A Viking Mystery
8-12 roles / Ages: 10 – 99
King Harald is now dead. His body lies ready for burial in his finest Viking longship. His earthly possessions have been placed beside him, ready to serve him in the life to come. But where is his legendary sword, “Leg-Biter” with which he killed the mighty dragon, Nidhogg? Who could have stolen the great King’s finest weapon?
A “who stole it” mystery game set in Norway, 808 AD, in the age of the Vikings. Appropriate for everyone 10+ years of age. Solve scaldic riddles, engage in norse name-calling and search for the missing Sword. Play as a family, in the classroom or as “adults only”!
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Here are some of the characters from the script:
King Harald lived a rich life. He owned twelve farms which were well run by the many slaves in his service. This left him free to go riding everyday, swim in the fjords in fine weather and leave each summer with his knights, his Jarls, for the raids on the Scottish coast. He was an educated man. He knew the art of runes, the songs of birds, the names of plants and trees and was skilled at board games. He was well respected. His sword, “Leg-Biter”, was a symbol of his wealth and success; it was his most prized possession.
Queen Hildegaard spends her days looking at her jewels and standing about for fittings for new dresses. Hildegard loved the cloth Harald brought her from the lands he visited. He always made sure to find her the very best of silks and finely woven linen.
Lars Haraldsen, son to King Harald, never really knew his father. He was given away to his uncle, Erlend, as a foster child when he was five years old. While this is Viking tradition, Lars never understood why his father, who had no other children, did not wish to raise him, himself. Now, fifteen years old, he finds himself very much alone.
Click here to find out more and download and buy this murder mystery script
Dame Agatha Christie – I’m a British writer of mysteries mainly. I was made a Dame, would you believe it? It was a happy and fulfilling life. And H.G. Wells has made me miss out on all of that. All I got was a quick zip through it. I felt cheated. It was like seeing the menu without being allowed to order or to taste the food.
James Joyce – I’m an Irish poet and novelist. To live is better than to miss out on living. Wells had stopped me from being able to do that.
Virginia Woolf – I’m a British novelist. It was such a sad life (sob sob). I hated having to see it flash before my eyes. H. G. Wells had made me suffer so much. I can’t tell you how much.
William Yeats – I’m an Irish poet, dramatist and politician. I saw my future during the time travel. How could I let a man like Wells rob me of the joy of receiving the Nobel Prize for Poetry? Can you imagine my joy at finally putting Ireland on the literary map? How could I let him do that to me?
Mae West – I’m a movie actress and I often write my own scripts. I was only just getting started in show business before H. G. Wells whisked me off here into the future. He made me miss out on all that fun.
Thomas S. Eliot – I’m an American born, English poet and playwright. I saw my future. I wrote various poetry collections and plays, although I was not as prolific as you, Mrs Christie. H. G. Wells had no right to bring me into the future. No right at all.
Isadora Duncan – I’m a US dancer – one of the first to use dance steps based on natural movement. I saw in my future, that in 1927 I was strangled by one of my long scarves after it caught in the wheel of my sports car. Lucky, I suppose that I had written my autobiography before I died. You can’t imagine what it feels like to watch yourself die and to die like that – strangled by my own scarf. I think H. G. Wells has left me with permanent emotional scars.
Charlie Chaplin – I’m a comedian, writer, director and movie producer. I saw my future. I made lots more movies. Wells has interrupted my movie making career just as it was starting by this time travel nonsense.
Dorothy Parker – I’m a US critic, poet and short story writer. I’m known for my satire, terse style and acid wit. I saw my future. Although my life appears to have been as acerbic as my poetry, it doesn’t mean there weren’t some good times. H. G. Wells shouldn’t have denied me those times.
Ezra Pound – I’m an American poet and critic and leader of the European literary avant-garde. I saw my future and although I regret what happened as a result of the war, I had a poetic life and I would like the opportunity to live it. What hope is there now that Wells has cast me here? This is worse than any lunatic asylum.
Sarah Bernhardt – I’m a French actress but I have performed world-wide and I have managed several Paris theatres and opened my own theatre. In 1915 I had my right leg amputated after a fall, but I continued to act. I don’t want to have my final curtain call here. I find this modern world bereft of style and glamour.
Georgia O’Keefe – I’m an American painter mainly of flowers, still lifes, desert landscapes and sometimes abstracts. I saw my future. My life was satisfying in its own way. As most of you are poets and writers, you may not appreciate just how good it feels to capture nature in a painting. H. G. Wells had denied me the pleasure of living the life I saw.
Rudolph Valentino – I’m a Hollywood actor known for my sultry charms. I saw my future. I saw my early death in 1926 due to a perforated ulcer and the mass hysteria caused by it. I was shocked to die so young. Like Isadora, I found it was very jarring to see myself die. Nobody should be confronted with that, surely?
Bessie Smith – I’m a US blues singer. They say I was important to the development of the blues. But I ain’t going to sing none of those tunes now. How can I when I’m not in the time where I belong? Wells has wrecked all that.
keith