MARCH/APRIL 2013 THE RIDER /17 Imaginations Run Wild At Underworld Larp


Live action role-playing captures the hearts and imaginations of Ontario horse enthusiasts By Andrea Cascone


Just outside of Lindsay, Ontario, there’s a wonderful fantasy farm which has become the headquarters for Underworld LARP, a horror and fanta- sy themed live action roleplaying game. LARP (live action role playing) challenges its players to create com- plex, intelligent and well-rounded characters; challenging the players physically, mentally and emotionally. Some players choose to spend years developing the same character while others prefer to test out a new character each time there is a scheduled event. Darcy Williamson, professional wrestler and Underworld LARP player says that, “you go in with what you know,” when it comes to the physically


demanding aspects of the role-play. Novice players are given basic combat training, which is one of the compa- ny’s defining features. Players are responsible for providing their own costumes and are encouraged to create original characters. The company’s website provides helpful tips and ideas for characters which players may con- sult during their creative process. Darcy, who has been involved with managing and planning their events for the past year, speaks highly of the group’s strong sense of community. “Everyone here is very advice driven,” he says, “with players and staff work- ing together to help train new players, gather props and costume pieces, we even offer advice on character build- ing.”


The farm is owned by Kim Mor- gan and is comprised of three different fields where she hosts the LARP events. She also owns several horses who are often seen watching the fanci- ful activities over the fence. Due to insurance and safety reasons, the hors- es are not used in any LARP games but frequent player and former Medieval Times performer, Rick Ricard, says “All the horses at the farm know me by voice and by my body language. Even when I’m dressed up in full costume they know who I am as I pass by.” Another player, Jessica Kelly, has been training horses for the past three years and has shown two of her own horses at English and Western shows. She has been LARPing at Underworld for about a year and says “I started playing and fell in love with the game. It’s now a year later and I have yet to miss a game!”


The LARP community attracts a lot of horse trainers, riders and all- round horse-lovers, most likely due to


the communing with nature aspect. Each LARP event runs for 2 or 3 days usually over weekends with partici- pants camping out in character under the stars. “You usually see medieval folk, fantasy fairies or knights,” says Ricard. The focus is on fantastical sto- rytelling which makes it so appealing. “It’s very freeing, that’s the beauty of LARP,” he continues, “you can do or be whatever you want, but there are consequences to your LARP actions which are all part of the story. But these aren’t the sort of real life conse- quences that we’re faced with every- day. You get to immerse yourself in something unique and then imag- ine what it would be like if the fantasy was real-life.”


Jessica is a true fan: “Ever since I was a kid I wanted to be a knight in armour or a princess riding a horse decked out in full regalia. As an adult, LARP allows me to be anything I want to be in a safe fantasy setting. As a kid, I would dress up my horse for Halloween to match my own costume. Sometimes I would be a princess, sometimes I was Zorro or even a knight. My horse and I would go trick or treating through my small town. It was great fun and I think those expe- riences ultimately lead me to LARPing today.”


playing events is appealing to four- legged players as well. Rick Ricard’s vast experience with training and riding horses at Medieval Times affords him a unique perspective on why the horse may find this unique type of activity so com- pelling.“Some horses will do it just to please but other hors- es enjoy the actual rush of the game play in much the same way a person would.” LARPing unleashes creative freedom, especially for those of us stuck behind desks and computers. “It keeps people’s minds sharp,” Rick observes. “We go to work, we come home, then we go back to work the next day, and the next and the next - we do this everyday. In LARP, our minds are forced to work in a totally different way through the live action role- play.”


If you would like to find out more about freeing your mind and de-stressing through LARP, check out the Underground LARP website for more details www.underworld-


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