Go Quentyn!

[Maxgoof]

Heh...Gilder gets his ears pinned back, and Master Rillcreek has that smile again.

Go Quentyn!
Go Quentyn!
Go Quentyn!
Go Quentyn!
Go Quentyn!
Go Quentyn!
Go Quentyn!
Go Quentyn!
Go Quentyn!
Go Quentyn!

[Maxgoof]

Notice how he is responding to each of them.

Gilder blusters, Quentyn blusters back.

The adjudicator bring up legal points, Quentyn politely brings up legal points back.

Rillcreek points out a breach of protocol, Quentyn politely apologizes but points out the reason for the breach.

I'd say he's prepared, and has an amazing knack of knowing how to approach each one.

Let's see how he treats Lady Rose. Please, Quentyn, she's a nice lady, well intentioned, but misguided. Be especially polite with her.

[Narnian]

But he must be careful not to make enemies - even if the rules and regulations are on his side the council can still make his life miserable.

He must not only correct them but he must win them over as well. Even Gilder if possible.

The best way in my mind is for his victories to become the village's victories. For hist glory to become the village's glory.

* Looks around for Solidus who usually has brought the popcorn by now *

[Lee M]

Heh. Rillcreek has a really cute nightcap.

[Starcat5]

Ah, yes. Rose. If she IS in fact the mind behind that letter, than the next few updates are going to be real interesting. Also, note her look at Rillcreek in the last frame? That look of suprise? I think that she's only now realizing that Rillcreek is backing Quentin, not as a show Questor like she was, but as the real thing.

[Madmoonie]

Quentyn does have the upperhand but must not press too hard, least he lose his footing.

......wow....did I say that? Sounds like something you find in a fortune cookie. Wonder if Rillcreek sent him that journal or whatever it was?

[Starcat5]

Wonder if Rillcreek sent him that journal or whatever it was?

It has been pointed out that the book came from the dead letter office. Currently, it is assumed that it (the book) was mailed by town founder, Quintyn of Ridgedale (our Quin's namesake), as an impormtu time capsle. Sort of a "Letter to the Future" kind of thing.

[Jaydub]

I like it, I Like it! The young Kit is pulling rank on the Council and proving he can do it when they object.

I think Quentyn will use this time to set the council strait that he is the town Questor and that he will control how the town Questor handles the job not the Council of Elders. We have seen what happens when the politicians and news media get involved in a military campaign. The soldiers win all the battles but the politicians and news media lose the war. If you think about it, that's what the council and fish wraps are trying to do to Quentyn and he's having nothing of it.

[Maxgoof]

Wonder if Rillcreek sent him that journal or whatever it was?

It has been pointed out that the book came from the dead letter office. Currently, it is assumed that it (the book) was mailed by town founder, Quintyn of Ridgedale (our Quin's namesake), as an impormtu time capsle. Sort of a "Letter to the Future" kind of thing.

I have confirmation from Ralph that it is, indeed, written by Quentyn of Ridgedale. It was intended as a how-to book, from the only person who could really give how-to's.

Isn't it interesting, though, that he gets the book at *precisely* the moment when he needs it.

I told Ralph that it looked like the hand of providence. Ralph said it was author expediency. I then asked, "When it comes to fiction, is there really any difference?"

I can just see Quentyn as he reads it, realizing that it is the very handwriting of Quentyn of Ridgedale, his hero and namesake. His eyes becoming like saucers, his heart pounding, as he reads page after page, absorbing it faster than he ever did any Questor novel, thinking, "He wrote this for me!....for ME!!!!!"

[Maxgoof]

We have seen what happens when the politicians and news media get involved in a military campaign. The soldiers win all the battles but the politicians and news media lose the war.

I don't know how many here read Schlock Mercenary, but they had something like that recently. A planet was about to be invaded by this huge military fleet, but the fleet was commandeered by Petey and sent to another galaxy.

The planetary government then attempted to take credit for driving off the fleet. Petey comes in and tells them that it was actually him, and if they really could drive off invaders, then they should have no problem with the single ship with a plasma gun aimed directly at their government headquarters.

They couldn't handle it, of course. They couldn't for years, and, as a result, the government got vaporized in a flash of plasma. To be replaced by an old guy in an ore barge, who threw rocks at the ship with the plasma gun and rammed it, thus saving the planet. Petey immediately promoted him to planetary ruler.

[Maxgoof]

Another interesting point:

"Master Rillcreek"
"Your honor"
"Gilder"

Notice the respect he give Rillcreek and the adjudicator as opposed to Gilder. Not even a "sir".

[Chaser617]

Other than his stance in protecting the town in his views, Gilder really hasn't shown much in the way of requiring respect. I can see his views, but at the same time, he's going about it I think wrong.

Question, is the Captain of the Civil Guard part of the COuncil? I remember him playing chess with Rose, Mater Rillcreek and Gilder, but haven't seen him in any council meetings that I know of, unless he is a spectator. It would seem that someone that's seen Q in action first hand might be more of the mind to support him.

[Yuoofox]

I love Master Rillcreek's nightcap and slippers!

[TMLutas]

The first time you see the entire Council is here. You can see that there are 8 people in that frame with the Captain of the Guard being the only one standing. This would seem to imply that the Cpt. is *not* a member of the Council but has some sort of halfway standing, possibly ex officio in a non-voting capacity. Perhaps he serves as the Council's Sergeant at Arms?

Now Rillcreek notes that everybody has to be there but I don't see the other Council members. Come to think of it, I don't think that three of them have ever had any lines. Do we even know their names? You could have Gilder, Rose, and the Adjudicator all vote against Quentyn and still lose if these 'quiet councilors' follow Rillcreek in upholding the Questor's rights. And if they weren't consulted on this letter, that's exactly what they would do if only to uphold their own rights. The letter didn't only insult the Questor and attempt to illegally restrain his rights, it was very likely done without majority approval. An illicit offer made in the name of a Council that didn't approve it is not going to go over well.

[Maxgoof]

Other than his stance in protecting the town in his views, Gilder really hasn't shown much in the way of requiring respect. I can see his views, but at the same time, he's going about it I think wrong.

Question, is the Captain of the Civil Guard part of the COuncil? I remember him playing chess with Rose, Mater Rillcreek and Gilder, but haven't seen him in any council meetings that I know of, unless he is a spectator. It would seem that someone that's seen Q in action first hand might be more of the mind to support him.

No, the Captain of the Guard is not a member of the council. At the first meeting, when they called Quentyn before them about his oath at the soothstone, he was there more in the capacity of a Sargent-at-arms.

This is why he was not present at the second meeting when Quentyn was censured.

But, unless he is out of town on business, I fully expect he's there now.

[Maxgoof]

Now Rillcreek notes that everybody has to be there but I don't see the other Council members. Come to think of it, I don't think that three of them have ever had any lines. Do we even know their names?

I don't think the names have been revealed yet, no.

You could have Gilder, Rose, and the Adjudicator all vote against Quentyn and still lose if these 'quiet councilors' follow Rillcreek in upholding the Questor's rights. And if they weren't consulted on this letter, that's exactly what they would do if only to uphold their own rights. The letter didn't only insult the Questor and attempt to illegally restrain his rights, it was very likely done without majority approval. An illicit offer made in the name of a Council that didn't approve it is not going to go over well.

Which is precisely why none of them will come forward and admit they were a part of the letter. The letter is written on official council stationary, yet no one signed it. That is a horrid breach of protocol. I seriously doubt the adjudicator was involved. He knows protocol, and that letter should have been signed. It was not. And I doubt if any of the rest of the council will want to admit to the adjudicator that they were a party in misusing council scrip.

I suspect Gilder, Lady Rose, and one of the unnamed council members, probably the one with the scowl on his face at the censure meeting.

[Mike Fang]

Heh, nothing like slapping overbearing politicians with their own rules.

There is still plenty of danger here. If this council is anything like a present-day town/city government, Quentyn is still going to have to do some serious backing up of his position, even without the rules.

IRL, a town board handles the local laws and charters, proposing changes, appointing committees to review and explore alterations to charters and local laws, and finally the town board (or in this case, council) are the people who decide to pass or quash a law. I know this because I worked for one of those so-called fish wraps (gives Jaydub a glare) for my summer internship a couple years back, and covered a lot of small-town board meetings.

So, getting back to this situation, Quentyn's probably got a lot of legal ground to stand on...NOW. BUT, the council can always elect to ammend the very charters and laws he's using to defend his position. And if that happens, he'll have to be ready to argue against them changing it. Plus, we don't know how fast the council can change those charters; it may require a set time to deliberate, as well as appointing a committee, like it does for a RL town.

On the other hand, a change to the charter could possibly be done in a single meeting, by nothing more than having a council member propose it. If that's the case, we can definitely expect Gilder to start proposing changes to the charter every other minute, and probably at the top of his lungs.

Oh, yeah, and Jaydub...how about you NOT sound like you assume every single journalist is a bleeding heart liberal out to nail the military for something? Some of us are actually conservatives, and while I can understand and without a second's hesitation agree with someone saying that the MAJORITY of reporters are a bunch of pinko commie liberals out to undermine and present a bias picture of many current governmental and military actions, saying they're ALL like that is just prejudice.

[SolidusRaccoon]

Well Well Well, someone is in for a smack down.

[TMLutas]

You could have Gilder, Rose, and the Adjudicator all vote against Quentyn and still lose if these 'quiet councilors' follow Rillcreek in upholding the Questor's rights. And if they weren't consulted on this letter, that's exactly what they would do if only to uphold their own rights. The letter didn't only insult the Questor and attempt to illegally restrain his rights, it was very likely done without majority approval. An illicit offer made in the name of a Council that didn't approve it is not going to go over well.

Which is precisely why none of them will come forward and admit they were a part of the letter. The letter is written on official council stationary, yet no one signed it. That is a horrid breach of protocol. I seriously doubt the adjudicator was involved. He knows protocol, and that letter should have been signed. It was not. And I doubt if any of the rest of the council will want to admit to the adjudicator that they were a party in misusing council scrip.

I suspect Gilder, Lady Rose, and one of the unnamed council members, probably the one with the scowl on his face at the censure meeting.

I would bet there is something in there on censuring and removing council members who abuse their office. This sort of thing doesn't just go away because it sets a horrible precedent. You'd have to lock up the Council scrip and constantly confirm that communication on Council letterhead was actually passed by the Council. It's a very big mess and a legitimate reason to call the Council to session in the middle of the night.

If Gilder really is serious about treating the Questor seriously, I don't think he'd be a part of this mess. I imagine it quite possible that he'll surprise everybody by voting against an illegitimate Council letter which would go very well with his "law and order" ideas but that he'll blame Quentyn for putting temptation in the way of whoever it turns out to be at fault for writing the thing.

Next thought, is the science of handwriting analysis developed in this society?

[UncleMonty]

I'm still trying to figure out one point: Why the middle of the night?

Anything Quentyn has said could be said during regular hours. I don't know about Rac Cona Daimh, but if you wake up a group of elderly humans at Oh-Dark-thirty, they will likely hold it against you even if you have every right to do so.

I'd be rooting for Quentyn's shock tactics if these were politicians like Ray Nagin or Kathleen Blanco or the like... Corrupt, self-serving "Boss Hogg" types... but so far all of them, even Gilder, seem to be honestly trying to fulfill their duties as they see them.

Oh, well... I'm sure as the story unfolds, we'll get all the answers.