Girl Genius XXXI: Let’s look at it from farther away!

[Manga Shoggoth]

It is a world ruled by Mad Science! Things happen. Usually, they happen to other people. This is entertainment. That's when the front door gets blown in- And you belatedly realize that, once again, you are doomed to be the entertainment in another exciting installment of: GIRL GENIUS (http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php)!

Many elegant, finely-crafted, and vintage links follow:

Links to Previous Threads
Girl Genius! (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=4818) (thread)
Girl Genius II (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=80718)
Girl Genius III: Nize Thread! (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=92541)
Girl Genius IV: Because SCIENCE! is my mistress (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=102230)
Girl Genius V: Madre de Diodes! (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=112305)
Girl Genius VI: Der Pestle in Der Kestle (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=128538)
Girl Genius VII: Get on the Slab, I Want to Get to Work! (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=143909)
Girl Genius: VIII Will Show Them All! (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=159600)
Girl Genius IX: The Unstoppable Thread (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=173582)
Girl Genius X: The Othar Shoe Drops (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=189632)
Girl Genius XI: Ding Dong, the Baron's Dead! (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=207223)
Girl Genius XII: For Doom The Bell Tolls (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=227697)
Girl Genius XIII: "Gott's Leedle Feesh in Trousers!" (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=245508)
Girl Genius XIV: A Lightning Arc in All But Speed! (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=266978)
Girl Genius XV: The Weasel, the Spark, and the Wardrobe (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=287759)
Girl Genius XVI: The Wrath of Klaus (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?322309)
Girl Genius XVII: And Then He Had Pie (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?365866)
Girl Genius XVIII: Invisible Hand of the Legendary Smoke Knights (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?412897)
Girl Genius XIX: Worth a Third of Your Grade (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?458545)
Girl Genius XX: Endothermic Life Forms Are Inherently Heretical (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?488904)
Girl Genius XXI: Cancel the Jugglers (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?510316)
Girl Genius XXII: Paris Needs Pants (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?529521-Girl-Genius-XXII-Paris-Needs-Pants)
Girl Genius XXIII: Screaming, Ranting and Egregious Violence (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?554543-Girl-Genius-XXIII-Screaming-Ranting-and-Egregious-Violence)
Girl Genius XXIV: Ask Vit a Bit More Terror (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?567668-Girl-Genius-XXIV-Ask-Vit-a-Bit-More-Terror)
Girl Genius XXV: It needs work! BUT THE CONCEPT IS SOUND! (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?579254-Girl-Genius-XXV-It-needs-work!-BUT-THE-CONCEPT-IS-SOUND!)
Girl Genius XXVI: Madness is the best possible response (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?593272-Girl-Genius-XXVI-Madness-is-the-best-possible-response)
Girl Genius XXVII: Hoy! Hennybody else not dead? (https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?607417-Girl-Genius-XXVII-Hoy!-Hennybody-else-not-dead)
Girl Genius XXVIII: Dancink! Ve is here for de dancink! (https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?619421-Girl-Genius-XXVIII-Dancink!-Ve-is-here-for-de-dancink!)
Girl Genius XXIX: A giant corkboard of continuity madness (https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?628598-Girl-Genius-XXIX-A-giant-corkboard-of-continuity-madness)
Girl Genius: XXXenophile Edition (https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?637669-Girl-Genius-XXXenophile-Edition)
Girl Genius XXXI: Let’s look at it from farther away! (https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?646352-Girl-Genius-XXXI-Let%92s-look-at-it-from-farther-away!)


Comic Links
Link to current comic (http://girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php) and link to the beginning of the strip. (http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20021104) (Updates MWF, usually after Midnight [Eastern Time])
The Continuing Adventures of Othar Tryggvassen, Gentleman Adventurer! (http://twitter.com/Othar) (back on hiatus, may update in the future)
A compilation (and much easier to read if you're just catching up) of the first three chapters can be found here at the GG website (http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/fun/twitter_othar_01.php).
And if one goes to snapbird.org (http://snapbird.org/) and types in "Othar" in the 'Who?' field, all of Othar's adventures can be read on one page (albiet in reverse order of posting - Now must have a Twitter account to use).
Mirror of the comic found on LiveJournal (http://girlgeniuscomic.livejournal.com/) (No longer being updated as of Mid-May, 2017)
Mirror of the comic found on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Girl-Genius-Webcomic/28371352860?ref=nf) (Will occasionally have Girl Genius related news)
And one can find mirrors of Girl Genius on deviantArt as well (http://girlgeniuscomic.deviantart.com/). (Occasionally Kaja will put up or link to interesting GG related art that is found on dA)

Reference Links
Wiki Project devoted to to Girl Genius (http://girlgenius.wikia.com/wiki/The_Department_of_Almost_Certainly_True_History)
Wikipedia entry on Girl Genius. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Girl_Genius)
TV Tropes page on Girl Genius. (https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Webcomic/GirlGenius)
The Secret Blueprints (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=4272360&postcount=1478) (NOTE: Contains background information on the GG Universe, so it should probably be read after "catching up" to the newest comic, as it contains many spoilers.)

Social Media and News Links
(The Goglios also provide some links at the bottom of the comic pages)
Phil Foglio's new Wordpress art, news, and blogging website. (http://girlgeniusadventures.com/)
Kaja Foglio's LJ Page (http://kajafoglio.livejournal.com/) and Studio Foglio News LJ Page (http://studiofoglio.livejournal.com/) (Not currently being updated)
Kaja & Phil's Personal Facebook Page (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kaja-Phil-Foglio/196305144555) (Not currently being updated)
A twitter account that basically is a catch-all feed for Girl Genius related news. (http://twitter.com/girlgenius)
Cheyenne Wright's Twitter (http://twitter.com/CheyenneWright) and LiveJournal Accounts (http://cheyennewright.livejournal.com/) (The colorist's twitter and LJ pages)

And finally,
Phil's old LJ page. (http://philfoglio.livejournal.com/) (Occasionally contains crossposts from the Wordpress website)

====

Q: What is this "Sneaky Gate" y'alls go on about?

Sneaky gate: Named from this hidden gate in comic (http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20071219), it has become a name for viewing new comics early. Remember, if you're going to discuss the new comic, put it in spoiler boxes until the release time (12am EST).

Sneaky Gate 101:

Right click the comic image.
Select view image or copy paste the image location into the address bar.
Modify the date to be the day you're trying to look at. (ex. 20120111 -> 20120113)
Go to the modified url.
Be disappointed when there's no early comic to read.
Alternately, enjoy the comic!

[Shining Wrath]

Continuing discussions:

I have my doubts about Othar's sanity.
I still expect Bang & sire to appear with an airship and evacuate Team Agatha.
I was betting on Clankrezia to win the Princess battle, but now it appears that's impossible, and she's playing spoiler to Monahan.
Where are Castle and Train?


And a sorta-new topic: did Agatha "solve" the problem of the corrupted waters when she redirected all the corruption onto the battling Princesses?
And a topic I don't think we've mooted sufficiently: who corrupted the waters in the first place? Are they still around?

[InvisibleBison]

And a topic I don't think we've mooted sufficiently: who corrupted the waters in the first place? Are they still around?

Has it been demonstrated that the corruption of the waters was the result of someone's action, as opposed to some sort of natural process?

[geoduck]

Has it been demonstrated that the corruption of the waters was the result of someone's action, as opposed to some sort of natural process?

Agatha says at one point that she believes Monahan's experiments have been causing the corruption.

[wingnutx]

Sucks to be those guys.

[Shining Wrath]

Has it been demonstrated that the corruption of the waters was the result of someone's action, as opposed to some sort of natural process?


Agatha says at one point that she believes Monahan's experiments have been causing the corruption.

My recollection is that Clankrezia didn't know who had caused the corruption, but said that it wasn't her. Monahan's ascension to Queenhood was delayed by the corruption, and once Clankrezia showed her how to remove it, that's when the Ascension Wars began. That makes me think it's unlikely that Monahan put the corruption in intentionally.

I'm thinking it's a Vapnoodle thing, but time will tell.

[Divayth Fyr]

My recollection is that Clankrezia didn't know who had caused the corruption, but said that it wasn't her. Monahan's ascension to Queenhood was delayed by the corruption, and once Clankrezia showed her how to remove it, that's when the Ascension Wars began. That makes me think it's unlikely that Monahan put the corruption in intentionally.
But what about Monahan causing the corruption unintentionally?

[tyckspoon]

But what about Monahan causing the corruption unintentionally?

This is what I took from it - Monahan thought the effluvia was missing something, and was trying to process it by adding supplements or otherwise 'enhancing' it. While some of those attempts probably did nothing notable, I'm sure at least some of it made the corruption worse. Lucrezia showed her she was starting from bad assumptions - it was already tainted and needed to have the existing contaminants removed.

Although I doubt Monahan's experiments were fully responsible for the corruption; assuming the runoff from this spring/Flame is similar in nature to the Dyne even the 'pure' stuff would have interesting effects on the surrounding waters. The initial corruption is likely because the constructions that were supposed to contain/redirect/extract the energies from the runoff had broken down and allowed the spring to leak out into the surrounding waters.

[Shining Wrath]

But what about Monahan causing the corruption unintentionally?


This is what I took from it - Monahan thought the effluvia was missing something, and was trying to process it by adding supplements or otherwise 'enhancing' it. While some of those attempts probably did nothing notable, I'm sure at least some of it made the corruption worse. Lucrezia showed her she was starting from bad assumptions - it was already tainted and needed to have the existing contaminants removed.

Although I doubt Monahan's experiments were fully responsible for the corruption; assuming the runoff from this spring/Flame is similar in nature to the Dyne even the 'pure' stuff would have interesting effects on the surrounding waters. The initial corruption is likely because the constructions that were supposed to contain/redirect/extract the energies from the runoff had broken down and allowed the spring to leak out into the surrounding waters.

Castle and Train found corruption upstream from the point where Monahan could reach. Unless she was lying to Clankrezia, I think the corruption is ancient, and the erstwhile Queen of this island installed the purification devices.

Which, come to think of it, means it predates Vapnoodle, unless he too is a time traveler.

[Wayson]

Castle and Train found corruption upstream from the point where Monahan could reach. Unless she was lying to Clankrezia, I think the corruption is ancient, and the erstwhile Queen of this island installed the purification devices.

Which, come to think of it, means it predates Vapnoodle, unless he too is a time traveler.

I mean, he could be? He's (still?) off in another dimension (for the moment) and there are no indications of when or where he'll pop out.

[Agi Hammerthief]

And Lucrezia must realize this. But she has plans to rule all of Europe. The slaver wasps will help, of course, but what level of power does Lucrezia think she's going to have to rule an area 5x or 10x that controlled by the legendarily powerful Albia?

Perhaps she intends to kill all other Sparks. In which case someone better keep an eye on Othar being a double-agent (or triple, as he'd likely kill Lucrezia given half a chance).
I think once she stand going after the queens the plan was to rule the world using every flame and the gates.

[Mechalich]

I think once she stand going after the queens the plan was to rule the world using every flame and the gates.

One important thing is that Clankrezia, so far as we know, believes (https://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20110221#.Ypcu-6jMLIU) that Zola is actually Lucrezia, not an independent entity and that everything being done by the Queen of the Dawn is part of her plan (that she was unaware that Monahan could block her is evidence of this gap).

Clankrezia's lack of awareness on this subject seems to have influenced her failure to properly update her plans. She may even have been, in Paris, inadvertently working to further the goals of Zola's faction (assuming she was the one who sent the Geisters into Paris).

[Shining Wrath]

One important thing is that Clankrezia, so far as we know, believes (https://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20110221#.Ypcu-6jMLIU) that Zola is actually Lucrezia, not an independent entity and that everything being done by the Queen of the Dawn is part of her plan (that she was unaware that Monahan could block her is evidence of this gap).

Clankrezia's lack of awareness on this subject seems to have influenced her failure to properly update her plans. She may even have been, in Paris, inadvertently working to further the goals of Zola's faction (assuming she was the one who sent the Geisters into Paris).

Grandma seemed to think that Zola had sent the Geisters - and Grandma is usually well-informed.

Bang has appeared sans papa. I expect papa to decide he cares about his daughter enough to bring the airship.

[wingnutx]

I'm lost. Who is Bang's papa?

[sihnfahl]

I'm lost. Who is Bang's papa?
This guy. (https://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20220218#.YpepNqjMK70)

He has a huge 'don't care' attitude...

But he IS how the others got on the island...

[wingnutx]

This guy. (https://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20220218#.YpepNqjMK70)

He has a huge 'don't care' attitude...

But he IS how the others got on the island...

I don't know how I missed that.

Thanks!

[otakuryoga]

engines in pieces?
hours to put back together but you need to leave RIGHT NOW?
good thing there are some sparkies around(*NOTE* i did NOT say safe..just good)

[Agi Hammerthief]

engines in pieces?
hours to put back together but you need to leave RIGHT NOW?
good thing there are some sparkies around(*NOTE* i did NOT say safe..just good)
an opportunity to play with the lamp and find the „accelerate“ setting.

[Scarlet Knight]

I predict:

"We need to fly now!" "Well, if we can gather a lot of those rats onto this giant wheel & attach it to the propeller..."

[Shining Wrath]

What would take one ordinary mechanic with a, shall we say, lackadaisical altitude a couple of hours will take panicked Sparks about 5 minutes.

[sihnfahl]

What would take one ordinary mechanic with a, shall we say, lackadaisical altitude a couple of hours will take panicked Sparks about 5 minutes.
If you can keep them from making 'improvements'.

And you don't mind the lack of something called 'safety'.

[Shining Wrath]

If you can keep them from making 'improvements'.

And you don't mind the lack of something called 'safety'.

Improvements are part of the Madness Place, deal with it. :smallbiggrin:

I didn't mention safety, this thing will get airborne and then veer off toward Africa.

[Kantaki]

Well, if we let the Sparks handle this the airship will definitely go up.
Most likely in flames, but let's not sweat the details,

[sihnfahl]

Well, if we let the Sparks handle this the airship will definitely go up.
Most likely in flames, but let's not sweat the details,
How else are they supposed to get up quickly? That's what the rockets are for. They just need to repurpose the heating element of a toaster, a few teapots, and the funky sludge the airmen use to keep the airbag supple.

[Shining Wrath]

How else are they supposed to get up quickly? That's what the rockets are for. They just need to repurpose the heating element of a toaster, a few teapots, and the funky sludge the airmen use to keep the airbag supple.

I would not be surprised if they explode a large part of the island in search of a JATO-like effect.

I'm going to be somewhat disappointed if a lot of valuable artifacts get destroyed by the Princess Temper Tantrums.

[Squire Doodad]

I would not be surprised if they explode a large part of the island in search of a JATO-like effect.

I'm going to be somewhat disappointed if a lot of valuable artifacts get destroyed by the Princess Temper Tantrums.

A: "Do you two know there's a temple filled with ancient artifacts forgotten for 20,000 years under the island you're destroying"
M: "THERE'S WHAT?"

[Radar]

I would not be surprised if they explode a large part of the island in search of a JATO-like effect.

I'm going to be somewhat disappointed if a lot of valuable artifacts get destroyed by the Princess Temper Tantrums.
I just remembered that multi-cultural vault (https://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20210920#.YppxzGhByUk) and all those priceless vases predating queens (https://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20220121#.Yppyp2hByUk). :smallfrown:

[Kantaki]

New comic

Can't disagree with Bang's logic here.
The risk of getting Agatha or Gil into the Madness Place is definitely lower than that of sitting on the exploding island hoping things'll work out.
Mind you, with other Sparks things might look different, but most of those I wouldn't trust anyway.

[Radar]

Now I see Bang and von Zinzer as the best duo to control (for the lack of a better word) sparks: Bang to motivate them and von Zinzer to reel them in and keep them focused.

[Shining Wrath]

Bangladesh Dupree: life coach for Sparks.

[Manga Shoggoth]

What was it Tarvek said? "I had no idea She was capable of such self-awareness (https://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20180122)"?

While the good ol' psycho version is welcome everywhere (for a given value of "welcome", of course), I rather like that the current arc is giving us more of a glimpse into our favourite pirate captian.

[wingnutx]

Bangladesh Dupree: life coach for Sparks.

I like it.

[Fyraltari]

A: "Do you two know there's a temple filled with ancient artifacts forgotten for 20,000 years under the island you're destroying"
M: "THERE'S WHAT?"
L: THERE WAS!

Bangladesh Dupree: life coach for Sparks.
And death coach for everyone else!

[Shining Wrath]

L: THERE WAS!

And death coach for everyone else!

Rising to the defense of Lucrezia, who gets picked on a lot, she'd want to preserve the ancient artifacts.
For use in the Mirrors, but still, she'd want to preserve them.

Now I'm trying to remember if Bangladesh has ever killed a Spark in-comic. None comes to mind. She did stab Tweedle a lot back when Agatha was escaping from his castle, but he's tough, he lived through it.

[Fyraltari]

Rising to the defense of Lucrezia, who gets picked on a lot, she'd want to preserve the ancient artifacts.


Please. I'm a time-traveller. I point and laugh at archeologists.

For use in the Mirrors, but still, she'd want to preserve them.
Meh, most of the mirrors are destroyed and she seems primarily concerned with Europa and Skifander for now.

[geoduck]

Meh, most of the mirrors are destroyed and she seems primarily concerned with Europa and Skifander for now.

We don't know if all the Mirrors are destroyed or just inactive.

[Fyraltari]

We don't know if all the Mirrors are destroyed or just inactive.

Potato, potato.

[Shining Wrath]

Potato, potato.

If, by obtaining an artifact from e.g., Atlantis, she could now travel to Atlantis and loot Atlantic artifacts that are any of [valuable, powerful, prestigious, or just pretty], I would think Lucrezia would be all about the looting.

[Fyraltari]

If the Mirrors don't work, they don't work, though. An Atlantean artefact won't help much if the thing is deactivated on the other side.

[Shining Wrath]

If the Mirrors don't work, they don't work, though. An Atlantean artefact won't help much if the thing is deactivated on the other side.

What we don't know is how many mirrors are in Skifanderian status (still functional but no one on their side knows how to use them), how many are still functional but there's no one left alive at all after Lucrezia visited or society simply collapsed, how many are functional but are buried in rubble like the one here on the island seems destined to be, and how many are disabled.

We don't know for certain that they can be harmed by anything short of Sparky tech.

[wingnutx]

She did stab Tweedle a lot back when Agatha was escaping from his castle, but he's tough, he lived through it.

He was also armored, iirc.

[otakuryoga]

wow
it is SUPER early
but i think we have a frontrunner for next thread title
"Didn't expect all this fuss"

[Shining Wrath]

wow
it is SUPER early
but i think we have a frontrunner for next thread title
"Didn't expect all this fuss"

I came in here with this same thought.

Dr. Rakethorne is not taking normal-level Agatha chaos well.

[St Fan]

Oh my, I am starting to think that Captain "Don't Care" may not be the most sterling example of competency...

[TheStranger]

Oh my, I am starting to think that Captain "Don't Care" may not be the most sterling example of competency...

Nah, he just didn’t expect all this fuss.

All kidding aside, taking advantage of some downtime to catch up on maintenance isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

[Ailurus]

Sure, using the downtime to fix up stuff is good. Using the downtime to start at least 3 separate maintenance projects (the engines, the door and the pest control) and leaving them all half done is not so good. One thing at a time, rather than multiple things all at once and all unfinished.

[Scarlet Knight]

Yeah but when you're a "Professional Castaway" you likely want to leave something to keep you occupied tomorrow...and Saturday...and next Arbor Day...

[Kantaki]

To be fair, before Team Agatha showed up he was stuck with a bunch of murderous lunatics (Okay, there's still Bang, but eh, that's family for ya.) so getting stuff fixed fast might not have been top priority.

[TheStranger]

Sure, using the downtime to fix up stuff is good. Using the downtime to start at least 3 separate maintenance projects (the engines, the door and the pest control) and leaving them all half done is not so good. One thing at a time, rather than multiple things all at once and all unfinished.
That’s true, unless there’s some reason to run them concurrently. Even if that reason is just that the engine is too much heavy lifting to work straight through on, so he fiddled with the door when he got tired, or that he got halfway through the door mechanism and ran into a problem that he wanted to think about for a bit. The pest control, I think he’s actually saying he was going to get to that after he finished the other projects.

Or more likely the Foglios just thought it would be funny to have him treat airship maintenance like I treat home improvement projects. I swear I’m going to rebuild the fire pit in the backyard next weekend, really.

[Radar]

That’s true, unless there’s some reason to run them concurrently. Even if that reason is just that the engine is too much heavy lifting to work straight through on, so he fiddled with the door when he got tired, or that he got halfway through the door mechanism and ran into a problem that he wanted to think about for a bit. The pest control, I think he’s actually saying he was going to get to that after he finished the other projects.

Or more likely the Foglios just thought it would be funny to have him treat airship maintenance like I treat home improvement projects. I swear I’m going to rebuild the fire pit in the backyard next weekend, really.
If a man says he will do it, he will do it - you do not have to remind him every 6 months. :smallwink:

[Thomas Cardew]

Also other than the engines, which he had in pieces as the active project he was working on, the other problems didn't matter for his original mission: ferrying 2 probably homicidal passengers. Cargo doors don't matter if you're not hauling cargo. Half lift capacity doesn't matter if you're operating well below that. The problem is he's being asked to suddenly perform a mass evacuation.

[Kantaki]

Also other than the engines, which he had in pieces as the active project he was working on, the other problems didn't matter for his original mission: ferrying 2 probably homicidal passengers. Cargo doors don't matter if you're not hauling cargo. Half lift capacity doesn't matter if you're operating well below that. The problem is he's being asked to suddenly perform a mass evacuation.

Not the cargo doors.
The hangar doors. Meaning, even if the piece of junk could fly they wouldn't get it out.
Not a problem if you are just sitting around with some maniacs who won't (let you) leave anytime soon anyway, but kinda bothersome when everything's busy exploding.

[sihnfahl]

Dr. Rakethorne is not taking normal-level Agatha chaos well.
And that's when he realizes he can't do what his Queen wants; Agatha's NORMAL is so outside what is NORMAL that even Albia would have fun keeping up.

[theangelJean]

Sure, using the downtime to fix up stuff is good. Using the downtime to start at least 3 separate maintenance projects (the engines, the door and the pest control) and leaving them all half done is not so good. One thing at a time, rather than multiple things all at once and all unfinished.

I was wondering if he was a bit Sparky, what with the rebuild-from-scratch bit.

But I guess Sparks don't leave things half-done. 90% done and just haven't found the perfect workaround for that pesky side-effect, maybe...

[Radar]

I was wondering if he was a bit Sparky, what with the rebuild-from-scratch bit.

But I guess Sparks don't leave things half-done. 90% done and just haven't found the perfect workaround for that pesky side-effect, maybe...
Most importantly he does not have a single grain of excitement in him unlike any Spark we know.

[Shining Wrath]

Most importantly he does not have a single grain of excitement in him unlike any Spark we know.

Furthermore, he's not trying to turn the balloon bees into guard insects, nor trying to make the hanger door capable of crushing disobedient minions, nor increasing the engine power 10-fold. Clearly NOT a Spark.

[Scarlet Knight]

Do I detect doubt in Bang? Can't say that's in character...

[Shining Wrath]

I'm going to guess that pirate queens are pretty good combat pilots.

At least one bot has made it safely to Agatha's shoulder.

[sihnfahl]

Do I detect doubt in Bang? Can't say that's in character...
No, I think she's just surprised that Agatha asked it in the first place. After all: Pirate Queen who's been working for WULFENBACH all these years? How many deployments against sparks? And what's been going on the past few years?

[Agi Hammerthief]

No, I think she's just surprised that Agatha asked it in the first place. After all: Pirate Queen who's been working for WULFENBACH all these years? How many deployments against sparks? And what's been going on the past few years?
I read that with a „is water wet? you’ll find out when you jump in.“ tone of voice.

[Shining Wrath]

In the Agatha-level chaos, no one has told Zeetha that Higgs is safe in Skifander.
I wonder how the Queens will respond to the airship leaving. Both of them would probably like to have a ride to elsewhere, although Monahan may like the idea of ruling her own little rat-infested island.

[Grim Portent]

I think the whole island is sinking, so if Monahan wants to make a little rat kingdom it's going to need to resemble Atlantis more than anything. :smallbiggrin:

[sihnfahl]

I think the whole island is sinking, so if Monahan wants to make a little rat kingdom it's going to need to resemble Atlantis more than anything. :smallbiggrin:
So... Londinium V2 (https://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20171120#.YqcwyqjMK70)?

[Shining Wrath]

I think the whole island is sinking, so if Monahan wants to make a little rat kingdom it's going to need to resemble Atlantis more than anything. :smallbiggrin:


So... Londinium V2 (https://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20171120#.YqcwyqjMK70)?

If she can give rats wings, she can give them gills. :smallbiggrin: Also, how far will it sink, and can she manage to preserve an atoll?

EDIT: although it's a quote from me rather than the strip, I shall set aside my usual modesty and propose "Agatha Level Chaos" as a possible future strip title.

[sihnfahl]

If she can give rats wings, she can give them gills. :smallbiggrin: Also, how far will it sink, and can she manage to preserve an atoll?
As long as she can survive with her precious rats, I don't think she'd mind not having one atoll.

[Manga Shoggoth]

As long as she can survive with her precious rats, I don't think she'd mind not having one atoll.

I think she'd prefer allot though...

[Kantaki]

New comic

Nice boom. Now to deal with the (literal) flying rats.
Also, any bets with Queen will make a return?
This is a bit too obviously "no one could've survived that".

[Shining Wrath]

Why are the Winged Rats not defending their Queen? The first iteration of giant rats attacked Clankrezia. Did, possibly, Monahan realize the island was doomed and put some of her power into saving the rats, regardless of combat utility?

Maybe the balloon bees can be released to fight the rats?

I think the "Boom" is blowing the door open, not the Queens fighting. In which case Clankrezia may intervene as she has plans for Agatha's body.

https://Zeno of Citium (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zeno_of_Citium) founded the stoic school of philosophy. This may not be a good sign.

[Scarlet Knight]

Good thing it wasn't named after Zeno of Elea...they'd never get home....

[Radar]

Good thing it wasn't named after Zeno of Elea...they'd never get home....
Still better than having one of those experimental Ulysses engines. (https://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20100322#.YqnkxnZByUk)

edit: while on a little archive binge, I found this page (https://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20100419#.Yqnnm3ZByUk). The detail I missed before is Higg's comment that Igneous Heterodyne also has reached that state - at least for a moment before he exploded.

[Fyraltari]

Still better than having one of those experimental Ulysses engines. (https://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20100322#.YqnkxnZByUk)

Wait. 13 years for 25 kilometers? How old was Saana when she left home?

[Kantaki]

Wait. 13 years for 25 kilometers? How old was Saana when she left home?

I don't think their travel was entirely linear, temporally (and spatially) speaking.
Ullysses engines sound like they make time and space do funky things, by gallifreyan standards that is.
Or maybe time didn't quite flow inside the vessel*.

*Not a timestop exactly, more a "between the tik and the tok" situation. Moving alongside the stream of time instead of inside it.
Okay, I'm definitely not a Spark, Otherwise I could phrase this in a way that actually makes sense.
To me.:smalltongue:

[Fyraltari]

Okay, now I kinda wish this Clankrezia dies at this size and ends up at the mouth of a river with one hand raised.


I don't think their travel was entirely linear, temporally (and spatially) speaking.
Ullysses engines sound like they make time and space do funky things, by gallifreyan standards that is.
Or maybe time didn't quite flow inside the vessel*.

*Not a timestop exactly, more a "between the tik and the tok" situation. Moving alongside the stream of time instead of inside it.
Okay, I'm definitely not a Spark, Otherwise I could phrase this in a way that actually makes sense.
To me.:smalltongue:

Okay but if the 25 years were external and it was like a week for her, what is her age difference with Othar supposed to be, then?

[Agi Hammerthief]

now we’ll find out that Dupree Senior installed a Death Ray, I hope.

[Kantaki]

Okay, now I kinda wish this Clankrezia dies at this size and ends up at the mouth of a river with one hand raised.



Okay but if the 25 years were external and it was like a week for her, what is her age difference with Othar supposed to be, then?

Just because they took a twentyfive years detour doesn't mean it was twentyfive years later when they arrived.
Might've been a day earlier.
I mean, just cause you take a three miles long route to get somewhere 500m away doesn't mean your goal is somehow further away geographically. You just walked a very long curve. Same principle, just with time.

New comic
Sometimes removing the fog of war is a bad idea.:smalleek:

[Ailurus]

Sigh. I'm really ready for Lucrezia to just be removed from the story entirely. Sure, she is the main antagonist but seriously, why can't there just be one time where one of her forms doesn't come back like half a dozen times?

[Fyraltari]

Sigh. I'm really ready for Lucrezia to just be removed from the story entirely. Sure, she is the main antagonist but seriously, why can't there just be one time where one of her forms doesn't come back like half a dozen times?

Don't worry, next page, oversized Monahan will tackle her.

[Scarlet Knight]

Or gets eaten by a bigger fish.

[Shining Wrath]

Is this the point where Agatha engages the Ludicrous Speed drive and blasts a hole right in Lucrezia's head? Or maybe the Winged Rats engage Lucrezia?

I am getting tired of this, though. Monahan mocks Lucrezia, tells her she's dying, and the next time we see her she's no worse off (despite extended combat) and even larger. Is the power of the Flame finite, or not? Are the Princesses using up their power, or not?

EDIT in this strip (https://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20220601#.Yqxvh3bMKUk), last panel, is it possible Clankrezia is gaining power from lightning strikes?

EDIT #2: "Less blather, more science" proposed as a strip title for XXXII.

[sihnfahl]

Is the power of the Flame finite, or not? Are the Princesses using up their power, or not?
It is, reportedly, and you know the answer.

They have as much power as the Plot Demands.

[Shining Wrath]

It is, reportedly, and you know the answer.

They have as much power as the Plot Demands.

I ask that the plot have some semblance of internal consistency. Don't show me Clankrezia on the verge of death and then show me Clankrezia 100x larger.

[wingnutx]

Time for a Great Cetacean to bite her foot off.

[theangelJean]

Okay, I'm with Bang in the new comic. What was that?

[Agi Hammerthief]

Okay, I'm with Bang in the new comic. What was that?
not a teleport
riding on the lightning, I guess.

[Ailurus]

Don't worry, next page, oversized Monahan will tackle her.

Congrats, Fyraltari, you called it correctly!

[Fyraltari]

Congrats, Fyraltari, you called it correctly!

Here's another prediction for you: tomorrow morning the sun will rise over the horizon.

[Shining Wrath]

Here in Colorado, the rotation of the earth brought the sun into view this morning. Fyraltari missed one. :smallbiggrin:

Monahan is doing this correctly; she is ranting about her resentments and pummeling Clankrezia at the same time. Future super-villains of GGverse, take note.

By my reading, Monahan had already tackled Clankrezia prior to Friday's strip, and Clankrezia thought that grabbing the airship was important enough to make the attempt even while being pummeled. Perhaps she thought that grabbing the airship would allow her to transfer to Agatha's body?

Now, what plot complications will ensue from using the "Get Out Of Fist, Free" card? That may have damaged the airship.

[Fyraltari]

Here in Colorado, the rotation of the earth brought the sun into view this morning. Fyraltari missed one. :smallbiggrin:

Believe you me, it will happen again tomorrow.

[Manga Shoggoth]

I think we're working towards a scene where two shrunk-down ex-queens are watching an airship disappear of over the horizon, with a shared speech bubble of "That was your fault!"

[geoduck]

I think we're working towards a scene where two shrunk-down ex-queens are watching an airship disappear of over the horizon, with a shared speech bubble of "That was your fault!"

Possible, though I wouldn't be surprised if we and Our Heroes leave the island without seeing the final outcome of the Queen-fight.

[Agi Hammerthief]

Possible, though I wouldn't be surprised if we and Our Heroes leave the island without seeing the final outcome of the Queen-fight.
the fight wouldn’t be over, just momentarily paused to play the blame game.

[Shining Wrath]

I do not think it is likely both Princesses survive to leave the island unless some external force (e.g., a leviathan) intervenes to stop their fight. And right now, I have to bet on Monahan winning; she seems to have the upper hand, and her body is healing while Clankrezia cannot.

In Albia's memory of Lucrezia the Queen Killer, we see her as largely clank / cyborg with only a little human left. In Agatha's vision of Lucrezia (which didn't look exactly like this one), she was entirely a clank. Is it possible that due to time travel shenanigans Lucrezia eventually has to become 100% clank because her body has aged past the point where even she can keep it running?

EDIT: NEW STRIP
Are they using Krosp as a weapon? Against giant winged rats? Gotta agree with His Majesty: Why?

[Scarlet Knight]

I am curious why Agatha is in this precarious position. She has both Zeetha and the Baron's favorite killer who could be outside in combat. I guess she is the only person who can fix the balloon with a wrench ...on the outside...in mid-flight.

[sihnfahl]

I am curious why Agatha is in this precarious position. She has both Zeetha and the Baron's favorite killer who could be outside in combat. I guess she is the only person who can fix the balloon with a wrench ...on the outside...in mid-flight.
She SPARKED the engine. Unless they have a minion somewhere in the crew...

[Rockphed]

"A Short distance, Very Quickly, Backwards" for thread title pile.

[theangelJean]

I am curious why Agatha is in this precarious position. She has both Zeetha and the Baron's favorite killer who could be outside in combat. I guess she is the only person who can fix the balloon with a wrench ...on the outside...in mid-flight.

Also, Bang's driving.

[Mechalich]

Rakethorn is outside as well, and he's the only other Spark with them at the moment (which is unusually low Spark density). That certainly suggests some sort of Sparky exterior requirements.

[theangelJean]

There was also some speculation a few threads back about Violetta breaking through at some point. But I guess Agatha called on her earlier because she's known to have good minion skills, at least.
Edit: which begs the question, why does she need Krosp now and not Violetta? A tight space to get into? Or something to do with the balloon bees? I thought Krosp's "whyyyy?!" was more all-purpose whining, but the specifics might be interesting.

[Radar]

There was also some speculation a few threads back about Violetta breaking through at some point. But I guess Agatha called on her earlier because she's known to have good minion skills, at least.
Edit: which begs the question, why does she need Krosp now and not Violetta? A tight space to get into? Or something to do with the balloon bees? I thought Krosp's "whyyyy?!" was more all-purpose whining, but the specifics might be interesting.
Aside from tight spaces, there might be a simple case of that structure they are standing on not being able to hold more people and despite his eating habits Krosp is pretty light. This would also explain, why they do not have there anyone to fend off the flying rats.

[Manga Shoggoth]

"A Short distance, Very Quickly, Backwards" for thread title pile.

Duly piled.


I suspect Krosp is required because he smells like a cat, and so might give some level of deterrent to the rats.

[Shining Wrath]

Duly piled.


I suspect Krosp is required because he smells like a cat, and so might give some level of deterrent to the rats.

I have a vague recollection that his vocalizations drove them off, so maybe he needs to yowl menacingly.

[Manga Shoggoth]

Well, he's got the yowling bit down...

[sihnfahl]

I have a vague recollection that his vocalizations drove them off, so maybe he needs to yowl menacingly.
But he didn't have to be seen to do that one. Plus, it'd be easier to do from inside. No, they need him for another reason.

[Shining Wrath]

Krosp is having too much fun. Now he may not want to come back inside. :smallbiggrin:

[Rockphed]

I want to work "because they are mine", "Haha! They Were" into a thread title, but I can't think of any good ways to do it.

[Manga Shoggoth]

"Because they're mine!" might work on its own, but I don't see much hope for the other, let alone combining them.

[Shining Wrath]

"Rub them together, and aim!" might be succinct enough to be a title, but I don't want to nominate it. Not funny enough out of context.
Also, I count 5 Ka-booms, so Krosp is effectively reducing the number of flying rats.

Why are the rats even here? Shouldn't they be nibbling on tasty exposed wires of Clankrezia?

[Fyraltari]

"Rub them together, and aim!" might be succinct enough to be a title, but I don't want to nominate it. Not funny enough out of context.
Also, I count 5 Ka-booms, so Krosp is effectively reducing the number of flying rats.

Why are the rats even here? Shouldn't they be nibbling on tasty exposed wires of Clankrezia?

I don't think Monahan has this kind of control over them. They're probably attacking anything that moves and doesn't smell like a fellow rat in a wild rush.

[theangelJean]

I don't think Monahan has this kind of control over them. They're probably attacking anything that moves and doesn't smell like a fellow rat in a wild rush.

Come to that, have we ever seen any spark display any degree of control over any non-sentient creation? Sentient creations can be reasoned with or befriended, wasped beings can be mind-controlled, but giving orders to monsters has always been shown to end very badly.

[Grim Portent]

I think it's contingent on the level of mental conditioning they've been through, and how they're treated.

A well treated monster with loyalty ingrained is going to be a decent servant.

A poorly treated guard slime who's mainly designed to be hungry and angry is not a good servant.

It's like a dog, or any other animal really. Treat them well and try to understand them and most are going to be obediant and loyal, treat them badly or without regard to their natural instincts and they become obedient only due to fear, or actively hostile depending on the circumstances.


Monahan's rats, well they do seem to be friendly under the right circumstances, and are willing to sing along to Monahan's organ, so I'd guess they do actually like her even if giving them intricate orders isn't necessarily easy.

[Shining Wrath]

OK, two new monsters enter the fray. What are they, where did they come from, and will they interfere in the Princess throw-down?

[Kantaki]

OK, two new monsters enter the fray. What are they, where did they come from, and will they interfere in the Princess throw-down?

I think those are the rides of those mutant fish people.

[theangelJean]

I think those are the rides of those mutant fish people.

Okay, that would make sense ... But also mean that they're flying really low?

And they just went ... looks like downwards? Perspective might make it "away" but can't tell yet.

[InvisibleBison]

I think those are the rides of those mutant fish people.

If they are, they've gotten a lot bigger since we last saw them.

[Shining Wrath]

The rides of the mutant fish people resembled corrupted whales, and didn't have arms, and didn't come up onto land.

Also, Bang may have just made a mistake - maybe not as big of a mistake as holding her position would have been, but they might be on the ground or close to it.

[Fyraltari]

Okay, that would make sense ... But also mean that they're flying really low?

They're in a blimp. Going up takes time.

[Radar]

They're in a blimp. Going up takes time.
Especially when half (I think) of the buoyancy tanks are compromised due to bee infestation.

[Kantaki]

The rides of the mutant fish people resembled corrupted whales, and didn't have arms, and didn't come up onto land.

They (https://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20211213#.Yrn2s-zP2M-) look pretty similar (https://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20220627#.Yrn4JezP2M8) to me.
Of course that might just mean they're both affected by the "sufficiently advanced technology*" that was spilled earlier/gets thrown around right now.

*Magic. It's magic.

[Shining Wrath]

They (https://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20211213#.Yrn2s-zP2M-) look pretty similar (https://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20220627#.Yrn4JezP2M8) to me.
Of course that might just mean they're both affected by the "sufficiently advanced technology*" that was spilled earlier/gets thrown around right now.

*Magic. It's magic.

Creatures mutated by the safe stuff != same creatures. I think these bad boys are cousins to the mutated fish landing whales. What was mutated to produce them, I do not know.

Whatever they are, they are more horrific than they appear, at least when viewed in the rear view mirror.

[sihnfahl]

Also, Bang may have just made a mistake
Well, to be fair, you'd think that pushing the control UP would move the ship up!

It's aeronautics. Moving the control up makes you go down...

[Agi Hammerthief]

Is this still above the island?
Looks a bit „other dimension“.

[f00bar]

yeah, i already wondered whether this is where Vapnoople pops up again...

[Shining Wrath]

The plot armor is thick about that airship, but still, that's a whole lotta monsters.
Vapnoople definitely possible. I doubt the Princess battle did this.
One can see why even a leviathan would be concerned.

Aside from dimensional hijinks, is it possible that the entire party is hallucinating? And remember that Zeetha was hallucinating while traveling to Europa from Skifander? Those monsters look even weirder than the corrupted minions / fish folk.

[InvisibleBison]

Aside from dimensional hijinks, is it possible that the entire party is hallucinating? And remember that Zeetha was hallucinating while traveling to Europa from Skifander? Those monsters look even weirder than the corrupted minions / fish folk.

It's possible, sure, but why would they be hallucinating? Zeetha's hallucinations were caused by her illness, not by being in an airship.

[Shining Wrath]

It's possible, sure, but why would they be hallucinating? Zeetha's hallucinations were caused by her illness, not by being in an airship.

Why? Something about the border of Skifander? It's a defense against invasion, it doesn't always work? Mumble mumble wave hands vaguely....

Most likely this is just Phil having fun with weird art. But possibly those things look so weird because they aren't real.

[eee]

There were monsters galore under the island. Kestle and Train ran into them in their explorations. With Lu destroying the island, naturally they're popping up.

[Radar]

There were monsters galore under the island. Kestle and Train ran into them in their explorations. With Lu destroying the island, naturally they're popping up.
I think that's it and on top of that copious amounts of eldritch energies are being spread around by the fighting princesses, the dyne-like water might also be flooding everything since the island itself is crumbling and I think that kind of contaminant spillage might also make the mutations progressively worse.

Still, I would not be surprised if that experimental engine Agatha put together was making the airship travel in not just our regular Cartesian coordinates.

edit: basically, we are going for this kind of situation (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ROjXgZWsZLs) in terms of the difference from a local "normal" situation.

[Shining Wrath]

The monsters Castle and Train encountered (https://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20211112#.Yr8oXXbMKUk)didn't look like these creatures. They look like bog-standard deep sea dwellers, not even corrupted.

But the Princess battle combined with effluvia might have done terrible things to the poor monsters.

[theangelJean]

I wonder if Agatha's modified engine is actually doing weird things with time, and they're moving into a dimension with monsters, rather than monsters appearing where they were?

Edit: they do look like they're just noticing the ship, rather than converging on the area. I am starting to think that it's the ship that has arrived where they are, rather than the other way around.

[geoduck]

I wonder if Agatha's modified engine is actually doing weird things with time, and they're moving into a dimension with monsters, rather than monsters appearing where they were?

Edit: they do look like they're just noticing the ship, rather than converging on the area. I am starting to think that it's the ship that has arrived where they are, rather than the other way around.

Maybe the ship is contributing, but it's going to be Vapnoople who is the main cause.

[Fyraltari]

I wonder if Agatha's modified engine is actually doing weird things with time, and they're moving into a dimension with monsters, rather than monsters appearing where they were?

Edit: they do look like they're just noticing the ship, rather than converging on the area. I am starting to think that it's the ship that has arrived where they are, rather than the other way around.

Monahan and Lucrezia can see the monsters too and they aren't on the ship.

[Radar]

I think it is not about the engine and more about the nature of The Flame. Basically, the energy has to be drawn from somewhere. Considering that Snackleford has achieved a similar state to Queenhood by directly tapping into energy from other dimension, maybe Flames are basically natural or manufactured cracks in reality letting other-dimensional energies into the world. With the island getting destroyed whatever system held things stable was probably crushed to bits and the realities get mixed up as a result.

[Pax1138]

Whatever's happening, at least we have confirmation that the characters are as confused as we are.

[Kantaki]

Oh No? I hope you didn't drop the princess.
The Queen might be somewhat unamused.
Also, she's cool.:smallamused:

[theangelJean]

Oh No? I hope you didn't drop the princess.
The Queen might be somewhat unamused.
Also, she's cool.:smallamused:

There's a dot in kind of the right place below the airship in the second-last panel...

Hello, Neenacrezia?

[Shining Wrath]

Vapnoople returning from other dimension, now with added insanity, is a definite possibility.

[Radar]

Vapnoople returning from other dimension, now with added insanity, is a definite possibility.
As in more insanity than before? That being said, why would he appear here out of all the places?

[Shining Wrath]

As in more insanity than before? That being said, why would he appear here out of all the places?

Because the Princess battle has opened a dimensional portal to wherever he got sent during the Stackpole battle.

[Grim Portent]

Or because he's chasing Agatha and Krosp for 'betraying' him. He has genuine reasons to be trying to shadow them in whatever dimension he wound up in, and is likely scheming to get revenge.

[Mobius Twist]

Vapnoople is likely, but maybe the Leviathans can now approach the area, the party having messed about with the toxins that were leaking into the surrounding water. We may see why they are considered as scary as they are.

[Shining Wrath]

"Song Keeper" meaning one of the ancient leviathans has been corrupted? We're talking "end of civilization" level threat, then. If that guy can deliver a thousand monsters, each 10x the size of an airship, to Londonium or Marseille or Athens, who or what will stop them?

[Fyraltari]

How deep is the water in these parts?


"Song Keeper" meaning one of the ancient leviathans has been corrupted? We're talking "end of civilization" level threat, then. If that guy can deliver a thousand monsters, each 10x the size of an airship, to Londonium or Marseille or Athens, who or what will stop them?
I mean, it looks like it's dying.

[Shining Wrath]

How deep is the water in these parts?


I mean, it looks like it's dying.

Is corruption fatal? I see it as looking like all the other corrupted things we've seen, including Monahan's minions, and I think those survived for a while behind the door with the sign on it.

Water depth has not been established; we don't know if this island rises from the depths, like Hawaii, or is part of a shallow archipelago, like the UK.

[Fyraltari]

Is corruption fatal? I see it as looking like all the other corrupted things we've seen, including Monahan's minions, and I think those survived for a while behind the door with the sign on it.
I mean, it looks like death warmed over.


Water depth has not been established; we don't know if this island rises from the depths, like Hawaii, or is part of a shallow archipelago, like the UK.
Oh, yeah, I forgot they're no longer in the British Isles.

[eee]

Oh.

I didn't expect HER.

[Shining Wrath]

I mean, it looks like death warmed over.


Oh, yeah, I forgot they're no longer in the British Isles.

The corrupted are possessed of great ickyness, but so are D&D oozes, and they live for a long time.

[sihnfahl]

I didn't expect HER.
NOBODY expects the Spanish Inquisition corrupted leviathan filled with corrupted fishmen.

[PraetorDragoon]

That is a big fish. :smalleek:

[Shining Wrath]

That is a big fish. :smalleek:

You shoulda seen the one that got away; this one is the one they're getting away from.

[theangelJean]

Water depth has not been established; we don't know if this island rises from the depths, like Hawaii, or is part of a shallow archipelago, like the UK.

Maybe the island was the Song Keeper?

Also, I wasn't expecting Adrian Rakethorne to be the one to recognise it, but I guess someone had to. Did we see a Song Keeper on panel in the comic before, or did we only ever meet Leviathans?

[Fyraltari]

That is a big fish. :smalleek:

Please, one time I caught a fish *moves hands away from each other* that big.

[sihnfahl]

Maybe the island was the Song Keeper?
No. It was corrupted by the runoff from the island, though.


Also, I wasn't expecting Adrian Rakethorne to be the one to recognise it, but I guess someone had to. Did we see a Song Keeper on panel in the comic before, or did we only ever meet Leviathans?
No. The Great Cetaceans (https://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20200330#.YsYIYHbMIuU) remarked that it had been corrupted a while back, and they went out of their way to avoid it because it was ... maddened (https://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20200403#.YsYI0HbMIuU).

But we never saw it.

[Shining Wrath]

No. It was corrupted by the runoff from the island, though.


No. The Great Cetaceans (https://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20200330#.YsYIYHbMIuU) remarked that it had been corrupted a while back, and they went out of their way to avoid it because it was ... maddened (https://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20200403#.YsYI0HbMIuU).

But we never saw it.

And it's making them mad, too.

[Manga Shoggoth]

"It's bigger than the Island!"

Yup. Adrian knowing that this is the Song Keeper specifically makes a lot more sense now...

[Willie the Duck]

That is a big fish. :smalleek:

Not as big as the one I almost caught the other day, you should have seen it...

[Gez]

"Song Keeper" meaning one of the ancient leviathans has been corrupted? We're talking "end of civilization" level threat, then. If that guy can deliver a thousand monsters, each 10x the size of an airship, to Londonium or Marseille or Athens, who or what will stop them?

For Londinium I don't know; but for Marseilles and Athens I'd say the thing that will stop them is having to squeeze through the Straits of Gibraltar.

[InvisibleBison]

For Londinium I don't know; but for Marseilles and Athens I'd say the thing that will stop them is having to squeeze through the Straits of Gibraltar.

At its narrowest point, the Strait of Gibraltar is just over eight miles wide. The Song Keeper is big, but it's not that big.

[Gez]

At its narrowest point, the Strait of Gibraltar is just over eight miles wide. The Song Keeper is big, but it's not that big.

And at its shallowest point, it's only 280 meters deep. That beastie would have to crawl along the floor.

Not that it could hope to swim effectively anyway, due to anything over 100 meters in draft suffering from dead water (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dead_water) effect... Sometimes big isn't beautiful.

[Grim Portent]

I'd be willing to bet that the exposure to the corrupted spring has made it fully capable of walking on land, at least for short periods of time. Major physical mutation and enhanced strength are the primary effects, so it's plausible that it's fins have become stubby clawed limbs that could drag it over land, and it's presumably an air breather given the whole 'cetacean' thing.

I'm curious as to what exactly it was carrying around before the mutation began, the miscellaneous monsters it's spitting up don't really look like sea creatures. I wonder if they're just supposed to be that extremely mutated that they lost all resemblence to their original form, or if the song keeper is meant to have had a smorgasboard of lifeforms from different places all living in it.

[geoduck]

And at its shallowest point, it's only 280 meters deep. That beastie would have to crawl along the floor.

Not that it could hope to swim effectively anyway, due to anything over 100 meters in draft suffering from dead water (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dead_water) effect... Sometimes big isn't beautiful.

We've seen a depiction of one of the Great Cetaceans swimming, so unsurprisingly they've found a way to deal with the problem.

[Gez]

We've seen a depiction of one of the Great Cetaceans swimming, so unsurprisingly they've found a way to deal with the problem.

I was talking specifically about swimming across the Straits of Gibraltar, not about swimming in general.

The dead water effect is when a ship (or a giant mutant fish) is big enough that 1. it crosses the halocline and cannot be entirely within one of the water layers and 2. the two water layers flow in opposite directions. Which is the case for the Straits of Gibraltar, as you have the Atlantic water flowing into the sea on the top and the much more saline Mediterranean water flowing out to the ocean on the bottom. The ship (or giant mutant fish) being caught between the two opposite flow will end up "getting stuck in dead water".

This phenomenon is usually only encountered in fjords, where the layer of fresh water is thin enough that ships can realistically have a draft tall enough to cross the halocline and get stuck. But that thing here is easily over 300 meters tall, and the halocline in the Straits of Gibraltar is at around 100 meters.

[smuchmuch]

Look I like nerding over physics and versimilitude of realism as much as the next person but as far this comic is concerned...
This is a comic about time travel, talking cats, steampunk mad "science" that is effetively magic by any other name and that has abandonned any sense of versimilitude of even having rules beyond rule of cool and absolute plot armor for it's protagonists a while ago. Do you think a creature that obviously ignore so hapilly the square cube law and all rules of biology that comes with it (a thing so big that an entire flying cavalry squadron came through it's pupil !) would care about the Dead water effect ? Besides the song keeper would just float over the straight of Gibraltar with the "totaly scientific" power of reality altering whale songs or giant steampunk mecha lobster

Anyhow what's important right now is that it's another threat interrupting the queen fight and tje retreat of our protagonists. Also it lost an eye. Let's not think too hard as to what could wound that thing so.

[Agi Hammerthief]

This is a comic about time travel, talking cats, steampunk mad "science" that is effetively magic by any other name.
Sufficiently Advanced Biology?

[WanderingMist]

Love this comic. Need to catch up. Read the entire thing in like October 2020 I think and haven't read a page since because I like having a lot of it to read but I want to collect all the volumes in printed form.

[Shining Wrath]

Bang is going to have big monster eat hordes of smaller monsters. She only has to risk total annihilation to do it.

[St Fan]

Yup, Bang opted for an insanely dangerous stunt. Which means it's probably crazy enough to work.

[Shining Wrath]

Cue Othar Trygvassen: Agatha is a hero at heart. Also, green monster is about to eat a wrench.

[geoduck]

Cue Othar Trygvassen: Agatha is a hero at heart. Also, green monster is about to eat a wrench.

My immediate thought was hoping they don't need that wrench when working on the engines.

[f00bar]

New comic.
Sparky Princess Neena confirmed?

[Shining Wrath]

Even monsters are afraid of MegaClankrezia (panel 3).

I think perhaps Albia is about to pay a visit, using Neena as a vessel. The "you want to be a Queen? Let me show you what that really is" moment. Possibly involving the death of Neena, because sacrifices must sometimes be made for the good of the realm. It'd be a dark twist.

Or we'll get yet another Rescued By Monahan moment.

Or perhaps the Song Keeper will decide Clankrezia looks tasty.

[sihnfahl]

Or Neena is going to have a Spark moment of her own. She DID just ... 'snap'.

[Rockphed]

Or Neena is going to have a Spark moment of her own. She DID just ... 'snap'.

And Mommy has a very clear "no sparky daughters" rule, so Neena has been suppressing her spark for over a decade. She will make a fitting distraction for Tarvek.

[geoduck]

And Mommy has a very clear "no sparky daughters" rule, so Neena has been suppressing her spark for over a decade. She will make a fitting distraction for Tarvek.

Very clear? We don't know that Albia has that rule, or that Neena has been suppressing anything. We still don't even know if her daughters are biologically related to her. She did declare at one point that Agatha was to be treated as a princess of the realm.

[Shining Wrath]

Citation needed on "no Sparky daughters", especially because she does tolerate non-family Sparks. We still don't know how Queen Albia goes about producing children - parthenogenesis? Sparky science? Or normal "boink followed by 9 months gestation"?

[InvisibleBison]

We still don't know how Queen Albia goes about producing children - parthenogenesis? Sparky science? Or normal "boink followed by 9 months gestation"?

I see no reason to assume she produces all her children through the same process. Variety is the spice of life, after all.

[theangelJean]

Very clear? We don't know that Albia has that rule, or that Neena has been suppressing anything. We still don't even know if her daughters are biologically related to her. She did declare at one point that Agatha was to be treated as a princess of the realm.

Actually I've been wondering if Neena's lack of sparkiness is directly related to proximity to Albia in another way - and also the reason Albia wants to keep Agatha. The oblique references to Albia's "safe power source" and the Garden ... Is Albia draining them somehow?

[Shining Wrath]

Actually I've been wondering if Neena's lack of sparkiness is directly related to proximity to Albia in another way - and also the reason Albia wants to keep Agatha. The oblique references to Albia's "safe power source" and the Garden ... Is Albia draining them somehow?

I think the "safe power source" is likely a Flame, since Clankrezia spoke of using Albia's Flame to complete ascension.

That doesn't preclude Albia's Garden from being full of sinister delights such as captive Sparks used as batteries when the Flame is ebbing. Royal prerogatives and all that.

Myself, I don't see how Neena breaking through saves her & Agatha from Clankrezia. She's got no weapons or tools handy.

However, Krosp can fly, and has the Gloves of Static Shock. He could try to do something.

[Gez]

Myself, I don't see how Neena breaking through saves her & Agatha from Clankrezia. She's got no weapons or tools handy.

She didn't break through, but she did cast Summon Bigger Fish (https://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20220722).

[Jimorian]

I like how this is literally a case of
"My mom can beat up your mom!"

[Fyraltari]

This might have come in handy at school.

[Ailurus]

I'm rather confused right now.

We know that - on multiple occasions - princesses have gotten kidnapped (https://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20180314), to the point where there are special laws just regarding reclaiming them. But, if the princesses can just summon Albia as will to save them, why isn't that done more often when they get in danger? Is there some level of system Albia teaches her princesses as to when they can summon mom? Or is Neena a favorite? Or something else?

[Agi Hammerthief]

I'm rather confused right now.

We know that - on multiple occasions - princesses have gotten kidnapped (https://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20180314), to the point where there are special laws just regarding reclaiming them. But, if the princesses can just summon Albia as will to save them, why isn't that done more often when they get in danger? Is there some level of system Albia teaches her princesses as to when they can summon mom? Or is Neena a favorite? Or something else?
There’s kidnapping as an opportunity for heroic rescues
and here is existential threat by Archnemesis.

[Rockphed]

Very clear? We don't know that Albia has that rule, or that Neena has been suppressing anything. We still don't even know if her daughters are biologically related to her. She did declare at one point that Agatha was to be treated as a princess of the realm.


Citation needed on "no Sparky daughters", especially because she does tolerate non-family Sparks. We still don't know how Queen Albia goes about producing children - parthenogenesis? Sparky science? Or normal "boink followed by 9 months gestation"?

I was extrapolating on someone else's wild-mass-guess. Sorry if that wasn't clear.

As for why the princesses don't call on Mama very often, I suspect that Albia would deal harshly with any of her daughters who called on her frivolously.

[theangelJean]

There’s kidnapping as an opportunity for heroic rescues
and here is existential threat by Archnemesis.

Possibly even more so than Neena realises. Does Team Agatha know about Clankrezia's current Summoning Engine capabilities?

[InvisibleBison]

I'm rather confused right now.

We know that - on multiple occasions - princesses have gotten kidnapped (https://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20180314), to the point where there are special laws just regarding reclaiming them. But, if the princesses can just summon Albia as will to save them, why isn't that done more often when they get in danger? Is there some level of system Albia teaches her princesses as to when they can summon mom? Or is Neena a favorite? Or something else?

It may be that Albia is only able or willing to appear like this inside her realm.

[Manga Shoggoth]

It's always the quiet ones, isn't it...

We know from Trelawney that Albia does allow this, and trusts the people she gives the ability to to know when it is appropriate to use it.

That said, from their interactions I suspect that Neena is something of a favourite with Albia. Not much evidence, but it is there.

[Zazu Yen]

It may be that Albia is only able or willing to appear like this inside her realm.

I think it has been put forward that while Queens may be able to teleport short distances, for long distances the mirrors were required. It's also possible that she wasn't far away from this island to begin with, she knew where they were going, and she might have suspected what was going to go down here, or at least that her presence might be called on.

This also may be the end of Albia, not unlike the Master of Paris... or at least a major diminishing. Lucrezia had mentioned that the Queens power was waning more than she let on, and she's going to be using up a lot of flame fighting two other queens and a mad Deepdweller this far from her own well. She'll win, or at least save our heroes, but it's going to cost her.

While it's not surprising that her daughter had a "summon mom/get out of trouble free" card it does feel a little like Deus Ex Machina for the second time with Alba.

[Agi Hammerthief]

While it's not surprising that her daughter had a "summon mom/get out of trouble free" card it does feel a little like Deus Ex Machina for the second time with Alba.
It’s not Deus Ex if it’s known to be likely.

[Scarlet Knight]

She the goddess of Currency?

[Traab]

This could be interesting. Albia, probably a projection of her, versus two half crippled partial queens both dying and these deepdweller monsters. This is an awful mess. I cant wait to see what happens next.

[Shining Wrath]

Albia looks to be 2x or 3x the size of the Princesses. I'm sure killing the Song Keeper would be a major diplomatic faux pas, but no one will mind if Clankrezia and Monahan go away.

[Agi Hammerthief]

A simple ROFL-Stomp on the wannabe queens is probably too much to ask for.

[geoduck]

I assume Monahan will at least try to surrender, she was scared of Albia doing exactly this.

[Shining Wrath]

I hope Albia doesn’t monologue. Kill or subdue the Princesses, save your daughter, go home.

[wingnutx]

Monahan is about to get a boost.

[Shining Wrath]

Lucrezia thinks she can one shot Albia. I think she's about to be surprised.

[Pax1138]

Lucrezia thinks she can one shot Albia. I think she's about to be surprised.

Is she trying to one-shot her, or is that the brain-taker-over-thingie? Granted, I doubt that'd go over well either.

[Divayth Fyr]

Is she trying to one-shot her, or is that the brain-taker-over-thingie? Granted, I doubt that'd go over well either.
The brain-taker-over-thingie seems to require physical touch (seen with Steelgarter holding Monahan and how Lu tried to reach the airship). This looks like aiming for a shot.

[wingnutx]

Pretty sure that's her anti-queen deathray.

Albia has probably been doing some research and buffing her defenses since her epiphany about Lucrezia.

[Ailurus]

Sneaky Gate is alive again.



Pretty sure that's her anti-queen deathray.

Albia has probably been doing some research and buffing her defenses since her epiphany about Lucrezia.

It was the deathray, but doesn't look like Albia has been doing much to improve her defenses.

[Pax1138]

So much for that theory. :P

And not a good showing for the Queen of England either. I guess we can chalk this up to Lu's unmatched experience in Queen killing?

[sihnfahl]

I guess we can chalk this up to Lu's unmatched experience in Queen killing?
And Albia's overconfidence.

Think, say, Luthor pointing a normal gun at Superman. Oh, no, another gun? But it has kryptonite bullets. Oops.

[Manga Shoggoth]

If the Paris storyline is anything to go by, Lucrezia is about to be completely blindsided by a very angry Neena.

[Shining Wrath]

Having stunned Albia with her anti-queen ray, Clankrezia must resort to punching to finish her off? How primitive.

I am very surprised Albia wasn’t prepared for this.

[Agi Hammerthief]

what we need now:
https://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20090306#.YuGPFvLRYgo

[wingnutx]

So much for that theory. :P




I am here to chew bubblegum and propose bad theories, and I'm all out of bubblegum.

[geoduck]

If the Paris storyline is anything to go by, Lucrezia is about to be completely blindsided by a very angry Neena.

It will be Agatha who does something, not Neena. What exactly, I have no idea.

[Willie the Duck]

And Albia's overconfidence.

Think, say, Luthor pointing a normal gun at Superman. Oh, no, another gun? But it has kryptonite bullets. Oops.


I am very surprised Albia wasn’t prepared for this.

I agree with Shining Wrath, overconfident or not, Albia knew about Lu's queen killing, and that the party's efforts would be intersecting with her. She should have known that the gun had kryptonite bullets, so to speak. At the very least she should have come in swinging, rather than just stand there posturing and letting Lu get in the first shot.

[sihnfahl]

I agree with Shining Wrath, overconfident or not, Albia knew about Lu's queen killing, and that the party's efforts would be intersecting with her. She should have known that the gun had kryptonite bullets, so to speak. At the very least she should have come in swinging, rather than just stand there posturing and letting Lu get in the first shot.
Yes, she should have, but hey, hubris.

And the idiot ball.

The Foglios have to have some reason Agatha will be forced to leave England.

[Shining Wrath]

Of course, Albia could be about to stand up and cry “Psych!”. Or Monahan could earn mercy.

[Scarlet Knight]

It will be Agatha who does something, not Neena. What exactly, I have no idea.

Agatha will only play a minor part. This is all to show how outgunned she is.

[eee]

I wonder if Lu is ever going to grasp the idea, "gloat AFTER you've killed your enemy, not before!"

[Agi Hammerthief]

I wonder if Lu is ever going to grasp the idea, "gloat AFTER you've killed your enemy, not before!"
What would be the point of that?
:smallwink:

[Fyraltari]

What would be the point of that?
:smallwink:

Stress relief?

[PoeticallyPsyco]

I wonder if Lu is ever going to grasp the idea, "gloat AFTER you've killed your enemy, not before!"


What would be the point of that?
:smallwink:


Stress relief?

If it's good enough for James Bond, it should be good enough for you.

[Ellen]

For once, I agree with Lu. I don't know what happened either. But, I'm looking forward to finding out.

[Kantaki]

If Lu is smart there's nothing actually important up there.

[Drogorn]

Looks to me like they exploded the engine. Inside Lu's head.

[TeChameleon]

If Lu is smart there's nothing actually important up there.

If I'm not mistaken, this is still (more or less) the pseudo-muse that Tarvek built way back when. And, at least with Tarvek's design, the clank's driving intelligence is seated in the head (remember, Luclankzia was offering snarky commentary as a head before being attached to the body).

[Mechalich]

If I'm not mistaken, this is still (more or less) the pseudo-muse that Tarvek built way back when. And, at least with Tarvek's design, the clank's driving intelligence is seated in the head (remember, Luclankzia was offering snarky commentary as a head before being attached to the body).

At the very least the sensory apparatus is up there. Blinded and deafened is a very substantial setback even if Lucrezia has relocated her brain and/or has some kind of backup system she can use in the absence of a head.

[theangelJean]

Last comic the face casing around one of Lu's eyes seemed to have cracked open completely, showing the clank machinery inside. I wondered when that had happened and why, but now it seems like a moot point.

I don't think the engine just exploded, by the way. It's still going "Fwip! Fwip! Fwip!" in there.

[Radar]

Last comic the face casing around one of Lu's eyes seemed to have cracked open completely, showing the clank machinery inside. I wondered when that had happened and why, but now it seems like a moot point.

I don't think the engine just exploded, by the way. It's still going "Fwip! Fwip! Fwip!" in there.
Surely scoring points pinball-style. :smallsmile:

[eee]

Agatha seems quite pleased at the prospect of blowing her mother's brains out.

It's justified.

[runeghost]

Sooo, I guess....
that this incarnation of Lu is not going to end up being the Muse of Time?

I guess that will end up being that "original" Lucrezia who is still out there... somewhere/somewhen?

[theangelJean]

Sooo, I guess....
that this incarnation of Lu is not going to end up being the Muse of Time?

I guess that will end up being that "original" Lucrezia who is still out there... somewhere/somewhen?
I mean, we have no idea what that engine does, how it works, or if it has knock-on effects.
I think I already speculated that it might have some kind of time travel mechanism - it would make sense for something Agatha makes to unknowingly incorporate that, given that she got a glimpse of the missing professor's work.

My brain keeps shouting "maybe this is where we get the Other" every time something happens to/with/around Lu, and it's doing it again now, but I'm learning to tune it out :smalltongue:

[sihnfahl]

I mean, we have no idea what that engine does, how it works, or if it has knock-on effects.
Even if you got an explanation, you'd just end up going ... SPARKYstuff.

That engine is bouncing around like a .22 in a brainpan.

[Shining Wrath]

Looks to me like the airship was in the blast from the destabilized engine taking off Clankrezia’s face. Also, with no motive power, they are at the mercy of the Song Keeper, Monahan, and / or Albia. This is far from safe, but they do have plot armor.

[Traab]

Looks to me like the airship was in the blast from the destabilized engine taking off Clankrezia’s face. Also, with no motive power, they are at the mercy of the Song Keeper, Monahan, and / or Albia. This is far from safe, but they do have plot armor.

Yeah but if they take down Lu they remove the real threat to albia who actually kinda LIKES them. Which means its entirely possible they made the scenario safer overall. Lu HAS to be reaching her limits at this point. Half raised, full of poisonous corruption, burning power like its paper in a crematorium after a death struggle against monohan, and now with an engine exploding in her skull. GO DOWN LADY!

[Shining Wrath]

Yeah but if they take down Lu they remove the real threat to albia who actually kinda LIKES them. Which means its entirely possible they made the scenario safer overall. Lu HAS to be reaching her limits at this point. Half raised, full of poisonous corruption, burning power like its paper in a crematorium after a death struggle against monohan, and now with an engine exploding in her skull. GO DOWN LADY!

I suspect Monahan will do for Clankrezia, and then Albia will help Monahan restore the island. This will help the Song Keeper.

[Rakaydos]

Agatha will only play a minor part. This is all to show how outgunned she is.

Her "minor part" is "getting an idea" moments after the Queen appears, playing into a plan the Queen had not yet articulated.

I suspect the Queen was faking her injuries to make Lu overconfident so this would work.

[Zazu Yen]

Well, I did not expect that.


Her "minor part" is "getting an idea" moments after the Queen appears, playing into a plan the Queen had not yet articulated.

I suspect the Queen was faking her injuries to make Lu overconfident so this would work.

I don't think so, this Luc has a lot of experience taking down queens and saw Albia block a blast in the science dome so no doubt made adjustments. Things could go several different ways here, I'm thinking this version of Luc is done, so it's mostly depending on what Monahan does. She could take this opportunity to try and finish off Aliba, she could turn her attention to (or get swarmed by) the monsters, or she could go after Agatha & company. I don't have a strong since of how this is going to go at all.

I think this versions of Luc (the consciousness, not the body) might actually be the Muse of Time, at least she at one time had a clank body that was far superior to this one (https://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20191014#.YuQpGi-B2L9) (built with a molecular crystal loom) and she's dropped references to personally killing the queens (https://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20220727#.YuQsNC-B2L8), watching a mirror for 500 years (https://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20211201#.YuQrKi-B2L8) and seeing the passing of thousands of years ("just... you know, different thousands (https://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20220107#.YuQr1S-B2L8)"). I'm beginning to suspect that if the Muse of Time is a version of Luc, it's one that splintered off away from the "let's take over the world" path a long time ago and now has other concerns.

Or it's the remains of Luc after the end of this story, who's been stuck in time fluctuations and alternate dimensions for so long she no longer has a concept of her past. I'm thinking about it's comment "to see humans after so long, is good (https://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20160226#.YuQyjC-B2L8)", since the Muse had probably only been trapped in the for a couple of hundred years at the most, which isn't long for someone who once spent 500 years watching a Queens Mirror, it seems to imply that apart from Van Rijn humans weren't a common sight (unless it was some play-acting to gain their sympathies). Also Luc-in-Agatha seemed to recognize her and knew exactly how to free her, which I haven't been able to reconcile.

[geoduck]

Her "minor part" is "getting an idea" moments after the Queen appears, playing into a plan the Queen had not yet articulated.

I suspect the Queen was faking her injuries to make Lu overconfident so this would work.

Echoing Zazu Yen, I disagree. No chance Albia faked getting knocked down with one hit. We've seen hints all along that Lu isn't lying about Albia's power waning, with all sorts of things happening in England that Albia would disapprove of and stop if she was aware of them. I still fully expect her to die at some point, and be replaced as queen by Neena or one of her other mortal daughters.

[Shining Wrath]

I think we know a Queen’s power ebbs with her flame, and Albia is currently at ebb. Clankrezia might have had more difficulty with Albia at max power. Perhaps Queen-killer Lucrezia had some way of knowing when a Flame is weak?

The stars and eyes on Albia in the last strip don’t look like fakery.

EDIT:

New strip. Clankrezia is down for the count. I think that if Albia were dead, she'd shrink down to a more normal size, so I'm reading her as "unconscious, at the mercy of the Song Keeper and Monahan, but probably not for long".

[cptnspldng]

Stress relief?

This isn't that kind of comic.

[Mechalich]

I think we know a Queen’s power ebbs with her flame, and Albia is currently at ebb. Clankrezia might have had more difficulty with Albia at max power. Perhaps Queen-killer Lucrezia had some way of knowing when a Flame is weak?

Albia also teleported in blind, which is probably a position of maximal weakness for anyone, but especially a Queen. She didn't appear to have any active defenses raised at all and may have been forced to take an initial action to prevent herself from falling out of the sky - she initially appeared at a considerable altitude, and big things fall hard - allowing Clankrezia a free shot.

[Shining Wrath]

Albia also teleported in blind, which is probably a position of maximal weakness for anyone, but especially a Queen. She didn't appear to have any active defenses raised at all and may have been forced to take an initial action to prevent herself from falling out of the sky - she initially appeared at a considerable altitude, and big things fall hard - allowing Clankrezia a free shot.

She had time to talk, and to know Clankrezia was there and largish. I think she was overconfident, as Clankrezia said while taunting her.

[hajo]

Oh well, another swing of clankretia as a Roly-poly toy :smallannoyed:

[Fyraltari]

I wonder, how many times did Lucrezia get "defeated" in this sequence? Let's count:
One! (https://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20220323)
Two! (https://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20220422)
Three! (https://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20220509)
Four! (https://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20220513)
Five! (https://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20220520)
Six! (https://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20220525)
Seven! (https://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20220615)
Eight! (https://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20220620)
Nine! (https://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20220729)

Nine times was Lucrezia vanquished today! And she's still not down!

I think even Rasputin would say she's overdoing the bit.

[Shining Wrath]

Even in book form this will drag out.

Now, what will Monahan do? Killing Albia might make her Queen of England, and she could use Albia's Flame to complete ascension. On the other hand, Clankrezia has been trying to kill her for hours now, and letting her live is a bad idea.

Albia's expression seems to be more annoyed than frightened. She's clearly combat-capable (POOM!), but at a level that lets her finish off Clankrezia?

Albia refers to the entire airship crew as "children". What does she mean by that? Just the ancient god-Queen speaking to mortals? Or some sort of "adoption"?

[Ailurus]

I don't know if I'd count defeat #3 in the list, as it's just a rock falling, but I'll agree on the other 8. And the overall sentiment I fully agree with - this incarnation needs to have died a few months IRL ago.

[Willie the Duck]

I wonder, how many times did Lucrezia get "defeated" in this sequence? Let's count:
One! (https://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20220323)
Two! (https://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20220422)
Three! (https://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20220509)
Four! (https://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20220513)
Five! (https://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20220520)
Six! (https://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20220525)
Seven! (https://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20220615)
Eight! (https://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20220620)
Nine! (https://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20220729)

Nine times was Lucrezia vanquished today! And she's still not down!

I think even Rasputin would say she's overdoing the bit.

Rasputin (https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/UsefulNotes/GrigoriRasputin)didn't really (https://www.quora.com/How-did-Rasputin-survive-being-poisoned-and-being-shot)resist death (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grigori_Rasputin#Death)in any major way, it was almost all after the fact propaganda to make the killing sound more awesome. And that's really the difference. If we were hearing the tale from... the minstrel in this story... and he told about the nine times it took for Lucrezia to actually die (maybe a two-page spread or even four), it would be amusing, interesting, and speak to how powerful she is as a threat. This just feels like padding... the kind webcomic artists who don't have the story all mapped out (like I guess I just assume the Foglios do) might do. It seems dissonant.

[Fyraltari]

Rasputin (https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/UsefulNotes/GrigoriRasputin)didn't really (https://www.quora.com/How-did-Rasputin-survive-being-poisoned-and-being-shot)resist death (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grigori_Rasputin#Death)in any major way, it was almost all after the fact propaganda to make the killing sound more awesome.
Yeah I know, but it's a good story. Also it's likely his corpse did sit up on the pyre, which is always fun and may have kickstarted the rumor.

And that's really the difference. If we were hearing the tale from... the minstrel in this story... and he told about the nine times it took for Lucrezia to actually die (maybe a two-page spread or even four), it would be amusing, interesting, and speak to how powerful she is as a threat. This just feels like padding... the kind webcomic artists who don't have the story all mapped out (like I guess I just assume the Foglios do) might do. It seems dissonant.
I think this is supposed to be a drawned out death. Lucrezia "comes back" more visibly damaged and unhinged each time. The Foglios are putting her through the wringer ad her last scene (well this version's last scene), it's her still being presented as a threat each time that makes it look more and more ridiculous.

Also, I noticed whil compiling this little list, that the ascension of the Princesses marks the end of a volume and... I am the only one who finds the way this comic is divided very odd? The volumes don't seem to match arcs with set-ups, pay-offs and resolutions of plot points, they just seem to match an arbitrary volume length.

Like in The Order of the Stick, the end of each book feels like an ending whereas this just cuts in the middle of a scene.

[Shining Wrath]

Yeah I know, but it's a good story. Also it's likely his corpse did sit up on the pyre, which is always fun and may have kickstarted the rumor.

I think this is supposed to be a drawned out death. Lucrezia "comes back" more visibly damaged and unhinged each time. The Foglios are putting her through the wringer ad her last scene (well this version's last scene), it's her still being presented as a threat each time that makes it look more and more ridiculous.

Also, I noticed whil compiling this little list, that the ascension of the Princesses marks the end of a volume and... I am the only one who finds the way this comic is divided very odd? The volumes don't seem to match arcs with set-ups, pay-offs and resolutions of plot points, they just seem to match an arbitrary volume length.

Like in The Order of the Stick, the end of each book feels like an ending whereas this just cuts in the middle of a scene.

A point that may be being driven home, at length, is that the clank body can't heal despite access to The Flame, while Monahan still looks healthy. And the Foglios may think they'll sell more books if you need to buy the next one to see how this arc ends.

We saw in earlier strips that when Albia shrinks the process generates heat - she hurt Zeetha's hand. I wonder why she's not roughly a bazillion degrees right now?

[InvisibleBison]

We saw in earlier strips that when Albia shrinks the process generates heat - she hurt Zeetha's hand. I wonder why she's not roughly a bazillion degrees right now?

Maybe she channeled the heat into that POOM.

[Shining Wrath]

Maybe she channeled the heat into that POOM.

But she shrank while unconscious and shouldn't have made any decisions at all.

[Traab]

Its more likely that clankrezia isnt going down to demonstrate the absolutely inhuman tenacity and determination that has kept her alive and semi sane for these millenia she has been hopscotching around history doing whatever. We still dont have details about much other than she has killed lots of queens and has studied the mirrors for a very long time, but its very clear she has gone through a freaking LOT.

[Zazu Yen]

Its more likely that clankrezia isnt going down to demonstrate the absolutely inhuman tenacity and determination that has kept her alive and semi sane for these millenia she has been hopscotching around history doing whatever. We still dont have details about much other than she has killed lots of queens and has studied the mirrors for a very long time, but its very clear she has gone through a freaking LOT.

I agree with this. Have we ever actually seen an aspect of Lucrezia die? She's practically a force of nature at this point. This is why I suspect the Muse of Time may be an earlier splinter off of Lucrezia that didn't go into the world conquering business but is rather hopscotching around time and possibly dimensions with her own goals. The Lucrezia that invaded Agatha probably knew of her and her interactions with Van Rijn, thus intuiting how to free her, but I don't believe they are the same person. Anymore, anyway. Or not from this timeline.

[Fyraltari]

I agree with this. Have we ever actually seen an aspect of Lucrezia die?

The one in Agatha's head.

[Divayth Fyr]

The one in Agatha's head.
She was removed from Agatha and transferred into a container (https://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20191120). One host away from being free isn't exactly dead.

[Traab]

The one in Agatha's head.

It didnt die, it was moved to a different container.