How were the Order of the Scribble able to resist the Snarl's attacks?

[Quartz]

We've seen that Soon & Kraagor were able to fight the Snarl directly. This included surviving hits from the Snarl, which have otherwise been pretty much insta-kill. Has it been explained how they were able to do this?

[NerdyKris]

We don't now. We don't even know if that's an accurate retelling of the event yet.

[factotum]

It's also entirely possible that's the only situation where they did any sort of direct battle with the thing, and it appears Kraagor didn't survive it (or at least got pulled into Snarlworld), so even if the scene is entirely accurate as presented it doesn't tell us that the Scribblers had any more ability to battle the Snarl than any other mortal.

[hroþila]

While that is true, we can't simply dismiss the fact that the Scribblers were high level and almost certainly epic level by then, so we don't know that they can be compared to most any other mortals. Also, they apparently survived an attack from the Snarl, not necessarily a hit.

[Fyraltari]

Lirian and Dorukan also studied the Rifts extensively enough to create the Gates. It's possible they had enough of an understanding of the nature of the Snarl to come up with some magical protection.

[Alcore]

Thor has a hypothesis that because mortals are composed of three colors (opposed to a god's singular color) that they are not nearly as vulnerable to it as the gods are.

The Snarl might have to kill mortals the old fashioned way...

[Fyraltari]

Thor has a hypothesis that because mortals are composed of three colors (opposed to a god's singular color) that they are not nearly as vulnerable to it as the gods are.

The Snarl might have to kill mortals the old fashioned way...

Which it definitely can as the shish-kebabed Empire of Sweat soldier would attest if not for... well you know.

[Grey_Wolf_c]

Umm... the dwarven memorial featured prominently in the last comic suggests that 50% of the Order of the Scribble that got close to the rift did not, in fact, resist the Snarl's attacks.

Beyond that, I'd imagine that they fared pretty much as you'd fare against any other epic-level opponent. Lots and lots and lots of magic. Magic's pretty broken, y'all.

Grey Wolf

[woweedd]

Which it definitely can as the shish-kebabed Empire of Sweat soldier would attest if not for... well you know.
I imagine that's because of the vast power differntial. An Epic-level character, as the Scribblers were by that point, may fair, at least, better in combat against the Snarl then the Eastern Gods did.

[Fyraltari]

Umm... the dwarven memorial featured prominently in the last comic suggests that 50% of the Order of the Scribble that got close to the rift did not, in fact, resist the Snarl's attacks.

We don’t actually know that. Dorukan and Girard’s words imply that Soon’s decision to have the spell cast while Soon and Kraagor were still in the Area of Effect is what did Kraagor’s in, not the fight with the Snarl.

We don’t actually know how exactly, if at all, Kraagor died. He might (emphasis on might) still be alive on the world-within-the-world.

[Darth Paul]

We don’t actually know that. Dorukan and Girard’s words imply that Soon’s decision to have the spell cast while Soon and Kraagor were still in the Area of Effect is what did Kraagor’s in, not the fight with the Snarl.

We don’t actually know how exactly, if at all, Kraagor died. He might (emphasis on might) still be alive on the world-within-the-world.

Evidently I have a new comic to read. :smallconfused: or not. I've evidently forgotten something here?

[Fyraltari]

Evidently I have a new comic to read. :smallconfused: or not. I've evidently forgotten something here?

Cast the spell! Seal the Rift! No! Not until you are both in the clear! (https://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0276.html)

It should have been you that died in that rift, you cowardly son of bich. (https://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0695.html)

It was Lirian instead of Dorukan, though.

[The Pilgrim]

We've seen that Soon & Kraagor were able to fight the Snarl directly. This included surviving hits from the Snarl, which have otherwise been pretty much insta-kill. Has it been explained how they were able to do this?

Yes. Because Mortals of the OOTS world are made of three quiddities, while the Gods are singe-quiddity. Meaning Mortals are a lot more resilient than Gods against the Snarl. High Level mortals, at least. Lord Shojo hints at it during The Crayons of Time (https://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0274.html).

Gods are about level 30-60. So an Epic-Level mortal of, say, level 25, would have roughly the same anti-Snarl resilience than a level 75 God, which is well beyond what the pantheon chief deities have. Enough to resist two shots, instead of a single one.

Yeah, a lesser God is probably as weak against the Snarl as a level 10 character. There is a reason why all the gods are scared to **** at the mere mention of it's name.

[Darth Paul]

Cast the spell! Seal the Rift! No! Not until you are both in the clear! (https://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0276.html)

It should have been you that died in that rift, you cowardly son of bich. (https://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0695.html)

It was Lirian instead of Dorukan, though.

Okay. I misconstrued Grey_Wolf's reference to the "memorial" and then mentioning "the last comic" as meaning there was something new about a memorial in comic #1198, which I had not read yet. I take it now that the reference was the last of the flashback comics with the Scribblers.

[NerdyKris]

Yes. Because Mortals of the OOTS world are made of three quiddities, while the Gods are singe-quiddity. Meaning Mortals are a lot more resilient than Gods against the Snarl. High Level mortals, at least. Lord Shojo hints at it during The Crayons of Time (https://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0274.html).

Gods are about level 30-60. So an Epic-Level mortal of, say, level 25, would have roughly the same anti-Snarl resilience than a level 75 God, which is well beyond what the pantheon chief deities have. Enough to resist two shots, instead of a single one.

Yeah, a lesser God is probably as weak against the Snarl as a level 10 character. There is a reason why all the gods are scared to **** at the mere mention of it's name.

I don't see how you're getting specific levels from any of this. There's nothing in the comic to imply that quiddities multiply your level by the number of them you're made of. By that rationale, Xykon can kill gods.

[The Pilgrim]

I don't see how you're getting specific levels from any of this. There's nothing in the comic to imply that quiddities multiply your level by the number of them you're made of. By that rationale, Xykon can kill gods.

That is because I have not stated that quiddities multiply your level. What I have stated is that quiddities multiply your resistance against attacks from the Snarl.

The Snarl unmades things. It inflicts, let's call it "reality damage". The more quiddities you were formed with, the more real you are (https://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots1141.html). The more "real" you are, the harder it is for the Snarl to unmake you. That's the basis of Thor's plan. That's why the Dark One with his new Quiddity means such a breakthrough.

Xykon doesn't inflict "reality damage" like the Snarl. Neither do the Gods. That's a trait unique to the Snarl. So the number of quiddities Xykon was formed with, means **** for a battle between a God and him.

[Grey_Wolf_c]

That is because I have not stated that quiddities multiply your level. What I have stated is that quiddities multiply your resistance against attacks from the Snarl.

Nah, that can't be it, since we know that at realities = 4, you are immune to the snarl. So if there is any actual numbers attached to this (likely, there are not), it has to be more a % damage reduction, so that r=1 gives 25% DR, r=3 gives 75%, and that at r=4, you take no damage.

...

I may have been seeing too many DCSS lately.

Grey Wolf

[The Pilgrim]

Nah, that can't be it, since we know that at realities = 4, you are immune to the snarl. So if there is any actual numbers attached to this (likely, there are not), it has to be more a % damage reduction, so that r=1 gives 25% DR, r=3 gives 75%, and that at r=4, you take no damage.

...

I may have been seeing too many DCSS lately.

Grey Wolf

If realities = 4 made you inmune to the Snarl, the First World wouldn't have been destroyed by it in 27 minutes (https://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0274.html). (While Lord Shojo is not the most reliable narrator, Thor confirmed that the Snarl destroyed the first world, which was made of 4 quiddities, though maybe it took more than 27 minutes. (#1140 (https://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots1140.html)))

More likely, realities = 4 means you break even, no advantage or disadvantage except for the fact the Snarl is still a cosmical horror eldritch abomination.

...

Personal interpretations aside, what we know is:

1) Lord Shojo believes Gods are more vulnerable to the Snarl than mortals (#0274 (https://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0274.html))
2) Thor stated that because they are single-quiddity beings, Gods are like jelly to the Snarl (#1141 (https://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots1141.html))
3) The more quiddities involved in the creation of something, the more real it is. (#1141 (https://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots1141.html))
4) Four-quiddity seals would be stronger than the 3-quiddity world around it (#1143l (https://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots1143.html))

With all those points into consideration, the question from the OP is easy to answer.

[Alcore]

Which it definitely can as the shish-kebabed Empire of Sweat soldier would attest if not for... well you know.

Are you implying that a creature that Epic level characters fought cannot kill something with just a single HD? You are also heavily implying other things as if I had used absolutes. For one I said that it "might have to kill mortals the old fashioned way" which means doing damage instead of instant kill*. I also used the phrase "they are not nearly as vulnerable" which implies that they can still be vulnerable...


*even then we don't know if it can instant kill a god or if it's damage is divided by the number of colors; which implies a god could survive a hit if strong enough


if it truly was only 27 minutes for planet destruction I can't help but wonder at its size, speed and action economy... its not like the gods are restricted by size.



The Snarl unmades things. It inflicts, let's call it "reality damage". The more quiddities you were formed with, the more real you are. The more "real" you are, the harder it is for the Snarl to unmake you. That's the basis of Thor's plan. That's why the Dark One with his new Quiddity means such a breakthrough.Part of me worries that it won't be enough. will the Snarl recognize Purple? (interact with it?) isn't it a different type of reality? will it phrase through Purple and kill all others leaving the Dark One alone to craft a world that will never need fear the Snarl?

Elan is supposed to have a happy ending so... I guess not.

[GrayGriffin]

Nah, that can't be it, since we know that at realities = 4, you are immune to the snarl. So if there is any actual numbers attached to this (likely, there are not), it has to be more a % damage reduction, so that r=1 gives 25% DR, r=3 gives 75%, and that at r=4, you take no damage.

...

I may have been seeing too many DCSS lately.

Grey Wolf

Actually, since it was stated that The Dark One could help create an impenetrable seal, that suggests vulnerability to the Snarl is actually defined by you sharing quiddities with it. Maybe we can see it as the Snarl making an attack that drains your shared quiddites sequentially, thus the gods die instantly while mortals last a bit longer before all their quiddities are drained.

[CriticalFailure]

Since divine casting is powered by the gods, I wonder what happens when a cleric of TDO casts something on the Snarl, or if it interacts with someone who has had something cast on them by a cleric of TDO.

[factotum]

Everything we've heard suggests that the actual colour of the quiddity is irrelevant, it's how many of them you have. The Dark One is likely just as vulnerable to being destroyed by the Snarl as any other God, despite his unique quiddity.

[KorvinStarmast]

Since divine casting is powered by the gods, I wonder what happens when a cleric of TDO casts something on the Snarl, or if it interacts with someone who has had something cast on them by a cleric of TDO. If Thor's plan comes to fruition, we'll find out.

[The Pilgrim]

Since divine casting is powered by the gods, I wonder what happens when a cleric of TDO casts something on the Snarl, or if it interacts with someone who has had something cast on them by a cleric of TDO.

Redcloak's crayon tale in Start of Darkness features a goblin priest of TDO interacting with the Snarl.

[hroþila]

Redcloak's crayon tale in Start of Darkness features a goblin priest of TDO interacting with the Snarl.
I was going to say "via a non-magical chicken", but then I checked and the text does explicitly say he cast several divination spells on the rift. I had forgotten that.

[Jasdoif]

I was going to say "via a non-magical chicken", but then I checked and the text does explicitly say he cast several divination spells on the rift. I had forgotten that.What if it was a magical chicken? Maybe a chicken with a status (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/status.htm) spell on it?

[Peelee]

What if it was a magical chicken? Maybe a chicken with a status (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/status.htm) spell on it?
Ya know, I have to note, in quite likely the dumbest thing I will say today, if not all year, that the spell Magic Weapon cannot be cast on natural weapons, but has no such restriction on improvised weapons, such as a thrown chicken.

Magic Weapon
Transmutation
Target: Weapon

Magic weapon gives a weapon a +1 enhancement bonus on attack and damage rolls. (An enhancement bonus does not stack with a masterwork weapon’s +1 bonus on attack rolls.)

You can’t cast this spell on a natural weapon, such as an unarmed strike (instead, see magic fang). A monk’s unarmed strike is considered a weapon, and thus it can be enhanced by this spell.

Release the +1 chickens!

[Schroeswald]

Ya know, I have to note, in quite likely the dumbest thing I will say today, if not all year, that the spell Magic Weapon cannot be cast on natural weapons, but has no such restriction on improvised weapons, such as a thrown chicken.


Release the +1 chickens!

You've seen this year so far, right? I am confident that every single one of us will find ourselves saying something dumber this year (though it will feel like a couple eons).

[hroþila]

Who ever heard of chickens being used as weapons? They're only useful for zip lining.

[Peelee]

Who ever heard of chickens being used as weapons? They're only useful for zip lining.

https://media2.giphy.com/media/ptJVnoUKMGH5K/source.gif

[Schroeswald]

Who ever heard of chickens being used as weapons? They're only useful for zip lining.

...Okay, yeah, I'm gonna need an explanation for that.

[Jasdoif]

Who ever heard of chickens being used as weapons?Chicken Infested manages to be even weirder than it looks like, on top of looking weirder than it sounds like.

[Peelee]

Also Leonardo Leonardo had robot chickens as step 37 in his plan to take over the city of Leonardo, per Dante and Randall.

[Fyraltari]

Who ever heard of chickens being used as weapons? They're only useful for zip lining.


https://youtu.be/gldnI5a23Mc?t=43

[hroþila]

OK, I might need to revisit some of my long-held beliefs on chicken-based weaponry.

...Okay, yeah, I'm gonna need an explanation for that.
https://i.postimg.cc/MK61yNfB/pulley.gif