Faeries and Goblins

We got a wonderful package in the mail yesterday.

The girls’ aunt Deana made these beautiful aprons. The fabric is decorated with a pattern of little gnomes and toadstools. I can’t really find the words to describe these wonderful creations. The necessary copious superlatives escape me. Amazing work, Deana!

River was so inspired on opening the box that she went into her closet and found the pants and shirt that Deana had made for her last year, the leg warmers Molly knit, the sweater made by Susan, and the headband she herself made. It was an entire ensemble of handmade clothing. She looked a bit like a gnome or a faery herself.

Opening the pockets of the aprons, the kids found these cute little creatures:

We spent a bunch of time today making homes for the squirrel and the bluebird.

Also in the box was some suitable entertainment for faery families. I’m particularly excited about this game, Faery’s Tale, which is “a game of imagination and make-believe in which you cooperatively tell a story – creating you own fairy tales.”

Essentially, you create your own faery character exploring an imaginative, adventurous world populated with pixies, brownies, sprites, goblins, trolls and more. The game emphasizes that “despite the wondrous powers of the faeries, their heroism springs not from fey magics or incredible gifts, but from courage, kindness, and friendship.” It sounds amazing! We’ve just begun reading the background information. So far, I’m very impressed.

Another game in a relatively similar vein is Munchkin, whose byline is “Kill the monsters, steal the treasure, stab your buddy!” Well, maybe it is a wee bit more cynical than the idealistic Faery’s Tale.

It appears to be a simplified dungeon adventure game, but it claims to have stripped out all of “that stupid roleplaying stuff” that can bog down some other games. When you go out adventuring in this game, you might pull on your “Boots of Butt-Kicking”, and wield the “Staff of Napalm” or the “Chainsaw of Bloody Dismemberment.”

And finally, the box also included an expansion to one of our long-time favorite games, Carcasonne. We’re hoping to make a pilgrimage to the south of France this summer to see the medieval city for ourselves.

Carcasonne Princess and Dragon adds a new level of dynamic play to the game. Princesses can remove opponents’ knights from the castle, and a dragon can swiftly lay waste to anything in its path. While this ability to change the landscape so drastically adds a new twist to the game, it needs to be handled a bit delicately with younger players, or those who are overly competitive. Or both. An especially popular new rule involves the fairy whose presence not only can earn you extra points but protects from dragon attacks! All in all, a welcome addition to an already amazing game.

Thanks Cass and Deana and Evie and Henry! We love you!