OOTS #876 - The Discussion Thread

[eras10]

I have no idea how Durkon gets out of this, and I also have no idea how OOTS makes it through the rest of the story without him.

Verbal-only priest spells? Sudden appearance of Roy? Can Durkon flop his body in such a way as to present his holy symbol and force Malack to recoil?

I've been wondering for a long time if the Belkar dying at this gate widespread expectation is a decoy to hide something bigger.

Also, If Xykon walks in sometime after this confrontation, it's going to be ugly. OOTS is an exhausted force sans rest.

[Deepbluediver]

Well....this got ugly fast.

[Jarian]

Evil Mastermind Malack now confirmed.

Also, no legs. Looking back, it seems kind of obvious now...

[Quild]

I'd like to say that I don't expect Malack to actually turn Durkon into a vampire, but I get wrong too many times when I expect or doesn't expect something for next strip!

[RNGgod]

Yeah, my first instinct is to assume this is it for Durkon.

But again, there was every chance that the same was true for Belkar six strips ago. So, best to wait and see.

[FujinAkari]

...

So...Malack intended to vamp Durkon from the very beginning?

It's official.

No it isn't. Malack wasn't considering Vamping ANYONE until a few minutes ago. Malack was just aware that giving Durkon a spell that could basically completely nullify him was a foolish decision, thus he worked in a way to nullify it, just in case.

[Tetsujin-28]

I think a sudden appearance by V is Durkon's only shot at getting out of this.

[PhantomFox]

Looks like someone has been learning from the Evil Overlord's List. If this isn't an instance of something on the list, it should be.

[GnomeFighter]

So, who's going to save the party? I guess it's going to be a case of kill the father to free the children. My guess is V which will absolve him.

[Arkanist]

Also, this seems to perhaps fulfill the prophecies of Durkon returning home posthumously and him visiting destruction on them when he next returns.

[Scowling Dragon]

Durkon will enter his Homeland.....Post Humorously.

[CoffeeIncluded]

Malack's a snake and Durkon's getting vamped. Welp, we're screwed.

[Procyonpi]

Oh ****. Could this be the end for Durkon? :(

[MeanMrsMustard]

I'm surprised he could pronounce the counterspell. Maybe he uses his forked tongue?

Remember the password for the Infiltration Protocol?

[ThePhantasm]

Also, this seems to perhaps fulfill the prophecies of Durkon returning home posthumously and him visiting destruction on them when he next returns.

Well, as we learned when Malack was sucking on Belkar's head, don't assume too quickly that a prophecy is about to be fulfilled...

Although yeah, I think this is it for my favorite dwarf.

[JustWantedToSay]

Looks like someone has been learning from the Evil Overlord's List. If this isn't an instance of something on the list, it should be.

Rule 34 "I will not turn into a snake. It never helps."

oh why did I have to be numbered 34...

[le Suisse]

Never create something you cannot destroy. I said it a long time ago and will say it a long after. Too many characters were destroyed by their own creation used against them, or simply escaping their control.

This is one of the most awesome comic I ever seen.

On the funny side: How long will it take to people to start shiping these two?

[Mutant Sheep]

I'm wondering if there's any signifigance in the bite Malack's using. With Belkar, he chomped down on the head, but here, it looks like he's going for the "standard" neck bite.

Belkar's head is about half of his body. Little neck. Then again, so is Durkon?

[Gift Jeraff]

So Durkon might became a creature he hates that is usually slain by stabbing it with a piece of dead tree? How fitting.

Spoiler

Show

If Durkon does become a vampire, who wants to bet that he'll be staked by the Stick?

[Raineh Daze]

So, does anyone have any answers for these questions?

• Are there any rules regarding targeting grappling combatants?
• What's the LA for a Yuan-ti Abomination/Naga? Malack's ECL seems like it must be through the roof at this point.
• Is it even possible that he's a Yuan-ti?

[Leliel]

Well.

That just goes to show that Tarquin chooses his friends like he makes his plans.

"Magnficently".

If you listen closely, you can hear Asmodeus cursing Nergal's name.

[Endon the White]

No Durkon! NO!

[CWater]

Oh dear.. Will there be anyone to save Durkon...

If the next page is a cut-away, I'll

[MeanMrsMustard]

How long will it take to people to start shipping these two?

I'd be surprised if the shippers hadn't already started a long time ago.

[Divayth Fyr]

Ok, this leaves the question: why bother checking if Durkon protected himself if you could simply dispel the spell and not care at all*?

*yes, I know it's for the plot, but still..

[Agnostik]

I'm wondering if there's any signifigance in the bite Malack's using. With Belkar, he chomped down on the head, but here, it looks like he's going for the "standard" neck bite.

Well, it's been established earlier that OOTSverse halflings have very big heads (Belkar said something about it being by far the heaviest part of his body). It's probably easier to aim at than neck.

[Nephrahim]

I'd be surprised if the shippers hadn't already started a long time ago.

I won't lie, the thought crossed my mind reading this comic.

[Leliel]

Rule 34 "I will not turn into a snake. It never helps."

oh why did I have to be numbered 34...

I don't think it counts if you're already a snake. Or have snake-like abilities, at any rate.

[Caesar]

THERE IT IS!!! Belkar as a vamp was just waaay too crass. This is epic story-telling, Giant.

[Henry the 57th]

And once again we see that evil will always triumph, because good is dumb.