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

'We're just dolphins, man.'

Chapter 9 – Page 9

on February 14, 2011
Chapter: Chapter 09
└ Tags: Best
Comments RSS

Discussion (232) ¬

  1. Doma
    Doma
    February 14, 2011, 12:00 am | # | Reply

    Never been so happy to see this douche…

    • Doma
      Doma
      February 14, 2011, 12:07 am | # | Reply

      Also, Horde symbol spotted,

      • Mark
        Mark
        February 14, 2011, 4:12 am | # | Reply

        Someday, somewhere, I’ll meet someone who doesn’t love the horde besides me.

        • centuriancode
          centuriancode
          February 14, 2011, 4:40 am | # | Reply

          Found!

          • Brandon C
            Brandon C
            February 14, 2011, 6:09 am | # | Reply

            For the Alliance!

            • Kom
              Kom
              February 14, 2011, 8:44 am | # | Reply

              Well hey there, Alliance. Sorry about Southshore and everything but we Forsaken types reckon it just looks better as a glowing, green hole in the ground.

              • Phil
                Flo
                February 14, 2011, 10:06 am | # | Reply

                >Implying the Alliance has ever cared about Southshore.

                • G@T0R
                  G@T0R
                  February 14, 2011, 11:30 am | # | Reply

                  aye, curse that run to the scarlet monastery. Burn in hell South Shore

                • Dualdj1
                  Dualdj1
                  February 14, 2011, 2:46 pm | # | Reply

                  [nostalgia]Some of my fondest memories are of slaughtering horde in the endless battles between SS and Tarren Mill, back before BGs destroyed world pvp… [/nostalgia]

                • Locke
                  Locke
                  February 15, 2011, 3:36 am | # | Reply

                  Yeah, and my favorite memories are when those one guys killed those other guys and I was like, “Wow, those other guys are dead.”

                  Yep. Totally not trying too hard to fit in, here.

        • Fren
          Fren
          February 14, 2011, 8:24 am | # | Reply

          Eh, back in my days I played a Human Warrior. Used to have blast destroying everything and goofing off as a Battlefield monster. I think my favorite kill was a Tauren druid. He got so desperate he actually went to kitty form and tried to stealth out and sneak away. Huzzah Perception, all I’m sayin.

          • Hawk
            Hawk
            February 15, 2011, 9:41 am | # | Reply

            More love for human warriors <3
            I have two (because I have no life)

        • Deets
          Deets
          February 14, 2011, 11:56 am | # | Reply

          I prefer ally anyway. mostly due to pally obsession.

          • Brandon Richard
            Brandon Richard
            February 14, 2011, 4:56 pm | # | Reply

            Yeah, it’s not like Horde even has Paladins… Oh wait-

            I like both, Draenei Priest and Orc Warrior, wee!

            • Ash
              Ash
              February 15, 2011, 12:31 am | # | Reply

              Draenei Priest and Troll Mage. Awesomeness.

    • Thor
      Thor
      February 14, 2011, 12:10 am | # | Reply

      I’ve never been happy seeing this douche. And the fact that he’s currently interrupting the “big secret” doesn’t do anything to endear me.

      Nine pages in, and this chapter failed to please once.

      • thatryanguy
        thatryanguy
        February 14, 2011, 10:22 am | # | Reply

        Failed to please You, specifically.

        I’ve enjoyed the hell out of it, and am looking forward to seeing where this all goes.

        • Mic-Gold
          Mic-Gold
          February 14, 2011, 7:15 pm | # | Reply

          Dito!

      • Brandon Richard
        Brandon Richard
        February 14, 2011, 4:56 pm | # | Reply

        It’s a good thing you don’t encompass the entire readership, ’cause I’ve been enjoying it.

  2. ZQFT
    ZQFT
    February 14, 2011, 12:02 am | # | Reply

    And then there were only four tubes.

  3. Meirnon
    Meirnon
    February 14, 2011, 12:03 am | # | Reply

    *Knock knock*

    “Who is it?”

    “Candygram.”

    • Pikey
      Pikey
      February 14, 2011, 12:10 am | # | Reply

      “Flowers.”

      • Grim
        Grim
        February 14, 2011, 12:56 am | # | Reply

        “Jehovah’s Witness.”

        • DrasticSarcastic
          DrasticSarcastic
          February 14, 2011, 9:40 am | # | Reply

          “I’m only a dolphin….” oh yeah… alt text.

          (Blast!)

          • Aurix
            Aurix
            February 15, 2011, 7:06 am | # | Reply

            Dolphins are just gay sharks.

            *nod*

    • Locke
      Locke
      February 15, 2011, 3:35 am | # | Reply

      “Er… Anyone order a pizza? With, er, anchovies?” *Glare* “What, don’t like anchovies?”

      • Fren
        Fren
        February 15, 2011, 7:48 am | # | Reply

        “What are we gonna say? ‘Hello, Cursed Earth Pizza’ ?”

  4. Malificus
    Malificus
    February 14, 2011, 12:04 am | # | Reply

    I really like Best. I’m always happy to see him as a main character.

    • SteelRaven
      SteelRaven
      February 14, 2011, 1:12 am | # | Reply

      …wait, what!?

      • Malificus
        Malificus
        February 14, 2011, 1:46 am | # | Reply

        I like Payet Best. Whenever he has played an active roll in this comic, I enjoyed that part of the comic all the more because of his involvement.

        • Rook
          Rook
          February 14, 2011, 2:06 am | # | Reply

          While I wouldn’t say I completely dislike Best, I would say that I like Bandit indefinitely better. So I’m not fond if the notion Best could replace her in the party (even if she did technically replace him first).

          I also was really fond of the idea of Best being a ‘Bad Guy’, a villainous bard just sounds like a fond concept.

          • Mujaki
            Mujaki
            February 14, 2011, 3:06 am | # | Reply

            As the said in the 1950s, “Rock and Roll is the devil’s music!”

          • ahdok
            ahdok
            February 14, 2011, 3:29 am | # | Reply

            Best is a very written character, you love to hate him. He enriches the story immensely.

          • Malificus
            Malificus
            February 14, 2011, 11:52 am | # | Reply

            So, what if there’s actually no arbitrary limit forcing the party to only havey 5 members or less?

        • kenneth
          kenneth
          February 14, 2011, 4:36 am | # | Reply

          Best may be a douche, but I like the prick. He’s kinda like Kevin Kline’s character in “A Fish Called Wanda”. A lovable scumbag that the movie wouldn’t have been as good without.

        • Rolan7
          Rolan7
          February 14, 2011, 10:24 am | # | Reply

          Yeah, I love both him and Byron. I’m not sure why there’s so much hate for either. They both have flaws which make them better characters.

          Payet was perhaps a villain who doesn’t see himself as one, and that’s always more interesting than the “bwaha delicious puppies” kind. It seems like his bad experiences with the main group didn’t corrupt him, he went on to be a good (if arrogant) hero. A fine subversion, and a character who is very much in flux at the moment.

          • Patrick
            Patrick
            February 14, 2011, 12:11 pm | # | Reply

            I dunno, I’m kind of a fan of the kind of villains who are so horridly overdone that they DO say things like “bwahaha delicious puppies”.

          • Ishmael
            Ishmael
            February 15, 2011, 12:06 pm | # | Reply

            I never saw him as a villain. Asshole? Sure. Villain? Not really.

            If it were D&D, I’d put him firmly in Chaotic Neutral with good tendencies. He’d LIKE to be a hero, but his methods are flawed.

    • Doop doop
      Doop doop
      February 14, 2011, 7:02 am | # | Reply

      Well, the slightly expanded backstory of his (Hey, I was called shit elf!) does make him a small amount more easy to empathize with.

      Still makes him a dick, but a dick with a reason behind it.

      And yes, Best’s antics are amusing.

      • Fren
        Fren
        February 14, 2011, 8:26 am | # | Reply

        Well … I’d say that the village lit the fire under his ego pretty well, way back when. They grabbed him up, called him the Hero of Prophecy and gave him everything they had.

        This monster was made.

        Also … THE PROPHECY.

  5. Ash
    Ash
    February 14, 2011, 12:06 am | # | Reply

    I didn’t realise he had pierced ears. Also lol impending ambush.

    • Rognik
      Rognik
      February 14, 2011, 1:26 am | # | Reply

      They might be new.

      • barsukthom
        barsukthom
        February 14, 2011, 8:35 am | # | Reply

        He needed more holes.

    • John
      John
      February 14, 2011, 3:23 pm | # | Reply

      They’re new.

  6. swordsister
    swordsister
    February 14, 2011, 12:08 am | # | Reply

    douche in armor….tsk.okay..

    • ahdok
      ahdok
      February 14, 2011, 3:29 am | # | Reply

      When Payed Best puts on his black ninja armour, he’s still a douche.

      • kenneth
        kenneth
        February 14, 2011, 4:37 am | # | Reply

        With a side of fries.

      • Brent Felzien
        Brent Felzien
        February 14, 2011, 10:17 am | # | Reply

        That’s a ninja shirt? I thought it was
        rockabilly cowboy shirt.

        • Brent Felzien
          Brent Felzien
          February 14, 2011, 10:17 am | # | Reply

          Oops. HTML fail.

          • Phil
            Flo
            February 14, 2011, 11:27 am | # | Reply

            Fixed for you. And I want that shirt.

            I wish we could have an edit button for comments, folks, but it’s not in the cards for right now. We’re looking into better systems since the sheer volume of the comments has maintained a steady overflow.

            • alicemacher
              alicemacher
              February 14, 2011, 11:37 am | # | Reply

              Anything happening on the Tea Room forum front?

              • Phil
                Flo
                February 14, 2011, 12:30 pm | # | Reply

                Not at the moment, sorry!

            • Brent Felzien
              Brent Felzien
              February 14, 2011, 1:28 pm | # | Reply

              Thanks. You’re swell.

            • Jean-Luc
              Jean-Luc
              February 14, 2011, 4:18 pm | # | Reply

              Instead of edit would it be easier to allow us to delete our comments? Being able to write them all over again would be kinda like editing.

              • Phil
                Flo
                February 15, 2011, 8:45 am | # | Reply

                Oh hello no on deletion, son.

                No one gets to un-say stupid things on my turf.

                • Jean-Luc
                  Jean-Luc
                  February 15, 2011, 1:06 pm | # | Reply

                  Wouldn’t editing allow us to do the same or did you just say that because it’d sounds all cool and Phil-like (which is fine by me actually)?

                  • Jean-Luc
                    Jean-Luc
                    February 15, 2011, 1:06 pm | # | Reply

                    *it

                    Fuck, see?

  7. swordsister
    swordsister
    February 14, 2011, 12:09 am | # | Reply

    o lol, i just noticed the sign on his back.

    • John
      John
      February 14, 2011, 3:24 pm | # | Reply

      You’ll get a better view of that soon.

      • Hawk
        Hawk
        February 15, 2011, 9:43 am | # | Reply

        Dare we hope, with a spear in it? :P

      • ahdok
        ahdok
        February 15, 2011, 1:10 pm | # | Reply

        It says “Kick me”

    • Jean-Luc
      Jean-Luc
      February 15, 2011, 1:07 pm | # | Reply

      Is that the leather jacket from Fallout?

      • swordsister
        swordsister
        February 15, 2011, 2:00 pm | # | Reply

        i guess it’s something a sex pistols fan would wear. speaking of which, i can’t see his guitar-axe anywhere.

        • Jean-Luc
          Jean-Luc
          February 15, 2011, 3:47 pm | # | Reply

          Best pretty much is a sex pistol.

  8. Tatsu
    Tatsu
    February 14, 2011, 12:11 am | # | Reply

    Meh I really don’t like Best.I’d rather be on the others….and somehow fan the flames for my secrtet Byron x Bandit stuff >>

  9. Randonimity
    Randonimity
    February 14, 2011, 12:14 am | # | Reply

    I have no idea why the first thought that popped into my head was “Ru-roh, Shaggy!” x.x I mean, Best isn’t even close to being as awesome as Shaggy. Or Scooby :/ I blame the mind-blowage from last Friday.

    • Jean-Luc
      Jean-Luc
      February 14, 2011, 12:50 am | # | Reply

      If Best was a part of the Scooby gang he’d take Daphne and ride away with her into the sunset in his black convertible Cadillac and leave the rest of those losers with their thumbs up their asses.

      • Thor
        Thor
        February 14, 2011, 1:02 am | # | Reply

        Leaving Velma with Shaggy, Scooby, and Fred? I think I’ve seen Rule 34 depictions of that.

        • Jean-Luc
          Jean-Luc
          February 14, 2011, 1:03 am | # | Reply

          Yes, they could all “shaggy” each other.

      • Rognik
        Rognik
        February 14, 2011, 1:28 am | # | Reply

        Aside from the fact that Daphne really doesn’t do much in the gang dynamics, at least in the original series.

        • Jean-Luc
          Jean-Luc
          February 14, 2011, 1:30 am | # | Reply

          She only has one purpose in the show and we all know what it is. Kinda scary considering it’s supposed to be a kids’ show.

          • T
            T
            February 14, 2011, 7:47 am | # | Reply

            If you have not seen the latest incarnation of that show, you are missing out.

            • ahdok
              ahdok
              February 15, 2011, 1:11 pm | # | Reply

              not having seen the show, this can totally be interpreted two ways.

      • Randonimity
        Randonimity
        February 14, 2011, 2:22 am | # | Reply

        Fred can keep Daphne. I’d rather have Velma m’self :3

        • Fren
          Fren
          February 14, 2011, 8:30 am | # | Reply

          Ooooooh yeah. You know there’s a freak hidin’ under that sweater and them knee high socks.

          (insert some Tom Waits caterwaulin’ Pasties and a G-String here)

          • O'Lee Wood
            O'Lee Wood
            February 14, 2011, 2:48 pm | # | Reply

            Actually did it

          • Locke
            Locke
            February 15, 2011, 3:32 am | # | Reply

            Your avatar and that statement conflict SO MUCH… XD

        • BeetlesBane
          BeetlesBane
          February 14, 2011, 12:47 pm | # | Reply

          Seconded.

          • Fren
            Fren
            February 15, 2011, 7:50 am | # | Reply

            Don’t dis my Grand-ma-ma, dog. She was thuggin back when you was still suckin’ Similac.

            • Jean-Luc
              Jean-Luc
              February 15, 2011, 1:01 pm | # | Reply

              She was doing what while he was sucking what?

              • Fren
                Fren
                February 16, 2011, 7:36 am | # | Reply

                Sucking on a bottle of Human Infant Supplement Nineteen, Cap’n.

  10. sarielpg
    sarielpg
    February 14, 2011, 12:15 am | # | Reply

    oh…you’re just eeevillll, but I bow to your mastery of the cliffhanger

    • Randonimity
      Randonimity
      February 14, 2011, 2:21 am | # | Reply

      Take comfort that this isn’t a Friday strip.

      • ahdok
        ahdok
        February 14, 2011, 3:31 am | # | Reply

        Phil and T are just Cratering to our needs.

  11. Arky
    Arky
    February 14, 2011, 12:20 am | # | Reply

    Can’t really get into Best and Harky again until I know if they are meant to be “real” or if this is just a game scenario. Sorry.

    • sprocket
      sprocket
      February 14, 2011, 1:43 am | # | Reply

      Psst. It’s a fictional comic, not a documentary. None of this is real.

      Hope that helps take the weight off your mind so you can sit back and enjoy the story.

      • Jean-Luc
        Jean-Luc
        February 14, 2011, 1:48 am | # | Reply

        It does matter whether something is real or not in the context of the story and what the relationships between different story elements are. You can’t just generalize like that, the actual story not being real has nothing to do with what goes on in it.

        Having said that answers are something we’ll just have to wait for. Use of suspense and cliffhangers is nothing new, we ought to be used to it by now.

        • Abeo
          Abeo
          February 14, 2011, 12:56 pm | # | Reply

          For me it only really matters if the world is real to the characters because that is what drives the drama and tension.

          • Locke
            Locke
            February 15, 2011, 3:31 am | # | Reply

            Dude, there’s still drama and tension. We have no idea what Dedalus’s plans for the protagonists are. We have no idea if Best will succeed in whatever his quest is or not, or, more likely, what he’s being manipulated in doing. We still have no idea how this world works. For me, that’s dramatic tension out the wazoo.

            • Abeo
              Abeo
              February 15, 2011, 11:18 am | # | Reply

              That’s what I was saying. The tension would be ruined for me if Best didn’t think the game world and his actions were real and meaningful. But he does, so there is tension.

            • ahdok
              ahdok
              February 15, 2011, 1:12 pm | # | Reply

              without the cutaway to the other world, we’d be pretty convinced Best was gonna succeed here… as it is, I’m not so sure.

  12. Fairportfan
    Fairportfan
    February 14, 2011, 12:24 am | # | Reply

    Ooops.

  13. alicemacher
    alicemacher
    February 14, 2011, 12:27 am | # | Reply

    Not…the land sharks! They still blow my mind. I mean…they’re sharks with the huge sharp teeth and the bloodthirstiness, and yet they’re on land so you can’t just avoid them, like with ocean sharks, when you’re menstruating or have open sores or…I’m scared for Payet. Even though he is a douche. 0__0

    • alicemacher
      alicemacher
      February 14, 2011, 12:29 am | # | Reply

      In before anyone says, “But Payet doesn’t menstruate.” Oops.
      >.<

      • Sentora
        Sentora
        February 14, 2011, 10:36 am | # | Reply

        That’s debatable considering how much of a cunt he is.

        • alicemacher
          alicemacher
          February 14, 2011, 11:40 am | # | Reply

          Kiss your mother with that mouth, Sentora? ;-)

          (No wait, that was me. Hee hee hee)

          • Sentora
            Sentora
            February 14, 2011, 6:06 pm | # | Reply

            My mother is worse ;p

            And I at least I showed restraint. The first comment I was going to make was a terrible pun about seeing red when he’s shows up.

    • Jean-Luc
      Jean-Luc
      February 14, 2011, 12:39 am | # | Reply

      We all know those land sharks are in way over their heads.

      • alicemacher
        alicemacher
        February 14, 2011, 12:51 am | # | Reply

        Payet could try telling them “To jaws-jaws is better than to war-war.”

      • Jean-Luc
        Jean-Luc
        February 14, 2011, 12:53 am | # | Reply

        He’d say: “Make shark-fin soup, not war.”

        • Mr Ak
          Mr Ak
          February 14, 2011, 5:23 am | # | Reply

          Just as long as he doesn’t try to play poker with them

      • Locke
        Locke
        February 15, 2011, 3:29 am | # | Reply

        Yeah. If they so much as BLINK they’ll be naked and riddled with STDS.

        • Wazza
          Wazza
          February 15, 2011, 6:22 am | # | Reply

          and a nasty sniffle.

  14. Dean
    Dean
    February 14, 2011, 12:29 am | # | Reply

    Best has just realized why he has been subconsciously humming the Jaws theme for the last few minutes.

  15. Locke
    Locke
    February 14, 2011, 12:34 am | # | Reply

    Dun dun….

    • Doma
      Doma
      February 14, 2011, 12:38 am | # | Reply

      Dun dun…

      • SteelRaven
        SteelRaven
        February 14, 2011, 1:14 am | # | Reply

        Dun dun dun…

        • MScott
          MScott
          February 14, 2011, 1:19 am | # | Reply

          Dun dun dun dun…

        • Noahkai
          Noahkai
          February 14, 2011, 1:24 am | # | Reply

          *trumpets blare*

          • alta lemur
            alta lemur
            February 14, 2011, 1:57 am | # | Reply

            He needs a bigger boat! (srsly, i was just watching Jaws on Netflix 3 hours ago)

            • FoolishOwl
              FoolishOwl
              February 14, 2011, 3:58 am | # | Reply

              And Mythbusters has proven that you can’t blow up a shark by shooting a compressed air canister with an M-1 Garand.

              • Brent Felzien
                Brent Felzien
                February 14, 2011, 1:32 pm | # | Reply

                But maybe…juuust maybe… Payet can blow up a Land Shark with the power of rock.

                • Hawk
                  Hawk
                  February 15, 2011, 9:44 am | # | Reply

                  Maybe he’ll stop to axe them if they’ve a tune to request…?

  16. Alechsa
    Alechsa
    February 14, 2011, 12:43 am | # | Reply

    Well, at least we’re back in Arkerra, but I wanna know what’s going on in the V.R. tubage… Evil, evil writers!!!

    • ahdok
      ahdok
      February 14, 2011, 3:32 am | # | Reply

      It’s about the pacing you’d expect from a good story though.

      You’ll have to wait before we get back to the Byronic Commando.

      • barsukthom
        barsukthom
        February 14, 2011, 8:44 am | # | Reply

        Ah seen whut yew did thar.

    • Karishi
      Karishi
      February 14, 2011, 2:20 pm | # | Reply

      What do you mean? They’re telling you what’s going on in the V.R. tubage! ^_^

  17. Jean-Luc
    Jean-Luc
    February 14, 2011, 12:44 am | # | Reply

    Heh, Best looks like Mad Max. I just wish he didn’t have that spiky hair. At least his name isn’t Josh or Brad.

    • Locke
      Locke
      February 14, 2011, 12:58 am | # | Reply

      If only he had a crazed whirligig pilot chained up beside him, guarded by his faithful hound.

    • Jean-Luc
      Jean-Luc
      February 14, 2011, 1:02 am | # | Reply

      I think we can safely call it the DBZ hairstyle: http://www.jjtoy.com/wallpaper/original/dragon-ball-z-12.jpg

      • SteelRaven
        SteelRaven
        February 14, 2011, 1:15 am | # | Reply

        I was thinking Guil from Street-Fighter

        • ahdok
          ahdok
          February 14, 2011, 3:33 am | # | Reply

          Bart Simpson.

          • Jean-Luc
            Jean-Luc
            February 14, 2011, 10:09 am | # | Reply

            Would be cool if there were graffiti all over Gastonia saying “El Besto“.

            • Ash
              Ash
              February 14, 2011, 11:33 am | # | Reply

              …And that is now my personal canon. Thanks Captain Picard!

      • John
        John
        February 14, 2011, 3:28 pm | # | Reply

        Billy Idol actually.

        • SteelRaven
          SteelRaven
          February 15, 2011, 1:29 am | # | Reply

          Oh yeah, that actually fits kinda well.

          • Hawk
            Hawk
            February 15, 2011, 9:46 am | # | Reply

            I was about to mention Billy Idol m’self. He lacks the sneer, but that’s OK. He has plenty of other offensive expressions to hand out.

  18. SteelRaven
    SteelRaven
    February 14, 2011, 1:16 am | # | Reply

    Is that the Black gates?

  19. SaltyKracka
    SaltyKracka
    February 14, 2011, 1:21 am | # | Reply

    And the Most High, creator and knower of all things, was about to reveal unto his faithful disciples the secrets of that which precluded them. But instead, he showed them irrelevancies and meaningless drivel.

    And lo, there was a resounding MEH

    • Jean-Luc
      Jean-Luc
      February 14, 2011, 1:25 am | # | Reply

      It must’ve resounded within the confines of your skull.

      • Slayer_Requiem
        Slayer_Requiem
        February 14, 2011, 3:43 am | # | Reply

        Hope it doesn’t echo too long…

      • Randonimity
        Randonimity
        February 14, 2011, 5:05 am | # | Reply

        I swear, I look forward to your comments about as much as I do comic-updates *w*

      • Locke
        Locke
        February 15, 2011, 3:28 am | # | Reply

        Unless he’s a duck, Picard. Then he’d hear nothing at all, and the status quo within his mind would be preserved.

        • ahdok
          ahdok
          February 15, 2011, 3:42 am | # | Reply

          that would be completely quackers

          • Jean-Luc
            Jean-Luc
            February 15, 2011, 3:51 pm | # | Reply

            Ducks don’t need satellites: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WwdGeFgONCY

            • Locke
              Locke
              February 15, 2011, 7:59 pm | # | Reply

              … You find the most interestingly varied links, you know that?

  20. Calen
    Calen
    February 14, 2011, 1:25 am | # | Reply

    With the sudden cut, and Best being one of the five in the tubes, I’m thinking we’re about to see how his luck/skill/whatever runs out on him.

    And I’m perfectly okay with that.

    • sprocket
      sprocket
      February 14, 2011, 1:49 am | # | Reply

      Another pleasant consideration…. with whatever mechanics are involved… does death hurt?

    • Abcus
      Abcus
      February 15, 2011, 12:11 am | # | Reply

      Me too. Can’t wait to see him bested.

      ( I don’t care if it’s been used. His humiliation is REQUIRED).

      Cheers,

      Cote

  21. Lydia
    Lydia
    February 14, 2011, 1:48 am | # | Reply

    They’re really just land dolphins, man.

    • sprocket
      sprocket
      February 14, 2011, 1:50 am | # | Reply

      Tricky fish.

    • Ash
      Ash
      February 14, 2011, 6:46 am | # | Reply

      Dolphins can be sadistic bastards. So Best is screwed anyway.

      • G@T0R
        G@T0R
        February 14, 2011, 9:27 am | # | Reply

        so long and thanks for all the fish!

        • Caitlin
          Caitlin
          February 14, 2011, 9:43 am | # | Reply

          So sad that it should come to this.

      • Abeo
        Abeo
        February 15, 2011, 11:21 am | # | Reply

        Literally. Dolphins are well-known gang rapists.

    • Jean-Luc
      Jean-Luc
      February 15, 2011, 3:52 pm | # | Reply

      Something smells fishy?

  22. Harrowed
    Harrowed
    February 14, 2011, 1:56 am | # | Reply

    Does this mean the sharks are going to jump him?

    • James K
      James K
      February 14, 2011, 5:28 am | # | Reply

      It depends, are they in Soviet Russia?

      • G@T0R
        G@T0R
        February 14, 2011, 11:33 am | # | Reply

        Somebody get this man a star. STAT

    • John
      John
      February 14, 2011, 3:31 pm | # | Reply

      Ha ha. Good one.

  23. SmallIvoryKnight
    SmallIvoryKnight
    February 14, 2011, 2:08 am | # | Reply

    Landsharks. Totally Jawsome.

    • Fren
      Fren
      February 14, 2011, 8:32 am | # | Reply

      I thought that was Street Sharks!

      • Hawk
        Hawk
        February 14, 2011, 9:16 am | # | Reply

        And Best is a Jet, isn’t he…

    • Brent Felzien
      Brent Felzien
      February 14, 2011, 1:34 pm | # | Reply

      Fintastic.

      • Locke
        Locke
        February 15, 2011, 3:26 am | # | Reply

        I’d feel Gill-ty if I didn’t come right up and admit that Land Sharks are my favorite race in this webcomic thus far.

        • Hawk
          Hawk
          February 15, 2011, 9:47 am | # | Reply

          Because you can make so many jokes about them, or because you secretly are one? :P

  24. Zach
    Zach
    February 14, 2011, 3:23 am | # | Reply

    I really loved the art in the last few comics, so big ol’ kudos… but oh man I hate Best’s new hair. Comb that shit out and reset it!

    (He’s still the best character though.)

  25. ahdok
    ahdok
    February 14, 2011, 3:35 am | # | Reply

    Mess with the Best, become undressed.

    • Slayer_Requiem
      Slayer_Requiem
      February 14, 2011, 3:42 am | # | Reply

      Interestingly enough. In a good ol’ game of D&D, Both the Fighter and the bard of the party said this…at the same time.

      So…is it bad to want to play a “Shit Elf?”

    • Larry
      Larry
      February 14, 2011, 10:34 am | # | Reply

      Are you suggesting Payet will win the day by having menage ad nauseum with the entire Coalition? That’s taking one for the team.

      • ahdok
        ahdok
        February 15, 2011, 1:14 pm | # | Reply

        The things he does for his reputation.

  26. Emily
    Emily
    February 14, 2011, 3:41 am | # | Reply

    But what’s the Gromble doing in the second panel, that’s what I want to know. Is this what he does after he retired from teaching monster school?

  27. A passer-by.
    A passer-by.
    February 14, 2011, 4:20 am | # | Reply

    Hmm… Overly decorated siege engines, in a faction which should by all accounts be too penny-pinching to afford engravings on elite troops’ armour in favour of having actual metal equipment on the common troops.

    I do believe this is another clear point to the ‘this is just a computer game’ column.

    • FoolishOwl
      FoolishOwl
      February 14, 2011, 5:17 am | # | Reply

      That part actually makes sense. Decorated siege engines and decorated armor for the elites are things that pre-modern armies really did — it would be a point of pride for the artisans, and a morale boost for the troops. Also, it helps make the leadership more easily recognizable to their own troops in battle.

    • Nicolas Rei
      Nicolas Rei
      February 14, 2011, 5:19 am | # | Reply

      Ah, but they have excellent backers. After all, dwarven smiths love to make their works look impressive. Just because they are supplying the monsters doesn’t mean they will skimp on the pomp.

      And remember, if you hear a knock at your back door, and the voice answers “Landshark”, Run Elf Run.

      • Fren
        Fren
        February 14, 2011, 8:34 am | # | Reply

        Unless they’re bringing you some delicious Landshark brand beer.

        • Snowblind
          Snowblind
          February 14, 2011, 11:52 am | # | Reply

          Or a hand crafted and garishly painted bicycle.

    • Jean-Luc
      Jean-Luc
      February 14, 2011, 10:11 am | # | Reply

      Noticed how the catapult has a giant fork on the side? Must be gnollish design, they seem to be fond of utensils as we saw in that “diplomacy” page.

      • John
        John
        February 14, 2011, 3:16 pm | # | Reply

        It’s a brace, Capt’n. When the catapult is in position, they stick it in the ground; keeps the machine from toppling.

        • Jean-Luc
          Jean-Luc
          February 14, 2011, 4:20 pm | # | Reply

          Nice way to rationalize having a giant fork on a catapult. :P

          • Locke
            Locke
            February 15, 2011, 3:25 am | # | Reply

            They’re just trying to cover up the next big plot twist: that all Harky wants to take from Gastonia is ownership of their giant waffle-mines. Next target: the immense syrup reserves of the Wood Elves, only spoken of in breakfast legend.

          • ahdok
            ahdok
            February 15, 2011, 3:44 am | # | Reply

            Don’t listen to him, he’s totally forking with you.

            • G@T0R
              G@T0R
              February 15, 2011, 10:40 am | # | Reply

              The TICK approves of your utensil conversation.

  28. Octane
    Octane
    February 14, 2011, 5:50 am | # | Reply

    Landsharks! LANDSHAAAAAARKS!

  29. LunarTick
    LunarTick
    February 14, 2011, 5:56 am | # | Reply

    Best’s think squares have the same yellow as one the tube on the previous page. Confirmation of what we’ve already suspected?

    • LunarTick
      LunarTick
      February 14, 2011, 6:18 am | # | Reply

      Nevermind. I’ve found Byron always thought in red, Gravedust in brown and Syr’nj in green. But, of course, this was already said two pages ago.

  30. Ash
    Ash
    February 14, 2011, 6:54 am | # | Reply

    Interesting to see his thoughts. Seems like he really believes in those “destined roles” (In the context of the game, PC vs NPC? Hmm.) though in-universe he pretty much took someone else’s destiny (So he’s unknowingly a hypocrite as well. He got out while he’s telling others to suck it up and accept their shitty lot in life.)

    Unless he was always meant to become a ‘hero’/player. Ugh stupid are-both-worlds-real? mind screw

    • FoolishOwl
      FoolishOwl
      February 14, 2011, 7:40 am | # | Reply

      From a meta-game perspective, we might guess that Best was doing a standard quest for bards, in which case it would make sense another bard shows up to do the same quest just as he leaves.

      • Fren
        Fren
        February 14, 2011, 8:34 am | # | Reply

        THE PROPHECY!!!

      • Ash
        Ash
        February 15, 2011, 3:53 am | # | Reply

        Does that mean all the berserker class players go through what Byron did?

  31. matt w
    matt w
    February 14, 2011, 7:36 am | # | Reply

    Oh, “Harky,” “H.R.”

    Did everyone else pick up on that last week? Am I making it up?

    • Ash
      Ash
      February 14, 2011, 7:39 am | # | Reply

      That’s an interesting theory you got there, sir.

      • Abcus
        Abcus
        February 15, 2011, 12:27 am | # | Reply

        DUDE! Harky’s jewel! WHAT COLOUR WAS IT?!

        I seem to recall it being Purple . . . I like HR as Harky, but I can’t see how THAT would tie into the story . . .

        Cheers,

        Cote

        • Abeo
          Abeo
          February 15, 2011, 11:44 am | # | Reply

          “Tie”? You bastard.

          • Abcus
            Abcus
            February 15, 2011, 1:14 pm | # | Reply

            Holy crap! Actual unintentional pun! I’m . . . sorry?

            Cheers,

            Cote

        • Jean-Luc
          Jean-Luc
          February 15, 2011, 1:49 pm | # | Reply

          Sorry, t’was read.

          • Jean-Luc
            Jean-Luc
            February 15, 2011, 1:50 pm | # | Reply

            *red

  32. Flintte
    Flintte
    February 14, 2011, 8:10 am | # | Reply

    Noooooo you can’t bait us with that shot of Byron in a tube and then cut to a seemingly irrelevant comic of Best! THAT’S NOT FAIR.

    • ahdok
      ahdok
      February 15, 2011, 3:44 am | # | Reply

      Isn’t it totally the pacing you’d expect?

  33. Fren
    Fren
    February 14, 2011, 8:35 am | # | Reply

    C’mon, think of it like Tiny Toon Adventures. You’d have a story cartoon first, then a little vignette of some minor character, then back to the story.

  34. Kom
    Kom
    February 14, 2011, 8:37 am | # | Reply

    WHAT.

    You can’t just “Hello, Byron”, blow our collective minds then “WHOOPS SORRY you weren’t supposed to see that back to Best!”. You have cliffhangers and then you just have BOUNDLESS CRUELTY. My curiosity is your battered wife.

  35. Phil C.
    Phil C.
    February 14, 2011, 8:37 am | # | Reply

    Don’t know why he has trouble imagining what it’s like to be actively hated. I definitely hate the little bastard.

  36. barsukthom
    barsukthom
    February 14, 2011, 8:46 am | # | Reply

    And there’s a whole lotta people who still call him a “shit elf”.

  37. Hawk
    Hawk
    February 14, 2011, 9:21 am | # | Reply

    Though I am yet again hurting in the brain from whiplash – I clicked the back button a couple times thinking that I’d somehow missed an update! – I soothe my hurts and entertain my increasing need for bloodshed by imagining what those nasty looking halberds could do to Best.

    Or that halberd-wielding siege engine.

    Mentally dismembering my LEAST FAVORITE character is good for the heart.

  38. G@T0R
    G@T0R
    February 14, 2011, 9:39 am | # | Reply

    I think Best is starting to grow on me. I still wish someone would deck him for that throwing the kids off the boat as an anchor routine. I think prior to having a child i may have found that hilarious but now I just want someone to hit him… hard. In the face.

    • barsukthom
      barsukthom
      February 14, 2011, 9:43 am | # | Reply

      With his own guitar, yeah.

    • Jean-Luc
      Jean-Luc
      February 14, 2011, 10:14 am | # | Reply

      He did save the little bastards. If you had to choose between having your kid thrown off the airship tied to a rope and live or die in the crash…well, not much of a choice really.

      • G@T0R
        G@T0R
        February 14, 2011, 12:54 pm | # | Reply

        The ends do not justify the means captain! Although i do agree, the results were fantastic.

        • Hawk
          Hawk
          February 15, 2011, 9:53 am | # | Reply

          Epic solution, in some ways…but morally reprehensible from almost any standpoint. There was no way to know that Best’s gambit would not result in kids just as dead as a crashed airship. He *could* have gotten Frigg and Gravedust onto the “anchor” and had a similar amount of weight. He *could* have used cargo or objects lying around the ship as weights. Using the kids was simply the most convenient solution available because they were already chained together, if I recall correctly.

          He also made an executive decision without any input from the group – he literally did not play with the team, ignoring group tactics from the start. That’s the kind of thing that pisses off pretty much everyone else on the team…

          That said: I too am a parent, and that’s a large part of why I want Best slowly pierced and dismembered.

          • ahdok
            ahdok
            February 15, 2011, 1:19 pm | # | Reply

            You’re saying that taking the choice “these kids might survive if I do X” against “everyone is guaranteed to die if I don’t do X” was morally reprehensible from almost any standpoint?

          • Jean-Luc
            Jean-Luc
            February 15, 2011, 3:59 pm | # | Reply

            Trying to explain his plan to the party would’ve taken too long. There was no time and it’s unlikely anyone from the party would’ve volunteered to be an anchor.

            Best knew something had to be done now. Ironically the children may have been safer on the “anchor” than on the ship that proceeded to smash into the ground. The party seemed surprisingly unscathed.

  39. Caitlin
    Caitlin
    February 14, 2011, 9:40 am | # | Reply

    Loan sharks make you pay it back.

    Landsharks are at Payet’s back.

  40. Sentora
    Sentora
    February 14, 2011, 10:31 am | # | Reply

    You’re still a shit elf.

    *Hums Street Sharks theme.*

  41. Patricia
    Patricia
    February 14, 2011, 10:31 am | # | Reply

    So, Best heard the Jaws theme as well. Very cool.

  42. Larry
    Larry
    February 14, 2011, 10:32 am | # | Reply

    Payet Best has an Inspector Gadget Go-go-go Gadget Telescoping Eye? Funky.

  43. Frazzle.d
    Frazzle.d
    February 14, 2011, 1:16 pm | # | Reply

    I liked Southshore, it was my favourite fishing spot. >:

    As a friend once said “those gloops (the green slime pet name she gave those mobs) have evil smiles and aren’t cute at all!”

  44. G@T0R
    G@T0R
    February 14, 2011, 2:50 pm | # | Reply

    If I were the ‘land’ sharks I’d be pissed I weren’t just ‘the’ shark. I mean, why are they designated the ‘land’ sharks instead of designating those swimmy bastids the ‘water’ sharks… classists. I mean sure the ‘water’ sharks came first, but the ‘land’ sharks are far cooler.

    • G@T0R
      G@T0R
      February 14, 2011, 2:53 pm | # | Reply

      weren’t wasn’t

  45. That person over there
    That person over there
    February 14, 2011, 3:08 pm | # | Reply

    *cue jaws theme*

  46. Guy
    Guy
    February 15, 2011, 12:57 am | # | Reply

    “I can only IMAGINE what it’s like to be actively hated.”

    I…

    I cannot say anything about this line that doesn’t pale in comparison to the subject, so I’ll settle for simply emphasizing its existence.

    • Locke
      Locke
      February 15, 2011, 3:23 am | # | Reply

      Actually, I’m hating Best less now. And I really hated him before. Maybe it’s because the lives (digital or otherwise) of the cast most likely lie in his douchey hands. Now, if he takes this opportunity to screw a member of the party over, then my hate-train will be right back on track.

      • Ishmael
        Ishmael
        February 15, 2011, 12:02 pm | # | Reply

        In the case of Frigg, I think it’ll be stuck to screwing.

  47. ahdok
    ahdok
    February 15, 2011, 3:47 am | # | Reply

    The scope of this strip is quite expansive.

  48. Ash
    Ash
    February 15, 2011, 3:55 am | # | Reply

    I have a question. I know that ‘Shit Elf’ is the colloquial term- so what’s the actual name of that particular elf subspecies.

    • Ishmael
      Ishmael
      February 15, 2011, 12:03 pm | # | Reply

      Elf?

    • JarrysKid
      JarrysKid
      February 15, 2011, 1:35 pm | # | Reply

      “Excrement Elf”

    • Timelost
      Timelost
      February 17, 2011, 5:47 pm | # | Reply

      I think it’s probably something like Low Elf, or Lay Elf, or maybe they just call them Nonmagical Elves.

  49. Aris Katsaris
    Aris Katsaris
    February 15, 2011, 9:25 am | # | Reply

    Hmph, this is probably the first page I disapprove of.

    I didn’t mind at all the shift in perspectives to the “outside world”, in fact I found it exciting, but we shouldn’t be shifting back into *this* world until we have a reason to care about it.

    So: first boring page in the comic.

  50. Zero
    Zero
    February 15, 2011, 10:31 am | # | Reply

    Hm. Happy to see this douchebag, but damn him for breaking up whatever is happening in the “real” world.

    Also, the way this page looked kept bothering me, until I realized that there was no texture overlay to it, and it was making it look… cleaner? that usual. I dunno, I liked the noise of the textures.

    • Phil
      Flo
      February 15, 2011, 10:43 am | # | Reply

      Fixed, uploaded an unfinished version before and never noticed until now. Thanks for the whistle-blow!

      • ahdok
        ahdok
        February 15, 2011, 1:22 pm | # | Reply

        I think this has been asked before, but… where did you get this texture overlay from? – I want it. At the moment I’m just using Photoshop burlap when I want some texture to my pictures.

      • Zero
        Zero
        February 15, 2011, 3:39 pm | # | Reply

        Yay, I wasn’t going crazy. :D

        And admittedly, it’s interesting to see how much difference that makes.

      • Locke
        Locke
        February 15, 2011, 3:43 pm | # | Reply

        “Thanks for the whistle-blow?” Maybe it’s just because I haven’t slept in over 18 hours, but that sounds dirty. :P

        • Zero
          Zero
          February 15, 2011, 5:40 pm | # | Reply

          Little bit. xD

  51. Danny
    Danny
    February 15, 2011, 10:32 am | # | Reply

    Tin foil hat time. Sorry if its a bit late, but been at work in telesales and my hatred for my fellow man has been kept at bay only by this comic and archive binging. Anyway to go back to my point HR Daedlus = Harki? Is he literally the real villian seeking to undermine Arkerra?

    • ahdok
      ahdok
      February 15, 2011, 1:23 pm | # | Reply

      Surely the Savasi are the ones trying to undermine Akerra…

      • Danny
        Danny
        February 16, 2011, 2:29 am | # | Reply

        Its his form of manipulation, destablising the entire continent. He cares not for the means just the ends.

  52. Jake
    Jake
    February 16, 2011, 11:00 am | # | Reply

    I’m actually growing to like Best… he reminds me of myself. In both being a douche early on and growing up, slowly and with switchbacks, later.

  53. Twigs
    Twigs
    March 26, 2011, 4:04 pm | # | Reply

    Cuff studs!

    Best is starting to look more and more like David Bowie. This makes me conflicted. Do I love or hate him? I can’t hate something that reminds me of Bowie. =/

  54. FreddeX
    FreddeX
    May 18, 2011, 4:13 am | # | Reply

    ….Am i the only one who hears the “Jaws” theme music playing in the background? ;) ^^

    • Saiyanwolf
      Saiyanwolf
      October 13, 2014, 3:49 pm | # | Reply

      nope! I’m too!

  55. Drewid
    Drewid
    December 1, 2015, 7:10 pm | # | Reply

    $#!+ elves: almost as useless as humans.

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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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