Goblins XVI: Corrupted to the Kore

[Draconi Redfir]

Did you forget the text that said only Yuan-Ti could "see" each other?

now did you see that rule written in stone, or was it said out loud by a living intelligent being, fully capable of making mistakes and who may be a bit bias on the subject?

could easily be that yuan-ti posess some basic psychic-level stuff, and ususally they "see" eachother through this psychic ability, but either Minmax is slightly psychic and doesn't realize it, or Kin is unknowingly able to "see" Minmax to some degree, and Minmax is able to use this psychic connection she has with him to trace back to her to get a potentually weaker sense of "seeing" as well.

[F.H. Zebedee]

The most obvious solution is that Minmax is a quarter yuan ti, because it gives +2 Dex without adding a level adjustment or costing him any of his human perks. C'mon, guys.

[Wristlet Eater]

now did you see that rule written in stone, or was it said out loud by a living intelligent being, fully capable of making mistakes and who may be a bit bias on the subject?

No. I didn't see the fact that Kin and Minmax can "see" each other being written in stone either, though.

[Draconi Redfir]

No. I didn't see the fact that Kin and Minmax can "see" each other being written in stone either, though.

if it's not seeing, it's at least something that resembles it a little bit then.

[Lord Torath]

Did you forget the text that said only Yuan-Ti could "see" each other?

Plus, the hand hurting was caused by a spider, and it was actually the sound of Kin screaming in pain from having her tail liquefied that snapped Minmax out of his rage.

Was it the spider? Or did Kin just assume it was the spider? And did Minmax really hear Kin's cry of pain? Through a hundred feet of corridor and a sealed door, and over the clashes and screams and cries of pain of the other alts in the same room? And be able to tell it was his Kin crying out? Yeah, I don't think so.

Look at Kin's expression when she sees Minmax's bleeding hand. That's her realizing that it wasn't the spider that caused her pain, but that she was feeling Minmax's.

[Draconi Redfir]

also, this entire page.

[JeenLeen]

also, this entire page.

This was the page I was referring to a page back.
Looking at it, I see that (assuming the spider we see is the one blamed with biting her), it would not be where her hand was when she snatched it back. Of course, there could be another spider there, but I think the artwork also points towards it not being the spider but her link to Minmax causing the pain.

But, moreso, if they weren't 'seeing' each other, this entire page is incredibly misleading. Thus, I think Kin is mistaken about the limits of 'seeing'.

[Lethologica]

I'd forgot about the seeing thing since reading, but when I encountered it the meaning was obvious and uncontroversial. And melodramatic, sure, but that's Goblins in a nutshell.

[Wristlet Eater]

if it's not seeing, it's at least something that resembles it a little bit then.

That is what I said I thought it was.

[Lizard Lord]

If Fumbles dies I am done with this comic. No I don't care how illogical that might be.

[busterswd]

Well, the entire comic IS about mistaken assumptions/perceptions, and Thunt doesn't exactly shy away from heavy handed emotional exposition.

Their relationship at this point is really not that weird or unique, Kin has expected reactions of someone who had been abused as she has.

It *is* that weird, though. Psymax notes that out of all the realities he has analyzed, theirs is the only one to develop love. More heavy handed emotional exposition, but the result of a clinical analysis, as opposed to assumptions

[Wristlet Eater]

If Fumbles dies I am done with this comic. No I don't care how illogical that might be.

Although given the mechanics of the ritual, it is not illogical for him to die.

He probably won't though. Otherwise, there wouldn't be much point to having had him saved.

[Agi Hammerthief]

Although given the mechanics of the ritual, it is not illogical for him to die.

He probably won't though. Otherwise, there wouldn't be much point to having had him saved.

He's probably been saved so that Klicks Horribly can eat him.

[Traab]

Although given the mechanics of the ritual, it is not illogical for him to die.

He probably won't though. Otherwise, there wouldn't be much point to having had him saved.

That and their group is half dead and nearly helpless so if fumbles dies, so will they. So unless thunt is getting rid of the GAP in favor of pursuing the other stories, its almost certain fumbles will survive well enough to heal people. The main question is what will he go through in the process and what will the aftereffects be?

[Max_Killjoy]

When I first found Goblins, I really liked it... but it's been wearing on me for a while now... every time there an updatedate things get worse for the characters, no matter what... it's been shambling towards the outskirts of Torture Porn Village since about the time they left the interdimensional dungeon.

[Vinyadan]

That and their group is half dead and nearly helpless so if fumbles dies, so will they. So unless thunt is getting rid of the GAP in favor of pursuing the other stories, its almost certain fumbles will survive well enough to heal people. The main question is what will he go through in the process and what will the aftereffects be?

Maybe the plot will be only about Curse Party! =D ... D=

[Friv]

Just pointed out on the Goblins forum: The Staff of Notangle, which Fumbles just found out the details of, was the same staff he was carrying when the Axe of Prissan broke - it is, in fact, what Fumbles hit the Axe with right before it exploded.

[Draconi Redfir]

Just pointed out on the Goblins forum: The Staff of Notangle, which Fumbles just found out the details of, was the same staff he was carrying when the Axe of Prissan broke - it is, in fact, what Fumbles hit the Axe with right before it exploded.

and what is a prison if not a form of binding?

[eschmenk]

Just pointed out on the Goblins forum: The Staff of Notangle, which Fumbles just found out the details of, was the same staff he was carrying when the Axe of Prissan broke - it is, in fact, what Fumbles hit the Axe with right before it exploded.

I think someone already mentioned that here, too. Technically, it was the alternate version of the Staff of Notangle, FWIW.

[Traab]

The heck? How did I forget about this?

[Kornaki]

I think fumbles is going to absorb all the spirits and become the most powerful teller ever, but in the process he will absorb the spirits memories of human oppression and cast minmax out of the group.

[Anteros]

The heck? How did I forget about this?

That definitely seems like a plot hook waiting to be used. I still somehow think the axe thing will end up with Minmax summoning the pit lord and just tossing it into the hole though.

[Mobius Twist]

I think fumbles is going to absorb all the spirits and become the most powerful teller ever, but in the process he will absorb the spirits memories of human oppression and cast minmax out of the group.

At last count I saw 14 distinct teller spirits hovering about. I assume a standard teller is a basic goblin (no levels) that gets elevated to level 1-3 divine spell caster by way of the ceremony. It's probably a straight fortitude or willpower check not to die, with the DC going up with each new imprint.

At 14 imprints... yeah.

Something tells me that in Thunt's world there are no automatic successes for challenge checks.

[Morgaln]

That definitely seems like a plot hook waiting to be used. I still somehow think the axe thing will end up with Minmax summoning the pit lord and just tossing it into the hole though.

I think the portable closet Minmax found in this room will be the solution to this. Everyone will get into that closet, except for one person who the will figure will survive the drop if they jump down into hell. Probably Complains, since he is part demon, but it might also be Minmax due to his superior stats, or Idle, since she will come back to life after dying.
Then they can all come out of the closet (pun not intended) and drop the axe in hell.

[Vinyadan]

If they go to hell, do they also need to break the axe and leave the demon free once they are there, so that he cannot use its usual vessel?

[Anteros]

I don't see why they couldn't just toss the axe in there and leave it. What's the demon gonna do? Break free inside hell?

[Douglas]

At last count I saw 14 distinct teller spirits hovering about.

I count 15 in the last panel of this comic.

Anyway, new update.

Spoiler

Show

For explaining an exception, we now have whatever the Staff of Notangle might have done, and also Minmax pulling him out of the floating-energy-absorption thing early. The latter option apparently requires the assistance of a non-goblin (because any goblin who tried it would just die), which would handily explain why it's never been done before, if it has anything to do with Fumbles surviving. The current page is ambiguous on whether Fumbles survived, but I would be very surprised if he died.

[Draconi Redfir]

That definitely seems like a plot hook waiting to be used. I still somehow think the axe thing will end up with Minmax summoning the pit lord and just tossing it into the hole though.

I don't see why they couldn't just toss the axe in there and leave it. What's the demon gonna do? Break free inside hell?

that wouldn't work is the thing

the closest layer of hell is purgatory. and the demon would be able to break through it easily like the koolaid man through a wall. they need to go many layers deep into hell, until they reach a layer powerful enough to keep the demon trapped.

also "throwing the axe into a pit the end" would make a terrible story.

[Traab]

that wouldn't work is the thing

the closest layer of hell is purgatory. and the demon would be able to break through it easily like the koolaid man through a wall. they need to go many layers deep into hell, until they reach a layer powerful enough to keep the demon trapped.

also "throwing the axe into a pit the end" would make a terrible story.

Agreed on both counts. Im actually in agreement with the ring of holding/person who has to die once per day plan. After that though, I wonder if it would just be a mad dash to get as deep into hell as they can and hope they dont get overwhelmed before they get deep enough to hold the sacred. PLOT TWIST! They get out of this dungeon, get ready to jump into hell after finding forgath and going through the whole story only for KIN to show up with the jade teapot! She was left inside the maze with a machine designed to alter reality in it. Im sure they could copy the teapot for her to take a copy with her. Kin showing up gives them a great advantage, because she has run the maze a few thousand times and gotten seriously leveled up in the process. Possibly even getting class levels in something that lets her help them hide and survive in hell. Im sure that a kin wizard would be very useful in various ways. Thats how they will escape from hell, they keep the tea ready, and just before drinking, they SMASH the teapot so noone else can use it and port away.

[Draconi Redfir]

Agreed on both counts. Im actually in agreement with the ring of holding/person who has to die once per day plan. After that though, I wonder if it would just be a mad dash to get as deep into hell as they can and hope they dont get overwhelmed before they get deep enough to hold the sacred. PLOT TWIST! They get out of this dungeon, get ready to jump into hell after finding forgath and going through the whole story only for KIN to show up with the jade teapot! She was left inside the maze with a machine designed to alter reality in it. Im sure they could copy the teapot for her to take a copy with her. Kin showing up gives them a great advantage, because she has run the maze a few thousand times and gotten seriously leveled up in the process. Possibly even getting class levels in something that lets her help them hide and survive in hell. Im sure that a kin wizard would be very useful in various ways. Thats how they will escape from hell, they keep the tea ready, and just before drinking, they SMASH the teapot so noone else can use it and port away.

probably with a quick stop to the Goblin village to warn them about Kore first of course. maybe dealing with Kore somehow as well, maybe somehow trapping him inside the ring and then leaving him in the middle of hell to fight evil forever.