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

'If you need me, I'll be busy frying ants with a magnifying glass.'

Chapter 45 – Page 22

on December 19, 2016
Chapter: Chapter 45
└ Tags: Ardaic, Silver Centurion, Taro Iwatani
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Discussion (65) ¬

  1. Ishmael
    Ishmael
    December 19, 2016, 12:07 am | # | Reply

    Not too late to just grab a truth potion, get the war plans out of the brat, and chuck him off a cliff.

    • StadnhaftGarithos
      StadnhaftGarithos
      December 19, 2016, 1:33 am | # | Reply

      Hear, hear!

    • Devlerbat
      Devlerbat
      December 19, 2016, 3:33 pm | # | Reply

      You think he has one on him?

      • Mr. Potato Patato Von Spudsworth III
        Mr. Potato Patato Von Spudsworth III
        December 20, 2016, 7:28 pm | # | Reply

        Wait, you don’t?

  2. Jean-Luc
    Jean-Luc
    December 19, 2016, 12:16 am | # | Reply

    And after the gnomish workforce has gathered tell them they were all set up for massive disappointment and there never was any project. That’ll show ’em.

    • Mujaki
      Mujaki
      December 19, 2016, 3:55 am | # | Reply

      Let them do all the preparation, and then tell them it’s cancelled.

      • Rolan7
        Rolan7
        December 28, 2016, 2:39 am | # | Reply

        That would certainly be true to real life! Design: Working around constantly-changing requirements until the project gets scrapped.

  3. anon e moose
    anon e moose
    December 19, 2016, 12:16 am | # | Reply

    Poor Ardaic, he looks so Crestfallen. Taro still seems to have Plans, however.

    • Chris
      Chris
      December 19, 2016, 11:20 am | # | Reply

      Perhaps the Crest is telling Ardaic something here? Perhaps he failed not because he was only beaten but because he was destined to fail?

    • Shweta
      Shweta
      December 19, 2016, 5:44 pm | # | Reply

      :D

      I’m wondering if this is because Gastonia is no more. Names often matter a lot for magic.

      • Byzantine
        Byzantine
        December 19, 2016, 9:02 pm | # | Reply

        I suspect it might also be because he knew the action he was taking was wrong, and for the wrong reason. The incantation used implies it is by the will of the people. Which his actions are most decidedly not.

  4. Rocjawcypher
    Rocjawcypher
    December 19, 2016, 12:23 am | # | Reply

    This man is shocked that his badass palidinness wasn’t up to snuff. This raises two possibilities: First, that the eldergods are waning. Not as much oomf. Second, that his god’s favor is waning. Because he’s on the side of Assholes. (Or third, he just fucked up but that one is booring.)

    • Rocjawcypher
      Rocjawcypher
      December 19, 2016, 12:24 am | # | Reply

      Also, sorry about the language, accidental and apparently I can’t edit the post? :(

    • Dave
      Dave
      December 19, 2016, 1:06 am | # | Reply

      Not sure how Paladins work in Arkerra, but perhaps if he is knowingly working under someone he is fully aware murdered their own father, it’s cost him the Righteousness Points necessary to fuel Paladin powers? Think that’s more a pen-and-paper thing than an MMO thing though.

      • Meadowbrook
        Meadowbrook
        December 19, 2016, 2:04 am | # | Reply

        I’m thinking he’s lying and let them get away.

        • Magus65
          Magus65
          December 19, 2016, 2:34 am | # | Reply

          No he definitely was surprised at these events…. Remember the oath “let the will of the many guide the hand of one”. Hes serving a pure dictatorship now not an oligarchy with roughly the best interests of Gastonia aligned with them but a man who rules opposed to the will of the many the will of the people.

          • Draxynnic
            Draxynnic
            December 19, 2016, 5:32 am | # | Reply

            Except that one thing that the oligarchy – and, from what we’ve seen thus far, although we haven’t seen what might happen after the assassination and Taro’s ascension becomes common knowledge, the monarchy that’s largely supported by the oligarchy – was good at is making itself look good to the population. The will of the many may, after all, be due to the people being fooled by good PR rather than their will being aligned with what is actually in their interest – just look at [insert whatever democratic result currently has your ire here].

            • Magus65
              Magus65
              December 19, 2016, 11:58 am | # | Reply

              How do we know Taro’s or his fathers actions were popular? We have only the words of Taro on that. The opinions of an very out of touch child of newly minted royalty and old nobility and their ilk.

    • Varorson
      Varorson
      December 20, 2016, 1:15 am | # | Reply

      Third option: He is not the normal wearer of the amulet/crest and over-estimated its power, leaving him genuinely surprised he lost.

      Fourth option: He intentionally lost, putting on a grand show as if to demonstrate that he was serious, hoping that Taro would be unable to move forward without the plans. After all, he doesn’t seem to have mentioned the torn-in-half page that Bandit shoved in his eyes and he recovered.

      Personally, I’m hoping for the fourth.

      • Varorson
        Varorson
        December 20, 2016, 1:17 am | # | Reply

        Oh, forgot to mention: one thing that makes me think he intentionally lost is his reaction to Taro. He’s giving excuses. That doesn’t seem like Ardaic’s normal persona.

    • brasca1
      brasca1
      December 20, 2016, 4:48 pm | # | Reply

      I’d suspect the power is waning when in the service of unrighteous people. Reminds me of the text that would appear whenever Big O is activated. “Cast in the name of God. Ye not guilty.” Unless there are people that need to be protected I don’t think the Silver Centurion will be much use in carrying out any of the orders of Taro who could just as easily be Alex Rosewater’s little bastard.

  5. Softy
    Softy
    December 19, 2016, 12:56 am | # | Reply

    I’m not sure if the gnomes would be aware, but they now have one hell of a buyer for those plans in Ardaic, especially if they can decode them.

    • Wyvern
      Wyvern
      December 19, 2016, 2:54 am | # | Reply

      Speaking of which, I wonder if Ardaic still has the page that Bandit stuffed in his eyeholes. And if so, whether he “forgot” to mention to Taro that he has it.

  6. Taxil Necrobane
    Taxil Necrobane
    December 19, 2016, 12:59 am | # | Reply

    Yea Taro, you go kick down doors and round up the gnomes into the slave work shops. That’ll go over REAL WELL. If the gnomes don’t fight back, they could very well pack up and leave the nation to find a better place to live. Say… perhaps they pack up and side up with our Heroes and form a 3rd faction?

    • Speedy
      Speedy
      March 16, 2019, 12:27 pm | # | Reply

      Yeah, enslaving the ones who build your war machines is asking to learn the definition of “planned obsolescence” the hard way.

  7. biggmac
    biggmac
    December 19, 2016, 1:01 am | # | Reply

    Ardaic!
    C’mon, man. Don’t wimp out! This ain’t your true character, is it?
    …. Gee, I’m getting flashbacks to my 2 previous marriages.

    • Messenger
      Messenger
      December 19, 2016, 2:04 pm | # | Reply

      Too late for that. He wimped out after pointing out that Taro’s story was unlikely given the latter’s history. He wimped out when he allowed the betrayal of the Adventurer’s Guild and of Syr’Nj.

      • Varorson
        Varorson
        December 20, 2016, 1:18 am | # | Reply

        He refused to take action then, but he never gave excuses for his failures. Unless I’m terribly misremembering, he was always rather stoic about his failures.

        Which makes this a bit… suspect.

        • Speedy
          Speedy
          March 16, 2019, 1:41 pm | # | Reply

          Good point. Maybe Ardaic wanted Bandit to get away with Iwatani’s plans. He might be hoping that the information will help save the Gnomes, and also hoping that she’ll take the information to Syr’Nj.

          Ardaic is a defender of Gastonia. Therefore, he wouldn’t consider intentionally allowing Iwatania’s war plans to be stolen a violation of his duty. The look on Ardaic’s face, when Taro said, “This isn’t Gastonia anymore.” pretty much looked like, “Good. That means I owe no fealty to you or your government.”

  8. Dave
    Dave
    December 19, 2016, 1:08 am | # | Reply

    I wonder if Ardaic was simply relying too much on raw magical power and got outplayed by simple battlefield tactics.

    Or he simply wasn’t in Cutscene mode where it’s impossible for the heroes to win. XD

  9. nightsbridge
    nightsbridge
    December 19, 2016, 1:13 am | # | Reply

    He looks like his Dad.

    • Seth
      Seth
      December 19, 2016, 1:32 pm | # | Reply

      When have we ever seen Ardaic’s dad? Does he have a bigger moustache?

  10. Commiekeebler
    Commiekeebler
    December 19, 2016, 1:18 am | # | Reply

    What is the real value of a war plan that is compromised?

    Wouldn’t you want to make new plans to keep your enemies guessing?

    I think Ardaic isn’t following this logic chain to its obvious conclusion. That Taro is worthless.

    • Dave
      Dave
      December 19, 2016, 2:58 am | # | Reply

      At the best, Taro is planning to ride his father’s accomplishments and work. He hasn’t done any planning for the long term. It’s fitting that he’s a child, because he seems to be operating from a child’s perspective: “I become King, then everyone just obeys me forever, easy.”

      It’s gonna be Joffrey II up in this shizzle.

    • beige
      beige
      December 19, 2016, 3:19 am | # | Reply

      I think this is more a case of ‘any port in a storm’

      Good old Iwatani had things set up so gastonia would fall apart without him – not just the warplan, but a lot of the other minutia that makes a nation – making him, or what he had planned, neccesary. Taro’s entire goal and selling point right now is literally ‘this country burns down without me. so would you rather keep the fires that eat the land you swore to protect at bay, or hope you can put them out yourself?’

      its childish, and short-term, and every issue we know the little brat has already, but in the short term it works… right until he does tip his hand and remind Adriac he isn’t as in-control as he thinks he is, in which case it’ll (hopefully) all fall down gloriously for the bleeping lil bleep

    • Draxynnic
      Draxynnic
      December 19, 2016, 5:26 am | # | Reply

      Another consideration here is that we only have Taro’s word that he’s memorised the plans. He could easily start calling his own shots and claim that it’s “following the plans”.

    • chase
      chase
      December 19, 2016, 12:39 pm | # | Reply

      I’m a little confused, too. If he’s sticking to the same plans of his father, why did he need to kill his dad off so soon? Just eagerness and impatience in general?

      • Asterai
        Asterai
        December 19, 2016, 12:49 pm | # | Reply

        Pretty much. He’s a little psychopath.

      • Messenger
        Messenger
        December 19, 2016, 2:05 pm | # | Reply

        Because they weren’t his plans, and because it wasn’t his rule. He wants to be on top, but he’s pragmatic enough to follow the good ideas of others when he sees them.

  11. Jordan
    Jordan
    December 19, 2016, 1:40 am | # | Reply

    C’mon Ardaic… I know you’re better than this. Well, I hope you’re better than this at least. Ask yourself, at what point do all the little groups within or allied with Gastonia like the wood elves, orcs, the gnomes and the adventurers, all of whom are being turned on or exploited by the elites running Gastonia, make up the many/majority that your oath of power and beliefs are based on?

    • Draxynnic
      Draxynnic
      December 19, 2016, 5:36 am | # | Reply

      Depends on which ‘many’ he’s powered by. It may only consider humans. Even if it considers anyone who regards themselves as a citizen of Gastonia, that might only include the humans, gnomes, and shit elves (wood and sky elves probably regard themselves, or regardED in the case of wood elves, as allies rather than citizens of Gastonia).

      • TxGator
        TxGator
        December 19, 2016, 10:04 am | # | Reply

        If the Silver Centurion powers work on faith in Gastonia, then Ardiac may very well be having trouble. Probably in large part because the Gastonia he knew has been replaced by a monarchy called Iwatania.

      • Gillsing
        Gillsing
        December 19, 2016, 5:39 pm | # | Reply

        I kind of got the impression that the ‘many’ was all the other Silver Centurions, who have similar crests, and lend their combined power (will) to a single manifestation of the power at a time. Because it seems too presumptuous to claim that a Silver Centurion acts according to the will of a whole people, when the ‘will’ of a whole people usually is split up in a lot of different directions. But sure, I guess it could be some kind of ‘I am Gastonia’ glow-power, fuelled not by actual will, but by the users belief in such a will.

  12. C. Mage
    C. Mage
    December 19, 2016, 8:21 am | # | Reply

    Wow…and I didn’t think I’d ever find a child-character I’d hate worse that Joffrey Baratheon. Taro is just the sort of kid who need to be held under water until the bubbles stop.

    • Drakkenmensch
      Drakkenmensch
      December 19, 2016, 2:03 pm | # | Reply

      Jofrey redeems himself somewhat by giving Tyrion a dummy to bitchslap in the coolest way.

  13. Pylgrim
    Pylgrim
    December 19, 2016, 8:57 am | # | Reply

    Ardaic is a disappointment even as a sort-of-antagonist/lackey. He’s like a pathetic Darth Vader.

  14. Cubanpep
    Cubanpep
    December 19, 2016, 10:01 am | # | Reply

    Taro has earned a very humiliating and public demise… the likes of which will be talked about for generations.

  15. TxGator
    TxGator
    December 19, 2016, 10:08 am | # | Reply

    It looks like the tag for “Taro” doesn’t link up with his other pages. The others pages he is on use the tag “Taro Iwatani”

    • Blake
      Blake
      December 19, 2016, 10:13 am | # | Reply

      Unless it’s his evil (good?) [EVIL!] twin brother in disguise as Taro!

  16. Sentientcheese
    Sentientcheese
    December 19, 2016, 10:54 am | # | Reply

    Pretty obvious: This wasn’t “The will of the many” guiding the hand of the one. its the will of one very tiny kid…

    • Speedy
      Speedy
      March 16, 2019, 2:11 pm | # | Reply

      The will of the many was for Ardaic to fall on his butt and let the Gnomes get away, eventually leading to the end of the Iwatani dictatorship.

      The will of the many is to have peace, freedom, happiness, and prosperity. The Iwatanis might’ve fooled the citizenry into thinking that Iwatania would give them those things, but the power behind the Silver Centurian amulet is not so easily fooled.

      That’s my guess, anyway.

  17. Chris
    Chris
    December 19, 2016, 11:21 am | # | Reply

    Panel 1 is So outspoken.

  18. Mr. Casual
    Mr. Casual
    December 19, 2016, 12:26 pm | # | Reply

    Goodness, I’m going to enjoy watching this little twit get his.

  19. The Indomitable Eric
    The Indomitable Eric
    December 19, 2016, 1:57 pm | # | Reply

    “Now you need me because the plans our enemies now know are in my head!”

    “But don’t we need new plans, because our enemies know them?”

    “SILENCE, MINION!”

  20. DeePseudonym
    DeePseudonym
    December 19, 2016, 2:45 pm | # | Reply

    Ardaic is feeling the sads because he serves lawful good.
    And the crest is lawful neutral.
    But Taro is straight up evil.
    So the crest? Not gonna work so well in service to evil.
    At least, that’s my bet.

  21. Psolo Ghoti
    Psolo Ghoti
    December 19, 2016, 5:30 pm | # | Reply

    Hmm… Taro is starting to look less creepy. That’s not good. It might, ever so slightly, impede my ability to hate him. Like 1:59 instead of the full two minutes.

  22. TheGrumpyBear
    TheGrumpyBear
    December 19, 2016, 8:16 pm | # | Reply

    Please tell me that we eventually get to see that little shit torn limb from limb. Maybe even eaten by some wild beast inch by inch? Please. I want to see fear in his eyes as he dies gruesomely.

    • Byzantine
      Byzantine
      December 19, 2016, 9:05 pm | # | Reply

      You should not wish that on any beast.

  23. Big
    Big
    December 20, 2016, 12:07 am | # | Reply

    The plans were shoved into his eyes. He can stitch the paper together and read the plans himself.
    So does he know he has the plans, and if so has he just decided to keep them for himself?

  24. minando
    minando
    December 20, 2016, 3:27 am | # | Reply

    Oh, that’s SO speciecist.

  25. Charon the Fateless
    Charon the Fateless
    December 20, 2016, 11:00 pm | # | Reply

    Perhaps, if I may well appeal to the author’s sense of… Well, nevermind that; maybe not writing in a kid king like Joffery the Shoehorn might be a good move. T’would feel a bit better than taking a cue from G.R.R. Murderallthekin himself you know.

    But, alas; fate cannot be avoided… Unless one is without.

  26. Constable
    Constable
    December 21, 2016, 7:45 am | # | Reply

    This is just a simple case of different encounters. The Silver Centurion seems much better suited to a straight out fight, a proper battle – not an encounter with several extremely well-coordinated Gnome specialists who are not intent on fighting, but rather distraction and escape.

  27. Beroli
    Beroli
    December 24, 2016, 12:51 pm | # | Reply

    I am so thrown by all the people who are speculating that his powers didn’t work as well because he tried to use them for evil or in the service of evil.

    Remember where we saw the Silver Centurion before? Cutting Brunhilde down because she opposed Gastonia’s plan to enslave the orcs? It’s not even nuanced to the extent the “Jerkocracy” of Gastonia itself is. Total number of appearances the Silver Centurion has made where it was doing anything at all other than upholding brutal fascism: Zero.

    (It is possible that his powers didn’t work well because his self-justification doesn’t work so well when the face of “the Good of Gastonia” is Taro. Though I suspect more likely he was simply outmaneuvered by Bandit and the other gnomes. If the Silver Centurion was invincible the war would have ended long ago, with Gastonia’s conquest of the world, and without involving the heroes of the comic.)

    • Beroli
      Beroli
      December 24, 2016, 1:00 pm | # | Reply

      Oh, my mistake, but I can’t edit: It did show up in a big battle against the World’s Rebellion. Still. Definitely not averse to serving and promoting evil.

    • Insaneoodlyguy
      Insaneoodlyguy
      January 3, 2017, 5:57 pm | # | Reply

      My guess is it works somewhat like Crusader powers. Clearly there are some differences (i’m guessing it’s a pretty decent magical relic) but it’s still “Fueled” in a similar way to Manifestation. Remember when Rachel got weaker as her own faith waned? I think Aradic, not the Centurion Crest, is the one who’s contributing less all of a sudden. After all, he went from serving a group of men he believed had the best interests of Gastonia at heart to this little brat and his naked power grab because he thinks it’s the only way (and probably in a part of himself he doesn’t want to acknowledge, because if he doesn’t all of the things that he did that he thinks were less then great would be for nothing). He doesn’t know what happened because until now, his faith has never wavered.

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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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