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Merlin can't assassinate Clyntahn.

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Merlin can't assassinate Clyntahn.
Post by Tonto Silerheels   » Thu Oct 22, 2015 3:44 pm

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Actually, I'm overstating the case in order be provocative, but it's occurred to me that Merlin can't assassinate Clyntahn; he doesn't know what Clyntahn looks like. There's no photography on Safehold, and Merlin has never had a SNARC on him because he always stays within the Temple confines where SNARCs mustn't go. If Clyntahn pulls a Prince and the Pauper then there's little risk Merlin can shoot him. Similarly, if Clyntahn uses a double who leaves the Temple, then Merlin would be completely deceived.

The only way out I can see is if Clyntahn has had really good portraits made by painters, or perhaps a sculpture by a sculptor. Other than that, Clyntahn's safe.

~Tonto
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Re: Merlin can't assassinate Clyntahn.
Post by Expert snuggler   » Thu Oct 22, 2015 4:53 pm

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Fascinating thought.

Wasn't there imagery of Gwylym spitting in his face?
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Re: Merlin can't assassinate Clyntahn.
Post by JeffEngel   » Thu Oct 22, 2015 5:01 pm

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Tonto Silerheels wrote:Actually, I'm overstating the case in order be provocative, but it's occurred to me that Merlin can't assassinate Clyntahn; he doesn't know what Clyntahn looks like. There's no photography on Safehold, and Merlin has never had a SNARC on him because he always stays within the Temple confines where SNARCs mustn't go. If Clyntahn pulls a Prince and the Pauper then there's little risk Merlin can shoot him. Similarly, if Clyntahn uses a double who leaves the Temple, then Merlin would be completely deceived.

The only way out I can see is if Clyntahn has had really good portraits made by painters, or perhaps a sculpture by a sculptor. Other than that, Clyntahn's safe.

~Tonto

Clyntahn does make public appearances, and She of Many Names has an eidetic memory. She can offer a sketch artist (reminds me - I wonder if the Book of Langhorne offered police forensic techniques?) very good help composing a portrait, and she's certainly not alone that way.

Furthermore, he's been among the most influential public figures on Safehold for decades, and very few people - maybe just one - are entitled to wear the specific combination of regalia he is. He's not the sort to walk about in anything more humble, either.

A double may be something to use in high risk situations, but I doubt he'd want anyone able to pass for himself well enough to pass on any orders in his name. So any such double wouldn't be meant to pass close inspection, and a PICA can provide far, far closer inspection at ludicrous range than he'd be counting on.

I do wonder, in that regard, how well directional microphones and long-range SNARC observation may be able to observe the Temple exterior, from a range sufficient to evade Terran Federation systems in it. Obviously, even that wouldn't help monitor all the discussions in offices and meeting rooms inside, but there are plenty of interesting discussions that go on (e.g.) in the Plaza of Martyrs, such as Clyntahn's dismissal of Duchairn's threat value for Rayno and laying out, very clearly, how nothing but fear and pain keep people on God's path in this fallen world.

I also wonder about very long range sniper fire on such occasions.
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Re: Merlin can't assassinate Clyntahn.
Post by Ramhawkfan   » Thu Oct 22, 2015 5:04 pm

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Expert snuggler wrote:Fascinating thought.

Wasn't there imagery of Gwylym spitting in his face?


No sure if they got imagery of that or not. If they did, they they certainly got imagery of Clyntahn.. If I remember right, the inquisitor that was put to the punishment for helping Stefany, recalled hearing about Gwylym.
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Re: Merlin can't assassinate Clyntahn.
Post by Randomiser   » Thu Oct 22, 2015 6:14 pm

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Ramhawkfan wrote:
Expert snuggler wrote:Fascinating thought.

Wasn't there imagery of Gwylym spitting in his face?


No sure if they got imagery of that or not. If they did, they they certainly got imagery of Clyntahn.. If I remember right, the inquisitor that was put to the punishment for helping Stefany, recalled hearing about Gwylym.


IIRC there was a broadsheet that showed that scene so someone has a plausible engraving of Clyntahn. Besides he wasn't always Grand Inquisitor and loads of people must have met him while he was working his way up the greasy pole.
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Re: Merlin can't assassinate Clyntahn.
Post by evilauthor   » Thu Oct 22, 2015 6:46 pm

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I dunno. The way Clyntahn has been described, he's pretty much unmistakeable to anyone who's been given nothing but a verbal description to go on.

Hell, Coris managed to ID Clyntahn the instant he laid eyes on him despite never having met the man before. He even thinks that Clyntahn looks like a stereotypical story villain.
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Re: Merlin can't assassinate Clyntahn.
Post by Keith_w   » Thu Oct 22, 2015 7:26 pm

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All he has to do is look for a fat, apoplectic man with greasy marks all over his vicar's vestments.
--
A common mistake people make when trying to design something completely foolproof is to underestimate the ingenuity of complete fools.
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Re: Merlin can't assassinate Clyntahn.
Post by WeberFan   » Fri Oct 23, 2015 2:33 am

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Keith_w wrote:All he has to do is look for a fat, apoplectic man with greasy marks all over his vicar's vestments.

Ahhh.

Yes...

But I somehow have this picture in my head that your succinct description could apply to many - if not most - of the vicars... :lol:
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Re: Merlin can't assassinate Clyntahn.
Post by Keith_w   » Fri Oct 23, 2015 6:20 am

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WeberFan wrote:
Keith_w wrote:All he has to do is look for a fat, apoplectic man with greasy marks all over his vicar's vestments.

Ahhh.

Yes...

But I somehow have this picture in my head that your succinct description could apply to many - if not most - of the vicars... :lol:


possibly, but I distinctly recall his being described as a messy eater, and other were not.
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A common mistake people make when trying to design something completely foolproof is to underestimate the ingenuity of complete fools.
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Re: Merlin can't assassinate Clyntahn.
Post by n7axw   » Fri Oct 23, 2015 6:35 am

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Toward the end of HFQ, he has a confrontation with Maigwair in the square of martyrs, so he does make it out once in a while.

In addition, he does make it over to that location where the punishment is applied which can't be on Temple premises since Merlin was able to get a snarc in to watch what happened to Manthyr.

I've wondered about a sniper on a rooftop myself. Merlin wouldn't even have to do it. You could use a squad of scout snipers....although having Mab involved would up the ante all around, wouldn't it? :twisted:

Don
When any group seeks political power in God's name, both religion and politics are instantly corrupted.
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