Results 1 to 30 of 46
Thread: Aarindarius
-
2017-03-11, 10:06 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Feb 2012
Aarindarius
Has a reason been given for why the Order hasn't tried Sending to Aarindarius (V's teacher) and asking him for help? V did mention during the soul-selling arc that Aarindarius's tower has defenses against someone like Qarr teleporting in, but V didn't raise any practical objection when the IFCC mentioned that the Order could Send to Aarindarius to have him help out with the black dragon problem. And now that V has gotten over the ego-driven 'I have to do everything' thing, that shouldn't be an issue either.
-
2017-03-11, 10:15 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Nov 2004
Re: Aarindarius
No.
They also haven't mentioned why the Order hasn't tried sending to Roy's Uncle Myrtok.
I suspect a similar answer to both questions.Orth Plays: Currently Baldur's Gate II
-
2017-03-12, 11:07 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Feb 2012
Re: Aarindarius
I don't think Mrytok has been confirmed as having teleport, though. Whereas everyone seemed to accept that Aarindarius could in principle teleport to V's house and deal with the black dragon at very short notice, and so could presumably teleport to the Mechane or Firmament too.
Last edited by ZMiles; 2017-03-12 at 11:15 AM.
-
2017-03-12, 03:59 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Feb 2010
- Location
- Gobbotopia
- Gender
Re: Aarindarius
same reason why durkon couldn't ask thor to come down from the heavens himself and smack xykon around for them.
that'd be a deus ex Machina, or something simmilar to it. having a powerful ally pop up out of the woodwork to solve all the problems would be too easy, there would be no dramatic tension or goals to achive, it wouldn't be an interesting story.Last edited by Draconi Redfir; 2017-03-12 at 03:59 PM.
Avy by Thormag
Spoiler
-
2017-03-12, 04:23 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Dec 2013
- Gender
Re: Aarindarius
As much as this is true, its also a plot hole if this powerful ally exists and is presented as being willing and able to help. For some inexplicable reason, Sending is an evocation spell, so V is certainly able to cast it (or a scroll of it, if he doesn't have it in his book for some reason), and Nale was able to buy a multitude of the scrolls in cliffport.
The resource is seemingly available, so at the very least I think a throwaway line is called for as to why they don't/cant take advantage of it.“Evil is evil. Lesser, greater, middling, it's all the same. Proportions are negotiated, boundaries blurred. I'm not a pious hermit, I haven't done only good in my life. But if I'm to choose between one evil and another, then I prefer not to choose at all.”
-
2017-03-12, 04:25 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- May 2015
- Gender
Re: Aarindarius
Unfortunately, and a touch ironically, V's made sure no one can Teleport to the Mechane. And the Mechane's Scry-proof, so it'll be hard for Aarin to get a lock on their location for a good Teleport regardless.
Firmament, maybe. But it's got to be quite some distance, even with how high of a level Aarin has got to be, and Teleport only reaches 100 miles per caster level. V's house was probably within feasible range, but a trip to near the Pole is unlikely, even if A prepared a full five Teleports. Which is to say nothing of the chance that the Teleport mishaps any of those five times, likely killing the squishy Elf Wizard outright. Oops.
-
2017-03-12, 04:30 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Dec 2013
- Gender
Re: Aarindarius
Without knowing the exact nature of the anti-scrying measures, overcoming that could conceivably be as simple as V flying down to the ground and then having Aarin scry him. The dimensional lock is a nonissue for anybody who is familiar with the immediate area around the Mechane, as the radius really isn't that big.
“Evil is evil. Lesser, greater, middling, it's all the same. Proportions are negotiated, boundaries blurred. I'm not a pious hermit, I haven't done only good in my life. But if I'm to choose between one evil and another, then I prefer not to choose at all.”
-
2017-03-13, 06:29 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Mar 2013
- Gender
Re: Aarindarius
I think Aarindarius isn't helping (or Roy's uncle, or whomever) because it isn't his business.
That might sound strange to us, since the world is about to end and that sure seems everyone's business, but it is the feeling I have about the OoTS-world: the word is almost ending every day.
Evil plots need to be stopped by adventurers on a daily basis.
The answer to: "Why don't the elves care about Azure City falling?", "Why doesn't the Mechane taxi the Order around for free?", "Why doesn't Aarindarius help the Order?" and all similar questions is the same: because the world being in danger isn't a big deal. If Aarindarius had to help every adventure party adventuring above their level, he would be working non-stop.
I think Roy and Belkar have a similar discussion in comic 881.
Roy: "Maybe we should retreat. Try to get the word out about what's going on and let someone more qualified handle it."
Belkar: "[...] Sound the alarm? Sure, whatever. I mean, that bell got rung when a billion hobgoblins stomped up and down on Hinjo's face. I don't hear the cavalry yet."
Clearly, people just aren't that interested in evil plots. There is always an adventure party around to save the world, and even though evil lichs have been around since the world was made, the world still exist.
Why bother with saving the world if you can also dedicate yourself to higher knowledge and let some adventurer looking for xp solve it?
-
2017-03-13, 06:29 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Sep 2007
- Location
- Florida, USA
- Gender
Re: Aarindarius
Are we even certain Aarindarius can cast Teleport? The fact that a sleep-deprived V might have believed so doesn't prove anything.
Wolfen Houndog - The World in Revolt (4e)
The Mythic Warrior, a 3.5 base class that severs limbs and sunders armor
The Nameless One, converted to 3.5 and 5e
-
2017-03-13, 06:43 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Nov 2004
Re: Aarindarius
I think he probably can cast Teleport, but I think it is very likely that, humorous scenes illustrating a ridiculous plan the IFCC rushed past Vaarsuvius aside, he's lower-level than the Order now, and Vaarsuvius realized it as soon as they regained some perspective and tranced.
I don't think "what's going on isn't anything special" is an intended or appropriate takeaway. "What's going on is actually a serious threat to the world and since it's not set in the Forgotten Realms the author can actually say no one but the heroes is able to stop it" is.Orth Plays: Currently Baldur's Gate II
-
2017-03-13, 06:50 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Jun 2006
- Location
- Poland
- Gender
Re: Aarindarius
People consider Aarindarius to be far more important than he actually is - a background figure in Vaarsuvius' backstory, briefly used by the IFCC to psychologically undermine Vaarsuvius and make them more likely to take a desired direction.
Space on a page, and time spent drawing those pages, are both in limited supply. I can think of many better ways to spend them than explaining why a character who only appears in a prequel and a hypothetical situation won't be showing up to save the day.Last edited by Morty; 2017-03-13 at 06:51 AM.
My FFRP characters. Avatar by Ashen Lilies. Sigatars by Ashen Lilies, Gullara and Purple Eagle.
Interested in the Nexus FFRP setting? See our Discord server.
-
2017-03-13, 06:56 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Aug 2013
Re: Aarindarius
That's always my take on it. As already presented in this thread there are numerous reasons why everyone else in this world doesn't drop what they are doing and fix this thing we know is The Most Important Evvar. When we cna easily think of several palusible explanations what is gained by the author spending time going through why all of those options won't work right now.
It is very similar to the explanation of why "X didn't do the optimal choice Y that would entirely solve issue X" which the giant replied to with "because they didn't think of it".
-
2017-03-13, 07:11 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Mar 2017
- Location
- Azure City
- Gender
Re: Aarindarius
Also, for all we know Aarindarius might be dead or busy with something even more important. Or in a coma, or otherwise indisposed. Although, I will admit I don't remember if V ever said if he had some sort of link that made it so he knew whether or not his master was dead.
-
2017-03-13, 08:27 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Sep 2011
- Location
- Calgary, AB
- Gender
-
2017-03-13, 08:38 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Mar 2017
- Location
- Azure City
- Gender
Re: Aarindarius
I'm not sure it has come up in the strip, but I'm saying that no one in the party knows. It could very well be Aarindarius is busy with something even more important. Or, at least something he himself views as more important, and therefore if called upon wouldn't help.
Again, not saying this is the case, but it could very well be.
-
2017-03-13, 08:40 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Sep 2011
- Location
- Calgary, AB
- Gender
-
2017-03-13, 09:06 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Mar 2016
Re: Aarindarius
Isn't Aarindarius the head of a wizard college or guild or some-such? I would imagine he would be busy teaching his current students, or protecting them from either Xykon's intermittent rampages or Tarquin's imperialism.
I was going to speculate Aarindarius might be a delegate to the Western Pantheon's godsmoot, but then he's an arcane caster and the representatives are all high-level clerics.I prepared Explosive Runes before writing this signature.
-
2017-03-13, 09:24 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Aug 2013
Re: Aarindarius
I don't recall anythign like that. Aa IIRC took V on through "family connections", and with the longevity of elves quite possibly hasn't take on another yet. Vs been away from his master for 1-2 years at most, compare that to the decades of aprenticeship would V had gone through. In elven terms Aa has had like a days break from his apprentice, whom he forcibly evicted no less.
There's no need to protect anyone from Tarquin or any other would be emperor. It's been made quite clear the elves are not bothered by the rubes in the desert and quite powerful enough to keep them away as is.
-
2017-03-13, 02:54 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Dec 2014
- Gender
Re: Aarindarius
There's also the fact that the spell has a ten minute cast time. Maybe not a big deal before all the giants started chucking rocks and jumping off of mountains, but ever since then I don't think the order or Mechane's been in a position to let someone stand around chanting for ten minutes.
Last edited by RatElemental; 2017-03-13 at 02:56 PM.
-
2017-03-13, 03:56 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Mar 2007
- Location
- Oregon, USA
Re: Aarindarius
If such an unmentioned link were to exist, that Roy got a C- doesn't inspire too much hope that it'd turn out to be a helpful connection.
FeytouchedBanana eldritch disciple avatar by...me!
The Index of the Giant's Comments VI―Making Dogma from Zapped Bananas
-
2017-03-13, 06:31 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Feb 2013
Re: Aarindarius
Not really. The grade is because Eugene was his usual time-wasting self when Roy was trying to get some studying done.
But we don't have a name for said instructor, so they're irrelevant. The only named faculty member for Bash University was Mister Sword-and-Board, the librarian.
And now I'm wondering if he was a Ripper in his youth.
-
2017-03-14, 01:01 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Feb 2012
- Gender
Re: Aarindarius
Aarindarius being a deus ex machina has been spoken about, and the author is known to hate deus ex machina like Wish and True Resurrection. So I doubt he will ever appear. If he does, it will be at the very end, or he will refuse to help as he is too busy in magical research, or some other averted outcome.
How to turn off these annoying .sigs:
- Edit your profile options.
- Scroll down to "Visible Post Elements".
- Uncheck "Show Signatures".
- Save changes.
- Enjoy a much less cluttered and noisy forum.
-
2017-03-14, 08:25 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Feb 2012
Re: Aarindarius
This brings up an interesting point: If this world is seemingly often in crisis, isn't it possible that another adventuring group is also chasing Xykon? It would be pretty funny, albeit anticlimactic, if they got to the final room of his dungeon only to find someone else already defeated him.
-
2017-03-14, 09:35 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Feb 2013
Re: Aarindarius
Make it Roy and Durkon's previous group, and show us Xykon mopping the floor with them, and I will mail Rich a check for his bonus.
-
2017-03-14, 09:37 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Aug 2007
Re: Aarindarius
They are. Remember when a dozen druids popped out of RedCloak's potted fern?
It would be - which is why, almost certainly, we are reading the story of the group that will manage to defeat Xykon, and the Author is not bothering to tell us the stories of the failures.
GWInterested in MitD? Join us in MitD's thread.There is a world of imagination
Deep in the corners of your mind
Where reality is an intruder
And myth and legend thrive
Ceterum autem censeo Hilgya malefica est
-
2017-03-14, 03:01 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Jun 2004
- Location
Re: Aarindarius
I would guess that Aarindarius was awesome in power to a lowish level V, but V has no idea whether he is all that powerful. V and Aarindarius do not have a close relationship, obviously; I find it unlikely a master would divulge specifics to a pupil unless the master had already decided to maintain a close relationship. That Aarindarius could take out the ABD is probably just one lie in a big pile of lies told to humiliate V.
One of the problems of a great gathering of someteenth level Big Name worthies, pooling their resources for one massive campaign, is a large and unwieldy group could be detected and squished by Xykon before they got their ball rolling. Maybe it already happened off panel, but The Giant did not fill in the details for us? Maybe other adventuring groups did catch up with Xykon, and lost?
The advantage the Order has is they really are a bunch of nobodies who keep moving, thus staying under the radar of real threats to anybody. There are sufficiently unimportant that even Redcloak would not bother to hunt them down, although he would happily argue for murdering them if the opportunity fell into his lap -- an argument he he lost BTW.Last edited by Snails; 2017-03-14 at 03:03 PM.
I owe Peelee 5 Quatloos. But I am going double or nothing that Durkon will be casting 8th level spells at the big finale.
I bet Goblin_Priest 5 quatloos that Xykon does not know RC has the phylactery at this point in the tale (#1139).
Using my Bardic skills I see the fate of Belkar...so close!
Using my Bardic skills I see the fate of goblinkind!
-
2017-03-14, 03:46 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Jun 2015
- Gender
Re: Aarindarius
Indeed, Xykon and Redcloak often talk about other bands of adventurers attacking them.
ungelic is us
-
2017-03-14, 06:04 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Nov 2013
-
2017-03-15, 04:39 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Aug 2013
Re: Aarindarius
Possible but unlikely. I can see other adventurers chasing Xykon, but not for reasons of Gates (tm). A lot of the world runs on plot so would make sense if there was a limit on the adventuring for same goals. Also the whole gates thing seems fairly well hidden away as a plot hook goes.
While I usually point out that the point of this story isn't the Gates or Xykon it would kinda mess up Roy if he wasn't the one to take out Xykon, which is why I feel he will.
We do also kinda get pointers that our story isn't necessarily the only one. We are all invested in it and tend to take it for granted, and it sur eis palyed up that way, but who knows?
Now I kinda want see someone kick the door in to avenge Master Fyron's son occupying Xykon and leaving Redcloak to face the music alone. Followed by a "we are all tired but fight anyway" battle with Xykon where he gets the badass bossfight.
-
2017-03-15, 11:22 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Mar 2007
- Location
- Oregon, USA
Re: Aarindarius
FeytouchedBanana eldritch disciple avatar by...me!
The Index of the Giant's Comments VI―Making Dogma from Zapped Bananas