Twig: We're all Bonesaws now! (spoilers unmarked)

[Kantaki]

That quote gives more the impression of a wild or rabid dog than a hunting dog.
And rereading what Sylvester said that impression is a bit closer to what he actually said. „Snarling dog” was his word choice.

Not the kind of person you want have against you in a fight, or with you or in command of your entire forces. No, Cythia strikes me as a person you point at a problem before jumping behind cover.

I mean everyone else ending up hurt or dead sounds suspiciously like it tends includes allies.

[Kantaki]

New chapter.

The order and chaos discussion of the Lambs aside, the situation is getting more serious.

The enemies are storming the gate, the man with the eyes is taking out the specialists, leaving the Stitched without commands, the fourth assassin is near the gate and the augmented Rebellion troops are immune to the Academies biological weapons.

This is more or less the exact opposide of a situation the Lambs are suited for. Let's see how they solve it.

[Kantaki]

New chapter.

Autsch, Pain bullets are a horrible idea. But it is nice to see that (at least some of) the Rebellion troops have a conscience, are capable of mercy. Unfortunatly the Lambs aren't.

Well, it seems the Academy lost this battle, the only open question is how cathastrophic the loss will be. And how much of it will fall back on the Lambs.

[Lamech]

I think the Lambs have firmly joined team evil with this latest stunt.

[Kantaki]

I think the Lambs have firmly joined team evil with this latest stunt.

It could be argued that they acted to defend their lifes since there was a pretty high Chance they would have been be executed if they hadn't acted this way.

And firmly joined team evil? Which one? There are three or four at this point. I would question the joined part as well, since they were already part of team evil from the very beginning.

[Kantaki]

New chapter.

Well, that was that. The Lambs are still alive, the important guys got out of Westmore, Gordon's relationship with Shipman is over (at least Sy thinks so) and Westmore has fallen.

Now our protagonists are off to kill Cynthia. I wonder what will go wrong there.

And I know I repeat myself, but for someone who isn't interested in romance Sy get's a lot of shipping Options in this chaper it's Mary's turn again. But I think the only relationship that will have a happy end is Helen and cake.

[Qwertystop]

Eh. Somehow I've been increasingly unable till follow the thread of all this... Feels rather like the end of Pact that way, just can't help skimming over large chunks when I try to read it.

[Kantaki]

New (enemy) chapter.

Sanguine is a fascinating character. I hope we will see more of him. And the Lambs are classified as a superweapon now. About time.

Well, it seems that even if Cynthia survives the Lambs dealt some damage to her and the Rebellion. Several comanders and professors assassinated, one of the leaders either dead or heavily scarred... I think the Crown really doesn't loose.

The bad news are that Sanguine plans a Lamb-hunt now and that Cynthia might take this a bit personal.

Who wants to bet that Sy firebombed Cynthia because he assessed her similar to the way Sanguine did? Trying to kill her in a way that scars her both physically and by targeting her ego should she survive seems very fitting to our little dragon. Not that I expect that he wanted her dead.

[Lamech]

Immortal Soldiers. Not immunized soldiers. You don't call people immortal if they can't take a knife. I guess the Lambs will have a witness to the whole pretend to be injured and murder the doctor dealeo. And the fake surrender dealeo. Oops.

[Kantaki]

Immortal Soldiers. Not immunized soldiers. You don't call people immortal if they can't take a knife. I guess the Lambs will have a witness to the whole pretend to be injured and murder the doctor dealeo. And the fake surrender dealeo. Oops.

Eh, immortal doesn't mean they can't be killed. They certainly are immune to the Academy's biological and chemical weapons and they might be able to survive a bit more mundane damade than a soldier without their Augmentation, but I really doubt that the guy the Lambs tried to kill when they did the "we are hurt lttle children" stunt is alive. Mary and Gordon are more careful than that and they did start this lttle fire afterwards.

I think those guys are called immortal soldiers because hard to kill soldiers sounds less impressive.

[Kantaki]

New chapter.

Well, that was it for Gordon's and Shipman's relationship.

Sy can say that he isn't interested in girls (yet) and that he does't like Lillian as much as he wants, but I think it is telling that his first thoughts went to getting (something) under her clothes.

The Academy is doing something with orphans? On a large scale? Considering the Lambs seem to be friendly with those kids I don't think this will end well for those responsible.

[Landis963]

New chapter.

Well, that was it for Gordon's and Shipman's relationship.

Sy can say that he isn't interested in girls (yet) and that he does't like Lillian as much as he wants, but I think it is telling that his first thoughts went to getting (something) under her clothes.

The Academy is doing something with orphans? On a large scale? Considering the Lambs seem to be friendly with those kids I don't think this will end well for those responsible.

It's probably testing for whatever "Project" Evette or Ashton are coming out of. That or mass-producing teams of Lambs. The former could engender some lovely conflicting loyalties in Sy, the latter, perhaps not so much.

[Kantaki]

It's probably testing for whatever "Project" Evette or Ashton are coming out of. That or mass-producing teams of Lambs. The former could engender some lovely conflicting loyalties in Sy, the latter, perhaps not so much.

Whatever the reason is, I think the Lambs will work against the Academy in some way in this Arc. And it will cost them something.

Somehow I hope that massproduction of the Lambs or something similar is the reason for the disappeared children.It would be a excellent reason for Sy (and the other but Sy is the one who has faith in the Academy) to change sides and prototype-Lambs vs. massproduced Lambs sounds like a great confrontation.

[SlyGuyMcFly]

No action this chapter but some very nice character writing. The Sy/Mary ship has taken some serious damage though. This makes me sad.

[Kantaki]

Sure, It doesn’t look like Mary/Sy is a likely pairing right now - not that any pairing involving Sylvester is likely - but it is nice to see Sy cares that much about his family’s happiness. But he is far more interested in girls than he wants to admit. And I think „You like Gordon more” is not what Mary wanted to hear.
Lillian likes being teased? That explains why she hasn't tried to make Sy shut up yet.

Mary and Sy calling each other „doof” is... odd. It fits the way they are bickering, but it still feels odd.

[Kantaki]

New chapter.

Well, it seems Mary will get a chance to face her maker. I hope that doesn't end badly.
Mr. Percy’s new clones first reminded me of Helen. I hope that is a coincidence. Not that those exist.


The Lambs get to meet Sephiroth the Duke. My first impression was „Kill it with fire”. That changed during his scene.
Now it is „Nuke it from orbit. It's the only way to be sure”.
Right now I really hope he doesn't live to the end of the story arc.

Interesting that the Crown is that inhuman, that they are altered this much. It makes me wonder who is controling whom there. I mean in the Academy’s place I would have installed control-switches during those alterations.

Helen’s anecdote about the incident during her creation is both amusing and horrifying.

[Lamech]

New chapter.

Well, it seems Mary will get a chance to face her maker. I hope that doesn't end badly.
Mr. Percy’s new clones first reminded me of Helen. I hope that is a coincidence.

The Lambs get to meet Sephiroth the Duke. My first impression was „Kill it with fire”. Not that those exist.
That changed during his scene.
Now it is „Nuke it from orbit. It's the only way to be sure”.
Right now I really hope he doesn't live to the end of the story arc.

Interesting that the Crown is that inhuman, that they are altered this much. It makes me wonder who is controling whom there. I mean in the Academy’s place I would have installed control-switches during those alterations.

Helen’s anecdote about the incident during her creation is both amusing and horrifying.

I note that the crown doesn't seem to have enhanced intelligence. When he was listing off his traits "pretty clever" wasn't among them.

[Kantaki]

I note that the crown doesn't seem to have enhanced intelligence. When he was listing off his traits "pretty clever" wasn't among them.

Well, maybe, just maybe he is clever enough not to advertise his cleverness. or the Academy really is in charge and doesn't want the Crown to realize it.

The description of the Duke reminds me more of a experiment than a "normal" human. If that is the norm among aristocrats I doubt they even have regular cleverness.

[Kantaki]

New chapter.

Well, the confrontation with the Mary Mark 2's could have gone better. Fortunatly they lack the original's throwing ability. Still, they do qualify as a superweapon.

Sy needs his drugs. I hope the withdrawal symtoms won't hinder him too much. It seems without Wyvern he starts to acknowledge his feelings. In a less dire situation this would be really amusing.

Speaking of Mary, I wonder if she will be fine. And hopefully Gordon and Dog will play cavalery and not dead bodies.

[Kantaki]

New chapter.

There are more Percy/Ghosts teams running around? That is not good. They have a mole inside the Academy? That's worse. The Lambs have to talk to Sephiroth the Duke (and Ibott) again? That will not end well.

On a more positive note this chapter has a lot of shipping again.

Interesting that Lil seems to be interested in Sy. It isn't unexpected, especially after their previous mission, but it is interesting.

Sy, if your best friend tells you that he has a crush on you, telling him that the Academy can fix that is not the best response.

The sad part is that it fits the Academy perfectly that they researched (and found) a method to do so.

I want to say that this setting could be improved by dropping the Endbringers in it, but they would only end up under the Academy's control or something like that.

[Lamech]

If we drop Endbringers in who would they try and make look awesome though? Also in the Academy's defense I'm sure they have figured out all sorts of ways to mess with who is attracted to who. Jamie! You can fix this. Use your stolen knowledge to make Sy love you!

[Kantaki]

If we drop Endbringers in who would they try and make look awesome though?

Spoiler: Worm (Endbringer)

Show

Right, I didn't think about the fact that they were created by Eidolon's power to be worthy enemies. But considering how much damage they did to give Daddy a challenge I wouldn't be surprised if they would do the same to the Academy. I'm far more worried what the Academy does to counter them.

Also in the Academy's defense I'm sure they have figured out all sorts of ways to mess with who is attracted to who. Jamie! You can fix this. Use your stolen knowledge to make Sy love you!

Spoiler: Worm

Show

Please, not a repeat of the Glory Girl incident. I don't think Sy would react as badly as Victoria did and I doubt Jamie is in a bad enough spot to try such a thing, especially since unlike Amy he wouldn't do it subconsciously, but I'm not sure the Lambs would remain a team.

It doesn't matter if the Academy has more than one way to alter who you are attracted to, that they have developed methods to do so is already bad enough and if anyone believes even for a moment that they use this in a way that isn't horrible wrong they should reread the story so far.

Aunt Edith says: New chapter:

The Lambs are on a battlefield again? Even "better" do so under the direct command of Sephiroth the Duke.

I forsee great unpleasantness in Clone-Percy's future, but that is nothing compared to what the poor Professor Briggs has to expect. At least his family will be cared for - surprisingly that's not meant as a euphemism. Maybe the Academy/the Crown, or at least Sephiroth the Duke, isn't as bad as all those other issues make it look.

Sy being worried that Sephiroth the Duke might want to keep one of the Lambs is heartwarming. I will die of laughter if that happens to him.

Speaking of Sy, I really hope his friendship with Jamie isn't damaged longterm - that would be bad for the Lambs' teamwork.

The confrontation with the Ghost-army and Avis Pardoe should be fun.

Regarding the good Avis Pardoe: I wonder if that is her real name or a title/nickname. I mean the name seems a bit too obvious for a birdkeeper to be a normal name.

Someone in the comments pointed out that Avis has appeared before - as part of the Rebellion. Well so much for her being innocent.

[Kantaki]

New chapter.

It seems Sephiroth the Duke can really fight. Impressive. I just hope Sy's lack of respect doesn't cause to much trouble for the Lambs.

Considering Sephiroth the Duke is going to fight Avis - the latter being on some kind of combat serum (the Jekyll/Hyde-stuff we heard about maybe? I hope we see it in action) and having prepared something else for this confrontation- I have to wonder if our protagonists are in greater trouble if he looses or if he wins.

Is this the first time we see a gun that can fire more than once? So far I had the impression that the Academy (and other) use one-shot weapons. Well, better weapons for the important guys I guess.

And Sy gets a kill. Now, this is really impressive considering his usual fighting skill.

[Lamech]

The Shepherd had machine guns IIRC in his chapter. The tech is late 19th, early 20th if you exclude the Biotech.

[Kantaki]

@Lamech: Right, there were machine guns. I’m not sure what gave me the impression that most guns are one shot. I think it might be the Exorcist guns the Rebellion used.

New chapter.

I don't think I will sleep well after reading that.

Avis modifications are very fitting considering her name and her goals.
But if Sephiroth the Duke is right the wing-symbiotes wouldn't have granted her true flight even before she lost two of them.
A shame, being able to fly is awesome, even if it requires bonding with mad science-creatures and altering your body with said mad science.
On the other hand it is symbolic that they can't make humans fly in a world with little to no freedom.

It is interesting how different the perspectives of Sy, Avis and Sephiroth the Duke are. One sees the current status quo as a necessary step in humanity’s development, the other thinks the world is going in the wrong direction since Wollstonecraft and the noble seems to believe that the Crown led civilization out of the dark age.

Sy calling Avis and Sephiroth the Duke a demon with the face of a angel and a angel with the face of a demon fits both of them very well. The only question is who is the angel and who is the demon.

The Duke reminds me of Helen, at least from the mindset. The way he answered Sy’s question about meals was weird. I'm going to assume he doesn't get the same satisfaction from good food that normal people would get. A good fight on the other hand seems to make him feel good. I wonder who thought that modification was a good idea.

That Avis considers the children still alive because bits of their brains are used to augment the Ghosts is disturbing.

Well, it seems the arc is coming to an end.
The Rebellion’s mole (or rather bird) was caught, Sephiroth had fun, all the Lambs survived and the Duke seems to like Sy. All well that ends well.
Well, ignoring Avis and Briggs fate and the Mice that were used to make the Ghost. Not to mention the fact that there are more Ghosts and Percys hiding somewhere. Oh, and Gordon’s health and the fact that the Duke likes Sy/the Lambs of course.
Even if I take those things in account this arc would be a happy end for a Wildbow story.
That means it can only get worse.

[Lamech]

Wait, they can't make people fly? Seriously? Not even a hot air balloon? Although I suppose they would call it a hot air bladder. Not even hang gliding? Heck, WE can get people to fly on their own power. Makes me wonder if the Crown is in for an airshipping. And not the romantic kind. The kind loaded with bombs.

[IthilanorStPete]

Wait, they can't make people fly? Seriously? Not even a hot air balloon? Although I suppose they would call it a hot air bladder. Not even hang gliding? Heck, WE can get people to fly on their own power. Makes me wonder if the Crown is in for an airshipping. And not the romantic kind. The kind loaded with bombs.

I'm guessing that the Academies' emphasis on biotech has impeded other fields of science.

[Kantaki]

Wait, they can't make people fly? Seriously? Not even a hot air balloon? Although I suppose they would call it a hot air bladder. Not even hang gliding? Heck, WE can get people to fly on their own power. Makes me wonder if the Crown is in for an airshipping. And not the romantic kind. The kind loaded with bombs.

The way Sephiroth phrased it Avis would have been able to glide using all four wings and her other augmentation. After loosing two wings she might have been able to slow her fall (but not with Sy clinging to her). Really flying out of her own power? If the Duke says the truth that's not possible.

It seems hang-gliding (which is what she would be doing) doesn't count as flying by Academy standards. A hot air ballon wouldn't count as flying under your own power, would it?

I'm not sure about airship attacks, it seems so far that everyone focuses on biotech. Everyone we heard about at least.

Wait, we can make humans flying under their own power? I mean sure, there are several ways we can glide, but flying? I guess it depends how you define flight. Maybe Sephiroth and I have a stricter definition of "flying under your own power".

@IthilanorStPete: Then there is that. It seems the Academy only uses "normal" technology when they need it to support their creations. Stuff like giant ships to Transport warbeasts or weapons for the stiched (and not-stiched) troops.
Well, cars are a thing if I remember Warren's chapter right.

[Lamech]

Even the ships were bioteched up.

It does seem like the Academy has lost progress in other areas of technology. The lack of flight is surprising though. Hang Gliding CAN perform cross country flight. An Albatross flies most of the time via gliding. Its essentially resting. I have to wonder if this is a casualty of their focus on weapons. The first plane/airship (or bio-plane/airship) won't make for a good weapon in all likelihood. Nor is it any sort of basic research type deal. They've just decided too hard and walked away.

[Kantaki]

New chapter.

I knew it would get worse.

Well, that explains the arc's title. It seems the Duke has found a way to punish Sy. At least I think so, that this happened after Sephiroth promised he wouldn't dismantle the Lambs before the first of them expires is a bit too convenient for my taste. Add his threat towards Sylvester and it is even less likely that it was a coincidence.

Poor Jamie.

I hope the Lambs aren't hit too hard by this and the aftermath.

The method used to torture Avis is just plain horrifying. That the Duke doesn't perceive it that way is even worse.
It seems the nobles aren't exactly "human". The Duke's physical improvements are one thing, but so far I didn't assume that his way of thinking came from those changes and from his upbringing. But he and his relatives have alterd brains? From birth? I really don't like that revelation. It makes it sound as if the crowns humanity is, like Helen's, a mask.
A ruling caste made from utterly inhuman Frankenstein's Monster-like creations? No wonder the Empire is this messed up.
If you build a society on mad science never let the creations run the whole thing. It never ends well.
In fact the best idea would be to avoid the creation of creations that can think. At least they are smart enough to keep their experiments away from the science part of the operation and to install kill-switches. That makes them smarter than the Genetics - those guys did only the latter part. Guess how well that worked for them.