Girl Genius XXVIII: Dancink! Ve is here for de dancink!

[Radar]

The Heterodynes did not lack for soldiers. But they went ahead and created the Jagermonster ritual, which killed a a goodly (unknown) percentage of those who agreed to undergo it. Since the ancient Heterodynes were seldom stupid (distinct from crazy or evil), the upgrade must have been worth the cost in soldiers. I think we can be confident that one Jager is worth several trained and equipped soldiers.

Which is what you'd expect. The Heterodynes were among the most feared of the Mad Boy families, and for good reason.

One of the key factors is also survivability. In a typical battle you lose a lot of soldiers anyway, so paying an upfront manpower cost in order to obtain far more resilient soldiers you could reuse in many battles to come is a net gain in the long run. If you add the fact they can live for long centuries without losing their physical capabilities, you have the added benefit of stacking battle experience. This in of itself is invaluable and rare advantage over typical spark-created monsters or machines.

[Rogar Demonblud]

Yeah. In D&D terms, the Jaegers are probably all mid-teens level fighters, with the generals being at least low-epic.

[HandofShadows]

It looks like they're memorial plaques.

They are in an area that studies astronomy. Not a place for memorial plaques.

[Fyraltari]

They are in an area that studies astronomy. Not a place for memorial plaques.

The astronomical war of 1647 shall never be forgotten.

[Shining Wrath]

The astronomical war of 1647 shall never be forgotten.

Let us take a moment to reflect upon those lost.

[theangelJean]

The most obvious answer is that it's some sort of hint as to where Skifander is. I'll be a bit annoyed if it's a map to how to get straight to the place. And evidently on the GG Patreon page, Kaja commented that this gal is Princess Neena, whom we met earlier.

My first guess was that it was a map to how to get straight there, but it's already been rearranged more than once (and they blamed Princess Neena! They always blame her...)

[Traab]

They are in an area that studies astronomy. Not a place for memorial plaques.

It depends on how flowery they want to be with the memorial. Something to the effect of, "These shining stars in the kingdom of England shall shine forever more in our memory." Is perfectly possible. That being said, it IS entirely possible that this is some sort of either direct route to skifander showing the queen lied to keep them there longer, or its a symbol that she recognizes from the dim recesses of her memory that she can use as a guide. Something to the effect of second star from the right and straight on till morning. Only a skifander would recognize the information for what it is.

[wingnutx]

Given how much treason, plotting, and politics he had to deal with, I imagine that having a unit you could be sure couldn't be suborned was incredibly important.

Good point.

[Rogar Demonblud]

They are in an area that studies astronomy. Not a place for memorial plaques.

Of course it is. The real Royal Observatory has a wall of memorial plaques for everybody who discovered a comet, new stars, outer planets, etc.

[Traab]

Of course it is. The real Royal Observatory has a wall of memorial plaques for everybody who discovered a comet, new stars, outer planets, etc.

And considering the sparky nature of scientists in this setting, its hard to tell how many astronomers died while working at said royal observatory. "I think Ive done it! A way to reel that star in closer so I can get a better look!" /is instantly gunned down by albias forces as per protocol.

[wingnutx]

They are in the astronomy section of the Royal Libraries. We've had foreshadowing that these people have the best maps and charts. I think some sort of indication of where Skifander is found. It has to be something that Zeetha would immediately recognize as being important with a casual glance.

Maybe a print of some constellations as seen from Skifander.

[Rogar Demonblud]

There really isn't a difference between constellations on one part of Earth from another, other than the horizon cutting somethings off. Heck, the constellations viewed from any of the inner planets will basically look the same.

[wingnutx]

That's regular science, not mad science.

[Thomas Cardew]

There really isn't a difference between constellations on one part of Earth from another, other than the horizon cutting somethings off. Heck, the constellations viewed from any of the inner planets will basically look the same.

I mean, you could tell the difference between Northern and Southern Hemispheres. Alternatively, if Skifander is on a different planet e.g. Mars, while the patterns would be the same but offset. Polaris for example wouldn't be the 'North' star on Mars.

[Rogar Demonblud]

If you want to be pedantic, it isn't on Earth either. Precession moves the pole in a circle and Polaris has been out of line for about 1200 years.

[Fyraltari]

I'm guessing Bang is getting pretty frustrated right now.

[Traab]

Well looks like we were all more or less wrong. Still not sure what the gold signs are, but it had an old form of her writing with an old queens name.

[xroads]

Another princess?

Huh. I'm starting to wonder if the Folgio's have created more princesses than Disney!

[Manga Shoggoth]

Wait... Is Zeetha about to become an intellectual???

[Agi Hammerthief]

Wait... Is Zeetha about to become an intellectual???

just the „one eyed king“ amongst the blind.

[Rogar Demonblud]

Another princess?

Huh. I'm starting to wonder if the Folgio's have created more princesses than Disney!

Neena was seen talking to Tarvek at the party.

And that's one way to end a fight. I'll have to keep that one in mind.

And is anybody else hearing this guy's lines spoken by the actor who played the curator in The Mummy? "This is a catastrophe!"

[theangelJean]

Another princess?

Huh. I'm starting to wonder if the Folgio's have created more princesses than Disney!

Not really "another" princess - we met Princess Neena back when the younger princesses were first introduced. Although her characterisation has kind of varied since then between "curious smallest (youngest?) princess", intended lure for Tarvek and now klutzy researcher - with three different hairstyles to boot! - so it took me a while to connect them myself...

Edit: ninja'd! Although I ended up on the next page, so oh well.

[HandofShadows]

I'm guessing Bang is getting pretty frustrated right now.

I don't think so. She learned a fair amount about how Zeetha fights, that the Higgs isn't going to interfere and a trick to use in combat. Seems like a good day actually.

[Shining Wrath]

And thus Zeetha's life is spared. Or Bang's. Or both of them, as I don't think Higgs would be cavalier about Bang actually killing Zeetha.

And now ... a major plot twist is introduced, as Zeetha is going to stay behind and read Ovalform 27 while Agatha goes off to Do Stuff. Bang will stay behind as she's not part of Agatha's party, and this will let her kill Zeetha - or decide not to.

[geoduck]

And thus Zeetha's life is spared. Or Bang's. Or both of them, as I don't think Higgs would be cavalier about Bang actually killing Zeetha.

And now ... a major plot twist is introduced, as Zeetha is going to stay behind and read Ovalform 27 while Agatha goes off to Do Stuff. Bang will stay behind as she's not part of Agatha's party, and this will let her kill Zeetha - or decide not to.

Stay behind? Higgs and Da Boyz saw where she was dragged off to, and it's just a short sentence on a plaque, it's not like it's going to take Zeetha months to read it. There will be long-term ramifications, of course, as they will finally have some sort of clue where Skifander is.

[Rogar Demonblud]

If they've developed a name for the language, they have a lot more examples than just one plaque. Best guess, this is going to keep Zeetha sidelined while the rest go on the expedition.

[geoduck]

If they've developed a name for the language, they have a lot more examples than just one plaque. Best guess, this is going to keep Zeetha sidelined while the rest go on the expedition.

Hm. I assumed that "Ovalform 27" referred to the bit of metal, not what was written on it.

[DeTess]

Hm. I assumed that "Ovalform 27" referred to the bit of metal, not what was written on it.

'Ovalform 27' is probably a reference to Cuneiform, a real-world super-old writing system.

[Traab]

I mean, not really? She could translate a few directly for them and that would provide them with enough of a dictionary to do the rest themselves. The only thing that might get her to stay is the hope that she will find info on locating skifander, and I doubt agatha would just abandon her. Besides, she isnt done in england just yet either.

[Fyraltari]

'Ovalform 27' is probably a reference to Cuneiform, a real-world super-old writing system.

And linear A.