There’s been some fun and interesting speculation on the comments of the current strip. Who do YOU think the mystery woman is from Bill’s past? The Dark Queen Vasheeva? The mysterious gypsy? Someone else alluded to in past strips? Someone you’ve not met yet? (And while you’re at it, who do you think the gnome is? Bill’s very own watcher Gnome 12? Gnome 13? Another one?) Heehee. FUN!
I’m going to correct all my previous speculation. Why? Because I can be humble and admit my errors and blah, blah…
But basically because I was wrong.
The gnome is Gnome 12 and not 13 because you say so and one never contradicts the boss (I just threw a number around, do you really think I can recall each and every gnome by their numbers? You must be kidding!)
But most importantly the woman in the cape is not Vasheeva (because Don says so but also because the Dark Queen has a straight nose in the characters’ page). Instead our shady lady has a pointy nose AND uses red lipstick. For this last reason she can’t be Gina either and must be Gypsy (or someone we have not met yet – but I bet for Gypsy now).
What is Gypsy doing there? Meh, no idea. She may be the boss of the Gnome Syndicate for what I know. How did she arrive? Magic obviously, what a stupid question.
Glad that you’re having fun with that. XD
I just love reading the theories that everyone posts! I also color most of the hot women in the strip with luscious red lips (except for Gina, who has pink that matches her hair).
So keep posting your guesses/theories as to her identity!
You cannot mean she is a barwench, more specifically THAT barwench whose name we better do not speak out loud.
Otherwise there are no more “luscious hot women” in LoB that I can recall, just Gina (not because of the color), Vasheeva (not because of the nose shape) and Gypsy.
Or she could still be the Dark Queen and I’m reading too much on the nose: she was kind of obsessed with Bill long ago, right?
I would say the mystery woman is Bill’s mom. Considering the mystique around Bill, and that there’s no mention outside one of the first strips, were Bill writes for money, of his parents.
It’s Pandora. Now you’re just stealing ideas from DC! jk
You want speculation?
I think (as I think that whozit has been in that pub) that this woman is one of my own fictional Realwalkers, mucking about in someone else’s space-time continuum as is their job. The hooded robe is almost right, the clasp is very, very nearly right, and certainly the fact she’s young and such a looker is dead-on right. The power emanating from her is decently close to being right, too. 
Until I’m inevitably proven wrong, that’s my story and I’m sticking to it.
The hooded person you say is Craven, the Frost Queen’s mage (and incidental husband-zombie-slave of Vasheeva – I’ve been researching a bit). He must be ’cause Don acknowledged that they have wardrobe budget issues (except when Vasheeva-Gina cosplays all the hot chicks in the comixphere) and he was in that same robe in the strip of March 8 2010.
Wow, you HAVE been busy in the archives if you picked up that old theory by me about Craven. You DO have something else to do, right?
(So do I, but sometimes it’s just good to relax by the cybernetic fire with a cold one.) 
I did not pick your theory on Craven: I picked Craven himself dressed with that specific robe (and then Don said that each character has exclusive and limited vestuary, so…)
And no, I do not have anything else to do: according to all pop media we are living the end of times, so enjoy while you can. (Actually I do but, sure, exploring the archives and re-reading for the first time ever part of the Chronicles of Bill, is a luxury I might be able to afford once in my life).
Wow uhhhh Ok so the Gnome is definately Giles. This is the moment when he was assigned to Bitty Bill and Frank. As to who the lady is? I’m thinking she’s the Queen of Faey Folk and Frank called on her to heal Bill and erase his memory. This is why Giles has been with Bill so long.
Oh, man I have reviewed most of 2010 strips by now and I’m more and more persuaded that she is Vasheeva because even if, as Sylvia says, it is “unwritten at this point”… Gnome 12 was there.
Damn, between joke and joke you guys have put together a complex story. Good job.
Yes, they did and do. I keep wondering why they don’t either die of overwork or else get run out of town by their creditors.
It most likely has to be Agent 12 (Giles); the colors the Gnomes wear are indicative. Stupid text block obscures the belt and pants colors. Pants may end up being red, but his current gold belt could be a different color “back then.”
I’m abandoning my time travel conjectures made I the comments under this strip. I think Giles looks slightly odd because he is slightly younger … the appearance of the cloaked woman and the Gnome here are “real” in the past time the flashback storyline is taking place in. Besides, he just drank the drink that Killed Kenny in the present time inside the tavern … I think even Gnome 12 is gonna be out of commission for a few minutes.
I doubt it’s Gypsy, largely because I’m abandoning the time travel. She would probably be closer in age to the boy Bill … same goes for Gina, who is out anyway because she is not a magic user.
So, that leaves our resident cougar, Vasheeva. She would not be appearing with the Gnome knowingly … especially in the past, it’s hinted that she is a real Dark Queen that messes around with Real Bad Things, like her personal orc army, etc.
But, if Vasheeva, then it might explain her infatuation with Bill in the present, whether she currently knows that this boy Bill and current-day Bill the Barbarian are the same person or not. Some connection may be established during these events.
Or somebody new.
I do like the possibility that maybe this is an appearance by the Ice Queen. I’ve been wanting to see her appear in the story ever since Craven mentioned her. She is certainly a powerful mage, and seems old enough to participate (I’m guessing ~20 years ago) in this flashback timeline. The Ice Queen might well be colluding with the Gnomes, carefully observing the Prophecy &/or participating in it. In fact, this event might be what placed Bill in the Prophecy instead of someone else fulfilling the requirements.
I’m running out of popcorn, people!
Pixie! Dearheart … might I please have an extra large bucket, lightly buttered, and a litre of strong amber ale ..? Thank you! Much appreciated.
As a follow-up, start reading at this link and forward for about 3 or 4 strips:
– http://legendofbill.com/2011/05/02/gnome-report/
Especially, read that Gnome Report VERY carefully. Lots of interesting details, and Warrix makes a couple of fascinating comments shortly afterward.
(Sometimes my posts vanish when I include links, so I added it as a separate post.)
Hot trail that one you are in. Who’s “the portal”? Gypsy?
It’s Vasheeva. Dur.
~BOOSH! Disappears!~