By Jordis Tyra Nightblade

Live Action Role Playing, or LARP, moves the game from your tabletop to the outside world. While some are content to act out the story with minimal props and dialogue, others enjoy immersing themselves as fully as possible. In this introductory adventure, Jordis escorts us to the world of Avalon.

On the morning of August 11th, we embarked on a journey to Middle River to attend Avalon Gathering Five. We arrived at eleven A.M. and began to set up our tents and gear for the weekend. After that, we put on our personalities for the weekend. I dressed in a white skirt and top with gold embroidery and topped it all off with a red pouch belt and cloak. Once I stepped out of the tent, I was in the Mists of Avalon as a gem known as Jewl.

The ceremony to open the gates and welcome the participants was held at high noon. Gathered at the central fire pit, we were welcomed by Queen Anne and King Paul.

From peasants to the higher rank of court princes and princess, everyone around me was dressed in garb. We had bards and fools, warriors, wizards, and priestesses, and children of all ages.

After a great opening welcome, we gathered in the central square and introduced ourselves. Even though I was one of the newest attendees, I found it much like a family reunion. Everyone was friendly and welcoming.

Soon, I was sitting in a gazebo with the women and children. As we talked about how to construct cloaks, the kids played and made their own crafts nearby. Meanwhile, the men were outside throwing axes and shooting arrows at targets.

At four P.M., I joined a small group to learn about Reiki and how to channel energy into your palm chakras. Our teacher was Anne, who delivered the lesson from her throne in a beautifully-made lavender and white lace dress sewn by her daughter. Her home was wonderful – it had a loft, bedrooms, and a kitchen surrounding an old style wood-burning stove. Around the table, people were making bread for a handfasting the next day.

After Reiki, we had supper made at our own camp and then headed to the gazebo for merriment and drinks. One of our local dukes had been working on his homemade mead all year and had a few different kinds to taste. We started with a traditional recipe – it was bitter, reminiscient of a sharp white wine. The next, he made with champaigne yeast instead of brewers’. I found it more bubbly and pleasant. Strawberry banana was not too bad, but tasted a bit like medicine. The blackberry that followed was and is my favorite – or so I thought, because then he pulled out the ultimate surprise: Raspberry ghost pepper mead (yes, you read that right)! It burned all the way down, and while it had a lovely taste, my body does not like hot items and I did have some heartburn afterwards.

Once we’d all had a few shots of alcohol, we continued to the fires for more merriment and more drinking, though I chose to keep the mead buzz rather than adding to it. The bards sang and the dancers danced into the wee hours of the night, even as we headed to our camps.

The next day, I awakened for breakfast and headed to the stone circle dedication. Beautifully placed by the owners for Pagan rituals (as many of the Avalon attendees hold pagan beliefs), it looked like a miniature version of Stonehenge.

After a brief interlude for the costume contest, won by a very shiny knight for the adults and a lovely three year old princess for the children, we had two handfasting ceremonies, both done according to pagan ways. We were able not only to watch, but participate in the rituals as well. When each set of hands was tied and the couples joined as one, we rang small bells tied to twigs. For myself, it was a very nice experience to learn of another culture’s way of marrage.

We had a wild edibles nature walk, in which we accompanied a survivalist who taught us what plants could be eaten and which could potentially kill you in a survivor situation. My favourite of the plants we tasted was the lemon clover. I could have sat in that spot the rest of the day and eaten every last one. It really tasted like lemon meringue pie. Maybe in a past life, I was a grazing animal.

Saturday evening was bookended by the bardic competitions. A wonderful young girl with a voice like an angel won the children’s competition with her gaelic tune. After that, we moved on to the king’s feast – and what a feast it was! We had all tried our very best to bring traditional items from the era. The owners picked and steamed fresh vegetables from their garden. There were breads, meat, and dessert cakes. However, if you didnt have period items, that was okay, too – so there were also meatballs, of which I am sure I could have eaten the whole container! They were lovely.

After we were as full as pigs on a spit, we heard the adult bards. The winner was the owners’ daughter, Robyn, who regaled us with “Colors of the Wind” from Disney’s Pocahontas. Both the music and the merriment continued back at the fires. My favorite bard is still the young Alex and his poi – normally done with balls of fire, he chose glow sticks for this event, which the kids loved. Once the marshmallows were gone, the mead drunk, the merriment wound down, and a meteor shower fading overhead, we headed once again to our tents.

Rain awakened us on Sunday. We made breakfast and packed up our tents as best we could, then finished the rest of the morning in the gazebo, chatting about our favorite parts of the weekend’s event. Just as we heard the call for the Stag King Challenge, the rain let loose in full.

In the Stag King Challenge, the adult men competed for a chance to be Stag King by completing an obstacle course that was simply genius. First, they would sprint to the stone circle at Blueberry Camp. Only after battling a troll would they be allowed over a bridge and down to the spot where feats of strength awaited. Logs, cinderblocks, and tractor tires were lifted, carried, and stacked. A nearby tent provided bows and arrows for target archery. Even damsels in distress played a part in the game as their knights carried them, through a hail of foam-headed arrows, to the waiting gazebo. Thankfully, none of the damsels came to harm! Meanwhile, the rest of the women amused themselves with henna tattoos, chocolate cherries, and cheering for their beaus.

In the end, the winner was a young knight by the name of Mathos. My own knight came in third place.

Since the rain refused to let up, we said our goodbyes and, with promises to return next year, left the mists of Avalon. I’m glad both I and my children were able to have this experience. It allowed me to step into the times in which I role-play here on ReVo and get a real-life taste of what we do in the chat room. I’m looking forward to Avalon Gathering Six and already wondering what the new theme will be!

Avalon Gathering is held each year, and is only one of the many events hosted at Willow Retreat. They also offer survivor training, a womens’ healing and spiritual retreat, and Reiki training. The owners are wonderful. Feel free to look them up if you are interested in attending Avalon Gathering next year – we’d love to see you!

http://www.avalongathering.com/