(Gamma World) Not a Test #124 - A Return to the Wrong Celery

Our heroes, the De Facto Explorers, have decided to embark on an epic quest to reach Lathar's long-lost father.  They have left Fair-Town after a lengthy stopover, but after only a half-days travel, they encounter a woman and a severely hurt mutant mycelium that appear to need their help!

==============================================================

Lathar Bracken: A pure-strain human from River Bend.  He's got the muscle, the face, and a mount for most encounters.  Lathar's trusty beast of burden, No Name, travels wherever he does.   Looking for trouble in all the right places. The two-time champion of the Fair-Town Queen's Joust.  Recently married to the now-pregnant Thunnelda Haycock.   Just received a letter from his long-lost father, and has convinced the others to accompany him to the Wildlands.

Sneaky Pete: A mutated weasel scout.  Pete's telepathy and night vision take a backseat when he whips out his electrical powers.   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 

and two new additions....

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. 

===============================================================

After a night of rest, it was finally agreed that they should take the half day to return to Fair-Town with Trekk and his apparent savior Mirella Quince.    They strapped the mushroom man to a litter a top of No-Name.   Mirella kept up with the group, describe her noticeable limp.  She stayed alongside the stagon, watching her new mycelium friend.

Mirella Quince, Random Traveler from KIA Academy (with a photo bomb by Sonny)

By mid-morning, they were met by a surprising sight.  A group, dressed like Fair-Town guards, brazenly strolling down the road, five wide.  They wielded a variety of melee weapons, two of them with rifles of the ancients slung across their back.   They acknowledged the party and asked if there were any problems.  

It appeared the discussion with Captain Brom Halloway back in Fair-Town and produced immediate fruits, as these five men, members of the supplemental militia, were ordered to perform the first ever patrol of River Road.  

"Any worries?  Any problems?"

Sonny: Well, if you asked....

The group showed the militia the wounded and unconscious mushroom.   The militia were shocked (confirmed by Pete's telepathy), and once it was mentioned they were taking him back to Fair-Town for help from some of his own kind (What human would differentiate mushrooms from mutant plant plants?), the militia offered to escort them back to town... 

Pete sensed much fear in them, in so that none of the militia had ever left Fair-Town this far downriver.  

The rest of their travels were uninterrupted, and their militia escort even got them through the gate without delay or entry fee.   

The Explorers followed the main boulevard back to the Wrong Celery, Lathar carrying Trekk and asking for Duncan, the bartender.  

The little mushroom person was put into a backroom.  

Duncan: "We'll put him in the dark and feed him a line of shit... We'll take it from here, friend of plants... and non-plants like this lad."

Lathar: "Wait, mushrooms aren't plants?"  

"All plants need the sun to feed our bodies and our souls.  Your friend here is nothing like that.. but we share similar likes, and prejudices against us."

Once the injured mushroom got the help they needed, they reaffirmed Mirella if she needed anything else.  The former resident of the KIA sub-levels had no connections in town and few skills but was resolved to make a go at it.  She may have shook off some advances from the always amorous Lathar, but finally took 50 domars from him to start her new life. 

By the time they resolved everything, they just had enough time to leave town again and reach the temporary camp they used the night previous.

Thankfully, the rest of the the travels down to KIA was unexciting....  with no traffic coming from that city....

Next: #125 -  Allocation is Under Review

#RPGaDay 2026 is Coming

Right on the heels of #FreeRPGDay comes the listing for #RPGaDay, the monthlong event in August were we cover a topic a day to convey our love and enthusiasm for role-playing games 

I do believe the full list is posted on the RPGaDay Facebook group, as well as the blogs directly linked to the organizers.  I'll post the full list here right after I finish the last two painting projects, where I'll pause my blog performance to focus on these. 

(Painting) The Ancient Shanty of Perpetual Project

Even as we inch closer to Historicon, I am amazed when I get some random piece off the painting queue.  

This little shanty has been incomplete for almost TEN YEARs, but no longer!

I had actually started this at a Hobby U class way back at Fall-In! 2016.  I'm not quite sure when I'm going to use this (Death Planet Iota?) but I'll get some joy as it sits on my cluttered shelves.

I decided to take full advantage of the brain melting direct sunlight and use my brand new porch.  Dedicated readers might remember that my front door on my apartment had a small porch that had been half-rotted since the day I moved in.  Thankfully it was rotted through on the far side from the door, so I could get in.  I've really only used the porch for spray priming and sealing.

Right before I left for work yesterday, my landlord shot me a text that the local handyman would be replacing it that day.  I had my doubts, by as I pulled in around 6pm, it was finished, with even the correct pitch to prevent pooling water.  

So my only mission in this oppressive heat might be a table and chair, and perhaps a six-pack of beer to celebrate the holiday

Next:  I do have a gnome project to finish for Historicon... and it might even get posted before the convention!  We all know that regardless of a shopping list, a big con like Historicon always reorganizes painting projects. 

Project 350:  As the #RPGaDay prompts have been produced, this will be my last check-in for behind the scenes blog progress until September!   Between preliminary posts for the con and the community activity, I'll pause productivity at 460 (297 drafts/163 scheduled)  already up from 456 (292 drafts/164 scheduled).  My next report on this will be September 4th, God willing, and almost time for a year in review! 

Mike Lung Gallery #96 - Wasteland Warrior Gangs

I continue to clean up years of photo, e-mails, and texts off my phone, I found these gems from friend-of-the-blog and AWARD WINNING GM, Mike Lung:

These were all gangs used in his Fistful of Lead Wasteland Warriors games he ran twice at Historicon.  With his impending retirement, I may need to have him bring out the whole set again for another HMGS con.

FreeRPGDay(s)?

Rainy days and Mondays always bring me down....

It's summertime, so that means at least one day of my weekend is dedicated to going down to my Mom's and taking care of the yard, plus running number of errands that she might roll a d20 for right before I show up.  She's 77 now, and it was a hard 77 years, so I'm happy she's still moving from room-to-room, much less heading to Wal-Mart for prescriptions she could just get through the mail for free.

But this past weekend was just a drenching rain most of the day,  so I scratched yard work and called to check on the errands.  

None.  Zip. Zilch.  

As I was already moseying down that way, I diverted my trip to make some stops for #FreeRPGDay.

First stop was JAF Comics, between Bethlehem and Nazareth.  I was very happy that the gaming rooms were in full use, even if it was card games.   Even if the RPG section didn't grow, the board and card games were more robust, and they had a good selection of FreeRPG stuff.  

To balance things out, and not take everything from JAF, I drove down PA-191 into the city of Bethlehem and The Portal.  There were three separate RPG sessions running in their game room, and even an official Battletech Missions game finishing up.   I did make my only purchase there: a pair of black metal Mepacon d20s.  

Sunday, I had plans on staying local, heading over to Sword in the Stone Games, and joining a game or two.

And then my Mother called. 

Out of milk, out of toilet paper, out of all of her prescriptions, and the grass was looking a little shaggy.   I did make a stop there before I ran down there again, picking up a few random books that they had plenty of off.  Sword in the Stone had two different CCG events going on, and still had five tables of RPGs going on. 

The good news is, my Mother has food, a clean yard, and is fully medicated. 

Really, the big steals of the events seem to be the Indie RPG Anthology, printed by 9th Level Games, and the FreeRPG Day special for Dungeons & Kittens. 

(Gamma World) Not a Test #123 - Who Are You Calling a Lizard Licker?

Our heroes, the De Facto Explorers, have decided to embark on an epic quest to reach Lathar's long-lost father.  They have stopped in Fair-Town, for municipal meetings, bread-encrusted sausages, and random encounters with your first litter's breeding partner.... Squiggles has been recovered, however not only is Ubenda, his breeding partner,  dead, but her body is missing!

==============================================================

Lathar Bracken: A pure-strain human from River Bend.  He's got the muscle, the face, and a mount for most encounters.  Lathar's trusty beast of burden, No Name, travels wherever he does.   Looking for trouble in all the right places. The two-time champion of the Fair-Town Queen's Joust.  Recently married to the now-pregnant Thunnelda Haycock.   Just received a letter from his long-lost father, and has convinced the others to accompany him to the Wildlands.

Sneaky Pete: A mutated weasel scout.  Pete's telepathy and night vision take a backseat when he whips out his electrical powers.   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 

and two new additions....

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. 

===============================================================

Squiggles wanted revenge on those who kidnapped him and murdered his friend (and mating partner), Ubenda.   He had dug his own worm burrow along the north wall of Fair-Town, used Sonny's invention "Curry in a Hurry" as a trap and waited for malfeasance and ne'er do wells to fall upon him.  

That was the plan, and Sneaky Pete was holed up in a nearby meat attic watching the hole to the burrow.  But when a shot rang out, apparently from inside the tunnel, Pete descended down the building's downspout, shot a weak mental link with Squiggles inside, and stood there dumbstruck.  

The images reaching the weasels mind were contorted, showing a blurry, darkened images and a green dragon-lizard?    The rest of the group were on the outskirts of his telepathic powers, so he sent a weak message to them, before nearing the burrow entrance.  

A smaller figure was emerging out of the entrance.  

"Uncle Pete?"

It was Speedy, one of Sqiggles' children

"Speedy, why the hell are you here? "

"I was looking for my Fair-Dragon, Mango!  He went into the burrow.  I didn't realize my Manchi had a new lair. Are we going to live here?  He seems so confused.  He's holding onto to Mango until I found help.  You're help!"

Pete sent the young worm back to the Inn, with specific orders to stay with their sibling, Posey.  He peeked his head inside calling for Squiggles.  He was taken aback seeing the large, white, furry worm, staring deep into the eyes of a small green gecko-like lizard he was holding in hands.  The worm's tongue was occasionally coming out of his mouth and licking the lizard.  The small lizard was returning the favor. 

Give Mango some sugar...

Pete stepped back out of the hole, and decided to fetch Sunny for overnight guard duty, while the weasel tried to comprehend all of it. 

Squiggle woke up the following morning with a handful of Mango.  His appendages were still a little numb, his mind clearer, his tongue swollen.   The "Curry in a Hurry" trap was still in place.  He had no clue how he came upon the lizard.  

He crawled out of the burrow, finding the majestic Sonny the Sunflower doing a poor job of keeping a low profile with his 10 feet stature.

"I guess I couldn't stay up all night... but I feel funny.  There's something weird with this new burrow."

"If you give me a sample of your dirt, I'll take a look at it."

"Sure... did my kids come by?  I'm holding one of their lizards...."

"No, Pete and I traded watching you... I could have missed them."

Squiggles got him a dirt sample and they headed back to the Wrong Celery.  The worm placed the green lizard under a glass to keep it from running away. 

"This is the second time, I've had some real bender, and lost track of time... THIS WEEK!  I need a soil latte to clear my head.  We need to get to the bottom of this. "

Two soil lattes later, the duo returned to the Triple Comfort Inn, to meet with the rest of the crew.  The rest of the group is eating breakfast, Squiggles' children, Speedy and Poppy, navigating eating the humanoid creation known as ... waffles.

Squiggles embraced his children and told them to run along.

"Go with Lathar and find those corn dogs you love..."

Pete had many questions, including leaving soon... and his admission that everyone now knows what the weasel saw Squiggles licking Mango the lizard with a deranged look on his face. 

"There's no way I was doing that."

"Do you remember anything from last night?"

"....no."

"Your kids were around, I thought you were attacked, and I found you in the burrow, kissing the green lizard."

"Wait, what was I doing?"

"It looked like you two were hitting it off..."

"That's not possible.  We're obviously dealing with some powerful forces..."

"I'd rather not talk about it, to each his own..."

Sonny suggested one more visit to the White Hand, to see if they can ascertain what he was affected by and if it could be cured.

They reached the Driftwood Inn, to find most of the White Hand gone.  Only Marla was still in town, taking care of loose ends.  

Her medkit was able to ascertain what was affecting the worm, and cured him.  They pushed her for details, and she was forced to pull out a rat-teared  journal to determine Squiggles was affected by spores of a "Flower of Ruth".  

"It might be more of a mushroom of some sort.  I don't usually deal with this, but from what I've been told, things can be very subtle.   The formal name I have in my notebook is the Mnemonic Flower of Ruth-Lynn.  The slang is 'Forget-Me-Dust'. "

Marla admitted that they hadn't done a full medical work-up on Squiggles when he and Ubenda were discovered outside the gates, "But it is possible that you've were affected back then, many days ago... or just recently.  I don't know specifics."

They returned to Squiggles' burrow, the search for fungus, but at least recover the "Curry in a Hurry" and the other spend the night.  Nothing strange occurs overnight. 

Squiggles had stayed at the inn while the other camped out.  His sleep was short, interrupted by some more detailed flashbacks of the dogs who tortured him.  The view of the dog heads had pulled back, revealing spiked collars connected to black armor.  

After a morning and confirming supplies, the group finally decided to leave Fair-Town for KIA Academy.  The weather was still warm, although the leaves of the smallest trees were just starting to fade in color. 

Nearing their anticipated camp around dusk, they encountered a single human shuffling up the road on one good leg, holding a half-filled duffel bag in her arms up against her chest.  She was calling for help, 

"Are you guards? Are you a patrol?  I don't think the White Hand is going to help."

After checking for any sign of ambush, it was Sonny who moved up towards her.   She opened up the end of the duffel bag,  blue light shot out, illuminating the area.

"I found him..."

Sonny stared down into the bag, realizing he was staring at a badly wounded mushroom/toadstool person.  The gills underneath it's cap emanated the blue glow.  

"Hi, how are you?"

The mushroom didn't respond, eyes barely open. It was tough determining the extent of his injuries, but most notable was a 3 x 6 inch chunk that was carved out of his cap.

The woman, Mirella Quince, spoke, "I found him on the road like this... someone has to help him...  I think his name is Trekk."
 

Trekk of the Fifth Veil, during happier times.

Mirella had been travelling on her own from KIA, trading the warmth of the sub-levels for more food in Fair-Town.  The administrators had been drafting more and more, which had created a labor drain amongst the trades. 

The Explorers set up camp there, propping the mushroom up.  Sonny shared some of his rich soil for the mushroom to use, if he could.  

Trekk's blue glow subsided and he finally regained enough consciousness by the fire to speak haltingly. 

• His name was Trekk of the Fifth Veil.
• He came from the Mycelium of Low Echo, a remote village deep within the woods well away from the river. 
• They only trade a few items with a few creatures that are aware of them.  
• It's been days since he left the village since the attack

"There was a howl, and some dogs, and I got away with my life.

Pete: "What happened to your head?"

Trekk looked over to Mirella.  She nodded with approval.

"The first human who found me tried to eat me.   Mirella rescued me. "

Trekk didn't remember much, just the metal dogs, and a voice from somewhere.

"Specimen cluster confirmed. Begin harvest."

"I think they took all the singers... I don't know what happened to the rest."

GM Notes:  We finally left Fair-Town... and we're heading back to Fair-Town.  Shoot me. 

The discussion of the player-use of the Flower of Ruth made me long for an alignment chart, and trying to determine what conversations took place in front of the White Hand medic.  

Next: #124 - 

Another Month of Meeples (July 2026)

Still trying to grok the feel and usefulness of Meeple Monthly, but another issue appear in the portal, so I will whine and lament as I continue a tradition that's over 25 years old

I'll figure out my new system of monthly solicitations eventually, but I'm not going to complain when I click on over to ACD and find out the latest issue of Meeple Monthly is on it.

ViscountEric's Want List

Nothing

ViscountEric's Money-Is-No-Issue Want List

Arc Dream Publishing

Delta Green: Grace Under Pressure ........................... $19.99

Catalyst Game Labs

BattleTech: Core Rulebook ....................................... $49.99

Mr B Games

Ace of Aces: Powerhouse Series ............................... $89.99

Random House

Logical Chess: Move by Move .................................. $24.95

The Imaginary Store List (Infinite Shelf Space Games & Hobbies)

1985 Games

Yanari: The Witches Market ......................................... $39.99

25th Century Games

Orbita .......................................................... $15.00

Phantom of the Opera ................................. $15.00

Pultizer ........................................................ $60.00

Six of VIII ................................................... $14.99

Alderac Entertainment Group

Into the Machine .......................................... $49.99

Space Base: Genesis .................................... $29.99

Tiny Towns: Architects ............................... $29.99

Archon Studio

D&D Pre-Painted: Underdark Terrain Set ... $139.00

D&D Pre-Painted: Carnage Tract ............... $79.00

D&D Pre-Painted: Chambers of Agony ...... $79.00

D&D Pre-Painted: Combat Arena ............... $79.00

D&D Pre-Painted: Maw of the Abyss ......... $79.00

Dungeons & Lasers: Iron Crown Monarchs .... $25.00

Dungeons & Lasers: Dwarven Train Set ......... $49.00

The Army Painter

Speedpaint Marker: Metallics Set .............. $63.71

Speedpaint Marker: Mega Set .................... $356.40

Warpaints Combat Se7ens Black Relic Armour Army Paint Set ... $30.03

Warpaints Combat Se7ens Purple Xeons Flesh Army Paint Set .... $30.03

Warpaints Combat Se7ens Field Gear Green Army Paint Set ....... $30.00

Atomic Mass Games

Marvel Crisis Protocol: Operation: Zero Tolerance ...................... $44.99

Beadle & Grimm's 

D&D Dungeon Master's Guide: Premium Map Collection... $160.00

Bezier Games

Warp 99 ..................................................... $14.95

Board&Dice

Tilanxia: Silk Road ................................... $30.00

Catalyst Game Labs 

BattleTech: Starter Box ............................. $29.99

BattleTech: Core Box ................................ $69.99

Critical Kit

Terra Fantasia ............................................ $25.00

Triple-O ..................................................... $20.00

Fox Curio's Floating Bookshop................. $38,00

DedBoi ...................................................... $20.00

Folk Hero .................................................. $38.00

Davinci Editrice

Raindrops .................................................. $29.99

Dead Alive Games

Kittens in Space ........................................ $16.99

Dranda Games

Crispy Critters ........................................... $20.00

Dyce Games

First to Worst: After Dark ......................... $24.99

Exploding Kittens 

9 Lives ....................................................... $ 9.99

Boba Blast ................................................. $19.99

Exploding Kittens Rage Mode .................. $19.99

Horrible Therapist: Holiday Edition ......... $14.99

I Suck at Drawing ..................................... $19.99

Match My Freak ....................................... $24.99

Sell Me a Sasquatch ................................. $19.99

We're a little early, but I'm seeing a full multi-copy display of all of these games for the holidays. 

Evil Genius Games

Everyday Heroes Adventure: Bridge to Nowhere .............. $19.99

Fanroll by MDG

D&D Mists of Ravenloft Halloween Advent Calendar ...... $59.99

D&D Mists of Ravenloft Barovian Bats Inclusion 7-Die Set ..... $24.99

D&D Mists of Ravenloft Folding Dice Tray ............................... $24.99

D&D Mists of Ravenloft d20 Single Oversized Liquid Core...... $24.99

D&D Mists of Ravenloft  Dice Tower ........................................ $24.99

Free League Publishing

Dragonbane: Arkand: City of Waves and Flames ....................... $44.99

Dragonbane: Book of Magic ....................................................... $39.99

Dragonbane: Friends & Foes Standee Set ................................... $24.99

Games Workshop 

White Dwarf - August 2026 ............................... $13.00

I long for the days where Wargames Illustrated was the expensive mag at $5, then $6, $7, and so on.... Having looked at some issues todays while I was at the FLGS I have no clue why the magazine is worth that much. 

Konami Digital Entertainment

Yu-Gi-Oh!   Legendary ARC-V Decks

Lazarus Rising Games

OverPower CCG: Skybound Starter Decks.

OverPower CCG: Skybound Booster Packs

OverPower CCG: Skybound Power Card Station

OverPower CCG: Skybound Omni-Man Playmat

OverPower CCG: Skybound Michonne Playmat

OverPower CCG: Skybound Invincible Double Sized Playmat

OverPower CCG: Skybound Invincible Learn-to-Play

OverPower CCG Deck Protectors

Negan, Michonne, Omni-Man, Invincible, Atom Eve, Battle Beast

Leder Games

Root: The Homeland Expansion .............................................. $60.00

Root: Homeland Hirelings Pack .............................................. $20.00

Root: Squires and Disciples Deck ............................................ $20.00

Root: Playmat Marsh/Gorge .................................................... $30.00

Loke Battlemats

Deck of Fateship ........................................... $19.99

Lucky Duck Games

Pocket Golf ................................................. $ 9.99

Mantic Entertainment

I'm going to skip over the Kings of War armies to focus on the TerrainCrate Offerings:

TerrainCrate: Fantasy Battlefield Pack ............................... $115.00

TerrainCrate: Jungle Gaming Mat (6'x4') ........................... $ 85.00

TerrainCrate: Highland Hills  ............................................. $ 25.00

TerrainCrate: Village Buildings Pack ................................  $ 60.00

Mariposa Games

Garage Rock: Retail Edition ......................... $49.99

Marvel

Marvel Multiverse RPG: Secret Wars Expansion ............... $49.99

Mongoose Publishing

Traveller: Vehicle Handbook Update 2026  ........................ $49.99

Traveller: The Fifth Frontier War: Brushfires ..................... $49.99

Monte Cook Games

Cypher: Character Rulebook ............................................... $49.99

Cypher: Game Master's Guide ............................................ $49.99

Cypher: Corebook Slipcase Set .......................................... $99.99

Oink Games

Compress ..................................................... $23.99

The Frozen Passage ..................................... $23.00

Osprey Publishing

Donbas 2014-15 .......................................... $25.00

Florence 1944 .............................................. $25.00

New Guinea 1943-44 ................................... $25.00

Tanks in the Caucasus 1942-43.................... $20.00

F4F Wildcat vs A6m2-N "Rufe" .................. $23.00

Royal Mediterranean Fleet 1793-1805 .......  $23.00

US Tank Tactics in World War II ................. $21.00

Soviet Cold Wars Destroyers ...................... $60.00

D'You Hear There! ...................................... $15.00

Roman Army Units in the Eastern Provinces .......$20.00

Pegasus Spielle

Bloom Kingdom ......................................... $14.95

Pelgrane Press

Fear Itself Shattered Veil Edition ................. $44.95

Fear Itself: The Ocean Game ....................... $44.95

Fear Itself & The Esoterrorists: The Book of Unremitting Horror Shattered Veil Edition ... $49.95

Swords of the Serpentine: Pillars Built on Sand ...................... $39.95

Pine Box Entertainment
Doomtown: Weird West Edition Base Set (2nd Printing) ............................. $59.99

7th Sea: City of Five Sails - Blood & Salt Expansion .................................. $39.99

Pendragon: Glory of the Round Table Card Game ....................................... $29.99

Pokemon USA

Pokemon TCG: Mega Evolution 5 - Pitch Black Boostersf

Possum Creek 

Last Train to Bremen ............................. $45.00

Ravensburger North America

Disney Lorcana Set 13: Attack of the Vine - Illumineer's Trove Pack 

Disney Lorcana Set 13: Attack of the Vine - Boosters

Disney Lorcana Set 13: Attack of the Vine - Playmat

Red Raven Games

Six Sojourns ............................................ $45.00

Renegade Game Studios

Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition - Courts of the Damned Sourcebook .... $55.00

Slugfest Games 

The Red Dragon Inn 10 ......................... $49.95

Sophisticated Cerberus Games

Lemonade Wars Card Game ................... $29.99

Steve Jackson Games

Munchkin: 2nd Edition .......................... $39.95

Troll Lord Games

Castles & Crusades: Engineering Names ........ $12.99

Castles & Crusades: Engineering Towns ......... $10.99

Tsuburaya Productions

Ultraman Card Game: Converging Bonds Boosters.

Weird Giraffe Games

Surplus of Sloths .................................... $12.99

WizKids

Marvel HeroClix: Hell's Kitchen Heroes 

HeroClix Iconix: Stranger Things: The Upside Down

HeroClix Iconix: Power Rangers

D&D Icons of the Realms: Adventure in Faerun Boosters

Mike Lung Gallery #95 - Tales from an Old GnomeTale #InternationalGnomeWeek

Another year, another June where I misappropriate International Gnome Week for my own nefarious (and non-monetized) needs!  

From sculpting, to painting, to just some whimsical sketches, with or without digital help, Mike's very talented at just about everything.  His picture of Winkiestink, the old gnome telling stories (or giving information) for a drink or some coins is a perfect reminder to support you gnome veterans.   It was easier for them, before the Gnome Wars, where the ill and infirm where simply dropped off by the mole tunnels, or scooped up by some rogue owl.... 

"Tales From an Old Gnome" original art by Mike Lung

 

(Painting) Gnoman Centurion Ronaldus Iavorski #InternationalGnomeWeek

It can't be #InternationalGnomeWeek, if I can't post at least one new gnome painted up!

The problem is, I've done a good job keeping the Gnome pile low, so I experimented with some different colors for this Holy Gnoman Empire Centurion

One of the famed heroes of the Gnoman was Ronadulus Iavorski, the "Vandal Vision" himself.   First gaining recognition for his accuracy in the bow and sling, Iavorski was bribed to join the Legion, and worked his way up to be the Centurion of one of the foulest Legions of all: the Aquilae Amoris Fraterni.  One of the rowdiest units in all of gnome kind, they jeered when they needed to show respect,  punch horses of their enemies, mid-charge, beat-up natives for fun, terrorize herders and rustlers, even turning their trebuchets onto Santa! 

.... and to be honest, I'm a Giants fan.  Painting up a figure Kelly Green just ain't right...

Next:  Shanties and gnomes, maybe the never-ending supply of Star Wars figs.

Project 350:  It's been a month since I tracked the drafts and scheduled posts hiding behind the scenes at the blog.  I'm actually pretty satisfied that I'm at 456 (292 drafts/164 scheduled) up from 452 (289/163) a few weeks ago.  Looking back at last year, we were a little higher, but managed to finish July strong before #RPGaDay always skews the numbers.  

Gnome Wars Nostalgia: 2011 with De Nerdibus #InternationalGnomeWeek

 As the makeshift #InternationalGnomeWeek continues to roll through, there's still a few lingering gnome-related posts, and given our proximity to Historicon, this one is a necessary throwback.  

Flashback to 2011.  Casinos were just getting their foothold in Pennsylvania.  HMGS thought they had the footprint (and volunteer base) to run a convention at the Baltimore Convention Center, then cooler heads finally prevailed, despite some legal shenanigans.  

The abortive attempt at Baltimore forced a quick replacement site for Historicon, and the Valley Forge Convention Center (again pre-casino) was the place to be.  

I believe 2011 was the second (and final pre-casino) use of the hotel.   Byzantine hallways and room should intrigue lovers of history... until you have to lug your stuff from the hotels to the convention center. 

The Gnome Wars crew had a pretty sweet arrangement, just a few massive games on the Miniature Building Authority "Castle" table displayed prominently near the vendor hall.  De Nerdibus covered it succinctly. 

De Nerdibus

It was a sold board, useful for a number of historical periods... and gnomes.  I believe I ran my first  Gnome Wars game on their Middle East board parallel to it. 

The Gnome of Ecstasy #InternationalGnomeWeek

 When gnomes hit the BBC, it's either a crazy old lady in a cottage... or it's drugs.

"Officers in the southern Netherlands have found a garden gnome weighing nearly 2kg (4lb) and made of the drug MDMA.  "Drugs appear in many shapes and sizes, but every now and then we come across special things," Dongemond Police said in a translated social media post.

The gnome was found among suspected narcotics during a large drug search.

"In itself a strange place to keep your garden gnome," the force said. "That's why we decided to test [it] for narcotics".

"The gnome himself was visibly startled," police said, referring to the gnome having its hands covering its mouth....

MDMA - which is an illegal substance in the Netherlands - is a synthetic party drug also known as ecstasy."

That's a double-over redundancy... all gnomes are ecstasy! 

(Gamma World) Not a Test #122 - A Weasel in My Meat Attic

Our heroes, the De Facto Explorers, have decided to embark on an epic quest to reach Lathar's long-lost father.  They have stopped in Fair-Town, for municipal meetings, bread-encrusted sausages, and random encounters with your first litter's breeding partner.... Squiggles has been recovered, however not only is Ubenda, his breeding partner,  dead, but her body is missing!

==============================================================

Lathar Bracken: A pure-strain human from River Bend.  He's got the muscle, the face, and a mount for most encounters.  Lathar's trusty beast of burden, No Name, travels wherever he does.   Looking for trouble in all the right places. The two-time champion of the Fair-Town Queen's Joust.  Recently married to the now-pregnant Thunnelda Haycock.   Just received a letter from his long-lost father, and has convinced the others to accompany him to the Wildlands.

Sneaky Pete: A mutated weasel scout.  Pete's telepathy and night vision take a backseat when he whips out his electrical powers.   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.  

and two new additions....

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. 

===============================================================

Lathar and Sneaky Pete walked back to the center of town, where the main barracks and armory were located.

And the offices of Brom Hallloway, Captain of the Militia/Town Guard.  They weren't sure what would happend in Brom didn't have the right answers into the disappearance of Ubenda's body.  

Brom was surprised to see his fellow council member.  "A surprise, fair friend!  You haven't left on your trip yet?"

Lathar explained he was doing his duties, overseeing the reconstruction of the wall, and still wondering about the status of the body found during the attack on Squiggles.

Brom was very complimentary of his hands-off, eyes-on work to make sure the crews did their job. 

On the even of the death, he cast his eyes down...    Despite Lathar's charismatic fast-talk to attempt to make Captain Halloway misspeak, mentioning vague personal effects on Ubenda's body that needed to be retrieved.    Brom kept with the same story from the guards, placing all blame on Sergeant Malvek Trenholm for bungling resources that night and not properly moving the body of Ubenda to Tower 14.  Malvek was already interrogated, stripped of rank, and behind bars... and the barristers were desperately reviewing town law to see what they could charge him with that would be a slam-dunk conviction. 

Lathar and Pete were not satisfied.  Lathar demanded to know the location of Malvek and a chance to talk to him.  Brom acquiesced, but only for Lathar, as a "courtesy of your station, and nothing more".

Malvek was actually secured in the cellar jail of the barracks, enough stone and steel to seem to affect Pete making a continuous psychic connection with Lathar...  The sergeant was in rags, obviously beaten and demoralized, his head hanging as he sat on a rickety bench bench the black bars. 

Malvek, in better times...

Malvek seemed remorseful, but was emphatic that he had given the order to clear out the crime scene, including the body of "the creature" as he referred to Ubenda.  Lathar's questions seemed to exasperate Malvek, like he had already been asked (and beaten) many of the questions, and that some of the questions were simpler than routine.

Despite his assurances, he could not remember who was there to take the order.

Pete was able to make a sketchy connection with Lathar, mentally shooting out two word questions:

"See ... Dog?"

"Ask.... Glasses..."

 "Needles"

"Perceive Lying"

It took awhile for Lathar to comprehend the questions about the dog tracks, the alleged man with glasses, and the syringes stuck to the worms.  Malvek showed ambivalence to these odd questions that he didn't seem to have the answer to... or could figure out the relevance.  

Pete's illness from visiting Tower 14 seemed to continue to affect his telepathy, unable to make a steady connection to Lathar, as well as picking up dour and grumpy feelings from Brom.  

Brom assured Lathar and Pete that if they found anything related to this attack, that they would keep it safely before they returned to town before the major frost.  When he pressed the duo for the specific possessions they should look out for, Lathar was quiet and mumbling. 

Meanwhile, Sonny returned to Mr Holt with the White Hands at the Driftwood Inn for more information, and the timing of the White Hands' handling of the crime scene.  

Holt remembered leaving as the crowd was just being dispersed, leaving his subordinates, Kerrith and Marla to wait with bodies.  

He did fetch for Kerrith and Marla, and in separate interviews, they admitted leaving after standing out side with Ubenda's body for some time, before coming back inside the walls as the guard cleared out the last few people. 

Regrouping at the Triple Comfort Inn, they all found Squiggles, sipping on warm cider, his children, Poppy and Speedy still hanging out beside their "Manchi".  They provided the worms with their update, or a lack of update on the investigation, and asked him what he wanted to do next...

Squiggles took a sip of cider and spoke: "Revenge...."

And Squiggles took most of that revenge duties upon himself.  The next day, hee went quite a bit up the wall and set up his own burrow near the wall.   While he dug, Lathar's was adapting Sonny's "Curry in a Hurry" trap for underground use and a trip wire, use at the entrance.  

Pete borrowed Lathar's rifle and scouted out the neighborhood by the wall, finding an adequate, second floor window.  He was happy that the it was easy to break in, even happier when it was used for storage.

He was delighted when he realized it was a local butcher shop and there were salted pieces of meat and sausages hanging from the rafters... if he stayed quiet, he would have to snacks to stake out the entry.  

Sneaky Pete, the Charcuterie Sniper

The burrow entrance inside the wall was noticeable, but outside the walking path between the wall and the neighborhood buildings.  The guards seemed to pay no attention to it.   Per Pete's advice, Squiggles built an escape tunnel, just in case. 

After two days of digging, Squiggles was relaxing, waiting for a noise or the Curry in a Hurry to be tripped.  Peter was up in his meat attic, sampling the wares, mixing it with curry... perhaps a bit distracted from everything. 

Despite being well rested, he started feeling oddly sleepy, then felt something odd crawling on him... and he just didn't have the energy to flick it away...

Squiggles turned his head with great effort in the direction of the crawling sensation... the world turning fuzzy... and he was nose to nose with a green dragon.  

It took all his effort, but he pulled out his flintlock pistol and fired it into the tunnel.  The explosion seemed make the green dragon smaller and smaller, and a familiar voice came out of the ether.  

"Manchi?  Are you okay?"

Squiggles was most certainly NOT okay.... 

GM Notes (PG-13+):  The investigation of Ubenda continues, finally with some traps and stakeouts! 

The prospect of Pete the weasel sitting in the attic brings back an image I found earlier in the campaign because it amused me... and slightly horrified that it was sexual in nature. 

Next: #123 - Who Are You Calling a Lizard Licker? 

Burning Gnome! #InternationalGnomeWeek

Thanks to Western Mass News for covering the important issues.

I did not have a 30-foot tall fire-breathing gnome at Burning Man on my bingo card for 2026.

This does raise questions for a scenario involving a full sized garden gnome in a Gnome Wars game...

Gnome Thefts #InternationalGnomeWeek

There's always someone trying to harsh the mellow of the gnome, and WPEC CBS 12 Florida has the latest story: 

NOT a stolen gnome....

"NORTH FORT MYERS, Fla. (CBS12) — A North Fort Myers woman got quite the surprise last month when her lawn gnomes suddenly went missing, and deputies say the culprit made a memorable getaway.

According to the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, the theft happened on May 19, when the homeowner noticed several of her decorative gnomes had been taken from her yard. Luckily, her Ring camera caught everything on video.

The footage shows a man pulling up on a distinctive tricycle, getting off, and casually walking into the yard. Deputies say he then picked up multiple lawn ornaments before riding away with the gnomes.

Detectives quickly got to work trying to identify the suspect, using both the video and other investigative leads. Their search eventually led them to a homeless camp in North Fort Myers.

On June 2, deputies say they found a man matching the description from the video. That man was identified as John Ramey, and investigators say he was still in possession of a tricycle that looked just like the one seen in the footage.

Authorities say Ramey led detectives back to his campsite, where all of the missing lawn gnomes were found. Investigators confirmed the items belonged to the victim, and the statues were returned to her.

Ramey was arrested and charged with petit theft with two or more prior convictions. He was taken to the Lee County Jail.

As for the gnomes, they are back where they belong, bringing the quirky case to a close."

Black Cat Cav #InternationalGnomeWeek

I've got to admit that sometimes I'm the problem.   With a blog called Gaming with the Gnomies, I like to fill up the pages with gnome art (or tomten... or nisse).  As much as I cover a whole range of gaming topics, gnone-adjacent or not, the art makes more sense than a post about the best fantasy football picks coming out of the Raiders. 

Which comes to my admission: That I do a horrible job citing artists for their work.  

Like this one.

It's totally awesome, so awesome, in fact, that I'm using it for a concept I just thought for the #CharacterCreationChallenge all the way in next January.  

But for the life of me, I can't figure out who made this.   I've placed this in an image search, and it keeps coming up with an artist but a name to a completely different piece of artwork.

Most of the artwork and postcards I use are public domain, but feel free to call me out if I miss it.

Happy Father's Day 2026

Summer is Finally Here, So is #InternationalGnomeWeek 6/21-27/2026

 We're a day early, but using some classic gnome art to celebrate summer is a perfect time to reintroduce #InternationalGnomeWeek

It would be foolish for a man who posts to a blog called Gaming with the Gnomies, to ignore IGW, but I'm still a wee bit bitter that is originally had nothing to do with "real" gnomes.   Rather, International Gnome Week was originally set up by Wikipedia to celebrate the WikiGnomes, the selfless volunteers who keep the site up, accurate, and largely professional.  

For me,  it's time for a week of gnomes, garden gnomes, painted gnomes, and some Gnome Wars related stuff, especially with the excitement pending for a fully supported slate of Gnome Wars games next month at Historicon! 

Brigade Games Sci-Fi Releases

 I know Historicon is going to be extremely tight this year, but god knows Brigade Games is going to the top of my potential want list with their new sci-fi figs. 

BG-SFW007  - Space Base Tactical Assault Team B (3) - BG-SFW007  $9.00 USD

... and while I'm not the demographic for Space Apes, the heavy sci-fi weaponry is bulky perfection.

BG-SFW202 Space Ape Troopers (6) - BG-SFW202   $18.00 USD

New England Mech Con 2026 - September 18-20, 2026 - Falls River, Massachusetts

Another call from my buddy Wooly, another moment where his resurgence in Battletech has started turning him into a world traveler.  

He shocked me that he's travelling to the far reaches of New England just to play Battletech at New England Mech Con 2026, or by it's tagline: "Battletech on a Battleship!"

Yeah, they're going to be running classic Battletech and Alpha Strike, tournaments, painting sessions, and even lectures aboard the USS Massachusetts.  There is a joke that long-time Battletech players might not fit in some rooms or ladders aboard the ship, but it seems like a totally cool experience. 

(Gamma World) Not a Test #121 - Stage Four Vanishing Act

Our heroes, the De Facto Explorers, have decided to embark on an epic quest to reach Lathar's long-lost father.  They have stopped in Fair-Town, for municipal meetings, bread-encrusted sausages .... and now are searching for answers after Squiggles the worm was kidnapped and tortured, and his worm breeding partner, Ubenda, murdered.  

==============================================================

Lathar Bracken: A pure-strain human from River Bend.  He's got the muscle, the face, and a mount for most encounters.  Lathar's trusty beast of burden, No Name, travels wherever he does.   Looking for trouble in all the right places. The two-time champion of the Fair-Town Queen's Joust.  Recently married to the now-pregnant Thunnelda Haycock.   Just received a letter from his long-lost father, and has convinced the others to accompany him to the Wildlands.

Sneaky Pete: A mutated weasel scout.  Pete's telepathy and night vision take a backseat when he whips out his electrical powers.   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 and is still recovering.

and two new additions....

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. 

===============================================================

A single day, two night stay in Fair-Town was getting dragged on longer and longer, as there were still too many questions about the kidnapping and attack on Squiggles and his breeding partner, Ubenda, and unsatisfactory answers. They were on day three of their visit, with the limited window to get downriver to the Wildlands.  

Squiggles had miraculously been re-hydrated, but he was still piecing together what occurred through flashes of trauma.  

The angry dogs.

The bald man with glasses.  

Ubenda ready to mate.

And now a pair of jugglers, mocking him as he walked to Ubenda's mound. 

"That's a furry worm on a mission.  Don't do anything we wouldn't do!"

"We've never mated with worms..."

"Hahahahaha..."

Still, so many gaps.  

Squiggles with the thousand yard stare.

Sonny had been along the Driftwood section of town, getting medical information from "Mr Holt" of the White Hand.   His next mission was back near the Wrong Celery, for a bookish man, Trivian "Trip" Dalston.   He was found in the hall of records, his eyes behind glasses with green and clear lenses, putting together an extremely crude map from stacks of records. 

Trivian "Trip" Dalston

The presence of a giant sunflower and two 4 1/2 foot tall worms with muskets get his undivided attention.  

Trip had an alibi, not a very good one, especially that he wasn't outside the town gates exploring.  It relied on the testimony of someone he just called "Old Man" Fenswick. 

It was Speedy that did make not that Trip definitely had hair, rather than the balding image scarred in Squiggles' mind.   Sonny believed Trip, but would wander the back alleys to find this man.  

Sonny decided to finish his other projects first, starting with a dead-end search for Ubenda's body for a proper autopsy... and burial.

The problem?   Ubenda's body was missing.  There was zero record that the body was received by town officials.  He confirmed with others that after the White Hand was done with her body, the town guard should have carried the body inside town, they transferred to an official, or worst case, a crew of laborers to bury the body.  

Meanwhile Lathar avoided asking more questions, but used his time wisely, buying more supplies to get down to KIA Academy and beyond.   He did used his position on town council to observe the town laborers trying to repair and reconstruct the fallen wall.

Pete was still focused outside of town, looking at the large canine tracks...  He finally went back into town to the Third Comfort Inn, and compared notes with Sonny and the others.  Finding Ubenda's body became Pete's mission in life for that moment. 

The next day (Day 4!)

Squiggles was physically recovered, but mentally, he was muttering vengeance.

Sonny did make a solo visit to Old Man Fenswick, a retired and deluded tinker.  

Old Man Fenswick

It was short conversation, but the Old Man held it together long enough to confirm an alibi for Trip.  He mumbled a bunch of nonsense, such as   "The reeds speak when no one listens".

Pete took Lathar over to the Downriver gate to get answer.  It was a frustrating circular series of questions.  

The town guard on site had been ordered to dispatch the growing crowd, and once that was completed, there had been no further orders, and they all assumed their normal order, taking their proper positions along the wall.  No one recalled a body, a sheet, or anyone else wandering the area beyond the wall.  

The did learn that they weren't the first people to question the guards that morning.  A trio of persons had escorted Sergeant Malvek Trenholm, the head guard in charge that night, to  somewhere else in town.    The other guards quickly concocted that he was going to be the scapegoat, as he was supposed have cleaned up the crime scene, after everything was said and done.  

They kept pressing the guard, threatening write-ups and reports.  The guard was non-plussed.

"Do what you need to, if Malvek is indisposed, go talk to his boss, Brom Holloway."  

Brom Holloway, Captain of the Guard, and fellow town councilman with Lathar.  

They continued to ask what the proper procedure was with a body appearing outside the wall.  A two man detail should have carried the body to Tower 14, where bodies were deposited before other officials showed up.  

Lathar and Pete walked directly to Tower 14.  The towers were large enough for cover in the rain, and a pipe chimney sticking out of the roof.  The lone guard walking that section of the wall rolled his eyes from the duo's command, and descended the steps into the tower.  

The door open, and both were hit with  simply putrid blast of air.  

Pete staggered to the wall, lowered to the ground, overcome with the stench. 

Lathar took over, looking at the collected refuse in the room.    The guard confirmed that no bodies had been delivered... in weeks. 

So it was time to revisit Brom, in his office. 

Next: #122 - A Weasel in My Meat Attic