Vaesen – A new horror rpg from Fria Ligan

Vaesen is a new horror roleplaying game by Fria Ligan, the publishers of Tales from the Loop, Forbidden Lands and Alien rpg, among other games, that is currently on Kickstarter. Fria Ligan‘s game have been well received. 

In dark forests, beyond the mountains, by black lakes in hidden groves. At your doorstep. In the shadows, something stirs. Strange beings. Twisted creatures, lurking at the edge of vision. Watching. Waiting. Unseen by most, but not by you. You see them for what they really are.

The Swedes are at it again! A new horror game from Fria Ligan is being Kickstarted and to say the least, we are intrigued. This game uses the same game system as Forbidden Lands and Tales from the Loop, both games have been widely celebrated, but the system originally hails from Fria Ligan‘s roleplaying game Mutant: Year Zero.

We here at Yawning Portal are huge fans of Fria Ligan‘s games. Not only are their games fun and interesting to play, but the quality of the books is really high. And by the looks of it, Vaesen will as well. The game is based on the work of Swedish illustrator and author Johan Egerkrans, Vaesen presents a dark Gothic setting steeped in Nordic folklore and old myths of Scandinavia. 

The setting

Welcome to the Mythic North – northern Europe of the nineteenth century, but not as we know it today. A land where the myths are real. A cold reach covered by vast forests, its few cities lonely beacons of industry and enlightenment – a new civilization dawning. But in the countryside, the old ways still hold sway. There, people know what lurks in the dark.

They know to fear it.

The game takes place in the 19th century in Scandinavia or Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Finland, judging by the map (but… but… where’s Iceland? Are we not part of Northern Europe as well!?) and you take on the roles of characters that are part of The Society.

You are among the people who have the Sight, you can see things that are hidden and normal people cannot. There are hidden people, trolls, fairies and such on the prowl and the uneasy truce that has been for centuries is no more. Rumours spread of kittens born with two heads, streams red from blood, groves lulling children into eternal sleep, fairies dancing through villages, luring the young into the woods to be forever enthralled.

If you feel interested check out their Kickstarter campaign.