During PlayStation’s State of Play double feature earlier today, Twin Swans Limited took the opportunity to release an announcement trailer for their upcoming title Hunter’s Moon. Set on an eery night in England during the 1600s, players take on the role of “Lilith Thorne, an accused woman who must flee through a 17th–century rural village and its surrounding forests and moors in search of safety.”
Badb of the black wing, hear me this night.
Shroud me in shadow, guard me with light,
Macha of the red mane, stand by my side,
Under your shield let me safely bide,
Shroud me in shadow, guard me with light.
A terrified Lilith Thorne recites an incantation, requesting protection and assistance as she is actively being “stalked and hunted by the Witchfinder General, the village magistrate, and a local huntsman.” Drawing inspiration from Celtic mythology, Lilith appears to be asking Badbh, a war goddess who is “known to cause fear and confusion among soldiers to move the tide of battle to her favoured side,” to grant her strength and assistance in combat. With this being said, however, it is worth mentioning that “Badb may also appear prior to a battle to foreshadow the extent of the carnage to come, or to predict the death of a notable person.” Lilith also calls on Badb’s sister, Macha, who is “associated with the land, fertility, kingship, war and horses.” This means that, before the trailer comes to an end, two of the three Morrigans have been summoned. Under the protection of Badb, players are able to evade capture by being tricky and using stealth. By doing so, they may very well eavesdrop on private conversations from the townsfolk, thus gaining “knowledge and aid that can help [to] survive the night.”
The development team shares that Hunter’s Moon is “inspired by the true history of English witch hunts and the tradition of folk-horror,” urging players to consider two questions: “what if the most terrifying thing in our world is not monsters or magic, but other people? What if our own fears and beliefs are the true sources of horror?” Prospective players have about a month and a half to ponder these before Hunter’s Moon is released exclusively for PlayStation. The official trailer can be viewed below, courtesy of the PlayStation YouTube channel.
