Don't Confuse Palm Sunday With the Bloody Hand

 

I Knew Cthulhu Was Evil, But Not THAT Evil!

 

(Review) FlipSide Gaming ,Clifton Park

My second stop in upstate New York was the Clifton Park location for Flipside Gaming.    Located  a few miles away from the shopping monstrosity off of the highway, it's situated in a clean, remodeled and repave shopping center, with such notable neighbors as a smoke shop, a liquor store, and a puppy daycare, the requirements of a new America.

I've seen perfect game stores in a strip mall setting, and FlipSide does an excellent job replicating it.  

Greeting:  My instant barometer, no one greeted me or acknowledged me in the store.  The counter and register are near the center left wall, around a short wall, so it was very possible for them to notice I was there... which leads to other concerns as an ex-store manager that I won't mention in detail here. 

Cleanliness:  Everything was immaculate, and with the open gaming area integrated into the sales space, that's pretty impressive. 

CCGS:  Magic, Pokemon, Gundam, One Piece, Flesh and Blood, Star Wars Unlimited, Lorcana, and Riftbound.  A few cases filled with singles, and a shelves behind the counter for packs and other products.  

Board Games:  A few aisles of board games, covering a wide variety of popular and niche games. 

RPGs:  D&D, Pathfinder, WoD, Free League, and good variety of second and third tier companies.  I appreciate the love for stocking games like Kids on Bikes and Magical Kitties Save the Day

And the dice selection ain't too shabby either...

Miniatures:  A good assortment of the WizKids D&D minis, the requisite GW display, and some Battletech and Star Wars. 

Other:    Definitely need an "other" category to cover the rest.   Manga, Statues, and models out the wazoo... 

And then there's the entire aisle of LEGO!

And I must appreciate any store that attempts any level of clothing in this day and age. 

Amenities/Events:  Two wargaming tables and four sets of tables in the back allow for some different events, and the Clifton Park schedule online is chock full of stuff! 

That being said, on the Gaming with the Gnomies Five-Gnome scale, I'm giving FlipSide Gaming's Clifton Park location four and a half out of five gnomes...

Plus a half a gnome!

I had heard rumors of store up in Saratoga, but any proof that store existing was well hidden (Google certainly claims its  existence, Flipside's own website labels it as "Coming Soon!".  I did discover after the fact that a second location is found in East Greenbush.

FlipSide Gaming is located at 1208 Route 146, in Clifton Park, New York.

(Review) Excellent Adventures, Ballston Spa

In my trip to Upstate New York to watch Maja's volleyball team actually win games, she had one request with some free time last weekend:  visit Excellent Adventures in downtown Ballston Spa.

It was a pretty easy request to fulfill, Ballston Spa has plenty of on-street, non-metered parking, so a half-block walk and I was at the door.

But first a story....

Around 25 years ago, I would often get out of my job at the newspaper around noon, and by friend Brian and I would grab lunch, then do a tour of the game stores in the Lehigh Valley.  Dreamscape, Cap's Comics, the Allentown Encounter were the usual spot. although we did take some road trips out to as far as Pastimes in Palmyra (and a Pennsylvania Dutch dinner on the way home).  

One of the local places we only stopped by once or twice a year was a shop nearing the western side of Allentown.  Decent location, lots of inventory... but between the gruff owner behind the counter and the ash tray on the counter, it was off putting.  

Thankfully it's a different world, because I walked into Excellent Adventures, and got the same vibe, but without the smell.  

With a downtown storefront and the interior filled with comics and collectibles, it is the perfect "hole-in-wall" store, and I sincerely mean that in a good way.   

Pulled directly off the store's Facebook page.  

I'll be honest, before I looked for pictures of the store, I had forgotten the swath of wall space for the new comics, because I was scanning every other square inch of cool stuff on the wall.

Gold/Silver/Bronze age back issues were on the walls and boxes, and I did survive the 90s, so the number of newer comics with chromium covers (or whatever the trend is now) was a bit unsettling, but I can't argue with them if they sell.  

The toys and collectibles made me smile, prices seemed fair.

I mostly went back around to mine the older $2 paperback shelf to mine for ideas for Monday nights.  

That being said, on the Gaming with the Gnomes Five-Gnome review system, I give Excellent Adventures two and a half gnomes out of five.

And I actively admit my biases.   Despite working in comics retail for nearly a decade, I've stopped collecting a long time ago and rarely read.  I'm more geared towards quality game stores than comic shops (You'll see that blatantly with future Albany reviews). 

Despite a cluttered and filled store front, I saw a few families during my stay.  Right there gives it my vote. 

And my daughter Maja, who actually lives up there, visits it regularly, so that means more than this old man. 

It's simple: If you live there, you go there. It's an essential piece of Ballston Spa

If I have time, I'll always stop in there first, then venture out to other shops.  

Excellent Adventures is located at 110 Milton Ave (Rt# 50) in Ballston Spa, NY.

(Review) Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Other Strangeness Redux Game Master's Screen

Two weekends ago, I made the trek down to Alchemist's Cove in Orwigsville, Pennsylvania.  It's a great shop, and I was met face to face with the actual GM screen for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Other Strangeness Redux.  

GM screens tend not be as useful as they were when they were chock full of 1st Edition AD&D charts.  Most are flimsy and overpriced... or elaborate ones that's that are frighteningly expensive.   Despite owning a few high quality ones, I often revert to a handy 1st Edition Gamma World GM screen I picked up for 99 cents at Kay-Bee Toys.

I've got to admit, I'm impressed by this one.  

First off, it's a sturdy four-panel screen, with iconic Turtle art showing towards the players.

But the GM side is what made me smile the most.  Each panel has a clear pocket attached to the screen on two sides, to easily insert whatever charts, notes, maps, etc, a gamemaster needs to reference.  

Picture taken from Atomic Empire's website.  Order it there!

Palladium does provides four, heavy-stock inserts that might be helpful during a game, including Attributes, Alignments, Skill Checks, Combat, Movement, and Experience.  I'm not sure at first glance what would be necessary for a TMNT RPG, but I see me using this screen for other in-person games.

Gotta admit, Palladium did this one well... so I'll give the TMNTAOS Redux GM Screen five out of five gnomes. 

(Gamma World) Not a Test #109 - The Executive Suites

The De Facto Explorers have discovered a facility that used to manufactured energy cells in the Glow Zone wilderness across the Big River. 

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

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 Thunnelda Haycock.

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: a nearly 10' tall sentient sunflower artifact examiner with four arms, and trusted Restorationist ties. Knowledgeable,  but not a good one with device repairs or upgrades. 

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 gave birth to a pile of baby worms. 

Luna of the Restorationists:  Recent recruit of the Restorationists, who had uncovered artifacts across the River.  

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

A solid night's rest in the office was welcome to all, despite a few odd sounds coming from the plant.  Recharged, they began going through the other offices on the main facility floor.  The doors had their own keycard system, but they already acquired the green card necessary.  

Most of the items in the offices were ruined after centuries.  Sonny did pry open some pages to a ledger, and from the notes actually ascertained the person running the facility was selling energy cells to a private army, versus their usual contract with the "real" military.  There was also a note of a stockpile of their ill-gotten gains, although Sonny couldn't figure out exactly where it was.

Some of the doors had been ripped apart, a caked-on adhesive along the floors.  Pete showed a moment of bravery, jumping over the goo and investigating a room with a long table and many chairs.  

Two massive beetles emerged out of a junk pile on the far side of the room.   

Pete did his best attempt at swashbuckling backwards, swinging a sword, while firing his flintlock and moving back towards the door.   

Low on the power cells for their Ancients weapons, everyone resorted to assault rifles, and in some cases black powder weapons. The room quickly filled with smoke.  The beetles were resilient, though and soon they reached the doorway. 

Finally,  Squiggles smashed the one with his mace.   With its partner destroyed, the other beetle quickly scurried under the table, and probably back into the junk pile of smashed furniture.   

Pete, followed by Sonny, pursued carefully, jumping back onto the table, prodding the junk pile with his sword.  

Sonny could hear the weasel go "Rat's" a whoosh of air, and a number of needle-like projectiles hit the wall at the far end of the room.  The surviving beetle had tried some missile attack and lunged at Pete. 

Pete tried valiantly to use his shocking grasp mutation to power his sword, but, as normal, he couldn't hit anything in melee.  A final shot by Squiggles dropped the creature.  For all the desperation, there was nothing of note in this ancient conference room was a giant beetle sized hole in the wall to the outside, as well as a half a carcass of a dead-Hopper.  

In the final room along the east wall, they were please to find a dusty and dirty shotgun, a drawer full of thin gold bars, and some notes about the "stash" being below the building, in a section of the mines they had not explored.  

Treasure and glory was quite tempting, but the group was exhausted and broken.   The treasure wasn't going anywhere fast, so they agreed to get back to the Hopper caves , seal up the doors, and rest for a number of days.  

The Hoppers agreed to host their new friends, at the cost of a trinket of Ancients technology for each of them.  

Next: #110 - My Sixteen Days with the Hoppers

Partner-in-Crime(s?) Confirmed for Mepacon

It's been a slow crawl getting my events together for Mepacon 50, April 17-19 outside of Allentown, PA.  I'm running four distinct events, all of which are in a perpetual state of "almost ready". 

Burning Plastic: Just need a moment to dump out the army guys onto a table and build a number of units.  Might be a good idea to scan the rules into a digital file.  Despite my desire to fit into smaller clothing, it's not 1994 anymore

TOON:  The base characters have always been in a file.  I do have a feeling of dread as I realized that I put 8 players for "Krusty the Kultist."   For that particular scenario, that means 16 PCs!  I always wanted to stat out Snake....

Talislanta:  Honestly, I just need to fill out character sheets, and maybe... just maybe, I'll throw a minor spellcaster into this one for fun.

My Little Pony - Tails of Equestria - I'm wildly happy "The File" survived the purge during my last move.  I need pencils, a big box of crayons, and triple confirmation on the variety of character sheets.

This past weekend, I drove up to Albany to see Maja play in a local volleyball tournament.  I've never vented as much about travel volleyball than basketball, but it was the normal experience.  As a plus, I did manage to corner her so I could register her for the con.  

Going through the event schedule with her, I do confirm that there are tons of events still open, but very few things either Maja or I would be excited to play (hence why I easily went with running a variety of games)

Seventy bucks later, she's signed up for both LARPs, at least one of the improv seminars, and one of the card games, with a few "liked" games on the Tabletop Events app for reference. 

The biggest news beyond that was the alleged appearance by "Dr Bob", the originator the "Cthulhu Comes to Springfield" Toon game, Coc/Delta Green Keeper extraordinaire, and the slightly infamous "Dr Wintermute" from the Masks of Nylarathotep portion of my Call of Cthulhu campaign.  Table space will be at a premium, but he would like to dust off his old Batman/Cthulhu Gotham game at the con, so this is getting more interesting with less than a month to go.  

The Mike Lung Gallery #92 - Fear of a Cheese Planet

Friend of the Blog and AWARD WINNING GM Mike Lung has returned to some interesting projects, a possible return to the Cheese Planet!  

He's dove into kitbashing and modeling sci-fi figures who could fit on my Death Planet Iota, but would have far more fun on a mousling mining colony.

He's also gone down the rabbit hole of re-basing his figures with clear bases, so they fit well in forest, plains, deserts, and even cheese planets.  

Historicon 2027?   It's a possibility!

The Compleat Strategist is Closing. Which One? All of Them?

 The saying goes, "When one door closes another door opens."

The doors opening after this are going to be pretty freaking epic.

Initial reports had The Compleat Strategist, the near mythological hobby shops mentioned in old issues of Dragon, brimming wall to wall with gaming throughout the ages, closing its last two stores in NYC (Manhattan) and Philly (King of Prussia) near the end of Apirl.

After the initial shock of the news hit the world, they produced an ominous statement, stating that no determination had been made when and the NYC location would be closing. 

 I never got the opportunity to visit the Manhattan location (my friend Wooly recently did, and the words "bloated and archaic" are words he didn't use but inferred... and I immediately felt some jealousy, because that is exactly my type of game store.

 I didn't get the chance to get down to the one in King of Prussia, until my girls started playing in basketball tournaments around the corner.  I was never disappointed, almost always come home with something knew, and the girls loved stopping in... and pushing my gaming budget for their own needs.

Pictures taken from Ron Meischker (Philly Gaming Expo)

Of course, they are closing when I have a little more money than normal, but no time.... to make it down one last time... maybe around Easter, probably not on or around the final clearance push.  

Happy First Day of Spring 2026

 

🔰(Georic Gazetteer) Principality of Phennantia

The Principality of Phennantia

Pantheon:  Xellenism, dominated by worship of Poseidon, Athena, and Hephaestus

Ruler: Prince Alexios Drakonis III

Government: Hereditary Principality with a Council of Elders

Capital: Heraklion (20,000)

Other Cities:  Cannan (15,000)

Language: Xellnic, (Common), High Elven, Minotauran

Flag/Emblem:  A golden fish leaping, on a field of blue

Coinage:  Phennant Standard

Important Personas:  Various nobles, 

Alliances: Direct trade agreement with Argivia, Danaan, Amond Coast.

Hostilities: Oliva

Open Warfare/Skirmishing: None

Intrigues: Unknown

Demi-Humans:   Elf 10%, Minoatur 8%, Dwarf 2%

Magickal Devices: The dreaded Knife of Nethersummoning is wielded in public by Prince Alexios, the Doubleaxe of Asterion, 

Thumbnail Sketch:

The Principality of Phennatia is a fiercely independent island domain, renowned for its naval power, labyrinthine cities, and a unique blend of human, elven, and minotaur cultures. This island has been called a vassal to almost every culture in the Mer Med:  Barthey, Danaan, Khemmet, and even Lybboss, and the culture is mixed, but the true roots currently return to Xellnic culture. With recent decline in Barthey influence, Phennantia shed all semblance of their relationship with Barthey two generations ago, asserting its autonomy, forging its own destiny as a hub of trade, magic, and seafaring might across the sea.   With towering white cliffs, sprawling olive groves, and legendary ruins, Phennantia is a land of both natural splendor and deep historical mystery.

The Council of Elders, composed of influential merchants, sea captains, and mages, serves as an advisory body to the prince, ensuring that power is not held too tightly by one ruler. While the monarchy is respected, Phennantia prides itself on its political pragmatism, allowing for shrewd maneuvering in the ever-changing tides within the region.

Cretans take pride in their seafaring traditions, martial prowess, and independence. Many young men and women train in naval combat and spear-fighting, while others dedicate themselves to the mystic arts, particularly magic tied to water, wind, and the stars.

Minotaurs, though once seen as mere labyrinth guardians and warriors, have become integral to Cretan society, serving as elite palace guards, shipbuilders, and even advisors to the prince. Their long oral traditions have merged with human and elven influences, creating a rich storytelling culture.  Yes, there is good chance you will encounter a singing or dramatic Minoatuar on the island. 

Phennantian festivals celebrate the sea gods, particularly Poseidon, with grand naval games, feasts, and sailing competitions. The greatest of these is the Tideborn Festival, where the prince himself leads a fleet in ceremonial voyages to the island’s sacred grottoes.

Geography & Major Cities

Heraklion (Capital) – A bustling port city, Heraklion is Phennantia's beating heart, filled with white-washed houses, winding stone streets, and towering bronze statues of Cretan heroes. Its great harbor, protected by enchanted sea walls, serves as a gateway between East and West.

Knossos – Once an ancient elven and minotaur stronghold, Knossos is now an eerie mix of crumbling temples, deep underground tunnels, and arcane ruins where scholars and adventurers seek lost knowledge. The legendary Labyrinth of Daedalus lies beneath the city, still said to be haunted by forgotten creatures.

Cannan – A city of merchants and sailors, Chania is famous for its shipwrights, pirate lords, and hidden coves where smugglers conduct secretive dealings. Many believe that the city harbors agents from every major power, making it a hub of espionage and intrigue.

Notable Locations & Attractions

The Labyrinth of Daedalus – In Knossos, a sprawling underground maze said to house ancient minotaur relics, arcane traps, and possibly even the last remnants of the original labyrinth-dwelling Minotaur King

The Ruins of Zakros – An abandoned palace, rumored to have been a stronghold of the lost elven tribes, prior to their emigration onto the Talaishian mainland. Now home to ghostly whispers and hidden vaults of knowledge.  It's labyrinth has not been conquered.

Mentions of Phennantia in the Blog: None

(Review) Alchemist's Cove Comics and Games, Orwigsburg, Pennsylvania

I have the pleasure of taking back to back trips up to Albany to see the girls for the remainder of the month, so it was fitting and expected to run down to check on my mom, grab some lunch with her and run some errands, and leave by 3pm.  After a quick trip to Hobby Lobby, detailed on Sunday's post, I decided to go back to Wilkes-Barre the roundabout way to finally see the new location for Alchemist's Cove Comics and Games 

Four years ago I stopped by and reviewed their original Schuylkill Haven location.   I enjoyed the store, it was a great in-town location, and tons of positive thoughts (and the ever-elusive 5-out-of-5 gnome rating). 

Since then, they left their Schuylkill Haven location and physically BUILT their new location on PA 61 in the great Orwigsville metropolitan area (Those of you who know the Hamburg area, it's a few miles north of Cabella's.)

New Location:  I knew they had built their own structure, across the highway from a red brick church, I follow them on social media and have seen pictures. of the inside and outside.

I still gasped and giggled a little as I saw it coming up on the left hand side.  I also had a grin of astonished glee as I realized the sizable but still packed parking lot was dedicated solely to the store. 

Rows and rows of parking dedicated to comics and games...

Let's get my two pet peeves out of the way.

Greeting:  This has been a problem, as I've expanded my store reviews.  It was NOT a problem here.  It was quick, friendly, and they had a crowd around the display cases, so I was delighted with that. 

Cleanliness: It's big, it's spacious, there are multiple bathrooms, and it's very welcoming.  It is definitely a place to bring your friends, family, and non-gamers with zero hesitation.  

CCGS:  The right hand side of the store is the register, and a long series of display cases joining all the way to the back of the store., showing a LOT of Magic and Pokemon.   Behind that were multiple shelves of various boosters, starters, decks, gift sets, etc.   From the look of their schedule they also have events for Riftbound, Gundam, and.... Overpower???  I'm assuming they have product for those games as well.  

Only drawback, looking at the old review, the Schuylkill Haven location had cards in the case priced out, and one of the delays in handling the crowd was pricing out something from the case... and the probable million variants it could be. 

Board Games: Yes, if you're inquiring about popular board games of the last 15 years, and a little bit more, they had it, with the smaller games nestled off in their own section.

RPGs:  The rock solid selection of D&D, more Call of Cthulhu then I've seen in quite a while, and a few other random items.  

Miniatures:  Classic GW assortment (with fully stock paint rack and overpriced spray paint/primer.  Much impressed!), some Mantic (Kings of War/Armada), a section for Battletech (and a whole lotta Savannah Masters!) and a dominant selection of Warlord that rivals vendors at an HMGS convention.  some game stores with a "historical" interest.   They even covered the lesser lines from Bolt Action, including Gettysburg, Black Sails, and Konflict-47.  

Throw in a boatload of the D&D/Wizkids minis in blisters and sets, and fun display of no frills fantasy figures from Wildspire minis, and a decent line of Heroscape they should cover most folks' wants.  

Amenities:  The entire second floor is dedicated to event and open gaming, complete with a command center at the top of the steps for management of tournament evens.  It is spacious, it looks comfy, and it was probably responsible for 2/3 of the vehicles in the parking.  It is an event destination for sure.

The first thing that I noticed when I walked in was the kid's area.    A section dedicated for the little ones with activities to keep kids occupied as long as they want to be occupied.    It's an interesting choice, but has probably paid for itself already.  In my short time there, I  saw it used twice, with kids running to the area and letting mom and/or dad get at least five minutes of peace to look around (... and both families purchased stuff.)  

Comics:  They are a full service comic shop, with the one entire long wall dedicated to it, including back issues, a pull service, and a hefty library of graphic novels.

Events:  With the space upstairs, there's more than enough room for CCGs pre-releases, regular tourney and Commander leagues, plus not only Heroscape and D&D Adventurer's Guild material (including 16 and under events!), but board game nights, and even a painting session in the next month.  

Staff:  It seemed well-staff, with one person overseeing the upstairs gaming area and three on the sales floor,  although they just couldn't break up/check out/ shuffle through the multiple players and some families crowding the case.  Twice I went back to wandering around the store instead of checking out because I couldn't figure out if there was a line and who was doing what.    When I did finally check out on attempt number three, they all seemed like good dudes.  

I picked up a Wildspire Fantasy minis pack of housecats, plus my first major buy of the year, the TMNT Redux GM Screen (review pending).  

I was little disappointed when a small town store moves out, but these folks have built their dream location for Central Pennsylvania,   On the Gaming with the Gnomies 5-Gnome rating system, I give them their second score of five out of five gnomes!

I was pondering giving 4.5 out of 5 gnomes, for a few minor issues, but the old location got a perfect score, and this was a huge upgrade from an already successful operation.

Alchemist's Cove is located at 1284 Centre Turnpike, Orwigsburg, PA 17961 (PA 61).    Easy access to get in, with a Pennsylvania take on a Jersey jughandle to get back onto PA 61 North to continue my way home.  

You can check them out on their website (which has pictures of the old shop) and on Facebook.

(Gamma World) Not a Test #108 - Lair of the Spider-Man

The De Facto Explorers have found a tribe of Hoppers, right next to an underground facility in the Glow Zone wilderness across the Big River. They've entered an area that was once a mine.  An area populated by hostile bestial primitives.

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

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 Thunnelda Haycock.

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: a nearly 10' tall sentient sunflower artifact examiner with four arms, and trusted Restorationist ties. Knowledgeable,  but not a good one with device repairs or upgrades. 

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 gave birth to a pile of baby worms. 

Luna of the Restorationists:  Recent recruit of the Restorationists, who had uncovered artifacts across the River.  

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

The Explorers had uncovered a huge facility full of living metal that once made energy cells, but a deranged spider mutant had emerged out of a hole in the ground and had paralyzed Lathar with its webbing. 

The rest of the the group tried to scurry into position, Sonny even managed to get a shot off before being paralyzed himself.  

Things were looking bleak, but Pete jumped onto one of the conveyor belts and pulled out his disintegrator pistol. 

*ZOT!*

The creature seemed to turn to dust.  The webbing still remained, and it took awhile for Sonny and Lathar to move again, but everyone was still in one piece, even if Lathar's chest had a burn circle on it from where the webbing struck.

The focus turned to the large crack in the ground that the spider-thing emerged from.  They tied a rope around Pete's waist and lowered him down.  The combined team of Lathar and Luna holding the rope made his descent a bit herky-jerky, but with flintlocks in each hand, he scanned the area.  

The rock cavern below was covered with webbing, but the weasel gingerly moved around.  He found a metal box with the White Hand symbol, partially filled with a number of vials.  He also found and incredibly large power cell, almost two foot long, the clear center with a glowing amber substance.  

The light from this power cell was enough to see the Troglodytes trying to grab him!  

The weasel eluded the three troglodytes's grasp, scurrying up the rope, still holding the energy cell.  Lathar pulled furiously to help his friend up, giving Pete enough height to kick the lead troglodyte in the head.  (Nat 20!) 

Pete hadn't even starting climbing over the lip when a Molotov cocktail from Luna flew over his head and crashed into the cavern, setting everything on fire! 

When the cries of the troglodytes disappeared, the Explorers decided it was more prudent to start opening doors.  

Searching a warehouse area with crates of empty energy cells, they opened the first door to a cloud of noxious green gas!  

Lathar staggered out of the cloud, choking, while Sonny lingered inside a moment, until the gas seemed to infiltrate parts of his bloom, forcing him to finally evacuate, desperately rubbing his petals. 

Inside were a series of racks with now-empty plastic containers, and a large panel full of buttons, switches, and one conspicuous dimmer-style switch.    Sonny played with the dimmer switch and the room shook.  

Further searches revealed another room with two skeletons, a series of key cards, and elevator doors, which they ascertained may be controlled by the devices in the other room. 

And most importantly, a place to rest for awhile. 

Next: #109 - The Executive Suites

"Tomten" by Victor Rydberg

Deep in the grip of the midwinter cold

The stars glitter and sparkle.

All are asleep on this lonely farm,

Deep in the winter night.

The pale white moon is a wanderer,

snow gleams white on pine and fir,

snow gleams white on the roofs.

The tomte alone is awake.

Gray, he stands by the low barn door,

Gray by the drifted snow,

Gazing, as many winters he’s gazed,

Up at the moon’s chill glow,

Then at the forest where fir and pine

Circle the farm in a dusky line,

Mulling relentlessly

A riddle that has no key.

Rubs his hand through his beard and hair,

Shakes his head and his cap.

“No, that question is much too deep,

I cannot fathom that.”

Then making his mind up in a hurry,

He shrugs away the annoying worry;

Turns at his own command,

Turns to the task at hand.

Goes to the storehouse and tool shop doors,

Checking the locks of all,

While the cows dream on in the cold moon’s light,

Summer dreams in each stall.

And free of harness and whip and rein,

Even Old Pålle dreams again.

The manger he’s drowsing over

Brims with fragrant clover.

The tomte glances at sheep and lambs

Cuddled in quiet rest.

The chickens are next, where the rooster roosts

High above straw filled nests.

Burrowed in straw, hearty and hale,

Karo wakens and wags his tail

As if to say, “Old friend, “Partners we are to the end.”

At last the tomte tiptoes in

To see how the housefolk fare.

He knows full well the strong esteem

They feel for his faithful care.

He tiptoes into the children’s beds,

Silently peers at their tousled heads.

There is no mistaking his pleasure:

These are his greatest treasure.

Long generations has he watched

Father to son to son

Sleeping as babes. But where, he asks,

From where, from where have they come?

Families came, families went,

Blossomed and aged, a lifetime spent,

Then-Where? That riddle again

Unanswered in his brain!

Slowly he turns to the barnyard loft,

His fortress, his home and rest,

High in the mow, in the fragrant hay

Near to the swallow’s nest.

The nest is empty, but in the spring

When birds mid leaves and blossoms sing,

And come with her tiny mate.

Then will she talk of the journey tell.

Twittering to all who hear it,

But nary a hint for the question old

That stirs in the tomte’s spirit.

Now through cracks in the haymow wall

The moon lights tomte and hay and all,

Lights his beard through the chinks,

The tomte ponders and thinks.

Still is the forest and all the land,

Locked in this wintry year.

Only the distant waterfall

Whispers and sighs in his ear.

The tomte listens and, half in dream,

Thinks that he hears Time’s endless stream,

And wonders, where is it bound?

Where is its source to be found?

Deep in the grip of the midwinter cold,

The stars glitter and sparkle.

All are asleep on this lonely farm,

Late in this winter night.

The pale white moon is a wanderer,

snow gleams white on pine and fir,

snow gleams white on the roofs.

The tomte alone is awake.

Saturday Drivers Are Worse Than Sunday Drivers

 With trips to Upstate New York for the rest of my weekends in March, this was the Saturday grab some early morning overtime, drive down to check on my mom, run whatever errands she had for me, and probably just head home to chill.

Except I showed up on time to the building... and the parking lot was 100% empty with no weekend access with my badge.  

Oops, someone forgot to tell security to revise badge access for me, other employees, and even the floor manager.  

I decided to forgo overtime and head to my mom's, a wise choice, as access wasn't granted to anyone until the time I was planning on leaving anyway. 

And despite the entire Pennsylvania internet screaming about second winter was coming, PennDOT was flat footed handling quick squalls, drifting snow, and icy roads.  Thank God I took a straighter route, as my usual path was filled with cars in ditches and similar wrecks. 

I got to my mom's, task list handed to me, and I ran errands with horrendous traffic, worse than the snow: dense, drifting, and forcing me to take the long way back to her house.

But here's the surprise.  A half hour after returning, and putting away groceries, we placed an online order for Wawa and I went out in the direct again. 

Ten minutes to get there, five minutes to wait for our order, and here's the shocking point. 

Three minutes to get back.

One mile, multiple traffic lights, zero cars on my side of usually packed streets. 

This is the first weekend where I did make some game-related purchases, but more project related.  

The trip to Dollar Tree for my mother (she loves their tissues for some reason) netted me the egg necklace for a potential Easter game, and extra masking tape for a project. 

I have stopped avoiding Hobby Lobby, simply because the other outlets are not stocking things and it's rarely been worth the trip.  After a late lunch I left my mother's and swung in the nearby shop for enough Easter stuff to implement into a game, discounted brushes, some foliage for that aforementioned project, and cheap primer/sealant.  

With part of the afternoon still open, I decided on a road trip on the fly and stopped at a located I had never visited.    That resulted in the new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles & Other Strangeness GM screen and a pack of... housecats.   Reviews are forthcoming, but one of them involves this oddly darkened photo. 

No, I did not break into daycare on a Saturday.

Perhaps the best purchase of the week is behind all that swag: finally, a new printer! With Mepacon a month away I'm about 20% prepped for all my events.  Hopefully I can get that number a little higher this Sunday, plus some painting, plus some prep for the Monday night Gamma World game. 

.... and I'm happy to report that once I got back on the interstate from this undisclosed location, I drove almost an hour at or above 75mph without braking.  I did get a little reprieve from the traffic gods. 

Another Month of Meeples (April 2026)

 It was an early morning for me, one where I was pondering grabbing some overtime before my shift.   Just some coffee and checking e-mails while I ponder just how much scanning and printing I'm going to do over the weekend with my new printer beside me.

And despite losing all hope for any consistency with my old projects, I clicked on ACD, and lo and behold, the latest issue of Meeple Monthly is on it.

ViscountEric's Want List

Nothing

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

Critical Kit

All Night Breakfast at the Midnight Owl .......... $20.00

A solo RPG where you are a host of a supernatural podcast oddly hits right for me. 

Severed Books

Sickest Witch RPG Core Rulebook .................... $49.99

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

25th Century Games

Bullesye ........................................................... $24.99

Alderac Entertainment Group

Misfit Heroes ................................................... $39.99

AMP Adult 

Prose & Cons ................................................... $24.99

Arcane Wonders 

Pyradice ........................................... $44.99

Aquatica Duellum ........................... $44.99

Archon Studios

World of Tanks TCG:  Twinfire  Boosters

Asmodee

Castle Nightingale ........................................... $29.99

Arkham Horror RPG:  Kingsport Mysteries ... $44.99

Ghosts Galore ................................... $29.99

Carnuta ............................................. $27.99

Atomic Mass

I'll just make a note here that despite my desire to stock game that require low figure counts, that Marvel Crisis Protocol and Star Wars Legion are simply NOT game I can justify stocking on my shelf (special orders are always accepted from my imaginary customers).  The vehicles are barely acceptable price-wise and there is no universe where I want any customer paying sixty bucks for three figures...  or fifty for ten freakin' ewoks. 

Catalyst Game Labs

Battletech: House Kurita Ranger Lance Force Pack .................. $34.99

Critical Kit

Weird, Whimsy & Wonder .............................. $27.00

Dead Punks Society Vol 1 ............................... $20.00

Cubicle 7 Entertainment

The Laundry 2nd Edition: Supervisor's Guide.................... $49.99

The Laundry 2nd Edition: Operative's Handbook .............. $49.99

The Laundry 2nd Edition: Introduction to Applied Occult .. $34.99

The Laundry 2nd Edition: Black Bag Jobs Reopened ......... $39.99

Victoriana Corebook ....................................... $59.99

Warhammer: The Old World RPG - Player's Guide ........... $44.99

Warhammer: The Old World RPG - Gamemaster's Guide .. $44.99

Warhammer: The Old World RPG - Collector's Edition ..... $159.99

Warhammer: The Old World RPG - Character Sheet Pad ... $14.99

Warhammer: The Old World RPG - Allies & Antagonists Card Deck ........ $29.99

Warhammer: The Old World RPG - Prayers & Miracles Card Deck .......... $19.99

Warhammer: The Old World RPG - Weapons & Armour Deck .................. $19.99

Warhammer: The Old World RPG - Wounds & Conditions Deck .............. $19.99
Warhammer: The Old World RPG - Grand Duchy of Talabec Dice Set ..... $19.99

Warhammer 40K RPG: Imperium Maledictum Voll Adventures ................ $39.99

Deep Dark Games

A Perfect Rock ................................ $25.00

The Rock Oracle Deck .................... $30.00

Dolphin Hat Games 

GOAT (Greatest of All Time) ........ $14.99

Risky Rolls .................................... $ 9.99

Dyskami Publishing Company

Big Eyes, Small Mouth (BESM): Imago: Realitypunk Anime Adventures .... $34.95

Ikarion Bane:  A LitRPG Adventure ............. $39.95

Anime 5e: Dungeon Crawl: Labyrinth of Lysandra ........................................ $34.95

Tri-Stat Refined: Universal RPG ................... $24.95

Hearth Attack RPG ........................................ $49.95

EN Publishing

What's Old is New: Bestiary .......................... $50.00

Free League Publishing

Vaesen: Adventure: City of My Nightmares ...................... $39.99

Heltung Storytelling

Pilgrimage RPG .............................................. $25.00

Konami Digital Entertainment

Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG - Rarity Collection 5 Booster Display 

Loke Battlemats

Add On Scenery Pack: RPG Maps Cyberpunk ............... $14.99

Magpie Games

Root RPG: Ruins & Expeditions Corebook .................... $39.99

Root RPG: Ruins & Expeditions Clearing Booklet 2  .... $24.99

Root RPG: Ruins & Expeditions Clearing Booklet 3 ..... $24.99

Root RPG: Ruins & Expeditions Dice Bag .................... $14.99

Root RPG: Ruins & Expeditions Faction Dice Set #2 ... $ 9.99

Root RPG: Ruins & Expeditions Dice Tray ................... $19.99

Root RPG: Ruins & Expeditions Map Pack #1 .............. $19.99

Root RPG: Ruins & Expeditions Map Pack #2 .............. $19.99

M Allen Hall

Mausritter:  The Baron's Grip .......................... $29.00

Mayfair Games

Oliva .................................................. $44.99

Makoto .............................................. $24.99

Media Lab

Game Master's Book of Magic & Mayhem for Kids ......... $16.99

Mongoose Publishing

Traveller 2300AD: Invastion Part II Campaign ................ $49.99

Traveller: Cluster Truck .................................................... $49.99

Modiphius Entertainment

Five Parsecs From Home: Planetfall ............................... $54.99

Monte Cook Games

The Magnus Archives: Make Your Statement .................. $44.99

Mr B Games

Nuclear Destruction ................................ $49.99

Osprey Publishing

Kings Mountain 1780 ............................... $25.00

US Soldier vs Japanese Infantryman ........ $23.00

Beaufighter vs German Flak Ships ........... $23.00

D-Day Fleet 1944, British Sector ............. $23.00

Nagato-class Battleships 1920-1946 ........ $20.00

Renaissance Polish Armies: 1492-1569 ... $20.00

The House of War ..................................... $18.00

T-72 Main Battle Tank .............................. $40.00

Italian MAS & MS Boats ......................... $20.00

Iraq 2003 ................................................... $25.00

Pelgrane Press

(Gumshoe) The Paragon Blade ................. $54.95

Pokemon

Pokemon TCG: 2025 Pokemon TCG World Championships Deck

Pokemon TCG: Mega Evolution 3 Perfect Order

Portal Games

Race to Berlin ....................................... $89.00

Renegade Game Studios

Werewolf the Apocalype 5th Edtion:  Chronicle of the Black Labyrinth .... $40.00

Mycologist's Primer ................................... $59.99

Mycologist's Primer Flash Cards ............... $39.99

Heroscape: Elites of Ultar and Ranoc Vipers Army Expansion ................... $50.00

Heroscape: Chain Gruts and Ramosaur Rider Army Expansion .................. $50.00

Herocaspe: Forest of Valhalla Terrain Expansion ....................... $40.00

D&D Lords of Waterdeep Board Game ...................................... $55.00

D&D Lords of Waterdeep Scoundrels of Skullport Expansion .. $40.00

Scryptid Games

Assemblage .................................... $30.00

Severed Books

Oldest Child .................................... $21.00

Sickest Witch RPG Core Rulebook .................... $49.99

Sickest Witch RPG Players Guide ...................... $22.99

Sickest Witch RPG Blood Property Adventure Zine .. $21.99

Sickest Witch RPG Hayride Adventure Zine ............. $21.99

Sirius Dice

D&D Castle Ravenloft Treasure Packs 

Space Penguin Ink

Thievin Gitz .................................... $20.00

Stations 

An Infinity of Ships ......................... $35.00

Instant Star Ships Card Deck .......... $20.00

Steve Jackson Games

Munchkin Vox Machina: A Critical Role Game ............ $39.95

Wonderful World Board Games 

Dragonarium .................................... $39.99