Intermediate Adventurers
This week, learn some more about Hannah Boucher, who plays Ryu (both she/her).
You may notice that some of these questions are a little different from the standard Fresh Faces fare. While still directed at newer players, the Intermediate Adventurers answering these questions have been around a little longer than the newest adventurers, and their questions reflect the additional years of experience they have.
1. How did you learn about and join The Realms?
I joined the Society for Medieval Arts and Sciences during my sophomore year of college when my Martial Arts class was canceled due to the pandemic. It started as just needing a PE class, but those virtual fight practices awakened something inside me. By the time the first socially distanced fight practice rolled around, I was hooked! Once things were allowed to go back to in person full time, I was able to dive into the Realms and I’ve loved it ever since.
2. Have you experienced any moments in the Realms that you think will be told for years after? What was this moment?
So no shit there I was, NPCing an obnoxiously French bombardier that had something to do with pomegranates and a French pun. Anyway my role was to throw explosive pomegranates at the PCs so they could juggle it and throw it back to me and blow me up. I wasn’t trying to blow anyone up specifically, but one of my pomegranates arced just right to hit poor Savage Sarah. Well Iawen was understandably pissed off and immediately started chasing me yelling “did you just kill my kid!?” I of course threw a bombagranate at them and was greeted with “Knight”. Terrified, I threw another one. “Dead… no wait! Knight again!” By this point an angry knight had just brushed off two fireballs in a row, so I ran obviously. Iawen hunted me down, gave my corpse death watch and said “If you ever hurt my kid again, there will be no hell worse that what I will do to you.”
3. Has LARPing changed any parts of your life? If so, tell us about it?
LARPing has given me about 3-4 new hobbies! But to be honest, I didn’t really make things before I started LARPing, even though I wanted to. Now I am an accomplished crafter and I’m shocked by how fast I’ve picked up skills. Not to mention I now have a very stable friend group which is awesome.
4. What is your character like? Where are they from? What is their species? What is important to them?
Saryun Goldscale (yes Ryu is a nickname!) is a half Gold dragon half human. Ryu has never met her dad, but some say he was a great bard who successfully seduced a dragon. There’s certainly some evidence for that. Ryu was raised in a large clan of Gold Dragons with a strong isolationist policy to protect themselves from humans and other mortals who, in the past, perpetrated a massive war that killed a lot of Dragons. Safe to say, Ryu being half human is not a point of pride for her Grandmother, the Matriarch of her clan. After pissing off her Grandmother, Ryu was essentially exiled (at least for now) and so she decided to adventure, and see the world she missed out on for so long. While Ryu values her draconic heritage, so much of her life has been about balance and finding a middle ground. She will always look for a third option, given two bad choices, and she (and I) strives to become a knight someday.
5. What has been your most memorable event so far, and what happened?
Maybe this is a bit of a cop out, but Divine Intervention 2, which is pretty typical for my generation. After a year and a half with almost no in person events, everyone showed up and the event staff showed off. It certainly set a high bar for Realms events going forward, and it certainly helped that I got an award or two for helping control the front lines.
6. What things have helped to make you feel welcome in game?
The community is just fantastic, I really want to commend the people who always are willing to help out financially for those who are struggling, and with rides and other seemingly easy tasks. The time, attention, and guidance of “real actual adults” toward those of us who are still learning is incredible and I am so grateful for the help I’ve received.
7. What parts of the game do you find most challenging?
Being patient. Pretty much everything in this game takes time and practice to be good at, and I’m not patient lol. It hard to explain to a first year newbies that “you’re not bad at this, you just haven’t been doing it for 10 years!” (It’s me I’m that first year newbie.)
8. Do you have any game-related goals (as either a player or character)? What goals have you previously accomplished in game?
Well, I had a goal to win the armor tournament at Queen of Hearts, and I did!! I honestly didn’t think I would on my first try. Related, I have a goal to be a General at Queen of Hearts one year. I don’t think I’m quite ready for that yet, but I think I’m getting there. My “secret” goal is to become Warlord of Chimeron. I guess it’s not so secret anymore lol, but I’m on my way to achieving that. My biggest and hardest goal is to become the Realms best 5’ fighter! It’s a lofty goal and I have some strict competition, but I have some amazing mentors and plenty of time.
9. Have you run or helped run any events? How did those go? If you have not yet, do you plan to run or help run events?
I have! I have helped run 3 events so far (not counting SMAS club events). The first event was the Founding of the Cerulean Company. For my first ever time running an event and planning content, I think it went rather well! The next two events were the current plotline of the Chimeron Questing series! To be honest, I’ve felt like those were a hot mess, but everyone keeps telling me that they’re great so I have no choice but to believe them.
10. What have you enjoyed most about the game so far?
Is everything an answer? I don’t know! I like everything from combat to puzzles to questing to roleplay, the only thing I can think of that I don’t enjoy is the hour commute I have to every event! Also I appreciate people with more refined palates and experience sharing your fancy alcohols with me! You are expanding my tastes and making me more adventurous!
