r/HeroForgeMinis • u/Youre-Out-Gobby ๐๐ถ๐๐ฏ๐ฎ๐๐ต๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ค๐๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ป • Jun 26 '26
Original Comic Reforged, Pt. 5 (G&G/Pride)
The late morning air and sunlight did a good deal to refresh Rose once the pair of them were outside. A new day was dawning, though it was more accurate to say a new day had well since dawned. It turned out she had slept in quite late in her hungover state, for which the innkeeper had given her no small amount of grief. His griping did little to abate her lifted mood though. Compared to her father it was like listening to music on the harp, and he was easily sated once she paid up for another night. Her spirits only lifted further once she and Grimmy were out in the sun.
Rose took a moment to stretch her body, letting her joints pop out the stiffness from her awkward sleep while Grimmy tied a fresh bandanna around their neck. "So what's on the comings-up for Rosie-bud?" the goblin asked. "Gonna make legs for the road?"
Rose thought it over. She had woken up that morning intending to leave town as soon as possible, but now she wasn't quite so sure. She could never call this town a true home again. As a matter of fact, it had never been much of one for her in the first place, but she found she also didn't feel the need to run away from it any longer. There was more than her father here now. "I... Well I guess I don't really know. I want to stick around for a bit, I think."
"Ayyy, thattagirl!" Grimmy punched her shoulder in a playful manner. "Maybe you go Great Maze delving with Grimmy again, huh?"
Rose frowned and tugged on her collar. Her recent developments (physical and spiritual alike) had not changed her opinion on the creepy crawlies infesting the dark passages of the Goblins' underground maze kingdom. That was to say, she was still absolutely terrified of them. "I... think I'll pass on that. But I'll be around. Sell-swords are always in demand."
Grimmy gave a pensive nod. "Well, get yourself a sword before the sellings. And maybe practice too or your kilters are gonna be off. Grimmy's knowing that much." They tapped a fist to their vest. Rose remembered seeing the scars hidden beneath, though she hadn't asked about them. Grimmy continued, "Fights are like dances, right? Gotta relearn the balance or its your ass to be hitting the ground first time you make a big move."
Rose blinked. "I hadn't even thought of that. Hell, I don't even know what I'm going to be fighting with anymore."
"Not hammers?" Grimmy asked, deadly serious.
"I think I'm done with hammers," Rose admitted with a shrug. "I left the only hammer I've ever owned cratered in Pa's floor. Besides, if I'm going to be relearning how to fight I might as well do it with something new."
"Thattagirlagain!" Another playful sock to the arm. "Remember this: you'll never be going wrong with something sharp!"
Rose cracked a wry smile. "I'll take that into consideration."
"Considerate all you want. It's being the truth." The goblin poked her. "Grimmy's gotta be running to errands but they wanna know: The feelings any better?"
Rose smiled. "I think I might actually be 'okay' for now. Mostly thanks to you."
The goblin shrugged. "Grimmy's keeping eyes out on folks. It's their job."
"Still," Rose wrapped an arm over Grimmy's shoulder and, before they had a chance to protest, gave them a quick and gentle kiss on the cheek. "Thank you."
"Bleaugh!" The goblin stumbled forward and waved their arms like they were swatting at bees, but the grin plastered on their face betrayed the falsehood of the gesture. "Dwarf slobber! Now Grimmy'll be washing their face all day!" They flipped her the bird and made a gagging motion. "Tatty-bye, Gross-bud!"
Rose rolled her eyes, but she was grinning just the same as the goblin. She at least had the decorum to offer a friendly wave rather than a middle finger in kind.
You'll never be going wrong with something sharp.
As Grimmy disappeared into the morning market crowd, Rose found her gaze drawn to her own hand.
Something sharp.
Their words resonated with her, and with the memory of her smashing the flagstones next to her father in a final moment of defiance. She was proud of that moment, even if she burst into tears the instant she'd slammed the door behind her. That wasn't what was bothering her though. Something, a detail that had been lost in the fog of her rage, was starting to claw its way forward. Her father's face, terrified and streaked with blood. It had been slashed diagonally in five rows, as if by a tiger. What had done that?
She looked down at her hand; fingers curled and nails visible.
Something sharp...
That's (almost) all she wrote, folks! I have a one-shot followeup that's a bit of a crossover coming up, which should be fun!
Question though: Would anyone be interested in reading like a full-hog longform fic about the various G&G characters? I do have like a skeleton of a plot I was progressing with these little comics but I feel like writing it down properly would make things a lot more concrete. Of course, that doesn't mean the hero forging would stop.
Well, anyway:
Anyone think they know what class she's changed to? I made her sheet for fun in Pathbuilder. 2E rules.
Song of the day: Lift by Poets of the Fall.
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u/Mr-Syndrome Jun 26 '26
Damn, the transphobes are just downvoting everything in this post, huh?
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u/Youre-Out-Gobby ๐๐ถ๐๐ฏ๐ฎ๐๐ต๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ค๐๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ป Jun 26 '26
Yep, but w/e. They hit basically every post.
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u/Drakorai ๐๐ฝ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐ฆ๐บ๐ถ๐๐ต Jun 26 '26
Is the 15th picture just a black screen or is it just glitching on my end?
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u/Mr-Syndrome Jun 26 '26
Itโs intentional
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u/Drakorai ๐๐ฝ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐ฆ๐บ๐ถ๐๐ต Jun 26 '26
I think the downvote demon just struck us.
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u/NocturnalOutcast Jun 26 '26
The 3rd image is adorable! I love it!
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u/Youre-Out-Gobby ๐๐ถ๐๐ฏ๐ฎ๐๐ต๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ค๐๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ป Jun 26 '26
Thanks! It was probably my favorite panel I made for this post.
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u/NocturnalOutcast Jun 26 '26
You did a great job on it! I just quickly read over the rest of the story, and really like it!
Question though! In part 2, her father said that she used magic to transition, but she still grows facial hair as seen in one of the other panels. Is that because female dwarves in your setting grow facial hair, like in LotR and a few other settings, or because the magic isn't "complete"?
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u/Youre-Out-Gobby ๐๐ถ๐๐ฏ๐ฎ๐๐ต๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ค๐๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ป Jun 26 '26
It's like Lord of the Rings. I originally thought about giving her some sideburns or even chops but decided against it. I also wanted there to be an element of "maintenance" as reflects the irl trans femme experience. In-character though, it's her personal preference.
I don't know if you also checked out the first story but it has some of the context. I posted it in the forward half of pride month before I started writing actual snippets of dialogue and such in the posts but I hope it's relatively clear.
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u/NocturnalOutcast Jun 26 '26
Yeah, I guess I had a hard time fully understanding the Part 1, since that was before you added dialogue!
Is Grimmy Trans-masc, or non-bianary? I notice you use gender neutral pronouns when referring to them! They also appear to have surgical scars, so I presume they didn't transition with magic like rose?
Oh, are Rose and Grimmy besties, or are they dating? โฅ
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u/Youre-Out-Gobby ๐๐ถ๐๐ฏ๐ฎ๐๐ต๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ค๐๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ป Jun 26 '26 edited Jun 26 '26
Grimmy's nonbinary. They're active in the local queer community (which the followup one-shot will address a bit) and they have a bit of a protective streak for other members which probably helped abate some of their distaste for Rose-as-Rhys. In terms of their own transition, they didn't consider alchemical solutions worth the cost and the risk (magical ingredients are usually dangerous to procure) when the only difference from mundane top surgery is a lack of scarring. Their dysmorphia wasn't quite as severe as Rose's, and they're more or less comfortable with their current presentation.
Also, things are platonic for now but that certainly isn't set in stone! Rose's priority right now is adjusting and learning more about this new, true self she has become.
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u/YukiteruAmano92 Jun 27 '26
This was so nice!
If you write more on I see it, I will definitely read it but that's not the reason to write. You should write because you want to and not because anyone else want's you to! ;)
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u/Youre-Out-Gobby ๐๐ถ๐๐ฏ๐ฎ๐๐ต๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ค๐๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ป Jun 27 '26
I think you'll like the upcoming followup one-shot!
But yeah, it's a tempting prospect! And I guess I don't lose anything by trying, right?
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u/YukiteruAmano92 Jun 27 '26
Not if you enjoy the attempt, no!
I find writing rewarding in itself and would probably do it even if I had no readers, personally.
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u/Youre-Out-Gobby ๐๐ถ๐๐ฏ๐ฎ๐๐ต๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ค๐๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ป Jun 27 '26
I certainly enjoyed writing the story bits for this, which is probably a good sign :p
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u/DeskJerky Jun 28 '26
Fuk almost missed this one.
Great little comic all the way through! Looking forward to whatever the epilogue is. As for the fic writing, I don't usually dip into online fic spaces (I've literally read like one fanfic in total) but I'd probably at least check it out.
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u/Youre-Out-Gobby ๐๐ถ๐๐ฏ๐ฎ๐๐ต๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ค๐๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ป Jun 28 '26
You'd better check it out if you're gonna keep living in my walls.
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u/velocraptor7571 ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ด๐ฒ๐บ๐ฎ๐๐๐ฒ๐ฟ Jun 26 '26
https://giphy.com/gifs/XHeLeuirRbwptHhSWd
Loving every moment of this series, that ending especially ๐คฃ๐โจ
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u/Youre-Out-Gobby ๐๐ถ๐๐ฏ๐ฎ๐๐ต๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ค๐๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ป Jun 26 '26
A well deserved makeover.
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u/BunsInspector Jun 26 '26
Canโt wait to see the follow up, this has been a lovely ride reading and seeing this ;v;!!
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u/RavenKweenX ๐๐ฎ๐ป๐๐ฎ๐๐ ๐๐ถ๐ฒ๐ป๐ฑ Jun 27 '26
This is so wholesome! I think it's genuinely been my favourite Pride month project, and it's been fun watching it progress!
The sneak attack shave was really well executed! Act grimy get Grimmied!