Epileptic Trees for Girard (Not to be confused with Flowers for Algernon)

[Poppy Appletree]

As we all know, Girard is an epic-level illusionist (plus two levels in ranger (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0694.html)). Naturally, this is the sort of thing that lures epilectic trees (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/EpilepticTrees), and so I shall detail some potential ones for the purpose of generating interest.

Now, it's been suggested (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=162995) that the entirety of the current story past Girard's explosion has been an epic-level illusion. This, however, would be considered an incredibly poor show by much of the readership, so if Girard is working his magic, it's probably much more subtle than that - as such, some additional notes are helpful:

Disguise Self is a first level spell. Given that, the possibilities are practically endless as he could be anywhere or anyone. Plus, he probably has a much higher level version of it that has a longer duration and is more convincing. In the same vein, Epic level illusions are so great that something similar to Ozymandias9's theory is possible.

Alternatively, Girard may not even look anything like the image of him that we've always been given, or even be human, so he could be hidden in plain sight without any sort of magic.

Finally, Girard appears to have had a scrying sensor (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0698.html). If it was his, then he would know who it was who was looking for his gate.

So, now that we're ready, it's time to stop giving the trees their medication.

* Girard may be (or about to be) masquerading as a member of the Order of the Stick. Or even the Linear Guild. How would you know?

* Girard could be Malack. Maybe instead of eating (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0743.html), he's actually recasting his spell? Or feeding the real Malack? There's probably a convoluted explanation for how his illusions were used to heal Vaarsuvius (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0724.html).

* Girard might be the Empress of Blood. Who would suspect a fat, incompetent red dragon of being an Epic-level illusionist?

* Tarquin appears to know something about Girard (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0727.html). Maybe Tarquin is Girard, in which case he might not even be using any illusion magic whatsoever. Alternatively, Tarquin is Girard's son, and as such Girard is Elan's grandfather.

* If we place any significance in Girard's perceived hair colour, it could be that Girard is Ian Starshine, which would present a handy if entirely implausible cover; potentially more likely is that Girard is Ian Starshine's father, though this would contradict Haley's comment that her grandfather was a first edition thief (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0008.html). (Though this was only the 8th comic, and the plot wasn't set out until around #100 - alternatively, she could be mistaken.) If this is the case, then Tarquin may be keeping Ian Starshine locked up in order to manipulate Girard. Girard may also be a Celestial dragon explaining Haley's background.

* Then again, we could assume that both of those are valid, and that Girard is Ian Starshine and Tarquin's father, making Haley and Elan cousins. Which would mean that if Tarquin is holding Haley's father, the same man is also his brother.

Happy planting. :smallbiggrin:


TL;DR: Crack theories about who/what/where Girard is.

[ThePhantasm]

* Tarquin appears to know something about Girard (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0727.html). Maybe Tarquin is Girard, in which case he might not even be using any illusion magic whatsoever. Alternatively, Tarquin is Girard's son, and Elan's grandfather.

Your ideas are all very interesting, but this is the most peculiar. How can Tarquin be Elan's GRANDFATHER?

[Poppy Appletree]

Your ideas are all very interesting, but this is the most peculiar. How can Tarquin be Elan's GRANDFATHER?

Whoops, botched the editing. Fixed now. :smallredface:

[Morquard]

* If we place any significance in Girard's perceived hair colour, it could be that Girard is Ian Starshine, which would present a handy if entirely implausible cover; potentially more likely is that Girard is Ian Starshine's father, though this would contradict Haley's comment that her grandfather was a first edition thief (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0008.html).

a) there are only so many colors to use in a stickcomic. Same goes for hairstyles. Just because they're similar or the same, doesn't mean they're related. (However it could be, I'm personally a fan of the Girard is Haley's granddad theory too, but it has its flaws)

b) You know the fun thing about grandfathers? Everyone has two of them. Well except Anakin Skywalker, but lets not get into that. So the first edition thief could have been from her mothers side.

[Gift Jeraff]

Haley said her daddy was a First Edition thief.

Also, I thought it was quite obvious that Girard is
Haley and Nale's child (hence the occasional goatee), raised by Haley and Elan, thus why he takes up illusions and where he got his distrust from. They don't tell him anything like "Soon isn't going to go back on his word" because they cannot, and do not want to, mess with the stable time loop.

[Poppy Appletree]

Haley said her daddy was a First Edition thief.

I honestly have to wonder how I can link to the comic in which she makes that comment and still make that mistake. :smalleek:

[RndmNumGen]

Isn't Girard's magic purple? The scrying was green.

[Poppy Appletree]

Isn't Girard's magic purple? The scrying was green.

I'm sure it would be trivial for an Epic-level illusionist to change the perceived colour of his spells, or simply have one of his assosciates make the sensor for him.

Epileptic Tree #987: Nale is in cahoots with Girard, having spent his offscreen time (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0668.html) learning the identity of Grandfather so that he may exact his revenge on Father, rounding out the family reunion.

[KoboldRevenge]

Elan of course is his own great grandfather having gone back in time and accidently killed his own grandfather then have a child and name it Girard.:smallsigh:

[Maximum Zersk]

Quasi-on-topic, but I think that maybe we should have a single thread for all the epileptic trees that come up here.

[King of Nowhere]

I take your bet and raise it:
Clearly Girard is really Xykon, he took Xykon's place years ago and is now using his secret identity to prove that the gates of his former teammates were poorly defended.
How could Xykon know so much about the gates otherwise? :smallsigh:
Girard hated the sapphire guard, and Xykon took down the sapphire guard at the first chance; coincidences?

[DragonOfUndeath]

Sapphire guard was the 3RD gate targeted. lirians and dorukans were destroyed first

[Poppy Appletree]

Sapphire guard was the 3RD gate targeted. lirians and dorukans were destroyed first

Clearly, Girard wanted to prove he was the greater spellcaster. :smallbiggrin:

Oh, and of course he hated Lirian and Dorukan more because Dorukan Lirian had spurned him. :smallwink:

[DragonOfUndeath]

i think he would have attacked sapphire guard first anyway and why wait all these decades before doing something? and if he is Girard why does he need the diary? he knows which gate is where because he went there and mapped them out.

[Poppy Appletree]

i think he would have attacked sapphire guard first anyway and why wait all these decades before doing something? and if he is Girard why does he need the diary? he knows which gate is where because he went there and mapped them out.

Oh but you forget that he's also Nale's grandfather...on both sides! You see, Girard didn't just sire Tarquin, he also fathered Elan's mother - twins you know, they run in the family. Since Tarquin's mother, like her son and grandson (Elan), has a flair for the dramatic, she raised Elan's mother in secret. However, since Tarquin and Elan's mother never found out they were siblings, they ended up having children together.

And this is where Nale's overcomplicated nature comes from, and the reason why he didn't attack the Sapphire Guard first, and why he needed the diary. Because as everyone knows, you have to go into an exposition about how you know what you know. Incidentally, Girard may also be my grandfather.

[Nimrod's Son]

However, since Tarquin and Elan's mother never found out they were siblings, they ended up having children together.
So Elan's inbred, you say? I guess that explains his Banjo obsession. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uzae_SqbmDE)

[derfenrirwolv]

Girard is disguising himself as the empresses throne, that way no one questions why its being layered in 6 feet of adamantium plating.

[Poppy Appletree]

Oho, a theory from the Wackiest Fan Theories thread:


My own (admittedly not-serious) theory is about how Belkar will die:

Belkar learns that Roy is not really Roy but rather Girard (the illusionist). Belkar takes the opportunity in the arena to disable Girard, revealing him for who he really is, thus saving the life of everyone in OotS, yet still succumbing to his wounds before Durkon can save him. However, with Girard being so powerful, he managed to kill Belkar in a way that prevents Belkar from being resurrected.

Obviously there are a few holes there, but I can almost imagine the last scene, when Belkar succumbs to his wounds, where he says something

incredibly dramatic and makes people wonder if he really DID become a good guy in the end, by both his actions to save Roy and the OotS and his final words.

Unfortunately, this poster forgets to further inform us that this Belkar is also an illusory construct made by Girard - after all, the real Belkar Bitterleaf is an elderly halfling who is soon to die of old age. :smallbiggrin:

[Urist McDwarf]

Girard is Malak.

[Shale]

Girard is disguised as a tree.

That one! Right there!

[Pronounceable]

I am Girard.

[DragonOfUndeath]

*Casts Smite Girard on cnsvnc*

[Winged789]

Girard is or was involved with one of the local waring countries, a fact the Tarq will use to manipulate the order into going to war for him (because his country won't). At such a time tarq will try to turn elan evil and send the others on a suicide mission.

Girard will learn of this and as a hater of authority probally distrust tarq on principle, and translate that distrust to the order as well, and as such avoid or destroy them.