GM: Allison Joy Schafer, Gale Pollard
Players: Matt P, Roisin, Weiyi, Brynn, Em, Sean N, Skinner, Zev, Cin, Gene, Sean H, Suko, Kathleen, Wendy, Morgen, Andres, Ian, Erika, Natasha, Shando, Stina, Isabel, Cassandrus, Jason, Hannah, Steven, and Jess
System: Kingsword
Kingsword is one of those big larps you’ve gotta run over and over and over because so many cool things can come out of it. I played Finn mac Chumhail, leader of the Fianna warriors a poet extraordinaire. I had specifically asked for someone who wasn’t seeking political power and it was great to be someone who just wanted to go on quests, help out his friends, arrange secret marriages, and have sexy times.
I kissed the black fox (don’t care if that meant I failed the test), hid Tristan and Isolde’s secret, found the holy grail, killed the Giant Ysbaddaden, challenged the Green Knight, quested with my buddy Cu Chulainn, laid with my buddy Cu Chulainn, quested with my buddy Olwen, laid with my buddy Olwin (and her husband), and all the while propped up my paramour Prince Peredur. In the end he married into wealth, acquired the holy grail, and was reconnected with family. He also had many lovers, so it was a win all around.
The Fianna grew throughout the game, which was great because we had multiple poetry slams, duels, and chants to make it happen.
SO SO SO SO much happens in this game. Like a classic secrets and powers larp each character has a ton of objectives (I started with 23 and gained so many more in play) and some special abilities, knowledge, or items.
Some of the highlights for me were:
- Starting the game arguing with Cu Chulainn over who was the coolest. You’re so cool! No, you’re so cool! You’re the best!
- Morgane drawing the sword from the stone!!!
- Sir Palamedes IMMEDIATELY telling me, “nah Finn, not interested, not even for show.” Hahahaha.
- Trying to help the Black Fox even though I totally knew I shouldn’t be.
- Listing to the story of Queen Rhiannon (Wendy, you’re just awesome)
- Bringing Olwen into the Fianna and saying “great, all the new recruits can duel you!”
- Hiding Tristan and Isolde’s love. Getting them together by way of Peredur marrying Isolde in a lavender wedding.
- Trying (and failing) to get King Connor and Queen Maeve to fall in love. It was not destined to be.
- Sir Palamedes just whooping everyone’s butt in the grand melee (ALL THE LADY’S FAVORS)
- Cu Chulainn remaking his spear Gae Bulg (wish I could have been there for that)
- Gawain submitting the Green Knight, but not before so many others protested it!
- Finding Aileen the Burner, my ancient foe…and saving her?!?!?! (so good)
- Helping Olwen kill her dad, the Giant Ysbaddaden.
- At the very end, after the game, talking to Queen Guinevere, my only foe in the game, and realizing, oh, she’s just struggling with some stuff herself. She’s not so bad. Wish I had the courage to talk to her before!
- Remembering after the game. “Oh, shit, who killed my dad?”
There were so many more good moments, hopefully these pics capture some of them!
