Things You Never Noticed IV: There's A Comic in the Sidebar?

[Keltest]

The main topic of the conversation was, of course, that Thor shouldn't be interfering in Southern Lands. However, Thor is reminded that he has a record of breaking the rules before, prompting Thor to make his comment.

Right, but that doesn't really mean much. If someone has a history of rule breaking and youre responsible for maintaining the rules, youre going to be inclined to give the rule breaker a sort of "im watching you" indicator. Certainly it isn't enough to indicate that Cliffport is in the south.

[Jaxzan Proditor]

Right, but that doesn't really mean much. If someone has a history of rule breaking and youre responsible for maintaining the rules, youre going to be inclined to give the rule breaker a sort of "im watching you" indicator. Certainly it isn't enough to indicate that Cliffport is in the south.

Thor could have still been given that kind of warning, but I think the fact that he had broken the rules before was specifically brought up.

I don't think Cliffport's location matters that much, actually.

[Keltest]

Thor could have still been given that kind of warning, but I think the fact that he had broken the rules before was specifically brought up.

I don't think Cliffport's location matters that much, actually.

Neither do I, at least for now. If they ever go back there for whatever reason, it might become relevant with the whole Thor vs Lurky thing going on.

[Darth Paul]

I just got a twofer from strip 586 http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0586.html. First there was the "sound effect" of the nutshot in Panel 2 as Therkla escapes (hilarious! Belkar would approve). Second, far more ominous, is the "parade" outside the window of Daigo and Kazumi's cabin in the last panel. I'm not sure how I missed this the first 3 times I read through the strip, but hey, they're ninjas in the dark, so I guess that's a good excuse, right?

[Jaxzan Proditor]

I just got a twofer from strip 586 http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0586.html. First there was the "sound effect" of the nutshot in Panel 2 as Therkla escapes (hilarious! Belkar would approve). Second, far more ominous, is the "parade" outside the window of Daigo and Kazumi's cabin in the last panel. I'm not sure how I missed this the first 3 times I read through the strip, but hey, they're ninjas in the dark, so I guess that's a good excuse, right?

I missed both if those too somehow, so nice spot. I saw Therla strangling the other soldier, but not the nutshot, so I missed even more!

[Darth Paul]

Not sure if this counts as a "spot" or a realization...

In #550 ("+1BFF") the Monster in the Darkness lists all his friends to O'Chul; Xykon, Redcloak, Right-Eye, and finally O'Chul himself. Of course, O'Chul is the only actual friend on the list, but...

I just realized that of all the villains, MitD left Tsukiko off the list.

Does this say something deeper about the MitD's perception? Is Tsukiko even more contemptuous of the Monster than Xykon and Redcloak, or does MitD somehow realize that she is Redcloak's enemy and therefore not his (MitD's) friend? Or am I reading too much into it once again? It doesn't seem like it can be coincidental that MitD left her out, but then again...

[Jaxzan Proditor]

Not sure if this counts as a "spot" or a realization...

In #550 ("+1BFF") the Monster in the Darkness lists all his friends to O'Chul; Xykon, Redcloak, Right-Eye, and finally O'Chul himself. Of course, O'Chul is the only actual friend on the list, but...

I just realized that of all the villains, MitD left Tsukiko off the list.

Does this say something deeper about the MitD's perception? Is Tsukiko even more contemptuous of the Monster than Xykon and Redcloak, or does MitD somehow realize that she is Redcloak's enemy and therefore not his (MitD's) friend? Or am I reading too much into it once again? It doesn't seem like it can be coincidental that MitD left her out, but then again...

I think it could be because he has known Xykon and Redcloak for a lot longer than he has Tsukiko, and he never really spends much time with Tsukiko (certainly nowhere near as much time as he spends with O-Chul), so she doesn't make the list.

[Gift Jeraff]

Based on the previous strip, I think it's because she's a girl.

[Darth Paul]

Yeah, there's the simple solution. She's not in the club.

[Orc Warrior]

Isamu clearly dies here: http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0521.html

but then we see him alive again here: http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0700.html

[Perturbulent]

Isamu clearly dies here: http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0521.html

but then we see him alive again here: http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0700.html

It's a sap. It deals nonlethal damage. Only unconscious.

[Keltest]

It's a sap. It deals nonlethal damage. Only unconscious.

Isamu is the wight with the mask that Belkar stabs.

[Perturbulent]

Oh silly me, sorry about that. I don't tend to be good at remembering minor character names, and just assumed from context.

[Jaxzan Proditor]

Isamu clearly dies here: http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0521.html

but then we see him alive again here: http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0700.html

I think another Wight took the shoes, since we see one with shoes here.

[Jasdoif]

I think another Wight took the shoes, since we see one with shoes here.

I think it's the mask that identifies Isamu, not the shoes.

[Jaxzan Proditor]

I think it's the mask that identifies Isamu, not the shoes.

Oops, I guess I confused him with someone else too. Perhaps someone took his mask?

[ChristianSt]

Why should the other wights turn down some great accessories?

So clearly some fortunate other wight claimed dibs on Isamu's stuff, like one did on Thanh's shoes

[Keltest]

Oops, I guess I confused him with someone else too. Perhaps someone took his mask?

He also (also) has a sash or belt of some sort.

[Rodin]

Rules question: Can a Necromancer raise an already killed Wight from the dead? I mean, it's slightly more stabbed than before, but it's an Undead so (theoretically) that shouldn't matter.

[Vinyadan]

Rules question: Can a Necromancer raise an already killed Wight from the dead? I mean, it's slightly more stabbed than before, but it's an Undead so (theoretically) that shouldn't matter.

Undead cannot be resurrected; there could be some rule about reanimating them, but I never heard about it.

My personal version is that Tsukiko simply took the items and kept them as toys for the first wight she would make. You know, to help coping with the loss of the previous one her own way.

[dmc91356]

If you look carefully, the sash has moved from one shoulder to the other between those strips as well.

[Darth Paul]

Something that just sunk in... Belkar has to live until he saves Hinjo's life one more time, according to the prophecy from Shojo's seeress. I wish I could link to this, but it appears in a bonus strip in DStP, right after #669 (I think) called "Shojo's Heirs". Shojo asks her if the Mark of Justice will work out, and she replies that she sees Belkar saving Hinjo's life twice.

The first time was in the Battle of Azure City, when Belkar took out Kubota's agent.

The second time.....?

Could this be a broad hint as to how Belkar will meet his death... giving his life to save Hinjo?

Rich wouldn't drop such a vital clue in a print-only strip... would he?

WOULD HE????

[Jaxzan Proditor]

Something that just sunk in... Belkar has to live until he saves Hinjo's life one more time, according to the prophecy from Shojo's seeress. I wish I could link to this, but it appears in a bonus strip in DStP, right after #669 (I think) called "Shojo's Heirs". Shojo asks her if the Mark of Justice will work out, and she replies that she sees Belkar saving Hinjo's life twice.

The first time was in the Battle of Azure City, when Belkar took out Kubota's agent.

The second time.....?

Could this be a broad hint as to how Belkar will meet his death... giving his life to save Hinjo?

Rich wouldn't drop such a vital clue in a print-only strip... would he?

WOULD HE????

Well, at the very least it tells us that Belkar (and most likely the rest of the Order) will run into Hinjo before Belkar dies.

[Terrador]

Undead cannot be resurrected; there could be some rule about reanimating them, but I never heard about it.

My personal version is that Tsukiko simply took the items and kept them as toys for the first wight she would make. You know, to help coping with the loss of the previous one her own way.

The best rules justification for this I can find is that undead who are reduced to zero hit points are destroyed, not killed; it stands to reason that this is a condition that leaves what was once the undead as no longer a genuine corpse, and therefore an ineligible target for the Raise Dead family.

[Darth Paul]

Page 8, "Start of Darkness"; the panel where the young Necromancer chooses his new name is brilliantly arranged. Behind the young Xykon, as he announces his title "Xykon the Sorceror", is a poster of a grinning death's head - so, effectively, young Xykon's future lich self is looking over his shoulder.

[Inevitability]

As Thog and Elan are looking for new clothes, (here), Elan's future costume is already visible in the window.

[Peelee]

As Thog and Elan are looking for new clothes, (here), Elan's future costume is already visible in the window.

That same strip also forshadowed (pun intended) the airship saving the vampire out in the desert during the Tarquin Saga.

[BrotherMirtillo]

Something that just sunk in... Belkar has to live until he saves Hinjo's life one more time, according to the prophecy from Shojo's seeress. I wish I could link to this, but it appears in a bonus strip in DStP, right after #669 (I think) called "Shojo's Heirs". Shojo asks her if the Mark of Justice will work out, and she replies that she sees Belkar saving Hinjo's life twice.

The first time was in the Battle of Azure City, when Belkar took out Kubota's agent.

The second time.....?

Could this be a broad hint as to how Belkar will meet his death... giving his life to save Hinjo?

Rich wouldn't drop such a vital clue in a print-only strip... would he?

WOULD HE????

-Earlier, the Oracle affirmed Belkar causing death among four candidates.
-Later, the Oracle predicted Belkar taking his final breath.
-Sangwaan predicted Belkar saving Hinjo twice.
-That makes one loss of breath, two salvations, and four hypothetical deaths.
-Four divided by two plus one is three. Also, three would complete the list of "1, 2, __, 4," and this is Belkar's third prophecy.
-"Half-Life 3" confirmed.

Slightly more seriously, I'd say that Rich might drop such a clue, but "vital" is an overstatement. I didn't need that prophecy in order to have hope for Belkar. It's not hope that he'd care about Hinjo personally (fat chance of that) but hope that he'll be helpful on his own initiative more often for however long he's around. His empathy for Enor/Gannji, his fondness for Bloodfeast, and the shock on his face after Durkon's turning -- all of those intrigue me far more than a whispered prediction.

Also, this assumes he hasn't done the second save already. I wasn't a forumite during the speculation of how he would/did cause the death of someone, so shall we compare notes and speculate on what he may have already done to save someone? My vote is that he bought vital seconds of not-panicking by Fireballing the fastest squad of hobgoblins in their faces.

[Jaxzan Proditor]

Page 8, "Start of Darkness"; the panel where the young Necromancer chooses his new name is brilliantly arranged. Behind the young Xykon, as he announces his title "Xykon the Sorceror", is a poster of a grinning death's head - so, effectively, young Xykon's future lich self is looking over his shoulder.

That's a good one. I don't know how I didn't notice that before.

[Darth Paul]

Another Start of Darkness (yeah, re-reading it for the 4th time)- in the scene of Fyron giving a tour of his library, (page 21) we all see crownless Xykon lurking in the crowd. I just spotted the crown he is plotting to steal on the right side of the panel, half-way out of view in a display case.

And furthermore, I would swear that's Vaarsuvius standing right next to the case. If it's not V, then it's an identical elf with an identical cloak, identical hairstyle, and identical headband. JUST noticed that, when I was checking the page number.

I can't remember how old V's age is stated as in "Origin of the PCs", but I think it's about 200. Is there any reason V couldn't be in the above scene as an Easter egg?