Amy

Wassail Ingredients 1 gallon Apple Cider 4 cups orange juice 10 cinnamon sticks 1 tsp. whole cloves 1 Tbs. juniper berries 1 1/2 inch piece of fresh ginger, cut into slices 1 apple, sliced into rounds 1 orange, sliced into rounds Optional: 4 hibiscus teabags Directions Place all the ingredients in a slow cooker and cover. Turn the slow cooker on high heat and cook for 3-4 hours, until the color has darkened and the fruit is soft. Remove the tea bags and serve hot Notes Being a non-drinker, non-alcoholic cider is used in this recipe. This can easily be swapped for hard cider, if desired.

Hey, could I get a blank generic Dungeon World playbook character sheet eventually? Dunno if someone asked, already.   Free open examples:. https://a-dungeon-world.fandom.com/wiki/Blank_Sheets/Playbooks

Swashbuckler looks to be heavier in 2e than I remember in 1e.  Sorry. Just wondering if we want a tank.  *shrug*

Oooof.   We have good strikers, but no heavy hitters. Y'all want me to work up a different character?  Always happy to try something new.  Barbarian, Fighter, Champion, Attack-heavy Druid, Ranger?

YAR!!! Because I can.

Tally-ho, indeed!   And to be noted, Meli is hoping that a gentleman isn't going to stop a lady looking for the powder room.  😉

Melisandre Abernathy - Daring Damsel  Fortitude: 6 | Faculty: 4 | Form: 5 |  It was, indeed, a short ride, and Melisandre didn't have enough time to decide to either pull out a book or pull out her fan.  Having just decided on a book, the carriage is slowing and Meli is cursing herself for not having been observing, albeit at a distance, the approaching station.  Grabbing her fan, instead, Meli pushes her glasses up to the bridge of her nose - she really should have gotten a better fitting set - and moves with the rest of the group.  The young woman's eyes dart about, looking for familiar faces to steer clear from, then narrow at the thought of such an obvious place to begin their inquest.   "Do go ahead, will you?" the young woman offers, fanning herself absently.  "We are about to have a long day, I think I will slip to the powder room and see what I can overhear on the way there.  Then I will come back and meet you fine gentlemen," she says with a bright smile.  "That is, if you don't mind." Without actually waiting, because Meli was nothing if not impetuous, the young woman pushes her glasses up again and then starts walking forward as if she absolutely knows where she is going and had every right to do so.   Mechanics Abilities: Ordinary: A Lady Always Carries a Fan Extraordinary: Born on a Jovian Moon Humdrum: Inspiration for Jane Porter ___________________________________________________ Main Hand: Empty Off Hand: A fan, of course ___________________________________________________ Quirk: Blink of Surprise!          

Gemma Investigator 1 AC 16 HP 17/ 17 Fortitude +4 Reflex +6 Will +7 Perception +7 Status None       "Those are between her and I.  And the answer is likely 'Just Business'.  Which will be most ... annoying," Gemma admits to Dunsmith.   "Coming in the exit isn't too bad, but having one or two in the lobby acting like customers also keeps eyes on those working there, and if there is going to be trouble from the real customers," Gemma suggests as an amendment to Gustav's plan.  "I agree with our fierce friend here," Gemma continues with a motion of her hand to Faeryn.  "But if someone is in the lobby, be non-descript enough to blend in and out so witnesses can't get a good description - not that eye witnesses are very accurate anyway.  A change of hat and coat would be wise for all of us, as well.  That's what will be noticed most aside from weapons." Lastly, Gemma looks back to Gustav again.  "Try to talk them into helping, first and foremost.  Then knock them senseless if we must.  But violence always has a chance of doing more damage than you anticipate.  We kill, or even seriously harm, someone, we are not only out of a job," the darkhaired woman notes with a nod in Dunsmith's direction, "We are even more wanted than we might already be.  And it'll be more than Mugland and Loveless hunting us, unwilling to listen to the truth." Turning back to the redhead, Gemma bows her head.  The seemingly bloodthirsty pirate was the one that suggested the less violent route, after all.  

"I didn't mean for it to happen. It just did!" Theme: Amara Lightstone Human (Half-Elf) • Feybound • Psychic 1 Medium • CG • Traits Abilities Strength 10 (+0) • Dexterity 16 (+0) • Constitution 12 (+0) • Intelligence 10 (+0) • Wisdom 12 (+0) • Charisma 18 (+0) Boosts • Ancestry: Charisma, Dexterity • Background: Dexterity, Charmisma • Class: Charisma • Free: Constitution, Wisdom, Dexterity, Charisma Adventuring & Combat HP 15/15 Perception +4 • Trained 3 • Wis 1 • Item 0 • Senses: Low-Light Vision Speed 25 Class DC 17 • Trained 3 • Base 10 • Cha 4 • Item 0 Armor and Shields AC 16 • Trained 3 • Base 10 • Dex 3 • Item 0 • Trained: Unarmored Shield • Bulk 0 • +0 AC, Hard 0, HP 0 (0) Saving Throws • Fortitude +4 • Trained 3 • Con 1 • Item 0 • Reflex +6 • Trained 3 • Dex 3 • Item 0 • Will +6 • Expert 5 • Wis 1 • Item 0 Weapon Proficiencies • Trained: Unarmed, All Simple Weapons Dagger +6 • Trained 3 • Dex 3 • Item 0 • Damage 1d4 • Agile, Finesse, Thrown 10, Versatile, Slashing Sling +6 • Trained 3 • Dex 3 • Item 0 • Damage 1d6 • Skills Acrobatics +3 • Untrained 0 • Dex 0 • Item 0 Arcana +0 • Untrained 0 • Int 0 • Item 0 Athletics +0 • Untrained 0 • Str 0 • Item 0 • Armor -0 Crafting +0 • Untrained 0 • Int 0 • Item 0 Deception +7 • Trained 3 • Cha 4 • Item 0 Diplomacy +7 • Trained 3 • Cha 4 • Item 0 Intimidation +4 • Untrained 0 • Cha 4 • Item 0 Lore: Fey +3 • Trained 3 • Int 0 • Item 0 Medicine +1 • Untrained 0 • Wis 1 • Item 0 Nature +1 • Untrained 0 • Wis 1 • Item 0 Occultism +0 • Untrained 0 • Int 0 • Item 0 Performance +4 • Untrained 0 • Cha 4 • Item 0 Religion +1 • Untrained 0 • Wis 1 • Item 0 Society +0 • Untrained 0 • Int 0 • Item 0 Stealth +6 • Trained 3 • Dex 3 • Item 0 • Armor -0 Survival +1 • Untrained 0 • Wis 1 • Item 0 Thievery +3 • Untrained 0 • Dex 3 • Item 0 Languages: Common, Elven Abilities Ability • Type 0 • Notes Feats Half-Elf • Heritage 1 • Elf trait, low-light vision, can select, help, half-elf and human feats Otherworldly Magic • Ancestry 1 • Elven magic manifests as a simple arcane spell: Tanglefoot (Cantrip) Spells & Powers Spell Attack +7 • Trained 3 • Cha 4 Spell DC 17 • Trained 3 • Base 10 • Abi 4 Focus Points 2/2 Spells/Day: 0: 6 • 1st: 1 Psychic Spells Spell 0 — • Dancing Lights • Forbidding Ward • Telekenetic Projectile Spell 1 — • Biting Words (Signature Spell) • Thoughtful Gift Focus Spells • Distortion Lens • Phase Bolt (Amped) • Warp Step (Amped) Sorcerer Spells • Tanglefoot Inventory Money: 15 GP Bulk 1/0 • Enc 5 (5 + Str 0) • Max 10 (10 + Str 0) Adventurer's Pack • Bulk 2 • Backpack, bedroll, belt pouch (2), chalk (10), flint and steel, rope (50 ft.), rations (14), soap, torches (5), waterskin Caltrops (2) • Bulk L • DC 14 acrobatics check/1d4 piercing +1 persistent bleed, -5ft speed Healing Potion (minor) (2) • Bulk L • 1d8 hp Item • Bulk 0 • Notes Arms and Armor Item • Bulk 0 • Notes Appearance A young woman with wheat colored hair and honey-brown eyes. Average height and weight. She has the facial markings of a half-elf, including the pointed ears. She is comely, but it is her smile that glows and seems the most brilliant and memorable thing about her. Personality Flighty, Precocious, Curious, Prone to mood swings. History As a young girl, Amara Lightstone would play in the woods near her home - her father a forester, her mother a week known baker for the nearby village. One day, when Amara was 8, she helped a pretty and nice man who was stuck in an iron trap get free. This was a Seelie Prince, who has yet to give Amara his name, but asked her to call him Arn. He simply could not let Amara’s kindness go to waste and told the young girl he would grant her a book of power and joy so long as she was always kind to her fey ken, as she said she needed nothing from him - that seeing him smile at being free was enough. Every anniversary of her freeing Arn, he leaves behind a simple gift, in the past it’s been flowers, trinkets, rare berries or mushrooms. Lately, however, the gifts have been growing more elaborate - an ornate hair comb, earrings, a pendant with mysterious symbols on it. Things that are not worth much in coin, but things that Amara will not part with. At first Amara’s parents were worried, but as the gifts seem harmless and do not seem to possess any magical auras, they have not objected. However, Amara has not told her of the warm whispers in her mind, or the fact that Arn has been appearing in her dreams. And true to Arn’s word, power began to fill Amara as she was a teenager. At first it was uncontrollable, but Amara is learning, slowly. She was afraid when the dreams came, but Arn has been using them to teach her control and assure her that the power within her is nothing to fear. Wonderlust often strikes Amara, the desire to see over the horizon, that there is someplace out there calling her. But as it is, she often runs into the forests near the village with no fear of being harmed - much to many peoples’ consternation.

Gemma Investigator 1 AC 16 HP 17/ 17 Fortitude +4 Reflex +6 Will +7 Perception +7 Status None       "Appreciated, Gustav," comes the polite, if guarded reply from the dark haired young woman.  Gemma then turns her attention back to the firebrand of Faeryn."I am aware that not all of you lot have the same ... sensibilities as I do.  Hell, none of you may have them," Gemma shrugs.  She looks at Faeryn, holding her gaze as the woman leans forward on the table.  "I'm no preacher.  I'm not here to convert someone to a different path.  So long as we know we disagree and can agree not to needle each other about it, I figure we're fine for now." There is a slight pause, Gemma still leaning against the wall.  "That's not true.  Killing just to kill, I will take issue with.  But I'll put aside everything else, for now, to take down Mugland and Loveless.  But I'll do it by evidence and the law first."   If that doesn't work, well, Gemma understands that sometimes justice isn't as neat as written laws.  

Gemma Investigator 1 AC 16 HP 17/ 17 Fortitude +4 Reflex +6 Will +7 Perception +7 Status None       "You've got your own reason for being here, I've got mine.  I'm not doing this for Mugland's gold, I'm interested in his information.  This is a chance to get at some of it. Betraying you won't get me what I want, but going along will," Gemma states levelly to the fleshwarped creature.    Turning to the dwarf, Gemma lifted her chin in a faint nod. "Would you mind waiting until after I have gotten some answers from Loveless first?  Preferably she'd rot in a prison along side those she's put away, but not everyone shares my sense of ironic justice." Finally Gemma blinks at the new comer, fingers twitching as the young woman barely keeps from reaching up and rubbing the bridge of her nose.  Some days were more difficult than others, but, at least, this flamboyant and large personality was trying to be affable.  Gemma tried opening and closing hey mouth several times but really had nothing to reply with to the red haired woman - at least that would not make the headache blossoming from getting worse.  "Gemma," she offers instead.  Ma always did put importance on manners, why they're those out the steam engine window when the other woman has gone and introduced herself first.  

Melisandre Abernathy - Daring Damsel  Fortitude: 6 | Faculty: 4 | Form: 5 |  Looking at the Concierge, Melisandre smiles as she pushes her glasses up the bridge of her nose.  That man deserves a generous tip - she'll have to make certain he gets one when she comes back or moves her bags.  "That is so thoughtful of you, kind sir," Meli offers both sweetly and genuinely.   Without a word to the men, Melisandre then steps forward, slings her book bag over her shoulder, grabs the hand rail, and helps herself deftly into the turbine coach.  A bit much for the distance of travel, really - but they were exciting when they could get up to speed.    Hopefully this driver was fully charged and not also glitching - though, that might be a bit exciting way to start the morning. Melisandre Abernathy!  Just because you want excitement doesn't mean you should wish such dreadful luck on others! whispered Meli's thoughts speaking common sense ... in her mother's voice and tone.  That left Meli fighting the urge to roll her eyes at herself.   Mechanics Abilities: Ordinary: A Lady Always Carries a Fan Extraordinary: Born on a Jovian Moon Humdrum: Inspiration for Jane Porter ___________________________________________________ Main Hand: Empty Off Hand: A fan, of course ___________________________________________________ Quirk: Blink of Surprise!          

Melisandre Abernathy - Daring Damsel  Fortitude: 6 | Faculty: 4 | Form: 5 |  Arranging, quietly of course, to have her bags taken care of while she intends to slip away before her mother and Balthazar could find her, it's hard not for Melisandre to over hear the commotion of the men, expressing similar views and intent as her own.     How fortuitous!   Pulling out a pair of spectacles from her bag, and grabbing one of her books, Meli moves to be an unobtrusive shadow to the men.  The glass of the spectacles provided no alteration to her sight, they were just a ruse - men often overlooked the book reading, bespectacled woman as something harmless, after all.  Perhaps this could work here.  If Meli stayed close enough, perhaps she could even share the same auto-carriage or bus, by happenstance, and listen in on their thoughts on the matter.  More than one viewpoint was useful, after all.   Mechanics Abilities: Ordinary: A Lady Always Carries a Fan Extraordinary: Born on a Jovian Moon Humdrum: Inspiration for Jane Porter ___________________________________________________ Main Hand: Empty Off Hand: A fan, of course ___________________________________________________ Quirk: Blink of Surprise!          

Got some new paint colors.  Packing for a conference so no pretty pictures.   First is a Reaper Bones V succubus - the teals and gold NMM are some of my new Kimera Kolors.   The second one, Gisele the Sorceress from Reaper is Tenebrous Teal on the dress. My gosh, I love that color.

Gemma Investigator 1 AC 16 HP 17/ 17 Fortitude +4 Reflex +6 Will +7 Perception +7 Status None A low, thoughtful sound rumbles in Gemma's throat as her attention turns back to Dunsmith.  "The sacks of gold are all you are interested in?"  she asks.  There was a good deal of clues and evidence to be found in a bank - but outright stealing them would taint them as evidence.  However, if she could get a look, get an idea where to begin pushing and pointing the not-corrupt Shieldmarshals it would be useful.  Just stealing a man's gold just serves to make him angry.  But gathering information about his illegal dealings and just who is on his payroll while he is distracted by his loss of money ... that was worth the risk. "I'm wondering," Gemma continues, "What if Lovelass and her lackeys actually do their job well.  Are you sure we should be coming back here?  Isn't there a better meeting point?  Because a sack of gold ... that's going to weigh a person down and make flight a bit more difficult." Gemma holds up both of her hands, one to either side of her, fingers wide in a non-threatening gesture.  "Loveless is a lazy crook, but she has training and she's smart enough to have gotten away with her corrupt ways and machinations for a while now.  Years, I'd say.  Maybe a decade.  Depends."  The young woman shrugs as she lowers her hands and leans back against the wall.  "Nothing is ever easy.  And when it comes to dealing with criminals, nothing is every safe until they are dealt with properly."  

I haven't had this particular problem, but I have had the occasional issue with chrome on various other sites.   I don't know what causes it, but the button (confirmation or otherwise) appears way off screen on my phone as if the site randomly decided to go full desktop, rather than stay mobile.   Maybe it's that?   I am not a code monkey, I couldn't say.  Just know that you aren't crazy, @Rumrunner!   Next time it happens, grab a screen shot? Though, I suppose the after isn't gonna help. Nevermind!  

Tell me about it! I have an optivisor to see with, but actually painting more has helped the hand shakes. Also, never compare yourself to someone else.  It's hard, I know.  You can look at someone's work and say "I want to try to paint in that style" or "I want to have clean painting like X" and use it as a goal.  But in the end, you are never going to look exactly like someone else's painting.  So don't try to dominate things exactly or compare exactly.

WHAT?!  That's outrageous!   Okay, I just checked, Reaper Miniatures has an Australia warehouse and thus ships from your home country. The Bones USA miniatures aren't bad.  That last two I painted were Reaper miniatures.  So I would go to Reaper's Website (click here!)!

Melisandre Abernathy - Daring Damsel  Fortitude: 6 | Faculty: 4 | Form: 5 |  The Grosvenor House Hotel was a perfectly reasonable hotel.  It was a quite lovely hotel, in fact.  Melisandre, however, was bored, anxious, and quite keen to be on her way.  She had heard so much about Venus, but had never been there.  For whatever reason, that was the one place that her mother never wished to return to, especially with a child.  Whatever the case, Melisandre had heard from her father countless times how it was proclaimed that any family of Willian Severnius Abernathy would always be welcomed as True Children of Venus. The way that father told the stories, and the way mother tried to get him to stop, put Melisandre's mind that it was her mother, Eugenia, who had had more adventure on Venus than her father, and she was not of a mind to see Melisandre repeat it.  It must have been quite the tale, given her father still loves to tell of his adventure on Venus to a willing audience - which Meli always was. It is with that anxious energy that one gets at the start of a true adventure into the unknown that Melisandre sat at the table eating her breakfast.  He father had gotten her in the habit of reading the broadsheets every day, for one never knew what adventure would be hinted at in their stories.  And the more salacious the paper, the more interesting the adventure.  There were a few newspapers and tabloids next to Meli, but it was the right reputable News of the Empire which held the young woman's attention.  Her glass of orange juice was set down as she read the paper, eyes widening in shock and a bit of terror.  The portal to Venus had been damaged the night before, and was currently inoperable. That ... that couldn't ... what were the odds?! Blinking a few times in surprise at the news, Melisandre took several deep breaths as her mind whirled.  A good thing she had set down her glass as her hands clenched tightly in panic that the young woman tried to control and hide by placing her fists in her lap.  It wouldn't do to shatter such a nice glass at such a fine table, after all.  The timing... it was just too suspect. Surely Balthazar (Balty, as Balthazar Theocious III insisted his friends called him - which Melisandre did not consider herself such) had nothing to do with this.  He had just two days prior begged Melisandre not to go on this great adventure, but there had been a call for able-bodied, and well-versed adventurers and scholars on the subject of Venus, and Meli had made certain to obtain (and read several times) all of her father's notes.  Her name alone was enough to get past the fact that she wore a skirt and was more 'delicate' than the hardy folk that were also applying.  Being of the 'fairer' sex was such a disappointment, at times - mostly because Meli found it disappointing that she was considered so much weaker.  And yet she could lift most men looking down on her from the ground with one hand. Weaker, ha! No, Balthazar was smitten with the Abernathy name, and far more interested in writing serialized stories and books than doing any research or going on an adventure himself.  And that included getting his hands dirty.  It was quite out of character for him - wasn't it? Her mother ... was another matter.  Not that the woman had the means and contacts for such a disaster - correct?  She certainly wouldn't waste any time trying to fetch Melisandre home, however.  The woman likely had Balthazar in a carriage on his way right then! Quickly Meli's mind whirled.  She was already packed, so excited she was for the journey.  She would pay a few quid more to the porter to secure her bags outside of her room somewhere so that Balthazar and her mother couldn't demand they be returned to the family home.  She might need some of those books and notes!  Meli also had to leave.  And the excuse to do so was staring right back at her from the News of the Empire!   Melisandre Abernathy would simply have to help investigate what happened to the ring portal.   For the good of the Empire, of course.   Mechanics Abilities: Ordinary: A Lady Always Carries a Fan Extraordinary: Born on a Jovian Moon Humdrum: Inspiration for Jane Porter ___________________________________________________ Main Hand: Empty Off Hand: A fan, of course ___________________________________________________ Quirk: Blink of Surprise!          

Thank you.  I am happy with that blue, as well. It's a nice contrast to the yellow/gold.

I also decided I was mentally done with this one when I finished the Ogre Chieftain.   This is Merowyn Light star (#77675) from Reaper.   She's a lovely Paladin/Cleric/Fighter from Reaper that is wearing "realistic" armor, rather than a platemail bikini. I like the sculpt and would absolutely recommend.  

I've been taking it a bit slow due to family stuff going on.  But I finished a simple figure, then went ham in the base.   Forgot to grab the #, but this is the Ogre Chieftain from Reaper.

Gemma Investigator 1 AC 16 HP 17/ 17 Fortitude +4 Reflex +6 Will +7 Perception +7 Status None Gemma's first response is the urge to confiscate the whiskey - it was obviously not doing any good.  Swallowing that, the woman holds her tongue as she thinks around the problem, watching Dunsmith's reaction in her periphery.  "By that logic, your statement is the sort made by someone that wants a bigger cut, and will do whatever it takes to get it,"  the young woman finally offers.  She isn't particularly looking either man(?) in the eye herself - the amount of eyes was, admittedly, a little unsettling.  But a grudge against Mugland was something both men(?) seemed to have, something she shares with them.  Gemma will attempt to work with them, if it was possible was another thing, altogether. Giving a shrug then, Gemma lets herself fall silent, the other man could defend himself, she has stuck herself between them, where she doesn't belong, enough. Thankfully Gemma isn't the superstitious sort, because this was a very inauspicious beginning.

I recently found where I had packed this piece and decided it was time to paint it.   I'll have to ship it up to Colin so that it's there for the Myth-Weavers Meetup this summer.   Fate & her (neon) red thread:

Good to know!  Thanks!