OOTS #874 - The Discussion Thread

[zimmerwald1915]

V has changed up her approach significantly, but she is still an Evoker, after all. She is pretty much bound to carry a full compliment of blasting spells where ever she goes. There just isn't enough non-blasty evocation out there to allow for anything less.

Which comes to the same thing: there's no reason to believe V isn't carrying around a bunch of blasty spells.

[Koo Rehtorb]

While I was entirely expecting the whole dominating gaze thing I was expecting it to be the finishing blow in Malack beating Durkon.

Now that it's already been played without a victor I don't know who to expect winning. Hurry up next comic please!

[Vectner]

Thor jokes are getting old. I'm sure he must occasionally be competent. I'm pretty sure Durkon is in trouble.

[Dienekes]

I failed my Knowledge: Norse Mythology check. Could someone explain the Thor joke at the end to me?

Read this comic.

Anyway, cool strip. But it is weird that my first thought when seeing upside-down Malack was, "How does his robe stay straight?"

[Sir_Leorik]

I failed my Knowledge: Norse Mythology check. Could someone explain the Thor joke at the end to me?

The last panel features Hel (aka Hela) the Norse goddess of the underworld, arguing with Thor over the soul of a female dwarf. Each wants to claim the Dwarf as a petitioner. According to Norse mythology, the heroic dead were escorted by Valkyries to Valhalla, a mead hall where they would feast, drink and practice fighting until Ragnarok, when Odin would summon them to battle. Those who died the "straw death", from disease, old age or murder, were condemened to Nifleheim, ruled by Hel for eternity.

The Dwarves follow this rule, but they have an unusual standard for determining who died a heroic death, as seen in strip No. 737. In today's strip Hel and Thor are arguing again, though Hel is less likely to give in this time. As a result Thor is unable to pay attention to Durkon's prayer.

[luc258]

I expected a spell-combo that really hurts Durkon, but I did not expect some kind of war of attrition. Nice surprise.

[Twilight Jack]

Which comes to the same thing: there's no reason to believe V isn't carrying around a bunch of blasty spells.

Too true.

[GSFB]

V may also have any number of scrolls, wands, etc., in addition to prepared spells.

However, Malack also likely has any number of powerful magic items to protect against fire, etc.

Although - I am curious why a high enough level Cleric to create a spell powerful enough to protect a vampire from the sun AND with the resources of a top government minister didn't already make a wondrous item to keep that protection 24/7 instead of relying on casting it daily...

[Sir_Leorik]

They knew each other for ten years prior to that.

Well if the secret police would stop arresting the bards who tell the story for slander and the audiences for treason I'd have been more likely to remember that fact!

[SavageWombat]

Another over-the-shoulder viewpoint shot. Is this just rule-of-cool, or does Rich want us to be sure we know where the combatants are standing?

Note that, if I read correctly, Malack is now between Durkon and the rest of the party...

[Mister Non PC]

Well, the rest of the party should be along any moment now. They know Durkon went to fetch Belkar but he's been gone for 6 or seven comics by now. Haley has had time to either disarm the door, or extricate herself from it. Roy is unlikely to simply wait for Durkon and Belkar to come back.

Tarquin and Nale will soon tire of waiting on Malack so they might be coming down too.

[Doug Lampert]

Was the tribe two hundred years ago thing just a random background point, or do we know of anything that happened two hundred years ago that might be relevant? I mean, sometimes a hairstyle is just a hairstyle, but I wondered if anyone knew of anything. Nothing is occurring to me, but that means little.

One thing is it means Durkon CAN NOT resurrect Malack as he suggested he wanted to do. The limit on time since death for a resurrect is ten years per caster level, and Durkon is only about level 15 or so.

I failed my Knowledge: Norse Mythology check. Could someone explain the Thor joke at the end to me?

What part confuses you? The Norse had two afterlives available, if you died bravely in battle you went to live with the gods in Vallhalla and fought every day and then rose from the dead if you were killed to feast every night.

If you died of anything else or if the Valkaries didn't choose you for some other reason then you went to serve the Goddess Hel in her afterlife. Which was less pleasant. Hel being one of Loki's daughters, she's on the side of Loki and his family when they get sick of the rest of the gods and take them all on at once with help from various giants.

Either way, at Ragnorock you got to be cannon fodder for whichever side had grabbed you and you then die permanently.

This means that to norse myth it's important whether you died in battle or not. It's a running gag in OoTS that the dwarves think they are at war with trees. Hel is pointing out that you CAN'T die bravely in battle with an inanimate tree and thus she's one of Hel's souls. Thor is insisting that she died bravely and he should get her.

Note that actual Norse myth seems to have taken dying of an infected wound as NOT dying in battle, so she'd be Hel's either way if Rich were taking the Norse myths seriously.

[Dr. Gamera]

Even if V does show up, the recent change to her spells prepared might present a few issues.

If not, at least now Vaarsuvius can get back to enjoying a glass of whine in peace and quiet, without being called on to intervene in someone else's problems.

Git away from me, ye daft fool!

(Interesting contrast: In that strip, Durkon didn't cast Hold Person on a magically turncoat Belkar, even though we would later discover that he had it prepared. Of course, there's a lot that's different about the two magically-turncoat-Belkar situations too.)

[stsasser]

Read this comic.

Anyway, cool strip. But it is weird that my first thought when seeing upside-down Malack was, "How does his robe stay straight?"

Vampire Charisma.

[Xelbiuj]

It's time Durkon allies himself with old enemies.
He needs a pointy stick. :D

Great comic. Took my a minute to realize he went gaseous form on his own, was wondering why he was able to rest without his coffin.

Really loving the art (which only works so well in the context of stick art)


Also, do I really* have to be the one to point out the karma of Belkar being mind enslaved?
Yukyuk anyone?

[Querzis]

I know, that's why I told that he used his one harm. Instead (by plans) to just make Durkon surrender he went totally defensive and cast harm to heal. He also getting short on spells (2 fire strikes, poison, QILW, GDM and harm).

Yeah but Malack whole point is that if they both run out of spells, he win the fight easely. And hes right, Durkon normal strike probably dont even get past Malack DR.

[ThePhantasm]

Read this comic.

Anyway, cool strip. But it is weird that my first thought when seeing upside-down Malack was, "How does his robe stay straight?"

Robes stay straight in the creepy old Dracula movies and stuff too, when he is upside-down. It actually makes it even more surreal and disturbing.

[Twilight Jack]

I expected a spell-combo that really hurts Durkon, but I did not expect some kind of war of attrition. Nice surprise.

NOBODY expects the Spanish Inquisition!!

Our chief weapon is surprise, surprise and fe. . .

Oh wait, I'm sorry, did you say "Spanish Inquisition" or "war of attrition"?

Well, bugger. Terribly sorry. Carry on.

[Xelbiuj]

Yeah but Malack whole point is that if they both run out of spells, he win the fight easely. And hes right, Durkon normal strike probably dont even get past Malack DR.

But Belkar's head does?

[spruce56]

I don't know the rules for vampires, but for a moment there I thought Mr Scruffy would provide a useful circumstance bonus for breaking the domination/charm/whatever it is.

Quickest reprieve from Hold Person

[Starbuck_II]

I would suggest magic circle against evil so as to protect the teammates against domination, but Belkar.......

Don't worry, Belkar would still be protected, it suppresses any current domination/charm.

[Rui]

Yeah but Malack whole point is that if they both run out of spells, he win the fight easely. And hes right, Durkon normal strike probably dont even get past Malack DR.

So his a goner without the rest of the party. Let him just pray that Tarquin won't come back (and I don't think so, they rode on the flying dinosaur).

[Surfing HalfOrc]

Wow! Just, WOW! This strip os so full of AWESOME, my head's about to EXPLODE trying to contain it!

And the Daily Schedule? Please Rich! Don't spoil us!

[SaintRidley]

But Belkar's head does?

Belkar's stats as an improvised weapon are probably better than his daggers.

[Rakoa]

I'm predicting that this battle will progress eventually until Durkon and Malack are very near the outside of the dungeon, and Durkon will dispel Malack's sun protection and Spartan Kick him outside to his death.

[TheTeaMustFlow]

Lizgreaper, you are officially awesome. In both senses of the word.

Also, I must say that I am truly impressed with how fast this comic went up.

[sam79]

Another great strip, which again turns the tables on the apparent victor in the previous one. Was really hoping Durkon would nail him, but now I'm kind of worried for our favourite Dwarf cleric. If only, instead of "surrender Malack", he'd said "cure serious wounds". Oh well.

Good to see Thor again too!

EDIT:

I'm predicting that this battle will progress eventually until Durkon and Malack are very near the outside of the dungeon, and Durkon will dispel Malack's sun protection and Spartan Kick him outside to his death.

That's...a pretty damn good shout, I reckon. Dispel Magic, Thor's Might, drop kick the lizard through the door/wall.

[Shale]

I'm predicting that this battle will progress eventually until Durkon and Malack are very near the outside of the dungeon, and Durkon will dispel Malack's sun protection and Spartan Kick him outside to his death.

Oooh, that's definitely a possibility. Seeing as:

(a) Malack's protection from sunlight is due to a non-permanent spell cast by him.
(b) Durkon's dispel check is better than Malack's.

It'd be a pretty great scene, too.

[SteveDJ]

Another over-the-shoulder viewpoint shot. Is this just rule-of-cool, or does Rich want us to be sure we know where the combatants are standing?

Note that, if I read correctly, Malack is now between Durkon and the rest of the party...

And in this case, I think the viewpoint in frame 6 is to show that just as Durkon unfreezes Belkar, you can see that Belkar can now see Malak - thus allowing the Vampiric Gaze to take effect.


I will also add that at least Belkar gets to keep his mouth closed now for this new period of being Held.

[Xelbiuj]

And in this case, I think the viewpoint in frame 6 is to show that just as Durkon unfreezes Belkar, you can see that Belkar can now see Malak - thus allowing the Vampiric Gaze to take effect.


I will also add that at least Belkar gets to keep his mouth closed now for this new period of being Held.

Surprising he could make a spot check at that distance against a partially concealed target lol.

Ahhh rules jokes.