The fighters' quest for the Earth Sigil lays bare the contradictions at the heart of Thog.
Cast[]
- Roy Greenhilt ◀ ▶
- Thog ◀ ▶
- The Fairy Earth Sigil Guardian ▶
- The Xorn of the Earth Sigil ◀
- Another Xorn
- A worm-like earth monster
Transcript[]
Transcription note: the order of panels proceeds along the path of the tunnel, rather than the usual manner.
- Panel 1
Roy: Well, this has got to be the entrance to the Earth Sigil's resting place.
Thog (thinking): thog likes puppies
- Panel 2
Thog starts to climb down into the tunnel
Roy: I think we definitely should blah blah blah blah.
Thog (thinking): puppies are soft and fuzzy.
- Panel 3
Roy follows Thog down the tunnel
Roy: Blah blah blah. Then again, blah blah blah.
Thog (thinking): puppies bark and play with thog.
- Panel 4
Thog and Roy fight a pair of Xorn
Thog (thinking): nale won't let thog have a puppy.
Roy: Blah! Blah blah blah blah blah blah!
- Panel 5
Thog and Roy fight some type of gaint worm monster.
Roy: Blah blah blah blah blah blah blah
Thog (thinking): nale says thog not take "ree-spon-sa-blity" for puppy.
- Panel 6
Roy: Blah split up, blah blah go down, while I blah blah ahead blah.
Thog (thinking): but thog would watch puppy good.
- Panel 7
Thog climbs down leaving Roy behind.
Thog (thinking): thog would be good puppy-daddy.
- Panel 8
Thog approaches an earth nymph axe ready
Earth Guardian: Welcome, righteous warrior. You have defeated the sacred tests necessary to—
- Panel 9
Thog attacks the earth nymph with a "splortch!"
Earth Guardian: AHHH! What are you—you're slashing my soft defenseless flesh with your axe! Why??
- Panel 10
Roy catches up with Thog standing over the dead body
Roy: Did I hear voices up here?
Thog: thog alone.
- Panel 11
Thog (thinking): thog likes ice cream.
Roy: Blah blah blah blah blah blah blah
Thog (thinking): with sprinkles.
D&D Context[]
- Thog demonstrates a classic D&D trope where players kill monsters in a dungeon for no reason, even when they're there to help. Also this killing shows his alignment as evil.
Trivia[]
- This is the first appearance of the Fairy Earth Sigil Guardian. She will appear only once more, in #532.
- This is the final appearance of the Xorn of the Earth Sigil. It first appeared in #47.
- Rich plays with the comic layout so that the panels follow the tunnel rather the standard linear format.