# 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:** 392
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2013, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/7822 "2013-10-31T15:09:05Z")
Part of me is really hoping that the dialog that everyone’s spouting (that is so effectively pissing off daddy) was planned by Elan precisely _to_ piss daddy off and make him attack on his own without thinking. Unfortunately, while I’m hoping that, I have no idea what step 2 would be. Maybe it includes Durkon not actually being out of magic. Or just being a vampire. **shrug** ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2013, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/7823 "2013-10-31T16:32:22Z")
“My family doesn’t play second fiddle,” makes me even more convinced that Tarquin is ultimately going to be killed by Xykon, so that he dies knowing that in the end, he was just a miniboss. Bonus points if Elan is playing an actual fiddle when that happens. ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2013, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/7824 "2013-10-31T18:24:51Z")
> [@Innards Snacker](#): > > They did. Popped into the gate exploding, summoned the sand elemental and popped off again. They assume OOTS is dead. [Nearly](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0901.html). The MitD convinced them that Roy was just a sideshow, and they should be looking for O’Chul and V at the next gate instead of letting themselves get held up. ETA: And yes, probably assume the sand elemental killed everyone as per orders. ---
**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 31, 2013, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/7825 "2013-10-31T19:17:37Z")
Eh, I think Redcloak’s smarter than that. He had to know that a single elder elemental probably didn’t have much chance against a party of high-level adventurers. But it also didn’t require much resources from him (just a single round and one spell slot), so he figured that even the low chance was a good enough cost-benefit ratio. ---
**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:** [October 31, 2013, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/7826 "2013-10-31T23:03:58Z")
> [@Grave Filler](#): > > “My family doesn’t play second fiddle,” This is interesting as he already knows that the OotS is on a save-the-world quest. ---
**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 31, 2013, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/7827 "2013-10-31T23:48:57Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > This is interesting as he already knows that the OotS is on a save-the-world quest. Which he dismissed [just a few comics ago](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0917.html) as “that sub-boss Zyklon”, so apparently he thinks he’s still top-fiddle. ---
**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:** [November 1, 2013, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/7828 "2013-11-01T00:01:42Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Eh, I think Redcloak’s smarter than that. He had to know that a single elder elemental probably didn’t have much chance against a party of high-level adventurers. But it also didn’t require much resources from him (just a single round and one spell slot), so he figured that even the low chance was a good enough cost-benefit ratio. Redcloak is definitely smarter than that: he wanted to stick around to finish Oots off. ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2013, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/7829 "2013-11-01T02:36:59Z")
Belkar is going to take the dagger for Roy, the rest of the oots is going to get thrown through the rift. End book. ---
**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:** [November 4, 2013, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/7830 "2013-11-04T22:59:05Z")
Can’t remember the last time I got to do this. [New one up.](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0928.html) I’m just a little slow today. I suspect that V’s comment is a call-back to a strip where they performed well against Xykon, but I can’t figure out the significance of his phraseology. ---
**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:** [November 4, 2013, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/7831 "2013-11-04T23:06:12Z")
P.S. Where does everybody suspect they’re going to “Go?” ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2013, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/7832 "2013-11-04T23:06:26Z")
I think it’s his way of saying that Xykon has a head start on getting to the Dwarven homeland, which IIRC is in a snowy clime. Looks like Durkon wasn’t affected by whatever the Psion just uncorked on the party - presumably because he’s undead now. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2013, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/7833 "2013-11-04T23:14:09Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > I’m just a little slow today. I suspect that V’s comment is a call-back to a strip where they performed well against Xykon, but I can’t figure out the significance of his phraseology. On the forum, it’s confirmed as _Roy, the highest-priority target is that dude in a scarf._ ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2013, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/7834 "2013-11-04T23:20:00Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > Looks like Durkon wasn’t affected by whatever the Psion just uncorked on the party - presumably because he’s undead now. Indeed - undead means immune to all mind-affecting effects as well as paralysis. And poison/disease/anything that affects Con or Fortitude. And sleep, fatigue, exhaustion, level drain and stat damage. And sneak attack & crits. And the grand majority of save-or-die spells. Also they get healed by the bad mojo that kills living things. Undead with class levels are a DM’s most basic “No, fuck _you_” to their party, is what I’m saying :). And Durkula is going to be a fricking beast. In other news, I don’t get what V’s talking about either, and would like a 'splanation. ---
**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:** [November 4, 2013, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/7835 "2013-11-04T23:21:13Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > Looks like Durkon wasn’t affected by whatever the Psion just uncorked on the party - presumably because he’s undead now. Tarquin also get hit by the spell, whatever is, and also seems unaffected. Why would that be? ---
**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:** [November 4, 2013, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/7836 "2013-11-04T23:26:58Z")
Also, Belkar took damage (right?) and doesn’t appear to be dead yet. Hmm. ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2013, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/7837 "2013-11-04T23:29:26Z")
> [@squeegee](#): > > Tarquin also get hit by the spell, whatever is, and also seems unaffected. Why would that be? Some spells/abilities specifically target by Alignment, but if Evil wasn’t affected then Belkar would have been fine too so that’s probably not it. Maybe Tarquin’s just packing an item or buff that protects him from such psy surges ? That wouldn’t be out of the ordinary : for example, front line Fighters quickly learn the value of lining their own armour with asbestos (or just quaffing Resist Energy potions early and often) when they travel with fireball-happy spellslingers. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Scud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f08c70/32.png) [@Tom\_Scud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Scud)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2013, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/7838 "2013-11-04T23:39:16Z")
> [@squeegee](#): > > Also, Belkar took damage (right?) and doesn’t appear to be dead yet. Hmm. Could just be a stun effect. ---
**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:** [November 4, 2013, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/7839 "2013-11-04T23:42:02Z")
In panel 3, it looks like Roy pulled off the “hit a caster at exactly the right time to make his spell fizzle” move that he (dreamed he) used against Xykon recently. ---
**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:** [November 4, 2013, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/7840 "2013-11-04T23:42:34Z")
> [@squeegee](#): > > Also, Belkar took damage (right?) and doesn’t appear to be dead yet. Hmm. Damage isn’t necessarily in hit points. It could be a stun effect like [Inflict Pain](http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/powers/inflictPain.htm). ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2013, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/7841 "2013-11-04T23:47:03Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > I’m just a little slow today. I suspect that V’s comment is a call-back to a strip where they performed well against Xykon, but I can’t figure out the significance of his phraseology. “Xykon”=“The spellcaster we all better dogpile if we’re gonna survive.” “Chilly today”=“wearing a scarf”. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323.md?page=391) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323.md?page=393)