Gunnerkrigg Court 6: Fire Away

[eee]

WOO WOO WOO WOO!!!!!!

This is Smitty; of COURSE he's going to have a fit woman fetish. He and Parley may yet 'blip' away and not be seen for hours...

(A swordwoman may not need muscles, but Parley is training to be the Court Protector. That may mean more than swordplay, it may mean being able to run for hours, beat monsters in hand to hand combat, and perform acts of daring do and strength on a routine basis. I suspect Parley's going to be even more impressive before she's done.)

[Mobius Twist]

Don't forget dragon wrasslin' on top of that. Not much call for dragon slaying of late, at least.

Also, given Parley's preferred sword (zweihander), she'll need both speed and strength to use it optimally. Not quite as twitchy-reflex as a rapier would be, I imagine, so the contrast to the Ghost of the Annan Waters is apt in both muscle and style.

[Haruspex_Pariah]

I don't get why Parley has to be so hesitant. She's a fighter, probably the most physical of the group. Considering what kind of build her teacher has, it shouldn't be that much of a surprise.

[Yuki Akuma]

I don't get why Parley has to be so hesitant. She's a fighter, probably the most physical of the group. Considering what kind of build her teacher has, it shouldn't be that much of a surprise.

She's a teenager who hasn't seen her boyfriend in Coyote-knows-how-long and has had a drastic change in appearance since she last saw him, and also has a history of being embarrassed by her feelings. Of course she's hesitant.

[Felius]

She learned to jump good.

[SZbNAhL]

She learned to jump good.

Which is pretty cool if you're Eglamore, but when you can already teleport instantaneously it's a little silly. I mean, it might be useful if Smitty's not around to act as a guidance system, but otherwise why bother?

Speaking of transport, does Parley's get a rogat orjak? I'm a little fuzzy on the system for that.

[Shadow of the Sun]

I think Parley might be doing some etheric shenanigans with her jump.

Also, good Smitface. You didn't screw up! :D

[eee]

Which is pretty cool if you're Eglamore, but when you can already teleport instantaneously it's a little silly. I mean, it might be useful if Smitty's not around to act as a guidance system, but otherwise why bother?

She jumps high, builds up tremendous speed coming down, then blips sideways in front of an enemy and plows into them with not merely her own strength but also the power of acceleration behind her.

Speaking of transport, does Parley's get a rogat orjak? I'm a little fuzzy on the system for that.

That really hasn't been discussed...

[guttering flame]

how does the Court Defender office she's training for fit into the Court? They have a strong Forest vibe. Will Parley be disdained by the higher ups?

[Haruspex_Pariah]

how does the Court Defender office she's training for fit into the Court? They have a strong Forest vibe. Will Parley be disdained by the higher ups?

What? Her appointment to that post was an official event, at the same time that Smitty was made medium. Why would they disdain her.

[danelsan]

She jumps high, builds up tremendous speed coming down, then blips sideways in front of an enemy and plows into them with not merely her own strength but also the power of acceleration behind her.

Er...couldn't she do that by teleporting high in the air, possibly gaining more height (and thus more time to accelerate coming down) than by jumping?

Still, depending on how rapid and how conscious the reaction of each skill is, her blipping and that etheric "cushion" she appears to have used to break her fall, her new ability might be useful to prevent surprises, such as when a foe knocks her toward something hard, if she can do so more readily than she could blip away from impact.

[guttering flame]

What? Her appointment to that post was an official event, at the same time that Smitty was made medium. Why would they disdain her.

Just because it's an official role doesn't mean they respect the position. The school janitor is an official position for example.

[Haruspex_Pariah]

Just because it's an official role doesn't mean they respect the position. The school janitor is an official position for example.

We've seen nothing to suggest disdain or disrespect either. As far as I can tell it's just another position.

[Giggling Ghast]

Yeah, I don't care for the change. Her muscles didn't develop naturally and now her body looks all disproportionate, like Parsley's severed head has been stuck atop an older male weightlifter's body.

Plus, magical body modification is generally icky in my book.

[Shadow of the Sun]

Yeah, I don't care for the change. Her muscles didn't develop naturally and now her body looks all disproportionate, like Parsley's severed head has been stuck atop an older male weightlifter's body.

Plus, magical body modification is generally icky in my book.

Each to their own. I think she looks gorgeous.

[eee]

Yes, Parley, after you smash the corner of a building it's a good idea to move away before the authorities notice...

[Fawkes]

Yes, Parley, after you smash the corner of a building it's a good idea to move away before the authorities notice...

Or before the rest of the building comes down.

[Haruspex_Pariah]

Opening pathways eh? I wonder how many gates she managed to get to (Naruto reference).

[Chromascope3D]

Opening pathways eh? I wonder how many gates she managed to get to (Naruto reference).

...I wasn't fast enough to make this joke first. Forgive me Gai-sensei...

[EternalMelon]

Spoiler: New Comic

Show

'Atta girl Annie!

I'm surprised Eglamore would bring up Tony McStoneyface during Parley's training.

Also, mysterious new guy training Parley in panel five, I wonder if he's important. Who am I kidding, this is Gunnerkrigg Court, of course he's going be important!

[eschmenk]

I think the "mysterious new guy" is just Eglamore. Eglamore hates Annie's father and complains about him at inappropriate times. That's nothing new. The cause was apparently jealousy over Surma, but maybe we will learn something more.

[Yuki Akuma]

Psst: people not being able to recognise Eglamore is a running joke.

[eschmenk]

Psst: people not being able to recognise Eglamore is a running joke.

I would have taken it that way if not for, "Who am I kidding, this is Gunnerkrigg Court, of course he's going be important!" Is saying that Eglamore is going to be important part of the joke now?

[Lethologica]

Iiiiiit's an acceptable variation.

[Zea mays]

So apparently there aren't many teachers left? That's not ominous at all. Maybe just not many teachers like Eglamore.

don't they need at least 28 teachers to cover each of the 7 years in each of the four houses?

[guttering flame]

So apparently there aren't many teachers left? That's not ominous at all. Maybe just not many teachers like Eglamore.

don't they need at least 28 teachers to cover each of the 7 years in each of the four houses?

There are plenty of grown-ups and teachers in the court. The 'teachers' are an independent group of martial arts / zen masters / Chi masters that use ether-powers.

[eee]

Oh Jimmy-Jims. Stop mincing your words and just say what you mean!

[Rodin]

I wonder if he found a stranger in the Alps?

[eee]

Annie...

Annie, Annie, Annie...

You know the Court engages in constant surveillance. You know you're someone who upsets them and they probably keep a close watch on. You haven't swept the area for listening devices. And yet you comment about what is probably the Court's greatest secret casually, as if saying something like that would not immediately make the Court extremely paranoid if they heard you.

Are you TRYING to set off fireworks?

[guttering flame]

Annie...

Annie, Annie, Annie...

You know the Court engages in constant surveillance. You know you're someone who upsets them and they probably keep a close watch on. You haven't swept the area for listening devices. And yet you comment about what is probably the Court's greatest secret casually, as if saying something like that would not immediately make the Court extremely paranoid if they heard you.

Are you TRYING to set off fireworks?

Supposedly they just track their location. The Court dismisses her capabilities. They fear her powerful friends. Not Annie herself.

Edit to add - The censure these last two pages is hilarious.