Riebar will recognize Harpher Knap – as Mayor Jon Kaplan of Nevronia. Almost twenty years ago – CY 9120, a strange fungus broke out in the grain supply of Nevronia when he was mayor. He ordered the execution of the old and infirm, and placed his friends in secure places with the last of the food supply as riots were breaking out. over 50 people were killed under his orders, and another 50 died in the riots, with hundreds injured.
Riebar, still with the party, will see Harpher at the place of the duel. He will act very disconcerted as he first glimpses him from a distance. When the 2 camps meet after the duel to exchange words, Riebar will have a minor ‘freak-out’.
You! You! I know you! I was there, i saw it! Gods have mercy on you! You were dead, now the ghost returns!
Riebar will run from the meeting and flee to a place. He must be tracked. It may take several hours. During this time, Harpher will prepare. He will first try and have the party tracked.
I saw him and i will never forget him. That old man, the one stading in the retinue of Sir Carlin, he was Jon Kaplan – whatever he calls himself now i don’t know, but that is him. Did you see his left hand? No? Thats because it was burned in a fire. The townsfolk tried to kill him by burning his villa – a body was found but it was not recognizable. I watched my own parents executed – ridden down in the streets. He was there – right there when it happened. He ordered his men in the city square to make an example of the protesters outside his friends house. After that the riots started and the town became a living hell for three days. I always thought he was dead – everyone did, but he must have gotten away… and now he is still causing death and mayhem, under a different name, in a different place, but still him.
Jiles Swone’s knowledge: The Darrow Brothers – Harpher Knap has been a constant thorne. He’s always trying to move in on their business. He has connections in Tadeus – he’s a farrier is all they really know.
Reibar is slightly mad…. the party should know his not been the most stable. Prone to making strange sounds, and he’s become more nocturnal than diurnal… he is constantly hearing sounds that are not there. In short, he would be a terrible witness.
Confronting: He will deny everything and claim to be from East River Run and have a verifiable history with witnesses to prove it – but he will never let himself be drawn in. He will demand satisfaction or an apology.
Apology: Reibar will break down in the middle.
Have Riebar die if there is no PC controling him. If a PC has taken control of him, have him poisoned and live.
The doctor/vet examining him will rule he died of ‘fright’ – a bad heart.
The point here is to introduce a villainous character without confronting them. There’s only Riebar’s word and he was trapped in the caverns of the bolg Morda for years – his brain could easily be addled. However, Harpher is an enemy will now pursue the party actively.
The story was written into the plot thread after viewing Conscience of the King –
an original Star Trek episode from season 1.