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Mod edit to add this convenience link to Girl Genius. Original OP below:


Last thread vanished with the crash...

So, the Weasel Queen interlude is over. Is this Storm King opera another one?

Edited by wingedcatgirl on Feb 19th 2025 at 1:51:41 PM

KupoMechanic Since: May, 2009
#2151: Aug 11th 2009 at 11:27:03 PM

Comic's Finally Up!

This looks interesting. It gives some insight on how Gil and Klaus can keep surviving situations that should kill them.

Also: "I AM THE PRETTIEST FROG IN THIS ENTIRE POND!"

Edit: Fix'd

edited 11th Aug '09 11:33:49 PM by KupoMechanic

"Any sufficiently analyzed magic is indistinguishable from Science!"
Haven Planescape Hijack Since: Jan, 2001
Planescape Hijack
#2152: Aug 11th 2009 at 11:30:32 PM

"And of course, I'd hate for it to be boring."

Also, "building up resistance to poisons" is repeated :|.

Oh, hey, and another strip where Violetta is getting touchy-feely, somewhat possessively even, with Moloch grin

edited 11th Aug '09 11:33:55 PM by Haven

Productivity is for people without internet connections. -Count Dorku
Sabbo Since: Jan, 2001
#2153: Aug 11th 2009 at 11:31:02 PM

I AM THE PRETTIEST FROG IN THIS ENTIRE POND!!

EDIT: Dammit. But at least I quoted it right. >_>

edited 11th Aug '09 11:31:59 PM by Sabbo

TheEvilOboist Don't call me honey. from USA Since: Apr, 2009
Don't call me honey.
#2154: Aug 11th 2009 at 11:54:26 PM

I love this comic. How long has Gil been shirtless now?

Possible theory: the reanimation will make Tarvek even more crazy, thus removing him from the love triangle. YES!

Another possible theory: If Gil still has that Jagerbrau in his system, the process might not do anything to him.

"Remember, writers are the only adults who get to spend all day in their pajamas playing with imaginary friends."
Brickman Since: Jan, 2001
#2155: Aug 12th 2009 at 12:01:03 AM

This seems to be an... awfully generous move by Gil. I mean, he's performing some procedure which puts himself at risk of death or insanity or worse (and if there's something worse than death, "That horrible reanimation procedure" will cause it, as if regular reanimation weren't bad enough), and even if he succeeds has a 100% chance of catching a lethal disease that he hopes he's immune to. All to save... Tarvek? Tarvek orchestrated a plot which included killing Gil and his father, and just minutes ago Gil was furious when he even heard mention of Tarvek's name, and Tarvek started ranting when he saw Gil. Nevermind the love triangle, Gil should NOT care this much about keeping Tarvek alive. Certainly doesn't hold a grudge...

Medinoc from France (Before Recorded History)
#2156: Aug 12th 2009 at 12:38:01 AM

@The Evil Oboist: Battle-draught is not Jägerbrau (or at least, it's unlikely to be): Jägerbrau turns humans into Jägers, while battle-draught is meant for people who are already Jägers.

"And as long as a sack of shit is not a good thing to be, chivalry will never die."
jaimeastorga2000 Indeed Since: May, 2011
Indeed
#2157: Aug 12th 2009 at 12:46:52 AM

@Brickman: He's probably doing it for Agatha.

Also, I thought "si vales valeo" sounded like Latin, so I put it through a translator. It came out as "if you wish to grow strong to be strong."

edited 12th Aug '09 12:47:15 AM by jaimeastorga2000

Legally Free Content
Lyanna Since: Jan, 2001
#2158: Aug 12th 2009 at 12:56:09 AM

It is Latin, and it means "If you are strong, I am strong."

Exits, pursued by a bear.
Hippogrif Hippogrif from Headed Up Since: Aug, 2009
Hippogrif
#2159: Aug 12th 2009 at 1:24:24 AM

Hi. New Here.

Can y'all help me with a few outstanding questions? Do we know which was elder, Tarvek or Anevka? Do we have any reason to believe the original Anevka was even a little less snaky and Byzantine than the Clank Anevka was? What do we know about their Mom besides that she's the source of Tarvek's claim to the title of Storm King?

Does anyone else see Tarvek being given any strong reason to give his secrets away to Agatha prior to the ill-timed revelation that Agathoid-Lucretia overhears? My take is that he does at least attempt a disclosure in less than 24 hours of meeting her, which seems a stunning burst of trust and affection coming from a Sturmrovaus.

I'm sort of trying to figure Tarvek out from his world and experience...and if he grew up with both Aaronev and Anevka making like happy little Borgias, well, he makes rather a lot of sense without being evil: just determined to please-God live and get some control, and to do so as the nobleman he believes himself to be. Especially if he was the younger of the siblings, which he reads as to me.

For the record I vote with those of you who don't think he was on Castle Wulfenbach. I won't swear to Genghis Khan, but certainly Europeans never practiced universal hostage taking...and I suspect there are too many noble families in Western and Central Europa for Klaus to attempt it. Especially as people get testy about their kids. Sleipnir makes it pretty clear that at least in her father's case there was a clear benefit to be gained from taking her aboard:Daddy was a bad actor openly warring with another noble.

If Klaus was primarily taking the kids of known noble and diplomatic cut-ups and then only when doing so had a chance of getting leverage, well...Aaronev may have slipped under the radar, as he seems to have been keeping his plots fairly well hidden. OR, even if Klaus knew he was a bad, bad boy, Klaus may also have sensed that taking a child wouldn't slow Aaronev down for a second, but would only add a grievance to his list of reasons for despising Klaus. If his will to sacrifice Anevka was true to form, Klaus wouldn't have gained anything at all by taking either Tarvek or Anevka hostage, and Klaus does appear to hate wastes of his time and energy.

Hippogriff

edited 12th Aug '09 4:09:12 AM by Hippogrif

Mostly Harmless.
Hippogrif Hippogrif from Headed Up Since: Aug, 2009
Hippogrif
#2160: Aug 12th 2009 at 1:34:18 AM

Jameastorga 2000 and Lyanna—

Si Vale Valeo. Short version of a traditional greeting, "If you are well, then I am well." Looks like Gil is going to attempt a form of, for lack of a better word, sympathetic medicine. He will get at least some of Tarvek's illness. Tarvek will presumably benefit from Gil's wellness. As for the madness factor, we get to wonder what degree of personality or mind sharing goes down.

At the very least we look to be heading into a rather novel form of blood brothership combined with "I owe you my life/You owe me your life" bonding.

I like it. I mean, I really like it!

edited 12th Aug '09 4:09:44 AM by Hippogrif

Mostly Harmless.
Hippogrif Hippogrif from Headed Up Since: Aug, 2009
Hippogrif
#2161: Aug 12th 2009 at 1:47:12 AM

edited 12th Aug '09 4:20:18 AM by Hippogrif

Mostly Harmless.
Haven Planescape Hijack Since: Jan, 2001
Planescape Hijack
#2162: Aug 12th 2009 at 1:54:27 AM

Hay, welcome to the fora. Put up an avvie here, and I suggest you introduce yourself in the "meet the tropers" thread here.

As for your questions—I got an "older sister" vibe from Anevka's interactions with Tarvek. But no, we don't know, and we don't seem to know anything about their mother either. I think the fact that Anevka wasn't as Xanatos-y as Clankevka is just an example of the latter's AI degrading or going crazy or something.

Good analysis—very strong for a first post :) Except you don't need to post three times in a row—you can just edit your old posts with the pencil button at the top of each of your posts.

edited 12th Aug '09 1:55:03 AM by Haven

Productivity is for people without internet connections. -Count Dorku
Lyanna Since: Jan, 2001
#2163: Aug 12th 2009 at 2:18:03 AM

Hippogrif: The verb "valere" can be translated "(to be) well," "strong," "healthy," even "powerful" or "influential" (though IIRC those last two meanings are generally limited to when it is used with certain adverbs or something). I've even seen it translated "to be sound." There is just not a one-to-one lexical correspondence. *shrug*

Exits, pursued by a bear.
Hippogrif Hippogrif from Headed Up Since: Aug, 2009
Hippogrif
#2164: Aug 12th 2009 at 4:15:35 AM

Thanks, Haven. I'll work on avvie and intro thread later. BUT!!! The edit works!!!! Way cool. (grin)

Thanks for the comments and compliments. I shall continue to try to unravel the world from Tarvek's POV...while awaiting his and Gil's response to the shared healing, which ought to provide some nice long-term interplay. At least as much as Agatha's lingering reaction to Lars' death. This bit of plot looks like it will have legs...

Again, thanks for the info on the edit. I honestly would have been months figuring out that little pencil without your help.

Lyanna: yes, there's a range of possible translations. But the phrase used as a greeting is traditionally translated in the sense of "Are you well? I am too." And in this context "Wellness" appears to be the intended outcome, not just strength.

Maybe the word "Hale" would be best of all, implying strength, heartiness and wellness all at once. It just seems likely that the Foglios are intentionally drawing on a standard "health" translation to summon up a "health" connotation.

edited 12th Aug '09 4:46:16 AM by Hippogrif

Mostly Harmless.
MetaFour AXTE INCAL AXTUCE MUN from A Place (Old Master)
AXTE INCAL AXTUCE MUN
#2165: Aug 12th 2009 at 4:56:57 AM

"But [my father] does have his amusing Sparky quirks. Did you know he really loves waffles?"

Was anyone else reminded of that alternate-universe Othar from the twitter, whose obsession with killing all Sparks resulted from a meal of buttery waffles?

Zyxzy Embrace the mindscrew from Salem, OR Since: Jan, 2001
Dracomicron Since: Jan, 2001
#2167: Aug 12th 2009 at 6:56:10 AM

As usual, I think there are multiple things going on here.

  • Gil will do it for Agatha, because he's way into her.
  • Gil is an insane spark, and wants to see if the procedure works.
  • Gil is really into Agatha.
  • Gil, despite being a despot-in-training, values life, or at least considers letting people die to be bad policy.
  • Saving Tarvek's life will make Tarvek owe Gil. Big time. We were just talking about how Baron Wulfenbach prefers fostering loyalty over oppression, when possible (with regards to the hostage children), so Tarvek, if he survives, would have to think twice before plotting against him again.
  • Gil considers potential death to be a valid risk if it gets him closer to getting Agatha naked.

"The secret we should never let the gamemasters know is that they don't need any rules." - E. Gary Gygax
GreybeardFan Since: Aug, 2009
#2168: Aug 12th 2009 at 7:41:35 AM

If this involves personality transference it could help Agatha understand what happened to her.

Say, do you suppose that Gil's explanation about innoculation is a cover for what he knows about his own ... construction?

Of course, if something goes wrong, we could end up with Tarvek and Gil united in Gil's body. Whether they would cooperate or contend is an open question. Then there would be only one Storm King. And if they merged "Gil" would know about Clancrezia, and maybe about how the possession of Agatha was done. And all the other Sturmvoraus secrets, including the existence (but not the use) of that spark-infecting slaver wasp. And while Clancrezia would know to fear Tarvek (though she does not know he can shut her down) she wouldn't know to fear "Gil" in the same way.

Yes, I think that Violetta and Moloch are becoming an item. If Gil and Tarvek are merged, then the Smoke Knights will answer to Gilvek and the other, refractory, elements of House Sturmvoraus will owe allegience to House Wolfenbach. And if Gil and Agatha marry, Europa will truly be united.

Come to think of it, Gil might be planning on learning how the possession of Agatha was accomplished. He does want to help her.

And on the topic of that slaver wasp that's got Klaus: if it is the wasps that obey Lucrezia/Other, what would happen if Agatha ordered the wasp to let go of Klaus and come out?

edited 12th Aug '09 10:04:48 AM by GreybeardFan

Brickman Since: Jan, 2001
#2169: Aug 12th 2009 at 10:27:02 AM

I suspect that there is NOT a mind-sharing aspect to this treatment. Since this is normally a "revivification" technique, the target is usually dead. Being dead probably allows some nasty decay or at least chemical imbalances to happen in one's brain. If you're taking on all of someone's afflictions, and there's something physically wrong with their brain...

Hippogrif Hippogrif from Headed Up Since: Aug, 2009
Hippogrif
#2170: Aug 12th 2009 at 11:57:57 AM

Brickman says:

<<I suspect that there is NOT a mind-sharing aspect to this treatment. Since this is normally a "revivification" technique, the target is usually dead. Being dead probably allows some nasty decay or at least chemical imbalances to happen in one's brain. If you're taking on all of someone's afflictions, and there's something physically wrong with their brain... >>

Exactly why I think that there is some form of mind exchange. Agatha doesn't seem worried over ONLY Tarvek coming out mad...though the phrasing could be interpreted that way the general reading seems to be of mutual damage. Reviving a dead person would often, yes, leave you with a crazy dead person if the brain damage wasn't fully and perfectly repaired. But the only way Gil's mind is in danger is if there's at least a neurological component to the exchange, and if there is that opens the possibility of some of the "information" physically stored in the two brains to also swap.

Or not. I think it mostly depends on what the Foglios want to do with this. I mean, it's technically Mad Science, not Real World Science, so we're really discussing plot potential more than anything.

Now for plot potential, with the authors free to design the effects the effects they want....there is just SO bloody much potential here. Like I said, this bit looks like it can have some very long term effects and allow for a lot of different possible shifts of direction from what we've been expecting.

Mostly Harmless.
GreybeardFan Since: Aug, 2009
#2171: Aug 12th 2009 at 11:58:06 AM

I wonder what Gil did with Adam and Lilith? Might he have practical experience with this technique?

edited 12th Aug '09 11:58:22 AM by GreybeardFan

adam850 Since: Dec, 2009
#2172: Aug 12th 2009 at 8:09:58 PM

Adam and Lilith were constructs to begin with, so with them, it's like repairing a broken machine. I also doubt there's a personality-merge here. Seems like the danger is neurological damage, which would probably damage their minds, not combine them.

GreybeardFan Since: Aug, 2009
#2173: Aug 13th 2009 at 12:58:24 PM

On Tarvek's rapid color changes: I am reminded of two characters who appeared in the not-safe-for-work webcomic Something Positive. The first was a cat named Twitchy-hug who turned out to have homicide as a hobby. The second was a character named Kharisma whose clothes started changing color from panel to panel as soon as she resolved to kill someone. I don't think this indicates where the GG plot is going, but it is kind of interesting.

Haven Planescape Hijack Since: Jan, 2001
Planescape Hijack
#2174: Aug 13th 2009 at 9:03:59 PM

OoOOOOoooh...

I hope they use the "artistically replace it with molten brass" one to do it! Not that I want him to suffer, but, y'know...it'd be neat?

Productivity is for people without internet connections. -Count Dorku
GGCrono Since: Jan, 2001
#2175: Aug 13th 2009 at 9:16:52 PM

That last panel is sheer brilliance. evil grin


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