OOTS #847 - The Discussion Thread

[Forikroder]

This is starting to feel like Sweeney Todd, where everything happens in tandem so as to produce the worst possible outcome. The wizard is out, the Probably More Competent Linear Guild showed up and has the upper hand, and the dominated Kobold could break free and have his vengeance against Belkar and the Scruffinator.

I'm predicting a gut-wrenching Shoot the Dog moment, a murderous halfling (well, more murderous than usual), comedic Kobold mutilation, and a heroic last stand for the Belkstar (possibly along the lines of Boromir's end).

And don't forget that the clock is ticking until Xykon and Redcloak. From what Xykon said, it looks like the two will only stay on the Astral Plane as long as it takes for Xykon to use all his scrolls and for Redcloak to select and cast his series of spells. Then it's off to the rift's exact location, thanks to Serini's diary.

the perfect time to reveal that Soon and Girard shared at least one thing in common

[rgrekejin]

Nope, I guarantee it won't be, for a couple of reasons.
1) Both Tarquin and Nale have a long history of fleeing when defeated.
2) Elan has a plan to deal with them, and since he hasn't told anyone the plan, it's going to work.

*citation added.

Well, I suppose in theory they could just run away every time and simply remain a loose end when the comic is done, but I find that unlikely. They're going to die (or be permanently defeated) sometime, and now's as good a time as any (and probably better than most). The Linear Guild aren't the Ultimate Bad Guys. They're the Penultimate Bad Guys. And what do the Penultimate Bad Guys always do? Die in the second-to-last big fight. With only Kraagor's gate remaining, this could very well be the end of the line for the Guild.

...of course, there could also be battles remaining on Snarl-world, Xykon's fortress, or any number of other perfectly plausible battle fields. So maybe I'm being a little premature in my declaration. But this just feels like the right place for them to go out to me.

edit: I suppose that this might imply that whatever play the IFCC is going to make will also occur soon, while Sabine is still on the board. That seems less likely to me. Maybe I am wrong. Eh. Time will tell.

[Orzel]

Outnumbered and not ready

Queue Linear Guild

[zimmerwald1915]

Outnumbered and not ready

Queue Linear Guild

The word is "cue". A queue is a line in which you stand to wait for something.

[Landis963]

the perfect time to reveal that Soon and Girard shared at least one thing in common

What, exactly, would that be? I don't see why any of the things they had in common would help the Order at this point.

[DaOldeWolf]

KilKil is a great evil counterpart to Belkar due to being great using its mind.

I am happy to see that Malack cares about Durkon. At first, I though he didnt mind killing him and he only deserved better than to erish to the Linear Guild (due to the other comic lefting that ambiguous.) Still, I wonder why he hasnt argued that they promised to leave Durkon to him.

I also wonder who would Team Evil fight against when they arrive.

[Gift Jeraff]

P.S- Today is the 20th strip anniversary (made by me) of Thanh's death and Declaring loss of Azure City.

It also marks the 50th strip anniversary of Blackwing calling himself a super-advanced flying stealth dinosaur, the 100th strip anniversary of Hinjo's latest appearance, the 200th strip anniversary of Elan's first cure spell, the 600th strip anniversary of Haley's aphasia, and the 700th strip anniversary of the kitty umbrella's first appearance.

[zimmerwald1915]

mastaba (n): a mudbrick superstructure above tombs in ancient Egypt from which the pyramid developed

And thank you for teaching me a new word!

Happy to help!

[Smolder]

Well, I suppose in theory they could just run away every time and simply remain a loose end when the comic is done, but I find that unlikely. They're going to die (or be permanently defeated) sometime, and now's as good a time as any (and probably better than most). The Linear Guild aren't the Ultimate Bad Guys. They're the Penultimate Bad Guys. And what do the Penultimate Bad Guys always do? Die in the second-to-last big fight. With only Kraagor's gate remaining, this could very well be the end of the line for the Guild.

No one wants to see Nale die more than me, but I'm positive that if he can still walk (or be carried by Sabine) when Xykon and RC show up, he'll give up on this gate in a heartbeat.

It remains to be see what Tarquin will do. I'm wondering if he's got a ring or something to protect him from energy drains... Doesn't matter. I'm sure he doesn't have a ring of protection from Implosion. Do you get a save for that? If it's fort, then Tarquin could very well go all O-chul on Xykon's ass.

.

[Venturieffect]

It also marks the 50th strip anniversary of Blackwing calling himself a super-advanced flying stealth dinosaur, the 100th strip anniversary of Hinjo's latest appearance, the 200th strip anniversary of Elan's first cure spell, the 600th strip anniversary of Haley's aphasia, and the 700th strip anniversary of the kitty umbrella's first appearance.

Clearly, this is a strip of monumental importance.

[ti'esar]

I wasn't caught quite as off-guard as most people seem to be, thanks to Roy's suspicious wording in panel 2, but this still was a pleasant surprise. Well, sort-of-pleasant surprise - I've eagerly anticipating the "final battle" for this arc, but having it start with V once again out of commission does not bode well. And they haven't even found the Gate yet...

Also, is Tarquin riding a zombie pterosaur? The man has style (nice to see the helmet return, too).

What, exactly, would that be? I don't see why any of the things they had in common would help the Order at this point.

I believe he's referring to the theory that Girard "went archlich" or is otherwise defending the Gate in posthumous form.

[rbetieh]

No one wants to see Nale die more than me, but I'm positive that if he can still walk (or be carried by Sabine) when Xykon and RC show up, he'll give up on this gate in a heartbeat. It remains to be see what Tarquin will do. I'm wondering if he's got a ring or something to protect him from energy drains...

Doesn't matter. I'm sure he doesn't have a ring of protection from Implosion. Do you get a save for that

Since when do fighters care about energy drains? Its not like they lost access to 9th level spells. Yes you get a Fortitude save for implosion which raises the question of just who is the higher-level character here....

[Forikroder]

What, exactly, would that be? I don't see why any of the things they had in common would help the Order at this point.

taht both of them set it up so even after death they could defend there gate

[ZLotMors]

No one wants to see Nale die more than me, but I'm positive that if he can still walk (or be carried by Sabine) when Xykon and RC show up, he'll give up on this gate in a heartbeat. It remains to be see what Tarquin will do. I'm wondering if he's got a ring or something to protect him from energy drains...

Doesn't matter. I'm sure he doesn't have a ring of protection from Implosion. Do you get a save for that? If it's fort, then Tarquin could very well go all O-chul on Xykon's ass.

Yes, Implosion allows a Fort save to negate, but the DC's probably 24 or 25. There's also a minor chance that he had a scroll of spell turning, and RC will fire implosion at exactly the turn before it fades, and Nale rolled 3 or 4 and will turn implosion.

[zimmerwald1915]

I wasn't caught quite as off-guard as most people seem to be, thanks to Roy's suspicious wording in panel 2, but this still was a pleasant surprise. Well, sort-of-pleasant surprise - I've eagerly anticipating the "final battle" for this arc, but having it start with V once again out of commission does not bode well. And they haven't even found the Gate yet...

to That, or I don't think there is any possibility you could positively influence this battle anyway.

EDIT: whose bright idea was it to make emoticons case-sensitive?

Also, is Tarquin riding a zombie pterosaur? The man has style (nice to see the helmet return, too).

Nah, that's its natural color.

[ti'esar]

to That, or I don't think there is any possibility you could positively influence this battle anyway.

EDIT: whose bright idea was it to make emoticons case-sensitive?


Nah, that's its natural color.

I'm not talking about the color so much as the way how you can see its skull - reminds me of Xykon's dragon from Azure City.

[zimmerwald1915]

Yes, Implosion allows a Fort save to negate, but the DC's probably 24 or 25. There's also a minor chance that he had a scroll of spell turning, and RC will fire implosion at exactly the turn before it fades, and Nale rolled 3 or 4 and will turn implosion.

If Redcloak's wisdom's remained at 20-21 since his fight with the High Priest of the Twelve Gods, the Fort DC of his Implosion would indeed be 24. Tarquin's got at least a +7 to his Fort save, and his modifier's probably higher than that. Not enough to be comfortable actually rolling a save, but not "only succeed on a 20" material either.

[rbetieh]

I'm not talking about the color so much as the way how you can see its skull - reminds me of Xykon's dragon from Azure City.

It does feel like a slightly gimped version of Xykons entrance, but then Fighters can't control their mounts with their minds...oh well.

[zimmerwald1915]

I'm not talking about the color so much as the way how you can see its skull - reminds me of Xykon's dragon from Azure City.

I think those dark patches are shadows where its eye sockets, nasal cavity, and the extended orbital that forms its horn recess.

[Smolder]

*gasp* Just thought of something...

Roy was looking for V when he discovered the Linear Guild. He's likely to assume that V was somehow dispatched by the LG before he got there. As far as he knew, V had run outside, and had been gone a long time, so it's natural to reach the conclusion that V is already dead and that searching the traps and pits in the ziggurat for hir would be a waste of time.

[Gift Jeraff]

I think those dark patches are shadows where its eye sockets, nasal cavity, and the extended orbital that forms its horn recess.

See also: the allosaur.

Although an army of undead dinosaurs/pterosaurs/ancient reptiles would be badass, I get this feeling that Tarquin & co. don't use undead.

[Forikroder]

I think those dark patches are shadows where its eye sockets, nasal cavity, and the extended orbital that forms its horn recess.

i agree, its definently not an undead pterodon, i mean think about it, dead flesh? hot desert day? not the proper way to make an entrance

*gasp* Just thought of something...

Roy was looking for V when he discovered the Linear Guild. He's likely to assume that V was somehow dispatched by the LG before he got there. As far as he knew, V had run outside, and had been gone a long time, so it's natural to reach the conclusion that V is already dead and that searching the traps and pits in the ziggurat for hir would be a waste of time.

as conceivable as that is, remember the linear guild literally jsut arrived when Roy saw them so unless he thinks that V decided to charge at them without letting anyone know its unlikely hed think V was dead

also i doubt hes gonna go

"oh know, V must be dead, lets not look for the body to ressurect lets jsut keep going

and dont bother searching for traps or pits or anything im sure were safe"

[ericgrau]

It's a 10' radius spell, I dunno how that'd even hit more than 2 of the order.

Looking forward to the impending action though.

[ti'esar]

See also: the allosaur.

Although an army of undead dinosaurs/pterosaurs/ancient reptiles would be badass, I get this feeling that Tarquin & co. don't use undead.

Now that you mention it, it does remind me of the allosaurus as well. And I agree that undead don't really seem like Tarquin's style, even letting aside Malack.

also i doubt hes gonna go

"oh know, V must be dead, lets not look for the body to ressurect lets jsut keep going

and dont bother searching for traps or pits or anything im sure were safe"

I don't think Roy's going to jump to the conclusion that V is dead either, but if he did do so, then I have to say that he probably wouldn't go looking for the body immediately. Generally, resurrections are done after battle, not during it.

[Forikroder]

Now that you mention it, it does remind me of the allosaurus as well. And I agree that undead don't really seem like Tarquin's style, even letting aside Malack.



I don't think Roy's going to jump to the conclusion that V is dead either, but if he did do so, then I have to say that he probably wouldn't go looking for the body immediately. Generally, resurrections are done after battle, not during it.

well ya of course were talking about after the battle

[Canisius]

Game on. Cue the cellos.

[Dr.Epic]

Was anyone else listening to epic metal music when they saw the last panel?

[LordofNaught]

People keep speaking of how there's an epic battle coming up. I certainly hope so, we've been lacking in those since the battle at the palace, if not further back. People also keep saying that Malack is going to double cross Tarquain. I wouldn't count on that happening, loyalties of the kind between old adventuring friends are very hard to break.

[St Fan]

Damn, Haley certainly wanted a bath after searching Girard's tomb, but she surely didn't expect an acid shower.

Nale is just as hilariously psychophatic as ever.

"Eight percent? I've seen hospital with worse mortality rates."

[Troodos]

My first reaction to this: HOLY CRAP!!! Tarquin has a pteranodon!!! And its realistic too!!!