OOTS #1157 - The Discussion Thread.

[The Giant]

New comic is up.

[Angrith]

That certainly explains how the domination plan is supposed to work. And our heros can't dispel the domination. That's the part that really scares me.

[jayarsea]

Well, I'm excited! Now we see what the heroes have to contend with

[Kopmon]

:o
It’s happening!!

[Eragon123]

Giant, I must commend you to continually come up with infuriating but logical scenarios for our heroes to overcome and in such a comical way to boot.

[dmc91356]

Loving this.

Durkon and Minrah to the rescue (assuming she gets raised first, otherwise, Durkon to the rescue)!!

[Lord Torath]

And more of the the arcane rules of the Council of Clans are revealed. And you've got to love those Evil Cackles and Premature Gloating!

Thanks, Rich!

[The Pilgrim]

Finally, the Plan explained!

Let the hunting for flaws and plot holes in the scheme begin!

[Aeliren]

I think a Bardic Song of Freedom would work. It produces a magical effect, but it is not classified as either a spell or supernatural effect. It just falls under the category of bardic music.

[dmc91356]

Elan's not a dwarf, how is he getting in to sing his song?

[Corona]

It's the Blue Barrier of Plot Convenience!

[TerrickTerran]

Ahhh the villain gloating scene. Elan would certainly approve.

[Nith]

So since the exarch says he gained the knowledge from his sire (Vampire Durkon), can we assume Durkon knows it as well and the order will at least know what they need to make a plan about? Or was that knowledge from Hel and Durkon might not have gained it?

[xroads]

Very cool. I look forward to the heroes overcoming these obstacles.

But one question. Durkon said there was three rings. But the page only discusses two. Is there a third one being held in narrative suspense? Or am I misunderstanding.

[Grey_Wolf_c]

That's only two layers of defence, but Durkon mentioned three rings. Is there an inner-inner chamber? Or will they encounter difficulties even getting to the building?

ETA: Thor damnit, xroads

Grey Wolf

[nabcif]

I think a Bardic Song of Freedom would work. It produces a magical effect, but it is not classified as either a spell or supernatural effect. It just falls under the category of bardic music.

Ah, so we need to get Thirden there (or polymorph Elan)?

[understatement]

I hate to be that person, but --

early!!!!!

Also the Exarch's laugh is freaking hilarious! Reminds me of when RC and MiTD let out their evil laughs.

[Lord Torath]

I think a Bardic Song of Freedom would work. It produces a magical effect, but it is not classified as either a spell or supernatural effect. It just falls under the category of bardic music.

Elan's not a dwarf, though, so he can't penetrate the Orange Barrier. I presume the barriers (at least the blue one) are domes/spheres, rather than door wards, so tearing the walls down probably wouldn't work for by-passing them.

Do magic items count for spells and supernatural abilities? If Durkon brings a clerical Staff of Dispelling (or borrows one of Haley's wands), wound that count as casting a spell?

[Leftour]

Orange and blue. Subliminal portal tribute or just a coincidence?

[TRH]

Hang on, if Durkon or Hilgya were to cast Antimagic Field or Circle of Protection From Evil/Law between the orange and blue barriers, and then walk through, then that would suppress the domination effect, wouldn't it?

[Grey Watcher]

That certainly explains how the domination plan is supposed to work. And our heros can't dispel the domination. That's the part that really scares me.

Dusting the vampires before the vote actually happens would work. I think we've established that a domination ends if the vampire who initiated it is destroyed, right?

The said, I'm sure there are more interesting solutions as well.

Also, the Sudden Skylight hypothesis gains more traction. If we can't get the rest of the Order in through the door....

[Grey_Wolf_c]

Orange and blue. Subliminal portal tribute or just a coincidence?

Distinctive colours are distinctive. Feels like a coincidence. Had not noticed the page title. With that in mind, it does feel like a deliberate call-out.

Nope, jossed. I was right the first time

Grey Wolf

[Lexible]

Holes and Walls

Blue.
Orange.

I see what you did there.

Edit: Doh! Ninja'ed, etc.

[Lord Torath]

Blue.
Orange.

I see what you did there.

Edit: Doh! Ninja'ed, etc.

I didn't. Not until you pointed it out. Thanks!

Do Vampires count as "creatures"?

[TRH]

Dusting the vampires before the vote actually happens would work. I think we've established that a domination ends if the vampire who initiated it is destroyed, right?

The said, I'm sure there are more interesting solutions as well.

Also, the Sudden Skylight hypothesis gains more traction. If we can't get the rest of the Order in through the door....

The vampires have no incentive to make a stand outside the blue barrier at this point, to my understanding. So drawing them out and dusting them may not be so easy unless they do the Magic Circle/Antimagic Field plan I suggested above.

[Theodoriph]

I hate to be that person, but --

early!!!!!

Also the Exarch's laugh is freaking hilarious! Reminds me of when RC and MiTD let out their evil laughs.

Thanks for pointing that out! I totally misread it as Bwa-haa-haa-haa-haa. Went back to it and laughed out loud.

[Sniffnoy]

See, this is where a simple "dominated or coerced votes don't count" might be more effective than magical defense. Oy...

Man, whoever came up with this orange/blue scheme really didn't think it through. Leaving a gap between undoing spells and barring spellcasting sounds like the sort of thing someone should have exploited before. But then, the whole thing may have always been more symbolic than practical -- who would really try to control a council meeting this way, after all? They'd just get themselves in trouble with the law afterward. So nobody ever tested it, so it was never fixed (or maybe it was tested but nobody knew how to alter it anymore)... leaving us here. Oh my...

[Resileaf]

Well hopefully this answers the complaints that people had about the vampires' plan.

[Lexible]

That certainly explains how the domination plan is supposed to work. And our heros can't dispel the domination. That's the part that really scares me.

But they can certainly cast spells to punch holes in the roof and let the sunlight in. Which will have the side effect of dusting the spawn and vampires, and coincidentally ending their domination of the council members.

[TRH]

See, this is where a simple "dominated or coerced votes don't count" might be more effective than magical defense. Oy...

Man, whoever came up with this orange/blue scheme really didn't think it through. Leaving a gap between undoing spells and barring spellcasting sounds like the sort of thing someone should have exploited before. But then, the whole thing may have always been more symbolic than practical -- who would really try to control a council meeting this way, after all? They'd just get themselves in trouble with the law afterward. So nobody ever tested it, so it was never fixed (or maybe it was tested but nobody knew how to alter it anymore)... leaving us here. Oh my...

Whatever shenanigans may have occurred before, the dwarves didn't consider the possibility that fellow "dwarves" would be ready to put their entire race at stake for any reason. Why would they?