Complexity Embedded in Simplicity

  After a lot of design work, 3d printing, CNC routing, wiring, programming, resin work, and assembling, I was finally able to see one side of the cube lit!  Added a basic glowing function just by moving the R of the RGB from 0 to 255 and back down to 0 with a 5ms delay between each step.  Nothing fancy and I'll probably do some interpolating between a time frame like I used to do in Unity projects rather than directly from 0-255.  That would allow me the ability to set a few preset time intervals and the interpolation function would just handle the transition between color start/end. One of the curious things was if I could see the LEDs behind the 3d printed edges.  At first I didn't mind it but now I'm thinking I'll glue some tin foil behind the 3d printed edges to block the LED from glowing through.  I mostly want to see the small resin lines glowing and not the edge pieces. My son and I discussed having a weathered look because in the game, you beat this cube up a l

  Aldencross is a township of necessity. It exists only because Balentyne exists. First, there was the dwarven bridge that spanned the nearby River Tyburn. That bridge was built in a time when a great dwarven kingdom spanned the entire island both north and south. That bridge was a critical lifeline connecting the dwarven realms, north and south. In time, the dwarven realms faltered and disappeared but their sturdy bridge remained surviving through the centuries. When King Accarius IV called the Architect built the Watch Wall, this ancient bridge was an obvious place to build a fortress. The king considered destroying the bridge but decided against it. The bridge might be useful in the planned invasion of the Savage North (that invasion never materialized) and the mere existence of the bridge meant the bugbears had a known choke point they were likely to attack. And so the dwarven bridge became the death trap called Balentyne. Balentyne was not far from a crossroads where the north-sou

  My son really enjoys the game  Portal .  When he moved into his new place he reached out about interior decorating and asked I keep an eye out for Portal themed stuff.  My brain came up with the notion that a cube was a constant in the game but could also function as a makeshift piece of furniture like a stool or end table.  So I went to the internet and looked at others who have undertaken such a task. After lots of tiny 3d printed cube models, which just won't fit what we need, I came across Mr. Volt's Companion Cube video .  It looked promising, but also VERY advanced.  I didn't need it to be made from metal, I was fine with wood.  I didn't need all the extra bells and whistles.  Plus his 3d printers have a much larger build capacity than my Ender 3's.  Thankfully, he offers his  CAD Files  free for everyone to use. Sidenote: I really wish I could just donate some cash to these makers rather than join some monthly membership on  Patreon .   After pulling his fi

  The Laughing Storm In the dead of night as a cold snap hits, the temperature plummets well below freezing and ice rime begins to form on the rigging.  It begins to snow – intermittent flurries at first give way to fat flakes and biting winds.  The crew lights up a few torches to provide both light and warmth in the freezing darkness.  This proves a mistake as a nearby ice spirit named  Kiliketz  takes offense at the mortals’ interference. Kiliketz - Ice Mephit Kiliketz leads a small band of four ice elementals across the face of the barely liquid water towards the intruding ship.  The mephit stealthily flies to the top of the ship’s mast while the ice elementals wait in the water.  There, from his perch, he reveals his presence with an inhuman laugh. Even though Kiliketz casts  Chill Metal  on Vicky's armor, and repeatedly hits Harlocke with  Magic Missle , the party wastes no time in dispatching all 4 ice elementals and their leader. The Bugbear Camp Finally the Frosthamar arriv

Dark have been Nimbuses’ dreams of late.  A haunted triton oracle of Mitra, Nimbus has always been regarded as mad by his tribe.  He has foreseen that a great evil is coming and has become convinced that only he can stop it. That great evil is of course the PCs. Nimbus has gathered a small group of triton believers and their dolphin allies and now they move to intercept The Frosthamar. Nimbus and the four triton warriors wait until nightfall when the ship has stopped. Before the battle begins Nimbus casts magic weapon on each of the four triton’s crossbows.  The oracle then casts sanctuary on himself. Finally they are ready to strike! They begin the fight by summoning five small water elementals using their daily summon spell upon the deck of the ship.  The water elementals are commanded to push anyone they find on the boat into the water.  The tritons and the dolphins will deal with them there.  But lacking the proper advantage, the warriors use their crossbows to shoot anyone on deck

Sir Balin of Karfeld waits in his cell. He is a captured knight of the Alerion order and is personally famous for hunting followers of Asmodeus.   Harlocke recognizes Sir Balin and knows Balin was instrumental in capturing one the PCs.  Harlocke also remembers Balin is a member of the same military force that captured each of them.   This knight of the Alerion Order is Cardinal Thorn’s gift of vengeance to his new knot. Sir Balin The knight woke up here with food, water, his arms and armor, two days ago. He was badly wounded in the battle to capture him, but his wounds were all magically healed when he awoke. He has tried to force the door many times but has failed utterly to break the iron bands that strengthen it. He wears around his neck a sunburst of silver and sapphire -- a holy symbol of Mitra. This is of course the pendant that our villains seek.  Sir Balin is an honorable man and takes seriously his oaths. He hates Asmodean devotees passionately and refuses to deal with those i