It Starts With a "Meat Fruit"

By: Beth "Freesia" Tozier

I think about how we met, in the movies, had we become romantically involved, it would be called a “Meet Cute”, but for this, I would call it a “Meat Fruit” encounter. 

It was their first event in the Realms. Feast of Chimeron; I had just finished having a discussion with Sir Lucas Harkon about the appropriate attire for the feast (I said Armor, he said a dress, we did not agree and he stormed off in a tiny fae huff as Harkons are generally do). I was at the Creathorne table, chugging down some water and grabbing some cheese when a figure emerges from the kitchen.

They have blue hair, antennae, and bright curious eyes and… wings! Pretty butterfly like wings. In their hands was a pretty impressive fruit sculpture. Their smile lights on me, and they head my way. I am not far, because Creathorne was always in the back (assigned so), away from the high table but close to the kitchen. This little bug creature looks at me as they approach, and in a high, singing voice proclaim “Fruit!” and then ask “Fruit?” Being In Character, I reply, “Meat”. 

They look puzzled to the fruit and then back to me, and reply “No, it is most certainly fruit.”

I scoff a little and say “I see the fruit, but I want meat.”

Again, a puzzled look, “But, it is time for the fruit.”

“But Meat.”

“No, Fruit.”

“Yeah, okay…. but meat?”

“Nope” a shake of their blue hair “certainly Fruit.”

“Understood, how about meat.”

“Not until after fruit. Fruit?”

“Not a fan. Meat?”

“Fruit?”, they hold out the fruit sculpture.

Around and around we went for a few moments, until someone else came into the hall and, with a gesture of confusion, the little blue creature turned away from me muttering “Weird human” as I snatched up my sword, headed out of the hall saying “Weird bug.”

That was our “Meat Fruit” and the beginning of a decades long friendship no one could have predicted. That was when Janna came into my life, and it was a perfect Meat Fruit.

In Fond Remembrance: The Hallerbos

by Jason "Aeston" Rosa

Anyone who knew Janna was well aware that Realms history and lore were of deep importance to them. So by way of remembering and honoring our parted friend, I thought I would share a small bit of lore that seems particularly poignant given their legacy, so that you all might carry it forward in your memories of them as I do.

In a valley nestled between the hills on the western border of Eagle’s Rook there is a very special and enchanted forest known as the Hallerbos, named for its real world equivalent in Belgium. It’s immediately recognizable because of the carpet of bluebells that spreads amongst the trees every spring and a number of other plants that have an indigo hue throughout the foliage.

In-character, it is a land fully engulfed in the wild magics of Fae, most prevalently the magics of the Insectafae, which as many of you know was a thread that connected Sir Vawn to Janna’s first character, Bouquet D'Amandes. 

Janna had invented the species of the Insectafae along with creating Bouquet, who was always adorned in the same striking blue colors that can be found in the Hallerbos. The plot that they created that spawned from that character concept was an important one to Sir Vawn, who himself was transformed into an Insectafae for a time as that story was being told and was undoubtably one of the main characters throughout.

Of course, after Janna retired their first character after ascending to the throne of Fae, they would go on to play Iawen, who perhaps became the better known and more decorated of Janna’s characters. Certainly they added copious amounts of yellow to their outfit, but the blue undoubtably remained. It was as Iawen that Janna received both of their white belts, and as Iawen that they helped to lead and continue the legacy of Eagle’s Rook, a nation with a history dating back into the last century.

And while this is no more than my opinion, having known Janna and Dave both for a very long time, I cannot help but think of the Hallerbos as a place in Eagle’s Rook that they created together as a way of honoring their first connection to each other in the Realms and the many years of friendship and cooperation and teaching and learning that passed between them.

In remembrance of Janna and the immutable azure threads that connect them to Bouquet, Iawen, Eagle's Rook, and the bluebells of the Hallerbos, I would like to dedicate the following

Bluebells

I have seen bluebells in a wood, close blown:

fumed blue - like wood smoke, bluer grown.

And I have watched them move their bells to ring

blue changes in the joyous peals of Spring

Blue changes, with a wistful note as though

the swift, blue Bird of Happiness skimmed low

to whisper in each upturned, listening ear

and then, with upward, curving sweep and dear

quick flash of blue wings, fled into the dim

dissolving azure of the world’s far rim;

his music lingering air-borne in the breeze

in echoes through the blue shadows ‘neith the trees.

We too can glimpse his swiftly passing flight,

we too must watch him sadly out of sight.

- Nan Northam

Resting Knight

By: MJ "Liana" Rodriguez 

There are kings and queens

There are barons and dukes

There are knights across the realm

There are many devoted to the people

And then there is the true element –

One in thousands of thousands –

Dressed in kindness, compassion, honor,

Loyalty, grit, wisdom, and friendship

To be near them is time cherished

To know their laugh or their cheer

Both are wondrous to behold

Ever grateful to have known even one

Of these rarest of True souls –

Now I have known two of the best

Wearing the rook as they grace the board

Long shall [Sir Iawen Penn / Janna Oakfellow-Pushee] they be known

Long shall we cheer them

A light lost in a time too soon

We shall light their way to the next place

With candles, love, respect and honor –

Meme Monday in Memoriam

It is with heavy hearts that we at View from Valehaven share that Janna "Sir Iawen Andromeda Penn(-Nosetti)" Oakfellow-Pushee, Knight of the Eternal Flame, Knight of the Realms, beloved player and member of our community, has passed away. We share the above for recognition of their sense of humor and the impact they've had. Janna, you will be missed greatly. 

The Ballad of Sir Vawn, Avatar of Vandor

by High Priestess Kindrianna Athame (Renee Booke)

The Summerlands beckon to the souls of the true,

The greatest of heroes who saw their deeds through.

They come with their honor to the codes that they swore,

And now our Sir Vawn stands tall at their door.

True to himself, both in word and in deed,

White Knight of the Realms when she was in need.

Heart full of valor, a path without fear,

His life and his courage have led him straight here.

The next journey waits just beyond golden trees,

In a land full of hope and sparkling seas.

Vawn, you have earned your peace and your rest,

And those that have known you are eternally blessed.

Templar and Knight, defender and friend,

May songs of your deeds never come to an end.

The darkness still fears you, and has for so long,

For the blade in your hand shines righteous and strong.

We’ll try not to mourn as we celebrate your life,

Free from the mortal-bound cycle of strife.

But the most important thing you should know,

All along it was your Light that helped us to grow.

You were there by our side when Wayland’s fortress fell,

And a swift wave of Bedlam began to rain hell.

Not once did you hesitate, you jumped in the fray,

For a true Knight knows no other way.

May Vandor’s warm light guide you as you roam,

Carry Eagle’s Rook with you forever as home.

And should evil strike, putting us to the test,

Then your soul will cry out to complete one last quest.

Watch over us all from your paradise,

And be with us always when we need advice.

It’s hard to be happy while watching you go,

But you’re with the Gods now and we’re down below.

A Tribute to Bob Hinkle

A Tribute to Bob Hinkle

On November 8th, the Realms lost a quiet yet longstanding member of our community. Bob Hinkle, proprietor of the Chaos Dwarf Armory, passed away after a long illness. Bob was a mainstay of the Realms for many years, one of the earliest crafters and one of the most prolific too. But as much as he gave to the community through what he made, his real gifts were the endless generosity, the warm heart, and the unshakable smile he brought to every event he attended. This game has many amazing aspects to it, but I think one of the best is how, very consistently, it brings great people into our lives to make an impression on us that will never fade. Below are just some of the many many stories about the legacy that Bob Hinkle left within members of the Realms.

Bob was an incredibly generous man. He would allow a few of us to come and stay at his house every weekend just because they played Realms with his kids. We spent a lot of time over the Hinkles' when we were younger, and Bob and Irene were some of the most accommodating people I have ever met. - Jeremy "Nighthawk" Grayson

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Bob Hinkle: I first met Bob in the early 90’s, reading a newspaper and sitting on the hood of his car as I pulled onto an event site. I start getting my stuff out of my car about three cars away from him and put on my garb, picked up my weapons etc... He has not moved, was just reading his paper. I walked over to him and started talking to him, introduced myself etc… I asked if he was getting ready soon because they are about to do reading of the rules and he will have to sign in and reg. His answer was that his son was already in there, had already signed in etc... “You are going to sit on your car all day?” "I have to read the paper and go pick up some food but pretty much going to be right here all day."

I went in and I mentioned it to Terry Armstrong who I had been hanging around with for a few years etc… His reply was “That is Calaban’s dad, Bob.” Fast forward a few years - I have gotten to know Bob, gotten him off the car hood -  he is now out of the parking lot, he's at a picnic table or in a tavern sometimes in a tabard but still reading the paper. One day I see him talking to a friend of mine, Paul Marcure (Eeldritch Armories) who was just starting a company making leather products. They are talking for a few hours and I see Bob with a pen writing some stuff down so I ask him what is up because I have never seen him write anything down especially on his paper. I thought he was doing a crossword or something...Nope. “I might do some of that leather stuff, it looks cool. That guy over there and I talked, sounds like that leather stuff might be fun.” A few years later Chaos Dwarf Armory - belts, bracers and pouches… 

Over the years Bob did not play much. Stephen and I had him NPC for the Lord of the Rings plot we did back in the beginning as the last Dwarf king. Bob donated belts and/or pouches for the kids for years at TOC’s kids quests. He had been to hundreds of events driving his boys and some others to events and staying the entire day patently waiting for the event to be done. Sometimes even Nashua practices at commuter or a feast…About 6 or 8 years ago I was working with a bunch of Young Boy Scouts that wanted to do leather-working. Bob had been pretty sick and his eyes were going so bad he was no longer driving but when I asked if I could bring the boys to see some of the stuff he makes his answer was "Sure, I can do stuff with the boys. Send me the requirements and we will make some stuff." I called Henry to also help because I was not sure how much Bob could actually handle seeing his eyesight and hands were not great...Stellar Day!!! The kids had a blast - Bob went above and beyond. Henry and I really had to do very little, Bob did a great job, showed much more than the requirements and he would not let us give him any payment for leather or anything. So in the 25+ years I have known Bob I have never seen him without a smile on his face ready to help anyone with anything all they had to do is ask. I am very proud to have known him and will miss him every day. -Andrew "Sir Shean" Disbrow

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I met the Hinkles, Bob and his two sons Steve and Mike in 1994 at the first ToC, coming in with a small group that didn't know many people. We started to talk, next event we saw each other was later that year at the first QoH, we didn't have a way to get home and there were three of us. Bob gave us each $20, trusting us to pay him back. We had only meet him twice; that goes to show some of the sides of Bob. When his sons weren't around much, he still came. Bob just loved the people and getting to see and chat with everyone, as a plus he loved making stuff. He was always kind to me; he and his wife let me stay over there so much they called me a cousin ("cuz Ray from the city"). He will always be loved, always remembered and he raised two great kids. It's a tough loss - Ray "Radstar" McGuirk

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We as a community have had quite the ride in 2016. We’ve made incredible displays of generosity, lending aid to old friends and galvanizing the legacy of a fallen brother. Despite being at the threshold of a new year, it seems 2016 is not finished with us yet. Not long ago Bob Hinkle, a longtime fixture of our community, recently passed away.

I had the benefit of growing up alongside Bob’s sons who are, to this day, friends I consider family. His home was the meeting ground for every game imaginable and he didn’t mind. Everyone was welcome in his home, knocking wasn’t even necessary you could just walk right in. Throughout the years Bob could be found behind a merchant table with his brother and grandchildren. He was even a onetime eventholder! He was a smiling and exuberant contributor to our community. Always excited to listen to the stories of others, offer his opinions on fairness, or talk about his projects and how to make the ideas of players reality. Some of his most easily recognizable works are the signature white belts worn by the Knights of the Eternal Flame and Knights of the Realms which he produced for many years. Not to mention more than 20 years’ worth of belts, pouches, tabards, masks, helmets, bracers and armor sets. Bob's passing marks yet another massive loss for our community. While Bob himself may no longer be with us, his influence on the community and the history of the game will never be far and certainly be remembered for decades to come. - Adam "Damion" Landry

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Most kids look up to their parents, as they should. I was lucky growing up because not only did I have my dad to look up to I also had Bob! I met Bob at the age of 8, I hit it off with both Steve and Mike right away and right away I realized that their dad Bob was FRICKIN’ AWESOME! He helped me start my first baseball card collection and taught me what good music was. I was over their house so much, that one day I came home on a Saturday evening and my dad had my bags packed to stay over at the Hinkles' house. As we grew older there were times I would find myself going over to the Hinkle house to hang out with Bob. We would talk about music mostly but we would shoot the shit none the less.

Then I hit the ripe age of 13 and he introduced Steve, Mike, and I to LARPing! If you thought driving to Grafton was a drive, try driving to Belchertown! (This place was so far, they named it after a bodily function). So Bob, would drive us all to Belchertown, which for us Southern New Hampshire kids was roughly 3hrs. When we first started Realms at the age of 13 there were people who didn’t want us there due to our age. Bob being FRICKIN’ AWESOME, told them that he would stick around and make sure we didn’t get into trouble. After a while everyone realized how cool we were and Bob didn’t have to stay. So Bob would drive 3 hours to Belchertown to drop off his kids and their friend so they can do what they loved to do, drive back home 3 hours and then drive back to Belchertown 3 hours to pick us up. He never once complained, he just knew that we loved what we were doing and he wanted us to be happy.

Eventually Bob got a little carried away and started buying all this leather and equipment to make leather goods for the Realms. In fact, there could be a good chance that you are wearing a Bob original. Bob also has showed a handful of people how to do leatherworking so in theory Bob’s memory will always live on.

If you knew Bob, he would always throw you a smile. He always wanted to make sure his family was happy, even if that meant driving 12 hours in a weekend to make sure that his kids and friend were happy. I don’t think Bob knows how I feel about him but I can say my life is better and I’m a better person because Bob was in my life. I wouldn’t have the friends I have today, if Bob never invited me into his home and later on into a Blazer to drive 3 hours to hit people with foam weapons. All I know is every time I see a Harley on the road or listen to music I will think of Bob. I hope Bob is looking over me and my family in that Dwarven Armory in the sky. - Kevin "Kwartz" DeSousa

In Tribute and Loving Memory of Buddy Wolfhope

When you don't know the right words do you speak so the silence won't be given meaning, or do you hold your tongue and trust in the eloquence of others?? I'm working to learn to still mine so I'll stop here and say deep sympathy. - Angie Gray

A friend posted this yesterday, and it illustrated so perfectly how I felt at the time. It is never easy to accept the loss of a friend, especially in a community as close as the Realms.  My first reaction, upon hearing the news, was stunned disbelief. It seemed unfathomable to me that something like this could happen. But it did happen, and for the better part of a day now, I have struggled to fit the reality of Bud's passing into a focused thought.  But how do you sum up the essence of what a person was, to you or to your community, in just a few sentences or paragraphs?  How do you put years of memories into words? How do you express the depths of different emotions on a page? Whether through silence or through words, we each honor Bud's memory in our own way. 

Yesterday, silence was best for me, as I came to terms with how I felt. But now, I feel that words are in order; I cannot let this moment pass without marking the kind of person Bud was, and how much he is already missed. Many of his friends have been posting memories and tributes,  and much more eloquently than I. Many of these have been included below.  For myself, the only thing I can do is try to speak from the heart. 

Quite simply, Bud was a pillar in our community. He was one of those players that would add to the experience of others just by being at an event. PC or NPC - it never mattered. Bud would always go that extra mile to ensure that others were having fun. He was constantly giving back to the game - his time, his energy, and himself-  and we were all enriched by knowing and being around him. His two main characters, Brighthammer and Arg, were legends unto themselves. Who doesn't have at least one fond memory of trying to converse with Arg, or of questing with Brighthammer? Buddy was a Knight of the Eternal Flame,  a founding member of the Adventurers Guild, an active quester and immersive role-player, a formidable fighter, a stalwart friend, and an all-around great guy. His was one of the voices that carried above the field, urging people on. He was a person that others in the game looked up to, counted on, felt comfortable with, and developed deep and lasting friendships with. He was Bud.

Even when he drifted away from the game, there were still many among us who kept in touch, or kept him in our thoughts, or even just remembered him fondly from time to time. Even if you hadn't seen him in ages, you could usually pick up right where you left off. That was part of who Bud was. He was kind, he was goofy, he had a great sense of humor,  and he would go out of his way to be there for his friends, even when the costs were high.  He was that ear-to-ear grin that was always so familiar. He was that memorable facial expression that we all knew so well - one eyebrow raised high. He was huge bear hugs and genuine happiness at being around friends. He was Bud, Buddy, Budzor, and all that entailed; he was beloved by many, both in good times and in bad, and he will be truly and deeply missed, always.

Good-bye, old friend, off on your next adventure.  Your loss is keenly felt by those of us who were lucky enough to call you friend. 

 

KoEF Tournies, 2009. Photo by Melissa Fitzgerald

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After learning of his passing, many of Bud's friends took to social media to share memories and stories of him and post tributes and other words. They are included here so that we might all remember Bud, and what he meant to our community, together.

There was a few years in the Realms where, at a few events every year, there would be an announcement in the reading of the rules that said: "There may come a point in this event where it becomes apparent that you will need to wrestle an NPC to the ground. As long as you're sure and are careful, go ahead. The NPC is okay with it." It didn't take long for us to realize that that NPC was almost always Buddy. Once I remember the announcement happening, and Buddy just cartoonishly looked down at his feet in a fake show of somber disappointment. He was always willing to go the extra mile, for our game and our community. Even when I saw him butting heads with people, it was always trying to contribute something great to our game and community, often at great sacrifice to himself. I hope everyone remembers those moments when they think of Bud.     - Ian Struckoff

 

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Photo from Facebook

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I remember the IC wedding of Brighthammer and Jade.Outside of the building all hell was breaking loose.My job (Zula’s) was to make sure nothing got in, but I was also the assurance to keep BH from leaving to go help. At one point I ran inside the building, barred the doors, and stacked benches in the way. I turned around to the wedding party and said “No problem.” At that point BH looked like he was about to protest, to then find out it was not the goings-on outside for my reason for barring the doors.  - Matt Daviault

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This was drawn a very long time ago, freehand at a Realms event while the subject was outside doing tourneys or questing (I think it was the second Feast of Seven Tides, so circa 2003). The gentleman in the drawing was someone I considered an extremely good friend. We drifted apart over the years but I still thought of him from time to time. Even with whatever else went on, he was always willing to chat and say hi.

Bud Wolfhope has now passed on, and I will miss him always. He is gone far too soon and certainly before having had nearly enough fun. - Doug Fisher

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No one broke a site quite like Bud. For those who are too new to have met Arg- it was the only word he said. Sometimes it was funny, sometimes annoying, but you took it for what it was. He could speak but very rarely ever did which showed amazing devotion to the character in times of verbal conflict during a quest. I remember once a quest was going all topsy-turvy and Arg had had enough. He said one full sentence that bellowed across the event site. Every player stopped and stared at Bud, both NPC and PC alike, because it was kinda like a Silent Bob moment except much louder, and it caught everyone by surprise.
- Arthur Granger

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Arg @ N/S War 2006; photo by Robyn Nielsen

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Buddy, you were around when my wife and I came to see your mom. You rode alllllll the way in the back of a mini-van so we could all go to the concert together. You invited me on to Team Samiches. We kept seeing each other in Joe’s backyard. Then things wandered, as they will, I ran into you at Black & White when you had figured out how to make a segmented pike. Then some time away, some other things, and you were back as your villain. It was good to see you again. Now you are gone this time for a bit longer. Merry meet, Merry part, Merry meet again.  - James Murphy 

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Together, we were all invincible.

Now, suddenly, we are not.

You are missed.

- Wendy Vigneault 

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UCCT 2008; photo by Melissa Fitzgerald

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I've been quiet for years. It's takes the passing of an old friend to bring me out to the light. Buddy Wolfhope  was one of the nicest, selfless, and most humorous people I've had the privilege of knowing. My heart is filled with sorrow for his passing but also uplifted to know he was so well loved by many. Rip Budzor.
- Ray Roberts

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Buddy Wolfhope and I knew each other in passing, we were friends, but not the kind that would move bodies for each other. We had some laughs, we ended up at some of the same parties and had a good time together. Ya know.

We went a few years without seeing each other, and then randomly stumbled across each other at a Post Apocalypse LARP called Endgame. He was playing Dr Slashblight, I was playing Sid the History professor turned reminder of the remnants of the human race. We started chatting about a situation he was dealing with, and I ended up advising him: "there's always a third option." The next day, he and I end up crossing dimensional borders or some such, and Sid gets stuck between a rock and a morality hard place. Slashblight was there, holding up the rear, and he came running forward yelling "Sid! The third option!" We came to a better solution, and saved the day.

That was the good thing about Buddy, he could see the strengths and assests in people, and remind them that they were supposed to be better than they were being. He was a good egg, our world is reduced, but you know him. He's going to be there, holding the door for us, and he'll know the best place in town for a burger.
- Alex Newbold

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Photo from Facebook

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This is one of my favorite pictures of an old friend. It was taken nine years and 4 days ago at my wedding.

This morning, I received the call from his mother that the worst of the worst happened.
Before today, I had hoped that soon we would sit over coffee, and come to terms with the last year of our lives. I had hoped my friend, our Bud-zor would sit with me and laugh about all the crazy shit we did and were going to do.
And now... that's not going to happen and I am heart broken.
The last couple of years were hard.
But, the decade and a half before that was amazing, full of love and full of friendship.
That is the Buddy I will always carry with me. - Beth Tozier

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So I ran along side Bright hammer a lot during my earlier years in realms, if I wasn't repairing Shandar it was most likely him. Buddy was always a smiling face to keep you going and a rallying voice to move a group.

However, one of my fondest memories was a Camp Allen event when it had snowed, BH ran around with a metal shield and there was a good amount of down time when I was hanging around and got the idea to go sledding down the driveway. I looked at BH and asked if I could use his shield to do so and without question he handed it over. For a young person in the game he was always someone who could be counted on, and as an adventurer in the game on more than one occasion I saw him go into dangerous situations to get someone who was left behind.

He will be missed greatly by this community. I'm sorry to see him move on but it is laugh which will remind me of him, and his voice telling groups to push forward that will still drive many at events for years to come.
- Josh Fitzgerald

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Photo by Mike Amend

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