Character Ask - Blog Posts

As soon as Barok responds to the first letter, red handwritten writing begins to appear on a blank page. It’s as if the letter is being written right in front of him. Though he can’t see anyone writing the letter. “I’m surprised you aren’t panicking over my letter, or scrambling to find a logical solution for a letter written in your deceased brother’s handwriting.” The letter says. 👻

Dear brother,

I have spent quite some time wrestling with my relationship to the truth. It was my unwillingness to see what was in front of me that led me down this ten year long path. Had I only been more open to the knowledge that was so clear, so plain, so far under my nose, our legal system could have been investigated far earlier.

So, as I see handwriting from my brother, written by no one visible to my eyes, I can only believe that it is you writing it. If you wish to prove who you are, you could always do something to help me believe further. I see no other way this could be happening.

Signed, Barok.

"Barok, can you see this letter?" Is all the letter says. It's written in fresh ink, but the handwriting resembles that of his dead brother. 👻

No matter how I look at this, I cannot believe... and yet, when I ran my fingers over the letter, the ink smudged and spread as though it had been written moments before. The handwriting is undeniably familiar, the ink the scarlet he loved to use in his time.

So, all told, yes. I can see this letter.

Signed, Barok

*another letter was left in Strongharts cell along with a small carved unicorn*

Dear Mr. Stronghart,

I am glad that you like the carved bird so I left you another gift! As for your question though, yes I am Barok's half younger brother.

Sincerely,

T.V.Z

To T.V.Z.,

I am fascinated by everything you have provided me with. I am a fan of the mythical unicorn, one of the symbols of our empire. Elusive, powerful, untameable. Much like the late Lord van Zieks.

I refer, of course, not to Klimt, but of your presumed father. I understand he was perceived to be quite the tomcat by those in his social circles, but I find it hard to believe that he would be able to hide such horrific promiscuity, adultery, and stupidity from the public for so long. How could it be that we have taken so long to learn of your existence, young van Zieks? Does Barok know about you? Do you truly use the van Zieks last name? It is brazenly foolish of you, if you wish your family to remain within any sort of social standing.

Had I known then that it was so easy to blackmail a family like yours, I would have done it long before Humphrey died.

Signed, Mael Stronghart.

Dear Uncle Naruhodo,

I’m accused of murder can you please come and defend me please. It has something to with my late judicial assistant Miss Victoria.

9, 1,13, 7,21,12,9,20,25

1,19,11,9,14,7, 25,15,21, 2,5,3,1,21,19,5,

8,5,1,20,8,5,18, 1,19,11, 13,5, 20,15 1,19,11, 25,15,21.

Henry



Dear Henry,

I... I do not know if I can comply with such a request. I understand the gravity of the situation, and it is something I never would want to find myself in, but the simple matter of fact is that I am in Japan and it will take me an immense amount of time to make it to Europe. My previous trip to London took me well over a month.

While I would love to help you with such a thing, I do not think I am the man for you. I am so, so sorry. Is there anyone else you could possibly ask?

Regretfully, Naruhodou Ryuunosuke

Dear cousin Iris,

20, 5, 12, 12

5, 22, 18, 25, 15, 14, 5

20, 8, 1, 20

20, 9, 13, 5

9, 19

21, 16

6, 15, 18

13, 5

2, 12, 1, 13, 5

11, 1, 18, 13, 1

Henry

My dear cousin Henry,

I have solved your little puzzle and I must say, I fear for you. Truly, I do. I do not know what fate awaits you, but I can only plead for you to find some way to avert it. Holmesies and I will find some way to discover the truth about your circumstances if the need be, but I hope it does not have to come to that.

With great concern, Iris

Dear father,

I found the letter you send to my brother and I'm very confused my brother had been away for some time and for him to request something like this is strange. Because you see Miss Karma and my brother Henry had been very close very close I might add. So I don't think my brother would request to destroy evidence like that in fact when it came to a case he would gladly look it over again making sure everything is not fishy about it. May I say that also My brother is planning to look over Miss Karma’s case again after he is back from his trip so I don't think he would want to destroy any evidence about the case? Maybe you got the wrong letter by chance.

Your daughter,

Heather Van zikes

Dear Heather,

I must encourage you to be careful engaging in this matter. I would not be surprised if your brother is in serious danger. I would keep any news about your brother to a minimum in case your letters are being monitored. While it is unlikely, it is always a possibility. I do not believe he would want to destroy evidence if he was still interested in it, and would not be surprised if there were some sort of third party involved here.

Signed, Barok van Zieks

Dear Uncle Naruhodo,

Did you had go through a time were the person who you were defending turned out to be nothing but a liar but couldn’t do anything about it.

You see my friend/judicial assistant brother Factor Karma.

Did something unbelievable and it ended up in my friend/judicial assistant Victoria Karma being gone forever.

Sorry if this to inconvenient for you

Henry Kilnt Van zikes

Dear Henry,

I am afraid that I have experienced quite a similar situation in my past. While we did not know for certain whether or not my client was guilty, I (as well as my judicial assistant) suspected that he was openly lying on the stand, even going so far as to manipulate the evidence and bribe members of the court.

While I do not know the particulars of your situation, it sounds like an upsetting one indeed. I know that, if I lost my judicial assistant, I would be... well... lost. She is the cornerstone of my court experiences; without her, my skills as a lawyer would crumble.

If you need to talk to someone about those events, I have quite a bit of free time.

Respectfully, Naruhodou Ryuunosuke

dre... bber...

...

...

Enoch... Drebber!!!!!

🔥🔥GAaaAaaaaAAAaaaaAaaarrrgh AAAARRRrgggggghhh!!!!!🔥🔥

🔥Do. You. Dare. Mock. Me. Now. 🔥

🔥🔥DO YOU? 🔥🔥

🔥Aha ha ha ha ha haaaaaa 🔥

Well 🔥Do what you will...

You'll see... In due time🔥

I will be watching over her... Closely... As I always have...

And should the thought of deceiving her... Even fleetingly cross your mind...

🔥🔪I WILL NOT SPARE YOU🔥🔪

IT IS ONLY FAIR NOW

THAT I SHOULD PROTECT MY OWN BLOOD THIS WAY

Wouldn't you agree...

Mr Drebber?

🔥🔥🔥🔥AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

To presumably Courtney Sithe, or at least what remains of her,

I am glad to see I can always count on your levelheadedness in any sort of precarious situation. I am certainly thankful that your work is, or at least was, in that of dead bodies, rather than alive.

I am in no way trying to deceive your daughter. As for blood...

I have made my own sacrifice because of my family trying to protect their blood in much the same way. Do be careful of how tightly you hold onto them, as you may be applying a tourniquet to a wound or instead a healthy limb. Is it worth it to tempt the possibility of necrotic tissue that must be removed?

Scientifically yours, Enoch Drebber

Mr Drebber,

You? Being a college to my daughter? You must hold yourself in a too high regard to think you could be an intellectual equal to her. Ha! Do you think she'd be as foolish as to accept any drivel coming from a fraudster such as you? Do you think that *I* would allow you to go anywhere near her, you vile wrench, you abomination? Has it not been enough for you to ruin my life that you would seek to ruin my daughter's as well?

Besides... You, working for Scotland Yard? Do you think they would accept you, given your history? Was it not you yourself who said you had grown to despise this most upstanding institution? Or are you changing your tune now, as you have well done before, because it's convenient for you?

I will not accept this. I *will* make sure you stay away from my daughter, even if it means I'll have to drag you to the depths of hell with me!

Dr Sithe

To my until recently esteemed colleague,

I would like to thank you for putting such words into my mouth. I do not consider myself to be an intellectual equal to your daughter. If everyone in a workplace had to be as intelligent as one another, some morticians would have lost their jobs a tad sooner.

However, you do bring up a point that I had not properly considered. I was so enamored by the idea of progressing scientific knowledge that I forgot I would be autopsying for that horrifically corrupt organization. Though I hope it will be making changes to fix such things, I know too that I cannot depend on anyone or anything other than myself and the greed of humanity.

With all that said, there is one thing you've failed to consider: your daughter is intelligent and well capable of making her own decisions. Whether or not I become her colleague or friend is up to her, not you.

Best wishes, Enoch Drebber

Hi barok… aah how exactly did you dad die?!?

Anon.

My father was a cruel, foolish man. He believed that he could conquer anything, and that included the great beasts of the plains of Africa. He kept such animals in his house without knowing what such "pets" would demand in terms of care. He and his servants were injured many times by the unruly beasts. He was eventually killed by his favorite of his pets, the snake. It was entirely preventable.

Lord Barok van Zieks

Inquiry towards the members of the van zeiks household

We are writing to you in regards to rumors of items contained within the van zeiks manor. We would like to know the validity of the claim that you are in possession of one “dragon skeleton”. If authentic, that would be one of the most monumental discoveries in the history of our great country. While many members have their doubts, it was not that long ago that we discovered that the once mythical okapi was indeed a a living breathing beast. We a truly living in an age of discovery. In addition, we have also been informed of the possible possession of many exotic specimens, both living and preserved. Access to such a collection would be instrumental in helping our organization in our scientific endeavors.

We are eagerly awaiting any further information you wish to provide.

-Zoological Society of London

With regards to the Zoological Society of London,

I understand that this may be quite disappointing, but it must be said that I cannot believe in the possibility of dragons. While I do not study science as much as some of my acquaintances, I believe I understand enough to know that such a creature would not be able to lift its body off of the ground. With that out of the way, I do know what specimen you are speaking of.

The late Lord and Lady van Zieks, my mother and father, were braggarts, to put it bluntly. I do not know precisely where they sourced their bones, though I do believe it was from Africa. I do not know if they themselves put this skeleton together in such a state or if they were tricked into buying it, but, that being said... It's not a dragon skeleton. My best guess would be a large animal such as a giraffe, a hippopotamus, or an elephant.

There are many things that my late parents decorated our homes with, things that I am not very attached to. That being said, I highly doubt any of these things would be of much interest to such a group of scientists. They had owned an exotic snake, cheetah, baboon, and possibly even more animals, though as such animals led to the death of my father, we did not keep these animals.

I am willing to answer any further inquiries on this subject.

Lord Barok van Zieks