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Jyna is not happy - and, yes, we can't blame her. With the "rubbery face," sounds like Daryla might have induced a stroke, so, besides your notes on the guard being people just trying to do their jobs (and getting slaughtered), Daryla might have just permanently disabled a "Zach Allen."

Which brings home a truth of conflict. The leaders, planners, movers behind any agenda are rarely the ones who suffer consequences. Baltine isn't missing an arm, a head, or brain damaged. It's his minions. Putin isn't lying somewhere with a bullet in his guts, but a lot of his people are...

Thing is, Pylpo's combat absolutely was "cool." It was the non-magical fighter up against a prepared mage, and Pylpo used smart tactics to get in close, and then was aided by a little luck, since Sgt. Wolfe chose to take a moment to mock rather than finish off the foe directly in front of him and keep the other half of his squad from getting torn apart (that's on you, Wolfe).

Next week should be the long awaited info dump on what Simova knows, which is the final context for this arc.

Sorry you're sick again. Laura and I feel like we're fighting a secondary infection following our own October illness. And, in my case, my utter depression at the 🐘* in the room this week is manifesting physically. No viable external outlet, so my systems have turned against themselves.

*Since the GOP uses an elephant as its symbol, that metaphor is depressingly apt.

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author

Good spot with Jyna's symptoms. A micrologist attack to the brain is not a nice thing.

It was fun to work out the logistics for the Krystyan/Wolfe fight. There's a bit of rock-paper-scissors to these things, I think, where you're trying to figure out what counters what. We can all aspire to the quality of Kieron Gillen's UBER for that kind of action.

And yes, some answers about Simova will be coming next week, promise.

Let's all agree to not be ill for the next month-or-two, yeah?

Didn't know about the elephant symbol. Weird!

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Noticing the stroke? It's almost like I've seen the (stroke) "Have a sign? Dial 999" ads. Or, like I watched Mom have one.

I have words on "Ye Olde Paper Rock Scissors." In brief, in my TTRPG system of choice there is a series of combat tables which is more Paper Rock Scissors Lizard Spock, which also inspires great narrative.

On elephants: https://www.history.com/news/how-did-the-republican-and-democratic-parties-get-their-animal-symbols

Political parties have terrible symbols. What's up with that "Union Jack/Tree" thing?

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Nov 8Liked by Simon K Jones

I'm sorry to hear that you're sick. I hope you beat the infection quickly and get back to 100% soon.

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