Vaesen are supernatural creatures inhabiting Scandinavian folklore - trolls, lindworms, mylings, nisses, and many others. For centuries they lived invisibly alongside humans in a balanced relationship. Farmers provided offerings of milk and grain in exchange for protection and aid. But in the industrializing 19th century, this balance has broken. Railways tear through forests, factories poison the land, and villages are abandoned. The vaesen are confused, angry, and increasingly violent - attacking villagers, stealing children, and burning homes.
Only people with the Sight can see vaesen, even when they try to hide. Ordinary humans perceive them as strange noises, odd weather, or normal animals. Vaesen are neither good nor evil - they have motivations, dreams, and grievances just like humans. Some are protecting their homes, others are confused by a changing world, and some are genuinely malevolent. Understanding a vaesen's nature and motive is key to resolving the mystery.
Each vaesen has unique magical abilities - some can shapeshift, control weather, or drain life force. They all have weaknesses, usually tied to old folklore or iron/silver. A nisse might be bound by a proper offering, while a lindworm could be trapped with salt. These weaknesses are rarely obvious and require investigation through old texts, interviews with locals, and piecing together clues. Finding and exploiting a vaesen's weakness is how you truly defeat it.