Strangehaven LRP

The Pot Watcher's Daughter - Photos

2007-10-18T12:04:00.000Z

Some photographs from The Pot Watcher's Daughter for your enjoyment.

More pictures can be found here.

Most of these photographs were taken by either Mark or Amanda from The Artworks, with a few additions from either Richard or Julie.

Next event - 3 Days to Yesterday

2007-10-04T15:16:00.000Z

We are now taking final bookings for the next Strangehaven event "3 Days to Yesterday" which will run over the weekend of the 12th - 14th October.

New blood and full player places are available but all crew and DPC spaces are filled.

If you'd like a booking form, please email Heather on hevpal at msn dot com.

Campaign Update - Shards LRP has just evolved...

2007-10-04T13:06:00.000Z

as-cend-an-cy [uh-sen-duhn-see] - Noun

the state of being in the ascendant; governing or controlling influence; domination.
the state that exists when one person or group has power over another.

Shards LRP has just evolved!!!

In 2007 we improved the game beyond belief - a new campaign story arc, second edition rules system, a large, fantastic and enthusiastic crew...

In 2008 we plan even more improvements: a new website, new props, weapons and costumes, even more events than before and even a new name!

Don't Panic!

The change of name is long over due. With the joining of the worlds the shards are no more and the name Shards has become all but redundant.

But:

A new age is now upon us, an age where individuals, groups and even nations are trying to colonise, explore and dominate the new world.

A new age where many will try but only a few will achieve true ascendancy...

Will that someone be you?

The campaign will remain the same, following directly on from the events of 2007. The only changes that we plan to make are additional improvements to the overall game including a large investment in new props, weapons and costume.

For more information and event dates for 2008 please visit the Ascendancy LRP website.

Next event - The Pot Watcher's Daughter

2007-08-30T17:30:00.000Z

We are now taking final bookings for the next Strangehaven event "The Pot Watcher's Daughter" which will run over the weekend of the 7th - 9th of September.

New blood and full player places are available but all crew and DPC spaces are filled.

If you'd like a booking form, please email Heather on hevpal at msn dot com.

The Day The Cow Stood Still - Photo's

2007-07-19T12:30:00.000Z

Some photographs from The Day the Cow Stood Still for your enjoyment...

Please click on any of the pictures to see bigger versions.

The Pot Watcher's Daughter Postponed

2007-06-29T14:29:00.000Z

Due to circumstances beyond our control, the next Strangehaven event "The Pot Watcher's Daughter" has been rescheduled to the 8th September. "The Little Green Men Come to Tea" will be run at a later date.

All participants have been contacted, either by personal email or telephone and we look forward to seeing you at the next event.

The Day the Cow Stood Still - Event Summary

2007-06-18T12:51:00.000Z

The following is an outline summary of happenings at The Day the Cow Stood Still as witnessed by characters who were present at this event. The description is intended as a rough outline only and to serve as a future reminder of what happened when, from a player's perspective.

It is left to each player's discretion to decide if their character is privy to this knowledge or has an alternative view on the events described, dependent on your character's presence at The Day the Cow Stood Still or involvement in Strangehaven as part of your background.

The Day the Cow Stood Still - Event Summary
Two days previously, a young boy known as 'Hatstand' Harry had made his way to the village of Safehaven. He had fled from his uncaring parents, in the settlement on the other side of the island known as The Fleet.

Meanwhile, speculation abounded as to why Daisy the cow was standing still with hopes that the promise of Cinnamon and Cream Cheese icing might entice her to move.

Newly arrived visitors were welcomed to the island, including some representatives from a group called the Intelligencium. The Intelligencium intended to rescue their colleague, Stiltskin Ribbons who they claimed was adrift in time.

After a prolonged discussion, it emerged that eleven years ago Ribbons had accidentally set himself adrift in an experiment which went wrong. In doing so, he also caused the villagers themselves to disappear. Ribbons was rescued eleven years ago along with the villagers, but the Intelligencium had discovered the presence of an echo of that event rippling through time. This was their one and only chance to reach into that echo and snatch Ribbons, anchoring him to the now.

The Intelligencium carried out their rescue, after which the villagers started to disappear as the effects of paradox washed over Safehaven.

A plan was put together to lay down a path through time to put Ribbons back where he belonged. The Intelligencium were persuaded to help break the anchors they had put in place and a power source found. Eventually, Ribbons was back where he belonged and as the effects of paradox subsided, the villagers returned.

Meanwhile it had emerged that young Harry's parents were not his parents after all. Instead it seemed that they had been persuaded to raise him by the Admiral of the Fleet, representatives of which snatched him back whilst negotiations were underway with the Intelligencium.

Harry was subsequently snatched from them by a group of soldiers associated with The Fleet, the commander of which suspected he might be her long lost son. Whatever was going on, the Fleet's Admiral was keen to get him back, with his men laying siege to the soldiers' fortress but young Harry managed to escape, fleeing back to the village and his foster parents.

The Day the Cow Stood Still - Thankyou to all

2007-06-13T12:28:00.000Z

A quick thankyou to all the players and crew who took part in the first ever Strangehaven event - The Day the Cow Stood Still.

The new players and crew portrayed some great characters which brought the island of Strangehaven alive, making it unique within the Shards world setting.

Equally, well done to the old hands who took the oddness of their surroundings in their stride, providing an interesting contrast in viewpoints.

I'm still surprised we managed to get through the entire weekend without any combat, except of course for Bastian hitting a few people with his hammer. And of course, who can forget the Baker mercilessly turning on her poor husband with a frying pan!

Thank you again for bringing my vision alive and hope to see you all next time.

Julie.

Shards website

2007-06-12T11:50:00.000Z

Please note that the main Shards website and forum is temporarily offline due to a server move.

The webmaster is currently working to sort out Shardslrp domains, emails and hosting services and the website should be up and running again next week. In the meantime, you can still access Shards information on the wiki or post messages via the Shards yahoo group which has been opened for direct posting.

Please be aware that the wiki has also moved onto a new service provider due to circumstances beyond our control and is therefore under construction while we recreate the menus and links.

Shards Yahoo Group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/shards
Shards wiki: http://shards.pbwiki.com

Event Logistics

2007-06-01T18:17:00.000Z

Start and Finish Times
You may arrive on site at any time after 6pm during the Friday evening of the event and Time In will be at 8pm.

Departure on the Sunday will be early afternoon and we aim for the event to run as 24 hour time in until then.

If you arrive at site after Time In on Friday evening, please report to the refs for a briefing.

Directions
Murton Park is roughly 2 miles to the east of York, a Map to Murton park can be found here

Full address : Murton Park, Murton Lane, Murton, York, Y019 5UF

Upon Arrival
Park you vehicle in the car park (unless you have come by train), and make you way to the Dark Age Village, find a member of crew or a ref who will show how to get your car nearer to village for unloading any kit and where to park it once you've finished unloading.

Departure
Sunday morning you will need to move your cars from the parking area into the public carpark before 10am. We suggest you pack everything, except your costume and civilian clothes into your car well before this time and then move your car.
If you do need to move a lot of kit after 10am, there are in character wheel barrows around site, but please put them back where you found them when you have finished using them.

What to bring
The site provides raised wooden pallets to sleep on in various huts and very limited space for stowing non-authentic, out of character kit.

Sleeping Arrangements

While you will be sleeping in a hut on a raised platform, you should bring a sleeping bag plus any additional bedding you will need, such as an inflatable matress or sleeping mat. Blankets would also be useful, both for additional warmth and covering out of character kit and sleeping bags during the day.

Food and Cooking

This event is self catering, so you will need to bring all of your food and drinks for the weekend. There is a standpipe on site, supplying fresh drinking water but there are no cooking facilities, so you may wish to bring a small gas stove in order to cook or warm food. Remember to bring all cooking utensils, pots and plates that you might need as well as a kettle and cup if you'll require hot drinks through the day. Players can of course share resources in this area if they wish.

Murton Park does have a cafe on site which is open between 10am and 3pm, serving hot food and drinks; however this is in an out of character area which will take you out of play whilst you eat. We therefore recommend that you bring suitable snack food for lunch so that play can continue throughout the day. It is possible to organise a full cooked breakfast, including a hot drink for £4 which may be eaten before the cafe opens to the public, but this must be arranged and paid for in advance. If players are interested in this option, please contact us.

Again, please remember this event is self catering which means you will need to bring all of your food and drinks.

Lighting

Due to the nature of the site, no naked flame light sources (i.e. candles) are allowed in or near the dark ages huts. However, parafin lamps or tealights in suitable lanterns are acceptable for in character lighting. A torch or battery powered lantern would be useful for out of character use.

What not to forget

Please remember to bring your costume, weapons and any equipment that your character will use.

It is also advisable to bring a toilet roll and some bin bags.

Site etiquette

Modern/Out of Character kit

Murton Park is primarily an Agricultural Museum which is open between the hours of 10am and 5pm. During this time, all out of character or modern kit must be kept hidden from sight. Once the museum has closed, we would prefer it if modern kit remains tidied away so as to maintain the in character feel of the site.

The huts will double up as in character locations during the day, occupied by residents of the island of Strangehaven as their in character homes. It is expected that you will remain in character and in costume for the full duration of the event.

Fires

Fires are allowed in the huts on small raised brick fire pits, but as always safety is paramount, so please keep them under control and do not leave fires unattended.

Rubbish

All rubbish needs to be bagged up and taken to the large waste bins near the carpark at the end of the event. Please keep the site tidy during play, with any rubbish (such as plastic bottles or cans) kept out of sight. If drinking from cans, please decant into a suitable tankard or other IC container.

Members of the Public

The Dark Age Village being used as the IC location for Strangehaven is part of Murton Park's agricultural museum, which is open to the public between the hours of 10am and 5pm. We will be putting up signs asking visitors not to disturb us and while the site does not have many visitors, please be polite and considerate to anyone who does wander in. A few areas will be totally out of bounds to the public, including the crew changing areas and the toilet block which is reserved for our use.

Toilets

The toilet block is for our exclusive use and will be locked during the day to prevent members of the public using the facilities, meaning that you will need to find a key holder to use them. Outside museum opening hours, the toilets will be unlocked and you will have free access.

Basic in game calls

Time In - When this is called the game commences. Everyone should be dressed in character and behaving in character.

Time Out - Called at the end of the game, to signify a return to normality. Sometimes also used during an extended downtime period.

Time Freeze - Called during the game when ‘something’ needs to happen instantly; players must close their eyes and remain stationary until ‘Time in’ is called and then may react accordingly to whatever they see.

Man Down - If this is shouted, it indicates someone has been hurt for real. All play must cease, until the injury is treated and ‘Time in’ is called again. (Please avoid using the call man down in an in character context as play will stop whilst we ensure that no one is hurt)

Player places

2007-05-31T17:00:00.000Z

Please note for the first event "The Day the Cow Stood Still" there are NINE player places left - so if you'd like to play please get in touch ASAP.

Edited to add:
As this is the first time we're running a Strangehaven event, it will be open to all players at the New Blood discounted price of £30.00 for the weekend.

If you'd like a booking form, please email Heather on hevpal at msn dot com.

Please note that on this occasion we are fully booked for Crew and DPC's.

Faerie - Costume Examples

2007-05-23T11:00:00.000Z

Faerie is perhaps the most fluid and changeable of lands, reputed (amongst Faeries at least) to be the oldest of the Shards and the place where civilisation as we would recognise it first arose. A land with an ancient history, full of magic and mystery where nothing is ever quite as it seems, enchantments are common and favours carry more weight than money; this is the Faerie of old tales, myth and legend.

In recent times, the land of Faerie has suffered much turmoil. The Courts of the Seelie and Unseelie fell, Atlantis rose from the oceans drowning the mainland under a deluge of sea and rain. Torn by endless wars as its people squabbled amongst themselves, consequently Faerie's history is long and bloody.

The Ard-Ri
Following the union of the Shards into a single world, the Faerie people have done what they can to resolve their differences or at least put in place a structure which leaves room for talk and negotiation rather than immediate open and bloody warfare. This process was started in the years preceeding the forging of the new world by a sidhe named Finnlay, who approached the Forest Sidhe and the Water Sidhe offering to be their voice on Faerie as they had none and so those who wished it might return.

Those Fomorii who were not followers of Domnu heard of this meeting and turned up in order to offer their support. Each of these three races gave Finnlay a task to complete to prove his worth and promised him a year and a day to act as their voice and to prove himself. Finnlay succeeded in these tasks and after a year and a day, the three races agreed to give him full backing as the Ard-Ri of Faerie.

Thus, the Court of Faerie was formed and the long exiled races of the Forest and Water Sidhe returned to Faerie. Under Finnlay's rule there has been peace since the time of the Joining of the Shards.

The Unicorns
King Finnlay's clan is known as the Silver Unicorns and uses the symbol of the Unicorn as it's totem. What became of Finnlay's original clan and where he came from is lost to the annals of history, but it is known that since Finnlay emerged from the forests of Frontier, he has gained many friends and those who are closest to him have been adopted as part of his clan. Therefore, all members of the Silver Unicorns are close associates of King Finnlay, a relationship that must be established in game through roleplay.

In recent years it has emerged that the Silver Unicorns have an ancient enemy, known only as the Dark Unicorns. The Dark Unicorns live in the dark places on Faerie and keep to the shadows, only emerging to strike at their enemies. Trickery and subtefuge are their main weapons; their mages specialising in the dark arts to cast shadows over the minds of others. What their aims are, other than to destroy the Silver Unicorns, no one knows as they've resisted all attempts at diplomacy, so for now remain the sworn enemy of King Finnlay and his people. Player characters may not start play as Dark Unicorns.

The Sidhe
Forest Sidhe prefer to dwell in the wild places, where they may commune with nature; the animals, plants, insects and birds which dwell there. They make good trackers, are well versed in herbal and plant lore and are skilled with the bow and spear. They are hunters and consider the forest to be their home, frequently leading a nomadic existance and living in family groupings, called clans. As befits a people adapted to living in the forest, these Sidhes' skin is normally pale with possibly a hint of green. They dress simply, preferring to wear leather armour, camouflaged in browns and greens so they might move through their home lands without notice.

The Water Sidhe are suited to a life on the waves. They have adapted their hearing and eyesight so they can see beneath the waters, are strong swimmers and frequent the company of marine mammals. They make excellent sailors being immune to the poisonous salt which may keep other fae folk from the seas. Water Sidhe are governed by their own King and Queen, and generally prefer to keep their own company, building huge floating fortresses (or atolls) as their homes. Water Sidhe have pale skin with possibly a hint of blue, a colour they favour in their choice of garments, mixing various shades together with hues of green in layered but lightweight clothes which will not hinder their movements if they take to the water.

The Courts
The Age of the Young, began less than seven thousand years ago with the Fae as most would recognise them coming together to form The Courts of the Seelie and Unseelie. Now as the surviving Elders amongst the Faerie population could explain, seven thousand years is but the blinking of an eye in the history of Faerie and all things change. So it was that the Courts as they were fell and were replaced by a united Courts of Night and Day, controlled by two Queens, one who rules from dawn until dusk and another who precides over her subjects from dusk until dawn. The Courts are preoccupied with The Dance, an intricate set of rules and ettiquete governed by way of a Hive mind, with all Fae who form part of the Courts linked to it and under the thrall of their Queens. The majority of Faeries that you will meet on the Shards are part of the Courts and when others talk of the Fae, it is these people to whom they usually refer.

When thinking about playing the Fae, you should remember that these are the fantasy elves. For preference they like to dress in bright colours, with the nobility choosing light, airy fabrics. Women wear long gowns and skirts, decorated with beads and leaves or anything pretty and sparkly. Hair may be similarly dressed. Men favour tunics, shirts and waistcoats and a dashing cloak. Of course, practicality may act to curtail the Fae's natural tendency for high fashion, with more practical clothing being worn as required. Characterised by pointy ears - unless they choose to disguise them - the Fae love anything shiney. Weapons are typified by bows, broadswords and shields. Fae never use black power weapons and some of them are very much opposed to them being brought onto Faerie.

Photos below left to right: Knight, Archer

And below: Faerie Ladies

Photos below left to right: Hunter and Huntress, Spell caster, Fae Noble

The Fomorii
Originally the outcasts and those who had fallen from favour with the Courts, the Fomorii banded together for their own protection against their common enemy. Finding support from the Goddess Domnu, many followed her lead and were long the sworn enemy and scourge of Faerie. That all changed following the union of the Shards, as faced with the loss of Domnu, the remaining Fomor listened to the words of King Finnlay and began working towards a more peaceable life. The Fomorii are now led by their queen, Madb - once reputed to be the most beautiful enchantress in her time - and are enamoured with technology, pushing Faerie to the forefront of progress, mixing magic with science.

Fomorii can be identified by their markings, a broad black stripe painted across their eyes, they normally dress in drab washed out colours and spend little time on their appearance. Garments are often unfinished and cobbled together from whatever they have been able to lay their hands on. In a fight they will happily use whatever weapons they can lay their hands on, from satchel charges to swords... They have no issues with black power weapons and specialise in coming up with innovative designs for such.

Photos below left to right: Archer, Sapper, Engineer

The Dwarves
The Iron Delve Mountains have long been the home range of the Dwarves of Faerie. A quiet and frequently overlooked people, the Iron Delve dwarves prefer a life of seclusion and many spend the majority of their lives beneath ground in the halls, tunnels and mines that honeycomb this mountain range. Following the floods and downpour that became known as The Deluge, the Dwarves were persuaded to open their halls to refugees from the lands now under water and now enjoy a close working relationship with the Courts, under the guidance of King Finnlay. The Dwarves are known to have a King but are a private people so details about how they are organised are scant. In appearance, the Dwarves of the Iron Delves are stout and stocky, short by human standards but very broad and strong.

The McUens
Another group often associated with the Courts, but in truth independent are the Clan McUen. The McUen are a mostly human group governed by their Laird, a non-hereditary position allocated to the McUen warrior who doesn't duck responsibility quickly enough and is therefore deemed to 'be in charge'. This warlike clan, reminiscent of the Celtic peoples of Earth, prefer to spend as much time as they can having fun which normally involves partying, heavy drinking and fighting. McUens are not known for their deep thinking, but when they are done fighting, the elder womenfolk of the Clan take their men in hand and tell them what to do as is right and proper.

Traditionally, the McUens have long been the enemy of the Fomorii, due to the rivalry between their godess (Danu) and that of the Fomorii (Domnu). However, with the demise of Domnu and Danu choosing to give up her godhood for the love of their Laird, Caffrey, this animosity has waned to the point where the McUens have formed an uneasy alliance with the Fomor, sealed by the marriage of one of their menfolk to the daughter of Queen Madb.

McUens dress simply, with tartan being the prevalent fashion worn either as a kilt, sash or trews. When entering into battle, they prefer to fight bare chested sporting intricate Celtic designs in woad on their flesh. They have an eye for big weapons, be that great axes, hammers or swords. They rarely carry shields since defence is for the weak and they are more likely to attack first and ask questions later.

Photos below left to right: Warrior, Smisher

Photos below left to right: Grandma, Priest, Warrior with the Ogron bloodline

And below: McUens fighting Formorii

Dragons
The Dragons are an ancient and wise race of winged, reptilian people who can normally be found on Faerie. Dragons live apart from the other races of Faerie, are skilled in the use of magics and (as with the other reptilian races found in the Shards world) are capable shape changers; talents which enable them to move amongst the people of the Shards unnoticed. Consequently, little is known about the Dragons - who sometimes prefer to be known as Draken - other than they are powerful and hold the other peoples of the Shards in a very low regard. Player characters may not start play as Dragons.

The Atlanteans
The continent of Atlantis lies far out to sea, to the east of the Faerie mainland. For many thousands of years it lay hidden deep beneath the oceans, trapping its people and isolating them from the rest of the Shards. When it rose from the seabed, a devastating tidal wave washed over the Faerie mainland, flooding the land while ceaseless rain poured from the skies and Faerie drowned. In the wake of so much death, the rulers of Atlantis, known as The Monarchs marched across the Shards intent on reclaiming the lands they had held prior to their land being sunk. War raged across the Shards, but in the days following the forging of the Shards into a single world, the Monarchs were defeated and their armies destroyed.

Today, the land of Atlantis is now in ruins and no longer a power to be reckoned with. It's people are broken and lacking leadership, having been long subjugated to the wills of their masters, the Monarchs. What the future holds for this shattered people no one can tell.

Strangehaven
Strangehaven is the name given to a tiny island which exists on the edge of the continental shelf of Atlantis. It has never been part of the Monarch empire, nor the former Faerie mainland; instead this tiny island has enjoyed a relatively independent history, having been overlooked by the peoples of Faerie down through the ages. It is home to a little known community and much of it's fauna and flora have developed in isolation, remaining unknown to modern Faerie even to this day.

The seas which surround this island are known to the local seafaring folk as treacherous waters, which have defeated all attempts to chart them. The currents and weather are erratic, following no set pattern that any sailor or fisherman from these waters recognise. Navigation is near impossible and mists can descend without warning, concealing sharp reefs and rocks beneath the blackened waves. It is a dangerous place, where time has no meaning and the unwary can sail for all eternity and never escape, or so the Atlantean sailors will tell you. Even worse, monsters and unseen horrors are said to lurk beneath the waves capable of swallowing any ship whole. So it is, that only the insane or foolhardy would deliberately sail here.

Player characters who start play as a resident of Strangehaven will find it difficult to leave the island and as such, are only suitable for play at Strangehaven based events.

This document is intended as a guide and a starting point only, to help inspire you to create your own character's look.

For more photographs of character costume, past and present please visit the Shards wiki.

Shards - Campaign Update (May 2007)

2007-05-20T06:46:00.000Z

In line with our aim to bring you regular updates on the main Shards campaign in this blog, please find below the latest campaign update & rumours.

Shardwide events may not always be relevant to the Strangehaven setting, but these updates comprise background knowledge for those at large within the Shards world. It is left to a player's discretion to decide if their character is privy to this knowledge or not, depending on your character's background or involvement in Shardswide events.

May Campaign Update in Brief...

Frontier has never been more of a Savage Land…

A hive of insect like creatures has been uncovered, they seem to be hostile.

A large contingent of Salemite soldiers and priests have been seen trying to make a semi-permanent settlement near the hunting grounds of the Cloud Walkers.

A military coup in Salem has removed the Church from Salem and appointed Emeric Steiner as Emperor.

Governor Lucius Osborne has put up much of his own personal wealth, in prize money, for those hunters who can bring him rare and exotic trophies.

Minerva Swan, has put up a large reward for anyone who can guide her to the grave of her Father.

Mud Men have been seen moving to the edge of their territory, rumours talk that they have begun to hunt the borders of the tribe of the Winged Carrion.

New exotic bloodline resources and recipes can be found and collected.

Rivalries between the Tribe of the Yellow Moss and the tribe of the Bitter Spear have already lead to bloodshed.

Rumours abound of a new Bloodline race being discovered in the Southern mountains of Frontier, they call themselves The Gynomes.

Several archaeological digs have been discovered in Frontier and the race is on the excavate them.

Frontier has become awash with treasure hunters, who if discover any of these important historical digs will no doubt damage them beyond hope.

Several trading houses from across the New World now have offices in Yogyakarta.

The Bloodstone [Bloodline Dwarves] seem to be increasing their efforts to bring an eternal winter to Frontier.

The Crimson Brotherhood fleet have been spotted putting into the port of Yogyakarta.

The Emerald Claw, champion of Frontier has been killed.

The Saurons have increased the number of sacrifices yet again, although some tribes’ whisper of an even more horrific fate awaits those who are taken by the Sauron.

The son of the chief of the Cloud Walkers, Frog-Talker-Long-Tongue has gone missing.

With talk of the ultimate hunt, many of the New Worlds foremost hunters (along with many incompetent ones) have gathered to take part.

Without the Emerald Claw, to mediated in tribal disputes tensions are high between tribes with old rivalries.

Taken from the Campaign Update released for the Shards core event: The Chained One (25th – 28th May 2007)

The Five Thunders – Costume Examples

2007-05-11T13:02:00.000Z

The lands which form the Thunders or Five Thunders are host to a people who's culture, traditions and costume have a distinctly Far Eastern feel. Originally known as the Courts of the Five Thunders, this land was long split into five realms each held by a separate emperor: the Courts of Jade, Iron, Jet, Gold and Silver. Repeated wars, invasions and political upheavals have torn this land and it is now split between three warring factions.

The Empire
The Empire is ruled by the young Emperor who was granted the mandate of Heaven to rule the whole of the Thunders. He is protected and served by the Twelve Tigers, powerful heroes of the people. The Empire is a mix of ancient tradition and new technology. The culture of the Empire is similar in feel to The Last Samurai without the open warfare between internal factions.

Imagawa Shogunate
This is a land ruled by the Shogun, as such it is more like ancient Japan where Samurai rule. Heavy on mystical abilities and ancient arts of war, technology is almost outlawed as the Shogun seeks to recreate the order of the past. Daimyo are allowed to war on each other but only in secret with assassinations and raids common and the Shogun will punish those who are caught or are foolish enough to leave sufficient evidence to prove the guilt of the perpetrator. The Shogun is elected by the Daimyo from one of the five great families, the Imagawa, the Mori, the Assegai, The Kamabushi and the Kublai. Peasants do what they are told in the hope they will be born into a higher station when they die and the most shameful death is by hanging.

The Sanctuary
The final land is Kinryoku or The Sanctuary. This land is ruled by peasants and the Samurai are outlawed; any Samurai found within this land with his swords is put to death. This is a land ruled by bureaucracy and headed by a council of three, each representing one of the branches of government:- the military, the bureaucracy and the judiciary. The military control the army, the bureaucracy civil matters, while the judiciary enforce the laws set by the other two branches of government. The current heads are Shika, Kuboji and Winter (Mitsuhide Akechi the founder of Kinryoku) respectively. Every position is elected and political parties battle for supremacy. This land has thrown away all the traditions of the past and is looking for a new path.

The Kuragari
In the middle of the three lands is a great wall around the Kuragari. Manned by troops from all three factions this land is filled with various types of undead, demons, oni, human warlocks, and crazed cannibalistic warriors. No one knows who or what rules this place (if anything) but it is the only thing preventing all out war between the three factions who would rule the Thunders as they all fear what is within the wall too much to remove their troops. Player characters do not come from this region.

Costume
The predominant cultures are similar to those from of China, Japan, Tibet, India and Mongolia of Earth history, with costume and cultural examples from all these places co-existing within the same land. This gives players many archetypes to choose from such as warrior monks, noble Samurai, ninja assassins, peaceful traders, inscrutable wise men, mandarin soldiers, geisha woman and of course, the understated peasant rice planter who is really a powerful wizard.

Clothing of notables is usually colourful and highly patterned with many layers. A kimono worn by both men and women forms the basic starting point for most outfits, hair tied up for women, or pony tails (or top-knots) common for men. Samurai wear the traditional Hakama skirt like trousers, worn with a kimono belted with fabric belt or armour. Ninja wear typical pajama style pants with black gi style jacket with a black hood and when 'on duty' a fabric mask concealing the face. Women following the Chinese or Japanese style would wear their kimonos with wide belt from below the chest to the waist. Other costume options which players may want to consider, include tunics, surcoats, vest or waistcoat like garments, furs and wrapped around robes, dependent on the cultural references most relevant to your character and availability of suitable kit.

Peasants frequently choose to wear flattened connical hats woven from straw - indeed a long standing nickname for residents of the Thunders is 'Wikki' for this very reason - whilst others may choose small round mandarin hat, elaborate head-dresses, helms or to leave their heads bare as is practical for their character. Popular accessories include painted fans and tea sets, while typical weapons cover almost everything excluding blackpowder weapons (except within The Empire), with the katana being particularly favoured by samurai and the Shogunate.

To help those new to Shards, we've pulled together a few examples of costumes worn by players, representing characters past and present who originate from the Five Thunders. This is intended as a guide and a starting point only, to help inspire you to create your character's own unique look.

Photos below left to right: Samurai fully armed and armoured, Major Domo or head servant , Noble lady of imperial court

Photos below from left to right: Geisha, Warrior, Trader

Photos below from left to right: Female Warrior, Ninja

Photos below from left to right: Rich Merchant, Warrior Monk, Healer

This is intended as a guide and a starting point only, to inspire you to create your character's own unique look.

For more photographs of character costume, past and present please visit the Shards wiki.

What about combat? What kind of weapons can I use?

2007-05-02T13:34:00.000Z

Combat in Live Roleplay radically differs from the way combat is portrayed in tabletop games. Instead of melee being a skilled action, in which rolling a handful of dice determines success, it is much more akin to theatrical stage combat where each player physically acts out every slash, thrust and parry of the combat. Therefore, a simple set of guidelines should be kept in mind at all times...

Pulled Blows: Each weapons strike must be aimed and delivered without force and at no time should upper body strength be used in a strike. This is not intended to restrict roleplaying of blows and strikes merely to ensure safety. At no time is it acceptable to strike or aim weapons at or into the faces or genitals of an opponent. No thrusting with weapons, most LARP weapons are not suitable for thrusting anyway, however even with weapons specifically designed for the task its an action best steered clear of.

Appearance: All melee weapons should appear to be being used during combat, as would the real weapon. The reaction to any blow is crucial to Live Roleplay combat, without reaction the enactment becomes pointless making combat look farcical.

Retaliation: Players and crew must never retaliate if an opponent breaches any of the rules of combat. Instead inform a Referee who will take any appropriate action.

Equipment: Any LARP safe melee weapon is acceptable that covers a period or setting that Shards does i.e. from prehistoric clubs, dark ages axes, medieval broadswords, oriental samurai swords to 19th C rapiers and cutlass with all things in between. Examples here at http://www.lrpstore.com/LARP--LRP-Weapons/c-1-4/

The same goes for missile weapons, which should be LARP safe, low poundage bows and crossbows with suitable LARP safe bolts and arrows, core-less throwing daggers and axes etc. http://www.lrpstore.com/Bows--Crossbows--Arrows-&-Bolts/c-1-5/

When it comes to Firearms they should be cap firing pistols, blank firers are NOT acceptable nor is shouting "Bang!" and they should represent black powder/flintlock pistols, rifles, blunderbuss; examples here http://www.lrpstore.com/Flintlock-Pistols/c-1-54/

Any armour and shields in use should also be LARP safe, by that we mean no metal shields and any metal armour should have any sharp edges covered to prevent accidental injury. If you are unsure, always show a ref and they will advise you, if in doubt they may suggest a weapon or piece of kit is just kept on you for show and not used in combat.

What are the site facilities like, what do I need to bring?

2007-05-02T13:17:00.000Z

A full document detailing the facilities available and suggesting camping kit etc, will be posted here soon, along with site rules on fires, access and general care for the site.

About 7 days before an event those details will be posted again as a reminder along with any special instructions or information for that particular event.

Dust - Costume Examples

2007-04-30T12:56:00.000Z

The Shard of Dust was always a dry, arid, desolate land, scorched under Arak's unrelenting insane fury, or so the one time priests of the One True God would say. A dry and sun blasted land, the known areas of Dust boast sand aplenty, with crisp arid mountain ranges poking through the deserts and clusters of oases, holding the precious water of life. To help those new to Shards, we've pulled together a few examples of costumes worn by players, representing characters past and present who originate from Dust. This is intended as a guide and a starting point only, to help inspire you to create your character's own unique look.

After the Shards fused to form the new world, Dust along with all of the Shards was changed forever, but with the sands only now beginning to settle, how far those changes go on Dust have yet to be seen. With Arak dead, his temples sacked and his wealth redistributed to those strong enough to hold it, a political storm driven by commerce has washed over the populated towns found clustered around the oases. Here money is everything in this godless land, slavery is the norm and theft is a legitimate business tactic - provided you don't get caught. Meanwhile, far out in the deepest desert, this vast continent's people can only speculate at the changes wrought by the fusing of the Shards.

Dust Native Populations
The Shard of Dust was traditionally home to people suited to desert living, with the majority of the population living in towns clustered around oases such as the Tears of Nia. Trade between settlements relied on caravans which would track slowly across the ever shifting sands, following well established trade routes. Only the hardiest or most desparate would attempt to survive in the deepest deserts, where the sands, djinn and efreet combine to make travel extremely hazardous hampering any exploration effort.

Traditional dress on Dust is suited to this land's dry, arid, sand blasted place suffering temperature extremes of baking heat by day and freezing cold nights, as a result it's people's favoured style of dress is not disimilar to those worn on Earth in similar desert lands.

Head scarves and coverings such as turbans are popular, with loose folds which can be drawn across the face to protect it from the sun and sand. In the towns, merchants might favour a hat such as a fez as an alternative. Clothing consists of loose robes worn over long, ankle length shirts such as dishdasha, or a shorter shirt worn over baggy trousers. Shawls, wraps and cloaks may also be used at night for warmth. Belts are simple cords, with leather belts popular to hold pouches, purses and of course weapons.

In the traditional and more conservative settlements, Dust womenfolk cover their faces in the company of unrelated men and dress modestly so as not to draw the eye. However, dependent on occupation, some women might expose areas of flesh such as their midriff and arms, cladding themselves in layers of thin, near transparent fabrics so that they pay lip service to the need to be covered.

Prosperity is everything on Dust and its people are not shy in displaying the signs of their wealth, with both men and women wearing lots of jewellery, rings, bracelets, bangles, gold collars, necklaces medallions and earrings if they can afford them. Gunpowder weapons are not normally used on Dust, so they mainly arm themselves with swords, curving blades such as scimitars if available, bows, crossbows, knives, and bag full of coins somehow slightly smaller than they should be.

Slaves are part of the culture on Dust and are dressed to the whim of their masters. Those who are favoured vassels may be dressed to the same standard as their masters and mistresses, but those who are more lowly may dress in any rags they can find.

Photos left to right - Dust artisan, Dust Warrior, Dust Artisan.

Photos left to right - Dust Traders with slave, Deep desert dweller.

New Whitewater
In the years following the Union of the Shards, the Guild Council of Whitewater, Archipelago, made the decision to relocate their headquarters to Dust. Consequently, the Guilds, along with their subsiduaries and support personnel began the arduous task of choosing a new location to act as the centre for their operations, eventually settling on Dust. New Whitewater is now a bustling Guild Town, run along the same lines as Whitewater used to be before it returned to its piratical origins. The Guilds are full of optimism for the future, talking of expansion and opportunity in this new world, where the Guilds will continue to grow from strength to strength.

Due to the recent relocation of their primary Guildhouses, the flavour of this town and those who dwell here is still very much Archipelagan in appearance. However, the majority of the Guilds have always been cross-Shard organisations, with business interests stretching across the known world and touching on every culture where their own brand of capitalism is welcome. Consequently, Guildsmen and those who work alongside the Guilds may reflect any people or culture from anywhere in the known world. Then of course, there is the effect of the ever present desert and its shifting sands; fashions suited to the wet Archipelagan climate are less than ideal, so the always enterprising Guilds folk are starting to incorporate local dress and customs into theirs where there is an obvious benefit in doing so.

Photos left to right : Butchers Guild member, Carvers Guild Member, Local Guild employee.

This is intended as a guide and a starting point only, to inspire you to create your own character's look.

For more photographs of character costume, past and present please visit the Shards wiki.

Shards - Campaign Update (April 2007)

2007-04-30T11:30:00.000Z

We'll be aiming to bring you regular updates on the main Shards campaign in this blog. Shardwide events may not always be relevant to the Strangehaven setting, but these updates comprise background knowledge for those at large within the Shards world. It is left to a player's discretion to decide if their character is privy to this knowledge or not, depending on your character's background or involvement in Shardswide events.

April Campaign Update in Brief...

The Holy Empire’s Iron Fist is now making Salem a place of fear and darkness.

Forsaken [Bloodline Living Dead] have started raiding Beggars Roost. The Argent Dawn has been called to help.

Wolfen [Bloodline Werewolves and bloodhounds] are massing throughout the Black Forest of Salem.

A power struggle within the Holy Salem Empire is rumoured together with secret political alliances within the Empire.

Anything which is different is now being listed by Holy Salem Empire as the Spawn of Chaos.

A King’s Ransom is being offered by the Empire for the true location of Beggars Roost.

The Crimson Brotherhood fleet have been spotted off the western coast of Salem.

Von Dumas has been a virtual recluse in his fortified City State of Latveria, and one can only guess what he has been planning perched high on his iron throne.

Concentration camps throughout Salem, are being built for everyone who is different including Faeries, Hybrids and true Bloodlines.

Magus is gathering hybrids around him and has formed the League of Freedom. These vow to fight for the rights of superior humanoids.

The Saviours continue to try and rescue those who are ‘gifted’.

The mysterious portals from beyond have being continuing to appear and disappear across the known world, the latest one has been spotted in Salem.

Librarian Arturo has vanished; Governor Lucius Osborne has asked all active members of the Silver Sabre Society to gather at Beggars Roost.

An Archaeological dig, dating back to the time of the Alfar has been found. Could this have been one of Athlon’s Seven Arcane Towers?

Savage Murders of Hybrids and Bloodline gifted have occurred, each victim was found nailed to a tree with the letter R cut deep into their chest.

Faerie Hive Mind is still reeling from the attack at the last event - the source of which is rumoured to be from Salem. Who or what was behind it?

Pirates, Freebooters and Buccaneers are rumoured to be searching for The Legendary Wytch Compass an ancient artefact predating the shattering. It is said that no treasure is hidden from the Wytch Compass.

Taken from the Campaign Update released for the Shards core event: A Star in the Darkness (4th - 7th May 2007).

Archipelago - Costume Examples

2007-04-20T15:29:00.000Z

The islands forming Archipelago are homes to many different people, each with their own unique cultures and style of dress. To help those new to Shards, we've pulled together a few examples of costumes worn by players past and present for characters originating from Archipelago. This is intended as a guide and a starting point only, to inspire you to create your own character's look.

Archipelago, as the name suggests is a region made up of a range of small islands, with one of the larger collection of isles being The Confederacy. A constant thorn in the Confederacy's side is the Rat Run, a haven for Pirates, named for its difficult waters which make it difficult to navigate and fatal during the winter. At the end of the Rat Run is Whitewater Isle, the site of a Pirate Town, currently the domain of the Crimson Brotherhood and the Triads. Heading North, you will find the remains of the Fenris Isles and a few scattered remnants of islands once part of the proud Jade Empire, nestled up against the vast continent of Union. The Court of the Water Dragon can be found here, pulling together the resources of the former Jade Empire, refugees from Whitewater, the Five Thunders and anyone interested in free commerce.

Pirates, Whitewater and the Rat Run
The 'Pirate' look is universal and of course, those who are dressed in a typically piratical fashion are not necessarily 'pirates' in the true sense of the word. Those who might dress in a style reminiscent of pirates are often legitimate merchant sailors, privateers and self made men as well as genuine Pirates.

A couple of pictures of typical Pirates are illustrated below. At its most basic, a pair of loose trousers or breeches, a large oversize shirt and a sock hat or bandanna will give you the proper nautical look. From there you can add a tri-corn hat, eye patch, frock coat, bucket boots, long waistcoat, lots of black powder pistols, cutlass, frilly shirt, hook, peg leg and even a parrot - provided you have a suitable physrep of course.

Photos from left to right: Pirate Captain, Pirates Mates, Privateer Captain.

The Confederacy Isles, Port Rabel, Port of Saints
The Confederacy Isles are and always have been a bastion of commerce and trade, with each island having a Governor who together co-operate to form the Confederacy. The capital of the Confederacy is Port Rabel, with another well known port being the Port of Saints. Costume is typified by late 18th Century European fashions, but ex-patriots of other Shards can also be found here, drawn by the opportunities presented by the Conferacy's bustling shipping network.

Fashions currently favoured vary widely, but appearance is governed by chosen profession and background. Typically, those who can afford it would opt for frilly, ostentatious shirts, coats dripping buttons, piping and trim and full length, fitted dresses for ladies of fashion. Wigs are always an option for formal occasions, whilst breeches and stockings are still popular amongst some islands gentlemen. The common man or soldier might favour trousers or perhaps a Napoleonic style jacket if they can afford it. The lowest classes and working folk will of course wear whatever they can lay their hands on.

Photo's below left to right: Rich Merchant, Noble Lady, Noble Adventurer.

Soldiers, Military, and others from the Confedaracy

Photo's from left right, Soldier, Major, Naval Officer, Navigator

Fenris Isles
The Fenris Isles were lost along with their entire populations over fourteen years ago (Shards Time) and those that remain have relocated to the islands closest to Union or are seeking what fortune they can on the high seas. The people of the Fenris Isles and their remaining displaced population are not dissimilar to Vikings or ancient Norse of Earth history. Their menfolk typically favour big beards, furs, pelts, belts, pouches, drinking horns, coloured shirts, cross-strapped leggings or trews with leather vambraces and armour when combat is expected. Their weapons of choice are axes, spears and large round or oval shields. Women favour loose fitting dresses or long tunics worn over trews and belted at the waist.

The Court of the Water Dragon
The Court of the Water Dragon is another center for free commerce, where people from all Shards can come together to make a profit with minimal interference from the authorities or the ubiquitous red tape seen in either Guild Towns or the Conferacy Isles. There is a heavy Thunders influence within the Court, with Triad links rumoured, but provided you bring in a profit, people of all races and Shardic origins are welcome here.

The Oriental peoples who have set up home here dress in style of historical Chinese peasants, loose fitting Mandarin style jackets, kimono’s, karate Gi, pajama style trousers with Chinese style peasant straw hats.

For more photographs of character costume past and present, please visit the Shards wiki.

Costume - The Basics

2007-04-17T09:00:00.000Z

The Strangehaven setting is a fully integrated part of the Shards world background and players may choose to play characters who are from anywhere in the Shards world.

Shards (and Strangehaven), is a high fantasy setting with each region in the Shards representing a selection of different peoples which roughly mirror similar cultures which may have been found at various periods throughout Earth history while also incorporating an element of fantasy, myth and legend. Dependent on a character's Shard (or continent) of origin, cultural influences and any twists either introduced in play or written into your background, you should choose your costume to reflect the personality and background of the character you are playing.

Obviously, if you look like the type of character you are playing, NPCs and other player characters are more likely to react accordingly, which can make portraying the character a lot easier. How far you as a player go in achieving your character's look is left entirely to your discretion but if you do need specific advice please contact us as to what is or is not appropriate.

Some very basic tips for those new to costuming for a LARP event are...

Invest in a simple cotton shirt, in either white or black and a pair of black trousers or leggings as the basic under layer for your costume. For the ladies, a plain, full, ankle or floor length skirt can also come in handy as an alternative to trousers.
Avoid jeans if you can.
Similarly, avoid trainers or similar sports shoes, instead opt for plain black or brown shoes or boots; leather walking boots are ideal.

Once you have your basic under layer of clothing, you can dress it with outer layers appropriate to the character you are portraying and in-keeping with your background.

Roleplayers are usually on a continuous lookout for new 'kit' which can be used to portray any character they have in mind, but the following are your basic options when engaged in the search for more kit...

Charity Shops can sometimes turn up some gems for those who are looking to outfit a particular look.
Specialist clothing suppliers aimed at niche markets often base their garments on historical clothing and so you may turn up something appropriate there.
Re-enactment or living history costumers do exist, who make costume to supply the re-enactment market. These suppliers usually stock generic items and will make up any specialist costume if commissioned to do so.
Make your own, is always an option for those who are skilled in needlecrafts or feeling adventurous and want something custom made, just for them.

Links to specialist suppliers of costume and kit can be found in the Shards wiki.

Character Generation

2007-04-01T08:46:00.000Z

Please follow this link to the quick reference sheet to character generation.

This document was written to help you create character, but you will probably also need to reference the main Ascendancy LRP rules since they provide the details behind many of the skills and attributes. They can be found here: Rules also take a good look around the main rules section starting with the rules overview

Please note the rules have recently undergone a complete rewrite and are still a work in progress, therefore certain areas still need detailing.

Anyone intending to play a Havenite character will need to send an email to Strangehaven [at] googlemail [dot] com to discuss your character before proceeding with generating a character.

As a final note, remember that Strangehaven is part of the Shards world background and you have the choice of playing any of a myriad range of backgrounds, races or professions. The quick reference sheet, rules, wiki and information we post here will help, but once you have an idea of what you'd like to play, do please contact us. We may be able to offer useful advice, fill in any blanks and answer any questions you may have.

Are there any discounts available?

2007-03-28T13:16:00.000Z

New Blood: If you have never been to any Shards or Strangehaven events before you qualify for a special New Blood Player place which means that your first event costs only £30.

Blockbooking: Further reductions are available in conjunction with blockbooking all 4 events, you should contact Heather at the e-mail address shown in the sidebar for details.

Player places

2007-03-15T13:07:00.000Z

Player places currently available, please contact us for further information and bookings.

Shards - Campaign Update (March 2007)

2007-03-15T12:56:00.000Z

March Campaign Update in Brief...

Ten and a half years ago, the Shards were combined into a single world, the passageways to the Netherworld were sealed and the God’s vanished.

This new world was plunged into chaos and the general situation on each Shard (or continent) is now:-

Archipelago - Lord Gutter and the Guild of Ratters have joined with the Crimson Brotherhood, seizing control of the pirate port of Whitewater. Now only the brave sail the seas of Archipelago without their permission.

Court of Five Thunders - civil war has begun between three factions.

Dust - the temples of Arak and the shrines of Nia have been stripped of their wealth and now the Sable Veil rule Dust from the shadows.

Faerie - an arms race has begun between the Irondelve Dwarves and Fomori Steamgear Squadrons. War drums can now be heard on the boarders of the McUens lands, heightening fears that the Ogryn and Unicorn Bloodlines have allied.

Frontier - the Sauron’s have increased their effort to capture increasing numbers of tribes’ people in order to sacrifice them to the Draken.

Salem - the military arm of the Church now rules completely, martial law is in place. Rumours abound though, that the secretive Thule Brotherhood actually controls the military office.

Union - the town of Compton has flourished and is now officially the number one holiday hot spot of the New World.

Taken from the Campaign Update released for the Shards core event: Hair of the Dog (6th - 9th April 2007).

A Brief Introduction to the Shards

2007-03-08T10:51:00.000Z

For eons unknown, the Shards were seven independent worlds, clustered together and linked by well travelled portals. Some ten and a half years ago, that all changed one cataclysmic night when the Shards came together, fusing to form one world. In the hours between dusk and dawn millions died, wiped from the face of the Shards along with the lands they occupied. The Gods died along with everyone else and come the dawn after that fateful night, the Shards were changed forever and life would never be the same again.

Now, nearly eleven years after union (10AU) the Shards have moved on and its people continue to adjust to this strange new world in which they've found themselves. The sum of its parts, the world seems to be much, much larger than the original seven Shards. Vast swathes of land and sea remain unmapped and in the Known World, the remnants of the original Shards, an age of exploration has begun.

The Known World is still referred to as the Shards, with a Shard now representing a continent or large geographic region. Over time, this may change as power shifts and the world is explored, but for now we have...

Archipelago – As the name suggests, many, many islands with stretches of open water populated by all manner of sea faring cultures and people, including pirates, fishermen, sailors, Norse raiders, privateers, other cultures similar to the Spanish Main. Also home of the Triads, Voodoo and Water Sidhe.

Dust – A dry, arid, desert land buried under constantly shifting sands, although conditions have been steadily improving since the union of the Shards. This land is home to Arabian and Egyptian style cultures, with a backbone in commerce and trade. Dust is now home to the majority of Guilds who abandoned Whitewater Isle (Archipelago) shortly after the Shards became one world. Slavery is common here and wealth opens doors.

Faerie - A land of magic and mystery where nothing is ever quite as it seems and enchantments are commonplace. Faerie is home to many people and reputed (amongst Faeries at least) to be the oldest of the Shards; here you will find the Fae (elves) and the Courts which trade in favours rather than money; the Fomorii, and many creatures both mundane and fantastic. The Faerie mainland is fast returning to its former glory as flood waters recede and the land recovers from the turmoil caused by the continent of Atlantis rising from beneath the seas in recent decades.

The Five Thunders – A land based around the cultures of Ancient Japan, China, Tibet and India long subjugated by five evil Emperors and then occupied by the Monarchs of Atlantis. In recent years, the people of the Thunders have gone through political change and the land is now split between three rival factions: The Empire, The Shogunate and The Sanctuary.

Frontier – A savage forest land full of dangerous wildlife and aggressive, flesh eating plants. The peoples of this land include tribal groups (think Native American) and forest sidhe; living uncomfortably alongside them (and often regarded as unwelcome invaders by their neighbours) are settlers, descended from populations displaced from the other Shards. In the past decade temperatures across this Shard have continued to plummet, but temperate and tropical areas still exist amongst regions of geological instability.

Salem – Primarily based around the culture and geography of 17C Europe, this dark land is ruled with a iron fist by the Church of Salem (think Fire and Brimstone), which seeks to protect the people of Salem from all that is heretical. A people long ruled by fear and paranoia, constantly plagued by horrors such as Vampires and the Undead, Salem has been at war for most of its bloody history. Personal freedoms are suppressed for the good of all, reading is forbidden amongst the populace and stories must never be told; punishments are swift and harsh and all fear the Inquisition.

Union - Once a world with no native population but acting as a centre for all portal travel between worlds, this land was a valuable military asset and has seen its share of bloodshed. Originally an empty shard, it now boasts several settlements which have sprung up in recent years from refugee populations from other Shards, most notably from Faerie and Salem.

Some first glimpses of Murton Park

2007-02-28T14:09:00.000Z

Last weekend, the Strangehaven writing team headed over to Murton Park to meet with the site manager and discuss the rules for using this very special site.

Topics covered in the meeting will be posted here closer to the event dates, but in the meantime here are some pictures of the village itself to whet your appetites.

We start off with a couple of shots of houses from the village square.

And this is the long house...

And finally, a couple of shots of the inside of the houses themselves.

All photo's have been published with the kind permission of Murton Park's site manager and if you wish to read more about Murton Park, please visit their website - http://www.murtonpark.co.uk

Or for more specific information about the village - http://www.murtonpark.co.uk/html/dark_age_village.html

How do I find out more about the Strangehaven world background?

2007-02-26T14:21:00.000Z

The writing team is currently working on the background to ensure it is consistant and fits seamlessly into the existing Shards background. To keep a lot of what we have in store a surprise, initially a lot of information about Strangehaven will be limited to those who choose to play characters based on the island itself (Havenites). However, feel free to contact us with questions and we'll answer if we can.

If I play a Havenite in Strangehaven and I also play in the Shards campaign, can I play my Havenite there as well?

2007-02-26T14:20:00.000Z

Initially, the answer to this is no due to plot reasons, however this may change depending on how the game progresses.

Can I play a new Havenite character (i.e. a resident of the island)?

2007-02-26T14:19:00.000Z

Yes, but if you choose to play a Havenite, there will be some restrictions on what you can play and you will need to discuss your character with the ref team. Havenite characters will naturally have insider information on what is happening in Strangehaven and may need to be briefed accordingly. The normal Shards rules apply to Havenite characters, but they will need to follow a character template which will be generated closer to the first game. Any unused karma or hero points gained whilst playing your Havenite character can be transferred to your main Shards character if you so wish.

I want to know more, who should I talk to about the game?

2007-02-24T21:42:00.000Z

As always, your first point of contact should be Andy L and Heather for bookings, but you're welcome to talk to any of the refs to find out more. Strangehaven is in its first year of running, so any plot or Strangehaven specific questions are best directed to those writing the background. Comment here or email directly to strangehaven [at] googlemail [dot] com and your question will be forwarded to all Strangehaven contributors.

Will Strangehaven plot be linked to Shards plot?

2007-02-24T21:41:00.000Z

The answer to this one is yes and no. The Strangehaven world background is the Shards world background set in the same timeline and characters may be played in both games, hence there will inevitably be crossover between the two campaigns. However, Strangehaven is intended to be a standalone game, running independently from the Shards core events. It will have its own plot, NPCs and storyarc, but events and actions originating from Shards may influence Strangehaven and happenings in Strangehaven may impact on the rest of the Shards.

Is this game for experienced role-players?

2007-02-18T18:49:00.000Z

It could be said that Strangehaven is aimed at a more adult style of role-playing, but neither age nor experience is a restriction to coming along. Players should be aware that this game is not about building armies, combat skills or status; instead Strangehaven is about playing a character, building relationships within a community, solving the many problems and dilemmas that come your way and contributing to the ongoing story by your actions.

Do I need to know about the Shards world?

2007-02-18T18:45:00.000Z

No, the game while linked is independent with its own background and flavour complete with its own unique NPC characters and stories. Existing Shards and totally new players are all new to Strangehaven. However to help you we will be publishing on this site an update of the Shards background broken down into relevant chuncks to help with character creation and knowledge.

We are used to Shards, so what's the difference with Strangehaven events?

2007-02-18T18:37:00.000Z

Unlike Shards, the setting for Strangehaven is stationary; an isolated island village with a persistant community. That's not to say the whole events takes place in the village, Strangehaven is an exotic location, a Bermuda Triangle where things may conspire to take you elsewhere. The event is high role-play, low combat; that's not to say combat won't exist, but the focus of Strangehaven events will be on interpersonal role-play.

Can I bring my existing Shards Character to Strangehaven events?

2007-02-17T10:54:00.001Z

Yes, we have no preference for you to either play a character from Strangehaven (a Havenite), one of your existing Shards characters or an entirely new character from any of the known Shards world. All we need to know is which character you're bringing along so we can ensure you get the most out of the events.

I'm a new player. Do I have play a Character from Strangehaven (Havenite)?

2007-02-17T10:53:00.000Z

No we have no preference, you can play a Havenite or any one of the myriad of Shards character types and backgrounds. If you're new to Shards or want to play a Havenite, we recommend you seek advice by sending us an email to strangehaven [at] googlemail [dot] com on what you're thinking of playing, so we can guide you on how to get the best out of the game.

Do I have to book on all four events?

2007-02-17T10:52:00.000Z

No each game will have its own plot for that weekend, as well as continuing with your personal plot, there may be a story arc that continues from event to event, but missing one, two or three events will not stop you getting quickly and easily involved.

Safehaven (Shards Wiki Updated)

2007-02-05T13:19:00.000Z

(Also known as Strangehaven)

Safehaven is the name of an island which exists on the edge of the continent of Atlantis on the Shard of Faerie. It has never been part of the Monarch empire, nor the former Faerie mainland; instead this tiny island has enjoyed a relatively independent history, having been overlooked by the peoples of Faerie down through the ages. It is home to a little known community and much of it's fauna and flora have developed in isolation, remaining unknown to modern Faerie even to this day.

Shards Wiki - http://shards.schtuff.com/home

Havenite - Basic Costume

2007-01-10T19:20:00.000Z

If you decide to play a native of Strangehaven rather than one of the many myriad character options available in Shards, this may help you to decide what to wear.

A typical Havenite should wear costume styled on historical European clothing from periods known as the the Dark Ages through to Medieval. Havenites who have travelled and visitors have brought with them new fashions and ideas throughout the ages. These have been incorporated into their style of dress, so feel free to add eccentric touches to the costume which may have been all the rage somewhere... once.

A couple of samples are shown here, from the most basic such as a simple shirt paired with some stretchy leggings to fitted woolen hose, doublet and all the trimmings.

For other ideas try the Viking Village we use http://www.murtonpark.co.uk/html/dark_age_village.html perhaps this link may help http://www.vikingsna.org/norsa/kit/kitlinks.htm#1 or keep reading here for more links.

If you do decide you would like to play a Havenite, please contact us for more information.

Rules coming soon

2007-01-09T22:23:00.000Z

A new simplified rule system will soon be available, information will be posted here when it becomes available.

What's Strangehaven about?

2007-01-09T22:19:00.000Z

Stangehaven is best described as falling somewhere between Twin Peaks, Lost and Northern Exposure but set in an isolated island community.

Set in a classic high fantasy world with costume options ranging from dark ages through to early 19th century.

Fully interactive, player led, non-linear story lines with an emphasis on interpersonal roleplay.

Small player group with high crew ratio will ensure there is plenty of plot for everyone, whether you attend one event or manage to make all four.

24 hour time in, from 10pm on Friday evening until Sunday midday.

Roleplay is a must to get the best out of these events which will be low combat and high intrigue in nature. Players will be encouraged to use all the skills in their repetoire, so bring along your brains as well as your swords and be careful not to upset the locals!

While Strangehaven is intended to be a standalone game, it does link into the main Shards campaign fitting seamlessly into the Shards world background presenting opportunities to explore the rest of this extensive gameworld.

Accomodation is self-catering in dark ages style huts sleeping on raised wooden pallets. Ticket cost is £50 per event, with discounts available for those who book onto all four events or are first time players.