How Belkar will die...

[Peelee]

Because he links to how vampires work? Or the quote about people who agree with each other arguing?

Or both?

The workings of vamping. And I'm shamed to admit, i had to follow the source of the other quote to see if i had been involved in that conversation. Because i know I've been involved in an instant just like it.

[Jaxzan Proditor]

I don't think I'll ever see another post where the text and the sigline flow in such a perfect way.

My role in this forum is pretty much to walk around and advertise those particular links.

[falsedot]

My prediction - Belkar will sacrifice himself for the group at the very end and kill V (who will try to end the world while being dominated by the demons) in the process.

The demons (and devils and daemons) cant dominate V or place anyone in her body. Perhaps splicing the soul would be an option altough it is unclear if the soul has to be willing.

[Shining Wrath]

Belkar indeed "is not long for this world", according to the oracle. So we can scrap the Belkula scenario. The only other planes we've seen is the plane of elemental ranch dressing and Xykon's mancave in the Astral plane. So that leaves perhaps a tiny chance of him ending up in Xykon's soul gem, heh.

If he dies by mundane means, it would only make sense for the Order to try to revive him - in particular here a this location that probably has the highest density of NPCs capable of casting resurrection in the world, currently. So that means he'll die in some way where resurrection is impossible... and Redcloak has been known to keep Disintegrate spells in reserve.

And we also know a heroic act of self-sacrifice could be the finishing touch of an alignment change, if that's how the story is going to go. So who's he going to take a disintegration ray in the chest for?

And Roy's extended visit to LG heaven (Celestia). And the IPCC hang out somewhere, which when Belkar asked V "Where the hell have you been" gained the answer "Unfortunately, yes".

The normal D&D cosmology is in place.

I'm betting on Belkar dying heroically, not quite a "It is a far far better thing I do than I have ever done before" choice to die when he could avoid it, but more an attack he thought might succeed, but didn't.

[Silverionmox]

And Roy's extended visit to LG heaven (Celestia). And the IPCC hang out somewhere, which when Belkar asked V "Where the hell have you been" gained the answer "Unfortunately, yes".

The normal D&D cosmology is in place.

I'm betting on Belkar dying heroically, not quite a "It is a far far better thing I do than I have ever done before" choice to die when he could avoid it, but more an attack he thought might succeed, but didn't.

Saving Roy's life or being instrumental to restoring Durkon's mojo to the upright locked position would be a sufficient counterpoint.

[Keltest]

The demons (and devils and daemons) cant dominate V or place anyone in her body. Perhaps splicing the soul would be an option altough it is unclear if the soul has to be willing.

As V's soul would be in the domain of the Fiends, I don't see any benefit to splicing it.

[Shining Wrath]

Yes they would follow the rules until the time came that are tired of not ruling the world. Nothing risked nothing gained.

As for the gods: Those clerics are their power in that world. Do you really think they would risk losing them when they could protect them?

If the gods protect their clerics, which gods do better mass destruction - good, or evil?

Which gods would be more likely to say "I'll willingly sacrifice one of my priests if I can take out 4 or 5 on the other side"?

Gods freely smiting is what Loki wants, not Thor.

[ti'esar]

If the gods protect their clerics, which gods do better mass destruction - good, or evil?

Which gods would be more likely to say "I'll willingly sacrifice one of my priests if I can take out 4 or 5 on the other side"?

Gods freely smiting is what Loki wants, not Thor.

I've never gotten the sense that the "standard" evil gods like Loki and Tiamat are particularly unhappy with the current cosmological status quo, honestly. The only ones who want to make big changes are the ones that were (apparently) dealt completely lousy hands like Hel and TDO.

[Lombard]

Sometimes I see the story progressing and I think I could end up making a decent meta-level argument that Belkar's throughline is one of the 2 or 3 most important things about OOTS. Other times I just think he's about to kick the bucket any strip now. Lol.. the suspense is killing me!

[Quild]

Back in 2010, a trope exposition already gave lot of expectation of Belkar's imminent death.
When the fight occured, expectation grew (oh, there's a copyright typo!)
Belkar Mr. Scruffy won the fight, but the speech between Belkar and him gave expectations that this was a farewell.

Then, I think things went quite quiet for a while, until Belkar got lost and faced Malack. With Malack revealing being a vampire, the lack of knowledge of how vampire works at this time and Belkar's hate for undeads (that do not feel fear), expectation was once again high.

Then, Belkar spent some time with a huge CON drain, weaker than weak. And managed to survive through this.

I can't say if there were lot of expectations of Belkar's death during the Mark of Justice thing, since it was very close of Oracle's reminder, but after like 5 years expecting most of the time that Belkar will die, I don't expect it anymore. Guess Giant will manage to surprise me easily then!


I should use this as an example of why spoilers aren't necessarily bad. Oracle spoiled us Belkar's death and the expectation of it brings suspense to the story that wouldn't exist otherwise.

[Father Miles]

First panel?

Hysterical... I was joking and had totally missed that reference. But we don't know which hobgoblin reflects Rich's take. So "Belkar's fate is left unknown" remains a slim possibility.

[D.One]

Belkar will die with axes in his eyes...

[Keltest]

Belkar will die with axes in his eyes...

that sounds painful

[Psyren]

I should use this as an example of why spoilers aren't necessarily bad. Oracle spoiled us Belkar's death and the expectation of it brings suspense to the story that wouldn't exist otherwise.

This is true of any prophecy in a fantasy story, at least if it is well-executed. Their purpose is to build dramatic tension, and they do so not in knowing what will happen, but in when and how. (And in fact, even "what" can be up in the air, if the characters misinterpret an ambiguous portent and lower their guard as a result.)

[Bulldog Psion]

How will Belkar die?

Will he die in a house?
Will he die with a mouse?

Will he die to a mummy slam?
Will he die eating green slaads and ham?

Will he die here or there?
Will he die anywhere?

Will he die in a boat?
Will he die with a goat?

Will he die in the rain?
Will he die on a train?

Will he die in a tree?
... We shall have to wait and see.

(With apologies Dr. Seuss, plus anyone unfortunate enough to read this post.)

[Shining Wrath]

How will Belkar die?

Will he die in a house?
Will he die with a mouse?

Will he die to a mummy slam?
Will he die eating green slaads and ham?

Will he die here or there?
Will he die anywhere?

Will he die in a boat?
Will he die with a goat?

Will he die in the rain?
Will he die on a train?

Will he die in a tree?
... We shall have to wait and see.

(With apologies Dr. Seuss, plus anyone unfortunate enough to read this post.)

I do not like blood-sucking dwarf; I do not like him, Sam of Wharf!

[Haley14859]

I'm sure that Durkula will kill Belkar. so many things have foreshadowed his death. There have been hints of his death and this is an interesting way for him to go. I can see future comics with really bad replacements of Belkar, and drama surrounding Durkon. I think he will die on strip 1000. The landmark of the first pc death.

[Keltest]

The landmark of the first pc death.

If you don't count Roy.

[littlebum2002]

I'm sure that Durkula will kill Belkar. so many things have foreshadowed his death. There have been hints of his death and this is an interesting way for him to go. I can see future comics with really bad replacements of Belkar, and drama surrounding Durkon. I think he will die on strip 1000. The landmark of the first pc death.

Considering people have been making this exact same prediction every single time Belkar has gotten in any bit of trouble for the last 600 strips or so, I wouldn't hold your breath.

[Brendanicus]

If you don't count Roy.

Or Durkon.

[littlebum2002]

LOL good point. 1/3rd of the OOTS has died already, so somehow I doubt strip #1000 will be the "first PC death"

[Charity322]

Yeah, but we know that Belkar isn't coming back. First permanent PC death?

[NerdyKris]

Durkon might not make it back either, if he gets dusted in a windy area.

Also, yeah, people have been insisting that Belkar's death is imminent in every battle he's been in since Greysky City. There's always foreshadowing. That's intentional, otherwise we'd just wait for the foreshadowing instead of having the tension that he can die during any battle.

[littlebum2002]

Yeah, but we know that Belkar isn't coming back. First permanent PC death?

(Everyone please forgive me for giving more ammo to the "Belkar won't permanently die" people, but...)

Technically, if Belkar turns into a vampire, he'll still fulfill the prophecies made regarding him. Well, it all depends on how IRAs work with undead creatures. If an undead creature is allowed to access the IRA of its old body, then that part won't be true, but if the banks know how vampirization works (that the vampire and the deceased are different creatures) I'd think they wouldn't allow that.

We need input from Rich as to how IRAs work in the OOTSverse, I think. Very important information.

[Quild]

(Everyone please forgive me for giving more ammo to the "Belkar won't permanently die" people, but...)

Technically, if Belkar turns into a vampire, he'll still fulfill the prophecies made regarding him. Well, it all depends on how IRAs work with undead creatures. If an undead creature is allowed to access the IRA of its old body, then that part won't be true, but if the banks know how vampirization works (that the vampire and the deceased are different creatures) I'd think they wouldn't allow that.

We need input from Rich as to how IRAs work in the OOTSverse, I think. Very important information.

The definition of death iteself may be different in oots-world.
If Belkar was to be turned into undead, the difference between being simply dead and his position would be that his soul would be trapped in his body instead of some other plane.

But he would otherwise be dead with the prophecy fulfilled without any loophole. It's even more sad.

Also, I even wonder how body works in D&D. You can't resurrect someone who has been turned into an undead, but you may be able to turn into an undead the body someone who has been resurrected already (through a small portion of said body or maybe through True Resurrection).

If some PC is killed, has his finger cut and is resurrected with this finger as part of the body, it doesn't seem to me that the rest of the body is destroyed.

[Odin's Eyepatch]

I'm imagining Belkar to die with numerous vampire corpses scattered around him, all covered with tiny dagger wounds. Unrealistic I know, but hey, a man can dream.

Though personally, I'm going to say that Belkar will still come back, but as a revenant, which is an undead (so no breathing) that walks the world trying to destroy the one that killed it. My theory is: the HPOH will kill Belkar, and escape the Godsmoot, travelling to the Dwarven Lands to the remaining gate (and therefore has the chance to wreak havoc on the Dwarven Lands). Meanwhile Belkar comes back as a revenant, and helps track down the HPOH (who's at the gate), and thus we have Belkar dead, but still useful and present in the story, right till he finally kills the HPoH.

[D.One]

Though personally, I'm going to say that Belkar will still come back, but as a revenant, which is an undead (so no breathing) that walks the world trying to destroy the one that killed it. My theory is: the HPOH will kill Belkar, and escape the Godsmoot, travelling to the Dwarven Lands to the remaining gate (and therefore has the chance to wreak havoc on the Dwarven Lands). Meanwhile Belkar comes back as a revenant, and helps track down the HPOH (who's at the gate), and thus we have Belkar dead, but still useful and present in the story, right till he finally kills the HPoH.

I like this one. Don't think it will happen, but I like it.

[Psyren]

But he's also "not long for this world." A vampire or revenant would be on this world.

(As a ghost though, he'd technically be on another world, i.e. ethereal.)

[hamishspence]

When manifested, ghosts are on both the Material and the Ethereal planes at the same time:

http://www.d20srd.org/srd/monsters/ghost.htm

[NerdyKris]

But he's also "not long for this world." A vampire or revenant would be on this world.

(As a ghost though, he'd technically be on another world, i.e. ethereal.)

A vampire isn't Belkar, though. It's an evil spirit driving around in his body in the OOTS world.