Lars Philpot

Lars Philpot was a suspected con artist who lived in the early Golden Age and who gained notoriety with his claims of being able to reach Oberth.

Background

Nothing about Lars' life before his appearance in Arindell is known. Witnesses who met with him estimated his age to be about 40, making him far too young to have fought in the Mage Wars as he claimed. He was also never seen to perform any magic, damaging his claims of being a wizard of some repute.

He arrived by wagon train in Arindell in the spring of 151 A.Y. where he stayed at a series of cheap lodging houses and purportedly skipped out on several bills. He attempted to join the Wizard's Guild of Aren(most likely to lend his claims an air of legitimacy) but was rejected when he refused to pay the initial registration fee and first months dues.

Claims

From the moment he arrived in Arindell, Lar would tell anyone who would listen that he had a way to travel to Oberth, and that the planet contained vast, untold riches. He claimed to be an accomplished Wayshifter and explorer who had traveled to over 1,000 different worlds and knew of hundreds of waystones now lost to other travelers. For a very sizable fee to be paid in advance, he offered to take anyone there, and promised that if they only brought along a few sacks, they'd make enough to pay the costs a hundred times over.

The obvious fallacy of this claim, that if it were that simple he should be the richest man on Aren, was never addressed by Lars.

Death and Possible Proof

Lars carried a satchel with him in which he claimed to hold proof of his visits to Oberth. Much like travel, he would only show this evidence in exchange for a small(but still considered unreasonable) fee, and very few people ever saw the contents. Those who did made little comment other than to say they felt cheated. Lars eked out his living by collecting these fees, scamming free meals and drinks from potential investors, and skipping out on the bills at every lodging house where he stayed.

In late fall of 151 Lars was found dead, the victim of apparent strangulation. His satchel was found empty. Initial speculation claims he was murdered for "the treasure of Oberth" which he carried. A local prostitute was later arrested and found guilty of his murder. She claimed she killed him after he collected on her services but refused to pay. She was later hung for the crime. The contents of the satchel were never found.

However, in Lars' room was found a Waystone Network#Waybook dated to roughly B.G.A. 200. The book, which later became known as the Larengian Codex for its association to Mr. Philpot, was confirmed to be genuine. The book was taken into the possession of the Library of Arindell and promptly lost, though an entry for it in the card catlogue survived into the Third Age.