The Feast of the Moon
Jason & Mel are turning thirty. Come to Waterdeep.
- When
- Fri Nov 20 – Sun Nov 22, 2026 Backup: Fri Dec 11 – Sun Dec 13. We'll confirm by about Nov 1.
- Where
- 2–3 hours north of New York City Reachable by transit. The exact place will be shared once it's confirmed.
- Cost
- $50–200 per person, if you can Pay what you can. No need to send anything yet.
Two minutes, by Friday, October 30
If you're reading this, a letter found you. It was addressed to someone with a family name, a house and a seat on an old council. That someone is you, for one weekend.
What this actually is: a weekend-long story game and a party, for both of our birthdays. A crowd of us heads upstate, and everyone plays a character in the city of Waterdeep: noble families, their households, old debts and older promises. There are conversations that matter, puzzles to crack, a few things to sneak around, a great feast, and a lot of dancing.
You don't need to know anything about Dungeons & Dragons. You'll get your character before you arrive.
What the Weekend Is Like
It's a story you live in for two days. From Friday night to Sunday, you're a member of one of Waterdeep's noble houses, with a household, a few people you already know, and things you want this weekend. Some of those wants are about the Charter, and many aren't: a marriage to arrange, a debt to collect, a rival to outshine, a rumour to chase.
What you'll actually do
- Talk. Most of the game is conversation: trading favours, making deals, comparing notes, persuading.
- Solve things. Puzzles, riddles and locks, indoors and out, some of which need the right group of people at the right moment.
- Wander. The grounds and the buildings are part of the world. Walking between them is part of the game.
- Feast and dance. The Feast of the Moon is a real feast, and in Waterdeep the important business happens on the dance floor. Expect music both nights.
Play it as big or as small as you like
You'll choose when the character call goes out in early November, and you can change your mind at any point, including on the day.
Nobody is ever out. No one gets eliminated or benched. You're in the story from the first night to the last.
You don't have to run anything. A crew of friends looks after the game. If you'd like to be one of them (a few people will play city officials, heralds and the like, and still get to play), say so in your reply.
The World in One Page
Waterdeep, the City of Splendors
The grandest port on the Sword Coast: crowded streets, temples to every god, a workshop for every trade from lockmaking to candle-dipping, and a harbour full of ships from every sea. It's the classic city of Dungeons & Dragons, but you don't need to know anything about it.
Who rules it
The Lords of Waterdeep, who wear masks so that nobody knows who they are, and one Open Lord who shows her face. Guessing who the Masked Lords are is the city's favourite parlour game.
The Roll
Older and quieter than the Lords is the Roll, a council of seats written into being by Ahghairon, the wizard who founded the Lordship, in a document called the Charter. Ahghairon tied each seat to a coin, not to a family: whoever carries the coin holds the seat.
Your family's coin
Long ago, your house was given one of those coins: a square brass taol with a hole through the middle, worn on a cord. It has been handed down, argued over and kept safe for generations. This year your house is sending its people to carry it to the Feast. The coin is handed to you when you arrive, so there's nothing to make or bring.
The Feast of the Moon
At the end of autumn, Waterdeep honours its ancestors. Families tell their old stories late into the night, and the Heralds sing the Bloodsong, the lineage of every noble house. This year the Feast is also when the seat-holders gather to renew the Charter, as it has always been renewed: with feasting, and with dancing.
The Heralds
The Office of the Heralds keeps the Roll and the city's lineages. Its herald, Falconfree, sealed the letter that found you. They have summoned you because of your station in one of the noble houses. You'll learn which house, who your family is and who you already know in your character packet.
That's all you need. Everything else, you'll learn by talking to people.
The Practical Scroll
When
Friday, November 20 to Sunday, November 22, 2026. It's the weekend before Thanksgiving, and we know some of you travel for it, so we're also holding a backup weekend: Friday, December 11 to Sunday, December 13. Tell us which ones work for you, and we'll go with whichever suits the most people. We'll announce the date around November 1. Arrival and departure times come with it.
Where
A place about 2–3 hours north of New York City that you can reach by transit. You won't need a car. We'll share the exact place and how to get there once it's confirmed.
What it costs
$50–200 per person, if you can. Pay toward the top if that's easy and toward the bottom if it isn't. It goes toward the house, the food and getting everyone there. If even that's hard right now, text Jason or Mel. We want you there.
There's nothing to pay yet. We'll say how once the date and place are set.
Weather
Late autumn upstate: cold, and dark by about 4:30. Some of the game happens outdoors and between buildings, so bring warm layers.
Questions
Do I need to know D&D?
No. There are no rules to learn, no dice maths and no character sheets full of numbers. If you can have a conversation in a funny voice (or a normal one), you can play. If you do know D&D, you'll get a few extra jokes.
Do I go by a character name?
You can go by your own name. Your house, your family and your history are what's new.
When do I make my character?
Once the date is set. In early November we'll send the character call: race and class, how you like to play, anything you'd love folded into your backstory, and costume. We'll fold in what we can, though we can't promise everything, because everyone's characters have to fit together. Your character packet arrives the week before.
Do I have to wear a costume?
You don't have to, but we'd love it. One item counts: a cloak, a robe, a circlet, a sash, something flowing or something armoured. Cloaks are also warm, and it's November.
Do I need to bring a coin?
No. Your house's coin is handed to you when you arrive.
What if I don't want to do something?
Then don't. You can step out at any time, for a nap, a walk or a sit by the fire, and the story will be there when you come back. Nobody will touch you in a scene without asking first.
Will I have to perform in front of everyone?
Only if you want to. The low-key way to play means no speeches at all.
Accessibility, food, sleep?
We want everyone to be able to play fully. Tell us in your reply about mobility, stairs, bunks, noise, cold, allergies, dietary needs or anything else, and we'll plan your room and your character around it. Nothing in the game requires running, climbing or being outdoors at night.
Can I arrive late or leave early?
Yes. Tell us and we'll make it work. The heart of it is Friday night through Saturday night, so if you can only do part, aim for those.
Can I bring someone?
Partners are very welcome. Just ask Jason or Mel first: everyone who comes gets a bed and a character, so we need to know who's coming.
Know someone who'd love this? If there's someone you think would really enjoy a weekend like this, and who we should be friends with, tell us. We'd love to hear about them.
What should I bring?
- Warm layers, a coat, and shoes or boots for wet grass
- Something to see by when walking between buildings after dark
- One costume item, or more
- Toiletries, medication, earplugs and an eye mask (it's a shared house)
A full packing list comes with the details of the place.
What Happens When
- By Fri, Oct 30Answer the Herald. Are you coming, how to reach you, which weekends work. Two minutes.
- Around Nov 1We announce the date and, once it's confirmed, the place.
- Early NovemberThe character call: race and class, how you like to play, backstory wishes, costume. Plus how to chip in.
- The week beforeYour character packet arrives: who you are, your house, who you already know. Plus times, travel and a packing list.
- Nov 20 (or Dec 11)The Feast begins.
Answer the Herald
Two minutes: are you coming, how to reach you, and which weekends work. Please answer by Friday, October 30.
The Register opens shortly. Until then, reply by text to Jason or Mel with:
- your name, email and phone
- which weekends you could come: Nov 20–22, Dec 11–13, or both
- anyone you'd like to bring
- anything else we should know: diet restrictions, allergies, other
Questions?
Text Jason or Mel.