A theory about Belkar's illusion

[Loreweaver15]

In 890 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0890.html), we get to see the separate illusion Belkar and Mr. Scruffy end up in--one where they don't die in the first two minutes (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0886.html). They're hanging out with Shojo, having a nice time. This is a tossed-out joke about the illusion being as much for the cat as it was for Belkar, but here's an alternate theory--

What if that wasn't a separate illusion at all?

Belkar's character arc is in full swing. He's changing as a person, developing the capability for empathy; Belkar's (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0807.html) changing (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0869.html) priorities (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0880.html) showcase (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0881.html) this (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0910.html) quite (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0932.html) well (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0939.html). What if the illusion simply spoke to what Belkar now wants--a happy ending for himself and the small number of living beings he actually cares about--and fed him a Meteor Swarm inside the illusion to send him to the Chaotic Good afterlife? That Belkar wouldn't actually end up there is irrelevant; I'd wager he's starting to want to, if for no other reason than that he's turning into an actual person and able to value things beyond his immediate personal gratification.

Before anyone thinks I'm defending the guy blah blah blah still Chaotic Evil blah blah blah actual character development isn't a flipped switch blah blah blah I find the character interesting to read about and am under no illusions as to his current nature.

[Shale]

While I rather like the idea that Belkar's ideal afterlife is one where he can chill with Shojo forever, it's been shot down by the author (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?p=15306490#post15306490), sadly.

[DaggerPen]

It's been speculated, but Giant confirmed it wasn't (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?p=15306490#post15306490).

EDIT: Shoot, missed it by this much.

[Loreweaver15]

Ah.

Well, that's a little disappointing, but what can you do?

[Trillium]

Answering to your rhetoric question, you can hack the forum and erase all mentions of Giant's clarification on the topic, as well as the original discussion about it, leaving you the creator of an undisputed theory.

[Loreweaver15]

Answering to your rhetoric question, you can hack the forum and erase all mentions of Giant's clarification on the topic, as well as the original discussion about it, leaving you the creator of an undisputed theory.

You.

You'll be the first.

[martianmister]

Belkar, the egotist, wouldn't count it a happy ending unless he lived. Also blah blah blah still Chaotic Evil blah blah blah actual character development isn't a flipped switch blah blah blah...

[Benthesquid]

Belkar, the egotist, wouldn't count it a happy ending unless he lived. Also blah blah blah still Chaotic Evil blah blah blah actual character development isn't a flipped switch blah blah blah...

I think Belkar is perfectly willing to die, provided he does so in what he considers and awesome and hilarious way. He may not plan on *staying* dead, certainly, but consider his attempt to get Miko to kill him.

[Loreweaver15]

I think Belkar is perfectly willing to die, provided he does so in what he considers and awesome and hilarious way. He may not plan on *staying* dead, certainly, but consider his attempt to get Miko to kill him.

Exactly this. My point was also somewhat that he's begun caring about long-term consequences to himself and that small list of people whom he cares about; for example, he's intensely pissed off about what happened to Durkon. My thought was that, if it got him something he wanted (eternity chilling with someone he genuinely admired and their shared cat in a plane of happiness and enjoyment) he wouldn't really gripe too much about the dying bit.

Single-malt scotch, cigars worded from poorly-worded legal documents, and the company of somebody he actually admires.

[ZhanStrider]

In 890 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0890.html), we get to see the separate illusion Belkar and Mr. Scruffy end up in--one where they don't die in the first two minutes (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0886.html). They're hanging out with Shojo, having a nice time. This is a tossed-out joke about the illusion being as much for the cat as it was for Belkar, but here's an alternate theory--

What if that wasn't a separate illusion at all?

Belkar's character arc is in full swing. He's changing as a person, developing the capability for empathy; Belkar's (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0807.html) changing (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0869.html) priorities (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0880.html) showcase (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0881.html) this (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0910.html) quite (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0932.html) well (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0939.html). What if the illusion simply spoke to what Belkar now wants--a happy ending for himself and the small number of living beings he actually cares about--and fed him a Meteor Swarm inside the illusion to send him to the Chaotic Good afterlife? That Belkar wouldn't actually end up there is irrelevant; I'd wager he's starting to want to, if for no other reason than that he's turning into an actual person and able to value things beyond his immediate personal gratification.

Before anyone thinks I'm defending the guy blah blah blah still Chaotic Evil blah blah blah actual character development isn't a flipped switch blah blah blah I find the character interesting to read about and am under no illusions as to his current nature.

I Like it.

[martianmister]

I think Belkar is perfectly willing to die, provided he does so in what he considers and awesome and hilarious way. He may not plan on *staying* dead, certainly, but consider his attempt to get Miko to kill him.

Funny, because I never said or implied that he's not willing to temporarily die. :smallsigh: