NWN: Fenthick and Aribeth
Great Hierophant
Spoiler Space
Fenthick's Crime
Fenthick was too incompetent to be trusted with any real responsibility,
judging by his lack of wisdom in the Wailing Death. He was in charge of
finding the cause of the plague and the Agents against Neverwinter. With
all his brilliance the true traitor was standing next to him all the time.
He even went after Desther when the latter escaped rather than to put as
much distance between him and Dester as possible, which is what he should
have done. Of course, this fellow is so thick (thx Saint_Proverbius) that
despite Desther's constant bullying, belligerence, interference, and
non-help Fenthick stuck by him. He placed his trust in Desther's false
Helmites who took advantage of that trust to spread their phony blessings
around making the plague spread ever more quickly. He encouraged them in
their ministrations. But what crime did he commit? He was criminally
negligent in trusting Desther with all of Neverwinter's secrets and helping
him to spread the plague. But should such brainlessness lead to his death?
Maybe in civilized areas such as Waterdeep he would have been spared, but
here on the Frontier civilizations can rise and fall based on the acts of
one man or a few men. Life is too precious for supposedly-competent
bumblers like Fenthick to be allowed to live when their inaction nearly cost
Neverwinter its existence.
And if he is guilty, what does that say about the selective powers of his
superior, Lord Nasher, and his partner Lady Aribeth? If they were so
cavalier in trusting a complete incompetent with such responsibilities, they
would also be criminally negligent and must suffer the same penalty as
Fenthick. Maybe Lord Nasher, as ruler of Neverwinter, could escape
punishment because the ruler can do no wrong, but what about precious
Aribeth, that shinning pinnacle of holy light? She let herself be persuaded
by her twit of a lover to tolerate Desther, treat with him, and allow him
access to the Waterdhavian creatures. Her dealings with him led to the
betrayal of the adventurer's academy, causing many deaths that can be laid
to her door as easily as Fenthick's. And despite her deep suspicions
towards Desther, she never investigates them herself, waiting for a champion
to do it. This wasted valuable time and more lives were lost to the plague
through her inaction. She should have kept Fenthick out of the affairs of
state, investigated Desther and kept him at a distance until she could learn
the truth about him. No doubt she let her personal feelings affect her
judgement, and during a plague or other crisis that is unacceptable.
Aribeth's Betrayal
In keeping with the previous paragraph, Aribeth should have thanked Tyr from
morning to night for being spared the bloodlust of the mob. Since her
negligence rose to the level of Fenthick's, she should have joined him on
the scaffold. And what did she see in whiny simpering Fenthick anyways?
More harm than good to her, to Tyr, and to Neverwinter. She claimed that
Fenthick was betrayed and she is only avenging him and her loss. This is
logic twisted in a self serving way. Fenthick was found to be criminally
negligent. The law punished criminal negligence. Unless he was punished
too harshly, Fenthick was a criminal who got what he deserved. By living in
Neverwinter he was under its laws, and by serving it in that capacity he was
vulnerable for discharging his duties in a negligent fashion. He took that
risk and failed. Border law is rather harsh, but it is the law. Aribeth
has no justification that Neverwinter betrayed Fenthick first. In his case
he was dealt with too hastily, but that is a natural impulse of human
justice systems. And considering that Aribeth's god is Tyr, the god of
justice, she should have no problem understanding these concepts.
Aribeth may have a stronger claim that she was not given the proper support
to help her through her difficult time. She was attacked in her dreams by
Morag, twisting her doubts into certainties contrary to her original beliefs
through terrifying nightmares. Aarin Gend, who does not seem to do very
much, just sitting around the base for most of the time, knows something was
troubling Aribeth but offered her no support. The PC's support was not
sufficient, even if the PC is a male to keep her on the straight and narrow.
As an experienced Paladin, she should have been above doubt by now and
should have called upon Tyr for strength and defense. If he failed to meet
her call, either his mind was on more pressing concerns or he neglects his
followers so much that he would be unworthy of the portfolio of Justice.
Nonetheless, Aribeth failed to take proactive steps to stop the nightmares,
so many would have little sympathy with persons able but unwilling to help
themselves.
It just goes to show you how well a game is plotted out, or how poorly.
GH
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Simon Appleton
No, Fenthick was an innocent patsy, sacrificed to appease a lynchmob.
There was no justice in his death. That fact unhinges Aribeth. At first,
I thought her betrayal a crass and stupid plot device. But now, with
reflection, I think that, by God, if my PC could have chosen I think she
would have marched with her. Let them burn! Is there ever a more
compelling road to evil than righteous vengence?
Simon
Saint_Proverbius
news:3e396ac8$1...@corp.newsgroups.com:
> Fenthick's Crime
[SNIP]
Kind of makes you wonder if anyone in Neverwinter knew the Detect Evil
spell, doesn't it?
--
Saint Proverbius
http://www.rpgcodex.com - Putting the 'Role' back in RPG
Great Hierophant
"Simon Appleton" <simon.a...@ntlworld.com> wrote in message
news:3E39BB72...@ntlworld.com...
Of course, the game is somewhat equivocal as to whether he was tried. Of
course, in Neverwinter Lord Nasher may be judge and jury. However, the
letter of the law was criminal negligence was to be punished by death, which
probably is a punishment for many other crimes. Fenthick was guilty of
criminal negligence by associating with Desther, allowing him access to the
councils of state, and assisting him and his false Helmites. No doubt the
mob's shouting for Fenthick's death persuaded Lord Nasher to find him
guilty, but his actions or inactions spoke for themselves. He was duped and
deceived, to be sure, but thats the risk those in authority pay for their
power. If he lacked wisdom, then he should never have been given authority.
The mob's feelings, given that their city was decimated by the plague and
probably every family lost someone, partly through treachery and
incompetence, are understandable. His sentence was harsh, but not unusual
and people have been hanged for less for popular acclaim. Aribeth was not
betrayed by the proper workings of the law. Her own feelings, as a Paladin
of Tyr and a servant of Neverwinter, demanded she accept her lover's
execution. Her self-centered attitude, placing her needs over the people's,
shifted her to a totally unjustified act of betrayal.
Harri Polsa
<prove...@rpgcodex.com> made it known:
>Kind of makes you wonder if anyone in Neverwinter knew the Detect Evil
>spell, doesn't it?
Spells in these fantasy worlds work in mysterious ways... It's
probably the same reason why spells like 'Raise Dead' and
'Resurrection' work only for PCs and their NPC companions.
I remember an Unlimited Adventures design that I played where
the 'bad guy' came back after my party had killed him. How?
His minions had cast 'raise dead' on him... But if you want any
dramatic impact in these stories, it's best to 'quietly forget' the
existence of such spells. "The king was assassinated! No worries,
mate. Our local cleric soon brings him back."
HtP
Hong Ooi
>"Great Hierophant" <great_hi...@hotmail.com> wrote in
>news:3e396ac8$1...@corp.newsgroups.com:
>
>> Fenthick's Crime
>[SNIP]
>
>Kind of makes you wonder if anyone in Neverwinter knew the Detect Evil
>spell, doesn't it?
Desther probably had a ring of mind shielding.
Hong "retcon 101" Ooi
--
Hong Ooi | "You mean Australia (and from your
ho...@zipworld.com.au | email address, I'm sure that was
http://www.zipworld.com.au/~hong/dnd/ | just a typo."
Sydney, Australia | -- tW
Bill Seurer
> On Fri, 31 Jan 2003 00:21:04 GMT, "Saint_Proverbius"
> <prove...@rpgcodex.com> wrote:
>
>
>>"Great Hierophant" <great_hi...@hotmail.com> wrote in
>>news:3e396ac8$1...@corp.newsgroups.com:
>>
>>
>>>Fenthick's Crime
>>
>>[SNIP]
>>
>>Kind of makes you wonder if anyone in Neverwinter knew the Detect Evil
>>spell, doesn't it?
>
>
> Desther probably had a ring of mind shielding.
More likely the developers had Cursed Amulets of -8 to Intelligence. Or
maybe Wisdom.
NFLed
>>>spell, doesn't it?
>>
>>
>> Desther probably had a ring of mind shielding.
>
>More likely the developers had Cursed Amulets of -8 to Intelligence. Or
>maybe Wisdom.
It's too easy to assume the worst. It's more rewarding
not to, though.
Hong Ooi
>>>>Kind of makes you wonder if anyone in Neverwinter knew the Detect Evil
>>>>spell, doesn't it?
>>>
>>>
>>> Desther probably had a ring of mind shielding.
>>
>>More likely the developers had Cursed Amulets of -8 to Intelligence. Or
>>maybe Wisdom.
>
>It's too easy to assume the worst.
This is why Bill plays GURPS.
ka...@ecn.ab.ca
<great_hi...@hotmail.com> wrote:
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>Fenthick's Crime
>Fenthick was too incompetent to be trusted with any real responsibility,
>judging by his lack of wisdom in the Wailing Death. He was in charge of
>finding the cause of the plague and the Agents against Neverwinter. With
>all his brilliance the true traitor was standing next to him all the time.
>He even went after Desther when the latter escaped rather than to put as
>much distance between him and Dester as possible, which is what he should
>have done. Of course, this fellow is so thick (thx Saint_Proverbius) that
>despite Desther's constant bullying, belligerence, interference, and
>non-help Fenthick stuck by him. He placed his trust in Desther's false
>Helmites who took advantage of that trust to spread their phony blessings
>around making the plague spread ever more quickly. He encouraged them in
>their ministrations. But what crime did he commit? He was criminally
>negligent in trusting Desther with all of Neverwinter's secrets and helping
>him to spread the plague. But should such brainlessness lead to his death?
That question is itself part of the story, at least IMO. The events
of the last two chapters can be laid at the feet of Fenthick's
executioners as readily as anyone else. His death created the crack
that allowed for Aribeth's corruption.
And was Fenthick truly that incompetent? It is hinted that he had
history with Desther, that Desther himself was once an honest Helmite
before he joined the Eye, and that Fenthick's blindness to Desther's
change was not an uncommon thing amongst elves.
>to her door as easily as Fenthick's. And despite her deep suspicions
>towards Desther, she never investigates them herself, waiting for a champion
>to do it.
AIUI, she merely felt he was a sanctimonius jackass - which he clearly
was. But Fenthick spoke well of his motives, while making apologies
for his attitude.
>This wasted valuable time and more lives were lost to the plague
>through her inaction. She should have kept Fenthick out of the affairs of
>state, investigated Desther and kept him at a distance until she could learn
>the truth about him. No doubt she let her personal feelings affect her
>judgement, and during a plague or other crisis that is unacceptable.
>
>Aribeth's Betrayal
>In keeping with the previous paragraph, Aribeth should have thanked Tyr from
>morning to night for being spared the bloodlust of the mob.
I'm not so certain about that. I think part of her was cursing that
fact, which was the first step to her loss of faith.
>More harm than good to her, to Tyr, and to Neverwinter. She claimed that
>Fenthick was betrayed and she is only avenging him and her loss. This is
>logic twisted in a self serving way.
What else would you expect from a fallen paladin?
>risk and failed. Border law is rather harsh, but it is the law. Aribeth
>has no justification that Neverwinter betrayed Fenthick first. In his case
>he was dealt with too hastily, but that is a natural impulse of human
>justice systems. And considering that Aribeth's god is Tyr, the god of
>justice, she should have no problem understanding these concepts.
Aye. And before her fall, she was quite concerned with her own lack
of faith in those matters. This was the crack that Morag used to
corrupt her. Her faith faltered.
>Aribeth may have a stronger claim that she was not given the proper support
>to help her through her difficult time. She was attacked in her dreams by
>Morag, twisting her doubts into certainties contrary to her original beliefs
>through terrifying nightmares. Aarin Gend, who does not seem to do very
>much, just sitting around the base for most of the time, knows something was
>troubling Aribeth but offered her no support. The PC's support was not
>sufficient, even if the PC is a male to keep her on the straight and narrow.
>As an experienced Paladin, she should have been above doubt by now and
>should have called upon Tyr for strength and defense. If he failed to meet
>her call, either his mind was on more pressing concerns or he neglects his
>followers so much that he would be unworthy of the portfolio of Justice.
Aye, but see above. Morag was cunning and subtle; she found the weak
spot, and aproached in a manner that would keep Aribeth from turning
to her god. Aribeth was likely an ex-paladin for some time before she
joined Maugrim as a Blackguard.
ka...@ecn.ab.ca
Eh. My PC was too busy being pissed at the pair of them to think of
joining them. Not even being invited was one more slight adding to
that hatred.
I did wipe out those bastards at Fort Ilkard, though. Bloody fool,
fuelling the real enemy out of greed while pretending to be the last
bastion against the Luskan alliance.