Got your morning cup of coffee and a few minutes? Great! We're trying out a new feature at the View - we're going to be asking a series of questions and we want to know your answers! The question is posted below. So while you sip your morning beverage of choice, ruminate on this one:
As the holidays settle in, what tradition or ritual makes the season feel truly complete for you?
Head on back to Social Media to let us know!
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.
The View from Valehaven Awards are returning to The Feast of the Leviathan once again!
TLDR:
Nominations open TODAY December 22nd on RealmsNET
Three nominations needed to get on the ballot
Voting opens on December 29th on RealmsNET
Voting concludes on January 11th
Three winners per category
Award presentation at Feast of the Leviathan
Categories listed at bottom of article
Details:
We had a fantastic, full year of events in 2025 and we’re looking forward to recognizing one another’s efforts in this year’s View Awards!
There are some small changes from last year as we continue to try to make the awards process better. so please read below if you want to be well informed.
The View Awards voting is split into two phases: the nominations and the votes.
Nominations:
Nominations open on TODAY, December 22nd and close on Friday, January 11th at 11:59PM.
Nominations Link: https://www.realmsnet.net/surveys/10
Nominations and Voting will both require you to log in to your RealmsNET account.
Returning from last year is the event category: Social event. We decided that there were enough events that didn’t fit in any other category where the main purpose wasn’t specifically feast, questing, or tournaments but rather coming together to socialize with a variety of entertainment options available.
Speaking of event awards, some event awards will NOT require nominations. One Day Event, Weekend Event, Tournament Event, Feast Event, Questing Event, and Social Event will all appear on the voting form with ALL events that meet those definitions able to be voted on. Each event was tagged as either One Day or Weekend and as one of the categories of events mentioned above.
Besides those categories, there is a change in what nominations get on the ballot. For the other Event Awards, the Publication Awards, the Individual Awards, and the Paragon Awards, three nominations must be cast in order for events/people/items to earn a spot on the final voting ballot.
To nominate, fill in the events/people/items that you think should be on the official View from Valehaven Awards Ballot.
There will be one blank provided per category but you can create more by clicking the (+) button to make multiple nominations per category. There is no limit to how many events/people/items you may nominate for each category. You may leave categories blank. You may also submit the form multiple times to nominate further entrants per category if you decide to add more later.
Voting:
Voting opens on December 30th and will close on January 11th at 11:59PM.
On the voting page you will see all of the nominations that were made for each category.
You may vote for up to THREE different events/people/items per category. Each of these votes counts equally.
Winners and Presentations:
The View Awards will be presented at The Feast of the Leviathan after Rhiassan Court.
Rather than a single event/item/person winning best in a category, there will be three winners per category each recognized with equal standing to one another. In cases where there are ties there may be more than three.
The purpose of these awards, as always, is to give the community a way to say “thank you” to its members and event holding teams for going above and beyond in how they enrich our game. By recognizing multiple events as described above it extends our ability to show our appreciation and extend our camaraderie with each other without also having to rank each other’s contributions in contrast to one another.
We look forward to running these awards for the 2025 eventing season and we are honored to be able to present them this year at Feast of the Leviathan.
Find the complete list of voting categories below:
EVENT AWARDS
PUBLICATION AWARDS
PLAYER AWARDS
PARAGON AWARDS
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.
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 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.
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...)
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?
If you'd like to do one of these interviews, please contact Dani Lacasse or submit your responses HERE!
Sword & Dagger
 |
| 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 |
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.
By: Ethan "JB" Goldman
There is one desire, one universal path that satisfies every rung of the hierarchy of needs. The will… to grill.
For from what warmth do the ruby coals burn. How the congregation gathers around the black altar, offering trays to feed the priest but to be laden by the holy man’s own feast of fish and loaves. It is purpose, it is community. And I am hungry.
Frankly speaking I am surprised I even get to write this article at all. December and november used to be a time of quiet hating. Where we huddled amid glowing runes to curse the fading memories of our enemies faces.
But now there's just a lot of winter events. I wonder what changed? Either way off we go grilling and chilling.
Personally I am going to assist in that most sacred of rites, not the grill no. Standing around a previously understood land and going “yeah the drive wasn’t so bad. Maybe I could have 15-20 goblins kill Chimeron here.” And I bet YOU are going to be looking for that reason too! Sites are getting expensive, its important to check new ones.
Plus gambling. I haven’t gotten to gamble that often this year stuff kept getting in the way.
And now YOU can gamble too!!!
The year is coming to an end and activities are slowing down, but the fates still have things to say. This month's predictions seem to align with the spirit of the season. Will they align with your upcoming experiences? Lets find out.
Air
Your future will be shaped by a gift. It's unclear if you will give or receive.
Fall will see a gift of clothing
Spring's gift will be a toy
Summer may be effected by something combat related
Winter could be something handmade
Day will find the gift to be cursed while Night will find fortune from theirs
Earth
Poker hands will be important for you
Fall should look for three 7's
Spring will see a Flush using diamonds
Summer may want to be aware of 2 pair with a Jack
Winter will find fate with four 3's
Day is destined to lose from this hand but Night will get a win
Fire
Combat may make an impact for your future
Fall will find a sword and shield combo important
Spring should watch for a 6'6"
Summer will see a tower shield
Winter may see importance in a marn
Day will find the item used by an enemy. Night will see it used by an ally.
Metal
I hope you have gold, because shops and their wares may shape your future
Fall should look for jewelry
Spring will want to find garb
Summer will be effected by some type of food
Winter should watch for trinkets
Day will find their purchase lead to a new friend, but Night will see theirs lead to jealousy
Water
Desserts will have a bigger impact than just increasing your belt size
Fall should watch out for cakes
Spring will find pies significant
Summer will see fate in cookies
Winter may want to find some pudding
Day will find some kind of special benefit from having their dessert. Night will see it used to solve a dispute.
By Sawyer "Jericho Axelthorne" Judkins
Hello fellow adventurers,
As I am sure is quite evident, I am a huge fan of tournaments. I love getting to test my abilities and skills against all my friends to help each other reach new heights of martial prowess.
So it is not surprising that I am excited for the Tournaments of Khorne this weekend! Daekara has promised what sounds to be an excellent tournament to please one of the Gods of Chaos Khorne. Even if you are not one to subscribe to this particular brand of lifestyle, there will still be something for you I am sure.
There will be plenty of combat tournaments available, which will likely be run in more than one pit at a time to make for a smooth transition between the fights throughout the day. Even those that are more magically inclined, like myself for the moment, will be able to set down their magic to be able to participate! Some fights will even let you use your armor as if you were wearing it, but not during the Top 8 fights at the end, so make sure to bring your armor still.
The Order of the Crescent will also be debuting their new Casino, the Moonlight Casino! They will be offering a few games including one brand new one; Blackjack, Let it Ride, and 4 Card Poker. I know I do not have much gold and will be preoccupied with the tournaments, but I might traverse the cold to go try out the new game myself at least once.
There will also be a light allowance of beer and wine for those that drink, but no hard spirits will be allowed. It is a one day event, so please be mindful and fight responsibly.
I am looking forward to seeing people in the tournament and of course, BLOOD FOR THE BLOOD GOD!
On towards the next adventure,
Jericho Axelthorne
Lord of Arken
Watcher of the Skyless Sea
Squire to Knights of the Sable Dragon
Knight of Chaos
By "Potato"
I heard about a feast happening at the Halls of Neden filled with great food, games, and most importantly prizes. So knowing how lost I tend to get on my travels, I started heading there right after the fun I had helping Timmy. I did manage to get lost completely, but luckily Queen Karma crossed my path with Isoba. So I joined their party to the Halls to get there just in time for the fun to begin. At the door to get in and pay, I was informed they are generously also gathering food donations for those in need. Being that is a cause I hold to heart, I donated what I could as well. I was happy to see the realms gathering for a cause once again.
Now off to see what games there are and the prizes to be won. So many good items up for grabs and I've been told there are chests to be found. There was a poker game going on but I decided not to join. The games were a lot of fun. They had plinko, cornhole, ladder ball, a duck shooter, and toss the beanbags either at pins or in baskets. I played them all, I had a really hard time with turning the pins up with the bean bags though. I kept racking up tickets all throughout the day. While I took breaks between playing the games I went and hunted for chests. I found a good few throughout the day and enjoyed the riches. The next thing I knew the food was out, so I joined my friends to dine.
The first round was snacks and dips to enjoy. I got the buffalo dip with some chips, that was delicious and one of my favorites of the night. While sitting down and talking to friends, I wrote my name down on my raffle ticket stash. By the end of the day with how many tickets I won, I really regretted forgetting my new stamper. I went to the table and spread out my tickets to what I wanted. I overly stuffed the pot for the blue ribbon with tickets. While doing so I found a chest cleverly hiding with the prizes. I found a few chests throughout the day while I played the games and mingled with friends.
While there Isoba and I saw little JB and talked to him a few times. She gave him a little spoon which he named spencer spoon. I gave him a positive potato which he named pauline potato, then tucked them in the brim of his hat. I went off to play more games and find more chests. Before I knew it the feast was ready to be served. From across the room I could smell them, the potatoes.
I went up for a plate of mashed potatoes and a side of stuffed chicken. The potatoes were creamy and delicious. The chicken was good as well. I ate my fill and went off to play more of the games. The more tickets I get, the better my odds for what I want. I played games until the fighting tournaments could start.
I fought in every fighting combo they offered. I lost in all, but that's okay. I fight in them for the practice until I can win them. I Watched the other fights to learn more. I played a few more games before they closed off and put in the last of my tickets. They announce its time for the raffles, time to see what Isoba and I won.
We won so much. I now have almost a full arsenal of weapons, just missing a five foot now. I gave away a dagger since I won four of them. I won almost everything I wanted and then some. But most importantly I won the ribbon I wanted, just need to get some more of them now. I won this blue nerd container for Isoba and she got so excited over it. She too won the cup and a magic staff she wanted. We left here with our hands full of new gear to put to good use. Overall it was a great day in the Halls of Neden. The only thing that could've made it better was if the hall was filled up more like the other feasts I've gone to in the realms. But then again there would've been more competition for the prizes.
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.
From all of us here at The View, we'd like to express our most heartfelt wishes that you and yours have a warm, happy, delicious, and safe Thanksgiving. We'll be back with our regular content tomorrow.
Hello Dearest Adventurers!
As the nights chill and seem to last longer, I’ve sent my fellow crows to the far corners of the land to collect things most wonderful for a day of Revelry this Winter! The night may be long, but there will be much to get up to at this year’s celebration! Many activities including helping our darling mimic discover their name; I hear you all have been sending in names and the top choices will be made available for you to vote upon your arrival at the hall.
Once you have entered the warm hall on what I presume will be a chilly evening, you can warm up with a drink from the fantastic bar and some delicious masterfully crafted food. And if you love food, you simply must decorate a gingerbread person or perhaps try your hand at the dessert competition which I hear is Ugly Sweater Themed! The most over the top and gaudy, but still delicious dessert will win quite the prize. Time to break out the luster dust and sprinkles, I cannot wait to be captivated by each and every one of them!
If you don’t have a sweet tooth, that’s alright too, the Adventurer’s Guild will have harrowing quests up and running for you to take a whack at. Or maybe you like to gamble your shinnies at the casino or take on the best of the best at the Stacked Deck Tournament. For the bards among you, there will be some lovely caroling to get everyone into the spirit. And of course gifts for all from yours truly and a visit from Pater Yule for our younger adventurers.
For even more presents, you can participate in the Gift Swap, always a delightful time. And make sure to bring your green and gold so that you can shop at these fabulous vendors: Wulfemoon Studios, The Wandering Potato, Rowan's Rarities, Starry Knight Crafts, Nestra's Treasures and Treats, and Ethereal Hive Crafts AND participate in the incredible charity ticket auction to support House of Hope!
In addition to all of that, we will be on the look out for this year’s Lord/Lady/Magistrate of the Festival, someone who encompasses the season’s spirit in all that they do. More on that in my next missive. Thank you for letting me express all my excitement in this letter to you; I am thrilled to gather with you again this year and to have a delightful day of revelry!
Humbly Yours,
Cornix
OOC:
Hello everyone! Just to follow up on a few of the points mentioned. If you are interested in participating in the Gift Swap you can sign up with Kelly “Twen” Bonci. More information coming out very soon on that! She is also your point of contact if you would like to donate an item to be auctioned off in support of the House of Hope fundraiser at the event. Feel free to email her at paladinfund@gmail.com.
If you would like to be a vendor at the event and are not already on our list, feel free to reach out to Sarah “Evie” Fournier on Discord (evie1111) to get signed up.
I’d like to take a minute of your time and share with the Realms community something that happened very recently. Back in September, we held our annual Feast of Blackwood at Camp Joslin in Charlton. Lisa Laconto who is the director of Special Events for the Barton Center for Diabetes Education who owns the camp, approached me in the kitchen during the feast. Lisa had explained that her food service director and assistant had left their employment with the camp the prior week and that the camp was in a bind for their upcoming annual fund raiser in November and that the cheapest caterer they could find on such short notice wanted to charge $65 per person for just the dinner service. Lisa asked if we would be interested in running the kitchen for their fundraiser. It would entail serving upscale appetizers, entrees and desserts for 200 people.
I told Lisa that I would get back to her but wanted the ability to put together my own kitchen staff. After our feast, I reached out to those within our community who have worked kitchens with me and knew would help me support this other community. Everyone who I reach out to said yes. My kitchen staff consisted of Liz Butler, Ben and Jana Greene, Dani Lacasse, Matt Hewitt, Lynn Butler, Kristopher Payne and myself.
With crew selected, contract signed and 5 weeks until showtime, we set out to create an upscale menu that was highlighted by scallops wrapped in bacon and a large charcuterie board (with thanks to Jason Rosa for sharing some knowledge). Although in this article I focus on the kitchen as that was my job, the focus for the night was on the fund raiser and the camp trying to surpass last years goal. For me this was simple, treat it like an event and put on the best menu I could with as little spent as possible as every penny saved went to the camp. In the end, I was under budget by more than half of what was given for food and overall with our donated time as the caterers, we saved the camp just under $13,000, which directly goes to the camp. The Chairman of the Board introduced himself to us and thanked us for the best food they have had in years and for being not only under the budget given but for being below last year’s food budget as well. By the end of the night, the camp had their best fund raiser ever by more than doubling this year’s goal.
Being able to do this was very meaningful for me as we all have family and friends that struggle with diabetes. I never would have been given the chance to do this or have the amazing friends who came to my call if it weren’t for the Realms. In the end, it was one community helping another community.
Matt Butler
Sir Mathies of Blackwood
P.S. We have been asked to run the kitchen for next year’s fund raiser
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Hi friends! Dani here hijacking this (sorry Matt) tagging in on this article for a moment, but just for a moment I promise. While Matt has taken the time to highlight his kitchen crew and the incredible fundraiser event itself in this wonderfully written article, I would really like to take a second to stress just how astounding it is that Matt was able to pull this off. For those of you who have planned and hosted grand feasts or served really any food at and event in the realms before you know this, but for those who haven't, this task was no small feat especially while being the third large scale food event Matt led this year in about a seven month span. With less than two months prep time Matt was able to form a full kitchen staff, curate recipes and a full menu (printed and framed) which needed to be fully vetted and approved by the camps board and execute it near perfectly. And while there was a great team behind him, what is a team without a leader at its helm? Without Matt's guidance, expertise and patience during the entire weekend (yes weekend, while the event was on Saturday he was there Thursday evening until Sunday morning prepping and then cleaning up) we certainly wouldn't have been able to make it all come together as it did without him. The bond Matt has formed with Lisa and the entire Camp Joslin community this past year has lead us to an incredible experience that doesn't come often. So with that I just wanted to take this moment to say thank you Matt, for this opportunity and so much more.
By Emma "Companion" and Zack “Bubbles O’Sudsie” Koval
What you missed: Timmy's birthday (Companion's POV).
We arrived on the mouth of what would soon be a long trail battle. Upon arrival we were informed that Timmy had gotten his birthday stolen, and we would need to get it back before sunset or else he would lose it forever. We were told this happened right after he finished his homework, which his mother said that if he did not complete he would not celebrate his birthday, and presumably unprompted. After following through the direction that was indicated that Earl von Hurl the Duke of Puke went through we were met with a gate, a henchman with riddles and "stuff" blocked our path.
There we got the first sighting of the Duke, as he told his henchmen to not let us pass.
We ended up getting through by solving riddles, and engaged with an enemy line.
They were covered in inches worth of filth, and sometimes patches would come off of them and hit our weapons and equipment, rending them unusable until we scrubbed it off.
We fought them foot by foot, until we arrived at a small clearing, where we met the angel of cleanliness. I chose to try to converse with the duke to try to figure out the truth of the matter at hand.
Upon talking with the Duke further I was able to determine the other side of the story.
Timmy did not want to complete his homework, which he had put off to the last possible moment, and as such he set up a ritual and called the Duke to do it for him. However in exchange he lost his birthday. It was also revealed tht this was not the first time this had happened, however this time we had gotten involved.
Since this was a contract that both parties agreed upon, and had both given given consent (Timmy had agreed to give up what mattered most to him), this was not an issue that should have been resolved with force. I therefore tried to negotiate the price of our intrusion, and Timmy's birthday. The price that I bartered it down to was four birthdays (which would be four of five of my birthdays [birthday is the closest word for it in english]) and the death of the angel of cleanliness. However, as I was too slow to rile people, this plan was not executed. However we managed to learn that the Duke was able to be negotiated with. And, that he was growing more amenable to deals as time passed.
As we progressed in our venture we eventually found the condition to return the birthday by force: blow out the candles on the cake before the sun sets. We also learned why the Duke wants birthdays: because he is able to leave his imprisonment for the day, allowing him a semblance of freedom.
Knowing that we were closing in to the cake, still wanting him to have a bit of freedom, as he seemed lonely, and knowing that a lot of our casters had expended a bunch of their spells in prior encounters, I bartered two of my birthdays for spell resets.
When we reached the cake there was one final obstacle in our path: the vice principal of Timmy's school. Which used magic to freeze (time based, not temperature) all but one of us at a time and would quiz that person. If the person answered successfully they would be allowed to fight them.
Once we bypassed this hurdle Timmy had to answer some questions on his own to bypass a magic barrier, and he blew out the candles on the cake a split second before getting killed.
Once raised Timmy gave us the hat off his head, explaining its properties.
Upon putting it on:
1. It makes you invulnerable to everything
2. It makes it so that you cannot wield weapons
3. It lowers your intelligence to a miniscule ammount (to the extent that you cannot cast spells with it on)
We used the hat to retrieve stolen items that the Duke intended to vanish off with, and then he explained that he cannot come with us any further. I attempted to get him through with a divine aid, and it worked to an extent. I can now call upon him on the two days that I traded him.
What You Missed - Neden Questing: Happy Birthday Timmy (Bubble's POV)
I am not what one would call an active adventurer, but after the call went out to adventurers about a particularly gross Fae taking a small child's birthday, I knew I needed to be there. Both to help wash away the muck of this mean Fae, and whatever filth the small child happened to generate. Humans, especially small ones, are gross.
As everyone gathered, little Timmy explained that a fae named Earl Von Hurl, the Duke of Puke had taken his birthday, along with all of the stuff for his party including the presents and cake. He even had a lollipop he wasn’t allowed to lick (which helped reduce the sticky factor considerably). The Adventurers, galvanized by the sad story, set off to get it back by the magical deadline of “Fundown” following Timmy’s lead and magical guidance.
As we cross a bridge and a soft spot into Faerie, we arrive in what must be the most filthy section in the entirety of Faerie. It makes me want to jump in a tub of ammonia just thinking about it. Regardless we came across a gate, with a snotling (the term I remember for these slovenly fae) in front. Repeating orders whispered to him by a fae hiding behind a tree on the other side.
We had to answer some “Riddles and stuff” to get past this gate. The main thing I remember here was that one riddle was hyped up as “A Doozy”, and then Lord Sir Tao answered “A Doozy” to it. Even though it was not the intended answer, when pointed out that they had said it would be a doozy, they kept their word and accepted it.
The fae whispering orders soon revealed himself as Earl Von Hurl, a truly nasty piece of grime, Lord and prisoner of the lands we were in. Von Hurl, knowing we needed to get the birthday back by Fundown, did everything he could to slow us down, from making us fight minions, covering us with heavy grime, setting up a barrier between two trees and attempting to gaslight us into thinking we could not just walk around it, and other such things.
During this time, we learned more about this Duke of Puke. Firstly, his powers of filth is so strong that while covered in his filth, Von Hurl and his minions were immune to Fae Stones and the Bane until scrubbed clean. Then we learned that he ruined the dress of the True Court’s Duchess of Beauty, which is what earned him his exile to his little land of mire. Then, there was the awful and sad reality that technically, the Duke made the deal with Timmy fair and square as Timmy had summoned him to get someone to do his homework, and the phrase: “For your birthday, I will do your homework” means VERY different things to a slow human child and a timeless Archfae. Lastly, the most dire and awful piece of information we learned, was that EARL VON HURL CAN GRIME SOAP! WHOLE BARS OF SOAP! It was horrendous.
Luckily I had come with a lot of soap, and it was at this point I got to meet one of my personal heroes, Clean Living: The Inventor of Washing Hands! Clean Living is an angel under the domain of poison, or more specifically of antiseptic materials and hygiene, and currently serves under the Dark One, returning putrid things to the All. Clean Living decided to show up and help us on this quest, due to his perfectly reasonable hatred of the hygiene habits of the snotlings, helping us by making a more powerful soup that worked on the spiritual and on the real.
To make this soap, the party worked on killing and bringing corpses of the snotlings to myself and Potato, and we cut open the bodies to harvest the fat needed to make soap, which was then rendered down with added water and lye, and stories from our fellow adventurer’s pasts to scent the soap, including a powerful story about her troubled past from Isoda. This soap was able to almost immediately wash away the grime with no effort to scrub at all! Clean Living gave me another gift to aid in our quest: Scour: The Holy Soap dagger, once used to punish blasphemers in times long past, was now to be used to wash away the ick as we try to forcibly undo a deal between a Duke and a child.
Eventually we get to a deep swamp of grimy muck, that contained Timmy’s presents and a bunch of Crocs, and an elder Croc with an alarm clock in its gut. With the power of holy soap and some friendly undead who didn’t need to breathe, and Gale’s helpful alligator mount, the presents were retrieved after much struggle. While I don’t know what happened before and after, I did briefly exist in this swamp just long enough to drown in grime. I need to bleach that memory from my mind...
But anyway, within the presents were a bunch of Timmy’s homework. Omri led the charge in doing the homework, though we all had to contribute, because we needed to help invalidate the deal Earl Von Hurl and Timmy had made, with the other half of the deal being late handled by Companion coming to a deal with Von Hurl selling him two of the five birthdays she had for some reason I don’t understand. Time. Blech. One homework problem of note was “What is the difference between Dragons and Dinosaurs?” and my answer of “None per Alexander Cecil” was marked as correct.
After a little bit of travel, we met some sort of Teacher demon, forcing us to take the test that the homework was supposed to prepare us for, and would give out “Pop Quizes” to the party members. Only those who had answered one correctly could harm the creature. Once the test was slain, we pushed past the last of snotlings and arrived at the last barrier before the cake, a test Timmy had to answer himself. It was hard for him, but with a little bit of help from us, Timmy gave the correct answers until the final question, which was not multiple choice, but a practical exam. He had to do a ritual for Prophesy to get the recipe for his birthday cake. Omri and some others helped Timmy assemble and cast the spell, at which point Timmy got his birthday cake and birthday back just before Fundown.
At this point we were able to leave Von Hurl’s feculent domain, deal undone and all parties getting what they wanted. Timmy turned 9ish, the Duke got two birthdays as specific days he could escape his prison on a technicality, and I got to meet my hero and get a powerful blade of sanitation.
Signed
Bubbles O’Sudsie
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On an out of character note, this was genuinely one of the most fun quests I have been on in the realms, this plot staff did an excellent job making a light hearted and silly quest for us to do, the wonderful NPC’s fought to their role excellently, and Tim Suitor was a scummy and filthy and expertly played antagonist as Earl Von Hurl. Mine Falls, while definitely a northern site, was a great site for a one-day quest. The downside of having to let normal folks pass us by on the trail was not that bad of a burden, for a cheap but very nice site.
And as a final note, the soap making thing we did IC was complimented by Ethan making real OOC soap on a camp stove, scented based off the stories we told. We got to take it home.
