Somehow I suspect Jhalm is not going to find it all that easy to retrieve his arm. Now, whether that entails Boneclaw Mother monopolizing him for a discussion on Why Hyenas Have Rights Too, or making it difficult for the rest of the Veiled to do anything (since she has their leader) – or simply her keeping the arm and giving the rest of him back, we shall just have to wait and see.
I think she’s about to casually explain to him just how screwed he is if he proceeds with his plan to take out Digger, and then mention how all she has to do is fall or feign injury while Jhalm is touching her and he is up that famous foul-smelling brown creek. Sans rowing implement. He really pissed her off royally in the first panel, judging by her moment of silence.
Yeah, I don’t think it’s going to be a physical confrontation. Not that I don’t think Boneclaw Mother wouldn’t if she needed to, but Jhalm is predisposed towards courtesy (with everyone BUT Digger, which I find odd), and Boneclaw Mother could definitely use that against him.
Yes, Jhalm is honourable to a literal fault.
One reason he may be less then polite to Digger is because she came out of a magical hole that has been shown to lead to Bad Things and from which Bad Things have come, a hole that invaded the tempel of a God. He wonders, with reason, if she is innocent as she claims.
Also, she befriended a shadow demon.
If Sweetgrass Voice is any indication, most are not as innocent as Shadowchild.
And even innocent Shadowchild killed a man.
Is he wrong? Yes. But we have privileged information as the audience just not available to Jhelm.
I think I know why that pause in the second panel from Boneclaw Mother, before she changed her tactics; Jhalm will “receive a delegation” from the hyenas. Which means Jhalm is explicitly saying that He’s In Charge. He didn’t say or imply that he intended to negotiate on equal terms. No hyena worth her liver is going to take something like that lightly…. But because Jhalm sees her as inferior, I think *that’s* why she’s playing up the “poor crippled old woman” thing. We know she’s a master of psychological ju-jitsu; play to his expectations to get his guard down, and then twist it somehow in a way he can’t predict and won’t expect….
Look at Jhalm’s face. Boneclaw Mother’s got him right where she wants him. Jhalm is off balance now and an extreme disadvantage. I do wonder what the rest of the clan is doing behind their backs that Boneclaw Mother does not want Jhalm to see.
I have a sneaky suspicion that she’ll return to her territory… with Jhalm supporting her the entire way, caught in an unbreakable grip of politeness and… um, just an unbreakable grip.
Sage just beat me to it 🙁 . Anyways, when Bone Claw Mother had Digger support her, BCM was able to smell things such as emotions, and even check for things such as secrets and malice. Almost as useful to be able to do as ‘the thing’ that Grim Eyes mentioned. http://www.diggercomic.com/?p=437
My first thought was that Jalm was going to get thrown, but maybe Boneclaw Mother is just going to distract him or play some mind games? after all, they need to buy Digger and Ed some time… either way Boneclaw Mother is awesome.
Now, I don’t know whether she knows whether Jhalm is being ‘influenced’ by SGV; but it *might* be possible that she’s drawing him away to try to ‘snap him out of it’…. or at least to crack his shell of certainty…. or – ?
And to add to the chorus, I wouldn’t mind ending up like Boneclaw Mother (if I were female). As it is, I’ll settle for ending up like Ed…… 7@=e
“Would you deny an old man his support? If I may not lean on my staff as I go, I will stay here, and Theoden can come outside himself to speak with me.”
Somehow I suspect Jhalm is not going to find it all that easy to retrieve his arm. Now, whether that entails Boneclaw Mother monopolizing him for a discussion on Why Hyenas Have Rights Too, or making it difficult for the rest of the Veiled to do anything (since she has their leader) – or simply her keeping the arm and giving the rest of him back, we shall just have to wait and see.
Is anyone else getting the feeling that something really bad is about to happen?
I think she’s about to casually explain to him just how screwed he is if he proceeds with his plan to take out Digger, and then mention how all she has to do is fall or feign injury while Jhalm is touching her and he is up that famous foul-smelling brown creek. Sans rowing implement. He really pissed her off royally in the first panel, judging by her moment of silence.
…I’m reminded of Pratchett’s Rule One here. Boneclaw Mother is Ursula’s version of a little old man, unarmed, who’s smiling.
Boneclaw Mother is wise enough so that she’s going to get what she wants without violence.
Now, mentally, physiologically and spiritually she’ll wrap him into a pretzel, but without resorting to crude violence…
The best martial artists don’t HAVE to fight. And Boneclaw Mother is one of the best…
Yeah, I don’t think it’s going to be a physical confrontation. Not that I don’t think Boneclaw Mother wouldn’t if she needed to, but Jhalm is predisposed towards courtesy (with everyone BUT Digger, which I find odd), and Boneclaw Mother could definitely use that against him.
Yes, Jhalm is honourable to a literal fault.
One reason he may be less then polite to Digger is because she came out of a magical hole that has been shown to lead to Bad Things and from which Bad Things have come, a hole that invaded the tempel of a God. He wonders, with reason, if she is innocent as she claims.
Also, she befriended a shadow demon.
If Sweetgrass Voice is any indication, most are not as innocent as Shadowchild.
And even innocent Shadowchild killed a man.
Is he wrong? Yes. But we have privileged information as the audience just not available to Jhelm.
Well done with the voting guys – 88 votes since I posted. Now let’s shoot for #29
Boneclaw Mother is so much like Nanny Ogg it’s scary. I keep expecting her to sing the Hedgehog Song.
Now why do you hate my dauter so much?
I think I know why that pause in the second panel from Boneclaw Mother, before she changed her tactics; Jhalm will “receive a delegation” from the hyenas. Which means Jhalm is explicitly saying that He’s In Charge. He didn’t say or imply that he intended to negotiate on equal terms. No hyena worth her liver is going to take something like that lightly…. But because Jhalm sees her as inferior, I think *that’s* why she’s playing up the “poor crippled old woman” thing. We know she’s a master of psychological ju-jitsu; play to his expectations to get his guard down, and then twist it somehow in a way he can’t predict and won’t expect….
That looks like an excellent position for a throw…
Look at Jhalm’s face. Boneclaw Mother’s got him right where she wants him. Jhalm is off balance now and an extreme disadvantage. I do wonder what the rest of the clan is doing behind their backs that Boneclaw Mother does not want Jhalm to see.
C’mon, guys, don’t you remember that she made Digger do this the first time they met?
I have a sneaky suspicion that she’ll return to her territory… with Jhalm supporting her the entire way, caught in an unbreakable grip of politeness and… um, just an unbreakable grip.
Sage just beat me to it 🙁 . Anyways, when Bone Claw Mother had Digger support her, BCM was able to smell things such as emotions, and even check for things such as secrets and malice. Almost as useful to be able to do as ‘the thing’ that Grim Eyes mentioned.
http://www.diggercomic.com/?p=437
My take, FWIW, is that once Jhalm made the mistake of acting patronizing she had the in she needed to distract him for a while….
My first thought was that Jalm was going to get thrown, but maybe Boneclaw Mother is just going to distract him or play some mind games? after all, they need to buy Digger and Ed some time… either way Boneclaw Mother is awesome.
Now, I don’t know whether she knows whether Jhalm is being ‘influenced’ by SGV; but it *might* be possible that she’s drawing him away to try to ‘snap him out of it’…. or at least to crack his shell of certainty…. or – ?
And to add to the chorus, I wouldn’t mind ending up like Boneclaw Mother (if I were female). As it is, I’ll settle for ending up like Ed…… 7@=e
@ theysabet I have a feeling that trying to take Boneclaw Mother hostage is what I like to call an “epic strategy fail”
@Barry: yep, i was thinking as much.
Also, as irrational fears points out, Ursula is a big fan of Aikido….. I know what i’m hoping for in the next frame…
“Would you deny an old man his support? If I may not lean on my staff as I go, I will stay here, and Theoden can come outside himself to speak with me.”