Girl Genius XXI: Cancel the Jugglers

[Ellen]

So, Andy's problem is not just part of recent revival or after-effects of storage. Too bad.

Really hoping he doesn't decide Zola is a Heterodyne. Like we don't have enough trouble.

The Master's backstory is looking pretty interesting at this point. He was a friend and ally of Andy's once and had to help bring him down. Now, in his old age, he may have to do it again (or die trying).

On the succession issue:

There's a general leaning towards primogeniture. Some cultures have gone for ultimogeniture (inheritance by youngest child/son). Some prefer siblings/brothers of a monarch before children/sons. Some royal families have changed the family name for reasons other than male/female line issues.

There have been some royal families where any child (or any male child) could be named heir (which led some to have the habit of wiping out everyone not named heir. Although I believe one Babylonian king spared his brother even if he had to make him a eunuch to get away with it).

In some cases, there have been arguments over legitimacy. Some prefer direct descent in a female line over indirect descent in a male line. Some don't.

Short version: Things get very messy very fast when it isn't clear who should be next on the throne.

As Robin McKinley put it, ""Kings should marry young and get heirs early, that their people may have one thing less to worry about."

[Lethologica]

I'm getting a broken image link.

[geoduck]

I am curious how this all fits in with Andronicus saying he was abruptly snatched away from his supposed moment of victory by Van Rijn.

[factotum]

I am curious how this all fits in with Andronicus saying he was abruptly snatched away from his supposed moment of victory by Van Rijn.

If he *did* actually die there, as the Master believes, then his memory probably isn't all that accurate. Or, of course, it's always possible that Van Rijn drugged him to make the others think he was dead, so he could take away the "dead" body without any questions.

[eee]

Looks like Agatha's not going to have time to greet her hostess before things start going boom.

She needs to cut down on the sparkle.

And pooh, Violetta didn't get to wear a pretty dress after all. On the other hand, she's working, keeping the weasel safe and an eye on Martellus.

[Shining Wrath]

The last thing Andy remembers is Van Rijn standing before him. And per the Master, " - the corrupted shell of the Storm King raged across the land - " long after the world believed him dead.

Conclusion: Van Rijn tried to do something FOR his friend - and botched it. Resulting in a corrupted shell raging across the land. And then took his body and laid it somewhere in some form of suspended animation, perhaps hoping he could undo the botch. Or maybe killing him isn't really possible.

[halfeye]

Or maybe killing him isn't really possible.

Destroying anything is possible, it's how much collateral damage is tolerable that is the question.

[Shining Wrath]

Destroying anything is possible, it's how much collateral damage is tolerable that is the question.

In a world without nukes - so far as we know - Andy may be pretty darn close to indestructible.

I'm really seeing this arc leading toward Colette breaking through and achieving Full Sparky, and doing so to avenge her father's death.

[factotum]

Conclusion: Van Rijn tried to do something FOR his friend - and botched it. Resulting in a corrupted shell raging across the land. And then took his body and laid it somewhere in some form of suspended animation, perhaps hoping he could undo the botch.

Ooh, I like that theory--it nicely explains the apparent inconsistency between the Master's and Andy's recollections. Will be interesting to see how their reunion goes!

[Rogar Demonblud]

For a moment, I was wondering if the woman in the group shot was our first glimpse of Albia, but apparently not if they're all dead except for the Master.

[Ellen]

Just wanted to toss this in on the royal inheritance issue:

Some cultures had a king, but he would inherit by being the son of the king's sister--because you could always be sure of descent through the female line. OK, it's a bit cynical, but so's Tarvek's family.

We haven't seen any evidence of anyone doing that in the GG world. But, if the Storm King's line favored that system (obviously, they claim descent from Andy, but they may have favored female descent after that).

Why would this be fun?

Think about it politically for a favor-male-descent family, like it seems Gil comes from. Tarvek can be Storm King, but whoever marries Seffie is the father of the NEXT Storm King.

Both families would see themselves as co-opting the other. It's dynastic politics where both walk away feeling they've won.

[geoduck]

For a moment, I was wondering if the woman in the group shot was our first glimpse of Albia, but apparently not if they're all dead except for the Master.

For whatever it's worth, here is a sketch of Albia that Phil did for a fan, and she looks absolutely nothing like the woman in the strip. I wouldn't be surprised if it turns out that Albia seldom if ever leaves England.

[Shining Wrath]

The question of whether or not inheritance could pass through the female was the basis for the British claim to the throne of France. Which led to the Hundred Year War. These things matter.

The Saudi's don't pass via anything based on age; the House of Saud gets together and picks one of the men to be the next king. The youngest of the sons of old ibn Saud is the current king; when he passes, they'll have to go to the grandsons. He had dozens of sons and I think there are hundreds of grandsons, so they should have a wide selection.

The Master of Paris seems to be using the Saudi method; he's not going to hand things over to his eldest child, he's got hopes for Colette.

[eschmenk]

I like the way Violetta is looking at Martellus while holding the weasel in the first panel.

Do we have any idea of who is on the right-hand side of the third panel and what they were doing? My only guess is that one of them is Van Rijn without his hood up, but I don't trust that idea. In any case, their eyes look evil.

[eee]

I like the way Violetta is looking at Martellus while holding the weasel in the first panel.

Do we have any idea of who is on the right-hand side of the third panel and what they were doing? My only guess is that one of them is Van Rijn without his hood up, but I don't trust that idea. In any case, their eyes look evil.

I think it would have to be van Rijn, with a couple of assistants. One of them maybe Prende. I can't think of anyone else who would be on scene in the aftermath of Andy's defeat that the companions wouldn't turn on or try to shoo away. As to the eyes, they might be evil, or they might be showing determination.

(The fighter on the right: Is that some sort of staff he's holding that's sticking up behind him, or does he have that... whatever it is... attached to his back?)

[eschmenk]

(The fighter on the right: Is that some sort of staff he's holding that's sticking up behind him, or does he have that... whatever it is... attached to his back?)

Huh? I think the "staff" is a person. I think someone is standing behind the guy who is sitting. He is holding some sort of animal in the crook of his arm. I think he is looking off to our right, but I can't make out a face, so apparently he's wearing some sort of mask? He is wearing some sort of helmet with two antlers on it.

[eee]

Huh? I think the "staff" is a person. I think someone is standing behind the guy who is sitting. He is holding some sort of animal in the crook of his arm. I think he is looking off to our right, but I can't make out a face, so apparently he's wearing some sort of mask? He is wearing some sort of helmet with two antlers on it.

Ah, yes, that makes more sense. I was interpreting it as the animal being the head in some sort of mask (or perhaps an animal headed person), and the body doubled over in the grief that seems to be the general emotion of the scene, with the arm across the face in an additional show of distress. But you appear to be correct.

It's a very STRANGE mask, though. If it is a mask.

[Shining Wrath]

Also, the MoP was evidently 8 feet tall and 5 feet wide as a young Spark. Or is he already well down the path of mechanical man?

Notice Andy's coffin has electrical discharge as Van Rijn drives it away.

[eschmenk]

It's a very STRANGE mask, though. If it is a mask.

Maybe a heavily tattooed druid?

[Ellen]

If Andy weren't a character who'd been built up over years, I'd be expecting the tragic ending where he causes mayhem only to get back in touch with reality long enough to realize how much he's lost and make a noble sacrifice/succumb to radiation poisoning while saying something that tries (and maybe succeeds) in being memorable.

But, I can't imagine he's going to be gone that fast. So, I've got no idea where this is going. Hopefully, he doesn't decide Zola is the Heterodyne and Agatha is her servant. Other than that, I haven't a clue.

[factotum]

Andy only has the Muse's word that this is Paris, and since he disbelieved her when she told him it had been centuries since he was last active, I'm not sure why he should suddenly start believing her now?

[HandofShadows]

Seeing something with your own eyes tends to make a person rethink.

[eee]

Spoiler

Show

Yes, Andy, it's been centuries. Now I don't suppose you'd be willing to go back down to your crypt like a good like zombie Storm King and stop causing trouble, would you?

Didn't think so.

(Once he finds out that almost everyone he knows IS dead and has been for a long time,I wonder what he's going to do? I wonder what motivated him to go on his destruction spree before?)

[Shining Wrath]

Will the Master attack, or talk? I suspect some exposition is in order regardless of good tactics. Also, he's not going to want to hurt Prende.

This also may be the moment for Beausoleil to make his move.

[HandofShadows]

Spoiler: Welp

Show

That didn't last long. Old Andy if off really off his rocker. The real question is who (what) is yelling stop in the bottom right? It's someone with the same speach bubble as one of the Muses.

Tinfoil hat theory time. Olitia is in Paris and is the one yelling. But why didn't we know about Olitia before or see her? Because she was petending to be a clank named Bohrlaikha. If you noticed Bohrlaikha acts a lot like Von Pin/Olitia.

[Shining Wrath]

Krazokzk! is a most eloquent argument against Parisian architecture.

The Master has positively identified Andy, not that there was much doubt. And Prende has lost her ability to influence her lord.

[Kantaki]

Well, so much for resolving this peacefully.
Not that that was ever a likely option...

[Lethologica]

Well, so much for resolving this peacefully.
Not that that was ever a likely option...

Nah. He's about to be arrested. I have full faith in the Parisian blue line to handle this.

[Shining Wrath]

Nah. He's about to be arrested. I have full faith in the Parisian blue line to handle this.

So you think he'll be seized by the gendarme of the law?

It's very worrisome that the Master is worried, considering the firepower of the gargoyles / Monsieur Machines / truant officers / what have you he can throw at this situation.

[stsasser]

This also may be the moment for Beausoleil to make his move.

MoP, all his defenses, no less than 3 Stormking candidates, the Heterodyne AND her castle plus assorted Queen of the Dawn/Other/Geisterdammen (and where are Gil and/or Higgs?) on hand...all of them revved up for a fight, and Beau is gonna throw down?

Naw...you let them beat each other down for a while, then step in to steal the prize.