The Realms of a Fantastical Mind

Monday is hard enough to get through. So why not have a few more dragons to make you smile. Today we are going to look at the European Dragon.  Wikipedia says: A  dragon  is a  legendary creature , typically with  serpentine  or  reptilian  traits, that features in the  myths  of many cultures. There are two distinct cultural traditions of dragons: the  European dragon , derived from European folk traditions and ultimately related to Greek and Middle Eastern mythologies, and the  Chinese dragon , with counterparts in Japan (namely the  Japanese dragon ), Korea and other East Asian countries. [1] European dragons exist in folklore and mythology among the overlapping  cultures of Europe . Dragons are generally depicted as living in rivers or having an underground lair or cave. [8]  They are commonly described as having hard or armored hide, and are rarely described as flying, despite often being de...

So I wanted to give another Shout out Sunday to the things I like. I can't get enough of gaming, and there is no reason for me to stop.  D&D has a special place in my heart because I can share a good time with other like minds.  The game becomes the reason why everyone visits, but it's their company that makes it the best.  To brave the fantastical worlds together, then joke about the ogre we just shot down with a bolt from a sling.  Yup that is what I call a good time. Everything I Need to Know I Learned from Dungeons & Dragons By Mazzanoble, Shelly (Google Affiliate Ad)

Showing a little love to my favorite game and the t-shirt link that plays around with sayings.  You got to admit some of these are epic! D&D Womens T-Shirt (Google Affiliate Ad) Cartoon Larp T-Shirt (Google Affiliate Ad)    Run Dungeons And Dragons Role Playing Humor Rpg D&D T-Shirt (Google Affiliate Ad) Come on, giggle with me, you know you want to... No? Ok, I'll just give a bit of a giggle all by myself.  Tehehehe A little ode to LARPing as well.  I couldn't resist.  Now back to your regularly scheduled blog surfing.   

My muse is a little guy who likes to fly and breathe fire.  Yup and his name is Random.  'Cause well... I couldn't resist. ;) Isn't he cute?  Pictures taken from various places on the web, no image belongs to me What's your muse? Do you envision something hovering over your shoulder? Perhaps someone whispering in your ear?  I'd love to hear from you.

The waves crashed against her feet, as Melandra coughed wet sand out of her mouth.  Dazed, she lifted her head to look around.  She was alive, but alone.  Debris from the ship lay all around her, along with the crates from the cargo hold.  However, there were no signs of any other survivors. She was shocked to find that all of her items, though waterlogged, stayed with her, reminding her of her determination to hold on to her only protection.  She was dizzy and weak from floating on bits of wood all night.  Hurt but still alive the wind reminded her that she may not remain so if she doesn't get warm, and soon.  The temperature was only slightly warming with dawns light breaking over the pine trees, past the beach. She searched around but all there was to offer was wet wood. Causing it to be much more difficult to light a fire than it usually was.  She owed it to being so dizzy and disoriented.  Looking around she spotted black smo...

As many of my readers know, I'm a Dungeons and Dragons player.  Have been for the last 15 years.  I game to escape reality. I game to feel like I'm in another world able to do fantastical things.  I game to gain inspiration. Yet, the REAL reason why I game, is the random things that come out of my friends, and my mouth. Such as: "Ah, the very uncommon guard rat, comes now in hordes." "Everyone get out your D20s, its almost Initiative time." "Where there's a will save, there's a way." "I pull out my dagger. I never leave home without it." "You're about to die, roll for death magic." "If you're not back by morning, you're probably rat food." "If you wish to join with the hacking and slashing, come on in." "Laying on of hands? You just like touching people, I'm starting to feel left out. Damn high AC." "How much damage do you do to the door with one kick...

The night crept up on the boat as the choppy seas rocked it.  Rain had began to pelt on the wooden deck.  Commands were shouted back and forth and the deck hands did their work to secure the rigging.  Below decks the people huddled together while other crew men secured the cargo.  The shifting waves made it all but impossible for the passengers to maintain a steady footing.  Lia brushed back her blond hair as she glanced around at the miserable human women and children.  The elf may have been smaller than them by height and build, but her hard heart made her feel sturdier than the whimpering people.  She stopped breathing for a moment, taking in the sounds of outside the protective hull.  Scrapping sounds whispered under the crashing waves and shouting men.  Taking one more look at the humans Lia grabbed onto the hilt of her sword and made her way up to the deck. Chaos greeted her as she eyed first the scrambli...

Ladarius stepped lightly, studying the walls with expert eyes.  His search for traps led him down the tunnel to find three things. Two doors, a strange glowing glyph on them both and no physical traps to disarm.  Disappointed he looked back at his companions, all watching him with weary eyes. "There is nothing here but some strange glowing markings." "Hold still." The mage insisted as he made his way to him. Taking a step back, Ladarious stepped on another glyph in the floor. He froze not knowing what to do. "You idiot! I had told you to stay still. This could blow you away, remain as you are while I study these.  Any movement may set them all.  We have no way of knowing what they will do until I've looked them over. Now stay still." Serral glided behind the mage, inspecting the glyphs with a trained eye. "I have a spell that can absorb the magic, but this is of a strength where I alone will not be enough." The mage nodded. "I ...

Deep into the cavern they traveled, fleeing the orc horde that camped near the collapsed opening.  They needed to find a way out, a way to escape the army.  However, there was no way out, but there was a way in.  For each new cave that broke from the tunnels, unease grew among the companions. Reaching another large cavern the companions came upon a dead end.  The smell of decay and the putrid stench of the trolls they had slain gave the piles of soft plant life a repulsive edge.  The group hesitated in the tunnel, scanning the area for any other life. Mavra began to cast, the twisting of words echoing past the dripping of water from beyond the darkness. Lights began to glow, softly at first until they were bright enough to see around.  They danced in front of the dark elf, making his dark skin glow grey.  He pushed the lights into the beyond, searching for the next opening. There was nothing to find.  Stalactites hung low, reaching f...

The dust drifted up from the hole in the ground. Collapsing rock still fell, and as the dust swirled around them, they realized someone was missing.  Mavra had been standing on the earth that had swallowed him into its now gaping mouth.  The companions looked into the darkness and called for him, but no answer was returned. The companions each looked at each other and knew what needed to be done.  Serral had the ability to spider climb naturally and Nimue was given the cloak with similar abilities not too long ago.  Together they made the treacherous decent into the darkness.  Searching around was almost futile as the dust that was kicked up made the low light vision that they both had, useless.  However, both of their hearing was exceptional and with little effort they were able to make out the sounds of dragging from an opening not too far from where they had landed. "It would be unwise to co...

Each story has some type of world building, whether it be just creating a social system in a neighborhood, or creating an entire solar system plucked from your mind, as well as anything in between.  Each writer, or D&D DM needs to create the world in which the characters or players interact and grow.  It all starts with that. In the novels I'm writing, I started with a few websites that I had found some valuable information, I have since, found other sites to tickle the imagination and exploration of worlds. I would like to share those with you. Basilicus   I found this site intersesting for its star system and religion section Building Guides Building a Species Building Stars and Star Systems Scientific Help Building Nations Building Cities Building Organizations Building Religions and Myths Building Technology and Science Main Building Guide Page Some of these are still being worked on. More will be added and upda...

The earth elemental rose up from the platform, towering over the companions.  Mavra had dashed to the opening as an opponent hovered in the archway.  Serral had broken off from his blood-blade to assit the dark elf, only to find Ladarious rushing past to break Mavra's stride with a tackle to the floor.  Now the blood-blade, Nimue` stood alone against the earth itself.  She swung her enchanted long sword and rapier with a dance of blades, chipping off chunks of the element.  She did not know whether her efforts would come to fruition but she needed to try. The foe in the door way dissapeared before Serral could attack it with the swarm of bats he had conjured.  He took a step to assist his fellow adventurers, but Mavra had all well in hand as he pushed up on the lion humanoid and with little effort Ladarious flew across the room. With the shadow-like creature gone, the companions focused on the shambli...

Ever imagine that your somewhere else, and that others are with you adding their thoughts to yours to create a different world.  I'm not talking about writing a book, or even reading one.  I'm talking about D&D, yes my geek is showing.  lol Roll some dice and bang, something happens.  Well, it's not quite that simple. First you need a good DM. (dungeon master- the guy or gal that sets up the adventure and leads you through the adventure throwing bad guys in your way). Then you act out what you would say and tell everyone what you are doing, it's not just between you and the DM Each player has a part in the action and role playing.  Taking everyone into another world, the world the DM creates, not just a dungeon as the name implies but forests and towns.  You have to play out the situation, with the limits of what you character can and can not do.  Something you would find in any fantasy book.  Weis and...