Hey everybody!      I hope that things are well for everyone as we roll out of the Summer season, and soon into the truly most wonderful time of the year—SPOOKY SEASON. Like last year, I have something special lined up for the month of October, as we make our pilgrimage to Port Astor during the Plague of ’30; a time of heightened desperation and fear in that already tenebrous city. This time, we will be exploring some strange happenings around Port Astor State University and the curious practices of the staff and graduates, and how one can misplace an entire campus. Look for that first piece on October 5th!      In other news, and as some of you might be aware, I am having my first collection of short stories published and sold at retailers! Contained within are several of what I think represents the best material I have made for Port Astor, including a unique piece that I will never share elsewhere! At the time of writing this, I have confirmed that Barnes & Noble and Apple Book

                      A flash, a scream, and just the moldering steam that hung in the cold Winter morning air as the arcane flame died down upon the rapidly-charred remains of the regular soldier. Lieutenant Matthew Regin had stood atop his barricade all night, the day before, and now was looking at another sunset and rise. After the retreat of the Colchis, it all went to shit . It fell apart when royal orders came down for the regular and drafted forces to pursue the “fleeing” invaders, which were at best ignored, or at worst, the messenger was attacked and murdered in outrage. What remained of the regulars, and many draftees, then revolted, and the Royal Knights were sent in to “restore loyalty and order”. For their part, the Parliamentary forces, namely the Arcane and the Engineering & Grenadier Corps, fell back to defend parts of the city from the fighting factions. For this, the other camps labelled them as an enemy; as traitors.                 That was weeks ago now. Since