I have returned home from Drachenfest. What follows is a ramshackle look at things from my sleep deprived and not at all readjusted to reality self.
My ribs ache from coughing (I thought I’d kicked the dry cough that’s been plaguing me the last few weeks, but it returned halfway through the event), my feet are sore and blistered but I managed to sleep some on the train and didn’t get food poisoning, which was an improvement over last time. There was the usual nerves around new people, being a first time player and not wanting to look silly. A brutal heatwave didn’t help things, though the rain finally coming gently on the final night and heavily on pack up day felt like a cruel joke the universe playing on us. Oh, and my faction won the event. Yeah, no big deal Actually, it was a BIG FUCKING DEAL, as it’s apparently only the second time that Blue Camp has won in the more than 20 year history of Drachenfest, including the German and American editions. The party camp we may be, but this year we came, we sang, and we fucking conquered!
Who was I? I was Harskal, an Orc scoundrel fleeing slavery who’d heard the call of the Blue Dragon. I’d arrived as a pirate, eager to pillage and plunder, but responsibility has a knack for finding me at LARP and I soon found myself Blue Camp’s most dedicated gate guard/door bitch. How dedicated? I was recognised by our Avatar and the camp Quarter Master (AKA 2nd in command) for my service, and given the honorific ‘of the Crow’s Nest’, a title I carry proudly. All I said was someone has to be in the crows nest, and it stuck. To have my name spoken at all was unexpected (Yes, my self esteem issues follow me into LARP), but to be called out for it in front of Blue Camp like that hit me like a broadside from a man of war. I fell into it as no-one else seemed to be (They were already plenty busy, to be clear) and it swiftly became my niche. It did also have the advantage of not having to move that much, but there were points when the gate crew were bitterly complaining that we’d just sat back down in the shade when another person would hammer at the gates. Still, any grumbling was strictly in character and all in good fun. There were several people who’s arrival immediately prompted a “Oh fuck…”, but it helped make the event.
The post event crash is hitting. The elation of my camp not just being full of lovely people, but that we won still has me buzzing. I’m finding insect bites I hadn’t noticed previously, even after I’d woken during the Thursday night thinking one of my arms was full of them. Sunscreen was incredibly useful and has prevented me being a charred husk. There were players wearing less clothing who were as red as their garb by the end of things, and the folks in heavier garb and armour who somehow didn’t collapse or cook. I salute them. Again, all hail to the people who were rolling a cart of ice water around all event, I can’t thank them enough. The compliments on my kit, beard and roleplay have been almost as wonderful as the water. It’s not the main reason why I LARP, but it’s wonderful for my self esteem. My regular music suggestions now have a pile of sea shanties and folk music amidst them, and my throat is raw from yelling and singing (I use the term very loosely) at the gates, in battle and in celebration. I love this ridiculous hobby so damn much.
PROS:
The people. Gods, they were bloody lovely. Encouraging, friendly, and looking out for each other. A large part of the event’s ethos is playing to lift other people and that came across. You’d get people trying to involve others in plot or just chat to them. Check ins during and after battle, and any time the sun was out. I can’t thank the folks who were rolling a cart of ice water around, they were amazing. Without them, players would have been dropping like flies. It also meant I abandoned any makeup plans after the first day, as just walking outside was hard enough.
The crew. All of them. The NPC team, medical staff, referees, build team and anyone else I missed, they did a hell of a job. They were also kind enough to give me a jump start, when I accidentally drained the battery on the van I’d hired. We learn by doing, or in my case, not doing.
My fellow players. I can mainly speak for Blue Camp, as that was were I spent most of my time, but I’d recommend going Blue for your first event, and no, I’m not at all biased. We’re welcoming, keen on a fight, have amazing bards and our medics are top notch. There was singing, joking and a giant rat. I’ll be honest, I’m not sure what the background was with it, but the player was lovely to interact with and managed to go through an apocalyptically hot week with a giant foam rat head perched atop her head.
The atmosphere. If you look at it from the outside, it’s a bunch of folks with foam swords and rubber ears yelling at each other in a field. But if everyone is dedicated to the suspension of disbelief, it works. The foam swords become steel, wounds feel real and the stakes are life or death. The moments when Blue broke into song led by our head bard felt amazing, as if I was at a Maiden gig when Fear of the Dark begins and that’s no small thing.
The little things. The conversations before battle, the moments before a siege and anything else you could describe as the calm before the storm. Also, the fact that the head Diplomat for Blue Camp’s name was Lucan, which meant I was continually doing double takes when he was called for.
Family. Getting to see my sister and her family again. Herbert continues to be delightful and the Best Dog Ever.
CONS:
The heat. Sweet zombie Cthulhu riding a pogo stick, the heat was brutal. The main play area lacking in tree cover didn’t help. I can’t fault the venue per se, as the previous venue was a victim of last years bushfires, so I’m impressed they managed to find a suitably large venue at all.
The venue. This is both pro and con, as while the walk from where campervans were parked was quite a trek it did mean things were a lot quieter, unlike what I heard about parts of the in character area.
The opening ceremony. It’s not exactly a complaint, but it felt odd that an NPC (The Speaker or Guardian, I don’t recall) emerged, but then the main crew came out and spoke. I have nothing against it, and applaud the welcome to country, but if you ask me the crew should speak, then the game begins.
The closing ceremony. It went smoothly, and there was much well deserved applause for the Dragons and the crew, but at the end it swiftly became a giant clusterfuck and not in the sexy way. Basically, everyone was hanging about trying to get photos and bantering, and some sort of order would have made things a lot easier. Maybe group photos one camp at a time, or back at people’s camps? And no, I’m not bitter because I haven’t seen myself in any photos yet.
Not doing more. I know I couldn’t have done everything, but there was a lot I wanted to see and do. Wander round the other camps, play Troll Ball, enter the Lanterns competition (Though based on the entries I saw I’d have had no chance), or torture people with my singing voice. I also regret not letting a bunch of Blues in while our Avatar was conducting negotiations with Green Camp. The feeling was ‘I’m sitting on a powder keg and letting you lot in would light a match’, but that could have been a hell of a lot of fun. Hindsight’s a bitch. So little time and so much heat. Oh well, next year….
As for next year, oh there are plans. Hire a larger van, take better care of myself. More guns, more costume and I’ve tentative plans to formalise gate duty, or at least make it more comfortable. Maybe even form a small mercenary faction themed around it, with a banner. Pay us and we’ll tell people at your gates to fuck off if they don’t pass the security questions we ask! If I was really going over the top I’d try to build a full size crows nest that looks over the wall, but I’ll likely settle for adding one to a banner pole. That post event burst of ideas is a wonderful thing.
I have been Harskal of the Crow’s Nest and I can’t wait till next year. FOR FREEDOM! FOR DISCOVERY! FOR AMBITION!
