Hello Westfinder!
We have a few brief announcements and reminders for you.

Firstly, we will not be having a Community Day this Saturday. Instead, our next Community Day will be Saturday, Nov 9th, at 12pm in Cordonices Park in Berkeley.

Secondly, we wanted to remind everyone that we have an open SIT position, and if you're interested in applying, the deadline is tomorrow! (11:59 pm on Nov 2nd). Fill out the form here to apply.

Lastly, Year 48 will be run on Saturday, November 16th from 10am to 6pm at the Mineral Springs picnic site. If you have not yet filled out a survey, it is available here! Please fill it out if you're planning to attend.

As a bonus, we have both teasers for you! Here is the first and here is the second.

Fill out the survey here!

-Westfinder
 
Hello Westfinder!

We hope you all enjoyed our first game, A Fractured Throne! We always like feedback, and we wanted to make it easy, so here's a feedback form - tell us what we did well and what we could've done better!

We're ready to announce our next game: Solstice of the Tribes, by Tom Kelly. This game will be run on Saturday, October 12th from 10am to 6pm at the Orchard Picnic Site in Tilden Park. 

Cost will be $20, with $10 off for first-time players and those who bring first-time players, and other discounts for those who volunteer to help staff prepare for game. Buying lunch is an additional $5. Money goes to buying materials for props, costuming, and sets; paying staff; and reserving sites when necessary.

The survey is available here! Please fill it out if you're planning to attend.

And here is the teaser!


In a secluded glen, dappled rays of sunlight danced upon two people. One was female, with skin as red as blood and head-spines as sharp as needles. The other was male, with silver fur and a black nose.

We hope you all enjoyed our first game, A Fractured Throne! We always like feedback, and we wanted to make it easy, so here's a feedback form - tell us what we did well and what we could've done better!

We're ready to announce our next game: Solstice of the Tribes, by Tom Kelly. This game will be run on Saturday, October 12th from 10am to 6pm at the Orchard Picnic Site in Tilden Park. 

Cost will be $20, with $10 off for first-time players and those who bring first-time players, and other discounts for those who volunteer to help staff prepare for game. Buying lunch is an additional $5. Money goes to buying materials for props, costuming, and sets; paying staff; and reserving sites when necessary.

The survey is available here! Please fill it out if you're planning to attend.

And here is the teaser!


In a secluded glen, dappled rays of sunlight danced upon two people. One was female, with skin as red as blood and head-spines as sharp as needles. The other was male, with silver fur and a black nose.

“Pensive, my love!” said the female. “For too long since our last meeting have I yearned to stare into your eyes.”

“Oh really, Unstoppable?” said Pensive. “There are other things I’ve yearned to do with you.”

Unstoppable rolled her eyes and giggled, and they kissed each other gently. An orange butterfly fluttered around them. When they finally stopped to breathe, Pensive sighed.

“This can’t last. Our clans will find out.”

Unstoppable put her finger on Pensive’s mouth. “Shh. I cannot bear the thought of losing you.”

The two had the only ears in the clearing, but not they were not the only ones to hear each other’s words. They had the only mouths in the clearing, but the whisper of another still reached Pensive’s ear.

“There... Might be a way,” Pensive said. “About a week ago-” he stopped. “Nevermind. It’s not worth it.”

“What is it?” asked Unstoppable, insistently.

“No. It’s too dangerous.”

“My name is literally ‘Unstoppable Death-Defier.’ I have no fear of danger.”

“That is exactly what I’m worried about, my love.”

“Tell me,” said Unstoppable, staring fiercely into Pensive’s eyes.

He sighed. “About a week ago, a poisonous ogre entered my clan’s shrine to the God of Abundance and Famine. Everyone is too afraid to try and drive it out.”

Unstoppable jumped excitedly. “Perfect!” she said. “I’ll kick the ogre out of the shrine, and your clan will be grateful to me. And no one from my clan will mess with us, because I’ll have defeated a poisonous ogre! Then, we can kiss in broad daylight, and some other lovers can use this secluded glen!”

“I’ll come with you,” said Pensive.

“No, my love,” said Unstoppable, caressing his cheek. “You’re sweet, but it will be too dangerous for you. I’ll think of you every moment, but my only companion will be the God of Adventure and Peril.”

She kissed him, and climbed the hill out of the glen. She looked out over the forested hills and set off on her journey.


Fill out the survey here!

 
Hello Westfinders!

A Fractured Throne will be played this Saturday, September 14th from 10am to 6pm at the Lone Oak picnic site in Tilden Park.

Fill out a survey if you haven't already - it's not too late to get a character!

Cost will be $20, with $10 off for first-time players and those who bring first-time players, and other discounts for those who volunteer to help staff prepare for game. Buying lunch is an additional $5. Money goes to buying materials for props, costuming, and sets; paying staff; and reserving sites when necessary.

Directions:
From Central Berkeley: Head east on Marin Ave (up the hill) until you reach Spruce St. OR take Spruce St. all the way from Downtown, until you get to Grizzly Peak Blvd. Cross Grizzly Peak Blvd. into the park and make an immediate left onto Canon Dr.
From Walnut Creek/Lafayette/etc.: Take Fish Ranch Rd. just before the Caldecott Tunnel, then at the top take a right on Grizzly Peak. Follow Grizzly Peak Blvd. until you hit Wildcat Canyon Rd. Turn right on Wildcat Canyon Rd. and then make an immediate left onto Canon Dr.

From Canon Dr.: At the bottom of Canon, make a right onto Central Park Dr., and make a right. Shortly thereafter, make a left on Lone Oak Rd. Lone Oak is just up the road past the large field.

By public transit: From Downtown Berkeley, catch the 67 at Center and Shattuck, near Bank of America. Take the 67 to the Canon Dr: Pony Rides stop. This will be after the Little Farm stop. Walk along Canon Dr. to Lone Oak Rd, and then walk up Lone Oak Road.

The 67 departs downtown Berkeley every 45 minutes starting at 8am. To return to downtown Berkeley after game, return to the Canon Dr: Pony Rides stop and catch it at approximately 6 or 6:45. It will take you to the Brazil Building, where you may have to wait a short time before it returns to downtown Berkeley.

Late arrivals (after 12pm) will miss critical setting background information and may be asked to start game at Reincarnation (Re) to catch up. 

See you on Saturday!
 
Hello Westfinder!
We're excited to announce our first game of Season 8: A Fractured Throne, by Jeremy Gleick!

This game will be run on Saturday, September 14th from 10am to 6pm. Cost will be $20, with 50% off for first-time players and those who bring first-time players, and other discounts for those who volunteer to help staff prepare for game. Buying lunch is an additional $5. Money goes to buying materials for props, costuming, and sets; paying staff; and reserving sites when necessary.

The location is Lone Oak Picnic Site in Tilden Park. 

The survey is available here! Please fill it out if you're planning to attend.

And without further ado…



The spoked wagon’s wheels rattled over the ground, the dirt hard in the december cold.  Donovan tightened a strap on his shoulder armor, barely listening to the rambling of the other guard assigned to drive the wagon, Torren.

“The indoctrination for the Indomitable is still a complete secret, you know.  I won’t be able to tell you, once I’m picked as a new recruit.”  

Donovan nodded vaguely to the words.  Torren had been trying to be picked as a recruit for the Indomitable, the greatest of the royal knights, for years.  He was old enough now that it probably would never happen based on his skill, and he didn’t have important enough family to get in on his ancestry or connections.  The heavy wooden cabin, locked and filled with a half-dozen prisoners, bumped and shook on the rocks of the road behind them, several more guards walking formation in front and behind of the cart.  The rebels against the crown had been growing more numerous by the year, and there was only so much the few remaining loyal guards could do for the Old King.  Even the people of the cities, rebellion or not, were starting to act out against the king’s guards.

“I heard that those monks up in the mountains have been-” the scream, or maybe howl is a better term, cut off Torren’s words.  Donovan felt the boards behind his back shaking, as shouts sounded out from inside the back of the prison cart.  He could hear and feel fists banging against the planks.

“Help!”

“Stop the cart!”

“Is there a cleric!?”

Donovan pulled the horses to a stop along the packed dirt road.  Torren frowned over at him.

“Hey, what’re you doing?”

“Stopping the cart, Torren.”

“Why?  They’re just rebel scum.”

“We’re taking them back to trial.  They’re supposed to be alive.”

“Nobody cares about-”  Donovan stepped down off the side of the wagon, stepping around towards the back.  Torren followed, frowning.

Undoing the double locks on the back of the cart, Donovan pulled them open, two guards on either side stepping forward, weapons pointed inward.  One of the prisoners, a small brown haired boy, was on the ground, shaking and screaming. spasming on the wooden floor.  The rest of the prisoners quieted as the door opened, light entering the empty dark wooden box.

“What’s going on?”  Donovan demanded.

The boy abruptly sat up, smiling broadly.  "I just thought this was a lovely place to stop.  Don't you?"

The snapping of branches and rustle of plants filled the road, as two dozen men in brown clothing emerged from the trees, fully surrounding the caravan.  Bowstrings, pulled taught, creaked in the sudden silence that followed.  The boy pulled himself to his feet.  “Weapons on the ground, all of you.”

Donovan, his face still, slowly dropped his sword.  Torren gripped his, knuckles white, fury visible on his face.

“That means you too, Mr. wanna-be Indomitable.  Now.”

Steel clattered onto dirt and rock.

“Thank you.”

A woman stepped from the ranks of rebels surrounding the prison caravan, walking up to the now unarmed guards.

“I’m afraid you have failed in your duties to your king.  And you know that you have two options now, all of you.  You get to decide whether or not you will return to the cities of the kingdom, and report to your king just what happened here, and just how you let the prisoners he was so set on torturing get away.”

Torren snarled, “We’ll never listen to you traitorous-”

The woman continued as if he had not spoken.  “My men and women have their weapons at your throats.  You are completely at their mercy.”  She snapped her fingers.  Swords lowered from the guards’ throats, and bowstrings creaked back to resting.  “And yet, you’re going to walk away from this ambush.”  She turned, stepping back into the trees, the prisoners stepping down and vanishing into the woods.  As the movement vanished, last words echoed back to the guards, standing with the now-empty prison caravan.

“Do you think the Old King will offer you the same, when he learns you’ve failed him?”

Nothing but the noises of the forest sounded through the air.  Torren grabbed his sword from the dirt.  “Sky-Father damn those rebel cowards.  If they think we’re going to-”

“Torren,” Donovan interrupted.  “Shut up.”



Fill out the survey here!

-Westfinder
 
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