Vancaskerkin Speculation


Pathfinder Adventure Path General Discussion


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I apologize if this isn't the right spot for this.

I've grown curious about the Vancaskerkins lately. This post is going to contain disparate information about them gathered from multiple APs and a forum post followed by idle thougths and speculation. Some might consider these spoilers for RotRL, CotCT or SD so view appropriately.

Potential AP Spoilers and rampant speculation:

In PF#1, Orik's background doesn't say anything about his family or his age.

In PF#7, Verik's background mentions that he left "several brothers" behind but the only one he misses is Orik, who is older. It seems to imply that he left Riddleport before Orik because it mentions that he heard Orik had left Riddleport. I find both of these things a bit odd when considering what is said in SD. His description mentions that he's in his early 20s.

In PF#13, Saul's background gives us a lot of information. It mentions both Orik and Verik. It tells us that Verik refused to help Saul cover up evidence of Orik's crime and fled Riddleport after Orik fled. It also seems to imply this took place soon after the murder. It refers to Verik as his "other" son, implying that they are the only two sons he has. It mentions Saul murdering his third wife (implying he had two before her) Bertrida. It also mentions that Saul spent "several years" rebuilding his fortune.

In the Second Darkness players guide, Lavender Lil's background mention she has taken refuge for the last year (which seems at odds with the statement under #3 about "several years". We also get the story of how Orik murdered Falk Zincher, little brother of the powerful crime boss Clegg Zincher.

In the upcoming AP#61, we are going to be introduced to Natayla. All we know so far is that she is a rogue Pathfinder and she "also happens to be a member of the Varisian criminals known as the Sczarni."

James Jacobs comments in this post comments that Saul is of Chelaxian descent and that he only has two sons "that he knows of".

Soooo...

Idle thoughts:

1. I wonder who Saul's other two wives were and what happened to them. He murdered at least one wife, after all... One wonders if this might have something to do with why Verik wouldn't help dad get rid of the evidence.

2. For that matter, which wife (if any) was Orik and Verik's mother?

3. We don't actually know yet if or how Natayla is even related to Saul and his sons. I note that nothing was said about whether Saul had any daughters or not. If Natayla is a member of the Sczarni and she is Saul's daughter, that implies she is Varisian. Since James Jacobs said Saul is of Chelaxian descent, could that mean that one of his previous wives was a Sczarni? Hopefully, we'll find out a lot more in August.

4. If Verik has "several brothers" but Saul only has two sons, that would seem to imply that Verik's mother had several boys but only one (Verik) or two (if Orik isn't Verik's half-brother) with Saul. That may mean she wasn't even Saul's wife or that she had multiple kids before she married Saul if she was his wife. I wonder where she is.

5. If Verik had "brothers" (plural), then that implies he has at least one other brother out there besides Orik, though he may not carry the Vancaskerkin name. I wonder about him.

6. I have to wonder if Riddleport is really safe for anyone named Vancaskerkin or connected to them or if there was a diaspora to safer parts after Clegg Zincher's wrath was aroused. You could potentially run into Vancaskerkins just about anywhere.

7. James Jacobs' comment about how Saul only has two sons "that he knows of" makes me wonder if Saul just left a few illegitimate children around here and there or if there is something more to it than that. (I imagine that's exactly what James intended. :) )

8. We also don't know anything about Saul's siblings. It could be he had siblings whose offspring could provide for a whole host of Vancaskerkins to populate APs for the foreseeable future.

9. We don't really know how long ago Orik committed his murder. SD implies it was "several years" in Saul's background but a single year in Lavender Lil's. I'm inclined to think it was more like 3-5 years, giving Saul time to suffer in the slums then build his fortune slowly, Orik time to wander around Varisia before falling in with Nualia and Verik time to join the Korvosan guard and then climb the ranks.


I must admit that I to am very curious to see how all the Vancaskerin drama plays out. It should be fun!


Pathfinder Maps, Starfinder Adventure Path, Starfinder Maps, Starfinder Society Subscriber; Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Superscriber

Well hopefully things have changed since last year.


Jam412 wrote:
Well hopefully things have changed since last year.

Evidently, they have. I saw that post saying the story had been told, but I also found the one I just linked saying both the fans and the CEO asked for more Vancaskerkins and we have Natayla coming up so here we are.... The story around Saul, Orik and Veril may be done but it seem we have a whole new drama coming up with Natayla.


Pathfinder Maps, Starfinder Adventure Path, Starfinder Maps, Starfinder Society Subscriber; Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Superscriber

Wow, I don't know how I missed that! Awesome, thanks for pointing that out!!


What an interesting subplot! I feel like I'm getting my soap opera fix now that "All My Children" has been cancelled ;)

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