It’s Thursday night, and I expect my favorite group at the cafe. Bert arrives first, only tonight he’s early.

“The usual?” asks my avatar, Stevie.

“Yep,” replies Bert. “We’re starting a new campaign tonight, since Aislynn can’t make it,” he explains. “And we have a new player, so I’m going to get her caught up before the others get here.”

“Oh, fun,” replies Stevie as the door opens and a young woman enters.

“Is… is this The Jaunty Mug?” she asks, then spies Bert and grins. “Oh, thank goodness, I thought I’d never find the place.”

“Julie! You found us. Do you have your character ready?”

“Yeah,” Julie blushes. “I made a rogue I named Skrie.”

“Nice. Can I see your sheet? I’ll help you fill in the blanks.”

Julie hands Bert her character sheet and he looks it over.

“So, she escapes from a large city and is traveling the wilderness? Why did she leave?”

“She was in the wrong place at the wrong time?”

“It doesn’t matter. I’m revolving this campaign around Sandra’s character, Meegan.” He thinks for a few minutes. “Tell you what, how would you like to be the one to rescue Meegan from slavers?”

“Okay,” she says hesitantly, pulling a notebook from her pack, clicking her pen, and setting it to a blank page. “You’ll guide me? I’ve only played once before and I don’t think it was this edition.”

“Not to worry.” Stevie sets a double macchiato on the table in front of Bert. “Thanks, Stevie.”

“You are welcome,” Stevie turns to Julie. “What would you like to drink this afternoon?”

“Can you make a chocolate frappe?”

“Indeed. I’ll be right back with that for you.”

“Tell me about Skrie,” says Bert.

Julie thinks for a few minutes while Stevie makes her drink and brings it to the table.

“Let’s see. She’s an orphaned rogue escaping the Thieves Guild in a large city. She barely escaped getting caught by the guard and the thought of the city prison scared her, so she ran.”

“Good start,” Bert unfolds a map on the table. “I set this campaign in the western part of my continent, Adaran. There’s a large port city in the south called Noxport. Let’s call that your home. I’ll email a city background tomorrow.”

“I wrote this story as part of her background.” Julie hands several pages across the table.

***

“Wake up! You’re snoring.”

Skrie’s eyes snapped open at the words. The surrounding forest was dead quiet. The voice was not one she knew. And, considering she traveled alone, it alerted her to danger. This night, she’d found a hidey-hole to crawl into as darkness settled over the landscape. She lay still, barely breathing, as she listened to the eerie silence.

Then she heard it. Leaves crackled nearby as she sensed something large and predatory pass by the hollow log she occupied. Her heart threatened to pound out of her chest as she struggled to control her breath. She prayed furiously to her goddess, promising the next squirrel or three she snared as an offering to the denizens of the forest.

Her skin prickled and cold sweat poured from her body at the evil exuding from the other side of the wood. A calming presence enveloped her and a shield formed between her and the terror welling up inside. The corruption circled her refuge as she huddled in her dark, earthy, hiding spot. She shivered and almost yelped as something brushed against her cheek. The ward strengthened around her as she trembled in the dark.

An eternity later, the vile predator moved away. A comforting cocoon surrounded her as she relaxed into a deep, dreamless sleep.

***

“I like it,” says Bert, as the door opens and Sandra steps into the Mug.

“Heyla, everyone,” she says to the room as she makes her way to the back, ordering her usual hazelnut mocha cappuccino on the way.

“Greetings, Sandra,” says Stevie, already grinding the beans for her drink.

“Good, you’re here,” says Bert as Sandra unpacks her bag and hands her character sheet to him.

Bert reads for several minutes while Sandra fidgets.

“What’s your character’s reason for going adventuring?” Bert asks Sandra.

“I hadn’t thought about it,” she blushes.

“How about this? You live in the forest with your mother as an outcast, right?”

Sandra nods.

“I already have the scenario written. Let’s play this out. Show Julie how it works.”

“Okay.”

They get out their dice, and they play out a brief battle scenario. Julie watches, fascinated. The magic of the Mug makes its patrons believe they are living in the story being told. It’s what makes this place so special.

By the time the rest of the group arrives, the pair are ready for the party to enter the scene and begin the new campaign.