Epidsode 47: Escape

Another very larpy episode because we love those. I am back with Dallas and this time we bring Linus, another larper who plays the baron Lucian and we speak about the chaos that has escalated for the season finale of this epic story!

The pod back from a long pause! This is a weird episode, but a very important one. Dallas is back along with another friend, Alex, who we LARP with. Alex is a trans man, and we discuss something that is rarely talked about but is something very relevant for trans people beginning their transistion, as well as people who just want some perspective on human sexuality. We discuss what arousal feels like to us, pre and post hormone replacement therapy. How does sexuality differ based on our hormones? So yes. Some talk of sexuality, obviously, then a lot of gushing about the LARP.Warning, some of us (Dallas and I) are drinking wine and get more and more… weird. So if you want to turn off after about an hour it’s fully understandable, I did include some of it (90 minutes is on the cutting room floor) because I think some might find it fun.Either way, I hope the first hour is very entertaining and informative!

Dallas is back, and again, we spek about the LARP we attend. (Live Action Role Play where we, together with a large group of players, play our vampire characters in a serial monthly format) We speak of how Dallas’ character Tempest’s backstory is becoming a great story in its own right, we speak in anticipation of the night’s session and then we come back and speak in retrospect. We are drinking wine so we do get a little bit unhinged towards the end, and at some point Dumbledore did something to Gandalf… or something.

Dallas is back, and after talking about her allyship and learning experiences on the topic. Then we gush about the Vampire LARP we spoke of last time, discussing my fourth and her second session. At the end we speak about a topic that needs to be talked about more. After very emotionally intense roleplay sessions, especially when it’s about LARPs, your character’s emotions could bleed over to to you and cause psychologicaleffects that you need to process, and for that to happen, you need the right support network and tools on how to deal with it. Enjoy! The picture of Obsidian, mentioned in the episode Today’s sonnet is dedicated to Frida’s character Bella, who is no longer with us. We will miss you Bella, Emmy and me both. Thankfully, Frida is till around <3 Bella, If you would count the stars that light the sky A crucial thing for those bereft of sun Cry all you want, but never dare deny The counted stars now be reduced by one You gave me hope when hope was but a dream Undid my chains and showed another path Despite the dark, I suddenly could gleam A future brighter than my sire’s wrath You found me just as I was ’bout to fall I was so weak until you made me strong But just as I had learned to stand up tall I heard a crash and suddenly you’re gone No longer do I fear the deepest pain I swear to you, you won’t have died in vain

If you hadn’t noticed, I love playing out emotions in roleplaying. In this episode I muse a bit about what crying brings me when I play. Spoiler: It’s awesome!

So I finally have my friend Dallas on an episode, and in the same room no less! Dallas has finally joined the wonderful world of roleplaying and she starts on the deep side of the pool with a vampire larp (Live action roleplay) set in the World of Darkness using setting from Vampire the Masquerade, 5th edition. Her character, the toreador Tempest Thorne finally gets to meet my noseferatu Emily Cordell. The first part of the episode takes place before the session and after a timeskip you will get to hear her first impressions of roleplaying! We had so much fun! Enjoy!

This is a very special episode, and, as promised, all about roleplaying. My friend Nicole who I roleplay with a lot is a quest, we talk about how we met and how our roleplaying dynamics work. She plays the character Juniper in the Tyranny of Dragons campaign I have mentioned a few times on this podcast. She also interviews my character Sapphire, which was a lot of fun! Enjoy!

I speak about something very happy going on in Sweden right now, with state funded transphobia. But I also speak of the silver lining and the things that help us through it. Trigger warning; talk of suicide.

I speak about a cool transition related dream I had last night, and the interesting conclusion I drew from it. I also talk about a bit of a hot-take; I think the the hunt for main character syndrome in TTRPGs has gone way too far.

We’re all in this world together. In this episode I give my love to the wonderful loud allies of trans people, and, by extension, every othered and villfiied minority. I also speak of the loud toxic minority in my favorite hobby – gatekeepers in roleplaying. Can I have a boo and a hiss?