Okay, he really IS evil

[Njall]

http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0763.html





Now, that's how to win the game. No, I don't wish my dad was that cool but man, Elan's dad really does know his tropes. Father like son, I think.

[Snake-Aes]

Tarquin is magnificent. Like, magnificently magnificent.

[Njall]

The phrase you want is Magnificent Bastard

It isn't the speech that sells the magnificent bastardry. It isn't the inescapable plan, the genre awareness or the sheer evil glee of the entire thing. Its that, at the very end of the entire scene, when Elan runs away in horror, Tarquin just stands there...and smoothly takes a drink. That seals the magnificent in Tarquin's bastard.

[Snake-Aes]

As far as style goes, he trumps Xykon rather easily.

[Njall]

As far as style goes, he trumps Xykon rather easily.

Which is probably the intent. Xykon is lethal comic relief. In the prequel book, he was actually much more interesting before becoming a lich. Becoming a lich gave him everything he thought he wanted but it cost him (almost) everything he enjoyed.

That said, his comment about evil after forcing Redcloak to raise his brother as a zombie was priceless. He's far more blatant in his evil than Tarquin alright but just doesn't have the style. Retail vs Wholesale, yes?

[Snake-Aes]

Definitely different styles. Tarquin impresses me more because his own threats are not reliant on himself once the plans unfurl. If Xykon gets snuffed he's over.