# 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:** 61
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2010, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/1201 "2010-10-15T23:08:02Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > I’m with **shantih** on this one. I’m betting that everything Tarquin said in this strip is completely true. That’s pretty consistent with how he’s been portrayed so far. We know he’s a total bastard, but that mostly follows from what he hasn’t said. ---
**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 15, 2010, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/1202 "2010-10-15T23:14:22Z")
Right; I think that Elan’s mom did want to get him out of Elan’s life, and to shield Elan from him in every way possible. What Tarquin is leaving off is _why_ she felt that way. ---
**Author:** ![Knorf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58956e/32.png) [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2010, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/1203 "2010-10-18T17:50:36Z")
[752 is up](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0752.html). ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2010, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/1204 "2010-10-18T17:55:07Z")
What’s that-3 strips in about a week or so, after having 3 strips in 5 weeks (by my informal count)? “Dead baby hair gel” & “Shove some more in.” Heh. ---
**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 18, 2010, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/1205 "2010-10-18T17:58:22Z")
And that’s not the only thing that’s up, ifyouknowwhatImean… ---
**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 18, 2010, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/1206 "2010-10-18T18:47:33Z")
“I had just assumed that your short hair was somehow symbolic of your character growth.” “Me too! I guess it was just a crappy haircut.” Rich Burlew makes another trope roll over and play dead. ---
**Author:** ![Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malleus_incus_stapes/32/3293_2.png) [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malleus_Incus_Stapes)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2010, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/1207 "2010-10-18T20:05:48Z")
Holy cow! Think she’s going to keep the Rapunzel look, or cut it to a reasonable length? I imagine that much hair might get in the way of roguish activities. ---
**Author:** ![Hypno-Toad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b2d939/32.png) [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2010, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/1208 "2010-10-18T20:14:47Z")
I think she’ll go back to her original look. ---
**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 18, 2010, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/1209 "2010-10-18T20:19:16Z")
> [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](#): > > Holy cow! > > Think she’s going to keep the Rapunzel look, or cut it to a reasonable length? I imagine that much hair might get in the way of roguish activities. And would likely be a pain to draw all the time too. No, I’m sure she’ll go back to a more reasonable hairstyle. It would be funny if she kept the potion or ointment or whatever it was and at some point disabled an enemy by drowning them in hair, though. ---
**Author:** ![Randy\_Seltzer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ee7513/32.png) [@Randy\_Seltzer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Randy_Seltzer)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2010, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/1210 "2010-10-18T21:19:02Z")
You know, I’d think that we were being set up for the classic switch regarding Tarquin: we’re meant to think he’s an antagonist, but he turns out to be good. I would think that, except that he’s squarely on the [antagonist side of the poster](http://www.giantitp.com/Images/PostersTogetherBig.jpg). On another note, the latest strip really stretches the limits of the stick figure medium. Obviously, Haley’s supposed to be all sexy with the hair and no top on. But it takes a bit of squinting and head-tilting (and a lot of imagination) to get the message. Oh well; he probably did the best he possibly could have considering the limitation. ---
**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 18, 2010, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/1211 "2010-10-18T21:31:29Z")
> [@Randy\_Seltzer](#): > > On another note, the latest strip really stretches the limits of the stick figure medium. Obviously, Haley’s supposed to be all sexy with the hair and no top on. But it takes a bit of squinting and head-tilting (and a lot of imagination) to get the message. Oh well; he probably did the best he possibly could have considering the limitation. Maybe we could persuade Burlew to have guest artists like Trudy Cooper or Gisele Lagace when he has nude scenes. ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2010, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/1212 "2010-10-19T00:45:10Z")
> [@Randy\_Seltzer](#): > > You know, I’d think that we were being set up for the classic switch regarding Tarquin: we’re meant to think he’s an antagonist, but he turns out to be good. I would think that, except that he’s squarely on the [antagonist side of the poster](http://www.giantitp.com/Images/PostersTogetherBig.jpg). Linky no worky. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2010, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/1213 "2010-10-19T00:50:58Z")
Try [this](http://www.ookoodook.com/store/BadGuysPoster.shtml#) one. ---
**Author:** ![Randy\_Seltzer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ee7513/32.png) [@Randy\_Seltzer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Randy_Seltzer)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2010, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/1214 "2010-10-19T03:47:10Z")
> [@John\_DiFool](#): > > Linky no worky. Yeah, it works for me, but we had similar problems upthread. Don’t know why. Here’s the proposed solution: > [@Chronos](#): > > Click the link, then hit enter in the address bar again. Or you can navigate to it from **silenus** ’s link. ---
**Author:** ![shantih](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f6c823/32.png) [@shantih](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shantih)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2010, 12:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/1215 "2010-10-19T12:08:23Z")
Soooo: Tarquin sent the beautician to Haley and Elan’s suite to prettify her up before the parade; she didn’t find Haley there and waited ‘for hours.’ My guess is that Tarquin 1) will be informed immediately that Haley was missing from her room and 2) will put that together with the fact of prisoners being freed during that time and 3) come up with an unpleasant conclusion for Haley. The beautician’s waiting for so long instead of checking back later or leaving a note implies that Tarquin is not the most flexible of employers and it’s a Bad Thing not to fulfill his commands to the letter. I would hope that Haley stays on her guard around him. ---
**Author:** ![Hypno-Toad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b2d939/32.png) [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2010, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/1216 "2010-10-19T12:28:00Z")
I’m wondering if the big festival ends with the (attempted) sacrifice of Elan and/or Haley. Maybe that’s the reason Nale fought it out with good ol’ Dad and split. He didn’t want to be ritually murdered. ---
**Author:** ![crazyjoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f14d63/32.png) [@crazyjoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crazyjoe)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2010, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/1217 "2010-10-19T14:39:56Z")
> [@shantih](#): > > Soooo: Tarquin sent the beautician to Haley and Elan’s suite to prettify her up before the parade; she didn’t find Haley there and waited ‘for hours.’ My guess is that Tarquin 1) will be informed immediately that Haley was missing from her room and 2) will put that together with the fact of prisoners being freed during that time and 3) come up with an unpleasant conclusion for Haley. The beautician’s waiting for so long instead of checking back later or leaving a note implies that Tarquin is not the most flexible of employers and it’s a Bad Thing not to fulfill his commands to the letter. I would hope that Haley stays on her guard around him. Eh, they freed what looked like 20 - 30 slaves maybe…I think Tarquin will think it’s small potatoes compared to the kind of mischief they COULD have caused if they had found out about…something. ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2010, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/1218 "2010-10-20T23:39:47Z")
> [@Randy\_Seltzer](#): > > On another note, the latest strip really stretches the limits of the stick figure medium. Obviously, Haley’s supposed to be all sexy with the hair and no top on. But it takes a bit of squinting and head-tilting (and a lot of imagination) to get the message. Oh well; he probably did the best he possibly could have considering the limitation. Kids today got no imagination. I mean, there she is, definitely topless (albeit with [Godiva hair](http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/GodivaHair)) And you _know_ those aren’t shorts she’s wearing. ---
**Author:** ![Randy\_Seltzer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ee7513/32.png) [@Randy\_Seltzer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Randy_Seltzer)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2010, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/1219 "2010-10-21T00:16:56Z")
[753 up, with gay jokes!](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0753.html) ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2010, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/1220 "2010-10-21T00:58:47Z")
“Slash Attack”. Love it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323.md?page=60) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323.md?page=62)