Shojo declines resurrection, making Hinjo the new Lord of Azure City.
Cast[]
Transcript[]
- Panel 1
The High Priest of the Twelve Gods is attempting to cast Resurrection on Shojo.
High Priest: Resurrect!
High Priest: I am sorry, Lord Shojo, perhaps you did not hear me properly. I said, "Resurrect!"
- Panel 2
High Priest: Lord Hinjo, I do not understand. The spell is functioning properly, but he does not return to us.
Belkar: Well, duh!
Hinjo: Explain. Now.
- Panel 3
Belkar: The spirit needs to be willing to return, right? But Shojo is kicking back in whatever afterlife the Chaotic Good people get—
Belkar: —probably sipping single-malt scotch and smoking cigars rolled from poorly-worded legal documents.
- Panel 4
Belkar: Why the hell would he want to come back here, knowing that you're waiting to throw him in prison?
Belkar: Considering he was like a billion years old and likely to die soon anyway, I'd say he got the last laugh on all y'all.
- Panel 5
Hinjo: He's probably right... It looks like I'm on my own then.
Roy: Not entirely. If you would be willing to accept my help.
- Panel 6
Hinjo: Maybe...
Hinjo: Don't get me wrong. I am NOT happy about the fact that you were working behind my back.
Hinjo: But if you had Azure City's downfall at heart, it would have been easy enough to stand by and let Miko kill me, keeping your hands clean.
- Panel 7
Hinjo: The fact that you jumped in to save my life means a lot.
Hinjo: Besides, I have to rally this city to defend itself in less than a day.
Hinjo: I'd have to be a fool to refuse the help of the only man I know to have fought this enemy and lived.
- Panel 8
Hinjo: You know, when all the nobles hear that Shojo is dead, it's going to rip this city apart. He's kept them in check for almost 50 years now.
Roy: He was always worried about assassins... do you think they'll try to kill you?
- Panel 9
Hinjo: Oh, definitely. Nothing says "Condolences on the loss of your uncle," like a ninja death squad in the night.
Hinjo: Luckily, I have an idea of where I can hire the perfect bodyguard.
- Panel 10
Roy: Whoever you get to do it, they're sure going to have their hands—
Roy: Aww, crap, it's me, isn't it??
Hinjo: Heh. Well, you've already proven yourself capable of the job's primary function.
- Panel 11
Roy: That's not exactly the type of assistance I had in mind.
Hinjo: OK. But if I get killed before Xykon's army attacks, the city will have no leader and thousands will likely die in the confusion.
Hinjo: So you know, it's your call, Roy.
- Panel 12
Roy: *sigh*
Roy: Fine, I'll do it. But that was low for a paladin.
Hinjo: You're obviously not familiar with one of our key class abilities: Summon Conscience.
D&D Context[]
- The material components for the 7th level cleric spell Resurrection are holy water and diamonds worth 10,000 gold pieces (gp).
- Summon Conscience is of course not a real paladin ability.
- As Belkar correctly states, any spell to bring a person back from the dead will not work if the soul of that person is not willing to return from the afterlife.
Trivia[]
- The High Priest of the Twelve Gods is seen later in Comics #456, "Saved Game', and #486, "Next on "As the Plane Turns".... In Wrecan's list on the forum he is given the name Azure City High Priest.