Science of Murder event

Had great fun this weekend all be it very tiring, at the Ascendacy lrp Science of Murder event, probably the nearest Ascendancy will ever get to a traditional murder mystery.

Yes the Butler did it, although the butler killed himself after transferring the murder victims brain into the butlers body, so I suppose the butlers body did it, but not the butlers consciousness I'm sure that makes sense to all my readers.

My main contribution to the event was lots of steam punk props which I will write about separately soon, plus a really obnoxious character.

I enjoyed watching Dave's comedy Cybernetic Gorilla handler who forgot his name and did eventually unleash his not so deadly Gorilla. I did have a lot of fun being in the middle of two or three players mad pressing of the "Do not press this Button" moment which resulted in a couple of hours of chaos and brain swapping.

Anyway this is a quick post with a few photograph below, as soon as I have chance I will put the rest on the photos of players Ascendancy web site.

My steam punk props specially prepared for the event


Julie and Andy the two rotters who tried to steal the money my character was about inherit.



Heather with her urchins pre yellow face paint, which is pre red face paint.


Heather playing a combat nun

Julie working repairing the chains

Me playing a unnamed boot licker of Ubilatis Grim, with newly painted green legs

Amy pre Cybernetic Gorilla.

Julie playing Mrs Periwinkle the murder victims wife.

Dave has just strapped a ladle to Grahams head then covered it in fabric, the improvised Heron costume highly amused those present.

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Insey winsey spider came rushing out a bush for his freshly delivered lunch just as I arrived home last Sunday so he got snapped by my camera.

If there is a spider expert out there, what's his name?

Mud and flies

I spent my weekend crewing a Ascendancy Larp event for Alex, a special one off event to celebrate his birthday and also see off two of his friends emigrating to America.

(Alex wearing his Raven Hat)

The event was at a Shining cliff, a regular site that despite a lovely weekend of weather was more muddy than it gets in the winter due a good month of rain preceding. The damp conditions had brought out the flies and the whole forest buzzed quite loudly with millions of them, at least the forest ants where not as active as usual.

(Me has one of Finalays elite guard)

Julie wrote the event more or less on her own the odd idea was thrown at her but I'd been concentrating on future events and battles, other ref RichS had been ill with zombie plague pig flu and Andy was tied up with future prospects for his store, so it all fell on her to organise so I was glad she at least made one day to see the players and be involved in her hard work.

(Photo below Julie has a villager)

Alex got a few birthday plot surprises, and the players really enjoyed themselves, it was a one off for them so not sure they will be back but I heard at least one say the event had made him want to take up larping again, so it was a great success.

(Julie has the Noodle lady in disguise)

On Saturday I manage to kneel on a sharp stone heavily which not only cut my knee open but made it swell overnight, even though I didn't discover the cut until I showered. Then I had nocturnal leg cramp which made my eyes water and left me limping for the first 30 minutes of my morning. To add to my woes I discovered by time I reached the event around 10am Sunday morning I had begun too fell ill with something, I felt weak, queasy, cold and clammy and started to get a pounding headache, I can only assume I must have looked a little pale or ill since Andy kept asking me if I was alright, however by the time of the last encounter I was feeling much better, and feel fine now apart tired and aching muscles.

Other than that I really enjoyed myself both days, Saturday was lots of fighting, I got to play a dwarf and other combatants, on Sunday I was given the role of player escort since Andy believed I knew the plot and possible I looked ill, well it seemed I did know the plot everything went smoothly and I got to play the evil bad (well at least in the players opinion) Dark Rider or Bringer of Light has he call himself until I got walloped away by a raven staff wielding witch.

(Me has the Dark Rider)

(Below RichS and below that Dave had Nightmare's, Dave has a very good eye for costume and make up.)

(Dave again has our visitor from the dreaming)

The photo above was full of people and blue bags in the background so I re-touched them away

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Skeleton with crossbows from a table top battle

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Cat in a window

Battle for New Tara

Sunday I looked after a war game the battle for New Tara part of the AscendancyLRP system using Warhammer rules.



The game ended up with far more players than expected not only Sam(Wood) & Gareth(War), turned up but James(Alex), Jak(Garaw), ChrisA(Jaunty), Kieron(Marlow), Dan(Bulverik), and (Alex)Joseph. So we had 8 players v Andy and John who where not only outnumbered off the battlefield but on with the players having far more points, lots of characters and magic, still even so the victory condition where such that Andy & John could still have created a victory.



So with 10 people all wanting the odd answer every few seconds I was glad to have Alex there who knew Warhammer rules far better than me and answered most of the technical question, leaving me to deal with special Ascendancy rules and the battle right up.



The battle was finally won by the players 35 points to 24 points closes than it looked, a long day but but enjoyable.

(click image for larger picture)

Craven on his beast next to the Black Knights.


Skeleton Crossbow.


Chance fights Necromancer.


Tsunami Fights Ghouls.


Zombies.


Havelock reaches the gate.


Garaw Fights Zombies

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A Sheep