Dominic Deegan: Oracle for Hire, Mk. XLIV: Stunt Bro and Hella Jayden

[Nerd-o-rama]

Honestly, that one doesn't surprise me. At a small establishment on the outskirts of the desert, having limited space for a second bathroom isn't terribly infeasible; although honestly, if they don't have space for another room, it's more surprising that they have two baths to begin with, but I digress.

What is *actually* upsetting is Stunt's nonchalant attitude about this whole thing. I'll be honest here, I typically think the snark goes too far, but I'm really starting to believe in the murder of Stunt's personality. He just got handed a lost treasure that he's been told by a "reliable" source could determine the fate of the universe, he is now the number one most wanted by an Archmage of the 3rd circle, one of the most powerful beings in *existence itself,* that could rip him apart with it's bare hands *completely without* the use of any magic whatsoever, so what does he do?

He takes a bath...and leaves his only weapon somewhere that isn't in arm's reach.

Hopefully this is leading up to a Maverick reference.

[Voice of Reason]

Unless you're being meta or something, we've seen the treasure. It's a pure star-stone necklace; estimated approximate worth being the whole of Callan. Unless Stunt is wearing it around his inner thigh he's left it with his clothes.

Ah, yes, quite right. Somehow I seem to have blocked that memory from my mind for some reason. It's certainly an odd thing to forget. Now if only I could master this ability and forget certain choice bits...

[Veridis Quo]

Compared to the other obvious problems, I consider this nitpicking,

True, but the sudden deflation of any tension from the last couple of strips feels too jarring. I got the feeling from yesterday's strip that if Masturel were to shift his focus ever so slightly, things would have been instantly lethal. In that regard Mookie actually set up a good scene. Fastforward to today, and both our heroes are casually discussing their travel plans. Tension == Broken

Mookie seems to think that the obvious outcome for these two was shacking up.

I'm still not sure how we got to this point. All Jayden really did need was for her next love interest to believe in her? Good god, how can Mookie not detect the implications of that....

I'm not even sure that Jayden is even ready for a new relationship. She never really came to terms with anything that was related to her problem. It wasn't that Sigfried had persuaded her to be evil through his "nice guy" act. It was the fact that the chosen, a group of devout and zealous individuals, caused Jayden to have a crisis of faith.

She was secure in her belief in Luana, but that faith didn't protect her from being mind controlled. The people who did it apparently did it through sheer conviction in their practices. Seeing that she began to doubt whether or not her patron deity was even their for her anymore. (Possibly because she didn't understand that her sinful actions were being guided by the chosen)
I interpreted her behavior after the war in hell, as well as her vow of silence as her trying to look within herself for an answer, but instead she became a doormat apologist.
Her pilgrimage into the desert to DIE was her attempting to follow in the footsteps of her prophet and maybe force some kind of epiphany about all that had happened.

[Gez]

Hmm... on the one hand it would involve shacking up with someone who tried to slice her neck open, on the other hand, because they aren't antagonists, this wouldn't fall much further than a lover's quarrel, because Dominic still maintains ties with the woman who raped him.

Word of Mookie: "It's not rape because he enjoyed it!"

Yeah, another thing he won't ever live down.

[MReav]

Word of Mookie: "It's not rape because he enjoyed it!"

Yeah, another thing he won't ever live down.

GOD I HOPE NOT!!!!

I know he said that, but it was at the back burner of my mind. With that up front, I have to say: SCREW YOU MOOKIE!! It's not funny!

[Lord Raziere]

Also: What Mookie thought this Arc was about:

As tempting as it may have been to put Stunt and Jayden in a steamy bathtub together, this story isn't really about that. As much as it's been about faith, regret, forgiveness and the search for redemption, it's also been about the blossoming friendship between an ex-con and a troubled priestess... with a touch of arcane drama, lost treasure and an ancient necromancer.

As per usual, we saw what Mookie was trying to do but found that the actual story lacked all of these supposed elements. Classic, really

I could do better:

An escaped convict goes into a church to hide, the priestess in her compassion, shelters him for she knows that the prisons are dark places where one does not heal amid other criminals. so she persuades him to confess his crimes and to talk about what he did.
However, the police come to take him back, and tries to also arrest the priestess for sheltering a criminal, so they escape together, now both fugitives.
Soon they stumble upon an old man with a strange ancient book, who says to them.
"I, am one of the last true necromancers. Most "necromancers" of today, have defiled my noble art, and turned it to the energies of greed, of pride, lust and power, seeking to use the power of the dead to dark ends, when necromancy in truth is about preservation, tradition and quieting the unrestful spirits of the world. I am old, my time to die is coming soon. But my quest, is not over. This book, is no ordinary book. It is all the arts of True Necromancy contained in one object. The vast stores of information is not actually on the pages, to merely open it, is to allow the information to flow inside your own mind.
You must find the other true necromancers, and give them this book, before True Necromancy is lost forever, and its Defiled counterpart rules forevermore. I have not the energies left to make the journey, but you do.
Furthermore, the Defiled Necromancers can only sense the books power when it is in use, for they can only sense necromantic energies, which I am a vast ocean of, and therefore a great target, while you with no necromantic energies at all, will be invisible to their sights. I cannot cast any spells on you, for then you would be detectable by the Defiled Necromancers."
They try to protest, and tell him they fugitives and replies
"Fitting. Fugitives, to transport the remains of a fugitive art. Nevertheless, I cannot help you. You must do this alone, for do you have anything else worth doing?"
and so the old man passed, and they took the book and set out to try and find the true necromancers. however on the way, they encounter more and more trouble, so the convict starts to open the book, and use the necromancy inside to help get through obstacles and fight off the authorities, which only starts to attract Defiled Necromancers to them, and send them off on a journey filled with enemies, both necromantic and authoritative, searching for the illusive true necromancers…..if there are any left…..

See? I could do better, and I just wrote that off the top of my head.

[Myrdhale]

...


I'm not even sure that Jayden is even ready for a new relationship. She never really came to terms with anything that was related to her problem. It wasn't that Sigfried had persuaded her to be evil through his "nice guy" act. It was the fact that the chosen, a group of devout and zealous individuals, caused Jayden to have a crisis of faith.

She was secure in her belief in Luana, but that faith didn't protect her from being mind controlled. The people who did it apparently did it through sheer conviction in their practices. Seeing that she began to doubt whether or not her patron deity was even their for her anymore. (Possibly because she didn't understand that her sinful actions were being guided by the chosen)
I interpreted her behavior after the war in hell, as well as her vow of silence as her trying to look within herself for an answer, but instead she became a doormat apologist.
Her pilgrimage into the desert to DIE was her attempting to follow in the footsteps of her prophet and maybe force some kind of epiphany about all that had happened.

Oh I don't think she's ready for any kind of emotional relationship either. But She's talking as though she had some kind of epiphany and religious reconcilliation in the desert.... but the only thing that happened was Stunt telling her "stop feeling bad, He tricked you". That was it. That was her epiphany. A Man told her to stop feeling bad, and boom, she's better.

It's... disturbing Mookie can write this and not detect the connotations about her character it has. Jayden is one of the most psychologically distressed characters I have ever seen, but Mookie seems to think she's perfectly healthy and well adjusted.

[Mewtarthio]

I could do better:

Let me guess: The True Necromancers don't actually exist anymore. The Defiled Necromancers either already killed them or end up doing so by around episode twelve or so. However, by drawing upon the power of the book and seeing the horrible things that Defiled Necromancy has made of his opponents, the convict himself ends up becoming the last of the True Necromancers.

So, what role does the priestess play?

[Lord Raziere]

Let me guess: The True Necromancers don't actually exist anymore. The Defiled Necromancers either already killed them or end up doing so by around episode twelve or so. However, by drawing upon the power of the book and seeing the horrible things that Defiled Necromancy has made of his opponents, the convict himself ends up becoming the last of the True Necromancers.

So, what role does the priestess play?

Nope.

The convict has the book taken away, and the order of the True Necromancers starts teaching him, since reckless use could lead to Defiled Necromancy. The fight their secret war and eventually win against the defiled Necromancers.
But in the process, the authorities find out about the True Necromancers, but since defiled necromancy has stained their reputation for so long, they don't believe there ever was any good necromancers.
so now the convict, the True Necromancers and the priest must all work together to get True Necromancy accepted again, to redeem its reputation from being fallen so far by being abused by those seeking power, and rebuilding the order, hard to do when religion and authorities are against them. and as they struggle harder and harder, the convict struggles against temptation to use defiled necromancy, with the priestess keeping him sensible and constantly holding him from going too far.
but eventually, they do win, and he becomes one of the many new necromancers, banishing haunted spirits throughout the world and help deal with the dead wherever they cause trouble.

the next story is him dealing with various ghosts of the past trying to restart and old war between nations, while trying to not earn the ire of the elder necromancers through loose-canon necromancer shenanigans.
edit: as for the priest, she finds that she has no talent at magic, so she starts becoming a ninja.

[rocketpony]

as for the priest, she finds that she has no talent at magic, so she starts becoming a ninja.

I was iffy about this entire proposition until you used this magic sentence, and now I am prepared to offer you the Nobel-Pulitzer prize.

As for the update - folks've already pointed out that the necklace i.e. the simultaneous Ark of the Covenant and Callanian GDP, is nowhere to be seen in this, so I guess I can't belabor that.
I do want to belabor just how seriously this entire endeavor is being taken by these two meatballs, which is not at all. If I had to describe this atmosphere, I wouldn't use the words "hunted", or "frantic", or "worried", or any of the adjectives I'd typically use to describe the feelings of a person who is being pursued by a city-sized supersonic god of the winds.

[Traab]

I was iffy about this entire proposition until you used this magic sentence, and now I am prepared to offer you the Nobel-Pulitzer prize.

As for the update - folks've already pointed out that the necklace i.e. the simultaneous Ark of the Covenant and Callanian GDP, is nowhere to be seen in this, so I guess I can't belabor that.
I do want to belabor just how seriously this entire endeavor is being taken by these two meatballs, which is not at all. If I had to describe this atmosphere, I wouldn't use the words "hunted", or "frantic", or "worried", or any of the adjectives I'd typically use to describe the feelings of a person who is being pursued by a city-sized supersonic god of the winds.

Yeah right from the start this hasnt been taken seriously. Jayden is off in la la land going to die while everyone she meets cheers her on and threatens to ram airships in stunts face, they saunter out into the desert, nearly dying several times, but are fine due to awesome healing talismans and ungodly effective magic. They get this dire quest from rillian, but stunt has to call someone on his scry mail first. Then they just.... leave. I mean, they watch this monsterously huge manta ray obliterate the area they know rillian was at last, then next comic they are safely out of the desert and enjoying bath time, and i swear jaydens boobs just get thicker and bigger every time I see them. There is absolutely no sense of danger whatsoever, despite rillians best try at making it seems like the fate of the world hangs in the balance. he might as well have said, "Hey jayden, I meant to pass a message on to someone in wolf town, mind heading that way for me? Thanks. Oh and stunt, here is a box of girl scout cookies. I promised miranda id get hers to her as soon as possible. You are just roaming anyways, mind roaming in that direction? Thanks."

[Welf]

Here's my theory what happened: Rillian plans to ruin the king by ruining the market price for diamonds and Starstones. He expects Stunt to split the treasure into pieces and sell it. Then the Callan government who has the monopoly on diamonds and starstones loses their revenue, and the king can't pay Snuggly anymore. Snuggly was just in for the money. He told Stunt to do the opposite because Stunt is an idiot. Masutel is just around by chance. But Rillian owes him money in the exact value of the necklace, so he hid.

[WyvernLord]

Here's my theory what happened: Rillian plans to ruin the king by ruining the market price for diamonds and Starstones. He expects Stunt to split the treasure into pieces and sell it. Then the Callan government who has the monopoly on diamonds and starstones loses their revenue, and the king can't pay Snuggly anymore. Snuggly was just in for the money. He told Stunt to do the opposite because Stunt is an idiot. Masutel is just around by chance. But Rillian owes him money in the exact value of the necklace, so he hid.

Archmage Mafia? Sounds totally awesome.

[Gwyn chan 'r Gwyll]

Archmage Mafia?

would be MILES cooler than what we have right now.

[WyvernLord]

"Hello Mr. Snuggly, my name is Miranda Deegan. Me and my associates have been annoyed by your actions. I suggest you stop before we get angry. Remember your encounter with my son. I can be worse. Watch your steps."
*Freaked out Mr. Snuggly* Not to sound full of myself but we need a slay of this. Not my wording though. It kind of sucks.

[Trazoi]

Sneaky Gate
Future Link

Finally, it's over.

I like how the third panel hints at how completely inhuman everyone is in this entire comic. At least Indiana Jones treated his found relics with more than a tiny twinge of respect.

[WyvernLord]

I have never thought about werewolves and dog whistles, interesting thought.
I feel your pain stunt. I hate huggers too. Also he's still going to Alstone.

If the archmages are mafia members that would be weird. Rilian trusting one but not the other, and one quit and is now an enemy. That's almost the right level of betrayal. Just need to figure out how to make it work now.

[Voice of Reason]

The last three panels of that comic completely make up for everything in this arc except the bathtub scene

[BlackDragonKing]

Sneaky Gate
Future Link

Finally, it's over.

I like how the third panel hints at how completely inhuman everyone is in this entire comic. At least Indiana Jones treated his found relics with more than a tiny twinge of respect.

"You're wearing the Shroud of Turin as a scarf and running from Cthulu. I'd like to see you and it safely when I get back from talking to my boyfriend. Well, have fun bumming around far away from any source of magical protection!"

[Humbug]

It's like they were never attacked by a giant Space Ray wizard! Nor is Stunt carrying an extremely important Mcguffin that could very well determine the fate of the world. WHY AREN'T THE CHARACTERS THE LEAST BIT CONCERNED ABOUT THIS

[Castel]

It's like they were never attacked by a giant Space Ray wizard! Nor is Stunt carrying an extremely important Mcguffin that could very well determine the fate of the world. WHY AREN'T THE CHARACTERS THE LEAST BIT CONCERNED ABOUT THIS

Well, MookieRillian was kind of vague in the whole "consequences" stuff.

[Trazoi]

If Jayden had characterisation beyond everyone's favourite doormat, she should be questioning why she's letting this thief she hardly knows walk away with her religion's most priceless artifact.

It's not as if Rilian's word should mean anything to her; Jayden brought up that Luna specifically talked about him, and from what I remember Luna's last experience with Rilian was when he left her for dead in Storm of Souls when she fulfilled her purpose in his plan. So yeah, let's trust that guy.

In my view, Jayden should be questioning why they're trusting this shady First Necromancer guy and going along with his stupid plan, and then convince Stunt to let her take the holy relic back to Aberthast. Then the king and the cattleblasters can storm the place and take it from them. But that would be slightly interesting and might advance the plot.

[Humbug]

At first I thought that mmmmmaybe Luna was refering to how much fun she had with Rillian during the Bland Arc, but then I remembered that Luna and Dominic had no idea that Brian and Rillian were one and the same. So yea, the last thing Luna would remember of him would be abandonment, but I doubt Mookie remembers that.

So why would Jayden blindly believe Rillian? Cause he's one of the good guys of course! All the protagonists put their complete trust in each other because of how selfless and squeaky clean they are. No discord, no friction, no tension, boring boring bland characters nonsensical stupid plot blah

[T-O-E]

"I'm sure we'll meet again. There are only like 20 characters in this crappy comic." Master class foreshadowing, bravo!

Oh, and dog-whistes? Racism. I'm getting "big dog" flashbacks.

So I'm assuming they're on the airship again. Now, the obvious thing is to have an aerial fight between the sky city being and the ship, with the latter trying to dodge. It sounds like it could be a great scene in any other work.

Watch how this opportunity is either wasted or mangled beyond recognition. I might have to find a way to use this myself.

[Veridis Quo]

If Jayden had characterisation beyond everyone's favourite doormat, she should be questioning why she's letting this thief she hardly knows walk away with her religion's most priceless artifact.

It's not as if Rilian's word should mean anything to her; Jayden brought up that Luna specifically talked about him, and from what I remember Luna's last experience with Rilian was when he left her for dead in Storm of Souls when she fulfilled her purpose in his plan. So yeah, let's trust that guy.

In my view, Jayden should be questioning why they're trusting this shady First Necromancer guy and going along with his stupid plan, and then convince Stunt to let her take the holy relic back to Aberthast. Then the king and the cattleblasters can storm the place and take it from them. But that would be slightly interesting and might advance the plot.

It would have been nice to see Jayden grapple with her loss of faith. I'm operating on the assumption that the Luanan "religion" has a form of faith based magic. When she lost her convictions she lost her magic, but unlike other times the scar went too deep for a simple pep talk to fix. Both Stunt and Jayden confessing their problems and insecurities to each other in the desert would have been the therapy they needed to get over their problems.

So when the time came for Jayden to make a judgement call, she believes in the advice of her friend (luna in this case) and allows a repentant thief (Stunt) to transport the relic to Momgan. But that would also be an interesting plot full of character relationships and tension.

[rocketpony]

This story will wrap up next week. It'll likely be a brief epilogue which leads right into our next tale, just in time for ANIME BOSTON. I usually prefer to have storylines end on Fridays, but if this story were to end here I felt it would be cut short. On the other hand, there aren't five comics worth of wrap-up to do, so stretching this one out to Friday of next week wouldn't work either.

Buh?

Buh!?

A plot, shaky and uncertain but a plot, has only just now been initialized, and the arc is in full wrap-up mode?

What is happening any more.

[Traab]

I bet you 30 lunas that jayden is going to get pissed off at either milov or a group of angry flea bitten mutts who object to a cheating harlot coming back to their neck of the woods, and she will break out the whistle. Just because that was way too hamfisted of a reference for mookie to pass up on. And stunt is now a crotchety 70 year old man. "Aww GEEZ! Not another HUGGER!" Misogynist or not, that is an attractive woman with a huge rack giving you a hug. She isnt asking you to cry, or share feelings, just give the hot chick a squeeze back and enjoy it! Honestly, I see less whining from 8 year old boys being hugged by great aunt martha.

[Helanna]

If Jayden had characterisation beyond everyone's favourite doormat, she should be questioning why she's letting this thief she hardly knows walk away with her religion's most priceless artifact.

It's not as if Rilian's word should mean anything to her; Jayden brought up that Luna specifically talked about him, and from what I remember Luna's last experience with Rilian was when he left her for dead in Storm of Souls when she fulfilled her purpose in his plan. So yeah, let's trust that guy.

In my view, Jayden should be questioning why they're trusting this shady First Necromancer guy and going along with his stupid plan, and then convince Stunt to let her take the holy relic back to Aberthast. Then the king and the cattleblasters can storm the place and take it from them. But that would be slightly interesting and might advance the plot.

I think this might be another, subtler case of Mookie being unable to separate himself from his characters. He knows that Stunt is ultimately trustworthy (admittedly not because of his character, but because that's how he's going to write him), and therefore Jayden does too. He knows that the MacGuffin is going to be perfectly safe, therefore Jayden and Rilian do too.

Maybe that's one of the reasons why there's never any tension in this comic. Mookie knows everything's going to turn out fine, and that bleeds through to his writing.

[T-O-E]

Buh?

Buh!?

A plot, shaky and uncertain but a plot, has only just now been initialized, and the arc is in full wrap-up mode?

What is happening any more.

It can't take more than 4 comics for the all-powerful Ray to find the airship, take the treasure and blow up Callan.

[Gwyn chan 'r Gwyll]

Remind me not to read this when I'm already losing faith in the world. I'm not sure I have the energy to go to school today anymore...