Midweek Musings: Sick-Bed Edition
(IT'S Nov 11, 2026 WHERE DID ALL THE TIME GO?)
Introduction
The Hook: Greetings from deep inside the Shreveport cabin along the winding banks of the 12-Mile Bayou. Have you ever had life throw two massive roadblocks right in your path just when you were ready to hit full stride—transforming what should have been routine autumn dispatches into a grueling, months-long battle from the sick bed on this Veterans Day, Wednesday, November 11, 2026? When a stubborn sinus headache and a relentless runny nose stage a full-scale mutiny from the sick bed, or when a severe medical emergency lands you in the hospital with a heart attack, the regular schedule gets tossed right out the window.
The Problem: If the dispatch wire has been uncharacteristically quiet throughout August, September, October, and into November, it isn’t because the creative well ran dry. Instead, August turned into a grueling gauntlet of catastrophic hardware failure followed immediately by a life-threatening medical emergency. These past few months turned into a relentless gauntlet of hardware failure, an August digestive obstruction emergency, an October heart attack hospitalization, and a brutal ongoing November sinus siege—leaving physical website updates at a complete halt and readers wondering where the personal dispatches went.
The Solution/Promise: Today, I am checking in with an honest update on where things stand, the full timeline of what happened behind the scenes, and why I am officially stepping away for a one-week hiatus to heal up properly. In this post, we are strictly separating our personal health updates—including our October heart attack hospitalization, our unreported fatigue backlog, and our current sick-bed status—from our campaign files, keeping the focus entirely on what matters.
The Hook: Greetings from deep inside the Shreveport cabin along the winding banks of the 12-Mile Bayou. Have you ever had life throw two massive roadblocks right in your path just when you were ready to hit full stride—transforming what should have been routine autumn dispatches into a grueling, months-long battle from the sick bed on this Veterans Day, Wednesday, November 11, 2026? When a stubborn sinus headache and a relentless runny nose stage a full-scale mutiny from the sick bed, or when a severe medical emergency lands you in the hospital with a heart attack, the regular schedule gets tossed right out the window.
The Problem: If the dispatch wire has been uncharacteristically quiet throughout August, September, October, and into November, it isn’t because the creative well ran dry. Instead, August turned into a grueling gauntlet of catastrophic hardware failure followed immediately by a life-threatening medical emergency. These past few months turned into a relentless gauntlet of hardware failure, an August digestive obstruction emergency, an October heart attack hospitalization, and a brutal ongoing November sinus siege—leaving physical website updates at a complete halt and readers wondering where the personal dispatches went.
The Solution/Promise: Today, I am checking in with an honest update on where things stand, the full timeline of what happened behind the scenes, and why I am officially stepping away for a one-week hiatus to heal up properly. In this post, we are strictly separating our personal health updates—including our October heart attack hospitalization, our unreported fatigue backlog, and our current sick-bed status—from our campaign files, keeping the focus entirely on what matters.
Body Content (H2, H3)
Section 1: Chronological Health & Tech Timeline (August to November 2026)
August 1, 2026: My laptop went completely dead—a total hardware shutdown that locked away notes, draft dispatches, and campaign files.
August 1st to August 22, 2026: The repair process dragged out for nearly three full weeks of waiting, testing my patience to the limit while getting the critical machine diagnosed, repaired, and restored.
August 22, 2026: The laptop was finally fixed, fired back up, and ready for action, allowing me to sit back down at the desk eager to make up for lost time.
August 27, 2026: Severe abdominal pain struck without warning, forcing an emergency rush straight to the hospital for a critical digestive obstruction that completely shut down my internal plumbing and required immediate medical intervention.
August 27th to August 31, 2026: I was confined to a private room for a five-day hospital grind, surviving on continuous IV bags, saline drips, and constant biometric monitors while battling severe cramping, intense abdominal bloating, and restless nights making short, painful walks to the bathroom and back.
August 31, 2026: After days of patience, fluids, and gradual relief, the obstruction finally cleared the highway, and the doctors officially signed my discharge papers late Monday night, allowing me to return home to Magic McKittey and Ms. Pixie.
September 1st to September 7, 2026 (The August/September Hiatus): Surviving an obstruction and five days on pure IV fluids left physical energy completely drained, necessitating a strict one-week hiatus dedicated to total rest, hydration, and quiet brainstorming, reflected upon through Isaiah 40:29–31 on the discipline of patience and renewal.
Early to Mid-October 2026: Dealt with an extensive stretch of unreported fatigue and physical strain leading up to a severe medical emergency that landed me back in the hospital following a heart attack, turning the recovery process into a serious, high-stakes battle from both clinical and home sick beds.
Late October 2026: Managed field research prep along Twelve Mile Bayou, Cross Lake, and the Red River, plus deep-dive planning for the Road to Halloween and Swamp Dread series that ultimately never made it to the web due to the medical crisis.
November 2026: Transitioned into November while still recovering from the cardiac event, dealing with a brutal new wave where my nose and sinuses drove me crazy between a severe sinus headache from a stuffy nose that finally started breaking up into a relentless running drainage and non-stop sneezing.
November 11, 2026 (Veterans Day): Operating entirely from horizontal sick-bed command central in Shreveport, Louisiana, running through saline rinses, steam breathing, and over-the-counter remedies while maintaining high fever-dream creativity and low physical mobility on this Veterans Day.
November 12, 2026: Doctors are putting me on a heart monitor for the next two weeks and want me to start getting back active again—so here I am for today! Just know that I will be taking this day off after being at the hospital all day, and I'll see you back on Friday the 13th for a special post.
Section 2: Campaign Files & October-November TTRPG Musings Recap
Field Research & Planning: Conducting field research along Twelve Mile Bayou, Cross Lake, and the Red River, plus deep-dive planning for the Road to Halloween and Swamp Dread series.
Monsters! Monsters! 2.7 Mechanics and Monsteraries: Refining the rules, focusing on Monster Rating (MR) and Universal Deadliness Rating (UDR), and expanding the campaign guides for the Tygerian Isles and Bog Horn Deep.
Campaign and Setting Building & Hawthorne Valley Rollout: Weaving together the Hawthorne Valley geography—balancing the chivalric feline western half under Lord Errol Hawthorne with the feudal Japanese eastern themes across the Serpent Coil River—and keeping those multi-versal portals open in main canon. New Lore Integration: Lord Errol Hawthorne now stands shoulder-to-shoulder with his powerful new ally, Byakko the White Tiger from Japanese folklore (the Guardian of the West), who protects the Tygerians from their eternal nemesis, Quing (the ethereal Chinese Dragon Queen and Guardian of the East). This epic clash forms the centerpiece of the new setup for the Hawthorne Valley rollout.
TrollCon Nagoya 2 Special Update: Setting up a brand-new special update and resource page on the blog to support the convention—TrollCon Nagoya 2 will be held on June 27, 2027, in central Nagoya, Japan.
New Places & Regional Expansion: Unveiling and planning brand-new locations for the upcoming dispatches, featuring:
The Western Lands & The Whispering Woods: Lord Errol Hawthorne's chivalric feline stronghold established in 1204, surrounded by grim-drenched haunted woods.
The Ruins of the Rocky Crags & Fenland Caves System: Mountain heights overlooking the treacherous underworld lair of the Black Dragon Cult & Fenland Caves/Finland Bog Expansion: Introducing the terrifying Black Dragon Goddess of Death, Destruction, and Decay, who is descending upon the realm and establishing the shadowy Black Dragon Cult alongside the lethal Black Dragon Ninja Society deep within the murky, treacherous recesses of the Fenland Caves and the Finland Bog.
The Coil Water Snake Dragon River: The vital waterway connecting mountain heights to eastern plains. Flowing from the western peaks right through the heart of the valley, this vital waterway connects the mountain heights to the eastern plains, flanked by ancient stone pillars, forgotten relics, and river-borne commerce
Jōkamachi & Eastern Township: The bustling 1573 feudal castle town featuring residential quarters, artisan districts, merchant stalls, and the Golden Koi inn. Nestled beneath the towering ramparts of the upper fortress, Jōkamachi is the bustling feudal castle town of Hawthorne Valley (it was established in 1573)
The Mengal Centaur Steeps & Khans Encampment: The vast eastern high plains and fortified training grounds of the nomadic centaur clans. The Mengal Centaur Steeps & Khans Encampment: Stretching across the eastern high plains, the vast open grasslands of the Mengal Centaur Steeps form the thundering training grounds and nomadic territory of the independent centaur clans
Eastern Township & The Coil Water Snake River Port: Situated right along the riverbanks just below the castle, the Eastern Township serves as the economic hub and lifeline of the valley, featuring local trade routes, traditional architecture, and the famous "Golden Koi" inn
Frostpeak Mountain Village: The remote alpine settlement in the northeast featuring torii gates, shrines, and high-altitude outposts. Frostpeak Mountain Village: Perched high in the frozen northeastern alpine peaks above Jōkamachi, this remote, snow-blanketed mountain settlement features traditional torii gates, shrines, and high-altitude outposts guarding the roof of the world
The Sun-Scoured Sands: Sweeping across the arid southern boundary of the map, this harsh desert region marks the sun-baked frontier, home to nomad trade caravans and ancient desert ruins. Crucially, hidden within these sands lies a portal connecting directly to the southern Tygerian tribe's city of Sekahtem—the sacred realm and city of the Cat Goddess. To guard this vital nexus, the Tygerians have permanently garrisoned a local army right here in full protection of the city.
Field Research & Planning: Conducting field research along Twelve Mile Bayou, Cross Lake, and the Red River, plus deep-dive planning for the Road to Halloween and Swamp Dread series.
Monsters! Monsters! 2.7 Mechanics and Monsteraries: Refining the rules, focusing on Monster Rating (MR) and Universal Deadliness Rating (UDR), and expanding the campaign guides for the Tygerian Isles and Bog Horn Deep.
Campaign and Setting Building & Hawthorne Valley Rollout: Weaving together the Hawthorne Valley geography—balancing the chivalric feline western half under Lord Errol Hawthorne with the feudal Japanese eastern themes across the Serpent Coil River—and keeping those multi-versal portals open in main canon. New Lore Integration: Lord Errol Hawthorne now stands shoulder-to-shoulder with his powerful new ally, Byakko the White Tiger from Japanese folklore (the Guardian of the West), who protects the Tygerians from their eternal nemesis, Quing (the ethereal Chinese Dragon Queen and Guardian of the East). This epic clash forms the centerpiece of the new setup for the Hawthorne Valley rollout.
TrollCon Nagoya 2 Special Update: Setting up a brand-new special update and resource page on the blog to support the convention—TrollCon Nagoya 2 will be held on June 27, 2027, in central Nagoya, Japan.
New Places & Regional Expansion: Unveiling and planning brand-new locations for the upcoming dispatches, featuring:
The Western Lands & The Whispering Woods: Lord Errol Hawthorne's chivalric feline stronghold established in 1204, surrounded by grim-drenched haunted woods.
The Ruins of the Rocky Crags & Fenland Caves System: Mountain heights overlooking the treacherous underworld lair of the Black Dragon Cult & Fenland Caves/Finland Bog Expansion: Introducing the terrifying Black Dragon Goddess of Death, Destruction, and Decay, who is descending upon the realm and establishing the shadowy Black Dragon Cult alongside the lethal Black Dragon Ninja Society deep within the murky, treacherous recesses of the Fenland Caves and the Finland Bog.
The Coil Water Snake Dragon River: The vital waterway connecting mountain heights to eastern plains. Flowing from the western peaks right through the heart of the valley, this vital waterway connects the mountain heights to the eastern plains, flanked by ancient stone pillars, forgotten relics, and river-borne commerce
. Jōkamachi & Eastern Township: The bustling 1573 feudal castle town featuring residential quarters, artisan districts, merchant stalls, and the Golden Koi inn. Nestled beneath the towering ramparts of the upper fortress, Jōkamachi is the bustling feudal castle town of Hawthorne Valley (it was established in 1573)
. It features fertile residential quarters, thriving artisan districts, bustling merchant stalls, and a vibrant local population of 15,000 . The Mengal Centaur Steeps & Khans Encampment: The vast eastern high plains and fortified training grounds of the nomadic centaur clans. The Mengal Centaur Steeps & Khans Encampment: Stretching across the eastern high plains, the vast open grasslands of the Mengal Centaur Steeps form the thundering training grounds and nomadic territory of the independent centaur clans
. Dominated by the fortified Khans Encampment, this region anchors the military coordination and martial might of the eastern alliance . Eastern Township & The Coil Water Snake River Port: Situated right along the riverbanks just below the castle, the Eastern Township serves as the economic hub and lifeline of the valley, featuring local trade routes, traditional architecture, and the famous "Golden Koi" inn
Frostpeak Mountain Village: The remote alpine settlement in the northeast featuring torii gates, shrines, and high-altitude outposts. Frostpeak Mountain Village: Perched high in the frozen northeastern alpine peaks above Jōkamachi, this remote, snow-blanketed mountain settlement features traditional torii gates, shrines, and high-altitude outposts guarding the roof of the world
. The Sun-Scoured Sands: Sweeping across the arid southern boundary of the map, this harsh desert region marks the sun-baked frontier, home to nomad trade caravans and ancient desert ruins. Crucially, hidden within these sands lies a portal connecting directly to the southern Tygerian tribe's city of Sekahtem—the sacred realm and city of the Cat Goddess. To guard this vital nexus, the Tygerians have permanently garrisoned a local army right here in full protection of the city.
Conclusion
As we draw this comprehensive look back over the arduous journey from August through November 2026 to a close, we have successfully walked through every single thread of our recent experiences without cutting corners or skipping a beat.
By keeping our severe health challenges—ranging from the late August digestive obstruction and its grueling hospital recovery to the shocking mid-October heart attack hospitalization, ongoing post-acute fatigue, and the relentless November sinus siege paired with our brand-new heart monitor assignment—strictly separated from our creative tabletop role-playing game updates, we have maintained absolute clarity across both fronts of our life and work.
We have thoroughly reviewed our behind-the-scenes technical trials, the quiet September recovery weeks, and our unyielding dedication to keeping the creative channels open even from horizontal sick-bed command central. At the same time, we have brought all our campaign musings, setting details, and regional worldbuilding fully into focus: from tracking our field research along Twelve Mile Bayou, Cross Lake, and the Red River, to refining our Monsters! Monsters! 2.7 mechanics, Universal Deadliness Ratings, and Monsteraries.
We anchored our Hawthorne Valley and Tygerian Isles lore by mapping out Lord Errol Hawthorne's alliance with Byakko the White Tiger against the ethereal Chinese Dragon Queen Quing, confronting the terrifying Black Dragon Goddess of Death, Destruction, and Decay within the Fenland Caves and Finland Bog, laying out our full gazetteer of regional locations from Jōkamachi to the portal-linked desert city of Sekahtem, and preparing our special resource update pages for TrollCon Nagoya 2 coming on June 27, 2027.
Call to Action (CTA)
Drop a comment, share your thoughts, and check back soon for our next full TTRPG dispatch.
Meta Description (for SEO)
A sick-bed Midweek Musings dispatch keeping October heart attack hospitalization and health updates cleanly separated from campaign files, covering recovery, backlogs, and Monsters! Monsters! 2.7 rules from Captain Hedges.
Product Identity and Legal
The following items are designated Product Identity of Arthur Earl C. Hedges Jr. / The Adventures of Captain Hedges: The world of Zimrala, the Tygerian Isles, the Ether Dragons, the Tiger Force Shadow Saga, the specific "Hedge Wizard of the Shreveport Cabin" persona, t
No comments:
Post a Comment