# 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:** 258
**Author:** ![Wolverine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ba9def/32.png) [@Wolverine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wolverine)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2013, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/5142 "2013-03-04T04:18:18Z")
I knew it was a very real possibility and was expecting it, but all I feel right now is ☹ ---
**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 4, 2013, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/5143 "2013-03-04T04:37:11Z")
On **chorpler** ’s question 3: As I understand it, weak creatures (under 5 HD) who get drained get turned into vampire spawn, while more powerful creatures (5 HD or more) get turned into full-fledged vampires. Durkon is definitely in the latter category (as would Belkar have been, or anyone else in the Order). ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2013, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/5144 "2013-03-04T04:44:24Z")
Was that the ninth cartoon? cause i need more soon. ---
**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:** [March 4, 2013, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/5145 "2013-03-04T04:48:52Z")
> [@DigitalC](#): > > Was that the ninth cartoon? cause i need more soon. I believe this was the seventh daily one with no gaps. Not positive though. ---
**Author:** ![Wolverine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ba9def/32.png) [@Wolverine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wolverine)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2013, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/5146 "2013-03-04T04:51:20Z")
It started Feb. 25 with Just a Couple of Blooddrinkers (871) and there have been 7 so far (most recent 877). There should be 2 more. ---
**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:** [March 4, 2013, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/5147 "2013-03-04T04:51:51Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > On **chorpler** ’s question 3: > > As I understand it, weak creatures (under 5 HD) who get drained get turned into vampire spawn, while more powerful creatures (5 HD or more) get turned into full-fledged vampires. Durkon is definitely in the latter category (as would Belkar have been, or anyone else in the Order). OK, that sounds a lot more sensible than the impression I had, which was that they become vampire spawn if killed by draining them down to -10 hit points, but become vampires if killed by lowering the Constitution score to 0. ---
**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 4, 2013, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/5148 "2013-03-04T05:00:51Z")
Note that a vampire is created 1d4 days after burial so if we continue with the posthumous dwarven terror thread, the obvious conclusion (which is not to say the correct conclusion) is that for some reason, perhaps out of a misguided sense of honor, OOTS deals with Girard’s gate and then schleps Durkon’s body back to the dwarven homelands on their way to Kraagor’s gate, and the unsuspecting dwarven populace buries and mourns Durkon only to get a nasty and unwelcome surprise 1d4 days later. I do not care for this turn of events. ---
**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:** [March 4, 2013, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/5149 "2013-03-04T05:07:57Z")
By the way, is Malack actually a snake (or a Yuan-Ti, I guess it would be, since he has arms?) like Durkon called him in [today’s strip](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0877.html) and like he appears to be, given his grappling of Durkon and the fact that I can’t see any rear limbs on him in today’s strip or in [yesterday’s strip](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0876.html)? I was always under the impression that he was an albino lizardfolk and we just didn’t see his legs under his cloak. When I asked my daughter, she said she had thought that too, until yesterday’s strip. He sure looks like the [Gannji the lizardfolk bounty hunter guy](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0738.html), and Durkon did say “I woulda thought ye’d worship Tiamat, on account o’ bein’ a lizard” in [this strip](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0737.html). And hey, Haley says he’s “an albino lizardfolk” in [this strip](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0718.html), so I guess if he IS really a snakefolk, my daughter and I aren’t the only ones who were fooled. ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2013, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/5150 "2013-03-04T05:31:09Z")
By the way, Malack did offer Durkon bloodwart tea [way back when](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0735.html). It was just very easy to misread with the font being what it is. ---
**Author:** ![Gagundathar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a183cd/32.png) [@Gagundathar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gagundathar)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2013, 7:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/5151 "2013-03-04T07:41:39Z")
The Giant sure knows how to play your heartstrings. This is where I yell ‘Khaaaaaaaannn!’ and scare my girlfriend because it is, after all, 2:40 AM right now here in East TN, USA. Or maybe not. So many possibilities now. ---
**Author:** ![Dave\_Hartwick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7feea3/32.png) [@Dave\_Hartwick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dave_Hartwick)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2013, 7:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/5152 "2013-03-04T07:47:47Z")
I have no idea how things will turn out but was glad that there wasn’t a rescue. Nothing against Durkon, it just seemed to me that Vaarsuvius or somebody else stumbling in to save him would’ve been cheap. Also, it shows that Malack is a powerful villain. It seems like quite often in OOTS both sides are incompetent. My favorite bits are when a character or group of characters are awesome. ---
**Author:** ![shantih](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f6c823/32.png) [@shantih](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shantih)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2013, 11:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/5153 "2013-03-04T11:21:30Z")
Daaamn. Nice fake-out with Belkar, but daaamn. ---
**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 4, 2013, 11:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/5154 "2013-03-04T11:27:11Z")
Yay! Someone died! ---
**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 4, 2013, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/5155 "2013-03-04T12:49:34Z")
> [@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] > [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > 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. Durkon thinks Belkar has a chance at breaking the charm. It’s still possible. Second prediction. Belkar will break the charm, too late to save Durkon, but he will at least remember [O’chul’s warning](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0666.html), and carry the corpse back to the party. ---
**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 4, 2013, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/5156 "2013-03-04T12:50:00Z")
Chekovs staff is still leaning against the wall behind Belkar… ---
**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:** [March 4, 2013, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/5157 "2013-03-04T15:49:03Z")
I don’t know if I’m more mad at:[ol] [li]Malack- for vamping D[/li][li]Thor- for ignoring D (yet again)[/li][li]Durkon- for being unreasonable and not willing to compromise[/li][li]or Durkon- for not having the strength to get free or even \*whap \*Malack with his hammer.[/li][/ol] ---
**Author:** ![Balance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ccd318/32.png) [@Balance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balance)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2013, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/5158 "2013-03-04T16:13:47Z")
> [@thinksnow](#): > > I don’t know if I’m more mad at:[ol] > [li]Malack- for vamping D[/li][li]Thor- for ignoring D (yet again)[/li][li]Durkon- for being unreasonable and not willing to compromise[/li][li]or Durkon- for not having the strength to get free or even \*whap \*Malack with his hammer.[/li][/ol] 1. Durkon - for not using his holy symbol to force Malack to stay out of melee range. ---
**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 4, 2013, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/5159 "2013-03-04T16:18:57Z")
OK, decided – tonight I’m drinking one of my home-made beers in Durkon’s honour, and will offer a libation of the same. I can only hope it will be sufficiently removed from moose urine to be worthy of the **greatest** and **most honourably dutiful** dwarf the OotS world has ever seen. Ach, only the good… ---
**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 4, 2013, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/5160 "2013-03-04T16:23:02Z")
To borrow from one of the OOTS forum posters: “Now cracks a noble heart. Good-night, sweet cleric; And flights of lumberjacks sing thee to thy rest.” ---
**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 4, 2013, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/5161 "2013-03-04T16:29:06Z")
> [@Inner\_Stickler](#): > > To borrow from one of the OOTS forum posters: “Now cracks a noble heart. Good-night, sweet cleric; > And flights of lumberjacks sing thee to thy rest.” I love that. Appropriate and clever in a way I’d never have come up with myself, though it’s obvious seeing it like that. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323.md?page=257) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323.md?page=259)