July 30th, 2010
Page 383
Comics for July 30, 2010 - Page 383
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July 30th, 2010 at 12:12 am
Please please please let there be a final round….OF DODGEBALL! 2 men enter 2 men leave, only one has a big red mark on em
July 30th, 2010 at 12:14 am
J, Dude I love you man this whole chapter is full of win and awesomeness.
July 30th, 2010 at 12:15 am
I love how the king owns up to the whole stupid, stubborn, and fat comments, but is ready to go to war over the bastard bit.
July 30th, 2010 at 12:18 am
I love this page. I can’t wait to see how the Cha is balanced, because it is probably going to be something entertaining, in one way or another.
July 30th, 2010 at 12:45 am
Oh, it’s ON!
Now they can settle it like men and put it all behind them. Schoolyard rules are universal.
July 30th, 2010 at 12:50 am
@TB — It’s probably the biggest of the insults. His parents are probably properly married. (Well, either that, or there were… rumors that hung in the air for a long time and thus is touchy about it. Considering how JED curveballed us with the game debacle coming out of nowhere, I’m keeping my options open for the moment.)
July 30th, 2010 at 1:55 am
Yep, it’s on. But I’m betting it won’t be another physical fight. I’m thinking next page will see them sat down around another game board to even the score
July 30th, 2010 at 3:01 am
…Hilarious. And awesome. I love the Count so damned much. Tethik is five hundred kinds of win.
July 30th, 2010 at 3:01 am
Oh, I’ve missed Tethik. I really have.
July 30th, 2010 at 3:33 am
This was so awesome, I put it in a folder called “Bacon”.
July 30th, 2010 at 4:02 am
*pensive look* You know, Situations like this in other stories tend to lead to a kiss… The sexual tension is almost palpable. I wonder where Erogenian society stands on that? And how far JD is willing to explore that?
July 30th, 2010 at 4:16 am
Now this is probably what King Tor wanted. Tethik to get all irate and ready to duke it out, enough of this sissy not hurting anyone’s feelings, my bad, kind of junk. Me thinks the duke hath been outmaneuvered.
July 30th, 2010 at 4:17 am
Pardon, Count Tethik, not Duke.
July 30th, 2010 at 4:36 am
I predict Tethik gets one in the chops and that balances the Cha for Tor, or else puts Tor in Tethik’s debt. By purposely not fighting back and giving Tor a free shot, the matter can finally be put behind them.
July 30th, 2010 at 5:11 am
They are so gonna start making out. LOLZ
July 30th, 2010 at 5:18 am
This can not end well. Good for us!
Now, all that is missing is
the theme of MORTAL COMBAT !
July 30th, 2010 at 6:23 am
I like how he focuses on the ‘bastard’ part and not the fat stubborn or stupid bits.
Also, I was gonna call it that it came down to a matter of ‘house rules’ or not.
July 30th, 2010 at 6:25 am
But I’m with Boomer, There’s gonna be angry gay make up sex.
July 30th, 2010 at 6:46 am
Finally the Cha can be balanced!! XD
July 30th, 2010 at 6:47 am
…Bets on who loses the next tooth?
July 30th, 2010 at 7:34 am
@Jean, It’s Tor’s turn, Tethik was only irritated with the princeling at the border. I smell a full night of Irish Standdown. By which time no one will have enough unbruised parts for the makeup sex. But it will be a formal standdown, not “Rules? in a knife fight?”
@John, Way to spin it even further because they were both yielding to the other. Sometimes these little technical points are the ones that are most enjoyable to twit our loved ones over.
July 30th, 2010 at 7:45 am
I like this page. I know nothing profound but still it’s true I like it. It made me smile. I’m with boomer and adam I kinda think them ending up kissing is definitely a possibility. I suspect Tethik is going to get punched in the face first though.
July 30th, 2010 at 8:11 am
HEH HEH HEH! ,,,,, Just the kind of lead up we expect of this comic. Wonderful shadowing and color’s. #####
{*v*} 
I.R.
July 30th, 2010 at 8:46 am
Fat, stupid, and stubborn, are all matters of opinion, and by anyone used to the practice of diplomacy, easily ignorable. On the other hand, particularly in feudal or medieval societies, an accusation of bastardy can be construed to be either a direct provocation of a fight, or a challenge to the legitimacy of a person’s inherited position.
Clearly the Erogenians have nobility, even, to an extent, hereditary nobility. As soon as hereditary positions come into the picture, people get real touchy about propriety of birth, because it reflects the propriety of their being in their inherited position.
Rules of succession clearly favor the children whose ancestry can be clearly shown, and marriage is considered a major portion of being able to prove that line of descent. The bastard children of a noble typically only stood to inherit if there were no suitable heirs from a marriage, brothers, or close cousins. Even then, the bastard child could expect rough times in the inherited position.
Calling a person a bastard has traditionally been an insult because it’s a statement that they’re not good enough for a high position because their father was not morally disciplined enough to keep his genital exposures to only his properly wedded wife. It’s a multi-generation insult, all wrapped up in seven little letters.
July 30th, 2010 at 8:57 am
“And what the hells are you going to do about it?!”
Laugh, probably.
July 30th, 2010 at 9:20 am
I actually think Tethik deliberately “lost his temper”. Look at panels 3 and 4. It looks like he’s clearing his throat because he knows he’s about to start screaming. How many people do you know who do the equivalent of “ahem” before they start yelling at the top of their lungs? This is a very carefully thought out tactic for Tethik.
I’m pretty sure Tethik knows that there’s no fixing this unless the Cha becomes balanced. And he’s going to goad the Bull King into balancing it, or at least into letting Tethik do so.
July 30th, 2010 at 11:01 am
@Dromin: In total agreement, Tethik is playing matador. Or maybe picador is better, deliberatly enraging him into a charge, then will switch to matador.
July 30th, 2010 at 11:44 am
I agree with Dromin and Tricksterson. In panels 3 & 4 Tethik realizes that Tor isn’t going to let this go without a fight so that is just what Tethik gives him. Tethik didn’t lose his cool, this is calculated to give Tor his chance to balance things and then they can make up and get on with combating the Urrts.
July 30th, 2010 at 1:17 pm
Oh this is funny!
And can I have the phone number of the hairy guy standing in the background?
July 30th, 2010 at 1:29 pm
So the way to balance the Cha, in this case, seems likely to be a poke in the snoot.
July 30th, 2010 at 3:44 pm
Hehehe…
That last panel made me laugh! Tethik is all kinds of awesome!
July 30th, 2010 at 4:35 pm
It’s strange and, somehow, funny, to see Tethik getting openly mad at someone, like he’s doing in the last panel. ^^
July 30th, 2010 at 5:27 pm
Wow! All the crap Tethik’s had to wade through lately and he blows up at this?!? Pressure must be getting to him.
July 30th, 2010 at 5:51 pm
Did no one else notice the *cough*? This is staged. This is “Oh FINE. He wants me to make a big deal about this. He wants me to be as angry about it as he is. Fine! If it gets this done and over with…” (and yes, I admit I suspect some smooching might follow)… That was a calculating cough.
Yes, they are likely about to go to blows, but I would not place money on it, because they are just as likely to sigh and go “Okay. Fair enough. My bad. Boy I missed you.”
I predict the next panel is a cheerful expression answering, “Rematch?” and deliberately having the other fellow name the rules.
July 30th, 2010 at 6:24 pm
@Wolf, You’ld like me to think that wouldn’t you? “Only slightly less famous is. Never go up against JED when DEATH is on the line!” — original Florinese translation.
@All: I have faith in John that whatever happens will obey the Roger Rabbit Principle. “You mean you could have done that at any time?”
@Lictre: Doesn’t Fly: This.Is.EROGENIA. When exactly did Ipola marry Uthic again to start Tula? And was she technically Zonn’s wife, girlfriend or Other at the time? The first paragraph out of Tor’s mouth says a sexual insult would be very tough to make stick.
July 30th, 2010 at 6:26 pm
e.g. his glowing praise of Queen Yanora a few strips ago.
July 30th, 2010 at 7:12 pm
Woogie beat me to it
July 30th, 2010 at 7:37 pm
@Lictre and @ICWT. To my memory of it,while Zonn and Ipolita MIGHT have been married, Uthic and Ipolita were only ever lovers.
Erogians just don’t make as being of a deal of that. See for example 1 the fact that the only children of Ipolita are a) Zona (who we have been told can not have children), and b) Tula (who we have been told can not marry). Obviously if they were uptight about heridity in royal lines, those would both be issues. But are not.
Second example, the Queen of the Fox tribe (I believe it was), openly shuns any male attention. Likewise an issue if pure noble bloodline were a big deal.
July 30th, 2010 at 9:29 pm
Ah, finally Thetik remembered talking Erogenian. I foresee a conflagration of manly fisticuffs. Though slightly puffy on ones side, though not less effective.
We´ll see.
July 31st, 2010 at 8:31 am
Ah .. finally things are going Tor’s way.
July 31st, 2010 at 11:24 am
Okey, first time I write something here.
I wonder, can it be that the reason the cha is unbalanced is because the king realised severeal years ago that Thetik didn’t cheat and that he by making him apologize unbalanced the cha.
So Thetik don’t owe the king anything, it’s the opposite.
Just a thougth
July 31st, 2010 at 12:08 pm
This could get most amusing — Erogenians value honesty above everything else, and now the Count is honestly speaking his feelings and the facts of the matter (though I think he also suddenly realized this himself — that the usual diplomatic pussyfooting and orchestrated lies were not going to cut it - that he needed to let it all hang out). Also, the Count not being under “guest” status right now (as I understand it) changes the rules somewhat. Will be very interesting how they work this out — though I’m thinking it won’t be with a brawl or even a punch. Also, it seems that while the Erogenians have “royal” bloodlines of a sort, the whole matter is more a meritocracy than a simply who’s related to whom — the royals rule because their bloodlines kick serious ass and have brains too (even the Urtts note this — that it’s double everything with Erogenian royalty). “Bastard” probably carries little weight with them.
July 31st, 2010 at 3:38 pm
I am going to be all earthy and dirty minded here, and think the issue is not really whether or not who won and how, but what the forfeit for losing the game was. I think they both wanted to lose because they wanted to actually give the *hem hem* forfeit.
July 31st, 2010 at 4:14 pm
JD, I find it amazing that you’ve managed to create such a vibrant and engaging world. Here we are, debating the finer points of Erogenian society, rooting for Tethik, lusting after the hairy man in the background (just some of us), and feeling amazement at the amount of time the Bull King is able to hold a grudge.
This is all your fault. You should be proud of yourself.
July 31st, 2010 at 5:17 pm
Well, just finished reading the entire epic to date. I am impressed as hell and hope you continue for as long as you enjoy creating this tale.
August 1st, 2010 at 1:49 am
Oh my. This could lead or end in several different ways. I shall await to see the outcome. @Mark: Welcome aboard. I did the same some time ago, and enjoyed it ever since and I like your avatar
August 1st, 2010 at 10:22 am
LOL…been waiting for this exchange since Tethik bested the Bull King’s nephew….has been worth it =D
August 1st, 2010 at 11:11 am
Fist clenched, the sound “Erk” barely escaping, head down, eyes closed in the classic, “Oh God(s), give me strength to deal with this fool” position. No, my friends, that wasn’t a cough. That is what happens when someone you care for has done something so completely and utterly stupid, foolish, pigheaded, and is continuing to do so, that your entire concept of reality is shaken. Oh, yes, and that really, really, p**sies you off. I know this, I get it from my household alot.
August 1st, 2010 at 11:58 am
Sissy slap fight, sissy slap fight!
August 1st, 2010 at 12:53 pm
yeah.. It’s my firm belief that Tethik is doing this on purpose… He’s the Kivalian equivalent of a butler who acknowledge the end of existance as we know it only by offering the 4 horsemen tea and biscuits
August 1st, 2010 at 1:15 pm
I seriously doubt that there will be anything “sissy” about what is going to happen.
August 1st, 2010 at 5:11 pm
@Stormhawk, I think you should do something about your household alot. I know alots can be tricky creatures due to their diversity, but they can also be very varm, soft and cuddly and they make good pets when you treat them right. I am curious as to whether you have a ’standart’ furred alot, or maybe an alot of ice or an alot of fire or…?
As to the comic; I can’t wait to see whether they end up fighting, playing a new game or something comepletely else. I’m guessing the third option will apply.
And wow, the hidden text was really hard to read this time.
August 1st, 2010 at 6:31 pm
Hmmm…
I suppose I may be wrong, but it still feels like the king INTENDS for him to get angry at him, to “balance the cha”. And I still feel the answer to “what will you do about it?” is to laugh.
August 1st, 2010 at 8:05 pm
@Lora, I’m with you on the third option. The Great and Powerful Oz… er, JED, will have us smiling in the end. As was expressed on the previous page; “Well, after all the heart and head-wrenching we had in the previous scenes, I thought we could do with something a little less serious for a few page” absolutely leaves this outcome wide-open for what will come. Still being patient twice-a-week. Sort-a…
August 1st, 2010 at 10:57 pm
It’s been said by a few.. and i think i agree.. it’ll be setting up of the game.. and determining which ruleset BEFOREHAND. but as always. what lies ahead.. only the JED knows..
August 2nd, 2010 at 8:33 am
So basically the move they’re talking about is something like the Castling maneuver in classic chess?
August 2nd, 2010 at 1:32 pm
Tonight I’ll hopefully be able to get to the new page and have it up. It’s a lot easier dealing with a static indoor set and mostly just dialogue with only four characters in the scene. So, I have high hopes.
Also, for the new book of pinups - hopefully ready by the end of this month - I have been getting a little Poser-happy. Got some new techniques and a couple of critical models to add detail, and the results are a little … addicting. All right, be fair, I spent the entire weekend making pretty realistic pictures of sexy barbarian women in an advanced state of undress. I’m even getting a lot better at making stereo 3D pics. This, to me, is why God invented computers. And women. And women on computers.
Anyway.
Just a few additional notes:
Sorry, no dodgeball. Anything else, though, is entirely possible.
“Fat?” Well, can’t deny that one. it’s right there, pushing my belt out in front of me.
“Stupid?” Well, yeah, sometimes.
“Stubborn?” You bet your ass.
“Bastard” is an insult because Tor knows it’s a Kivalian insult and Tethik is a Kivalian. Bastardy just doesn’t have the same meaning in Erogenia. Convention states that to plan children, the couple should be in silver or gold path - a committed relationship between loving adults. Despite the fairly advanced state of Erogenian birth control, accidents still happen, and children get born that nobody was expecting. Extended family and meshpucha is the rule, and so it’s no hardship on a child and no stigma to be raised by the priests and priestesses - as well as the rest of the village, many or most of which are going to be your cousins, uncles, aunts and grandparents anyway.
As to hereditary monarchy, Erogenians look at the heir of the king or queen as a strong suggestion rather than an iron-clad rule. They’ll give him or her first shot at it, but generally it will be well known in advance if that person is not really suited for a crown, and so the councils, after consulting with the people, will give thumb’s down and a new king or queen will be chosen from among the nobility. In rare cases, even from outside the nobility. They’re a practical people that way. Zonn and Ipola were never married. An interesting fact is that they never even walked a formal path together, despite their passionate, mostly monogamous, five-year relationship. When Ipola fell pregnant, she did what priestesses do to determine whether to have the child or terminate. She tranced and literally communed with the spirit waiting. It convinced her to go through with it, for which we are all, I’m sure, grateful. Uthic and Ipola were not married, either. It’s interesting to note that Ipola’s physical relationship with the Wolf king began just before she met Zonn, but continued even after he was lost. Tula was also an accident, but with extremely strong indications. Her father has been present in her life and she’s spent much time with her Wolf Tribe cousins over the years. Uthic loves her very much and she him, but he chose someone else as his heir for reasons that will be eventually explained.
Yes, twenty years ago Tethik and Tor were lovers. They have remained friends ever since, though their last liason was quite some time ago, even before the tuntach game. Is there a Brokeback moment coming? Not saying.
Mark - Welcome, and thanks for the kind words. Hope you keep reading and enjoying.
Elfguy - In Chess, the object is to capture the king, and there is only one round. In Tuntach, the object is to take the fortress, and there are two rounds to a game. Players alternate between offense and defense. Though the defensive player has fewer pieces, the rules generally favor the defense, as they do anyone who has planted himself in a strong castle with good supplies. To take the castle the attacker has to destroy all defenses, then enter the inner ring “fortress” on the board with a force of one tower and one warrior, (signifying metaphorically that you can effectively garrison a captured fort.) The Erogenian reverse end move in tuntach is a desperate play when the attacking player has no more warriors left, but is able to lure the defender into a circle where he can be taken, and the us enter the fortress alone. In Kivalia that is not a valid move. (Kivalians don’t believe in pyrric victories.)
August 2nd, 2010 at 5:09 pm
Actually, I don’t think it’s a staged cough. There’s a chance it might be, but…it’s more like we’re watching Tethik’s brain go *…POIK!* from the sudden realization that the entire snaffu of five years of imbalance-slash-hostility was over a point of frikkin courtesy. I feel this is the correct explanation because I, too, have a devious, court-politics-navigator’s brain…and I, too, have wound up having that *poik!* moment from some of the idiocies I have encountered in the past…
August 2nd, 2010 at 9:10 pm
I am voting for Tethik actually losing it and not pretending.
About the game of Tuntach: We have earlier seen Tula win over Gorshash by applying a bit of out-of-the-box thinking.
August 2nd, 2010 at 10:22 pm
The sexual tension between them is trying to attack me trough the screen,
They are so gonna get it on again.
August 3rd, 2010 at 6:28 am
I hate to be that guy, but after so many pages of wonderful comics, and excellent rendering, but it seems like Tethik’s right arm is doing some interesting contortions on the bottom panel.
August 6th, 2010 at 12:48 pm
Well, diplomacy be buggered. ‘Course, that might be the more diplomatic option when dealing with an erogenian.