We are nearing zero hour for Fall-In! 2026 this weekend, everything that needs to be painted is painted (or flocked), reference sheets are getting the finishing touches.
... and then this shows in the mail this week:
Our heroes, the De Facto Explorers, have decided to embark on an epic quest to reach Lathar's long-lost father, Harkonn. After side-quests, distractions, blue surges of strange auras, and beings definitely not from around Riverbend, they've finally arrived at an odd softrock (concreate) planform with the water of the the Black Reeds... and by accident and incompetence, Squiggles, Poppy, Lathar have been rescued from the strange apparatus inside... and now the group is getting surrounded by mutant otters with uzis... and a strange man on the shoreline, eyeing up No-Name.
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Sneaky Pete: A mutated weasel scout. Pete's telepathy and stealth take center stage in their mission, although he is apparently addicted to his newly uncovered yellow powder found at "The Pool House"
Sonny Helianthus: an over 10' tall sentient sunflower artifact examiner with four arms, and trusted Restorationist ties. Knowledgeable, but not a good one with device repairs or upgrades. Sonny may have recently detonated an atomic device in the petrified woods... although no one else knows.
Slitheran Wurmtail (aka Squiggles): a mutated earthworm scout, in impromptu power armor, looking for trouble in all the wrong places, and finding it often. He has been subject to genetic testing and developed super-human strength, a more human body, and a thick coat of shaggy white hair. Recently attacked and kidnapped then left for dead by an unknown group, looking for revenge. Also pregnant for the third time, heavily wounded by the underwater apparatus, and due to deliver badly out of season
Poppy and Speedy: Two of Squiggles' offspring from his first... litter(?) They're now teenagers in worm years, old enough to grab diminutive muskets and help their Manchi and his friends on this epic quest. And we have learned the Poppy... can't swim.
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Lathar stood on the far side of the softrock platform, staring at the man far off on the shore. It had been well over a decade since he had seen his absentee father... It could be him, but he wasn't quite sure what to do.
One of the otters shouted up from the water, "We want you to leave!"
Sonny: We're not opposed to that either!
Pete had been so preoccupied with transporting the supplies across the water, and ridding himself of the small metal debris forming in the water, that the sound of other voices shocked him. He ran over, past the motionless, staring Lathar to the otter side...
Pete: "Hello friends!"
The otters ignored him, arguing with each other...
"Do we board our own facility, is that a thing?"
"No that's for boats, you ninny! Start climbing the ladder! If they get dangerous, shoot them!"
Pete threw out his hands in peace, "We mean no harm?"
There was considerable questions regarding the logistics of arriving on the platform, what happened to the chewed up Squigles. They were unimpressed with the weasel's similarity....
The otters all finally reached the platform, one of them dispatching the others to the four corners for a security check.
Pete: "What is this place?"
Otter #1: "It's a research facility?"
Pete: "What's it research?"
Otter #2: "If you haven't figured it out, you aren't smart enough for it!"
Otter #4, looking down at the flooded great: "Otis, this does not look good at all."
Sonny, his massive height allowing him peering down at the damage control, "That's how we found it."
Meanwhile, Lathar could only manage to raise a hand to the stranger. There was no reaction from the man.
The otters scrambled around, and the De Facto Explorers inquired and argued with them, Lathar discarded his shield and sword, suddenly took a running start, and dove into the water, towards the shoreline.
As he neared the shoreline, the man looked at him incredulously, and No-Name the staggon looked at the Pure-Strain humans non-plussed.
Lathar emerged from the water, wiping off a small amount of metal particles off of his skin.
"Alright. Congrats. You can fucking swim, I figured that's how you nitwits got over there. What do you want?
Lathar: "Are you Bracken?"
It's at that moment, that the man pushed aside some of his tattered clothing to reveal a black, angular pistol of the Ancients, "It depends on who's asking..."
Lathar: "How about his son?"
The man smirks, "Really? Where is he?"
Lathar turns to the supplies on shore, rummaging through a moment to pick out his own black, angular gun.
"Right here, Dad. I have one of those two!"
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| Harkonn Bracken, in the flesh... |
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| Varka, "The Ledger", a KIA refugee like Harkonn |
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| "Chitter" a six-foot tall mutant weasel who did not speak... |
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| Sister Halcyra, from the human lands downriver. |
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| Grindle, "The Anchor" a survivor from the Wildlands |
Next: #137 -
Almost missed the announcement of the holiday sale over at Battle Valor Games. I wish I had missed the reasons for it.
Battle Valor, the manufacturer a large range of 25 and 15 mm figures, has a massive 40% everything sale going on right now. I love Battle Valor to death, as they been a major supplier to my Gnomish Space Marines, as well as a host of other figures.
And know, the reason for the sale, directly off the web site:
40% OFF EVERYTHING UNTIL MIDNIGHT ON DECEMBER 13TH.
ALL ORDERS WILL GET A FREE 28MM SANTA FIGURE!
Check out the latest issue of Meeple Monthly for more fun stuff, plus a host of random things I'm not listing under my imaginary store.
ViscountEric's Want List
NothingLooking back at last years purchases, I really didn't buy that many minis, the only true practical ones were the Outrigger Canoes from Diabolical Terrain, with the variety of Reaper Bones and 3-D prints reaching the 'Someday, maybe" category. The one true purchase that in the "complete whimsy" were the blister of D&D Nolzur's Marvelous Miniatures: Yeti Tykes I grabbed from Cloud City Games in the Palmer Mall.
... and now they're going to be the bulk of a faction on the Fistful of Christmas game I'm running at Fall-In! 2026 next Saturday.
I'm a curmudgeonly old Grognard, so I don't have a high opinion of most WizKids minis. The level of detail in the digital rendering was non-existent after the casting process, plus a single base coat. Perhaps they're perfect for some splash and dash contrast paints, but even if they're not, they are fun little minis, perfect for a family friendly winter game.
Next: The buildings might get done for the con, I do realize I've acquired a number trees that need a decent flocking, and then we'll see if the whims of the November convention season guide me in a different direction. Just that single Mousling game we played has got me looking through the bag-o-mice...
Project 350: Finally, the decline I needed to claim! I'm hacking away at the draft posts, dropping the backlog/library to 469 (308 drafts /161 scheduled), from 473 (312/161) . For each item I've scheduled that's posting, I'm adding another, slowing working on some of the #CharacterCreationChallenge for January 2027. Usually I don't have concepts for the entire month even in placeholder mold, much less flesh out characters ready to go, but I made some headway last weekend. Whether it's new concepts for Nations and Cannons, post-funnel character for Mutant Crawl Classics, or a fun little concept of characters for the "Hallmark Channel RPG Setting, I may be enjoying myself early.
Another extended weekend to watch high school volleyball, turned into an even longer drive, as I came home early Sunday morning to go cut my mother's grass. The rain was not cooperative, and I needed a few hours for everything to dry out a bit, so I extended a long trip from Saratoga, New York to Easton, by venturing further west into Bethlehem.
My hour diversion was far better than I could possibly plan, wandering into not one, but two game stores within walking distance from each other.
I was wildly pleased.
My first stop was Sorcery and Scripts near the corner of Main St and Broad, a combination book store/game store/game cafe.
Greeting: The lone person behind the counter was in an in-depth conversation with a customer during a sale. Once that was completed, I got the simple acknowledgement that so many stores seem to be deficient.
Cleanliness: Immaculate, neat shelves, some comfy yet very classic furniture adding to the feel of the place.
Books: It really is the first thing you see, after the nice furniture and fake fireplace. Sci-Fi, Fantasy, and that Romantasy that's all the go nowadays. It's not Barnes & Nobles, it focuses on its niche keeping a moderate amount of inventory, and book club events and other similar thing.
CCGs: I saw Magic behind the counter. There's Riftbound on the events calendar, including a pre-release mentions.
Board Games: A healthy and varied supply of board and card games.
RPGs: D&D, D&D, and just D&D
Miniatures: Nothing, unless some book or theme-related item could be transformed into somehting.
Other: Just enough dice, supplies, and other miscellany to keep me happy, as well as all the book-related peripherals (I ended up buying a bookmark and a bumper sticker during my visit).
Amenities/Events: The area dedicated to gaming is rather spacious and comfy. In fact, while perusing the website, they actually hosted a rather intimate wedding reception (shower?). Plenty of space for multiple events or a CCG pre-release.
The event board is a mixture of CCGs, board games nights, mixed in with book clubs and writers' groups The
There's also a very nice demo corner for games free to play anytime the shop is open.
I'll be honest, if the current business model is working enough to afford a lease in Downtown Bethlehem, I'll be the first that's over the moon. I do want more stuff (but not clutter), but the atmosphere is hopefully exactly what they've been wanting to cultivate.
I'm might be a little generous, but after a year in business I get exactly what they're trying to do and hope it continues to grow. Gaming with the Gnomies gives Sorcery & Scripts four out of five gnomes.
Location: 74 W Broad St Suite 110 Bethlehem, Pa 18018 - Right on the intersection with Main and Broad, it's hidden away off the main sidewalk in a lower storefront.
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| From their website |
The Kingdom of Ras-Prythax
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| Feraso City |
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| Castle Zastig, Duchy of Furyondy |
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| Verbobonc City |
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| The Village of Hommlet |
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| Town of Reisenhain |
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| Halfwater (County of Rowand) |
