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PolyCon XXIII Pre-register for PolyCon XXIII for $25: (18 and over only Minors must use minor form) 
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Mid Year LARP Recap
by John Hostetter
The Real Happenings at the 1876 World's Fair Dateline July 5th 1876 C.S. Fly reporting, on site and exclusively from the 1876 World's Fair, being held in the disputed territory of Kansas City, Kansas. The restriction against media types here at the fair wasn't enough to keep me out, dear readers, I simply donned a disguise as the ambassador from our Canadian neighbors to the north, Alexander MacKenzie (Alex LeDante). There is a lot to cover in this article, so I'll get right down to business. The day opened with the many guests entering the building, we were all informed that there would be an election for the "Mayor" of the fair early that morning. Judge Roy Bean (Jeff Lautenschlager) took charge of organizing the election, as well as keeping the mundane peace at the fair. Much campaigning occurred, and the big winner was none other than the famous showman P.T. Barnum (Jef Watts). He was attending the fair to promote his new show which he was proclaiming to be "The Greatest Show on Earth". He had a large circus tent with a show prepared, as well as a hall of mirrors. Much entertainment was available, and many personages of note were in attendance. The day was shaping up as a fun, wholesome event - if only things had stayed that way. The placid nature of the fair was interrupted midmorning by the arrival of a gentleman wearing a great number of extremely varied sheriff's and marshal's badges. Eyewitnesses claim he strode into a crowded room, and shot Alexander Graham Bell (Aaron Johnston). The return gunfire did not seem to perturb the mysterious stranger in the slightest. He made a few vague threats, including an ominous statement towards Hank Ketchum (Hank Hatcher) and then left the premises. When he was followed, none of the lawmen in attendance could figure where he went. As the day progressed, the entertainments resumed, and some of the more business and politically minded individuals attended to their affairs. Alvah Robards (Mike Horsley), Leland Stanford (Joe Parzanese), Mina Devlin (Heather Pedersen), and many others sealed great business deals of which I'm sure you will hear. The sudden explosion of the tent housing the hall of mirrors sent shock waves through the populous of the fair. A mysterious stranger seen leaving the premises shortly before the event is suspected to be the architect of the plot. Again lawmen pursued, and were unable to apprehend the perpetrator. The real skinny on this mysterious stranger is that it was none other than Nevada Smith (Dan Barr) in another of his unbreakable disguises. The hall of mirrors housed a mystic device that stole a portion of the souls of all who gazed upon their reflection. All this pales in comparison to the events that occurred later in the day, however. A person was found in the local jail, who, when enraged, turned into a werewolf (Garrett DeHoyos). He broke free of his confinement and attacked many of the bystanders. If it weren't for the timely action of Dr. Pavlov (Matt Staley), much harm would have been done to the fairgoers. Dr. Pavlov seemed to be able to exert some measure of control over the will of the creature. The wolf-man was subdued (hacked to bits in other words), and placed in Dr. Pavlov's custody. Pavlov shipped the remains off in a carriage, and the fair proceeded apace, towards its explosive ending later in the evening. Speaking of explosive endings, that paragon of virtue, Carrie Nation (Ariel Weinninger), famed destroyer of bars and temperance movement champion, was instrumental in the destruction of the distillery located just off the fairgrounds. Explosives were planted around the premises. When they were detonated, the distillery went up in smoke. Eyewitnesses confirm Carrie's hand in the act, claiming to have seen her fleeing the scene shortly before the blast. Shortly thereafter, the North/South connection of the rail lines was completed. The famed rail worker John Henry (Mike Bunting) worked diligently to ensure the joining occurred. Many were in attendance, and much hope was shared for the spread of peace between these two nations. The hope for peace would not last more than a few moments. During the excavation of the graveyard that was the location of the joining ceremony, a number of large, and very old bones were discovered. Thomas Edison (Aaron Kutzmann) detonated them using some explosives he possessed, and all thought they were destroyed. A few moments after the last rail spike had been driven, completing the joining of the two rail lines, a large skeletal dinosaur formed from the bones dug up earlier, and attacked the fair. Much life would have been lost if not for the quick actions of a few brave souls. Wavoka (Joel Scott), the great Indian leader, summoned a great spirit in the form of the White Buffalo to assault the terrifying abomination. With the help of the spirit, Wavoka, Sarah Winchester (Rachel Wood), Carrie Nation, and the visiting dignitary from China Wong Fei Hung (Judy Ledford) defeated the creature, saving the fair from the rampaging monstrosity. Explosive news was abundant this day; there were many deaths of the rich, famous, and powerful. Brigham Young (Ryan Chapman), visiting the fair to drum up support for the nation of Deseret, was found dead. This reporter knows the nefarious General Santa Ana (Zac Parsons) had a hand in the peaceful leader's death. Yours truly had a hand in averting a disaster today as well. I had infiltrated an organization bent upon releasing a plague into the populace using a new breed of mosquitoes as the delivery method. I discovered the plot in time, and poisoned the foul insects before they were released into the world - averting the disaster and saving all you fine readers from a fate serious and terrible. The visiting dignitary from the German Empire, Otto Von Bismarck (Kurt Horner), was revealed to be a servant of an evil entity bent on spreading war throughout the land. A large contingent of the Forces of Good and the Law were attempting to deal with the threat posed by Von Bismarck. While the forces of good were otherwise occupied, a coven of witches opened a portal to the Hunting Grounds. The coven summoned forth a great host of demons. The demons immediately attacked all who stood in their way. Great power was brought forth to combat the demons, Vanessa Hellstromme (Jacinda Johnston), wife of the industrialist Darius Hellstromme, was instrumental in closing the portal, stemming the tide of demons from entering the world. She was however, slain in the fighting with the demons. The world shall mourn her passing. Baron Simone La Croix (Kelly) was also slain in the ensuing fight. Great supernatural power was displayed at the fair this day, and all my faithful readers are privileged to receive this exclusive report of the true happenings of the day's events. I had a great deal of fun writing and running the LARP - it wouldn't have happened without the assistance of my other GM's (Candace Carpenter, Sean "Jax", Bob Johnston, and Melinda Keller). We would all like to thank every one of the wonderful players for making the event a success.
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