Licking the Wheelchair's Wheels

When my Mom first developed Alzheimer's, I wasn't very kind to her. I was angry, irritated, and embarrassed by her repetitive questions. It was hard even to look her in the face. I wasn't my best self at that time. Now of course, I'd give anything to be able to have a two-way conversation with my Mom.

Repetitive questions welcome.

Some of the anger in the early days came from the fact that I was brought up to value intelligence above all else. How do you feel about it when the person who taught you that value doesn't seem to embody it any more? Of course, nowadays I realize that there is a big difference between memory and intelligence, and that people living with Alzheimer's have to use every last neuron of their intelligence (processing power) to compensate for the deficits in their memory. Today, I feel fortunate that I haven't (yet) had to demonstrate the kind of bravery and focus that people in the early stages of Alzheimer's have to bring to every minute of their lives.

It was really hard for me to deal with my Mom changing. It was hard to accept her as she was becoming. Fortunately, her dog has never had that problem.

I realized that today when I saw the dog licking the wheel of my mom's wheelchair during Christmas Day dinner. Imagine that wheelchair's wheels. They have rolled all over the floor of the place where Mom lives. Those wheels have ground their way though countless crumbs, dropped cookies, and chunks of muffins. They have been well-lubricated with spilled juices and energy drinks.

Those wheels are a buffet.

So of course the dog was demonstrating her Buddha nature. She was living in the moment, tasting every morsel and dribble that ever left a trace on those wheels.

That's how we have to live for our loved ones with Alzheimer's. Try to deal with every moment as it emerges, and take what joy we can in each moment. Lick the Great Wheel. Give it a lick.

Holiday Reflections

If I'm being honest, I'd say I don't enjoy holidays very much. When I was a kid, they were usually times when my parents were fighting. As an only child, I didn't have siblings to hide or run away with at those moments. Even worse, one parent consistently pulled me into the fights on their side. Often the best part of the holidays was when we set out for my aunt's house. The fighting stopped, and usually didn't resume once we went home.

More than anything in this holiday season, which can be stressful even in healthy homes and relationships, I'd encourage people to avoid weaponizing their children. If you have a disagreement with your significant other, take a break - don't break things. Go for a walk and cool down. Or agree to discuss the issue latter, when the kids aren't around to hear your mutual grievances. Even better, talk about them after the holidays are over.

Go ahead and make memories. Just make sure you are making ones you want to last.

Grit Digger

Today at The Everwayan, we have another member of Everway's original and ancient Odd Families: Clay Digger, a miner in the galleries below the city. The Digger family has maintained its longstanding monopoly on mining activities. But the City has expanded so much that mining for coal and precious metals now happens only at the edges of the realm of Roundwander, and in the spheres beyond the gates.

But the Digger family also maintains its premier role in the moneylending arena. And like all of the Odd Families, the Digger family is matriarchal and matrilineal. The Diggers' wealth is controlled by a handful of elder-sisters at the top of the clan hierarchy. Their message for everyone else in the family is: "Wait your turn."

Of course, not everyone in the family is willing to do that. The young and ambitious will always seek ways to get ahead. One of the ways is to find the Forgotten Vaults: one of the many hidden and often forgotten places where the Digger wealth of earlier eras was stored.

Grit Digger is young and unafraid. She delves deep, hoping to find some of her family's ancient buried treasure. Mums the word to her clan mothers, who have begun asking pointed questions about where she goes when she disappears for a day or two at time.

Grit Digger

• STR 13
• DEX 13
• WIL 10
• HP 3

Starting Package:

• Pistol (D6)
• Smoke-bomb
• Mutt
• Shovel

Odd Everway

Cover art by Levi Kornelsen

Today, we're celebrating the release of Chris McDowell's Into the Odd RPG, which is now for sale as part of Paolo Greco's Lost Pages imprint.

And we have a new inspiration for Everway.

The planes are as old as dirt, and the realm of Roundwander and its ur-metropolis of Everway lies at its center. A dirt-choked metropolis that has seen stars land and industries rise and fall, Everway is still the realm with the most gates between the spheres.

At least on paper, for only a few gates remain above ground.

Most are Lost Gates, buried far underground, deep beneath a City that has rebuilt itself numerous times, strata upon strata. Meet Ruff Crow, a warrior from one of Everway's Odd Families who trace their lineage back to the founders of the City.

One-eyed Ruff Crow stalks deep under City.  Donning his blood, muck, and chem-stained crowfeather mantle, Ruff takes parties below the City to recover lost things and people. He helps the truly desperate or foolhardy to find and access the Lost Gates.

You'll know he's near when you smell his cigar or see its fire.

Welcome to Odd Everway.

Here's Ruff Crow:

• STR 16
• DEX 12
• WIL 9
• HP 4

Starting Package:

• Pistol (D6)
• Whip (D6)
• Cigars, Lost Eye

Sharper than a Kraken's Beak

Maybe I'm late to the game, but I just noticed that Robin Laws' Sharper Adventures in HeroQuest Glorantha is now available from the Glorantha.com store as a PDF.

I Knew There Was Something Good About Slumbering Ursine Dunes

http://theminiaturespage.com/news/223394/*

The Hydra Collective's Slumbering Ursine Dunes mythic Russia-inspired sandbox adventure setting has a golden barge in it. The intro to the current draft of the product points out that the Dunes takes some inspiration from Michael Moorcock's Eric saga, which has the mother of all battle barges, the giant golden zigguratic Melnibonean kind.

The Dunes have bear warriors, and a King who appears to have at least two things in common with me. (I might reveal those given a rich enough bribe.) The Dunes also has one of the most surreal rumors tables that I have ever seen. I want all the rumors on this table to be true.

There's only a few days left for the Kickstarter for Chris Kutalik's project. If what I've mentioned above is of any interest, check it out while there is still time!

I can't imagine where this Hydra Collective gets the inspiration. Well, maybe I do:

The reference makes me even more eager to see the final product.

*The miniatures pictured above aren't part of the KS but they sure are cool. Call 'em Reptilian but they sure look Melnibonean.

Enkidu FerJabbersSake

Enkidu

We just created our first 5E character for a campaign that my friend Boris is going to run. Meet Enkidu FerJabbersSake, a Half Orc Ranger (1st Level). He's very attractive for a Half Orc (favors his human mother, I guess) and he is hunting for his younger brother, Agni (also a Half Orc) who was captured or sold into slavery during one of the many intertribal conflicts among the orc and goblin groups.

Agni

Enkidu's about 18. Greenish hair, green eyes, light green skin. Hulking build. Both he and his brother have the Black Flame tribal tattoos on their right shoulder and back. Enkidu plays a mouth harp and has a Trinket: a tiny sketch portrait of a goblin. Perhaps, the sketch is a personal wanted poster for his brother's captor. We'll see.

Not surprisingly, Enkidu's Favored Enemies are orcs and goblins. Enkidu's Natural Explorer talent is for Forests. He guides human settlers, hunters, traders, and adventurers who arrived from the East over the great ocean, seeking opportunities to trade among the lands and peoples under the sway of the orcs and goblins. It's not long after the great war which occurred between the Eastern settlers and the orc and goblin tribes.

Understandably, Enkidu now prefers the company of humans.