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

[Mr. McGician]

Wow, it's STILL interesting. I thought Mookie would have ruined the interesting setup by the end of this week, but he surprised me. Retaining dramatic tension for a whole week has to be a new record for him. The implication that a member of the Omnicient Counsel of Vagueness is not all on the good side was interesting too. Next week is going to be a bunch of boring flashbacks, though.

[Traab]

I dunno, there is no real tension here for me. Its just a tangential flashback to a minor character to show what this minor characters even more minor family were up to well before this series even began. Unless we learn that the female bard was donovan under an illusion and he/she impregnated stunts mom with stunt, making stunt half deegan, I dont care.

[Helanna]

Originally Posted by Veridis Quo

Here's My first attempt at altering the strip from yesterday. Sorry I cut out the first half, I honestly didn't know what to do with them.

Spoiler

Instead of just having Rilian just push the plot forward, let's give some insight into his head as well. A little development couldn't hurt, and we can add some tension leading up to today's "cliffhanger".

I like this version a lot. But sometimes these things make me sad, seeing how DD could be quite a good comic if someone competent was writing it.

[BlackDragonKing]

Originally Posted by Veridis Quo

Here's My first attempt at altering the strip from yesterday. Sorry I cut out the first half, I honestly didn't know what to do with them.

Spoiler

Instead of just having Rilian just push the plot forward, let's give some insight into his head as well. A little development couldn't hurt, and we can add some tension leading up to today's "cliffhanger".

That's pretty damn awesome, and in line with the character Rilian is supposed to be. Excellent work, sir.

As for the matter of how urgent things are, Rilian might be playing Xanatos Speed Chess rather than straight-up gambits like Dominic.

Basically, Rilian would have a set goal (world is saved) and then use a fluid and constantly-changing strategy that takes advantage of every opportunity that comes his way to get there. Jayden and Stunt were a happy coincidence that might have kept him from having to fight an archmage when Rilian's probably saving his strength to step in against TIM and DJ Callan when the moment presents itself. I don't think Rilian's doing Dominic's thing of knowing exactly how it's going to go and having everything fall into place so much as he finds out what's going on and makes what was happening anyhow work for him.

[Nerd-o-rama]

Which is probably because Rilian's just a genius with no particular morals, rather than someone who can see the future like Dommy-boy. He can anticipate, he can plan, he can adapt his plans, and he'll more or less exist forever to see the plans through, but he cannot know exactly what's going to happen like Dominic.

At least, I hope this stays consistent.

[elros]

I am not buying Stunt's behavior. The only reason he is scrying is that Mookie follows the same pattern whenever he wants to have a sympathetic character: have a vision of their past that makes them see the truth, have them break down in tears, and then reform their ways. He did it with Luna, her sister Barnet, Snowsong (shudder), and now Stunt. The only wrinkle here is that it is not Dominic showing the vision.
What makes this pattern so upsetting is that it suggests everyone would convert to the Deegan's side if they only saw the truth. Which means Siggy remained evil only because Dominic wouldn't help him.
If Mookie wants to write about complex characters, he should at least learn something about real people first!

[random11]

Originally Posted by elros

I am not buying Stunt's behavior. The only reason he is scrying is that Mookie follows the same pattern whenever he wants to have a sympathetic character: have a vision of their past that makes them see the truth, have them break down in tears, and then reform their ways. He did it with Luna, her sister Barnet, Snowsong (shudder), and now Stunt. The only wrinkle here is that it is not Dominic showing the vision.
What makes this pattern so upsetting is that it suggests everyone would convert to the Deegan's side if they only saw the truth. Which means Siggy remained evil only because Dominic wouldn't help him.
If Mookie wants to write about complex characters, he should at least learn something about real people first!

What bothers me is the timing.
If Stunt would somehow finish his "development" during the talk with Jayden, or at the end of the arc after everything is resolved, it would still have the problem you stated, not to mention the problems with the revelation itself that were already mentioned before, but it would at least make sense in a logical way.

In here, we're supposed to buy that Stunt still cares only about his character development, after he was just chased by an archmage, met the first necromancer, found a priceless treasure, and given a quest to save the world.

That makes as much sense as talking about shoes during a fight scene.

[Trazoi]

There was decent character development opportunities for Stunt in Two Thief. They go to Barthis, Stunt acts like Stunt which puts the town in danger and at odds with Bumper. In the end Stunt pulls through for his friend but his initial actions means they've got to split up, giving him a reason to re-evaluate his life.

I thought that was the point of that arc, and that showing Stunt in the Wild Edge was the cue that he was walking that path himself. But then he started murdering poachers and ended up tracking lost treasures and I haven't a clue what Stunt's character is now.

Oh, and has Jayden got over her issues? Was Stunt's "nice guy" talk really all it took? Really?

[random11]

Originally Posted by Trazoi

Oh, and has Jayden got over her issues? Was Stunt's "nice guy" talk really all it took? Really?

Her reaction is kind of natural compared to Stunt.
Jayden is required for a mission to save the world, so she decides to delay her issues for later.

Besides, since her part of the quest sends her directly to the Winter Archipelago, and it's right after finding the lost treasure, she might even see it as divine intervention (and with the amount of required coincidences, she's probably right)

[Trazoi]

Originally Posted by random11

Her reaction is kind of natural compared to Stunt.
Jayden is required for a mission to save the world, so she decides to delay her issues for later.

Um, this is Jayden you're discussing? The one of the pair who was told the seriousness about Snuggly and the King by Luna and instead of helping, decided to head off into the desert to die?

Admittedly Luna and Dominic aren't taking the issue seriously themselves, so it's understandable.

[random11]

Originally Posted by Trazoi

Um, this is Jayden you're discussing? The one of the pair who was told the seriousness about Snuggly and the King by Luna and instead of helping, decided to head off into the desert to die?

Admittedly Luna and Dominic aren't taking the issue seriously themselves, so it's understandable.

Let me rephrase that: Her reaction in THIS CASE was more reasonable.

And even that's not accurate, since she tried to persuade Rillian to waste time instead of saying something like "we'll continue our discussion later, I promise, but for now we are the only ones who can help"

[Trazoi]

No, the reasonable reaction to the latest in-comic events would be: "Wait what? What? A powerful necromancer in a lair in a ruined ancient city has given me the most valuable item in the world and told me to give it to the mother of this ass I know because a giant space ray wants it? What?!?!"

[Gez]

The reasonable reaction would be:
"Alright, Rilian, if that is your real name:
#1. Why does this bauble matter? Just being expensive is not enough to play a role on the cosmological level. (I hope.)
#2. Why don't you want Archmage Masutel to have it? What wrong would it cause?
#3. Why do you want Archmage Miranda to have it? How is she more trustworthy than Masutel?
#4. Why do you need Miranda? Aren't you powerful enough?
#5. Why do you need a hobbit patsy to carry it on foot? Can't you teleport it? Is it really safer to send a sociopathic, murderous thief on a long trek across the desert than to use a magical transport?
#6. How the heck is Wolfboy even relevant? Why can't you contact him directly? Messenger spells are simple.
#7. Now really, why is Miranda stronger than you?"

If in addition, you make her self-aware, you can remove the last question (it's obvious, it's because she's a Deegan), so instead use this question as a replacement: "How dare you even say that I am more relevant than a male character? My entire arc of redemption and healing has been hijacked by that guy!"

[Veridis Quo]

Originally Posted by Helanna

I like this version a lot. But sometimes these things make me sad, seeing how DD could be quite a good comic if someone competent was writing it.

Thanks, it was my first time doing a strip edit so I had to give myself a crashcourse in GIMP to do it. Took me about 1 hour 15 minutes to finish ... it took me an hour and fifteen minutes to complete this. I'll never get that time back

[Myrdhale]

Originally Posted by Gez

The reasonable reaction would be:
"Alright, Rilian, if that is your real name:
#1. Why does this bauble matter? Just being expensive is not enough to play a role on the cosmological level. (I hope.)
#2. Why don't you want Archmage Masutel to have it? What wrong would it cause?
#3. Why do you want Archmage Miranda to have it? How is she more trustworthy than Masutel?
#4. Why do you need Miranda? Aren't you powerful enough?
#5. Why do you need a hobbit patsy to carry it on foot? Can't you teleport it? Is it really safer to send a sociopathic, murderous thief on a long trek across the desert than to use a magical transport?
#6. How the heck is Wolfboy even relevant? Why can't you contact him directly? Messenger spells are simple.
#7. Now really, why is Miranda stronger than you?"

If in addition, you make her self-aware, you can remove the last question (it's obvious, it's because she's a Deegan), so instead use this question as a replacement: "How dare you even say that I am more relevant than a male character? My entire arc of redemption and healing has been hijacked by that guy!"

Pfft, Even when it was only Jayden it wasn't her Arc. Remember, a woman can't do anything on her own, she'll always need a man to play a supporting role to. This was Stunt's arc from the get go, Jayden's pilgramage was merely a staging device for him.

Being a female dominion ape, she understands her role and was relieved to spot Stunt on the ship, immediatly indentifying him as the Male she would proceed to play second fiddle to for the remainder of her stage time.

[Traab]

Originally Posted by Myrdhale

Pfft, Even when it was only Jayden it wasn't her Arc. Remember, a woman can't do anything on her own, she'll always need a man to play a supporting role to. This was Stunt's arc from the get go, Jayden's pilgramage was merely a staging device for him.

Being a female dominion ape, she understands her role and was relieved to spot Stunt on the ship, immediatly indentifying him as the Male she would proceed to play second fiddle to for the remainder of her stage time.

Yeah really, we learned nothing of substance about jayden on this entire freaking pilgrimage that was about her coming to terms with her actions. What the hell?! Im sure glad stunt went with her since he clearly needed to die more than she did. Too bad she gets no religious closure like he does.

[Sweetie Welf]

Originally Posted by Myrdhale

Pfft, Even when it was only Jayden it wasn't her Arc.

What? We learned a lot about Jayden and saw a lot of character development. We learnt she didn't have a guy. And in the her arc she got a new guy. Obviously the arc about a strong and independent woman.

[random11]

Originally Posted by Sweetie Welf

What? We learned a lot about Jayden and saw a lot of character development. We learnt she didn't have a guy. And in the her arc she got a new guy. Obviously the arc about a strong and independent woman.

That's ok, crisis is over, with the new quest it seems like she's heading back to her old guy.

[Veridis Quo]

Originally Posted by random11

That's ok, crisis is over, with the new quest it seems like she's heading back to her old guy.

Maybe now we can address Milov's over reaction to Jayden cheating on him? I mean killing someone, even an illusion, over being cheated on is pretty extreme. Plus he essentially turned that whole incident into a political scandal and closed down the borders. Maybe Jayden was never meant to be the focus of this arc? Maybe she's jus a vehicle so that Mookie can "fix" the problems of other characters in preparation for the final battle.

Maybe Mookie has been pulling the most impressive and dedicated con in all of history and the final act of DD will be truly breathtaking.

[Sweetie Welf]

Man, I hate Sundays. No Dominic Deegan update to dispise.

[TheLaughingMan]

Originally Posted by Sweetie Welf

Man, I hate Sundays. No Dominic Deegan update to despise.

You could really just rename the thread "Stockholm Syndrome: Therapist for Hire" and we wouldn't even need an OP to explain anything.

[Coidzor]

Originally Posted by TheLaughingMan

You could really just rename the thread "Stockholm Syndrome: Therapist for Hire" and we wouldn't even need an OP to explain anything.

Heh. How unfortunately true...

[colonelslime]

Instead of exploring the horrible pathologies that encourage us to return, again and again, to the vile heap of garbage that is Dominic Deegan, let us instead turn our attention tomorrow's (today's after midnight) comic:

Sneaky Gate
Future Link

I don't know if Mookie has ever done a flashback fakeout before. Great way to kill the expectation though!

[rocketpony]

Rillian
You have just given this meatball something you were yelling about being powerful and important, and something you claim is sought by a dude of some puissance, and let's go back down the list of the qualifications this meatball has to serve as your courier:

• He's clearly a terrible choice, since he has no way to defend the thing, so you're hoping Space Ray just chooses to ignore one of the only three people in this lousy desert.
• He's, uh, convenient, I guess?

And now he announces that he's going to take his time, fart around a little before he delivers this thing that you are so angry and excited about, he's just going to walk around in broad daylight with something worth more than a small town, a primary relic of the dominant religion, and something sought by a champion of the universe who you hate because you're a space racist, and you say "Whatever"?

Stunt, I can excuse, because nobody is telling him anything, but Rillian! Rillian!
Why isn't anyone taking anything seriously?

Tropists, come to my aid - is this what they call a "wallbanger"?

[Trazoi]

Rilian: Stunt, this task is so vitally important that I can't tell you why it is. You only have five minutes to stare into my magic bathtub at your bleeding mother before heading on your quest.

Stunt: Can I make a stop over at Alstone, a city in a completely different direction and maybe a different country, first?

Rilian: Yeah sure whatever no rush.

And that's how Rilian got crossed off the "DD Characters Not Completely Ruined" list.

[colonelslime]

Originally Posted by Trazoi

Rilian: Stunt, this task is so vitally important that I can't tell you why it is. You only have five minutes to stare into my magic bathtub at your bleeding mother before heading on your quest.

Stunt: Can I make a stop over at Alstone, a city in a completely different direction and maybe a different country, first?

Rilian: Yeah sure whatever no rush.

And that's how Rilian got crossed off the "DD Characters Not Completely Ruined" list.

I prefer to read it as Rillian finally giving up:

"You must make haste and bring this relic to Miranda Deegan, or all is lost"

"Now, when you say 'all is lost', do you mean that literally, cause I kinda have a thing to go do, blah blah blah mother blah blah blah Alstone"

"Fine, you know what, do whatever the hell you want. I'm done. This was the last time I save this plane and its idiot inhabitants from destruction by their own stupidity. At this point, I welcome annihilation, because then at least I won't have to deal with all of you. So take your time, smell the flowers, go reconcile with Mommy. I don't care anymore. I'm gonna go put on my fatsuit and troll Dominic till the apocalypse comes"

[Myrdhale]

So... yeah. For all the lecturing he just did, Rillian seems pretty non-chalant about it now. I aggree with Colonelslime. I think he's just given up now.

[random11]

Why not say something like:
"while you carry this necklace you are in danger, so I suggest giving it to Miranda first unless you want to place your family at risk"

Certainly more persuasive then "like, whatEVER"

Besides, is it even on the way?
Good thing DD doesn't have a map, things are always exactly where they should be for the "plot".

[Oracle_Hunter]

Originally Posted by Trazoi

Rilian: Stunt, this task is so vitally important that I can't tell you why it is. You only have five minutes to stare into my magic bathtub at your bleeding mother before heading on your quest.

Stunt: Can I make a stop over at Alstone, a city in a completely different direction and maybe a different country, first?

Rilian: Yeah sure whatever no rush.

And that's how Rilian got crossed off the "DD Characters Not Completely Ruined" list.

I'm still hoping this is Mookie doing the World's Worst decoy set-up. More likely he decided he needed to speed things up and decided to skip the flashback and find a way to shoo Stunt along the Plot Trail as quickly as possible.

...or he decided not to give a rat's ass about Monday's comic and just put together a page with minimal effort. Three panels of writing, three panels of silhouettes, and a derpy Jayden in Panel 5 -- what else could it be?

[Traab]

Its also possible that rillian is working under a time limit here. For example, whatever method he is using to hide these ruins from a fricking archmage may only last so long, and he NEEDS them to be gone before then. As an example from another story I read, there are a group of good guys, one is a young potential spellcaster that will be very powerful, and the other is an incredibly experienced spellcaster sent to protect her. The two main characters are a couple of warriors.

The two spellcasters are being targetted for death and they need a way to escape. They can use magical stealth, but apparently it leaves a small blank spot in scrying attempts, so if the bad guys know generally where to start looking, (and they do) then they can look carefully and find that blank spot. So the two warriors offer to have the experienced spellcaster create an illusion that makes it look like they decided to stick together, while in reality the two mages sneak off while stealthed. By the time the spell fades a couple days later, they are so far apart from each other that, as the spellcaster puts it, "it would take a special kind of miracle for them to find us." After all, theoretically, the actual targets could be anywhere within a 40-80 mile radius, and that is a LOT of area to cover scanning foot by foot looking for blank spots.

That could be what rillian is up to. Until the spell he has hiding the ruins fades, manta boy doesnt know where to start looking. By the time it fades away, if jayden and stunt are far enough away, it will be much less likely they will be spotted. Yeah there are holes in this explanation, but then there are holes in everything to do with this comic, so that just makes it more likely to be right.