OOTS #1227 - The Discussion Thread

[The Giant]

New comic is up.

[Ruck]

Love the pace this is moving at for the beginning of the book-- makes me all the more excited when we really get to the climactic action.

Also, this neatly answers several reader questions from the last one. I do look forward to more of Serini and the paladins talking (which I assume is what has to happen here).

[Cicciograna]

"We were friends."

Serini might be an outcast from halfling society, but she is still a halfling at heart.
And at this point, I feel that she misjudged her fellows: had she gone back to halfling society, she would have probably been accepted, because "she was their friend".

[UnintensifiedFa]

Well, that settles all the debate about "What's the other half" (Or 1/4th I guess).

Interesting to see the relationship of adventurers and other monstrous races explored, I imagine Redcloak and Serini could have some evocative discussions.

Makes me think whoever the Orange guy is is probably a Monstrous race/creature or something... probably not another troll (as those are green), but given her relationships with monstrous societies I'd bet it's something on that side.

[RMS Oceanic]

Well that looked painful.

[Mastikator]

Serini is now my favorite Order of the Scribble member.

[ebarde]

Oof, this honestly might be the most graphic strip in the comic for me. Following the logic that she has partial green skin and a green voice, orange voice might be of some species with orange skin/fur.

[Toper]

Only O-Chul could be that concerned about politeness while chained to a wall! I do love that a little of the old Serini seems to show at the end... and that it strains even O-Chul's patience.

[Synesthesy]

O-chul became better every time he has on screen.

[dancrilis]

I kindof wonder if Serini might be evil.
Hitting defenceless prisoners and providing them with false hope of freedom doesn't exactly scream 'good' at any rate.

[UnintensifiedFa]

"We were friends."

Serini might be an outcast from halfling society, but she is still a halfling at heart.
And at this point, I feel that she misjudged her fellows: had she gone back to halfling society, she would have probably been accepted, because "she was their friend".

Would she have? Maybe by some, but we've also seen how Monstrous races are treated in many Humanoid societies... I think her judgment has merit.
Also, I'm not sure that that's Serini's only reason (even if it is the one she said), I imagine seeing Xykon in possession of the location of every gate would be enough to get her on High alert as well. Plus, if she has any way of knowing how many gates are left (which seems likely given Girard's similar device) she'd know that this is the last gate, and is of much greater importance.

[EmperorSarda]

Looks like halfling foot hair is stronger than Troll blood transfusions.

[Lord Torath]

Thanks, Rich!

I was pretty sure O'Chul would be the one to get the right answer, since he made friends with the CitD.

[UnintensifiedFa]

Oof, this honestly might be the most graphic strip in the comic for me. Following the logic that she has partial green skin and a green voice, orange voice might be of some species with orange skin/fur.

Yeah, but it should also be something quite large, given how it was able to carry so much so far apart... I think dragon was high on the list, any other larger creatures with orange skin/fur?

[ebarde]

I kindof wonder if Serini might be evil.
Hitting defenceless prisoners and providing them with false hope of freedom doesn't exactly scream 'good' at any rate.

I mean, that's somewhat quaint compared to a lot of stuff good aligned characters have gotten away with in this comic. I think she's good but very loopy due to the extreme isolation and all.

[Schroeswald]

Whatever could this mean for the themes of the comic with regards to monster races, it could literally mean anything.

[RMS Oceanic]

Would she have? Maybe by some, but we've also seen how Monstrous races are treated in many Humanoid societies... I think her judgment has merit.
Also, I'm not sure that that's Serini's only reason (even if it is the one she said), I imagine seeing Xykon in possession of the location of every gate would be enough to get her on High alert as well. Plus, if she has any way of knowing how many gates are left (which seems likely given Girard's similar device) she'd know that this is the last gate, and is of much greater importance.

Well Utterly Dwarfed ended with what is now almost confirmed to be her voice seemingly resigned to nonexistence, so there's something else going on here.

[Fyraltari]

C'me on Lien, you walked right into that one! You need to spend time with Haley.

Only O-Chul could be that concerned about politeness while chained to a wall! I do love that a little of the old Serini seems to show at the end... and that it strains even O-Chul's patience.

1) Politeness is always welcomed.
2) He still hopes to ally with her.
3) Being chained to a wall is a poor moment to be rude as you can't defend yourself if the opposite party takes offense.

[UnintensifiedFa]

Well Utterly Dwarfed ended with what is now almost confirmed to be her voice seemingly resigned to nonexistence, so there's something else going on here.

This has been discussed thoroughly, but I came to the conclusion that they aren't necessarily resigned to nonexistence, but more of a jab that what they're doing could result at the end of the world at any point. Of course, I think we'll need to see further into Serini's plans to know exactly what that line meant.

[BruceGee]

This does raise the question, why didn't Xykon loot her magic items along with her diary? We know that he is unashamed to loot, both before and after this incident. Ah well, probably a question that doesn't need to be answered for a throwaway line.

[Sam K]

I kindof wonder if Serini might be evil.
Hitting defenceless prisoners and providing them with false hope of freedom doesn't exactly scream 'good' at any rate.

I quite like the idea of there being an evil defender of the gates; being evil doesn't always mean wanting world domination, after all.

But I would say her current behavior is neutral-ish. Finding out how your prisoners (who are breaking an old agreement to stay away) react is a form of interrogation, which is quite reasonable. Not even lawful good people HAVE to be nice to prisoners. Hitting them is a bit mean, though.

And yeah, O'Chul could be the breakout character! A genuinely interesting paladin.

[RMS Oceanic]

This has been discussed thoroughly, but I came to the conclusion that they aren't necessarily resigned to nonexistence, but more of a jab that what they're doing could result at the end of the world at any point. Of course, I think we'll need to see further into Serini's plans to know exactly what that line meant.

Fair, but her intention to handicap two Paladins (in terms of tactical knowledge, at least) who I assume very much like existing doesn't strike me as the most constructive course of action. At best it feels like Girard-style resentment.

Also I wonder if Belkar's own character development will be involved in appealing to her in some way. One halfling outcast to another.

[danielxcutter]

..Huh, you know, considering the events of How the Paladin Got His Scar, I think there's a very good chance of O-Chul being able to talk Serini into helping them. And maybe that's how they'll manage to convince Redcloak to get his head out of his ass and throw out the Plan.

[factotum]

This does raise the question, why didn't Xykon loot her magic items along with her diary? We know that he is unashamed to loot, both before and after this incident. Ah well, probably a question that doesn't need to be answered for a throwaway line.

Because Serini is a Rogue and Xykon doesn't give three hoots what magic items she might have, because none of them are likely to be useful for him? After all, when he's not killing or hurting people for funsies, Xykon is actually pretty pragmatic.

[UnintensifiedFa]

This does raise the question, why didn't Xykon loot her magic items along with her diary? We know that he is unashamed to loot, both before and after this incident. Ah well, probably a question that doesn't need to be answered for a throwaway line.

Maybe he did, but there were some that were more difficult to remove?

Or it could just be Xykon's Chaotic Evil nature coming through, he may be ruthless, but he's also pretty arbitrary, if he doesn't get it now, he figures he can just take it later. Remember, to Xykon, everyone is pitifully weak compared to him...

But you're right, it's not super critical to have this answered.

[HUMVEE Driver]

First time we've seen her... also the first time we've seen that level of gore. Yuck.

[Zhorn]

Sounds like they'd get along with Roy. Reminds me of his dealings with the orcs when he first met Durkon.

[Vrock Bait]

I’m so confused, isn’t Serini an epic-level rogue? Why couldn’t she just Evasion past whatever Xykon did?

Or maybe she did Evasion and instead of being totally disintegrated she was only half disintegrated?

[RMS Oceanic]

Maybe he did, but there were some that were more difficult to remove?

Or it could just be Xykon's Chaotic Evil nature coming through, he may be ruthless, but he's also pretty arbitrary, if he doesn't get it now, he figures he can just take it later. Remember, to Xykon, everyone is pitifully weak compared to him...

But you're right, it's not super critical to have this answered.

Notice when Xykon is blasting her she still has her arm and leg. Maybe because the spell wasn't finished yet, or maybe he did loot her...

[RMS Oceanic]

I’m so confused, isn’t Serini an epic-level rogue? Why couldn’t she just Evasion past whatever Xykon did?

Or maybe she did Evasion and instead of being totally disintegrated she was only half disintegrated?

Epic Level Casters outpace other Epic Characters by +lots. It's possible he caught her flat footed so she couldn't evade.