Can the Oracle see into the planes?

[CaDzilla]

Because if not, doesn't that mean his prophecies can be tricked by going to another plane?

[strijder20]

That would be rather dubious narrative IMHO. We're said that Belkar will draw his last breath ever, by an oracle which, according to the substantial amount of evidence we've received, gets his powers directly from a deity and does not make mistakes. Rich just forcing in 'But the oracle can't see what happens in the planes!' is probably not going to happen. Unless he puts it more elegantly than I have, it would be bad writing, and that's not something we're used to from The Giant.

[Trillium]

Yes, he can. He knew about Roy's mother posthumous erotic adventures.

[Jaxzan Proditor]

I don't see why he would be unable to, and he knew what Roy's mother was doing in the afterlife. I just don't see any reason for why his prophecies would be limited in such a fashion.

[factotum]

Yes, he can. He knew about Roy's mother posthumous erotic adventures.

+1. Since we have in-comic proof he *can* see into other planes there's no way any of his prophecies can be "fixed" by planar travel.

[Vinyadan]

Yes, he can. He knew about Roy's mother posthumous erotic adventures.

He also knows of the lack of posthumous erotic adventures on his own mother's side. :smallwink:

[Vulkos]

Please remind to me (I'm sure there is a reason, but I fail to remember) why we're certain of Belkar's death and we have given up to explain the "last breath ever" thing with him going vampire.

[NerdyKris]

Because he also said that Belkar shouldn't fund his IRA (retirement account) and should savor his next birthday cake. (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0329.html)

He then stated the second time that Belkar wasn't long for this world. (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0572.html) Then he stated officially a few panels later that Belkar would draw his last breath ever before the end of the year.

Aside from that, we've been getting in comic referrals to the length of time since the Azure City New Year, so clearly something is going to happen, and it won't be a simple as "Oh, Belkar went to another plane". That would be an extremely unsatisfying ending to a plot thread that's been referenced for over 600 strips now.

Vampire is still maybe a possibilty, since we now know the person's soul is not in control of the body. But that means we'd be getting a rehash of the exact same story we're already getting. The comic isn't about vampires. There's very little reason narratively to add in a THIRD vampire using the same obstacle as Durkon's currently facing.

[Angelalex242]

Come to think of it...we haven't seen Belkar have his birthday cake yet. We know his days are numbered, but they can't be done till he mentions it being his birthday...

[Lexible]

Because he also said that Belkar shouldn't fund his IRA (retirement account) and should savor his next birthday cake. (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0329.html)

He then stated the second time that Belkar wasn't long for this world. (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0572.html) Then he stated officially a few panels later that Belkar would draw his last breath ever before the end of the year.

My vote is still on Belkar retiring to Xykon's Astral Fortress with Scruff McScruffersons and Bloodfeast: one does not eat or breathe on the Astral Plane, and it is quite literally not of this (OOTS) world. Also, alosaurus in former lich's death castle asteroid is pretty frickin' metal: just Belkar's style.

[Jaxzan Proditor]

My vote is still on Belkar retiring to Xykon's Astral Fortress with Scruff McScruffersons and Bloodfeast: one does not eat or breathe on the Astral Plane, and it is quite literally not of this (OOTS) world. Also, alosaurus in former lich's death castle asteroid is pretty frickin' metal: just Belkar's style.

What about his IRA?

[factotum]

Come to think of it...we haven't seen Belkar have his birthday cake yet. We know his days are numbered, but they can't be done till he mentions it being his birthday...

What? :smallconfused: That's ridiculous--"he should savour his next birthday cake" just tells us how much time he has to live, it's not an event we have to see on-panel or else it never happened.

[Angelalex242]

I'd settle for at least a passing reference to his birthday, like Roy's Archon who casually mentioned 'you're 28 now, your birthday was last week...'

But I would still insist on seeing a reference to Belkar's birthday before I start worrying for his eternal demise.

[ChowGuy]

Can the Oracle see into the planes?
Yes, but he gets his power from a reptilian diety, only the ones with snakes.:smallbiggrin:

[Ghost Nappa]

Belkar has never been long for this world: he's always been too short! Wow, what a terrific audience.

[137beth]

Yes, he can. He knew about Roy's mother posthumous erotic adventures.
He also knew where Windstriker was (on another plane), though that is a little less definite.

Belkar has never been long for this world: he's always been too short! Wow, what a terrific audience.
And Belkar has always been a Construct, as per V's theory about his proto-brain explaining The Event, thus he has never breathed. His last breathe, ever, was a temporary glitch in his construction that was fixed.

[Vinyadan]

He also knew where Windstriker was (on another plane), though that is a little less definite.

And Belkar has always been a Construct, as per V's theory about his proto-brain explaining The Event, thus he has never breathed. His last breathe, ever, was a temporary glitch in his construction that was fixed.

Indeed, he only breathes when there are evident malfunctions. (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0892.html)

[137beth]

Indeed, he only breathes when there are evident malfunctions. (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0892.html)

Obviously he has an artificial smell detector installed, since he doesn't breathe as often as he smells things!
Of course, that would mean he won't suffer any constitution drain after this year which could actually be true if he doesn't receive constitution drain as a petitioner.

[Sir_Leorik]

I think the problem a lot of people have is that The Oracle switches between literal prophecies and euphemisms. This is exactly what Roy was worried about when he asked the Oracle about which Gate Xykon would go after next (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0331.html). Why was he so worried? Because the first time he and Durkon visited the Oracle The Oracle gave them an overly literal answer (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0330.html).

Let's go over some of the Oracle's prophecies:

He told Eugene Greenhilt that "Xykon" was the name of the sorcerer who murdered Fyron Pucebuckle. That was a straightforward answer.

He told Durkon that Durkon would return to the Dwarven Homelands "Posthumously". That is both a literal prophecy, but also a misleading one, since the Oracle conveniently left out the context Durkon being sired by Malack and then becoming the HPoH.

His response to V is a riddle, and a misleading one. The answer to the riddle is V herself, convincing herself to accept the Faustian bargain of the IFCC Directors. In exchange they provided the Soul Splice, giving V a complete set of Evil souls, access to their total spell lists, and access to more spell levels (the ultimate part) than any other arcane caster. Essentially the Oracle interpreted V's question literally and responded to her with a riddle.

He responded to Haley with a popular euphemism.

He responded to Elan with a cryptic statement.

His response to Belkar was both literal and an attempt to weasel out of the fulfillment of the prophecy (namely getting stabbed by Belkar).

His response to Blackwing was to use a medical supplement popularly believed to enhance memory, in the hopes that V would remember Blackwing. (The Giant misspelled the supplement in question.)

Everything that the Oracle says about Belkar is couched as a euphemism for someone dying. The closest the Oracle comes to outright saying that Belkar is going to die is "Belkar is going to draw his last breathe - ever - before the end of the year. That's an "in-comic" year, not a real-time year, Oracle fans! (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0572.html) The Oracle isn't being particularly subtle with his euphemisms either. Roy recognizes that the Oracle is insinuating that Belkar will die in the near future, during the first visit by the Order, and the Oracle gives Roy an "official" prophecy just to make sure he remembers. (Not that that was necessary in the end.)

Belkar dying doesn't preclude his becoming Undead, whether a Zombie, a Ghoul or a Vampire or whatever. But the Oracle's statements are pretty clear.

As for whether the Oracle can see other events on other planes... I'm pretty sure (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0571.html) he can (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0572.html). :smallwink:

[ORione]

Come to think of it...we haven't seen Belkar have his birthday cake yet. We know his days are numbered, but they can't be done till he mentions it being his birthday...

Maybe it passed between WaXP and DStP.


Please remind to me (I'm sure there is a reason, but I fail to remember) why we're certain of Belkar's death and we have given up to explain the "last breath ever" thing with him going vampire.

We're not certain, but we're fairly confident, on the grounds that a convoluted situation that leaves Belkar alive (or undead) while still technically fitting everything that the Oracle said would be lame.

[MagicalMeat]

I could see this prophecy going down in a way that doesn't result in Belkar's death, but still removes him from the world in one way or the other. Perhaps he gets "I have no mouth and I must scream"-ed in another dimension. He doesn't isn't going to breathe, retirement is impossible, and he won't be in is world. :smallbiggrin: