# 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:** 256
**Author:** ![Balance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ccd318/32.png) [@Balance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balance)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2013, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/5102 "2013-03-01T22:40:17Z")
> [@MHaye](#): > > Finally, Owl’s Wisdom will not automatically break the Hold Person, but it will give the affected creature +2 to save against the spell. Remove Paralysis is a _far_ better spell for that purpose, as it works with no die roll required unless you’re trying to release multiple victims. My suggestion of Owl’s Wisdom was to help Belkar throw off the domination, not the Hold Person, though it would also help him resist that. Protection from Evil would suppress the domination, so it would be better for that purpose, but for whatever reason, Durkon hasn’t used it. Maybe he didn’t prepare it, or he doesn’t have any powdered silver, or maybe the sheer cognitive dissonance of casting it on Belkar is just too much for him to consider it. Bet it would make Belkar itch, though. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2013, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/5103 "2013-03-01T22:48:20Z")
Geez, they’re coming fast and furous! ---
**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:** [March 2, 2013, 6:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/5104 "2013-03-02T06:11:54Z")
Technically speaking (though this is surely an oversight by the authors), undead suffer no ill effects from the Positive Energy Plane, but it’s highly dangerous for living creatures. A living creature on the PEP will gain HP and bonus HP until at twice their normal maximum, and then have to make a Fort save every round or suffer Death by Awesome, exploding in a glorious light. An undead will also gain HP every round (since it functions as “Fast Healing”, an ability which undead are allowed to have), but will _not_ be subject to the Death by Awesome, since it allows a Fort save and doesn’t affect inanimate objects. I think any sane DM would houserule otherwise, though. ---
**Author:** ![Measure\_for\_Measure](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/measure_for_measure/32/557_2.png) [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2013, 7:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/5105 "2013-03-02T07:54:34Z")
> [@dtilque](#): > > As far as the update rate, we may be getting the week’s worth of strips that was promised in the Kickstarter campaign. That is, if Rich’s thumb holds up. If it doesn’t, he’ll stop and we’ll get it later on. This is Word of Giant, posted to the Kickstarter thread on the OotS message board. So expect daily updates for at least a few days. On the front page the author left this note, dated 2/28/2013: > [@](#): > > You’ve almost certainly noticed that I’ve been posting new comics every day, and some people have asked me if this is intended to fulfill my Kickstarter promise of nine comics in a row at some point. And the answer is: Maybe. I haven’t actually finished all nine comics yet, and it’s possible my thumb might tell me, “No way, buddy,” before I do. If that happens, then this is just a nice little bonus run of comics for you, and the real nine-in-a-row will happen some other time this year. [Giant in the Playground Games](http://www.giantitp.com/index.html) ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2013, 10:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/5106 "2013-03-02T10:28:07Z")
> [@Measure\_for\_Measure](#): > > On the front page the author left this note, dated 2/28/2013: [Giant in the Playground Games](http://www.giantitp.com/index.html) Yes, he posted the same thing in the Kickstarter thread in response to my question about it. After a couple days, he thought “maybe I better put this message in a more prominent place” after people were still commenting about the update rate. I just summarized his message in my post here. Of course, that still doesn’t stop people from commenting on the update rate. Many people don’t go to that page, but rather straight to the current strip or to the message board. ---
**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:** [March 2, 2013, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/5107 "2013-03-02T23:08:26Z")
I want Malack dead now. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2013, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/5108 "2013-03-02T23:23:54Z")
> [@Inner\_Stickler](#): > > I want Malack dead now. To be honest, I want _somebody_ dead now. I’m getting just a teensy bit tired of fights where someone is beaten to within half a millimeter of their life and then gets saved at the last minute (see Xykon and Redcloak, Nale (twice), Zzdrtwhatever, Belkar (sort of - Mark of Justice) and possibly Thog). Throwing us the odd sacrifical kobold just doesn’t do it anymore. ---
**Author:** ![JoseB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/joseb/32/1530_2.png) [@JoseB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JoseB)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2013, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/5109 "2013-03-02T23:36:55Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > To be honest, I want _somebody_ dead now. I’m getting just a teensy bit tired of fights where someone is beaten to within half a millimeter of their life and then gets saved at the last minute (see Xykon and Redcloak, Nale (twice), Zzdrtwhatever, Belkar (sort of - Mark of Justice) and possibly Thog). Throwing us the odd sacrifical kobold just doesn’t do it anymore. Well, I think that you will get your wish. Given how it looks like, I cannot imagine any situation that doesn’t end with either Malack, Durkon or Belkar killed here. The only possibility for something like that would be an enemy of Malack arriving with overwhelming force (and I think that V is still too much in a state of shell-shock to do it, honestly… And the rest of the order is busy disarming that trapped door) that would make Malack go into gaseous form and flee before having turned Durkon. I cannot see that happening; I cannot conceive of any plausible way for this scenario to take place. Another possiblity would be for Xykon et al. to choose _precisely_ this moment to teleport in and attack… But that would _guarantee_ that _somebody_ is going to die. ---
**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:** [March 2, 2013, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/5110 "2013-03-02T23:41:27Z")
[Link to #876, btw.](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0876.html) ---
**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:** [March 2, 2013, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/5111 "2013-03-02T23:48:58Z")
All I can say is thank goodness he’s doing daily strips right now. I’d HATE to have to wait a week or more between these… ---
**Author:** ![Strassia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e8c25b/32.png) [@Strassia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Strassia)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2013, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/5112 "2013-03-03T00:32:48Z")
> [@Inner\_Stickler](#): > > [Link to #876, btw.](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0876.html) Well, looks like I may have called it. Short, bearded, armored and fanged instead of short, shoeless, stabby and fanged. > [@Strassia](#): > > Have we been focusing on the wrong prophesy? Is Durkon almost ready to [go home](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0331.html)? Of course if you read that prequel: > > You know that will end badly for the other dwarves. ---
**Author:** ![Gagundathar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a183cd/32.png) [@Gagundathar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gagundathar)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2013, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/5113 "2013-03-03T01:13:51Z")
The Giant has apparently noticed that Thor’s notice would make a difference in this exchange and created a nicely absurd reason why he has other matters to deal with in Asgard. So, our doughty dwerrow is to become the kind of creature that he has sworn to destroy. How long does a suicidal vampire last? Until 5 minutes after dawn? Does anyone expect a Deus ex Machina now? Can I get a vote on Deus ex Malleus? ---
**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:** [March 3, 2013, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/5114 "2013-03-03T01:17:57Z")
Prediction: [spoiler] Belkar will save Durkon. Malack left his staff behind in #871, which Belkie will turn into a nice sharp stake [/spoiler] ---
**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:** [March 3, 2013, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/5115 "2013-03-03T01:30:35Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > Prediction: > > [spoiler] Belkar will save Durkon. > > Malack left his staff behind in #871, which Belkie will turn into a nice sharp stake [/spoiler] Belkar’s under Malack’s magical control though. ---
**Author:** ![Hypno-Toad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b2d939/32.png) [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2013, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/5116 "2013-03-03T02:36:13Z")
I don’t think Malack can control Belkar without concentrating on it. And his attention is on Durkon, anyway. ---
**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:** [March 3, 2013, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/5117 "2013-03-03T02:50:32Z")
> [@Hypno-Toad](#): > > I don’t think Malack can control Belkar without concentrating on it. And his attention is on Durkon, anyway. Dominate is a weird ability: it allows the issuing of commands, but once they’re issued, even the death of the dominator doesn’t end the effect (well, not immediately–it allows a daily save against the effect). If he told Belkar to kill Durkon, he’ll continue trying to do so until he gets a new order. ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2013, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/5118 "2013-03-03T03:43:16Z")
> [@Gagundathar](#): > > Can I get a vote on Deus ex Malleus? Latin grammar nitpick: Deus ex Malleo (you have to put the object of the preposition in the ablative) I see three possible outcomes to this battle, one of which is that Durkon is vampired. I don’t think that one is too likely, but I won’t mention the two ways Durkon could win, since I’m having a hard time deciding which is most likely. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2013, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/5119 "2013-03-03T03:45:43Z")
So Belkar stabs Durkon and the staff penetrates a bit too far. ---
**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:** [March 3, 2013, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/5120 "2013-03-03T04:23:02Z")
The most esoteric staking prediction I’ve read, involved Uncle Geoff ([remember him](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0815.html)?) sharpening his peg leg, and spin-kicking Malack right in the chest. I have wondered before where he and Ian got off to… It would be nice to see where the staff went though. Looks like **Miller** ’s in the lead, as far as predictions. I’m pleased though that Malack got ballsy, and went for the grapple, even though I didn’t know that Death Ward also prevented the Con-drain from blood sucking. Where the hell is the rest of the party? It’s been, what? 8-10 rounds or so since Belkar, then Durkon, found Malack? More? They’re out of earshot? Edit: I sympathize with **Gyrate** ’s view, but we did get the death of Tsukiko—one of the most powerful moments in this strip, IMHO. We are told that _someone_ (important) will die, if _ **Don’t Split The Party** _’s commentary is to be believed. Don’t think he meant Tsukiko. ---
**Author:** ![Measure\_for\_Measure](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/measure_for_measure/32/557_2.png) [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2013, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/5121 "2013-03-03T04:43:45Z")
> [@Inner\_Stickler](#): > > I want Malack dead now. And I’d like to know what just happened in 876, as well as a working definition of Xxzerkgei. Or Xxzerkqei for that matter. Googling gives us… the Oots forum and given time this one as well. Malack is actually a pretty decent Vampire. Vampires should be polite, mildly sympathetic but ultimately evil. Their weaknesses vary from director to director – sun doesn’t invariably kill them, though they must have some vulnerability, as omnipotence is a plot killer. I wouldn’t mind seeing the fellow stick around. Nice soliloquy on lawfulness (evilness) in 875. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323.md?page=255) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323.md?page=257)