As the world outside shifts from one season to another, we’re reminded that change is not just part of nature, it’s part of us too. The falling leaves of autumn, the chill of winter, the blossoms of spring, and the warmth of summer each mirror the cycles we experience within ourselves.

In Dungeons & Dragons, adventurers often find themselves at turning points: moments where old habits are shed, new paths are forged, and growth demands both courage and adaptability. Just as seasons teach us that endings make way for beginnings, so too do challenges in our journeys become opportunities to evolve.

Tonight, we celebrate these seasons of change. This is a chance to embrace transformation: refining our voices, strengthening our leadership, and stepping into new roles. Like heroes who grow from novice adventurers into legends, we, too, can honor the shifts in our own lives and see them not as endings, but as doorways to growth.

So as the world transitions into autumn, let’s welcome change together, both in the stories we tell and in the people we’re becoming.

It all started with an Eldritch Horror. As a Dungeon Master (DM) I had a great idea for an encounter in my leg of the Dungeons & Toast guild (club) adventure in the previous year’s guild campaign, Heirs of the Dragon, and it involved an Eldritch Horror. The idea was sound; the execution was not. (At the time of this adventure, the Dungeons & Dragons fifth edition [5e] ruleset was used.)

I struggled with how to create the creature that I wanted and to make it fair, yet still a challenge, to the Player Characters (PCs). What got in the way and tripped me up was game mechanics.

Another thing that got in the way was my execution of the idea and the encounter. First mistake, I should have reached out to the players involved and asked beforehand if it was okay to have something potentially bad, and violent, happen to their characters, even if only temporarily. I felt bad doing what I planned to happen in the encounter to one of the PCs, so I did it to my own character in the campaign, who probably got the worst of it, all things considered.

In service of telling the story during this encounter, I took some agency away from the players to be in control of the destiny of their characters.

If I were to run the encounter all over again, I would do it differently, to address the aforementioned things. This is how we learn, right, from our mistakes?

Fast forward to this year’s Dungeons & Toast guild campaign, the Prophecy of the World Eater, where I am again serving as a DM. Yes, I’m at it again with creature and encounter design. In my leg of the campaign adventure, players will have more agency and be more in control of their character’s destinies than in the adventure with the Eldritch Horror. I intend to accomplish this by having more communication with players before the adventure and a redesign of encounters, based on my experience with the previously mentioned Eldritch Horror encounter, to allow for more player choice, control, and determination of what happens with their characters. This time, however, I completely dispensed with game mechanics in the process of encounter design to create what I envisioned. Then, and only then, did I turn to game mechanics to assign those in game statistics and mechanics that are necessary and that powers any RPG and makes them go; always with an eye towards making it fair for the PCs. More I cannot say, as I don’t want to give away more than I already have to the players. (Since the players may be reading this, perhaps it’s too late for that!)

At tonight’s meeting, we will be joined by the mysterious (and often confused) Sofrona Skyseer, a prophecy-woman of Grimsfjord.

Some say she has real power. Others say she is only pretending. Sofrona herself says… well, many things, not all of them consistent. Regardless, she is certain of one truth: all good adventurers go into battle prepared by first having their fortunes told … or was it all good adventurers go into fortunes prepared by first having their battles told? No matter—the point is clear: if you want to succeed, you must peer into the mists of destiny before stepping forward.

A crystal ball, the leaves at the bottom of a teacup, or perhaps a strangely shiny coin may reveal fragments of your character’s past, present, or future. She may not always get it right—but you will certainly have fun setting the record straight.

Guests and members alike are encouraged to come ready to play along, lean into the fantasy, and perhaps discover a bit of your own story along the way.

To set the atmosphere, we invite you to select one of the on-theme virtual backgrounds below before the meeting begins. Step into Sofrona’s candlelit parlor, or gaze into the stars as your destiny is revealed.

Welcome, adventurers! As we near closer to the launch of Prophecy of the World Eater, I wanted to post a more detailed description of the campaign so you know what to look forward to. This year’s campaign will take place in the land of Jormunmere, a land enveloped by a ring of mountains with Midgarlake in the center. Jormunmere is dotted with small cities and old crystal ruins of days long past. The land is eternally cold and covered in snow. In terms of antagonists, small bands of bandits have historically plagued the area, evading local attempts to rein them in. Recently, however, a group calling themselves the “Cult of the Snake” has surfaced and is known to be seeking the artifacts needed to wake up Jörmungandr, an event that presages Ragnarök. The cultists seek to remake the world and raise their leader Freydris as a God Queen to rule over all peoples.

The world itself outside of Jormunmere is empty (mainly because I have only designed Jormunmere). However, players are welcome to create their own areas beyond its mountainous borders. In other words, your character does not have to be from Jormunmere: you can create a homeland for your character with its own history and culture. Please note that there is no connection to Faerun or the Forgotten Realms — the setting for our last 3 campaigns — and no way to access Faerun from Jormunmere or anywhere else in the world. This explains why the Norse God Pantheon exists in Jormunmere.

In terms of character creation, there are a few things that the Dungeon Masters and I have come up with, the main points of which are:

• No chaotic neutral or evil characters: we are supposed to be a group of heroes after all, and these alignments interfere with our ability to work as a team.
• If your character is not originally from Jormunmere, you should come up with a reason why they’ve arrived here. You can make the reasons as fun or as serious as you want.,
• There are many pantheons of Gods existing around the world from our world. The Norse Gods just happen to have primary rule over Jormunmere and the surrounding areas, so Gods from other regions around the world may be hesitant to step in to avoid any stepping on the Norse Gods’ toes.

Because the Norse Gods exist, the myths from our world are a real part of the world of Jormunmere. This means that certain artifacts from those myths exist as tangible objects of great power. These artifacts are needed to awaken Jörmungandr and begin Ragnarök, which means that brave adventurers will need to work together to ensure they don’t fall into the Cultists’ hands. Similarly, the more artifacts the heroes have, the less “awake” Jörmungandr will be. There are a total of four artifacts to find, but don’t worry: you will have help in that department after the first game. Just know the Cult has help hunting for the artifacts as well. You and the Cult are in a race to who finds those artifacts first.

I’m so excited to see where this campaign progresses throughout the year and what all of you will do with this world not only as players, but as potential world builders. Good luck to all of you and remember to have fun and work together — the fate of the world depends on it!

Kait Watson,
Campaign Master

Tonight’s Dungeons & Toast meeting theme is “Speaking Internationally”, exploring the art of connecting across cultures and borders. To set the scene, our virtual backgrounds feature embassies styled after various Dungeons & Dragons fantasy races—each a unique reflection of its people’s traditions, architecture, and history.

Tonight, we set sail on uncharted waters as we explore the theme of Seafaring. Guided by our Table Topics Master, the formidable Eric Bloodaxe, we’ll drift through tales of oceanic wonder and peril. Be prepared to share your encounters with elusive sea creatures, ancient maritime legends, and the mysteries that lurk along forgotten shores. Whether you’ve weathered siren songs or merely strolled a haunted tidepool, tonight’s journey promises stories worth telling.

Some seaworthy virtual backgrounds:

Tonight, Dungeons & Toast gathers for a night of celebration and new beginnings! Join us for our annual Awards Ceremony as we honor the brave adventurers who’ve inspired us this year with their words, wit, and wisdom. We’ll also be installing our new officers those bold enough to lead the party into another year of storytelling, growth, and charisma checks. Come raise a toast as we close one chapter and begin the next!

They say the old place was abandoned for a reason. Boards creak when no one walks them. Whispers echo through the halls like the house is trying to remember your name. Candles flicker without flame, and the air smells faintly of rot, regret, and something sweet… like a child’s laughter turned sour. Tonight at Dungeons & Toast, we dare you to step inside.

Stay the night—if you can. No dice will save you from the things that creep between the walls, or the questions that creep into your mind. Are you the hunter, or the haunted? You’ve got your voice, your wits, and a flashlight running out of batteries. The rest is up to you.

Join us tonight at 7 PM PT for our “Survive the Night”-themed meeting which will include an interactive at-home food tasting, courtesy of our newest member Stephanie and a slate of blood-chilling table topic questions from Master Bard Mindy.

I know what you’re thinking. No, we are not going on that kind of acid trip!

On July 11, 2025, everyone is invited to join me for a tasting tripping adventure where we’ll transform sour, acidic foods into surprisingly sweet delights.

How? With the magic of miracle berries, fruits that temporarily rewire your taste buds and confuse your perception of food.

During our tasting adventure I’ll walk you the flavors. For those who would like to actually follow along on a tasting trip, I’ve compiled a list of food recommendations and link to purchase the miracle fruits.

Even if you’re not tasting along in real time, you can still be part of the fun! I’ll take you on a vivid, imaginative flavor journey on the flavors and what to expect. You’ll learn how to host your own flavor-tripping party. I bet everyone will be convinced to try this new and unforgettable experience with your own friends.

HOW TO JOIN THE FUN

Date: July 11, 2025
Where: Our usual D&T Zoom Meeting

WHERE TO GET THESE AWESOME MIRACLE BERRIES

I recommend the dried fruit tablet version. Here is the link:
https://www.amazon.com/mberry-Miracle-Fruit-Tablets-10-Count/dp/B001LXYA5Q/ref=sr_1_1_sspa

RECOMMENDED TASTING LIST

Must-Try

• Lemon
• Strawberry

Other Fun Fruit Options

• Raspberry
• Pineapple
• Kiwi
• Cherry Tomato
• Watermelon
• Grapefruit
• Lime

Feeling Adventurous?

• Balsamic vinegar
• Salt & vinegar potato chips
• Sour candy (Warheads, Sour Patch Kids)
• Blue cheese
• Yellow mustard
• Plain Greek yogurt
• Tabasco sauce
• Tequila
• Guinness or any stout/porter beer