Meme Monday

 by the Meme Team

Guess that Realmsie

 Another in our continuing series! In the below picture there is a Realmsie-shaped black hole. Can you figure out who it is based only on the profile? Tell us on social media if you think you know who it is! The answer will be revealed later in the day.

Why I Want To Go - Rhiassa Presents: Feast of the Leviathan XXVII

by: Brookelyn & Paul Tilton

 Last year, I went to Aeston with an idea: We pull the members of Ashenmark, Rhiassa, and some other choice companions aside at Leviathan or Queen of Hearts, and hold a small wedding ceremony for Rowan and Grindin. Our OOC wedding anniversary was coming up and I was feeling a little bittersweet that in all the chaos of throwing together our Big Day, we never stopped to celebrate Rowan and Grindin's Big Day, too. The Realms is where we met, after all. During the early days of the Quiet (COVID) Years, we would send in-character love letters through the good old USPS (I know it’s corny, but such is love). It seemed fitting that while Paul and Brooke got married a little over a year ago, that our characters should, too. We've had one wedding, yes, but what about a SECOND wedding?

A word of warning to anyone with an idea: Aeston is a madman. Not even a day after Leviathan last year, he was already scheming. Plans were drawn up for not just a ceremony but for the theme of this year's Leviathan to be our wedding. We’ve always joked during the planning of our OOC wedding that if we get married again, we were going to elope… but we were not getting off that easy as I’m pretty sure the Realms doesn’t have a Las Vegas + Elvis impersonator equivalent. Maybe in Blackwood?

But don't worry, we’re not hijacking your favorite winter feast with eight hours of “mawage” nuptials. The team behind Leviathan is incredible at what they do, and no matter what the theme is, you know that your biggest problem is going to be trying to fit everything you want to do into your schedule. I’ve still never played Crokinole, and I want to, every year. Never have I thought at Leviathan “I’m hungry” or “I’m bored”, and I’m sure this year will be no exception. So come on out, celebrate an in-character love to last the ages, and leave with a big ole smile on your face!

With love,

Rowan and Grindin

Why I (Didn't) Join - Tuilli MacAengus

  Lots of player in our game are part of nations. This series gives them a chance to talk about why they decided to join and what it means to them.

Who are you? (IC and/or OOC)

Ser Tuilli MacAengus

 

What nation are you in?

None. I'm a proud independent.

 

How long have you been a member?

Since I first came to this realm, some 13 years ago

 

Why did you join this nation?

At a surface level? Because I enjoy proper independence. On a moral level, what use have we for royals? Really I have stayed an independent this long, and to do anything else feels... wrong.

 

What sets your nation apart from others?

We hold no creed or loyalty except that which is personally earned.

 

What makes you proud to wear your nation’s colors?

I'm one of the longest (if not THE longest) continuously active independents in the game. I've built a non-nation-based family which at this point is big enough to outnumber membership of a few long-standing nations. The group we built is great and does it's best to be egalitarian, affirming, and welcoming.

 

What’s the most powerful moment you’ve experienced as a member of your nation?

Some of the recent gatherings where we managed to get almost all our families active members together in one place. Not an easy task. Beyond that, I'd say some of the first times I've stood and advised to various royals on equal footing.

 

How does your nation help you become the person you want to be?

It's no secret that I may have a little IC/OOC bleed. I *may* have some issues with authority, so I can act without needing to be concerned about any sort of chain of command. My actions, successes, and consequences are purely my own. This also means that since my agency is my own, I get to reinforce my own lessons on accountability to myself, and face both adversity and accolades on my own, without the typical structures of a nation. It also has encouraged me to reach out and find people that I groove with without the normal "clique" elements that historically came with nations. That has changed as we now interact more openly these days outside nations through social media and other forms, but was a real element when I first started.

 

What should someone do if they want to join?

Be free! The only thing you have to lose is your chains!

 

Anything else you'd like to say about your nation?

It isn't the easiest path, but it has been a rewarding one. For all the joys of being independent, the challenges of building community and connection without the "cheat code" of wearing a nations colors are present and real. That said, it is possible. I've done it for years and intend to do so. I'll continue to fly my own flag of independence.

 

Goals & Resolutions for the 2026 Year

A new year often brings a chance to pause, reflect, and look ahead. To ring in the season, we asked The View staff and friends to share a bit about the goals they’re setting for themselves, both in and out of character. Here’s what they shared with us.

Briar | Phee

What are your character's New Year resolutions and/or goals?

To bring joy, whimsy, inspiration, and hope everywhere I go. Continuing to grow my nation. Being able to quest more. Seeing all my friends!

If you're willing to share, what are your out of character New Year resolutions and/or goals?

My resolution every year is the same: to grow in some way each year. I'm always learning how to do more to make the world a better place, even if that action is as small as making someone smile.

Anything else you'd like to add?

Here's to another year of the Realms, and to the future!

Keith | Saegan

What are your character's New Year resolutions and/or goals?

Get some more training in, push Blackwood further into the Platinum Age, and figure out the Orkni situation.

If you're willing to share, what are your out of character New Year resolutions and/or goals?

More gym time, more crafting, more reading.

Anything else you'd like to add?

I hope everyone has a great holiday season!

Dustin | Toah

What are your character's New Year resolutions and/or goals?

Keeping up with my Toahscopes, they’re surprisingly tedious. And proving myself worthy to take over leadership of Acteon.

If you're willing to share, what are your out of character New Year resolutions and/or goals?

The same goals but ooc haha. I guess finding a new job.

Kieran/Kyra | Omri Azar 

What are your character's New Year resolutions and/or goals?

Work towards the betterment and upliftment of Eagle's Rook.

If you're willing to share, what are your out of character New Year resolutions and/or goals?

Renovate, do more DIY crafting/props. Go after more opportunities to get rejected/fail, such that if I succeed it's a win, and if I fail or get rejected I still win. I want to focus less on doing things based on the likelihood on success, barring life threatening things/necessities.

Anything else you'd like to add?

I hope everyone has a better year than the last! In small and big ways!

Matt | Vesper

What are your character's New Year resolutions and/or goals?

To bring more guidance and boons to those who, despite my best efforts, have decided to follow and support me as a god.

Anything else you'd like to add?

Try and leave next year better than you found it

Kelly P. | Fern Eberhardt

What are your character's New Year resolutions and/or goals?

Fern is looking forward to the new year as a time they can do more for the nations they are connected with. As a squire to the KoER, they are looking to help restore Eagle's Rook alongside the members of the nation. As a squire to the KoSD, they want to do similar for Blackavar, organizing missions into the country for adventurers to embark on. They also want to do more to progress the Adventuring Department of the Wyvern College.

As a bonus, my alt, Charis Ornvrelvel is planning to learn more about Antioch, the god of magic and creation. 

If you're willing to share, what are your out of character New Year resolutions and/or goals?

My goals for the Realms do align pretty well with Fern's. I do want to help Eagle's Rook, and continue to work on the KoSD Questing plot in Blackavar. I'm also looking to learn more about event holding and module writing. It looks like I'll have good opportunities to learn more about feast prep and tournament running this year! I would also like to learn more about teaching Realms combat, so that I can pass the knowledge on to more folks, new and less-new alike.

Anything else you'd like to add?

I am really looking forward to seeing what kinds of events 2026 brings! I have seen people continuously inspired over the past couple of years, with new ideas for tournaments, fresh questing series, unique feasts, and even ideas that fall outside the standard three types of event formats.

Dani | Elizah 

What are your character's New Year resolutions and/or goals?

This year I really want to focus on my fighting skills and train more in that sphere. I want to continue to support and train folks in our community.

If you're willing to share, what are your out of character New Year resolutions and/or goals?

Transparency in communication across all aspects of life.

Anything else you'd like to add?

2025 was a doozy, I'm manifesting a better 2026 for our community and all of my friends. Remember to be kind to each other.

Meme Monday

 by the Meme Team

Disability in the Realms: The Character

 By: Bri Meisser

Read the first installation of this series HERE

Disability is something that encompasses every aspect of one's life. I was given a task to write 3 articles about my disability and how it impacts my ability to engage with the Realms. I will be splitting this series into 3 distinct sections. Bri The Player, Margaret The Character, and Bri The Event Holder. My hope is that by the end of this series, you will have a better respect for some of the struggles our disabled players go through in order to continue to play this game we love. Becoming disabled is the only minority group anyone can join at any time, and we will all deal with health related issues as we age. But maybe by working together, we can create a game that’s more accommodating and understanding to those issues. I am only one disabled individual, and everyone’s experiences are unique. But here are mine. This is Margaret, the Character. You can read part 1 here:

Many people use fantasy and roleplay as a form of escapism. And while there are many things that one can escape by entering new worlds, one thing which cannot always be escaped is disability. The WISIWYG nature of our game means that any character I play will inherently be disabled because I am. If I am in a wheelchair, so is my character. If I’m in too much pain to wear armor, so is my character. This can be challenging in a world full of perilous quests and which tend to involve a lot of mobility and fighting. 

When I first joined the game I was a fighter. I went to fight practice frequently and immensely enjoyed that part of the game. In fact, I found the spell system fairly intimidating which is ironic to think about now. I was Mighty Margaret, slayer of Rexan’s Champion, and a warrior within the Realms. It was my identity as a character. However, as my health began to worsen, I had to slowly drop weapons and armor. My arms couldn’t handle the strain of a full day of fighting, nor my body the weight of chainmail. One of the reasons I immensely enjoyed aspect system playtests was that they allowed me the flexibility to do some fighting, while also having spells to fall back on when my health worsened. Or which allowed me to have a fighter combination and armored cloak instead of heavy armor. But the reality of my situation is that my health impacts my in-character build. And I am fortunate that our game is flexible enough to allow me to change builds to fit my needs, as many other games lock you into skills and paths. 

If it was up to me, I would be a 2-path. I consider myself a fairly skilled archer, and 2-path allows me to engage in the fighting I enjoy while also having access to the highest circle of spell. But I never know if I will be healthy enough to fight on any given quest. So I find myself a 3-path, forced to prioritize my health over my preferred play style. 

I have roleplayed my disabilities in various different ways as I’ve played this game. Sometimes I try to not think about it too much, and to pretend to be as normal as possible. This sense of normalcy can be precious and makes the costly medical interventions I endure worth it. Other times, my character laments the fact that she is able to bring back people from the dead and summon forth divine powers, but can’t heal her own chronic health issues. As I said before, LARP can be an escape, but it can also be a good medium to process these difficult emotions. Going on a personal quest for self acceptance can be as fulfilling as pretending everything is okay. And both have their places within the game as we go through difficult things.

One of the hardest things for me is reconciling how my Oaths as a character are impacted by my health as a player. There are two in-particular that stick out to me in that regard. One is the Magi tenant of ‘quest until the last quest is done’. I love questing. It is my favorite part of this game. But sometimes I can’t quest until the last quest is done. Sometimes I am in my wheelchair, and the quest takes the party into an area that is not wheelchair accessible. Sometimes I can’t come back on Sunday to finish up questing because I’m so exhausted from Saturday that I’m not safe to drive. Sometimes I could do the quest, but the physical cost of the crash I would endure isn’t worth the benefit I would personally get from that quest. While I would love to set a good example of excellent quest leadership and participation, sometimes I have to miss this quest so I can make it to the last one.

The other tenant which I can struggle with at times is the Knight of the Crown tenant of ‘do what is right, even if others would oppose you, even if it would cost you your life, ensure that it is done.’ I find doing what I believe is right as a character to be relatively easy. I will fight an enemy which I have no hope of defeating in order to inspire others to continue after me. What is much much harder is when what is right, is for me to rest and take care of myself. I don’t like asking people to do things I’m not willing to do myself. I want to lead by example. And yet at the DI3 Saturday night quest, when my legs gave out and I physically could not walk any further? One of the hardest things I ever had to do in this game was not to try. But it was to sit back and trust other people to succeed without me. 3 years ago I wouldn’t have been able to do that. Now I don’t have a choice. 

In many ways playing a disabled character is like being a disabled person. The same sacrifices, mental calculations, and accommodations that go into being disabled don’t go away just because you get a magic wand and cosmic powers. But the way that we respond to those setbacks and use those to set a good example both in and out of character are really important. Next time, I will discuss my work as an eventholder. How I manage to balance my health needs with the strain of running an event. How being disabled has shifted my design philosophy when creating encounters. And how I create the type of event I would enjoy playing in spite of the struggles highlighted above.

Until then,

Bri Meisser