A cow and a goblin were given royal titles during a Spring End Reign/ Coronation event with a feast in a live action role play chapter, Sylvan Glade, Sunday at Pendleton King Park.
Sylvan Glade is a local duchy/chapter of Amtgard, a national LARP organization that meets every other Sunday.
During the coronation, Tabatha Soverns known in the realm of Sylvan Glade as Cal Hopper, dressed as a cow, was crowned as its new monarch. Lex A. O’Flinn, as Gobbo Goldenbow the goblin, was selected as regent. Prime Minister is Yuie BrightflameUnloved; champion is Carl Sharp also known as Lazraid, and GMR was Protem Malakai Sterling otherwise known as Takuu.
Regarding the feast, “Gollum” screamed, “Taters!” while “Samwise Gamgee” corrected Gollum and said, “Po-tay-toes! Boil ’em, mash ’em, stick ’em in a stew…”
However, the potatoes for the Coronation Feast were baked, and there was a lot more than tasty tubers. In addition, hot chili with all sorts of fixings, steamed broccoli, and beverages were prepared and served thanks to Karie Collins also known as Belle Goldenbow
Newly crowned monarch, Soverns, shared her goals for a potential coronation speech and joked that she would translate her moo-ing.
“I, Cal Hopper, as monarch of Sylvan Glade, will work with our incoming regent, Gobbo Goldenbow, to incorporate more future A&S (arts and sciences) classes and related fundraisers as well as some possible future volunteer projects,” said Soverns, who as Cal Hopper was dressed in a cow costume.
Of course, a crowned, friendly cow, in the context of LARP, would want to support others.
“I will also support and help our players’ progress with their projects, fighting, and as human beings, goblins or even cows,” she said.
Soverns said, “We as a park will be implementing a guiding team for the newer players that join us with help from our champion, ‘Lazraid.’”
She said she hopes this guiding team will teach and support new players and help them on their first day in the hope that they will return.
O’Flinn, the new regent / prince who also happens to be a goblin, said, “Becoming the new Regent of Sylvan Glade is a huge honor since I am taking the position after my father who was a magnificent Regent.”
The previous regent was Shawn Collins, who goes by Lord Squire Cocaire Goldenbow. “Gobbo”, the new regent, explained that the day would have games themed to “Avatar: The Last Air Bender.”
“The difference is (that today) we are having an Arts and Sciences event which is different from a park day,” O’Flinn said. He said the crafts were anything related to what the ancients thought of as elements such as air, water, fire, and earth.
Carl Sharp (“Lazraid”), newly named champion of Sylvan Glade, made leather pendants for participants which were painted half and half with turquoise and white, the colors of Sylvan Glade. He wore a similar one but painted red.
“The red ones are for the crats,” he said. Crats is basically an abbreviation for craftsperson. To identify who to get help with crafts from, Sylvan Glade members could just seek out those with red pendants.
He said he gladly teaches others how to do leatherwork. And that is definitely part of what an AS day at Sylvan Glade is all about, teaching others about arts or weapons building.
Malakai Sterling “Takuu” wrote on the Sylvan Glade Facebook page regarding the latest LARP adventures: “A new island has appeared from seemingly nowhere, and the nations are curious as to how it came to be and if it’s possible to claim the island. Each nation has sent their very best adventurers to uncover the mystery of the island and to attempt to claim it for their nation. There’s but one catch.”
He continued, “A mysterious man claims to own the island. He is tasking the adventurers to participate in his ‘games,’ and the winner shall have the island. What does he have for us exactly? Well, that you’ll have to find out by coming out to our coronation… but I’m not heartless so here’s a tiny peek of the games planned…”
Among the games “Takuu” had planned was “Ring the Bell,” a game similar to capture the flag but teams needed to hit the other side’s goal during combat rather than bring back a flag.
Before the game, Takuu said, “To ring the bell, get to the other side’s goal and smack it.”
He also said that long weapons could not be used to smack the goal. Each team could prevent the other from smacking their goal by inflicting simulated damage with the soft swords that are used within LARP, and they certainly did.
Seven other different games were played throughout the day. For more information on the event, Sylvan Glade, their future events, and joining, see their Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/880810255280997
Ron Baxley Jr. is a correspondent for The Augusta Press.
