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
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.
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
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.
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
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
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
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
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.
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
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.
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)
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)
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
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
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?
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.
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.
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