Big Updates!

Big moves in-game equal big updates! Please read below for information pertinent to all players!

Two new Minor Gods are on the playing field!

You can read more about Zar’zima here and T’heron here. They are also available on the Gods of Circadia page. As a note, you may choose to play a follower of T’heron. You may only pursue Zar’zima in-game, but her write-up and rules are public knowledge.

Speaking of which!

The Rulebook is updated with a changelog!

Zar’zima and T’heron people, go check out your new potential skills.

And don’t forget the free roleplay event!

As a thank you to all players for enduring limited running water, a collapsing kitchen, and 6 inches of surprise snow, we will be running a free roleplay night. This will be held on Saturday, May 31, 2025, from 6pm-midnight in the American Grille at the Sturbridge Host Hotel and Conference Center. This will be a non-combat event but fully staffed. To make up for things that did not run during snowpacalypse, this event will occur, in-game, at Deathwalk during the Court of Keys. While the Court of Keys is technically a Kasamei summer holiday, we will observe it in-game in late May.

While this event is free, we still need you to sign up so that we know you’re coming and can prepare plot for you. Please register here.

First-time players are welcome and encouraged to check out this free roleplay day!

Gods Road Herald, Event 9

Below is the Gods Road Herald for Event 9 of Zealot Larp. Copies will be printed out and available on site.

July 27 2024 One Day Event

You asked, and the Gods listened! We will be holding a full combat one day on July 27, 2024 at the Sturbridge Host Hotel and Conference Center. If you have attended our Nightmarkets, Thaumatrope, or Elsewhere, this is the same place.

The event cost is $60. This allows us to cover the space while hopefully also defraying costs if anyone wants to get a hotel room. (Sturbridge Host is not the only option for hotel rooms. There are multiple hotels within easy walking distance of the Sturbridge Host.)

Please see below for the in-game reasoning for the event and the registration form.

Event 4 Festivals

Once more, Gods Road is host to celebrations fit for kings and Gods alike! The Devout of Gods Road, seemingly as ever, find themselves invited to any number of festivities.

The Rakes family has opened up their Gods Road Estate to welcome Veiltide. One of Nepheris’s most anticipated holidays, Veiltide is a time for romance, intrigue, and plain old merriment. Participants will likely see celebrants dressed up in their finery, with the opportunity to rub elbows with some of Circadia’s elite.

Somewhat less Divine in nature, contender for High Priesthood, Lady Mona Albright, and her brother Sir Jordam Albright Jr. are holding a cooking competition. Lady Albright, expressing the “incomparably appeal of flesh” has termed the competition “The King of Meat.” Chef Rhamsa F. Brightborne will serve as a judge, as will two other mystery guests! Lady Albright has assured a fabulous prize for the winner.

Out of Game Notes:

The Masquerade is an in-game party to celebrate Nepheris’s holiday Veiltide. This will be held from 11pm-midnight on Saturday night. There will be no other encounters happening during this. Like Starshine, this will be roleplay only. You are welcome to wear a masquerade mask or fancier costume than you normally do.

If your character would not normally attend such a party, but you would like to, you can consider this invitation formal enough that it necessitates your presence. (You, of course, do not have to attend if you don’t want to!)

The King of Meat is an in-game cooking competition that will happen Saturday afternoon (around 3pm). The staff judges have allergies to pork and avocado; additionally, there are severe contact allergies to shellfish. So avoid pork, shellfish, and avocado. If you want to participate, you will need to email zealot.larp@gmail.com so that I can explain timing and kitchen guidelines to you. There will be other encounters happening during this time. If you want to enter, you can be creative in terms of what you mean by “meat” and non-animal products are welcomed.

Event 3: The High Toast

On the High Toast of the Day of the Family

Much has been made of the upcoming celebrations for the “Day of the Family.” As has been rumored, Nepheris decided to resume formal observances, though his motives are unknown. Indeed, it has been quite some time since anyone in Circadia has seen a formal celebration of the Day of the Family overseen by anyone other than ranking clergy–to have a God invested in such a celebration seems like the stuff of old legend.

More information has been released about the proceedings, and it confirms that Nepheris and/or his Brother have decided to return to not only “the Family Dinner” but the opening tradition of the “High Toast.”

The High Toast traditionally opens Day of the Family celebrations. Dynastic hymns are played and, afterwards, four toasts are offered. The first toast is made in honor of the Gods, the second toast in honor of the Devout, and the final toast in honor of the Dynasty. Generally, these toasts are given by local Devout, one for each toast. The final High Toast is only given in the presence of a God and is generally delivered by a High Clergy member.

Classically, the High Toast is considered to be a great honor, and its delivery generally marks the speaker as the highest ranking Mortal in Circadia. Of course, traditions have shifted, and it is somewhat less formal now.

The first three toasts are often short but delivered with expert oratorship–they are frequently times during which Devout exercise their own political agency, though this is only done with extreme tact and skill. The High Toast is often longer and sometimes read aloud from a written proclamation–the High Toast is almost always some sort of political maneuver.

This year, it seems the High Toast is being offered “field style.” “Field style” refers to celebrations given during times of war, upheaval, or anticipated hardship. It refers to Devout troops celebrating while deployed in the field, though more generally indicates a “dressed down” affair. While Devout are still expected to attend the toast with proper pomp, they are not required or expected to leave their field assignments, and celebrations happen in the spare accommodations deployment allows.

The Current Invitation to the High Toast (4.13)

Please don’t forget to register for our April 13 2024 one-day event. Register and read more here.

Dates for 2024

We have dates for 2024!

Event 3/Spring 1 Day: April 13, 2024

$50 ticket, $20 meal plan, Camp Middlesex

This will be a one day event running from 1pm-late. The camp does have available overnight housing, but the only running water will be in the Monster Camp building, which will be available to PCs.

Event 4: May 3-5, 2024

$100 ticket, $35 meal plan, Camp Middlesex

Event 5: May 24-26, 2024

$100 ticket, $35 meal plan, Camp Middlesex

Event 6: September 27-29, 2024

$100 ticket, $35 meal plan, Camp Middlesex

Event 2: The Starshine Gala

Out of Game Note: This gala will include anachronistic music from mostly the 1980s. The intention is to invoke nostalgia of 1980s High Fantasy films.

There will be no combat during the gala, it will occur inside, and players are welcome to wear more formal costumes you might otherwise be uncomfortable fighting in. Additionally, we will absolutely support any of the usual player-driven, uh, festivities that you all have introduced for midnight saturday night.

Steramestei players should anticipate being pulled away from the Gala briefly, though it will be opt-in. You will be outside for a limited period of time, but there will be no combat.

Combat will continue after the gala. We anticipate the gala running roughly an hour and a half or so.

Event 2: Order from the High Clergy

To My Comrades at the Highgate Barracks:

It was not just a pleasure but an honor to meet you and fight also guide you. You seem to be people of dedication to your Gods, and it is always rejuvenating to see how our different Devotions comes together.

First and foremost, my brother, Magister Devon Rakes, and I wish to thank you for early explorations into the Abyss. I can safely say I have never seen the types of creatures we encountered. More than ever, I am resolute in our commitment to Abyssal expedition.

More immediately, I have orders from the High Clergy: this coming month, we will travel to the Grand Scar Outpost, some fifty miles from Gods Road proper. Devon, aided by Priests of Nepheris, has spent the better part of the past two years constructing this outpost–it serves to better situate elite troops near the Grand Scar. This is particularly important as we work to protect the small hamlets and villages closer to the Grand Scar than Gods Road.

Devon has arranged so that we may expediently travel their at our convenience. When you arrive, the High Clergy has provided accommodations. I will not be accompanying you, as I will be keeping watch at Gods Road.

Normal holidays will proceed as will unrelated duties including trials and Devotional tasks. We anticipate intensive exploration into the Abyss.

Yours in Service,

Pilar Rakes

***

Please don’t forget to register for our Nov 17-19 event at Camp Denison.

Zealot Event 2 Registration

Hello everyone!

Thank you for a wonderful Event 1–and it’s already time for Event 2!

We really need to know who is coming so that we can plan sleeping arrangements.

The registration link is here:
https://forms.gle/mtgoPZSbdDRWdVJY7

Event 2 will occur at Camp Denison in Georgetown, MA. There are a few differences between Denison and Middlesex–namely, the sleeping space. Denison has in-cabin sleeping space for 30 individual PCs and tenting space for many more. Additionally, you need to provide your own bedding for Denison, as the campsite beds do not provide mattresses. (When we PC at Denison, we are generally fine bringing a foam mat and a sleeping bag.) The cabins themselves are very spacious and generally nicer than those at Middlesex–you can easily just bring a cot.

When you register, please indicate what sleeping arrangement you intend to do. Between cots, those planning on offsite sleeping, and tenting, we think we are able to accommodate every PC on site.

In order to play Event 2, you must register by November 1 2023. If you register and pay by October 25, you will have a free magic item draw at check-in.

More logistics below:

The event will run November 17-19 2023 at Camp Denison in Georgetown, MA. (84 Nelson St, Georgetown, MA 01833)
The event is $100 with the option of a $35 meal plan.
Check-in will be on Friday from 8:30pm-10:00pm. Out of Game opening is from 10:30pm-11pm. Game runs until roughly 3pm on Sunday. There will be a two hour dinner break from 7:30-9:30pm.
Compared to Middlesex, there is less space for PC food. There is one cabin in the sleeping area where PCs will have access to a refrigerator, a sink, and a microwave. PCs will need to provide their own cutlery and flatware if they are not on the meal plan.
The in-game explanation for the difference in campsites will be forthcoming later this week.

Meal Plan Menu

Brunch 11am
Baked beans, oatmeal, fruit, bread, cheese, coffee, and juice

Dinner 7:30
Beef stew, roasted vegetables, rice and beans, bread, salad

Snacks (late night and throughout the day)
Assorted desserts, crackers and cheese, fruit, beverages

Event 1, Oct 13-15 2023, Registration Open

We had an excellent playtest yesterday and are officially ready to open registration.

The event will run October 13-15 2023 at Camp Middlesex in Ashby, Massachusetts. Cost to attend the event is $100 with a $35 weekend meal plan. Please read more about the logistics in the registration form.

Please fill out this form to register.

We’ll be making edits to the rules over the next few weeks. While we don’t anticipate any major changes, there are definitely some things that need tweaking.