# 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:** 425
**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:** [January 13, 2014, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/8483 "2014-01-13T01:03:35Z")
> [@squeegee](#): > > Doesn’t she just need to go a cleric before 24 hours is up to get the negative levels removed? I’m fuzzy on how this works, but I recall something of that sort. If she fails to find a cleric within 24 hours, she’ll have to make a fortitude save for each negative level. If she succeeds it goes away with no ill effects. If she fails, she loses one level but the negative level goes away. Belkar’s lost Con which determines his hit points. He needs to either get his con restored or earn new Con points, I believe. ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2014, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/8484 "2014-01-13T01:23:26Z")
They’re going in the rift eventually. Chekhov’s gun and all that. ---
**Author:** ![yellowjacketcoder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/4bbf92/32.png) [@yellowjacketcoder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yellowjacketcoder)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2014, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/8485 "2014-01-13T04:15:35Z")
Agreed the rift is way too much of a dangling plot hook to NOT be entered at some point. We have two more books people! And while the effects on Laurin are interesting, she can get herself to a cleric with that fancy teleport of hers no problem, plus she has a kingdom’s worth of wealth to pay for it. Moot point though, as I doubt we’ll see her again. Then again, I may be eating my hat along with **Mr. Goob** when that happens. ---
**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:** [January 13, 2014, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/8486 "2014-01-13T04:28:07Z")
Chekhov aside, I can’t imagine Tarquin or even Scarface simply ignoring a strategic asset like the rift. They possess the only working toll road to another world: there’s gotta be a way to leverage that. Plus if team T doesn’t control it, somebody else will. ---
**Author:** ![Finagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@Finagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Finagle)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2014, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/8487 "2014-01-13T04:30:23Z")
> [@Johnny\_Bravo](#): > > I think blood drain does constitution damage. If Belkar was hit for enough of that, it would have severely impacted his HP pool. Stat damage can’t be healed by potions. C’mon, that makes no sense. Both Elan and Roy were run through by swords, and Roy got impaled by a dinosaur for good measure. I would certainly think that blood loss due to dinosaur impalement would be equal to or greater than even the thirstiest of vampires and that got healed right up by potions. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2014, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/8488 "2014-01-13T04:32:33Z")
> [@Finagle](#): > > C’mon, that makes no sense. Both Elan and Roy were run through by swords, and Roy got impaled by a dinosaur for good measure. I would certainly think that blood loss due to dinosaur impalement would be equal to or greater than even the thirstiest of vampires and that got healed right up by potions. Your logic has no power here. We’re in D&D rulesland. Or, if you prefer: “We can’t stop here! We’re in stat country!” ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2014, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/8489 "2014-01-13T05:06:18Z")
> [@Finagle](#): > > C’mon, that makes no sense. Both Elan and Roy were run through by swords, and Roy got impaled by a dinosaur for good measure. I would certainly think that blood loss due to dinosaur impalement would be equal to or greater than even the thirstiest of vampires and that got healed right up by potions. Blood drain, not blood loss. The former is a specific thing. > [@yellowjacketcoder](#): > > Agreed the rift is way too much of a dangling plot hook to NOT be entered at some point. We have two more books people! So that brings up an interesting question: We know that there are two more books, and yet it looks like all the pieces are in place for a big confrontation in book six at Kraagor’s gate. What’s going to happen after that? ---
**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:** [January 13, 2014, 6:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/8490 "2014-01-13T06:28:42Z")
> [@Finagle](#): > > C’mon, that makes no sense. Both Elan and Roy were run through by swords, and Roy got impaled by a dinosaur for good measure. I would certainly think that blood loss due to dinosaur impalement would be equal to or greater than even the thirstiest of vampires and that got healed right up by potions. Blood drain is a negative energy attack (Malack couldn’t do it until he dispelled the Mass Death Ward). It’s not that the potions can’t replace the physical blood loss, it’s that they can’t fix the Constitution loss associated with the attack. No, I don’t expect that to “make sense” in a rational sense but that’s the game rules explanation. Anyway, unless this is the most eventful airship ride ever, Durkon should have plenty of time to cast the _Restoration_ spells necessary to fix Belkar up. ---
**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:** [January 13, 2014, 12:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/8491 "2014-01-13T12:08:52Z")
> [@yellowjacketcoder](#): > > Agreed the rift is way too much of a dangling plot hook to NOT be entered at some point. We have two more books people! I can’t remember if this has been discussed already, but I’m intrigued by the fact that while this rift comes through over an ocean on the other side, the Azure City rift opened what looked like thousands of miles above the planet’s surface. I don’t believe we have any specific details on the other two destroyed gates but we can’t assume that Kraagor’s Gate comes out somewhere convenient (although undoubted the considerations of plot will dictate otherwise). ---
**Author:** ![Trion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ccd318/32.png) [@Trion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trion)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2014, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/8492 "2014-01-13T12:54:14Z")
> [@ultrafilter](#): > > We know that there are two more books, and yet it looks like all the pieces are in place for a big confrontation in book six at Kraagor’s gate. What’s going to happen after that? Well, we’ve just been told that they need to go past the Dwarven lands to get to Kraagor’s gate. If I had to guess, I’d say we make an unplanned stop there to deal with Durkon’s backstory. There’s one book. Then Kraagor’s gate and the big showdown could be book two. Just a guess. I’m not putting my hat on the line here. ---
**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:** [January 13, 2014, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/8493 "2014-01-13T13:09:47Z")
> [@Trion](#): > > Well, we’ve just been told that they need to go past the Dwarven lands to get to Kraagor’s gate. If I had to guess, I’d say we make an unplanned stop there to deal with Durkon’s backstory. There’s one book. Then Kraagor’s gate and the big showdown could be book two. > > Just a guess. I’m not putting my hat on the line here. My other speculation: Durkon’s backstory and Kraagor’s Gate’s destruction will appear in the next book. The final book will take place within Riftworld and will involve Xykon’s final defeat. Also, although Belkar will undoubtedly die at some point, I don’t think he’ll leave the strip until very, very near the end, if at all: he’s too great a character to lose. ---
**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:** [January 13, 2014, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/8494 "2014-01-13T14:19:58Z")
> [@Measure\_for\_Measure](#): > > Chekhov aside, I can’t imagine Tarquin or even Scarface simply ignoring a strategic asset like the rift. They possess the only working toll road to another world: there’s gotta be a way to leverage that. Plus if team T doesn’t control it, somebody else will. One small flag on the play. We don’t KNOW that the rift is a working toll road to another world. Characters have just been assuming that. No one - to date - knows whether anything living (or not) can cross the rift barrier and survive/maintain structural integrity. It’s possible that it’s in ‘view only’ mode. “I wonder what happens if the phylactery goes through the rift?” “I don’t know. But I bet the lich doesn’t, either.” ---
**Author:** ![thinksnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thinksnow/32/2849_2.png) [@thinksnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thinksnow)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2014, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/8495 "2014-01-13T15:45:32Z")
Luckily, Team T has an almost inexhaustible pool of “volunteers” to shove through the rift and see what happens. ---
**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:** [January 13, 2014, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/8496 "2014-01-13T15:52:07Z")
Indeed it does. But until I see it happen - give The Giant’s established ability to surprise and turn things on their head - I ain’t taking it as given. ---
**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:** [January 13, 2014, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/8497 "2014-01-13T16:08:20Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > I can’t remember if this has been discussed already, but I’m intrigued by the fact that while this rift comes through over an ocean on the other side, the Azure City rift opened what looked like thousands of miles above the planet’s surface. I wonder if maybe NOW the Azure City rift looks out over an ocean. As the Gates are destroyed the two worlds get closer together. Which suggests that maybe the final gate is destroyed at the end of the next book and the last book takes place in a merged world. Also not putting my hat on the line. Rich is a much better writer than I am, and any plan where you lose your hat… [QUOTE=Jonathon Chance] We don’t KNOW that the rift is a working toll road to another world. Characters have just been assuming that. [/QUOTE] To be precise, READERS have been assuming that. Characters seem to be much more circumspect about their assumptions… ---
**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:** [January 13, 2014, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/8498 "2014-01-13T17:12:09Z")
> [@](#): > > Also not putting my hat on the line. Rich is a much better writer than I am, and any plan where you lose your hat… […iz a bad plan](http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20031017). ---
**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:** [January 13, 2014, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/8499 "2014-01-13T18:02:42Z")
Burlew is surely aware of all the reader speculation about Kraagor’s Gate being in Durkon’s homeland and the ability of Scoundrel’s airship to pass through the rift. So even if he’s planning on doing these things, he’d likely throw some misdirection up first. Especially if he’s approaching a hiatus point. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2014, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/8500 "2014-01-13T18:14:31Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > It’s not that the potions can’t replace the physical blood loss, it’s that they can’t fix the Constitution loss associated with the attack. Right. Just to clarify further for the non D&D folks: In D&D, constitution is the stat that defines how “hardy” your character is. A high constitution gives bonuses to your health total, while a very low constitution penalizes it. If Belkar’s constitution has dropped low enough, he could be receiving -3 or more hitpoints PER LEVEL. This means that his total health pool has taken a drastic hit. Right now he’s technically at “full health,” but that ceiling is much lower than it otherwise might be, making him very vulnerable. ---
**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:** [January 13, 2014, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/8501 "2014-01-13T18:55:05Z")
> [@thinksnow](#): > > Luckily, Team T has an almost inexhaustible pool of “volunteers” to shove through the rift and see what happens. Didn’t Xykon throw goblins in the gate as entertainment/science project? I just had an odd thought. Daddy Tarq is almost unhinged at this point. After a sufficient amount of brooding will he step into the rift at a moment of dramatic tension and pop up during the showdown between The Stick and Team Evil? (I have a lot of hats.) ---
**Author:** ![Enderw24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba9def/32.png) [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2014, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/8502 "2014-01-13T19:04:45Z")
> [@squeegee](#): > > I think it’s just Durkon not being available yet to fix up Belkar, so Belkar gets something to bitch about. And Rich fucking with us I envision a cameo by Crispin Glover losing his arm. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323.md?page=424) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323.md?page=426)