A Missing Antiquarian – An Introductory Mystery for Vaesen by Ryan Main is a role playing game supplement published by Free League Publishing through the Free League Workshop Community Content Programme for use with Vaesen – Nordic Horror Roleplaying.
The supplement is available as a 12 page Pay What You Want PDF from DriveThruRPG. One page is the front cover and half the Credits.
The opening paragraphs explain that the adventure is aimed at characters who have not yet become members of the Society and who are heading to Upsala for the first time. However, there are also details, in a sidebar, on how to play it as a regular mystery instead. It then covers how the adventure starts and when it takes place.
Prelude describes the events prior to the characters arriving in town and getting involved, which resulted in a murder. The spirit of the murdered individual has returned and wants revenge on the killer. It covers the primary and secondary conflicts, and how the characters get involved. The characters then travel to town.
Balsta has some details on the town, with notable NPCs in a sidebar.
Arrival has the characters arrive.
Countdown and Catastrophe looks at the timeline until disaster strikes.
Places describes the points of interest in the town, any challenges they pose and what might be discovered at them.
Confrontation is the final confrontation with the ghost. It also describes what happens if the characters decide to leave, which is essentially the catastrophe.
Aftermath looks at what happens when the adventure is successfully completed; the characters should be pointed at the Society in Upsala.
A Missing Antiquarian – An Introductory Mystery for Vaesen in Review
The PDF lacks bookmarks and is long enough with enough different sections that these would have been useful. Navigation is okay. The text maintains a two-column format and appeared to be free of error. There are a number of stock black and white illustrations. Presentation is okay.
Though this can be played, without too much trouble, as a normal adventure, it is best suited for what it’s designed to be, an introductory adventure. It introduces the characters to vaesen, lets them hear about the Society and gives them a reason to be heading to Upsala to investigate further; essentially the pre-game adventure whilst still being an adventure. A Missing Antiquarian – An Introductory Mystery for Vaesen is a useful little supplement and it can be found by clicking here.
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