Convention of Thorns is an officially licensed World of Darkness larp. Participants play deceitful and decadent vampires at the end of the 15th century.
This event takes place in the magnificent Kliczków Castle in Poland. During the game, participants take on the roles of deceitful, decadent, and power-hungry vampires at the end of the 15th century.
Here, vampires are very real individuals with twisted agendas, possessed by unnatural desires, inhuman longing, and strange powers. They call themselves Kindred; being both more and less than human, they feed off mortals to satisfy their hunger for blood.
Convention of Thorns is about one of the most important events in Vampire: The Masquerade’s history. Unalive for centuries, now things are looking grim for children of the night. The witch hunters of the Inquisition have purged most of Europe’s vampires, forcing the scattered and independent clans to work together for common survival. This initiated the first ever meeting of vampires at the Convention in 1486.
Seven years later, a brutal war amongst the kindred breaks out, as this attempt at structuring vampire society is met with rebellion and conflict, and results in what is known as the Anarch Revolt.
The Clan leaders make a final desperate attempt to secure peace among the Kindred, to rally and unite the Clans before they are destroyed.
Welcome to Convention of Thorns!
Themes
World of Darkness
The nature of the protagonists makes them a thing to fear, and a risk to others and themselves”
The World of Darkness flips the script on the classic horror story. Instead of victims or hunters, the main characters in the story are monsters themselves, struggling with terrifying instincts and curses unique to their condition. They are beings who elicit fear and whose very existence constitutes a danger not only to those around them but to humanity at large, not to mention each other. Most of the characters are part of hidden social orders, each with different visions of the world and often in conflict with one another. Monstrous in their nature and appearance, they are equally gifted and cursed. Every power comes at a cost. The greater the ability the higher the price, even if someone else has to pay it. The characters’ actions matter, and whether through action or inaction, they cannot help but leave a mark.
VAMPIRE POLITICS
Vampire politics are different from those of the human world. There are no long meetings at a table and hours of listening to individual speeches. When vampires meet to discuss, they prefer the subtlety of social intrigue and whispered deals made in the shadows.
Many important deals are struck in corridors and at informal parties. Convention of Thorns is not a series of long meetings where one individual talks and hundreds listen. Instead, it’s a collection of decadent parties where negotiations take place at all hours and in many seemingly chaotic and organic constellations.
This is a political larp, but it’s not a larp about politicians. This isn’t just a meeting of statesmen with agendas to pursue, and communities to represent. It’s a web of intrigue, hierarchies and relations, all twisted into a perverse Gordian knot.
INTENSE, BRUTAL & BEAUTIFUL
Convention of Thorns provides an insight into a different world. It’s a world of great beauty, decadence and power, where the fate of nations hangs in the balance, and where decisions concern the lives or deaths of thousands.
This gathering represents a concentration of powerful individuals such as the world has never known.
It’s also a place where emotions run high, lusts are carnal, visceral and perverted, and where darkness isn’t just creeping in the corners; it is on full display.
Some of the things done and witnessed here are horrible, but it is not a horror inflicted by the outside - it’s a horror coming from within.
THE EXPERIENCE
As a player at Convention of Thorns, you and more than a hundred and fifty other participants will get to leave reality behind, so you can step into the world of vampires and experience the following:
Spend three day and nights at the spectacular Castle Kliczków.
Explore the decadence of vampire society, and immerse yourself in a world of dangerous parties, shadowy power plays and monstrous cruelty.
Make new friends and meet larp enthusiasts from all over the world.
Be involved in scheming and political intrigue in a cutthroat world, where everything happens in the shadows.
Fight to retain your humanity, or give in to the Beast and unleash the horror within.
Represent your clan in high-stakes negotiations, but remember to further your own personal agenda.
Take our Vampire Bus from Berlin or travel to the castle on your own.
Use elegantly simulated supernatural powers to influence arguments, defeat opponents and explore the darker sides of (un)life.
Step into a world 500 years ago – not as a powerless spectator, but as an active participant with more-than-human powers.
Have a once-in-a-(non)lifetime adventure, with people who share your hobby.
Be a vampire in a 13th century castle!
PRACTICAL INFORMATION
Dates
7-10 January 2027 more dates might be announced if the run is full and we get a lot of signups.
All-Inclusive Price
Solidarity €660€ (10 available)
Standard €799 (140 available)
It will be possible to pay in instalments; the first payment to reserve your spot is 100€. Following payments will be 200€ per month until the ticket is fully paid for.
Participation include food and lodging from dinner Thursday to breakfast Sunday.
Solidarity participation is available for low-income players that would like to participate in the larp but would otherwise not be able to.
Costume
We do not provide costumes for the larp - each player is required to bring a costume of their own. We can recommend a crafter who can tailor a costume for you, and we will have a selection of costumes on site, which in case of emergency, can be rented from, but we do not guarantee a good fit.
Transport
You can travel to the castle on your own, or you can take our Vampire Bus from Berlin. The bus price is (215 polish zloty) 50€ one way, (400 polish zloty) 95€ both ways.
Age Limit
To participate, you must be 18+ years old.
Language
English. You do not need to speak perfect English to play – but please do speak English at all times during the event. You never know who’s watching in the shadows.
Eating & Sleeping
The castle grounds are exclusive to the event. We will not be bothered by tourists or even castle staff (unless you need to change your towels or bed sheets then let us know) to not break immersion. You will sleep in the beautiful historical rooms of castle Kliczków in 2 to 4 people rooms, and eat in the historical court hall. The food is prepared by the hotel's 5 star restaurant. We will try to tend to all needs and allergies, however in extreme situations we might not be able to cater to some diets and medical conditions. If you have special requirements, please let us know by email.
Accesibility
Due to nature of 13th century castle and the game elements that take place on multiple levels on the surface, underground and on upper floors, the accessibility in this venue is a challange. If you have a disability of some sort and have questions about this, dont hesitate to contact us. The game areas will be inaccessible by wheelchair.
Code of Conduct
Our Code of Conduct applies to all larps made by Wonderlarp. By paying participation fee you agree to Code of Conduct and Return Policy.
Organisers
Convention of Thorns is produced by Wonderlarp and licensed by White Wolf.
Questions
If you are curious about something, don’t hesitate to ask. We’ll do our best to answer you. Write to us at cot@wonderlarp.com
WHAT IS LARP?
Larp (live action role play) is a form of interactive entertainment, where participants dress up in costume and pretend to be their characters.
It’s a bit like improvised theater; everyone knows who they are when it all begins, but there is no script, no lines to read and no audience.
It’s pretend play for adults – a bit like when kids play, except that we have better costumes and create more complex stories together.
A larp can be about anything. It can be about vampires struggling for peace both within and without, about witches and wizards at a magical school or about servants and nobles at an English manor in 1914.
There are larps about prisons, larps about spaceships and larps about pirates. There are larps about love, there are larps about life and there are larps about good and evil.
In short, a larp is a way of creating stories together. Some last a few hours and involve just a few participants, while others last for nearly and week and bring 10,000 people together for a shared fantasy.
MEET THE TEAM!
Maciej Krzysztofik
Executive Producer, Sound & Lightning design, Location management
He's an old vampire, started larping in the 90ties, briefly made a break for a boring career but returned with new skills and ideas. He's co-founder of Wonderlarp, and loves crafting and designing way too many games.
Maciej Krzysztofik
Executive Producer, Sound & Lightning design, Location management
He's an old vampire, started larping in the 90ties, briefly made a break for a boring career but returned with new skills and ideas. He's co-founder of Wonderlarp, and loves crafting and designing way too many games.
Karolina Fairfax
Creative Lead
A storyteller at heart and a Narrative Designer by trade, Karolina is an experienced player, writer, and developmental editor. When she isn’t writing games for Wonderlarp, she creates magic at College of Wizardry.
Karolina Fairfax
Creative Lead
A storyteller at heart and a Narrative Designer by trade, Karolina is an experienced player, writer, and developmental editor. When she isn’t writing games for Wonderlarp, she creates magic at College of Wizardry.
Karolina Fairfax
Creative Lead
A storyteller at heart and a Narrative Designer by trade, Karolina is an experienced player, writer, and developmental editor. When she isn’t writing games for Wonderlarp, she creates magic at College of Wizardry.
Iryt Kraus
Scenography Lead
Iryt is a scenographer and a propmaker with 10 years of experience. They worked on many high-quality larps. They are part of the practical side of Wonderlarp.
Iryt Kraus
Scenography Lead
Iryt is a scenographer and a propmaker with 10 years of experience. They worked on many high-quality larps. They are part of the practical side of Wonderlarp.
Iryt Kraus
Scenography Lead
Iryt is a scenographer and a propmaker with 10 years of experience. They worked on many high-quality larps. They are part of the practical side of Wonderlarp.
Dirk M. Weger
Writer
Dirk is a passionate larper and writer. Played all Convention of Thorns editions and is now a part of the team for a new one.
Dirk M. Weger
Writer
Dirk is a passionate larper and writer. Played all Convention of Thorns editions and is now a part of the team for a new one.
Dirk M. Weger
Writer
Dirk is a passionate larper and writer. Played all Convention of Thorns editions and is now a part of the team for a new one.
Hanna Anderssén
Writer
Hanna is a long-time larper with extensive experience in volunteer work and event planning at RPG conventions. When she's not lurking in the shadows, her interests include geography and designing new ways to make sure both participants and volunteers get the most out of events.
Hanna Anderssén
Writer
Hanna is a long-time larper with extensive experience in volunteer work and event planning at RPG conventions. When she's not lurking in the shadows, her interests include geography and designing new ways to make sure both participants and volunteers get the most out of events.
Hanna Anderssén
Writer
Hanna is a long-time larper with extensive experience in volunteer work and event planning at RPG conventions. When she's not lurking in the shadows, her interests include geography and designing new ways to make sure both participants and volunteers get the most out of events.
Nico
Writer
Yet another elder vampire, who wrote and made more than 40 VtM Larps since 2017, and played many many more. Nico creates dark, emotional stories mirroring complexity of internal struggle, moral ambiguity and bestial depravity of Cainites. He loves to create the heroic experience of the tiniest light in the World of Darkness.
Nico
Writer
Yet another elder vampire, who wrote and made more than 40 VtM Larps since 2017, and played many many more. Nico creates dark, emotional stories mirroring complexity of internal struggle, moral ambiguity and bestial depravity of Cainites. He loves to create the heroic experience of the tiniest light in the World of Darkness.
Nico
Writer
Yet another elder vampire, who wrote and made more than 40 VtM Larps since 2017, and played many many more. Nico creates dark, emotional stories mirroring complexity of internal struggle, moral ambiguity and bestial depravity of Cainites. He loves to create the heroic experience of the tiniest light in the World of Darkness.
Kit
Writer
A vampire connoisseur with a passion for arts, she's a writer and an illustrator, experienced in both larping and working on several big larp productions. Goth at heart. Clan of choice: Nosferatu.
Kit
Writer
A vampire connoisseur with a passion for arts, she's a writer and an illustrator, experienced in both larping and working on several big larp productions. Goth at heart. Clan of choice: Nosferatu.
Kit
Writer
A vampire connoisseur with a passion for arts, she's a writer and an illustrator, experienced in both larping and working on several big larp productions. Goth at heart. Clan of choice: Nosferatu.
Nela
Writer
An experienced player and storyteller of 17 years, game creator, event manager, crafter, performer. Certified make-up artist with a thing for high fashion and a huge technology nerd.
Nela
Writer
An experienced player and storyteller of 17 years, game creator, event manager, crafter, performer. Certified make-up artist with a thing for high fashion and a huge technology nerd.
Nela
Writer
An experienced player and storyteller of 17 years, game creator, event manager, crafter, performer. Certified make-up artist with a thing for high fashion and a huge technology nerd.
We would like to thank all the people that created Convention of Thorns in the past. Their creativity, craftsmanship and skill have contributed to making this extraordinary event.
Simon Svensson | Stefan Lunneborg | Arvid Björklund | Anders Edgar | Frida Selvén | Jørn Slemdal | Szymon Boruta | Agata Świstak | Claus Raasted | Iryt Krauss | Agnieszka Hawryluk-Boruta | Anna Gęborska | Antti Kumpulainen | Arnold Samuel | Dracan Dębiński | Edin Sumar | Eevi Korhonen | Eva Helene Antonsen | Fred Brandys | Freja Lunau | Halfdan Keller Justesen | Herwig Kopp | Ida Pawłowicz | Joanna Maryniak | Kamilla Brichs | Kasper Lundqvist Johannessen | Katrine Kavli | Linnea Fredin | Louise Svendsen | Lisa Wolfrum | Mikołaj Wicher | Mila Ould Yahoui | Mira Suovanen | Aleksandra Wicher | Ole Bo | Oliver Hoffmann | Piotr Milewski | Richard Svahn | Stefan Lindgren | Suus Mutsaers | Karolina Fairfax | Mia Devald Kyhn | Petra Lindve | Magnus Hansen | Anni Tolvanen |
and others whos names we have not been able to track but we will add here when we find them.