The time of midterms has yet to kill the magic at Oregon State University.
On Sunday, several OSU students and community members gathered in the Memorial Union Quad for a “Wizard’s Battle.” Mysterious posters were hung up across campus this past week calling “real wizards only” to the event.
At 8:50 p.m., around 50 people gathered in the Quad in full wizard attire. Many students were dressed in cloaks, wizard hats and held staffs or wands.
There was a small table run by students offering “Bone Readings.” Participants would ask questions to the bones and based on how they feel on the table, that was the answer to their questions.
At 9:08 p.m., nothing had officially begun until Isabella Leonardo, first-year environmental science major, blew her whistle to quiet the crowd.
“Who is in charge here?” she said. “I was promised a battle, and I see no battling happening.” When no one responded, she took the lead.
Leonardo had everyone form a circle and asked for challengers to step into the ring.
In groups of two, wizards stepped into battle one after another with spells, scrolls and magical orbs. Every winner was able to sign their name in a giant book brought by one of the participants. A collective “huzzah” followed every victory.
This same event was hosted two years ago, according to Leonardo. However, instead of casting spells and drinking potions, they played capture the flag. Leonardo said they would probably attend again given the opportunity.
Just before 9:40 p.m., Leonardo stepped down and asked Ashley Carney, an onlooker, to take the lead in organizing and continuing the wizard battles into the night.
Many battles transitioned from spell casting to rap and dance battles.
During one dance battle, “Pimp Wizard” summoned his “wenches” into the arena, where they promptly “banished the challenger” by dancing.
The Whaling Wizard Olin Tutko, a first-year psychology major, played the accordion and read Moby Dick by Herman Melville, which he called his spell book.
The crowd asked: “Are you filibustering the wizard battle?”
In response, he continued to read Moby Dick.
Tutko later shared how they had prepared to participate. “Just pick a theme, do a bit,” they said.
Experience in live action role-playing is not required, as many of the participants had no experience doing such things.
One onlooker commented that this should be a more regular event, suggesting once-a-month gatherings. Many agreed that they would attend this event again.
Around 10:30 p.m., participants and viewers began to depart. Some stuck around to play card games or mingle with fellow wizard fanatics.
Campus police were briefly present to watch some of the battles take place.
As of this time, no one has come forward as the organizer of this event. “The official statement is that no one knows,” one participant commented.
