Maybe Roy had to die...

[djbbmike]

Hi all, so I've been a lurker for about two years now and I just HAD to register to the forums to post this theory.

Now I haven't worked out the details (both plot wise or Paper n' Pen wise) but what if Roy needed to die to defeat Xykon? Just as Roy's father came back as a ghost, what if Roy was somehow able to "come back" and face Xykon in the Throne room just as Xykon goes to do his mojo on the gate.

Now I know my theory has a bunch of holes in it but at the same time, why not? Is there any way Roy could do this? Any thoughts?

[jindra34]

There are ways but they tend to require months of planning.

[Cade Shadow]

Though Roy could become a Ghost, there would need to be some special thing that would allow him to *kill* Xykon. therefore, it is possible however unlikely that Xykon could know this and would foil his plans.

Or Xykon could just rebuke Ghost-Roy into the next century(ghosts are undead, right?). At the moment I'm for the Xykon-is-redcloak-in-disguise theory and the person who is pretending to be redcloak is really Xykon. thus, Xykon is in no real danger and redcloak could probably handle further problems better than Xykon, though he lacks the spell-casting ability. I'm sure there's some mechanic around that given Xykon's Lich nature.

[mikeejimbo]

Well, I think it's a good theory except that Roy isn't an old wizard with a white beard.

[Brickman]

From what I've heard, there's probably no free-willed and spontaneously generated (aka not summoned/raised) undead type for a fighter that'd be more effective than Roy was in the first place.

[Sage in the Playground]

From what I've heard, there's probably no free-willed and spontaneously generated (aka not summoned/raised) undead type for a fighter that'd be more effective than Roy was in the first place.

A Prestige Class? It'd be funny if he got RP XP for actually dying.

Spectral Warrior PrC!

[jindra34]

A Prestige Class? It'd be funny if he got RP XP for actually dying.

Spectral Warrior PrC!

He could have gotten a bunch from refusing Xykon's offer though...

[Sage in the Playground]

He could have gotten a bunch from refusing Xykon's offer though...

That be a nice twist. The gods tell that refusing the offer that would've saved him gave him enough XP to get him a unique PrC they whipped up for him. Of course the evil gods would require some sort of price, like magic being an integral part of it, making him sacrifice a large part of his personal beleifs.

[brian c]

Though Roy could become a Ghost, there would need to be some special thing that would allow him to *kill* Xykon. therefore, it is possible however unlikely that Xykon could know this and would foil his plans.

Or Xykon could just rebuke Ghost-Roy into the next century(ghosts are undead, right?). At the moment I'm for the Xykon-is-redcloak-in-disguise theory and the person who is pretending to be redcloak is really Xykon. thus, Xykon is in no real danger and redcloak could probably handle further problems better than Xykon, though he lacks the spell-casting ability. I'm sure there's some mechanic around that given Xykon's Lich nature.

Um... I don't think there's any doubt at this point that Xykon really is Xykon. The whole "maybe they switched" theory was only plausible for a couple comics a few weeks ago. Xykon is Xykon, and Xykon can't rebuke undead.

[Mewtarthio]

He can probably cast Control Undead, though.

[DMcCoy1693]

I think Roy had to die for completely different reasons. And no not to defeat :xykon:

Here's my idea of what's going to happen: Roy had to die because, hey it's a comic about a role playing game. Anyone ever see the original group of a role playing game last this long? Not me. Usually one (or several) died by now. I think that :vaarsuvius: will also die and AC will fall. But then, those that :sabine: talked to on the plane she's from will come in and between them and :xykon:, they'll destroy the gate making it totally useless. Hinjo will take over as group leader and main combat person (and make sure that Belkar serves out this last year of jail sentence by staying with him) and Roy's sister will take over as spellcaster and keep the family fight against :xykon: going.

Thoughts?

[redcodekevin]

<snip> Hinjo will take over as group leader and main combat person (and make sure that Belkar serves out this last year of jail sentence by staying with him) and Roy's sister will take over as spellcaster and keep the family fight against :xykon: going.

Thoughts?

First of all, it'd take a long time to return to Cliffport to reach Julia, and if AC survives Hinjo has duties there. He has to die because there's something he has to learn, not because they need to change party members. He'll be back, stronger. I just hope he does a Gandalf and not an Obi-wan.

[Mewtarthio]

I think Roy had to die for completely different reasons. And no not to defeat :xykon:

Here's my idea of what's going to happen: Roy had to die because, hey it's a comic about a role playing game. Anyone ever see the original group of a role playing game last this long? Not me. Usually one (or several) died by now. I think that :vaarsuvius: will also die and AC will fall. But then, those that :sabine: talked to on the plane she's from will come in and between them and :xykon:, they'll destroy the gate making it totally useless. Hinjo will take over as group leader and main combat person (and make sure that Belkar serves out this last year of jail sentence by staying with him) and Roy's sister will take over as spellcaster and keep the family fight against :xykon: going.

Thoughts?

I'd considered Hinjo serving as Roy's replacement, but then I realized that it wouldn't work out with Belkar. Travelling alongside Belkar for any reason other than to escort him to prison means loss of paladin powers (unless he gets a reprieve do to the importance of his mission, but Hinjo's not a Grey Guard so that wouldn't happen). Julia's far too weak to keep up with the rest of the Order: She can barely cast Magic Missile before running out of spells.

[archon_huskie]

Well Roy did give a speech where he commits himself to the defense of the Seals and gates. All the gods are threatened if the snarl gets loose again.

Now that he's dead I see Roy appearing on the astral plane to find himself surrounded by every god for all the pantheons.

They bestow upon him their blessings, a free true ressurrection, and a teleport to the throne room. But there will be one catch. His 13 levels of fighter are gone, permenately. In their place are 13 levels of paladin.

NOOOOO!!!! Screams Roy as he appears in the throne room.

[Mordokai]

Haha huskie, thats great theory, I love it:smallbiggrin:

Chance is thought that Roy might become fallen martyr, prestige class form book of exalted deeds. I can see that happening, even if the chance is small.

[Dr. Simon]

He'll be back, stronger. I just hope he does a Gandalf and not an Obi-wan.

Neither. Don't forget that Rich is a big Babylon 5 fan - that's where the name of this whole darn site comes from after all. Roy won't do a Gandalf or an Obi-wan, he'll do a Sheridan. He is, after all, the Hero. not the Wise Counciller.

(I don't know what this means, exactly :smallwink: , but Roy's plainly going to do something from Joseph Campbell and return from the dead with new knowledge and a changed outlook).

[Lord]

Well Roy did give a speech where he commits himself to the defense of the Seals and gates. All the gods are threatened if the snarl gets loose again.

Now that he's dead I see Roy appearing on the astral plane to find himself surrounded by every god for all the pantheons.

They bestow upon him their blessings, a free true ressurrection, and a teleport to the throne room. But there will be one catch. His 13 levels of fighter are gone, permenately. In their place are 13 levels of paladin.

NOOOOO!!!! Screams Roy as he appears in the throne room.

That would be great I remember back when I first read this comic I wished that Roy was a paladin. {this was before Miko} Before I started to like him as a character and a fighter. It would be really funny to see Miko's reaction as a paladin Roy walks in.

[Callista]

Roy as a Paladin? Heh. :) Well, he's got a huge sense of duty and honor, and he's certainly Good, the way he keeps Elan around. But he's just not the type to be part of an organized order, or to crusade for anything; and I think he only just tolerates riding a horse.

Roy is more of a casual, naturally Lawful Good sort, just born with a conscience that doesn't let him go too far wrong. I don't think he's spent very much time thinking about morality... it just seems to come naturally to him, though he does get awfully grumpy about it sometimes.

[BisectedBrioche]

Neither. Don't forget that Rich is a big Babylon 5 fan - that's where the name of this whole darn site comes from after all. Roy won't do a Gandalf or an Obi-wan, he'll do a Sheridan. He is, after all, the Hero. not the Wise Counciller.

(I don't know what this means, exactly :smallwink: , but Roy's plainly going to do something from Joseph Campbell and return from the dead with new knowledge and a changed outlook).

What is that exactly? I can't be bothered to check wikipedia.

[titan_monarch]

If you mean the Joseph Campbell thing, he pioneered the concept of "The Hero with a Thousand Faces" - a basic formula for character and plot development that all fantasy heroes seem to stick to. I can't be bothered to write it all out here. But you can be bothered to check it now that I have provided a link. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hero_with_a_Thousand_Faces)

[pendell]

Well Roy did give a speech where he commits himself to the defense of the Seals and gates. All the gods are threatened if the snarl gets loose again.

Now that he's dead I see Roy appearing on the astral plane to find himself surrounded by every god for all the pantheons.

They bestow upon him their blessings, a free true ressurrection, and a teleport to the throne room. But there will be one catch. His 13 levels of fighter are gone, permenately. In their place are 13 levels of paladin.

NOOOOO!!!! Screams Roy as he appears in the throne room.

Which Roy loses in 5 strips because he won't stop associating with Belkar.


Respectfully,

Brian P.

[Morgan_Scott82]

Doesn't the Ghost template bestow a CHA drain attack? It may be possible that Xykon is a CHA based caster, I don't recall much evidence that indicates he has a high INT, between being incorporeal and draining a casting stat a ghost might stand a good chance at defeating an angry Sorcerer-Lich.

Though I don't buy into this theory at all, the above was just my musing on the possibility.

And yes I'd venture a guess, though I'm not willing to bet my hard earned dollars, that Mr. Berlew is familiar with Campbell's body of work, likely at least "Hero with a Thousand Faces" and "Heroes of Light" both excellent reading for aspiring mythologists, writers, and dungeonmasters.

[Gaelbert]

At the moment I'm for the Xykon-is-redcloak-in-disguise theory and the person who is pretending to be redcloak is really Xykon. thus, Xykon is in no real danger and redcloak could probably handle further problems better than Xykon, though he lacks the spell-casting ability.

Except that Redcloak in Xykon disguise would have been hurt by the negative energy in 446, and I don't think Redcloak knows the spell Meteor Swarm.

[Gaelbert]

At the moment I'm for the Xykon-is-redcloak-in-disguise theory and the person who is pretending to be redcloak is really Xykon. thus, Xykon is in no real danger and redcloak could probably handle further problems better than Xykon, though he lacks the spell-casting ability.

Except that Recloak wouldn't know Meteor Swarm and Recloak would be harmed by the negative energy spell in 446.

[Roderick_BR]

Hmm.. maybe if he can manifest to some member of the OotS with a vital information.... that would rule.

[Mewtarthio]

Doesn't the Ghost template bestow a CHA drain attack? It may be possible that Xykon is a CHA based caster, I don't recall much evidence that indicates he has a high INT, between being incorporeal and draining a casting stat a ghost might stand a good chance at defeating an angry Sorcerer-Lich.

Xykon is a Cha-based caster, as are all sorcerors. He is also undead, rendering him immune to all of a Ghost's special attacks (except for Telekinesis and maybe Malevolence [aka possession]).

[Shadow]

Huntley....
You explained it much better in person earlier tonight....

I still think you're full of it, but at least you had a somewhat compelling arguement earlier!

[BisectedBrioche]

If you mean the Joseph Campbell thing, he pioneered the concept of "The Hero with a Thousand Faces" - a basic formula for character and plot development that all fantasy heroes seem to stick to. I can't be bothered to write it all out here. But you can be bothered to check it now that I have provided a link. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hero_with_a_Thousand_Faces)

Actually I was asking what a "Sheridan" would be.

[Jayabalard]

Anyone ever see the original group of a role playing game last this long? Yes... I've groups keep their original composition for dozens of game years...

[archon_huskie]

Which Roy loses in 5 strips because he won't stop associating with Belkar.


Respectfully,

Brian P.
Naturally the 12 Gods make Belkar a paldain too just to annoy Miko. Belkar strives to be a good Paladin just to further annoy Miko. :smallbiggrin: