^ 34 Comments...

1. Lebbrin
   March 12th, 2013 at 8:17 pm

   Hmmmm…. He had me until “I don’t see your Man around…” Until then I was willing to believe he was as he appears. Now.. who knows. Pass the popcorn Jean.

2. Descartes
   March 12th, 2013 at 8:32 pm

   My instincts say there’s nothing sinister afoot here. He’s attracted to Mora and I think he’s just probing for her relationship status.

3. Hwyla
   March 12th, 2013 at 8:59 pm

   And if Gramps is smart - they aren’t heading West either!

4. Darnelc
   March 12th, 2013 at 9:26 pm

   meh,…. she is clueless.

5. Debi
   March 12th, 2013 at 9:36 pm

   It appears he only has eyes for Mora.

6. Karyl
   March 12th, 2013 at 10:29 pm

   She’s not really aware of what the heck is going on around her much, is she?
   I hope she’s wary enough to survive without betraying them all.

7. Jean
   March 12th, 2013 at 11:59 pm

   *bustles in with a big ol’ bowl of fluffy buttered popcorn, a medium-big bowl of fluffy unbuttered popcorn, and three medium bowls of different flavors of kicka–er, popcorn for y’all to enjoy…*

8. Shyster
   March 13th, 2013 at 12:41 am

   Thanks Jean! *munches on the buttered popcorn*

   Riss gude raz rubble… *swallows* Excuse me…

   This dude has trouble written all over him. And yet, I don’t see him being a long term problem somehow. Of course I have been wrong before.

9. MacGuyver
   March 13th, 2013 at 12:46 am

   To rephrase a Chuck Norris “fact”: If you can see Morcai, he can see you. If you can’t see Morcai, you may be only seconds from death.

10. vladdraquulia
    March 13th, 2013 at 1:09 am

    I think Mr. Tall Dark and Creepy is about to get a serious Dinner of death-ala-morcai with a helping of grandpa’s knife

11. Paddy
    March 13th, 2013 at 3:34 am

    “And if Gramps is smart - they aren’t heading West either!”

    Actually, I’d say they almost certainly are. Erogenian, remember? Of course, there’s the potential for a double-bluff; if the stranger isn’t actually Erogenian, he might not think they’re telling the truth about the direction anyway.

12. Balkin
    March 13th, 2013 at 5:36 am

    He’s about to find himself in serious trouble yeh?
    He should retreat immediately yeh?
    Anyone asking questions of this group is in for a bad end yeh?

    Though honestly, this could go either way. He might be looking for a ‘private performance’ from Mora, or he could be fishing for information… Either way this could get entertaining!

13. Lora
    March 13th, 2013 at 9:21 am

    Ah, looks like the stranger has his eyes set on Mora. And she do seem to like the flattering words.

14. Lebbrin
    March 13th, 2013 at 10:35 am

    Ooh, just noticed panels 1 and 3… Gran-dad is still holding the knife/dagger. Nice touch.

15. Ga'Tor
    March 13th, 2013 at 12:33 pm

    So far the man has done nothing suspicious so the rule is, ‘be polite but on your guard”. Can’t treat everyone on the road as a pariah. So is that torq silver or copper? Had Mora been a bit more quick she would not have mentioned anything regarding her status with Morcai. Best reply she could make would have been something to the effect of - “Yes, he is a man of many talents.”, and left it at that. But, that’s Mora for you.

16. EmmaC
    March 13th, 2013 at 12:36 pm

    Thanks for the popcorn! My problem is more that Mora seems more Kivalian than Erogenian. So I don’t see her being so free with how she will spend her night, not going with the first stranger even if he is attractive…
    But trouble… yeh?

17. Wolf
    March 13th, 2013 at 12:52 pm

    I just love the fact that when she was dancing, she had no worry lines, talking to this guy, she has no worry lines, and unsure about Morcai, she had no worry lines, but in EVERY other seen we have seen her in, she has them. Her face is transformed when she relaxes. I am willing to give the fellow the benefit of the doubt just for the sake of that. Even if it is an act on both their parts.

18. Hwyla
    March 13th, 2013 at 1:46 pm

    When I said ‘if gramps is smart…’ I didn’t mean that he lied about heading west as their intention today - but that tomorrow they ought to change their mind and go ’south’ for a day or so. Not a lie - a change of plans - made specifically to lose this guy if possible (just in case).

19. Hwyla
    March 13th, 2013 at 1:53 pm

    Actually, the knife is a really nice detail if you look back over the last few pages. When Morcai begins to speak of Uncle Buddys, we see Grampa with both hands above table and no knife. During the conversation, one hand goes below the table. When it comes back up above table (after Morcai has left), he is holding the knife and makes the statement about cutting Morcai’s throat if need be.

    So, Grampa pulled out his knife in response to the argument, keeping it hidden, but just in case it was needed. Very well scripted JED!

    As for this guy’s torc - it is two-color. Gold or copper for the main part with silver (or pewter) balls on the ends.

20. Wally
    March 13th, 2013 at 2:02 pm

    ? ‘I don’t see your man around…’ Hmmmmm
    Here fishy, fishy… phishy

21. Hwyla
    March 13th, 2013 at 2:06 pm

    Last post - I swear - I think Gramps IS fudging the truth a bit here now that I look at the map and where we are told they are at the moment. At the beginning of these scenes it said they were on the southeastern road to Dell and Dell IS SouthEast of Normos (from which they fled) - so IF they are following the road then they are going SouthEast, not West.

    Therefore, for Grampa to be telling the truth, he has just made up his mind to go West in response to situation. And perhaps they will go West for a mile or so and then head back to the SouthEastern road?

22. Joe
    March 13th, 2013 at 2:20 pm

    “The agile part was nice. The quick… not so much.”

23. sentientcheese
    March 13th, 2013 at 8:18 pm

    yep, tripped every alarm. “Kill ‘em with fire” status. Not sure what he’s up to but i don’t like it.

24. Nimue
    March 14th, 2013 at 4:47 am

    I see we all agree that this guy is trouble…I’m not sure if he’s going to be a good or a bad guy, but I bet that she’s going to be persuaded to learn some erogenian war tricks soon :p

25. ICWT
    March 14th, 2013 at 8:45 am

    MacG: Why was Chuck Norris Boulevard renamed? Because no one wanted to cross Chuck Norris.

    This guy could be a judas goat of somekind, hard to tell exactly what or more properly for whom. Maldik isn’t that subtle and Morcai killed his best Lieutenant at Mora’s house. One of Ipona’s “ravens” perhaps? I’m thinking he’s their next link in the “underground railway”. Dell’s uncle is probably as sharp as he is (or Dell wouldn’t trust him with the little family) and Tethik did call Morcai “the best I’ve got”, implying there are others approaching that level.

26. vladdraquulia
    March 14th, 2013 at 9:29 am

    @ICWT I disagree about the implication that there are others at Morcai’s level.
    the words “The Best I’ve got” implys a singular position. Had he said “One of my Best” then I would have agreed in the probability of a multiplicity of Morcai’s lol still just because he is the best does not preclude the possibility of there being Other agents or that they are well trained just that Morcai is “The Best”

27. vladdraquulia
    March 14th, 2013 at 9:33 am

    Oh you know why Chuck Norris doesn’t use condoms during Sex? Cause there is no protection from Chuck Norris

28. Ga'Tor
    March 14th, 2013 at 10:52 am

    Hmm… “Best I’ve got…” can imply that Morcai was the best available “at the time” or the difference between 007 and the rest of the double O’s.
    As for the stranger, most new charaters are not introduced for no reason and the reason is the rub. All indications are that this guy is of the Eogenian tribes, therefore on the side of the good guys. Doesn’t mean JED doesn’t have neferious plans for him though. But consider, Ipona must have a number of agents out collecting info and Zona would likewise have scouts out for intell purposes, in fact JED has hinted at this if I’m not mistaken. This guy could very well fall into that category. The choices are: good guy, bad guy or completely neutral and sniffing around Mora for obvious Erogenic reasons. All cases give rise to probabe conflicts with Morcai even if the stanger honestly wants to lend a helping hand once he tumbles onto their troubles. .

29. Snarkfest
    March 14th, 2013 at 2:11 pm

    Haven’t we seen this guy before when the swordsman was chasing Zona to Challenge her to a duel? Isn’t he a member of Zona’s tribe?

30. Nimue
    March 14th, 2013 at 7:20 pm

    Well, he looks like could be bear tribe (if I remember the name well), these guys are a little too straightforward and look like they have their way with trouble :p

    Vlad-ya made me laugh

31. Stormhawk
    March 14th, 2013 at 11:11 pm

    You are forgetting that Cardinal type character who set up the whole murder which turned to suicide plot. He is devious enough to set out a stalking horse or two. This person is playing her though I don’t think for a minute the old man is taken in. He waited until someone he thought WAS her man had left. Shouldn’t that have set off some alarm bells? Now the problem is, where to hide the body?

32. drchelm
    March 15th, 2013 at 1:53 am

    As far as going east or west is concerned, I was under the impression that they were heading south since Dell is south and a tiny bit east of Normos. Just saying…

33. Reservist
    March 15th, 2013 at 6:48 am

    *grabs a bucket of popcorn and gives Jean a 10 bucks note*
    *sits and eats*

34. darnelc
    March 15th, 2013 at 12:50 pm

    I find it irritating that she (Mora) falls into the stereotype of the arrogant city snob that knows nothing about life outside of her normally safe enviroms(sp) . Her ‘tude is the defining thing that will make Morcai’s job harder and the trip interesting alone the lines of the old Chinese curse.

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