# 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:** 99
**Author:** ![Wolverine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ba9def/32.png) [@Wolverine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wolverine)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2011, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/1961 "2011-04-15T23:54:11Z")
Public urination? That’s no crime worth being placed in gladiatorial combat. Months of incarceration and fighting to the death? I’d say Thog’s paid his dues. ---
**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:** [April 16, 2011, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/1962 "2011-04-16T01:39:42Z")
So, can someone remind me when was the last time we saw Thog ? I’m drawing sort of a blank - the last thing I remember is him, Nale and the succubus flying away after failing to kill Haley back in Azure City (and accidentally giving her her speech back. Also, a boyfriend). If that _was_ the last time, then it probably means Nale and Sabine aren’t far, probably laying low on account of the bounty on Nale’s head… but what could they be doing here in the first place ? Trying to mend bridges with Tarquin to enlist his help against the Order maybe ? ---
**Author:** ![chorpler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chorpler/32/2888_2.png) [@chorpler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chorpler)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2011, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/1963 "2011-04-16T02:05:05Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > I did not think it would be him. > > \ Heh. Same here. I’m totally gobsmacked. How the HELL… ---
**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:** [April 16, 2011, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/1964 "2011-04-16T02:32:24Z")
> [@Kobal2](#): > > So, can someone remind me when was the last time we saw Thog ? I’m drawing sort of a blank - the last thing I remember is him, Nale and the succubus flying away after failing to kill Haley back in Azure City (and accidentally giving her her speech back. Also, a boyfriend). Actually, it was some time after failing to kill Haley that they flew away. They were imprisoned, but escaped when the jail was destroyed during the battle. But yes, that was the last time. apart from [a cameo](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0668.html). > [@](#): > > If that _was_ the last time, then it probably means Nale and Sabine aren’t far, probably laying low on account of the bounty on Nale’s head… but what could they be doing here in the first place ? Trying to mend bridges with Tarquin to enlist his help against the Order maybe ? Nale learned about the gates while impersonating Elan. He is now interested in capturing one for his own purposes. He has come looking for information on the gate. ---
**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:** [April 16, 2011, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/1965 "2011-04-16T02:34:40Z")
> [@](#): > > Months of incarceration and fighting to the death? I’d say Thog’s paid his dues. Time after time. ---
**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:** [April 16, 2011, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/1966 "2011-04-16T02:36:53Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > Actually, it was some time after failing to kill Haley that they flew away. They were imprisoned, but escaped when the jail was destroyed during the battle. But yes, that was the last time. apart from [a cameo](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0668.html). Interesting. I’d forgotten about that strip. ---
**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:** [April 16, 2011, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/1967 "2011-04-16T02:38:25Z")
In the next strip another one bites the dust. ---
**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:** [April 16, 2011, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/1968 "2011-04-16T02:54:25Z")
> [@shantih](#): > > Hee! Love the title of this strip – now my only problem will be getting the earworm out of my brain. > > Nice reveal, nice underlining of Roy’s moral compass. Can’t wait to see what comes next! Burlew just convinced all of us that he’ll protect characters with the unlikely escape of Enor and Gannji. He could 180 us by killing off Thog now. Thog is evil but he’s probably the most popular evil character in the strip. Burlew could shock us by killing off a popular character. It would also change the way we see Roy. And, for that matter, the way Elan sees Roy. An interesting side-issue is that Tarquin apparently doesn’t know who Thog is. Thog must have gotten separated from Nale at some point. And how would Nale react if Thog is killed? Would he write him off or try to get his revived? ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2011, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/1969 "2011-04-16T02:58:07Z")
> [@](#): > > Thog is evil but he’s probably the most popular evil character in the strip. My heart belongs to Xykon and Belkar. Strictly in a platonic sense, you understand. ---
**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:** [April 16, 2011, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/1970 "2011-04-16T02:59:18Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > And how would Nale react if Thog is killed? Would he write him off or try to get his revived? Hard to tell. I mean, it’s NALE…he hasn’t been particularly upset by minions’ deaths before. But Thog is one of the only three surviving original members of the Linear Guild. I don’t think I can make a prediction on this one. ---
**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:** [April 16, 2011, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/1971 "2011-04-16T03:13:17Z")
I’m gonna call a HeelFaceTurn by Thog, right now. They’ll fight for a bit, then Roy will talk to him while their swords are entangled, and convince him to join the Light Side of the Force. The trick will be how to do it without getting both of them killed. ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2011, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/1972 "2011-04-16T04:18:21Z")
I’m trying to figure out if Roy’s reaction pissedoffedness is against Thog or for Thog. He has no particular reason to care about Thog, But Thog has done much less evil to him then many othesr that Roy took in stride. I think the :mad: is for the guards even more. ---
**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:** [April 16, 2011, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/1973 "2011-04-16T05:33:35Z")
He knows that Thog is, in fact, a mass-murderer, even if that’s not what the Bloodies actually arrested him for. He also knows that he’s an extremely dangerous adversary. Even if he’s planning on trying to convert Thog, he also knows that it’s likely not to work, in which case he really, really needs a sharp piece of metal in his hands right now. ---
**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:** [April 16, 2011, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/1974 "2011-04-16T06:08:09Z")
Another side-issue. I wonder if Durkon is going to be arrested soon. His [entry papers](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0732.html) were only good for thirty strips and he’s past that now. ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2011, 6:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/1975 "2011-04-16T06:50:10Z")
> [@](#): > > He knows that Thog is, in fact, a mass-murderer, even if that’s not what the Bloodies actually arrested him for. Did Thog really have a choice, though? I don’t think so. His choice was to fight or die, and he has neither the intelligence nor the wisdom to think much further than the next 10 or 15 minutes. And since we’ve already had a kitty running into the arena, will we get a puppy repeating the action? Sure, Mr. Scruffy is Belkar’s companion, but dogs have shown up in the strip before. A well timed pup could make things pretty interesting. ---
**Author:** ![shantih](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f6c823/32.png) [@shantih](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shantih)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2011, 7:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/1976 "2011-04-16T07:09:28Z")
> [@Lynn\_Bodoni](#): > > My heart belongs to Xykon and Belkar. Strictly in a platonic sense, you understand. A good thing, too. Xykon isn’t one of those disgusting biophiliacs. ---
**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:** [April 16, 2011, 7:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/1977 "2011-04-16T07:10:41Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > He knows that Thog is, in fact, a mass-murderer, even if that’s not what the Bloodies actually arrested him for. He also knows that he’s an extremely dangerous adversary. Even if he’s planning on trying to convert Thog, he also knows that it’s likely not to work, in which case he really, really needs a sharp piece of metal in his hands right now. Also, he knows that Thog is really, really stupid. And Roy really hates stupid people. Especially stereotypically stupid fighters. The opportunity to beat up someone even dumber than Elan is almost reason enough for Roy to grab a sword. I don’t see Roy trying for a conversion, here. He has no reason to think of Thog as anything except one of Nale’s vile minions. Elan, on the other hand, likes Thog from their time in prison together. So, I see three possible outcomes, here. 1. Roy beats Thog down, but is stopped from killing him by Elan. Elan’s intervention blows Roys cover, and Roy blows his top at Elan for ruining their plan to save a mass murderer. 2. Roy kills Thog, and Elan is horrified that Roy killed someone Elan considers a friend. Roy blows his top at Elan for getting upset over the death of a mass murderer. 3. All of the above: Elan blows their cover by trying to stop Roy, but Roy kills Thog anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2011, 7:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/1978 "2011-04-16T07:49:28Z")
Thog isn’t a mass murderer because of the prisoners he killed in the arena; he’s a mass murderer because of the hundreds of innocent people he helped Elan kill in Cliffport. Don’t forget that. Thog is a complete and utter sociopath - a very stupid, very cheerful sociopath, but a sociopath nonetheless. “Saving” him is not an option. ---
**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:** [April 16, 2011, 8:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/1979 "2011-04-16T08:04:11Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > Thog isn’t a mass murderer because of the prisoners he killed in the arena; he’s a mass murderer because of the hundreds of innocent people he helped Elan kill in Cliffport. If it wasn’t clear, those were the murders I was referring to. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2011, 8:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/1980 "2011-04-16T08:08:12Z")
I got that, but I’m not sure everyone else did. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323.md?page=98) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323.md?page=100)