Such statements only happen because some idiot did one or more the blatantly listed things. Who would think that Madness Protection would protect against the Madness Overloard, who granted it in the first place… but someone did, so now they gotta warn the brothers not to do it. Same goes for the churches and holy water bit.
Nah, you’ve gotta be at the 4pm sacrifice to get the Protection from Law. Sunday sacrifices are mostly Death Wards, so most experienced cultists skip them.
It was important to show imo simply because that is what is happening and it displays the (expected) gravity of the situation rather than neuter the experience with a visual euphemism.
I’m glad GA doesn’t fuck around but NSFW I suppose.
On the contrary, I would argue that showing them murdering a man weeping for his life does a whole lot for the story. Graphically depicting the moment when his throat was slit not only cements the brutality of his end but the malicious nature of the cultists themselves. These aren’t just some comic relief halfwits. They are vicious, they are murderers and they are evil. I respect Guilded Age for showing the act rather than simply doing it off-camera like it’s not really a big deal and should be ignored.
It reminds you that despite their wacky, relatable convention hijinks, these are a cult of murderers. If you’re made uncomfortable by this, then the panel succeeded, IMHO. It got a twinge of discomfort out of me too.
And while the limited liability gag afterwards was pretty funny, it also drove home the banality of evil of the cult.
We gonna talk some more about how silly these cultists are? Hey, maybe we can postulate that they may not be totally bad and might make good allies for the heroes!
I still like the “go in there and kill them all” plan, but hey, death knight.
In certain rare cases, it may also result in transdimensional dislocations, obsessive interest from lawyers, unwanted godly attention, and 12″ pianists named Fred. If these, or other similar symptoms occur, seek out your nearest Dark Priest. We will need to get you placed in a properly sane city before you are detonated.
Call me a wimp, but I found this a bit disturbing. Maybe not so bad if the whole conference wasn’t so frivolous. Up to now, I haven’t had this reaction to anything else in the strip. But I don’t think anything else was so over the top.
Like covered in an earlier comment, panel three is there to remind you that despite the comical convention air, this is an EVIL cult. These are not misunderstood people.
a little late to this party, but I love reading the alt text literally. There are dark, endless voids, but only where they are prohibited? There are so many other ways to read it too.
Ha a liability statement.
Such statements only happen because some idiot did one or more the blatantly listed things. Who would think that Madness Protection would protect against the Madness Overloard, who granted it in the first place… but someone did, so now they gotta warn the brothers not to do it. Same goes for the churches and holy water bit.
overload, not overlord. i.e. snuffing too much madness, or however those damn kids get their kicks these days.
Oops. Must’ve gotten in too late for Protection from Law.
Nah, you’ve gotta be at the 4pm sacrifice to get the Protection from Law. Sunday sacrifices are mostly Death Wards, so most experienced cultists skip them.
Ah, contradiction, the opiate of the masses. If there were an oil-feathered flat-beak under that cloak I bet not a one of them would cry ‘quack’.
This is a Mystery Cult, not a Rationalist one. Contradictions enhance this sort of faith, not weaken it.
As a cult of Chaos, of course you can expect the contradictions in scripture to actually *work*
Actually, assuming it works, such a thing should be quite rational considering their end goal. I don’t see much of a contradiction.
It is the cult of Simultaneous Exclusivity.
I can totally see how this sort of thing might prevent one from going insane.
A limited liability statement.
It figures that most lawyers would be members in good standing.
WIN
A little bit of law, a little bit of chaos.
And a whole lot of evil.
“Mom! Dad! Don’t touch it! It’s concentrated evil!”
Dammit, I was hoping for an adventurer or six to show up.
I have a hunch one has.
Aye. Rumors of madness-immunity might be appealing to one or two adventurers. And hey, why not stab some baddies beforehand while you’re at it?
This sheds light on the sickness that Harky keeps talking about, how berserk can spread. Looks like Harky and our heroes have a common enemy.
And it also sheds a bit on the visions Gravedust saw when Byron was chained up.
As he said, “Like the magick of half-forgotten gods…”
Wow, how and when did i miss this story arc? Thanks for posting this man.
Meh… I thought panel three was over the top. Did this scene really add anything to the story?
yes, pretty, pretty blood
It was important to show imo simply because that is what is happening and it displays the (expected) gravity of the situation rather than neuter the experience with a visual euphemism.
I’m glad GA doesn’t fuck around but NSFW I suppose.
It is an adult oriented comic methinks. Gonna be some shit happening.
On the contrary, I would argue that showing them murdering a man weeping for his life does a whole lot for the story. Graphically depicting the moment when his throat was slit not only cements the brutality of his end but the malicious nature of the cultists themselves. These aren’t just some comic relief halfwits. They are vicious, they are murderers and they are evil. I respect Guilded Age for showing the act rather than simply doing it off-camera like it’s not really a big deal and should be ignored.
It reminds you that despite their wacky, relatable convention hijinks, these are a cult of murderers. If you’re made uncomfortable by this, then the panel succeeded, IMHO. It got a twinge of discomfort out of me too.
And while the limited liability gag afterwards was pretty funny, it also drove home the banality of evil of the cult.
(applauds) Thank you for that reference; I needed that that theory for a project I’m working on.
We gonna talk some more about how silly these cultists are? Hey, maybe we can postulate that they may not be totally bad and might make good allies for the heroes!
I still like the “go in there and kill them all” plan, but hey, death knight.
The truest way to understand your enemy is to understand they are people just like you or I…okay, usually less dead than you or I but semantics.
Every detail, every facet, every memory and experience is there. Know thy enemy, as a wise old man once said.
Besides, I like the fact they are silly. Makes it much more fun to play with your food.
Wait they love and spread madness but they are immune to it?
….They are goddamn dealers…..
The game is still the game…
DAMN YOU!!!!!
“m-m-m-m-m-m-madness”
“m-m-m-m-m-m-madness”
“I… ha-ave Fiinaly, seen the light…”
Additional effects may include temporary blindness, severe rashes, boils, canker sores, genital explosion, super powers, catatonia, cats, mercury poisoning, permanent blindness, melancholy, chaffed thighs, an unexplained craving for pudding (tapioca), dysentary, acne, anal abscess, shin splints, pink eye, Gastroenteritis, and ringworm.
And low mortgage values on your home.
SHIN SPLITS?!
Now that’s just a kick in the knee.
In certain rare cases, it may also result in transdimensional dislocations, obsessive interest from lawyers, unwanted godly attention, and 12″ pianists named Fred. If these, or other similar symptoms occur, seek out your nearest Dark Priest. We will need to get you placed in a properly sane city before you are detonated.
Grrrr. Foot long Fred. I hate that guy.
Love the alt text. Tribute to the voidwalkers in WoW: “I…am…void…where prohibited.”
Well if this is madness
Man I know I’m filled with gladness
It’s gonna be rougher
It’s gonna be tougher
And I won’t be the one who’s gonna suffer
Well, at least all the pink and purple is pretty. Art dudes be artin’ well. Story dudes… I’m waiting patiently for the next chapter to begin. :/
Thank you, wwlaos. It’s a gruesome and disturbing subject to be sure, but we try to make it look good.
Thou hast succeeded!
Subject to terms and conditions. Your statutory rights are affected. The order of the countless limbs is a registered charity.
Donate spare members of your body, or your family, right now. We also accept pets.
Why is it just brothers? Are all cultists male? That ain’t right 8C
Well, some women join…but with the the rampant STD Hermaphrodism, they just decided that the masculine applied well enough eventually.
I was a member of a co-ed fraternity that had female brothers. Sometimes it’s just an artifact of obsolete tradition.
That said, I can’t recall seeing a single female figure under those robes… A goblin potbelly, but no other curves. They may be male-only.
I like to imagine that he said the last part REALLY FAST.
Actually kinda wishing T or Phil would edit the text to make it look like that!
Call me a wimp, but I found this a bit disturbing. Maybe not so bad if the whole conference wasn’t so frivolous. Up to now, I haven’t had this reaction to anything else in the strip. But I don’t think anything else was so over the top.
Like covered in an earlier comment, panel three is there to remind you that despite the comical convention air, this is an EVIL cult. These are not misunderstood people.
Exactly. Felt shocked and/or horrified as you looked at panel 3? That’s a feature not a bug!
a little late to this party, but I love reading the alt text literally. There are dark, endless voids, but only where they are prohibited? There are so many other ways to read it too.
Is it just me, or are the sacrifice’s hands attached backward in panel 4? Shouldn’t we be looking at his thumbs?