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Post by drzhivago138 on Feb 11, 2013 14:46:55 GMT
That's also an interesting idea. Especially as " The Court" as an entity doesn't appear to involve anyone actually gathered at this announcement shindig. It could also explain the headmaster's strange appearance. He could just be a puppet, being leeched off of. Gasp! Headmaster Llanwellyn is King Théoden! "The Court" he speaks of is Grima Wormtongue! I KNEW IT I KNEW IT I KNEW IT I KNEW IT
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Post by zimmyzims on Feb 11, 2013 14:50:25 GMT
How is it, then, that someone like Jones (who is supposedly neutral/impartial) could call Annie "the clear choice"? Annie was very obviously the clear choice, regardless of smitface's virtues. Come on, she epitomizes medium, having already mediated between the material and etheric worlds since a child, and no wonder why, as she's half-demon herself. Now, I completely understand why she was not chose by the Court regarding to Court's interests, but I also said it when Jones had spoken her infamous "she is the clear choice" that if anybody is the clear choice, it must be Annie. Or in other words, while there are rational reasons to choose Smitty, he could never have been the clear choice, only an arguably good one, and while at best you could argue that there was no "clear choice" it was bloody obvious that "she is the clear choice" could not have meant anybody else than Annie.
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quoodle
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Post by quoodle on Feb 11, 2013 14:52:05 GMT
Do you guys think that Smitty could potentially turn down the position? He doesn't have the self confidence to do that. Well, a kiss from Parley might help.....
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Post by atteSmythe on Feb 11, 2013 14:52:38 GMT
OH SNAP I can't help but feel that the "furthermore" bit is going to restrict Annie from going into the forest. This.
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Post by zimmyzims on Feb 11, 2013 14:57:30 GMT
Smitty is only the more "rational" choice if we assume the Court isn't interested in impartiality, but in having someone in their pocket. They don't want a mediator, they want a spy who will only work for their benefit, which Annie obviously wouldn't do. While the latter part is certainly true, I'd contest the first part. I do not think Smitty is necessarily a Court's puppet, neither in sense that he would be a mindless worker nor in the sense that he would be absolutely partial and only love the court side. To me, he seems immensely rational and calm. Those attributes can be good if you need to mediate between two parties without taking a part yourself. But, as said, the Court of course thinks that he has to take a part, their part. In the end, it is Court's medium, named by the Court, so what else can you expect.
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Post by exdevlin on Feb 11, 2013 15:00:31 GMT
I find something very off with Smitty saying "this isn't right". It's his ability to put things into order.. so just make it right again, Smit!
I don't think it matters a whit who they choose as the court medium, so long as Coyote can continue to "summon" Annie to the forest.
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quoodle
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Post by quoodle on Feb 11, 2013 15:06:25 GMT
Ok - more is coming and I think this is perhaps natural - It places the Court as not on Annie's side.
The "Furthermore" will be limiting Annie's access to the forest. I wouldn't be surprised at an outright ban. I wouldn't be surprised if we find out eventually her father had a hand in it. The reason: she's not the medium and there's no visiting the forest allowed (there's still the Annan waters division and the bridge, remember?). The court doesn't want people visiting the forest anymore than necessary.
I think Coyote knew Annie wasn't chosen earlier the morning when he called to tell her the secret - and the incident with Ys was an attempt to make her seem less friendly to the forest and more appealing to the court. It didn't work it seems.
Coyote won't like that - it'll limit his fun. (but he seems to be having fun now - what's his trick?)
Perhaps, he'll say "Now, this can't be... You can't prevent my own medium from visiting me the forest"
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Post by slybrarian on Feb 11, 2013 15:10:11 GMT
Maybe the Court's full choice will be to split the difference, appointed Smitty as the official medium but Annie as an advisor on Forest-related shennanigans? That way he would sort of moderate anything she might have done. Parley could be a bodyguard. Of course, that's probably being too generous to the court's decision... I find something very off with Smitty saying "this isn't right". It's his ability to put things into order.. so just make it right again, Smit! I don't think it matters a whit who they choose as the court medium, so long as Coyote can continue to "summon" Annie to the forest. Between this and the last comic, I'm wondering if it was Smitty's gift that was making everyone react as if Annie had been chosen.
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Post by TBeholder on Feb 11, 2013 15:15:17 GMT
When the headmaster says:"Yes, we took your findings into consideration, Jones, however, The Court has chosen Mr. Smith." Who is he referring to beyond himself? Clearly nobody actually present at the meeting was debriefed or consulted, Judging by the Court's video record #1 (Chapter 25), they used to have some sort of a council of "important" folk, including the Court's Protector - which also simply makes sense. And now we see Mr. Eglamore standing here with a mailbox face just like the rest of them. which does wonders for their image of supposed orderliness and competency. I guess it does serve to make him/them/their motives more shadowy and mysterious. ...which in itself is unlikely to amuse those present, except their honorary guest. Aye, it looks like some kind of a palace coup. Furthermore, this managed to surprise Coyote into round eyes. Good, good. ;D I can't help but feel that the "furthermore" bit is going to restrict Annie from going into the forest. But then, he's going to have Coyote dropping by to chat about ten times as frequently. I'm seeing something ranging from expulsion to imprisonment for Annie on the next page. The headmaster is a scary, scary man. I'd like to see how he goes about implementing the latter if Donlans (what's with portable door), Eglamore and "Angel" object, Jack gets royally pissed off. In the court's security - e.g. Aata seems to think it's more sensible to just agree with Jones whenever she bothers to say anything aloud. I don't see anything but lots of robots-style slapstick down this road. Also, if the headmaster is dismissing Jones' advice so openly, does this mark a schism in the court? Or at least, will it give us some more backstory on the mysterious headmaster? ...then again, this may be related to some previous issues with Carver (Senior). But in this case he most likely jumped on a sore thumb others only want to leave alone by now. I won't expect most of the folk there to be happy about this either. And I still think that the headmaster is actually a zombie. Maybe he just drank de-etherified water for a few years to see what may happen?
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Post by wombat on Feb 11, 2013 15:17:35 GMT
Maybe the Court wanted a medium who was a bit more long lasting than Surma was; perhaps they fear that Annie would become pregnant and they'd have to go through this whole choosing a medium process again in just a few years.
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Post by csj on Feb 11, 2013 15:26:41 GMT
Maybe the Court wanted a medium who was a bit more long lasting than Surma was; perhaps they fear that Annie would become pregnant and they'd have to go through this whole choosing a medium process again in just a few years. Perhaps that's part of the reason why they've subtly encouraged the bond between Kat and A- Haha, I am so dead.
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Post by exuberancium on Feb 11, 2013 15:29:16 GMT
Maybe the Court wanted a medium who was a bit more long lasting than Surma was; perhaps they fear that Annie would become pregnant and they'd have to go through this whole choosing a medium process again in just a few years. ...she's only 12. Or maybe it's 13 now?
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binks
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Post by binks on Feb 11, 2013 15:29:29 GMT
Am I the only one who is a little worried for Smitty in this? I could totally see Coyote and Ys reacting poorly to having Smitty forced on them as medium when they clearly would have preferred Annie. At least I could see Ys reacting poorly/horrifyingly violently; Coyote will probably just see him as a new victim to mindscrew, as Annie has never been an easy target.
This decision could be potentially putting Smitty at a lot of risk just for the sake of having someone more court-aligned or easier to control as medium. And this this wouldn't be the first time we've seen them throw someone to the wolves for the sake of furthering the courts agenda.
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Post by 0o0f on Feb 11, 2013 15:31:48 GMT
Am I the only one who is a little worried for Smitty in this? I could totally see Coyote and Ys reacting poorly to having Smitty forced on them as medium when they clearly would have preferred Annie. At least I could see Ys reacting poorly/horrifyingly violently; Coyote will probably just see him as a new victim to mindscrew, as Annie has never been an easy target. This decision could be potentially putting Smitty at a lot of risk just for the sake of having someone more court-aligned or easier to control as medium. And this this wouldn't be the first time we've seen them throw someone to the wolves for the sake of furthering the courts agenda. I did get the impression that Smith himself is worried, but it could be that he's mostly feeling sorry for Annie.
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Post by exuberancium on Feb 11, 2013 15:32:32 GMT
I think his reasoning for picking Smitty has absolutely nothing to do with him being a suitable medium and more to do with him not wanting the Forest to get what they want.
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dipti
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Post by dipti on Feb 11, 2013 15:32:43 GMT
The Medium is a mediator, a negotiator that balances the two factions so their isn't open war between them. As such the Medium must choose actions that would keep the balance of power between the two. Kidnapping Rey was a Bid to keep that balance, Coyote's past desire of giving his power too a pro Forest creature (Rey) would have disturbed it thus he was taken. Also Annie's mother was greatly loved by the forest and you don't get trusted and or cared for by a suspicious faction with out doing things for them. (If i remember correctly she walked thru the forest without anyone's protection Annie had Coyotes protection). As a mediator you need to know about both factions in a conflict and till stated Annie is the only one who has had great experience with both factions. Real world People who have to negotiate on varying positions are quite confident persons Annie and Parley fit the quite well from my view Andrew doesn't.
Something is going on behind the scenes here,,,
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dipti
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Post by dipti on Feb 11, 2013 15:38:21 GMT
From what im geting the upper factions or individual in the court wants a puppet as a Medium or an inefective Medium. Both could be quite advantageus in certain situations were the balance of power was no longer desired between the Court and Forest. Somthing big is going to happen between these factions and Annie might get the brunt of it
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Post by Mitth'raw'nuruodo on Feb 11, 2013 15:44:57 GMT
Whew. Tom, you're too good at drawing human beings in varying states of emotional breakdown. Hold it in Annie, stiff upper lip. They're all watching. It seems clear that the headmaster does not have much of a sense of professionalism. Possibly. This could also be a very professional ploy at disrupting what plans Coyote has in motion. It is better to do what your enemy does not expect, than what he does. (And argue about it or not, the Woods are no ally of the Court's.) I also suspect that some sort of punishment is inbound. This is a good thing. Annie has been too wild and crazy recently. This will be good for her. I fully expect her to disdain this, and actually for this ploy to work in favor of Coyote, driving Annie from the Court and into the forest. Coyote may very well claim her as his Medium, killing two birds with one stone. It furthers the division between Annie and Ysengrin (to which Coyote is playing to some unknown end) and it gains him the prize of Annie (again, to what end?). Jones's public reprimand could be a few things: simply a rebuke, an act, or a schism. I would doubt the latter, and believe it to be the former. All in all, this has a great chance of backfiring and burning the Court, but the Headmaster obviously believes it does not. So the question becomes, can Annie hurt the Court in anyway?[/i] If she can, then this is foolish. If she cannot, then the Court has simply lost one student, and we are reacting because she is the protagonist.
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Post by Per on Feb 11, 2013 16:10:40 GMT
... Antimony Carver is to be executed at dawn. How's that for a change? Nobody wants a small medium at large. That joke was made a little over two years ago. The cooldown period has yet to expire.
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Post by exuberancium on Feb 11, 2013 16:15:29 GMT
"Furthermore, you will be the medium UNTIL THE DAY YOU DIE. Muhahahahaha" "Furthermore, your first assignment as medium begins right now. Go punch Ysengrin in his stupid face." "Furthermore, your eyebrows are now the property of the court." "Furthermore, the court said I was the best and handsomest headmaster and that I deserve a raise... is what the court said." EDIT: From the mspa forums: Frost: "Furthermore, *kicks a puppy*" xeroticDeceiver: "Furthermore, Antimony Carver is a butt." On a more serious note, Frost on the MSPA forums brought up an interesting point: The story takes place is a world with mystical creatures and psychic superpowers, but really, Parley and Smitty are just relatively ordinary kids. To appoint them to such an important position in the court where they have to responsibly deal with a trickster god and a tree-wolf on the brink of a violent mental breakdown... the court is insane for making someone so young a medium. Even making Annie the medium would be pretty irresponsible of them, though at least she's lived her whole life around etheric creatures instead of just being suddenly thrust into a position like this with no real experience other than talking to a friendly ghost.
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osos
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Post by osos on Feb 11, 2013 16:36:57 GMT
Is anybody else worried that the court found out about Annie's cheating?
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Post by paradosa on Feb 11, 2013 16:55:08 GMT
Why everyone thinks that Court Medium must go to Forest? As far as we could see, Medium was really needed when Coyote visits Court. Surma was last human allowed in Forest and i think just because Coyote liked her not because she was Medium.
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Post by Stately Buff-Cookie on Feb 11, 2013 17:03:42 GMT
Do you guys think that Smitty could potentially turn down the position? It would be unusual if he couldn't. Whatever the particulars of the decision, this is very clearly a power play. It has nothing to do with job suitability(funny how a few people think they know better than Jones). This is a move on a chessboard, or maybe a counter move. Perhaps a dangerous one. I doubt Smitty has the guts for it, but he could simply refuse to play ball, and Coyote could counter the counter with a trick of his own. I still think this might be best for Annie in the long run. Keeping her away from the insane beast gods can only be a good thing.
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Post by Eversist on Feb 11, 2013 17:21:09 GMT
Why everyone thinks that Court Medium must go to Forest? As far as we could see, Medium was really needed when Coyote visits Court. Surma was last human allowed in Forest and i think just because Coyote liked her not because she was Medium. Well, she was the last medium, and is also the only medium we've really seen in flashback-action. So I don't know how you could make those conclusions with what we've been given, but I kinda hold the same opinions you do about the position. So yeah. I don't think Smitty would really NEED to go to the forest, but I'm sure it would be nice if the Medium was comfortable with that.
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Post by sapientcoffee on Feb 11, 2013 18:02:08 GMT
We strongly object to the Medium of TediumI don't know if you got that from somewhere or made it up, but that is fanTAStic. I'll have to use it from now on.
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Post by Per on Feb 11, 2013 19:04:30 GMT
"Furthermore, your first assignment as medium begins right now. Go punch Ysengrin in his stupid face." Haha. What if it's all a Secret Test of Character, though? For - for pretty much any one of them.
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Post by GK Sierra on Feb 11, 2013 19:48:16 GMT
Of course, as a child, if they did make her medium, they'd have to be careful she didn't run off. Nobody wants a small medium at large. G. Simply marvelous. Whew. Tom, you're too good at drawing human beings in varying states of emotional breakdown. Hold it in Annie, stiff upper lip. They're all watching. It seems clear that the headmaster does not have much of a sense of professionalism. Coyote may very well claim her as his Medium That would be a very interesting turn of events indeed... I feel like both sides are holding her back, and I also feel like both of them have wronged her enough that neither will be able to count on her loyalty when the time comes. Antimony doesn't strike me as the kind of person who enjoys playing the pawn.
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mc42
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Post by mc42 on Feb 11, 2013 23:57:48 GMT
Cue an exercise of Andrew's special powers as the Court attempts to make an arse of itself. It's entirely possible that Smitty's abilities are manifesting themselves by influencing the Court's decision making process, even if Smitty consciously disagrees with what his powers are doing. We've already seen examples where they come into play without conscious thought on his part. If Antimony were the Court's medium then she would be tied to the Court, regardless of how much they let her wander around the forest on her off time. Perhaps this is Smitty's ability unconsciously saying "You should not be bound to the court like the others." While the story and treatises have emphasized the forest-Court duality between Annie and Kat, the same can also be said about Annie and Parley, with Smitty balancing the two out in an orderly way. While this is a far cry from something as drastic as Annie being the Forest's Medium, it shows that Smitty's calm and orderly demeanor, manner, and ability are more likely to be more valuable as a medium than the hot-tempered, wire-edge temperament that Annie's displayed in the past. As for Jones, it's been established that, after being in existence since existence, she still doesn't have a clue what human emotions are all about. She therefore may not be giving the proper weight to things like emotions and temperaments, or assuming that she can mold Annie to remove those. Jones, although immortal, is not infallible and we should not take her judgment as gospel. Now, seeing as how the Headmaster just included Antimony on the list of people who "have worked very hard, and we applaud them", I highly doubt his "furthermore" is going to be a public skewering of Annie. If anything is said regarding her behavior, it may be covertly done, such as "No student of the Court will enter the forest without my explicit permission." I think it will more likely be a further statement regarding Parley and Annie's new roles.
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Post by SpitefulFox on Feb 12, 2013 0:04:37 GMT
Is anybody else worried that the court found out about Annie's cheating? Yeah, that just occurred to me too. "Furthermore, Antimony, your academic dishonesty has been brought to our attention and you will be repeating a grade." And/or "Furthermore, Antimony, we are transferring you from Queslett to Chester. Say goodbye to all your friends."
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Post by todd on Feb 12, 2013 1:47:16 GMT
From the looks on everyone else's faces as the Headmaster announces his decision (combined with the decrepit appearance that so many have commented on), I wonder if this is one of those cases of the aging ruler who makes some senseless, even tyrannical act, all just to proclaim "I am still king, and none of you forget that!"
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