Con Game
"The oasis of Selima calls. Who will join the Water Festival?"
What are the Trials of the Desert?
Guides, guards, trackers, men, and women of the desert. The only ones who are able to walk among the deepest Ofieri dunes and return to tell the tales. And often the only ones who stand between us and certain death on the paths through vast golden sands and under sharp crags. Medjay Al'Sahra — the order we owe much to. The order that symbolizes us and our land.
For all the effort the Medjays put in for us, we want to repay them once a year by celebrating their hard work and getting a little closer to them through shared experiences. During the traditional Trials of the Desert, we will experience firsthand what it's like to face the dangers of the dunes and scorched gorges, so we never forget how important the work the Medjays do really is.
Come enjoy yourselves with us, laugh, eat, and drink – as well as discover if you can pass the Trials of the Desert and compete for the honourable title of a Medjay fighter!
The day before
Perhaps you noticed that the event says The Sands of Ofier starts on Thursday, 3rd September, at 6 PM already. It’s not a mistake - you can really arrive the night before the start of the storyline.
And why should you arrive on Thursday? You can build your tents, chat with friends, prepare for the next day, and prolong The Sands of Ofier by one pleasant evening. The main thing is, though, that you can attend workshops aimed at explaining the whole-con game rules and roleplay. So, if you want to jump into the game on Friday knowing what to do, don’t hesitate to arrive to The Sands of Ofier on Thursday!
To complete, costumes are not yet compulsory on Thursday evening.
What happened at the last Festival of Water
This year will loosely follow up on the events of the first year of The Sands of Ofier. Let's look back at what took place at The Festival of Water:
Little did people know what would happen at the latest Festival of Water. Like every year, everything began peacefully with friendly competitions, trivia games, and entertaining puzzles in honour of the sacred cycle of life-bringing water. People enjoyed themselves, the nobility argued, and the vizier himself watched everything with satisfaction, when new guests - the desert elves - appeared on the outskirts of the camp with an unusual request: they said that the history hidden in nearby ruins was only theirs to unearth.
After brief negotiation, and much to everyone's surprise, the vizier allowed the elves to perform their excavations in the ruin, and humans were happy to help them. Ancient ruins quickly began to reveal their secrets including one which should have remained buried in the sand. Shortly after, the night was full of shrieking of the dead, quiet calls of the ghosts, and forgotten threats of an insane Vran priestess, who had waited perhaps entire centuries to regain freedom and restore her long-gone realm.
The vizier summoned his power, joined the visitors at the Festival of Water as well as the heroic Imran the Magnificent, and went to face the new danger together. The preparations were difficult, everyone put immense effort into it, but in the end, prince Abdi and his guards managed to defeat the Vran priestess in combat and drive her back to her tomb.
How to participate
Do I have to play to enjoy the festival?
Not at all. Participation in the game is entirely voluntary. You can be a pure spectator of the Festival, watch the story scenes and enjoy the music and atmosphere without active involvement. The game is an extra layer for those who want more.
What is the difference between larp and non-larp participation?
In non-larp mode you complete tasks and challenges as yourself — a "civilian" festival visitor. Larp participation means playing as a character of your choosing. Both are equally valid — no one is required to play and no explanation is needed if you prefer not to.
Can I join without preparation, on the day?
Yes. Our info desk will advise you on which faction to join and how the basic rules work. No extensive preparation is required — just come with the desire to play and you'll pick up the rest on the spot.