AscendancyLRP

The Ascendancy LRP Team

The team at Ascendancy LRP are an experienced group of prop makers, live role play organisers and performers who aspire to create events full of drama, action and atmosphere. We hope you come along for the ride so that together the combined efforts of both organisers and players will inspire each other to create many memorable events.

The Mains Refs

Andy L andy@ascendancylrp.co.uk

Commonly known as Andy, well to my face anyway!

Married to Heather. I'm the proud father of Gabriel, Isobel and Neve who keep me very busy, providing me with a constant source of material for events. Although I am very, very old, I've not been doing this LRP malarkey for as long as some. But from the first time I tried it I was hooked. After playing several systems I decided to have a go at running some events. Thus towards the end of 1996 Chimera Leisure was founded and through a process of evolution Ascendancy LRP was born. The end results are what you see on this site. I hope you like them!

Between looking after the kids and running our various businesses (see links) I don't have much time for hobbies although I have been known to partake in WOW every now and again! (Whilst babysitting of course!)

My main alter-egos on events are: Roper, Indech, Cassidy, Stiltskin Ribbons to name but a few.

Ascendancy LRP is a very friendly system. I hope to see you on an event soon.

Heather heather@ascendancylrp.co.uk

Married to Andy L (insane, but then you already knew that, right?). Mother to Isobel and Neve, stepmother (evil cackle) to Gabriel. I have the dubious task of doing the accounts (argh!), sorting out bookings, doing the odd spot of catering on events when required (well the custard was interesting…) and generally anything else that anyone needs a hand with. Just to make life interesting I also help run Chimera Leisure's retail aspect (see the links page).

In my spare (ha!) time I enjoy throwing myself at the floor, or should that be Aikido, although I'm nowhere near Pod or Nathan's standards in the old Martial Arts, I also attempt the gym every now and then.. Previous lives have seen me in many trades from inn keeping to fantasy war gaming, and corporate management……then self employment beckoned.

On an event you may see me around as: Contessa Angelika Karnhurst - Council of the Roost member Ivana Johavich - Salemite Nun with a past

Graham also known as Grum graham@ascendancylrp.co.uk

I would like to say I am the youngest, most dashing and devillishly handsome of the crew. Being a Larper I can say that and firmly believe it!

Alas I am almost the oldest, have had the least experience, but make up for it with boundless enthusiasm, energy and what is more important, a willingness to be paggad into the ground time and time again.

Unlike the others I was raised in the south of England where I wile away the time being an ecologist, teaching in a church school in Salisbury to a marvelously eclectic population of humanities' finest. No, honestly. I mean it. Ok, ok, laugh if you must.

I am not involved in martial arts at present though have been known to make a mean light-weight throwing crumble.

At an event I will be the one that you ask that really difficult game question of or bring up some obscure point at which time the magic words 'I'll go and check' are uttered.

I am responsible for the '101 flavours of zombie' as the Chaplain puts it, that nice and much mis-understood Mr Skinner and the irrascible Hieronymous Grost as well as the Monkey King and Jerimiah the Bard.

Still hopelessly excited about the whole darn hobby - you ask Andy. I'll get over it one day. Promise.

Nathan nathan@ascendancylrp.co.uk

Married with two kids, Jessica and Kate

A Teacher in a school in Devon.

Apart from being a fool, I climb rocks and do Kung Fu.

I Started Larping a very long time ago and spent quite a few years running a Larp company in Brighton call 'Run the Guantlet.'

After the realisation that running events is to much like hard work and becuase, being a teacher, I have no money to play, I have found a very happy place crewing for other people. Most event organisers do not realise that I am pulling a fast one, as I get to have as much fun as the people who put up the dosh. My short attention span means reqularly changing into someone else keeps me happy. Come and be load for us they say and I am only to happy to oblige.

Pod.....real name Ian. pod@ascendancylrp.co.uk

Currently a teacher in Devon although I have had many other jobs and travelled around the world a bit. Lived in the middle east for 5 years so a lot of the people and plots in Dust are my fault. Currently the owner of two of the finest dishwashers you will see at any event (Lambkin thinks so but then he keeps getting those funny rashes) called Gus and Bonnie.They are the two brown dogs that might have barked at you if you have a funny hat. Especially if your hat looks like a squirrel.I've been roleplaying since "This must be the entrance to the Dungeon we will find what we are looking for here".

Refed thousands of games one of which spawned a fanzine called Aslan. Some people have actually paid me to run games! Won several prizes at Convulsion for lovely roleplaying. Live action and battle reenactments since '84. Karate and several other martial arts have been attempted. Currently 2nd Dan, my favorite technique is shouting and running away.

Many people will know me as returning officer 'The Venerable Pastry'. Thank you to those people who fed me. In yer eye with a pointy stick to those that set off the grenade. I'll never forget the look of shock on that small boy's face. Just remember -pineapple bread is a staple!! Don't believe those evil confectioners... Other memorable roles; Sallow Jack, Stupid Bob, The Fortune of Good Cheer (Available for parties/stag nights/hen nights), The Head of the Inquisition (which was a surprise). The bloke from dust with the unpronounceable name (all of them)

Tell me if you think of any others you enjoyed and are still alive. They could always wander into an adventure...

Deb deb@ascendancylrp.co.uk

Have had some lovely years of role-playing in the Shards system and now really enjoying crewing.

In my time I have been voted 'most easy to kidnap' person although have since lost that title to other contenders.

I enjoy playing a wide range of NPC's from spoilt Princesses to scabby housemaids. Some of the (surviving) NPC's I play are Faerie Bree Roper, mother of Dale and Tricksiebelle (bless 'em!), Lady Dawn of the Knights of Dischord & Misrule, Lady Destiny and third grunt from the right.

I'm married to Pod and get to share Gus and Bonnie with him - or is it that I get to share Pod with Gus?

Richard S richards@ascendancylrp.co.uk

Not sure what to say here, I only joined the ref team at the end of 2006 so I am still a novice at all this.

I have been larping for well over 10 years, almost exclusively on events that have been run by Andy/Chimera Leisure, and I still enjoy it as much now as I did back then. In my 'spare' time, I'll probably by either be trying to get to grips with all the plot that is currently going on in the Shards world, or making more of it! If I'm not doing that I'll probably be 'relaxing' by playing/writing computer games.

Currently the most likely NPC's you will find me playing are: Ard-Ri (High King), Finnlay of the Silver Unicorn, Simon Huntingdon of the Silver Sabre Society, Lord Gutter of Whitewater

Colin colin@ascendancylrp.co.uk

Although born in London I was brought up in Cardiff in sunny (yeah right) South Wales and continue to live there where I am lucky enough to work for the only Government department that has flex time and more importantly no dress code to speak of.

I have spent a large part of the last 10 years doing dark age reenactment. A few years ago I was drawn to Shards by a combination of friends raving about it, curiosity to see how the other half live and the desire to get hurt slightly less. Well two out of three aren't bad. After a couple of years of playing I joined the ref team.

I am famed for not sleeping while at events, being obsessive to the point of painting myself white for a ten minute encounter and for being able to get hurt in any situation but not allow it to slow me down. Yes it is true that I made a valiant attempt to crew a week long event while at the same time doing a full week at work. Didn't go that well for me.

Some of you may know me as: Clay of the Twelve Tigers, Leon of the Beggers Guild, Alexis Wickham.

I am indestructible no matter what anyone else says.

Doug doug@ascendancylrp.co.uk

My name is Doug, and I am one half of the team responsible for v3 of the Shards Rules. which is why I'm on this page despite being a player!

I've been roleplaying on and off since 1989 when a friend's older brother got out his D&D Basic set and took us through a small dungeon. I started doing LRP in 2003, and joined Shards in 2004. Aside from that I play World of Warcraft (most often found on the Earthen Ring server as the human Paladin, Daelric), am a keen wargamer and have an interest in English Martial Arts (i.e. hitting people with swords). Most importantly I'm happily married to Iszy (AKA Crew Mum).

My current characters are Redvers Fenn-Cooper (gentleman adventurer) and Mr. Black (sociopathic amnesiac pirate). Occasionally you may hear about the exploits of one Skullsplitter McUen (deceased). that was me as well.

Jeff jeff@ascendancylrp.co.uk

I'm currently competing with Nathan for the title of "the loud one". I arrived in Shards a few years back in the guise of a luckless - and I really do mean luckless - pirate: Captain Nathaniel Crown and via woundings, stabbings and eventual death at the hands of Slash and Johns Vampire Hunting Team (don't ask) wound up playing a put upon monk with a dubious Scottish accent and a really large stick: Abbot McUen as whom most people know me and whose charming visage accompanies this ramble.

At the start of the Bloodlines campaign I volunteered to join the crew for the sake of variety, my costume budget (which simply couldn't cope with the variety of character ideas I was coming up with) and a suspicion that I would really, really enjoy it (and I really, really do). With a worrying haste I have become a ref and now am to be mostly found trying to appear confident and knowing.

In the real world I have been a biomedical scientist, a manager of toyshops and a teacher of science. In short, a mixed bag. Continuing a theme in the "about us" section I am learning a martial art; Iaijutsu (samurai sword) but given that my tutor thinks that "SOY! SAUCE! CHUNKS!" is an accetable Kiai this suits my slightly eclectic tastes. I wargame and roleplay in an unhealthily obsessive manner and am married to my wonderful wife Lucy, we live in moderately sunny Wiltshire. I have been described as the lovechild of Bill Bailey and Brian Blessed, worrying that... I look forward to seeing you all at the events.

Mark Hadlett mark_amanda@ascendancylrp.co.uk

My ''proper job'' is as illustrator but I do strange things like play Will Shakespeare in Schools and music (I am in a band called Stormcrow). Currently thee eddytor of the Whitewater Gazzebbe (contributions always welcome) which is both fun and mad to do. Characters have included: Saul Grey (a pirate bard), Orlock the bard (he wrote a book y' know), Admiral Steiner (well one him at least), Librarian Arturo

And will happily play an Archpeliogian at the drop of a tricorn.

A long tyme Larper and re-enactor, who looks forward to the surprise of the next plot twist.

Amanda Hadlett mark_amanda@ascendancylrp.co.uk

Has a mission to feed anyone standing still too long. Sings (oddly also in a band called Stormcrow) Has played: Ethlynne McUen, Sister Delilah of the Most Holy Order of the 3 Virtues, Gazzebe Sellers, And lots of Vampyres

Can be heard all over Candelston with the dirtiest laugh going..

Dave dave@ascendancylrp.co.uk

The other half of the new rules team, I've been Role-Playing since some point in the dim and distant 80s, when I acquired a copy of the basic D&D rulebooks. I took up LRP in 1997,. I started playing Shards in 2001, and i am probably best known for playing Mr Flay, a Horologist of extremely particular sensibilities, and Scrumpy McUen, the other half of the now legendary 'Skull and Scrumpy' double act (now also deceased). Naturally, therefore, Doug and I teamed up to create the new rules.

My current character is Major Sebastian Hoyght, an Officer and a Gentleman Adventurer (pictured).

When not playing Shards I can also be found at Maelstrom, playing .....'?'

RichardH richardh@ascendancylrp.co.uk

I look after the IC battles and website and do occasional crewing and plotting.

I played my 1st table top battle and roleplay about 25 years ago and I had my 1st experience live action role playing when I organised a one off what we called a quest for the Medieval group I belong to in the late 80's, I then went onto to theatrical reenactment at Warwick castle for 7 years playing a comedy knight doing staged sword fights for the publics benefit, from there I returned to more serious reenactment, battles, living history, murder mystery roleplay of various periods between the 13 and 19th Centuries although I did do a reenactment of a miners strike skirmish for TV.

Anyway I joined Shards at the end of 2003 and I'm still a player for core events which I enjoy immensely, but occasionally I crew the odd event and help Referee and write the odd plot mainly ones linked to table top battles run alongside the LARP. My main character is 'Izzanbard Devlin' although I'm also famous for Wang who enjoyed spending hours catching another character unawares just to jump out and hit him with a broom and then jump up and down like I had won the lottery.

The website was put together as a experiment just to see if I could do it having never tried before, however the hardest part is always the content but several others contributed as you will see from the website credits.