random thought on MitD

[theinsulabot]

what are the odds it either originally escaped from/has relatives at serini/kraagor's gate?

[137beth]

The odds: 3902480923850392 to 1 against. I hate to break it to ya, but not every character in the universe is connected to the order of the scribble.

[Zubzub]

Since mitd is supposed to be very scary and strong, and since Serini decided to protect the gate with nastiest monsters she could find, I dont see why not. Maybe not relative (like mitd's father or such), but its entirely possible a monster from mitd's species is also there.

[Nimrod's Son]

I think the fact that O-Chul is headed towards that gate brings a certain amount of plausibility to the idea. If not necessarily a relative of that monster, I don't think it's at all out of the question that there will be another "one of them" at Kraagor's gate.

[VanBuren]

Since mitd is supposed to be very scary and strong, and since Serini decided to protect the gate with nastiest monsters she could find, I dont see why not. Maybe not relative (like mitd's father or such), but its entirely possible a monster from mitd's species is also there.

It's possible. But I also wouldn't take it as gospel that this must be the case just yet.

[silversaraph]

I had that thought too, but it doesn't really tell us anything.

[Chuck Peirce]

I had that thought too, but it doesn't really tell us anything.

It gives us a bunch of "maybes".

Suppose that O-Chul will encounter the MitD's father or other kin during his quest for Kraagor's gate. The gate is way up north, so a re-imagining of a Norse character would fit with the geographic flavor Burlew has been using.

A connection to Nidhogg (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/N%C3%AD%C3%B0h%C3%B6ggr) or Fenrir (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fenrir) (or Sköl (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sk%C3%B6ll) or Hati (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hati_Hr%C3%B3%C3%B0vitnisson)) could account for the appetite. Sköl has poetic appeal: Instead of yearning to eat the Sun, the MitD yearns to eat (anything except babies) and to be illuminated (as by the Sun). Sköl and Hati have additional appeal, in that a re-imagining of Fenrir (their father) could easily fit the limited descriptions we've seen of the MitD's father-- enormous and ravenous.

Note that, while the big game hunters recognized the MitD as a specimen of a species (rather than a truly unique creature or deity), the MitD can still be based on a unique mythological character. Ever since First Edition AD&D, Couatls (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Couatl) have been a species (you can encounter a freaking flock of them) despite blatantly being an adaptation of the Aztec god Quetzalcoatl (and obviously there is only one Quetzalcoatl). Someone (be it Burlew or the writer of a monster entry) could have taken a similar creative liberty with the spawn of some Norse deity.

Or the monster could be something else entirely. If I had a source book that covered deities, children of deities, or a Norse-themed adventure, though, I'd be looking through monster entries to see if anything fit.

[Holy_Knight]

I had also thought that, although like others have said, it doesn't seem like we have enough other information for that idea to really lead us anywhere yet. That's not to say there may not be a connection, though.


It gives us a bunch of "maybes".

Suppose that O-Chul will encounter the MitD's father or other kin during his quest for Kraagor's gate. The gate is way up north, so a re-imagining of a Norse character would fit with the geographic flavor Burlew has been using.

A connection to Nidhogg (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/N%C3%AD%C3%B0h%C3%B6ggr) or Fenrir (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fenrir) (or Sköl (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sk%C3%B6ll) or Hati (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hati_Hr%C3%B3%C3%B0vitnisson)) could account for the appetite. Sköl has poetic appeal: Instead of yearning to eat the Sun, the MitD yearns to eat (anything except babies) and to be illuminated (as by the Sun). Sköl and Hati have additional appeal, in that a re-imagining of Fenrir (their father) could easily fit the limited descriptions we've seen of the MitD's father-- enormous and ravenous.

Note that, while the big game hunters recognized the MitD as a specimen of a species (rather than a truly unique creature or deity), the MitD can still be based on a unique mythological character. Ever since First Edition AD&D, Couatls (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Couatl) have been a species (you can encounter a freaking flock of them) despite blatantly being an adaptation of the Aztec god Quetzalcoatl (and obviously there is only one Quetzalcoatl). Someone (be it Burlew or the writer of a monster entry) could have taken a similar creative liberty with the spawn of some Norse deity.

Or the monster could be something else entirely. If I had a source book that covered deities, children of deities, or a Norse-themed adventure, though, I'd be looking through monster entries to see if anything fit.
I don't think that Skol was supposed to have had any children, and if not, I think this idea would end up violating the "not something Rich just made up" clause. But if there IS some kind of pre-existing D&D Norse-based sourcebook which has entries like that, then I think you're right that it's worth looking into. Interesting idea!

[Dralnu]

I think MitD is something that came from the Snarl. Something unfathomably powerful, yet very young/inexperienced. He has a very child-like personality and innocence, yet so far his powers and inherent intelligence knows no bounds. I don't think he's a specific monster, D&D or otherwise, rather he's infused with the powers of plot, giving Rich flexibility with him.

Whatever it is, I do think "child" is an appropriate label for him.

[iroZn]

It would be a crazy coincidence but then again this comic has a lot of those. It would be absolutely awesome if they run in to the MitD's dad and he starts pummeling on them for locking up his son.

[Craft (Cheese)]

I think MitD is something that came from the Snarl. Something unfathomably powerful, yet very young/inexperienced. He has a very child-like personality and innocence, yet so far his powers and inherent intelligence knows no bounds. I don't think he's a specific monster, D&D or otherwise, rather he's infused with the powers of plot, giving Rich flexibility with him.

The MitD is confirmed to be a pre-existing monster from the sourcebooks of some sort. There's a giant thread full of information and speculation of what he might be somewhere around here.

[Mutant Sheep]

The MitD is confirmed to be a pre-existing monster from the sourcebooks of some sort. There's a giant thread full of information and speculation of what he might be somewhere around here.

You cant possibly mean this (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=189676). Hurrah for the power of google (and search)!

[theinsulabot]

I haven't read start of darkness, but thinking of the Norse angle, wasn't there something about how the hunters who recognized were surprised something like him was in that area?

[Conuly]

That's a good question, and of course the less likely it is, the more likely it is, depending on how dramatic the revelation would be.

But shouldn't we figure out what kinda monster the MitD is first, before we try to work out the odds of there being another one of him at Kraagor's gate?

[veti]

The odds: 3902480923850392 to 1 against.

Which, of course, translates to "practically inevitable (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0584.html)".


The MitD is confirmed to be a pre-existing monster from the sourcebooks of some sort.

Pre-existing yes, but not necessarily from any sourcebook. Popular guesses include anything from Pokemon to a Cthulhoid monster.

[martianmister]

Now what we need is finding his father... :smallamused:

[Chuck Peirce]

That's a good question, and of course the less likely it is, the more likely it is, depending on how dramatic the revelation would be.

But shouldn't we figure out what kinda monster the MitD is first, before we try to work out the odds of there being another one of him at Kraagor's gate?
Yes, but that's not what has been proposed. There are two questions:
1) Is circumstance X possible?
2) If circumstance X were true, what would that tell us about the MitD?

Once we grasp all the consequences of a line of speculation, then we can intelligently ask whether all those consequences "feel right" given what the comic has told us.

[Ralcos]

Maybe he's an Invisible Stalker!!!
Just Kidding. I'll need to look up on possible creatures, though.
What would help is MitD's possible alignment.

[Dr.Epic]

The odds: 3902480923850392 to 1 against. I hate to break it to ya, but not every character in the universe is connected to the order of the scribble.

True that. It has to have hair like Elan or Nale, that way we can claim it's a (great-)grandson of one of the members.:smallwink:

[Snails]

I don't think that Skol was supposed to have had any children, and if not, I think this idea would end up violating the "not something Rich just made up" clause. But if there IS some kind of pre-existing D&D Norse-based sourcebook which has entries like that, then I think you're right that it's worth looking into. Interesting idea!

The Hydra was unique, too. If the MitD walked like a Hydra and talked like a Hydra, we would be okay with it.

The Midgard Serpent is unique, and is known to have dangerous spawn.

Your point has merit, but the is some wiggle room here.

[DreadPirateDB]

The more I think on this, the better I like it. It would give us another foreshadowing pointing to the final battle at Kraagor's gate.

[Holy_Knight]

One thing that might be evidence in favor of this idea, is that it could explain why the MiTD can't seem to see/notice/understand the gate. If you're going to protect a gate by surrounding it with the most powerful monsters you can find, you don't want any of them taking an interest in said gate and potentially damaging or destroying it. So what if Serini found a way to prevent the monsters from being able to notice it? That would protect the gate from the monsters, who would in turn protect it from anyone poking around, and would explain why the MiTD can't seem to process its existence even when it's right in front of him and directly pointed out as being there.

[Talvereaux]

Minor SoD stuff. Spoilering it anyway.

The Monster in the Darkness was found in the jungle, which would mean that the only evidence as to where it came from places it very far away--possibly across the world--from the subarctic Kraagor's Gate.

Of course, it is noted that this location is unusual for whatever species it is. Whether or not that lends credence to this idea's up in the air.

[thereaper]

Maybe it's the purple worms here (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0277.html)!

I would laugh so hard if it turned out that the MitD's species had already appeared in the comic several hundred strips ago, without any of us noticing.

[ShadeSpark]

what are the odds it either originally escaped from/has relatives at serini/kraagor's gate?

I first read this and thought it a ridiculous statement with no basis.......but the more I think about, the more it actually makes sense. In addition to the other reasons people have posted already, if MitD did come from there its origins could be revealed in a rather natural way. By 'natural' I mean that since the Order will very likely stop at the gate at some point MitD's origins could be worked into the story without seeming too forced. It also makes sense why MitD or its relatives would be there, but I believe several others have already covered that.

Overall, I like this theory. :smallbiggrin:

[Raistlin82]

The odds: 3902480923850392 to 1 against. I hate to break it to ya, but not every character in the universe is connected to the order of the scribble.

Don't you mean there is a one-in-a-million chance? (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0584.html) :smalltongue:

[dps]

I think the fact that O-Chul is headed towards that gate brings a certain amount of plausibility to the idea. If not necessarily a relative of that monster, I don't think it's at all out of the question that there will be another "one of them" at Kraagor's gate.

Would O-Chul even know if he encounters another of the MitD's kind? I haven't seen any evidence that he knows what the MitD is any more than we do.

[Holy_Knight]

Would O-Chul even know if he encounters another of the MitD's kind? I haven't seen any evidence that he knows what the MitD is any more than we do.

We haven't seen any so far. However, when he asks for Hinjo to make sure it's their most learned scribe (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0663.html) that attends his debriefing, the implication is that he hopes the scribe can tell him what type of creature the MiTD is. So it is possible at least that O-Chul may have some sort of information on the MiTD's identity.

Coincidentally, it just started to rain here as soon as I finished typing all that. Clearly, this post has O-Chul's blessing.

[rokar4life]

I really doubt that Serini and Kraagor had snorlax's at their gate, I don't see what purpose it would serve.

[Holy_Knight]

I really doubt that Serini and Kraagor had snorlax's at their gate, I don't see what purpose it would serve.

And since the MiTD is almost certainly NOT a Snorlax, it's just as well. ;)

[theinsulabot]

not that I actually think it is a snorlax, but if you wanted to follow that line of thought to its natural conclusion for a moment, the construction of serini's gate would probably be the most likely place for a snorlax or two to be imported into the setting.