Splrch for the win

[Sarah]

Ooo, definitely was NOT expecting that. What to say, except...

WELL PLAYED, CLAUDIE!

I especially like the noise off screen in the last panel, and that look on Tychia's face. I love you, hon, but honestly, you had that expression, as well as whatever's happening off panel, coming. Yes, you did, yes you did.

And Claudius looked so badass in the shot where we're looking up at him. I think this is all a crowning moment of awesome for him. Hooray!

So, bonds can be made with things other than love? I suppose it's true that hate can be love with its back turned. Was the bond formed wittingly or unwittingly? Did Claudius of the past swear an oath to hunt Tychia down, after what she had done to Xylia (especially considering that shot of Xylia in distress?) Of course, we don't need to worry about Tychia not being able to tell us, since she'll return...

Unless Claudius has severed her as well. Dun dun DUUUUN!

Ah, it's good to be back. ;)

[Barb Jacobs]

Welcome back, Sarah!

Tee hee. Honestly, though I worried and fretted about this page for months. This one and the next one. This scene really didn't make sense to me- it kind of wrote itself- and I'm hoping that more is revealed as time goes on. I just kind of have to let the characters do their thing sometimes...

The biggest worry I had is that people would think that Claude is evil. I don't want to say much more- I want to let the scene play itself out.

Glad to have you back, Sarah!

~B

[Matt]

{So, bonds can be made with things other than love?}

Why yes! In a past life, Claudius and I were fraternity brothers. We have an eternal bond based on salty snacks, spicy chicken wings and beer while watching team-based sporting events! Woot!

[Matt]

This page surprised me too. Well done, Barb.

I think Claude's full intentions are yet to be revealed. I don't think his intentions would cross over into the "evil" realm. It just wouldn't do to repay evil with evil. We'll see what he really did with the spear soon enough I suspect. Did he go for the heart? Or did he just wing her and "sever" her, knowing she'd survive (recall they *are* in Diagonia and in range of healing. The door led him back to the portal painting. ... I had forgotten that part initially when I commented on the main page)? We'll see! :) Perhaps our Tychia may suddenly find herself Poii-stone-less, but still alive. If she is severed, it would make for an interesting dynamic between the two of them ... now that they would both no longer be immortal.

I have a strong suspicion that Tychia still has a big role to play in this tale ... and Claudius may find he needs her. But first Claude's got to make sure they're on equal footing (which I think is Claude's true motivation in this panel). After all, they do share one thing ... a common dislike of Deimos. Dunnn dunnn Duuunununununununnnnnnnn. ;-)

[Wayfarer]

Honestly, even if Claude leaves her dead in the next scene, I wouldn't necessarily see it as evil; I'd see it as self-defense born of necessity. He knows Tychia is out to do two things: to kill him, and to mess up any chance he has of rescuing Xylia. These things also, incidentally, mess up any chance he has of saving Azloe. And she's been doing these things every life he's had. Nothing he can say or do is going to stop this cycle... unless she is made incapable of continuing. And I figure her death would be the only thing that could do that.

The only remaining question, where Claude is concerned, is his attitude toward the whole thing. That expression on his face in the bottom block - it's grim, hard, cold, has a sneer of disgust... but it doesn't give any indication that he enjoys what he's about to do. At very least, I'd say he's not reveling in his revenge or anything like that. Does his expression indicate that he despises her as he kills her (if that's what he's doing)... or that he despises the fact that she has given him no other option? I suppose I tend to think that for Claude, it would be the latter.

My only remaining problem being, of course, that I just can't bring myself to believe that this encounter will leave Tychia dead. :-p No, I'm not necessarily desiring for her to be killed, per se. She's a bug... but even most bugs I'd try and transport out of the house somehow rather than killing them. :-p It's just that as I said above, in her case I don't see any such option open, especially after what he just said about the only way to break their curse. I suppose the idea of severing her has its merits... but it still wouldn't break their curse, and it still wouldn't stop her from trying to kill him. He'd just end up having to kill her later, anyway. So it would make no sense to me if he left her alive now, at least of his own free will. If the next page showed someone diverting his aim so it wasn't the killing blow he intended and then helped her escape him - this would make the difference. So yes - the one way I can see her getting out alive is if someone comes to rescue her. I can't see any sense in Claude choosing to let her live, though.

Which means, I guess, that I'm expecting a Tychia rescue on the next page. Because for as much sense as it would make for Claude to kill her, she's played such a big role in the story so far that I can't see her dying yet. I suppose I don't know the intended length of the story, and that would make a difference. But she's been set up as so important that though I could see her dying near the end of the book, so to speak, I'd have a hard time believing it if she died sooner. And the story just doesn't feel that close to the end yet.

So on the one level it makes no (or at least, very little) sense for her to live; on the other level, it makes no sense for her to die. I'm torn. :-p And I'll look forward to seeing the solution.

[Sarah]

I agree totally! It's like in the Buffy episode 'Pangs' (forgive me for quoting pop culture and Joss Whedon, but you'll see what I mean in a tick!) when Buffy are discussing what to do about a rather ticked off Indian ghost who's persecuting the people of Sunnydale because their ancestors destroyed his people; and Spike, who spends most of the episode bound to a chair, interrupts their admittedly timid suggestions with the pithy remark that 'the history of the world is not making friends; you had better weapons aand you massacred them. End of story' and when Willow suggests that if they talk to them: 'You exterminated his race. What could you possibly say that would make him feel better. It's kill or be killed here; take your bloody pick.'

My point is this: what else is Claudius supposed to do at this point? As you've said, Tychia's not going to stop until she ruins everything for him and achieves her goal, so the only logical option is to end her. Also like you said, he may not like doing it, even if he doesn't like her at all, but it has to be done.

Personally, however, i don't think that our crazy mad faerie is going to be killed just yet. There's too much behind her to kill her off in the second part of book one. I think Barb has plans for Tychia yet that don't involve her being dead. I suppose if she really has been severed she has to be much more careful now, since she only has one chance left to get home, and so she will be forced to work with Claudius in order to do that - or maybe we'll have a big scene with a naked Tychia as well, being asked if she wants to go on to whatever comes next.

Which reminds me of that picture of her with the handy scarf a while back...

Bring on Monday!!!

[Matt]

I don't know either. In truth, we really don't know that much about Tychia or her backstory ... other than she's been instrumental in trying to thwart Claudius' efforts to save Xylia, and thus also Azloe and that she leads a fellowship of banished fairies (or such folk). The question becomes, why is she doing all these things? Is it because she believes Claudius' death is her only way to be restored to Azloe? Her followers (with the exception of Brimaz) seem to harbor no love for Deimos, so why would killing Claudius accomplish her goal? To curry favor with Deimos ... who they despise? Or would Claudius' death open some mystical loophole which would allow them away around their banishment (presumably by Deimos ... or perhaps Ambrosia???? ... who really banished them anyway??) The prophesy speaks of a woman ascending to the throne of Azloe. We all may assume it speaks of Xylia ... but really? What if Tychia is the heir apparent (chew on that for awhile)? :) :) We simply have no idea.

I think there is more to Tychia's character that we haven't learned yet. Is she purely evil? Or is she misguided? Are her actions guided by pure maliciousness, vengeance? Or jealousy? Is she beyond redemption? Is she capable of accepting an epiphany that would align her with Claude and Xylia ... or will she blindly follow the path she's trod so many times before (like Gollum in LOTR), forcing Claudius (or Xylia) to truely end her?

If one assumes that Cladius has learned Tychia's true history (his long stay, recovery and training in Diagonia was abridged by Barb ... so we don't fully know what he's learned), perhaps he has other plans in mind than simply killing her to put an end to her interference. In that respect, perhaps severing her - but not killing her - would make more sense. I think Claude knows something we don't (yet). As I said above, perhaps he's realized they need to help each other, but first he needs to put her on equal footing with himself (severed). And perhaps we'll be treated to another flashback sequence ... this time from Tychia's POV as she recovers from her wounds in Diagonia. I'm sure Ambrosia has a spell or two that should keep her mischief to a minimum in the time being. :-)

I'm purely speculating here and am likely completely nutters myself. ;-)

[Canterrain]

Ahhhh my friends. I can not reveal what I know of what's to come. But I can remind you of a couple pages that have been placed before that might be illuminating. Perhaps you should read this:

This addresses in small touch the issue of severing and some of Tychia's motivation: http://xyliatales.com/01302008/

And this page: http://xyliatales.com/01312009/ followed by this page: http://xyliatales.com/02082009/ elaborate a touch more on Ty's motive/goals.

You can follow up on other pages that might elaborate just why Ty thinks these things will accomplish those goals. ;) I hear there's a prophecy mentioned somewhere. << Who would be happy to have Claudius dead, hm?

Something I always suggest to keep in mind with Barb's work. << >> She likes to lay in clues and answers well before in even the smallest of details.

[Francisco]

I suspect the curse was put on them by Deimos. I think he knows that Claude won't succeed unless he has Xylia by his side. Cursing Claude to lust after somebody who is the opposite of Xylia and doesn't even have access to Azloe at the moment would ensure Deimos's reign forever (or so he thinks). The thing that is brilliant about this plan is that Tychia doesn't have any qualms about killing someone who she lusts after so that ensures that Claude never lives long enough to be a threat. That's my theory.