Beyond the Frost-Cold Sea: Chapter XVIII

Beyond the Frost-Cold Sea cover image: a wide, still river with forested mountain peaks rising on either side, underneath a clouded sky.
In which our heroes escape the city.

Table of Contents

The winner’s chest was heavy, but it was small enough for me to carry in one arm. I took Khalim by the hand—let the Seven see with their unblinking, jewel-like eyes that he was mine and under my protection—and walked with brisk purpose down from the platform. 

The nobles on their cushions sat still, but the crowds below them had begun to surge toward the exits. Elsewhere in the city, I knew, the forces of House Darela and House Kaburh were attacking the city’s stores of food and weapons. The majority of the guard was here, in the arena, and they rushed toward the gates to slow or stop the miners’ exodus. We would have to move quickly. 

Continue reading “Beyond the Frost-Cold Sea: Chapter XVIII” →

Song of the Week

Vienna Teng, “Blue Caravan”

Happy Monday! I hope everyone is staying healthy and safe.

I’ll be back on Wednesday with a new chapter of Beyond the Frost-Cold Sea, and on Friday with some more Myst gameplay, so if you need something to pass the time while in isolation, I’ve got you covered.

Have an excellent week!

Let’s Play Myst: Masterpiece Edition (Part 1)

In the spirit of social distancing, please join me in exploring this deserted island full of mystery.

I’m hoping to post a new video every week, so stay tuned!

Every endless winter

It’s my husband’s birthday today. He said I didn’t have to write anything for it, but I will anyway.

A bearded and long-haired white man wearing a gray suit stands in a messy apartment, reading a folded paper.

I’ve lived in the Midwest all my life, but I’ve never quite felt at home here. Between the interminable winters and the accompanying seasonal depression, the years spent shuttling back and forth from one dormitory to my parents’ house to another, and the mosquitoes that, for some reason, find my blood especially delicious, I spent a good portion of my life feeling unrooted and unwelcome in the land of my birth.

And then I met Kyle. He asked me which of the Canterbury Tales was my favorite, and told me never to trust Mordred Pendragon.

We’ve lived in seven apartments over the course of our relationship. As we went from one long Midwestern winter to another, and packed up our lives year after year, I learned that home isn’t a place.

I’ve learned so many other things as well: about Roman military tactics, the Mongol invasions, American imperialism; how to change a tire on a bicycle; and that it’s possible for someone’s skills and interests to so perfectly complement your own that you can spend hours creating worlds together and the stories to take place in them.

Happy birthday to my handsome, steadfast, brilliant husband; my traveling partner, my historical consultant, and my home through every endless winter. All my words are for you.

Beyond the Frost-Cold Sea: Chapter XVII

Beyond the Frost-Cold Sea cover image: a wide, still river with forested mountain peaks rising on either side, underneath a clouded sky.
In which the tournament is concluded, but there is much yet to do.

Table of Contents

We raced down the length of the arena in a thunder of hooves and rattling wheels. Aysulu bent her head against the wind, squinting into the dust. I could not hear the crowds over the noise, but I could just make out the spectators closest to the ground, gripping the rails and leaning out as far as they dared.

Pace by pace, our chariot was gaining ground. Jahan and Alaric traded blows ahead of us, their staffs knocking together with a force that could break bones. We slipped between the Lion and Wolf’s chariot and the wall and caught up to Jin and Heishiro.

Continue reading “Beyond the Frost-Cold Sea: Chapter XVII” →

Song of the Week

Kate Bush, “Jig of Life”

Happy Monday! I hope everyone is staying safe and healthy.

Until further notice, the plan is to post a new chapter of Beyond the Frost-Cold Sea every Wednesday until it’s finished. I’m not sure how many more chapters that will be; I think we’re past the halfway point, but not by much. It’s turned out to be much longer than I had originally thought, but I’m having fun with it, and I hope you are too.

I am no longer able to stream on Twitch because my internet connection, while free of charge, is not very fast. I end up being more than an hour ahead of the upload, so I can’t chat in real time with any viewers. To pass the time while I’m socially distancing, I’ve decided to upload some gaming videos to YouTube instead, and make them available here on the blog also. I think I’ll be playing Myst: Masterpiece Edition, for a bit of nostalgia, but I’ll have to check if it works on my computer first. You can expect the first video to make an appearance on Friday!

Have an excellent week, and don’t forget to wash your hands!

Beyond the Frost-Cold Sea: Chapter XVI

Beyond the Frost-Cold Sea cover image: a wide, still river with forested mountain peaks rising on either side, underneath a clouded sky.
In which the chariot race begins.

Table of Contents

I awoke with the sun, and I heard the sound of someone moving quietly outside my door, stoking the fire and boiling water. Khalim still slept, a tangle of long brown limbs stretched out on the narrow bed beside me. He slept easy, his breathing deep and even. For the moment, no dreams troubled him. 

I do not remember if I dreamt, but now that I was awake, guilt plagued me. Had I made a terrible mistake? Maybe it would have been wiser to keep my distance, so that whatever was to come, I could believe at least I had not made things worse. But it was already too late for that—it had been well before the previous evening. 

Continue reading “Beyond the Frost-Cold Sea: Chapter XVI” →

Song of the Week

Ben Howard, “In Dreams”

Happy Monday!

The enforced closings of restaurants and public places have arrived where I am, and it looks like we’ll all be isolated for the foreseeable future. Please take care of yourselves and each other and wash your hands.

I have plenty here on this blog if you’re in need of something to pass the time. My Call of Cthulhu module, The Well Below the Valley, is now complete! You can start reading here or go to the table of contents under the “Read my writing” tab above. Beyond the Frost-Cold Sea is a free story that is about halfway done; you can start here or see the table of contents under the same “Read my writing” tab. I’ll be back Wednesday with Chapter XIV. And if you need a new twenty-second musical verse to time washing your hands, I have a new Song of the Week every Monday.

Good luck, stay safe, and have an excellent week.

Chapter Four: A Home Without Joy (Part Two)

The Well Below the Valley cover image: A dead tree stands on a field of short grass, against a blank gray sky. Bottom text reads, "A fan-made Call of Cthulhu module."

Table of Contents

The investigators have arrived at last at the seat of the cult’s power: the hollow island in the North sea. Already, the Great Mother’s servants are gathering, and they will stop at nothing to prevent our intrepid heroes from ending their evil and saving the world.

In Part One of this chapter, the investigators procured transportation and sailed to the island, hiding their boat and making their way over the jagged rocks to the underground temple. Armed with the spell in the Westmont Text, and possibly some explosives obtained in Dublin, they must now enter the temple and seal the Mother’s well for good.

(All page numbers refer to the Seventh Edition of the Call of Cthulhu Keeper Rulebook, published 2015 by Chaosium, Inc. I am in no way affiliated with Chaosium or the writers of the Call of Cthulhu roleplaying game system. Content notes for this chapter: eldritch horror, cult activity, forced drugging, abduction, monstrous pregnancy and miscarriage, explosions, and geographic destruction.)

Continue reading “Chapter Four: A Home Without Joy (Part Two)” →

Song of the Week

Omnia, “The Well”

Happy Monday!

This week, The Well Below the Valley will finally reach its conclusion. It’s been fun revisiting this campaign and preparing it for posting, but all good (or horrible, eldritch) things must come to an end. Part Two of Chapter Four will post on Wednesday, and all the appendices will also be completed. The module in its entirety will continue to be available for future perusal under the “Read my writing tab” at the top of the page. I’m happy for Keepers of Arcane Lore or other tabletop game masters to use it, in whole or in part, as long as you give me credit.

I will see you on Wednesday!