Indeed. It’s not necessarily humans who are the enemy. However there are those among the humans who should never be trusted and those who should only be trusted under certain circumstances. Those in control of Gastonia are mostly in the former group and the average human is in the latter.
Trying to make peace with Gastonia would be dangerous. A cold war might be the best possible outcome. But, like Gravedust once wrote, humans are not the enemy. Not even Gastonia as a whole. It’s the corruption that runs their government, and which can also be found among the Rebellion’s leaders.
I hope you’re on to something, because it’s the first thing I noticed, the distinct contrast between Penk and tho others. Either it’s intentional or our comic crew are just that good and did it sub-consciously.
Remember, a alliance that includes everyone is not alliance. You have to be excluding someone for it to work. Preferably the people who have a history of subjugating and massacring your people, from Harky’s point of view.
Wouldn’t that be a twist. Here it’s all been set up like a big LotR-style “Elves and Humans unite against the ravaging hordes of evil!”, with a fellowship and everything- but what if the Peacemakers go and join the World’s Rebellion?
Of course, Harky’s not thinking about what comes after *if* they defeat the humans. Once the common enemy is gone, what then? Iver is certainly looking to that future already; Harky better do the same.
Harky’s just not very good at picking his adventuring partners. At least two of the leaders of his coalition are already out for themselves…coincidentally, acting just like the Gastonians. Iver is actively angling to oust Harkey, and you better believe the goblins are on the same page.
There were idealists in Gastonia, too, once upon a time. They’ve been rather scarce, lately.
“I mean, he was standing to the left just a moment ago, and now he’s standing to the right, just because I turned around and walked away. If I turned around again, he would be on the left side again. I just don’t know how anyone can trust a system that’s so easy to manipulate.”
I am amused because I completely agree with the troll Warchief. Except, of course, from the perspective of a human.
“Can your blood atone for genocide, orc? Your Horde killed countless innocents with its rampage across Stormwind and Lordaeron. Do you really think you can just sweep all that away and cast aside your guilt so easily? No, your kind will never change, and I will never stop fighting you.”
Harky wants it to be simple when it’s complicated. He wants to believe that you can tell by race whether someone is going to stab you in the back or not, when the truth is that whether someone is going to stab you in the back is an assessment you have to make on an individual level. Telling himself that betrayal is a uniquely human perversion frees him of the need to be on his guard around trolls, Savasi, gnolls, goblins, and landsharks.
…But then again, looking at the five main characters, it appears that they’re about to go from 50% to 100% for “humans reliably flip out and slaughter their companions.”
That’s an…. interesting way to look at it that Harky has.
Fear that everything would fall to pieces if they made peace with Gastonia.
Given what we’ve seen of the Gastonian government, it’s probably safer to be their enemy then their friend.
Indeed. It’s not necessarily humans who are the enemy. However there are those among the humans who should never be trusted and those who should only be trusted under certain circumstances. Those in control of Gastonia are mostly in the former group and the average human is in the latter.
Trying to make peace with Gastonia would be dangerous. A cold war might be the best possible outcome. But, like Gravedust once wrote, humans are not the enemy. Not even Gastonia as a whole. It’s the corruption that runs their government, and which can also be found among the Rebellion’s leaders.
Hilariously, all of the society that trolls have made would disappear if the war ends.
Don’t forget the Orc slave labor.
Don’t be silly. Peons want to be slaves.
Fifty Shades of Grea-ter Foe?
I feel like there’s something telling in how Penk is the only one there with any real color to him.
I hope you’re on to something, because it’s the first thing I noticed, the distinct contrast between Penk and tho others. Either it’s intentional or our comic crew are just that good and did it sub-consciously.
I only thought it was because it was a flashback, but I do kinda hope that it means something more, now that you mention it.
Remember, a alliance that includes everyone is not alliance. You have to be excluding someone for it to work. Preferably the people who have a history of subjugating and massacring your people, from Harky’s point of view.
An alliance that includes everyone is called World Peace. :P
The more we learn, the more I’m rooting for the World’s Rebellion. Especially Harky, Gondolessa and the champions.
Wouldn’t that be a twist. Here it’s all been set up like a big LotR-style “Elves and Humans unite against the ravaging hordes of evil!”, with a fellowship and everything- but what if the Peacemakers go and join the World’s Rebellion?
Of course, Harky’s not thinking about what comes after *if* they defeat the humans. Once the common enemy is gone, what then? Iver is certainly looking to that future already; Harky better do the same.
Harky’s just not very good at picking his adventuring partners. At least two of the leaders of his coalition are already out for themselves…coincidentally, acting just like the Gastonians. Iver is actively angling to oust Harkey, and you better believe the goblins are on the same page.
There were idealists in Gastonia, too, once upon a time. They’ve been rather scarce, lately.
Their enemy is half the planet. If peace isn’t on the table, no one’s gonna defeat anyone.
It’s only half he planet til the expansion comes online. Then a new continent will be discovered with a new & deadlier enemy. ;-)
Well, there’s always the minotaurs.
The future? Tectonicus detonates the supervolcano and resets the board for another go-round.
Dialogues like this are one of the reasons I like Guilded Age.
“I mean, he was standing to the left just a moment ago, and now he’s standing to the right, just because I turned around and walked away. If I turned around again, he would be on the left side again. I just don’t know how anyone can trust a system that’s so easy to manipulate.”
I am amused because I completely agree with the troll Warchief. Except, of course, from the perspective of a human.
“Can your blood atone for genocide, orc? Your Horde killed countless innocents with its rampage across Stormwind and Lordaeron. Do you really think you can just sweep all that away and cast aside your guilt so easily? No, your kind will never change, and I will never stop fighting you.”
Harky wants it to be simple when it’s complicated. He wants to believe that you can tell by race whether someone is going to stab you in the back or not, when the truth is that whether someone is going to stab you in the back is an assessment you have to make on an individual level. Telling himself that betrayal is a uniquely human perversion frees him of the need to be on his guard around trolls, Savasi, gnolls, goblins, and landsharks.
…But then again, looking at the five main characters, it appears that they’re about to go from 50% to 100% for “humans reliably flip out and slaughter their companions.”
If you put enough chaos demons in them EVERYONE will flip out and slaughter their companions.
True, but aside from that, it IS more complicated than Harky wants to believe – and many others as well, both in GA and in real life.
He’s wright.
The road to hell is paved with good intentions.
In war it doesn’t matter who is right… only who is left.