Chapter 18 – Page 9
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Guilded Age
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Like shooting fish in a barrel!
Like taking candy from a baby!
Like shooting avians in the face!
Wait…
They’re sitting ducks!
Syr should hurry up and heal Bandit… otherwise someone might call her a quack.
Splut!
Looks like Gravy’s been practicing at the shooting gallery! Now to find 3 hare-beasts to shoot…
kinda ruins the fun knowing it’s just her video game father
But she doesn’t realize that, so the emotions are still real.
It also sets up some pretty nice drama for if The Five ever get out of their tubes – realizing that the families that they were so close to were never actually real.
I wouldn’t dismiss the non-five characters as mere NPCs just yet. I suspect that all these events are far more real than would be implied by the supposed video game setting. But we’ll see.
Yes. Why else is HR having so much trouble controlling this universe, and why does he have to fiddle with all that magic to do so? I’d go out on a limb and say the game system is somehow latched onto an entire alternate universe, whether that universe was created by HR-and-friends’ magic in the first place or not.
Ever hear of IRL daddy issues seeping into gameplay?
Maybe she’s lived this before…
IRL issues coloring gameplay: One of the most powerful forces in the MMO world.
EVE is way too real.
EVE is the one game that actually benefits from that.
“Dude, your dad’s a NPC.”
Now instead of imaginary friends, there is imaginary family.
lol yep
Looks like the team will need a new leader… again.
Gravedust for party leadership!
“…SO I CAN KILL HIM MYSELF.”
If you think about it, a person can be like a punching bag in a world where you can both kill and revive him. But that kind of takes the fun out of it, doesn’t it? (no)
in WoW, i believe they call those “shadow priests”
Imagine the training possibilities for the army. Nothing will convince you to dodge like getting stabbed.
“Move your feet!”
“I know! I GOT STABBED LAST TIME.”
I think it would have the opposite effect – lack of lasting consequence would lead to apathy…until it becomes a matter of losing all your stuff or having your ‘score’ reduced.
Just because they can bring you back, it doesn’t mean it won’t hurt to die.
Yeah, look to Misfits (basically the British Heroes, but better done). One of the characters has resurrection as his power, that doesn’t mean he stops caring about death, it actually becomes more terrifying for him.
Gold Star.
This group does not have a good track record with their leaders staying cool under pressure.
I dunno, Bandit looks pretty relaxed.
True. I’m counting that as its own venture though. The main group has been lead by Byron and Syrnj. Bandit went off and started up her own group which later merged and became a part of the main group, but there wasn’t actually any point where Bandit was leading the main group.
It’s starting to look like maybe the wrong group leader took control when the two groups merged. It’s funny. Bandit’s not really what you’d typically picture for a leader, but it sounds like she was doing just fine when everybody else was gone and these people who seem so suitable for the role just keep experiencing these breakdowns in the middle of battle.
Perhaps a set-up where Byron’s the battle strategist, Syrnj is the adviser/diplomat and Bandit’s the field leader would be better for everybody.
As a side note it occurs to me that E-Merle, Rachel, and Scipio probably are still more loyal and owe more respect to Bandit than the new leader. This is the sort of thing that could get them asking the same questions I’m asking. I do believe I may smell a coup. Perhaps that was what Daedalus was talking about with the dismantling of leadership and the king is just a red herring.
Yeah ahdok… about that joke…
I’m sorry.
Can’t help but feel Merl overestimates his offensive potential. Not that it’s hard to start a forest fire. No need for fireball when a match will do.
*fireballs
Forest fire’s a moot point anyway, per the last 2 panels
The funny thing is I don’t remember the avians setting things on fire nor carrying any sort of equipment meant for such a purpose. It’s like the very presence of enemies automatically sets fire to everything, especially forests. It’s CHAOS.
All the trolls and gnolls were carrying torches…
I guess they wanted to be fair, so that troll regeneration wouldn’t put the elves at an unfair disadvantage :D :p
The main savage army is way out of position. They hadn’t even entered the forest when we last saw them and they’re certainly not within its core yet.
The distance from forest’s edge to core is actually just 50m.
The rest is just hype.
His magics appear to be wind based, so he is worried about fanning the fires, not starting them.
We’re talking about his offensive here… cantrip-buy’s offense is his Magical McGuffin of Melf’s Minute Meteors.
He showed earlier that he uses a series of items. The sphere of wind is, from memory, from the Circlet of Winter Gales. His offensive capability, in addition to putting his foot in his mouth on a regular basis, is from the Band of Summer Flames, so he can start fires by himself.
And look at the cool glow on the ring on his right hand…
Of course, if you ask Joe Dever, right-handed magic is the offensive, where left-handed magic is the defensive.
Ok, actually, I’m fibbing a bit, but I wanted to name-drop a bit.
Did y’all know that all of Joe Dever’s interactive books are available for free at projectaon.org with Joe’s blessing and all.
And a selection of reader apps and virtual character sheets.
“he is worried about fanning the fires, not starting them”: as someone who has fought fires in the open savannah (‘veld’) quite a few times, I know that wind is THE thing that decides whether it’s going to be easy or a nightmare controlling the fire. Even though I wouldn’t say Emerl’s magick is all wind based, it kind of struck me when you mentioned that.
Yeah, between his item dependency and his “No offense!” comment if anything I get the impression that he thinks he doesn’t have the mojo to take on a friggin’ army–besides, I don’t remember having seen him use his winds for offense before so he may very well be limited to the three 3 big tricks he demonstrated way back when. Which, you know, are good tricks, but again, it’s an army.
Also, is it me or is the Queen Mother being a tad demanding?
Sounds a bit like “Get ready to die covering our escape, insignificant little half-man”
Mission accomplished, HR. That is one TOTALLY destabilized leadership.
Faereksch’Nj – time for a nuclear reality slap for your daughter – like NOW.
Good Gravy, it’s open season on Avians! (called it)
And lastly, I’d love to hear this exchange:
Gondolessa: “Here comes Gravedust – I’m glad it’s Gnoll season.”
Auraugu: “No – it’s Avian season!”
G: “GNOLL season!”
A: “AVIAN season!”
If Syr’s mother doesn’t slap her, Gravy might. He looks pretty outraged at her current behavior.
Priorities Syr: the Bough might bring dear old Dad back, dontcha know.
Well even if it can’t rez him – it’s still more important than he is, and he would be the first to tell you so. If he weren’t, yanno, dead. And stuff.
*shuffle feet*
Speaking of a reality slap – (a) Will Syr get one, and (b) from whom?
My predictions: (a) yes, (b) Byron.
What do you all think?
I’m vouching for (a) soon (b) her mother!
*Gravedust walks over to corpse*
*Drags corpse in front of Syr’Nj, plops it down back in front of her*
“There, he’s back. Can we go now?”
That trolling-level from Gravy would be simply … epic.
Or he could do an impromptu performance of “Gravy’s got back” while rhythmically rubbing his butt all over old Nanor’Nj – The Gravy train : bringing dead kings some “back” like no-one else can.
better and easier – pronounce Syr and Byron man and wife. if that doesnt stir the poor bastard..
I lol’d.
i pictured gravy pulling out a handful of arrows, inspecting the glow of each until he finds naror and hands that arrow to sry and says, “hold on to your father, we do not have time for idle conversation now!”
Gravedust is about to invent Fatherback Ribs.
Graiya’s Bough has been taken. Syr’Nj doesn’t give a damn. Like a freaking boss. ^^
And probably the bough can just reboot the whole elven nation, so maybe she should be concerned :D
oh, fuck.. will they all have shitty new costumes and terrible backstories?
I’m sure both costumes and backstories will be absolutely riveting -
so in answer to your question : “Yes”
I just love those arrow-in-the-head novelty gags. And now they come with ketchup packets!
I love seeing Gravedust feather the Avians. Especially since he didn’t just wing them. With accuracy like that, I keep expecting him to shout “One Hundred aaaaand Eighty!”.
Well, you know what they say; birds of a feather will flock together. And before you know it, there’s a murder of crows.
Once again, “THE GOGGLES DO NOTHING!”
Better than killing two birds with one stone.
Three birds with two arrows in this case…
If the dead king’s spirit is still around, I wonder what his take is on his daughter’s reaction.
Couldn’t they retreat while keeping wind shield up? Or is it some kind of rule that E-Merl has to maintain that exact pose in order for the magic to work?
they could. it is not.
http://guildedage.net/webcomic/chapter-13/chapter-13-page-23/
That seems fairly conclusive.
Bandit’s bringing a whole new meaning to laying low
Thunk!….Headshot combo!
Brings new meaning to the term “bird brain”.
An arrow in Gravedust’s hand is worth three birds heads
“BUT I ALREADY TURNED HIM INTO AMMO!”
I lol’d
For some reason, the avian on the right in panel three makes me think of Don Knotts.
… Can’t unsee.
NIP IT. IN THE. BUD, ANDY.
@E-Merl: Burninating the countryside, Burninating the peasants…
@Syr: Not the the beard, woman! Don’t touch the beard!
@Gravy: SHOOT THE ELF KING AT THE ENEMY LEADER. POETIC JUSTICE!
So no pressure then?!
I would just like to point out that there appear to be hostiles everywhere, except behind Gravedust.
Well of course not! What is now behind him was once in front of him, in his way. :-P
He killed all of the nearby Avians, most of them off panel.
(then quickly made out with easily impressed hot elf chick off panel)
Sean Connery did the same thing with a bunch of Nazis and a Polish chick. That’s how Chuck Norris was conceived. Could this mean a new, nigh omnipotent guildy in about 12 years?
Yea of course there are none behind him now..they are all chillin in his arrow sling now
“Abscond.” Such a classy verb. Rather underrated in modern parlance.
CAN’T ABSCOND, BRO!
Poor Syr’Nj. Arguing with your parents that way sucks. Even more if it’s the last thing you did. But sometimes it can’t be helped…
Hey, at least this way she knows she had the last word.
Achievement unlocked! Maybe this nifty badge will lighten the mood.
I’m impressed that Merl didn’t react violently upon being called “half-breed.” That’s pretty rude in any world.
I got the feeling “human” was considered ruder by the Queen, and therefore corrected herself. (Thereby honouring his elfin heritage.)
(in reply to earlier observations)
As for being a Miss Bossypants, well; everyone else who could take charge (Syr’Nj) isn’t. She’s the queen, and these are desperate moments. Paramedics also take charge in a way that would be considered rude in non-emergencies. Even my dad was cringing in recollection of his taking charge when helping some neighbours move. (“…They are the sweetest, kindest people you could ever hope to meet… I kept apologising afterwards for my rudeness, but they kept thanking me…” Coz they were gobsmacked suck-asses at organising a move, Dad.) Seriously; these folk would’ve wound up tripping on shit and breaking a leg otherwise.
Hmm. That was a rather lengthy RL example.
If the kingdom survives this I now a queen who will rule it quite well!