#female larper

The Royal Court ofChesterwick at the game on Friday, one of our first nights without The Price!  Of course we all acted out. It’s insane how much we’ve grown over the last year and a half and how much joy these people bring me. We now have almost 20 registered members, and had 16 at Quest! Honestly, never would have dreamed of being this excellent. 

Chesterwick is a warband from the LARP game Swordcraft, based in Melbourne, Australia. We take inspiration from the 14th century. 

Photo by Portrait Photography Melbourne. 

I’m in love with this photo that my friend took of me in my 14th century longbowman gear! This is my Chesterwick side-character (for when I’m not playing the Duchess), William (Willy) Hunter. He’s a fine young lad who works in the stables, taking care of the horses and dogs. 

Photo taken by the amazing Michael Rutter.

First project of the year: lamellar. I have a massive soft spot for eastern armour and Rus style, but never really get a chance to wear it because we’re stuck pretty firmly in the XIVth century. When we had a night off I took the opportunity to throw together a kit and get on the field. The only thing I was really missing was gauntlets. I took most inspiration from the 11th century. 

We’ve had this lamellar stuff lying around the craft room for years, and I’m always stubbing my toes on it. They’re 18ga (1mm) mild steel plates, laced together with leather thonging. The straps are made from leather and sewn on/ reinforced with artificial sinew. I made my breastplate in like 8 hours because I’m the size of a child, whereas it took Kieran 3 years to make his because he’s super lazy. I’m going to do another post later with WIP/ up close pictures of how it’s constructed and what it’s looks like on the inside, because it’s pretty interesting. 

Belt, greaves, pants under tunic, gambeson: ArmStreet. 
Helmet: It’s called an Italo-Norman cabaset helm and I have no idea where we got it from, we’ve had it in our personal armoury for years.
Axe:Calimacil Dane Axe

Pictures were taken at Swordcraft LARP in Melbourne, Australia. They are taken by Portrait Photography Melbourne andMichael Rutter Photography. 

A closer look at my kit from Friday, I probably should have done a step-by-step breakdown but oh well… maybe next week!

Underneath I’m wearing medieval underclothes, including braies, hose, and an under tunic.

For armor I’m wearing padded chausses (leg gambesons), a gambeson, my flat ring riveted chain (weights ~10kg+ish?), a butted mail gorget (it’s a temporary stand in, I’m in the process of making a flat ring riveted one using leftover mail I trimmed from mine), and a stainless steel 16ga 14th century bascinet (under my arm). Over top of it all I’m wearing a cotte d’arms which doesn’t actually belong to me, but I made it so sometimes I decide to wear it >_>

I’m also wearing ArmStreet’s padded fencing gloves, which are excellent and I highly recommend. 

For weapons I’m using my all time favourite sword, a longsword length Ateliers Nemesis Knight Sword which IMO is the best single handed sword you could possible buy for LARP. With it I’m using my usual heater shield (it’s on my back, you can kind of see it), which I’ve had for a while now and could probably use a touch up.

This is my kit for Swordcraft, a Melbourne, Australia based LARP game. I’m with the warband Chesterwick, which is inspired by the 14th century. Photo by Portrait Photography Melbourne.