"In the world of Aelindia," Malcom said in a dramatic voice. "Where magic flows throughout the aether, where dragons roam and powerful gods quarrel. At the heart of the Taldath continent, a land rife of legends about an epic struggle between chaos and peace, rested the capital of the Norlian Empire, the city of Paskep. And three miles south of the great walls of Paskep, traveled a group of adventurers."

I couldn't follow all of the strange names and locations, but the way Malcolm narrated was mesmerizing. I found myself visualizing the magical world Malcolm described with great detail.

"The group, composed of a gnome wizard of the school of evocation." Malcolm gestured to Gary.

"Ok, I guess we're starting off the campaign where our characters already know each other," Gary said in a high pitched voice. "So you know my name as Gimble."

"And a human ranger gloom stalker," Malcolm said.

"Wruce Bayne," Sam said with a grin. "You may all know me as a wealthy noble at day, but at night, the Shrieker comes to play."

Malcolm gestured to Jesse. "And a red fierna tiefling bard of the college of glamour."

Jesse smiled at each of us, falling into character. "You may call me... Delicious."

Sam laughed. "That's seriously your name?"

Jesse licked her lips as if she were tasting something scrumptious.

Gary rolled his eyes. "Oh boy."

Malcolm turned to me. "A human fighter rune knight."

"Um..." I stared around the table, my cheeks flushed. This was so awkward. I had no idea Laura was inviting me to an improv acting session. This was so far from my comfort zone; I'd rather run the bleachers. "Uh..." I stuttered, glancing down at my phone at the notes Sam sent me. "Ander, right?"

Sam nodded.

"And finally," Malcolm pointed at Laura. "A wood elf druid of the circle of the stars, called..."

Laura gave a small bow. "Aulorian."

"Ah," Jesse said. "The simple 'make-your-name-elvish' trick."

"It's better than Delicious," Sam said.

Jesse glared at her younger brother. "Be careful, or I'll charm you."

"And I'll firebolt both of you if you don't cut that out," Gary said in his high-pitched voice.

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"I'd dodge it," Sam said. "Can't hit Batm--I mean-- the Shrieker!

I slunk into my seat, watching these people essentially play pretend like toddlers. I turned to Laura and whispered, "Why couldn't we play a normal board game, like Monopoly or something?"

Laura gave me a knowing smile. "I thought it was weird, too, when I first played. But then I started to get into the story, into my character, and leveling her up, and... well, now it's one of my favorite things to do. "

"But I'm terrible at acting," I said.

"You don't have to act if you don't want to. There's more to D&D than role-playing."

I folded my arms and watched Gary, Sam, and Jesse go on about who's character was stronger. Malcolm also watched them in silence and--oddly--he looked disgusted by their display. He noticed me looking and reverted back to his composed expression.

"Ander," he said. "While your comrades are arguing, you think you hear something in the bushes to the right of the pathway. Make a perception check."

"A what?"

"Here." Laura showed me on the app a table of skills such as acrobatics and animal handling. "Oh good," Laura said. "You're proficient in that. Press the +3 next to perception."

I did, and a huge die rolled across the screen. It wasn't a normal die; it had way more than six sides. It landed on a 19, and then a small window popped up at the bottom of the screen with the total amount. "Um... 22?" I half asked, half said.

"Nice roll," Laura said.

"You kids and your digital dice," Gary said. "You don't get the added luck of a good wrist flick."

"Psh," Sam said. "Jake didn't need any extra luck with that roll."

"Plus," Jesse said. "He's sort of missing his good wrist."

Laura and Gary glared at Jesse. "What?" Jesse raised her palms upward. "It's true!"

Gratefully, Malcolm broke the awkward moment. "Ander, you recognize that sound as a growl, and you turn as an angry wolf with razor sharp teeth leaps out to attack you. What do you do?"

Everyone at the table stared at me. I tensed up, unsure what to do. "Uh, I don't know. What can I do?"

"You can attempt to do whatever you want," Malcolm said.

"Um... okay..." I stammered, simply uncertain how to play this game. Do I need to roll a die or something?

"What would you do if a wolf suddenly attacked you?" Laura asked.

"Probably run," I said.

"And what if you were a mighty warrior, like Aragorn, with a sword and a shield?"

I shrugged. "Probably stab it."

Laura nodded. "So what do you think Ander would do in this situation."

"Stab it."

"Roll initiative!" Malcolm declared.

Laura helped me find the right button to press on the app. A 10. She explained that initiative is our turn order.

"The wolf attacks you with a--" Malcolm rolled a die. "16 to hit."

"What's your AC?" Gary asked.

"I have no idea," I said.

"It's 18," Laura said, pointing it out to me on the app. Apparently AC stood for Armor Class... whatever that was.

"Ander," Malcolm said. "You manage to block the wolf's lunge with your shield. The wolf is snarling in front of you. Now you roll to attack."

My heart raced as Laura walked me through the app, found an action list, and told me to press a +5 next to a longsword. "13," I said.

"The wolf's armor class is 13; you barely hit it! Roll damage!"

I pressed another button. "12!"

"You raise your longsword," Malcolm said dramatically, "and you bring it down with all the force you can muster right onto the wolf's neck. With a single, fatal blow, the wolf's head falls off."

Everyone around the table cheered and pounded the table. "Good show!" Gary said in his high pitched voice.

I smiled, realizing I had gotten caught up in the excitement of the battle. "Okay," I said to Laura. "That was kinda fun."

"Oh, and we're just getting started," Laura said.

"Now..." Malcolm said, a mysterious twinkle in his eye. "I need all of you to make a wisdom saving throw."