Odd Old Man

RS

Not to be confused with Mysterious Old Man, Weird Old Man, Strange Old Man, or the Wise Old Man.

Odd Old Man
Release date	10 April 2006 (Update)
Members only?	Yes
Race	Human
Quest NPC?	• Rag and Bone Man • Rag and Bone Man II • Bone Voyage
Location	Silvarea
Sells items?	No
Gender	Male
Examination
Examine	That's a lot of bones on his back...
Examine	That's a lot of bones on his back...

The Odd Old Man (real name: Archibald Paldock) starts the Rag and Bone Man quest. He collects bones, furs, teeth, and similar items for what was previously an unknown purpose. The bone sack on his back appears to talk to him and tell him what to say. He says he works for the Varrock Museum, bringing stuffed creatures to put on display, but his phrasing suggests he is misleading the player, to hide the real reason why he wants these items.

The Odd Old man gives you either a bonesack or ram skull helm when you have completed Rag and Bone Man II.

He is located at the Paterdomus mining site, also known as the limestone quarry, north-east of Varrock.

Treasure Trails

Odd Old Man is the solution to the hard anagram clue: LAND DOOMD. He will then ask you to solve a puzzle box.

Trivia

• His real name, Archibald Paldock is most likely a reference to Captain Haddock (whose full name is Archibald Haddock) from the Tintin comic series. (Another character in this series keeps on misremembering his surname).
• After completing Rag and Bone Man II, the list will have "Non-chafing Manacles" written on it.
• The Odd Old Man's research is similar to the story of Frankenstein, in that both Victor Frankenstein and the Odd Old Man are consumed by their research to the point of committing atrocities by putting together monsters from dead body parts.
• The Odd Old Man could be a reference to an urban legend about an escaped mental patient called 'The Body Dismemberer' who carried a large, lumpy bag. He would mutter to himself and claim that the bones in his bag "made him do it."
• Fortunato appears to revere the man; when approached over buying vinegar, he becomes enraged at the thought he might carry it until you mention that you were sent to him. After learning that it was Paldock who sent you, he becomes highly respectful, and calls you "lordship" upon return trips.