When a webcomic updates but you don't want to make a huge deal out of it, what you do

[tacticslion]

Originally Posted by Aldurin

That would explain how there's less problems with cultural barriers between Parson and Charlie, and given the deep level of thinking both seem to put into this it is very plausible that Charlie is actually farming war for profit. All he does is make extra archons so it could be an attempt to eventually control the whole world in one turn, especially since the archons can be hired and sent to other battlefields which would take transportation out of the list of problems.

EDIT: The archons turning on their employer for Charlie's purposes is even more possible given the fact that he wants all of the decrypted archons destroyed (100 smuckers per death, and I think more for captured), probably because they're hardwired to obey their decrypter no matter what.

The fascinating part, to me at least, is that it makes perfect sense for Charlie to do this - and for no one to see it coming. Suddenly the Arkentools make a bit more sense, too. Their purpose is the unlimited recruitment of a certain thing - Dwagons, Decrypted, and Archons, so far, each of which is a kind of "ultimate creature" in it's own way. I'm also (now that I'm writing this) wondering if the Arkentools themselves are manipulating the bearer for their own purposes - like some sentient or semi/quasi-sentient items or artifacts in other games and books (like the "One Ring", for example). There's been no direct proof, but the Arkentools only align with people that share their own interests anyway - it may be that these Arkentools are actually influencing (subtly or directly) their owner. Alternate possibility - they just align with a creature that reflects their wills, and those creatures go to extremes to represent the tool in question. One other note, though - the pliers are a tool, a hammer is a tool (though this one is a toy), but a satellite dish? Que es esto*? I wonder if it's really an Arkentool? Does anyone know? I think it was confirmed somewhere, but now that I'm thinking about it, does anyone know if that was "in game" style description, or Word of Author?

Finally (at last), I'm not sure Charlie is exactly a card-carrying villain. He might be the cause of many world-ills, and his plan might be exactly as you describe, but he seems a bit... I don't know... off from the villain type. It might be his subconscious at work instead of his conscious mind, bringing about the will of mercenary work. He might be a villain on accident - having brought his mercenary mindset, and hooking it up to the Arkendish, he might be making things worse without realizing it. It's possible that it's even his fault (ish?) that curse words couldn't be uttered in Erfworld (huge Thinkamancy waves of TV-censoring subconscious) and other strange things Parson's noticed. ALTernatively, perhaps non of that is true at all. I dunno.

*Sorry for any mangling of the Spanish language.

[Aldurin]

The Arken-dish is a tool, it's in the same style as the pliers and the hammer. The recruitment thing is unconfirmed for that, all that is certain is that it's the ultimate Thinkamancy item, allowing Charlie to run a massive communication network.

And Charlie may not necessarily be a villian, but indication towards him being one at some point in the future is pretty strong. Either way, he's gonna do something that'll make a huge shift in power and nations.

[Fifthfiend]

My impression from Erfworld is more of Charlie being at odds with the Thinkamancers in particular given how the Arkendish is hinted at giving him control of / disrupting Thinkamancy than of him being any kind of overarching villain. He clearly has an agenda but I think he's a faction just like any of the the other factions vying for power over Erfworld including Gobwin Knob. I mean if you were gonna call anyone a "villain" you could just as easily start with like... the protagonists of the series.

Especially given the way it was heavily hinted at the end of Book 1 that EW itself is manipulating everyone in it, it would be awfully disappointing to reduce things down to "Charlie is the Bad Gusy"

[Loyal]

Charlie has a vested interest in maintaining the status quo, because that's where he gets his money. Whether this makes him good or bad depends on what we're supposed to make of the Hippiemancers' motives, and that's about it.

It does, though, put him at odds with Parson, who is breaking that status quo whether he means to or not.

[Aldurin]

Originally Posted by Loyal

It does, though, put him at odds with Parson, who is breaking that status quo whether he means to or not.

Everyone who isn't on Parson's side is at odds with him merely because of how powerful of a warlord he's seen to be. He'll win no matter what and damn he'll make sure the other side holds the consequences if he can.

[tacticslion]

Originally Posted by Fifthfiend

My impression from Erfworld is more of Charlie being at odds with the Thinkamancers in particular given how the Arkendish is hinted at giving him control of / disrupting Thinkamancy than of him being any kind of overarching villain. He clearly has an agenda but I think he's a faction just like any of the the other factions vying for power over Erfworld including Gobwin Knob. I mean if you were gonna call anyone a "villain" you could just as easily start with like... the protagonists of the series.

Especially given the way it was heavily hinted at the end of Book 1 that EW itself is manipulating everyone in it, it would be awfully disappointing to reduce things down to "Charlie is the Bad Gusy"

That's one of the things I'm actually referencing. Is Erfworld manipulating everyone, or is it the Arkentools? That's one of the reasons I even thought of it - the manipulation Parson fought (successfully) against. It's very much like he fought of a massively powerful Thinkamancy-effect. So far there's never been only one "villain", and I'm sure that even if Charlie is somehow primarily at fault, Erfworld is well written enough that it won't only be him, and probably, by the time he's revealed, will have eclipsed him. (more later out of time)

[BitVyper]

Charlie is Lord English.

Edit: Actually I think he's probably something Parson made, or would have made. Something floating around in Parson's mind that took shape in Erfworld.

[Loyal]

I dunno about that. I mean he never did get that Steak'n'Shake.

[Aldurin]

Originally Posted by BitVyper

Charlie is Lord English.

[Amake]

Whaaat thee helll Wasted Talent