Hole.
E.
Fook.
Well, that answers the question as to the source of Durkula’s power, and whether it would end when Thor noticed that his cleric had become a vampire. Rich really has a way of yanking the rug out from under our expectations, doesn’t he?
Suggestion - we have a thread for discussions, and a separate thread for announcing new strips. That way, we won’t get the usual thread bumped, no new strip disappointment.
Although it was obvious Durkula wasn’t really just going to be Durkon with a few rough edges and a shiny new template, it never occured to me that it was a 100% charade, which it really should have done. Oh well, 40 more days to go. (Jesus had it easy in the wilderness, at least he didn’t have a webcomic he was waiting for.)
OK, so that’s another of the unknown factions that fills out the list that was mentioned before.
Man, that’s good plotting. Two big evils to overcome, in two strips, each of which is completely unknown to our heroes as a threat.
At this rate, the OOTS won’t even have to show up at the last gate - the sheer number of villains gunning for it will just obliterate each other 
I wonder if it is Hilgya in charge of Durkon. She was a cleric of Loki, but you know what they say about Women scorned and Hel(l).
I can see it now. The Order hiding behind a ridge watching a free for all between various villainous factions.
**
Roy:** “Smart thing to do, we hide here and wait for them to weaken themselves before taking on the winner.”
Elan: “Hey! That’s the sort of things villains do!”
Roy: :rolleyes: <sigh> “Look, Elan -”
Elan: “It’s perfect! We’re heroes, so they’ll never expect it!”
I doubt it. I would be very surprised if she didn’t show up in some capacity in the next book.
I had been expecting some sort of ‘vampire Durkon is more evil than he appears’ reveal but I definitely did not see that coming. I’m a bit unclear on what happens to a person’s soul in the OotS world when they get vamped. Does a vampire demon come in and take over the person’s body and expel the soul, like in the Buffyverse? Does it just get trapped in there, powerless? Is Durkon a special case, Hel turning him into something that very closely resembled a vampire, but isn’t exactly the same? Well, we’re probably not going to see any more vampires, so maybe it doesn’t really matter.
The prophecy about Durkon’s return is certainly looking more likely to come to pass.
It’s interesting that Durkons soul is not shown as vampiric. I wonder what that might mean for the future. Especially considering the title of this particular strip.
x2
Belkar most certainly does NOT belong anywhere near such a list at this juncture.
Tarquin did mention that he wasn’t going after the last Gate because Xykon was already heading there and villain vs villain was always a crap shoot.
Kind of funny to think that, compared to The Snarl, Hel, The Dark One (via Redcloak) and the Directors, ole Xykon sort of feels like small bananas.
Hel must be really bored, or enthusiastic about having her first cleric. Have there been any other occasions in OOtS where a deity sat down for a direct chat with a mortal like that? The Twelve Gods took Miko’s powers in person but they didn’t speak to her, and even the Dark One sent Redcloak a message via a raised Jirix rather than manifesting during his daily prayer.
Tiamat and the Oracle ?
Vampires aren’t mortals.
Tell Malack that 
They can be killed, but they’re immortal. Even the gods can be killed.
Yeah, I know. For specific definitions of “immortal”. In this case, “immortal” really just meaning “unaging” or “unaffected by age” rather than “eternally existing”.
Was more of a joke than anything.