OOTS Polls (feat. Favourite NPC Tournament)

[Syklone]

NALE and BLACKWING

[Rorrik]

Nale^2

Sabine is certainly loyal to Nale, but she fears the IFCC. Thus her misgivings. I think the knowledge she has from the IFCC will be handy in the end, and I think she has at least enough spine to choose loyalty over fear.

Blackwing's character never appealed to me much.

[Grail]

Hold that thought. I agree with you that evil people can love. The problem is that Sabine isn't people in the strict sense of the word. She's an alien, eldritch embodiment of evil -- not a corrupted mortal, but a minor avatar of evil. She's malice made physical. It's pretty hard to imagine some thing like that succumbing to a more tender emotion even part of the time.

This.
Evil can love. Fiends cannot.

[Emperordaniel]

Is it too late to change my vote from Nale and Blackwing to IFCC and Blackwing?

[ti'esar]

Good gods, I think Nale is going to make it to the semifinals.

[DemonRoach]

Nale for both.

[Ferreroni]

I say Nale, because of recent comics. I think Sabine really likes him.
I favor Blackwing over Nale because of his rapier-wit and remarks, while nale is just a bland card-carrying villain.

[Peelee]

IFCC. As Sabine told Quarr, we don't know her orders. I feel that comment was directed just as much at the audience as it was at the imp. Oh, and Blackwing. Gotta stand in the familiar's corner.

[Cizak]

IFCC and Blackwing.

[Othniel Edden]

Sabine will chose Sabine. She's a devil, and its her nature to be in it for herself no matter the schemes of others.Whatever happens will be a Sabine centric choice, even if it favors neither Nale or the IFCC.

Blackwing

[oppyu]

#856 - I Guess You Had to Be There
Who is Sabine truly loyal to?
Nale: 15 - 51.72%
IFCC: 14 - 48.27%

A shame Nale couldn't win the next close vote... damn you Blackwing! First Mr. Scruffy, and now Nale? What's wrong with you?

Round 2, Match 4
: 13 - 43.33%
: 17 - 56.67%

#857 - The Pit of Despair
Will the IFCC play any role in the battle for Girard's Gate? Yes or No?

Round 3, Match 1
"From the lowliest zombie to Xykon himself, the undead are just complex weapons that we make and aim at other people. All that differs is how direct or subtle our control of them is... If I tolerated your humiliating attempts to undermine my authority before, it was only because killing you would've upset the delicate puppet strings upon which "Lord Xykon" unknowingly dances."

VS

"...we can both pretend that you don't really have any options about any of the despicable actions I ask you to take from here on out, rather than acknowledging that... you do in fact have a choice. But... you're too chicken**** to ever make it. You'll obey me forever now, because I give you an excuse for your inexcusable behaviour."

[Gift Jeraff]

If Sabine or Qarr carrying out a direct order counts, then yes.

Xykon of course. Great choice of quotes.

[oppyu]

[Round 1]

: 16 - 76.19%
: 5 - 23.80%

: 17 - 62.96%
: 10 - 37.03%

: 6 - 18.18%
: 27 - 81.81%

: 4 - 20.00%
: 16 - 80.00%

: 3 - 14.28%
: 18 - 85.71%

: 1 - 5.56%
: 17 - 94.44%

: 12 - 48.00%
: 13 - 52.00%

: 13 - 59.09%
: 9 - 40.91%

[Round 2]

: 19 - 82.61%
: 4 - 17.39%

: 17 - 48.57%
: 18 - 51.43%

: 25 - 89.29%
: 3 - 10.71%

: 13 - 43.33%
: 17 - 56.67%

[ti'esar]

Yes.

I'm going to have to take a little more time to think about the character tournament; will post my answer separately later.

[Snippy]

Will the IFCC play any role in the battle for Girard's Gate? Yes or No?

No. They'll make their move later in the story. Sabine or Qarr might carry out some minor orders, but I don't think the IFCC with directly influence the battle.

As for the NPC tournament... hard decision. I'll go with Redcloak though.

[Ted The Bug]

Ech, Blackwing. O-Chul fans, don't fail me!

Hmm...I think so, if only because of V's situation. I'll go with yes.
As for Redcloak vs. Xykon...wow. Two of my favourite characters (maybe only beaten by Roy and That SoD Character Everyone Loves)...this is not an easy choice.
Xykon is more entertaining, obviously. He's got that wacky antic side that's just awesome to watch. Redcloak, on the other hand, might not be as funny, but he's got a great subtle wit that seems to me a little more thought-out. They're both complex characters - Xykon, in my opinion, is less two-dimensional than he's often considered - but Redcloak's backstory is really, really unbeatable. Then again, without Xykon pushing him, he might not've been anything more than one more Crimson Mantlebearer. So, as difficult as it is to choose between them, I think I'm going to have to go with Xykon. I love Redcloak, and perhaps he's a bit more original as a character, but I've strangely found Xykon more compelling. We know why Redcloak does what he does. But Xykon? He's a little more of an enigma. Gotta vote for that.

[zimmerwald1915]

#857 - The Pit of Despair
Will the IFCC play any role in the battle for Girard's Gate? Yes or No?

Sabine and Qarr are not just under orders from the IFCC. They are members of the IFCC. They are present and active in this arc, and we have every indication that they will continue to be so up until Girard's Gate is destroyed. Yes.

Round 3, Match 1
"From the lowliest zombie to Xykon himself, the undead are just complex weapons that we make and aim at other people. All that differs is how direct or subtle our control of them is... If I tolerated your humiliating attempts to undermine my authority before, it was only because killing you would've upset the delicate puppet strings upon which "Lord Xykon" unknowingly dances."

VS

"...we can both pretend that you don't really have any options about any of the despicable actions I ask you to take from here on out, rather than acknowledging that... you do in fact have a choice. But... you're too chicken**** to ever make it. You'll obey me forever now, because I give you an excuse for your inexcusable behaviour."

Ah, directly contrepuntal quotes. And you know what? Xykon's still rings more true.

[Mike Havran]

I'm going with No here. For some reason I think the IFCC want to pull their strings at the last Gate, and if this one can be destroyed without their intervention (and it certainly can, it's probably neatly booby-trapped), they won't do anything. It will be hard to decide if Sabine or Qarr are executing a direct order or are acting of their own volition.

all the way.

[Emperordaniel]

Yes and .

[JaaSwb]

Yes, and I'm sad to see so many votes for that rotten bastard Xykon. I'm with Redcloak all the way.

[rgrekejin]

Yes

Redcloak

[Kish]

No (they're playing a long game) and .

I changed my vote at the last minute; there's no question who the main villain of the comic is, but Redcloak, while utterly evil, has a lot of depth compared to Xykon.

[DemonRoach]

Yes, likely through Sabine.

Xykon, cause he is the Evil, not Evil-For-A-Good-Cause

[Rorrik]

Gotta say yes, because you say any role. I don't think they'd put all their chips on the last gate, they have to at least try for this one, even just as a dry run.

I find myself rooting for Redcloak, though I was tempted to read through previous posts and determine which would be less competitive against O'chul.

[t209]

#857 - The Pit of Despair
Will the IFCC play any role in the battle for Girard's Gate? Yes or No?

Round 3, Match 1
"From the lowliest zombie to Xykon himself, the undead are just complex weapons that we make and aim at other people. All that differs is how direct or subtle our control of them is... If I tolerated your humiliating attempts to undermine my authority before, it was only because killing you would've upset the delicate puppet strings upon which "Lord Xykon" unknowingly dances."

VS

"...we can both pretend that you don't really have any options about any of the despicable actions I ask you to take from here on out, rather than acknowledging that... you do in fact have a choice. But... you're too chicken**** to ever make it. You'll obey me forever now, because I give you an excuse for your inexcusable behaviour."

Yes because of not their familicide but their jackpot.

[FAD!]

Yes, indirectly through Sabine/Qarr.

Also, Redcloak has a nice backstory and all, but Xykon is awesome all around. No match.

[Emanick]

Yes and . Redcloak's backstory is unbeatable.

[Bobb]

Don't care to vote on question but Xykon rocks.

[Peelee]

#856 - I Guess You Had to Be There
Who is Sabine truly loyal to?
Nale: 15 - 51.72%
IFCC: 14 - 28.27%

Now that's some interesting math right there. I know not all votes went to Nale or IFCC, but still, that seems off....


Anyway, no. While zimmerwald1915 is completely correct, I'm reading the question as the three leaders, not their underlings in the organization. No countermanding orders or new commands, and no cutting to them directly either, I don't believe.

Oh, and Redcloak. For exactly the reasons Kish supplied.

[MeanMrsMustard]

Not going to vote on question (but I may edit later) right now.
Redcloak all the way. He's my favorite NPC in the whole comic.