An interesting interpretation... I genuinely believe that Tarquin cares-even if a little- for his new found son... Or at least the person he thinks Elan is :smalltongue:
I think he'd feel a genuine twinge of regret if he had to have either of his sons killed, (a slightly larger twinge for Elan) but it wouldn't stop him from doing it if he had to.
Tarquin's comfort > everyone else.
I wonder what arrangements Tarquin has done in order to avoid the "Great Fire Below". He knows he will be killed soon or later, and that he will go to the Seven Hells...a person so concerned with his own well-being and comfort would want to avoid an eternity of torture for sure.
That's a good point.... Him and Malack will have something set up, otherwise why would he keep him around?
He's already shown that he doesn't really care about his feelings too much, he's even kept Nale around after what he did to him...
And it's not like he needs him as a cleric... he could just hire one :smallconfused:
I think "It's business, Malack" is their code for "let him live for now. I'll let you do as you please when we're done with him".
I bet this kind of situation happens quite often "why are you letting that punk live? he's stolen our gold and tried to kill you" "It's business, Malack, he has promised to help us kill the king of X-land in exchange for letting him live".
I think it's more likely that their group is just one that has a long history of putting business ahead of personal feelings. Emphasizing business was just reminding him that when it comes to a choice between ruling the world and getting some personal revenge the group has a clear answer that they have to go with.
And that sort of professionalism is why they've gotten as far as they have.
Definitely. Look at Malack's lines in the sixth panel here (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0854.html).
"You were the one that demanded I put aside my personal greivance for this crucial mission, as per our long-standing protocols." (underline mine, bold in original).
I love how Tarquin in this scenario objected more to being forgotten than being known as a clown.:smallbiggrin:
And thus, the forum exploded. What have you done?!?!:smalltongue:
I actually did dislike Kubota because I saw him as an annoying nobody villain without charm who was getting in the way of the good stuff.
Tarquin however is a villain I enjoy.
True. That said, I find Nale entertaining.
I have another theory, that in the epic showdown, Julio Scoundrel will swoop in and save Elan, but in the process he gets killed by Nale or Tarquin, so Elan gets mad and kills one of them in his rage. (I don't know how that would go, or what might go on after that. But I like my first theory a lot better. Less far - fetched than this one.) :smallredface:
There are a lot of people who hate Nale (or more precise: find he is annoying and has outlived his screentime a long time ago) and want him out of the comic.
It just is getting a bit stale to mention this everytime. It'll happen and I hope it'll be sooner than later. But voicing it again and again serves no purpose at all.
To be honest, I really want to see all major villains, with the exception of Redcloak, really be bashed in, and get some really karmic punishment. Strangely as it sounds, I trust Elan's plan against Tarquin and that it will strike where it will really damage Tarquin, though I am not entirely certain that Tarquin will truly suffer from it. This is because Elan isn't really a person who wants to hurt others gravely.
As for Redcloak, I do want to see him defeated, but still obtain the more sympathetic part of his goals.