On Wed, Aug 20, 2003 at 01:34:32PM -0500, Iain E. Davis wrote: > > From: Steve Simmons [mailto:scs at lokkur.dexter.mi.us] > > > However, that's not the only reason he might go after the > > Jhereg Council. Suppose someone on the Council ordered a hit > > on someone Vlad loved (careful wording, there) and the only > > way to find out who was to penetrate the Council. > > I don't see how Vlad could "penetrate" the council, by overt, or covert > means. There may be many easterners around, but just how many of them are > going to be part of the Jhereg? Vlad would stand out like a sore thumb. I'm assuming here that somehow Vlad and the Council bury the hatchet before the hit occurs. In fact, I can come up with some circumstances that'd make the above plot line fly: Vlad, in his usual role of key man by accident, assists Sethra Lavode, the Gods, and the Empress in Saving The World From The Jenoine. As a reward, the Empress offers her personal protection - anyone who assassinates Vlad will be tracked down with the help of the Orb and dispatched by Godslayer. This, of course, begs the question of whether or not it's even possible for ordinary means to kill Vlad given his current armaments. Since they can't do anything about it, The Council agrees to this, tho much against their will. Vlad returns to his last territories in Adrilankha where he plays a combination of King Log and Benevolent Dictator For Life. The Council (or some members of it) decide that if they can't get Vlad, they *can* get Cawti or someone of equal importance. And they do. The Empress reluctantly agrees that the letter of the law has been upheld, and does not offer the Orb in support. So Vlad needs to become a member of the Council to find out who.