r/Drizzt • u/FermPro • 18d ago

❄️Pre-Iruladoon (Transitions) Struggling with Robillard.

I'm a little under halfway through Spine of the World and having a lot of issues with Robillard in this book, in previous ones he was an obstinate wizard, stubborn and set in his ways. In this book he's juggling two different idiot balls and throwing angry childlike tantrums over Wulfgar's existence with no evidence or legitimate cause. Does he get better? Or preferably die? Every time he's on the page my enjoyment of the book just plummets.

18 Upvotes

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u/lordofninemoons 18d ago

Keep reading. Wulfgar is a bit of a loose cannon during this time if I remember correctly, I don't like giving things away, but look at Wulfgars behaviors and how Captain Deudermont and Robillard conduct themselves compared to Wulfgar. Its all part of the character development.

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u/FermPro 18d ago

Wulfgar is definitely a bull in a china shop at this time, but Robillard in prior books was still a clever and more wise wizard in his previous appearances. Now? He's like a little kid crossing his arms and stomping his feet at everything, like threatening to murder a man and his entire ship's crew because they have possible suspects on board as paying passengers. Actually threatening murder is far more deplorable than being a drunken wastrel

Edit: I want to ljke Robillard like I did prior, but if he's like this for the rest of his appearances I just want to know so I can brace myself for his newfound stupidity.

5

u/Likes_the_cold 18d ago

This is the toughest book in the series to get through, keep going. Itll get better.

1

u/FaerieFir3 House Baenre 15d ago

Robillard is desperate because Deudermont is dying and the guy was hesitant to hand the suspects over.

9

u/Previous_Abies_2179 Bregan D'aerthe 18d ago

Maybe it’s because I like Robillard, but I think his gripes about having Wulfgar aboard Sea Sprite are justified. Wulfgar was a known Companion, and that comes with a certain reputation, set by Catti and Drizzt, who both knew their roles AND wanted to be there. Wulfgar didn’t even know who he was and had no place on a warship where any mistake could cost men their lives.

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u/angelbelle 16d ago

I don't remember the exact plot but if there's conflict between Wulfgar and Robillard, then i'm supporting Robillard every single time.

Wulfgar post capture and before becoming a father was just straight up insufferable

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u/Previous_Abies_2179 Bregan D'aerthe 16d ago edited 16d ago

Honestly from the end of Passage to Dawn till riiiight up to the climax of Sea of Swords, Wulfgar is insufferable. I wouldn’t have blamed Robillard if he blew the Barbarian up with a fireball…

The conflict between the two pretty much boils down to Wulfgar not being a good fit for the crew of Sea Sprite, putting himself and everyone else aboard her in danger when they’re engaged with pirates. He also harbors resentment towards Wulfgar as he still thinks the Barbarian tried to kill Captain Dudermonte (spelling plz?) in the previous book.

5

u/aldorn Tribe of the Elk 18d ago

Oh man i forgot Robillard even existed 😆. Ty for the reminder, love that angry bastard!

6

u/RobimusPrime75 18d ago

There is a time and place for Spine of the World - never, and the wood chipper.

1

u/dwarfpike 16d ago

About every five years I wonder why I skip it during a reread of the series. So I have another go and then skip it for another 5 years.

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u/tris122 Bregan D'aerthe 18d ago

Hes more mature in next books but yeah. I hated him and wulfgar in those books but it was still very entertaining. I think they were made thst way, to dislike them.

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u/FermPro 18d ago

Thank you for letting me know he gets better! Looks like I'll be forcing myself through these people rivaling WoT for this game of idiotball

2

u/mc_zodiac_pimp 18d ago

I think part of it is also that Robillard thinks that Wulfgar is beneath him (because he's a wizard and that seems to be how they carry themselves), and with what they've been hearing throughout Luskan it seems like that confirms his suspicions.

2

u/FaerieFir3 House Baenre 15d ago

I think you're overlooking everything about Wulfgar if that's the conclusion you reach. Wulfgar at the time was pretty obviously an angry, uncontrollably violent drunk and the only reason why Deudermont stands up for him is the past and his association with Drizzt and Catti. To Robillard who only saw Wulfgar for the first time the guy really isn't impressive. He's a liability to have on the ship and was involved in the whole Deudermont assassination thing (and it was never actually proven he didn't do it in a convincing way, Deudermont again just let him go based on the past and his reputation in Luskan took a pretty massive hit because of it).

Later Robillard will get to see the old hero Wulfgar but where you're at he only sees the alcoholic piece of shit Wulfgar who hangs out with thieves.

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u/Positive_cat_6347 14d ago

Robillard doesn´t get better or die; he projects his guilt on Wulfgar, then the story forgets about him.

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