New One is up.

All I've got to say is... HOLY CRAP IS THAT A JETPACK?!

Poor Ace....

But I wonder how that Jetpack will come into play later... I love the foreshadowing in this comic!

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All I have are my ideas.

I suspect Tram is going to deeply regret not putting on that jetpack when he had the chance.

Nobody turns down a jetpack and lives.

There seems to be a huge hole here though. A reprisal gate attack.

Parson has left no guard at his own gate even as he breaks convention by invading through another's.
Why wouldn't he think he might suffer a reprisal attack, from the Magick Kingdom if no one else.
Given the power of casters, he could easily lose his home city that way (to say nothing of casters following him to Jetstone, 'bounty casters, though that seems less likely given political implications). It's all sorts of trouble for the MK if it get's a reputation as a security hole and people close off their portals. And while there may be any number of political reasons why GK is safe from a reprisal attack in the near term, I can't imagine any of them are reliable enough to risk your side...

Perhaps he will have Sizemore destroy the gate with dirtamancy? (Walling it off would be inssufficient as there are other dirtamancers.) Can they be turned off by more generic means?



ps: I like the jetpack as an extension of the Hermes theme for Tramennis. Perhaps this is also a good way to keep the character alive while still giving a win to GK.
pps: the basic smiley face here looks really distressed...

See, I'm thinking more Icarus than Artemis here, honestly. Son who flies way too high.

Edit: I also see the Magic Kingdom doing something on their end about GK's ability to portal from here on. If it breaks convention then I bet that they break their portal which would honestly serve as a defense for GK and maybe the best possible scenario as no one would be able to repeat the attempt.

Nice, no reason we can't mix 'n match allusions. He's already got the androgynous, mouthy messenger thing going on though. And the little wings on the jetpack are stylistically similar to those on Hermes's shoes, etc. Besides, to meta/plot reason, the character's one of the most enjoyable in this comic. He'll probably 'live' one way or another. Still, also a nice theme you point out.

re: Edit: I also think that's the most likely. But it would be unseemly of a superior warlord to gamble unnecessarily on such a passive response. (I mean, at least put some heavies in the room that could attack any non-GK units as they step through... Perhaps he yet will.)

ps: I love the way multi-level quotes are displayed here!
<-- distressed smiley (I swear, it's like he's being held up and is just hoping the guy doesn't shoot him)

I would agree, now that we have heard that the mechanics behind there being no portal guards is just a convention, it seems a bit foolish to leave the GK portal unguarded. On the other hand, Sizemore seems to feel that the convention is an absolute prohibition. If GK busts the convention and the MK does the same in response, the door is wide open and the convention is dead forever. If, on the other hand, the MK uses conventional means of retribution, cheaply hiring out casters to Sides attacking GK, the afore-mentioned trade embargo, etc., then their convention has a chance of survival.

Tram seems to be rather fond of Ace...

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How using capslock wins arguments:

I definitely see some definite 'this will blow up in our face' later going on here.

It is definitely a matter of escalation and obeying the rules of war (like the Geneva conventions) to keep things civilized

However, since this is fiction land: go Parson!

And critical tactical blunder: never say no to a jet pack!

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My Science Blog
Today's Topic: The Search for E.T. Continues

I was thinking about the same thing, but then I remembered that sometimes it is quite the contrary.

But OMGAWD TREM ITSA A JETPAAAAACK DANG IT!

.... I see your your apologetic smile but it's not enough. D:

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Because you do not send casters into a city you do not control. Sizemore just said so. And no other side has a warlord that can use the portals.

The Magic Kingdom is no side so it will not attack anyone.

Artemis? The huntress with the bow? I think you've got the wrong myth. Are you sure you don't mean Hermes (Roman Mercury), aka the model for the FTD Flower Guy? He was the one with the winged sandals and the shortsword. Tram's outfit looks a bit Roman, also.

I meant Hermes.
(retroactively edit fixing [not sure that one can pro-actively edit fix, but nonetheless])

ps, again: we can only stack quotes 3 deep? So much potential in quote display lost...

Noticed that Parson has using the portals as one of several scenarios. Though I think he will do it, it would be something of a disappointment if they make a truce with Jetstone now

Would that make Parson "Thinking with portals?"

Also, if GK wins this and captures Ace...

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All I have are my ideas.

"It's easier to ask for forgiveness than permission"

Particularly from a position of strength.

Indeed. And since it was King Slatley who turned down the jetpack, I guess Jetstone will soon need a new ruler.

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I love uncroaked Dora. I love an anonymous friend even more.

Only one man has understood me, and even he has not!

This. I'm sure we've been shown how Tramennis is going to escape from the Parson boop-storm that is to come.

Prediction: Slately will promote Tram to heir with his last dying breath. (Probably, Charlie will have to intervene with the money for him to do it.) Then Tram will have to escape, but there will be great pathos over his father's last act to save him.

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"Do it?" Dan, I'm not a Republic serial villain. Do you seriously think I'd explain my master-stroke if there remained the slightest chance of you affecting its outcome?

I did it thirty-five minutes ago.

Avatar hoarked from PS238.

or, possibly the escape route of someone else... maybe even Parson himself.

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All I have are my ideas.