May Highlights !

Aella wrote:
I think everyone calls me the dryad lady. Or wife...

OR COOKIE TREE!!!!!

Also, I had a blast, the amount of character development I saw and I had was awesome, and a lot of good rp came from those moments. A+ Judge-Plot. Would Judge-Plot again.

I had a great time this weekend even after getting hurt.

Sitting in the monastery with Syn was amazing RP. Sitting on the floor with her as she cried made me start crying as well.

Sitting in the monastery talking with Rayven when suddenly "Smash door" and just thinking in game 'Oh hell, there goes the night' Then getting cut down. Rayven also going down and Billium saving the both of us.

More when I'm not loopy on pain meds.

I honestly don't even know where to start, so I'll start at the beginning:

Monday, January 28th, I get a series of text messages that read: "So I have a role for you. I have this thing where I try and match people up with what i think they can strongly play. ONLY if you're interested. If you're in you gotta be 100%. I've seen your rp and I need someone with emotionally moving power. I think you've got it." -Judge.

My response was immediate and in my trademarked all caps INTERESTED PLEASE CONTINUE.

I had absolutely no idea what I was getting into, I just knew I wanted in.
Holy wow.
The amount of trust, control, and inclusion he gave us as NPC's and players absolutely enhanced all aspects of this event. His "That's neat, lets do it" approach to ideas was so incredibly exciting and confidence boosting. His enthusiasm is contagious and his ideas are awesome. How he treats and involves his npcs is beyond the duty of the being a storyteller, it is his choice, and it's effect is incredible. We were a team. The May-A-Geddon family. Joking RP between us all had sprang up completely by accident in the comments of the boards we used to plan this thing. As such, the hearts and bonds of the characters existed far before we were at camp. We wrote and read each others stories. We knew the characters before we even saw each other in their shoes. And as some of you may or may not know, we were never told the twist, and were all locked away in James's apartment for the whole hour before we stormed the Inn the final time. Everything past that point was completely ad-libbed and improv'd, minus Julie's death (though again, we didn't know it would happen). None of it was planned. Judge said "React as your character would. Don't worry about what I would want, just let it happen." And wow did it happen.

My true highlight is the week before the event, where everyone was throwing together last minute ideas. Alice, Tori, and I were drawing the posters, Katie was working on her dolls and make up, JJ was making jelly babies (dear god) , Geoff was excited about the overalls and shovel boffer, Tori was testing out burn make up, I was teasing my hair into a mess, Alice was writing bed time stories constantly, Tori and I were rewriting Le Mis songs to be Larp-related, everyone was altering their cards and concepts to be more refined and detailed, and Judge was the ever encouraging mind spearheading the whole thing.

Once at camp, it became Lets-Make-It-Happen go time.
Fake blood powder instructions: "Use as Desired", Judge screaming "BEAR?!"every five seconds, each of us trying to figure out if water or personal lubricant would make a better fake blood (we went with a little of both and a hand full of sand), Jenny slowly piecing together and making the KICKASS mermaid costume, wading thigh deep into the lake in costume to hide boxes, research and development on making the paper-towel-entrail stomaches, fearing wether or not PCs would mind getting messy (gosh, you guys, you made us so proud by digging into those stomachs and running into the water ), getting notifications on facebook every five seconds of Judge blowing something new up for main mod, finally getting into costume and kicking it off and watching the whole thing play out. Once in game, it was a weird sort of happy sad, where we all wanted to watch each other's mods go off and we saluted each others deaths. It was so strange.

It felt like being on stage. Larp is absolutely a form of theater, but this event really kicked it in the feels for me. Watching Geoff, Katie, and JJ make their final entrance/exits. Bonding with Tori and Alice over just everything while being basically "backstage" before main mod. It was so exciting. So nerve wracking.


I'm just going to say it again for the thousandth time.
Thank you Judge for including me in this.
And thank you to the rest of the NPC's for being such excellent individuals.

ON TO EVENT HIGHLIGHTS

Quinn and Magnus. Both. The two of them were a tag team of understanding. There was NO WAY for my NPC to hate them, to fight them, to rationalize attacking them. They were THE ONLY ONES to have that affect on my NPC, they were THE most attentive PCs in the game. They were able to subdue moments where massacring riots could easily have taken place. They did not throw a fit when we accused them of being wrong. The didn't use us yelling or fighting or attacking as an excuse to swing at us. They didn't look at us like we were an annoyance or call us crazy or try to relate to us. They apologized to us. They acted. They absolutely changed my npc's mind by the end. But it was ONLY THEM that did it. If they were not there, Winnie would have fought along side Victor easily. EASILY. The conflict those two brought to the npcs made the game THAT much more compelling and intense and totally surprising. The fact that by the end, my NPC still HATED, absolutely HATED Travance, but could not bring herself to raise a hand against them knowing that Magnus and Quinn would step in the way of the strike is ridiculous. She couldn't fight, but she couldn't live with herself walking away from her one opportunity, her one last chance to make some sort of stand against the town. Unstoppable force meets immovable object moment. Talk about some intense inner dilemmas, especially for an NPC character. All because of Quinn and Magnus. They quite literally changed the game for my NPC. And I know I am not the only NPC who feels this way. They deserve recognition.

To add on, Aleister also played a role in changing my NPC's mind. He paced her at one point while she was still torn, he was screaming "DON'T TOUCH HER", stopping anyone from attacking her, and then intercepted an absurd amount of hits from Maggie, protecting both Quinn and Winnie from her onslaught. It was the only gesture of selfless protection Winnie received from someone she had not spoken to or interacted with at all.

The funeral for Julie.
Just... yeah. That was amazing. I couldn't believe how quiet everyone was. Everyone singing amazing grace, passing the bottle around, the priests and speakers, everything. Just all of it.
It was utterly touching. And Gideons staff lit it perfectly.
Also, fun thing, when Gideon handed Winnie a coin to place on Julie's eyes, my first thought as Winnie was "You place gold coins on the eyes of your dead." That was probably the first time she ever held a gold coin. It absolutely wracked me for a few seconds.

One of the most poignant moments was Magnus offering them a place to stay, Maggie and Winnie agreeing, both full well knowing they would be dead by the end of the night if they didn't get anymore of the compound.
It was a very sad, very hopeful, very damning, with the rose colored glasses turned all the way up.

Magnus carrying Maggie everywhere. Star gazing. Sitting with them when they died.


Winnie: "what are you doing"
Quinn: "Im hugging you"
Winnie: "i don't want you to hug me"
Quinn: "I know, i don't care"

Fighting side by side with Quinn.

"Once upon a time, there was a nobody who died and saved everybody."

"Give them two weeks." -Orias Wormwood.
Alex, I have no words for how perfect that was.
Especially since you walked right past my line of vision through a crowd of people who decided to miraculously part as you said it.

FOR THE SILLY STUFF

Helping Judge hunt down Syn for baby extraction.

All of the blood and guts that I got to play with throughout the event.

Cory and Gus, I LOVE YOU BOTH FOR JUMPING IN THE LAKE.

Teresa spitting iced tea over the railing when Rowen was nauseous.

Getting to be an impromptu white head band for a few mods that I wanted to watch and being asked to call skills/flavor text.

I have never had so many people thank/congratulate me for making them cry.

"...Are you cleaning the trees?"
Yes, yes I was.

I know I am missing so much.
But regardless, I've said way too much as it is.

This was amazing. I love this game.

Croínamara wrote: Thank you Judge for including me in this.
And thank you to the rest of the NPC's for being such excellent individuals.

He truly knew what he was doing when he picked you guys. My character never had much in the way of direct interaction with you guys, but man did you guys move him and make him think. OOG I'm embarrassed at some of Caldor's suggestions on how to calm your NPC down, but it all boiled down to just how your emotions just took him off his comfort zone.

Again, serious props to you guys for the NPC work and to Judge for tying you all together so well.

My highlights:

-Being told to "enjoy the rest of my evening" by Cinder after being allowed to sit at the bar, unmolested, as an openly evil high ranking Galmachian priestess with Greater Dread Wraith in tow. James Jones, knowing Bat couldn't take me, was still the only person to really try to confront me and challenge me. It was excellent.

-No one fighting Tanith, and all the wonderful stories Sam told me about his interactions later.

-The endless amusement Kristen felt at the supreme frustration Elawyn felt at the hypocrisy that is Travance surrounding Wormwood. Its a sad day in Travance when defending Orias is the right and just thing to do, especially for my PC.

-Hanging out with Antrim and Cinder, being despondent and honest.

-Having both my student and my squire at my sides on mainmod. Wish we had something really big to fight together - maybe someday. Along these lines, defense training with Keavy with Brinden on the assist. You two make my events.

-Nihilist Druid conversations about hope and the importance of the choices people make.

-Oh and ruining sad RP time with far too appropriate land system jokes. I have no regrets. What more CAN Elawyn do for the peasants, when Fyrithil is at 109% public order?

What an awesome event! Thanks for the opportunity to RP outside of the event, Judge, and letting Keavy be involved IG with a few things. Sign me up for an NPC role next time you run the weekend!

FRIDAY:
The build up of excitement for Lay on taping the fake blood and guts bellies to our own. Complaining about how pregnant we felt before anyone arrived to save us, haha.
I liked the fact that Keavy being kidnapped was a somewhat last minute decision. I think it added to the shock value since no one knew she was even missing, then finding out she has a bomb in her stomach surely must have set the tone. I know it did for a few people in particular.
All the bloody mess and screaming! So much fun, wish I could do more of that haha!
Being supported back to the inn, beaten and bloody, by Orion who tried to comfort her the entire way. Chaotic enough for you, Kevin?
Having people try to console Keavy, only to have her put them down.
Being rushed into the monastery after hearing a bunch of the high seasons were dropped and filling the crowd in about who Mina Wolfe is and how Keavy knows her. Then when the slightest whisper that Caelvan was in that area where the others dropped, freaking out and rushing for the door to be stopped by those who could manage to grab me!

Finding Caelvan alive and shouting "Where were you?!" as I pushed him. Then crying in his arms and having him carry me back to the inn.
Vampire...things. Taunting Keavy and nearly killing her.
Seeing Mina Wolfe outside the armoury and trying to empathize with her and apologize. She wavered for a moment then ran off... Sadly being the last time Keavy would see her again.
A somewhat moment of calm with wolves patrolling. Telling them to relay a message back to the dryad they were sent by, and playing a bit.
Then Varg happened.
Getting brutally beaten by Varg and earning another insanity! Every Insanity Keavy has is perfect for her.
And although the mod with the mask I made didn't go down, I still loved Gina's character. "Help me find my piggy!"
Actually sleeping again!

SATURDAY:
LM shift shenanigans. Bagels and noodles! And kittens!! And regrets. (Missing Mina's death. )
Sparring session with Rane and teaching him bits of lessons in fighting with Alyeun and Jade.
Helping deal with a Lizardkin king and his cronies.
Then the Menagerist wanting Shocker Lizard eggs. What a disaster. (Not the mod, but the fact that it was much harder than expected! Nearly died!)
Coming back from that to see Viktor Lorvin in the distance and pointing him out to Magnus. Cloaking in the bush to try to listen in on their conversation.

As they left, deciding to have a chat with Orias by the waterfront. Seriously one of the best moments of RP I've ever had, especially with Alex. A real eye opener for Keavy.
Heading back to the inn to meet with Elawyn.
Sparring session with Lord Brightstar, learning the better way to hold my stance, and finding my weak spot. It's going to take a lot of getting used to.
Helping Tari with a change self lesson for Rudolph. "Your ears are still floppy and half of your facial hair is still on your face."
Feast! Shenanigans with Orion/Kevin. I had made Keavy IG starve for Mina, but OOG I was eating just fine.

Keavy: -OOG takes a forkful of food into mouth- I told you, Orion, I'm not hungry.

Sitting with Grumbleguts as they listnened to Rowan sing. "I like her back beard, and I've seen the way she eats and drinks! I wanna marry her. MARRY ME! MARRY ME!!"
Keavy getting drunk off Rayven's ale. Don't think I didn't see you watching, Alex! Then sobering immediately when Elawyn fell.

MAIN MOD:
SURPRISE VIKTOR LORVIN!
Being all battle ready and following Elawyn everywhere only to not hit a darn thing again. There is always next time.
Helping protect Julie and encourage her to keep writing Xualla away. Then carrying her to the waterfront for her funeral. Meanwhile, people thinking Keavy was dead due to Gywenned mistakingly thinking Xualla killed her. He didn't even bat an eyelash at Keavy haha.
Stopping an Aguaran ritual, hunting down the anti-paladin that ran out from it with Ilana and Orion and getting some sweet items.
Then...Trying to help Annora with something to do with Malacytes and Aguarans. Totally confusing. Keavy wasn't happy.

SUNDAY:
More noodles!
Druid pow-wow.
Beating up a bunch of demons!
Finally learning Repel with an intense sparring session with Oakroot and Elawyn.

Can't wait for the next. I'll only be at the first half of the Week in the Life, then it will be super worry/focus time for Japan, so I'll see you then!