VARÚÐ RPG is an actual play TTRPG anthology series. Self contained horror stories, using various roleplaying games, set in Iceland and told in English.
We have both video and audio versions of our podcast available!
VARÚÐ! Dead Ísland
The zombie apocalypse is coming. The dead rise on June 17th.
The Icelandic Independence Day, or the end of Iceland?
DAILY episodes of our actual play will be hitting your feeds from October 1st!
Join the homebrewed Basic Roleplaying zombie apocalypse!
VARÚÐ! Dead Ísland is about a family of survivors attempting to find safety, and deliver hope, in a zombie apocalypse set on the south coast of Iceland. The trio of cousins must cross the Icelandic country, in winter, on foot, in order to complete their dying Aunt’s mission. With samples and data in a secure case, they must get to a plane in order for someone to develop a cure: a slim chance, but a chance the family decides is worth taking.
They face the bleakest that humanity has to offer, an environment that unleashes apocalyptic storms and the darkness of their own failings – plus all kinds of zombies intent on devouring them at every turn. Set in Iceland, but told in English, our actual play includes non-natives attempting snippets of Icelandic and native Icelanders being very patient.
Join the VARÚÐ RPG crew as they travel across the beautiful south coast of Iceland as they dodge zombies and an always present infection tracker! VARÚÐ! Dead Ísland an actual play, using a modified version of Chaosium’s Basic Roleplaying system. Additional rules include an infection tracker that counts down their own transformation into Zombies!
We release episodes everyday from October 1st to November 18th
Dead Ísland Player Characters
Bryce Smith
(Neil Martin)
Baker, Uncle, American
Bryce came to Iceland to be with his partner, Magnús. They open a bakery together in Selfoss called Cafe Maggi. Unknown to the rest of Magnus’ family, they got involved with some shady people to pull off their dream and it ultimately cost Maggi his life. Bryce spent years in a dark mourning, until recently… until the apocalypse. Bryce still has the Icelandic family – unless they learn his secret of course.
Jón “Nonni” Huginsson
(Dagur Jóhannesson)
Medical Student, Cousin, Icelandic
Nonni was a medical student, ready to graduate. He adores anime, his flatmates and loves spending time with family. Unfortunately, despite being unafraid to hold someones heart in his hand, Nonni is a profound coward. His first brush with the apocalypse brought out his worst trait in the most fatal way possible – can he overcome his issues when called to action? He seeks strength and his missing family members.
Ólafur “Óli” Vignisson
(Eyþór Viðarsson)
Streamer/Editor, Cousin, Icelandic
The youngest of the trio, Óli could have been the best prepared for the apocalypse. His best friend Raggi and he spent their youth becoming survivalists – but it, and Raggi, became a childhood memory between COVID and the Grindavík earthquakes. Óli became an editor/streamer, and extremely unfit after years of little exercise. Óli struggles with his confidence, trying his best to fake it until he makes it.
VARÚÐ RPG is an actual play TTRPG anthology series. We tell one off horror stories, use a variety of roleplaying game systems and set our tales in Icelandic nature and culture. We intend to show off Iceland – albeit an alternative universe version. Our hope is to release stories in October, one episode a day until completetion! Be that 31 episodes, or 50!
Don’t worry, despite the Icelandic name and two Icelanders onboard, we play in English with some… dubious pronounciations from the non Icelanders. VARÚÐ! means warning in Icelandic, but it can be typed VARUD for non Icelandic keyboard users.
Dagur Jóhannesson
Dagur is a native Icelander, a fantastic roleplayer, & a top tier note taker.
Eyþór Viðarsson
Eyþór is also a native Icelander, our video editor, & master tactician at the table.
Neil Martin
Neil is from the USA, our audio engineer, musician, & none can best his ability to wind up the GM.
Hem “Volly” Brewster
Volly is from the UK, but lives in Iceland. They produce VARÚÐ RPG & is the one Neil winds up.
Check out more about the VARÚÐ: Dead Ísland crew here!
You can find all of us, and the other shows we produce, under the umbrella Blighthouse Studio. Without the supporters of which, we could never have attempted to bring this chaos experiment of a show together. Check out our other shows including:
Counterbalance – A high fantasy audio drama where there is a hole in the weave of magic!
The Lucky Die – D&D actual: gods are dying and criminals escaping a hangman’s noose must save the world.
The Sprouting – Call of Cthulhu actual play set in a plant based apocalypse where even your own senses betray you.
Four Top Threes – Blighthouse’s founders get together to rank their top three in a random subject, aka get Eyþór to rant.
We’re a member of Fable & Folly!
Check out the shows they represent & find something awesome to listen to!