#1128: "Oh, shock and alarm."

[waw]

Originally Posted by Random man

Also forget 434, what about 917?

http://www.nuklearpower.com/2007/11/...g-dragons-lie/

Fighter was said to be the Enlightened Warrior who disturbed Bahamut (although, if I recall, it was really Red Mage).

The end days have been issued forth, look at all the destruction following the Light Warriors around.

It's a good catch, but we've been witnessing the big end days.

This doesn't make any sense if they die or if Black mage isn't one of the light warriors or at lest fake one. Also what about bahamut?

They aren't REALLY the light Warriors, they are fake light warriors, but Fighter IS an Enlightened Warrior... and in any case, they were chosen by Sarda to do his chores and became a SORT of Light Warrior... (in name only).

Difference, Enlightened Warrior, Light Warrior, Real Light Warrior

Plus they need to settle what happened to warmech.

He destroyed himself with his laser so he wouldn't self destruct to prove he wasn't a robot... RM rebuilt him in episode 2009 and named him WarBOT, he then proceeded to get a job as an accountant!

One last thing if there are five light warriors does that mean bard could be back?

http://www.nuklearpower.com/2008/07/...eather-or-not/

Those are SKY WARRIORS... probably Dragoons from back when a great evil (Elves that controlled Dragons and possibly had amazingly advanced Technology such as the Datasphere unless that was a preceding culture (i.e. Dark Elves or something even older)) ruled the world. The Dragoons were able to kill the Dragons and begin the Elven downfall... Muffin revealed to help start Dragoons to kill off other Dragons... and potentially the Elven empire.... That solitary Sky Warrior was hoping to give advice to the four Light Warriors....

And Bard was unmade before ever being Born... I don't think he'll return unless my wet dreams.. er, dreams are fulfilled and he saves the day!

[Sean Renaud]

Originally Posted by waw

Uh... how is not slaughtering NPC's evil? Just because more than BM does it doesn't make you not evil.. er.. yeah. Thief is evil in that way... King Steve is a bad king..etc...

I was slightly unclear. I don't feel that murdering NPC's in this comic should really be qualified as a truly evil act. They (just like in the video game) serve no purpose other than to guide the heros on their path. Their lives don't matter at all.

[tacticslion]

Originally Posted by waw

Fighter was said to be the Enlightened Warrior who disturbed Bahamut (although, if I recall, it was really Red Mage).

Black Mage. By calling elves bad names.

Originally Posted by waw

They aren't REALLY the light Warriors, they are fake light warriors, but Fighter IS an Enlightened Warrior... and in any case, they were chosen by Sarda to do his chores and became a SORT of Light Warrior... (in name only).

Difference, Enlightened Warrior, Light Warrior, Real Light Warrior

I wonder if BM actually gained the 'enlightened warrior' status by being the one who actually awoke him?

Originally Posted by waw

He destroyed himself with his laser so he wouldn't self destruct to prove he wasn't a robot... RM rebuilt him in episode 2009 and named him WarBOT, he then proceeded to get a job as an accountant!

Awesome.

Originally Posted by waw

Those are SKY WARRIORS... probably Dragoons from back when a great evil (Elves that controlled Dragons and possibly had amazingly advanced Technology such as the Datasphere unless that was a preceding culture (i.e. Dark Elves or something even older)) ruled the world. The Dragoons were able to kill the Dragons and begin the Elven downfall... Muffin revealed to help start Dragoons to kill off other Dragons... and potentially the Elven empire.... That solitary Sky Warrior was hoping to give advice to the four Light Warriors....

Nice history-lesson! (Why do I enjoy history? Even fictional history. Is that normal?)

Originally Posted by waw

And Bard was unmade before ever being Born... I don't think he'll return unless my wet dreams.. er, dreams are fulfilled and he saves the day!

Er... uh... well... that's... different. I'll, uh... just go. Now.

Edit:

Originally Posted by Sean Renaud

I was slightly unclear. I don't feel that murdering NPC's in this comic should really be qualified as a truly evil act. They (just like in the video game) serve no purpose other than to guide the heros on their path. Their lives don't matter at all.

Thinking that way lies the path to sociopathy. (Please note: I'm neither calling anyone nor suggesting anyone is a sociopath, but warning where those ideas can lead.) As Magic_Marker links:

Originally Posted by Magic_Marker

Well if you advise the killing of "bums" they can get kinda rude

While I'd agree that it is radically different, being a video game and all, there's still a level of inherent essence to the people that exist in your world (whoever you are, and whatever that world is*). The NPCs are (conditionally arguably somewhat) less-intelligent, less powerful persons who exist to allow the heroes of destiny to come to their destiny. It doesn't mean that because they aren't directly involved in the actual "events of destiny" itself they and their lives, actions, and essences don't count. Someone has to fuel/fill hell. Someone has to create a society the Light Warriors come from (otherwise they just poof into existance in a vacuum). Someone has to be threatened by Garland. Someone has to be subject to kings and queens (like King Steve) for a princess to be born, thus allowing Garland to threaten someone. Each of the NPCs provide the world with meaning. The more that are killed the less meaningful the world gets. Destroying the meaning of existance is rather evil - even if it's your own meaning for existance. Thus, the mass-slaughter of NPCs is an evil act. The light warriors have (on-screen) killed (or been the direct cause of death of) more people than monsters over-all. That means they are killing civilization itself, and turning the world over to the depraved lunatics and festering horrors, whether intentional or not. Evil acts.

It's worth noting that innocence does play a significant role in 'evil' versus 'not', however. Fighter (i/wa)s innocent - he truly believe(s/d) they (a/we)re doing good things. The acts may have been evil, but Fighter was not. BM and Thief, however, were both sociopathic in that they not only liked much of the killing, but reveled in it several times** (especially the dwarves, but they don't count as they're bearded freaks). RM really didn't like the violence, but he was too concerned about their quests, XP, and success to quibble with his team-mates over what he (foolishly) considered 'irrelevant' matters.

BM was and is evil. He's just more so now.
*This bars completely arbitrary laws of a given "world" such as "all people are inherently worthless" or somesuch.
**BM even more than Thief.

[justice~!]

Originally Posted by Yozul

So, just trying to discuss the current comic without speculating too much, does anyone else think that Red Mage's "Yeah. I do." in this comic kind of echos Black Mage's "Oh, yes. I can." from a several comics back?

I would love it if that were the case. How awesome.

[CodeBlack]

Originally Posted by russianreversal

Now really, who can say they haven't been waiting for this moment since we met thief?

I certainly have. Never really liked the guy.

In any case, it appears that we've found out what manipulative thieving elves are weak against. Turns out it's the same thing as zombies. Go figure.

Why do I get the feeling that the next strip is going to be the dialogue for 434 (or whichever one it is), and then it'll end up being like they were reading a script, or a book, or something like that?

[waw]

For the record, i thought thief was a good character. Form Bm's point of view, i thought he was a douche and deserved this. he did his role well.

Originally Posted by tacticslion

Black Mage. By calling elves bad names.

I wonder if BM actually gained the 'enlightened warrior' status by being the one who actually awoke him?

Hmm, yes and no. They acknowledged Fighter, RM really seemed to take on the role, BM doesnt' seem very enlightened.... =/ (rm read the datasphere, that is enlightening!)

Awesome.

Thanks

Nice history-lesson! (Why do I enjoy history? Even fictional history. Is that normal?)

I am studying to be a history major. This history is apparent throughout the comics, hints have been dropped. I don't know how much Brian fleshed it out though.

Thinking that way lies the path to sociopathy. (Please note: I'm neither calling anyone nor suggesting anyone is a sociopath, but warning where those ideas can lead.) As Magic_Marker links:

The NPCS are NPCs when they matter that way for jokes... otherwise, they seem to be characters, and people acknowledge killing them as evil... it's just hard to catch evil people when they ahve all the power and abuse it.

Sean, i think the difference is we are just overexposed to their killing.

[Lost in Time]

I'm betting that it just won't be the dialog from the next strip, but a plain and simple reposting of 434. It would be the true way for Brian "Ctrl+C" Clevinger.

[Murdoch]

Originally Posted by waw

For the record, i thought thief was a good character. Form Bm's point of view, i thought he was a douche and deserved this. he did his role well.

Despite being evil, Black Mage had sympathetic traits that made me want to like him, at least up until more recent events. It just seems like, if it weren't for the murdering and stuff, he'd be a pretty cool guy to hang out with. Thief, on the other hand, is thoroughly unlikeable, with no redeeming qualities to speak of.

You might say that that makes him a good character, if the goal is for him to be disliked, but I've just never found him very funny. Especially during the whole, "I've already claimed the rights to everything you ever have or ever will own, but I'm going to keep thinking up new ways to steal from you" routine. I like seeing bad things happen to him, but that doesn't happen nearly as often as I'd like. It seems like he's the joke on the reader that Brian talks about.

[Leveller]

Thief dead? Finally? If anyone deserved it it was that jerk.

Seriously.

I wish I could be more happy that fighter is dead but it makes me a little bit sad. Not for theif though. HAHA

[Uindo]

I am reminded of RM's words in the first panel here.

http://www.nuklearpower.com/2007/12/...-a-wasps-nest/