The bounty hunters arrive at the Palace of Blood. Gannji files some paperwork and scoffs at Elan's twin excuse.
Cast[]
- Haley Starshine ◀ ▶
- Elan ◀ ▶
- Vaarsuvius ◀ ▶
- Blackwing ◀ ▶
- Gannji ◀ ▶
- Enor ◀ ▶
- Palace Guard Corporal ▶
- Five Empire of Blood Guards
- Five Slave Drivers
- A Slave
- A Throng of Palace Workers and Soldiers
Transcript[]
- Panel 1
Long shot of the Palace of Blood and a big demonstration in front.
- Panel 2
Gannji: Hey. The guard at the bottom of the hill said this is where I should go for bounties?
Guard: Yep. You got papers?
Gannji: Sure.
- Panel 3
Gannji: Here's my bounty hunter license, my entry papers... and here's my change of address forms from my last three places of residence.
- Panel 4
Guard: Let's see... it says here you teleported into the city, but I don't see an arcane spellcaster registration.
Gannji: Scroll. The receipt's taped to the back.
Guard: Ah, got it. OK, well, these seem to be in order. I'll have a corporal bring you to the chancellor for payment.
- Panel 5
Gannji: You're not going to give us any trouble, right?
Haley: Why should I? I know when I've been beaten.
Corporal: Welcome to the Palace of Blood. Excuse the mess, it's been a pretty hectic week.
- Panel 6
Haley: Besides, like I told you on the hike up here, you have the wrong guy. That's Elan, not Nale.
Gannji: Funny, every mark I've ever brought in has had a twin brother or sister, too. What are the chances?
- Panel 7
Gannji: By the way, incredibly creative, flipping the name backwards like that.
Gannji: Now if you'll esucxe me, we have to go lles you to the Sserpme fo Doolb.
- Panel 8
Gannji: It's a very impressive palace you're building.
Corporal: We'd be building it a lot faster if it weren't for all these labor disputes.
- Panel 9
Five protesting slavedrivers are holding up boards with slogans:
SLAVEDRIVER UNION. Local 934
We'll do even less until our demands are met!
Not a lash 'til we see the cash!
HEALTH CARE NOW!
For us, not them.
UNEQUAL PAY for UNEQUAL WORK!
Gannji: Man, that is so unfair. I hope it all works out.
Corporal: Yeah, you can't help but feel for them, you know?
Trivia[]
- In Panel 7, Gannji flips the words, "excuse", "sell", and "Empress of Blood" backwards, mocking Elan and Nale's names which are each other backward.
- The comic title is a parody of the slogan of the American Revolution, "No taxation without representation".
- One protest sign is also a parody of an actual labor movement slogan, "equal pay for equal work".
- This is the first appearance of the Palace Guard Corporal.