Armageddon Manukau - 5 & 6 March 2016

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Manukau "Roma-geddon" was held for the first time at the inaugural opening of the brand-new state-of-the-art Vodafone Events Centre. We were hired as crowd control, because when the security guards can't handle a situation, you call in the Romans! (true story, lol). Armageddon always has a fantastic array of crazy cosplayer costumes so that this is the one event where Romans are the normal-looking people there.

Ably led by Optio Fungus, who has a voice like a foghorn, our duties included directing foot traffic at the front entry, and then marching in Roman patrol to clear people-jams and bottlenecks, check that everybody had paid their taxes, and encourage support for our emperor. It was pretty hot in there, so welcome relief in the cool air-conditioned theatre where Star Trek actress Marina Sirtis gave a hilarious insight into Hollywood ("you can have brains or cleavage, but not both!"), and every question about Star Trek she somehow answered with tales of menopause, childbirth or hatred for the rival Star Trek shows, such as Deep Space 9, or as she called it "Deep Sleep 9" and later "Deep Throat 9". 

Thanks to Dave Hannay, King of Swords, for the invite and shield storage when we needed R&R, and to James Bennett for photography. We did video interviews for TVNZ and Maori TV, and two regional newspapers. Mitch bought a giant spiked mace for his brother.  ​

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