Elan risks becoming a distraction to Vaarsuvius's research.
Cast[]
- Elan ◀ ▶
- Belkar Bitterleaf (as illusion) ◀ ▶
- Vaarsuvius ◀ ▶
Transcript[]
- Panel 1
Vaarsuvius: At least when the halfling was a member of this concern, we were still accomplishing our basic goals.
Illusory Belkar: Hey, that's a good point! Rock on, self buddy!
Elan: Shut up, Illusory Belkar. Dismiss Major Image.
- Panel 2
Elan: Look, V, it's not that I mind that Kubota is dead, really. He was a total douchebag. I mean, he did murder Therkla, after all. But it's wrong to—
Vaarsuvius: At the risk of repeating myself, who is "Therkla"?
- Panel 3
Elan: The half-orc ninja girl? Purple outfit, green skin?
Elan: You helped arrest her?
Vaarsuvius: She is dead?
Elan: Yeah.
Vaarsuvius: ...
Vaarsuvius: Does this mean we no longer gain XP for defeating her on the island?
- Panel 4
Elan: What?? How can you say that about her?
Elan: She was a PERSON, not a bundle of experience points! Therkla had feelings, and dreams, and... and more depth than YOU have!
Elan: She was in love with me. She gave up everything for a chance to be with me, and I couldn't do anything to keep her from dying in my arms.
- Panel 5
Vaarsuvius: I am deeply apologetic that I cannot keep abreast of your latest romantic subplots. It must be because I am too concerned with searching for your PREVIOUS paramour.
Vaarsuvius: You do remember Miss Starshine, do you not? Or did your tryst with the orc erase the pertinent memories?
- Panel 6
Elan: Don't you DARE say I've forgotten about Haley! Do you have any idea what I had to do because I won't give up on her?!?
Vaarsuvius: I do not know.
Vaarsuvius: Did you perhaps limit your affair with the NPC to oral pleasures? You know, out of respect for those still missing in action?
- Panel 7
Elan: ...
Elan: You're a horrible mean person, and I'm not going to lie for you. I'm going to tell Hinjo exactly what happened here.
Vaarsuvius: Do as you wish, though I find it odd that one who just witnessed the haste with which I will remove that which distracts me from my crucial research—
- Panel 8
Vaarsuvius's hands and eyes light up with magical power.
Vaarsuvius: —would risk becoming just such a distraction one's self.
- Panel 9
beat
- Panel 10
Vaarsuvius: Because then I might be forced to remove the distraction.
Elan: I don't get it.
- Panel 11
Vaarsuvius: YOU are the distraction in this case. Remove the distraction, which is you. Remove YOU with haste.
Elan: ...
Elan: What are you getting at?
- Panel 12
Vaarsuvius: Oh, forget it. It would take longer to make you understand than it would to research the next spell.
Elan: Wait—are you saying that you are going to research the spell "Haste" if I don't distract you anymore?
Vaarsuvius: Yes, that is it exactly. You have perfectly gleaned my true intentions, well done. Have a cookie.
D&D Context[]
- Elan continues to use is Major Image of Belkar in this strip.
- Haste is a 3rd level spell which doubles movement and attacks. It is not what V is working on.
Trivia[]
- A Threat assessment is a report which details the credibility and seriousness and likelihood of being carried out of a potential threat. Various organs of the U.S. government use this term in briefs regarding terrorist and other threats to the country.
- Illusory Belkar's "Rock on, self buddy" comment is a reference to his "Rock on, elf buddy" comment in the previous comic.