King of Swords 5-46
Chapter: 5
“Here lies the domain of the wielders of names,
No bound or lay-line encircles it,
For from step to step
They span the span, aft and fore,
They are world straddlers, and their stride is shod with fire.”
Kill Six Billion Demons
Seeker of Thrones
Poor Gog, just can’t seem to keep her head.
At least she’s a bit more even-tempered at losing her face this time round.
Speaking of faces, it seems like Mottom’s is starting to show her age. Makes me wonder how many of them peaches she has left.
Check the previous page–there’s some attendants behind her with at least two baskets of peaches. 😀
(love that detail)
Actually, five baskets, and I doubt that’s all she’s got left. If Grandpa Lizard really wants to piss her off, he should aim his fire at those baskets!
Interesting he calls her a murderer – could he really care that much about the people who were living inhis vault?
Also – Gog Agog looks downright CUTE here! Never thought I would say that about a mass of worms, but there you go….
I think Mammon deferentially cares about the people in his vault. He’s become a kind sole in his senile old age.
Certainly he cares for his keepers and servants. His is the Sin of Avarice, and so he treasures all that belong to him.
Hmm. Gog Agog brought one of Dali’s elephants. I thought they’d all been eaten long since.
Such concordance, yeah.
Like my old teacher would say.
Concordance among fools and madmen is only achieved through gratuitous use of violence.
Lets hope Salami Dave can lay a beatdown to keep these overpowered fools in line.
YOU CANNOT APPLAUD HERE, THIS IS THE DIPLOMACY ROOM!
Intresting that Salami Dave dosent have an entourage. Though i suppose thats not quite his style
Guards and armies are for the trivial things that Solomon-David wouldn’t spare his time on anyways. :/
(Mel Brooks voice) He *is* the b̶r̶u̶t̶e̶ ̶s̶q̶u̶a̶d̶ entourage!
Billy Crystal, not Mel
Oh man Gog Agog’s lack of gravitas is so great
“I killed SO MANY people just for some peace and quiet in here, and you are RUINING IT.”
Me to gog, me too
bold of them to assume there’s a center to the multiverse
Bold, but if there is, it is exactly there, at the very middle of Throne at the heart of the wheel of all creation. Or maybe just a little bit to the left and down a touch. I’ll forgive YISUN a bit of creative license.
The multiverse is infinite, but has a center.
…
where did i read that
When the multiverse is infinite, wherever you stand is the center.
The center is wherever I stand because I am the center.
Flawless logic, I must make only a single correction: [I] am the center. [I] am also not real.
Real or not, I believe in you.
… The multiverse is a wheel. Throne is the center of the spokes. They are currently in the axle, where God sat, where The Conquering King ruled. It is, definitively, the center. The 777,777 children of God faced away from this place and created the 777,777 universes.
Then again, even that verifiable fact is suspect. YISUN is an accomplished liar.
I fear, because Solomon is either the most righteous of them all; or is the worst.
Not mutually exclusive, I fear.
Indeed, few things inspire despotism like the unshakable belief that you are better than everyone else.
They’re all tyrants and despots. He just seems like the one who actually cares the most about people, structure, and order. As opposed to the others who seem to be largely insane with selfishness, vice, and senility.
I see the aftermath of all you can eat Cajun shrimp and burritos night in the last panel showing the burnout marks of people heading to the restrooms.
I doubt anyone could forget that kind of carnage.
As I turn about and grin
at lense you hear the air draw in
through knifecut where the bone is thin
Gog getting her gob gibbed again.
An elephant! :3
I suppose, even among the heads of the Beast, there must needs be one that possesses reason…
A shame that they don’t seem to be present here then…
Oh, all possess reason, angelic flame. Reason exquisite, sharpened to a razor’s edge against the great stone of Want. Mottom knows apocalypse draws near, and the only chance to avoid it lies in the skull of a girl Mammon kept from her. Mammon knows his one-time ally has taken one of the only things of value from him, and that this debt must be repaid.
It is most Reasonable that they make war, now. For when no offer can be accepted, what other course of action remains!
And today that’s Gog, applauding the free show. 😉
I am disquieted by the upset posture and angery projection of Granpa Lizard! It makes me sad!!
‘All of you’? Only two of them are fighting and Gog Agog is the only one being a idiot. The representative for the other demiurge (forget her name, the one whose mind got shattered by seeing the shape of the universe) and whatever portal she’s using aren’t doing anything. If anything, she’d probably be facepalming at them.
Jadis probably got all of her facepalming out of the way when she first got to see all of time and space at once and is now just quietly resigned to everyone being idiots because it was always inevitable.
“This has all happened before, and will all happen again…”
Is Jadis also attending?
I think she’s encased in glass, as usual.
I’m going to guess that Mottom splatters Gog’s head at least once every meeting.
It does seem to be a tradition by now.
This seems to be a council of the weak, those petty tyrants who can only react to what happens and band together in the hope of coming up with something.
Those with vision, who act on the front foot in the shaping of the new world order, have no need for such whimpering congregations.
The saddest of the disciples of the Red God are the ones who believe they will be left something to rule.
I advise you, friend: “everything must go” is not him being metaphorical.
I mean… these folks came together so that they wouldn’t destroy the multiverse. So that there would be something left to rule.
No fighting in the war room!
I have a tale told on a strange, dark world far out along the spokes of creation about a creature that served a monster, a king, so great and terrible that it never guarded it’s back in a fight, for it knew the terror it served lay behind it. Perhaps Solomon David trails no retinue behind him for he knows that he himself is that most dire of forces.
“I own many names, and many of them a long and difficult to say. Call me by any of them, and I will answer. This is the tether of duty that binds all great beings.”
Thirtyfirst student of Bagoret – FBC 083
You’ve done it again! Such a wonderful page!
I commented just a second ago, but I’m so in love with this page. Like, I’m gunna keep looking at it for days.
Something looks weird if you stop and look, something is missing.And no, this is not a joke.
The geometry of this room is super messed up (intentionally?) It looks like a 7-on-9, columns-on-sectors, but it’s actually a lot worse than that. The foreground columns and the background columns are different kinds of columns. Are we to imagine there are columns hidden precisely by the foreground columns, or is this room crazy?
Three somethings are missing.
Jagganoth, Incubus and Allison are all conspicuously not seen. It is truly a meeting of lesser beings.
Someone stuck a “7” in the window, yet only 5 are in attendance.
So I’ve been thinking who would be a good voice actor for Solomon David. I’m torn between Patrick Saitz and Keith David.
Ironically, Gilbert Gottfried. Great power, great physique, great will, great pride, but just the most insufferable whining rasp of a honker.
Please, no! GG’s voice is about the only thing in the multiverse that could keep me from seeing a move version of K6BD.
Morgan Freeman.
Ike Amadi would be my vote.
I forgot what happened here! Could you please fill us in with more backstory, Solomon-David? I’d like to get some of these questions actually answered for a change.
3rd rule, center of it all: in an infinite space, every point is at the center.
The place doesn’t seem to possess infinite space. It possesses indeterminate space. The further you travel away from the wheel the less consistent space is
I’d really like to know a bit more about Gog: what is she and what makes this seeming goofball one of the Demiurges, besides having an endlessly replaceable head?
And that was meant to be a new comment, rather than a reply. Sorry about that.
How does Mammon get inside, let alone fit through the door?
Maybe he’s like a cat and if his head can fit in the door so can the rest of him.
Alternately he uses his Key to disassemble the whole thing and then puts it all back when he’s inside.
I asked the same question on the previous page. I wasn’t sure, since the angle of the artwork did not rule out a huge entrance on one side of the building. But now that we have this overhead outside view it is clear there is no normal way for Mammon to enter. So maybe he teleports in, or changes his size, or momentarily converts himself into a vapor. I prefer the latter.
R O Y A L T Y
Worms…. some of them eat dirt..and some, even putrefact tissue…right?
What if Gog Agog isn’t really an extremely strong being, but ONLY one that was just derping around and randomly found the dying corpse of one individual that had a Key of Kings?
Just imagine, you are a blind, somewhat stupid worm, and THEN one day you just POOF! Straight badass ultra-fast reproducing Giga-worm beast ! >:)
Earthworm Jim,
The Soil He Did Crawl
Earthworm Jim,
A Super Suit Did Fall.
Jim Was Just A Dirt Eating
Chewing Length Of Worm Flesh
But All That Came To A Crash
And Gave Him Lots Of Power
Earthworm Jim,
He’s Such A Groovy Guy
Earthworm Jim,
He Rockets Through The Sky
Cruising Through The Universe
Having Lots Of Fun,
Here Comes Earthworm Jim You Know
That He’s The Mighty One
Look Out!
Ahem. Eat Dirt, Key Thieves!
Diplomacy it is indeed.
The outline head is quite funny. Not sure Solomon needs the phantom hand. It would probably read fine with just the movement and impact effects. Also on page 4-43 panel 6, Incubus says “She” but is referring to Solomon. Nice to see another concordance!
Don’t you know that Emperor Solomon David can change gender at will?!?!?
I think he was referring to Maya, then went into a story about Solomon. Like, yeah, that’s what Obiwan would say… have you heard of the tragedy of Darth Pelagieus the Wise?
do we call this Aggressive negotiations?
Does the “murderer” reference mean that our senile lizard’s minder bit the dust?
Interesting. The area they’re in looks like a fallen Congress or a United Nations. Did something akin to democracy once exist inside a world as corrupt as Throne?
We are pleased to note the presence of the demiurge Jadis and her followers. For an individual life to attempt to See as We do, to See all that is, and retain any scrap of definition, let alone life, would require formidable power. Despite the dire costs incurred, We find the effort admirable. And, to be frank, We possess a particular fondness for symbology featuring Our likeness. Pyramids, too.
It is a particularly curious prospect, however, for one to see the Shape of one’s universe while still occupying it. We observe this universe from a plane outside of it, and as a result of this, the only lasting effect upon this world is that it continues to exist. As We observe the universe, its properties and rules are thus known, and become concrete. Because We acknowledge this world, it can be said to exist, if only as something known to Us.
But for one to See outward across their universe – let alone a multiverse – it must be expected that such knowledge will therefore affect that which is Seen. Even the most minor of ripples can affect oceans.
~ Invocation Following the Code/Laws of Hammurabi. ~
( Hammurabi’s Prayer to the Gods to Preserve the Righteous and his Curse Upon Wicked + Unjust Rulers. )
(THESE ARE THE…) LAWS of justice which Hammurabi, the wise king, established. A righteous law, and pious statute did he teach the land. Hammurabi, the protecting king am I. I have not withdrawn myself from the men, whom Bel gave to me, the rule over whom Marduk gave to me, I was not negligent, but I made them a peaceful abiding-place. I expounded all great difficulties, I made the light shine upon them.
With the mighty weapons which Zamama and Ishtar entrusted to me, with the keen vision with which Ea endowed me, with the wisdom that Marduk gave me, I have uprooted the enemy above and below (in north and south), subdued the earth, brought prosperity to the land, guaranteed security to the inhabitants in their homes; a disturber was not permitted.
The great gods have called me, I am the salvation-bearing shepherd, whose staff is straight, the good shadow that is spread over my city; on my breast I cherish the inhabitants of the land of Sumer and Akkad; in my shelter I have let them repose in peace; in my deep wisdom have I enclosed them.
That the strong might not injure the weak, in order to protect the widows and orphans, I have in Babylon the city where Anu and Bel raise high their head, in E-Sagil, the Temple, whose foundations stand firm as heaven and earth, in order to bespeak justice in the land, to settle all disputes, and heal all injuries, set up these my precious words, written upon my memorial stone, before the image of me, as king of righteousness.
The king who ruleth among the kings of the cities am I. My words are well considered; there is no wisdom like unto mine. By the command of Shamash, the great judge of heaven and earth, let righteousness go forth in the land: by the order of Marduk, my lord, let no destruction befall my monument.
In E-Sagil, which I love, let my name be ever repeated; let the oppressed, who has a case at law, come and stand before this my image as king of righteousness; let him read the inscription, and understand my precious words: the inscription will explain his case to him; he will find out what is just, and his heart will be glad, so that he will say:
“Hammurabi is a ruler, who is as a father to his subjects, who holds the words of Marduk in reverence, who has achieved conquest for Marduk over the north and south, who rejoices the heart of Marduk, his lord, who has bestowed benefits for ever and ever on his subjects, and has established order in the land.”
….Hammurabi, the king of righteousness, on whom Shamash has conferred right (or law) am I. My words are well considered; my deeds are not equaled; to bring low those that were high; to humble the proud, to expel insolence.
….If a succeeding ruler considers my words, which I have written in this my inscription, if he do not annul my law, nor corrupt my words, nor change my monument, then may Shamash lengthen that king’s reign, as he has that of me, the king of righteousness, that he may reign in righteousness over his subjects.
If this (succeeding) ruler does not esteem my words, which I have written in my inscription, if he despise my curses, and fear not the curse of God, if he destroy the law which I have given, corrupt my words, change my monument, efface my name, write his name there, or on account of the curses commission another so to do, that man, whether king or ruler, patesi, or commoner, no matter what he be, may the great God (Anu), the Father of the gods, who has ordered my rule, withdraw from him the glory of royalty, break his scepter, curse his destiny.
* May Bel, the lord, who fixeth destiny, whose command can not be altered, who has made my kingdom great, order a rebellion which his hand can not control; may he let the wind of the overthrow of his habitation blow, may he ordain the years of his rule in groaning, years of scarcity, years of famine, darkness without light, death with seeing eyes be fated to him; may he (Bel) order with his potent mouth the destruction of his city, the dispersion of his subjects, the cutting off of his rule, the removal of his name and memory from the land.
* May Belit, the great Mother, whose command is potent in E-Kur (the Babylonian Olympus), the Mistress, who harkens graciously to my petitions, in the seat of judgment and decision (where Bel fixes destiny), turn his affairs evil before Bel, and put the devastation of his land, the destruction of his subjects, the pouring out of his life like water into the mouth of King Bel.
* May Ea, the great ruler, whose fated decrees come to pass, the thinker of the gods, the omniscient, who maketh long the days of my life, withdraw understanding and wisdom from him, lead him to forgetfulness, shut up his rivers at their sources, and not allow corn or sustenance for man to grow in his land.
* May Shamash, the great Judge of heaven and earth, who supporteth all means of livelihood, Lord of life-courage, shatter his dominion, annul his law, destroy his way, make vain the march of his troops, send him in his visions forecasts of the uprooting of the foundations of his throne and of the destruction of his land. May the condemnation of Shamash overtake him forthwith; may he be deprived of water above among the living, and his spirit below in the earth.
* May Sin (the Moon-god), the Lord of Heaven, the divine father, whose crescent gives light among the gods, take away the crown and regal throne from him; may he put upon him heavy guilt, great decay, that nothing may be lower than he. May he destine him as fated, days, months and years of dominion filled with sighing and tears, increase of the burden of dominion, a life that is like unto death.
* May Adad, the lord of fruitfulness, ruler of heaven and earth, my helper, withhold from him rain from heaven, and the flood of water from the springs, destroying his land by famine and want; may he rage mightily over his city, and make his land into flood-hills (heaps of ruined cities).
* May Zamama, the great warrior, the first-born son of E-Kur, who goeth at my right hand, shatter his weapons on the field of battle, turn day into night for him, and let his foe triumph over him.
* May Ishtar, the goddess of fighting and war, who unfetters my weapons, my gracious protecting spirit, who loveth my dominion, curse his kingdom in her angry heart; in her great wrath, change his grace into evil, and shatter his weapons on the place of fighting and war. May she create disorder and sedition for him, strike down his warriors, that the earth may drink their blood, and throw down the piles of corpses of his warriors on the field; may she not grant him a life of mercy, deliver him into the hands of his enemies, and imprison him in the land of his enemies.
* May Nergal, the might among the gods, whose contest is irresistible, who grants me victory, in his great might burn up his subjects like a slender reedstalk, cut off his limbs with his mighty weapons, and shatter him like an earthen image.
* May Nin-tu, the sublime mistress of the lands, the fruitful mother, deny him a son, vouchsafe him no name, give him no successor among men.
* May Nin-karak, the daughter of Anu, who adjudges grace to me, cause to come upon his members in E-kur high fever, severe wounds, that can not be healed, whose nature the physician does not understand, which he can not treat with dressing, which, like the bite of death, can not be removed, until they have sapped away his life.
* May he lament the loss of his life-power, and may the great gods of heaven and earth, the Anunaki, altogether inflict a curse and evil upon the confines of the temple, the walls of this E-barra (the Sun temple of Sippara), upon his dominion, his land, his warriors, his subjects, and his troops.
* May Bel curse him with the potent curses of his mouth that can not be altered, and may they come upon him forthwith.
This is not the place, nor time, to start fighting. Its the time to scheme and backstab trying to get the better deal
I think I sense a pattern here…
Of blood?
Given the lack of repair to the surrounding area, though, it seems unlikely that Jagganoth attends all meetings held here, or the accumulated damage would surely be far worse? I suppose there’s something obscured by the pillar on the near-left that could be an extra large seat reserved for him.
Na, we saw Jagganoth’s seat on the previous page. It’s the red-draped one in the lower right with the imprint of a massive set of muscular buttocks worn into the stone.
i just noticed that the middle circle, the flat area just between the two rings of seats, is off centre, i wonder if there is any significance to that or if its just a quirk of the art style
Ia! Praise be to Mammon, whose breath is the Sacred Fire which unmakes the unrepentant and poor! Praise be to those who despise the usurpers six! Praise be to the Count, to the primal virtue of Greed!
Just like a woman, fighting on the level of dumb beasts or laughing like a fool, it takes a man to call things back to order.
The loyal lines of retainers do not even flinch at the wrath of the Art flying between their leaders and out into the auditorium. They are not, however, stupid and each line waits loyally and unflinchingly behind one of the remarkably sturdy pillars of the central pavilion.