202 – Rivers of Information

Sorry I’m late today, gang. Extenuating circumstances and all that.

By the way, I love the way the images in today’s comic look.

↓ Transcript
Third Ferial walking into the room.

FERIAL

The River is missing some vital information.

FERIAL

The Reclaimer is not dead.

Front view of the three Ferials.

FERIAL

I have updated the River's information feed accordingly.

FERIAL

What it saw as the Reclaimer's death was merely a very convincing copy.

One Ferial turning to face the newcomer.

FERIAL

Are you sure? The River rarely misses a trick.

FERIAL

I am. I witnessed it with my own eyes. It was a clever deception...

From behind the Ferials.

FERIAL

...but it was a deception, nonetheless.

FERIAL

Was it intended to trick us?

Close in on the third Ferial.

FERIAL

I do not believe so. It appeared to be meant for Intuitive Portent.

FERIAL

To what end?

FERIAL

Portent has fortified itself.

FERIAL

Ah.

Close-up on the third Ferial.

FERIAL

I believe the Reclaimer has found a way to breach Portent's security.

FERIAL

A most enlightening development.


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Discussion (39) ¬

  1. @adamwithabeard

    Great stuff, as always!

  2. RobRocker7

    Nice comic! The last frame seems a bit washed out, but other than that its always interesting to see Reclaimer's evil nemesis!

    • Jim Stitzel

      Ferial's always been fun to write. :)

  3. Larrykan

    hmmm so portents defence isn't from ferial…. portent has done that of it's onw devices and reasons… interesting

    • Jim Stitzel

      Indeed. ;)

    • SnowXing

      I just realized that. This could be bad.

  4. Lupus_Cruor

    I love the comic Jim, I especially love the different look you have going for whenever we go to Ferial, it gives a sense of there is something wrong in the area around the Triumvirate

    • Jim Stitzel

      Glad you like it!

  5. HSAR

    But why would Portent thinking the RC is dead change anything?

    • Jim Stitzel

      Ah, but it doesn't. ;)

      • HSAR

        I see! It's all clear now… Portent wanted a pizza, and Ferial is from a Domino Express!

        • Jim Stitzel

          Ferial exceeded the 30-minute delivery time, Portent asked for a refund, Ferial refused. It all went downhill from there.

          • ResoundingGlass

            Ah, I see… and RC is trying to calm Portent down but he still wants his refund too.

  6. Jim Stitzel

    Thank you, sir. :)

  7. Rav Raider

    Tricked Ferial without even knowin it. That's pretty impressive that Tran can be that good.

    • Jim Stitzel

      Call it a short-lived happy accident.

      • ResoundingGlass

        It is impressive though I was hoping the trick would have lasted a little longer. I can't wait to see what you've got in store for us next Jim.

        • Jim Stitzel

          Oh, Tran's 'attack' hasn't even resolved yet…

  8. Diamondking

    Always interesting to see the Triumvirate interact with itself. And does Ferial seem somewhat impressed?

    • AThoth

      Seeing as the diction chosen was "convincing copy," "clever deception," and "enlightening development," it is probably a safe bet to say he was at least a tad impressed.

      • Jim Stitzel

        Yeah, I think that's safe to say. :)

  9. bjb yo

    Do you think that Portent knew that it was a trap? Would he let Tran breach him?
    He probably tried to trick Ferial, he knows Ferial is watching. He might of thought it would work, for The Triumvirate have said time after time the Calvacade have underestimated him.

    • Jim Stitzel

      As always, the reality is a bit more complex than that. Tran's gonna get a bit of voice-time next week—and reveal a few important details.

  10. Ilyich

    If it fooled at least two of the Triumvirate, it has a high chance of fooling Portent, if that is in fact what Reclaimer has planned. As for Tran… does this mean she's now "dead" or was it just a very convincing semi-physical copy of RC?

    • Sunkicked

      Egads I hope not! I love Tran! I wonder if this whole business of faking a death is just to get Portent to let his guard down for just a little bit so the can get close enough to 'free' him. o.0
      I think.

      • Jim Stitzel

        Hehe, worried that this might be another "Rulebook" situation, are we? ;)

    • AThoth

      ...A Point to Three…

  11. Juesoni

    Drat. It sure would have been helpful if they DIDN'T know he was alive… Guess it was too much to ask. :p

    • Jim Stitzel

      Of course. Ferial stays on top of things. :)

    • SnowXing

      At least Ferial will be on his toes now. Or whatever you call those things.

  12. Allen

    Maybe Portent knows a little something about the tri's plan. they clearly want Reclaimer to gather the calvecade together. Portent might realize this.

  13. John Signes

    @ferial
    @ferial
    guys i think reclaimer's not dead!!

  14. SnowXing

    Now I'm dissapointed Jim. Another waste of an opportunity to twist the plot.

    Anyway nice comic. Will the machine be seen again?

    Oh, and whatever happened to the yellow crazy guy?

    • Jim Stitzel

      No, the twist is still coming. :)

  15. HSAR

    No, no, no. You've all got it wrong. The RC is the delivery boy, and the UNSC are actually a front for the Pizza Hut SuperCo. Ferial is trying to track down the secret "golden pizza" which Portent ordered but the RC ran away with before delivering… see?

  16. ResoundingGlass

    Yes… I think that makes sense. But don't forget the fact that RC quit the Pizza Hut SuperCo. when he ran away with the "golden pizza" and so Viper is trying to track him down to get the pizza back.

    Speaking of which, we haven't heard from Viper in quite some time.

  17. Ho Ho Po

    There is one thing that doesn't add up, why would Portent try to kill RC when he was on his was to deliver the "golden pizza" after getting lost and asking the Pepperoni for help ( come to think of it that would make Portent a Pepperoni as well).

  18. SnowXing

    And the calvacade are really peices of peperoni that speak to an oblivious skitzophrenic RC.