Erfworld Thread X: A Series of Unfortunate Cliffhangers

[Leewei]

Spoiler

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Was any one else confused in the conversation with Jojo? I couldn't follow a lot of the beginning of it.

I was completely lost. The update was definitely hurting for want of a Jojo-to-English translator.

[The Glyphstone]

I was able to read it, Maybe I'm just unusually fluent in Carny-lingo.

[Jasdoif]

Spoiler

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Was any one else confused in the conversation with Jojo? I couldn't follow a lot of the beginning of it.

If I understand correctly, Jojo was panic-ly telling himself not to panic (and draw attention to himself) over Thinkagram-ing with Charlie.

Because while talking to outcast sides is allowed, the Arkentools being declared OP means accepting a call from the Arkendish is also prohibited. And there were Lookamancers there who already suspected Charlie killed the Lookamancers (and Thinkamancers and Foolamancers) at the Great Temple earlier.

So Jojo was intentionally trying to do the opposite of drawing attention to himself.

[TheWombatOfDoom]

If I understand correctly, Jojo was panic-ly telling himself not to panic (and draw attention to himself) over Thinkagram-ing with Charlie.

Because while talking to outcast sides is allowed, the Arkentools being declared OP means accepting a call from the Arkendish is also prohibited. And there were Lookamancers there who already suspected Charlie killed the Lookamancers (and Thinkamancers and Foolamancers) at the Great Temple earlier.

So Jojo was intentionally trying to do the opposite of drawing attention to himself.

So a case of pictures would have helped a lot, or better explaining the scene. Okay. Thanks for that.

[Jasdoif]

So a case of pictures would have helped a lot, or better explaining the scene.

Or maybe just a little less character flavor coating the text. "And they had the right idea betting on Cheese Station Charlie as the perp" would've read easier than parsing a statement about ducats and a second use of "C" in the same introductory paragraph.

[JeenLeen]

If I understand correctly, Jojo was panic-ly telling himself not to panic (and draw attention to himself) over Thinkagram-ing with Charlie.

Because while talking to outcast sides is allowed, the Arkentools being declared OP means accepting a call from the Arkendish is also prohibited. And there were Lookamancers there who already suspected Charlie killed the Lookamancers (and Thinkamancers and Foolamancers) at the Great Temple earlier.

So Jojo was intentionally trying to do the opposite of drawing attention to himself.

Agreeing on interpretation.
I also thought this was a really cool Carny power. It reminded me of an SMBC strip (or I think it was SMBC) where a social scientist tells a physicist that an invisibility field is easy, then holds up a sign saying "Homeless. Need money." Also kinda reminded me of an old World of Darkness Mage reference to Nephandi casting a 'do not notice me' spell by screaming obscenities such that people's minds fail to comprehend the horror. (Not to equate the two in any way.)

[Officer Joy]

(or I think it was SMBC)

yes it was.

[Jasdoif]

I also thought this was a really cool Carny power. It reminded me of an SMBC strip (or I think it was SMBC) where a social scientist tells a physicist that an invisibility field is easy, then holds up a sign saying "Homeless. Need money."

I was thinking of Freefall's "Want more e-mail? Sign up here for SPAM!" sign, myself.

[lord_khaine]

I was thinking of Freefall's "Want more e-mail? Sign up here for SPAM!" sign, myself.

Yes me to. I did think it was a pretty cool trick.

[HandofShadows]

Yes me to. I did think it was a pretty cool trick.

Which is part of the reason that Freefall is one of the best written webcomics around.

[TheWombatOfDoom]

Spoiler: New Update

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Portal Pillar confirmed. Didn't mind this update, but I still feel like we have on the brink of all the crescendo for a long time. Maybe all the ducks are in place NOW?

[lord_khaine]

Which is part of the reason that Freefall is one of the best written webcomics around.

Well true.. it does have a lot of interesting insights like that. And i dont recall seing anyone use that bit about "Want more Spam? sight up here" before i saw it on Freefall.

[-D-]

Spoiler: New Update

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Portal Pillar confirmed. Didn't mind this update, but I still feel like we have on the brink of all the crescendo for a long time. Maybe all the ducks are in place NOW?

Spoiler: Yes

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I felt, this way a year or so ago...

[DigoDragon]

Spoiler: New Update

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Portal Pillar confirmed. Didn't mind this update, but I still feel like we have on the brink of all the crescendo for a long time. Maybe all the ducks are in place NOW?

Spoiler: Update

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Egads I hope so. There's enough filler to open up a peanut packaging plant.

[lord_khaine]

So.. Charlie seems to miss a lot of references from our world, but does understand words like Kill. Have it been suggested yet that this could be from him him just being really, really old?
Like.. the Wizard of Oz is from 1900, so with a delay from getting it written and published then he is likely from 1840 or something. Have this been suggested yet to explain why things like "whats the magic word" confuse him?

[Rockphed]

So.. Charlie seems to miss a lot of references from our world, but does understand words like Kill. Have it been suggested yet that this could be from him him just being really, really old?
Like.. the Wizard of Oz is from 1900, so with a delay from getting it written and published then he is likely from 1840 or something. Have this been suggested yet to explain why things like "whats the magic word" confuse him?

I'm fairly certain that Charlie is a native Erfite. His understanding of words like "kill" is because he interacted with Dorothy Gale when he was overlord of El Efbaum. Dorothy was the last target of the "summon perfect warlord" spell.

[JavaScribe]

I'm fairly certain that Charlie is a native Erfite. His understanding of words like "kill" is because he interacted with Dorothy Gale when he was overlord of El Efbaum. Dorothy was the last target of the "summon perfect warlord" spell.

It would take more than Judy. He knows about way too many things, like guns and circuitry. It could be an effect of the Arkendish, but there's also the fact that he's capable of swearing. Erfworlders get headaches when they even hear swear words.

[Leewei]

Charlie is a Carniemancer. He leads a side, and produced an heir, Olive Branch. His Signamancy is very Erfish. He knows his side's Shmuckers balance. Known Stupidworlders have not been casters, nor side leaders. They have gaps in the knowledge their side's leaders intuitively possess.

The above facts argue fairly strongly for Arkendish channels being the source of Charlie's special knowledge.

[JavaScribe]

His Signamancy is very Erfish.

So was Judy Gale's, a confirmed alien. Plus, the Wizard of Oz originated from a non-fairy world.

Known Stupidworlders have not been casters

We know from the Carnymancy/Weirdomancy scroll that it's possible, whether or not it happens naturally. Plus, the Wizard of Oz started out as a humbug wizard before becoming a real one.

nor side leaders.

Judy Gale was a side leader.

They have gaps in the knowledge their side's leaders intuitively possess.

That's true for Parson. Learning that was apparently hard won intelligence for Charlie, it might not have been true for Judy.

The above facts argue fairly strongly for Arkendish channels being the source of Charlie's special knowledge.

It's still weird Charlie can use the F-word.

[Rockphed]

It's still weird Charlie can use the F-word.

The word that is often termed "the F-bomb"?

I'm pretty sure that Charlie knows so much about stupidworld because of the Arkendish.

[JavaScribe]

The word that is often termed "the F-bomb"?

I'm pretty sure that Charlie knows so much about stupidworld because of the Arkendish.

Caesar and Wanda now know swear words via Parson, and they flinch every time Parson uses them. Charlie used them on his own. So if he is a native Erfworlder, it begs the question of what kind of television shows he's been watching via ArkenTV to get used to it.

[JeenLeen]

Charlie is a Carniemancer. He leads a side, and produced an heir, Olive Branch. His Signamancy is very Erfish. He knows his side's Shmuckers balance. Known Stupidworlders have not been casters, nor side leaders. They have gaps in the knowledge their side's leaders intuitively possess.

The above facts argue fairly strongly for Arkendish channels being the source of Charlie's special knowledge.

Do we know if he knows his side's treasury without using the Arkendish to retrieve the info?
The only time I recall him seeing the count was when he retrieved it via Arkendish, not an intuitive knowledge. This does NOT definitely rule out him having it as a ruler-sense, since he later comments that he is not use to using his ruler-senses of his units since he so regularly relies on the Arkendish... but it could be evidence that he lacks that natural power warlords, casters, and rulers have.

EDIT: Parson comments that, as he got more active, he got more in-shape. I forget where, but I think it's a comment about going up and down the stairs, or just he's a tad less flabby as his time in Erfworld passes. This COULD be naturally getting more fit from being more active, but it could be Signmantic changes.
Basically, I mean to point that it's possible, over time, for Earth-ers to get signamancy similar to Erfworlders. Perhaps Charlie over time started to look like a cross of a bloated Charles Xavier and Charlie Brown, if he started out otherwise from earth.

(I think we don't have enough intel to know Charlie's origins that evidence is purposefully pointing both directions, but I find the speculation fun.)

[JavaScribe]

The latest.

I hope it doesn't cut away again. One way or another, I expect this to be biggest moment in the current book.

[Anteros]

The latest.

I hope it doesn't cut away again. One way or another, I expect this to be biggest moment in the current book.

But...don't you want to know what Ansom is doing right now?

[Zalabim]

Spoiler: Spot the Jack

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Whatever Jack's doing there, we've just had it repeated that a doombat's hearing is much better than its sight. As long as Jack is silently waiting, it's likely Charlie doesn't even know he's there.

[Welf]

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What does Shirley mean with "as if it is hers"? In Erfworld that doesn't really make sense since only rulers can order a capital city to produce a heir/child. Or is there a trick Turnamancers can do?
Baby making in general seems to be a big topic in the last 2 books.

[Anteros]

Spoiler

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What does Shirley mean with "as if it is hers"? In Erfworld that doesn't really make sense since only rulers can order a capital city to produce a heir/child. Or is there a trick Turnamancers can do?
Baby making in general seems to be a big topic in the last 2 books.

Heirs seem to pop with characteristics of the ruler and whoever they are sleeping with at the time. Like Vinnie's kid with Jillian.

[guttering flame]

Heirs seem to pop with characteristics of the ruler and whoever they are sleeping with at the time. Like Vinnie's kid with Jillian.

Does it get multiple characteristics if the ruler sleeps around?

[Anteros]

Does it get multiple characteristics if the ruler sleeps around?

Maybe? Certainly something for Parson to test if he ever forms a side.

[DigoDragon]

It's still weird Charlie can use the F-word.

"Free"?

Heirs seem to pop with characteristics of the ruler and whoever they are sleeping with at the time. Like Vinnie's kid with Jillian.

Makes sense then why Vanna is invested and asking Caesar if he's stepping down once the heir pops.


I wonder if Jack has seen through Roger's ruse on the bracer?