Lucanis Dellamorte - Official Companion Thread [Spoilers]

That's the point really, it was something very much more emphasised in game.   Back in Tevinter Nights it was clear that Illario was less focused on the job than Lucanis and was a bit of a preening dandy but he still came through when he needed to.   In fact it helped that he was so at ease with mingling and impressing others when it came to obtaining the key from the guard, so if he hadn't dressed for a party that wouldn't have been possible.   Also, Lucanis was happy to entrust him with seeing the slaves to safety and, for that matter, Caterina had entrusted him with fetching Lucanis back to Antiva.  Perhaps he was seen more as an errand boy and wheeler dealer but surely the head of the Crows needs to be able to negotiate and maintain a front of respectability when dealing with outsiders, whilst still being ruthless enough to deal with threats from within.   Nothing suggested that Illario wasn't capable of being ruthless and deadly when needed.   After all he had survived up to then and in TN it is clear he received the same training as Lucanis from Caterina.   

To be honest, the betrayal with Zara didn't make a lot of sense from his perspective, although I can see why she probably saw Illario as the weak link in Lucanis' armour.    As I understand it, Lucanis was captured as he was returning to Vyrantium.   I'm still puzzled why that would be.   Back in TN the Crows were anticipating an attack by the Antaam and had just lost several Talons to betrayal.    It made more sense that Caterina would want her most deadly weapon to be available back home rather than dealing with new contracts in Tevinter.   I think there was scope for far more complexity in the political situation in Antiva than the game finally got.