‘Twas the night before Christmas, and here at the Castle
The events were all planned, and with nary a hassle;
The board games were stacked on the table with care,
In hopes that the gamers soon would be there;

The guests were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of mad hatters danced in their heads;
And Pam in her ‘kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled down for a long winter’s nap,

When out in the village there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to Rapunzel’s I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below,
When what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a couple of brewers, each clutching their beer,

And with them was Denham, his bag full of clues,
A mystery was brewing, there was no time to snooze.
More rapid than eagles our detectives they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name;

“Now JUSTIN! Now SYDNEE! Now HEATHER and NATHAN!
On TERRI! On ROBERT! On ALLY and MORGAN!
To the Raven’s Roost Pub, to the lower throne room!
Now solve away! Solve away! Solve away soon!

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky,
So up to the battlements the crazy group flew,
With a cast full of actors from Rough Magic too.

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof,
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my hand, and was turning around,
Down the chimney Kodiak Colby came with a bound.

He was dressed all in fur, well, except for his hat,
Which was Plaid as could be, there’s no doubt about that;
A bundle of games he had brought in his sleigh,
To help raise some money, for the good of Child’s Play.

And there behind Colby were a Stark and a Snow,
The latter’s fine cloak, as black as a crow.
Baratheon and Lannister, I needn’t check twice,
They must all have come, for the Fire and the Ice.

And finally King Richard, there’s no need to mention,
Was certainly here, for the summer convention;
With a wink in his eye and his games on our shelf,
He sat down to play like a jolly old elf.

The group spoke not a word, but went straight to their task,
Providing our guests the best events you could ask.
Each laying their finger aside of their nose,
With a nod as a group, up the chimney they rose;

They sprang to their sleigh, to the team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard them exclaim, ere they drove out of sight,
HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO ALL, AND TO ALL A GOOD-NIGHT!

Jim Reed

Jim Reed is a lifelong gamer who started with the original red box Dungeons & Dragons. After spending 20 years in the corporate world, he decided it was high time that work be fun and struck out on his own. Jim now owns and operates Ravenwood Castle, and spends his days ensuring his guests have as much fun as he does.