Will Save World for Gold

[ImperatorV]

...Well that settles that debate.

[Anteros]

...Well that settles that debate.

You greatly underestimate our ability to argue.

[Celestia]

I had been wondering why we hadn't heard from the nightmare spirit in some time. I guess that explains it. I have also come to change my views on the spirit. At first, I thought that it genuinely wanted to help Ardon simply because it was smart enough to realize that it was hopelessly trapped and being useful might, at the very least, make its existence more tolerable. Now, though, that was clearly just a ruse so that the spirit can indirectly control Ardon through its influence, though we don't yet know whether or not it's succeeding.

[Kantaki]

I don't think the Spirit controls Ardon.
Influences maybe, insofar as Ardon might listen if he thinks she has a point.
In this particular case I wouldn't be surprised if it worked because Ardon was already considering this course of action.

[Anteros]

I did think the spirit had been strangely quiet for a while.

It should be trivial to get Odie rezzed with the SoS around, but at least we'll get a few updates without his whining.

Drama ahoy when he comes back though.

[stsasser]

You greatly underestimate our ability to argue.

No. I"ve been outed. I am the Nightmare Spirit.

[Kantaki]

I'm pretty sure Ardon will (try to) find a way to prevent a resurrection.
Scattering the ashes or something.
He has to keep his secrets after all.

[Celestia]

I'm pretty sure Ardon will (try to) find a way to prevent a resurrection.
Scattering the ashes or something.
He has to keep his secrets after all.

Depending on how badly the castle (inevitably) gets destroyed, it should be trivial to make his resurrection impossible by just doing nothing. Hell, it already looks like he was atomized enough that there's nothing significant left, though that might be a fault in the art style.

Of course, the laws of drama declare that he is coming back, so, you know.

[stsasser]

Spoiler

Show

Dire: "weaksauce"

I expected more from KRACKABOOM than that.

[Celestia]

I know that Dire letting Ardon go is just an excuse to prevent the main character from dying, but I have to say that it is one of the better examples of this. Dire's reasoning may require a bit of a stretch of imagination to accept, but at least there is a train of logic to be found, unlike most cases where it simply makes no sense.

[Draconi Redfir]

well keep in mind that this is the exact same room Dire Himself was locked away in for a few hundred years. Dire probably has a way out, but Ardon likely doesn't.

Dire is going to lock ardon in a dark, empty room, alone, with nothing but the voice of the nightmare spirit and no way of escape.


it's like death but not being able to go to the appropriate plane.

[Celestia]

well keep in mind that this is the exact same room Dire Himself was locked away in for a few hundred years. Dire probably has a way out, but Ardon likely doesn't.

Dire is going to lock ardon in a dark, empty room, alone, with nothing but the voice of the nightmare spirit and no way of escape.


it's like death but not being able to go to the appropriate plane.

Except not because Dire literally just said that his revenge will be releasing Ardon into the world.

[stsasser]

I know that Dire letting Ardon go is just an excuse to prevent the main character from dying, but I have to say that it is one of the better examples of this. Dire's reasoning may require a bit of a stretch of imagination to accept, but at least there is a train of logic to be found, unlike most cases where it simply makes no sense.

well keep in mind that this is the exact same room Dire Himself was locked away in for a few hundred years. Dire probably has a way out, but Ardon likely doesn't.

Dire is going to lock ardon in a dark, empty room, alone, with nothing but the voice of the nightmare spirit and no way of escape.


it's like death but not being able to go to the appropriate plane.

This is nothing but an extended version of the a super-villain's monologue. He might as well lock Ardon in a room slowly filling with water with sharks with frickin' laser beams attached to their heads. This is why Dire is a perpetual failure.

[eschmenk]

This is nothing but an extended version of the a super-villain's monologue. He might as well lock Ardon in a room slowly filling with water with sharks with frickin' laser beams attached to their heads. This is why Dire is a perpetual failure.

I read it very differently than the way I think you and Draconi Redfir read it.

I have no intention of seeking vengeance against you, Ardon.

I don't see how that can be read as Dire saying he has some sort of horrible plan to make Ardon suffer. Instead, I agree with Celestia. Dire is talking about getting revenge against everyone else. The idea is that Ardon is so inevitably destructive, he's like some sort of weapon of mass destruction that will inevitably go off. Dire told Ardon, "I will let you go ... You will go out into the world and continue to commit terrible atrocities." Also, "I'm not taking revenge on you. You ARE my revenge." I think it's clearly all about the harm Ardon will cause, rather than the harm Ardon will suffer.

[Kantaki]

I don't see how that can be read as Dire saying he has some sort of horrible plan to make Ardon suffer. Instead, I agree with Celestia. Dire is talking about getting revenge against everyone else. The idea is that Ardon is so inevitably destructive, he's like some sort of weapon of mass destruction that will inevitably go off. Dire told Ardon, "I will let you go ... You will go out into the world and continue to commit terrible atrocities." Also, "I'm not taking revenge on you. You Are my revenge." I think it's clearly all about the harm Ardon will cause, rather than the harm Ardon will suffer.

I agree. The point of letting Ardon leave isn't to punish him, not our protagonists suffering.
No, it's to vengeance aginst the world, to unleash death, destruction, suffering on the world.
And all that without lifting a finger.
By doing nothing Dire can cause a lot of evil without expending any resources.
Beyond his castle, but that's a loss anyway.

[stsasser]

I agree. The point of letting Ardon leave isn't to punish him, not our protagonists suffering.
No, it's to vengeance aginst the world, to unleash death, destruction, suffering on the world.
And all that without lifting a finger.
By doing nothing Dire can cause a lot of evil without expending any resources.
Beyond his castle, but that's a loss anyway.

Going forward, can Ardon be satisfied with being Ardon if being Ardon means being Dire's tool?

[Anteros]

There's probably a little bit of self preservation in there for Dire as well. Every time he thinks he has Ardon completely at his mercy Ardon ruins his day. At this point he probably figures that he's better off just staying away from him.

[eschmenk]

There's probably a little bit of self preservation in there for Dire as well. Every time he thinks he has Ardon completely at his mercy Ardon ruins his day. At this point he probably figures that he's better off just staying away from him.

IDK. That would make sense, but rather than leaving, Dire spent time telling and demonstrating to Ardon that Ardon was completely at his mercy. If he had just damaged Ardon instead, it should have been over since Ardon was so low on HP. The monologue was very much an arrogant evil villain monologue. I'm not inclined to give Dire as much credit as you.

ADDED: Maybe the spirit inside Ardon's mind be a threat to Dire if released, though? Would Dire know?

[Draconi Redfir]

Except not because Dire literally just said that his revenge will be releasing Ardon into the world.

my post was made before that page came up. my post was spesifically when this page was the most recent.

[eschmenk]

New comic

Going forward, can Ardon be satisfied with being Ardon if being Ardon means being Dire's tool?

The new page seems to indicate that Ardon isn't going to let it bother him. I think Ardon is too self-centered to regard himself as another person's tool. OTOH, maybe Ardon will choose to not act as expected sometime just to get back at Dire.

[stsasser]

New comic



The new page seems to indicate that Ardon isn't going to let it bother him. I think Ardon is too self-centered to regard himself as another person's tool. OTOH, maybe Ardon will choose to not act as expected sometime just to get back at Dire.

That self-centertedness is what I think would fuel Ardon's resentment at Dire's using him. Another aspect is that Ardon, even though he is making a pretense of keeping the partnership as it was, may resent being subliminally manipulated by Nightmare.
Ardon's facial expressions seemed to indicate that he had not previously recognized the extent of Nightmare's efforts to influence him.

[Anteros]

I feel like everyone anywhere near this thing would die no matter where the castle lands.

Then again, I guess it's not falling too quickly since they have time to stand around and talk, and gravity is keeping their feet planted.

[stsasser]

Paladins gonna paladin. Everybody else should bail now.
Are there any flying potions left?

[Anteros]

It would be more dramatic if they didn't know like 5 people who can raise the dead. I'm pretty sure one of them is even currently in the room.

[Douglas]

...you paladins realize this argument is taking precious time, right? Keep it up much longer and it will be too late to actually do anything.

[Anteros]

...you paladins realize this argument is taking precious time, right? Keep it up much longer and it will be too late to actually do anything.

To be fair, they must be falling pretty darn slowly.

[Seerow]

...you paladins realize this argument is taking precious time, right? Keep it up much longer and it will be too late to actually do anything.

It's okay we all know talking is a free action.

[Anteros]

Spoiler: Today's comic

Show

Ah yes, leaving behind the one person who can resurrect the others to a certain doom. A cunning strategy indeed.

Although to be fair, mind-boggling levels of stupidity are actually completely in character for the Sons. They're good people, but not so bright.

[Drakilian]

Was just about to post the same thing. Boggles the mind.

I mean, Lone had to make it dramatic somehow. Silence the cries of "Oswalt can just resurrect them!".

If Ardon were here i'm sure he would point out how stupid they're being.

[JumboWheat01]

If Ardon were here i'm sure he would point out how stupid they're being.

Regardless of context and situation, isn't Ardon's default reaction to point out how stupid someone is supposedly being?