The Great War did get rid of most of the nine (and the rest of them don't seem to have made it to the rebirth of the Cath Bruig, or at least they're lying low)--this thread reminds me of the conversation between Alric and Soulblighter in "Twice Born", where SB talks about Alric's dreams of glory and conquest or.. or whatever... sorry, shame spiral here, I haven't got the dialogue down by heart yet.
Some thoughts:
1. Alric was using the head, not the other way around like most people seem to believe. He wanted the civil war and the deaths of the nine.
2. Balor blasted the Myrkridian standard, proving he was Connacht--and proving that he didn't believe himself to be innately evil.
3. Alric's actions lead to the destruction of the Tain, and the subsequent release of the Myrkridia (only to send in his best men later and make himself look like Connacht by wiping out the Summoner).
4. The taking of Muirthemne, the recovery of the Ibis crown, the rebuilding of Cath Bruig--seems to me like a risky political adventure when you've got SB riding roughshod all over the kingdoms of the West.
Face it, everyone: Alric is a power-mad dictator waiting to happen! How long before he starts turning his people into thrall because they're easier to control?
