
A Night Spent Elsewhere
Ron sighed, resting his head against the steering wheel. It had been a long day in the office. Piper had been on his ass all day about getting his reports out by his deadline, only to drop more work on his desk as she harped him. He shook his head. It was going to be a long night, too. He reached into the backseat and grabbed his bag.
The street welcomed Ron with that wet asphalt smell that follows a summer storm. He started his journey up the walkway with shuffling steps, ending the trek with a finger on the doorbell. Another quiet sigh escaped his lips. Ron wasn’t falling asleep, but his eyelids refused to open all the way. The light from inside almost blinded him as the door swung open.
“Ron!” Alex exclaimed. “About time you made it, man. Everyone is downstairs already.”
“Yeah, sorry,” Ron said. “Got out a little late.”
“No worries. Come in, come in.”
Alex ushered Ron into the front hall, shutting the door behind him. Ron gave a quick wave to Mary who was lounging on the couch in the living room.
“Got that same beer as last week,” Alex said.
Ron perked up as his friend lead him toward the basement door.
“Really? That stuff is great.”
“Yeah. And it’s only appropriate that we drink some kind of ale, right?”
The duo descended the stairs chuckling.
“Hey, Ron,” Dennis said. “Glad you made it.”
“Sorry I’m late guys,” Ron said. “Work was hell.”
“I hear you there,” Dennis replied. “I got here just a few minutes ago.”
Ron plopped down across the big table from Dennis. Matt was next to Dennis, going over his sheet one last time before they started. A beer bottle appeared in front of Ron with a clunk. Kyle sat down next to him with a second bottle in his hand.
“Not a moment wasted,” Matt said, looking up with a smile.
“The man likes his ale,” Kyle said. “Plus, it’ll help him get into character.”
Ron laughed as he took a sip. He closed his eyes and let it sit on his tongue for a second. He felt more awake now. Alex took a seat at the head of the table as Ron started getting his supplies set down in front of him.
“You remember your miniature this time?” Matt asked.
“Of course,” Ron said, pulling a small figurine out of his bag.
“I’ll take that,” Alex said.
He swiped the figurine from Ron and put it on the hand drawn map that was laid out in the middle of the table. Alex glanced around looking over the map, his friends, and the materials set out in front of them. He nodded.
“Alright,” he said. “Everyone has a pencil and some dice. Map is set. Beer is flowing. Let’s get started!”
A short cheer went up from the four gathered around the table. Alex smiled. This was his favorite part of the week. When everyone looked just a little less tired and couldn’t stop smiling. When his friends all shed their skin. When Ron, Dennis, Matt, and Kyle got to take a break. Looking around the table one more time Alex no longer saw his friends. Seated at the table now was Tyrek, the half dragon fighter who had never heard of expense reports. He had been thrown into the fighting pits of Illesh when his village was raided and his family taken. After escaping his life as a gladiator, he began his travels across the realm in search of his lost wife and son.
Mandell, the half-elf rogue who knew nothing of student loans or debt. He had been raised in the dark streets of the so called Holy City of Antor. Mandell learned quick that if there was anything he wanted he could just take it. Eyes always shining like the riches he craved, Mandell was on a personal quest for the ultimate score.
Fried, the human sorcerer that never had the chance to struggle with divorce. His only love was that of magic and the knowledge he gained from the Orsiren Academy. Fried was a learner, always keeping an ear out for new information. Legends speak of the First Scroll, a written archive of the first known magics and mysteries of the arcane. Fried wanted answers and was willing to die to find them in that artifact.
Dirk, the halfling cleric who had the power to heal any disease his loved ones might be plagued by. He was a devote acolyte of Loresia, the matron of health and wellbeing. Dirk had traveled many miles to spread the healing touch of his goddess, but he had a secret. Someone was taken from him by an evil lord. A lord the world would be better without.
“So,” Alex said. “You have fought your way through the followers of the Blood Seal. There is one room you have not been in yet. Behind that door you know the high priest waits for you at the Alter of Souls. What do you do?”

