# 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:** 312
**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:** [July 20, 2013, 8:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/6222 "2013-07-20T08:58:39Z")
> [@Inner\_Stickler](#): > > Asking for a paste of the relevant section of the book that would fall under fair use. go on then > [@](#): > > This section also contains the first hint that O-Chul isn’t just another disposable paladin - that he has an important part to play in this story. There is a clue as to his role hidden in one of the strips during the war, but I leave it as an exercise to the reader to find it. If I had to do it over again, I would have included more references to O-Chul being the toughest member of the Sapphire Guard _before_ the castle exploded; a lot of people didn’t understand how O-Chul, an at-the-time minor NPC, could survive an explosion that Miko couldn’t (Answer: O-Chul has a constitution score in the mid-20’s.) Surviving terrible ordeals is O-C hul’s main shtick… ---
**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:** [July 20, 2013, 9:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/6223 "2013-07-20T09:10:35Z")
Edit: superceded by Word of God. ---
**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 20, 2013, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/6224 "2013-07-20T12:44:08Z")
You know you’re reading too much OOTS when an entire strip that hasn’t been posted (and probably won’t be) comes to you in a dream. I dreamt that “someone” had “accidentally” left a shoebox-full of cards at the scene of the Order’s battle, and on these cards was the complete description of every single one of Redcloak’s “chemical monsters”, including their vulnerabilities. The Order uses the one on Silicon to defeat their current enemy, and now that they have time, wonder aloud who could have left behind the shoebox. (About this time, V is slowly reappearing, as if the effects of an Invisibility spell are wearing off). But it _probably_ wasn’t V, because then something speaks from offscreen in a weird speech bubble, and starts to come over the hill in the last panel. I remember hoping that it was the Monster in the Darkness, and we were about to finally see what he looked like, but the speech bubble was a different color (green, I think) and anyway, he left with Xykon and Redcloak. The entire strip was done perfectly in Burlew’s signature style, so, yeah. I’m on some _good_ medications. Obviously upon waking I went to make sure OOTS hadn’t really updated. ---
**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 20, 2013, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/6225 "2013-07-20T15:12:30Z")
> [@One\_And\_Only\_Wanderers](#): > > go on then Awesome! Thank you!!! (Now I’m going to wonder what that hidden hint was re O-chul’s nature/importance. But I’ve truly gotten a lot of help with this issue in the thread – thanks all!! – so I shant ask; I’ll take that question as a homework assignment and scan the GITP archive for that clue myself.) ---
**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 20, 2013, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/6226 "2013-07-20T15:19:33Z")
BTW, it seems we may be seeing O-Chul and Lien soon, as they were tasked with [staking out Kraagor’s Gate](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0671.html) to intercept Xykon whenever he showed there, and that’s where Xykon et al just teleported to. MITD’s little speech last strip re how O-Chul is a more important hero to fight than the Order might backfire. ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2013, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/6227 "2013-07-20T16:56:37Z")
Gosh, it’s taken them four years to get from the seaport to the gate… ---
**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 21, 2013, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/6228 "2013-07-21T03:22:12Z")
My thanks to One And Only Wanderers for posting the author comments from _War and XP’s_. But so I can feel that I’ve contributed as well, here are the author comments on O-Chul from _Don’t Split the Party_: > [@](#): > > I imagine O-Chul as someone who has put all of his energy into learning defensive tactics and toughening himself up. He’s not the strongest warrior or the most skilled swordsman. His role is to simply endure - to win by standing there and taking whatever is thrown at him. This in turn helped develop his personality, for here is a man who is literally designed to win battles through patience. If he can stand and wait while enemies wear themselves down attacking his defenses, then he can surely wait a few months until the perfect moment to act. ---
**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 22, 2013, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/6229 "2013-07-22T01:28:00Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > My thanks to One And Only Wanderers for posting the author comments from _War and XP’s_. > > But so I can feel that I’ve contributed as well, here are the author comments on O-Chul from _Don’t Split the Party_: So, yeah: O-Chul survived (in part) because Rich wanted him around when V tried to solo Xykon. That sequence was one of the awesomest bits in the comic, in very large part because of O-Chul, and _especially_ because of Xykon’s speech pointing out the difference between O-Chul and V. O-Chul earned his mojo the hard way, one saving throw at a time. ---
**Author:** ![MegaBee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f0a364/32.png) [@MegaBee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MegaBee)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2013, 11:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/6230 "2013-07-22T11:13:22Z")
#903 is up! [903 Carefully Couched - Giant in the Playground Games](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0903.html) ---
**Author:** ![Hal\_Briston](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9a28c/32.png) [@Hal\_Briston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hal_Briston)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2013, 11:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/6231 "2013-07-22T11:31:43Z")
It wasn’t until my third read-through that I noticed A) Blackwing, and B) Blackwing’s iiiiitty bitty gag. Good stuff. ---
**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 22, 2013, 11:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/6232 "2013-07-22T11:45:38Z")
“GREENHILT!” just doesn’t work as well as “KHAAAAAAAAAAN!” ---
**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 22, 2013, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/6233 "2013-07-22T12:05:46Z")
V suddenly went from angry eyes to thoughtful. I bet our elf friend is doing some serious deduction right now and will have a surprise revelation soon. ---
**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 22, 2013, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/6234 "2013-07-22T12:55:27Z")
Nice to see V and Sabine rekindling their connection from [way back when.](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0385.html) ---
**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:** [July 22, 2013, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/6235 "2013-07-22T13:15:37Z")
Interesting that V is still a guest of the Evil Three. Of course, their agreement said that he’d be safe during their possession, but didn’t mention anything about being returned afterwards… So now V is trapped and on another plane. How is he going to get back? ---
**Author:** ![yellowjacketcoder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/4bbf92/32.png) [@yellowjacketcoder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yellowjacketcoder)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2013, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/6236 "2013-07-22T13:58:10Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > Interesting that V is still a guest of the Evil Three. Of course, their agreement said that he’d be safe during their possession, but didn’t mention anything about being returned afterwards… > > So now V is trapped and on another plane. How is he going to get back? Nah, they’ll return him to her body. Remember, he’s not there physically, she’s there in soul only. Besides, you can’t mess with someone if they aren’t out and about to get in trouble. ---
**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:** [July 22, 2013, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/6237 "2013-07-22T18:59:45Z")
they’ve got shim until the time runs out as per the agreement ---
**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:** [July 22, 2013, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/6238 "2013-07-22T19:04:23Z")
My immediate thought: [Tarquin: “Come on Mal. Try to look forward to the end of the mission.”](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0849.html) Mission’s over now…and I think we can guess the one thing that Malack would be looking forward to when it comes to Nale. ---
**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 22, 2013, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/6239 "2013-07-22T19:28:17Z")
“Pawns on every team?” ---
**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:** [July 22, 2013, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/6240 "2013-07-22T19:30:56Z")
Yeah, that intrigued me. I assume V and Sabine are OOTS and Linear. Is Tarquin a side unto his own? I bet the demon roaches are the plants on Team Evil. ---
**Author:** ![Knorf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58956e/32.png) [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2013, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/6241 "2013-07-22T20:03:42Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > “GREENHILT!” just doesn’t work as well as “KHAAAAAAAAAAN!” _Nothing_ works as well as “KHAAAAAAAAAAN!” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323.md?page=311) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323.md?page=313)