Good inspiration for portraying travel in a fantasy setting. Common for adventurers to sign up to protect caravans, and here are some options for obstacles beyond the well-worn "bandits attack!"

When you buy a stapler and it comes without any staples included (inspired by a true story of hope, loss, and despair).

I never write about it, but I work in cancer research. Cancer kills. If you get a diagnosis, and want to fight it (you don't have to), talk to an oncologist. Stat. If you want to get better do not try "alternative medicine". It does not work. It's a waste of time, and time is all we got.

The 80s fantasy cult classic Dragonslayer

When the party finds a holy amulet and the clerics start fighting over it. #ttrpg

I hope this is how my sister talks about me when I'm dead.

I feel if a RPG's primary reward mechanic for advancement/improvement is based off one thing, then that RPG is primarily about doing that thing. Gold=XP - it's about amassing treasure Killing=XP - it's about combat Solving the Mystery=XP - it's about solving mysteries This is somehow controversial.

Really looking forward to reading this by @catholickungfu.bsky.social - just arrived in the post. Since becoming a parent I've found questions of how we pass on what we have recieved to be much more pressing!

I'm currently reading St Augustine's "Essential Expositions of the Psalms", a wonderful collection of his sermons on the Psalms, with useful commentary. Less highbrow, but still excellent, is "The Wizard Knight", a weird and wonderful fantasy novel by Gene Wolfe.

Happy feast of the Baptism of Christ for those who celebrate! Sadly, time to put the Christmas decorations away...

We all need a a timeline cleanse! A small Corinthian aryballos in the shape of an owl (circa 630 BC). It served as a perfume container. On display at Antikensammlung München A lovely weekend to all of you ☃️😀 📷 me

Here’s my problem: Bishop Barron consistently chooses only targets on one side of the political aisle to critique—and it‘s not the side in power. Nothing President Trump or his minions say against any principle of Catholic social teaching ever elicits a word from him.

Sincerely: if you think religion is inherently corrosive to the intellect, and that religious people are brain damaged... stop wasting time ranting at us online! You could be talking to people capable of real thought, after all. You could be learning, building yourself up! Why argue with idiots?

The secret to living authentically is praying, so that we understand what truly brings the Kingdom of Heaven, and letting go of what is superfluous and ties us to passing things. - Pope Leo XIV

Vance should be denied communion over this until he publicly repents. There's no good reason why he shouldn't. We all know Renee Good was murdered - he is lying or culpably ignorant, and either way is attempting to cover up her murder.

Love it when Bible quote sites put every verse on a calming background

This is basically the view of the world that Plato sets out to refute in the Republic. One of the core questions asked therein is: why do powerful people think the mere fact of them exercising dominion makes it good for them to do so? Sure, you *can* get away with stuff if you're powerful - so what?

Big theme in the post-Vatican II moral theologians too. Perfect freedom can be conceived as unrestricted power to do whatever, but if that doesn't make you happy, what's the point? Authentic freedom is a "force for growth and maturity in truth and goodness" - it's a creative capacity.

Relatedly, religious organisations need to stop doing youth events where they present (explicitly or implicitly) a different vision for holiness for men vs women.

IMO once you have a character disbelieve their own story (“haha guys this is so weird”) you make it more difficult for the reader/audience to believe in it.

Early Medieval England Saw Continuous Migration, Study Finds www.medievalists.net/2026/01/earl... - research by @samleggs22.bsky.social @shakenbeck.bsky.social and Tamsin C O’Connell #medieval #England #history

Well, I've found the perfect NPC name for my next tabletop game.

Because they are stupid.

As another bit of innocuous discourse: many justifications for ecumenical work miss an obvious, very human motivation. We love our friends, and don't want to fall out with them over religion.

The Lord of the Rings is a truly wonderful book. Its detractors in the SFF space mostly suffer from misaligned expectations: unlike the film trilogy, it's not an action-adventure story. It's a mythic tale about hope, courage, and friendship (and so much more).

Why do people claim “religious discrimination” for asinine things like having to be nice to gay people instead of for having to work on Epiphany.

"May the light of your peace illuminate our world so full of conflict." ⭐ As we celebrate the Epiphany, let us pray and work to carry the spirit of hope cultivated during the Jubilee into this new year.

Caption for today as I return from vacation and go back to work.

What is the point of having a human rights lawyer in charge of the country if he can not bring himself to condemn blatant authoritarian land grabbing. What does it tell the country about fairness, justice and this govts priorities?

The Adoration of the Magi by Maximilian Liebenwein, 1902.

The original Order of Hermes book for Ars Magica 2nd edition remains my favourite all-in-one deep dive for a weird and wonderful society of wizards. And it has a worthy successor in the Houses of Hermes trilogy for the 5th edition of the game. #ttrpg #arsmagica

Pope Leo: “With great concern, I am following the developments in Venezuela. The well-being of the beloved Venezuelan people must prevail over every other consideration and lead to overcoming violence and embarking on paths of justice and peace, guaranteeing the sovereignty of the Country…

Venezuela says it rejects "military aggression" by the US reut.rs/4pYL9pn

Tomorrow is J.R.R. #Tolkien's 134th birthday! As Frodo did for Bilbo, the Tolkien Society continues to celebrate Tolkien's birthday in his absence with our #TolkienBirthdayToast. Our tradition: at 9pm your time raise a glass and toast "The Professor!" www.tolkiensociety.org/events/tolki...

Pope Leo in Dilexi Te: “Thus, in a world where the poor are increasingly numerous, we paradoxically see the growth of a wealthy elite, living in a bubble of comfort and luxury, almost in another world compared to ordinary people."

May the prayers of Our Holy Lady the Twofold Virgin Mary the God-Bearer (እግዝእትነ፡ ቅድስት፡ ድንግል፡ በ፪ማርያም፡ ወላዲተ፡ አምላክ፡) carry you through the coming year as She carried Lord Jesus on Her back ❤️ Ethiopia, 18th c. #StMary #BabyJesus #HappyNewYear2026 #africanart

"I thought you were really boring, but when I got to know you you're actually not!" Remarkable that I'm still friends with them tbh.

all the things that God would have us do are hard for us to do

Narrowed down by "desires list" for gaming in 2026 to a more realistic set of goals. In January, following a successful Hogswatch one-shot, I'm running a month-long micro-campaign of the new Discworld rpg, published by Modiphius.

The guy who played Bran Stark on Game of Thrones was briefly at the same university as me, but shockingly did not approach the stall of the Catholic Society at freshers fair.

Atlas Games have just released the final PDFs for the Ars Magica Definitive Edition to backers. This is hands down my most anticipated TTRPG this year. I feel a long campaign in Mythic Europe is on the cards. #ttrpg #arsmagica #fantasy

Blue Jays in Winter https://www.wikiart.org/en/abbott-handerson-thayer/blue-jays-in-winter-1909

"If all of us at every level would stop accusing others & instead acknowledge our own faults, asking God for forgiveness, & if we would truly enter into the suffering of others & stand in solidarity with the weak & the oppressed, then the world would change." — Leo XIV www.vatican.va/content/leo-...

In this Nativity from 1929 by Lucien Pissarro, Mary would like to remind you that she JUST got the baby to sleep.

Caught by Sr. Kelly. A shadow reflection of a nativity in the front window of our Motherhouse.

26th December is the feast of St Stephen. Here is the benediction for St Stephen protomartyr. #StStephen BL Add 49598; Benedictional of Æthelwold; 10th century; England, S; ff.18r-18v

A happy first name day for my 9-month old son Stephen, who has been thrilled by all the crinkly wrapping paper he got for Christmas.

This is what my wife says when I'm not sure what to order at a restaurant.

Today the Company will depart. Bilbo gives Frodo his sword Sting and—secretly—his magnificent Dwarvish mail-coat of pure mithril. The old hobbit sings softly. ‘I sit beside the fire and think of how the world will be when winter comes without a spring that I shall ever see…’