OOTS #1185 - The Discussion Thread

[Vessyra]

I think I'll subscribe to the "Not-Thad as vessel" theory; after all, someone's already coming to plane shift him out, and the IFCC's scrying means they probably know.

Although the question is what/who Not-Thad will be a vessel for. My money's on Nale's soul.

[TheNecrocomicon]

I think I'll subscribe to the "Not-Thad as vessel" theory; after all, someone's already coming to plane shift him out, and the IFCC's scrying means they probably know.

Although the question is what/who Not-Thad will be a vessel for. My money's on Nale's soul.

I don't get why the IFCC would even care about returning Nale to the mortal world, if it's a choice between people to do their bidding. They have access to beyond-epic-level Evil-aligned deceased souls, as demonstrated in the Soul Splice. The only real reason would be if they specifically needed Nale himself for some reason, and I can't see what would make him that critical to their aims.

Personally, I think they need a vessel for their own consciousnesses to physically manifest on the Material Plane. They had to be summoned by Vaarsuvius to make the Soul Splice deal, implied it took a fair bit of effort to get their consciousnesses there, and seemed keen not to stay long. If they could find a physically powerful mortal body to inhabit with their own unholy presence(s), that would certainly be a major asset for their plot to destabilize the material world of mortals.

[Fyraltari]

It was as thanks to D.One for getting info from his friends about where in Brasília there might be a specific type of soda (I live in Belo Horizonte; he'd send it to me and I'd pay for it all, if it works). You can read the details in the thread on the previous comic, but basically, by my own initiative, I decided to change the avatar so he's not mistaken for me, given my slightly controversial reputation.

Oh right. I did that once or twice.

Maybe if they knew it was a restaurant with an Evil chef? (Tarquie's Takeout?)

Belkar’s Bakery.

Oh, not at all, I'm not Evil.

That sounds like something someone evil would say!

That's assuming they're still there. Do recall that the crew were on the verge of mutiny even before this, with their ship being damaged and deprived of its main weaponry. They could easily have decided to cut their losses and head home by now.

They mutined already. But then they realized their current captain was right and let her took charge again.

There's also the possibility that the frost giants may have taken advantage of the dwarven disarray to pursue the ship to try and exact revenge, or otherwise Thrym commanding them to in some vain hope of impressing Hel.

The Giant’s forced in the region are destroyed. Thrym was explicitly out ignored ways to help. And the dwarves are not in disarray at all, only a few people died and they already have elite warriors roaming the mountains looking for trees to fell.

"Hello, sir, I am here on behalf of-"

"Ow. Ow. Ow. Ow. Ow. Ow. Ow. Ow."

*Pop*

*Pop*

"-the IFCC, a consortium of demons that-"

"Ow. Ow. Ow. Ow. Ow. Ow. Ow. Ow."

*Pop*

*Pop*

"-wishes to make you an offer-"

"Ow. Ow. Ow. Ow. Ow. Ow. Ow. Ow."

*Pop*

*Pop*

"-to get you out of this predicament."

"Ow. Ow. Ow. Ow. Ow. Ow. Ow. Ow."

"Annnnd I'm out of teleports. Ah well. I'll continue the pitch tomorrow."

*Chuckles*

[The MunchKING]

I think I'll subscribe to the "Not-Thad as vessel" theory; after all, someone's already coming to plane shift him out, and the IFCC's scrying means they probably know.

Well if Sabine is using her vacation days, that means she probably doesn't know she's getting someone explicitly for the IFCC. Which means it's probably not a direct recruitment.

[KorvinStarmast]

I don't get why the IFCC would even care about returning Nale to the mortal world,

Agree. Nale's a loose cannon. I will place my two copper piece wager on someone else, heck anyone else. Even Redcloak's niece

[Vessyra]

I don't get why the IFCC would even care about returning Nale to the mortal world, if it's a choice between people to do their bidding. They have access to beyond-epic-level Evil-aligned deceased souls, as demonstrated in the Soul Splice. The only real reason would be if they specifically needed Nale himself for some reason, and I can't see what would make him that critical to their aims.

Personally, I think they need a vessel for their own consciousnesses to physically manifest on the Material Plane. They had to be summoned by Vaarsuvius to make the Soul Splice deal, implied it took a fair bit of effort to get their consciousnesses there, and seemed keen not to stay long. If they could find a physically powerful mortal body to inhabit with their own unholy presence(s), that would certainly be a major asset for their plot to destabilize the material world of mortals.

Hmmm, yes that makes more sense. I had been figuring that Sabine would care about Nale returning, but she wouldn't really get a vote in the IFCC's plans. I guess I just need to listen to the "Nale is no more" signature more often.

[Petrocorus]

I suspect Veldrina would have been on board (yes yes it's a KS reward character, but I think it would have been *in* character for her to over-eagerly want to help),

KS reward character?

I notice that again, Kudzu is smiling when (and only when) he's facing Durkon. Nice touch!

Noticed that too, Kudzu is already completely fond of his father despite knowing him for only a few hours. Cool.

That's assuming they're still there. Do recall that the crew were on the verge of mutiny even before this, with their ship being damaged and deprived of its main weaponry. They could easily have decided to cut their losses and head home by now.

OTOH, the dwarves may have helped them recover some weaponry. IDK.
How long the events in Firmaments actually took in total?

Hey, wait, they never got around to retrieving that one weird celestial dwarf that got Plane Shifted, did they?

I'm still not sure of his class? Soulknife? Psychic Warrior?
His speech bubbles were weird and he was apparently powerful enough to one-strike an elemental.
Could he have the means to come back on his own?

[Fyraltari]

KS reward character?

Veldrina was meant to be a walk-in cameo of a kickstarter donor’s character as a reward for the amount of money pledged. But the Giant realized the character would fit in the role of the Western Pantheon représentative and the backer agreed to have the cameo delayed so that their character would get a whole minor role.

OTOH, the dwarves may have helped them recover some weaponry. IDK.
How long the events in Firmaments actually took in total?

The order arrived after midnight and left before noon.

[Dion]

Agree. Nale's a loose cannon. I will place my two copper piece wager on someone else, heck anyone else. Even Redcloak's niece

So maybe not nale, but what about not not nale?

So... maybe... Thog?

[Valley]

At least Roy returned the mug. So many people just walk off with the things thinking they are some kind of keepsake or souvenir. Cheap tourists. *grumblegrumblegrumble*

[JumboWheat01]

Remember to always return your mugs. Don't want dwarven bounty hunters chasing after you.

[Doug Lampert]

Remember to always return your mugs. Don't want dwarven bounty hunters chasing after you.

Are they anything like Dwarf Assassins?

Because if they are, then it ends with the hotel being blown up and hundreds of aphasia strips.

[a_flemish_guy]

roy returns the mug that he succesfully gotten outside with and doesn't keep it for his collection, well that officially settles it, he's objectively a better person then I am

[NobleCuriosity]

roy returns the mug that he succesfully gotten outside with and doesn't keep it for his collection, well that officially settles it, he's objectively a better person then I am

Weirdly, brewmaster Blackore (name in 1096) actually seems less happy when Roy returns it than when Roy was walking off with it. Just surprised, I guess?

[UtahBrian]

Another task for the dwarves is the rescuing of Not-Thad. A human would die from dehydration after a few days of this bouncing fall, if nothing else, but I don't know about his species. I won't fault Rich if he is never mentioned again.

Is Thad Durkon's cousin's brother-in-law's niece's fiancé? If we don't ever see him again, then does that mean the blue speech bubble and the wavery voice print will never be explained? I'm still wondering what that was all about.

[Schroeswald]

Is Thad Durkon's cousin's brother-in-law's niece's fiancé? If we don't ever see him again, then does that mean the blue speech bubble and the wavery voice print will never be explained? I'm still wondering what that was all about.

No, Thad was Durkon’s cousin’s brother-in-law’s niece’s ex-male romantic partner, Not-Thad is Durkon’s cousin’s brother-in-law’s niece’s fiancé, but luckily we were already talking about him so yeah, yes. I highly doubt it will be explained in the online comic (though I’d guess we’d see something about it in a bonus strip).

[Fyraltari]

Is Thad Durkon's cousin's brother-in-law's niece's fiancé?

No, Thad is Durkon's cousin's brother-in-law's niece's ex. Durkon's cousin's brother-in-law's niece's fiancé is not Thad.

If we don't ever see him again, then does that mean the blue speech bubble and the wavery voice print will never be explained? I'm still wondering what that was all about.

It’s a joke about the fact that a given campaign world should have other high-level characters than the main party who also have lives as full of weirdness and excitement as the main party, I think.

[Steel Resolve]

I love how she somehow thought she was going to avoid the mother in law. It doesn't matter whether you eventually decide to marry Durkin or not, the moment you revealed to that woman you bore a grandchild, you were family like it or not. And this woman takes her family seriously.

[understatement]

Surprisingly I think Durkon and Hilgya make pretty amicable exes.

Also, Roy. Truly Lawful Good -- and also, imagining a drunk him trying to fight Xykon would be amazing. And pointless.

[LadyEowyn]

Sigdi’s going to be good for Hilgya. I like their interactions.

[Arthancarict]

My theory on who the vessel will be: Trigak

[The_Weirdo]

Sigdi’s going to be good for Hilgya. I like their interactions.

I think both will be good to each other, really. Now, whether or not Sigdi was intrusive in basically announcing she'd become roomies is another matter.

[Schroeswald]

It’s a joke about the fact that a given campaign world should have other high-level characters than the main party who also have lives as full of weirdness and excitement as the main party, I think.

I always thought it was a joke about the absurd size of Durkon’s family, that not only is Durkon’s cousin’s brother-in-law’s niece’s fiancé here, but it’s this strange outsider or something.

[fishyfishyfishy]

"See all of you soon."


Oh God they're all going to die aren't they? Shouldn't have said that Durkon.

[Schroeswald]

"See all of you soon."


Oh God they're all going to die aren't they? Shouldn't have said that Durkon.

No, in fact I'll bet 10 gold pieces that when we come back to the dwarven lands (in what, ten years?) every single character, except Curly, who was left behind will still be alive. And since it will be forever until this comes to past no one will remember if it turns out I'm wrong

[Peelee]

No, in fact I'll bet 10 gold pieces that when we come back to the dwarven lands (in what, ten years?) every single character, except Curly, who was left behind will still be alive.

Hey can I quote this so everyone will remember if it turns out you're wrong?

[Schroeswald]

Hey can I quote this so everyone will remember if it turns out you're wrong?

Of course, I partially put the white text in to ensure everyone will laugh at me if I'm wrong.

[nolongeralurker]

Aah this was so good :)
Now Sigdi will get to live in a nice home while spending time with her grandson and making sure Hilgya doesn't run off with him
And Hilgya will get a nice mother figure (albeit an annoying one), since her own mother died and her male relatives treated her badly
And she'll probably end up attending the weekly dinner parties too, which should be a good influence on her, as an example of good healthy friendships

On another note, does anyone else think that Durkon called Kudzu "li'l one" not just because he wanted to use a term of endearment, but also because he dislikes Kudzu's actual name? Just me?

Also:
(DURKON)
Gotta go, gotta get tha job done
Gotta save our nation*, gotta return ta my son!

:)

*ETA: or "all tha nations"

ETA: Obligatory 'is this the last strip?!' It's not, but will it be the last strip in which we see the Order? I think we'll get one more, with the six of them interacting/conversing on the airship... and maybe also greeting Bandana first...

Also, I like that the Giant didn't make sure to put every single member of the Order in the bigger panels. It really makes it feel like a big room with people scattered about, and the focus in this page is on Durkon's dwarven family and friends, anyway.

[LadyEowyn]

I wouldn’t be surprised if the next strip was the last one, given that the Order’s getting on the ship to leave now. That also lines up well with the stated length of the book (it would end up having a similar number of preface/title/bonus/etc strips to other OOTS books), and with being about a month away from the preliminary shipping date for the books.

There hasn’t been a big WHAM! moment at the end like there were for the past two books (revealing Riftworld in DSTP, and revealing that Vampire Durkon wasn’t actually Durkon and was working for Hel in BRITF). But I think that could be because the big surprise moment for Book 6 came earlier, with learning that there had been thousands of past worlds and that Redcloak and the Dark One were the only chance of containing the Snarl.

[jwhouk]

Hilgya and Sigdi, UltraChaotic vs MegaLawful. I kind of want to see that.

(da DAT da-da da DAAAAA...)