ZILLAH We're finally leaving Issimbaal. It's been over a week, but feels even longer. So much has happened. After much deliberation, we've decided to brave the dust plains and head south-west towards the Temple of Bahaal and hope it doesn't live up to its other name -- the Temple of Death. We're pretty sure that's … Continue reading D&D Chronicles: Of portals, dust and a strange villa
I collected Chenna's ashes today, exactly three weeks after she signed out. Three weeks. Gosh. I still think about her every day, because there is not one aspect of my life in this house that she wasn't a part of. She arrived as a cute and cantankerous kitten within weeks of me moving in, and … Continue reading Farewell, my devilcat
I got a bit of a shock today. Turns out I'm not so indestructible as I liked to believe. Bone marrow cancer. That's what I've got. The prognosis is "guarded" (which means "not good" is a helluva understatement). No options for treatment. Barely any options for management. I'm so anemic I could keel over at … Continue reading Diary of a DevilCat: This is Chenna, signing out
ZILLAH Dealing with Elliana (not) We argue long into the night about how to get the Left Eye of Varrien from Elliana. The clerics of Phanator refuse to help us, not wanting to start a conflict with the Church of Elloran. I think we all know Elliana and her protector are far too strong for … Continue reading D&D Chronicles: Getting our butts kicked in and around Issimbaal
The most important aspect of singing for me is creating harmonies with other people and filling a space with music. There's a kind of magic created when multiple voices weave together and unfurl, blending and enhancing and expanding, the whole so much more than the sum of its parts. This is why I have been … Continue reading Singing acapella in the tea room
Priddy's Tale is another gorgeous love story from Harper Fox. It's a fantastical tale about a lost young guy who lives in a Cornish lighthouse and falls in love with a merman. I love this story so much. It's told in a fairy tale style -- which isn't usually my thing, because I prefer a … Continue reading Priddy’s Tale: book review
ZILLAH Zombies inspire reckless action It’s around midnight when we finally find a band of zombies towards the outskirts of Issimbaal. There are six of them, five of us. This should be easy. Although I must remember we need to take some alive for the clerics to study. I’m much better at killing zombies than … Continue reading D&D Chronicles: Three battles, third time not so lucky
ZILLAH early afternoon... Thank blessed Emrys we are holed up in this temple with these clerics of Phanator. They have resurrected Blizzard with very little fuss. It has cost us, though — and me especially. It is no secret among our group that there is little love lost between Blizzard and me, but I will … Continue reading D&D Chronicles: Trying to survive the mage college of Issimbaal
It's been a year since I posted the last extract from my 1993-1994 travel journal for the Travelling in the 90s series. I've been distracted. But there's only a couple of weeks of Italy to go on the entire trip, so I'm going to focus on getting to the end. Our last stop was Florence … Continue reading Travelling in the 90s: Venerable Rome
It's been a while (too long) since I've talked fantasy novels on this blog, but I'm excited to get back into it today to celebrate a new release from indie publisher, Turtleduck Press. I've featured a few Turtleduck Press novels over the past couple of years -- not only are the team friends of mine, … Continue reading Book Launch: City of Hope and Ruin
Ellen Gregory 