[Old blog] Roleplaying evil characters

My latest LARP has just passed and although I couldn't go to the weekend-event because of my still weak knee, I still attended a smaller gathering with my group.
I know there are some people who only play evil characters to live out their dark side only, but that doesn't really speak for me - I am the kind of person to start crying when a butterfly gets hit by a car and I wish I was joking.
Now looking at what characters I am most comfortable to display (paladin and ranger), it was quite a challenge for me to display a proper Drow. Sure, all my pen and paper/LARP characters have their flaws but that doesn't make them evil - my Drow PC (player character) however is.

It all started with understanding the race I am displaying...
While you can wake me up in the middle of the night and ask me about Elf-facts or fonts, it is not that easy for me with the Drow. Sure, I have read a few forgotten realms novels by R.A. Salvatore but still there is more about understanding the Drow than that. Their society is very different, their rules strict - and they do come with certain knowledge and a language + writing system  I was not familiar with. Lots of new stuff to learn and I loved it!
Their entire court is basically the opposite of what I am used to - not just concerning Elves but also our society right now. They are highly religious (I daresay their goddess is the only 'person' they are really loyal to), always ready to commit treason on oneanother for their own benefit and females are superior - no matter how low their social-status is.
Every word is a command and there's lots of bowing, kneeling and power-struggles (unless you play a character of high rank, then it is the others that have to show respect when talking to you, and let me tell you; it is very irritating when everybody who approaches you kneels and waits until you allow them to rise and talk.)

☙Their hirachy is simple: sex before race before rank.

For me as a very polite person it was quite a challenge to display this eveilness that comes with being a Darkelf, but I was surprised how imperious I could be (although I always made sure the NSCs and other PCs were alright, because I think that is very important when you treat others dismissively in roleplays and I had many short out-game-talks with the people I've been especially unfriendly to just to make sure they had fun too and no one had gone too far.  I actually recieved a few compliments for being really scary and intimidating in-game. But mabye that was just the firm make-up that wouldn't allow me to have any facial expression except for an everlasting bitchface *giggles*)

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But seriously there is no way that I would turn down a chance to gear up and put on nice makeup.

"Xun izil dos phuul quarten, lueth dro."
-  Do as you are ordered and live.

It was definitely a great experience to participate and also a grand practise for me personally. I tend to worry a lot that I could be unfriendly and usually end up being way kinder than I should be, which is not always a benefit. Being in a surrounding where I had to be rude without others being hurt or angry, I think I really did benefit from that.
It did take me some time to adapt to the situation, completely ease and become one with my character, but after that I could really enjoy myself (although a little discomfort could not be avoided in certain situations when my inner-Paladin started to tear her hair and gave cries of frustration; or when people hurled themselves to the floor begging for forgiveness for accidentally touching me).
(I also had a very fancy ride home with only half my makeup on, looking like a dirty panda  - next time I'll bring wet wipes ^~^)