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Post by imaginaryfriend on Jun 10, 2022 7:04:24 GMT
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Post by Fishy on Jun 10, 2022 7:09:45 GMT
“Not taking this seriously am I? We’ll see if you still think that after Kat attends my EVIL slumber party!”
I suspect this letter is actually from the Court, and is more along the lines of “Hey we noticed you don’t have any of that magic stuff. We’ve got a couple openings…”
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Post by maxptc on Jun 10, 2022 7:10:00 GMT
Maybe the headmaster had another power source in mind, which is why he was cool with ignoring Loup. If they are ready to go and just need a power source, who cares. Speaking of, I wonder if Zimmy was invited.
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Post by theonethatgotaway on Jun 10, 2022 7:13:07 GMT
Since Lana has read romance books, I wonder if she'll suggest making Annie jealous by pretending to be a couple? If the Love Dodecahedron goes on a retreat with Jack and Jenny, we're one hop away from a Shakespeare comedy. Or a funnier episode of Frasier. Oh god... A double, no, triple, NO, QUADRUPLE OR MORE DATE EPISODE! Miscommunications everywhere! Spilled drinks! Unlikely people getting stuck in elevators/closets together! Use ALL the tropes! It's happening, it's HAPPENING!! |
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Post by basser on Jun 10, 2022 7:24:14 GMT
Please be Tony giving an awkward presentation about his spreadsheets.
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Post by imaginaryfriend on Jun 10, 2022 7:27:31 GMT
I for one am hoping it's a tupperware or cosmetics sales presentation from Jan's mom misleadingly labeled as a dinner party or something else fun.
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Post by philman on Jun 10, 2022 7:41:14 GMT
Hmm, well presumably this is an invitation to the Omega project, and thus who will be invited to go with them when they create the "New Court". I wonder which of the other kids got invitations.
Janet I am assuming yes as she is the headmasters daughter. Paz probably not, her speaking to animals trick is probably too close to the ether. Winsbury I don't know enough about, but would be interesting if they ended up splitting up all the couples. Annie is disliked by the court but her father is important to them, would he be influential enough to get her an invitation? Or would her lack of invitation drive him out?
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Post by imaginaryfriend on Jun 10, 2022 8:16:09 GMT
If it's about Omega and the Court moving (and it probably is) then I'd bet Antimony either isn't getting an invite or will be invited to the sales pitch to either be pressured to assist the Court in obtaining a sufficient etheric power supply or be specifically be not-invited under the theory this will make her and her dad desperate so they'll volunteer to assist with the power supply problem. If they're more desperate, they'll use public pressure. If they want to keep their cards close to their vests they'll be indirect which would let them downplay the need for the power source and minimize any credit due to Carver(s).
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heranje
Full Member
Oh super wow!
Posts: 176
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Post by heranje on Jun 10, 2022 8:48:35 GMT
With how close to the chest the Court likes to play their cards, I wonder if this meeting is not so much a sales pitch as a "surprise everyone! we're leaving right now." Seems risky for them to reveal their plans to someone like Kat in the context of an invitation if they aren't already primed and ready to leave - given that some of the people they invite could turn down the invitation and compromise their plans. Unless they're not really giving people a choice in the matter, or they're planning to be extremely vague on the specifics.
That does beg the question of where they would have found their power source, though. I wonder if the New People's thoughts and beliefs are now shaping the ether in the same way as humans do? If so, their adulation of Kat as the Angel could be starting to create a pretty juicy power source...
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Post by madjack on Jun 10, 2022 8:52:17 GMT
Loup did hear everything Shell told the crew so I don't think we can rule out these being a trap laid by him of some sort. Might just be a performative display so they do 'take him seriously.'
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Post by pyradonis on Jun 10, 2022 10:05:00 GMT
The Court is finally allowing breakdance! Wheee! I wonder if the New People's thoughts and beliefs are now shaping the ether in the same way as humans do? If so, their adulation of Kat as the Angel could be starting to create a pretty juicy power source... According to Coyote's theory, someone has to die and be taken into the Ether by a psychopomp in order for their thoughts, beliefs and stories to become part of it. So, odds are low. |
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Post by blahzor on Jun 10, 2022 10:10:28 GMT
A normal is the watchword meeting
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Post by todd on Jun 10, 2022 13:25:56 GMT
If this is about the Court leaving - as in "it's happening right now" - I suspect that something will upset it - maybe Loup gatecrashes the meeting. It'd be difficult (at best) to continue the story in a recognizable form if the Court did depart, leaving everyone etheric behind, and there are too many unresolved threads to end the webcomic here.
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Post by noone3 on Jun 10, 2022 13:33:40 GMT
Say what you want but I really like Tom's sunsets...
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Post by TBeholder on Jun 10, 2022 13:43:53 GMT
If there’s any time left between the grand reveal and action, the inner circle of Omega Project will get bogged down and it stops being a secret.
Also, what would they do if some of the invited people object to the plan? Ask them nicely to keep quiet? Disappear them and wait until others start a massive search, or compare notes?
So, no variants. Unless they cannot see even half of the obvious complications coming, inviting all the new people with whom they did not share secret is necessarily the penultimate step.
No sales pitch. Whatever the plan really is, it starts within seconds after the last attendee goes in and the door closes.
Nobody is going to explain anything to anyone with a slideshow until it’s over. Maybe not even then. Now they could blame anything untoward on unpredictable side effects of Loup battering another layer of emergency defenses.
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Post by Sky Schemer on Jun 10, 2022 14:01:12 GMT
"Dear Ms Donlan,
Congratulations! You are receiving this reward certificate for accommodations at our newest Gunnerkrigg Court location for you and up to 1 friend. KEEP THIS REWARD CERTIFICATE IN A SAFE PLACE.
Please call to make your Reward Reservation. Be sure to provide the reservations agent with the Reward Certificate ID listed to the right. Enjoy your reward! You've earned it!
Offer details: You and your friend must attend a 120-minute Club Court timeshare sales presentation. Please read our terms and conditions to see if you meet the minimum eligibility requirements. Transportation, gratuities, parking fees, nightly room taxes, meals not specifically advertised, and incidentals are not included. The retail value of this package may depend on availability and additional features. Void where prohibited by law. Offers brought to you by Gunnerkrigg Court, your home away from home."
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Post by ctso74 on Jun 10, 2022 14:24:21 GMT
Knowing the chapter's title, I've been thinking about Loup snaring the gang, or vice versa. Totally forgot about the Court.
Everyone sits down. The lights dim. The doors bolt locked. Then, they discover frustration and fear are the new power source.
Loud speakers: "We've been trying to reach you about your cars extended warranty..."
Panic ensues.
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Post by Gemini Jim on Jun 10, 2022 15:59:36 GMT
“Not taking this seriously am I? We’ll see if you still think that after Kat attends my EVIL slumber party!” Thanks, now I can imagine Jerrek talking like Jack Spicer, Evil Boy Genius. |
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Post by TBeholder on Jun 10, 2022 16:41:54 GMT
Speaking of, I wonder if Zimmy was invited. Probably not. Just temporarily relocated “somewhere more safe”. Everyone sits down. The lights dim. The doors bolt locked. Then, they discover frustration and fear are the new power source. Loud speakers: "We've been trying to reach you about your cars extended warranty..." Panic ensues. For a start. I mean, their knowledge of Zimmingham is very sketchy. Think about it. Assuming they care, the last report was when they interviewed those kids from cruise. According to these kids, it was mostly cool (if extra-goth), except Seraphs and ship-related abominations. Since they probably are not going to invite unruly golems on this ride, not much to worry about. Nothing like personal experience, amirite? |
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Post by Gemminie on Jun 10, 2022 16:51:07 GMT
As usual, not reading others' reactions before typing this ... so first there's an establishing shot, showing that we're back to the seaside area where most of the Court characters are living now. It's sunset, just as it was in the last frame of the previous page. Apparently Kat, Annie, and Renard have made it back home. Did they walk that whole way? That seems like a long way, considering they used to take trains across the Court. Of course, we don't know they didn't take a train.
Winsbury, Janet, and Paz are waiting for them – well, specifically waiting for Kat, because she's gotten a letter. It's an invitation (or perhaps an "invitiation"). There's some kind of meeting happening tonight, according to Winsbury. It's unclear who's gotten these invitations and who hasn't, but they're not rare enough that they don't know what they are without opening Kat's, but they're not common enough that getting one isn't notable. The expression on Paz's face looks like one of concern.
My guess, and I'm sure I'm not alone in this, is that the meeting is for those who are eligible to go with the Court to its new location – those who have no etheric abilities. Kat is one of those, and Winsbury and Janet probably are too (I suppose her archery and double-strike abilities might be etheric in nature, but they could also just be from lots of practice and training). If Paz looks concerned, that might be because she didn't get one, and she knows that Kat is going to have a big decision to make, one that could break their relationship wide open.
The Court's going to make a strong case that Kat should come with them. Her research would come to an end without Court support, they'll probably argue. (I'm not sure they know about all of her research.) They might even use strongarm tactics, though, like revealing that they know about the New People and threatening their safety if Kat doesn't cooperate. They might say that her parents are going with them (whether that's true or not). And of course, another thing they might do is gather up all the invited students and collectively kidnap them. The Court isn't above doing some pretty atrocious things for the good of the Program, but then, if they're going to kidnap them, why resort to such a dramatic gesture when they could kidnap them individually? So I don't know about that particular idea.
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Post by warrl on Jun 10, 2022 22:27:43 GMT
Kidnapping them individually would take longer, and some would notice the disappearance of others and try to escape.
Better to catch as many as they can in one grab, then have only a few stragglers to search for.
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Post by bedinsis on Jun 10, 2022 23:11:38 GMT
Speculation time:
It's about the court being moved, Kat is invited, but it is a trap in some way. The title "Snare" of this chapter refers both to how they tried to trick Loup to get him and how the court is trying to trick Kat.
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Post by maxptc on Jun 10, 2022 23:18:15 GMT
Speaking of, I wonder if Zimmy was invited. Probably not. Just temporarily relocated “somewhere more safe”. True, you don't invite a power source. Relocated and secured sounds more right. |
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blackouthart
New Member
Avatar drawn by Shelby Cragg!
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Post by blackouthart on Jun 11, 2022 4:25:52 GMT
My mind went in a slightly different direction with this. We just came off the heels of Kat saying she wouldn’t mind going, the Shadow Men are already down two important members - tonight’s going to be an induction for those invited into the Shadow Men.
Then again, I wonder who else in the gang got invited. An aside - it’s good to see these kids again, it’s been a while. I want to catch up on the shenanigans.
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Post by drmemory on Jun 11, 2022 5:15:23 GMT
With how close to the chest the Court likes to play their cards, I wonder if this meeting is not so much a sales pitch as a "surprise everyone! we're leaving right now." Seems risky for them to reveal their plans to someone like Kat in the context of an invitation if they aren't already primed and ready to leave - given that some of the people they invite could turn down the invitation and compromise their plans. Unless they're not really giving people a choice in the matter, or they're planning to be extremely vague on the specifics. That does beg the question of where they would have found their power source, though. I wonder if the New People's thoughts and beliefs are now shaping the ether in the same way as humans do? If so, their adulation of Kat as the Angel could be starting to create a pretty juicy power source... That's my guess actually. I'm guessing that they'll tell people they are leaving, then leave, taking everyone in the meeting with them. No time to think and no options given.
Informing people of their options and letting them decide is what nice people do, not what the court does. I can't see them risking letting people talk things over nor tell those who are not invited. I figure that the court equivalent of a moving van will be waiting. What really worries me is how they plan to power it - let's hope they aren't about to leech all of Annie's energy!
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Post by drmemory on Jun 11, 2022 5:24:21 GMT
If this is about the Court leaving - as in "it's happening right now" - I suspect that something will upset it - maybe Loup gatecrashes the meeting. It'd be difficult (at best) to continue the story in a recognizable form if the Court did depart, leaving everyone etheric behind, and there are too many unresolved threads to end the webcomic here. I can't see it ending here, but I could see it turning into a confrontation or even an all-out war. For example, if they Angel-nap Kat, the robots, golems, and NP aren't going to let that go unchallenged! Even worse if they suck out Annie's energy or all the ether energy that's within the perimeter of the court, as that would bring Renard and Loup into it!
One more really bad thing that could be about to happen. Remember how the court has a history of using people's technology without their permission? Well Kat's been creating some really cool stuff lately, AND has the arrow. So we may also be heading for consequences caused by a breach of contract. If the court takes the arrow and does something bad with it, Kat will be blamed.
On the bright side, we may finally get to see the court actually act, so we can see what they've been planning all this time. I just don't think this is going to be stuff anyone we like will want to see.
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Post by TBeholder on Jun 11, 2022 10:51:30 GMT
So we may also be heading for consequences caused by a breach of contract. If the court takes the arrow and does something bad with it, Kat will be blamed. No, it's a case of adverse possession cutting both ways. The Arbiter explicitly mentioned that if an object changes hands via deliberate theft, that’s recognized as a change in relationships between entities. This appears to mean: if they stole it, now they «have the ultimate authority over the object». If this implies being in possession of all the trouble attached to it… well, it’s their GD fault in the first place. |
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Post by imaginaryfriend on Jun 11, 2022 22:13:33 GMT
"...be sure to ask your server about dessert options. While the main course is being brought out, let me tell you about an exciting new opportunity soon available to a select few." [slide 2] "Groundbreaking has just begun on Gunnerkrigg Court East, a new gated super-community designed with the latest and best features for day-to-day living and the most modern approach to urban planning ever conceived." [slide 3] "A small yet fully urban space, Gunnerkrigg Court East will be competitive with any other city on earth in terms of beauty and wonder, as seen in this artist conception." [slide 4] "Breathtaking natural vistas will compete with elegant architecture during the day, but at night the illuminated skyline will proclaim the triumph of steel and glass, man over nature." [slide 5] "Protected round-the-clock with a large staff of well-trained private security as well as physical and electronic barriers, Gunnerkrigg Court East will be the safest place to live on Earth. Particular attention has been paid to countering external threats such as nuclear-chemical-biological attacks, foreign espionage, and etheric entity intrusion; when you're living at Gunnerkrigg Court East you'll sleep soundly at night, knowing that even a god or a devil can't harm you or your loved ones." [slide 6] "Office and industrial spaces will be completely equipped with lighting determined to support concentration and a wellness-frame-of-mind, as well as windows polarized to screen out damaging frequencies of light, and even the traffic lights will be computer-coordinated to eliminate traffic jams and accidents for both motorists and pedestrians." [slide 7] "The city center, a hub for the dedicated anti-gravity rail line and the location of the main airport as well as a world-standard for sustainable infinite and environmentally-friendly energy, will feature a broad range of entertainment options suitable for all interests and ages" [slide 8] "including thirty-six restaurants, seven theaters, and two opera halls." [slide 9] "The school is currently planned to feature sixteen campuses and associated facilities, including three athletic fields and a 3,000 seat stadium, and will boast the most favorable teacher-to-student ratio available anywhere." [slide 10] "Where and how you live in Gunnerkrigg Court East will be entirely up to you. Options include fully- and semi-detached single-family units for friendly neighbors, featuring the latest in amenities, or build-to-suit lots" [slide 11] "with a wide variety of landscapes including water and water-view. A small number of lots with private piers are available for maritime enthusiasts. For those with increased transportation requirements, private helipad or dedicated rail can be made available." [slide 12] "Gunnerkrigg Court East is now accepting a limited number of applicants via private invitation only..."
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Post by blahzor on Jun 12, 2022 6:39:45 GMT
"...be sure to ask your server about dessert options. While the main course is being brought out, let me tell you about an exciting new opportunity soon available to a select few." [slide 2] "Groundbreaking has just begun on Gunnerkrigg Court East, a new gated super-community designed with the latest and best features for day-to-day living and the most modern approach to urban planning ever conceived." [slide 3] "A small yet fully urban space, Gunnerkrigg Court East will be competitive with any other city on earth in terms of beauty and wonder, as seen in this artist conception." [slide 4] "Breathtaking natural vistas will compete with elegant architecture during the day, but at night the illuminated skyline will proclaim the triumph of steel and glass, man over nature." [slide 5] "Protected round-the-clock with a large staff of well-trained private security as well as physical and electronic barriers, Gunnerkrigg Court East will be the safest place to live on Earth. Particular attention has been paid to countering external threats such as nuclear-chemical-biological attacks, foreign espionage, and etheric entity intrusion; when you're living at Gunnerkrigg Court East you'll sleep soundly at night, knowing that even a god or a devil can't harm you or your loved ones." [slide 6] "Office and industrial spaces will be completely equipped with lighting determined to support concentration and a wellness-frame-of-mind, as well as windows polarized to screen out damaging frequencies of light, and even the traffic lights will be computer-coordinated to eliminate traffic jams and accidents for both motorists and pedestrians." [slide 7] "The city center, a hub for the dedicated anti-gravity rail line and the location of the main airport as well as a world-standard for sustainable infinite and environmentally-friendly energy, will feature a broad range of entertainment options suitable for all interests and ages" [slide 8] "including thirty-six restaurants, seven theaters, and two opera halls." [slide 9] "The school is currently planned to feature sixteen campuses and associated facilities, including three athletic fields and a 3,000 seat stadium, and will boast the most favorable teacher-to-student ratio available anywhere." [slide 10] "Where and how you live in Gunnerkrigg Court East will be entirely up to you. Options include fully- and semi-detached single-family units for friendly neighbors, featuring the latest in amenities, or build-to-suit lots" [slide 11] "with a wide variety of landscapes including water and water-view. A small number of lots with private piers are available for maritime enthusiasts. For those with increased transportation requirements, private helipad or dedicated rail can be made available. [slide 12] Gunnerkrigg Court East is now accepting a limited number of applicants via private invitation only..." Buy new condos in our new Dowisetrepla neighborhood (how I met your mother reference) |
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Post by maxptc on Jun 12, 2022 14:54:35 GMT
"...be sure to ask your server about dessert options. While the main course is being brought out, let me tell you about an exciting new opportunity soon available to a select few." [slide 2] "Groundbreaking has just begun on Gunnerkrigg Court East, a new gated super-community designed with the latest and best features for day-to-day living and the most modern approach to urban planning ever conceived." [slide 3] "A small yet fully urban space, Gunnerkrigg Court East will be competitive with any other city on earth in terms of beauty and wonder, as seen in this artist conception." [slide 4] "Breathtaking natural vistas will compete with elegant architecture during the day, but at night the illuminated skyline will proclaim the triumph of steel and glass, man over nature." [slide 5] "Protected round-the-clock with a large staff of well-trained private security as well as physical and electronic barriers, Gunnerkrigg Court East will be the safest place to live on Earth. Particular attention has been paid to countering external threats such as nuclear-chemical-biological attacks, foreign espionage, and etheric entity intrusion; when you're living at Gunnerkrigg Court East you'll sleep soundly at night, knowing that even a god or a devil can't harm you or your loved ones." [slide 6] "Office and industrial spaces will be completely equipped with lighting determined to support concentration and a wellness-frame-of-mind, as well as windows polarized to screen out damaging frequencies of light, and even the traffic lights will be computer-coordinated to eliminate traffic jams and accidents for both motorists and pedestrians." [slide 7] "The city center, a hub for the dedicated anti-gravity rail line and the location of the main airport as well as a world-standard for sustainable infinite and environmentally-friendly energy, will feature a broad range of entertainment options suitable for all interests and ages" [slide 8] "including thirty-six restaurants, seven theaters, and two opera halls." [slide 9] "The school is currently planned to feature sixteen campuses and associated facilities, including three athletic fields and a 3,000 seat stadium, and will boast the most favorable teacher-to-student ratio available anywhere." [slide 10] "Where and how you live in Gunnerkrigg Court East will be entirely up to you. Options include fully- and semi-detached single-family units for friendly neighbors, featuring the latest in amenities, or build-to-suit lots" [slide 11] "with a wide variety of landscapes including water and water-view. A small number of lots with private piers are available for maritime enthusiasts. For those with increased transportation requirements, private helipad or dedicated rail can be made available. [slide 12] Gunnerkrigg Court East is now accepting a limited number of applicants via private invitation only..." Great post. What I took away from it was immense curiosity about what the Court would call its athletics teams. I worry it would be the "Pioneers". |
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