Board Thread:Roleplaying/@comment-5583506-20150320000159/@comment-5583506-20150321163332

The whole book was some sort of historical record for the events told from the perspective of the City Watch. A particular section labeled as: The Pale Man Case, caught Velaryon's eye.

~ 4E 206, Morning Star 14

Maven Black-Briar was finally caught red-handed and apprehended, suspected of extortion and blackmailing.

''During her interrogation she broke down and explained in fear that she had been acting on behalf of the Pale Man. As many of us know, the Pale Man, is supposedly some sort of fabled crime lord, hiding in the Underways deeper down the Ratway. Many claims by other apprehended criminals have all been directed to this particular character. We have yet to conclude exactly who or what this 'Pale Man' is, but seeing as there are no relation that ties these criminals together, we have no other choice but to believe their testimony that there is indeed someone running a criminal organisation from the ancient Underways.''

~ 4E 206, Morning Star 16

''Several criminals brought in for questioning about their relation to the Pale Man was found murdered in their cells. Some of their organs had been removed in a surgical fashion, leading us to believe that they were killed by someone well-educated in the human anatomy. What's more strange is the fact that the cells were severely locked and that the guard posted outside the dungeon said that no one had entered or exited the prison cells.''

''We had heard several claims by some of the suspects' testimonies before they died that their employer, this ominous 'Pale Man', has some sort of omni-presence. Although that theory has been debunked by several of our experts on the subject of how this crime lord could have been running a criminal empire right under the nose of the City Watch.''

~ 4E 206, Morning Star 17

''Captain Astain Ladurec was found murdered today! His death was a tragic one, but not in vain. His constant research on the matter of how to find the Pale Man gave fruit in the finding of his body. Apparently Astain had found out from where the Pale Man runs his operations on the surface. The old condemned house on the far western side of town, known among the local populace and the City Watch as 'the Derelict', was apparently the Pale Man's base of operations. Astain was found dead inside, with a precis stab wound to his heart, implying that he had been dispatched with haste. Maybe because he caught the Pale Man in the act? Also found on the inside of the building were more proof of the Pale Man's cruel doings in our town. Ranging from frightening letters with threats of death to assassination orders. Also found inside were several of the organs he had removed from his victims as well as a map which pin-pointed the secret location of the Pale Man's underground hideout in the Underways.''

We are getting close to him now...

''Captain Astain Ladurec, your death will be avenged. Thanks to your heroic sacrifice, we will now be able to catch him. ''

~ 4E 206, Morning Star 21

''Captain Aedulf, Saffi, Argus Hestria, Dragging-His-Feet and I finally gathered enough evidence to be allowed to continue our investigation in the Underways, in order to search for the Pale Man's hideout. We followed the map left behind at the crime scene where captain Astain was murdered and mustered the courage to follow the dead man's last lead. We will be guided into the tunnels by som Breton prostitute, who claims to know her way around. Hell, we won't back down from help when it is offered freely. A descent into darkness awaits us...''

~ 4E 206, Morning Star 21

''It's night. Or at least I think it is. The Underways lies almost hundred fathoms below the common Ratway. I think it's built upon the ruins of some older construct from the Late Merethic Era, but I have no clue as to who or what built it. It's pitch black down here. I keep hearing strange things in the tunnels. Water is dripping from the damp, arched ceiling. Rats are lurking around in the shadows and feeds upon whatever insect life that lives down here. There are... other things down here as well. I can hear them, but I never see them. It's as if they keep themselves away from our sources of light: the lanterns. The others have made camp in the south-eastern chamber while I am out here scouting for our next path further into the lair of the Pale Man.''

''I am starting to believe that he isn't a normal criminal at all. No human being could possibly live in this darkness... or could they?''

~ 4E 206, Morning Star 22

''We caught him! We finally caught the Pale Man! Just when I was having doubts about whether or not he was a being of flesh and blood, there he was! Taken by surprise, as we stormed into the tunnel and into his hideout, he tried to escape through some secret staircase. But this time he wouldn't elude us. We have apprehended him. Pale he is indeed. His skin is milky white, most likely so by living constantly underground. He looks to be of Imperial stock. He cursed at us and swore that he would kill us like the way he killed all those people. He threatened that he would rip our organs from our bodies and bathe in our blood if he ever was set loose.''

''Saffi punched him in an effort to keep him silent. Then the Pale Man smiled. I believe that I have never seen such a cruel smile in my entire life. His eyes glimmered in amusement as he boasted about his killings, in detail... He told us of how he had gutted women in their sleep, how he had strangled men with their own intestines and watched as they writhed in a mix of asphyxiation, pain and panic, how he had abducted children just to let them fall into the black, unknown pits of the Underways. All in order to keep Riften in constant fear for his actions, and to live under his rule. The reign of the Pale Man.''

''That's when captain Aedulf gave the order. He had apparently heard enough. He grabbed the Pale Man by the throat and ordered Saffi to break down a wall in the hideout. The Redguard did as he was ordered and grabbed a nearby sledge, just to bring the brickworks down with one single strike.''

''On the other side there was a tight hallway with a dead end. The captain ordered Argus and Dragging-His-Feet to bring him a hammer and iron bolts. They obeyed and watched as Aedulf nailed the Pale Man to the dead end through his hands, pinning him to the wall and screaming in pain. He then gave me and the others the order to seal the wall again, leaving the Pale Man to his fate: all walled up in pain in the darkness he had been living in.''

''The Pale Man shouted at us, cursed us. He said that he would return to one day make us all pay. He said that he wouldn't rest until Riften was once again under his control. The Breton prostitute witnessed the cruel, but just punishment we delivered. All those people had been avenged.''

We left the hideout in the shadows and exited the tunnels under silence, only to hear the muffled screams of the Pale Man, walled up inside his tomb for all eternity...

—  As told through the narrative of Bure Hammerhand, guard of the City Watch of Riften.

-

"You should not doubt yourself, my child", said the priest assuringly. "Because the moment you do, this man or woman you are chasing, has already won. More dark tidings are to be expected, but you must not submit to this. The very reason why our world has yet to be consumed by man's faults is because of people like you. People who are willing to fight back whatever evil they stand before, and no matter what the odds are. If you back down now, those too weak to defend themselves will surely succumb to this corruption. Are you strong enough to resist?"

He then put a comforting hand on her own. "Listen now, carefully, for what I am about to tell you... I have during my life  heard things... seen things which I cannot bring myself to explain to myself, with fear for going insane if I even so much as try to comprehend it. I don't know what darkness lies over this town, but I can definitely sense it... This is one of those moments where your very life will test your strength and courage."

He rose up from the bench and headed over to the statue of Mara, looking up at her face. "Brace yourself, Investigator. There are forces at work here which cannot be explained by any education you have experienced so far. You must be ready to open your mind for things which cannot be explained by any of your scientific means of reason and logic..."