# 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:** 21
**Author:** ![oft\_wears\_hats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/7993a0/32.png) [@oft\_wears\_hats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/oft_wears_hats)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2010, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/401 "2010-01-12T17:42:31Z")
> [@shantih](#): > > So is that Girard a-scryin’ at the end, and will he see/believe the message they wrote in the sand for him? I’m not so sure it’s Girard. This is some crazy speculation, but the scrying eye thingy is green. Girard’s magic seems to be associated with the [color](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0277.html) [purple](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0695.html). The Sapphire Guard is [blue](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0292.html). Redcloak is [red](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0465.html), but one of his cleric lackeys is green. I’m not prepared to guess as to who it might be, but I don’t think it’s Girard. ---
**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:** [January 12, 2010, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/402 "2010-01-12T18:33:25Z")
I thought Shojo was the leader of the Sapphire Guard as well as the leader of Azure City. It was the conflict between the duties of these two positions which led to his downfall. If he hadn’t been a Paladin, the Sapphire Guard would have been able to tolerate his Machiavellian politics. I also just found out that the name Shojo is a joke. It’s the Japanese word for a little girl. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2010, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/403 "2010-01-12T18:54:04Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > I thought Shojo was the leader of the Sapphire Guard as well as the leader of Azure City. That is correct > [@](#): > > It was the conflict between the duties of these two positions which led to his downfall. If he hadn’t been a Paladin, the Sapphire Guard would have been able to tolerate his Machiavellian politics. But he \*wasn’t \*a paladin, though. He just commands them. > **[289 Senility Now! - Giant in the Playground Games](https://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0289.html)** > [@](#): > > I also just found out that the name Shojo is a joke. It’s the Japanese word for a little girl. Co-incidence. I’m sure he said somewhere that he just invented Japanese-soiunding names. If they mean anything, it’s just chance with no significance. ---
**Author:** ![Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malleus_incus_stapes/32/3293_2.png) [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malleus_Incus_Stapes)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2010, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/404 "2010-01-12T19:20:52Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > It wasn’t Soon’s, it was Shojo’s, who was never a Paladin. And Soon was probably dead long before Mr Scruffy was born. Then again, I’m wondering if Mr. Scruffy is something more than he seems. If he was, I dunno, someone’s familiar or a cat-shaped spirit thing, he may well have been around in Soon’s time. And Gerard probably visited Azure City before he fell out with Soon. So… ---
**Author:** ![Trepa\_Mayfield](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/edb3f5/32.png) [@Trepa\_Mayfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trepa_Mayfield)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2010, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/405 "2010-01-12T19:27:27Z")
Man, things have been moving sslloowwllyy ever since the end of Book 4. I hope the Giant gets better soon. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2010, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/406 "2010-01-12T19:53:25Z")
One thing I’ve seen several times recently is that there is a long gap between updates, then there’s two in rapid succession. I therefore predict another new strip within a few hours from now. Followed by another long gap. ---
**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:** [January 12, 2010, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/407 "2010-01-12T22:39:58Z")
> [@](#): > > Then again, I’m wondering if Mr. Scruffy is something more than he seems. If he was, I dunno, someone’s familiar or a cat-shaped spirit thing, he may well have been around in Soon’s time. And Gerard probably visited Azure City before he fell out with Soon. So… In _Don’t Split the Party_ there’s an offline strip that seems to imply that Mr Scruffy’s ultimate loyalty is with Hinjo and he’s staying with Belkar to keep an eye on him. But there’s never been any evidence that Mr Scruffy is anything other than a normal cat. ---
**Author:** ![Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malleus_incus_stapes/32/3293_2.png) [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malleus_Incus_Stapes)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2010, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/408 "2010-01-12T23:50:05Z")
Hey, any cat that would actually listen to instructions like that isn’t normal. 😉 ---
**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:** [January 13, 2010, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/409 "2010-01-13T23:30:49Z")
> [@](#): > > I think V’s sexuality is essentially quantum in nature, making it impossible to actually “know” what his/her gender is. My crackpot theory is that Vaarsuvius’s gender is 1/sqrt(2) |male\> + 1/sqrt(2) |female\>, while es mate is 1/sqrt(2) |male\> - 1/sqrt(2) |female\>, thus making them both completely indeterminate on the male-female axes, but nonetheless orthogonal to each other. And this message board is probably the only place in the world where someone else might understand what I mean when I say that. And regardless of what Mr. Scruffy was, I think it’s pretty clear that he is now Belkar’s animal companion. He is a ranger, after all. ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2010, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/410 "2010-01-14T04:12:21Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > And this message board is probably the only place in the world where someone else might understand what I mean when I say that. Probably not, but I get it. ---
**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:** [January 14, 2010, 6:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/411 "2010-01-14T06:39:43Z")
> [@oft\_wears\_hats](#): > > I’m not so sure it’s Girard. This is some crazy speculation, but the scrying eye thingy is green. Girard’s magic seems to be associated with the [color](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0277.html) [purple](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0695.html). The Sapphire Guard is [blue](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0292.html). Redcloak is [red](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0465.html), but one of his cleric lackeys is green. I’m not prepared to guess as to who it might be, but I don’t think it’s Girard. Lirian wore green [(see Panel 6)](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0277.html). She’s been described as MIA, but unless the books say otherwise, I don’t think there’s been a definitive determination that she’s dead. Note that the pupil in the scrying eye is green, and when Azure City scryed the scene of the destruction at Durokan’s gate, the pupil was [blue.](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0292.html) So it _could_ be Lirian. Or one of her tribe. ---
**Author:** ![chorpler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chorpler/32/2888_2.png) [@chorpler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chorpler)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2010, 7:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/412 "2010-01-14T07:05:51Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > Lirian wore green [(see Panel 6)](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0277.html). She’s been described as MIA, but unless the books say otherwise, I don’t think there’s been a definitive determination that she’s dead. Can’t be Lirian. This is a pretty big spoiler, so don’t read it unless you really want to know. In **Start of Darkness** there’s a big scene where [spoiler]Xykon and Redcloak go after Lirian’s gate, are defeated, and are imprisoned underground. To escape they turn Xykon into a lich. Then he breaks free, kills Lirian, and binds her soul to a black gem in his pocket. Then he zombifies her body and still has it with him about 30 years later when his assault on Dorukan’s dungeon begins. He might stil have the Lirian zombie; he definitely still has her soul. And she’s not the only one.[/spoiler] ---
**Author:** ![Grumman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/43a26b/32.png) [@Grumman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grumman)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2010, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/413 "2010-01-17T14:53:47Z")
[New page is up.](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0699.html) Nothing new today, though. ---
**Author:** ![Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malleus_incus_stapes/32/3293_2.png) [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malleus_Incus_Stapes)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2010, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/414 "2010-01-17T15:49:33Z")
“How can he be safe if no one’s checked his shoes?” ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Some\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ad7895/32.png) [@Just\_Some\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Some_Guy)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2010, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/415 "2010-01-17T21:54:58Z")
The monster in the darkness is so stupid. If no one has checked his shoes it’s everyone else on the plane who isn’t safe. Duh. (Dang it, airport check in jokes stop being funny when you’ve been through the security checkpoints half a dozen times in the past two weeks.) ---
**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:** [January 17, 2010, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/416 "2010-01-17T23:02:29Z")
At least it isn’t the same airport check-in jokes that we’ve all seen fifty times already, though. And this is O-Chul we’re talking about here. With or without his shoes, nobody on the plane is safe unless he wants them to be. ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2010, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/417 "2010-01-18T00:10:57Z")
On the other hand… If O-Chul wants the passengers to be safe they will be. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2010, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/418 "2010-01-20T04:43:26Z")
Strip no 700 [http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0700.html](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0700.html) ---
**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:** [January 20, 2010, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/419 "2010-01-20T04:59:14Z")
Good one. And it’s amusing to find someone more clueless about something than the MITD. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2010, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/420 "2010-01-20T05:07:04Z")
The monster seems to be getting smarter. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323.md?page=20) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323.md?page=22)