#s56

The RAMMER S 56 Seal Kit is an essential maintenance kit designed to ensure the optimal performance and longevity of your RAMMER S 56 hydraulic breaker. This kit includes critical seals, o-rings, and gaskets, meticulously crafted to deliver excellent sealing performance and durability. Key Features: Complete Kit: Contains all the necessary seals, o-rings, and gaskets required for a full…

I guess John's optimism looks a lot like confidence to Vriska. John hasn't really seen the bigger picture, so his optimism comes from ignorance - but I still think he's got the right idea. You need to be optimistic if you're going to challenge the Alpha Timeline.

This is the attitude she was trying to 'train' into Tavros - and the fact that she sees it in John bodes poorly for him. If Vriska is taking an interest in you, there's going to be trouble ahead.

EB: also, there is always hope for someone who has good friends to count on! AG: Pff. AG: Laaaaaaaame.

Sure, Vriska. And I take it you created your universe alone?

That is IT. EVERYBODY OUT. You are DEAD SERIOUS.

It's funny, but this is also a genuine milestone for John. It's RPG tradition that once you get to a certain level, weaker enemies will flee without a fight.

It's not often that we gain insight from a page's command.

Vriska is confused. It's not just that she's getting to grips with the concept of a human - it's also that John, specifically, represents everything she's not. Their worldviews are so different that I think she's struggling to comprehend what she's seeing - and I think that's going to interfere with her manipulation attempts.

EB: it wasn't even that long ago, but it already seems like forever since i was on earth! EB: it was a pretty nice place, i bet you would have liked it. AG: It seems a little too sunny for my liking.

Scared you'll go blind?

EB: well, what about you? do you miss your planet, and your parents and such? AG: The life I left 8ehind wasn't so hot, to 8e honest.

John doesn't even know what a lusus is. Spidermom would be a lot to take in, on top of everything else - but I'm surprised Vriska is even able to recognize that she's had a hard life. Like I said, she usually acts like the challenges she faced were beneficial.

Maybe it's easier to broach the topic to a human. Her antics have alienated most of her troll pals, and they'd just think she was making excuses - but John is a blank slate. If she tells him about Spidermom without telling him about the murders, she'll get sympathy that she'd never get from a troll.

EB: oh. that's too bad. AG: Why don't we not talk a8out that!

Well, that's one way to drop the big reveal.

John doesn't tend to get worked up about this sort of thing - he didn't really react to the Veil reveal, either. But who knows what's going on in the privacy of his mind?

EB: why are we supposed to do that? AG: What a stupid question! It is the point of the game. It's what happens when you win, and winning is the only point of anything.

This is a pretty deep question, actually.

So far, the comic has only supplied one reason why a Player would want to create a universe, and it's the reason Vriska gives here: the kids should do it because it's Sburb's objective.

You could also argue that perpetuating the existence of the multiverse is a noble goal in itself - and, on a more practical level, the Players will need somewhere to live after winning the game, since sessions don't seem to last long after it's over.

There are also, however, several reasons why you might not want to go through with it. The true motivations of Skaia and the Horrorterrors are unclear, and things might not be what they seem. Do we really want to be doing Skaia's dirty work? This is the entity which destroyed our world, after all - its moral framework, if it has one at all, is alien, and potentially at odds with ours.

Even if Skaia's only 'motivation' is to perpetuate existence, there are still serious ethical implications. Universes created by Sburb presumably spawn sessions themselves, so your creation won't necessarily be a happy place. Every civilization arising in it will be doomed to a meteor apocalypse, as Skaia burns it as fuel for your world's offspring.

The kids are finally starting to learn the truth - and if they're able to salvage their session, they'll have a ...complicated decision to make.

AG: Anyway, you should 8e glad it's the point. And you should 8e glad your predecessors were not such a sad sack group of players like you guys. AG: Otherwise your universe would not exist, seeing as we cre8ted it 8y 8eing incredi8le in every way. EB: you did? [...] EB: i don't know what to think about that.

Vriska was saddled with the worst lusus imaginable - or at least, the worst lusus that wasn't an abomination from the depths of space. Her worldview is built around the belief that her shitty life has made her strong.

How will she feel, I wonder, about a world where where you don't have to fight your way through the Brooding Caverns to earn your right to exist? How will Vriska feel, deep down, about a parent?

EB: the funny thing is, he is not even really my dad. EB: i mean, i was adopted by him, although we are not actually unrelated, i think. EB: he is the son of my grandmother, who isn't really my grandmother… EB: nanna is sort of like my biological mother [...] EB: so i guess, if anything, that makes my dad… EB: my half brother???

I did wonder if Dad was adopted - he really doesn't look like the other Harley-Egberts - but apparently not. I guess he takes after his own father.

The Telescopic Sassacrusher has found a new wielder, I see.

AG: [...] Continuing on this path and 8ringing Jade into the game I think you will agree is very important! AG: And not just 8ecause she is your friend and you would 8e kind of upset if she died. AG: Again. EB: yes, i think i would be.

I might be wrong, but I'm sensing a bit of an edge to John's words here. He did just watch his sister die, after all. Plus, he was just ripped away from his father - by the very same troll who's being so blasé about his family, although he isn't yet aware of that.

Everyone has a breaking point. How many more trolls can fuck John over before he snaps?

AG: Only when all players have entered with a prototyped kernel does the 8attlefield assume its final form. AG: That form prepares Skaia to grow the new universe you will cre8te.

Your kernels will influence the nature of your universe - presumably the same way they influence everything else.

The trolls filled their kernels with animals, and each of those animals showed up on Earth, either as real creatures or pervasive myths. The kids' kernels included a clown, so I'm suddenly very relieved that their session appears to be a dud.

And all Players need to contribute a kernel to the Battlefield. If they don't, their universe won't represent the collective effort of every Player, and it will be, in a sense, 'incomplete'.

(On a bench under the Copperleaf Tree in the ConsBio square, Rucker shares a story with Shakan.)

There is a story the Blacktails have told for generations, a story whose wisdom has escaped me for my entire life until now... There was a warrior of the Blacktails who is in many of the stories we tell. He is always portrayed as the hero, the most skilled of warriors and tacticians. If the gods were to make their way to the Blacktail mountains, they would have paid tribute to our Thoder. Or at least, that is the fervor my clan feels for him. But the story I tell is not of his many exploits, but of his end. Before any formal peace between goliath and men, the two races existed at odds. The mountain folk were pragmatic, slow to anger, and generally only reacted to the impulsive humans. One day, Thoder encountered a human hunting party and tried to calmly speak with their leader. He was not welcomed. Instead they attacked in fear, and they were killed swiftly and simply by Thoder.

(Some humans have spread rumors the tattoos of a goliath are tracing of their victims blood splatter, but this is untrue. Younger goliaths must wait until they are strong enough to defend themselves before earning their tattoos.)

News of this spread to the local justices of men and a bounty was placed on Thoder and the head of any goliath. Many years passed and more foolish human’s died encroaching our mountains. But eventually the human’s numbers outgrew the chalice of the valleys below. A trial was scheduled that would judge all Goliath in the eyes of men. An emissary was sent to inform the Goliaths. Thoder killed the emissaries' guards. The man knelt before the goliath and prostrated himself, arms outstretched, presenting his neck for Thoder to strike. Having seen no man do such a thing, he respected this small skinny man who would surrender so wisely and bade him speak.

They spoke for many days. Thoder never spoke of what was said, but it was obvious that Thoder trusted in the wisdom of this human. Thoder said his goodbyes and took the human back down the mountain. The human placed shackles on the massive goliath, and out of courtesy Thoder did not break them. He admitted himself to the trial- a prostration of his own, on the behalf of the Blacktails and all Goliaths. (This act is what enraged me throughout my life, up to only a few days ago.) The trial was held and its result was unsurprising. But something happened during the trial on that freezing rainy day. As the council read from wet scrolls, speaking of crimes for defending his homeland, the hills surrounding the human village were filled with song. Goliaths of many clans descended the mountains and sang funeral rites to Thoder, steeling his resolve as he stood naked.

Thoder was twice the size of the biggest human, and his strength was beyond doubt. He gave one last message to his people in the form of a cacophonous war scream, breaking the chains that bound his wrists. However, instead of escaping, he waited to hear the guilty sentence and was escorted away, never to see his clan again.

What happened to him no Blacktail knows, doubtlessly starved to death in a cage or beheaded. But from his sacrifice came a truce between goliath and men. The growing number of humans in the valleys below the Stag Mountain now saw that goliath not as cave dwelling savages, but strong and formidable and proud. By recognizing men and their laws, he forced them to recognize the goliath's claims as well. The bounty on goliath heads was then seen as a disgrace. Trading began between the two and both human and goliath prospered for it.

What I see now is that the result of the trial did not matter. It was Thoder's strength of courage to submit himself to them in the first place that led to peace.

I see Thoder's strength in you. You never hesitated when you got the letter informing you of Elder Gikandi's trial, your trial. Keep your head high, there is an entire generation of people, students, who will always remember you as the man standing for what he believes.

Rucker awoke to find himself alone- all of his Mudwang allies had already vacated their beds. Only Rat, snoring and drooling over a book of law texts, remained. Vax left a note behind explaining he was following a hunch, while Taerus had business to attend to at ConsMyst. The goliath found the final member, Shakan, practicing his movements under the great Copperleaf Tree. Taking in the gifts from his journey to the Feywilds- his neon t-shirt, an engraved acorn, a glowing bracelet- he pondered how much he'd changed since he first met his new tribesmen.

Shakan finished his rituals and joined Rucker, still anxious despite his meditations. With the trial approaching and little progress made in gathering evidence or momentum, he was troubled. Rucker shared a story from his goliath tribe, a lesson in honor and strength of character. Shakan appreciated the tale, and the two friends waited for Taerus to rejoin them before heading up to meet with Elder Gikandi. As the men began walking in the chilly winter air, Captain Galva shares what he learnt from meeting with Syster Odimin, (older sibling to Biose student Odimar):

The two spoke of Thelandria, and how the goddess of storms found each of them. Sharing a recent dream of his featuring lost allies and a Stag Mountain besieged, Taerus listened to the cleric's theory how this vision supported her fear that the gods power in Virpresque was fading. She then tested his faith by blasting him with wind and lightning (and, in doing so, releasing him from the curse placed on him by the Delta hags coven.) Having proved his conviction, she challenged him to spread Thelandria’s word by acting the guide for souls lost in the tempest.

They are eventually seen up to Gikandi’s quarters in the Tower of the Archives, where Shakan is greeted coldly by a former classmate who blames him for their masters fall from grace. On edge again, the genasi introduces his allies to his former instructor. Speaking casually and warmly, the tortle wizard welcomes the group and provides drinks of choice. Gathering around his study table, piled high with books, journals, and missives, the four men begin to share their thoughts on the upcoming trial.

Having seen and studied much over his many years, Gikandi's concern was not about influence or legacy. Rather, he had agreed to stand in Shakan’s place on a matter of principle- allegations needed to be answered for. For that reason, he was pleased that Shakan had returned so that the matter may be truly settled. He further emphasized the trial is a reckoning for Shakan as a representative of the Academy itself: what damage has he done to not only the rectory, but Bøfkasmaur’s reputation?

Gikandi then offered to help the men with any personal challenges they were facing, reasoning that though it may not be related to the trial only calm minds could make sound decisions. Dictating the questions and answers to a glowing orb of magic over his shoulder, the master listened as Taerus shares his concerns regarding Thrembreglaxx and his followers. Gikandi too pondered what designs the followers of the god of entropy might have, and that normally such anarchists had historically had trouble organizing.

Rucker then took the chance to ask about the curse he carried, explaining his history with the lich that had left some vestigial powers within him. Rucker also shared he'd recently learned the name of his enemy- Balefroar. Speaking the name, the room instantly darkened as the studies candles' winked out and the sky outside began to cloud over.

The turtle’s affable tone ceased, and Gikandi very carefully chose his words as he warned the three men to never utter that particular name on the campus of Bofkasmaur again. The magic of Names was mysterious and powerful, and this name could be ruinous. Respectfully, the Mudwangs resolved to only refer to Rucker’s lich as… Tracy.

With personal queries satisfied, the group resolves to help defend Shakan and Gikandi. If the Academy placed such high value on the merits of its students and members, then how could they build a case to show Shakan an asset rather than a liability? Perhaps by finding who hired the Open Hand, though their leads in that department were slim. Maybe by demonstrating his good acts across the Stag Lands, with summoned witnesses to speak to his integrity? However they proceeded, they had only 7 days to bring it all together, and Gikandi gave them a pair of scrolls to aid them as they prepared to leave. 

It was at that moment that a knock at the door revealed Gikandi’s next meeting was with none other than Larry Dennit Jr. himself. Speaking brusquely to the men, he set down a tray of food for he and Gikandi to share, urging them to run off. Taerus and Rucker began to challenge the Acting ConsArc Elder, even threatening him with a Zone of Truth before Gikandi effortlessly quelled the spell and the fight, ordering them to cease squabbling in his quarters.