Dragonlair: Chronicles of Mist
Nov. 17th, 2003 12:45 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
janestarzFriday Voltar came to pick us up. The dragging of bags, writing a note for the neighbour who takes care of the cats, etc. Then NoKey was looking for his water bottle which was mysteriously missing, and when he returned to the car, he was shining. Apparantly, somebody had called. Two weeks ago he had had a job interview, and they called him to say that as far as they were concerned, he could start on Monday.
Which he did, this morning. I waved him off like a good housewife.
Now, here's the story on Dragonlair.
We arrived after a lot of traffic jams, in the forests of Baarn. The red gold on the trees, the leaves on the ground...wow. It certainly set the atmosphere. The terrain was of boyscouts, and a solid brick building was an inn. After checking in, I dropped my big bag o'costumes in the monstertent, and sat in the inn for the talk-before-we-play.
I was badly prepared for this event. I knew nothing of the setting or the surroundings, and luckily there was a small talk beforehand. About the fact that there was no sun but only a red moon on this world, that undead walked the premises and so on. No sun means vampires roaming and so on.
But we'll get to the vampires later.
After the initial dress-ups we were briefed. Some were orcs, some were euhm..other forms of monsters. But luckily Jeroen (gamemaster) asked whether there were people who'd rather not fight in the dark. They were all in all very considerate about personal weapons, wearing masks, allergies to make-up and so on.
In any case, we were dressed up as people who suffered from the pestilence, set for the temple of Funterra, goddess of mercy. Right after the attack from orcs/undead, we coughed our lungs and stomachs out and tried to let the players guide us to the village.
Because we were suffering from the Plague, the players were quite hesitant to let us come close, but with more attacks, the people who kept us at bay (whom my character considered to be guides) left us. So I freaked out, ran in the middle of the group, 'coughed' into Malor and other's faces and nearly vomited because I got so entangled in my coughing fit.
Finally, we arrived in the village, where noone would show us the temple of Funterra. The alchemists tried to heal us, but in the end, one of us died. We buried her corpse in front of the prison of the Marshall, while one of the paladins of Konuni [or something] watched. He treatened to kill us all if we didn't burn the corpse. As soon as his watchful eye was distracted, we went back to the monstertent.
It was a few degrees above freezing, and after praying, crying and coughing my lungs out (almost), my hands were freezing. So I returned the tunic to the monter tent people and sat on a bench cuddling up with Marijke, Brenda and Matthijs, and shared chocolate with them.
They soon went on another monster role, and I got my next role.
The monster tent was amazing. It was the best I've ever seen. An enourmous army tent was set up behind the inn, with another large tent at the back of it. The army tent section was for all monsters to sit. A string of lights on both sides above the benches made sure we could see. The other tent, in the back, held all of the monster clothing, on hangers at the poles. There were a couple of tables with masks in the middle, and a special section for make-up. A few tables stood in the way so that nobody could just go back to the clothing and tear out what they might want to wear. This was good, the tent was semi-orderly most of the time, and only authorized people were allowed back there. At times when Laura got cold, or when it was very chilly out and not too many monsters were in the tent, they would light a heater (one was permanently on, the other really blew loads of hot air out) so that we were not freezing.
Jeroen sat next to me, on one of the few chairs, and asked whether I was enjoying myself. After considering for a while, he said he might have a nice role for me later. He let me read the plot and told me what it was all about.
In the realm, the players had previously encountered a level 70 [eeek!] vampire. This Mordekai had a chalice, which flowed with blood whenever he needed it. But at a previous event, the players had taken this chalice or lost it or something. Now ofcourse they could never get away with that! Mordekai did not only have to childe (both level 35) but also lesser vampires surrounding him. Including one that would be sent to the players that night, a level 18 vampire.
Ofcourse, compared to a level 70 and two level 35 vampires, a level 18 vampire is not very strong. But all in all, this was the second time I got to play a vampire at a live (Moonblade IV was my first time) and this time I was thoroughly briefed and I had read the clan novels from Whitewolf. I decided to treat the players to my Toreador side.
Thus, D'Anjois was born.
Thomas helped me with the fangs. I brushed my hair and clipped half of it in a ponytail high up on my head so that there was a waterfall of hair coming down my back. Laura lend me a bloodred gothic dress, and I wore my black skirt underneath. Then a short black cloak covered my torso, and I put in my fangs. A small legion of about ten undead was fixed up while I wrote down some ingredients on a piece of paper and tried to make myself remember the ultimatum.
[MODE Point-Of-View: "Camille D'Anjois" ON]
I entered the village, neglected the tavern and crossed the bridge to the main square. Behind me the undead grumbled and grunted like they are known to do. I walked towards the fire, and somebody called "People. We've got company." Knowing they would come to me, I stopped and motioned the undead to stay behind me. Three persons moved away from the fire, towards me, and demanded to know my name.
"My name is D'Anjois." I stated.
"These undead are very unsettling" said one of the men in chain mail (played by Henrik), "Could you tell them to wait outside the village?"
I looked at them. Naturally, they weren't very pretty. "Do they frighten you?" I asked them, and turned back to the undead. "Why don't you sit down." It was not a question. I turned back to the people, grinning. My fangs were quite visible.
"That helps" said one of the others. "Now, why are you here?"
"I have a message." I said. "I bring you a message from Mordekai."
Some of the players shifted their weight uneasily.
"He wants his chalice."
A woman approched from the campfire, and joined the group on the left. She softly spoke to the man standing there. One of the other men spoke. "We are working on it. We will perform a ritual to generate a new chalice for Mordekai."
I was stunned. I was prepared to bring them an ultimatum, sick my undead on them, be all high and mighty. I did not expect them to 'be working on it'. Allright. Plan B.
"Very well." I said, not showing my surprise. "When will this chalice be ready?"
"We will have it by tomorrow. We could deliver the chalice to Mordekai."
"That will not be neccessary. I will return tomorrownight to collect it."
The woman who most recently joined us, spoke in an italian accent. "You stink." I stepped closer, showed my fangs and looked her and her familymember next to her in the eye. "At least I do not smell of..." I sniffed their neck from a close distance, but not close enough for me to lose control and sink my fangs in their jugular "...food"
Then I turned and motioned my undead to rise again and follow me. At the bridge I looked them in the sockets of their eyes. "I do not like the way that woman addressed me. Go and play with them."
The undead turned and went back to the village, and I returned.
[/MODE]
After that, the night plot started. But Laura and Jeroen were heading home, and NoKey, Voltar and I went with them because we slept there. I was still hyped about playing a level 18 vampire, and kept my fangs in until I could show NoKey. I tried to bite him but that failed. And Kukident nauseates me.
I didn't sleep too well, but the next morning we had to be up and ready early because Voltar was playing the town Marshall at eleven.
Saturday
First, I played a barbarian cheerleader: Klump. There was a big orcball tournament. The barbarian team was cool. I threw my ponpons [subdue] to the other cheerleaders, the ref was ofcourse brutally murdered, and ofcourse "FIRS WAN TOO SCORE GETS TO GO BOOMBOOM WITH KLUMP!"
We won too! Didn't have a voice left after all that shouting and cheering (if we managed to finish spelling a word). "We gotta K! We gotta I! We gotta L! Kill! Kill! Kill!"
Well, that took half the day away. Then after this, I got to dress up as archologer/merchant. From a mine nearby the village, an earth elemental (that suit was fat!) would appear. But first, the slaves working for us, the dwarfs trying to steal our ore, some orcs living in there, a couple of undead, fireimps and whatnot would run screaming from the mine. Harmen played one of the slaves, and he asked me to drag him back to the mine if he ran away. Which I did. A new technique in hand to hand combat, there. I actually had to grip his hair, he put his hands on my arm, and kicked his feet so I didn't actually drag him through the mud.
After screaming monsters and all that I gathered the slaves, who tried to bury themselves under the fallen leaves.
The earth elemental was fat. When it hit the earth everyone fell over "Mass Strikedown".
Then, after dinner (vegetarian TjapTjoy by NoKey yumyum) I suggested a black fairy. I've never before played such a nice fairy. We could tickle, itch, and charm. I got two fascinate spells too. Dressed in all black, we flew through the village. "Fladder fladder" [Fladder being the dutch word for 'flap' and can be used in singular as well as plural. We used it as a verb as well as an occasional throw-in word in a conversation.]
The best part was when I sat down near the campfire "Lights! Fladderlights [sparks]" and on the other side of the fire, I saw something flap through the darkness for just a few seconds before it disappeared again. That was exactly the right atmosphere we were trying to create.
The grandfather of La Familia (the italian accented people, major undead hunters) talked with us. "Where do you come from"
"There, and there and there and there and there" pointing in all directions.
"Did you see any people doing uuhuuhuuuuhu?" [undead]
"Yes." we nodded
"Where do they come from?" he asked. We flapped to the graveyard, and said "Here. Uhhhuuhhh come from dead people. Here dead people. Graveyard."
We had to run that past him three times before he got that. He also wanted to have us tell him where the undead were, and wanted to tie a rope to our foot. So we gave him an itch.
Seeing that I had only eaten two raisinrolls, a piece of fruit-energy-bar, and some coffee before the TjapTjoy, I crashed before the end of the plot. Besides, the second time I got to play D'Anjois was hard on me too.
With Mordekai, his two level 35 childer (played by Kelly and Aap), and two other level 18 childer, we walked with our small army of undead to the ritualist circle. The fun part was when one of the players "detect undead" and the reply was "level 70, level 35, level 35, level 18, level 18, level 18, and a bunch of level one tru fives". The gasp was almost audible. Then, another player detect undead as well. "One level 70, two level 35, three level 18 and a bunch of levels one thru fives."
The ritual was long and tedious. We all got a bit bored. "Why don't they just...die?"
It was cool, to stand there. Undead rattling around us, players trying hard to focus on a ritual, trying to NOT to be distracted by so many enemies around. After a very long while (and NoKey being a good ghoul indeed) they finished the ritual and Mordekai got his chalice.
NoKey's character had been murdered the night before and had been NPC'ing too besides cooking, and we arranged to crash before Jeroen and Laura went home because I looked like a dead little bird.
In the middle of the night I heard the rest come in, and they said "Ah, look at how cute they are."
Sunday
We slept late, and then Voltar refused to get up from his bed, so we arrived at the larpsite just in time for the final battle. My first and only role which involved real fighting (I don't count throwing ponpons at other cheerleaders as fighting). I got green make-up on, took one of NoKeys staffs, and put on my fur tunic.
The orc leader drilled us to reply "oooooooorrrrk" when he shouted "waaaaagh" and we marched from one of the mines to the village. I think some players shat themselves when they first heard us coming. There were a lot of good and strong players. With only four hp per location and being bashed 4 times with a doube-damage doing hammer after being paralized kind of kills you.
Then Jeroen sent us all in again. The second time I was killed by an arrow draining me, and then being bashed with a sword. NoKey got permission from Laura to resurrect orcs at random and healed me.
The third time a water mage cast a water bold through torso on me. I think I fell over just half a second before his finished his incantation but it looked real cool. The astonished look on my face kind of did it.
The fourth time I was killed was because three chainmailed warriors just didn't have any other orcs to kill but me.
I think all in all I died four or five times.
After the last assault, we got a big thankyou from both the orc chieftain and the gamemasters. We did one last "Waaagh!" "oooorrrrkkk!" (and all the players got scared real bad and looked as though they were shitting their pants).
Because the weather sucked we were all wet and dirty. I quickly undid my tunic, changed into dry trousers and packed my bags. It was fun.
We were home around seven, maybe seven-thirty.
Which he did, this morning. I waved him off like a good housewife.
Now, here's the story on Dragonlair.
We arrived after a lot of traffic jams, in the forests of Baarn. The red gold on the trees, the leaves on the ground...wow. It certainly set the atmosphere. The terrain was of boyscouts, and a solid brick building was an inn. After checking in, I dropped my big bag o'costumes in the monstertent, and sat in the inn for the talk-before-we-play.
I was badly prepared for this event. I knew nothing of the setting or the surroundings, and luckily there was a small talk beforehand. About the fact that there was no sun but only a red moon on this world, that undead walked the premises and so on. No sun means vampires roaming and so on.
But we'll get to the vampires later.
After the initial dress-ups we were briefed. Some were orcs, some were euhm..other forms of monsters. But luckily Jeroen (gamemaster) asked whether there were people who'd rather not fight in the dark. They were all in all very considerate about personal weapons, wearing masks, allergies to make-up and so on.
In any case, we were dressed up as people who suffered from the pestilence, set for the temple of Funterra, goddess of mercy. Right after the attack from orcs/undead, we coughed our lungs and stomachs out and tried to let the players guide us to the village.
Because we were suffering from the Plague, the players were quite hesitant to let us come close, but with more attacks, the people who kept us at bay (whom my character considered to be guides) left us. So I freaked out, ran in the middle of the group, 'coughed' into Malor and other's faces and nearly vomited because I got so entangled in my coughing fit.
Finally, we arrived in the village, where noone would show us the temple of Funterra. The alchemists tried to heal us, but in the end, one of us died. We buried her corpse in front of the prison of the Marshall, while one of the paladins of Konuni [or something] watched. He treatened to kill us all if we didn't burn the corpse. As soon as his watchful eye was distracted, we went back to the monstertent.
It was a few degrees above freezing, and after praying, crying and coughing my lungs out (almost), my hands were freezing. So I returned the tunic to the monter tent people and sat on a bench cuddling up with Marijke, Brenda and Matthijs, and shared chocolate with them.
They soon went on another monster role, and I got my next role.
The monster tent was amazing. It was the best I've ever seen. An enourmous army tent was set up behind the inn, with another large tent at the back of it. The army tent section was for all monsters to sit. A string of lights on both sides above the benches made sure we could see. The other tent, in the back, held all of the monster clothing, on hangers at the poles. There were a couple of tables with masks in the middle, and a special section for make-up. A few tables stood in the way so that nobody could just go back to the clothing and tear out what they might want to wear. This was good, the tent was semi-orderly most of the time, and only authorized people were allowed back there. At times when Laura got cold, or when it was very chilly out and not too many monsters were in the tent, they would light a heater (one was permanently on, the other really blew loads of hot air out) so that we were not freezing.
Jeroen sat next to me, on one of the few chairs, and asked whether I was enjoying myself. After considering for a while, he said he might have a nice role for me later. He let me read the plot and told me what it was all about.
In the realm, the players had previously encountered a level 70 [eeek!] vampire. This Mordekai had a chalice, which flowed with blood whenever he needed it. But at a previous event, the players had taken this chalice or lost it or something. Now ofcourse they could never get away with that! Mordekai did not only have to childe (both level 35) but also lesser vampires surrounding him. Including one that would be sent to the players that night, a level 18 vampire.
Ofcourse, compared to a level 70 and two level 35 vampires, a level 18 vampire is not very strong. But all in all, this was the second time I got to play a vampire at a live (Moonblade IV was my first time) and this time I was thoroughly briefed and I had read the clan novels from Whitewolf. I decided to treat the players to my Toreador side.
Thus, D'Anjois was born.
Thomas helped me with the fangs. I brushed my hair and clipped half of it in a ponytail high up on my head so that there was a waterfall of hair coming down my back. Laura lend me a bloodred gothic dress, and I wore my black skirt underneath. Then a short black cloak covered my torso, and I put in my fangs. A small legion of about ten undead was fixed up while I wrote down some ingredients on a piece of paper and tried to make myself remember the ultimatum.
[MODE Point-Of-View: "Camille D'Anjois" ON]
I entered the village, neglected the tavern and crossed the bridge to the main square. Behind me the undead grumbled and grunted like they are known to do. I walked towards the fire, and somebody called "People. We've got company." Knowing they would come to me, I stopped and motioned the undead to stay behind me. Three persons moved away from the fire, towards me, and demanded to know my name.
"My name is D'Anjois." I stated.
"These undead are very unsettling" said one of the men in chain mail (played by Henrik), "Could you tell them to wait outside the village?"
I looked at them. Naturally, they weren't very pretty. "Do they frighten you?" I asked them, and turned back to the undead. "Why don't you sit down." It was not a question. I turned back to the people, grinning. My fangs were quite visible.
"That helps" said one of the others. "Now, why are you here?"
"I have a message." I said. "I bring you a message from Mordekai."
Some of the players shifted their weight uneasily.
"He wants his chalice."
A woman approched from the campfire, and joined the group on the left. She softly spoke to the man standing there. One of the other men spoke. "We are working on it. We will perform a ritual to generate a new chalice for Mordekai."
I was stunned. I was prepared to bring them an ultimatum, sick my undead on them, be all high and mighty. I did not expect them to 'be working on it'. Allright. Plan B.
"Very well." I said, not showing my surprise. "When will this chalice be ready?"
"We will have it by tomorrow. We could deliver the chalice to Mordekai."
"That will not be neccessary. I will return tomorrownight to collect it."
The woman who most recently joined us, spoke in an italian accent. "You stink." I stepped closer, showed my fangs and looked her and her familymember next to her in the eye. "At least I do not smell of..." I sniffed their neck from a close distance, but not close enough for me to lose control and sink my fangs in their jugular "...food"
Then I turned and motioned my undead to rise again and follow me. At the bridge I looked them in the sockets of their eyes. "I do not like the way that woman addressed me. Go and play with them."
The undead turned and went back to the village, and I returned.
[/MODE]
After that, the night plot started. But Laura and Jeroen were heading home, and NoKey, Voltar and I went with them because we slept there. I was still hyped about playing a level 18 vampire, and kept my fangs in until I could show NoKey. I tried to bite him but that failed. And Kukident nauseates me.
I didn't sleep too well, but the next morning we had to be up and ready early because Voltar was playing the town Marshall at eleven.
Saturday
First, I played a barbarian cheerleader: Klump. There was a big orcball tournament. The barbarian team was cool. I threw my ponpons [subdue] to the other cheerleaders, the ref was ofcourse brutally murdered, and ofcourse "FIRS WAN TOO SCORE GETS TO GO BOOMBOOM WITH KLUMP!"
We won too! Didn't have a voice left after all that shouting and cheering (if we managed to finish spelling a word). "We gotta K! We gotta I! We gotta L! Kill! Kill! Kill!"
Well, that took half the day away. Then after this, I got to dress up as archologer/merchant. From a mine nearby the village, an earth elemental (that suit was fat!) would appear. But first, the slaves working for us, the dwarfs trying to steal our ore, some orcs living in there, a couple of undead, fireimps and whatnot would run screaming from the mine. Harmen played one of the slaves, and he asked me to drag him back to the mine if he ran away. Which I did. A new technique in hand to hand combat, there. I actually had to grip his hair, he put his hands on my arm, and kicked his feet so I didn't actually drag him through the mud.
After screaming monsters and all that I gathered the slaves, who tried to bury themselves under the fallen leaves.
The earth elemental was fat. When it hit the earth everyone fell over "Mass Strikedown".
Then, after dinner (vegetarian TjapTjoy by NoKey yumyum) I suggested a black fairy. I've never before played such a nice fairy. We could tickle, itch, and charm. I got two fascinate spells too. Dressed in all black, we flew through the village. "Fladder fladder" [Fladder being the dutch word for 'flap' and can be used in singular as well as plural. We used it as a verb as well as an occasional throw-in word in a conversation.]
The best part was when I sat down near the campfire "Lights! Fladderlights [sparks]" and on the other side of the fire, I saw something flap through the darkness for just a few seconds before it disappeared again. That was exactly the right atmosphere we were trying to create.
The grandfather of La Familia (the italian accented people, major undead hunters) talked with us. "Where do you come from"
"There, and there and there and there and there" pointing in all directions.
"Did you see any people doing uuhuuhuuuuhu?" [undead]
"Yes." we nodded
"Where do they come from?" he asked. We flapped to the graveyard, and said "Here. Uhhhuuhhh come from dead people. Here dead people. Graveyard."
We had to run that past him three times before he got that. He also wanted to have us tell him where the undead were, and wanted to tie a rope to our foot. So we gave him an itch.
Seeing that I had only eaten two raisinrolls, a piece of fruit-energy-bar, and some coffee before the TjapTjoy, I crashed before the end of the plot. Besides, the second time I got to play D'Anjois was hard on me too.
With Mordekai, his two level 35 childer (played by Kelly and Aap), and two other level 18 childer, we walked with our small army of undead to the ritualist circle. The fun part was when one of the players "detect undead" and the reply was "level 70, level 35, level 35, level 18, level 18, level 18, and a bunch of level one tru fives". The gasp was almost audible. Then, another player detect undead as well. "One level 70, two level 35, three level 18 and a bunch of levels one thru fives."
The ritual was long and tedious. We all got a bit bored. "Why don't they just...die?"
It was cool, to stand there. Undead rattling around us, players trying hard to focus on a ritual, trying to NOT to be distracted by so many enemies around. After a very long while (and NoKey being a good ghoul indeed) they finished the ritual and Mordekai got his chalice.
NoKey's character had been murdered the night before and had been NPC'ing too besides cooking, and we arranged to crash before Jeroen and Laura went home because I looked like a dead little bird.
In the middle of the night I heard the rest come in, and they said "Ah, look at how cute they are."
Sunday
We slept late, and then Voltar refused to get up from his bed, so we arrived at the larpsite just in time for the final battle. My first and only role which involved real fighting (I don't count throwing ponpons at other cheerleaders as fighting). I got green make-up on, took one of NoKeys staffs, and put on my fur tunic.
The orc leader drilled us to reply "oooooooorrrrk" when he shouted "waaaaagh" and we marched from one of the mines to the village. I think some players shat themselves when they first heard us coming. There were a lot of good and strong players. With only four hp per location and being bashed 4 times with a doube-damage doing hammer after being paralized kind of kills you.
Then Jeroen sent us all in again. The second time I was killed by an arrow draining me, and then being bashed with a sword. NoKey got permission from Laura to resurrect orcs at random and healed me.
The third time a water mage cast a water bold through torso on me. I think I fell over just half a second before his finished his incantation but it looked real cool. The astonished look on my face kind of did it.
The fourth time I was killed was because three chainmailed warriors just didn't have any other orcs to kill but me.
I think all in all I died four or five times.
After the last assault, we got a big thankyou from both the orc chieftain and the gamemasters. We did one last "Waaagh!" "oooorrrrkkk!" (and all the players got scared real bad and looked as though they were shitting their pants).
Because the weather sucked we were all wet and dirty. I quickly undid my tunic, changed into dry trousers and packed my bags. It was fun.
We were home around seven, maybe seven-thirty.
