OOTS #1151 - The Discussion Thread

[shylocxs]

Reference: Plus, He Probably Spits, Too

Thank you! I was starting to wonder if I'd have to start from the beginning to find out when that happened!

[Anarion]

What I really like about this comic is that Durkon's showing a certain type of growth himself from having been trapped. Speaking more freely to Belkar and sharing the wisdom that he gained. It's really nice.

[Celestia]

Elan just got thanked for being helpful in this strip, and while Elan has annoyed Durkon from time to time Durkon has butted heads with V repeatedly. I don't think there's necessarily an order here (that seems like just a flippant comment to me more than an acknowledgment of a particular order), but were I to hypothesise one I'm on the Roy>Haley>Elan>Belkar>Varsuuvius bandwagon. I'm also assuming that animals aren't counted here.

Of course the animals don't count. They're class features, not party members.

[zimmerwald1915]

Of course the animals don't count. They're class features, not party members.

Bloodfeast is not a class feature, and Mister Scruffy may not be either.

[Skull the Troll]

Who is Durkon's last choice and how is it not Belkar? Good on Durkon for helping Belkar to be less evil.

Its V. S/he is already married (tho separated) and Durkon is nothing is not lawful.

[Nion]

We don't actually have any reason to think Durkon can't be bisexual. By our cultural standards it would be fairly unusual characterization for a staid dwarf, but we don't know anything about how OOTS Dwarven culture views those things, so it could just be a totally uncontroversial thing there.

It isn't just a cultural issue. It's an issue over whether Durkon would be comfortable conducting the conjugal rights expected in this unwanted marriage. That is because Durkon would want to be a good husband regardless of his spouse, and being able to at least somewhat enjoy his sexual intercorse would help with that.

For the majority of humans on earth, homosexual intercorse is unwanted.

Spoiler: Link to Wikipedia Showing Stats

Show

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demogr...al_orientation

See how even the most generous surveys have same-sex interest at less than 20%

The statistical result is likely even lower if we know that the individual in question is interested in heterosexual intercorse.

Assuming dwarfs have a similar distribution of purely heterosexual individuals to not-purely heterosexual individuals, it's only fair to say that Durkon falls into the larger group.

And why wouldn't it be fair to assume that? The vast majority of animals are purely heterosexual as well, with homosexual activity occurring less frequently than for humans (Assuming 20% of Humans are not purely heterosexual), except for a few notable species. (Elephants, Giraffes, Dragonflies, Little Brown Bats, and Bonobo.)

[Fyraltari]

They are, of course, right.

No, they are not.

[Grey_Wolf_c]

Assuming dwarfs have a similar distribution of purely heterosexual individuals to not-purely heterosexual individuals, it's only fair to say that Durkon falls into the larger group.

I see no reason to make that assumption. According to real life statistics, 0% of all dwarves are pure heterosexuals, so I think the fairest thing is to assume Durkon's sexuality is none of our business and that his culture, as expressed by his mom, seems to be fairly happy with any arrangement of monogamy regardless of the genders involved.

Grey Wolf

[Wimblesaurus]

Who is Durkon's last choice and how is it not Belkar? Good on Durkon for helping Belkar to be less evil.

Assuming he's not being facetious, probably V. Being married to Vaarsuvius is dangerous, and he's brooding and inattentive to boot.

[faustin]

Hypotetically, how many karma points would gain Durkon for turning Belkar aka Death Lil' helper from the path of Evil?
Just imagine the reaction among the Daevas: "Wait, he actually did what?!!"

[gatemansgc]

This. Was. Excellent.



I'm thinking Durkon wants to do it himself the moment he has the spell and the components.

Grey Wolf

definitely. needs to wait for the morning to pray for more spells.

also... BELKAR. APOLOGIZING.

[zimmerwald1915]

No, they are not.

Well, D&D says they're not, but D&D is wrong.

[Zenzis]

I really don't see how Elan could be preferable to Roy under any stretch of the imagination. And since I don't think Elan's last, I don't think Roy is either.

You haven't experienced Elan's 18 Charisma "under the hood."

My serious views:

1. Roy - They get along very well, have similar world views, and worked well together even when it was just them. He seems like marriage material.
2. V - Mostly my instinct, I thought they had a good relationship, despite the one fight, and they seemed to do very good at conflict resolution with one another. Mostly the other candidates are pretty bad though.
3. Elan - Elan seems hard to form a relationship for someone as serious and by the book as Durkon. Sure he is good, but he is also very eccentric in ways I don't see Durkon being amused by, and humor is important.
4. Belkar
5. Haley - Haley is very greedy and focused on the well being of those close to her. She doesn't at all strike me as the type that would say, resurrect 5 strangers rather than Elan even if he died and went to a good afterlife. She honestly does not seem to mesh well with Durkon at all alignment wise. I might be biased though, as I have generally viewed her as Neutral, even though she is a Good character.

It isn't just a cultural issue. It's an issue over whether Durkon would be comfortable conducting the conjugal rights expected in this unwanted marriage. That is because Durkon would want to be a good husband regardless of his spouse, and being able to at least somewhat enjoy his sexual intercorse would help with that.

For the majority of humans on earth, homosexual intercorse is unwanted.

Spoiler: Link to Wikipedia Showing Stats

Show

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demogr...al_orientation

See how even the most generous surveys have same-sex interest at less than 20%

The statistical result is likely even lower if we know that the individual in question is interested in heterosexual intercorse.

Assuming dwarfs have a similar distribution of purely heterosexual individuals to not-purely heterosexual individuals, it's only fair to say that Durkon falls into the larger group.

And why wouldn't it be fair to assume that? The vast majority of animals are purely heterosexual as well, with homosexual activity occurring less frequently than for humans (Assuming 20% of Humans are not purely heterosexual), except for a few notable species. (Elephants, Giraffes, Dragonflies, Little Brown Bats, and Bonobo.)

TLDR Only some percentage of people fall into a category. Therefore it is logical to assume no specific person falls into that category, especially if they are a fictional character of a fictional race in a fictional society bound only by the imagination of the author and readers rather than real world demographics.

[D.One]

Hypotetically, how many karma points would gain Durkon for turning Belkar aka Death Lil' helper from the path of Evil?
Just imagine the reaction among the Daevas: "Wait, he actually did what?!!"

In fact, we could cut right now for a brief interlude where we see a bunch of Devas and Angels jawdroppingly looking to a monitor as one of them mumbles "... Belkar... apologized..."

[DaggerPen]

I imagine that V is probably Durkon's #5. Not as a slight on V or anything, but because as far as Durkon knows, V is still married, and he takes that sort of thing seriously.

[The_Weirdo]

Of note: this is the very first time Durkon actually joined a joke-off with Belkar.

Belkar started a joke. Instead of ignoring or acting passive, Durkon played along and got a chuckle out of Belkar.

That's a lot of character development by itself.

I imagine that V is probably Durkon's #5. Not as a slight on V or anything, but because as far as Durkon knows, V is still married, and he takes that sort of thing seriously.

And to someone V likes and wants to be married to, no less!

[Goblin_Priest]

Honestly, I don't know what I want to know more: Durkon's first choice, or his fifth.

I wasn't thinking of the first until you said this, but now it's burning me up as well!

[Fyraltari]

Hypotetically, how many karma points would gain Durkon for turning Belkar aka Death Lil' helper from the path of Evil?
Just imagine the reaction among the Daevas: "Wait, he actually did what?!!"

A whole bunch.

Well, D&D says they're not, but D&D is wrong.

No, it is not.

In fact, we could cut right now for a brief interlude where we see a bunch of Devas and Angels jawdroppingly looking to a monitor as one of them mumbles "... Belkar... apologized..."

Somewhere an angel in a straightjacket stopped rocking back and forth in surprise.

[Peelee]

They are, of course, right.

No, they are not.

Well, D&D says they're not, but D&D is wrong.

No, it is not.

This is riveting!

[Fyraltari]

This is riveting!

No, this is not.

[Shieldr]

Interesting take on Durkon's choices. I figured he was referring to

1) Hilgya
2) Minrah
3) Haley
4) Anyone else.

[Fyraltari]

Interesting take on Durkon's choices. I figured he was referring to

1) Hilgya
2) Midna
3) Haley
4) Anyone else.

"Midna"? If you mean Minrah she isn't a Sticker.

[Shieldr]

Thanks--edited. I thought that in this context, 'the party' referred to the current group.

[infinityman]

"If you want to make the world a better place, take a look at yourself and make a change."
- Batman

"Hoo"

- Batman said that.

[zimmerwald1915]

No, this is not.

Yes it is

[Hawk7915]

This comic made me all verklempt and I don't even know which part - is it Belkar taking small steps towards being Good? The fact that Belkar's speech is "the thing Durkon learned", the only reason he won? Or seeing Durkon put all that character development and high wisdom to great use, and finding the most effective way to redeem and evangelize someone? Whatever it is, it gives me a sliver of hope that maybe, just maybe, Durkon IS the dwarf for the job of persuading an individual as guilty and dark as Redcloak to look in the mirror.

[ben-zayb]

V is definitely the 5th. Just imagine Durkon going through the Great Elven Forest on a somewhat regular basis

[Starwaster]

Bugsby's Dead Dwarf Cleric Carrying Hand?

[Michaeler]

If we are seriously going to have to debate Durkon's hierarchy, I would say that Mr Scruffy definitely ranks above Belkar.

Though I think he was guesstimating. I doubt very much he has sat down and considered the marriage potential of everyone in the order.

[Prospekt]

It isn't just a cultural issue. It's an issue over whether Durkon would be comfortable conducting the conjugal rights expected in this unwanted marriage. That is because Durkon would want to be a good husband regardless of his spouse, and being able to at least somewhat enjoy his sexual intercorse would help with that.

For the majority of humans on earth, homosexual intercorse is unwanted.

Spoiler: Link to Wikipedia Showing Stats

Show

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demogr...al_orientation

See how even the most generous surveys have same-sex interest at less than 20%

The statistical result is likely even lower if we know that the individual in question is interested in heterosexual intercorse.

Assuming dwarfs have a similar distribution of purely heterosexual individuals to not-purely heterosexual individuals, it's only fair to say that Durkon falls into the larger group.

And why wouldn't it be fair to assume that? The vast majority of animals are purely heterosexual as well, with homosexual activity occurring less frequently than for humans (Assuming 20% of Humans are not purely heterosexual), except for a few notable species. (Elephants, Giraffes, Dragonflies, Little Brown Bats, and Bonobo.)

Dragons are apparently more realistic than the party having 2 bisexual party members, okay