Dr. 58 -- Session 18

Question: So how did the situation on Krupp Island play out?

ANSWER: ALL WAS SILENT ON THE ISLAND. ALL WERE PRESUMED DEAD. THE NAZI WAR SHIPPED SATURATED THE ISLAND WITH TAMMY GAS.

Question: I’m not even going to ask what tammy gas is. But how did they do this? I can guess why, to make sure everything was dead on the island, man or abomination.

ANSWER: THEY LAUNCHED CASKS FROM SHIP TO SPREAD TAMMY ACROSS KRUPP. EVERYTHING DIED, INCLUDING TREES, PLANTS, BIRDS, EVERYTHING.

Question: What did they do next?

ANSWER: THE NAZI’S MADE A TERRIBLE MISTAKE. THEY PUT ASHORE ELITE KRUN IRREGULARS TO INVESTIGATE THE DOME COMPLEX.

Question: I’m also not going to ask about Krun Irregulars! So anyway, the science facilities on the island designed to receive satellite data was a dome complex, or a series of domes?

ANSWER: YES.

Question: Why do you say this was a terrible mistake, to send in Krun Irregulars?

ANSWER: THE NAZI’S SHOULD HAVE DESTROYED THE ISLAND. THEY SHOULD HAVE PETITIONED THE THRALLDOM FOR SINGLE STONE TO LEVEL KRUPP WITH IRRESISTIBLE FORCE. INSTEAD, THEY CHOOSE TO INVESTIGATE.

Question: I’m going to guess they found something not very fun inside the domes, correct?

ANSWER: THE ENTRANCE TO THE MAIN DOME WAS FUSED SHUT. THE NAZI’S EXPLODED AN OPENING, WHEREFROM A TORRENT OF BLOOD RUSHED FORTH, WASHING BACK THE KRUN.

Question: Wow, that would be a lot of blood, presumably more than could be produced by bleeding a few hundred Nazis. More Minnesota deviltry, I presume?

ANSWER: YES, BUT WORSE, AS THE NAZI TROOPS ATTEMPTED TO RECOVER FROM THE BLOOD WASH, MOTH-LOOKS FLUTTERED OUT, EACH SETTLING ON THE HEAD OF A NAZI. THEY COULD DRILL THROUGH THEIR HELMETS.

Question: (Sigh.) Okay, I have to ask about Moth-Looks. What exactly are these Moth-Looks? I know what a moth is, but what is a ‘look’, or what do you mean by that?

ANSWER: A DEMI-MYTH. A PERSON-LOOK IS A SMALL PERSON CREATURE. BUT THESE BORE PART MOTH, PART HUMAN-LOOK. THEY WERE NOT PERSON-LOOKS, BUT MOTH-LOOKS.

Question: So they were like little mothmen, of sorts?

ANSWER: THEY WERE MOTH-LOOKS.

Question: Is the term “look” applied because these creatures resemble humans?

ANSWER: I DON’T KNOW. THEY DON’T APPEAR AS MEN OR WOMEN, BUT AS PERSON LOOKING, I SUPPOSE.

Question: Well what do you mean they could drill through the metal of Nazi helmets?

ANSWER: THE MOTH-LOOKS BORE INSECTILE STINGERS. THESE THEY DRILLED INTO THE HEADS OF THE NAZIS, WITH OR WITHOUT HELMET.

Question: What did they do, feast on their brains?

ANSWER: NO. THIS WAS A METHOD TO CONTROL EACH MAN. TO RIDE THEM.

Question: Can you explain a bit more what you mean here?

ANSWER: THE MOTH-LOOKS INSERTED THEIR STING DRILLS INTO THE BRAINS OF THE NAZI’S AND THEREBY GAINED CONTROL OF THEM.

Questions: Yeesh, so what did they make the Nazi’s do, dance a jig, or something?

ANSWER: THIS WAS THE BEGINNING OF THE GREAT TROLL EXEQUY.

Question: Exequy? You mean as in a funeral rite? Who was the funeral for?

ANSWER: SOME SORT OF TROLL KING.

Question: (Sighs of exasperation). I have no idea where this is going. Noooooooo idea. I’m not even sure what to ask next. Who or what was this Troll King and why did he need a funeral there on Krupp?

ANSWER: I DON’T KNOW. THE NAZI WERE FORCED TO PERFORM IT BY THE MOTH-LOOKS.

Question: Um, so these Nazi Krun troops that were taken over by the moth-looks, what did they do after each was being controlled by their moth-look controller?

ANSWER: THEY FORMED TWO LINES OUTSIDE THE HOLE IN THE DOME. THEY RAISED THEIR WEAPONS AS IN HONOR. FROM THE OPENING CAME FORTH A LONG PROCESSION OF NAZI TECHNOCRATS, ALL RIDDEN BY MOTH-LOOKS.

Question: Okay, um, jeepers, what to ask next? What to ask? Well, was this like some kind of ceremonial procession? And you say this was a Troll Exequy. Where was this dead troll?

ANSWER: THE FINAL 30 NAZI’S TO EMERGE CARRIED UPON THEIR SHOULDERS A GIANT TROLL KING RESTING UPON A GILDED CATAFALQUE.

Question: A troll king? How do you know it was a king?

ANSWER: THE DEAD TROLL WAS THE HEIGHT OF TWO MEN. IT WAS ARRAYED IN JEWELED CROWN AND RESPLENDENT ARMOR. IN ONE ARM RESTED A SCEPTER, IN THE OTHER A SWORD.

Question: Pretty spiffy outfit, especially for a troll! But of course, we’re talking troll royalty here, albeit dead troll royalty. I wonder how it died? Wait, just tell us what happens next. So thing bring out this dead troll kind on a splendid catafalque -- what did they do? Conduct some kind of funeral, or exequy as you say?

ANSWER: THIS BEGAN A THREE-DAY CEREMONIAL EXEQUY.

Question: Well, what did they do all this time? What happened after they first brought the dead troll king out?

ANSWER: ON THE FIRST DAY WAS THE PRECESSION. UNDER COMMAND OF THE MOTH-LOOKS, THE NAZI’S PREPARED TORCHES AND BEGAN A CIRCUMNAVIGATION OF KRUPP ISLAND.

Question: You mean they carried the catafalque of the troll king around the island in some kind of ceremonial parade, while carrying lighted torches?

ANSWER: YES. SOME RAN AHEAD TO LAY PALM FRONDS AT THE FEET OF THE EXEQUY MARCHERS.

Question: And the Nazi’s out on the ships. They just stood by, out at sea, and watched this bizarre drama unfold?

ANSWER: YES. THEY FEARED TAKING ANY ACTION.

Question: But they shot those other guys that ran for the beach and begged for help. Why didn’t they do the same for these poor technocrats and soldiers who were being put through so much horrible torture?

ANSWER: THE NAZI SHIPS HAD PROBLEMS. THEY LOST POWER.

Question: How many ships were surrounding Krupp?

ANSWER: I DON’T KNOW.

Question: So they were adrift then? Were their engines or power sources killed by some kind of Minnesota meddling?

ANSWER: YES.

Question: But they had blanketed Krupp with some kind of deadly gas before they sent their elite forces in. Couldn’t they at least launch another volley of that stuff and kill all those poor Moth-Look ridden clooks? (Note: If you’ll remember, ‘Clook’ is Dr. 58’s word for what we would call a zombie).

ANSWER: THE NAZI’S NO LONGER WANTED ANYTHING TO DO WITH KRUPP AND WERE ONLY CONCERNED WITH LEAVING. AFTER ALL, THEIR GAS HAD NOT KILLED THE MOTH-LOOKS.

Question: Yes, yes, that’s a good point. Again, I have to ask, how do you know so much detailed information about what went on in this remote corner of the planet. All this from defectors, as you say?

ANSWER: OF COURSE, AFTER KRUPP THE NAZI SHIPS WERE FORCED TOWARD THE AMERICAS. THEY SAILED THROUGH THE DELTA OF DREAD, UP THE GRADITCH CHAX AND WERE SWALLOWED BY MINNESOTA.

Question: Wait a minute, wait a minute, wait a minute! This makes little sense for a number of reasons! First, how does this answer my previous question -- how you know so much detail about the events on Krupp?

ANSWER: ONE OF THE SHIPS WAS TOO LARGE TO NAVIGATE THE CHAX. IT GROUNDED. THE NAZIS ABOARD MANAGED ESCAPE INTO AMERICA WHERE THEY BEGGED ASYLUM OR WENT SOCMAL.

Question: And so they had many tales to tell on the streets of America, am I right?

ANSWER: YES, EXACTLY.

(Note: I was going to ask you how naval vessels of some size could have navigated the Chax-- of course, in our world the river does accommodate rather large water craft, but I don’t think it would handle warships because of the different way they are built from river barges, and smaller ships. Then again, I have no idea how big these ships were. But at least one did run aground, as Dr. 58 states, so I decided not to get too bogged down by this. I also wondered how the sailors were able to cope with the Graditch Chax as they escaped from their grounded ship, which I assume was still surrounded by the enchanted waters of the Chax, but maybe I can get those details later, too, or maybe the waters of the Graditch Chax are not always so tricky, dangerous or deadly, or whatever. It‘s so difficult to stay on track and not get bogged down with a million details!).

Question: Well, I would like to know how is that the Nazi ships got their power back and then sailed for the Delta of Dread and up the Chax, and why, but let’s finish with Krupp. So Moth-Look clooks were marching a giant Troll King around in some kind of procession of honor? Where did this bizarre ceremony end up?

ANSWER: THE CIRCUMNAVIGATION WAS COMPLETE AT SUNDOWN. THE MOTH-LOOK CLOOKS SLAUGHTERED THE 30 MEN WHO HAD BORN THE TROLL KING -- AND THE CEREMONIAL FEAST BEGAN.

Question: (Mega groans!) Ay-yi-yi! They killed the pall bearers and then used them in a cannibalistic feast? Please, Dr. 58! Say it isn’t so!

ANSWER: WHY? LARGE FIRE PITS WERE BUILT. WOOD WAS BROUGHT. THE NAZI TECHNOCRATS WERE ROASTED OVER OPEN FLAMES, UPON CLEVERLY FASHIONED ROTISSERIES.

Question: Yum! Human flesh on a spit! A feast fit for a dead king! Please don’t tell us they were slathered with some kind of barbecue sauce!

ANSWER: I DON’T KNOW BARBECUE. RIDDEN BY THE MOTH-LOOKS, ALL FEASTED WITH OBVIOUS RELISH.

Question: Did they also pass around flagons of mead, drink deeply, and offer up lusty toasts to the dead king?

ANSWER: I DON’T UNDERSTAND YOU.

Question: Forget about it. So how long did this feast go on?

ANSWER: THROUGHOUT THE NIGHT. AT DAWN A BIZARRE CEREMONY WAS PERFORMED. THE BONES OF THE DEAD WERE OFFERING TO THE RISING SUN. THEN BEGAN THE GAMES.

Question: Okay, we’ll bite! We’re just tagging along for the loony Dr. 58 ride here! Don’t tell me a game of Pepper Ball broke out!

ANSWER: THE NAZI’S DON’T PLAY PEPPER BALL. THE MOTH-LOOKS CLOOKS CONDUCTED FOOT RACES, FEATS OF GRAPPLING, SWORD FIGHTS, KICK FIGHTING, AND MORE.

Question: So they feasted on man-flesh all night and then played games all day? Didn’t these guys ever need to rest?

ANSWER: NO.

Question: Did the other clooks seems to enjoy the festive games?

ANSWER: THERE WAS MUCH CHEERING. WHEN A CLOOK KILLED ANOTHER IN GRAPPLE, OR CUT OFF ANOTHER’S HEAD WITH SWORD, THERE WERE ROARS OF APPROVAL FROM THE ONLOOKERS.

Question: So the games went on for the day. This is the second day of events. Were many people killed in the games?

ANSWER: MANY. THEY SUPPLIED THE FEAST OF THE SECOND NIGHT.

Question: How many poor souls took place in these gruesome exequy ceremonies?

ANSWER: THERE WERE MANY, PERHAPS 200.

Question: So while all these games and feasting went on, the Troll King in state, presumably in some exalted location. After all, this was all in honor of this death, correct?

ANSWER: YES. THE CATAFALQUE HAD BEEN RAISED TO PLACE THE DEAD TROLL KING IN STANDING POSITION, AS IF TO WATCH THE EVENTS.

Question: So another night of feasting, what happened on the following morning?

ANSWER: AGAIN THE CEREMONIAL PRESENTATION OF BONES TO THE SUN, AND THEN BEGAN THE ADORATION OF THE FALLEN KING.

Question: What was this all about?

ANSWER: A LINE WAS FORMED. ALL WAITED THEIR TURN TO KNEEL AT THE FEET OF THE DEAD KING, WHERE THEY WAILED, PRAYED AND EXPOSTULATED AT GREAT LENGTH, TELLING TALES OF HEROIC GLORY CONCERNING THE KING.

Question: What language were they speaking?

ANSWER: NOT THE NAZI TECHNO TONGUE, BUT THE POETIC GATE OF THE REICH.

Question: Do the Nazi’s have different forms of language for different sectors of society, or what? For example, what is this Nazi techno tongue?

ANSWER: THE NAZI’S DEVELOPED A SPECIFIC LANGUAGE FOR TECHNICAL PURSUITS. IT IS NOT THE COMMON TONGUE OF THE REICH, BUT FOR TECHNOCRATS.

Question: Do you know what the native tongue of the Reich is called?

ANSWER: I’M NOT AN EXPERT BUT I THINK IT IS ARAN.

Question: Maybe you mean Aryan?

ANSWER: I DON’T KNOW.

Question: So how long did each Moth-Look ridden Nazi expound at the feet of the dead king?

ANSWER: UNTIL ALL WERE SATISFIED. IF THE SUBJECT DID NOT SHOW PROPER GRIEF, OR WEEP AND WAIL EXTRAVAGANTLY ENOUGH, HE WAS BEATEN BY THE OTHERS UNTIL HE DID.

Question: So we’re on, like, the third day of this magnificent send-off for the Troll King. Now, Krupp is an island near the earth’s equator, right. It must have been fairly hot, with the sun beating down. Was the Troll King starting to rot, or did his body seemed preserved in some way?

ANSWER: THE TROLL WAS ROTTING. FLESH BEGAN TO PEEL AWAY AND OOZE, AND THIS PROMPTED THE NEXT CEREMONIAL EVENT.

Question: Dare I ask?

ANSWER: WHY NOT? YOU ARE A FONT OF QUESTIONS.

Question: I was speaking rhetorically, but forget about that. Was the next event?

ANSWER: THE FEASTING UPON THE FLESH OF THE KING. EACH MOTH-LOOK CLOOK PARTOOK OF THE BODY OF THE KING. AFTER A LONG PERIOD OF SILENT CONTEMPLATION, THEY GATHERED TO PERFORM THE FINAL REQUIEM.

Question: What was this?

ANSWER: THE REMAINING CLOOKS FORMED A CHOIR AND SANG A SOARING THRENODY OF LAMENT. THOSE ON THE NAZI SHIPS WHO COULD HEAR SAID THE VERY AIR SEEMED TO DIE AND SEA ITSELF MOURNED AT THE EMOTION OF THE DIRGE.

Question: Was the exequy finally over?

ANSWER: YES, AFTER SINGING THE THRENODY OF MOURNING, THE CLOOKS FELL TO THE GROUND AND WEPT BITTERLY. AS THEY DID SO, THE KING AWOKE.

Question: !!!!?????What!!!????

ANSWER: THE TROLL KING AWOKE FROM THE DEAD. HE STEPPED AWAY FROM HIS CATAFALQUE AND BEGAN TO EXPRESS HIS RAGE AT THE INFERIOR QUALITY OF THE THREE-DAY CEREMONY.

Question: So he wasn’t dead after all, after all this time? I thought you said his flesh was rotting?

ANSWER: HE WAS DEAD BUT RETURNED TO LIFE. WIELDING HIS SWORD, HE ROARED IN ANGER AND EXCORIATED THE CLOOKS FOR THEIR LACK OF EMOTION AND INSINCERITY DISPLAYED DURING HIS EXEQUY.

Question: Ha! Ha! I can’t stand it, Dr. 58! You’re either a comic genius, or you’re insane!

ANSWER: I DON’T UNDERSTAND YOU.

Question: Oh brother, so what did this newly arisen Troll King (arisen on the third day, no less) do next? Start hacking all these guys with his sword?

ANSWER: UPON THE RAGE OF THE RISEN KING, THE MOTH-LOOKS ABANDONED THEIR HOSTS. THEY FLUTTERED UP AWAY FROM THE RAGING KING, AND BEGAN CHITTERING WITH THEIR ODD, THRUMMING INSECT VOICES, STILL SPEAKING ARAN.

Question: Ha! Ha! What were they saying?

ANSWER: THEY LAID ALL BLAME ON THEIR FORMER HOSTS FOR WHAT WAS LACKING IN THE EXEQUY. THEY CLAIMED THE NAZI’S HAD BEEN MENTALLY RESISTING.

Question: Ha! Ha! Classic! Ha! Ha! L-o-o-o-v-i-n-g it, Dr 58!

ANSWER: YOU SEEM GHOULISH TO ME, SOMETIMES.

Question: Ohhhhhh…. Sorry, Dr. 58. I don’t mean to be ghoulish. But, sometimes it’s hard to take you seriously. Are you being serious with this story?

ANSWER: YES.

Question: So what did the Troll King do? Take out his rage on the Nazi’s, now free of Moth-Look control?

ANSWER: YES, HE CURSED THEM AND TOOK OUT GREAT SWATHS OF THEM WITH SWORD. MOST WERE TOO DEPLETED TO RESIST. SOME ESCAPED INTO THE SEA, WHERE THEY DROWNED.

(I’ll stop there for now …)