Vaesen: Mythic Carpathia (Deep Dive & Review)

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Since its debut in 2020, Free League’s Vaesen has carved out a niche for itself as one of the most unique horror TTRPGs to come along in years. Set in an alternate 19th century steeped in Scandinavian folklore, the game features streamlined mechanics, unique monsters (vaesen is Swedish for “entity”) and iconic artwork from illustrator Johan Egerkrans.

Now, Free League is headed east with Vaesen: Mythic Carpathia, a new expansion that shifts the setting from its Nordic roots to the mist-shrouded wilds and haunted cities of Eastern Europe. Along the way it introduces new vaesen, mysteries and character options. Notably, the supplement is the result of a successful Kickstarter launched in late 2024, with the book now available to the general public via your local game store, the Free League website and DriveThruRPG.

In this review, we dig into what’s inside Mythic Carpathia, how it differs from previous books and whether this descent into Slavic folklore is worth the journey. (NOTE: I have not received a review copy from Free League, but purchased a physical copy of the book at my own expense from my local game store).

What’s included in “Vaesen: Mythic Carpathia”?

Vaesen: Mythic Carpathia is a 136-page expansion for Vaesen: Nordic Horror Roleplaying. The book is designed for Game Masters and includes:

• A gazetteer of Prague, breaking out the city’s streets, history and politics.
• Details on “Pravda,” a new secret Society based in Prague, with details on its founders, headquarters and history.
• 16 new vaesen drawn from Central and Eastern European folklore, including Vampires, Rusalkas, Golems and Baba Yaga herself. Each entry includes lore, stats and story hooks.
• Three complete mysteries, (Vaesen’s version of adventures) set in Prague, Ukraine and Transylvania.
• A large, full-color map of the Carpathian region and a detailed city map of Prague.
• A new character archetype, (Vaesen’s version of classes) the Vampire Hunter, who uses brains and brawn to battle the undead.

What is the lore and setting info like in Vaesen: Mythic Carpathia?

In terms of the gazeteer and setting info, much of it leans into historical and geographical facts. Where the book really shines, however, is in the real world supernatural elements its provides (the Biobilography at the start of the book listing a ton of references to historical Polish, Czech and Ukranian sources). Like other Vaesen materials, a key thematic element is exploring the conflict between modernity and myth, and it works well within the actual real world context of the region.

The new Pravda Society also feels like a solid addition and stacks up well compared to existing societies like the Order of Artemis introduced in the the original Vaesen core rulebook. The section of the book breaks out their structure, history, personnel and facilities. It’s a Society that has a darker and bloodier past than its Scandinavian and Northern European counterparts and works well with the overall vibes of the book.

What are the monsters like in Vaesen: Mythic Carpathia?

Mythic Carpathia includes 16 new vaesen, each of which contains associated lore, rituals, potential conflicts, secrets and stat blocks. These include iconic creatures that may be familiar to players, such as Baba Yaga (a terrifying flying hag with iron teeth), Dhampirs (human-vampire hybrids) and Rusalka (alluring undead water nymphs).

The book does, however, include lesser known creatures pulled from Slavic and Eastern European folklore. This includes options like the Udinytsia (an evil female spiriti who feeds on luck), the khokha-yarokha (tiny, lizard-like vaesen that collect children’s teeth), the zerkalytsia (an undead spirit trapped in a mirror) and the drekavac (shrieking imp-like creatures attracted to scenes of tragedy).

All of the vaesen are incredibly well done with enough narrative and mechanical meat to run a single mystery around them or build them into an existing campaign.

What are the mysteries like in “Vaesen: Mythic Carpathia”?

Mythic Carpathia features three mysteries each of which is associated with a particular region:

• A Treaty of Blood: Takes place in secluded village, deep in the Carpathian mountains in Transylvania, with players trapped in a brutal winter storm and facing down a powerful vampire and an even more vicious supernatural threat.
• The Gathering Storm: Set in Ukraine, the mystery takes place in a former monastery that’s been converted into a prison, with players investigating a ghostly figure that has begun to infect the minds of the prisoners and guards alike.
• The Secret of the Maharal: Set in Prague, players are tasked to investigate a string of brutal nighttime killings threatens to ignite religious unrest between the city’s various ethnic groups and must stop a Golem before bloodshed grips the streets.

All three mysteries are incredibly well done and noticeably darker and more grim than we’ve seen from previous Vaesen products. All are more than just by-the-numbers monster hunts, and instead require a unique blend of exploration, investigation and roleplaying to uncover the truth. They also lean into the moral complexity and character-driven narratives that have become a hallmark of Vaesen, with players having to understand a creature’s motives before deciding whether to battle, banish or appease it.

One minor quibble is several clues in the mysteries seem like they might be easy to miss and in a few instances important information about NPCs can be buried, but these don’t do much to detract from gameplay and as long as GMs spend a bit of time with the material beforehand, it’s nothing that can’t be addressed.

What are the rules and player options like in “Mythic Carpathia”?

Mechanically, Mythic Carpathia doesn’t introduce any significant new rules (although technically it using the new revised Vaesen second edition, which remains compatible with the first edition).

The biggest update is the introduction of the new Vampire Hunter archetype. It’s a single page entry that offers new options for Motivation, Trauma, Dark Secrets and Relationships. It’s Key Attribute is Precision and its Key Skill is Close Combat (making it a little more of a focused archetype than we’ve seen in the past). It also includes a number of new Talents including Hateful of Bloodsuckers (you gain +2 to Fear tests when facing vampires or their monions), Impelor (you gain +2 to Close Combat when using a stake) and On the Hunt (you can Heal one Condition when you learn where a vaesen can be found).

It feels a little bit like an afterthought, and it would have been great to see at least 3 or 4 other archetypes included in the book that draw on the rich lore presented in other parts of Mythic Carpathia.

What’s the art and design of “Vaesen: Mythic Carpathia” like?

Like every Free League product, Mythic Carpathia is visually stunning. Lead artist Johan Egerkrans once again brings his unique aesthetic which is absolutely dripping with dread and atmosphere. The book also includes portraits from artist Anton Vitus, which are creepy and perfectly compliment the tone. In addition, the maps from Francesca Baerald are top quality and really make the world feel alive in addition to being table useable. It’s as much of an art book as it is a tabletop role playing game.

It’s also worth noting that the writing is top notch. While once in awhile there’s an odd turn of phrase or two (that may be the result of translating from Swedish to English), in general the writing is evocative, smart and narratively compelling. The adventure design is also incredibly polished, which again, isn’t surprising given the high quality we see from Free League.

How much is “Vaesen: Mythic Carpathia”?

Vaesen: Mythic Carpathia retails for approximately $49.99 USD for the hardcover or $24.99 USD for the PDF (the latter of which is available through both Free League and DriveThruRPG).

It’s a little pricey for a 136-page supplement, but its a case of quality over quantity, and for the amount of material you get and the absolutely gorgeous production values, it’s definitely the worth the cost if you’re a fan of Vaesen.

When was “Vaesen: Mythic Carpathia” released?

The book was released in hardcover and PDF formats to the general public on October 28th, 2025. Notably, those who backed the 2024 Kickstarter received their PDF copy of the book several months prior to this release date and an early Beta review copy was also released to backers in August 2025.

Is “Vaesen: Mythic Carpathia” worth picking up?

Pros

• Gorgeous art and layout by Johan Egerkrans and team
• Deeply researched and authentic Central and Eastern European folklore
• Three excellent, atmospheric mysteries with moral complexity and unique monsters
• Strong writing and production quality throughout

Cons

• Only one new archetype (Vampire Hunter) feels limited
• Some clues and NPC details in mysteries can be too subtle or easy to miss
• A bit pricey for a 136-page supplement
• Not ideal for new GMs unfamiliar with Vaesen’s system

Final Thoughts

Vaesen: Mythic Carpathia is a haunting and beautifully expansion that transforms the world of Nordic horror into something darker, older and more terrifing. It’s not merely a change of scenery, it’s a full cultural reimagining of the Vaesen experience, one that trades the frozen lakes and haunted woods of Sweden for the nightmare-drenched black soil of the East.

If you’re already a fan of Vaesen, this is honestly a must-have expansion for one of TTRPG’s best new horror games.

Final Review Score: 19 out of 20

You can pick up Vaesen: Mythic Carpathia now from your local game store, Free League and DriveThruRPG.