Goblins XVIII: Being yourself can be dangerous

[Traab]

Or he's somebody who needs a lift out of the desert who figured that holding a big "adventure" sign would get people's attention.

Thats covered by the murderin option.

[Anarchic Fox]

The eyeballs on the platform are new.

[Draconi Redfir]

The eyeballs on the platform are new.

H'uh, you're right. Might be due to the corruption from the axe. If you compare Ears' visit to the Angel with Complain's and Vorpal's, their visits didn't have the hellstrands between and around the pannels.

[Vinyadan]

Nice, I hadn't noticed it. I wonder if the stoned angel will.

[Lapak]

Nice, I hadn't noticed it. I wonder if the stoned angel will.

I strongly suspect that's the actual reason she's dropped the papers, not the ridiculous "you are his mother" argument. She's just noticed the axe and/or the encroaching presence of the demon associated with it.

[Kish]

Ten gold says dropping the papers is the "you are his mother" argument.

[Androgeus]

The eyeballs on the platform are new.

Did anyone mention the gorey border hasn't been present in previous Angel scenes, but is now?

[Typewriter]

I find it kind of funny (I find it kind of sad) that the two main views on the demonic presence and its relation to the 'mother' argument being made. Either the angel is falling for the argument, which is dumb, or Ellie wrote it that way knowing that people would fall for it because they have so little respect for her that it seems like something she would write. Here's to hoping for the latter.

[Godskook]

I find it kind of funny (I find it kind of sad) that the two main views on the demonic presence and its relation to the 'mother' argument being made. Either the angel is falling for the argument, which is dumb, or Ellie wrote it that way knowing that people would fall for it because they have so little respect for her that it seems like something she would write. Here's to hoping for the latter.

Main View #1 is as you said.

Main View #2, however, is that obviously the Angel isn't falling for the dumb argument, but reacting instead to something off-panel, per Ellie's subtle art hints.

I don't see how #2 contains a "readers have so little respect for her" aspect. It certainly wasn't part of how that view was discussed in this thread so far.

Maybe that's #3?

[Iruka]

We have a winner! One of our grumpier players decided to open fire on the weirdo in the dessert with an adventure sign and things went downhill from there. In retrospect I do think it wasn't the worst idea a new DM could come up with though.

I would certainly get grumpy if I found a weirdo in my dessert.

[Anteros]

Main View #2, however, is that obviously the Angel isn't falling for the dumb argument, but reacting instead to something off-panel, per Ellie's subtle art hints.

I don't see how #2 contains a "readers have so little respect for her" aspect. It certainly wasn't part of how that view was discussed in this thread so far.

Nah. I totally agree with #2. "This is extremely stupid, but it's the type of thing Ellie would write" is definitely something that crossed my mind during the discussion.

[Willie the Duck]

I don't know. Even if it turns out that the angel is buying the argument, I'm not going to be overly critical of Elli on it (I mean, this entire stopwatches-angel-deathpit-everyone-somehow-will-escape storyline is pretty meh, but this small sub-part isn't necessarily that much worse than the total). It is a dumb argument, to be sure. However, if the focus is that the angel is just that stoned/incompetent that it's vaguely compelling to her, well then it's just more of the 'hurr de hurr, this angel really sucks at her job' bit we've already gotten (which, to me, my response is 'yeah we got it, Elli, can we move on now?'). Now if Elli telegraphs that the angel buys it, and that it isn't a dumb argument, yeah then I'd be disappointed.

[Traab]

I do like the idea of the angel noticing the corruption of the axe and thats what she is reacting to. But more likely she actually is shocked by the argument. However, there are two main reactions I can think of that would warrant that expression.

1) Omg its true! You mah baby! Come here snuggle wuggums!

2) She goes full billy madison Then pulls the lever.

[Wildstag]

The main reason I hope this whole "he's your 'kid'" thread just drops asap is because it's being spun as if she needs to respect that bond...

But the horn was cut off of her by a demonic goblin in defiance of her will and the horn was used on Big Ears without her knowledge or consent. I highly doubt that any of the characters are going to acknowledge those points because they're either distracted by the hellscaping or because they're going to geek out on the "half-celestial" thing.

It just doesn't seem like a well-thought-out argument, and it seems like the kind of thing a good-natured person like Big Ears should feel guilty about.

[Kish]

If we're going there, I would point out that the "demonic goblin" in question was defending himself.

[Wildstag]

My main point is that it's weird that the take they're going with is "He's your son, your blood... that you did not want nor did you consent to, and the person that cut that horn off of you was openly hostile to you (though she was hostile first) before handing that horn-piece to your 'child'"...

It's just an absurd story idea that's being passed off as having any value without a shred of self-awareness so far.

[Radar]

My main point is that it's weird that the take they're going with is "He's your son, your blood... that you did not want nor did you consent to, and the person that cut that horn off of you was openly hostile to you (though she was hostile first) before handing that horn-piece to your 'child'"...

It's just an absurd story idea that's being passed off as having any value without a shred of self-awareness so far.

This could still be subverted by the angel buying the argument and still pulling the "death" lever as she is bound to do it as part of the punishment that keeps her at the lever duty.

[Keltest]

You know, it occurs to me. The death lever opens up to basically a sphere of annihilation, right? So what happens if they drop the axe in it? Will the demon get released into it and be annihilated?

[Traab]

You know, it occurs to me. The death lever opens up to basically a sphere of annihilation, right? So what happens if they drop the axe in it? Will the demon get released into it and be annihilated?

Something tells me no. If it was that easy they wouldnt have bothered sealing it away instead. Its more likely it would infect this demiplane or wherever they are and move on from there. No longer sealed in the axe.

[Anteros]

My main point is that it's weird that the take they're going with is "He's your son, your blood... that you did not want nor did you consent to, and the person that cut that horn off of you was openly hostile to you (though she was hostile first) before handing that horn-piece to your 'child'"...

It's just an absurd story idea that's being passed off as having any value without a shred of self-awareness so far.

Not really? People raise and care for children borne from non consensual situations sometimes. It's an unfortunate reality, but no less real.

[Anarchic Fox]

Let's have a moment of positivity.

Some time ago, I heard that Schlock Mercenary was ending, and started thinking about whether I would use that opportunity to pick it up again. My mind wandered to Goblins, because Schlock Mercenary seemed to do right everything Goblins did wrong. And I realized that I would rather watch these beloved characters suffer than go back to reading about the adventures of the cute galactic dictator wombat.

As you were.

[Kornaki]

The last 30% of schlock kind of fell off in quality. You're probably better not catching up...

[Mastikator]

Not really? People raise and care for children borne from non consensual situations sometimes. It's an unfortunate reality, but no less real.

The angel didn't raise Big Ears tho, they literally have no relationship. Even if we accept the premise that they're related her connection would be more like an egg donor. Which is to say she has no responsibility or right of him and vice versa. I'm being extremely generous by accepting the premise and saying it's like an egg donor.

I'd say it's somewhere between an organ donor and an egg donor. If you donate an organ to someone they are "your flesh and blood" but, like.... ugh. Give me a break. She's not his mom, he already has a mom somewhere in the goblin village if Kore didn't genocide them already.

[Morgaln]

The angel didn't raise Big Ears tho, they literally have no relationship. Even if we accept the premise that they're related her connection would be more like an egg donor. Which is to say she has no responsibility or right of him and vice versa. I'm being extremely generous by accepting the premise and saying it's like an egg donor.

I'd say it's somewhere between an organ donor and an egg donor. If you donate an organ to someone they are "your flesh and blood" but, like.... ugh. Give me a break. She's not his mom, he already has a mom somewhere in the goblin village if Kore didn't genocide them already.

Adding to that, if someone mugs me in an alley and cuts out one of my kidneys, I certainly won't have any parental feelings for the person that ends up with that kidney. It's not like she donated that horn willingly.

[Kantaki]

I mean, I kinda hope that the argument is giving her pause, not because it works, but because in all her time on this job no one has ever tried something so stupid to get out of dying.

[Taevyr]

The closest real-life equivalent would be someone ambushing you in a side street, cutting off your hair and running away, then having a buddy of his show up the next day with your hair implanted in his formerly-bald scalp and claiming it gives you some sort of deep connection.

I mean, it's a hilarious concept, but not one to be taken seriously.

[Traab]

The closest real-life equivalent would be someone ambushing you in a side street, cutting off your hair and running away, then having a buddy of his show up the next day with your hair implanted in his formerly-bald scalp and claiming it gives you some sort of deep connection.

I mean, it's a hilarious concept, but not one to be taken seriously.

Ehhh its not actually that close. I mean, wearing your hair doesnt change your entire freaking RACE to match the person you took it from. Its still a bit jankey of a claim to make, but its not that far of a stretch since you are now literally half celestial as if she had been your momma with a gobbo father. And it was all due to her "contribution" that it happened. If D&D had genetics I bet it would at LEAST say they are related if not "You ARE the mother!"

[Anteros]

The angel didn't raise Big Ears tho, they literally have no relationship. Even if we accept the premise that they're related her connection would be more like an egg donor. Which is to say she has no responsibility or right of him and vice versa. I'm being extremely generous by accepting the premise and saying it's like an egg donor.

I'd say it's somewhere between an organ donor and an egg donor. If you donate an organ to someone they are "your flesh and blood" but, like.... ugh. Give me a break. She's not his mom, he already has a mom somewhere in the goblin village if Kore didn't genocide them already.

People don't have a relationship with their fetus either when it's first conceived, but they still can choose to raise it. All relationships have to have a start point.

Anyway, I don't like this argument so I'm gonna drop it. I think the idea of her being his mom is just as stupid as the rest of you. My point was just that people do sometimes form relationships with children they didn't consent to having.

[Keltest]

Speaking of which, the new page is up.

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This reads very much like she doesnt necessarily know about the validity of the argument, but likes the idea and likes Big Ears, so she's going with it anyway.

[Draconi Redfir]

New comic is up!

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You guys don't get to be happy :P