...and all of Geekdom raise their chalices in honor...

It's a sad day in Geekdom (and I use that term fondly) with the news of the passing of Gary Gygax the father of the Dungeons & Dragons universe.

Though many see it as useless timewasting behavior and activity for antisocial or asocial pimply teenagers, it represented so much more to those who played the game and vicariously lived in that universe. It represented the never ending struggle of good versus evil, ability to get along and working with others of different races and abilities, of adventure, of living out something bigger than oneself. For those people who DID struggle socially at that time in their life, D&D represented an escape to a world where one COULD have some control and acceptance. But most importantly, for me and my friends at least, it represented camaraderie and some of the best and most fun memories of our adolescence.

Though we have moved on to be doctors, engineers, computer programmers, financial consultants, and so on, we will always have the days of storming the castle, winning our own land and fiefdoms through tournaments, creating our own armies, conquering the bridge over the river Styx, playing all weekend with pizza boxes everywhere and laughing til all hours of the night.

So Elrond, 37th level cleric, Master of the Army of Undead, ruler of Culthaven,  lowers his flag at half mast, raises his staff, and wishes Gary Gygax well in the Halls of Valhalla...