This is something that Michelle often did as the DM, ask the players to add color to the story with place names or descriptors for NPCs. Isa thought of it as a D&D version of Mad Libs. And without a thought Isa said, “Vernal Fedru. That’s his name.”

Michelle made a sour face; Marissa choked on her beer, and Felix said, “Verna Whosit? You pulled that right out your ass, didn’t ya?”

Isa shrugged. “Call him Fedru. The evil wizard Fedru.”

“Where in the world did you get that from?” Marissa mopped at the front of her shirt where she’d spilled a little beer. “So specific, so random.”

“Truly,” said Della. “But I like it. Fedruuuu.”

“Sounds familiar - Star Wars?” Michelle cocked her head.

“No way,” Alice laughed. “Isa is not a Star Wars geek.”

“We don’t have to use it,” said Isa. And she was regretting the outburst, but it just seemed too perfect, given the situation. Draw a tiny pentagram on the mini’s forehead, and it could be Fedru.

Of course, creepiness aside, she had no idea of Fedru’s - the real Fedru’s - alignment. Maybe he wasn’t evil at all. He’d certainly done several good things. Helping the kidnapped kids, and…. Maybe that was it, but still that was one good thing. Evil people don’t do good things, right?

“Isa? Your turn.” Marissa was looking at her strangely. “Where’d you go?”

“When? Nowhere!” She hadn’t told anyone - not even Alice - about Varana. Except for a few scars, oh and several thousand dollars in gems, she had nothing to prove that the whole thing ever even happened.

Marissa snorted with laughter. “Weirdo. Pay attention.” She pointed at the board, and then made air quotes: “Evil wizard.”

“I’ll go for the hydra again,” said Isa, grabbing her 2 d20s…..

….Three more combat rounds and a few healing potions later, the hydra was dead, and the “evil wizard” had fled. At that point Michelle looked at her phone and said, “This is a good stopping point. We’ll pick up next week with looting the hydra.”

Isa brought in the bowl of pretzels, set it on the counter and went back for her wine glass. Marissa was loading the dishwasher. She glanced at Isa. “Thanks, hon. Some session, huh? Hydras are no joke.”

“Yeah!” said Isa. “I’m glad you knew what to do.”

“Michelle was right - that was meta-gaming. I should have said that I wanted to roll nature.”

Isa ate a pretzel. “It worked out.”

Alice came in with two stacked bowls. “We kicked that hydra’s ass,” she said.

“But not the wizard’s.” Marissa took the bowls.

“As usual,” Isa kissed Alice’s forehead, “you played brilliantly.”

Della poked her head in the kitchen. “I’m going to give Michelle a ride. See you guys next week.”

Alice kissed Isa and said, “Be right back!” She headed back into the living room, and Isa heard her say, “Felix, that website….”

“What’s his deal, you think?” Marissa leaned against the counter and took a swig from her beer bottle.

“Who?” Isa had been turned toward the living room.

“Vernal Fedru.”

“You remembered his name!” Isa smiled. “Yeah, no fair running away, huh?”

“It is an unusual name. How’d you come up with it?”

Was there a tone in Marissa’s voice? Isa paused for just a moment, considering her long time friend. No, Isa decided that she must just be tired and imagining things that weren’t there. “It is an unusual name,” she said. “I think it’s from Doctor Who.”

“The Dock-tor?” Marissa laughed and turned to the sink.

“The very one,” said Isa. After a moment she said, “It’s late. I’ll get Alice and get out of here.”

Marissa nodded but didn’t answer.

Isa found Alice and Felix sitting on the couch. Well, Felix sat on the couch. Alice kneeled on the couch, facing Felix. She said, “I can get the people there, but we need the informational infrastructure in place.”

“Agreed. Between me and Ben, we can get the basics.”

They both stopped to look at Isa. “Hey guys. Fey, did you drive?”

“Nah I took the bus.” He stood up. “We blowing this place?”

“Yeah, the fun is over,” said Isa.

“I heard that!” Marissa called from the kitchen.

“You need a hand with anything else?” Alice hopped off the couch and went to the kitchen.

“I guess I’m not leaving yet,” Isa said. Felix laughed and said, “I’m heading out. Maybe see you this weekend?”

“Yeah. I know we’re doing Oaks Bottom on Sunday. Maybe after?”

“Definitely after. You will not find me running, ever.” He called goodbye to Marissa and left the apartment.

Isa sat on the couch and pulled her D&D bag toward her. It was amazing how similar Varana is to the game world of Dungeons and Dragons. Thinking back to the time she’d broken her hand during the fight with the bandit captain, the one with the amazing scimitar, it was hard not to think that was the equivalent of rolling a 1 in combat.

But who rolled the dice? It certainly wasn’t Isa, not consciously. But the entire time Isa had spent in Varana had there been someone rolling dice and determining what happened to her? “Someone.” Like God? Or a god?

She shook her head. It was impossible to know, so why even waste time pondering? She’d gone to another place, but she’d come back. And all the people there - Joth, Mery, Fedru - they wanted to be there. They thrived there.

Of course there was the question of why people like her and Joth ended up in another world. Was it just the most coincidental confluence of events that allowed Isa to walk into a bar in Portland and sit down in a bar in Varana?

Maybe it had been part of his general vibe of mystery, but Fedru claimed to have had a vision about Isa. Well, what he’d actually said was that a left handed woman would change the lives of many people. She couldn’t be the only left handed woman in Varana, and what a vague prophecy anyway! “Change the lives of many.” By fixing their teeth? That seemed the only likely impact that Isa Chamberlin was going to have on “many” people in the short term. And that had nothing to do with Varana.

“What are you thinking so hard about?” Alice stood at the kitchen threshold with Marissa.

“She’s always been a thoughtful drunk,” Marissa said with a smile.

“I am not drunk.” Isa shoved her character sheet and player’s handbook into her bag. “I am tired though.”

“See you tomorrow,” Alice said to Marissa.

“Yeah, bright and early.”

Alice laughed. “That’s every day in the plant business.” Alice and Marissa both worked for a nursery. Marissa worked in landscaping, and Alice worked in the actual nursery.

“But we have our nights free.” Marissa kissed Alice on the cheek. “Safe getting home you two.”

Isa gave Marissa a hug and a kiss. “Thanks for always hosting.”

“I’m glad you’re playing with us. My favorite game and my favorite people.”

“I still miss your druid,” Alice said to Marissa.

“Wanker Goodfoot, the gnome druid. He was fun.”

“Wanker?” Isa looked from Alice to Marissa.

“A gnome druid?” Marissa smiled. “What else would he be called?”

“I’m going home,” said Isa. “You people are weird.”

Alice hooked her arm through Isa’s. “You love us; don’t try to deny it.”

“Both of you get out of my house.” Marissa pushed at their shoulders.