The SOULTRIAL team is actively going through recording stage. Concept art has been done way in advance and we are actively adding more artworks to our repertoire. We are looking forward to sharing more of our characters with you. All in due time.

VELASAN HELVIARN Art & Design by @laviniaduval.bsky.social #velasanhelviarn #soultrial #audiodrama #conceptart #podcast

Starting today we are going to reveal some of the characters that are present in the SOULTRIAL #audiodrama. All creative assets are done without AI by graphic designer & digital artist @laviniaduval.bsky.social.

The amazing longhouse at Borg, Lofoten in Norway. It's quite the distance up north, but well worth a visit.

With all the headlines in games and entertainment about more and more use of AI, we are here to keep it real. There is a place in the world for creatives who are passionate about their crafts. Skål!

👁️‍🗨️ FACT The Swedish title for SOULTRIAL is "Själaprövningen". The spoken language in Striga is "Striska" which is based on modern Swedish. The previous idea for Striska was a fictional combination of various languages. To respect individual cultures, the team chose to focus on accuracy. #soultrial

Today we celebrate Fasonatten season! Fasonatten was inspired by the Germanic Fasching season which usually starts on November 11 and reaches into spring until January/February. In SOULTRIAL they celebrate Fasonatten which also takes inspiration from blót and álfablót. More info in thread.

For #FindsFriday just a few of the fabulous Viking age beads discovered at Haithabu/ Hedeby - 📷 Schloss Gottorf Museum.

Vikings loved silver. Here's one of many treasure finds from back then - now located at the Swedish History Museum.

Which team are you on? #vhaelinhelviarn #velasanhelviarn #soultrial

Wallpapers for our main characters. Commonly referred to as the "Hel brothers" Velasan Helviarn (true protagonist) and Vhaelin Helviarn (antihero, deuteragonist). Art & Design by @laviniaduval.bsky.social. #velasanhelviarn #vhaelinhelviarn #soultrial

👁️‍🗨️ FACT The titles and names of SOULTRIAL's locations were created in collaboration with our Swedish linguist Marcus J.D. who supported the process so that fictional words that were entirely invented would still follow the linguistic patterns of the Swedish language. #soultrial

CHARACTERS: VHAELIN & ELDIN (EXPLORATIONS) Art & Design by @laviniaduval.bsky.social. #vhaelinhelviarn #eldinengelhard #soultrial

Välkommen till Striga. Map of Striga designed by @laviniaduval.bsky.social. #soultrial

On the topic of Norse culture and mythology as well as the viking age, we would like to recommend this insightful video by @grimfrost.bsky.social Watch here: youtu.be/ruQw7ieoGJM?...

Henrik Williams, Professor of Runology at Uppsala University in Sweden, explains the meaning of a runestone along an ancient Viking Age road. Check out our podcast episode with him here:

If you feel generous, you can support SOULTRIAL via our ko-fi page with small tips. We may be non-profit and non-budget, but we manage a small project-related savings account for cast, merch and charity: ko-fi.com/officialsoul... #audiodrama #podcast #fictionpodcast #poddrama #indiedev

The SOULTRIAL #audiodrama is now officially in production. If you are new: SOULTRIAL is a new series set in a dark fantasy world and inspired by Swedish culture, the viking age and mental health. More info in thread. @audiodramahub.bsky.social @audiofictioncouk.bsky.social @audiodrama.bsky.social

Prepare. On Thursday we will grant the first look at Striga.

Learn the runes with Dr. Jackson Crawford! Elder Futhark: youtu.be/CH0ZhhGwCOQ?... Younger Futhark: youtu.be/seYZoNXjLKI?...

This week we made important decisions for the SOULTRIAL series. A voting was held for the release platform of the SOULTRIAL audio drama and the results have spoken: we will be available on Spotify as well as Apple. Many more choices await us and there will be more art. Skål!

WORLD: STRIGA (COAT OF ARMS) This crest was inspired by the CoA of Västerbotten (Sweden). Art & Design by @laviniaduval.bsky.social. Which version speaks to you more? #soultrial

#SOULTRIAL That's it. That's the post.

It is the season. You celebrate Halloween while we resist the unseen turmoil and the serpent's venom during Fasonatten. Striga's balance has tipped, thus we are used to living in terror. Fear is soil for growth, too. Be scared, but do not yield. - ᛅᛁᚱ (you do not recognise the name)

PROJECT CAELAR (2024) SOULTRIAL prototype. Former Arbiter concept. "The Arbiter" (inspired by the "Justice" tarot card). Art & Design by @laviniaduval.bsky.social. #velasanhelviarn #soultrial

SOULTRIAL's mark combines the elder futhark runes ᛏ (tiwaz), ᚷ (gebo) and ᛇ (eihaz) without relation to pop cultural meanings or their phonemes. Bluetooth uses H & B; ᚼ (hagall) and ᛒ (bjarkan) (younger futhark) deriving from the Danish king Harald Bluetooth. Learn more: youtu.be/WM0PSoxFqgo?...

PROJECT CAELAR (2024) SOULTRIAL prototype. Size difference between Caelar's humanoid form and Vaen Daewl. Art & Design by @laviniaduval.bsky.social. #velasanhelviarn #soultrial

We have come to deliver a message: The SOULTRIAL #audiodrama has officially entered production stage. #soultrial

👁️‍🗨️ FACT In an earlier draft of SOULTRIAL, the protagonist had a sentient greatsword called Vaen Daewl (Last Wish) which contained his brother's soul and sang/shrieked in battle. #soultrial

PROJECT CAELAR (2024) SOULTRIAL prototype. The sentient greatsword Vaen Daewl (Last Wish). Art & Design by @laviniaduval.bsky.social. #velasanhelviarn #soultrial

PROJECT CAELAR (2024) SOULTRIAL prototype. Concept art for "Caelar". Art & Design by @laviniaduval.bsky.social. #velasanhelviarn #soultrial

👁️‍🗨️ FACT SOULTRIAL (originally "Project CAELAR") began as an art and concept project with story elements. Early ideas for the project's development included an art book, mindfulness cards and even a game. #soultrial

PROJECT CAELAR (2024) SOULTRIAL prototype. First sketch of "Caelar"; variations. Art & Design by @laviniaduval.bsky.social. #velasanhelviarn #soultrial

The first artwork for SOULTRIAL (formerly Project CAELAR) was done in 2023 and was a traditional pencil sketch of Velasan (previously Caelar), the true protagonist of SOULTRIAL. Art & Design by @laviniaduval.bsky.social. #velasanhelviarn #soultrial

SOULTRIAL strives to inspire others to create without GenAI. We value human creativity and the process of creation. Learning and practising is part of it. We have all that we need to create already within us... if there is a will. Good things take time and that is okay. #forhumancreativity #noGenAI

👁️‍🗨️ FACT SOULTRIAL was established by @laviniaduval.bsky.social in 2023 using the former working title "Project CAELAR". The name was changed to SOULTRIAL on April 30, 2025. #soultrial

An honourable mention for the "Learn Svenska" Discord server which is where we met our linguist Marcus. The community has been extremely helpful in all matters language and culture. If you have ever considered learning Swedish, this is the place to be: discord.com/invite/yAfQU...

Get to know the SOULTRIAL team. Marcus J.D., our linguist from Sweden (who would like to remain in the shadows for now), has been supporting us with his knowledge about Nordic languages and runes, and has been providing us with valuable insight into Swedish culture and language. #soultrial

Get to know the SOULTRIAL team. Meeting @khaydari.bsky.social at a D&D table, he joined the project upon request to support us with text and script editorial tasks. With his attention for detail (and fondness of... horses?) he has been a great help for the writing process and the team. #soultrial

Get to know the SOULTRIAL team. @laviniaduval.bsky.social created SOULTRIAL (formerly "Project Caelar") in 2023. Starting as a passion endeavour for art, character design and storytelling, it has grown over the years and recently evolved into a creative space for international talent. #soultrial

The next wave is upon us. Bear with us while we prepare and reorganise. The death of one thing is the beginning of another. Just like the sea, we are in constant motion, shifting, ever-changing.