Thank you to everyone for the positive feedback. I truly appreciate your words of encouragement. I wanted to take a quick moment before this chapter to explain a little more about LARPing.
LARPs take on all genres just like any other storytelling. Obviously this story is in a high fantasy setting with magic and magical creatures. Just like in all genres, there is plenty of conflict in LARPs, and depending on the style of LARP, these conflicts can be resolved in a variety of manners.
This story takes place in a "boffer LARP" style. Physical combat between characters (both player vs player and player vs storyteller character) are resolved by actual combat. For characters like the ranger girls, they use weapons made from latex or foam or often simply plumbing supplies. There are plenty of websites around that sell boffer weapons or teach people how to make their own.
Magic users cast spells. To affect other people or creatures, they will often use "spell packets" - tiny beanbags filled with split peas or other soft materials. If you are hit by the spell packet, you are hit by the spell.
This chapter doesn't go into detailed combat, but there are enough references to it that I wanted to make sure the concept was well understood. Thank you for listening to my lecture, and hope you enjoy this chapter.
*****
I looked around at the small gathering lounging around me. We had been sunbathing for a couple of hours, and everyone was feeling lethargic and comfortable. I looked over at Rozan, the one I had originally been the most concerned about. She was laying on her back, her head resting in Jaimor's lap and smiling as they talked, his hand stroking her side gently.
Well that happened fast! Not that I was one to talk. I looked up at Meaghan, my own head still resting in her lap, and smiled. Everyone else seemed to be half asleep on the ground with the exception of Rushwillow and Kidane who were half asleep floating in the water.
I tapped Meaghan on the thigh. She looked down, and I tapped my wrist. She nodded, then looked into the bag that she had brought with her.
"Okay, everyone," she moved out from underneath me and stood in the middle of the clearing. Once she had their attention, she continued. "It's about fifteen minutes before lunch. Everyone needs to head back and grab their clothing and we'll all meet at the Inn.
Despite their grumbling, they all gathered themselves together and headed for the water. I waited for them all to have started off before I turned to Meaghan.
"You've been unusually quiet."
She smiled, and gave me a quick kiss. "Can't a girl just relax for a while?"
"Sure. But I don't think you've ever been this quiet. I half expected you to try to jump every person here."
She laughed. "I have some sense of self control...besides, you had already taken care of the jumping part."
I blushed again, remembering the earlier activities.
"But, honestly, I was just thinking."
"About?"
Meaghan shrugged. "Advancing the plot."
"Advancing the plot?"
Meaghan smiled. "You know, the game is a story. We put you in at the beginning of it and we have general ideas of where it should be headed. But the characters never go exactly where you expect them to. So, we make changes on the fly to what we've come up with. Either to get you back to where you're supposed to be, or to figure out how to go where you are already headed."
"You're saying we aren't doing the right things?"
"No. I'm saying that I have to stay half a step ahead of you." Meaghan tweaked my nipple. "Now go back to the Inn. I'll meet you there."
I gave her a quick kiss, then headed into the water. By the time I got back to the main shore, everyone was mostly dressed and talking excitedly. As I approached, they turned and included me in their conversation.
"So, we have an idea of how we can handle the necromancer this time," Taleran announced. "Last time, we took him down with a life ritual. We had to plant a special tree on his body after he was beaten unconscious, then make the tree grow. It was supposed to keep him infused with life energy so his death energy couldn't build to the point where he could reanimate himself.
"Obviously, that didn't work completely. If he's stealing elemental orbs, maybe he's found a way to resurrect himself through the elements. If we can destroy the orbs, we can stop him."
"Uh uh." I shook my head vigorously. "You can't destroy my orb. MY ORB."
Everyone looked at each other sheepishly.
"Oh yeah...um...Well, we'll come up with a different idea then."
"Good." I smiled and kissed Taleran on the nose to show him I wasn't angry. "I'm hungry though. Let's go get some lunch."
We walked back, lost in thought. As we approached the entrance to the Inn, there was a minor commotion. Stacey was standing in front of the door, naked, arguing with Gregg. I stopped, not sure if I wanted to be anywhere near them.
Since I was walking near the back of our group, almost everyone continued on towards the doorway. Only Cidane and Rushwillow hung back with me, looking at the scowl on my face with curiosity.
I put a finger to my lips and shook my head. I wanted to hear what the tramp and the cheater had to say.
"...doesn't want you," Stacey was yelling, her hands on her hips. She was trying to get Gregg's attention as he kept looking around. I made sure to stay hidden behind Rushwillow. "Are you even listening to me? That bitch stripped naked and is galavanting around with a bunch of guys. Probably fucking them all. Screw her. I'm right here, giving you my body, and you won't even look at me?!!"
She grabbed his arm, and he finally focused on her. "You're too good for her. Look at what you have right here in front of you." She cupped her breasts for him, practically shoving them in his face. "You even told me that I was a better lay than she ever was."
Gregg looked her straight in the eyes. "I lied." He walked past her and into the Inn.
I buried my face in Rushwillow's back and laughed. I quickly pulled myself together, put one arm through each of theirs, and strutted past her and in to get food. I could hear her mutter "bitch" under her breath, but I was feeling too good to care.
I gathered my food from the buffet line, and went over to the table where my friends were sitting, a giant smile still on my face. I sat down and started eating. I knew the folks who had gone ahead were curious, but I was too busy enjoying the moment. Luckily, Cidane was happy to take over.
"And then he looked at her and said, 'I lied.' I swear it sounded like his voice had dropped five octaves. Then our little wild girl hooked her arms through ours and practically glided past that slut. It was amazing."
Just then, a hush fell over the entire dining area. I followed the general gaze to the door where Stacey was now standing, still completely bare.
