CURRENTLY IN PLAYTEST
Deep within the mist-veiled forests of late 17th-century Rhode Island lies Grunhollow. Once a skeletal ruin nearly erased by a devastating fire, the village has clawed its way back to life, transforming its charred timber into a thriving lumber trade. Today, the rhythmic strike of the cooper’s hammer and the scent of fresh pine define its bustling economy..but something rotten sits at the center of the town.The trial is over. The embers of the execution have cooled. The Florist, Amaryllis Codrin, has been put to death for the crime of witchcraft.While the town’s buckets and barrels are shipped out, a disquiet has settled over the residents. The law has been satisfied, but the conscience of Grunhollow is in turmoil. Was her execution a righteous act of protection, a tragic judicial error, or a calculated piece of local malice?..and why haven’t the strange things she was accused of stopped happening?
About the LARP
In this LARP, you step into the shoes of those left in the wake of Amaryllis’ death. The Florist was many things to many people, and her secrets did not die with her. You will navigate a web of complex relationships, playing:▶ The Heartbroken: Loyal companions struggling to reconcile the woman they knew with the monster described in court.▶ The Wrathful: Relatives and friends seeking vengeance or justice, as well as enemies living in the spoils of the aftermath.▶ The Secretive: Lovers who must mourn in silence and enemies who find their victory tastes bitter.▶ The Curious: Investigators and strangers drawn to the village by rumors of a trial gone wrong.Confront the many faces of the accused Witch of Grunhollow. Whether you come to mourn her passing, justify her death, or unearth a truth she hid beneath the forest floor, one thing is certain: Amaryllis Codrin is gone, but she is far from finished with this town.
Goals
This is a game that focuses on Amaryllis Codrin, the accused Witch of Grunhollow and what becomes of a village and its people in the wake of her execution. They all knew her..or at least, so many different sides of her. Good, bad, and everything in between, we want players to ask and answer - who was she?This is NOT a game about actively holding a witch trial. but instead the aftermath of a witch trial and how each character parses through the series of events that lead up to it.Grunhollow is written by Keweynah Sherman, an indigenous writer from the Mono Tribe. Grunhollow will include Native American lore, themes, and history.
Content & Inspiration
This is not an exhaustive list of content in the game, but we’ve tried our best to cover the broad strokes. If you have questions on potential triggering content, or want clarification if you can expect certain content not listed here, please reach out and ask!Content warning:
Sexual Abuse, Psychological Abuse, Drug Abuse, Violence, Prejudice (Religious & sexual), Abortion (past tense), Misogyny, Bigotry, Themes of Torture.Inspirations:
Twin Peaks, Sleepy Hollow, The American Gothic
Characters
Below you will find some of the citizens of Grunhollow. All characters can identify as any gender.Note 1: The Bride
A majority of The Bride's character sheet will be revealed to them in pieces during live play, and your pre-game sheet will be intentionally sparse compared to the sheets of other characters.Note 2: The Redcoat
The Redcoat has history that includes the displacement of indigenous peoples and will require extra calibration from the player and storytellers.
The Judge
Thoughtful * Pious
You were the one who sent the Florist to her death. You fear that the majority vote outweighed any truth and righteousness in the final outcome. You want to know if you did the right thing...
The Bride
Sickly * Delicate
You were found wandering aimlessly through the woods outside the town. You hoped that someone in Grunhollow would recognize you, as you have no memory of who you are. You woke up in a wedding dress with a ring on your finger.
The Mayor
Mysterious * Shady
You come from a questionable past, but you’re a respected mayor and everyone seems to love you. But to get where you are today, you had to fight dirty. You’d be damned if you let someone like the Florist put your town in panic. You were one of the ones leading the angry mob. But you were scared...
The Hatter
Grouchy * Forgetful
You hail from a faraway land as a refugee, of sorts. You remember things in bits and pieces. Some days, you think everyone is out to get you. Other days, you yearn for love and affection. You’re hiding something.
The Botanist
Angry * Passionate
You are the sibling of the woman who was killed. Of course, you are devastated… but above all, you are angry. You know that there was something foul at play regarding the death of your sister.
The Redcoat
Determined * Righteous
You are trying to find out what conspiracy lies in the town of Grunhollow. You do not live here. You think that these people tried to put old world ideas into the new world, and you're determined to investigate the events leading up to the execution of The Florist.
The Cobbler
Petty * Venomous
A shoemaker, a tailor, and an all around unpleasant person. You might be vindictive because life didn’t end up how you wanted it to…
The Hunter
Aloof * Stoic
You go from town to town to sell your wares. You are a fur trapper, and seem to prefer the forest. You’ve been stopping by Grunhollow more recently, because there are a lot of strange things you are finding in the woods...
The Sheriff
Rough * Self-Righteous
You are god-fearing. While you manage to keep the peace for the people in Grunhollow, you were at the front of the mob. You had your reasons. You are used to covering up a lot of misplaced tracks in the mud– all in the name of harmony.
The Tramp
Comforting * Charming
On the surface, you make a lot of the town uncomfortable- but beneath that, you warm a lot of their beds. Because of this, you know a lot more than you let on. People tend to talk the town trollop, especially when they’ve been drinking…
The Poet
Sweet * Indulgent
You are well-liked in the town, and you have a penchant for romance. Although you are a vagabond that travels the country collecting stories, you always find yourself back in this sleepy little lumber town.
The Apothecary
Spiritual * Romantic
You felt a darkness fall upon the town when the Florist was killed. You wanted to ignore all of the strange things happening and move on. It would have been easy, but… you found something. Something horrible.
The Cooper
Witty * Inventive
You are the reason that the settlement did not fail; together with the Mayor, you brought money and economy back into the town. You are protective of the Mayor, or at the very least, you want to protect them from wandering eyes...
The Reverend
Harsh * Well-Meaning
You are a righteous man of the cloth, and you remember your vows well. You weren’t surprised that the Florist had dark intentions. You remain unswayed, even with all of the horrible things still happening.
The Blacksmith
Paranoid * Touchy
You are employed by the Cooper and work closely in the lumber yards. You are convinced that there are multiple people working with the Florist. You’ve been getting less sleep these past few weeks…
The Gambler
Selfish * Ignorant
You occupy the Inn most of the time. Booze, cards and food? All you need is right here. After the Florist died, the atmosphere of the Inn has really soured. You might help find the secrets if it means things will go back to how they were… even just a little.
The Innkeeper
Sassy * Stressed
As the Innkeeper, it’s your job to provide the town with booze and warm meals. Enjoyable, yes– but it can be very busy… especially with a few freeloaders. But, you really can’t help but say yes to those in need.
The Undertaker
Morbid * Empathetic
Some may think you strange. You have a morbid interest in the dead and macabre. You’ve seen your fair share of suffering, and aren’t surprised by the grim outcome of the Florist. You know that someone’s corpse can tell a lot of stories…