OOTS #1225 - The Discussion Thread

[Rogar Demonblud]

I'd think the second member of the Duo was Serini's kid, (which naturally would make the other one Serini) resulting from a liaison with Draketooth, but Familicide would have killed such a child, right?

Familicide would kill them both. The kid for being descended from the dragon, and Serini for being related to the kid.

[Coyote0715]

It might be Serini, due to the fact that there appears to be a journal next to the bed on the stool. Serini does seem to like keeping journals....

[bunsen_h]

For some reason, my feel was "coziest greenhouse at the North Pole" but then I realized that the walls look like cinder blocks, not glass.

Whatever the wall material is, the darts that missed the dartboard are sticking into it (or to it).

[KorvinStarmast]

Well duh, you're not the protagonists! Of course you're getting captured

Elan got captured by bandits/thieves in NCrtPB, and again by Orcs in DStP.

No offense, Lien, but O-Chul is out-palading you again.

Concur.

[Rogar Demonblud]

I can't find the page. How does this cloak compare to the ones worn by the Holey Brotherhood?

[KorvinStarmast]

I can't find the page. How does this cloak compare to the ones worn by the Holey Brotherhood?

Not a good fit.

I have an idea: the cloak is sized for an adult, but the current creature who is stirring the pot is the child of the adult who is standing on a stool. The child is stirring the concoction in the pot and chose to 'dress up like mom' or 'dress up like dad' and emulate their pot stirring behavior. (Yes, pun intended).

Also, just above the handles on the nearer of the two wardrobes/closets, is a yellow square.

Is that a 'to do' list, a shopping list, or, a window/hatch/opening in that wardrobe? I don't see a matching one on the other wardrobe.

To whomever posited 'that thing on the table near the bed is a diary' - nice one.

[Breccia]

"I guess we're finally doing this. Fun while it lasted, right?"
"What was, boss?"
"Existing."

Assuming the speakers are related to the pot stirrer (not ready to rule out two halflings/kobolds/one of each in a trenchcoat...yet) I'm really interested in hearing their motives right now.

Those lines above, from one year ago? Either they were some kind of strange summon/construct that stops existing after their task is complete, or they're talking about the Snarl winning, or they're talking about what will happen if they get caught helping.

1) Self-aware constructs that are invisible and capable of speech aren't super common. I definitely can't think of one that comes with poison darts.

2) We're back to the IFCC taKing V. Removing Lien and O-Chul could lead to a struggle that, in turn, could destroy the final gate, ending the universe. Again. But in that case, why not kill them? The voice(s) seems clearly up to that option, but it wasn't their first. It also feels risky. As demonstated, the OotS could, for example, just open negotiations with Redcloak. Also, if Redcloak wins, the Dark One doesn't want the gate broken. I have no idea if the Snarl would permakill the Dark One when it escapes, and I don't think the Dark One knows either.

3) The IFCC almost certainly has the power to wipe out the very soul of a minion of theirs that betrays them. Possibly one of them is going behind the backs of the other two, by which I mean, sending minions to do their dirty work. They (or whoever) could be ready to explain everything to the captive paladins. But...why poison them and drag them away to do that? V had a contract to that prevented the IFCC from outright murder, but the paladins have no such arrangement. And what would the IFCC, or again anyone else really, tell the paladins, true or false, that would work in their favor?

None of these really feel like solid options. I'm missing something, and can't wait to see what it is.

Oh, and I suppose

Spoiler

Show

It could be what's left of the Eastern Pantheon, their color is green after all

[Jasdoif]

Whatever the wall material is, the darts that missed the dartboard are sticking into it (or to it).

Well, they're probably not adamantine darts, +3000gp each would get expensive in a hurry.

[The MunchKING]

The cauldron-stirrer could be wearing gloves, so the skin color could be anything

Edit: the darts in the wall, away from the dartboard, indicate that whoever was playing is *not* a halfling

Who ever was playing ALSO isn't the one who captured the Paladins, since they were dropped with accurate shots.

[Ron Miel]

The middle painting is two symbols. They look like a 2 with a horn and S-shaped tail, and 4 with a 3-shaped tail.

Maybe it's the numbers 1 2 3 4 5 ?

[P. G. Macer]

I’m a bit surprised that only two people (as far as I saw) speculated that the cloaked figure could be wearing gloves, since I think that’s rather probable given that the shade of olive used is a rather glove-y color.

I also think that judging by the contours of the cloak, a halfling on stilts is likely, especially since even if it’s somewhat predictable, the comedic value of the reveal would still have some impact, though it would likely be overshadowed by the dramatic value of the reveal if said halfling happens to be Ms. Toormuck. As for why the figure is wearing stilts, that’s rather simple: they can’t reach the top of the cauldron without them, and a footstool is far less mobile.

[Gift Jeraff]

Could be the Holey Brotherhood with a redesigned robe.

"I guess we're finally doing this. Fun while it lasted, right?"
"What was, boss?"
"Existing."

Assuming the speakers are related to the pot stirrer (not ready to rule out two halflings/kobolds/one of each in a trenchcoat...yet) I'm really interested in hearing their motives right now.

Those lines above, from one year ago? Either they were some kind of strange summon/construct that stops existing after their task is complete, or they're talking about the Snarl winning, or they're talking about what will happen if they get caught helping.

1) Self-aware constructs that are invisible and capable of speech aren't super common. I definitely can't think of one that comes with poison darts.

2) We're back to the IFCC taKing V. Removing Lien and O-Chul could lead to a struggle that, in turn, could destroy the final gate, ending the universe. Again. But in that case, why not kill them? The voice(s) seems clearly up to that option, but it wasn't their first. It also feels risky. As demonstated, the OotS could, for example, just open negotiations with Redcloak. Also, if Redcloak wins, the Dark One doesn't want the gate broken. I have no idea if the Snarl would permakill the Dark One when it escapes, and I don't think the Dark One knows either.

3) The IFCC almost certainly has the power to wipe out the very soul of a minion of theirs that betrays them. Possibly one of them is going behind the backs of the other two, by which I mean, sending minions to do their dirty work. They (or whoever) could be ready to explain everything to the captive paladins. But...why poison them and drag them away to do that? V had a contract to that prevented the IFCC from outright murder, but the paladins have no such arrangement. And what would the IFCC, or again anyone else really, tell the paladins, true or false, that would work in their favor?

None of these really feel like solid options. I'm missing something, and can't wait to see what it is.

Oh, and I suppose

Spoiler

Show

It could be what's left of the Eastern Pantheon, their color is green after all

Maybe they're aware that the story is reaching its conclusion and every character will cease to exist once it ends.

[Breccia]

Maybe they're aware that the story is reaching its conclusion and every character will cease to exist once it ends.

So...a bard, then?

[DukeBG]

The bed is "human sized" and the book on the nightstand implies the bed is actually used. However, on the other hand – the wardrobe handles are located quite low, more suiting for a smaller humanoid.

[bunsen_h]

I’m a bit surprised that only two people (as far as I saw) speculated that the cloaked figure could be wearing gloves, since I think that’s rather probable given that the shade of olive used is a rather glove-y color.

I also think that judging by the contours of the cloak, a halfling on stilts is likely, especially since even if it’s somewhat predictable, the comedic value of the reveal would still have some impact, though it would likely be overshadowed by the dramatic value of the reveal if said halfling happens to be Ms. Toormuck. As for why the figure is wearing stilts, that’s rather simple: they can’t reach the top of the cauldron without them, and a footstool is far less mobile.

I agree about the gloves. I'd want to be wearing gloves if I was stirring a large pot full of liquid that was glooping and bubbling like that.

The background in panel 4 isn't the same as that in panel 3, though the relative positions of the captor and the pot are very similar. This suggests that the captor is circling the pot as they stir it, as borne out by the cloak/coat appearing to drag on the floor.

But wearing a too-long cloak/coat is bad enough when one is on foot. Wearing it while wearing stilts would be very awkward. Doing it while walking would be even worse. Doing it while walking around a boiling cauldron... no thanks.

EDIT: But doing it while levitating wouldn't be so bad.

[Emanick]

Well, they're probably not adamantine darts, +3000gp each would get expensive in a hurry.

They can probably be reused indefinitely in a game of darts, though. I know that’s not RAW, but it makes sense that throwing them at a dart board would produce much less wear-and-tear than combat would.

[Ironsmith]

Who ever was playing ALSO isn't the one who captured the Paladins, since they were dropped with accurate shots.

Not to mention being strong enough to carry a pair of unconscious Paladins in plate mail. Between that, the fact that one of them addressed the other as "boss", and that cauldron guy doesn't match up physically with what you'd expect, my guess is "larger organization, and the Paladins were found by a scouting party/patrol/whatever".

[Jasdoif]

They can probably be reused indefinitely in a game of darts, though. I know that’s not RAW, but it makes sense that throwing them at a dart board would produce much less wear-and-tear than combat would.

It is RAW, actually; darts are thrown weapons, not ammunition, so they don't break in normal use. Not being ammunition is also why it's +3000gp each instead of +60gp each.

[Yanisa]

Maybe it's the numbers 1 2 3 4 5 ?

Possible, especially if you see it a kids drawing. The spacing is a bit weird, like the 1 being on atop of the 2. Or the 3 being super close against the 4. Or the 5 just hanging in the middle half a line down. Also the the 3 and 5 miss a part of their upper line, the 2 is too angular and the 5 is too round to be called "proper" Arabic numerals. A child doodling/learning numbers can easily explains all these things.

As for the order, it's 1 2 5 4 3, with the 1 being a line higher because it's on the 2. And the 5 being half a line lower. Maybe relevant, maybe we are literally speculating over a child's scribble.

[ByzantiumBhuka]

Maybe relevant, maybe we are literally speculating over a child's scribble.

Are the scribbles connected to the Order of the Scribble? Does the order of the scribbles mean anything? Could the first one be a Scribbler and the other two just scribbles?

[Emanick]

It is RAW, actually; darts are thrown weapons, not ammunition, so they don't break in normal use. Not being ammunition is also why it's +3000gp each instead of +60gp each.

Oh, neat! Whoops, I should have double-checked before posting.

[Tvtyrant]

Also the crayon drawings are clearly of Charizard, Venusaur and Blastoise so we know it's a pokemon trainer. Seeing as how the dungeons are full of monsters clearly it is Serini.

[Cicciograna]

Also the crayon drawings are clearly of Charizard, Venusaur and Blastoise so we know it's a pokemon trainer. Seeing as how the dungeons are full of monsters clearly it is Serini.

So we know that the entity is some kind of 10yrs old child of Schroedinger gender (collapses into a specific one only after observation), and that he bravely travels the world capturing wild creatures and pitting them in battle against other trainers. I would say that O'Chul makes an excellent specimen of Steel/Fighting type, while Lien, who is probably hard but not as hard as O'Chul, is Rock/Fighting.

[Jasdoif]

Oh, neat! Whoops, I should have double-checked before posting.

I blame shuriken and their "thrown except ammunition except mid-throw" weirdness.

[Yanisa]

So we know that the entity is some kind of 10yrs child of Schroedinger gender (collapses into a specific one only after observation), and that he bravley travels the world capturing wild creatures and pitting them in battle against other trainers. I would say that O'Chul makes an excellent specimen of Steel/Fighting type, while Lien, who is probably hard but not as hard as O'Chul, is Rock/Fighting.

Lien is clearly a Water type, maybe Water/Fighting. (For the record: She summons a shark, breathes underwater and lives near and on boats.)

[Cicciograna]

Lien is clearly a Water type, maybe Water/Fighting. (For the record: She summons a shark, breathes underwater and lives near and on boats.)

You're absolutely right!

[Jordok]

I have an idea: the cloak is sized for an adult, but the current creature who is stirring the pot is the child of the adult who is standing on a stool. The child is stirring the concoction in the pot and chose to 'dress up like mom' or 'dress up like dad' and emulate their pot stirring behavior. (Yes, pun intended).

Loving this idea. That would explain the drawings as well. And add a comical twist.

But thinking now the child hypothesis would give at least three characters in the new group - the boss, the minion and the child? Or is the child also the boss? Do all three live together in this cozy warehouse?

[Peelee]

I'm going with the "these guys got sent by Tiamat" theory.

I'll take that bet.

[Jordok]

I agree about the gloves. I'd want to be wearing gloves if I was stirring a large pot full of liquid that was glooping and bubbling like that.

But wearing a too-long cloak/coat is bad enough when one is on foot. Wearing it while wearing stilts would be very awkward. Doing it while walking would be even worse. Doing it while walking around a boiling cauldron... no thanks.

EDIT: But doing it while levitating wouldn't be so bad.

Hmm I would say the presence of the ladder makes it unlikely that here lives someone who's used to casually flying around the place. But maybe more than one person lives here.

[TRH]

It would be really weird for Tiamat to become a major player now, coming off of an arc with a whole bunch of gods, and the arc before that being one where we were on the Western Continent, where she's widely worshipped. And the arc before that being the one with evil dragons.