Bell and Key

This is a tragic, bittersweetgame about the struggles faced by grand hotel concierges amidst the rise of fascism in 1930s Europe. You will help one another face increasingly dire challenges over four Acts, beginning in 1934 and culminating in military occupation of your nations by fascist forces in 1940.

Long Description

This is a LARP about what ordinary people do when the world they hold dear is threatened by forces beyond their control. Specifically, it is about the struggles faced by grand hotel concierges amidst the rise of fascism in a fictionalized Europe in the lead-up to World War 2. Players will take on the roles of members of a secret society of concierges, the Order of the Bell and Key. You will help one another face increasingly dire challenges and threats to your world over four Acts, beginning in 1934 and culminating in military occupation of your nations by fascist forces in 1940. It is not possible for all, or even most, characters to achieve a happy ending, as you will be forced to use dwindling resources to choose between your personal wellbeing, your ideals, and the survival of your hotel. While the game is intended to be tragic and explore weighty matters, there is an inherently farcical quality to the concierges, their profession, and some of the situations in which they find themselves, especially in Act 1. These lighter elements are meant to coexist with, and accentuate, the poignancy of the heavier elements.

At the beginning of each Act, each player will select a Challenge they and/or their hotel are currently facing, with multiple options for how to resolve it. The in-character, biennial meeting of the Order of the Bell and Key then commences, during which you will have the opportunity to solicit help with your Challenges. Each Act concludes with a Storyboarding phase, wherein the the chosen resolution of each Challenge is read out and then collaboratively elaborated upon the players. Challenges are resolved by spending an in-game currency of Favors, which you are welcome and encouraged to spend on one another's behalf. The game is deliberately designed such that by Acts 3 and 4, there are insufficient Favors to achieve positive resolutions for all the Challenges. Challenge resolutions affect your hotel's Reputation score, which determines the ultimate fate of your hotel at the end of the game.

As described in more detail above, the game has certain TTRPG-like elements. While you are physically embodying your characters and costuming is welcome, play takes place mostly or entirely seated around a table, and the Storyboarding phase of each Act is done through narration akin to certain story games rather than realtime role play. In this regard, the game falls into a genre of American freeform LARPs with alternating role play and narrative elements such as Model Protectorates and Helvete.

This LARP is heavily inspired by Wes Anderson's The Grand Budapest Hotel, and to a lesser extent the musical Cabaret, but familiarity with these media isn't necessary to play.