Dolash
2007-03-06, 04:28 PM
Obviously a well-written battle scene isn't just page after page of fighting (Though I personally hope for at least one totally schweet splash page of city fighting!), we'll see different events and characters and threads from earlier retouched. My question to you all then, is what loose ends, little things, big twists, and so forth shall we see?
-I'm wondering if we'll see the two convicts drafted into service during the fighting. Admittedly in a big battle there isn't time to draw out every character uniquely, so a lot of the ole cookie-cutter soldiers abound, but the Giant's always been good at slipping lots of minor characters into his large scenes, so we might spot them somewhere in the fighting.
-City-fighting? In the latest comic, it looked like the castle is almost right up against the city wall, meaning invaders won't have to pass through the actual city to get to their goal. In that case, I couldn't say if we'll see any of the locations we previously saw (The restaurents, the "Road to adventure" gate, the city streets, etc).
-Ninjas and nobles. To be honest I was surprised the ninja thing was over so quickly, but then again everyone was eager for the battle to start at that point so maybe the Giant cut the whole infighting stuff short to get to it. Still, we might see ninjas in combat and the nobles could serve some story purpose yet (After they fail to get this gate, Xykon'll need a ship to get to the next one, won't he? :smallbiggrin: )
-We're pretty much certain to see some stuff with the flying zombies, and especially the flying zombie dragon. I couldn't say how much, they might just be some scenery to big fight-scene panels, or they might actually play a part in the story (Transporting important bad guys over the wall, being a nuisance to OoTS).
-We might see those archers from earlier, although if so it probably won't be a positive thing and since this is a funny comic (and too much drama kills that sort of thing) any reappearance by slaughtered archer girls will probably be brief. Still, possible to see them again (one of them had different-coloured hair!).
-The other Paladins. Really we've only seen four Paladins at all so far; Miko, Hinjo, O-chul, and Lien. There'll likely be a number of them mixing it up in the fighting, and we may see a few more when someone (Xykon) breaks into the throne room. The smart money's on O-Chul to die ("If we don't meet again, Mr. More-Plot-Relevant-Than-I-Person, we shall drink in the next life! Now off to stand in the way of the main villain's goal!") while Lien's just plot-irrelevant enough that I have no idea what'll happen to her. Even if she's in the throne room scene, she might just be the token survivor to tell the OoTS what happened.
-The Linear Guild. We're bound to see them at some point - probably escaping, after a catapult rock hits a wall or something. Kind of iffy that they'll play a major part in the story since the LG and Xykon seem to take turns being plot relevant and the LG have had their turn already. Still them escaping sets 'em up for their next *brilliant* plan to get revenge on Elan and the OoTS.
-I know what some people are hoping for, but I just don't see Miko playing any significant role in this battle. She's really done enough recently, it's more likely that she - like the Linear Guild - will escape during the battle. Maybe even join them? That's not to say it's impossible that she won't do anything this battle, or I can say with certainty she won't (none of this I say with certainty), just that I don't see it as very likely.
-The Giant isn't often predictable with the direction of the OoTS, but if I had to give my best guess, they'll see Xykon early in the battle, find it's a trick, then rush back to the castle only to find Xykon's killed everyone. Big ole' fight. That's all I could possibly guess, and there's bound to be complicating factors during the fighting.
-There's going to be at least some problems/panels dealing with the mark of Justice and how it affects Belkar. Either he'll find a way around it, start killing undead, or it'll cause some sort of plot-relevant trouble like him being unable to kill someone on the attack.
-Hinjo and Redcloak both have a decent chance of survival. The OoTS will still need allies in the rest of their adventures and Xykon will still need a lackey to talk to and berate. How much each of them will actually participate in the battle and the plot, though, I couldn't say. Sure, we'll probably see them every once in a while shouting orders, but will Redcloak join in the attack on the castle? Will Hinjo go with the OoTS when they face Xykon? No idea.
-There is one thing I can say with absolute certainty - the gate will be destroyed. Why? 'Cause there's two more gates to go! No way would they be introduced if there was no intent to visit them, and there wouldn't be much cause to do that if this gate remained intact for Xykon's purposes. It appears destroying a gate isn't enough to free the Snarl, although it seems to weaken the cage a little each time. Therefore although no one will be happy about its' destruction, it's pretty much a lock either a good guy will destroy it to keep Xykon from getting at it (and also because it appears a ruined gate is worthless to Xykon, thus he'd go away) or a bad guy will destroy it, probably by mistake.
-I'm wondering if we'll see the two convicts drafted into service during the fighting. Admittedly in a big battle there isn't time to draw out every character uniquely, so a lot of the ole cookie-cutter soldiers abound, but the Giant's always been good at slipping lots of minor characters into his large scenes, so we might spot them somewhere in the fighting.
-City-fighting? In the latest comic, it looked like the castle is almost right up against the city wall, meaning invaders won't have to pass through the actual city to get to their goal. In that case, I couldn't say if we'll see any of the locations we previously saw (The restaurents, the "Road to adventure" gate, the city streets, etc).
-Ninjas and nobles. To be honest I was surprised the ninja thing was over so quickly, but then again everyone was eager for the battle to start at that point so maybe the Giant cut the whole infighting stuff short to get to it. Still, we might see ninjas in combat and the nobles could serve some story purpose yet (After they fail to get this gate, Xykon'll need a ship to get to the next one, won't he? :smallbiggrin: )
-We're pretty much certain to see some stuff with the flying zombies, and especially the flying zombie dragon. I couldn't say how much, they might just be some scenery to big fight-scene panels, or they might actually play a part in the story (Transporting important bad guys over the wall, being a nuisance to OoTS).
-We might see those archers from earlier, although if so it probably won't be a positive thing and since this is a funny comic (and too much drama kills that sort of thing) any reappearance by slaughtered archer girls will probably be brief. Still, possible to see them again (one of them had different-coloured hair!).
-The other Paladins. Really we've only seen four Paladins at all so far; Miko, Hinjo, O-chul, and Lien. There'll likely be a number of them mixing it up in the fighting, and we may see a few more when someone (Xykon) breaks into the throne room. The smart money's on O-Chul to die ("If we don't meet again, Mr. More-Plot-Relevant-Than-I-Person, we shall drink in the next life! Now off to stand in the way of the main villain's goal!") while Lien's just plot-irrelevant enough that I have no idea what'll happen to her. Even if she's in the throne room scene, she might just be the token survivor to tell the OoTS what happened.
-The Linear Guild. We're bound to see them at some point - probably escaping, after a catapult rock hits a wall or something. Kind of iffy that they'll play a major part in the story since the LG and Xykon seem to take turns being plot relevant and the LG have had their turn already. Still them escaping sets 'em up for their next *brilliant* plan to get revenge on Elan and the OoTS.
-I know what some people are hoping for, but I just don't see Miko playing any significant role in this battle. She's really done enough recently, it's more likely that she - like the Linear Guild - will escape during the battle. Maybe even join them? That's not to say it's impossible that she won't do anything this battle, or I can say with certainty she won't (none of this I say with certainty), just that I don't see it as very likely.
-The Giant isn't often predictable with the direction of the OoTS, but if I had to give my best guess, they'll see Xykon early in the battle, find it's a trick, then rush back to the castle only to find Xykon's killed everyone. Big ole' fight. That's all I could possibly guess, and there's bound to be complicating factors during the fighting.
-There's going to be at least some problems/panels dealing with the mark of Justice and how it affects Belkar. Either he'll find a way around it, start killing undead, or it'll cause some sort of plot-relevant trouble like him being unable to kill someone on the attack.
-Hinjo and Redcloak both have a decent chance of survival. The OoTS will still need allies in the rest of their adventures and Xykon will still need a lackey to talk to and berate. How much each of them will actually participate in the battle and the plot, though, I couldn't say. Sure, we'll probably see them every once in a while shouting orders, but will Redcloak join in the attack on the castle? Will Hinjo go with the OoTS when they face Xykon? No idea.
-There is one thing I can say with absolute certainty - the gate will be destroyed. Why? 'Cause there's two more gates to go! No way would they be introduced if there was no intent to visit them, and there wouldn't be much cause to do that if this gate remained intact for Xykon's purposes. It appears destroying a gate isn't enough to free the Snarl, although it seems to weaken the cage a little each time. Therefore although no one will be happy about its' destruction, it's pretty much a lock either a good guy will destroy it to keep Xykon from getting at it (and also because it appears a ruined gate is worthless to Xykon, thus he'd go away) or a bad guy will destroy it, probably by mistake.