The Beginning of the Fall

This adventure takes place immediately after the events that transpired in Duty and Despair. It is written a bit differently than a standard Vaesen Mystery, focusing on information gathering and using the player characters’ social skills as opposed to solving a mystery related to a vaesen. But don’t worry, there will still be vaesen encounters…

Background

A decade after the accident that killed everyone on the site, it had been assumed that nothing of value existed in the old Abisko Mine except iron. As iron can be extracted elsewhere, the mine and the area was largely forgotten. When Svea Mining Corp reopened the old mine, the initial response was one of mild curiosity. That curiosity only intensified when the new owners of the mine, ex-military officer Karl Magnusson and his new wife Sigrid Magnusson, put the entire region under the highest possible security and shielded the area from any outsiders.

At an already extremely remote part of northern Sweden, it seemed strange that such drastic measures were needed and so, speculation started. When news came that the University of Upsala had purchased a significant share in the mine, the chatter reached new heights. Students, professors and journalists all kept talking about it. With the endorsement of both military experts and scientists, it meant that many potential investors sharpened their ears too.

Presented with this rare promising mineral, both the rich and the poor see an opportunity, creating a hype that borders on mass-hysteria. This could mean new job opportunities. New technology. The reawakening of a suffering economy. Nationalism is already picking up steam in other parts of Europe and some are eager to bring those thoughts to the Swedes. A resource that only Sweden can harvest and sell can be a game changer. Despite all the buzz being founded entirely on speculation and rumor, everyone is clamoring for a piece of this mysterious gemstone.

Now, the University of Upsala is hosting an extravagant ball in their newly built University Hall to announce “exciting news about the collaboration with Svea Mining Corp” and scientists and politicians from all over the world are eager to get an invite to this exclusive event.

The rumors say that a very rare mineral or stone of some kind “with unlimited potential for military, economic and scientific purposes” has been found at the mine – so rare, it does not even have a name. Only a few people in the world have laid eyes on this rare stone, and even fewer know why it’s important.

The Franzibald Connection

One of them was the author Franzibald Hansen. For years he studied the stone because of the way it seemed to impact vaesen. The research was ineffective and frustrating due to his lack of skill in the area and the fact that no one in the public sphere wanted to be associated with occult topics for fear of persecution. He had to work in the dark, not knowing who he could trust.

Gathering his thoughts in several notebooks that he kept in a safe place, Franzibald meant to share his knowledge with his new friends, especially as he had a bad feeling that this mineral could potentially be very dangerous. The reopening of the mine worried him but he was killed before he could voice any of his concerns.

Bedlam at the Asylum

Meanwhile, the Upsala Asylum is having problems. A recent and unexplained uptick in patients has exceeded the institution’s capacity. These patients have been sent by Svea Mining Corp after having worked at the Abisko Mine. Having been exposed to the green stones, they temporarily got the Sight and suddenly saw vaesen everywhere. Not understanding what was actually happening, they were deemed insane and secretly sent to Upsala Asylum for “treatment.”

The journalist Amanda Lorentz at the Upsala Gazette investigated the wave of patients at the asylum, and wrote a story that connected it to Svea Mining Corp.

She questioned the Magnussons’ acquisition of the mine and whether it’s morally defensible to once again steal land from the Sami people. Soon after, she was fired and disappeared. Rumors suggest that she has herself been sent to the asylum.

In fact, a doctor, bought by Svea Mining Corp, declared Amanda insane. People assumed that the humiliation of losing her job and friends had driven her mad and accepted it. Some suggested that she had always been a “wicked soul.” After all, she was writing such nasty, libelous articles about “good, hard-working people that would bring so much wealth to Sweden.” What type of person would do that?

Amanda Lorentz, a good friend of Franzibald and one of his last few allies, knew that something terrible was going on, but saw how everyone in her social circles was swayed by the charismatic couple. When THE STONES The stones have been discovered to be able to bind and harvest powers from vaesen, who are drawn to them. They have an active and inactive phase, when “charged” with vaesen powers or not. This is of course, a tightly guarded secret as most humans do not have the Sight and it’s quite unacceptable to bring up the occult in public. Sigrid Magnusson is trying to use these stones to give humans the power of vaesen, but their erratic nature and unexpected behavior has proven to make this a much more difficult task than she had hoped.

An additional property is that when several charged stones are close to one another and subjected to heat, they seem to create a chain reaction and become volatile, even explosive, which is what happened when the original mine collapsed over a decade earlier. This is why Karl Magnusson has an interest in the stones as he sees the potential uses they could have in military matters.

the reopening got international attention, she felt it was necessary to say something before the entire world became enchanted by these, in her opinion, con artists. Franzibald tried to warn her, urging her to not do anything rash until he came back from his trip, but it was too late.

Knowing that public perception is key to their success, this is how the Magnussons have been able to deal with their critics. They surround themselves with loyal, devout followers who treat them like gods. The ones they can’t sway with charisma, they sway with gold. Additionally, they are experts at separating themselves from any liability. No one at the asylum knows that they are behind the recent intakes, making them legally untouchable.

Conflicts

The primary conflict is about the vocal critics of Svea Mining Corp that have suddenly gone missing or wound up dead, the cause dismissed as “natural circumstances.” The Magnussons have a successful propaganda machine so the public does not seem to care that the asylum is getting overcrowded or that the journalist Amanda Lorentz has been declared mad and gone missing. What is it that Franzibald knew that he failed to tell the player characters before his demise?

The secondary conflict is about the growing influence of Svea Mining Corp and their founders. While keeping an extremely tight lid on the details behind their project, they’ve been able to recruit several powerful allies that have an interest in the success of the mine and its operation while protecting Karl and Sigrid. The knowledge-thirsting scientists, the warmongering politicians and the greedy nobles who are only interested in profit are all heavily invested at this point. The forces at play are immensely powerful and ruthless.

At this point in the campaign, the players find themselves in the midst of an increasingly dangerous situation that’s shrouded in secrecy. Their focus should be on gathering information and clues that will help them puzzle together the mystery of The Lost Mountain Saga – without raising suspicion or getting caught.

Invitation

Almost two weeks have passed since the terrible events in Falun and the killing of Franzibald Hansen. While life has somewhat returned to normal for the player characters, they all carry a burden of emptiness and unanswered questions that leaves a silent echo within the walls of Castle Gyllencreutz.

It’s a crisp October morning. The player characters find themselves in the breakfast room, enjoying the first meal of the day together with the daily newspaper. As always these days, the news-cycle is completely dominated by updates on the Abisko mine but there is also a story about Upsala Asylum that catches their eye (Handout 2A, also found at the end of this book and available for download at the Free League website): HELP COMING FOR OVERCROWDED ASYLUM Twenty new patients were admitted to the Asylum last month, a significant increase that the upper management blamed on the unusually rainy summer. However, help is on its way. Experts from Stockholm arrived last week and already the situation has stabilized. Early projections estimate the problem with overcrowding will be solved by Christmas.

A successful LEARNING check lets the player characters recall what had happened to journalist Amanda Lorentz (page 26).

There’s a knock on the door. Björn Prahl, Franzibald’s butler and life-partner, enters the room. The stern, quiet man looks pale and his face is hollow, as if he hasn’t eaten in days. He takes off his hat as he enters. “Good morning.” he says quietly. “I hope I do not come at a bad time.” Björn will eventually bring out an envelope for the player characters. “It was addressed to Franzibald,” he says, his voice thick with suppressed emotion. “They must not know. It’s from the University. An invitation for tonight. I cannot attend. But it might be of interest to you.”

The player characters would know that this ball is an extremely exclusive event that very powerful people from all over the world hope to get an invite to. It’s rumored that previously top secret details on Svea Mining Corp’s work on the Abisko Mine will be revealed at this ball, along with the University’s involvement. He hands them the envelope. Inside is a small, elegant card (Handout 2B, also downloadable and found at the end of this book): Mr. Franzibald Hansen & Co. is requested to attend the Ball at the new University Hall on the 5th of October current, at 4 o’clock p.m. Eskil Andersson Vice Chancellor UNIVERSITY OF UPSALA GRATIÆ VERITAS NATURÆ Björn shares that Franzibald was very wary of Svea Mining Corp and the reopening of the Abisko mine. “Franzibald would often say that ‘Those fools do not know what forces they are up against!’” Björn tells them as concern fills his grief-stricken eyes. “Perhaps he was needlessly paranoid but I frankly doubt it. I know this mattered to Franzibald a great deal and he was planning on bringing your group in to help him with investigating this further after Falun.”

He pauses, collects himself, and continues. “I know it’s a lot for me to ask but you are the only ones I trust after everything that’s happened…” The players can gather the following from Björn:

• Franzibald kept a lot of notes on his research in his office, but Björn will admit that he has not had the emotional strength to enter the office and go through it all. He offers the player characters full access if they would be interested in going through his notes (see Locations, page 34).
• He believes Franzibald was invited because he had a good relationship with the geology department of the University and went to several of their seminars throughout the years, even if Franzibald himself was more of an artistic spirit. “Academia did not really suit him… Too structured. Too sensible! he would say with a snort.” Björn smiles at the memory.
• Franzibald had taken an interest in the first iteration of the mine when it was initially opened all those years ago. But it was after the terrible accident when his interest in geology truly spiked. He studied peculiar stones for years and kept writing down notes. Björn continues, “Some days, it consumed him. He stopped writing his regular stories. The accident shook him to his core, even though he was miles and miles away from it.”
• Björn does not know more about Svea Mining Corp outside what’s been written in the papers but every time it comes up, he speaks in a hushed tone. “Far too many people who were vocal critics of the Magnussons, the owner of Svea Mining Corp, have disappeared. It seems like no one really dares criticize them at this point.”

Preparations

The player characters can gain an Advantage when preparing at Castle Gyllencreutz. They would already know of this annual ball and that the University is planning on “presenting new, revolutionary research in collaboration with Svea Mining Corp.”

This year an invited list of influential investors, scientists, politicians and the social elite of Northern Europe is expected to attend. A record-long waitlist has been set up as anyone in the scientific community would kill to get an invite. Castle Gyllencreutz is in good standing with the University and the player characters can be quite confident that the invitation, albeit addressed to Franzibald, would be extended to their whole group.

The player characters would also have time to investigate Franzibald’s office to gather more information (see Locations, page 34) before the ball later that night.

Additionally, the player characters can spend resources on beautiful ball gowns and attire to impress the social elite at the ball. It’s up to you as the Gamemaster how you wish to reward the players should they choose to do that, for example you can give them more clues or get them better seats at the ball. If they are looking real fancy, they might even get some extra points with the Magnussons.

Journey

An impressive convoy of carriages drives up the hill of Carolina Rediviva before making a right towards the University Hall. Students dressed in formal attire, hired to work at the ball, line the street leading up to the entrance. They are holding banners of the various student nations and the Swedish coat of arms. Men and women in beautiful dresses gracefully make their way inside.

Arrival

Upon entry through the massive doors to the new, impressive building, the orchestra plays a famous waltz, yet no one is dancing. Instead, clusters of men in penguin suits and women in expensive gowns are scattered all over, engaging in intense discussions about their particular fields. Languages from all across the world can be heard, with German, English, Chinese, and French most prevalent.

The excitement is electrifying, bordering on explosive. Eagerness mixed with anxiety covers the faces of every guest as they eye the stage, still empty. Almost 900 people are in attendance, footmen everywhere serving Swedish hors d’oeuvre (yes, that’s right – pickled herring). The player characters can dance, mingle or just stand and observe as everything unfolds.

Typical Ball Guest

The crowd is a mix of old and young, noble and middle class, and most of them are there for the same reason. They are eager to find out what the University of Upsala might have discovered and how they can be a part of it. The social elite, dressed in the latest expensive French fashions, are keeping mostly to themselves and to other people with money. The scientists and researchers, together with the lucky few students able to get hold of an invitation, are all debating various theories, some more outlandish than others.

Should the player characters choose to engage a NPC at the ball in combat, look at the stat blocks for Student or Professor (or other archetypes) on page 166 in the Vaesen core rulebook.

RUMORS AT THE BALL One thing all the prominent guests at the ball have in common is that no one knows anything for sure, but many are eager to share the following rumors:

The Demonstration

The player characters are seated quite far back from the main table and stage, but if they are successful with MANIPULATION, they could potentially bribe or convince one of the servers to switch them to a table closer to the action.

After what seems like an anxious eternity, the Magnussons finally arrive, accompanied by the Vice Chancellor of the University, Eskil Andersson and several members of the Swedish nobility. A hush descends on the room as they walk in. The Vice Chancellor walks up on the stage with a big grin before addressing the audience.

“Last summer, the University was approached by Svea Mining Corp with an interesting proposal that at first glance, frankly seemed outlandish and unrealistic. As the Vice Chancellor, it is my duty to protect this fine institution from nonsense, and I was almost offended by the preposterous nature of the proposal itself. However, after several meetings and many visits, I do not regret having the honor of today announcing a new chapter in the history of our University. But before I get ahead of myself, I would like to introduce to you the pioneer behind all of this… Mrs. Sigrid Magnusson!” Sigrid confidently walks up on stage. A successful OBSERVATION (add +1 if the player characters were able to get closer to the stage) and they will notice an oddness to her. She looks no older than 17 and supposedly came from no family or money, but carries herself with the confidence of a middle-aged noble woman.

It’s as if she’s able to spellbind everyone, perhaps even the player characters. She’s extremely convincing and charming. Any OBSERVATION roll the player characters might attempt to determine if there’s magic involved will suggest it’s just her natural charisma.

“Since 1477, this University has been at the forefront of innovation and scientific discovery. Standing strong in the face of destruction and terror, She was always ready and willing to serve those of us who search for knowledge above all else.

Today, I stand before you to honor our sacred institution. Today, I ask you to see what the power of science, what the power of knowledge can bring to our people. Today, we make history. Today will mark a new era for not only science, but for Upsala. The Lion of the North shall roar again, claiming the respect it deserves from our European brethren, and upon a new golden age we shall together ascend!” A group of assistants joins her on stage, rolling in a wheeled table with a Bunsen burner and a glass chemistry flask with a few small stones inside. “This is the future,” she says, and points towards the table. “These rare minerals can be found in the depths of the Abisko Mine, and we’ve spent the last three years refining them.” She takes a stone from the lab flask and holds it up. The player characters immediately recognize it as the same type of gemstone that Franzibald carried and studied. “While there is so much research yet to be undertaken, we have already discovered unprecedented properties and benefits. I shall now demonstrate.”

A young athletic man walks up to Sigrid. He takes off his shirt. A few men and women in the audience gasp as it would be considered quite improper during this time. The young man looks at Sigrid with the same adoration most of the people in this room seem to carry for her. She pats his chin lightly, the same way an owner would caress their pet. “This brave young man has offered his body to science. For that, we all must be eternally grateful for his selfless act that will help us save so many. The potential is endless. You will see.” The demonstration begins. Sigrid takes out a scalpel and uses it to cut the man right across the chest, blood streaming down his body. The audience gasps. He grimaces but puts a brave face on. “Now, please sit down.”

The young man sits down on a chair. One of the other assistants straps him to it, placing his arms straight to the sides. Sigrid places the green gemstone back into the lab flask, and then carefully heats it in the flame of the Bunsen burner. As it starts to emit a green light, she picks up the flask with a pair of pliers, and holds it close to the young man’s bleeding chest. As she does so, he starts screaming in pain and horror. The audience grows uncomfortable, some are standing up, horrified as more and more blood pours out from the open wound on the man’s chest. Suddenly, a bright green light fills the entire room and then the lab flask explodes with a sharp crack. Followed by silence. “My God…” a man next to the player characters mutters, staring at the stage in disbelief. The young man, now unconscious, is still sitting in the chair. The gash that was once across his entire chest is now completely gone, even the blood. Sigrid walks up to him, pulls out some sort of smelling salt and holds it under his nose. He wakes up, pale and disoriented but a small smile eventually returns to his face. Several assistants help him off the stage, leaving a smug Sigrid behind. “Impossible!” the Vice Chancellor says, his eyes almost popping out of their sockets. “Not impossible.” says Sigrid. “Science.”

There’s a stunned silence followed by uproarious applause.

Countdown and Catastrophe

The first countdown event occurs at the ball, shortly after the demonstration.

1. The young man from the experiment, who’s been

surrounded by several fawning women from the

social elite, suddenly collapses. Several people

from Svea Mining Corp carefully escort his limp

body out, as discreetly as they can but the ball

guests all notice. Eventually, a man announces

that the boy is alive and well but “…as is company

protocol, safety comes first and he will be sent to the hospital

for additional monitoring.” This is enough to calm

the majority of the attendees and the festivities

continue. The player characters can sneak out

and see the carriage that’s being prepared to

transport the boy. They can either roll STEALTH

to overhear that the boy, whose name is John

Karlsson, is actually being taken to the asylum,

or bribe the coachman with MANIPULATION to learn

the same thing. 2. During their investigation, the player characters

can roll VIGILANCE to notice that they are shadowed by stern men in suits. They are sent by the Magnussons who have noticed that the player characters are meddling with their affairs, and want to know more about them. If the characters confront the men, they will try to rough them up and tell them to stay away from other people’s business. They will not reveal who sent them unless caught and interrogated using MANIPULATION. 3. Several patients at the overcrowded asylum break

out of their rooms and are able to escape the

institution, before making it to the city center

of Upsala where they wreak havoc while shouting

about terrible beings “…that surrounds us all!” The

player characters can witness this, and help out

if they want.

Catastrophe

If the player characters fail to stop the patients of Upsala Asylum, either by convincing Sigrid that she must send aid or by trying to stop the patients themselves with force, the patients trigger riots as the police lose control and start arresting anyone who they deem suspect. Violence takes a temporary hold over Upsala, and several people are killed. Among them is Amanda Lorentz. Eventually, the authorities are able to calm the situation and the current supervisor, Niklas Frejd, is held responsible and faces a long prison sentence.

Sigrid Magnusson will pay a visit to Castle Gyllencreutz at some point after the player characters have gathered enough clues. Escorted by four very muscular bodyguards (equal in number to the players and with stats like the henchmen on page 33), she’s sipping a cup of tea in the breakfast room when the player characters enter. The servants of Castle Gyllencreutz are all standing to the side, eyeing the bodyguards and their weapons.

Dressed in red with an elaborate hat, Sigrid’s very beautiful. Her cold blue eyes will observe each one of the player characters as she slowly continues to sip her tea. Despite that, she will come off as pleasant and curious. She might take an extra interest in one of the player characters, even flirt with them depending on the mood. She knows that they knew Franzibald Hansen and offers her condolences upon hearing that the author passed. “…He was an inspiration, truly. A colorful imagination and a way with words unparalleled when compared to anyone else I’ve read.” Have the player characters roll OBSERVATION against Sigrid’s MANIPULATION. Only the player characters who pass will be able to ask questions, the others will be utterly and completely smitten by her. She only has good words to say about Franzibald. “I know Franzibald did not always agree with me and my methods, but I always felt there was a mutual respect between us.” It will sadden her to hear that he had grown suspicious of Svea Mining Corp and she wished he would have just talked to her.

After initial pleasantries, Sigrid will start to ask them about their interest in the Abisko Mine and Svea Mining Corp, and the conversation will suddenly feel like an interrogation. The player characters get the sense that Sigrid might know what they’ve been up to. If the player characters aren’t careful or too dismissive of her, she will start suspecting that they might be a threat to her. The main mission for this confrontation will be to convince Sigrid to send aid to the overcrowded asylum and avoid the Catastrophe (page 33).

If the player characters are able to charm her with MANIPULATION, she can also reveal the following:

The Vanadisir

• “Being part of Vanadisir was a fun pastime of mine before Eira, their leader, got consumed by her own self-importance. I am not a huge believer in organized religion, as you might have noticed since I am currently devoting my entire life to science…” With a wink, she’ll add, “But don’t tell the church that I said that!”
• Sigrid will be vague about her time with the Vanadisir and slightly dismissive. “I was young and usually quite intoxicated. All the strange things that happened might have been hallucinations. We were quite… careless during our ceremonies.” An OBSERVATION will reveal that she’s definitely hiding something but that’s all she’ll say about it.
• If Lisa Johansson is mentioned, she’ll act confused. “Was that the girl who died in the forest? Such a terrible situation indeed. I left shortly thereafter.” If the players tell her that Lisa Johansson is still alive, she’ll hide her surprise elegantly by sipping her tea.

The Patients at the Asylum

• She will act shocked if the players inform her that several critics of Svea Mining Corp have disappeared and that the asylum is on the brink of a collapse. “It horrifies me to hear that. Constructive criticism is extremely important for scientific discourse. I want to help people, that’s always been my main mission.”
• The player characters can try to convince her to send aid to the asylum in order to prevent more escapes and establish more humane conditions. This will prevent the Catastrophe from happening but also help the player characters build a relationship with Sigrid that will become useful later in the campaign.
• If the player characters manage to annoy Sigrid, she’ll grow suspicious and assume that they are nothing but nosy and potentially useful fools or, if things go really bad (if they insult her or attack her), she’ll see them as a threat to her operation. Regardless, the Catastrophe will be triggered if they fail to charm her. Eventually, Sigrid bids farewell, and depending on her feelings towards the player characters, she’ll decide to “look into the matters regarding the asylum.” A couple of days later, the players will be notified that authorities have been able to calm the situation. While several patients were wounded, even the ones who were not aggressive or tried to escape, the public will find out how terrible and inhumane the conditions have been in the asylum. Reports, most likely leaked by the Magnussons, reveal that Niklas Frejd, the manager, locked himself inside his office during the entire confrontation and fled the scene, leaving his workers and patients behind to fend for themselves.

Niklas Frejd will be arrested for his mismanagement and the public will solely blame him, not Svea Mining Corp, for the disaster. The patients who were wrongfully admitted will be set free, however, many of them are permanently damaged from their time at the horrid place and will have a hard time continuing their lives. Amanda Lorentz will be one of them, unable to return to journalism after the treatment she received. She’ll retire to the countryside, never to be heard from again.

The excitement and buzz about the Abisko Mine tapers down and Upsala slowly returns to being a regular student town, the need to “shut down critics” is less important to the Magnussons. They received the funding they needed, and the operations will continue in the north, far away from the public eye.

As winter arrives and with it, final exams, the town is once again distracted by more immediate matters. The player characters will have gathered important context and information about the key players of The Lost Mountain campaign but they now need to build up experience, resources and skills so they can eventually continue the investigation of the strange mine and its green stones.