Unsounded, quite possibly the (2nd) best webcomic I have seen.

[eschmenk]

Anyway, overall, I think the First Silver belongs to some creature and this ritual could be a way to unleash that creature or its corrupted form.

I don't think there is any ritual. Quigley heard from Starfish, and Rahm confirmed with his own observations, that the first silver, itself, was a weapon. It seems to be a pretty effective weapon, actually. Why would anything else be needed?

Rahm refers to him as Aldish. And the Black Tongues are human-only, according to Ashley. Which makes sense, since they practice pymary, which the two-toes (the only sapient non-humans who aren't Senet Beasts) don't.

Although I generally agree with your viewpoint, I think that Rahm meant that Winallis, not Delicieu, was Aldish. I looked for any time that Rahm mentioned him and didn't see any other possibilities.

Ashley said on Tumbler that Delicieu was definately an Aldish name, though, and said that we were learn more about Cutter and Delicieu in the next chapter. Although I don't think that Cutter is Delicieu, I wouldn't be surprised if Cutter worked for him or if he still is.

[-D-]

I don't think there is any ritual. Quigley heard from Starfish, and Rahm confirmed with his own observations, that the first silver, itself, was a weapon. It seems to be a pretty effective weapon, actually. Why would anything else be needed?

It seems to me that First silver on its own isn't a weapon, but a more of a seed for a weapon. They had to plant First Silver into human bodies for it to become dangerous.

Like for example Mountain Ogre wasn't alive until it was built into a frame and infused with magic.

[Morty]

While the comic is going to be on hiatus for a while more, Ashley wrote another story. This one gives us another look at the late Vienne Quigley.

[eschmenk]

Updates have resumed.

In case people forgot, the first silver wasn't letting anyone escape via the doors, so they decided to go down.

[-D-]

Also Ashley sold out. What a whore. I thought she was different, but she broke my heart

*Signs up to her Patreon account*

[Killer Angel]

WALL OF SPLAM!!!!

[Morty]

I think the blood monstrosity is the end result of the First Silver weapon. We saw something similar in Duane's vision while he was in the khert.

[Lizard Lord]

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Welp, Sette is officially a good person now, despite her Da's influence. Becuase ANYONE south of good would have ran away from that mess and never look back.

[eschmenk]

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I think Sette is going to try doing good now, but so far, all she has done is collect her and Duane's belongings. And yes, a Frummagem might do that even if it is dangerous. But it's also not an unreasonable first step no matter what she does.

[-D-]

I think the blood monstrosity is the end result of the First Silver weapon. We saw something similar in Duane's vision while he was in the khert.

My hypothesis, First silver weapon is basically recreating a Senet beast made from First Silver.

[Morty]

And now Sette can hear ghosts without their possessing something that can talk. Maybe we'll get some hint as to why.

[eschmenk]

Sette got an indication that her "dream" wasn't just a dream.

I'm talking the ghosts talking as just another indication that they are becoming more tangible.

[Killer Angel]

Anyway, this Silver weapon is doing a nice bloodshed...

[eschmenk]

I can't tell if the silver is digging down into the earth or if the rocks on top are just what Duane dumped on it. If it's Duane's doing, he's did a pretty thorough job, because the rocks we see in the latest update are under the building.

[Morty]

Dammit, Sette, now is really not the time.

[Killer Angel]

Dammit, Sette, now is really not the time.

A perfect mix of drama and comedy!

[-D-]

And Horror!

I hope saving Sette counts for at least a hundred apologies.

[-D-]

First rule of Nevergreen: Never vocalize your intention of saving anyone.

[Morty]

This chapter really makes me tempted to support Ashley's Patreon. I'd love to see those pages in hi-res.

[Killer Angel]

I wonder if the smart lizard was smart enough to flee, when there was still the time to do it.

[wingnutx]

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I thought that Knock was toast there for a second.

[Chromascope3D]

So after seeing this thread I read through the comic, and all I can say is that the thread title is apt. This is easily my second favorite webcomic... right behind Gunnerkrigg Court.

I wonder if the smart lizard was smart enough to flee, when there was still the time to do it.

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Doesn't first silver only lash out at the miserable? I don't remember where but I think I saw that somewhere: that he's immune because he keeps himself happy. Which makes sense to me, it's a fantastic idea for a weapon; it's something that causes misery and fear, and then draws its own strength from it, gaining more power to cause more misery and fear, etc.

[-D-]

So after seeing this thread I read through the comic, and all I can say is that the thread title is apt. This is easily my second favorite webcomic... right behind Gunnerkrigg Court.

Die monster, you don't belong in this realm

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Doesn't first silver only lash out at the miserable? I don't remember where but I think I saw that somewhere: that he's immune because he keeps himself happy. Which makes sense to me, it's a fantastic idea for a weapon; it's something that causes misery and fear, and then draws its own strength from it, gaining more power to cause more misery and fear, etc.

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Unless an iguana resting can feel miserable, I'm gonna go with No. He's immune due to something.

You are right about it feeding itself on fear to become stronger.

[Morty]

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Yeah, I don't think it's just about not being miserable. That'd be too easy to bypass. Plus, like -D- said, it did attack an animal. Cutter created the First Silver behemoth using some two-toe witchcraft none of the human wrights we've seen have any clue about. And it's clear that he's pretty deeply involved with whatever is going on.

[eschmenk]

Spoiler: Cutter

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Yeah, I don't think it's just about not being miserable. That'd be too easy to bypass. Plus, like -D- said, it did attack an animal. Cutter created the First Silver behemoth using some two-toe witchcraft none of the human wrights we've seen have any clue about. And it's clear that he's pretty deeply involved with whatever is going on.

I think it's Delicieu who invented it, but it was Cutter who screwed up and allowed the monster to form. Cutter was supposed to feed it slowly and keep it under control. It's impossible to miss the fact that he's deeply involved. However, Cutter didn't know enough and screwed up, though. "Cutter never knew the silver'd reach outside to eat...My silver's grown too fat too soon - now the eels squeal for meat." (On the next page, Cutter says, "Delicieu keeps his word..." which seems to mean that Delicieu was the one in charge. I think Cutter is his lackey.) Hopefully Cutter knows enough to keep himself alive, even though he didn't know enough to keep the first silver under control.

I think the first silver is picking targets in order to mess with everyone else. Stockyard was making himself feel better by petting the lizard, so by going after the lizard, the first silver was able to mess with Stockyard and keep him from feeling better. I also think that this is one of those things that we probably shouldn't over-analyze. Ashley is probably doing things so that the story builds up right and creates the impression she is going after.

BTW, "Yay, Toby's feeling better." Ashley, Ashley, Ashley...

[Morty]

That's true, Delicieu did probably invent it. Cutter is still crucial to its creation, though. Whether or not he messed up, I don't know. He seems pretty happy with how it turned out. Maybe he's advancing some agenda of his own. Or he's just insane and hates humans.

[eschmenk]

IMO, Cutter pretty obviously didn't want the silver monster to grow there. He warned Stockyard to quickly move it away fairly early on.

I think the lizards do not mind seeing human suffering. They come across as being very cold blooded, which is probably why Ashley drew them as lizards in the first place. They don't like humans. Humans have treated them badly. They just do their jobs for the money and that's it. I think Cutter is more sadistic than most, but I don't think any lizard would be terribly bothered by what's going on.

My understanding is that someone paid or agreed to pay a huge some of money to Delicieu for the weapon. I think that whoever it was selected a high value target. The weapon is supposed to be delivered there and set off there. The delivery wound up being subcontracted to Nary, who subcontracted to Starfish and Stockyard. Delicieu probably needed to supply his lackey, Cutter, to travel with the weapon. Cutter was supposed to control the silver by feeding the silver just enough pain to keep the silver alive and satiated so it would be ready when it arrived at the target. He would probably trigger the rapid growth once it got there. Cutter didn't realize that the silver could pull in pain from other sources, though. Doing so allowed the silver to grow and become even hungrier too quickly.

I think Cutter's current attitude isn't much different than what you should expect from a lizard, particularly a sadistic one. He did his job as best he knew how. Things happened that he didn't expect. Oh, well. If Delicieu didn't give him enough information, and if the other humans didn't listen to his advice, it's not really his fault. He may as well enjoy himself while he works. That doesn't mean that he had setting off the silver weapon at that location as his goal, however. He probably would have had as much or more fun setting it off at the intended target.

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In the comments on the website, someone identified the person in the last panel as being Gregory, the coffee guy.

I wouldn't say that anything today indicates that the present location is where Cutter wanted the monster to go out of control, either.

---

ADDED Aug 14:

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There's a group of people that the eels are leaving mostly alone. I really think that if you are calm, the eels and first silver are more likely to notice someone who is upset. I still wouldn't rule out the idea that that is helping Cutter not be a target. He doesn't care and no one cares about him.

The eels seem to be attracted to Starfish, though. Gee, imagine that!

[Kislath]

I guess I just don't see what Starfish's motive is on this. Trying to... what? Save the day? Just get one last bit of underaged fun? Revenge for all of this madness?

[Morty]

Whatever he wants, hopefully what he gets is a spectacular First Silver-related demise.

[Lizard Lord]

I guess I just don't see what Starfish's motive is on this. Trying to... what? Save the day? Just get one last bit of underaged fun? Revenge for all of this madness?

I'm not even sure what his plan is, let alone his motives.