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Latest News and Blog Posts from Wayne “Pendragon” Owens.
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. |
|
|
| 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. |
|
|
| 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. |
|
|
| 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. |
|
|
| 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 |
|
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.
You must learn patience in the time it takes to smoke a Cigarette
It has been a while since I have had a customer rant on here, I have tried to be “professional” but this one ended up tapdancing on my last nerve. We are talking two days dealing with a ten minute task.
We have one customer who requires a SSL Certificate on their website, but like to try and save money and get their own certificate instead of paying for one of ours. They then pay us to install it for them. This normally ends up when you add our install fee, plus their certificate fee, a saving of around £10. But it is still a saving (Normally).
So our fun starts on a Monday morning, at one minute past our phones going live for the day, when we received an email.
Customer “OUR SITE HAS BEEN DOWN FOR AGES, I HAVE EMAILED YOU. INSTALL OUR CERTIFICATE!!!!”
Now, as a pointer to you all, this is never the best way to get anyone in IT to do what you want. We IT people tend to be a special kind of person who will move annoying people to the bottom of the work queue. Read the BOFH before dealing with IT people. This counts double so for a Monday morning, especially if you have not emailed in any requests, or you only just sent it and it has not reached its destination yet.
Me “Oh, we have no email from you yet, did you just send it?”
Customer “Our site has been down for days. We urgently need the certificate installing”
Me “ok, I can see an email from you. I will install that now”
Well. Not only did he email with a subject line of URGENT, and was phoning up chasing up his request that he had only just sent. And if their site is so important, why wait until the certificate runs out before replacing it.
But, I am nice (shut up! I try) so I go to install the certificate and find out they only sent a windows certificate for a Linux server.
Me “can you send the PEM apache certificate and key”
Customer “Sent”
Me “No, you just sent a PEM certificate. We also need the key”
Customer “here you go”
Me “No, that is just the certificate with a different name”
Customer “Try these”
Me “again, that is multiple zip files all containing the certificate with different formats. we need the key you signed the request with”
Customer “what is a key?”
This back and too went over several dozen emails, and phone calls. I even had to explain how certificate requests are created. I explained the software used, and eventually I got enough files in different formats I was able to generate a certificate and key. So I install it, check the site and report it is up.
Customer Phones “OUR SITE IS STILL BROKEN!!!”
Me “Really? I can see it is running fine.”
Customer “The certificate is not installed. re do it!”
Me “I can see your website is live and certificate works.”
Customer “NO IT IS NOT!!! IT IS AFFECTING US!!!!”
Me “What are you seeing? I can see it is fine, I can also see you got a three month free certificate, so we will need to install a new one in three months.
At this point the customer emails me a screenshot showing the certificate errors he is getting. And I can see that he is on a different site, a subdomain that is not their website.
Me “That is not your website. That is a subdomain you need to install the certificate on that. We only look after your website”
Customer “Here is a copy of the certificate, install it”
Me “That will not fix that site, we only host your www website.”
Customer “This is affecting our business. Fix the pointers and certificate”
Me “We do not manage your DNS, we do not manage your domain, we do not host or manage your subdomains, we only host your public facing website which is working.”
I figured that was the end of it.
Tuesday morning, while checking my work emails I see several from the Customer yelling that their company is being strongly affected by this issue, their site is still down and it is affecting them. He has even copied another IT company in to offer us help fixing the certificate issue. I email to ask in what way is his site affected, I can see it is ok.
Customer “The certificate is still broken. the other IT company says to check your pointers”
Me “What pointers? your public website is fine.”
Customer “The site is down we need this fixed now, it is damaging our business!”
Me “is this your public facing website or the subdomain site?”
Customer “The public site is fine. You need to check the pointers. Godaddy says the certificate is not installed, and the site is down”
Me “we do not manage your DNS. we do not manage your pointers. we do not manage your email. we do not manage your domains. we do not manage anything other then your public facing website.”
Two full days I have been dealing with this guy, trying to get him to understand that his issue is nothing to do with us, has never been anything to do with us, and he needs to talk to whoever manages that for them.
I swear there is stupidity, but this level needs a need classification.
Uber-Stupidity!
Et tu, Brute?
Many people have asked me:
“My dear Mr. Owens, might I be so bold as to inquire, what circumstance or contemplation hath occasioned your retreat from those esteemed endeavours which you have so diligently pursued within the Province of North Wales? Your absence is most keenly felt amongst the brethren.“.
Well maybe not as fancy as that, but the gist of the question is the same. They are curious why I am stepping back in everything after spending a lot of my free time over the last 9 years doing Masonic “stuff”. And the answer is, after it was announced our Provincial Grand Master was retiring, and then who his replacement was to be (Someone who has issues with me), Several incidents happened that could be mere random coincidences, but could also be classed as knives in my back.
The North Wales Association for Masonic Study (NWAMS)
I was the Wrexhamian Lodge Representative for three years before becoming one of the main committee members during Lockdown. I’ve been an official speaker since 2020 and unofficial since 2017. Over the last couple of years while working on the Speakers Profiles, and the presentations the Secretary had mentioned on multiple occasions he was thinning of stepping down, and asked would I be interested in taking over the role. I of course said Yes. These conversations happened every few months over the years, it was organised that when he stood down, I would take over.
Then the new PGM was selected, and I received an email from the Secretary saying he had decided that this year he would be stepping down, and that he had arranged with the Chairman, the Executive, and the Powers-That-Be that someone who was not on the committee, and had only been a speaker for less than a year be confirmed as the new Secretary. Making it a done deal, and preventing me putting my name forward, even though we had spent years arranging it.
Group 7/Group 7+8/Wrexham Region
In 2022 I created a Facebook group for Group 7 and ran it for the then Group 7 Chairman. The group was then expanded when groups 7&8 merged into a super group under a new Chairman.
This new “Super Group” actually got more organised and we had a team of us created to advertise what was going on, encourage visiting, sort charitable events, help mentor people. We had a few team meetings, and there was even a team photo taken, and posted online to advertise the new team.
Then the new PGM was selected, and an email went out from the Group Chair saying that the group system was changing, and new regions were being created. He informed one team member that his role was not needed any more, but a new one would be found for him. And me I was informed that Facebook would not be used, and I was not needed in the team and was 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.
Oddly. They had a meeting for the Team and all the Secretaries in the Region a few weeks after I was kicked out for not being needed, and one of the points raised was they were a couple of people short in the team so they needed volunteers. Not only that, but the Facebook group they are not using, well the Regional Chairman has been changing the cover image, the name, description, rules, etc because it is still to be used.
Provincial Honours
This year I was due a promotion, since my last one had been five years ago. Now in the Province of North Wales there is a basic step up you would get, and then if you did a lot for the Province over that last five years you would tend to get higher, and if you did absolutely nothing you get lower. Which is a fair and balanced system.
Over the last five years I have been Lodge Secretary for three, Lodge mentor for four, went back through the chair to help a lodge out, took part in multiple ceremonies, visited Lodges and Chapters all over the Province to give talks, was the Assistant Provincial Grand Mentor in Craft and Chapter, was an active member of the Provincial Pathway Team, did training to Groups on the new Membership system, organised and ran talks for Masonic Bodies, published several Masonic books to raise money for the 2028 Festival, published multiple Masonic articles, raised thousands for Blood Bikes Wales, and so on. I also attended every Provincial team outing during my active year, and stood in to others when the other Senior Deacons could not make it.
Some would say that counts as doing a lot and should make me eligible for a higher promotion, or since I was the assistant Mentor for five years and part of organising the work and training, that I would also be in a good position to take over the role since the current Mentor was standing down. Myself, I think it should at least get me the Basic, default, standard promotion.
Then the new PGM was selected, and I was given a below average promotion. In fact I was given the same as someone I know who did not turn up for any outing during his active year, and has not done much in the last five years.
And so, as the Americans are wont to say in their peculiar sporting vernacular, ‘Strike three, and you are out’. I must confess, I am indeed out.
The tally now stands at three affronts, and I find myself compelled to withdraw. My Masonic career, once pursued with fervour and devotion, now lies in quiet ruin. For five years I have laboured with diligence and honour in service to the Craft, yet I have received less recognition than those who have contributed but the barest minimum. This inequity, I regret to say, stems from the disposition of the newly appointed Provincial Grand Master, under whose tenure “potentially a decade in length” I will most likely receive naught. I have not been doing all that I have to get high honours, I was the Provincial Webmaster for five years because I wanted to help spread the work on the good we did, I helped the ladies in the office manage PECS and mailchimp because I had the time and skill and it freed them up, I took on the assistant mentors role to help teach and explain to the curious amongst us. At no point was any of my efforts partaken with the view of receiving rewards.
If my earnest efforts, my time, and my unwavering commitment are to be valued less than idleness, if I am to be used and discarded, then I see no merit in continued exertion. The path before me is now forked: either I undertake the considerable burden of relocating to another Province, with all the travel that entails, or I relinquish my active participation in both Craft and Royal Arch Masonry, maintaining only nominal membership to preserve my standing in other Orders.
It is a bitter reflection, yet one I make with clarity and resolve!
Someone wants to prank us. Bless!
At some point over the weekend, or Monday somebody decided to try and annoy us.
I am guessing this “Prankster” must have had a spam phone call, and decided to google the number, finding the company name of where I work. We are a Telecommunications provider and sell phone lines and numbers. Apparently people do not understand that the company that sold the number is not the one who made the phone call. I guess people are dumb!
Well, this annoyed person decided that if they got a spam call, then we could have one as well. They then spent what must have been hours filling in every “call back” form they could find online, asking for a phone call about health and safety training, lead acquisition, training, hiring work experience people, etc. Using our Phone number and email address.
Which means we have had dozens of calendar requests, and people phoning us back to discuss what we require. They are getting very apologetic when we explain its a false request.
I do not think it has worked out like the “Prankster” wanted, all they have done is upset all the people calling, and us? We do not care, it beats working. Also, since all the online forms which were emailed to us contained the “Pranksters” IP address, then they must be expecting this to escalate into a “Prank War!”
And if there is one thing you never want to do, is to start a Prank War with a bunch of SysAdmin.
The Never-ending Chair (Update)
Since I am now in the Second Principals Chair in Wrexhamian Chapter I thought I would update my list of Never-Ending chairs.
Since 2018, I have been in at least one chair every year since (at the worst three chairs). And more so, since I first ever went into a chair, which was Llannerch Lodges chair way back in 2011, there has only been two years when I have not been in a chair. And one of those I was doing all the ceremonies from the IPM’s spot, the other year I was acting J.
| YEAR | CRAFT | ROYAL ARCH | SRIA | ROSE CROIX |
| 2011 | Llannerch Lodge | |||
| 2012 | Llannerch Lodge | |||
| 2013 | ||||
| 2014 | J – Wynnstay Chapter | |||
| 2015 | H – Wynnstay Chapter | |||
| 2016 | Z – Wynnstay Chapter | |||
| 2017 | J – Acting | |||
| 2018 | Bishop Wilkins College | |||
| 2019 | Bishop Wilkins College | Valle Crucis Chapter | ||
| 2020 | Bishop Wilkins College | Valle Crucis Chapter | ||
| 2021 | Wrexhamian Lodge | Bishop Wilkins College | Valle Crucis Chapter | |
| 2022 | Valle Crucis Chapter | |||
| 2023 | Clwyd College | |||
| 2024 | J – Wrexhamian Chapter | |||
| 2025 | H – Wrexhamian Chapter |
HRA The Family Business
This evening was the meeting of Wrexhamian Chapter (Holy Royal Arch).
It was a special evening because my father was installed into the First Principals Chair. Due to joining Masonry after my Father I never got to see him be installed into the Chair of Kind Solomon, I joined Rose Croix after he had been Enthroned into the chair there. So although I saw him Installed as Joshua, and Haggai this was the first time I got to sit in a meeting and see him become the master. He then Installed me into the Second Principals chair.
It was a very enjoyable evening and everyone seemed to have a great time. Now for a fun year with my father in charge.
So #TeamOwens are now 2/3 of the chairs.
Who are you? Who am I?
A strange thing happened to me today. I was doing a beer run to the Supermarket, and as I was wandering up one of the isles I had to pass a woman with a trolley who was blocking a big part of the isle, while the man with her knelt on the floor going through potatoes.
After passing and heading along the isle I hear “Hello.” followed by “Hello!…. HELLO!!!“. It then occurs to me that other than the woman and man, I am the only other person there, so I turn to face them. The woman smiles and says “Hi!“.
Now I am the first to admit I am crap with faces, or people. So I try to never use anyone’s names, because I often have no idea who the person is. A lot of the time the person may seem familiar, I just don’t know why, or where from. In this instance I was pretty Shure I had no idea who this person is. But I have to be careful, this really old person came up to me in a kabab shop once after a night out during my Uni days, and it turned out we were in school together.
So I play it cool, and cover myself with a simple “Sorry. I was in a world of my own, I didn’t see you there. Hi! how are you?”. Brilliant right? so it goes on a bit, she says I’ve never met her husband (Which is true became I am sure I have never met her!). And the conversation goes on until she asks…
“How are the Kids?“
Now, to the best of my knowledge I have no kids, but in case she means something else I play safe with a “OK”. She then asks where am I working now, before turning to her husband and goes “I’ve not seen him since we worked in ICI“.
OK. I may be crap at peopling, But. 1) I do not have kinds, 2)I have never worked at ICI. So I think in this case I am correct, I do not recognise this mad woman because I have never seen her before, she has mistaken me for someone else.
The only problem is… I have been pretending to recognise her, just in case she was someone I should know, and now I am in too deep to point out she has me mistaken for some other bloke. I can not tell her I am not him, because how do I explain pretending to know who she is.
Do these things happen to other people?
Also, I wonder who the other me is. I met the other me from London many years ago, but have yet to meet the local other me. It would explain stories I have heard over the years of stuff I have done, that I have not. Hell my sister saw me in town many years ago when I was not.