Bard & Barbarian

New Installment. One of the perks my patrons receive is access to an original story about two characters I play(ed) in a longstanding weekly DnD campaign. Bard & Barbarian updates at least once a month, and for July, I scraped in at 10 minutes to midnight on July 31. (Deadlines are miraculous. They have a way of making things happen!)

BnB 012

forthright on Patreon >>

In related news, our group is gearing up for a new campaign, and I’ll be first-timing as DM. Although it’s less of a dungeon & more of a steampunk airship. ::eyebrow waggle::

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Photo Challenge

Bright as Pennies. Entries have started rolling in! Therefore, we’re due for a quick reminder that there’s a new Photo Challenge underway. This time, I’m prepared with a quick snapshot of the oft-mentioned “fabulous prizes.” This round, I have 5 of these pretty blank books with Starmark-esque copper accents. They’ll come inscribed to winners in the drawing.

Copper Accents

Fun Fact: Merit Starmark (that’d be Harmonious’ eldest son) was nicknamed “Penny” by Boonmar-fen Elderbough, his childhood friend. Obviously, it’s a reference to the color of his eyes. I can’t say that always-serious Merit is entirely thrilled by the endearment. ::twinkle::

YOU HAVE TWO MONTHS!
MORE LIKE 3 WEEKS
June 20 – August 20

  • Send me a link to your #bookstagram or blog post, pins, or pic-spam.
  • Tweet your pics using @ForthWrites, and I’ll retweet.
  • Email me your snapshots or leave them here in comments.
  • *DO* notify me via email. Unlike Hisoka-sensei, 4thy isn’t quite omniscient.

always.forthright@gmail.com

by Categories: Amaranthine SagaTags: 4 Comments

Post Fest Post

#PokemonGOFest2020 took up most of my weekend, and in the nicest way. I had fun, which was my only real goal. I’ve never experienced the like, and I’m glad I decided to splurge on a ticket.

  • I finished 3 audio books while I played. ::twinkle::
  • Although it was a bit of a scramble, it was nice, nice, nice to be able to invite reader friends (or be invited by them) to participate in raids. I now have So Much rare candy. Must distribute strategically. ::plots::
  • My longtime Pokemon buddy (Lucario) earned his “Best Buddy” badge yesterday, so I nicknamed him Sempai. He’s had to step back so I can walk with some of my new (shiny) Go Fest acquisitions, but his place at my side is assured.
  • Did I mention shinies? I caught at least a dozen. (Not sure on the exact count, but the thrill will never get old.)
  • Most notable, I somehow managed to catch what I’ve long considered the holy grail of shiny Pokemon, a golden Magicarp. ::swoon:: I actually named her Grail.

Screencapped a few for y’all. I’d share more, but they’re off defending gyms at the moment. And do you REALLY want me to bore you with a slide show?

Three Shiny

Do you name your pokemon? When I single out strong ones to train up, I generally give them names at that time. For example, the shiny Growlithe/Arcanine was immediately dubbed Kinpatsu (Japanese for blond). And Marimo (Sanji’s nickname for Zoro in One Piece) was a no-brainer for my shiny Tangela.

As always, if you also play Pokemon GO and you want to friend me, email me your friend code @ always.forthright at gmail dot com.

… and now, back to writing.

by Categories: Random AsidesTags: 5 Comments

Pokemon GO Fest 2020

Play from Home. Thanks to the quarantine, I’ll be participating in Pokemon GO Fest for the first time ever. I have secured my ticket, stockpiled pokeballs, and blocked off my weekend for some guilt-free playtime. Looks like events run from 10am – 8pm local time (I’m in the Pacific time zone) on July 25 & 26. No idea what to expect, but … I’m sure it’ll be fun. ::twinkle::

If you need a friend, I like connecting with my readers. Send me your friend code at always.forthright at gmail dot com. I’ll TRY to send you cute gifts, but many of the spinners in walking distance from home are (cringe) entirely un-photogenic dirt lots (a.k.a. baseball fields). May every blest one grant you many a lucky egg & vial of stardust!

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Too True

Whisper of the Heart. I’ve been rewatching (for the gazillionth time) Whisper of the Heart, one of Hayao Miyazaki’s films from Studio Ghibli. If you haven’t seen it yet, it’s lovely. Libraries and antiques and musicians and artisans. The young lady in the lead (a bookworm after my own heart) has a way with words and decides to try her hand at writing.

Just hit this scene, which describes my summer in a single line of dialogue:

Up Until 4 Again

I can’t decide if I feel called out … or seen. ::twinkle::

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LMM 160: Idle Hands

Claimer: I do hereby claim all rights and responsibility for the characters in this series of vignettes because the Amaranthine Saga is mine. (Which means I should probably behave myself since anything I say or do could be taken as canon.) Indulge the lot of us, especially the one with time on his hands.

160
Idle Hands

“One other thing, then,” warned Jacques. “He is bored.”

Continue reading →
by Categories: Amaranthine InterludesTags: 7 Comments

Every Word Matters

Clan Names. I was just mentioning portmanteaux on Patreon last week with regards to Amaranthine “surnames,” which are more properly referred to as clan names. I use a tried-and-true system often found in fantasy books. Mash a couple of words together, and … voila! That means it’s possible to pick apart most clan names and look at their meaning. Argent Mettlebright is an excellent place to start. ::twinkle::

005 mettle

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Stay Safe

Amaranthine Masks. We’re delighted to announce that Threadless finally added masks to their orderables. That means you can support the Saga & Songs while staying safe. Currently, there are three patterns available in the Twinkle Press shop: forget-me-not, chrysanthemum, and buttons.

Masks, Bk1 and 2

Three styles. Premium masks are pictured above. Regular and Youth styles are also available. Prices vary.

Masks @ Twinkle Press >>

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Reminder: Photo Challenge

Pairing Books with Snacks. This is a quick reminder that there’s a new Photo Challenge underway. Here’s a snapshot from last round, courtesy of Saholia. Which has me contemplating a photo shoot of my own, since I still have a small stash of Kimiko-worthy snacks. What do you think pairs well with the Saga & Songs?

Photo Challenge, Saholia_

YOU HAVE TWO MONTHS!
June 20 – August 20

  • Send me a link to your #bookstagram or blog post, pins, or pic-spam.
  • Tweet your pics using @ForthWrites, and I’ll retweet.
  • Email me your snapshots or leave them here in comments.
  • *DO* notify me via email. Unlike Hisoka-sensei, 4thy isn’t quite omniscient.

always.forthright@gmail.com

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