Beggar's Curse
An elderly woman beggar is found at the site of a murder of a very wealthy store owner. For lack of other suspects and the town's outcry for quick justice, the corrupt justice system quickly condemned her and sentenced her to public execution. As she was tied to the stake and the fire started below her she shouted words that would haunt the city until her death avenged.
An elderly woman beggar is found at the site of a murder of a very wealthy store owner. For lack of other suspects and the town's outcry for quick justice, the corrupt justice system quickly condemned her and sentenced her to public execution. Throughout the trial she continually swore that Lord Barlow, a resident royal, was the murderer she witnessed fleeing. Lord Barlow had many witnesses swearing to his whereabouts at the time of the murder and her testimony, that of a beggar, was ignored.
As she was tied to the stake and the fire started below her she shouted words that would haunt the city, 'I curse you, Lord Barlow, and the city that created you. I pledge that at the moment of my death you will no longer have peace of mind or peace of family until this wrong is righted.'
From the moment of her death the city began being plagued by insect infestations, uncontrollable fires, people having a madness taking over them causing them to do evil things, anything you can think of to disrupt a city has or will happen.
The only way to stop the curse is two part. First is to get the ashes of the beggar women and take them to her homeland or something similiar. Then they must make Lord Barlow pay for his wrong which is the most important.
One of the servants of Lord Barlow may turn him over if it comes down to it. Whether they know something or not they may sacrifice him to stop the curse.
Could make him burn at the stake, whether by proving him guilty and having the law convict him or inciting a mob to end the curse. Mob might make an interesting dilemma for good aligned characters or an easy way out for others.
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? Responses (5)
I like the idea. Maybe the players even get caught up in the trial and could be the only ones spared by the curse if they worked to help the beggar woman.
Its comments such as this that make me question commenting or voting until its clerified.
Well, I don't read Ravenloft at all, never have. As you can see by the 2002 date, this was one of my original posts on the site and it was in a notebook long before that. So, whatever, basically. Defending myself to unsubstantiated Horde posts is annoying. If you have a real reference I wish you would show it so I could see what you are even talking about.
I think the plot is basic enough that it could come from a hundred places - its nice and simple. Wrongful death. Curse. Lift Curse.
Now, wrongful death is so common that the story needs to turn on why the beggar woman had such power? Favorite of some god? Was she once a powerful witch fallen on hard times? Evil is rarely punished, so why now?
I am a bit curious as to why she cursed the entire city. Is this a large city? Is there a disproportionate number of poorly treated beggars?