Book 2 - Page 15

[Wakky]

Wanda, Wanda, Wanda, will you ever learn? You've already been burned once by Jillian, why do you think that it will be different this time? That woman will be the death of you.

[name lips]

Had to make an account to say this.

I like the new art and the new direction, but Wanda is damn fugly now. She used to be sexy in her own sorta midget way, but now even her face is like, ddddddddaaaaamn. And not in a good way. Is this because the artist just see's her like this, or because wandas new found power is taking a toll on her body/appearance? Either way, please do us some fan service and make her a little easier on the eyes

You know, I speculate that this is intentional. We're not supposed to like Wanda now, and the easiest way to do that is to make us, well, not like the way she's designed. The art is impeccable - it's the freakish hair, the bizarre makeup, and the cold aloofness in her eyes. It's all coming through loud and clear - she's not sexy anymore, she's not hawt, she's not "easy on the eyes." She's not supposed to be - she's an object of horror, dread, and corruption.

[Raza]

I kinda feel like there's not much happening in this update. I suppose the detail will be nice when you've got the whole book to read page-after-page...

She is just as blinkered as Stanley in her way.

Isn't everybody?

Well, maybe not Parson, or characters like Vinnie and Trammenis that are characterized by cleverness. But Ansom got croaked for thinking inside his box of classical warfare, and almost croaked for it multiple times before that. Don King risks poor strategy for sentimental attachment to titles no one else in his Side likes anymore. Jillian gets her ass kicked looking for violent outlets for her own undefined rage every change she gets. Slately threw everything he had at the time into the RCC to wipe GK when it had barely hurt him, opening himself up to the more tangible threat of Haggar. Even Charlie wastes calculations and holds back on key tactical strikes in order to fill his outward/self image of the omniscient untouchable spectator.

They're characters. They have to act according to their personalities, or there'd be no point having them.

[Megaduck]

Wanda, Wanda, Wanda, will you ever learn? You've already been burned once by Jillian, why do you think that it will be different this time? That woman will be the death of you.

Anyone else think we're going to get a repeat of http://www.erfworld.com/book-1-archive/?px=%2F095.jpg this scene? Just with Wanda asking Jillian to turn?

[tez]

I kinda feel like there's not much happening in this update. I suppose the detail will be nice when you've got the whole book to read page-after-page...

She is just as blinkered as Stanley in her way.

Isn't everybody?

Well, maybe not Parson, or characters like Vinnie and Trammenis that are characterized by cleverness. But Ansom got croaked for thinking inside his box of classical warfare, and almost croaked for it multiple times before that. Don King risks poor strategy for sentimental attachment to titles no one else in his Side likes anymore. Jillian gets her ass kicked looking for violent outlets for her own undefined rage every change she gets. Slately threw everything he had at the time into the RCC to wipe GK when it had barely hurt him, opening himself up to the more tangible threat of Haggar. Even Charlie wastes calculations and holds back on key tactical strikes in order to fill his outward/self image of the omniscient untouchable spectator.

They're characters. They have to act according to their personalities, or there'd be no point having them.

Well that's kinda unfair, I "have" to act according to my personality too

But agree on Ansom, I considered for a sec using him as the benchmark for blind stubbornness, or Jillian. I think Don has something up his sleeve though.

[badninja]

No, bad Wanda listen to your new warlord he is trying to tell you something important. Wanda is getting too predictable and she is going to either get croaked, loose Jack, or loose a majority of her army. She still thinks like she did at the beginning of Book 1 and old Jillian has grown up a lot since then and has made her feelings known ( can't find the specific page but know it was after Jillian broke free from Wanda's mind control). Jillian has no plans on talking she is going for the kill with her new ally, Charlie. We all know that Charlie is there and he has plans to kill a tool barer and Wanda is the only one who is not staying somewhere safe. I've got a bad feeling about this does not even begin to cover what I think is going to happen. I hope that Parson has taken this into account and has a plan in place because loosing Wanda or the pliers is going to be a huge loss for GK and a major win for the RCC II.

[ftl]

I hope that Parson has taken this into account and has a plan in place because loosing Wanda or the pliers is going to be a huge loss for GK and a major win for the RCC II.

Parson's not running this show. He doesn't have a plan in place - maybe he'll come up with one after the fact, but for now, Wanda's the one dictating plans, Parson just okays them...

[splintermute]

Ossomer seems to have a different variation of Wanda's symbol now, and also some new decorations on his arms. Or was this that way before?
Anyway, I wonder what do they mean.

I think it's the decrypted version of the tesla weapon he used on page 8.

[Updog]

Ossomer seems to have a different variation of Wanda's symbol now, and also some new decorations on his arms. Or was this that way before?
Anyway, I wonder what do they mean.

I think it's the decrypted version of the tesla weapon he used on page 8.

Also note that, Ossomer's original symbol had markings on either side of the radish as well

[raphfrk]

Apparently Wanda thinks that now with Ansom on her side Jillian has no choice but to join her. I don't think that will work.

She could threaten to get Ansom croaked by having him take to many risks. Also, being with Ansom all the time would presumably be an incentive too. In effect, Ansom is both the carrot and the stick. This is in addition to the obvious meaning of Wanda's comment in the last panel.

And what is jillian's problem with Stanley?

I would say that it is just a feeling that has been building, and isn't going to dissipate due to rational thought. She blames him for killing Ansom, and even though Ansom isn't actually dead, her anger is still there.

Also, he didn't actually steal her kingdom, he left it there to be reclaimed.

[the_tick_rules]

Wanda's ideas sounds complicated

[Raza]

I would say that it is just a feeling that has been building, and isn't going to dissipate due to rational thought. She blames him for killing Ansom, and even though Ansom isn't actually dead, her anger is still there.

Also, he didn't actually steal her kingdom, he left it there to be reclaimed.

This. Stanley didn't really do much to her, but made a good scapegoat for everything she felt bad about after the fall of FAQ, especially with everyone else being pissed at him too. She 'loves a problem she can solve with a sword', so that's what she's going to project all her feelbad thoughts onto. Stanley sacked FAQ, Stanley killed Ansom, Stanley controls Wanda... none of those are true and relevant, but it keeps things simple.

[fruityjanitor]

Poor Tramennis. Just lost his brother and now (possibly quite rightly) thinks he's going to lose his father. Not a good day for him.

Also, I gotta lol at the interchangeable carrot and stick Kinky!

[Welf von Ehrwald]

I would say that it is just a feeling that has been building, and isn't going to dissipate due to rational thought. She blames him for killing Ansom, and even though Ansom isn't actually dead, her anger is still there.

Also, he didn't actually steal her kingdom, he left it there to be reclaimed.

This. Stanley didn't really do much to her, but made a good scapegoat for everything she felt bad about after the fall of FAQ, especially with everyone else being pissed at him too. She 'loves a problem she can solve with a sword', so that's what she's going to project all her feelbad thoughts onto. Stanley sacked FAQ, Stanley killed Ansom, Stanley controls Wanda... none of those are true and relevant, but it keeps things simple.

I think that hit the nail on the head. Ironically, Jillian and Stanley are much alike. They try to solve their problems by hitting them. (And they like pretty boys, albeit for different uses). But I like Stanley and dislike Jillian. Stanley is a genuine idiot, but he took a long and hard road to work his way up to where he is, while Jillian is much smarter and just lowers herself.

No, bad Wanda listen to your new warlord he is trying to tell you something important. Wanda is getting too predictable and she is going to either get croaked, loose Jack, or loose a majority of her army.

Actually, she will lose most of Stanley's army. The dwagon armada and Jack are his most valuable and loyal troops. Wanda has more puppets (including level 10 Ansom) and can make more of these, except for the Archons.

Edit: Are the decrypted hobgobwins wearing evening dresses?

[The Shadow]

Don King risks poor strategy for sentimental attachment to titles no one else in his Side likes anymore.

Not at all sure it's sentiment - Don King seems cagier than that.

But I'm not sure what it is, either. We don't have much of a read on him as yet, at least on this subject. We may be in for a surprise; I certainly don't think that Caesar's perspective is the whole story.

You know, getting Bunny's perspective would be interesting. Because she sees both sides. She also knew Queen Bea.

[Krennson]

Wanda is REALLY out of it, isn't she?

It makes me wonder if maybe the decrypted have less DUTY than a normal unit would... even if Ossomer were personally loyal to Wanda, I'm beginning to suspect that under normal conditions, his DUTY would require him to completely disregard wanda's instructions, in WANDA'S best interests.

Allowing wanda to talk face-to-face with Jillian is just ASKING for wanda to be stabbed in the face.

unless... ouch.

If Jillian believed that wanda turning back to the jetstones was a serious possibility in book 1, and if she figures out that the reason Wanda was working with Stanley was to get the pliers....

Could charlie and a turnamancer help to convince WANDA to turn? That could be a MAJOR issue.... Parson would be screaming his HEAD off.

"Yeah, we need to move those mountains after all.... We need to retreat, STAT.
-no can do sir, We no longer have a croakamancer on our side...
"THEN RENEW RELATIONS WITH MAGIC KINGDOM! Heck, we'll SUBORDINATE ourselves to the magic kingdom! GET ME THOSE CASTERS!"

[SteveMB]

She could threaten to get Ansom croaked by having him take to many risks. Also, being with Ansom all the time would presumably be an incentive too. In effect, Ansom is both the carrot and the stick. This is in addition to the obvious meaning of Wanda's comment in the last panel.

Yet another layer of meaning: Faq itself was both carrot (the means to acquire the power to settle the score with Stanley) and stick (accepting her unwanted Royal status and role) for Jillian.

[Zerohour]

The fact that Wanda is going to try parley makes things interesting. I'm not sure how Jillian will react to that. Sure, she hates Stanley, but she loves Wanda, at least to a degree, and at this point, she's faced with the fact that Wanda does not want to be saved, and the only option she has is join her or kill her.

I think this will be something of a shock to her. She's been exposed to second hand information, rather than experiencing the tides or war herself, and that most likely led to her forgetting about the people involved. Her feeling with Wanda have yet to be resolved, and this is a major chance for conflict to rear its head and give us some good old emotional exposition.

I doubt she'll turn, but I don't know how that will play out...

[Lord Kasavin]

I have to say, Wanda showed outright contempt for Jillian in the last panel. Telling her personal secrets to an underling and sneering while doing so? That certainly isn't any sort of intimacy. Of course, this may not be the only emotion Wanda has for JIllian, but friends I don't think they are anymore.

On another note, I like Don King's theory for why Jillian hates Stanley. She does so through instinct as a royal. One of the themes we're seeing is how people have a "nature," and how hard it is to not follow it. Jillian can claim she's a free spirited barbarian, but will always be a royal no matter how much she thinks the opposite. Now that she's embraced that calling, I have a feeling its going to ensure her ability to deny any demands Wanda makes of her.

[BLANDCorporatio]

Ironically, Jillian and Stanley are much alike. They try to solve their problems by hitting them. (And they like pretty boys, albeit for different uses). But I like Stanley and dislike Jillian. Stanley is a genuine idiot, but he took a long and hard road to work his way up to where he is, while Jillian is much smarter and just lowers herself.

Just wanted to chime in and say that Stanley and Jillian, apart from both preferring simple outlooks on the world, are not alike at all.

Stanley is a social climber, a ridiculously ambitious and egotistical maniac that fought his way until he surpassed his own level of competence. So he's not very competent at what he does right now, but (sometimes, when he remembers to) trying to improve. From his ambition you go straight to his envy of true success, disdain towards what he sees as lesser beings, unease at beings he at some level suspects are better than him (Wanda). His relationships with others and the world have various gradations and flow naturally from his central character trait.

Jillian is a one-dimensional sword wielder who for some reason got named and had a speaking part since page 1. No I have no idea what you think I'm alluding to here. But back to Jillian, what is she? Jillian like smash freely. That's her character right there, all of it. Notice also how her mode of relating to others is one-note, "just how much of a nuisance is this guy to me?" Her father doesn't like her roaming like the warrior girl she is, Caesar has a face that begs stabbing, Vinny's better left in the dark so as not to cramp her style, Vanna doesn't know how to play, the Don is creepy, Ansom back in book 1 needed to be reminded that Jillian is her own boss and better not get any other thoughts and so on.

There's the complicating factor of her masochism and attraction to Wanda, the one non-nuisance Erfworlder to her, so we're probably in for some revelations about Jillian as well. That's because her character is so poor to begin with.