The Company of the Light (Vaesen) 02: ‘Pendle Mint Cake’

…or ‘Trollbangers’.

 

In which the uneasy companions settle into their new home, one of them receives a letter from an old friend, and a name is given to the society.

 

The Company of the Light uses the Vaesen roleplaying system, by Free League Publishing and based an original concept by Johan Egerkrans. The mystery at the heart of the scenario is taken from Mythic Britain and Ireland by Graeme Davis. The name of that scenario (which may contain a mild spoiler) can be found below the music section of these notes.

With special thanks to Joseph Chance for his role in creating the world of Heartsholm. The Heartsholm Light itself is inspired by Hanstholm Lighthouse — An Alternative Headquarters, by Morten Greis.

You can hear a short prologue to The Company of the Light on our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/posts/blomqvist-01-ho-153999494

Cast:

Lieutenant William Fellwood — Joseph Chance

Bab Chase — Dominic Allen

Siobhan Strong — Danann McAleer

Bridge Ebden — Lucy Farrett

Narrator — Dan Wheeler

CW: This podcast contains mature themes, strong language and cosmic horror.

(MILD SPOILERS FOLLOW): The mystery at the heart of this story is premised upon the disappearance and death of a young woman. However, with the exception of one moment (which I will flag when it arrives), this is not dwelt on in any great detail, and please note for avoidance of doubt this is NOT sexual violence or self-harm. Human discretion is advised.

The Apocalypse Players is an actual play (or live play) TTRPG podcast focused on horror tabletop roleplaying games. Think Dimension 20 or Critical Role, but fewer dragons, more eldritch horrors, and more British actors taking their roleplaying very seriously (most of the time). We primarily play the Chaosium RPG Call of Cthulhu, but have also been known to dabble with other systems, most of which can be found on our Patreon: www.patreon.com/apocalypseplayers

We now have a free Discord server where you can come and worship at the altar of the Apocalypse, play Call of Cthulhu online, and meet like-minded cultists who will be only too eager to welcome you into the fold. New sacrifices - oops - we mean players are always welcome. Join here: discord.com/invite/kRQ62t6SjH

For more information and to get in touch, visit www.apocalypseplayers.com

Music and SFX

From Epidemic Sound:

Daniella Ljungsberg - Against the Tide; Long Term and Ashes; Still in Blues; Flute; Soar

Christoffer Moe Ditlevsen - Missing Memories; Partners in Crime; Desert Hideout

David Edward – Angelica; Space Elf; Threads

Horna Spelman – Vasterut; Svantes Polska; Koslapp

British Grenadiers - John Abbot

Bytt-Lasses Brudmarsch - Traditional

End of a Dream - Hanna Lindgren

Farewell to Ennerdale Water - Moorland Songs

Frozen Fields - Medité

Great Bend Reel - Roy Edwin Williams

In the Storm - Amber Glow

Lily of the Woods - Sandra Marteleur

Meme - Nevin

Pillow Magic - Valante

Polska Fran Knaggalve - Traditional

Red as a Rose - Rune Dale

Reflection No. 2 for Solo Violin - Hanna Ekstrom

Sayings and Blessings - David Celeste

 

From Artlist:

Amulets - I

Blackbard – Cyancerto; Skogsdrommar

Brianna Tam - Circularity

G-Yerro - Dark Hollows

James Forest - El Faro; Morning Walks; One Evening in May pt 1; Queen of Art

Michael Vignola - From the Sea; Under Water

Rotem Moav - Blood on the Snow; Homebound Journey

Manos Mars - Swiss

Michael John Wookey - Wanderlust Motifs - Rural Folklore Accordion

Musical Mandalas - Memories of a Fairground

Skies Speak - I Think He Saw Us

Yehezkel Raz - Enceladus

 

Public Domain / Creative Commons / Wikicommons:

"Teller of the Tales" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

https://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/music.html

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

The Wind that Shakes the Barley – YouTube user ‘peakfiddler’

Collegium Vocale: O przedobry Boże nasz

Tom Dillon - On Raglan Road - The Dawning of The Day - Sonny Don't Go Away (The Volunteer Pub, Sidmouth)

The Tudor Consort: Thomas Tallis - Videte Miraculum

The Tudor Consort: Thomas Tallis - Loquebantur variis linguis

The Tudor Consort: Thomas Tallis - Lamentations I

Tallis - If ye love me

Tallis - Spem in alium

John Dowland - Shall I sue

U.S. Army Band: Ralph Vaughan Williams, Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis

Ralph Vaughan Williams - English Folk Song Suite

Makemi: Scarborough Fair

Endersslay: Star of the county down

Danny Boy tin whistle by JGrandgagnage

The Girl I Left Behind Me

 

From Pond 5

‘Krummi Svaf I Klettagja’ – M Ragnarsdottir

‘Undir Blaum Solarsali’ – M Ragnarsdottir

‘Modir Min I Kvi Kvi’ – M Ragnarsdottir

‘Bjort Mey Og Hrein’ – M Ragnarsdottir

‘Travelling for a Living’ – Henry Parker

‘Sylvie’ – Henry Parker

‘British Grenadiers’

‘Fenian Song’ – Sonic Art

Other tracks include ‘As I Roved Out’; ‘Proud Celt’; ‘Scarborough Fair’; ‘John Barleycorn’; ‘Matty Groves’; ‘Morris Dance’; ‘Maypole Dance’; ‘Celtic Fiddle’

 

Music by Dan Wheeler includes

The Old Sow (trad)

Sweat Boxer — (trad, with thanks to Davy Goodchild and The Harrow Inn)

Haste to the Wedding (trad)

 

From xeno-canto

XC975203 - European Herring Gull - Larus argentatus argenteus by David M

XC384264 - European Robin - Erithacus rubecula

XC590432 - Eurasian Skylark - Alauda arvensis

XC554798 - Soundscape

XC138375 - European Robin - Erithacus rubecula

XC397660 - Carrion Crow - Corvus corone

XC495630 - Great Tit - Parus major newtoni

XC947630 - Carrion Crow - Corvus corone corone.wav

XC1054294 - Carrion Crow - Corvus corone corone.wav

XC817610 - Great Green Bush-cricket - Tettigonia viridissima.wav

 

[SCENARIO TITLE BELOW]

 

I have chosen not to include the name of the mystery at the heart of this scenario in the spoken introduction, as I consider it to be a potential spoiler for the story. But for completists and searchability I include it here: It is called Old Meg.