Belkar would be unhappy if he killed Roy or Elan.

[Dagonet]

Underneath all of his maniacal tendencies, Belkar is a kind creature. Sure, he kills goblins and gnomes and heck, moderatly senile creatures under a cute pink umbrella, but if ever given the possibility to kill one of his team mates for exp...He wouldn't do it. Nope, not in a million years!
Roy is a good, strong fighter who was always there for Belkar. Belkar likes Haley and would never hurt Elan. Plus, Elan makes him laugh. Despite having contempt for dwarves in general, Belkar has a great deal of respect for Durkon because of his physical prowess. And as for "V," i'm certain that Belkar is actually grateful for h*(*)s interference in Miko's execution.

[[TS] Shadow]

I think that you're right somewhat in the fact that Belkar probably wouldn't kill the other Order members. However, if one of them died, I doubt he'd be all that upset. He didn't seem to react to Roy's death in a "sad" way, and I doubt he'd be too upset at any of the other's deaths as well. He knows how important his teammates are, but I doubt he cares about them on a personal level.

[ABB]

I doubt if the belkster wants to kill elan because elan is too likeable in a dumb. innocent way, like a big puppy. Also B and E have had some laughs together. Lastly if belky knew that elan had used an illusion of him to mock V, he'd probably give blondie a big "WooHoo!" for it.

As to roy, in an odd way I think that belkar respects roy for his beliefs, even if he doesn't agree with him.

[David Argall]

See 124 & 125

[hamishspence]

But also, see 153.

[Optimystik]

The answer is 42. (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0042.html) :smallwink:

He likes having them around. Oh he might have killed them to gain a level pre-epiphany, or if they piss him off too much, but he's not about to kill totally at random. Unfortunately, since he's premeditating now he's also unlikely to feel remorse either.

[JonahFalcon]

He's chaotic evil. Stop trying to say "underneath it all". When he's at the gate of Pandemonium, he's going to have to answer for himself.

If Belkar kills Roy or Elan, he'll enjoy eating tacos out of their skulls.

[hamishspence]

I'd suggest the Abyss or even Tartarus are more likely than Pandemonium- Belkar can be one evil guy at times.

[Berserk Monk]

Is there some other webcomic with a character named Belkar you're talking about that just happens to also have similar characters with the exact same names as those in oots?

Let's not forget this. (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0124.html)

[Red XIV]

Yes, Belkar would be unhappy if he killed Roy or Elan.

Unless Durkon raised them so he'd have the option of killing them again

[keilyn]

Um, are we all forgetting something?

www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0383.html

Here, Belkar is placed under Nale's Charm Person spell, but at first it fails because Belkar is vehemtnly opposed to the order to "kill his teammates and take their magical items." But obviously killing his teammates and keeping their magical items for -himself- is perfectly acceptable.

Even withhis character development "epiphany," Belkar is still Chaotic Evil. He likes the team enough to stick around, but there are no real personal connections.

[dps]

The only time that I could think of that he has expressed anything that could be taken as concern for his teammates was in strip 478, but at that time it was in his own best interest for things to have gone well for the rest of the group.

[Underground]

Yes, deep deep down, we are all good.

Except in some people its well hidden.

In Belkar, its so extremely well hidden, that it never really popped up (and probably never will).

[Rotipher]

I think the fact that Belkar singled out Roy and V, when he asked the Oracle whose death he'd get to cause, contradicts at least half the thread's title. As for Elan, Belkar's probably waiting to see how Elan gets himself killed, figuring that will be far more amusing than anything he, himself, could come up with.

There are OotS characters who are made for angst, moral ambiguity, self-doubt or internal reflection. But Belkar ain't one of them, the lucky little creep. :wink:

[Silverraptor]

Belkar is my favorite character so let me tell you what he thinks.

First, he kills a bunch of people in a tavern and the guard of his jail cell. He joins up with Roy to get out of town quickly, or in his words "get out of town with a heavily armed escort". He was planning on leaving or killing them after they got far enough away.

However, he learned that they were going into a dungeon so he wanted to tag along to kill whatever was in there. After they were in that small town and he was on the verge of killing everything in sight, for example Elan because he wanted a bit more XP.

Then Roy tricked him onto going onto the side quest by claiming there were Ogres guarding the starmetal. As Belkar says later, "Ogres make a very satisfing *Thump* as they hit the ground. He was in it only for the kills. Shortly afterwords he meets up with Miko. Now he wanted the challenge of getting away with stuff under a paladins nose, and the challenge of making her lose her paladinship. So again, he was in on the ride of killing.

Soon afterwords, he got a Mark of Justice on him. So he had to tag along with Roy because he didn't want to be moving Roy's corpse everywhere he went. before he was free of the Mark, Shinjo warned him to pretend to not enjoying killing or people would kill him. So he took advice and is now Pretending to be better.

Belkar is Chaotic Evil. Period. There is no deep down. He enjoys the pleasure in the pain of others and spares only when it would lead him to more killing in the future. Now does this stop this silly debate?:smallyuk:

[Aquillion]

Underneath all of his maniacal tendencies, Belkar is a kind creature. Sure, he kills goblins and gnomes and heck, moderatly senile creatures under a cute pink umbrella, but if ever given the possibility to kill one of his team mates for exp...He wouldn't do it. Nope, not in a million years!
Roy is a good, strong fighter who was always there for Belkar. Belkar likes Haley and would never hurt Elan. Plus, Elan makes him laugh. Despite having contempt for dwarves in general, Belkar has a great deal of respect for Durkon because of his physical prowess. And as for "V," i'm certain that Belkar is actually grateful for h*(*)s interference in Miko's execution.
Elan, maybe. I don't think Belkar would kill Elan for no reason -- he seems to find Elan entertaining, and get along with him better than the rest of the OOTS.

Belkar specifically asked about the chance to kill Roy, though. And didn't seem terribly upset at Roy's death, and was mostly annoyed at the Oracle because he didn't get the chance to kill any of the listed people directly. Belkar sticks around with Roy because things are interesting with him and it gives him chances to kill things, but he'd still kill Roy if he thought he had the chance.

The only person he really seems unlikely to kill (unless they end up fighting for other reasons, at which point all bets are off) is Durkon, and that's more because while Belkar may be evil and psychopathic, he's not stupid, and knows that he can kill much more effectively when he has a healer. He probably wouldn't openly kill Roy for the same reason -- being in a team with Roy gives him a chance to get healing and support that, in the long run, lets him kill more. But if he gets a chance to kill Roy indirectly, I think we've seen that he's quite willing to take it. Roy pisses him off.

As an aside, it's also worth pointing out that Durkon thought Roy was mad to let Belkar out of prison, and had an unhappy expression for that entire scene. Durkon would probably refuse to travel with Belkar if Roy wasn't around.

[Dig]

Belkar is my favorite character so let me tell you what he thinks.


I strongly agree with Silverraptor's assessment here. Sir, you laid him bare in fifteen straightforward sentences.

I do greatly enjoy Belkar's relationship with (the late) Shojo and Mr. Scruffy. High level rangers need an appropriate level "Animal Companion", eh?

[ABB]

Yes, deep deep down, we are all good.

Except in some people its well hidden.

In Belkar, its so extremely well hidden, that it never really popped up (and probably never will).

I believe belkar's kind nature has been shown to mr. scruffy. he went out of his way to get him a mackeral, and has sworn to stick with the cat to the end.

Hey, anyone who likes cats has a good side!

[Silverraptor]

I strongly agree with Silverraptor's assessment here. Sir, you laid him bare in fifteen straightforward sentences.


However, not everyone agreed with my assesment, or the argument would be over. But it's good to know that some do listen.

thnx Dig:smallamused:

[Snow]

I believe belkar's kind nature has been shown to mr. scruffy. he went out of his way to get him a mackeral, and has sworn to stick with the cat to the end.

Hey, anyone who likes cats has a good side!

The name of Dr. Claw tells you anything?

[Silverraptor]

The name of Dr. Claw tells you anything?

A excellent point!

[Zen_Heart]

I think that Belkar probably has genuine affection for his comrades and has shown it, albeit in his own dysfunctional way. He has demonstrated the ability to care about a creature/human, most obviously Mr. Scruffy, and that proves that he at least has the capacity to feel such feelings for others.

Do I think that he actually cares about Roy, Vaarsuvius, Haley, Durkon, and Elan? Yeah. The fact that he hasn't killed even one of them in their sleep or something even when it would be convenient (and refused an offer to turn to the dark side) proves it. Do I think he'll willingly show it in some conventional and obvious way? Not in a million years unless under serious duress.

[The Minx]

refused an offer to turn to the dark side

Not such a great example since he went and said later that the fact that Xykon might be able to remove the curse would have changed things. :smallsmile:

A more telling example is when he volunteered to rescue Elan after he was captured by the bandits.

[Silverraptor]

Guys, this thread is old. The last post was in early february, my post. I think this thread was dead and will now probably be closed.

Though it is nice to see one of my first posts again.

[The Minx]

Guys, this thread is old. The last post was in early february, my post. I think this thread was dead and will now probably be closed.

Though it is nice to see one of my first posts again.

Um, wow. I totally hadn't noticed that... I just saw it at the top of the page and assumed I had missed it before now. Sorry. :smallredface:

[ericgrau]

Are we talking about the same Belkar that I read about in the comic strip Order of the Stick? While your description of the other OotS's member's actions seem roughly correct, I haven't seen Belkar react in the manner described. And the author says Belkar is evil, so I kinda cheated in my evaluation too.

[Kaytara]

I think Belkar "cares" about the Order in that he appreciates their uses - Elan makes him laugh, Haley is nice eye candy and can be pretty wicked now and then, Vaarsuvius is fun to torment and insult, ditto for Durkon and Roy, who also pose some challenge to Belkar's "getting away with stuff" skills.
And now that he's had his false character development, he'll have plenty of new opportunities to screw with their minds, which should be fun, as well. :)

[Ancalagon]

Underneath all of his maniacal tendencies, Belkar is a kind creature.

Hum... no.

[Dixieboy]

Haven't he already tried to kill Elan For XP?

[derfenrirwolv]

only in the "I'm a little kid that opened all of my Christmas presents and now i have nothing else do to" kind of unhappy

[Mystic Muse]

as has been shown belkar does have a kind side but he needs another 4 wisdom points to bring it out. anybody else remember in the dungeon of dorukon when he healed Elan? if not then man you have bad memory

oh and if you want to mention more people who are badguys who like cats Dr calico from "bolt."

[bobothegoat]

Despite being an old thread... Isn't there an essay somewhere about evil characters still being able to have friends or loved ones? That doesn't make him a kind creature, it just makes him human (or halfling, as the the case might actually be).

[hamishspence]

Savage Species, and also, BoVD under Antiheroes in the appendix at the back.