OOTS #715 - The Discussion Thread

[Kumo]

Great comic! I'm loving this arc more and more! Also does anyone else find it impressive that Rich is actually keeping track of where the current countries on the western continent are, at least enough to have put "Empire of blood" on the map in 698?

For all we know she actually rules the empire of sweat.

EDIT: Seriously though, no, not really. It's hard for us because it was only shown once, and mostly in passing. Rich has had at least some of these names chosen for a while and while the western continent has a wide varied history of political powers, he only needs to know the current one to tell the story properly.

[erictheredd]

It also doesn't hurt that The three largest kingdoms of the empires of "blood", "sweat", and "tears", which I thought was a funny enough joke to remember

[deuxhero]

It always had straps, going back to when she bought it in #675

Huh, don't know how I missed them.

[Dilvish]

They couldn't put Zz'dtri's information on the poster because then the lawyers would have to make an appearance and haul off some more people. The Empress of Blood doesn't want to be arrested/sued for copyright infringement before she gets to enact whatever punishment she can on Nale.

I agree with Sablewinged's theory. The Drow are copyrighted, I'm guessing.

Dilvish

[Kumo]

I agree with Sablewinged's theory. The Drow are copyrighted, I'm guessing.

Dilvish

Drow are SRD but the drow in question whose name i cannot actually spell was a copyright violation. (EDIT: that's why the lawyers hauled him off, not because he was a drow.)

[Dilvish]

there are pleasure devils though.

What book are pleasure devils in? And which edition of D&D is it?

[The MunchKING]

Also, Haley is totally a half-celestial half-dragon whose real mother is Girard. You heard it here first.

So the whole guy with a beard thing is just an illusion?? One he kept up for years with his close adventuring buddies?

Damn, that's some crafty illusions right there!! just what I'd suspect out of an Epic Illusionist.

[Herald Alberich]

Great comic! I'm loving this arc more and more! Also does anyone else find it impressive that Rich is actually keeping track of where the current countries on the western continent are, at least enough to have put "Empire of blood" on the map in 698?

Not really. He writes the story - the countries are wherever he wants them to be. And despite the time since it was posted, 698 was only 17 strips ago, you know.

[Tobimaro]

Not having read the entire thread, I would like to comment on V's comment in the second to the last panel. It shows a bit more development on V's part, as the wizard was rather contemptible of the non-arcane members of the OotS in the past. There is now a recognition that magic may not be the x-factor in some combats. Now if only Blackwing would just get a clue as to what V is thinking...

Spoiler

Show

Just hope that V can make those Move Silent and Hide checks to get the backstab on Blue boy. Having both hands full of grappled foes sets up a nice Sneak Attack.

[Kumo]

Not having read the entire thread, I would like to comment on V's comment in the second to the last panel. It shows a bit more development on V's part, as the wizard was rather contemptible of the non-arcane members of the OotS in the past. There is now a recognition that magic may not be the x-factor in some combats. Now if only Blackwing would just get a clue as to what V is thinking...

Spoiler

Show

Just hope that V can make those Move Silent and Hide checks to get the backstab on Blue boy. Having both hands full of grappled foes sets up a nice Sneak Attack.

(i think you meant H in the spoiler)

[Yendor]

Not having read the entire thread, I would like to comment on V's comment in the second to the last panel. It shows a bit more development on V's part, as the wizard was rather contemptible of the non-arcane members of the OotS in the past.

Not true. Vaarsuvius has consistently shown respect to Roy and Haley throughout the strip.

[Nimrod's Son]

Also does anyone else find it impressive that Rich is actually keeping track of where the current countries on the western continent are, at least enough to have put "Empire of blood" on the map in 698?

Isn't that what EVERY fantasy author does?

I mean, there are a lot of things that are particularly praiseworthy about the comic... but the fact that the author remembered to include the places he's writing about on the maps that he's drawn is not one of them.

there are pleasure devils though.

[RMcMurtry]

What book are pleasure devils in? And which edition of D&D is it?

Tyrants of the Nine Hells for 3.5

[SmaugTheYounger]

Ah, the action's heating up.
And this summary of facts was very helpful:

The whole "Empress of Blood" being Nale's stepmother is new. Here's what we do know:

Haley's father was being held in Tyrinaria on the Western Continent by someone named Lord Tyrinar. Recent recap.

Elan's father is a warlord, who, judging by his banner, either has a name, or a country (or both!), starting with T.

Nale had some sort of falling out with his father, although Kish's post makes it clear that, while he may have been in the midst of treason, he hadn't done anything to him yet (although that doesn't preclude that it was known that he was intending something).

The most recent comic confirms that Nale is known on the Western continent, from the old days when he had Yikyik in his party, and has done something to upset this Empress of Blood. It's possible that he and his associates from the old days are known around here from adventuring together for a while on the Western continent, and the Empress's enmity is new. After all, we know that rulers don't last long on the Western continent, and it would be unlikely that the Empire of Blood was around that long ago.

A tiny snippet from the map-lady on the new countries in 680: "But it may be worth asking around in this new place thats -", but she got cut off when Haley panicked over Belkar and Roy aproaching the map-lady's tent.

Heh, the giant really likes his plot-speculators roasted on a slow fire. Damn you, giant!

But as things go, the bounty hunter still have to make their getaway, and we still dont know what Roy, Belkar or Durkon have found out. Even the town they are in right now is not yet revealed, and it probably makes a difference wether the OOTS has to deal with its current problems in Bleedingham, capital of EOB or any other of the five big citys around the desert.

My bet: They escape the bounty hunter duo, but still have to outrun an angry mob of price-hungry adventurers. My wager in crazy: The end up at the Empress of Blood anyway, and she turns out to be Serini.

[Phexar]

The Empress of Blood being Nale's stepmother, and the Empire of Blood formerly being Tyrinaria would make some sense, actually... the EOB is the largest of the countries listed in the desert, and Nale stating that his father had a 'nigh unstoppable army' would help his country retain a great size, I imagine.

[NerfTW]

Isn't that what EVERY fantasy author does?

I mean, there are a lot of things that are particularly praiseworthy about the comic... but the fact that the author remembered to include the places he's writing about on the maps that he's drawn is not one of them.

Indeed. Rich is a great writer, but praising the bare minimum level of competence as "impressive" is like congratulating an adult on tying their shoes.

[Nimrod's Son]

I wear slip-ons, m'self.

[NerfTW]

I don't even tie mine. I tie them once and just slip them on and off.


I should have picked a better metaphor.

[beryon]

I take that to be need as in "40,000 is plenty, an extra 5,000 isn't worth the risk of trying to hold a demonic rogue prisoner."

Isn't it even more dangerous to turn your back on said demonic rogue, without making any attempt to kill or otherwise incapacitate her while you have the upper hand?

[NerfTW]

I think the "risk" they're referring to is other bounty hunters, not one rogue. One rogue is easy to deal with, but if they hang around too long, they might run into an entire bounty hunter team that wants the money for themselves.

[Sablewinged]

Drow are SRD but the drow in question whose name i cannot actually spell was a copyright violation. (EDIT: that's why the lawyers hauled him off, not because he was a drow.)

That explains why they couldn't use the name on the poster, but why the unknown subtype? And why say 'elf wizard' if the little half-elf is still in Nale's party instead of saying half-elf? Could there perhaps be a new elf wizard Nale has hired?

Edit: If I recall correctly the half-elf was adamant about being male, or it was at least confirmed that he was male. So why 'unknown gender'?

[Swordpriest]

That explains why they couldn't use the name on the poster, but why the unknown subtype? And why say 'elf wizard' if the little half-elf is still in Nale's party instead of saying half-elf? Could there perhaps be a new elf wizard Nale has hired?

Edit: If I recall correctly the half-elf was adamant about being male, or it was at least confirmed that he was male. So why 'unknown gender'?

Presumably, whoever the Empress got the information about Zddtri or whatever it's spelled like from, saw an elf of a type they didn't know, and had a hard time telling the gender.

"Your Sanguinary Majesty, the last member of the party was an elf. I'm not sure what kind it was -- there are too many subtypes anyway, as you know. And it looked male in some lights .... but female in others .... "

"Very well! Put "unknown subtype and gender" in the wanted poster. It's Nale we're after anyway."

[Hithros]

YAY FOR COORDINATED SOUL-SELLING no not really.

But that was funny.

[Kish]

Isn't it even more dangerous to turn your back on said demonic rogue, without making any attempt to kill or otherwise incapacitate her while you have the upper hand?

They're planning to teleport away.

[TheYoungKing]

That explains why they couldn't use the name on the poster, but why the unknown subtype? And why say 'elf wizard' if the little half-elf is still in Nale's party instead of saying half-elf? Could there perhaps be a new elf wizard Nale has hired?

Edit: If I recall correctly the half-elf was adamant about being male, or it was at least confirmed that he was male. So why 'unknown gender'?

Here is where he is introduced.

Nale has no idea on what subrace he is; he has to be told he's a Half-Elf.

Aaand.... his gender identity is established at the end. Nale had no idea till he hit on Sabine and called himself a man.

[SPoD]

Edit: If I recall correctly the half-elf was adamant about being male, or it was at least confirmed that he was male. So why 'unknown gender'?

"Unknown" does not mean "unknowable". The people who wrote the poster obviously got second- or third-hand reports, which may have had no information about gender.