The Legacy of Dominic Deegan: The Unending Snark

[Welf]

I understood that the vines made him do something terrible that made him lose his sanity. Basically the Wilde Edge Unabomber.

[Kantaki]

Snout's survival instincts are truly amazing.
Seriously, time to leave was when the author wrote the plants were talking to him.
At "they're lying" at the latest.
Is he trying to get eaten?

[random11]

Update

Also, does anyone in this universe has a name?
He keeps using "he" and "my friend" for weeks, did he just forget or never knew his best buddy's name?

[Traab]

The author isnt writing this as a book for others, its his journal. He knows who he is talking about, so no need to write down names I guess. Also, as far as survival instinct goes, meh, dudes been in so many life threatening situations it makes sense he is checking out the area rather than running away writing in his book in all caps to show he is screaming. Especially since now it sounds like its possible there is someone to rescue. I like how the story switched up on us btw. it went from "Oh no poor man is being mind controlled and figured it out too late." to "Omg he betrayed his friend to the plants and still hasnt done anything but write in his journal about it!"

[Kantaki]

And... well, even taking into account parts of might be intended for others, be it as a warning- Do not listen to the vines - or as bait, the friend's name wouldn't help any other reader.

Unless the vines have some stupid weakness like speaking writing the name of the first victim backwards.

[random11]

The problem is that the journal is almost exclusively about a specific problem even before it was known to be a problem.
As a result, there are no notes like "Chris went to chop some wood while I make dinner, tried the green and red berries, and they look fine" where the name would fit much better in context.
So, the use of the dramatic "my friend" in these specific pages are fine, but not mentioning him at all by name in more than 3 months doesn't.

Don't really care that much though, looks like it's more a filler arc, so the name won't have any importance anyway.

[Traab]

And... well, even taking into account parts of might be intended for others, be it as a warning- Do not listen to the vines - or as bait, the friend's name wouldn't help any other reader.

Unless the vines have some stupid weakness like speaking writing the name of the first victim backwards.

I wonder if it might be a bit like ginny from the second harry potter book. Basically, the vines keep taking him over and in his brief moments of lucidity he is writing things down in an effort to not forget. Like, he keeps blanking out and then waking up only now his friend is in a pit and the vines wont let him leaf! (sorry, not sorry)

[random11]

Update

There's curiosity, and there's stupidity.

[lord_khaine]

Poor guy cant catch a break.
People complain when he isnt acting enough like a hero.
Now he does something heroic. And people are still complaining

[Celestia]

Why is he rolling his eyes, though? Is he frustrated that he is risking his life to potentially save someone? I mean, he doesn't have to.

[Vinyadan]

Why is he rolling his eyes, though? Is he frustrated that he is risking his life to potentially save someone? I mean, he doesn't have to.

There's having to and there's having to. People with whips shouting orders are a thing, but so are morals.

My problem with Snout's decision is that we are given no timeframe for when the diary was written. We don't know if the writer entered the hole a few hours or five years ago. If we had it, then Snout's decision would be a big moment in establishing his character.

[Celestia]

There's having to and there's having to. People with whips shouting orders are a thing, but so are morals.

My problem with Snout's decision is that we are given no timeframe for when the diary was written. We don't know if the writer entered the hole a few hours or five years ago. If we had it, then Snout's decision would be a big moment in establishing his character.

If this was about morals, he wouldn't have rolled his eyes, though. If he genuinely thinks saving someone is the right thing to do, then why is he getting frustrated at having to save someone? Does Superman sigh and mug at the camera every time he hears trouble? No. He just goes in and saves the day.

[Vinyadan]

If this was about morals, he wouldn't have rolled his eyes, though. If he genuinely thinks saving someone is the right thing to do, then why is he getting frustrated at having to save someone? Does Superman sigh and mug at the camera every time he hears trouble? No. He just goes in and saves the day.

He may be frustrated at his own morals, and at the gratuitous way this all has come up his road. Rolling eyes doesn't exclusively mean frustration, anyway, as it started out as an invocation of strength from a higher being, so in this case it might just be fear.

Besides, Superman is a different character. Should Snout spraypaint everywhere "Freedom, Justice, and the American Way"?

[Celestia]

He may be frustrated at his own morals, and at the gratuitous way this all has come up his road. Rolling eyes doesn't exclusively mean frustration, anyway, as it started out as an invocation of strength from a higher being, so in this case it might just be fear.

I have literally never once seen eye rolling used as a sign of fear. People don't roll their eyes when afraid. That's not a thing that happens.

Sure, Snout could be a Han Solo type character who's trying to be a selfish rogue but always unable to overcome his morality. That makes perfect sense with everything we've seen so far. Oh wait. No it doesn't.

Besides, Superman is a different character. Should Snout spraypaint everywhere "Freedom, Justice, and the American Way"?

Of course not. That's graffiti.

[Vinyadan]

I have literally never once seen eye rolling used as a sign of fear. People don't roll their eyes when afraid. That's not a thing that happens.

That might be cultural. But I'm not referring to an immediate reaction, like wide eyes, raised eyebrows, and open mouth. I am referring to the situation in which a man consciously prepares to do something that will put him in danger.

Sure, Snout could be a Han Solo type character who's trying to be a selfish rogue but always unable to overcome his morality. That makes perfect sense with everything we've seen so far. Oh wait. No it doesn't.

That's not what I meant, and maybe I expressed myself wrong; but is it so strange that people do things that they don't like doing, because they feel they are necessary, and yet show that they don't like it?

[Kantaki]

To me the eye roll says „Yeah, yeah, I can see the rails DM author.”

[Traab]

Because snout is a good guy, he cant just leave a situation where someone may be in life threatening danger, but that doesnt mean he has to like the fact that he is putting himself in danger here. Thus the eyeroll at himself. Its a sort of "Here I go again" because he knows its the right thing to do but he would really rather not be walking into danger again.

[Kantaki]

Because snout is a good guy, he cant just leave a situation where someone may be in life threatening danger, but that doesnt mean he has to like the fact that he is putting himself in danger here. Thus the eyeroll at himself. Its a sort of "Here I go again" because he knows its the right thing to do but he would really rather not be walking into danger again.

But the journal has been lying there who knows how long.
Leaping into danger because someone's about to be eaten is one thing.
Walking into the monster's stomach on the off-chance some random stranger isn't completely digested yet...
As I said before, amazing survival instinct.

[Celestia]

That might be cultural. But I'm not referring to an immediate reaction, like wide eyes, raised eyebrows, and open mouth. I am referring to the situation in which a man consciously prepares to do something that will put him in danger.

Facial expressions are, in fact, completely biological. Someone who has been blind their whole life and doesn't know what a smile is or looks like still smiles when happy. Cultural differences don't enter into it.

That's not what I meant, and maybe I expressed myself wrong; but is it so strange that people do things that they don't like doing, because they feel they are necessary, and yet show that they don't like it?

Sure, but it still contracts what we already know of Snout. He never eye rolled when helping the Ink Witch or Aardvark, and he certainly did dangerous things when helping the former. So, why the sudden hesitation now?

[Traab]

But the journal has been lying there who knows how long.
Leaping into danger because someone's about to be eaten is one thing.
Walking into the monster's stomach on the off-chance some random stranger isn't completely digested yet...
As I said before, amazing survival instinct.

Except it isnt a monsters stomach, its a pit the dude dug in the floor. (Or someone did anyways) And he has no way of knowing without going down there, if the guy can be saved or not. For all he knows, the crazy guy vanished yesterday and there is still time. He isnt going to go, "Oh well, that stinks" then move along without seeing if the victim can be saved.

[random11]

My problem with Snout is not that he is not heroic, but he rarely does anything on his own.
Most events are thrown directly at him and he only reacts to them, usually with a look of annoyance than anything else.
When he does get to choose something, it feels more like the author's choice than Snout's choice.

As for his eye rolling, at least this part is supposed to be a horror story, and if Snout doesn't look afraid why should we be?

[Traab]

My problem with Snout is not that he is not heroic, but he rarely does anything on his own.
Most events are thrown directly at him and he only reacts to them, usually with a look of annoyance than anything else.
When he does get to choose something, it feels more like the author's choice than Snout's choice.

As for his eye rolling, at least this part is supposed to be a horror story, and if Snout doesn't look afraid why should we be?

The eye roll isnt snout saying, "This is going to be boring" Its more an eye roll of exasperation that he is going to put himself in danger like this. "I just HAD to investigate the mysterious cabin and read the guys journal."

[random11]

The eye roll isnt snout saying, "This is going to be boring" Its more an eye roll of exasperation that he is going to put himself in danger like this. "I just HAD to investigate the mysterious cabin and read the guys journal."

But that's the point.
It doesn't really matter what exactly the eye rolling means, what's important is what's NOT in there: Fear.

[Kornaki]

Except it isnt a monsters stomach, its a pit the dude dug in the floor. (Or someone did anyways) And he has no way of knowing without going down there, if the guy can be saved or not. For all he knows, the crazy guy vanished yesterday and there is still time. He isnt going to go, "Oh well, that stinks" then move along without seeing if the victim can be saved.

If you really want to get down to it, for all we know there was no guy, was no friend, and the vines built this house and wrote the journal to trap people like you in that pit.

[Traab]

If you really want to get down to it, for all we know there was no guy, was no friend, and the vines built this house and wrote the journal to trap people like you in that pit.

And there are a dozen other variants as to what the scenario is. For all we know, angels descended from heaven 500 years ago to smite the demonic evil vines then preserved the whole place, journal included, as a monument to their victory. Inside the pit is a golem guide there to proclaim the epic tale of the fight against evil that took place underground for any guests that show up.

[Kantaki]

New comic

Is that a slide?
Looks fun.

[Celestia]

New comic

Is that a slide?
Looks fun.

Slide or badly drawn stairs?

YOU DECIDE!

[random11]

Have to say that if the vines made that person dig it, and it wasn't just there or dug by vines, I'm impressed.
Even for 3 months, that's A LOT of work done by one person without the proper tools.

[Traab]

Have to say that if the vines made that person dig it, and it wasn't just there or dug by vines, I'm impressed.
Even for 3 months, that's A LOT of work done by one person without the proper tools.

Maybe they were left behind by the cabin builders? I figure shovels, axes, maybe a pickaxe or two, some extra lumber to shore it up, etc etc etc. Assuming this isnt an incredibly rocky area its doable by a probably enthralled individual who doesnt have enough mental willpower to take many breaks. :p I know it wouldnt have worked in my area. My house was basically built on top of literal tons of rocks used to level the area. When a crew came out to replace my walkway with concrete, just the digging they did to create a proper level pathway gave them enough loose rock to totally rebuild my front porch.

In all seriousness, it looks like the vines are providing structural support. Ever pull a plant out of a pot full of soil and have the entire thing come out as a single mass? Thats what they are probably doing here. Enthralled dude dug a dirt tunnel, the vines keep it from collapsing for whatever reason they want it for.

[elros]

With the title of this chapter being Natural Necromancy, I think we are going to see a return of Jacob Deegan. Zombies and vines seems like the legacy of Maltak.