The Home Front
Mood:  chatty
Now Playing: My Takamine mostly
Topic: Updates from TommyGunn

This weekend we start a new campaign, this one being ran by Fayde.  We finished J's game in about four sessions, and it went real well.  Fayde's taking us to the Forgotten Realms, with a long campaign spread out over three modules.  Everyone's looking forward to it.  I'll be playing a druid. 

 In other news, I won the December challenge on fantasy-writers.org.  So, to date, I have placed first in the 100% of the challenges I've entered.  My August winner, 'Dance of the Scorpion', is ready for submission and I'm going to start shopping it around.

Mood:  not sure
Topic: Nuggets From Kat

Refugees are streaming south from the Ludwyn/Highfork valley.  All tell stories of a great army approaching from the mountains.  Baron Chandreskahr, in all his infinite wisdom, has only now committed to levying militias to combat the threat.  I fear for some of those still in the beleagured areas it may be too late.  Rumors of King Peldrin dispatching three regiments of the White Plumes to Chandreskahr are as yet unfounded.  The king's displeasure with Edric, our aforementioned and much-maligned baron, is not.  My sources tell me a special investigation will be launched as soon as the threat is quelled.  Power struggles and coups....meat and potatos for the Shadehands. 

Rumblings of Change
Mood:  don't ask
Topic: Nuggets From Kat
Whisperings of change, disturbing news, and power transfers.  Something is happening in the Highfork Mountains.  News has reached me that a vast force of undead and humanoids is gathering.  Their leader is a mysterious figure and noone seems quite sure of who it is.  In Tarvinia, an alliance between the Tarvins and several power groups from the Savage Coast is being forged.  The dwarves of Stonehome are besieged in their mountain halls by humanoids to the west and Tarvins to the east.  No aid is coming to them as all are in peril.  The Deathspeakers have grown bolder.  Two nights ago a temple of Ralaia was desecrated in Chandreskahr itself and its acolytes killed.  I have ordered an alert among the Shadehands.  Operations are being shut down and our hands pulled back to wait out the political storm ravaging the baronies.

Into the Darkness
Mood:  hungry
Now Playing: James Taylorish/Indigo Girlsish songs written by a friend
Topic: Updates from TommyGunn

Yep, the game went off as planned.  Glad and giving thanks that this group is the one to which I belong. 

I've taken a break from running the game for a bit.  One of the guys that I've known for a long time was good enough to want to take over for a few sessions so I'd have a chance to play.  I hadn't in so long I thought maybe I'd forgotten how.  It's a dungeon crawl and a good one at that. 

We also got two more characters bringing the total to seven.  Two good people joined and that was great.  Vinifera is growing more than ever before.

That being said I'm anxious to get back to it.  I've got plans for them.

Back to the Game
Mood:  cheeky
Topic: Updates from TommyGunn

And in August we'll be back to our Vinifera campaign.  It should be interesting, lots of work has been done.  In looking back, I came to realize that we've been playing the campaign for TWO years!  It's been a great ride as well.  Well, I say two years but, we've been on B'tech since March, and we missed a few sessions, so actually in playing time it's been a little over a year.  I can't say enough good things about the group of players I've been lucky enough to have.  A few have come and gone but the core group has been there the whole time and I hope they've enjoyed it as much as I have.  Stay tuned!

Back to the Game
Mood:  cheeky
Topic: Updates from TommyGunn

And in August we'll be back to our Vinifera campaign.  It should be interesting, lots of work has been done.  In looking back, I came to realize that we've been playing the campaign for TWO years!  It's been a great ride as well.  Well, I say two years but, we've been on B'tech since March, and we missed a few sessions, so actually in playing time it's been a little over a year.  I can't say enough good things about the group of players I've been lucky enough to have.  A few have come and gone but the core group has been there the whole time and I hope they've enjoyed it as much as I have.  Stay tuned!

FYI
Mood:  not sure
Topic: Updates from TommyGunn
We have paused the Vinifera campaign for a little while to pursue a monthly game to one of my favorite throwbacks, Battletech.  Everything else will continue to move; site additions, writings, blog postings, etc., as well as world development. 

The Demise of the Stonereaver
Topic: Nuggets From Kat

Finally, after centuries of near-extinction and dwindling power, the Stonereaver's curse of the Brown Elves has been lifted.  The event catapulted the Highfork Heroes to more than local fame, and was the culmination of long years of preparation on my part. 

 It is by mere chance that the group involved in my plans are the same who have earned the enmity of the Deathspeakers by foiling Gan's plot to destroy Highfork, and then dispatched two groups of assassins sent to carry out his vengeance on them.

 I'm not entirely sure of the details, but I do know the Stonereaver's demise resulted in the destruction of the mountaintop under which lay his crypt.  The crypt has been destroyed as well. 

 Several months later a delegation of mamluks (slave warriors from the east) arrived with an invitation from the Sultan of Haliwa to attend his court.  The heroes and their escort left Highfork a fortnight later, and I had barely enough time to alert my sister to have her ship available.  I must know what they are doing and where they go, and Maneira will be happy (as always) to help me. 

Thus it was they set sail from Chandreskahr aboard the Zephyr of Haliwa; their journey's destination is known to only a few, and it is in my best interest to keep this tidbit to myself.

                                                                   I Remain,

                                                                   Isand Katri'an

Intro Post
Topic: Updates from TommyGunn
Welcome to the official blog of the world of Vinifera.  Herein you will find musings from some of the world's inhabitants.  I will also use this space to post bits of info about writings, game dates, and news.  Enjoy!