The Knights of Barad Duin

Saturday, February 18, 2012

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Faith, a Gypsy drum horse and a part of the live-action fantasy role-playing group called Knights of Barad Duin, is seen on Saturday, February 11, 2012 as she basks in the sunlight on a very cold afternoon.

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(Andy Sharp FOR AMERICAN-STATESMAN)

Faith, a Gypsy drum horse and a part of the live-action fantasy role-playing group called Knights of Barad Duin, is seen on Saturday, February 11, 2012 as she basks in the sunlight on a very cold afternoon.

Fantasy role-playing games are 'fun escape'

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(Andy Sharp FOR AMERICAN-STATESMAN)

Leslie Gunn, a member of the live-action fantasy role-playing group called Knights of Barad Duin, is seen on Saturday, February 11, 2012 as she finds both rest and warmth from a horse named Jesse, a Morgan horse. The white horse is Mirage, an Alkhamsa Straight Egyptian Arabian. It was a very cold day and the horses seemed happy to provide a bit of heat.

Fantasy role-playing games are 'fun escape'

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(Andy Sharp FOR AMERICAN-STATESMAN)

Members of the live-action fantasy role-playing group called Knights of Barad Duin are seen on Saturday, February 11, 2012 as they go into action on horseback. Leslie Gunn is at left, riding a horse named Jesse. On the right is Marcus Brehm-Stern, riding Mirage. These role-players have special names: Leslie's is Moongara, Marcus goes by Malamoff Peregrina.

Fantasy role-playing games are 'fun escape'

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(Andy Sharp FOR AMERICAN-STATESMAN)

Members of the live-action fantasy role-playing group called Knights of Barad Duin are seen on Saturday, February 11, 2012 in action on horseback. At left is Marcus Brehm-Stern, riding a horse named Mirage, and at right is Leslie Gunn, riding Jesse. Role-players have special names: Marcus uses Malamoff Peregrina, Leslie goes by Moongara.

Fantasy role-playing games are 'fun escape'

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(Andy Sharp FOR AMERICAN-STATESMAN)

Members of the live-action fantasy role-playing group called Knights of Barad Duin are seen on Saturday, February 11, 2012 as they go into action on horseback. At left is Leslie Gunn, riding a horse named Jesse, and at right is Marcus Brehm-Stern, riding a horse called Mirage. Members have personna names: Leslie's is Moongara, and Marcus is called Malamoff Peregrina.

Fantasy role-playing games are 'fun escape'

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(Andy Sharp FOR AMERICAN-STATESMAN)

Left to right are Hector Heredia (in blue) Rufus Barr (front center, bright red), and Emily Sundeen.

Fantasy role-playing games are 'fun escape'

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(Andy Sharp FOR AMERICAN-STATESMAN)

Left to right are Rufus Barr, Emily Sundeen, and Marcus Brehm-Stern.

Fantasy role-playing games are 'fun escape'

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(Andy Sharp FOR AMERICAN-STATESMAN)

Left to right are Hector Heredia, Peter Riendeau, Skye Drake-Stephan, Rufus Barr and Eric Stephan, Skye's husband.

Fantasy role-playing games are 'fun escape'

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(Andy Sharp FOR AMERICAN-STATESMAN)

Left to right are Marcus Brehm-Stern, who uses the personna name Malamoff Peregrina, and Hector Heredia, whose personna name is Murkol The Azure Mage. Members of the group meet here on a small patch of grass and trees just west of Dell Diamond and right behind Salt Lick restaurant and take part in their role-playing both afoot and on horseback.

Fantasy role-playing games are 'fun escape'

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(Andy Sharp FOR AMERICAN-STATESMAN)

Left to right are Marcus Brehm-Stern, who uses the personna name Malamoff Peregrina, and Hector Heredia, whose personna name is Murkol The Azure Mage.

Fantasy role-playing games are 'fun escape'

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(Andy Sharp FOR AMERICAN-STATESMAN)

Left to right are Skye Drake-Stephan (personna is Queen Bella Peregrina), Eric Stephan (Skye's husband whose pesonna name is Sighieri Peregrina) and Rufus Barr (personna name is Sir Rufus The Grimwulff).

Fantasy role-playing games are 'fun escape'

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(Andy Sharp FOR AMERICAN-STATESMAN)

Left to right are Rufus Barr (personna is Sir Rufus The Grimwulff), Skye Drake-Stephan (personna is Queen Bella Peregrina) and Eric Stephan (Skye's husband whose pesonna name is Sighieri Peregrina).

Fantasy role-playing games are 'fun escape'

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(Andy Sharp FOR AMERICAN-STATESMAN)

Left to right are Rufus Barr (personna is Sir Rufus The Grimwulff), Skye Drake-Stephan (personna is Queen Bella Peregrina), Eric Stephan (Skye's husband whose pesonna name is Sighieri Peregrina) and Marcus Brehm-Stern (personna name is Malamoff Peregrina).

Fantasy role-playing games are 'fun escape'

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(Andy Sharp FOR AMERICAN-STATESMAN)

Skye Drake-Stephan, a member of the live-action fantasy role-playing group called Knights of Barad Duin, is seen on Saturday, February 11, 2012 wearing a belt that she explains is part of a lifetime achievement award and also signifies she is a knight.

Fantasy role-playing games are 'fun escape'

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(Andy Sharp FOR AMERICAN-STATESMAN)

Skye Drake-Stephan, a member of the live-action fantasy role-playing group called Knights of Barad Duin, is seen on Saturday, February 11, 2012 taking a rest break along with fellow member Rufus Barr, right. The belt she wears around her waist and the chain around her neck are a lifetime achievement award and also signifies that Skye is a knight.

Fantasy role-playing games are 'fun escape'

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(Andy Sharp FOR AMERICAN-STATESMAN)

Hector Heredia, a member of the live-action fantasy role-playing group called Knights of Barad Duin, is seen on Saturday, February 11, 2012 taking a rest break and enjoying warmth from the late-afternoon sun after over two hours of role-playing action. Heredia, who lives in Killeen and is in the U.S. Army at Fort Hood, uses the name Murkol The Azure Mage as his personna.

Fantasy role-playing games are 'fun escape'

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(Andy Sharp FOR AMERICAN-STATESMAN)

Hector Heredia, a member of the live-action fantasy role-playing group called Knights of Barad Duin, is seen in action on Saturday, February 11, 2012. Heredia, who uses the role-playing personna name Murkol The Azure Mage, lives in Killeen.

Fantasy role-playing games are 'fun escape'

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(Andy Sharp FOR AMERICAN-STATESMAN)

Rufus Barr, a member of the live-action fantasy role-playing group called Knights of Barad Duin, is seen ready for action on Saturday, February 11, 2012. During role-playing Rufus is called Sir Rufus The Grimwulff.

Fantasy role-playing games are 'fun escape'

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(Andy Sharp FOR AMERICAN-STATESMAN)

Skye Drake-Stephan, a member of the live-action fantasy role-playing group called Knights of Barad Duin, is seen on Saturday, February 11, 2012, puts on a part of gloves before the action begins. It was very cold and windy afternoon.

Fantasy role-playing games are 'fun escape'

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(Andy Sharp FOR AMERICAN-STATESMAN)

Rufus Barr, a member of the live-action fantasy role-playing group called Knights of Barad Duin, is seen on Saturday, February 11, 2012, brushes some of the horses the group uses for some of their role-playing. Rufus has a "personna" name he uses in the role-playing: Sir Rufus The Grimwulff.

Fantasy role-playing games are 'fun escape'

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(Andy Sharp FOR AMERICAN-STATESMAN)

Skye Drake-Stephan, left, playfully uses a foam rock to bash the head of her husband, Eric Stephan, a member of the live-action fantasy role-playing group called Knights of Barad Duin on Saturday, February 11, 2012 as the group gets prepared for their afternoon of fun. At right is Rufus Barr. In their activity, each person has a name or "personna" they use. Skye is Queen Bella Peregrina, Eric is Sighieri Peregrina and Rufus is Sir Rufus The Grimwulff.

Fantasy role-playing games are 'fun escape'

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(Andy Sharp FOR AMERICAN-STATESMAN)

Eric Stephan, a member of the live-action fantasy role-playing group called Knights of Barad Duin, is seen on Saturday, February 11, 2012 holding Arthur, a 20-year-old parrot which belongs to Eric and his wife, Skye Drake-Stephan. Because it was very cold and windy all day, Arthur mostly remained covered up in his cage. Tropical birds like Arthur apparently don't fare well in the cold.

Fantasy role-playing games are 'fun escape'

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(Andy Sharp FOR AMERICAN-STATESMAN)

Eric Stephan, a member of the live-action fantasy role-playing group called Knights of Barad Duin, is seen on Saturday, February 11, 2012 holding Arthur, a 20-year-old parrot which belongs to Eric and his wife, Skye Drake-Stephan. Because it was very cold and windy all day, Arthur mostly remained covered up in his cage. Tropical birds like Arthur apparently don't fare well in the cold.

Fantasy role-playing games are 'fun escape'

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(Andy Sharp FOR AMERICAN-STATESMAN)

Eric Stephan, a member of the live-action fantasy role-playing group called Knights of Barad Duin, is seen on Saturday, February 11, 2012 holding Arthur, a 20-year-old parrot which belongs to Eric and his wife, Skye Drake-Stephan. Because it was very cold and windy all day, Arthur mostly remained covered up in his cage. Tropical birds like Arthur apparently don't fare well in the cold.

Fantasy role-playing games are 'fun escape'

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