Comment by Glew

Ooooooh
Seeing Xira witha temper is both new and terrifying D:
Up to this point he was the kind, dorky kid with the bunny-rabbit. But now he is all "I AM going to get it my way, and you WILL obey! ... Thanky :3"

I mean I am getting it right, right? He is implanting thoughts in the guy's head, right?
Hate to sound prejudiced, but Sev was totally right. Witches Are totally freaky. Sorry Xira, you may still prove us all wrong and be the Drizzt of the witches. Unless you secret plotting gets in the way.

Reply by Jade

Honestly, I don't really think it's prejudiced to be concerned about the damage a witch could do. People have a right to their thoughts and actions. Of course, it's not his fault that he has those powers, but it's...honestly? It's scary. I think Xira isn't going to do anything too nefarious, like, say, rob a bank, but I don't think anyone can be trusted with that kind of power. It's an overreach to be able to mess with someone's mind this way.

Reply by Heather

Yeah, I agree. I think what makes it more dangerous than any other kind is how insidious it is- if you take control of someone's body with your mind, they'll notice, but with this, you end up thinking it was your idea all along...

The question is how cluey the townspeople are, and whether later on we'll get a scene along the lines of 'hey, why'd you let them in?' 'I dunno, I just... did... Hey, wait a minute, I never did see that kid's hair'

Reply by Shazzbaa

re: implanting thoughts YEAH THAT'S MORE OR LESS IT, it's a spell we've seen him use at least once before!

Reply by Fal

But at least his thoughts-power fades, in, like, 15 minutes tops (probably as soon as the victims think back on what they said).
Jonan changed people's bodies against their will, and it takes a week to fade. That's freakier to me.
And when Sev turns into a squirrel he's basically invisible, and he can listen in on secrets and spy on people.
And if the healer-woman could get water inside Jonan's mouth and save his life, she could put it in someone's lungs and drown them.

I get why people would find witches freaky, but as someone who changes their mind pretty easily I can't see what is pretty much good persuasion skills as horrific (look at the bright side: he'd make an awesome psychotherapist). The puppeteer witches are far more scary to me.

Unless Xira is an unskilled witch and a better one could change people's opinions and memories in a way more permanent way?

Don't fall into the dark side, Xira!

Reply by Glew

That's a TOTALLY valid point! thank you!

I think this is similarly a perception based thing. Like how we are innately more afraid of flying than travelling by bus or car. but factually flying is safer, yet it Feels riskier.

I think thoughts are intangible and to US the audience, they are the most intimate things. We know our bodies can change, due to disease or accidents or aging. But if our thoughts change, that is way more existential.

That's a deep rabbit hole, though ,but interesting to think about.

Reply by Random Passerby

Plus, an older vote incentive suggested that most people kind of misunderstand witches and basically think all of them are puppeteers.

Reply by Heather

I suppose it depends on how well the power is used. If you influence someone as they are making a major decision, they may regret what they decided later, but the decision is still made. I suppose it's all about timing and, to an extent, psychology; if you implant an appealing enough idea, they may keep it on their own.

Comment by MagpieM

O~ooh. We found something that makes Xira rage. Neat.

But, yeah, I mean talk about your irresponsible use of power... I'm sure this will go fine and nothing terrible will happen whatsoever!

Reply by Heather

Yeah, 'turban headed half breeds' would be pretty likely to set *anyone* off.

Reply by MagpieM

Of course it would! I apologize for sounding flippant or dismissive about that.


Xira's been fairly/relatively chill (aside from the nervousness) so it is interesting to see him have a moment of visible (and understandable) rage. And then act on it. It's interesting to see what will make a character go, "Nah! Eff you!" and then do something rather rash! (I mean, Xira's an impulsive teenager. Already rash.) I just get excited, from a writery sort of place, to see what makes a character angry enough to act on/act out of that anger.

Reply by Shazzbaa

ITS TRUE this is coming from the same kid whose response to getting tentacles shoved in his face when he's trying to help is "haha okay but seriously let me help you."

Reply by Heather

Oh no, I didn't think you were being flippant or dismissive! I was just agreeing with you- we found Xira's rage button.

Comment by Capsin

Xiraaaaaa did you not just hear them say that magic is goING WRONG
One of the patron Q and As just became relevant

Reply by Shazzbaa

OH HEY SPEAKING OF QUESTIONS, since I didn't get the chance to answer ashendawn's question about "is magic going wrong a new thing" on the last page, I'll go ahead and do it here!

we've basically seen a lot of evidence that things are not working as they should. Sev's miscast horns, for example, didn't set off the aberrant hunters' glowing dagger -- but his new miscast does. Jonan adamantly insisted his magic did not miscast, but also wrote that "something is wrong, the healing spell is still active" when he tried to slice his face open. The Agorath Order seems surprised by this whole thing, as though runewriters tripping up their divinations has never happened before.

So, in a way, it's not new information... but this is the first we've heard of it being a widespread issue outside of our small group of problem children.

Comment by Why?!?!

Agh, Xira, nooooo! This is bad for a lot of reasons.

Comment by ashendawn

Okay wow, as a mixed kid I would get mad too if someone insulted me like that! Poor Sev though trying to keep everything calm.. Don't worry dude, Xira's got it... I think... (Wonder what his expression is on panel 6 :U )
Also, possibly dumb question, but are a runewriter's eyebrow color affected by their magic?? Cause Xira's look blonde to me, but Sev & Jonan's...? Eh, maybe I'm overthinking it.

Reply by Shazzbaa

Naw, not dumb at all! Basically, all runewriters have markings on their scalp and colour-tipped hair, but how far those markings extend and whether or not they get colour in their beard/eyebrows/etc is a bit more random. Severian doesn't (his eyebrows don't have any green in them), Jonan does. (You can also compare Jonan to the guy that threw him out of the hospital, who is also a healer but has no red in his eyebrows or beard)

So yes! Xira's eyebrows are blonde, but all that says about him is that he's half-Varænski and doesn't have dark hair like most traders have.

Reply by Glew

Oh, so he has blonde hair tipped in dark. That must look cool - if we eventually get to see it ever :D

Comment by Toanovu

Okay so I've been trying to ignore it but I can't anymore with that hat and vest combo this side character looks like an older, country-bumpkin version of Luffy.

*not a bad thing just something that amuses me*

Comment by Q

Every time he uses his mind powers, I hear the sound from Dishonored when Corvo possesses someone.