Pormqual (Spoilers)

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Pormqual (Spoilers)

#1 Papist

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Posted 17 November 2010 - 07:34 AM

So, I just finished DG yesterday. Besides being angry at Duiker's and Coltaine's deaths, I enjoyed the book. But Pormqual bothers me. Perhaps I am too used to The Wheel of Time where anyone acting as stupid as Pormqual must be under Compulsion. So, what' the deal with the man? Why did he act as he did? I don't underestimate the Jhistal's whisperings, but surely they alone could not suffice?

This post has been edited by Papist: 17 November 2010 - 07:34 AM

#2 ShadowRaven

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Posted 17 November 2010 - 07:50 AM

I feel his character was used to further display how reversing the command structure affected the military: competent people like WJ were pushed to squad sergeants, etc. so idiots like Pormqual were able to rise to command positions. In my opinion he was just a power-hungry idiot who was easy to manipulate by smart people, and due to the rigid nature of a military hierarchy nobody spoke against him.

#3 Ulrik

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Posted 17 November 2010 - 08:01 AM

He was idiot and coward, which is brutal combination for general. History is full of those...

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#4 Bauchelain the Evil

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Posted 17 November 2010 - 09:19 AM

Yeah, he was just incredibly stupid and trusted blindly his "loyal" advisor Mallick Rel

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Posted 17 November 2010 - 03:29 PM

All of the above, altho I don't discount the possibility that Rel or someone else was messing with his head Mokra style. But really it's all the more tragic if it all happened because of Pormqual being an idiot.

- Abyss, could say that in the end, Pormqual just couldn't get ahead...

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#6 worry

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Posted 17 November 2010 - 07:09 PM

He was not just foolish, he was corrupt. If my memory's correct, he was embezzling wealth from the empire as well (via the treasurer we see on the Ragstopper), probably hoping to retire to the coast of some tropical paradise like Jacuruku or Assail.

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#7 Illuyankas

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Posted 17 November 2010 - 07:21 PM

Apparently he was ~~an accomplished administrator~~ ~~an adequate governor~~ er, ineffectual enough for Rel to sort everything out for him and make him appear competent.

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#8 KingTeholBeddict

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Posted 17 November 2010 - 09:18 PM

worrywort, on 17 November 2010 - 07:09 PM, said:

True, true, but I doubt he's stupid enough to go to the hellhole of Assail...

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#9 WickanAssasin

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Posted 13 December 2010 - 11:44 PM

Abyss, on 17 November 2010 - 03:29 PM, said:

im diggin the subtle decapitation joke here by the way

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Posted 22 December 2010 - 04:36 PM

Additional 2 Penneth:

My recollection was of Pormqual being scared, even panicked to the point of idiocy. I'm not convinced he was an idiot under normal circumstances as he seemed to have amassed a considerable fortune and some powerful friends, but when placed under pressure otherwise intelligent folks can often respond with bonkers decisions, a profile which he seems to fit when pursuing the perceived easy answer......the self obsessed spineless git...

There are some particularly wretched people in these books, but this guy, ooooooooooh - I'm still seething 11 months later!

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Posted 22 December 2010 - 05:09 PM

'Just finished re-reading the book and Pormqual died way to fast. That useless twat deserved a slow death for the crimes he committed - maybe a sliding bed.

Speaking of which, I can't remember but do we ever find out if Pullyk Alar suvivers (he's alive at the end of the book, but did Tavore ever cull the 7C nobility as well?). That's another ass that should get his head planted on a spike.

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#12 Bauchelain the Evil

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Posted 22 December 2010 - 05:23 PM

I believe he was revealed to be one of Mallick's men and that he survived

This post has been edited by Bauchelain the Evil: 22 December 2010 - 05:32 PM

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#13 MTS

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Posted 22 December 2010 - 05:26 PM

Pullyk Alar survived, yes. There's mention of him in HoC.

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Posted 14 January 2011 - 07:55 AM

I agree, he's certainly off in Mallick Rel's retinue somewhere...

But yes, per the thread topic, Pormqual's a dick.

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bla bla bla

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Posted 08 March 2011 - 03:14 AM

He reminded me of one of the more despicable characters in a GRRM novel, who is in a position of power for other reasons than merit. I agree with ShadowRaven on his point - Pormqual may exist to contrast the people who have climbed the ladder since Laseen usurped the old emperor and rose to power - and in any empire as large as the Malazan's, their are bound to be corrupt officials.

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#16 Duysterwoud

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Posted 26 April 2011 - 09:12 AM

This may sound odd, but Pormqual reminds me of Lieutenant Dike of Easy Company ( Band of Brothers).
He probably had some pull with the higher-ups, that lead to him getting that position. But ultimately, when it really mattered, he just cracked under the pressure ( like Dike did at Foy ),
which is a really bad thing to do when you're the guy in command.

#17 Kanese S's

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Posted 12 May 2011 - 09:37 AM

The reason Pormqual acted so stupid... because he IS that stupid. At least at actual military command. Any empire as large as that of the Malazans is bound to have some corrupt and stupid officials somewhere. Bad luck that one of them happened to be in charge of Aren at the time.

Laseen did nothing wrong.

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#18 Abberon

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Posted 21 June 2011 - 02:22 PM

Roman history, for example, is full of bumbling idiots who led massive armies to obliteration. We usually only read about Scipio, Pompeii, Caesar, Marc Antony etc. We never read about the battles of Cannae, Carrhae, Teutoberg Forest or Adrianople where guys like Crassus and Varrus led veteran consular armies 35-40000+ strong into ambush and complete annhilation. I found Pormqual totally believable because of this.

#19 Ilona

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Posted 21 June 2011 - 07:57 PM

Abberon, on 21 June 2011 - 02:22 PM, said:

That, and the fact that he had Mallick Rel whispering into his ear. He's believable alright, but ah so frustrating to read. I don't think I've ever wanted to strangle a fictional character as much as reading those parts.

It was ever thus.

#20 Abberon

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Posted 22 June 2011 - 03:37 AM

After crossing an entire continent against all odds, a struggling train of refugees and soldiers finally make it, only to be destroyed by a greedy, cowardly fool. I don't think you could have written a more frustrating character.