

“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