Major character who has only appeared on 1 page in the entire OOTS saga

[Shale]

Has anyone suggested the bureaucrat celestial (Archon?) who tried to warn Roy about Vaarsuvius' deal with the IFCC in Comic #664? She has a distinctive character design, some knowledge of what's going on in the plot, and Roy's Archon has to work with somebody in the Upper Planes to pull off whatever plan it and Roy cooked up off-panel.

[hamishspence]

Has anyone suggested the bureaucrat celestial (Archon?) who tried to warn Roy about Vaarsuvius' deal with the IFCC in Comic #664?

Probably a Deva, given that she matches Roy's Bureaucratic Deva, except for hair colour.

https://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0487.html

Devas can be of any Good alignment - they have the Good subtype but not the Lawful or Chaotic subtypes. They're a kind of Angel:


https://www.d20srd.org/srd/monsters/angel.htm

Besides the Astral Deva, there's a couple of others in the Fiend Folio.

[Shale]

I even checked 487 to make sure it wasn't the same character, but totally glossed over the word "Deva." Thanks!

[DapperWarlock]

I only semi-jokingly nominate one of Treeslayers. They'll be ranging outward from the dwarven lands in search of trees, and they sure look like they could handle themselves in a fight.

I'll only semi-jokingly suggest taking a look at the landscape to determine what a Treeslayer is definitely not going to be looking for here at the North Pole.

(Though I suppose one could be intentionally wasting time to give the others the chance to wipe out that last vampire, or they could just have gotten ridiculously lost.)

[Rogar Demonblud]

"Should've taken a left turn at Albuquerque..."

[rgrekejin]

I'll only semi-jokingly suggest taking a look at the landscape to determine what a Treeslayer is definitely not going to be looking for here at the North Pole.

The Dwarven lands are already pretty far North, and probably denuded of any large trees given the anti-tree proclivities of the worshipers of Thor. It's not totally out of the question that the fastest way to reach the nearest forest of any real size involves passing through the lands around the pole.

Also Shoulder Pads Guy is taken.

[DapperWarlock]

The Dwarven lands are already pretty far North, and probably denuded of any large trees given the anti-tree proclivities of the worshipers of Thor. It's not totally out of the question that the fastest way to reach the nearest forest of any real size involves passing through the lands around the pole.

I actually had a look at the map to check, and this is... a perfectly reasonable idea. The closest marked forest to Dwarven lands actually looks like it could wrap around to the other side of the globe from whatever city they may have left from. Well done.

[Whispri]

I realise there are at least two very good reasons to believe it couldn't possibly be her, but nevertheless: Wanda Firebaugh. Set a necromancer to catch a lich and all that. Plus the Order has a short person wielding what appears to be a hammer of thunderbolts in their midst, so who could be more appropriate?

And now I'm wondering how you'd stat her in d&d...

Yes, but in so doing, he incurred the dishonor of being spotted and was thus required to commit ritual self-disembowelment.

Difficult to be a ninja. No one ever shows up to your birthday parties, for one.

Doesn't that imply that the poor ninja waitress/food delivery technician(who also only appeared the once)...

[factotum]

I realise there are at least two very good reasons to believe it couldn't possibly be her, but nevertheless: Wanda Firebaugh.

Well, if we're going to start including people who haven't ever appeared in OotS in even 1 page, that kind of expands the scope a bit too much, you know? I could legitimately say in that case that Sir Humphrey Appleby from "Yes, Minister" was going to be the one.

[Whispri]

Well, if we're going to start including people who haven't ever appeared in OotS in even 1 page, that kind of expands the scope a bit too much, you know? I could legitimately say in that case that Sir Humphrey Appleby from "Yes, Minister" was going to be the one.

Wanda's had an appearance, a cameo in Haleo & Julelan, page seven, panel seven. She's even mentioned in multiple character indexes.

[Kantaki]

Doesn't that imply that the poor ninja waitress/food delivery technician(who also only appeared the once)...

She wasn't on ninja duty at the time, so it shouldn't count*.
Also, she's going to ninja school. They probably give the kids some leeway on those things until graduation day.
Then it's "murder your way to top of the class" time.

*Besides, interacting with your customers- the non-euphemistic ones- and/or employers to get your missions kinda requires being seen by them.
If only so they don't talk to an empty room.

[DapperWarlock]

Wanda's had an appearance, a cameo in Haleo & Julelan, page seven, panel seven. She's even mentioned in multiple character indexes.

That is outside of the main continuity. The hint specifies they've been in one page of "the story so far," which I believe would exclude Sticktales.

(... because if it didn't, my guess would've been the Ice King from Adventure Time, who also cameo'd in that ballroom scene.)

[understatement]

Orange-voiced entity.

It would be the most epic troll answer of all time.

[Coventry]

Orange-voiced entity.

It would be the most epic troll answer of all time.

I dunno, the "final boss potion vendor" may be more epic, now that the vendor has appeared.

[Kantaki]

I dunno, the "final boss potion vendor" may be more epic, now that the vendor has appeared.

I think he might be disqualified on grounds of only appearing in Book 7.

[Coventry]

I think he might be disqualified on grounds of only appearing in Book 7.

The potion vendor may not have appeared in the comic, but he was certainly mentioned early in book 6.

I am still thinking it is the Green Mask bugbear from strip 1144, but I am usually dead wrong about such things.

[Pory]

The bugbear in 1204 only appeared one other time in 1036 and he probably has to be someone important if Redcloak is willing to rendezvous with him. Maybe Redcloak is suspicious about why there are so many marked doors and that scroll has some information about that... what? Rich said we will see an important ally but he didn't say whose ally

Or maybe that bugbear is/works with the shaman and wants to hear about what Durkon has to say about the plan with The Dark One.

[Rogar Demonblud]

In that case, I would guess the scroll is a map of the doors, and the bugbear is conducting an independent audit by marking off the doors Team Evil is hitting. MITD's scheme is about to be exposed.

[DapperWarlock]

I'm going to be extremely proud of myself if this bugbear is indeed the ally Rich was talking about and it turns out I accurately predicted something for once in my life.

As for what shape that will take from this point on, my knee-jerk idea is that Redcloak could ignore or reject Durkon's deal and just walk away, but the bugbear will talk with Durkon like, "Y'know what I'm reasonable, we're not big fans of Xykon here, let me help you guys out." Or something to that effect.

[Goosefarble]

What, you still want a hint of something specific yet to come? Something you’re not expecting? OK, how about this: Someone who has appeared in exactly one (1) page of the story so far (including all the prequel stories) will become an important ally in the first half of the next book. Good luck figuring that one out.

I think I might've figured out the character who's going to be, according to Rich in the commentary of Utterly Dwarfed, "an important ally in the first half of the [current] book" who's only appeared once so far... because we just saw him again for the first time in this book. And if I haven't figured it out, then I'm going to just put my money on it on the offchance I'm right.

I think the bugbear with the spikes on his mask seen giving a scroll to Redcloak in Comic #1204 is the shaman Oona has mentioned (once in Comic #1038 and again in #1041), who (at the time of Rich's hint's writing) had only appeared once, in Comic #1036.

I posit that when Durkon tries to negotiate and explain about Thor's plan, Redcloak will naturally be opposed to it and be hostile to Durkon, but the bugbear shaman will be the voice of reason who tries to keep them both civil and working together toward his and Redcloak's common goal of improving things for goblinoid kind.

Has anyone else drawn this conclusion yet? I think it could hold water.

[Quebbster]

https://forums.giantitp.com/showthre...tire-OOTS-saga
There's been lots of speculation, see for yourself.

[facw]

https://forums.giantitp.com/showthre...tire-OOTS-saga
There's been lots of speculation, see for yourself.

Honestly, that thread is super frustrating as almost immediately people started proposing characters who had been on more (sometimes significantly more) than one page. Would be nice to see curated list (sort of like in the MitD thread) to guide discussion.

[DapperWarlock]

Would be nice to see curated list (sort of like in the MitD thread) to guide discussion.

Yeah, Crusher was keeping a tally of everyone's predictions, but it's on the fifth page so it's not really easy to track down. Plus, it seems like he hasn't checked in on this thread in months. Maybe my giant "I'm not handling quarantine well and quarantine hasn't even happened" essay of predictions scared him off. I only just figured out he set a limit of 3 and I had like seven.

[2.5 cats]

I think I might've figured out the character who's going to be, according to Rich in the commentary of Utterly Dwarfed, "an important ally in the first half of the [current] book" who's only appeared once so far... because we just saw him again for the first time in this book. And if I haven't figured it out, then I'm going to just put my money on it on the offchance I'm right.

I think the bugbear with the spikes on his mask seen giving a scroll to Redcloak in Comic #1204 is the shaman Oona has mentioned (once in Comic #1038 and again in #1041), who (at the time of Rich's hint's writing) had only appeared once, in Comic #1036.

I posit that when Durkon tries to negotiate and explain about Thor's plan, Redcloak will naturally be opposed to it and be hostile to Durkon, but the bugbear shaman will be the voice of reason who tries to keep them both civil and working together toward his and Redcloak's common goal of improving things for goblinoid kind.

Has anyone else drawn this conclusion yet? I think it could hold water.

I really like this theory! Either it's correct, or it should be, dammit!

[Gift Jeraff]

Consider me on board the shaman idea. That panel in #1036 seems conspicuous in hindsight, he's actually present at the North Pole already unlike 99% of contenders, and he's about to either witness or take part in the historic first talk between Redcloak and a PC.

[understatement]

I think the bugbear with the spikes on his mask seen giving a scroll to Redcloak in Comic #1204 is the shaman Oona has mentioned (once in Comic #1038 and again in #1041), who (at the time of Rich's hint's writing) had only appeared once, in Comic #1036.

Consider me on board, since I never even considered the "important ally" did not necessarily have to be on a certain faction's side. For good measure, I will bet on:

*the bugbear (shaman?)
*the orange voice

Spoiler: SOD

Show

*the goblin with the chicken

The first two have the novelty of already being at the North Pole and having a distinctive appearance (or "voice" for the second, at least). The third is exponentially less likely, but besides the North Pole the only other possible location I can see being visited is the Riftworld.

[Emanick]

I don't remember whether I had a specific prediction - I don't remember any choices sticking out to me as particularly compelling - but the bugbear shaman becoming a major character does seem like a pretty reasonable idea. Everything fits.

[Ron Miel]

The shaman may become a major character in this book, but it doesn't seem likely he will ally with OOTS.

[Ruck]

The shaman may become a major character in this book, but it doesn't seem likely he will ally with OOTS.

Perfect, because Rich said it was "something we're not expecting."

[Crusher]

Yeah, Crusher was keeping a tally of everyone's predictions, but it's on the fifth page so it's not really easy to track down. Plus, it seems like he hasn't checked in on this thread in months. Maybe my giant "I'm not handling quarantine well and quarantine hasn't even happened" essay of predictions scared him off. I only just figured out he set a limit of 3 and I had like seven.

Hah! It wasn't you personally. I started the list when things were quiet for me, and then I got really, really busy for a good while. When things calmed down there were like 10 pages of posts to sort through and I haven't quite made myself go catch things up. I do intend to, much like I still intend to send out thank you notes for the gifts I got for my birthday in April. And I genuinely do intend to do both, hopefully before we find out what the answer is.