Which way wil HPoH vote?

[Keltest]

Funnily enuf, I don't think it's obvious at all. As I said in the main thread, I originally thought she was going to THREATEN to vote yes to force a tie as a way to get some sort of concessions.

Now though, I think she is going to vote yes to force a new round of voting, where presumably she can get some thing out of not destroying the world. Either that or she votes to force a tie to throw the whole Godsmoot into chaos and disruption, seizing on the confusion since she is the only one planning for it.

So, yes, she probably votes yes here. But not because she wants to destroy the world; but because she has incredible leverage right now. And even then, the threat might be enough in and of itself.

Really, I think the main guessing game should be how, exactly will Hel try to use that leverage[/u]. That she has it, should be relatively clear. How she plans on using it, and to what ends, less so.

So, as I asked in the main thread, what is the possibility that Tyr changes his vote because voting Yes gives an enemy (Hel) an incredible advantage over them?

[Father Miles]

Funnily enuf, I don't think it's obvious at all. As I said in the main thread, I originally thought she was going to THREATEN to vote yes to force a tie as a way to get some sort of concessions.

Now though, I think she is going to vote yes to force a new round of voting, where presumably she can get some thing out of not destroying the world. Either that or she votes to force a tie to throw the whole Godsmoot into chaos and disruption, seizing on the confusion since she is the only one planning for it.

So, yes, she probably votes yes here. But not because she wants to destroy the world; but because she has incredible leverage right now. And even then, the threat might be enough in and of itself.

Really, I think the main guessing game should be how, exactly will Hel try to use that leverage[/u]. That she has it, should be relatively clear. How she plans on using it, and to what ends, less so.

Also since this is a story about OOTS, the question becomes: How can the main characters influence events?

[zinycor]

So, as I asked in the main thread, what is the possibility that Tyr changes his vote because voting Yes gives an enemy (Hel) an incredible advantage over them?

Even with that incredible advantage, Tyr will probably think that the Snarl is way too big of a danger. Hel, may cause problems and become very powerful, but the other gods and their followers will still have a chance to fight. The Snarl is way too big of a danger compared to that, and if the Snarl kills the Gods, is a complete game over for everyone.

Hel would be the lesser of 2 evils.

[Porthos]

So, as I asked in the main thread, what is the possibility that Tyr changes his vote because voting Yes gives an enemy (Hel) an incredible advantage over them?

Given that some of the votes appeared to be a bit on the flighty side, I'm not convinced that other votes might not change, one way or the other.

It's not incredibly likely, no, but in Comic #1001 or #1002, I could see a series of panels that say something like "Hel votes Yes", "Hel votes No", "Hel votes No", "Hel votes Yes", "Hel Abstains" and so on and so on and so on, counting on the other gods to be too closely divided to mass against her one way or the other.

It's probably not incredibly likely because the vamping that's been going on probably means something. But it could just be that if the Godsmoot gets sick and tired of Hel's machinations and the tide starts to turn decisively, then "Durkon" will have a swarm of vampires descend on an unexpecting audience. If even only a couple of High Priests fall, it probably suits her purposes. And it's not like the people are supposedly guaranteeing the saftey of everybody are going to step in.

...

Well, they might, actually.

That's probably not very likely as well, but it does put one member of Team OOTS at center stage of the events. Two if one counts Roy.

====

All of the above being said, and notwithstanding my own prediciton, I do think it is safe to say that Hel will try to use this leverage to her advantage. I mean, it's set up right there on a tee. It's the HOW that remains to be seen.

[Ruslan]

Which way do you expect the High Priest of Hel to vote? Will he vote to
a)Destroy the world
b)Not destroy the world
c)Make a political deal with one or more of the other high priests in exchange for a vote to Destroy the world?
d)Make a political deal with one or more of the other high priests in exchange for a vote not to Destroy the world?
e)Make a political deal with one or more of the other high priests in exchange for abstaining?
f)Just Abstain


Given his strong desire to get here, I think (f) is unlikely. I also think (e) is unlikely, since anyone he makes a deal with would like it more if he voted for whichever side they agreed with.
(D) is my guess. He'll vote to destroy the world, unless the pro-world-saving high priests agree to give Hel....something.

I vote (G) sell his vote to the highest bidder.

[Olinser]

Right now there are (3) gods that seem like they might reasonably change their vote through some convincing:

Currently NO:

Balder - (can't get much more wishy washy than his answer)
Mani - lazy answer, seems very prone to a switch

Currently YES:

Njord - seems to kind of have ADD. Somebody convincing him he could have plenty of fun with THIS world would probably change his vote

Most of the others seem pretty set in their vote and justification for it and unlikely to change barring new information. Not saying Hel couldn't PROVIDE that new information, but right now I'm seeing it much more likely that something happens to change it to YES than NO.

Although, I just had a brainstorm. Xykon and Redcloak have been at the Gate for a pretty lengthly period of time at this point. I'm wondering whether Redcloak finished the ritual and the Dark One is about to assault the gods with the Snarl in strip 1000.

[Dire Moose]

My guess is that Hel will vote "YES" or threaten to do so.

She will offer to change her vote only if Thor gives her something important that he otherwise would not consider giving up. Part of her plan was to bring Thor to his knees; perhaps she's using this vote to blackmail him?

[SlashDash]

I'm with the last poster. I think threatening a tie might be what she requires in order to gain favor for something else.

Furthermore, Hel will also squeeze something that will force the OotS to take Durkula with them regardless. After all, Roy is correct. If the other high priests join them, the fight will be over in no time.

Even if the gods can't intervene, their clerics have free will and Roy is clearly passionate enough to influence them with speech.

So we need to have a solid reason why he doesn't get more clerics to help him. That would be a huge plot hole otherwise and The Giant isn't known for allowing such holes which makes me think that he already has a plan to cover that up (surely after he put it with huge letters himself).

[Jasdoif]

So we need to have a solid reason why he doesn't get more clerics to help him.

Would you trust the adventurers who are directly responsible for half of the Gate destructions and are heading towards the last Gate? Even if they hadn't escorted the High Priest of a goddess known for keeping the souls of dishonorable dead?

[littlebum2002]

Hel will vote "Nay". her grand scheme was to slightly annoy Thor by wasting 10 seconds of his time to make him listen to her vote.

[multilis]

Hel may not care about the vote. Hel may care about bringing doom to the dwarven lands, and one option for that is zombie/vampire Apocalypse.

There was a plan in place for long time and it may not have been obvious that there would be a near tie vote now where Hel's vote mattered.

The next logical step if playing war would be to spit up the "enemy" and continue to slowly ambush them, using whatever means are available, including perhaps the vote. Someone who was a gloater might screw up a bit and push for battle royal as soon as thinks got strategic edge. Cautious villain would instead only go for battle royal once the "sneaky" phase is blown by opponents.

[137beth]

Funnily enuf, I don't think it's obvious at all. As I said in the main thread, I originally thought she was going to THREATEN to vote yes to force a tie as a way to get some sort of concessions.

Now though, I think she is going to vote yes to force a new round of voting, where presumably she can get some thing out of not destroying the world. Either that or she votes to force a tie to throw the whole Godsmoot into chaos and disruption, seizing on the confusion since she is the only one planning for it.

So, yes, she probably votes yes here. But not because she wants to destroy the world; but because she has incredible leverage right now. And even then, the threat might be enough in and of itself.

Really, I think the main guessing game should be how, exactly will Hel try to use that leverage[/u]. That she has it, should be relatively clear. How she plans on using it, and to what ends, less so.

That's my guess as well. It appears possibilities (c) and (f) are off the table, since HPoH can only swing things by threatening to vote yes.
The big question is what he is going to ask for. Also, since the gods can't hear him, he can only directly bargain with the other high priests.

A wild guess (that I'm not convinced is correct) would be "Hel votes Yes, unless the High Priest of Thor allows himself to be vampirized, in which case she votes No."
But he'd need some way to enforce the deal, and prevent the other Good clerics from destroying them both as soon as they leave the Moot.
Plus, killing one high priest may not actually "bring Thor to his knees".

[Father Miles]

That's my guess as well. It appears possibilities (c) and (f) are off the table, since HPoH can only swing things by threatening to vote yes.
The big question is what he is going to ask for. Also, since the gods can't hear him, he can only directly bargain with the other high priests.

A wild guess (that I'm not convinced is correct) would be "Hel votes Yes, unless the High Priest of Thor allows himself to be vampirized, in which case she votes No."
But he'd need some way to enforce the deal, and prevent the other Good clerics from destroying them both as soon as they leave the Moot.
Plus, killing one high priest may not actually "bring Thor to his knees".

Maybe Thor would be required to withdraw all of his protections (and clerics) from the Dwarven lands?

[woweedd]

Well, I guess that question's answered. Can someone with the authority to do so please Lock this thread?

[martianmister]

Well, I guess that question's answered. Can someone with the authority to do so please Lock this thread?

Why?

[woweedd]

Why?

Because the central question that this thread was made to speculate on has been resolved.

[martianmister]

Because the central question that this thread was made to speculate on has been resolved.

Still, there is no reason to lock it.

[woweedd]

Still, there is no reason to lock it.

The central question is answered.

[Keltest]

The central question is answered.

So? Threads can exist beyond the initial topic they started on, to a point, and even then, if the discussion dies on its own due to being concluded, theres still no need to lock it.

[martianmister]

The central question is answered.

This not a legimate reason to lock this thread.

[137beth]

Many 'guessing' threads have continued passed the reveal of the thing they were trying to guess. When 841 came out, there were threads speculating on the cause of the Draketeeth's deaths, but those threads weren't all locked when 842 came out.