"I'm the dragon-what?"
My husband being another geek introduced me to the wonderful world of Skyrim. It's an RPG (that's "role playing game" for those of you not hip to the vernacular) and it's an intensely addictive very involved world full of dragons, quests, magic, etc. It's nerdgeek-gasmic.
From this, I became inspired- can I make this real for my Step-son. He loves to play pretend and being that it's also something that interests his Dad and I- I thought this is going to be gold (or err-septum).
Being that I'm a working mom and albeit not the best planner, this was a fly by the seat of our pants thing. I planned it all the night before which is not something I recommend if you enjoy things like sanity.
I ran to the Dollar Store (my favorite place on earth) and hey it's about Halloween time (well, it is in a: "how early can we milk consumerism" kind of way) and they had some costumes and decorations. So, I bought the breast plate and sword (if you recall the post on chivalry week- some of this stuff we had from then but being cheap and boys playing hard- I replaced it. It is the same outfit though). Dollar Tree is hit and miss, it's all on what they have in stock- so I do buy a lot of this stuff a head of time.
So, I got a shiny Spider to be my "Frostbite Spider" some small rats to take the part of "Skeevers". Little gems, glass beads, and candy as well as a small plastic box for my "treasure box". Then I ran over to a local store and got some metallic spray paint. I will include the "how to" along with some other crafty ideas on the creative and crafty page soon!
It's activities like this where I'm lucky enough to have spread out the insanity and then can collect it all back later. We had previously done "Chivalry week" and for Chivalry week I had begun a cardboard Dragon for K to fight. It was sitting up nearly completed in my closet waiting. Well, what's Skyrim all about? The Dragonborn of course! The Dovakin! Fighting Aulduin and saving the day! BING! I now had a place for this Dragon.
So- Skyrim;
Armor- check
Sword-check
Dragon-check
Treasure-check
Villains to fight-check
Coin-check
Later he and I used Glitter Glue and more gems to "Enchant" his armor and sword and we used different kinds of Kool-Aid to mix potions for next time!
To keep with the Skyrim theme- I added little details like re-labeling a Bug juice "Potion of minor health". I had some candy and things in a display box called "Belathor's". K was given a handmade "sack of coin" by Aunt Mari, so he had some coin to spend at Belathor's shop.
Now, I needed a location:
I am awesomely lucky because, our local park has a castle. What better? This castle could double for many Skyrim locations- from abandoned bandit filled watchtower- to a the Blue Palace of Solitude (it over looks the Mississippi River and has a similarly beautiful view from the top).
Enter Castle.
We met at the park and I took our supplies on a head to the castle and set up shop. I had our spiders and skeevers, our Dragon and treasure- we were set. I yelled from the top of the castle "There's a Dragon attacking our keep! Can the Dragonborn please save me!!!"
K- ready in his armor, foam sword in hand, his "follower" Dad at his side- charged!!!!
(My husband even had me look up "Skyrim Dragon sounds" on my phone and I set my phone up to play the video as K went up the stairs. My husband said K's face when he heard the "real dragon" was priceless.)
This was our "Beta test" of the activity to figure out the quirks. I hope to arrange another "Skyrim day" with more kids.
Another Big THANK YOU to Mari and Bob for taking these pictures- then giving me the disc- then sending me the pictures because I'm forgetful and for all the other things you do! Also- to my mother who watched Baby J so we could have some time just for K!