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Torg: You don't *know* what I'm plotting! You can't read the memories, you just scoop them out by subject. -- Mushroom Dryad: But I have your book, and I'm just going to make you forget me and Olivia again. So what of it? Torg: You get weaker /every time/ I force you too [sic: should be "to"?]. Why don't you just take all of my memories? /I dare you!/ Sam: Hey, for the record, I don't remember nuthin'! -- Torg (off panel): You're so weak, even a child has escaped your clutches for, what, a few days now? Mushroom Dryad (pointing to Olivia encased in mushrooms): Oh foolish Torg, Olivia hid well, but she could not leave the mist, so it was all a matter of time. -- (Olivia looks terrified as she's encased in mushrooms at the foot of a tree with claws for branches) -- Torg (panicking): /*You monster!*/ Sam, get Olivia out of there! Fly her as far from her [sic: should be "here"] /as possible!/ -- Sam (worried): I don't know where she starts and the shrooms ends [sic: should be "end"], yo! Olivia (softly): ...Sam...? Sam: Hang on, little yo! -- Mushroom Dryad (angrily): Don't you realize you *can't* have her back? That not /how this works?/ How I wish my charter allowed me to just /*kill you!*/ | Flag | ||||
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Sam (off panel): /*Guys?*/ Olivia's not right! -- Torg: Olivia? Sam: Its [sic: should be "It's"] freezing but she's burning, yo? | Can you "magic" her better? Gwynn: I don't even know *what this is!* Olivia: Uuuh..? -- Gwynn: Sam, fly her to help! And the suns' [sic: should be "sun's"] rising so be fast! We'll be right behind on foot I'll bring the mirror to restore her memories.. [sic: the second period belongs after "foot"] Sam: /*On it!*/ -- Torg (the trenchcoat slight ajar enough to see he is still only in his tighty-whities): Well, we did it! Gwynn (picking up the mirror): Yes we did. Torg: Like I said, all we needed was a better distraction and you to get your memories back! Apparently I'm "annoyingly good at getting things right when push comes to shove." -- Gwynn: Wise words but you need to put more emphasis on *"annoying."* Torg? You did good. Torg: Is /someone/ coming in for a hug? -- (Gwynn walks away with the mirror in one hand, the Book of Ughlëë in the other, and a 'whatever' look on her face) -- Sam (flying in for the hug): /Yes!/ *Best bros!* <**WOOOSH!**> -- Torg: Sam? *Stop hugging and help Olivia before the sun frys [sic: should be "fries"] you! Sam: One more minute. === NOTE: Ref: _Olivia has Torg's hoodie_ <https://archives.sluggy.com/book.php?chapter=74#2023-11-27>. | Flag | ||||
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Torg: /Shhh!/ The "goop" .... The spots of memory that didn't get scooped... /*Think!*/ "A little goop here... A little goop there..." -- </Fuzzy flashback> (A carved disk with glowing red 'eyes' surrounded by mushrooms) </End fuzzy flashback> -- Torg: Mushroom spores. Somehow hollowing out our memories. But it's... targeted memory loss. It's not just recent memories, but older ones, connected to this "mission." It's almost surgical. -- Torg (holding his head with his fists): Or *magical!* Spores /*plus*/ magic. From a carved disk with glowing red eyes. Is there more "goop?" *Think!* /*Think!!!*/ ... . -- </Fuzzy flashback> Olivia: You came back! Torg: Olivia! You must be /freezing!/ Olivia: You /*have*/ to help!... -- Torg: (having taken off his jacket, he puts it on Olivia): Of course we'll help. Olivia: ..You have to *help Zoë!* -- Torg (whispering): /Oh no./ | Flag | ||||
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Sam: I'm feeling fine! -- Torg: Is this... It looks like the same woods where the ritual happened half a year ago. I guess all forests in the area would look similar? Sam: There's some dudes with flashlights over there! -- Dude #1: /*OLIVIAAAAA!*/ Dude #2: *OLIVIA!* Sign on tree: Campsite | 2 miles | <--- Torg: We're near a campsite. Maybe there'll be some answers there? Bald dude with a goatee: Hey you two! Find anything? Torg: Huh? -- Bald dude with a goatee: We're looking for Olivia Thompson, the ten year old girl who went missing from camp two days ago. Aren't you part of this search? Torg (with his hand up at his temple; confused): Ten... year... old... -- </Fuzzy flashback> Olivia: You have to *help me!* I don't know who I am and... /I think something is after me! (Torg is holding the Book of Ughlëë out in front of him...) </End fuzzy flashback> -- Torg (rushing off; with his cell phone up to his ear): Sam, come on! I'm getting the feeling we're going the wrong way, and we need to get back to where we were /*fast!*/ I'm going to call *Zoë and Gwynn.* I think I lost Gwynn's magic book! Sam: The one with all those powerful demons ready to burst out of it? Torg: I mean I'm going to call Zoë. Dude #2 (in the background): *OLIVIA!* | Flag | ||||
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Torg: *What* is a "dried mushroom lady"? Sam: Gwynn called her a "mushroom, dried" but she looks like a *babe* to /me! Can you put the twig down?/ I'm /splinterphobic!/ -- Torg: So this 'lady' has a "magic mirror" that makes me forget, but not you? Sam: My brain is too fierce to be affected! Torg: /Riiiight./ So why pretend to forget, Sam? -- Sam: Gwynn said we were supposed to be bait for the lady so she could catch her. I had to play stupid, and you had to... *be* stupid, I guess. I'm not supposed to talk about it. Especially not in the mist! Torg: When I gave my hoodie to Olivia she said Zoë was in trouble. You remembered /that/ and kept it a /secret?/ -- Sam: Oh! /Yeah!/ Gwynn *told* Olivia her name was Zoë when we first met! Torg: /*What?!?*/ -- Sam: Its [sic: should be "It's"] just you me and Gwynn here. Zoë is safely at home. Torg (vexed): *Why* would Gwynn /*do*/ that? -- Sam (holding up his hand in a "Bla Bla Bla" motion): She /*told*/ you, don't you /remember?/ She was like "if you lose your memory and you find out I'm in trouble, you won't rush in to save me as quickly as if you thought Zoë was in the trouble". -- Torg (annoyed): That is /messed up,/ but valid. Sam: That's what *you* said! | Flag | ||||
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(Gwynn looks dejected) Sam: I couldn't even /hear/ you sneaking up with my vampire ears! Only the rustling of paper! -- Gwynn: Let me explain. Do you remember when Farahn.... Sam: *Paper!* That's /*right!*/ Olivia said the dried mushroom babe turned you into paper and /made you forget how to do magic!/ -- Gwynn (grabbing on to the misdirection): /*Sure,*/ the had did this to me! I'm /sure/ its [sic: should be "it's"] only temporary! -- Gwynn: But Sam, tell me about the *child in danger!* Sam: At dawn, which is coming quick, the dried-mush-babe escapes with Olivia, forever! That's what the babe told us when she thought I couldn't remember! I think! -- Gwynn: Sounds about fey-right! Torg: We'll distract her, and you use the Book of Uhglëë on her! Sam: That's what we tried the first time, and she brain drained both of you! Then we did Gwynn's plan but got separated during the shroom party! -- Torg: So there *was* a shroom party! I can't remember it. Was it fun? Sam: *We totally /rocked./* -- Torg: We just need a better distraction. And Sam says there's information written in this coat! Gwynn: I have a question. -- Gwynn: What's the "Book of Uhglëë?" Torg: Uh-oh.... | Flag | ||||
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-- Gwynn: At some point we got separated, and I charged in alone with the Book. The hag took the Book, took my power, and turned me into this. Why would I make a mistake like charging in alone? Torg: Obviously, while Sam and I were under the influence of the psychedelic shroom spores, you had to step in to protect Olivia. That's how Olivia was able to warn us you were in trouble. -- Gwynn: I hope that's what happened, Torg. Torg: You'd never leave a kid in danger. That's just not you. Sam: I actually wasn't effected [sic: should be "affected"] by the spores. I probably should have helped or something. -- Sam: But... But she's *really weak* now, especially after draining so much from Gwynn, we should /*go for it!*/ -- Torg: The answer is simple. We need Gwynn to see her reflection in the magic mirror to get her memory back! Then she can use the Ughlëë spell and imprison the hag! Gwynn: But then the Hag gets a big chunk of her power back. And she magically kills me in a heartbeat. -- Torg: We... we need a better distraction! And I thought she couldn't /*kill* us?/ Gwynn: Torg, she can't harm humans, but I'm no longer human and neither is Sam. And she /*knows it*/ this time! She might be too weak now. But... Torg, it's all up to you. | Flag | ||||
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Torg (whispering): Hang on, Olivia! -- Mushroom Dryad (now looking like a hag): My my, I did /*not*/ expect to see you back her so soon! -- Mushroom Dryad: Or ever again! -- Torg: Well look at you. Too weak to even maintain your "hotter" form. Sam thinks you looked like a babe, I think you look like a monster both ways. Mushroom Dryad: Insulting me isn't going to help you get that oh-so-complicated ritual chant right -- Mushroom Dryad: You didn't notice the mushrooms listening nearby while you plotted?. [sic: Either the period or the question mark be there, but not both] I know everything you're planing [sic: should be "planning"]. You can't stop me. -- Torg: I think you're weaker than you let on. You're too afraid to even use the mirror on me, you're so /weak./ -- Mushroom Dryad: I think you're /afraid./ Why don't you try the spell you've never got right, while I'll try to thwart you. I think I have the better track record here. I'll give you a free second. Take your shot. Torg (looking down, as if defeated): No. | Flag | ||||
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Mr. Flannery (off panel; inside the house): Tea is almost ready, Ranger Nogeyama. Have a seat! -- Ranger Shika "Noogy" Nogeyama: I appreciate you taking the time to talk to me, Detective Flannery. Mr. Flannery (pouring hot water into a tea pot): 'Retired' detective. Mr. Flannery is fine. I'm afraid you'll be disappointed by this interview. Olivia, the rescued youth, is still recovering, and we're giving her family privacy. I can't officially talk about the case. -- Noogy (moving to pull up a chair): This is not official in any way. It's /personal./ But I do not want to intrude on that poor girl or her family. And call me Shika, Mr. Flannery. -- Noogy (sitting down and pulling up a magazine): Could we focus on "The Appalachian Flasher" and his involvement? And the monster in the woods? -- Mr. Flannery (with a possible scar on the right side of his head): So you want to know about Torg and the Hag? And you said this is personal? -- Noogy (looking through "Hunger's LOOKOUT Magazine"): /Huh!/ If you knew his name, why didn't the journalists run with that? -- Mr. Flannery (transformed to a wide-eyed, fake smile, crazy look): Now that I think about it, I'm not sure where that name "Torg" came from. But now I *sure want to interview /you!/* (The back page of "Hunter's LOOKOUT Magazine" says "LOOK OUT!" -- <***SHATTER!***> (The tea pot breaks and the serving tray with the tea set on it hits the floor) === NOTE: Ref: _Noogy and the Flasher_ <https://archives.sluggy.com/book.php?chapter=74#2024-01-31> | _Previously unnamed Flannery_ <https://archives.sluggy.com/book.php?chapter=74#2023-11-17>. Head's-up repeat from the headline above the comic:This comic wraps "Monstrous - Shenanigans," the next part of "Monstrous" will hopefully start next week once I lock down scripts. | Flag | ||||
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Sam (doing the 'shaka' or 'hang loose' hand sign with both hands): I just figured it was you being *heavy metal* with the *number of the beast*, yo! -- Torg (shivering): But Gwynn's in trouble, and we've got to help her. /*And*/ Olivia. And I'm getting frikin' [aka: should be "frickin'"] cold. You're a vampire, you don't feel it, give me the trench coat. Sam: No prob, buddy! -- Torg: *Oh!* Theres [sic: should be "There's"] writing in here. Sam: Oh yeah! /Shhhh!/ -- (Torg reads the writing in the trench coat with consternation; the way he's holding the coat, only the first couple of words are visible: "If you...") -- Torg (taking out a sharpie): Sam give me a minute. I have to jot some thoughts. Sam: Sure thing! -- Torg (worried; whispering): And Sam, you really have to keep 'playing dumb' and don't talk about what you know out loud, no mater [sic: should be "matter"] what I ask! /Especially in the mist!/ -- Sam: You too? That's what you /*both*/ keep telling me, but it's getting on my nerves! And /besties/ or not, I am leaving your butt when the sun starts coming up! Torg (whispering): Agreed. But Sam? /Promise me!/ -- Sam: OK. You guys *suck.* We're going back in the mists aren't we? === NOTE: Ref: "Long Story": _888888(1)_ <https://archives.sluggy.com/book.php?chapter=66#2014-09-09> | _888888(2)_ <https://archives.sluggy.com/book.php?chapter=66#2014-09-24> | _888888(3)_ <https://archives.sluggy.com/book.php?chapter=66#2014-12-24>. | Flag | ||||
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-- Sam (landing by Torg and pointing to his left): The mist is a mile or two that way. Torg: Good job Sam! Best bro hug? ("Certain Doom" and "888" have been crossed out on his T-shirt; "Getting Warmer" has been added) -- Sam (hugging Torg a little too enthusiastically): ***BEST BRO HUGGG!*** Torg: /Ugh,/ mind the vampire *strength!* <**KRIK!**> -- Torg (whispering): We're in this field because I didn't see any field mushrooms, and the trees have /wood ears./ We can't let the 'mushroom-dryad' know that you *know* what you /know!/ -- Sam (annoyed): You mean 'dried mushroom'. It's /grammar,/ yo! And I know what I know and I know grammar, yo! -- Torg (whispering): /Shhh!/ Sam, I need to know two things before going back in the dark. Where is the Book of Uhglëë? Do you remember? Sam (whispering): /No, dude!/ You guys lost it in the mist or something. -- Torg (worried; whispering): Remember when Olivia said "we had to help Zoë" but she /meant/ Gwynn? What else did she say, Sam? Think hard because I'm putting the pieces together but Gwynn being in trouble doesn't make sense. -- Sam (whispering): She said something like /"The hag turned her into paper and she can't do magic!" Torg (confused; whispering): That... doesn't help. And "hag"? I thought she was a dryad. Sam (whispering): Maybe she's a "dried mushroom hag," but she looks, like, /opposite/ of that! -- Torg (whispering): We're running out of time to save a little girl from a hag in the mists. Let's go kick its ass like /*true*/ monster hunters! Sam (whispering) You *know* it, bro! Torg (whispering): And that requires disengaging from this hug. -- Sam (whispering): One more minute. Torg: (*)sigh(*) (Behind them a leaf falls from a tree; mushrooms are growing by its roots) | Flag | ||||
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Paper Gwynn: You have to do the *thing* with the Book! Torg: The... /thing?/ -- Paper Gwynn: The *talky* thing. Torg: The ritual chant? Gwynn: /*Sure!*/ With the /*ugly*/ book! Torg: Book of Uhglee [sic: should be "Ughlëë"] -- Gwynn (annoyed): Whatever. Torg, I can't remember. Torg (exasperated): Gwynn, I've /*never*/ been able to do the ritual chant right! -- Gwynn: There's no choice. Dawn will be here in less than an hour. Olivia's life, and my future in magic hinges you on [sic: should be "on you"] getting that ritual-thingy right. And I can't help you practice. I'm sorry! -- Sam: I can help! As I remember, I was pretty good at than [sic: should be "that"] magic chant stuff! -- Caption: FLASHBACK: Sam: ***D@@DY P@@D·Y· BUG-Á-DEE BUD!*** Sam: ***BIG LEAGUE STUD!*** The Sam Singers: <musical note> **HEY NONNI NONNI** <musical note> </End flashback> -- Gwynn: I don't remember that working at all! Sam: I magically made you all roll your eyes at me! Torg (sweating): Right! Normally everyone rolls their eyes at /*me!*/ Maybe /Sam's the *man*/ for this! === NOTE: Ref: _Ritual Chant with the Book of Uhglee_ <https://archives.sluggy.com/book.php?chapter=73#2023-07-25> | _Torg can't do the Ritual Chant_ <https://archives.sluggy.com/book.php?chapter=74#2023-11-20>. | Flag | ||||
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Zoë (with a mixture of panicked concern and relief): I've been trying to call you *all night!* I've been /so worried!/ -- Torg (from inside their van): The mushroom hag kinda drained or [sic: should be "our"] phones, but we got her! Our first monster-hunter mission was a success! And we all got our memories back and my pants back. Zoë (off panel; over the phone): Your memories and.. pants? Is everyone OK? -- Torg (off panel; from the front of the van): Sam's a little crispy but he'll "live". He cut the sunrise a little too close. Sam (looking a bit charcoally): *Ow.* -- Torg: Oh and there's a little girl that's very sick. She's getting excellent care and we rescued her from the hag. Gwynn: And now we're on the run from the police. Zoë (off panel; over the phone): /*What?!?*/ -- Torg: Now-now, its [sic: should be "it's"] not that bad. Gwynn: When we arrived on the scene, after restoring Olivia's memories, she told the park ranger about her *brave rescuers.* -- Gwynn (smirking): Especially the one in the "trenchcoate and no pants". -- Zoë (holding the phone away from her ear and looking consternedly puzzled): ... -- Torg (annoyed): We're not in all *that* much trouble! Gwynn (laughing): Sam and I aren't, but the /"Appalachian Flasher"/ is wanted across four states! | Flag | ||||
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Zoë (putting on her jacket): It's getting late, Gwynn. We'll pick this up later. Torg: Did you ever figure out what the hag was doing with the kids she caught? All the options in the fiction are /*terrible!*/ -- Gwynn: The implication is the hag, Olivia, and the mist would all return to the fey realm at dawn. But after that... Who knows. Gwynn (pointing to the magic funnel on the ceiling): But there /*is*/ a way to find out. -- Zoë: *No!* You're /*not*/ going to use Lady Tomb's funnel spell to rip information out of the monsters' burned husks! We're going to stop them without /*becoming*/ them. Gwynn: You're... you're right. -- Zoë: Let's go, Torg. Gwynn? Want to come by for dinner tomorrow? Gwynn (uncomfortably): I'll try but I have so much to do. -- Torg (grabbing the trenchcoat as Zoë exits the room): Hey Gwynn? Between you and me? The hag went after kids. She had a /"charter"/ to go after /*kids.*/ -- Torg (putting the trenchcoat on and walking out): Do what you have to do. -- (Gwynn holds the Book of Ughlëë and looks at the magic funnel on the ceiling...) | Flag |