The rest of the Order STILL can't see that darn bird.

[Porthos]

Hmmmm....

I think we are moving beyond a simple gag here. With the latest strip (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0698.html), we have even more confirmation that the rest of the Order cannot see "Blackwing". Moreover, they seem to have forgotten about it's existence.

The first is easily explainable, the second less so. Much less so, actually.

So what is exactly going on here? Is it Snarl related? A giant memory charm? Perhaps even something to do with the IFCC?

The problem I still have with all of this is that I have yet to see a theory that explains just why everyone else has forgotten Blackwing, and can't even see him when he is literally inches in front of them. Yeah, I've heard the Snarl Erasure Theory. But it just seems "off" to me.

So, any thoughts as to what is going on? Especially now as it seems that Roy (and Durkon) was humoring V back in 674 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0674.html) and never actually saw what was on his shoulder.

[Kish]

Roy didn't say he couldn't see the bird (in fact, he said earlier that he could, he just assumed it was an illusion). He indicated that he still didn't believe Blackwing was a real bird; nothing's changed to make him believe that when he didn't believe it last we heard.

Is Rich trying to give us some kind of hint here? I don't think so, but I could be wrong.

Edited in response to your edit: You don't humor someone by telling them you see what they do but think they cast an illusion spell to make you see it!

[Soterion]

What is this "bird" you're referring to?

[Darius1020]

Roy didn't forget about Blackwing, he mentioned it before V. He was upset because he thought V was bringing up something unrelated.

I think the rest of the party (except maybe Belkar...) knows about Blackwing now, they just don't care.

[Porthos]

Roy didn't say he couldn't see the bird (in fact, he said earlier that he could, he just assumed it was an illusion).

Actually, I disagree. That sentence could be read one of two ways. One is the "very convincing illusion" straight read of the sentence. The other way to read it is that Roy didn't see anything at all, and just said "yes yes, nice illusion of a crow you have there", just to humor V. Kinda like when people had to describe The Emperor's New Clothes. I think the "best not to challenge the delusion" line lends credence to the whole "can't see it" thing myself.

Besides, Belkar still can't see Blackwing (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0691.html). And, all jokes aside, he ain't that stupid.

No, I think something is going on here. I just don't know what it is. And I say this as a rather (I suppose now former) vocal member of the "it was just a gag" club. :smallwink:


Roy didn't forget about Blackwing, he mentioned it before V. He was upset because he thought V was bringing up something unrelated.

Or he was saying "please, this isn't the time to go on about your delusions". It's pretty similar to how Roy treats Elan when he's exasperated.

Could be read either way, I suppose.

[Gift Jeraff]

I guess with Blackwing no longer being a running gag himself, we need a running gag involving him. Hence...this.

Although it's popped up rather frequently compared to other gags. But his purchase of the diamond dust/dangly shiny bauble disproves any idea that ONLY V can interact with him.

[Selgeron]

It's not that they can't see Blackwing, it's that they consider it a non-entity, a normal bird at best, and just a class-feature at worst. Similar to how V saw the bird for an incredibly long time. Not part of the team. Just a bird. Not invisible. Just continuing an old joke.

It'd be like how if, while holding a hamster I said 'we're going to go do my homework'. You'd say 'We? what we?' because you don't see hamsters as 'people' and the party doesn't see Blackwing as one either.

[Maximum Zersk]

Now that you feel my pain, the healing can begin... (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0674.html)

That last panel, Blackwing's dialogue, maybe it's his doing?

[Kish]

Actually, I disagree. That sentence could be read one of two ways. One is the "very convincing illusion" straight read of the sentence. The other way to read it is that Roy didn't see anything at all, and just said "yes yes, nice illusion of a crow you have there", just to humor V. Kinda like when people had to describe The Emperor's New Clothes.
People didn't do so by saying, "Well, you're not wearing anything really, but they're very convincing illusions of clothes." If you say what someone is insisting is there is not there, you're not humoring them. If Roy was humoring Vaarsuvius, he would have pretended to believe in the bird.

[Acero]

the store vendor saw blackwing. he sold diamond dust to him

[TriForce]

to be honest, i cant see it any other way then that roy is saying "argh, dont bring up that completly unrelated joke we played on you a few strips ago into this discussion"

as in: it was a joke, everyone can see the bird ofc, but he just tought V was adressing the joke again

[Porthos]

People didn't do so by saying, "Well, you're not wearing anything really, but they're very convincing illusions of clothes." If you say what someone is insisting is there is not there, you're not humoring them. If Roy was humoring Vaarsuvius, he would have pretended to believe in the bird.

He forgot that it was supposed to be a raven and just said "crow" because all he remembered was that it was suppoed to be some sort of bird. :smalltongue:

Besides, all of this still doesn't explain why Belkar can't see Blackwing.

---

Now I'm not saying that the bird isn't there. After all, we saw Blackwing (or whatever this is) interact with a storekeeper (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0679.html).

I guess I am just saying there is more than meets the eye with this whole situation. Rich wouldn't keep going back to this if there wasn't.

[Zasshi]

Also doesn't explain why Haley doesn't remember naming him. (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0674.html)

[Hatman]

http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0674.html

wait, how did belkar know about the death knight?
he got knocked onto the other side in 435, and she fought the death knight in 437. caring about other's battles doesnt seem like a belkar-y thing to do

[Mooglefrooglian]

Blackwing purchased the diamond dust. If we ever see V use the dust, then we will know whether or not the bird is an illusion.

I highly doubt it's anything but a gag. Coul dbe wrong, but it doesn't seem like it.

After all, why would V imagine the bird seeing a world within a world? It seems random.

[Renegade Paladin]

O-Chul saw Blackwing during the attempt to destroy the phylactery.

[Porthos]

O-Chul saw Blackwing during the attempt to destroy the phylactery.

I'm basically dividing everything between Before #672 and After 672. O-Chul saw before 672, so I discount it for the moment.

Besides, it's the Order's behavior that I'm trying to suss out right now, not the rest of the world's. :smallwink:

[V'icternus]

Besides, all of this still doesn't explain why Belkar can't see Blackwing.

Belkar.

Spot Check.

?

The problem? Not the bird. :smalltongue:

[Optimystik]

Besides, all of this still doesn't explain why Belkar can't see Blackwing.

The phrase "sensory acuity of loose gravel" comes to mind.

[Zevox]

Guys, its a joke. Blackwing is still a wizard's familiar, after all - just because V no longer forgets he so much as exists whenever he's not directly relevant to the story doesn't mean everybody else does as well.

Zevox

[Dark_Stryke]

Besides, Belkar still can't see Blackwing (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0691.html). And, all jokes aside, he ain't that stupid.

Yes he is. (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0003.html)

[derfenrirwolv]

Yes he is. (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0003.html)

.. there's nothing in that comic but V, blackwing, haley and belkar.

[Spiky]

I think 674 is the joke, or even anomaly. And both Belkar and Roy have now referred back to it just for fun.

[Dark_Stryke]

.. there's nothing in that comic but V, blackwing, haley and belkar.

I see what you did there.