The Haunting of Castle Gyllencretuz | Learn To Play Vaesen

Creating your character

The Haunting of Castle Gyllencreutz uses five pre-generated characters. Before the session, I will contact the group, and we will decide how characters are assigned. This may be done by player choice, by a random d6 roll using a hidden assignment table, or by full random assignment. For this scenario, my preference is random assignment, as it keeps onboarding fast, avoids stakeholding in a specific character, and prevents delays if multiple players want the same role. Although this is a pre-written cinematic scenario, I introduce additional twists and variations, and no two runs are the same. Players are welcome to join future sessions if they would like to experience the story from a different character’s perspective.

Preparing for the session

Welcome to The Haunting of Castle Gyllencreutz! To keep onboarding smooth and get us into the game quickly, please complete the following steps before the session. None of this is difficult, but doing it ahead of time helps avoid technical delays once we start. What we are using • Roll20: The virtual tabletop where we play, roll dice, and move characters. • Discord: https://discord.gg/pw262FFCFy Preparation Steps 1. Create a free Roll20 account: https://roll20.net/ 2. I will send you a direct invitation link to the Roll20 game. Once you join, your character will be assigned and ready to play. Roll20 may be new to some players, but the learning curve is gentle. If you want to get comfortable ahead of time, this quick guide walks through the basics: https://app.roll20.net/editor/?embedded=0&spectator=0 NOTE: You DO NOT need to create a character. You will be assigned a pre-generated character sheet in Roll20, chosen in Discord after discussion.

What Dan brings to the table

The Haunting of Castle Gyllencreutz is a highly immersive introduction to Vaesen, designed to teach the system while delivering a complete gothic horror mystery. This is not a rushed tutorial, but a carefully paced scenario that uses music, NPC voices, custom graphics, and subtle tweaks to the published adventure to build atmosphere and sustain tension. The game is run entirely in theater of the mind, allowing the horror to unfold slowly as the mystery reveals itself. I run Vaesen close to the rules as written to preserve uncertainty and consequence, but I adjust freely when doing so improves flow or deepens mood. Violence is rare and dangerous. The focus is on investigation, unease, and the feeling that something is wrong long before it becomes clear what that something is. Fear in this game comes from discovery, not shock. The scenario uses pre-generated characters, each designed to ease new players into roleplay and investigation. These characters give structure and direction without forcing performance or conflict. The goal is to help players learn how Vaesen works by playing, not by studying rules. At the table, I keep a supportive and calm environment. I check in regularly, help frame options if the group stalls, and make sure everyone has space to participate. Comfort and respect are non-negotiable. Above all, the goal is a memorable, immersive evening where players can relax into the story and experience the strange, beautiful, and unsettling world of Vaesen for the first time.

How Dan creates a safe table

Player comfort always comes first, but so does clarity. The Haunting of Castle Gyllencreutz is a deliberately intense gothic horror mystery, and I do not soften its themes once play begins. My approach as a GM is to treat players as adults making an informed choice about the experience they are stepping into. Think of this as buying a ticket to a dark folk-horror film: the content warnings are real, the tone is sustained, and the material may go further than expected. Before the session, I clearly outline the tone and content of The Haunting of Castle Gyllencreutz. Vaesen is rooted in dread, folklore, isolation, and moral uncertainty rather than blood or gore. This scenario deals with supernatural horror, psychological distress, historical cruelty, social injustice, and the slow erosion of safety and trust. If those elements are not something you want in your game, this may not be the right table for you, and that is completely fine. The TTRPG space is large, and no single game or story is meant for everyone. During play, there are multiple ways to pause or redirect the game if something feels uncomfortable. Players may speak up at the table, DM me the letter X via Discord, use Roll20’s whisper-to-GM feature, or drop a digital Safety Card in Roll20. Any of these can be used at any time, with no explanation required. If a safety tool is used, the content will be adjusted or skipped, and play will continue. I also make space after each session to decompress and step out of character. My job is to keep the horror in the fiction, not at the table. The intensity is intentional, but the environment is always controlled, respectful, and collaborative.