A party of heroes raise their weapons and focus their weary eyes on the threat moving down the battlefield. This test of their comradery will decide the fate of their world… the lumbering beast draws ever closer. Dice clamber on the table to decide the battle. While their classmates are enthralled in the thrill of the final battle of an epic Dungeons and Dragons saga, it’s easy to forget there is a person pulling the strings of the story in front of them. Behind the curtain Veda Puranik  (12) effortlessly puppet-masters the adventure of a lifetime.

With over a year of experience under their belt, Veda is a regular game master for 3 different parties and is highly requested to guide stories for UHS students. Fitting the game in between their busy schedule of work, difficult classes and busy social schedule is no easy feat but their love of the game keeps them running- when asked how they managed, they laughed and replied “improv”. 

Despite their skills in running games, Veda actually prefers to be a player rather than a game master. “Playing my DND characters is always my favorite,” they told us. “Lately I’ve been [game mastering] a lot more than playing, so when I get a chance to play a character I’ve been thinking about for a long time, it’s exciting!”