Rise of Aester (Steamcon feature)

My first experience with LARPing! For those of you who don’t know, L.A.R.P.ing is Live Action Role Playing.

AND for those of you who watch Supernatural, lets see if you remember this:

Yes, that. It can be just about any type of live action role playing from the most popular renaissance and medieval to what I decided to try out today: Steampunk!

So the group local to Steamcon is Rise of Aester and they have a really well developed steampunk world they use as their setting for their LARPs.

Here is a tidbit from their website:

“Imagine a steampunk world of adventure, an alternate history that never was…

80 years ago, the skies filled with a mysterious substance called “Æster”, blocking the sun’s light and destroying nearly all the green growing things on Earth. Enduring terrible hardships of the Rise, Mankind nearly perished, but now stands on the brink of a bright future.

Cities of Light with titanic Aeroplexes stand as bastions of civilization in permanent darkness under the Æster’s glowering, corrosive clouds. Above 10,000 feet, shielded æsterships ply the caustic skies suspended by the Draw, one of æster’s many strange properties. Below the æster floor, airships connect far-flung towns and villages to the cities of light. The flickering flame of civilization has finally kindled once again.

Although Mankind stands poised to enter a new age of prosperity, most of the world remains dark and filled with danger. Gigantic animals occupy the lands and seas, forever altered by the power of the Æster. Savage Nightmen prowl the dark lands beyond the cities; raiders and pirates prey upon shipping vessels in the air and the Æster.

But nothing is so dangerous as the Æster itself…

Powerfully corrosive, Æster can destroy the strongest structures or render a body to dust within minutes. It has transformed normal animals into monsters, and even changed some human minds into the feared, raving killers called Æster Mad.

For all the challenges and the dangers, a Golden Age stands right around the corner…

If we are bright enough,

If we are brave enough,

If we are bold enough…

..to seize it.

Who will you be after the Rise of Æster?”

After hearing about Rise of Aester my curiosity got the best of me. I decided to join in on a demo and see what LARPing is really like. I knew there were a lot of preconceived notions about it but used to do Shakespearian acting and really missed getting to immerse myself in a character. As an author I love writing and creating characters so it really seemed like it might end up being a great fit.

Well, it turns out R.o.A. is not only filled with amazingly kind people and a ton of fun but has really well developed world building. Sadly I can add pictures because my camera cord doesn’t like me right now but I will add photos or maybe even do a second more in depth post!

So far I am loving Steamcon V and
will be updating you as events unfold!