TOPIC: Vaesen: Wicked Secrets

Vaesen, Session 3/Part 2

The investigators arrive at Wrecker Isle. The docks are bustling with rowdy fishermen who pay the landlubbers little mind. Oscar points out the Amundsson inn and the huge building that houses the herring saltery.

The investigators head for the inn. Erik persuades Oscar to tone down the talk of fire and brimstone. Even at midday, the inn is crowded and the locals are raucous. 'Godmother' Abela Amundsson - a robust crone cradling a shotgun - perches atop the bar, eyeballing the newcomers suspiciously. She is flanked by two of the ugliest men the investigators have ever seen (imagine Tweedle Dum and Tweedle Dee if they had grown up on a council estate), presumably two of her four sons. The investigators order drinks (water for Oscar) and are served by a young woman called Justina. It turns out that Oscar and Justina are aquainted, and it was only after she put him in the friend zone that he joined the priesthood. Svenrich is waylaid by a old drunkard, who warns the writer to beware the new moon.

A couple of sailors get handsy with Justina, and Oscar bolts to his feet. Erik pacifies the hot-headed priest before he causes a scene. 'Godmother' Abela discharges her shotgun into the ceiling and warns the sailors to keep their hands to themselves.

Svenrich's friend has secured rooms for the investigators, but there is no bed for Oscar. The priest will have to stay in an empty shack on the bluffs, where he will be closer to God and further from Justina. Arne and Erik explore the island, while Svenrich and Gudrun hunker down at the inn.

Svenrich endears himself to the locals by getting in a round of drinks. They tell him about the bountiful quantities of herring over the past 30 years, a phenomenon they refer to as the "silver of the sea". Meanwhile, Gudrun approaches 'Godmother' Amundsson and offers to read her fortune, hoping the old woman will let something slip. Gudrun learns that Zacharias is not Abela's son by blood, although she seems to favour him above her own offspring.

The investigators retire to their rooms, but are soon disturbed by a knock on the door. One of the three Amundsson brothers extends an invitation to dine at the Herring Baron's table, and the investigators accept.

TBC

In Light of Mikes message to us all after next weeks session if we've got two left I can probably stretch out the fallout game Sarge and Ranger started. s hould be able to incorporate anyone who wants to play easy enough as got plenty of pregens.

But if anyone else wants to run something else feel free. Let me know.

rhodsey wrote:
Message?

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rhodsey wrote:
Wow. It's been a long time since I've received a PM.

Vaesen, Session 4/Part 1

Dusk settles over Wrecker Isle. The investigarors attend the Herring Baron's manse for supper. They are met by Lura the maid, who escorts them into the dining room. Zacharias is seated at the head of a long table, along with Godmother Abela and two of the three Amundsson brothers (Pete and Paul). There is an empty seat where the third brother (Pace) would normally sit.

Zacharias is charming as he welcomes the investigators to his home. Lura serves the appetizers: herring with slices of pickled cucumber. Gudrun chooses this moment to reveal an unfortunate intolerance to seafood, which does rather inconvenience their host. While Zacharias adjusts the menu, Erik quizzes the brothers Amundsson on their missing sibling. Pete and Paul claim Pace is away on business, but they are obviously lying. Godmother Abela prods Erik with a spoon and warns him that he should mind his own business, as the new moon is nigh. This is not the first reference to the new moon, and the investigators gnaw on this one clue like a pack of dogs with a juicy bone. Zacharias banishes his mother to the kitchen before she can say more, and requests that the investigators disregard her geriatric rambling.

The plates are cleared away and Lura brings out the main course: salted herring served with onions and wine vinegar. The investigators explain that they are looking into the death of Vicar Hedvqist and share their concern that the old priest was murdered, hoping to learn something from the Herring Baron's reaction. Zacharias seems genuinely shocked. Gudrun straight up accuses the Herring Baron of killing the vicar, which does rather ruin the whole evening. Gudrun notices that Zacharias wears an awful lot of cologne to mask a somewhat fishy odour.

Before things deteriorate further, Malte bursts in with news of a violent altercation at the inn! The young priest is brawling with some drunken sailors! The investigators rush ahead to rescue Oscar. A crowd has gathered outside the inn, where three burly seamen are kicking the shit out of the young priest. Erik fires his pistol into the air, hoping to disperse the mob. A brawny dock worker punches him in the head. Two more sailors pile in and dispense a savage beating that leaves Erik with a fractured skull and possible brain damage. Gudrun stabs one of the men with his dagger, and Arne shoots another in the leg. The injured seamen flee, leaving Svenrich to stablize Erik's broken condition.

The investigators carry Erik upstairs and put him to bed. Ideally, he should be taken to hospital, but the ferry back to the mainland won't return until the next day. Gudrun confronts Oscar, who explains the fight started when he tried to persuade Justina to leave the island with him. Gudrun curses the young priest for a lovestruck fool.

The night passes without further incident and Erik wakes the next morning with the worst headache of his life. Nevertheless, he forces himself to rise and rejoin the other investigators for breakfast (salty porridge, yum). The group are discussing whether to cut their losses and return to the Upsala, when Malte approaches their table to enquire after Justina. Apparently the young woman has gone missing during the night, and nobody knows what has happened to her....