Half the treasury, with a minimum of 500,000, and a maximum of 5 million. With Charlie’s treasury sitting at like 140 million, with 4x that in gems, he’ll barely even notice a violation or two.
Pardon could be croaked and decrypted, I guess. And don’t forget Charlie can attack through portals, so Wanda and the rest of GK’s units could be affected. If it’s 5 mil for each unit, that’s a whole chunk of change.
And remember there’s also the possibility of stray bullets hitting Magic Kingdom neutrals, which Charlie considered about the worst possible outcome. Still marginally worthwhile if that’s what it took to take out Parson, but if even that ends up thwarted…
There’s a commenter on the Erfworld forums who insists that the penalty will apply for each bullet FIRED, not for each bullet that hits (something about the “intent” behind the action).
And another who’s sure that because each of the Brownings is being manned by TWO archons, it’s $10m per penalty.
I’m not sure if those two are combining their opinions, but I don’t really place much stock in either of them. It’s a compelling story, and I feel that too much rules-lawyering in assessing the penalties would not improve it.
I WOULD be interested in seeing what would happen if Charlie TURNED Charlescomm as a side, to Gobwin Knob in exchange for being croaked and decrypted. A Charlie in full control of the Arkendish, and the archons, WITHOUT his incapacitation? Operating on behalf of Stanley? All THREE known (remaining) Arkentools on the same side?
That might meet Janis’s set of victory conditions right quick.
Yeah, I’m execting a spray of bullets going through the portal and making a mess in the Magic Kingdom. Lucky they have a mass heal spell ready.
Wow. I counted at least 6 hits to GK, not to mention wounding his shiny new Parson, and several hits to the MK. That’s going to be expensive for Charlie.
I added the link.
At least one of the decrypted re-croaked. And although at least one bullet bounced off of a nearby portal, there are just so many portals clustered nearby that some bullets have to go through to who knows which kingdoms.
Yowza!
So Charlie attacked the MK, and possibly friendly or previously un-involved sides by firing into or through their portals.
Whoops?
Yeah, a few strips ago, Charlie predicted that firing on the MK would cost him around 140 million, plus greater unquantifiable losses of social capital. Whoops, indeed.
I actually think Charlie’s portal is carnied. Remember that Archons aren’t supposed to be able to go through portals, and that portals are also supposed to stop attacks. The bullets can even be seen bouncing off another portal.
Good point! Presumably that was Jojo’s doing. Can’t be good for him either.
Remember that Charlie himself is a carnie. So Jojo might not have to be involved, although I’m wondering why he’s lurking around.
I wonder if spending time hanging around a portal is a deliberate callback to Book Two.
40 mill, less 5 for Parson turning back is still a healthy profit! Also one would think the MK residents will not be pleased. Those Archons who fired precipitously could well be in the boop.
Yeah! So this little adventure cost Charlie around 30 million, his decrypted prisoner, several guns, several archons (including one going to GK), significant damage to CC, and significant loss of reputation. Ouch.
Well, they were technically following orders. It was Jack’s baffle that tricked them.
Oh, man. The first time through I missed that Lillith was starting to re-croak before the heal spell was cast. She really came through in a big way.
P^awned indeed.
Weren’t the gunner archons told to stand down right before Parson stepped through the portal? Charlie won’t care that Parson appeared to be in GK livery, they still fired after being told not to.
I wonder if decrypting that new archon body would count as a “material harm” and cost GK a 5mill payment
the archon in charge was being told, the orders must not have been relayed yet.
Even if so, it’s probably worth it. According to Page 98, GK’s treasury was at about 2.4 million prior to Lilith’s assault. Now it’s at 35 million, they’ve got money to burn. Even if not, they may be able to keep the corpse until after the truce expires.
On that topic, Stanley must know that the treasury just exploded. I wonder if he’s going to use some of that money to buy or impress the pukey elves. It would be in keeping with Stanley’s character to squander a massive windfall that Parson and the others suffered to acquire.
Regardless of what GK does with the money, this is really bad for Charlie. He’s got more money than any other side, but his business model is to play the sides off one another. GK, on the other hand, has been on a holy quest. I’m guessing that Charlie never wanted any side but his to have that much money.