This supplement adds information for running Vaesen in the UK (p.5-39), adding a new HQ (Rose House, p.41-45), 1 new Talent (p.16, Fostered), 3 new Archetypes (Athlete, Entertainer, Socialite, p.46-49; updated background tables, p.150-153), and 13 new Vaesen. (p.51-83). The UK information includes idea seeds for various locations.
In addition to Vaesen's idea of Old Ways vs Industrialization, this supplement adds the idea of tension between social classes.
The book includes 3 scenarios, ranked in my order of preference:
Old Meg
The Hampstead Group
The Llantywyll Incident
In the maps shown, marked in red is the general location of the scenario. London is shown as an orientation point.
Most of my sessions are 3 hours long. Different groups take different times, but my run times are here for comparison purposes.
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Old Meg
Location: South Gloucestershire, England Pages: 22 Run Time: 2 sessions Hook: A young woman is dead near standing stones and her former suitor is going to hang for the crime.
This one is the most complicated scenario out of the three and the most enjoyable to run.
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The Plot: Daisy accidentally woke up Old Meg who is now rampaging through the countryside killing whatever she finds. Due to clan feuds, Billy is blamed for Daisy's death. The PCs need to navigate the various clan rivalries, learn about the history of Saint Birren and Old Meg, force Old Meg back to her stone form, and imprison her. Vaesen: Hag (p.64, Mythic Britain & Ireland) Location of Note: Standing Stones
In my run, the PCs dragged her stone form to the church yard, and then busted her up with the help of the villagers, and then buried the broken bits throughout the church yard.
To add more color to the game, I made the May Fair include a May Queen and King. Of course, Jenny was the May Queen and Billy was the May King. Daisy went to The Cave (p.100) to beg for Old Meg's favor. Inside the cave is various graffiti: D + B (inside a heart), and other love tokens, carved into the rock wall from various generations of lovers.
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The Llantywyll Incident Location: Llantywyll, Wales Run Time: 1 session Hook: A minister tried to disprove that Christianity causes bad luck in the mine, so he conducted a chapel service inside and caused a minor collapse. The mine is currently closed.
A very straight forward investigation.
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The Plot: The Coblynau were insulted and need to be placated. If the minister enters again, the mine will collapse on him. If the Coblynau are chased out, the mine will become unproductive and unsafe. The Coblynau need to be apologized to and the minister needs to be prevented from entering the mine in the future. Vaesen: Coblynau (Knocker, p.66, Mythic Britain & Ireland) Location of Note: Slate mine
Wyvern
My only issue was that the introduction letter actually gave out too much information, I'd actually shorten it and let the PCs figure some of it out themselves by talking to the NPCs.
In my run, the PCs got the Doctor and the Engineers on their side, so they easily convinced Mistress Thomas to ban any non-miners from entering the mine, for their safety. This in effect, prevented the minister from entering the mine again.
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The Hampstead Group
Location: Hampstead, England Pages: 20 Run Time: 1 session Hook: A man is missing, last seen at an artist colony.
Another straightforward investigation.
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The Plot: The Glaistig is charming all the men and slowly eating them. The bodies are in her closet. Brother Martin is already dead. The PCs have to navigate the uptight upper class neighbors and the manipulative residents of the artist colony. Basically, exposing the presence of the bodies will solve this mystery. Vaesen: Glaistig (p.62, Mythic Britain & Ireland) Location of Note: Bohemian artist colony
There's a few inconsistencies in the scenario:
The description of the Newford House (p.139) is that it's a 4-story mansion, but the map only has two floors and an attic. Either say it's a 2-story mansion or duplicate the first floor a few times. I found it easier to just make it a 2-story mansion.
The bodies are in Kitty's closet (p.142). But on p.145, it says it's in the spare bedroom. I'd go with the closet description.
I found it odd that all the NPCs are closed mouthed about Newford House. I'd add different degrees of discretion/indiscretion, so there's more variance.
In my run, the PCs actually snuck up to her room and surrounded her with crucifixes. More than one PC had the Holy Symbol talent. This drove Kitty to flee out to the Roof Space (see map, p.139). Before she could escape, another PC shot her and turned her into mist. The result is that she'll reform and move elsewhere, taking as many of the artists with her as she can.
