OOTS #948 - The Discussion Thread

[RMS Oceanic]

I like these smooth-type transitions between story-arcs, although I sometimes wish to see more of the flight itself.

Also, it's been a while, and I can't remember-does V have any detect thoughts spells? If she accidentally hits Durkon with it... What would happen?

Detect Thoughts is a Mind-Affecting spell, which the undead are immune to.

[Rogar Demonblud]

Thor's Nuts indeed. In all meanings of the phrase.

[drazen]

Has Durkon ever actually used the phrase "Thor's nuts" in the company of OOTS? I don't have time to read the entire archive, but he seems a bit too "proper" to have done so.

As RMS Oceanic said, it seems to provide a "false clue" for Roy, if he bothers to put that INT score to good use. Durkon killing Zz'dtri is another clue; it doesn't seem like Durkon to do that.

Finally, Durkon DID pause in his mini-battle with the remnants of the Linear Guild. Are we sure Durkon wasn't struggling then?

So many questions (also, so many noodles, but I think we covered that in #947 discussion).

[AdmiralCheez]

Well, we're up to three of the order who have been upgraded to the new style. Unfortunately, the three I was most looking forward to (V, Elan, and Haley) still haven't shown themselves. Oh well, we'll get there eventually.

[Shale]

That is a neat way to showcase Roy and Belkar's new looks. More importantly, though - go Durkon! Keep thinking!

[MadarseLizard]

I think Belkar noticed something's up with Durkula.

[WolvesbaneIII]

I rather enjoy the new art style. It was a little bit wonky and unsettling at first, but it now appears to be a vast improvement.

Good work.

[Loreweaver15]

Welp, looks like it's shorts-eating time for me. That's weird as hell that this isn't a unique case, but I guess I read the contextual clues incorrectly.

[Shining Wrath]

1. The High Priest of Hel has done this before, or knows how it's supposed to work. Enough times to speak of "usually".
2. Unless HPoH is lying, Durkon has no chance of breaking free. But then, if there is a chance for Durkon to break free, HPoH is strongly motivated to lie, plus the extra sadistic pleasure from taunting a helpless prisoner
3. "Eternal dormancy" does not sound pleasant at all. Poor Durkon.
4. "Thor's Nuts" does NOT really sound like Durkon, it sounds like a profane soldier not an ordained cleric. I can't think of Durkon ever speaking like that before, and the OotS has been in some startling situations before.
5. The "speed of thought" is overrated; nervous impulses propagate at ~250 MPH, which means an extended dialogue would in fact consume some noticeable time

[CrispyCriminal]

I think Belkar noticed something's up with Durkula.

But of course, he just mentioned Thor after a bolt of lightning just blew up the rear of the Mechane.

Brings the point home that he is no longer a follower of Thor, contrary to what hollow Durkon wants them to think.

[ChristianSt]

And here I thought it would be "Control Weather."

This is exactly what I thought until the last panel.


Maybe he asked Durkon for those two words a bit earlier? ...

[NerdyKris]

I definitely think Thor is a little angry at the current situation. Although Hel seemed to imply he didn't know. Coincidence or Thor trying to save his disciple?

[fan4battle]

I think Belkar noticed something's up with Durkula.

I know it looks that way, but doesn't Belkar look that way at Durkon whenever he speaks? Or at least since he became a vampire?

[Quild]

Has Durkon ever actually used the phrase "Thor's nuts" in the company of OOTS? I don't have time to read the entire archive, but he seems a bit too "proper" to have done so.

Looks so weird to me that I highly doubt it.

Also, I think that not-Durkon may be lying. It the process takes a few months, then time is definitely valuable to him.

[Dracarot]

I wonder if Scoundrel's ships "speed of plot" accounts for probability of bad weather, enemy encounters, etc. when its speeding along? I'd also be curious as to how the ships speed would be impacted by a quest that would inevitably end with the ship being destroyed.

[LuPuWei]

Wait, was that "Thor is nuts" or "The nuts of Thor"?

Makes a big difference...

[Shining Wrath]

Bandanna shows what the new art style can do in the top panel of page 2. That's a dramatic pose not really possible in the old style.

I want to agree with those who have observed that Durkon taking Thor's name in vain at this particular moment, given that lightning is a manifestation of Thor's power, is likely to set some wheels turning. Certainly in in Belkar's brain; and if someone with some smarts not blinded by guilt (e.g., V or Haley, but not Roy) observed that scene Belkar will have back up.

[Edhelras]

Is "Thor's nuts!" something the real Durkon would say, really?

[Shining Wrath]

Is "Thor's nuts!" something the real Durkon would say, really?

That is the subject of intense mootation at the moment, and I personally think not. Lightning is Thor's power made manifest; would a priest of Thor take his name (and dangly bits) in vain because of lightning?

[YossarianLives]

Wow...

I'm loving the new art style, its really beautiful. Anyhoo who thinks they get shipwrecked and washed up on the orc island again.

[Gift Jeraff]

Is Durkon's beard different?

I think it reaches closer to his eyes.

[Gwenovier]

OMG, I was just randomly refreshing the page and I see a new comic pop up! I absolutely LOVE the new art upgrade, Giant. Wasn't sure how I felt about it at first, but as soon as I stopped a realized that this comic had long since ceased being simply a stick-figure comic strip that made D&D references I was able to appreciate it more.

[Shale]

That is the subject of intense mootation at the moment, and I personally think not. Lightning is Thor's power made manifest; would a priest of Thor take his name (and dangly bits) in vain because of lightning?

Yeah, it seems that Durkula is leaning heavily on the "Thor's X" comments ("Right as Thor's rain" was one that people thought sounded like somebody trying to talk like Durkon, rather than actually talking like Durkon, even before the big reveal) without really checking to make sure that Durkon himself talks like that, rather than looking at dwarves' speech patterns in general.

[rman]

It does look like Durkula is going to have a hard time living up to old "tight iron pants" patterns even with the mind link help.

[Vinsfeld]

Nice clothes to Roy

[Porthos]

Has Durkon ever actually used the phrase "Thor's nuts" in the company of OOTS? I don't have time to read the entire archive, but he seems a bit too "proper" to have done so.

As RMS Oceanic said, it seems to provide a "false clue" for Roy, if he bothers to put that INT score to good use. Durkon killing Zz'dtri is another clue; it doesn't seem like Durkon to do that.

Finally, Durkon DID pause in his mini-battle with the remnants of the Linear Guild. Are we sure Durkon wasn't struggling then?

So many questions (also, so many noodles, but I think we covered that in #947 discussion).

1. The High Priest of Hel has done this before, or knows how it's supposed to work. Enough times to speak of "usually".
2. Unless HPoH is lying, Durkon has no chance of breaking free. But then, if there is a chance for Durkon to break free, HPoH is strongly motivated to lie, plus the extra sadistic pleasure from taunting a helpless prisoner
3. "Eternal dormancy" does not sound pleasant at all. Poor Durkon.
4. "Thor's Nuts" does NOT really sound like Durkon, it sounds like a profane soldier not an ordained cleric. I can't think of Durkon ever speaking like that before, and the OotS has been in some startling situations before.
5. The "speed of thought" is overrated; nervous impulses propagate at ~250 MPH, which means an extended dialogue would in fact consume some noticeable time

Is "Thor's nuts!" something the real Durkon would say, really?

Have people forgotten all of the "Thor's <BLANK>" expressions that Durkon likes to say? It's practically a calling card of his.

Thor's dodenum. and Thor's taint for two examples.

There are many more.

As for the risque language, plenty of that in the comic as well from him.

[Shining Wrath]

Yeah, it seems that Durkula is leaning heavily on the "Thor's X" comments ("Right as Thor's rain" was one that people thought sounded like somebody trying to talk like Durkon, rather than actually talking like Durkon, even before the big reveal) without really checking to make sure that Durkon himself talks like that, rather than looking at dwarves' speech patterns in general.

And I think that we'll find out just how much Roy has noticed when the first feeding time for Durkon arrives. I think Belkar will warn against this plan. The real question is how much V has noticed, because if the Order has to stop a vampire with his fangs already fastened in Roy's neck, there's only one person who might be able to do that quickly.

[Tylorious]

I'm really enjoying the new artwork. Roy looks awesome!

[Jay R]

I suspect that this is the start of how Durkon will eventually make the vamnpire reveal himself, but I also expect it to take a long time before it happens.

Eventually, Durkon will show something out of date - for instance, scenes from his first adventuring party, without showing his reconciliation with Roy at the end. True memories, but which lead to a conclusion that no longer applies.

[Threadnaught]

Oh dear, Belkar seems to know something is amiss.

Exactly how hard is it for Roy to resist his urges to murder Belkar? I doubt any accusations of Durkula being an imposter would help him. It'd be amusing if Roy were the one to kill Belkar and fulfil the prophesy, if only for the sake of irony.