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Post by keef on Aug 14, 2015 22:07:12 GMT
I want to pat him on the shoulder or something, but from, like, a safe distance. There is an excellent way to do this: do you have scalpels and some local anaesthetic? whoever suckered Anthony into this is beyond cruel. Can Coyote be beyond cruel? Given Coyote's loss of both Renard and Surma, and Anthony's hubris, yes, I think Coyote could be beyond cruel. And Anthony was outside the Court so I don't think he was protected by Coyote's promise to not mess with the Court. I doubt Tom would draw Coyote in such an important page without a hint of his colours if he was involved. Whoever is telling him to do this is screwed up. Maybe one of your cousins CoyoteReborn? Amaguq or Amarok? There are so many tricksters. why is this chapter called Annie and the Fire, again?! This has been so much about Tony and his twisted adventure to talk to Surma again, you'd think it would have a more fitting name... The fire is what is left of Surma, and it is the fire Tony reached through the ether. Hopefully the fire will have her say for the first time soon. Trouble with this scenario, or removing the flesh as I suggested earlier, is that it would have been more logical to prepare his left hand. If you are right-handed an artificial left-hand (or boneyhandheldtogetherwithmagicinsteadofmuscle) makes more sense. So "this hand was prepared earlier" is a bit unlikely. If you are right-handed and are about to perform some very important etheric surgery in which the life of a child may hang in the balance - let alone your own child - and is the culmination of years of work and research . . . would you really give over the responsibility to your off-hand? The post-surgery complications are not necessarily the ones that would be most important to Tony. Apart from the fact Tony thought he was 'operating' on Surma instead of Annie, you were right. |
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emmau
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Post by emmau on Aug 14, 2015 22:12:33 GMT
If he was trying to contact Surma and got Annie's inner fire instead, because it was previously Surma's fire... Does that mean the fire elemental in Annie's room is technically Surma?
Makes me wonder about her line before cutting it out, even if it might not mean anything...
*Blink* "I can't deal with you right now."
Edit: I'm also very curious about what might come next.
After seeing Anthony's behavior towards Annie, as well as Divine itself, I've been wondering if he thinks Antimony was the one who punched him in Divine - if you look at the ZimmyPunch page, she morphs into Annie appearance-wise.
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Post by justcurious on Aug 14, 2015 22:28:23 GMT
Anthony's tragedy is the one of someone who would give up anything for love except the thing that he needed to, his hubris. He does not question his estimate of his abilities and when he fails he believes that he could have succeeded. And he thinks others share that belief and should and will judge him by his impossible standards.
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Post by antiyonder on Aug 14, 2015 22:43:09 GMT
Anthony's tragedy is the one of someone who would give up anything for love except the thing that he needed to, his hubris. He does not question his estimate of his abilities and when he fails he believes that he could have succeeded. And he thinks others share that belief and should and will judge him by his impossible standards. Heck, perhaps there was a way to save Surma back then and still can be used to keep Annie from suffering the same fate. The other part of his hubris is the unwillingness to trust others to help him, as evidenced by Annie having knowledge that he lacks. Goddammit Tom. I hoped that Anthony would be a straight up bad guy and now you've made me like him and start to forgive him. Goddammit. There's still room to dislike him. His tragedy was brought on by his arrogance rather than some outside force beyond his control. In other words, his worst enemy is his own ego. |
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Post by keef on Aug 14, 2015 23:00:54 GMT
If he was trying to contact Surma and got Annie's inner fire instead, because it was previously Surma's fire... Does that mean the fire elemental in Annie's room is technically Surma? Yes, or what is left of her. And of all her foremothers. |
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Post by TBeholder on Aug 14, 2015 23:03:10 GMT
I've been wondering about Deerletor and his Moldy Crew. Did they want an antenna themselves, but didn't have the resources until he came? Or worse. If the telephone call was perceived as talking into a tunnel (or vice versa), how did he perceive Zimmy saying, "Message from your little girl, mate"? It would be interesting, if he saw his hard-earned "gift" burn in flame, Which leads to another question: what if it did not burst in flame, but was merely dropped/lost? Or: it did burst in flame, but in that place it doesn't matter, in all but looks this trinket is still good as new? Still not sure which outcome is going to be more horrifying: 1) Tony spins up the antenna, but never talks to Surma, or ... 2) Tony spins up the antenna, and DOES talk to Surma This thing seemed to go through Annie's "inner elemental", and apparently she was out cold for some time, so... either he had time to reach "through" or he just sat there listening to the noise and cried "Surma?.." "Hallo, Surma?" for hours. |
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Post by imaginaryfriend on Aug 14, 2015 23:22:57 GMT
"No pain, no high gain." I seriously doubt that antenna would be over low gain... no isotropicness there. Oi. Looked like it was pointed at the fire to me.  |
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Sadie
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I eat food and sleep in a horizontal position.
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Post by Sadie on Aug 14, 2015 23:34:45 GMT
I don't particularly mean Harry (or anyone in particular), but isn't the issue that people had with pulling a Snape that the characters started idolizing him due to a reveal after his death, despite that this didn't change the fact that he was an absolute prick to anyone and everyone not named Dumbledore pretty much every day of his life with absolutely no regrets? Yeah, as someone who'd also made this reference, this is the exact issue, or rather concern, I had. Still have, to a degree. That's what I'm hoping for! On the whole, I'm fascinated by Tony's character and have been riveted to these recent updates. Even when he first showed up, I did make posts arguing that he was never going to be a one dimensional villain, because Gunnerkrigg Court just doesn't have those, and suggesting reasons to be sympathetic. He's certainly paid for his hubris and naivety, wise fool that he is, in spades and on multiple fronts. And after hearing all this, I can't exactly blame him for not wanting to tell Annie what happened to his hand, especially not in such detail. He would massively benefit from emotional help. But buddy-boy ain't a hero or a good dad (at the moment and no matter his intentions), and someone still has to do some heavy lifting on that father/daughter relationship. I don't want to see Annie being the only person picking up that weight. Because of the power imbalance between them, Tony's got to be the one to be vulnerable first. ON A SIDE NOTE: his tale really highlights how SAFE Annie has unknowingly been. I noted somewhere else that she's built herself quite the power base of supporters and protectors and they've helped her escape or defeat most of the dangers she faces. It gives the impression that this deadly world she lives in isn't really all that bad, then Tony sweeps in after having been talked into cutting off his hand. Yikes. |
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Post by antiyonder on Aug 14, 2015 23:53:58 GMT
But buddy-boy ain't a hero or a good dad (at the moment and no matter his intentions), and someone still has to do some heavy lifting on that father/daughter relationship. I don't want to see Annie being the only person picking up that weight. Because of the power imbalance between them, Tony's got to be the one to be vulnerable first.Agreed. And I can only hope that his apology begins with him on his knees with the full realization of how needless his choices have been. Yeah for all the posts that point out how similar the two Carvers are, there are still a good amount of differences. One being that Annie often tries to do right when she does wrong, but also more or less proves that even in a deadly world, one can still come out ahead by trusting people as friends rather than simply using them as tools. |
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Post by todd on Aug 15, 2015 0:21:34 GMT
Annie is going to be looking for whoever got her father to maim himself. I do not think she will bear them good will. Given that Annie's been in a passive mood ever since she sealed away the fire elemental portion of herself, I doubt we'll be seeing that. At least, not until/unless that separation gets undone, which probably won't be for a long while. |
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Post by matoyak on Aug 15, 2015 1:08:31 GMT
Whoever is telling him to do this is screwed up. Oh you scallywag you! if that Deer spirit really is Coyote in disguise, then why did he encourage Tony to contact the fire spirit within Annie? What is Coyote's game regarding Annie? Now that's the million dollar question, ain't it? Seems like Tony's right hand *is* Annie's business. Tony: "Is it your business?" Annie: "Yes." Tony: "Oh, well then. Y'see, I went on this quest..." I feel somewhat uneasy that so many mysteries surrounding Tony are being unmysteryfied so quickly. Is Tom wrapping the story up? Tony is but a small part of the story. A significant one, yes, but even if everything "Tony" in this story was concluded Monday, there's still a massive amount of story left to tell, and much room for additional ones beyond what's currently in play. why is this chapter called Annie and the Fire, again?! This has been so much about Tony and his twisted adventure to talk to Surma again, you'd think it would have a more fitting name... It's been about Anthony contacting the Fire... which is an aspect of Annie. Sure, Anthony didn't realize that, but it's what happened. Because Surma went kaput, and what little is left had merged with Annie. Seems a fitting title to me, and I imagine it'll get more so after this page. It's amazing, and annoying how, to me, Anthony speaks of Annie in a concerned parental manner while still managing to make it all about himself. I know we are getting his disappearance backstory here, but he just seems to have assumed so much about Annie's feelings, while not making any effort to find out how she really feels. Anthony has an IMPRESSIVE ability to be the jerkiest woobie. The "Whatever Tony Found" creatures are seriously creepy, and because reading this comic has made me feel it could go either way, I'm wondering if they are indeed malicious, or just had as bad an understanding of the situation as Anthony did. Something to keep in mind, yes. Annie is going to be looking for whoever got her father to maim himself. I do not think she will bear them good will. Given that Annie's been in a passive mood ever since she sealed away the fire elemental portion of herself, I doubt we'll be seeing that. At least, not until/unless that separation gets undone, which probably won't be for a long while. I suspect this situation begins to resolve relatively soon. Wouldn't surprise me if the groundwork is laid out for reconciliation with the elemental aspect of herself by the end of this chapter. |
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Post by Jelly Jellybean on Aug 15, 2015 1:34:42 GMT
Annie is going to be looking for whoever got her father to maim himself. I do not think she will bear them good will. Given that Annie's been in a passive mood ever since she sealed away the fire elemental portion of herself, I doubt we'll be seeing that. At least, not until/unless that separation gets undone, which probably won't be for a long while. Maybe Annie will realize she needs her Fire Elemental to bring justice down on those who have done this to her father. Time to bring on the heat! |
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Post by crater on Aug 15, 2015 4:27:48 GMT
Sucks too, if Surma was any other mortal it sounds like Tony might of been successful. The unstoppable force meets the immutable object.
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Post by justcurious on Aug 15, 2015 4:57:11 GMT
How are Annie and Donnie going to feel about their being the ones who gave Tony the means to maim himself? I suspect it won't be a big guilt trip. They couldn't have known and Tony was was responsible. But it will be uncomfortable. Another example of Tony's cluelessness in emotional matters.
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Post by SilverbackRon on Aug 15, 2015 6:15:18 GMT
That is an ungulate's dentition and on the previous page we saw an ungulate's hoof. Coyote is capable of taking such a form but it is not what he would usually do. Could have been Coyotagoat. I have been thinking along the same lines. At first I couldn't understand why people were thinking that creature looked like Coyote, because it doesn't. justcurious pretty much sums it. But then again, Jolly Elfsberry had no physical resemblance to Coyote either, and he had to deliberately give it away to Annie before she knew who he was. So this could be Coyote playing some awful game. Some very awful fucked-up game. This goes way beyond "ain't he a stinker". If it turns out to be Coyote, I can't see how Annie would ever forgive him. This would end her relations with the forest on HER choice, not because daddy-dearest ordered it. |
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Post by gunnerwf on Aug 15, 2015 7:01:40 GMT
He is starting to remind me of zimmy's "I'd kill everyone in the world and then myself if she wanted it"
He is obsessed with Surma beyond sanity, beyond logic, and even possibly morality. I get the feeling that his journey had nothing to do with Annie's problem, and had everything to do with his Surma obsession. He mutilated himself, abandoned his daughter, messed with forces beyond his comprehension due to his obsession.
What he's doing is not love, it's a pathological obsession of a disturbed man. I believe he loves Annie, but I'm worried he would put his obsession over his love toward her. I hope he doesn't find a way to contact her that involves human sacrifice, because I believe he might actually sacrifice a person, even annie in his sick obsession with surma. He needs serious professional help for his sake and others.
He, I don't think is of sound enough mind to take care of annie. He isn't responsible enough to take care of a hamster.
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Post by justcurious on Aug 15, 2015 7:49:58 GMT
Could have been Coyotagoat. I have been thinking along the same lines. At first I couldn't understand why people were thinking that creature looked like Coyote, because it doesn't. justcurious pretty much sums it. But then again, Jolly Elfsberry had no physical resemblance to Coyote either, and he had to deliberately give it away to Annie before she knew who he was. So this could be Coyote playing some awful game. Some very awful fucked-up game. This goes way beyond "ain't he a stinker". If it turns out to be Coyote, I can't see how Annie would ever forgive him. This would end her relations with the forest on HER choice, not because daddy-dearest ordered it. The main reason why I think it was not Coyote is that he would have known that what Tony was going to do would harm Annie. Coyote has several reasons not to want to harm Annie. He was at the time trying to prepare her for the role of court medium, one she would have performed with more impartiality than her mother. She amuses him and he likes her. And in handing her the Coyote Tooth and demanding her not to tell Ysengrin, he revealed that he has plans for her. |
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Post by SilverbackRon on Aug 15, 2015 9:02:51 GMT
I have been thinking along the same lines. At first I couldn't understand why people were thinking that creature looked like Coyote, because it doesn't. justcurious pretty much sums it. But then again, Jolly Elfsberry had no physical resemblance to Coyote either, and he had to deliberately give it away to Annie before she knew who he was. So this could be Coyote playing some awful game. Some very awful fucked-up game. This goes way beyond "ain't he a stinker". If it turns out to be Coyote, I can't see how Annie would ever forgive him. This would end her relations with the forest on HER choice, not because daddy-dearest ordered it. The main reason why I think it was not Coyote is that he would have known that what Tony was going to do would harm Annie. Coyote has several reasons not to want to harm Annie. He was at the time trying to prepare her for the role of court medium, one she would have performed with more impartiality than her mother. She amuses him and he likes her. And in handing her the Coyote Tooth and demanding her not to tell Ysengrin, he revealed that he has plans for her. Oh, I totally agree that there are just as many, if not more, reasons against it being Coyote. Rather some other trickster god or just plain ass. (Hmm, coincidentally an Ass is an ungulate...) The Etherial Ass is to blame! But perhaps Coyote did have some plan to take down Anthony a notch or two. Maybe he thought Anthony was an obstacle in his path to Annie? Really at this point it is just WildSpec. I think the next couple weeks will shed some more light, since info seems to be positively gushing from Tom's pen right now. |
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Post by gpvos on Aug 15, 2015 10:58:41 GMT
Could have been Coyotagoat. If it turns out to be Coyote, I can't see how Annie would ever forgive him. This would end her relations with the forest on HER choice, not because daddy-dearest ordered it. Another counter-argument is that Coyote does not lie, so he cannot have told Tony that he would reach Surma this way. Although another creature could have given Tony that idea, and then Coyote could have exploited it. I do think that Tony shut Annie off from the Forest because he was so badly cheated by the etheric creatures, in order to protect her. Anyway, Tom will probably come up with at least three more unexpected twists before the end of the chapter. |
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Post by antiyonder on Aug 15, 2015 11:07:01 GMT
He is starting to remind me of zimmy's "I'd kill everyone in the world and then myself if she wanted it" He is obsessed with Surma beyond sanity, beyond logic, and even possibly morality. I get the feeling that his journey had nothing to do with Annie's problem, and had everything to do with his Surma obsession. He mutilated himself, abandoned his daughter, messed with forces beyond his comprehension due to his obsession. What he's doing is not love, it's a pathological obsession of a disturbed man. I believe he loves Annie, but I'm worried he would put his obsession over his love toward her. I hope he doesn't find a way to contact her that involves human sacrifice, because I believe he might actually sacrifice a person, even annie in his sick obsession with surma. He needs serious professional help for his sake and others. He, I don't think is of sound enough mind to take care of annie. He isn't responsible enough to take care of a hamster. Even I wasn't thinking this ill of him, but I don't feel much like trying to defend him, so yeah good interpretation of his actions. Incidentally, lets look at the one legit reason that he has to be hard on Annie. Her choice to cheat was wrong and some of Tony's punishments are fair. But who's to say that he'd be proud of her if she did things right? I mean even if Annie did take legit means to do better in school, namely asking Kat to tutor her and Anthony learned of such arrangement, how does anyone imagine him reacting? I think he'd still be disappointed as his child couldn't grasp the material on her own and would likely still show more favor towards the naturally more successful Kat. Only, he wouldn't be able to get any defense on the basis of Annie making a moral misstep. |
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Post by TBeholder on Aug 15, 2015 12:19:27 GMT
and someone still has to do some heavy lifting on that father/daughter relationship. Why both of them would want to do so? ON A SIDE NOTE: his tale really highlights how SAFE Annie has unknowingly been. I noted somewhere else that she's built herself quite the power base of supporters and protectors and they've helped her escape or defeat most of the dangers she faces. It gives the impression that this deadly world she lives in isn't really all that bad, then Tony sweeps in after having been talked into cutting off his hand. And even more specifically, then Tony sweeps in and consistently tries to cut her off her friends and supporters. "One time - a fluke, two - smells fishy, three - ?" Given that Annie's been in a passive mood ever since she sealed away the fire elemental portion of herself, I doubt we'll be seeing that. At least, not until/unless that separation gets undone, which probably won't be for a long while. Why? Right now she have far more urgent problems than dwelling on one dull dream being shattered, or playing silly games presenting her daddy as an utter monster to everyone in sight. Besides, at this point suddenly sweeping him aside as not worthy of much attention is conveniently both the most sensible and one of the most cruel things to do. I mean, let's face it: Annie's vengeful streak burned those who touched it by pure accident, and Anthony sits and jumps on it day after day. So... consider this: Anthony walks in. Annie works on something really weird laid out all over the table, with blinker stone in the middle. Annie, table and several opened cardboard boxes spilling craft junk and paint cans are inside a BIG magic circle painted on the floor.
Tony> (stops well away from the lines and eyes them with suspicion) Antimony. Uh... what are you doing?
Annie> (without turning) Is it your business?
Tony> (with surprised expression)... yes?
Annie> (turns to him, and yes, she wears the full make-up)
Annie> (looks like explaining something insignificant) Oh, very well. I recently found out that when I dropped into coma and nearly died not long ago, it was because some fool was playing with toys he doesn't begin to understand. The worst part here is that he apparently didn't have brains enough to NOT leave a backdoor allowing to remotely access my spirit somewhere in Oz with his friends Tin Man and Lion. I am dedicated to making a device that would prevent such nonsense from having any effect on me ever again. And would like to have less distractions while doing this. (turns back to work)
Tony> (stands there sandbagged) Antimony, I... (shuts up)
Annie> (without turning) If your next words were going to be "will either leave this room in the next minute or find myself inside a welded steel box"...
Annie> (orange lines trace unfolding of a 3m x 3m x 3m cube on the floor) ...that was an accurate insight of the future. Congratulations! Now go write it somewhere.
Tony> (reverts the eyes)
(Unfortunately, this way he stares right at Renard sitting on top of the wardrobe.)
Renard> (shows teeth and apparently makes some gesture that requires both hands, but the forepaws are "accidentally" obscured from us by a stray piece of cardboard marked "#113<the rest is torn off>")
Tony> Uh...
Kat> (walks from behind him, carrying another box that looks like something a laser cow tried to chew, but spat out)
Kat> Maaan, you forgot where the door is in this Maze of Luxury or what? Lady told you to get out, out you go.
Kat> Hi, Annie, I found it at last! (finds an unpainted sector of the outer circle and puts the box there, carefully avoiding to touch any lines)
Annie> (happily) Thanks, dearest!
(End-of-chapter mark)
Well, probably not like that, but more or less to this effect.  |
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Post by SilverbackRon on Aug 15, 2015 16:21:20 GMT
If it turns out to be Coyote, I can't see how Annie would ever forgive him. This would end her relations with the forest on HER choice, not because daddy-dearest ordered it. Another counter-argument is that Coyote does not lie, so he cannot have told Tony that he would reach Surma this way. Although another creature could have given Tony that idea, and then Coyote could have exploited it. I do think that Tony shut Annie off from the Forest because he was so badly cheated by the etheric creatures, in order to protect her. Anyway, Tom will probably come up with at least three more unexpected twists before the end of the chapter. True true. I am certainly not married to this theory. Last thing I will say about it: Anthony is currently an unreliable narrator of these events. He didn't even know what this ether stuff was as he was flensing his own right arm. One of these beings (Coyote in disguise or just some other trickster) could have said " Surma? Yes, we knew her well. And her spark lives on! You wish to reach it? Very well, as you wish. This may be difficult but...." and the horror continues. Everything they said was true, no lies, but neglecting some important details. Anyhow, moving onward from that, here is another crackpot theory. On page 1551 we see Anthony on the ground with blood pouring from his face. "There were physical tolls to get there". The next two pages both show his right eye swollen shut... or is it missing? Does Anthony now have a prosthetic hand and a glass eye? |
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Post by Draxiss on Aug 15, 2015 16:48:34 GMT
I'd like to point out that none of the guides actually look like Coyote . . . the one we see in this page has UNGULATE teeth; they're mostly molars. I mean, it's got a Coyote-like pose, but that's an herbivore.
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Post by Draxiss on Aug 15, 2015 16:51:31 GMT
Aaand it looks like someone already pointed it out. Serves me right for not reading through all four pages, I guess.
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Post by Refugee on Aug 15, 2015 17:00:41 GMT
I'd like to point out that none of the guides actually look like Coyote . . . the one we see in this page has UNGULATE teeth; they're mostly molars. I mean, it's got a Coyote-like pose, but that's an herbivore. But in a very Coyote-like pose. And we've seen that Realm of the Dead creatures, among others, can change their appearance drastically. Still, I think Coyote is not anywhere near this deceptive or cruel, even granted the things he's done to Ys. And as keef noted, we don't see any of Coyote's colors here, which I think is definitive. I don't happen to know of folklore describing a ungulate trickster spirit, but there's a lot I don't know. And this may not be a trickster in the folkloric sense. More like a demon or devil, which have a reputation for malignant lies, deployed to get people to hurt themselves. |
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Post by TBeholder on Aug 15, 2015 19:01:06 GMT
True true. I am certainly not married to this theory. Last thing I will say about it: Anthony is currently an unreliable narrator of these events. He didn't even know what this ether stuff was as he was flensing his own right arm. One of these beings (Coyote in disguise or just some other trickster) could have said " Surma? Yes, we knew her well. And her spark lives on! You wish to reach it? Very well, as you wish. This may be difficult but...." and the horror continues. Everything they said was true, no lies, but neglecting some important details. Exactly. Moreover, an application of the Occam's Razor suggests they didn't need to try and deceive him, or anything malicious at all. For all we know they were helping him to the best of their ability. If back then Anthony had a bit of " it's your job to figure out what I think" syndrome running, that's enough to make both requests and answers sufficiently vague. Which is not going to mix well with magical creatures not living among the humans. Of course, it's even simpler and still possible that they helped him to do exactly what he wanted to do. If they are RotD (which seems most likely), they could want to help him in this - out of their own interest, or simply to spite the Psychopomps - we have observed distinct lack of goodwill between these departments. Which holds water whether what happened to Annie was an unpredictable effect (he probably didn't even tell them what Surma was, and humans with hand-me-down lifeforce are not common enough to be reasonably expected) or they knew all the implications well (one of the psychopomps stunned for a few hours by some crazy human in a dubious magical experiment is unlikely to be something that would make RotD guys weep). |
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Post by Kitty Hamilton on Aug 15, 2015 19:47:18 GMT
I'm not inclined to blame the spirit for this sorry situation, at least not yet. Anthony had journeyed far, and was working on limited information. It's very possible that the psychopomp, assuming that's what it was, simply told him the truth when Anthony asked for it. If Anthony didn't know that Surma's fire had passed to Antimony, he probably didn't tell the spirit what it needed to know to provide accurate information. And if this spirit was far from the court, it may not have been acquainted with Surma personally.
I wouldn't be surprised if the whole interaction went something like...
"I mean, I guess there's a way to contact dead people in the ether, but it's not very-"
"TELL ME HOW"
"They probably won't even remember-"
"TELL MEEEE"
"Look, dude, you're gonna have to cut off your hand. Are you sure-"
"TELL ME TELL ME TELL ME"
"FINE JUST SHUT UP"
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Post by SilverbackRon on Aug 15, 2015 22:26:09 GMT
Dammit Eleven-eyes, every time you link to Not Always Right, I end up spending the next hour or two clicking "Next Story".... hahaha. |
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Post by justcurious on Aug 16, 2015 0:26:54 GMT
True true. I am certainly not married to this theory. Last thing I will say about it: Anthony is currently an unreliable narrator of these events. He didn't even know what this ether stuff was as he was flensing his own right arm. One of these beings (Coyote in disguise or just some other trickster) could have said " Surma? Yes, we knew her well. And her spark lives on! You wish to reach it? Very well, as you wish. This may be difficult but...." and the horror continues. Everything they said was true, no lies, but neglecting some important details. Exactly. Moreover, an application of the Occam's Razor suggests they didn't need to try and deceive him, or anything malicious at all. For all we know they were helping him to the best of their ability. If back then Anthony had a bit of " it's your job to figure out what I think" syndrome running, that's enough to make both requests and answers sufficiently vague. Which is not going to mix well with magical creatures not living among the humans. Of course, it's even simpler and still possible that they helped him to do exactly what he wanted to do. If they are RotD (which seems most likely), they could want to help him in this - out of their own interest, or simply to spite the Psychopomps - we have observed distinct lack of goodwill between these departments. Which holds water whether what happened to Annie was an unpredictable effect (he probably didn't even tell them what Surma was, and humans with hand-me-down lifeforce are not common enough to be reasonably expected) or they knew all the implications well (one of the psychopomps stunned for a few hours by some crazy human in a dubious magical experiment is unlikely to be something that would make RotD guys weep). I think we'll know soon. But I agree it looks like either ROTD or someone we have not met yet. People have given reasons why it was probably not Coyote or the psychopomps. ROTD has less relevant information about the people involved and hence is more likely to give bad advice by mistake. And if it was them a mistake is more likely than malice. If it was previously unknown entities then it could be malice. But malice is a poorer fit with Tom's usual story telling style than a tragic example of crossed wires. But what ever the motives they will make sense when all is told. |
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Post by warrl on Aug 16, 2015 5:07:19 GMT
Seems like Tony's right hand *is* Annie's business. Tony: "Is it your business?" Annie: "Yes." Tony: "Oh, well then. Y'see, I went on this quest..." There's a huge difference between denying that it's her business (which is what he effectively did) and saying that he's not ready to talk about it (which would have been accurate, albeit imprecise). In fact my proposed response at the time was something like "As far as I know my father and I are each other's only living relative - so yes his health is my business. That is, if he's still alive. Do you know if he is?" "One time - a fluke, two - smells fishy, three - ?" Three would be the whole shark. (Although, technically, sharks and other fish don't have THAT kind of fluke. But I don't know if killer whales smell fishy - I would guess not.) |
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