The Britannia Search & Rescue Guild Holiday Feast was held at its Operations Center (Baja Shard) on December 14th, 1997. The members who participated were, in no particular order, Big Bub, Blitz, PapaMan, Black Widow, Milton, Master of Puppets, O’lorae, and Nobody. Tanis, a representative from an allied guild, also joined our festivities. Tanis is the Quartermaster of the Dungeon Masters Guard (DMG), a division of the New Outriders (NOR), attended as a preliminary event to forming an anti-PK alliance with the BS&R. Passer-by Mr. Christian was so embraced by the BS&R family that most everyone cried out to have him sworn-in right away.

Food was supplied in humungous quantities: cakes, pies, bacon, chicken legs, turkey legs, tomato soup, and, of course, bread and cheese. PapaMan cooked up some ribs and stocked up the liquor cabinet. Big Bub and Nobody took tremendous advantage of the available wine, ale, and cider, and quickly became the lives of the party. Big Bub, in particular, stripped to his skivvies and donned a brightly-colored hat. He stumbled around, talked quite a bit of nonsensical “drunk talk,” made advances toward Black Widow in front of her father PapaMan, and was our “lampshade” attendee (a requirement at all parties). We love Big Bub anyway.

Milton was sworn-in during the Feast, much to the pride of all who attended. (Although the high level of inebriation was slightly distracting, particularly during the ceremony itself.)

The Holiday Spirit showed up to give all the good little members games, food, and presents. He requested of all the members present to choose the member who had been most deserving of his special, secret present. PapaMan was chosen unanimously, and given the Holiday Spirit’s horse, Rudolph.

There was plenty of dancing, although the BS&R seems to need to add some musically talented member to its roster ; ). A Conga Line was formed, which turned into the Wave, followed by a dramatic Tango. Nobody even performed his famous Dance of Joy.

Holiday Feast, 14 December 1997

Nobody shows up to a party already going strong. (That Tanis in blue on the left)

Big Bub shows true party spirit.

Black Widow, Blitz, Big Bub, O’lorae, and PapaMan watch as Nobody swears in Milton.

Holiday Spirit gives gifts to all: games, food, a horse, and hope.

The Conga Line starts off a little sloppy

Master of Puppets shows his enthusiasm for the Wave. (but, looking remarkably like the Conga Line...)

The BS&R Tango like “Nobody’s Business.”

The party went on for quite a while. The “front lawn” was a mess. Nobody and O’lorae spent some time cleaning up. Here they are having a rest after cleaning up.

I really want to have fun again and I know this may sound corny , but help others at the same time.  the night I was admitted into the BS&R was the most fun I’ve had in a while.

— Milton
Member of the BS&R

Good party lots of fun. It was appreciated. Even if Santa was a little thin. I look forward to seeing the pictures. Thanks for the time and effort.

— Black Widow
Member of the BS&R

Had a great time. Looking forward to the next one when I can bring more of us.

— Tanis
QM of the DMG, a division of the NOR

I don’t know if I mentioned it later but I really had a good time with the party Sunday. I laughed out loud a number of times. What a hoot it was. thanks again...

— PapaMan
Member of the BS&R

The success in such a party, indeed of such a guild, is the people. Quite a few of those who investigate the Britannia Search & Rescue Guild we’ll never hear from again, including some of those who actually sign up. Everyone who came to the BS&R Holiday Feast are good people, happy to play a game with other people who are happy to play the same game. We’ll all look forward to the next feast. We’ll look forward to the young and brash Big Bub stripping to his drawers and making a fool of himself, all in fun. We’ll eagerly anticipate the arrival of the beautiful Black Widow, wondering eagerly whom her next dance partner will be. We’ll find comfort in the presence of PapaMan, father of Black Widow, and, after a fashion, father to us all. We’ll all be caught up in the renewed exuberance of Milton. We’ll share in the contagiously generous personality of Master of Puppets. We’ll glance uncomfortably at Blitz, rumored to have been around since the beginning of time. We’ll sympathize with O’lorae, torn between the mediocre wishes of his father and the fantastic mysteries of the world. And we’ll watch  Nobody—an orphan, a drifter without a past—watch over his new family, with a growing smile on his face and a tear of pride in his eye.

One last look...

Happy Holidays to Big Bub, Blitz, Master of Puppets, PapaMan, Milton, Nobody, Mr. Christian, Black Widow, and O’lorae, the rest of the of the Britannia Search & Rescue Guild, all of Britannia, and the World