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Starting February 1st ALL new Exiern pages will post ONLY to Exiern.com and Our Patreon. Please read and support us there!
Swords, Sorcery, And Then Some!
Howdy, New Readers! Thanks for reading Exiern!
Written by Scott T. Hicken with art by Antipus, the comic updates Mondays. Please check out the Archive to enjoy the earlier adventures of Typh and Peonie!
Exiern contains mature themes and is best for readers 18+.
She is now thinking like a queen. I would say that Urtica is as much proud of his daughter as he is worried. She know that the moment that Urtica and Teresa have a child she becomes expendable, but she is clearly okay with this concept.
And of course there’s always the “Amok Time” approach where Tiff agrees, thinking it’ll mean she can go easy on Peonie, only to find out that’s not how the duel works.
Am I the only person who thinks it’s rather absurd that legal action can be taken when one kills the princess in an agreed to trial-by-combat?
In other news, the orb doesn’t sit within the chest, so we have a good chance of bother fighters walking out alive, methinks. Which opens up the floor for Typh as the other combatant.
Historical monarchs did not follow the Rule of Law. They *were* the law in a way we who were raised in the 20th and 21st century might find hard to imagine.
Even when there is an established body of law, royalty often gets all kinds of exceptions and and special treatment. So yeah, getting Peonie killed could easily be all sorts of bad.
If Coriander can draft anybody, why not Urtica himself?
@Jake, historically, that a monarch *would* doesn’t surprise me. But this comic has referenced that the people of this kingdom have a constitution and a number of rights under it. That the King might trample over these if it suites him wouldn’t surprise me. But Peonie stating that her father *can* take legal action, as if it’s a written law and not just something he may fancy to do, does surprise me. Given everything else we’ve learned about this universe, it strikes me as inconsistent.
Funny. How many times now has she been almost sacrificed to summon a monster? But now she’s willing to be sacrificed to stop one. Too bad Fagan isn’t here to see it.
Don’t forget, this whole scenario is happening because the king can’t act unilaterally against the church or it’s reps without consequence.
But apparently their are laws the church is bound by which he can use in his favor if his daughter is killed by the church or it’s champion.
@AlexJ, Peonie has multiple times before assumed that her royal person is due deferential treatment under the law only to find out that it is not the case. It would not surprise me to think that once again she has made an ill-founded assumption.
If Coriander wants to turn this into a situation where he wins even if he loses, there is an obvious choice for his champion, King Urtica.
Have we all forgotten Typh’s magic sword? In this situation it would be incapable of harming the Princess—nor, I suspect, would it have any effect on the magic orb in her cleavage. Since victory explicitly requires the sword to pop the orb even if the orb bearer were rendered unconscious or something through non-sword-related means, there is absolutely no way Typh could win for the scumbag; and if the fight lasts long enough, eventually the princess would at least graze Typh’s orb due to sheer random luck.
Oh, and HRH’s clothing will be an inevitable casualty. This will surprise no one but herself.
Wait, doesn’t Typh’s sword frequently refuse to kill or injure those it doesn’t want to kill? For example, when she attacked Teresa and only cut off her clothes, despite actively trying to kill her? If Typh does get drafted, she might not be physically ABLE to kill Peonie, with her sword at least.
Though “popping” Peonie’s bubble without killing her would still mean a win for the Cardinal, so not ideal.
It just hit me that the orb is not INSIDE Peonie’s chest.
The conditions, as stated by Teresa only say the sword has to go through the orb.
They also say “through”, as in, all the way.
So. Coriander does indeed choose Typhan-Knes.
Typh loans Peonie her sword – the North Wind – that will not cut anyone whi doesn’t deserve it – since Peonie has no sword.
Typh then borrows a sword.
Typh thrusts, and impales the orb … buy does not thrust THROUGH, thus (a) not injuring Peonie and (b) getting near enough (and having a reason to stall) allowing Peonie to stab away with the North Wind, which aill completely pierce the orb but not even scratch Typh’s boob.
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Somehow he does not seem worried, and I worry who his choice is.
Have to admit, Peonie’s logic seems rather sound.
Peonie volunteered. She owns the outcome, for good or ill.
She is now thinking like a queen. I would say that Urtica is as much proud of his daughter as he is worried. She know that the moment that Urtica and Teresa have a child she becomes expendable, but she is clearly okay with this concept.
and then coriander takes someone who is out of his circle for the fight, and it becomes messy.
I want to see tiff vs peonie because I’m a cruel person
Tiff is the obvious choice… but does a champion have to agree, or can s/he be drafted?
And of course there’s always the “Amok Time” approach where Tiff agrees, thinking it’ll mean she can go easy on Peonie, only to find out that’s not how the duel works.
Am I the only person who thinks it’s rather absurd that legal action can be taken when one kills the princess in an agreed to trial-by-combat?
In other news, the orb doesn’t sit within the chest, so we have a good chance of bother fighters walking out alive, methinks. Which opens up the floor for Typh as the other combatant.
Of course Coriander likely realizes this and pick someone not of his order now.
@Alex-J There are many examples in the history books of Kings not honoring this sort trial by combat. It’s not that absurd.
@Makkabe: Typhan-Knee will likely not have a choice.
Exactly.
Historical monarchs did not follow the Rule of Law. They *were* the law in a way we who were raised in the 20th and 21st century might find hard to imagine.
Even when there is an established body of law, royalty often gets all kinds of exceptions and and special treatment. So yeah, getting Peonie killed could easily be all sorts of bad.
If Coriander can draft anybody, why not Urtica himself?
@Jake, historically, that a monarch *would* doesn’t surprise me. But this comic has referenced that the people of this kingdom have a constitution and a number of rights under it. That the King might trample over these if it suites him wouldn’t surprise me. But Peonie stating that her father *can* take legal action, as if it’s a written law and not just something he may fancy to do, does surprise me. Given everything else we’ve learned about this universe, it strikes me as inconsistent.
Oh yeah, it’s Tiff.
I bet it’s the Dragon Lady. Alicia is going to be a perfect choice to have no consequences politically.
I’m betting Typh…
Its going to be Typh isn’t it?
Funny. How many times now has she been almost sacrificed to summon a monster? But now she’s willing to be sacrificed to stop one. Too bad Fagan isn’t here to see it.
It if is Tiff then someone gets naked and someone else wins.
Don’t forget, this whole scenario is happening because the king can’t act unilaterally against the church or it’s reps without consequence.
But apparently their are laws the church is bound by which he can use in his favor if his daughter is killed by the church or it’s champion.
If I were Coriander, I would choose King Urtica.
Coriander will choose Tiffany as is champion. If Tiff is quick on her feet, she just runs him through before the orb is placed on him and it’s done.
“I’m a better fighter than you think.” Good for her that there is something called plot armour.
@DavidK If Tiff or P-cups gets naked, we all win.
Coriander will choose Knight Tiffany.
I think it’s gonna be either Alicia or Tiff, since the “good” Cardinal is such a out and out bastard.
@AlexJ, Peonie has multiple times before assumed that her royal person is due deferential treatment under the law only to find out that it is not the case. It would not surprise me to think that once again she has made an ill-founded assumption.
If Coriander wants to turn this into a situation where he wins even if he loses, there is an obvious choice for his champion, King Urtica.
Gotta say that orb looks all warm and comfy…
If he does choose Tiff, and if Tiff slices the orb in two before it reaches her, does that still count as him lowing?
Makes more sense to draft Holm after what she did to Rousey!
If Tiffany is selected, I think her sword will somehow slip from her fingers and impale Coriander.
Have we all forgotten Typh’s magic sword? In this situation it would be incapable of harming the Princess—nor, I suspect, would it have any effect on the magic orb in her cleavage. Since victory explicitly requires the sword to pop the orb even if the orb bearer were rendered unconscious or something through non-sword-related means, there is absolutely no way Typh could win for the scumbag; and if the fight lasts long enough, eventually the princess would at least graze Typh’s orb due to sheer random luck.
Oh, and HRH’s clothing will be an inevitable casualty. This will surprise no one but herself.
Wait, doesn’t Typh’s sword frequently refuse to kill or injure those it doesn’t want to kill? For example, when she attacked Teresa and only cut off her clothes, despite actively trying to kill her? If Typh does get drafted, she might not be physically ABLE to kill Peonie, with her sword at least.
Though “popping” Peonie’s bubble without killing her would still mean a win for the Cardinal, so not ideal.
It just hit me that the orb is not INSIDE Peonie’s chest.
The conditions, as stated by Teresa only say the sword has to go through the orb.
They also say “through”, as in, all the way.
So. Coriander does indeed choose Typhan-Knes.
Typh loans Peonie her sword – the North Wind – that will not cut anyone whi doesn’t deserve it – since Peonie has no sword.
Typh then borrows a sword.
Typh thrusts, and impales the orb … buy does not thrust THROUGH, thus (a) not injuring Peonie and (b) getting near enough (and having a reason to stall) allowing Peonie to stab away with the North Wind, which aill completely pierce the orb but not even scratch Typh’s boob.
Presto!
Argh! “But” not “buy”
I’m gonna call it…
Either Coriander selects himself, or King Urtica as the subject of his orb.
Outside possibility, the naked spy/witness might make a convenient target.
Part of me wants Coriander to choose Tif, and have Tif’s ‘curse’ turn around and smack him into a sexy woman.
Princess P-Cups just stepped up and showed everyone she is no longer The S!!t in Dat Dress 😀