Gunnerkrigg Court 3: Mystery Solved!

[BRC]

Remember that being Medium is a long-term appointment. We shouldn't think only in terms of who is the best medium right now, but who has the most potential, which is probably Annie.

But lets think Categories.
A good medium needs to be tough (or at least Brazen enough) to impress the Forest Dwellers so they will listen, they need to be polite enough to avoid offending anybody, they need to be charismatic enough to convince people, and they need to be good at furthering the Court's goals.

Parley can certainly speak the Forest's language, but she's too brash. Coyote might find her amusing, but she's likely to offend others.
Smitface won't offend anybody, but only because nobody will listen to him.
Annie has loads of charisma, especially when dealing with Etheric beings, and she has a pre-existing rapport with Coyote. However she's got a noted rebellious streak, and so may not be the best representative of Court interests.

In terms of Potential, Parley could be taught to "Bare Her Fangs" without offending people, I can't imagine Smitty being tough, or Annie becoming unbiased.

One option could be a sort of "Cultural Attache" situation. Smitty Speaks for the Court, Annie accompanies him in order to make the Forest creatures listen/help him navigate the Forest.

[stsasser]

That 'Furthermore' concerns me. Why do I get the sinking feeling Annie might be punished rather severely, or even banished?

Chapter 42: The Wrath of Kat

[random11]

That 'Furthermore' concerns me. Why do I get the sinking feeling Annie might be punished rather severely, or even banished?

In the previous update, I thought it was kind of silly to bring the forest representative and show him all three candidates without first letting them know who gets the job.

Now, it seems like it was the plan of the headmaster to humiliate Annie in front of both the forest AND the court, and this "furthermore" doesn't sound promising indeed.

[Marnath]

It's probably been a long time since Coyote was surprised like that. He looks like he really truly did not see that coming.

[BRC]

He's probably going to forbid Annie from further visiting the Forest. Now that the Court has an official Medium to carry out such visits.

This may be a power play on the Headmaster's part. He knows that Coyote is fond of Annie (Or at least Amused by her). He may be acting under the assumption that Coyote has some scheme brewing, and is acting unpredictably in order to mess it up, or he may be trying to extract some promise or favor from Coyote.

[Lizard Lord]

Based on the hubbub it seems to me that this "court" decision is really just one man's decision. Granted that one man is the boss, but it is telling that the other staff members (that we know of) not only appear unaware of this decision but appear to be against it as well.

[eee]

Based on the hubbub it seems to me that this "court" decision is really just one man's decision. Granted that one man is the boss, but it is telling that the other staff members (that we know of) not only appear unaware of this decision but appear to be against it as well.

The trouble is, we don't know who's running the Court. The Dolans may be the Court's Chief Scientists but it's clear they're low down on the totem pole, as are all the other teachers and staff. Eglamore as Dragon Slayer is higher but still obviously an Indian, not a Chief. Jones is awesome beyond human ken, but at best she's an adviser the Court can ignore and keep in the dark on things it feels she doesn't need to know about. We don't even know if the Headmaster is anything more than a mouthpiece. That might explain his apparent apathy; if you've just a puppet, why would YOU care what you've been told to say or do? I suspect finding out who or what is behind the curtain is going to be a real jolt. For us, AND everyone else...

[Giggling Ghast]

So the "furthermore" wasn't that bad.

I have a question: why is this such a bad thing? Granted, Annie was the most qualified for the position, but given recent events, is it really so terrible that she won't have to deal with Coyote anymore?

I would have dreaded such an appointment after what happened with Ysengrin. Why does Annie seem like she's going to cry?

Based on the hubbub it seems to me that this "court" decision is really just one man's decision. Granted that one man is the boss, but it is telling that the other staff members (that we know of) not only appear unaware of this decision but appear to be against it as well.

Based on Eglamore's use of "they" in the latest strip, I'd say it's not just the headmaster acting alone.

My conspiracy theorist senses tell me this is a way to cut off Annie's support as she tries to help ghostly Jeanne, as Parley and Smith will be busy with their new jobs.

[Cavelcade]

Why does Annie seem like she's going to cry?

She had seen her life set out before her, and it crumbled away in an instant. Her life will never be what she thought.

[The_Final_Stand]

"I... but..." is hardly a firm acceptance of a position. I find myself reminded of the other time someone said "Then it is settled".

And we all know how that went.

[Mauve Shirt]

Coyote is gonna throw a fit.

[Cavelcade]

"I... but..." is hardly a firm acceptance of a position. I find myself reminded of the other time someone said "Then it is settled".

That let me find this. Poor Ysengrim, he can never take his experiences and grow stronger, and he knows it (or at least, knows Coyote can do it). That just made me sad all over again.

[eee]

Coyote is gonna throw a fit.

That'd be interesting to see, but doesn't seem to match Coyote's style. I would think it more likely, if he finds this situation objectionable, he'll do something he'd consider funny to mess up the Headmaster's plans. Like remove Ysengrin from his role of the Forest's Medium and appoint Annie in his place. Meaning Smitty, Parley, and Annie will HAVE to visit the Forest together in the future, and she'll still be in the loop...

After all, how could the Court stop him from doing that?

It's also possible he'll accept this but continue insisting Annie visit him to tell him stories.

[John Cribati]

That'd be interesting to see, but doesn't seem to match Coyote's style.

Rebuttal. Second Rebuttal

[Mewtarthio]

So the "therefore" wasn't that bad.

It's still a huge slap in the face to Annie. The headmaster is deliberately giving everyone a role as liason except her. His refusal to even acknowledge Annie amounts to a public censure.

[Haruspex_Pariah]

Hrm. Annie's been visiting anyway, and if Coyote insists hard enough I don't think the Court can stop him.

It could be that the Court figured Smitty's ill-defined order power would be useful. As opposed to Annie, who was showing signs of being more at ease in the forest than the tech-based Court. Who also has a demon in her stuffed animal. And set a bridge on fire with her anger. And nearly got killed during one of her visits (don't think Eglamore would/could cover that one up).

It's clear that their previous plot to subvert Renard did not go very well. Maybe they decided to send a boring dude instead.

[random11]

So the "therefore" wasn't that bad.

I have a question: why is this such a bad thing? Granted, Annie was the most qualified for the position, but given recent events, is it really so terrible that she won't have to deal with Coyote anymore?

I would have dreaded such an appointment after what happened with Ysengrin. Why does Annie seem like she's going to cry?

It's not what was done like HOW it was done.

If the headmaster summoned all three to a room, gave the jobs and explained to Annie that she is still too young and naive to be a representative of the court, that would have been fine.

Instead, the headmaster summoned everyone from both the court and the forest, and only then told who is chosen, even when everyone else (not just the kids) thought Annie is the natural choice.

I doubt the intention was to hurt Annie.
Maybe it was a move against Coyote, or maybe it was done this way to give no options for appeals and protests.
But whatever the reason was, Annie was publicly humiliated.

[Qwertystop]

Worst bit, of course, is how she assumed it was her for the first few seconds. I mean, she could be said to have been acting humble if it had been her, but to assume that much that it was her, react as such while pretending it was a surprise in front of everybody? That face (last comic, not thisone) is exactly right.

[Othniel Edden]

I get this feeling that something with her family is going to pop up here.

[eee]

Rebuttal. Second Rebuttal

Yes, but that's just Coyote play acting to accomplish a goal. He was in full control all through that. And you'll note he DID get Annie to tell him the stories he wanted. But Coyote actually letting his emotions control him... No, I don't see it. If he throws a fit it will be a similar bit of acting. He's a Trickster God; manipulating people and turning the tables on them is what he DOES. In so far as his previous promises allow, if he feels like it, he's going to win this one...

[kpenguin]

Can I just say I think the Headmaster is pretty cool right now?

[Domochevsky]

Man, without even addressing her directly he gave it to her rough. She could use that implacable facade from her earlier years now.

[stsasser]

"I... but..." is hardly a firm acceptance of a position.

Like there is any way George is going to refuse to be Smitty's protector. Putting Andrew at risk guarantees Parley's loyalty and acquiescence.

[Giggling Ghast]

That is a very deliberate boredom.

I wonder if perhaps this was all intended to provoke some specific reaction from Coyote.

[kpenguin]

Jonathan is rocking. That is all.

[eee]

Coyote's getting involved. Or Ysengrin is being very out of character. Either way, I expect chaos.

[Marnath]

And there it is. They want Rey back under their control. That's what this is about. If Annie isn't going to be medium maybe she'll give up Rey? Is that what they hoped?

I can't even begin to speculate as to what Coyote is going to say about this. Aside from laughing hysterically obviously, since that was going to happen anyway regardless.

[Neoriceisgood]

Real curious where this is gonna go.

[fwiffo]

This was *not* the reaction I expected. Sure, we knew that Coyote will try to walk all over those two. But that he is OK with them? What the heck?

[eee]

Coyote is such the diplomat.

I hope he gives some - in fact, a lot of - attention to Annie so she doesn't feel left out, cast aside, jealous, so unhappy. And maybe does something to mess up the Headmaster's plan. Like appoint Annie co-medium on the Forest's side, so she HAS to come to the Forest with Mighty Eyebrows Boy and Huge Nose Girl (Parley is going to kill Coyote for that) to parlay...