OOTS #1204 - The Discussion Thread

[Grey Watcher]

The more I look at it, the more I have just the tiniest art issue; I assume the glasses were supposed to make Kraagor look goofy, but they actually look pretty good on him!

Xykon doesn't have ranks in Craft (Graffiti).

Is there any reason to think Redcloak does/doesn't recognize Durkon?

Come to think of it, the only times Durkon and Redcloak have seen each other was across large, chaotic battlefields (Xykon's throne room at Chez Dorukan, the Battle of Azure City). Notably, Vampire Durkon had not yet caught back up to the Order when Team Evil teleported out of the desert. So, yeah, it's actually plausible that Redcloak never got enough of a look at Durkon to be able to recognize him.

[PBlades]

I mean, he did apparently do a Sending. We don't know what it said nor how the reply went (for all we know, Redcloak is willing to talk on neutral grounds, though Xykon may have other ideas), but we know that there was probably some forewarning.

Do you think he goes behind Roy's back directly like that? I think it fits Durkon to a tee to take a personal risk - maybe lies or omitted to imply he's here alone - and take the opportunity once he seeks Redcloak alone to come talk to him.

Which reminds me, I wonder why Redcloak and Oona decided they'd share intel in an inconspicuous area behind some building.

[hungrycrow]

Welp, I was sure that Durkon wouldn't try something like this, but I was super wrong.

[FrankPS]

Now we shall see if this is a confirmation of Durkon's wisdom score or of his intelligence score

Yes

[Zhorn]

...Oh HEL no.

oh Valhalla yes!

Looking forwards to how this will play out.

[JSSheridan]

Thanks Giant!

[Windscion]

* That's not Oona. No pouch.
* Unclear who is giving, who is receiving the scroll
* Durkon isn't actually there, unless he windwalked again. RC and the BB have tracks; Durkon doesn't. Wait, Durkon never set down with the others, did he?

[Aeson]

Which reminds me, I wonder why Redcloak and Oona decided they'd share intel in an inconspicuous area behind some building.

I don't think that that's Oona; Oona wears an antlered mask whereas whoever this one has a bunch of small horns. It does look like this one could be the one in the first panel of 1036 who's looking up and back as Oona lands in the village, though.

[Peelee]

My guess is it's a shaman.

[LadyEowyn]

I CALLED IT! And you mocked and ignored me for even suggesting the possibility!

I'm going to be shallow and just take a moment to freaking gloat.

From previous thread:

I just noticed that in the third panel Durkon is frowning and facing in a different direction from the others, and after that we see the other five members of the Order re-corporealize on the ledge, but not Durkon.

It’s probably nothing, just coincidence - can’t fit every character in every strip - but does anyone thing Durkon might have gone to try to talk to one of the members of Team Evil?

I don't see why not. Durkon has been secretly aligned with Team Evil since the first book, so it's completely in keeping with his character for him to betray The Order at this point.

*crickets*

EDIT: Ah, upon reading this thread I realize I have already been credited. Now I feel unsportsmanlike. :D

Thanks, littlebum2002. Thanks, Peelee.

[Zaclock]

I realize now that we haven't seen Minrah on the ledge either (and being the new kid around, the Order doesn't pay enough attention to her presence yet). She probably noticed Durkon going into another direction and decided to follow him.

[Wizard_Lizard]

I mean that's interesting.

[Gift Jeraff]

Huh, I kinda predicted Durkon contacting Redcloak against Roy's orders with how ominous that penultimate panel of #1200 seemed, but actually going up to him in person? And this early into the book?! I guess in hindsight, this is still technically obeying Roy's order to not use his last Sending spell to contact Redcloak.

Continuing side effect of Durkon "having too many thoughts" due to the unusual way he defeated the vampire spirit?

[understatement]

* Durkon isn't actually there, unless he windwalked again. RC and the BB have tracks; Durkon doesn't. Wait, Durkon never set down with the others, did he?

He didn't, so he must have landed (out of nowhere) in front of Redcloak. That's why RC looks surprised.

So does this mean Durkon gets initiative?

I CALLED IT! And you mocked and ignored me for even suggesting the possibility!

I'm going to be shallow and just take a moment to freaking gloat.

From previous thread:

Your prediction was awesome!

I'm definitely worried for Durkon now. How is he going to reunite back with the Order, though? (And this is the first interaction between Redcloak and a member of the Order...I can't wait).

[Corian]

Super-Lawful Durkon breaks his word and disobeys Roy? Last thing I would expect.

Roy told him to not use his last sending spell, so he did not.

EDIT: Ah, ninja'd by Gift Jeraff. Well done. And while I'm on kudos, Lady Eowyn, I think some gloating is quite justified. Enjoy!

[Dion]

I CALLED IT! And you mocked and ignored me for even suggesting the possibility!

I'm going to be shallow and just take a moment to freaking gloat.

From previous thread:

So, I am very impressed by your observation and your prediction. Kudos.

But, I there’s still room to be impressed with Emanick for recognizing that Durkon has been aligned with Team Evil since the beginning.

[Ron Miel]

Okay, in #1200 Roy decided to wait before contacting Redcloak. Durkon appears to agree.

Now, technically Durkon only promised not to use sending. He's staying within the exact wording of his agreement. But he's certainly going against the intended meaning.

Is that Lawful, as defined by D&D?

[Hatu]

Not what I was expecting, but it will almost certainly get some sort of result.

-H

[Corian]

Okay, in #1200 Roy decided to wait before contacting Redcloak. Durkon appears to agree.

Now, technically Durkon only promised not to use sending. He's staying within the exact wording of his agreement. But he's certainly going against the intended meaning.

Is that Lawful, as defined by D&D?

Letter of the law is pretty much what lawful is about (intent is a chaotic consideration.)

[Ruck]

When your god tells you to do something, you get it done.

I'm optimistic that it won't fail catastrophically. The fact that the fiends are the big bads of the entire series means this could actually work out in a neutral manner.

Come again?

[Gusmo]

Whoa. A sending spell would have been one thing, because only Redcloak would receive it and he could work with Durkon behind everybody's back. Now he's just standing there for anyone to potentially see, including Xykon perhaps?

[Dion]

When the encounter goes south, Durkon can claim that he is there by himself.

I wouldn’t expect that story to hold up very long under questioning, because Xykon and RedCloak are both a lot more perceptive than they pretend to be, and because Durkon is a terrible liar.

But he might be able to give the five characters on the ledge time to come up with a backup plan, except...

Minrah. I suspect nobody knows where she is right now. That isn’t going to be good.

[Peelee]

Letter of the law is pretty much what lawful is about (intent is a chaotic consideration.)

That's not in any alignment breakdown I've ever read, I gotta say.

[facw]

I CALLED IT! And you mocked and ignored me for even suggesting the possibility!

I was coming here to note that you raised this possibility, but the second page is clearly much too late!

[RatedArgh]

Wow... just went back and read the previous comic and saw Durkon’s face. Great job hiding this in plain sight, Giant!

[Jaxzan Proditor]

Excellent inductive reasoning by Roy to guess that they may have been flown out.

Wow, certainly did not expect that from Durkon (and kudos to LadyEowyn for guessing it)! He really is taking more initiative now. And yet somehow I can’t see this ending all that well.

[RatedArgh]

I mean, he did apparently do a Sending. We don't know what it said nor how the reply went (for all we know, Redcloak is willing to talk on neutral grounds, though Xykon may have other ideas), but we know that there was probably some forewarning.

I actually think this is him getting around Roy’s orders not to use his last sending. He’s pretty lawful so he’ll follow at least the letter of the order, if not the intent.

[Vessyra]

I really, really hope Durkon thought of a back-up plan. I'm hopeful that Redcloak will at least give Durkon a chance to talk, though it's still quite likely something, at some point, goes wrong. I'm wondering if perhaps Minrah could have anything to do with theoretical escape plans, though I can't figure out what she could do that Durkon can't. Maybe she's floating above, to let the rest of the Order know if something goes wrong?

[Ninja Dragon]

Now comes Redcloak's ultimate test of letting go of his past sacrifices for the greater good of goblinkind.

Which... I was expecting to happen at least 200 chapters after this one.

[SpectralTime]

...And here I thought V's conspicuously-unrevealed long-range communication spell was to Redcloak and Durkon's sheepish reaction to Roy's saying not to use his was 'cause he'd already done it in some form.