She really placed the Totem Lathe as far from his hive as possible - in the middle of a meteor storm, to boot. Was she trying to kill him again, or just playing fast and loose with his life?
If he died, it would sabotage Gamzee’s progress, which would sabotage Terezi’s progress, and so on. Vriska, who discussed the server-client daisy-chain with Karkat, definitely knows this. I really thought she’d care more about winning the session than any petty grudge, but maybe I was giving her too much credit.
Having narrowly dodged obliteration, you take your place as the PAGE OF BREATH in the LAND OF SAND AND ZEPHYR.
Tavros wanted to fly, and he’s scored the one Aspect that might make that dream a reality. It might also mean he shares personality traits with John, so I’ll keep an eye out for any going forward.
He’s also a Page. I tried to analyze the class before, but since I didn’t have an in-comic example, I didn’t get very far. It’s a medieval term, and I guess Tavros does fight with a lance, but that’s all I’ve got for now.
As I mentioned in the analysis linked above, the Page’s role might relate to the other traditionally medieval class, the Knight. The two might function in similar (or complimentary) ways, and we’ll be able to see how they compare when we’ve seen more of our two Knights in action.
AG: Taaaaaaaavros!
AG: Go outside and look at what I 8uilt for you! You are going to FLIP!
Vriska, you motherfucker.
AT: i THINK THIS, iS,
AT: pROBABLY MEANT TO ANTAGONIZE ME,
I’m not surprised he preferred Prospit. If Vriska was my server, I think I’d stay there too.
AG: Didn't we make a truce, Tavros? That we would try to 8e less 8oring from now on?
AG: You don't want to 8reak your truce with me, do you Tavros?
Just trucies being trucies. I’m sure this was made under no duress whatsoever.
AG: Now hop out of your wheel device and get clim8ing!!!!!!!!
AG: Or crawling. Whatever! Stop 8eing so helpless. It's pathetic. [...]
AT: [...] i'LL BE SORT OF DEFENSELESS,
AT: lYING DOWN ON STAIRS, [...]
AG: You did not just use that excuse. We 8oth know you can commune with these things.
Let’s talk about Tavros for a bit.
The guy is a casual gamer, who defines fun on his own terms. I somehow doubt the trolls’ strategy of ‘political sabotage, vicious interrogations, and cold blooded assassinations’ is going to appeal to him, and he’d probably prefer to sit this one out.
In an ordinary game, this would be fine - but this is Sgrub. Losing this game won’t just kill your FLARP winning streak, or even break your spine - it’ll kill you, all your friends, and doom your species to extinction. The trolls are fighting - as a team - to survive and thrive in the Medium, and it can be argued that Tavros has a responsibility to help them do so, if he’s able.
And holy hell, is he able. In this lusus-prototyped Medium, Tavros has been granted extraordinary power. Even if it only works on Imps, I can think of dozens of uses for it - and I don’t see any reason it wouldn’t work on Ogres and beyond. They’re animals, after all - twelve times over.
Tavros didn’t ask for this, but he is undeniably one of the most important Players in the session right now. His psionics give the trolls an incredibly powerful card to play, and his ability (and willingness) to use this power effectively is going to have a significant effect on the session’s outcome.
All this to say: Tavros needs Vriska’s attitude. He needs her approach to gaming, her drive, and resourcefulness, in order to take full advantage of his abilities. If she’s able to get over her grudge and train him properly, he could be an amazing asset.
Right now, she’s choosing to bully him, instead. If she keeps this up, she’ll be shooting the session in the foot by wasting a valuable team member. I’m interested in whether her drive to win will eventually overpower her hatred for Tavros - and I honestly don’t know where I’d put my money.
AG: Hey! Why don't you psychically command them to carry you up???????? [...]
AT: i WOULDN'T REALLY,
AT: WANT TO MAKE THEM DO THAT,
He was comfortable controlling the Fiduspawn back at his hive, so I don’t think this is an ethical issue.
No, I think Vriska’s just too pushy. Tavros is (rightly) pissed off that she has the gall to order him around while she’s harassing him. Her suggestion is a good one - I have no doubt that most of them are - but all her ideas are going to be wasted on him, until she starts to interact with him in a more constructive manner.
Vriska is both the best and worst teacher that Tavros could possibly have.