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Howdy, New Readers! Thanks for reading Exiern!
Written by Scott T. Hicken with art by Antipus, the comic updates Thursdays. Please check out the Archive to enjoy the earlier adventures of Typh and Peonie!
Exiern contains mature themes and is best for readers 18+.
… Divorce? Why would they have to do that when A-Didn’t they stop the ceremony Before it was finalised? And B-From what’s being said, they didn’t do anything that would Require a divorce procedure. In which case… Just get an annulment. No fuss no muss.
@kstormgemini – Divorce means that Urtica and Teresa are still tied together. An annulment would give Teresa way to much autonomy as head of the Church. A divorce would give Urtica and connection and influence that he would not otherwise have. Also pretty sure an annulment for Theresa would equal death.
Not a divorce. If the union was not consummated—as their remarks clearly indicate—all that’s necessary is an annulment. The diference is important in this case. A divorce is the dissolution of a marriage. An annulment is an acknowledgment that the process of wedding the couple was incomplete—i.e., no wedding took place, no union was formed, she was never wed to anyone and—most important for her clerical status—she’s still a virgin (assuming she was a virgin at the time the wedding was begun).
Rescinded? You think? I thought the banishment was a plot contrivance to get Typh out into the wilderness. More available assailants would mean more available stories. Besides, what fun is a domesticated barbarian? Sure, Urtica’s will probably eventually have to rescind the banishment to bring Typh back for some attacker or other, but for now, I’m looking forward to Typh-a-Knee taking on avatiety of wilderness baddies.
Anyone with half a brain would see that these two together would be the political equivalent of a machinegun against stone knives. aka everyone and their sister would rush to unite and destroy them before they’d’ve been able to do more than summon the scribe to redraw their maps…
splitting up, especially by divorce rather than a simple anulment, they not only get the benefit of an ally of (approximately) equal intelligence, and the common horde of outsiders would assume a stance of mild to strong hostility between them as a result. To be sure; these two are a pair to watch. this pair versus our friendly neighborhood barbarian? given even a day to prepare, I’d call even odds. 😛
So what are the odds of this “goodbye” present being the trigger for (one of) Typh’s next adventure(s)? It undoubtedly contains information to be pursued.
The wedding was a ruse to get Coriander there as he would HAVE to perform the ceremony of the King’s wedding.
Then they set it up so that the problems that arose prevented the consummation of their marriage, leaving her “pure” and still eligible for a position in the priest(es)hood. And as result of Coriander’s loss of rank, Terresa would have to divorce the King to take up the leadership of Rem. Well played.
Some people here are speculating on what was clearly a plot between Urtica and Theresa to stage a show marriage with a divorce. My thoughts:
We have no evidence that it matters in the least whether the marriage was consummated or not. Although there’s been ample evidence that SOME factions in the Church of Rem are of the “he-man woman haters club” variety (I suspect those factions and the child molester factions strongly overlap), there’s been nothing explicit mentioned about females being forbidden to hold office within the church. In fact, despite the displayed prudery of some church officials, there’s no direct evidence that clergy are expected to be celibate at all. Thus, whether or not there’s a divorce or an annulment, Theresa’s purported “purity” is unlikely to be a major factor in her ability to hold office. At least, certainly no more a factor than the fact that she’s now female. The two “strikes” against her being the church leader that people are bringing up involve her sexual status and her gender status, so if neither applies, then it’s only about the usual politics. Although those politics may be emotionally charged by the factions that disapprove of women and/or sex, the technicalities of Theresa’s eligibility may very well be fulfilled, and so her arguments will hinge upon them. Coriander’s fall from grace is therefore not only a long time coming, but also the biggest boon to Theresa’s rise in power. Those who were big Coriander supporters but NOT child molesters are sure to make big efforts to distance themselves visibly from anything Coriander-tainted, so even if they disapprove of Theresa, she IS the most obviously opposite of Coriander available. She may pick up support simply from being the anti-Coriander, much as Sanders has garnered votes that are less Sanders supporters than they are anti-Trump voters. Making no judgment about current politics here, just saying that in any given electoral event, there is some portion of voters that are not voting FOR a candidate so much as they are voting AGAINST another candidate. This would of course be more pronounced a phenomenon the more polarized an election is, so in this case with Theresa there is a good chance that the anti-Coriander effect may actually be pronounced enough to be a deciding factor in her acceptance as leader. That should help smooth things considerably in her first year or two of leadership, where otherwise she might face considerable resistance, to the point of splinter schisms, etc. Plus, with the political savvy both Theresa and Urtica have shown, I’m certain they already have in place agents that will start whisper campaigns against any of the prominent opposition leaders, linking their resistance to molester proclivities, etc.
As others have mentioned, the Team Urtica-Theresa forces basically have any opposition vastly outgunned in political savvy and forward planning. Otherwise Coriander would have won that clearly unfair confrontation and we’d all be discussing the group exodus of the royal family, not just Typh’s probable-but-not-certain exile. That is assuming the author would allow them to flee rather than letting them be slaughtered out of hand, of course.
So, given that Theresa survives the political maneuvering for the first year or two, I suspect she will, indeed, be the force that reforms the Church of Rem, with the subtle support of King Urtica. If so, the kingdom will be more stable than ever. Hopefully that doesn’t make life super miserable for Peonie.
These two can be scary at times. I know they are benevolent, but I can’t help but fear for what would happen to the world of Exieern if one of them made a face-heel turn.
so no power couple, i guess
Just sayin’ this fits:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yxTKAiGt0mY
Makes sense, since Teresa wanted to take over the church of Rem
Well well well.
Peonie’s gonna have conniptions that they played her like everybody else.
Why be a Queen when you can be a King in you own right Tess.
These two together would be OP. As allies they are going to run over the competition.
Wait, the wedding was just a ruse to draw out Cory? o_O
How can Terry take over the “Females are lesser creatures” Church of “No woman allowed” Rem? o_O
Damn, even that’s Lannister-level of scheming there, Theresa and Urtica are scary.
The Church of Rem (Reformed)? That does sound like something Urtica and Teresa would want to do.
… Divorce? Why would they have to do that when A-Didn’t they stop the ceremony Before it was finalised? And B-From what’s being said, they didn’t do anything that would Require a divorce procedure. In which case… Just get an annulment. No fuss no muss.
@kstormgemini – Divorce means that Urtica and Teresa are still tied together. An annulment would give Teresa way to much autonomy as head of the Church. A divorce would give Urtica and connection and influence that he would not otherwise have. Also pretty sure an annulment for Theresa would equal death.
Not a divorce. If the union was not consummated—as their remarks clearly indicate—all that’s necessary is an annulment. The diference is important in this case. A divorce is the dissolution of a marriage. An annulment is an acknowledgment that the process of wedding the couple was incomplete—i.e., no wedding took place, no union was formed, she was never wed to anyone and—most important for her clerical status—she’s still a virgin (assuming she was a virgin at the time the wedding was begun).
I have the same handwriting as the person who wrote the divorce papers. I gave up on cursive as soon as teachers stopped demanding it in school.
No need to miss out.
Real World royals have a long tradition of affairs and mistrisses…
I always thought the wedding was a ruse. Utica wants a certain barbarian. The banishment will be rescinded in due time, watch.
Rescinded? You think? I thought the banishment was a plot contrivance to get Typh out into the wilderness. More available assailants would mean more available stories. Besides, what fun is a domesticated barbarian? Sure, Urtica’s will probably eventually have to rescind the banishment to bring Typh back for some attacker or other, but for now, I’m looking forward to Typh-a-Knee taking on avatiety of wilderness baddies.
@Chaucer The King does NOT want a “domesticated” woman. He lijes string women, remember?
Anyone with half a brain would see that these two together would be the political equivalent of a machinegun against stone knives. aka everyone and their sister would rush to unite and destroy them before they’d’ve been able to do more than summon the scribe to redraw their maps…
splitting up, especially by divorce rather than a simple anulment, they not only get the benefit of an ally of (approximately) equal intelligence, and the common horde of outsiders would assume a stance of mild to strong hostility between them as a result. To be sure; these two are a pair to watch. this pair versus our friendly neighborhood barbarian? given even a day to prepare, I’d call even odds. 😛
I meant to say that the king likes strong women. There is a strong need for an edit feature here.
Even when they’re doing the right thing, there’s something chilling about these two…
Is anybody else worried about that “mysterious song”?
You mean string need for an edit feature.
I don’t like the ominous mention of that song lingering, ominous statements like that can bode ominously.
So what are the odds of this “goodbye” present being the trigger for (one of) Typh’s next adventure(s)? It undoubtedly contains information to be pursued.
I do hope Teresa and Typhan-Knee get to say goodbye and maybe mend fences.
The wedding was a ruse to get Coriander there as he would HAVE to perform the ceremony of the King’s wedding.
Then they set it up so that the problems that arose prevented the consummation of their marriage, leaving her “pure” and still eligible for a position in the priest(es)hood. And as result of Coriander’s loss of rank, Terresa would have to divorce the King to take up the leadership of Rem. Well played.
Some people here are speculating on what was clearly a plot between Urtica and Theresa to stage a show marriage with a divorce. My thoughts:
We have no evidence that it matters in the least whether the marriage was consummated or not. Although there’s been ample evidence that SOME factions in the Church of Rem are of the “he-man woman haters club” variety (I suspect those factions and the child molester factions strongly overlap), there’s been nothing explicit mentioned about females being forbidden to hold office within the church. In fact, despite the displayed prudery of some church officials, there’s no direct evidence that clergy are expected to be celibate at all. Thus, whether or not there’s a divorce or an annulment, Theresa’s purported “purity” is unlikely to be a major factor in her ability to hold office. At least, certainly no more a factor than the fact that she’s now female. The two “strikes” against her being the church leader that people are bringing up involve her sexual status and her gender status, so if neither applies, then it’s only about the usual politics. Although those politics may be emotionally charged by the factions that disapprove of women and/or sex, the technicalities of Theresa’s eligibility may very well be fulfilled, and so her arguments will hinge upon them. Coriander’s fall from grace is therefore not only a long time coming, but also the biggest boon to Theresa’s rise in power. Those who were big Coriander supporters but NOT child molesters are sure to make big efforts to distance themselves visibly from anything Coriander-tainted, so even if they disapprove of Theresa, she IS the most obviously opposite of Coriander available. She may pick up support simply from being the anti-Coriander, much as Sanders has garnered votes that are less Sanders supporters than they are anti-Trump voters. Making no judgment about current politics here, just saying that in any given electoral event, there is some portion of voters that are not voting FOR a candidate so much as they are voting AGAINST another candidate. This would of course be more pronounced a phenomenon the more polarized an election is, so in this case with Theresa there is a good chance that the anti-Coriander effect may actually be pronounced enough to be a deciding factor in her acceptance as leader. That should help smooth things considerably in her first year or two of leadership, where otherwise she might face considerable resistance, to the point of splinter schisms, etc. Plus, with the political savvy both Theresa and Urtica have shown, I’m certain they already have in place agents that will start whisper campaigns against any of the prominent opposition leaders, linking their resistance to molester proclivities, etc.
As others have mentioned, the Team Urtica-Theresa forces basically have any opposition vastly outgunned in political savvy and forward planning. Otherwise Coriander would have won that clearly unfair confrontation and we’d all be discussing the group exodus of the royal family, not just Typh’s probable-but-not-certain exile. That is assuming the author would allow them to flee rather than letting them be slaughtered out of hand, of course.
So, given that Theresa survives the political maneuvering for the first year or two, I suspect she will, indeed, be the force that reforms the Church of Rem, with the subtle support of King Urtica. If so, the kingdom will be more stable than ever. Hopefully that doesn’t make life super miserable for Peonie.
These two can be scary at times. I know they are benevolent, but I can’t help but fear for what would happen to the world of Exieern if one of them made a face-heel turn.
Am I the only one going to mention she said the vote was “nearly” unanimous? Really thinking there’s a reason that was stated.
Celebrity marriages never last