“Hi, Stevie!” says Bert as he enters The Jaunty Mug coffee shop.

“Hi Bert,” says Stevie, the barista, as he raises his head from cleaning the coffee machine. “The usual?”

“You got it.”

The rest of the group trickles in, ordering their respective drinks as they pass the counter. Stevie acknowledges each with a greeting and a smile.

Once more, Aislynn is the last to arrive, navigating her walker through the labyrinth of chairs and tables. This time, Sandra jumps up to help her through the maze. Stevie prepares a special healing drink for her, this time disguised as the cup of hot cocoa she orders on the way by.

“So,” begins Bert, “does everyone have their class schedules locked in?”

Members of this role-play group are all graduate students at the local university. They’ve kept their Thursday night schedule since they began this campaign their freshman year.

“Yes,” says Yvonne. “This semester will be a tough one for me.”

“Me too,” moans Mac. “I have to pass Advanced Organic Chemistry with at least a ‘B’ to get into the Vet college. I barely passed Organic as an undergrad.”

Everyone groans at this, remembering how he struggled to understand some concepts.

“My schedule isn’t bad,” brags Chuck. “I just need to make sure I get to the lab during the day.”

“No worries,” says Sandra. She always says this, then has a panic attack halfway through the semester.

All eyes turn to Aislynn, who fidgets with her pen.

“I have to make up Stats. They only offer that class on Thursday evenings. And the prof is a real stickler for attendance.”

“Awe, man!” says Chuck. “What are we gonna do without our cleric?”

“Well,” says Bert, “we’re at a good stopping point.” He turns to his friends, “if the rest of you want to try something else for a while, we can continue this campaign in the fall.”

“I hate to interrupt our progress. We’re so close to destroying the cult.”

“I know, but we’ve always said our studies come first.”

“I know,” replies Aislynn, a bit of a whine in her voice. “But you’re right. We agreed. And who knew I’d end up as a hood ornament?”

“There’s that,” says Mac. “Are you sure you won’t mind us taking a side trek with new characters?”

“No,” Aislynn laughs at this. “Why would I?”

They settle into their roles as the coffee shop disappears. The sights, sounds, and aromas of a seedy tavern on the far side of the multiverse greet them.