From page to dice: bringing my story to the table (D&D)
TL;DR \ I’m joining a D&D campaign with my former therapy group, playing a character from my own fantasy story. It’s a creative way to process my identity, faith, and imagination, and to share parts of myself in a gentle, honest way.
I sat down to write about our final group therapy session, but the words feel heavy and far away. So instead, I’ll begin with something that feels a bit easier to express.
After finishing group therapy, one thing I’m grateful for is that our group decided to stay in touch, by starting a Dungeons & Dragons campaign together.
I’m honestly excited. I’ve always loved fantasy, dragons, and worldbuilding. I’ll be playing a character based on one from my own story: the wise “grandmother” figure from The Eldragyn, who’s actually a dragon elder. I want to get to know her better through roleplay, to understand her choices, her past, and maybe even unlock new parts of my story by letting her live in a different world.
It’s wild how long I’ve been writing stories like this. This particular story started when I was eleven. But my stories always had elves, dragons, and other worlds. The shape of the story has changed over the years, but the core has stayed the same. And D&D gives me a new way to explore it, not just alone, but with others.
What I also love about D&D is that I can bring parts of myself into the story without needing to name them out loud. My beliefs, my values, my sense of wonder and justice.. they’ll be there, subtly woven in. I’m not looking to preach, but I do find that fantasy helps me connect with God in ways theology alone doesn’t.
It’s also a space where I can just be me, without fear that someone will dismiss my stories as “too much” or “too weird.” In other settings, like church, I hold back. Not because I’m ashamed, but because I’ve heard too many comments that dismiss fantasy. Although I understand those comments, I’ve discerned for myself what fantasy is. In the past I believed fantasy to be true and now I just don’t know, but their deeper meanings just help me understand things better.
But for me, stories are important. They are how I make sense of the world. They help me process my faith, my struggles, my dreams. They help me share myself, gently, honestly; without having to explain every detail.
I hope to let my character grow alongside me. To let her be wise, flawed, powerful, and compassionate. And maybe, in doing so, I’ll grow a little too.