Commission info -
[link]Art-trades - always welcome!
Requests - depends on how busy I am.
My KH/KH2 account here:
[link]My fanart account here:
[link]Sister account: 
You know how things are - you hear of something you'd really like to do, but you can't get the time off work, or you haven't the money... Something gets in the way; and it just doesn't happen.
That's how things with me and The Gathering went - I originally heard about it almost 8 years ago. I finally got to go for the first time this year...
And it was bloody FANTASTIC!!!
My first experience of The Gathering started with having to be at Dublin Port at around 6:30 for the 8:00 sailing of the Ulysses to Holyhead - whoever invented the concept of Railing & Sailing is a genius... (although I still want to persuade my father to let me take the Zafira when I have my licence - a BIG boot is a necessity) But yeah - so started 6 days of hilarity and the best week I've had in a very long time.
When we arrived in Derby train station, we were given a lift in a Land Rover to Locko Park (bar the fact they
swallow petrol, I'd consider saving up for one of them for the future events we WILL be going to). After paying for our tickets and getting the one weapon we had - a tiny little belt dagger - checked, we were given a lift up to our camp-site. That's how I found out that Land Rovers
can make sense!
So began the adventure of pitching a tent - something Robb'd never even seen done, let alone tried to himself... When I got to where we'd decided to pitch it, I found him being given lessons - thank you so much, Dorian - and our tent was erected in the end with about 8 people working on it...our little 4-man dome (misnomer of a name - you can
not fit 4 men in that thing unless they're thinner than I am, and have NO gear with them at all). The only way that thing could have gone up faster is if you set it on the ground and pushed a button or something.
Once that was done, luggage was shoved in randomly, and we set off to explore...we didn't get very far as the Command tent was maybe 10 yards from our tent
. And then I headed off on an Asda run with Pat, Dorian, Ciara & Stephen. Eventually however, we headed down to the trade area. And so began our "Ooh - shiny!". We're such magpies (well duh really. We're
gamers). By the end of that wander, we had my cloak (go the 3 Aoifes with the 3 brown cloaks), Robb's robes (and they are nice - and in Armengar's colours, which we didn't even know at the time), a leather belt for each of us, a belt pouch each (pockets are needed), my book (which I haven't decided on it's purpose yet) and Robb collapsible glass (that thing's snazzy - I'm getting one for myself next time) After that, we're were introduced to the deliciousness that is Spit Roast. And then we went and got my sword.
And then back up to camp, shopping dumped in the tent, and then the Command tent for laughter, chatter and mead. It was then Pat helped me hammer out Liaden's framework so I wasn't raking my brains for how an orphaned elf ended up in Armengar. So yeah - she's an orphan who left her home looking for something different, joined the Tribe, and came to Armengar with them (and I found out yesterday that, at 56, she's considered a child, and most elves would want to know what the hell she's doing abroad in the world alone at her age).
The following morning, kit was donned for the first time. Maya liked my ruffled shirt (so did Aoife, but Maya's only 2). At my next event, Liaden's gonna have facial decoration in the Armengar colours, so I'll be wearing contacts, but I was lazy regarding them this time around. Robb went off on an Asda run while I inflated our mattresses, and got a crash course in blocking, and a lot of advice on different things. 'Course, we went back down to the trading area for the other things we needed when Robb got back. Which was all Robb's belt pouches for all his potions and poisons - he's an alchemist - his staff, trousers, my compass, his pocket watch, and my UBER pretty cloak - which I will most likely never use for LARPing, as it's red & black velvet, and brushes the ground. As it is in Armengar's colours, I might use it for formal events. Emphasis on the 'might'. Robb also got this snazzy little flask that has two shot-glasses with it that are held over the lid when it's all strapped up. His character's a functional alcoholic thanks to his master, so it works.
Once we had added the necessary bits to be fully in kit, my body decided I wasn't allowed be completely carefree, and I ended up stuck lying in bed (sleeping bag, whatever) in bits with cramp (thank you, female reproductive system). However, the sun came out big time, and being suffocated isn't conductive to feeling better, so I got back up, dressed and out of the tent. The painkillers were kicking in by that time, so I was fine. So then it was down to god to get our characters officially made - to summarise Liaden, she's a combat healer, who can be useful for rituals. Shortly after that, time-in was called, and we headed to get our power cards. Healing 2 and Power 1 gave me 16 cards a day...hehehe. I had the same amount of cards a day Robb had for the whole weekend. Back up at camp, as we can both contribute to rituals, we were 2 of the people got together for the ritual to empower the Blue Boy. That was interesting. Of course getting there and seeing the mystic gem in the centre of the ritual circle being kendered
[link] was amusing. Then I went off to join the Bard's Guild - and got a shock when I found out I had to audition. However, I sang a bit of Home & the Heartland, and it went fine, so I was told to come back a bit later to get my name put on the books, and wandered off. I met Robb, or rather, Liaden met Iolar outside, and offered to accompany him down to the trading area (we were hungry). He accepted - a non-com having someone who carries a bastard sword with them is smart after things went crazy and the Acari (the bad guys) were running around killing people. So we went and had dinner, and got the card folders you can hang around your neck. After that, he went back up to camp, and I went back to the guilds to actually be officially signed up. I met Coircre (Sue) at that point, so she was the first person I spoke to who wasn't a Lion. I loved her outfit the minute I laid eyes on it - we're both fans of purple. And then it was back up to camp for me. This was at about half 6. And I was there 'til about 10 doing gate guard, I actually got no further then the gate; when I was called down to the command tent for an Armengarian council. After the council was decided, our leaders went looking for someone who could perform the ritual we needed, and I was fetched back to the gate as there was no healer there then. We agreed that someone would come and fetch me when I was needed for the ritual. Standing there with three Wolverines to take care of the muscle if it were needed was fun. They were all taller then me, and made an nice imposing surround when I scanned anyone.
When I was fetched, I experienced my first 'freeze' call on the way back down to the command tent. After time in, nothing seemed to be happening, until we got there and were getting ready for the ritual... And then found out that a bunch of golems had attacked the gate. Go figure. However, ritual was started - and myself and another newbie were who was pounced on to be asked why we were there. Liaden's responses were short and to the point - it's what she's like - so I had no moments of "WTH - what do I say", due to what she was asked being easy to answer as I knew what we were there for. And after that was done, I had my first experience of healing as Malachi (Pat) was down and unable to heal himself.
Saturday followed much the same pattern. Although I missed Robb getting jumped with several others while in the market place, as I was in the Healer's guild, signing up. I got back to camp to see the tail end of an Acari attack. As in I reached the gate just after they left. Then we had the fun of swating Acari who were arriving through the transport circle. Then Robb went to lie down - he'd had a bad night as his mattress deflated on him halfway through, and I went wandering and got jerky (yum!) and dreads that I can tie into my hair, in the Armengar colours
[link] - that was the first deliberate buying of Armengar colours either of us did.
Sunday was my first experience of a fight - and it wasn't a skirmish... I'd had the bad luck of missing every single one I could have been involved in all weekend up to that point. Nope, Sunday was the big "let's-go-kill-the-bad-guy" battle. As the combat side of Liaden being a combat healer is to protect herself, of someone else who she needs to heal, I spent most of the battle running around behind the line healing people. In running to heal someone, I got paralysed by one Acari. And then, while I was waiting for that that to wear off, another Acari came strolling calmly by and decided to artefact crush my chest. And it was such a negligent wave of his weapon too! I found that more annoying then the fact that I was now on -1 to chest. 'Course, being paralysed, I couldn't fall down. Next thing I know, I'm scanned, and
physically picked up and carried back to the healers. I was out of power soon after that, so spent the remainder of the battle scanning people, receiving "Fatal to _______(insert relevant location here) and shouting "Anyone to heal fatal". Later, after the battle was over - and we won, Lord Roan had been poofed, Robb and I went back to the traders, and got him a black shirt, and me a red one.
Monday started with the Armengar breakfast
[link] which is apparently a tradition. After that it was off to the second big battle; which was surreal and odd, and I spent a lot of it sitting with the other healers watching it, as no-one really needed us. Then it was back to camp to pack up, strike the tent and say goodbyes, then walk to were the taxis now know to come
Then we headed off to the Lions tradition of getting dinner at Tobey's Carvery. Robb and I spent the night there, and had a much quieter (we were the only ones doing it) Rail back to Holyhead, and a fantastic Sail (with the others who had cars) back to Dublin.
I'm not loading all the photos we took, as a lot of the 486 shots we have are battle shots, and as I was behinds the lines, I wouldn't be able to explain what's going on in them. For those who I've friended on Facebook, they're all there. Those I have loaded here are all to be found here -
[link]I've only really come down off the Keen high, and I love it! As far as going again goes, it'll either be one of the Lions' sanctioned events - either the autumn or spring one, or the Spring Moot that we'll be at next, and I can't wait!
:thumb59911364: - I love *
Keysha-chan's strips with this trio
CLUBS:
FRIENDS:
Expressions! Like cheese dipped in razors.
Fondue, deep and mysterious. Its warmth hides answers.
Questions? Where do they come from?
Ask the dremel, grinding knows.
2010
- I love *Keysha-chan's strips with this trio
Optimism
Not Impressed
Tired
Content
Eager
