The Baldr Experiment: Chapter 5 - The Story - Part 3

Rachel Barton
Dec 11, 2025
2 min read

Updated: Dec 16, 2025

When Merry & Pippin Arrived

A warm, fantasy-style illustration of two hobbit-like characters on a grassy path. One sits writing with a quill and paper, another stands beside them cheerfully offering snacks, and a small dog wearing a red “RN” bandana sits in front giving an unimpressed, Samwise-like stare. The scene reflects calm creativity, chaotic encouragement, and playful storytelling energy in “The Baldr Experiment” series.

I’m still at the beginning of this journey, shaping ideas, sketching outlines, trying to coax a game story into existence one scribble at a time. It’s that fragile, exciting stage where everything feels possible…and a bit overwhelming.

And right on cue, my own Merry and Pippin arrived.

(not two people, just one friend who somehow channels both energies at full volume)

They didn’t wait to be invited.

They just bounced into the outlining process with wild enthusiasm, unexpected plot twists, and the kind of cheerful chaos that instantly disrupts the peace. One moment they’re offering heartfelt encouragement, the next they’re pitching an idea that absolutely does not fit this world, all while operating on pure second-breakfast logic, because apparently my newly self-appointed writing partner believes creativity should be fuelled by constant snacks and hobbit-level dithering.

Suziedog was… unimpressed.

She’s my Samwise: loyal, steady, and perfectly content with the quiet life of “just the two of us.”

This new arrival?

Too loud.

Too excitable.

Too unpredictable.

She gave them a slow, disapproving stare that said clearly:

This was a peaceful quest until you showed up.”

Because Suziedog doesn’t need plot chaos.

She doesn’t need snack-based decision-making.

She just needs calm, routine, and the occasional biscuit.

But, and there is always a “but”, the second my friend opened their snack bag, Suziedog’s stance softened with the speed of a hobbit hearing the word “mushrooms.”

Food diplomacy at its finest.

And honestly, even with the chaos and the disruption, I needed this.

Before the tricky stuff.

Before the doubts.

Before the real obstacles appear.

Right now, at this map-drawing stage, having a spark, a steady Sam, and one friend who embodies both Merry and Pippin (snacks included) is exactly the strange little fellowship this story needs. The Calm, the chaos, and the encouragement.