OOTS #1084 - The Discussion Thread

[The Giant]

New comic is up.

[Barstro]

It's shocking what some people will eat.

[Gift Jeraff]

This thread is going to be a debate about why she called Durkon high priest if the title was officially passed on.

[Grey_Wolf_c]

Interesting. I believe Roy was counting on the Thor priests acolytes to recognise his access token, right?

He can still find the way to the temple, but it doesn't seem like there will be many such acolytes left.

GW

[3SecondCultist]

Evil wardrobe change! Greg's really not hiding his identity anymore, is he?

Also, it looks like the vampires are making quick work of Firmament's elders and priests.

[Durkoala]

This thread is going to be a debate about why she called Durkon high priest if the title was officially passed on.

yep! Why did Hel refer to the-vampire-of-uncertain-religious-rank as her high priest given that he gave up the title earlier?

Still we now have a new name for Durkon*: the Low Priest of Hel, or LPoH, as he's equal in rank to the "official" high priest, but her inferior in height.

[hagnat]

those poor tiny souls

[Arkku]

It seems like Durkula's new outfit would be less suitable for combat than the previous armour?

[Yklikt]

It seems like Durkula's new outfit would be less suitable for combat than the previous armour?

Maybe he can wear under it? But vampire no need so much armor also

[pendell]

I would expect the resignation was a formality only. And if Hel wanted to re-appoint that vampire to the position, I see no reason she couldn't.

I hate every second this villain is on-panel and the sooner he gets his comeuppance, the happier I will be.

Respectfully,

Brian P.

[Grey_Wolf_c]

It seems like Durkula's new outfit would be less suitable for combat than the previous armour?

Sure, but more suitable for sneaking around. Also, do not underestimate the power of clerical spells to boost his armour. Durkon may have preferred to use his slots for other things, but Greg may have different opinions on which are the best spells to prepare.

GW

[Unoriginal]

Interesting. I believe Roy was counting on the Thor priests to recognise his access token, right?

GW

Yes and no, the token is also a key to a private entrance for Thor's priests, so it can be used to bypass the border security regardless of if the priests are alive or not.

I suppose if there is any survivor to the attack who are aware the foes are vampires (so not people who just weren't there at the time for various reasons), they'd try to escape to the surface (thinking the sun can make them safe).

[SilverCacaobean]

Damn. And Durkon's soul gets to see all this slaughter... That's a really messed up thing to do to someone who sacrificed himself to save his friends...

[Grey_Wolf_c]

Yes and no, the token is also a key to a private entrance for Thor's priests, so it can be used to bypass the border security regardless of if the priests are alive or not.

Indeed. I edited in that piece of information. Still, I'd expect some kind of payoff for the "token can only be given freely" exposition.

I suppose if there is any survivor to the attack who are aware the foes are vampires (so not people who just weren't there at the time for various reasons), they'd try to escape to the surface (thinking the sun can make them safe).

Did Greg ever figure out the protection from the Sun spell? Or did he always depend on the staff to cast it?

GW

[Shining Wrath]

Well, that's not good. Vampires dining on priests with sufficient levels to cast lightning bolt may mean more clerics for Hel. Of course, the staff being gone means they have to be buried for several days before rising as vampires.

[Surfing HalfOrc]

Dang, I thought (was hoping) the static on the line was Durkon regaining control.

That's a lot of vampires! Gonna be an ugly fight for Roy and the rest once they catch up!

[Grey_Wolf_c]

Dang, I thought (was hoping) the static on the line was Durkon regaining control.

It's a bit early for that, if it will happen at all. Durkon has barely figured out that his only advantage so far is that, as bad as he is at drawing conclusions, Greg is even worse. I'd expect that to be Durkon's "in" to clawing back some kind of control.

That's a lot of vampires! Gonna be an ugly fight for Roy and the rest once they catch up!

Most won't rise in time. Only the ones that left the moot with Durkon will be active when the Order arrives (it takes 3 days without the staff)

ETA: unless the staff spell is in Hel's domain, in which case I suppose we can't discard Greg simply casting it outright.

ETA2: Since the Mechane will arrive "before midnight", all the vampires will have just refreshed their spell slots, too.

Grey Wolf

[Psyren]

It's shocking what some people will eat.

drink*

This thread is going to be a debate about why she called Durkon high priest if the title was officially passed on.

I would say it was passed on for the purposes of the Godsmoot. In Hel's view, Greg is still calling the shots.

Most won't rise in time. Only the ones that left the moot with Durkon will be active when the Order arrives (it takes 3 days without the staff)

It IS possible he extracted that spell from the staff too. We don't know how long it takes after all. He could have only been using the staff to do it at the GM for convenience.

[Anonymouswizard]

It seems like Durkula's new outfit would be less suitable for combat than the previous armour?

I suspect that Greg sees physical combat as beneath him, especially with underlings, and as such has changed into more 'priestly' clothes.

I was honestly expecting the clerics to put up a bit more of a fight, but then again I suppose none of them are as strong as Greg is. Still, if he's dining on the priests he's not dining on any of the representatives.

I hope the reveal I sense coming is that Greg is worse at making plans than Belkar is lawful good.

*crosses fingers* first page first page first page...

[Bluepaw]

The moment being depicted in the last panel is striking... The priest's eyes are X'd out, so he's crying out with his last breath. Is the lightning a last action, as it were, or some kind of involuntary effect?

[Shining Wrath]

As a neutral-evil-is-my-guess deity (casts Summon Banana in case the Giant has ever issued an statement), Hel is perfectly willing to abide by the letter of the law while violating it. Which is to say, for purposes of the Godsmoot the vampire in the front was appointed High Priest; but if all Hel's priests were brought together, that vampire would still obey Greg, who presumably has more levels, title or no title.

Greg's the functional high priest, the vampire at the Godsmoot holds the title.

[Grey_Wolf_c]

Still, if he's dining on the priests he's not dining on any of the representatives.

The plan is to force the representatives to vote in favour of world destruction, not just kill them. Whether what they intend to use is mind control, blackmail, convincing arguments or something else remains to be seen.

GW

[GudBelkarIsGud]

So while I'm really happy to see the speedy pace of updates lately, the really anxious fanboy in me wants the updates even faster (argh!). I'm not sure I've wanted to see villains get their comeuppance more than I've wanted it for this particular batch of villains. What a difference having bad guys manipulating poor Durkon makes...

[Quartz]

Two quick checks: the priest being killed is the priest who exiled Durkon, right? And, as he's being killed by vampire spawn, he's not going to rise as a vampire, right?

[Chei]

Hahahaha, I totally thought *Durkon was trying to pretend the call was breaking up and he actually wanted to settle things with Roy.

Speaking of, he's been a fairly practical villain, 'missteps aside' (seriously, don't prematurely gloat). I like him!

[Svata]

Well this does NOT look good for the order.

[Grey_Wolf_c]

Two quick checks: the priest being killed is the priest who exiled Durkon, right?

He might be the one that physically threw him out, but the one who ordered it has been dead for years.

And, as he's being killed by vampire spawn, he's not going to rise as a vampire, right?

" A vampire that is enslaved may create and enslave spawn of its own, so a master vampire can control a number of lesser vampires in this fashion."
(source)

GW

[Hiro Quester]

I'm loving this rate of new comics!

I followed for a short time the debate about the new name for the Cleric formerly known as Durkon (Durkula, HpoH, etc.). But I obviously missed something. How did "Greg" get settled on?

[Grey_Wolf_c]

How did "Greg" get settled on?

It was not "settled" by any stretch of the mind, but panel 7 last suggestion. Personally, once HPoH stopped being 100% accurate, Greg became the next best option.

GW

[Unoriginal]

ETA2: Since the Mechane will arrive "before midnight", all the vampires will have just refreshed their spell slots, too.

Are you sure they'd have the time?