OOTS #1162 - The Discussion Thread

[Eldritch Queen]

There's a comparison to Avengers: Endgame to be made here, but I'll let people figure it out on their own.

[Lord Torath]

The real reason she refuses the regeneration isn't one Hilgya would have the background or mentality to understand: Sigdi's hand is still down there, holding her husband's. She never let go. That means a whole heck of a lot more to her than regaining a limb she's spent decades learning how not to use.

The tactical value of a hand she is no longer familiar with, or the value of a 7th level slot, is just an excuse, meant more to satisfy Hilgya than honestly answer the question. Sigdi would never accept a regeneration. She would never accept the though that the limb buried with her husband is no longer hers.

And if she got her arm Regenerated, her hand would still be down there, and she still would never let go. Regen doesn't take the old matter, it creates new matter.

I'm with Calemyr on this one. Her missing arm is a constant reminder of her dearest love lying buried under the mountain. Every time she notices her missing arm, it makes her remember the good times she had and how much she loves him.

There's a comparison to Avengers: Endgame to be made here, but I'll let people figure it out on their own.

Thank you. No, really, thank you! I'm trying my hardest to avoid spoilers until I can see it myself (hopefully this week).

[Flibbert]

Gondor calls for aid!

Funny, "Rohirrim!" from the end of The Two Towers film came to mind when I saw the last panel.

[Ironsmith]

Funny, "Rohirrim!" from the end of The Two Towers film came to mind when I saw the last panel.

And my head got stuck on a Spy Kids reference. Whoa boy.

[Mic_128]

The whole dwarven family! Eeee! :D

[gatemansgc]

As far as I am concerned, this comic can't have too much Sigdi.

A Little surprised to see Tinna there, but I guess it's an "every advantage Counts" type situation.

well she had time to pray for combat spells for the first time, probably. or at the very least clerical support spells. probably support spells, since she has no armor on.

[KorvinStarmast]

I like Minrah reverting to Fighter form and taking charge.

And the attack of the Dwarven Bards.

Hilgya says "I don't even know why I'm here."

I think it's due to Sigdi's high Charisma ...

I just noticed that Minrah is left handed.

[gatemansgc]

I'm with Calemyr on this one. Her missing arm is a constant reminder of her dearest love lying buried under the mountain. Every time she notices her missing arm, it makes her remember the good times she had and how much she loves him.

Thank you. No, really, thank you! I'm trying my hardest to avoid spoilers until I can see it myself (hopefully this week).

that actually makes sense.

and i'm seeing endgame tomorrow. since $5 tuesdays at loews theaters for AMC stubs members (of any level including free). why would anyone wanna pay more than that?

[Goosefarble]

Genuinely teared up a little at the last panel :')

[Ironsmith]

Take heart: dying in battle saving a family member? What Dwarf wouldn't want to go out like that? That's, I imagine, partly why ALL of them came: Even if they die, they'll die swinging. Remember, to a Dwarf, dying at age 350, after a long and happy life, is the worst fate imaginable: The fact that you lived that long is a failure, because it means you never took the risks from which heroism is born.

Eh, pretty sure that a point of the current storyline is that no, living in a society where you're forced to die heroically or you are doomed to an eternity of torment is not actually a good thing.

Couldn't this last part be taken as a bit of a counterpoint to that? I mean, the people who have really gone on and on about how horrible it is are Hel and Hylgia, one of whom is the villain (and complains on the grounds that it's an inconvenience for her) and the other of whom is kind of having her life philosophy stampeded right now.

The most interesting parallel to to me is between Sidgi and Hilgya. Both gained fantastic wealth through their own actions and mistakes, at the cost of their own family (granted, one was killed by a cave in fighting a troll, and the other was made destitute by Hilgya's meddling), while pregnant no less.

But whereas Sidgi used her wealth to make herself a new family that has grown into what is practically Clan Thundershield at this point, Hilgya has done nothing with the wealth but enrich herself.

Hilgya is a selfish individual, but we've always known that. The fact that she thinks about herself before anything else is one of her defining character traits. Sure, she's taking care of her son, but even that relationship has a sort of element of possessiveness to it - that's HER son, she's take care of him however she likes, taking him into danger notwithstanding. I'm wondering if, much like Belkar, seeing what she could accomplish if she wasn't such a colossal bitch might start turning her towards a better path. She hasn't spent her fortune yet entirely, she just used a few diamonds so far.

So, would that make Sigdi our analog to Shojo, if we were to compare the two character arcs? I mean, sure, Mr Scruffy provided the pathos, but it was Shojo that most directly influenced his new life philosophy. Or at least, weird acid-trip-whilst-unconscious Shojo did.

[Lheticus]

That second panel...DANG. Minrah picked a REALLY good time to roll a Nat 20 on his Intimidate check.

[Darth Paul]

(snip)
and i'm seeing endgame tomorrow. since $5 tuesdays at loews theaters for AMC stubs members (of any level including free). why would anyone wanna pay more than that?

I took my daughter to the $6 matinee Friday, just because otherwise I would have to... pay $6 for a different matinee??

Tell you this much- the 96% Rotten Tomatoes score is well deserved.

[Snails]

DWARVEN BARDS

Inspire that mass of short bearded heroes. Whooo hooooo!

Hilgya says "I don't even know why I'm here."

Not a good sign, but I think a necessary enough reminder of who she is, to set the table for her Evolve Or Die test...

[gatemansgc]

I took my daughter to the $6 matinee Friday, just because otherwise I would have to... pay $6 for a different matinee??

Tell you this much- the 96% Rotten Tomatoes score is well deserved.

i guess different theaters do it on different days? this is $5 for any showing at any time of day, though there's a slight extra charge for IMAX. but it's still like half the price!

i'm hoping any endgame spoilers get quickly scrubbed. i can't imagine how many people here haven't seen it yet.

[Snails]

Eh, pretty sure that a point of the current storyline is that no, living in a society where you're forced to die heroically or you are doomed to an eternity of torment is not actually a good thing.

That is only one facet of a bigger gem. Narrowly speaking, yes, Hilgya's critique is correct. But she has gone so off the deep end that she literally cannot notice that her baby is certainly doomed to Hel if some heroics do not happen right now.

So another facet of the current storyline is just thinking about yourself is ultimately self-destructive and self-defeating IMNSHO.

[Rogar Demonblud]

Also, how does Sigdi look THAT badass?

She's Sigdi. No other explanation needed.

[Fyraltari]

Re arm regen, I expect Sigdi and Durkon to have pretty much this exact conversation later on, ending with Durkon convincing her to let him regrow it because making it harder foe herself isn't something tenrin would want, probably with a call-back to panel 7.

Good to see Sigdi again. And she is ambiguous to Hilgya as ever

You know, I hadn't noticed the threat in there. Good call.

I just noticed that Minrah is left handed.

You're right! Yeah!

So what music would you choose for this part of the strip were it a movie?

Spoiler: my pick

Show

THEN THE DWARVEN BARDS ARRIVED!
Wait!

I already made that joke.

[Lkctgo]

I sincerely wonder if their levels are enough to turn the tide. I think the only use for the new dwarves is to use the Bardic Freedom spell that Elan used.

[Peelee]

I'm with Calemyr on this one. Her missing arm is a constant reminder of her dearest love lying buried under the mountain. Every time she notices her missing arm, it makes her remember the good times she had and how much she loves him.

So is her son. So are her friends. From what we've seen so far, she doesn't seem like the kind of person to dance around and make up things instead of just being direct, especially to adult Durkon.

[jwhouk]

Tres Awesome.

Clan Durkon to the rescue!

[xroads]

I just love the imagery of bards rushing into battle armed with their deadly lutes of war!!

[chy03001]

The feels :')

And they say Charisma is a dump stat ;-)

[Rogar Demonblud]

I sincerely wonder if their levels are enough to turn the tide. I think the only use for the new dwarves is to use the Bardic Freedom spell that Elan used.

It's not a spell, it's part of the Bardic Music class ability.

[D.One]

Epic! Just epic!!!


PS: "Miss-Cleric-Who-Can't-Resist-Domination-Magic" LOL

[HouseRules]

All the family refers to the five strangers that She provided the resurrection diamonds. They are not biologically related to Durkon, but they are sworn to be a family for what She did for them.

[Ninja Dragon]

An entire civilization who wants to go to Valhalla can be quite useful.

Just tell them there is a battle for the survival of the world going somewhere and they will come running to join.

[xroads]

I sincerely wonder if their levels are enough to turn the tide. I think the only use for the new dwarves is to use the Bardic Freedom spell that Elan used.

Since Rich is leaning more towards telling a story now days and is relying less on D&D mechanics, there is probably a pretty good chance levels won't matter.

And even when considering D&D mechanics, there are other ways to help. They may end up giving the assembled council circumstantial bonuses to resisting domination, for example. Or even just force their adversaries to distribute their attacks more.

[Resileaf]

That is only one facet of a bigger gem. Narrowly speaking, yes, Hilgya's critique is correct. But she has gone so off the deep end that she literally cannot notice that her baby is certainly doomed to Hel if some heroics do not happen right now.

So another facet of the current storyline is just thinking about yourself is ultimately self-destructive and self-defeating IMNSHO.

Well I was more refering to the "There's more to life than dying heroically" part. Yes, garanteed paradise when you kick the bucket is nice and all, but you have 200ish years of life to go through first. Minrah realized that, and I'm sure it's something all the other dwarves would like to have as well.

[redemedic]

I am honestly just waiting for Durkon to win the day using the 'rebel trees' in Valhalla as reinforcements.

[Rogar Demonblud]

All the family refers to the five strangers that She provided the resurrection diamonds. They are not biologically related to Durkon, but they are sworn to be a family for what She did for them.

...

Does this mean Minrah just got adopted into the Thundershield Clan as well?