Why no Cloister now?

[SlashDash]

The author of this strip has a tendency of spreading out his little Chekov guns and hide their meaning until the moment arrives for them to fire.

I've been thinking that we have seen several sendings in this book which should clearly be an indication that Xykon did not put up the Cloister spell that prevented the party from reaching Haley and Belkar in Don't Split the Party.

Now the reason why from an in-character perspective is easy to explain, Redcloak wants Jirix to have an open channel which could be important if anything happens to the rift in Gobtoppia.

But what about an off-play reason?
In other words, is this a slight hint that perhaps we should ponder if anyone is going to be sending a message from the outside or possibly a non-epic character would teleport and join in at some point?

I'm betting on either Hinjo (prophecy) or Miron (That cliffhanger in the desert can't possibly be something the party doesn't find out about)

Any other guess who might show up?

[Dr.Gunsforhands]

Ooh! I think I know this one!

Xykon probably doesn't care about letting Redcloak talk to anyone. I think he's just saving his good spell slots for the dungeons. Narratively, we already needed O-Chul and Lien to use and receive sending spells to get information to the OOTS and to Hinjo.

[Xihirli]

Does Cloister use a spell slot when he casts it from his headband?

[Fyraltari]

Maybe Lien and O-Chul's ledge was out of range?
Also maybe the effects of the last time Xykon cast it havent worn off yet and since the people targeted are still affected even outside of the area, he hasn't bothered recasting it.

[Metastachydium]

Does Cloister use a spell slot when he casts it from his headband?

It would seem that he doesn't cast it from the headband; it's merely a focus needed to cast the spell. (That said, whenever it is cast, Dorukan's yellow casting aura is seen, so Xykon's initial assessment might be wrong.)

[Psyren]

Does Cloister use a spell slot when he casts it from his headband?

Epic slots work differently.

[Nymrod]

Xykon likely has only two epic spell slots (maybe three). It is very possible he starts his day with Epic Mage Armor which means a spell slot down. So if he uses Cloister then he possibly won't be able to use Superb Dispelling that day.

Also it is very much possible that Cloister has other costs than spell slots. Given the large area of the effect and that there is no noticeable backlash damage or need for ritual casting (other casters contributing spell slots) it most likely costs XP every time it is cast (and/or has a longer casting time, probably the full 11 minutes).

[Nymrod]

It would seem that he doesn't cast it from the headband; it's merely a focus needed to cast the spell. (That said, whenever it is cast, Dorukan's yellow casting aura is seen, so Xykon's initial assessment might be wrong.)

Given the nature of the spell, if I had to model it in 3.5 terms it would be a mythal that uses that headband as a capstone (since a focus or spell components are not part of epic spells outside the Mythal seed).

Honestly I think 2e's True Dwemers were by far superior as a system to build epic spells with, especially if you want to build spells that also fit a narrative.

[Fyraltari]

Honestly I think 2e's True Dwemers were by far superior

They might have erased themselves from reality, but these guys had fully-functionning automatons when nobody else had even figured iron out, they built a god and they took exactly zero **** from anybody (D)Aedra included.

Gotta respect that.
This is an Elder Scrolls joke.

[crayzz]

Xykon likely has only two epic spell slots (maybe three). It is very possible he starts his day with Epic Mage Armor which means a spell slot down. So if he uses Cloister then he possibly won't be able to use Superb Dispelling that day.

Also it is very much possible that Cloister has other costs than spell slots. Given the large area of the effect and that there is no noticeable backlash damage or need for ritual casting (other casters contributing spell slots) it most likely costs XP every time it is cast (and/or has a longer casting time, probably the full 11 minutes).

A single casting of Cloister lasts at minimum 21 weeks, so I don't think spell slot preservation or casting time would be realistic impediments here, although maybe Xykon was feeling extremely impatient and didn't want to miss even a single day of searching. XP costs likely wouldn't be an issue either, given the constant dungeon delving they're doing.

[RatElemental]

Well they're at the north pole and not a major, central, well known (former) human capital city. It's also the last gate. He might just not see the point of keeping people from figuring out which gate he's at since there's only the one left. The bugbears might have asked him not to too for some reason and he was in a good mood from gaining exp so he agreed.

[SlashDash]

Guys you are missing the point...

I'm not asking here why Xykon wouldn't cast the spell. I gave a reason myself.

I'm asking for a potential off-play reason why the author wouldn't want him to do it.
Those are two different things entirely.

[TooSoon]

Xykon likely has only two epic spell slots (maybe three). It is very possible he starts his day with Epic Mage Armor which means a spell slot down. So if he uses Cloister then he possibly won't be able to use Superb Dispelling that day.

Also it is very much possible that Cloister has other costs than spell slots. Given the large area of the effect and that there is no noticeable backlash damage or need for ritual casting (other casters contributing spell slots) it most likely costs XP every time it is cast (and/or has a longer casting time, probably the full 11 minutes).

We've seen Xykon cast Cloister, and it did not take 11 minutes. It seemed to be instant. While we can sometimes infer stuff happened off panel, that should never be the starting approach to things that appear to happen in real time (and in this instance it just seems wrong).

Like others, given the likely duration (at least 21 weeks, likely over 27) it seems like a poor excuse for not casting it.

[Werbaer]

But what about an off-play reason?
In other words, is this a slight hint that perhaps we should ponder if anyone is going to be sending a message from the outside or possibly a non-epic character would teleport and join in at some point?

Cloister would have prevented communication with O'Chul and Lien.

[Squire Doodad]

One thing that comes to mind is that Redcloak told Jirix they could Send to him for help.
We haven't seen it on-screen, but Redcloak may well be chatting with Jirix every week for status updates.

The Dolyesian explanation is undoubtedly that Lien and O-Chul needed to communicate with the Order, but in-universe I'm guessing Redcloak was the one who convinced Xykon not to burn a slot on it so he could maintain "intelligence on any potential invading armies" or something.

[Emanick]

Guys you are missing the point...

I'm not asking here why Xykon wouldn't cast the spell. I gave a reason myself.

I'm asking for a potential off-play reason why the author wouldn't want him to do it.
Those are two different things entirely.

I think this is sort of backwards. What narrative reason would Rich have to show Xykon re-casting Cloister? It's already served its story purpose; there's no reason to have him cast it again. (I suppose this could always change, of course.)

[Squire Doodad]

I think this is sort of backwards. What narrative reason would Rich have to show Xykon re-casting Cloister? It's already served its story purpose; there's no reason to have him cast it again. (I suppose this could always change, of course.)

Not to mention Team Evil was being rather lax until Durkon came in, and they're in the middle of the North Pole. Not exactly a place most people will want to go to.

[brian 333]

The in-game reason is very likely that Xykon saw no reason to cast the spell because, besides himself and a handful of people who he would like to kill, nobody even suspects there is anything of interest at the pole.

The out of character reason may involve many of the same reasons given in previous posts, but I also suspect something I've been waiting for is soon to occur.

We know about the IFCCs vessel and are awaiting its appearance, but what about the factions mentioned by the demon roaches?

I suspect that the other factions will begin to put a foot in the door in the relatively near future, and Cloister might make that problematic.

[Squire Doodad]

We know about the IFCCs vessel and are awaiting its appearance, but what about the factions mentioned by the demon roaches?

I suspect that the other factions will begin to put a foot in the door in the relatively near future, and Cloister might make that problematic.

If you do a bit of splintering, there's plenty of factions, and more to the point, Rich's reply to a comment about the "9 factions" is that the roaches lied.

"Team Evil, Paladins, Order, IFFC, Serini" is five as is, and at the time there were even more players left in the game like the Linear Guild and the like. Not to mention you could categorize "O-Chul/Lien/MitD" as being separate from the Paladins as a whole, Redcloak vs Xykon, etc etc. One way or another, it isn't particularly relevant.

[brian 333]

If you do a bit of splintering, there's plenty of factions, and more to the point, Rich's reply to a comment about the "9 factions" is that the roaches lied.

"Team Evil, Paladins, Order, IFFC, Serini" is five as is, and at the time there were even more players left in the game like the Linear Guild and the like. Not to mention you could categorize "O-Chul/Lien/MitD" as being separate from the Paladins as a whole, Redcloak vs Xykon, etc etc. One way or another, it isn't particularly relevant.

The numbers and composition of other factions is not so relevant to my point as the fact that some, (at least one,) are not currently present, and a Cloister might inconvenience them.

[Squire Doodad]

The numbers and composition of other factions is not so relevant to my point as the fact that some, (at least one,) are not currently present, and a Cloister might inconvenience them.

Even more relevant to your point is that the roach-claimed faction count is irrelevant

(More seriously, I'm not sure if IFFC's arrival would be stopped or not, but having Cloister up when they act would probably raise more questions about the mechanics of it, and that'd get messy)

[InvisibleBison]

I'm betting on either Hinjo (prophecy)

Prophecy? What prophecy?

[Fyraltari]

Prophecy? What prophecy?

There's a bonus strip where Sangwaan (the blin Azurite seer) tells Hinjo that Belkar will save his life twice.

He's done it once already. So, unless you count this (which you shouldn't), Hinjo is due to get back to the plot before the Belkster bites it.

Which wouldn't surprise me.

[Precure]

Are we sure there is no prophecy?

[Precure]

Oops! I mean Cloister!

[Emanick]

Even more relevant to your point is that the roach-claimed faction count is irrelevant

(More seriously, I'm not sure if IFFC's arrival would be stopped or not, but having Cloister up when they act would probably raise more questions about the mechanics of it, and that'd get messy)

Eh, Celestia can bypass Cloister, so it would make sense if the IFCC could, too.

[RatElemental]

Eh, Celestia can bypass Cloister, so it would make sense if the IFCC could, too.

Summoning spells have a specific exception built into it for them. Teleportation spells do not, but epic magic can overcome that as we saw with Darth V.

[Metastachydium]

Are we sure there is no prophecy?

There is no prophecy, citizen.

Summoning spells have a specific exception built into it for them. Teleportation spells do not, but epic magic can overcome that as we saw with Darth V.

Ghost!Roy wasn't summoned into the cloistered area though. He just kind of fell in.

[Fyraltari]

Ghost!Roy wasn't summoned into the cloistered area though. He just kind of fell in.

But Celia was. As was Lirian (which was the reason for the loophole in the spell).

[Metastachydium]

But Celia was. As was Lirian (which was the reason for the loophole in the spell).

Yes, I know about that loophole. My point is, rather, that we have seen a cloistered area accessed from the outer planes without resorting to epic magic or exploiting that loophole.