[Dragaera] Iorich ***SPOILERS****

[Philip Hart]

On Mon, 11 Jan 2010, Scott Schultz wrote:

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>> He needs to either make peace with, or destroy, the *entire* "Organization" 
>> -- or die, of course.
>
> I've thought that in the past, but I've been questioning that assumption, 
> especially after Iorich. Kragar is my primary example, but there are plenty 
> of others. Kragar's first loyalty is to his friend(s). His loyalty to House 
> Jhereg primarily extends as far as whatever it takes to hold onto his 
> territory.
>
> Kragar's secretary and underlings appear to feel likewise. Their first 
> loyalty is to their boss. Their loyalty to House Jhereg once again extends 
> primarily as far as it benefits them to be loyal to it. In this sense, "House 
> Jhereg" really is a fiction. It's not a House steeped in tradition, it's a 
> House steeped in self-interest.
>
> The Council and their immediate underlings are the ones out to get Vlad. 
> Others take an interest in as much as convenience, opportunity, and greed for 
> the reward allow. Vlad can walk around Adrilankha precisely because the whole 
> House is NOT out looking for him or even caring about him. He can visit his 
> old boot maker or an number of old colleagues because, aside from keeping 
> their skins intact, those people value their loyalty to a respected boss 
> higher than they value loyalty to something as nebulous as "House Jhereg".


I like the above, but it should be noted that any particular Jhereg is in 
no position to take on Vlad except in incredibly-well-prepared ambush or 
in the aftermath of a tussle with something superhuman.

And it's true that Kragar's not really a Jhereg.  But the others in his 
office presumably are.