Welcome to Last Pine
It’s been a minute again, but here I am, checking in.
There’s been a big life update since the last time we talked. Last month, I left the hospital where I’ve been working for the past four years (six if you count my internship there) in order to accept a position as a mental health counselor at a local university. It wasn’t an easy decision, but I think it was the right one. I took a risk and followed my heart rather than that more analytical part of my mind that so often would rather spin its wheels than make any decision at all. There’s a certain safety in Not Actually Deciding, isn’t there? So I did my best to unhook from that part of me and take a step in the direction of my values.
So far, it is paying off. I wasn’t unhappy where I was, not really, but also I think I didn’t know what I was missing. This new role has opened up a lot of new opportunities, and there’s a lot more variety in the work I’ll be doing as well, which I think is a salve. It’s also the first time I’ve ever been out as nonbinary in a workplace, so uhhh that’s pretty cool too!
The other big news relates to my game, which has seen even more playtesting and a number of iterations, including a recent big update featuring really great new art! (I highly recommend finding ways to pay people to make cool art for you, 10/10 experience.)
My main campaign is about to come to an end, which I have a lot of feelings about, but it’s been an incredibly rich and rewarding experience, truly one of the most creatively fulfilling collaborations I’ve ever been part of it. It feels really cool to know that part of that is because I made a game that is fun to play, but more than that, I’ve been able to play with two just incredible roleplayers who are comfortable taking authorship and pushing the story in new and interesting directions.
I also just finished up a four-session series for The Gauntlet Gaming Community, which was an absolute blast. I’ll include links to the videos of those sessions at the end of this message.
That’s really about it for now. Things are going pretty well. Our basement flooded, and that sucked, but it’s mostly sorted out. V started 4K and she seems to love it? So that is great, if a bit unexpected. I continue tweaking my game and playing it (and other games) every chance I get. I’m happy that autumn is here, and I hope that its breezes stay gentle and your sweaters keep you sufficiently warm.
jex
Bump in the Dark: Welcome to Last Pine (Session 1/4)
The Burned Book Club goes through character and pact creation, coming up with not only great characters but some totally awesome world-building and plot hooks as well.
Bump in the Dark: Welcome to Last Pine (Session 2/4)
The Burned Book Club skips school to investigate the aftermath of a field trip gone wrong. They learn that something dangerous lurks beneath the ground of Iron Country.
Bump in the Dark: Welcome to Last Pine (Session 3/4)
The Burned Book Club stops the ritual taking place beneath the city, but are granted little respite after due to pesky voices whispering from the void, the discovery of a dark conspiracy involving the Book of Names, a missing cultist, and an unwelcome visit from a ghost.
Bump in the Dark: Welcome to Last Pine (Session 4/4)
The Burned Book Club investigates strange happenings involving a local teen and the upcoming Pinewood County Fair while tension mounts within the group. Featuring “The Black Balloon,” a hunt written for Bump in the Dark by Nick Baran, currently available via his Patreon.