OOTS #1081 - The Discussion Thread

[The Giant]

New comic is up.

[Keltest]

Funny, I don't recall Mr Scruffy encountering the sphinx.

Having said that, that bodes ill for the crew of the Mechane.

[manuelj]

So now the heroes have a new deadline?

[Veya]

That does sound rather serious, the Order should look into getting a check up when this is all over...

[The Giant]

Funny, I don't recall Mr Scruffy encountering the sphinx.

Most people who get chicken pox do not encounter chickens.

[DougTheHead]

Being a goddess of plague must suck in a world where a Cure Disease spell exists.

[Peelee]

Ah, the mark of true evil: targeting a kitty.

[Reboot]

Of course, five weeks is longer than Belkar has to live anyway, and thus likely longer than the remaining story will last...

[ti'esar]

Of course, five weeks is longer than Belkar has to live anyway, and thus likely longer than the remaining story will last...

True, but "they saved the world and then all died horribly of disease a few weeks later" is still a thing that needs avoiding.

Not that it helps Hel much.

Also, what is the deal with those purple giants?

[oppyu]

So... the heroes are going to foil Hel's plan, only to die of Sphinx Pox in just over a month? Talk about a downer ending.

[Hackman]

Being a goddess of plague must suck in a world where a Cure Disease spell exists.

It's a 3rd level spell though and only cures one target, so massive outbreaks are still possible.

[Nephrahim]

Good thing they have a Cleric who can cure.... Oh, right.

Feels like every time I log on there's been a new comic. Loving that, starting to feel spoiled by the output.

[Veya]

Being a goddess of plague must suck in a world where a Cure Disease spell exists.

I would say being a goddess of plague must be awesome in a world where vaccines aren't as common or easily mass produced.

[Reboot]

True, but "they saved the world and then all died horribly of disease a few weeks later" is still a thing that needs avoiding.

Not that it helps Hel much.

Actually, it's been somewhere between a week and two weeks since Tarquin stabbed Roy with his own sword (re: a few strips back). But I think it's still "they'd drop dead post-story" territory even with the slightly tighter timeframe.

[Arkku]

Oh no, not Mr. Scruffy!

[dps]

So... the heroes are going to foil Hel's plan, only to die of Sphinx Pox in just over a month? Talk about a downer ending.

Elan will still get his happy ending, cause if the disease kills you by making your brain bleed until you die, he's probably immune.

Can animals be raised from the dead? 'Cause if not, I think we now know why Belkar will stay dead--it's not that they won't try to raise him, it's 'cause he'll prefer to stay dead with his cat.

[Avianmosquito]

Great plan, Hel.

"Oh, everybody got sick. Well, let's go repeatedly use the 3rd level spell that renders the entire concept of disease utterly pointless."

[hamishspence]

Interesting to see that Hel controls disease - she doesn't just get souls that die of disease. Makes sense that it's part of her portfolio.

[Peelee]

Actually, it's been somewhere between a week and two weeks since Tarquin stabbed Roy with his own sword (re: a few strips back).

That's a mighty liberal definition of "a few."

[johnbragg]

Dark. After the world is saved, we're looking at a massive outbreak.

First of all, the city the Mechane stops in to reprovision, rest & recuperate, etc.

Haley & Elan are likely to "tie up loose ends" with Ian Starshine, so disease vector out in Tarquin's desert city.

Epilogue in New Azure City.

It's not unlikely the heroes go to Gobbotopia. And if not, there's every chance that Redcloak picks up Sphinx Plague. (Hel ensures he fails his Fort Save.)

Does Varsuvius attempt to return home and make amends? Big mistake there.

Greg Not-Durkon, HPOH, is--probably immune? So resurrected Durkon is clean. Crud--he's not clean for long.

Course this is assuming that Sphinx pox is highly contagious.

(Yes I know Tarquin's dead and therefore it's not his city anymore, but nothing out there has a name for more than a few years before a new set of fake rulers changes all of it.)

[Darkohaku]

Don't you dare messing with Mr. Scruffy. Hel, this is now personal.

[Arkku]

Yes I know Tarquin's dead

What, when did he die?

[Leliel]

So... the heroes are going to foil Hel's plan, only to die of Sphinx Pox in just over a month? Talk about a downer ending.

No, they're going to display symptoms of Sphinx Pox in just over a month.

Oy laddie, you too' three minutes to ask fer the baffroom. Ye feelin' all right?

The antonym of yes, a word meaning the negated answer to an inquiry.

Eh, what iz "nay?"

The antonym of wrong.

Cue him buzzing by the temple to figure out what's wrong, and Cure Diseases all around. Of course, there's likely an outbreak in the North...cue the prophecy being technically fulfilled, in that Durkon heralded a bad epidemic.

[Psyren]

I actually feel for Hel. The disease rules are completely obnoxious to actually use

Most people who get chicken pox do not encounter chickens.

Zing!

Interesting to see that Hel controls disease - she doesn't just get souls that die of disease. Makes sense that it's part of her portfolio.

Her control seems pretty limited judging by this comic. It seems like all she did was raise the DC so it was a guaranteed spread, but she can't actually change the onset and other annoying fiddly bits in the affliction section.

[Keltest]

Most people who get chicken pox do not encounter chickens.

Well obviously we need to seriously re-think what were naming our diseases then

[Syncrogti]

Excellent, I too am getting spoiled. Sphinx Pox? Classic, well done. Glad to see the story progressing and being funny at the same time.

[johnbragg]

Plague is a real threat in most D&D settings for the common folk. Hiring a 5th level cleric to cast cure disease costs 150 gp list price. Wand of cure disease, which is what you'd want in case of plague, costs 5625 gp.

So unless you're living in the sort of society with generally benevolent, reasonable and pro-active rulers who would shell out 5000 gold because commoners are dying, you're going to be living in a society with a lot of dead commoners.

[KorvinStarmast]

Most people who get chicken pox do not encounter chickens.

But many eat chicken. (And other stuff that tastes like chicken).

[ChaosOS]

That's rather dramatic of Hel. Maybe Thrym could help her chill out?

[Wildroses]

Well, considering Thrynn is hurt that Hel considers him a resource in her scheme and that even though he was told that he didn't think she meant it, I'd say we have more evidence Mr: "My reasons are my own" really wanted to be her consort because is in love with Hel, and not just trying to schmooze up to an up and coming power breaker. Poor guy. Maybe his broken heart will turn him to the right path and we'll discover Hel hath no fury like a Frost Giant scorned.

Five weeks? I'll be curious to see if this foreshadowing of a major plot point or a throwaway joke. If they get Durkon back he might know about the backup and take steps to cure everyone before the incubation period is over. But I feel sure Hel has another backup plan up her sleeve. She isn't a villain like Xykon and Redcloak, who make one plan then adjust it when it doesn't go off perfectly, or Tarquin who makes one plan then rages and sulks when it doesn't go off perfectly. She has back ups and contingencies for varieties of possible consequences.