We are not in any way related to the 2023 movie, which was inspired by the same chapter from the novel Dracula.

Run 12: 13-16 November 2025

Date:  9 – 12 November 2023 (Run 9) and 16-19 November 2023 (Run 10)
Location:  Traditional sailing ship Pippilotta, on the Baltic Sea between Germany and Denmark
Starting Port:  Kappeln, Germany
Price:  549€
Language:  English
Age limit:  18+
Participants:  25
Nearest airports:  Hamburg, Copenhagen

Demeter is a game of gothic horror on a real life sailing ship. The larp is about what “really happened” on the last voyage of the schooner Demeter from Transylvania to London. Our event will run for the 10th time this year since its inception in 2015. We are not in any way related to the 2023 movie which was inspired by the same chapter from Dracula.

Transparency

We believe larp to be inherently co-creative. We hope to give you all the information to understand beforehand what will be happening during this journey, what makes this event so exciting and entertaining for every participant. We believe design transparency is key to this. We may set the stage, but in the end it’s up to all of us to make this happen.

Together we can create an amazing experience for everyone.

Many games with scripted roles expect you to keep your role’s secrets. We leave this decision to every individual participant. You can hide or share as much of your role descriptions as you like – assuming other participants want to know anything at all. You should accept other participants’ desire for secrecy as well.

If you cannot remember all the details or you’re afraid to confuse things during the game, don’t worry: for this game, atmosphere is far more important than rules or written plots. When in doubt, try to check in with fellow participants to find out what the best solution for all parties involved could be. Also, we will give you the opportunity to ask questions before the game and read everything up whenever you feel the need.

Topics

1. Sailing

This larp takes place on a traditional sailing ship, and actually sailing is central to the experience. As a participant you’ll learn how to sail the ship and along with the crew be responsible for getting the ship where it needs to go. 

To a degree, we’ll be at the mercy of the wind and tides, just like the sailors and passengers we’re playing would have been. Sometimes that will be exciting, sometimes that will be boring or even frustrating. Sometimes you may not be sure what to do, or do the wrong thing. That’s ok. We’re all no professional sailors. It won’t break the larp and it’s all part of the experience. 

2. Victorian Era

This is a historically-inspired larp, not a historical re-enactment. We are obviously inspired by Bram Stoker’s novel Dracula, which in itself is not historical: supernatural events happen. Many aspects of Victorian life will not be represented authentically in this larp, e.g. is this true for gender roles and sexism aboard the ship.

3. Gothic Horror

Dracula is the undisputed „most famous Gothic villain ever“ (according to Wikipedia). This larp is about Gothic Horror and every participant’s personal experience.

Dracula will not be the classic movie representation or what you expect it to be. There is a very real possibility that no one will be bitten by a vampire during this larp. This does not mean you cannot face it’s evil spirit. It’s presence permeates the whole event; all characters, all stories, everything aboard can be seen from a dark and dreary view.

As a larp, Demeter is heavily influenced by Bram Stoker’s Dracula and its themes. Not of all of these will be relevant for this game, though. Depending on your character, some of the themes will play a more or less important role for your experience. During the casting process you can choose which of the themes should be more important for your game and which less. You will be assigned a character that matches your personal preferences as closely as possible. We cannot guarantee 100% fit and depending on when you sign up, certain options will not be available anymore. But this does not mean you have to play on aspects you do not like. You can always and at any time choose to opt out of some aspect of your character if you do not feel comfortable with it. 

These are the themes Demeter touches upon in one way or another:

• Blood
• Death & decay
• Ghosts 
• Loss of a loved one
• Madness 
• Religion & Superstition
• Science & Rationalism
• The Undead
• Suppressed Sexuality
• Unnatural Hunger (blood, cannibalism et.al.)

All the World

On a sailing ship, you have all the world to explore, yet space aboard is very limited. This makes the experience very special indeed. Consider this a larp in an area the size of a tennis court. Cabins are quite small, corridors and bulkheads narrow, staircases steep. Also, most of us are not accustomed to the weather, which will probably be cold, and the work on a sailing ship. Some people will get seasick, and no-one can be sure who that will be. All of these things will pose some physical strain on everyone.

But it is all worth it when you are sitting on the bench outside with a hot cocoa or tea and feel the wind and the waves crashing against the stern. The beautiful white sails shine in the sun and the wind carries you across the water. It is a unique experience by itself and we will combine it with another unique experience: larp. 

Sailing together

Sailing is part of the game and all players are expected to participate. As a player, you are not just a passenger, but part of the crew manning the Pippilotta – even if your role as a character is „just“ a passenger. As mentioned before, no prior experience is required, but participation is! There are competent boatswains helping you learn the basics of traditional sailing in no time at all. Consider adapting your character’s motivation to fit this situation.

Teamwork

Of course, sailing should be fun, but sometimes it can get physically strenuous – e.g. when lifting the anchor manually. Teamwork is essential and there are very few times aboard when you are truly alone. When everybody joins in, most of the work can be done without any stress and it’s a lot of fun! It shouldn’t always be the same people mucking in. So, don’t abandon your crew, but help each other out! 

Deck Plan

Would you like to know more? Download the Demeter Player’s Guide to find out all details about the event and all answers to your questions.

If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact us!