Story and Experience
Connecting with British and Nordic islands, we gather in person and online to imagine the fictional Skylark Island and her community. Some people create and play characters, online and/or in person. Eventually, we have some in-person gatherings where characters can interact. There are some core story spoilers below. If you want, we can give you all the core story information.
Story spoilers
This is how the process will go, and there are some story spoilers here. They don't reveal absolutely everything, at least partly because this project is collectively woven so we can't know what will happen until we get to it. If you would like to know absolutely everything we have in our story pockets up front, we are more than happy to tell you - just let us know.Participants connect
Over a year, we will connect with community groups on various British and Nordic islands, both in person and online. They are the hosts of this experience. Each island's community imagines what life is like on the fictional Skylark Island. Some people create characters to play from the fictional world. When everything feels substantial enough, we join the island's characters as they meet to discuss an upcoming celebration: the waulking of Kai Skylark's broadcloth. During these gatherings, online and/or in person, participants can join in character or just as themselves, or alternate between the two. Either way, anyone can chat with the characters and participants, or silently bear witness to all the conversations. This is as much about building the story world from an observer's point of view as it is about beginning to inhabit that story world. Click here for a spoiler about the first part of the storySome unusually bad storms are threatening to overshadow the event. The weather is so bad that it's tricky even getting out of the house. There are concerns about getting supplies to the island when the ferries can't get into port, and the fishing fleet can't get out of the harbour.
The story builds
Online meetings are more frequent in the run up to the coming-of-age celebration. The story we are weaving together might begin to be more prominent than our out-of-character conversations, but all types of involvement are always welcome. We are all working together to shape this experience as we go through it, so we will never just be speaking in character. During this time, we will be preparing to host the actual event at a selection of local accessible venues, as well as streaming it online. We will decide with the community how and where the event happens to make it as accessible as possible to as many as possible. This might include anything from large gatherings with characters being played, to informal one-on-one chats about the story over a cup of tea. Click here for a spoiler about the second part of the storyContent Warning: there is the potential for characters to be injured, or even lose their lives in this section.
The islanders gather communal supplies that can be more easily distributed to everyone. There are several raids on these stores, and the suspicion is those responsible are from a nearby island with whom there is a longstanding rivalry.
The islanders gather communal supplies that can be more easily distributed to everyone. There are several raids on these stores, and the suspicion is those responsible are from a nearby island with whom there is a longstanding rivalry.
Gathering for a celebration
Finally, we gather in one or more spaces that represent the community hall on the island, and also via digital and other routes, to bring to life the coming-of-age celebration. We dance and feast, and of course, we waulk the cloth and sing blessings into it. We may be connecting in a more character-focused way, but all types of involvement are still welcome. There is always space and time to stop and reflect, discuss, suggest. Click here for the final story spoilerOn the eve of the coming-of-age gathering, when everyone is trying to weather the storm and look forward to the celebration, something unthinkable happens. The community must still carry out the waulking, not wishing to break with tradition or upset their ancestors, but not knowing what might happen next. We all gather, and what happens next is up to us...
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