Not so Mysterious Merchant

sqyire

I am pretty sure the "Mysterious" Merchant is Jarlaxle Baenre wearing Agatha's mask. Note the large feather in the cap and eye patch. Drizzt has used it before to appear female. Also who else would have all the rare goods?

kreatyve

Omg! You might be right.

ambisinisterr

I don't think it fits Jarlaxle's character.

The definition of egotistical should have Jarlaxle's picture next to it in the dictionary. He would rather walk around the surface as a drow (remember outside of the Neverwinter video game drow are not well liked) than change his appearance. I don't recall if he directly said he didn't want to change his appearance but he certainly could easily acquire an object to disguise his appearance if he wanted.

The fact he didn't in The Crystal Shard and the rest of the Sellsword Trilogy says a lot about his opinion on disguising himself beyond the fact he flaunts his oddity and appearance within Menzoberanzan.

So for him to change his appearance to be a disguised female merchant seems way out of character. I am sure he would change his appearance if he had to but I don't think he would if it wasn't absolutely necessary. If a non-drow-non-Jarlaxle disguise was necessary I imagine he would sooner hire somebody than to change his own appearance.

But that's just by two cents.

sqyire

The first rule of understanding Jarlaxle... is to know not to try and understand jarlaxle,, My evidence was based on equipment and access to rare magical items in high quality/quantity. There are also multiple uses of Agatha's mask by Drizzt and Jarlaxle in the series. Jarlaxle also is the one who currently possesses the item.

ambisinisterr

Jarlaxle is in possession of it.
Drizzt did use it as he actively wanted to hide his identity.

I don't recall Jarlaxle using it. Jarlaxle likes toys but he's really not one to hide. Sure Jarlaxle might do something unexpected but if there was one thing Jarlaxle wouldn't do it's use illusion to hide his appearance unless absolutely necessary for his goals. That is 100% against his character and there are about a thousand examples of why he wouldn't do it and only the 'Jarlaxle does what you least expect' to support it.

There is a similarity but I highly doubt there is a link to Jarlaxle.

sqyire

For the record Kimmuriel made Jarlaxle wear it to Memnon in "Road to the Patriach" he used it to appear as a sun elf or something. He actually agreed to wear it as long as he was topside in public etc.

dsn1118

I think he might wear it as long as it serves his purpose.He might even turn to a dwarf if it serves him.I havent read the entire series of the books but I think he can serve as a poster boy for the word "opportunist"

nitocris83

Hmm, I wondering if this explains why I caught our MM designer hastily rewriting some backstory!