Summer Updates - 021

[balder]

New one is up. This concludes the epilogues that will be printed in Book 1.

[KiltedNinja]

Oh man... Maybe it's my hormones, but that was quite an emotional scene. Nice work it's not often I get emotionally attached to characters in books. Good to see that although Jillian's mind wanted her to shy away from the whole "Being a Royal" thing, she also started thinking tactically about the situation and how best to get at Stanley... all is not lost

So this is the conclusion of the summer updates then? Do we have a rough timescale on when Book 2 will start? And could I also ask if there's been any updates regarding how/when/if the hardcopy version of The Book will be available?

Good work guys

[moose o death]

and here i thought this would all be used as plot direction and not clearly stated to fuel speculative discussion.

that's all i have, that arc is tied up now nothing really to speculate on except undeclared world rules.

personally i do think the attuned users of arkentools are higher ranked units than royals.

[joosy]

Sweet!
Interesting groundwork of resentment to stack on the loathing between Caesar Borgata and Jillian. (er. excuse me.. QUEEN Jillian)

Don King's request was largely foreshadowed and guessed at in forums....

but I bet in Erf it was already predicted.

I'll wager that the Predictamancer foresaw that Faq would fall, but would rise again with Jillian as the ruler.

Not to start another argument about loyalty/duty but I am curious to see if by re-establishing FAQ what effect it will have on Jack's allegiance. True he did choose Stanley over Jillian at the Battle of the Pass but I venture that is because Jack is following his own prediction, much like Wanda is.
Of course, if the story doesn't call for it, then there will be none, but its fun to speculate.

... and I want that teapot. .. and my own megalogwiff.

[Grunthos]

A very good try by the Don. But, rhetorically, he grounded his approach in the wrong axioms. He needed to get Jillian to see her heritage as a weapon she could use to cut her bonds, but he overemphasized describing her heritage as an inescapable cage.

He might still retrieve the conversation, tho. Focus on how she can only have teapots to throw at Stanley if she has a state to make the teapots for her.

[Welf von Ehrwald]

Somehow I think Don King sealed the downfall of his kingdom. Go back to tradition, ignore the merits of a vampire and choose only by titel. Bad idea.
I wonder if that will drive Caesar to become a traitor and change to Stanley's side (if he really loses his position as heir).

A page with lots of information. And a great closing for the second epilogue.

[gameboy1234]

Yup, Queen of FAQ. Good call for those who made it, I thought Jillian would end up a prisoner or a lackey to Transylvito.

And megalogwiffs! I think I like that word.

[Unclever title]

Wow nice update, wasn't expecting Caesar as heir at all though it is entirely appropriate what with the name and all.

There is some actual heavy stuff to speculate about in here though...

Basically it's getting me thinking about freewill with regards to Erf. We already know that existence in Erf is a privilege to ordinary units and a "right" of Royals and Overlords, basically they are kinda more like gods than kings. They can't be disbanded (as far as we know) unless it were done by the Titans themselves and though Erfworld provides the mechanics of the order they can pop units as they choose, or at the very least guide and direct the natural popping of units on their side, and of course end the existence of their units with a thought.

But now we see that even Royals aren't totally free, not only in the sense of restriction of resources but in the sense of suggestive forces like the natural thinkamancy on troops and warlords within a side, Jillian is naturally bent to think like a Royal no matter how hard she tries not to, and Royals are meant to lead sides that's how Erfworld is apparently designed.

But what of nonRoyal Overlords? They aren't bent to think like Royals, we may not know enough about Caesar (least I'd have to reread his lines in a new light, still he's not overlord yet...) but certainly Stanley and Wanda don't think in the same way Ansom did (I take Ansom to be the stereotypical royal unit) and though Charlie's an enigma he no doubt doesn't think like a royal, though that might just be him being Charlie... one piece of evidence is his tremendous commercialization of warfare, beyond mere mercenary work.

The nonRoyal Overlords seem to be free, actually free, at least within the common bounds of fate, meaning they have at least the same freewill that we have (illusory as it may or may not be). Not to mention so far that the nonRoyal Overlords are the only ones so far to have gotten Arkentools, I include Wanda in this as she's not technically loyal to Stanley and now she has her own army. Considering the structure so far of rank in relation to personal freedom, then these nonRoyal Overlords might well be higher in rank than Royals. Though that "higher rank" is more likely due to attunement with the Arkentools than just having been promoted from ranks to heir designate. Not to mention that wouldn't include Wanda and I doubt Stanley would make her his heir.

Parson is, of course, in nearly every sense of the word, a wildcard. I have no doubt that he could be essentially anything in Erfworld. Well, maybe with the exception of being athletic.

Anyway that's my wild speculative theory, it may be entirely that Jillian was just battling internally against her desire for revenge against Stanley and her rejection of herself as Royalty (and seeing how practical becoming Queen of Faq will play into her taking out Stanley).

[badninja]

So is Don King going to charge her for "protection"? I hope he now chooses Vinny to be a possible heir, he would be better then his current choice. All this set up makes me think that FAQ will be the main part of the next story.

[DevilDan]

We're beginning to approach the denouement, I suppose.

Interesting comment, Grunthos. He could have sold her on doing things her own way as queen. On the other hand, he is starting to question his own more relaxed attitude to rank.

[Lothmar]

Basically it's getting me thinking about freewill with regards to Erf. We already know that existence in Erf is a privilege to ordinary units and a "right" of Royals and Overlords, basically they are kinda more like gods than kings.

Actually 'royals' is a pretty general term. It's only the ruler of a side in general that has true and unhindered 'free will' and 'choice'. Whether that's an overlord - like stanley, or a king like Don or Slately, according to the filler book comics in book one, the leader of the side is the only one with free will, the rest follow via natural thinkamancy; albeit at thier own various levels of loyalties, etc. Which means that warlords and heirs have enough sentience to at least conspire and desire the power and true free will that comes with being the total leader of a side.

[Anton Gaist]

Oh hellz yeah.

Jillian Zamussels, Queen of Faq. An army of gwiffins and megalogwiffs at her side, rallying a new Coalition to fight Stanley the Worm. Can't wait for Book 2.

Also, Caesar, Heir Designate has seen his future reign quake recently. Now wonder he's bitter. And as for Jillian, TV will help her rebuild? Loan her starting money? She should be looking at the fine print, because I don't picture Don King doing that out of the goodness of his heart.

[moose o death]

no royals are specific units. they level faster on top of other bonus's, stanely held his own against them despite coming from poor stock and has risen through ranks to a warlord despit his humbler beginnings. that is why the others fear himyou can imagine a warlord poppping and latching eye's on the prize, the kings role. but stanley had something in him salineIV saw

[DevilDan]

Don King's son attempted a revolt or coup. We weren't completely sure whether this sort of thing could happen before, despite Ansom's initial intimations that Stanley may have had a hand in Saline IV's death.

[KiltedNinja]

So is Don King going to charge her for "protection"? I hope he now chooses Vinny to be a possible heir, he would be better then his current choice. All this set up makes me think that FAQ will be the main part of the next story.

Hmmmz... Interesting... Perhaps Book 2 may be called "For FAQ's Sake"... (Hope that's not too risque to mention in the forums )

[SMD]

no royals are specific units. they level faster on top of other bonus's, stanely held his own against them despite coming from poor stock and has risen through ranks to a warlord despit his humbler beginnings. that is why the others fear himyou can imagine a warlord poppping and latching eye's on the prize, the kings role. but stanley had something in him salineIV saw

You could say the same thing about Caesar...but it leads to the same point. Caesar and Stanley are both exceptional fighters/brawlers. Both are heir designates, and probably for the same reason. Both are absolutely incapable of doing the balancing act needed to lead more than in battle.

Stanley could have just waited patiently rather than take Wanda's bait and become the king legitimately. The other rulers probably wouldn't have cared that he wasn't a royal as long as he stayed home. Instead, he let Wanda direct him toward a "greater destiny" that's leading him to the grave and her to greatness.

In short, Stanley isn't really in charge, isn't capable of being in charge, and he's starting to see that.

[Elessar]

Don King's gaze went distant for a moment, as if he was seeing into the past. "Caesar Borgata is my heir designate. He earned it. My Warlords respect him like they never respected the Prince or Princess. But he was only Viscount of Vitalis, barely a Noble. Recent events have forced me to reconsider whether or not that should matter."

Jillian tried to follow. "What do you mean? Gobwin Knob?"

"Specifically, I mean Stanley. His claim to a new Titanic mandate, based on his attunement to an Arkentool. Charlie has been attuned to the Arkendish for a long time, but he's careful not to claim it means anything. He's never been a threat to anybody, and he's useful, if a pain in the keister to deal with. Stanley, on the other hand, thinks wielding the Arkenhammer puts him in a class above Royalty. And he says so."

Interesting. Based on this section (the rest of the update jumps towards Jillian, Ansom and FAQ) it seems like Don King might be considering that Stanley is right: Arkentool > Royalty.

After all, recent events have shown that Stanley is a clear winner. That proves his Titanic mandate to Don King, doesn't it?

[Ragn Charran]

Ever since it was stated Jillian would be escorted to meet the Don in person, I was predicting a marriage/heir designate proposal, to legitimize Transylvito's direct takeover of Faq's cities among the other royal kingdoms. The opener about Don's dead heirs, and about Caesar being the current heir (since the animosity between he and Jillian had already been established) made me think I was right. So did the "Love is a Battlefield" title in progress for book two. I seriously thought the new title was going to be Queen of Transylvito.

oops...

[DevilDan]

You could say the same thing about Caesar...but it leads to the same point. Caesar and Stanley are both exceptional fighters/brawlers. Both are heir designates, and probably for the same reason. Both are absolutely incapable of doing the balancing act needed to lead more than in battle.

We don't know much about Caesar, but we know that Don King is a no dummy. Based on that, I'm fairly certain that he didn't choose Caesar solely on his level or his capabilities on the battlefield.

Stanley could have just waited patiently rather than take Wanda's bait and become the king legitimately. The other rulers probably wouldn't have cared that he wasn't a royal as long as he stayed home. Instead, he let Wanda direct him toward a "greater destiny" that's leading him to the grave and her to greatness.

Why doe we assume that this is all Wanda's handiwork? We haven't really seen her pushing Stanley in this direction. I'm sure that she'd counsel more cautious routes every time—although she has shown her own penchant for reckless behavior.

In short, Stanley isn't really in charge, isn't capable of being in charge, and he's starting to see that.

That could be said for nearly every character. Boopin' prophecies and magic.

Interesting. Based on this section (the rest of the update jumps towards Jillian, Ansom and FAQ) it seems like Don King might be considering that Stanley is right: Arkentool > Royalty.

After all, recent events have shown that Stanley is a clear winner. That proves his Titanic mandate to Don King, doesn't it?

Possibly, but Don King isn't about to overthrow the whole order of existence. All in all, he cares more about order and, yes, power than he does about the Titans or their putative mandates.

[BarGamer]

Awww, poor Don... It's rough to lose your kids. Maybe he sees Jillian as a surrogate kid, in that he's willing to fund Faq's growth and bring Jillian up as a Queen. Maybe Caesar's off to really conquer Carport/Carpool. I mean, they DO need the money, now.

It seems like Natural Thinkamancy has more subtle effects on Nobles, in that Don King is able to peg her as a Noble, even as he's able to guess why she's got issues with it. I find it interesting that the last time we saw the "insect in a container" metaphor, it was back in Summer Update 13, when Caeser called her "Crazier than a jug of bugs." Heck, if we're talking metaphors, Vinny tamed a feral bat soon afterwards. This update, Don King tamed a Royal barbarian.

Does anyone else think the teapot looks like a phoenix? From far away, Don King looks younger, almost like Parson.

The agreement was "sealed with a KSH!" XD Jillian's really "pissed" now.