I’ve never felt more at home than when I’m wearing a flouncy, frilly shirt and a tricorn hat (Picture: AGENTBSMITH/Weekend Heroes)

Us millennials seem to be a generation who are unapologetically embracing the things which bring them joy.

From collecting Pokémon cards to building Lego and spending hours playing videogames, there are loads of ways to embrace your inner child nowadays.

During my normal life I’m Katie, a 27-year-old journalist. I’ve got bills to pay, toilets to clean, and generally life is pretty average.

But when I arrive at Paccar Scout Camp in Chalfont St Peter, Buckinghamshire I become Augusta Krause: Teutonian river pirate, secretary to a dwarven lord, and battlefield surgeon.

This early May bank holiday was my third time attending Curious Pastimes, a Live Action Roleplay (LARP) system first set up in 1995.

For anyone who knew me as a teenager, my interest in LARP probably came as no surprise.

I spent most of my pocket money buying wigs and costumes, cosplaying as my favourite anime characters and attending conventions like the MCM Comic Con at the ExCeL in London.

I grew out of that hobby when I went to university at 18 and I was made fun of despite my desperate attempts to be seen as ‘cool’ and make friends.

I still remember the feeling of absolute mortification when two of my course mates told me they spent their evening looking through my cosplay pictures on Facebook and laughing at me.

Fast forward a few years: I graduated university, started working full-time, and met my partner.

Shortly after we started dating they told me they love LARPing and had been doing so for many years – first as an elf called Helios who loved to strike enemies down with fiery magic, and currently as a slightly more refined elf named Vulpinius.

For the first few years of our relationship they attended LARP alone as I was far too nervous to tag along. What if I got it wrong? What if my character died on the first day? What if people think I’m a huge loser?

Plus, the coronavirus pandemic meant a number of events were cancelled.

But as time went on my curiosity became too much to bear, and in May 2022 I attended my first ever LARP.

I’ve now attended three events, and I can safely say they have been some of the best weekends of my life.

This picture was taken at my first LARP event – way to make me feel (and look) awesome (Picture: Oliver Facey)

There I am, as Augusta Krause, nervous about the possibility of fighting our way to our camp (Picture: Weekend Heroes)

We occasionally play ‘monsters’ for other people – here I am hoping to take out my opponent’s kneecaps (Picture: Weekend Heroes)

There have been some serious in-character moments – during the event last August one member of our rag-tag gang, The Gryphons, was killed when he was caught unawares by a monster attack.

But nothing compares to setting up camp, decorating our tents with banners, wizened books and props, and donning my now-signature tricorn hat which signals I have become Augusta, a tavern wench turned pirate who just wants to help her friends.

There’s plenty of combat, both in character and pretending to be ‘monsters’ for other players. It’s incredible fun to dodge sword blows, fall to the ground after being hit with a ‘magic missile’, running away screaming after a shaman casts the ‘fear’ spell, and sewing my friends’ limbs back on after a particularly bloody battle.

After I ‘killed’ my first enemy, taking down a ‘doom maiden’ with my foam sword as she terrorised our camp, I didn’t stop smiling for hours.

It’s so satisfying to give other players a good fight – such as bashing someone over the head with a mace (Picture: Oliver Facey)

I was having a lot of fun, despite my serious expression (Picture: AGENTBSMITH)

But the fantasy world meticulously crafted by the Curious Pastimes team is more than just running around and hitting things with fake weapons.

There are political discussions between and within factions, magical research to enhance your abilities, stunning and atmospheric rituals, and deals with demons to be done, albeit for a hefty price.

The Fir Cruthen, a faction based on medieval Scotland, hold a Beltane festival every year where players can get married around the huge roaring bonfire – but don’t worry, the marriage only lasts until the next year.

Oh, and did I mention the drinking? Bottles of mead and flagons of ale are passed around as adventurers share stories of battle and bards sing songs, often around a campfire.

There’s plenty to laugh at, from the rising fame of elf bard Dylan Bob, to the Teutonian ‘Karavan’ of goblins, orcs and ogres who are obsessed with pickles and station them as sentries at our camp entrance.

My secret to surviving an hours-long battle? Pockets full of juice cartons (Picture: AGENTBSMITH)

Despite being a huge nerd, pictures like this make me feel seriously cool – and at peace with myself (Picture: AGENTBSMITH)

The game is pretty inclusive too. Dozens of families bring their kids with them, and one of my best experiences was playing the bad guys for a group of children who wanted to retrieve a magic scroll we stole from their wizard friend, Big Hat.

LARP has opened me up to experiences I never would have thought possible even a couple of years ago. I would have written myself off as too shy, too awkward, too weird.

But it’s thanks to this weird and wonderful hobby surrounded by lovely, like-minded people that I’ve become a more confident and more unapologetic version of myself.

I can’t say that all my past insecurities are gone. But I can say that I’m happier than I’ve ever been in my own skin and that’s thanks, in part, to LARP.

So while most people will be spending their August bank holidays at the pub or (hopefully) enjoying some sunshine, I’ll be reading and writing for the dwarven lord who never learned his letters, telling stories of my pirate escapades over a bottle of mead, and trying desperately to keep my friends alive on the field of battle.

Because in a world which sometimes feels like it’s trying to suck the life out of everything – why not carve out some time for fun?

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I’ve attended three LAPR events and I can safely say they have been some of the best weekends of my life.