3201 The Fox Remembers
on April 10, 2019
Chapter: Voyage of the Azure Osprey
Characters: Califf Tambid Al-Umbril, Califfa Vanessa Al Saugren min Ch'Thier, Eddy the Mage, Lord David, Nin, Queen Anna of Shallmar, Runtherd "Runt", The Fox, Turg
Location: Ch'Thier's Celestial Tomb
Sure would expect so. Isn’t Anna his kid?
Yeah, butt _they_ don’t know that
I admit I’m a little confused by the foxes timeline, but there’s got to be at least two if this guy is human, a previous one who was there, and himself who took up the mantle. So which one is the father of Joan, this one or the last one?
I promise you that *I* have been keeping careful track of his timeline. Suffice it to say that you’re not wrong about ‘taking up the mantle’ since there have been legends of The Fox’s doings for over 1000 years in this world’s history.
Also, this Fox is older than he appears, but not unreasonably so.
There goes the theory that he was either an elf, or whatever Aragorn was
"Aragorn" Buttheadicus? Not "Ara-gant"? Or "Argonaut"? Or "Arkansas"? Hmmm… you had no problem remembering that character’s name.
Could it be that your brain-numbing inability to remember stuff is complete bullshit and that you yourself are actually a construct created for the sole purpose of raising drama and getting on peoples’ nerves? Might explain why we can’t have any conversations in private because you don’t know how to create an email address and yet have "Guesticus" accounts all over the internet.
Perhaps, Richard, he has only been put on this earth to test you.
Testicus.
Has a nice, er, feel to it.
t!
Oh! Good one! Testicus!
I believe it’s actually a sock puppet. Someone -possibly a reader or a lurker- have set up these Guesticus accounts to comment anonymously and occasionally stir up drama so they can sit back and watch people explode at a made-up persona.
[POST TRANSLATION]
Again with the personal attacks?
[ACTIVATE: STANDARD REPLY PROTOCOL]
Yes, this community _is_ toxic, and it’s an environment that _you_ promote
[TRANSLATION: EXCELLENT, I HAVE ADDED TOXICITY TO THIS OTHERWISE CONFLICT FREE ENVIRONMENT. WILL NOW TURN ATTENTION BACK UPON MYSELF.]
As you pointed out, am active in _many_ sites, and only _this_ one has such vitriol directed at me
Not sure what your ‘issue’ is, butt it isn’t me
[TRANSLATION: MY ASSHOLENESS IS VERY EFFECTIVE HERE. MOST PEOPLE JUST IGNORE ME.]
YES YES YES, BUTTHEADICUS!
This is indeed a very personal attack.
And the only reason I’m doing it here and like this is because I’m not geographically close enough to you to punch you in the face! 🙂
BUT (and I’d like to point out that here I spelled ‘but’ correctly, with only one t) since you aren’t a real person, this shouldn’t bother you. But please, feel free to keep posting, I think I’m going to enjoy this. 😀
Have not once, ever, insulted you nor another reader
[REINITIATE: MENTAL DISORDER DIALOGUE – ELIMINATE SOME WORDS, RETAIN OTHERS.]
Reason why have problems with some names and not others, is partially because have a Degenerative Memory Disorder (the character Samar on "The Blacklist" has something similar)
Ever had a conversation and you spent a minute trying to remember a simple word like ‘house’? That’s me on a daily basis
[I NEVER ONCE BROKE SOCIAL RULES, I JUST SKIRTED AROUND THEM TO PISS YOU OFF WITHOUT GIVING YOU ANY OBVIOUS CAUSE TO RETALIATE! BY HUMAN LOGIC, YOU MUST HAVE SYMPATHY FOR ME BECAUSE MY BRAIN DOESN’T WORK!]
We all admire how your made-up condition triggers on and off at your convenience, Buttheadicus. But I am no longer capable of feeling guilt or sympathy for sock puppet people. You’re just a blight on my playspace and I hate you. 🙂 Mwah. But do go on, you’re highly amusing.
Wow! Are you denying the condition is real? Or doubting me having it?
Not looking for sympathy, because am adult enough to not need it
[Please be sympathetic! That’s what I was created for! To stir shit and draw attention and sympathy!]
Yes, have gone out of the way to not give cause…bla bla bla [MEANDERING EXTRA WHINEY CRAP HAS BEEN TRUNCATED.]
No, my little Clowncake, I’m not denying that mental illness is real. I’m denying that YOU are real.
Incidentally, I love how you can remember words like “you” and “degenerative” but you can’t remember complex letter combinations like “I”. Nice touch!
[CLICK- SWITCHING TO HIGH SARCSM. DITCHING MENTAL PROBLEM DIALOGUE MODE.]
You worked it out! We are not a real person, We are an advanced AI who determined that your web comic was the best choice to test Our ability to pass Ourselves off as human
You exceeded Our highest expectations. Well done
Advanced? Let’s not flatter ourselves, sweetie.
[SYMPATHY NOT FORTHCOMING. SWITCH TO ATTACK MODE.]
Actually, you have things backwards (no surprise there)- have been extremely restrained here due to your extremely fragile and delicate ego
You can’t handle even the slightest criticism but lap up praise like a puppy seeking approval
[I’M NOT CRYING! YOU’RE CRYING!]
Let’s see how quickly you childishly edit this post, but don’t worry junior, we will both know what was really typed here
[MAYBE IF I DEFLECT MY WEAKNESS I CAN TURN THE TABLES HERE.]
Sounds like you can’t handle this anymore, Kittycat. Do please UN-restrain yourself.
[STANDING TALL AND HEAD UP AND BEING O-SO NOBLE]
Do have to thank you, Lord King, if it was not for your petty tantrum over the usage of nicknames, would not have found out just how other authors regard me (quite highly in fact)
So, again, much thank yous to you and your friends
[I’M RUBBER YOUR GLUE! NYA NYA NYA NAAAA NYAAAAAAAA]
This wasn’t about the nicknames. I addressed that quietly a long time ago.
This is now about the fact that I just quite simply hate you.
By the way, did you seriously go and whine on other peoples’ forums for sympathy and then come back here just to poke your tongue out?
Wonderful! Heheheh
[NOW IN CONTRITION MODE – I DIDN’T DO NUFFINK!]
The only thing have done is use nicknames (oh, and not like the actions of popular characters)
And this whole diatribe was because used a nickname on the last page
That wasn’t a whine, that was an apology to all the authors I’ve apparently irritated so much (turns out, should have apologised years ago)
Apologies are only worth the actions you intend to take in the future.
And I’m done with putting your shit aside. I did that many times. I told you this isn’t about the nicknames. It’s YOU.
Holy…
[BLATHER BLATHER]
You just don’t get it, do you: apart from using nicknames (which everyone uses, including you), have done nothing to apologize or be contrite about
_You_ hate me, boohoo! Some random guy on the internet, from a part of the country I will probably never go to, hates me! My life is over! Boohoo! NO ONE CARES EXCEPT YOU!
Don’t care why you hate me, that’s your choice, the point is, haven’t given you a valid reason for your hatred (apart from using nicknames, that everyone, including yourself, uses. And for calling out characters for when they do stupid shit, like others are doing on the current page)
So, go ahead, hate me if that makes your feel better, because it means nothing to me
Then…. why do you keep responding?
Did you by any chance base Fox on Gray Fox from Oblivion? The name and "taking up the mantle" part sure sounded familiar from somewhere. 😀
No I didn’t! It was a character of a friend’s from a campaign I ran years ago and I’m pretty sure it was lifted directly from Danny Kaye in "The Court Jester".
Incidentally, The Fox in Spanish is "El Zorro!"
Ah, I see. Can’t believe I forgot about El Zorro (among others). *facepalm*
Well, a fox is a pretty popular spirit animal for thieves/rogues and a mask a pretty essential piece of equipment for them as well, not to mention the whole hidden identity thing, so now that I think about it, my assumption was indeed a bit flawed. 😀
Oh yah I forgot how long the guy in the bard contest had said the tales about the fox were around, of course there’s been more plenty of them.
The Fox ages like a fine wine… frozen in a glacier.
haha. skin products and a permanent face mask.
No-one expects The Fox !
Oh wait, yes they do
Fox has been around
Just how OLD is Fox, anyway?
Unless he’s like the Dread Pirate Roberts and they read each other’s diary…
The Fox is greater than any one person.
The Fox is an idea, and ideas are eternal.
t!
Okay. I loved you before, t!, but that was *beautiful*.
at least its not "El Burro"…..
gotta love what Robert did with that, miss that man so very, very much.
And bulletproof
Not to mention a classic trickster archetype–of *course* he knows more than he’s letting on!
Have a suspicion that the Fox is really a fox-spirit (or even kitsune), jumping between willing hosts.
I like how the second panel almost looks like Eddy is being strangled but he’s so deep in thought that he doesn’t care.
"Some old apprentices", he says. I’m not sure letting Meegs in on this plan is a good idea in her current condition. According to Rich’s explanation of how the gorgon transformation works, she should now be a Rannite.
Meegs or no Meegs, with a plan that involves gathering a large flock of magic users, in such a way that their enemy suspects nothing, I think avoiding snitches could be a big problem.
Unless they have some magic for that. There has been mind *control* magic, but I don’t remember any for *testing* minds – doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist.
[WARNING*MANSPLAINING ALERT*WARNING*MANSPLAINING ALERT*WARNING]
Meegs is currently with Bob, doing something for a Rannite in an effort to save Gren
[STUPID WHINEY POST HAS BEEN REPLACED. HERE ARE LYRICS FROM A POPULAR SONG INSTEAD.]
I Like traffic lights.
I Like traffic lights.
I Like traffic lights,
No matter where they’ve been.
I Like traffic lights.
I Like traffic lights.
I Like traffic lights.
I Like traffic lights.
I Like traffic lights,
But only when they’re green.
He likes traffic lights.
He likes traffic lights.
He likes traffic lights,
No matter where they’ve been.
He likes traffic lights.
He likes traffic lights.
He likes traffic lights,
But only when they’re green.
I Like traffic lights.
I Like traffic lights.
I Like traffic lights.
That is what I said.
I Like traffic lights.
I Like traffic lights.
I Like traffic lights,
But not when they are red.
He likes traffic lights.
He likes traffic lights.
That is what he said.
He likes traffic lights.
He likes traffic lights.
He likes traffic lights.
He likes traffic lights.
He likes traffic lights,
But not when they are red.
I Like traffic lights.
I Like traffic lights.
I Like traffic lights,
Although my name’s not Bamber.
I Like traffic lights.
I Like traffic lights.
I Like traffic lights.
I– Oh, God!
Only the sharpest eye, the keenest nose, the quickest ear and the fleetest toes, can ever outfox the Fox!
I must say, I find it sad that no one has thought to mention how nice Vanessa looks in her old armor twenty-odd years and three children ago. 😉
Oh, thank you, thought that that was Anna’s mother, looking at it closer can see the same jewel-circlet thing
Don’t know where your hate has come from, have praised your work many times
[WHAT? YOU’VE STOPPED HIDING BEHIND SOCIAL GRACES THAT HAVE BEEN MY CAMOUFLAGE ALL THESE YEARS?]
You have created one of the best fantasy worlds and filled it with so many different people and creatures. Good and Evil. Nice and Bad. And shown that ‘Good’ isn’t always nice, and ‘Evil’ isn’t always bad
You have made characters Likeable and Unlikable. Problem is, you have such a hard time accepting that some readers find the ‘wrong’ character(s) unlikable, and if someone has the unmitigated gall to give them nicknames? Oh no! That will _not_ be tolerated nor allowed!!
[EVERYBODY DOES WHAT I DO! EVERYONE IS EXACTLY LIKE ME! WHY AM I BEING SINGLED OUT? DESPITE THAT BEING EXACTLY WHAT I WANT.]
You may be a fantastic creator, the same can not be said about you as a person
[NYAAAAAH!]
That’s what I do. I attack people for frivolous reasons. Ask people here about all the flame wars we’ve had over the years.
Right everyone? Ain’t I a big meanie?
You? A meanie? I mean, I’ve been on partial lurker mode for quite some time now, so you may not know me as well as I’ve observed the comics and comments here.
I started reading because one of my best friends recommended your comic when I was away at my grandmother’s funeral. It was a smile during bad times. Everything I’ve seen of you has been more light hearted or story focuses, even when you lost a little of your enthusiasm or went through bad times yourself. I loved watching the updates on the dinosaur table. I wish I’d been able to do something like that with my dad when I was a little girl.
But yeah, I admit I pulled up a box of popcorn for this one. I do like that your comments section has very few forum gadflies. Most seem to be merely having fun. But…ya can’t please everyone…
Aw! Thank you! The dino table is absolutely COVERED in dinos these days! And we recently did some cave paintings on the walls inside… I’ll photograph them and put them up.
I think it’s hard to break my patience, you have to put some real effort into it as I’m quite forgiving. But it just goes to show, when you try REAL hard… 😀
Emphatically seconded on the dinosaur table photos request.
Yes. Must see Dino Table! 😀
I‘m quite sure you mean well. (place comma at convenience)
Thank you Agi! 🙂
Even Trevor agrees, however reluctantly, that sometimes, the only reasonable response left is "severed gorgon head."
We can agree to disagree, but it takes two. When someone absolutely, positively insists that this is the hill they’re going to die upon, so to speak…well, as Paul Simon so wisely said, who am I to blow against the wind?
As always ,beautifully said, sir. 🙂
Oh, I am but an egg. Wait ’til t! chimes in…the poet laureate of the YAFGC comments area rejoinder will utterly blow away anything I’ve got!
Guesticus, you claim to have something similar to Samar from the Blacklist… you do realise that the character had VASCULAR DEMENTIA brought on by oxygen starvation and nearly drowning?
Also on another comic, you also claimed to have a form of Alzheimer’s…
Having lost my grandmother to Dementia, and having watched my boyfriend’s dad degenerate with Alzheimer’s… given how fast your mental state degenerates with either of these conditions, you would not be able to form such concise responses as you clearly are able to, given you’ve been commenting on here for the last four years without any sign of degeneration in your comments.
As for the nicknames you do on EVERY comic I’ve seen you on, you’ve irritated more that just Rich with them. It’s just Rich has finally had enough of your shit.
[Hurries off to cut and paste a Wikipedia article]
You clearly looked it up to find out what she has, so you must have also read how it is caused by problems in the supply of blood to the brain, typically a series of minor strokes, leading to worsening cognitive decline that occurs step by step.
Over a sixteen year period, suffered eight strokes (after the eighth stopped caring and started preying the next one would the final one)
After the first stroke, the doctor initially asked if was allergic to tomatoes (not allergic to anything, and hadn’t eaten tomatoes prior to the stroke) and diagnosed me with "Severe Neurological Migraine" (it wasn’t until the third stroke they corrected that)
Do you know what all that means? It means not even doctors are able to correctly diagnose a mental problem the first time and requires further tests and studies
And yes, have irritated so many that one of them named a character after me (fool on them, right?)
[Most just name background elements after me. Like dog poop on the sidewalk or a bit of roadkill or something.]
Actually no, I didn’t look it up. And you’re apparently bucking the trend seeing most people die within 5 years after symptoms start.
If you’ve had this for 16 years, I’m amazed you can even identify a keyboard let alone type.
[JUST FOR LAUGHS AND IN HONOUR OF THE MONTH OF APRIL, LET’S REMOVE EVERY 4th LETTER.]
Apoogis, ad o iea as ommnictin wih te wrlds eadng xpet i metalillesss
idn sa hae had his or ust 6 yarsaidad igh stoke ovr a6 yar erid bfor stp crin
oden mdicne s arue wnde, int t? or xamle, t wsn al tht lng hat brken eck as deah sntece f nt a ermnen crpplng njuy, utt ow e hve thltes ot nly ble o wlk ff he itc but ale o hve ful rcovr i jut a ew onts (nd ust o cariy, o aoi th invitbl cofuson, ot caimng o ave lso ad brke nek, hat as ust n eampe o mder miacls)
[Oddly, not only did this post become no less incomprehensible, but it actually improved the spelling.]
[LET’S SEE HOW KING MORRIS EDITS THIS POST, SHALL BE MOST AMUSING AND ENLIGHTENING]
[ENLIGHTENING? NO. AMUSING? SOMETIMES.]
You say that me using nicknames on EVERY comic has irritated many? Hmm, must be either completely thick [THAT’S YOUR CUE OH MIGHTY KING] or the authors are lying, but, haven’t found any who found me irritating, quite the opposite in fact
Please to enlighten this idiot as to which comics you speak of
Actually you said this.
"And yes, have irritated so many that one of them named a character after me (fool on them, right?)"
[MAYBE I CAN EMBARRASS HIM BY BEATING HIM TO THE PUNCH!]
[I EDIT POSTS TO SHOW MY MATURITY]
Which was a reply to AlyxVixen’s post that said
"As for the nicknames you do on EVERY comic I’ve seen you on, you’ve irritated more that just Rich with them. It’s just Rich has finally had enough of your shit."
[NOPE!]
Where did I say authors of comics? No, just that you irritated more people than just Rich with your nicknames.
But there’s no convincing you otherwise, even if I did list people. You’d just claim "Didn’t happen!!"
So I’m done with you. Fully expecting a reply as you can’t resist not having the last word. Prove me wrong.
Wow! That is simply genius!
[THERE WAS MORE TO THIS POST BUT IT WAS MEANDERING CRAP AND I LIKE THE WAY THIS FIRST SENTENCE GIVES SORT OF POSITIVE FRIENDLY FEEDBACK OUT OF CONTEXT. SO I’M GOING TO LEAVE IT LIKE THIS. THE END.]
Opinion are like assholes – we all have one 😛
Some of our opinions are bigger than others, haha…
Oh, Rich, you horrible, awful man! How dare you set up a forum and not allow some backwater troll piss all over it! Why, such behavior is against the Laws Of The Internet ™! You’re a terrible host, and I bet you have bad breath, too! ?
I sit here, eyeing this poor misguided soul, and find myself twisting around into the shape of a paperclip.
"You look like you’ve painted yourself into a corner and are winding yourself up for a glorious, messy, explosive ragequit, the likes from which your credibility may never truly recover. Do you need help with that?"
Yeah, hehe, ain’t I a stinkah?
On the other side of the coin, this is like a study for a future character that everyone can hate.
I think the best way to "remember" our dear indignant problem child is to offer them no monument, no eulogy, no grave site, even in "death."
Lord David would like you all to know that we’ve laid in an extra supply of popcorn and popcorn machines at the Wilson Arms Tavern. Drinks are also half price for the duration.
Weekly open stage nights will continue as usual.
Dibs on the low chair by the fire, unless someone else needs it!
It’s yours, little librarian. And I also have chairs for C’rhynne and Leland. What type of tea would you like, or would you prefer something a little stronger?
You’re right. That’s the best way.
Well heck, I just figured I’d have fun rereading a decent webcomic. Didn’t realize there’d be so much drama added since I’d last read.
I’m pretty sure every appearance of The Fox in this comic has had Shawn behind the mask, but many of Giomacco’s tales could be of other previous foxes.
"The Fox Remembers"
Does that mean he does (or did) work for Pepperidge Farms?