Well, now. Kria seems downright disappointed, doesn't she?
I'm thinking Abel's story can just of easily have been called Kria's story. We've certainly seen quite a character transformation in her. I'm guessing that Kria has completed her career change to mercenary for hire / do unusual jobs for her clients.
I like how Amber chose something interesting and new to perform the Is-it-really-Abel check. No mind reading, quizzes, or other stuff we could have guessed.
Edit:
As for the subject title, I suppose Blue is the color of one of Abel's eyes :)
Edit2:
Sorry I'm too scatterbrained tonight just to put this all in one post.
Notice that Kria still considers May a close friend. That's in character with her values shown later. Family above all other concerns, friends obviously are not far behind that.
The fact that she is angry makes me wonder if she's going to be pissed at Abel for not being in contact more with his mom. We'll see tomorrow!
Edit 3:
There's an edit button. There are also rules about double-posting. Please don't annoy me any further.
-- llearch n'n'daCorna
Quote from: jeffh4 on October 25, 2009, 01:43:13 AM
I like how Amber chose something interesting and new to perform the Is-it-really-Abel check. No mind reading, quizzes, or other stuff we could have guessed.
I agree. This "faeta gem" thing is a quite interesting application of magic, like the messenger orbs from the first Abel's Story. I would love to learn more about it...
It is possible that Kria was making stuff up for Aniz or some other 'cubi to start sweating. When Abel didn't sweat, she knew it was him.
That or the jem detects transformed 'cubi.
That or...
It was obviously a test, and he passed. But what was the test? Or am I overanalyzing this?
Quote from: Madd the Sane on October 25, 2009, 01:54:07 AM
It is possible that Kria was making stuff up for Aniz or some other 'cubi to start sweating. When Abel didn't sweat, she knew it was him.
That or the jem detects transformed 'cubi.
That or...
It was obviously a test, and he passed. But what was the test? Or am I overanalyzing this?
If you are, so am I--I was wondering if perhaps his display of ignorance somehow had something to do with it, only it's easy to feign ignorance of something, so I wasn't sure if that was the whole idea, but something along those lines....
Anyway, I'm also surprised Kria's expression didn't change even though she apparently now knows he's really Abel...
Also, @jeffh4: I've been consistently thinking that if Amber ever wanted to do another such "backstory spin-off" after this one was finished, the most obvious one to do (from my perspective) WOULD be Kria's story.
I think Fa'lina in the first frame is wondering how a rug made from Aniz's hide would look in her office at the Academy.
Guys, I think the gem does exactly what Kria said it does -- but being the sort of test it is, I have a feeling that it does something really nasty if you're NOT who you're supposed to be. I think Kria was looking forward to the satisfying results of a negative.
Quote from: tiggertoo on October 25, 2009, 02:18:49 AM
I think Fa'lina in the first frame is wondering how a rug made from Aniz's hide would look in her office at the Academy.
Guys, I think the gem does exactly what Kria said it does -- but being the sort of test it is, I have a feeling that it does something really nasty if you're NOT who you're supposed to be. I think Kria was looking forward to the satisfying results of a negative.
There you go--there's another possibility.
We'll probably know the truth Monday. Unless Amber gives us the heads-up before then.
It would be a natural question for Abel to ask what would have happened if he wasn't really Abel. So maybe we'll find out.
What I'm wondering about is the inheritance that Kria mentioned.
:dotdotdot :/ Well that was anticlimactic.
I thought Fa'lina looked more as if she was saying, "Yeah, whatever." She obviously forseen this, but still-time isn't spareable for May.
EDIT~Now that I think about it, I think she's annoyed by Kria's attitude of Cubi. Between her and Kria, I'd bet on Fa'lina.
Maybe Kria wasn't on speaking terms with the Council of Creatures back then? I'd think she know that the headmaster of SAIA is not one to mess with-or have an attitude around.
It's quite possible that Kria is disappointed because she was sure it was going to be Aniz and was hoping to bring him to justice. Remember that she taught Hennya.
Also, she's now in a position to have to backtrack and apologise to Abel.
As for Fa'lina, I think she's annoyed because if it had been an impostor, it would have meant that she was party to the deception.
EDIT: Would you be able to pass yourself off if you'd trapped your victim's soul...?
Quote from: Tapewolf on October 25, 2009, 05:29:01 AM
EDIT: Would you be able to pass yourself off if you'd trapped your victim's soul...?
Thankfully, well thankfully for most creatures/beings, one cannot.
Quote from: Amber Williams on October 25, 2009, 05:52:53 AM
Thankfully, well thankfully for most creatures/beings, one cannot.
That's probably a good thing.
Quote from: Amber Williams on October 25, 2009, 05:52:53 AM
Quote from: Tapewolf on October 25, 2009, 05:29:01 AM
EDIT: Would you be able to pass yourself off if you'd trapped your victim's soul...?
Thankfully, well thankfully for most creatures/beings, one cannot.
Can't one? (http://www.missmab.com/Comics/Vol_234.php)
Quote from: Wanderer on October 25, 2009, 08:31:47 AM
Quote from: Amber Williams on October 25, 2009, 05:52:53 AM
Quote from: Tapewolf on October 25, 2009, 05:29:01 AM
EDIT: Would you be able to pass yourself off if you'd trapped your victim's soul...?
Thankfully, well thankfully for most creatures/beings, one cannot.
Can't one? (http://www.missmab.com/Comics/Vol_234.php)
I was going to mention that strip! You beat me to it XD
As for Kria and Fa'lina's expressions I think theres a certain tension because Kria obviously dislikes Cubi and Fa'lina's pretty much the Queen of them (not officially but Cyra aside she's probably the most important still surviving Cubi around) plus I get the feeling Demons and Cubi aren't the best of friends anyway even without all this Aniz crap. I would imagine Demons and Angels concider Cubi to be inferior to them which would stir up feelings of defensive hostility on the Cubi side and make them more reckless about doing things if theres the potential to piss off a demon in the process. Fa'lina however for the sake of diplomacy is saying and doing nothing, however that doesn't mean she and Kria can't have a disdainful glare-off at each other.
In regards to Kria's reaction to Abel passing the test....... eh I guess maybe she was looking forward to bringing the smackdown on Aniz. This is Kria we are talking about after all. Mature/Cold as she seems right now the thirst for blood is probably still there boiling under the surface. Kria seems the type to hope things go badly so she can take advantage of the situation. She does love her rampages! :giggle
Quote from: tiggertoo on October 25, 2009, 02:18:49 AM
I think Fa'lina in the first frame is wondering how a rug made from Aniz's hide would look in her office at the Academy.
Guys, I think the gem does exactly what Kria said it does -- but being the sort of test it is, I have a feeling that it does something really nasty if you're NOT who you're supposed to be. I think Kria was looking forward to the satisfying results of a negative.
Sounds a bit like the Lens, from Doc Smith's Lensman series.
An impostor who tried to wear a Lens - or even came into contact with it - would be killed by it, in a matter of seconds. Painfully.
Quote from: Wanderer on October 25, 2009, 08:31:47 AM
Quote from: Amber Williams on October 25, 2009, 05:52:53 AM
Quote from: Tapewolf on October 25, 2009, 05:29:01 AM
EDIT: Would you be able to pass yourself off if you'd trapped your victim's soul...?
Thankfully, well thankfully for most creatures/beings, one cannot.
Can't one? (http://www.missmab.com/Comics/Vol_234.php)
One can trap a soul. One can destroy a soul. One can even move a soul from one thing to another. But one cannot then use said soul to pose as that individual or try to fool the devices which exist to validate one's personal soul aura. And one cannot really change the signature of the soul to become something else.
I guess it is partially due to author's whimsy, but the way of the universe pretty much has it that one's soul is very much their own thing. Unique and unduplicatable. Well...in the sense that you cannot make a soul into an exact copy of an already existing soul. Creating a whole new soul, by baby or by binary, is a whole different matter.
Kria really seems to be not on too friendly terms with Fa'Lina and cubi in general, but that can have many reasons, most of them understandable.
One particularly interesting reason would be if Kria somehow knows of whatever deal Fa'Lina has with Aniz.
As for her disappointed look on the last panel, I think she both expected and hoped for "Abel" to be a fake.
As she said herself: May is a close friend of her. Considering how much Aniz hurt a close friend of her, nothing would please her more than being confronted with Aniz.
Her disappointment ist understandable.
I just hope that she doesn't project her disappointment on Abel. He was also a victim. But we don't know yet how May now thinks of Abel, and that would surely influence Kria.
Quote from: Amber Williams on October 25, 2009, 09:03:54 AM
One can trap a soul. One can destroy a soul. One can even move a soul from one thing to another. But one cannot then use said soul to pose as that individual or try to fool the devices which exist to validate one's personal soul aura. And one cannot really change the signature of the soul to become something else.
I guess it is partially due to author's whimsy, but the way of the universe pretty much has it that one's soul is very much their own thing. Unique and unduplicatable. Well...in the sense that you cannot make a soul into an exact copy of an already existing soul. Creating a whole new soul, by baby or by binary, is a whole different matter.
I was going to comment on this, but, hey, I was busy, and Amber beat me to it.
You guys are going nuts trying to find holes where none exist. Kria wanted it to be Aniz so, as Dard and others have said, she can lay the smack down. Fairly simple, as we've expected from Kria for some time now.
I hesitate to add, it seems likely to me that Creatures, as a whole, are simple people, because they have the power to be so. They don't need to have massive complicated plots and stuff, because they can rip anyone who annoys them to shreds. Fae aside, it seems to fit - the red dragon at the door to Dead Pegasus' castle, for example; DP's uniqueness; the usual dragons wandering around.
Of course, that's just my opinion. And it's busted by Pyroduck, just to poke a hole in my own theory....
Quote from: llearch n'n'daCorna on October 25, 2009, 11:29:17 AM
Quote from: Amber Williams on October 25, 2009, 09:03:54 AM
One can trap a soul. One can destroy a soul. One can even move a soul from one thing to another. But one cannot then use said soul to pose as that individual or try to fool the devices which exist to validate one's personal soul aura. And one cannot really change the signature of the soul to become something else.
I guess it is partially due to author's whimsy, but the way of the universe pretty much has it that one's soul is very much their own thing. Unique and unduplicatable. Well...in the sense that you cannot make a soul into an exact copy of an already existing soul. Creating a whole new soul, by baby or by binary, is a whole different matter.
I was going to comment on this, but, hey, I was busy, and Amber beat me to it.
You guys are going nuts trying to find holes where none exist. Kria wanted it to be Aniz so, as Dard and others have said, she can lay the smack down. Fairly simple, as we've expected from Kria for some time now.
Hmm? I wasn't trying to argue with that. I just thought Amber was saying one couldn't trap a soul, which I remembered Aary contradicting, so I went and looked up the old comic and brought it out to ask about. It turns out Amber was instead saying you couldn't USE a trapped soul to pose as someone else, and I have no problem with that: the issue's never come up. As for Kria, I figure the stone does exactly what she said it does, and she was just hoping for a chance to lay some epic smackdown on Aniz.
Now, for Kria's antisocial attitude towards Fa'Lina, we should recall that our pink poodle was VERY upset with Aniz for screwing over some delicate political work with Zinvth. The reputation of cubi undoubtedly took a big plunge after Aniz committed assault, kidpnapping, and murder right in the middle of the community.
Quote from: llearch n'n'daCorna on October 25, 2009, 11:29:17 AM
Yadda yadda yadda....
...Of course, that's just my opinion. And it's busted by Pyroduck, just to poke a hole in my own theory....
Pyroduck enjoys screwing with others expectations... and really be thankful its him and not Kria poking the holes.... :erk
Quote from: Wanderer on October 25, 2009, 11:42:15 AM
Hmm? I wasn't trying to argue with that. I just thought Amber was saying one couldn't trap a soul, which I remembered Aary contradicting, so I went and looked up the old comic and brought it out to ask about. It turns out Amber was instead saying you couldn't USE a trapped soul to pose as someone else, and I have no problem with that: the issue's never come up. As for Kria, I figure the stone does exactly what she said it does, and she was just hoping for a chance to lay some epic smackdown on Aniz.
Oh, right. Fine, fine, no condemnation, etc etc. In other words, I wasn't seriously grumpy. Consider it an excuse to put my oar in. ;-]
Quote from: Wanderer on October 25, 2009, 11:42:15 AM
Now, for Kria's antisocial attitude towards Fa'Lina, we should recall that our pink poodle was VERY upset with Aniz for screwing over some delicate political work with Zinvth. The reputation of cubi undoubtedly took a big plunge after Aniz committed assault, kidpnapping, and murder right in the middle of the community.
Gee, ya think? ;-]
In light of that, I wonder if some of Fa'Lina's aggro is towards Aniz, now that she's stepping back into the muck that he raked up. Not towards anyone actually present, which is why she's not saying anything to Kria. Or, at least, anything impolite.
She's just thinking it. ;-]
...I could swear I've heard of these faeta gems (or some similar aura-syncing gem) before, but I really can't remember where. It's giving me a headache... Ah well.
I'm wondering how someone - in this case, specifically Kria - holds a faeta gem without it going off. Now, if I could at least see it glowing as she holds it (that's what I seem to remember hearing about them doing), it would make sense, but now I'm thinking there just might be a way to get around it, even if not known. It would make sense that Kria would know how, representing Zinvth and all, but still.
Quote from: Infranscia on October 25, 2009, 04:39:59 PM
I'm wondering how someone - in this case, specifically Kria - holds a faeta gem without it going off. Now, if I could at least see it glowing as she holds it (that's what I seem to remember hearing about them doing), it would make sense, but now I'm thinking there just might be a way to get around it, even if not known. It would make sense that Kria would know how, representing Zinvth and all, but still.
...Wow, you're right, that is kinda weird now that I think about it. The only explanation I can think of is that it must somehow be "activated" to be used, and Kria did so in the process of handing it to Abel.
Quote from: techmaster-glitch on October 25, 2009, 04:46:33 PM
Quote from: Infranscia on October 25, 2009, 04:39:59 PM
I'm wondering how someone - in this case, specifically Kria - holds a faeta gem without it going off. Now, if I could at least see it glowing as she holds it (that's what I seem to remember hearing about them doing), it would make sense, but now I'm thinking there just might be a way to get around it, even if not known. It would make sense that Kria would know how, representing Zinvth and all, but still.
...Wow, you're right, that is kinda weird now that I think about it. The only explanation I can think of is that it must somehow be "activated" to be used, and Kria did so in the process of handing it to Abel.
I thought maybe Kria being a demon and not a cubi might have had something to do with it....
EDIT: Never mind, that doesn't make any sense.... :P Maybe it's the way in which she was holding it...?
Now I have this song in my head.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W5fBppsntAE (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W5fBppsntAE)
I must say, I read/skimmed through the posts, and nobody thought of it.
Has anyone considered that the reason for that pause, when Kria confirmed that it is Abel, is because Kria...
...is Aniz?
Granted, may not be true, but it would be the ultimate twist, given the line of thought. :mowwink
(Seriously, no one thought of it?)
Quote from: Torano on October 25, 2009, 06:11:51 PM
Has anyone considered that the reason for that pause, when Kria confirmed that it is Abel, is because Kria...
...is Aniz?
Fa'lina is liable to know if she is.
And people claim that I am overly analytical. Okay, possibilities
Kria was wearing gloves
Kria said for Abel to stand on a specific spot and hold the jewel. Maybe there was something special about that spot such as being located under a death ray.
Perhaps the act of a different person holding the stone results in a display that is only visible through magic.
Perhaps it doesn't pay to overthink things. (http://www.missmab.com/Comics/Vol_612.php).
Quote from: Naldru on October 25, 2009, 07:25:21 PM
And people claim that I am overly analytical. Okay, possibilities
Kria was wearing gloves
Kria said for Abel to stand on a specific spot and hold the jewel. Maybe there was something special about that spot such as being located under a death ray.
Perhaps the act of a different person holding the stone results in a display that is only visible through magic.
Perhaps it doesn't pay to overthink things. (http://www.missmab.com/Comics/Vol_612.php).
...Where is Kria wearing gloves? I thought those were her regular hooves.
Incidentally, I find it more fun to take things in the comic at face value. The element of surprise then if something's different has a lot more impact. :3
Quote from: Tapewolf on October 25, 2009, 05:29:01 AM
As for Fa'lina, I think she's annoyed because if it had been an impostor, it would have meant that she was party to the deception.
You know, when I saw Fa'lina's look, I thought that she was none too pleased at having her word doubted.
Remember, Fa'lina has been in contact with the Zinvth elders. (http://www.missmab.com/Comics/Ab_071.php) I'm sure that someone as old and as powerful as Fa'lina would be capable of proving who she is. (Also, Fa'lina could very well have had
regular contact with the Zinvth city elders, for a variety of reasons.) Since Fa'lina made arrangements with Zinvth to teleport in with Abel, questioning whether that really is Abel with her is, effectively, questioning Fa'lina's veracity.
So, yeah. I doubt Fa'lina would be all that pleased with someone accusing her of lying.
Quote from: Amber Williams on October 25, 2009, 09:03:54 AM
Quote from: Wanderer on October 25, 2009, 08:31:47 AM
Quote from: Amber Williams on October 25, 2009, 05:52:53 AM
Quote from: Tapewolf on October 25, 2009, 05:29:01 AM
EDIT: Would you be able to pass yourself off if you'd trapped your victim's soul...?
Thankfully, well thankfully for most creatures/beings, one cannot.
Can't one? (http://www.missmab.com/Comics/Vol_234.php)
One can trap a soul. One can destroy a soul. One can even move a soul from one thing to another. But one cannot then use said soul to pose as that individual or try to fool the devices which exist to validate one's personal soul aura. And one cannot really change the signature of the soul to become something else.
I guess it is partially due to author's whimsy, but the way of the universe pretty much has it that one's soul is very much their own thing. Unique and unduplicatable. Well...in the sense that you cannot make a soul into an exact copy of an already existing soul. Creating a whole new soul, by baby or by binary, is a whole different matter.
*Charline takes this as a challenge!* Dr. Ink and I have work to do! >:3
Quote from: Aisha deCabre on October 25, 2009, 07:38:39 PM
Quote from: Naldru on October 25, 2009, 07:25:21 PM
And people claim that I am overly analytical. Okay, possibilities
Kria was wearing gloves
Kria said for Abel to stand on a specific spot and hold the jewel. Maybe there was something special about that spot such as being located under a death ray.
Perhaps the act of a different person holding the stone results in a display that is only visible through magic.
Perhaps it doesn't pay to overthink things. (http://www.missmab.com/Comics/Vol_612.php).
...Where is Kria wearing gloves? I thought those were her regular hooves.
Incidentally, I find it more fun to take things in the comic at face value. The element of surprise then if something's different has a lot more impact. :3
Yeah, I'm pretty sure those are her normal hooves. She seems to have solid black with fluff at her wrists no matter what she's wearing, and Lorenda, Aliph, and Regina have them, too. Even so, it would take more than just gloves to block an aura (energy can transfer through objects - what do you think wands are for?), and asking someone to remove their gloves for this test seems odd and inconvenient to me.
Also, I'd assume they'd want the gem to be portable so they can use it on anyone, anywhere. She never said anything about having to be on that particular spot, just that he had to 'stand there,' which usually implies that one doesn't do much, if anything.
The 'only visible through magic' part is possible, but it still seems like an unnecessary step to add to the enchantment, which is probably already pretty complex. Kria
did say the test would be easy.
Who says I'm overthinking? This just came to me as I was reading over the comic/posting. It
is entirely possible that it's an oversight, but I still want to know if there's an explanation.
...Though come to look at it again, she seems to hold the gem with her left hand and hand something to Abel with her right one. ...Well, I'm more willing to believe that that one's an oversight, or drawing mistake, or that she just switched hands.
Or the whole thing was a bluff, and that was just an ordinary blue gemstone-Kria was pulling a Columbo trick.
How's it work? If such a ritual is performed during infancy, and it leaves no lasting marks, you won't remember it being done.
Your parents would, however--or equally recognize the lack thereof.
Abel wouldn't know to call BS. Aniz would, and would either blurt out that there was no such thing or be extremely confident that nothing would happen instead of apprehensive and asking how to interpret a lack of response.
Or attempt to refuse the test if such a thing really existed, which the 'real thing' would have no need to do.
All Fa'lina would have to do is play along.
Ah but you forget what an excellent actor Aniz is. Remember he managed to fool May into thinking he was her loving husband Cid for YEARS before she ever knew the truth. He could have fairly easily imitated Abel's naivety.
Quote from: Succubus_1982 on October 26, 2009, 05:31:34 AM
Ah but you forget what an excellent actor Aniz is. Remember he managed to fool May into thinking he was her loving husband Cid for YEARS before she ever knew the truth. He could have fairly easily imitated Abel's naivety.
He could also read Mays' mind. I'll bet he can't read Kria's.