"Knitting" redirects here. For the generation or attachment (or regeneration/reattachment) of body parts, see Construct.
A dimensionally stabilized Kjarl Thotep explains to Dimo what a vozzler does. Of course, the readers just missed it.
Vozzler is the name of Kjarl Thotep's profession, occupation, or avocation, or at least it is a way he identifies himself.
As the statement above would indicate, exactly what a vozzler is or does is never really explained in the comic. When Kjarl first identifies himself as a simple vozzler, he explains ✣ that they don't fight anything and that children love them. Later, ✣ he again identifies himself as a simple vozzler and also as a friend to smeerps in the same breath. But it's anyone's guess if vozzlers and smeerps have anything to do with one another. Later still, ✣ Kjarl explains to Dimo what a vozzler does, but of course we, the readers, happen onto the scene just after he has finished.
However, when Dimo responds that he himself knits socks, Kjarl claims that vozzling is topologically similar to knitting.[1] Incidentally, like Dimo, Diaz claims to practice a dangerous kind "knitting", although given his putative worry that it may escape, he may mean the sort of biological knitting that goes into making a construct.
During a flashback scene, we see the moment ✣ Kjarl got unwillingly shifted to Europa's dimension: as he is shifted, he is holding an object resembling a watering can. Again, whether he was vozzling at that particular instant, and/or if the "flowers" he was "watering" are smeerps, remain open questions.
The exact nature of being a vozzler is further muddled when Kjarl shows up ✣ in Gil's perimeter complex surrounding Mechanicsburg just after Agatha has returned with the transformed Prende's Lantern. To Agatha's surprise, Kjarl is able to handle and examine the device without any ill effects, even though everyone else who has touched it, other than Agatha, has been violently repelled. As Agatha tries to explain her surprise to Othar, who is also present, saying that Queen Albia of England put a spell on the Lantern so that no one but she can touch it, Kjarl makes the rejoinder, "And what kind of vozzler would I be if I let that stop me?" A disbelieving Othar tries to grab the device and demonstrates that its protective spell is still fully in effect for non-vozzlers. This new aspect of vozzlerhood may not be entirely inconsistent with Kjarl's previous statements; being capable of resisting mysterious dangers certainly could be a useful trait for a children's entertainer. The Dreen also demanded a vozzler be present to witness to their battle with the entity above Mechanicsburg so it can be retold, which may imply that a vozzler, is in fact, a sort of storyteller.
The team then actually enters the time-stop. Gil mysteriously disappears when Agatha leaves the rest of the group temporarily time-frozen to get one of the Dreen in position to attack the Looming Abomination; everyone else is upset and/or confounded by this event, but Kjarl is excited ✣ , as a good vozzler loves additional drama. They also like explaining things using epic poetry that rhymes. ✣ .
The Rule of Funny[]
Phil and Kaja Foglio like making jokes and playing games with their readers. Many apparently silly or nonsensical elements of the Girl Genius story seem to be there primarily because they amuse the Foglios, which is sometimes referred to by fans as "the Rule of Funny". And it seems as if Phil and Kaja are taking a special delight in teasing their readers with the prospect that some day the full story about vozzlers may be revealed.
Possibly relevant outside information[]
In DnD (and other tabletop games inspired by it) a Bard is a type of arcane (i. e. non-priestly, using their own skill instead of channeling divine power) magic user, but with a primary focus on storytelling and entertainment, and also proficient with miscellaneous skills (and even have minor healing spells in their repertoire). So far this description matches what the vozzler is doing, the only part sticking out being topological similarity to knitting (unless our bard specializes in illusions, sleight of hand, juggling, etc, which they often do).
References
- ↑ Note that although knitting may appear to alter the shape of things, it in fact does nothing topological. The vast majority of human activities could be said to be "topologically equivalent to knitting."