OOTS #915 - The Discussion Thread

[Spacewolf]

Not sure if this has come up yet but could one of the most important bits of information in this strip be Sabine destroying the TV, possibly stopping the IFCC from seeing what is going on for the next few mins/hours. Especially since they now face the prospect of sending V back without being able to see what happens as soon as she gets back.

[Kish]

Not sure if this has come up yet but could one of the most important bits of information in this strip be Sabine destroying the TV, possibly stopping the IFCC from seeing what is going on for the next few mins/hours. Especially since they now face the prospect of sending V back without being able to see what happens as soon as she gets back.

I doubt three archfiends with the power they've already demonstrated will be blocked from scrying for more than a minute by having lost their Hell-Damned blood plasma TV.

[137beth]

Not sure if this has come up yet but could one of the most important bits of information in this strip be Sabine destroying the TV, possibly stopping the IFCC from seeing what is going on for the next few mins/hours. Especially since they now face the prospect of sending V back without being able to see what happens as soon as she gets back.

Now they have to watch in low-definition

[Demolator]

I doubt three archfiends with the power they've already demonstrated will be blocked from scrying for more than a minute by having lost their Hell-Damned blood plasma TV.

Not that I'm doubtful or anything (really I bet they're almost godly), but what power have they actually demonstrated? I'm kind of drawing a blank.

[Kish]

Not that I'm doubtful or anything (really I bet they're almost godly), but what power have they actually demonstrated? I'm kind of drawing a blank.

You mean other than stopping time for their entire long negotiation with Vaarsuvius, scrying through Cloister, and splicing the souls of three epic-level mages to her/him--one of whom was powerful enough to cast Familicide?

One of them was able to make popcorn.

[DolGrenn]

You mean other than stopping time for their entire long negotiation with Vaarsuvius, scrying through Cloister, and splicing the souls of three epic-level mages to her/him--one of whom was powerful enough to cast Familicide?

One of them was able to make popcorn.

They also have a good mailing system in place too, I guess.

[Sir_Leorik]

Not sure if this has come up yet but could one of the most important bits of information in this strip be Sabine destroying the TV, possibly stopping the IFCC from seeing what is going on for the next few mins/hours. Especially since they now face the prospect of sending V back without being able to see what happens as soon as she gets back.

I doubt three archfiends with the power they've already demonstrated will be blocked from scrying for more than a minute by having lost their Hell-Damned blood plasma TV.

They'll probably need to put a call into the supply department and have a new HDTV brought in. Depending on how efficient Malsheem is this time of year, that could take anywhere from two minutes (having someone teleport to the supply room and take twenty locating a new TV) or a lot longer (if they have to fill out forms).

[Sir_Leorik]

Not that I'm doubtful or anything (really I bet they're almost godly), but what power have they actually demonstrated? I'm kind of drawing a blank.

They are Archfiends, probably on par with Dispater, Mammon, Baalzebul, Gra'azt, Anthraxus or Yeenoghu, but probably not as powerful as Asmodeus, Orcus or Demogorgon. So far we've seen them being able to create an Epic level Time Stop effect, splice three souls to Vaarsuvius, scry through the Cloister, and yank V and Blackwing's souls out of their bodies all the way into the Ninth layer of the Nine Hells. They're pretty powerful. They're also expert manipulators and make great popcorn.

[DaggerPen]

They're pretty powerful. They're also expert manipulators and make great popcorn.

You might even say that their popcorn is damned tasty.

/badum-psh

[Hague]

So next IFCC strip we see two kytons from a chain electronics store lug in a new scrying device. Probably an even better one!

[Sir_Leorik]

So next IFCC strip we see two kytons from a chain electronics store lug in a new scrying device. Probably an even better one!

Well, the Kyton city of Jangling Hiter does have the best chain stores in the Nine Hells.

[The Smallest]

There's no point arguing what capabilities the archfiends have. They are able to do whatever the plot requires them to.

[t209]

So Invasion of the North by Western Continent?
Plus they could take on Gobbotopia to cut off supply line, reserve pool, and start a distraction.

[factotum]

There's no point arguing what capabilities the archfiends have. They are able to do whatever the plot requires them to.

"Whatever the plot requires" is the most pointless argument anyone can make. Yes, we know that--we know this is a story, not a strangely-presented history lesson. However, if we just say, "There's no point in discussing this because what will happen is what the plot demands" then there's no point in having *any* discussion on these boards, and Rich might as well close down the OotS part of the forum now!

[Samalpetey]

"Whatever the plot requires" is the most pointless argument anyone can make. Yes, we know that--we know this is a story, not a strangely-presented history lesson. However, if we just say, "There's no point in discussing this because what will happen is what the plot demands" then there's no point in having *any* discussion on these boards, and Rich might as well close down the OotS part of the forum now!

Mind if I sig this?

[Arrowstorm122]

Just realized the Fifth Book is already going to be twice as long as Dungeon Crawling Fools. Yikes!

[Amphiox]

There's no point arguing what capabilities the archfiends have. They are able to do whatever the plot requires them to.

The "point" in discussing it is in trying to figure out what directions the plot might go.

Because, you know, some people actually enjoy the exercise of trying to guess what will happen next, and then seeing how close their guesses are when it actually happens.

It is the difference between science and faith.

[Arrowstorm122]

The "point" in discussing it is in trying to figure out what directions the plot might go.

Because, you know, some people actually enjoy the exercise of trying to guess what will happen next, and then seeing how close their guesses are when it actually happens.

It is the difference between science and faith.

You never actually get to see the truth about science though. :P

[factotum]

Mind if I sig this?

Feel free!

[Sir_Leorik]

There's no point arguing what capabilities the archfiends have. They are able to do whatever the plot requires them to.

"Whatever the plot requires" is the most pointless argument anyone can make. Yes, we know that--we know this is a story, not a strangely-presented history lesson. However, if we just say, "There's no point in discussing this because what will happen is what the plot demands" then there's no point in having *any* discussion on these boards, and Rich might as well close down the OotS part of the forum now!

The archfiends/Directors do have whatever power The Giant assigns to them, since they are his unique creations. However there have already been limits placed on how powerful they are. They lack the ability to grant Cleric spells (thanks to a non-compete clause with the Evil gods) and they are individually weaker than a Lesser Deity with 10 Divine Ranks. They can not act directly on the Material Plane, unless they are making a deal. So they're powerful, but weaker than the gods of the OotS-verse.

[Forikroder]

The archfiends/Directors do have whatever power The Giant assigns to them, since they are his unique creations. However there have already been limits placed on how powerful they are. They lack the ability to grant Cleric spells (thanks to a non-compete clause with the Evil gods) and they are individually weaker than a Lesser Deity with 10 Divine Ranks. They can not act directly on the Material Plane, unless they are making a deal. So they're powerful, but weaker than the gods of the OotS-verse.

alternatively they simply see no reason to annoy Tiamat yet and took the punishment because they didnt want to stick out to soon, better to look the fool than be one as Tarquin qould say

but ya there probably individually weaker then a god

[Valley]

I am not sure why everybody seems to hate Tarquin even more than before. He is a smart, power-hungry leader who will do anything to control those around him. He tries to use reason and logic with his friends and enemies and, if all else fails, he takes them out. He is equal to O'Brien from 1984 in that he seems to be able to out think or, at least, think many steps ahead of others. He even seems to understand and, if not enjoy, accept his place within the story/setting.

He failed to make Nale into the image of what he wanted in a son. He destroyed the damaged 'product'. No doubt he will try to trick Elan into working for him. He is testing his future sister-in-law, to see what her barriers are. What is she willing to do? How far is she willing to go?

In some ways I do find him distasteful, more so than Xykon for example, because I am not too sure on his REASON for what he is doing. I know why Redclock is doing what he is doing (and even feel a little for his case) and I understand the twisted history that made Xykon (and even found some of his wisdom, and some of the things he says, to be amazingly lucid if somewhat shocking coming from a villain who I keep under-estimating).

I think the reason people hate Tarquin is he truly seems to be doing this for power. Not the power to change things or make things better or even make himself wealthy or so on so forth. He has power to gain power. A ends to a means as it were, if I can quote another villain (from Hellsing). He is using his power to keep himself in power. Not the public power of being a King or Emperor. But the power of being THE government. The structure that is always and forever even as the top changes. He has made himself the SYSTEM. And all others are wheels.

Bleh, sorry, history majors do rabble so.

Like I said, I compare him to Orwell's O'Brien, so am not too shocked that a fictional character is able to do such things. Just kind of shocked when people get upset by it.

[Kish]

I am not sure why everybody seems to hate Tarquin even more than before. [...]

While I've hated Tarquin since before it was cool...

...I confess, I am thrown by the sudden tide of negative feeling toward him based on the current strip. There is nothing in it that strikes me as at all surprising. Did people really have this concept of him as above snobbery?

[Porthos]

Did people really have this concept of him as above snobbery?

Thinking about it in the abstract and having it thrown in your face are two different things.

Also, people might have looked at the fact that lizardfolk and humans were side-by-side in Tarquin's army and that he was 'best friends'* with a lizardfolk as to think he had relative notions of equality when it came to such things.

* I know. Objection taken as read.

That their idealized version of Tarquin could be petty, and more importantly petty on things that they care about? Well, backlash.

It's one thing to be evil, after all. But to be gauche or boorish? Well that's MUCH worse.

[Everyl]

Do we know for sure that Haley's uncle is a traitor or has been just so heavily implied that I just assumed it?

You know, Uncle Geoff and Miron look an awful lot alike. Same skin tone, hairstyle, and judging from the lines under their eyes, likely similar in age. Perhaps Ian's insistence that "blood doesn't lie" is more true than he realizes, if his brother-in-law is related to one of Tarquin's party members.

[Porthos]

You know, Uncle Geoff and Miron look an awful lot alike. Same skin tone, hairstyle, and judging from the lines under their eyes, likely similar in age. Perhaps Ian's insistence that "blood doesn't lie" is more true than he realizes, if his brother-in-law is related to one of Tarquin's party members.

This is a Stick Figure comic. There are only so many ways to draw people.

Also there is this comment about the matter from The Giant.

Warning. Some level of snark at the last link.

[Everyl]

Ah, thanks for the link, Porthos. I hadn't seen that thread before.

To be honest, my first thought was that it was just a coincidence, anyway. But with Miron showing up and dragging Ian back into the plot, I thought that we could be headed for another ominous plot-related reveal, and Tarquin brought a whole platoon trained for that purpose.