Hi folks! I hope all that are celebrating it have a happy, safe, and healthy Thanksgiving. May we all be able next year to celebrate again in the company of loved ones. During our week break, I will go back and calculate XP earned since our last XP award. I'm pretty sure the group didn't suddenly make the leap from L7 (which we actually awarded a session early) to L8, but I'll figure it out. Certainly, if things remain on track following the next session (or two), you should be close to L8. While we're on this hiatus, I wanted both to offer my congratulations to the group for its successful initial frontal assault on the Burning Keep, as well as to offer a reminder that charging in isn't always the only or even preferred avenue. Certainly, this group's combat potential is significant; but if experience serves as a guide--and it does--sometimes the group may, and will, encounter challenges and threats that it will not overcome by charging in and attacking headlong. As a DM, I try to balance two things as much as possible: first, I try to match the stiff challenges the group faces to its ability, so that the group isn't forced into a no-win situation; but second, I also try to ensure that there are always alternatives to straight-up combat. If that short-circuits a planned encounter--curse you for banishing my purple worm, Gnipity!--so much the better, and good for you. But as is hopefully clear by now, I try to reward both creative solutions--like banishing a purple worm or sneaking past an enemy--and diplomatic solutions equally to combat. To lift the DM screen for a moment--and as I may have mentioned in the past--this group tends to break the typical "Challenge Rating" calculators by virtue of its size, its collective abilities, and its good play. That's good on ya, but also means that sometimes the CRs for the villains the group faces can be misleading in my preparation. All the more reason, then, not to assume that a classic kick-the-door-in, axe-to-the-head approach will always succeed. As I think ahead to some of the scenarios that the group will likely encounter in the future, as always, both the threats and the rewards will increasingly mount. Things could, and likely will, take some dark and grim turns. I just wanted to take the moment to remind everyone that we're telling this story collaboratively and not antagonistically; and that I will always be open to the creative alternatives that are the hallmark of what make RPGs great. Enjoy your turkey, Tofurky, or other thankful feasts, and I'll look forward to seeing everyone next week, Koop