McGuiness wrote:Since there's no textev that the Inquisition has a graduation ceremony for new inquisitors where they could be blown up or sniped at from a distance, I think this theory is a no go.
As has been mentioned, all of the military units in Zion and the Temple are under control of the Inquisition, which Clyntahn organized specifically to avoid being subject to a coup.
The very worst thing that could happen from Merlin's point of view would be an overthrow of the Go4 and reform of the CoGA, with a possible peace treaty with recognition of the CoC as an acknowledged church of God and the Archangels. As much as he hates it, Merlin needs the war to make Safeholdians think out of the box they're trapped in, and to break the power of the CoGA once and for all. Yet if Duchairn somehow managed to kill Clyntahn and Rayno, and squelch the Inquisition to the point he survived, seized control of the CoGA, and sued for peace, Cayleb and Stohnar would pretty much be forced to listen to his terms.
Cayleb might sail the Haarahld VIIs into Temple Bay and start unloading the troops if Merlin got wind of a coup in the offing, since the heads of the Go4 on pikes, as satisfying as it would be, won't advance Merlin's agenda. (The semaphore would warn the Temple that an ICN fleet was on the way, giving all the vicars a chance to flee.)
Yet even though Merlin has sworn that if he gets Clyntahn in range of a rifle, the fat fornicator will be a dead man, Rayno is much more competent and even more dangerous in his own way. He isn't nuts, and doesn't believe that he's God, but he does believe in the mission of the Inquisition, and that it should be the mailed fist to further the "cause of righteousness and to stamp out heresy wherever it can be found." He's the one who selects psychopaths as inquisitors, and things might actually be worse if he gets control and manages to implement his full agenda - which may end automatic approval of new weapons that mimic the effects of the heretics weapons. That would lead to losing the war, but I'm sure he would paint the EoC and Siddarmark as the bad guys persecuting Mother Church and violating the Proscriptions, and he could make those charges stick, even if he's forced to flee the Temple due to an EoC invasion of Zion.
As much as Merlin hates Clyntahn, he needs him. Duchairn poses a much greater threat to Merlin's mission to free mankind from the chains of the CoGA and return them to the stars to eliminate the Gbaba.
First, you're correct that Merlin probably would not support my idea - maybe. I think you're correct that it is easier in a way to fight the war against him, both because his "excesses" are making lots of enemies, and because he shows at least some behavior like refusing to give up any ground that helps the allies.
As far as the ceremony goes, we know from the book that there are classes for new Inquisitors, and that there is a cadre to train them. I'm sure there will be some sort of graduation ceremony, if for no other reason than to permit Clyntahn to encourage them to have no mercy in attacking the Church's enemies. Whether it would be inside or outside the Temple is my speculation. So I think it might be a possible venue for an assassination.
As to who would do it, yes, I think Merlin might be against it. But if he were put in a situation where he could put a bullet into Clyntahn, I think he might do it anyway, because of how much they hate the SOB. Hard to say.
This might be exactly the kind of operation Nynian would implement, OTOH. It fits in exactly with the kinds of operations her people have already pulled off. And would she tell Merlin? Not unless she really needed his help.
And what about the other members of the Gang of 4? Independently of Nynian, they might consider it a good way to start cleaning up.
-- Bob G