# 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:** 385
**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:** [October 14, 2013, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/7682 "2013-10-14T12:39:30Z")
[924 is up!](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0924.html) Uh, oh. ---
**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:** [October 14, 2013, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/7683 "2013-10-14T12:45:32Z")
I’m sure it’s been mentioned before, but man do Laurin’s ion stones seriously make her look drunk. ---
**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:** [October 14, 2013, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/7684 "2013-10-14T12:51:13Z")
> [@Hal\_Briston](#): > > I’m sure it’s been mentioned before, but man do Laurin’s ion stones seriously make her look drunk. Heh, I hadn’t noticed that until now. ---
**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:** [October 14, 2013, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/7685 "2013-10-14T13:21:52Z")
Heh. Tarquin’s fatal flaw is that he thinks he’s in control of his own story. He’s already noted that he was just making Roy look badass; if he’s misjudged and gone after the real hero of the piece he’ll be in trouble. Of course, he’ll be in trouble even if he doesn’t - because if Roy _is_ the main hero, then Tarquin is just some B-story distraction to build character development for his son, move the plot along and provide a temporary obstacle before the Big Boss fight with Xykon, and Tarquin would never admit that he’s not the Big Boss himself. That’s what’s driving him here - it’s not that he really cares that much about Elan; it’s that if Elan isn’t that important, neither is he. I think I need to sit down now - trying to second-guess genre-savvy characters is dizzying. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2013, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/7686 "2013-10-14T13:22:33Z")
TowelFace looks remarkably like Charlie Brown in panel five. Don’t ask me why – something about the eyes, even though Burlow has drawn that expression many times before. ---
**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:** [October 14, 2013, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/7687 "2013-10-14T13:47:35Z")
(Sorta) called it, though I said Tarquin might gate troops to intercept the OOTS, rather than go himself. ---
**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:** [October 14, 2013, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/7688 "2013-10-14T14:27:39Z")
Ah, the classic T-Rex versus Triceratops fight, a staple of my childhood. (OK, it’s an Allosaurus, whatever.) ---
**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:** [October 14, 2013, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/7689 "2013-10-14T15:05:40Z")
I’m really looking forward to seeing what favor Laurin calls in from Tarquin. I’m also wondering when the heck this book is going to end. Just when it looked like we were getting to a good stopping point, Tarquin is back in the thick of it. This might take a while. ---
**Author:** ![Lok](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e8c25b/32.png) [@Lok](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lok)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2013, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/7690 "2013-10-14T15:41:12Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > I’m really looking forward to seeing what favor Laurin calls in from Tarquin. > > I’m also wondering when the heck this book is going to end. Just when it looked like we were getting to a good stopping point, Tarquin is back in the thick of it. This might take a while. And the scary part is, they are on the same day that started in [this strip](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0836.html). ---
**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:** [October 14, 2013, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/7691 "2013-10-14T15:50:46Z")
> [@Lok](#): > > And the scary part is, they are on the same day that started in [this strip](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0836.html). It’s got to be late afternoon by now, doesn’t it? ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Goob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c77e96/32.png) [@Mr.Goob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Goob)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2013, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/7692 "2013-10-14T16:31:09Z")
Tarq daddy really really wants this. Thrown away an army, using the last favor and going into debt. How’s this for an ignoble ending for him; while he’s romping around the desert there is a Coup back at the palace, Laurin and towel face abandon him after Durk-ula drains all his levels and Roy beats the crap out of him, but doesn’t finish him off because of Elan begging for mercy. Left a powerless, broken nobody, alone in the desert. Only alive because of his sons good heart. Not a story too many bards will sing about. ---
**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:** [October 14, 2013, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/7693 "2013-10-14T16:34:20Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > Heh. Tarquin’s fatal flaw is that he thinks he’s in control of his own story. As several people have noted, Tarquin’s biggest mistake is failing to read the title of the strip. He incorrectly thinks that he’s the heart of the story. If he realized he’s just a supporting character (like Nale or Miko or Tsukiko) he might be more cautious about challenging the real lead characters. ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2013, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/7694 "2013-10-14T16:41:15Z")
> [@Mr.Goob](#): > > Left a powerless, broken nobody, alone in the desert. Only alive because of his sons good heart. Not a story too many bards will sing about. Au contraire, mon frere. That’s a classic storytelling combination or o’erweening pride and villain gets comuppence. And that IS the sort of thing bards can tell for a hundred years. Hell, Stickverse Shakespeare could write about it. It’s just that Tarquin won’t like his role in the story very much. Sure, he’s resigned - he says - to being offed by some up and coming hero and considers that a cost of doing business (“Sure, the last ten minutes sucked but for the last 30 years you were treated as a God!”) but what if ‘the last ten minutes’ end up lasting 20 years? ---
**Author:** ![Wolverine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ba9def/32.png) [@Wolverine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wolverine)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2013, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/7695 "2013-10-14T17:44:36Z")
I think we’re overdue for an Elan crowning moment of awesome in battle. Durkon got to kill the drow wizard and display some new abilities. Roy’s leadership and fighting was impressive plus he decapitated a dinosaur for cover. Belkar got to ride a freaking dinosaur. Vaarsuvius came from left field (or under the field) to spew magic everywhere. The only ones that haven’t done something note-worthy are Elan and Haley (though arrows raining from the sky is pretty sweet). My prediction is that Elan does something in the next battle that is awesome and demonstrates true heroic character and ability. It will be enough to dismantle his dad’s plans or convince Tarquin that Elan is actually thriving under Roy. Unfortunately, I have no idea what kind of skills or plan Elan would have in order to stop his father’s meddling. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Reno\_Nevada](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Reno\_Nevada](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reno_Nevada)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2013, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/7696 "2013-10-14T17:48:41Z")
> [@Wolverine](#): > > I think we’re overdue for an Elan crowning moment of awesome in battle. yes–that link back to the start of the day in #836 reminded me that Elan has a plan for dealing with his father that does not equal defeating him. I would guess we will see that plan unfold. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2013, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/7697 "2013-10-14T19:26:29Z")
Haley DID just come off of acting as “human decoy” for the Silicon elemental so she has had some moment of glory in the past hour, if not immediately during the Tarquin battle. ---
**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:** [October 14, 2013, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/7698 "2013-10-14T22:13:19Z")
So this might be interesting - it sounds like Tarquin wants to target just Roy now, the others secondary (and Elan and presumably Haley not at all). So we’ve got two casters of presumably higher spell levels than V or Durkon, plus a (near epic?) fighter, all targeting Roy first, vs a really run down OOTS nearing the end of their strength. ---
**Author:** ![Gray\_Ghost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c0e974/32.png) [@Gray\_Ghost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gray_Ghost)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2013, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/7699 "2013-10-15T04:39:35Z")
> [@Wolverine](#): > > I think we’re overdue for an Elan crowning moment of awesome in battle…( Elan figuring out the illusion/Microcosm trap way before everyone else was pretty awesome. But I agree, I think his planning with Durkon needs to come to fruition now. Especially if they want to survive the onslaught from Tarquin/Laurin/Miron. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2013, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/7700 "2013-10-15T04:54:20Z")
He won’t beat Tarquin just yet. There’s a whole storyline with Ian and Aunt Ivy to resolve first. ---
**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:** [October 21, 2013, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/7701 "2013-10-21T13:35:58Z")
[925 is up!](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0925.html) What’s with the tiny protection-from-arrows disc on TowelFace’s forehead? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323.md?page=384) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323.md?page=386)