NPC Idol: Round 22 (Jarlaxle vs. Lord Neverember)

strumslinger

Two characters straight from the Forgotten Realms! Who will take it?

beckylunatic

Lord Neverember

Jarlaxle is strictly a name-drop who fills no role in Neverwinter that could not be handled by any generic NPC, and I don't care how fancy his hat is.

**spelling

two30

Jarlaxle

Notwithstanding the lovely work done producing the Jubilee speech, Lord Neverember is a bog-standard Middle-Aged Slimy Politician Man and the creep keeps sending me mail. So I'm voting for the mannequin in a fancy hat.

ulviel

Jarlaxle

That was tough one. But Neverember is a politician, and Jarlaxle is at least honest about being a bas.... I mean caring more about profit than moral values.

plasticbat

Lord Neverember

Lord gave me gifts to vote for him.
Jarlaxle only gives me work to do without good pay.

zach

Lord Neverember

I like R.A. Salvatore's character Jarlaxle, but Lord Neverember is a bigger part of Neverwinter Online.

ambisinisterr

Jarlaxle

But Lord Neverember is incorrectly characterized. He's supposed to be a villain.

I don't care how they wrote him in the game. I still await the day they correct their wrongs and let us kill the arrogant self centered fool. Let us join the Nashers and kill the ruthless dictator.

sockmunkey

Lord Neverember

Like most villains, he wont get far.

Knox is gonna clean his clock next round.

beckylunatic

Lord Neverember

ambisinisterr said:

But Lord Neverember is incorrectly characterized. He's supposed to be a villain.

I don't care how they wrote him in the game. I still await the day they correct their wrongs and let us kill the arrogant self centered fool. Let us join the Nashers and kill the ruthless dictator.

I vehemently disagree that Neverember is mischaracterized. We just mostly get to see his "hail and well met!" public persona, and only get hints around the edges that he's not the person he wants people to see. Wilfred practically tells us as much with his dying breath when he sends us to Knox... "One of the good ones." Our journal entries hint at stuff being up, and just how astray much of the current rule of Neverwinter has gone. Neverember is a pompous blowhard when he speaks for any length of time. I think it's *really* well done.

And the Nashers are a bunch of violent hooligans taking their agenda out on the common folk. Supporting them is supporting murder and theft.

Edit: Keep in mind that we're no under instructions to vote for who we think is the best person, but who we think is the best character. And I think that the writing of Neverember as a scheming self-interested man in a position of power has been handled well. Jarlaxle is a hatstand.

zebular

Jarlaxle

What do you call someone who takes over a city for his own profit? Who floods the streets with mercenaries and fills the coffers of the crooked? Who lies about his claim to the throne? Who crushes protest, and who sends the sick off to die? You'd never call that man Lord of your city! Neverember is no Lord of Neverwinter! Fight the occupation! Death to the Pretender!


Lore Spoiler:

In actual D&D Source Material, Lord Neverember is indeed an antagonist and there's even "what happens if the players kill Lord Neverember" scenarios. Lord Neverember is indeed a villain, and a pretender. He is not the true heir to the Neverwinter throne. The Nashers, as they are now, are n majority no better. They have long since been corrupted. Only a small amount remain true to the original cause and want to actually see a rightful heir sit on the throne again.