First of all, I want to thank Free League for sending us a copy of Vaesen: A Wicked Secret and Other Mysteries in order to write this review. In case you are interested in purchasing, the product is available for €35.05 at the official store.
This volume is a collection of four adventures for the Vaesen roleplaying game and, therefore, requires that game’s basic manual. For more information about the basic manual (and to find the link to buy it), I suggest you to read my review.
The A Wicked Secret and Other Mysteries Manual Format
A Wicked Secret and Other Mysteries fills a manual of about 100 pages, consisting of a preface page, four adventures, an index, and very few frills. I appreciate how this manual provides only the essentials without also giving the impression that something is missing. Everything you might normally need is already present in the aforementioned basic game manual, allowing you to have a slim, easy to consult product. Specifically, each adventure contains plot, events, characters, maps, monster stat-blocks (the same ones present in the basic manual), clues, and suggestions. In other words, assuming you know this RPG, nothing is missing.
These elements are enhanced by top notch illustrations. As usual Johan Egerkrans does his best and has pulled out a series of small works of art. Its unmistakable gothic inspirations and heavy black outlines improve every aspect of the manual. Characters, antagonists, clues, and locations, everything is portrayed in a sublime way, providing insights and inspiration for the narrator and players, alike.
The purely technical side of the manual is also flawless. The wonderful and rough-to-the-touch hard cover contains quality pages, organized in a classic two-column layout. Moreover, the font used is clear and sharp, making reading even more enjoyable.
The Quality of the Contents
As noted, the manual contains four adventures. Each one occupies about 25 pages. At first glance, these might seem short but, on further reading, they clearly are not. After all, Vaesen is a game that aims to inspire terror in the players, and this generally easier to accomplish in shorter adventures. The thrill of fear must be sharp and constantly rising; too many details take away some of the “charm”.
Remember, Vaesen tells the story of a group of people who are still able to see and understand the creatures of Nordic folklore, people who have to solve various cases in which these entities interact with people and create critical situations. Starting from these assumptions, it is right and proper that every adventure only have a limited duration. Vaesen is closer in its structure to a TV series than a film and, in this regard, A Wicked Secret and Other Mysteries contains four episodes, playable separately as unrelated one-shots or easily assembled into a campaign for a given party of PCs to investigate a series of cases.
Each adventure exhibits a particular style because it is written by one of four distinct authors, but the quality of the content is a much appreciated constant. The storylines are compelling, well written, and simple. All the details contained in the manual facilitate the storyteller’s work, thanks to the ease of use and the clarity of the writing. The language always fits the situations and manages to fully embody the spirit of this role-playing game. There are also some interesting twists but nothing too overwhelming. The stories aren’t very complicated, but contain various parts that can genuinely amaze those who experience those events through their characters.
The Adventures of A Wicked Secret and Other Mysteries
Let’s go into a little detail, now. Without spoilers, here are the synopses of the four adventures:
- The Silver of the Sea (by Tomas Härenstam) A small Swedish port city has seen some sectors of its economy flourish in recent years, but the sudden disappearance of a preacher seemed suspicious to someone who decided to investigate. Chance leads players to explore an archipelago and discover what mysteries lurk in its waters.
- A Wicked Secret(by Gabrielle de Bourg) The forest has always been a place full of charm … and mystery, and danger. No less is that found in southern Sweden, where industrialization is threatening the previous equilibrium. The presence of a bloodthirsty beast is rumored to threaten a nearby town.
- The Night Sow (by Nils Hintze) During the winter (at Christmas, if desired) in a town close to the sea, is a place where evil has found fertile ground, considered a cradle of sin. Under these circumstances, the PCs pick up a request for help. A lot of blood is likely to be shed.
- The Song of the Falling Star (by Kiku Pukk Härenstam) A terrible mystery haunts a remote island, involving a broken promise, a cursed child, and a strange musical instrument. The PCs will have to help a researcher who allowed himself to be guided too much by his curiosity and finds himself bound by his own words.
Final Considerations
If Vaesen has intrigued you, A Wicked Secret and Other Mysteries is sure to satisfy you. Writing stories of mysteries and horrors rooted in a specific culture and folklore is not easy; having works written by those who know those topics well is truly invaluable. In particular, I appreciated the way in which the subtle balance between men and supernatural spirits, between modernity and ancient tradition was addressed. These dualisms embellish every story, providing very interesting food for thought, even moral dilemmas.
These stories work seamlessly with the basic game manual; each element is exploited, demonstrating how an ad hoc (and not generic) adventure enhances the referenced system. I highly recommend purchasing A Wicked Secret and Other Mysteries, even in conjunction with the basic manual. This collection of adventures is a great way to start and a great starting point for writing your own.
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