September 2016 Event Highlights!!!

Oh boy. This weekend. Where do I begin?

The difficulty part about me going to KR is that unfortunately, due to restrictions like transport, lodging, and in this weekend's case, an event that was happening in Queens, I can only attend during the day on Saturday, and in most cases, never get to main mod as a result. Therefore, for me, I feel that this time around, I was able to get a lot down this weekend in such a short amount of time, and what I thought was going to be my weakest session every ended up being my favorite out of all of them, and I want to make some notes as to what I thought really made this weekend one of the better ones. There may be a few more highlights I may add later, but this is the ones that stand out.

• To start off, for someone that had an interest in the main plot, I had a bad start, and felt stalled for time in the morning while I started to immediate only to get caught in the middle of a hommocuill raid. It was interesting in that I was in-character throughout that time, in that I was left with a decision that internally I could not do, for that that no matter how many times I try, I can never killing blow a target. I don't care what it is, I won't take the life of another. It's too much.
• Speaking with the Enaxian group, and discovering the many styles of the fist, which I was surprised for a number of reasons, but that's all because of how people IG perceive things. Probably just me.
• Helping out with the kitchen group in an irregular basis. I was concerned for the crew being short staffed, but it looks like that worry was not necessary after all, which I was happy about.
• The one great thing about me is that I feel that, despite some people knowing me in character, I can still blend in and have an aura of anonymity sometimes. It's also great for when I need to confuse people to pretend I am not there. Case in point, Swift not recognizing me on first glance.
• The discovery of who Lilith is, and the realization that she is possibly savable if I could only get a way to relate to her potential, as it made me have a roleplaying purpose in getting more involved now with the main plot. (And I don't know what happened in the end so... maybe.)
• The meeting with Eden. I really wanted to speak to you more to decipher you, but I was starting to get my answers about what your purpose was anyway. While we did meet up earlier in the day, I was surprised to hear that she thought I was with another player that was dressed in purple. Still worked out.
• The second lab raid. I am more surprised how many medics were there. Still made me useful though. To which I must add. To the individual that stole my knives during said raid. Well done sir. (claps in sequence) That was the first time that ever happened to me, and I have to commend you, because during the escape sequence, you made my character do a “screw it. I can get more elsewhere” and ditch them, because this had an effect with the next minute in which I saw a killing blow right in front of me. My character was utterly taken out without any way to attack and interrupt it. (I lived, but after the theft scene, I decided to RP as if I carted myself out of the wreckage back into town in a mangled mess, with two broken daggers that I can't tell are mine, or something I took at random during the escape.)
• The lake scene.... I am saving this one for last for a very good reason.
• The last lab raid before main mod, and when I decided to Psychoanalyze Lilith. It felt so glorious to counter that all in one go. (Sorry Matt, but my character has walked down the road of madness before. You can't break what is already broken!)
• Meetings with Dr. Maxwell and Sir Pluvious. It looks like I will not be able to get what I really want for now, but at least what I did get I can work with as a start. Alas, it looks like my natural anonymity is starting to fade away a bit. I feel concerned, but not to the extent I should.
• Also, I have BAD timing when I want to learn something. The one time I need teaching always happens to be the WORST TIME EVER! Which is probably just as bad as most players finding James IG, to which I still have the opposite (read:stupidly good) luck in that.
• The feast. I was concerned that I was not going to be able to settle all that good stuff internally, but it turns out I did. (Except I missed out on the ravioli. Cannot believe that.)
• Lastly, the emergency surgery during the singing, and my character's response after that. (Ladies and gentlemen, this is WHY my character hates singing, because stuff like this happens. Do you want bad things happening, because this is how bad things happen!)

And now, one very special mention comes to the team that deal with that scene I referenced earlier. I won't mention specifically what happened since I want part of that to be a bit FOIG related, but for a number of reasons, there has been one scene in KR that I have been wanting to get in since I started playing around two years ago. (Four if you count my NPC days.) and I have struggled all summer to see if I would get the chance to finally interact with it. Thanks to one good timing, I finally got it, and I intend to get involved with it fully in the future. To that, I thank you so very much for helping me complete that personal objective of mine, and allowing me to interact accordingly. To add to this, I was concerned originally if I was going to create a problem since I was both IG and OOG acting out my feelings, but after speaking to the NPCs, I finally got the handle of things, and made it work, and I apologize to anyone involved (PC/NPC/Marshal or otherwise) if I acted weird or made you uncomfortable as a result. It was not my intention, but I always feel that I exhibit it regardless. Thanks again.

This event was amazing. I didn't get to do as much as I would have liked because of Kitchen obligations, but every time I was involved, it was great.

First and foremost - thank you to Matt. You are amazing. Great work. I have extreme respect for GMs who know how to roll with player ideas and make them have effect, even if they can't 'solve' the plot. You do so at a very high level sir.

Secondly - Ree. I know i'm biased, but DAAAAMN that was a good feast. You are phenomenal.

Some Quick Highlights

All the NPCs were amazing. As I told Matt, the best NPCs are ones who could just as easily be PCs. So damn good.

I wish there was a reenactment of good mod on film. It just left a powerful impression on me.

Midnight Mass and Jed's mass were so much fun.

Fenri saved my life with Maelstrom.

Brutus' Benediction.

Absolutely EVERY moment with Lazarus was amazing. Divine plot hidden in Alchemist plot.

Grim + Lilith = plan Hommuncularians.

Walking out of a 'mandatory' meeting within minutes out of frustration. Long term ramifications of things are going to be interesting.

Lessons, given and received were so good. It is always hilarious when people find out certain prayers, druidics and skills Caldor does NOT have.

Team Treason go!!!

Man on man. Great event. I'll have more highlights when my brain kicks in.

Like Jason, huge respect to Matt for adjusting on the fly to all our Shenanigans. I know Grimkjell isn't the type of character to change the game in the traditional sense of out there RP which throws a loop, but you were ready for my idea, and while I didn't get a chance to execute maybe someday we will. What I saw you doing for creative players was incredible.

The NPCs, both returning townsfolk and homonculi were top-notch. Lilith, Eden, and Gilgamesh have changed Grimkjell's roleplay arc considerably, and Abel and the twins are also going to be a huge thing too in the future. The dynamics of the perfects are a sort of mirror to the Heargens in a way, and I'm going to be exploring that in grim's RP. It hugely challenges his spirituality, and his philosophical side, and it's the most emotionally affecting and thoughtful plot I've played with in some time. Because of how it's written, the NPCs work like PCs, and as such interact as fully as that.

Ree's feast was incredibly good, and on such short notice too.

Brutus has the best Yolo benediction.

The brothers are generally a joy to play with, even if Grim only really talked to Valius and Brutus at any length, all of them were incredibly helpful.

The realization of just how important Dr. Tobias is to everyone when he was trapped, and not only did Grimkjell charge, so did everyone else.

Justice is and remains an incredible combat roleplayer. He's such a challenge to fight no matter what his role.

Forest was such a hugely helpful and positive person and helper for this plot, i was so proud of you. You've grown so much and as one guy who loves to help out here to another, huge respect.

Every interaction with Lilith was... hugely emotional and rewarding for me. The similarities are there, the song was there, even if my voice was wrecked and I got the verses out of order.

The lake shore generally as a place for grim to spend time with not one but three of the perfects was incredible. When Grim and Gilgamesh inevitably go blade to blade, I hope it will be down there, if only for the perfect thematic closure it would provide.

Matt, once again it was great, and with your love of music and mine colliding, know I've collected a soundtrack/rock opera style playlist that will be grim's point of view for the entire event. Look forward to it once I complete it.

Steve's new Hobbit alt is such a wonderful change and joy, 10/10 would play with him again.

Seth is one of the people that caught grim's eye, along with the two new barbarians. Strong warriors with good morals are deeply admirable to him.

My entire NPC was a joy, being the undead swordmaster looking for a place to die, and finally finding it was wonderful. Props to Red Birb, burk, and Matt's cousin for amazing combat roleplay as they each dueled me in succession, and everyone else for smart roleplay in realizing they were honor fights.

Andy did a great job as Hurgar, even if he and Grim and Annora were hugely butting heads. Likewise, Emeline was amazing at being a ruthless warlord, and playing her character in some pretty intense roleplay. Kirsten is wonderful, and the ambassador she played from the counsel of the new dawn was incredibly impressive too, I loved recounting stories to her and wish I had time for more.

Every interaction with Caldor and the rest of the clan, particularly when they started trolling him about Lilith was hilarious. Especially once it spread to other people like Lord Silverbow and Jackdaw.

Now Jackdaw, and the crew of the Winged Victory in general were just so very much on this event. Though we interacted marginally and mostly between big scenes of action, there's a huge level of respect there on Grim's side now. I love the dynamic of Grimkjell being permanently annoyed by Jackdaw while also liking him, it's a very fun one to play out.

The political explosion and aftermath of main mod is going to be hugely interesting going forward, and plays a lot with the moral ambiguity of father and his homonculi as well.

The homonculi have become Grim's quest. No. They've become his crusade.

Cassie was top-notch as lois, even though i didn't see her much, I was witness to an excellent scene with her and Emeline, as well as some fabulous roleplay when she explained her new "condition" to Grim.

Ketryn and kardin were enormous pains in grim's brain. to you both, even if you give my character a huge headache.

Some fun little talks with Gideon and Rudolf, like always.

Oh my goodness, ben as Lawrence was hilarious. Especially with how terrible a liar he was, and his odd addled version of heroism, which oddly enough led to one of the most serious and painful moments of the game. "The dream knight is one of the 3 heroes of travance. True heroes."

"And he's dead." -Grimkjell

Ben Herman also gave me a great compliment during cleanup, but I'll keep it to myself.

After no longer smelling like a garbage truck and having a full night's sleep, my favorite highlight of the event was before the thing even started. "Change my story." It was so refreshing to hear the guy running the show, perfectly encapsulate what KR is all about. One giant, collaborative story with several hundred writers.

I knew there were almost two dozen people helping Logistics full-time, but it never hit me until Matt held a meeting with all of us and I did a double-take. The backstage camaraderie and silliness was amazing and I'd work with you guy again any time. Alice and Lauren, thank you so much for helping us put our faces on; Lauren, I'm sorry I immediately cried off the eyeliner!

Brian H., thank you for the makeup tips!

The perfects, you guys looked great. You know, from a safe viewing distance.

Walking shoulder to shoulder with the brothers in an Inertial Barrier through a swarm of homunculi and a slayer only to walk--apparently menacingly--toward Jed as he bursts the barrier in one shot. Rook jumping in between us with her arms outstretched and telling him not to kill us. My hero.

Rachael dancing out of Logistics as Yo-Yo and half of the crew deciding to white headband that mod. So good. Kestrel flipping the table on its head. My inner Nalick was so proud.

Ludwig and Brutus bonding. Rounding the corner to Logistics and falling over laughing because Dustin is a comic genius and like he said, we should never be allowed to NPC together.

A late-night philosophical talk with Meander about the so-called "Perfects" and how perfection impedes progress. It was a nice little moment of getting into character.

Sitting in Logistics Saturday night and seeing nothing but brand new faces all around.

Lastly, finally being able to relate to the wonders of the post-larp shower.

'Til next time, guys.

I have to jump back to mention Dominic. His farewell and how much Caldor tried everything from begging him to keep the fuzzy vest (I swear if you wear it forever, your love of it will keep you from dissolving) to asking Arawyn, Galladel and indirectly galmachis if he could be saved. Finally having to let him go in the most honorable but painful way. And then peaches just stepping it up and making it even more painful and awesome.

Special nods to Josh and Connor for everything about how they handled that.

Going into this month’s game, I can honestly say I had more than a few questions about how it was going to go. Matt has some wild ideas and the previous one with all the allies to be collected was a wild ride then. This one? Well I can decidedly say this much-

This was Some Event… Well Done, my friend!

Friday:
-Watching the interactions between the brothers and the town… helping to shield them from the Perfects at one point while wondering about the story of the Perfects. Knowing this was going to get ugly, just didn’t know when. I needed to speak to the perfects to see where their thoughts really were… and if they were capable of true independent thought.

-Talk with Gilgamesh Part One. Excellent discussion about combat, fighting style and no one style is “perfect” for everyone. A resolve and agreement to spar at some point is made… then there is the-
-Lillith talk and challenge. Can a spoiled child persona Perfect learn how to bake? We will see….
- the return of Teska. Good to see you, my friend.
-A talk with Gideon on matters of Brazen… and interrupted yet again (as all our talks seem to be). I have come to expect there will never be a completed conversation between us. Ever.

Saturday:
-Morning Coffee Mod with (redacted)
- The Mass that Wasn’t. Brazen Mass was not well attended this month… and of course, it was set upon by the imperfects and a Hunter. Excellent running battle both by kaladonia and then near Pendarven. All fights were a blast… Would fight again.
- The Lab raid and an example of why physical barriers are not a worry for a skilled Priest of Brazen. Matt, the smile on your face when I did what I did after all the science attempts to bust the barrier…. About eclipsed your head. All I can say is “Brazen Provides.”
- Jed Mass. I admit I was curious how this was gonna go as an invite was decidedly unexpected... And I was impressed with what was seen and said. Well Done, Judge and everyone who spoke.... well done.
- Talking with the First Brazenite of Travance…. And learning that as far as Templar Tancil Greyfist is concerned, Brazen tells him that he accepts me as worthy of the title and role, as I have proved myself as a defender of the Faith.
- Gilgamesh Talk Part Two with Birgitta. A long and varied conversation with the Perfect yielded an agreement and a willingness to look at something from a different angle. Too bad it wasn’t used… but decision to ignore the idea came from above this merc’s paygrade.
-The Birgitta and Lois Agreement. Y’all just don’t know….
- Post Main counseling of a heartbroken and depressed Wulfgar. “Lad… Jack became the hero he always wished to be… and died as epic a death as any legend in the tales told by Wise-men in the North. Be happy for him and be proud.”
- Shenanigans in the Encampment

SUNDAY:
- Counseling a young adventurer on a life path…
- Breakfast meats off a campfire for the Win.
- The easiest pack out from the encampment EVER.

This event was excellent. The RP opportunities, the interactions and seeing old friends… and meeting legendary ones (Dame Dar’Hanna of Winterdark, anyone?)

Next month will be very interesting… on sooooo many levels.