Mort says:
This woman is dangerous to be around. She only got the upper hand because you were nauseous and not your best. She would’ve killed you if you were alone.
You have to look out for yourself. Give him an ultimatum. It’s either her or you.
Tell him you only came because he promised you community. And your first meeting wasn’t too kind either, after all in the beginning they tried taking your food from you! If she’s coming too, you’ll leave. You only have one life.
As much as you don’t want to be stuck here with these degenerates, you’d prefer to not return to the Lightkeeper empty handed. I doubt she’d pardon Iron as a consolation prize.
And after that Gnomanyan greeting you did, there’s no chance you’d have any leverage here, that he’d choose some cargo creature over his “dear sister”.
Colonel says:
Sheez, that was foolish, Glass. Hopefully you’ve gotten it all out of your system. If this mission is to work, you need to work WITH these people, up until such time as you can turn them in to the authorities. So swallow your pride, and show them the necessary grace to get this done and over with.
Cringelord says:
I BELIEVE IN YOU GLASS! It wasn’t a fair fight and you were drunk from heatstroke and disoriented … she did properly kick your ass, though, so don’t take this as an indicator to try again.
You’re sick of being pushed around. Chased. Grabbed. By people that can just do whatever they want to you.
You’re utterly frustrated, always being reminded that you’re powerless. But you’d be lying to think it wasn’t cathartic to just let loose on someone like that. Just expect the tension between your shoulder blades to return. It always returns.
But it doesn’t matter how you feel. Iron’s freedom is on the line. You can’t afford anymore screw-ups.
lightningfox89 says:
Be sneaky like a Sorya and try to play him off against her. Ask him why he puts up with her outbursts.
Look, you said you understand the Sorya. You’re not trying to be like one. You’re trying to beat the allegations, remember? Though, given The Circle’s eccentric members, Yenkaran does seem out of place. It seems like a fair question.
You ask, “Just a moment… Effrenka, was it? What do you… exactly see in her?”
He tilts his head, “That’s a… strange question.”
“Y’know… her outbursts,” you gesture to your snout, ”You seem to put up with it.”
“Putting up with her is irrelevant. She’s my kin. A True Hunter of The Circle. We folk cannot afford the luxury of mere squabbles. The evils of this world will pick us apart if we’re always at each others’ throats.”
“I reckon she doesn’t respect me.”
“Well, that tends to happen when one is spat upon.”
“I meant from the moment she decided to pin me down and have you go through my shit.”
Yenkaran falls silent. Of course.
He begins to stand up. “I’ll… let Effrenka know you’re… okay.”
“I’ll join you; I just need to check on a few things first.”
Anonymous says:
You should check that all the contents of your bag is still there.
Head knocks followed by strangulation is not exactly good for your brain. Is your story still straight? Are your possessions still in your possession? Are your irises the same size?
zebediah zebbins says:
Get a drink outta that waterskin. You’re pretty exhausted!
You’re fine. You’ve been through worse. You take inventory, and gulp down the rest of your water. Aside from The Waterskin, the bag appears undisturbed. The papers are still haphazardly stuffed the way you left them. It didn’t seem like they snooped around. At least they haven’t found out that you’re illiterate.
solstice says:
briefly consider shooting celebratory fireworks at effrenka to show how much you like her
Viksen says:
Mental long-term note: acquire firearm to avoid situations like this.
Shooting’s all you’ve really been decent at.
Your quest log’s taking longer to scroll. It’s almost as if you should start completing things.
After collecting your thoughts, you gather your things and hobble over by the riverbed to join them.
“There you are, Madam. Would you be so kind to oblige us with your discovery?”
You start, reciting what the Lightkeeper instructed you to say, albeit with less energy. “So yeah, The Stacks District. It’s a gang, smuggling weapons for the Nanzuul. We can take the weapons, and maybe… catch something as well?”
Effrenka glances at Yenkaran, “…You’re not gonna ask? Really?”
You exhale impatiently.
She continues, “Fine. I’ll ask: Where did you hear such things?”
“From my… prey. In a plea for his life.” you lie.
“That so?”
Yenkaran chimes in, “Yes, this was the one she caught in the forest when we met her yesterday.”
“‘We’ as in…?”
“It was Mikella, Tazmun, Nairn, and myself.”
Her brow furrows, “So let me unpack this: There were four of you. Armed for the hunt and you just let her walk away with them?”
“She left a good impression on the pack. See for yourself.” He chuckles and shows his hand.
“What? You allowed this frail wretch to cut you?”
Yen stammers. “She was so frightened. And I like to think of myself as a courteous man. And furthermore, she found it first. Hunter’s rights.”
“I’ve been gone too long.”
“Are you suggesting I should’ve harmed a fellow Sister of the Circle?”
“I’m suggesting you should’ve put her in the ground and fed your starving folk.”
“I reject that. That is not how we do things. We aren’t savages.”
You hear the horrible woman break into a bitter cackle. A long wheeze. Then a snort.
“And you.” she narrows her gaze at you, “You have some nerve returning to us and causing more trouble. It was only a matter of time before you ran into someone like me, huh? Listen closely when I tell you this: If you ever cut him again, I will remove your head and kick it around like a ball.”
You snarl, “The hell you mean, ‘trouble’? I have boundaries.”
“If you value your boundaries then you’d best stay away from folk like us. You should’ve just taken your meatbag and vanished; You’d be set for a year. Now you want to share with us?”
“I want to help. And I’m doing this for Yenkaran; He’s the only one that’s been nice to me.”
She scoffs, “You don’t know him.”
“And,” you continue, irritated, “I need better weapons to defend my catch. Where I come from, I’ve learned that nothing’s truly yours unless you can fight for it. Maybe we can get those weapons together, they’re not exactly easy to get in Cohv.”
“Freckles—we have weapons. You want one? Ask Yen. If he let you walk away with our victuals then I’m sure he’d give you a little sword to accidently fall on. Better yet, I’m sure he’d even give you the fillings out of his teeth since he’s feeling so generous.”
“Enough of this! C-can you just entertain her for one second, please? Our hunts haven’t exactly been the most bountiful as of late, and Glass is willing to help us even after you decided to utterly brutalize her. We are kin. And that makes both of you sisters.”
You and her share a mild look of disgust.
Effrenka replies plainly, “Fine, carry on.”
“Glass if you may.”
“I was told it’s on a pinnace, docked near the old cranehulk. And they only unload in the morning. Should only be a couple there, at least until dawn.” You speak as if you know what a cranehulk or a pinnace is, but they’re probably things that float.
She stares at the water, “Which cranehulk?”
Yenkaran replies, “We’ll there’s only one now. The other one on the Rusted Jag sank into the slop a few months ago.”
“Okay, and shouldn’t we assume it’s a set up?”
He cocks his head, “We scout before we decide, right? Is there any reason to not follow your own wisdom here?”
“No. We can take a look. What about her?”
“What about her?”
She gestures to you, “Is she prepared?”
“I can provide what she lacks. I believe I’ve a spare mask and wraps. That is if you don’t have any yourself, Glass.”
“I’d appreciate that, thanks, Yenkaran.”
Yenkaran and Effrenka push the boat off the riverbed. You watch her open a panel and start checking on the strange machinery attached to the aft. To no one’s surprise you hear more cranky sighs and scoffs out of her.
As he brushes off his hands, he turns to you, “So… pardon my assumption, but I pegged you as a trapper. That trap you set yesterday was quite impressive. Clever use of the vines I must say.”
You reference another good memory with Dad, “Yeah, back home I’ve made a few traps. Although the best ones were built from guns and tripwires. Those worked well. Even better with wheellocks. Matches… they suck.”
You hear Effrenka swear in a different language.
“I’m sure you miss your tools. What kind of weapons do you think will be on the pinnace, anyway?”
“Honestly, I know as much as you do. I don’t even know what a pinnace is.”
“I’d like to tell you, but she and I have argued about it once before. Sometimes it’s a large boat. Other times its a small ship. Sometimes larger ships carry them to be assembled. It’s really confusing.”
“It really isn’t a hard concept to grasp, Yen.” Effi huffs.
“I think its best we just look for the cranehulk.” he nudges you.
He faces you directly, “All being said, I want to know how you feel about a more direct hunt. Your confidence in the fray, that is. I feel it best to have you, but I wish not to place you in needless peril. So tell me, dear Sister, how do you prefer to work?”
I love the detail how the money counter was using her fingers given she’s illiterate (innumerate? Is there a specific word for not knowing numbers?) Anyhow, this is probably going to go horribly wrong, though for me I feel like that’ll be because Glass herself gets framed somehow. As for hunting style..? Stealth “archer”/Trapper. Or mounted hunter, lol. Didn’t she… Read more »
yenny just a lil guy he can do no harm
Yen acts like a superstore manager desperate for new hires who are willing to stay past probationary. So forgiving and accommodating.
If that is the case, Effi would be the underpaid, overworked Human Resources manager. She has to put up with everyone’s crap, and gets her ass kicked by the boss for their screw ups. She is just about ready to jump ship.
Glass and Zeb, and Effi and Yenkaran are dark reflections of each other. Zeb degrades himself as a weak coward, yet shows traits of being someone who will fearless defend his beliefs. Yenkaran portrays himself as a brave protector of hunters, but shows cowardly traits when his perspective is confronted. He seems to follow the general mood, not asking any… Read more »
I just realised that Glass attacked Yenkaran when they first met and Effi antagonised/warned Glass for the same reason. Glass protecting Zeb, and Effi was protecting Yenkaran. Glass to Yenkaran in 30: “Any closer… and it will be your throat.“ Effi to Glass in 59: “Listen closely when I tell you this: If you ever cut him again, I will… Read more »
Hopefully Zeb and Yenkaran get to show how chivalric they both are and kick some ass to protect their girlfriends.
They don’t appeared starved to me. An extra hunger meter that needs prey flesh to fill, I presume? When Glass was sleepwalking, was she acting….hangry?
She needed to eat a snickers. She’s not herself when she’s hungry.
Effi seems to be a bit abrasive now, and she is not nearly as likeable as Yenkaran. However, I like to think that she has some tragic backstory. I get the feeling she was instrumental in establishing the Circle. I think that maybe the Nanzuul raided her village or town, killing everyone. She wanted revenge, and decided to look into… Read more »
im starting to like yenkaran a lot and im not sure how to feel about that
Understandable. Yenkaran is a noble villain, who wants to help protect his people from the Nanzuul and grazers. His sophisticated personality is a result of the higher moral ground he believes the the Circle has and should hold itself to. His purpose conflicts with reality, however. Effi represents the reality of the Circle. He’s so nervous in this one as… Read more »
Effi and Yenkaran seem to me as the next romantic couple of this series after Zeb and Glass. Yenkaran sees the Circle as a noble cause, to fight against the tyranny of the Nanzuul. Effi knows they are all just savages, mocking the others for not getting their hands dirty enough. The backstory of the Circle has to be more… Read more »
I wonder if there is a way to mind control the Circle. Their rituals induces them into a savage frenzy, altering their minds. Could it be possible to use different chemicals and substances to yet again control their behaviours by editing and modifying their savage stupor?
“Like I said. By trap and misdirection. Lone hunter tactics. Lurk in wait and follow up the trap. Hit the weakest point. Big fan of skulking too. Love a good skulk.” If he asks what the difference between lurking and skulking is, tell him it’s kinda like the pinnace thing. There’s a difference but no one can agree on what… Read more »
Tee hee, I can’t help but feel there’s a bit of innuendo going on with all this discussion of pinnaces, their size, and what they go into. ^w^
I can sense the traditionalists vs realist divide among this group.
If Effi is a traditionalist, then how is she getting her prey? She has been isolating herself from the others, seemingly because she sees them as pathetic failures. She rejects all of their ideas, meaning she probably doesn’t disguise her activities as much behind a civilised facade. She could be a baker, but that could be her baking cannibal foods… Read more »
I meant Effi is the pragmatic one against a bunch of “larpers” who act for the sake of cultural reclamation.
Sorry! Misunderstood. I wonder though if Effi herself is only acting, just more hardcore. I don’t think that any members of the current Circle are that good of warriors. Even Effi, who might just be a little more savage and willing to get her hands dirty. My personal theory is that Effi is the middleman between the Circle and something… Read more »
Effi is like a single mom of a household of brats, always dreaming about that ultimate getaway.
hahahaha
Yeah, maybe Effi is so grouchy because she’s the one who actually brings in most of the prey around here, and she resents Yen as a pretentious “sophisticate” who not-so-secretly thinks he’s better than her when in fact he actually sucks at hunting, or at least isn’t as good at it as she is. Alternatively, maybe Effi has some not-very-sisterly… Read more »
I like the second one. Also, here is a third. Mikella says she is the mistress of the pack, but what if that is not true. What if the Circle is like SPECTRE, and Mikella is just one of the lower numbers? What if the real master is someone like Blofeld, someone incredibly powerful with major influence who doesn’t need… Read more »
I must’ve sounded crazy writing this. I don’t mean to come off as some lunatic who rambles madly. I don’t want to annoy you guys with these theories, or, because some are, rather headcanons. I make a lot of these kinds of comments, only because I am very invested in the comic. Also, sometimes I just let something I have… Read more »
Yenkaran’s starting to rethink he previous convictions. Let’s help him out by giving him an antidote. I suggest we must burn him, or apply fire directly to his blood stream via a open wound. It worked in Temple of Doom with the Thuggees, so it should work here.
say you like to earn trust, lead your prey off one by one, and then catch them off guard. gives you an excuse to go talk to them beforehand and figure out how to pull this con without anyone dying
Glass needs to get her own butt out of harms way. If I think the number of guards are going to appear that I think are going to appear, then no amount of wit is going to be able to prevent the Circle from being captured. She needs to worry about herself, and finding an excuse to hide out until… Read more »
I wonder who is actually the better fighter. Effi or Yenkaran. I get the feeling Yenkaran is generally holding back, perhaps because he does not fully agree with some of the Circle’s teachings. He is generally trying not to be savage. Effi is using her true savage potential, and is at full strength. If this is correct, then Yenkaran is… Read more »
Glass should not go either as a trapper or combat hunter. This whole thing is a damn trap, one that the Circle won’t be able to sniff out. Kivari has set up something that they won’t expect. If Glass gets caught setting traps or hunting with cannibals, off to Qothic jail she goes. Instead, she should tell Yenkaran she has… Read more »
You sure seem convinced that Kivari is lying. Why and about what exactly?
Essentially, Kivari has very seductive and snake-like body language in entries 48 to 50. She pouts mockingly when Glass is revealed to be a criminal, and she playfully comments about how dangerous Glass is being a ‘Sorya’. She is enjoying the intrigue, treating Glass more as a exotic toy than a person. Kivari smiles slyly when Glass tells her she… Read more »
She wants to assume control of Cohv from the Qoths, ruling with absolute power. She is using Glass to create an incident. The Circle will attack the Nanzuul, sparking a major terrorist attack in Cohv. Kivari will hand Glass over to the Qoths as a patsy. This does multiple things. The Soryaonia is increased, and the ability of the Qoths… Read more »
And for countless decades afterwards, citizens of Cohv will debate whether or not there was a second Sorya hiding on a grassy knoll.
Hahahahahah. Oliver Stone will have to make a movie about it.
Patient: Kivari
Diagnosis: Good Idea Fairy
Possible outcomes:
1. Nanzuul Cohv
2. Qoth cohv
3. Partition of Cohv by the former two.
Even if Kivari isn’t going to betray Glass, we still need to think of a way to get her into the Beacon without being caught by the Qoths.