KVAD at the Nordic Viking Market Borrekaupangen 2022

"Sigurd Jarl will bitterly regret it when I stick my knife in him!" - says one of the players with great immersion. Everyone bursts into laughter as he underlines the message by drawing a real knife from his belt. The roleplaying game Kvad took us on a journey beyond time and place, to the borderland between fantasy and reality.

"I'll stick my knife in him!"

One of Norway's largest historical Viking markets took place the first weekend of July. It is Borre Vikinglag who are behind the event, and their purpose is to spread knowledge about the history of Borre and Vestfold, with an emphasis on the Iron Age and Viking Age. Around 700 people had signed up, ready to set up an authentic Viking environment at Prestegårdsstranda by the Borre mounds.

Part of Kongsberg Viking- og Middelalderlag's camp

Kongsberg Viking- og Middelalderlag also showed up with crew and a tent camp at this market. A few days before the festival opened, I was contacted by the jarl of the Kongsberg group. She wondered if I would come by to run a game for friends and acquaintances. A group of seven adults in total, mostly without any familiarity with or prior knowledge of roleplaying games.

Of course I said yes, and drove to Horten after work. There I met the group, introduced roleplaying as an activity, and handed out character sheets. The system we used was a simplified version of the game, adapted to all experience levels. We used names, hearts, smiley faces, and frowny faces as game-mechanical guides. =)

Simplified character sheet

For about an hour and a half we played the module Hevnvisa, which finally ended with the blood eagle of Sigurd Jarl and the liberation of the people he had forced to their knees with fire and iron. After the final scene there was a standing ovation, roaring laughter, and a great mood in the group. This was a fantastic experience, in beautiful surroundings.

Careful planning of the coastal raid on Sigurdsgard

What is cool to think about is that this is nothing new. Since the dawn of time, we have gathered around the fire to be inspired by stories. During the Viking Age, the skalds brought people together and enchanted king and thrall alike with magnificent poems.

Good spirits around the table, around the fire.

I believe that today as well, perhaps more than before due to the pandemic, stories bring us closer together, as people.

-KO