# Order of the Stick - Book 5 Discussion Thread **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 31, 2009, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323 "2009-08-31T04:09:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 126
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2011, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/2502 "2011-08-30T18:52:02Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Given that Roy’s big bad is medium-sized, has a poor BAB, and isn’t ludicrously strong Tell me you’re not discussing Roy’s trouser-titan. ---
**Author:** ![Randy\_Seltzer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ee7513/32.png) [@Randy\_Seltzer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Randy_Seltzer)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2011, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/2503 "2011-08-30T19:00:45Z")
Now that we’ve got 50 full pages and 2500 responses on this thread, I have a question. Is this still Book 5? I haven’t been keeping track. Is it time to open a new thread yet? ---
**Author:** ![Grumman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/43a26b/32.png) [@Grumman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grumman)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2011, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/2504 "2011-08-30T19:09:19Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Given that Roy’s big bad is medium-sized, has a poor BAB, and isn’t ludicrously strong, Improved Grapple might actually be a good choice, for him. Roy’s big bad can fly, has a touch attack and DR 15. Even if he catches Xykon, all he’ll do is stop him using somatic components. ---
**Author:** ![Strassia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e8c25b/32.png) [@Strassia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Strassia)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2011, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/2505 "2011-08-30T19:19:49Z")
> [@Grumman](#): > > Roy’s big bad can fly, has a touch attack and DR 15. Even if he catches Xykon, all he’ll do is stop him using somatic components. Unless I am misremembering ([and I am not](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0114.html)), Roy beat Xykon the first time they met by literally knocking his head off with his bare hands and throwing his body and head into a gate. That sure looked like grappling to me. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2011, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/2506 "2011-08-30T19:34:42Z")
The touch attack (being negative-energy-based) is nullified by a Death Ward spell, of which Durkon is researching a Mass version, and even if that doesn’t work, he’s still sure to cast the individual version on Roy. And you can also muffle a spellcaster in a grapple to prevent verbal components. Now, cutting off Xykon’s access to verbal and somatic components probably won’t _completely_ nullify him, but it’ll cut down his options considerably. And remember that Roy’s a part of a party. He doesn’t actually need to destroy Xykon personally; if he can nullify him while Durkon and Vaarsuvius sling Heals and Disintegrates, that’ll still work. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2011, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/2507 "2011-08-30T20:47:32Z")
> [@Randy\_Seltzer](#): > > Now that we’ve got 50 full pages and 2500 responses on this thread, I have a question. > > Is this still Book 5? I haven’t been keeping track. Is it time to open a new thread yet? JFTR, it is still Book 5. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2011, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/2508 "2011-08-31T03:27:05Z")
> [@Randy\_Seltzer](#): > > Now that we’ve got 50 full pages and 2500 responses on this thread, I have a question. > > Is this still Book 5? I haven’t been keeping track. Is it time to open a new thread yet? Book One ran for 120 strips. Books Two, Three, and Four ran for about 180 strips apiece. We’re currently about 130 strips into Book Five. ---
**Author:** ![appleciders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85f322/32.png) [@appleciders](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/appleciders)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2011, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/2509 "2011-09-01T03:34:43Z")
Hey! I get to post the new comic link for once. [http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0804.html](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0804.html) ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2011, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/2510 "2011-09-01T03:42:06Z")
OK, now I’m torn between taking that last speech bubble literally, or taking the “lie” in the comic’s title as an indication that she’s _not_ right behind him. Would it be more interesting for the story for Sabine to betray Nale, or the Arch-Fiends? ---
**Author:** ![shantih](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f6c823/32.png) [@shantih](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shantih)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2011, 12:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/2511 "2011-09-01T12:33:48Z")
I don’t know – the thing we know without a doubt about Sabine is that she is genuinely in love with Nale. If it comes down to it, I could absolutely believe that she would side with him rather than the arch-fiends. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2011, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/2512 "2011-09-01T15:49:58Z")
> [@shantih](#): > > I don’t know – the thing we know without a doubt about Sabine is that she is genuinely in love with Nale. If it comes down to it, I could absolutely believe that she would side with him rather than the arch-fiends. I think there’s going to be a tragedy where Sabine has to betray Nale despite the fact that she loves him. Moving past the obvious parallel of Therkla and Elan, there’s the other parallel of Xykon and Redcloak. They’re working together to reach the same goal but they have completely different plans for what they want when they arrive at the goal. ---
**Author:** ![Agent\_Foxtrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc29f/32.png) [@Agent\_Foxtrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Agent_Foxtrot)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2011, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/2513 "2011-09-01T18:36:18Z")
Regardless, things aren’t going to turn out well for Nale. ETA: Where the bloody effin’ hell is Durkon?? ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2011, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/2514 "2011-09-01T19:07:29Z")
> [@shantih](#): > > I don’t know – the thing we know without a doubt about Sabine is that she is genuinely in love with Nale. Really? She’s lust incarnate. She’ll betray them all if it profits her. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2011, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/2515 "2011-09-01T19:13:58Z")
> [@Agent\_Foxtrot](#): > > ETA: Where the bloody effin’ hell is Durkon?? I still think a Durkon and Hilgya reveal is possible. Although there is one other possibility who might be Durkon’s counterpart: what if Malack is secretly part of the Linear Guild? ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2011, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/2516 "2011-09-01T19:47:43Z")
Even if Malack were willing to go along (unlikely), there’s no way on any plane that Nale would ever accept working with one of his dad’s old party-mates. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2011, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/2517 "2011-09-01T22:19:09Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Even if Malack were willing to go along (unlikely), there’s no way on any plane that Nale would ever accept working with one of his dad’s old party-mates. It’s devious, treacherous, and convoluted - Nale would love it. ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2011, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/2518 "2011-09-12T23:00:06Z")
Wow, I was getting pretty spoiled by the recent update cycle. Berlew was cranking! Now we’re 12 days since the last one. Should be soon, right? right?! By the way, I figured out where Durkon is. He’s been arrested by the city guard, because [his visa expired 42 strips ago](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0732.html). ---
**Author:** ![Ura-Maru](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/51bf81/32.png) [@Ura-Maru](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ura-Maru)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2011, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/2519 "2011-09-13T03:00:32Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > Really? She’s lust incarnate. She’ll betray them all if it profits her. You think so? The only way I can read the last line (considering it’s proximity to her conversation with the imp) is either she intends to stick with Nale, or that she’s trying to convince herself she will. Expecting fidelity would be absurd, of course, but either way she seems to genuinely care about him. If she does betray him, it won’t be an ‘I AM a monster, after all,’ it’ll be ‘I’m sorry . . . I have to . . . I’m sorry . . .’ – Either way, I hope it’s not too preachy. Got enough of that with the Miko resolution. ---
**Author:** ![One\_And\_Only\_Wanderers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/838e76/32.png) [@One\_And\_Only\_Wanderers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/One_And_Only_Wanderers)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2011, 6:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/2520 "2011-09-13T06:39:22Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > I still think a Durkon and Hilgya reveal is possible. > > Although there is one other possibility who might be Durkon’s counterpart: what if Malack is secretly part of the Linear Guild? Didn’t Nale kill his kids or something? ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2011, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/2521 "2011-09-13T12:29:58Z")
> [@One\_And\_Only\_Wanderers](#): > > Didn’t Nale kill his kids or something? [Yes](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0724.html), three of his children as mentioned in the middle right panel. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323.md?page=125) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323.md?page=127)