Y’know, I’ve “talked” to my long-dead father at times. Of course he wasn’t talking to me actually; I was just imagining how he would talk to me if still alive. It was all based on my memories of him, his beliefs and personality. I think E-Merl’s doing that, with a little hologram magic to help.
Or, it’s the beginning of a schizophrenic breakdown.
A lot of people do that sort of thing, with people dead or alive. They imagine what the conversation would go like based off their knowledge of the person. Heaven knows how many times I’ve had such ‘conversations’.
Probably the former, since E-Merl doesn’t seem all too broken up about Rachel. (At least compared to Frigg.) I think it would take more than that to drive E-Merl mad.
My guess: neither. I think the illusion was both consciously and subconsciously formed from E-Merl’s memories of Rachel — that is, he might not have fully realized how much detail he put into it. His subconscious might still have some control over the illusion, but I think it’s all magic from here.
In computing terms, E-Merl wrote the program (the illusion), put it into the computer (the talisman) and pressed “Run” (the spell). He can send input (talk) to the program, and override it with new commands (spells) if he wants to, but otherwise, I assume that it runs on its own.
As for surviving code, here’s a prediction (that someone has probably already made and I forgot or just didn’t notice): In a future story, Rachel’s sepiaworld player will give up on Kingdoms of Arkerra and decide to try Hurricane’s other franchise, Escape from Cyberia. She installs the game and tries to create an account with the same username she used for Arkerra… only to find that it’s already taken. On a whim, she tries to log in with that username and her old password. It succeeds. *spooky music*
Alternative scenario, in case having a single account for all Hurricane games is standard procedure: Rachel’s player installs the game and goes to create a new character… only to find that she already has one. *spooky music*
It’s always fun to see people’s theories, because some folks put some real thought into them and pose great pathways for the story to follow, even if they aren’t what actually ends up happening.
Your ticket has been received. We are unable to restore your character ‘Rachel’ in full at this time but as an interim would you be interested in playing a small illusion of Rachel in a hat?
I’ve been wondering just how much of their own agency the characters whose SepiaWorld players aren’t in tanks have. The battle with the Cyberian monster seems to be something that Rachel’s player wasn’t aware of – I suspect that the players establish the basic personality and can at least influence major decisions (like the Scipio-Fr’Nj romance) but a lot of what we see is happening while the players are offline.
What if it’s the other way around? How much agency do the SepiaWorld gamers have over what they tell their characters to do? Maybe the magic just makes them want to tell their characters to do what they were doing to do anyway.
Or the magic is in matching the player to the person who’ll do what the player wants, but independently of the player wanting it (so events in Arkerra would unfold the same, regardless of whether or not the game was running, possibly excepting the influence of the Five and Daedelus). You start to get into interesting free will issues there, but we’ve already been to Plato’s Cave. The comic isn’t afraid of some philosophy.
Personally, my theory is that nothing in Sepia World is real. It’s all just a game, with artificial characters being controlled by the people in Arkherra.
e-Merle’s not going nuts.
He’s having an OOC moment of “waaaaiiiitaminnit, this doesn’t make any sense whatsoever, Something Is Up…”
Personally, I think this heralds not just a “people in tubes or Brother Homon” style, but a full on plot crossover between sepia world and Arkerra.
‘Bout dang time too.
Nah, nah, he’s not having delusions of talking with Rachel.
He’s just on a Skype call with her player, checking in to see if she’s made any progress with Hurricane’s customer service department about having her character restored.
E-Merl, you’re going to be arguing with an illusion you cast of your dead girlfriend. That’s a little messed up.
Maybe E-Merl’s strength is self-delusion .
Y’know, I’ve “talked” to my long-dead father at times. Of course he wasn’t talking to me actually; I was just imagining how he would talk to me if still alive. It was all based on my memories of him, his beliefs and personality. I think E-Merl’s doing that, with a little hologram magic to help.
Or, it’s the beginning of a schizophrenic breakdown.
A lot of people do that sort of thing, with people dead or alive. They imagine what the conversation would go like based off their knowledge of the person. Heaven knows how many times I’ve had such ‘conversations’.
At least he’s not talking to the illusion of himself.
Yeah his illusion of himself is just standing to the side going “Awk-warrrd”
Been there, done that. Don’t ask.
I think E-merl is having an out of hat experience.
I think he personifies what little self appreciation he has in Rachel’s image. Which makes me cry.
Not sure if surviving code of Rachel manifesting or E-Merl is just becoming unhinged…
Probably the former, since E-Merl doesn’t seem all too broken up about Rachel. (At least compared to Frigg.) I think it would take more than that to drive E-Merl mad.
My guess: neither. I think the illusion was both consciously and subconsciously formed from E-Merl’s memories of Rachel — that is, he might not have fully realized how much detail he put into it. His subconscious might still have some control over the illusion, but I think it’s all magic from here.
In computing terms, E-Merl wrote the program (the illusion), put it into the computer (the talisman) and pressed “Run” (the spell). He can send input (talk) to the program, and override it with new commands (spells) if he wants to, but otherwise, I assume that it runs on its own.
As for surviving code, here’s a prediction (that someone has probably already made and I forgot or just didn’t notice): In a future story, Rachel’s sepiaworld player will give up on Kingdoms of Arkerra and decide to try Hurricane’s other franchise, Escape from Cyberia. She installs the game and tries to create an account with the same username she used for Arkerra… only to find that it’s already taken. On a whim, she tries to log in with that username and her old password. It succeeds. *spooky music*
Alternative scenario, in case having a single account for all Hurricane games is standard procedure: Rachel’s player installs the game and goes to create a new character… only to find that she already has one. *spooky music*
Magic as code — I dig it. Also digging the Cyberia existing character theory.
Ditto!
It’s always fun to see people’s theories, because some folks put some real thought into them and pose great pathways for the story to follow, even if they aren’t what actually ends up happening.
Been done… Wizardry series by Rick Cook. Good reading that.
You may be interested in the Wizard series of books by the author Rick Cook.
Ace programmer ripped into a world of magic where he is tasked with defeating a great evil.
Another thing to check out: Ra, found here: qntm.org/ra.
It’s completely possible that this is Rachel’s Player just chatting with E-Merl’s Player in Sepiaworld, and they’re roleplaying this exchange.
Uh-oh. E-Merl’s about to emotionally melt down – he’s got the wet eyes look in panel 4. He’ll spew the issues, so get the tissues!
He’s got an infinite supply up his sleeve.
Your ticket has been received. We are unable to restore your character ‘Rachel’ in full at this time but as an interim would you be interested in playing a small illusion of Rachel in a hat?
I’ve been wondering just how much of their own agency the characters whose SepiaWorld players aren’t in tanks have. The battle with the Cyberian monster seems to be something that Rachel’s player wasn’t aware of – I suspect that the players establish the basic personality and can at least influence major decisions (like the Scipio-Fr’Nj romance) but a lot of what we see is happening while the players are offline.
What if it’s the other way around? How much agency do the SepiaWorld gamers have over what they tell their characters to do? Maybe the magic just makes them want to tell their characters to do what they were doing to do anyway.
Or the magic is in matching the player to the person who’ll do what the player wants, but independently of the player wanting it (so events in Arkerra would unfold the same, regardless of whether or not the game was running, possibly excepting the influence of the Five and Daedelus). You start to get into interesting free will issues there, but we’ve already been to Plato’s Cave. The comic isn’t afraid of some philosophy.
Personally, my theory is that nothing in Sepia World is real. It’s all just a game, with artificial characters being controlled by the people in Arkherra.
“Don’t stop the escape E-Merl. Just keep it under your hat for now.”
Under E-Merl’s hat & over the golem’s head. Ur, what little bits & pieces of it are left over, anyway.
Mama always said it is okay to talk to yerself. It’s even okay to argue wit yerself. Just be making sure you win the arguement.
That sounds like good advice. I officially open the floor to other suggestions.
(looks down at the floor)
Well, you got anything to add?
Dude, its not like she’s a jaywalker or a pot smoker or a wall street executive where nobody cares, she is a highly contagious berserker. Freak out.
……nnnnnooooooo she isn’t?
nah, no berserker stuff here. she stabbed him the good old fashioned way; cold heartedly.
“…oh, and besides, I´m dead. Don´t worry, I´ll get better soon.”
my strength?
ooooh now I know you’re bullshitting me, Rachellusion
Its weird when the story actually does what I expect it to do. Since my predictions usually are too far out there…
I guess it sort of came out the other side and became unexpected really! XD
Sometimes it actually happens that the 4th wall gets broken from the outside…
Yeah come on E, show Bandit your strength, throw her your bone.
Huh. I always figured his dump stat was CON-fidence.
e-Merle’s not going nuts.
He’s having an OOC moment of “waaaaiiiitaminnit, this doesn’t make any sense whatsoever, Something Is Up…”
Personally, I think this heralds not just a “people in tubes or Brother Homon” style, but a full on plot crossover between sepia world and Arkerra.
‘Bout dang time too.
Hey where is the bandit holo? Ha she slipped away too.
She just decided to tag along with her “big sister.”
She’s stealing E-Merl’s illusions.
Seriously was I the first to notice holo-bandit was gone too?
It’s just the exact frame with a closer focus. Bandit’s propably still in the illusion..
Definintely!
Nah, nah, he’s not having delusions of talking with Rachel.
He’s just on a Skype call with her player, checking in to see if she’s made any progress with Hurricane’s customer service department about having her character restored.
Nooooooo ! I found this webcomic a week ago and I’m caught up! Amazing stuff!
too many n’s in that “definitely” I think