I…. really like that she is *kind* to the illusion.
Like… she knows it isn’t real.
She knows its just another one of gog agog’s games….
She could be angry, or lash out, or fight against the illusion, the lie.
Instead she is gentle.
“Hey, can I sit here for a minute?”
“Sorry I can’t stay, see you around Cio,”
“Mine is the path of mutilation”
It’s… sweet, and I suspect an important difference between a *strong* person, and a *good* one.
Premature to assume that Cio is an illusion. Gog has transcended a finite but large number of realities, remembering and preserving each within herself. That illusion of Cio might be authentically Cio at every level which matters, but is it Cio’s authenticity that matters here? For, one, this is not *her* CIO. AL YIS UN’s Cio died in the vault and Yabalcoath awoke in her corpse before being defeated by the unquenchable fire of Lesbians Who Have No Idea What They Want. And from there AL YIS UN’s Cio followed her in to many battles, transcended what was believed to be the limits of existence, and died. This Cio is not *that* Cio, no matter how real, how warm, how comforting *this* Cio might be. And there is also the question of AL YIS UN’s A – M – B – I – T – I – O – N
I feel like this Cio isn’t an illusion at all here. Of all the people in the scene before the transition, the one who wanted to be here most was Nukoku. And lo and behold we immediately see not only a world where Cio is still alive but, crucially, also a timeline defined by not going on the vault heist. Where Cio didn’t have to face Yabalcoath.
This is Nukoku’s fantasy. Specifically.
How? dunno. Maybe she ate another worm. Maybe it’s devil-skin warrior shenanigans, given she was reaching out to Allison in the transition. But I’d say good odds Gog is telling the truth about at least the people in this scene being real.
interesting how those green clouds are everywhere, perhaps this is like a sub-universe where Gog stores all of her experiences and personas she assimilates?
I do appriciate Alison hopping into the head of a God, simply knowing the Worm waits within.
Also…another TV Psychiatrist Gog? Between that and the dozen Pineapple Gogs we just saw the encounter rates in this Arc are all over the place. I was hoping we could complete our collection but noo, the one Prima Donna Gog we get to run into is taken out by Self Destruct smh.
You may be onto something. I’ve noticed that the speech bubble and text aren’t green as well. Given that she swaps bodies so often, you have to wonder why she didn’t choose a different one.
It could just be that this is her serious mode for the bit, but the fact that there’s no green speech bubble or text is a big indicator that something isn’t right here.
Ohhh. Now I get why the worm’s gift is a fail. If you believe you have forever, the perfect becomes the enemy of the good. You can never have perfection, and you will never make sacrifices, so you will never achieve this victory. It’s not *just* that you’ll dwell in a past from some universe that may as well never have existed… it’s so much worse of a trap. And you’ll bloat to a brain-size of many worlds rather than see that you are in your own way and perpetually killing every version of you that might ever get the job done.
Agreed. Jagganoth seems to know very little, and his ambition is small. He has found the light switch. He has turned it off. He has not ripped it from the wall. He is a humble sort.
Allison fakes Gog out and manages to enter a zone before it’s done loading.
Reach heaven through wallhax
Royalty Speedrun Any%
How many Gogs would Alison have to squish before reaching her base level of reality? 6 Billion?
I mean, if you climb through a hole in a corpse’s skull, you shouldn’t be too surprised if you meet a worm in there.
Honestly given what the locals are using for architecture it’s no wonder they might as well join Gog, they’re all livin’ like worms already anyway.
We’re all living in our heads all the time. Nothing strange about that.
All I can think of is “Going for a smoke. Join me if tha’s wise.”
I…. really like that she is *kind* to the illusion.
Like… she knows it isn’t real.
She knows its just another one of gog agog’s games….
She could be angry, or lash out, or fight against the illusion, the lie.
Instead she is gentle.
“Hey, can I sit here for a minute?”
“Sorry I can’t stay, see you around Cio,”
“Mine is the path of mutilation”
It’s… sweet, and I suspect an important difference between a *strong* person, and a *good* one.
Premature to assume that Cio is an illusion. Gog has transcended a finite but large number of realities, remembering and preserving each within herself. That illusion of Cio might be authentically Cio at every level which matters, but is it Cio’s authenticity that matters here? For, one, this is not *her* CIO. AL YIS UN’s Cio died in the vault and Yabalcoath awoke in her corpse before being defeated by the unquenchable fire of Lesbians Who Have No Idea What They Want. And from there AL YIS UN’s Cio followed her in to many battles, transcended what was believed to be the limits of existence, and died. This Cio is not *that* Cio, no matter how real, how warm, how comforting *this* Cio might be. And there is also the question of AL YIS UN’s A – M – B – I – T – I – O – N
Do not settle for what you want. Take everything.
I feel like this Cio isn’t an illusion at all here. Of all the people in the scene before the transition, the one who wanted to be here most was Nukoku. And lo and behold we immediately see not only a world where Cio is still alive but, crucially, also a timeline defined by not going on the vault heist. Where Cio didn’t have to face Yabalcoath.
This is Nukoku’s fantasy. Specifically.
How? dunno. Maybe she ate another worm. Maybe it’s devil-skin warrior shenanigans, given she was reaching out to Allison in the transition. But I’d say good odds Gog is telling the truth about at least the people in this scene being real.
It was good to see Classic-koku again.
Aye, a cherished never-before-seen rerun
Royalty is a continuous cutting motion.
“Mine is the path of mutilation”
Great line to mutter on any occasion.
Greeting neighbors on the way to work?
Smile, wave and call:
“Mine is the path of mutilation”
Name has just been called at the coffee shop?
Make eye contact with the barista and intone ” Mine is the path of mutilation”
On a first date, and they ask if you want to meet again next Sunday.
Strike a thespian pose, cast your gaze aside and declare:
“Mine is the path of mutilation”
Your colleague makes banal comments about the weather:
Cut in and yell:
“Aaaaaaah! Mine is the path of mutilation!”
Works every time.
You are my new bestie.
You see, you don’t know where the Macho Madness’s coming from!
The rounded roof and the ladders leading into the window remind me so much of Submachine.
The above person clearly has excellent taste. Thoth FTW.
interesting how those green clouds are everywhere, perhaps this is like a sub-universe where Gog stores all of her experiences and personas she assimilates?
Nice theory but no that’s just how certant parts of Throne look, check book one
Ah yes you are correct in this regard. Hell, I’m pretty sure I see those clouds around my city as well.
Nice theory. Reminds me of one of Charlie Stross’s earlier works, a dreadfully lovely novelette by the name of “Colder War”.
You should read it.
The phooo heard round the world.
Needless to say, I’m loving the Pat Benatar haircut.
I do appriciate Alison hopping into the head of a God, simply knowing the Worm waits within.
Also…another TV Psychiatrist Gog? Between that and the dozen Pineapple Gogs we just saw the encounter rates in this Arc are all over the place. I was hoping we could complete our collection but noo, the one Prima Donna Gog we get to run into is taken out by Self Destruct smh.
Thought it was Eric Andre Gog.
You may be onto something. I’ve noticed that the speech bubble and text aren’t green as well. Given that she swaps bodies so often, you have to wonder why she didn’t choose a different one.
It could just be that this is her serious mode for the bit, but the fact that there’s no green speech bubble or text is a big indicator that something isn’t right here.
What a stylish flowery overcoat.
Great page, as always.
Thousands are sailing the same self, the only self
self willed the peril of a thousand fates
A line of infinite ends finite finishing the one remains oblique and pure
Arching to the single point of consciousness
find yourself
starting back
This is what eating the worm gets you.
The goth stoner timeline was an all-timer
Allison’s been cutting herself into new shapes even before Chapter One !
It is the idiot’s step, and it stretches to the Horizon
Your m-brane is full of worms
The fall of wisdom
Leads to self-mutilation
Yes dear, Cio already knows how you are in bed…anyway you do you multiversal queen and break the cycle.
Gog Agog is doomed; they embrace “maybe.”
Ohhh. Now I get why the worm’s gift is a fail. If you believe you have forever, the perfect becomes the enemy of the good. You can never have perfection, and you will never make sacrifices, so you will never achieve this victory. It’s not *just* that you’ll dwell in a past from some universe that may as well never have existed… it’s so much worse of a trap. And you’ll bloat to a brain-size of many worlds rather than see that you are in your own way and perpetually killing every version of you that might ever get the job done.
This doesn’t even make sense as a deal since Jagg is just going to end the universe soon
Gog survives between loops. Not even the Red God can fully exterminate the cosmic vermin
Agreed. Jagganoth seems to know very little, and his ambition is small. He has found the light switch. He has turned it off. He has not ripped it from the wall. He is a humble sort.