![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Yoshida Reunited!
Nov. 21st, 2004 02:40 pmAt the 'Yoshida Summerhouse' in downtown Tilburg the Drachenfest group reunited. We were early, arriving at Tilburg station at half past three, and waiting for Pluis. We bought Pluis and his girlfriend Esther a nice 'Lucky Bamboo' (in style) and were greeted by Mike and Yvonne and Ignis who were already there. We then quickly made our beds upstairs and changed into hakama, kosode and kimono.
When most of the clan had arrived, some people were sent to the Chinese restaurant around the corner, and they grabbed some rice-menus, most of which were hastily munched by the hungry gaijin Japanese. Nasi Goreng is hard to eat with chopsticks, and to be honest, so is 'bami' (is that the foreign term for those noodle-like thingies too?).
We talked a lot about Drachenfest and other larps, ofcourse. Next year there won't be another Drachenfest (because of 'circumstances' probably) but maybe in 2006 there will be another one, and we will be there. The other major larps in Europe were analyzed. Which ones would be fun to do? The Summoning (Holland) will not be possible, since some of the Yoshida already have characters there. Avalon (Belgium) was also disapproved of for some reason. The Gathering (UK) is so far away that it's not possible to get there in a short trip. We'd have to take the nightboat to Hull from Rotterdam, and then drive the rest. 'Just' three hours to Drachenfest was doable. The Gathering is not.
But we will try to find a new larp to play (actually we've already made plans and I'm trying to be discreet so as to keep it a surprise when Clan Yoshida shows up). And we might organize a 'special' just to get to know the ins and outs of the family better. To practice the kata until are in sync. And ofcourse, to welcome any ronin who want to join our clan. In other words, those who were left out of the group in August, can now comment here if they want to participate. The group will then say whether or not we know them well enough or to be serious enough players. We can't use any dippers, really, and want to keep roleplay at a high level.
Drahkan also spoke of making arrows. We had a great idea to show up at the next Drachenfest with about 200 arrows which would all be disposable (i.e. if they were lost, it's no great loss). He still has that dream, and I very much would like that. So we'll be going to making arrows. If we make it a mass-production and we buy our materials ultra-cheap (wooden shafts, cheap flights, but safe heads) and we make them ourselves, the arrows won't cost 10 euro's each and are not a great loss if they break. I have seen German Larpers handle volleys of arrows, and the one thing you must NEVER FUCKING EVER do is try to hit them out of the air. The arrow might break and the wood (or splinters of carbon- or glassfiber) will be much easier to enter the body. And most Germans I have seen try to smack those volleys out of the air. Which is basically throwing away your safety.
Lots of plans! Anyone who is interested in joining the Yoshida clan can comment and I'll pass along their application for the groups' acceptance,
After dinner, the flasks of sake, prunewine, and mead (I had a 'mede-deling'!) were opened and the official Drachenfest DVD was inserted in the player. We took place on the floor and the couch and on cushions and watched the brutal slaughtering of knights in shining armour by the gruesome, bloodied orcs. They were cool. And an inspiration for future characters. Fear me and so on.
After some bits and pieces of the six hour during Dvd we skipped to the laptop and watched the video's recorded by Josianne's camera. The entire ritual was on it, and it looked really cool and serene, every bit like I remembered.
NoKey and I stayed the night and I had hurt my back during the night (ouch) so I didn't sleep well, but we were welcomed with warm rolls, croissants and coffee for breakfast. Yum!
When most of the clan had arrived, some people were sent to the Chinese restaurant around the corner, and they grabbed some rice-menus, most of which were hastily munched by the hungry gaijin Japanese. Nasi Goreng is hard to eat with chopsticks, and to be honest, so is 'bami' (is that the foreign term for those noodle-like thingies too?).
We talked a lot about Drachenfest and other larps, ofcourse. Next year there won't be another Drachenfest (because of 'circumstances' probably) but maybe in 2006 there will be another one, and we will be there. The other major larps in Europe were analyzed. Which ones would be fun to do? The Summoning (Holland) will not be possible, since some of the Yoshida already have characters there. Avalon (Belgium) was also disapproved of for some reason. The Gathering (UK) is so far away that it's not possible to get there in a short trip. We'd have to take the nightboat to Hull from Rotterdam, and then drive the rest. 'Just' three hours to Drachenfest was doable. The Gathering is not.
But we will try to find a new larp to play (actually we've already made plans and I'm trying to be discreet so as to keep it a surprise when Clan Yoshida shows up). And we might organize a 'special' just to get to know the ins and outs of the family better. To practice the kata until are in sync. And ofcourse, to welcome any ronin who want to join our clan. In other words, those who were left out of the group in August, can now comment here if they want to participate. The group will then say whether or not we know them well enough or to be serious enough players. We can't use any dippers, really, and want to keep roleplay at a high level.
Drahkan also spoke of making arrows. We had a great idea to show up at the next Drachenfest with about 200 arrows which would all be disposable (i.e. if they were lost, it's no great loss). He still has that dream, and I very much would like that. So we'll be going to making arrows. If we make it a mass-production and we buy our materials ultra-cheap (wooden shafts, cheap flights, but safe heads) and we make them ourselves, the arrows won't cost 10 euro's each and are not a great loss if they break. I have seen German Larpers handle volleys of arrows, and the one thing you must NEVER FUCKING EVER do is try to hit them out of the air. The arrow might break and the wood (or splinters of carbon- or glassfiber) will be much easier to enter the body. And most Germans I have seen try to smack those volleys out of the air. Which is basically throwing away your safety.
Lots of plans! Anyone who is interested in joining the Yoshida clan can comment and I'll pass along their application for the groups' acceptance,
After dinner, the flasks of sake, prunewine, and mead (I had a 'mede-deling'!) were opened and the official Drachenfest DVD was inserted in the player. We took place on the floor and the couch and on cushions and watched the brutal slaughtering of knights in shining armour by the gruesome, bloodied orcs. They were cool. And an inspiration for future characters. Fear me and so on.
After some bits and pieces of the six hour during Dvd we skipped to the laptop and watched the video's recorded by Josianne's camera. The entire ritual was on it, and it looked really cool and serene, every bit like I remembered.
NoKey and I stayed the night and I had hurt my back during the night (ouch) so I didn't sleep well, but we were welcomed with warm rolls, croissants and coffee for breakfast. Yum!
