Friendship is Dragons
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Page 970 - You're Elusive?!
Author Notes:
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31 Comments:
The players in this don't have that luxury, so it is more a surprise to them than us. :3
I did hold out that Elusive wasn't going to be Blueblood. Hoped there'd be one more twist we didn't catch. It's fine though. This works just as well (plus, so worth it for Rarity's reaction in that last panel. Hee hee).
Oh yeah. She's bringing him down. Great public place to do it, too.
Ohhhhh boy. Meta-knowledge from the episode suggests that Celestia WILL find this out. How many nobles are in this ballroom and itching to get in their sovereign's good graces? And given how she's been hunting Elusive for centuries, I'm guessing treason at a minimum charge.
Unless she already knows.
But Rarity ain't never getting back in the Guild. Which means all the monsters from here on will be assassination attempts by the guild against the party.
Unless Pinkie is about to interrupt them both with her cake, which may be required given Rarity's appearance for the rest of the ep and that it's visible during her upcoming rant. Next strip has gotta be the DM or Pinkie breaking in to announce the "diversion.".
Unless she already knows.
But Rarity ain't never getting back in the Guild. Which means all the monsters from here on will be assassination attempts by the guild against the party.
Unless Pinkie is about to interrupt them both with her cake, which may be required given Rarity's appearance for the rest of the ep and that it's visible during her upcoming rant. Next strip has gotta be the DM or Pinkie breaking in to announce the "diversion.".
I stand by my theory that Celestia knows that Blueblood is Elusive, or at least a member of the Thieves' Guild, but can't prove or act on it herself due to his royal blood and family connection.
Which means that either this is where Blueblood gets outed, or where Rarity humiliates his public persona so much that Celestia can isolate him from his contacts, leaving the Thieves' Guild temporarily leaderless.
I do look forward to seeing how Rarity and the other players/characters handle this! I suspect there shall be some major bluff and insight checks rolled, as well as some attacks, a strength check or three, and a Nature/Handle Animal check. ;)
Which means that either this is where Blueblood gets outed, or where Rarity humiliates his public persona so much that Celestia can isolate him from his contacts, leaving the Thieves' Guild temporarily leaderless.
I do look forward to seeing how Rarity and the other players/characters handle this! I suspect there shall be some major bluff and insight checks rolled, as well as some attacks, a strength check or three, and a Nature/Handle Animal check. ;)
Alternatively, Celestia is manipulating Elusive (overtly or subtly) to make the thieves' guild serve her ends a little more... although I doubt that's the route Spud (and the DM) are going for
Oh, and you misspelled surprised in panel three, Spud.
Just occurred to me the may still be behind the door, in which case Rarity might stalk angrily into the ballroom before the rest of the party launches... whatever it is they're about to do.
Dang I hate typing w/ one hand. Busted the other and got two weeks more wait before I get it back.
Just occurred to me the may still be behind the door, in which case Rarity might stalk angrily into the ballroom before the rest of the party launches... whatever it is they're about to do.
Dang I hate typing w/ one hand. Busted the other and got two weeks more wait before I get it back.
Say it louder, Rar...Dainty. I think in Yakyakistan they haven't heard you yet. ;)
Discord: "Well, that's the most vehement "Reason You Suck" speech I've heard since those ponies made me stone. I'll have to compliment whoever gave that dose of withering criticism when I get free!"
Chrysalis: "Perhaps I'll wait a few weeks before I try anything, as it sounds a bit hot around there right now!"
Tirek: "*Grumbles and keeps working on his bouncing rock ball to distract Cerberus again.*"
Luna: "Well, she's got spirit! If she designs her dresses with half the passion she chews people out with, she's hired!"
Wreck-Gar: "The ponies are angry again!"
Solid Snake: "Why do I keep dreaming that I'm a purple pony?!"
Deadpool: "Oh this is going to be wonderful! Let me get some popcorn and my movie watching slippers! I want to see if Pinkie's friend will shed some blood!"
Cyborg: "Whoever that was, I'm going to be grateful next time I need to trash talk some thieves!"
Raven: "I sense a great disturbance in the cute. I'm going to go brood."
Starfire: "What is this brooding? Is it fun? And can I join you?"
Beast Boy: "Let her go, Starfire. This is something she needs to do alone!"
Robin: *Lands with a thud as he's tossed out of the Brooding Room.* Yeesh! She could have at least asked, I don't HAVE to be in that room to brood!
Everyone else: "WE KNOW!"
Pinkie Pie: *Giggles uncontrollably as she watches all of this finish.*
Rainbow Dash: "Is our bard okay? I think we're going to need her for a distraction really quick!"
Applejack: "I think you mean a bigger distraction than the one she's already making."
Fluttershy: "Focus! This "Blueblood" jerk has hurt Rarity AND Princess Celestia, and we're going to take him down hard! Garden Critter Army CHARGE!"
The DM: *Stares in amazement as all his plans fall apart, again. Sighs. Burns his current notebook, and pulls out a new one labeled "In case of campaign plan destruction, scenario 3 of 5, sub disaster C." and says, with a twitch in an eye:* "I honestly didn't think you'd trap Elusive with a combination of cake and tanglefoot bags. I also need to pay out the pool on how you broke the campaign. Again."
The Players: *Stare in stunned confusion.*
Rainbow Dash's player: "Wait a minute, you mean you're running a pool on how we'll break this campaign... and you're NOT giving us a cut?"
DM: "I use my earnings it to buy dinner for game nights, new minis, and contingency plans from other DMs online! Why do you think we've been eating steak and lobster the last few weeks"
RD: "...Okay, but we better get some gourmet pizza next week!"
DM: "...Fine."
Pinkie: "And we need to get back to wrecking his campaign without trying again!"
And thus, the Mane Six also unmasked the Changeling invasion, by shocking the changelings with such a disaster that none could hold their shape, including Pinkie Pie.
Chrysalis: "Perhaps I'll wait a few weeks before I try anything, as it sounds a bit hot around there right now!"
Tirek: "*Grumbles and keeps working on his bouncing rock ball to distract Cerberus again.*"
Luna: "Well, she's got spirit! If she designs her dresses with half the passion she chews people out with, she's hired!"
Wreck-Gar: "The ponies are angry again!"
Solid Snake: "Why do I keep dreaming that I'm a purple pony?!"
Deadpool: "Oh this is going to be wonderful! Let me get some popcorn and my movie watching slippers! I want to see if Pinkie's friend will shed some blood!"
Cyborg: "Whoever that was, I'm going to be grateful next time I need to trash talk some thieves!"
Raven: "I sense a great disturbance in the cute. I'm going to go brood."
Starfire: "What is this brooding? Is it fun? And can I join you?"
Beast Boy: "Let her go, Starfire. This is something she needs to do alone!"
Robin: *Lands with a thud as he's tossed out of the Brooding Room.* Yeesh! She could have at least asked, I don't HAVE to be in that room to brood!
Everyone else: "WE KNOW!"
Pinkie Pie: *Giggles uncontrollably as she watches all of this finish.*
Rainbow Dash: "Is our bard okay? I think we're going to need her for a distraction really quick!"
Applejack: "I think you mean a bigger distraction than the one she's already making."
Fluttershy: "Focus! This "Blueblood" jerk has hurt Rarity AND Princess Celestia, and we're going to take him down hard! Garden Critter Army CHARGE!"
The DM: *Stares in amazement as all his plans fall apart, again. Sighs. Burns his current notebook, and pulls out a new one labeled "In case of campaign plan destruction, scenario 3 of 5, sub disaster C." and says, with a twitch in an eye:* "I honestly didn't think you'd trap Elusive with a combination of cake and tanglefoot bags. I also need to pay out the pool on how you broke the campaign. Again."
The Players: *Stare in stunned confusion.*
Rainbow Dash's player: "Wait a minute, you mean you're running a pool on how we'll break this campaign... and you're NOT giving us a cut?"
DM: "I use my earnings it to buy dinner for game nights, new minis, and contingency plans from other DMs online! Why do you think we've been eating steak and lobster the last few weeks"
RD: "...Okay, but we better get some gourmet pizza next week!"
DM: "...Fine."
Pinkie: "And we need to get back to wrecking his campaign without trying again!"
And thus, the Mane Six also unmasked the Changeling invasion, by shocking the changelings with such a disaster that none could hold their shape, including Pinkie Pie.
Maybe! It's possible this might got into a less serious less fatal Shadow Broker type situation, where Rarity takes the Elusive title/position, and redirects the Thieves' Guild into less destructive directions.
Or she might be angry enough to just burn both Elusive and the Thieves' Guild worse than they burned her, leaving her clear to be the element of generosity with a clear conscience.
Her expression leads more towards the latter angle there.
Or she might be angry enough to just burn both Elusive and the Thieves' Guild worse than they burned her, leaving her clear to be the element of generosity with a clear conscience.
Her expression leads more towards the latter angle there.
Rarity: "And that's when I killed him, your highness."
Celestia: "Full pardon."
Celestia: "Full pardon."
No, no, the correct formatting of that statement is:
"And that's when the murders begain."
"And that's when the murders begain."
Methinks someone is still a mite sore about being tossed out of the Guild. What was your plan here, Blueblood?
I'm not sure Blueblood thought beyond "dinner with a former Guild Member, without her knowing", or that she might be furious at being drummed out of the Thieves' Guild.
I also don't think he understood just how powerful a connection he burned when he gave Rarity her severance.
The DM, on the other hand... was probably thinking much, MUCH farther in advance.
I also don't think he understood just how powerful a connection he burned when he gave Rarity her severance.
The DM, on the other hand... was probably thinking much, MUCH farther in advance.
Damage control, presumably. If she's at the point where Pinkie is doing thinly disguised "HE'S A GODDAMN CROOK" calls in front of the whole of high society, he needs Rarity to rein the girls in.
I expect he also figured Rarity would fall into line and immediately start kissing his butt to try and get back in the.
I expect he also figured Rarity would fall into line and immediately start kissing his butt to try and get back in the.
Say it with me, children, Hypocrisy. The word for today is Hypocrisy.
Celestia probably doesn't know for sure that Blueblood is Elusive, or can't act against him due to him being royalty.
Hence, Blueblood isn't under direct scrutiny by Celestia, and can get away with being Elusive.
If he's lucky, that's ALL that ends tonight!
Hence, Blueblood isn't under direct scrutiny by Celestia, and can get away with being Elusive.
If he's lucky, that's ALL that ends tonight!
That last panel is the sort of thing followed by "roll for initiative".
Pure, unadulterated murderous, glee.
The story of Shane the Shy (http://www.theallguardsmenparty.com/images/stories/shane%20the%20shy.png) supports that. Though in that case it's clear the party was just frustrated and sick of him.
Oh I'm pretty sure Celestia's manipulating the Thieves' Guild behind the scenes. Blueblood being the titular head gives her plausible deniability.
723 pages later and we finally get to wrapping up this arc.
Let's try this again, I can never remember which tags to use.
To put in perspective, in the speed of strips, we got through 700+ strips (and two and a half years) between calling it, and the reveal.
That also comes out to 8 arcs, and 8 intermissions (so 8 guest comic sets and a couple minor side story arcs), for us to keep worrying, guessing, and suspecting on who 'Elusive' was.
That also comes out to 8 arcs, and 8 intermissions (so 8 guest comic sets and a couple minor side story arcs), for us to keep worrying, guessing, and suspecting on who 'Elusive' was.
And unlike some
manysituations in this comic series, this isn't the result of improvisation or changing to a better idea at the last minute or following guidance from the comments section. No, from the moment Elusive was name-dropped, this was always the plan.Speaking of thieves, we finally recorded another episode of that campaign podcast involving thieves!
Dusk City Outlaws Session 6 - The Seven Seas Job, Part 2: Libsyn YouTube