What happened to the elf rogue?

[JavaScribe]

As we all know, Gobbotopia leaked info about the phylactary to an elvish rogue polymorphed into a hobgoblin. And as far as we know, this elf rogue is probably one of the last two surviving members of the Resistance. So what do you think he is doing now?

Was he killed off panel by Redcloak? Is he regrouping with Niu?

My own crazy theory is, that he has dealt Jirix his 3rd death and taken his place. It was mentioned that someone was going to rendezvous with the rogue to "assassinate whoever else knows they found anything". And after all, what better a place to spy on Gobbotopia than from the top?

[Winter]

Redcloak took care of lose ends.

And should he not done so, that spy would be very advised to leave the city as soon as possible - which he probably has done.

So either he's dead (80%, I think) or has left. Even if he is still in the city, I think his possible actions are very low and very probably are zero.

[t209]

Look Redcloak is not an idiot. I think he killed the rogue (look at the corpses in 825) and wiped out the resistance.
Clever Sons of a dark one, that goblin is.

[B. Dandelion]

The polymorphed spy could be a really fantastic Chekhov's Gun to pick up later, but I'm convinced the whole thing's a done deal. Redcloak's own spy explicitly knew of the existence of a Resistance spy. So the odds are overwhelmingly high Redcloak knew about it too. Actually, the odds are really good he intentionally let that spy leak back the info about the phylactery's recovery, because by letting the Resistance nab the phylactery and then personally taking it back he assured himself of the opportunity to swap the real out for a fake.

Leaving us with odds of him allowing such a potentially ruinous loose end to run around at about zilch. He may not know, or care, about Niu's escape, but the spy is worm food -- I wouldn't be surprised if he'd lived a total of five minutes after he'd served his purpose in delivering the fateful tip-off.

[JavaScribe]

Yeah, I figured as much, but since nothing has actually been shown there, I considered it an interesting possibility to discuss. It is entirely possible that it slipped Redcloak's mind. He has had a lot of stressful things on it lately after all.

[Yendor]

The polymorphed spy could be a really fantastic Chekhov's Gun to pick up later, but I'm convinced the whole thing's a done deal. Redcloak's own spy explicitly knew of the existence of a Resistance spy. So the odds are overwhelmingly high Redcloak knew about it too. Actually, the odds are really good he intentionally let that spy leak back the info about the phylactery's recovery, because by letting the Resistance nab the phylactery and then personally taking it back he assured himself of the opportunity to swap the real out for a fake.

Leaving us with odds of him allowing such a potentially ruinous loose end to run around at about zilch. He may not know, or care, about Niu's escape, but the spy is worm food -- I wouldn't be surprised if he'd lived a total of five minutes after he'd served his purpose in delivering the fateful tip-off.

This. It wouldn't have taken long for the gobbo spy to find out about the elf spy, and once he got that info to Redcloak, Redcloak could have found him in ten minutes with True Seeing. The elf's bugbear chow.

[t209]

See the dead elf who is wearing the same clothes as the Elf second in command?
That's the rogue.

[Blisstake]

He didn't even have a name. Odds of survival look slim.

[t209]

He didn't even have a name. Odds of survival look slim.

Look at my previous.
Each team has one rogue. Team Peregrine had one cleric (with sword), one mage, one ranger, and one rogue. The same goes to Team harrier.
In the corpses We see team harrier (Purple mage, two rangers, and a rogue) along with team peregrine wizard. Don't even start with survival and resurrection, Azure City is gone and there isn't any min max barbarian to dig them up. I think Rich is trying to subvert "Resistance wins" trope.
In other words, the polymorphed rogue is from Team Harrier.

[JavaScribe]

Don't even start with survival and resurrection, Azure City is gone and there isn't any min max barbarian to dig them up. I think Rich is trying to subvert "Resistance wins" trope.

Well of course not, the Azurites sealed their doom a long time ago. It is quite clear that they will never reclaim their city. But one way or another, I wouldn't bet on a long lifespan for Gobbotopia either. If nothing else, look at the rift. Snarl or no Snarl, that doesn't bode well.

See the dead elf who is wearing the same clothes as the Elf second in command?
That's the rogue.

Yes, the elf rogue is almost certainly dead, but if that was him in this strip, then what was the purpose in dispelling the polymorph and removing the hobgoblin armor off a spy that was about to return to the field?

[t209]

Yes, the elf rogue is almost certainly dead, but if that was him in this strip, then what was the purpose in dispelling the polymorph and removing the hobgoblin armor off a spy that was about to return to the field?

Maybe he's trying to show that he's a smart bastard.
Hinjo could have teleported the two clerics, now they are facing cleric shortages. Let's hope that he didn't face a civil war to make things worse.
Edit: Azurite Resistance are nothing more than glorified scouts for the Order.

[Narren]

See the dead elf who is wearing the same clothes as the Elf second in command?
That's the rogue.

Are you referring to the one on the far right?

Maybe he's trying to show that he's a smart bastard.
Hinjo could have teleported the two clerics, now they are facing cleric shortages. Let's hope that he didn't face a civil war to make things worse.
Edit: Azurite Resistance are nothing more than glorified scouts for the Order.

How exactly are they glorified scouts for the Order? I don't even think they know the OotS exists.

[t209]

Are you referring to the one on the far right?



How exactly are they glorified scouts for the Order? I don't even think they know the OotS exists.

Yes, the far right.
For second question, unintentional or unwitting style.

[Narren]

For second question, unintentional or unwitting style.

I'm sorry...I don't follow.

[martianmister]

I'm sorry...I don't follow.

Neither us Narren, neither us...

[t209]

Okay! Let's forget about that!
I hope Niu manage to sent a message to the Order soon!

[Winter]

I hope Niu manage to sent a message to the Order soon!

Unless she got a couple of cleric levels, she can totally forget that. She simply cannot use the scroll.
And unless she has "a lot" of cleric levels which move her to one or three levels below the caster level of the scroll, the casting will likely fail (and she could even die from the backlash) (and even if she is only 2 levels below the caster level of the scroll, she still has a chance to both the spell).

Without a cleric, the scroll is completely useless to Niu (unless Rich changes how scrolls work but so far, we have no indication that scrolls are "spells that anyone can cast").

[Gift Jeraff]

Niu is part-rogue, so she might have ranks in Use Magic Device like Haley (and presumably the rogue this thread is about, hence how s/he informed the Resistance about the phylactery).

As for the dead elf hanging, that's probably not the rogue. The Commander implies that the rogue is still in Xykon's Tower, since he wants him/her to assassinate more hobgoblins before the news about the phylactery spreads.

[t209]

Niu is part-rogue, so she might have ranks in Use Magic Device like Haley (and presumably the rogue this thread is about, hence how s/he informed the Resistance about the phylactery).

As for the dead elf hanging, that's probably not the rogue. The Commander implies that the rogue is still in Xykon's Tower, since he wants him/her to assassinate more hobgoblins before the news about the phylactery spreads.

Then Redcloak found about it (since he has a spy in the Resistance) and stab him and brought him to the HQ that they are dumbass.

[Winter]

Niu is part-rogue, so she might have ranks in Use Magic Device...

Good call. I doubt she has a high enough score for the rules as written to allow the casting, but Rich is probably ignoring this. Yes, she can and will cast that spell in the OotS-Verse once she has the time to do so.

This reduces the "Why has not X told Y about situation Z" really to nothing but "timing" issues (Niu herself should still be non-locatable due to the cloister thus she cannot arrange a pickup-teleport).

[JavaScribe]

Niu is part-rogue, so she might have ranks in Use Magic Device like Haley (and presumably the rogue this thread is about, hence how s/he informed the Resistance about the phylactery).

As for the dead elf hanging, that's probably not the rogue. The Commander implies that the rogue is still in Xykon's Tower, since he wants him/her to assassinate more hobgoblins before the news about the phylactery spreads.

The he/she pronoun trouble brings up an interesting thought. Since it is unambiguously disguised as a male hobgoblin, I wonder if that elf has a clearly defined gender in its natural form. It would be funny to see an elf with a beard!

[Forikroder]

Okay! Let's forget about that!
I hope Niu manage to sent a message to the Order soon!

itll take days for her to reach somewhere safe, for haley she went to cliffport because presumably thats the closest place but cliffport is an ally to gobtopia so Niu might not be safe there and she obviously cant risk greysky, so it will probably take her a week or more to find a cleric who can cast sending to get the message to hinjo

[JavaScribe]

itll take days for her to reach somewhere safe, for haley she went to cliffport because presumably thats the closest place but cliffport is an ally to gobtopia so Niu might not be safe there and she obviously cant risk greysky, so it will probably take her a week or more to find a cleric who can cast sending to get the message to hinjo

It has been suggested that she might have the skill ranks to cast the scroll without a cleric. And even if she doesn't and really does need to go to Cliffport, their connection to Gobbotopia won't be an issue. Cliffport hasn't formed a relationship with Gobbotopia out of love for goblins, but hate for the elves. And they are a trading partner, not an ally.

[Narren]

It has been suggested that she might have the skill ranks to cast the scroll without a cleric. And even if she doesn't and really does need to go to Cliffport, their connection to Gobbotopia won't be an issue. Cliffport hasn't formed a relationship with Gobbotopia out of love for goblins, but hate for the elves. And they are a trading partner, not an ally.

Why do you assume that Cliffport hates the elves? Did I miss something?

[ti'esar]

Why do you assume that Cliffport hates the elves? Did I miss something?

One of the hobgoblin clerics talking during Redcloak's speech says that Cliffport's recognition is partially based on a long-standing trade war with the elves.

[Narren]

One of the hobgoblin clerics talking during Redcloak's speech says that Cliffport's recognition is partially based on a long-standing trade war with the elves.

I love the sound the flag makes in that strip.

[Stormlock]

Side note for that strip: 20 years... great grand children... squick.

[Ranzear]

I thought the Rogue polymorphed into a Hobgoblin Spy was the Hobgoblin polymorphed into a Human Rogue spy, which in Nethack terms would explain the first polymorph 'sticking' after death and generally be rather humorous.

[Red XIV]

Side note for that strip: 20 years... great grand children... squick.

Goblins and hobgoblins have significantly shorter lifespans than humans.

[martianmister]

Side note for that strip: 20 years... great grand children... squick.

They grow faster.