# 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:** 393
**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:** [November 4, 2013, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/7842 "2013-11-04T23:50:39Z")
I’m guessing that it’s a fear effect-- Belkar (the only Sticker whose face we see clearly) looks frightened. The power (whatever it is) could be something that affects only enemies, and so leaves Tarquin unharmed, but that doesn’t explain why it’s making his head glowy, too. Alternately, it could be something that has different effects on enemies and allies, but there aren’t all that many of those. ---
**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:** [November 5, 2013, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/7843 "2013-11-05T00:49:44Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > “Xykon”=“The spellcaster we all better dogpile if we’re gonna survive.” “Chilly today”=“wearing a scarf”. [Correct](http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?p=16356153#post16356153): [QUOTE=The Giant] Well, they’re right anyway. It’s just as simple as, “The highest priority target is the guy with the scarf,” said in such a way that Tarquin didn’t understand that’s what was being said. Belkar later reiterates in the vernacular this exact idea in his panel. [/quote] ---
**Author:** ![Foggy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foggy/32/1082_2.png) [@Foggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Foggy)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2013, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/7844 "2013-11-05T01:32:39Z")
I’ve been meaning to ask this for a while now; Haley’s arrows seem to be giving off smoke/vapor. You can see it here in panels 5 & 6 of this [comic](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0925.html). I’m guessing that the arrows are enchanted to cause more damage but how? Thanks ---
**Author:** ![fachverwirrt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/94ad74/32.png) [@fachverwirrt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fachverwirrt)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2013, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/7845 "2013-11-05T01:45:25Z")
> [@Foggy](#): > > I’ve been meaning to ask this for a while now; Haley’s arrows seem to be giving off smoke/vapor. You can see it here in panels 5 & 6 of this [comic](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0925.html). I’m guessing that the arrows are enchanted to cause more damage but how? > > Thanks It’s the bow of [+5 Icy Burst](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0615.html) she picked up in Greysky City. ---
**Author:** ![Aestivalis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Aestivalis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aestivalis)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2013, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/7846 "2013-11-05T01:53:54Z")
> [@Foggy](#): > > I’ve been meaning to ask this for a while now; Haley’s arrows seem to be giving off smoke/vapor. You can see it here in panels 5 & 6 of this [comic](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0925.html). I’m guessing that the arrows are enchanted to cause more damage but how? > > Thanks Her bow is [+5 Icy Burst](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0615.html)! Damn, Ninjaed! ---
**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:** [November 5, 2013, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/7847 "2013-11-05T02:14:16Z")
Another factoid to throw in there on the psion’s attack. Haley: pain eyes Roy: pain eyes Belkar: surprised eyes Durkon: surprised eyes V: no face shown Elan: no face shown That can’t be an accident. Especially as V was located in such a position that he face would have been normally visible (see panel 4). So what would hurt a fighter and a rogue, surprise/dismay a ranger and a vampire, and have a giveaway effect if we saw what it did to an elf/wizard or a human bard. 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 5, 2013, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/7848 "2013-11-05T03:02:10Z")
> [@Jonathan\_Chance](#): > > Another factoid to throw in there on the psion’s attack. > > Haley: pain eyes > Roy: pain eyes > Belkar: surprised eyes > Durkon: surprised eyes > V: no face shown > Elan: no face shown > > That can’t be an accident. Especially as V was located in such a position that he face would have been normally visible (see panel 4). So what would hurt a fighter and a rogue, surprise/dismay a ranger and a vampire, and have a giveaway effect if we saw what it did to an elf/wizard or a human bard. > > Hmm… Perhaps more to the point : pain for the Good characters, surprise for the Evil ones. (Yes, Durkon is technically a Good guy by character and morality, but as a vamp’ he’s Evil by his very nature. D&D can be dumb like that, don’t get me started). So, possibly a psionic equivalent of [Unholy Blight](http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/unholyBlight.htm) ? ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2013, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/7849 "2013-11-05T03:14:04Z")
Whatever it is, it’s affecting Mr. Scruffy too. ---
**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:** [November 5, 2013, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/7850 "2013-11-05T03:29:08Z")
I’m guessing that just to demonstrate that it’s an AoE rather than a targeted action. ---
**Author:** ![Lok](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e8c25b/32.png) [@Lok](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lok)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2013, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/7851 "2013-11-05T03:29:21Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > [Correct](http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?p=16356153#post16356153): The number of people in that thread that can’t figure out what was going on, even after Rich told them, is astounding. And then there are the ones saying that since the sun is setting, Durkon must be meditating to get spells, that is why he hasn’t done anything yet. :rolleyes: Only one has come up with the idea that his initiative hasn’t come up yet and he is a slow dwarf. ---
**Author:** ![Foggy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foggy/32/1082_2.png) [@Foggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Foggy)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2013, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/7852 "2013-11-05T04:07:50Z")
> [@fachverwirrt](#): > > It’s the bow of [+5 Icy Burst](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0615.html) she picked up in Greysky City. > [@Aestivalis](#): > > Her bow is [+5 Icy Burst](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0615.html)! > > Damn, Ninjaed! Thanks! 🙂 ---
**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:** [November 5, 2013, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/7853 "2013-11-05T05:00:00Z")
> [@Lok](#): > > The number of people in that thread that can’t figure out what was going on, even after Rich told them, is astounding. And then there are the ones saying that since the sun is setting, Durkon must be meditating to get spells, that is why he hasn’t done anything yet. :rolleyes: Only one has come up with the idea that his initiative hasn’t come up yet and he is a slow dwarf. I’m not that harsh on them. I had no idea what V meant until I read the thread. Durk gets +4 to Dex and Improved Initiative from being a vampire. I know he was slow earlier, but still… Maybe his new alignment is causing him to DGAF? Did he burn Thor’s Might on the accidental Inflict he laid on Roy? Just can’t understand why he’s not bringing the Slam and other melee pain to the other grounded caster. ---
**Author:** ![Parthol](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/dec6dc/32.png) [@Parthol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Parthol)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2013, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/7854 "2013-11-05T05:15:54Z")
> [@Lok](#): > > …Only one has come up with the idea that his initiative hasn’t come up yet and he is a slow dwarf. But it can’t be as simple as that, can it? Because Laurin has now gone twice (at the start of the strip when she heals herself, and at the end when she blasts everyone), and Count Durkon hasn’t gone even once. ---
**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 5, 2013, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/7855 "2013-11-05T05:32:58Z")
Tarquin had an interesting line, “What the hell is wrong with you?” He’s used to facing feeble defenses, as most people know he has sufficient bureaucracy to punish whole families for undue resistance. So it’s not surprising his group is a little rusty strategic-wise. Most of his targets would simply give up under such circumstances. Roy though has a world to save (or at least a job to do- we still don’t know for sure what the rift or the snarl are). > [@Lok](#): > > The number of people in that thread that can’t figure out what was going on, even after Rich told them, is astounding. And then there are the ones saying that since the sun is setting, Durkon must be meditating to get spells, that is why he hasn’t done anything yet. :rolleyes: Only one has come up with the idea that his initiative hasn’t come up yet and he is a slow dwarf. Generally speaking, the Oots forum is pretty low grade ore, IMHO. You have to deal with a lot of dross and dubiousness (best handled with skimming). But gems there are: I came across a decent hypothesis regarding Elan’s plan: He proposes to Haley, or even better renames himself Elan Starshine. Durkan conducts the ceremony on the fly. Checkmate: villains in romantic comedies are notoriously ineffectual and notoriously lame, as love conquers all. The only question is whether Elan has sufficient bard chops to pull off the stunt narrative-wise. Except… that won’t defeat Tarquin’s evil empire. But does anybody think revolution will occur before Xykon is defeated if at all? The story has a certain lack of wise king candidates, except maybe Redcloak and I don’t see him leading a pan-ethnic empire. Well, also O-Chul, but that would definitely point towards a post-Xykon development. ---
**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 5, 2013, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/7856 "2013-11-05T12:31:17Z")
I notice that those with poor Will saves seem to be particularly affected. ---
**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 5, 2013, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/7857 "2013-11-05T12:39:10Z")
> [@Measure\_for\_Measure](#): > > Except… that won’t defeat Tarquin’s evil empire. But does anybody think revolution will occur before Xykon is defeated if at all? The story has a certain lack of wise king candidates Tarquin - Nale = Roy. ---
**Author:** ![yellowjacketcoder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/4bbf92/32.png) [@yellowjacketcoder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yellowjacketcoder)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2013, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/7858 "2013-11-05T13:09:12Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > Tarquin - Nale = Roy. Roy would really need to take the Leadership feat and start accumulating followers if he’s going to be a political leader some day. ---
**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 5, 2013, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/7859 "2013-11-05T13:38:11Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > I notice that those with poor Will saves seem to be particularly affected. Well, Belkar is a Ranger with a Wisdom score in the low milliGhandis, so if it was only about Will saves he’d get (X.X)'d big time 😃 ---
**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 5, 2013, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/7860 "2013-11-05T15:09:47Z")
> [@Kobal2](#): > > Well, Belkar is a Ranger with a Wisdom score in the low milliGhandis, Belkar has a Wis of 7-10 which is only a -2 penalty at worst. (V cast Owl’s Wisdom on him so he could cast a spell from a scroll, and OW gives +4 to Wis.) > [@](#): > > so if it was only about Will saves he’d get (X.X)'d big time 😃 Inflict Pain doesn’t do any HP damage. ---
**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:** [November 5, 2013, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/7861 "2013-11-05T15:17:54Z")
> [@](#): > > Belkar has a Wis of 7-10 which is only a -2 penalty at worst. (V cast Owl’s Wisdom on him so he could cast a spell from a scroll, and OW gives +4 to Wis.) Belkar’s wisdom is at most 9, since he states that he has a penalty. There’s something funny going on with V’s Owl’s Wisdom spell, but there are a number of possible explanations for it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323.md?page=392) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323.md?page=394)