# 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:** 31
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2010, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/601 "2010-04-06T03:18:12Z")
The elf is neutralized. Apparently, (s)he now has 0 Strength, and can’t move… or cast spells. ---
**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:** [April 6, 2010, 6:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/602 "2010-04-06T06:22:11Z")
At least, e can’t cast any spells with a somatic component. There are a few without, though, and e might know the Still Spell feat. ---
**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:** [April 6, 2010, 10:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/603 "2010-04-06T10:22:31Z")
Are we sure V’s speciality isn’t actually illusions? Because he/she’s been projecting like crazy lately. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2010, 11:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/604 "2010-04-06T11:17:18Z")
Looking at the angle of the arrow, I’m not sure that V - not Elan - wasn’t the target anyway. And the shooter is a half dragon, and we all know about V and dragons. ---
**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:** [April 6, 2010, 11:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/605 "2010-04-06T11:24:45Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > Looking at the angle of the arrow, I’m not sure that V - not Elan - wasn’t the target anyway. And the shooter is a half dragon, and we all know about V and dragons. Any smart opponent would shoot the primary spellcaster first. I doubt it was personal. ---
**Author:** ![Grumman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/43a26b/32.png) [@Grumman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grumman)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2010, 11:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/606 "2010-04-06T11:56:52Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > I doubt it was personal. I disagree. If you look closely, you’ll see that there are _two_ half-dragons there, of different colours (blue and green). To me, this suggests that they are agents of Tiamat, who would be rather pissed that V killed anything up to 1/5th of her minions. ---
**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:** [April 6, 2010, 11:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/607 "2010-04-06T11:59:01Z")
> [@Grumman](#): > > I disagree. If you look closely, you’ll see that there are _two_ half-dragons there, of different colours (blue and green). To me, this suggests that they are agents of Tiamat, who would be rather pissed that V killed anything up to 1/5th of her minions. More important than minions. Worshippers. ---
**Author:** ![Grumman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/43a26b/32.png) [@Grumman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grumman)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2010, 12:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/608 "2010-04-06T12:02:18Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > More important than minions. Worshippers. There’s a difference? ---
**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:** [April 6, 2010, 12:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/609 "2010-04-06T12:09:24Z")
> [@Grumman](#): > > I disagree. If you look closely, you’ll see that there are _two_ half-dragons there, of different colours (blue and green). To me, this suggests that they are agents of Tiamat, who would be rather pissed that V killed anything up to 1/5th of her minions. I don’t know, I just assumed Lee must have settled matters [here](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0667.html). Wouldn’t he have convinced Tiamat to hold off on revenge until they’ve cashed in their debt from V? ---
**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:** [April 6, 2010, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/610 "2010-04-06T13:04:42Z")
> [@Grumman](#): > > There’s a difference? Minions are useful. They can act as agents of the Power on the Material Plane. Worshippers are necessary. They’re the ones who provide a Power the sustenance to survive and grow. A 1/5 deficit in minions is inconvenient. A 1/5 deficit in worshippers is a major lessening of power. ---
**Author:** ![Knorf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58956e/32.png) [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2010, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/611 "2010-04-06T15:35:21Z")
V was the target, no doubt. Tiamat is after her revenge. Or, her worshipers are. ---
**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:** [April 6, 2010, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/612 "2010-04-06T18:56:56Z")
The fact that it was strength poison also lends credence to V being the intended target. Elan and Haley probably have enough strength to not be incapacitated by a single dose of poison, but it’s a common dump stat for wizards. ---
**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:** [April 6, 2010, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/613 "2010-04-06T19:50:46Z")
The dragons may not be agents of Tiamet. They may just be acting on their own in defense of dragonkind against a major dragon slayer. Or perhaps they’re agents for the fiends and this is the next step in their plan. ---
**Author:** ![Wargamer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/df705f/32.png) [@Wargamer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wargamer)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2010, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/614 "2010-04-06T19:55:41Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > Yes, I can see that \*neutralise poison \*is a spell. But why \*elf \*instead of _poison_. Is there some sort of pun there? Elf I know… ---
**Author:** ![Algher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Algher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Algher)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2010, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/615 "2010-04-06T19:58:01Z")
Could someone named Girard Draketooth possibly have a dragon follower? ---
**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:** [April 6, 2010, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/616 "2010-04-06T20:18:28Z")
Or the Illusion of dragon followers? ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2010, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/617 "2010-04-06T21:38:14Z")
> [@Algher](#): > > Could someone named Girard Draketooth possibly have a dragon follower? Could V have accidentally slain Girard? ---
**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:** [April 6, 2010, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/618 "2010-04-06T21:51:32Z")
I just think that plot-wise, it’s too soon. Much more likely that the Linear Guild are involved somehow - we haven’t seen them for awhile. ---
**Author:** ![Knorf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58956e/32.png) [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2010, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/619 "2010-04-06T22:36:10Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > I just think that plot-wise, it’s too soon. Much more likely that the Linear Guild are involved somehow - we haven’t seen them for awhile. I don’t see them being influential or powerful enough to get half-dragons to ally with them. From the dragons’ point of view, what possibly could they get from the Linear Guild that would be necessary for their revenge? Also, the Linear Guild has a much bigger beef with Elan and Roy than V. They’re either acting on their own, or are agents of Tiamat. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2010, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/620 "2010-04-07T05:41:44Z")
Meanwhile, props to Elan for his quick-thinking application of Neutralize Poison. The Elan of Book One, even if he had the ability, would have dithered and comic-reliefed until V was dead. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323.md?page=30) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323.md?page=32)