This evening a merry little band of us made our way to the Bridge Inn in Llangollen, summoned by the promise of a cheque and the even stronger promise of cold drinks. The pub had raised two hundred and fifty pounds for Blood Bikes Wales through their weekly quizzes, and we thought it only right to turn up in person, shake hands, smile warmly and generally look grateful and heroic. It is always good to remind people that bikers do more than roar about the countryside. Sometimes we collect cheques.

Since we were going anyway it made perfect sense to combine the noble act of charity with the equally noble act of having a few drinks. Bikers are creatures of tradition after all. You cannot simply walk into a pub, accept a donation and then leave like a group of monks. There are standards to uphold.

And once the drinks had begun to flow it seemed only polite to join in the pub quiz itself. Hospitality demands participation. So we formed a team of four and gave ourselves the kind of name that would strike fear into the hearts of lesser competitors. We were Three Drunkards and a Girl. On paper we were unstoppable. Two who had been to university and still remembered most of it. One retired engineer with a mind like a toolbox. One who had travelled the world in the merchant navy and collected more stories than stamps. A perfect blend of ages too. Two baby boomers, one Gen X and one millennial. A cross generational alliance forged in the fires of mild intoxication.

We were certain to win. Absolutely certain. You could feel the confidence radiating from our table like heat from a forge. Answers were whispered with the kind of authority usually reserved for professors and people who have watched a lot of documentaries.

In fact I am fairly sure we did win. I assume we won. We had to leave before the scores were checked because duty called and bikers are always in motion. But in a gesture of international goodwill we handed our winning answer sheet to a group of foreign students. It felt like the right thing to do. A small act of cultural exchange. They seemed delighted. We like to help.

If anyone ever sees a group of visiting students proudly claiming victory in a Llangollen pub quiz, you will know exactly where their mysterious knowledge came from.

The first day of Volunteer Week rises like a bright banner across Wales, calling us to pause for a moment and honour the people who give their time and their strength simply because it is the right thing to do. These are the men and women who step forward without fanfare, who lift the weight of their communities with steady hands, and who remind us that the heart of a nation is not found in its buildings or its borders but in its people.

Across our valleys and our coastlines volunteers keep the world turning. They guide the lost, comfort the weary, support our hospitals, protect our animals, strengthen our young people and breathe life into every corner of our shared life. They do it with kindness. They do it with courage. They do it because service is a light that never goes out.

Among these quiet heroes stand the volunteers of Blood Bikes Wales. Riders who take to the road in the rain and the dark. Controllers who hold the night together with calm voices and clear minds. Fundraisers who keep the wheels turning. Supporters who stand behind every mile. They carry blood and samples and hope through the small hours when most of the world sleeps. They ride not for glory but for the simple truth that every journey matters and every life is precious.

So as Volunteer Week begins let us raise our heads and honour them all. The unseen. The steadfast. The ones who answer the call without hesitation. Wales is stronger because of them. Wales is kinder because of them. Wales is Wales because of them.

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.

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)

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.

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.

 

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.

 

This weekend Blood Bikes Wales braved Storm Amy to pop along to Sam’s Cafe (𝘞𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘦𝘭𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘮, 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘪𝘧 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘰𝘤𝘤𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵) to collect the money raised at their recent Blood Bikes Wales charity event.

Sam’s Cafe have been hosting an annual event in aid of Blood Bikes for 4 years now, with a variety of fundraising events like a ride out, raffle, cakes, selling donated items, etc.

This year they raised an amazing £760 (𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘸𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘶𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘳, 𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘯 𝘶𝘯𝘣𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘢𝘮𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵).

The crew at Sam’s Cafe have been supporting Blood Bikes Wales for many years now, so if you are passing by pop in and have a coffee, a bacon sandwich and say thanks to them for their continued support.

Today is National Blood Bike Awareness Day,

So lets us take a moment to say “thank you” to the 1000s of volunteers who give up their free time to help support this wonderful and important service.

There are multiple Blood Bikes groups across the UK. they are all charities 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.

Their riders are a hardy bunch that operate in all but the very worst weather.