Annotated 36-22
This ritual seems pretty, um, redundant? Like, I don’t think Byron was not going to invade Lumberton if they didn’t throw some dead animals into a circle. Even one of the Cultists admits this on the next page. But I guess sometimes it’s just about getting to feel like you participated.
I’m amused to look over the script and see the stage directions for the last frame break the speakers into “CULTIST WHO IS STABBED” and “A CULTIST WHO IS NOT STABBED.”
Choice comment, from biggmac:
FAQ’s: (1) I cannot call carrier to cull.
A: Consider combinations containing cats, caimans, capybaras, cottonmouths or crows.
-or- contact cultist call center
(2) Crimson commando is ckilling comrades.
A: Contort to ckiss yer coochie “ciao”
That cultist’s line, and biggmac’s comment, are both really great.
Yeah, that ritual sure looks like placebo that Tom gave them to either keep them busy or make them feel more important. Would be a pretty silly plan if it required those cultists to perform that ritual (or any kind of proper ritual) in this kind of situation. Can’t imagine a use for them beyond keep the Peacemakers busy/distracted during the actual ritual (that is: Byron’s “conversion”), and to serve as additional berzerker hosts.
I don’t remember the next page, but I can imagine a purpose for this ritual. The berzerker is in the middle of the forest, presumably out of eyesight and earshot of the fort, and apparently out of his mind. He could wander off in a random direction. What guarantees that he’ll head toward the fort? Maybe the ritual is necessary to lure him there.
I guess all these cultists were just working in one big cull center.