***NOTE: If you are unable to make it before the official start time, it is your responsibility to discreetly notify Staff and get checked-in and NOT disturb the game in progress. ***

=EVENT STORY=

After Newhope’s long effort to stockpile and prep for the coming year that is sure to be filled with blood and war, the colony of New Hope has lit up with excitement at the recent news of the Annual Politcal Dinner. The Council has made an exciting announcement; the newest member of the Council, Duke Aailmyr, will be hosting this year’s Political dinner within the City-State’s walls. After concluding his work of lighting up the streets of New Hope with more and more enchanted lanterns and his creation of an Enchanter Trade school, those keeping up with the movements of the Council have been waiting to see what he does next.

The Duke has spread word across the City-State and beyond– once again the Glinting Emerald will be opening its doors, not only for those looking to rub elbows with politicians, but scholars of every domain are invited to bring their research projects to the table. The grand invitation and offer of space for ethical and safe research to be done is sure to bring many scholars out to both aid in other’s research and conduct their own. 

Though, the final announcement from Duke Aailmyr has piqued the interest of many across the continent. Many have noticed the presence of the Northern Syndar present in the city over the past months, and the Duke has announced that the City-State has negotiated a sort-of partnership with the group. As a result, the Northern Syndar have donated a number of items to be researched by those in attendance, as their own lack of magical abilities has left them with no way to investigate them themselves. No other details of those items have been announced, but the hope for something new, and maybe even something that can aid in the Conquering, has sparked within many.

As the streets of Newhope begin to flood with people once again, the buzz of excitement for the Annual Political Dinner continues to grow with a new type of air: curiosity.

= EVENT SPECIAL MECHANICS =

1) Event Theme: “Political Dinner” Event:
This event may feature representatives from various colonies, clans, and groups around Mardrun. They will be discussing important topics to their respective groups and this could be a great way to learn what is going on in the world. They may be seeking out different players or factions to get information to take back to their groups. Be aware though… proper social etiquette will be important when dealing with them! This would be a great opportunity to use Resources: Gather Info/ Resources: Political ahead of time or interacting with more politically minded players to learn what these might be. Giving the wiki a good read in the Ulven FAQ, the Syndar FAQ, and the Titles of Prestige and Peerage could be very useful!

2) Peaceful Assembly and Causing Trouble:
Out-of-game: there cannot be any combat in the Wizard Quest building.
In-game: There are numerous guards and security forces present and nearby the assembly room to deter and control any trouble. There may be some encounters that could develop, but these are coordinated ahead of time and will not be including regular combat mechanics. Any players that attempt to steal or or start a fight and run will be subject to the City-State Watch attempting to detain or kill them (depending on severity). All characters can assume that Newhope Watch Officers are ever-present, nearby enough to respond fairly quickly, but not hovering over everyone at the assembly.

3) Controlled Environment (Weapons and Trades):
Visitors to the assembly are being allowed 1 single-handed weapon (sword, axe, mace, dagger, etc) unless they are officially part of the security force of the assembly (which would require prior approval in-game) or received special permissions in-game. This is NOT an out-of-game rule; this is an in-game policy and players are free to adhere to it or break it and face the consequences.
Trade skills that require physical set-ups (Blacksmiths, Healers, Alchemists, etc) are prohibited at this political function. However, trades that do not require set-ups (bards, companions, etc) are allowed at the assembly.

4) Catering Stipend:
The assembly coordinator of Newhope has made it publicly known that a stipend has been made available to help cater in foods for the political gathering. They are offering a small payment of silver for organizations or individuals who bring dishes to share. The amount and quality of food brought to share will be factored into the payment. All dishes must be in decorum legal trays/containers and have appropriate serving ware to be eligible for the payment. The assembly will be able to pay between 1-3 silver per dish, with a maximum payout of 10 silver per individual caterer. If you intend to bring a dish that requires electricity (crockpot, freezer space, etc,) coordinate with staff ahead of time!
We kindly ask that if you plan to bring a dish, take a look at this list of known allergies among our players and label your dish with any of these it may contain. Please keep in mind this list could be updated with more allergies after the Early Bird cutoff: Player Allergy List

5) Alcoholic Beverages:
Out-of-game: Wizard Quest only allows Beer and Wine to be brought in. No liquor is permitted.
In-game: Duke Aailmyr requested only wine for the dinner event, but came to allow beer after an unexpectedly high number of appeals. He has retained the prohibition of harder alcohol out of safety for the event attendees, as magic research and drunken-ness are a dangerous mixture. Alcoholic beverages are not included in the Catering Stipend.
All players who want to partake in any alcoholic beverage will need to have their IDs checked and “papers” marked at check-in. Your “papers” are either your PC card, or your NPC sheet. Anyone sharing alcohol will need to check these papers for age verification or face consequences of the game (ejection for sharing with a minor.)

6) Magical Research Invitation:
Duke Aailmyr has invited those attending the assembly to bring any magical research with them and work on it while there. This is an excellent opportunity to work on any cyphers, puzzles, or other magical research your character may have. Keep in mind, this is a peaceful political gathering, and bringing unethical or nefarious research could have very large consequences for your character.

7) Decorum & Out-Of-Game Clarifications:
Please note that the entire in-game area is monitored for decorum, immersion, and in-game discussions. Players will call each other on Decorum if they are not following this. However, please make an effort to check-in with others and make clear “Out of Game” clarifications discreetly if needed.

8) Updated 1.7 Rules!
The 1.7 version of the rules is now ready in electronic format.
Please go to the rules section of the Last Hope LARP website to get a copy of the 1.7 rules.

There is no cost/charge/entry fee required to participate in this event and all are welcome to participate regardless of their membership status or not. However, certain perks require additional membership.

You MUST do BOTH (pre-register AND select/pay for your chosen membership services) before you are considered fully pre-registered for an event!

=FOOD, WATER, PROPERTY, AND SAFETY INFO=

= SAFETY RULES =

– A number of Staff and approved players are trained or able to assist during emergencies (Raised hands will be shown during briefing). Staff have access to a Snake Bite/CPR/First Aid Kit if needed. In case of any emergencies, immediately contact Staff and let them handle it.
– Make sure you adhere to our Alcohol and Tobacco guidelines; no one under the age of 21 can consume Alcohol or Tobacco products. These products CANNOT be sold for real-world money and serving them to a minor will get you ejected from the LARP. *** Check the PC cards/NPC sheets/discreetly check for IDs. ***
– Tobacco is NOT ALLOWED in the building.
– If at any time a player feels uncomfortable or unsafe due to role play, be aware of our “Out of Game Stop” call. Please use this discreetly and/or contact Staff if needed.
– If at any time a player needs to remove themselves, physically or mentally, from the game please do so as discreetly as possible. Notify staff if possible or coordinate staff if you cannot do this discreetly.

COVID 19 RESTRICTIONS & PRECAUTIONS

– All players ages 5+ must be either fully Covid-19 Vaccinated, be medically exempt (pre-approval needed and this includes children under the age of 5), or be in the process of getting vaccinated. This will be handled at Check-In.
– All players are REQUIRED to wear masks UNTIL they have Covid-19 Vaccination Proof on record with us. Masks are no longer required to be worn before check-in as long as players have their Covid-19 Vaccination on file and they do not have concerning symptoms.
– Players are required to do symptom checking at registration/Check-In.
– Players can still be asked to wear a mask if they have concerning symptoms/exposure and any questions about this should be asked ahead of time for Staff to coordinate.
– For full information regarding our Covid-19 Restrictions & Guidelines, click the link below:
lasthope.kitsufox.com/wiki/covid-19-policy-practices/

== CUT-OFF DATE, SKILLS, & PLAYER INFO ==

= MONTHLY EVENT CUT-OFF DATE =
– The Monthly Event Cut-Off date is a deadline that is critical to the preparation of the monthly story/event. This allows us to prepare PC bags, write NPC more detailed roles, finalize mechanics based on who we know is planning on attending, and properly tie in player influences like Resources and Organizations.
– The Event Cut-Off date for this event is Wednesday, February 12th.
– Players that want a more detailed NPC role must purchase the applicable membership AND signup for the event by that date.
– Players that want a guaranteed spot for their PC must sign-up by this date.
– Players that want to be added to the Prize Giveaway for the month must signup by that date.

= PC SKILL UPDATES =
– If you sign-up and choose a membership by the Event Cut-Off date, staff will prepare your PC bag with items, coin, and condition ahead of time.
– If you have updates to your PC, do them ahead of time and email us the changes.
– The deadline for these PC skill changes is the Monday before the event!
– If we have time then we can update your PC skills at an event. *** There is no guarantee we can do this at an event due to the registration time needs. ***

= ATTENDING EVENT BONUSES =
– Players attending events in-person are granted several bonuses:
– A PC may roll applicable Profession and/or Tradeskill rolls for coin/affects. You MUST bring your trade manual to check-in to make your rolls.
– A PC may open and review applicable Lore cards at Check-In (and copy them over into their own Lore books if they so choose)
– PCs that are part of an Organization may earn +1 Organization Exp per event day that they attend and prominently display Org heraldry
– PCs that are part of an Organization may earn +1 Organization Exp for attending and prominently displaying Organization Standard/Banner (Min 3 PCs)

= DOWNTIME ACTIONS, ORGANIZATIONS, & LORE SKILL USAGE =
– Players may have a PC(s) use Downtime Actions to make an impact on an event.
– Organizations may pledge their monthly Actions and/or applicable Units to make an impact on an event.
– Downtime Actions & Org Actions influencing this event must submitted by the Monthly Event Cut-Off date OR the 10th (Whichever is first)
– Relevant information gained or a summary of the influence of these efforts will be available at Check-In at the event; a player must attend to be able to see that info.
– IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO ASK FOR THAT INFO!
– PCs with applicable Lore skills may have access to certain Lore cards at check-in. Frequently, there are Lore cards available for you to read that represent your characters ability to know about things going on in the area. Some of this information can be really useful to know!
– You may not take these Lore cards but you are welcome to copy the information they have into your own Lore book but it must be done at Check-In.

= PC SPOTS & LATE PLAYERS =
– To guarantee a spot for your PC at this event you must sign-up and pay for membership services before the Monthly Event Cut-Off date.
– If you sign-up after this date, we will coordinate a waiting list for players wanting to play their PCs.
– If NPC roles are needed, you will be notified before an event what those roles are so you can prepare.
– If NPC roles are not needed, you will be notified that you’re approved to play your PC.
– This helps us balance event mechanics and needed NPC roles to adequately facilitate an event but still allows ample opportunity for players to guarantee being able to show up as their PC.

We are following a strict time-block for check-in/registration so players will be expected to arrive on time to get registered and then attend the game briefing.
– If a player is going to be late and they are going to arrive after registration closes, they are expected to notify the staff by emailing the lasthopelarp@gmail.com address to let us know.
– This allows us to prep their NPC materials or pull their PC cards prepare their items/coin for when they arrive. Failure to do this may result in a forced NPC role if the player arrives after the briefing as all registration supplies are packed up and put away.
– This does not mean we do not have wiggle room; all you have to do is notify us ahead of time via email so we can prepare accordingly.

= MANDATORY CHECK-OUT =
– All players are required to properly check-out at every event; this means that all in-game items and PC cards with PC conditions will be turned over to Staff for proper record keeping.
– We will be doing a dedicated Check-Out after each day.
– If you plan on leaving before the end of the event day/scheduled Check-Out time, it is your responsibility to seek out Staff in order to properly check-out.
– If you checkout as a PC, you may not “check back in” after a period of time. Once you check out as a PC, your PC is done for the event day.
– There may be limitations on how and where PCs can check out at an event; ask instead of assuming if you feel like your PC would leave early, and then staff can assign you a role after that.

== SPONSORSHIP ==

=Wizard Quest=
Our continued sponsorship for 2025 is Wizard Quest! Mention the LARP for a local’s discount and remember to share with us a picture of you attending for cross-promotion EXP!
www.wizardquest.com/
Wizard Quest in Wisconsin Dells
400 Broadway Ave
Wisconsin Dells, WI 53965

== HELP! THIS IS MY FIRST EVENT! ==

– It is understandable (and normal) to be completely lost and overwhelmed coming to your first event.
– Staff and/or Veteran players will be on hand to help guide you and answer questions. We want your first event experience to be a positive one!
– It is very normal for staff and players to be running around doing things to get the event going on time; you may need to seek out someone with a gold belt flag and ask for assistance.

UPON ARRIVAL
– When you arrive, the most important thing is checking to see if you need to park in specific areas.
– Make your way to Check-In, wherever that is for the event. This will be where a number of players are at and also where Staff are at checking people into the game. This is also where Staff can guide you to the proper areas (such as New Player Helpers or NPC Wranglers)

AFTER CHECK-IN
– Once you have checked in, the most important person/station for you to search for is the “NPC Wrangler”. This is usually 1-2 Staff members that are taking care of garbing up and handing out NPC roles.
– There will be time available to make sure you are prepped for your NPC role. This is a great opportunity to ask questions!
– If you need anything else from your vehicle or for any setup, this would be the time to do so.

BEFORE BRIEFING
– Once you have your NPC role and you know who you can contact for questions, there is usually extra time before the event briefing.
– During this time, we will do a Combat Tutorial so you know the basics of combat. This usually takes about 30 minutes, so try to factor that into your event arrival time.
– There will be announcements of when briefing will take place; make sure you are available to listen to the briefing of an event as it covers a lot of story, safety, and property information.

AFTER BRIEFING
– Normally right after briefing, all NPCs and the NPC Wranglers are assembled into a group to discuss NPC roles, any connections they may have, answer more questions, and review the overall event theme/goal.

DURING EVENTS
– Once “Game On” is called, it is very important to maintain decorum in the game area. This can be very intimidating at first!
– If you need anything, please discreetly find a gold belt flag staff member and ask for assistance. Most of the time we will move off to the side for a quick out-of-game clarification or move out of the game area entirely to be able to have a full discussion.
– If you are confused on what to do, please seek out staff discreetly to double check your NPC motives and goals or discuss ideas on what you can do.

AFTER THE EVENT
– All of your borrowed garb, gear, coin, etc will get returned back to the NPC Wrangler as soon as the event is over.
– This will also be a chance to discuss any meaningful interactions you had as an NPC that we might want to follow up on
– The NPC Wrangler and potentially other staff will be available to answer any questions you have.

For more New Player Info, please click the link below:
lasthope.kitsufox.com/new-player-information/