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

[Rogar Demonblud]

Or he got a running start, possibly due to the aid of Bill and Barry.

Anyway, albino alligators in the sewers!

[Agi Hammerthief]

called it

Edit: not the alligators, the pretending to be shut down

[Shining Wrath]

Acknowledging plot armor - Professora, does it occur to you that YOU may be part of the show the Castle wants to watch? And maybe in a starring but not recurring role?

[sihnfahl]

Acknowledging plot armor - Professora, does it occur to you that YOU may be part of the show the Castle wants to watch? And maybe in a starring but not recurring role?

The first is outright stated by Der Kestle.

And she's probably already planning to run as far away as possible at the rate things are going.

[Manga Shoggoth]

Der Kestle claims that this is its first Solstace.

At first, I thought, yes - because it was rebuilt by Agatha after being completely shut down. But she restarted it with a part of the castle that had been transferred into Otilia's body. Surely it had seen other Solstaces.

Unless, of course, it is just talking about the joining in. In which case the question is who the "they" were, and how (and indeed, why) the castle was barred from the show before. Probably the Heterodynes and a direct order.

[Rogar Demonblud]

As it explicitly states, it would immediately destroy anybody who threatens the Heterodyne. Of course it's not allowed to function for a ritual that involves a mob trying to chase down and lynch the Heterodyne.

[Kantaki]

Unless, of course, it is just talking about the joining in. In which case the question is who the "they" were, and how (and indeed, why) the castle was barred from the show before. Probably the Heterodynes and a direct order.

The Castle and the Professora said why it's shut down during the Solstice.
It would stop the whole event.
The hunt and definitely any more dangerous parts of the ritual.

[Divayth Fyr]

Der Kestle claims that this is its first Solstace.

At first, I thought, yes - because it was rebuilt by Agatha after being completely shut down. But she restarted it with a part of the castle that had been transferred into Otilia's body. Surely it had seen other Solstaces.

Thing is, that unless the Castle in that particular body had been around for a Solstice, it wouldn't have a chance at seeing the event. Since before the whole mess with the transfer and attack, it was the ruling Heterodyne that participated in it. Meaning the order to shut down carried weight, unlike this time (and during all the previous heterodyneless celebrations the Castle was broken).

[BRC]

The Tradition appears pretty clear

The Heterodyne orders the Castle to shut down, and it does. Apparently it's overriding directive to preserve the heterodyne line doesn't apply if it doesn't percieve an imminent and definite threat. It's allowed to let the Heterodynes RISK themselves, just not DIE. In the town, where it could intervene, it would have to were it not disabled.

The Jaegers are distracted, for the same reason. They're kept in the dark about the whole thing because, unlike the Castle, they have free will and can't be ordered to ignore it.

If Agatha had given the order, the Castle would have shut down for the night. However, were Agatha being chased, the Castle would be obligated to intervene with the Torchmen (or even just Alerting the Jaegers).

As there is no Heterodyne involved, the Castle is under no obligations, and it can do whatever it sees fit to let things play out.

The question is, in the "Touristy" version of this, does the Actor-Heterodyne get chased? or is he smart enough to not put on the crown.

[Vinyadan]

I'm finding this little story oddly interesting...

[Rogar Demonblud]

This one and Ivo are by far my favorite of the side stories.

[BRC]

It makes sense

The Foglio's true talent is in fun pulpy worldbuilding and stories centered around a cool concept.

The weakness of Girl Genius is that they try to apply those skills/inclinations to an overarching story, leading to frustratingly slow pacing as the story has to stop for 30 pages so Agatha and CO can learn about the Immortal Library or whatever.

These side-stories don't need to be advancing the main plot, or any of the countless subplots the story is juggling, so they get to be smooth, well-paced, and focused.

[Narkis]

The question is, in the "Touristy" version of this, does the Actor-Heterodyne get chased? or is he smart enough to not put on the crown.

I think they skip that part. Everyone was very surprised the professora was willing to go through the entire ritual.

[sihnfahl]

I think they skip that part. Everyone was very surprised the professora was willing to go through the entire ritual.

I think they were surprised the -CASTLE- chimed in...

[Zazu Yen]

Indeed the Castle has never had the chance to participate in a "real" Solstice celebration due to being shut down by the Heterodyne, ostensibly for re-calibration but most likely because it would interfere in the Heterodyne having some real dangerous "fun". Letting them and the townsfolk let off some steam and get out some aggressions. In the Touristy version I wouldn't be surprised if the ritual ended with the end of the parade.

I agree, of all the side stories this has been one of my favorite. It's expanding on the history and lore of the Heterodynes in an amusing way, and as much as the Castle story seemed to drag while reading it as it was being written (it's not so bad reading it all at once), it's fun to meet up with the deadly rascal again.

[Divayth Fyr]

I think they were surprised the -CASTLE- chimed in...

They don't know about the Castle not being asleep. It says as much in the last panel of the latest page.

[sihnfahl]

They don't know about the Castle not being asleep. It says as much in the last panel of the latest page.

I'm referring to the page here.

They seem a bit ... taken aback that the Castle responded.

[Zazu Yen]

I'm referring to the page here.

They seem a bit ... taken aback that the Castle responded.

And also very relieved that it went along with the ruse and didn't do... anything... to them.
As they say, "When Agatha's away, The Castle will play!"

(well, the Castle probably says that, heh)

[Rogar Demonblud]

I'm referring to the page here.

They seem a bit ... taken aback that the Castle responded.

I'm reminded of Van's response when Von Zinzer pointed out the fully operational Kessel was about to cut loose during the siege.

[sihnfahl]

I'm reminded of Van's response when Von Zinzer pointed out the fully operational Kessel was about to cut loose during the siege.

Not just fully operational. Upgraded with the help of the most whacked-out sparks Wulfenbach could stuff in there.

Who happily went along with Der Kestle's suggestions for upgrades because SCIENCE!

[Traab]

Not just fully operational. Upgraded with the help of the most whacked-out sparks Wulfenbach could stuff in there.

Who happily went along with Der Kestle's suggestions for upgrades because SCIENCE!

Well that and the desire to avoid smooshing. Or burning. Or filleting. Or etc.

[Divayth Fyr]

I'm referring to the page here.

They seem a bit ... taken aback that the Castle responded.

Ah, that bit... Well, for the last several years it probably didn't due to being broken, and earlier than that it also probably didn't, since at the point the Heterodyne already ordered it to rest. So, having the Castle reply was unexpected. And potentially could bring terrible consequences. So the reactions are justified.

[wingnutx]

Are the two groups fighting each other?

[TeChameleon]

Yup. Looks like der Kestle is on the side of maximum 'fun'.

[theangelJean]

Are the two groups fighting each other?

Position of the limbs makes it look more to me like "colliding" and "tripping". They look literally at cross-purposes.

[Rogar Demonblud]

It just struck me Der Kessel is rather like Albia, in that both have been around long enough to need something new for amusement, and they're likely to reward somebody with significant amusement value.

How they choose to go about that is leagues apart, of course.

[Agi Hammerthief]

How they choose to go about that is leagues apart, of course.

Albia might actually have a sense of humor while the castle only has morbid_fun.exe installed

[Shining Wrath]

"Whose side are you on?"

Ah, yes, the Professora is from out of town.

[sihnfahl]

Position of the limbs makes it look more to me like "colliding" and "tripping". They look literally at cross-purposes.

Group 1 goes ->
Group 2 goes <-

Instant 50 car pileup.

[BRC]

So in earlier pages, it seemed like the group was Enthralled, but here they seem perfectly lucid, and the castle mentions a Prize.

Everything we've seen says Mechanisburg genuinely loves their Heterodynes. So the idea of Mechanisburgers willingly harming the Heterodyne seems off, implying that the whole "Chased by mobs" thing is just pagentry.

On the other hand, the threat is real enough that they must Distract the Jaegers and turn off the Castle.

Unless that's part of the point? This ritual is a form of Vote by Potential Assassination. The Heterodyne is tired and probably intoxicated from a night of revelry, they're cut off from the Jaegers and the Castle, they willingly accept the Crown, and then armed townsfolk pursue them through the streets.

If the Heterodyne gets Caught? Maybe they get thrown in the river or forced to wear a silly hat or something, most years.

But, if the Heterodyne has been a tyrant to the townsfolk? If they are unpopular, if they are hated. Well, who knows what could happen.

And the Heterodyne themselves wouldn't know the Mob's intentions, not until it was too late.



Maybe this is Mechanisburg's way of keeping the Heterodynes accountable. Once a year, the Heterodyne throws themselves upon the mercy of the town.

Hated Heterodynes don't survive the Solstice.