Looking for Group
| Looking for Group | |
|---|---|
| Legend of the Karat Diamond LFG Cast and a killer rabbit | |
| Author(s) | Ryan Sohmer & Lar deSouza |
| Website | http://www.lfgcomic.com |
| Current status/schedule | Monday, Thursday |
| Launch date | November 6 2006 [1] |
| Genre(s) | MMO Spoof/Homage |
- For the MMORPG request, see MMORPG terms and acronyms.
Looking for Group is a fantasy-themed webcomic drawn by Ryan Sohmer and Lar DeSouza. The Comic follows the quest of Cale'Anon (an elven hunter) and Richard (an undead warlock), as well as their companions. Since its launch on November 26, 2006, it has received positive attention at Stratics[1] and the World of Warcraft community.[2][3]
Overview
Looking for Group's Ryan Sohmer and Lar deSouza (the author and artist of Least I Could Do) draw the themes of Looking for Group from many influences, such as Terry Goodkind's Sword of Truth series, Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series, and Blizzard Entertainment's popular video game World of Warcraft. It is currently updated twice a week, on Mondays and Thursdays.
Cast of Characters
Since its inception, the comic has introduced a handful of characters whose backgrounds and stories are slowly being revealed.
- Cale'Anon
- Cale'Anon is an elven hunter who struggles against the stereotypes of his kind - he wants to be a kind, law-abiding and valiant defender of the oppressed. Many feel that he is a Blood Elf from the popular Blizzard game, World of Warcraft, but the authors of this webcomic have made it very clear that this comic draws on influences from other sources and is not a World of Warcraft comic. His name is usually shortened to "Cale" by others. In LFG's first strip, Cale meets Richard, who tries to convince him that his race is, as a rule, evil, and henceforth Cale is, too. Cale refutes Richard's assertions, saying "I will be good and pure of heart. A lone and righteous wolf in a desolate and uncaring land. A protector of the people.", similar to the nature of Drizzt Do'Urden from R. A. Salvatore's Dark Elf series. He has since personally killed one innocent (with a little help from Richard) and at least two 'protectors of the people'. He also appears to have the ability to speak and see after being burned to ashes. Although a seeming simpleton lacking in knowledge about the world, Cale has proven a surprisingly excellent fighter, skilled with both his twin swords and archery (a trait which is also reminiscent of Drizzt Do'Urden). He is fiercely loyal, breaking laws and risking death to protect his friends. Ryan Sohmer has stated that when Cale was created, he did not know who Drizzt Do'Urden was, and the parody was unintentional.
- Richard
- An undead Warlock who needs only the slightest provocation to sow destruction, Richard is the most blatantly evil person one could ever hope to avoid meeting. He excels at manipulating others, and is oversensitive about his less-than-threatening name - when Cale called him "Dick" he blasted him into a pile of ash. He has a vast command of the black arts; a wicked sense of humor; and a troubled history with orphanages, claiming that the orphanage attacked him first and that he only destroyed it in self-defense. He also claims to have murdered his father. His titles include Chief Warlock of the Brothers of Darkness, Lord of the Thirteen Hells, Master of the Bones, Emperor of the Black, Lord of the Undead, and mayor of a little village up the coast which he describes as "quite scenic in spring". He also seems to have a certain contempt for authority. Due to the fact he is undead, Richard can sustain and even shrug off severe injuries, such as fireball through the stomach or a dagger to the heart. Richard claims to be traveling with Cale out of sheer boredom, and because watching Cale perform evil acts and agonize over them delights the warlock. He apparently used to have a companion, an imp named Hctib Elttil (Little Bitch spelled backwards, as Richard claims, described its place in their relationship), but it ran away. He also seems to have a taste for babies, although this could simply be a twisted joke. He was revealed to have advanced hand-to-hand fighting skills as well, easily taking out several trolls within seconds, accrediting them to having once drained the soul of a monk, saying it 'tasted like chocolate'.[4] Richard seems to have as much, if not, more control over Cale's companion pet, Sooba (which he summoned with a fork in his hand that at one point he claimed to be the "Fork of Truth") as Cale himself does. Richard falls into a catatonic state after overly strenuous battles. This form of hibernation is apparently designed to help him recuperate, but he still manages to kill things in his sleep. He seems to have an affinity with dragons, examples of which was when he turned a dragon of the legion into ice which fell and smashed to pieces (which prompted Richard to quip "It's a pity we don't have more time. It's fun trying to put them back together again) and turning a sand dragon into glass and saying, "Look what I made!". Though it would seem that Richard's only goal in life is to sow death and destruction wherever he goes, the warlock's true motives are known only to him. Some speculate that he is a killing machine and nothing more. Others believe that he's really just lonely and craves attention. Although able to use many elements and spells, it is clear that fire is his weapon of choice, with ice as his secondary weapon, and necromancy and lightning tied for third most used.
- Benny
- Benny'Joon, or Benny for short, is a priestess Richard and Cale meet while seeking a healer. She has a penchant for violence and can handle herself in a fight, and appears to have turned mercenary to get out of money trouble. There have been several debates about Benny's race, as she bears the typical body traits of a troll that are similar to those found in the trolls of the Warcraft universe, but the green skin of a fantasy orc. Her race appears to be unknown not only to readers, but also to the other cast members, as evidenced in chapter 63, when Richard described her as a "female of unknown pedigree." Krunch practically raised her, and frequently called her his "green kid", which he has now shortened to the nickname "Gid". Benny is currently being chased after by Commander Tenmet Aelloon, and for an unnamed reason, he will halt his pursuit in exchange for a mythical relic known as the Sword of Truth.
- Sooba
- Sooba is a large black feline companion of Cale's, similar to Guenhwyvar, Drizzt's panther companion. However, unlike Guenhwyvar, Sooba is not a creature of magic (as he has no trouble maiming a group of shamans who claim that "No being of magic can harm us". Since they were able to successfully subdue both Richard and Benny, they presumably were telling the truth). Sooba is very helpful in a fight, although he occasionally attacks Cale instead of the enemies, and as an added sample of irony, Sooba has a strong liking for Richard as he is frequently seen guarding a hibernating Richard or coming to Richard's aid when called. He has also served as a mount for Richard in at least one comic. Interestingly, however, Sooba, when called to action, is able to appear at the fray within seconds, whether or not he was actually there, or indeed anywhere in sight, prior to being called (a panoramic view of a battlefield in one strip shows Sooba clearly nowhere to be seen, although this does not prevent him from arriving within seconds of being summoned by Richard).
- Krunch Bloodrage
- Little is known about this muscle-bound minotaur-like creature (possibly a Tauren warrior equivalent) except that he raised Benny up when she was a kid and is incredibly strong; in his first appearance, he tackled a dragon and broke its neck, prompting Richard to crack "Bad news, Cale. I'm afraid that your position as my closest and dearest friend is being replaced by the fellow who just tackled a dragon." Krunch has taken a side in the "good/evil" debate that is, essentially, Cale and Richard's relationship. While Cale believes strongly in good and Richard equally strongly in evil, Krunch believes that people do what they must to survive- and everything is, in essence, relative. Due to his secular nature and the fact that he is generally able to give logical reasoning to his beliefs, Cale often looks to him for truth and advice. On the other hand, he seems to have no real qualms about the indiscriminately violent intentions and methods of Richard, as they have been able to work together easily. He takes on the role of protector to Benny and calls her his "green kid", now shortened to "Gid." He appears to have a great fear of water.
Krunch's family connections have only been hinted at in the story. His father appears to have once been an ally of the troll warlord Stoll and a staunch believer in "empirical" expansion. Krunch doesn't seem to appreciate his father's views as he kills Stoll in order to stop an invasion. It is hinted that Krunch has a brother, with Stoll describing the pair as "a scholar and a warrior". Krunch doesn't admit to being one or the other. However, he appears to be the scholar, judging by his literary skills in some of the comics, the fact that he refers to himself as a scholar in comic 60, and that in the printed version book cover[5] he's seen reading a book while the rest of the group engage in fierce combat. It is even possible that he is both, rather than having a brother.
Supporting Cast
- Commander Temmet Aelloon of the King's Legion is the first adversary the band of adventurers has had to face. He wants the Sword of Truth as payment for some debt Benny owes him, and is hunting Benny relentlessly until she retrieves it for him.
- Dragons of the Legion are the cavalry of the King's Legion. They fly, spit fire, and smash nicely when turned to ice.
- Lord Stoll was formerly a warlord commanding an army of very intelligent trolls. Stoll formerly tried to capture the gnome city of Mechastone so he could use its ore supplies. His invasion failed when a gnome attack distracted his guards long enough for Krunch to kill him. Although his second-in-command took over, his army was still wiped out by Cale's band and the Gnomes.
- Styx is Stoll's second in command, and is assumed to have taken control of the troll forces after Stoll is assassinated. When he captures Cale's party, he brings them to see Stoll. Whether he believed their story or was hoping they would kill Stoll so that he could take command is unknown. He is assumed to be killed in the Troll-Gnome battle.
- Tim is an incredibly stupid yet huge troll of Stoll's army. His mental state is attributed to "too many mace blows to the head". He seems to have bonded with Cale instantly, calling him his chicken. Cale later asks Tim to "Save the Chicken", prompting Tim to join the battle on the Gnome's side in order to save Cale.
- Chief Engineer Toyk is the gnomish leader of Mechastone and an apparent genius. He contracts the party to assassinate Stoll in exchange for the location of the Sword of Truth.
- Leena/The Shriek was a young princess of the long gone kingdom of Gamlon. During an attack on her homeland, her entire people were slaughtered and she was wisked away to magical catacombs where her spirit was preserved, becoming the shriek. She is the only creature who knows the exact location of Kethenecia and the Sword of Truth. She transports Cale back in time to witness her father's death. While back in time, Cale acquires two swords, belonging to Tavor, which show the map to Kethenecia when coated in blood.
- Tavor was a knight of Gamlon and owner of the twin swords which show the map to Kethenecia. He was the first person Cale encountered during his trip back in time, and the two became fast friends. As Gamlon fell, Tavor displayed his dedication to duty, as well as his sense of personal honor. His final act in life was to shield Princess Leena from enemy arrows, using his own body. As he lay dying, he entrusted his swords to Cale. Later, when Cale and the rest of the group reach Kethenecia, Tavor reappeared, explaining that his duty to protect the Princess and avenge Gamlon would not be ended simply with his death. He joined the group in hopes that he may finally complete his task. Tavor seems to get along with the rest of the group almost as well as he got along with Cale. There seems to be a lot of understanding between him and Krunch and he even seems to respect Richard. However, Tavor's cheerfully biting sense of humor does seem to irritate Benny. It is, as yet, unknown what will happen to Tavor when and if he completes his mission.
- Captain Tah'vraay is the captain of "The Father's Bones," a pirate ship contracted by the party to take them to Kethenecia. She is a dark-skinned elf (possibly a drow equivalent) with a long white braid of hair and a swashbuckler style of clothing. Her left eye is blood-red and crossed with two scars, though it is not known if this impairs her vision. She and Benny appear to have formed an instant dislike for each other. She claims to have burned the granaries of the King, which has incurred the pursuit of the Legion. She had some kind of non-aggression arrangement with Commander Aelloon, but the latest attack by the Legion on her ship was merely to get to Benny and her friends.
Major Events
On Monday, 06 August 2007, at 10:59pm, Ryan Sohmer posted a video link in his blogs on the main pages of Looking For Group and its sister comic, Least I Could Do. The video, entitled "Slaughter the World," features Richard, voiced by Dave B. Mitchell, singing a parodied version of the song "Part of Your World" from Disney's The Little Mermaid. It is revealed at the end and in the blog that the latest (and longest) Looking For Group video is actually a trailer for "a full 75-85 minute feature film." The film, currently under the working title of "The Origins of Dick" has "a target release of late 2008."[6]
References
- ^ "Stratics Exclusive..." LFGComic. December 17, 2006. Retrieved January 17.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - ^ "WoW Community Spotlight". LFGComic. January 15, 2007. Retrieved January 17.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - ^ "WoW Community Spotlight Image from LICD Forum". LFGComic. January 15, 2007. Retrieved January 17.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - ^ http://lfgcomic.com/page/28
- ^ http://secure.blindferret.com/lfgstore/images/D/lfgcomic01-store.jpg
- ^ http://www.lfgcomic.com/forum/index.php?act=ST&f=2&t=1304
See also
External Links
- Looking for Group
- Looking for Group Forum
- Dave Mitchell's MySpace - voice actor for Richard.