Chapter
Vaettir
This morning I left Reverend Solander's home in Piteå with my gift stuffed into my satchel. It was given to me by a vaesen no bigger than my forearm – a rat-like creature on two legs, who addressed me by name as I was trying to sleep. The creature begged me to move a water barrel that had been placed in the corridor outside the kitchen. I did what it asked, and found that the barrel was blocking a hole in the floor. A tiny figure popped out, smiling at me with its froggish face and tipping its hat. The next morning, I found my gift – a beautiful troll drum wrapped in birch leaves – upon my blanket.
— Carl Linnaeus, June 17th, 1732
No vaesen lives closer to the humans than the vaettir, who are also the easiest to get along with. They live in colonies underneath stables and fireplaces or in underground passages. The household ought to warn them before pouring hot water on the ground or moving any buildings. The vaettir are as small as rats, dressed in black or gray clothes, with an appearance that resembles small animals such as toads, mice, or hedgehogs. They have short names like Toss, Poss, or Knoss. Humans kind enough to help them can be rewarded with leaves of gold or magic items. But the vaettir can also be vengeful, spreading diseases or burning down the farm.