Rick here! Today John and I are going to talk to you about the First Gate, along with some other Black Ballad updates! We are actually moving into the next sta--

[Casts the spell, Put-Rick-in-a-Box.]

Hey there, backers and chaos makers, it’s ME, John! Some of you may know me as Jeff, Patron of Biscuits, or Mr. Biscuits if you prefer something more formal. Rick has graciously agreed to sit inside this force cage and let me take the reins to tell you all about the news we have for your eager brains, gooey as they may be. 

Now before we wander into the meat and potatoes of this update, you get to hear me prattle on about myself for a minute.

So I do have some new art updates we could totally share about the Black Ball--

Look, I may seem like an agent of chaos, and maybe I am, but only my players truly know the absolute absurdity I bring to a table (virtual or otherwise), which is why I’m gonna tell you about my Twitch channel, where you can watch the chaos unfold as I run The Red Opera (for a second time) and guide a group –lovingly called the Red Runners– of absolutely crazy people through the choices that define the Shadelands (if I am being honest, they are leading the charge right into chaos themselves, and I couldn’t be happier). Now, to get to why I am allowed to even spout this nonsense into your email inbox. 

I assisted in the creation of The Black Ballad by creating some of its many treasures and trinkets. I am the mastermind behind the Covenant of the Stitched, I gave my two cents on the Soul Stitched, and I also have the honor of herding the cats and dogs in our discord server with the ban hammer of judgment. So, you could say that even if you didn’t expect it, you will and have been dealing with my “creativity” in some form or another. I was also graced with the ability to run a truncated version of the campaign for RPG in a Castle, which, much to the chagrin of my co-conspirators Pat and Ben, I got to take home the “trophy” for most characters deaths in the entire weekend, an honor  which I hold in high regard.

Next February we are totally returning! And I swear if you box me before I can hyperlink and toss in pics--

[Looks back.] RICK! GET BACK IN THAT BOX, OR SO PATRON HELP ME!

Anyway, one thing you can all be certain of is when The Black Ballad comes out, looking fresh and minty after the amazing QA it's going through, I will be running it through my channel so you can all see first-hand what sort of shenanigans I put my players through and how death is never truly an escape from my games.

Now, before I let you get back to your normal daily routine, which I assume is some sort of ritual sacrifice to keep Skynet at bay, I also get to inform you that Adam Ray and I’s The First Gate: A Menagerie of Madness is finished, and the special edition for all those who ordered it will be sent shortly (via Drivethrurpg) after this insanity-laddled nonsense reaches your inbox.

So, until the next time we speak in person, your mind, in another email, or just in the discord server, stay crumbly everyone, and have yourselves a whole day!

Muffled noises from inside the box remain. A note has been placed on top.

"If you would like to learn more about John or his projects and streams, both current and previous, head on over to his Linktree," 

*wibble*
*wobble*

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Hello?