h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Friday:
We arrive at Candleston really early having got the train, it's wet and cold but at least there's shelter.
When J & L arrive we were finally able to put up the tent (on account of it being in their car), but discover that it has no instructions included. The next hour is spent getting soaked and irritable but eventually we win.
While J and Mrs. D head off to Tesco's to get food for the weekend I give out the s we bought from Gregg's in Bridgend and then get into Egg-Shen's kit, partly because that's the character I'll be playing but mostly because it's drier than my civvies.
When Time In is finally called I take up position next to the Shrine of Hatchiman and glare at any Gaijin who approach.
The Council of War is convened but by this time I'm too tired to be bothered so I go to bed.

Saturday:
Breakfast consists of bacon and egg sandwiches. The rain has finally stopped so we enjoy the sunshine (such as it is). By lunchtime I've got bored of playing Egg-Shen and change into Skullsplitter McUen's kit so I can have fun for a bit. While I'm getting changed Mrs. D has her first ever LARP combat and manages to slay an Andy Monster (no mean feat as Andy usually plays the tough ones) and is very proud of herself.
The competition to decide who will become the Twelve Tigers starts but (to everyone's surprise) Skullsplitter doesn't go for the postition of War because he has no idea what's actually happening (Skullsplitter's a bit simple, y'see). The Gazeeb seller comes round and I find out that I managed to get into it three times as different characters.
After the contest various Kami attack in an attempt to weaken the Tigers, Ellie (Skullsplitter's love interest) gets hurt by the Fire Kami and Skullsplitter flies into a berserk rage and tries to claw it to death.
Molly Ne Foy (who became the Tiger of Ice) asks Skullsplitter to be one of her Claws, Skull says "aye" and Molly makes squeaky noises and bounces.
As time draws on we sit around and do nothing in particular, Dan makes everyone beef teriyaki which is very nice although he forgot to put the water on so we don't get noodles to go with it.

After dinner we sit around a bit more and Kaliber (Skullsplitter's cousin) reveals that he has brought some of his father's "fruity tea" (well, port) Skullsplitter is never one to turn down a free drink (neither am I for that matter) so we drink and chat about how the clan's getting on (including grandpa Spitfire who it turns out died of haggis). Brother Solus is shot and killed by Erazmus, Skullsplitter doesn't mind as Solue was the main obstacle between him and Ellie.
People start saying that they can hear movement and see shadows out beyond the Tavern (it's very dark by this point), the McUens (Skullsplitter, Scrumpy and Kaliber... are you noticing a pattern yet?) go out and kill three of the monsters before anyone else has even moved... unfortunately the second wave have poisoned bites and Skullsplitter gets paralysed, after shouting "Ah cannae move!" for a bit Scrumpy crawls between Skull's legs having decided that it's a game of Stick-in-the-Mud (Scrumpy's a bit simple as well). Skull is taken to the Tavern and tended to by Ellie, as one of the injuries recieved is on Skull's leg Ellie has to kneel in front of him, J dutifully gets a picture of this.
Much more combat happens and Thorne and Rossini discover that prayer affects the monsters... SKull and Scrumpy decide to try this as well and bellow "In the name of almighty God blah blah blah blah blah." at the next monster they see... unfortunately this turns out to be the White Ninja who f**ks both of them up. Skull is told that if he fights anymore his body will shut down but Skull thinks this is silly and tries to carry on, eventually Ellies brother explains that Skull needs to stop fighting because he's really good at it and everyone else needs the practice, this explaination is accepted... Skull then asks Miroku (the Tiger of Fire) if his clothes are made from his ma's curtains, Miroku explains that this is not the case. Skull hobbles off to the nearest camp fire to get warm and Ellie tells him that she's lonely and he may find someone else in his tent later (not in real life obviously, but In Character)
Bed time, more rain, need a cigarette, get crashed into by Joe who is amazingly drunk.

Sunday:
More bacon and egg sandwiches, realise civvies are still wet and put them out in the sun to dry. Discover that Martin has been sleeping in the Tavern and claims it's more comfy than his tent. Find out that Ellie and Solus have had a falling out in real life but decide to remain neutral because it's not my place to get involved.
As it turns out Ellie didn't visit Skullsplitter during the night as Ameralus made her go to bed due to drunkeness. Skullsplitter does a kicked Spaniel look and Ellie feels guilty and invites him to visit her in Whitewater (it's explained Out of Character that Skull will get lucky sooner or later because Ellie's a complete slut).
Preparations are made to assault the Pagodas of Fire, Shadow and Ice. We realise that Grum is missing and get worried. Miroku starts shouting at the Gaijin and Skullsplitter replies with "Och, calm down Curtain Boy", it's only the intervention of a whole lot of other people that stops Skull getting killed, Ellie tells Skull off and Skull is dragged out of the way and has to be coaxed back because he's "on the naughty step".
Grum is found sleeping in Doc's car (this happens as Grum forgets where his tent his when he gets drunk and usually ends up sleeping wherever he gets dumped.
Skullsplitter, Molly and various others are taken off for the Pagoda of Fire encounter. After much gribblyness we eventually defeat Vulcan and are magically transported to the Throne of Thunder which is used to destroy the Monarch armies. Andy calls Time Out and we get ready to leave.

Mr D. I thought of you and your LARPing when I was driving to my mother's. It occurred to me that the area we call "The Bottoms" would be a perfect location for a LARP event. It is an old mining area that is now overgrown. Some ruins from the mines, some tailing and rock piles, lots of wooded area, river, open pits. It would be cool. Almost makes me want to organize something before the area completely disappears.

That sounds like a good plan. European-style LARP is starting to catch on in the US and would suit that site down to the ground... If I were able to come to Missouri for long enough, *and* work out a rules set, *and* trasport crew kit I'd be more than happy to have a go.

Heck, if I had the money and *moved* to Missouri I'd buy the site, make it safe, level some of the ground for camping and do it on a permanent basis.

It's too bad that the area couldn't be used for something. Contractors are buying up the area that abuts the WC city limits and are building housing developments. I think they're crazy. The entire area is undermined. It definitely isn't a place for houses. But they're so greedy, they don't care if it's safe or not.

Happens all the time unfortunately... and of course if any of the houses *did* fall down the contractors would just say "who, us?"