Malor (![[info]](http://p-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} sna) wrote,@ 2007-11-30 20:24:00 |
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| Current location: | Krimpen aan den IJssel, the Netherlands |
| Current mood: |  satisfied |
| Current music: | Lacuna Coil - Enjoy the silence |
| Entry tags: | ee, larp, lex |
Lextalionis IV - Method to the Madness
Or: how the toughest one yet came to be.
Preparations started over eights months ago on the next episode on Lex, tentatively code-named "Mooncalled" (T'would be full moon on the Saturdaynight of the projected date). The locationsearch as usual was difficult, but phalar_reign came with the golden tip: the Nivon huizen spread throughout the country. Capacity looked good on a few of the houses, but in the end only one really stood out with our plan for a Malkavian Elysium in mind: Villa Eikhold in Heerlen, so far away in the Netherlands it is practically Germany. But the location was beautiful, really worked with our primary concept and had a slight overcapacity in beds, which is something we always look for. Better yet, we could rent it exclusively, meaning no other people. It had a large main room on the ground floor, with a smaller room directly adjacent with two of those cool sliding doors so it could be sealed off; also it has two larger rooms upstairs for the in-character staff, a multifuntion room in the basement (gym, mostly) and an underground library (which for some reason the Tremere really liked *grin*). Most of our players could sleep in the newer sleeping areas in the back, leaving the entire monumental section of the house, built in 1919, for in-character purposes. So, on a warm summer's day, before the Have A Go Heroes concert in Tilburg, we went to the location and filmed it. The movie itself was shocky and very "Blair Witch", which prompted us to call it the Blair Eikhold Project when showing it to our fellow EE'ers, but after thinking about it carefully we went for it, and started working to bring to life our original plan: to physrep the mental institution that Clan Malkavian holds sway over, both to study interesting cases, to recieve treatment themselves and to patch possible breaches of the First Tradition. Also, one of the major things was overhauling the rulesbook based on the experiences so far, and to include the site information in that, too; the city especially I wanted to hyperdetail.
The rulebook was started in February and the first draft of the cityfile was built two weeks later. Both were ready for proofreading around June, but it took till after the vacation to really kick it into gear, as the entire crew was dealing with a wave of personal things left, right, front and center, which of course takes priority over everything. Still, in the background we kept gathering information and the weekly Lex meetings began again (easy if you live close enough to each other to use porto's to talk to one another *grin*). Slowly it all got shape, aided by the backgrounds of the Malkavians and Kelly's Ghoul character, and in a fit of irony we called the Clinic Arcadia. Ingame it was named after "Et In Arcadia Ego", a classic painting; outgame it was a tongue-in-cheek reference to Woonzorgcentrum Arcadia, where I worked in various capacities for four years. It is a well-to-do retirement home which also featured a floor for the insane elderly. One of the things that struck me that there was a sign near the safety door of that department which for all the years I worked there simply said "Toets het huidige jaartal in om de afdeling te verlaten" (trans: please type the current year in the keypad to leave the floor). Funny, a bit; sad, yes.
One of the major factors is that we were dealing with a few very mature topics. I mean, insanity is not an easy topic to discuss, much less play... also, more then a few of my friends have had brushes with the darker parts of our psyche. We were going to have to be careful both for pushing the bounderies too much or making insanity a comedy relief thing. Toughest was that I myself am rather uncomfortable with hospitals; Ren and Cora offered to store a few items at their place (bless them), but I decided to mentally block those silly fears and work with them... I like doctors (have plenty in my group of friends), have no problem with shots, bandages or whatnot. But the buildings themselves feel... dreadful. Latex gloves are something that I really dislike and give me the creeps. Nothing that would make me do silly thinks, but enough to put me on edge. Within EE we discussed the insanity issue, and Olga's expertise was consulted often (when you got a person who studied it, eh...). We decided to push a few boundries, though, and possibly accept a few 'safety word' moments. With that discussed, the final plot started taking shape. After a long think and a few sessions of brainstorming, Lextalionis IV was named "Method to the Madness", after the quote from Shakespeare's Hamlet.
A few of our regulars would not be present due to good reasons, and their OC absences became IC, worked into the plot to make sure it went smoothly. Patients were written, in most cases just a few basic skeletons to allow the NPC's to give their own input; staff was somewhat more tightly done as they all were Ghoul Vassals of the Malkavians and had existed ingame since Lex I & II despite not having screentime. Three week before the event during the NPC day we threw a lot of info at them, which only became more as the event neared. Counting everything, over 80 pages of new material was thrown at most NPC's, and they all took it and worked with it. Kudos. Intake-forms, psychological evaluations, treatment methods, dayrhythem, medication, the how-to-and-where-to of the Arcadia Clinic... the fiction slowly came to life. We also gave a lot of plot to the NPC's, more then usual. While the theory that NPC reactions work better if you steer them less and treat them more like player characters worked to a certain point, it made NPC's feel up the kreek without a paddle sometimes, which is bad. Luckily most of which dutifully let us know at the end of the event how it was from their angle, and based on that we tweaked our style. While it was a difficult decision, I believe that it worked to our advantadge in the end.
Robert and Dennis (who also plays Lex), two Alternity buddies, were really helping in the physrep department, arranging patient-registration-tags (for around your wrist in the hospital), and Julian came through with a set as well at my request - which earned the Sint Franciscus Gasthuis & the IJsselland Ziekenhuis a spot on my thank-you-list. An old nurse-uniform was arranged for J4, as she was going to play a long-dead nurse, more staff uniforms and labcoats were arranged from various sources, including Cora's old labcoat. We had X-Ray and MRI scan shots, too, and patient files to spread around as well as books. Things were coming together. An old 20 Mhz Oscilator, in working condition, would serve as the physrep for a plot I'd been dreaming up for a while: an ECT machine. After thinking long and hard about how to work it, Judith S. (not playing Jasmijn Rozendoorn for an evening) was kind enough to play the patient, Nico played the doctor and Judith G. played the Nurse, to freak the Tremere a bit and showing them how deep the rabbit hole really was... The new players really made me pretty happy, both with decent characterconcepts and the fact that a lot of current characters gave them hooks and ways to introduce themselves. It made the job of integrating them into the Kindred Society of Dorestad interesting and easy. Two fresh Ghouls, several fresh Kindred introduced by running characters... yes, the setting was doing its work. In the meantime I got a lot of positive responses to the new Codex Dorestad and a few suggestions for improvement (thanks, proofreaders! You know who you are).
With just a few weeks to go things were looking good, despite the fact that the scope of the event was difficult to grasp. Of course, I got sick in the weekend before Lex... Being sick during the prep really through a monkey wrench in my 'last few things'-list, but I arranged as much as possible. Friends are good in such a period, as they have your back, and Thursday I went back to work. I reasoned if I am okay enough to go to location, I am okay enough to go to work. Heh. Yeah. Right. Bloody work-ethic. Thursdaynight was no fun; a lot of people were late and then arranging the logistics is tough... but we were underway and arrived just after 11 in Heerlen, meeting the huiswachten Peter and Wim for the first time. Matthijs was already there and had arranged much, and within an hour I had hit the bed after celebrating that Cora and Rene had signed the contract which finalized their buying their first house together (gratz!).
The next day the fever had come back, but I toughed it out mostly, as we had one more important thing to do: inform the Police. We were playing in a pretty rich residential area, and the last thing you want is either the neighbourhood watch or the police checking the people with guns out. The Police in Heerlen was pretty kewl, though. We showed them the weapons, explained our situation and they noted our information, my I.D. and my phone number, which was with me 24 hours per day. With that done we started finalizing the preps and the first player soon arrived: Yedda. Last preparations were done quickly and the last NPC's briefed. The traffic and NS conspired so that a lot of people were later then expected, but after the cool Jos and Sylvia had fed them we had an IC briefing and we were ready to go... cept one thing. See, my mother had been involved in this Lex' planning, by making a sjawl and hat with in the FC Dorestad colors, the in-character soccer club, which were handed over to the in-character fan: Vincent. That being done, we gave people half an hour to prepare before time-in. Lex had truly started.
LJ's:athiel_draaick as Samantha Aloïse Wijchen, Tremere Fledgelingchris_uriel as Ton Baumgarte, Ventrue Ghoulfyrane as Julia Nachtegaal, Toreador Fledgelingghost_musician as Kaleb John Mandeville, Toreador Ancilla karijn as "Emilia", Ravnos Ancilla, Security of Laurentia van Haeftenlarpphoenix as Lara van Straten, Tremere Fledgelinglupijn as Jan van Leeuwen, Ghoul Security of Laurentia van Haeftenlya_ayiana as Jen McCarthy, Gangrel Childemaglok as Anton Vermeer, Ghoul Security of Laurentia van Haeftenmoriestiel as Elizabeth Stuart-Adelain, Ventrue Fledgelingnathreee as Audrey Stark, Malkavian Fledgelingnokey as "Ralph", Nosferatu Primogenphalar_reign as Johan Verbrugge, Nosferatu Ghoulriftie as Edward Verstraeten, Toreador Ghoulselmaika as Marja van Havermaete, Ventrue Ghoulspacegeest as Lucy Hoeksteen, Ghoul assistent to Laurentia van Haeftenwatzalikzeggen as Laurentia van Haeften, Ventrue Prince of the Citywannabe_bitch as Tessa Valkenburg, Brujah Ghoulwebshark as Tom Hawkshaw, Brujah Primogen
Other blogs:
Margriet as Renée Alette de l'Ange, Ventrue Ancilla
Matthijs as crew & everybody's favorite Ghoul
Pictures courtesy of Kim, Judith, Katinka, Sylvia and Annelies. Might update the pictures as more come in.
Friday
A weird day, both due to it not being Elysium and a boatload of patients and staff running around. It made it a very weird vibe, that is for sure, and I had a lot of fun reffing it all. Discipline use was heavy, but I laughed my behind of with the Tremere and our Toreador Auspex canons. Also threw in a load of IC documents, which caused quite the scare... we did a realy big lot of foreshadowing, too. Funny moments in the night were "Audrey Stalk", the patient-conspiracies of the many things they saw and should not have seen, our Tremere Fledgeling drinking from a heavily drugged patient with all consequences thereof and the slow realization with the players that the staff was as mad as the patients they should have been minding... It was funny, in a sad sort of way. Exactly as intended.
(I almost feel sorry for all the patients who got their memories Dominated six ways from Sunday. Almost.)
The location: Villa Eikhold in Heerlen, the Netherlands
Several Brujah look suspeciously down to the underground library as several Tremere are performing a ritual behind closed doors...
Renée Alette de l'Ange, newly arrived member of Clan Ventrue, is keen on starting a fashion empire
Nimrod of Clan Malkavian, standing to attention
Michael Ravenstein, Primogen of Clan Malkavian and one of the hosts of the evening, speaking to Arlette van Koten, headnurse.
While Dr. Korensteijn is talking to the Brujah protector of the Prince-Regent two Ventrue do business at the same table.
Later in the evening it is revealed that the headnurse Arlette is actually...
... longtime Malkavian ghoul Sophie, favored 'doll' of Diane Ravenstein. In her previous appearence on Lextalionis II she was in 'doll'-mode from the start, her true identity unknown.
Three Kindred discussing whether or not they should use "The Spirit's Touch" on the Electro Convulsion Therapie kit (commonly known as Electroshock Treatment) in order to find out more of the ghosts in Arcadia.
Saturday out-game
During the day there is once again a little room for reading or playing some quitar...
... or painting your favorite ritual tools (silly Tremere!)
And despite what some may think, the players need to eat even if their characters don't *grin*
Prince, Keeper and PA sharing an out-character joke before time-in.
Saturday in-game
Saturday was the night of the formal Elysium, weird guests and presentations. Kelly and Jolanda were slated to finally play two guests that had been writting over a year ago for them, and they played it with style, both to the point that I was grinning widely at the player's reactions. Simone also had a quest part, together with Judith G. and Christian, and she scared the Tremere over the hills and back again, and had a nice altercation with the Keeper, which the Foresight crew had on tape. On that note, security was tight, with two layers of Brujah / Gangrel outside, reinforced with camera's and a full control suite inside manned by Foresight's three Ghouls. I kid you now, the camera's were really there, and they had a tech with them that would put any normal security firm to shame. Glok, Hans and JW are my stars in that respect.
As the evening rolled on Simone went for Julia Nachtegaal, for just a bit, sent back by Antoinette, her Sire and Torry Primogen, with critical information... In the same game was Isabel Fraser Lovat, who unfortunately didn't see the result of her many investigations, as Manon was ill and had stayed home, but her influences finally were the end of both traitors. After a boatload of influences use and background research two Kindred were suspected of having dealings with the Sabbat or being Sabbat themselves, and halfway through the second evening Benno Nieland of Clan Brujah suffered Final Death at the hands of his Primogen, several fellow Brujah and Nimrod, our resident Malkavian supersoldier; he had been invited to go 'Sabbathuning'... Later in the evening the Toreador were invited to the house of the Prince to 'discuss matters of Primacy', but it was a trap for Elizabeth Fournout. After being staked by Jasmijn Rozendoorn (The Keeper and Ancilla of Clan Toreador herself) the Prince questioned the Toreador present and then sent them off with a stern warning; after sending everyone out of the house, the Prince dealt with Elizabeth Fournout personally. Most people suspect she has been destroyed, though the Prince has not issued a formal statement yet...
Florentina, Elder of Clan Toreador from Amsterdam, visits Dorestad on the second night with her protoge.
The Elysium fills up as the guests continue to arrive.
The Tremere and Toreador tables see a few very serious faces as a few recently unearthed texts are discussed.
Just beyond the Elysium the ghouls and Gangrel hold their own council.
No Elysium is complete without heavily armed Brujah.
Tom, Brujah Primogen and Sheriff, on guardduty outside and looked paranoid as ever.
All rise as the Prince enters.
Her Majesty the Prince of Dorestad Laurentia van Haeften, Elder of the Clan of Kings.
Later in the evening Eric Peel has difficulty maintaining control as he realizes who he is talking to... (a possible Sabbat operative who he used to know in her mortal years).
Security concerns for the Sheriff and the Keeper.
A newly arrived Gangrel explains his presence to the Primogen Council, heavily scrutinized by the security.
Clan Malkavian takes possession of the hallway to discuss a few... concerns.
Two ghouls and Dorestad's only resident Ravnos, enjoying the relative quiet as the Elysium winds down.
The aftermath
My own condition has worsened during the night, resulting in a fairly high fever, but I needed to keep on my feet for the last few scenes. They being done I promptly went to bed thinking the wonderful sentence "It is done". I had a rough night with fever dreams, but my girl picked me up from the floor and arranged for me to go home worry-free on Sunday. That, however, is a story for next time... It was over, and I am a happy camper. The NPC's did brilliant in all their parts, averaging on a very good roleplaylevel, with peaks that make my mouth water... the players really got into gear with a few plotbits (in the process ignoring plenty more, but hey, so it goes) and I am happy to be able to facilitate a few of the weirder ideas; they stayed in-character and kept the game turning, and that is what it is all about. That is all that we do, really, once the games rolls on: facilitate. As it should be.
