MitD VIII: Everything we know about MITD (but were afraid Tarrasque)

[Grey_Wolf_c]

Grey, I asked a question above after you already answered. IS there a reason the Phrenic template doesn't appear in any of the lists? I'm sure I'm not the first person to think of it, but it could be added to any number of "strong" monsters to give them access to Teleport/

Err... It's in 2d: Templated/Mixed lineage Creature. Where did you look for it?

GW

[littlebum2002]

Oh, I was just looking in section 3, since I would think the various templates would be "frequently proposed ideas".

I knew I remember reading why templates were off the table, I just couldn't find it. Thanks!

[rodneyAnonymous]

You misunderstand the comment; The "telepath" explanation does away with any Knowledge (Thing) skills being mandated; he would know about the half ritual from Redcloak's thoughts, and know about the Astral Plane from Xykon's thoughts.

Both Redcloak's thoughts?

[goto124]

http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0194.html

In #194, the lantern archons refuse to light up MitD, and they even appear to be scared of him. They also called him a 'masochistic freak'.

[Keltest]

http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0194.html

In #194, the lantern archons refuse to light up MitD, and they even appear to be scared of him. They also called him a 'masochistic freak'.

Im pretty sure that's because he was asking to be hit with rays of light that had been described as "deadly", rather than because they could identify his monster type through the darkness.

[braveheart]

What if MitD is in fact The Giant in our little playground/the GM

[AgentPaper]

What if MitD is in fact The Giant in our little playground/the GM

Not really possible, Rich has said that MitD isn't something unique to this story:

That is, it isn't something I just made up for the story. It wouldn't be any fun for the answer to a mystery to be something I invented just for one purpose, would it? I won't finally throw back the darkness and have someone say, "Look! It was a therblewurkersaurus the entire time!" or some other made-up monster.
I realize that the line between something I made up and something someone else made up is a pretty fine one, but I trust that someone will figure it out eventually.

[Steven]

Technically Rich wasn't made up by himself.

[AgentPaper]

Technically Rich wasn't made up by himself.

No, but his in-universe avatar would be.

[Kornaki]

Umm, the in-universe avatar of anything would be unique to the story.

[Darth Paul]

Somewhere upthread, someone has addressed the fact that MitD seemingly has a poor memory (doesn't recognize Haley and Belkar at first when they come for Roy's body, as well as "Gate? What Gate?"), correct? But I can't seem to find it, nor what that might imply.

Little help?

[Bulldog Psion]

What if MitD is in fact The Giant in our little playground/the GM

I know that people can be pretty self-deprecating, but portraying yourself as a foul-smelling eater of moldy cheeseburgers and vulture stew, who sets up tea parties with corpses, plans on devouring an adventuring party, paying for things with monopoly money, can't fit into even the largest leotards, makes people throw up when they see it, and making these clues to your identity? I'm just not seeing it.

I doubt Rich would look at that list of traits and say, "dang, that's a great caricature of the way I really am! Someone is sure to figure out it's me -- I'm sure the vomit-inducing ugliness and moldy rotten cheeseburger eating will give away that it is indeed the author!"

Actually, I find the suggestion that Mr. Burlew makes a good fit for a horribly ugly, malodorous, ludicrously stupid, garbage-eating monster to be incredibly offensive.

[ti'esar]

Not that I think for one moment that "Rich Burlew" is a possibility, but that seems like a harsh assessment of the MitD, who I always understood to be a pretty popular character.

[Keltest]

Not that I think for one moment that "Rich Burlew" is a possibility, but that seems like a harsh assessment of the MitD, who I always understood to be a pretty popular character.

Villains tend to be popular characters as well. That doesn't necessarily mean that comparisons to a real person would be flattering.

[Bird]

Not that I think for one moment that "Rich Burlew" is a possibility, but that seems like a harsh assessment of the MitD, who I always understood to be a pretty popular character.

Same here. If I had to think of a quick description of MitD, it would be something like "kind-hearted yet clueless orphan of mysterious appearance & heritage, who is in the process of discovering his vast potential." Which is a very different impression than "smelly necro-play-acting freak."

So, I don't think that suggesting that MitD=Giant is offensive (though I certainly don't think that MitD=Giant is true, either).

[AgentPaper]

MitD is a good character, not a good person. Just because you enjoy reading about him doesn't mean you'd necessarily like to have him live next door.

[AbyssStalker]

I know it is highly unlikely, and has probably already been both mentioned and debunked, but I just want to suggest that perhaps he is an empyrean? Perhaps disfigured so much that he is hardly recognizable, to the point that the big game hunters in SoD couldn't properly identify him? It would help explain why he can't see gates (divine) and why he has been to the astral plane (slain and re-animated by divine parent).

P.S. He can also possibly change weather (mentioned in empyrean's section as one of their abilities) and he said that Miko's attacks "tickled", if her swords were infused with divine magic it would probably be like getting tickled if you are an empyrean. Also I'm new to the DnD scene and don't know if empyreans were around when Rich created MitD so sorry if I suggested a later concept, and I have also noticed that empyreans are both huge and have high Wis scores, contradicting two major facts about MitD, he can fit under an umbrella and appears to have low wisdom.

[Bulldog Psion]

Not that I think for one moment that "Rich Burlew" is a possibility, but that seems like a harsh assessment of the MitD, who I always understood to be a pretty popular character.

I like the MitD myself, and I think he's well on his way towards being one of the "good guys."

Still, he has a lot of pretty repellent traits, and I at least wouldn't like to hear "gee, all the characteristics of the MitD match you perfectly, Bulldog Psion!" I feel that it's courteous to extend the same to Mr. Burlew -- that is not, not saying that his avatar in the strip is a garbage-eating, hideously ugly monstrosity with a good heart.

I don't know how to make my position any plainer; most likely, I'm talking nonsense, as usual.

[Darth Paul]

MitD is a good character, not a good person. Just because you enjoy reading about him doesn't mean you'd necessarily like to have him live next door.

O'Chul expressly told him, after months living in the cage next to him, that he is "a good man." Species aside, I'd say that must make MitD a good person as well. Witness his actions in rescuing O'Chul and Vaarsuvius moments later.

[Keltest]

O'Chul expressly told him, after months living in the cage next to him, that he is "a good man." Species aside, I'd say that must make MitD a good person as well. Witness his actions in rescuing O'Chul and Vaarsuvius moments later.

Good is perhaps the wrong word. Pleasant would be better. I could maybe possibly tolerate him as my neighbor, but I would not allow my hypothetical children over to his house.

[rweird]

I know it is highly unlikely, and has probably already been both mentioned and debunked, but I just want to suggest that perhaps he is an empyrean? Perhaps disfigured so much that he is hardly recognizable, to the point that the big game hunters in SoD couldn't properly identify him? It would help explain why he can't see gates (divine) and why he has been to the astral plane (slain and re-animated by divine parent).

P.S. He can also possibly change weather (mentioned in empyrean's section as one of their abilities) and he said that Miko's attacks "tickled", if her swords were infused with divine magic it would probably be like getting tickled if you are an empyrean. Also I'm new to the DnD scene and don't know if empyreans were around when Rich created MitD so sorry if I suggested a later concept, and I have also noticed that empyreans are both huge and have high Wis scores, contradicting two major facts about MitD, he can fit under an umbrella and appears to have low wisdom.

I'm sorry, but I don't know what an Empyrean is. You described some stuff about it, but not what it is. Considering you referenced stats, could you point us to what book it is from?

[goto124]

empyreans are both huge and have high Wis scores, contradicting two major facts about MitD, he can fit under an umbrella and appears to have low wisdom.

1) Huge umbrella
2) High Wis, low Int

[AbyssStalker]

I'm sorry, but I don't know what an Empyrean is. You described some stuff about it, but not what it is. Considering you referenced stats, could you point us to what book it is from?

It is on page 130 in the 5th edition monster manual, again I'm a new player so if anyone with older edition books could check if it is in them I would appreciate it greatly.

[Bird]

It is on page 130 in the 5th edition monster manual, again I'm a new player so if anyone with older edition books could check if it is in them I would appreciate it greatly.

According to the wikipedia list of 5e monsters, Empyrean is the new name (or a new name?) for titans, which have certainly been around since D&D's dark ages.

Titan is in the list of proposed monsters:

Pros: High Strength, mythologically, the Titan Uranus ate his children.
Cons: The only way to rescue O'Chul is by using Maze, which fits badly. It wouldn't be surprising it can talk.

[Brumagris]

According to the wikipedia list of 5e monsters, Empyrean is the new name (or a new name?) for titans, which have certainly been around since D&D's dark ages.

Titan is in the list of proposed monsters:

After reading the text I would say that the chaotic character fits pretty well, as well as the moments of bad temper (as shown when Haley and Belkar tried to rescue Roy and O´Chul).
The size of the MiTD eyes is enormous, so it would give as well a hint.
Producing earthquakes is apparently among his possibilities.
It is a well known creature out of the D&D world, considered God likes in classic Greek culture.

As far as it comes to Xykon making him eat children, it can be an attempt on passing him into the CE side.

I don´t know about the spells a Titan can make, but being so powerful, would a Wish rather than maze be a possibility for the teleport?

As for the language, the only explanation I can think of is that MiTD would be too young to speak by human patterns.

[Grey_Wolf_c]

Link to the 3.5 version of the Titan

The size of the MiTD eyes is enormous, so it would give as well a hint.

No, they are not. They are about the size of Large characters (Ogre), not Huge (Titan).

It is a well known creature out of the D&D world,

But we have no indication that MitD is well known.

considered God likes in classic Greek culture.

Not at all? Rich did kill all the Greek Gods.

I don´t know about the spells a Titan can make, but being so powerful, would a Wish rather than maze be a possibility for the teleport?

No, titans cannot cast wish anymore than they can cast teleport.

Grey Wolf

[Bulldog Psion]

Not to mention that a titan is just a giant human in Greek attire, IIRC, by D&D standards. Having a big stick figure instead of a small stick figure as the MitD would be beyond anticlimactic, IMO.

[AbyssStalker]

[QUOTE=Grey_Wolf_c;18580712]Link to the 3.5 version of the Titan


Grey_Wolf_c Not at all? Rich did kill all the Greek Gods.

Maybe not all of their children though *wink* *wink*

Sorry about posting a pre-mentioned idea though, I just saw that a large amount of the abilities lined up with MitD, would be a twist if MitD was a greek descendant though, he did say he has "always" been in the rain-forest, perhaps since it was made after the snarl tore apart the first world, a god may have put MitD there because they just couldn't let him die but he annoyed them to much.

But then again, there are multiple things that don't line up, so make of it what you will, thanks for reading.

P.S. Sorry I messed up the quote thing, that quote up there is Grey Wolf's

P.S.S. And he does mention that he enjoys the fresh air, the old world appears to be mainly water (although we don't know if that is because of the snarl or what), Empyrean's don't age, so MitD may just have started off immature and never have a reason to immature because of the inability to age and the fact that nothing would ever give him a reason to wise up, he could kick their ass in a heart-beat. Perhaps him seeing the Snarl obliterate the greek pantheon traumatized him to the point that he became like a child and he represses the memory so hard he doesn't even SEE the gates.

[Kornaki]

The problem is there's a lot of plot speculation in the idea, and not much in the way of checking if it fits the big scenes.

[b_jonas]

As for titans, I'd like to say two things. Firstly, if they have this alternate name "Empyrean", then you might want to mention that in the first posts next to Titan to make it easier to search. Secondly, the Giant is clearly aware of Titans (by their old name): firstly, one of the levels on this forum is "Titan on the Playground", secondly, he's mentioned them in context of DnD rules.