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Ardashir
Senior Scribe
USA
544 Posts |
 Posted - 03 Oct 2006 : 17:43:35
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Very odd question here, but have there ever been any characters (in gaming or fiction) who were presented as 'serial killers' within the Realms? I'm guessing that some long-known characters are sociopathic (Manshoon comes across as one good guess; and probably at least some Lolthite drow), though I doubt they've gone the full 'kill solely for pleasure' route. But they do strike me as sociopathic in the sense of being solely concerned with their own advantage and being incapable of seeing others as people in their own right.
I also had the idea that some altered humans (like vampires ad werewolves -- who some scholars see as mythologized SKs) and utterly nonhuman beings (like mind flayers and beholders) can be seen as sociopathic in their actions as well.
Thanks for any responses & sorry if this horse has been beaten to death before this.
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Kuje
Great Reader
USA
7915 Posts |
Posted - 03 Oct 2006 : 17:55:22
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| The one that I thought of when I first read your post is that merchant of Talos/Malar that comes to Waterdeep every year and kills one person every time he's there. |
For some of us, books are as important as almost anything else on earth. What a miracle it is that out of these small, flat, rigid squares of paper unfolds world after world, worlds that sing to you, comfort and quiet and excite you... Books are full of the things that you don't get in real life - wonderful, lyrical language, for instance, right off the bat. - Anne Lamott, Bird by Bird
Scribe for the Candlekeep Compendium |
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Marc
Senior Scribe
662 Posts |
Posted - 03 Oct 2006 : 18:20:32
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Yeah, that Sumer (interesting name) guy, merchant from Calimshan, I've used him once (one PC died).
Anyway I don't think there shouldn't be real world type serial killers (American type) in FR because it think these sociopaths (notice socio part) need appropriate society to be raised in.
Also Manshoon has people that do the kills for him, so that rules him out. |
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Edited by - Marc on 03 Oct 2006 18:27:45 |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36995 Posts |
Posted - 03 Oct 2006 : 20:17:45
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| Serial killers are not solely an American concept. Let's not forget that one of the most famous real-world serial killers operated in London... |
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Mace Hammerhand
Great Reader
Germany
2296 Posts |
Posted - 03 Oct 2006 : 20:26:11
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And ole Jack wasn't really THAT busy...
You might wanna do some research on Vlad Tepes and Ersébet Báthory, two of the all time heave hitters when it comes to serial-killers/mass-murderers. Also twisted is the story of Fritz Haarmann...he makes Jack look really civilized and nice. |
Mace's not so gentle gamer's journal My rants were harmless compared to this, beware! |
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Marc
Senior Scribe
662 Posts |
Posted - 03 Oct 2006 : 20:27:34
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| I forgot about Jack, its not solely an American concept, there are/were madmen everywhere. |
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Edited by - Marc on 03 Oct 2006 20:29:40 |
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Ardashir
Senior Scribe
USA
544 Posts |
Posted - 03 Oct 2006 : 21:33:57
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quote:
Originally posted by Mace Hammerhand
And ole Jack wasn't really THAT busy...
You might wanna do some research on Vlad Tepes and Ersébet Báthory, two of the all time heave hitters when it comes to serial-killers/mass-murderers. Also twisted is the story of Fritz Haarmann...he makes Jack look really civilized and nice.
Actually, I thought that Peter Kuerten AKA 'The Monster of Dusseldorf' was the worst German serial killer of the mid-war period.
And I'm quite familiar with both Vlad and Bloody Bathory, being one of those morbid characters who likes reading up on the history of serial killers and such cheery topics. Though an evil aristocrat (be they Vlad, Bathory, or the Marquis de Sade) would certainly work well in places like Sembia or Amn. |
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31799 Posts |
Posted - 04 Oct 2006 : 01:53:15
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quote:
Originally posted by Kuje
The one that I thought of when I first read your post is that merchant of Talos/Malar that comes to Waterdeep every year and kills one person every time he's there.
Sumer -- Waterdeep and the North.
I'd also think Greeme, Sumer's "crony", would fall into the serial killer category somewhat. He uses poisoned weapons and I'm assuming he's put them into practice on more than one occasion while Sumer is off "doing his thing."
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Kuje
Great Reader
USA
7915 Posts |
Posted - 04 Oct 2006 : 02:01:38
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quote:
Originally posted by The Sage
quote:
Originally posted by Kuje
The one that I thought of when I first read your post is that merchant of Talos/Malar that comes to Waterdeep every year and kills one person every time he's there.
Sumer -- Waterdeep and the North.
I'd also think Greeme, Sumer's "crony", would fall into the serial killer category somewhat. He uses poisoned weapons and I'm assuming he's put them into practice on more than one occasion while Sumer is off "doing his thing."
Or the 3.5e Waterdeep sourcebook where Sumer is also discussed. I just didn't feel like looking up his name. :) |
For some of us, books are as important as almost anything else on earth. What a miracle it is that out of these small, flat, rigid squares of paper unfolds world after world, worlds that sing to you, comfort and quiet and excite you... Books are full of the things that you don't get in real life - wonderful, lyrical language, for instance, right off the bat. - Anne Lamott, Bird by Bird
Scribe for the Candlekeep Compendium |
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31799 Posts |
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Jorkens
Great Reader
Norway
2950 Posts |
Posted - 04 Oct 2006 : 07:54:44
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I am unsure if I would call the actions of Ilithids and Beholders sociopathic for the simple reason that their actions are natural for the species. The whole idea of sociopathic or insane killers becomes a little difficult in a violent medieval world as half of the mercenaries and "adventurers" would display traits like these. The previous example, Vlad Tepes was seen as a hero by great parts of Europe for his battles against the Turks and we still go to the movies to see characters from the old west that in reality were closer to the sociopathic killer type than the benign gunfighter image.
Back to the Realms; if you go to the Yet Another Forgotten Realms Page you will find a Waterdeep newspaper called the Waterdeep Herald. The material here does in my opinion hold as high a standard as most of the officially published Realms, and I am 90% sure that there was several mentions of a mass murderer specialising in killing priest haunting Waterdeep. I must admit that I mention this to advertise great unofficial Realmslore, but this is also the only example of the typical "slasher" type killer I can remember seeing mentioned.
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Dart Ambermoon
Learned Scribe
Germany
253 Posts |
Posted - 07 Oct 2006 : 04:17:23
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| I second that Jorkens. The site is mighty fine and the "Godstalker", as this killer is called, was the first thing I thought of when I read serial killer... |
~ In Finder I trust, for danger I lust ~ |
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lowtech
Learned Scribe
USA
315 Posts |
Posted - 07 Oct 2006 : 14:28:38
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| There's actually a character reminiscent of jack-the-ripper called jack Strumpet (aka Rimrus) operating in Saerloon (he's detailed in Faiths and Pantheons). |
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Silvanus79
Seeker
USA
58 Posts |
Posted - 08 Oct 2006 : 16:24:19
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In a world where all of the major cities have at least some sort of organized thieves' guild, I find the idea of a serial killer in the cities to be slightly farfetched. Of course, cities such as Waterdeep are going to attract them, but for the most part I see the thieves and other established underworld powers stomping on that quickly. After all, what's the point of running a thieves' guild if people are afraid to go out at night. And imagine the ire of an assassins' guild if someone just starts killing randomly!
Now, that said, I have used a serial killer in my games. I won't go into detail because of the graphic nature of the topic (there is an anything goes rule with my group that gets quite graphic at times), but I prefer to use him in smaller towns. The rumor of a killer loose in a city is frightening, but finding the neighbor's son, whom you have known all your life, dead in your barn is terrifying. And so on. The party got much more enjoyment out of the personal feeling they got when folk from small towns begged them to help. I still remember the cheer that went up from the group when the paladin rolled back-to-back 20's against the killer when they went up against him. |
Procrastinators unite! Tomorrow. |
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Asgetrion
Master of Realmslore
Finland
1564 Posts |
Posted - 10 Oct 2006 : 18:33:50
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quote:
Originally posted by Dart Ambermoon
I second that Jorkens. The site is mighty fine and the "Godstalker", as this killer is called, was the first thing I thought of when I read serial killer...
Actually, this guy has plagued our campaign for some time, killing a dozen or so NPC priests.
Our DM has also adopted a lot of the NPCs given on that site, and I honestly think it is probably the best FR "fan site" on the internet, in terms of quality content.
If you have not checked out Yet Another Forgotten Realms Page, do so. It has a lot of great information for any FR DM  |
"What am I doing today? Ask me tomorrow - I can be sure of giving you the right answer then."
-- Askarran of Selgaunt, Master Sage, speaking to a curious merchant, Year of the Helm |
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Faramicos
Senior Scribe
Denmark
468 Posts |
Posted - 10 Oct 2006 : 23:47:43
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| i have experienced the effect of a rumor of a serial killer loose in a campaign i was once a player in... He was kalled the Kantora Strangler (Ravenloft adventure) and strangled people with barbed wire (piece of artistic freedom consdering when the barbed wire were first introduced). He hunted at night and actually forced my group to stay inside and limit our night time operations due to his reputation... It had a great effect on the game and i have actually begun the construction of an adventure based on a similar character and the hunt to stop him. Serial killers are fascinating and unpredictable until you figure out their state of mind and patterne of action. Worth trying (the game i meen)... hi hi hi ;-) |
"When dragons make war, worlds can only tremble in the shadow of angry wings" |
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31799 Posts |
Posted - 11 Oct 2006 : 01:11:07
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quote:
Originally posted by Faramicos
i have experienced the effect of a rumor of a serial killer loose in a campaign i was once a player in... He was kalled the Kantora Strangler (Ravenloft adventure) and strangled people with barbed wire (piece of artistic freedom consdering when the barbed wire were first introduced). He hunted at night and actually forced my group to stay inside and limit our night time operations due to his reputation...
His actual name was Talgaard, and he was detailed in the Nightmare Lands box set (one of my favorite RL resources) -- Book III.
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Zhoth'ilam Folio -- The Electronic Misadventures of a Rambling Sage |
Edited by - The Sage on 11 Oct 2006 01:12:31 |
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Serial Killers of the Realms
