Dungeon Crate Owner Wayne Brekke shares 5 things he can’t live without
MY FIVE: A series where we ask Omahans to share their five favorite thing
By: Xitlally Velasco
Avid crafter, artist, and musician Wayne Brekke is co-owner with his wife of Dungeon Crate and Big Ink Writing Services.
Dungeon Crate was founded in 2015 as the world’s first subscription box service to provide accessories for role-playing game fans around the world. Crates have included items such as miniatures, tabletop terrains, game tokens, and maps. Wayne operates Dungeon Crate out of a retail location in Benson. He is also part of the esteemed crew at the Next Millennium bookstore, where he works his magic as a Retail Witch and Rune Reader.
Big Ink Writing Services is a full-service copywriting company that specializes in product descriptions for retail websites. Their team of freelance writers includes professional copywriters, published authors, book editors, educators, poets, and artists. They have written over 300,000 product descriptions and have been involved in over 20,000 projects.
We asked Wayne what are five things he can’t live without and this is what he shared…
Hammer Pendant
More than a pendant
“My hammer pendant is one of my most treasured personal items,” Brekke said. “It’s a splendid King’s chain with an elaborate pendant of Thor’s hammer, Mjölnir.”
My hammer pendant is one of my most treasured personal items. It’s a splendid King’s chain with an elaborate pendant of Thor’s hammer, Mjölnir. But this hammer is special because it’s an urn pendant containing some of the ashes of my childhood friend and brother, Manuel.
He died over a year ago following an accident on his Vespa scooter. Scootering was his favorite pastime, and he died as a result of what seemed to be an injury-free incident. Manuel and another rider clipped each other, causing them to go down. This injured his liver, and he died in the arms of his fiance a couple of hours later.
His younger brother Kenny and his wife Kim bestowed this to me as a gift, and it’s the best gift I have ever received. I wear it often, keeping his spirit with me for comfort and guidance.
2. Flutes
Drummer Turned Flutist
“When I picked up my first Native American-style flute, I was amazed to see that I truly enjoyed it and could play. I practiced every day, and now I have five flutes of different styles and keys.”
I’ve been a professional working drummer since I was about 19 years old. Now at 55, my playing, touring, and recording days are pretty much behind me. But when I picked up my first Native American style flute, I was amazed to see that I truly enjoyed it and could play. I practiced every day, and now I have five flutes of different styles and keys.
I still play daily and use my flute music in my morning meditations and for my personal enjoyment. I have made them a part of my spiritual practice and love coming up with songs and melodies. I have a small amplifier with a reverb unit that makes the music sound like I’m playing in a cave. It’s a wonderful way to set the day and inspire myself.
3. Runes
A Definitive Spiritual Path
“It took me a while to get the courage to perform divination for others,” Brekke said. “but with the help of folks from Awakenings and Next Millennium, I dove in.”
I discovered my first set of divination runes and books at the Next Millennium several years ago; little did I know how much they would change my life and put me on a definitive spiritual path. I had been fascinated with Norse Mythology since taking a class in high school back in 1983, and of course, with the Dwarven runes of Tolkien. I used Tolkien runes in drawings of maps and in Dungeons and Dragons, but I never knew they were used for divination. It took me a while to get the courage to perform divination for others, but with the help of folks from Awakenings and Next Millennium, I dove in.
I now have a YouTube channel and podcast. Additionally, I teach clinics and workshops involving runes and rune magic.
Over the years, I have had the most rewarding experiences with clients who have gotten my readings. It has opened up a new world for my own spiritual practice, and I now work runes into my spell work, rituals, and pagan ceremonies. I read every first Thursday at the Next Millennium as well as offer personal appointments and video readings.
4. Advanced Dungeons and Dragons Player’s Handbook
It Was Never Just a Game for Brekke
“I now have created a business out of my childhood hobby with Dungeon Crate,” Brekke said. “I even named my LLC after my high school DnD group, The Lords of Adventure and Wargames.”
I got into Dungeons and Dragons back in the early ’80s. My friends and I loved to hang out all night and adventure into the wee hours of the morning. My parents loved it too because we were being creative and having fun. My folks would encourage this by getting me the hardcover rulebooks for the game on my birthdays and Christmas.
Flash forward, and I now have created a business out of my childhood hobby with Dungeon Crate. I even named my LLC after my high school DnD group, The Lords of Adventure and Wargames. I still play, though not very often, but I cherish my original books. My 15-year-old self would never believe what I am doing now with roleplaying, and now that I opened up a retail store, I feel it has come full circle. I have this book in my office now, along with my first character sheet.
When the pressures of business get me down, sometimes I’ll take this old book off the shelf and flip through it, noticing the aged pages and remembering the pictures that fascinated me and inspired me with fantasy. I realize that life is an adventure, and it makes me feel like I’ve done pretty well so far in leveling up.
5. Shady Lady Tavern
My wife Laurie and I got into building 1:12-scale doll houses a few years ago. It’s an addictive hobby. We love to craft and make things, and Laurie loves tiny foods and furniture. We started the Shady Lady Tavern as a project over COVID-19. It was to be an entry to a national contest, and we felt turning it into a fantasy/medieval tavern would be fun.
We completely reworked the outside and inside facade to look more Scandinavian style. We crafted tiny foods, a wood-burning stove, and even hand-made beds. We created a whole story for this little tavern and worked hard to get it done by the deadline of the contest. Down to the last minute, we got the project done, took the pictures, and submitted the tavern for the judges. After a couple of weeks, we were happy to get notified that it had won third place!
Since then, Laurie has become the Vice President of the Omaha/Council Bluffs Miniature Guild. Our basement workshop has doubled, and our collection of miniature houses continues to grow exponentially. But every time we look at the Shady Lady Tavern, we remember how we spent our time during the pandemic and how proud we were to collaborate creatively.
Xitlally Velasco is a University of Nebraska at Omaha journalism student with a concentration in public relations and advertising and a minor in Psychology. Velasco is the Digital Content Curator at Lozafina Marketing and Public Relations. Send your tips and story ideas to office@lozafina.com