OOTS #1141 - The Discussion Thread

[KorvinStarmast]

Redcloak's been motivated by the Plan and the Crimson Mantle since his first chronological appearance in Start of Darkness...and followed the Dark One since before then. How reliably can we really untangle the desires of Redcloak/the Dark One/the Crimson Mantle?

How detectable a difference is there between "Redcloak serves himself by following a Plan that serves goblin people" vs "Redcloak serves goblin people by following a Plan that serves himself"?

Also because actions speak a heck of a lot louder than words when there aren't words.

Being the chosen one of a deity is no picnic.

We get a glimpse of Redcloak having a moment of self awareness here; panels 12 to the end. He is aware that he's been doing/seeing something wrong, though we still see that he is a servant to The Plan. The Plan has been his raison d'etre for a very long time. The fact that he can admit that he's been wrong opens a crack in the wall ... maybe there is a way forward towards the much discussed redemption. IMO, it's a hard sell, given his track record. When one is a True Believer, changing a point of view is hard with a DC in the 30's.

For example, in this case we see that he has very much an "ends justifies the means" mindset. Rather than heal the goblins/hobgoblins, he wants them raised as undead since it furthers the plan more effectively. But there is still some self awareness ... "we're the bad guys, remember?"