MitD XV: The Other Dark One

[Crusher]

I also wanted to add that I think the point of the circus scene is not that everyone is disgusted by MITD, but that he provokes a range of reactions, including disgust/nausea in some people.

Much like canned processed meat.

[Keltest]

Much like canned processed meat.

Indeed. I was shocked to within an inch of my life once when somebody asked me at the store i work at if we had any more Spam in the back, because they genuinely liked it and wanted to stock up.

[Ruck]

Much like canned processed meat.

Well, touché.

[Peelee]

Indeed. I was shocked to within an inch of my life once when somebody asked me at the store i work at if we had any more Spam in the back, because they genuinely liked it and wanted to stock up.

My wife is half Korean, my dad was born in 1931. Both love(d) spam, in no small part because it was incredibly prevalent when they were growing up.

It was not terribly prevalent for me, but it's not bad. It's not great, but not bad. Better than most balognas, for example.

[Doug Lampert]

My wife is half Korean, my dad was born in 1931. Both love(d) spam, in no small part because it was incredibly prevalent when they were growing up.

It was not terribly prevalent for me, but it's not bad. It's not great, but not bad. Better than most balognas, for example.

I won't touch Balogna, Spam is fine. I don't normally buy or eat it, but you can make quite edible food with it if you happen to have some, and it stays good pretty much indefinitely, so it's a fine thing to have some of if you want to stockpile.

[Emanick]

It's baffling to me that there are several of you out there - people who are otherwise intelligent and respectable! - who evidently prefer spam to bologna. I've loved bologna ever since I was a small child. Spam, on the other hand, is basically the dictionary definition of mediocrity.

[Schroeswald]

I am of the opinion that neither are good and I’ll have other, better meat please.

[Jasdoif]

It's baffling to me that there are several of you out there - people who are otherwise intelligent and respectable! - who evidently prefer spam to bologna. I've loved bologna ever since I was a small child. Spam, on the other hand, is basically the dictionary definition of mediocrity.

It's true; spam is mediocre where bologna is disgusting. I've never liked bologna, even as a small child. Spam is good baked or (as a supporting component) fried, and the flavored varieties are much better than the standard; whereas bologna...is best left for people who actually like it, such as my mother.

Looking at the ingredient list on Oscar Meyer's bologna (the brand we always had), I would guess it's the use of corn syrup as a binder that gives it such a repulsive flavor and texture; as I like the listed seasoning ingredients in it.

[Ruck]

It's baffling to me that there are several of you out there - people who are otherwise intelligent and respectable! - who evidently prefer spam to bologna. I've loved bologna ever since I was a small child. Spam, on the other hand, is basically the dictionary definition of mediocrity.

Well, are we talking something like real mortadella, or just Oscar Mayer in the plastic package?

[Emanick]

Well, are we talking something like real mortadella, or just Oscar Mayer in the plastic package?

I couldn’t tell you, to be honest. All the bologna I’ve ever eaten has been from my parents’ fridge; I’ve never bought bologna for myself as a grown adult. (I’m told it’s unhealthy, and while I’m pretty bad at getting rid of poor eating habits, I’m reasonably good at avoiding picking up new ones.)

[Peelee]

It's baffling to me that there are several of you out there - people who are otherwise intelligent and respectable! - who evidently prefer spam to bologna. I've loved bologna ever since I was a small child. Spam, on the other hand, is basically the dictionary definition of mediocrity.

As one of those who is not among the "otherwise intelligent and respectable" crowd of spam-likers, it's almost as if having a wife and dad who both grew up with it out of necessity and know how to use it effectively can make you rethink your opinion on spam.

[Hardcore]

Bologna is an Italian pasta recipe afaik. What's wrong with that?

[Grey_Wolf_c]

Bologna is an Italian pasta recipe afaik. What's wrong with that?

You're thinking bolognese sauce. I believe they are talking about bologna sausage.

GW

[Throknor]

How good a bologna is depends on the source. Fresh from a deli and locally sourced is your best bet. Getting a package from a wall and you might as well chug a bottle of preservatives.

[Fyraltari]

Bologna is an Italian pasta recipe afaik. What's wrong with that?

You're thinking bolognese sauce. I believe they are talking about bologna sausage.

GW

I made the same mistake, yesterday but the thought of someone disliking bolognese sauce like that was so odd I went and checked before I posted.

[Blue Dragon]

About the reveal of the Great Beast In Darkness (who I think is the Snarl's offspring):

The whole point why he is being keep in darkness is because he is the "Xykon's secret weapon" and there will be a proper introduction:

"You foolish mortals can never defeat the might of Xykon, not when I have the power of THIS on my side!"

…but he is not on Xykon's side anymore (1037 - Beast Practices) and while I am not that into speculation, looks like a natural conclusion to that storyline.

[Rev_Slade]

Newb here, please reply gently - I'd like to hang out.

Has some form of Faerie Dragon been discussed in regards to the MitD?
Fey Dragons, by some D&D definitions, have physical & magical damage absorption & redirection.
MitD doesn't have to be ultra-strong if it can absorb & redirect magic/damage (Belknar's dagger attacks into a localized earthquake; Miko's attacks into flinging her and her horse through a wall and miles away; Xykon's Meteor Swarm into a Word of Recall for V & O'chul (yeah, that's a bit of a stretch, but ... maybe? MitD HAD just witnessed Redcloak use a Word of Recall, and there was V's dispelled Teleport hanging...Had V previously cast some sort of Sanctuary spell near Durkon?))
Faerie Dragons are not usually considered true dragons, so V's dragon-kill may not affect Faerie Dragons.
I've read that Rich likes to oversize Faeries anyway.
Faerie Dragons don't commonly speak, although many know how to.
A shimmering Faerie Dragon would be hard to see and possibly cause confusion/vertigo.
Oh, and a Fey creature is a natural fit for a Deux Ex Machina.
Is there a Planar-aware Fey Dragon?

Anyway, some things
- Rev.Slade

[Grey_Wolf_c]

Faerie Dragon

Anyone has a link to the statblock of this? The SRD doesn't seem to list it, and the only reference I can find - in the pfsrd, which I don't much trust - is both too weak (STR 9), too small (tiny), too late (references a 2011 book) and lacks any of those absortion powers Rev_Slade mentions, so I have no way of learning how they would work.

Faerie Dragons are not usually considered true dragons, so V's dragon-kill may not affect Faerie Dragons.

It wasn't a "dragon kill" spell, it was familicide - it targeted only creatures related to the black dragon.

Thanks,

Grey Wolf

[Rev_Slade]

I'll try to re-find the page regarding damage absorption/redirection. I had already closed it.
EDIT: I can't post links yet) https[colon]//wow.fandom.com/wiki/Faerie_dragon

"Familicide", yes, thank you. I didn't look it up specifically and my memory failed the exact recall.
- Rev.Slade

[Rev_Slade]

One point I was trying to make was that the MitD's abilities seem to happen only right after major unresolved physical/magical actions nearby or against it.

Even if not a Faerie Dragon specifically, being able to absorb/redirect physical/magical energies would mean that MitD doesn't have to be naturally physically nor magically strong.

- Rev.Slade

[Grey_Wolf_c]

https://wow.fandom.com/wiki/Faerie_dragon

That seems to be a wiki from world of warcraft, not D&D3.5. I'm afraid I am unaware of any such reflection powers in 3.5.

GW

[InvisibleBison]

The 3.5 stats for the faerie dragon are in the Draconomicon, and they're not at all suitable for being MitD.

[Rev_Slade]

That seems to be a wiki from world of warcraft, not D&D3.5. I'm afraid I am unaware of any such reflection powers in 3.5.

GW

Well, thank you for entertaining my thought. I don't know what all references are allowed for OOTS story rules.
- Rev.Slade

[Grey_Wolf_c]

Well, thank you for entertaining my thought. I don't know what all references are allowed for OOTS story rules.
- Rev.Slade

We know from comic #1 that the ruleset they operate under is 3.5. We know from the pit of monsters plot that creatures from previous D&D editions (specifically, 2nd ed) are still around, if their statblocks haven't been updated. We also know, from what Rich has said, that no further rules updates will be applied (i.e. they didn't update to 4th ed when it came out - other than a joke in one of the side books where they meet their alternate versions from the 4th ed edition), and I believe he also affirmatively denied that they'd update to current (5th) ed.

We further know that some non-D&D mechanics can exists - see usage of pokeballs whenever paladins summon their animals - but it is generally accepted that if something has a statblock in D&D3.5, then that's the statblock in-comic. And especially for MitD, it seems unlikely in the extreme that Rich would have a non-d&d version of a d&d creature.

Grey Wolf

[Jasdoif]

Faerie Dragon

Anyone has a link to the statblock of this? The SRD doesn't seem to list it, and the only reference I can find - in the pfsrd, which I don't much trust - is both too weak (STR 9), too small (tiny), too late (references a 2011 book) and lacks any of those absortion powers Rev_Slade mentions, so I have no way of learning how they would work.

As InvisibleBison mentions, the version in "main 3.5"'s Draconomicon doesn't have much to offer; it feels like "add elf qualities onto a dragon" was the design goal, if sharing the oddly specific immunity to sleep and paralysis is any indication. None of the spell-like abilities account for anything MitD (unless you contort charm monster towards explaining some of the reactions at the circus, though the image in WotC's gallery doesn't seem outlandish enough for the rest); and while being able to advance from Small all the way up to Huge is kind of neat, it's not really a feature.

Meanwhile, the version in the Blizzard-licensed Alliance Player's Guide is largely a direct port of their abilities in Warcraft III; and neither "immune to magic" nor "damages nearby spellcasters when they cast spells" nor "phases out of physical space briefly after taking damage" seems to fit what we're going for here.

[Rev_Slade]

I hear you. Each of you.

Not a faerie dragon. ok.

I still think that there is a connection between the occurrences of nearby/personal physical/spell damage and MitD's ability use, and the LACK of that ability use (even/especially when it tries to use a known ability) when there is no precursory physical/spell damage having occurred.

The one time I can find an exception to this is when the MitD "STOP"s Haley and Belknar. Maybe there are other occurrences where the MitD performs some outstanding physical/magical feat without a prefixed event, but I don't know if it. Enlighten me if you can.
- Rev.Slade

[Ruck]

I hear you. Each of you.

Not a faerie dragon. ok.

I still think that there is a connection between the occurrences of nearby/personal physical/spell damage and MitD's ability use, and the LACK of that ability use (even/especially when it tries to use a known ability) when there is no precursory physical/spell damage having occurred.

The one time I can find an exception to this is when the MitD "STOP"s Haley and Belknar. Maybe there are other occurrences where the MitD performs some outstanding physical/magical feat without a prefixed event, but I don't know if it. Enlighten me if you can.
- Rev.Slade

I'm not sure if I can answer your specific line of inquiry there, but since you're new, you may have missed my case for my guess which is near the top of the thread. That's about all I can provide in terms of possible enlightenment. Sorry it's not more helpful to your specific question.

[Crusher]

(who I think is the Snarl's offspring)

Noted.

Its been a while so its probably worth reminding folks (and telling new folks) that I'm keeping a running list of everyone's predictions for what species MitD turns out to be belong to. Anyone is welcome to make a formal guess at any time, or change their guess. Just post it here or message me.

[RandomToon]

I hear you. Each of you.

Not a faerie dragon. ok.

I still think that there is a connection between the occurrences of nearby/personal physical/spell damage and MitD's ability use, and the LACK of that ability use (even/especially when it tries to use a known ability) when there is no precursory physical/spell damage having occurred.

The one time I can find an exception to this is when the MitD "STOP"s Haley and Belknar. Maybe there are other occurrences where the MitD performs some outstanding physical/magical feat without a prefixed event, but I don't know if it. Enlighten me if you can.
- Rev.Slade

That it isn't a 3.x or even D&D monster is not unprecedented so that does not automatically rule the faerie dragon out. There is a list in the suggestions of one of the mobs using CoC versions (Hunting Horror) and others that are not even in D&D (the Wumpus, the Loch Nes Monster, although they are not really serious suggestions).

My own suggestion is the Grue from Wishbringer, which is not a D&D mob. And I have a suggestion of Mediator, which does TECHNICALLY explain all feats (although does not make sense from a narrative sense, unless it was trying to save Nirvana by coming to the Prime Material and doing stuff, plus the personality is all wrong).

In regards to the reaction in the circus...pretty much everyone had a negative reaction except for the "evil" presences. The goblins are as a race evil and seemed unaffected, and the kids were even excited by it. This is one of the reasons people though a negative CHA could be applicable since they act as positives for evil characters. I have scoured a ton of source books for creatures negative CHA and did not find any that fit the bill.

The personality leads me to think Gully Dwarf, but it explains exactly zero of the feats. Maybe Half Gully Dwarf, Half Recursive Green Dragon?

[Grey_Wolf_c]

In regards to the reaction in the circus...pretty much everyone had a negative reaction except for the "evil" presences. The goblins are as a race evil and seemed unaffected, and the kids were even excited by it.

There is no reason to believe that RE's oldest child is evil, and Rich has outright stated RE was TN, and that small children aren't evil unless shown to be explicitly evil. A far more parsimonious explanation is that the goblin family has been to the act often enough to not be surprised/affected by MitD's appearance anymore. And of course, both the wizard and the woman that think MitD is beautiful also can't be said to have negative reactions at all, and both are human.

Grey Wolf