[ONE SHOT] Vaesen - Folk mystery on the Mythic North

My dear friend,
I fear I have been remiss in failing to keep up our acquaintance. The
correspondence of our student days was most enlightening – for me,
and I dare hope that you found some diversion in it as well. I still
dabble in local archaeology and folklore, and have read a little in
the London newspapers about recent discoveries in your own country.
I wish I were writing now to renew our acquaintance and to propose
further exchanges on such fascinating matters, but I have another
purpose. Certain troubling events around the village where I serve as
curate of the church reminded me of our discussions concerning the
legends surrounding certain standing-stones
and their connection
in folklore with tales of witches, hags, and other trollfolk. More than
that, a young woman is dead – horribly murdered – and her former
suitor is in danger of hanging for the crime.
Since the unfortunate girl’s body was found, our village has been
in the grip of winter. Frosts as bitter as those of February blight the
flowers of June, and some creature – perhaps a wolf, though none has
been seen in these parts for four centuries at least – has been driven
by the cold to prey on farmers’ livestock. Other strange occurrences
have added to the woes of the local people, and there is talk of a curse.
In our student days, you hinted at some knowledge, some resource,
that you could bring to bear in unravelling mysteries of this nature.
If you do indeed have it in your power to investigate our situation
and bring the truth to light, then I beg you to do me the honour of
visiting. My home is humble, but it is at your disposal.
I await your reply eagerly, and hope for the pleasure of renewing
our acquaintance in person.
Sincerely yours,
Edgar Longby, M.A. (Cantab), Curate of the Parish of St. Birren,
Brancomb, Nr. Annonsbury, Glos.

*Vaesen is a horror role-playing game that plunges players into a grim and gothic version of 19th-century Scandinavia. At its core, the system is about the clash between the rigid, scientific worldview of the Industrial Age and the enduring, hidden world of Nordic folklore. Players take on the roles of members of The Society, a secret organization based in Uppsala dedicated to investigating the existence of the Vaesen—the mythological creatures like Huldra, Goblins, and Nixies that are invisible to the majority of mankind. The game emphasizes investigation and personal horror, requiring characters to use skills like Investigate, Apothecary, and Vigilance to gather clues, protect their mental composure, and ultimately confront or appease the monstrous entities before they wreak havoc.

*Vaesen is a game dealing with dark themes. If you have a specific triggering topic, it can be discussed privately beforehand to make sure everyone is comfortable at the table.