Vaesen Review: Scent of a Killer

Scent of a Killer is a new Vaesen mystery published by Free League, which is intended to be part of the upcoming campaign book "City of my Nightmares". I read, prepared, and ran the mystery before writing this review.

I ran and reviewed most of the Free League-published Vaesen scenarios here.

 I will start with a bullet list for positives and negatives, followed by a conclusion. All of these sections are spoiler-free. Afterwards, there is a GM advice section (with spoilers).

Positives:

• A complex and engaging investigative scenario that will keep players intrigued as they piece together the mystery step by step.
• For a change, an unsettling urban setting that comes alive with its rich character and atmospheric details.
• A memorable cast of NPCs.
• Many opportunities for dramatic and emotionally charged moments, hunting Vaesen on a windy wintery night in the dark streets of Stockholm.

Negatives:

• More challenging for the GM to manage compared to a typical Vaesen mystery, requiring careful preparation.
• A few minor plot inconsistencies.

Conclusion:

This is the most complex Vaesen mystery to date, offering a layered investigation and a unique urban mystery that stands in contrast to the series' traditional focus on isolated rural locations. The city of Stockholm is vividly brought to life with its atmospheric setting and captivating NPCs. With its intricate plot and compelling emotional beats, this is a great adventure that will challenge and delight both players and GM.

After reading and playing it I am very hopeful that "City of my Nightmares" will be the great campaign Vaesen deserves.

Gamemaster Advice (warning: spoilers ahead)

Pacing the countdown steps

Be mindful of the countdown pacing. The werewolves can only transform during the 2-3 nights surrounding the full moon, during which time several key events must unfold: the coroner, Volk, must kill one victim, and attack the doctor, so that the doctor must transform into a werewolf and go on a rampage. Ensuring this sequence flows naturally and at the right moments is essential for maintaining tension. Luckily the town between bridges is small enough that our intrepid adventurers will easily hear the turmoil and run to the location of the next attack.

There’s always a chance that players will figure out Volk’s identity before she attacks doctor Svardh. If this happens, the dramatic finale may lose some of its impact, as the second werewolf adds a compelling layer to the climax. To address this, consider reversing the order of attacks—having the doctor targeted before the organist. This will make it less likely that the player characters can avoid the transformation of the doctor into a second werewolf. Additionally, you can assume the doctor’s transformation only occurs one night after he is attacked. This adjustment isn’t necessary (and I didn't do it in my run), and I think the story is still ok if Volk is stopped before she can turn Svardh into a second werewolf.

Addressing the police investigation

The weakest part of this scenario is the police’s failure to discover evidence, especially the evidence implicating the opera singer in the conductor’s death. To make this more believable, I suggest you emphasise that the police are completely overwhelmed by city-wide unrest. For instance, you might depict how the police are stretched thin trying to suppress ongoing riots in another district, leaving them unable to thoroughly investigate these cases. This adds realism and makes their oversights more plausible.

Handling prior murders

The scenario provides no details about the murders that occurred before the opera singer’s crimes. To avoid unnecessary distractions, clarify to players early on that these earlier murders aren’t critical to solving the current mystery. Alternatively, invent a consistent backstory about the victims being known criminals, but ensure this doesn’t pull focus from the main plot. Either way, keep players centred on the present investigation to maintain momentum.

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