OOTS #1033 - The Discussion Thread

[littlebum2002]

I still say the red stripes (symbolic bloody claw marks) match the ones on the high priest of Fenrir's face.

I thought of Fenrir's priest here as well. He also looks a little like the priest of the frost giant demigod with the horns.

That's because the human brain is very excellent at finding similarities in unrelated data. It's called Apophenia.

If anything, our new antagonist looks more like the High Priest of Thrym (as aurilee pointed out). At least they both have the same headgear and winter theme.

I second this. Humans ride large horses. It makes sense that a large giant would ride a huge creature.

This is bad. It's mount can make ranged attacks at will and they can't retaliate. It'll be like a giant in a playground compared to the paladins.

Does "Giant in a playground" have a meaning I'm not familiar with? I always thought it was an Enders Game reference.

[gerryq]

Huh, the eye holes are strange. They are completely round. Also interesting that the mask covers the entire face which suggest that maybe the rider doesn't have endure elements up or it has some sort of significance. I can't imagine anyone wanting to wear a mask with no nose or mouth holes in it unless it is needed to keep the heat in or was significant to you in some way.

Maybe he's undead and thinks it looks cool.

I see the flying mount has been named. I was going to christen it the 'Narwheagle'.

[Raazan]

I thought of Fenrir's priest here as well. He also looks a little like the priest of the frost giant demigod with the horns.

Perhaps this is a frost giant riding an arctic yrthak?

The boots are also goblinoid, but I don't see why a giant couldn't have similar footwear.

Unless there are arctic goblins, and this is some sort of arctic goblin shaman?

I'm thinking Bugbear, a larger than normal goblinoid, and given that the normally 3 foot goblins are portrayed as human sized in this comic, bugbears could easily be pushing the limits of medium size.

[Kantaki]

Does "Giant in a playground" have a meaning I'm not familiar with? I always thought it was an Enders Game reference.

I'm pretty sure it is a quote about the First Ones (Specifically about the Shadows and the Vorlons and how their "philosophical disagreement" affects the galaxy) from Babylon 5.

[PoeticDwarf]

Argh, I came here to make that joke!

Wow, me too

[Hamste]

Maybe he's undead and thinks it looks cool.

I see the flying mount has been named. I was going to christen it the 'Narwheagle'.

Possible but cold undead have the tendency to be blue or pale white. The skin we saw is neither. Doesn't completely discount it but I don't think we have ever seen an undead with a natural skin color.

[Dracarys]

nice effects!

[Jay R]

Really nice artwork. The sonic attack is very clear and very striking.

The yrthak s really more of a sonic unicornate reptile, but that's not as good a name for a rock band.

O'chul does not have a weapon? Or it's not drawn until it's drawn?

Oh, Very well done. Clearly, his weapon isn't drawn yet.

[PallentisLunam]

Maybe Lein's spear has returning?

[Coat]

I'm thinking Bugbear, a larger than normal goblinoid, and given that the normally 3 foot goblins are portrayed as human sized in this comic, bugbears could easily be pushing the limits of medium size.

Interesting.

Because as far as I can recall, we haven't seen Bugbears so far in this comic (and they're totally my favourite Goblinoids).

And also, if you look at the CSI zoom in Foobar's post, those look an awful lot like mandibles poking out under the helmet to me. Which a bugbear would clearly have. Because Wizards.

[Shining Wrath]

Rich Burlew has explained the origin of "Giant in the Playground", but IIRC it was a nickname given to him on a board similar to this one where he kept on being the only adult in the room.

[Uhtred]

One of the first hits I got for "yrthak" led me to the Pathfinder variant of the monster on their SRD, and they mention the "Boreal Yrthak," which lives in the arctic and possesses an electric aura that makes them difficult for prey to sense. "Frost Giant on Boreal Yrthak" just became my new favorite Frost Giant encounter, and I have a couple of the Tundra Scout minis that have them mounted on mammoths.

[aurilee]

Interesting.

Because as far as I can recall, we haven't seen Bugbears so far in this comic (and they're totally my favourite Goblinoids).

And also, if you look at the CSI zoom in Foobar's post, those look an awful lot like mandibles poking out under the helmet to me. Which a bugbear would clearly have. Because Wizards.

That looks more like hair sticking out than mandibles. They aren't symmetrical enough.

The mask definitely looks ceremonial, but it could also be to protect from the cold. The eye-holes might also be goggles/glasses to protect from the wind and snow-blindness. If that's the case, then it's more likely to be a bugbear or other goblinoid since frost giants wouldn't need any protection.

[Pyrous]

What is 'Giant in the Playground'?

http://www.giantitp.com/FAQ.html#faq16

[Sir_Norbert]

Just a little thing that's been bugging me: how does one pronounce "yrthak"?

The y is followed by a consonant cluster, suggesting that it's to be interpreted as a vowel: "eer-thak" or "earth-ak" or perhaps "ire-thak".

Yet the SRD says a yrthak (not an), which is incompatible with any of the above. Of course, it's possible that one of them is correct and they got the grammar wrong.

Any ideas?

[Yxylu]

Because as far as I can recall, we haven't seen Bugbears so far in this comic (and they're totally my favourite Goblinoids).

One appeared in Start of Darkness, but it didn't have any lines or anything. I don't have my book with me, but I think it was in a crowd shot.

[AmewTheFox]

O'chul does not have a weapon? Or it's not drawn until it's drawn?

I believe that it's been discussed that it falls into the same category of Elan and Belkar. Though, did we ever see him get a weapon?

awesome mount+ theatrical grand entrance = Tarquin

the rugged look is from the desert journey. even a bad guy can have the "crossing the desert" moment

Admittedly, it would be pretty hilarious for Taraquin to meet his end at the hands of secondary characters.

[GM_3826]

Here's what happened to another villain not named 'Xykon" or "Hel".

[Coat]

That looks more like hair sticking out than mandibles. They aren't symmetrical enough.

I disagree, but I can totally see why you'd say that. I think the differences are because the head is turned towards the camera. However, they're certainly different to the bug slaver mandibles, which had the spiky bits on the inside, not the outside as here.

If it is hair, we're looking at very substantial sideburns, but no beard - if you draw a line between the mandibles/hair, it would project from under the mask, but there's nothing sticking out. Which is... a distinctive look (link is safe to view). But viable.

Spoiler: Start of Darkness stuff

Show

One appeared in Start of Darkness, but it didn't have any lines or anything. I don't have my book with me, but I think it was in a crowd shot.

I do. p37 is what you mean. From context, the goblinoid next to the lizardman, panel 2, is almost certainly a Bugbear. And interestingly, they do have some rather magnificent sidies. Hmmmm.

Bugbear is starting to look like a pretty good bet.

[KillingAScarab]

So, now that we have a clear view of the monster, does anyone know what it actually is?

Last comic, someone ID'd it as a Yrthak

I'm in the camp that it is a yrthak, although it is a non-standard yrthak. Now we know that it has a sonic attack which, unlike the standard sonic lance, can directly damage at least two creatures simultaneously. Normally it seems it would need to use explosion, which causes piercing damage by breaking the ground. On that note...

Also, are we seeing that the screech of that monster is breaking the ice?

Either that, or it impacts the snow somehow. This would be a really poor place to find out you're standing on a sheet of ice over water.

I ressent the implication that a paladin can not play in a punk rock band :)

Well, when your quest against evil and to uphold the law leaves you with enough time to also perform nightly, do let us know.

O'chul does not have a weapon? Or it's not drawn until it's drawn?

It isn't shown until it has been drawn. I came back to the comic after a long hiatus without remembering this rule and people erm... enthusiastically reminded me.

The yrthak s really more of a sonic unicornate reptile, but that's not as good a name for a rock band.

Well, if you can remove a word, you'll be getting closer.

[Bulldog Psion]

Maybe it's pronounced "yer-thack," thus explaining "a" rather than "an."

I'll second "bugbear." I actually thought that prior to reading the thread, but someone beat me to mentioning it. Goblinoid feet, large size, shaggy ruff of hair around the face, beige hands. Sounds like a bugbear to me.

Leaving aside the decorations, that hood is probably quite practical. Can you imagine how searingly cold that arctic air is with the yrthak's speed thrown in?

[Lhynard]

I think it's clear that the rider is a female, whatever race she is. (If her skin were green, I would have guessed Right-Eye's lost daughter.)

[aurilee]

I disagree, but I can totally see why you'd say that. I think the differences are because the head is turned towards the camera. However, they're certainly different to the bug slaver mandibles, which had the spiky bits on the inside, not the outside as here.

If it is hair, we're looking at very substantial sideburns, but no beard - if you draw a line between the mandibles/hair, it would project from under the mask, but there's nothing sticking out. Which is... a distinctive look (link is safe to view). But viable.

It kinda just looks like he has long-ish (chin length or a bit longer) hair, and it's sticking out. At least, that's what my hair looked like at that length when I wore a touque, and the "mask" actually looks like it wraps around the head a bit and functions as a hat too. That would explain why you don't see the hair anywhere else on his head. I don't see why the hair would have to be sideburns.

I'm also convinced now that the "eye-holes" are actually glasses/goggles because upon closer inspection there's a small line between them.

[Coat]

Well, when your quest against evil and to uphold the law leaves you with enough time to also perform nightly, do let us know.

Well, maybe performing nightly is the way you quest against evil and uphold the law?

(I'm not so sure about the 'uphold the law' bit. In fact, generally speaking, isn't 'break the rules' a bit of a core part of the punk ethos?)

[PallentisLunam]

Clearly it has to be somebody's mom

[Lordchoculla]

New comic is up.

Wonderful, thanks!

And... yay! New enemies

[Jay R]

... how does one pronounce "yrthak"?

"SON-ick rep-TIL-yuhn YOO-ni-KORN"

[Elenna]

Admittedly, it would be pretty hilarious for Taraquin to meet his end at the hands of secondary characters.

I'm fully expecting him to die in some completely undramatic way at the hands of Amun-Zora and Ian Starshine (and Sabine? I think she joined them) and whatever rebellion they start, after which we get a one-sentence mention of his death and everyone proceeds to forget all about him.

[Anarion]

I'm curious if this is building into a show off the Paladins sort of thing, or if it will be passing and then it back to other activities. Xykon is in sore need of screen time.

[kiapet]

Wow. The sonic attack is drawn so you can feel it hit them. And is it me, or is O'Chul quicker to shake off its effects? Not sure if sonic attacks require saving throws, but it feels like a nice nod to his toughness.