Unprovable OOTS Therories

[...]

Well, I decided that we needed a place to put our unprovable OOTS theories in the backs of our heads, so here's a thread for it. That's really all I need to say. Happy posting!

[Socksy]

Hannah Bidetsmith is adopted and is Redcloak's niece.

More seriously, I think Laurin could be an Elan. It would be another reason to hide stuff from Hannah, and she would use either a hat of disguise or a mundane disguise kit to look constantly older. She, like Malack, has long-term plans for the area- possibly going to attack the elves and claim the non-desert part of the continent for the humans, probably ensuring plumbing became a noble and well-paid art.

[Darth Paul]

Xykon knows that the replacement phylactery Redcloak gave him is not the real one.

Just a hunch, since he foresaw the whole

Spoiler: Start Of Darkness

Show

assassination attempt by Right-Eye

and had a counter for that, in fact making it part of his plan.

Xykon is a lot smarter than he acts.

[Super Evil User]

Xykon knows that the replacement phylactery Redcloak gave him is not the real one.

Just a hunch, since he foresaw the whole

Spoiler: Start Of Darkness

Show

assassination attempt by Right-Eye

and had a counter for that, in fact making it part of his plan.

Xykon is a lot smarter than he acts.

Obligatory:

Don't confuse not caring with not knowing.

[Darth Paul]

Obligatory:

Don't confuse not caring with not knowing.

The thing that makes it uncertain is; how much has Redcloak compensated for Xykon's known amount of cunning in laying his own counter-counter-counter-plans? Arguably, his dealings with Tsukiko show that Redcloak has himself become a high-level chessmaster. Who's better at playing Xanatos Speed Chess?

[rs2excelsior]

Elves are really all asexual, which is why V doesn't pay much attention to pronouns, didn't notice that Roy was a woman, etc. Marriage is a recent concept that the Elves adopted from other races, which is why V's children use "Parent" and "Other Parent" rather than "Mother" and "Father"--only the word "Parent" exists in the Elven language. Oh, and since they're asexual, Elves reproduce by budding.

[sparkyinbozo]

I still suspect that the MitD is actually Serini in some form or another and that she'll be the one to provide the background exposition behind what the snarl/gates/etc. really are, the acrimony between the Scribble team, and possibly replace Belkar after his quickly-approaching death.

[orrion]

Elves are really all asexual, which is why V doesn't pay much attention to pronouns, didn't notice that Roy was a woman, etc. Marriage is a recent concept that the Elves adopted from other races, which is why V's children use "Parent" and "Other Parent" rather than "Mother" and "Father"--only the word "Parent" exists in the Elven language. Oh, and since they're asexual, Elves reproduce by budding.

I think that one is disproved by Lirian.

[Keltest]

I think that one is disproved by Lirian.

And the existence of half-elves in general.

[Leviting]

Hannah Bidetsmith is adopted and is Redcloak's niece.

More seriously, I think Laurin could be an Elan. It would be another reason to hide stuff from Hannah, and she would use either a hat of disguise or a mundane disguise kit to look constantly older. She, like Malack, has long-term plans for the area- possibly going to attack the elves and claim the non-desert part of the continent for the humans, probably ensuring plumbing became a noble and well-paid art.

Well, Elans do age, it just takes a long time. Elans become venerable at 1000 years, but never actually die after that, unless killed.

[Grey_Wolf_c]

Xykon knows that the replacement phylactery Redcloak gave him is not the real one.

Sure, but this is not unprovable, not as such. By the end of the story we will know if Xykon figured this out in advance or not. Of course, it is unprovable now, but the same could be said of every other theory about future events.

Grey Wolf

[ti'esar]

I've always had a half-serious theory that Tarquin is a "fallen" bard - that is, a bard who violated the "bards cannot become lawful" alignment clause. It would tie in with his rant about how they should be using their knowledge of narrative structure to rule the world instead of singing in taverns, especially because that rant is one of only a few things I've ever seen to actually imply a (parodic) reason for why bards can't be lawful. And it would tie in a lot better to the Darth Vader jokes then the idea that he's a blackguard or other form of fallen paladin would (something I saw people seriously suggest in the past).

[Keltest]

I've always had a half-serious theory that Tarquin is a "fallen" bard - that is, a bard who violated the "bards cannot become lawful" alignment clause. It would tie in with his rant about how they should be using their knowledge of narrative structure to rule the world instead of singing in taverns, especially because that rant is one of only a few things I've ever seen to actually imply a (parodic) reason for why bards can't be lawful. And it would tie in a lot better to the Darth Vader jokes then the idea that he's a blackguard or other form of fallen paladin would (something I saw people seriously suggest in the past).

That's surprisingly plausible. Id love to see the Giant comment on that.

[dtilque]

The MitD's name is Marty Stu...

[Darth Paul]

Sure, but this is not unprovable, not as such. By the end of the story we will know if Xykon figured this out in advance or not. Of course, it is unprovable now, but the same could be said of every other theory about future events.

Grey Wolf

It might also be said about any other revelation about a character's past that might still be made, any secret that could yet be revealed, etc.

"Unproven" and "unprovable" are almost identical in this context, unless we're using "unprovable" as "not only unproven at this time, but extremely unlikely to be proved at any time in the future as well."

In which case, I have a theory that the MitD was a friend of Sasquatch and the Loch Ness Monster in his youth, both of whom arrived in his world via the Gates before Soon and the Order of the Scribble sealed them up.

Now that's unprovable.

[Peelee]

More seriously, I think Laurin could be an Elan.

.......

I submit that Elan is an Elan, but he's a terrible Elan because he's Elan. Which would make him Elan the Elan with elan.

[CletusMusashi]

The fallen bard thing works, but I say that Tarquin is the son of a bard. He was impressed by his father's grasp of narrative, but not so much by his singing and juggling. Plus, being Lawful Evil, he wasn't able to actually take the class anyway, so he made his own build. Heavier on combat.
Nale was brought up to respect the power of narrative, but not bards. Nale actually could have been an evil bard if he'd wanted to, but since he thought he was lawful he didn't actually try, and went the overly complicated alternate route.

[Socksy]

Well, Elans do age, it just takes a long time. Elans become venerable at 1000 years, but never actually die after that, unless killed.

She would have to be pretty young for an Elan, she has a daughter (unless Hannah is adopted)

.......

I submit that Elan is an Elan, but he's a terrible Elan because he's Elan. Which would make him Elan the Elan with elan.

Is Nale an Elan too, just because he used to be obsessed with the evil opposites theme?

[Jaxzan Proditor]

The fallen bard thing works, but I say that Tarquin is the son of a bard. He was impressed by his father's grasp of narrative, but not so much by his singing and juggling. Plus, being Lawful Evil, he wasn't able to actually take the class anyway, so he made his own build. Heavier on combat.
Nale was brought up to respect the power of narrative, but not bards. Nale actually could have been an evil bard if he'd wanted to, but since he thought he was lawful he didn't actually try, and went the overly complicated alternate route.

So, you are saying that Bard Runs in the Family?

[Seward]

The Monster in the Darkness is Pun Pun.

Pun Pun can do anything and is all-powerful, he's a recursive 3.5 build abuse that famously provides infinite power at a certain point in the build. But the build requires him to be a fairly normal kobold for several levels. So vast cosmic power but just wants a regular supply of stew.

Only problem with that theory is the Monster seems to be rather large, which Pun Pun isn't unless he's routinely using shapeshift spell 24x7 (which he can do, but it isn't clear why)

[Graustein]

Elves are not biologically asexual, but they have no concept of gender beyond noting that some Elves have one set of parts and some Elves have another set of parts and sex involving these two kinds of Elves leads to reproduction. Other than that, all Elves are Elves, and are a bit bewildered by the obsession other races have with separating people based on what (as far as they're concerned) is basically plumbing. Their relationship styles are more or less similar to those of other races, except not every Elven pair will be able to reproduce, but adoption is common.

Some Elves pick up the idea of gender from other races and try it on for size (following their own interpretations of it; an Elf with what another race might consider female parts deciding that they quite like being a He, actually, or whatever) but not all. V is in this regard pretty much a normal Elf.

[littlebum2002]

More seriously, I think Laurin could be an Elan.

Every time I hear this theory I always think people are saying "Laurin is to her group like Elan is to the OOTS"

[Jaxzan Proditor]

Every time I hear this theory I always think people are saying "Laurin is to her group like Elan is to the OOTS"

I think the exact same thing. Confuses me every time.

[Socksy]

But imagine Elan (as in McTarquinsson) with Laurin's raw psionic power, and the ability to use it somehow. Holy crap that's scary.

[...]

I have one that is completely insane: Shojo awakened Mr. Scruffy, who understands common and is CN.

[orrion]

I have one that is completely insane: Shojo awakened Mr. Scruffy, who understands common and is CN.

O..kay? What does "awakened" mean and why does it matter whether Scruffy understands common or is Chaotic Neutral?

A theory is supposed to explain or justify something. What exactly is this explaining or justifying?

[Jaxzan Proditor]

O..kay? What does "awakened" mean and why does it matter whether Scruffy understands common or is Chaotic Neutral?

It means that Shojo cast Awaken on Mr. Scruffy, which would make him able to speak and have an alignment matching that of the person who awakened him. I don't recall Shojo's alignment.

[Socksy]

It means that Shojo cast Awaken on Mr. Scruffy, which would make him able to speak and have an alignment matching that of the person who awakened him. I don't recall Shojo's alignment.

I think he's Chaotic Good, although I've seen some people saying CN.

[Aedilred]

It means that Shojo cast Awaken on Mr. Scruffy, which would make him able to speak and have an alignment matching that of the person who awakened him. I don't recall Shojo's alignment.

Never outright stated, but non-Lawful. Belkar pegged him as Chaotic Good, which seems fairly likely.

[Jaxzan Proditor]

I think he's Chaotic Good, although I've seen some people saying CN.

Never outright stated, but non-Lawful. Belkar pegged him as Chaotic Good, which seems fairly likely.

That's probably what I would assume as well, without any other information.