When I think back on my years in Siege Perilous, my favorite memories are not quests, champs, faction play or even EM events. Its player events. Ladies Night Out was my first and still remains my favorite. Then there were the recurring story nights and werewolf nights. It never ceases to amaze me how players can creatively use this game to make new activites. The felucca ruleset means you never know whats going to happen. Orc Thanksgiving can be turned into a race to get back that turkey leg back from some PK. Or a third team can disrupt and thus change the rules of an organized game.

My point is, creativity and spontineity makes the perfect environment for memorable player ran events.

The other day I spoke briefly with OldAsTheHills about his coming Halloween event. I commented that he seemed to have accepted the fact that there would be PK activity at his event. He said, “PKing occurs….I remain mostly a pacifist….I do not interfere with other player’s activities. But we are not here just to be PKer’s victims.”

In keeping with this, OldAsTheHills created a list of possible activities and remained open to players who would come and go as thier schedules allowed, and the expected PK activity. He gave us many ideas of possible dress up ideas that would fit in with some of these activities. Here are some of the things he had in mind.

Music and Dancing.
Archery and Musical Chair Archery
Ghost story telling while thieves stole from our packs.
The Spanish Inquisition, which would include torture and hopefully, a burning.
Pirates would get drunk and duel.
An attack of the Cybermen.
Trick or Treating among the guests.
The Regatta of Death.

I really enjoyed the way this event was put together. As the population of our shard fluxuates, this still allowed for fun to be had, regardless of who showed up, for how long. The activities were loosely planned and carried out and creative in the sense that they were enjoyable by all regardless of skillsets and experience. This event will definately sit with other very memorable times had here in Siege Perilous.

Samhain marks one of the two great doorways of the Celtic year. Beltane on May first marks the light season, while November first marks the dark. It is believed that dark silences are preliminary to new beginnings and so is celebrated as the beginning of the cycle of the year, or New Year. The most potent day of this season is Samhain eve or Halloween.

Traditionally, Samhain was time to take stock of the herds and grain supplies, and decide which animals would need to be slaughtered in order for the people and livestock to survive the winter. Villagers would extinquish all other fires and walk between two bonfires as a ritual of purification, even parading thier herds as well.

The time between sundown on Samhain to sundown the following day was said to be a “thin place”, a place where deep insights could pass more easily to those who were open to them. Beggars played an important part in the faith-life of the community. Most often, people were beggars not because they didn’t feel like working or settling down, but because they were…. special, touched lightly by the hand of the divine.

Wearing costumes was an attempt to ward off evil spirits. Lanterns made from carved turnips and placed in windows also served this purpose. Halloween, in many countries, and in much of the church, has always involved good works, providing food for the poor was part of the earliest tradition. In Europe, special Halloween cakes, made of breaded dough, called “Soul food” were given to the children of the city, particularly the poor children.

It is still the custom in some areas to set a place for the dead at the Samhain feast, and to tell tales of the ancestors on that night. Anthropologists tell us that one of the very first things that distinguishes human life is this propensity for remembering the dead. Honoring the dead or the wisdom of our elders is something we are losing in our too busy lives. Halloween is becoming frivolous, and to believe some, evil in and of itself. A look to our past will show this to be not only false, but also expose a very human need to take hold of our roots once again. To embrace our humanity.

Upcoming Siege Perilous Events:

Oct 30: Trick or Treating at 3pm cst

Treasure Hunting Event by JasmineSP at 4pm cst, or whenever Trick or Treating ends.

Chicken Fights at 5pm cst, or whenever Treasure Hunting ends.

Oct 31: Halloween Party Event by OldAsTheHills: 4pm est to 1am est.

Nov 1 to Nov 20: Fishing Event by AlaricSP

And don’t forget about Shard of the Dead! Look for details on all events in the forums.

Please give a warm welcome to one of our own… Luka Melehan… She has very graciously re-accepted the position as reporter for Siege!

Thank you Luka!