Grrl Power #557 – Surprise bone… golem
Sydney, did you ever think you’d be bored with the appearance of a giant… bone golem, I guess? In her defense it’s late, and this is the second giant guardian thing she’s seen this week. But don’t worry, this fight won’t last quite as long as the other one.
Ok, so full disclosure, this was supposed to be a double page with the preceding one, and the page after this was also a double, but big surprise, drawing two double pages takes almost twice as long. I really wanted to keep it as a double, but it put me far enough behind that it eroded my buffer and it was stressing me out. So anyway, Sydney’s comment is a direct continuation of her “this seems like a bad idea” dialog from the previous page.
Sydney totally is an “I told you so” type of person, but usually only around a peer group or people she doesn’t like, but she likes everyone here and also everyone outranks her. It might make her feel a little smug that she’s the only one who called something like this happening, but she’s just the only one who said it out loud. The Council didn’t just invite Archon along because they were feeling cordial. They were well aware Sciona might pull some stuff like this, and they’re not dummies, they are increasingly cognizant of the value of having Arc-SWAT as bodyguards allies.
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Ta da!
she really has that “I knew it” look down pat
Nah, that’s the look of someone who has seen too much, and no longer cares :D
It’s the “Not one of you people has the right to act surprised” look.
Yeah, not so much “called it” as “no way this was going to go smoothly”.
“HEY! Maxima, she’s acting surprised, get her!!”
+1
I’d call it the “TV Tropes bitches – Heard of it?” look
Ahh, the look of someone who has lost the ability to be entertained… gotcha.
To me, she looks more like (sarcasm)”Now who couldn’t see something like that from a mile away?”(/sarcasm) with an expression of annoyance.
More of a “this isn’t even fun anymore” expression. Along with the casual (almost bored) zip of the shield ball into her hand. That really is going to be automatic soon (if it isn’t already). Sydney really should have known something like this was coming, and prepped for it (so she’d at least know who, if anyone, to include in her shield).
Man, this page put a nice big smile on my face. Perfectly over the top.
I prefer mine further down on my face.
But really impressive reveal, after the build-up.
As she casually calls the Shield orb to her. No panic, just, “yep, thought so.”
I’m surprised she didn’t have the shield up BEFORE they pushed the buttons.
It is what I would have done, in her shoes. But this way is more dramatic.
Drama can get you killed…
If the acting is bad they sure will die on stage.
If the acting is actually good, then they’ll merely “break a leg.”
Dave has said “don’t worry, this fight won’t last quite as long as the other one.” I’m thinking it would be more “dramatic” if there were no fight at all. Next scene: Before anyone can make a move Sydney grabs the PPO and “one-shots” the golem. Literally blasts its head off… and creates a “hilariously oversized” crater in the wall behind it. Everyone looks at her in stunned silence while she just shrugs.
+1
+2
Use the lightwhip to trip or throw it off the catwalk.
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/174233079308816491/
Had go back to check how long Sydney had the matching glowing blue line on her jacket
My theory is Sydney bought that specific jacket because it reminded her of the movie ‘TRON’.
The glowing lines leading from the authorisation pads to the door seem to be thematic then.
Could be a boss straight outta WoW…
Well – lets see Sidney’s Raid prowess..
Or Maxima is a bit overleveled for this boss or he got a secret power off button :D
Bonestooormmm!
Golem suplex in three… two…
Not a very strong vault when a big bone guardian can just smash through it like that. Should probably invest in some stronger materials to make the walls out of, after all this is done.
Entirely possible that if it is the vault’s guardian it’s enchanted to be able to break the doors like that/the other way around. And the doors are mostly reinforced by magic anyway.
That would be really dumb, since you could just corrupt the hilariously oversized vault guardian to open the door for you.
Sure, once you got in to corrupt the guard.
Once the magic seal has been broken, it might be very fragile – just in the case that it does not open or because a bigger artifact might get caught on the door – then it may be easier to repair the door then the artifact.
Vaults aren’t designed to prevent anyone from breaking out.
Actually you are wrong there. There are two kinds of bank vaults in use. Those designed to stop people getting in and those designed to stop them getting out.
The latter are useful in situations where, for instance, staff need access to the vault during the working day, and robbers may pose as customers and gain access through the opened door (by stealth, guile or with hostage taking). Once an alarm is triggered all the containment features activate, to stop them getting out until the police are in position.
hilarious videos ensue when bank robbers discover glass door “airlock” design is actually bullet-
proofresistant cage for viewing and mockery until police arrive.here we go.
https://youtu.be/sIgAYh_7z2Y
Hah hah I didn’t think about that. Maybe I’ll have someone mention that on a future page.
or someone comments on update budget for security features being to low to even put cameras in the chamber so how would they afford door tougher than they have.
And carrying a sword designed by SquareSoft it appears.. “It’s got to be really long. And wide! And stop muttering ‘overtly freudian’ under your breath!”
Could be worse… it’s not a 40k chain-sword…
Comparatively size wise, that’s more of a dagger
It looks slightly larger than the kitchen knife I use to slice roasts ratio wise. Big enough to reach the heart of something his size, so more than enough to bisect pretty much anything it should be fighting here. While also being small enough to easily control, unlike say, a claymore which requires plenty of effort to swing, and has too much momentum behind it to casually stop a swing if the target dodges.
You know, I actually think the ‘Sword’ is grafted onto it’s arm, instead of a hand… and compared to the size of the Golem, It’s probably a dagger or a shiv…
but that’s me over thinking it, I guess… if it’s coming at a normal sized human, it would probably be big AF…
When you’re THAT big, a shiv is plenty. You could shiv a bear with that thing.
At least it’s no boner golem. *sees himself out*
Questionable Content had one of those.
That should be a welcome challenge for Decollette and Dabbler.
and any other threat is not one anymore afterwards
So what is he thinking with?
My previous reference to Jack Benny’s vault is still valid?
Probably
It’s still better than Fibber McGee’s closet. They would’ve been buried by now.
Whenever I see large golems or robot like creatures like this, I envision them talking like XT-002 Deconstructor from WoW’s Ulduar in a high pitched voice crying out “I think I broke it! I guess it doesn’t bend that way” when ever they smoosh a character. I have reoccurring nightmares of that dungeon when it came out, just wanted to beat him to shut him the hell up!
Ah, man.. Amen to this.
my nightmare of XT tanking as a dual weapon frost deathknight and getting killed because a dps didnt go. after the adds and or didnt the right skill and hearing “i dont think its supposed to bend that way” after it kills me..
Yeah you are right XT, my head shouldn’t be able to see my own butt :) But the absolute WORSE was when the Lil xt pet was launched. I couldn’t stand being in Dalaran for days because all I could here was the high pitched no no no no no tantrum noise from about 100 players all having it out at once and they had yet to tweak it so you could hear it from the other side of the city. I feel your pain regarding duel frost tanking, one miss and it screws up a lot.
I have an aversion to playing tanks in any game. The concept is just off to me. If an opponent is invulnerable you ignore them in favour of killing an enemies who do pose a danger. No matter what names they may call you. You know that once you have wiped out his allies you will be able to wear down the name caller, at your leisure.
Only if the tank is actually a credible threat in their own right do they become a necessary target, and even then still only below the easier to kill opponents of comparable danger.
So only if they are powerful both offensively and defensively, like real tanks, do they become a credible concept. And, game wise, that is just boring as there would be little reason for anyone to opt for other types of unit, if the tanks are such all-round optimal units.
Of course a game can have defense specialist units, and done well they can be enjoyable to play. I loved my force-field creating characters, in City of Heroes, having both a hero and villain version. Being able to grant defensive area shields and personal shields for themselves and allies is a highly credible concept.
These do make a viable priority target for a tactically aware enemy. Take out the bubbler and you can turn on the DPS and healers. Fail to and you have to cope with the shields on every one of them. Carry on ignoring the tank though, all he can do is stick his tongue out at you.
I still remember the first time I did an XT attempt – we’d cleared all three bosses leading up to it, and thought we had things in hand. The sight of this giant robot doing what appeared to be an exercise routine was worth a few chuckles, but then we put out serious faces on, got into position, and pulled…
… raid wipe in fifteen seconds, because everyone was too busy pissing themselves laughing to actually fight the encounter.
New toys? For me? Oh, I promise I won’t break them this time!
“New toys? For me? Oh, I promise I won’t break them this time!” ….after the laughter stops, a DPS at the back says “Err guys…….toys….why has he got a jar of industrial sized lube in the corner behind the pile of broken robots?…..yeah I err think I left my oven on back in Goldshire, just need to nip back”.
I HATE it when I figure out, waaaaay in advance, where the dungeon-master is taking the adventure. I have learned to keep my mouth shut, because none of the other players ever believe me, and nobody ever appreciates an, “I told you so.”
I’m feeling ya, Sydney.
That must be a nightmare for a town crier! To keep your mouth shut when it is your job to Scream news to the world! You have my sympathy.
+1
You can never have enough skulls… NEVER!!!
Not sure if asked this before, but, is that Horse? o_O
It is most assuredly Horse… and if he was facing that guardian, it’s the exact face he would make as he paced towards it without missing a step.
Seriously though. Who’s placing bets on the next page? It’s either going to be the start of an epic battle… Or just a minor time skip to Maxima throwing the guardian’s decapitated head out of the group’s path as they enter the vault.
I think she may just opt for sticking melting hand through its groin region and saying……”bill me, I am not about to lose my clothes again this week”
I expect Max will leave it looking like the result of a barbecue eating contest.
Yup, classic Horse :D
Trigger was classic!
Yep, I agree. You can never have too many skulls.
This statement is pleasing to Khorne.
Ahem… called it.
Which orb did Sydney just grabbed?
Forcefield orb. You can see the outline of the shield in the panel.
Yup. Plus you can see the purple orb in her hand, along with the purple ‘zip-line’ leading to it. When in doubt, check the orbs remaining overhead. In particular the only one it might be confused with is the tentacle orb, and we can see the pinky orb with its little wiggly tentacle inside, still in orbit.
My prediction for next page: MAXIMA UPPERCUT!
I’d love to see her blast that thing, but then she might take down the whole cave.
Awesome god-like powers. Flimsy world.
Maxima suffers under the curse of living in a world made of cardboard.
Shoryoken it to the surface.
And kill everyone in the cave.
My prediction is we don’t even watch the fight- we instead see Sydney get Chorius, Dabbler, Ingsol, Decolette, and whoever else is around near her while she dons her Rules Lawyering glasses. We see some of the fight in the background, but it’s over before Sydney’s done yelling at the aliens (including demons) and undead. Fight goes as shortly as it does because the Captain has to get the thing out of the way so she can then discipline her inferior.
Also, that guardian used to be someone at least one person present knew.
so who picks up a elbow skull and alas poor yoricks?
Yup, construct or necromantic creation it likely belongs to a faction and is a person.
needz moar skullz
…I’m sorry about that. I feel vaguely ashamed of even writing it out. But apparently not ashamed enough to avoid hitting the Submit Comment button.
No more skullz. But it can haz cheezeburger.
It is just in a hurry because it had a Super Gulp before it got locked into the vault 30 years ago. The vault with no restroom.
Well op. Now we have an answer to: “Why is the vault door larger than the tunnel used to get here?”
Because it had to be impressive and later they decided the guard sentinel should be big so it wouldn’t be weird?
Or maybe they needed to make sure that that, if the guardian ever got out of the vault, it could never make it through the tunnel & wreak havoc in the mundane world. It would still be stuck here & have nothing to do but guarding the vault anyway.
I’m surprised no one has thought of using Sydney’s invincible shield as a giant projectile yet. Launch her, she hits and then immediately flies back out of reach.
Isn’t that Achilles job?
Sydney could use her lighthook to swing Achilles around like a mace while she stays safe inside of her bubble. And it would make Achilles more useful.
If he were here.
It must be depressing being considered to only be useful being used as a big hammer.
Nail, meet MY FACE!
*WHUMP*
… I have used my hand to hammer nails before. O.o
Using the face is more hardcore.
HEADBUT!
https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http%3A%2F%2Fvignette2.wikia.nocookie.net%2Fmarvel-90s-cartoons%2Fimages%2Fe%2Fe1%2FHammerhead.png%2Frevision%2Flatest%3Fcb%3D20150706101833&imgrefurl=http%3A%2F%2Fmarvel-90s-cartoons.wikia.com%2Fwiki%2FHammerhead&docid=EPbYrZmMlrrGbM&tbnid=N7aJCVueiLBskM%3A&vet=10ahUKEwiakYTmtfrVAhUqh1QKHQOVBEIQMwgrKAYwBg..i&w=619&h=465&hl=en&bih=793&biw=1440&q=hammerhead%20marvel&ved=0ahUKEwiakYTmtfrVAhUqh1QKHQOVBEIQMwgrKAYwBg&iact=mrc&uact=8
A very effective hammer and shield. And as a bonus hot dames like Maxima and Anvil handles him.
Now I’m thinking of the Human Auction House at Seabody Archipelago. The auctioneer said that ‘this guy could still be used as a sandbag!’
I’ve personally thought of it, but it’s hard to say if her shield could act like that. I mean, with it and the flight orb she’d be a great cannon ball (except for the flight orb’s terrible acceleration) but it’s possible that the shield orb doesn’t allow other objects to be pushed around. Closest evidence we’ve seen is when Sydney bumped the guard out of the way to see Maxima while she was talking to the President and other world leaders.
Dave has indicated that Maxima could have pushed it (or at least held it down) while she was inside the shield.
We know that external forces on the shield aren’t able to move it, but the subject within is still subject to gravity without the flight orb. It’s possible the shield can’t act as a force against external objects although we have seen it push liquids and air out of the way… It’s something you’d want to test out more thoroughly before using it in action.
We’ve seen the hole it left when Sydney accidentally flew through a billboard on page 307.
True dat.
It all depends on how the shield works. I mean, it’s hard to say if it’s immovable to physical force. I’m thinking it’s not. It seems to anchor it’s self to the ground or other physical surroundings. So if it’s in the air, water or if the physical surroundings themselves are put in motion then Sydney is put in motion. Presumably if Sydney hadn’t been anchored to a floor or the ground then a punch or blast from Maxima or something else could send her, and her shield, hurtling through the air. Alternatively it could happen if the hit was stronger than whatever she was anchored down to.
Sydney appears to stay in the centre of the shield no matter what, so she’s not going to go splat against it’s inner sides. However, the human body can only withstand a certain amount of sudden acceleration or deceleration. Then the brain impacts against the inside of your skull and you die. At a smaller amount of sudden acceleration or deceleration, your brain hits the inside of your skull with enough force to knock you out, which is often the cause of a knockout by a punch to the head (Your head suddenly being accelerated by the hit).
There’s also the question of exactly where her shield is anchored to on her body. It’s possible that the shield is anchored to the orb it’s self and a quick jerk of speed could tear it from her hand. Alternatively it’s anchored to a section of her body which could really wreck havoc. However, another idea is that it’s anchored to every cell in her body. If this is the truth, it’s possible that she could survive a much larger acceleration or deceleration, or even be immune, since her internal organs (including the brain) wouldn’t be wrenched around in relation to the rest of her body.
Considering Syd was able to accelerate to to many times the speed of sound rather quickly hard to say how quick but pretty quick and her bangs did’t stream backwards I think it safe to assume shes has inertial dampers in either the shield or fly ball.
Specifically, localized gravity on the fly ball:
https://www.grrlpowercomic.com/archives/479
and there’s another one, where Sid comments on the distraction of Max NOT having it, but I can’t find it at the moment.
Ah, found it:
https://www.grrlpowercomic.com/archives/1844
yes but there still hasn’t been an instance to show the “reaction time” for her local gravity so if she does his something with her shield. say as she falls from the ARC roof, hitting the ground will she stop a few feet above it, will she hit the ground and float back to center, or will she bob for a moment until she is stable again. Then there is the question of how big her shield was when she hit. if it is bigger will she avoid damage altogether?
(yes I know she would have grabbed the fly orb to save herself this is just for the sake of argument)
So what we need is Sydney to go zorbing in her shield to test out it’s dampers?
Many people have suggested that, over the years. A couple of points:
1) Sydney’s shield is not invincible, only Achilles is invulnerable. Unlike a force field failure on Maxima, where she is backed up by billions of individual force fields, around every cell in her body, if Sydney’s shield collapses all she has is a very squishy human body.
2) Being slammed into the side of her shield (picture hamster in a hamster ball being dropped off a 100′ cliff) would result in an extremely dead Sydney.
This is something better tested at slower speeds, in controlled conditions, where they can find out whether the shield has any airbags or not.
“Please put down your weapon. You have twenty seconds to comply.”
Sciona, you’re fired!
Nice shootin’, son. What’s your name?
“Murphy.”
Now witness the firepower of this fully rested and medicated Sydney!
Use the restraint Sydney, use the restraint.
One hundred atmospheres of pressure beyond these walls lie!
Plus in this setting do not forget that you can cast ‘summon bigger fish’!
You can always cast “Summon Bigger Fish”.
<a href="https://thepunchlineismachismo.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/2012-05-14.jpg" title="Nah, mate. Summon Mister Fish”>.
Damnit, stupid links.
https://thepunchlineismachismo.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/2012-05-14.jpg
Spent many evenings happily binging that site.
Awesome shot in panel 2. Has an interesting texture to it, like looking at a paper comic page. Nice smokey effects and textures on the gear.
Gave me a flashback to my 2000 AD days, especially with the ‘overdone skull motif’.
This is what you would get if Judge Death had an ABC warrior mount.
This could be a very warped out Slaine I guess.
So many Skullls!
Love the nonchalant way Sydney calls the shield orb to her. If Max doesn’t one-shot this thing, it’s going to get a face full of PPO. With the rawest recruit responding to a jump scare by a giant, undead killing machine this casually, Arc-SWAT’s reputation is going to get a big boost with the council. Also because with Maxima, Halo, AND Dabbler there, this is going to be a curb-stomp battle, and not in the bone golem’s favor.
remember the Scraps Of Hope Orphanage And Bunny Rehab.
Assume you’re gonna hit whatever’s behind your target. Does Halo want to boomie the vault’s contents?
https://www.grrlpowercomic.com/archives/1223
Okay, let’s see…………..
Either this is the regular vault Guardian who was just bored and decided to make an entrance “for effect”, in which case Ingsol or one of the other’s had better say something..FAST.
Or it has actually been corrupted, in which case either Maxima rips its head off instantly or Sydney simply blasts it a new EVERTHING with the PPO…………..
Or, he says, “OK. The bathroom is open now for the next person. But, I wouldn’t go in there until you let it air out a little.”
Hey, this explains why the vault door is the size it is! They need the Guardian to be able to get in and out. No doubt it was assembled on site.
But…
Why would the guardian need to get out?
To take the fight outside? No damage to the valuables inside? But then why even put it inside?
If the giant golem can not exit the room, bad guys stand outside an open door and use ranged weapons to take down the guardian.
I did this a lot in Baldurs Gate.
Got a little typo in bubble three in “that what that is”
yep, it’s missing the “apostrophe S” at the end of the first “that”.
Boss analysis!
Glowing spot in the middle of a face and a big sword arm. Nothing special here, destroy its arms first, then go for the face if you want an easy fight. Or aim directly for the face if you want to do some challenging dodges. Just hit a lot, no strategy required.
Much better than the last boss-fight analysis I got, from Corvatz:
“Alright, men! Group up, and hit it ’till it dies!”
Buy me Bonestorm or go to hell!!
Hey, if this golem is assembled from smaller golems, would it be called Vaultron?
Only if the smaller golems are lion-shaped.
Fred Perry already did that.
It was a leprechaun-built robot, made from five robot shoes.
Sounds like cobblers.
Sounds like it was cobbled together.
Sydney = Tank
Maxima = DPS
Ingsol = Support/Intelligence
Do we have any snipers or healers?
More seriously, this is exactly the time (actually that was 10 minutes ago) to brief ARC-SWAT on the exact capabilities of the Guardian (not to mention it’s presence) and any protocols that might keep it from attacking the “guests”.
This may mean that the vault wasn’t breached and robbed, and that only the Guardian was corrupted (thus setting off the alarms), with the idea that *it* could carry out all the treasure once the door was opened.
…which may mean that with the proper spells, someone might be able to find out where the Skullguard is now enchanted to bring the treasure?
Either that, or the idea is that the Skullguard wears down the Council enough for Sciona to make a sneaky attack while they are beat up, or grab and run during the fight.
Decolette: Healer
Xuriel: Sniper
Crimson, Chorius- not sure.
Skulls everywhere… except on the head? Possible weakness?
Definently ‘weak’.
idon’tknowwhat’swrongwithmetoday
idon’tknowwhat’swrongwithmethisweek
Disembodied voice comes out of it ‘Ticket please.’
Lol.
Today is the 100th birthday of Jack “King” Kirby. (If you get the chance, punch a Nazi in his honor.)
That thing is a pretty good tribute, but it could use some Dots. :)
Imma draw dots on EVERYTHING!
I see your point.
That would be so cute yet terrifying https://orig13.deviantart.net/9f88/f/2008/028/c/3/dot_warner_by_rongs1234.jpg
I believe Sydney would have been MORE surprised if something hadn’t gone wrong in the first few minutes of them opening and investigating the vault.
Also, no sandbagging this time Maxima. Vaporize it’s head immediately.
I know it has been mentioned previously, but PLEEESE let this be where Sydney gets to actually use her PPO in a real fight.
Nononononono! Not until she gets better aim! Submerged cavern v cutty explodey beam is bad!
I dunno — if Syd misses or punches a hole in that thing, she could hit something else in the Reliquary. I’m going to go ahead and assume that you *do not* want to start shooting at most of those things.
It would be fine! Worst thing she could do is hit a sigil directly.
quote broken arrow “please do not shoot the thermonuclear device!”
I would love it to become a running gag that Sydney never gets to use the PPO in anger, without causing collateral damage instead of helping.
That brings back memories of my Cleric of Mystra in the latter days of Living City.
“I can cast Dis-junction on it.” everybody in the party and sometimes even the GM chiming in “NO!!!”
This golem brought to you by Gary Gygax.
and modified and upgraded by Games Workshop and the fine people at Judges Guild.
I don’t like the people at Judges Guild. They’re just so… judgey.
She’s just disappointed. Lol
That last panel instantly reminded me of https://www.grrlpowercomic.com/archives/1443
Thanks, I knew we’d seen that look before.
The circumstances I agree are similar, but the looks are very different.
Sydney’s probably thinking, “That thing is gonna drop so much Gil when it goes down!”
Since I know you all are worried about your resident Waldo, who lives in Houston, just know I escaped Friday night to Dallas with a majority of my things, and I’m now waiting for the storm to pass and tge water to recede. But I am indeed safe.
Also, how did my giant magic golem escape from my basement? Spot! You go back home!!!
I did log on specifically to wish our Texas readers and their friend’s and family well, so I am glad that you are OK. I know that Texas is a big place and a lot of folks will not be affected, but that flooding is pretty widespread and flooding can be devastating, for anyone caught up in it.
I hope your home escapes the worst of it.
*claws crossed for y’all*
No…I live in the norther part of Houston in an area called Greenspoint. With all the pictures and high water warnings on the roads and road closures and what not, the odds are that my apartment is underwater. Not inches, but like it has become an aquarium.
Luckily I’m safe, and the most important stuff of mine is safe.
I am glad that you are safe and keeping such a positive attitude.
Tough times ahead, getting everything sorted out. But you can always come here to chill, when it gets stressful.
*friends
I’m in houston also, in an obscure corner that seems to have dodged nearly all the mess, all ok here too.
Yay!
I know we have quite a few Texan readers. My heart goes out to those who may not be able to access the comic. Which could be the least of their problems.
*wags tail in sympathy*
… I have critical car parts stuck in a AC Delco warehouse in Texas. I wish you the best of luck with the weather there.