=Event Story=
With the City-State of Newhope giving right of way to host this year’s market faire to the people of Lumiria, the Blades of Sol have prepared their settlement to receive visitors and merchants from all walks of life. Even in times of war, people look forward to gathering to enjoy each other’s company. Whether it be food, gossip, or a chance to reconnect, people from all corners of Mardrun have come to Lumiria, located in Aylin’s Reach territory, to participate in this year’s annual market faire, a welcome respite from the constant strain of war.
Part 1: Blades of Sol Host The Market Faire
The Blades of Sol Faction members will be hosting the Market Faire this year, coordinating the in-game schedule of events and tournaments.
Part 2: Out-of-Game Community Hangout
This event will include an evening of out-of-game community hangout! There will be a 15-Year Celebration Ceremony and then camping, a cook-out, a swap-meet, and just hanging out are all encouraged. Share your stories about the past 15 years of Last Hope LARP history!
=Event Summary=
Faire goers all gathered in the city of Lumeria as Mardrun’s annual market faire began. Faces among the crowd were some that many expected to never see again in places of celebration, especially the newly-allied Ironmound fair-goers. While politics and mercantile deals were present as always, this faire seemed to be one of the people, focusing on merriment and honoring those lost in the war first, rather than pushing hard on war agendas.
Rather quickly, attention shifted back to the war, as a Truthseeker of Clan Spiritclaw read a declaration from High Priestess Morrigan Solfire herself.
“To the people of the free Clans, the colonies of Newhope, and Aylin’s Reach, and all others in attendance,I am High Priestess Morrigan Solfire of Clan Spiritclaw. Hear my words. For many moons, we have paid close watch to both sides of this conflict. Clan Spiritclaw has remained neutral on such matters as we did in the prior war. With the emergence of a secluded Clan and the new magics they brought with them, outreach and discovery was prioritized. We were curious about this third unknown entity, as I’m sure all of you are as well, and we sent a delegation to learn all that they could from Stonetooth. Just as they welcome the willing Daughters of Gaia who seek them out from Grimward, we were welcomed as well.However, we were presented with bold claims by passionate interlopers to look with a more discerning eye at the actions of Stonetooth. This forced us to ask hard questions and learn difficult truths. The news that was brought back to me I am duty-bound to share will all of you.We asked Clan Stonetooth about many things, their way of life, their leadership, their history, their Pillars… and their opinions of the north and the monsters that live within. When we spoke of the mordok, who Stonetooth despise as equally as any of us, they told us that the mordok draw their power from their Weaver by creating idols of corruption and bastardizing her magic.
I will repeat this. The Stonetooth believe that the mordok draw their power, corrupted and twisted, from their deity they call the Weaver. We know, as well as all of you, that the mordok are of the Mother. They are her children, named so by her own words that have echoed from the visions suffered by those who fight her power or dare to get too close to it. Either by their own ignorance or an attempt at deception towards us, Clan Stonetooth are worshipers of The Mother, disguised under a false name. Spiritclaw has and forever will fight against the dark forces that fester in the Dirge Swamp. To even consider aligning ourselves, or turning a blind eye to a Clan who draws power from the same evil we seek to eradicate would be a desecration. We have seen with our own eyes the monsters that Clan Stonetooth has unleashed upon the downtrodden, watched as they salt and burn the lands that Gaia had blessed.At this very moment, this same letter has arrived into the hands of various Clan Grimward leaders, assuming there are any left. We beg of you, good people of Grimward, to cease this madness. Separate yourselves from this vile infection, or they will be your downfall. There is no glory worthy of Corruption. On this day, we will sit by and watch no more. Clan Stonetooth has made an enemy of Clan Spiritclaw. We cannot stand idly by as they seek to spread poison into the heart of Mardrun. May Gaia’s embrace shelter us all.”
With Ironmound having declared war against their former allies and now Spiritclaw joining the fight, hopes are high among the shocked crowd. The horrifying discovery of Stonetooth’s worship of the Mother perhaps couldn’t outshine the silver lining of another allied Ulven clan.
Further into the day, the competitions and tournaments continued. After several tense rounds, victory was claimed by fighters, bards, talented creampie-eaters, and the golden stool was secured for another year.
Towards the end of the day, another letter made its way to the public. This time from the Council Member of New Hope, Duchess Madeline d’Argent delivering important news from the warfront in Grimward, read aloud by a representative of Starkhaven.
“To our allies in this war, Know that this letter comes from the office of Duchess Madeline d’Argent. The City-State of Newhope finds the information credible and plans to act on it promptly.The land bridge between Stormjarl and Newhope has afforded us opportunities for intel gathering. Our forces fighting along our new front lines have seen precarious arguments between various Grimward warparties shift into all-out combat. This has not been a single event. Whatever seeds of discontent may have been planted have most assuredly been sown.Sources from within Clan Grimward, who give reason to be trusted, have provided key details, as follows;
Firstly, Pack Oakheart has begun fighting against several other Grimward packs. They’ve sought safe passage out of Grimward land for their Daughters of Gaia, and without aid those Daughters may not make it out. Clan Stonetooth’s extreme beliefs and their attempts to press that belief onto many Daughters has pushed to this extreme response, and word has it that more packs have already made moves to follow Pack Oakheart. Our sources plan to meet with us again soon for further information. Secondly, Clan Stonetooth has effectively twisted the beliefs of enough Grimward leadership to maintain the lack of a living Clanleader. Should this continue, almost surely there will never be another Clanleader of Clan Grimward. It is their position that the Warsworn Khulgar Greytide, Warleader of Clan Grimward maintain his control over the clan. Itis unclear even to our sources what that means for the clan once the war is “ended” and they’ve completed their conquering. Allied forces of Mardrun, strike hard and strike true. Clan Grimward has begun warring with itself–Newhope will not let the opportunity to crush from outside while they crumble inside pass us by.
–Duchess Madeline d’Argent, on behalf of the City-State of Newhope Council”
The crowd that had gathered quickly broke off to discuss and plan with their allies, and once again, the focus of many was shifted back to the tides of war.
As the sun began to set, several gathered around a fire with folded parchment carrying names of those they’d lost. As they were read aloud and their stories shared, their names were carried into the sky by the smoke and their spirits laid to rest with the ash. Among friends, family, and new allies, a fresh breath of hope concluded the annual market fair.