September Festival Highlights

Intro of a young friend to KR and him telling me. These are my people!
Melody being dog extraordinaire with the kids walking point because there was a real bear around. Yes my collie is fearless and bears really don't like being around dogs... She took this as a tracking excessive so was very on alert all through. I think she thought all the kids ehind her looking for stuff were SAR flankers.
Melody singing for the Baroness. There was no second competition so Mel learned to bark when asked to sing... In about 2 min of working on it.
Grilled food!
Fishing for real in character. Must do that more!
Listening to my young friend gush over being NPC and the kids and the food and the people until he hit exhausted oh stupid 30 on the way home and passed out.
Oh the silent dog version of the above happened too.

The ride home was rough but all are home safe and sound

Oh and when I took Mel to the Armory for a rest time out...the moment she heard the kids or a battle she was up at the door begging to go back out into it. I think she's hooked too.

As above for the friend who NPC'd; right now he's trying to figure out what character class to play. He's torn on two or three of them...

This event.... lots of walking around watching, which is what Duncan does. Getting a better lay of the land always a good thing IC and OOC.

The kids... were for the most part very good. I don't deal well with children due to PTSD (screaming children of any kind are usually nails on a chalkboard x50 for me...) but these kids were all excellent.

No one got hurt while I was there. As much as I don't mind the practice... no one hurt means no day ruined on a physical level for anyone and that is a GOOD thing. :)

Chatting with the Baroness ooc about all the missed IC meetings. Explained its ok- it can become a running joke between us about Fate saying no... It will happen eventually of course but apparently not yet.

Getting in some good training for Duncan and meeting yet another Excellent Source for teaching only to have something pull me away from said person. Starting to be something of a theme...

Participation in a Druid Totem Circle. interesting, even though I could not hear 75% of the speakers words...

Some solid chatting about fighting styles and more direction developed on where I want to take Duncan.

All in all... a nice one-day event and a needed distraction from the day before's events. See y'all in two weeks!

I just wanted to thank the NPCs for really putting in the effort and taking the hits from the kids, the adults, and the constant need for them to be out and about, since we had so few. Especially the new players/2nd event players who NPCd for Christine and I all day - Mike, Pauline, John, and someone whose name I feel terrible for having forgotten. You guys worked your butts off - and got some experience in RP and combat, I hope.

I also need to thank Christine for taking the mantle thrust upon her of pretty much running logistics with the help of Kevin and I and the occasional other person, and being (not surprisingly) up to the task. You kick butt!

Also, thanks to James and staff for putting together such a fun little festival (an added thank you to the cooks - bbq was VERY tasty) and for being sounding boards and awesome storytellers.

I had a great time playing my silly sylph with everyone - thank you to the people who took time to put up with her, entertain her, try to teach her, and compliment her - some honorable mentions:
-The children and how they all followed their silly sylph friend around, asked me questions, beat up the scary 'gobbins', and generally were well-behaved, funny, sweet, and mostly careful. Plus they took down Jonas Kane and looted him - priceless.
-Cyper and Goggins letting her move their goggles around and declare Goggins a 'princess' - this became a running theme.
-Wu shu (?), the newer player, who took the time out to try to explain, in detail, the concept of human markings of time. Nala spent the rest of the day snapping whenever there was a pause, to see how long it was.
-Cory's illusory crown on my head and NOT getting offended that I was then 'princess', despite delicate Quinarian sensibilities
-Mixolydia putting up with being 'princess mixolydia' and then 'not-princess mixolydia' all day long, while dealing with being a parent at game. Seriously, Jen, you're doing it right - your kids were phenomenal and your daughter is one of my highlights
-Teresa's new character, Fira ("F-I-R-A is how it's spelled" "But I don't cast spells") and her continued disgust with the sylph's lack of personal space bubbles. Thank you for not just loving me and being my buddy off the bat - an added element came from your hesitation.

I could go on for literally hours. Thank you all so much, I hope you had fun!

A lot of people deserve thanks for how much fun the festival was yesterday. I know I am going to forget a lot of people, but I am going to give it a shot:

-James - for being wiling to give the family format a try and being so flexible. And Maya says thanks for seeding so many gems and coins in the woods. She now believes she is fabulously wealthy.
-Diane - for leading the children on so many treasure hunts and adventures. You were brilliant with them and they loved every minute of it.
-NPCs and logistics - for your gift of time, patience and good humor with the kids - given how much the kids wanted to fight, the day would not have been a success without you.
-Cory - for your lovely Elf Mage and most important, the fancy portal moves - don't you think we should try it with the entire town before the next main mod
-Jason and Ree - for the moral support
-The Grill Team - spicy chicken - yum!
- The Bear - perfect timing.
- The kids - it was incredibly fun playing with this crew all day. Watching them during the kids' mod as they worked together to negotiate the cave was terrific. It was truly a pleasure getting to know Chop-chop, AJ, Silvermist, Thomas, Miranda, Xod, and . . . (I am blanking, but another handful of young men and women, I am sorry I can't remember everyone's name). I think "Travance - the Next Generation" will be a success.
-Everyone who took time to welcome Maya and Tim to KR.

My highlights were watching my daughter shift from reserved in the morning to running wildly about attacking various NPCs by mid-afternoon and the moment she offered me 10 gold to help pay for the overpriced commodities Faila was charmed into buying by some fancy merchant. And watching Alex as he was able to bring his sword and actually fight for the few hours he was able to attend - it made his year.

The Children - Oh, the children of the Corn.
There were no bad children - shy, that was 10 minutes back.
"You better watch out. I'm a Dragoon. And a Black Dragon."

BBQ, Watermelon, perfect weather.
Crystal and Alexander running a mod like they were pros.
The NPCs rolling with whatever the kids came up with.

Mini Angus who is also mini Antrim. Cannot speak about other kids, but when AJ hit the pillow, he was gone.

Tons of RP, when not being amused by the Children, bloodthirsty savages all. :)

Cigars in Pendarvin.

4 Goblins running over Pendarvin's finest.

I must say that the amount of coordination and children wrangling was impeccable. Thanks to all the PCs and NPCs that put in the effort to really make it a kid event. Those that went out of their way to play and interact with the kids is what separates the good role players from the GREAT ones. So kudos to everyone!

Watching all the children start off shy and then evolve into little warriors of doom was just so much fun. I had a blast (poorly) taking 200+ pictures of them and I was disheartened when my camera's battery decided it hated life and had to die. Watching the kids do combat was epic. I was VERY proud that my son actually decided to take damage and fell down. Though I will admit hearing a kid call 72,000 damage with a hit and watching a little one search the fallen by hitting them with an axe and screaming search was just too classic for words.

The little mod that was put together was really cool. I liked the problem solving the kids had to do. The planks puzzle was really cute.

Thanks so much for having this wonderful event. It was so great meeting so many children and watching parenting in action. I look forward to when we can do this again next year.

-Seeing Angelica at a loss for words when trying to explain clergy in Travance to a new cleric
-Angel's new Sylvan Elf..and her personality quirk of ONLY speaking Selendrian...Angel this character is going to be a blast for me to role play with
-Cavalier talks with Lord Tartaros...I have discovered the secret to get his attention...during which he told a vassal to detain him in order to be part of the guard in Drega'mire
-Slam lesson, spent most of it on my butt, though it was so satisfying when I got Ib
-Squire interviews at Kaladonia, strange....thought there would be more....good luck to all involved, and got a question on what it means to be a squire....Had to think about that one.

Night:
-Team Selendrian standing up together going down the line you see three elves.....one with a dagger, one ready to throw a spell packet, and one with a ball of elements in his hand ready to throw it at Evernight's ambassador
-Asking The Voice of Selendrias to send word of his family back to Caelvan, for better or worse
-Talking about Arch Casting

So much more but I can't post it all

A big thank you to all the staff and players I met at the Festival. I have quite a few highlights to share.

The very first of which is that conversation with Mother Agelica, Squire Renaith and friends when I started RP. First, I have to apologize to Angelica for putting her on the spot. I knew no better at first, but it was apparent as the conversation continued, Angelica squirmed and her friends grinning at her discomfort, that I continued to press for details. It did not help that she was the only clergy in game at the time.

Which leads to my next highlight, learning more about the Church and other clergy. Takes a really odd sort to play straight man in a comedy act, which is what Clergy feels like right now to me. Hopefully I did RP naive and innocent well enough to add to the game. Got more where that came from. So maybe I am a bit odd. :)

I'd like to thank those concerned for the great conversation at the monastery and getting to meet the Templars, and Priests that I will be working with.

Unfortunately, I am not going to be able to attend next month, but I will definitely be back!

So this is my very first highlight post, as I had such a fantastic time at this event I decided not to be lazy this time.
I feel like at this festival Owen had gotten more accomplished than at any of my previous events (which is out of 5 but whatevs).
-Early on applying for Captain of the Black Watch, only to learn that the requirement was detaining Lord Tartaros.
-Asking all of the higher-ups how I should go about it, and basically getting advised that my options were either: find someone really strong to hold him down, finding a pretty girl to charm him, and getting him drunk. My original plan was to do all three, but I ended up going the easy route and asking the Baroness to give him a time out. Felt like a champion.
-in order to convince Baroness Hartwoode to do so, Owen spent a fair amount of time hangin' out with her ward, Gabriel, who is the most adorable child in the universe, so it was not even a bother.
-Fighting one round in the martial tournament, getting luck-disarmed by Alune was epic, and then having to leave for the potential squire meeting.
-Asking half the frickin' nobles at the festival what it meant to be in their station, and getting a solid range of perspectives.
-I guess getting knocked out by a bunch of goblins or something?
-Getting assaulted by a small child- sized smith who cut off Owen's butt, then fingers, and then may have tried to killing blow him. All in good fun though.
-NPCing wolves raiding the BBQ for chicken. We tried to leave peacefully but got BUMRUSHED by every kid in town, ran all of the way to the beach, and they all showed up again. Was happy to see Nostarion and Silvermist try and reason with the youngins, only to end up getting attacked by them too.
-A couple oozes and undead raids never hurt anyone either.
-James in all his bottle-smashing glory during the summit was pretty cool too.
-Speaking with the Baroness about Evernight(Evernite?) until the end of the festival. I think Owen had an obsession with her this event.

Xod was such a pro. Maya loved hanging out with him.

One more - for the first time in two decades I wore armor. One never really forgets how. This will be the new fall, winter and spring look for Edwin.

3rd event, and my first time posting highlights!

First, it was so great to have friends try the game out. Tobias the Londwyn physician won a place in my heart immediately.

Speaking of Tobias, listening to part of the hour and a half conversation between him and Mother Lenore? and a couple others about how divine power works and belief and wow, that was some spectacular RP.

Poetry! Reading in the poetry contest. It was great to hear that people thought I made the poem come alive. Listening to Goggs' passionate reading of my poem about a firebomb. And having my poem WIN! Was quite the honor. Looking forward to writing more for Travance in the future.

Eating tasty treats from the baking contest. Was happy that my cupcakes were well-received, and thanks to the lady who bought my leftovers!

Meeting Lar Sirian. It was great to watch him wield that zweihander!

Winning the singing contest. Melody the dog was hard competition, but the Baroness said I cinched my win with the last note I held.

Treasure-hunting in the woods with my best friends Burkhart and Wuming, then picking up my favourite Celt and Dimetri as temporary party members. The camp is beautffiful, it was a pleasure to see more of it.

Listening to the Summit (as an NPC), seeing the Count for the first time, and seeing all the racial interactions was very interesting. There were some scarfy moments there for shy Mel Carpenter! Thankfully, the men (and Gwyned) seemed very happy to look after her. XD

And last: getting sent out to attack the Count as a regular ol' skeleton, wandering into the inn through the open kitchen door, and getting three hits on Count Winterdark before anyone knew what was going on.

More highlights, as a add on to Meander's; The Divinity conversation with Tobias. I watched him using physician skills on a goblin, so with what little knowledge I had, I decided to have fun with him. So, I approached him and began discussing Londwynian's belief system. He was equal to the challenge all the way up to when he tried to move away and wound up in the middle of four Clergy, who immediately continued the discussion. At that point, I just sat back and watched. :) But, I have to say Tobias did an excellent job combating conflicting ideologies while outnumbered four to one!

While I am adding to my highlights, I wanted to add a moment from the Tourney. In the semi final round being matched against a 2handed Sword wielding gent, (I forgot the name, my apologies) and having him curse softly when he saw my shield stance. The moment was priceless. He won despite his initial assessment, so I salute him for keeping calm and using patience to draw me out. There will be a rematch! :)

Didn't stay long, however, the festival was still amazing. Loved seeing cute little kids running around beating up everyone T'was a great day indeed.

1. Won the Magic Competition-- by participating. Thanks Jonas for the reward!

2. Met a young girl named Fira and her brother. She came to me in hopes of understanding my past, my abilities as a Psion (I was quite honored, to say the least). I was embarrassed that she did remember me from our hometown of Ravenhurst. The famous Avalyn Ode, who got kicked out of the Academy for Psions because she threw the richest girl several feet back into a wall-- inevitably almost killing her.

3. Watched a really cute, competitive battle between Cinder and a little one. Quite the interesting watch.

4. Walked around Travance, only to find Dimetri gawking over a small treasure box in the woods, what a lucky duck!

5. Taught Gregory a fine Psionicist lesson today, by having participants throw juggling balls at him. I had a fun time at least...

6. Before departing from Travance, I ventured around the Inn to say farewell to friends. Yet, as I was about to leave, Secarius pointed out to me a Green Ooze creature about to attack the Baroness. Once again, an adrenaline rush. I placed myself between and defeated the Ooze creature with only two hits. The Baroness came up to me, and asked my name, for it would be the last time since she promised she would surely remember me.

No don't leave us!!! What are we going to do without our favorite psionic with a very bardic name?!