#wizard of wines winery

[curse-of-dming-strahd]

okay throw out all my notes, forget vallaki, forget whatever bullshit I had planned for krezk, forget the dragon quest and whatever's going on with Ireena

WE GOTTA SAVE THIS FUCKING WINERY

thank god, I can't trust my players to care about NPCs enough to fulfill their sidequests but I can count on them to be deeply invested in the only place that makes booze in barovia.

[tadfools]

bee hello!! <3 <3 do you have any hcs for astarion's birth family? supposedly if they're elves they could still be alive...

This is longer than I meant it to be but you said my name so I love you anon and have unlocked an info dump that I've been sitting on for 2.5 years. This got away from me but the tldr is his mama's are named Aneirin and Juliana

I actually have a fic cooking right now about after the game's epilogue with his parents in it. Not to get too sidetracked, but my Tav is a necromancer, their son is dead and yet apparently saved all of the gate so... they come a knocking under the pretence that necromancer brought their dead son back as a thrall, pain comedy ensues (it'll be great i promise)

Astarion's only about 240 years old if we're taking the time he's been dead into account (high elves reach full maturity around 100 if you go by 5e rules and can live up to an average of 750)

I think his birth mother is on the soft side of 500 and with him being a magistrate, the Ancunín's come from money. Despite him having a grave in Baldur's Gate, I think his family resides in Evereska (its a big elven city) I've seen a few people ruminate over the possibility of him being a moon elf but... I don't know, there's something about him being ripped from the sun in every possible way that means so much to me. There's a part with the dark urge where he talks about not giving up freedom for all the gems in Evereska (i'm paraphrasing from memory here) I used that as an excuse to have him be from that city

Aneirin is the name I'm using for her in the fic and I think before he was taken from the sun and put under so much stress that his hair greyed, that he looked just like her.

Beautiful brown eyes that shine like copper under the sun but meld into a rich earth in the night. Her suntan skin is covered in freckles head to toe, her long curly hair is always kept within a neat braid which is coiled into a bun at the base of her neck. There’s a streak of grey woven through the curls

She has always been a kind woman, born into the higher echelons of society, she married an older elven man quite young named Tiberius at her parent’s behest to secure a business merger. Aneirin refused to take his last name. While they were always cordial to one another, there was no love shared between her and Tiberius but the son they had, Astarion, was the light of her life. There was no greater joy than hearing that of her son’s laughter. He loved her dearly and had promised to answer the sending spells she would toss his way after leaving Evereska – until he abruptly stopped

I think the Ancunín’s are skilled wizards, though Astarion falls into the arcane trickster category for me. If during the game his last name was ever mentioned, I fully think Gale would have had a wash of dread flow through him. The family keep to themselves yes, but that name is known through higher arcane circles

Tiberius died when Astarion was just a boy, there were never any memories to solidify him as Astarion’s father. But there was a wood elf woman named Juliana who always had a mischievous smile that kept close to the side of his mother. She was the one who taught Astarion on how to pick a lock, to balance on the heel of his foot as to not be noticed. She was the one who showed him how to wield a bow – much to his mother’s chagrin

Juliana has wine dark hair and is hardly ever seen without a ring on each finger. Tall and lithe, she glides through the room as if she were a shadow. Mischief incarnate, little Astarion took to her like a duck in water

Juliana and Aneirin met in their twenties at a ball - or a banquet (the two can never remember) Juliana’s family ran a renowned winery, Aneirin always fancied wine. And while Aneirin’s title forced her to marry Tiberius, the two women were never far from each other. After his death, she became a patron of the winery

I have a story beat where at the Last Light Astarion picks up an old bottle of red wine absentmindly and in gilded font it reads ‘Aneirin Red: dagger sheathed bow no longer notched; may the sunlight guide you home’ It *failed skilled check* strikes no chord in his mind

[anantplayingdnd]

in honor of your davian’s untimely death i bring you news from my party, who headed to the wizard of wines when i was NOT expecting them to:

they skipped davian trying to flag them down at the entrance, and had to barricade themselves in the winery due to the blight siege. they then determined that the best way out was to empty all the stills onto the floor, lure the blights inside, and then light the puddle of alcohol and dead wood.

the resulting fireball was visible from argynvostholt. the winery’s leveled. they didn’t exactly side with the people raising wintersplinter, but they did just do their job for them.

whoops!

oh. oh no.

that is... not good (for the people of Barovia, obviously this is incredible for you as a DM who gets to dish out consequences like green been casserole on thanksgiving).

DMs whose players fucked up their relationships with the Keepers unite!!

[magspy]

Ask game?👁👁

🦂 and 👕 for Solas, but you can pick any other OC of yours! (I hope I got the emojis right : animals and design)

Animal symbolism is one of the most interesting forms of it for me personally, so I'd really love to learn more about your characters on that matter.

Long one because I can ramble about Solas for hours

🦂 - animal symbolism

Ermines and spiders. 

Ermine: Wealth, inheritance.

Solas inherited both his familiar and the family orchard and winery from his mother. Lady being an ermine is in part because I wanted something that could offer comfort (soft fur), and just kinda constantly be around Solas with him still being able to keep his hands free. So she most often just drapes herself over his shoulder. I also wanted something a little more posh, and whenever I try to picture Solas' mother, it's in the form of her oil painting in his study, which to me looks a lot like Da Vinci's "Lady with an Ermine".

While not associated with ermines in general, Lady is a living symbol of Solas' connection to his mother and him carrying her legacy (quite literally on his shoulders at times).

Spiders: Fear and loss.

They symbolize the goddess he reluctantly pays respect to in order to remain safe, as well as how he lost his last remaining family member. On the day of his 100th birthday (when elves in dnd are generally considered adults) Solas got the news from the servants that his father had been attacked and killed by a drider while traveling.

I'm hoping to share a bit more about Solas' father later this month.

👕 - character design symbolism/inspirations

Oh this one's a doozy.

Solas started out as the main antagonist of a one-shot I DMed, where he tricked the party into investigating the fake haunted house he had built, while telling them that it was real. He just wanted to see if it was authentic enough to trick real adventurers.

(He had all the wards in place and no one should have gotten hurt. How could he have known that the party's barbarian reacts poorly to certain types of magic.)

Anyways, that in mind, I wanted the party to be at least a little bit suspicious of him, but for the wrong reasons. So I leaned as far into the vampire esthetic as I could for him while keeping in mind that he's really just a drow with his own wine business. (Early drafts included Lady as a small white bat. I don't remember why I dropped it.)

Please enjoy some old old art of him (After the one-shot, but before the redesign)

He then later became a player character, which is where the main outfit in this piece came into play.

Solas' little haunted house stunt had made one of the party members so angry that they used a favor with Bregan D'aerthe to have him kidnapped and his memories altered so he couldn't remember that he was a wizard. For a month or so, Solas worked as a bartender.

The new outfit is pieced together from the outfit he wore during that, as well as the morning coat he wore the evening he was kidnapped (now shortened slightly for convenience).

@alienturnipp 's redesign kept the same ideas, but added some needed flair<3

Some additional notes:

- The embroidery on Solas' underdark outfit is meant to mimic shapes from the surface (stars), while looking more like spiderwebs, to allow him to fit in back home.

- The sunglasses are enchanted to project a thin layer of night around him, since his intolerance for sunlight is quite severe.

- The locket with some of his mother's hair is an heirloom and a small contingency plan on his mother's end. Just in case Solas ever becomes strong enough to potentially bring her back.

- Solas lost his original spellbook during the kidnapping. The new one is a remodeled copy of a book the party's bard stole from the haunted house and returned to him once he was free to go.

[sabbathbloodysabbeth]

Eddie’s fangs poke out as his curls dance along with the wind. Tilting his head back as he gathers as much fresh air as he physically could. Smelling the salt of the ocean, that burns the back of his throat a bit as he balances with ease on the highest post. One that was inhumanly possible to reach. But yet here he was, staring at the ocean reliving a dream that he once had. A sick Deja Vu effect as he looks down scanning the few men on board. Moving and throwing himself to the next post that was unable to be seen by his men. Hidden by the flags and sheets that flew in the air. Glancing down in search for him.

Tilting his body he closes his eyes, searching the ship with his eyes closed. Smirking when he recognizes the familiar heartbeat he craved to feel against his tongue as he drained the boy of blood. But he won’t. As much as he wanted to. Even though it was like destiny, two freckles on Steve Harringtons neck constantly teasing him. Even now as he comes out of the winery (where Eddie placed his heartbeat) carrying cases as he rambles about something to his close friend Robin. Moon shining against his face in such a heavenly way it made him want to devour Steve.

A soft growl rips through the night, moving like mist Eddie finds himself hidden in the shadows. Hanging upside down as he begins to eavesdrop on the twos conversation. Wrapping his wings around himself like a bat. Like a cloak as he says hidden in his own world. Keeping himself hidden from the boy whose hands are now flying in the air. After setting the box of wine down on the ship floor. Voice starting to go loud, loud enough for Eddie to hear but soft enough for only Robin and Steve.

“Only People who like boobies do that!”

“Ewwww, Gross! Don’t say boobies!”

“Boobies! Not a big deal okay! I like Boobies, You like boobies, Chrissy most definitely likes boobies. And she’s a witch Robbie! There is nothing straight about being a witch. Name one witch that we have met that has been entirely straight.” Steve’s hand now lands on his hip as Eddie has to hold back laughter. Feeling the presence of Gareth slowly creeping next to him. Not saying anything yet.

“Well there was.. there was Argyle!” Robin spits out.

“Oh he doesn’t count and you know it, for one he’s a wizard. Two, he loves boobies just as much as us even before he transitioned. He just hated his own, which does not count in this situation Robin. And you know it.” Steve’s glaring at her now before he adds. “That and we made out that one time at that bar in Italy which by the book makes him not straight.”

Eddie feels like he’s going through whiplash trying to keep up with this conversation as Gareth groans. “Please don’t eat this one, I actually like him.” Before he’s walking away as if nothing happened. Playfully slapping Robins shoulder as he passes.

“Sorry to break the news to you but Chrissy doesn’t likes boobies.” Robins whole deamenor deflates. “She loves them just as much as she loves thighs.” Gareth grins in a teasing manner as proceeds to head to his bunker. Already knowing that once Chrissy caught wind of what he said, he was going to end up sounding like a thirteen year old boy again. When in reality he was only three years younger then Eddie’s twenty.

Meanwhile, Eddie watches the two dorks that somehow landed on his ship begin to bicker more as they head in their own direction. Most likely to the bottoms of the ship where their own beds lay.

[endlessly-cursed]

A Lifetime With You

A/N: Happy New Year's! 2023 brought me many good and bad things, but the opportunity to welcome Alys @cursedvaultss and be her friend and create this beautiful ship has been the highlight of the second half. What started like a silly little idea of mine has become this fic, which is now my favourite. Happy 2024, Alys! Here's to more creating and fangirling around <3

Summary: The Somerset family celebrates Christmas, and Edward has a great gift for Akelda.

Word Count: 2.6k

Pairing: Akelda the Tragic x Edward the Valiant

Type: Modern AU, holiday fic

Characters Involved: Henriette of Wessex, Frederick of Kent ( @that-scouse-wizard ) Odalric the Red, Denegifu of Scotland, Juliana of York, Cuthfelda of Ireland, Hilda the Smith, Agatha of Kent, Elfreda (Alys)

Characters mentioned: Respective pairings of the siblings

Taglist: @hphmmatthewluther @gaygryffindorgal

Rating: PG

It was early in the morning when the Somerset house became a mess of cooking, moving furniture and barking orders. Akelda, still cuddling in Edward’s arms, hummed and shifted so she’d cling even more to his warm body.

Not letting go, Edward mumbled “My love?”

“Hmmm.”

“We have to get up and help them.”

“Five more minutes.”

Edward smiled, kissing her cheek to see if he could stir her awake. No reaction, still asleep. He kissed her again, making more noise. She chuckled but didn’t budge. He gently poked her and she groaned in complaint. Then, he moved to her collarbone and made a farting sound. She yelped, bolting awake “Hey!”

“Rise and shine, my little blossom.”

She giggled, grabbing a pillow and hitting him playfully with it. He laughed, retaliating easily. Soon, a pillow battle ensued, both chasing one another in Akelda’s rather spacious room, both yelping and laughing, feathers flying around. Seeing that her pillow had faded away, she shrieked and started running away, but he was quicker and picked her up, covering her in kisses as she yelled and giggled, her short platinum hair all over his face. Both falling to her puff, with Edward on top of her, they both relented, giggling and breathing heavily.

“Alright, alright, I’m awake!”

He kissed her nose, making her giggled “Good morning to you too.”

They suddenly became aware of their position and were about to kiss when Juliana opened the door and called out “Bone later, come help now!” And left.

After a minute of silence, they both looked at one another and burst out laughing “I suppose we should face your family.”

“If we must.”

They both got up and, sporting matching pyjamas, went downstairs, where Akelda’s parents were cooking at least three different dishes as Denegifu helped Odalric move furniture and Hilda, as usual, did it on her own. Agatha was decorating alongside Juliana, and Cuthfelda was setting the table. Henriette looked at her daughter and smiled “Ah, you two are awake! Why don’t you help out by picking the wines from the winery? Here’s the list.”

“Alright. At what hour do we get ready?”

“Guests will come at five, so be ready before then!” Frederick responded.

Hand-in-hand, they both went downstairs, to the slightly illuminated winery and Akelda started reading aloud the needed alcohol “Let’s see: mulled wine, Chardonnay, champagne, gin, scotch and a negroni.”

“Good Lord, how much alcohol do they need?” Edward mused.

“Given the length of the family, their partners and families…”

Edward shook his head “I swear, if I have to watch Juliana flirt with that poor married man again…”

“It seems that his wife doesn’t mind.”

“Gross.” He winced.

Akelda giggled and kissed his cheek, and he quickly softened at her touch. As they reached the wine section, without needing a word, Edward easily prompted Akelda up and she picked the oldest wine there, from 1903. She handed him the wine and put it on the bag. They did the same with the rest among laughs and jokes from Edward, and often taking breaks from having Akelda piggyback on him. Of course, Akelda kissed his supposed ‘boo boos’, though she knew it was an excuse for her to kiss him. An excuse she gladly took.

After they were done counting and checking, they both sat for a bit. Akelda sat on his lap, and he stroked her arm, both in comfortable silence, lazily kissing their cheeks.

“Who knew picking wine bottles would be a workout?”

“Don’t you go to the gym often?” She jested.

“Yes, though I don’t have my girlfriend on my back most of the time.”

Akelda sticked out her tongue and he pecked her on the lips. Gazing onto her, he knew that it was time. His mother was coming over after years of made-up excuses to not come, and after much talking, they agreed: he and Akelda had been together since their third year at Hogwarts, he was basically another one of the family and was crazy about Akelda. And Akelda was crazy about him. They’d be graduating soon.

Finally, what seemed like Dene and Juli arguing again broke them from their trance, they both sighed and went back upstairs, where her sisters were yet again arguing.

“It is my dress! You know that purple is my colour!” Juliana shouted.

“You’re not the only one who dresses in purple! Besides, what are you, the inventor of purple?”

“No, I am the owner of it!”

“Girls, please…” Frederick pleaded, but went unheard.

Akelda clapped hard “Time out! Dene, explain what’s going on.”

Dene sighed “Juli has lost sight of her dress and is, of course, blaming me for it, despite knowing that my dress is white, not purple.”

“I tried to check on her wardrobe, but she wouldn’t let me!”

“Why?” Akelda asked.

“Because it’s my room, and thus my property!” Juliana shouted.

“Why don’t Akelda search for it? It’d be neutral property. I can supervise.” Edward proposed.

“What do you think?” Akelda asked.

“Fine by me.” Denegifu conceded.

“But none of you will be there. Go back to your chores.”

Both sisters sighed and went on. Akelda and Edward both went to Dene’s room, and Akelda searched for it while Edward stood watch. No sign of Juliana’s dress. Mostly clothes of white, black and cream, and no purple in sight.

They tried Juli’s room, and it was a mess to say the least. Edward even had to help with it, and searched on the top shelves of her massive wardrobe. There were old phones, sheets, hidden food, small chests of her private stuff, old dirty magazines but no dress. Akelda looked down the bed and found many purple garments, but no dress.

“Godric, even her thongs are purple.” She mumbled.

Edward grimaced “Gee, thank you for the image.”

Akelda giggled and gave him a tender kiss “Is it gone?”

He pretended to think “I don’t know. Care to double check?”

She shook her head but kissed him anyways, this time longer, and he quickly placed his hands on her waist, deepening the kiss.

Of course, Juliana walked in again “Ugh, can you please not make out in my room?” They separated and asked “Did you find it?”

“Nope. You have everything purple here save a dress. If you don’t count last year’s dress.”

They finally tried one last room where the servants washed the dresses, and Akelda spotted a lilac fabric. There it was, all cleaned up and hanging ready “Mystery solved, Watson.”

Edward hugged her from behind and kissed her temple “That’s my girl.”

She gave it to a happy Juliana, making her promise to apologize to Dene, and she relented. Edward and Akelda went back to their room, which had a door that communicated with the other so they’d be spending time together whenever they wanted, courtesy of Odalric for her seventeenth birthday. Both started changing into their evening clothes. Akelda would wear a baby blue dress that sparkled, alongside long star earrings, her grandmother’s ring and a pearl choker that Edward bought her with some of his savings as a three-year anniversary gift.

Edward, on his part, dressed up in his red suit, which Akelda had helped design and which she always remarked how handsome he looked and how much she loved it. Dropping into his pocket the special gift, he put on Akelda’s favourite cologne and straightened his collar and brushed one more time his hair, wanting to look presentable for his love and in-laws. And, of course, his mother. Taking a long breath, he whispered “You got this.” And met Akelda outside.

His eyes widened at the sight before him: she was a winter goddess, with her sparkly blue dress hugging her figure, a V-neck decorated with fur, her hair slicked back and with two fur gloves that reached her elbow, and her equally frosty makeup. “Akelda, you look… perfect.”

She kissed his cheek, leaving a mark of her pink gloss on his cheek that he would not wipe out “And you look very handsome.”

He offered his arm and she accepted, encountering Odalric already dressed in white and gold, and Denegifu, who wore a illusionary dress that looked like she was naked and covered in diamonds, a certain replica of a dress from Marylin Monroe.

Coming downstairs, Hilda and Agatha were already there. Hilda was wearing a suit with a vest, showing off her muscles, and Agatha wore a simple yet cute pink dress. Her mother wore a white dress with a plunged V-neck that was covered by a long boa of fur, and her father wore a black suit with his hair perfectly brushed. Cuthfelda followed, with a royal blue dress and her hair in a complex hairdo. Juliana was yet to come, probably wanting to make an entrance. Akelda, noticing her boyfriend’s sudden queasiness, squeezed his hand and kissed his cheek, easing him. It worked, but his shoulders tense once his mother, Elfreda, made an entrance. She was wearing a cute blue dress and greeted the hosts. When it was time to greet her son, she hugged him warmly and exchanged knowing looks. She turned to Akelda and smiled “You look beautiful, dear. This shall be a night to remember.”

Akelda looked at her, then back to her boyfriend, who shrugged. When the next wave of guests arrived, Juliana made her entrance, wearing a very revealing sparkling purple dress. Akelda whispered that tomorrow she’d wake up with a terrible cold, and Edward chuckled “Her dress is certainly something, but doesn’t hold a candle to you.”

“Don’t let Juli hear that, or this will be a long night.”

He chuckled. He hoped it’d be a long night, but for other reasons.

The dinner party had winded down, and guests had started mingling, some of them already tipsy. With one look at Frederick, who nodded, he was quick to whisk away Akelda away from her mother, who winked him good luck. They went outside, and he of course offered his jacket. They started walking.

“Where are we going, my love?”

“To the greenhouse.”

“Why?”

He smiled “You’ll see.”

When they reached the doors, he covered Akelda’s eyes and started walking her to the place he had set up earlier that night, when Akelda had been once again helping Agatha with her homework. When they reached the destination, he took off his hands and she looked around, gasping. It had been decorated with a beautiful desk, and her comfort food instead of the dinner’s finger food. In front of them was the fountain, that read ‘I love you’ in sparkles. Akelda looked at her boyfriend “You replicated the dinner where you asked me to be your girlfriend?”

He nodded, and she quickly covered his face in kisses. He laughed “Hey, I’m not done! Sit down.”

He pulled the chair for her and served the cheesy gnocchi they tried on a family vacation to Parma, and she quickly dig in. She moaned, savouring the dish “Mmm! How did you replicate the recipe of the restaurant?”

“I may have reached out to the chef and beg him to give it to me for a special occasion…”

She kissed his hand and they talked for a bit about everything, commenting the flowers. Glancing at his clock, he knew that midnight would strike at any minute. He had two minutes to say the words.

He looked at her well. The moonlight on her face, the reflect of the water on her silver hair and the flowers surrounding him were enough to shoot his shot. He took her hands and cleared his throat “Akelda… These past seven years have been challenging: my mother back, the dispute of my father, the Battle of Hogwarts, your illness… it was all rough for me, and I was scared many times, but there is one thing that kept me brave: you. Seeing you smile through the pain, face it all with grace and kindness, and your love is what has made me braver, and everything that I am today is thanks to you.”

“Edward—,”

“Being your boyfriend has been the best thing in my life, and I am more than sure that you’re the woman of my dreams. I…” And then, midnight struck, and the rare flowers he had ordered bloomed, the room shining. He got on one knee and showed the blue sapphire ring Akelda always mused about having someday “Akelda Eunice Somerset, will you spend the rest of your lifetime with me?”

Akelda stood there, tearing up at such beautiful words, and broke into a smile “Edward, yes… YES!!”

Trembling of emotion, he placed the ring on her finger and got up. He kissed her as he grabbed her by her waist and spun her around, both crying of emotion and kissing each other. He whispered “I am the happiest man alive.”

“So am I.” She whispered back.

They kissed again, this time passionately, their emotions and lips doing the talking for them. His hands traced her neckline, then her back, drawing circles on her sides, just as hers tugged at his wild hair before they descended on his neck and chest “I love you so much… I can hardly breathe when I’m around you.”

“Please do. I need a live groom when I walk down the aisle.”

They both laughed and he kissed her again, dipping her as he deepened the kiss, his hand getting a grip on her leg, drawing gentle circles “I don’t want to get out of here.”

“Neither do I. I want to freeze time and stay here forever.”

“Then let’s not go yet. Stay here with me.”

“I plan to.” He whispered before kissing her again, laying her on the floor gently, not ready to be parted from her yet.

When they finally went back to the mansion, Edward was grinning widely and Akelda was shining as brightly as her sapphire engagement ring. All the guests looked back at them and he took her hand triumphantly, showing the ring “She said yes!”

Their parents cheered, and the sisters started squealing and going over to her sister, gazing at her ring as they gushed on how it had gone. Frederick and Edward shook hands, and Henriette and Elfreda hugged him warmly “Welcome to the family. Both of you.”

Akelda embraced her parents and her mother-in-law, smiling widely “I’m happy to have a girl like you on my family.” Elfreda said.

“And I’m happy to be part of your family as well.”

The party finally ended an hour later, and the newly engaged couple walked back to their shared room. He kissed her ring “I can’t wait to be your wife.”

“And I can’t wait to spend a lifetime with you.”

Akelda smiled “I’ve got you something, but I don’t think it’d be as grand as this,” she raised her palm, showing her ring. Edward smiled.

“Whatever it is, I’ll love it.”

Akelda grabbed the small gift and gave it to him. He opened it and admired it. It was a pair of golden cufflinks with red and blue gemstones. The red one had an ‘A’ on it, and the blue one had an ‘E’ which each looked like Akelda and Edward’s handwriting. He beamed “My love… it’s beautiful! I don’t know how to thank you!”

Akelda smiled “How about you cuddle with me tonight? As a starter.”

He smiled, picking her up and both setting into her princess bed together.

They fell asleep, with a hopeful promise of a forever together.

[brookstonalmanac]

Holidays 11.23

Holidays

Arethusa Asteroid Day

Armed Forces Day (Lithuania)

Asian Corpsetwt Day [Every 23rd]

Big Help Day

Can You Find Your Old Rubik’s Cube and Still Work It Day

Chicory Day (French Republic)

Color Photos Day

Cutty Sark Day

Doctor Who Day

Do What the Heck You Want Day (Oklahoma)

Family Volunteer Day

Felt Day

Fibonacci Day

Flag Day (Niger)

Flipbook Day

Giorgoba (St. George's Day; Georgia)

Hadakambo Festival (Japan)

International Day of the Word

International Day to End Impunity

International Image Consultant Day

International Polyamory Day

Jukebox Day

Kinrō Kansha no Hi (Labor Thanksgiving Day; Japan)

Life Magazine Day

Madison Beer Day (New York)

Monkey Banquet (Thailand)

National Adoption Day

National Day to Combat Child & Youth Cancer (Brazil)

National Margaret Day

National Polyamory Day (Canada)

National Survivors of Suicide Loss Day

Nursing Support Workers Day (UK)

Old Clem’s Night (Blacksmith Festival)

One Cup of Tea Day (Japan)

Paranoia Day

Pencil Sharpener Day

Repudiation Day (Maryland)

Rudolf Maister Day (Slovenia)

Seng Kut Snem (Meghalaya, India)

TARDIS Day (Dr. Who)

Thankful For My Dog Day

Thespius' Day (Greek Mischief Ghost)

Traffic Police Day (Kazakhstan)

Virtual Reality Day

Wolfenoot

World Watercolor Day

Food & Drink Celebrations

Eat a Cranberry Day

National Bar Day

National Cashew Day

National Espresso Day

Independence & Related Days

Luxembourg (Separated from Netherlands; 1890)

St. Charlie (Declared; 2008) [unrecognized]

4th Saturday in November

Holodomor Remembrance Day (Ukraine) [4th Saturday]

International Aura Awareness Day [4th Saturday]

Salacious Saturday [4th Saturday of Each Month]

Sandwich Saturday [Every Saturday]

Sausage Saturday [4th Saturday of Each Month]

Six For Saturday [Every Saturday]

Spaghetti Saturday [Every Saturday]

Weekly Holidays beginning November 23 (3rd Full Week of November)

Sherlock Holmes Wekend (thru 11.24)

Festivals Beginning November 23, 2024

Burbank Winter Wine Walk (Burbank, California)

Cheese and Chocolate Weekend (Chisago City, Minnesota) [thru 11.24]

Cheese & Meat Festival (Portland, Oregon)

Festival of Trees (Methuen, Massachusetts) [thru 12.7]

Holiday Celebration and Winter Market (Rapid City, South Dakota)

Holiday Fineries at the Wineries (New Paltz, New York) [thru 11.24]

Holiday Light Parade (Baraboo, Wisconsin)

Jingle Bell Chocolate Tour (Jackson, New Hampshire) [thru 12.22]

Magnificent Mile Lights Festival (Chicago, Illinois)

Maine Harvest Festival (Bangor, Maine) [thru 11.24]

Monkey Buffet Festival (Lopburi, Thailand) [thru 11.24]

Mount Clemens Santa Parade (Mount Clemens, Michigan)

Natchitoches Christmas Festival (Natchitoches, Louisiana) [1.6.2025]

New York Craft Brewers Festival (Syracuse, New York)

Serbian Food Festival & Bazaar (Lenexa, Kansas)

Stockholm Christmas Market (Stockholm, Sweden) [12.23]

Tokyo Filmex (Tokyo, Japan) [thru 12.1]

Wi-Does Wine Walk (Eagle River, Wisconsin)

Yankeetown Art, Crafts & Seafood Festival (Yankeetown, Florida) [thru 11.24]

Feast Days

Alexander Nevsky (Repose, Russian Orthodox Church)

Amphilochius, Bishop of Iconium (Christian; Saint)

Chiron’s Day (Pagan)

Clement I, Pope (Roman Catholic Church, the Anglican Communion, and the Lutheran Church)

Columbanus (Christian; Saint)

Daniel (Christian; Saint)

D'Aranda (Positivist; Saint)

Derek Walcott (Writerism)

Erté (Artology)

Feast of Qawl (Speech; Baha'i)

Feast of the Wizard-Blacksmith (Saxon; Everyday Wicca)

Felicitas of Rome (a.k.a. Felicity; Christian; Saint)

Fountain of Riddles (Muppetism)

Frederick Nietzsche Day (Church of the SubGenius; Saint)

Fred Wah (Writerism)

General Debauchery Day (Pastafarian)

Gregory of Girgenti (Christian; Saint)

José Clemente Orozco (Artology)

Konstantin Korovin (Artology)

Marc Simont (Artology)

Mary Brewster Hazelton (Artology)

Miguel Agustín Pro, Blessed (One of Saints of the Cristero War; Roman Catholic Church and the Lutheran Church)

Niiname-Sai (Japanese Grain Festival)

Paulinus of Wales (Christian; Saint)

Shinjosai Festival (Rice Harvest; Celebrating Granddaughter Goddess of Solar Deity Amaterasu; Japan)

Stendahl (Writerism)

Trudo (a.k.a. Trond or Troll; Christian; Saint)

Wilfetrudis (a.k.a. Vulfetrude; Christian; Saint)

Woofenoot (Pastafarian)

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Lucky Day (Philippines) [64 of 71]

Tomobiki (友引 Japan) [Good luck all day, except at noon.]

Premieres

Against the Grain, by Bad Religion (Album; 1990)

Areopagitica, by John Milton (Pamphlet; 1644)

Another Brick in the Wall (Part 2), by Pink Floyd (Song; 1979)

Arthur Christmas (Animated Film; 2011)

The Artist (Film; 2011)

The Atrocity Exhibition, by J.G. Ballard (Novel; 1970)

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, by Roald Dahl (Novel; UK 1964)

Chinese Democracy, by Guns ’N’ Roses (Album; 2008)

The Dance Contest (Fleischer Popeye Cartoon; 1934)

Devotion (Film; 2022)

Doctor Who (UK TV Series; 1963)

Doggystyle, by Snoop Doggy Dogg (Album; 1993)

The Expanse (TV Series; 2015)

The Exterminator (Terrytoons Cartoon; 1945)

The Favourite (Film; 2018)

Fish and Chips (Chilly Willy Cartoon; 1962)

Flying Colours, by C.S. Forester (Novel; 1938)

For Those About To Rock We Salute You, by AC/DC (Album; 1981)

G.I. Blues (Film; 1960) [Elvis Presley #5]

Glass Onion (Film; 2022)

Hugo (Film; 2011)

Inner Workings (Disney Cartoon; 2016)

It’s Only a Flesh Wound or Better Lead Than Dead (Rocky & Bullwinkle Cartoon, S6, Ep. 322; 1964)

Just Friends (Film; 2005)

The Lonesome Stranger (MGM Cartoon; 1940)

Love in a Cold Climate, by Nancy Mitford (Novel; 1949)

Moana (Animated Disney Film; 2016)

Mouse Trouble (Tom & Jerry Cartoon; 1944)

The Muppets (Film; 2011)

Mrs. Parker and the Vicious Circle (Film; 1994)

My Sweet Lord, by George Harrison (Song; 1970)

No Smoking (Disney Cartoon; 1951)

Pretty Peaches (Adult Film; 1978)

Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck (Novel; 1937)

Pride & Prejudice (Film; 2015)

Scrooged (Film; 1988)

Small Fry (Pixar Cartoon; 2011)

Strange World (Animated Disney Film; 2022)

Tampopo (Film; 2016)

Tea For The Tillerman, by Cat Stevens (Album; 1970)

The Ten Commandments (Film; 1923)

Terms of Endearment (Film; 1983)

The Three Musketeers (Hanna-Barbera Animated TV Special; 1973)

Tito’s Guitar (Color Rhapsody Cartoon; 1942)

Wednesday (TV Series; 2022)

The Worrying’ of the Green or The Look of the Irish (Rocky & Bullwinkle Cartoon, S6, Ep. 321; 1964)

Today’s Name Days

Clemens, Columban, Detlef (Austria)

Aleko, Aleksandar, Aleksandra (Bulgaria)

Klement, Kolumban, Lukrecija (Croatia)

Klement (Czech Republic)

Clemens (Denmark)

Kleement, Leemet, Leemo (Estonia)

Ismo (Finland)

Clément (France)

Clemens, Columbia, Detlef, Salvator (Germany)

Amfilohios, Elenos (Greece)

Kelemen, Klementina (Hungary)

Clemente, Colombano (Italy)

Zigfrīda, Zigrīda, Zigrids (Latvia)

Adelė, Doviltas, Klemensas, Liubartė (Lithuania)

Klaus, Klement (Norway)

Adela, Erast, Felicyta, Klemens, Klementyn, Orestes, Przedwoj (Poland)

Antonie (Romania)

Klement (Slovakia)

Clemente, Lucrecia (Spain)

Klemens (Sweden)

Augusta, Augustina (Ukraine)

Clem, Clemence, Clement, Clementina, Clementine, Crecia, Lucrecia (USA)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 328 of 2024; 38 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 6 of Week 47 of 2024

Celtic Tree Calendar: Hagal (Hailstone) [Day 28 of 28]

Chinese: Month 10 (Yi-Hai), Day 23 (Xin-Mao)

Chinese Year of the: Dragon 4722 (until January 29, 2025) [Wu-Chen]

Hebrew: 22 Heshvan 5785

Islamic: 21 Jumada I 1446

J Cal: 28 Wood; Sevenday [28 of 30]

Julian: 10 November 2024

Moon: 43%: Waning Crescent

Positivist: 20 Frederic (12th Month) [Campomanes / Turgot]

Runic Half Month: Is (Stasis) [Day 2 of 15]

Season: Autumn or Fall (Day 62 of 90)

Week: 3rd Full Week of November

Zodiac: Sagittarius (Day 2 of 30)

[mx-lamour]

hello i demand to know ezra more! (answer as many/little as u want heehee)

freeform questions 🔥

favorite type of spoon

favorite ice cream

favorite hard and/or soft beverage

a flower, plant, gem, stone, and/or etc. you associate to ezra

birth month / season

hard or soft pillows?

fav type of clothes/style to wear

fragrance/scent you associate to ezra

would ezra use something magical-tumblr-esque if it existed in barovia?

Oh man, these are some weird ones for Ezra. Let's go! 🔥

spoon You know what? I don't think Ezra really uses spoons. He hates wet food, so there's not really much occasion to use them.

ice cream He has probably never eaten ice cream either. I bet he would be willing to try it, but it would be a pretty weird experience. (Cinnamon flavor seems a likely choice for him.)

beverage Ezra is a whiskey guy. The Barovian tuika (or Romanian țuică, a plum brandy) is pretty good, but he thinks of it more as a dessert drink.

flower/gem/etc. Very specific: the orange gem from the Wizard of Wines winery, which he Catapulted into the sky so the sun would return to Barovia. In return, the fae spirit of the sky granted him the sun's heat (so our lil' fire genasi sorcerer ignores other creatures' fire damage resistance).

birth month/season Ezra doesn't know. He just found out that he was born in Avernus - do they have seasons there? I think he just keeps track based on how many midwinters he's survived; subconsciously goes by the natural rebirth of the sun. (Best guess is actually November, which is not far off.)

hard or soft pillows? I think he's so used to sleeping on his arm or his backpack that he would be more comfortable laying his head on a hard pillow. If you gave him a soft pillow, he'd end up sleeping on something else but would hug the pillow to his chest the whole time. bonus: Ezra makes soft little crackling noises like embers when he sleeps.

clothes/style Kind of that Dickens era poor immigrant vibe, but less dissheveled, with boots, and his little red-tinted glasses. He tries his best to look presentable with what he has. When he was more adamant about disguising his genasi appearance, he would wear more layers to hide as much of his ashen gray skin as possible. But now I like to think casual Ezra takes off his gloves and coat when he can, and rolls up his sleeves to his elbows.

fragrance/scent That woodsmoke/tar smell you get on your clothes from sitting around a campfire; "amber"; old vellum; clay earth; yesterday's bread; dried mugwort

useof somethingmagical-tumblr-esque [Will update with an answer, but you'll have to explain to me what you mean by this. I am not familiar.]

[barovianchickenandwaffles]

Barovian Tales: Berry Road

(author’s note: something that just popped into my head this morning… enjoy!)

So, there I was during one long, busy shift when disaster struck. I ran to the pantry to get more berry syrup when I realized that we were out.

“Looks like you finally ran out of luck, boss,” wailed the ghostly form of Viktor former intern.

“Not on your life… er, unlife.”

“Gary”, my Illithid barista, stalking silently behind me as he usually does, said telepathically, “János sent a message. He’s delayed in Kartakass and won’t be in Barovia until Thursday.”

This is bad. If my trusted Vistana courier doesn’t arrive on time, then there’s no way to get supplies of berry syrup. Fresh berries certainly don’t grow in this forsaken land.

Except in one place.

“Gary, hitch up the cart,” I said as I took my crossbow from its hook on the wall. “I’m going out.”

Only the Devil Strahd and his elite minions own horses in Barovia, so us peons have to make do with donkeys. However, we Barovians are resourceful, and the underground donkey-cart racing scene is alive and well. So, to evade werewolves and chase down deadbeats I owned a modified V8 donkey which I dubbed the Profit Pursuit Special.

I strapped myself in, and holstered my crossbow. Gary handed me the reins.

“No customer-eating this time,” I said.

Gary said nothing verbally but appeared crestfallen. His eldritch, beady puppy-dog eyes looked up at me.

“Fine, but keep it discreet will ‘ya?”

His tentacles wriggled eagerly.

I fired up the donkey and was off.

Once I passed out of Barovia Town I was on my own. Traveling the roads of Barovia is always dangerous alone, but it was a race against time and there was profit to be had. I would need to get to the Wizards or Wine vineyard before nightfall and back again.

Passing the Tser Falls and that creepy gallows that shows your image hanging there (we locals call it the “star attraction”), I ran into trouble: I heard the galloping of horses, several of them.

As the horses caught up to me, I could soon hear the whooping and hollering of a gang of marauders. I looked back. Teenage vampire spawn, decked out in leather, spikes and mohawks.

I wasn’t going to lose to these punks. I kicked the donkey into overdrive and put some distance behind us. As we approached the first gate on the Svalich Road, I realized that this was all a trap. The gang had tied a rope across the gate.

I yanked the reins and swerved my donkey up the left hillside and around the gate just in time. The gang shouted blasphemous, infernal curses at me, but gave up.

“Eat my waffle dough!” I yelled back laughing.

Passing Vallaki, I was tailed by a silent, floating phantom in a tattered grey death shroud.

I swerved one way, then another, double back and even risked overheating my donkey to get away, but the phantom wasn’t deterred. It loomed closer and closer until it came up beside me.

“Excuse me, good sir,” it said in a shrill nasally voice, “can you give me directions to Barovia-Con ‘27?”

I pointed back. “Er, that way.”

“Thanks!” said the phantom and it flitted away. I didn’t bother to tell him that Barovian-Con ‘27 was 15 years ago.

I passed another checkpoint and turned left away from the village of Krezk. Hopefully, my rival Vlad, owner of Barovian Weiners and Pancakes, would not detect my presence on his turf.

A pack of werewolves pursued me on the last leg of the journey, but a silvered crossbow bolt to the head of the pack leader put an end to that chase. They were probably more bored than hungry and went off in search of easier prey.

Finally I pulled up to the Wizards of Wine Winery.

Since I usually get my syrup from outside Barovia and make my own moonshine anyway, I rarely do business with these guys, but desperate times and all that. They knew me, but it was a frosty relationship. I explained my need of fresh berries and after some haggling they agreed to sell a few bushels.

When I inspected the berries, I found some of them still green and unripe, others with fuzzy mold on them. They smelled pungent more than sweet.

“Must’ve been a bumper crop this year”, I remarked.

“Indeed it was a good harvest.”

Say what you will, but those nasty berries were delicious by Barovian standards.

Laden with several bushels of berries, I unhitched my donkey cart and raced back to the main road. It was already getting dark and I had a lot of ground to cover.

The werewolves were nowhere to be found and I passed the fork in the road leading to Krezk without issue. I breathed a sigh of relief. I just might get home in one piece.

Then I heard a familiar voice calling to me from the surrounding woods. “Hello, Oleksii!”

I groaned. “Hello, Vlad.”

Waiting for me up ahead was a blockade, manned by Vlad and his goons, armed with crossbows. But where was his Thri-Kreen assistant, “John”?

I built up more speed as I careened toward the barrier, and then at the last moment I jammed the reins to the right using the momentum of my cart to ram into the barrier and shield me from the crossbow bolts. It worked!

The barrier was smashed to smithereens, but the cart took some damage too. The left rear spoke was cracked and wouldn’t last long. I took off again and left Vlad behind. I could hear him cursing as I shouted back, “kiss my dirty dishes!”

I laughed to myself, admiring my witty retort, when I felt a sinister presence behind me. “John” the Thri-Kreen had snuck aboard the cart!

The insectoid creature started dumping bushels over the side. I took out my crossbow, then realized that I had forgotten to reload it. In frustration I hit him with the butt end of the weapon, but it bounced off the carapace.

“Buzz buzz buzz,” it said to me.

“What?!” I said over the roar of the wind.

“Buzz, buzz-buzz buzz buzz buzzz!”

“Huh? I don’t speak Thri-Kreen.”

John shrugged and used his scissor-like arms to smash the damaged axle further. The wheel broke into splinters and the cart lurched to one side.

“Buzz,” John said as he hopped off and disappeared.

The cart still ran, but it wouldn’t be long before Vlad and his gang caught up. We were passing Vallaki when I spotted Vlad behind me. His donkey-cart led the pack. Say what you will about Vlad, but he drives a mean donkey cart: spikes on the wheels, metal plating on the sides, and a mounted ballista on the back. John the Thri-Kreen took position as gunner. I took a moment to admire his craftsmanship and then lashed the reins again. The weight of remaining bushels, plus the drag of the broken axle was slowing me down. It wasn’t looking good.

I prayed for a miracle. Whatever Eldritch, Infernal, Philosophical, Ethereal, Symbolic and/or Higher Power hears this plea, get me out of this jam.

As I turned a corner, I could see a phantasmal, glowing cube floating mid-air down the road. It had a big “?” mark on it. Puzzled, I ran for it and snagged the cube. Inside I found an oversized, green turtle shell.

“What in the name of Mammon am I supposed to do with this thing?”

I kept the shell with me and made a desperate flight for home. Vlad’s thugs pulled up on either side. One of them jumped on my cart, but I fought him off. Another took a shot at me and grazed my neck with a throwing knife. I threw a handful of moldy berries at him.

A couple more carts pulled up, as Vlad hung back. It was now three against one on the back of the cart. I drew my silvered frypan, the one handed down by my Babusya, and whacked one of the thugs square on the face. He fell, but the other two got the jump on me. I struggled as they pinned my arms and more carts approached. That oversized green shell clattered around, out of reach.

Then, abruptly they let me go. The thugs dashed off and jumped back on their carts and pulled back.

Confused I looked up ahead and there they were, waiting for us: the vampire spawn gang.

The lead rider, a blonde looking vampire with an earring and mullet haircut beckoned me. “Join us, Michael!”

“My name’s Oleksii!”

“Whatever, we have cookies.”

“I’m on to you. Those are the crappy raisin oatmeal cookies that no eats unless they’re the last ones.”

Mullet-guy snarled and prodded his horse toward me, his gang in ravenously approaching.

I had no choice left, my frypan was in the back and my crossbow was empty, and I am pretty sure the Morninglord wasn’t going to help me after that One Time. So, I did the only left to do: I hurled that green shell at Mullet-guy.

My throwing arm is pretty lousy, but the green shell glided down the road and hit its mark. Mullet-guy’s horse was knocked into the air and I dashed through the gap. The vampire spawn gang soon ran into Vlad’s gang and I left them to sort things out.

Safely back in Barovia village I pulled my donkey cart into the garage. The damage was extensive, and it would have to be in the shop for a couple weeks. But at least I got my berries.

I unloaded the inventory and was disheartened to see that only one bushel remained, most of its contents spilled out into the cart.

I gathered every berry I could and hauled them into the shop. It was then that I saw János my Vistana courier unloading the usual shipment.

“Sorry, Oleksii,” he bowed apologetically. “There was yet another music festival in Kartakass and I was caught in traffic.”

János was good people, so I let it go. At least the berry syrup was well stocked again. However, even with the steady business that week, and minimal customer casualties, the repairs to the cart meant I would be in the red for a while.

And what to do about those unused, questionable berries I brought back from the Winery?

After consulting with Gary, I hit upon a plan…

I put a sign out the next day:

Adventuring parties! For one week only, get your hands on limited-edition, organic, non-GMO, somewhat fair trade, bottles of local artisan berry syrup. Now on sale for only 20gp a bottle!

[kathrynalicemc]

HPHL PROFILE - Odette

IDENTITY

Name: Odette Bellerose

Nicknames: TBD

Pronouns: She/her

Birth Date: April 6th, 1876

Species: Human

Blood Status: Pureblood

Sexuality: Heterosexual

Ethnicity: Caucasian

Nationality: British-French

Residence: Chateaux de Bellerose, Marseilles, France

Languages: French, English, Latin, Ancient Greek

APPEARANCE

Faceclaim: Amanda Seyfried

Height: 5’2”

Physique: Average

Eye Color: Blue

Hair Color: Sandy beige

Hair style: Long and slightly wavy/curly

Clothing: French style dresses, Victorian style dresses, colors of blue, turquoise, pink, and maybe green. Gloves and sun hats with bows.

BEAUXBATONS

House: Papillonlisse

Wand: Pear, Unicorn Horn

“This golden-toned wood produces wands of splendid magical powers, which give of their best in the hands of the warm-hearted, the generous and the wise.”

Best Classes: Herbology, COMC, History of Magic, Charms

Worst Classes: Potions, DADA

Misc Magical Abilities: None

Boggart Form: Her life being crafted by her parents and having no say in it

Amortentia: Various flowers, citrus, parchment, petrichor, candle wax

Patronus: Ermine/Stoat

Animagus: None

Patronus Memory: Having a picnic as a child with all of her sisters in the garden on a perfect day

Dementor worst memory: The day she was told about her arranged marriage

Mirror of Erised: Herself standing next to Unnamed Stable boy

CAREER

11-18: Beauxbatons Student

18+: Author of children’s books and fairytales, more TBD

RELATIONSHIPS

Parents: Chantal Billancourt & Pierre Bellerose

Sisters: Alethea @cursebreakerfarrier, Angelique @endlessly-cursed & Sabine @magicallymalted

Eventual Descendant: Ann Bellerose and Devon Marlowe

Love Interest: Unnamed muggle stable boy (name tbd)

Best Friends: Her sisters

Friends: TBD

PERSONALITY

Child: As the first girl born to the family, she loved running around at a young age outside in the vineyard and gardens. Soon that was joined by her sister Alethea who was a year younger. They would run and play around together and were spoiled by their parents and especially the kitchen staff who gave them treats.

Teenage: Life started to get harder for Odette. All of the daughters had various studies and tutors outside of Wizarding school. Odette being the oldest was expected to follow her fathers life plan set out for her. She had to marry rich and only to a pureblood. She would also take over the vineyard and winery business. This is when she discovered she had an arranged marriage planned for the moment she graduated. Odette was mad but she put all of it aside and accepted her duties. She also spent most of her time helping to raise her sisters and get them out of trouble and protect them from her own fate.

Adulthood: All of the weight and expectations to be perfect crashed down on her right before graduation and she snapped. Helped along by her secret romance Stable boy, Odette decided she should have a choice in her fate and nobody should sculpt her life for her, even if she is the oldest and it’s her duty. She would always feel guilty thinking about it as it would then fall to one of her sisters and she didn’t want that and would rather take it to spare her sisters. However, she was done being obedient and decided she needed to do more for herself and not prioritize others feelings. Therefore, the second she graduated she ran away with Stable boy to get away from her arranged marriage. She still kept in contact with her sisters and eventually after many years, regained the relationship with her parents.

ATTITUDE

Most at Ease When: Dancing ballet, reading books, enjoying nature

Stressed When: Having her life chosen for her and having the pressure of being perfect on her

Priorities: Her sisters

Strength: Compassion, warmth, sacrifice for others, intelligence, patience

Weakness: Takes care of others before herself, easily taken advantage of and walked over, quiet

FAVORITES

Color: Turquoise, pink, yellow, blue

Food: Lemon scones with afternoon tea

Drink: Bellerose wine, tea

Weather: Warm sunny days

Book: Textbooks, fairy tales, poetry, shakespeare

Hobbies: Ballet, reading/writing, piano, violin, embroidery, singing

[essektheylyss]

PLANT GROWTH!!!!!

I used Plant Growth to great effect as a druid at the Wizard of Wines Winery in Ravenloft in my first game ever and it holds a very fond place in my heart

[dndhistory]

196. Laura and Tracy Hickman - RPGA2: Black Opal Eye (1983)

A continuation of RPGA1: Rahasia, this is another pretty fun Basic D&D Module by the Hickmans, starting off with the celebration of the character's victory and the wedding reception of Rahasia and Hasan, the groom rescued in the last adventure. As was to be expected, not everything is going well and soon enough the characters get roped into going to a wizard's tower populated by three evil witches that are responsible for some kidnappings of the elves in this community.

As usual for the Hickmans, there is some good storytelling here, a number of compelling NPCs and a good twist that makes a satisfactory resolution of the module more demanding to players than simply going into the tower and killing everything they find. In fact, doing that can pretty much lose them the favour of the elves, Rahasia and Hasan, not matter how helpful they were in RPGA1.

Another fun thing here for the Ravenloft fans among you, is the fact that this marks the first appearance of the Wizard of Wines Winery, which is now, in 5e Curse of Strahd, very firmly in Barovia, but which you can find bottles of while exploring the wizard's tower here, supposedly in Mystara. Even the names of the bottles Champagne du le Stomp, Red Dragon Crush and Purple Grapemash No. 3 are present here already, with each different bottle having a code needed to finish the module successfully.

[astral-dragons]

It's Wereraven time babyyyyy-

So the party went to the Wizard of the Wines at the behest of Erasmus something, they're still not sure what or who. They arrive to find most of the Marikov family out in the woods and debating whether or not to ask the party for help. It turns out that the winery was attacked by... magic users. The Martikovs are very light on the details of what happened, just that Davian, the man the party is looking for, stayed behind at the winery and still hasn't returned.

Eventually the party decides they're going to go investigate and find Davian, and the Martikovs decide that they're going to Vallaki. The party fails to mention what happened to Vallaki, and lets them be on their way. Meanwhile Ireena is insistent on wanting to go with the party and check out of winery, but Ismark and Izek agree it's better if she stay with them. Sylviel gets into a small tussle with Izek about the whole thing, but eventually Ireena relents and agrees to stay behind.

At the winery, the party has to barricade the doors once inside to keep out the needle blights they find outside, just barely managing to keep them all out. While checking out the fermentation chamber, they come to the conclusion that the wine has been poisioned, likely by whoever attacked the winery. Upstairs they find a druid with a strange staff that they initially mistake for Davian. After killing the druid and deciding to take the staff, they continue on, hearing yelling in the other room.

They find Davian being held captive by another druid, but with the party as a distraction, Davian is able to kill the druid. He thanks the party for their help, but suspicious of their motivations, he asks why they've come to the winery. They tell him about the strange writing on the Abbey walls. He's uncertain if he believes them, but decides to ask for their help in retrieving something anyway, a test to determine where their allegiances lie. Three gems were stolen by the druids and apparently taken up to Yester Hill not too far away, he asks the party to find them and bring them back.

First though, they decide to reconvene with their friends they left outside the vineyard, checking on how things are going there. Fenro helps teach Victor a new spell, Suggestion (I'm sure this will have no negative consequences for the future, and serve to further Victor's wizard hubris in the slightest :))) With that, they had for Yester Hill.

They find Stefania, one of the Martikovs they had met eariler, being held captive by a druid holding one of the gems they were sent to retrieve. They kill the druid, grab the gem, and Stefania explains they were ambushed on the road, and her son, Claudiu, was also kidnapped by the druids. Before they can head further up the hill however, Sylviel hears a voice whispering their name, coming from a strange wooden effigy of Strahd. It tells them to take the spear stabbed into the effigy and "wet these lands with the blood of those who would use me as a tool." Sylviel reluctantly climbs the statue and takes the spear.

Atop Yester Hill, the party finds druids and berserkers circling a blackened tree, with Claudiu inside what appears to be a sort of maw. They manage to get Claudiu free with telekinesis, and as they're deciding to leave, they watch one of the berserkers jump into the maw to take Claudiu's place. Seeing this, they decide to stick around a little longer and deal with the tree.

A few rounds into combat, Ireena and Izek emerge from the trees, but before either one can join the frey, Sylviel slays the Gulthias tree with the help of the spear they found earlier, splitting it down the middle. The few berserkers and druids who were still alive at this point ran, and the party turned around to see Strahd watching them from the back of his horse.

He tells them he's impressed, but that he came here for a different purpose. He invites them to dine with him at Castle Ravenloft, handing them an invitation. He tells them that, of course, "Tatyana" is more than welcome to come along as well. Sylviel pets Strahd's horse, Beucephalus, he glances sadly at the strange city off in the distance beyond the fog, and he's off again.

HAHAHHA THIS PARTY IS FUCKED-- At least they managed to deal with Wintersplinter, was REAL worried what would happen if they failed. Like I had a plan in place, but it was pretty rough and relied on the party taking some very specific actions.

But hopefully the party'll get to meet the Keepers of the Feather for real this time, and finally get a safe place to hide Ireena. The real question though is how much more hiding can she take?

And dinner with Strahd is now on the party's list of things to do! Will they accept the invitation and share dinner with the Devil? Or will they defy his will once again? I've been planning this for literal MONTHS so like... hopefully the former but we'll see. I have plans that'll hopefully give them the push to do it. But we'll see :))

And as always, bonus out of context quotes:

"We have a cleric, so I'm taking the spear"

The tree is drinking his blood "You'd better share!"

"It's not like anyone is in their kitchen using a spear to flip pancakes."

"Oh, you're inviting me to something? Watch me eat the invitation."

[brookston]

Holidays 11.23

Holidays

Arethusa Asteroid Day

Armed Forces Day (Lithuania)

Asian Corpsetwt Day [Every 23rd]

Big Help Day

Can You Find Your Old Rubik’s Cube and Still Work It Day

Chicory Day (French Republic)

Color Photos Day

Cutty Sark Day

Doctor Who Day

Do What the Heck You Want Day (Oklahoma)

Family Volunteer Day

Felt Day

Fibonacci Day

Flag Day (Niger)

Flipbook Day

Giorgoba (St. George's Day; Georgia)

Hadakambo Festival (Japan)

International Day of the Word

International Day to End Impunity

International Image Consultant Day

International Polyamory Day

Jukebox Day

Kinrō Kansha no Hi (Labor Thanksgiving Day; Japan)

Life Magazine Day

Madison Beer Day (New York)

Monkey Banquet (Thailand)

National Adoption Day

National Day to Combat Child & Youth Cancer (Brazil)

National Margaret Day

National Polyamory Day (Canada)

National Survivors of Suicide Loss Day

Nursing Support Workers Day (UK)

Old Clem’s Night (Blacksmith Festival)

One Cup of Tea Day (Japan)

Paranoia Day

Pencil Sharpener Day

Repudiation Day (Maryland)

Rudolf Maister Day (Slovenia)

Seng Kut Snem (Meghalaya, India)

TARDIS Day (Dr. Who)

Thankful For My Dog Day

Thespius' Day (Greek Mischief Ghost)

Traffic Police Day (Kazakhstan)

Virtual Reality Day

Wolfenoot

World Watercolor Day

Food & Drink Celebrations

Eat a Cranberry Day

National Bar Day

National Cashew Day

National Espresso Day

Independence & Related Days

Luxembourg (Separated from Netherlands; 1890)

St. Charlie (Declared; 2008) [unrecognized]

4th Saturday in November

Holodomor Remembrance Day (Ukraine) [4th Saturday]

International Aura Awareness Day [4th Saturday]

Salacious Saturday [4th Saturday of Each Month]

Sandwich Saturday [Every Saturday]

Sausage Saturday [4th Saturday of Each Month]

Six For Saturday [Every Saturday]

Spaghetti Saturday [Every Saturday]

Weekly Holidays beginning November 23 (3rd Full Week of November)

Sherlock Holmes Wekend (thru 11.24)

Festivals Beginning November 23, 2024

Burbank Winter Wine Walk (Burbank, California)

Cheese and Chocolate Weekend (Chisago City, Minnesota) [thru 11.24]

Cheese & Meat Festival (Portland, Oregon)

Festival of Trees (Methuen, Massachusetts) [thru 12.7]

Holiday Celebration and Winter Market (Rapid City, South Dakota)

Holiday Fineries at the Wineries (New Paltz, New York) [thru 11.24]

Holiday Light Parade (Baraboo, Wisconsin)

Jingle Bell Chocolate Tour (Jackson, New Hampshire) [thru 12.22]

Magnificent Mile Lights Festival (Chicago, Illinois)

Maine Harvest Festival (Bangor, Maine) [thru 11.24]

Monkey Buffet Festival (Lopburi, Thailand) [thru 11.24]

Mount Clemens Santa Parade (Mount Clemens, Michigan)

Natchitoches Christmas Festival (Natchitoches, Louisiana) [1.6.2025]

New York Craft Brewers Festival (Syracuse, New York)

Serbian Food Festival & Bazaar (Lenexa, Kansas)

Stockholm Christmas Market (Stockholm, Sweden) [12.23]

Tokyo Filmex (Tokyo, Japan) [thru 12.1]

Wi-Does Wine Walk (Eagle River, Wisconsin)

Yankeetown Art, Crafts & Seafood Festival (Yankeetown, Florida) [thru 11.24]

Feast Days

Alexander Nevsky (Repose, Russian Orthodox Church)

Amphilochius, Bishop of Iconium (Christian; Saint)

Chiron’s Day (Pagan)

Clement I, Pope (Roman Catholic Church, the Anglican Communion, and the Lutheran Church)

Columbanus (Christian; Saint)

Daniel (Christian; Saint)

D'Aranda (Positivist; Saint)

Derek Walcott (Writerism)

Erté (Artology)

Feast of Qawl (Speech; Baha'i)

Feast of the Wizard-Blacksmith (Saxon; Everyday Wicca)

Felicitas of Rome (a.k.a. Felicity; Christian; Saint)

Fountain of Riddles (Muppetism)

Frederick Nietzsche Day (Church of the SubGenius; Saint)

Fred Wah (Writerism)

General Debauchery Day (Pastafarian)

Gregory of Girgenti (Christian; Saint)

José Clemente Orozco (Artology)

Konstantin Korovin (Artology)

Marc Simont (Artology)

Mary Brewster Hazelton (Artology)

Miguel Agustín Pro, Blessed (One of Saints of the Cristero War; Roman Catholic Church and the Lutheran Church)

Niiname-Sai (Japanese Grain Festival)

Paulinus of Wales (Christian; Saint)

Shinjosai Festival (Rice Harvest; Celebrating Granddaughter Goddess of Solar Deity Amaterasu; Japan)

Stendahl (Writerism)

Trudo (a.k.a. Trond or Troll; Christian; Saint)

Wilfetrudis (a.k.a. Vulfetrude; Christian; Saint)

Woofenoot (Pastafarian)

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Lucky Day (Philippines) [64 of 71]

Tomobiki (友引 Japan) [Good luck all day, except at noon.]

Premieres

Against the Grain, by Bad Religion (Album; 1990)

Areopagitica, by John Milton (Pamphlet; 1644)

Another Brick in the Wall (Part 2), by Pink Floyd (Song; 1979)

Arthur Christmas (Animated Film; 2011)

The Artist (Film; 2011)

The Atrocity Exhibition, by J.G. Ballard (Novel; 1970)

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, by Roald Dahl (Novel; UK 1964)

Chinese Democracy, by Guns ’N’ Roses (Album; 2008)

The Dance Contest (Fleischer Popeye Cartoon; 1934)

Devotion (Film; 2022)

Doctor Who (UK TV Series; 1963)

Doggystyle, by Snoop Doggy Dogg (Album; 1993)

The Expanse (TV Series; 2015)

The Exterminator (Terrytoons Cartoon; 1945)

The Favourite (Film; 2018)

Fish and Chips (Chilly Willy Cartoon; 1962)

Flying Colours, by C.S. Forester (Novel; 1938)

For Those About To Rock We Salute You, by AC/DC (Album; 1981)

G.I. Blues (Film; 1960) [Elvis Presley #5]

Glass Onion (Film; 2022)

Hugo (Film; 2011)

Inner Workings (Disney Cartoon; 2016)

It’s Only a Flesh Wound or Better Lead Than Dead (Rocky & Bullwinkle Cartoon, S6, Ep. 322; 1964)

Just Friends (Film; 2005)

The Lonesome Stranger (MGM Cartoon; 1940)

Love in a Cold Climate, by Nancy Mitford (Novel; 1949)

Moana (Animated Disney Film; 2016)

Mouse Trouble (Tom & Jerry Cartoon; 1944)

The Muppets (Film; 2011)

Mrs. Parker and the Vicious Circle (Film; 1994)

My Sweet Lord, by George Harrison (Song; 1970)

No Smoking (Disney Cartoon; 1951)

Pretty Peaches (Adult Film; 1978)

Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck (Novel; 1937)

Pride & Prejudice (Film; 2015)

Scrooged (Film; 1988)

Small Fry (Pixar Cartoon; 2011)

Strange World (Animated Disney Film; 2022)

Tampopo (Film; 2016)

Tea For The Tillerman, by Cat Stevens (Album; 1970)

The Ten Commandments (Film; 1923)

Terms of Endearment (Film; 1983)

The Three Musketeers (Hanna-Barbera Animated TV Special; 1973)

Tito’s Guitar (Color Rhapsody Cartoon; 1942)

Wednesday (TV Series; 2022)

The Worrying’ of the Green or The Look of the Irish (Rocky & Bullwinkle Cartoon, S6, Ep. 321; 1964)

Today’s Name Days

Clemens, Columban, Detlef (Austria)

Aleko, Aleksandar, Aleksandra (Bulgaria)

Klement, Kolumban, Lukrecija (Croatia)

Klement (Czech Republic)

Clemens (Denmark)

Kleement, Leemet, Leemo (Estonia)

Ismo (Finland)

Clément (France)

Clemens, Columbia, Detlef, Salvator (Germany)

Amfilohios, Elenos (Greece)

Kelemen, Klementina (Hungary)

Clemente, Colombano (Italy)

Zigfrīda, Zigrīda, Zigrids (Latvia)

Adelė, Doviltas, Klemensas, Liubartė (Lithuania)

Klaus, Klement (Norway)

Adela, Erast, Felicyta, Klemens, Klementyn, Orestes, Przedwoj (Poland)

Antonie (Romania)

Klement (Slovakia)

Clemente, Lucrecia (Spain)

Klemens (Sweden)

Augusta, Augustina (Ukraine)

Clem, Clemence, Clement, Clementina, Clementine, Crecia, Lucrecia (USA)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 328 of 2024; 38 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 6 of Week 47 of 2024

Celtic Tree Calendar: Hagal (Hailstone) [Day 28 of 28]

Chinese: Month 10 (Yi-Hai), Day 23 (Xin-Mao)

Chinese Year of the: Dragon 4722 (until January 29, 2025) [Wu-Chen]

Hebrew: 22 Heshvan 5785

Islamic: 21 Jumada I 1446

J Cal: 28 Wood; Sevenday [28 of 30]

Julian: 10 November 2024

Moon: 43%: Waning Crescent

Positivist: 20 Frederic (12th Month) [Campomanes / Turgot]

Runic Half Month: Is (Stasis) [Day 2 of 15]

Season: Autumn or Fall (Day 62 of 90)

Week: 3rd Full Week of November

Zodiac: Sagittarius (Day 2 of 30)

[campy-vampy]

lil cos session recap with my party for your entertainment

!SPOILERS FOR COS!

our wizard/rogue drank the poisoned wine at the winery

that same player tried to hop over the boulder wall at yester hill and was one shotted by lightning

our friendly druid heard the call of the blood spear and went on a murderous rampage

the druid and the bard tried to wingman our rogue/wizard into getting into the same tavern room as ireena

the rogue/wizard saw the statue of strahd at yester hill, started to violently shake with rage and immediately crawled up and decapitated the statue

the cleric literally chilled on that statue during the druid fight, throwing guiding bolts everywhere

the cleric also had a staring contest with the druid in the winery, telling us all he was “having a staring contest with baba lasagna”

more stories to come in the future, never a dull moment i swear to god

[thewereravenbard]

Chapter 26: Someone Worthy (Battle for the Winery)

Wintersplinter, the mountainfolk, and a host of blights march on the Wizard of Wines vineyard.

Listen to the story from the beginning here on YouTube!

OR read the complete novel here