[size=120]At Chimera 2013 we invite you to step into another milieu. With 160 players spread across four venues, our flagship game The Rose and the Dragon will bring to life the great hall, the humble village, the forest folk and the war camps of England in the Middle Ages, all in one massive event.
In the Barony of Thamesly a curious custom has arisen to mark the festival of May Day. Paying homage to a local myth, the villagers costume themselves as forest creatures and parade up the road to the Great Hall. Among them is a ferocious dragon, which only a rose from the lady of the manor may tame.
This year on May Day the barony is host not only to the usual wild festivities of the village folk and those who live in the greenwood, but also several courts of nobles who are travelling to Westminster to petition the king, and the camps of their soldiers who are preparing for war.
It is the Year of Our Lord 1221, and the fourteen-year-old boy Henry III is King of England. His reign is marked by struggle against the Magna Carta, which his father King John was forced to sign by the barons. Civil war beckons between his noble supporters and those who seek to constrain the royal powers and call a parliament.
It is an age of vast contrast between the educated nobles and illiterate peasants, the god-fearing clergy and violent knights. Kings rise and fall, realms are gained and lost, and the intrigues of village life may touch even the mighty.
The village children sleep restlessly, for tomorrow will be the best day of the year. The dancing! So many strangers! And the parade![/size]
I’m happy to announce the flagship game for next year’s Chimera.
The Rose and the Dragon will consist of four interwoven games, all set on May Day in the Barony of Thamesly in England, 1221 AD. I’m coordinating the game, and Anna Northey has stepped up to lead the set dressing team again. The writing team so far is Mike Curtis, Matt Swain, Jacqueline Brasfield, Malcolm Harbrow, Donna Giltrap, Dave Agnew and Martin Clyde.
Our aim is to create a microcosm of medieval English society that players can stray into for one evening, to celebrate a festival to welcome the coming of summer in a bygone era. Each character will be written as part of one of the four games, but will also cross over with characters in the other three, and players will be able to move between the four venues freely. The result will be a huge immersive experience.
We look forward to seeing you all there!
