The guy isn't as dumb as he looks - though, that probably comes with being essentially a mobster, and well, having stated alive for as long as he did.
Now, I wonder how Destania will come out of this.
I have always wondered about the boss / employee relationship when the boss is a mere(?) mortal and the employee is a powerful supernatural entity that can read minds and other related abilities. Especially when there is no reliable third party (government, for example) to enforce contracts and agreements.
Given that Biggs is essentially a mafia don, I wonder if he has several other powerful creatures and or groups of adventurers on call to enforce contracts and agreements with powerful creatures like 1000 + year old succubi?
Oh snap. I figured Bigg's would know something was up....but wow. He is perceptive, and smart. :mowdizzy And you know....I bet he is not happy about the potential harm Des could have caused his sister, even if Wildy can handle herself.
Eh I already pegged Biggs to be smarter than he even let on. Guy doesn't get to his position by relying on others to do the work for you all the time.
I'm curious to where his home is located actually and if it's in a city, a town or in some rural area. I'd figure a city is more likly, why live up in style if no one is around to see it.
Well...if he's just a hedonist, he'd live in style for his own benefit even if no one was there to see it.
Oh snap! Biggs just chewed out Destania for hiring a hit like that!
He's got my respect this day.
Oooo! Is Biggs gonna get really angry? :eager
Cuz I'd totally have a ball if Biggs goes after her for A) potentially killing Dan, B) potentially killing Alexis, C) potentially killing Wildy, D) definitely potentially ruining their plans and exposing themselves to the dragons, E) anything else that could have happened.
Quote from: VAE on January 24, 2013, 10:47:08 PM
The guy isn't as dumb as he looks - though, that probably comes with being essentially a mobster, and well, having stated alive for as long as he did.
Now, I wonder how Destania will come out of this.
He can't do much to her, all told. He can dissolve their partnership or drive her out (or more likely, threaten to do so). Theoretically, he could even call up Hizell, but then she'd probably kill him or worse.
Actually, an interesting threat would be to tell Wildy (or Alexsi, or Dan) that she tried to kill Dan's protector(*) - that wouldn't harm her
per se, but if she does have any genuine attachment to Dan or Alexsi it could well estrange them and would at least make things awkward.
Realistically, if anyone can convince her to hold off on this until the dragon project is in the bag, I'd say it was Biggs. I'm not sure she'd follow Alexsi or Dan's wishes in that (although she might pretend she would).
EDIT: (*) Since Biggs has worked out that much, he may also have reasoned that the 'Cubi Dee hates must be there to benefit Dan in some way, since he knows who Dan is and the threats he faces.
Quote from: nguard on January 24, 2013, 11:05:56 PM
I have always wondered about the boss / employee relationship when the boss is a mere(?) mortal and the employee is a powerful supernatural entity that can read minds and other related abilities. Especially when there is no reliable third party (government, for example) to enforce contracts and agreements.
Given that Biggs is essentially a mafia don, I wonder if he has several other powerful creatures and or groups of adventurers on call to enforce contracts and agreements with powerful creatures like 1000 + year old succubi?
I'm actually starting to worry a lot about Biggs right now. Unless Biggs does have a sure way of protecting himself, with the direction their conversation is going, his relationship with Destania could end the same way the relationship between Commander Ashford and Keaton (http://project-future.xepher.net/strip.php?strip=102) ended (http://project-future.xepher.net/strip.php?strip=103), especially since Destania has no qualms about impersonating Biggs and has probably gotten pretty good at it by now.
I might be assuming too many parallels here, but if someone like Ashford couldn't put a bullet through a succubus like Keaton before she killed him, then in a world with very few guns, how could one of Biggs' other creature lackies (if he even has them) respond in time to save him if Destania were to take a similar course of action? After all, we've seen (at least in Abel's story) how fast (http://www.missmab.com/Comics/Abel_98.php) cubi can kill people with their wing tentacles, even by accident (http://www.missmab.com/Comics/Abel_99.php).
Given how skilled Destania probably is at combat, especially when compared to Aniz, I wouldn't be surprised it she could deliver a surgically precise stabbing blow to Biggs in under a second that wouldn't leave a mess of blood stains everywhere. Then she could just neatly dispose of the body, carry on impersonating Biggs, and write off her own disappearance as a dismissal or resignation, like what Keaton did with Commander Ashford in Project Future.
Quote from: ChaosMageX on January 25, 2013, 05:38:41 AM
Given how skilled Destania probably is at combat, especially when compared to Aniz, I wouldn't be surprised it she could deliver a surgically precise stabbing blow to Biggs in under a second wouldn't leave a mess of blood stains everywhere. Then she could just neatly dispose of the body, carry on impersonating Biggs, and write off her own disappearance as a dismissal or resignation, like what Keaton did with Commander Ashford in Project Future.
I think that idea, specifically this (which I made when that strip was current):
(http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k216/tapewolf/dmfa/biggs2c.png)
http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k216/tapewolf/dmfa/biggs2c.png
...was the reason that chapter of Project Future turned out the way it did.
Quote from: ChaosMageX on January 25, 2013, 05:38:41 AM
Quote from: nguard on January 24, 2013, 11:05:56 PM
I have always wondered about the boss / employee relationship when the boss is a mere(?) mortal and the employee is a powerful supernatural entity that can read minds and other related abilities. Especially when there is no reliable third party (government, for example) to enforce contracts and agreements.
Given that Biggs is essentially a mafia don, I wonder if he has several other powerful creatures and or groups of adventurers on call to enforce contracts and agreements with powerful creatures like 1000 + year old succubi?
I'm actually starting to worry a lot about Biggs right now. Unless Biggs does have a sure way of protecting himself, with the direction their conversation is going, his relationship with Destania could end the same way the relationship between Commander Ashford and Keaton (http://project-future.xepher.net/strip.php?strip=102) ended (http://project-future.xepher.net/strip.php?strip=103), especially since Destania has no qualms about impersonating Biggs and has probably gotten pretty good at it by now.
I might be assuming too many parallels here, but if someone like Ashford couldn't put a bullet through a succubus like Keaton before she killed him, then in a world with very few guns, how could one of Biggs' other creature lackies (if he even has them) respond in time to save him if Destania were to take a similar course of action? After all, we've seen (at least in Abel's story) how fast (http://www.missmab.com/Comics/Abel_98.php) cubi can kill people with their wing tentacles, even by accident (http://www.missmab.com/Comics/Abel_99.php).
Given how skilled Destania probably is at combat, especially when compared to Aniz, I wouldn't be surprised it she could deliver a surgically precise stabbing blow to Biggs in under a second that wouldn't leave a mess of blood stains everywhere. Then she could just neatly dispose of the body, carry on impersonating Biggs, and write off her own disappearance as a dismissal or resignation, like what Keaton did with Commander Ashford in Project Future.
Thing is, the partnership is great for both Destania and Biggs - she gets a solid cover and access to his resources, and he gets a really capable and nasty enforcer.
I don't think if she voices refusal strongly enough, that he'll poke the issue as far as to get her on his ass - he might disapprove, and he has to do something about it to show he still has authority, but neither of them have as is much reasons to fuck the other one up.
Personally, I saw this comic as a showing that Destania may be a little afraid of Biggs. Which gives fuel to the "Biggs is a Were" theory. I mean, being able to change almost instantly from "F*** your magic" to "Tiny Critter that's going to rip your t*** off" could very easily pose a threat to Dee.
Hizell?
i smell forshadowing in the medium distant future, and it smells like debauchery on fire
the list of places dee cant/wont go is quite short, but i really must wonder if seeing granny is under the cant list or wont list... its under the category of places a group could go so is it possible theres a family spat or is she in lockdown somewhere?
Quote from: Brunhidden on January 25, 2013, 09:20:09 AM
the list of places dee cant/wont go is quite short, but i really must wonder if seeing granny is under the cant list or wont list... its under the category of places a group could go so is it possible theres a family spat or is she in lockdown somewhere?
I would guess Cyra's probably hiding in a dimensional bubble like SAIA.
I'm a little bit worried about Biggs' safety... if they get into it, he's not going to come out ahead. Particularly not if Des is the force which is blocking the phoenix oracles (probably not, but she IS crazy powerful compared to Biggs).
Of course, it could always boil down to
"You better not be putting a hit on my sister..."
"Nope, just Abel"
"Oh, okay. Carry on, then. Next time be sure to fill out form H1337(c) and go through proper channels to hire a hit."
With Amber, you never know.
Wow, the dragon I can understand.
But she won't or can't go back to the academy and see her mother?
I take it her mother wouldn't approve or Destania can't bare to face her mother with what she's up too?
Quote from: joshofspam on January 25, 2013, 11:37:57 AM
Wow, the dragon I can understand.
But she won't or can't go back to the academy and see her mother?
I take it her mother wouldn't approve or Destania can't bare to face her mother with what she's up too?
Well, I think by now going back to SAIA would almost certainly mean having to face retribution from Fa'lina for her actions, since entering the academy would bring her back under Fa'lina's power and it's likely Fa'lina wouldn't be happy (http://www.missmab.com/Comics/Vol_1330.php) with what she's done or what she's planning on doing.
But you are right that going back to her mother would likely mean facing the same consequences as going back to SAIA and Fa'lina.
Quote from: ChaosMageX on January 25, 2013, 01:47:39 PM
But you are right that going back to her mother would likely mean facing the same consequences as going back to SAIA and Fa'lina.
I don't know about that - I figured that Cyra had locked herself down really tight so that the Dragons can't kill her.
"Seeing" granny shouldn't be impossible--nothing to suggest Cyra would be averse to being contacted by Destania.
Sum moar speculation: The prime mover for setting up the adventurers to do a "hit" on Abel seems to have been the (possibly fake) phoenix oracle...but how does that lead someone named Becka placing a phone call, probably to Biggs, to report what transpired? Is Biggs keeping an eye on the Inn? Or did "Biggs" (Des) hire someone to impersonate an oracle as well as deal with Merlitz? The initiating event seems to have been Genesis's visit to the Inn, when she learned that Merlitz was no longer working there (and she apparently never did talk to Alexsi about whatever she'd gone there for in the first place). But if Nitemyste hadn't found that Merlitz's stone had gone dull, they wouldn't have returned to the Inn...
Feels like there's a piece missing there. For the BOB to have returned to the Inn on Abel's birthday, someone would've had to say "Hey, how come we haven't heard from Merlitz?" to Nitemyste at just the right time...
Quote from: Tuyu on January 25, 2013, 02:27:42 PM
"Seeing" granny shouldn't be impossible--nothing to suggest Cyra would be averse to being contacted by Destania.
Sum moar speculation: The prime mover for setting up the adventurers to do a "hit" on Abel seems to have been the (possibly fake) phoenix oracle...but how does that lead someone named Becka placing a phone call, probably to Biggs, to report what transpired? Is Biggs keeping an eye on the Inn? Or did "Biggs" (Des) hire someone to impersonate an oracle as well as deal with Merlitz? The initiating event seems to have been Genesis's visit to the Inn, when she learned that Merlitz was no longer working there (and she apparently never did talk to Alexsi about whatever she'd gone there for in the first place). But if Nitemyste hadn't found that Merlitz's stone had gone dull, they wouldn't have returned to the Inn...
Feels like there's a piece missing there. For the BOB to have returned to the Inn on Abel's birthday, someone would've had to say "Hey, how come we haven't heard from Merlitz?" to Nitemyste at just the right time...
Hmmm, you do raise an interesting point that there are a few pieces missing from this puzzle, especially when it comes to the timing, specifically the amount of time that passed over the BoB's renewed investigation that led them back to the Lost Lake Inn on the exact same day as Abel's 400th birthday.
Genesis awoke from her alcohol induced slumber the Saturday morning (http://www.missmab.com/Comics/Vol_1097.php) after Dan's date on Friday (http://www.missmab.com/Comics/Vol_1048.php). The Soulstealer party occurred on the following Thursday (http://www.missmab.com/Comics/Vol_1106.php), the next day (http://www.missmab.com/Comics/Vol_1201.php) Dan made plans to attend SAIA, and then left the day after (http://www.missmab.com/Comics/Vol_1218.php), on Saturday (http://www.missmab.com/Comics/Vol_1284.php). Later, on the very same day Dan left, Abel mentioned that next Friday (http://www.missmab.com/Comics/Vol_1255.php) would be his 400th birthday.
This means that 13 roughly days have passed from the point Genesis returned to the BoB to tell them of Merlitz's departure to the point they arrived at the Lost Lake Inn, and in that time they followed up on various leads (http://www.missmab.com/Comics/Vol_1328.php) that eventually led them back to the Lost Lake Inn. The timing and coincidences all lining up for this to happen don't seem to add up, unless Destania had some sort of control over or at least precognitive knowledge of what all they were going to do in that time and which phoenix temple they would eventually consult so that she could plant a fake oracle there who would lead them back to the Lost Lake Inn.
One possible explanation is that one of the BoB could have been an impostor or at least under some sort of control, subtly guiding their course of actions so that the chain of events and timing would play out exactly as it did and end with them converging on Abel on the 400th anniversary of his birth.
We know that the BoB are too incompetent to properly detect disguised cubi (http://www.missmab.com/Comics/Vol_711.php), even when they're posing as one of their own (http://www.missmab.com/Comics/Vol_707.php), so it's entirely possible one of them could have been a cubi in disguise. Destania might have been counting on this incompetence, since she does call them "dumb but good intentioned" in this strip.
Maybe that's who Becka (http://www.missmab.com/Comics/Vol_1369.php) is?
Quote from: ChaosMageX on January 25, 2013, 04:25:15 PM
Maybe that's who Becka (http://www.missmab.com/Comics/Vol_1369.php) is?
If you're saying it's Gen, she's phobic about ferrets so she's not going to take orders from one. (See 1340)
Well... Pegasus was the most willing to kill Abel, and the most resistant to killing Alexsi - exactly what you'd expect from an agent of Destania. But where would she find a Cubi willing to work for her? (...Quoar...?)
So much talk and ideas already. Not sure how much I can add but I wanted to share my two cents.
Seeing how Destania set this all up I expect her to be responsible for Merlitz disappearance as well. Back in Abel's story it is said she was able to hide Aniz (http://"http://www.missmab.com/Comics/Ab_058.php") from Hizell's sight. If she can hide someone from a dragon she might be able to hide someone from the Oracle's sight as well.
Further, also in Abel's story she passed herself off as an illusion or a ghost. If a cubi, or other shifter, can make itself transparent I am thinking flaming hair isn't that hard to do, either by Destania herself or someone send to give the BoB false information.
Quote from: Lying Foo on January 25, 2013, 04:51:36 PM
Well... Pegasus was the most willing to kill Abel, and the most resistant to killing Alexsi - exactly what you'd expect from an agent of Destania. But where would she find a Cubi willing to work for her? (...Quoar...?)
I don't think Pegasus is the Cubi in disguise, but it's easy to have suspected him given the subtle differences in his hands and feet between his appearances. However, as Amber stated (http://clockworkmansion.com/forum/index.php/topic,9069.msg363926.html#msg363926) when I first pointed these changes out, that's due to changes in her art style, not the plot.
Also, if he was really a cubi in disguise, he probably wouldn't have recognized Nitemyste's code word (http://www.missmab.com/Comics/Vol_1337.php).
Quote from: Tapewolf on January 25, 2013, 04:47:29 PM
Quote from: ChaosMageX on January 25, 2013, 04:25:15 PM
Maybe that's who Becka (http://www.missmab.com/Comics/Vol_1369.php) is?
If you're saying it's Gen, she's phobic about ferrets so she's not going to take orders from one. (See 1340)
But what I'm saying is that it wouldn't have been Genesis, but perhaps a succubus named Becka who doesn't have a ferret phobia and works for Biggs and/or Destania, helping to facilitate Destania's "hit" on Abel by impersonating Genesis.
Honestly, at this point, Genesis seems like the most likely suspect to have been replaced by a Cubi working for Biggs (Destania), even if it might have been pure luck that she acted according to Gen's ferret phobia (http://www.missmab.com/Comics/Vol_1340.php). If she had been attacked by anyone other than Wildy, it might have indeed looked suspicious to the BoB. They also might not be as incompetent as we think they are, since they only had short contact with Abel disguised as Merlitz, but with extended contact they might be able to pick up on not so obvious clues and acts outside of usual behavior.
This is definitely just speculation, since it would be quite a challenge for most cubi to learn enough about the mannerisms of an adventurer and find an opportunity to spirit them away from their group and properly assume their identity to fool their group, especially in such a short amount of time. But for a moment let's just assume the BoB really are that ingorant about Cubi and easy to fool.
Based on what we've seen of her so far, Genesis is by far the dumbest member of the BoB, and her typical behavior probably isn't that far from the stereotypical "dumb-blonde" personality that would simple enough to quickly learn and easily mimic. She's also the only one who we know for sure separated from the BoB for a period of time and could have been easily abducted and replaced by a Cubi.
Remember that during the time she was away from the rest of the BoB, it was Mab who told Genesis that Merlitz had taken up adventuring again (http://www.missmab.com/Comics/Vol_1061.php), and we already know that she didn't plan for this to happen (http://www.missmab.com/Comics/Vol_1347.php), so telling Genesis that was probably just an accident.
However, that was what led them to investigate (http://www.missmab.com/Comics/Vol_1328.php), since Merlitz had failed to report his adventuring to the guild, which the BoB eventually returned to, only to find his soul stone non-responsive, which really raised their alarm and got them to consult a phoenix oracle.
If Destania really had been orchestrating this "hit" on Abel from that point, she would have had to have known that Genesis would have told them that in order to use Merlitz's (possibly falsified) death to bait them back to the Lost Lake Inn. She could have known that this would be the perfect opportunity to get them to kill Abel by replacing Genesis with a succubus who would get them to follow the other red herrings she planted, mainly the soul stone and phoenix oracle, and arrive just in time to kill Abel on the 400th anniversary of his birth.
Biggs is a very powerful ferret with lots of resources at his disposal, which means that he could have ways of keeping an eye on the Lost Lake Inn and informing her of this opportunity. Also, Destania might not be the only skilled Cubi in his employ. Heck, Destania herself probably has connections with skilled Cubi she got to know during her time at SAIA, and might have called in a favor.
There are also some things that might be off about Genesis' behavior, clues the BoB might have been too dense to notice. For one, she was using a stun gem (http://www.missmab.com/Comics/Vol_1323.php) instead of her usual water magic, something she herself might have suggested doing and then volunteered to do instead of using magic she might not even know how to do. What's also suspicious is that her dress came apart rather easily (http://www.missmab.com/Comics/Vol_1325.php), which allowed her to leave the fight instead of staying around and tipping off the BoB by not fighting like she usually does.
Certainly she would have been debriefed afterwards and then she could have left to make a discreet phone call to Biggs (Destania) while the rest of BoB was decompressing from the failed mission and Nitemyste was off at the guild.
Gah, wall of text! You thought about this A LOT, haven't you. I am seriously impressed. I agree with most of your surmises. They make sense. I hadn't thought about the fact that Gen wasn't using her water magic, even though I just spent the last two days going back through the story from page one. :p
I have a couple things to add. Destania's friend, Talliopa (http://www.missmab.com/Comics/Vol_1277.php) has recently been murdered, and the incubi who was murdered that Wildy was investigating (http://www.missmab.com/Comics/Vol_1302.php) may also have been connected to Des. This is likely to be the work of Hizell like Mink thinks, because it seems odd that the murderers would take the victims head (which I am inferring to the comment about 'headless Incubus' rather than saying beheaded or something) unless his clan marking was on his face, in which case stealing the head could be the collection of clan marks thing Hizell is known for.
Now, I'm not sure if this is Hizell or some copy-cat, but it is likely that these recent spate of deaths could be spurring Destiana on in some fashion.
On a different note, while I think some of the theories about BoB being infiltrated by a 'cubi makes some sense, I don't necessarily think that must be the case. The Oracle was obviously not an Oracle, that much is clear, but although there has certainly been a lot of manipulation going on from all sides (I still want to know what exactly Mab and Pip are up too, and am pretty sure that Pip is a Fae or some such [further off topic, she was saying she had five friends that she made when she first went to Furrae (http://www.missmab.com/Comics/Vol_1035.php) and had given four of them boons and two would die.....Dan, Alexsi, Wildy, Jyrras and Merlitz...we know Jyrras has been given a 'boon', but I am so curious about the others]) but even so, I don't know if she would need to infiltrate the group in order to make sure they did what she wanted. Besides, if she had, I'm pretty sure the cubi infiltrator would have been more....effective.
Quote from: Tapewolf on January 25, 2013, 04:47:29 PM
Quote from: ChaosMageX on January 25, 2013, 04:25:15 PM
Maybe that's who Becka (http://www.missmab.com/Comics/Vol_1369.php) is?
If you're saying it's Gen, she's phobic about ferrets so she's not going to take orders from one. (See 1340)
Here's one for the tearoom: suppose Gen is a Manchurian Agent, Becka is her "agent persona", and her ferret phobia is an unfortunate side effect of being programmed by Biggs? :erk
Quote from: Zebra Bug on January 25, 2013, 06:40:20 PM
On a different note, while I think some of the theories about BoB being infiltrated by a 'cubi makes some sense, I don't necessarily think that must be the case. The Oracle was obviously not an Oracle, that much is clear, but although there has certainly been a lot of manipulation going on from all sides (I still want to know what exactly Mab and Pip are up too, and am pretty sure that Pip is a Fae or some such [further off topic, she was saying she had five friends that she made when she first went to Furrae (http://www.missmab.com/Comics/Vol_1035.php) and had given four of them boons and two would die.....Dan, Alexsi, Wildy, Jyrras and Merlitz...we know Jyrras has been given a 'boon', but I am so curious about the others]) but even so, I don't know if she would need to infiltrate the group in order to make sure they did what she wanted. Besides, if she had, I'm pretty sure the cubi infiltrator would have been more....effective.
Perhaps you're right, infiltrating the group with a cubi might have been overkill, but I still think Genesis was acting a bit suspicious.
At the very least Destania would have had a way of keeping an eye on not only the Lost Lake Inn, but also the BoB, in order to know which phoenix temple they would visit in order to plant her faux phoenix oracle there.
Timing might not have been as much of an issue if you Destania had planned to give Abel his "present" around the date of his birthday and just got lucky that it happened right on his birthday.
However, the one thing that's nagging is this whole plot's dependence on them looking into Merlitz's (possible) death in the first place, which only happened because Genesis learned Merlitz had gone adventuring again and then told the rest of the BoB about it.
The only way I can see that trigger happening without Genesis being replaced is if Destania somehow subtly "nudged" Genesis into going to the inn and counted on her learning this information from someone there and passing it onto the rest of the BoB.
But how exactly would she have "nudged" Genesis? Perhaps she infiltrated Gen's dreams to influence her like she did with Abel.
On the other hand, Destania might have had a back-up way of triggering the BoB's investigation into Merlitz's (possible) death and taking the bait from the phoenix oracle if Genesis hadn't gone to the inn. There are many ways she could have spread a rumor that would have acted as the trigger for the BoB's course of actions.
Or maybe it is all the fault of insidious plot-bunnies....er, mows. :mowninja
Quote from: LordViking on January 25, 2013, 04:56:35 PM
So much talk and ideas already. Not sure how much I can add but I wanted to share my two cents.
Seeing how Destania set this all up I expect her to be responsible for Merlitz disappearance as well. Back in Abel's story it is said she was able to hide Aniz (http://"http://www.missmab.com/Comics/Ab_058.php") from Hizell's sight. If she can hide someone from a dragon she might be able to hide someone from the Oracle's sight as well.
Further, also in Abel's story she passed herself off as an illusion or a ghost. If a cubi, or other shifter, can make itself transparent I am thinking flaming hair isn't that hard to do, either by Destania herself or someone send to give the BoB false information.
i believe Abel was asleap at that time and she was manifesting an illusion in his dreams... certainly much easier to do than becoming translucent even if they COULD do that.
Quote from: KiloFoxx on January 26, 2013, 04:31:36 AM
Quote from: LordViking on January 25, 2013, 04:56:35 PM
So much talk and ideas already. Not sure how much I can add but I wanted to share my two cents.
Seeing how Destania set this all up I expect her to be responsible for Merlitz disappearance as well. Back in Abel's story it is said she was able to hide Aniz (http://"http://www.missmab.com/Comics/Ab_058.php") from Hizell's sight. If she can hide someone from a dragon she might be able to hide someone from the Oracle's sight as well.
Further, also in Abel's story she passed herself off as an illusion or a ghost. If a cubi, or other shifter, can make itself transparent I am thinking flaming hair isn't that hard to do, either by Destania herself or someone send to give the BoB false information.
i believe Abel was asleap at that time and she was manifesting an illusion in his dreams... certainly much easier to do than becoming translucent even if they COULD do that.
Well, I know that Tapewolf believes they can turn translucent/transparent, based on what Cubi can be seen doing here (http://projectfuturecomic.com/darkangel.php?strip=28), here (http://projectfuturecomic.com/darkangel.php?strip=37), and here (http://projectfuturecomic.com/darkangel.php?strip=38), so I know it's at least canon in the Project Future universe. However, it might or might not be canon in the DMFA universe, depending on the process they used to do it. As usual, there might just be a spell for that.
Either way, I agree with KiloFoxx. Infiltrating dreams and creating illusions in them is probably much easier than creating those illusions in real life. More importantly, creating the illusion of flaming hair in a dream is a lot less risky than dousing your head in gasoline and hoping it will stay burning long enough to fool the BoB and that your protection spell and/or flame retardant chemicals will work long enough to keep you from getting burned. >:3
Quote from: ChaosMageX on January 26, 2013, 09:27:15 AM
Well, I know that Tapewolf believes they can turn translucent/transparent, based on what Cubi can be seen doing here (http://project-future.xepher.net/darkangel.php?strip=28), here (http://project-future.xepher.net/darkangel.php?strip=37), and here (http://project-future.xepher.net/darkangel.php?strip=38), so I know it's at least canon in the Project Future universe. However, it might or might not be canon in the DMFA universe, depending on the process they used to do it. As usual, there might just be a spell for that.
Yeah, that's just a cloaking spell, not shapeshifting. If you can teleport and transmute matter by magical means, I think that tunnelling a portion of photons around yourself should be simple enough (remember Kria's late stealth agent). Devin was almost certainly a dream manipulation by Destania, though.
'Cubi shapeshifting is fairly limited in what it can do outside of making you resemble someone or something else or cosmetic changes. Amber has said that it won't stretch to fire, though that doesn't rule out fire spells and element resistance. At the end of the day, making them think they're seeing a phoenix when they aren't by some kind of mental power is a distinct possibility.
Quote from: Tapewolf on January 26, 2013, 10:40:51 AM
Quote from: ChaosMageX on January 26, 2013, 09:27:15 AM
Well, I know that Tapewolf believes they can turn translucent/transparent, based on what Cubi can be seen doing here (http://project-future.xepher.net/darkangel.php?strip=28), here (http://project-future.xepher.net/darkangel.php?strip=37), and here (http://project-future.xepher.net/darkangel.php?strip=38), so I know it's at least canon in the Project Future universe. However, it might or might not be canon in the DMFA universe, depending on the process they used to do it. As usual, there might just be a spell for that.
Yeah, that's just a cloaking spell, not shapeshifting. If you can teleport and transmute matter by magical means, I think that tunnelling a portion of photons around yourself should be simple enough (remember Kria's late stealth agent). Devin was almost certainly a dream manipulation by Destania, though.
'Cubi shapeshifting is fairly limited in what it can do outside of making you resemble someone or something else or cosmetic changes. Amber has said that it won't stretch to fire, though that doesn't rule out fire spells and element resistance. At the end of the day, making them think they're seeing a phoenix when they aren't by some kind of mental power is a distinct possibility.
Though with how they saw through Dan's disguise as his sister, that makes me wonder if they would see through such a disguise as a phoenix?
Though being another magical race in Furrae, their magical nature might mask that evidence. I guess it depends how BOB's ability to single out types of magic are.
Okay, despite being wrong before, I don't think Destania is responsible for Merlitz's disappearance. If she was, then she had to have feigned surprise on hearing that Abel left SAIA. Remember, Merlitz was gone before Alexi was kidnapped. It's possible. But, barring something like that, the BOB originally went there without her involvement.
Quote from: joshofspam on January 26, 2013, 12:30:42 PM
Though with how they saw through Dan's disguise as his sister, that makes me wonder if they would see through such a disguise as a phoenix?
Though being another magical race in Furrae, their magical nature might mask that evidence. I guess it depends how BOB's ability to single out types of magic are.
In that case it was because Dan had a spell cast on him by Abel, this, unlike, 'natural' shape shifting would probably have a distinct magical 'signature'. They didn't detect it when Abel had changed to look like Merlitz.
relevant comic link (http://www.missmab.com/Comics/Vol_691.php)
Quote from: Pvblivs on January 26, 2013, 05:38:33 PM
Okay, despite being wrong before, I don't think Destania is responsible for Merlitz's disappearance. If she was, then she had to have feigned surprise on hearing that Abel left SAIA. Remember, Merlitz was gone before Alexi was kidnapped. It's possible. But, barring something like that, the BOB originally went there without her involvement.
Yes, but Merlitz had simply taken up adventuring again at that point, not vanished completely. We don't know how much time passed between him taking up adventuring again and then possibly "dying". An interesting point is that it was enough time to have joined up with Aliyka (http://www.missmab.com/Comics/Vol_668.php) (and have a conversation (http://www.missmab.com/Comics/Vol_854.php) with her (http://www.missmab.com/Comics/Vol_855.php) and go diving off a cliff (http://www.missmab.com/Comics/Vol_1247.php)), but not enough time to have properly reported (http://www.missmab.com/Comics/Vol_1328.php) his return to adventuring to the guild, unless he was just really lazy about doing the paperwork involved in that, which wouldn't surprise me. :P
After all, there might be a lot of paperwork involved in adventuring, such as in this case (http://www.missmab.com/Comics/Vol_1332.php).
Been reading this for a while, but wanted to post for once on the worry for Biggs
http://www.missmab.com/Comics/Vol_1256.php
http://www.missmab.com/Comics/Vol_1257.php
Now, we know Destania is a good fighter on what Alexsi said but... (word of warning, this is where assumptions are going to have to begin)
Twink territories seems to actually be a powerful group. If that's the case, in the world full of demons, non-fluffy angels, monsters, etc. If a being like Biggs is going to remain in charge, he's got to be the meanest dog on top, and we've seen what a... less ambitious ferret is like... that people are relatively terrified of her.
Now, Destania is vicious, mean... but she's also Cubi, which looks mean and nasty because the comic follows them... but we've heard of Kria, who seems relatively tame for demons and she's the kind who can drop cities, and being adventurers try (and some succeed) at taking them down.
All these are big ifs, but if Biggs, who keeps making himself look like a complete and utter joke can command an organized crime that's in a relatively easy to locate place, I think it's more a question that Destania is smart enough not to straight up throw down with him.
Eh, Biggs is more like a mafia godfather... sure, he's individually dangerous, but it's his group that is the real threat. The very direct approach ought to be the easier one, to be honest.
And as for Des... well, let's put it this way. She can take down Alexi. Alexi can take down Dan. Dan HAS put down things like, say, DP... multiple times. So yea, definitely stronger than your aaaverage 'cubi. Then add in her position as the best teacher of pain and torture that SAIA ever had, and things don't look so well for Biggs.
Quote from: Prroul on January 26, 2013, 07:56:01 PM
Eh, Biggs is more like a mafia godfather... sure, he's individually dangerous, but it's his group that is the real threat. The very direct approach ought to be the easier one, to be honest.
And as for Des... well, let's put it this way. She can take down Alexi. Alexi can take down Dan. Dan HAS put down things like, say, DP... multiple times. So yea, definitely stronger than your aaaverage 'cubi. Then add in her position as the best teacher of pain and torture that SAIA ever had, and things don't look so well for Biggs.
Though you can't throw out Biggs chances just like that.
Their families supposedly have history. Long history if their discussion after Alexsi left was any clue. I wouldn't be surprised if Wildy and Biggs took a few lessons from Destania.
Destania hands on. Alexsi hands on. Wildy hands on. It looks entirely possible that Alexsi and Wildy might have been given a few tips from her.
Quote from: Tapewolf on January 25, 2013, 09:34:07 AM
Quote from: Brunhidden on January 25, 2013, 09:20:09 AM
the list of places dee cant/wont go is quite short, but i really must wonder if seeing granny is under the cant list or wont list... its under the category of places a group could go so is it possible theres a family spat or is she in lockdown somewhere?
I would guess Cyra's probably hiding in a dimensional bubble like SAIA.
I'm thinking he means that Destania is forcibly or unwillingly out of contact with Cyra, considering how easily Dan was able to reach her from the Inn (not to mention that the 'something' that is blocking the oracles's sight doesn't seem to be affecting Cyra herself).
Well, Des used (borrowed?) Crya's power to hide Aniz. She (or Crya) is probably the one hiding Lost Lake from the Oracle's sight...and likely Merlitz as well, for whatever reason.
Just because it had to be said.. Antelope-Dee looks simply Stunning over-flowing that bodice as she does. :mowwink
Quote from: Les on January 27, 2013, 04:38:37 AM
Just because it had to be said.. Antelope-Dee looks simply Stunning over-flowing that bodice as she does. :mowwink
It's good to know I'm not the only one who finds Destania's antelope form incredibly hot. I really hope that Amber draws her (https://twitter.com/Ambaaargh/status/294801011015548929) full form and uploads it to Fur Affinity. ;)
Quote from: Les on January 27, 2013, 04:38:37 AM
Just because it had to be said.. Antelope-Dee looks simply Stunning over-flowing that bodice as she does. :mowwink
Well, I truly think that went without saying! Because.....yosh. :mowtongue
Quote from: Zebra Bug on January 27, 2013, 01:27:15 PM
Quote from: Les on January 27, 2013, 04:38:37 AM
Just because it had to be said.. Antelope-Dee looks simply Stunning over-flowing that bodice as she does. :mowwink
Well, I truly think that went without saying! Because.....yosh. :mowtongue
Creeps. The whole lot of y'all are just plain creepy.
:erk
Quote from: Joe3210 on January 27, 2013, 05:25:28 PM
Quote from: Zebra Bug on January 27, 2013, 01:27:15 PM
Quote from: Les on January 27, 2013, 04:38:37 AM
Just because it had to be said.. Antelope-Dee looks simply Stunning over-flowing that bodice as she does. :mowwink
Well, I truly think that went without saying! Because.....yosh. :mowtongue
Creeps. The whole lot of y'all are just plain creepy.
:erk
Not a furry dear? I am. :mowwink Heheh. But that's alright. We don't judge.
I don't think it has anything to do with being a furry. I think it has more to do with you saying that you felt that *needed* to be said.
Quote from: Mao on January 27, 2013, 06:51:01 PM
I don't think it has anything to do with being a furry. I think it has more to do with you saying that you felt that *needed* to be said.
Well of course it needed to be said. Dee looks fantastic, Amber did an amazing job, or do you have some type of aversion to voicing compliments? :mowtongue
Yeah, I don't have a problem with paying a compliment to Mab, except you weren't really. You were more focused on Dee, and I quote:
Quote from: Les on January 27, 2013, 04:38:37 AM
over-flowing that bodice as she does. :mowwink
Hence: creeps.
Quote from: Mao on January 27, 2013, 07:29:19 PM
Yeah, I don't have a problem with paying a compliment to Mab, except you weren't really. You were more focused on Dee, and I quote:
Quote from: Les on January 27, 2013, 04:38:37 AM
over-flowing that bodice as she does. :mowwink
Hence: creeps.
*looks at your signature*...Ok, sure. Whatever you say.
I'm thinking he means that Destania is forcibly or unwillingly out of contact with Cyra, considering how easily Dan was able to reach her from the Inn (not to mention that the 'something' that is blocking the oracles's sight doesn't seem to be affecting Cyra herself).
[/quote]
I forget the comic but it was mentioned (by Cyra to Dan) that Destania had "lost the ability to dream". So Cyra can't reach out to her, and Destania won't talk to her on her own it seems.
SAIA entry is only by Falina's permission, not sure if exiting it is the same. So Destania could end up stuck there if she went till Falina let her go. The best option would likely be to rescue her husband, and bring him to SAIA. Then with Falina preventing any death, he could talk some sense into Destania (with a cold hose ala Abel vs Pyroduck if necessary).
While trying to find the Cyra discussion I did find this one though comic 1222. Does this mean that Edward could become a Cubi if he wanted to after rescue?
Quote from: Zebra Bug on January 27, 2013, 07:39:27 PM
*looks at your signature*...Ok, sure. Whatever you say.
Yup. I like female characters as much as the next guy, particularly the evil and/or scary ones. What you don't see me doing is going around talking about my love of their outfits or overflowing bodices in a not-so-subtle fashion on a pg-13 board. ;)
Show some tact, folks.
You think I'm over the line and that I'm being a creeper.
That's your opinion.
I think you're over the line and that you've got a stick wedged way too far up [REDACTED].
That's my opinion.
The best option here is probably just to agree to disagree. :mowcookie
((before I drop it though, Amber herself has said she lacks confidence in her ability to draw such.. 'ampleness'. I just wanted it to be known that in my opinion she did an excellent job in this instance, though I suppose getting into the subtle details of how this was a successful attempt would just be 'creepy'.))
I'm gonna have to step in and say that anymore opinions in this line should probably be taken to IM peeps. That said, doing a "Lets drop this...right after I voice my opinion one more time." post is kind of a cheapshot since part of the whole dropping things shouldn't have to come with a "as long as I get the last word in." So I'm going to have to take away 10 points from Gryffendor over here.
Also, I should mention Mao only stepped in after someone else voiced their feelings on the matter and Mao was likely just elaborating on it. Mao acts as a mod for a reason, so if people really feel his stance is disagreeable, I would recommend folks messaging one of the other mods/admins and have them read the thread to see if another opinion is warrented. Well...maybe not Darkmoon. He's a jerk. And will probably laugh at you regardless of opinions voiced.
In regards to cleavage. I've gotten mixed reviews. I've had a few people actually lecture me recently about Dee's current look and that it looks awkward so it really is a case of you win some, you lose some. But that's how it goes I find.
So to summarize: Be excellent to eachother.
Did Cyra ever say explicitly that she could not see what was going on? I am of the opinion that Des is using Cyra's power (or Cyra is doing it her own self) to protect Lost Lake....
And in regards to Amber's post, I hear and obey, oh Overlord. :mowmeep
Quote from: Les on January 27, 2013, 08:00:14 PM
You think I'm over the line and that I'm being a creeper.
That's your opinion.
I think you're over the line and that you've got a stick wedged way too far up [REDACTED].
That's my opinion.
Just one problem with that. Mao is a mod. You're not.
Hence, he says "you're going too far", it's a darn good time to shut the heck up and say "sorry, boss."
Edit: See also Rule I, Section A.
Quote from: Amber Williams on January 27, 2013, 08:19:35 PM
I'm gonna have to step in and say that anymore opinions in this line should probably be taken to IM peeps. That said, doing a "Lets drop this...right after I voice my opinion one more time." post is kind of a cheapshot since part of the whole dropping things shouldn't have to come with a "as long as I get the last word in."
That wasn't my intention, I just wanted to add a little clarification... but yeah, that was a bit passive-aggressive of me. I apologize.
It's cool. Goodness knows I've done similar before. :U
That's the downside to being in a discussion versus looking in on one. Those little nuances like to sneak in. :cry