The Wylde Hunt
An Empire LRP Player Event
The Wylde Hunt is an Empire LRP player event, set in the northern forests on the Semersuaq/Skarskind borderlands, deep in what was frequently contested territory between the hardy folk of Wintermark and the Orcs of the Thule and Jotun.
It is designed to be Wintermark in look and feel, but this does not mean those of other nations cannot attend!
It may be particularly of interest to players whose characters are monster-hunters, and is a spiritual successor to The Grand Hunt, the player event which ran in 2019 from much of the same team.
Cold winds blow from beyond the frozen north west of Sermersuaq.
Before the Winter Solstice, from far beyond the Suaq Wastes, past The Grave of the Giants, a mass of strangers emerge from the howling blizzards. No banners or colours are seen and Suaq scouts and Icewalkers are quickly dispatched from local settlements and the newly captured fortress of Olgafsdottirshal in Tanikipari to confirm the identity of these travellers.
The immediate fear of a Jotun counterforce is quickly (and thankfully) disregarded. The force is not large enough for an army, more likely a rogue military unit. But what draws the attention of all military commanders in the area is the uncanny speed at which this group moves over the ice and snow. Far too fast for any barbarian horde and only the most talented Icewalkers can find traces of their passing over the floes. Whoever they are, they are born to the ice.
Sure enough after several days of fruitless tracking and ranging from the vast majority, two exhausted scouts come panting back into the frosty interior of Olgafsdottirshal and their commanders can hardly believe their report. They give account of a large hall of Suaq warriors, hunters and Icewalkers, maybe two or three hundred strong running, not walking, but running across the ice.
They are decorated in recent trophies of war and their sealskin coats are stained brown and pink from seasons of bloody combat. Inexplicably, more than three quarters of the host are of the Cambion lineage or wear ceremonial horns upon their heads, but all sport the same sigil splashed across their back; A white mammoth skull with red tusks. Various elders confirm, For the first time in living memory the Bloodtusk Tribe is mustered upon the ice. Infamous, brutal and elusive, the tribe has rarely been seen except beyond the far borders of Wintermark where only the most challenging quarry may be found.
Less than a day on their trail, the scouts report suffering a tactical ambush from the tribe and upon seizing them and their weapons they are greeted by a strangely cheerful and enigmatic Thane and his retinue. One Shardukainen ‘Shard’ Bloodtusk is the newly made Thane of this half-feral band of Suaq. The cambion Thane Shard assures the scouts their safety under the laws of hospitality and bids them deliver a message to all capable warriors and hunters they meet on the ice.
“We are the Bloodtusk.
When the storm howls, we howl back.
The tribe is mustered and the runes are cast and clear.
The Wylde Hunt is called.
Thane Shard Bloodtusk invites a host of Imperial southerners to Whitelake, Skarsind to hunt the Storm Pass.
Only the most daring hunters may find welcome at our fires.
Bring only your best weapons and warriors.
Only the strong survive.
The cold cannot compromise, and neither do we.
At the waxing of the crescent moon, our Wylde Hunt begins.”
Whether or not the Bloodtusks are aware (or care) that Skarsind is now Imperial Orc territory is completely unknown. It is also unclear how much they know about recent events near the recently collapsed Pakaanen’s Pass. What is clear is that a formidable roving band of Suaq hunters fresh from the ice and months of bloody combat is converging on Whitelake, the Imperial sinecure and residence of the appointed Storm Shaman of the Imperial Orcs. Before anyone can respond, word has already spread fast across the ice to Atalaq and Wreck and is quickly relayed to the south. By the time the report reaches the Suaq commanders of the fort, the tribe are estimated to be well past East Floes and have already begun their ascent into the Skarsind mountains. Any attempt to communicate with Whitelake has come back unsuccessful, but then again, it is deep winter and the snows are thick mountains.
Messages are dispatched and a force of specialist imperial hunters and warriors are quickly assembled from all corners of the Empire and are told to muster on the Trod leading northwest past Pakaanen’s Pass. Questions abound about the mission. Who are these Bloodtusk? Where have they been all this time? Why are they here? What do they want with Whitelake? Are they friend or foe? Whoever they are and whatever they want, one thing is clear.
The Empire must rise to meet the challenge of this Wylde Hunt.
Important Info:
The Wylde Hunt is a FYE collaboration with Stuart Lennon, running from Friday 24th to Sunday 26th February 2023.
The event will take place at the award winning EYELarp site, Gunman Airsoft Eversley Alpha in Hampshire, an hour outside of London.
The closest railway station is Fleet.
Tickets are £105, with a £65 part payment to secure your place, with the £40 balance due on the Friday of the event.
This game is fully catered, with breakfast on Saturday and Sunday served from the kitchen in the OC area before time-in, and lunch and dinner on Saturday served in-game.
Meals will be generally Wintermark-y in flavour, with Vegan, Vegetarian and Gluten Free options available as standard and other dietary requirements catered for by request at time of ticket purchase.
The site is completely off-grid, so please bring adequate drinking water for yourself for the weekend – we recommend at least 2 litres per day. There are several shops a short drive away at the village of Hartley Wintney and the towns of Yatley, Hook and Fleet if you need to pick up additional supplies after arrival.
Tickets will be released at 7.30pm on the 23rd November 2022
Feel free to arrive any time on Friday the 24th February to set up. Some of the huts that are part of the Gunman Airsoft Eversley Alpha site will be available for sleeping in, however these are rudimentary and have no heating – a tent with built-in stove may be more comfortable.
Registration will open at 7pm to sign in and pay the remaining balance of the ticket.
A mandatory safety brief will take place at 8.30pm, followed by the in-character briefing.
Time in is 9pm Friday, until 1am.
Saturday will run from 10am until 1am
Sunday will run from 10am until around 1pm, with 30 minutes flexibility either side to account for the ending of the game reaching a satisfactory conclusion