[2477] We are ready to depart at your leisure!

[philman]

So, is that the real lake water or not?

[madjack]

I'm more interested in what those shrine-looking things are in the first couple of panels. Protective warding?

Edit: Also, no Andrew? Maybe the Court as a whole will need the luck more with the fighters all away.

[Fishy]

No doubt it’s real. The Court is too smart to try to replace it with a lookalike. Instead, they’re following pet owner mentality and trying to hide vitamins in the lake water. Loup will of course eat around them, and it will make for a funny social media post.

I’ve lost where I was going with this.

Wow Aata is short. I know we’ve been through this already but it always surprises me to have it put in context.

[aline]

Jun 7, 2021 7:01:56 GMT madjack said:

I'm more interested in what those shrine-looking things are in the first couple of panels. Protective warding?

A test run for the omega device, would be my guess. If not the thing itself, maybe a beacon to direct it.
After this much build up, surely now we will find out more about it.

No doubt it’s real. The Court is too smart to try to replace it with a lookalike.

Considering it's a part of Coyote, I wonder how you'd go about producing something that looks even remotely like it. An etheric creature surely wouldn't be fooled for half a second.

[bicarbonat]

Jun 7, 2021 7:04:40 GMT Fishy said:

No doubt it’s real. The Court is too smart to try to replace it with a lookalike. Instead, they’re following pet owner mentality and trying to hide vitamins in the lake water. Loup will of course eat around them, and it will make for a funny social media post.

Attempt 2: put just a little peanut butter on the stopper

[arf]

Jun 7, 2021 7:28:25 GMT bicarbonat said:

Jun 7, 2021 7:04:40 GMT Fishy said:

No doubt it’s real. The Court is too smart to try to replace it with a lookalike. Instead, they’re following pet owner mentality and trying to hide vitamins in the lake water. Loup will of course eat around them, and it will make for a funny social media post.

Attempt 2: put just a little peanut butter on the stopper

"What... what is this?"

[arf]

I wonder whether Juliet is in the crowd. (Probably not.)

[madjack]

Jun 7, 2021 7:10:59 GMT aline said:

A test run for the omega device, would be my guess. If not the thing itself, maybe a beacon to direct it.
After this much build up, surely now we will find out more about it.

I guess but not sure how much I buy it. No real reason or anything to dismiss it, just don't think it'd be a.. weapon?

Jun 7, 2021 8:06:10 GMT arf said:

I wonder whether Juliet is in the crowd. (Probably not.)

Juliet's more of a researcher rather than a field operative or some kind of leadership so hard agree with the probably not.

[V]

I wonder who the author's comment "Don't talk to me!" is addressed to, and from whose mind. Is it Aata's dismissal of Annie, not even letting her finish the word "thank..."? Or James' internal reaction to being addressed by that vile thing?

[aline]

Jun 7, 2021 8:15:12 GMT madjack said:

Jun 7, 2021 7:10:59 GMT aline said:

A test run for the omega device, would be my guess. If not the thing itself, maybe a beacon to direct it.
After this much build up, surely now we will find out more about it.

I guess but not sure how much I buy it. No real reason or anything to dismiss it, just don't think it'd be a.. weapon?

If as I suspect it's a mean to manipulate the ether, it's more than just a weapon. But it would still be incredibly useful to counter the powers of a creature like Loup.

Whatever the Court is doing it's highly likely it can be wielded in destructive ways.

[dawolf]

This item is just setup to be dangerous for Loup somehow. The Court could be foolish enough to make it a bomb or similar.

[manabi]

Jun 7, 2021 8:47:31 GMT dawolf said:

This item is just setup to be dangerous for Loup somehow. The Court could be foolish enough to make it a bomb or similar.

Maybe this is all part of Coyote's plan.  He foresaw that the Court (or in particular, the shadow men) would try to trick Loup in some way with the lake water vial, causing Loup to lash out.  I'd say there's a good chance the Omega project, whatever it is, isn't actually fully ready yet.  But Loup's actions have forced the Shadow men's hand, and they have to rely on it because they can only delay returning the lake water so long before Loup attacks the court again anyway. Perhaps this will allow Coyote to get rid of all the Shadow men and the Omega project via Loup, without getting his own personal paws dirty.

Perhaps the aftereffects of destroying the Omega project and/or having it used on him are what will cause Loup to go back to being Coyote and Ysengrin.  (Hopefully Ysengrin will return as well, but it's probably not guaranteed.)

[philman]

I am hoping the machines are just measuring devices, or perhaps etheric manipulation devices to defend themselves and prevent Loup from stopping them in time like Coyote has done before.

[saardvark]

minor note)
same person is standing with Aata in panel one as was with him when he grabbed the Lake Water from Annie in the first place:
www.gunnerkrigg.com/?p=2297
Aata's aide maybe? second in command?

larger question)
what was Annie about to say?

that's not the Lake Water?
that's not all the Lake Water?

[silicondream]

Aata's really reminding me of Coyote here.  Friendly toward everyone, but doesn't actually value anyone else's feelings.  Textbook narcissist, in other words.  

Of course, for Coyote, narcissism is a superpower. He can do anything and know anything and be anyone because he's too awesome for limitations.  When you're an etheric, I suppose, having a God complex makes you God.

And the opposite of a narcissist is an echoist or empath, which is to say a Tony.

Maybe it takes an echoist to build an Omega Device, but a narcissist to operate it?

[shadow3]

It could be the real lake water, but also mixed with something else...

[Jelly Jellybean]

Jun 7, 2021 7:01:56 GMT madjack said:

I'm more interested in what those shrine-looking things are in the first couple of panels. Protective warding?

Edit: Also, no Andrew? Maybe the Court as a whole will need the luck more with the fighters all away.

Maybe Smitty and Idra are Eglamore's backup plan(s).

[imaginaryfriend]

Jun 7, 2021 9:47:27 GMT saardvark said:

minor note)
same person is standing with Aatain panel one as was with him when he grabbed the Lake Water from Annie in the first place:
www.gunnerkrigg.com/?p=2297
Aata's aide maybe? second in command?

Her name is Shell (short for Michelle). Not much other than her name and gender is known because that's mostly what people asked about on formspring.

[blahzor]

i really really want to know what sort of tech they have in the briefcases

[blahzor]

see did they take the lake water from the things on the ground with ground symbols on them? maybe they attempted to drain it of it's ether properties or weaken it and giving it back to see the result

[todd]

Jun 7, 2021 8:45:28 GMT aline said:

If as I suspect it's a mean to manipulate the ether, it's more than just a weapon. But it would still be incredibly useful to counter the powers of a creature like Loup.

Whatever the Court is doing it's highly likely it can be wielded in destructive ways.

The impression that I had was that the Omega Device was intended as a means of studying the ether and scientifically analyzing it, so that they could explain it the same way they can regular scientific phenomena - but that observing the ether may itself affect it (something I'm not sure the Court fully realizes).

I wonder whether the Court has even fully realized that the Omega Device can be weaponized. We're suspecting it, because we've read Coyote's explanations about the ether and how it works - but the Court wasn't present for that speech. As far as we know, the only people at the Court who know what we know about the ether are Annie and Jones.

As for trying to cheat Loup with "fake lakewater" (or whatever it is), I suspect that the Court are still seeing Loup as primarily an animal - a talking animal with unusual abilities, but still an animal, and believe that they can easily outwit him as a result. Which piece of human arrogance will probably turn on them....

[cobaltflame]

In the initial appearance of the lake water vial in Chapter 62, the vial is about the size of Parley's thumb, and is twice as tall as it is wide if you include the cork. The vial that appears on this page has a smaller ratio between its height and its diameter, appearing shorter; it's hard to compare the respective diameters, but the proportions of the vials are different enough the I think they aren't the same. While it is certainly possible that the change in shape was a result of it being literally four years since the vial was introduced, my guess is that the Court transferred the water to a smaller vial and kept the excess for research purposes.

[jda]

Jun 7, 2021 9:47:27 GMT saardvark said:

minor note)
same person is standing with Aatain panel one as was with him when he grabbed the Lake Water from Annie in the first place:
www.gunnerkrigg.com/?p=2297
Aata's aide maybe? second in command?

larger question)
what was Annie about to say?

that's not the Lake Water?
that's not all the Lake Water?

thank you?

[TBeholder]

It does look like Annie is set up to spearhead some sort of a harebrained scheme.
And of course it wouldn't do if she accidentally gives away the game. Or not accidentally.
Surely she does not suspect anything now, they are "subtle" about it… So, did Aata and his colleagues learn too much from the robots, or was it the other way around?

[Gemminie]

Again with my personal rule of not reading the comments until after posting my reaction ...

The Shadow Men are out in force today. There are at least 15 of them, perhaps 16. At least 3 of them have briefcases. They're looking very MIBish today. And then there's that ... apparatus of some sort that they've set up. They seem to be clustering around it.

Aata comes over with his usual unshakeable smile and calls Annie "Ms. Carver," with some formulaic pleasantries. He gives her the "item to present to the forest entity." It looks like the lake water, but the vial looks shorter and/or wider than the one that Coyote gave the lake water to Parley in, but it's still a glass vial with what looks like a cork stopper. Its contents still look like the lake water – red, blue, and brown stripes, with white spots – but who knows?

Annie tries to thank Aata, but he cuts her off and turns straight to Sir Eglamore. Would it have killed him to let her finish? Is he still trying to push the Court line that Annie's not important? Court officials have always treated Annie like just another cog in the machine to be fixed when it gets out of place. But my other thought is that he's absolutely terrified, and the only way he can protect himself is to follow the plan – not that we know what that plan is, but it's doubtless been worked out in great detail.

James seems hesitant suddenly – or perhaps he's merely uncomfortable with Aata's curt treatment of Annie. But it's back to business. Time to get going.

[V]

Jun 7, 2021 13:05:40 GMT cobaltflame said:

In the initial appearance of the lake water vial in Chapter 62, the vial is about the size of Parley's thumb, and is twice as tall as it is wide if you include the cork. The vial that appears on this page has a smaller ratio between its height and its diameter, appearing shorter; it's hard to compare the respective diameters, but the proportions of the vials are different enough the I think they aren't the same. While it is certainly possible that the change in shape was a result of it being literally four years since the vial was introduced, my guess is that the Court transferred the water to a smaller vial and kept the excess for research purposes.

Jun 7, 2021 14:16:14 GMT Gemminie said:

It looks like the lake water, but the vial looks shorter and/or wider than the one that Coyote gave the lake water to Parley in, but it's still a glass vial with what looks like a cork stopper. Its contents still look like the lake water – red, blue, and brown stripes, with white spots – but who knows?

Yes, I've also noticed. But the last time we saw it (and to a lesser extent, here), I would say it's closer to the current form factor, or inbetween, and that's before the SM put their hands on it, so I'm voting for ascribing this to artistic variation.

[maxptc]

You know, Anja was mad about the robots using her tech to shield the Court, and the Court said it had no idea who did that. The only person I can think of is Kat, who would have to do so retroactively. So regardless of the Court's plan, they might also have robot God Kats help and technology to resist Loup, even if they aren't aware of it, which significantly increases the Court's odds. It just seems like they are outmatched but I really think they might come out stronger then everyone expects.

[pyradonis]

Rectangular objects being several suitcases confirmed.
Person standing to Aata's right not being Shell, not Jones, confirmed.
Ominous apparatus with antennae amidst the Shadow Men confirmed.

HMMMM....

Jun 7, 2021 15:03:30 GMT V said:

Jun 7, 2021 13:05:40 GMT cobaltflame said:

In the initial appearance of the lake water vial in Chapter 62, the vial is about the size of Parley's thumb, and is twice as tall as it is wide if you include the cork. The vial that appears on this page has a smaller ratio between its height and its diameter, appearing shorter; it's hard to compare the respective diameters, but the proportions of the vials are different enough the I think they aren't the same. While it is certainly possible that the change in shape was a result of it being literally four years since the vial was introduced, my guess is that the Court transferred the water to a smaller vial and kept the excess for research purposes.

Jun 7, 2021 14:16:14 GMT Gemminie said:

It looks like the lake water, but the vial looks shorter and/or wider than the one that Coyote gave the lake water to Parley in, but it's still a glass vial with what looks like a cork stopper. Its contents still look like the lake water – red, blue, and brown stripes, with white spots – but who knows?

Yes, I've also noticed. But the last time we saw it (and to a lesser extent, here), I would say it's closer to the current form factor, or inbetween, and that's before the SM put their hands on it, so I'm voting for ascribing this to artistic variation.

In other words: Does Annie's head still look like it did in her first appeareance?

[clone]

Jun 7, 2021 14:16:14 GMT Gemminie said:

Annie tries to thank Aata, but he cuts her off and turns straight to Sir Eglamore. 

I thought she was going to say, "That's not [the same vial/all the water]" or some such.

[ctso74]

Jun 7, 2021 15:45:09 GMT clone said:

Jun 7, 2021 14:16:14 GMT Gemminie said:

Annie tries to thank Aata, but he cuts her off and turns straight to Sir Eglamore. 

I thought she was going to say, "That's not [the same vial/all the water]" or some such.

Welcome to the forum.
That was my first thought too, but I'm now thinking she was just saying "Thank you".

Jun 7, 2021 9:11:36 GMT manabi said:

Jun 7, 2021 8:47:31 GMT dawolf said:

This item is just setup to be dangerous for Loup somehow. The Court could be foolish enough to make it a bomb or similar.

Maybe this is all part of Coyote's plan.  He foresaw that the Court (or in particular, the shadow men) would try to trick Loup in some way with the lake water vial, causing Loup to lash out.  I'd say there's a good chance the Omega project, whatever it is, isn't actually fully ready yet.  But Loup's actions have forced the Shadow men's hand, and they have to rely on it because they can only delay returning the lake water so long before Loup attacks the court again anyway. Perhaps this will allow Coyote to get rid of all the Shadow men and the Omega project via Loup, without getting his own personal paws dirty.

Perhaps the aftereffects of destroying the Omega project and/or having it used on him are what will cause Loup to go back to being Coyote and Ysengrin.  (Hopefully Ysengrin will return as well, but it's probably not guaranteed.)

It never occurred to me that Loup was Coyote's honeypot. I strangely like that thought.