A recent fairy-themed event at Galloway Park highlighted a unique organized fantasy role-playing and combat group in West Plains.
Fae Day, held July 20 at the park, was a fantasy fairy-picnic-themed event that drew about 100 people, organized by Ashley May-Brown and Holly Mutz, who participate in a fantasy sport known as Dagorhir. The pair created decorations to adorn the park with whimsical fairy villages, flower rings and lily pads, while May-Brown’s father, Stoney May, grilled burgers and hot dogs. The event being a potluck affair, others brought additional food and drink to share.
Similar events have been held in the past, known as Beat the Heat, hosted by the Fallen Stars unit of the Treefall Kingdom of Dagorhir. This year, finding themselves unable to secure their traditional location, organizers sought a place that would be accessible to all participants, including those with physical disabilities, and landed on Galloway Park.
In addition to food, decor and games, the event hosted vendors selling their creations, and live painter Andrea Wells was on hand to document the occasion through her art, said May-Brown.
“Dagorhir is a LARPing and foam fighting sport,” May-Brown explained, using the acronym for live-action roleplaying. “Most people in Dagorhir are fighters, but those that do not fight are called non-combatants, also known as non-coms. Non-coms are our supporters, sewers, crafters, cooks, any and every job you can think of that does not involve foam fighting.”
According to the official website for Dagorhir Battle Games, which can be found at dagorhir.com, the Dagorhir organization began in 1977 with a group of friends who shared a passion for medieval history and the fantasy world of J.R.R. Tolkien, author of The Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Using Tolkien’s Elvish language of Middle Earth, they coined their new pastime “Daghorir,” meaning “battle lords.”
While the game first focused on the combat and role-playing with creatively crafted personas, over the past four decades, as May-Brown pointed out, it has expanded to every state in the U.S. and now includes “medieval arts and sciences,” where participants challenge one another to create equipment, apparel, art, songs, stories and poems associated with the scene set.
Indeed, according to the official synopsis, crafting is “an enormous culture” within Dagorhir, with combatants often creating their own clothing, weapons, armor and camping equipment — and beyond that, the noncoms May-Brown referenced enrich the game and its atmosphere. Today, the LARPing experience has given way to a cottage industry of vendors who craft gear, clothing and accessories for participants to purchase.
“We create characters that we dress up as and role play as. We mostly do this at big events we go to. We also have local events that we host,” said May-Brown. “We meet up every Sunday at Galloway Park for practice. My unit also hosts a practice every other Saturday, unless weather is bad or we have an away event we all go to.”
May-Brown and Mutz are part of the Fallen Stars unit, a local chapter based in West Plains and part of the larger Treefall Kingdom.
“Treefall is our Kingdom; its territory is a 50-mile radius centered on Galloway Park,” May-Brown explained, noting that at present, the kingdom currently has 40 to 50 active members, possibly more.
“Each kingdom has groups, known as units, which make up said kingdom,” similar to the way counties are made up of towns or cities, she said. “It takes the many to make the entire thing run. Our current units in the kingdom are Outlaws and Fallen Stars. Me and my husband are the leaders of Fallen Stars.”
While Dagorhirrim, as participants are called, delight in welcoming the public to watch practices, to join the fantasy combat, one must sign a waiver and take “test hits,” she cautioned, noting that test hits serve the purpose of showing the prospective gamer what to expect during combat.
“It is all about the safety of everyone that wants to participate on the fighting field,” she said, adding the unit has a medic on hand just in case one is needed.
Plans are underway for another gathering similar to Fae Day next year, though May-Brown says the name may change depending on the theme chosen for the event.
The Kingdom of Treefall is governed by an admin and council. The current admin is Chance Tiff, “Lil Biggun,” and the council is comprised of Head Herald Cameron Tiff, “Biggun”; Head Page Stormy Gulley, “Dahva”; Treasuerer Aubri Ventaglia, “Daytura”; and Secretary Sarah Wanders, “Lost.”
To learn more about participating and upcoming events, join the "Treefall" group on Facebook, www.facebook.com/groups/KingdomOfTreefall.
