Beware The Ides of March

Big, exciting news from the land of fantasy medieval combat reenactment!  This past weekend was The Ides of March event at Dragon Hills Retreat in Bowdon, Georgia.  The Ides of March is one of my favorite Dagorhir events.  In case you're just joining my readership (or just don't know what Dagorhir is), Dagorhir is a fantasy medieval combat game (or LARP; Live Action Role Play).  We dress in medieval or fantasy garb and fight each other with foam padded weapons.  That being said, this past event was a big one for me.  One reason that it was important is because it was the first event I've been to since June 2010.  I was very happy to see all of my old friends and make quite a few new friends.

Another large reason that it was a big deal is that my character (whom I have been playing as for over 4 years) died.  Not in the way that we fight, die, and resurrect in each battle.  Full character death.  Before I left to go to New York, my character was going through some large plot points at Sage Hill.  I was possessed by a demon, handing out riddles and prizes, and plotting to overthrow our realm.  Having been gone for a year, there was no feasible way to continue the story (or come back from it).  I spoke with one of the Sage Hill sect of Templar and he said he would help me.  I was camping with Ravenous (more on that shortly) and Rastas approached our camp.  He called me out and I went to meet him in the field in front of where we were camping.  We fought.  Hard.  He expected me to hand the fight to him, but I had to make him work for it.  I took his leg and he called for any part of Sylk (my character who was possessed) to appear and help him destroy The Seeker (the demon).  I dove onto his sword.  Sylk being dead, I am now Scamp in Dagorhir (which should make it easier for me as Scamp is also my name in the fetish world).

Possibly the most important event to take place at Ides was myself joining a unit.  I have been trying to join Ravenous for over a year now.  I was supposed to have my beat-in last Ides, but my ankle problems prevented it.  I wasn't about to let anything stop me this year.  Though I had to wear my walking boot to prevent re-injuring myself, I did my trial.  The beat-in was about endurance.  It hurt me.  A lot.  I was crying from the pain at one point.  I didn't know if I could do it.  But the encouragement of my brothers and sisters helped me prevail.  I had to do 1 versus 1 fights until I beat the Dragon (leadership of the unit) 20 times.  As I got more and more tired, that got more and more difficult.  After those, I had to fight two versus one fights.  After those, I walked the line while all of Ravenous hit me with their weapons.  I am glad I made it through and I couldn't ask for a better unit.  We are brothers.  WE ARE WOLVES!

The event was a great time and I strongly suggest those who aren't already involved in Dagorhir to give it a try,  We always have room for growth.  You've read Tolkein.  We live it.

TTFN, ta ta for now!