One more take on the 434

[Kurosen]

For the record, check the dialogue boxes in the most recent episode. Or even an older one. Pink is different than red.

[The Wizard Who Did It]

I have to say that the comic still has a long way to go. Therefore possible that all of our predictions, since they depend on the characters as they are now, may be false.

I always entertained the idea that it was Fighter talking to Black Mage. There is just something that I find funny in the irony that would be in this situation. How even though Fighter is an imbecile and Black Mage hates Fighter they eventually sit down and have some kind of chat about deep philosophy.

Also, to POS Industries' point relating how Fighter would not find the situation in the comic funny, I don't believe White Mage would find it funny either.
I still would believe that White Mage is a possibility, but I believe that Kurosen just said that that is false.

[Amake]

I believe he just said the colors may or may not be related to the speakers' identities. That's like a "I can't confirm or deny that at this time", which is conscpicious because he choose to say it at all. . . either he's giving us a hint or he's trying to make me lose the trail.

DISINFORMATION'D

[Steel Shadow]

I wouldn't base anything on the colours of the text. Yeah, Hell BM has that text (and yes, I think it's him, but thats besides the point), and RM may have the same colour text as the 2nd speaker (Although I couldn't find a comic to test that. Meh, lazy), but the hellking voice just depends on you becoming hellking. Heck, it could even be king steve.. although thats extremly unlikely, nay, impossible. The darker red voice may just represent a stronger/darker type of person who wears red. Or it could all be just a red herring. But thats just the colours. And the rest of it, but we'll continue like it isn't.

Right, the conversation indicate that 1 & 2 (as we shall dub them) were both involved in a journey to gurgu. Ok, whyos been to gurgu. WM, BM, BB, RM, theif, figheter, Ranger, Beserker, and Kary. By elimination of death that leaves WM, BM, RM, theif, fighter, Ranger, Beserker.

So, who talks like 1 or 2? BM, Theif, RM, WM, Ranger, and Beserker. Now we'kll go by belifes. RM belives that life is mearly a game of the gods. Nope, that doesn't fit in with 1 or 2. Theif belives in free market. Ok, I could see him being 2. Ranger belives... well, who knows. But he seems devoid of the bitterness that 1 is filled with, so he may be 2. Beserker... Well, provided he has his trusty monicle, he could be either. BM... well, as obvious a person he may be for 1, I wouldn't put 2 beyond him. And WM is the same.

Ok, now lets go with the content of the conversation. 1 wanted to know why they did things that way. 2 says becuase it was funny. So both parties were there for the trip, together. That means that if Ranger and Beserker are involved, this is a conversation between them. Thats not likely, and not very interesting either. We want Light warriors!

So that leaves us with (excluding R and B) Theif, WM, and BM. Well, we still have the background to go over. There's a sceen that *looks* like WMs robe, and blood. That doesn't have to mean anything either, but for kicks, lets say it does. So She's present, probably as either 1 or 2. the presence of blood indicates that she;s either hurt, or has hurt someone else. From the spatter pattern, I'd say that it's not WMs blood. So unless BMs been stabbing in close proximity, WM has spilt blood. That would put her in the conversation, as either 1 or 2. Goader or recipitent. "Its to late, your dieing", or "its to late, I'm waaay down the path to evil".

So that leaves BM or theif. And It just doesn't sound right for this conversation to be playing out between theif and WM. So BM and WM it is. As for who's saying what, I haven't a clue. I'm sure whatever happens will hit us like a kick in the nuts.

[The Wizard Who Did It]

Originally Posted by Steel Shadow

I wouldn't base anything on the colours of the text.

Although I either agree or am indifferent to your other points, I disagree that the text color and texture should be so easily dismissed. Although I believe that the text has changed a little from the first 100 comics, the text color seems to be rather consistant, as it needs to be. Although mostly we can see who is talking, the color seems to be used so that one can know who is talking without having the text bubble itself come out of their. It seems that the text color is used for one to identify with the character almost as much as their sprite shape and color.
And I will cut myself off before I ramble even further.

[POS Industries]

Originally Posted by Kurosen

For the record, check the dialogue boxes in the most recent episode. Or even an older one. Pink is different than red.

Hmmm.... in that case, then... no, wait... dammit!

This means something, but I'm not sure what it is. I hate when that happens. Either he's just pointing out that some people are stupid to lump WM in with Fighter or RM due to the text color ("Pink is different than red") or he's saying that it's not WM because it's in red, or that it's WM and she's different at that point, as symbolized by the red text, or being vague enough to where the text color could in fact be meaningless as most of us have assumed anyway. Dammit dammit dammit....

I have to point out that the comic he chose to illustrate the point is actually quite relevant to the argument. One of the first real forays into the questioning of WM's faith. Well played, Clevinger. Well played.

[ZAKtheGeek]

Seriously, consider sarda. Or even ROK.

We don't know when this happens. It could be in reference to a different trip to gurgu.

On the other hand, this whole conversation could really just be something completely and totally trivial. Perhaps without any actual plot significance. I personally would not be too surprised if this were the case.

[bolevar321]

Did you think maybe the color of the text was picked maybe even at random, the only reason for the colors different in the first place so you can tell that it is, in fact, a dialogue rather than an inner monologue? sheesh. And no, it is simply not fighter talking. From the context of the bottom panel, the first speaker is BM. There is no other possibility. The second speaker is, as many of us have shown, very probably white mage, due to the fact that it is not fighter. His outlook is too sunny, he is uncorruptable.

I will acknowledge the possibility, however, that the speakers are opposed. The statement "You have all the answers" seems to reflect this. If they are opposed, I'd have to say that BM has become more evil, perhaps through the chamber of atrocities or during events to come; it may be, in the end, White mage, creator (god?) of the universe, Vs. Hellking Black mage, Chaos' Usurper (assuming Chaos is the king of demons rather than satan.)

I could see that happening. Either that, or they're facing alone a powerful boss (Lich, who is now the hellking? Or maybe Chaos.) and they are having a final conversation before rushing him. Either one works.

[POS Industries]

Originally Posted by planeswalker321

Did you think maybe the color of the text was picked maybe even at random, the only reason for the colors different in the first place so you can tell that it is, in fact, a dialogue rather than an inner monologue? sheesh.

Don't worry about it, most of us have disregarded the text color as any clue to identity. I was merely speculating that, since Brian felt it necessary to comment on the color issue in a way that didn't exactly say "Fuck the colors", it could possibly mean that the colors have at least some significance. My other thought was that he just posted that to screw with us. I can respect that, and we probably deserve it.

That being said, this is the only issue that I feel comfortable publicly speculation on, as I think this comic may have been made with such a purpose in mind. This episode, along with the "weird" episodes from earlier in the series when they were sleeping at the inn, are put in place to allude to the greater plot ahead, and are vague enough to allow for analysis from every possible angle. A seemingly meaningless detail such as text color could, in fact, be the key to unlocking everything.

Then again, maybe I've just been watching too much "Lost".

[Carnivore]

Originally Posted by planeswalker321

Did you think maybe the color of the text was picked maybe even at random, the only reason for the colors different in the first place so you can tell that it is, in fact, a dialogue rather than an inner monologue? sheesh. And no, it is simply not fighter talking. From the context of the bottom panel, the first speaker is BM. There is no other possibility. The second speaker is, as many of us have shown, very probably white mage, due to the fact that it is not fighter. His outlook is too sunny, he is uncorruptable.

Why can't Fighter's outlook change? Maybe something happens to make him less optimistic. Something like all his friends dying.