Chapter 22 (Patreon)

<Storyteller note: This chapter delves in to aspects of D&D that some or none of you may be familiar with. Whatever your familiarity level, I hope you, nevertheless, enjoy it!>

Chad sat on the table in the dining room, waiting for everyone to finish setting up for their game night. The time had finally arrived for everyone's first session. He felt silly wearing the costume Pam had made for him, but at least he wasn't the only one dressed up. Pam had managed to make him a small makeshift suit of armor out of a thimble, although he used the term suit loosely. The thimble was painted gold and had been molded to fit his small frame better. It was held on by two short strings draped over his shoulders. Anna had been kind enough to cut a bottle cap into a shield he could use, but he was still practically naked beyond those two items. He felt ridiculous, and the thimble wasn't the most comfortable to wear. Pam tried to help by lining it with a cotton ball, but that only made it hot and slightly itchy. Still, he supposed it was better than metal rubbing against his bare skin.

Anna was helping to set up food and drinks for everyone alongside Pam, and Chad could only sit and watch while they worked. Their costumes had turned out much better than his, but they were still average-sized. Anna had found some long gloves that covered her forearms to use as bracers; she'd cut the hands off of them when she brought them home. Her hair was tied up in a bun as opposed to how she usually kept it down and free, and Pam had sewn her a chest piece out of fabric she'd picked up at the department store. She wore black leggings and boots that she typically only pulled out for cold winter weather. She shot Chad a look to make sure he hadn't moved as she placed a bowl of chips on the table.

Pam came in with a tray of vegetables and hummus to set in the center of the table. Pam's outfit was simple, but Chad thought she looked breathtaking. Her hair was down, but she'd found a crown at a thrift shop that she wore atop her head. It had six significant points on it, and the plastic was painted a lovely shade of silver. She'd dug out several pieces of jewelry to wear, all of them amethyst stones. Two rings on each side, three on her left, counting her wedding ring, and a prominent princess-cut amethyst necklace she used as an amulet. She'd found a gown with leafy patterns on it tucked away in her closet, and she wore it under a silk robe that he'd bought her for their anniversary. The royal purple colors matched her jewelry, and Chad thought she looked like a true enchantress. She smiled down at him as she caught him staring.

Victoria walked in carrying two liters of soda and a bottle of wine. Her outfit matched her class well, and she had spent days working with Pam on trying to plan it accordingly. She'd used old boxes from Cups to make herself pauldrons and a breastplate. She and Anna had actually spent an evening cutting the pieces out together. It had been a great bonding experience for the two of them. Pam had measured out and sewn together Victoria's sash and robes to go under her armor; white fabric with red trim on the outside fell out from her suit. Anna had helped her braid her hair in preparation for tonight's events. Victoria was almost as excited as Bram about the evening. It was good to see his kids so enthusiastic.

Bram was sitting on the opposite end of the table, hidden behind a cardboard wall reviewing notes. He hadn't come out from behind his spot in almost an hour, but Chad had seen him before he stowed away. Victoria had made him a tiny hat to wear as the dungeon master out of cardboard. Anna had helped her with it; she was as crafty as her mother, much to Chad's surprise. It was a simple cone that they'd managed to mold into a bent wizard's cap for him. Funny enough, it was still a little big on him despite their best efforts. Chad had seen it fall over his face twice since they sat down. Bram didn't seem to mind; he wore it with pride and glee.

Rose had also come by, although not to join their game as a player. She'd come dressed in fleece leggings and a long-sleeved shirt, but she'd brought a change of clothes for theatrics. A shorter dress, shorter than Chad wanted to see on his mother, and an apron to change into. Nobody had asked her to do it, but she wanted to participate in the event. So, she took it upon herself to be a serving girl like they were in a tavern. Bram had thought the idea was fantastic, and Rose seemed glad to be a part of their fun. All in all, it was shaping up to be a pleasant evening for the McCallum family.

"Okay," Anna said as she surveyed everything on the table, "Chips, dip, veggies, drinks, pint-sized dorks, and character sheets; I think we've got everything. Can someone tell me again what's the deal with the dice?"

Anna sat near Chad to keep an eye on him, and Pam sat beside her. Chad sat between the two titans and was glad Pam was close by. Anna had been much better with him lately, but she still had a mischievous side. She'd refrained from putting him in life-threatening situations, but she still enjoyed messing with him. "I think we roll for basically everything," Chad replied, realizing that wasn't the most helpful answer.

"No, I get that, dingus," Anna scoffed as she tried to figure out which ones she needed, "I mean, what do I roll for what, and what am I supposed to try to get?"

Bram stepped out from behind his base of operations to answer her, "You'll roll for initiative, basic checks in town or in battle, attacks, and damage. What you'll need to get depends on what you're trying to do. Whatever you're doing will be based on a D20 roll plus your modifier. Your damage will be the dice written out beside your weapon and any numbers you have beside it."

"Okay, that's both helpful and confusing," Anna remarked as she looked down at her paper, "So, let me see if I understand this. I roll a D20 to try something like attack, sneak, or whatever, and I'll add these numbers over here if they line up with what I'm trying to do. If I manage to land an attack, I roll…a D6 and add in this little plus two? So, I can only do eight damage?!"

"Sort of," Bram replied, "You've got sneak attack, so if you have advantage on an attack, you get to add another D6 to your damage as long as you're using a ranged or finesse attack."

"Fuck, this is already giving me a headache," Anna sighed.

"Anna, language," Pam reprimanded her.

"Sorry," Anna said, "This is just a lot for an imaginary game."

"It's a lot at first, but it'll get easier as we go along," Victoria said, taking a seat beside Anna, "I'll help you make sense of everything, and Bram can clarify anything we might miss."

Anna looked down at her sheet and sighed exasperated, "Okay, if you say so. So, how many dice do we need all together?"

Bram pointed to a bucket that Victoria had brought from his room containing various dice, "You'll need one D20, two D10s, a D8, a D6, and a D4. You might not use all of them, but it's better to have them close by, just in case. Take your time selecting them, and feel free to give them a few test rolls to see which ones work best for you. I've got a couple of things I need to finish before we start, but I should be done by the time everyone has everything."

"This feels like a lot of work for a make-believe game," Anna said as she shook her head and fished around in the bucket for what she needed.

"Just try to have fun, dear," Pam remarked as she waited her turn, "This means a lot to Bram, and I saw how excited you were when we were working on your costume. It's okay to have fun with your family every once in a while, and it's good to try new things."

Anna blushed as she found the dice she needed, "Mom, you don't have to tell them that!"

"I think it's cool that you're willing to give this a shot," Victoria said as she took her turn in the bucket, "It shows that you're willing to do something nice for Bram and that you want to try to bond as a family. Honestly, I was starting to think that you didn't like us."

Anna frowned and looked down. She hadn't realized that she'd been giving that impression to Victoria. "I-" Anna started but stopped as she began to feel slightly guilty, "That was never my intention."

"Anna's just a little stand-offish sometimes, Victoria," Chad said, hoping to help his stepdaughter out, "She's told me several times that she likes you and Bram, but blending a family isn't something that easy or something that happens overnight."

"Oh my God, you sound like a psychology book," Anna groaned.

"Am I wrong, though?" Chad asked.

"Did I say you were wrong, bug-boy?" Anna countered before making herself relax and took a step back, "Sorry, I'm just not great at expressing myself."

"Or handling change, dear," Pam added, making Anna pinch the bridge of her nose in embarrassment and frustration, "Sorry, hon, but it's true. You've always been this way, but there's nothing wrong with it. The fact that you're trying this shows that you're trying to grow."

Victoria finished grabbing the dice she needed and pushed the bucket to Pam without thinking. Chad had been focusing on the conversation, and he didn't see the danger heading his way until it was too late. He looked up just as the edge of the white bucket crashed into him and sent him tumbling backward. The impact hadn't hurt too much, but it had sent him rolling toward the table's edge. Anna was more focused on hiding her growing embarrassment, and Pam started digging through the bucket. Victoria was too engrossed in the conversation to notice his predicament, which meant that Chad was left to his own devices.

Chad couldn't stop himself before he reached the edge of the table, but he managed to latch onto the edge of the wood before he fell. "A little help!" he yelled, hoping someone would hear him as he tried to hang on.

The women continued their conversation, blissfully unaware of Chad's plight. Chad tried to pull himself up, but his hand slipped on the freshly polished wood. He fell from the table, and his instincts kicked in as he tried to find something to grab. His thimble armor made him heavier, but maybe he could still steer himself as he fell. It was a short distance from the table to the ground, but Chad may as well have been skydiving without a parachute. Pam's legs were closest to him, so he tried to veer toward them. With the hope of saving himself, Chad forced his body to cooperate.

Just as he was about to give up, he managed to get close enough to Pam's shins. His hands locked onto the loose fabric of her flowing gown, and he managed to stop his rapid descent. Safe for the moment, Chad tried to figure out how to get himself back to his family. Pam's gown was silk, which provided him with another new challenge. His grip was slipping as he tried to hold on and climb up. His first and second attempts nearly caused him to lose his grip entirely, so he stopped and tried to find another way to save himself. Going up wasn't an option, leaving him with only one alternative: going down. Pam had on a pair of her knee-high boots this evening, and maybe he could reach the leather and get to safety. Being trapped on the ground wasn't ideal, but at least he could run if need be.

"I really hate my luck," he sighed while preparing himself, "Here goes nothing."

The sound of the dice clattering on the table above echoed around him as he let go and slid down. This was always the worst part for him. It was like being on a roller coaster without any safety devices. Chad picked up speed and started to question his decision like a bullet out of a gun. It was too late to turn back now, though. He neared the end of Pam's gown and tried to push himself off to land on her boot. However, fate's cruel sense of humor showed itself once more as he suddenly found himself plummeting into the darkness of Pam's boot. Once again, Chad found himself trapped in a confined space surrounded by a hauntingly familiar smell of feet.

Chad found a foothold using Pam's socks, though, and he managed to stop himself from winding up near her soles. "This is becoming too regular for my liking," he grumbled to himself as he climbed up the sock, "Still, I guess it could be worse. Now, how am I going to get out of here?"

Outside of Pam's boot, the girls were finalizing their selections. The conversation had finally shifted away from Anna, much to the young woman's relief, and they were on to discussing their roles. "So, you're the healer of the group," Anna said to Victoria, "Mom is our spell slinger, I'm stealth, and Chad is our fighter. I just want to make sure I got this."

"That's right," Victoria beamed, "I have some offensive magic, but my main goal is to keep you guys alive. So, we've all got our dice except dad. Dad, do you want to pick them yourself, or do you want us just to grab some, Dad?"

Victoria looked around for her father, but he had somehow disappeared. Anna noticed, too, and groaned, "Dammit, Chad, why is it so hard for him to follow directions?"

"Don't be mad at him," Victoria said, standing up and trying to look for him, "It's not his fault he's tiny."

"No, but it's his fault he's an idiot," Anna argued before adding, "Don't move around too much. If he's on the floor, you might end up stepping on him. He's a moron, but he's a moron that's hard to see. We need to try to find him before he gets too far or before something else gets a hold of him."

"What do you mean something else?" Victoria asked.

"Spiders and bugs mostly," Anna replied when she saw Victoria's face go pale, "It's unlikely, but it's cold out, so those things are coming inside. Just relax; we'll find him. He's not so stupid that he'd try to run from the table, so let's start by checking under it."

"What's going on?" Bram asked, coming out to start, "I'm ready to begin."

"Hold on, little dude, your dad went missing again," Anna said as she crawled under the table.

"I think there's something in my boot," Pam said, feeling a tickle against her ankle.

"Oh, for the love of-" Anna sighed, realizing where Chad must have ended up, "Mom, take off your boots, but be careful. I think your idiot husband decided to get his rocks off with your feet."

"Ew, don't joke about that," Victoria said with a grimace.

Pam ignored the little argument that started to erupt between the girls as she carefully removed her boot. Chad had just climbed to the top of Pam's sock when the world around him shifted. The edge of the boot dragged him down to the bottom of the sole as Pam removed it from her foot. The smell was stronger at the bottom. Sweat and leather mingled in a powerful and unpleasant marriage. He tried to shout since he thought they'd realized where he was, "Down here!"

"I'm not seeing him," Pam said, getting worried.

"Lemme see that," Anna said, accepting the shoe and turning it upside down.

Chad tumbled once again toward the light and fresh air. He yelled as the boot turned upside down and again went into freefall. He landed on someone's palm and breathed a sigh of relief. He looked up to see Anna, Victoria, and Pam staring down at him. "Hi, honey," he said nervously with a wave.

"What part of, stay put did you not understand?" Anna asked calmly, though frustrated, "You could have gotten hurt, dumbass."

"Anna, don't be mean," Pam said, plucking Chad from her hand and putting him back on the table, "What happened, hon?"

"Heh, would you believe I got in a fight with a bucket?" Chad asked, hoping to make light of the situation.

"Oh my God, I knocked you off!" Victoria exclaimed, "I'm so sorry, dad."

"Hey, it's alright," Chad said, trying to reassure her, "It was an accident, and I didn't get hurt."

"Move next time," Anna remarked, taking her seat.

"You told me to stay put," Chad pointed out, knowing it would irritate her.

"Don't be cute," Anna said sternly, "You know that's not what I meant. Now, let's pick your dice out and try not to do anything else stupid."

"Anna, it wasn't his fault," Victoria said.

"It's fine; she's got a point," Chad countered, "I wasn't paying attention, and I should have been. I know she seems harsh, but she's just as concerned as the rest of you."

"Shut up," Anna scoffed, not denying his sentiment, "Come on, Bram is ready to start."

Victoria sat down and reminded herself that Anna had genuinely shown that she cared over the last week. She was rough around the edges, but she had been the one to find him. Anna had also stopped her from potentially stepping on her father. Pam put a hand on Anna's shoulder and smiled, "I think it's sweet that you're trying to look out for Chad, dear."

"Thanks, mom," Anna said, looking over at Victoria, "Look, your dad is a dork who can be annoying, but I don't want him to get hurt. I'm stern with him because it seems to be the only way he'll listen. Can we just get on with the game?"

"Alright, alright," Victoria conceded, holding her hands up, "Can you just try to be a little nicer to him?"

"I don't wanna make a promise I can't keep," Anna replied before adding, when Victoria glared at her, "Look, I'll try, but I can't help if he does something stupid."

"Okay, if we're done arguing!" Bram announced, walking over to check on Chad, "Dad are you alright?"

"I'm fine, son," Chad assured him, walking back over to his character sheet and taking a seat, "I'm ready when you are."

"Great!" Bram exclaimed, clapping his hands together as he prepared to set the mood, "Okay, does anyone have any last-minute questions before we get started?"

"Nope," Anna said, leaning back in her chair, "Let her rip, dork."

"I'm good," Victoria added.

"Go ahead, hon; I'm just getting some dice for Chad," Pam said, finishing her ice fishing.

"Alright, here we go!" Bram said, fixing his hat as it fell over his face again, "So, the four of you have been hired to complete a job in the Forgotten Sands. The Archeology Guild has contracted the four of you to secure the ruins of an ancient civilization in the desert. They believe that there are artifacts from the lost civilization that can further their understanding of the primordials and other planes of existence. Still, the Forgotten Sands is a harsh and unforgiving desert. Someone give me a history check."

"What's that now?" Anna asked.

"He means to roll a D20 if your sheet has a bubble next to history," Victoria explained, pointing to her character sheet.

"Well, I got nothing," Anna sighed, looking over her sheet and not seeing the bubble filled in beside history.

"I've got it," Pam said, seeing bubbles filled in next to arcana, history, and persuasion.

"I've got it too!" Chad exclaimed, oddly excited at the prospect of getting involved, "Uhm, I'm not sure how well I can roll this, though."

"I got you," Anna said, reaching for the dice, "The twenty-sided one, right?"

"That's the one," Victoria said, "Go ahead, you two."

Pam and Anna rolled the dice. Pam's blue and gold D20 clattered beside Chad's black and red one. "Let's see," Pam said, checking her math, "I believe I have a fifteen in total."

"The Dwarven dork has," Anna trailed off as she looked at Chad's sheet and back at the dice, "Nineteen total."

"That'll pass!" Bram said, happy to get to share some lore with his family, "So, it's believed that the Forgotten Sands used to be an ocean or a massive lake centuries ago. For as long as any of you have been alive, it's been a scorched wasteland, but there have been reports of ruins of cities buried beneath the wastes. An old story you came across years ago told of an advanced civilization that created cities that floated like islands in this region. A race of small giants was believed to inhabit these cities, and the stories tell of a unique blend of magic and strange machinery."

"What the hell is a small giant?" Anna interjected.

"I don't know, someone less than a hundred feet tall?" Chad replied.

"Those are your estimations, but none of you are entirely sure," Bram said, trying to steer the story along, "Until now, you had thought these stories little more than fairy tales."

"Hmm, so we're looking for ruins, or are we trying to recover relics from the past?" Pam asked.

"Your job is to secure the site of the ruins and to bring back any pieces of the past that you can carry," Bram replied, "No one knows what caused the downfall of this civilization, let alone what dried up the seas. You've each been paid a portion of your profit upfront for travel expenses."

"If we find any tech, I'm keeping it for myself," Anna declared, "It could be worth something, or maybe I could use it to make myself stronger."

"That's not what we were hired to do!" Victoria exclaimed, "We accepted the job and are honor bound to complete it without stealing."

"Hey, speak for yourself, not me," Anna shrugged, "I went with chaotic neutral, so if I see something I want, I'm taking it. Mom, you're a sorceress. Don't you think it could be cool to play with some weird gadgets and see how they work?"

"Don't try to lure her to your side," Victoria said, crossing her arms.

"I have to admit, it does sound tempting," Pam said, "I won't say one way or the other until we make it there. One thing at a time, everyone."

Bram smiled as he watched his players bicker amongst themselves. They were getting into character, little by little, and it was shaping up to be an exciting evening. "Okay, Pam's right," he said, "Before any of you can decide who gets what, you've got to cross the desert and survive. Now, the four of you are in a tavern currently. Your rooms have been paid for tonight, and you're set to leave in the morning. You've got a full day to spend exploring, purchasing supplies, or just sitting around getting to know the townsfolk. Who wants to do what first?"

"I'd like to offer to buy the enchanting sorceress a drink if she's willing to accept," Chad said, glancing up at Pam longingly, "I'd also like to tell her that I think she looks ravishing in her robes."

"Okay, since dorky wants to be cheesy, I'm gonna go see if I can find some supplies," Anna said, making an exaggerated gagging noise, "Let them get drunk or whatever, but this rogue isn't sticking around to see them make out."

Bram laughed and looked up at Anna, "That's fair, but dad spoke up first."

"Okay, I'm gonna run to the bathroom real quick then," Anna said, excusing herself and looking at Chad, "Try not to fall off the table again."

"Alright, dad, you approach the elven sorceress; what do you say?" Bram asked, hoping to steer the conversation into a natural dialogue.

"Can I help you with your bag and maybe buy you a drink?" Chad asked, trying to use the same line he'd used on her when they first met.

Pam smiled at him, remembering their first meeting and seeing what he was aiming at. "You don't have to do that," she replied, reciting her response word for word.

"It would be my pleasure if you'd allow me," Chad replied, smiling back at her.

"Very well," Pam said, looking at Bram, "I hand my little friend here my bag and gesture to a table where we can sit and talk."

"A table sits near the back with four empty chairs waiting to be filled," Bram said, "A serving girl walks up as the two of you take a seat."

Almost as though she'd been waiting for an opportunity, Rose walked up with an enthusiastic grin, "Good evening, you two. What can I get you from our fine establishment?"

"Gran, you don't have to do this," Bram laughed, loving his family's involvement thus far.

"Nonsense," Rose waved him off, "I'm just happy to be a part of everyone finally spending some time together. Now, what can I get the lovely couple?"

"We're not a couple, Rose," Pam said, trying to stay in character, "At least not yet. This handsome warrior is just being kind. I'll have a goblet of your finest wine as long as my little companion is willing to pay for it."

"It would be my honor," Chad said, actually enjoying their intimate, albeit imaginary, moment together, "Let's see, I'll have some mead after our long journey. Is my lady hungry?"

"Your lady?" Pam repeated with a subtle yet enticing chuckle, "My, aren't you quite forward? I don't believe you've even properly introduced yourself, kind sir."

"Okay, this is making me uncomfortable," Bram admitted, "We'll circle back to you two while you get acquainted. Gran, can you write down what they order so I can have them deduct it from their gold?"

"Sure thing, hon," Rose said, grabbing a scrap sheet of paper and pen.

Anna was still in the bathroom, so Bram turned to his sister. "Okay, Victoria, what would you like to do?" Bram asked, "You've seen your Dwarven and Elven party members walk off to the table in the back, and your mysterious rogue ally has started making her way to the exit."

Victoria pursed her lips as she thought, "Hmm, is there a chapel in town?" she asked after a moment.

"There is a chapel that is dedicated to the Triad located in the center of town," Bram replied, "The four of you passed it on your way in, but it looks to be in rough shape. You did see various town residents going in and out of the chapel."

"Okay, I'd like to go there, pay tribute and pray, and offer my services to the clergy or the townsfolk," Victoria said, resolute on her decision.

"Alright," Bram said as Anna returned to the table, "Do you mind if I take care of Anna first, though?"

"Not at all," Victoria replied, reaching for some chips, "I can wait."

"Did I miss anything?" Anna asked as she sat back down.

"Just some banter," Bram replied before asking, "So, you wanted to go browse the shops for equipment and supplies, right?"

"Yeah, I'd like something that can do more damage than my rapier and this crossbow," Anna nodded.

Bram walked Anna through the bazaar and its various shops while Rose tended to Chad and Pam. Their kids tried to ignore their parents' flirting and immerse themselves in the game, but Rose found it endearing. "This reminds me of my time as an actual waitress," Rose chuckled as she reached down to grab Pam's glass, "I'll be right back with your drinks, you two."

"Thank you, madame," Pam said as she started to turn her attention to Bram and Anna's exchange.

Chad was utterly entranced by his lovely wife, even as their conversation hit a lull. So much so that he failed to notice where he'd chosen to sit. He'd approached her at the beginning of their little interaction and made the mistake of placing himself on the base of her empty wine glass. It wasn't until he found himself rising into the air that he realized his poor choice of seating. The smart thing would have been to jump off while he had a chance, but instinct and fear made him rush to the stem and hold on for dear life. By the time he thought about jumping, it was already too late. His mother was carrying him off to the kitchen, despite the wine already sitting on the table. There was nothing he could do. He was along for the ride whether he wanted to be or not.

Chad was beginning to develop a fear of heights from his size and the number of times something like this had happened to him. He clung to the glass stem for dear life, hoping that his beloved mother would return him sooner rather than later. "Ack, this dress is lovely, but the material is so itchy," Rose mused to herself as she brought her hand to her shoulders and tried to scratch her itch and accidentally used the base of the wine glass, "Whoops, looks like I'll have to get another glass now. Hmm, where is that wine?"

Chad's world shook and twisted as his mother mistakenly used his perch to scratch an irritating itch. The sudden twist and turns gave him a disorienting sense of vertigo that caused him to lose his grip. Regrettably, Chad found himself falling once again, but this time down his mother's shoulders. He yelled and shouted at her in hopes that she'd hear him, but Rose was too lost in thought to pay anything any mind. Chad's only hope was quickly dismantled as he fell through the opening of her dress. This was already closer than he would have liked to be to his mother. He had to find some way to save himself before he ended up a broken stain on the floor.

Unfortunately, Chad's options were limited. The strap on Rose's bra on her back, the flowing fabric of her dress, or the least desirable option: the hem of her panties were the only three things he could use. The wall of cloth covering his mother was his first choice, but one wrong misstep spelled disaster for him. He had seconds to decide, and Chad chose to try for the fabric of Rose's dress. There was one advantage to his makeshift armor, and that was that it made him more noticeable. If he could just latch onto her dress, then maybe he could swing close enough to her back to get noticed.

Chad threw his arms out in an attempt to catch onto her dress. Putting aside his more immediate fears and reservations, Chad's fingers coiled around her dress. The smooth fabric did little to slow his descent at first, but he held on tightly. Slowly, Chad's fall came to a steady halt as he neared the halfway point down his mother's back. The night was only getting started, but Chad was already beginning to feel exhausted. Luckily, his adrenaline had kicked in, and he found the strength within himself to hold on. Looking around, he noticed he was dangerously close to the opening at the bottom of the dress. If his attempt had failed, his only other option would have been spelunking in Rose's panties. Now he just had to figure out how to swing himself closer to her back without jeopardizing his foothold.

Chad's ordeal had taken only seconds, and Rose had used that time to try to remember where the wine was. Unable to recall, she looked around the kitchen, hoping to find it. If nothing else, she could grab another glass for Pam. After depositing the dirty one in the sink, she walked over to the cupboards to grab a glass. She stood up on her tiptoes to retrieve an identical glass and swore she felt something scraping against her back. Setting the glass down, Rose reached behind her to try to soothe whatever was agitating her skin. Was there something in her dress? She frowned as she tried to figure out whether or not she felt a lump in her outfit, or if it was just her imagination.

Chad had managed to swing closer to Rose's back when she started walking. The turbulent to and fro swinging was nerve-wracking, but it was necessary for him to have a chance at getting found. His thimble armor brushed against his mother's back, and he felt a twinge of hope that she'd notice him. Much to his dismay and frustration, Rose responded by brushing her hand against his holding place. He was smashed against her back, and with enough force, it shattered his grip on her dress. He prepared himself to reenter freefall, but amazingly it never came. The thimble he wore had managed to get snagged on the threads of the dress. It was another surprising advantage of his costume but one for which he was undoubtedly grateful.

"Where is that wine, and what is in my dress?" Rose asked aloud as she felt something continue to scrape against her back, "I hate to start off on the wrong foot, but it looks like I'm going to have to ask Pam where it's at."

Rose abandoned her quest for the wine and finally relented to check the dining room. Chad held on for dear life as his mother walked briskly. He bounced back and forth between her dress and Rose's bare back. After the third round, he got a handful of fabric again. It did little to diminish the fear of plummeting, but he felt a smidgen of relief having something to hold onto. Wherever she was going, it was clear she was in a hurry. He wondered if anyone had noticed that he was missing yet and if they'd started trying to find him. Surely someone would have taken note of his absence, right?

Rose returned to the room as Bram and Anna were discussing something pertaining to the inside of the game. "Okay, so what do I have to get to steal the shortsword?" Anna asked, looking over her sheet.

"Telling you that breaks some of the immersion, Anna," Bram sighed, "Just tell me if you want to do it or not."

"Of course, I want to, but I don't want to get caught," Anna replied, leaning down to give him a stern look, "You can tell me, or I can become a much more difficult player."

"A thousand apologies, madame," Rose interjected, addressing Pam, "I'm afraid I'm having a little difficulty finding our wine selection this evening."

"Hmm?" Pam mused, having been more focused on Bram and Anna's growing argument, "Oh, Rose, the wine is on the table, hon. We brought it in before we got started."

"Oh, well, that is embarrassing," Rose laughed, setting the wine glass down and grabbing the bottle.

"Rose, did you take this glass from the table?" Pam asked, remembering that Chad had been sitting on it a short while ago.

"Yes, dear, I was going to fill it and bring it back to you," Rose replied, uncorking the wine and pouring the velvety red liquid into her glass, "I had to get another one, though. Silly old me used the other one to scratch an itch without thinking. Don't worry, Pam, this one's clean and fresh. I put the other one in the sink."

"Oh dear, kids, we need to take a break," Pam said, getting to her feet as Anna, Bram, and Victoria looked over at her, "Your father's gone missing again."

"What?!" Bram and Victoria exclaimed.

"Son of a-again?" Anna sighed, getting up, "Where was he last?"

"He was actually on the glass that Rose took to the kitchen," Pam said, causing Rose's eyes to widen and her face to pale, "It was an honest mistake, Rose."

"Oh no," Rose breathed.

"It's alright," Anna said, trying to reassure her, "He's clueless, but he's tough and a survivor. Victoria, why don't you check the sink for him? Mom and I will look around here for him."

"What about me?" Bram asked.

"Stay put," Anna replied, "The last thing we need is another missing person. I know you want to help, but we can find him."

"Okay," Bram said, hating being unable to help.

"Anna's right, little brother," Victoria added as she got up to head towards the kitchen, "We don't need to lose our dungeon master to boot."

"Yeah, especially before I try to get this five-finger discount," Anna said with a grin before turning to Rose, "Okay, Rose, you said you accidentally used the glass to scratch an itch, right?"

"Yes, but I had no idea Chad was on it," Rose replied.

"Well, he's hard to see, in all fairness," Anna said, trying to make the older woman feel better, "He knows it, and that's why the little bug-man doesn't get mad when something happens. Mom, was he on the base of the glass?"

"He was," Pam said, checking around the floor and stopping to look at Anna, "What are you thinking, honey?"

Rose felt another scrape against her back and frowned, "I am really starting to regret wearing this dress."

"Hmm, Rose, can I see something real quick?" Anna asked, starting to put the pieces together, "It might feel a little weird, but I promise I'm just looking for Chad."

"Okay, whatever you need, Anna," Rose said as Anna stepped around to Rose's back.

Chad was still dangling against the backside of Rose's dress. He could hear everyone talking outside his precarious predicament, but it was faint. His mother was standing still, but he felt someone's hand brush past him. Whoever it was pushed him against Rose's back, but the pressure was subtle. The hand moved away, and he was suddenly swinging back and forth. He wondered how long the threads would hold him in place. All he could do was wait and hope that they'd keep. Maybe someone was looking for him, but he wasn't sure how good his luck actually was anymore.

Anna had run her hand down Rose's dress and stopped when she felt a lump in the back. She nodded before speaking to Rose, "Okay, I'm gonna put my hand in your dress, Rose. I'd ask you to do it, but I don't think you can reach where I believe he's at. Mom, do you want to go get Victoria? I'm pretty sure I found him."

"Would it be easier if I went and changed?" Rose asked.

"Maybe, but I'm afraid he might lose his grip and fall," Anna admitted as she knelt down, "I'm not really comfortable with this either, but as long as he's there, I'll get over it. Ready?"

"Ready," Rose said as Anna reached up the bottom of her dress.

Pam watched her daughter as she worked. Anna was careful not to brush or linger against Rose's skin, but she was trying to be mindful of Chad. Anna bit her lip as she searched, a habit she'd developed at a young age whenever she was concentrating. Over the last week, Pam had seen a significant change in Anna's behavior and treatment of Chad. She was still prone to teasing and belittling him, but she'd seen her daughter step in to save him over a dozen times. It gave her a sense of peace that the two finally seemed to be getting along. Her worries that her daughter would mistreat Chad were quickly being put to rest by situations like these.

Chad heard the subtle sound of a thread snapping above him. His face paled as he looked up and noticed that one of the strings on his suit was giving way. His luck was running out, and he clung tighter to the fabric of his mother's dress. Then, he felt fingers wrap around him. They were firm yet gentle, and he knew that Anna had come to his rescue. He breathed a sigh of relief as she tugged him free, and he allowed himself to relax in the darkness of her palm. He was safe once again, at least for the time being. Anna snaked her hand out of Rose's dress while keeping a firm hold on Chad's tiny body.

Anna stood up and opened her hand. She shook her head as Chad smiled up at her and scoffed, "You have really got to start being more careful. I found him."

"Oh, thank goodness," Rose said, visibly relaxing.

"I'll go get Victoria," Pam said before stopping and stroking Chad's head with her index finger, "Honey, please try to be more mindful where you're sitting."

Pam hurried off to retrieve Victoria while Anna prepared to sit Chad down, "Can you try not to get yourself into any more trouble tonight?" she asked, "We haven't even left town yet, and you've nearly gotten yourself killed twice already."

"I'll be more careful, I promise," Chad said as Rose rushed over.

"Chad, I am so sorry," she said, feeling guilty for endangering his life.

"It's alright, mom," he assured her, "Pam and Anna are right. I should have been more careful where I sat. You didn't know, and I'm fine, thanks to Anna."

Victoria returned with Pam with a look of relief on her face, "Dad, thank God you're okay."

"Alright, the party is all together again," Anna said, sitting back down, "Now, what do I have to roll to steal that shortsword?"

Bram watched in awe as everyone sat back down and rejoined the game. He looked up at Anna after glancing at his dad and his grandmother. "Uh, right," he said, trying to focus back on the game, "I'm still not going to tell you the number, but I'll give you advantage on the roll since you managed to save dad. Give me a sleight-of-hand check, and add in your dexterity and proficiency. Roll twice, but take the higher of the two rolls."

"Alright, I guess that's better than nothing," Anna said, grabbing her D20 and shaking it in her hand before dropping it on the table.

Chad watched as Anna's dice hit the table and rolled on a two before her second attempt. She frowned as she grabbed it again, accidentally snatching Chad in the process. Anna brought her hands together and shook them vigorously. Chad was tossed around Anna's hands before she opened them up and let both he and the dice fly. Chad tumbled out alongside the dice, his world spinning from the disorienting experience he'd just had, and landed on his back. He shook his head as he sat up, and Anna proclaimed her victory, "Nineteen!"

"Anna!" Victoria snapped, spotting her father beside the dice, "You just rolled dad!"

"What?" Anna asked, looking down and seeing Chad beside her triumphant roll, "Dammit, I just told you to be more careful! Ugh, I guess this one's on me, but on the bright side, I think you might be a lucky charm, Chad. Are you okay?"

"A little dizzy, but other than that, yeah," Chad said as he stood up.

Pam cupped her hand and scooted him closer to her, "Why don't you stay closer to me, hon?"

"That sounds like a good plan," Chad replied.

"That passes, even before modifiers," Bram said, asking, "Dad, are you good to keep going?"

"Yeah, son, I'm okay," Chad replied, "I'm ready to begin in earnest now.

"Okay, so I get the sword, right?" Anna asked.

"Right, so," Bram began, "While the shopkeep is busy with another customer, you casually approach the blade on display. You're not sure if you believe his description and stories about the sword, but you can tell it's a finely crafted weapon. You manage to slide the shortsword into a pocket on your cloak while he's busy trying to sell another traveler an amulet. He seems to be utterly unaware of your dubious action. Do you want to stick around and try to knick anything else?"

"Nah, once I've got it, I'll head out and check out some other shops," Anna said, "I wouldn't want to risk getting caught."

"Sounds good," Bram said, walking back towards his base, "You take your leave, and the shopkeeper is none the wiser to his missing sword."

The next twenty minutes consisted of everyone finishing their business in town. Anna purchased some healing potions and a notebook to use on their journey. Victoria paid tribute to Torm and the other deities at the chapel. She accepted a quest to bring back information on a group of knights that had gone into the desert in search of a relic of Torm. She would either get them back or report their deaths while giving them their last rites. She pledged to do them justice and to try to retrieve the relic, if possible, should they have perished. Chad spent his evening getting better acquainted with Pam's character, but he did leave to stock up on supplies for their adventure. Pam spent her downtime studying maps and tomes about their journey, and soon everyone was ready to begin their experience.