Dilandu wrote:Kael Posavatz wrote:I have to say that I really don't see this.
Merlin (and Nimue) don't show a lack of remorse or consistent irresponsibility in work or family environments. Very much the opposite in fact, with Cayleb forcing him to take downtime, the various members of the Inner Circle telling him not to take more responsibility than is justly his. Repeatedly, in fact. Merlin's lies and deceptions and physical aggressiveness are by necessity rather than pervasive. Simply put, they don't manifest where they aren't needed. And he has shown anything but a reckless disregard for his personal safety or that of others. When safety has been disregarded (the bit with the krakens in OAR comes to mind, and potentially endangered his whole mission), there has always been at least a moral, if not always rational, basis for it. He isn't impulsive or erratic, and he has held down a steady task for what, 9 safehold years now? And it isn't one that is going to 'end' when the CoGA gets shuffled off.
Now, Clyntahn I would argue has more of the hallmarks of a psychopath than a sociopath. He appears outwardly charming and trustworthy while being stone-cold manipulative. That was how he got the Grand Inquisitor's seat in the first place, and Duchairn eventually realizes (I think it was in MTaT) that Clyntahn had been manipulating the Go4 and CoGA into a jihad from the very beginning. Everything we've seen out of Clyntahn has been to minimize risk to himself, and he's shown no real emotional attachments (cycles women through his bed, and even Rayno is more about pragmatic usefulness to Clyntahn than emotional attachment). The one real problem with that is that he does show some...I'm not sure 'remorse' is the right word just after Merlin has done his 'meet the real Langhorne' bit just before he's hanged. Of course, that could be a manipulative attempt to save his life so...
Clyntahn - charmong and manipulative? Where? He never shown any of this two qualites.
I beg to differ, Sir.
There is Duchairn's realization that Clyntahn manipulated the G04 into a situation where CoGA had no choice but to declare a Jihad. It was also at least strongly implied that he was behind the vote-manipulation that got him the Grand Inquisitor's seat in the first place and firmly put Rayno under his thumb.
And, while rare, Clyntahn has been shown to be...gregarious when things go well. I think the best evidence is in one of Rayno's reflections regarding the women in Clyntahn's bed, how most Vicars wouldn't bring their flavor du jour into the temple, and Clyntahn's are happy to jump into his bed, and generally satisfied when they part so that the Inquisition rarely has to intervene.
That is, I grant, not a particularly good example given the power relationships involved, but for psychopaths 'charming' is usually one facet of manipulation. A tool that is used when necessary. Clyntahn has reached a position where he doesn't need to be charming and so he generally isn't.