RPG
Nicola had never engaged in a role-playing game before. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to. More that she was too shy to ask, and no one had ever invited her. All that changed during the pandemic. Two years in, she Googled “Dungeons & Dragons.”
Her new online group welcomed her with open arms, teaching her the game. She was braver online. Her characters spoke for her. They said and did things she would never even dream of. A whole new world opened up to her.
Three years into her D&D exploits, her gaming group agreed to all meet up at a convention. Nervous, Nicola considered not attending. But the other players had become more than companions in her adventures; they had become friends.
Nicola channeled her half-drac character and packed her bags. She was going to do this. She just hoped seeing her in person wouldn’t cost her the group.
She ordered a glass of wine to calm her nerves as she waited in the bar for the others to arrive. Each would wear a token related to their character. Hers was a dragon pin.
“I knew it!” A short, blond man wearing an Elven cape stopped at her table, plopping down across from her. It had to be Karl. “I told the others you were that Nicola.”
“You knew who I was?”
“Your in-game characters talk like your book characters.”
Nicola blushed.
“They didn’t believe you were a seventy-six-year-old woman. But I did.”
Nicola waited for the condemnation. The rejection of the old woman who had infiltrated the D&D world.
“You are the most bad-ass player ever.” Karl grinned, his eyes twinkling. “And I love your books!”
Nicola’s adventure was inspired by my own foray into the D&D world. I’m not as old as she is, nor am I shy. But I am late to start playing RPGs (role-playing games). I’m really enjoying my online group. Maybe one day we will meet in person!
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I loved this story, Dascha. It’s never too late to be whoever you want to be!
I had only played D&D a couple of times prior to this year, but I’ve always enjoyed fantasy literature and playing RPGs on gaming consoles. I took on the role of D&D club advisor at my school, and the kids have been having a blast with it. We have around 3-4 campaigns going at the moment!
Wow! You’re so brave! I would never consider an RPG, although I do remember others playing D&D in-person, when I was a teen. However, the thought of doing something like that at 61 is kind of intriguing 😉