Girl Genius

Random thought of randomness: Tarvek might have researched Mechanicsburg and the Heterodynes (and everything about them) for the same reason he took long, hard looks at Klaus. Wanting to see how their ticking along made their ways work... and where the ticking failed.

Zola... was specific to his Father. And, he might have thought he could circumvent her somehow, without having to know much about the fake they'd present.

I'd presume the Red Cathedral systems are somewhat under control of the Storm King / Ko J. The 'Prince of Sturmhalten's big bet' wouldn't have been a big deal if having the Cathedral in town wasn't some sort of check on the power of the Heterodyne. That being so, Tarvek wouldn't have had to research Mechanicsburg so much, as his own heritage.

I don't think Agatha especially wants to run Mechanicsburg, she just feels responsible for it. After all, the siege and was to get her, so she is in some way to blame for their troubles. Or at least she'll see it that way. She totally deserves cake.

She and her whole team deserve cake, baths, sleep, and new, clean clothes.

Except the only word we have on Jäger opinions of the Sturmvoraus family comes from the novel, where Maxim, at least, is flatly hostile to them and seems to regard them as thieves (which...is an odd opinion for a Jäger to hold). There might be more to it than that, and the Cathedral is evidence that the Heterodynes and Sturmvorauses at least spoke to one another, but it's very little to go on to reach the conclusion Mechanicsburg would welcome an unknown Sturmvoraus over Klaus, who had kept his bargains with them and was even trying to fix the Castle. Maybe if Tarvek succeeded in fixing the Castle they'd feel beholden, but could he? Tiktoffen was working for everyone, I suppose he could have assumed that wasn't the case and he'd be able to get all the credit.

Interesting thought. I'm definitely looking forward to seeing what the Red Cathedral does. It surely can't require a Sturmvoraus present every time a new Heterodyne is initiated though, can it? I suppose they wouldn't have to come very far, but that must have been some bet if the Heterodynes were willing to accept a check on their power like that.

edited 10th Apr '13 4:03:51 PM by khil

It may be enough that the Red Cathedral isn't under control of DK. I'm guessing the Abbess has to introduce the new Heterodyne to the Cathedral's systems. After which they will take instruction from her.

Looking forward to the folks songs, and the tribute, and the begging not to plunder.

Well, that's going to be interesting if the Abbess hasn't figured out Agatha's real yet

The Abbess has to be a fairly senior player in the Great Game. She's solo, in a critically sensitive position, and up to date on not only the fine points of the plot, but from the looks of it she was in a position to send for Tweedle.

I wonder if they managed to keep her secure, or if she pulled a Zola and got away?

Oh, dear. There are systems that need to be "told."

And Agatha's supposed to have tea with the matrons of Mechanicsberg.

How much you wanna bet that the "systems" as such are social systems at least as much as they're "hardware"? And that the "telling" has to come from social anchor points....who will care very much about Mechanicsberg's traditions?

And if I am right, then we know how and why Agatha will actually get her cake...

Imagining the Librarians, and the Unions, and the Burgomeisters, and all sorts of groups who have the care and responsibility for subelements of Mechanicsberg...and who must all be treated well and mollified.

edited 10th Apr '13 5:21:56 PM by Hippogrif

Cake does usually come with tea, yes.

And a glass of sherry if, in fact, the sun is setting. I realize that for most of the U.S. Agatha's still underage but this is Europa in an approximately XVIII-XIX Century setting.

It strikes me as an odd way to refer to them unless Van is trying to avoid being too specific in earshot of Tweedle, but I guess they could be social systems. Certainly Agatha will have to deal with those at some point, and the promised tea seems a likely enough point.

...I hope Agatha gets a snack before then, though.

Bah, being Hetreodyne means I Said There Will Be Cake is in effect. Otherwise the Heterodyne might be tempted to make their own cake.

Nah — I think we're getting the true picture of the Power of the Heterodyne. They're backed by a powerful people. Mechanicsburg has a Social Contract, dammit. And, I get the impression that, yes, they allow The Heterodyne a ton of scope (and, it may shift generationally as to the exact details).

But. Go too far, and said Heterodyne gets a face full of Magna Carta. Or, you know... whatever The Contract is called.

And, Agatha may need to start thrashing her version out.

edited 10th Apr '13 5:52:19 PM by Euodiachloris

Frankly, I think it would be a bit Un-Civil of The Civic Powers of Mechanicsberg to expect Agatha to be socially superb prior to a bath, a meal, a good night's sleep, and a change of clothes. Once she's had those, she can recall to stick out her pinky and make small talk.

edited 10th Apr '13 5:52:04 PM by Hippogrif

May be a case of "Sort the Cathedral out, Lady (please: it needs telling off and has been cranky for years), and then you can get some rest and we'll thrash everything else out. Just... seriously: sort the Cathedral out..."

edited 10th Apr '13 5:54:15 PM by Euodiachloris

Ah, good point. Surely she cannot be expected to attend a formal tea without at least getting to clean up first.

If I recall correctly the First Iteration of Der Kestle that we met was Under The Cathedral. And we haven't seen Carson for awhile. And it was sufficiently self-sustained and separate from Der K-proper to have escaped whatever happened to the main system.

I wonder if the Throne of Faustus Heterodyne is the one place where pure human override can reign.

And poor Van is due to get drilled soon.

Good point. And, none of those with Agatha (well, apart from Krosp) know for sure that she's been near the Throne. Tarvek, however, might guess: she explained about being told about the damaged systems of DK via another part of the system. <shrugs>

And, the drilling of a new seneschal does get me as a "quaint tradition/ sacrifice".

edited 10th Apr '13 6:21:10 PM by Euodiachloris

Ouch! I do hope the poor lad gets something anesthetic to go with it.

No, but he can have a really big cup of coffee afterward.

Hmmm. According to these scenes the core intelligence of Der K. was sane, or thought it was, just cut off from all the peripherals.

But it still looks to me like the Throne of Faustus is a communication link from which the Seneschal can inform elements of Mechanicsberg's various systems. So I'm still a-gonna keep the overall theory as one of the options. I'm hoping we see Carson soon, and get an explanation of what he got sent to accomplish.

edited 10th Apr '13 6:19:48 PM by Hippogrif

Didn't all the pieces of the Castle Agatha talked to think they were sane and the main system? *g* "I am not a kitchen! I am Castle Heterodyne!" But the Crypt-Library fragment did seem to have a better claim to it than most, and Agatha thought the library might have been one of the most secure areas — shielded well enough to still be at least semiconscious after the Lion, even.

I'm not sure it was ever said that the Crypt was under the Cathedral, but it would be reasonable. (I guess they'd have to have built the Cathedral on top of it — some of the dates on the gravestones are from before Sturmhalten was founded.) I, too, am very interested in what in the world the usual use of the Throne is.

edited 10th Apr '13 8:41:41 PM by PK

And naturally today is Cliffhanger Friday so we have to wait two days to find out.

Gotta admit that I'm loving the new page: It shows a lot on what the ruler's life is. And I'm with Agatha and Klaus on this one, "let's get the boring paperwork done so I can get to work". And the lining with Tarvek mentioning about the whims takes the cake... seems I'm asking to be zapped with the zappy stick.

And Corgi take your time we can wait.

Hmm? Ol' Bear, this is just Wednesday, late, isn't it? We still have tomorrow as our Cliffhanger.

Ol' Bear, I think you have the day off a bit. Hmm. Makes me wonder if Tweedle is an idiot again, they are following him after all. I could imagine Tarvek having done similar things in the past, seeming foolish and everyone wondering why they're following the fool.

There's a broken gazing ball in the background of panel one. Reminds me of the broken spring shell Hippogrif's been thinking about lately.

Tarvek in that last panel just looks like he's finally happy with life.

An enterprising Mechanicsburger could make some money with spicy snails on a stick right now, everyone's got to be hungry and need some fast food.

edited 10th Apr '13 8:26:19 PM by Lightningnettle

Sorry, being retired I tend to lose track of time, date, month, year. I'm pretty sure we're out of the Century of the Anchovy, though.