OOTS #701 - The Discussion Thread

[Raging Gene Ray]

Yet another real-world reference by Mr. Burlew. Nice one.

? Rich was saying "Yes, it is just a coincidence, not a reference to the State of the Union address."

[lothos]

Nope - last panel http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0532.html.

Good observation Pigkappa !
So now the question is, is this a deliberate hint from Rich, or is it just random ? Does MitD have Bard levels ? :-) Let the wild and unprovable speculation begin ! :-)

(snip)
1. The green heads in the crowd: the other goblins have not been referenced (save one strip concerning the journey to the Oracle, I think) since the end of Durokan's dungeon. Was their presence meant to underscore the point that "the plan" ISN'T worth it? Meant as a visual cue to how he's already responsible for the death of so much of his own kind in order to serve it?

Nice idea, this makes sense. I didn't think of that.

[Red XIV]

I have a feeling that

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it's all leading to Redcloak ultimately realizing that, no, it wasn't worth it....

I would imagine that

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if Redcloak ever comes to that realization, it won't be until near the end of the comic.

[Teutonic Knight]

Is that a slightly different colored goblin I see?

[derfenrirwolv]

Yes, hes slightly different colored

Could be a half breed, could be a goblin with a tan. Who knows.

[The MunchKING]

You know, for a red cockroach, that could be interpreted as a rather blue comment

Huh, I thought it was a stage reference. "A good pull" as in a large crowd (Like all those Hobs) showing up to watch.

[The MunchKING]

Uh oh. This reminds me of what I read of Lincoln's assassination... well, not the play part, but the scene seems similar... a box style veranda.

Also, the foreshadowing title...

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So a dissattisfied member of the resistance is going to sneak up and pop him in the back of the head with one of those little hand-crossbows nobody but rogues use??

[Roc Ness]

No, I was thinking more of a wight with a standard crossbow. Even though that wouldn't kill Redcloak.

I just get that feeling that Redcloak is going to untimely die...

[The MunchKING]

No, I was thinking more of a wight with a standard crossbow. Even though that wouldn't kill Redcloak.

I just get that feeling that Redcloak is going to untimely die...

Wouldn't fit the whole "Disgruntled Southern soilder using a derringer" thing, but OK.

[RdMarquis]

This may be because I've been watching the Rifftrax for Lord of the Rings, but for a brief moment, I thought they were gathered for Redcloak's birthday party.

[Teleporker]

3. The epic-level monster who travels with their Supreme Leader is important enough to have a role in ceremonies, even if he has no idea how powerful he is himself.

There are thousands of hobgoblins! How many do you think can search the sewers at one time?

First, yes I agree that not all of them would fit in the sewer, and it would make too little sense to line them all up in the sewer and search a dedicated spot (though I would not put that line of thought anywhere past Xykon either).

However, remember Xykon did not see where the phylactery went after falling inside the manhole, and he does consider the ocean as a possibility. Remember he would not destroy himself to re-generate next to it in the event that it was swallowed by a sea creature.

So even if only a handful of them would fit in the sewers, I would expect a mass of them combing the whole coast of Azure city.

Then again, how many legions would you need to.... ah crap!

[Sijo]

Huh, I just noticed that the Hello-Kitties on MitD's umbrella have FANGS.

I find it odd that MitD is being used for something as menial as pulling curtains. He used to be Xykon's secret weapon, and now it's like he's just a groupie whom everybody either ignores or tries to find something for him to do.

So, it is official: Redcloak is now one-eyed like his late brother. Is that whom he's addressing in the mirror? I haven't seen Start of Darkness, so I don't know what their relationship was like. Or is he just psyching himself up (presumably Xykon forbid him from regrowing his eye with magic, as punishment for his failure.)

And I really hope that last joke wasn't a reference to what I think it was (but after the one with Haley and the Purple Worm, I cannot completely disregard it.) To me, cheap sex jokes are a sign of running out of good ones.

[CoffeeIncluded]

So, it is official: Redcloak is now one-eyed like his late brother. Is that whom he's addressing in the mirror?

Yes. He doesn't see Redcloak in the mirror. He sees Right-eye.

[Kumo]

And I really hope that last joke wasn't a reference to what I think it was (but after the one with Haley and the Purple Worm, I cannot completely disregard it.) To me, cheap sex jokes are a sign of running out of good ones.

Normally yes. But these are the demon roaches. Pretty much all they do is provide cheap jokes ("who doesn't like a nice rack?" "Hey, we could've told you his mind was an empty place years ago.") and run betting rings.

[Phexar]

Hey, is that Jirix I see in the 4th panel, on the right, stating that Redcloak is in his study? Xykon did want him raised after-all, and that hobgoblin does appear to have the same holy-symbol as he did.

[Schaffer1979]

I feel like we're seeing some foreshadowing that someone in this set of panels is going to die.

I have seen "It's curtains for you!" as a metaphor for "Time for you to die".

[Querzis]

Hey, is that Jirix I see in the 4th panel, on the right, stating that Redcloak is in his study? Xykon did want him raised after-all, and that hobgoblin does appear to have the same holy-symbol as he did.

Yes its him, he is the only hobgobelins with a blue holy-symbol.

[OwlbearUltimate]

I think he should have gone with a black eye patch fo sho

[Ultimate Dragon]

he's going to tell them to get out and away from Xykon while they still can, in an amazing amount of deja-vu from SoD

[Hrairoo]

hmm, interesting turn of events... very touching with the reference to his brother. kudos to everyone who called redcloak looking in the mirror...

[Cisturn]

Huh maybe that's what he sees. Right-Eye telling him it'll be worth it to cut his ties with Xykon

[Hrairoo]

he's going to tell them to get out and away from Xykon while they still can, in an amazing amount of deja-vu from SoD

hmm, unlikely. his statement to his brother in the mirror, "It'll all be worth it." seems to contradict this. it implies that he's still going forth with the plan.

[Kumo]

Or he's trying to convince HIMSELF it's worth it, and the reference to his brother is the fact that he lost the eye in the first place?

[Zxo]

hmm, unlikely. his statement to his brother in the mirror, "It'll all be worth it." seems to contradict this. it implies that he's still going forth with the plan.

Yes, but that scene also shows that this is getting harder and harder and that RC needs to convince himself again and again that it makes sense, and is worth it.

By the way, I do not think we'll see some major anti-Xykon rebellion by Redcloak soon. IMHO this is just a small beginning of what will be a long, gradual (and painful) character development.

[Ultimate Dragon]

Yes, but that scene also shows that this is getting harder and harder and that RC needs to convince himself again and again that it makes sense, and is worth it.

By the way, I do not think we'll see some major anti-Xykon rebellion by Redcloak soon. IMHO this is just a small beginning of what will be a long, gradual (and painful) character development.

wow, someone who actually semi agrees with me on something and argues for what I posted. Here, have a cookie. `gives cookie`

[Coidzor]

Is it just me, or have we just seen the first half-hobo goblin ever?

[Kumo]

Is it just me, or have we just seen the first half-hobo goblin ever?

is it really so odd that there are gobo/hobgobos when there are half-orcs?

[Teutonic Knight]

Yes its him, he is the only hobgobelins with a blue holy-symbol.

Then he's also the only hobgoblin to have gotten new armor, a new belt, and a new cloak. And possibly a lighter skin color. I don't think Xykon is THAT generous.

[HUMVEE Driver]

Funny how Obama and Redclock both give a speech at the same time...

[B. Dandelion]

I've thought for a while that the only reason Redcloak is still sane at this juncture in time is that he has been able to keep some things secret from Xykon. Now I'm almost dead certain. Xykon's posed to discover those very secrets, and Redcloak's taken to addressing the dead man whose face accuses him every time he looks into a mirror.

He is losing it. It's only a matter of time before he cracks.