Girl Genius XVII: And Then He Had Pie

[Douglas]

For it to be at all useful the ejection would have to be putting the passenger outside the train, would it not? A train which, in order to maintain the vital schedule, is presumably moving at the time? While it may be strictly true that ejecting the passenger isn't guaranteed to kill them, I think there's a fairly high probability of it doing so!

Maybe it's rigged up to attach a parachute to the passenger while ejecting her? A quite mediocre spark should be able to build something like that, I'd think, and the Corbetites have access to sparks much better than mediocre.

[Divayth Fyr]

For it to be at all useful the ejection would have to be putting the passenger outside the train, would it not? A train which, in order to maintain the vital schedule, is presumably moving at the time? While it may be strictly true that ejecting the passenger isn't guaranteed to kill them, I think there's a fairly high probability of it doing so!

The only confession we had a chance to see was performed while the train was standing on the station. It is possible that is the norm.

[eee]

I like this guy! And his office! But if this is Bill or Barry they've changed...

"panto blackguard"? Is the Abbott saying pantomime blackguard? That would make sense.

[Traab]

I've got a bad feeling about this. The abbot is a bit too blase about this. It almost sounds like he is saying, "If you want to execute a passenger you cant be so damned open about it. Here, let me show you how its done." He seems more bothered by how lame the brother has been about the whole thing.

[Qwertystop]

I've got a bad feeling about this. The abbot is a bit too blase about this. It almost sounds like he is saying, "If you want to execute a passenger you cant be so damned open about it. Here, let me show you how its done." He seems more bothered by how lame the brother has been about the whole thing.

At the moment, he's still answering the "how did you know" question.

[Calemyr]

I've got a bad feeling about this. The abbot is a bit too blase about this. It almost sounds like he is saying, "If you want to execute a passenger you cant be so damned open about it. Here, let me show you how its done." He seems more bothered by how lame the brother has been about the whole thing.

I think it's more like "My boy, you are far too honest to be a villain. Still, something's got you so spooked you were seriously considering something unforgivable. Now you tell me what that is and I'll decide what to do next - both with your concerns and with you..."

[eee]

I think it's more like "My boy, you are far too honest to be a villain. Still, something's got you so spooked you were seriously considering something unforgivable. Now you tell me what that is and I'll decide what to do next - both with your concerns and with you..."

This raises a problem. The Corbetitties seem modeled after the Catholic Church; and there, you CAN NOT break the Seal of the Confessional. Period. Because the priest hears, not with his ears, but with God's; and he therefore can reveal nothing of what he, as a mere conduit, now knows. If a similar stricture is in effect for Brother Ulm, he can't tell the Abbott why he was going to kill Agatha. He could send him to ask Agatha who she is; hopefully that wouldn't result in the Abbott trying to kill Agatha, too...

[Porthos]

I think there is a decent chance that the Abbot already knows that this is Agatha Heterodyne. Or at least strongly suspects it. If he is more or less the leader of the Monks, then he probably has very good intel on who the current movers and shakers of Eurpoa are. And he might rightly deduce that one of the few people who Ulm would be freaked out enough to want to kill for being inside their sanctum, would be the person who has caused/been blamed for so much chaos recently. Especially if she matches the descriptions of her.

Now this might fall apart if there are too many contradictory reports about Agatha. Which, to be fair, seems to be the case. OTOH, he can still verify his suspicions about Agatha if he words his statement just right. Say the classic:

"Now why did you think it would be a good idea to kill the current Heterodyne?"

"I just thought.... Wait how did you know she was the Heterodyne, I never told anyone. Those vows I kept at least"

"I didn't KNOW until now. But I strongly suspected and wanted to see your reaction to what I said. Tch.

Or a much better written variation of the above, at least.

[petersohn]

Wait, was he trying to kill Agatha or Margolotta? I have a feeling that it's the latter. Or is there any evidence otherwise? He said "She cannot be allowed to--". It seems like he was talking about Agatha, because last time they didn't want to go to the sanctuary becasue of her. But what if it's all just to derail our thoughts (pun intended), and he knows something about Margolotta we don't think he knows?

[Math_Mage]

Wait, was he trying to kill Agatha or Margolotta? I have a feeling that it's the latter. Or is there any evidence otherwise? He said "She cannot be allowed to--". It seems like he was talking about Agatha, because last time they didn't want to go to the sanctuary becasue of her. But what if it's all just to derail our thoughts (pun intended), and he knows something about Margolotta we don't think he knows?

This comic shows who Brother Ulm is talking about.

[AgentPaper]

This comic shows who Brother Ulm is talking about.

It heavily implies, but doesn't say for sure. It's not like he was pointing at her, she just happens to be there.

[Divayth Fyr]

It heavily implies, but doesn't say for sure. It's not like he was pointing at her, she just happens to be there.

It's not like he didn't say she most certainly can't be allowed inside earlier.

[Ellen]

Could be a psych out and Margolotta is the potential victim.

I was reading a summary on a murder mystery where a priest decides to commit a murder based on things he learned in confession. Faced with two mortal sins, he decides murder to save innocents is better than breaking confession (three mortal sins if you count doing nothing and letting innocents be murdered).

Of course, the cop investigating it realizes the killer wasn't acting alone, and the priest isn't talking. . . .

Maybe mad science has found a way around this conundrum?

[halfeye]

Could be a psych out and Margolotta is the potential victim.

Not if he's as subtle as a brick, which we've just been told he is.

[gooddragon1]

Brother Ulm should never have tried the ice bucket approach to assassination. I've heard it to be quite challenging to pull off.

[Porthos]

I think there is a decent chance that the Abbot already knows that this is Agatha Heterodyne. Or at least strongly suspects it. If he is more or less the leader of the Monks, then he probably has very good intel on who the current movers and shakers of Eurpoa are. And he might rightly deduce that one of the few people who Ulm would be freaked out enough to want to kill for being inside their sanctum, would be the person who has caused/been blamed for so much chaos recently. Especially if she matches the descriptions of her.

*does another victory jig*

[factotum]

I guess that answers my earlier question--if Brother Ulm has been trying to assassinate Agatha off-panel for some time now, there's been plenty of time for the other monks to get a message back to the Abbot concerning it.

[Grif]

It feels like the Abbott seems more interested in keeping Agatha alive than offing her. Perhaps he has some hidden loyalties.

[factotum]

It feels like the Abbott seems more interested in keeping Agatha alive than offing her. Perhaps he has some hidden loyalties.

Or perhaps he just, you know, doesn't want to randomly kill passengers for no good reason?

[eee]

Brother Ulm and the monks are a lot more on the ball than I realized, knowing that Margolotta was the target. Maybe Krosp told him after he got back from his 'talk' with the Count. On the other hand, they've probably had experience with people trying to kill their passengers before, and are prepared for that. And also make a point of knowing what's going on, on their train.

It is also POSSIBLE Lady Margolotta told the truth (or at least part of it) during her confession, letting Ulm know that Tweedle was after her...

Or perhaps he just, you know, doesn't want to randomly kill passengers for no good reason?

In Ulm's defense, it's not random and it's not for no reason. He wanted to kill Agatha specifically because he believes her being in the fortress is potentially catastrophic. WE don't know what he's afraid of; but the Abbott apparently doesn't have the same fear. At least not to the same degree.

Although it is possible that even if he does, the Abbott doesn't hold with killing those under Corbetitte protection. No matter what the consequences.

[Divayth Fyr]

Brother Ulm and the monks are a lot more on the ball than I realized, knowing that Margolotta was the target. Maybe Krosp told him after he got back from his 'talk' with the Count. On the other hand, they've probably had experience with people trying to kill their passengers before, and are prepared for that. And also make a point of knowing what's going on, on their train.

Or some of them simply heard Wolkerstorfer mention the fact - he wasn't exactly quiet when talking about it (it is made even more likely since the very next scene involves Agatha and the monks shooting rails at him from a short distance).

[stsasser]

Or perhaps he just, you know, doesn't want to randomly kill passengers for no good reason?

Or perhaps he has heard about Gil and knows that, if the Corbetites killed Agatha, Gil would rip out every mile of track in Europa or die trying. The projected casualty count among the other houses and dynasties may be high enough to lose Choo-choo Church their protection.

[Kislath]

Ice bucket! LOL!

[Inyssius Tor]

This raises a problem. The Corbetitties seem modeled after the Catholic Church; and there, you CAN NOT break the Seal of the Confessional. Period. Because the priest hears, not with his ears, but with God's; and he therefore can reveal nothing of what he, as a mere conduit, now knows. If a similar stricture is in effect for Brother Ulm, he can't tell the Abbott why he was going to kill Agatha. He could send him to ask Agatha who she is; hopefully that wouldn't result in the Abbott trying to kill Agatha, too...

The Corbettite confessional is largely a security precaution: the monks need to know who is on their train and what sorts of trouble could be coming close behind. That is not a purpose served by forbidding the monks to hint at, speak of, or take actions based on any of what they've learned (and, in fact, we've seen that they can and do).

The Corbettites seem to be more concerned with trains than with personal sin.

[Grey_Wolf_c]

The Corbettite confessional is largely a security precaution: the monks need to know who is on their train and what sorts of trouble could be coming close behind. That is not a purpose served by forbidding the monks to hint at, speak of, or take actions based on any of what they've learned (and, in fact, we've seen that they can and do).

Sure, but without a Seal of the Confessional, there is no way they'd get the secrets in the first place. Anyone traveling would only trust the monks with such secrets insofar as they were confident the monks won't blab about them. However, it is possible that the Seal works hierarchically: the monk is only allowed to pass on the details on the confession upwards.

Grey Wolf

[Divayth Fyr]

The Corbettite confessional is largely a security precaution: the monks need to know who is on their train and what sorts of trouble could be coming close behind. That is not a purpose served by forbidding the monks to hint at, speak of, or take actions based on any of what they've learned (and, in fact, we've seen that they can and do).

Still, our good brother mentions to the Abbot that he never broke the seal and says to his fellow monk that he may learn Agatha's identity if she tells him - because that is how confession works. Sure, he took actions based on what he learnt - but he never broke the seal of confession (which would happen if he told anyone about what he learnt) - this is identical to a priest deciding he can't allow a person who confessed murder to go unpunished and administering justice by himself (as opposed to telling everything to a cop - he basically breaks other tenents of his faith, ones he views less important than the seal of confession).

[Rockphed]

Still, our good brother mentions to the Abbot that he never broke the seal and says to his fellow monk that he may learn Agatha's identity if she tells him - because that is how confession works. Sure, he took actions based on what he learnt - but he never broke the seal of confession (which would happen if he told anyone about what he learnt) - this is identical to a priest deciding he can't allow a person who confessed murder to go unpunished and administering justice by himself (as opposed to telling everything to a cop - he basically breaks other tenents of his faith, ones he views less important than the seal of confession).

Your second link is missing the final 1.

[With a box]

I'm 140% sure that she will free the beast.

[Rodin]

Question is, what is the beast? Is it something from before the timeskip, like Von Pinn? Or is it something new?

I'm banking on the reveal being an anti-climax though - build up the Beast as this horrible monster, and it'll be something small and unassuming that can still kick the crap out of everything around.

[Ibrinar]

Question is, what is the beast? Is it something from before the timeskip, like Von Pinn? Or is it something new?

I'm banking on the reveal being an anti-climax though - build up the Beast as this horrible monster, and it'll be something small and unassuming that can still kick the crap out of everything around.

Or it nearly destroyed them by attempting to offer the world a more efficient person transport system than their trains.