Will o' Wisp

Hungarian Dark Folk Larp

18-20 June 2027, Bedepuszta, Hungary

Not so long ago, in the days of our great-grandparents, the world was different. The great cities of the Austro-Hungarian Empire – Vienna, Pressburg, and Budapest – glowed with the lights of a new industrial age, as railways, factories, and modern inventions transformed everyday life. Yet only a few hours beyond the city, another, ancient world still lingered.

Under the canopy of the woods in the Mátra mountains, small communities lived their lives as they had for many generations, governed by tradition and faith. Meanwhile, outlaws and fugitives wandered the surrounding hills, swineherders and woodsmen followed hidden paths through the valleys. And when night fell, the creatures of folktales and myths came to life beyond the warm circles of campfires and lanterns.

This story opens a window into this, now-forgotten era. The year is 1873.

Will-o’-Wisp is a drama-oriented LARP evoking the folk life of 19th- century Hungary. The story takes place in 1873, in the fictional villageof Mátrafénye, where the agents of the law recently ambushed and killed Vidróczki Márton, the last famous betyár (outlaw) of the Mátra mountains. During the game, participants portray: the inhabitants of Mátrafénye outsiders arriving for the Midsummer’s Eve celebration or for other reasons members of Vidróczki’s former band, also known as the betyárs. Through these roles, players confront their characters’ pasts, sins, and the consequences of their actions.

Player's guide

What you need to know

Date: 18-20 June 2027

Language: English

Location:
Village retreat, Bedepuszta, Hungary.
Bedepuszta, Szabadság u. 1, 3075 Village Retreat
A secluded, authentic village 95km from Budapest, that combines traditional rural life with comfort.

The accomodation consists of rooms for 2-3 people within houses of 1-4 rooms. However, if you would like to enjoy complete tranquility on your own with no roommates, you can indicate that in a survey form after securing a place for the LARP. This would cost an additional 70 euros for the 2 nights.

For more detailed info you can also check out the website of Bedepuszta village retreat here.

Keep in mind that we will not be using all houses and rooms, but they will be allocated based on your preferences given in the registration form.

Transportation: Shuttle from Liszt Ferenc Airport via Budapest city center (not included in the ticket price)

Accessibility: Bedepuszta Village Retreat is a large rural venue spread across uneven, partly hilly terrain. Paths between buildings are mainly grass, gravel, or compacted ground, and some areas may become difficult to navigate in wet weather. This makes the venue not suited for wheelchair-using participants.

Food and drink: We will provide meals from Friday afternoon until Sunday morning. Special diet options will be available. Late night snacks, coffee and tea are included.

Characters: During the LARP, you will experience the events of Mátrafénye through pre-written characters. You’ll be asked to fill out a Casting form so that we can match you with the character that best fits your individual preferences. Please keep in mind, however, that it might not be possible for all of your preferences to be met, as the characters are fully fledged, and we can only change minor details about them without compromising the LARP’s integrity. The characters fall into three main groups: residents of Mátrafénye and its surroundings visitors from the capital and other cities members of the betyár band roaming the area

Costumes: Please bring your own costumes.

This game is for adults aged 18 and over.

This larp is for you if…

…you want to explore Hungarian folk tales, myth and culture, and the challenges of 19th century rural life in the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy
…you enjoy exploring your character’s inner struggles, including crime, punishment, and facing their own conscience.
…you are interested in experimenting with difficult emotional and social situations and themes, including aggression, oppression, and loss
…you accept portraying a pre-written character.
…you enjoy portraying a character who walks the line between sanity and madness, possibly leading to their downfall.
…you are comfortable with your character’s story potentially ending in their death.
…you enjoy playing with secrets and intrigues that the organizers prepare for you to discover.
…you like to play to lift to make the other characters’ stories better.

This larp is not for you if:

…you are afraid to experiment with negative feelings such as frustration, grief and guilt.
…you want to win the game.
…you don’t like “playing to lose”.
…you are looking for a combat-heavy game.
…you want to play with full transparency or full sandbox. You can negotiate and create your own scenes, but some might need to be agreed upon with the organizers.

What you need to bring to the larp

Besides the basics for the three days of the event, such as toiletries and clothes, each player is expected to bring their own costume, for which inspiration can be found on these Pinterest boards: villagers, newcomers and betyárs. Besides this it is recommended to bring a sturdy pair of black/brown boots, as some aspects of the LARP will involve walking on uneven terrain. Beyond this, you are free to bring as many props to your character as you wish, and some props will also be provided by the organizers – these will be listed on the character sheet.

Price
Reduced: 265 EUR
Normal: 425 EUR
Sponsor: 585 EUR

What is included in the price?

2 day larp with pre-written characters
Accommodation at Bedepuszta Village Retreat for 2 nights
Food and drink
Professional photos

Travel

We kindly ask that you be present at the venue no later than 13:00 on the first day to have enough time to prepare for the start of the game in the evening. We provide a transfer bus option the fee of which is not included in the price of the event. As the price of the bus ride might vary (it can only get cheaper than indicated) we will inform you once more before you have to make the virement. So far we expect one-way rides to cost 45 euros and 75 euros for the round trip. The bus will make two stops in Budapest: somewhere in the city center and near the Ferihegy airport. You can indicate in the application form if you would probably like to seize this opportunity or not.

In case you are looking for car rental or public transport options feel free to reach out to us, so we can help. However, you can expect the former to be pricey and the latter to consist of more than one means of transport.