When it was proposed that we get a pirate theme going at the next LlamaLAN party, I hesitantly suggested that we hop aboard the endlessly flogged Pirates vs Ninja thing that seems to get so many people excited. Before all this, I never really thought much of the meme, particularly why people screamed about the notion so much with such fervent joy.

But, now we're on this path, it's turning into quite a bit of fun...

Beyond the basic concept that there are pirates and we have ninjas and neither of them get on very well, we also had the issue of whether or not we involve the number of the event in the theme as well. We tried some calulations ("Eight pieces of gold plus four... points on a shuriken?") but the answer slowly resolved itself into shape after an incidental glance at a clock on the gym wall. Eventually it became this idea for a mythology, one that we could exploit to parody several iconic works, including other tales about all-powerful potentially destructive golden rings...

So now, we know why this is THE battle of battles between these two old enemies. There are twelve llamas that, when combined, effectively give their masters control of the elements, of eternity. And thus, a way for one side to finally bring the other to its end. But is it that simple? Thanks to the theme that finally emerged, it may not be...

Meanwhile, at the LAN itself in October, we have another reason to dress up, throw inflatable cannonballs and paper shurikens at eachother across the hall, and decorate the room with inflatable palm trees and dragons!

Planning for the next theme and associated artwork has already started, and meanwhile I have a picture draft provided by my 14 year old sister that she wants me to reimagine. I will try, but time is never on my side...