The Silver of the Sea - Session 2, a VirtualGROGMEET 2021 Play Report

The Second and final part of The Silver of the Sea, this is a Vaesen game.  Vaesen is a game of Dark Nordic Horror from Fria Ligan, designed by Nils Hintze and inspired by the art of Johan Egerkrans.  This game was run over three sessions at VirtualGROGMEET 2021 16-18/Apr.  Thanks to the incredible GM, Martin Cookson and the fantastic players - Fabio, Rick.

Technically this game was run on Google Hangouts for voice and video and used the Foundry VTT for maps, character sheets, die rolls and handouts.

...Here Be Spoilers...

Fjällbacka, Sweden

The captain is trying to get the attention of Henrik.  Henrik is too busy chatting to the salty, old sea dogs, they tell him of the time, thirty years ago when all the herring came, and this coincided with Amundsson and his brood also arriving on the island.

If there is magic on this planet, it is contained in water.

Eventually, Henrik notices the frantic waving of the Captain and heads over to his table.

Upstair Anastasia has finished her meal and is brushing her hair in the mirror.  She hears a seagull in the background, but the noise is a cacophony, almost drowning out all thought.  As she turns, her mouth opens, the tree opposite her window has a seagull on every branch.  The seagulls go quiet the moment Anastasia turns to look, they all seem to watch her, turning their heads as she gets up and moves to the window.  

As Anastasia closes the window the whole flock lifts into the sky and circles up above the Inn.  Anastasia continues to observe them as she mindlessly brushes her hair, cold shivers going down her spine.

Back downstairs Henrik is prodding the fish with his pencil, his notebook is out and he is looking quizzically at the Captain.  The Captain continues, "It sat up Jarv, by the gods it had this look on its face.  Purest fishy evil!".  Henrik Jarv closes his notebook and replies, "It has been a long journey my friend.  I suggest we rest now."  Leaning in closer Henrik whispers, "But we awake later and investigate the warehouse?"  

The Captain nods, somewhat disappointed that he is not believed, but then nudges Henrik and points to  Abela, he suggests, "I should speak with her before we retire."  Henrik shakes his head but Captain Franz is already in front of Abela, bowing low and introducing himself.

"Madam." begins the Captain, "We have come to try and learn from the best.  We are a new Salmon processing business and believe you could teach us much with your lifetime of experience and skills."

Abela eyes him up and down, she slowly responds, "No.  Strangers are not welcome."

Pete and Pace get up from their stools and stand on either side of their mother, they start to crack their knuckles.

Pete and Pace

The Captain is unperturbed and carries on, "Well, in that case, I can only send you my condolences on your son Paul."  At the mention of his name, the two brothers lurch forward, a stool crashes to the ground.  For just a moment they see Abela distraught and tears in her eyes, but within seconds the cold, hard face is back, she steadies herself and then says through gritted teeth, "Our son Paul is away in Germany on business.  I repeat, strangers are not welcome on Wrecker Isle."  She motions to the boys and they empty their pints down their throats, slam them on the table and all three leave the Inn.

A few hours later the Inn is quiet as Anastasia, Captain Franz and Henrik step out of the Inn and down towards the docks.  They are walking towards the warehouse when they hear a noise from a pile of ropes and lobster pots.  They head over and see an old sailor lying on top of the pile, he sees them too and unsteadily gets to his feet.  The sailor points to the sky, "Orvar knows a full moon is coming, you be wary of it.".  Anastasia replies, "Mr Orvar?  Are you alright?  What is wrong with the moon?".  The sailor stinks of drink but looks her in the eye and responds, "Moon brings on the tides and then the sea gives and the sea takes. You and your friends need to be careful." and with that, he staggers off down the path that heads back across the island.

Orvar

Henrik has been loitering behind and joins them somewhat red-faced, "Apologies I tried to get in the Amundsson house but their maid had other ideas.", he explains.  Anastasia who had also just come back from looking for Henrik, says she has seen Zacharias Amundsson standing under a tree - though it is very late, the Swedish nights are light this time of year.  Anastasia suggests she meet with Zacharias and see what information she can gain, the group agree but the Captain and Henrik will observe from a distance, ready to rush down if she gets into difficulties.

"Good evening, sir!" says Anastasia.  Zacharias whirls around, first angry and then with a broad grin, "Ah, the strangers we have heard so much about.  Please join me.  Miss, er?"

"Anastasia Taaltinen." and Anastasia offers a white-gloved hand which Zacharias takes and plants a kiss on, all the time keeping his eyes on her.  

The two of them verbally joust, exchanging pleasantries but also trying to get into the secrets they each hold.  Anastasia does get something about the moon, perhaps a ceremony or event centred around it, but Zacharias clams up and eventually, they agree to part.  

Zacharias invites Anastasia and her friends to lunch at midday tomorrow, she accepts.

Henrik and the Captain meet Anastasia and hear all about her talk with the dashing Zacharias, they decide there is still enough time left to investigate the warehouse.  

After breaking in, the Captain agrees to keep watch outside, whilst Henrik and Anastasia check out the inside. Unbeknownst to them Peter and Pace Amundsson have been following them and whilst Peter creeps up on the Captain, Pace has entered the warehouse through another entrance and is creeping up on Anastasia.

Henrik sees the hulking figure of Pace and blends into a shadowy alcove.  Pace tip-toes past Henrik and is mere feet away from Anastasia, when Henrik steps out and pushes his pistol into Pace's back, "Don't breathe or that breath will be your last.", announces Henrik.  Anastasia turns around wide-eyed, Pace looks desperate but raises his hands.

Outside the Captain is rubbing the back of his head and staggering away from Peter and the vicious, black cudgel that has caused the bruise.  The Captain draws his sabre and takes his guard, saluting the Amundsson brother.  

The Captain's Sabre

Peter rushes forward, but the Captain expertly steps to the side and swings his sabre, slicing into the arm of Peter who drops his weapon and cries out.  Peter looks in anger at the blood coming out of the wound and draws a cruel-looking dagger.

Peter lunges at the Captain, who turns the blade aside and cuts again on the other arm, there are now tears in Peter's eyes as he realises how desperately unmatched he is.  Peter throws his dagger to the floor, just as Zacharias and a number of fishermen with lanterns head down the path towards them.

It is a little while later that the group are gathered in the offices of the Herring Warehouse, Zacharias has been helping to bandage Peter and is seemingly trying to bring peace to all.

"I am very sorry for the uncouth nature of my brothers but you see they are very protective of the family business.  This is why, when strangers make a visit announced, things can get out of hand?", this is a smooth start from Zacharias and the group look a little embarrassed.  "Never mind, all is well, let us discuss this situation at lunch tomorrow.  For now, it is late and I suggest we all retire to our beds.", with this last statement Zacharias gestures to the three to leave and they quickly oblige.

After a troublesome sleep, the three of them meet in the Captain's room to agree on what they should do next.  After much debate, it is agreed that they head to Graveyard Isle, this is where Orvar lives and maybe, with him now sober, he will be more forthcoming about the moon and what is going on.  In addition, this might convince the Amundsson's that they have left Wrecker Isle, which will allow their investigation to continue without more incidents.

Packing their bags, they make a big scene of saying they are leaving the Isle, whilst picking up a bottle of aquavit for Orvar.

They hire a small boat and head around Wrecker Isle, eventually arriving on Graveyard Isle, spotting a single lone fisherman's cottage.  Some time is spent trying to get Orvar up.  After much shouting and shaking, he pushes them aside and steps outdoors, tipping an icy cold bucket of water over his head.

Orvar has a lot to say after the bottle of aquavit is placed on the table and whilst he rambles and digresses, the following information is collected;

• The Amundsson's are wreckers and murderers
• Zacharias was found at sea, he is a sea child born of an unholy union of man and mermaid
• Every new moon, Zacharias and his family head out to Deep Reef
• Deep Reef is cursed and lies to the west of Graveyard Isle, it's not on any map

Orvar has never been to Deep Reef but the party think they should head there straight away, the new moon is rising today and they could find a secluded spot to spy on the Amundsson's as they arrive.

Deep Reef

A few hours later and Anastasia, Henrik and the Captain, have hidden their boat on the other side of Deep Reef and are now spying on the bay, secluded in dense scrub.  As the sun sets, they see a ship in the distance, as it gets nearer they spot Zacharias, Peter and Pace.  The Amundsson's disembark and heave up a large barrel on to the rocks, they open it and a bedraggled and barely conscious Justina is pulled out.

The Captain swears, unsheaths his sabre and brings out a pistol, he whispers, "We cannot leave the girl to her fate, follow me!"  The others look to each other and then also step forward.  The Captain shouts out, "Unhand the girl you blaggards!"  Anastasia fires and takes out Peter who collapses backwards clutching his chest.  Zacharias grabs Justina and tries to drag her towards the cliff.

"Oh my god!  Look!!", Henrik is pointing out to sea, a creature, half woman, half fish, is sitting on a rock, watching the combatants, she dives into the water as Henrik shoots at it.

Merfolk

As the mermaid dives Zacharias screams out, "Mother!"   A bullet pings off the rock near the Captain as Pace retaliates.  Anastasia and the Captain advance, darting between rocks as first Pace and then Zacharias fire back.  As this continues, the island is now beginning to shake, stones fall and cracks open up, the group is finding it hard to keep its feet as the ground bucks beneath them

Shots are sent in both directions but eventually, both Pace and Zacharias are badly wounded and the Captain runs forward to grab Justina.  As this happens the mermaid rises back out of the water and starts to sing, the Captain turns and drops Justina, just as the mermaid brings up a trident and throws it with incredible force at the Captain.  Captain Franz throws himself backwards as the trident flies overhead and thunks into the ground.

a close avoidance

The mermaid raises her voice up again and the ground appears to rise up as if the whole of Deep Reef is on the move.  Anastasia takes aim and a number of shots hit their target, the mermaid disappears beneath the waves with a despairing cry.  The island stops its movement and the ground is once more stable, the isle is quiet apart from the crash of waves.

A brief conversation with Zacharias begins, he curses the group, "You don't know what you have done.  Without the sacrifice, my mother will no longer bring the herring.  Thousands will suffer for generations!"  The group consider this, but cannot countenance this barbaric sacrifice, it is time for the folk of Wrecker Isle and the rest of the region to find a different way to make their living.

Henrik, Anastasia and the Captain debate but decide to leave Zacharias, Peter and Pace to their fate on Deep Reef.  They tie their boat to the Amundsson ship and head slowly back to the mainland.  There is much to tell Lina about, they ponder deeply if they have made the right decision.