# 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:** 341
**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:** [August 21, 2013, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/6802 "2013-08-21T00:23:03Z")
Remember, Tarquin plans in detail, with many contingencies and cut-outs. His best-case scenario was probably “Secure the Gate, defend it, have my more magically-inclined allies study it, and maybe from that study we’ll figure out a good way to incorporate it into our other plans”. He would have liked to see that happen. But he also recognizes that there are a lot of ways that plan can fail, so he has built in to his plans a number of alternates, such as “If it becomes impossible to defend the Gate, destroy it so that nobody else can use it against us”. Which he probably figured was relatively likely, so he wasn’t too upset when it came to pass. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2013, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/6803 "2013-08-21T00:45:20Z")
Probably a bit of “Everyone else seems very interested in this, we may as well see what it’s all about” too. ---
**Author:** ![Agnostic\_Pagan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c4cdca/32.png) [@Agnostic\_Pagan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Agnostic_Pagan)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2013, 5:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/6804 "2013-08-21T05:54:55Z")
> [@Mr.Goob](#): > > Daddy looking out for himself and his little empire after all. Sending our gang into the next gate brewhaha, but what oh what is his plan for Nale? [Asked and answered](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0913.html). OMG!!! Rich is going gangbusters lately. Literally. Now my question is what is Sabine going to do? ---
**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:** [August 21, 2013, 6:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/6805 "2013-08-21T06:01:54Z")
So not surprised at the outcome, but wow… that’s cold. See you after the inevitable Res, Nale. 😉 And, yeah: Go Rich! ---
**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:** [August 21, 2013, 6:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/6806 "2013-08-21T06:16:59Z")
> [@squeegee](#): > > So not surprised at the outcome, but wow… that’s cold. See you after the inevitable Res, Nale. 😉 > > And, yeah: Go Rich! PS: I’m also willing to admit that **Tabby\_Cat** ’s prediction played out here, but if Nale is Res’d later then I take it back. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Tabby\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Tabby\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tabby_Cat)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2013, 6:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/6807 "2013-08-21T06:37:08Z")
> [@squeegee](#): > > PS: I’m also willing to admit that **Tabby\_Cat** ’s prediction played out here, but if Nale is Res’d later then I take it back. 😉 Called it! 😉 I have to admit, I wasn’t expecting it to be quite so soon, and was wondering what kind of stunt Rich was going to pull to allow that burn to not be healed until the final showdown… but things are moving at a clip, it seems. ---
**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:** [August 21, 2013, 6:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/6808 "2013-08-21T06:42:25Z")
> [@Agnostic\_Pagan](#): > > Now my question is what is Sabine going to do? Well, that’s an interesting question; I have to wonder if he’ll show up right there. Can a friendly succubus get you a cushy spot in the afterlife? Given that the IFCC looked at the Linear Guild as useful puppets, I wonder if they’ll intervene somehow. I wonder if there’s any way they could give Nale a boost and send him back to the mortal world. As some kind of undead say? ---
**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:** [August 21, 2013, 6:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/6809 "2013-08-21T06:43:17Z")
> [@squeegee](#): > > PS: I’m also willing to admit that **Tabby\_Cat** ’s prediction played out here, but if Nale is Res’d later then I take it back. 😉 With his high score in Genre-Savvy, Tarquin couldn’t possibly be willing to leave the issue of a Nale-Resurrection to chance, could he? I’m going to look for him obliterating the corpse. Would a psion have the resources to do something of that nature? 'Cos I think Laurin would just LOVE to oblige. The question of how Sabine is going to take it remains, however… ---
**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:** [August 21, 2013, 6:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/6810 "2013-08-21T06:45:29Z")
> [@Tabby\_Cat](#): > > Prediction, coupled with my observation a few posts above: Nale presses a confrontation with Tarquin (with that big burn on his face) and Tarquin is the one who takes Nale down for good. > > … I love this guy. So. Much. And just because these were sequential posts… > [@Alessan](#): > > Tarquin’s so sharp, he’s going to cut himself some day. But not TODAY! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Grumman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/43a26b/32.png) [@Grumman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grumman)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2013, 6:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/6811 "2013-08-21T06:50:43Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > Would a psion have the resources to do something of that nature? 'Cos I think Laurin would just LOVE to oblige. Absolutely. I believe one of their methods involves teleporting someone across the entire plane. Separately. ---
**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:** [August 21, 2013, 7:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/6812 "2013-08-21T07:06:02Z")
> [@squeegee](#): > > So not surprised at the outcome, but wow… that’s cold. See you after the inevitable Res, Nale. 😉 ## Cold yes, but I sense Nale had a habit of creating untenable situations for himself. Elan is sufficiently wise to grasp his lack of intelligence and outsource it to others (To Haley: “Don’t worry, you’ll protect me.”) Is it possible to be sufficiently intelligent to do the same with wisdom? Poor Sabine. Presumably, she’s watching all this on TV. I wonder how much Tarquin suspects that Elan is a dolt. Remember the little tyrant plays a multi-layered game. ---
**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:** [August 21, 2013, 7:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/6813 "2013-08-21T07:13:59Z")
> [@Tabby\_Cat](#): > > Called it! 😉 Note that you predicted Nale would be killed because he had a scar on his face. I pointed out that this made no sense and that the in-comic prediction was a pop-culture reference, no more, which I still think was the case. But please: enjoy your day in the sun. If Nale ever crops up again, that day is over. 😛 ---
**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:** [August 21, 2013, 7:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/6814 "2013-08-21T07:35:01Z")
The Giant scores again. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2013, 8:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/6815 "2013-08-21T08:18:28Z")
> [@Measure\_for\_Measure](#): > > I wonder how much Tarquin suspects that Elan is a dolt. I wouldn’t say Elan is a dolt - at least, he’s only sometimes a dolt, at other times he’s been quite bright, lately. ---
**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:** [August 21, 2013, 8:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/6816 "2013-08-21T08:28:34Z")
For the record, I think I predicted Nale’s death about 3000 posts ago (I’ll be damned if I look for it, though). It makes sense from a narrative standpoint - this is his third story line, after all. The Nale Trilogy had to end with his death. ---
**Author:** ![Garula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ea666f/32.png) [@Garula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Garula)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2013, 8:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/6817 "2013-08-21T08:53:48Z")
Definitely did not see that coming. Tarquin’s definitely smart enough to anticipate any resurrection shenanigans, so I have a hard time seeing Nale come back to life without his approval. ---
**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:** [August 21, 2013, 8:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/6818 "2013-08-21T08:58:17Z")
> [@Agnostic\_Pagan](#): > > Now my question is what is Sabine going to do? > [@Alessan](#): > > For the record, I think I predicted Nale’s death about 3000 posts ago (I’ll be damned if I look for it, though). It makes sense from a narrative standpoint - this is his third story line, after all. The Nale Trilogy had to end with his death. This may be Tarquin’s plan for dealing with Sabine. Having control of Nale’s body and possible resurrection gives him a hold over her. I don’t think Nale’s gone for good. There are still unresolved elements in his story - the main one of which is his relationship with Sabine. So I feel Name will be back. ---
**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:** [August 21, 2013, 9:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/6819 "2013-08-21T09:06:45Z")
I’m positive he’s gone for good. There’s nothing unresolved to his story with Sabine - they loved each other, plain and simple. They had a healthy, homicidal relationship. As for Sabine herself, she’s now motivated by revenge, which might give her a very different role in the narrative. ---
**Author:** ![Finagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@Finagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Finagle)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2013, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/6820 "2013-08-21T12:17:14Z")
> [@Finagle](#): > > So if Tarquin was never invested in the Gate in the first place, \* and \* has confidence in Elan’s heroism to defeat the bad guys, then why did he participate in the LG in the first place? Not only did he risk his own life, but in the process he lost one of his most powerful allies (a loss he seems to be taking pretty well, provided he knows about it). OK…he took that less well than I thought. ---
**Author:** ![Tabby\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Tabby\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tabby_Cat)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2013, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/6821 "2013-08-21T12:38:17Z")
> [@squeegee](#): > > Note that you predicted Nale would be killed because he had a scar on his face. I pointed out that this made no sense and that the in-comic prediction was a pop-culture reference, no more, which I still think was the case. But please: enjoy your day in the sun. If Nale ever crops up again, that day is over. 😛 Dude what? I didn’t say that he’d be killed because of his scar, I said he’d be killed by Tarquin because he pressed a confrontation with Tarquin, while still having the scar! 😉 [QUOTE=Me] Nale presses a confrontation with Tarquin (with that big burn on his face) and Tarquin is the one who takes Nale down for good. [/quote] Anyway. Good on daddy, but with the linear guild out of the way… That must mean Zykon and the end. But Rich said we were halfway through, didn’t he? This doesn’t feel like halfway right now. Something else is gong to come up… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323.md?page=340) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323.md?page=342)