The Plague draws its name and visual inspiration from the work of Theodor Kittelsen, Norway’s famed illustrator of folklore and the Black Plague. The event was conceived after a discussion between players traveling to a tournament abroad, bonded by a shared admiration for Kittelsen’s haunting and humane depictions of myth and history.

His artwork formed the basis of the event’s first visual identity and continues to influence its aesthetic today. This artistic foundation also led to the invitation of Jeff Menges as The Plague’s first guest artist — and remains a guiding thread as the event welcomes new artists and grows year by year.