# 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:** 290
**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:** [May 22, 2013, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/5782 "2013-05-22T06:04:48Z")
> [@squeegee](#): > > So after all that, I’m hoping for an Belkar-illusion as character building as the one where Shojo told him to “play the game”. C’mon, Rich, make me proud. Belkar already having had a vision type thing for character development is the reason why I expect that his illusion will be played off as a brief joke. Also, the strip has been wangsty lately and I hope it gets a move on. I was surprised at Xykon showing up and getting whacked so quickly. Burlew’s moving into Robert Jordan let’s-take-a-chapter-to-cross-a-bridge territory. ---
**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:** [May 22, 2013, 6:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/5783 "2013-05-22T06:26:57Z")
> [@Dave\_Hartwick](#): > > I was surprised at Xykon showing up and getting whacked so quickly. Is this a whoosh? ---
**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2013, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/5784 "2013-05-24T04:41:02Z")
The Oracle’s response to Elan’s question, “Does this story have a happy ending?”, was, “Yes-- for _you,_ at least.” (Emphasis mine). That seems to imply that not every member of the Order will have a happy ending. Now, of course, we know that Belkar will die before the year is out (any idea how much time’s left on that clock, by the way?). Who else won’t get a happy ending, I wonder? I mean, at the very least I rather doubt that V will ever get back together with her spouse. As Blackwing pointed out, she was rather less than attentive to Inkyrius. And even if Roy _did_ save the world, actually winning Eugene’s approval would cause the entire fanbase to have a collective heart attack. ---
**Author:** ![Lok](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e8c25b/32.png) [@Lok](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lok)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2013, 6:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/5785 "2013-05-24T06:05:16Z")
> [@ekedolphin](#): > > The Oracle’s response to Elan’s question, “Does this story have a happy ending?”, was, “Yes-- for _you,_ at least.” (Emphasis mine). That seems to imply that not every member of the Order will have a happy ending. > > Now, of course, we know that Belkar will die before the year is out (any idea how much time’s left on that clock, by the way?). Who else won’t get a happy ending, I wonder? > > I mean, at the very least I rather doubt that V will ever get back together with her spouse. As Blackwing pointed out, she was rather less than attentive to Inkyrius. And even if Roy _did_ save the world, actually winning Eugene’s approval would cause the entire fanbase to have a collective heart attack. Well, in a sense I guess that Durkon is enjoying his current state, I doubt the prior inhabitant of that body would consider how things are going a happy ending of any kind. ---
**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:** [May 24, 2013, 6:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/5786 "2013-05-24T06:18:06Z")
I’m really curious as to what will happen when Malack releases his control of Durkon, or is destroyed and loses it that way. Just how much of Original Durkon is left in there, and how will he react to being a vampire? ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2013, 7:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/5787 "2013-05-24T07:01:47Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > Just how much of Original Durkon is left in there, and how will he react to being a vampire? I expect a massive breakdown when he realizes he does not drink dramatic pause beer any more. ---
**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:** [May 24, 2013, 7:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/5788 "2013-05-24T07:06:49Z")
> [@Kobal2](#): > > I expect a massive breakdown when he realizes he does not drink dramatic pause beer any more. Ha! I think I want to hear that joke in the comic now. ---
**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:** [May 24, 2013, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/5789 "2013-05-24T14:56:13Z")
I’m looking forward to that, too. The self-loathing vampire is rather an overused trope nowadays… But the Giant has a wonderful way of taking overused tropes and turning them on their head, making them fresh and new. I have no idea how he’s going to pull it off with this one, of course. That’s why I’m looking forward to seeing it. ---
**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:** [May 26, 2013, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/5790 "2013-05-26T01:35:49Z")
[New strip](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0890.html) And hot damn, right on the heels of Elan’s character development, now we get some new character development from Belkar, too. That’s really significant, I think-- Maybe he has actually shifted all the way out of Evil. ---
**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:** [May 26, 2013, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/5791 "2013-05-26T01:39:15Z")
Awwww… ---
**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:** [May 26, 2013, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/5792 "2013-05-26T02:00:42Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Maybe he has actually shifted all the way out of Evil. If he has, then his demise should occur in the next few strips. :mad: ---
**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:** [May 26, 2013, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/5793 "2013-05-26T03:21:04Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > [New strip](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0890.html) > > And hot damn, right on the heels of Elan’s character development, now we get some new character development from Belkar, too. That’s really significant, I think-- Maybe he has actually shifted all the way out of Evil. Not necessarily. His dream has universal appeal after all. Funny, but not surprising, that Belkar and Mr. Scruffy shared the same dream-state. Those fish look tasty! ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2013, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/5794 "2013-05-26T03:46:38Z")
It’s interesting to see what Belkar regards as a fitting punishment for his life of misdeeds… ---
**Author:** ![Foggy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foggy/32/1082_2.png) [@Foggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Foggy)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2013, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/5795 "2013-05-26T05:48:48Z")
Question: The runes are still glowing, whats to pervert them from being trapped in another but different illusion? Never mine, they not glowing in the last panel. ---
**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:** [May 26, 2013, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/5796 "2013-05-26T05:56:53Z")
So I guess the joke is that Belkar was trapped in Mister Scruffy’s dream? ---
**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:** [May 26, 2013, 6:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/5797 "2013-05-26T06:30:35Z")
To quote The Giant himself: [QUOTE=The Giant] Belkar’s dream was entirely separate from that of the rest of the Order, and he never died in his. Instead, he saw whatever improbable string of events would be required to justify Shojo’s resurrection so that Mr. Scruffy could get tummy rubs, because that’s what Mr. Scruffy wanted. [/QUOTE] So yes, that much of it is Mr Scruffy’s dream. I like the theory on the OOTS forums is that part of what happened is that Belkar doesn’t really _have_ long term dreams or goals. He’s all about the Now, about doing what he enjoys; fighting and sex and food and hanging out with Mr Scruffy. The latter 2 of which we see in his dream (and for all we know there really was a horde of stabbing whores right off screen :D). Mr Scruffy on the other hand does have a specific long range unattainable desire; to be re-united with Shojo, in his quarters getting a belly rub. None of which is something Belkar would object to, so that’s what happened in the dream. Mr Scruffy basically took overall control of the direction of the fantasy because Belkar just goes with the flow of events most of the time. ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2013, 8:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/5798 "2013-05-26T08:03:17Z")
o/~ FREEDOM! o/~ Hee. ---
**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:** [May 26, 2013, 10:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/5799 "2013-05-26T10:55:45Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Is this a whoosh? (Re: #886) Not at all. I didn’t realize that Xykon wasn’t there until the following strip. I thought the purple swirly eyes might be a side effect of killing Xykon or triggered the runes. ---
**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:** [May 26, 2013, 11:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/5800 "2013-05-26T11:00:21Z")
> [@Dave\_Hartwick](#): > > (Re: #886) Not at all. I didn’t realize that Xykon wasn’t there until the following strip. I thought the purple swirly eyes might be a side effect of killing Xykon or triggered the runes. That wasn’t real Xykon, just part of happily ever after illusion ---
**Author:** ![shantih](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f6c823/32.png) [@shantih](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shantih)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2013, 11:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/5801 "2013-05-26T11:07:58Z")
Belkar’s illusion was really very sweet – happily enjoying cooking and eating with Mr. Scruffy and Shojo, the only ones who really get him now. So, yeah, I fully expect he’ll die for real in the near future. ☹ ETA: And a further thought: Elan is really coming into his own and proving himself as a useful member of the party, isn’t he? He’s the one who saw through the illusion holding them in its grip and he’s the one who broke the illusion for Belkar. Yay! He’s participating! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323.md?page=289) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323.md?page=291)