Dragon's Dirge - The Second Expedition

Although the first expedition to Dragon Coast resulted in calamity, we still held out hope for the second expedition, which was sent to Dragon's Maw Keep (the old capital of Dragon Coast). A few days later we were rewarded with the sight of a bedraggled ship limping into port. I immediately rushed down to the docks to greet the survivors. Based on the shape of the ship, I expected nothing less than another tale of woe.

The captain of the expedition explained to me that they also ran into a pack of Dragonians and had to cut their way through. Thanks to the fine fighting of one of the warriors, Newlok Blackstar, the expedition was able to defeat the dragonians and reach the Dragon's Eye.

Newlok Blackstar (RIP my friend)

Also like the first expedition, the party was suddenly beset by wyverns. They swooped on the bearer of the Eye. However the party's archers provided cover, allowing the bearer to reach the ship unscathed. Then the remainder of the expedition made a mad dash for safety. Some fell to the wyvern's aerial attacks, but enough made it back to set sail.

The expedition's troubles were not over, however. As the ship sailed away, a dragon swooped upon it.

The crew gathered to repulse the attack. When the dragon reared back to unleash a blast of fire, ballistas loosed a hail of bolts. The dragon then tried a low pass, slashing at the crew with its wicked claws a razor teeth. The expedition fended it off with pikes and arrows. The ship was scorched in multiple places and one mast fell. Still the crew battled on. Finally, the beast took a ballista bolt in the eye. Frustrated by the stalwart defense, the dragon grew tired of the fight and flew back to the Coast. The crew breathed a sigh of relief; they had succeeded.

When the captain finished his narrative, some of the sailors disembarked carrying a a stretcher with a covered body. I asked the captain who it was.

"Newlok." he said with a sigh. "As always, he was in the thick of the fight. This time . . ." He trailed off with a sigh of deep emotion.

I too was struck with emotion. I had known Newlok for several years. He was an excellent fighter, a man of great energy, a great leader, always willing to help, and a boon to the community. It is hard to believe that he is gone. Godspeed, Newlok.

OOC Notes

• I actually don't recall which team our friend Newlok (aka Cody Burkett) played for. I wanted to mention his name as a tribute. Sadly, Cody passed away a few days after the event. :(
• The part with the dragon is purely fictional. I considered it as a scenario but decided it would be too complex. However, I feel that it makes a nice, logical scene for the expedition's escape.
• As I mentioned previously, each team had a chance to play the expedition. Both managed to retrieve the eye but only one made it back to the ship. I don't recall who was the captain or who was on the winning team.

Dragon's Dirge - The First Expedition

After the re-discovery of Dragon Coast, I, Brother Rufus, outfitted two expeditions to search for the sacred stones known as the Dragon's Eyes. One expedition was to make its way to the keep at Serpent Springs, in the northern region of Dragon Coast while the other sought out the old capital.

According to the reports I have received, the first expedition quickly ran into trouble. As they pressed inland, they encountered Dragonians - creatures that are half man and half dragon. The Dragonians refused to negotiate with the party; they simply attacked on sight. Nevertheless, the expedition managed to carve its way to Serpent Springs. There they found the first Eye.

But could the party make its way back to the ship? At first, things seemed to go smoothly. The Dragonians retreated, seemingly afraid of the Eye. But then a new horror awaited the party.

 
A swarm of small wyverns descended on the expedition. Their fireballs scorched the soldiers, destroying shields and incinerating the unfortunates. The party scrambled to hold off the aerial attacks, but the wyverns overwhelmed the defenders. The last few survivors dropped the Dragon's Eye and fled back to the ship. Fortunately, the wyverns gave up the pursuit, and the remnant of the expedition was able to sail away from Dragon Coast without further incident.

Thus, the first expedition failed in its quest. But what of the second expedition? I still await word.

OOC Notes

• On Sunday I hosted a day battle to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Dragon Coast's founding. Naturally, I had to have a dragon theme.
• The first scenario was sort of Ring the Bell. The expedition had to reach the objective (an Amtgard throwing weapon shaped like a stone) within a designated time. I split the participants into 2 groups. Each group had a chance to play the expedition. Both parties managed to reach the stone. Hollywood's team managed to do it in the least time.
• The second scenario was sort of Heavy Object. This time the expedition had to bring the stone across the field within a certain time. One of the parties failed; I am using their experience as the basis of the story.
• In both scenarios, the enemy was an army of dragonians. Dragonians had thick skin so they received a point of bubble armor (ignore first hit). The expedition had a healer. I originally was going to have wyverns attack the expedition in the second scenario. For simplicity I changed it to dragonians, although I gave them fireballs. For narrative purposes, I changed the enemy back to wyverns.

The Honey Bear Hunt

The grand tournament had just completed when a messenger approached King Xhorja.

"Your Majesty, an urgent missive from Queen Beatrice of Hive Island." the messenger stated as he bowed before the monarch. Xhorja took the message and read:

King Xhorja, 

I am in dire need. The honey bears have raided our hive and have stolen all our honey. We require assistance. Please send us hunters who can capture the bears and recover our honey. If we don't, our hive shall face starvation. 

With Gratitude,
Queen Beatrice of the Hive 

P.S. I do not wish to see any harm come to the honey bears. Please subdue rather than kill them.

Xhorja called out, "Prepare yourselves, lords and ladies. We are going on a hunt!"

A few days later, King Xhorja's party arrived at Hive Island. Queen Beatrice reiterated that she did not want the honey bears hurt. King Xhorja had the party's weapons ensorcelled so that they could not wound but only subdue. He then gave the instructions:

"Whoever returns with the most honey shall be declared Champion of the Hunt!"

The hunters fanned out across the island, tracking the thieving bears. Soon, many scuffles broke out. Honey bears are not typically aggressive, preferring to snack upon their favorite food than fight. However, when their honey is threatened they can become quite fierce. Many a hunter fell wounded by the sharp teeth and claws of the bears. Fortunately, Orion was prepared with healing spells. He traversed the island, restoring the wounded.

Another tactic of the bears, when desperate, was to throw some of their honey at their pursuers. The honey would temporarily stick the target in place. Some of the bears used this tactic to escape.

Ultimately, the hunters gathered up most of the honey. They returned and had their hauls weighed. Orion had the largest cache, just edging out Artemis.

"Orion," asked the impressed king, "how did you manage to gather so much?"

"Simple, Your Majesty," Orion replied. "I traded heals for honey."

Well, the king found himself in a bind. He merely stated that whoever returned with the most would win. He did not specify how one should get the honey. He had no choice but to declare Orion Champion of the Hunt.

OOC Notes

• This is the story of last Sunday's scenario. Robb wanted a hunt but Elizabeth doesn't like to see animals hurt (even if they are fictional). So I devised the honey bear hunt to satisfy both of them.
• There were 2 teams - one of hunters and the other honey bears. After 10 minutes, the teams switched roles.
• Hunters were allowed to play a class
• Bears had 1 point of natural armor, 2 short or long weapons (natural), and a "honey shot" spell that worked like Hold Person.
• Both bears and hunters had unlimited lives.
• Each bear carried a piece of honey candy (literally). When subdued (achieved with an otherwise killing blow) the bear would hand over his/her candy. The bear could then re-spawn and get another piece of candy.
• At the end of 10 minutes, the hunters counted their candy. After both sides had a chance to be hunters, the person who gathered the most candy was declared Champion.
• Orion played a healer and, as noted in the story, won by trading heals for honey.

The Castellans of the Shrouded Isles

By order of His Royal Majesty, King Xhorja Wladomyr Borghikov I, the following individuals have been granted the title of Castellan. They are to be addressed as Squire by the populace of the Shrouded Isles.

Squire Bishop, Castellan of Evergreen Glen
Squire Bishop describes Evergleen Glen as "a small territory established by the Church of His Light. Capital is the small town built around the abbey "Ivory walls" dedicated to the order of our Martyred Lady. The abbey is located in a large clearing in the deep woods. The land is mostly small towns carved from the scattered forests. The abbey is home to the knights of the Twin Kings, a military order of the faithful. Two large roads run across the land in a cross, these roads are known at Salvation and Eternity and are the primary roads in the territory, often patrolled by the knights of the Twin Kings."

Squire Hexa, Castellan of Frogleggs
Squire Hexa describes Frogleggs as "so obscure and off the map that most people have never heard of it. Another reason is that it is not inhabited by humans, save for one swamp witch. Hexa lives in the middle of the swamp in a little, rickety house with a little, rickety porch. She does not live alone in this dreary, bleak bog: there are also many cats, birds, and Knotters, a race of small, tree-like people. The Knotters--with their little wooden bodies, dark cloaks, and wood knots for eyes--are a race either feared, or entirely unknown by most realms. Luckily, they get along just fine with Hexa, and she garners their help with the making of her potions, herbal remedies, and random knick-knacks of fairy. She sells mostly on AmazonMedieval, the profits of which she donates a portion to KnottersInKneed (a non-profit she incorporated herself, so as not to be taxed on the income)."

Squire Rufus of Freehaven, Castellan of Providence
Squire Rufus describes Providence as "the home of the Wardens, who populated the island after the Faedwyr devastated Ember Shoals. Their stronghold of Heron Hall defends the capital city of Freehaven. Providence features a broad plain on the western side of the island (perfect for farming) and a wide bay (where shipping can find refuge). The eastern side is dominated by precipitous mountains and impenetrable forests. So far, its settlements have been at peace, but there are reports of fell monsters that roam these mountains and forests."

His Majesty Xhorja Wladomyr Borghikov I, King of the Shrouded Isles and Castellan of Oblazdt Vaersahw
King Xhorja describes Oblazdt Vaersahw as "Tucked away in a remote corner of the archipelago, lies a largish island cloaked in a perpetual heavy miasma.

It is home to a single, unnamed overpopulated city with several serf villages that pay tithes to its dark master; the Dirgemaester called Xhorja Borghikov.

A bleak mountain range called "Szczeki Zapomneinia"(Jaws of Oblivion) in the local tongue encircles three sides of the island, eventually giving way to foggy hill country & moors before ending in to the Schwarzervald (an immense forest) & the vast grasslands called Polyaskla("Fields of Glass")...

The most striking feature of the island however is, Thryng Amrhornarskaud. Built into the face of a mountain sides, this place was once a sacred site to the now long extinct dwarves of the isle.

The "Temple of the Shadows Song", is now where all manner of fel creatures attend the court of the Dirgemaester.

Here the blind Kobzhari play the ancient Dumas to keep the people afraid & their master in power. That's the strangest trait of the isle...stories & song hold power, real tangible power. The more they are believed...the more deific their subject becomes."

Attack of the Undying

After being chased by the Undying to the Castle of St Kessog, we the Iron Heart Accord found ourselves under siege by the army of undead. We thought we had a large enough supply of food to sustain us until reinforcements arrived. Unfortunately, none came. Furthermore, our enemy did not have to worry about food or water - they could wait for us indefinitely. Oh, they tried a few assaults but we beat them back. After that, they seemed content to let us starve.

And it looked like their plan would work. As winter ended and spring sped on, we found our supplies dwindling. We cut our rations in half, and then in half again. We grew weak from malnutrition; we would be lucky to hold off any assaults. Then one day Brother Warren was praying in the chapel late one night. He placed a crust of bread upon the altar then went to sleep. When he awoke, he found an entire loaf where he placed the crust. He checked around but no one else went into the chapel that night. Was it a miracle? He tried it the next night, leaving a slice. In the morning their was an entire loaf. Surely St. Kessog was aiding us! That very night we placed our entire food supply in the chapel. The next morning it was overflowing with food. We were saved!

The Undying must have learned of the miracle, because they renewed their assaults upon the castle. They finally managed to destroy the gate and rushed en masse against the castle entrance.

Our warriors plugged the gap, holding off the undead with their shields. Occasionally, one of ours fell, only to have his brain eaten by the Undying. Our archers were busy thinning out their ranks, until we ran out of arrows. Then they picked up swords and joined the fray.

The numbers of undead proved to be irresistible. They stormed through our defenses, slaughtering any of our number in their way. They gained hold of the courtyard and were smashing through the doors to the keep.

Meanwhile, Brother Warren rallied the reserve in the keep. He strode to the door, the Cross of St Kessog (a holy relic of the revered saint) upon his chest. He called to his brothers-in-arms.

"Brothers!" he proclaimed, as he pointed to the relic. "St Kessog has already saved us once, providing us food in the direst of times. By this cross, he shall provide again. The battle is won, we only need to lift up our swords and chase of the foe! Who is with me?!"

The reserve cheered in unison and rushed to the door. They sallied through the doors and smashed into the Undying, hacking and slashing a path through the walking corpses. Then, an Undying blade lashed out and slashed Brother Warren across the chest, smashing the Cross of St Kessog. It split in two. There was a stunned silence - then a shock wave emanated from the broken cross. It cut down all the Undying in the courtyard. With renewed fervor, the Iron Hearts sallied from the castle, chasing down the last remnants of the assault.

However, I had to blow the horn to regroup the troops. In the distance, I could see Strifelord Ekthor rallying his forces for another attempt at the castle. Despite our momentary victory, he still had the numbers to overwhelm us. We had to be ready for a second assault.

But then we saw Ekthor turn away from us. He began to reorganize his lines, facing them in the opposite direction. Could it be? Reinforcements?

Then a bitter wind blew from beyond the lines of Undying. Icy rain and hail began to pound down upon the landscape. A frosty blast coated the trees with ice. In seconds, a chill winter had descended upon Ember Shoals. We could barely see anything, but we heard the sounds of battle. Then we could see the remnants of the Undying army fleeing from the field.

Out of a frosty haze a new army approached. They looked like shaggy white apes with blue faces. Urging them on was a tall, skeletal figure. His pinched skin was an icy bluish white. He wore a crown upon his head. He stopped, a expelled a deep breath. A blast of frigid air rushed from his mouth.

"Oh _____." one of the warriors next to me exclaimed.

"What?" I asked, scowling at his blasphemy

"Do you not know? Have you not heard the stories? If they be true, then we are as good as dead. For that appears to be the Winter King!"

 "_____!"


OOC Notes
It has been a few months but we finally got a chance to run another lore scenario. I am continuing the Holy War against the Undying, which began last year. Some notes:

• I (Rufus), Chris, and Orion played the Iron Heart Accord while Xhorja, Artemis, and Bas were the Undying.
• We played a castle battle, with the Undying trying to seize the control point and hold it for 30 seconds. The intention was to allow both sides take a turn as defenders. However, the heavens opened up and we got pummeled by rain, ending the game. I added it to the story, although in reality it wasn't icy.
• The incident with the cross is also based on an actual event. My wooden cross was broken in the midst of battle, although I did not notice it until later. I embellished the story for narrative purposes. Likewise, the Undying did break through the initial defense. Xhorja reached the control point and held it for 10 seconds before the defenders counterattacked, killed him, and drove off the rest of the undead. 
• We used Amtgard militia rules, with a couple of special scenario rules for flavor. The Undying were slow, but could eat the brains of any of their victims to gain a point of bubble armor. One member of the Iron Heart Accord had a swift heal ability.
• We did not get to the second scenario I had planned - the emergence of the Winter King. Stay tuned!

Metal Destruction

As recorded previously, an automaton was terrorizing the countryside. A band of rangers stumbled upon its handiwork and tracked its path of destruction. They quickly alerted the King of the Shrouded Isles.

King Beast formed a party along with Xhorja and Magnus. Guided by one of the rangers they rode to intercept the automaton.

When the thing saw them it lumbered inexorably toward them. Xhorja had been practicing his archery, however, and had a couple nasty surprises for the construct. First he loosed a destruction arrow. With one shot, the automaton's shield was gone. His next shot pinned the thing in place. Then Beast and Magnus leapt into the fray, hacking and slashing, knocking iron pieces from the automaton.

The construct lashed at, wounding Magnus. He had to retreat from battle. It then worked itself free and advanced on Xhorja. Once again he managed to pin it. The three heroes then finished it off.

The terror of the automaton was over. But where did it come from?

OOC Notes

• Today we hosted a day battle, but numbers were poor. Thanks to those that did show. I thoroughly enjoyed the fighting.
• We ran an Iron Man. Congrats to Newlok for his victory! 
• After Newlok had to leave, we played a class game with the remaining participants. I decided to bring back the automaton from last month. This time I was the automaton while Beast, Xhorja, and Magnus tried to hunt me down. Xhorja's special arrows proved to be decisive.

Enter the Unholy

This is a report that I recently received from one of the few poor souls who escaped from the advance of the Undying:

Screams, pleas for mercy, and the gurgling death knells of the dying echoed throughout the burning village.

The blazing buildings with the living barred inside backlit the the throng assembled on the village green. Hundreds of vaguely humanoid shapes coalesced into a wall of shadow, watching with cold, empty eyes; the aftermath of the slaughter they'd enacted.

They stood before the village's shrine, mouthing silent profanities to their nameless dark benefactor. Upon the shrine's altar, an elderly bearded man lay bound and whimpering. Grisly runes carved into his chest wept, glinting occasionally from either the fires or fell sorcery...one could not tell.
A horn sounded. It's blast trumpeting thrice to herald the arrival of one of The Undying's dreaded generals, a Death Knight.

They were unwholesome men and women who were neither truly dead nor totally alive but, somewhere in betwixt. Unholy rituals and black pledges to unnamed evils allowed them to cheat the grave...and return stronger than ever.

The assembly parted to reveal three riders on skeletal steeds with eyes of blue-black flame. Their hooves singed the earth where the stood. Their caustic touch marking them unnatural beasts. Of the riders, two were immense beings clad in blackened plate, a greatsword slung across their saddles. One held a banner; a field of divided red & black. It's device a crowned skull.

Oddly, the third rider stood out. Smaller than the others. Thick of limb and clad in light armor. A strange mask made from basalt stone adorned his face. It too was shaped like a crowned skull and hid his pallid features.

He dismounted and then strode to the huddled man on the altar. The old man struggled against his restraints to no avail. Garbled pleas spewed from his mouth as the Death Knight's gauntleted hand reach toward him.

He shrieked, stiffened, eyes wide in terror.

"Thy lifeforce is mine, alderman." said the stout Death Knight nonchalantly.

At the alderman's drained husk rolled off the altar to the ground. Wispy tendrils of green hued smoke curled from the corpse's facial orifices. The Death Knight turned on a heel and walked back toward his steed.

"Plant the banner at the altar, let it mark the fates of any whom would dare oppose us," ordered the stout Death Knight to his companions, "They will know the name of Ekthor Ebonflame before the turning of the moons!"

Flicking the reins of the hellsteed, Ekthor, set off to the next village on the island...the Undying horde following not far behind.

I remember the name of Ekthor. He was one of those who followed Chaplain Hawthorne when he left the Wardens and founded the Witch Fynders. How did he come to lead the vanguard of the Undying?

OOC Game Notes

• This story is part of the background for our upcoming HFS day. I'm calling it the Holy War because it will feature the Wardens vs. the Undying.
• Robb Rodgers (aka Xhorja) penned the above story. He will be playing Ekthor so he took it upon himself to come up with a backstory. Nicely done!

Chasms and Corrosion

Upon learning of the giant attacks in the High Forest, I Rufus organized a force of the Ironheart Accord to provide reinforcements. After landing on the island, we learned that stone giants had abducted some of the local villagers. We rushed to their rescue. The stone giants had set up camp upon a promontory that could only be reached by a natural bridge that wound between gaping chasms. We charged along path to be met by a withering hail of rocks. Then the giants charged. Some of our warriors fell prey to stark terror and ran. The rest of us steeled our nerves and held the line. From then on, I remember few details. I found myself locked in deadly combat with the brutes, while some of our more stealthy party-members, including Varic, sneaked behind the giants and freed the prisoners. With the rescue complete, we were able to retreat and escape.

As we were returning, we passed a cave and heard noises from within. We investigated, and found a horde of club-armed goblins escorting a strange, bug-like beast.

The beast

Upon seeing us, the goblins shouted "Kill the humans!" and attacked. Now battle against some goblins would normally not be particularly hazardous, but the beast changed things. It would strike out at our weapons, which would corrode in our hands. One time, I found myself disarmed and having to protect myself with throwing daggers! Fortunately Ferrum used his healer powers to mend our weapons. We slew the beast and then called on the goblins to surrender. They ignored our offer and paid the price with their lives. With the cave secure, we were able to return to Landfall Castle.

OOC Notes

• The above account describes our battlegames from last weekend. I had the opportunity to play on the side of the heroes so framed the narrative from my perspective.
• The first scenario involved the heroes rescuing "prisoners", represented by heart shaped throwing weapons. The second was a mutual annihilation scenario.
• Robb, who came up with the scenarios, threw in some interesting terrain.

Challenges to the King

No sooner had Beast been crowned than he faced challenges to the security of the Shrouded Isles.

As King Beast and the ambassadors of the various islands sat at the coronation feast, a horde of snake-men rushed into the hall. Their target was the representative of the Meow'tzlan. Beast rallied his loyal retainers and they drove off the assassins.

A few weeks later, an army of giants came crashing through the High Forest, destroying villages in their path.

From http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=8476867&postcount=360

The Sentinels sortied from their stronghold, engaged the giants, and drove them away from the villages. The giants then assaulted one of the Sentinel's castles. At first, the giants strove in vain, as Ferrum with a polearm and Slab with a bow slaughtered the enemy as they tried to cross the drawbridge. But then, more giants smashed through the wall and rushed into the castle. The defenders retreated toward the courtyard, where they found themselves surrounded.

That was when horns sounded from outside. King Beast had arrived with a relief force! He rushed into the castle, catching the giants in the rear. None could withstand his blade; the enemy was cut down in droves. The giants had enough, and fled!

OOC Notes

• This account briefly summarizes events at the last two High Fantasy Society days at Sherwood Forest park
• Last month, after Beast was crowned, I ran a game with snake-men assassins. It was essentially Kill the King. Beast led the good guys while Xhorja stood in as the snake-man leader.
• This month, I ran some scenarios revolving around a giant invasion. The first scenario featured 5 control points representing villages. In a timed battle, the giants had to destroy the villages while the humans tried to stop them. The giants managed to destroy 3 of the 5 for a marginal victory.
• The second scenario featured a castle battle, with the castle walls made from ropes tied between trees. The giants had to cross a drawbridge, get through the gate, and reach a control point before they ran out of lives. It was a drawn out battle but the humans held (with Ferrum and Slab performing great feats). We then switched teams; this time the giants won multiple times (with Varic managing to slip through defenses).
• The final scenario was to be a last ditch defense, but I was too exhausted to run it, and the players decided on a full class free-for-all instead. I think Beast won. Regardless, I turned to a bit of fiction to round out the account.

A King for the Isles

Earlier this month, the inhabitants of the Shrouded Isles met at Freehaven to formalize our new kingdom.

Coat of Arms of the Free Kingdom of the Shrouded Isles

The representatives of the various islands signed the appropriate treaties; we were now pledged to the realm. But who would be the monarch?

Lord Xhorja, a half-orc leader, first put his name into the mix. Others quickly stepped up - Rage and Ferrum from the Sentinels of the High Forest and Beast, a former Sentinel. We decided to have a grand melee to decide the matter.

The candidates formed their supporters, lay on was called, and the combatants charged one another. Ferrum soon lost his healer to a dagger (or axe?) thrown by Lisander. Rage was eliminated, although one of his supporters (XIII) remained to plague the other forces. Xhorja, using his bardic powers, seemed to be doing quite well. Ferrum's and Beast's armies were whittled down.

At this point, Beast issued a challenge to personal combat to the remaining candidate. He first faced off against Ferrum and defeated him. Then he turned on Xhorja. With a scowl, Xhorja strode out from his battle line and engaged Beast. The clash of their arms echoed across the valley of Freehaven. Ultimately, Beast prevailed, and was declared the first King of the Shrouded Isles!

All hail King Beast I!

Knights of the Isles

Over on the Dagorhir boards, Primarch Ser Hivemind Saligia of The Cairnhold Legion wrote "knighthood should be about virtue and service, not about how many people you can beat with a foam bat." It is an attitude with which I heartily concur. Even the term itself leads to such an interpretation, knight stemming from a Middle English word meaning servant.

With this in mind, knighthood in the Free Kingdom of the Shrouded Isles eschews the lifetime achievement award approach that is common among LARP groups Instead, knighthoods are awarded primarily for service to our realm.

Squires
Our Kingdom's Council will invite members to serve as squires. These candidates must have some experience (at least a year), have their own garb and weapons, have a reputation for being honorable, courteous, and helpful, have provided service to the realm, and have some skills that can benefit the realm.

The squire will serve in that role for at least a year, and must perform a series of quests.

The Quests
The Council will determine the exact nature of the quests, and will tailor them to the individual. For example, someone whose primarily ability is in crafting won't be expected to perform a bunch of combat-related quests. Here are some sample quests:

• Quest of Knowledge - pass a test on the rules of the game
• Quest of Service - design and reeve a number of battlegames
• Quest of Prowess - use your primarily skill to serve the realm (e.g. a tailor could make monster garb for a quest, etc.)
• Quest of Dedication - stand before the Council as they scrutinize your performance as squire
• Quest of Courage - undertake an in-persona role-playing adventure

Once the quests are completed, the Council will vote on the candidate. If approved, the squire will be granted the title of Knight Companion of the Order of the Morning Sun. Why the morning sun? Because the morning sun burns off the mist that shrouds the Isles. Similarly, knights of the Order are expected to be beacons of chivalry that cut through the haze of incivility.

A Few Points

• Note that there is both a virtue and role-playing aspect to becoming a knight. In the Quest of Dedication, the Council should examine a squire's chivalrousness and their dedication to the RP aspect of the hobby.
• In my opinion, following the code of chivalry is what distinguishes a knight from a standard fighter. The squire should demonstrate the virtues of chivalry in his/her everyday playing of the game.
• Role-playing is important for a knight of our realm! After all, the game is about more than beating on people; it is really about creating a shared fantasy world. Squires should serve the realm by helping to create that world. They do not have to go into full actor mode, but they must contribute something. For example, they must be wearing garb and it is helpful if they have a backstory.
• We will not have a Circle of Knights making decisions. I feel that a circle can potentially lead to cliquishness. Instead, the realm Council, as representatives of the populace as a whole, shall make the determination on who should be squired and knighted.
• Fear not, visitors and migrants to the realm. If you come bearing a title, you will not be asked to drop it. The Free Kingdom will acknowledge such foreign titles and consider you a knight errant (this also means you could adopt a title for role-playing purposes; we won't raise a stink). If you wish to be part of the Order of the Morning Sun, however, you will need to receive an invitation from the Council and complete the quests.
• Finally, becoming a Knight Companion is not the final destination for our aspiring beacons of chivalry. There are also higher ranks of knighthood - Knight Commanders and Knight Champions - that one can attain through additional quests.

Structure of Our New Kingdom

A little while ago I discussed my concept for my ideal organization. Since then, Robb introduced me to the High Fantasy Society (HFS). Much to my delight, HFS grants complete autonomy to each park, which is designated a realm (kingdom).  We are now in the process of setting up a new HFS realm (the Free Kingdom of the Shrouded Isles) in South Florida. Here is a summary of our organization, with commentary.

The Council

• The realm shall be ruled by a Council of representatives. This gives every person a voice in the government, through their representatives.
• Each unit of the realm shall receive 2 representatives. Free folk (those without a unit) shall also have 2 representatives.
• Before it can receive seats in the Council, a unit has to be recognized as an official unit of the realm. This is to prevent a single person from saying he/she is a unit and demanding a seat.
• Currently, there are no set rules to be an official unit. We leave it up to the Council; they should consider the unit's size, participation, and service to the realm.

The Chancellor

• The chancellor is the chief executive of the realm (essentially club president). He/she will run meetings of the Council, put forth proposals for kingdom law, plan and organize practices and events, and take care of mundane administrative matters.
• The chancellor does not make important decisions about the direction of the realm. That responsibility resides with the Council. The chancellor may make suggestions and proposals but does not have the final say.
• The chancellor only gets a vote if the Council is tied. The chancellor will serve as the tiebreaker.

The Monarch

• Because we are a realm, we will have a king or queen.
• The monarch has no power or formal authority. He/she is merely a figurehead.
• I am fond of this rule for a few reasons
• It protects against egotists, motivated merely by a royal title, from taking over and messing with the democratic nature of the realm government.
• It allows a royal court, with more opportunities for roleplay.
• I provides an opportunity for a fun event - I imagine a battle royale for the crown, like the one in Role Models.

That's the structure in a nutshell. We are also planning our own system of awards and ranks (including knighthood). More on that in another post.