Staining The Timbre

Patience was running out of it. When she decided to try and tame this beautiful, long-feathered, pink avian of The Swamp, she expected it to be quick. She had been waiting on the bird now for fifteen minutes and didn't have much more time to waste. It had hopped closer and closer but was very timid and soon she would be forced to come back for it later, if at all.   The bird hopped closer, now less than a foot from the pile of seed and herbs she'd poured on the rock. It was a specially mixed concoction that would first put the bird to sleep and then allow her to channel the spiritual connection between the two of them and cement the taming. She had used the last of her torparia, the herb that would lull the creature to sleep, so this was the only chance she'd have. It finally closed the distance to the feed and started to peck at it, timid at first but then voracious. Once the majority of the feed was gone to be sure the spell would take; it was always hard to gauge with s

In the wake of Joe Biden being declared presumptive president-elect and four of the most ruthless, combative, and generally disdainful years in modern US history, there has unsurprisingly been push back from the losing team while the winners gloat. It varies from group to group but what I want to address is the notion that those who oppose Trump should somehow show deference or literally a modicum of kindness to those who back(ed) him.     Under normal circumstances I would agree that, when in doubt, it's best to operate by the Golden Rule, "Treat others how you would like to be treated." It's served many people well thus far and I don't expect it to ever falter. It stokes a worldview of inclusion and fairness, assuming you're using it in good faith and not as justification for an "eye for an eye" attitude. It's a simple rule, easy to learn and easy to master, and is a universally agreed upon beacon for humanity's behavior. At times, though,

DM: "You push through the now-unlocked wooden door and find yourselves in an expansive cave. Floor-to-ceiling pillars are equally spaced in rows, stretching to the far side of the room 200 feet away. Every other pillar has a lit brazier, casting an eerie, dim glow across the dirt floor." Rogue: "Checking for traps. 17." DM: "You are unable to find any traps in your immediate vicinity." Barbarian: "So it's just a big empty room?" Sorcerer: "I cast light on the furthest pillar from me I can reach." DM: "A pillar 60 feet away from you shines, casting harsh, white light in all directions. The room grows significantly brighter, but it is now more difficult to see in the shadows behind the pillars." Druid: "Can I Commune with Nature to get a layout of the room?" DM: "Sure. What info are you looking for?" Druid: "Any exits or secret areas attached this room, any living creatures in there with