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Annotations Every Day - Written by T Campbell & Flo Kahn - Illustrated by John & Jason Waltrip

'Don't worry, we LOVE problems. Problems are dope!'

Chapter 38 – Page 24

on September 11, 2015
Chapter: Chapter 38
└ Tags: Caneghem, Grand Marshall Jarvis, Syr'Nj
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Discussion (93) ¬

  1. Anon E Moose
    Anon E Moose
    September 11, 2015, 12:08 am | # | Reply

    Seemingly not much of a choice. I don’t really see her saying no here. Plus, considering they need her even though she’s quite vocal about disapproval with things, it gives me hope that she may actually get more pull in doing things on a bit more straight of a moral compass.

    • Ganurath
      Ganurath
      September 11, 2015, 12:33 am | # | Reply

      Not much a choice if one views things rationally, no.

      The key word, however, is “if.”

      • Insanenoodlyguy
        Insanenoodlyguy
        September 11, 2015, 12:38 am | # | Reply

        Yeah, adventurers often take the (more catastrophic) third option!

        • LockeZ
          LockeZ
          September 11, 2015, 4:23 am | # | Reply

          No, tactical geniuses take the unlisted third option. Adventurers take the second option. The “yes, let’s be a problem” option.

          • l33tninja
            l33tninja
            September 11, 2015, 12:23 pm | # | Reply

            and if she takes option 2, Gastonia will have more of a problem than her. The savage races have no beef with the adventurers per se

            • Loquat
              Loquat
              September 11, 2015, 9:39 pm | # | Reply

              The Savage Races do, however, have a beef with humans and their allies, and a scenario where Gastonian adventurers decide to make a separate peace with the Savage Races and stand aside while Gastonia gets conquered seems extremely unlikely.

              • Mr. Potato Patato Von Spudsworth III
                Mr. Potato Patato Von Spudsworth III
                September 12, 2015, 5:42 pm | # | Reply

                Mmm…beef. Now I’m hungry. Thanks a lot.

          • Insanenoodlyguy
            Insanenoodlyguy
            September 11, 2015, 3:53 pm | # | Reply

            Ah, but see, this second option is “a problem we’ll have to solve” (permanently).

            Adventures go with “A problem you CAN’T solve”

    • Insufferable Nerd
      Insufferable Nerd
      September 11, 2015, 3:11 am | # | Reply

      Next page: She says no.

      Syr’Nj has been holding the Idiot Ball for this entire chapter, I don’t really see her dropping it here.

      • aberdeenphoenix
        aberdeenphoenix
        September 11, 2015, 9:34 am | # | Reply

        You have a point.

      • DeePseudonym
        DeePseudonym
        September 11, 2015, 12:06 pm | # | Reply

        At this point I think we’re moving past holding the “idiot ball” and into “oh this? This isn’t ACTUALLY an idiot ball, it’s a ‘make you talk more’ stick”.
        Syr’Nj has never been this dumb before, no, not even when she was in the depths of ByronWhining. I suspect Something be Up.

        • Stabbers N' Shankers
          Stabbers N' Shankers
          September 11, 2015, 2:05 pm | # | Reply

          I concur, even with all that’s happened with Byron and the others, Syr’Nj has always been good at assessing the situation and putting thought in to her actions.

          Of course, she could just be letting them provide enough rope to hang themselves.

          • Chris
            Chris
            September 13, 2015, 2:07 am | # | Reply

            “Oh, did I mention? This is all being broadcast via sky elf portals.”

      • Neferius
        Neferius
        September 11, 2015, 3:51 pm | # | Reply

        I think i’m with HR on this one, ‘cuz CogDAMN do i hate NPC’s right now >.<

  2. alicemacher
    alicemacher
    September 11, 2015, 12:08 am | # | Reply

    “You can either be part of the solution…or part of a solution. Bring in the acid cauldron!”

    • James K
      James K
      September 11, 2015, 1:53 am | # | Reply

      I’f you’re not part of the solution you’re part of the precipitate!

      • aberdeenphoenix
        aberdeenphoenix
        September 11, 2015, 9:27 am | # | Reply

        +1

      • Jaang
        Jaang
        September 11, 2015, 8:20 pm | # | Reply

        +2

  3. SteggySaurus
    SteggySaurus
    September 11, 2015, 12:11 am | # | Reply

    Well, long as they have a dental plan. Or scheme, perhaps even a plot.

    • TachyonCode
      TachyonCode
      September 11, 2015, 12:02 pm | # | Reply

      If they had land sharks, the plan could just be to have land sharks. Shark-scales are basically teeth.

      • Jack Vermicelli
        Jack Vermicelli
        September 11, 2015, 10:50 pm | # | Reply

        You’re aware that sharks aren’t scaled, right?

        (Also, Hammerhead isn’t scaled right.)

        • Byzantine
          Byzantine
          September 12, 2015, 1:41 am | # | Reply

          Actually sharks are scaled, just like any fish. Though the scales are small and sharp. Quite unpleasant to touch, really.

    • wolfpax
      wolfpax
      September 11, 2015, 12:04 pm | # | Reply

      Does Lisa need braces though?

      • Bliggz
        Bliggz
        September 11, 2015, 7:32 pm | # | Reply

        HA

  4. Jean-Luc
    Jean-Luc
    September 11, 2015, 12:18 am | # | Reply

    When in Rome…

    • biggmac
      biggmac
      September 11, 2015, 1:44 am | # | Reply

      …you deal with the Italians, capiche? Hey yo, Don Jarvo, Caneghalloni. Make ‘er an offer she can’t refuse, eh?

      • biggmac
        biggmac
        September 11, 2015, 2:40 pm | # | Reply

        BTW, we have 6 people in the room: Syr, Bedard, Jarvis, Canegham, Iwatani, Myamoto. And the cover page shows an “all-for-one, one-for-all” hand tower with only 5 hands. I could research their sleeves, but I’m feeling lazy. Who’s hand is missing from the stack?

        • Kennerly
          Kennerly
          September 11, 2015, 3:41 pm | # | Reply

          The missing hand is Syr’nj’s.

  5. Insanenoodlyguy
    Insanenoodlyguy
    September 11, 2015, 12:24 am | # | Reply

    Kill them all! Carve some replacements! Run the puppet government from the inside with a puppet conspiracy!

  6. Moe Lane
    Moe Lane
    September 11, 2015, 12:33 am | # | Reply

    Grand Marshall Jarvis… has made a mistake. He thinks that Syr’Nj has coldly and usefully gotten over the death of her husband, when in fact she is merely waiting to see whether Gravedust can pull off another miracle. Interesting.

  7. The Indomitable Eric
    The Indomitable Eric
    September 11, 2015, 12:45 am | # | Reply

    If DMing has taught me anything, it’s that there are always more than two choices.

    Specifically, there is also option C, D, E, F, H, G, Z, M, Q, QQ, P, 6, epsilon, and brussels sprout.

    Seriously, Jarvis. Don’t try to railroad the PCs. That shit never goes well.

    • Jordan
      Jordan
      September 11, 2015, 2:32 am | # | Reply

      It usually ends with either the players and/or the DM in tears. The players because their characters are all dead and the DM because his carefully crafted campaign has fallen apart around his head.

      • Stabbers N' Shankers
        Stabbers N' Shankers
        September 11, 2015, 2:15 pm | # | Reply

        Rocks fall, everybody dies.

        I had a DM do that to us, something like 30 minutes in. Then he let us start our real campaign in whatever the Forgotten Realms after world is (can’t remember). It was a nice little plot twist.

    • LockeZ
      LockeZ
      September 11, 2015, 4:29 am | # | Reply

      Ardaic would find a third option for sure. But if I had to pick one word to describe Syr’Nj, it would be “idealist.” I imagine she’ll take door number two.

      • Rules Lawyer
        Rules Lawyer
        September 11, 2015, 9:27 am | # | Reply

        Door ‘number two’ is aptly named, in this case.

      • The Indomitable Eric
        The Indomitable Eric
        September 11, 2015, 9:42 am | # | Reply

        One word: Frigg.

  8. J.R.
    J.R.
    September 11, 2015, 12:54 am | # | Reply

    An offer she can’t refuse. Someone called it. Don’t know who.

  9. Softy
    Softy
    September 11, 2015, 1:12 am | # | Reply

    I’m now really curious about how dangerous Syr’Nj is (being an adventurer and all) compared to everyone else in the room.

    • Mordecai
      Mordecai
      September 11, 2015, 1:36 am | # | Reply

      She could take everyone except Caneghem, I expect. Caneghem has shown the ability to stop someone with a wave of his hand.

      • LockeZ
        LockeZ
        September 11, 2015, 4:38 am | # | Reply

        I feel like the grand marshal of the Gastonian army is a dangerous person to go toe-to-toe with. Not sure who’d win, but it would be a hell of a fight.

        Also, there’s a 97% chance that His Grace Iwatani has mastered the cultists’ dark magic.

        Also, you do NOT want to see what Bedard is hiding behind his glasses.

        • Tsapki
          Tsapki
          September 11, 2015, 5:05 am | # | Reply

          Laser beams?

          • sonofevil
            sonofevil
            September 11, 2015, 5:21 am | # | Reply

            A second, smaller set of glasses.

            His eyes are really bad.

    • DeePseudonym
      DeePseudonym
      September 11, 2015, 12:10 pm | # | Reply

      She’s not just “a” wood elf. She’s THE wood elf.
      And given what sort of uncontrolled foliage happens when her sister *AHEM-AHEMS*, it might be interesting to see what Syr’Nj is capable of when she really decides to accept her birthright.
      Except, y’know, fuelled by will and rage instead of sexy times.
      I don’t think those fellows in that room are as ready as they think they are.

      • l33tninja
        l33tninja
        September 11, 2015, 12:21 pm | # | Reply

        good point. and they already sent all the guards out of the room. Maybe Canehegm is just getting his exit spell ready.

      • Ved
        Ved
        September 12, 2015, 4:32 pm | # | Reply

        Syr’nj isn’t explicitly a druid. She’s the gadgeeter science lady.

  10. Dean
    Dean
    September 11, 2015, 1:13 am | # | Reply

    Panel 5 Caneghem is thinking ‘Maybe I should call in the guy with the mop and bucket right now, to save time.’

    • CeeJay
      CeeJay
      September 11, 2015, 1:30 am | # | Reply

      Agree. Jarvis has made a mistake in judging Syrin’J by his own standards.

      He’s made what he thinks is a compelling offer, but it isn’t going to work, because the offer isn’t compelling to Syrn’J.

      I could see her going along for however long she thinks she needs, but this is the end of the “privy council”.

    • Ved
      Ved
      September 11, 2015, 2:05 am | # | Reply

      I see a man who is unhappy with his role in the empire.

      Caneghem has stopped Azunantia for the conspiracy before. But then again, he probably found the man repugnant. I think he sympathizes with Syr’nj here but not enough to stick his neck out for her.

    • Mujaki
      Mujaki
      September 11, 2015, 4:53 am | # | Reply

      He’s just remembering the time when they had to “spell it all out” for him, years ago.
      And having to spell something out for a spell caster? That’s just embarrassing.

    • l33tninja
      l33tninja
      September 11, 2015, 10:58 am | # | Reply

      I think Caneghem is hoping Syr’Nj will not choose this moment to be a martyr; I think he has some designs of his own and would prefer another elvish ally.

    • DeePseudonym
      DeePseudonym
      September 11, 2015, 12:13 pm | # | Reply

      Caneghem is totally facepalming.
      That’s not a “Damnit Syr’Nj”, that’s a “Jarvis you dumb cluck, she’s playing you like a violin….”.
      I think Caneghem might be seizing his chance to join Team Not-A-Dink.
      At least, that is what I HOPE is going down here.

      • l33tninja
        l33tninja
        September 11, 2015, 12:19 pm | # | Reply

        Unless Syr’Nj has a recording device hidden somewhere on her and all of Gastonia is listening to the villain self exposition, then I think it’s going to be more subtle than that. Politicians are slick – nothing sticks to them, and Jarvis is apparently the politicianiest of them all.

  11. Berius
    Berius
    September 11, 2015, 1:21 am | # | Reply

    I can see this going either way. I have to say, I’m really enjoying this arc!

  12. Freezer
    Freezer
    September 11, 2015, 1:26 am | # | Reply

    If this meeting doesn’t end in bloodshed, I thin Caneghem is going to have some pointed words for Jarvis.

    • SteelRaven
      SteelRaven
      September 11, 2015, 1:52 am | # | Reply

      I don’t know, Caneghem looks defeated rather than angered or disgusted as before. It like the all powerful wizard is totally powerless.

      • Gordon
        Gordon
        September 11, 2015, 12:30 pm | # | Reply

        Defeated sounds about right.

        I’m imagining he’s remembering when he was in this situation, and he’s ashamed of the choices he made. He’s too invested to rock the boat now, though.

  13. SteelRaven
    SteelRaven
    September 11, 2015, 1:49 am | # | Reply

    That look on Caneghem’s face…

    • TxGator
      TxGator
      September 11, 2015, 9:06 am | # | Reply

      Yeah. It looks like he’s trying to cover his face in shame. But what is he ashamed of?

      • wolfpax
        wolfpax
        September 11, 2015, 12:24 pm | # | Reply

        It looks more like his mental litany is, “Shut up. Shut up. Shut up.” At least that’s what I get from it.

        • Psolo Ghoti
          Psolo Ghoti
          September 11, 2015, 5:45 pm | # | Reply

          And I think it looks like he’s watching a horror movie and is preparing to cover his eyes when things get really scary.

      • Jat
        Jat
        September 13, 2015, 5:11 pm | # | Reply

        This is just my opinion, but to me it looks like he basically hates everyone in the room. Caneghem hates Gastonia, the Sky Elves are far from pleased at having to form an alliance, and to Caneghem’s ears, Jarvis’ monologue is typical of what he despises about the empire.

  14. Dr. Shiny
    Dr. Shiny
    September 11, 2015, 2:08 am | # | Reply

    They’ve figured out a way to guarantee her cooperation, whatever way that may be. They literally NEED her willing participation in the council. Without that, their mighty Gastonian Empire will crumble very quickly, and they know this all too well. They even snubbed what is basically their only source of lumber that doesn’t come from Syr’Nj. She is now an integral part of their economy, whether she realizes it or not. Jarvis makes his threat of becoming a “problem”, which is straight-up bluff. If anything happened to her, almost all wood elves would turn against Gastonia, causing even more chaos than just aforementioned economy-crumbling. They are not taking a single chance here. They aren’t misjudging anything. They know exactly what they’re doing, and exactly what they’re doing is going to work flawlessly.

    Also, despite her growing more and more irrationally emotional of late, I like to think that Syr’Nj is still an intellectual. I’m sure that she will actually figure out what’s going on.

    • LockeZ
      LockeZ
      September 11, 2015, 4:43 am | # | Reply

      Oh, shit. They’re trying to get her to resign. Three down, and she’s the last one they need gone.

      • Insanenoodlyguy
        Insanenoodlyguy
        September 11, 2015, 3:59 pm | # | Reply

        No, the offer is legit. If she resigns and takes her wood with her, they have a real problem. The wood elves might also have a problem, but the war is not going wonderfully right now. Losing a major resource would be tough at any point, but they can’t intimidate the wood elves right now they way they could have a few years ago.

  15. Fenlander
    Fenlander
    September 11, 2015, 2:51 am | # | Reply

    I hate to spell it out but we are e,v,i,look you can see where I am going with this.

  16. Peter Sadlon
    Peter Sadlon
    September 11, 2015, 6:02 am | # | Reply

    Caneghem is dreading what happens next either way. Hope Jarvis wants a happy, little, well fertilized tree growing behind him at all times for the rest of his life.

  17. Jim
    Jim
    September 11, 2015, 7:39 am | # | Reply

    As long as she says “Yes,” and then works against them behind the scenes, all will be well. It’s a question of whether or not she’s smart enough to choose the smart solution.

    Unless we are all underestimating her, and she’s got a hidden option that will be revealed next week…

    • Snowblind
      Snowblind
      September 11, 2015, 9:28 am | # | Reply

      She is going to turn the Wood Elves from Alliance to Horde.

      • l33tninja
        l33tninja
        September 11, 2015, 10:59 am | # | Reply

        I could see that, but presumably she would be dead before exiting the room. So she would be wiser to pay lip service and then work behind the scenes like Jim said.

    • DeePseudonym
      DeePseudonym
      September 11, 2015, 12:15 pm | # | Reply

      I think Syr’Nj might be a little done with compromising her principles.

    • Stabbers N' Shankers
      Stabbers N' Shankers
      September 11, 2015, 2:26 pm | # | Reply

      That’s definitely a valid course of action, but they aren’t exactly newborn babes in regards to “behind the scenes”. I’d imagine they will be keeping an eye on her regardless of what she decides, and maybe even more so if she says “Yes” to the offer. After all, keep your friends close…

  18. TallStranger
    TallStranger
    September 11, 2015, 8:51 am | # | Reply

    In panel 3, did Grand Marshall Jarvis actually sigh, or did he just say “sigh” out loud? I think more the latter: it would be hard to sigh punctuation, and he seems the type to sarcastically say it in a patronising manner.

  19. aberdeenphoenix
    aberdeenphoenix
    September 11, 2015, 9:33 am | # | Reply

    You woodn’t want to be a problem, right? Particularly not a knotty problem. I axe you again, will you join us? You don’t want us to have to uproot your people, right?

  20. Rukduk
    Rukduk
    September 11, 2015, 10:25 am | # | Reply

    Uhh, Jarvis, you just said you couldn’t afford to lose her. You basically gave her the all clear to say no in a highly cliched manner.

    • l33tninja
      l33tninja
      September 11, 2015, 6:28 pm | # | Reply

      He also said that they would kill her if she says no.

      • The Indomitable Eric
        The Indomitable Eric
        September 12, 2015, 12:18 am | # | Reply

        The Peacemakers don’t have a good track record with ‘staying dead.’

  21. Skatie
    Skatie
    September 11, 2015, 10:35 am | # | Reply

    Dome…empty space…so…cool…

    (The perspective in panel four is amazeballs, guys, and I may be geeking out over it a little too much eeeeeeeeee…….)

    • Jaang
      Jaang
      September 11, 2015, 8:26 pm | # | Reply

      True. It’s really nice art in panel 4.

  22. Chris
    Chris
    September 11, 2015, 11:15 am | # | Reply

    ~~~~~Sending Elven Telephathic Messages~~~~~~

    • aberdeenphoenix
      aberdeenphoenix
      September 11, 2015, 11:31 am | # | Reply

      Oh my gosh, what if that’s actually what he’s doing? Casting a spell to talk to Syr while Jarvis rambles on.

      • l33tninja
        l33tninja
        September 11, 2015, 12:21 pm | # | Reply

        I would love it if that were the case

        • aberdeenphoenix
          aberdeenphoenix
          September 11, 2015, 1:59 pm | # | Reply

          He’s probably just thinking “Dammit Syr, don’t look at me, don’t talk to me, I’m not on your side”

  23. Jordan
    Jordan
    September 11, 2015, 1:06 pm | # | Reply

    What I find most worrying is Caneghem’s reaction. He must have received the same speech and offer some time ago and it looks like he’s none too happy with how that’s turned out, but can’t figure out how to get free. I’m guessing that there’s going to be a stick along with the carrot that Jarvis is offering.

  24. Jat
    Jat
    September 11, 2015, 4:41 pm | # | Reply

    I still don’t understand why Jarvis was cut out of the loop.

    • Jat
      Jat
      September 11, 2015, 4:41 pm | # | Reply

      Ardaic, I mean.

      • aberdeenphoenix
        aberdeenphoenix
        September 11, 2015, 4:46 pm | # | Reply

        Ardaic has been working with the Peacekeepers and the Adventurers for quite some time; maybe Jarvis is worried about Ardaic’s loyalties.

        • l33tninja
          l33tninja
          September 11, 2015, 6:27 pm | # | Reply

          Maybe Ardaic is not privy to all the deceptions and machinations of the heads of houses . . . and maybe Jarvis has a few secrets. If there’s one guy that doesn’t blab, its Jarvis.

  25. Seggs
    Seggs
    September 11, 2015, 7:47 pm | # | Reply

    Caneghem over there like, “would an invisibility spell be too conspicuous?”

  26. Minando
    Minando
    September 12, 2015, 3:09 am | # | Reply

    The inner circle is in trouble now.

  27. MichaelHaneline
    MichaelHaneline
    September 12, 2015, 9:57 pm | # | Reply

    Why? Why did you just say “sigh”? Who does that?

    • Jat
      Jat
      September 12, 2015, 10:59 pm | # | Reply

      Very sarcastic people.

  28. Twitcher
    Twitcher
    September 13, 2015, 7:00 am | # | Reply

    Up until a few comics ago, I thought the Guildies, especially Syrn’j, *knew* they were being played by the council, and were just not aware of just how *much* they were being played. It’s politics; you put up with a certain amount of crap from your bosses because you know you’re an asset they can’t afford to lose… or was that exactly what Syr was doing until they essentially captured all her pieces in this grand, weird chess game?

  29. Likeidputmyname
    Likeidputmyname
    September 13, 2015, 11:33 am | # | Reply

    RESTART FIGHTOPIA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Guilded Age is co-written by T Campbell & Flo Kahn, and illustrated by John Waltrip. Site design by Samantha Kyle. Fonts by Blambot.com.
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