Meme Monday

 by the Meme Team

Fresh Faces with Gisella "Elowen" Aguirre

1. How did you learn about Realms?

I learned about the Realms through my friend Candi. Her and I had gone out for ice cream, and I was recanting to her my experience with another LARP I NPCed for. She told me that her husband Adrian (Cronin) was away that weekend at a Realms event and that she would let him know I was interested in it.

2. How many events have you been to?

Oh man, that's a good question. My first event was Echoes of Ragnarok III in 2017...so yea...I haven't kept track.

3. Have you ever LARP’ed before? If so tell us about it? 

I did some NPCing for my friend's LARP for the last 2 events ever right before meeting up with Candi. It was called Outpost.

4. What is your character like? Where are they from? What is their species? What is important to them?

Elowen is outgoing and friendly. Fearsome  6'6" fighter. She is from a wood elf village called Endora that used to be on the outskirts of Calandia. She is a full-blooded Wood Elf. She finds friendship, honesty, and compassion to be important to her, as well as her sewing machine and her family.

5. What do you remember most about your first event? 

I remember the first thing I did, was fall right into a pit that rendered me deaf, blind, and mute. I got my sight and hearing back first but trying to communicate with others was a fun ride, just ask Cronin.

6. What things have helped to make you feel welcome in game? 

The people and camaraderie.

7. What parts of the game do you find most challenging? 

Most challenging is bridge battles and getting in my own head when attacking bad guys.

8. Do you have any game-related goals (as either a player or character)? 

I definitely want to try new weapon styles so that can be more versatile. Also sew more, and not just outfits for myself.

9. What advice would you give other new players? 

Don't worry about how many times you die or how mean some people can be. I walked right into a black pit at my first event. Everything will get easier to understand. Practice and patience are key. As for the jerks, ignore them. Don't let them discourage you from something you like. Also, let me know and we can deal with them.

10. What have you enjoyed most about the game so far?

I love the Role Play. It's nice to disassociate from the outside world and have the only worry be am I calling my shots right? I've also made some great friends through the years.

Why I Want to Go- Voraniss Questing 1: Tomb of the Vanished

by: Justin "Grarr" Hawkes

I guess the best place to start is at the beginning. So there I was, getting ready for the Queen of Hearts night quest. I was expecting it to be an easy time of ‘go in, kill the monster(s) and save the day’ and generally just having it be more of a nice and easy night. Wrong! Incorrect! We marched out into the night and found a necromancer controlling soulless undead and what turned out to be probably the most grueling night quest I’ve been on to date. Sounds like a great start so far, right? What if I told you it got better?

So after we finally beat up the necromancer and stole their lunch money staff, wouldn’t you guess, it starts corrupting whoever is holding it! Not only that, but it tries to kill anyone who tries to identify it! Eventually after enough magic was cast at the staff a piece of cloth with strange runes comes out of it, kicking off a several day long effort to figure out what it says. Trying to solve the runes was honestly the beginning of the end for any hope of me not wanting to keep driving deeper into the plot.

Fast forward to Tournaments of Chaos and having us be attacked by the same group of necromancers, but this time they had a bigger, scarier monster under their control! Can you believe they went through all that just for one of their staffs?! And now I knew that no event was safe from them and that we were being hunted.

Needless to say, this plot has been a constant thought in my mind at just about every event I’ve gone to since Queen of Hearts. The fights so far have been genuinely challenging. The plot has been incredibly engaging even for someone like myself without any magic. The marshals and NPCs have been fantastic. I honestly don’t know how else to tell you that I’m so excited for this event and absolutely can’t wait to see how the plot progresses! I can’t wait to see you there!

 - Grarr Seawoods (Justin B. Hawkes)

What you Missed - Black & White 2022

by Stephanie "Thayet" Kubasek

The yearly tradition of the journey to Chimeron to attend the Black and White Masquerade Ball is the highlight of my year. The weather is crisp, the company is grand, and the festivities bountiful. This year was no exception. 

The weather was gorgeous as we were welcomed into Chimeron. The turn out of the realms was one like I had never seen before. Both faces new and old made an appearance to celebrate. 

The day started with the annual contest for the Champion of Chimeron. The battlefield was impressive seeing young and old, new and seasoned, fighter and caster and somewhere in between all stand on equal ground as they fought for Chimeron. The fights were impressive and the crowd cheered. Ultimately it was Sir Will of Chimeron who became this years Champion. It was an honor to witness such fights. 

Invictus then began their gladitorum and inducted two full members. Lisell Silvermaple and Alias Softshadow. And the joining of a petitioner, me! Thayet!

So many new adventurers have joined the Realms in full swing since last year, and they were full of eager questions as they completed their quests of socialization and of the mind. Even some of the questions that the greener faces asked brought those long in the tooth to a stump. It overall brought us closer as we learned more of each other and were able to put faces to names and vice versa. 

Blue was on the prowl again, ready to slay adventurers who came near. However, I did hear that they ended up in a circle of protection at one point, and a tiny human had begun causing chaos to others with Blue. Frightful, tiny humans tend to be. 

Though I did not part take due to my full agenda for the afternoon, I did witness tasks and quests and games be partaken by others that looked tremendously fun. Especially the whirlwind of magic missiles launched by them. And I also heard rumors of a mysterious mailbox somewhere in the woods that was able to send messages to Pater Yule. 

Throughout the day, many passes of hors d’oeuvres were brought out from the kitchen.  Scrumptious as always, and extremely accommodating to those with allergies and other dietary ailments. Soup on a cold night just seems to warm the soul as it enters the belly and rejuvenates the spirits. One of my favorites is the French onion soup and a small sandwich to boot. Alas, all good things do come to an end and so did the food. 

Court was astounding, and everyone showed up in their very best outfits and accessories. Truly, you wouldn’t think that fighting and questing happened earlier. The gentle folk in all were beautiful. Maybe the Order of the Peacock needs to start taking advice or new members. 

The Witch of Gimlet offered a token to King Alexander Cecil in order to ask for aid slaying a dragon, however the witch’s reports were contradicted by a fae with the name of November. Placing the King of Chimeron in a predicament that he handled righteously and wisely. Then having the Reticulum Emissary of Sothorn ask for unreasonable terms from Voraniss, which led to declaring all out war on Voraniss. A nation of powerful Druids, Vandor worshipers and lycanthropes? Let’s just say it made sure everyone was paying attention for rest of court. 

There were housekeeping changes of nations and orders announced. Madame Zarine became the head of the Order of the Peacock and swiftly brought in the new seasonal color Periwinkle. My nation restructuring its inner chain of command and titles as we transition from a time of war to a time of peace. Including the decision to make our Imperator our King. 

Nations and houses welcomed new members. Saurabia added a new member Dame Twenaria, Lux Solaris swore in Garren, Chimeron Royal House fostered Cressida, and the Steward of Verai asked Dame Twenaria to be her advisor which she happily accepted. Felwood swore in Ypnn. And Stonewood joined the Stone Shield Alliance. 

Yet there were items that brought smiles upon many faces. Many people were asked to join as squires and learners of many knighthoods, houses, orders, and personal apprentices. Baron took Alias as his squire for the Knights of the Sable Dragon. Magus Kindrianna named Evita Jainrose as her apprentice. Court Mage Magus Janus appointed Ypnn as his second. Grarr joined the King’s 12 as Lady Indana passed her spot to him.  Sir Soka was lifted to being a Knight Avatar of Chimeron. Sir Captain Daekara was awarded a fireball from the Knights of the Eternal Flame, and Sir Orion was inducted as a Knight of the Eternal Flame! Huzzah to them all! It is wonderful to see people who I have gotten to know in my short time here rise to the challenges and responsibilities of life, and have the unconditional love and support of the Realms.

Swiftly came the auction. Sir Iawen always makes the ticket drawing interesting. It was thrilling and they kept us on the edge of our seats as we all eagerly awaited the opening of every box for the hope of a boat. And Madame Zarine may also have to take some pointers from Jean Baptiste as he graciously styled every article of clothing for the auction with elegance. 

When the sun went down the dancing began. Laughter and grace filled the dance floor as Princess Cimone took the lead in teaching us common folk to dance. 

The Wild Hunt has called upon the Fae to join in a rescue mission? I unfortunately was not privy to such matters as I am mere human. However, our fae family looked fierce as they readied for their quest.

The day was not nearly as long as people wished as the winds of change ushered in new beginnings prior to our awaited winter. The music came to an end, people began packing up their carriages, and goodbye embraces were shared by all. The day had ended, and another Black and White had come and passed. One for the memory books.

A Missive to the Realms

Dear, Beloved Realms

I wish to again thank King Alexander Cecil, of many titles, for their hospitality. We had a lovely time. We will return the favor, in our time.

We understand that… news travels slow, and travels strange, perhaps my voice was too soft, my meaning too murky… We do not wish to hide anything from our future friends. So what was told to king will now be spoken to company.

I am the Witch of Gimlet, I used to have a name but names have power, and I traded mine away on a brighter future. I go by many TITLES but no names, Some refer to me as Hag… but that is very unkind.

Hopefully in the future the title you will use is “Friend”.

My master, Sir Guthrevyn has been wandering, searching for a home ever since our hometown was seized by his treasonous kin… but do not weep for we have learned, we have watched, and we were judged yes, and gathered so many other judged kin. But we have been patient.

Eagles Rook is ours, by Blood and past. We owned it before your masters masters. And we want our lives back.

And we were in those discussions, we must stress it was not Iawen who challenged our claim but the Fae, the Blue Forest.

The Fae who have dimensions to call their own, who have the kingdom of Chimeron as allies. They have plenty, the fae do not need be fatter off Eagles rook, and yet, November still says more.

He and his kin have interrupted our reunification to strike a harder deal with Eagle’s Rook, one where Fae have even more ties and authority then they already do. To assist in this they messaged Yule, and brought a titan into mortal affairs.

We do not wish to undersell things, but when forces are marching from behind a magical veil of hope, if you are to protect your own… well how do you destroy hope?

It is not pleasant work, and we do not wish it on our worst enemies. November however, seems to wish for more.

We did not go to Black and White to demand that Alexander, champion of our god Dionin, to join us in holy war against the fae. To take up sword where pen failed… though that is what his god asks of us. But we understand that can be difficult for them. All we wish is to be left alone.  You have strangers, you have Asmodeus, you have Risen Kingdom, evil Imperiums, Lost Kingdoms, are you all not busy? Do you not need rest? 

Let this small thing go, save the world.

Well... that WAS the case, but, alas. We were struck, in court, my aching boils nearly cut, it was a near thing, a precious near thing, that I was able to quell my defensive hexes… I would hate to have caused a scene.

Now the failed assassin did not come forward, so we suspect this was no declaration of war… how could it be? If they lacked the conviction to say with words what their actions did? But… we worry you see.

We already asked for peace, we have no plans to be cruel in victory, we wont hurt the denizens, shatter their chapels, burn their flags. We have heard these are the customs of war, but we are of kinder ages. But… we fear much, we fear further meddling, further rituals and escalations and fae trickery and treason. 

When we were struck by a failed thief Invictus offered us safe escort, we ask for similar gestures, not to solve our problems for us, but assistance in avoiding unnecessary escalation.

If possible we hope to see you all again on fairer terms. We heard Sir Coupant used to host feasts, we are eager to continue that tradition.

Witch of Gimlet

Mother, Magician, Friend

Meme Monday

 by the Meme Team

Flashback Friday: Black & White Through the Years

Photos by: Douglas Fisher, David Harvill, Casey Lemay, Robyn Nielson, Jason Rosa

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