This last weekend we played at the Silver Kingdom
Renaissance Faire Charlton, MA. In the past, it has been a larp faire (Live
Action Role Play). Last year, it was awash with Larpers and filled to capacity
with them for their annual “Blood Games”. That was interesting and I wrote
about it several times culminating with a story called “The World According to
Larp.”
This is a beautiful property, not yet discovered by many. There are miles of woods in the back, and the faire is set up by the tavern and the front fields.
This year, the owners and directors of the faire grounds
(over 200 acres of former horse farm) decided to focus on the renaissance faire
aspect. Their theme was “Chivalry” and it was fun to listen to acts about
etiquette and to have Knights in armor vie for the two princesses’ hands in
marriage. Their father the King was trying to wed them off, much to the chagrin
of the daughters. A couple of the suitors were “not suitable” either which made
for some fun drama. Harry & I played along wondrous well, by dedicating a
song to the Princesses. “Sorry the Day I was Married” seemed perfect under the
circumstances!
The vendors were fewer but there were a lot of performers.
There was us (Merry Mischief) and “The Harper & The Minstrel”, “Mischief
Managed” (an acapella group), “Buzzard Bay Buccaneers”, “The Graces”, “Granny
Grue” (short for “Gruesome”. She is
nothing of the sort but rather a fun singing zombie gramma J) and we watched
swordplay and there was also The Bardic Circle among others.
The weather was fabulous and we had a great time. Saturday
night found us sharing a makeshift meal with Jay & Abby and their friends
Jerry & Leeza in their camper. We wandered home through the fields and
Harry & I settled in for the night in one of the cabins here at the faire.
It was a pleasant space, full of wood and with the windows open letting in the
screened breezes it was quite lovely in a rustic and modest way.
Father’s Day found us wandering the grounds again, and we
enjoyed the patrons, the boothies and the other entertainers a lot. We traded songs with other performers, and
played lots of requests, and Jay & Abby sat in with us for several songs. I
just adore how we sound together! We got lots of compliments and suggestions to
have us record a CD together. The thought has crossed our mind. I bought some
jewelry, some gourmet garlic oil, and we are bringing home an assortment of
books from the bookseller Druscilla. I am just addicted to books, I cannot lie.
Started reading one this morning, in the sunshine, in my camp chair in the
sunshine before opening gate! How delicious that was!
After the busy faire day was done, and we said our goodbyes
to patrons and other rennies, we met Granny Grue (Glee) and Jay & Abby at
our favorite local restaurant here, at Zorba’s Greek Restaurant for our annual
intake of some social beers and grand food.
They went home and Harry and I came back to the campground for one last
evening. It’s nicer to think of a good nights’ rest than a 5 or 6 hour drive
after a busy faire weekend and full bellies!
I am now sitting in my sweats, out of garb and jingles, with
my faire feet up on a cot, writing away to you. I am bathed in the amber
cottage light, listening to the sounds of a couple of vendors packing it up,
with the sound of cranks turning and the dismantling of counters and booth
frames. It is only punctuated occasionally by the calm sound of Harry
slumbering on the other bed.
We are the only ones left here in the deserted faire ground.
It is quiet now here at the faire. Peaceful and still after
all the hustle and bustle activity over the last few days. These grounds are
beautiful during the day, but I can only imagine how wondrously creepy that
this place can be during one of their Zombie Game weekends.
That’s right.
Zombie Weekends.
The larp grounds here are wild and deep and lovely....peaceful with a lot of elbow room here for Larping. There are teams that participate in the many game weekends.
Here are a few pictures of the grounds and some of the play
stations/areas in the woods.
A beautiful stream runs through the forest…
Ominous marker notes the path of doom….Do you see it?
And along the way, thankfully an Angel will guard you….
I’m pretty sure that a zombie infestation manifested here in the past….
From what I hear tell, picture the game of paint
ball, without the paint. Add costuming, zombies, vanquishing spells and healing
rejuvenation remedies, people dressed as animals, demons all trying to kill
each other or to live to tell the tale. It’s Dungeons and Dragons come to life,
in the woods. At NIGHT.
This sweet quiet cottage
must take on a whole other persona when I think of it being under siege by
zombies. Of course, some of the best parts of that game happen at NIGHT! This
is where chicken shit Merlyn says “Game off” (in a lilting Garth and Wayne
Campbell voice).
Hell, I grew up in the country with the threat of coy dogs
chasing you while you walked 2 and ½ miles home on a lonely road. You don’t
have to tell me to use my imagination. My imagination ROCKS.
The idea of being here, in the woods, at night, while
zombies clawed the screens or waited outside my door to eat my brains is enough
to keep me sealed up here for a long duration.
Thank God we packed groceries, water, various alcoholic beverages, books, light and a composting toilet….because...
THIS girl isn’t leaving this cabin...here on this night... for anyone tonight.
OH HELL NO.
I’m signing off now, absolutely stuffed full of dinner,
satisfied to be out with happy and tired minstrels and having enjoyed the
conversation of a vegetarian zombie grandma who is also on her way home.
I’m safe and sound, and will crawl in to snuggle with my
peacefully snoring Harry, here in the woods, under the moonlight, on a zombie
free evening…and all this has got me thinking...and inspired to say that.just as soon as I find my Ren bodice dagger to sleep with- by my pillow,
and a 2 X 4 to prop the door shut from the inside (which, as you know, can
double as a dead head remover, if necessary, as advised in "The Zombie Survival Guilde).
Ah….
Just in case.
:)
Goodnight from the Other Side.
