So, about Zenos... (SPOILERS)

[Maltothoris]

And

The Exarch (name omitted for spoiler reasons)

Both should have died when they "died" in ShB.

I recall someone pointing the reason that Thancred didn't die was because the Trust System was in the game and there wouldn't of been an npc tank to make sense if Thancred did die. So ya, as long as the trust system exists, you know anyone in it is not going to die. It's why I didn't have too much of a reaction towards the Ultima Thule area when the party was getting picked off one by one.