I think it is pretty questionable to say that in any of the ending the Orcs are loyal to Rowan over the twins. At best I would say they have a favorable view of Rowan in the other paths. Although I would entertain an argument that Tarish has already proven herself willing to use underhanded means to betray her bosses in the past, and might be convinced to do it again if she sees enough of a benefit to herself.
I dunno, it isn't clear how much stand Rowan for Tarish after his participation in successfully helping her to get in Power over the tribe without loses. And did you saw how much she enjoy the ride Rowan give to her?. She may be a bit of a Tsundere lol. The lack of further interactions with her doesn't make it clear, by the other hand, Ulcro have more motives to be more in terms with Rowan, as he helped him to gain the love of Delane... In my own personal opinion, the impression the three orcs gave me is, more or less like this:
- Helping Ulcro, he is in debt with Rowan, possible ally in the future.
- Helping Batri, he's concerned more about the maintaining of his warriors, and more in common with Andras than Rowan, more probably will stand for Andras than Rowan no matter what.
- Helping Tarish:
º If Rowan complies, she thinks highly of him, good fuck, probably an ally if is taking carefully.
ª If Rowan not complies, then she grudge towards Rowan, more probably an enemy that stands her loyalty to Jezera.
As an aside I regularly see arguments that Rowan should have made a smarter moves here or there because he is a "master tactician." But I feel like people are loading too much in to the word "tactician" and think he should be some sort of Machiavellian genius who should never make mistakes.
First of all tactics is a much narrower field than people think it is. For example a "tactician" is not a "strategist." Strategy is more big picture like, these are the tasks that need to be done to achieve our goal. Tactics is how to go about achieving those tasks. For example a strategist would say we need to take that hill to achieve victory. The tactician would say okay troops, this is how we take that hill. Or to use an example that is directly relevant to Rowan: a master strategist would be able to determine the steps that need to be taken to escape the twins, the master tactician would figure out how to achieve those steps.
And in fact, this is how the twins use him. They don't tell him "please make a plan for us to conquer the world." They say "figure out how to take over Reave keep." "Now figure out how to recruit that giant orc clan." "Now figure out how to repel this encroaching army." "Now figure out how to take over the City." They make the strategic plan and give him the tasks. Then he comes up with the tactics to achieve the task.
Also, being a master tactician does not make you and expert at social intrigue or maneuvering for power. In fact I would argue that he explicitly is not skilled at that. If he were, he would have actually been treated like a hero instead of cast aside after the war. In fact he regularly get out maneuvered when it come to intrigue. Even Cla'min out maneuvers him in this field. Which is why he needs to team up with someone that is good at it in Rastadel.
Taking note of you analysis, i'm less convinced of how Rowan could achieve the rank of General
...
There is not inherently better path to take. You need to decide what your goal for Rowan is.
Do you want him to be a somewhat good guy who resists the twins at every turn? Take the knight path. You are helping a close companion break free if ever so slightly from the twins' control, and she is a very competent warror who might be good to have on yur side when shit goes down in the later acts.
Do you want Rowan to become corrupted and fall further into hedonism. Choose the slave path. Maybe you feel Rowan deserves to have a personal sex slave just like Andras does. Especially after that ungrateful wife of his threw a hissy fit and moved out. Hows a poor guy supposed to get his dick wet like that? Does she expect him to walk all the way down the hall to her room just to find that she's at the library right now? Clearly having a personal sex slave is more convenient for everyone.
First you have Rowan claim Helenya for his own. Then when she comes to Rowan for help escaping you have to have him convince her to stay with him instead. Then you will eventually trigger this choice.
Well, i personally think in the future possibility of Helayna doing a mission in battle and then much later when Rowan betray Da Twins and overthrow them to rise in Power in High Corruption, a warrior corrupted Helayna, brutally murder the enemies of Rowan while dripping wet her cunt thinking how much her lover will praise her for her achievements
.
