Spies

Now that Merlin has come forcefully to Clyntahn's attention, what with the "abduction" of Irys and Daivyn, it occurs to me that Clyntahn should be devoting some powerful resources to finding more about him. It's pretty well known that Merlin comes from the Mountains of Light, so I would expect that Clyntahn would send some inquisitors there searching for people named Athrawes in order to put them to the question. If for no other reason, then to have something he might use to extort something out of Merlin. I wonder why we haven't heard anything?

~Tonto

That is a good question. I have wondered why no attempt to assassinate or even a basic ‘find out more about ‘ session hasn’t come up. Merlin is and has been a mighty thorn in the side of the church for quite some time now. Am I remembering it wrong (I don’t have the book in front of me right now) but when Merlin saved Cayleb from the dragon in OAR wasn’t that part of an assignation plot? I am probably wrong about that, maby just some wishful thinking on someones part, it is how I remember it though.
Wither or not I am, Merlin has been a royal pain and deserves at least some attention.

The story is not that Merlin was born in the Mountains of Light but that he essentially spent his time meditating and becoming a seijin there. If I recall correctly, there are other stories associating the mountains with hermits, mystics, and holy sites. I doubt that ordinary people actually live there; it's a harsh place.

So even if Clyntahn sent spies to the mountains, he wouldn't really expect them to find anything. There's no reason for any mention of it.

Bulldogger wrote:
Am I remembering it wrong (I don’t have the book in front of me right now) but when Merlin saved Cayleb from the dragon in OAR wasn’t that part of an assignation plot?

The way I remember it, Cayleb killed the "dragon", but immediately following that event some assassins sent by Prince Nahrman arrived. Merlin saved Cayleb from Nahrman's assassins.

SWM wrote:
So even if Clyntahn sent spies to the mountains, he wouldn't really expect them to find anything. There's no reason for any mention of it.

Clyntahn can't know that he won't find anything there until he sends the spies. In fact, the expectation is that someone there does know Merlin. Someone had to teach Merlin how to use the sword. Someone had to make the sword. How did he get his meals? How did he get his clothes? It's stretching credulity to think that Merlin grew all his own food, made all his own clothes, made all his own shelter, made his weapons, and then in his spare time taught himself swordsmanship by sitting and thinking about it.

Furthermore, Merlin had to have parents. Presumably, their names were Mr. and Mrs. Athrawes. Even if Merlin wasn't born in the Mountains of Light it would seem a simple precaution to send a routine query out the semaphores asking whether anyone of that name lived in the various regions.

I realize that it's often the case that negative scientific results aren't reported--"we mixed X and Y and nothing happened" doesn't get accolades. However, negative results can be very important. I'm reminded of the story of the new reporter sent to cover the high-society wedding. When he was asked why he didn't file the story, he said there was nothing to report. The wedding was cancelled.

~Tonto

You know how families were shipped out of zion through a group of 4 owned company, why not arrange for any resource used gets tracked back to the inquisition, just to really mess with them and cause dersension.

We know some one is killing priests in zion, I wonder how long till they get picked off by a long ranged rifle. If it uses current ammunition, then merlin could use a more long range weapon at his disposal. Also, they dont have to kill those priests, they could simply ruin them. I am sure they have businesses, houses, properties and assets that if stolen, ransaked or ruined would be humiliated. Could our lady in the republic, use her financial assets to laund a economical war against the corrpt of zion.

SYED wrote: families were shipped out of zion through a group of 4 owned company

I didn't remember it being four companies, but that's not to say that I disagree. I just don't remember how many companies it was.

why not arrange for any resource used gets tracked back to the inquisition

Who would do that? Aivah Parson's agents in Zion? I suspect that's easier said than done. Suppose Zhames Bahnd kills a inquisitor. In order to implicate the inquisition he either has to frame an inquisitor, or he has to make it look like he, himself, was hired by an inquisitor. The former wouldn't be easy to do. The latter would run smack dab into the Question and the Punishment of Schuler.

I wonder how long till they get picked off by a long ranged rifle.

If that were to happen it would almost necessitate the cessation of the current policy of obscuring the cause of the murders. I don't know why Aivah is following that policy, so I don't know what she would have to forgo to abandon it.

Also, they dont have to kill those priests, they could simply ruin them. I am sure they have businesses, houses, properties and assets that if stolen, ransaked or ruined would be humiliated.

Well, at present Aivah seems to be conducting a policy of minimum force. Her agents would have to become much more involved if she were to try to steal from them or ransack their businesses.

Could our lady in the republic, use her financial assets to laund a economical war against the corrpt of zion.

Tell me more. How would she conduct an economic war? How would the results be better than the war she's currently conducting?

~Tonto

Hi Tonto,

Actually it was only using a freight company that Clyntahn's Bailiff was a partner and half owner of

I doubt the Go4 share collective ownership of anything together.

L

Tonto Silerheels wrote:SYED wrote: families were shipped out of zion through a group of 4 owned company

I didn't remember it being four companies, but that's not to say that I disagree. I just don't remember how many companies it was.

why not arrange for any resource used gets tracked back to the inquisition

Who would do that? Aivah Parson's agents in Zion? I suspect that's easier said than done. Suppose Zhames Bahnd kills a inquisitor. In order to implicate the inquisition he either has to frame an inquisitor, or he has to make it look like he, himself, was hired by an inquisitor. The former wouldn't be easy to do. The latter would run smack dab into the Question and the Punishment of Schuler.

I wonder how long till they get picked off by a long ranged rifle.

If that were to happen it would almost necessitate the cessation of the current policy of obscuring the cause of the murders. I don't know why Aivah is following that policy, so I don't know what she would have to forgo to abandon it.

Also, they dont have to kill those priests, they could simply ruin them. I am sure they have businesses, houses, properties and assets that if stolen, ransaked or ruined would be humiliated.

Well, at present Aivah seems to be conducting a policy of minimum force. Her agents would have to become much more involved if she were to try to steal from them or ransack their businesses.

Could our lady in the republic, use her financial assets to laund a economical war against the corrpt of zion.

Tell me more. How would she conduct an economic war? How would the results be better than the war she's currently conducting?

~Tonto

Furthermore, Merlin had to have parents. Presumably, their names were Mr. and Mrs. Athrawes. Even if Merlin wasn't born in the Mountains of Light it would seem a simple precaution to send a routine query out the semaphores asking whether anyone of that name lived in the various regions.

If nothing else the church should be searching its own archives. The church would perform baptisms of infants, marriages and funerals. Given how strong a central authority the church is, one could expect that copies of such records would be sent back to Zion on a routine basis. Of course it would be a huge job to sort through 1000s of boxes of records looking for the name Athrawes but that's what novices are for.

biochem wrote:

Furthermore, Merlin had to have parents. Presumably, their names were Mr. and Mrs. Athrawes. Even if Merlin wasn't born in the Mountains of Light it would seem a simple precaution to send a routine query out the semaphores asking whether anyone of that name lived in the various regions.

If nothing else the church should be searching its own archives. The church would perform baptisms of infants, marriages and funerals. Given how strong a central authority the church is, one could expect that copies of such records would be sent back to Zion on a routine basis. Of course it would be a huge job to sort through 1000s of boxes of records looking for the name Athrawes but that's what novices are for.

Wouldn't that be interesting. I can just see Clyntyn's reaction when Ryano walks into his office saying that no birth records exist for Merlin. I can see the accusations of Demon flying with evidence to back them up. Although, aren't they already accusing Merlin of being a demon publicly though?

I am not really sure how that would change things actually.

runnerstew wrote: Wouldn't that be interesting. I can just see Clyntyn's reaction when Ryano walks into his office saying that no birth records exist for Merlin. I can see the accusations of Demon flying with evidence to back them up. Although, aren't they already accusing Merlin of being a demon publicly though?

My thoughts are that Clyntahn can't know that until after he makes the effort. He would expect he could exert pressure on Merlin through his parents.

After? Maybe he would decide Rayno was incompetent and replace him. Maybe he would devote a significant portion of his inquisition to finding Merlin's parents.

~Tonto