Well, I guess Richard needs to be filled in on the rules of time travel

I call epic Richard VS Archmage battle when they find out what Richard's been up to. And yay Sooba is back!

Wow. It didn't take Richard long to wipe out a whole town, did it? And apparently the Archmage knows about the group's time-traveling.

The page is broken for me...how sad.

It's not showing up yet for me either. I'm still getting the 20th's page.

Forget Richard vs. the Archmage. It'll more likely be Richard vs. Cale or Tavor. You remember how mad Cale got when Richard was snatching Sooba's bear carcasses? Multiply by about a thousand once his noble quest gets comprimised. And Tavor, he's technically dead too, so it would be pretty epic to see him and Richard duke it out.

Changing the subject: Now that I've seen the Archmage's entire face, I'm more convinced than ever that he just might be an ancestor of Richard's. Looking back to that panel where we saw the outline of Richard's skull, I notice that the two have the same chin and the same general head shape. The Archmage's nose also looks very similar to the way I imagine Richard's, based on the part of it I can see. The bridge of the nose on both men is relatively wide and flat.

Well, as soon as I complain, then it wants to show up. *psh*

I don't think Richard would be up to slaughtering the elderly archmage. Someone of his stature and age would probably welcome death, or at least accept it. This would defeat the purpose for Richard.

I love how he even works for the census... after he slaughters the local government anyways. I'm actually wondering who the two people he left were anyways. Was their mourning too entertaining to end yet?

The last two are him and Sooba

ya lol

i just loved that last part. oopsies, Richard!!

How about this: Richard IS the arch-mage!

i don't think so. the archmages' eyes are too small. plus, the archmage wouldn't be the type to sell his soul to the devil and become undead anyway

The first digit in the population is a two, and the total population is 275.

Richard's rusty after his nap, I see.

The Archmage is waaay too old to be Richard. I mean, the warlock is a walking corpse and doesn't have half the wrinkles the old dude does.

Well, who knows how rigor mortise affects the epithelial cells.

Meh. I just think it would make more sense if the two were merely related and not the same person. Then again, it's probably neither. Just a theory that's getting out of hand.

The more I compare their faces, the more I am convinced. We can only see a very small part of Richard's face, but its identical in shape to the Archmage's. The swooping uni-brow thingy, the bags under their eyes, the slope of their nose, etc...


If Richard ISN'T the Arch-mage, I will be very disappointed.

But they can look alike without being the same person. I'm holding out for the Archmage being an ancestor.

Remind me, how long ago were they supposed to have traveled?

i agree with you.

I've said this before, but I doubt that Richard is actually the archmage. If anything, I'm with Lunaya in guessing that they're at the very least, related. Having said that...

Hmm, wonder how Richard's killing escapade will effect their little adventure and the timeline

We really don't know. So at this point, I suppose anything is possible.

Wasn't it supposed to be 1,000 years ago when the Vulii overcame Gamlon?

As for Richard's relation to the Archmage, I'm more inclined to sit back and watch it unfold. Perhaps it's coincidence, perhaps it's not. If we based characters' relationships on how similarly they looked, Noel from LICD and Tavor would be distant cousins or something.

Whoa... where to begin?

Krunch, always the real-politician. He's got a shrewd mind, just like the archmage. So, the archmage and the dwarf officer have already given up on Kethenecia and just want to minimise the chaos? Does the human general know of this? Perhaps he suspects as much, which is why he was so depressed.

I noticed there's no reaction from Tavor, while Cale practically flips out and goes into emo martyr mode. Tavor keeps quiet and observes.

Poor Cale. He's such a good boy, helping the aging archmage to sit down and everything, and then the archmage flatly tells him Gamlon must be sacrificed to "the goal". Hrm. So, the "goal" is sitting around doing nothing for fear of unraveling the time line? What's so important about Kethenecia anyway, if the archmage already knows it will be destroyed? Fatalism at its best.

THere's something sick about considering your present as a future someone's past while you're living in it, and using that as a convenient excuse not to do anything... except that even if you think, no, especially if you think the time line is set in stone and everyone's actions are already part of it, why not simply do what you came to do? If everything is preordained, you CANNOT change/destroy the time line! But if the time line is NOT predetermined, then why not change it? Who says it will make things worse? How do you know that? Especially if you have a future time traveller sitting there who very much wants to prevent the fall of a nation? Who made you, archmage, the self-appointed guardian of the time line? (And where does that stupid Beholder fit into the puzzle?)

How does the archmage support his grand predictions anyway? WHY is the archmage so convinced that Kethenecia will be destroyed? (It's not like they know that Richard has already been busy "culling the herd".) Does the old geezer read the same prophecies as Krunch does, or did the time travellers tell him about the future they came from, off-screen?

Of course, I can understand if people want to limit time travel or prevent time travellers from interfering and changing everything at a whim, because then all sides could try to change the outcome of events back and forth to their liking, and you'd have chaos.

"History must run its course"? Screw predeterminism. Philosophically, it doesn't work, even without time travel involved. Religiously, if I wasn't an atheist I'd consider it blasphemy because it means humans pretend to know the mind of God. But historically speaking it was very popular with the Church (both Catholic and Protestant) in the Middle Ages up to the 17th century, if I remember correctly. I could look it up, but I'm too lazy right now.

The only consistent example in literature I've read so far that elegantly unites the ideas of Free Will vs Predeterminism and "Destiny" comes from Terry Pratchett's Discworld novels but especially from his (non-DW) novel "The Carpet People". The "Trousers of Time", man. Them mystics get to have their prophecies and predetermined destiny crap, and the rest of us gets to have the illusion of Free Will aka. "even the smallest hobbit can influence history, Frodo". There is not one History, but many, and Free Will means we get to chose which path to the future we will take. Since people usually can't see into the future, they don't go insane trying to second-guess history and are free to get on with their lives, which is how it should be, unless you're a History Monk. And even History Monks on Discworld can cheat from time to time...

Of course, history doesnt get unrailed by any random little thing at any given time; forget the "butterfly effect" aka popular misinterpretation of Chaos Theory; treading on an ant/killing a butterfly in the Cretaceous period a lá The Sound of Thunder will not magically lead to a Nazi regime when you return to the present. "The sea does not care which way the little fishes swim." as the saying goes. Both mathematicians and historians agree that not every change in a system will necessarily destabilise it and set it on a different path. Only changes made at specific points in time, in the right place, will do, but if they occur, the consequences can be dramatic; such an event can be a small one, seemingly inconsequential at the time it happens, but from the point of view of historians looking back everything seems like an unbroken string of events leading up to the inescapable conclusion.

Aynway. Where was I? I need some sleep. Been up all night, doing laundry. Stupid arthritis. Don't mind me, I'm just babbling.

Random observations:

First I thought the archmage was having aging spots. Then I thought, "No, those three spots on his forehead, they're way too geometrically spaced." In fact, unless I'm mistaken, are these gem stones? Look at the panels 8 and 9, the dots are green. In panel 9 you can see the lowest one on the archmage's forehead between the brows, and it looks convex, raised.

I notice Sooba did not try to stop Richard from killing people. I'm starting to wonder how Cale acquired his panther in the first place? Is Sooba like a ranger's animal companion? How intelligent is he? And why did Sooba, when we first saw him, attack Cale instead of the "bad guys"? Was it just meant a joke, cuz I admit, it was pretty funny, less because of the situation itself but because of Benny's and Richard's reactions. Or was it meant to imply more and it will come up again later? And am I still making sense here?


But then, wouldn't present-day Richard remember everything from this past? How he met everyone back when he was alive? Wouldn't he have known how to get to Kethenecia... no, I prefer it if characters are not stuck in a temporal loop.

I admit, Richard and the archmage do look very similar in regard to their forehead and eyebrow areas. Hm. Perhaps the Gods of LFG baked all archmages/warlocks/wizards fom the same mold?

You're still making sense. I thought the dents in the archmage's forehead were too evenly spaced as well.
I'll have to go back in some of the pages sometime to see if we have a better view of Richard's forehead, but if I find no similarity, I think the archmage and he are NOT the same person. I'm inconclusive until otherwise.

I dont think they look alike at all, and why would he be richard? Richard should be some evil thing even in life, or I will be disappointed

I did think it was kind of strange that Tavor kept silent in this one. I'm sure he must be angry about the Archmage's apparent apathy towards the people of Gamlon. But then again, Tavor isn't really prone to emotional outbursts. That's Cale's job. Maybe Tavor simply isn't surprised by the old man's attitude. He's probably sitting there, quietly pondering and just waiting for his opportunity to avenge his people. Let Cale and Krunch worry about the historical ramifications. Tavor has a job to do.

oooooh ooooh oooh, maybe the archmage is Richards father.

Just thought i would put my 2 cents worth in on this debate, not that i mind if he is not related just thought a new theory should be put out there.

Classic Richard wipe out an entire town, maybe its the town from Slaughter Your World?

So, if we don't know how far back they went... and with Richard being Undead and all... are we sure that Richard WASN'T alive (or, Undead) when this took place in the past?

For example, what if he ACTUALLY killed that whole village off in the past... and NOT killing them off this time would throw off the time line?

P.S. Please ignore the issue of "present Richard" possibly bumping into "past Richard" while killing off even more villages... I WAS ONLY THEORIZING!!! *hides in corner of the room*

No no no no no, don't go hiding in the corner, personally I love that idea, if they fit it in, past richard meeting future richard, maybe even soomba meeting past richards imp hence the reason they had the falling out?

Other than of course his name, but just think what kind of destruction two richards could cause, or maybe it's future richard that kills past richard and makes him undead?

Hehehe, I personally like that one even though it was my own idea.... he is his own reason for being undead, wouldn't that be nice

Time traveling is in itself not possible, but if we say it was.



It would not matter wich ants you stepped on, wich people you murdered, if you slept with your future cousin, cause all of it has already been done, by you. Because you have already been there. And done all that, so let the bloody mayhem begin.
Ohh and btw you cannot killyourself, cause then you would not logically exist and be able to do it.

Actually, in his particular case he can kill himself and exist, considering for my theory the old richard was alive and the new one is undead, and we have already covered the time travel being possible here, they have gone back in time so it must be possible, or they breaking a few rules and having some fun

I was just looking at the sign richard is altering. Does it say 275 or does it say 2765? If you look closely it does look like 2765.

In my opinion putting richard in the past is just asking for a grandfather paradox to be created, where either richard kills someone and uses necromancy to create himself, or someone witnesses Richard's immense power and sets his life goal to become like him, actually becoming richard in the meanwhile. Either way, I get the feeling this little time jaunt is the reason Richard became who he is today.

Also, an idea about the village, could that be the village that Richard's the mayor of? Looks scenic enough, although no coastline is evident

Can't be. seeing i think where that village is in the future is in the middle of a big desert.

I think there should be no time paradox when they get back. all the people in Kethenecia (or whatever it's called) are doomed to die in the war anyway. so even if Richard didn't kill them the Vullii probably would have instead. and no doubt someone will come running and blaming Richards attack on the enemy instead of Richard, while perhaps the LFG team might think "maybe leaving Richard behind wasn't a good idea after all..." so i doubt time has been changed at all *shrugs* and besides, it's already happened, so it was bound to happen anyway :3

OHOHOHOH; (if this has all ready been said sorry)

They went back in time; what if the Archmage is Richard before he became undead

Either that or hes just a character based on the same model as Richard.

Heh, I think it's because Cale ordered Sooba to attack "the evil ones", and here he was fighting the King's men -- supposedly good guys, though that's in question. If Sooba took him at both his word and intention, Big Kitty would have to attack Cale.

Now? Not so much. *wink* Besides, I think Sooba is Richard's Big Kitty now. I'm thinking the bear carcasses are forgiven.

Cale never ordered Sooba to attack the "evil ones", at least not until the big cat was trying to eat his face off. In that early panel, Sooba broke through a window and landed next to Cale. Then Cale said, "Let's finish this." and Sooba pounced him. He never said anything directly to Sooba until after his pet attacked hm. "Sooba, No! Attack the vile creatures! The evil ones!". In other words, we really don't know what, if anything, is influencing Sooba.

Krunch said that an archmage wrote the prophecies. Coincidence?

I think you all are focusing on the wrong connection. All this speculation about the connection between Richard and the Archmage, who have yet to meet... But what about Krunch and the Archmage?

Krunch was called a Chained One, which makes me think that his race was enslaved or imprisoned. It was also met with suprise when he spoke. Yet the Archmage knew of Krunch, knows of thier time travel, and Krunch has all these prophecies... What if the Archmage was Krunch's mentor? The one who taught him how to speak, become philosophical, etc.

Notice how Krunch isn't asking any questions? He seems comfortable under the guidance of the Archmage.

Or perhaps, like Krunch is prone to do, he is just lost in thought.

I was under the impression that Krunch was female, I seem to remember Benny addressing Krunch as old cow.

uhm... Kurnch is the son of some warlord... if i remember correctly from the gnome arch way back in the beginning.

ya, come cheiftan of sorts.

anyway, i bet now the "circle of time" is completely ruined, unless Benny rezzes all 275 people back, and goes on happily ever after. then again, that's a lot of magic to use..... she would be just like Richard lol

Yes, one of two sons... Most likely the "Scholar" rather than the warrior.

the archmage is Richard's father!!

..who he will eventually kill!! and be amuzed

I seriously doubt hes his father...

However, on the off chance that he is..

Let the "Past Nastification" commence!!!

...Lets just hope richard was born before the Archmage Bites it.

i know

OO! what if, if the archmage really IS Richard's father, we will see a grown-up-still-human version of Richard!! oooohhh that will be so awesome!! *dreamy sigh* in my dreams..

Your desire to see more of richard both disturbs and entertains..

I think the Movie will answer all the burning questions about richard.

Also ILR, I couldn't ask nicely for you to either change your siggy into something smaller or... uh..

Not bright-the-frick-red?

... Please?

what's wrong with red? it's Richard's favorite color!

Egh.. nevermind.

Good way to tell which ones are your posts, I suppose..

Text.... Text.... Text.. 'LAWLWALLOFREDTEXT' ... text....

Anyway, back on topic!


I wonder precisely how badly richard just Borked the timeline..

i don't know, it's been said before that Richard already did it in the past and just thought of the danger of the cirle of time being broken, and decided that it wouldn't hurt to do it again