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Post by warrl on Jul 2, 2013 2:36:05 GMT
I like how every alchemical symbol also looks like about 1000 other symbols, making it such an impractical system to denote anything with unless your goal is ambiguity. Alchemists were almost universally highly secretive. They'd share their knowledge only with an apprentice or two - if that. Each of them developing their own set of symbols to use in their notes is quite consistent with this attitude. They were also almost universally in constant need of funds, and would use their knowledge - or, for quite a few of them, pretense of knowledge - to impress wealthy and powerful patrons. Because so many would pretend to knowledge they didn't have, and the secrecy prevented them from serving as quality-control on each other, the whole field of alchemy acquired a bad reputation. This is the primary reason why the most general term for the science of mixing various elements is "chemistry", not "alchemy". |
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taban
New Member
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Post by taban on Jul 2, 2013 2:58:12 GMT
I get the sense that Renard's friendship with Hetty is somewhat begrudging. Maybe she's keeping some secret for him? Or maybe he helps with her cruelties in exchange for her leaving Annie and friends alone? I'm also intrigued by when Renard has chosen to change forms in this chapter. The mind is nothing but a plaything of the body!I also just realized that Hetty probably thinks his regret is over failing to take her body, rather than the attempt itself. Ooh, good catch! I agree. Tom has played with this sort of misunderstanding before -- e.g. Annie's interpretation of Jones' comment here. (I feel like there's another good example, but I can't think of it right now...) |
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Post by Corvo on Jul 2, 2013 4:02:09 GMT
There are forms MORE sinister than a living toy doll? Unless her other form is a clown I'm not sure what else qualifies! Eurgh, dolls. I was going to say spiders but when I saw you mention clowns, I got the mental image of some sort of giant spider-taur with the torso of a clown and eight garishly colored orange and yellow spider legs and a giant spider abdomen under it. Dolls, clowns and spider legs... Now this is all I can think about. Thanks guys. Here, let me share my nightmares...  |
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htown
New Member
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Post by htown on Jul 2, 2013 6:10:58 GMT
Maybe this is whats in her hair:  Mercury oxide mercury + oxygen -> mercury oxide the chapter's title IS "quicksilver," so I believe my conjecture has some logical backing i dunno i guess we'll find out  |
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Post by TBeholder on Jul 2, 2013 7:56:19 GMT
Or maybe, he's undercover for the Court. Trying to win good favor for himself and Annie. Or undercover for himself - to prevent boredom, keep his skills in a good shape and all that.  Or... Surma set it up for him long ago, knowing sooner or later he will get away... Despite bad foresight, she was keen and fairly sneaky, after all. |
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Post by zimmyzims on Jul 2, 2013 13:10:40 GMT
If the symbol on her forehead works like the one that appears on Rey whenever he's using his powers, then it's probably not her symbol but Adam's, indicating his possession of her. I hope we'll find out about this Adam by the end of this chapter. I was going to say the same thing, but this time took a little while to glance through the thread. It most probably is not Hetty's symbol that is in her forehead, it is the symbol that binds her to her owner, Adam whom she pests the most she can. |
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unrequited
Junior Member
Tormentor of the Heart, close friend of the Spleen
Posts: 74
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Post by unrequited on Jul 2, 2013 15:49:06 GMT
I'm finding myself reading Hetty's dialogue in Grey DeLisle's (AKA Princess Azula's) voice. I don't know why.
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Post by The Anarch on Jul 2, 2013 15:56:02 GMT
I've been hearing it as Tabitha St. Germain's Rarity.
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Post by GK Sierra on Jul 2, 2013 18:28:28 GMT
I'm finding myself reading Hetty's dialogue in Grey DeLisle's (AKA Princess Azula's) voice. I don't know why. She is quite haughty and power-obsessed, probably to the detriment of relationships with other people. It fits well. |
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Post by stef1987 on Jul 2, 2013 21:49:31 GMT
e.g. Annie's interpretation of Jones' comment here. What are you talking about, how did Annie misinterpret Jones' Coment? |
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Post by warrl on Jul 2, 2013 22:03:12 GMT
At this point, Hetty is perhaps the closest thing to a true villain in the entire comic. The best (is that the right word?) competition for the spot is Diego.
Reynardine was a more sympathetic and honorable character even at the time he attacked Annie, let alone later.
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Post by Lightice on Jul 2, 2013 22:04:29 GMT
I've been hearing it as Tabitha St. Germain's Rarity. She still sounds like an evil Betty Boop in my head.  e.g. Annie's interpretation of Jones' comment here. What are you talking about, how did Annie misinterpret Jones' Coment? Jones refers to what Shadow is saying, while Annie is referring to his voice. |
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Post by warrl on Jul 2, 2013 22:16:49 GMT
I've been hearing it as Tabitha St. Germain's Rarity. She still sounds like an evil Betty Boop in my head. What are you talking about, how did Annie misinterpret Jones' Coment? Jones refers to what Shadow is saying, while Annie is referring to his voice. Both are very valid - and probably factually correct - interpretations of what Jones actually said. But Jones was dealing with new information. In this case it's explicitly stated that there has been previous discussion between Rey and Hetty on the subject, so it's unlikely (not impossible) that any such ambiguity in what Rey has said remains unresolved. Even though we don't see that clarity in the current dialog. My opinion is that Rey has (on one or more previous occasions) made it clear that he regrets having made the attempt, and Hetty refuses to believe him because she can't imagine it being true of herself. |
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Post by GK Sierra on Jul 3, 2013 0:23:22 GMT
At this point, Hetty is perhaps the closest thing to a true villain in the entire comic. The best (is that the right word?) competition for the spot is Diego. Reynardine was a more sympathetic and honorable character even at the time he attacked Annie, let alone later. The Headmaster and Coyote give her a run for her money. |
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Post by Mezzaphor on Jul 3, 2013 8:57:52 GMT
I've been hearing it as Tabitha St. Germain's Rarity. She still sounds like an evil Betty Boop in my head. ::) She's got the Betty Boop proportions right. |
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Post by cannister on Jul 3, 2013 15:15:29 GMT
The Headmaster and Coyote give her a run for her money. Is the Headmaster evil or just a bureaucratic jerk? |
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Post by hargharg on Jul 3, 2013 15:55:27 GMT
The Headmaster and Coyote give her a run for her money. Is the Headmaster evil or just a bureaucratic jerk? A villain/antagonist doesn't have to be evil. |
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Post by quinkgirl on Sept 26, 2013 3:13:00 GMT
Is the Headmaster evil or just a bureaucratic jerk? A villain/antagonist doesn't have to be evil. He's a villain? I still can't figure out who's wrong, the people in the forest or the people in Gunnerkrigg Court. There's argument for both sides that what their doing is right, right? I just figure the Headmaster is a standard Gunnerkrigg Court person. |
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Post by GK Sierra on Sept 26, 2013 5:14:26 GMT
A villain/antagonist doesn't have to be evil. He's a villain? I still can't figure out who's wrong, the people in the forest or the people in Gunnerkrigg Court. There's argument for both sides that what their doing is right, right? I just figure the Headmaster is a standard Gunnerkrigg Court person. That's one of the reasons I like this comic, it is realistic with its evil. Reality is ambiguous. There are a lot of minor villains and a few outright crazies. Pure evil rarely survives long, and it exists in the eye of the beholder. It's the mediocre evil that keeps going and going. One man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter. It helps to keep in mind what Jones said about each side being as bad as the other. |
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Post by Daedalus on Sept 27, 2013 0:48:31 GMT
A villain/antagonist doesn't have to be evil. He's a villain? I still can't figure out who's wrong, the people in the forest or the people in Gunnerkrigg Court. There's argument for both sides that what their doing is right, right? I just figure the Headmaster is a standard Gunnerkrigg Court person. Just because he's a jerkass in the way he interacts with the Forest creatures (not good diplomacy, sir!) he is not necessarily evil. He does have an agenda, though. If he didn't, he would be unfit to be Coyote's counterpart. Still waiting for him to be revealed as some god of bureaucracy. |
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Post by quinkgirl on Oct 20, 2013 2:24:45 GMT
He's a villain? I still can't figure out who's wrong, the people in the forest or the people in Gunnerkrigg Court. There's argument for both sides that what their doing is right, right? I just figure the Headmaster is a standard Gunnerkrigg Court person. Just because he's a jerkass in the way he interacts with the Forest creatures (not good diplomacy, sir!) he is not necessarily evil. He does have an agenda, though. If he didn't, he would be unfit to be Coyote's counterpart. Still waiting for him to be revealed as some god of bureaucracy. I wonder if anyone of the Court has anyone with magic? Well as far as magic goes without assistance, like Coyote. And Mr. and Mrs. Donlan don't count because they're using a program. |
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Post by sidhekin on Oct 20, 2013 10:27:53 GMT
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Post by warrl on Oct 20, 2013 23:20:07 GMT
I wonder if anyone of the Court has anyone with magic? Well as far as magic goes without assistance, like Coyote. And Mr. and Mrs. Donlan don't count because they're using a program. That we know of - and I can remember: - Anja Donlan has magical shield capability
- Andrew Smith imposes order
- George Parley teleports
- James Eglamore jumps incredibly well (perhaps even flies)
- Janet Llanwellyn has some sort of supernatural ability that she can, at a minimum, manifest while engaging in archery. (Don't bet that her arrows will miss you - unless she wants them to.)
- Jones is...
- Katrina Donlan has an ability to understand the robots' code that the robots consider to be beyond human capability, and also shows other signs of being a Spark. Making a working antigravity device from a thermos and coathangers is, one must admit, rather impressive.
- Marcia the dryad is, well, a dryad.
- Paz (sen apiledo) communicates with animals
Also we don't know who makes those magical Eglamore-summoning devices. |
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Post by Gotolei on Oct 21, 2013 1:14:39 GMT
- Antimony can communicate with psychopomps and is unharmed by fire*
- The class of fairies (perhaps most Foley students?)
- Zimmy and Gamma?
- Jack Hyland can fly
- Surma could fly
- Brinnie teleports
*can control fire, as well?From what I recall about the Donlans, they both have soft links to that computer they designed. At the end of the day though, Anja's the only one who can go Spang and use a blinker stone. --- Edit: This reminds me..is Annie training to use magic without the blinker stone? Working by the training wheels analogy, I'm guessing she could probably be a lot more powerful without it. |
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Post by warrl on Oct 21, 2013 1:35:31 GMT
- Antimony can communicate with psychopomps and is unharmed by fire*
- The class of fairies (perhaps most Foley students?)
- Zimmy and Gamma?
- Jack Hyland can fly
- Surma could fly
- Brinnie teleports
*can control fire, as well?From what I recall about the Donlans, they both have soft links to that computer they designed. At the end of the day though, Anja's the only one who can go Spang and use a blinker stone. Antimony: in practice more answerable, and seen by the Headmaster as more loyal, to Coyote than to the Court. Fairies: would generally be seen as unreliable, and I don't think we've seen much real-world-affecting magic from them. Zimmy and Gamma: Zimmy has very poor control. Gamma's magic appears to consist of being a damper for Zimmy. Also both are probably seen as highly undisciplined and unreliable, since they rarely attend classes or participate in other official Court activity. Jack Hyland: have we seen him do anything when NOT spider-infested? I don't recall such. Surma/Brinnie: not current time. In other words, I don't see anything there that the Court would count as something the Court has and could rely on. |
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Post by Gotolei on Oct 21, 2013 1:48:31 GMT
Antimony: in practice more answerable, and seen by the Headmaster as more loyal, to Coyote than to the Court. Fairies: would generally be seen as unreliable, and I don't think we've seen much real-world-affecting magic from them. Zimmy and Gamma: Zimmy has very poor control. Gamma's magic appears to consist of being a damper for Zimmy. Also both are probably seen as highly undisciplined and unreliable, since they rarely attend classes or participate in other official Court activity. Jack Hyland: have we seen him do anything when NOT spider-infested? I don't recall such. Surma/Brinnie: not current time. In other words, I don't see anything there that the Court would count as something the Court has and could rely on. Fair enough. I wasn't really taking the forest/court dispute or reliability into account, just whatever etheric things we've seen that didn't use a blinker stone or similar. (Though Annie does see "a few" etheric colors on Jack, when he appears more or less normal, in Faraway Morning) |
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Post by Daedalus on Oct 23, 2013 1:37:00 GMT
Zimmy says he may have some latent etheric ability as well.
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