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Latest News and Blog Posts from Wayne “Pendragon” Owens.
BBW – The Christmas Party
This evening was the Blood Bikes Christmas Party!!! We had decided (by popular vote) that we would move the monthly meeting to a Saturday this month and turn it into a Christmas Party. So at 7:30pm all the good boys and girls of the NE Blood Bikes Wales gathered up to celebrate the season. Christmas Jumpers were optional, and in attendance.
So we had a quick update on the last months actions, including how we had been given a new bike by the family of someone who had passed away. Then we were informed that the High Sheriff of Clwyd who has been a fantastic supporter of the Charity for several years now (I think we are on the third or fourth bike she has gotten us) had put some money behind the bar to pay for our drinks.
We then spent a while eating and drinking and making merry to celebrate another busy year with the charity. Blood Bikes Wales Christmas baubles were presented to the members, some 10 year volunteer badges were handed out (I believe I would have been a volunteer for 10 years in 2026). We then had a raffle which raised £180(ish) I forget the exact amount, I did mention the free beer didn’t I?
I managed to win two raffle prizes, and Nev, Hugh and John won none, which made my day because Facebook had reminded me that last year ago the four of us had visited a Lodge to give a talk for Blood Bikes and those three had all won two raffle prizes, and I had won none.
Karma gets there eventually.
Blood Bikes Wales
Blood Bikes Wales is a charity that transports blood, plasma, platelets, samples, vaccines, donor breast-milk & any other urgently required medical items to hospitals at night, weekends and bank holidays. This service is provided completely free of charge, allowing the NHS to divert funds where they are needed most.
Our riders are a hardy bunch that operate in all but the very worst weather.
The Last Masonic Meeting of 2025
This evening was my final Masonic event of 2025. I am all done until next year.
I ended the year with Wrexhamian Chapter. The plan for the evening was to do a demonstration of an exhalation ceremony. To gives the new officers a chance to practice their roles ready for a live candidate at our next meeting. Only we had so many people call off that the majority of the officers were past Zerubbabel’s standing in. It was a pointless idea to do a demo with so many Past Z’s in place, and they decided to do the full signs and everything. Most of us there thought that we should call it a miss and have a chat, or an informal evening due to the numbers. But the DC was insistent, It was so bad that the Grand Chapter Officer (and Assistant PGM) who was down decided he was not staying, and took his regalia off and went home before we even opened the Chapter.
We used to be the largest normal Chapter in North Wales, and yet this evening we only just had enough people to open the chapter. I think we need to find out why our members never turn up. I suspect it is boredom, we only do the one ceremony (ignoring Installation), and we do it EVERY MEETING!. I think we need to have the occasional meeting with an interesting Chapter talk, or maybe just do the three lecturers and let the newer members each take a third of one of the lecturers. Currently we only do one, and it is normally done by the same Past Z’s who are also doing the ceremony.
Basically people join, then spend years just sitting on the side-lines watching the same people do the same ritual every meeting. I would find that boring. We need to engage with them more, and make the Chapter more than the “one trick pony” that a lot of masons have taken to calling it. I started working on people this evening, and saying we need to do more. So maybe 2026 will be the year of Wrexhamian Chapter.
The Anti-Masonic Metropolitan Police
The United Grand Lodge of England (“UGLE”), the home of Freemasonry in England, Wales and the Channel Islands, notes today’s announcement by the Metropolitan Police that it will now require mandatory declaration of membership of Freemasonry as a declarable association, meaning that male and female officers and staff who are Freemasons will be compelled to inform the Met of this.
Whilst aware of recent concerns over police vetting procedures, UGLE considers this policy decision to be unlawful, disproportionate, unfair and discriminatory.
UGLE has endeavoured to engage constructively and openly with the Met on this matter over recent weeks and is most disappointed that it has reached this decision without a genuine dialogue or any direct engagement with UGLE on the substantive reasons which affect the integrity and the positive regard in which our members are held.
Commenting on behalf of the United Grand Lodge of England, the Order of Women Freemasons and the Honourable Fraternity of Ancient Freemasons, Adrian Marsh said:
“We are disappointed that a decision which potentially affects our members has been taken without open or effective consultation. Our values of Integrity, Friendship, Respect and Service are paramount in Freemasonry and have never been of more importance. We see this action as unwarranted, and we are carefully considering an appropriate response. We will issue a further statement in due course.”
So the Metropolitan Police that it will now require mandatory declaration of membership of Freemasonry as a declarable association,
Why? Because they believe freemasons will look out for each other,
What about members of Golf Clubs? Everyone knows big business is done on the golf course, with people plotting and helping out their friends, but nope the Met do not need to to declare membership of a Golf Club.
What about Churches, a lot of Church communities are very tight, and help each other out, surely the Met would require someone to declair membership of those?
What about the Lions? The round Table?, the RAC, The AA, any hobby club, Fan club, band, choir, Scouts, Guides, St Johns, Charity Group, Family. Every group or association in the world could be said to be a group where two members may look out for each other or do favours. Why has the Met got such a hatred for Freemasonry?
Who wants to bet that one of the powers that be in the Met was black balled?
BBW: Frost Fayre More like Wet Fayre
To recover from the stress of yesterdays Provincial Convocation, I decided to have an easy day today. So I went along to the Ruabon Frost Fayre to see Santa with the Blood Bike Wales guys.
And as the song goes “The weather outside is frightful” and it was, since it was raining. But the Fayre was really busy with loads of people, stalls, and fundraising events.
Chatting to Santa he was shocked to hear we deliver 365 days a year, he said the reindeers would strike if he tried to do more than once a year.
To finish off the day a few of us Blood Bikers decided to get dry by going to sit by a fire in a real-ale pub and having a few drinks (off duty I should point out)
My First Provincial Convocation (organising it)
I can now relax!
Today was the Province of Western Counties and North Wales’ Provincial Convocation. This is our annual meeting where we all gather together, see how all the colleges in the Province are doing, what is new, and Invest the Provincial officers for the next year. We also announce the winner of the best paper in the province, and listen to it.
It is a big event in the year, and this year for the first time ever, I was the one organising it all because I am the new Provincial Secretary.
So for the last few weeks i have been dealing with organising the officers, the bookings, the colleges for their reports, the Director of Studies for his report and the winning paper, trying to sort out the provincial jewels, and 101 other things. All for the first time.
To make it all easier, a bunch of VIPs decided they wanted to attend, you know just the Senior Substitute Magus, the junior Substitute Magus (England & Wales), Members of High Council, etc. I can tell you, the whiskey I poured myself when I got home was well earned.
Overall it was a very enjoyable day, and next year will be even better since I now have an idea of what to do.
Junior Substitute Magus – Suffragan – Chief Adept – Senior Substitute Magus
Provincial Officers for 2026
(Or those that stayed for the photo)
First Christmas Dinner of 2025
Today was my first Christmas Dinner of the year!
It was an odd occasion since I was the one who picked the meals. But Checking my calendar for December, I noticed this year I would only be having the one Christmas Dinner. Now while I am ok with that, I figured after the last few years of multiple dinners, to the point of keeping track I really should have more than one.
So for Bishop Wilkins meeting, I picked Christmas Dinner. I did add to the summons that if anyone objected we could change it. I am not evil. Ok I am not totally evil!.
The meeting itself went great, we had a ceremony, and then an Installation. And it was a rare installation since the Frater going into the chair had never been in any chair of any order before. So we got to see him mind blown.
Societas Rosicruciana in Anglia (S.R.I.A.)
The Societas Rosicruciana in Anglia (S.R.I.A.) stands as the world’s oldest independent society of Rosicrucian Freemasons, proudly composed of Master Masons from Lodges acknowledged by the United Grand Lodge of England.
Our Colleges are strategically located across the globe, including England, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Wales, France, and Holland. To find the most convenient location for you, please click HERE to access our interactive map of S.R.I.A. College Locations.
For more information on the Societas Rosicruciana in Anglia, please click on the link to the Societies website, or the Province of Western Counties and North Wales website.
Charity Character Sheet – Kaelen Duskbane
Name: Kaelen Duskbane
Race/Class: Human Warlock
Height: 6’2”
Appearance:
Long, flowing black hair frames a pale, angular face. His eyes gleam with an unsettling intensity, like embers smoldering in shadow. A heavy, tattered cloak conceals most of his form, its edges frayed as if worn through countless battles. He carries a staff carved from blackened ash wood, capped with a shard of obsidian that pulses faintly with otherworldly energy.
Backstory:
To be revealed.
Ability Scores
| Base Amount | Race | Total | Modifier | |
| Strength | 10 | +1 | 11 | +0 |
| Dexterity | 14 | +1 | 15 | +2 |
| Constitution | 15 | +1 | 16 | +3 |
| Intelligence | 14 | +1 | 15 | +2 |
| Wisdom | 14 | +1 | 15 | +2 |
| Charisma | 16 | +1 | 17 | +3 |
Saving Throws
| Modifier | |
| Strength | +0 |
| Dexterity | +2 |
| Constitution | +3 |
| Intelligence | +2 |
| Wisdom | +4 |
| Charisma | +5 |
| Speed | 30 |
| Proficiency Bonus | +2 |
| Hit Dice | 1d8 |
| Hit Points | 11 |
| AC | 13 |
| Spell save DC | 13 |
| Spell Attack Modifier | 5 |
| Alignment | Chaotic good |
Skills
| Proficiency | Modifier | |
| Acrobatics (Dex) | +2 | |
| Animal Handling (Wis) | +4 | |
| Arcana (Int) | • | +4 |
| Athletics (Str) | +0 | |
| Deception (Cha) | +5 | |
| History (Int) | • | +4 |
| Insight (Wis) | +4 | |
| Intimidation (Cha) | • | +7 |
| Investigation (Int) | • | +4 |
| Medicine (Wis) | +4 | |
| Nature (Int) | +2 | |
| Perception (Wis) | +4 | |
| Performance (Cha) | +5 | |
| Persuasion (Cha) | +5 | |
| Religion (Int) | +2 | |
| Slight of Hands (Dex) | +2 | |
| Stealth (Dex) | +2 | |
| Survival (Wis) | +4 |
Skills.
| Language | Common, Elvish, Sylvan, Dwarfish |
| Proficiencies | Light Armour, Simple weapons, |
| Saving Throws | Wisdom, Charisma |
| Skills | Investigation, Intimidation, Arcana, History |
Spells.
| Spell Slots: 1st Level | 1 |
| Cantrip | Eldritch Blast (1d10 force damage) |
| Cantrip | True Strike (advantage on attack) |
| Spell | Hex (1d6 extra necrotic damage each attack, plus disadvantage on selected ability checks) |
| Spell | Witch Bolt (1d12 lightning damage) |
Equipment.
| Belt Pouch | 120 gp |
| Leather Armour | AC 13 |
| Quarterstaff | 1d7 Bludgeoning (versatile) |
| Dagger (x2) | 1d4 (Finesse, light, thrown) range 20/60 |
| Light crossbow | ld8 piercing (loading, two-handed) range 80/320 |
| 20 bolts | |
| component pouch | |
| Backpack | crowbar, hammer, 10 pilons, 10 torches, a tinderbox, 10 days rations, waterskin, 50 feel of Rope, bottle of black ink, a quill, a small knife, set of common clothes |
| a letter from a dead colleague posing a question you have not yet been able to answer |
Spell Notes
| Eldritch Blast |
| Evocation cantrip Casting Time: 1 action Range: 120 feet Components: V,5 Duration: instantaneous |
| A beam of crackling energy streaks toward a creature within range. Make a ranged spell attack against the target. On a hit, the target takes 1d10 force damage. The spell creates more than one beam when you reach higher levels: two beams at 5th level, three beams at 11th level, and four beams at 17th level. You can direct the beams at the same target or at different ones. Make a separate attack roll for each beam. |
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| Fey Presence |
| Your patron bestows upon you the ability to project the beguiling and fearsome presence of the fey. As an action, you can cause each creature in a 10-foot cube originating from you to make a Wisdom saving throw against your warlock spell save DC. The creatures that fail their saving throws are all charmed or frightened by you (your choice) until the end of your next turn, Once you use this feature, you can’t use it again until you finish a short or long rest. |
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| Hex |
| 1st-leveI enchantment Casting Time: 1 bonus action Range: 90 feet Components: V.S. M(the petrified eye of a newt) Duration: Concentration. up to 1 hour |
|
You place a curse on a creature that you can see within range. Until the spell ends. you deal an extra 1d6 necrotic damage to the target whenever you hit it with an attack. Also. choose one ability when you cast the spell. The target has disadvantage on ability checks made with the chosen ability. If the target drops to 0 hit points before this spell ends. you can use a bonus action on a subsequent turn of yours to curse a new creature. A remove curse cast on the target ends this spell early. At Higher Levels. When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 3rd or 4th level, you can maintain your concentration on the spell for up to 8 hours. When you use a spell slot of 5th level or higher. you can maintain your concentration on the spell for up to 24 hours. |
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| True Strike |
| Divination cantrip Casting Time: 1 action Range: 30 feet Components: S Duration: Concentration, up to 1 round |
| You extend your hand and point a finger at a target in range. Your magic grants you a brief insight into the target’s defenses. On your next turn, you gain advantage on your first attack roll against the target, provided that this spell hasn’t ended. |
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| Witch Bolt |
| 1st-levei evocation Casting Time: I action Range: 30 feet Components: V, S, M (a twig from a tree that has been struck by lightning) Duration: Concentration, up to I minute |
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A beam of crackling, blue energy lances out toward a creature within range, forming a sustained are of Lightning between you and the target. Make a ranged spell attack against that creature. On a hit, the target takes 1d12 lightning damage, and on each of your tums for the duration, you can use your action to deal 1d12 lightning damage to the target automatically. The spell ends if you use your action to do anything else. The spell also ends if the target is ever outside the spell’s range or if it has total cover from you. At Higher Levels. When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 2nd level or higher, the initial damage increases by 1d12 for each slot level above 1st. |
Charity D&D – Character Creation
Some very old friends of mine (Old as in length of time I’ve known them as apposed to their physical age) are planning to do a D&D stream to try and raise some money for a charity. The charity or details of stream have not been sorted out fully yet because it is still in the early days of planning.
To make the stream more enjoyable (i.e. Bigger BBEG’s, harder challenges) it has been decided to start with higher level characters. Instead of just creating characters at a higher level it was decided to make a bunch of Level 1 characters, and to have some games played off-screen to build up the characters backstories, plans, relationships, and to naturally level them up.
Plus it would be fun to play a few chilled games without having to put on a show. A bit like Critical Roll Campaign 1 started after they had been playing for a while as just friends.
The only rules for the friendly games were, and these were decided as both a challenge and to make the roleplay interesting.
- Level 1 character
- A class you have never played before
- A Race you have not played before
I am going to be a Human Warlock. I have never fancied playing a warlock, and I tend to pick Elves, Half-Elves, or Dwarves for the racial bonus that best suits the class I am playing.
So onto character creation.
Step 1. Ability Stats.
Rolling 4d6 and adding up the three highest numbers (6 times). gives me 14,14,16,15,14,10 (Damn my rolls were good). Obviously the 16 has to go into Charisma, the 15 for Constitution, the rest 14 with Strength being my dump stat. I feel that my Warlock will be a charming nerdy type person.
Step 2. Race
I am a basic Rashemi human. So that gives me +1 to all ability scores,
Step 3. Class
I am a Warlock. So Hit dice is 1d8 per level. We are playing as level 1. I get to pick two skills from Arcana, Deception, History, Intimidation, Investigation, Nature, and Religion. I think as a Warlock of the Morrígan I would have Arcana, and Intimidation. I also get to pick who I made a pact with, the Archfey, the Fiend, or the Great Old One, Personally I think the Great Old One gives the best advantages (Ph’nglui mglw’nafh Cthulhu R’lyeh wgah’nagl fhtagn), But to stick with the character of a Warlock to the Morrigan I feel I have to pick the Archfey.
Step 4. Background.
Roll for size and weight. Now to pick a background, This is tricky since there are several that would suit my character, but I think I will settle for Sage, because I want to be a sage.
Step 5. Equipment.
Money. I start with 4d4 x 10gp for my class (110gp), 10gp for my background giving me 120gp (I’m wealthy).
I get to pick as a Warlock a light crossbow and 20 bolts, or any simple weapon. I get a simple weapon as well as this choice, so I guess crossbow is the way to go. Next a component pouch or an arcane focus, Pouch all the way, you can never have too much storage. And finally a scholar’s pack or a dungeoneer’s pack. The dungeoneers pack gives the most useful stuff.
Step 6. Magic
I can pick two cantrips from Blade Ward, Chill Touch, Eldritch Blast, Friends, Mage Hand, Minor Illusion, Poison Spray, Prestidigitation, True Strike. Well I think it is law that EVERY warlock needs to pick Eldritch Blast, so I will select that. Since I have a crossbow, and am thinking maybe at lower levels ranged attacks could be good, I will pick True Strike to give my attacks advantage.
I can also pick two spells from Armor of Agathys, Arms of Hadar, Charm Person, Comprehend Languages, Expeditious Retreat, Faerie Fire, Hellish Rebuke, Hex, Illusory Script, Protection from (Evil and Good), Sleep, Unseen Servant, Witch Bolt. Now, since unlike Druids, Wizards, etc the poor Warlock is stuck with their spell choice until leveling, I need to really think about spells. This is a shame because many of them would suit a Warlock of the Morrigan.
I want Arms of Hadar, Comprehend Languages, Hellish Rebuke, Hex, and Witch Bolt. But due to only having 1 spell slot to start with, I need an ongoing spell so it has to be Hex, and Witch Bolt.
Coronatio Quadrans – Least We Forget
They went with songs to the battle, they were young,Straight of limb, true of eye, steady and aglow.They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted;They fell with their faces to the foe.
Group 7/Group 7+8/Wrexham Region
So a short while back the new Wrexham Region Chairman informed me that since Facebook would not be used, and I was not needed in the team which was too full, and then kicked out. Not only that but a new Region page was to be created on the Provincial Members Portal, and screenshots were provided. Including a group photograph which was just the old one with me cut out of it.
Two weeks after I was kicked out at a Regional Secretary meeting the Regional Chairman put out the call for volunteers because they were short on required members.
Now last week an email went out to all the Secretaries in the region from a new team member introducing himself as the new team member in charge of the Facebook group and posting things for them. So the two “supposed” reasons I was removed from the group 1) Too full and 2) No Facebook to be used have now both been proven false. Which adds further proof to the fact that the real reason I was removed was because the new PGM does not like me.
Interestingly, the Regional Chairman is still planning to use MY Facebook group where I am the owner. It is probably really annoying him that he can not remove me as admin since I am the group owner.