This is how we roll now

The Missus or should i say, the player is asleep. As it usually is, it signifies the end of a session.

Just now was the shortest session ever so far. I think it ran for about an hour.  I did however, manage to cram a new side quest  and a random encounter involving a semi-naked old man chasing down a tailor halfway across town. Apparently, the tailor pricked the old man's balls in a fitting session hence the chase with bloody underpants and swirling hoe.  A roll of 16 and noble background  averted combat. Resolution comes with ice on balls and alcohol for the aggrieved old man, still clad in his bloody underpants.

I have heard of Dungeons & Dragons before. I have watched the old animation series of it back when it was aired at Metrovision i think. (The now defunct channel 4.) However, i have never thought the day would come when i would immerse myself into the world of table top role playing game. To be more exact; Dungeons & Dragons.

It began when i re-read my bootleg .pdf copy of Dresden files series. One of the book (I can't remember which one) starts off with the titular Harry Dresden playing a role playing game with the Alphas (which was what the vigilante werewolves chose to call themselves), rolling dices, slinging out spells and swinging really sharp things at people and monsters.

Then, something in me clicked.

I was at one of the lowest point of my life. The black dog growls deepened and my shoulders sagged heavy with his weight. Money was really low back then and Number 2 was barely a week old. Day job felt like a dead end, my calling a dry spell after the last  rejection. So it was only natural for a family man to worry about the money, especially when money was not forthcoming. There were some thoughts about ramming something with my car and be done with it but the thought of the kids kept it at bay. (Thank God for that). The kids however, did not keep the black dog from baring his fangs and trying to cow me into submission. Every day was a battle to keep him leashed. So when i read that opening part in Dresden Files, *click*. The dog ceased its barking in amazement.

I immediately did my own reading on the subject matter, starting on the most famous and as it was touted, the greatest role playing game ever: Dungeons & Dragons. I trawled the Net for reading materials, skimmed through Youtube tutorials (which was also how i found out about the live play show, Critical Role).  In a short span of time , i had my own dice set, scoped out possible hangout place to link up with players, got my hands on the bootleg .pdf of the core rule books (which i mean to buy once i have the right amount of money. Content creators should be paid for their efforts!) and strong-armed the Missus into letting me run a homebrew campaign for her. It was around that time the Arsend Campaign began.

What of the dog then you ask? Well, i would like to believe that he cocked his head slightly in the beginning and sat down and wagged his tails as i spun yarns about a sheriff in western themed town in a make-believe world.

The money came in again, not as much as the years before but it came in nonetheless. We get by. I don't get self-destructive thoughts anymore.  The black dog tries to flex his muscles from time to time but most of the time i get to batten him down with a simple line: i got to get prepared for the day when the boys will join me and the missus for a session. So i did. I wrote more contents be it Non-Player Character backstory or world building, dream up a wacky encounter or possible plot hooks. Anything, Man. Anything. I am not the best of Dungeon Master right now but i am getting there. Slowly. Also, the Missus is slowly sinking into the world which is good enough for me.

D&D got me dreaming up stuff again. Got me writing again. It made me sketch stuff again. Something i have not done in ages. Mostly maps and layouts of locations and dungeons, for now. Maybe i will start on living things next, people and monsters and animals. D&D also made me happy, which is a big deal for me because the continuous battle to make ends meet and to keep the family and the firm afloat and to keep myself sane at the same time is numbing. I think the Missus can see that even if she does not speak a word of it.

So whenever the boys are asleep and we are not too tired, i would ask her; would like to roll the dice tonight?

So this is how we roll now.