# 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:** 308
**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 15, 2013, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/6142 "2013-07-15T21:45:34Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > Or that time-honoured tradition of running away. Team Evil are in no position to pursue. Can’t they teleport or gate right into their faces? Multiple times? ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Shine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr_shine/32/464_2.png) [@Mr\_Shine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Shine)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2013, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/6143 "2013-07-15T22:03:37Z")
> [@Measure\_for\_Measure](#): > > unless I’m seeing a tiny bit of sand at the bottom of the snarl image You are. There’s deep water, shallow water and sand. ---
**Author:** ![DiggitCamara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/df788c/32.png) [@DiggitCamara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DiggitCamara)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2013, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/6144 "2013-07-15T22:36:33Z")
> [@Measure\_for\_Measure](#): > > Well at least Red Cloak knows Roy’s name. > > Oots isn’t quite out in the open: they can hide behind the gate. I suppose they could hide behind the sarcophagus as well. > > Ah hell, Xykon can send meteors from above, can’t he? And Red Cloak can travel to the opposite side of the newly created valley, though he would be vulnerable to Haley’s arrows. That said, unless I’m seeing a tiny bit of sand at the bottom of the snarl image, jumping into off-world ocean doesn’t sound like a great survival strategy. Even if sarcophaguses float. Which they don’t. > > So it boils down to Haley’s arrows and the appearance of other character(s) in the next strip. Speaking of other character(s): Maybe the other Order will come back to investigate the explosion? And start a fight against “Team Evil”? ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2013, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/6145 "2013-07-16T04:59:23Z")
> [@Leaper](#): > > But would Rich have the Order separated again by leaving V behind? Durkon’s pretty separated, I’d say. ---
**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:** [July 17, 2013, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/6146 "2013-07-17T13:55:28Z")
[Out of the Frying Pan at least…](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0901.html) ---
**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:** [July 17, 2013, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/6147 "2013-07-17T14:34:08Z")
Wow. Of all people, the Monster in the Darkness actually provides a logical argument. I foresee a full Heel Face Turn (for certain values of “heel”) in the next book. ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2013, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/6148 "2013-07-17T16:17:07Z")
Silicon err, Sand Elemental. Nice. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2013, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/6149 "2013-07-17T16:23:23Z")
I predict V saves the day. But what happened to the linear guild? ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2013, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/6150 "2013-07-17T16:27:34Z")
> [@ekedolphin](#): > > Wow. Of all people, the Monster in the Darkness actually provides a logical argument. I foresee a full Heel Face Turn (for certain values of “heel”) in the next book. The Heel Face Turn came [here](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0661.html). ---
**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:** [July 17, 2013, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/6151 "2013-07-17T16:32:22Z")
Random guess: Both the LG and our heroes have to jump into the rift to escape the elements (heh). Then they fight each other, eventually join forces and attack Team Evil from _inside_ the last Gate. Somehow. ---
**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:** [July 17, 2013, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/6152 "2013-07-17T18:39:16Z")
> [@Larry\_Borgia](#): > > The Heel Face Turn came [here](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0661.html). Well, true, but Monster-san didn’t know he could do that, and couldn’t reproduce that spell. I mean, I think at some point he’ll start actively working against Xykon and Redcloak. And it’s worth remembering that in Start of Darkness, Xykon put a spell on Monster-san that will compel him to eat Redcloak and spit out the phylactery if Redcloak ever turns on Xykon. (And it’s a virtual certainty that Redcloak will turn on Xykon eventually). ---
**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:** [July 17, 2013, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/6153 "2013-07-17T21:40:09Z")
In a sense, Redcloak has already turned on Xykon. Killing Tsukiko for threatening to tell him the truth, and the whole fakery with the phylactery, both seem to count for that. And assuming that a silicon elemental has the same stats as an earth elemental, it’s only got a 30’ movement speed, the same as the remainder of the OotS. They could just run for the 17 rounds it’ll take for the summoning spell to expire. ---
**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 18, 2013, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/6154 "2013-07-18T01:05:26Z")
I wouldn’t say Redcloak turned on Xykon. He’s been lying to him since the first day they met. The interesting question is how much does Xykon realize Redcloak is lying to him? ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2013, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/6155 "2013-07-18T04:06:16Z")
Can’t wait to see V’s response to the announcement that there’s water on the other side of the gate. S/he’s got some splainin’ to do. ---
**Author:** ![Knorf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58956e/32.png) [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2013, 6:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/6156 "2013-07-18T06:36:11Z")
It’s probably totally far-fetched, but what if the MITD were connected to the Snarl, somehow? ---
**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 18, 2013, 6:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/6157 "2013-07-18T06:39:32Z")
> [@Knorf](#): > > It’s probably totally far-fetched, but what if the MITD were connected to the Snarl, somehow? It seems unlikely. Other than being powerful, they don’t appear to have much in common (and the Snarl is far more powerful than the MITD). More importantly, the Snarl is Burlew’s creation and he’s explicitly said he did not invent whatever the MITD is. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2013, 6:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/6158 "2013-07-18T06:50:36Z")
One popular theory is that the MITD is the last Greek god (God of the East) to survive after the Snarl supposedly killed the rest. It’s certainly exhibited godlike powers. ---
**Author:** ![Knorf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58956e/32.png) [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2013, 6:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/6159 "2013-07-18T06:55:47Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > One popular theory is that the MITD is the last Greek god (God of the East) to survive after the Snarl supposedly killed the rest. It’s certainly exhibited godlike powers. That’s the angle I’m thinking of … when I say the MITD is “connected to” I don’t mean _is_ the Snarl, but rather has some connection to it in some way. Which the theory Alessan mentions would be in line with. Something like that. I hadn’t seen the theory Alessan mentions, but it seems plausible to me. ---
**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:** [July 18, 2013, 9:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/6160 "2013-07-18T09:39:47Z")
> [@John\_DiFool](#): > > Silicon err, Sand Elemental. Nice. Clearly they’re duned. \ ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2013, 9:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/6161 "2013-07-18T09:53:38Z")
I guess Rich wanted to make the strip grittier. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323.md?page=307) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323.md?page=309)