OOTS #963 - The Discussion Thread

[Ron Miel]

More dwarf wit....

Durkon and Roy pulled the corpse to the village. So, basically it was toad away?


d+r

[Jaxzan Proditor]

My bet, we'll catch up with Team Evil next update

Really hope it's this one.

[grandpheonix]

Holy wisdom modifier batman!

No really tthough. Durkula doesnt have high wisdom apparently. Durkon on the other hand...

[ORione]

Would someone be so kind as to elaborate as to what that connection is?

In the first memory, Sigdi tells Durkon that he should ask people if they want help instead of jumping in.

In the second memory, Durkon asks Roy if he wants help instead of jumping in.

[Oko and Qailee]

The High Priest of Hel's inability to draw obvious connections.

Man, why'd you quote me, now I seem like a total jerk.

Not too far from the truth, but still.

[oppyu]

I still loathe not-Durkon with a burning fury of a thousand planets of pure burning fury.

It's nice to see Durkon getting some backstory. But wow, I hate not-Durkon so much.

[Coppertop]

I enjoy his middle name.

Being both a bit of a geological pun, and joking about the vampirism

(Allotropes being different expressions of the same element. Both Durkon and HPoH are priests of dwarven Gods expressed very differently) If it means something else, so much the better

[Raphite1]

In before people start complaining about the inconsistency in the HPoH's pronunciation of "something," despite Rich holding our hands and making sure it's clear it was an intentional clue by giving a counter example within the same comic and having Durkon call it out.

I can't wait to get more details of Durkon's plan!

Edit: My first thought was that Durkon hoped that the HPoH's failure to mimic his "always ask before getting involved" behavior could lead to Roy discovering his identity, which is why Durkon decided not to explain the real connection between the memories. I also thought the HPoH's "somethin'" pronunciation was a sign that Durkon's memories were changing the HPoH subtly, but that is seemingly inconsistency with Durkon's hopes of the HPoH accidentally revealing itself, Durkon clearly noticed the change and seemed happy about it. Hmm.

[Rodin]

Any thoughts on why this fits for Durkon? Or was it just picked because it's a humorously technical geological/chemical term?

Well, he's currently existing in two different forms - Durkula, and Durkon.

Also a neat connection: When Durkon saw Belkar getting eaten, he immediately jumped in and helped without asking if Belkar needed help.

[CrispyCriminal]

Leave it to a dark servant of a goddess of death to lack the ability to recognize his vessel's own social strictures.

The ones that aren't based on religion anyways, I'm sure Followers of Thor are quite straight forward with their beliefs instead of dancing around it with their tongues like the priests of Loki.

[SaintRidley]

Is it wrong to be very much amused by the fact that in order to understand what this strip means you need to possess the skill the High Priest of Hel lacks?

[DaggerPen]

In before people start complaining about the inconsistency in the HPoH's pronunciation of "something," despite Rich holding our hands and making sure it's clear it was an intentional clue by giving a counter example within the same comic and having Durkon call it out.

I can't wait to get more details of Durkon's plan!

Edit: My first thought was that Durkon hoped that the HPoH's failure to mimic his "always ask before getting involved" behavior could lead to Roy discovering his identity, which is why Durkon decided not to explain the real connection between the memories. I also thought the HPoH's "somethin'" pronunciation was a sign that Durkon's memories were changing the HPoH subtly, but that is seemingly inconsistency with Durkon's hopes of the HPoH accidentally revealing itself, Durkon clearly noticed the change and seemed happy about it. Hmm.

... man, I didn't notice that dropped g on the HPOH's part, and now I'm really curious what it could mean.

Also a neat connection: When Durkon saw Belkar getting eaten, he immediately jumped in and helped without asking if Belkar needed help.

... wow, well spotted. That one completely flew by me.

[Jaxzan Proditor]

I'm wondering if the title refers both to Durkon's struggles with the High Priest of Hel and Roy's struggles with the monster.

[LadyEowyn]

I'm enjoying seeing more of Durkon's life. Good comic.

If this is the end of this story segment, fingers crossed for seeing what's going on with Team Evil in the next comic.

[ORione]

I'm curious about something. Is the monster Roy fights something from a D&D book? Does anyone recognize it?

[AsteronIronhoof]

Am I the only one who chuckled at Durkon's joke? Anyone?

[Canisius]

So, in D&D, you're vamped until the vamp is killed with a stake (or sunlight). Is Rich inventing new lore here? I mean, I love it, but I can't see how it fits in with the monster manual - i.e. - the slain person has a struggle with the evil spirit. Or is this a special case, since Durkon's been possessed by the High Priest of Hel?

I'm so confused.

[sayntfuu]

Somethin' is an anagram for Mesh Into.

[Ivrytwr]

Hopefully, Durkon is on his way to gaining the upper hand. But I am just liking Durkula less and less, course he is the bad guy.
3 Pages, woot! Thanks Giant!

[Midnight Lurker]

I wonder just how many OotS-world vampires have been killed because of their inner real selves out-thinking their spiritual captors.

It might explain some facets of stereotypical vampire behavior...

[Dandria]

So the vampire has problems understanding the concept of, what, learning a lesson? I can see how that could turn out to be a problem for him, yes.

[Jaxzan Proditor]

So, in D&D, you're vamped until the vamp is killed with a stake (or sunlight). Is Rich inventing new lore here? I mean, I love it, but I can't see how it fits in with the monster manual - i.e. - the slain person has a struggle with the evil spirit. Or is this a special case, since Durkon's been possessed by the High Priest of Hel?

I'm so confused.

The Giant is essentially creating his own lore about vampires. For more information about vampires, you can check out the links in my sig.

[Broken Crown]

I'm curious about something. Is the monster Roy fights something from a D&D book? Does anyone recognize it?

It appears to be a giant frog. They were in the AD&D Monster Manual, which is appropriate for a battle early in Roy and Durkon's careers.

I'm looking forward to seeing how Durkon uses this revelation of the HPoH's weakness to his advantage. Suspense! Thanks, Giant!

[Rogar Demonblud]

I'm wondering if the title refers both to Durkon's struggles with the High Priest of Hel and Roy's struggles with the monster.

Both?

edit: It might also be a froghemoth, given the tongue grapple.

[ellindsey]

Both?

edit: It might also be a froghemoth, given the tongue grapple.

That, and the three eyes. On the other hand, froghemoths are usually depicted having tentacles, and not being so frog-shaped.

[JSSheridan]

Thanks Giant!

[captain fubar]

I wonder wether the fight with the slaad was a scene from before the comic started, or a false memory that Durkon created and that would have gotten a bonus to the bluff check because its what the vampire wanted to see.

[Anarion]

Also a neat connection: When Durkon saw Belkar getting eaten, he immediately jumped in and helped without asking if Belkar needed help.

That's more than neat, it's critically important. Durkon has been part of the order for a long time. Durkula won't tip off Roy by helping a party member. What would tip off Roy is if Durkula out thinks himself and steps in to do good for some third party they've never met before...without asking.

So the vampire has problems understanding the concept of, what, learning a lesson? I can see how that could turn out to be a problem for him, yes.

The vampire, an inherently evil and, more importantly here, not lawful being, missed out on the concept of respecting the rights and individuality of others. It's a subtle thing, but the point is that in trying to masquerade as being good, he's going to mess up in a way that Is indicative that he isn't Durkon.

[DaggerPen]

I wonder wether the fight with the slaad was a scene from before the comic started, or a false memory that Durkon created and that would have gotten a bonus to the bluff check because its what the vampire wanted to see.

1. Is that a Slaad? I don't think it's a Slaad - those have two eyes and more humanoid, right? Plus, while the art has upgraded a lot, we saw a red slaad here.

2. I don't get the impression he can create false memories. He's got to have tried enough to have rolled a natural 20 on a Bluff check well before this if it were possible. Plus, he seems genuinely introspective when the second memory comes up.

[Jasdoif]

With a missing arm, her labor options are probably very limited. I'd be inclined to suspect that she's living under a fixed income provided in thanks of whatever cost her the arm in the first place.

Indeed. She mentioned "Pension Day", after all.