OOTS #476 - The Discussion Thread

[darkgolem]

Anyone could get out of this danger, the monster of the darkness is complete moron.

[galdon]

Hmm... well, MitD is way too powerful for them to fight, i mean, accidentally blasting miko out of the tower with it's softest blow, if he wanted to hurt them, they'd be vulture st-- they would be in serious trouble

[pedrokraemer]

I´m just getting woried about Rich´s intencions with the whole story...

Will evil prevails?

Will OOTS came to an horrible end?

Will we have the chance to EVER say "Hah, I knew it!!!"?


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Have anyone ever read the "Holy Avenger" RPG-manga comic produced by brazilian artists in the late 90´s??? Well, in that comic, even though it was one of the best ever made, things didn´t end pretty well for all the heroes, if you know what I mean...

[Caractacus]

I also think that Belkar added something interesting to the stew...

Interesting that the MitD only remembers the name, not the actual people...

[elan the mighty]

Do any of you know what rich burlews email address because i want to email him my fanart.

[Aris Katsaris]

I´m just getting woried about Rich´s intencions with the whole story...

Will evil prevails?

Will OOTS came to an horrible end?

Well, the Oracle said that the story will end happily -- for Elan at least. And I think that this in turn implies that Haley at least will also have to stay alive.

[Surfing HalfOrc]

Originally Posted by pedrokraemer
I´m just getting woried about Rich´s intencions with the whole story...

Will evil prevails?

Will OOTS came to an horrible end?

Well, the Oracle said that the story will end happily -- for Elan at least. And I think that this in turn implies that Haley at least will also have to stay alive.

Unless:

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It's Elan who turns Blackguard! Then Elan will be perfectly happy in his Evilness, after he overthrows Xykon and becomes Emperor of the World!

Dun dun DUN!!!

Bet NO ONE ever though of that one!
I need to quit hanging out on these boards. My mind is warping!

[PhallicWarrior]

Oh...
Oh no...




RUN HALEY(and Belkar) RUN!!!!

[teratorn]

Do any of you know what rich burlews email address because i want to email him my fanart.

The best thing is to post it in the arts and crafts forum. That way all of us can see it.

Bet NO ONE ever though of that one!
I need to quit hanging out on these boards. My mind is warping!

Sorry, I've heard it before.

[SteveMB]

I need to quit hanging out on these boards. My mind is warping!

Run! Run while you can!

It's too late for me, but you might still be able to save yourself....

[Omega]

Current Favorite Quotes, from OOTS

I think I'm suppose to devour you. ... Small campaign world, huh?

*look of fear and shock*

*that good 'ol death look*

Just though I'll share...

[Monstershach]

dont´forget about the supreme sidekick demon roaches^^
Have to ask my mum if she buys one for me

yes, maybe haley can bluff the MitD.
If she fails....well... Durkon will be the new leader of the Order^^

[holywhippet]

dont´forget about the supreme sidekick demon roaches^^
Have to ask my mum if she buys one for me

yes, maybe haley can bluff the MitD.
If she fails....well... Durkon will be the new leader of the Order^^

If they can't get out of this then the OotS is just about finished. Elan, Durkon and V will be the only survivors and only the Gods know where V is hiding out. Neither has any real leadership potential. I suppose they could use true ressurection or a few wishes to bring back their companions, assuming they can get access to spells of that level.

It occurs to me that Belkar came really close to death in the previous strip. If he'd followed his natural instincts he would have attacked the MitD and would have been smashed into a fine mist.

[silvadel]

Hmmmmm Elan + helm of opposite alignment.... That would be scary.

[humanpylon]

So with Belkar apparantly carrying all his cooking gear everywhere, is anyone else reminded of Sam Gamgee?

[sealemon]

Well, crap.

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I'm pretty hopeful Haley and/or Belkar will be able to talk their way out of this, otherwise, my prediction that the tea party might grow by tw mroe might come true...shudder

[Nathander]

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This is it. This is where Belkar dies. They're going to split up, and Belkar's going to get it.

Haley will manage to get Roy's corpse

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You have no idea how little that would bother me. I don't "hate" Belkar as I had before, but I certainly wouldn't mind seeing him killed. Of course, being one of the main characters, I doubt he would stay anyway and that they would, eventually, resurrect him.

I just want to note how fun it's been to watch Haley stepping up to her acting leadership role. Doubtless this is especially the case in light of the last couple arcs, but I really like how she's effective yet different from Roy.

I agree completely. The whole scenario has been a breath of fresh air from the heaviness of the majority of this arc.

Belkar succeeds at intimidation check -- and Haley makes a stupid statement of revealing too much information...

Right concept, wrong on how it works. If anything, I'd expect it'd be Haley to make a successful Bluff check, with Belkar screwing them up. But that's just me.

I´m just getting woried about Rich´s intencions with the whole story...

Will evil prevails?

Will OOTS came to an horrible end?

Will we have the chance to EVER say "Hah, I knew it!!!"?

I doubt evil will prevail in the end. I think Rich even said in one of his commentaries in No Cure for the Paladin Blues that he was worried about making evil look too good and good look too stupid and bad. I can't remember exactly what he said, and I really don't want to go and dig through NCftPB right now. But, in the end, while I don't think all of the heroes will have the "best" endings, evil will not be allowed to prevail.

As for getting to say, "Hah, I knew it"....probably not. I'm certain Rich will keep us guessing, incorrectly, until the end.

I thought it was a great comic, with a great cliffhanger. Nice to see you still want to keep us on the edge of our seats with anticipation.

[holywhippet]

Well, crap.

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I'm pretty hopeful Haley and/or Belkar will be able to talk their way out of this, otherwise, my prediction that the tea party might grow by tw mroe might come true...shudder

I find that to be unlikely. It's already been established that the MitD, even when trying to pull his punches as much as possible, is still insanely strong. If he seriously attacks either Haley or Belkar there won't be enough left of them to invite to the tea party.

[humanpylon]

I find that to be unlikely. It's already been established that the MitD, even when trying to pull his punches as much as possible, is still insanely strong. If he seriously attacks either Haley or Belkar there won't be enough left of them to invite to the tea party.

But then he'd have some jelly for his scones!

[Fabio_MP]

New comic is up.

..."I am supposed to devour you" ... "small campaign world"

rotfl :)

thanks :)

[David Argall]

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This is it. This is where Belkar dies. They're going to split up, and Belkar's going to get it.

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Among the reasons to be more optimistic about Belkar's chances is that the Oracle said he was to savor his next birthday, which makes him safe for several more months.

[ishnar]

Haley must have some seriously calloused hands to pick up that boiling pot of stew with her bare hands.

[factotum]

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Among the reasons to be more optimistic about Belkar's chances is that the Oracle said he was to savor his next birthday, which makes him safe for several more months.

Why is that a spoiler? The Oracle's prophecies have been discussed to death on the forums...

Anyway, the visit to the Oracle occurred some time ago--we have no guarantee Belkar's birthday didn't occur "off camera" in the interim.

[Bendal]

I have no doubt that the fast-thinking Haley will be able to BS the MitD enough to allow her and Belkar to get away with O'Chuul and Roy.

As long as she gags Belkar first, that is. I'm not sure that he could make a Wisdom check for "shutting up when you need to" if his life depended on it, which it certainly does now.

[the_tick_rules]

haley may be able to bluff her way out, MITD is about as wise as belkar. So does everyone but redcloak on team evil have memory problems?

[Porthos]

Anyway, the visit to the Oracle occurred some time ago--we have no guarantee Belkar's birthday didn't occur "off camera" in the interim.

Two Points.

First off, believe it or not, it has been only a week in campaign time since their visit to the Oracle:

A (Semi-Abbreviated) Timeline behind a Spoiler Bar, to save screen space:

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Day 1: The OotS visit Oracle. Belkar finds out (and forgets) he won't live much longer.
Night 1: Roy gets message from Nale.
Day 2: Teleport to Cliffport. Nale infiltrates the OotS and Elan and Thog are imprisoned. OotS teleport out of Cliffport and into a (very surprised) Roc's nest. Sabine flies out for a 3 day flight to Azure City. Elan and Thog break out of jail and hitch a ride to Azure City.
Day 5: Sabine and the OotS arrive simultaneously at Azure City.
Night 5: Elan and Thog arrive at Azure City. Sabine, Nale, Thog, Elan and Haley have a big throwdown - Haley regains her voice. The Linear Guild is defeated when Durkon and Varsuvius arrive on the scene.
Day 6: The Linear Guild is imprisoned, and Miko returns heralding news of Xykons imminent arrival. Miko then goes nuts and kills Lord Shojo, Falling in the process.
Night 6: Azure City prepares for the impending attack.
Day 7: Azure City and Xykon's Army duke it out. The Linear Guild escapes the Azure City prison, and flee the city, looking for another Gate to control. Roy and Miko are killed, most of the Sapphire Guard is wiped out, the Azure City Gate goes kablooie and Azure City falls to Xykon.
Night 7: Hinjo holds the Last Boat Out of Azure City awaiting Haley and Belkar. Haley and Belkar, who are retrieving Roy and O-Chul, meet the Creature in the Darkness. Belkar cooks for the CitD, and inadvertently mentions that they are part of the Order of the Stick. Hilarity ensues.

So it really hasn't been that much time, even though it seems like it has been forever, since the visit to the Oracle.

Secondly, I would think that something of this importance (i.e. the starting of the Belkar Death Watch) would at least get a mention in passing from one of the characters. So while it is certainly possible that Belkar's birthday will happen "off-screen", I don't feel that enough time has quite yet passed to really think that has happened.

[Rumex]

Secondly, I would think that something of this importance (i.e. the starting of the Belkar Death Watch) would at least get a mention in passing from one of the characters. So while it is certainly possible that Belkar's birthday will happen "off-screen", I don't feel that enough time has quite yet passed to really think that has happened.

Except that the forget spell on the Oracle's valley is in place for just that reason- to keep random comments from spoiling his 'answers for money' ethic. All they remember is the questions they asked and the answers they got, along with a vague idea of passing trials and meeting the Oracle.

Nobody's in the OOTS is going to remember that Belkar only has one birthday left.

However, I suspect Rich might slip it in somehow for those fans who do remember and are keeping track. A little self-pity for Belkar ("I can't have a really cool party"), or maybe a special surprise from V to enforce that hate thing going on.

[Porthos]

However, I suspect Rich might slip it in somehow for those fans who do remember and are keeping track. A little self-pity for Belkar ("I can't have a really cool party"), or maybe a special surprise from V to enforce that hate thing going on.

Errr... That's exactly what I meant. None of the OotS will have any reason to mention it. But the fans of the comic? Oh yes, we have plenty of reasons to want to know when the Belkster has his next birthday cake.

Hmmmm...

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As long as Belkar doesn't have any birthday cake, then he's safe ("... savor his next birthday cake. 'Nuff said."). After all, if a birthday passes and he has no cake, then he can wait a whole year and savor it then. I mean, after all it's technically his next birthday cake, not his next birthday.

An interesting loophole (and we all know how much the Oracle loves loopholes ). So if Belkar doesn't eat any birthday cake soon, then he doesn't die. Course the flip side if he eats someone else's birthday cake, then he's screwed!

Man I would laugh and laugh if that is how the clock got started!

[johnnyriot999]

I think I'm supposed to devour you...

Great strip!

[Surfing HalfOrc]

Two Points.

First off, believe it or not, it has been only a week in campaign time since their visit to the Oracle:

A (Semi-Abbreviated) Timeline behind a Spoiler Bar, to save screen space:

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Day 1: The OotS visit Oracle. Belkar finds out (and forgets) he won't live much longer.
Night 1: Roy gets message from Nale.
Day 2: Teleport to Cliffport. Nale infiltrates the OotS and Elan and Thog are imprisoned. OotS teleport out of Cliffport and into a (very surprised) Roc's nest. Sabine flies out for a 3 day flight to Azure City. Elan and Thog break out of jail and hitch a ride to Azure City.
Day 5: Sabine and the OotS arrive simultaneously at Azure City.
Night 5: Elan and Thog arrive at Azure City. Sabine, Nale, Thog, Elan and Haley have a big throwdown - Haley regains her voice. The Linear Guild is defeated when Durkon and Varsuvius arrive on the scene.
Day 6: The Linear Guild is imprisoned, and Miko returns heralding news of Xykons imminent arrival. Miko then goes nuts and kills Lord Shojo, Falling in the process.
Night 6: Azure City prepares for the impending attack.
Day 7: Azure City and Xykon's Army duke it out. The Linear Guild escapes the Azure City prison, and flee the city, looking for another Gate to control. Roy and Miko are killed, most of the Sapphire Guard is wiped out, the Azure City Gate goes kablooie and Azure City falls to Xykon.
Night 7: Hinjo holds the Last Boat Out of Azure City awaiting Haley and Belkar. Haley and Belkar, who are retrieving Roy and O-Chul, meet the Creature in the Darkness. Belkar cooks for the CitD, and inadvertently mentions that they are part of the Order of the Stick. Hilarity ensues.

So it really hasn't been that much time, even though it seems like it has been forever, since the visit to the Oracle.

Secondly, I would think that something of this importance (i.e. the starting of the Belkar Death Watch) would at least get a mention in passing from one of the characters. So while it is certainly possible that Belkar's birthday will happen "off-screen", I don't feel that enough time has quite yet passed to really think that has happened.

Is there a longer, yet equally accurate timeline somewhere? I'd like to keep track of something I think MIGHT be happening:

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Durkon and Hilgya's Love Child. If Durkon didn't have a "Dwarven Defender" in his wallet (and it's likely he didn't, since it was his first time ), there is a very real possibility that Hilgya is pregnant. And angry at the dwarf who knocked her up, then kicked her out.

Hell hath no fury, and all that.

I actually had lost track of the timeline... I though it was a month or so since the Oracle. I think I misread "Three and a half Days earlier" for "Three and a half WEEKS earlier." My mistake.