OOTS #734 - The Discussion Thread

[The Giant]

New comic is up.

[Mystic Muse]

Yay! the return of the lawyers!

[kpenguin]

Oh my. Their suits have certainly gotten an art upgrade since the last time we saw them. As has Rodriguez's hair.

[CoffeeIncluded]

Oh jeez. Haley, Elan, you better hurry up! :smalleek:

[potatocubed]

Yay! the return of the lawyers!

I endorse this sentiment.

[SmartAlec]

Belkar and Roy in a gladiatorial arena? There's going to be some hardcore bloodshed.

[Coliumbos]

Hah! It took long enough for them to return!

[Calemyr]

Heheh... "You'll be done in two weeks, tops!" Obviously they don't know Roy or the sexy shoeless god of war as well as they think.

[Dragon Elite]

I also like the "You'll be done with your sentence in 2 weeks, tops!"
But, they actually would probably kill everyone else.
Then they would fight each other, and Belkar would get his prophecy fulfilled!
:smalltongue:

[olthar]

awesome legal system

[Darkroot]

So, Durkon, hows that whole stick to the law thing working out?

[ThePhantom]

And there is the evil part of a lawful evil goverment. 114% conviction rates.

At least it was a short trial.

[zmasterofjersey]

Wow I literally, logged onto GITP at 3:38, I clicked to go to forums, and it updated :smallbiggrin:

Personally the funniest thing was Belkar counting Roy's response.

[hamishspence]

Good to see the lawyers again.

I wonder if Tarquin will treat Elan & Haley to best seats at the arena, and that's how Roy & Belkar will get out- because they're seen by Elan?

[Maximum Zersk]

Man, Rodriguez is awesome. :smallbiggrin:

[Ezlo]

I foresee Tarquin taking Elan and Haley to see the gladiatorial matches as part of their festivities. I wonder how long it would take Elan to recognize that it's Roy and Belkar down there. Heheh.

[Arcadian]

I was a bit worried about having another Trial Sequence, but if anything, at least the EOB's legal system is efficient.

Also, Belkar is dominating the humor of the recent strips.

[Strawberries]

Yay for the lawyers!

Also: "That was only 23 words" - "Hurry up". :smallbiggrin:

[Rin_Hunter]

Awesome.

I lost track, does anyone know what round we're in for the book? It's usually a major scene change...

[Zevox]

Heh, loved Belkar's joke in this one. Like herpes indeed.

Zevox

[Aurorax]

That's not such a bad sentence. I would think that they would clean up in the arena....unless they have to fight each other...dun dun duunnnnn

[Yendor]

See where time-consuming trials come in handy?

[ref]

Doesn't bode well for Roy.

[Squark]

I'm... speechless...


The only thing missing is a giant kangaroo in the courtroom.

[Francis Davey]

... evidence that sometimes being inefficient might actually be a good thing.

Often countries with incarcerate-anyone style systems have mad get outs too, like releasing prisoners on the empress's birthday (after all they can all be re-arrested if you really want them). Intriguing anyway.

[Umael]

*snerk*

The jokes and the way EOB's justice system works... I love it!

[Siegel]

wow this is great - and disturbing

sad we didn't see Celia

[FoE]

Good, I hate long waits.

The "very generous lover" joke made me chuckle.

[iTookUrNick]

Belkar and Roy in a gladiatorial arena? There's going to be some hardcore bloodshed.

Lookin' forward to that.

Oh my, the lawyers are back :smalleek:

[Neopolis]

Boy, I log on to see not one but two updates. Rich is a very generous lover... er... artist.

[Werekat]

Yay, they finally put the "evil" in "lawful evil empire". Great fun, and a good stimulus to hurry up... And enjoy the show put up by two high-level melee characters. :)

[Ozzymindous]

I would thing Roy should have pressed for Celia's help. Letting those two represent you seems foolish at best...

[Niveus Candidus]

"ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED?"

It's coming. Oh yes.

[Shale]

So Roy has to be locked up in prison until one year ago?

[Nilan8888]

I wonder if Tarquin will treat Elan & Haley to best seats at the arena, and that's how Roy & Belkar will get out- because they're seen by Elan?

That was my first thought. Which probably means it won't happen.

Another possibility is if Roy and Belkar will either find themselves fighting against Gannji and Enor in the arena, or find themselves fighting BESIDE Gannji and Enor against something much bigger.

[Bongos]

Yikes!!! Well for Roy anyways, Belkar is probably going to enjoy this.

[goldgecko4]

I just got the title. One of the best in quite a while. :smallbiggrin: And Roy, your girlfriend's not a lawyer, she's a freakin' paralegal. (Freakin' para-elemental, actually).

[Welf]

Man, Rodriguez is awesome. :smallbiggrin:

And a generous lover. :smallwink:

[super dark33]

amen for that

[Fred Fumblrol]

It looks like Roy is going to get a chance to make up for lost time in the leveling up department.

[slayerx]

Hey, Roy should look on the bight side...
There sentence is over once they die...
And this wouldn't be the first time Roy has died, if you catch my dift

[denthor]

Belkar and Roy in a gladiatorial arena? There's going to be some hardcore bloodshed.


Belkar get to kill with abandon. He should like this fair city.

After all this is the second time karma has worked in his favor (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0435.html).

The last time he was in an arena (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0133.html)

[Darthteej]

The Empire of Blood just crossed the line from lawful, Human-style justice to chaotic, Drow-style "justice". Awesome.

[Hendel]

Oh man, "I am a very generous lover," I will have to write that one down!

[The_Firenail]

Huh, I would have thought that P-Rod wouldhave gotten fired by now and relocated back to wherever he came from. (Or Canada. He'd do much better in Canada.)
And I'm sure that Two and a Half Men made the same joke that Belkar made.

[denthor]

Could Belkar die in the areana?

[hamishspence]

Just so long as that doesn't trigger a gladiatorial revolt. Or Roy doing Spartacus impressions.

[Closak]

Suddenly, burning down the courthouse became very tempting...

[Person_Man]

Well this was pretty much inevitable. Every long running campaign I've ever played in my entire life involves an arena battle or fight staged for the entertainment of NPCs at some point. Glad to see I'm not the only DM who falls back on this trope when the PCs ruin my plot.

[Athaniar]

This is one of the few contexts in which I'm happy to see lawyers. Yay lawyers! And gladiators, hm? This'll be interesting.

[Lycar]

Well, historically speaking gladiators could raise to pretty lofty positions if they were lucky and managed to please the crowds.

So maybe all isn't lost just yet. :smallwink:

Lycar

[Stabbey]

That update was remarkably clever, with punch-lines from wall to wall. I especially liked the harpy joke, where the punchline was swapped from what you were expecting.

[Roland Itiative]

How come Belkar "Sexy Shoeless God of War" Bitterleaf is not happy that he gets to fight in the arena instead of being incarcerated? :smalltongue:

Awesome strip!

[Mc. Lovin']

Oh man, Roy & Belkar's fight scene is gonna be so badass! I hope they fight lions together

[Gwynfrid]

A fantastic strip, Rich made my day once more! The Roy-Belkar dynamics are at their very best, comedy-wise, right now.

I love the lawyers - of course it would have been nice to see Celia but then we'd have missed the ruthless efficiency of EOB justice. I was expecting a life in slavery sentence from the Lawful Evil Empire, but this is even better. To top it all, the punchline is a pure gem !

[JonestheSpy]

Wow, so much lawerly and evilly fun. And at first I thought the main topic of conversation was going to be that Rich was doing VD jokes.

[Kish]

Technically, it is a life in slavery sentence.

[CoffeeIncluded]

Another one of my Random Ideas has struck again.

Phoenix Wright in the Empire of Blood.

[sihnfahl]

Folks seem to be assuming they'll arm Belkar and Roy before tossing them out in the arena with something more potent than a butter knife...

And then there's the possibility of facing trolls.

Oh, wait, there's no fire or acid, anywhere, in the arena...

[ScIaDrd]

We´re going to get to see a gladiator battle, yay! Also I´m amazed at how fast and efficient the court was. That´s Lawful Evil fo you! Also a cheap and dirty laugh..I sure needed it.:smallbiggrin: Cool strip.

[Closak]

Wait, are you telling me that's not how courts work in real life? :smalltongue:

...

[Bongos]

Wait, are you telling me that's not how courts work in real life? :smalltongue:

...

Only the good ones..

[Mojique]

Yay! the return of the lawyers!
First appearance at #32 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0032.html)

[warmachine]

If life imprisonment is typically handed out for being in a city without paperwork when anyone can walk in after giving a few, unverified answers, then the city would incarcerate or execute its population in months through other, minor offences.

But, of course, this is OotS where comedy and drama use logic as their whipping boy.

[Darthteej]

We´re going to get to see a gladiator battle, yay! Also I´m amazed at how fast and efficient the court was. That´s Lawful Evil fo you!.

NO NO! IT'S CHAOTIC! CHAOTIC I SAY!

[Lateral]

Phoenix Wright in the Empire of Blood.

Oh, the horror!

[Trebuchet]

I foresee Tarquin taking Elan and Haley to see the gladiatorial matches as part of their festivities. I wonder how long it would take Elan to recognize that it's Roy and Belkar down there. Heheh.

Elan would recognize them immediately. It is a great storytelling device to put two important characters in immediate danger, while preventing them from carrying out a world-saving quest. The narrative flow would delight him, even while he faces hard decisions and danger.

[Dr.Epic]

YAY! The two lawyers everyone hates are back!

And maybe this means we'll get to see cool gladiator fights with Roy and Belkar!

[Agi Hammerthief]

meh, looks like the Giant was in a wee hurry to move the plot along

[derfenrirwolv]

Relax

Its only till the day they die. They throw the first fight in the arena, die, and then durkon raises them.

[Rin_Hunter]

meh, looks like the Giant was in a wee hurry to move the plot along

Not always a bad thing, mind. This comic was a good one when compared with the ones with Elan's dad in it, in my opinion.

Not saying Tarquin is bad, but I do really like Belkar and the Lawyers.

[Dr.Epic]

meh, looks like the Giant was in a wee hurry to move the plot along

Durkon's paper's only gives him 30 strips to get the Order together and leave town.

[Bibliomancer]

Durkon's paper's only gives him 30 strips to get the Order together and leave town.

Although at this rate, he'll need to renew his visa.

Perhaps if they win enough battles they'll be given their D&D equivalent of wooden swords and be allowed to leave.

[King of Nowhere]

Resisting police is a bad idea, even for high level adventurers. The point is, even if they can wipe out them easily, the nation will have enough resources to make them pay for it sooner or later.
But if not resisting results in a sentence to death, resisting became a much more inviting alternative.
Of course Roy and Belkar couldn't have known, but Gannji would have surely known. So why he accepted arrest? I wonder to what he and Enor were sentenced.

Of course, there's the brigth side of it: Roy and Belkar will get to level fast, and are high level enough that they shouldn't worry too much about their opponents. i don't think an arena could realistically place many threats for level 15ish adventurers.
Of course, if we look at it irrealisticly, there's another matter...

[Conuly]

Its only till the day they die. They throw the first fight in the arena, die, and then durkon raises them.

"Them"? He's really gonna waste that many NP in diamonds on Belkar?

[TheNovak]

Ha! Awesome! We finally have our requisite "heroes forced to fight in a gladiatorial arena" trope fulfilled. I'm looking forward to seeing what the Giant does with this :smallbiggrin:

[Gift Jeraff]

Yay, the lawyers. When will we ever learn Mr. Jones's first name, though? D:


Awesome.

I lost track, does anyone know what round we're in for the book? It's usually a major scene change...

Most likely, the book looks like this so far:

Round 1: 673-698
Round 2: 699-709
Round 3: 710-731
Round 4: 732~ (762? Based on what Durkon said.)

It's entirely possible that we're still in Round 3, though.

[The Pilgrim]

One more positive thing about the Empire of Blood:

Justice works incredibly fast there! :smallbiggrin:

[Rin_Hunter]

Thanks for that Gift, Mr Jeraff. :smalltongue:

Would have checked myself but my PSP dislikes me and it would have taken ages. Feels like we're further, but that may just be anticipation for the next book.

[JonestheSpy]

But if not resisting results in a sentence to death, resisting became a much more inviting alternative.
Of course Roy and Belkar couldn't have known, but Gannji would have surely known. So why he accepted arrest? I wonder to what he and Enor were sentenced.


Hmm, interesting question. It wouldn't surprise me if starting a bar fight is a less serious offense than being without papers.

[rewinn]

Best line:
:belkar: "Damn it, this happens every time!"


But at least this time Belkar doesn't have a Mark of Justice to slow him down!

Although ... will there be a gladiators revolt, or will Roy and Belkar be assigned to fight each other?

[thunderclan]

The arena will have to close down after Belkar gets through with it. Should be fun to see :smallsmile:

[DreadArchon]

I don't get the title. Spoiler?

[Boogastreehouse]

Yay! the return of the lawyers!

No one has ever uttered that exact phrase, in the history of civilization.


Yay for the lawyers!

See? Close, but not the same.

[rewinn]

I don't get the title. Spoiler?

I think it's a joke based on the concept of "life sentence".

Let's say Roy & Belkar's been in jail for a day. That should count against their sentence. If they were sentenced to 30 days, then they'd serve only an additional 29 days. But since they're sentenced to "life" ... well, we don't know how long that is. Absent an Oracle, it has to be determined experimentally, by which time it is rather moot.

Altho ... perhaps an exceedingly Lawful Evil Empire would record the prisoners as having been free for one day before their deaths. This would mean that they were, technically, free for their last fight, so it's not the Empire's fault they went ahead and fought anyway. (This theory may have holes in it but when you're an Empire you don't need to pave all the plotholes)

:roach::roach:That's too many words for a short joke. Sometimes things hit you as funny, sometimes they don't.

:vaarsuvius: I cannot concur. It was not at all a prolonged disquisition, and due to its regrettably truncated nature, a number of the more essential elements have been elided or otherwise passed over.

[suszterpatt]

I don't get the title. Spoiler?I think it refers to Roy having been dead previously.

[Akiasoak]

20 bucks says Belkar is killed an can't be raised, or at least not legally, or even at all.:smallsigh:

[Starscream]

Love it. Rodriguez is pure hilarity in human (well, stick figure) form.

[Coidzor]

Well, this gives a perfectly viable point for Belkar to die in now.

A very generous lover indeed.

[Cire II]

Those are great suits. I love art updates:smallbiggrin:

[Kranden]

Wooo gladiators this is gonna rule.

[Tobimaro]

Another one of my Random Ideas has struck again.

Phoenix Wright in the Empire of Blood.

The only problem I would foresee would be his "Objection" in the face of the EoB's 114% conviction rate. Mr. Wright might become the next participant in the arena.

Now, knowing what I do about gladiatorial events, would the EoB emulate Rome's games? Not every gladiator died in the arena, as they were very expensive to train and it was not good to just kill them all of the time. As for criminals who were sentenced to the games... :smalleek:

[Luzahn]

I like how all judges must wear a powdered wig, even the reptilian ones.

[Blaznak]

1) Awesome Defense.
2) The only thing missing was Hair Piece as a joke (See Cannon Ball Run).
Later! :)

[CarpeGuitarrem]

All right! Time for the gladiator tropes!

[squidbreath]

Can someone please explain the "generous lover" joke to me? :smallredface:

[Boogastreehouse]

Can someone please explain the "generous lover" joke to me? :smallredface:

Belkar thinks Celia would be a terrible lover, and suggests that while Rodriguez might also be terrible, he probably can't be much worse than her.

Rodriguez is insulted by this, because he is, or at least considers himself to be, a very good lover. He doesn't like being compared to one that is lame.

We know so very little about Rodriguez, so it's startling for him to suddenly divulge information on such a personal topic. He also comes off very solemn and sensitive here, taking Belkar's wisecrack very seriously.

That's the funny.

[imp_fireball]

Can someone please explain the "generous lover" joke to me? :smallredface:

"I've seen her in action." Another way of saying, "I've seen her performance in bed." Of course, Belkar really intended to say, "I've seen her be a lawyer."

The dark haired lawyer responds with, "I'm a very generous lover." In other words, he prides himself on giving a lot in order to satisfy his partners in bed.

It's diriving a lot of the humor from misinterpretation and stupidity on the part of the second lawyer.

Got it now?


That's the funny.


Actually, there's more to it then homosexuality jokes. :smallamused:


in the face of the EoB's 114% conviction rate.

They've probably convicted people in multiple timelines. Hence the rate exceeds 100%. :smallcool:

[Boogastreehouse]

"I've seen her in action." Another way of saying, "I've seen her performance in bed." Of course, Belkar really intended to say, "I've seen her be a lawyer."

The dark haired lawyer responds with, "I'm a very generous lover." In other words, he prides himself on giving a lot in order to satisfy his partners in bed.

Got it now?

Ha! I initially took the joke at face value, and didn't really register the additional humor of Rodriguez mistakenly thinking that Belkar's comment meant one thing instead of another!

Edit:


Actually, there's more to it then homosexuality jokes. :smallamused:

Wait, what? I didn't suggest that it was a homosexuality joke...

[Volstag]

This will be quite the showdown.

Gah! the tension's rising!

[Draz74]

Best line:
:belkar: "Damn it, this happens every time!"


My thoughts exactly.

[imp_fireball]

Wait, what? I didn't suggest that it was a homosexuality joke...

You brought up the idea of Rodriguez being offended by Belkar's suggestion of him being a terrible lover. If that were the case, then it'd be as if Roddy feels the need to impress the guys by boasting of his loving skills, which could hint at him being gay - just imo; most sexually active dudes don't usually care about the loving skills of another guy, just his 'girl nabbing' statistics. :smallbiggrin:


NO NO! IT'S CHAOTIC! CHAOTIC I SAY!

Doesn't cater to any specific individual. Thus it's lawful. It's also highly draconian. Hence, evil.

Lawful evil. :smalltongue:


"Damn it, this happens every time!"

Yeah... Belkar's stared down many a sentence.

What a stone cold hard arse.

[Boogastreehouse]

You brought Rodriguez being offended by Belkar's suggestion of him being a terrible lover. It's as if Roddy feels the need to impress the guys with his loving skills, which could hint at him being gay. :smallbiggrin:

Mmm, I don't know...

I think you're totally right in the way you caught the whole Rodriguez misunderstanding part of the joke, but I think it's more a matter of pride than a desire to impress the guys that leads him to make the unnecessary correction.

[Santiago]

Belkar is gonna have one hell of a field day!

[brionl]

Resisting police is a bad idea, even for high level adventurers. The point is, even if they can wipe out them easily, the nation will have enough resources to make them pay for it sooner or later.
But if not resisting results in a sentence to death, resisting became a much more inviting alternative.
Of course Roy and Belkar couldn't have known, but Gannji would have surely known. So why he accepted arrest? I wonder to what he and Enor were sentenced.


Gannji & Enor had a permit for a bar fight, they were just getting taken down to the station to clear up the paperwork. Possibly an additional fine for wear and tear on the guard's weapons.

[TheFirstStraw]

New comic is up.

There might be a "the" missing in the first caption of the fourth panel.

[DougTheHead]

Can someone please explain the "generous lover" joke to me? :smallredface:

Fortunately, I got a 16 on my resistance (make an inappropriate joke about demonstration being the best means of explanation) roll when I saw this.

[Kareasint]

"Them"? He's really gonna waste that many NP in diamonds on Belkar?

Durkon would if Roy asked him to do it. Still, that is 20k worth of diamonds. Belkar is going to create another pile of bodies on which to stand.

[Red XIV]

Folks seem to be assuming they'll arm Belkar and Roy before tossing them out in the arena with something more potent than a butter knife...
Gladiatorial combat isn't entertaining if the participants are unarmed. Besides, Roy was reasonably effective when all he had was a large stick. And in the bar fight he showed he's not bad with bare hands either.

[The MunchKING]

Gladiatorial combat isn't entertaining if the participants are unarmed.

Tell that to the WWE.

Or for less showmanship, but more actual HURTING people, the MMA, UFC, and whatever the professional boxers have.

[The MunchKING]

On the question of Durkon's alleged law-breaking, we don't know what the law is, and so we don't know whether he has or has not broken it (let alone whether or not it would be required of a lawful good character to turn themselves in).

To illustrate what I mean, there is a statutory offence in England of "being found drunk in any highway or other public place". What makes it an offence is the being found, merely being drunk is not enough, someone has to find you. I know, its odd (and over a century old), but you could easily imagine a super-bureaucratic state like the EOB making it criminal not to have papers when asked for them but for it not to be criminal not to have them. From what we've seen it sounds like the kind of place that is quite literal about the way it applies its rules.

Apparently francis is right. They aren't charged with not having papers, only not giving them up when the authorities asked...

[Faltenin]

(switches to Captain Oveur's voice)

"Joey, do you like comics about gladiators?"

[Agi Hammerthief]

Durkon's paper's only gives him 30 strips to get the Order together and leave town.
doh, you write that as if it wasn't the Giant himself who set this number

otoh, I wouldn't be surprised if Gladiators are allowed to scedule their Raise Dead by EOB priests for a fee of 10k GP

[Killer Angel]

eheheh.
Decisely, a quick trial.
Even V. would be satisfied... :smallbiggrin:

[Lkctgo]

The lawyers are coming, the lawyers are coming.

[SoC175]

Folks seem to be assuming they'll arm Belkar and Roy before tossing them out in the arena with something more potent than a butter knife... As long as anyone else also only has non-magical weapons their level advantage should suffice

[Omergideon]

I'm almost hoping that the bounty hunters do turn up in the arena. They have the potential to be decent side characters for this arc, something the last one had in droves and which has been slightly lacking. Not that the interactions between the party members is not hilarious (the new Belkar/Roy bits here are quite amusing) but it is how they respond to other people that can be best. Plus them being around and having knowledge of Girard/Haley's Dad or something else such as a contract from Xykon gives plenty of potential for future story development.

[Bharg]

An as always brilliant comic! :smallbiggrin:
I love the new suits.

[FeanorFireHeart]

(switches to Captain Oveur's voice)

"Joey, do you like comics about gladiators?"
haha love that movie, airplane is so jam packed with gags!

gladiatorial combat for a bar fight and no papers?
something tells me Elan will be watching Roy and Belkar fight Spartacus style. :smalleek:

[St Fan]

Now, I didn't quit expect the Spanish Inquisition lawyers, but I'm pretty sure I've envisionned the wig-wearing lizardfolk judge beforehand.

[Toper]

Heheh... "You'll be done in two weeks, tops!" Obviously they don't know Roy or the sexy shoeless god of war as well as they think.

I also like the "You'll be done with your sentence in 2 weeks, tops!"
...was this changed in the comic between then and now?

It would only add to the strange surreality of the jokes in this one. They're good, but feel to me more weird than funny, somehow.

[ShenCS]

Reckon that they'll end up facing Girard in the arena?

[xyzchyx]

Since Roy has already died once, wouldn't the term of his incarceration be up already?

[JoeSkull]

Since Roy has already died once, wouldn't the term of his incarceration be up already?

I think things like this go towards your next death.

[xyzchyx]

I think things like this go towards your next death.Geeze... so much for trying to make a joke. :smalltongue:

[Larkspur]

So I see all the speedy trial jokes have already been made... I'll settle for pointing out that this is not so much a sentence for Belkar, as a trip to paradise.


If life imprisonment is typically handed out for being in a city without paperwork when anyone can walk in after giving a few, unverified answers, then the city would incarcerate or execute its population in months through other, minor offences.

Technically we only know the conviction rate. Sentencing may vary. In fact, I expect it does- most NPCs would die boringly fast in the arena, but adventurers are entertaining.

Add to that the ease of resurrections in any normally structured party, and it becomes- well, it's still ridiculously excessive for the crime, but roughly equivalent to community service + a 1 Level fine, which given the fact adventurers tend to be dripping with absurd amounts of GP anyway is a penalty they're more likely to care about.

Given the enormous levels of economic/world-manipulating disparity in a typical D&D world, I'm not sure how even a perfectly fair Lawful Good government would manage sentencing for a crime like this. A small fine is the most reasonable penalty, but that could be a real hardship for NPCs while adventurers wouldn't even notice it.

[ScottishDragon]

I thought the Crucible was in westcliff,not bloodstone.

[FoE]

I thought the Crucible was in westcliff,not bloodstone.

lolz :smalltongue:

(But you are right.)

[DabblerWizard]

Oh third rate lawyers! I can't wait to see how Roy and Belkar get out of this one!

[FeanorFireHeart]

perhaps this will lead towards Belkar's Demise?

[ScottishDragon]

perhaps this will lead towards Belkar's Demise?

Why did you have to say this?I was looking forward to the next couple strips,now....:smallfrown:

[FeanorFireHeart]

Why did you have to say this?I was looking forward to the next couple strips,now....:smallfrown:

awe dont be down, we all have no way of knowing, and Rich is really good at surprises. I wouldnt be shocked if the same thing was guessed back when belkar was in the basement of brainy pete, incapacitated because of his mark.

[Wardog]

Given the enormous levels of economic/world-manipulating disparity in a typical D&D world, I'm not sure how even a perfectly fair Lawful Good government would manage sentencing for a crime like this. A small fine is the most reasonable penalty, but that could be a real hardship for NPCs while adventurers wouldn't even notice it.

They could impose higher fines for adventurers (like the village that increased all its prices from adventurers).

Or they could base the fine on actual wealth (like some countries do in real life).

Or they could make the fine proportional to level (given that levels actually exist in the OOTSverse, although I don't know how you could determine them).

[plasma ball]

*laugh*

I hate lawyers.:smallbiggrin:
Except one.
He's my uncle.

[Acero]

I thought the Crucible was in westcliff,not bloodstone.

That makes too much sense...

in case you have no idea what I'm talking sbout, it's Fable II. After winning in the Crucible, the main character starts working for the bad guys in order to rescue an epic wizard

[Faramir]

Hey! Where was all the background exposition? It's not a proper trial without crayons.

[DwarvenExodus]

Hey! Where was all the background exposition? It's not a proper trial without crayons.

Here, Here!

[blueboy]

I didn't notice the suit joke in my first read through, but you have to wonder if the art upgrades will always get as mention (when they're introduced).

[Felecies]

Folks seem to be assuming they'll arm Belkar and Roy before tossing them out in the arena with something more potent than a butter knife...

I actually played a game once where I forgot to arm my character with a melee weapon. The DM decided I should be able to fight melee and gave my character a butter knife. It was fun :smallsmile:

[Felecies]

I don't get the title. Spoiler?

I thought it was because the sentence was to stay until the day they died and Roy has already had the day he died . therefore, he could leave because technically, his sentence is already finished.

[sihnfahl]

It was fun :smallsmile:
I'm sure he just wanted to butter you up, but not spread the story around.

[FuegoAzul]

Ah yes, the always awesome Gladiatorial arena... Well played indeed, Burlow.

I'll spare you all the TVtropes link. =P

[Scarlet Knight]

(switches to Captain Oveur's voice)

"Joey, do you like comics about gladiators?"

"Say, Joey, have you ever been in a Bloodstone prison?"

:smalleek:

[Nilan8888]

I wonder if they also happen to make license plates at Bloodstone. For like, carts and stuff :smalltongue:

[rewinn]

I wonder if they also happen to make license plates at Bloodstone. For like, carts and stuff :smalltongue:
It being such a lawful city, perhaps you need a license to wear plate. :smalltongue:

[Arancaytar]

I also like the "You'll be done with your sentence in 2 weeks, tops!"
But, they actually would probably kill everyone else.
Then they would fight each other, and Belkar would get his prophecy fulfilled!
:smalltongue:

He already stabbed the Oracle. Although of course the prophecy didn't say he was going to kill only ONE of the four.

[Arancaytar]

The Empire of Blood just crossed the line from lawful, Human-style justice to chaotic, Drow-style "justice". Awesome.

Zero-tolerance laws are still lawful; they're just evil. :P

(I only read the first two Forgotten Realms books, but it seems that the chaotic aspect of Drow-style law was the "don't get caught" part.)

[Kish]

He already stabbed the Oracle. Although of course the prophecy didn't say he was going to kill only ONE of the four.
Dragon Elite might mean the prophecy of Belkar's death.

[Garwain]

I don't understand why Belkar is so outraged. Another prison = another entry in his prison guide. A win-win for all.

[XAQ]

This is where Roy and Belkar are finally going to catch up with the others on XP!

[The Vanishing Hitchhiker]

Wait, sleeves? How long have those guys had sleeves?

I'm sure they're just demonstrating confidence in Belkar and Roy's abilities to rise to the top of the gladiatorial heap and be released early for kickass behavior, right?

[Detrinex]

THIS is foreshadowing! Belkar had 7 weeks to live on the day Roy revived. It's probably been around 5 weeks.

[Nilan8888]

It being such a lawful city, perhaps you need a license to wear plate

Now THERE'S a pun so bad it's good...

[JonestheSpy]

THIS is foreshadowing! Belkar had 7 weeks to live on the day Roy revived. It's probably been around 5 weeks.

I don't recall which thread, but there's been some pretty detailed calander calculations and it's been a lot less time than that.

[deathali'helper]

*Phycological sences tingling, Seeing the future, flashes of future comics
Ok, My amazing mind has peiced togther the future comics. In this celebration, there will be gladiator fights, which MEANS that Haley and Elan will see the other 2 fighting! then t gets fuzzy, I am under the impression that there will be a rebelion of somesort in the excape. I cannot realy see much of Durkon, exept I can sence his beard shaved, eventualy

[Doug Lampert]

Or they could make the fine proportional to level (given that levels actually exist in the OOTSverse, although I don't know how you could determine them).

A character's level is 1/1000th the number of GP it takes for the material component for Trap the Soul. And the rules CLEARLY state that this amount can be determined by research.

[Alaska Fan]

I wonder if the gladiator thing is a nod to Diana Wynne Jones and her excellent Tough Guide to Fantasy? The prisoner/slave/gladiator is a mandatory "incident" in the "first pamphlet" of every "Tour."

Jones, by the way, is very seriously ill with cancer, and has reportedly stopped chemo. Bummer. A fine writer and brilliant satirist.

[Conuly]

I wonder if the gladiator thing is a nod to Diana Wynne Jones and her excellent Tough Guide to Fantasy? The prisoner/slave/gladiator is a mandatory "incident" in the "first pamphlet" of every "Tour."

Except that DWJ was riffing off already common fantasy tropes when she wrote that. She didn't make it up, the gladiator scene was already overdone. Rich could just as easily be copying any other fantasy book, or all of them, or none of them.

[imp_fireball]

*Phycological sences tingling, Seeing the future, flashes of future comics
Ok, My amazing mind has peiced togther the future comics. In this celebration, there will be gladiator fights, which MEANS that Haley and Elan will see the other 2 fighting! then t gets fuzzy, I am under the impression that there will be a rebelion of somesort in the excape. I cannot realy see much of Durkon, exept I can sence his beard shaved, eventualy

If durkon's beard is shaved, it'll immediately grow back within the hour.

[Scorer]

Arena! I like that, I like Arenas and PvP things :smallbiggrin::smallbiggrin::smallbiggrin:

[Zolkabro]

LOVE the suits.
Phil's hair... not so much.

[BillyJimBoBob]

Yikes!!! Well for Roy anyways, Belkar is probably going to enjoy this.I'd guess that his enjoyment will rely heavily on:

1) His gear. If his level appropriate gear is forfeit to the Empire, say for fees and miscellaneous administrative expenses, that would suck a lot;
2) the fairness of the match-ups. If he eliminates the first couple of opponents too fast to provide entertainment to the crowds, Belkar vs. 17 others may be the remedy of the operators of the Bloodstone CF.

[Barstro]

This is where Roy and Belkar are finally going to catch up with the others on XP!

Both are down a level from death/wight?

[factotum]

Both are down a level from death/wight?

Belkar might have regained the lost level off camera--he would have got a saving throw the next day.

[Shale]

And it's a pretty easy fort save, to which he gets a double-digit bonus from his class levels alone. He almost certainly got it back.

[blueboy]

Belkar still has the multi-classing penalties though, right?

[Scarlet Knight]

:elan: "Laaaadiiies & Gentllllllemen! In this corner, at a concentrated 45 pounds; all the way from Azure City ! Death's Little Helper ! Belkar Bitterleaf! The SEXY---SHOELESS---GOD---OF--- WAAAAR!"

:belkar: *sniff* I love this place!"

[Krüsher]

omg is this how belkar meets his end?

[Obani]

I'm sure he just wanted to butter you up, but not spread the story around.

Quite the dashing swordsman I see!