Velorien

Thanks for that extensive and intelligent overview. sadly, I can't make use of the Avadon 2 content (as I haven't finished that game yet), but I look forward to coming back to this post when I have.

What exactly are the villains' motivations as far as the main character is concerned? Throughout the game, a number of antagonists imply or outright state that they have high hopes for you realising how corrupt Avadon is and joining their side. The Wayfarer directly asks you to rise up against Redbeard and replace him as Keeper, saying he believes you will be a better one. He also asks you to spare Duke Gryfyn because this will apparently be to your benefit once you take over. I've killed Redbeard and taken his place. Duke Gryfyn continues his work to undermine the Pact, with no hint of being my ally in any way. Miranda has vanished and not come back, even though I was her pet project and I performed exactly as she wanted. Dheless has made no overtures towards me and continues to act as an absolute enemy. I can only see two options. 1) The villains are confused as to whether they want Avadon destroyed or reformed. If it's the former, they would not bother encouraging me to be a more ethical Keeper than Redbeard. If it's the latter, they shouldn't treat me as an enemy once I take over. In either case, it would have made far more sense to wait to see the results of my assassination attempt before deciding whether to invade. 2) I've been played for a fool, and they've simply been telling me whatever it takes to get me to go up against Redbeard, in the hope that either I kill him where they couldn't, or at worst he kills me and Avadon loses one of its best servants. Either way, Avadon is slated for ultimate destruction.