Couldn't Tarquin/Malack work with the OOTS now?

[Srinshee]

In this strip(879) Malack says to Durkon that 'Let us find Tarquin so that we may be done with the place.'

This impiles that Malack does not know what the gate is all about. In order to use the gate somehow, one has to occupy and fortify the gate for a prolonged period of time.

In strip 872, Malack suggested compromise, but his terms was not acceptable to the order at all. Considering that he genuinly wanted compromise, this again affirmes that Malack and Tarquin do not know about the nature of the gate.

Their bahavior makes sense if they believed that what lies in Girald's pyramid is some sort of a movable superweapon. Tarquin and Malack can remove the weapon and be done with the place. OOTS can afford to give up acquiring such a weapon, and may go after lesser challanges.

Either Nale is lying to Tarquin & Malack or he himself is being lied to by Sabine.

Now they will try to gain information from Durkon, and they have no reason to doubt him.

The gate has almost no use gor Tarquin and Malack. They do not have the ritual to control Snarl, and it is highly doubtful whether Nergal will approve of such an attempt-Nergal was one of the gods who sealed Snarl in the first place.

So the only use of the gate for Tarquin and Malack is for blackmail, but it won't be effective.

First, they have to control the Kragor's gate as well, and it won't be an easy feat to achieve.

Second, Tarquin wants to leave a legacy, and Malack wants to maintain an everlasting order, so their threat of world destruction is not credable at all.

In fact, they have just as much of an incentive to protect the gate from the team evil as the OOTS-a rule by a crazy epic lich or world destruction are catastrophic for their interests as well.

Tarquin and Malack may become an evil counterpart to Hinjo and help the order, and Roy may be flexible enough to accept the help.

Freed Durkula may travel with the order under some secret orders of Malack. He has an incentive to help the order even as a vampire. He is still very lawful, so the OOTS can trust him to a degree. Durkon made a pledge to help Roy, and Durkula may feel that he is still bound by it.

Durkula may fake being living with the help of Malack, and the OOTS may well believe him over Belkar, thus providing interesting party dynamic.

Durkula may tempt Vi to persue undeath so that she may escape the eternal damnation that surely awaits her.

Durkula as a member of the OOTS is surely much more interesting than the old rather blend Durkon. (May he rest in peace)

What do you think?

[Yaije9841]

Shojo told Nale what OotS knew of the gate, Nale told Tarquin and Malak apparently everything... soooo.... what's Sabine got in all this?

[The Pilgrim]

Heavens, no. One evil psychopat in the Order is well enough.

[Gift Jeraff]

Last time they trusted Tarquin to help them save the world, they ended up with an undead dwarf.

[Angulf]

I'm just gonna skip the whole explenation and go "Hell no!!!"

[CatgirlTheCrazy]

Before Durkon got vamped I would have said maybe. Certainly, I think it's very possible that Tarquin and Malack might offer to help. Tarquin has made it clear he doesn't want the world to end, and therefore is willing to help their quest.

The problem is whether any of the Order would accept such an offer at this point. As long as they don't know that Durkon's been vamped? Possible, but I think unlikely. Once they find find out though, I think the chances that they would cooperate are almost nil.

[Zmeoaice]

Shojo told Nale what OotS knew of the gate, Nale told Tarquin and Malak apparently everything... soooo.... what's Sabine got in all this?

Maybe he did, maybe he didn't.

Tarquin is probably more likely to join Team Evil than OoTS.

[Shred-Bot]

Maybe he did, maybe he didn't.

Tarquin is probably more likely to join Team Evil than OoTS.

I don't see Team Evil having a use for Tarquin, other than maybe as raw materials. Besides, the Giant already did the "Evil: We're always hiring!" joke.

Tarquin may be a smooth operator, but he has literally nothing of interest to offer Xykon.

[rodneyAnonymous]

I don't see Team Evil having a use for Tarquin...

Team Evil does not have a high-level fighter.

[Domino Quartz]

I don't see Team Evil having a use for Tarquin...
Team Evil does not have a high-level fighter.

Do they need one?

[rodneyAnonymous]

Do they need one?

"Having a use for" and "need" aren't the same thing. They didn't need Tsukiko either.

[hobo386]

On top of that, with Redcloak constantly being an inch away from betraying Xykon, they may have need of a new cleric in the future.

In which case, Malack or Durkula could be valid replacements. And being undead, Malack might find some common ground with Xykon. (Okay, I think there's only like a 10% chance this could happen, but it still could.)

[Werbaer]

This impiles that Malack does not know what the gate is all about. In order to use the gate somehow, one has to occupy and fortify the gate for a prolonged period of time.
And who knows this? Aside from Redcloak and Xykon?

[veti]

Team Evil does not have a high-level fighter.

Tarquin's master plan is pretty much the opposite of Xykon's. Tarquin aims to avoid the retribution that inevitably strikes scenery-chewing villains by maintaining a (relatively) low profile. Whereas Xykon's idea of "low profile" is only nuking one country at a time.

For Tarquin to join Team Evil would be completely out of character.

I can see him doing a deal with them, though. Currently I suspect he's planning to ransom the gate to them, in exchange for (some sort of binding pledge) to leave his continent alone, plus maybe some exchange of services/favours. That would be well within character.

[pendell]

I see Tarquin as a player of the "prisoner's dilemma".

What is Tarquin's primary motivation? To control the gate himself. Otherwise he'd have no reason to oppose the OOTS. If all he cared about was stopping Team Evil, he'd have been best served by allying with OOTS from the start. Then Durkon would still be alive, and probably unaware of Malack's status. they could hit the ruins together as one big group.

So long as Tarquin believes he can control the gate himself, he must oppose the OOTS.

That could change if he actually fights team evil and finds he cannot prevent them from wresting control of the gate from him. At which point his alternatives are to ally with the OOTS , or let the world be destroyed. In which case a rational villain WOULD ally with the heroes. A temporary alliance of convenience, but one we should be able to trust provided it remains in the self-interest of both parties.

The problem is we saw at the free city of doom that Tarquin is not always good about keeping the spirit of his word even if he fulfills the letter. Which means I'm not sure Roy would be wise to trust him to have his back.

In a way, it's a culminating tragedy of what is already shaping up to be a tragic, tragic book in the series -- that those people who have the best potential and are best place to oppose Team Evil squander their strength in inter-party conflict instead of presenting a united front against Xykon. But I suppose that's the nature of evil, which Tarquin is.

Tarquin's biggest error is that he thinks he is the Big Bad when he's just a side villain, an also-ran. Thus he winds up sucking up oxygen and time better spent fighting the real threat. But asking Tarquin to have the humility to be something other than the center of attention, to aspire to being the main villain, is to ask Tarquin not to be Tarquin.


Respectfully,

Brian P.

[oppyu]

Tarquin/Malack have shown that in the interests of pragmatism, they'll work with just about anyone (Malack especially.) However, Roy just found out that Malack murdered Durkon and reanimated him as a living (sort of) mockery of everything that Durkon believed in... no way Roy's working with the snake vampire.

[pendell]

*I* think Roy will put that 18 intelligence to work and review the options as follows:

1) Fight a vampire cleric AND a lich
2) get the vampire to fight the lich

and choose the second, if at all feasible. One doesn't have to ally with someone to decide that fighting them is not the best course of action at this time. Especially after they've just taken your own cleric away and added it to their team.

Respectfully,

Brian P.

[Shred-Bot]

Team Evil does not have a high-level fighter.

They have MitD, who given what we've seen so far would be a much stronger melee fighter than Tarquin. And it's not like anyone can take them in a straight-up fight right now.

[oppyu]

Team Evil does not have a high-level fighter.
That's like saying 'sure, the Miami Heat have three of the greatest superstars of the modern era, but what they really need is a better reserve point guard.' Sure, they don't have a top level fighter, but even without one they're light years ahead of the competition.

[Gift Jeraff]

*I* think Roy will put that 18 intelligence to work and review the options as follows:

1) Fight a vampire cleric AND a lich
2) get the vampire to fight the lich

and choose the second, if at all feasible. One doesn't have to ally with someone to decide that fighting them is not the best course of action at this time. Especially after they've just taken your own cleric away and added it to their team.

Respectfully,

Brian P.

Roy doesn't have 18 Int.

[pendell]

Maybe, but it's fairly high. High enough that I think it doesn't invalidate my point.

Respectfully,

Brian P.

[Rakoa]

Maybe, but it's fairly high. High enough that I think it doesn't invalidate my point.

Respectfully,

Brian P.

It most certainly doesn't. When reading arguments, people can get far too caught up in the details.

I would think, though, that Roy's Lawful alignment would prevent him from making any deal with Malack after what he did to Durkon, stemming from a sense of loyalty. In the same way that Durkon wouldn't compromise with Malack, I doubt that Roy will.

[Raineh Daze]

Tarquin certainly wouldn't ally with Team Evil. Doesn't work with loose cannons, remember?

[AngryHobbit]

MALACK KILLED DURKON! OOTS looking over that would be completely out of character. And stupid.

I'm expecting battle betwen LG and Team Evil soon. Haley, Belkar, Roy and Elan have to find V, Girard's gate, destroy it before it falls to Tarquin's or Xykon's hands, and run as fast as they can to Kraagor's gate. LG fighting with Team Evil would be great chance for them to escape unnoticed.

Not to mention, it would be great to see Malack vs Redcloak duel (hopefully, not this http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0456.html).

[Fish]

I suspect Nale wasn't honest about the Gate, or who knows the ritual, or how to get that ritual away from them. Nale may not exactly know himself. Roy doesn't have to ask for an alliance with Tarquin in order to secure his help; all he has to do is explain why he thinks it's important to protect the Gate.

[Tectonic Robot]

I don't think Roy would work with the killer of Durkon.

[King of Nowhere]

I don't think the oots would want to make a pact with the linear guild. however, they may be forced into one if team evil appeared. Together, they are strong enough to challenge xykon. divided, they die. Tarquin have no interest in Xykon taking the gate. in fact, it would risk all his plan. Xykon is not the sort of villain that would acccept compromise. Xykon wants absolute dominion, and would never share the gate with tarquin. he would take tarquin as a minion or as a zombie.
so tarquin would have plenty of reasons to ally with the order.
Roy would be reluctant, but Tarquin alone could take all the current members of the oots single-handed. he don't really have much choice. I expect that, if they are forced to work together, they will plan to backstab each other along the way.

[Snails]

I see Tarquin as a player of the "prisoner's dilemma".

What is Tarquin's primary motivation? To control the gate himself. Otherwise he'd have no reason to oppose the OOTS. If all he cared about was stopping Team Evil, he'd have been best served by allying with OOTS from the start. Then Durkon would still be alive, and probably unaware of Malack's status. they could hit the ruins together as one big group.

So long as Tarquin believes he can control the gate himself, he must oppose the OOTS

...

Tarquin's biggest error is that he thinks he is the Big Bad when he's just a side villain, an also-ran. Thus he winds up sucking up oxygen and time better spent fighting the real threat. But asking Tarquin to have the humility to be something other than the center of attention, to aspire to being the main villain, is to ask Tarquin not to be Tarquin.


My guess is Tarquin's true primarily target is Elan. He could have swatted aside the Order by gathering the full team together for 2-3 days. He is purposefully playing around, in order to inject more family drama into Elan's life, and attempt to intertwine his legacy with Elan's.

Besides, it is not clear that working with Xykon is practical or possible. Even if Tarquin can see a way to haggle a deal, Malack has his own ideas about who gets to claim personal ownership of this continent.

[Fish]

I think the parallel is perfect: becoming the thing you hate, turning to the dark side, through self-sacrifice. It was hinted that Roy uses non-Lawful means to achieve Lawful ends.

[Math_Mage]

Even if we overlook that "Why the hell would the Order work with Malack ever again?!" factor, the Order has no new knowledge to offer that would change the current situation. Tarquin is aware of what the Gates are; he 'knows' that there is a Team Evil out there with the knowledge of how to control the Gates. The only people who are aware that Tarquin&co. can't control the gate are Redcloak and the Dark One. All the Order can do is point out that Team Evil is way stronger than what they know about Malack and Tarquin, which is just so much noise to Tarquin since concealing his strength is a habit. Plus, he probably has a high opinion of his ability to manipulate powerful opponents like Team Evil.

So not only does this outcome make no sense from a common-sense standpoint, it makes no sense from the standpoint of cold calculation either.

[Fish]

Are you sure Tarquin knows? Really sure? Are you sure Nale told the truth?

[Jokunen]

Tarquin's biggest error is that he thinks he is the Big Bad when he's just a side villain, an also-ran. Thus he winds up sucking up oxygen and time better spent fighting the real threat. But asking Tarquin to have the humility to be something other than the center of attention, to aspire to being the main villain, is to ask Tarquin not to be Tarquin.

Has he even heard of Xykon?

[Math_Mage]

Are you sure Tarquin knows? Really sure? Are you sure Nale told the truth?

We know that Tarquin knows of "Gates", that there is a Team Evil Nale used to work for who's interested in the Gates, and that TE has a means of controlling the Gates. We can be reasonably certain Tarquin does not know how strong Team Evil is--Nale may not know, and if he knows he concealed it. I mentioned that in my previous post.

Beyond that, what would Nale have lied about, such that the additional information Durkon/OotS provides would in any way change the state of play? If we assume Tarquin knows what Nale knows about the Gates, then Durkon has nothing to add. If we assume Nale lied in some way to make the prospect of acquiring a Gate more appealing, and that Durkon therefore has new information to offer...we end up at the same end state.

[Fish]

What do you mean, "besides the strength of Team Evil?" Nale referred to an epic city-destroying lich sorcerer as somebody he used to work with. (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0821.html) That's a pretty big omission -- we don't know if Nale is even aware that Xykon was behind the city attack, or that he's on his way Right Now. For all Nale knows, they're still in the Dungeon of Dorukan. Dad won't be happy to hear that Xykon plans to set up camp in his Empire.

You need something more besides?

[Math_Mage]

What do you mean, "besides the strength of Team Evil?" Nale referred to an epic city-destroying lich sorcerer as somebody he used to work with. (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0821.html) That's a pretty big omission -- we don't know if Nale is even aware that Xykon was behind the city attack, or that he's on his way Right Now. For all Nale knows, they're still in the Dungeon of Dorukan. Dad won't be happy to hear that Xykon plans to set up camp in his Empire.

You need something more besides?

I already discussed that. If you want to talk about it, start there--don't just pull it out like some big gotcha I ignored. Also, Nale knows it was Team Evil that attacked Azure City (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0458.html).

[Fish]

Very well, let's start there: Nale should know that Xykon is coming because Zz'dtri scryed upon Elan's message. He's not just concealing their strength but their imminent arrival. Tarquin would be keen to know that.

Or, possibly Zz'dtri never mentioned it to Nale.

[Math_Mage]

Very well, let's start there: Nale should know that Xykon is coming because Zz'dtri scryed upon Elan's message. He's not just concealing their strength but their imminent arrival. Tarquin would be keen to know that.

Or, possibly Zz'dtri never mentioned it to Nale.

Since Tarquin's plan involves using Nale to get the information out of TE at some point, how does Elan's extremely vague message that TE is coming at some point in any way change his plan?

[Shred-Bot]

Has he even heard of Xykon?

Well, whatever Nale told him, which could very well be almost nothing. Other than that? Probably not... his role in Azure City was not really public (up in the air with Roy and in the throne room) and it was Redcloak actually leading the army. So actually it's more likely that Tarquin has heard of the Bearer of the Crimson Mantle.

Remember that Azure City didn't know of Xykon either until the Order was brought in, so somehow people seem not to know about an epic sorcerer lich whose 2 favorite words are "meteor" and "swarm".

[rodneyAnonymous]

For Tarquin to join Team Evil would be completely out of character.

That is solid reasoning.

However...


That's like saying 'sure, the Miami Heat have three of the greatest superstars of the modern era, but what they really need is a better reserve point guard.'

No it's not. I didn't say anything about what they need. A proper analogy would be if the Heat could acquire a better reserve point guard, of course they would, regardless of the state of the rest of the team.

[Haleth]

I doubt that'll happen—Tarquin has no reason to go adventuring with the Order when his main goal is to expand his empire and conquer the continent. Malack seemed likely until he turned Durkon into a vampire, so I doubt that'll happen.

[dps]

I doubt that'll happen—Tarquin has no reason to go adventuring with the Order when his main goal is to expand his empire and conquer the continent. Malack seemed likely until he turned Durkon into a vampire, so I doubt that'll happen.

While you're correct about Tarquin's goals, Xykon ruling the world would put a severe crimp in those plans, so he may have a lot of incentive to help the Order defeat Team Evil--but that depends on how much he learns about Xykon and Redcloak. AFAIK, all Nale told him about Team Evil is that they're someone he worked with before who know a ritual to control the gate.

[Bravo]

Why the Order might work with Tarquin and Malack: Durkon will say they should. Currently, they're stuck on a desolate desert continent ruled by various members of an old evil adventuring party, with no cleric. Even if they survived long enough without a cleric to overcome the Linear Guild, they have no way to raise Durkon on this entire continent - I would be disinclined to trust any cleric who lived here. If Durkon gets free will, he'll suggest that the Order not get themselves killed, Haley will see the sense in it and suggest that they make an alliance, but be sure to betray Tarquin before he surely betrays them. Roy will know that there isn't really another option that lets them live more than a few rounds against Team Evil, and will relish the opportunity to give Tarquin and the Guild a taste of their own medicine by hanging them out to dry against Team Evil at a crucial point in battle.

Strangely, I think the strongest objections will come from Elan and maybe even Belkar.

Durkon's already proved that he just wants his friends to survive, and although as a cleric of Thor he'd never consider it, as a vampire he'll probably be a lot more... morally flexible. Haley's savvy enough to go for it, and Roy's vindictive enough to like the "betray them later" part. Elan is genre-savvy enough to know the betrayal will likely backfire, and Belkar's bloodthirsty (and upset) enough to not want to do anything but stab that lizard cleric b*****d.

[pendell]

Strangely, I think the strongest objections will come from Elan and maybe even Belkar.


Ultimately, the decision will be Roy's. Would he permanently ally with a bloodthirsty empire out to set up a continent-wide program of mass extermination? No. Would he concoct a temporary alliance in order to defeat an evil which will destroy the world in months, as opposed to utterly ruin a continent in a generation? Probably.

Regardless, Roy regards Elan's counsel of no more weight than the chirping of birds, and he has little but contempt for Belkar. So I don't see either of those persuading Roy to so much as eat tacos for lunch, much less change his mind when the fate of the world is at stake.

*checks watch* ... mmm ... tacos ...

At any rate, I would expect the voice most strongly raised against a temporary alliance proposal, if it is, to be Vaarsuvius'. Vaarsuvius just took a long, deep dive into the evil end of the pool, and the entire party is still paying for V's miscalculation, for V's willingness to embrace evil means as necessary in order to achieve good ends. I find it likely V will be reluctant to do so again unless all other options really are exhausted.



Durkon's already proved that he just wants his friends to survive,


Durkon the dwarf did, but realistically his conversion -- was just reading about this -- is as significant as the one experienced by Sarah Kerrigan (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarah_Kerrigan). Until we've actually seen freewilled Durkon on panel, we can't be sure whether he will still WANT living friends, or simply come to view them as his next meal.

Sarah the Queen of Blades is a different person from the Sarah kerrigan who was a Terran Ghost. I think it highly likely that Durkon the Vampire will be different from Durkon the Dwarf. I'm certain that aspects of the original personality will be changed, but exactly what is coming out the other end -- ally with an unfortunate affliction or arch-nemesis -- is yet to be seen.



Belkar's bloodthirsty (and upset) enough to not want to do anything but stab that lizard cleric b*****d.

At constitution 1 , Belkar isn't going to be doing much of anything except sit in the corner. Sure hope he doesn't mean to make a fort save, because at this point anything but a natural 20 would fail. Or at least, I expect so.

Respectfully,

Brian P.

[sims796]

I'm surprised that no one answered the thread title with a simple "no".

[JackRose]

It most certainly doesn't. When reading arguments, people can get far too caught up in the details.

I would think, though, that Roy's Lawful alignment would prevent him from making any deal with Malack after what he did to Durkon, stemming from a sense of loyalty. In the same way that Durkon wouldn't compromise with Malack, I doubt that Roy will.

I agree with essence, but beg to differ on one point- I'd say that Roy's Lawful Alignment doesn't prevent him from making a deal, but rather that his unwillingness to make that deal is what makes him Lawfully Aligned.

[Rakoa]

I agree with essence, but beg to differ on one point- I'd say that Roy's Lawful Alignment doesn't prevent him from making a deal, but rather that his unwillingness to make that deal is what makes him Lawfully Aligned.

What I meant was, his unwillingness to make a deal stems from his Lawful alignment in that it would be a betrayal of the loyalty he has to Durkon.

[kickassfrog]

Team Evil does not have a high-level fighter.

MitD?
Not that it's likely to do much.
I wonder if we shall find out what it is at the final battle for Kragor's gate.

[ReaderAt2046]

I'm surprised that no one answered the thread title with a simple "no".

That's impossible. There's a 10-character minimum length for posts.

[Kish]

Noooooo!!!

[pendell]

Noooooo!!!

Thumbs up to Kish for that one, even if I disagree with her point.

Fact: Roy is ALREADY technically working for Tarquin as his employee.

ETA : As of this strip (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0817.html) .


Respectfully ,

Brian P.

[Kish]

And will continue to do so as long as Tarquin orders him to do what he was going to do anyway.

Should Tarquin try to give any other orders, which might quite possibly include "don't cut me in half with that greatsword," it will be another story.

[pendell]

Pff. 1v1 , just Roy and Tarquin at full strength, I think Tarquin can defeat Roy in 99 out of 100 battles. He's more experienced and better prepared and has I don't know how many regeneration and healing items.

Respectfully,

Brian P.

[gerryq]

I agree with essence, but beg to differ on one point- I'd say that Roy's Lawful Alignment doesn't prevent him from making a deal, but rather that his unwillingness to make that deal is what makes him Lawfully Aligned.

Even with three folks who, even if they are Evil, are certainly Lawful?

If they are willing to make a deal, Law can't be too much of an issue.

[Math_Mage]

Even with three folks who, even if they are Evil, are certainly Lawful?

If they are willing to make a deal, Law can't be too much of an issue.

'Lawful' does not mean 'Will cooperate and/or make deals with others of Lawful alignment.' Roy sharing a characteristic on the ethical alignment axis with Tarquin and Malack by no means entails his being willing to work with them.

[Byzantine2]

With the fate of the world at stake and Team Evil arriving any minute now I find it likely they may just end up teaming up. If Tarquin and Malak aren't foolish the first thing they would do is quiz Durkon about the gates, as he is unlikely to lie and I don't think Tarquin is foolish enough to actually trust Nale. Once they realize the other team has an epic-level lich and a very strong cleric, and is planning the utterly rule the world (as far the OOtS know), they are likely to realize they are going to be using the gate, and Xykon is a greater threat than anything they have ever faced before.

Also, I do not believe Roy will be in much of a position to deny their aid, when they are trapped with the end of the world looming and no chance real hope of beating Team Evil (who I expect to be making a timely appearance right about when Tarquin and Malak find out what is really going on).

[Mike Havran]

If Niu's sending to Hinjo was made in about the same time the Order found the guarded door, it's been only a few hours since the defeat of Resistance. Redcloak went to astral plane, where he needs to wait about a day to replenish his cleric spells then cast it in Xykon's fortress, then wait a day again, and only then go to the desert. So Team Evil will appear a day, but probably two days later.

In the meantime, the Order are without their cleric, without their wizard, with another member barely able to stand. With no hope of getting any other help. With no means of escape. In hostile and unknown environment.

So yes, they may have a little discussion on the Lesser Evil theme and decide to parley.

In the Linear Guild camp, Durkula tells everything he knows about Xykon and Nale's "cooperation" with him. Tarquin mutters something about failing him for the last time and then Malack bites Nale's head. Off. And after that, they may agree to set an ambush for the lich together with the Order.

[Onyavar]

Answer to OP: Yes, he could/would/should, once he learns about the complete setup.

There are two problems, that were discussed in this thread in length:
a) he doesn't know about the complete setup.
b) the OotS is not likely to work with him, that would need a good evil deal of persuasion skills

Of course, I believe that once Malack dies, Durkon is able to broker a deal between Tarquin, himself and the OotS. He's done so before in the encounter with Miko, showing wisdom and good reasoning.
Now, the thing is, what are Tarquins plans? Nale believes Tarquin has a cunning plan, and is trying to deduce this plan for quite some time now.
But I bet that Tarquin doesn't even have a plan at the moment. He and Malack are just exploring possibilities by having a side adventure in their own campaign - that's what Tarquin believes at the moment. Roy and the Order - just some NPCs.
Tarquin hasn't invested anything of real value into this adventure, he believes that he can gain some XP and maybe a nice opportunity to gain new powers or evil tools. Once he knows the setup, he can flexibly adapt to whatever the situation is and make the best of it, snatching the item and claim it for his campaign. That's his plan.
We readers know it's worthless with TE incoming. Tarquin doesn't.

Tarquin and Shojo are on opposite ends of the alignment scale, but state leaders of the same calibre. Shojo knew about his NPC status all along. I'm waiting desperately for the strip when Tarquin realizes he's a only a major NPC side character. It will either be his demise or much needed character growth.

[Longest Skies]

Has he even heard of Xykon?

I pointed that out before. or his world threatening nature not that many people know of him. Or the gates for that matter.

Asides from the Order and Sapphire guard some nobles, and that last resistance member. I don't think any one really knows about Xyclon.

Tarquin may have heard about a Goblin force crushing the Azurites, but asies from that I don't see him knowing as much of the situation as he would like or thinks he knows.

[CWH10301964]

MALACK KILLED DURKON! OOTS looking over that would be completely out of character. And stupid.

I'm expecting battle betwen LG and Team Evil soon. Haley, Belkar, Roy and Elan have to find V, Girard's gate, destroy it before it falls to Tarquin's or Xykon's hands, and run as fast as they can to Kraagor's gate. LG fighting with Team Evil would be great chance for them to escape unnoticed.

Not to mention, it would be great to see Malack vs Redcloak duel (hopefully, not this http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0456.html).

That was HILARIOUS.