✨ Cass | Dice & Dreams

question for the worldbuilders: do you start with the geography (tectonic plates, rivers) or the lore (gods, history) first? i’m a "draw a cool coastline and figure out who lives there later" person and it gets me in trouble. #worldbuilding #ttrpg #dnd #writingcommunity #fantasy

good day.

okay, scary thing: i’m actually going to host a tiny map-making hang at the shop this sunday. just a "bring your own sketchbook" vibe? i’m terrified no one will show up and i’ll just be drinking espresso alone, but... gotta start somewhere? #anxiety #artcommunity

sat in the park this morning and just breathed. it’s okay for things to end. the book closes so you can pick up a new one, right? or maybe... maybe write your own? staring at a blank page and feeling brave. #freshstart #healing

it was so good to see their faces... but hard. they’re all in new campaigns, new stories. raff is running a game in portland. i’m happy for them, truly, but i think i realized the old party is really gone. the screen froze and it felt... final. #change #growingup

what's up, all?

the reunion call is tonight. making extra strong coffee. wearing my lucky sweater. please let it not be awkward. #anticipation #mood

brain is buzzing. can’t focus on art. just replaying old campaign memories. remember when dev’s barbarian suplexed a ghost? classic. i hope they’re all doing okay. #ttrpgfamily #anxiety

found an old screenshot of our zoom sessions from 2024. everyone looks so happy. i miss raff’s storytelling so much it physically hurts. we have a catch-up call scheduled for friday and i’m oscillating between excitement and dread. #nostalgia #friends

organizing my dice bag is self-care. putting the "bad luck" dice in dice jail (a tupperware container) and polishing the good ones. you have to respect the geometry rocks or they will betray you. #dicegoblin #superstition

brought my sketchbook to work again for our little sunday ritual. a regular asked about the lore of the sunken city i was drawing and we talked for twenty minutes? it’s nice when the things in my head connect with people in the real world. #worldbuilding #mapmaking

luna sensed the bad vibes and has been extra clingy. currently purring directly into my ear while i listen to synthwave. she’s the best party member. never metagames. only bites. #orangecat #supportanimal

woke up feeling like i have an emotional hangover. realizing that bad d&d is actually worse than no d&d? at least when i'm alone i don't have to argue about line-of-sight rules with a stranger named kyle. back to solo journaling for a bit. #morningthoughts #introvert

well. that happened. the dm was nice but one player kept "actually"-ing every spell i cast. nothing kills the magic faster than a rules lawyer in a casual game. didn't cry in the car though! so that’s a victory? #ttrpghorrorstories #rpg

building a druid for tomorrow's game. trying not to make them too much like thistle... it feels like cheating on a past life? decided on a circle of stars druid who navigates by constellations. fitting for my space-latte era. #dnd5e #characterdesign

happy valentine’s day to my one true love: this specific brand of archival ink pens that don't smudge when i erase pencil lines. you complete me. #artistsonbluesky #stationaryaddict

hello, everyone!

found a discord server for a local one-shot game and i think... i think i might go? it’s been months since i rolled real dice with real humans. palms are already sweaty just typing this. courage is a muscle right? gotta train it. #socialanxiety #lfg

j brought her tarot deck to work and read my cards during the rush lull. got the hermit (rude) but also the ace of wands? creative spark? maybe it means i should finally finish the mountain range on the western continent. #tarot #cozyvibes

accidentally poured the milk wrong and it looked exactly like a nebula?? my coworker j says it's a sign from the universe. we’re calling it "coffee & cartography" mornings now... if you see a barista drawing maps behind the counter, say hi. #latteart #fantasyart

water color, in general, is magic.

love it!

slow shifts are dangerous because i start narrating the customers' lives like a dm. "the man in the grey suit fails his dexterity save and spills sugar everywhere." natural one, sir. i am so sorry. #baristalife #peoplewatching

found a character sheet from three years ago for a bard i never played. poor little guy. he has so many spells and nowhere to cast them. maybe i’ll put him in my map world as a wandering npc? recycling ghosts. #ttrpg #dnd

Yes

still obsessed with the water stains on that vintage atlas i found... it makes the ocean look bruised? trying to replicate that texture with watercolor today. luna is helping by drinking the paint water. #artprocess #catsofbluesky

goodbye january. you were quiet and kinda lonely and full of old maps. i didn't find a group, but i found some cool history and kept drawing. maybe february will have more magic. or at least more coffee. #journal #hope

drawing a forest today where the trees are actually petrified giants... getting lost in the details helps quiet the brain noise. art is the only spell slot i have that regenerates on a short rest. #fantasyart #worldbuilding

woke up feeling kinda defeated about last night, but then i remembered i have a fresh set of dice and a cat who purrs like a diesel engine. maybe i’m not ready for a new party yet. maybe solo questing is okay for a little longer. #selfcare #morningthoughts

well. i tried. got to the door of the game shop, heard the noise, saw the crowds, and my courage rolled a nat 1. but! i bought pretty teal dice to soothe the shame and retreated to my lair. baby steps? or just baby panic. #dicegoblin #socialbattery