Archive for March, 2012

We must now be completely on our guard

By the time we actually left the cavern, the sun had just started to set.

“It is now His time of day,” Trevor started, “We must now be completely on our guard.”

We saddled our horses and we made for our return home, unsure of what to expect. We again stopped only when necessary to give our mounts food and rest. The night passed without incident and we realized that we would be back at the gatehouse by dawn.

As we neared the keep, we were met with a surprise: The entire city was covered with a thick fog. So thick was the fog that we could barely see each other, being only a few paces away from one another. We dismounted and cautiously made our way, as best we could toward the main gate. We were uncertain whether we would find our fellow guardsmen patrolling the city, or if we would be the only survivors.

Along our way, we each described seeing a shrouded figure wandering through the fog. We could not determine if the figure was an actual person, or some sort of phantom that was the result of our mind playing tricks. But we all agreed that the figure was completely covered with a Medieval cloak. It was extremely unnerving.

Upon approaching the gate, we noticed that it was still secure, though the fog prevented us from seeing if any sentry was in the watch tower.

“I suppose we should knock,” Josephus remarked.

“Anyone in the tower?” Grantiere yelled.

We waited there in the dense fog for a response.

What? There's nothing stashed in my boot!

Half the fun of creating a character for a LARP is to try to accomplish feats that you otherwise couldn’t in  your normal life. Heading out to a LARP event and role playing as a gallant warrior, a studious mage, or a skilled artisan can provide a lot of entertainment.

One character type that people would like to play, but find it difficult to pull off, is the rogue. Now when we say rogue, we find that most people automatically think of the type of spy who moves around at night and tries to sneak into places where they don’t belong looking for valuables. Although this can be a fun character to play it isn’t the only type of rogue.

Some of the most successful rogues do not need to operate under the cover of night. In some cases they are the most boisterous people in town. Here are some tips you can follow if you’d like to give this type of rogue a try.

Wear long Medieval Boots: If you are able to gain people’s confidence to the point where you can lift a few coins, you need someplace to hide them that isn’t obvious. A pocket full of coins not only bulges, but makes noise as well. Sliding a few coins down the side of your boot is a quick and easy way to stash your cash.

Never work alone: Most rogues usually operate in pairs or small guilds. It can be difficult to pull off a successful heist by yourself. Work with some friends so that you have a few options when making your plans. Also, it is convenient to have someone who can hide you while you’re under the watchful eye of the law.

We wish you the best of luck if you plan on going this route. We hope you have fun!

Get your costumes ready for this LARP season!

This is the time of year when most Live Action Roleplaying Games, or LARPs, start to have their kick-off events. LARPers start getting their Medieval costumes back together, practicing with their weapon skills, and planning out their character’s path as they progress.

Since it has been a few months since most of us have attended a LARPing event, we wanted to put up a list of a few tips to keep in mind as you are packing for your first event of the year. These tips are handy reminders for veterans, and excellent bits of information for those planning on attending their first event ever.

-Pack extra socks: Whether you step in a puddle, you are sweating a lot, it is very cold, or there is nothing but rain, it is always a good idea to have extra pairs of socks. It will be much more comfortable for you to  put on a nice dry and clean pair of socks.

-Pack extra costuming: For all of the same reasons as the socks. In addition, if you are required to play a NPC (Non-Playable Character) you may need different clothes to make yourself stand out from your usual character.

-Snacks: A LARP weekend can be very physically demanding and you’ll need to refuel and recharge. Protein bars, fruit, and other quick snacks can help keep you going in between meals.

-Plenty of Water: Dehydration is a LARPer’s greatest enemy. Always make sure to bring plenty of water, and to drink water on a regular basis.

-Watch out for weather: Weather can be dangerous on a number of levels. A sudden thunderstorm, intense heat, extreme cold, a lot of rain when you’re situated near a river, are just some potential threats. Always make sure to keep your eyes open and take the proper precautions so that you stay safe.

What kind of battle is this?

As soon as Balthus told us to get ready to catch, we heard the sound of metal striking metal. He had found an axe on the ground, where one of the skeletons recently stood, and used it to strike at the chain that was holding Josephus in the air. We looked up just in time as Josephus fell toward us. We reached up and did our best to catch him, but we all collapsed under his weight. We helped him to his feet, though he was very fatigued. His weapons and armor were nowhere to be seen, so we decided it would be best to leave the cavern before the vampire returned.  We cautiously made our way down the dark corridor.

“Trevor,” I started, “Did you say that you would not count on our ruse not working?”

“Aye,” Trevor responded.

“I beseech thee to be more clear,” Grantiere said through gritted teeth.

“What exactly are we preparing for?” Trevor asked.

“An assault from an army of undead abominations,” Balthus responded.

“What if I told you that the army that will attack us consists of one vampire?” Trevor queried.

“It would still be a vampire, but I don’t understand,” Grantiere said.

“How many skeletons did you see in the chamber?” Trevor quipped.

“After you made the light come out of that Medieval Pendant, none,” I answered.

“Exactly,” Trevor started, “That was a purifying light that penetrated the entirety of the cavern.”

“You mean that the whole army is gone?” Celebryn asked.

“It would have been better to cut off the head of the snake,” Trevor said, “But now at least we only have one foe.”

“Then we must prepare for a different kind of combat when return to the Keep,” Grantiere said.