OOTS #987 - The Discussion Thread

[The Giant]

New comic is up.

[Anarion]

Oh wow. This does not bode well. I wonder how strong the Vampire really is, or what trick Hel has up her sleeve that would enable one cleric to pull off something dangerous amidst all the strongest clerics of most of the world (and the Order).

Also, left the sombrero on the ship. Classic.

[Stegyre]

That closing line was great!

Still putting my nickel down that his plan is to vamp as many clerics as he can in order to convert the faithful en masse to the worship of Hel.

I still can't see this as plausible: a vampire, even one with a lot of cleric levels, taking on a room full of high-level clerics.

Alternative theory: this is a godsmoot, with high priests or equivalent representatives of all the gods and/or pantheons (apparently, in the world). Maybe Hel just hasn't had a representative to send, before, so she's been shut out of participating?

[Keltest]

Ah heh. Cameo. I get it.

[HylianKnight]

Favored Soul!!! Gotta love non-Core classes showing up in the strip.

[ti'esar]

So Veldrina actually is a favored soul. Bit surprised to see that formally stated.

And the HPoH needing plausible deniability helps clear up most of the remaining questions about what he wanted here - except, that is, for what he actually plans to do at this "Godsmoot" in the first place. Surely he doesn't intend to take on most of the world's most powerful clerics by himself, but that still leaves a lot of possibilities.

Also, the cameo jokes were truly groanworthy.

[Veya]

So that's why she seemed so giddy and naive, Favored Souls (are supposed to, but mess of rules means they really don't) run on Charisma, not Wisdom.

[Lissou]

Oh my god that tiger is adorable!

Nice to see a Favoured Soul! Good for all the people who guessed. And nice to have more clarification of Durkula's plan (seems to watch what I've been thinking so far).

Another two good things: 1) V got the item that was needed, yay! and 2) Those two are sticking around a bit long if they're going to be using the ship. Yay!

One down side: the HPoH is getting what he wants. I'm really worried about what will happen next, what with the whole "bring destruction" thing.

I guess only the High Priests were told about the Goodsmoot (or, the representatives of each God), which is why the HPoH knows, but Durkon wouldn't (I guess the High Priest of Odin or something would have been picked for the Dwarven Gods?)

[Traab]

Interesting, I wonder if Hel has some sort of plan to basically cause a Time of Troubles by showing up at the Godmoot? If her high priest has the proper plan and some sort of literal deus ex machina to seal away these good gods, it could be an interesting setup.

[Stegyre]

. . . and I totally missed the "cameo" significance.

So Veldrina actually is a favored soul. Bit surprised to see that formally stated.

It has plot significance: it allows Veldrina to be a comparably-high-level character without being able to supply the essential spell Roy needs.

[hamishspence]

I'm definitely getting even more curious as to what Hel's Evil Plan is.

[CoffeeIncluded]

Count me as another person who loved the cameo jokes. Now to look up the exact crunch on a favored soul. Also count me as another person who isn't quite sure what HPoH is planning with the Godsmoot beyond it not being good.

[Jaxzan Proditor]

Huh, looks like those of you betting favored soul were right. Also, liked the nice cameo reference there. I guess that tells us why the High Priest of Hel wanted to find the location of these meeting (though I think that was easily deduced), but know I really want to know why. Excellent strip!

[Neoriceisgood]

I don't quite get the cameo joke, though I also didn't realise that I skipped half the update until I wondered what people were talking about. So thanks.

[Keltest]

Frankly im surprised my theory that Hel's plan isn't entirely detrimental to everyone hasn't been shut down yet.

[Arrowstorm122]

HPoH's comment about killing everyone in the room made me curious. Would it actually be plausible for him to be able to do that?

[Jaxzan Proditor]

I don't quite get the cameo joke, though I also didn't realise that I skipped half the update until I wondered what people were talking about. So thanks.

Check out the $5,000 reward for this Kickstarter.

Edit: Also the reason for the two to three years comment by Wrecan.

[Lissou]

I don't quite get the cameo joke, though I also didn't realise that I skipped half the update until I wondered what people were talking about. So thanks.

Cameo doesn't just mean "brief appearance in some piece of media", it's also a type of engraving. Since Vel first mentions a brooch, she's probably referring to that kind of cameo, not the kind that she, in fact, is.

I had to google it too, as I didn't realise cameo had more than one meaning. The line felt pretty weird to me and kind of out of place, so I'm glad people mentioned liking it, or I never would have thought to google it and check if "cameo" had more than one meaning.

[Bulldog Psion]

I don't quite get the cameo joke, though I also didn't realise that I skipped half the update until I wondered what people were talking about. So thanks.

She's talking about buying a cameo (a decorative art object). However, in modern terms, she and Wrecan are cameos (brief appearances by "outside" characters in a work of fiction).

Edit: here is a Wikipedia article on cameos in the original sense.

[Neoriceisgood]

Cameo doesn't just mean "brief appearance in some piece of media", it's also a type of engraving. Since Vel first mentions a brooch, she's probably referring to that kind of cameo, not the kind that she, in fact, is.

I had to google it too, as I didn't realise cameo had more than one meaning. The line felt pretty weird to me and kind of out of place, so I'm glad people mentioned liking it, or I never would have thought to google it and check if "cameo" had more than one meaning.

Okay so that's the joke, it can mean "a nice brooch" but it can also refer to the kickstarter award.

Now I get it.

She's talking about buying a cameo (a decorative art object). However, in modern terms, she and Wrecan are cameos (brief appearances by "outside" characters in a work of fiction).

Yeah I figured they were a cameo of some sorts, cause the designs are different and slightly more complicated (especially Wrecan) from how Rich designs characters himself.

I just never paid attention to the kickstarter so didn't quite "get" where the cameos came from.

[Shining Wrath]

FAVORED SOUL!

I actually called something correctly!

Avert your eyes, folks, I'm going to perform my happy dance, and I have negative 15 ranks in perform (dance).

[DaOldeWolf]

Awesome new tiger style.

So, at least it makes sense that HPoH would try this way to get Roy where he wanted. Still, i wonder what else is up to.

[ReaderAt2046]

My suspicion is that Durkula is going to show up there, and then, and only then, openly reveal what he actually is. I suspect that at the actual Godmoot, the clerics of the various gods are banned from harming each other by the same pact that keeps them from fighting over the various parts of the world. So if Durkula can actually get to the meeting, he'll be able to interfere and be protected by the God's own laws.

[ThePhantom]

You know, I think that HPoH is overestimating himself in handling the people in the room. Roy has a good will save, and his sword is very good against the undead. And with Wrecan and Veldrina around, its quite likely that the three of them can send him back to his mistress.

[dancrilis]

Nice enough - he could likely have lied to Roy about it though, Roy wouldn't know everything Durkon knows (unless Durkon specifically mentioned not knowing this I suppose).

[With a box]

Why the HPoH needed an excuse of knowing there/where is a meeting of high priests?
He is one of the high clerics! he can just say he got a sending from his church to come there.

[Shining Wrath]

So what Hel wants is for her high priest to show up at the Godsmoot at Zenith Mountain in the Pinnacle Peaks (is the actual site going to be the Apex Room of the Acme Inn?) and do ... something.

And HPoH thinks he could kill Roy + Veldrina + Wrecan, without knowing levels on the latter two. Not to mention a tiger.

A vampire adds a +8 LA. That makes Durkon a 23rd or 24th level character, versus 3 15 or 16s.

He may be overconfident, or just counting on the advantage of surprise.

[Yendor]

Loving the cameo joke, too.

And Zenith Peak joins Wooden Forest and Sunken Valley on the list of redundant place names.

[Shining Wrath]

BTW, HPoH's smile in panel #9 would be a dead give away (you should pardon the expression) to Roy - if he was looking, and if he could SEE when he looked.

The final line is, I'm afraid, perfect.

[With a box]

So what Hel wants is for her high priest to show up at the Godsmoot at Zenith Mountain in the Pinnacle Peaks (is the actual site going to be the Apex Room of the Acme Inn?) and do ... something.

And HPoH thinks he could kill Roy + Veldrina + Wrecan, without knowing levels on the latter two. Not to mention a tiger.

A vampire adds a +8 LA. That makes Durkon a 23rd or 24th level character, versus 3 15 or 16s.

He may be overconfident, or just counting on the advantage of surprise.

actually, the CR adjustment it +2
so, 14+2=CR 16
party.
roy: 15
Veldrina: least 15(due to spontanous caster get 7th spell)
Wrath: if you treat him as cohort of veldrina, least 13
as the resolt of encounter calc, its very diffical encounter for party. 13.6 vs 16
but if its only encounter of this day, party will win.