I quite like the idea of Tiff having to be rescued every so often. I support it not “because she is a woman and therefore needs to be rescued”, but because boring heroes who always win and never get out of their depth in a fight are boring. And Mary Sues of the highest order. Tiff is not a Mary Sue and has been getting a little smug (i.e. “scream if you need me) so could probably use Peonie getting a chance to rub it in a little that she isn’t the Goddamn Batman. Heroes should always be just a little less good than they think they are, should always over-reach themselves and have to be yanked back every now and again. Its good for the soul.
This is the next phase of Urtica’s plan. He took the ritual planned by the masked and the crazy shapechanger, and used it to his own ends – namely, the return to the rampant manly studlyness of his youth in order to resume his pursuit of Tiffany! Think about it – its EXACTLY the kind of thing he’d do!
I go with the idea that the half naked man is Nils. The King uses daggers in a more galant way and would not point a sword in such a degree to an enemys throat. He could easily escape if he lets go of Tiffany.
Turn your arm like this – look at the hand – and feel you tendons stretch… hurts after some time.
It’s basically a test to see if Tiffany’s ready to be Peonie’s bodyguard. Not sure that the King sent him as a test, or if it’s the Guard that did it out of his own initiative. Tiffany both passed (by being ready for it and holding out as long as she did, and failed because the assassin had the upper hand at the end.
If it was a test, I’d say Tiff failed. She’s supposed to be Peonie’s protector. Where is Peonie right now while Tiff has ran off into the hedge maze in pursuit? Unguarded (and the only thing preventing her being kidnapped is the five different kidnappers[1] who’ve bumped into each other outside her quarters and are discussing who has first right to it) so if this guy was a distraction Peonie would be in real danger right now. As a protector Tiff should be on hand to drive off attacks on the Princess and then call in the redshirtsregular guard to do the hunting down in the hedge maze bit, while she sticks around in case of lingering accomplices.
Or it could just be the commotion woke this guy and he ran out without pulling his breeches on.
As I said before, if Tiff had bothered to grab a weapon of darn near any kind, she’d have made short work of the assassin. I realize it was all for dramatic effect but the big dude wouldn’t stand a chance against the assassin without his sword, too slow. We aren’t sure he’s got the situation under control yet, could be a temporary lull.
The “mystery” man is in fact Captain Phi Grund… the fellow whose unit pulled a Big Damn Heroes moment in her last fight with Faden… as well as helped escort Faden to Greyfang… as well as escorted the Princess back home.
Personally I don’t think Tiff had lost yet. Just looked like it for a moment. If anything, I think the mystery man just saved the assassin’s life. I agree, if Tiff had grabbed a weapon, she would not be having as much trouble with him.
Oooo! Please someone introduce me to the gorgeous half-naked young man who holds the sword of death so casually against the throat of Mr. Smiley-Face! Please, please!
The grip is not useless. As I mentioned before it will hurt after a while and is simply a threat to stop right now, but the arm could be easily turned down and cut his leg in less then a second. Because of the twisted hand the sword gets a clear momentum to the side, saving the power for the arm.
Good knee to the belly. I’d like to see more such fight scenes. Especially with belly punches/ kicks/ knees/elbow to Tiff or Peonie. Maybe even Theresa. Now THAT would be a catfight.
Captain Phi Grund is blonde, very blond. This guy certainly looks like him but the hair color is wrong. You could still be right though, a wizard may have done it.
Oh lord. Grim have you not heard of the rule of cool? I mean does the grip really bother ppl so much? Sometimes I think they should just add Pointless or Dumbass in front of the Comments title. Talking about realism in a damn fantasy world with magic. It’s simple, accept it for what it is. oh lord lol
Nixxi — this is a Sword and Sorcery world. Meaning, the writer can say anything he wants about the magic, but the armor/weaponry has to be realistic (except in Boris Vallejo paintings). Plus, I’m sorry but “heart” boxers are >not< cool.
I think the problem of the grip ius just an artist’s rendition. As I see it, it’s supposed to emulate those 3 musketeer-like stances, when they hold their rapeers pointed at someone.
@GrimGhost, nothing needs be realistic if it looks cool enough. And those boxers are cool, the only thing that could make Phi cooler right now would be a bow-tie and a fez!
I tell you all, I am so tired of this modern “everything must be realistic” stuff that is floating around these days (also the way everyone is suddenly an instant expert on #foo) . I never thought I’d say this, but I am so ready for a return to the Silver Age wackiness just as an antidote to that. Its one of the reasons I love this comic, it doesn’t get hung up on the hyper-realism, grimdark wangst (or at least never for long, and generally only as a set up to a punchline).
@Robert – Problem is, you wouldn’t hold an arming sword like that. Two entirely different sorts of swordsmanship.
This really is a fairly poor grip. He has almost no leverage suitable for cutting, and his point is nicely positioned to stab Tiffany, but not this ACTUAL target.
aaaand we will now return to this exciting boxer teasing webcomic fantasy hilarity.
Thank you for reading and joining in our “Sword & Sorcery-how real must realistic be?” debate.
I’m thinking also its Phil Grund, yeah, his hair was lighter color last we saw him; but it was also daytime when we last saw him, its possible his hair is just colored darker because its darker out.
ok, who’s the stud in heart boxers?
I second the question.
Oh Come On! When are we going to get the boxers with the cute bunnies on them?
Bleep, Tiffany has to be >rescued< now?
I quite like the idea of Tiff having to be rescued every so often. I support it not “because she is a woman and therefore needs to be rescued”, but because boring heroes who always win and never get out of their depth in a fight are boring. And Mary Sues of the highest order. Tiff is not a Mary Sue and has been getting a little smug (i.e. “scream if you need me) so could probably use Peonie getting a chance to rub it in a little that she isn’t the Goddamn Batman. Heroes should always be just a little less good than they think they are, should always over-reach themselves and have to be yanked back every now and again. Its good for the soul.
Loving the boxers though.
Clearly there is only one solution.
This is the next phase of Urtica’s plan. He took the ritual planned by the masked and the crazy shapechanger, and used it to his own ends – namely, the return to the rampant manly studlyness of his youth in order to resume his pursuit of Tiffany! Think about it – its EXACTLY the kind of thing he’d do!
It’s one of the king’s guards, only he didn’t have time to put on the “really, I’m not a Cylon, I just play one in this comic” armor!
I go with the idea that the half naked man is Nils. The King uses daggers in a more galant way and would not point a sword in such a degree to an enemys throat. He could easily escape if he lets go of Tiffany.
Turn your arm like this – look at the hand – and feel you tendons stretch… hurts after some time.
Considering the perspective and scale in the frame… Nils wouldn’t even FIT. He’s kinda a big dude.
He might be a member of the Third Lance – if any of them survived their encounter with Neils.
http://www.exiern.com/?p=1373
Or, he could be a member of the King’s ‘posse’:
http://www.exiern.com/?p=1711
I don’t think he’s Neils or Bohr – Not big enough. Then again, Bohr has had some work done, lately…
Ok, come on. Does nobody think it´s the bookworm?
It’s basically a test to see if Tiffany’s ready to be Peonie’s bodyguard. Not sure that the King sent him as a test, or if it’s the Guard that did it out of his own initiative. Tiffany both passed (by being ready for it and holding out as long as she did, and failed because the assassin had the upper hand at the end.
If it was a test, I’d say Tiff failed. She’s supposed to be Peonie’s protector. Where is Peonie right now while Tiff has ran off into the hedge maze in pursuit? Unguarded (and the only thing preventing her being kidnapped is the five different kidnappers[1] who’ve bumped into each other outside her quarters and are discussing who has first right to it) so if this guy was a distraction Peonie would be in real danger right now. As a protector Tiff should be on hand to drive off attacks on the Princess and then call in the
redshirtsregular guard to do the hunting down in the hedge maze bit, while she sticks around in case of lingering accomplices.Or it could just be the commotion woke this guy and he ran out without pulling his breeches on.
[1]And the Judean People’s Front.
As I said before, if Tiff had bothered to grab a weapon of darn near any kind, she’d have made short work of the assassin. I realize it was all for dramatic effect but the big dude wouldn’t stand a chance against the assassin without his sword, too slow. We aren’t sure he’s got the situation under control yet, could be a temporary lull.
The “mystery” man is in fact Captain Phi Grund… the fellow whose unit pulled a Big Damn Heroes moment in her last fight with Faden… as well as helped escort Faden to Greyfang… as well as escorted the Princess back home.
Really? None of you remember this?
Oh yeah, that guy he was definitely a real…erm….he was…yeah that guy.
does this mean Tiff has a new admirer?
Tiff’s gone an awful long time without getting another rip in her shirt. Maybe that should be fixed… =D
Is he a new Gambit!? Poor Faden, lost in… where???? We have 2 Gambits x_X
Personally I don’t think Tiff had lost yet. Just looked like it for a moment. If anything, I think the mystery man just saved the assassin’s life. I agree, if Tiff had grabbed a weapon, she would not be having as much trouble with him.
Oooo! Please someone introduce me to the gorgeous half-naked young man who holds the sword of death so casually against the throat of Mr. Smiley-Face! Please, please!
The “gorgeous half-naked young man” with the heart boxers is just asking to be disemboweled, his sword being entirely useless in the meantime.
Have to agree, Grim. That grip is pretty much not gonna be of use if any pressure is to be applied. No leverage or control.
The grip is not useless. As I mentioned before it will hurt after a while and is simply a threat to stop right now, but the arm could be easily turned down and cut his leg in less then a second. Because of the twisted hand the sword gets a clear momentum to the side, saving the power for the arm.
Smiley face is in problems…That sword is only being brought to Tiff in the most suicidal manner.
Good knee to the belly. I’d like to see more such fight scenes. Especially with belly punches/ kicks/ knees/elbow to Tiff or Peonie. Maybe even Theresa. Now THAT would be a catfight.
Captain Phi Grund is blonde, very blond. This guy certainly looks like him but the hair color is wrong. You could still be right though, a wizard may have done it.
Oh lord. Grim have you not heard of the rule of cool? I mean does the grip really bother ppl so much? Sometimes I think they should just add Pointless or Dumbass in front of the Comments title. Talking about realism in a damn fantasy world with magic. It’s simple, accept it for what it is. oh lord lol
Tiff had to be rescued!? That’s just wrong!
It can’t be Phi Grund because he was a blonde and this one’s a brunette.
Nixxi — this is a Sword and Sorcery world. Meaning, the writer can say anything he wants about the magic, but the armor/weaponry has to be realistic (except in Boris Vallejo paintings). Plus, I’m sorry but “heart” boxers are >not< cool.
I think the problem of the grip ius just an artist’s rendition. As I see it, it’s supposed to emulate those 3 musketeer-like stances, when they hold their rapeers pointed at someone.
Like this:
http://www.lepiedene.com/1687-1172-large/costume-mousquetaire-deguisement-mousquetaire-epoque-marquis.jpg
Ah, so tiff now has to face the eternal problem. does she go for the stud in the boxers or the scholar with a heart of gold.
Now this is why I love this comic. Cheesecake AND Beefcake! I like a balanced diet.
GrimGhost is just jealous Phi can pull it off and still look fabulous.
@GrimGhost, nothing needs be realistic if it looks cool enough. And those boxers are cool, the only thing that could make Phi cooler right now would be a bow-tie and a fez!
I tell you all, I am so tired of this modern “everything must be realistic” stuff that is floating around these days (also the way everyone is suddenly an instant expert on #foo) . I never thought I’d say this, but I am so ready for a return to the Silver Age wackiness just as an antidote to that. Its one of the reasons I love this comic, it doesn’t get hung up on the hyper-realism, grimdark wangst (or at least never for long, and generally only as a set up to a punchline).
CrypticMirror, I so agree. I also agree with bow ties being cool. Though suit and trainers also works for me
@Robert – Problem is, you wouldn’t hold an arming sword like that. Two entirely different sorts of swordsmanship.
This really is a fairly poor grip. He has almost no leverage suitable for cutting, and his point is nicely positioned to stab Tiffany, but not this ACTUAL target.
aaaand we will now return to this exciting boxer teasing webcomic fantasy hilarity.
Thank you for reading and joining in our “Sword & Sorcery-how real must realistic be?” debate.
Enjoy!! ;”P
I’m thinking also its Phil Grund, yeah, his hair was lighter color last we saw him; but it was also daytime when we last saw him, its possible his hair is just colored darker because its darker out.