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

[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.

[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 look pretty similar 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 look pretty similar 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...