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The Mysterious Owner of The Hanged Man

Débuté par Guest_iOnlySignIn_* , nov. 08 2011 10:18

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#1
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Posté 08 novembre 2011 - 10:18

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I suddenly realized who my new favorite character in DA2 is. It used to be the irresistable Varric Tethras. But alas, the charming Dwarf prince has to give way to a newcomer:

The Mysterious Owner (aka TMO) of The Hanged Man.


Why do I like TMO you ask? Where do I begin...


(1) TMO is extremely open-minded.

TMO's famous tavern is frequented by people of all races, religions, vocations, and inclinations. Drunken Templar. Corrupt Guard. Qunari Mercenary. Dwarf merchant. Rivani pirate queen. Retired Raider-turned-poison dealer. Mysterious sponsors of viligantism. Assassins. Escaped Apostates. Former Grey Warden and Prince of Ferelden. Tevinter Magister. The Champion of Kirkwall. As long as you have a thirsting mouth and coins to spend, TMO welcomes you.

How rare and admirable is such open-mindedness, especially in a city thronged by insane zealots?


(2) TMO is extremely badass.

Despite the wretched hive of scum and villainy The Hanged Man may appear to be, in the ten years when Hawke resided in Kirkwall there were only a handful of barfights. The tavern has remained continuously open except during exceptional times (such as the Qunari invasion), and Kirkwall authorities, however Fascist (Meredith), has never threatened to investigate or close down the famous tavern. All that happens without a single bouncer, a single security personel, visible to maintain order. There could be a vicious gang fight with dozens being killed right outside the door in the night streets of Lowtown, but inside The Hanged Man there's always peace and merriment.

Why? There is only one explanation. TMO's reputation is so fearsome that no one had dared to cause any disturbance (except the mighty Champion of Kirkwall) in the tavern in ten years. Not even Meredith dare risk angering TMO by closing down The Hanged Man to impose her curfew/marshall law. That's how badass TMO is.


(3) TMO is an extremely shrewd and cunning businessman.

The Hanged Man is always full. Business is always good, despite the poor quality of service and alcohol (clever means of TMO's in order to lower the running cost). This is all due to TMO's shrewd business sense.

Varric Thethras, successful businessman, Deep Roads explorer, writer of history and close friend of the Champion, is clearly a close friend of TMO, since he has continuously occupied the only luxurious suite in TMO's inn for over a decade. Despite their friendship, Varric has constantly tried to steal the ownership of The Hanged Man for himself. Despite his prodigious wealth, cunning, and political connections, Varric has so far failed in the task. All of this happened without TMO even showing up once in person. We can clearly see how TMO is an outstanding and formidable business opponent.


So, my friends, let us raise our glasses to TMO, The Mysterious Owner of The Hanged Man!

Modifié par iOnlySignIn, 09 novembre 2011 - 03:20 .

#2
Guest_iOnlySignIn_*
Posté 08 novembre 2011 - 10:19

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A List of Possible Identities of TMO

(1) A Coterie Leader.
The Coterie is the dominant thieves guild in Kirkwall. Their interest is solely in profit. This is in accordance with both TMO's apolitical/anarchist attitude as well as TMO's clandestine, mysterious image.

(2) A Templar Leader.
Templars are the most powerful military organization in Kirkwall. Their powers are pervasive as well as strong. A Templar owner would explain why Templars have never investigated/sanctioned/shut down The Hanged Man, and also explain why TMO is reluctant to show up in person.

(3) A Carta Leader/Dwarven Merchant.
This would explain the presence of many Dwarves in the tavern, as well as TMO's relationship with Varric Tethras. However, this is contradictory to TMO's refusal to hire the "cute Dwarven serving girls" that Varric wants.

(4) Seneschal Bran.
Seneschal Bran is cynical, materialistic, and practical, with extremely good business sense. So is TMO. The Hanged Man would have been the perfect location to gather intel for the Viscount's Office. That's where Seneschal Bran gets all his handy tips from. It also explains why he never shows up in his own tavern.

(5) A Shrewd But Reclusive Kirkwall Noble.
A bland but possible option.

(6) A Slaver/Tevinter Magister.
Explains why TMO rented their own establishment to Danarius in order for him to set up an ambush for Fenris. Also explains why TMO never shows up in person.

(7) A Friend of Red Jenny.
The Friends uses the Hanged Man as an outpost to lure out criminals. However, this doesn't explain the so many missed opportunities of crime fighting and why TMO rents a room in her own tavern.

(8) Xenon the Antiquarian.
He uses magical artifacts to attract customers. This explains why The Hanged Man is always so crowded. The logo of The Hanged Man itself also fits with Xenon's creepy character.

(9) Flemeth.
Because Flemeth is awesome and TMO is awesome.

(10) Sandal.
ENCHANTMENT!

Modifié par iOnlySignIn, 09 novembre 2011 - 01:25 .

#3
DiebytheSword
Posté 08 novembre 2011 - 10:24

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*slow clap*

#4
Guest_iOnlySignIn_*
Posté 08 novembre 2011 - 10:25

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Damn it, I should have posted in the companion and NPC discussion forum. Would any mod please move it?

#5
DiebytheSword
Posté 08 novembre 2011 - 10:26

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It certainly would make for a good DLC. Even if we are pitted against them to give said tavern to Varric Tethras.

#6
thats1evildude
Posté 08 novembre 2011 - 10:28

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There is no single owner of the Hanged Man. It's run by a co-operative.

Modifié par thats1evildude, 08 novembre 2011 - 10:31 .

#7
Guest_iOnlySignIn_*
Posté 08 novembre 2011 - 10:31

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DiebytheSword wrote...

It certainly would make for a good DLC. Even if we are pitted against them to give said tavern to Varric Tethras.

That's what I thought. It's a good setting for a DLC. So much unexplored potential.

thats1evildude wrote...

There is no single owner of the Hanged Man. It's run by a co-operative.

Could you give an example of co-operative business ownership in Thedas? I haven't seen one. All I have seen are private single owners.

#8
thats1evildude
Posté 08 novembre 2011 - 10:38

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Sure. The Coterie runs The Blooming Rose. :P

Honestly, I have no idea who runs The Hanged Man. If I had to guess, it's the Friends of the Red Jenny.

Modifié par thats1evildude, 08 novembre 2011 - 10:41 .

#9
JoeLaTurkey
Posté 08 novembre 2011 - 10:45

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Indeed...

*puffs pipe*

#10
Guest_iOnlySignIn_*
Posté 08 novembre 2011 - 10:47

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thats1evildude wrote...

Sure. The Coterie runs The Blooming Rose. :P

Honestly, I have no idea who runs The Hanged Man. If I had to guess, it's the Friends of the Red Jenny.

Madame Lucene runs The Blooming Rose. Also see my new list of possible TMO identities (2nd post). Coterie (or rather, a specific member of it like Lucene or Brekker) is top on my list.

The Friends is an unlikely candidate seeing how a lot of illegal gang activities goes on in The Hanged Man unchecked. The Friends would have stopped/sabotaged them more effectively. TMO is quite neutral/apathetic on crime.

Modifié par iOnlySignIn, 08 novembre 2011 - 10:51 .

#11
DiebytheSword
Posté 08 novembre 2011 - 10:53

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I was with your possible owners up until Flemeth.  Then you mentioned Sandal.  Through my superior bs conditioning, I have concluded that your list only has six options Posted Image

#12
thats1evildude
Posté 08 novembre 2011 - 10:54

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iOnlySignIn wrote...

Madame Lucene runs The Blooming Rose.


Varric says Madame Lusine shares ownership of the Blooming Rose with Harlan, who is a member of the Coterie.

#13
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Posté 08 novembre 2011 - 10:56

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DiebytheSword wrote...

I was with your possible owners up until Flemeth.  Then you mentioned Sandal.  Through my superior bs conditioning, I have concluded that your list only has six options Posted Image

Those options are there to preemptively stop other posters in the thread from bringing them up.

I'd rather have my own BS than those from others. I'm more used to my own. :-)

#14
Guest_Cthulhu42_*
Posté 08 novembre 2011 - 10:58

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TMO loses in the end though, because the Hanged Man gets looted. Varric says so right before the end battle.

#15
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Posté 08 novembre 2011 - 11:00

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thats1evildude wrote...

iOnlySignIn wrote...

Madame Lucene runs The Blooming Rose.


Varric says Madame Lusine shares ownership of the Blooming Rose with Harlan, who is a member of the Coterie.

Still, either Lusine or Harlan makes the actual decisions, not the Coterie as a whole. There's no board of directors or anything.

The Coterie itself is a very loose organization too. Brekker's faction for example is willing to kill other Coterie members to exact his personal revenge on Hawke.

Even if the Hanged Man is owned/ran by Coterie, it has to be by a specific Coterie leader. And as I have analyzed, TMO is a very interesting character, and I hope that she/he shows up in some DLC.

Cthulhu42 wrote...

TMO loses in the end though, because the Hanged Man gets looted. Varric says so right before the end battle.

Yes, and Hawke disappeared/went into exile. And TMO was there before Hawke even arrived in Kirkwall.

Kirkwall is a place where continued success is extremely hard, if at all possible. That's why individuals like Hawke and TMO are remarkable.

Modifié par iOnlySignIn, 08 novembre 2011 - 11:02 .

#16
whykikyouwhy
Posté 08 novembre 2011 - 11:00

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Flemeth would not own a tavern. Especially one that serves swill. Posted Image

Now...she may have carefully nudged the person or persons that may run the Hanged Man into the right place at the right time under the right circumstances to have acquired that tenuous ownership.

#17
DiebytheSword
Posté 08 novembre 2011 - 11:01

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thats1evildude wrote...

iOnlySignIn wrote...

Madame Lucene runs The Blooming Rose.


Varric says Madame Lusine shares ownership of the Blooming Rose with Harlan, who is a member of the Coterie.


That would be a good example of enterprising business at work.  While private property rights only really exist for nobility or the rich in DA's universe (fiefdoms are the rule of the day) crime sindicates would be inventive enough to do joint enterprises.

It lends strong credence then to the idea that the Hanged Man is in fact owned by a crime syndicate or multiple individuals across one or more crime syndicates.  Its location would be better for this than the Blooming Rose in hightown anyway.

Crime doesn't care what you do so long as you pay your coin and don't wreck the joint.Posted Image

#18
Guest_iOnlySignIn_*
Posté 08 novembre 2011 - 11:06

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DiebytheSword wrote...

It lends strong credence then to the idea that the Hanged Man is in fact owned by a crime syndicate or multiple individuals across one or more crime syndicates.  Its location would be better for this than the Blooming Rose in hightown anyway.
Crime doesn't care what you do so long as you pay your coin and don't wreck the joint.Posted Image

See my previous post:
http://social.biowar...8668075#8668370

If it is Coterie then there's a specific Coterie. In Mafias and other organized crime situations IRL, business fronts answer to a specific leader, even if there is a board of directors. If anything, criminal organizations are more hierarchical than their legitimate counterparts.

But again, it's TMO's apolitical and anarchist attitude (similar to that of Isabela) that I find refreshing.

#19
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Posté 08 novembre 2011 - 11:10

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whykikyouwhy wrote...

Flemeth would not own a tavern. Especially one that serves swill. Posted Image

Now...she may have carefully nudged the person or persons that may run the Hanged Man into the right place at the right time under the right circumstances to have acquired that tenuous ownership.

True, true. :-)

It is entirely possible that TMO is an emissary/agent/puppet of a far greater power, seeing the pivotal role The Hanged Man has played in Hawke's story and in the history of Thedas. For example it could be an agent/associate of the Tevinter Archon or the Black Divine. Or, Flemeth.

Modifié par iOnlySignIn, 08 novembre 2011 - 11:20 .

#20
DiebytheSword
Posté 08 novembre 2011 - 11:32

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iOnlySignIn wrote...

DiebytheSword wrote...

It lends strong credence then to the idea that the Hanged Man is in fact owned by a crime syndicate or multiple individuals across one or more crime syndicates.  Its location would be better for this than the Blooming Rose in hightown anyway.
Crime doesn't care what you do so long as you pay your coin and don't wreck the joint.Posted Image

See my previous post:
http://social.biowar...8668075#8668370

If it is Coterie then there's a specific Coterie. In Mafias and other organized crime situations IRL, business fronts answer to a specific leader, even if there is a board of directors. If anything, criminal organizations are more hierarchical than their legitimate counterparts.

But again, it's TMO's apolitical and anarchist attitude (similar to that of Isabela) that I find refreshing.


I must have mispoke, because we agree that it is likely an individual criminal within a syndicate. Or multiple individuals not acting in the name of the syndicate.

#21
Malanek
Posté 09 novembre 2011 - 12:58

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My guess for TMO is the withered husk from the black emporium.

#22
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Posté 09 novembre 2011 - 01:21

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Malanek999 wrote...

My guess for TMO is the withered husk from the black emporium.

Xenon the Antiquarian. I don't know why he's anti-Quarian but he certainly is cool. Possibility added.

#23
Knight of Dane
Posté 09 novembre 2011 - 01:24

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And my guess is still Schmooples.

There must be a reason that evil thing hasn't shown itself since DA:O(!!) Posted Image

Modifié par Knight of Dane, 09 novembre 2011 - 01:24 .

#24
whykikyouwhy
Posté 09 novembre 2011 - 02:40

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Knight of Dane wrote...

And my guess is still Schmooples.

There must be a reason that evil thing hasn't shown itself since DA:O(!!) Posted Image

And now we see the unfolding of the despicable plan - the triumvirate has been revealed: Schmooples, Ser Pounce-A-Lot, and Puddles the Turtle.

#25
jlb524
Posté 09 novembre 2011 - 02:41

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Schmooples is evil?

Wha?

My childhood = destroyed

Modifié par jlb524, 09 novembre 2011 - 02:42 .

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