Living a Fantasy Plog Series
What better way to get through life and overcome life's challenges then to imagine it as one's greatest Live Action Role Play adventure.
The participants in a Live Action Role Play (LARP) physically portray characters in a fictional setting, improvising their characters' speech and actions somewhat like actors in improvisational theatre. LARPs may be played in a public or private area and may last for hours or days, typically played irregardless of an audience. Players typically dress as their character and carry appropriate equipment, while the environment is sometimes decorated to resemble the setting. LARPs can be one-off events or a series of events in the same setting, and events can vary in size from a handful of players to several thousand.
Celtically Primal's character goes by the name of Theowyndwood Keyote. Theowyn has appeared in multiple LARP settings since development. First developed in the LARPing world of Dagorhir, before making appearances in the primitive survival game: Britannia Faire where she lived a full year at the Broken Spoke Outpost, before jumping back in time to the Middle-Ages as she began to explore the living history feel the Society of Creative Anachronism offered. Given her fade between the worlds of Fantasy, LARP, Living History, and Modern Day; she is best described as a Wandering Coyote Shifter who can portal jump into different periods of time while surviving and blending into their setting with the best of the RangerRoguesScouts Classes.
Most LARPs maintain a clear distinction between the real world and the fictional setting, while Celtically Primal prefers to live in the in-between, mingling fiction with modern reality. By "gamifing" ones life by turning daily tasks, habits, to do lists, etc into objectives that need to be conquered, what once felt like "work" is now just a fun goal to achieve. What better way to view work, learn information, complete tasks, design projects, or explore the outside, than as just another level up.
Celtically Primal's character goes by the name of Theowyndwood Keyote. Theowyn has appeared in multiple LARP settings since development. First developed in the LARPing world of Dagorhir, before making appearances in the primitive survival game: Britannia Faire where she lived a full year at the Broken Spoke Outpost, before jumping back in time to the Middle-Ages as she began to explore the living history feel the Society of Creative Anachronism offered. Given her fade between the worlds of Fantasy, LARP, Living History, and Modern Day; she is best described as a Wandering Coyote Shifter who can portal jump into different periods of time while surviving and blending into their setting with the best of the RangerRoguesScouts Classes.
Most LARPs maintain a clear distinction between the real world and the fictional setting, while Celtically Primal prefers to live in the in-between, mingling fiction with modern reality. By "gamifing" ones life by turning daily tasks, habits, to do lists, etc into objectives that need to be conquered, what once felt like "work" is now just a fun goal to achieve. What better way to view work, learn information, complete tasks, design projects, or explore the outside, than as just another level up.
Volume 1: Tales of Britannia Faire - Living a LARP
A tale of Reality mixed with Fantasy, of Work melded into RolePlay; an educational lesson coyly disguised as a photo book. There were many trials that came from living primitively in BF’s remote location, absolutely all of them worth the increased connection to nature and the peace-of-mind that living away from civilization in the woods provides to your character. Accompany Theowyn on a full year's journey, living a primitive survival game, brought to life again through personal photography; documenting changes within the environment while overcoming the hardships of leveling up. It should be mentioned that Theowyn is only a side character within these chapters; the main character within this plog is the fantasy land itself.
There is something woven into each tale sure to interest a variety of individuals from Environmentalist, RolePlayers, Landscapers, Set Designers, Theater Majors, Contractors, and Primitive Living Enthusiasts alike. Let imagination and curiosity take flight in the world of Live Action Fantasy Living.
A tale of Reality mixed with Fantasy, of Work melded into RolePlay; an educational lesson coyly disguised as a photo book. There were many trials that came from living primitively in BF’s remote location, absolutely all of them worth the increased connection to nature and the peace-of-mind that living away from civilization in the woods provides to your character. Accompany Theowyn on a full year's journey, living a primitive survival game, brought to life again through personal photography; documenting changes within the environment while overcoming the hardships of leveling up. It should be mentioned that Theowyn is only a side character within these chapters; the main character within this plog is the fantasy land itself.
There is something woven into each tale sure to interest a variety of individuals from Environmentalist, RolePlayers, Landscapers, Set Designers, Theater Majors, Contractors, and Primitive Living Enthusiasts alike. Let imagination and curiosity take flight in the world of Live Action Fantasy Living.
Tale near completion. Is currently pending relocation from original format on Celtically Primal Hands website to this one.
Volume 2: How Do You Train Your Character- Real Life & In Character Level Ups
Nov 2016: For my fighter class who seasonally dwells in a land of bitter wind and blowing snow, Winter has been treated as an off season. In the past, the winter hiatus has been molded into catching up on projects gone by the wayside while hunkered in the warmth of the indoors. The fighter instead shifts to the roll of craftsman, accountant, designer, or if I am to be truly honest...sometimes just depressed fighter. It slows down over winter. Story plot will often drag out over gray and stormy days with little motivation to do anything but wait impatiently for the light and warmth to return; putting spring back in our step. Many characters, including my Coyote seem to catch the seasonal lows.
However, this Winter I would like to shift my low time into actively advancing my fighter class using cross training techniques that while may not be directly fighting focused can be used as tools to help the fighter along. Tools such as Pell Drills, Fencing blocks, Advanced Footwork, Boxing, Hooping, and Dynamic Dance Stretching. A Quick link page will be created for drill videos and additional background information that is relevant to various topics I myself will be using for winter training. Given that I will most likely be attempting this endeavor alone, I am going to be writing much of it out, as both understanding the details of why and writing seem to help me organize my thoughts.
Throughout the plog, I would like to cover a wide range of topics, such as: Why I choose to fight and why you might too, the multiple settings in which I fight in (The SCA, Dagorhir, and Belegarth worlds), what can be obtained from each world, uncommon cross training techniques, mistakes made in the past, and the ever challenging path of self improvement.
Ideally, this plog will merge into a variety of fringe topic related to persona creation, immersion, and how to level up ones character; for there is more to gain from traveling between the worlds than just an increased martial skill level. With open eyes and attentive ears ones character can gain a plethora of experience that cross games into real life.
As far as my coyote has traveled, it sadly does not have the means to travel everywhere desired as often as desired. Therefore, I write openly in hopes to share what experience I possess, to encourage others to share with me what shortcuts and perspectives they themselves possess. These pages will explore how I train my character in hopes that any following will share with me how you train your character.
For those of us who dedicate more than a passing moment to the pursuit of sword mastery and character development, hopefully you understand what I am trying to convey. Ever searching for a greater drive, a stronger will, and efficient hands for a lifetime spent in the chase. Bring on the level ups!
Volume still in Development.
Nov 2016: For my fighter class who seasonally dwells in a land of bitter wind and blowing snow, Winter has been treated as an off season. In the past, the winter hiatus has been molded into catching up on projects gone by the wayside while hunkered in the warmth of the indoors. The fighter instead shifts to the roll of craftsman, accountant, designer, or if I am to be truly honest...sometimes just depressed fighter. It slows down over winter. Story plot will often drag out over gray and stormy days with little motivation to do anything but wait impatiently for the light and warmth to return; putting spring back in our step. Many characters, including my Coyote seem to catch the seasonal lows.
However, this Winter I would like to shift my low time into actively advancing my fighter class using cross training techniques that while may not be directly fighting focused can be used as tools to help the fighter along. Tools such as Pell Drills, Fencing blocks, Advanced Footwork, Boxing, Hooping, and Dynamic Dance Stretching. A Quick link page will be created for drill videos and additional background information that is relevant to various topics I myself will be using for winter training. Given that I will most likely be attempting this endeavor alone, I am going to be writing much of it out, as both understanding the details of why and writing seem to help me organize my thoughts.
Throughout the plog, I would like to cover a wide range of topics, such as: Why I choose to fight and why you might too, the multiple settings in which I fight in (The SCA, Dagorhir, and Belegarth worlds), what can be obtained from each world, uncommon cross training techniques, mistakes made in the past, and the ever challenging path of self improvement.
Ideally, this plog will merge into a variety of fringe topic related to persona creation, immersion, and how to level up ones character; for there is more to gain from traveling between the worlds than just an increased martial skill level. With open eyes and attentive ears ones character can gain a plethora of experience that cross games into real life.
As far as my coyote has traveled, it sadly does not have the means to travel everywhere desired as often as desired. Therefore, I write openly in hopes to share what experience I possess, to encourage others to share with me what shortcuts and perspectives they themselves possess. These pages will explore how I train my character in hopes that any following will share with me how you train your character.
For those of us who dedicate more than a passing moment to the pursuit of sword mastery and character development, hopefully you understand what I am trying to convey. Ever searching for a greater drive, a stronger will, and efficient hands for a lifetime spent in the chase. Bring on the level ups!
Volume still in Development.
Volume 3: Wanders Through a Different Age - Tales of a Reenactor
The Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA) is an international living history group with the aim of studying and recreating mainly Medieval European cultures and their histories before the 17th century. A quip often used within the SCA describes it as a group devoted to the Middle Ages as they ought to have been, choosing to selectively recreate the culture, choosing elements that interest and attract us while leaving off the harsher things like plague, food shortages, and polluted water.
They recreate the middle ages to the best of their abilities to learn and teach about that time in history. They DO create a persona, like a character in LARP, but that character is based in history. Many members research the history of the time frame they choose seeking to better under stand clothing, food, jobs, and lifestyles.
While attending events one is exposed to masters of period crafts. Skilled seamstresses, chefs, blacksmiths, armorers, archers, musicians, and melee fighters wander the lands living as they would have years ago.
Tales in this volume will describe all that there is to see in the SCA environment and the benefits of Living History.
Volume still in Development.
The Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA) is an international living history group with the aim of studying and recreating mainly Medieval European cultures and their histories before the 17th century. A quip often used within the SCA describes it as a group devoted to the Middle Ages as they ought to have been, choosing to selectively recreate the culture, choosing elements that interest and attract us while leaving off the harsher things like plague, food shortages, and polluted water.
They recreate the middle ages to the best of their abilities to learn and teach about that time in history. They DO create a persona, like a character in LARP, but that character is based in history. Many members research the history of the time frame they choose seeking to better under stand clothing, food, jobs, and lifestyles.
While attending events one is exposed to masters of period crafts. Skilled seamstresses, chefs, blacksmiths, armorers, archers, musicians, and melee fighters wander the lands living as they would have years ago.
Tales in this volume will describe all that there is to see in the SCA environment and the benefits of Living History.
Volume still in Development.
Volume 4: Living A Fantasy Job - Nature's Office
Real Life career path has shifted to a place studied for, finally getting my foot in the door of the local Forest Preserve Office. Both Geology and Ecology Bachelors are coming in handy but even more so is the training in both Cartography, Geographic Information Systems, and CADD. Nature is my office of choice.
Follow behind-the-scenes as a Geographical Information Systems Cartographic Specialist who also happens to be an Ecological Restoration Technician. Projects include but are not limited to Species Tracking, Controlled Prairie Burns, Forestry and Tree Maintenance, Property Mapping, Fish Stocking, Prairie Seeding, Public Outreach, and many other fun jobs that come about in the world of Ecological Restoration. This series will provide an insider's look as to what is actively being done to restore ecological habitat while combating the machine of commercial development.
Mini Eco and Geological Lessons to be Included.
Volume still in Development.
Real Life career path has shifted to a place studied for, finally getting my foot in the door of the local Forest Preserve Office. Both Geology and Ecology Bachelors are coming in handy but even more so is the training in both Cartography, Geographic Information Systems, and CADD. Nature is my office of choice.
Follow behind-the-scenes as a Geographical Information Systems Cartographic Specialist who also happens to be an Ecological Restoration Technician. Projects include but are not limited to Species Tracking, Controlled Prairie Burns, Forestry and Tree Maintenance, Property Mapping, Fish Stocking, Prairie Seeding, Public Outreach, and many other fun jobs that come about in the world of Ecological Restoration. This series will provide an insider's look as to what is actively being done to restore ecological habitat while combating the machine of commercial development.
Mini Eco and Geological Lessons to be Included.
Volume still in Development.
Future Plogging Projects include:
Scouting the Trails
All Plogs still in Development.
Scouting the Trails
- Follow the trails of the Coyote through On the Fly Photography
- All season treks over various terrain
- "When one walks with nature, one receives far more than one seeks." - John Muir
- Follow the Travels of the Northwoods Edge's Mascot: Theodorus --- He is a traveling bear who explores some nifty things.
- When one spends so much time in their vehicle, it could be easily argued that they live in it; an interesting connection forms between the human and mechanized being on four paws... I mean wheels.
All Plogs still in Development.