November 16th, 2012
Page 634
Comics for November 16, 2012 - Page 634
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| Noboru |
| North Hollywood, CALIFORNIA |
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| I'm a Hawaii grown guy, but I feel I was made for California. I'm laid back most of the time, but once I get into something I enjoy, I won't stop talking about it. I moved to LA in '08 but my heart belongs in San F....more |
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| Darthkitteous |
| Avenel, NEW JERSEY |
| I am an intelligent nerd with a propensity for fantasy. I love Tolkien, and I speak and read some Sindarin. I also have Mmo'd and Larp'd in the past. I enjoy costuming and cosplaying. I love history, and reenact Rev....more |
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November 16th, 2012 at 8:51 pm
Yep, nothin’ like Zona.
November 16th, 2012 at 9:31 pm
Now Mentl (when he figures out that book) could open one killer of a travel survives. Who wouldn’t want to explore all the cool stuff on either side. (Warning Mentl and his associates are not responsible for loses of luggage/minds/limbs/blood/or life. However if caught in any time/space loops will net you a 30% discount on you next trip.)
November 16th, 2012 at 9:53 pm
He always knows the right thing to say.
November 16th, 2012 at 10:13 pm
From experience: Always knowing the right thing to say comes from a love so deep that you want to know all there is to know about the one you love. Even then, you still sometimes get it wrong. If you’ve never known that sort of love, then it is like trying to describe a sunset to one who cannot see. If you have known that kind of love, then you have been truly blessed.
November 17th, 2012 at 2:48 am
Amen, sFCRetired. Amen.
November 17th, 2012 at 3:58 am
Amazing page.
November 17th, 2012 at 6:34 am
Lovely installment. Pretty much what I was expecting, only there will be a lot more of it yet.
Dear Zona … Remember the time when Mentl was jaw-agape gobsmekked over a “real castle?” Payback, and all that.
I’ve been playing with various lists in my head what they should be looking into trying to bring back with them. So many physical items are bulky or fragile or limited use before breaking or running out of ammo. So mostly I’ve been trying to imagine what knowledge they could transport back with them, perhaps a few key books that explain valuable tech/engineering, materials manufacture, medical knowledge ….
Anyway. Be fun to wait & watch and much popcorn. I do think a couple of very high-tech, supreme modern steel knives would come in handy, whether designed as weapons or utility.
But, reading this installment … just a whimsical thought hit me: they could get a matching set of discreet, tasteful modern tech tattoos. Nothing extreme or weird, just unique mementos from another world. C’mon … Zona with an Earth butterfly on her bum ..?
Don’t take me too seriously, folks. Was just an amusing side-thought.
November 17th, 2012 at 7:52 am
Hexpert,
I think cutlery is all well and good, but Zona can already decapitate an Urr-Natikh with her normal armaments, so they should concentrate on what they will need for Gorshash and Kor Khannnnnnnn Lachnis, and it’s not a set of Ginsu Tuntach pieces, although there is good precedent. How is JED going to sell, a possible one-way trip to a medieval war-zone, to those members of Retro Rock-it who are actually well adjusted and happy with their lives and families? (because no band is perfect). Maria and Skyler are content but might be curious about Erogenia, since they are entranced by Zoan. Zero has expressed some grumblings about his family, but overall seems in good shape. Nan is a given, there’s a word for people like her there and people say it with a gentle smile in their voice! But Mark? he actually has cool friends! Besides, he’s the drummer and his magick would make him spontaneaously combust at just the wrong time. Rachel is in an advanced state of unbornness. And all we know about Gable is he can recognize that Mark has cool friends.
So get busy selling this John, cause serving a vengeful god of Fire means never getting held up by 10 foot snowdrifts.
November 17th, 2012 at 8:42 am
Ok, roleplayer and wargammer forover 25 years… but.. Mentl.. if you are going back (And we hope you will), G back PREPARED!!!
Basics like survival guides, books on antibiotics etc are a given, along with better quality weapons and stuff that will help Zona’s people.
Also, any chance you can go back in a vehicle?
hehe
November 17th, 2012 at 9:15 am
So nice to see them going somewhere together and hearing the love flow back into both their lives.
November 17th, 2012 at 9:28 am
Yep, the world is a strange place, Zona.
November 17th, 2012 at 9:38 am
Speedy gets it right, the thing to take back is books. first aid manuals, emergency medicine, obstetrics, anatomy and physiology; history books; something about optical telegraphs and morse code maybe… heck with magic, try for an alternate-history “lest darkness fall” angle.
November 17th, 2012 at 10:04 am
@SPeedy: Books on antibiotics won’t help; they lack infrastructure for manufacturing. And I think Erogenians are much more proficient in survival than we are
A batch of antibiotics yes, some books on political theory, chemistry, agriculture, food preservation, metallurgy, gunsmithing, basic medicine textbooks etc. Mechanical watches. Lighters. Ballpoint pens. HSS tool bits, calipers etc. A bit of specialized military hardware: sniper rifles, grenade launchers, binoculars, night vision googles, radios (long distance and walkie-talkies) with hand crank generators, torchlights (with generators as well). Coffee!
November 17th, 2012 at 10:06 am
It’s interesting to see other readers advocating bringing back a little modernization when it looks as though the Erogenians had a lot of that at one time. It’s hard to say what would really be good to have without knowing what they used to have and whether it was the material wealth that corrupted them or their attitudes.
(However, I will say that my personal take-back would be a good rifle with an accurate, high-powered scope; let’s see how the Urrts react when someone drops their high priest from 500 yards away.)
November 17th, 2012 at 11:03 am
@Ami: Good point about the Erogenians having had ‘advanced civilization’ in the past. Some toys and examples of art and music wouldn’t go amiss, though.
A sniper rifle is only as good as its’ shooter, but if Nan were to mention being on her school’s rifle team or something…
November 17th, 2012 at 1:33 pm
@ICWT: Mark would be LUCKY if he spontaneously combusted, that’s the cool option. If he’s unlucky, he’d draw “drowning in a pool of (someone else’s) vomit.” And you know how long it can take to fill a pool.
(I apologize for going there, everyone.)
November 17th, 2012 at 1:37 pm
Speedy@I’m with you, I started playing DnD in 7th grade and never looked back
and that was…..just a few years ago…..damn…….uhm 30+ years now….ouch suddenly I feel old.
Anyways Mentl grab some gear dude, hit that blue light special at the Mart in honor of “The Chin” himself and get what you need
November 17th, 2012 at 4:51 pm
Ami,
not only did the ancient Erogenians have a high-tech culture, BBW Kor Lachnis is an ancient, whose memories are fresh, he would not be over-awed for very long, if at all. Although, that half-a-click ’splodey thing on his cranium could cramp his style.
November 17th, 2012 at 4:52 pm
Big, Bad Wizard of course.
November 17th, 2012 at 5:17 pm
Okay I am going to make a prediction here… We know that Zona can’t have children but will. Maybe at some point they go to a fertility clinic?
ICWT - is that a reffrence to Steven Brust’s “Jereg” novels?
November 17th, 2012 at 5:57 pm
The one thing I worry about, re: their return to Erogenia, is that they will more than likely arrive just as the bad-old-naked dude and his lizardly counterpart have made or are making serious waves - into which they walk, unawares.
I really, really hate surprises like that !
Ummmmm, JED.
Can you get The Book to warn them ? ? ? ? ? Please?
November 17th, 2012 at 11:15 pm
Reminds me of this exchange between Amy Pond and the Doctor a couple seasons back:
Amy: Why am I here?
The Doctor: Because… I can’t see it anymore. I’m 907, and after a while you just can’t… see it.
Amy: See what?
The Doctor: Anything. I look at a star, and all I see is a big ball of burning gas. And I know how it began and how it will end. And I was probably there both times. And after a while everything is just stuff. And that is the problem: You make all of space and time into your back yard, and what do you have? A back yard! But you, you can see it. And when you see it, I see it.
November 18th, 2012 at 3:01 am
Ami,
500 yards? With a good .50 cal, you can multiply that by 3x-4x, or more. Afghanistan has seen sniper kills at 2 miles - but even 1500 yards is far enough away that the spell slinging types can’t even imagine it coming. Just take a ballistics computer and advanced optical/thermal sight, or you can’t get the most out of it.
.338 Lapua Magnum will also work, very accurate at ranges up to 1,400 yards or so, but not quite the “watch that guy explode” stopping power of the .50. On the bright side, the weapon is half the weight or less, and you get lots more ammo.
Choices, choices…
November 18th, 2012 at 5:25 am
iPod full of R&B Mentl doesn’t know by heart yet+ solar charger for the iPod.
A Hummvee (not a hummer!) retrofitted with a kickass sound system, lots of jerrycans of gas, and a recording of the 1812 Overture.
November 18th, 2012 at 5:26 am
…oh and also a recording of Wagner’s Ride of the Valkyries.
November 18th, 2012 at 7:15 am
somany chaoices so little time. but they are the most important things to go back not material items
November 18th, 2012 at 7:15 am
so many choices
November 18th, 2012 at 11:34 am
Ami, Joe, et.al. Not to be all uppity and in your face but to be proficient with a good sniper rifle takes a LOT of training and practice (thousands of rounds). Also Joe I think you have mixed miles with kilometers. I don’t know of anyone ever getting a two mile kill while there are several snipers with confirmed 2k kills. I don’t think anyone has broken the 3 kilometer bar yet. In any case a sniper is a highy trained professional with years of experience. If anything, Mentl and his close associates would be better served with a personal side arms in case they get overwhelmed in melee. If he wants to bring any kind of real fire power… there’s many reasons why the AK-47 and its successor AK-74 is the most widely used assault weapon in the world. Cheap, easy to train ,clean, maintain and arguably the most rugged weapon in the world. Cheap ammo too. BUT in Erogenia there’s no easy resupply. Hmmm not sure this idea is all that good. Sure, maybe bring a few select weapons … but I can seen many pros and cons on this subject. Even to become moderately proficient with a handgun takes a lot of time on the range. Has Mentl eve FIRED a gun? The SHOTGUN song needs no reloads other than Mentls vocal chords hahahaah.
November 18th, 2012 at 11:48 am
“The SHOTGUN song needs no reloads other than Mentls vocal chords hahahaah.”
———————————————–
Good point, Ga’tor. Forget the guns & ammo. Bring throat drops! Don’t want Mentl losing his voice in battle, or coming down with a cold when the fighting heats up!
November 18th, 2012 at 12:21 pm
Egad, didn’t mean to spark rifle spazz; that’s what FTF is for. I’m well aware that a skilled sniper can drop an enemy at greater distances, and also that it takes a long time to hone that kind of skill, so my little mind decided on what it thought was a good numerical compromise. Also, I wouldn’t see Mentl doing the shooting, but Yinaera or someone else of similar skill with a longbow. I would think an archer would grasp the concepts more readily (though still needing practice, of course). But this is all just fanwanking because I’m pretty sure our heroes won’t be taking much luggage back with them.
Maybe some cough drops are the best idea after all.
November 18th, 2012 at 12:54 pm
No, no, you did nothing wrong Ami, in fact you started a good side topic. One of the things that make JED and COZ (other than the excelllent artwork and story telling) is that he has a consistant following of people with wide range of experience who post intelligent and though ful comments. Out of the hundreds of web comics I monitor, Zona is the ONLY one whose comments I read fully and completely. JED is also one of the few who actully appriciates the feedback from his readers and will correct and incorporate these comments into his work if he deems it worthy and fit. I have learned a lot of interesting factoids from Jean, Macnut, ICWT, trickerson and many other fellow journeyers here.
On another topic, I think loading down Nan with sniping skills would be a little over the top. That said, there’s always the chance of finding a old Gunny with no family or skills suitable for a civilian life trying to find his place in the world … or another…
November 18th, 2012 at 2:09 pm
I’m pretty sure the guns & ammo are unnecessary. As was said before, there are songs for that. I’m not even convinced that anyone will go back except Mentl, Zona & Tula. After all, I don’t think a band backing him up would make Mentl any more powerful. What would be helpful would be finding ways for him to learn to focus better. It is after all, more the INTENT that matters than the actual ’size’ of the music. ‘Size’ is the best word I can think to describe having a band to add to his music, as without electricity amplification isn’t correct. Since the other members are not capable of music-magic, they are not necessary for the war.
I also don’t see the need for a vehicle. IF the book can take one to specific locations in other dimensions, then it surely can take one to specific locations in the same dimension. Therefore, no need for the transportation when one can transport without it - probably without the limitations of storage capacity or legroom.
The most helpful thing they can take is knowledge. But I do think they need to be careful. The last thing that should be tried is to bring Erogenia back to the level of ‘modernization’ that it had before. Probably the most useful knowledge would be in adding songs to Mentls repertoire. In regards to medicine, I’m not convinced that modern medicine has anything over their magic. Not after witnessing the healing we have seen.
Nor am I convinced that anything more than herbal medicine info would be helpful. It isn’t as if they can take gobs of prescription medicines with them and they certainly cannot manufacture them. Knowing any ‘proven’ herbal medicine that might not yet be known in Erogenia would be of the most help, that I can see. However, it is hard to say whether or not that is already pretty well covered by the folks back home.
November 18th, 2012 at 2:15 pm
All they need to take back is an electric guitar, a good portable amp, and a solar battery charger. Heavy artillery for Mentl. I don’t think firearms are going to be a popular choice in Erogenia, but adding power and range to Mentl’s magic might make sense.
November 18th, 2012 at 3:17 pm
As a medical student, I’d have to second the comment that modern medicine has nothing on the magic we’ve seen.
Guns are, as has been pointed out, generally unnecessary for Mentl, but would be very handy for anyone else he brings back (until the ammo runs out, anyway).
Modern vehicles would generally have too much of a fuel issue; better off with a horse (or, once Mentl works it out, flying-by-magic). To be effectively useful beyond the very short term, a vehicle would have to have no need for fuel, roads, docking facilities, to be low maintenance, and to be affordable with Mentl’s financial resources… which means you’re pretty much limited to mountain bikes, and they have too little additional utility compared to horses to really be game-changers. Vehicles that would really work in such a context generally exist only in the heads of their designers (e.g. http://www.aeromodeller2.be/index.html... and even if a working prototype of that thing existed, it probably wouldn’t take very kindly to arrows or magic zapping).
What could be handy in the immediate term:
- Some old-fashioned battery-powered walkie-talkies and a couple of solar chargers for said batteries.
- The nearest Earth equivalent to any basic supplies the behind-Urrt-lines mission is running short on, assuming they can get back to the same time and place that they left. Maybe a few luxury items to raise morale as well.
In the longer term, you could get fancy; for instance, you could look up the simplest possible effective gun and ammo designs, take them to the leading artificers of Zona’s world, and with a few months work you’d be able to start turning out hand-crafted basic firearms. But that would be quite a different type of narrative and general story…
November 18th, 2012 at 3:23 pm
Folks; following on Ga’Tor’s comment, “there’s always the chance of finding a old Gunny with no family or skills suitable for a civilian life trying to find his place in the world … or another,” how many of you would head to LA if Mentl started a recruiting drive?
Sniper Nan would be a hoot, but even if she was a good shot is she a killer? I think she’s too gentle for the job. Like Mentl she’d leap to her friends’s defense, but I doubt she’d stalk and kill a bad lizard or man.
-Z
November 18th, 2012 at 5:36 pm
Don’t ever bring tech you can’t reload or recharge… Bring stuff you can repair or that will far outlast/outshine existing equipment (if nothing else, all the enemy sees is normal ammo fired from inexplicable distances/angles, and that’s much more terrifying). That in mind, a few very nice crossbows might be a wise investment here, if one wouldn’t want to depend solely on one’s magic. Also, the old standby, an aluminum baseball bat and a few nails.
November 18th, 2012 at 8:27 pm
I think everyone should rewind and think this through. What does our world have the Erogenia really NEEDS? So far, all I can tally is Mentl. Healing? Nah - did you check out what those mages can do? Weapons? Not really - rifles need bullets, which will run out some time, and just how effective is that really against magic blasts in the long run?
Also, while the people we’ve encountered in LA have been nice and helpful, they would be babes in the woods in Erogenia. Yeah, they can sing, but I don’t see them having Mentl’s magic chops. Without that, they’re Urrt-chow.
I think, the trick right now is to get Mentl untangled from his world so he can return without regrets.
November 18th, 2012 at 8:31 pm
Having read other stories of the “Robinson Crusoe” type the best stuff to bring back would be knowledge. Books that might help the technologically deficient bootstrap themselves up to higher tech.(If they so wished.) Most actual examples of advanced technology would be either severely handicapped by not having supporting infrastructure or of very limited application. If Mentl were to think of doing such a thing I would guess Tula would be the one to ask “What could you use?”
November 18th, 2012 at 9:38 pm
Shyster, yep, though I prefer his Phoenix Guards, that dialogue kills me.
Ga’Tor, back at ‘ya. It’s a pleasure it is to read such a well-written bunch of commentators. Most comment columns on the web read like 12 year-olds making yo’ momma jokes and going hurrr, hurrr, hurr a lot. There are still typos, but they are due to excitement at participation, not brain-lock cases.
JED, I can’t think of anything else I read where when I re-read, I read all the comments as well.
Good point Arondell!
It is way possible to have too much tech!
Dean McLaughlin’s classic “Hawk among the Sparrows” dealt with the problems of fueling, launching and supporting an SR-71 Blackbird in World War One France in missions against 90% wood and cloth planes that traveled at barely more than the running speed of a horse a few hundred feet off of the ground at most and were essentially invisible to EM, Radar and Infrared.
Happy Holidays to all the Sistren & Brethren! - InCestusWeTrust
November 19th, 2012 at 4:43 am
…I’d just like to point out that Erogenian Earth is a different Earth which works under a very different set of rules. Magic works there, yes, remember magic? But you’re all assuming that technology could work there. Remember what Vito said, that in EROGENIA, Mentl’s oldies songs are kick-ass enchantments, but on Mentl’s Earth, they barely work. Soooo…who’s to say that a high-powered rifle or an iPad with a solar power generator or whatever would even work in Zona’s world? They actually might not.
Yes, yes, you can go into arguments about simple chemistry in the gunpowder of a bullet, blah blah blah…but that’s chemistry that works in OUR world, under OUR rules. (Please note, Mentl was using a magical version that shot from his palms, not real shotgun shells.) I’m not saying it wouldn’t work–JED is the one who ultimately decides all of this–but I am saying it -may- not work as we in this (Mentl’s) universe know it works. Heck, Zona’s magical bracers vanished visually. Who’s to say a rifle wouldn’t vanish in a similar fashion, or a cellhpone, or what-have-you?
The same could be said for the science of how OUR world works. Just because we have antibiotics that work the way they do here does not mean the same biological rules apply in Zona’s realm. We have a magnetosphere; they may have a version that uses magic. (Magnets, how do they work in Erogenian Earth?) (…couldn’t resist, lol)
So…I’m not saying they can’t take those things with ‘em, I’m just saying we don’t know if they’d even work as advertised. Mentl didn’t need a chemistry lab and a special effects department to make napalm shoot out of his palms, there. We know he can get a similar -effect- to the things he can do here with our Earth’s technology/knowledge…but the -means- or -method- may have to be approached in some other way.
…Remember, Science = Knowledge. We have the Science of Technology. They have the Science of Magic.
November 19th, 2012 at 9:47 am
Oh yes. The best thing they could bring back with them is knowledge. Knowledge is power, as they say.
I have a feeling philosophical texts might be interesting to the Erogenians. (Not useful for warfare, but maybe for building upon their culture and civilisation). Chemistry might also be interesting to them.
November 19th, 2012 at 12:14 pm
I’ve been thinking that going back just armed with foreknowledge might be the best to be hoped for, myself.
The only other comic I read that I love to read the commentary for its “DIGGER”, and if you’re not familiar with it, go forth and remedy it! Even though it ended some time ago,people re-read and comment even now.
November 19th, 2012 at 4:52 pm
Ah, Digger… By far one of my most beloved graphic stories out there. Anyone still not acquainted with it should go out there and archive binge immediately
About technology vs magic: While immensely powerful, magick is available only to selected handful of people, and these people have only a limited amount of time (and probably power) available per day. Technology can be made available to everyone. And I’m not too worried by Erogenians reverting to their old vices: Three thousand years should be enough that their judgment and moral evolution caught up with their power. They spent most of the time balancing the cha, after all, and it has to have a positive influence on the civilization.
November 19th, 2012 at 7:49 pm
In a world where ‘visual range’ is the primary determinate in making or avoiding a fight, I’d say the best thing Mentl could bring back would be a few sets of binoculars. You don’t even need high end x50 magnifiers either; x4 would greatly extend your range of detection.
Also, not an immediate concern, but it would be nice if he’d arrange for Ipola to get a replacement for that window in her study.
November 19th, 2012 at 8:30 pm
Been thinking about the “what to take back” topic and with one exception I think I gonna stick with the guns issue. Mentl’s talent and weapon is his music and most importantly his voice, however it is also his vulnerability. I’m sure all of us can imagine many scenarios where Mentl’s voice is neutralized i.e. simple gag, laryngitis, blow to the throat, broken jaw, ’spell of silence’ etc. That said, Mentl is a smart guy and I can’t see him returning to to Erogenia without a backup weapon. An autoloader is too complex to maintain but a revolver is perfect. My personal favorite is my S&W Mod. 19 .357 magnum. BUT when I go to the range the pistol I always take with me and lobve to fire is my Wife’s S&W LadySmith .38 Mod. 60LS. Yea yea I know, i like to fire a ‘GIRLS” gun. But that girls gun will kill dead. Now Mentl being a guitarist with have strong wrists, hands and fingers and I’m sure he could handle a big ol’ 44 mag. BUT, I think he would be ‘comfortable’ with something like a LadySmith Mod. 642LS .357/.38. It offers the best of both worlds because it can chamber the less powerful .38 for practice (cheaper too which may not be a consideration). Were I Mentl, I’d take two with 2000 rounds of ammo (more if possible). Possibly fit Tula out in the same manner for sorta the same reasons.
Zona? No. It would take her too far out of her ‘zone’ of expertise - blades. Now my exception. The best thing our world has to offer Zona would be the “Nihonto style, Japanese sword”. I don’t know if the world of Erogenia has developed this kind of sword tech. but if it hasn’t (JED would know) this would be the best type of weapons technology he could bring back. Lotta books on the subject to take back and that kind of sword making technique an Erogenian swordsmith would kill for. Zona would be like a little kid in a candy store if she had never encountered a Katana type blade and visited a REAL Japanese swordsmiths shop (not the cheap knock offs that abound). Hmm could be a perfect gift from Mentl. BUT all this supposes that Mentl et. al. have lots of funds… Maybe the pawnbroker found a buyer for that rock and forwarded Mentl a nice chunk of cash….
Oh well, my two-bits input.
November 19th, 2012 at 11:44 pm
Ga’Tor; If they’re buying swords they better get two. Yatta-ta could put one to good use. For Mentl, modern body armor that’s effective against arrows and swords. Keeping the big gun’s squishy body safe is a good idea. Then again we have no idea how much they can carry with them. Maybe just getting back to Erogenia with what they can hold will be it.
Jed; as always we wait to see what you’ll think of that we haven’t.
-Z
-Z
November 20th, 2012 at 1:25 am
Yeah a good knife and a side arm (until the ammo runs out unless they bring the knowledge on how to make some bullets) are safe bets and maybe a silencer for sneaking around. There are no reasons to assume one way or another that Earth tech can’t work there until other wise non electrics stuff should be more than good to talk about seriously. I would bring music stuff wheather or nor the band comes cuz Erogenia has musicians just not on our level. So music books instruments (not nessasarily electric) and any music that Mentl doesn’t already know by heat especially and sheet music on anything that could help in a war. I know it has already been said that Mentl’s “musgic” needs intent and will to be powerful and directed but remember old Mentl still had his duaghter play back up to get them home so a little help can go a long way. (Don’t point out that his daughter has powers like him so that scenario doesn’t count, I already thought about that and it does too.) Remeber when Mentl played in the castle and he commented on how the other 4 guys were playing along? He boosted them and they boosted him. Also they probably don’t need any amps for electric instruments or amps and probably don’t need amps anyway, remember when Mentl played “Wild Thing”? he said he could swear the lute belted out the sound of a electric guitar so as long as he is there the amps and power for them isn’t all that much of a terrible need.
Now for the question of a back up band really being all that helpful? Yes it would, even if it is only a mental thing for Mentl (pun intended) it would at the very least give Mentl an added boost of confidence and pool of intrumental and vocal power to work from. Ever heard of Brutal Legend? Eddie Riggs gets transported to a ancient land of Heavy Mentl where music is power particulay Heavy Mental? Eddie once said in the game that at home all his guitar does is make noise but here it shoots out flames and causes lightening to strike. Also it can sommon things as well. sound familar? talking about this is what helped him get the other to creat a stage and a band to really bring out the power against the other armies. So yeah it only stands to reason that if with one his voice alone he can bring forth firey distruction with an ampitheater more varied instruments to work from, he can move continents.
Also for Zona and Tula I would go to a hunting shop and get them some bows arrows and other old world weapons they would reconize and use easyly but you know with our modern day advancements from better preformance. I bet with them use to doing most of the work with hand made weapons they could diffentantly get use to weapons made with “luxagery.”
And lets not forget books on The Art Of War and other battle and war tactics and weapons of every variety from over the years. I am sure the Erogians no matter how good they are at winning battles would love info on the finished and all the bad qualities hammered out of all the weapons they have, currently inventing and will event over the next few years. Think about it if u r going to invent some they of great help and as complicated as say catapults rams and copper botteming ships and cannons, and all the best stuff that will be coming out for the next hundred years or so would you love to know how to make them perfect from the get-go without having to waste years of resources time and lives makeing them work and always staying ahead of the curve of all your enemies? The only down side I see long term? somebody wither steals it and or ya get uppity when some one else does or sasy something u don’t like or threatens you espcially ur allies and you threaten them with that kind of knowleged.