That’s my thought, too. It’s possible that Gravedust is acting like he got poisoned until he can get to safety, then he can shoot ghost-imbued arrows all he wants.
If they were actively waging a campaign to eliminate all of the mystics, they probably had to think about that since they probably couldn’t kill everyone at once.
First time we’ve seen Gravedust so rattled before, and he’s been in life threatening situations. I can’t tell if John made him a bit “too scared” looking or if he genuinely is terrified out of his mind for the first time in the comic.
… that wouldn’t be a bad thing, that’d be an AWESOME thing. Imagine dwarf tossed armies, bringing death from above off cliffsides and moutaintops. And 30 pages devoted to the history of this tradition!
Whoa! He poisoned Gravedust, didn’t he? That’s why the goblet is tipped over, and Gravedust’s head is resting on the table in the last panel… and the two guards have no weapons drawn?
Isn’t it already pretty common for mystics to consume mind altering and potentially lethal substances? I think the beardless wonder was more straight forward with the other mystics and just jabbed the pointy end of his razor in their guts.
Normally I’d expect GD to make some acid trip through “the land of the dead” before miraculously resurrecting. Now, hopefully, GA will avoid the usual bs but I don’t think even they would kill off a main character jus’ like that.
But who knows, maybe GD gets replaced by Best. *trollface*
When I quoted the princess bride and said the drinks were poisoned two strips ago, I did it simply because they’d both just drunk from goblets and I thought it was funny. I didn’t actually think Gravedust was gonna get poisoned.
Ah well, let’s say now that the most awesome thing to happen would be for mr. evil to flee screaming from the tent shouting “Oh my gods! Those Orcs killed Gravedust!”
Everything about that warlord said “sleazebag.” The smarmy executive hairstyle, the smug familiarity with Gravedust, the frivolous and expensive tent mural. No good I tell you!
There’s a LOT of liquid draining out of that goblet… I don’t think Gravedust drank enough to actually die… they may have to go save his ass the way they went after Frigg.
Also, new Artist (who’s name I will remember eventually), screw you. That one panel is just TOO emotive. Gravedust just looks… Crap, you’re too good, you know that?
More likely the shock of his culture being butchered, not to mention his brethren. His own death may not scare him, but we know he cares a great deal about the plight of his people. The poison probably didn’t help.
No, not that either. Gravedust isn’t some sort of anime old man going “HUH?” and repeating all statements to himself. He’s simply succumbing to the poison, which is why he’s not even saying anything.
There was a link further up possibly explaining why the dead couldn’t let him know of the betrayal. If it was in fact correct, awesome use of such an old breadcrumb page. Thats why real dwarves drink Beer grave dust, not namby pamby elven wine…
Anybody notice the Bird decoration behind Iver’s head in the last panel? Very much in tune with a Nazi Party-eagle isnt it? Nice how that was snuck in there.
Given the water pitcher right next to it, I’d say it’s a ring on a stand to hold a towel. I almost thought it might be set onto the wall, but then I remembered it’s a tent.
WUT?!?
Never trust a dwarf without a beard, never had a word been more true. Tsk, tsk, tsk, dwarfes killing dwarfes. Thats the task of orks, trolls and sakven, this bastard is making us workless.
Ditto. The character art is great, and so is the art for all the background elements, but the bitmap images used for background texture are too jarring. I know it’s hard to make the ground look good in a simplified cartoon style, but there’s got to be some other way . . .
Damn! I just came to this comic and am finding it awesome.
After the “Never ask how things could be worse” bit, followed by Gravedust actually being warmly welcomed I didn’t expect betrayal at all. Bravo!
That is one tall dick! I knew we couldn’t trust him when he was all shaved.
Never trust a shaven dwarf.
And never trust an elf with a beard.
He is not tall at all… He is a dwarf you know…
I suppose it’s easier to pile the feces to dwarf height, but that’s still an impressive feat.
Powerful scene, well done.
Funny, considering Gravedust talks to dead people, you would think one of his dead co-worker would give him a heads up or something…. waitaminute!
Love the last line from the villain, classic!
That’s my thought, too. It’s possible that Gravedust is acting like he got poisoned until he can get to safety, then he can shoot ghost-imbued arrows all he wants.
Actually, someone may actively be preventing a heads-up, given the precedent set here:
http://guildedage.net/webcomic/chapter-5/chapter-5-page-4/
If they were actively waging a campaign to eliminate all of the mystics, they probably had to think about that since they probably couldn’t kill everyone at once.
true dwarvs get a huge bounes to poison resistence
First time we’ve seen Gravedust so rattled before, and he’s been in life threatening situations. I can’t tell if John made him a bit “too scared” looking or if he genuinely is terrified out of his mind for the first time in the comic.
Actually, from the look of it, it would seem Gravedust has been poisoned rather than being frightened. Limp arm at side, wine goblet knocked over…
I think that’s the poison.
I think so, too. That would explain why he’s slumped over in the last panel.
Ouch. If he’s shaking like that from poison, it really wasn’t a fun one. Let’s just hope that Syr’nj can do something about its effects…
I vote “too scared.” Goggling and shaking like someone out of Scooby-Doo is out of character for Gravedust.
Let the dude keep his dignity. This is like Peter Jackson writing in dwarf-tossing jokes and shit.
… that wouldn’t be a bad thing, that’d be an AWESOME thing. Imagine dwarf tossed armies, bringing death from above off cliffsides and moutaintops. And 30 pages devoted to the history of this tradition!
Whoa! He poisoned Gravedust, didn’t he? That’s why the goblet is tipped over, and Gravedust’s head is resting on the table in the last panel… and the two guards have no weapons drawn?
I’m thinking maybe thats just the drugged food at work. Thats usually how the whole villain exposition thing works.
Also that is one INTENSELY evil looking chest in the background. I’m more scared of it than I am of the thugs!
That’s Iver’s war chest.
(or very angry chest.)
I feel I can say with absolute confidence, that was that, and we will never see Gravedust again, except for flashbacks and possibly his funeral.
Yup, that’s the last we’ll see of him, evar.
Aww, c’mon mates ! Gravedust can’t possibly die like this … can he ?
What, don’t you think poison is a deadly enough way to die?
Isn’t it already pretty common for mystics to consume mind altering and potentially lethal substances? I think the beardless wonder was more straight forward with the other mystics and just jabbed the pointy end of his razor in their guts.
This ISN’T godsblighted DRAGONeffingLANCE!
What, me, bitter?
Normally I’d expect GD to make some acid trip through “the land of the dead” before miraculously resurrecting. Now, hopefully, GA will avoid the usual bs but I don’t think even they would kill off a main character jus’ like that.
But who knows, maybe GD gets replaced by Best. *trollface*
Here’s your Earl Grey, Hot. What funny taste? Maybe you’ve got a cold.
that’s the most garbled translation of that ping fa quote i’ve heard.
perhaps more applicable is the one about keeping your movements unseen.
THERE’S THE CAPSIZED CUP. the drained drink. all those other things we called it. almost missed it.
When I quoted the princess bride and said the drinks were poisoned two strips ago, I did it simply because they’d both just drunk from goblets and I thought it was funny. I didn’t actually think Gravedust was gonna get poisoned.
Ah well, let’s say now that the most awesome thing to happen would be for mr. evil to flee screaming from the tent shouting “Oh my gods! Those Orcs killed Gravedust!”
Goblins, Ahdok. Those are Goblins.
and his inability to distinguish one from the other *proves* that he’s not working with them. :D
Ah, Good point! ;)
Nooo Mr. Bond. I expect you to die. >:)
Gravedust’s final thought before blacking out: “I knew I should have built up an immunity to iocaine powder!”
Everything about that warlord said “sleazebag.” The smarmy executive hairstyle, the smug familiarity with Gravedust, the frivolous and expensive tent mural. No good I tell you!
Tried to upload a Gravatar. This is a test.
Darn it, Bandit. Now you’ve done it.
What a surprise, obvious evil guy is evil.
There’s a LOT of liquid draining out of that goblet… I don’t think Gravedust drank enough to actually die… they may have to go save his ass the way they went after Frigg.
Or he figured it out in time and is faking it, conveniently draining the cup on the floor in the process.
they’re only little fellahs. doesn’t take much.
Yes they are little, but they’re dwarfs.
Dwarfs get a natural +4 against poisons. Har har.
Oh. Wow. Poor Gravedust. That… That broke him.
Also, new Artist (who’s name I will remember eventually), screw you. That one panel is just TOO emotive. Gravedust just looks… Crap, you’re too good, you know that?
The name’s Waltrip…
John Waltrip.
And I’ve been told that before.
Strange, I always thought it was Opaldinger Stevenson. I really gottA work on my memory
Damn.
Hate to break it to you, Gravedust, but you just got roflstomped. With POISON of all things.
He’s not shaking in fright, you dolts! It’s the poison.
I’m wondering what will happen next. Will he die?
More likely the shock of his culture being butchered, not to mention his brethren. His own death may not scare him, but we know he cares a great deal about the plight of his people. The poison probably didn’t help.
No, not that either. Gravedust isn’t some sort of anime old man going “HUH?” and repeating all statements to himself. He’s simply succumbing to the poison, which is why he’s not even saying anything.
Dude— Mini Boris Yeltsin is hardcore.
I’m sorry Rage. I poisoned your wine. For the good of the land!
Gravedust is a mystic. He talks to the dead. He doesn’t see dead people.
HE KNOWS DEAD PEOPLE. THEY’RE HIS COWORKERS.
This is the requisite death he needs to take his prestige class.
Maybe we’ll get a scene where the dead mystics berate him for not seeing it coming.
“Dude, like, couldn’t you check in with uss once in a while?”
“You weren’t supposed to all be DEAD!”
There was a link further up possibly explaining why the dead couldn’t let him know of the betrayal. If it was in fact correct, awesome use of such an old breadcrumb page. Thats why real dwarves drink Beer grave dust, not namby pamby elven wine…
Anybody notice the Bird decoration behind Iver’s head in the last panel? Very much in tune with a Nazi Party-eagle isnt it? Nice how that was snuck in there.
Also; Gravedust!!! NOOOO!!!
More like an antique roman eagle in this context I think.
Given the water pitcher right next to it, I’d say it’s a ring on a stand to hold a towel. I almost thought it might be set onto the wall, but then I remembered it’s a tent.
Right you are, Tolrick!
Oh noes!!! Gravedust! You think he would have “felt a disturbance in the force” or something when all the mystics were killed. I hope he’s ok.
WUT?!?
Never trust a dwarf without a beard, never had a word been more true. Tsk, tsk, tsk, dwarfes killing dwarfes. Thats the task of orks, trolls and sakven, this bastard is making us workless.
My only gripe is with the non-illustrated rug…
Ditto. The character art is great, and so is the art for all the background elements, but the bitmap images used for background texture are too jarring. I know it’s hard to make the ground look good in a simplified cartoon style, but there’s got to be some other way . . .
GRAAAAAVVYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!
In truth, Gravedust got bored of his speech and fell asleep.
Yeah, Gravy’s just sleepin’. Tommorow we’ll go to the pound and get you a new dwarf.
So with Dwarfs it’s the opposite of the goatee rule?
Yes, precisely.
“So, thanks for dropping by.” Half-wondering if he (the character) did it on purpose.
Those goblins should stroll over to Goblins the Webcomic. They’d be able to one punch anything smaller than a troll there.
Damn! I just came to this comic and am finding it awesome.
After the “Never ask how things could be worse” bit, followed by Gravedust actually being warmly welcomed I didn’t expect betrayal at all. Bravo!
Dwarves and Goblins working hand in hand, what has the world come to? D: