[Tytus Faustino RavendawnPhelesSakata ~ SerpentineSugarDragon]

🏰 Medieval Theme: “Ironvale Bastion”

Step into Ironvale Bastion, a fortified town where chivalry meets chaos. Cobblestone streets, ivy-covered towers, and digital mission boards set the stage for tactical skirmishes amidst fluttering banners and shadowy alleyways. Here, players navigate hybrid terrain with pain-safe melee and ranged weapons, using siege-style tactics and strategic cover to dominate the battlefield. Magic may be legend, but precision is real.

[Tytus Faustino RavendawnPhelesSakata ~ SerpentineSugarDragon]

🌆 Metropolis Theme: “Echo Sector 9”

Welcome to Echo Sector 9, a long-abandoned metropolis swallowed by nature and haunted by silence. Cracked roads and vine-draped towers become your playground for urban warfare, where every rooftop, tunnel, and broken freeway offers an advantage—or an ambush. NPC scouts offer side missions, while hover drones and storm hazards bring the tension. It’s a concrete jungle… and you’re the last survivor of your squad.

[Yukio Ginpachi WiseAzureFlameSugarDemon OkumuraSakata]

The Ironvale Bastion, a sprawling indoor arena meticulously designed to resemble a medieval fortified town. Cobblestone-textured floors lead to faux-stone buildings reaching two stories high. Digital screens integrated into stone facades serve as mission boards, displaying objectives and player stats. Ivy climbs the towers, hiding strategic vantage points. Banners bearing heraldic symbols flutter from parapets, while artificial fog machines create pockets of shadowy alleyways. The air hums with the faint whir of machinery and the excited chatter of participants.

Yukio, usually calm and analytical, but entering Ironvale Bastion with a surprising level of enthusiasm. He’s dressed in a modified version of the provided rental gear – padded tunic, lightweight helmet, and sturdy boots – along with his own custom-fitted glasses with integrated tactical HUD.

Alistair “Al” an NPC, is a seasoned Ironvale Bastion player known for his cunning strategies and mastery of the “crossbow.” He’s clad in more elaborate, self-modified armor, complete with decorative (but harmless) plates and intricate leather tooling. He has a mischievous glint in his eyes and a worn crossbow strapped to his back. He’s leaned against a wall near the entrance to the arena, observing newcomers.

Yukio, needing a mental break from his exhausting exorcist duties, has decided to try Ironvale Bastion based on a recommendation from his cousin Faustino. He’s never LARP’d or participated in anything quite like this before, but the tactical aspects and potential for strategic thinking intrigued him. Stepping into the arena, he scans his surroundings, his glasses displaying a minimap and points of interest. The sheer scale of the arena and the dedication to the theme are impressive. He grabs the rental crossbow and sling bag of foam bolts.

As he gets acclimated, Yukio spots Alistair leaning against a wall, watching the other players. Alistair notices Yukio’s slightly hesitant demeanor and fresh gear and smiles wryly.

Alistair pushes himself off the wall, a slight creak of leather armor accompanying the movement. He ambles over to Yukio, a friendly though slightly predatory grin on his face. “New blood, eh? Welcome to Ironvale, friend. First time wielding a crossbow, I presume? Don’t worry, everyone misses their first few shots. Name’s Al, and I’m something of a local expert. Need a few pointers, or are you going to charge headfirst into the dragon’s den?”

Yukio looked at Alistair and would smile in a manner that wouldn’t give away his true feelings. He didn’t trust this player who suddently approached him but he figured having someone how knows the game would be better than going in completely unprepared. Besides, Yukio hates losing.

“Hello I’m Yuki, nice to meet you. I would say I’m a bit of a first timer, yes but I’m sure I can manage a weapon or two. I wouldn’t mind a few pointers. ” What Yukio didn’t realize was that gaming, LARPing would feel different. They headed into the training grounds first.

Yukio noticed the training grounds of Ironvale Bastion, a LARP-style game area designed to simulate a medieval siege defense. Targets of varying sizes and distances are scattered about, some stationary, some designed to move erratically. The air smells of woodsmoke and the faintest hint of ozone from the simulated lightning effects.

Yukio lowers the crossbow warily, his gaze assessing Alistair. “Yukio,” he replies, offering a curt nod. He almost declines the offer, instinctively distrustful of unsolicited help. But he recognizes the value in information, especially in a game where the rules are still opaque. “Pointers would be… appreciated. Though I prefer to learn from experience.”

Alistair chuckles, a sound that doesn’t quite reach his eyes. “Experience is painful in Ironvale. Trust me. Alright, first things first. Let’s talk stance. You’re too rigid. Think like you’re bracing against a strong wind…” He spends the next few minutes adjusting Yukio’s posture, explaining the importance of proper grip, and demonstrating the correct aiming technique. He emphasizes the “Pain-safe” limitations. “Remember, these bolts sting, but they’re not actually deadly. Safety first, glory second.”

Yukio listens intently, absorbing the information like a sponge. He asks pointed questions about windage, range estimation, and the specific quirks of the Ironvale crossbows. He’s not just passively receiving advice; he’s dissecting it, analyzing its potential, and searching for weaknesses.

After a few practice shots, guided by Alistair, Yukio’s accuracy begins to improve noticeably. He’s still not hitting the bullseye every time, but his shots are consistently landing within the target area. He then steps back, a flicker of something akin to a smile crossing his face.

“Thank you, Alistair. Your insights were… useful. Now, allow me to demonstrate my progress.”

Yukio then takes aim at a small, rapidly-moving target – a mechanical raven swooping across the training ground. He lines up the shot with practiced ease, holds his breath, and fires. The bolt whistles through the air, striking the raven dead center, sending it spiraling to the ground.

He repeats the shot with another, even more difficult target. A dummy who is placed in the middle of a battlefield simulation. A direct hit to the head.

He turns to Alistair, a hint of challenge in his eyes. “I believe I grasp the fundamentals. Perhaps you could enlighten me on the overall strategy of Ironvale Bastion? The layout, the key defensive positions, the enemy’s likely tactics?”

Alistair is genuinely impressed, though he tries not to show it too much. He raises an eyebrow. “Well now, looks like we have a natural here. You learn fast, kid. Okay, okay, I’m impressed. But hitting stationary targets and mechanical birds is one thing. Doing it under pressure, with twenty screaming orcs breathing down your neck, is another. Still, you’ve earned some intel. Tell you what… I was planning on hitting the north wall. The catapults are a real pain in the ass there. Come with me, and I’ll show you how things really work in Ironvale. I’ll need someone covering my back while I deal with those catapults. Deal?”

“Deal!” He forces himself to smile but Yukio cringes a bit at being called kid but naturally, his avatar looked very much like his teen self so he would have to deal with being treated as what he appeared to be.

Yukio will begin to analyze the real battlefield and will be trying to find the “win-condition” for the whole scenario. In time he loosens up and begins to enjoy himself but still cautious of everyone elses, especially Alistair’s ulterior motives while looking out for rival teams that are prepared to sabotage them.

[Rika SniperSugarSpirit Minami]

The moment the gates of Echo Sector 9 slid open, Rika exhaled sharply, a smirk tugging at the corner of her lips. The once-bustling metropolis was now a fractured skeleton of steel and concrete, reclaimed by shadows and silence. But to her? It was a playground—one that echoed with the familiar rhythm of war drums she hadn’t heard in years.

Dressed in her casual combat gear—sleek, functional, and just revealing enough to keep opponents second-guessing—Rika moved like she owned the street. Her toned figure glided between wrecked cars and crumbled storefronts, boots crunching lightly on fractured asphalt. The fading neon signs buzzed overhead, a heartbeat in the chaos, casting hues of pink and amber across her violet hair as it flowed freely behind her.

Her eyes scanned the landscape, sharp and focused, but there was a glint—excitement, adrenaline, maybe even a little mischief. This wasn’t just a game. It was muscle memory. It was battlefield instinct rekindled.

“Let’s keep this clean, boys,” she quipped over her shoulder to the NPC squad tailing her. They were green, but eager—rifles ready, comms checked, eyes peeled. Surveillance units had already scouted rooftops and alleyways, relaying intel to her visor.

Each challenge she conquered in this live-action simulation sharpened her edge. Drones, traps, close-range ambushes—Rika thrived on it all. Her body moved with precision, her mind calculating outcomes before her enemies could blink.

This… this is what she missed.

She tapped her earpiece.

“Shuhei, if you’re on your way, better pick up the pace. I’m just getting warmed up.”

With one final glance at the blood-orange sky above the crumbling skyline, she bolted forward—into the heart of the chaos. The hunt had begun. @ketchuplord

[Shuhei Saotome ‡ SanguineVampyruszSugarDemon]

Metropolis Theme: Echo Sector 9 (with Rika) @snipersugarspirit

Shuhei catches up as he had been taken aback by how life-like the scenery was. He’s pragmatic, cautious, and deeply attached to his girlfriend. He has enhanced strength, speed, and healing, but in this LARP, he is vulnerable to direct sunlight and certain rituals. He’s dressed in practical, dark clothing – think tactical pants, a reinforced jacket, and boots meant for climbing. His red hair loose and vibrant in the dark.

Participants are playing scavengers, desperate survivors, cultists, and mutated remnants of the old world. The organizers have done an impressive job with the setting, using pyrotechnics, smoke machines, and elaborate props to create a truly immersive environment.

The air vibrates with the sounds of distant explosions (controlled, of course, by the LARP organizers), the cries of “mutated crows” (played by enthusiastic teenagers in feathered costumes), and the occasional shout from a nearby group of scavengers.

He notes that they seem to be in a once bustling commercial district, now a maze of rubble and twisted metal.

Shuhei: (Grumbling, his voice a low rumble) “I still don’t understand why we’re doing this, Rika. It’s loud, crowded, and frankly, depressing. All this…enthusiasm for a simulated apocalypse is a little much, don’t you think?” He teases her sarcastically, as he scans the area, his senses heightened, always aware of potential threats, real or imagined.

Rika: (Beaming, practically vibrating with excitement) “But Shuhei, it’s amazing! Look at it! It’s like a giant obstacle course! And everyone is so into it! Don’t be such a grump.” She responds to his sarcasm with a challenging but playful sass. “We can raid that ‘abandoned’ pharmacy for ‘medical supplies’ and then fight off the ‘zombie horde’ at the old radio station! Come on, admit it, even you have to appreciate the effort they put into this. Besides,” she leans in conspiratorially, nudging him with her elbow, “I heard there’s a hidden cache of vintage sodas somewhere in the subway tunnels. Think of the resale value!”

Shuhei: (looks at her with his bright blue eyes and a gleam of amusement) “Vintage sodas! Alright! I’m sold but the first cream soda goes to me.” He then laughs a bit before turning his attention back to their surroundings and preparing himself for anything. Her excitement was definitely rubbing off on him.*