<!– Global site tag (gtag.js) – Google Analytics –>
<script async src=”https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtag/js?id=UA-22856846-2″></script>
<script>
window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || [];
function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);}
gtag(‘js’, new Date());
gtag(‘config’, ‘UA-22856846-2’);
</script>
<!– Global site tag (gtag.js) – Google Analytics –>
<script async src=”https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtag/js?id=UA-22856846-7″></script>
<script>
window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || [];
function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);}
gtag(‘js’, new Date());
Ah, King Urtica, Manipulative Bastard extraordinaire. Though I’m wondering if he is stating that he is a poor statesman, or just that his skills at statescraft are not what got him the position.
I wonder what the blue light behind him and the shocked-looking guard is from.
@TomeWyrm – oh, definitely option B, I think. Although I suspect this *is* a reflection of his approach to statescraft… this isn’t the first strip in which poison has been part of his repertoir, and the previous time it was just a way of making a point…
I am not too familiar with Chimeras. Does their sting kill just great beasts, or also humans? Not like you’ll be great friends with a skinwalker who can, thanks to you, change into a heap of rotting meat at will, but the concept is interesting.
@TomeWyrm: if grammar were enjoying the reverence it was shown a century ago, it would not be necessary to wonder about his meaning. “Not because I am an excellent statesman” means that indeed, he considers himself positively to be an excellent statesman. Otherwise it would be “Not because I were an excellent statesman”.
Togehter with the previous page, I think he says:
The reason that I am king, is that nobody managed to kill me so far.
In addition to being a badass leader, he is also one tough and deadly fella.
No wonder he want’s to get peony married and/or get Tiffany as his bride:
Peony is nowhere near his ability to survive intrigues and assasinations.
Oh I dunno, I suspect that this definition of statesmanship would have met with general approval during the Dark/Middle-ages which seems analogous to Exiern’s level. Might make politics a darn sight more interesting and less weasely than it currently is if we tried that for the next 11 months.
Also, yeah, still loving the King.
Not sure about some of the haircuts on display in his knights. On the right there is a guy with a mullet, and a guy with a wig obviously on loan from Cher. I presume he lost a bet or something.
A “statesman” is a politician who is widely respected as a negotiator by friend and foe alike. For instance, I recall someone saying that, if Adolf Hitler had died in 1935, history would have regarded him as one of the greatest statesmen who ever lived. Who else could have gotten away with “I’ll become peaceful if you let me have these two countries…”?
Considering how manipulative the King can be, he probably used a lethal venom on her, knowing with utter certainty that as a shapeshifter she might survive it and run back to her daddy and tell on him.
And again, considering the King, that’s exactly what he wants.
He could even have told Niels that he had to fall prey to the mind magic too.
The king is most definitely a good statesman. He is a tough, resourceful and cunning leader who will use whatever means are necessary to get the job done. He knew what he was up against so took the necessary precautions to ensure that things went his way. He did offer he the chance to back down but she refused so its not like she was not warned.
She bought this on herself. She attacked him with the intention of killing him so the King simply defended himself.
Oh, there’s no doubt he has the moral high ground.
Which is exactly why I wouldn’t put it past him to use it as a most annoying lesson in statecraft, in which the poor princess gets to be humiliated as much as possibly.
Well .. unless she stays dead, that is … but I’m sure he has plans for that as well. 😀
Be a Producer! Your name/title with an optional SFW hyperlink will be posted prominently HERE following the close of the month! You’ll also receive monthly mailings from Exiern’s author, Scott T. Hicken!
He murdered his way to the throne?
Ah, King Urtica, Manipulative Bastard extraordinaire. Though I’m wondering if he is stating that he is a poor statesman, or just that his skills at statescraft are not what got him the position.
I wonder what the blue light behind him and the shocked-looking guard is from.
soooo……who else knows where Mira is? cause from the way she said it, only rus princess knew where she was stashed, heck if she was even alive :_
@TomeWyrm – oh, definitely option B, I think. Although I suspect this *is* a reflection of his approach to statescraft… this isn’t the first strip in which poison has been part of his repertoir, and the previous time it was just a way of making a point…
I am not too familiar with Chimeras. Does their sting kill just great beasts, or also humans? Not like you’ll be great friends with a skinwalker who can, thanks to you, change into a heap of rotting meat at will, but the concept is interesting.
@TomeWyrm: if grammar were enjoying the reverence it was shown a century ago, it would not be necessary to wonder about his meaning. “Not because I am an excellent statesman” means that indeed, he considers himself positively to be an excellent statesman. Otherwise it would be “Not because I were an excellent statesman”.
He forgot to add the emphasis, ‘bitch’ at the end.
@Tomewyrm, I think it might just be the hallway lighting, there’s an orange light on the right as well, about even spacing.
Though I like what he says, if you take away the words, this picture would be so much better and would completely encapsulate how evil the king is.
Togehter with the previous page, I think he says:
The reason that I am king, is that nobody managed to kill me so far.
In addition to being a badass leader, he is also one tough and deadly fella.
No wonder he want’s to get peony married and/or get Tiffany as his bride:
Peony is nowhere near his ability to survive intrigues and assasinations.
Nice, evil, enterteining.
I like it.
Oh I dunno, I suspect that this definition of statesmanship would have met with general approval during the Dark/Middle-ages which seems analogous to Exiern’s level. Might make politics a darn sight more interesting and less weasely than it currently is if we tried that for the next 11 months.
Also, yeah, still loving the King.
Not sure about some of the haircuts on display in his knights. On the right there is a guy with a mullet, and a guy with a wig obviously on loan from Cher. I presume he lost a bet or something.
@Cryptic Mirror, he did indeed lose a bet to the princess no less.
@David, the venom in Chimera stings are generally deadly to just about any living thing.
like a BAWS!
@Olinser Or someone is portaling in.
Someone tell me WHAT!!!!! is a statesman?????
A statesman is what every politician thinks he is, but less than one a generation really is.
Angel Fox,
A Statesman is a politician who has a) managed to never get caught and b) managed to be liked the common people of their country.
A “statesman” is a politician who is widely respected as a negotiator by friend and foe alike. For instance, I recall someone saying that, if Adolf Hitler had died in 1935, history would have regarded him as one of the greatest statesmen who ever lived. Who else could have gotten away with “I’ll become peaceful if you let me have these two countries…”?
Wake up, Rus-Mira — the king is talking to you.
Considering how manipulative the King can be, he probably used a lethal venom on her, knowing with utter certainty that as a shapeshifter she might survive it and run back to her daddy and tell on him.
And again, considering the King, that’s exactly what he wants.
He could even have told Niels that he had to fall prey to the mind magic too.
I would put no dastardly scheme past him 🙂
This being Exiern a I think a link to Oglaf isn’t out of hand, but I think I found the King’s father over there: http://oglaf.com/chasm/
“Sir, were you not currently holding a poisoned dagger I would agree that it is not because of your statesman skills.”
The king is most definitely a good statesman. He is a tough, resourceful and cunning leader who will use whatever means are necessary to get the job done. He knew what he was up against so took the necessary precautions to ensure that things went his way. He did offer he the chance to back down but she refused so its not like she was not warned.
She bought this on herself. She attacked him with the intention of killing him so the King simply defended himself.
Oh, there’s no doubt he has the moral high ground.
Which is exactly why I wouldn’t put it past him to use it as a most annoying lesson in statecraft, in which the poor princess gets to be humiliated as much as possibly.
Well .. unless she stays dead, that is … but I’m sure he has plans for that as well. 😀
Yep! 😉
This man is the sort of ruler who gets the last name “Magnus” in the history-books.