OOTS #476 - The Discussion Thread

[David Argall]

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.

There is a large uncertainity in the timeline as the trip South is described as a very long one, but is largely passed over in 1 picture. The presumption is that we are talking a month or two here.

http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0198.html says it took weeks to finish looting the dragon horde. And there were other breaks that could be of any length desired.

so...

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By this point Hilgya definitely knows one way or the other. She could be on her way to "have a talk" with the party cleric. However, the final gate is presumed to be in the dwarf area, so it seems more likely there will be a surprise waiting there.

[Dalan Graycloak]

"Dwarven Defender" = That's absolutely hysterical.

[Solara]

Hehe, does this comic make anyone else think Belkar took lessons from Shojo? "There are two jobs available for you..."

[draca]

Is panel six a reference to those old Life Cereal commercials?

Also, does anyone ever actually want to be the thimble in Monopoly? I mean, they have a cannon. And that's for the poor sucker that didn't get the top hat.

In my family, all the good fights would break out over who gets to be the scottie dog.

[Ganurath]

I'm going to laugh and laugh and laugh if Haley and Belkar are saved by a stew-related tummy-ache.

[aristodeimos]

I'm going to laugh and laugh and laugh if Belkar and Haley *ARE* the stomach ache. MUHAHAHAHA!

[Anessen]

I'm going to laugh and laugh and laugh if Haley and Belkar are saved by a stew-related tummy-ache.

This is perfect.

I wonder if MitD can actually get stomach aches though.

[humanpylon]

In my family, all the good fights would break out over who gets to be the scottie dog.

We all wanted to be the car.

[rgoodfellow]

This is going to hurt like hell.

[azule74]

I am really looking forward to seeing how they get out of this. There are so many possibilities that it boggles the mind.

[humanpylon]

Gotta say the MITD's tactics leave a lot to be desired. If I overheard someone say that they were part of a group that I was supposed to devour, I'd just devour I wouldn't tell them that I was supposed to

Mind you this might mean that it doesn't plan to do any devouring.

[Bilbo27]

Well, will we FINALLY see whats under the umbrella?
Will Haley sweet talk out of this?
Will Belkar make more stew to elude the darkness?

Tune in next strip
Same random time...same site

[Ithekro]

So instead of "I attack the darkness" the line should be changed to "I feed the darkness."?

[holywhippet]

Gotta say the MITD's tactics leave a lot to be desired. If I overheard someone say that they were part of a group that I was supposed to devour, I'd just devour I wouldn't tell them that I was supposed to

Mind you this might mean that it doesn't plan to do any devouring.

Could be. It didn't actually say that it intends to eat them here and now. It just said that it's understanding is that Xykon expects it to at some point.

[humanpylon]

Wow I feel dense. I looked at the title of the comic earlier and thought it was just a cooking joke. Didn't get the reference to MITD's "scary opening line" till just now.

[Freelance Henchman]

Poor O-Chul. "Eyes.. so.. dry.. but.. can't... blink!!!"

[Arin]

I didn't get the Rachel Ray reference. Was the roach saying that Belkar's ugly, and thus stands in contrast to Rachel Ray?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rachael_Ray <--(In case anyone's wondering)

I think your answer is right at the beginning of the criticisms section... "Some have criticized Ray's "perky" demeanor". Belkar's definitely not perky. :)

Also, I don't know if anyone's posted it yet, but I'm so proud to have gotten the nutmeg reference in the title.

[stickygoo]

I'm just afriad that with that wonderful cliff-hanger we're going to cut to the ship, or Team Evil.

[Deuce]

So instead of "I attack the darkness" the line should be changed to "I feed the darkness."?

In the OotS-verse, The darkness attacks you!

[ophiuchi]

Rich Burlew you are my hero. I wrote about this somewhere in the new members section, now I'm just trying to see if I got my home made avatar to work.
You and your comic make me SO happy, especially as I never could get into RPGs. But your comic is hilarious and accessible to me anyway. Quite an accomplishment!
Respect!
BTW if my avatar doesn't show up - I added it to a blog in just the right dimensions JUST so I could use the link - can someone benevolently help me out? Rich is worthy of the respect of this effort! He works hard and makes me laugh and care about stick figures, dammit! He must be treated right.

[Hackman]

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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.

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Perhaps the tea party is for MitD's birthday and it will offer Belkar and Haley some cake before devouring them with a mild nutmeg seasoning?

[Warfare]

Hahaha, nutmeg.

[Faramir]

"Order of the stick! Your broken corpses will taste delicious lightly seasoned with nutmeg!" OOTS #103
Awsome title Giant! Even better comic!!!

Thanks, missed that one.

And now that the MitD is intending to devour them I really don't think they have much to worry about. If he wanted to be their friend they'd be in much more danger.

Of course there's also my pet off the wall theory that even I don't believe (warning Start of Darkness spoiler):

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That Haley is Redcloak's niece transformed to look like a human and sent to be raised by human's in safety. Then when the MitD realizes who she is he joins the Order of the Stick. Hilarity ensues.

"Elan, I'm not what you would call..." human. She's a transformed goblin.
Her father is a first edition thief. Check.

Of course then she'd have recognized Redcloak early on unless her memory was messed with somehow so the whole thing pretty much falls apart right there.

[Porthos]

Of course there's also my pet off the wall theory that even I don't believe (warning Start of Darkness spoiler):

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That Haley is Redcloak's niece transformed to look like a human and sent to be raised by human's in safety. Then when the MitD realizes who she is he joins the Order of the Stick. Hilarity ensues.

"Elan, I'm not what you would call..." human. She's a transformed goblin.
Her father is a first edition thief. Check.

Of course then she'd have recognized Redcloak early on unless her memory was messed with somehow so the whole thing pretty much falls apart right there.

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Your theory is fine, except for a little thing I like to call a Ransom Note

Really, the two ideas are completely incompatible when you look closely at them.

[Faramir]

OMG, A main character actually talked back to the roaches!!!!

This hasn't happened before, has it?

Aside from the instances mentioned above Miko used one to free herself from Xykon's moderately inescapable force cage. Doesn't really count as talking I suppose.

And another vote here for a Sexy Shoeless God of Cooking apron.

[Faramir]

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Your theory is fine, except for a little thing I like to call a Ransom Note

Really, the two ideas are completely incompatible when you look closely at them.

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That one could easily be explained away by it being her adoptive father. Not that I'm arguing in favor of my theory, just that the note doesn't disprove it.

[Lizardmen_are#1]

Well, they're boned
Course the monsters not that bright and hes a nice guy

[stickygoo]

Thanks, missed that one.

And now that the MitD is intending to devour them I really don't think they have much to worry about. If he wanted to be their friend they'd be in much more danger.

Of course there's also my pet off the wall theory that even I don't believe (warning Start of Darkness spoiler):

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That Haley is Redcloak's niece transformed to look like a human and sent to be raised by human's in safety. Then when the MitD realizes who she is he joins the Order of the Stick. Hilarity ensues.

"Elan, I'm not what you would call..." human. She's a transformed goblin.
Her father is a first edition thief. Check.

Of course then she'd have recognized Redcloak early on unless her memory was messed with somehow so the whole thing pretty much falls apart right there.

That has got to be the most bizarre, pointless, convaluted theories I've seen here yet.... I love it.

[Faramir]

That has got to be the most bizarre, pointless, convaluted theories I've seen here yet....

Thanks!

We aim to please :)

[rockwilder]

great job =)