Changeling the Dreaming: Arcadia Has Fallen

RPG system: LARP
Participants: 15-30 players

By

✏️	Micah Haddock
	Micah Haddock

Description

Arcadia is the heart of the Dreaming, the homeland of the Fae, the souls of dreams and legends given mind and flesh. But Arcadia was lost and the paths to it closed seven hundred years ago when the world Shattered. Once they were revered as the gods and heroes; they banished the beings of the Elder Dark and made the world safe for humans to dream. But humans, with their Cold Iron, and their enlightenment, and their industrialization, and all of their banal evils, kill dreams one by one and slowly drain the world of all wonder and hope. Now they must find a way to survive and hold onto hope in a world that denies their existence, or else somehow forge a path back to their lost paradise.

For many years High King David held the kingdoms of the Fae together and kept the hope and promise of the Dream of Concordia alive. But now he is dead, perished under suspicious circumstances and all that he represented is unraveling. The other Monarchs of the Fae have gathered at Tara Nar, the royal palace in upstate New York, with key members of the Parliament of Dreams to choose a successor. Princess Lenore, his heir, is the prime candidate to replace him on the throne, but some question if she is up to the task, or if she is unduly influenced by other powerful players. There are other claimants as well. His sister Morwen ruled at his side for many years, and his Queen Faerilyth was made his co-ruler upon their marriage. There is even a mysterious youth, Danwyn, who claims the throne is rightfully his. But they are all of the Seelie Court, and the Unseelie who have been out of power for far too long seek to put one of their own on the throne.

Some kingdoms have already begun to break away from Concordia, and a mob of Commoner protesters demonstrate outside the doors of the palace against Sidhe rule. They wish to see an end to the system of monarchy and nobility. Some stand for justice, others for power, and a few for plain and simple revenge. Some seek concessions from the nobles while others seek to destroy them. But with dreams in the world becoming increasingly rare the Fae may not be able to afford to cast aside powerful and ancient dreams of nobility.

If the Fae cannot find a way to bridge their divisions their kingdom and their world shall surely fall. The oracles have prophesied that the Long Winter, the death of all Glamour, is at hand. With the world becoming increasingly divided, oppressive, and disaster-prone it is difficult to deny the urgency of these warnings. As if a reflection of the cruelty and fears of mankind gaining strength in the real world, the Dreaming has become increasingly full of nightmares and fallen under the sway of the Elder Dark, beings known as the Fomorians. If the Fae cannot work together to preserve dreams and wonder in the world then all could be doomed.

Notes

This will be a rules-light LARP that will focus on social interactions, political machinations, and courtly intrigue. Combat will not be emphasized and if violence is used it must be negotiated between the players involved.
This game follows the events of the material published in Changeling the Dreaming 20th Anniversary edition. Knowledge of this edition of Changeling is helpful but not essential.
This is a high-stakes freeform game in which the fate of the kingdom and possibly the world hangs in the actions of the characters in this game.
Characters in this game will grapple with death, loss, injustice, hopelessness, and other heavy topics.
This game will have romance and other forms of social entanglements, old oaths, long lost lovers, estranged friends, arranged marriages, seductions, etc.
This game will contain dark fairytale and political elements such as kidnapping, body-swapping, assassinations and threats. Sexual violence will not.
This game will involve strict social hierarchies and characters that claim superiority over others. Real world prejudices or “isms” will not be employed.

Communications

A casting survey will be provided when the game fills. Character sheets with costuming suggestions will be distributed before the convention
Content Warnings
Politics, war, verbal threats, violence, seduction, minor domination, strict social castes and heirarchies, sexual encounters referenced, kidnapping, arranged marriages, infidelity, death, and loss. There is no sexual violence.

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