I would think that would be a reason why it would work. If nobody present fit the description of the target the elemental was ordered to kill first then it would go looking for a human with a great sword to kill.
And Nale carries a short sword. Maybe that’s close enough. 
Yeah, it CAN’T go for anyone else until after it has dropped a human with a greatsword.
Nah, if a summoned creature, which the elder earth elemental is, gets killed, it returns to it’s home plane, rather than leaving a corpse. So no island for the order.
Since puns are Elan’s schtick as a Dashing Swordsman, he could yell a compliment if Nale shows up: “Hey, Nale! That’s a GREAT sword! Is it new?” Then Haley hides Roy’s sword. (And the elemental probably gives up in disgust.)
It’s too bad for Redcloak he didn’t order the elemental to “Kill everyone, starting with the dark skinned human wearing the blue armor.”
Also, re O-Chul, can anyone find the part in the battle Rich hinted at, when he says “There is a clue as to his role hidden in one of the strips during the war, but I leave it as an exercise to the reader to find it.”
I’m thinking that’s the key to how this battle will play out, and end.
I tried after the exchange in this thread, and came up with nothing.
Despite it’s silicon nature, the elemental isn’t a computer. It’s an intelligent, language-using creature, about as smart as an average human. It should be able to understand that Roy dropping his sword doesn’t suddenly make him a different person. I don’t think Haley necessarily bluffed the elemental, so much as created a second target that fit the parameters of Redcloak’s command, which allowed the elemental to choose between the two targets - and right now, with Roy almost out of the fight and without his best weapon, Haley’s the more dangerous opponent.
For those keeping score at home, there’s only five appearances of O-Chul total before the paralyzing touch: #'s 403, 404, 412-413, 422, 447. None seem to offer a clue to his importance IMO. That clue might have been when O-Chul was off-panel, but I can’t find it. We’re talking at most 47 comics, and half of those weren’t “during the war”.
Pardon: 44 comics
According to the Monster Manual it should have an INT of 8, which would make it a fairly stupid human.
Thanks, man! That was more effort than I was going to put into it. 
That puts it a bit below average human intelligence. But for the plan being talked about here to work, it needs to have an INT of zero.
That can’t happen (or at least not permanently) - Elan has to get his happy ending.
Well, Elan did cast Mass Cure Light Wounds back in 900. He should have a little more than 1 hp left.
Heck, even my dog knows I’m not a different person when I change my clothes.
You’re assuming the elemental actually cares about interpreting the orders correctly. If it’s smart enough to ignore the literal interpretation of its orders in favor of their intent, and wants to do so, why did it switch to targeting Haley? Why wouldn’t it switch again, given reason? (I’ll grant that it’s not likely to quit attacking just because none of them is holding a greatsword.)
There might be a better way, though. Elan said he was out of healing spells. How many illusions does he have left today?
Well, he did get a happy illusion for awhile.
So I assume if the LG gets involved about now, Malack (or Durkon) could dispel (dismiss?) the elemental, right?
The spell you’re thinking of is Dismissal.
V could cast it as well.