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Annotations Every Day - Written by T Campbell & Flo Kahn - Illustrated by John & Jason Waltrip

Jeez, lady, don't you have your OWN deific abstracts to pester for shit??

Chapter 37 – Page 3

on May 22, 2015
Chapter: Chapter 37
└ Tags: Gravedust, Syr'Nj
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Discussion (104) ¬

  1. Moe Lane
    Moe Lane
    May 22, 2015, 12:04 am | # | Reply

    “Dammit, Gravedust, THIS IS ANOTHER PC THAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT. Activate the hotkey.”

  2. CorrTerek
    CorrTerek
    May 22, 2015, 12:07 am | # | Reply

    I dunno, I kind of get the feeling she won’t take “No” for an answer regardless of who it comes from. This doesn’t seem like it’s going to go anywhere good.

    • nemui
      nemui
      May 22, 2015, 11:01 am | # | Reply

      6 to 1 that she takes “No” for an answer on Monday. Either from Gravy, or from Mystics & Cosmos Inc.

      • Observer
        Observer
        May 22, 2015, 4:45 pm | # | Reply

        Then she’ll find out what they do think is actively important and threaten that. Like her own continued active participation/existence.

      • Korbl
        Korbl
        May 23, 2015, 6:56 pm | # | Reply

        And, if she does, 6 to 1 she starts building a FrankenByron on Wednesday.

        Hey, reanimating the dead is not the same as resurrecting the dead.

    • LockeZ
      LockeZ
      May 23, 2015, 4:56 am | # | Reply

      She’s a scientist. No matter what her hypothesis, she has to follow the data.

      • CorrTerek
        CorrTerek
        May 23, 2015, 10:51 am | # | Reply

        I’m not worried about her scientist side. I’m worried about her “just lost a loved one and clearly not thinking clearly” side.

        • LockeZ
          LockeZ
          May 23, 2015, 11:30 pm | # | Reply

          You think she’s going to impersonate the cosmos in Gravedust’s vision? I would be impressed.

          • CorrTerek
            CorrTerek
            May 24, 2015, 12:36 am | # | Reply

            …No.

  3. Constable
    Constable
    May 22, 2015, 12:09 am | # | Reply

    Whoooooooooo, she’s still really, really grief-raging at Bandit. This…will have ripples. Ripples and ripples.

    • biggmac
      biggmac
      May 22, 2015, 12:15 am | # | Reply

      No need to be sexist … oh, wait. Ripples. …nevermind

      • Mr Ak
        Mr Ak
        May 22, 2015, 2:04 am | # | Reply

        Um. we all have the same number of nipples. #spoiler (Well, by gender, anyway.)

        • Mr Ak
          Mr Ak
          May 22, 2015, 2:07 am | # | Reply

          Sorry. That may have sounded like I was calling you out, which wasn’t what I meant. I’m just really goddamn tired, and could have made the joke better.

        • Dana Son-of-Bear
          Dana Son-of-Bear
          May 25, 2015, 1:03 pm | # | Reply

          Hey, don’t be hating on those mutant humans that have more than one.

          … And the Fuzzy People. If they take after other fuzzy critters, they may have more.

    • Mordecai
      Mordecai
      May 22, 2015, 9:16 am | # | Reply

      “The one where ties are bound and cut”

  4. biggmac
    biggmac
    May 22, 2015, 12:12 am | # | Reply

    Puffy red eyes. Not conducive to a logical, scientific viewpoint. Not to mention that on further questioning, she’d know he was dead before “incompetent” Bandit had a chance to kill him. To quote Luke and Han … I’ve got a baad feeling about this.

    • biggmac
      biggmac
      May 22, 2015, 12:18 am | # | Reply

      And BTW, the “mortified and screeching in agony” is her assumption, not a factual observation

      • ThatGuy
        ThatGuy
        May 22, 2015, 3:39 am | # | Reply

        actually she knows from past experience that when he is berserking he can both be brought back, and is screeching. Also I dont believe syrnj has ever been shown to compromise a situation due to her emotional state. If she was truly being ruled by her emotions she’d probably be yelling at gravedust instead of angry that he doesnt even want to try due to indecision.

        • Loyal
          Loyal
          May 22, 2015, 9:37 am | # | Reply

          Never shown to let her emotions get in her way? You mean besides the part where she was so furious, so disgusted with her own people, that she was perfectly willing to let Graiya use her to commit genocide, up until Byron talked her down?

          • Loyal
            Loyal
            May 22, 2015, 9:38 am | # | Reply

            Oh my, but I am going to enjoy this Gravatar…

            • wolfpax
              wolfpax
              May 22, 2015, 9:33 pm | # | Reply

              I am sick with envy of your Gravatar.

          • Gordon
            Gordon
            May 23, 2015, 3:06 am | # | Reply

            “Perfectly willing” seems a bit like a mischaracterization when you’re essentially possessed by the still-living arm of the most powerful druid who ever lived.

            Obviously, Syr’nj had some anger toward her people, but I highly doubt she would have opted for genocide had she not been influenced by the rage and disgust of a being far more powerful than herself. Virtually a god.

            But maybe you interpreted that scene as Syr’nj having much more autonomy than I did.

          • Andreas Geisler
            Andreas Geisler
            May 23, 2015, 4:06 pm | # | Reply

            That’s a really good point.
            I wasn’t really buying the “too distraught to think straight” line, a bit too obvious… but the good old oakish lack of compromise, single-minded pursuit of the logical conclusion… yeah, that works.
            But then, she’s only wrong about “incompetent”. Bandit really was secretly hating on Byron, she’s a zerk-bigot.

      • Gordon
        Gordon
        May 22, 2015, 4:01 am | # | Reply

        Who saw him dead, though? Prior to his engaging Bandit, I mean. The only appreciable difference between Arena-Berserker Byron and Village-Berserker Byron is that the latter is infecting people. The chest wound the cult leader gave him isn’t visible in the pages following the sacrifice. The only cultists present when he turned was the leader and H.R., both of whom are gone in one way or another. The next time anyone even remotely reliable saw him was when he attacks the village.

        Bandit claims to have killed him. His only wounds, particularly the most obvious gaping ones in his back, came from daggers. Syr’nj has witnessed him in berserk mode, and saw Bandit on top of him and stabbing him. She did arrive before Bandit had taken him down.

        From the lack of contradicting physical evidence, the most logical assumption is that 1) the cultists kidnapped Byron and triggered his berserker state. 2) Berserk Byron then infected other people(berserker status being contagious is at least suspected, if not confirmed by the characters). 3) Berserk Byron engages Bandit. 4) Bandit kills him.

        The idea that he was literally sacrificed and stuffed full of rage spirits or what have you isn’t a conclusion Syr’nj can reach based on the evidence she has. It’s also pretty obvious both prior to the incident and in her rant after the fact that Bandit didn’t trust Byron or believe it possible for him to be cured, so an assumption that Bandit screwed up the antidote, ignored it as a solution or actively sabotaged it isn’t an entirely crazy notion. Compounding all this is the death toll and berserk infection, which handily eliminates the possibility of reliable eyewitness testimony.

        Is she emotional? Of course, and that does affect her judgment. But it’s not like she’s gone off the rails and is throwing out hysterical accusations.

        • biggmac
          biggmac
          May 22, 2015, 6:53 am | # | Reply

          Re: no eyewitnesses … Scipio knows about Byron’s demon infector status. He saw it directly.

          • l33tninja
            l33tninja
            May 22, 2015, 11:51 am | # | Reply

            I’m still waiting for Scipio to say a word . . . or maybe even two

          • Gordon
            Gordon
            May 23, 2015, 2:37 am | # | Reply

            The fact that Byron was infecting people isn’t in question. It’s implied at least once that berserker status is contagious(unless I am not remembering it correctly), or at least theorized to be such. No one has witnessed it directly, though.

            My point was Syr’nj cannot, with the information available, know that Byron was dead before Bandit was stabbing him there at the end, if that is even the case(kinda up in the air, from my interpretation). To Scipio, Byron would have appeared to be alive prior to him being on the ground unmoving.

            It’s also questionable as to how much Scipio can claim to have actually witnessed, given he was fighting for his life against possessed soldiers and cultists, as well as the regular cultists. He doesn’t appear in a single panel, from what I can tell, of the fight between Bandit and Byron. And that’s before or after the large mass of demons was released.

        • insanenoodlyguy
          insanenoodlyguy
          May 22, 2015, 12:53 pm | # | Reply

          That might be a bit strong. I’m sure Bandit has mentioned by now that she tried the antidote first. Syr’nj did state last page that the Cultists overcame her medications, she’s probably reasoned that whatever they did could make her antidote useless.

          Of course, both Syr’nj and even Bandit would probably agree that Bandit is the one who killed Byron. I’m imagining that well she wouldn’t have been happy about it, a less frantic acting Bandit saying “the antidote didn’t work Syr’nj, there was no other way” would have left Syr’nj with a better impression then when she found the lady stabbing the corpse and screaming at it.

          I would love to know how Chrissie in sepiaworld is responding to all this. Maybe we’ll get to see some mention of that…

          • dralou
            dralou
            May 22, 2015, 2:18 pm | # | Reply

            I’m pretty sure what really sealed Syr’nj’s opinion about Bandit was the “good” Bandit answered when announced Byron was dead.

            And ditto, I would love to see the players’ reactions…

            • Mordecai
              Mordecai
              May 23, 2015, 12:39 pm | # | Reply

              I’m guessing that Bandit’s player is also a bit more cavalier about Byron’s death, because she knows death isn’t permanent. She razzed after Byron PKed her the first time, and as she sees it, turnabout’s fair play. Just PKing someone who PKed her way back.

              Except The Five aren’t normal roleplaying PCs, and aren’t going to take that sort of action as lightly as Bandit would.

              • Acadian Bacon
                Acadian Bacon
                May 24, 2015, 6:43 pm | # | Reply

                Exactly. I think her opinion would be different if she knew that killing one of them could potentially mean their actual death in that tube.

          • Gordon
            Gordon
            May 23, 2015, 2:46 am | # | Reply

            That’s true enough.

            However, I doubt Syr’nj would believe that Bandit tried to save Byron at all, given the “I’ve wanted to do that for months” sort of finality that Bandit had after Syr’nj pronounced him dead.

            Yeah, the player reactions will be fascinating. Of course, if Byron does resurrect, they’re going to want to call bullshit on the game rules. Rachel gets deleted when she dies, but Byron gets an extra life. Again.

    • Nicky Nick
      Nicky Nick
      June 2, 2015, 10:48 am | # | Reply

      “before “incompetent” Bandit”

      You can take out the ” ” encircling incompetent, here.

  5. J.R.
    J.R.
    May 22, 2015, 12:14 am | # | Reply

    Stage 3: Bargaining.

    • ThatGuy
      ThatGuy
      May 22, 2015, 3:39 am | # | Reply

      its called “Demanding”

      • Gordon
        Gordon
        May 22, 2015, 4:07 am | # | Reply

        She’s demanding the chance to Bargain.

        Guess she’s still at Anger.

  6. SteelRaven
    SteelRaven
    May 22, 2015, 12:21 am | # | Reply

    Syr’Nj is going to go all Re-Animator, isn’t she?

  7. Emanon
    Emanon
    May 22, 2015, 12:35 am | # | Reply

    All this hand-wringing over telling Byron to run NeverQuest.exe again!

  8. Lingo
    Lingo
    May 22, 2015, 12:39 am | # | Reply

    Uh, Rachel died too, bee tee dub.

    • Nog
      Nog
      May 22, 2015, 12:56 am | # | Reply

      Yes, but she was super killed via digital deletion.

    • Dean
      Dean
      May 22, 2015, 1:22 am | # | Reply

      Yeah, but Syr’Nj and Rachel weren’t banging. As far as we know.

      • neeks
        neeks
        May 22, 2015, 1:33 am | # | Reply

        plus she didn’t leave behind a body for gravedust to extract her spirit from. maybe while he’s chatting up the cosmos he can be all “hey while we’re on the subject, have yall seen my friend rachel anywhere?”

        • DDDragoni
          DDDragoni
          May 22, 2015, 1:45 am | # | Reply

          And as far as we know, that squad hasn’t returned to base yet, so it’s very possible that Syr and Gravey don’t know about Rachel.

          • Swissaboo
            Swissaboo
            May 22, 2015, 1:54 am | # | Reply

            Gravedust was THERE, the only reason Syr’Nj doesn’t know is because she hasn’t given Gravedust the chance to tell her.

            • l33tninja
              l33tninja
              May 22, 2015, 11:52 am | # | Reply

              this ^

        • insanenoodlyguy
          insanenoodlyguy
          May 22, 2015, 12:59 pm | # | Reply

          Gravedust saw that thing kill a soul. I doubt he has any hope on recovery for that one.

      • Olentzero
        Olentzero
        May 22, 2015, 2:12 am | # | Reply

        You TAKE THAT FILTHY SLANDER BACK. Syr’Nj and Rachel were/are totally bangin’, more so than either Frigg or Bandit.

        …wait, what?

        Nevermind.

        • Kensou
          Kensou
          May 22, 2015, 4:03 am | # | Reply

          Not an unpleasant dream. XD

          (and oh god, your icon at this point is just… perfect for the thought)

          Guess the only other thing I have to say is that I’m impressed with the level of containment Syr’Nj has on her grief. And I feel for her… even as I cringe.

          • CinnamonArcher
            CinnamonArcher
            May 23, 2015, 3:09 am | # | Reply

            From the first statement to the tagline and finisher…

            Whatever amalgamation of code rules over these comments, they rule with total appropriation…

        • insanenoodlyguy
          insanenoodlyguy
          May 22, 2015, 1:04 pm | # | Reply

          It was an open relationship. Byron doesn’t get worked up about Syr’Nj and Rachel, Syr’Nj doesn’t ask about the nights Byron spends with his axes.

    • Lee
      Lee
      May 22, 2015, 1:33 am | # | Reply

      More to the point, I don’t think Syr’Nj knows about Rachel yet- That was what Gravedust was going to tell her before we got pulled into this conversation.

    • Observer
      Observer
      May 22, 2015, 5:50 am | # | Reply

      E-Merl: Rachel’s gone? *falls to the ground sobbing*

      Syr’Nj: Ooh, that’s too bad… *taps Gravedust’s shoulder* Don’t you think The Cosmos could help him too?

      Gravedust: *glares* I don’t see why not! *grumble* *gestures to E-Merl* Why don’t you come along with us? We’re on our way to see The Cosmos now to get Syr her lover and me a will. I’m sure it could give you Rachel back.

      Altogether: Ooooh! We’re off to see The Cosmos, The Curious Cosmos Itself!

    • Beroli
      Beroli
      May 22, 2015, 7:36 am | # | Reply

      The Cosmos never told Gravedust to resurrect Rachel.

      • l33tninja
        l33tninja
        May 22, 2015, 11:53 am | # | Reply

        The Cosmos never said NOT to

        • Mordecai
          Mordecai
          May 22, 2015, 11:14 pm | # | Reply

          THE COSMOS DEMANDS A HAM SANDWICH

  9. Nog
    Nog
    May 22, 2015, 12:54 am | # | Reply

    “What I’m saying is go kill yourself”
    “Excuse me”

  10. Jordan
    Jordan
    May 22, 2015, 2:07 am | # | Reply

    She’s being an asshole about it, but she’s got a point.

    • Observer
      Observer
      May 22, 2015, 5:52 am | # | Reply

      Assholes get shit done.

      • Draxynnic
        Draxynnic
        May 22, 2015, 6:23 am | # | Reply

        “Reasonable people change to suit the world. Unreasonable people change the world to suit themselves.”

      • Psolo Ghoti
        Psolo Ghoti
        May 22, 2015, 5:20 pm | # | Reply

        There is a story about how the various parts of the human body elected a leader among themselves. The moral of that story is that things that go in must come out, and blackmail can be very effective.

  11. Freezer
    Freezer
    May 22, 2015, 2:28 am | # | Reply

    Or perhaps Byron being at the center of a TPK – FOR THE SECOND TIME – is a sign from the Cosmos to *you*, Syr’Nj.

    • nemui
      nemui
      May 22, 2015, 11:09 am | # | Reply

      To be fair, he wasn’t the cause of the first TPK. Walking into an arena like a chump to get murderized by savages was.

    • DeePseudonym
      DeePseudonym
      May 22, 2015, 12:30 pm | # | Reply

      Not strictly wipes, but this is actually his fourth rodeo…. really.
      1: his village
      2: the players in the arena
      3: the players in the trap in the forest
      4: the village (again)
      The lesson here is, IF Byron comes back, and IF Byron is allowed to lead something somewhere, DO NOT FOLLOW HIM.

      Also, I think Syr’nj is mostly pissed at herself for letting him go when she knew something like this could happen.

      • nemui
        nemui
        May 23, 2015, 5:24 pm | # | Reply

        That last bit is vital. If all it took to handle the problem was a squad of syringe-crossbowomen, then why did she originally think she had to stay behind for some senate hearing? She fucked up badly, more than anyone else IMHO. (Which is why she’s blaming Bandit now.)

        Of course, it could be argued that the crossbowomen were so effective only because they arrived when the party was already on its way down, that they wouldn’t have been any use if they’d been there in the heat of the moment, when Byron was banging on the door… but I don’t think I’d buy that.

  12. chase
    chase
    May 22, 2015, 5:15 am | # | Reply

    The peer pressure is strong in this one.
    It seems she’ll give Bandit as little a chance to talk as she’s giving Gravy.

    • chase
      chase
      May 22, 2015, 6:02 am | # | Reply

      “In fact, that field leader was so incompetent, that I’m the one who promoted her to that position!”

      Blah. I have to give Syr the same benefit I gave Bandit; she should not be expected to act rationally (or not be a bitch) at a time like this, especially since NO ONE here has ALL the facts, (No one who is alive anyway) even though Syr seems to think she does and was at least able to conclude cultist involvement without being there to also see Byron killing everyone.

  13. Coridimus
    Coridimus
    May 22, 2015, 5:22 am | # | Reply

    We’ve all had a healer in the party who just refuses to res.

    I hope they have a special place reserved in hell.

    • wwlaos
      wwlaos
      May 22, 2015, 10:05 am | # | Reply

      Aye.

    • insanenoodlyguy
      insanenoodlyguy
      May 22, 2015, 1:03 pm | # | Reply

      What if in fact all res healers are bound for hell, for daring to undo the fates the gods have decreed?

      Res magic is in fact the highest blasphemy and is powered by demonic forces in the guise of lawfull good just waiting to see the looks on those well-meaning souls faces.

      • Coridimus
        Coridimus
        May 23, 2015, 5:34 am | # | Reply

        Res, damnit!

  14. Observer
    Observer
    May 22, 2015, 6:02 am | # | Reply

    Do a vision quest or whatever to ask The Cosmos for what she wants Gravedust before she decides to try something else to “see if it works”. Like killing everybody who was dead the last time Byron came back in order to reproduce the original conditions as closely as possible. If she had seen the Best clone you’d probably already be dead.

    • belatedEpiphany
      belatedEpiphany
      May 23, 2015, 12:28 am | # | Reply

      ohhhh….crap.

      Best died beyond resurrection…but now theres WAV. if Syr can’t get him back, then, whats the next best option? Cyberia

      • Gordon
        Gordon
        May 23, 2015, 2:51 am | # | Reply

        That’s assuming Best actually did die and wasn’t just…upgraded. Forcibly. Wasn’t he just presumed dead? Or did I miss something.

        And that triggered an amnesia state, a la Wolverine.

        Or else the upgrades came with…reprogramming.

  15. TxGator
    TxGator
    May 22, 2015, 8:58 am | # | Reply

    Lol! I’m going to have to mark today’s alternative text as one of my all time favorites.

  16. Kobold
    Kobold
    May 22, 2015, 10:38 am | # | Reply

    Well. Let’s see how this plays out.

  17. ⁣LKJLKJHLKJH
    ⁣LKJLKJHLKJH
    May 22, 2015, 11:44 am | # | Reply

    “try things and see if they work”?

    yeah…but that leads to evil science too. perhaps the cosmos is totally cool with me grinding up this baby to make a healing salve. we can just try it and see if we get hit by lightning? lets see how this plays out before guessing whats ok to do. what happened to the asking she mentioned?

    he can literally just dial up the mystics can’t he? he talked to frigg’s courage wolf deity easily enough. “try and see if you get depowered” isn’t a good plan for the party…err…cleric thing.

    • dralou
      dralou
      May 22, 2015, 2:30 pm | # | Reply

      It’s actually a pretty common occurence in science in general, though. Even without an external pressure, brilliant scientists can make reaaaally stupid decisions just because they want to try things.

    • Beroli
      Beroli
      May 22, 2015, 11:49 pm | # | Reply

      I am mystified by the number of people who appear to be reading what Syr’nj is saying not as, “ASK THE COSMOS AND FIND OUT INSTEAD OF JUST ASSUMING IT WANTS HIM DEAD” but as, “TRY TO RESURRECT HIM AND IF YOU LOSE YOUR POWERS THEN…OOPS?”

      • dralou
        dralou
        May 23, 2015, 4:17 pm | # | Reply

        Personally, it’s because of the second panel, where she quite directly ask “why not perform it now ?”.

        • Rolan7
          Rolan7
          May 23, 2015, 7:06 pm | # | Reply

          She’s asking him to perform the will of the cosmos. The language is a little awkward, but I think it’s unambiguous with a careful reading:
          “‘It was the will of all mystics and the cosmos itself.’ And you performed that will, as is your duty. So why not perform it now?”

          • dralou
            dralou
            May 24, 2015, 6:48 am | # | Reply

            Exactly. And it’s pretty clear to me this “will of the cosmos” means “Byron’s resurrection” in Syr’nj’s mind, called a different way to appeal to Gravedust.

  18. Thracecius
    Thracecius
    May 22, 2015, 12:38 pm | # | Reply

    So many great discussions on this episode that I can’t choose one to comment on.

    I agree with folks cutting Syr’nj slack.

    I agree with folks chastising her.

    I agree with Gravedust’s calm, but steady resolve.

    This is a quinessential dilema visited over and over in fiction that always generates fantastic conversations on intent, fact, morality, and a whole host of other adjoining topics.

    Really eager to see how this plays out! :)

  19. Olentzero
    Olentzero
    May 22, 2015, 2:26 pm | # | Reply

    At the risk of not only beating a dead horse, but, y’know… doing something else unsavory to it as well, Phil’s putting the Lament to music inspired me to try my hand at it, playing around with LMMS and Audacity. Forgive the crappy-ass quality, I used a headphone mic and the basic instrument library that came with the program.

    https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/2198131/WCAL.mp3

    • Phil
      Flo
      May 22, 2015, 3:54 pm | # | Reply

      I envisioned it as a drinking song, but it takes on a whole new life as a labor song. Great work!

      • Olentzero
        Olentzero
        May 22, 2015, 4:31 pm | # | Reply

        My unabashedly radical sympathies showing through once again. Thanks!

    • Amaster
      Amaster
      May 24, 2015, 6:45 pm | # | Reply

      I think that this was awesome! Considering your limited resources, you did extremely well.

  20. Psolo Ghoti
    Psolo Ghoti
    May 22, 2015, 5:14 pm | # | Reply

    Last page, I was a bit scared. Now I’m mostly confused.

  21. Kenbobb
    Kenbobb
    May 22, 2015, 6:29 pm | # | Reply

    I think Gravedust is perfectly capable of standing up to Syr’nj. He won’t do anything unless she truly convinces him.

    And I think she has a shot at truly convincing, because I’m pretty sure Syr’nj knows Gravedust isn’t going to be swayed by sobbing or yelling. She really does think the Cosmos will have her back on this one.

    Seeing how she and Gravedust go about skrying out the Cosmos’ wishes in this matter will likely occupy quite a few panels, and prove most interesting.

  22. Nicolas Rei
    Nicolas Rei
    May 22, 2015, 7:21 pm | # | Reply

    Sooo… Cast the spell, succeed or fail, the universe has answered. Only by not casting, do you deny the universe’s will.

    • The Indomitable Eric
      The Indomitable Eric
      May 22, 2015, 8:56 pm | # | Reply

      This guy gets it. People always talk shit about karma sorting shit out like they’re not something the universe gets shit done through.

    • Jean-Luc
      Jean-Luc
      May 23, 2015, 9:11 am | # | Reply

      I don’t think that’s how the “spell” works, Syr is grasping at straws.

  23. Hermitage
    Hermitage
    May 22, 2015, 10:48 pm | # | Reply

    There’s also the fact that, despite his resistance, Byron has been pretty much an unmitigated success for the Ebil side o’ things. There’s no reason to expect that they will not continue to try and recreate him in a more willing subject, while Syr’nj loses her only specimen for understanding and defeating the beserker state.

    Byron is too valuable for the bad guys to leave alone, but also too valuable for Syr’nj to leave dead. Emotions aside.

    • Luxlucis
      Luxlucis
      May 23, 2015, 2:46 am | # | Reply

      I think she now has a whole lot of specimens besides Byron.

      • Captain Nemo
        Captain Nemo
        May 23, 2015, 3:57 am | # | Reply

        Well yes and no. Those are second hand specimens, so they do not contain whatever the cultists used to neutralize the anti berserk drug. Also it is likely that Byron is also unique in how he contained multiple berserk creatures while all the others only recieved one. The are a huge number of variables that cannot be measured through the second handle berserkers.

        • Captain Nemo
          Captain Nemo
          May 23, 2015, 3:57 am | # | Reply

          SCIENCE BITCHES.

        • The Indomitable Eric
          The Indomitable Eric
          May 23, 2015, 10:44 pm | # | Reply

          Bingo. Byron, in this outbreak, is patient zero. Tree of death starts with him…best chance to find antibodies is in him, if we continue the viral pathology analogy.

    • Captain Nemo
      Captain Nemo
      May 23, 2015, 4:00 am | # | Reply

      Meh when the smug look on your gravatar’s face almost adds a pompous air to your post Hermitage.

      • Hermitage
        Hermitage
        May 25, 2015, 12:23 am | # | Reply

        I was rolling on the ground when I saw it. No better time for a gravatar flip!

        • Captain Nemo
          Captain Nemo
          May 25, 2015, 4:06 am | # | Reply

          I also quite like mine. It is so similar to my face when I read some of this stuff. It also adds a certain dry humor to my posts that I love to employ.

          • Captain Nemo
            Captain Nemo
            May 25, 2015, 4:08 am | # | Reply

            Minus the pure evil growing on my gravatar’s face of course. My beard is more akin to a dwarf’s than anything.

  24. Dr. Shiny
    Dr. Shiny
    May 23, 2015, 8:00 pm | # | Reply

    I would like to add. Syr’Nj is, indeed, completely consumed by the grief. She should know that there was nothing anybody could do to prevent it. Bandit wasn’t, and never was, concerned with killing Byron. She likes him, he’s her friend. What she WAS concerned about was neutralizing the threat. Ever since the first time that Byron went zerk and KILLED EVERYONE, she knew that Byron was just a ticking time bomb, that sooner or later he would zerk and kill all of her friends again. She even brought it up multiple times, and expressed frustration about how everyone else looked over the imminent threat to all of their lives. They risked everything on the flimsy notion that regular doses of a flimsy little potion that hasn’t had any real testing, because oh my god it’s Byron and we totally have a 100% permanent guaranteed cure. Bandit knew that a potion wouldn’t erase Byron’s core nature, his very essence. So, when he went zerk and was killing everyone again, proving her fears right and everyone else wrong, she was glad that the threat was permanently neutralized. That now something completely unpredictable and uncontrollable that would kill everyone for no reason with no warning couldn’t threaten her friends and herself anymore. The only thing she ever blamed Byron for was willingly putting everyone at risk, but she blamed everyone else for that as well. Kind of a moot point. Syr’Nj knows and understands that. She knows and understands that killing Byron was now the only possible course of action. But now her lover is dead, and that’s the only thing she cares about. And she has power, authority, and access to a high level shaman that has resurrected them before. Cue irrationality.

    • Dr. Shiny
      Dr. Shiny
      May 23, 2015, 8:01 pm | # | Reply

      That right there is the single most fitting Gravatar to ever happen anywhere.

    • Thracecius
      Thracecius
      May 26, 2015, 1:51 pm | # | Reply

      Nice analysis. Thank you! :)

  25. chase
    chase
    October 19, 2017, 11:07 am | # | Reply

    Still can’t blame her because grief and all, but damn, she’s being a whooooole lot selfish right now.
    “By the way, Rachel’s dead, too? Want me to bring her back? Or just the one you were fucking?”

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Guilded Age is co-written by T Campbell & Flo Kahn, and illustrated by John Waltrip. Site design by Samantha Kyle. Fonts by Blambot.com.
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