Brett Flowers - KANAR

Brett had a longstanding involvement with padded weapons fighting that stretched back to middle school when we first started maiming each other with lengths of PVC piping padded with foam pipe insulation. Some weapons had dowel rods running down the middle for added weight. They hurt like hell, so we learned to parry. Brett ran into trees, sometimes face first, and picked up a lasting knee injury in my front yard. When in doubt, he charged. We ordered our first Live Action system from a small outfit in Iowa, and then cobbled together our own, which Brett did the cover art for. Items like mummy bandages had a high gold piece value so that players would have an incentive to pick up all of the litter created during a game. We used Kool-Aid for potions, but forgot to add the sugar, so drinking a healing potion was always a hell of an ordeal. At one point, Brett made two mantis-like polearms with scythe blades, which he strapped to his forearms. They were the most impractical weapons ever invented by anyone ever. He was passionate about fighting, and he was scary to face off against for his sheer intensity.

Brett had been an avid role player for countless years, a LARPer since his freshman year in college (starting with Vampire), and had an off and on association with groups like the SCA. He fenced in college, gamed constantly, and developed an interest in crafting his own weapons, armor, and costumes. All of these hobbies culminated in his playing KaNaR, a game that he talked about constantly and with great passion. Finally, he had found a sophisticated game system and an avid group of players who could match his passion for the hobby. He put together an amazing costume, spent hours working on his weapons, and returned from each event happy and exhausted. The pictures below were all contributed by his fellow KaNaR players. Hearing their stories, it is apparent that Brett will be sorely missed and happily remembered.

Derek Kagemann

 

It's hard to write this, because it feels like to do so is giving up. Like somehow, if I don't, it didn't happen. Brett was a good friend. He was easy to be around - funny. Just hanging out with him lifted your spirits. I run one of the LARPS that he was involved in, and all of the pictures I have of him are from that. He was creative, versatile, energetic, compasionate and always great fun. He was well loved by all of the others players there, and he will be missed more than I alone can say. Brett had a rare talent for making it fun for you to be you. I miss you already Brett, but my memories will always make me laugh and let me hang out with you at least a little.

Michael Williams

 

The pictures below were contributed by Megan Werle and Michael Williams. Many are from the Triumph game in Dayton, Ohio.

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Brett skewering Peter Werle.

From left to right: Brett, Victor, Megan Werle

Brett killing the camera (when not in costume, he usually just flipped it off)

Brett in foreground, and Todd (last name unknown) to the left.