Machinations: Den of Lions
November 4 through 7, 2027, Lake Oswego, Oregon
Costumers of Color and Cascadia Rising presents, Machinations: Den Of Lions (DOL).
SETTING
The year is 1501 and we are at the turn of the sixteenth century in Renaissance Italy (setting is 1501, clothing and characters inspired by the 1490-1540 time period). Romagna, Florence, Ferrara, and Rome have spent generations locked in shifting wars and shorter-lived truces, while French and Spanish ambitions press in from every border. The Holy Roman Emperor, charged by the Pope with binding the peninsula together before it tears itself apart, calls a private convocation. He sends one cardinal, loyal to no house, to broker the marriages, betrothals, and alliances that might hold Italy together.
Three days. Four houses. One accord that could reshape the balance of power for generations, if anyone at the table can be trusted to sign it in good faith.
This is the PNWs newest immersive historical costuming weekend, an original live-action role-play program built around the real women, families, and rivalries of Renaissance Italy. Borgia, Sforza, Este, Medici: All gathered under one roof, all playing for the same stakes.
Guests step into full early 16th-century dress for a weekend of intrigue, formal dinners, secret alliances, and the kind of history that reads like it was written for the stage because so much of it actually should have been.
DETAILS
- Dates: November 5-7, 2027
- Location: Lake Oswego, Oregon
- Language: The game will be played in English. You don’t need perfect mastery to have a good time.
- Food & Drinks: Meals are included from Friday morning until Sunday morning. Vegetarian and vegan options will be abundant. We will also provide water, tea, and coffee.
- Tickets: A sponsor tickets helps out a player who may struggle to afford a full price ticket. Sponsor and Villa ticket holders will be lodged at the palatial Villa dei Leoni. Inn ticket holders will be lodged at a nearby Fairfield Inn. Securing a ticket at sign up requires a nonrefundable $200 deposit. Sign ups open November 1 and close Jan 31st (there are limited spots so sign up early to get your preferences). After sign ups close we will assign tickets. If there are more sign ups than tickets, there will be a waiting list.
- $750 Sponsor ticket (10 available)
- $700 Villa ticket (8 available)
- $600 Inn ticket (20 available)
- $475 Traveler ticket (10 available)
- Setting: The game is set circa 1500-1510 at Villa dei Leoni (Villa of the Lions). The venue is Italianate-style mansion serving as a substitute for a real Italian Villa.
- Transportation: Traveling from Portland International Airport (PDX) to Lake Oswego, Oregon covers a road distance of about 16 to 19 miles and takes 30-35 minutes by car or rideshare under normal traffic conditions. You have to arrange your own transportation.
- Characters: Players will receive fully written character sheets based on historical people who could have been present at such a meeting in the 16th-century. Most characters will be of Italian origin. During casting, players will be able to specify their preference for family faction and country of origin. Casting is not based on true appearance, so ethnicity, age, and gender are of no concern. You’ll simply need to play the gender of your chosen character.
- Costumes: Clothing appropriate for 1490-1540 are acceptable. Players will have to bring their own costumes and may bring props. A costume guide will be provided in the Player Guide.
- Age: Players mush be 21 or older.
- Safety: Our code of conduct and guidelines will be provided in the Player Guide. See this previous game guide for an idea of our frameworks for safety mechanics and player well-being – https://drive.google.com/file/d/1KTk6cCkmgFabfCk9g_cD9p3YaLwnMlzl/view?usp=sharing
WHAT TO EXPECT
A structured three day program running Friday through Sunday, with a cast of characters carrying secrets, plots, and relationships from the moment you arrive.
Full immersion in 16th-century historical dress throughout the event, with support for guests building or sourcing a wardrobe for the period.
A weekend built on documented historical figures, reimagined. These families never actually shared a villa, so the drama is invented but the people, the politics, and the stakes are not.
Your ticket will include:
- Lodging (except for the Traveler ticket) and food
- Character and relationship tree
- Supporting cast
- Professional photography
- An intriguing storyline and unforgettable memories!
Registration, pricing, and character casting details are coming soon. Join our list to be the first to know when the full program opens. Fill out this form:
Four households, all alike in dignity,
In Villa Leone, where we lay our scene,
From ancient grudge break to new mutiny,
Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean.An Emperor’s word has summoned every name,
By papal seal these prideful hearts must bend,
One cardinal alone shall hold the flame
That both unites them, and may yet unmend.Lucrezia’s hand becomes the prize they seek,
Caterina’s steel remembers unhealed wounds,
Isabella measures rivals with a cold critique,
And Medici gold moves quiet through the rooms.Four nights within one villa, hearts confined,
Come see what fragile peace such hands may find.
Villa de Leoni Gallery:
Character Inspiration Portrait Gallery:
