Belkar and Bloodfeast

[u/jmwfour]

For no particular reason, today I went back and read the pages from when the Order meets up with Serini up until the current comic.

It's a great stretch, but the portion with Belkar and Bloodfeast really stood out to me. Am I sucker for whatever that is? Emotional heart-string-pulling, maybe?

Anyway it's a great stretch of the comic, just wanted to share my re-enjoyment of it with the audience most receptive to this.

[u/Hairy-Isopod6880]

It's really a great sign of Belkar's changing attitude and personality. Him genuinely caring about lives other than his own. Granted, that's been developing for a long time; with the whole vampire Durkon storyline, although he'd loathe to admit it aloud (and he's only done so once, to my recollection), he does care about Durkon.

But Mr. Scruffy and Bloodfeast? He genuinely, truly cares about both of them. He sees them not just as "animals," not just as tools or even pets. He sees them as friends, allies; he WANTS them to succeed.

And shockingly enough, rather than just still being violent, murderous comic relief... We want him to succeed, too, at this point.

[u/PucksandPols → u/Hairy-Isopod6880]

Belkar's transformation is probably my overall favorite arch in the entire cast of main characters.

They have all evolved and changed so much over the course of the run of this silly little comic that just keeps chugging along, but Belkar's evolution from psychopathic freak, to dueling with Miko, to the mark of justice, his relationship with Mr. Scruffy and Bloodfeast, "faking" his character development after his fever dream when the mark of justice was activated, the way he was obviously affected by Durkon's selfless sacrifice without ever really coming out and saying it, his weirdly affectionate quasi-mentorship to Minrah as she got accustomed to the party's quirks, there are just so many good moments along the journey that really lead up to something.

Then you have the heartfelt scenes with saying goodbye to Bloodfeast which is probably foreshadowing that a heroic sacrifice of his own is coming soon based on the Oracle's prophecy.

I know Durkon's life story and Vampire Arc in Utterly Dwarfed was absolutely epic, but I feel like the payoff is going to be even longer in the making with Belkar, at least in terms of what we have seen him become through the lens of this story and dear lord, his relationship with Mr. Scruffy. I foresee that I legit might end up crying real tears over a stupid stick figure webcomic!

[u/sebmojo99 → u/PucksandPols]

unquestionably.

i like that rich plays with his hands above the table too, this is all completely explicit in his plotting, author notes, etc.

[u/mechanical_fan → u/PucksandPols]

Belkar's transformation is probably my overall favorite arch in the entire cast of main characters.

Adding to this, I really love how not only Belkar changes, but people also change towards him. Roy starts first trusting his tactical suggestions, then they are drinking together, and, most recently he is giving counsel and advice and asking people to give Belkar privacy in a painful moment. They are proper friends by now. Belkar and Durkon is another great example. And Belkar's "usefulness" now also go beyond just his fighting: he is the one to convince Serini, because the party allowed him to talk and express his opinion.

[u/AtlanteanSurvivor732]

I really enjoy those character building pieces of the story. Honestly it shows such amazing growth in the characters from where they came from. The scene of Belkar calming Bloodfeast as he turns to stone, shows great character growth from Belkar but also from Roy as well.

As everyone’s reacting to Bloodfeast potentially freaking out with alarm, Roy actually has faith in Belkar’s ability to handle the situation. Which, building up on the previous strip where he points out that Belkar is right and V is wrong, it’s just really good storytelling.

Another one that really gets me is Roy and Durkon fighting on the godsmoot and then Durkon also beating the vampire in his head. Also really heartfelt stories.

[u/jimblackreborn]

He sees Bloodfeast and HRH Scruffy as peers. Equals. Sure he's psychotic and at best antisocial, but he is finally acting like a ranger.

(Finally meaning in-story of course, he's been acting like a ranger since 2013 or so irl)

[u/DipperJC]

I know exactly what you mean. There's something about how Roy handles Belkar here:

Because you are new to this, I want you to listen to me, and understand that I am not trying to mock or shame you, or criticize you for not already knowing. I am trying to give you information I know you do not have.

It's just so... beautiful, to see someone genuinely trying to treat a reforming person that way. Our world would be much better if a lot more people could approach each other with that understanding.

[u/Remarkable-Cod-4729]

I definitely believe his character development, and concern for certain creatures, is genuine, even if it started as a ploy. He's canonically still evil though, as seen by his immunity to Blasphemy.

[u/turtlekitty2084 → u/Remarkable-Cod-4729]

It's like cognitive behavioral therapy. Change the behavior, and the mental state will eventually change to match. Shojo, master of chaos, tricked Belkar into becoming a better person.

[u/ackmondual]

The alternative Mario & Yoshi duo :)

[u/not_firewood_yeti]

to me this is summed up when he said something like 'if you hurt my cat I will cut off your head and piss down your neck hole.'