For some reason I have avoided writing about this. i usually write about the medieval fighting camp we have in July. I was even excited for this one.

My eldest son had taken a job far away for the summer. He came back early, unexpectedly, and full of ideas about new things we could do.

We have a quest every afternoon- the pages and squires hunt creepy enemies in the big old building. It can be terrifying. But I’d always wanted to add something else- personal quests, I called them in my mind. I dreamt of one person struggling against the unknown, solving puzzles, fighting monsters.

My sons and I brainstormed a little and then I sat down to plan. Brainstorming is fine but really it’s just pie in the sky until you figure out exactly what you need and how you’re going to do it.

I dreamt up four big boss fights- a dragon, an etin, a tomb of undead, and a ghost. There would be five pieces, sort of mini-quests that you had to...