Now to say I'm not a fan of the Fear since it got rebooted is an understatement, however there is one thing about it I've liked. That would be how almost every major villain, in one way or another, leads to the other.

• After Madison exited the show, the first villain the group was up against was Martha the filthy woman, a woman who was rejected help when her husband was severely injured, making her believe that helping people makes them weak, so she began kill Polar Bear's crew who were leaving supplies to passing survivors. Not wanting to see anymore Marthas in the world, Morgan and friends take up the work of Polar Bear.
  
• This leads to their encounter with Logan, an old friend of Polar Bear's who is seeking his journal, which was given to Luciana by Polar Bear in his final moments. The journal contains the location of a place set up to help with fuel, due to gasoline going bad. This location was later revealed to be Tank Town, which Morgan and friends take after ditching Logan. After Logan fails to take over Tank Town, he is gunned down by Virginia, who it is revealed he was working for.
  
• At the beginning of "Bury Her Next to Jasper's Leg", Virginia chases down one of her crew members who is revealed to be a member of Teddy's cult. In the same episode, the cult would cause an explosion at Tank Town, killing many of Virginia's pioneers, one of which turns and bites her, causing her to lose an arm.
  
• As stated by Dakota, Virginia said the cult had gone underground, as she sent her people to search for them two days south of Tank Town, in Dallas, the same place as the bubonic plague infected office building Dwight and Althea discovered. In the underground bunker, we get introduced to Teddy, who takes a liking to Alicia. Teddy's liking of Alicia leads to him locking Alicia in a bunker beneath the Franklin Hotel, believing her to be the one to lead the survivors of the nuclear wasteland.
  
• While in this bunker, Alicia meets Will, the aide of senator Elias Vazquez and learns of the location known as P.A.D.R.E.
  

I honestly like how things like this are done. It makes the whole thing feel like one overarching narrative. I know a lot of people might not agree with my sentiment, but to each their own.

Someone yesterday made a post asking for everyone's favorite fire emblem *ship* . Singular. *I* misunderstood it as everyone's favorite fire emblem *ships* . Plural. So, I wrote a very long comment where I gushed about my favorite ships in all of the games, realised my blunder halfway through Magvel, picked one of the ships to leave as a comment, and this post is just my excuse not to scrap the rest of that entire comment. Plus, this is a something I've wanted to do for a *very* long time, and now I can finally put this subject behind me. So without further ado....enjoy my ramblings.
​
My time has come. *inhale*
Archanea: Julian x Lena. Love me a fan who'll just go legit and betray his criminal buddies for the girl he likes
Valentia:
Maey x Boey (I loooove how despite their bickering, you can tell the two care for each other a lot because of the moments where they talk to each other about their worries and what they're going to do after the war),
Zeke x Tatiana (those two are ALREADY together and they spent their entire time together fawning over each other. The trust and bond they share is so strong that when "Zeke" leaves for Archanea to rescue his *former* love he STILL returns to Tatiana, and Tatiana in turns *knows* he will returns to her one day, no matter how much time passes) and Gray x Clair (they start off rough because of Gray being more attracted to her pretty face than herself and Clair being boorish and mean/judgemental towards, but I love how as the game progresses both their characters develop, realise their faults, how they were in the wrong early on and apologise for it - especially Clair. As for Gray, I love how Gray comes to realise that he *does* love Clair for Clair, and not her features, but can't express it well, but Clair understands what he's trying to say nonetheless)
Haven't played Jungdral, but the one with the tomboy archer and the other guy who also bicker but really care for each other
Elibe 1:
biggest one Roy x Lilina (childhood friends to lovers, Roy vowed to Hector to look after Lilina, Lilina in turns wants to do the same and also support him, their personalities are very compatible),
Fir x Noah (their support lines and interactions are too adorable. I love how in their A support Noah, who generally doesn't care much for most things, feels very strongly about Fir to the point he has to tell her how he feels because he'd otherwise regret it for the rest of his life. Headcanon they leave together after the war, become wandering mercenaries and are never heard from again),
Tate x Klein, Sue x Sin (last few of their tribe, united by this shared tragedy),
Melady x Galle (what happened to them is a tragedy and I hate it that in most playthroughs I can't keep Galle alive)
Elibe 2:
biggest one is Eliwood x Ninian (y'all played the game, I don't need to explain myself),
Lyn x Rath (both people of the plains who love their country very much and long to go back to it one way, they feel most comfortable with each other),
Hector x Florina (big scary man with meek little sheep is a hilarious but beloved ship dynamic for me),
Erk x Priscilla (the only possible pairing with those two that doesn't end in tragedy. Not to mention the two *actually* enjoy each other's company and are comfortable being together),
Jaffar x Nino (again, you've played the game. You *know* how much they mean to each other),
Matthew x Leila (poor Matthew), Pent x Louise (see Zeke x Tatiana),
Kent x Fiora (the two serious people in the army who care for protocol. How could I not),
Sain x Farina (the guy who likes singing every woman's praises and the gal who likes to tooth her own horn, and they're both spunky. HOW IS THIS NOT A PAIRING?!)
Magvel:
Eirika x Saleh (the only one of her potential pairs who doesn't feel like she needs to be protected, but instead *praises* her for her *own* strenght and qualities, comparing her to an ancient hero. Get yourself the kind of man who *appreciates* you. Plus, she moves in with him once she's done helping rebuild Renais to live a modest life and I vibe with that whole aesthetic. Interchangeable with Innes, though, because her rebuffing his awkward attempts at chivalry is hilarious),
Innes x Vanessa (Vanessa has liked and admired Innes for a *very* long time, and Vanessa in turn is the only person Innes drops the whole "cool prince" mask off and can just be himself),
Lute x Artur (childhood friends to lovers, the two have been together for years. I like how through talking to each other, after hearing her explanations, Artur realises that the teasing she used to do to him were just her awkward attempts at helping him overcome his fears. Not to mention the reversal of roles in their A support, when the usually calm and reserved Artur is the one to make the first move in their relationship, leaving Lute in turn to be bewildered and speechless for once),
Colm x Neimi (childhood friends to lovers, shared mutual trauma, both orphans who only got each other left after they lost their families and village got massacred, literally the only pairing those two have. Regardless, I like how Colm is the type of guy to tease Neimi for being a crybaby, but knows the difference between her being overly sensitive and things that genuinely bother her and lines that shouldn't be crossed, while also defending her from bullies who would *genuinely* make her cry. Dude went by himself in a literal den of thieves to recover her familty heirloom, and Neimi went *after him* because she was worried. Otp. Otp. Otp)
Franz x Amelia (it is Franz's kindness and honesty that convinces Amelia to switch sides and realise that what Grado is doing isn't right, and it is because of that same kindness that Amelia finds herself confortable in the army and under the commander she was taught to hate. In turn, through their mutual friendly rivalry they both become stronger both as soldiers and as people, Amelia getting more of a backbone and becoming more confident)
Gillian x Syrene (they share a common, a mutual hobby and they're both veterans)
Awakening:
Robin x Cordelia (Robin helps Cordelia come to terms with her trauma of being the last surviving member of her unit, her stigma against being called a prodigy and move on with her life, as well as getting over her one-sided crush on Chrom. In turn, Robin admires Cordelia a lot for her prowess and dilligence)
Robin x Say'ri (at first, Robin is interested in learning about Say'ri and her place of origin, and through talking with her, Robin falls more and more in love with the place she is describing and her in turn, wishing to visit it together with her. As for Say'ri, she appreciates that someone is interested in her birthpace and becomes as passionate about Chonsin as she is)
Chrom x Sully (the two are childhood who, just like with Innes and Vanessa, feel most comfortable with each other because they don't have to keep up appearances or pretend they're someone else. Sully doesn't have to worry about being girly around Chrom, while Chrom doesn't have to worry about acting as the crown prince, and the two can be the same people who've been butting heads since childhood)
and now I'm tired so I'll finish later

Character Application

• Discord Name: imNotGoodAtNaming#3022
• Name and House: Addam Frey
• Age: 18
• Appearance: Addam is, unlike his great-grandfather Forrest, a man clearly not built to wield a sword. Though tall, his slender and rather wiry build gives him a rather unimposing presence. He wears his hair slightly too long, hanging low across his eyes and curling around his neck, and his gaze seems permanently wary, always on edge. Addam seldom smiles in public, and dark bags beneath his eyes bely the troublesome relationship he has with sleep. Much like how his grandfather Franklyn made up for his lack of swordsmanship with his impressive stewardship abilities, Addam makes up for his own faults with an impressive ability to talk, peddle information, and play the other side of the game.
• Gifts: Gossiper
• Skills: Cautious (e), Espionage, Torturer, Subtle
• Talents: Hunting, Riding, Swimming, Whittling
• Negative Traits: N/A
• Starting Titles: Lord of the Crossing
• Starting Location: Feast/King’s Landing
• Family Tree: House Frey in 207 AC
• Alternate Characters: N/A for now

Timeline

• 187 AC: Perianne Frey, Addam’s elder sister, is born to Symond Frey and Marilda Celtigar.
• 189 AC: Addam and Marissa Frey are born to Symond and Marilda.
• 194 AC: Addam begins his tutelage under Symond. As the heir’s heir, his father gives him a well-rounded education — involving stewardship, military command, and diplomacy, alongside the usual nobleman's education.
• 200 AC: Symond dies whilst riding along the Green Fork, after his horse slips along the slippery rocks — falling into the river and trapping Symond underneath. Symond drowns before his horse can be lifted off him, leaving Addam as heir.
• 203 AC: Frey Regency Crisis
  • 2nd Moon: Lord Franklyn Frey dies, Addam Frey becomes Lord. Perwyn Frey is named regent in Lord Franklyn’s will.
  • 3rd Moon: While traveling, Perwyn Frey’s camp is set upon by supposed bandits. Perwyn Frey and his son Theomore Frey die; Celesse Frey survives after riding away into the woods on her lonesome. Osmund Frey is the new regent.
  • 5th Moon: A catspaw breaks into the East Castle and sets the Lord’s chambers ablaze. Addam and Marissa are rescued from within by men loyal to Lyonel Frey and House Nayland, but Marissa gets briefly trapped beneath a burning log. Marissa’s face is permanently disfigured as a result.
  • 6th Moon: Osmund Frey and his youngest son Raymond Frey are murdered in their beds. Osmund’s eldest son, Walton Frey, rides with his sister Sarra to his mother’s home at Breaker's Beak, and does not return until Bertram is arrested. Bertram Frey is named regent.
  • 7th Moon: “Black Benfrey” Rivers, bastard son of Bertram Frey, is caught trying to contact catspaws and other shady figures in a town nearby Hag’s Mire, and is arrested. Bertram attempts to downplay his bastard’s actions as those of a rogue bastard — but Addam secretly goes behind his Uncle’s back and orders Black Benfrey to be tortured for information.
  • 8th Moon: Under torture, Black Benfrey admits his own role and the role of his father in the death of Perwyn, Theomore, Osmund, and Raymond, as well as the attack on Addam himself. Bertram is arrested by Lyonel’s men.
  • 9th Moon: Eamon Frey leaves the Twins, under suspicion of being involved in Bertram and Benfrey’s plots, but with no firm evidence available. Addam orders a dozen Frey guards to attempt to chase Eamon down, but Eamon evades them and rides into Mallister lands before he can be caught. From Seagard, he takes a ship south.
  • 10th Moon: Bertram and Black Benfrey are executed. Lyonel is offered the regency, but refuses. Addam’s mother, Marilda Celtigar, is declared Regent.
• 204 AC: Lyonel Frey leaves the Twins — coincidentally also riding to Seagard.
• 205 AC: On his sixteenth name day, Addam begins to rule in his own right.
• 206 AC: Arrangements for a betrothal between Addam Frey and Alys Blackwood begins.
• 206 AC: Perianne Frey leaves the Twins and marries Osric Dustin.
• 207 AC: Marissa Frey leaves the Twins and marries Paxter Redwyne.
• 207 AC: Addam Frey leaves the Twins and travels towards King’s Landing.

Auxiliary Character Application

• Name and House: Eamon “the Exile” Frey
• Age: 27
• Appearance: Eamon shares the common Frey look; brown hair and brown eyes, with light facial hair. However, years of stress resulting from his exile from his homeland has aged him beyond his years — worry lines surround his eyes, and his brows are nearly always furrowed. Unlike his Lordly cousin, Eamon clearly does take after Forrest Frey’s martial legacy — being well-built from years training with swords and armor. Despite his status in exile, Eamon remains proud of his heritage and station. He spends gold freely on clothes, jewelry, horses, and other objects of luxury befitting a noble, and a brooch emblazoned with the sigil of House Frey is always visible on his body: a reminder of what he has been forced away from.
• Gifts: Duelist
• Skills: Swords, Tactician, Defender
• Talents: Hunting, Swimming, Cyvasse
• Negative Traits: N/A
• Starting Titles: Scion of House Frey
• Starting Location: With the household of House Lannister of Lannisport

Auxiliary Character Timeline

• 177 AC: Benfrey Rivers, illegitimate son of Bertram Frey, is born.
• 180 AC: Eamon Frey, son of Bertram Frey and Darla Haigh, is born.
• 186 AC: Eamon begins to squire for Symond Frey, his uncle and heir to the Twins.
• 194 AC: Eamon excels at swordplay, and begins to undergo more strenuous and personal training with his Uncle.
• 198 AC: Eamon leads a group of Frey knights in battling and capturing a group of bandits along the Frey Plains. For this, he is knighted by Symond.
• 200 AC: Symond drowns in the Green Fork after a freak riding accident. Eamon is greatly affected by the death of his mentor.
• 203 AC: Frey Regency Crisis
  • Despite Eamon being Bertram’s son, Bertram almost does not view Eamon as his own. Bertram sees Eamon’s close relationship to the late Symond as evidence of Eamon being untrustworthy, and does not entrust Eamon with his plot to seize control of the regency — and subsequently the Lordship of the Crossing.
  • As Freys begin to die every week or two, Eamon is terrified alongside the rest of his family. He is sent to Haigh Hill for a few months — ostensibly to keep him safe from the chaos of the Twins.
  • Black Benfrey and Bertram are subsequently arrested and interrogated. Neither give any inclination that Eamon has been involved in their plans, but Addam is nevertheless suspicious of him.
  • Eamon returns to the Twins and witnesses the execution of his half-brother and his father. He swears to Addam of having no part in his father’s treason — but Addam seems unperturbed. The next day, Eamon departs from the Twins and rides West.
  • Addam’s prior suspicions about Eamon seem to have been confirmed, and he dispatches a dozen Frey guards to ride after Eamon, but the guards do not catch Eamon before Eamon enters Mallister lands. The guards don’t cross into Mallister lands, not wishing to spark a bigger incident.
• 203 AC: Eamon is welcomed in the household of Seagard, remaining there briefly to catch his breath and prepare himself for the journey.
• 204 AC: Eamon departs from Seagard onboard a trading ship, and sails south. The ship docks in Lannisport, and he disembarks. With his inheritance from his father and his own personal allowance, he has a decent amount of gold — and finds lodgings in a high-brow inn.
• 205 AC: Attending a social event in Lannisport, Eamon meets Tyshara Lannister. The two court briefly.
• 206 AC: Eamon and Tyshara marry.
• 207 AC: Eamon reluctantly tags along with the Lannisters towards King’s Landing — hoping to stay far away from his cousin, who has doubtlessly received word of his marriage to a Lannister and wishes to see Eamon arrested.

Archetype NPCs

• Ser Lyle Nayland — Swords
  • Ser Lyle Nayland is Addam’s sworn sword, and Addam’s good-uncle through his late sister’s marriage to Lyonel Frey. Lyle was the one who saved Addam and Marissa during the burning of the Lord’s chambers, and earned Addam’s respect and loyalty for this action. He remains one of the few individuals who Addam legitimately trusts and, as Addam’s protector, is an ever present shadow behind Addam.
• Ser Olyvar Charlton — Tactician
  • Ser Olyvar Charlton is another one of Addam’s close confidantes. Olyvar was close to Addam’s father Symond, and has subsequently joined up with Addam’s entourage. Olyvar’s specialty lies in command, and he has been entrusted as Addam’s primary battlefield commander — given Addam’s own rather lacking personal ability in command.

Hi everyone,
When I made my first character, it was on one single, dedicated server. Now that I came back to the game, I wonder what changed. Back in the day, my server (which was 55% Horde - 45% Alliance before) tipped and went pretty much Horde only.
Now that I've started playing again, I know that things changed but I don't really know how all of that works. You can obviously see people from a lot of different realms now, but mine in itself - according to the internet - is still pretty much Horde only. As I'm running through Dragonflight now, I literally haven't seen a single Horde player, though - while in the first hour only, I've met more than 20 Alliance players.
My assumption was that those server pools are made to create an environment that is about 50/50 for faction distribution. Every single person I met had War Mode activated, and I did, too, as it's stated in the guide I use. I permanently got killed, even in inns, even next to questgivers while reading the text boxes. So obviously, War Mode for me is pretty much impossible to use.
Now my question simply is, why is it so imbalanced? Why do I only see Alliance players?
How does the recent system work? Do we see players from our own and connected realms or is everything in the open world running on a mega server? Or do people use some sort of magic trick to get into a phase with only players from their own faction?
By the way, I simply followed the introductory quest line from Orgrimmar to the Dragon Isles so I don't think I'm running through an Alliance-specific zone or something like that. Five minutes after arriving there, I was dead. I'm just totally confused as to what's going on.
If that helps: The realm I'm on is EU-Blackrock.
Thanks in advance for any explanations!
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Edit: After posting this, I resurrected and saw my first two Horde players! Yey! it only took like 5 hours of playtime in Dragonflight!

My sister in law (32F) and her 2 year old son have been living with my wife and I (31M, 30F) for about 3 months now. I was never a fan of this arrangement, but they have nowhere else to go, and her only other option was living in her car or a homeless shelter. If it was just her, we'd tell her to fuck off, but the kid is innocent and did nothing wrong. Today, my SIL had court, and the day care wouldn't take my nephew because he has a high fever and is coughing a lot. Since I work from home, my wife asked me to babysit him today. To be honest, I could have, since I only have like 2 meetings today, but he's very destructive, even when you placate him with cocomelon, and you have to keep a constant watch on him, so babysitting would pretty much guarantee I catch whatever he has. I'm planning on attending Dreamhack this weekend (a large gaming convention) and I fly to Dallas on Thursday night, so getting sick today would ruin those plans. It's the only fun thing I'll be doing all year since we had to cancel our trip to Hawaii to pay for SIL's lawyer. So I said no. My wife asked what I thought she should do instead. I have no idea, I just didn't want to babysit him myself. So my wife took the day off from work to watch him and now, she's been pretty pissed at me all day. I guess I really accomplished nothing since now my wife will probably get sick and pass it to me. I'm going to crash on my friend's couch for the next 2 nights so I don't catch anything.
Still, I've put up with a lot over these past 3 months. The house is a mess despite my wife and I constantly cleaning, it smells like cigarettes and weed, everything is sticky, my feet are constantly being impaled by the paw patrol and little people toys on the floor, all my stuff is squirreled away on high shelves where the baby can't reach, and I can't have friends over. I know that she needs to go to court a lot more than I need to play video games all weekend- having a criminal record will make it much harder for her to ever move out of my house, but this was where I drew the line. AITA?

First Next

On a sunny, small-town street on Sanctuary:

Lisa Anderson was watching her two young sons play some kind of game with the other neighborhood children that involved throwing a hard rubber ball at each other, while trying to avoid being hit themselves. When her Charlie was only five she would have fretted over such a violent game, but she's since given up on having boys who sit quietly and play gently. Boys were strange creatures to come home all smiles yet covered in bruises, and again, she'd long since given up on understanding the why in favor of just loving her beautifully rambunctious boys. They were already so much like their father.
The easy smile that had adorned her face slipped away as a black speck in the sky resolved itself into a stately gravcar coming in for a landing, rather than speeding along to a more likely destination. This was Honor Guard Place, and while not every family was related to a current serviceman of that formation, and some other families lived elsewhere, every family in that little town was connected to the Honor Guard somehow. Which had given the families a sense of shared comfort in the fact that their husbands, fathers, and occasionally wives and mothers were relatively safe while serving. Something caught in her throat as she wondered who had suffered a tragic accident, and which of the xenos nations substandard constructions had caused it. However, when the car landed, and the Major stepped out, she had to clutch her porch railing to keep her feet, because the officer made his way straight to her.
"Where's John?" she demanded as she watched the Republican Naval Infantry officer harden his resolve.
He stopped at the steps up to the porch and saluted, "Ma'am, it is my sorrowful duty to inform you that your husband, Sergeant Johnathan Anderson fell in battle against an aggressive xenos force in his duties to defend the civilians of the Among the Star Tides We Sing and the diplomatic corps. I'm sorry."
Lisa shrieked as she threw herself at the aging officer. "NO! YOU DIRTLY LIAR!" she cried as she struck his face, "YOU BRING HIM BACK! YOU BRING HIM BACK NOW!" she howled as she tore half of his ribbon block from his dress blues and beat his chest with the ribbons still clutched in her fist. The man stood there and absorbed the beating without so much as breaking the salute until she sagged against him with a wordless wail, and clutched at his uniform.
"I'm sorry ma'am. Your husband was witnessed, though his remains are not recovered."
The sobbing woman seemed to regain some of her strength as she declared, "I am not burying an empty casket on Repose."
"Aye ma'am. We will wait until such time as recovery operations can be commenced, and you will be kept informed of this status."
Charlie had done the math, and was leading his little brother over to see his mother. His daddy didn't cry when he lost friends, Charlie could be strong like that, strong for his mommy and little brother. Lisa's eyes followed the Major as he trudged back to the gravcar, replaced his uniform top, rearranged his ribbon block, and walked toward the house next door. With growing horror she realized it was not just her tragedy, not just her boys who lost their daddy.
Eighteen houses later, and the RNI major was seated in the sitting room of the Mitchels after giving them news of their son. Veterans both, they knew the loss for what it was, and sought each others embrace for the quiet solace of shared grief. Their grandson was only eighteen and had just lost his father, and after his mother abandoned the family, James Sr. was James Jr.'s entire world. "Who killed him?" the young man spat.
"A genocidal faction of xenos called Axxaakk. It is unknown whether it is a small faction or a monoracial empire. They have conquered the Clans of Eldra, and are currently ritualistically exterminating them."
"I'm joining the RNI," he declared as he leapt to his feet and shot a challenging glare around the room.
"Jayjay, you're still too young!"
"I'm eighteen, it's my right to serve! You're both citizens, but you can't stop me! It's every civilian's right to volunteer!"
"Aye ma'am, he's right," the major said solemnly, "but if you think the Navy will give you a shot to kill the commander who ordered that attack, you're wrong. If you can't keep your head, they'll put you on boarder duty by Roma Nova."
"I don't care. Dad only ever served the Republic, and I can't just sit here and enjoy that without helping!"
The major stood, snapped off a salute and took his leave. Forty houses to go.

In the City of Foundation on the planet Hope:

Michael Nguyen was neglecting his job. To be fair, being an accountant didn't take very much effort on his part, but in the past few days, he couldn't focus even on what little demands of his talents were demanded by the spreadsheets. Instead, the video he had been watching for days on end demanded the whole of his attention. His ears were laid back, his tail lashed the ground, and his muzzle was contorted in a snarl as he watched the vile sacrifice ritual intercut with the last stand of the Honor Guard, and ending with the teenage girl's screams followed by Corporal Laurent's whisper of "Witness me." Then, text filled the screen, "Remember the We Sing"
"Remember the We Sing," he whispered as he made up his mind. He was a Republican civilian, and he had taken all of his freedoms and privileges for granted, scoffing at the citizens for putting themselves at unnecessary risk for a mere social title. He saw now that it was very necissary risk, risk he was willing to shoulder. He wasn't the only accountant who walked out of that office, he wasn't even the first.

On Texan Texas, in New Better Dallas:

Staff Sergeant Marcus Johnson fought exhaustion as another civilian screamed at him, "PUT A FUCKING RIFLE IN MY HANDS RIGHT THE FUCK NOW! I KNOW HOW TO FUCKING SHOOT!"
"Sir, nobody skips aptitude placement, the medical exam, or basic training and MOS school. If you really want to fight, you're going to have to follow the law like everyone else. Please review these papers and sign whe-"
The furious Texan scrawled his name on the papers at once, "Fine. But you just watch, I'm gonna be a drop trooper."
"I'm sure you will, sir. Please take your papers to the waiting room upstairs and wait for your physical," Staff Sergeant Johnson said as the Texan stormed toward the stairwell. "Next."
"YOU PUT ME IN A PILOT'S SEAT RIGHT THE FUCK NOW," A Texan woman was screeching the moment she stepped up.
"Ma'am," he began again, and resigned himself to absorbing the fury of civilians who had never before taken a thought for the cost of their freedoms.
Some asshole yelled, "Remember the We Sing!" Which of course caused for the cry to go up with the whole press of furious Texans for the eighth time that day.

Aboard the flagship of the Lord Admiral Council of the Sar Sailors:

Lord Admiral Yoivkron nodded to his fellow Lord Admirals, and nodded. There was nothing to discuss, before they had even com together upon the With Wise Counsel We Chart the Stars, they had communicated their intentions. The Star Sailors would sound the drums of war. "Ancient names have been recommissioned, the Let Our Foes Tremble, wears a new hull, the Our Dead Cry Out for Justice has subsumed a Justiciar, and other names unspoken for centuries adorn our ships. The captains do not wait for our word, so we must command an evacuation fleet. Those too young must be kept from danger, and there must be those who shall tend to their needs far from the front."
"Aye," said Lord Admiral Brexcid, "We go to war. I do herby commission the construction of a new warship, Among the Star Tides We Rage."
"It is so," the counsel intoned together.
"Let the orders be written," Lord Admiral Youvkron said.
First Next

Sirens.
The darkness accompanies the sharp bursts of noise cutting through the air. Rumbling is present below on the ground. Everything is murky, blurred, disjointed.
Muffled voices start to speak and conversate from afar. The sound of a door snapping open can be heard. The voices continue to talk, replacing the sirens as they die out within another minute. Footsteps can be heard… and another door opens. Suddenly… the sensation of falling, tumbling, crashing down is overwhelming, too much to handle, everything sucked into the vat of nothingness.
Sirens.
×××
Soundtrack: nightmares by izaya tiji
Travis Crowley’s eyelids slowly unwind, sinking back into the depths of his face. The eyes peek out, his vision blurry as he regains consciousness. Head hurting like the dickens, he groans, taking his time reanimating. The DeadStar comes back to life, his body creaking as he moves for the first time in a while. As soon as he tries to sit up, he’s met by a hand to the chest, pressing him back down to where he was before. Confused, a nervous Travis tries to get up again, only to be forced back down. With his eyes adjusting to the light, voices have to ring out when it’s clear Travis is still out of his element. Travis finally starts to make out a figure just a foot away, sitting right beside him as they look toward someone else. The King of The Fall notices the afro quickly.
“Ramona-”
“Shh- I am so glad you’re back. Things have just been so hectic lately, i just-”
“Dizzi?”
Ramona turns and touches foreheads with Travis, softly pushing him back into the depths of bed once again. He winces as she rubs his head, confused as to why it hurts so much. She kisses him goodbye, before hugging Dizzi and telling them both she’ll be back. Ramona leaves, and Travis lets his head flop back as Dizzi pulls up a chair, Travis recognizes the room, realizing he’s back in Calabasas.
“Well, Travis. Looks like you’ve been staying busy”
Travis rolls his eyes, his friend smirking as she gets off the subtle shot at him. The DeadStar rolls over, finding and grabbing his phone off the nightstand. He checks the clock and stretches, seeing that it’s ten in the morning. He rubs his temples, feeling the headache come in even stronger than before.
“How has Sweden been?”
“Oh the usual. High fashion snobs and wannabe models. Not much different from what we got back at home.”
Travis smiles through his head pain, recalling his trip to Sweden a couple years back. What started out as a simple business trip to promote Obscuur Refurunces turned into an opportunity for Dizzi, and Travis was the first to suggest accepting.
“I guess that means you’re more qualified to run the brand than I am?”
“Oh please, let’s not go that far… I see what you’ve been up to, teasing those samples on Instagram. You've been working on something?”
“Maybe… I’ll show you later though. When did you get back to the States?”
“Studying abroad gets old after about nine months. Been trying to figure out when to take holiday, then poof. I get a call from Ramona, suddenly I need to pay respects to a friend as they lie on their deathbed…”
“Interesting way to say it…”
“You’ve got an interesting way to live life, bud…”
Travis sees the look in Dizzi’s eyes change. He sighs as she leans in, knowing the speech that’s going to ensue. The DeadStar grimaces as Dizzi locks eyes with him, already aware of what’s next. But suddenly, he feels another flash of pain in his head, in pure agony as he grabs at his temples. Dizzi’s face turns to one of concern, checking on Travis as he breaks a sweat trying to tough through it.
“What the Hell happened?”
“Y-you don’t know?”
Travis looks at her, his expression a mix of pain, frustration, and confusion. She looks back at him, quickly shaking the stumped look off her face. She quickly stands up, and walks away from the bed, turning toward the window.
“Dizzi what happened?”
“It doesn’t matter…”
“What do you MEAN it doesn’t matter???”
“Look, all that matters right now is that you rest, get better, and just stay safe. Everything else you can worry about later. And those are words I got from Ramona herself.”
Travis feels the pain in currents, using the opportunity of it subsiding to get moving. He sits up, swinging a leg out from under the covers. He sits there for a minute, ignoring as Dizzi shoots a glance at him every once in a while, masking it by tidying up the room. Travis wipes his eyes, trying to push through the pain. He’s wearing black shorts and a white shirt, socks keeping his feet protected from the cold hardwood floor. He lays back sideways on the bed, taking everything in.
“Are you okay, you need anything?”
Sirens.
“Ah man… lemme uh…”
Sirens.
“Could you pick up some donuts?”
“Sure, I could DoorDash some, maybe Krispy Kre-”
“Ah, actually. I was hoping to get them from that local place?”
“Local place?”
“You know, the local place. The place all three of us go to!”
“... Frankie’s?”
“Yeah, that’s the place. They got special flavors, let’s get a dozen from there!”
“How is that local, isn’t it like an hour away from here?”
“You can take my car!”
Travis smiles through the head pain, feeling it at excruciating levels at this point. The DeadStar questions if this will be the death of him as he grins at Dizzi, his expression backing her into a corner as she reluctantly agrees to go make a pastry run. Grabbing the keys off the hook on the bedroom wall, she waves Travis goodbye before leaving out the front door. Travis takes a deep breath, before standing up out of bed, rubbing his temple yet again as he takes a couple steps forward, He looks down at the view below, watching from the window as Dizzi opens the garage door. Travis makes sure he can’t be seen as she drives the car out from the garage and down the hill, soon disappearing from the mess of land altogether. Travis leans against the windowsill, taking in the view for a couple minutes. Getting his thoughts together, he grabs his phone, sitting down on the edge of the bed. Part of him doesn’t even want to open it. Part of him doesn’t want to find out what the Hell happened, how he ended up on his deathbed like how Dizzi described. But he pushes ahead, unlocking in with his fingerprint and immediately being blasted with a headline that sends a shiver down his spine.
“FBE Recap: Ethan Fadley Attacks Travis Crowley… Leaves Firestorm 118 without a Main Event!”
Travis’ eye twitches, noticing the thumbnail accompanying the headline. Ethan Fadley holding up the Intercontinental Championship, a crazed look in his eye. Dark blue strap in his grip as he makes a grab for the camera in the picture. Slowly, Travis pieces it together, all while the pain returns in his head, stinging like the dickens as he closes his phone. He makes his way over to the closet, trading in the shorts for some jeans and slipping into some Vans. Throwing a random shirt over his shoulder, he stuffs a travel bag full of random toiletries and clothes, and grabs his phone off the bed in a hurry, making a call as he jets out the door.
“Hello?”
“Ape!”
“Yo, what’s going on man? You good, you alright?”
“Doing fine. What happened after the show?”
“Conor had Irish police escort the ambulance to the hospital. We all got airlifted back to LA. I wanted to drive up and stay with you guys while you got better… didn’t feel right though.”
“Please tell me you’re still out here…”
“Yeah, I've been hiding out. Wanted to wait till you were up and awake before I made the next move. Crenshaw Inn Motel.”
“I’m there”
Travis keeps Ape on the phone as he walks into the garage, swinging his leg over his chopper, only to feel woozy from just doing that. The head pain is too much, shooting out to every inch and corner of Travis’ mind, keeping him off his game. Shaking his head in a desperate attempt to regain balance, he slowly slides off the motorcycle, leaning against it and breathing hard as Ape checks up on him.
“Matter fact, uh… I might get a cab”
“I’ll come to you then, I’ll have them pick you up, we’ll grab breakfast and talk.”
“Bet, thanks bro.”
Travis sits in the driveway, waiting for his friend to arrive in the cab. Worried that Dizzi or Ramona might show up before Ape and intercept him, he’s relieved to get a call from his best friend and see a yellow cab pulling up in front of the house. Travis slips on the shirt and jumps into the backseat, dapping up Ape as they quickly speed off from the scene.
×××
“Where are you, Travis?”
“I’m fine, everything is okay, Ramon-”
“I didn’t ask you that, Travis. Tell me where you are”
“That’s not important right n-”
“Travis, PLEASE don’t tell me you’re going back on tour for Firestorm, please”
“... I need to take care of this. I’ll talk to you later.”
“Trav-”
Soundtrack: losing my mind by izaya tiji
Crenshaw Inn Motel - May 25th, 2023 - 11:38 AM
Travis hangs up the phone, putting it on silent just in case Ramona or Dizzi call again. The DeadStar looks out the window of the motel, playing with the blinds as he watches city slickers make their way past his view. Sitting on one of the double beds is Ape, opening a box of delicacies from Frankie’s Donut Palace. Biting into an eclair, he suggests they get some air, opening the mini fridge and opening a can of pop. Travis takes one more look out the window, before turning around, facing the pastries now. Seeing a bear claw in the corner, he picks it up, taking his first bite of the day as Ape checks his phone. Travis makes his way out of the motel room, Ape saying he had to make a call before he joined him.
Travis stands in the parking lot of the motel, finishing off the bear claw in one hand with a joint in the other. Looking down at himself, he realizes that he’s got his shirt on inside out. Moving to fix it the right way, the DeadStar suddenly scowls and stops, seeing a familiar design. The REVOLT Summer World Tour from the year before sold out immediately, becoming a legendary piece of FBE memorabilia after its limited run. Now it’s just a bad memory for the King of The Fall. Travis shakes his head in annoyance, pulling from the joint as Ape closes the motel room door behind him. Together, they stand in silence, leaning against the beams supporting the roof covering the motel walkways. The pain creeps in, making a return as Travis starts to see red for a completely different reason.
“He almost ended my career…”
“I know…”
Sirens.
“He left me bloody… he left STEEZ bloody… he ruined everything...”
“I know…”
Sirens.
“I stepped aside for this motherfucker, not once, but TWICE. I let him be big dog. I put my glory to the side for HIM. Because that was MY BROTHER. And he…”
“I know…”
Sirens.
Travis has a thousand yard stare on his face, the pain fighting him on the inside as he carries no expression. Clenching his jaw, he takes a deep breath, waiting as it subsides. He pulls up his phone and immediately pulls up tickets to Scotland. Ape, looking over his shoulder in curiosity, looks at Travis in shock.
“Dude, you’re going to Firestorm???”
“I’m getting my title back. And I’m ripping Ethan’s fucking head off.”
“Bro-”
“Don’t tell me you didn’t expect me to do this.”
Ape looks at Travis, worried. Travis stares hard, doing his best to pull a stone-like expression on his face. The Infinity Ace sighs, nodding as he understands that there’s no going back after what has happened between Ethan and the rest of what used to be REVOLT. He throws an arm around Travis, leading him back in the motel room, gathering both their bags.
“...Get me a ticket.”
×××
St. Andrews Golf Club, Scotland - May 26th, 2023 - 9:32 PM
“Jesus Christ, where the fuck is he, man?”
“Just give him a second, bro. He’ll be here. I know he’ll be here. By the way, how’s your head?”
Travis and Ape stand outside a side door of St. Andrews Golf Club, waiting for a bit of help from an inside man. Ape dialed up Code Blue asking for help getting into the prestigious golf club with the show already in progress. Now, it’s just up to him to get Highly Suspect in. Travis paces back and forth as they wait for what feels like an eternity, only for Blue to suddenly appear, waving them in. Ape smiles, but an irritated Travis rolls his eyes.
“Is the show over? Wouldn’t be surprised since it took so damn long.”
“Oh, c’mon Travis. I was on the other side of the building. Had to rush getting over here. You know, I got my own match to prepare for too, right? I got priorities just like everyone else."
“Shut the fuck up, Blue”
“You better watch your fucking mouth,”
“I will slap the shit out of-”
“I’m not afraid of you, Travis. Don’t you ever get that confused…”
Blue, who was walking along with everyone else through the hall, suddenly stops and locks eyes with Travis. Not budging, he stares down the King of The Fall, who stares back at him with venom and anger. Ape gets in between them, Travis grabbing onto Ape as he yells at Blue.
“Motherfucker, you think this is about fear? I don’t give a FUCK if you’re afraid of me, I’ll change that if I WANT! Back up-
“Stop, STOP! BOTH OF YOU!”
“Ah, screw this-”
Travis darts around Ape, shoving past Code Blue and doing the dash down the hall. Ape calls after Travis, beginning to race after him when he realizes it’s no use using words. Crowley crashes Guerrilla and busts through the curtain, racing down the aisle as the crowd yell out in shock. Travis slides into the ring and blasts the special guest announcer, taking his mic as the audience fully explodes once they realize who’s back. With the pain and shadows overloading his senses, Travis powers through as he runs his hand through his hair.
“SCOTLAND! REVEAL THE JUDAS! REVEAL THE TRAITOR! I WANT ETHAN FADLEY! I WANT MY TITLE BACK, AND I WANT THE HEAD OF THE SON OF ROSES!”
Travis looks down at the announcer, decked out in the dark green suit yelling at him about the main event being in a few minutes. The DeadStar says he doesn’t give a damn, claiming he’ll stay in this ring all night until Ethan comes back with his Intercontinental Championship.
“I don’t think you understand what this is. This is FBE. And what a nigga like me says, is what GOES. BRING ME FADLEY.”
The announcer gets back to his feet, shocked at the audacity. He tells off Travis, asking him if he knows who he is, ONLY TO GET HIT WITH A SSWEET CHIN MUSIC! HOLY FUCK! Travis stares down at the dark green suit tumbling through the ropes as Ape suddenly appears by him, grabbing and telling him they need to go. Travis rips himself free, and grips the ropes, repeating what he said, demanding Ethan Fadley. And speak of the Devil…
… Who else joins them but the Son of Roses. Noticeably without the Intercontinental Championship, Ethan smiles as Travis seemingly gets more rowdy and unhinged, Ape unable to contain the DeadStar. Mic in hand, the former best friend of Highly Suspect asks how exactly they got into the show so late. Ape tries to tell off Ethan while Travis begins to lose control, but it’s no use. Ethan continues to talk, saying regardless of how they pulled it off, he’s glad they’re here to witness the Aether Aces rule yet another night. After last week’s conquest, it’s time for Inferno to embarrass Code Blue and walk out, still World Champion.
“But you didn’t come for that… did you, Cowboy?”
Ethan smirks as Travis trembles with anger, unable to even listen to or recognize Ape trying to hold him back. Fadley knows he’s pushing his former friend to the edge.
“No… I know what you came for… the first challenger for none other than the NEW INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPION… BESTOWED UPON HIM BY HIS FELLOW AETHER ACES… THE HOMETOWN HERO, JAY CASTLE!”
Travis freezes as Jay Castle enters, holding up the Intercontinental Championship in all its glory. Crowley’s pride and joy. After seeing the collapse of REVOLT from a TV screen, falling off the map of relevancy. Only to crawl back, and become Grand Slam Intercontinental Champion. It was all Travis had left. And they TOOK that from him. The King of The Fall locks eyes with Jay Castle, only to get pulled away by Ethan’s words yet again.
“And if you weren’t up to date with the news, Cowboy? Not only has Jay Castle dethroned you for the Intercontinental Championship… he’s going to kill your World Championship aspirations, by knocking you out full stop, FIRST ROUND of the Heyman Classic.”
Travis and Ape take in the news, staring down Jay Castle and Ethan as they reach ringside. With the crowd bursting with energy, and tension rising with every second, Travis sinks into the pain and madness, shoving Ape out of the way as he charges, leaping out to the Aether Aces without a care in the world…
… And that’s when the DeadStar snaps…
Sirens.

Welcome to Green Valley

Four Merry Jaunts Through in the Bumpkin Quest Campaign

It’s a big world filled with far off folks who have far off problems. In the quaint farming town of Hills Furrow that has certainly not been the case. Here life is simple, local, and paced by the seasons. There ain’t been a need for “Venturers” and their ilk since your Papaw was just a sprout. However, the winds of change are blowin, and things are about to git just a bit more exciting round these parts.
Welcome to Green Valley, The down-home home of Rural Fantasy Misadventures and Grass-Roots Shenanigans. The Valley is Filled with Colorful Characters, Brimming with Odd Ball Neighbors, and has more than a few Local Yokels. Welcome to Bumpkin Quest. These adventures are intended to be a series of silly adventures that all go awry in some way or another and stir up trouble throughout a peaceful little village that has in many ways been overlooked by the troubles of the world “outside”.
CHAPTER 1: Green Tide CHAPTER 2: A Cartload of Chickens CHAPTER 3: Marvin the Magnificent CHAPTER 4: High Society
ADVENTURE MECHANICS - Target Character Level: Commoners - Level 1 - Target Party Size: Four Players - Average Adventure Playtime: 1-2 Hours - Tone: Rural Misadventures
I’ve also put these adventures into a PDF that includes our Bumpkin Quest: Campaign Guide which fills in the details of Green Valley pretty thoroughly. The quests are simple enough to be run in any setting you choose, but if you're interested in more the Guide as over a dozen Custom Maps, 70+ NPCs, Location Descriptions, 20+ Local Legends, and Scores of Adventure and Event Ideas. You can grab the PDF Free at the link above.

Hills Furrow

At the center of the Valley sits a patch of small grassy hills, through which the Slow Water meanders through. Built into these hills is the Village of Hills Furrow. Celebrated by everyone living in The Valley and boasting a whopping population of almost 150, Hills Furrow is the center of commerce and social importance. Well, at least as far as the locals are concerned. Realistically it would be less than a blip on the grand scale of things, a mere kernel of wheat in the silo of civilization, but to those who live here, there is nothing quite like living in the “city”.
The Village itself, like the Valley, is predominantly Halfling, and their fancy dwellings are burrowed into the hillsides as often as possible. These dwellings have been family owned for generations only becomeing available if there are no heirs to pass them along to. Other folk live in well kept two story shingled buildings, most of which house a business on the lower floor and house the Shopkeepers and their families above their workplaces, though a few live in nearby homes. There aren’t many “rental” spaces in town, as property is usually bought up quickly by the Halfling Families, but there are long term options at either of the Inns in town.
Hills Furrow: Locations 1) The Crocked Crow (Inn and Tavern) 2) The Dancing Lamb (Inn and Tavern) 3) The Moaning Toad (Tavern) 4) Granny's Groceries (General Market) 5) Get Nailed (Hardware and Distilery) 6) Gimdurh's Hammer (Smithy) 7) Brenra's Mechanicals (Tinker) 8) Hjoldren's Home Goods (Carpenter) 9) Standard Industries (Office) 10) Fit to be Dyed (Tailor) 11) The Last Loaf (Baker) 12) The Cloudy Cleaver (Butcher) 13) Nature's Medecine (Apothecary) 14) Sheriff's Office 15) Green Valley School House 16) The Waterwheel 17) The Windmill 18) The Undercloak Estate 19) Truefoot Burrow 20) The Meadows Family Hill
The people themselves are hospitable and friendly enough, but they do not really trust outsiders. Folks from foreign places are good for trade, news, and little else. Those that come through are treated well enough as long as they don’t wear out their welcome. Locals, well, that’s a bit of a different story. The city and area doesn’t operate under a written caste system or social structure, but there is clearly a pecking order, and family heritage matters a great deal to folks in Hills Furrow. Most locals, whether they’ve gotten an education or not, can easily be classified as simple. It isn’t that they are slow of mind or unintelligent, but more that they are unconcerned with matters the outside world considers important. This sentiment has created a general, but friendly, dislike between those that consider themselves Highfalutin and those that clearly are not.
Well now that I've given you the fifty cent tour. Shall we get on to adventure?

CHAPTER 1: Green Tide

We will open our journeys in the Green Valley at Green Tide, the annual celebration of Winter’s End. This adventure is designed to give a tour of Hills Furrow and introduce them to the locals. It will begin with some chores around their house to prepare for the festival and end with a battle involving an enchanted broom. If you did not do Session Zero, this chapter may take a bit longer as we get to know everyone and their characters.

ACT 1: Pre-Festival

The locals spend the week cleaning out their houses and farms. They gather old junk and unused items to be used later in the festival. They also begin preparing what food is left from winter to be used in a celebration and feasts.
Things to do! - Have the Players clean up junk around the house - Have them Find something strange (Perhaps used for a later mystery?) - Have them Decorate their Broom - Have them run a Household Errand (Meet an NPC)

ACT 2: Sweeping Day

A merry festival celebrating Spring cleaning and putting the past behind them. They form a parade, with one member from each house carrying a brightly decorated broom and using it to symbolically “Sweep Away Winter”. The rest of the family marches their winter’s trash and unused goods down to the Fairgrounds. The goods are often traded, while the trash is piled in the fire pit to await burning later. The entire day is filled with fun outdoor activities. Households also symbolically bring their problems to the bonfires to burn them later.
Things to do! - March in the Parade - Carry Junk to the Bonfire - Meet more of the Locals
EVENT: I Love a Parade
The parade will march North from near the Cross Roads in the South up around the hill and back again to the South where it will head for the Fairgrounds. There isn’t anything particularly challenging about this event, but it would be a wonderful place to start leaning into or building local rivalries.
EVENT: Never Seen a Broom Do That… As they come into the home stretch of the Parade one of the local’s Brooms will animate and take off. It will chase folks around the parade. The players can attempt to stop it, but the broom will flee soon after being attacked. It will fly up into the air, attack a flock of geese, and chase them off until it can’t be seen anymore. They can go and collect a fallen goose if they wish. I highly recommend giving it a motorcycle type sound as it flies around hitting folks. Maybe even going as far as giving it a rough gravel angry voice and letting it insult people.

ACT 3: Winter’s End

Winter’s End is a Combination of Groundhog’s Day and Fasnacht, this day gets a little wild. The Festival kicks off at dawn with the Great Gopher Hunt. Gophers are well known spies for The Voice of Winter and thus need to be hunted before they can tell The Voice to delay Spring. Gophers themselves are quite tasty, and are notoriously bad for crops, so this works out economically all around. Throughout the rest of the day families continue to contribute to the Bonfire Pile which often gets quite large. At dusk a large effigy of The Voice of Winter is placed on top of the pile. Once the sun has fully set they light the fire and burn the Effigy. Folk usually dress darkly during the day and brightly at night. After the burning they feast on sweets and treats that were made from goods saved up from winter storage.
Things to do! - The Great Gopher Hunt - Carry Junk to the Bonfire - Meet more of the Locals - The Fairground’s Activities
EVENT: The Great Gopher Hunt The Hunt begins at dawn and takes place all over the Valley. Locals race to collect as many Gophers as possible. It is easiest to kill the Gopher, but there are some that find that distasteful. Instead they live trap the critters. It is a bit tougher to do so, but an option should your players wish. This is most easily played out as a series of appropriate Skill Checks, in which the higher they score the more gophers they obtain.
EVENT: Trash Removal They may find some locals willing to pay them to help cart junk down to the bonfire pile. Not a lot of skill involved in this, but it is a great opportunity to meet locals, and you could throw a runaway cart at them.
Fair Activities They will probably want to take part in Fairground Activities. Players love these types of challenges. Here are a few ideas you can build on. - Axe Throwin: Basic attack rolls on a Round Target. Higher scores equal Higher points. - Bow Shootin: Basic attack rolls on Moving Targets. Higher scores equal Higher points. - Pig Chasin: Catch the greased Pig! Medium DC Challenge requiring three success before three Failures. - Mud Wrastlin: Nothing says bumpkin like a good Mud Wrastlin Pit. Contested Skill Challenges. - Sausage Eating Contest: Increasingly difficult DC Challenge. Eat till you puke! Can also be Pies or Ribs or Little Fish… you know whatever someone wants to stuff dozens of in their gullet. - Tug O’War: Team Strength Challenge. Three to Five Contested Rolls with opposing teams. - Gopher BBQ Cook Off: A Hard Culinary Challenge to see who can BBQ the best Gopher! - Races: Foot and Mount Races based on Three to Five Contested Rolls. I usually include a few odd mounts like a Giant Chicken or some such nonsense.

ACT 4: Day of Ashes

The Day of Ashes is a day of rest, recovery, and reflection. Locals take the ashes from the bonfires and rub their hands in them to symbolize the end of a hard year’s work and hardships of the past. The day ends with a large family feast, typically Pork. Activities this day are light, but many folks head to the Temple for the Calling of Spring Blessings. They put on their fancies and head down to ask forgiveness for over-indulging in the festival and for worship. Well sort of…
Unfortunately, a lot of folks take this as an opportunity to peacock about and practice their one-upmanship over other locals. If you’re looking for inspiration for their outfits look to older photos of the Kentucky Derby. Over the years this troubling practice has caused more than one fight to break out after the service.
*Things to do! * - Go to Temple and Meet More Locals - Pick a Local Patron!
EVENT: Temple Services
The majority of the town comes to Temple on this day. The service is usually longer, and a bit more “Where have most of you been all year?” But otherwise it is a call for the Divine Blessings to touch their crops and protect their lives. It ends with a ceremony in which the locals put their hands into the ashes from yesterday’s bonfire. Once services end they will head outside, where the trouble will begin. Two of the wealthier families will get into it with each other. Starting with a couple of veiled insults, probably before service and continuing afterward. If one of your players is from a local Rich Folk family then they can be right in the middle of it all, otherwise they will have to pick a side. This choice will determine their house Patron moving forward. Tension will increase until folks start drawing up sides, and then someone will throw a rotten tomato at one of the House Matrons. That will blow the lid off the incident and a yokel brawl will break out. For comedy purposes I recommend the instant appearance of several food carts filled with expired products, and maybe a six year old hustler selling big sticks for wacking folks with. As the locals brawl call for perception checks. Who ever rolls highest begins to hear… The Broom returning!
ENCOUNTER: Stick In The Eye
The broom returns ready to whoop some ash. It will be absolutely bent on cleaning anyone and everyone who is even the slightest bit dirty! If it successfully attacks a character they will have to make a Strength Saving throw or be knocked to the ground and swept clean by the broom. As this would be an awful omen for the year folks are terrified and will be running around screaming. Absolute mass hysteria. If the players were lucky enough to hear it coming they can avoid being surprised by the broom. Otherwise the broom will get a full round to attack before they have a chance to do anything. They’ll have to beat the broom into submission any way they can before it sweeps the whole town into chaos!

CLOSING

After defeating the broom things will settle back down again. Bumpkins are quick to return to normal when things go awry. However, they will have gotten the attention of one of the Wealthy Families in the area and be offered jobs. Which family is really, based on what will work best for them and you as the DM. For gags you might be tempted to have the Yokels pick them up, but that is a hard bit to sustain, and you may be better served keeping them on the side as a comic foil rather than up front. Completely up to you. The session should end with them being invited to meet their new patron tomorrow someplace important.

CHAPTER 2: A Cartload of Chickens

After successfully defeating the Enchanted Broom, our Bumpkins have gained the attention of a possible local Patron. This individual has summoned them to a nearby farm to discuss future work. That work includes proving themselves capable and not just lucky.

ACT 1: Meet the Boss

In this Act the players will meet with their new patron, one of the Family Heads, who that is entirely depends on their choices from the last game. This entire side branch is designed to flavor the background of the campaign, but if you’d rather just have them stay freelancing and independent that’s fine as well. There is also the possibility of “competing” offers should they have second thoughts for any reason. Once they arrive at the meeting spot their Patron will ask them some questions about their ambitions (Class Goals), they will then hand them off to their new “boss” who will assign them their task. They will take them to a nearby barn.
NEW NPC: “Boss”
Needs a fitting name for the Family they work for...
Character wise, what we got here is a standard “Ranch Foreman” character. They’re tough, A little mean, and completely loyal to their employer. They almost certainly chew tobacco (by the handful), have a tattoo of the Ranch’s Brand, and know where all the bodies are buried. They also have a huge and obvious scar on the side of their head where a Giant Chicken pecked a hole in their skull, so they’re not as bright as they used to be, not at all truthfully. Nor are they actually the Foreman anymore, but no one has a heart to tell them. They’ve been quietly downgraded to Chicken Handler, which is something they seem to remember quite well, but the brain damage keeps them from realizing all that. They can be found wandering the Farm giving strange orders to other Hands. These Hands nod politely and then go back to what they are doing.
Things To Do! - Meet Their Patron - Discuss Their Future - Meet Their New “Boss”

ACT 2: Chicken Dance

Boss will lead them into the odd looking barn. This building is filled with Giant Chickens. These two-three foot fouls have extremely exaggerated features, spiky looking beaks with sharp tooth like edges, big darting eyes, bumpy cracked skin, long gnarled talons, and dirty mottled feathers. They’re more beast than bird. But, they’re good for eatin! These creatures should have a stat block similar to an Axe Beak. When the players enter into the Barn the Chickens will go nuts, obviously deeply bothered by the intrusion. Boss will throw in some deer haunches and the birds will tear them apart in a feeding frenzy. They will then put on a Chicken Suit and begin a flapping dance. (Google Magnificent Riflebird) It should be absolutely captivating and the chickens will become mesmerized, watching every move. Boss will then load two dozen chickens onto a large wagon and lock it. They will have the players push the wagon out while he keeps the Chickens calm. Once outside they’ll hang heavy tarps on the sides of the wagon, and remove the suit. He will then explain to them that they need to keep the tarps on the wagon, and keep the birds well fed, or the chickens will get restless and become violent. When they do need to interact with them someone will have to wear the suit and dance to keep them calm. The bigger the person in the suit the better. Boss will then give them a Map of Green Valley and instruct them to drop off two chickens at each of the outer settlements. They have two days to get this done.
Things To Do! - Head into the barn - Witness The Dance of The Chicken - Push the Wagon out - Get the Costume and Delivery Instructions

ACT 3: Bumpy Roads

They will be off to deliver the Chickens to various locations. There is no specific order to this delivery, they just need to pick a route and go. If they’re short on time they can take the country roads that lead between the outer settlements, but these aren’t as well kept as the main roads are. Whatever road they take and wherever they decide to stop for the night there are problems they will encounter along the way. You can make them random or pick the ones that best suit your players. Most of these should at some point require someone putting on the suit and dancing for the chickens to keep them calm. I would also increase the difficulty of each event. If they fail a dance the Chickens will become restless and start attacking the cart until they are calmed down. Too many failures and the wagon’s cage will break and the remaining chickens escape. They will then have to be rounded up and the cage repaired.
Things to Do - Decide the delivery route - Deliver the chickens - Keep the Chickens calm
Possible Road Events 1) Rough roads cause problems 2) Yokels attempt to see what’s in the cart 3) Bad Weather swamps the road or scares the chickens 4) Pack of Coyotes causes trouble. 5) Chicken Rustlers! Protect the Flock! 6) Wagon breaks and needs repair 7) Cows in the road, someone’s herd is out. 8) Broken Bridge, not gone, just broken

ACT 4: Final Delivery

They’re now closing in on the final delivery. Something needs to happen here to cause them to put the suit on. Or maybe they never took it off! I love that idea, that one of your players just loves the suit and wants to be a chicken… lol… Anyway I’m a fan of having them need to get out of the suit for some reason, maybe a bathroom break, or they stand on a fire ant hill, or a snake slithers up their leg. You know something silly and fun. BUT the zipper is stuck! So they’ll have to try and unstick it and fast! Whatever happens they’re going to get shot at by some hunters looking for a big score who have mistaken the flailing caused by the stuck zipper to be the chicken attacking. After dealing with the Hunters they can go ahead and make the final drop. And head home.
Things to Do! - Head for the final delivery - Get shot at! - Deliver the last chickens
ENCOUNTER: That’s a BIG Chicken!
Having two hunters in the field is more than enough to cause a problem for the players. The hunters will almost certainly surprise the players, but you can allow them a perception check, if they succeed they’ll see the hunters just before the muskets go off. It would be OK to down the Chicken Player here if the hunters successfully hit it. They’ll have healer’s kits on hand because, well, this seems to happen to them a lot out here. After the initial attack the players can decide to attack back or try and talk the hunters down. A basic Bandit or Scout stat block should do will for the hunters. If you’re looking for a bit more mayhem, if the hunters miss the players you could have them hit the cage, and you know, bust it open. This may be especially tempting if they
POSSIBLE ENCOUNTER: Big Ol' Frog
So there is a giant frog hiding in the mud down in the creek. If a player takes cover behind the banks there is a good chance that the frog will attempt to nab the player as a snack. If it is successful in grabbing a player with its tongue it will immediately head down river, and they'll have to chase it to get their friend back.

CLOSE

When they return, Boss will reward them. How much will depend on how successful they were delivering the birds. If they did a descent job, they will be paid two day’s wages each. If they were completely successful they can have a bonus. However, if the wagon is in bad shape they might have some money deducted. After they’re paid out, they will be dismissed, and told to expect a new assignment next week.

CHAPTER 3: Marvin the Magnificent

After successfully delivering chickens Boss is going to trust them with a more important task. Their employer has requested an item to be created by Marvin the Magnificent. This is a farming community so having enchanted Farming Equipment is extremely desirable. Marvin has done a lot of basic enchantments over the years, but this new one, an The Stone Skipper, a plough whose blade goes ethereal while in contact with stones too large to push away, has really put him to the test. He needs some help with the final enchantments. The players will have to travel to the Ethereal Plane and hit the Blade of the plow with large rocks. But there’s a problem, they’re going to have mischievous Ethereal Sprites attempting to stop them! If they’re successful, which they should be, they get to take the plough for a test drive, and deal with the strange side effects of the enchantment. Angry goats that blink in and out of existence.

ACT 1: To the Tower

They’ll be summoned out to the Ranch where they’ll meet with Boss again. Once there they will notice a large pile of bent and dinged up plows. Boss will explain to them that a recent land acquisition has become problematic. The Fields are filled with large stones just under the topsoil and they’ve damaged a lot of Plow Blades. The Smithing costs are getting out of hand and so their Patron is looking for an alternate solution to the problem. He is sending them to help Marvin the Magnificent, who has taken the job, but run into some complications and needs some help. They may ask about Marvin. Or perhaps the fields that were purchased, so be ready to answer these types of questions. Once they’re done here they can head to Marvin’s Tower, which is just north of town.
Things to Do! - Meet Boss again - Ask some Informational Questions - Head for the Tower
NPC: Marvin the Magnificent

ACT 2: Marvin the Magnificent

As they approach the tower they should see an explosion at the peak of the structure. It should look similar to a fireworks mishap. When it clears there will be no visible damage to the tower, But Marvin will plummet to the earth just off to the side of them, landing in a small pond. He will then come charging out of the pond, laughing hysterically, and riding on a large turtle. Once he gets a few feet away from the pond the turtle will disappear and he will tumble to the ground right in front of the players. He will leap up quickly and turn toward the players. “Behold Travelers, You stand in the presence of Marvin the Magnificent! And everything you have witness was mostly intended!” He will then strike a cool pose with his wand pointed to the sky! “Now why do you approach my tower!?”
Once Marvin finds out they’ve been sent about the plow he will become more nervous looking. “I see, well follow me. We have work to do.” He will then start walking toward the tower… his boots squishing out water. This should give them a little time to ask a few questions. Marvin will be a little subversive about what they need to do. He will attempt to frame it very mysteriously, saying things like “All will be revealed soon.” and “Save your questions! All Answers await us… in the future!” If they ask him about what they witnessed outside, he will tell them he was working on a mount summoning spell designed for lakes and rivers.
Things to Do! - Head toward the Tower - Meet Marvin - Ask Questions

ACT 3: The Cabinet of Mysteries

The inside of the Wizard’s Tower will be far more mundane than they likely expect. At least on the first floor. It will have a sitting room, dining room, and kitchen, as well as a few odds and ends about. Nothing special at all. The second floor, are Marvin’s personal quarters and some room for study, but it is the third floor, where Marvin will lead them, and it will be more of what one would expect in a Wizard’s tower. There will be books shelves, arcane equipment, and storage for components. In the middle of the room will be a tall cabinet.
:
Marvin will explain to them that the Cabinet is a transportation device, and that he will need them to enter into it with a plow that he has recently enchanted. They will be taken to the Ethereal Plane, and once there they’ll need to take the plow outside and begin hitting it with large field stones. There is a large pile of stones just on the north edge of the tower. They’ll have to do this quickly, before the “others” show up. Who are the others? Hard to say, but there are things that live in the Ethereal Plane that don’t like intruders. The idea is to imbue the Plow with Ethereal Powers so it can pass through large stones while plowing fields. Once they return with the Enchanted Plow, Marvin will have them load it on a cart, pulled by a very smart Donkey, and send them on their way.
Skill Challenge: Enchant the Plow This skill challenge will require five successes before they’re incapacitated by the others. However they decide to do it, they’ll have to successfully hit the plow with five large stones. Failures will result in strange indiscernible entities attacking them. They do minimal damage but could knock people out if there are enough failures.
Things to Do! - Move Through Marvin’s Tower - Enter the Cabinet - Enchant the Plow

ACT 4: Blinking Goats

Upon returning to Boss with the Plow they will be happily greet and paid. Their Patron will be there and will be very pleased with their success. He will ask them to demonstrate the plow’s abilities. Once they get set up out in the field and begin plowing something weird will happen. Every time they hit a stone and the plow’s power activates an Ethereal Goat will manifest and kick or ram the plow, and then disappear. It will feel very similar to what they encountered in the Ethereal Plane. They’ll have to find a way to deal with the manifestations.
ENCOUNTER: Ethereal Goats These goats should function very similarly to Blink Dogs, but I would trim the HP and AC a little to put them in line with the party’s. They will be intent on breaking the Plow not the party, although they will attack the party if they can’t get to the Plow.
Things to Do! - Deliver the Plow - Drive the Plow - Defeat the Ethereal Goats

CLOSE

Once defeated the Boss will come over to yell at them, but the Patron will find the entire thing amusing and more importantly, another impressive demonstration of the player’s skills. He will invite them to the “House” for an important party next week.

Chapter 4: High Society

They've definitely been noticed now and have impressed with their ability, unconventional as it may be. They are invited to their patron's home, but not as guests. Though, they might think they were actually invited as guests! They have been brought in to help work the event held out at the Party Field. They will have to gather party supplies, help put up the tent, and then serve the actual guests. During the evening’s entertainment a hypnotist “The Great Dr Hypnotika” will mesmerize the crowd and attempt to rob them all. Hopefully the players don’t fall victim to her schemes. And if they do oh well, they’ll be entertained all the same.

ACT 1: Special Delivery

The players arrive at the Patron’s very nice property. They will be greeted by a properly dressed servant with a clipboard, the Party Planner. The Planner will be rigid and direct. They will immediately begin tasking them about. If they mention that they were invited to the party the servant will laugh “You didn’t think you were a guest? Oh dear, how embarrassing. You’re the help! It is still a great honor to be tasked to help at the Party, but you’re not guests. Now as for your current task. Head into town and gather these supplies. Bring them to the field by noon.” After the instructions are given the servant will go back to their tasks and expect the players to do the same. They will have three stops; The Crocked Crow for Food and Beer, Get Nailed for the Tent and Spirits, and Shalana Proud-Breed’s Tailor Shop to pick up the Dry Cleaning. Feel free to make any and all of these go sideways! Its a good place to toss in some shenanigans as well! They should also be introduced to Dr Hypnotika and her associates.
Things To do! - Go to their Patron’s Home - Meet the Party Planner and Dr Hypnotika - Run their Errands
NPC: Dr Hypnotika
Dr Hypnotika and her group will perform for the party. Hypnotica is a Tiefling Mezmerist and illusionist. She has an obnoxiously high charisma and some pretty serious skills to back up her claims. However, she uses those skills to beguile her guests, robbing them blind while they are under her spells. She wears a fine robe with a bedazzled headwrap. She has dark upward spiraling horns, light purple skin, and matching eyes. She wears a monocle and walks with a ceremonially carved staff depicting the "Struggles of the Universe". She is extremely persuasive and even more deceptive. Even if someone were to grow suspicious she can easily talk her way out of trouble.
NPCs: Clapper and Bob Hypnotika brings with her two assistants. Clapper the suit wearing Kenku who will perform wondrous displays of mimicry and slight of hand, and her strongman Bob the Kobold. Bob wears a leopard print strongman's outfit and is amazingly swole, particularly for a kobold, and capable of lifting upwards of 400lbs. Bob doesn't do much else other than get hit with things. in the act.

ACT 2: Put up the Tent

After they finish running their errands they will be tasked with putting up a large party tent. This Act is an ongoing Skill Challenge and should have a constantly distracted feel to it. First they have to unpack the tent. Then they have to realize some pieces are missing, they’ll have to form a solution to that problem. After that wind should cause some problems as the tent is at least being pulled up. This is a great moment for some wondrous tom-foolery.
Things To do! - Unpack the tent - Deal with missing parts - Secure the tent during the wind gusts

ACT 3: Put These On

After they finish putting up the tent they’ll be sent to the Servant’s Quarters to bathe and change. They’ll get a little time to explore and snoop if they wish. Afterward they’ll be tasked with helping in the kitchen, but unfortunately the cooks are going to have been playing a drinking game all afternoon and are no longer fully capable of doing their jobs. This would make a great moment for some sort of mini-game where the players have to determine whether or not the cooks are doing the right things. Once the dinner has been completed they will have to serve the guests. This is a good place to insert gossip and help them meet a few other folks.
Things To do! - Get changed for the party - Deal with the drunk cooks - Serve the guests drinks and food

ACT 4: An Evening to Remember

At some point in the evening things are going to start sliding downhill. Some of the locals will have become extremely inebriated and will need to be encouraged to leave, or just moved off to the side as they’ve already passed out, before the show begins. Once the show begins the locals will become fixated on the goings on. “The Great Dr Hypnotika” will have put an additive in the drinks for the that will make everyone more susceptible to her powers of persuasion. Once the show starts she will have them all doing silly things, those who drank have disadvantage on saves against her powers. She will end the show asking the guests to display their most valuable treasure, a with a hypnotic pattern and then send her assistants out to collect those treasures. The players will have to “do something” about the thieves.
Things To do! - Deal with Drunks - Watch the Show - Stop the Criminals
ENCOUNTER: Hypnotika's Gang This encounter doesn't have to be a fight. If Hypnotika is caught she may claim it was all part of the act and simple return the valuables with a "no harm, no foul" type attitude. This will be he go to in an attempt to avoid a fight, but if the character persist in some kind of retribution or punishment the situation will devolve into a combat. Hypnotica herself is an Illusionist Wizard but is low on spells after the show. Clapper is a low level rogue and Bob a Barbarian, and should play out as such. Even with Skills they are combat adverse and will be looking for an opportunity to flee rather than fight. They do have a getaway wagon out front that they'll be headed for if things go south.

CLOSING

We’re assuming the Bumpkins at least attempted to stop the robbery. This will draw a lot of attention to them. Their Patron will be well pleased with them, and let them know they will be getting much more important jobs in the future. The guests will also take note and will begin treating them all a bit better. They’re all essentially Folk Heroes at this point for secondary backgrounds. Their Patron should reward them with something very nice as the party kicks back in. They will need to finish out the nights work of course.

Quest-line Closing

Congratulations! Your Players have completed their first Quest-line! Hopefully it was a delightful experience. But now that they've finished what comes next? Well, here are some ideas.
*Reward Them! * They've been doing some rather Adventurous things lately, and therefore should now have a Class Level under their belt, so the real D&D world now opens to them! Maybe it is time for some real adventuring gear. No more sticks, stones, and burlap sack armor.
Folk Heroes? There's a good chance that the Valley is Speaking the News about them and their exploits while drinking in the taverns. They may have even earned the actual Folk Hero Feat! Maybe someone would be interested in giving them a task!
Simply Go Exploring! There are a lot of places in Green Valley that we only dipped our toes into. You could have them head down to Stinkmarsh, or maybe climb up the cliffs of Longridge. The world (Well, the Valley) is wholly open to them.
Explore Local Legends There are lots of local legends they can look into! Hopefully they search out something that isn't too far over their heads!
Continue Working for their Patron It would be an easy DM go to simply to have them continue working for their current Patron. They've probably been impressive enough fo a family to be interested in keeping them on.
Establish Themselves as Adventurers! Maybe they want to set up a Adventurers for Hire business? This "Heroes Guild" approach is really appealing to a lot of players and absolutely plays into Bumpkin Quest. Just remember, this is a place of low key problems that locals make really big deals out of. So the idea of slaying dragons shouldn't really be on the table... that is until an actual dragon shows up! Which one day absolutely should.

So I'm a first time dm and they're all new players. I'm running LMoP but it kinda got a bit off the rails.
Level 3, they already fought the cave, castle, and are now just entering the red brand hideout. One of the players decided to scope out the place ahead of time alone and wound up going too far in and getting beaten to a pulp and captured. The other players were trying to find their way in.
When I ran the red brand street encounter they predictably fought the 4 thugs but ended up taking them hostage and interrogating them, getting the information. They did so by trying to sneak one up to their inn rooms against the barkeeps request to keep dirty business elsewhere. They ended up just knocking him unconscious so he couldn't scream then quietly carried him upstairs when the innkeep was looking away. They just flat out tortured this dude for info and killed him in the room but not before he could scream for help. Well the innkeep found out, so a player tried to mind sliver him and eldritch blast, so he went to get the guards and now they're kinda not wanted around town, so they had to sneak around to get to the manor.
They ran into some town guards who were wary of new people entering town given the now outlaws who fled that were eyeing their disguises. some of the players decided to attack and kill a guard completely and let another run off.
The whole campaign so far though they've been just ruthless, killing first asking questions later, which isn't an issue to me. If that's what they like then so be it, I'm having fun either way. but I would like them to encounter some challenges with this play style.
Given that they killed a town guard and let another go, what might they encounter once they return to town from the manor to return to Gundren to continue to the cave that he wants them to help reclaim?
Some ideas I was thinking is maybe a funeral service for the guard, increased perimeter watch (though it's a small town and there's only so many guards), maybe wanted in nearby towns after a few days (messengers sent or something), turning away suspicious outsiders (they're all playing non-humans so probably a higher DC for disguises). But I don't want it to be too discouraging for them to just say fuck it and leave town. But also maybe some more immediate threats. I'm not really sure what the townsfolk would think of them. They fought off the thugs, so that's good, but also they're destroying the town, disregarding the innkeep, and murdering their guards

FIFA U20 WORLD CUP
Location: Malvinas Argentinas Stadium, Mendoza
Time: 1:30 PM EST, 10:30 AM PST
Weather: 58F, 57% Humidity, 0% chance of precipitation
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
US U20s
HC: Mikey Varas
Formation: 5-3-2
Starting XI

#	Pos.	Name	Club Team	Event
1	GK	Gaga Slonina	Chelsea
13	RB	Jonathan Gomez	Real Sociedad
5	CB	Brandon Craig	Philadelphia Union
17	CB	Justin Che	FC Dallas
4	CB	Josh Wynder	Louisville City
3	LB	Caleb Wiley	Atlanta United
6	MF	Daniel Edelman (c)	New York Red Bulls
8	MF	Jack McGlynn	Philadelphia Union
16	MF	Owen Wolff	Austin FC	GOAL - 14'
10	FW	Diego Luna	Real Salt Lake	ASSIST - 14'
9	FW	Cade Cowell	San Jose Earthquakes

Bench:

#	Pos.	Name	Club Team	Event
12	GK	Antonio Carrera	FC Dallas
21	GK	Alex Borto	Fulham
18	MF	Obed Vargas	Seattle Sounders
19	ST	Darren Yapi	Colorado Rapids
14	DF	Markus Ferkranus	LA Galaxy
15	MF	Niko Tsakiris	San Jose Earthquakes
7	RW	Quinn Sullivan	Philadelphia Union
20	MF	Rokas Pukstas	Hajduk Split
2	RB	Michael Halliday	Orlando City
11	FW	Kevin Paredes	VFL Wolfsburg

________________________________________________________________________________________________________
New Zealand U20s
HC: Darren Bazeley
Formation: 4-3-3
Starting XI

#	Pos.	Name	Club Team	Event
1	GK	Kees Sims	Ljungskile SK
4	RB	Isaac Hughes	Wellington Phoenix
5	CB	Finn Surman	Wellington Phoenix
14	CB	Finn Linder	Whitecaps FC 2	OFF - 50'
20	LB	Lukas Kelly-Heald	Wellington Phoenix
6	MF	Fin Conchie	Wellington Phoenix
10	MF	Jay Herdman	Whitecaps 2
16	MF	Dan McKay	Wellington Phoenix
18	FW	Ben Wallace	Wellington Phoenix
11	FW	Norman Garbett	Potenza
9	FW	Oliver Colloty	Unattached

Bench:

#	Pos.	Name	Club Team	Event
2	LB	Jackson Jarvie	Eastern Suburbs
3	RB	Adam Supyk	Eastern Suburbs
7	FW	Noah Karunaratne	Wellington Phoenix
12	DF	Everton O'Leary	Birkenhead United
13	GK	Henry Gray	Unattached
8	MF	Jackson Manuel	Western Springs
17	FW	Oliver Fay	Ljungskile SK
19	FW	Kian Donkers	NEC
15	CB	Aaryan Raj	Eastern Suburbs	ON - 50'
21	GK	Alby Kelly-Heald	Wellington Phoenix

________________________________________________________________________________________________________
US Tournament Stats
​

Player	Goal	Assist	Cards
Diego Luna	1	2
Jonathan Gomez	1
Cade Cowell	2
Caleb Wiley	1
Niko Tsakiris	1
Owen Wolff	1	1
Quinn Sullivan		1
Josh Wynder			Yellow (1)
Jack McGlynn			Yellow (1)

________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Scoring Summary
​

Time	Player	Assist	Score
14	Owen Wolff	Diego Luna	1-0

________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Match Events
1' We're off. New Zealand are in All Black. The USA is in All White.
5' First chance of the game and it's for New Zealand. Wallace nearly puts the cutback away after New Zealand successfully found space in the USA box. Gomez blocks the shot and Gaga catches the deflection.
7' Extended VAR check for a potential penalty for handball on the US. The check is long but nothing comes of it.
11' Great scissor kick by Wynder off a short Gomez cross. Very appealing to watch but the New Zealand keeper catches it comfortably.
12' Herdman with a great chance for New Zealand. His shot forces Gaga to dive to paw the ball wide for a corner. New Zealand have put the US under more pressure than any team previously.
14' GOAAAAAAAAALLLLLL USA. A FAIRLY TAME SHOT FROM DISTANCE BY WOLFF JUST SAILS BEYOND THE KIWI KEEPER. WHAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN AN EASY SAVE PUTS THE USA UP 1-0.
45' 6 minutes of added time
HT USA 1-0 New Zealand
46' Second half underway. No subs at half.
48' Brief break as it looks like a NZ player hurt his shouldewrist on a slide. Sub will be coming soon but NZ with 10 for now.
50' First sub of the day for NZ. Raj on for Linder

Discord Name: tealeafy4767
Name & House: Briony Brax Age: 24
Appearance: Briony is a large-framed woman with pale skin. Her hair is light blonde and her eyes a particular shade of auburn green. She often wears ostentatious dresses of purple silk and drips with as much jewelry as she can carry at one time.
Gift: Gossiper Skill(s): Deceiver (e), Burglar (e), Assassin Talent(s): Gaslighting, Creative Nickname Giving, Singing Negative Trait: Obese
Starting Title(s): Lady of Hornvale, the Biggest Unicorn (if you’re a hater) Starting Location: King’s Landing Alternate Characters: Daena Waters
Family Tree: https://www.familyecho.com/?p=T7WPY&c=tjrcbqzhhb&f=235262889631321585

BIOGRAPHY

Briony was born in 183 AC to Cadwyn Brax and Teora Banefort. A few years later in 187 AC, Briony’s younger sister Margot was born. Briony grew up as the spoiled eldest daughter who was as greedy and selfish as a magpie. She had always been a larger-framed, huskier child who grew into an even bigger young woman: an abnormality for her immediate family. The difference was so notable that when she was a child, Briony overheard some sneering servants calling her the ‘fattest unicorn alive.’ Little Lady Briony went crying to her father, who had the servants’ tongues cut out and banished them from Hornvale.
As a result of this experience, Briony grew paranoid that servants and nobles, friends and foe alike were slandering her name behind her back. Thus, she decided that the best defense was an offense. Briony began to engage in gossip, realizing that pointing the finger at someone else meant less attention was given to her (Gossiper). The rumors of her early years were innocuous, but as she grew older and smarter, her methods turned cruel. Not only did she begin to make up rumors simply for the pleasure of watching chaos ensue, Briony realized that a little bit of set up could go a long way in framing someone just so (Deceiver (e), Burglar (e)). She spent years growing up dangling her money over servants and smallfolk who would work as her agents.
Cadwyn Brax was a cruel man himself, and there was something he saw in his eldest child that reminded her of himself growing up. Thus, Cadwyn treated Briony with more favor than he did Margot. Many times, he would lament Briony not being born a boy for Cadwyn was committed to elevating the status of House Brax, and the lack of a male heir grated upon him. Without a male heir, Cadwyn would focus his fathering efforts upon teaching his squire, Robb Reyne, the lessons that he had wished to impart upon a son.
House Brax received its opportunity for regional glory when Margot Brax was married to Addam Lannister in 206 AC. The whole Brax family knew of Addam’s reputation as a drunk wastrel, but a drunk Lannister was still a golden lion after all.
206 AC also marked a year of turmoil between the Brax patriarch and Briony, for Cadwyn had decided it was high time for Briony (24) to be married at last. Cadwyn had in mind a match, which Briony did not favor. But Cadwyn was adamant upon his pick. Briony had seen her younger sister, Margot, forced into an unhappy marriage with Addam Lannister, and feared for what would come of her own match.
Briony understood her father was stubborn, but resolved to have her way in life, as was her right in her eyes. So she put into practice a plan to ensure that she would never be at the mercy of any Brax man. A few moons before the events of the Rosegold Festival, Cadwyn Brax died from a fishbone becoming lodged in his throat (Assassin). Briony had the chef killed for their negligence and made her first decree as the Lady of Hornvale: to ban the consumption of fish in the castle.
Now, as the reigning Lady, Briony intends to honor her father by continuing to elevate the Brax name and stature.

Auxiliary Character: Margot

Appearance: Margot is a thin young woman standing at around 5’6”. Pale skinned, Margot sports long light blonde curls and auburn-green eyes. Whenever she is in the same room as her husband, Addam Lannister, there is a frown upon her face.
Character Name & House: Margot Lannister (nee Brax) Age: 20
Gift: Ruthless Skill(s): Burglar, Cautious, Saboteur Talent(s): Complaining, Criticizing, Well Read on Romance Novels
Starting Title(s): Addam Lannister’s wife Starting Location: King’s Landing
Margot Brax was born in 187 AC as the youngest daughter of Cadwyn Brax and Teora Banefort. Her elder sister Briony always made herself the center of attention. Cadwyn Brax was a cruel, cold man, instilling an unkind streak into Margot, which remains to this day (Ruthless).
Often cast off to the side, Margot found solace in reading books. The types of books her mother liked to keep around, however, were all romantic tales of chivalry and love between knights and ladies. From a young age, Margot hoped that like these stories that she would be swept off of her feet by a dashing, handsome young knight.
More often than not, Margot found herself manipulated by Briony into doing her sister’s bidding. More of a follower than a leader, Margot picked up some tricks of her own from carrying out Briony’s wishes, including petty theft and even a case of arson, which the sisters blamed upon a traveling hedge knight (Burglar, Saboteur).
When Robb Reyne came to Hornvale to squire under Cadwyn Brax, Margot finally met someone who was kind to her. Someone thoughtful who seemed to value her opinion. She came to trust Robb, and part of her even dared to hope that one day her father would marry the two of them.
At the top of 206 AC, Margot’s world fell apart when her father announced that she would be married to Addam Lannister. She knew his reputation and knew Addam to be the furthest thing from a brave knight. Despite her tears and protests, Cadwyn forced Margot into the marriage.
Margot was miserable, stuck in a marriage that neither party seems to have wanted. She began to write letters to Robb, sending them to Jeyne, the keeper of the Golden Sunset Inn in The Arch between Casterly Rock and Castamere (Cautious). She took every opportunity she could to see Robb, and forget her marital troubles.
One of her happiest memories was stealing away with Robb at the Rosegold Festival; an event that ended in tragedy. Margot discovered she was pregnant not long after, eventually giving birth to Tyrek Lannister at the end of 206 AC. Not long after she gave birth, Addam brought home his bastard twins: Kennos and Perianne. Though they are under the care of a maester of Casterly Rock, Margot resents their presence, and believes that Addam brought them to the castle to torment her.
The fall from grace of the Reynes has left Margot heartbroken. She remains in communication with Robb, hoping that one day they will have an opportunity to be together. In the meantime, she at least has Tyrek to love.

Archetyped NPCs

Alan Hill - Swords - A sworn sword for Briony Brax. Alan (28) is a Jast bastard who was raised in Hornvale. He is grateful to House Brax for his livelihood and remains loyal to the newly risen Lady Briony, even if he may disapprove of some of her more questionable doings.
Maester Uthor - Alchemy - A younger maester arrived to Hornvale in 206 AC who appeared conveniently when the old maester of Hornvale passed away in his sleep. Maester Uthor is a devoted flunky of Briony’s who she consults regularly.
^{edit: typos}

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Researchers have developed a self-administered mobile application that analyzes speech data as an automatic screening tool for the early detection of Alzheimer's disease with 88% to 91% of accuracy
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space

• Spiritual_Navigator

One-third of galaxy's most common planets could be in habitable zone
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• DoremusJessup

China will send three astronauts to its Tiangong space station on Tuesday, putting a civilian scientist into space for the first time as Beijing pursues plans to send a manned mission to the Moon by the end of the decade
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• Gari_305

The United Arab Emirates Is Heading for the Asteroid Belt
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Futurology

• mafco

Georgia nuclear rebirth arrives 7 years late, $17B over cost. Two nuclear reactors in Georgia were supposed to herald a nuclear power revival in the United States. They’re the first U.S. reactors built from scratch in decades — and maybe the most expensive power plant ever.
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• mafco

Inflation Reduction Act Sparks a Rural Clean Energy Revival. The USDA announced $11 billion in new funding for rural clean energy projects, with part of the program described as “the single largest investment in rural electrification since FDR signed the Rural Electrification Act into law in 1936.”
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• BousWakebo

Japan will try to beam solar power from space by 2025
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AskReddit

• Routine_Astronaut182

Whats something attractive people can do, that ugly people cant?
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• Quotedkarma

What's an unspoken rule on a first date?
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• Halloween-365

What actor or actress ruins a movie for you?
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todayilearned

• hstarwood

TIL that the early 2000s Nickelodeon children's show, "LazyTown", was not only filmed in Iceland but also one of the most expensive children's show ever made (each episode cost nearly $1 million to make)
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• derstherower

TIL that George Washington only left the present-day United States one time in his life, when he traveled to Barbados with his brother in 1751.
Comments Link)

• Business_Reporter420

TIL in 2018, a middle school in Dallas organized an event called “Breakfast with Dads,” but saw that not all of the students have fathers or father figures to attend the event with. So, they put up a post on Facebook seeking around 50 volunteers. On the day of the event, 600 men showed up to help.
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dataisbeautiful

• the_muskox

[OC] Three years of applying to PhD programs
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• NewWorldCartographic

Chart of Mountains & Rivers -- published in 1862 in Johnson’s New Illustrated Family Atlas
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• m1mag04

[OC] Forbes List of Highest-Earning Musicians: 1987 to 2021
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Cooking

• alaflam23

What’s your cooking tax?
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• disgruntled_bird

Really weird question. But if I use the same amount of ingredients but half the amount of water for a soup, then add back the normal amount of water after cooking, would that be the same if I’d just cooked everything together?
Comments Link

• geniusintx

I finally tried using a hand mixer to shred crockpot chicken. Holy crap! It was amazing! Just took a few minutes! Then, in a moment of inspiration, I used a salad spinner, think it’s been used once before in 8 years, to get the extra juice out!
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food

• gamerskaterchef

[Homemade] Hot Honey Chicken Sandwich, Garlic Fries, & Kimchi Ranch
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• TacoTuesgrey

[I ate] Cheesy Chicken Quesadilla
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• Strawbrary

[Homemade] Spaghetti Carbonara
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movies

• tomhagen

Raiders of the Lost Ark Is Perfect In Its Simplicity
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• More_MP5s

White Men Can't Jump (2023) .... WTF.
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• JimDumDum

‘The Little Mermaid:’ This 1976 psychedelic live-action film could be the best adaptation to date
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Art

• tutusdaddy23

Wooded path, paintwithbram, oil, 2023
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• sasquatchinheat

Sonny, Sasquatchinheat, paint markers, 2023
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• SxDayz

Untitled, SxDayz me , digital painting,2023
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television

• feb914

Streaming services are removing tons of movies and shows — it’s not personal, it’s strictly business
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• RealJohnGillman

‘Scrubs’ — Sam Lloyd’s “Hey Ya”
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• Neo2199

‘Obi-Wan Kenobi’ EP & Director Deborah Chow: “This was conceived as a limited series, it is closed”
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pics

• Traditional_Air_6867

Dinner at a homeless shelter (Sioux City, IA)
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• discipleofdisaster

dinner at a homeless shelter
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• springchikun

Please buy new sunblock if you haven't recently. It can expire (pic of when I learned the hard way)
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gifs

• TegraMuskin

Tomb Of Ancient Egyptian Pharaoh Ramesses VI In The Valley Of The Kings [Year 12th Century BC]
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• WeeDiversity

Funny ass horse trot
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• v78

I drew this pixel art animation and called it "Artist fire" [OC]
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educationalgifs

• aloofloofah

Burrito fold
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• UnlimitedDuck

The eggs of the newts form algae underwater on their surface to produce oxygen, as the embryos require a continuous supply of oxygen to survive. Without the formation of algae, the embryos would not receive enough oxygen, which could lead to their death.
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mildlyinteresting

• SegaTime

This unused casket left outside for trash pickup.
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• gamelover42

This oddly shaped egg that my chickens laid
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• electriclevv

This House on Top of A Warehouse in Syracuse, NY
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interestingasfuck

• Ainsley-Sorsby

Gorillas make vocalisations to express satisfation when they enjoy their food...they are also in a permanent state of flatulence because their food is almost exclusively fiber(a lot of it)
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• Specific-College-194

Iceland, the land where the sun will never set
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• Ciocolatel

Japan’s transparent restrooms hope to dispel stereotypes of dirty public toilets
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funny

• RaiderOfZeHater

Summer in the UK
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• MrStriking

Never lose your girlfriend
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• -YellsAtClouds-

This is why you always bring your glove
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aww

• Bombingofdresden

She thinks she’s looking through a window so she keeps going to look for the dinosaurs in the backyard 🥹
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• Thund3rbolt

His One Ear Is Tuned In To His Favorite Words
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• siriuslyeve

Our 3.5mth-old puppy meeting our 9yr-old bunny for the first time.
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Jace lands at the eyrie where he meets Jeyne Arryn.
Aftermath of Lucerys death
Jace receives news of Luc’s death while meeting with Jeyne. Jeyne pledges the vale to her Cousin Rhaenyra.
Rhaenyra is heartbroken over her son’s death. Daemon swears he will avenge Luc. Corlys and Rhaenys disagree about further bloodshed.
Daemon sends word to Mysaria as he departs for Harrenhal.
Aemond returns home to find King Aegon pleased with his victory at Storms End. To which Alicent and Otto are furious. Aegon throws a feast in his brothers honor.
Mysaria meets with her hired assassins, a former gold cloak and rat catcher, Blood and Cheese.
Velaryon fleet has began a blockade of Kings Landing. Otto sends an envoys to the Triarchy.
Daemon circles Harrenhal and Ser Simon Strong submits to Daemon.
Daemon is deeply troubled with Rhaenyra. Where he meets the local healer Alys Rivers. She gives him a potion to help him sleep. Daemon has a dream of Rhaenyra. But he awakes to find Alys alone with him naked.
Jace reaches Winterfell. Where he is met by Sara Snow.
Lord Samwell Blackwood declares for Rhaenyra. Samwell moves against house Bracken. 2 armies meet at burning mill. Lord Amos Bracken slays Samwell in single combat. Samwell’s sister Alysanne kills Lord Amos. Bracken army retreats to Stone Hedge.
After the kings feast. Alicent is seeing her grand babies off to sleep. When she is met by 2 men. Alicent is bounded and gagged. Blood and Cheese, catch Helaena off guard. Cheese has young prince Maelor and Blood has the heir Jaehaerys. Helaena is offered a choice. Which boy will be killed, Maelor or Jaehaerys. Helaena chooses Maelor and blood kills Jaehaerys. Blood and Cheese take Jaehaerys dead body as proof the job was done. They are caught by Aemond and Ser Criston. Aemond kills blood and Ser Criston catches cheese.
Larys tortures cheese, he admits a woman named Mysaria hired them to kill Aegon’s son. A son for a son.
Jace instantly falls for Sara Snow. He also meets with Cregan Stark. First meeting goes bad.
News of Jaehaerys’s death reaches Dragonstone. All are distraught at Daemon’s actions. Corlys and Rhaena go back to driftmark.
Jace goes to the weirwood tree at night, where he meets Sara. Sara seduces Jace. The next morning Cregan receives the Raven about Lucerys death. Jace is late for their meeting. Cregan Stark assumes Jace is still grieving over his brother. Cregan too lost a brother. House Stark declares for Rhaenyra.
Cregan has Rodrick Dustin assemble team to March south.
Funeral is held for Prince Jaehaerys. Where a food riot breaks out. Ravens also come with news that The Vale and Winterfell have declared for Rhaenyra. King Aegon fires Otto as hand and replaces him with Ser Criston Cole.
Ser Criston commands Ser Luther Largent commander of the city watch. To find Mysaria, Ser Criston also employs bounty hunters in this effort.
Ser Criston orders Ser Arryk to sneak onto dragonstone and assassinate Rhaenyra.
Daemon with help from Lords Darry, Forest Frey & his wife Sabitha. Defeat House Bracken at Stone Hedge.
Jace returns home
Dual to the death between brothers Arryk and Erryk, the 2 are found dead by Rhaenyra and Jace.
Royal Army takes Rosby, the lord kneels.
Corlys arrives at Hull. Where he see’s Marilda, a ship builder. Rhaena meets Alyn a deckhand and his brother Addam. Alyn and Addam escort Rhaena and Corlys back to Dragonstone. Alyn and Corlys have argument about Marilda, Alyn hasn’t forgiven his father Corlys leaving him and his brother. Addam doesn’t know Corlys is his father. Addam believes Laenor is his real father. Corlys is stunned to find a man matching description of Laenor has been sailing to Hull.
Stokeworth kneels to Aegon.
Jace begins looking for dragon riders.
Royal Army combined with soldiers from Rosby and Stokeworth. March to Duskendale.
Otto and Gwayne meet with Triarchy in near Dorne.
Helaena is completely broken.
Jace meets Hugh Hammer a bastard of Baelon Targaryen. Hugh bonds with Vermithor.
Royal Army sack Duskendale. Lord Darklyn is beheaded by Ser Criston.
Ser Criston sends a Raven to dragonstone to inform Ser Steffon Darklyn of his relatives death. Ser Steffon is burned to death trying to bond with Seamoke.
Nettles a local begins feeding the dragon sheepstealer, sheep on a daily basis.
A local drunk named Ulf. Gets drunk and unknowingly bonds with silver wing.
Alyn and Addam attempt to bond with dragons. Addam gets seasmoke, while his brother is burned by sheepstealer.
Alyn is being cared for by Baela.
Daemon returns from riverlands. Daemon and Rhaenyra are confronted by Corlys. About Laenor’s death. Both admit he faked his death with their help.
Rooks Rest
Royal Army lays siege to rooks rest. Which last days, Lord Staunton sends ravens with no answer from Rhaenyra. Rhaenyra is hiding the the messages from Daemon. But can’t hide them from her cousin Rhaenys. Rhaenyra refuses to send anyone else to their death. Rhaenys ignores her cousin. She is seen off by Corlys.
Rhaenys arrives with her dragon Meleys. And begins burning the Royal army. King Aegon and Aemond descend from the sky. Dragon battle, Meleys tears open the wing of sunfyre. Flame from Meleys hits King Aegon. Aemond and Vhagar take Rhaenys and Meleys by surprise. Vhagar kills Meleys and Aemond burns Rhaenys to death.
Nettles bonds with Sheepstealer
Jace takes Rhaena and Joffrey to The Vale
Royal army returns home with Meleys head and Rhaenys burnt body.
King Aegon becomes incapable of ruling. Ser Criston declares Aemond Prince Regent.
Gwayne Hightower and Ser Luther Lurgent find Mysaria at Cock Inn Tavern. Ser Luther betrays Gwayne and kills him on Mysaria’s command.
At Cobblers Square a man named The Shephard. Begins preaching against dragons and injustices of war.
Aemond decides to take Harrenhal back from Daemon.
Ormund Hightower is attacked by Alan Tarley. His nephew Daeron and his dragon Tessarion save Ormund. Daeron is knighted.
Corlys attends to leave Dragonstone after hearing of Rhaenys death. Jace convinces him to stay. Jace needs Corlys to help him plan to send Aegon and Viserys to pentos.
Addam and Alyn company Aegon and Viserys to pentos. As Rhaenyra watches from ashore.
Aemond and Ser Criston arrive to find Harrenhal deserted. Aemond kills everyone but spars a healer name Alys Rivers.
Winter Wolves led by Lords Cregan Stark and Rodrick Dustin. Come across the Lannister Army commanded by Jason Lannister.
Addam and Alyn are stunned to see multiple ships approaching, The Triarchy have come for their bounty, Aegon and Viserys Targaryen.
The End

I hit my head celebrating our 13th place finish on the final day of the 2017/18 season. Back then we had Paul Heckingbottom in charge and Pierre-Michel Lasogga leading the forward line! First thing I did when I woke up was check the current Leeds United squad and I have to say it doesn't look like I've missed much.
I note that Cooper, Dallas and Ayling are all still here but this was unsurprising to me - these were all pretty average mid table Championship players so I suppose that makes sense if that's the level we've been at all these years. Not many academy lads which is a shame. We did have a Leeds-born player called Kalvin Phillips back then who seemed like a really nice lad but a bit of a limited footballer. It's a shame but I'm not surprised to see he is no longer with us, and presumably at Barnsley or Bradford or somewhere along with Tom Lees and Dom Poleon. Anyway, hopefully our recruitment has stepped it up a bit since signing the likes of Mathiusz Kilch and Gianni Alioski. One hardly kicked a ball and was shipped out on loan to some Dutch side, the other put in fairly erratic performances on the wing and seemed a bit... odd. We were never, ever going to challenge for promotion with players like that, and I'm happy to see it looks like they are long gone now.
However, I was delighted to find out Patrick Bamford is a Leeds player these days! I'm really excited to watch him play for us, he was absolutely clinical when I last saw him at Elland Road - scoring a hattrick for Middlesbrough.
I see that Sam Allardyce is being considered for manager next season? That seems about par for the course coming off the back of Neil Warnock, Garry Monk and Paul Heckingbottom. I imagine we've been through Gary Megson, Tony Pulis and Roy Hodgson and the rest of the merry-go-round in the last five years? Personally I'd like to see the club be proactive and hire someone a bit younger with fresh ideas. The likes of Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard must be chomping at the bit to stay in the game and both seem like honourable chaps with an aptitude for management. Last thing I want to see is us being run by an old foreign manager, with no experience of the English game, or British culture in general. You know the sort, they have translators with them to do the interviews because they can't even get to grips with the language. How are players meant to be coached by that? Smacks of desperation and never leads to success.
On another note, I'm glad to see we didn't persist with that horrendous fist badge that was touted, and the owners decided to honour the long established white, blue and yellow colour scheme of the club afterall. I see the Adidas logo on the Leeds website now so I'm excited to see what bangers they've brought out for us! I imagine they're all classics what with Adidas being such a reputable brand.
Anyway, keep the faith, lads, next year marks two full decades since we were last in the prem but I'm sure we'll get back there one day. Imagine how sweet promotion will feel after all these years, with thousands of fans roaring inside a packed Elland Road cheering the boys on. And once we do finally get promoted we will be a big attraction for some major investment as well, and as long as we recruit well, back our managers, don't get tied up in silly off field drama and have professional owners we should comfortably leapfrog the likes of Crystal Palace and Fulham and look to return to the European spots within a year or two.
And until then, at least we know that supporting Leeds will always be better than supporting some no-hope club like Luton Town.
Anyway, MOT lads! It's great to be back!

This highly-detailed report of the strange experience of Len and Cynthia Gisby and Geoff and Pauline Simpson comes from the Strange but True? Casebook (1995) by paranormal investigator Jenny Randles (pp154-163):
No Room at the Inn
Len and Cynthia Gisby and Geoff and Pauline Simpson were firm friends. It was no surprise when in late 1979 they all decided to take a late summer holiday together. The plan was to take the ferry from near their homes in Dover, Kent, and travel through France, sharing the driving and travelling overnight to reach their Spanish holiday destination the next day. Then, after two weeks of early autumn sunshine, they would set off back for England by the same route.
Everything went well until the end of that first long and hot day in France. Len wanted to continue and take advantage of the clear road, but Cynthia and Pauline were growing very weary. Apart from brief stops they had been car-bound for twelve hours and so, somewhere near Montelimar, it was agreed that they should try and find a place that offered a bed for the night, an evening meal and breakfast.
They came off the autoroute at Montelimar North, where a sign indicated there was a motel. Len got out and went to investigate. The receptionist said that unfortunately there was only one room left, but suggested that the visitors try the little back road towards Avignon. There they should come upon a smaller hotel that might have vacancies.
An Old-Fashioned Place
Cynthia remembers what this little side road was like. "It became very quiet. There was fencing along the road. Pauline and I laughed at the old photographs and posters that were stuck on the wall - one advertising a circus."
As the road became just a narrow, cobbled track they began to worry that they were not going to find the hotel. Then a long building, like a barn with an extra storey on top, loomed ahead. Len stopped and went to the door.
He remembers what he found inside: "It was actually a restaurant, and so I went in and asked the chap behind the counter - a wooden counter - if he had accommodation." It took a while to get him to understand, but eventually, despite his limited French, Len discovered that they did have two rooms. Everyone in the car was relieved.
Pauline Simpson took her overnight bag from the car up to the bedroom. "The room was weird," she says. "The sheets were bleached white. They were very thick and large and we didn't have pillows - just a round bolster that went right across the top of the bed." There was only a dim light in the room - no electrical switches. Later, to climb the stairs, they were even given candles! The bathroom was even odder - at the end of a long corridor and huge. But the antique bath was sunk into the floor and the soap was stuck into a metal spike on the wall. The windows to the rooms were just as unusual as everything else in this building, with slatted shutters but no glass.
Downstairs in the dining room Len and Cynthia Gisby were feeling equally bemused. A woman in an old-fashioned dress and a fringed cap asked them what they all wanted. They recognised the word oeuf, meaning egg, and Cynthia ordered that. The women ended up with egg and sautéed potatoes and the men had steak for their meal. Even the cutlery was strangely heavy and basic-looking. Len was particularly impressed by the beer - in quaint old jars with stoppers, and like nothing they had tasted before. Everyone enjoyed their meal.
In the next room some rustic-looking Frenchmen were sitting around a large wooden table and, as Cynthia comments: "We just thought it was old rural France and had a laugh. We thought it was part and parcel of the holiday."
They did not stay long in the restaurant as they were all desperately tired. None of them remembers dreaming and they all fell asleep quickly. The road outside was completely devoid of passing traffic, but Len recalled a whistling or hooting that may have come from a nearby railway line.
story continues in comments

Tuesday, May 23 - Monday, May 29

Highlights

score	comments	title & link
2,125	170 comments	(Highlight) Ed Reed 103-yard pick six vs. Cleveland (2004)
1,961	208 comments	[Highlight] Today marks 105 days until the 2023 NFL Season Starts! Let’s remember this 105 yard kickoff return for a TD by Keisean Nixon against the Vikings last season. Packers win, 41-17.
1,809	143 comments	[Highlight] Kyle Juszczyk drags toes along the sideline for a big gain
1,666	117 comments	(Highlight) Donald Penn gets into it with Jared Allen, gives up sack to him on the next play.
1,276	91 comments	[Highlight] Today marks 103 days until the 2023 NFL Season Starts! Let’s remember when Cordarrelle Patterson broke the record for most NFL kickoff return TDs in a career on this 103 yard kickoff return for a TD against the Bears last year. Falcons win, 27-24
1,245	72 comments	[Highlight] Vikings FB C.J. Ham makes a diving catch on 3rd down, which turns into the longest play of his career
911	26 comments	[Highlight] Today marks 102 days until the 2023 NFL Season Starts! Let’s remember this 102 yard kickoff return for a TD by Jamal Agnew against the Broncos in 2021. Broncos would win though, 23-13.
898	43 comments	[Highlight] Today marks 101 days until the 2023 NFL Season Starts! Let’s remember when a 33 year old Andre Roberts ran back a 101 yard kickoff return for a TD against the Broncos back in 2021. Chargers win, 34-13
748	70 comments	[Highlight] Today marks 104 days until the 2023 NFL Season Starts! Let’s remember when Cordarrelle Patterson tied the record for most NFL kickoff returns for a TD in a career on this 104 yard kickoff return for a TD against the Vikings back in 2020. Vikings would win, 19-13.
709	80 comments	[Highlight] Treylon Burks makes a game-ending deep catch over Jaire Alexander before taunting his height
685	397 comments	[Highlight] Dallas penalized for pass interference; refs pick up flag (2014 playoffs)
649	60 comments	[Highlight] Today marks 106 days until the 2023 NFL Season Starts! Let’s remember this 106 yard kickoff return for a TD by Alvin Kamara against the Buccaneers back in 2017. Buccaneers win, 31-24.
510	44 comments	[Highlight] Today marks 107 Days until the 2023 NFL Season Starts! Let’s remember Josh Huff’s 107 yard kickoff return for a TD against the Titans back in 2014. This was his first career NFL TD and the longest in Eagles franchise history. Eagles win, 43-24

 

Other Videos

score	comments	title & link
956	219 comments	[OC] How Matt Patricia burned the Patriots Offense to the ground. | Film breakdown of how Patricia struggled to design plays that worked
647	51 comments	[OC] The Tampa-2 is a lie.

 

OC

score	comments	title & link
647	113 comments	[OC] A Comprehensive Guide to Pro Football Video Game Covers

 

Top comments

score	comment
5,014	jimmyhoffasbrother said It helps to have endorsements from every brand on the planet too.
4,963	JoeyRobot said Can you imagine if he and AB had just kept their shit together for a couple more seasons.
4,381	Rapey_Keebler_Elves said Might as well eliminate the kickoff at this point. The NFL won't though, because it's an opportunity for extra commercial breaks.
3,650	ThatInception said This is as blatant as you can be without actually saying the words “We’re tanking”
3,485	emmasdad01 said Eased? Unceremoniously tossed in the trash.
3,439	Jd20001 said Calling him a free agent and not a former player is very generous
3,347	OrangeForeign said Known successful team the Detroit Lions
3,326	kellybobellyhtown said While having to stay home during Covid, my little nephew decided to write 30-40 NFL players to see if anyone would write him back. One did. Jimmy Garoppolo. He sent some signed stuff, wrote a letter, ...
3,290	Chaz_Maracaz said College fans, does this mean you can fair catch on a kick off, at the 2 yard line, and it comes out to the 25?
3,171	Misdirected_Colors said Idk why a player would ever have a non certified agent. It's such a sleazy business and the league is like "here's a list of guys we know won't fuck you over" and players are like "nah I'd rather use...

 

Awarded Posts

score/comments	awards	title & link
429 - 80 comments	1 All-Seeing Upvote, 1 Gold	[OC] 14 quarterbacks have had 20% of their total yards come from running the ball in a single season. This Bears QB holds the record with 47%. Here's a graph of all 14 QBs and the 22 seasons where they were at 20%+
793 - 1,217 comments	1 Gold	What is your most "my team is cursed" moment that you remember?
5,001 - 730 comments	1 To The Stars	[Steel Here podcast] Former Steelers RB Le'Veon Bell finally admits he made a mistake: "It was like a little petty, the guarantee stuff. I’m thinking could I have just ate it, yeah, I probably could’ve, yeah, I probably could’ve really ate it."
1,072 - 813 comments	1 Gold	[Offseason Post] Who would you say is the “Tim Duncan” of the NFL?

 

Awarded Comments

awards	score	comment
1 Gold, 1 Take My Energy	1	NFL_Warning said The amount of incels in here is too damn high.
1 NFL SB Ring	1,624	Frigglefragglewaggit said The correct answer here is probably Ed Reed.
1 Take My Energy	42	pyreal_ said It was reported that he came back, people just don't care about that. It's the same reason retractions and corrections mean fuck all. People read the first one and run with it. We're all getting...
1 Silver	2,113	pyreal_ said Thankfully, this should make way for an easy path toward getting the correct name in place for the team.. The Washington Department of Football
1 Gold	-25	mjdntn01 said I never had a problem with Redskins.

 

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My party arrived in vallaki, and were committed to protect ireena, but things have gone south pretty quickly, and have no idea how to keep going from there without completely ruining their lives. A little backstory, so if you are reading, kuros, sylda, arc, venti, get the fk out
They arrived to borovia invited by strahd, some of them signed by borovia burgomaster, but ofc it was strahd who invited them. Soon enough, they found out that strahd is a vampire, and tricked them into coming to borovia, and are since then trying to get out, but the mists have blocked the first attempts. They escaped from the death house, killed doru and the local priest of borovia village, leaving it without a religious figure in charge. They were supposed to go to vallaki to bring ireena there, being considered a "safe place" from strahd, and at the same time find a replacement for the village's priest. During the travel they saw and entered the old bonegrinder, finding out the secrets behind the dream pastries, and fled before being able to retrieve the holy symbol of ravenkind, in the top of the mill. Once they arrive to vallaki, the first day is pretty normal. Exploration, throwing some plot hooks here adn there, like the political war between baron vallakovic and lady watcher, the stupid laws of the place, and the vistany encampment up north. They correctly recognized the presence of a madame eva treasure in the burgomaster house (the central piece of the ravenkind symbol), and the tome held by the elf at the encampment, and were determined to get them. From this point on... things went a bit south. Ireena suggested the idea to go meet the burgomaster in a "diplomatic encounter" to talk about the city and asylum for her, and the party insisted to go with her. The druid wild shaped into a spider and crawled up, and successfully stole the piece of treasure from the top floor. Unfortunately it took him too long, and the maid got suspicious of the long time it took her in the bathroom, so she opened the door, and found nothing. Guards were allerted, izek arrived, and combat has been averted by the slightest margin:
The bard got everyone asleep, izek arrived, and thinking the party killed the baron was ready to attack, but a nat20 deception by our goblin player managed to convince him that the party actually saved them from a conspiracy made by Lady Watcher to assassinate the burgomaster.
in the meantime, when the smell of combat was close, they sent ireena and two guards to the inn, not wanting her to be caught in the crossfire. Needless to say, Vasili von Holtz, that the party got to know pretty well and didnt doubt him, took ireena and brought her to krezk, leaving a letter that the player read and deciphered the hand writing, being the same as their invitation letters. In the letter, it was told they would be back in 5 days, but they didnt waste time and stormed off to the chase.
The local priest arrived, told them about the bones, but they disregarded the request and took off to krezk
In the meantime, the city guards and izek assaulted and burnt down the house of lady watcher, and a civil war has erupted.
my players are very well aware of the situation they created, and i find myself confused and out of ideas on how to proceed.
TO sum up, they:

• Didn't go to the winery. they do know the problem of the city, and both the innkeepers and the vastany north asked them to solve it, the first for free accomodation, the second for gratitude and treasure.
• Didn't investigate on the missing child from the vastani encampment, and i think i'll just let her drown since they dont seem to be looking for her, and making the scene of "you arrive and see the boat with the child slowly drowning" is not credible for the timeline they chose
• Didn't help the priest find the bones of Sant andrew, leaving the church deconsacrated
• Created a massive political war, destroying the balance between the burgomaster forces and lady watcher's. (here i tought strahd would intervene sooner or later to intervene in favour of the cult, but have no idea how yet)
• Didn't get the tome from the wounded elf in the vastani encampment
• Got ireena captured by strahd, albeit he was disguised as a trusty nobleman that ireena grew to appreciate a lot
• Didn't solve the problem they created by killing borovia's village priest
• Completely disregarded rictavio as a character, naming him a "simple bard with no music talent", altough i presented him multiple times to the player and underlining his presence was somewhat important

They are not that new to dnd, they played a couple of adventures, but this is the first time they follow a long-lasting module, but with all the plot hooks they missed, i'm unsure on how to keep this adventure going. I feel like 2+ months of roling has burned to dust, and i fear that the adventure might end prematurely, leading to the players not having fun for the finale they ultimately created.
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Any suggestions on how to manage this situation? i want this group to keep going and have fun at their pace, but seeing how they skipped the 2nd longest module of the adventure in 2 sessions... i'm unsure on how to keep going
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Thank you in advance fellow DMs and Players for the suggestions
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damn this post ended up being long
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Tl:Dr - my players caused a civil war in vallaki disregarding all the plot hooks they got thrown at, got ireena kidnapped by strahd and now are chasing her to krezk. Need ideas on how to keep the sessions interesting and the campaign lasting.

King’s Landing, 161st Year After the Conquest
The city of King’s Landing had grown quickly since its founding, with all the growing pains that that entails. No longer the smallest city in the Kingdom, it remains smaller than Lannisport and Oldtown. Jaehaerys the Conciliator and his Queen did much to ease those growing pains. The Dance had both helped and hindered that growth, with many dying in the strife of that war, but the damage also allowed for bigger, better buildings to replace those lost in the years of peace that have followed.
Three hills dominate the skyline of the city. The highest, Aegon’s High Hill, named for the founder of the city, is home to the Red Keep, and dominates the south east corner of the city. This fortress replaced the earlier Aegonfort and took a total of 10 years to complete (35 AC - 45 AC). It’s name comes from the red stone that it is made out of. Renovations have occurred since then, but as a whole it is much as it was completed then. Map (Ignore the Maidenvault, it doesn’t exist (yet?)) Below the Red Keep, fine accommodation for the nobles not living atop the hill can be found; the higher up the Hill the finer it would be.
The Hill of Visenya, named for the Conqueror’s elder sister, dominates the south west of the city, though it lies entirely within the perimeter walls. At its summit stands a large sept, built in the reign of Aegon the Conqueror and sponsored by the High Septon of that time. It has endured where other structures have not, and much like the city it serves as developed somewhat in piecemeal. It remains an impressive structure, though not the finest in the realm amongst septs. It does not cover the whole summit; a square is also present in which the Faithful may gather on certain feast days, or for other major events held at the sept.
The Hill of Rhaenys, named for the Conqueror’s younger sister, dominates the north north east of the city, though it too lies entirely within the perimeter walls. It was once crowned by a magnificent sept, built in honour of Rhaenys after her premature death in Dorne in 10 AC. A towering structure, it was fortified by the Faith Militant then subsequently destroyed by King Maegor I Targaryen during the spell of confrontation between that King and the Faith. In its place, Maegor ordered the construction of a great domed structure to house House Targaryen’s dragons. Unsurprisingly, it was known as the Dragonpit. 77 Dragonkeepers were tasked with guarding it, though given the scale of it they are likely not the only people there. It was badly damaged in the Dance of Dragons, though much of the detritus of that conflict has been cleared, and the Dragonkeepers reformed, along with the other groups that work there. The dome remains unreplaced as yet, the King’s priorities being elsewhere.
The perimeter wall of King’s Landing is roughly rectangular in outline, with turrets near evenly spaced along its length. It is pierced by a total of seven gates, for the Seven aspects of the One God. Anticlockwise from the Red Keep: Iron Gate: Coastal Road to Rosby, Duskendale, Staunton and beyond Dragon Gate: Inland Road also going to Rosby, Duskendale and beyond Old Gate: Cross Country Road through the Fertile Crescent of the Crownlands Gate of the Gods: King’s Road (North) for Harroway and beyond Lion Gate: Gold Road for the Westerlands King’s Gate: Access to the river upstream of the docklands, with the road going east to meet up with the Gold Road before crossing the Blackwater upriver. River Gate: Access to the docks, for both connections abroad and ferrying across to the King’s Road (South) for Storm’s End and the Rose Road to Oldtown, via Bitterbridge and Highgarden.
Beyond the walls are the suburbs; much ravaged by the war, you would not be able to tell so now, having returned to their vibrant form of yesteryear. Mainly located around the gates other than the River Gate, they primarily cater to the poorer members of society, though there are also more respectable establishments to cater those late arrivals that miss the closing of the gates for the night.
The bulk of the city is dominated by squares & plazas, the broad tree lined streets that run between them and the narrower alleys that branch off them both. Trades tend to cluster around the first two, though not exclusively. Fishmonger’s Square is just inside the River Gate, and is where a market selling fish can be found each day. River Row leads from East and West of Fishmonger’s Square, to the King’s Gate and the foot of Aegon’s High Hill respectively. The properties of those who work in or around the sea can be found here, be they merchants, insurers or shipbuilders. The Square of Staves can be found in the lee of Aegon’s High Hill, and is the domain of the coopers, who supply whoever needs them. The most popular inn is called the Cooper’s Court. The Street of Steel goes from Fishmonger’s Square up the Hill of Visenya. The higher up the hill you go, the more expensive the smiths are. It continues down the far side of the Hill to join the God’s Way. The God’s Way connects the Central Square and the Gate of the Gods. The Street of Sisters connects the Hill of Visenya to the Hill of Rhaenys, reaching the top of each. The Central Square is at the centre of the city, and is the largest square. It is where the Street of the Sisters, the King’s Way, the God’s Way and the Blackwater Way meet. There is also a road leading to the Iron Gate. The King’s Way connects the Red Keep and the Central Square The Blackwater Way connects the River Gate and the Central Square The Hook is a curved street that connects the two, sweeping around in a long arc to do so. A fashionable inn is found where it meets the King’s Way at the lower reaches of Aegon’s High Hill. The Street of Flour contains numerous bakeries. It runs around the south eastern side of the Hill of Visenya. The Street of Flies contains many butchers. It lies on the Hill of Rhaenys about halfway between the Dragonpit and Flea Bottom. The Street of Silver lies below the Street of Steel on the western side of the Hill of Visenya. It is home to the jewelers and workers of silver and gold. The Street of Silk lies to the north west of the Hill of Rhaenys, and is home to many houses of pleasure. The Street of Seeds lies to the north east of the Hill of Rhaenys. It is home to not only sellers of grains, but also of flowers and their bulbs. The Street of Looms lies in the north west of the city, running parallel to the northern wall. It is home to numerous weavers, along with other processes associated with that industry.
Flea Bottom is the poorest area within the city, consisting of tightly packed slums criss-crossed with narrow alleys. It lies between the road to the Iron Gate and the southern foot of Rhaenys’ Hill. Woe betide anyone of worth who goes in there, for they are unlikely to come out again.