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“The villagers of Woodhill are simple people, leading a simple life. They sow their crops, take care of their cattle, and gossip about what happened between the butcher’s daughter and the seamstress’ son at the dance last month. As they prepare for the festival, they retell stories of last year and bet on who is going to win the horseshoe throwing competition. But life is never simple, and as night closes in and a North wind begins to blow, the people of Woodhill retreat back into their homes, locking their doors and holding their breath. Because they know the tales are true.”

Tale of the North Wind was a larp event inspired by Nordic folklore, run in May 2019. Over the course of 24 hours, the participants would portray pre-written characters in the form of 14th-century villagers, living in a close-knit society, where historical gender roles were in place. The event ran in two versions, one adult-run, which explored the darker side of the old Nordic fairy tales and folklore, and one family-run for participants of all ages. The themes of the larp were ‘village life’ and ‘fear of the unknown’, and in balancing the two we sought to create a dark fairytale. 

 

In the world of Tale of the North Wind, the creatures from Nordic folklore were real. They were just as powerful, magical, dangerous and morally grey as in the old stories. And they came. Nordic folklore was used as an umbrella term for the folklore of Sweden, Norway, Denmark. Influenced by Norse mythology the folklore was a result of its interaction with a new faith during the Christianization of the Nordic countries; the myths and stories were altered to fit new beliefs. The folklore creatures became sensitive to crosses and church-bells, and some of the less benevolent ones even became linked to the devil. However, the essence of the original creatures remained, both in their name, looks, culture and behaviour. At this larp, we explored the tales of ordinary humans interacting with these legendary creatures.

Credits

Character Writers

Annika Waern

Tinuviel Bergström Vaeren

Simon Brind

Linnéa Cecilia Fredin

Jennie Gahnström

Kjell Hedgard Hugaas

Halfdan Keller Justesen

Alissa Murray

Laura Sirola

Martine Svanevik

Simon Svensson

Sagalinn Tangen

Sunniva Tangen

Thérèse Tangen

 

Editors and Proofreaders

Charlie Ashby

Jennie Gahnström

Charlie Haldén

Torun Hegre

Liv Lykke Schubert

Martine Svanevik

Sagalinn Tangen

 

Game Design

Halfdan Keller Justesen

Julian Schauffler

Sagalinn Tangen

 

Game mechanic: I Have to Pray

Modified after the Lookdown mechanic by Johanna Koljonen and Trine Lise Lindahl

Adjusted by Halfdan Keller Justesen and Sagalinn Tangen

 

Folklore Beastiary

Jennie Gahnström

Halfdan Keller Justesen

Sagalinn Tangen

 

Game Masters and NPCs

Vicky Eyles

Linnéa Cecilia Fredin

Jennie Gahnström

Claus Gajhede

Charlie Haldén

Laura Sirola

Thérèse Tangen

Wolfgang Westmark Gajhede

Emma Öhrström Wedberg

 

Adventure Guides

Vicky Eyles

Per Sikker Hansen

Aina Skjønsfjell

 

Kitchen Crew

Martin Rydberg Hedén

Johanna Strömblad

Elisabeth Persson

 

Emotional Safety

Kol Ford

Signe Hornborg

 

Physical Safety

Ralf Wallen

 

Photography

Sofie Falk

 

Graphic Design

Halfdan Keller Justesen

Sagalinn Tangen

 

Location

The association Berghems Vänner

 

Tale of the North Wind a larp by

Sagalinn Tangen, Creative Director

Halfdan Keller Justesen, Creative Producer

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