At 10:55 PM 11/9/2003 -0500, Jag wrote: > Vlad on the other hand has been taught to be loyal to >Verra by his grandfather, thus giving her a measure of control over >[him]. > > >Jag Excuse me? Verra control Vlad? Admittedly, so far whenever she's needed him he's answered the call, but this was because he felt his life was threatened (Phoenix) or the world was going to be destroyed and his friends lives were threatened (Issola). I think I agree with Andy: Dolivar was always good at stirring things up. The second Great Cycle has just begun... hey! maybe that's it. Maybe the Gods figure Dolivar is needed at the start of each Great Cycle in order to stir things up and help set the course. Dolivar was, apparently, a rat bastard. Vlad was actually raised with a conscience, thanks to Noish-pa; he just spent most of his life trying to hide from it. Maybe he had a hard enough time with a smart-alecky jhereg talking in his head that he felt he didn't need Jiminy Cricket too. I think they put Dolivar in an Easterner so he could a). develop a conscience, and b). learn to see things from the other person's point of view; something next to impossible for a Dragaeran who isn't a Tiassa. --Mark