Thoughts on The General Manager

I have always thought that one of the more interesting encounters I have come across with my various characters in DDO is when they first meet up with the General Manager.  If you aren’t sure about who exactly the General Manager is, you will find him in the quest Bargain of Blood which is part of the Sentinels of Stormreach story arc and is located in the Searing Heights.  The General Manager is actually not one enemy but two enemies.  These two enemies are quite an unlikely pair with the General being a huge and powerful minotaur while the Manager is a wily kobold shaman.  When you come across them at the end of Bargain of Blood, the Manager is perched on top of the General.  As you battle them, you first defeat the General which results in the Manager falling down and then you battle the Manager to finish the quest.  Definitely an interesting sight.

So how did these guys ever meet?

But I always wondered how did these crazy creatures ever meet and how did they form such a close bond.  And on top of that, how did they ever get involved with Captain Tew and the Blood Tide Pirates?  Whenever I think of these two, I can’t help but think about the story of the lion and the mouse.  I see the kobold as being the mouse and the minotaur as lion.  Where the minotaur stumbles across the kobold during his foraging and initially wishes to make a meal out of him.  The wily kobold takes notice that the minotaur seems to be suffering from some type of ailment, that the minotaur seems to be expressing concern about as he prepares for his meal.  By offering to help the minotaur, the kobold successfully heals him and therefore saves his life and then becomes an influential and important friend to the minotaur.  It definitely seems like a plausible theory but is it the most likely?

Another possible, although rather more unlikely theory, is that Manager’s clan might have hired the General’s tribe as a source of protection.  Perhaps these two unusual comrades knew each other from a young age with this type of association and as a result they grew up and headed out into the world together.  The reverse could also be said, perhaps the General’s tribe captured or bullied the Manager’s clan into being their servants and then an unlikely friendship developed.  This friendship and commitment to each other could have been recognized by Captain Tew who then added both of them to the ranks.

So what is the deal with the Manager?

But looking at this connection more analytically, it could also be surmised that the Manager has literally charmed the General.  The Manager is a shaman after all.  It is not improbable for the Manager to know a number of dubious charming spells.  It could be that the General just thinks he likes the Manager, while in reality he is literally charmed to protect and to work as the Manager’s muscle.

Another plausible thought is that Captain Tew recruited both of these villains to be members of his crew.  As part of the Blood Tide pirates, these two somehow developed this strange and powerful bond that Captain Tew was quickly able to pick up on.  He probably noted that they could make a very formidable enemy if they were to work together and so he promoted that growth in hopes of taking advantage of the unique talents of both them.

In tandem, this unlikely pair is a strong and powerful enemy.  Be prepared for them when you hit the end fight of Bargain of Blood.  What do others thing?  Thanks for reading everybody and happy hunting!!