Going in for the quill.

Emma’s Adventureswas a monthly column created for Eurogamer Supporters that ran throughout 2023.

And there are always unexpected twists in her tales.

An illustration showing the tip of a quill releasing a torrent of black ink on a white background below it.

We’ll open a new one each month.

She integrates herself with society and soon begins performing her work.

And I do mean performing: she does dramatic readings for them.

A fantasy-like map of the land of Aveos, a fictional place imaged for a Minecraft role-playing server.

Will they like it, will they not?

Read on, dear reader, read on.

This article is brought to you by Eurogamer Supporters, without whom it wouldn’t have existed.

Emma’s Minecraft character stands at the beginning of a dramatic bridge leading to a gated land.

Thank you one and all for your support.

When I’m not playing it, I’ve been thinking about it.

(I ignored the expressions of mild concern on their faces.)

Minecraft characters - players - gather around Emma in a stony town square.

Which brought me, somewhat unexpectedly, to Minecraft.

As usual, however, things didn’t go exactly to plan.

Somehow, I ended up becoming the town poet instead.

At a ball in Minecraft, inside a large building with a chequered black and white floor. Many characters are dancing.

And the story gets as ridiculous as you would imagine.

Excited to start, I took my first steps forward.

“Balfour these NUTS” was the first message I saw in the out-of-character chat channel.

A Minecraft interior where two players, playing as doctors, interrogate Emma’s character as she tells them she’s been poisoned by mushrooms.

The adventure was nearly over before it had even begun.

With my feet once again firmly planted on the floating island, I returned to the teleportation poles.

Instead, a merchant called Tuvya greeted me.

A Minecraft interior, where two players dressed and role-playing as nuns, walk into a ball - of the dancing kind - asking for donations.

She quickly shut down my idea of becoming a messenger.

“Ea am afraid ea would not have much work for vy.”

“Ea have an idea though,” Ileana continued.

The ‘Three Sisters’ poem, by Emma, displayed as text on a parchmenty background. It reads: 
Three nuns did enter the clinic one day
Tis odd, I thought, in the very way
They blocked the door so none could leave
And cared so little when I did heave.
Nothing could stop them from their mission
Which they would say, was god-commissioned
To collect some money for the poor
And give their convent a brand new floor. 
That I might leave within their grace 
I left a donation on their plate
So know the cost of spiritual salvation:
A mere ten minas, to avoid damnation.

“Vy could become my scribe, if vy wish?

Not one to miss a party, I eagerly agreed.

Later in the evening there was even a ‘best-dressed’ competition where spaniels were given out as prizes.

‘A Note on Mushrooms’ by Emma. It reads: When out foraging in woods, take heed
Of flat brown mushrooms o’ rotten seed
These false friends of those in need  
Will make nose run, and bottom bleed

“Hmm” was his response.

“Eeeer it’s called Anstruthe?”

He seemed to buy it, or at least, he didn’t ask again.

![‘Mountain Lament Part 1’ by Emma. It reads: Up through winding valley and road We climb, seeking noble mountain abode Of warmed hearth and merrious home. The foul winds claw, they bring us close To our ancestors, and as they blow They whisper ill tidings of treacherous hosts.

Past cavern maw, past ice-bound bones We tread, ignoring the pleading tone From the sunken gully that stirreth dread. Then through the mist, two torches blaze A threshold, to rooms of wine and bread Full o’ dancing folk in a festive haze.](https://assetsio.gnwcdn.com/emmasadventures_minecraft_poetry-Mountain-Lament-part-1.jpg?width=690&quality=70&format=jpg&auto=webp)

The next day, all seemed quiet in the city - perhaps because everyone was nursing a hangover.

There, I bumped into Haylene again, who was absorbed in her notebook.

“I’m writing notes about herbs,” Haylene explained.

‘Mountain Lament Part 2’ by Emma. It reads: Yet as the fires and songs wear on,
I step away, into night ‘fore dawn
To listen again to the cooling airs.
They speak of heath and hills I know
The vales of green, the wilds I roamed
And the embers inside doth lose their glow.

“We’re heading out on a foraging trip shortly - you should come!”

So, naturally, I joined in.

So I decided to spice things up.

![The ‘Ballade of lost beginnings’, written by Emma. It reads: From a womb of cloud and stone I fell upon the earth Swallowed by sea I settled ‘mong bones And sank to Metztli’s mirth “Now my soul will be weighed and worthed” I sobbed, wailed and cried But the mercy of death cannot be gi’en To those who cannot die.

I gazed upon my birthplace there Suspended in skies above Then felt a presence coming near That promised not warmth, nor care, nor love. “Thou art lost”, the daemon said, “Doomed ‘fore your mortal life. For the mercy of death cannot be gi’en To those who cannot die.”

I know that men have often sought To cheat the laws of death But what’s a life of endless thought Within such darkened depths? With bloodied hand, the daemon offer’d A return to fairer skies Where the mercy of death could again be gi’en To one who could not die.

So judge me not for every breath I take with hollowed chest, For I paid the highest price of all To walk with mortal flesh.](https://assetsio.gnwcdn.com/emmasadventures_minecraft_poetry-Ballade-of-Lost-Beginnings-part-1.jpg?width=690&quality=70&format=jpg&auto=webp)

“Let’s head to the clinic.”

“We want to build a new orphanage, will you make a contribution?

With every donation comes a chicken nugget made directly from our kitchen.”

![The ‘Ballade of Lost Beginnings Part 2’ by Emma. It reads: I know that men have often sought To cheat the laws of death But what’s a life of endless thought Within such darkened depths? With bloodied hand, the daemon offer’d A return to fairer skies Where the mercy of death could again be gi’en To one who could not die.

So judge me not for every breath I take with hollowed chest, For I paid the highest price of all To walk with mortal flesh.](https://assetsio.gnwcdn.com/emmasadventures_minecraft_poetry-Ballade-of-Lost-Beginnings-part-2.jpg?width=690&quality=70&format=jpg&auto=webp)

The doctor seemed rather suspicious of these nuns, and frankly, so was I. Scratching my head, I considered the several ridiculous events I had already witnessed on the server.

Perhaps I could simply write about those?

And so once again I decided to pivot my character towards another profession: becoming a part-time poet.

A Minecraft interior, fashioned like a courtroom. Emma’s character watches on as a foul-mouthed player is held trial.

Surely, this would provide financial security.

In true medieval fashion, there may also have been a couple ofembellishmentsto the truth.

Hopefully the latter would be subtle enough that I wouldn’t get in trouble for blasphemy.

![‘Children of Valdev’ by Emma. It reads: Round, round, round they go, Heading where? I do not know Through the town and square they flow Starring role of everyone’s show

Loud, loud, loud are they For what purpose? I could not say Covered in mud, and seeds, and hay To them the world’s their personal play

Quiet, quiet, quiet please There’s been enough frivolity I need fine wine and strongest cheese That I may write my books in peace.](https://assetsio.gnwcdn.com/emmasadventures_minecraft_poetry-Children-of-Valdev-.jpg?width=690&quality=70&format=jpg&auto=webp)

Pleased with my initial efforts, I decided to branch out into some more serious subject matter.

And so I wrote a poem about Grisell’s hidden sadness at leaving her homeland.

But this is all just fairy tales and fiction.

![‘Rhyme of Toby Spouth’ by Emma. It reads: Toby Spouth did run his mouth And spoke of nobles with laughter For these small slights he lost his rights And couldn’t stop smiling thereafter

Toby said he’d fight till dead A duel he did propose He tripped instead, fell on his head And landed on top of his nose

Toby stood up, and cursed his luck Expecting to be excused But someone rushed in, and making a din Of wizardry he was accused

So now we all go back to court To watch poor Toby’s new trial Maybe this time, he’ll toe the line And save us the pain of denial.](https://assetsio.gnwcdn.com/emmasadventures_minecraft_poetry-Rhyme-of-Toby-Spouth.jpg?width=690&quality=70&format=jpg&auto=webp)

Along with everyone else in the city, I piled into the public gallery to watch the proceedings.

Even when he was found guilty and told he would lose a hand as punishment, he seemed unperturbed.

“Ay he’s got the devil en him!”

Cover image for YouTube video

I made sure to yell out from the crowd, as we watched the scene unfold.

It was most disturbing to witness.

Clearly, this was part of some ongoing storyline.

Talinn was led away to the royal palace to be “tested for darkspawn”.

I did, however, spare some of the gory details.

I also changed Talinn’s name to Toby Spouth, simply because this would work with the rhyme scheme.

Inspired by the sing-song quality of the rhyme, I then penned one final poem.

These child characters would typically be exceptionally annoying.

I recorded a vocal version, and turned it into a musical round.

With all my poems complete, it was time to start promoting myself.

“Young Grisell, this is fascinating,” said a fortune teller.

“I will see to it to spread the voice among other folk about you!”

“The prose is beautifully writ, as far as my eyes have seen.”

Royal recognition would surely be the fastest route to fame and fortune, I surmised.

But alas, when I arrived there, I discovered that they were not taking petitions that day.

Thankfully, I had another plan.

You see, Lord of the Craft has its own forums where users can share in-character messages and creations.

So I’published' my book there, along with therecording of the musical round.

We’ll pretend that the book was enchanted to project my voice, or something.

And low and behold, this actually worked.

(Hidden under a spoiler tag was an out-of-character remark: “this is so cool!!!

You have talent my friend.")

This was brilliant news: if I wished, I could now receive a place within the royal court.

And so ends my adventures as a medieval fantasy poet - for now, at least.

I’m intrigued to see what happens with that ongoing darkspawn plotline.

I also learned that, somewhere deep down, I am a medieval bard at heart.

The next step for my character?

Travelling between cities and writing poetry on behalf of Haense’s royal court.

This poet is Gawain places.