Place your bets: Who will destroy the last gate?

[The Pilgrim]

We all know it's bound to happen. So put your quatloos where your mouth is.

The running candidates are...

1) Xykon. He knows there's something fishy about The Ritual, and has built himself a refuge in the Astral. So, as they reach the MacGuffin, he may very well destroy the Gate instead of enacting The Ritual, as a last laught at Redcloak.

2) Redcloak. As The Plain fails, he may very well enact Plan B: Get the world destroyed so that The Dark One gives a better lot for Goblins in the next.

3) The IFCC. Their scheme seems related to destroying the World. And they have announced to have an Artifact, so they must fire it.

4) The Gods. They would rather destroy the Gate before The Dark One can get advantage of it.

5) The Gate Defenders. "We are finally doing this... Fun while it lasted... exising". Sound quite ominous. (Assuming they *are* the Gate Defenders).

6) The Order of the Stick. They already blown two, but dysfunctional heroism knows no bounds.

7) O-Chul/Lien. Scarface already tried to blown one, but failed. Time to remove that thorn from his conscience.

8) Oona/Greyview/bugbears. Oona seems to like existing, and I can't think of a reason for her to blow it. But she's around, so she qualifies as capable of getting the job done.

9) Monster in the Darkness. He appears to be unable to realize the Gates, so he trampling over the last one and destroying it by accident would be fitting. Bonus points if it times with his expected Big Reveal Out of Darkness.

10) Redcloak's niece.

...

My money is on Xykon, IFFC a close second.

UPDATE:

RESULTS SO FAR

- IFFC: 4 (Ionathus, Mic_128, MoiMagnus, The4bestgame)
- Xykon: 2 (dancrilis, me)
- Belkar: 2 (P.LOC, Bongos)
- MitD: 1 (Crusher)
- Miko Mayazaki: 1 (Ginasius)
- Team Tarquin/Nale: 1 (WolvesbaneIII)
- Blackwing: 1 (Brumagris)
- Redcloak: 1 (Riftwolf)


Updated to expand on MitD and add Redcloak's niece.

[dancrilis]

I am saying Xykon but only after he co-opts the ritual.

[Ionathus]

We all know it's bound to happen. So put your quatloos where your mouth is.

I'm gonna play the long odds and say "it doesn't," just for spiciness and unpredictability. If the gate goes up, it seems like the gods have already agreed to pull the plug, which would preclude any further shenanigans. If shenanigans happen, they'll happen regardless of the final gate's status.

If I have to pick a destroyer, my bet's on the IFCC swooping in to ruin the best laid plans of mice and monsters. Like a sledgehammer to the plot's finely-tuned clockwork.

[Mic_128]

I'm not sure who will actually do the deed, but my wager is that it's as a direct result of the IFCC's actions.

[Emanick]

I'm not sure what will happen, but it seems deeply presumptuous to me to say that the last gate will be destroyed when, as far as we know, that spells the end of the world. So I'm going to go ahead and say that it won't happen.

[Ginasius]

I'm not sure what will happen, but it seems deeply presumptuous to me to say that the last gate will be destroyed when, as far as we know, that spells the end of the world. So I'm going to go ahead and say that it won't happen.

I like to take risks and I bet for Miko Miyazaki.

She's done it before.

[Nail]

What are the odds on it falling by itself?

[InvisibleBison]

I also don't think the gate is going to be destroyed.

[Emanick]

What are the odds on it falling by itself?

I'm gonna say like 1 in 70,000.

[Ionathus]

I'm gonna say like 1 in 70,000.

Serini hired even shoddier contractors than Dorukan did.

[KorvinStarmast]

9) Monster in the Darkness. Because why not?

What gate?

I'm not sure what will happen, but it seems deeply presumptuous to me to say that the last gate will be destroyed when, as far as we know, that spells the end of the world. So I'm going to go ahead and say that it won't happen.

As am I.

[The Pilgrim]

What are the odds on it falling by itself?

Mmmh... that would count as "destroyed by the defenders" maybe? If it falls because of a construction flaw, it's basically the fault of those who built it, and those who should be doing the maintenance work.

[Mic_128]

I'm not sure what will happen, but it seems deeply presumptuous to me to say that the last gate will be destroyed when, as far as we know, that spells the end of the world.

That doesn't mean it would be the end of the story.

[The Pilgrim]

That doesn't mean it would be the end of the story.

According to Loki, if the last gate blowns up, 10-15 minutes would remain left before the Snarl gets out.

It's assumed the Gods would use that time to destroy the World. However, Loki mentioned that they would have time to pull the plug if they all agreed to that course of action. And as far as we know, the Gods haven't agreed to that course of action.

If the last gate gets destroyed and some Gods move in to destroy the world, they would risk to create a second Snarl if they find opposition from other Gods. Many Gods may find preferable to let the Snarl unmake the world rather than let Hel become the Queen of the Northern Pantheon.

And that is, assuming the Snarl behaves like it always has. Which doesn't seems to be the case. "Yarn is winding Yarn". Something is different this time.

My point here is, the last gate getting destroyed and the world being saved in the end aren't mutually exclusive outcomes.

[P.LOC]

If I had to bet, I'd put 1 cent on Belkar, so count me for OOTS.
I also bet all my money on Jiminy. He should test the newly forged halberds

[Toad]

Can I be daring and add a vote for "The Gate doesn't get destroyed?"

[The Pilgrim]

What gate?

Mmmh... we know MitD is oblivious to the Gates, so it would be fitting if he tramples over the last one and destroys it by accident. Bonus points if it coincides with his Big Reveal. I'm gonna add that to my OP.

If I had to bet, I'd put 1 cent on Belkar, so count me for OOTS.
I also bet all my money on Jiminy. He should test the newly forged halberds

When in doubt, set everything on Fire. Fitting for Belkar.

Also your blue comment has made me realize there is a potential candidate I haven't entertained. I'll add her to the list. Ten is a nice number for a list.

[Ron Miel]

Can I be daring and add a vote for "The Gate doesn't get destroyed?"

I agree. My bet is on nobody destroys the gate. Or

[ByzantiumBhuka]

My bet is on nobody destroys the gate.

Yeah, I'll put my money on an unexpected Odysseus too.

[Emanick]

Mmmh... we know MitD is oblivious to the Gates, so it would be fitting if he tramples over the last one and destroys it by accident. Bonus points if it coincides with his Big Reveal. I'm gonna add that to my OP.



When in doubt, set everything on Fire. Fitting for Belkar.

Also your blue comment has made me realize there is a potential candidate I haven't entertained. I'll add her to the list. Ten is a nice number for a list.

Wanna put the votes for "nobody destroys the Gate" in your first post? The data set must be complete!

[Riftwolf]

Ooh, I know! The back cover of the final print book.
After that, no more Gate XD

[The Pilgrim]

Wanna put the votes for "nobody destroys the Gate" in your first post? The data set must be complete!

I did not ask *if* the Gate will be destroyed. I did ask about *who*.

The speculation about *if* the Gate will get destroyed is worth it's own betting thread. Perhaps I will open a new one to make that bet once this one dies out. Double the bet, double the fun.

[Emanick]

I did not ask *if* the Gate will be destroyed. I did ask about *who*.

The speculation about *if* the Gate will get destroyed is worth it's own betting thread. Perhaps I will open a new one to make that bet once this one dies out. Double the bet, double the fun.

Odysseus would argue that Nobody is a person too.

...and now I get ByzantiumBhuka's joke, having inadvertently copied it. I almost asked for clarification.

[InvisibleBison]

I did not ask *if* the Gate will be destroyed. I did ask about *who*.

Okay, then, in the spirit of this thread I'm going to bet on the Snarl destroying the Gate.

[The Pilgrim]

Odysseus would argue that Nobody is a person too.

...and now I get ByzantiumBhuka's joke, having inadvertently copied it. I almost asked for clarification.

Well, I suppose the King of Nowhere can show up and blow it up...

[MoiMagnus]

I vote for "V under the control of the IFCC"

[KorvinStarmast]

I vote for "V under the control of the IFCC"

As I think it through, that's a neat idea but I was under the impression that V is simply moved down into the appropriate lower plane for a bit until the time is up on that member's alloted minutes. But Rich doesn't have to feel bound by that, and this is plausible.

My other reaction is "Hasn't V already done a world-wide awful thing?" Yes, yes V did. I do not expect to see that replicated with the gate that ends the whole world ... but never say never.

[Mic_128]

My point here is, the last gate getting destroyed and the world being saved in the end aren't mutually exclusive outcomes.

So basically, what I said? The gate can be destroyed, and it doesn't mean that's the end of the story.

[WolvesbaneIII]

What about tarquin and his gang? Some kind of cliche where "if i cant no one can!"

Or nale?

[skim172]

Can I be daring and add a vote for "The Gate doesn't get destroyed?"

: "Awesome! I want to bet on 'Escapes and lives happily ever after'."



Just to be hipster and different, I'm gonna say that the gate has already been destroyed. By Serini. The gate is already gone. The Snarl is already loose.

What possible evidence supports this? Nothing at all.

But I just wanted to be the first to say it. I am the trend-setter.