# 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:** 223
**Author:** ![Gagundathar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a183cd/32.png) [@Gagundathar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gagundathar)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2012, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/4442 "2012-07-26T15:08:41Z")
Looks like he is shrugging off a camouflage spell to me. ---
**Author:** ![Grumman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/43a26b/32.png) [@Grumman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grumman)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2012, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/4443 "2012-07-26T15:20:12Z")
The Linear Guild is now blind and deaf. Even if they decide to retreat, the only way they can communicate this decision is by touch. Oh, and if the Drow tries to get rid of the smoke with the Gust of Wind spell, he’s got a 20% chance of failure because he can’t hear his own verbal spellcasting components. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2012, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/4444 "2012-07-26T15:24:48Z")
> [@squeegee](#): > > Is Durkon walking through a wall in panels 5-6? Or using some other teleportation mechanism? Or shrugging off a camouflage spell? Or…? Could be [passwall](http://www.dandwiki.com/wiki/Passwall), but V’s absence makes that unlikely. [Ethereal Jaunt](http://www.dandwiki.com/wiki/Ethereal_jaunt) seems likely. [Dimension Door](http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/dimensionDoor.htm) or [Phase Door](http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/phaseDoor.htm) is a possibility, if Durkon has the travel domain or a magic item. It does look as though he’s passing through some sort of magical portal to me. ---
**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:** [July 26, 2012, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/4445 "2012-07-26T15:30:16Z")
> [@Grumman](#): > > The Linear Guild is now blind and deaf. Even if they decide to retreat, the only way they can communicate this decision is by touch. Oh, and if the Drow tries to get rid of the smoke with the Gust of Wind spell, he’s got a 20% chance of failure because he can’t hear his own verbal spellcasting components. Might any be killed? Paralyzed? Or is Durkon not a high enough level for that? Also, might Sabine get dispelled? ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2012, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/4446 "2012-07-26T15:32:41Z")
> [@squeegee](#): > > Might any be killed? Paralyzed? Or is Durkon not a high enough level for that? I’d be surprised if any are killed (maybe the kobold, if that). Paralyzed? I’d go with that for the kobold, but probably none of the others. As **Grumman** points out, communication is going to be a major issue for them. The lizard-dude and the imp are probably unaffected by the spell, given the wall that separated them from the party, so it’s going to be five of them–Nale, the kobold, Tarquin, Thog, and Tzzir’d (or whatever)–possibly deafened (although the artwork shows him being affected, his level may mean Tarquin is immune). They’ll be unable to communicate plans, meaning Thog will be totally erratic, Nale will panic, Tzzir’d and Tarquin will probably retreat (I wouldn’t be surprised to see the wizard taken out in the fight), and who knows what the kobold will do. So far, so good; Elan’s plan to keep the plan secret seems to be going according to plan. ---
**Author:** ![Trion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ccd318/32.png) [@Trion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trion)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2012, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/4447 "2012-07-26T15:35:52Z")
Yeah, Durkon needs to be 10 levels higher than someone to kill them with this spell (if I read it correctly). I have a hard time believing anyone will die as a direct result. And if looks to me like Durkon passed through the wall in some way. Notice the distortion effect. ---
**Author:** ![Grumman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/43a26b/32.png) [@Grumman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grumman)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2012, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/4448 "2012-07-26T15:36:19Z")
> [@squeegee](#): > > Might any be killed? Paralyzed? Or is Durkon not a high enough level for that? Also, might Sabine get dispelled? The Kobold is probably paralysed, but might be a low enough level to just die outright, and yeah, Sabine might be banished. > [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > …it’s going to be five of them–Nale, the kobold, Tarquin, Thog, and Tzzir’d (or whatever)… Tarquin _is_ “Thog”. You forgot Sabine. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2012, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/4449 "2012-07-26T15:42:11Z")
> [@Grumman](#): > > The Kobold is probably paralysed, but might be a low enough level to just die outright, and yeah, Sabine might be banished. > Tarquin _is_ “Thog”. You forgot Sabine. :smack: I knew there were four characters, but forgot Tarquin’s disguise. I didn’t forget Sabine. Holy Word banishes extraplanar creatures unless they make a really difficult save; I expect her to be going home. ---
**Author:** ![Balance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ccd318/32.png) [@Balance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balance)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2012, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/4450 "2012-07-26T15:49:35Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > Could be [passwall](http://www.dandwiki.com/wiki/Passwall), but V’s absence makes that unlikely. [Ethereal Jaunt](http://www.dandwiki.com/wiki/Ethereal_jaunt) seems likely. [Dimension Door](http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/dimensionDoor.htm) or [Phase Door](http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/phaseDoor.htm) is a possibility, if Durkon has the travel domain or a magic item. It does look as though he’s passing through some sort of magical portal to me. [Meld Into Stone](http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/meldIntoStone.htm), a 3rd-level cleric spell. Durkon was already there, waiting for them to walk in to the trap. Once they were engulfed in the smoke, he just stepped out of the stone and spoke. > [@Balance](#): > > Alternatively, it could be an attempt to provoke the LG into a blind charge that leads into one or more traps as they try to get out of the area of effect. Yay for partial vindication. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Gray\_Ghost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c0e974/32.png) [@Gray\_Ghost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gray_Ghost)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2012, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/4451 "2012-07-26T15:53:46Z")
[Mummies](http://www.d20srd.org/srd/monsters/mummy.htm) have 8 hit dice, and Holy Word from **LHoD** ’s link only kills you if you’ve 10 HD less than the caster’s level. I doubt Durkon is level 18, so that’s out. Further, [undead are immune to paralysis](http://www.d20srd.org/srd/typesSubtypes.htm), so that’s out. They can be blinded/deafened though, and I’d be inclined to rule (were I DM) that the mummies will therefore just sit there and not attack anybody, as Malack is separated from them by a steel door. What’s Sabine’s likely Will save? She’s got to make it at -4 or be sent back to Hell. She’s wiser than Nale, but is that really saying much? I seriously doubt Kilkil’s weak enough to be paralyzed, and I’d be extremely surprised if Tarquin’s level was equivalent or less than Durkon’s. So, I hope Durkon can tank Tarquin and the rest of the LG for a few rounds. Pity that the Order doesn’t seem to have any AoE artillery they can lob into the cloud. Edit: Can’t the Durkon art just be Rich’s rendering of him moving through the smoke cloud and being close enough to be seen by the viewer? Especially if he’d cast [Sanctuary](http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/sanctuary.htm) on him beforehand, to get past any undead that weren’t in the cloud? On further viewing, I like Balance’s theory better. ---
**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:** [July 26, 2012, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/4452 "2012-07-26T15:56:55Z")
I wonder how long it will take the LG to notice the [cleric is missing](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0072.html). ---
**Author:** ![Grumman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/43a26b/32.png) [@Grumman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grumman)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2012, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/4453 "2012-07-26T16:09:12Z")
> [@Gray\_Ghost](#): > > [Mummies](http://www.d20srd.org/srd/monsters/mummy.htm) have 8 hit dice, and Holy Word from **LHoD** ’s link only kills you if you’ve 10 HD less than the caster’s level. I doubt Durkon is level 18, so that’s out. He gets +1 CL on [Good] spells for having the Good domain, and he might have other relevant feats or items. And we know Redcloak is at that level, so the OotS can’t be far off. ---
**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:** [July 26, 2012, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/4454 "2012-07-26T16:09:19Z")
> [@Balance](#): > > [Meld Into Stone](http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/meldIntoStone.htm), a 3rd-level cleric spell. Spell description specifies “a single block of stone” but Durkon is stepping out of a junction of three blocks. ---
**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:** [July 26, 2012, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/4455 "2012-07-26T16:12:01Z")
For those of us that read the story but haven’t played the game, can somebody explain what a “Holy” spell does? ---
**Author:** ![thinksnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thinksnow/32/2849_2.png) [@thinksnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thinksnow)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2012, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/4456 "2012-07-26T16:15:44Z")
Tarquin’s dialog in the 5th panel should finally give away that he is not Thog, at least. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2012, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/4457 "2012-07-26T16:17:30Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > For those of us that read the story but haven’t played the game, can somebody explain what a “Holy” spell does? It’s actually a Holy Word spell, and someone linked to a spell description up above. Basically, based on difference in levels/hit dice, it blinds, deafens, paralyzes and possibly kills. And extra-planar beings on the caster’s home plane get banished for 24 hours. So goodbye, Sabine. ---
**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:** [July 26, 2012, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/4458 "2012-07-26T16:18:10Z")
> [@thinksnow](#): > > Tarquin’s dialog in the 5th panel should finally give away that he is not Thog, at least. Roy already [figured that out](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0852.html). ---
**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:** [July 26, 2012, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/4459 "2012-07-26T16:18:42Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > For those of us that read the story but haven’t played the game, can somebody explain what a “Holy” spell does? Follow the link in post 4438 ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2012, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/4460 "2012-07-26T16:18:53Z")
LHoD linked to a description of it higher up in the thread. Durkon said a word so holy that it damaged everything evil within hearing distance. The amount and severity of the damage is based on how strong the evil being is compared to Durkon. So Tarquin won’t be hurt very much, if at all, Nale should take a little more damage than Tarquin and so on. Its counterpart is [Blasphemy](http://www.dandwiki.com/wiki/SRD:Blasphemy). ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2012, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/4461 "2012-07-26T16:20:47Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > For those of us that read the story but haven’t played the game, can somebody explain what a “Holy” spell does? It’s Holy Word. > **[Holy Word :: d20srd.org](http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/holyWord.htm)** [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323.md?page=222) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323.md?page=224)