You see, they were here on a job, hired along with some other people they have yet to meet but were told of by their employer.” She waved to Magnificus, who awkwardly grabbed his own piece and slid it through the door.

---

“Dragon shyte and pigeon blood! It's so cold, I could feel my fingers gluin’ to my lute!” Wandering in, Althea set her hands under her armpits, stomping her feet on the ground before going over to the tavern bartender and ordering something stiff to warm her up. “Hey, Johna. Y’know I don’t often come this way, but I’m a bit low on funds, and yes, I’ll pay ye. I got a few coins for a down payment on a job I’m supposed to be doing tonight.”

Johna looked at Althea and gave a purse of her lips before frostily nodding towards Ermin. “The tiefling in the back there is one of your contacts.”

“Now don’t be like that, Johna.” Althea smiled winsomely. “I only left without sayin’ anything last time because I had a job to do in another town and it was one of those middle of the night things.”

---

Mercedes laughed in pure delight and looked at Magnificus with a large grin. “You’re going to HAVE to do a persuasion roll.” She passed him a set of dice to match his small game piece, blue with veins of black along it and golden flecks, as if it was made of lapis.

The scrybe of magic looked at the dice and took the one that Mercedes pointed to and rolled. The room went dead silent as the number came up. It was the first roll of the game and a new concept for the others.

When she heard the clacking stop and she stared at the result, her body froze in place and a hand rose to her face. The DM let out a snort and choked back a laugh. “W-well…”

[Roll result= 1 + 2 Modifier]

---

The bartender slapped Althea and tossed her rag over her shoulder before walking away in a huff. A waitress awkwardly rushed past the bard, not looking at her, but unable to help but let out titters and giggles the whole way.

The elven woman slid a hand to her face and walked towards Ermin who was looking at her with an obvious grin. She snarled and shook her head. “Don’t start.”

“I didn’t say anything, lady.” They set their pint down to give a helpless hand in the air. “The name’s Ermin.” They offered a hand, which was stared at and then shook hesitantly. “And you are?”

“I’m Althea Brightwell. If you’re here, that means we’re waiting on two more people. This seems a little overkill for a single night job.” She sat down in a chair near them and pulled out her lute to play lazily.

---

“Would you like to do a performance check?” The DM offered an apologetic smile, nudging the dice again. “I promise it’s statistically rare to have it happen twice.”

The wizard looked warily at the die and then rolled it, a bit ruffled, but seemed to ease when he saw the results this time. “It's twelve. With my...modifier?” He checked with her, nodding as she nodded back at him. “It's fourteen.”

—

The music flowed into the room, making some pause in conversation, changing the mocking mood into a more mellow one, as they listened to the lackadaisical melody. The two individuals, now seated at a table together, getting to know one another, noticed a large, hulking figure come into the tavern and sit across from them, turning a chair to meet their stomach and folding their muscled arms over the back of it.

“Well, well. We seem to be having a lively discussion. Judging by the fact that neither of you look like you work in the woods, nor in the mountains, I’d have to guess you’re travelers like me.” The beast of a man towered over the other two, even while sitting. He had quite the jovial look on his face.

—

“Why would a pirate be in a land locked area?” Magnificus turned towards Grimora with a disapproving look. “I don’t think it makes sense.”

“I don’t really get it either.” P03 poked the small orange piece away from his red one. Funny how a moment ago he was mocking the piece and now seemed near protective of it.

Mercedes raised her hand and shook her head. “You think pirates never made it inland? While it might be unusual, he’s more of an adventurer than anything. Now, Grimora, if you could introduce your character.”

—

“The name’s Gunther.” The goliath held out his hand to Althea, squeezing her hand in his. His smile actually made her settle in her unease when she saw the genuine friendliness to it, past the bravado.

“Charmed, I’m sure. Althea Brightwell.” Althea felt herself smiling back. She began to play again, much to the enjoyment of the night crowd, and looked at Ermin expectantly. “Play nice, rogue.”

Ermin rolled their eyes and offered a smile that was more teeth than humor and stuck out their hand. “Ermin. Just Ermin. It looks like we’re waiting on one more body before we can bother the person who hired us.” Their hands clasped at the forearm, gripping firmly before releasing.

It only took moments of drinking and polite conversation before two more figures approached the table. One was a rather tall man dressed in a somber blue with watery eyes to match. He was obviously human, and nearing his late sixties. The group could tell that when he was younger he was probably rather bland looking, but as he aged, a beard and repeatedly broken nose seemed to add to his personality. The other was a faun who was well put together, with large, black glass like eyes that seemed to take in the whole room at once.

“My name is Dyan, I am a Merchant on the board of the Merchant’s guild, and this is Wylder, the young forest lord of the area.” Dylan nodded to the faun accompanying him. “I thought I should have someone I trust in the group, no insult to all of you, but one never knows.”

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I just wanted to post this...

P03 is forever the sass master. Look at those squinty eyes. Mercedes in her DM garb. I'm looking forward to writing this soon. 🥰

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We learn a little more about Leshy's faun character... and more. Session 01 will have more detail in the artwork to come, think of my At the table pic. 😁

Session 0- Leshy (Part 8/8 Session 0 complete)

It took the scrybe of beasts a few moments to ponder over Mercedes’s question. Well, many things came to mind. Something to struggle against. Something to search for. Power was always needed, but he wondered if she would accept such a response. “I believe they want to gather power.”

Mercedes pressed the tip of a pen to her lower lip, fiddling the writing nib in the air, up and down as she thought. “Why?”

Why? What did she mean why? Power was everything. It could make empires fall and kings kneel. The wild has power. He contemplated the reasons and nodded, deciding to answer simply. “To protect what is his.”

The DM sat upright and looked at the ceiling. He could tell that her thoughts were whirling like smoke. He could almost see them dancing as she rocked the chair with a small creak. “I think that’s a good choice, if vague. Are there people you wish to protect? Land? Things?”

“Land. Beasts.” Leshy’s thoughts flashed to the other scrybes and he felt a small stir of anger. “Anything that would try and take what was mine from me.”

When he looked up, he noticed a peculiar look on the young woman’s face as she seemed to drink him in with her eyes again. Even though he was talking about his character, he felt...seen. To be honest, he wasn’t sure if he liked it or if he even wanted her to keep following this line of thought with him.

“Wylder.” His voice seemed to break her from her trance as she took him in, making her nod.

“Charming name. Embodies what he wants. I look forward to seeing how he acts when he’s among friends.” She stood and offered a hand to Leshy, taking his in a tight grip. “I’ll make certain this game is a good one.”

He felt something heavy in those words. Something unsettling.

Something in this stagnant world was about to change.

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At the table.

Hey, all! I've been working on Part B of Leshy's part, but here's the DnD group. Kind of intimidating seeing them all at one table, staring you down. ;) This certainly isn't dead!

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Leshy's eyes are awesome. I love how he has this resting hare face...in like the mad prophet way.

Session 0- Leshy (Pary 7/?)

The room grew dark. The smell of must and pine filled the small space. If one cared to listen enough, it almost sounded as if crickets and crackling from an unseen fire added a small night time ambience to the area.

All of this, and still the small woman seemed to sit in her chair expectantly and wait for him, actually smiling when his eyes moved across from her. Whatever she was made out of, it was sterner stuff than the challengers that had come before. How curious that someone so seemingly fragile had managed to take hold of the game that had been tossed between himself and his fellow scribes for years. “A new game.” He placed his hands on the table before him, folding himself into the chair she’d set out for himself and the others. It was large be her terms. How did she manage to find something...comfortable for them? “Could you elaborate?”

“You’re absolutely right. I’m making a new game for all of you.” Mercedes made eye contact with him. “And I was hoping you would be able to create your character.” She paused, wanting to slide over the paper but found the much larger hand grabbing the paper and being pulled into the darkness. “I have a feeling you’ll enjoy this type of game.”

He was quiet for some time and simply wrote in silence, looking up from time to time at her. It felt like she was studying him. Were she to have played his game, he wondered how far she would have gotten. Would she have made it to the end? Would he have her death card among his collection? What a glorious fight.

“You have a powerful respect for life, but something makes me wonder if you’ve denied yourself luxury.” It took him a second to realize Mercedes was addressing him, but when he registered it, he collected himself to respond in kind.

“Luxury depends on what your definition of it is. I have food. I fight to survive. I have warmth. I do not need the games I play or the cards I make. I do not need company. These things are a luxury.” He slid his paper back along the table, the small whisper of page against polished wood making him feel nostalgic.

She nodded and took the page. “I suppose. But food can be more than something to keep you going. You don’t always need to struggle. Sometimes you can thrive. Perhaps you need company for longer. I feel like you might have been denying yourself.” She scanned his page and smiled quietly. “A faun druid. It makes sense.” She paused and looked at him, meeting his gaze. “Leshy?”

He was quiet, taking in what she’d said. A cold, distant ache nagged at him. Were he to die in any moment, it would be in battle. It would be against an opponent. He wouldn’t be alone in death. But in life… perhaps he had made company too much of a luxury. Perhaps he should listen more. “Yes, Mercedes?”

“Let’s focus more on what you want from this game. This is your game too. It’s theirs as well. What story do you want to tell?” She reached out and held up a card. It was white and clean and new. “What does your character need?”

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Gunther and Grimora. I promise the G thing was actually not an on purpose thing. 😂

Session 0– Grimora (Part 6/?)

Grimora pondered over Mercedes’s words. Teammates. Now that was a fascinating thought. All of them working together instead of at each other’s throats. How novel. Perhaps she would finally be able to see some semblance of peace without the constant bickering of old men and robots. To be honest, she’d put up with their nonsense until she’d had more than enough so maybe this would be for the best. She’d need to put that nagging feeling of apprehension on the shelf for now. “Yes. I do hope they can put their differences aside.”

Mercedes nodded quietly and seemed to be looking at the older woman again. It was almost unnerving how patient and focused that stare was. “What do you think about all of them?” Those eyes seemed to burrow right into her. Perhaps the child had powers of her own, seeing as she felt as though she was about to catch fire with the intensity of her look. Maybe the young woman was witnessing something that the Scrybe of death couldn’t really grasp herself.

“Well...” Grimora smiled and offered her opinion more calmly then she was feeling. “I do think that Leshy is dedicated, Magnificus is ambitious, and P03 is most certainly clever.” She smiled that grandmotherly smile and crinkled the corner of her eyes again like it was their own secret. “They are intelligent in each of their own ways, so working with them will be interesting.”

Mercedes nodded and looked as if she wanted to say more, but looked at the spread out of Guther’s character sheet. “I think you’re about ready. He seems like a bear of a man to boot, but you added something with making him a bit of a businessman.”

Grimora touched the sheet fondly. “I hope that this world of yours doesn’t bring more strife, dear.” She looked up and cheerfully laughed. “It won’t do to cause more upset if you’re trying to worm something out of us. Some things are better left hidden.”

“Perhaps.” The DM wistfully looked to the side, but smiled back. “I’m not going to be doing anything like what has been done here before. My game will be with all of your comfort in mind.” She winced a little and admitted quietly. “I do see something happening in the future, but… I can handle it.”

The older woman doubted it. But it wasn’t her place to teach her. All things must run their course. “Thank you for the discussion, dear. It’s been lovely.”

“Send Leshy in on your way out, please.”

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Grimora Session 0- I had fun looking at all the details on her model. I think I did fairly well.

Session 0- Grimora (part 5/?)

The Scrybe of Death was different from the other two thus far. She seemed near elated as she sat across from Mercedes. It was honestly a wonder that she seemed like she was able to sit still with all that...lively energy.

“Hello, Grimora. Judging by your expression, you’ve received word from the others.” Mercedes slid the usual paper over and Grimora slid it back, smile staying in place. “You don’t want to play?”

Far from it. Grimora was excited by this new game. Something to tell an epic tale and be adventurous at that! “I want to be a pirate.” She nodded. “His name will be Gunther.”

Mercedes blinked in surprise at her eagerness, but wrote things down. “I believe that can be arranged. You sound like you’ve been holding this back.”

That was an understatement as far as the wraith was concerned. She gave an amused laugh and offered a small detail. “I’d prefer if he was a Goliath.” Her hands lay politely before her but the corners of her eyes crinkled deviously. “I want him to be an absolutely charming brute.”

“I’m honestly glad that you’re so open to this. I believe we can do this. You know, I think we’ll need the muscle from the looks of it, but I’m surprised. It’s already getting to be a fairly balanced group.” The DM nodded approvingly and wrote down the skills Grimora suggested from what she could read.

The scrybe nodded solemnly and looked a bit more serious. “I’m so glad you’ve arranged something that the others may benefit from. They could learn something from this game.”

Mercedes stopped and looked up at Grimora, pausing. “Could you elaborate?” She tilted her head and watched the older woman as she laced her fingers together.

“Well, they argue so frequently. At last it seems as though there will be an adult in the room.” She shook her head and started writing out other things she desired of her character, looking up at Mercedes’s watchful gaze. “Yes, dear?”

“You seem like you’ve distanced yourself.” The younger woman sat up and pressed the end of her pen to her lips. “Do you think you won’t gain anything from this?”

Grimora’s first impulse was to question Mercedes. She wanted to know if that was an attack of sorts on her, but with the calm expression and watchful eyes, she thought better of the woman before her. “I apologize. Perhaps that seemed a little too...accusatory towards my fellow Scrybes. I mean to say we all could learn something, but I believe I included myself more in my mind than my words. Perhaps a part of me is tired of being the adult that had to be there. For a moment, I’d forgotten myself.”

Mercedes nodded and smiled. “You’re very mature. I’d like to see how you work with them as a teammate.”

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Session 0- Magnificus part 2 (fin for Mags): Funny thing about this picture, I really just think she looks like she's telling him to "play her right, old man." 😂 This part's shorter.

Session 0 – Magnificus (part 4/?):

“I’d like to hear more about your character, Magnificus.” Mercedes smiled brightly. “What do you want to do with her?”

What did he want to do with her? Well… He supposed that he would mostly be playing himself, but… “Her name is Althea.” Perhaps a little more obvious or aggressive in her actions. “She is intelligent and headstrong.”

“Any family?”

The question surprised him more than it should have. He hesitated before Mercedes shook her head and spoke up.

“We can come back to that. You don’t need to decide everything you want now.” She wrote down his answers to some of the more mundane answers he gave, filling in the blanks and offering help where it was needed.

By the end of it, Magnificus felt like he was meeting someone completely different than him and yet alike. She played for the love of it, though sometimes it felt like a burden. Work. That’s when she moved on to a different place and discovered more of the love of her art. The love of learning and the confidence to make mistakes.

Wait… was he ever that comfortable? How many times had he reamed himself over the mistakes he’d made? Realization dawned on him and he nodded. Perhaps Mercedes would show him more he had to learn. “Althea...player of the harp and student of life.”

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Magnificus - Session 0 Part 1-

[I hope I wrote Mags in character. lol ;w;]

Session 0- Magnificus (part 3/?):

[1 hour earlier]

“Hello, Magnificus.” Mercedes greeted the wizard with a pleasant wave and sat when he entered, gesturing to a chair across from her. He refused the chair and stood.

“Hello, Dr.Mercedes… Forgive me, as I do not know your surname.” The response was curt and polite in return. “Judging by your expression we are in for a game.” This was odd. The set up was as if she was behind a wall. Was it something akin to what Leshy did in his games?

The DM reclined in her chair and she toyed with her pen, eyes focusing on those luminous eyes. “Of course.” Sliding a single piece of paper across, she focused on his unreadable expression. “I believe you know what I want. I want you to create your own character.”

Magnificus pondered the paper and calmly addressed the other items she slid towards him. His eyes rose to meet the woman and endless curiosity sparked. How fascinating. He couldn’t read her. He couldn’t see how this would end. “Who...what are you?”

Mercedes laced her fingers and smiled wider, warmthexuding from her. “I’m a story teller. You’re fond of painting and works of art… Is it really that different?” She slid her index finger along the top of her screen. “So… what class do you want?”

The wizard huffed and then looked among the classes. The obvious would be what he already was, but something told him that wouldn’t get him far in this new game. Perhaps he should choose something that was versatile. Something he could plot with, if the time came for it.

Bard.

Yes. That sounded interesting. A bard. He looked at the races supplied and found himself oddly at home. All of this seemed so familiar but unfamiliar at the same time. What on earth did she think to accomplish? “I’ll be a female elf.”

Mercedes raised her brows and nodded. “Going outside of your comfort, hm? I’m glad that you’re dedicating so much attention to this.” She placed a small square of paper in front of him. “I also made something for your character, should you choose to accept.”

Magnificus rose the square up and pondered the writing. “You are a strange woman. Why gift my character with something so...unique?”

The small piece of paper spoke of a harp that when strummed could boost an attack. Additionally, it would add a wild magic effect. He’d never heard of something so ridiculous in his life. Well, maybe that was an exaggeration, but it was certainly odd.

“Magnificus, if I may… Being too aware of your surroundings isn’t good for you. Wouldn’t it be a little more fun not to know what’s happening next? Hence, the chance of it all.”

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P03 closes out the session 0 with Mercedes. Yes, I continued it a bit. I felt the need to.

P03 looked at Mercedes, trying to judge the woman’s expression. She seemed lost in thought as she jotted down the traits and level and skills he’d like. Frankly it seemed like a lot of work for a game, but who the heck was he to complain.

“Anything else?”

“Well,” Mercedes leaned back and examined the sheet, a smile sliding onto her face. “I think you did very well. I want to know if there’s any topics you are uncomfortable with.” She laced her fingers together and watched him quietly.

Was this a trick? Was she asking him for his weakness or what? “Nothing. Nothing you can do, anyway.” He eyed her, a growing sense of dread sneaking up on him. “You’re not going to turn me into a stoat again or something, are you?”

“What? No. I’m asking because I want everyone to be able to express themselves freely, but comfortably. This means if you’re uncomfortable with...” She paused and nodded. “Transformation/Polymorph magics being used on your character against their will, then I can keep that in mind.”

Oh. That was...considerate. Weird. “Okay. Whatever. You have my character. Bye.” Mercedes raised a brow and politely cleared her throat. “P03. We have one issue.”

He grunted in frustration and looked back. “What?” He frowned and stared at her. Was she joking? Didn’t she already get enough from him?

“A name and pronouns, please?”

He paused and looked down, mulling it over. Something to call this weird avatar of himself by… a flesh being that no one liked with no family and starts with little to no friends. A thief. “I guess you could call them...they/them… Uh… Ermin?”

Mercedes smiled. He hated it, because he knew exactly what she’s thinking, but at least she didn’t say anything. Well you know what? Good. If he was being forced to-- okay well not forced-- but if he was going to play this stupid game, he may as well be a stoat again.

[inscryptiondndau]

We all joke about DnD being group therapy, but I thought it would be super funny (and kind of healing) if it was put into effect. Mini story is under the cut.

cw: implied depression

Session 0 (1/?):

“Hello, P03. How are you doing today?” Mercedes sat across from P03 with a placid smile, one hand neatly folded in front of another. Not that he could see it with the weird screen she had in the way. He could feel the frustration rising already. How the hell did this woman get the game and what did she want to accomplish. She’d said she wanted to gather all the scrybes but said that she wanted to have one on one time with everyone first. It’s not like they could argue. Somehow she’d made it so she could.

“I’m not doing this.” Maybe if he disagreed enough he would be left alone to try and do something else.

“Not doing what?” Mercedes tilted her head to the side, ringlets bobbing as she observed him. “I just wanted some time alone to talk about your character. You like games right? I thought you’d want to play.”

P03 snorted and shook his head. “You’re ‘asking’ me to play, like all the others, right? I’m not doing it. You’ll need to--”

The young woman rose a hand to stop the flurry of words. “I won’t force you P03. I was just thinking it’d be nice to see if we could get out some of those frustrating feelings in a constructive way.” She slid a sheet over and a tray filled with what looked like dice. “You can be anything in my game. Anyone. Yourself...something different? Magnificus is playing a Bard.”

P03 started at that. Magnificus was going along with this ridiculous set up? You’re joking. “...Whatever. Hm. I guess… I’ll be a...” He looked at the sheet she’d presented and a new booklet joined next to it. He flipped through and tapped a class with his claw. “Rogue.”

“Oh! That’ll be fun. And your race?” She flipped to a page in the book, showing an array of nonsense to him. “You could be almost anything. I could homebrew something for you...”

P03 looked at the robotic races and groaned, Warforged were too edgy, and no way was he choosing to be some sort of defectorfrom a Modron species. “How about...” He paused to the tiefling race and felt something twist inside. Hated… whispered about. Shunned. “Yeah. I’ll go with this.”