What You Missed - Creathorne Chill & Games

Written by: Amber "Lady Tarnisha" Fox

This particular frosty December morning started off with light snow, which persisted much further north than the weather-seers had predicted. But the snow stayed light for my whole trip, and I experienced no issues upon the trade roads nor the hamlet paths to this new site in Creathorne. I’m glad I made the journey.

The site itself was lovely. There was a short sledding hill that the 4 children put to good use for hours on end. A couple of daring adults gave it a try too. (Astrid has skillz.) Near the house there were awnings to protect from the hour or two of light snowfall as well as a campfire and 2 Heat-towers giving relieve from the promised and delivered Chill. Inside the house was a tasty array: hot chicken noodle soup, Mulled cider, hot cocoa upon request,  and other nibbles. There was also a gaming table set up for the Gamblers. I heard talk of Blackjack from over that away, but I didn’t linger for long near the fireplace— there was more chill to be had!

First off, I much appreciate the word play of swapping “Chill” for “Grill” in the title that has so frequently been used by Creathorne for their events these past few years.  Perfect for such a snow-kissed event. 

Secondly, the event was actually *chill*. No end-of-the-world if we don’t do this quest correctly. No large scale invasion (in either direction). No peasants or BBG-in-disguise asking for us to fetch something or fix some ill. 

Naaah- Just chilling. 

Catching up and swapping info with Margaret and Swift. A word-find and a crossword puzzle. Toasting some s’mores with Farmer Jericho at the fire pit. Helping Mandolin get her literally, frozen-stiff, overdress thawed out. Makhta posing philosophical questions about the nature of ‘self’.  Kids laughing and sleding nearby. Neighbors stopping by to enjoy a steaming bowl of soup with us or try their hand at sword fighting. Very chill —which is a refreshing change of pace. 

Down the hill from the social area was a level yard well suited for light hearted fighting tournaments. Those got started up as the sun broke thru the clouds and warmed us up a bit. (The light also made for some quite lovely photos of folks). The snow was deeper in this less traveled area, not sheltered by the house. 2-3” of movable snow on top of whatever underpack there was below. (No one dug deep enough to find out exactly where the ground started.)

There were some surprisingly good fights— especially the archery tournament. I didn’t catch all of it, but I did see those 2 arrows impact each other *in mid air*. That was fantastic! Followed by the fight where Swift made a good shot, while down an arm. 

As the sun moved lower the gambling came to an end. Folks fetched cups of cider for the road. The children came inside for More Games!! Giant Uno was a huge hit especially when ”meme-famous” sequences of numbers occurred. This was followed by a rousing game of Exploding Kittens. 

The sun was fully down, and it was time to depart in search of dinner. Boisterous good-byes were exchanged by the children and the adults gave each other promises to meet again… while tracking down misplaced mittens and encouraging shoes to find their way onto small feet.

It was a lovely, Chill day of Games.  

Why I Want To Go - Winter Revelry 2

Written by: Shane "Jack of Redwall" DeShone

Log 147, 12/12/1025

~27-29N, ~75-78W

NNW @ 16-18

Day 3 since departing Redwall. Fair seas, no coastline in sight. Temperature is mild, and rain unlikely. Today I write for the View from Valehaven, “Why I Want to Go to Winter Revelry.”

--------------------------------------------------

I don't believe this winter holiday is magic. No spell or sorcery compels me, nothing “possesses" me to sail back north for Winter Revelry, to tolerate the biting cold and ice of the Realms. No, I have concluded it is not magic, but Alchemy. And this year I intend to study it and all its effects:

Adventurers and nation members who have bitterly opposed each other all year can somehow sit and "be merry” while rapidly defrosting by a fire. Past grievances become so easily remedied that the cooling of temperaments and the warming of drinks can create second chances, and if properly bevvied, 3rd, 4th, or even 5th chances. To such extremes, I have witnessed in a single night a display of enemies to lovers so palpable, it is otherwise reserved for the most tantalizing of fairy fiction novels. No incantation required.

I have sat with heathens, more rum-soaked than a fruit cake, who dispensed words of wisdom one would expect from beyond this plane of existence. Parables and advice that I still carry with me some years later. No summoning or channeling of higher powers evident.

I have stood arm in arm with the grouchiest of gold-pinching scrooges, true veterans of humbuggery, who shared freely from their cups and plates. No coercion or deceit, and no enchantment prying open their weathered old hearts, would that it be possible.

And to assign credit to potations is folly; for even those of us cursed, or blessed, with sobriety are no exception. The songs alone sung by revelers carry no power in their words or melody; but somehow within the roiling vat of holiday festivities, they can lather themselves upon the mind, and remain there for weeks. And weeks. And weeks, to such extent no dispel or disenchant can remove them.

To claim, “‘tis the nature of mortals to forgive and be of good cheer.” Why? Why here and now? What goes on the rest of the year then that we cannot muster such goodwill and kindness in excess? Why no other winter days, nor summer debauchery?

I do not believe we are robbed of our free will by magics. I believe for some reason, by some accidental design, on a night like Winter Revelry we bring together the ingredients of something incredible. The highest level of Alchemy. And if come the morning after I can remember, I will surely write down the answers as to how it works.

From the Journal of

Jack of Redwall

 

Humanizing the Realms - Diana "Kiira" Learned

Humanizing the Realms with Diana Learned (nee LaPierre), Sir Kiira of Invictus

1. What do you do outside of the game? What would you like to be doing? (Work, school, projects, etc.)

I am a Preschool Teacher at HCS Head Start. I work with at-risk communities to provide free, high-quality childcare and education for children ages 0-5, with my classroom specifically being a preschool room, which is ages 2.9 to 5-years-old. I have been working there for just under 13 years. I love working there and it is my calling in life. Being able to meet children where they are, taking into account that no two children learn the exact same, with neurodiversity both in my students and in myself, and just having a great time doing it. We are never done learning, in my opinion, and my students teach me just as much as I teach them, and a lot of time they teach me a healthy dose of humility. My kids, Eris(19) and Karter(15), are a huge part of my life and I’m so proud of the people they are. I’ve volunteered for their activities in the past and it’s been super rewarding to be able to work with them and their fellows to see them grow in so many aspects of life, and that has also taught me very useful skills. Spending time with my family, including my husband Josh and my three cats, is the best part of my life. I am probably the luckiest person in the world and I continuously look forward to doing that for the rest of my life.

2. What hobbies do you enjoy other than LARP?

So many hobbies! I like to think of myself as a Jack of all trades, master of none, which is most likely due to my ADHD. I love playing table top role-playing games. I’ve been playing D&D since the beginning of 3rd Edition(about 25 years ago) and I still play a weekly game where Karter also plays and it’s run by Kevin Betie(Cinnabar), who is an amazing GM! I also have an Ork Army, Imperial Guard Army, and the beginnings of a Death Guard Army for Warhammer 40K, which I don’t play(or build, or paint) nearly enough for the amount I’ve paid for the tiny plastic creatures and vehicles. I also own random other card decks for systems that I should play but also don’t. I have had a life-long love of video games, and recently I’ve been playing a lot of Nintendo Switch. I still break out my old systems every few years for nostalgia’s sake. I also keep replaying old Pokémon games for the same reason. Crafting is a huge part of my hobbies and I’d like to say I love sewing but I don’t know if that’s true. I sew, leather craft, wood craft, build weapons, and random other things that help facilitate my Realms Career, which is extremely transferable to the real world. Finally, I love reading everything, especially comics, manga, fantasy novels, romantasy books, and following late night rabbit holes into random topics on the internet. I also enjoy watching movies and tv series and discussing or arguing about them in person.

3. Favorite meal, dessert, and drink?

I love food so much, which is sad because my food restrictions are pretty severe. My Italian Grandmother lived next door to me as a child, so there was always an abundance of food and incessant nagging if I didn’t eat it. My favorite meals that I am always in the mood for are; burgers with sweet potato fries, steak with mashed potatoes and asparagus, or tacos topped with microgreens instead of lettuce. My favorite dessert used to be cheesecake, but since I can’t eat it anymore I’d have to go with dairy free ice cream in a cone or popsicles made with real fruit. Yes, and hot brownies. I am a very, “what have you done for me lately,” kind of drink consumer, so depending on my mood, I will mostly drink water but I also enjoy teas, matcha, colas, Shirley Temples, or Code Red Mountain Dew.

4. If you could go on vacation anywhere, where would it be? Would you bring anyone?

This is a very difficult question. I love learning about the past, so I would greatly appreciate visiting historical places in Europe, the Middle East, South America, or Asia. I would have loved to see the Parthenon before it was blown up(during WWII), to see any of the pyramids, the colosseum, etc. The other thing I would enjoy is visiting Hobbiton and trying to break in and live there forever.

5. Are you working on any life goals that you’re willing to share?

Recently, I’ve been focusing on my own physical and mental health since we’ve been living through such unprecedented times. The journey has been extremely successful and I’m proud to say I’m feeling very happy and very healthy. 

As far as future goals, I would love to return to school and get a doctorate in Education. Education is my passion and, ironically, I love learning.

6. Favorite outfit other than garb?

Anyone who knows me knows that my go-to outfit is a graphic tee and jeans or shorts. If I’m going out, I tend towards goth fashion, with fishnets and fun shoes!

7. Do you have any professional or personal skills you’d be willing to talk about?

I can juggle, which comes in really handy to entertain small children. Also, I love music and I can sing, which also helps me at my job. In my job, I excel at working with children who have challenging behaviors which translates into me being able to form strong bonds with people in a small period of time and I have developed the patience of a mother wolf spider carrying her babies on her back. While I try and use this skill with everyone, I tend to be able to use it more with younger folks.

8. What drew you to the realms, and what keeps you there?

I went to Holyoke Community College where I joined the RPG Club. From there, I was introduced to LARPing and I immediately took to it. I met my husband Josh (Shandar) there and haven’t looked back in 21 years. Our relationship, even within the context of the game, helped us to be better people and players in the game. The people, specifically my friends and found family, keep me coming back. I also love teaching people the skills I have gained from the game because I LOVE sharing knowledge, even if it’s unwanted(sorry).

9. Favorite movies/shows/books?

This is impossible to answer. There are sooooo many. Currently, I’m living for Apothecary Diaries, DanDaDan, and I’m trying to catch up on One Piece(I just hit the two year time skip). Genre’s I love are fantasy, horror, sci-fi, some drama, some comedy, classics, and news parodies. For literature, I like the same sort of things including comics, manga, manhwa, and smut. I’m currently reading Zodiac Academy and enjoying the 6th book.

10. If you happened upon 3 wishes, what would they be? (Wishing for more wishes doesn’t seem to work...)

1. Universal Health Care
2. Every child could grow up being safe, healthy, and would only have to worry about self-actualization on Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs.
3. A tiny house/vardo wagon of my very own where I can put it in the woods to be my preschool classroom and be able to sing to animals and get them to do chores with me like some kind of Snow White-esque life. 🥹

11. Who would you like to see interviewed next?

I’m not sure who has, so I’ll give a list: Kathy Fey, Antonio Laudati, and Michael Durocher. 

12. Anything else you’d like to add? 

Some helpful tips, if you’ll humor me: When trying to establish a relationship or interacting with people you don’t know very well, remember to recognize that not everyone has the same experience you do. Look at things through different lenses. So many factors can go into an interaction that you may not be thinking about. We all have our own truths. Before I realized my neurodivergence or masking skills, I didn’t always have great interactions, and sometimes I still struggle. On the opposite hand, you do matter and don’t let people treat you poorly if you’ve done nothing to deserve it. Stand up for yourself because you are just as important as the next person. Try your best to be positive and keep that glass half full. This has been so important in my own personal growth and happiness. Don’t perpetuate unsubstantiated information. Lies and slander can really hurt people on so many levels. Don’t blindly believe rumors. Do your own research. If you know there is a problem, don’t stay quiet to maintain the status quo. Speak up and go to others who will help you.

If you'd like to do one of these interviews, please contact Dani Lacasse or submit your responses HERE!

Tournaments of Khorne - Tournament Results

 Sword & Dagger 

1. Aelias
2. Jasper 
3. Jericho 
4. Tao

5pt. 

1. Shandar 
2. Torolf
3. Aelias 
4. Shader

Mixed Florentine 

1. Shader
2. Temorse
3. Aelias
4. Jericho 

Broken Sword

1. Shandar
2. Aelias
3. Johan
4. Temorse 

3 Lives 

1. Shandar 
2. Aelias
3. Temorse 
4. Johan

Sword & Shield

1. Aelias
2. Temorse 
3. Torolf 
4. Jasper

Meme Monday

 by the Meme Team

A Very Special Announcement - Writ of Eques Fieri

Matt reading the Writ, prepared by Karen Veale

The text on the above scroll that Matt is reading reads as follows:

WRIT OF EQUES FIERI

On this day of the Thirteenth of December, One Thousand and Twenty Five, the following is herby proclaimed to the entirety of the Realms.

Owing to abounding years of dedicated and meritorious service

Owing to persisting, faithful stewardship towards the entirety of the community

Owing to a ceaseless dedication towards personal growth

Owing to a unwavering commitment towards the franchise of others

Owing to an ever present attitude of selflessness and devotion

It is the intention of the KNIGHTS OF THE REALMS to welcome SIR MATHIES OF BLACKWOOD, Knight of Blackwood, Knight Commander of the Knights of Blackwood, Lord of Verglaz, Knight of the Eternal Flame, Master of the Spoon, as a member of our Knightly Order during court on the Seventeenth of January, One Thousand and Twenty Six at The Twenty-Seventh Feast of the Leviathan in Lionsmark, Rhiassa.

---

The Knights of Realms cordially and enthusiastically invite the entire community to celebrate the recognition of Matt “Mathies” Butler as a fellow knight and his admission into the order.

In keeping with the new tradition of the Knights of the Realms, we have announced our intention to knight Matt in advance of the event at which we will do so. Rather than maintain a veil of secrecy, we feel it is better that those who love, admire, and support Matt can be there to witness his inclusion within the order. At a small private ceremony earlier today, Matt was surprised with the above announcement and scroll.

We hope you will join us at Feast of the Leviathan this January in honoring Matt’s many years of tireless service to our community.

Matt being congratulated by the Knights of the Realms

What You Missed - Tournaments of Khorne

By: Eric "Johan" Stegehuis

Even the weather wanted this event to happen; it had snowed just enough to give the ground a nice coating, but not enough to create major physical problems. We kept our cloaks on and made good use of the provided breaks between tournaments to rehydrate and warm up. I will try my best to recall the order of the tournaments, but please forgive me for any inaccuracies. The tournaments(all limited) were: sword and dagger, mixed florentine, 5 points to victory, broken sword, sword and board, 3 lives. 

For the ones that aren’t self-explanatory, 5 points to victory gave each competitor 5 points of armor to distribute however they like; I made the mistake of forgetting head armor, which Aelias and his 6’6 quickly pointed out to me. Broken sword, which I heard was new, had each competitor starting with a 6’6 and downgrading their weapons based on who won. If you won with a 6’6, then you got a 5’, and if you won with a 5’, then you moved to single short, and if you won with a single short, then you won the fight. 

I had an epic battle against Sir Temorse where he got out to an early lead, managed to run me down with a 5’, and then nearly managed to run down my 6’6 with a single short before I got a shot back at him. I then managed to win with my 5’, which brought it down to an even single short mirror. That fight ended quickly when my sword met his head as he closed. Great fight Temorse! I will definitely play those fights again in my head. 

By the end of the day, light was fading (not dying, that’s in a few months) and the top 8 was being announced. Funnily enough Jasper and I tied at 6th or 7th place (don’t make a joke) and I proposed a limited 10 match as tiebreak, which Daekara quickly vetoed in the interest of time and his own marshalling energy. We decided on a simple best 2 of three and Jasper made quick work of me. Finally, we had a top 8 and lighting set up for the final fights of the night. These were fully armored and as epic as battles come with Shandar coming out on top. 

I had a great time fighting, spectating, and gambling the few hands of blackjack I got to play at the end. Other adventurers seemed to enjoy the casino which sounds to me like a resounding success for the new Moonlight (I think?) Casino. This was a blast and I hope the blood god ended the day as satisfied as we did.